Tuesday, December 30, 2008

THE PIPER PUB AND GRILL - Try to Avoid at all Costs

Ugh. I can't say anything good about this place, so I'll try to keep it brief. Bad service, bad food, bad atmosphere, bad cocktails. I'm not even going to give you directions or a site because you should never go...I mean, they fucked up nachos. You have to really try hard to fuck up nachos. I like nachos from 7-11. And it all culminated with a jacked bill and an apparent lack of management on hand to resolve.

I really hate to bag on anybody in Boise right now, I know everybody is struggling. But these guys really need to get it together. 2-4-1 Happy Hour for drinks and apps only goes so far with this kind of fare...



The PARIS BISTRO - Hands Down, best meal in the SLC

Let me tell you something that you may have heard me mention a time or two, Salt Lake City is a dead zone for delicious eats and for the peeps that enjoy the deliciousness. I mean you can do with a chain in a pinch but I like my food fresh and I don't think there is anything wrong with that. But I digress, I had an AMAZING and I mean AMAZING service and food. And we did the works! Cocktails, wine, apps, entrees, dessert and more cocktails. I mean, listen, it was 3 of my best mates from brown town on my first night back in little bit and I had a delightful meal. I started with the oven roasted beet salad. Just a hint of clove, as it should be. A carbonara that knocked my socks off. I was nervous, I pulled a safety, but this was no Trio cup o' noodles. But seriously, socks, knocked off. I finished with the lemon grass creme brulee. Hurrah!! And not crazy expensive. I mean, it's not Sabarro but let's get real...

1500 South 1500 East (Emerson Ave.)
photo from their site.


Monday, December 29, 2008

INTELLIGENTSIA - So what?

Let me tell you something about this place, their cheapest up of coffee costs about $3.50 for about 6oz. I dunno about you but in these times, girl, I'm workin' hard for my money. This is a luxury item. And don't get you're little douchey hipster haircut all in a ruffle or your Sal Moscot frames askew and before you call all your friends at American Apparel to start picketing my house. I get it. I know it takes one year for a coffee bush to prodce one pound of coffee. I know about fair trade. I know about their fancy brewing machines. I get it. But, this should pretty much be the best cup of coffe I've ever had. Every time. Right? Well it's not. But I'm going to keep going, beacuse I support the anti-man, the anti-machine. I carry my little hemp bags down to the Whole Foods (or as it's affectionately know 'the Whole Pay Check') or the Trader Joes between paydays (personally i'm a pretty big fan of the Fresh and Easy). I like to sit on the little blue bench and pet the dogs and enjoy the weather and oogle the peeps. But come on, let's stop fooling ourselves and call this one like it is...

I'd also like add an extra special 'FUCK YOU' to the CUNT FACED BITCH that petitioned the city to have The Casbah Cafe remove their potted garden from the side of their building. I mean really, you must be very very bored or very very unhappy.

And everybody needs ro start cleaning up after their dogs. Come on buddies. Don't be douches.

3922 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90029


Thursday, December 25, 2008

TACOS DELTA - Hangover's best friend

Oh Tacos Delta, how I miss thine nachos and XL Diet Cokes in styrofoam cups with crushed ice. Oh Tacos Delta how I miss thine hot sauce and fresh hot chips. You were just around the corner from me and I took full advantage of the proximity. I miss your burritos and your tacos.
Seriously, this just might be my favorite taco stand ever in the world. Cheap, fast, friendly. A cute little sitting are in the back. Seriously if you don't eat here you area fool. Only drawback, it has a 'B' from the health department, which pretty much means that your taking your life in your hands. But I ate there nearly every day and I never got the shits. They also seem to have a mysterious closing time, because every time I tried to go for dinner...they were closed. Could never really find hours posted anywhere.

No link
3806 W. Sunset Blvd.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

THE MODERN HOTEL AND BAR - Right Idea and Execution

What you see here is the bathroom of the Modern Hotel and Bar. Yes, you see a turntable on a gnome. What you can't quite see is the rack of 45's just above the gnome and the stainless shelf between the sink and the can. The towels are kept else wheres. Since this is a full sized ADA loo, you could easily fit 6-7 people in there for your own private party, if uh, you brought your own favors, if uh...you know what i mean...

In addition to the bathroom the bar (which honestly isn't much bigger) sports a menu of mostly delicious seasonal cocktails. They sounded great on paper but the couple I tried didn't quite make it in the flavor department. But they were very nearly there, maybe next seasons will be better and you can tell me all about how amazing they are and how wrong I am.  They also have a great court yard with fire pits and a fair amount of seating. Strong effort. I do recommend.
1314 West Grove St., Boise ID
208.424.8244

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

THE PIEHOLE - Best Pizza in Boise..at least after 9p

We got an early start on our Boise adventure. Early enough that by 10 when we needed pizza it became it's own adventure. My buddy's was just one block out of the delivery zone for any place in the Boise metro (sic.) area. After much pleading, cajoling, harrassment and attempted bribery of the every pizza joint in the city, we picked up from the PIEHOLE. I was drunk but I consider myself a pretty good judge of the 'za and this is a good one. The salad and the sticks were are good news.

And they have dancing mice on their site:
http://www.pieholeusa.com/

205 N. 8th St. call ahead for pick up 208.344.2225. open late-ish but for pick-up only...

Monday, December 22, 2008

SWEETWATER TAVERN - Another 'Every Bar'

I had a great night at the Sweetwater Tavern. But it was entirely the company. Don't get me wrong, it's a perfectly serviceable joint. It was warm and reasonably priced. But it's pretty much just another place. Plaster walls, tin ceiling, cramped but nice bar. I had a steak that was arguably the best I've had in a long but hardly good. But the fries and chimmichuri were amazing as mas my key lime tart. I also had a 'bacon vegetable soup' that was pretty much bland BBQ sauce. I was drinking makers/rocks so can't speak to their cocktails.

So all in all nothing to write home about and not good for groups. The food is passable if not great. But the company totally made up for any shortcomings the restaurant had. Take that for what it's worth....

http://www.sweetwaterny.com/

105 N 6th, BKN, NY

photo stolen from 11211.info


Tuesday, November 25, 2008

3rd Hard Drive in 2 years

So my laptop is back in the shop. I know you are all very sad. But should be up and running 'in a few days'. Which I take to mean, some time next week...

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

YACHT ROCK @ KING KING

Two of my favorite ladies, that I don't get to see that often, 'encouraged' me to see a band called KNIGHTS OF MONTE CARLO at an H'Wood bar called King King.

We met for dinner in my hood at El Conquistador. I had already grabbed nachos from Tacos Delta across the street. Dinner was a moderate success. I pretty much eat at Tacos Delta every day and hit the El Conquistador happy hour as often as I can. They give you free nachos and quesadilla. AND their margaritas are the ding-dang best in the hood.

King King looks pretty dive-y from the outside but is a perfectly serviceable and a not to dive-y live venue inside. The first band of the evening was like some kind of reject tragedy from last seasons OC soundtrack. Good thing the KNIGHTS OF MONTE CARLO were highly dance-able, and the front man worked his hips like nothing I'd ever seen. He must be double jointed and do loads of yoga.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

TUFFY GOES DOWNTOWN

I did a mini-little bar crawl with my buddy Matras last weekend. We met up at Casey's which is a perfectly serviceable Irish sports bar. What made it even better is that it was not crowded and had a hipster crowd. Our next stop was 7 (no link found with cursory search). Which had a dandy martini but seemed like they had only been open for a week and had opened for the day just before we walked in, i think there is potential, they just need some time to 'get it together'. Oh, and the DJ was l-a-m-e. Next was Seven Grand but there was a lien and we lost patience. Last was the Golden Gopher. We must have liked it there because that's were we stayed. Until they kicked us out. The Gopher wins for the night and I hope to get back soon!

Friday, October 17, 2008

MUSSO & FRANK, Skip Dinner and Go Straight for the Cocktails

I was really fussy about the steak that I ordered. It was porterhouse. It's cooking was very basic and served with some very sad cress. In fact all of the food was really bizarre. The stewed tomatoes were straight from the can. The creamed spinach was the consistency of a sag paneer. The potatoes gratin were interestingly flavored with some cinnamon. So, mostly disappointing but I did pretty much eat most of the steak. My buddy Lane finished the rest and claimed that it was DELICIOUS and that I was CRAZY! And the service also suuuuucked.

The place is not without it's charm. I swear it hasn't been redecorated since the 50's. Loads of dark wood and detail. The cocktails are delicious. Overall I did have a great night.

http://www.mussoandfrankgrill.com/
6667 Hollywood Blvd.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

MALO CANTINA - Is horrible and I hope they die.

I met my friend here for 'happy hour', but it was anything but happy. First of all we were lured in by the 'happy hour' specials, which are $1 tacos and half price cocktails. Second the staff sucks. They were slow and rude and not one bit interested in serving. Third the tricks are in the menu. There is only 1 taco that is actually $1 out of the 5 that are listed. Only well drinks are 1/2 off but it doesn't say that anywhere. The menu says 'happy hour' and lists there ridiculously priced cocktails. I was double charged and was given nothing but 'tude. I ended up spending $60 bucks for drinks and tacos. If I had gone somewhere nice, not a foul stink-hole. Because let me tell you , this place is far from clean or comfortable inside. I can assure I will not be going to this nightmare again any time soon. And I don't think you should either. I hate it so hard I'm not even going to tell you where it is just in case you don't believe me and think you need to try it for yourself. I have a big fat chip on my shoulder against this place and I'm praying for the day that these assholes get closed down for health code violations.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

SGT. RECRUITER - A nice place to drink

This place is one of my new favorites in my current hood of SilverFeliz. It's a funky little annex/adjunct to Cobras and Matadors. Rotating beers and wines. Sadly, no booze.


Its Euro inspired (read tiny and tiled) decor makes you feel fancy without being pretentious. The steak frite, one of few staples, is top notch. Cute and friendly staff. Random and diverse clientele. Mad busy. Go early or late because the only seating is at the bar. There are no tables and no reservations.

Couldn't find a site to save my life! 4655 H'wood Blvd.