Abandoned But Not Forsaken, tales from the Watt

Not forsaken...dippin' toes in the cold. Target's call on last week's knee-high break.  74th Street, the OC. 11/6/2019.

   Abandoned, but not forsaken. Kinda how we would describe our mid-week surf sessions. Dark by 5pm, it had become an impractical mission to attempt to get in water time at day's end. Besides, post-sunset is feeding time for those pelagic varmints who got nuthin' better to do than rummage about the shallows of the shoreline. The water having dropped into the upper fifties, I had no desire to be chilled and chewed. Moreover, the weather had changed. Nights were getting cooler. This evening the rain was coming. For now, no more surf for the Crew. But over the next few months, taverns, dives, saloons, and bistros will all be part of the sets that will be rollin' in for our critical enjoyment under cover of our offseason.
   The latest eatery that we tendered, and the first of this year's Daylight Standard Time, was the Pines Public House. In a building that was formerly a Pizza Hut, in a corner of Ocean Pines south entrance, walls covered in birch bark sheets, a see-through fireplace, the bar veneered in slices of pine, and capped with a quartz top, it was like walking into a mountain lodge. And the menu showcased comfort food, and cocktail options to ward off the damp night. LWatt decided on the house Margarita as Target and I had a couple of drafts delivered from their extensive (15 crafts, 3 domestics) selection. I'm not sure how many qualified for a taphouse, but the Public House was pretty close.

From the menu we chose their already famous Bacon Bourbon Wings, the Pines Pub Burger, and as it was taco night, the Pines Street Tacos. When the food arrived, there was no doubt as to the effort put into the presentation, however it was soon obvious that the burger was the last that was cooked. The three tacos were plentiful with a good amount of mahi, shrimp, beef, and all the fixings...big for street tacos. But they were cold, which muted the taste. The wings had an excellent Bourbon BBQ sauce with bits of bacon. Big, meaty, and just warm, which stole points from the experience. For the second week the leading choice was the burger... a half pound of Angus, sliced pork belly, cheddar cheese, Asian slaw, house bourbon sauce, and crispy onion straws on a toasted bun. Cooked medium well, it had a very good flavor and was fat, hot, and juicy. Plenty of TVs around the bar but no music, at least that we could hear. The food was plentiful, and the bill was very bearable. With an offering full of potential, this restaurant will undoubtedly be worth taking another ride through it's menu on a future occasion. Yet regardless of the presentation, if they don't improve on the quality served (i.e. temperature), the Pines Public House will find themselves abandoned AND forsaken. As for our Pines tour, the Crew will be gunning for the next stop on our Journey.

Pines Public House, 11/7/2019.
THE RATINGS-

Bacon Bourbon Wings: B-

Pines Street Tacos: C+

Pines Pub Burger: B+

Beer: B

Atmosphere: C+

Value: B

Overall Score =  2.75