South Side (SS) is a bar/restaurant I had always heard about, but never actually been to. So when my desire for a HH took over on a warm, Thursday afternoon, I checked out the website and immediately wanted to go. The menu looked delicious and the 1,000 sq ft indoor/outdoor patio looked like a little patch of heaven. I arrived at South Side a little before 6 p.m. and there was already a wait for a table on the patio. Luckily, I ran into some friends, so I just sat with them while I waited for Cousin K and a table. The atmosphere on the patio was great - it is surrounded by large trees and bushes and a large brick wall, which gave it a very friendly, cozy feel. I LOVE me a good patio.
Cousin K eventually arrived and we were seated directly next to our friends. I asked our server about any HH specials and she completely flaked out. She told us that draft beer, bottled beer, and some wines were on special, but didn't know the specific prices for each. This is why I hate when places don't have a separate HH menu. How am I supposed to know what to order? How am I supposed to know if I even got a "deal" when I get my bill? Ugh, annoyance.
I ordered a Blue Moon and Cousin K ordered a glass of pinot noir she was told was on special.
Our drinks took a while to arrive, but by this point it was pretty busy, so it wasn't a huge deal. We quickly decided on what we wanted for an appetizer, despite all the mouth-watering options such as, chicken & waffles ($8.50), p.e.i. mussels with garlic and chorizo ($9) and the stuffed banana peppers ($9). In the end, we decided on the potato skins ($8.50) which were predictable, but yummy. For dinner, we both chose the Chilean sea bass with asparagus and lobster risotto ($18). After reading Green Dog Wine's review of it, I just had to have it! And let me just say, it was a GOOD choice. The fish was cooked just right and the risotto was creamy and delicious (you could actually see and taste the lobster!). Great meal overall.
We ordered a few more rounds of drinks before HH ended at 8 p.m., and then it came time to see the "damage." My 16oz Blue Moons were $3 and Cousin K's wines were $6.50 a piece during HH (normal price is $7). I was okay with my drink prices, but $6.50 for a glass of wine during HH? Insanity. Again, I am a true advocate of $5 glasses of wine during HH, otherwise it just doesn't seem like a deal...it's not like we were at Morton's, people! And the frustrating thing was that if the server had known the prices when we asked, Cousin K would have ordered something else and felt better about her HH savings.
Although the food was outstanding, SS's HH seemed to disappoint...just a bit.
I would really like to see the HH specials spelled out somewhere - on the website, chalk board at the entrance, slip of paper given with the menus, OR from the server's mouth. However, the awesome patio and high quality food will definitely bring me back and I'll remember to keep ordering my $3 Blue Moons until 8 p.m. :)View of downtown from outside South Side
very good blog, congratulations
ReplyDeleteregard from Reus Catalonia
thank you