Tapped Out, the Watt's notebook.

Taking advantage of the balmy October evenings. Food, friends, and beer- Taphouse Bar & Grille, 10/22/2020.

   What can I say. Poor performance. LWatt was right: I didn't need to don the full suit for the first time since Spring. For as little time as the fading light allowed me to stay in the water, I could have dealt with the 65 degree water in a spring suit, or even a rubber top. I would have been warm enough. I was certainly busy enough. Hell, there was a guy out their catching rides wearing a t-shirt for shit's sake. I spent my time getting caught inside, half duck diving wearing a full suit (which is quite buoyant by the way), spending more time getting pummelled by set after set, trying to stay in the lineup much less catching jack. Chest-plus high, semi- clean lefts rolling in sets of three to four...Wow! Finally done, catching a mushie to shore, in the dark, tumbled in the end, I was disappointed and tapped out for the night. Like I said, it was dark, Target and LWatt were most certainly relieved.

Didn't wear it well. 66th and Holidays, 10/22/2020.

   The cure to forget the disappointment; good food, good friends, good beer. I had the Crew, and the Taphouse Bar & Grille on 45th and the Bay had the food and plenty of beer selections. It was a short ride from the surf at Holidays. This was kinda new, kinda not. We've been to the 45th Street Taphouse (as it is also known) a couple times before, last time- about six years ago. But, never the outdoor gazebo bar. Air was still in the upper sixties, so we were comfortable ordering our drinks. Outside dining means we expect to get our brews in plastic, but the Taphouse served them in pretty sturdy cups...like the kind some may chose to keep. No, not us. Target and I still prefer our beer in a glass...iced glass. However, they were classy for the open air dining atmosphere.

Orders were put in for the Taphouse Pretzels with spicy stout mustard and house made beer cheese, the House BBQ Wings, and the 1/2 pound Baconlicious Burger. To start this critique, one of the other variables we have come to expect (although not accept) in dining outside is semi-warm food. This evening we were pleasantly surprised.

All dishes were served very warm to hot. The pretzels came out in a foursome, were freshly baked and hot, salted well, and with very good dipping sauces. The wings were fat, juicy, and evenly coated with a sticky sweet BBQ. The burger was a well cooked, 1/2 pound, hand pressed patty with tons of bacon (as the menu promised), cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion on a buttery brioche bun with a pile of tasty waffle fries on the side. Gotta say, our bartender served us one of the most consistent meals we've had all season. And, the tab was very reasonable (including a free beer!) for what we ordered. We had golf, and then football on the TV. We had a mix of top 40 pop and rock on the radio. We had a very good bartender who provided very good service. We had good friends with great conversation. All were conducive to putting frustration behind, and feeling stoked about our Quest for the next session. 'Til then...

THE RATINGS-

Taphouse Pretzels: B+

House BBQ Wings: B+

Baconlicious Burger: B+

Beer: B

Atmosphere: B

Value: B

Overall Score = 3.13