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I’m teeter-tottering between a 3 and a 4 for Pickled Monk. It depends when you go, how busy it is, what items you order. Overall, I like the concept of PYO (Pour Your Own) Beer/Wine system. It’s different, hip, quicker, and more cost-efficient for the restaurant. The vibe reminds me of those waiter-free/Device menu order restaurant setups. Pickled Monk is located in downtown Fullerton, where there are many up and coming restaurants. The facade has an open bar and open window where you can see people eating inside. The security guard hands you the newspaper menu and invites you inside. You walk up the ADA ramp approach and you’ll see the employees behind two registers. There, you take a look around and find open seating, place your belongings down, and order at the register. They’ll hand you a pager which “YOU WILL NEED TO PLACE DIRECTLY ONTO the HOME BEACON” for the order to go through at your table. If not, you’ll be idiotically waiting for your food that no one knows where to deliver. This concept definitely cuts out the need for waiters/waitresses. However, the restaurant would probably need to advertise/show on monitors how this is done for average joes to pick up more quickly. Newspaper Menu has two sides: Lunch/Dinner and Breakfast/Brunch pages. My friend was interested in ordering something from the breakfast side, but I told him it probably wasn’t going to be possible at night. The menu offer items such as appetizers, burgers, dogs, fries, chicken/donuts. I wasn’t hungry at the time and ordered the mushroom/portobello fries, which was probably one of the better items on menu. My friends order the sausage dog, burger, Brussel sprouts, and chicken fires I believe. I really enjoyed how the portobello fries were lightly coated but seasoned perfectly with cheese and fried herbs. Pickled Monk is listed as a beer bar, sports bar, but I believe it can actually become a gastropub that offers high-quality menu items. The pay as you drink beer/wine room can be anxiety provoking if it is your first time experiencing the concept. You place your card into the slot (not swiping it), and poor as you watch how much you are being charged by ounces. The selection (lagers, sours, IPAs, ambers) was average in my opinion because there weren’t many micro-breweries I have not yet tried on their tap. Tip: I wish that they keep changing their menus and offer things that people have not yet experienced. The board games are fun but wish they had space for a foosball table or something.

Container Bar – Menu with Prices – 1131 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary

I was really excited to hear about this interesting new bar that was going to be coming to our neighborhood and really wanted to like it. My husband and I decided to try it out for the first time this past sunday and unfortunately were fairly disappointed and wouldn’t likely return. The concept of the bar was really cool and the whole set up and everything was really neat and we did enjoy that aspect of things, however nothing on the menu really appealed to us. I was expecting the menu to match the “low key” setting and it didn’t really do that. Would have liked to seen more snacky type items . Even something as simple as a cheese plate. Since we were already there we decided to order a couple beer and the Parmesan fries to share. While waiting for our food we did notice some others getting their food and to be fair it did look good. Just not what we were in the mood for when coming to a place like this. Anyway the fries arrived quickly enough and were actually really good ( and I don’t usually even like fries very much). However after we were given our food we were hoping to ask for more aioli sauce for dipping but we didn’t see the server again until our food was all gone. We then waited for 15 mins with empty glasses before anyone came around. So we decided against ordering another drink. My major complaint with this place though was the pricing. Very expensive for what it was. It cost over $7 for a beer which wasn’t even a full pint. Our total for 2 beer and one order of fries to share was $27 and with tip put it over $30. Not really what you would expect for a place thats supposed to be low key and for something as simple as a beer and fries. I also didn’t notice anything any where about any future specials or anything so looks like that is the standard price for their beer. Overall I would say it is a very cool concept but I would have enjoyed it more had we been able to share maybe a pitcher of beer and a plate of nachos. Just seems to be more suiting for a container bar. Doubt I will be back unless I hear of some changes to the food or drink menus. And come on…I am never impressed by a place that doesnt know how to pour a full pint.

Monk’s Cove – Menu with Prices – 1104 St Gregory St, Cincinnati

If you are in the area searching for a bar to visit and you have come across this review know this: if you are not a fan of the rowdy drunk college scene, don’t come here after 9-10pm. However if you are looking for an open airy dive bar on a Sunday afternoon, GET HERE. Just use your noggin and know what you are getting into before you come. Why this place is hilarious — I was hosting an out of towner this weekend and we generally into cocktail bars, and cheese plates. However on a Saturday afternoon we were in the window where a lot of those fancy pants places were closed for lunch. It was a nice day so we decided to venture up to Mt. Adams and ended up at Monk’s where the rest of the night was history. After going to nearly 30 different places over the weekend we both agreed our time at Monk’s together was one of our favorite memories in our nearly 4 year long friendship. There were probably around 5-7 other people in the place with us on this sunny Easter weekend afternoon. We sat at the bar and were greeted right away. Having heard about their legendary jello shots we thought – when in Rome? (WE NEVER DO THIS) Three syringes later and the boomerang app and viola instant memories are made. They have standard jello shots for $1 or the larger syringe style shot for $3. They also have a shot wheel with specials and a beat the clock game which could really get you into trouble on a Saturday afternoon. Venture into the back for some free popcorn and table games, or find yourself a bar seat to people watch through the front open-air style window. This place can either be your worst nightmare or your best friend depending on the time you go which is the reason for the mixed reviews. For me, and the times I have visited, I have really enjoyed myself and Monk’s is quickly becoming one of my favorites which is something I never thought I would hear myself say. Pay them a visit this weekend!

Ocmulgee Brewpub – Menu with Prices – 484 2nd St, Macon

I found the food to be the highlight of this brewery. The beer was just ok, thus only 3 star rating. I am a home brewer, so am particular in my beer reviews. The food was delicious! This is a gormet burger place and you must pay the extra $1 to upgrade your fries to truffle fries. Be sure to get the truffle aioli to accompany the fries. Delicious. I ordered the Sea Creature burger which is a crab and lobster burger (no beef). It was almost all meat, not bread crumb filling. I would order again! My wife ordered the Blazing Glory burger which was good (pepper jack cheese, pico de gallo, fried egg, pickled jalapeños, signature pub sauce). She had the pickled peppers served on side so she could control the heat. They have a kids menu and my daughter enjoyed he chicken nuggets and truffle fries. When it comes to beer , they have happy hour from 4-6pm where beers are HALF OFF. We happened to come at 5 so good time for a flight of samplers and a pint. The lime gose (seasonal) was good as was the High Cotton Belgian wit bier. The other beers were a bit watered down and not super flavorful. I am in love with gose beer, and even the gose was a bit to lime juice heavy and no noticeable salt, which is a key to gose. There are two brewers. I met one of the Brewers, Doug, who said he is getting ready to expand into a second brewery. Nice guy.

Vintage Cave Café – Menu with Prices – 1450 Ala Moana Blvd STE 1380, Honolulu

Disclaimer: this review is only based off of their Afternoon Tea Set! Afternoon Tea for $18?! That’s unheard of on Oahu! When my girlfriends & saw the ad in the newspaper, we knew we had to try it out!! #1 tip: You MUST make reservations. I read all the reviews and saw with my own eyes, people getting turned away for not having reservations. First off, this place is a little hidden and I had to attempt to explain where this place was to those who had never been. It’s on the bottom level of the Ewa side, right after the Bloomingdales entrance. You can’t miss the brick wall and the cute garden outside. My girlfriends and I came here on a Friday afternoon and the place was PACKED with other ladies having tea with their girlfriends. It was actually super cute! These older ladies even brought their fancy, big hats! Once we arrived, we were given the Afternoon Tea menu which had the sandwich options and a LARGE selection of tea sorted by kinds with explanations. I thought that was super helpful because the descriptions really helped us decide which ones we wanted. As for the sandwich options, there are 3: 1. the Jidori chicken which came with sundried tomatoes, boiled egg, and arugula, 2. smoked salmon with dill cream and lettuce, & 3. Portobello which came with Gorgonzola, zucchini, bell pepper, onion, and Dijon mustard. We all got different sandwiches and loved the salmon and chicken. My friend that ordered the portobello didn’t like hers only because she didn’t care for the Dijon mustard. She said it overpowered the sandwich. So, unless you really love Dijon, steer clear of that one. As for teas, everyone also loved their tea! We stuck to the black and green teas. I ordered the Litchi Rose Noir black tea and I really enjoyed it! It was also our waiter’s #1 pick! I’m not a huge tea person but this was very light and sweet. Another tea that was well liked amongst us was the Sakura Kyoto Cherry Blossom green tea. But, really it’s up to you and your tastebuds which tea would be best for you! The set also came with pickled veggies which was a bit too sour for me but everyone else loved! It also came with a small piece of bread with prosciutto, tomato, basil, and cheese on it. The topping were very fresh but the bread was super hard and difficult to bite into. And, honestly, the best part of the set, the scone with the fresh cream & what we think was blueberry jam. Omg!!! I wish I could’ve had another scone!!! It was so tiny!! The fresh cream and jam went so well with the scone. The scone was crispy on the outside but not too dry on the inside. Lastly, can’t forget about dessert!! Our waiter brought us a platter of all the desserts that were available for that day and explained each one. We picked the Strawberry Shortcake and Cheese & Berry Cheesecake. Again, it was very yummy and we all enjoyed it! Presentation wise, super cute! For every 2 people, there was a shared 3 tiered platter. The bottom held the sandwiches, pickled veggies, & prosciutto, the middle held the scones with cream & jam, and the top held the desserts! Each person got their own tea pot and tea cup too! Overall, service was excellent. We didn’t feel rushed at all as we waited for our whole party to arrive. The workers graciously took pics of us with our food, and we all were able to catch up and enjoy each other’s company. At $18, I feel this is a must try with your girlfriends! It isn’t a lot of food so you may leave a little hungry. But, you can always walk over to Shirokiya or Foodland Farms to grab an additional snack!

Seoul Street Menu with Prices 1771 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor

By FAR the best Korean Fried Chicken place you’ll get in Ann Arbor! I come here whenever I need a dose of that Soy Garlic and Hot & Spicy, and each order comes with their delicious pickled radish. A personal combo costs around $10, and comes with 4 pieces of chicken (2 thighs / drums, 2 tenders / wings), so the price is very reasonable. The ONLY thing about this place is that the service time is horrific. Please don’t ever order directly at the restaurant because you’ll wait over an hour for your order – you need to place your order ahead of time online to make this experience worthwhile. They have some small seating inside, but majority of people order ahead, and then pick-up their order to take out. But even with their service time being so slow, the flavor and portions that this place offers is worth it! Their Kimchi fries are also phenomenal and I would recommend adding bulgogi for just a few more dollars. Definitely give this place a try!

The Pearl Of Germantown – Menu with Prices – 1151 Goss Ave, Louisville

I don’t dislike this bar by any means. I just don’t get the hype. It was ok. The decor was kinda of neat so I will give them that. As much as people talk about how cheap the drinks are, there are pretty average. A gin gimlet was $6 and gin and tonic was $5. Not bad, but not super cheap really. Just average. The glasses used were also strange. The gimlet was served in a short glass and then the gin and tonic was served in a way taller glass. It looked like a glass my grandma had for water. They probably liked the aesthetic, but the difference in glasses was really weird. It may be more appealing if you like beer and random shots so you can spin the wheel which looked fun. I don’t think beer or whiskey so I stayed away from the wheel. Not a lot of real food options. Mainly just pickled things in jars. Not really blown away by this place, but I’d be willing to give it another chance.

The Sneaky Beagle – Menu with Prices – 5040 Carolina Forest Blvd, Myrtle Beach

Great concept, not executed well. Most unfriendly ” dog friendly ” place I’ve ever been. On a day that was at least 90 degrees they offered no water for our dog . We ordered items off the ” dog menu ” ( another great idea ) but never received them . We let our dog drink out of our cups and have some food off our plate. I felt as if I was already complaining about missing or wrong people items that I wasn’t going to start on the dog stuff especially since our server clearly didn’t even like dogs. The food was nothing great and I’m surprised at all the good food reviews. The chicken and waffles tacos was literally a chicken strip with cut up pieces of frozen waffles. The pasta salad taste like suddenly salad box mix. I was served a bowl of burnt potatoes that I’m not really sure what it was supposed to be since I didn’t order it. This could be a great restaurant but the menu, service and dog friendly concept need improvement. The best food item was the calamari, which I posted a pic of , would have enjoyed it more if we had forks, plates or even a napkin .

Beasts and Brews – Menu with Prices – 7 Spectrum Loop Ste. 140, Colorado Springs

Hold the Press! Over 100 beers on tap!! I love that. This is the place I will bring all my beer loving friends! On a side note, the door area could get crowded, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing and just standing trying to figure it out. You have to check in with your ID first and give the girl at the register a credit card so she could load a card that is used to self serve beer. Great concept! Just isnt very clear that you have to do that so i saw a few confused people. but once you have the hang of it, it really is easy and fun. The selection is crazy. A ton of Colorado beers. they even have cider and wine on tap. The food is great.sometimes a bit salty but i understand that. it helps people want to drink more, and come on there’s so much to choose from. Who wouldn’t? The mac and cheese was pretty great. they also age their steak there in a big locker. It looks like a place you coud get a great steak but the atmopshere is more bar type. So, mayne get a great steak and drink some great beer, but don’t expect romantic and cozy, this isn’t the place for that. But great fun with an open concept restaurant with people buzzing about talking about beer, this is it! ANd a great way to meet new people. The side of the restaurant completely opens for great views of the mountians. The decor is rustic reclaimed wood/stainless steal. The seating is comfortable and there’s plenty of it. However, people aren’t real quick to vacate their seats, they are there drinking so if you go for dinner, just know that. Also, the pour your own is a fantasic idea, as you can go pour an ounce of whatever and try what you want without having to purchase a whole beer. Over all a great place to hang out. Its bright and airy. Everyone there was having a great time. The only thing negative I would have, and only very slight is that the waitstaff needs to be a bit more attentive. The dinner plates need to be picked up a bit quicker.

B & K Drive In Menu with Prices 725 E Wilbeth Rd, Akron

I don’t get to Akron, Ohio often between March and October when this drive-in is open, but when I do, I definitely make one or two stops here. I always get a couple spanish dogs (which are just regular dogs with a sloppy joe-type of meat sauce that perfectly compliments the hot dog, with no extra condiments necessary). The root beer was also awesome. Home made and served in a frosty mug. The fries were pretty standard fries but they were good as well. My only complaint is that being a drive-in, this place is not open year round. Also, parking is pretty bad though there usually are not many cars here. There is a table to sit out at if you don’t want to be stuck in your car as well. There are copycat recipies for the sauce online however I don’t believe any of them do justice to the real thing. For example, all of the recipies call for diced onions, yet when we asked at the restaurant we were told there were no onions in the sauce, as my girlfriend has an onion allergy. For the money, you can’t beat it. We had 2 spanish dogs and a large root beer each, split an order of fries as well, and the cost was under $10. I’ve been some places where the meal for just me costs more than that.

Arbor Brewing Company Brewpub Menu with Prices 114 E Washington St, Ann Arbor

I came here for dinner with some friends the other day. The place is very casual and a lot larger on the inside than you’d expect! It was very crowded, and the wait was 40-60 mins. We didn’t mind because we got beer while we waited. I wished there was more standing room space though because it was so crowded it was hard to find space to stand and chat while we waited. Once we were seated in a comfortable booth we ordered more beer. We all loved the beer! It was delicious. I got the sliders for my meal and my husband got the chicken sandwich. The sliders were less than special. They came with onions and pickles on them. There wasn’t much flavor and they weren’t very unique. They reminded me of a burger I’d get at a fast food restaurant. The fries were average. I think the best part was the ranch – it was milky and good. My husband said the sandwich had more bread than chicken, which was disappointing as well. I’d probably only come back here for the beer and go somewhere else to eat. I was disappointed in the food. The menu wasn’t very unique either. Although it was a brewery and I think it’s hard to expect fantastic food from a bar-type establishment. However I have been to other breweries whose food was fantastic. So I think for a place that was this crowded and popular, I’d expect more from their kitchen. The atmosphere was definitely fun and a great place to come with friends for a drink.

Town Beer Co. – Menu with Prices – 1176 Edgewood Ave S #4, Jacksonville

Subtle. Minimalistic. Mod. I see why this place is beer heaven! The white tile wall(s,) muted color flooring, wooden beams, white modern furniture with wood details, and the accent of green foliage plants placed the interior architecture well above the average watering hole. After a large party left, I noticed Ryan (the bartender) precisely reposition the chairs as he prepared the table for the next party. I thought to myself, “Hummm… little OCD, yet, I see why this place is the perfection at it’s best.” They definitely embodied the name, “Town Beer.” FYI: From one popcorn lover to another, believe they’re concept of serving popcorn with 9 taps and a infinite selection of locally crafted beers at Town Beer Company is a brilliant idea.

North Heights Discount & Café Menu with Prices 1621 NW 18th Ave, Amarillo

Sometimes it only takes one trip to a place to know you’re going to love it. I had a good feeling about this place when I first read about it in the newspaper article a few days ago. A friend sent me the link to it on Facebook because she thought I might be interested and she knew that I like to try out new places. Today I was going to the thrift stores over near Plains and Adams so it seemed a perfect time to go check this place out. It was a little tricky to find because I hadn’t been north of Amarillo Boulevard much in my time here but I had an idea of where it was and just when I thought I might have passed it without seeing it, I spotted it. As I walked up to the door someone must have seen me approaching and he held the door open for me which was a nice introduction to the place. He instructed me where to go to order my food. They only had one copy of the menu sitting out so the girl who was already looking at it held it out to share. The guy that held the door open for me had already recommended the Chicken and Waffles and I just decided to get that. It came with a drink. It turned out they actually had Big Red on tap. Unfortunately it was not the zero calorie version but I threw caution to the wind and decided even though it was high caffeine and high calories I would just treat myself. It took quite a while for the chicken to be ready. One of the guys later explained it’s because they are required to cook it for 22 minutes to ensure that is cooked inside. Well, it was perfect. It smelled wonderful, it looked wonderful, and it tasted even better. If there was a downside it was only that it was so hot that I had to wait for it to cool off enough to not burn my tongue. You get your choice of what kind of chicken you want and I chose drumsticks. Those drumsticks were fat and juicy with a wonderful coating and was some of the best chicken I’ve ever eaten. I’ll be honest, I’m not a big pancake and waffle fan, although I do like the concept of Chicken and Waffles. But their waffle could turn me around completely. Probably the best waffle I ever had. The Chicken and Waffles was $10.99 including the drink, close to $12 with the tax and worth every penny. I took a couple pictures of the menu to post so others could see the kinds of food they serve. It’s billed as a soul food place and it is Southern Cooking but it doesn’t have all the dishes you sometimes find in other places like sweet potatoes and collard greens. It does have fried okra and I didn’t try it but I bet it’s delicious. Next time. I’ve had fried chicken three or four places in Amarillo and been surprised that more places didn’t serve it. This place was definitely the best I’d eaten although there was another place that came in a close second. There is actually a small market along with the cafe and it was bustling the whole time I was there. One of the owners, at least I think he was, said they’d only been open 90 days and business had been beyond their greatest expectations. That made me happy because I love to see small businesses and Mom and Pop places succeed. Everything looked clean and I saw them wiping down tables the instant people got up and left them. That was a good sign. And the employees and owners couldn’t have been more welcoming. By the time I left they knew my name and I bet they call me by it the next time I go in. The best way to get return customers besides offering awesome food is to make them feel welcomed and valued so they will want to come back . Oh, and I forgot to mention, to pay back the community for giving them such good business the first 90 days they had a free food day last Saturday which I didn’t hear about until I saw the newspaper article about it. They invited all their customers and members of the community to come in and eat a complimentary meal to show their appreciation for the neighborhood support. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a restaurant that did tha