No Wings? No Good, notes from The Target

Fast mover, 6/7

    Let me start by sayin' I am tired of this shit!  I am not in the mood for another rain soaked late spring day, no waves and only the gulls to talk to. Summer's just about here Damn It!  Where's the waves? Sunny skies? The heat?  The warm breezes? The girls on the beach? The hot wings replete with decent service?
   A late PM thunderstorm cruised through and shortened our water time, but the post storm calm combined with low tide left a rainbow's hope of cleaned up surf. A wee bit maybe,  mostly knee high crumbs for the Watt to salvage.  A few quick rides. The fastest being the current driven tram ride down the beach.  Ride, get out, walk back, ride.  You get the picture.  Maybe the rainbow was meant to lead us to the perfect plate of wings...

Crumbs

      Off to Seacrets.  Jamaica USA advertising 7 different kinds of wings. The previous hour's monsoon didn't seem to dampen the crowds spirit as we settled into the bar with a perfect bay view.  As we each took long pulls on our beers we asked the barkeep where were the wings on the menu? Wait for it...wait...no wings.  That's right, the bartender informed us they were taken off two weeks ago for the summer season.  Let me reiterate: A Bar in OC that does NOT serve wings in the Summer!  "Tab please!"

No Seacret- no Wings, no good!

    Doing a quick exit an alternate plan is devised - the Salty Dog Saloon.  Our foray into this mid-town "Steelers" sanctuary last fall provided us with a bit of a "British invasion at the bar which was entertaining to say the least for the off season.  On this visit the attentive staff quickly took our orders of beer and wings. Being desperate for food we jumped into the baskets of wings....Hot and Old Bay style....we were immediately disappointed. Both epic fails.  Hot Wings were mild at best and the Old Bay were in some kind of sauce.  Wet Old Bay...something just not right about that.  Let it be noted - first time anywhere that we did not like an Old Bay style wing.  DWatt tried to ease the pain with a pint of Natty Boh on tap...but once again an old school draft fell distressingly short. Icy cold, but short.
   With this type of report you would think we'd be running outta the bar, but live music can be the great equalizer.  I do not know who Bryan Russo is but let us just say, "the Man can Play!"  And  his side at the drums ripped up the joint with an independent style that kicked ass.  However, as we left the bar we again faced the grim question of an impending reality... can we find a place to meet all our expectations?  The Crusade moves on.

The Ratings- 
                   Hot Wings: C-
            Old Bay Wings: D
                            Beer: B
                    TV/Music: B+
                 Atmosphere: B

      Overall: 2.40

Like Summer But Not, notes from The Target

Thursday sections, 5/31

     Not yet summer, but the season has started for the resort.  So we turn our heads toward the impending heat of the dog days knowing the stoke is with us and the real crusade of summer is where men reside. Tropical Storm Beryl was way off, but as one of the earlier storms of the this season (which technically was not due to start until June 1st),we were hoping for a breakthrough event as we arrived. Something to write home about. A dream of a full beach, sunny warm weather, swell with a face that never collapses. What we found was another cool Spring day with high tide and small waves.  But we came for the surf and size not withstanding, DWatt hit the lineup...solo.  Not another stickman in sight.  Sets were small, knee high at best.  Less rubber paid off.  Straight over the the top runs into carved rights. Short rides lasting mere seconds, but in your mind a journey lasting... minutes (you can throw in a hoot here).  However, after snagging a dozen or so such jaunts, the evening ended as it had started. An ocean without waves; flat spell.

DWatt- Closed

   We leave the beach slightly disappointed, but not defeated. So where do men go to lift their spirits?  Mother's.  Mother's Cantina, one of last year's highlights.  Dos Equis on tap. Wings so good, only our demented memories could describe.  To say our expectations were high would be an understatement.  And we know a thing or two about failed expectations.  As we entered we were surprised to find a veritable plethora of "summer locals"...Russian women on the Green (card), college kids, vacationing locals all parked at the bar.  After finding a seat, the bar staff finally arrived to take our order.  Dos Equis for myself, and to the Watt a Rolling Rock. Rolling Rock, part of an old school "cheap beer on draft" experiment Wattman is going to try this summer.  This time around, the Rock was an immediate disappointment- flat (a recurring theme this evening).  And both beers were served cool at best.  After waiving down the staff again, we got menus and a beer later the order was finally taken.  Mothers serves in pounds...thus 2 lbs of wings ordered, Spicy Hot and Chipotle BBQ.  And the wait was on.  Not sure if this is a clever tactic to get you to drink more, or that you become so hungry that everything tastes better.  But wait we did. And when the wings finally arrived, we even had to hunt down plates.  How can such fantastic wings come from a place where beer and service is only average at best?  The Hot Wings marinaded with green peppers is a version every wing connoisseur should try. The Chipotle BBQ- right on.  As we toasted the evening's end we wondered what would this place be like if the customer service matched the food.  And the Crusade goes on.

The Ratings-
Spicy Hot Wings: A
Chipotle BBQ Wings: B
Beer: C-
TV/Music: B
Atmosphere: C
Overall Score = 2.75