I'm gonna squeeze both of my next visits into this post. There seems to be a recurring theme that goes on at suburban tap. All three times that I've been there, with the intent to review it, I've had roughly the same experience. No host/hostess at the front, poker going on everywhere, bar section of the restaurant fully packed, and either live music or a D.J. Oh oh oh and boat loads of people that I'm mildly acquainted to or someone that either I or a friend of mine have porked... I thought since this was a food blog I would try to keep all my innuendo, double entendre, and things of that nature food related.
Day Two
Saturday, 1AM
Activities-Team Trivia, and a dance party???
It was late and all I wanted was sustenance. I really didn't care if it were baked, fried, grilled, or boiled. Oh and I wanted to wash it down with some beer. One of my favorite things about the tap is the beer selection. They advertise over 50 different types of beer, and since the weather is getting warmer I'm stickin' with wheat beer. I'm thinking Paulaner Hefeweizen, and for food I'm gonna go with...... A burger, an American burger to be exact. To be blunt it wasn't as American as I'd hoped, no American flag tooth pick, no sparklers, and when served there was no one to recite the star spangled banner... but with that said it was a pretty damn good burger, served with freshly cooked French fries that were still glistening with oil... Wait wait wait since this is an American burger maybe I should go anti-France and call them FREEDOM FRIES! Sooo anyways to sum things up for this visit. I came in, sat myself, saw some acquaintances, had some good beer, and ate my burger. The food was great and with a few beers, my tab only came out to about 15 bucks plus tip.
Day Three
Thursday, 11PM
Activities-Live music
With the final sub-tap review within my grasps, I thought it would be advantageous to enlist some help, joining me for a late night meal is an acquaintance of mine... I suppose I'll call him Ramsey, for the purpose of this blog. I went in on this night with, well they weren't the highest of hopes, but they weren't too bad. So off we went into the dingy darkness that is a dive. Sa..nap as we made our in we had a hostess smiling at us, ready to seat us. We sat examining the the menu, I noticed a distinct separation between there classic american bar food and what seemed like almost authentic Mexican cuisine. Everything from burgers, sammies, and hot wings to fajitas, taqueria style tacos, and chilaquiles, which is an awesome Spanish comfort food kinda like a Mexican casserole. We thought why not strike a like right down the center and went with nachos... a nacho mountain to be specific. Also I saw a sandwich on the menu the last time I was in and I figure why not add that to the equation, the Italian cheesesteak. So we have Italia, Espania, and America, its like the United Nations on our table.... now for the beer, after much deliberation we decided on a pitcher of Yuengling, nothing special but it's easy on the ol' wallet.
As we waited for the food I noticed Ramsey staring off into different parts of the bar... I asked what the deal was and he said he had notice three to four people that he knew... that didn't surprise me, because that was also the case with myself. This had became a recurring theme for me, and one of the reasons I thought to bring some backup. There was something interesting, at around midnight the non-smoking section became a smoking section and if thats not to your liking you may want to come in a little earlier. Also with the smoke in the air, it also made us aware of a certain aroma... and it wasn't a pleasant one, Ramsey mentioned that it smelled like a bar mat that was in need of a good cleaning, I couldn't have said it better...
Finally the treacherous peaks were upon us, the Nacho Mountain... which in height and stature matched its name. Tortilla chips stacked with chili, grilled chicken, salsa, lettuce, cheese, jalapenos, and other things. It felt as though we had been transported to a higher altitude, the mere sight of the nacho mountain seemed to thin the air around us. But as we started our trek around and up the mountain we soon realized that it was more like a nacho levy as all the chips were placed on one side of the plate, and as the chili poured over the side I began having flash... maybe it's too early for a nacho flood joke. Besides that the nachos were good as well as the Italian cheesesteak. The beer was good and cheap, also the food was quick to come out of the kitchen.
It was a good visit and if Suburban Tap was nothing else it was consistent. They have a range of prices to meet even the most frugal budgets, or you can ball out with some really nice obscure beer and some of their more expensive menu items. If it's late and your hungry or if your bored and you want some good beer and to possibly revitalize a past relationship than you should keep this place in the back of your mind.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Tap or Crap?.. oh and with a side of flash back.
Well, recently I ran into an acquaintance of mine. We talked for a while, I'd like to make it a habit to ask people where they like to eat. It was late and i was about to get off of work. I had mentioned i might have to go to Wa-Ho or the dinner to get a decent warm meal. That's when he mentioned Suburban Tap. I already knew that the Tap had a huge beer list, What I didn't know was that their full kitchen stays open till 2AM. This came as to me as a surprise. So off I went.
Day One.
Tuesday, Roughly 11PM
Activities; Poker, Open Mic Night, Drinking
When I walked immediately I noticed how lively the restaurant was. Poker to the left of me and poker to the right, but there I was stuck in the middle with a hostess stand with no host/hostess to be found. It was busy so I ventured forth. I'd honestly like to omit as much personal information as possible, but I think that what happened to me, could very well happen to you if you grew up in the area. I took what i thought would be an awesome seat at the bar, right in front of a lengthy row of beer taps. As my eyes scanned the room I found myself sitting directly across the bar from me was one of my ex-girlfriends..... Awkward! This seems now to have been an ominous bit of foreshadowing.
Before i get to deep into this I should let you know about my predisposition towards fried chicken, especially if its then tossed in some type of hot sauce... oh yea, then pour some bleu cheese on that thang... no wait ranch, and not just any type of ranch, extra ranch! If this dish in sandwich form such as the Taps "Killer Chicken Sandwich" It should be a guarantee that it comes with fries. If you haven't indulged in a guilty pleasure like a buffalo chicken sammie, what you don't know is that fries act as an amazing cushion of sorts. Protecting the hot and ranch sauces as they drip from your tightly gripped sammie and plummet towards your cold lonely plate..... But alas when my supposedly "Killer Chicken" arrived I have to admit that died a little inside. Why I hope your pondering... No F***I** Ranch You Cheap SH** F*** A**.
Wait a minute... after taking a step back and calming myself down I realized again that they were moderately busy and perhaps mistakes could theoretically happen in some form or another. I sat content drinking my Blue Moon and attempting to eat my fries without the appropriate amount of smothering they deserve. I waited for a chance to catch the eye of the bartender to see if I could get the aforementioned sauce of my desire. Time passed bye... after about ten minutes, I normally would have screamed for it but the open mic music was nearing an abrasive volume level. More time passed by... My fries are all gone, my beer is empty, and still not a glance from the staff... A nudge on my shoulder... who could this be... maybe the ranch fairy... Yea I said a fairy, I hope you keep in mind that my idea of a ranch fairy is John Madden holding a football helmet full of ranch, and as he presents it to me he tells me that Matt Ryan is the next Brett Farve. However it was not a fairy, nor the actual John Madden no it was my Ex who somehow could tell from across the bar that I was not satisfied with my food. "Everything alright with your food?" she asked. I attempted to flick the top of the bun off to show my lack of dressing, but my food had gone cold and the Swiss cheese had stuck to both the chicken and the bun. I told her that i had asked for some ranch and I was waiting for some service to which she replied "That's no good, you gotta have ranch." Ohh.. did your heart just flutter as well. Had I missed out on the love of my life? Well maybe if you like bat shit crazy, but that's for a different blog. Since I already included a football reference in this post I suppose I'll add another. The moment she nudged me I felt like I was in a 4th and long situation and it was late in the game. I only had one option a hail mary, It's a little trick i picked up when you need to get a check fast. I grabbed my empty beer glass and raised it as high as I possibly could, to get the attention of the bartender, when she came towards me to see if i wanted another beer, I promptly asked for a box and my check.
So I had to take my "Killer Chicken" home so it could be properly attended to, and I had to make a hasty exit to avoid ghosts of past relationships. What are the odds of those things happening, it all could just be a coincidence, and after all thats the whole point of this blog, I'll give it three goes and see what else they have to offer... something perhaps without ranch, I think you deserve that as a reader. And honestly as far as the entertainment goes the music wasn't all bad and it was a very relaxed atmosphere... But I have to say I wonder about what adventures I may encounter in my next visit. I will normally try to go to a restaurant at different times of day, but since I was told that it was a restaurant for cooks to go after work I will only come back after 10PM to see if this advertisement hold true.
http://www.suburbantap.com/
Day One.
Tuesday, Roughly 11PM
Activities; Poker, Open Mic Night, Drinking
When I walked immediately I noticed how lively the restaurant was. Poker to the left of me and poker to the right, but there I was stuck in the middle with a hostess stand with no host/hostess to be found. It was busy so I ventured forth. I'd honestly like to omit as much personal information as possible, but I think that what happened to me, could very well happen to you if you grew up in the area. I took what i thought would be an awesome seat at the bar, right in front of a lengthy row of beer taps. As my eyes scanned the room I found myself sitting directly across the bar from me was one of my ex-girlfriends..... Awkward! This seems now to have been an ominous bit of foreshadowing.
Before i get to deep into this I should let you know about my predisposition towards fried chicken, especially if its then tossed in some type of hot sauce... oh yea, then pour some bleu cheese on that thang... no wait ranch, and not just any type of ranch, extra ranch! If this dish in sandwich form such as the Taps "Killer Chicken Sandwich" It should be a guarantee that it comes with fries. If you haven't indulged in a guilty pleasure like a buffalo chicken sammie, what you don't know is that fries act as an amazing cushion of sorts. Protecting the hot and ranch sauces as they drip from your tightly gripped sammie and plummet towards your cold lonely plate..... But alas when my supposedly "Killer Chicken" arrived I have to admit that died a little inside. Why I hope your pondering... No F***I** Ranch You Cheap SH** F*** A**.
Wait a minute... after taking a step back and calming myself down I realized again that they were moderately busy and perhaps mistakes could theoretically happen in some form or another. I sat content drinking my Blue Moon and attempting to eat my fries without the appropriate amount of smothering they deserve. I waited for a chance to catch the eye of the bartender to see if I could get the aforementioned sauce of my desire. Time passed bye... after about ten minutes, I normally would have screamed for it but the open mic music was nearing an abrasive volume level. More time passed by... My fries are all gone, my beer is empty, and still not a glance from the staff... A nudge on my shoulder... who could this be... maybe the ranch fairy... Yea I said a fairy, I hope you keep in mind that my idea of a ranch fairy is John Madden holding a football helmet full of ranch, and as he presents it to me he tells me that Matt Ryan is the next Brett Farve. However it was not a fairy, nor the actual John Madden no it was my Ex who somehow could tell from across the bar that I was not satisfied with my food. "Everything alright with your food?" she asked. I attempted to flick the top of the bun off to show my lack of dressing, but my food had gone cold and the Swiss cheese had stuck to both the chicken and the bun. I told her that i had asked for some ranch and I was waiting for some service to which she replied "That's no good, you gotta have ranch." Ohh.. did your heart just flutter as well. Had I missed out on the love of my life? Well maybe if you like bat shit crazy, but that's for a different blog. Since I already included a football reference in this post I suppose I'll add another. The moment she nudged me I felt like I was in a 4th and long situation and it was late in the game. I only had one option a hail mary, It's a little trick i picked up when you need to get a check fast. I grabbed my empty beer glass and raised it as high as I possibly could, to get the attention of the bartender, when she came towards me to see if i wanted another beer, I promptly asked for a box and my check.
So I had to take my "Killer Chicken" home so it could be properly attended to, and I had to make a hasty exit to avoid ghosts of past relationships. What are the odds of those things happening, it all could just be a coincidence, and after all thats the whole point of this blog, I'll give it three goes and see what else they have to offer... something perhaps without ranch, I think you deserve that as a reader. And honestly as far as the entertainment goes the music wasn't all bad and it was a very relaxed atmosphere... But I have to say I wonder about what adventures I may encounter in my next visit. I will normally try to go to a restaurant at different times of day, but since I was told that it was a restaurant for cooks to go after work I will only come back after 10PM to see if this advertisement hold true.
http://www.suburbantap.com/
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Ok... I'm gonna do it... Here we go Marietta
I've recently asked around amongst friends and family. I've been wondering whether or not i should try my hand at writing food reviews. Well the polls are in, and i can tell you that most of friends/families palettes don't stretch much beyond a baconator and a 1.5L of Kendall Jackson chard. Is it their fault... I say no! I believe that i haven't done my job as a "Foodie" and a self-proclaimed "Connoisseur of Intoxicants". I haven't given them an appropriate education on what I believe qualifies as a great burger or pizza, and where they can go to get the biggest bang for their buck, as far as daily food and drink specials go. In my upcoming posts i will review local restaurants. Whether they be full-service, quick-casual, or fast food... The good, the bad, and the ugly as they say. If your looking for a nice place to take a date, or if you want to know which Waffle House is the best to go to at 3am I will attempt to provide you with that information.
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