All Entries in the "Beer and Wine" Category
Restaurant Review: Dakota’s Grill & Bar
Dakota’s Grill and Bar (7924 Ulmerton Road, Largo FL 33771, (727) 536-7380) is far more bar than grill, but the sign claims they do both.
If you’re there to watch a game on one of their many televisions, see one of the live bands that play there almost every night or enjoy some beers with friends, it’s your typical sports bar. The staff is attentive if not overly busy most of the time. The atmosphere is lively but not overly crowded. They have a good selection of beers and they’re served cold. If you’re looking for a bar, Dakota’s is a bar first and they do a good job at it.
As for the Grill side of the equation, they’re average at best. I had the Shepard’s Pie, which was not as good as I had expected. The potatoes came out cold. I expect them to be piping hot and filled with meat. The meat itself was your basic taco meat, nothing exceptional. While I expected carrots and corn to overwhelm the dish, there was very little to be seen. The taste was greasy and there wasn’t much else to it than the taste of the taco meat. All and all disappointing, even for bar food.
That said, I’ve been back to Dakota’s a few times since for the drinks and atmosphere and it’s good at being a bar. I’ll just be sure not to confuse myself with the Grill part any further.
Restaurant Review: Yeoman’s Road Pub & Restaurant
A well known little road pub on Davis Island, Yeoman’s (Yeomans Road Restaurant, 236 E Davis Blvd, Tampa, FL. 813-251-2748) brings exotic brews together with large portions of American favorites in a relaxed pub environment.
I’ve been there twice now, firstly for drinks and secondly for the fish and chips. The trip for drinks was with the Miata guys, and it was a good little meet. The environment is surprisingly kid-friendly for a bar, and you get a lot of Davis Island regulars in.
They have all of your standard beers, but a good selection of off-the-wall and hard to find brew. I asked for, “Something amazingly ridiculous” and was presented with a bottle of “La Fin Du Monde”, features an explosion on the label. It was really good! It had the bitter resonance of a much darker beer and was pretty good for the price (around $5). The bartendress even served it to me in a fancy goblet.
The bar itself isn’t just well stocked, but a collection of different artifacts from various cultures. It’s a lot like Boneyard in that respect, and I love it. You’ll see mardi gras style artifacts, beer advertisements, pictures of patrons and more throughout the bar. It’s a very hometown-bar kind of feel with a catalog and inventory to match any big city establishment.
It is a laid back establishment. So laid back that I caught the cook asleep in the back, easily seen from the dining room area.
Everyone there seemed happy and in good spirits.
What can be said about the fish and chips? Pretty darn good. The fish piece they serve is good size, probably atleast a pound. The little lemon wedges do little for flavor or presentation, but it’s good old fashion pub food. The fries are a little dry, but that’s easily fixed by drowning them in ketchup. While not the best fish and chips I’ve ever had, I’d say it was good enough to soak up the excellent beer selection and good company I always find at Yeoman’s.
Restaurant Review: Wild Willies
Wild Willies (13355 Belcher Rd S, Largo, FL 33773-1669, (727) 533-2203) is a lot of things, depending on the time of day and the kind of person you are. By day, it’s a place to get a good burger or other pub food and a beer with your lunch. As the day wears on, it’s part honkytonk and part club. The crowd changes, but Willies stays the same fun place where people go to be fulfilled, be it by spirits or monster burgers.
I’m partial to this pub and grill, if only because one of my co-workers owns it with her husband. At the urging of Courtney, I went there for lunch one day to try their hamburgers. I had all but written off the premium hamburger scene, as it’s so overdone, overpriced and under-delivered. Every time I hear about another premium burger joint coming up with something, I think, “I can make this at home…” and it’s true. Willies broke that barrier for me, as their hamburger is really something to talk about.
While I was waiting for my burger, I tried their cajun peanuts. Imagine a cajun stew or sauce that slow cooks a peanut until it’s shell is so soft that you eat it whole. It’s spicy, but not so spicy that you’ll be running for the water. The texture is very surprising and there’s still a definitive taste of peanut within, though it’s a taste and texture experience I didn’t expect.
The service is quick, especially because we sat at the bar. Burger was out within a few minutes and the sheer scale of this thing is ridiculous. Imagine a big, big patty. I’d say the patty was at least half a pound. Then imagine a fresh kaiser roll, cheese and stacks upon stacks of vegetables. The burger stands taller than it does round, and it’s definitely a handful.
Quality is very high on the burger, owing that quality to fresh meat and cheese. I’d grown so used to eating crappy drive through burgers that I forgot what a real homemade burger tastes like. This one was exceptional. They use just enough cheese too, and it’s piled high with fresh onions, tomatoes and lettuce. Throw in some hot sauce and jalapenos and you have a burger that bites back. Even when compressed down, the burger is too big to put in your mouth.
The burger is incredibly fulfilling, but I forced the fries down too. They were good, but I was so full by the time I got done with the peanuts and burger that I barely got them down.
If you’re looking for more than just food, Willies is the kind of place that you’ll have a good time drinking. The crowd is diverse and everyone is friendly, laced with a soundtrack from Country Classics to the Sex Pistols to new rock. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone there that wasn’t having a good time.
The owner isn’t an absentee landlord. You’ll see him (and his wife Courtney) slinging drinks and mingling with the crowd. They run the kind of joint that keeps the regulars coming back and you can see that in how they react with everyone.
Here’s some photos from a typical Friday night at Wild Willies:
A look at the manual bottling process is at Cigar City Brewing
It seems like I’m always talking up Redner’s operation over at Cigar City Brewing. Maybe I am!
I’ve admired these guys from afar as they continue to experiment with new tastes, pumping out batch after batch of homegrown beer. Sometimes, it’s amazingly good. Other times, I wonder if their next invention will be tuna-casserole-lime-aid beer. It’s a big part of the microbrewery process to experiment with new flavors, weed out things that don’t work and brings new ideas in the light. For that, Cigar City Brewing will always captivate my attention.
Regardless of what batch they’re making, the level of detail and labor that goes into just the bottling aspect of delivering their beer is amazing. Here’s a video they made showing the manual bottling process.
Reservoir Bar: Stuck in the Middle With You
Influenced by the world of gangsters and Quentin Tarantino, Ybor City’s Reservoir Bar (1518 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605-3704, (813) 248-1442) is a dive bar with big ambitions. The motif is tongue in cheek and Hollywood chic, covered in powers and artifacts from the movie “Reservoir Dogs”, gangster bobbleheads and other nicnacs within the genre. The beer is cold, the company is friendly and two pool tables flank the entrance, meaning walking through this bar often means bumping elbows with local tattoo artists, rock stars, men-about-town and hangers-on.
Even early, the Reservoir bar is teeming with activity. Within a few minutes of being there, Dustan and Kara decided to get drunk while I mingled with the locals. The bartenders are eager to please, if only through the veil of “too cool” that every good bartender should have. It’s not uncommon for them to keep pace with the patrons, as seen here:
Just because it’s a dive bar, don’t think that they’re without the specialties you’re looking for. They have a jagermeister machine, which is always an indicator of trouble to come. Behind the bar, they have all the standards and dozens of specialties. I looked for a few hard to find extras and found most of them. If you don’t see it, just ask. Chances are, they’ll have whatever ails you hidden somewhere nearby.
If talking bottleheads and bird-giving elves do it for you, the decorations only add to your drunk misadventure. Be careful you don’t break them, as the barkeeps will bust your face open.
Did I mention Dustan and Kara drinking? They both got pretty lit while we were there.
The reservoir is open 7PM to 3AM every day, so mosey on down after work and have a few drinks. The prices are low and so are the standards, so everyone is likely to find something they’ll like.
Get your frozen drink on at Wet Willies
When in Channelside killing time before a movie or the nighttime entertainment, have a stop into the institution that is Wet Willies (615 Channelside Dr Ste 116, Tampa, FL 33602, (813) 221-5650). It’s a given fact that warm weather, particularly the warm weather found in high humidity climates like Tampa, should be quenched with frozen booze. After all, what’s more satisfying than forcing liquor with the concealing power of semi-frozen slush down your face when the sun has baked the world around you to triple digits and you’re sweating buckets?
Lots of bars and restaurants have a slushy machine or two. It’s generally a good way to add more girlie/fruity options to the drink menu, even with the cost of equipment. Wet Willies takes the concept a step further. All of their drinks are served this way, tumble frozen in a constantly churning washing-machine-like wall of multi-colored booze-tinis.
Their marketing is bright, drawing on long time bar slang and region-centric names for drinks we all know and love. Bright colors, a friendly atmosphere and a half dozen young people manning the drink vats makes for a fun trip to boozeville. While the drinks aren’t cheap (around $8 each), you’ll find yourself drinking less because the ice really does slow you down.
My personal favorite is the strawberry daiquiri, a classic frozen drink if there ever was one. From the constant tumble, the slush is smooth and easy to go up the straw. No lumps or chunks of ice, and it is so cold that you’re instantly relieved from the heat.
Cigar City Brewing Picture Post
I recently had a chance to take a photo tour of Cigar City Brewing’s Tasting Room and Bottling Room (3924 W Spruce Street Suite A Tampa, Florida 33612). The ever-welcoming Joey Redner was my gracious tour guide.
When you hear the name Joe Redner, a lot of things probably pop into your head. A long time citizen of Tampa, a political maverick, a prominent business owner and, according to Wikipedia, the “father of the nude lapdance”. What you may not think of is beer, but Joe’s son Joey Redner is innovating Tampa-based brewing in a way that most can not imagine. That’s the heart of Cigar City Brewery, and an up-and-coming movement in beer making that will quickly sweep Tampa Bay.
Along with head brewer Wayne Wambles, Joe is crafting beer to be pungent, if not a bit crass, and intensely satisfying. You can say that he takes a bit of that from his dad, putting himself and his brewery in the public eye with odd flavor combination and a grassroots approach to marketing. While Joe himself has been a beer writer and involved in the beer industry for the last five years, Wayne brings a level of expertise and craftsmanship that over 10 years and numerous medals can bring to the table. They are truly the Dynamic Duo of the Draught.
I first tried Cigar City beers at an Oldsmar Tap House event a few months back. I was instantly hooked. The beers all have very strong tastes, with some carrying notes of cigars (and cigar boxes) and others infusing flavors like oatmeal and bourbon. To see the whole process come together in their production facility reassures me both of their first class operation and their dedication to the craft.
Joe glows as he gives me the tour, taking me from component to component, explaining me how long each process takes and the precision that goes into the process. It’s also plain to see that they’re taking big steps toward a much bigger operation. The building itself could easily hold 3 or 4 times the processing vats they currently have. Considering the demand from those in the know, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to see them outgrow this building in the next couple of years. Cigar City Brewing could very well be the next Sam Adams at the rate they are growing.
Attention to detail goes beyond the actual brew making. Take one look at their tap handles, a crafted cigar that is created by hand specifically for this brewery. It’s a class act, and a good way to throw in some marketing for those who attend parties and constantly comment, “This beer is great. What is it?”
A big part of my amazement at their brand is how little they do to promote it. They print t-shirts for the converts. They throw events and people show up, waving fists of money for their premium beers. At $5 to $8 a glass, this isn’t your daddy’s Budweiser. What it is, though, is a hand crafted take on something we all know and love. Some report the taste is strong, but to me it’s a hop fueled homage to what beer crafters have been doing all along. The beer making process brings out more than a strong taste, but a fragrant nose and mouth feel that make you feel like you’re doing more than just drinking a beer. At times, you’re sampling living art.
Here’s some more photos of the brewery. The tasting room is open 11 AM till 5PM Mondsay through Friday, so I encourage you to drop by and try a sampling. Bring your own glass to be filled to save the bottle charge.
Club Prana: Irrational Exclusivity disguised as class
On Saturday night, I had a VIP pass to go to Club Prana (1619 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605, (813) 241-4139) for a party. It was invitation only, and as a member of the media I was going to do a story about the club and the party. It was never mentioned that they had a dress code and I’ve been to every place in Ybor without any restrictions, so I left the house the way I do all nights out, in a black t-shirt and shorts. My clothes were clean, without holes or stains and tidy. I simply was not “dressed up”.
I get to the club around 9:30 with pass in hand. I show the my ID and my pass and immediately the doorman gets on the radio talking to another doorman. After a few minutes of back and forth, they tell me I can’t come in. “No shorts allowed”. Somehow, I bet if my shorts were made from Sean Jean instead of Walmart, this would never be a problem.
I look around at the other people in line. Ripped jeans. T-shirts with stains. Some girls wearing next to nothing. These people are all getting in. Is it really just about my shorts or is there something more to it? I leave, begrudgingly.
I come back a few times throughout the night, noticing they are dejecting people from line for a number of offenses. One guy didn’t have a collared shirt, so they made him leave. Nevermind the other 6 people behind him, men and women, who weren’t wearing collared shirts. Then I saw a g-thug gangster in black shorts get in. Then I saw an older guy (probably in his 40s) who was rejected. He was well dressed. He looked quiet. What’s with the selective allocation?
In my mind, I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that I’m not an underwear model or I’m a freak and don’t fit their exclusive image. Keep in mind that their dress code is not posted. When you ask what is and isn’t allowed, they’ll point out specific things about each situation, but there’s no “THIS IS ALLOWED/THIS ISN’T ALLOWED” list to go by. So, is this irrational exclusivity or simply Class by Omission?
What Club Prana really missed out on was an opportunity. I could have gone in, covered the bar and the made a post about a good experience. They could have gotten good press from this. I could have spent the $200 I spent in drinks that night at Prana, instead of at the Boneyard, the Social Club and throughout the rest of Ybor. Instead, they’ve made it onto my ever-expanding shit-list.
So, Club Prana, be watching yourself. Every person I meet is going to hear about your seemingly baseless segregate policy.
The Boneyard: A dive bar for you and me
I’ve always loved dive bars. Maybe it’s the crazy stuff you hear on the jukebox. Maybe it’s the crazy people you see in and out through their various levels of inebriation. Maybe it’s the strange hours or the odd smells. Whatever it is, dive bars have always appealed to that deeply harbored need to socialize with my fellow miscreants in an environment that just fucks with you enough to make you want to come back.
When it comes to local dive bars, my absolute favorite is the Bone Yard (1823 E 7th Ave
Tampa, FL 33605 (813) 248-6224). Sandwiched between the open-late Ybor City Food Mart and Las Vegas Tattoo, this building seethes with character. When you walk into this place, you’re beaten with a barrage of strange signage, Christmas lights and artifacts from the farthest reaches of crazy. This is what the world would look like if Hitler had won the war, and I love it.
From the first step in, you’re overpowered by the jukebox. It’s always just a bit too loud. Not so loud that your ears bleed, but loud enough that it can make you uncomfortable if you’re not drinking. Sales tactic? A damn good one if it is! As you make your way in, there’s a lot of artwork built into the artifacts, including decorated bar tables and a collection of old tin signs. Some assorted off-color messages fill the walls (as well as the ceiling). When you walk all the way through, pool tables line the right wall and the back wall leads to a pisser that’s beyond entertaining. If I could chronicle all of the wisdom found on these walls and regurgitate it onto the masses with proper effect, I might be able to push Twilight out of spotlight for a minute.
Stepping back to the bar, all the personalities are out. You get walking stereotypes of every breed, including the owner of Las Vegas Tattoo next door sipping on a coca-cola, a bunch of local gutterpunks, Ybor bouncers, random wanderers in, a few white collar folks, black girls with big weaves, the lonely girl at the bar drinking too fast for her own good, compulsive gamblers, playboys, wash-ups, creeps, stoners, perverts, gays and… well.. me. If there was a schitzo Village People audition, it should be held here. American Idol can suck it. This is entertainment.
Probably my favorite part of this bar is the staff. Millie, probably one of the sweetest women I’ve ever met, always knows what you want and gives it to you with a crackling Elvira-like laugh. When the zombies come, I’m shacking up with her. She’s that kind of chick. Her counterpart, John, is also quite awesome. As soon as I walk in the door, he is already pouring my drink. I see him do this over and over for the regulars. While he’s a skilled bartender, he’s also an avid statesman and psychologist to many. There are others that work at the Boneyard, but these two are the pillars that hold this community of chaos together.
The more I hang out at the Boneyard, the more I realize that this is the first place since New Orleans that I’ve really felt at home. Never once have I been judged unfavorably there. Women of all walks of life flirt with me as if I’m a star. They put up with my ridiculous jukebox picks ranging from Hank the Third to Guns N Roses to Abba. Being digital, the jukebox has it all and you rarely hear groans coming from the crowd. They also give out free popcorn in dog bowls to all of their patrons. Free popcorn with my booze? Sign me up!
If you, my avid readers, ever want to meet me, the Boneyard is the place to meet the true me. It’s hard to wipe the smirk off your face when you’re twenty bucks into a collection of $2 PBRs while swaying fore and aft on your favorite bar stool in a place like the Boneyard.