Robin Hood: A Bit of London in the Valley September 6, 2007
Posted by foodies in Bars, Places to go when you're drunk, Pubs.1 comment so far
Robin Hood British Pub & Restaurant
Location: 13640 Burbank Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91401-5216
Phone: (818) 994-6045
Type of Food: Good ole’ pub with affordable prices tucked away in the Valley
Yes, we’re back! After a long time of no posts Renee and I have a new fetish: The Pub. There are many reasons that we love the pub scene:
1. Pubs are the new dives
2. Great lowkey beers on tap such as a Bodington’s and Greene King Abbott Ale.
3. Always can find a great place to sit without the crowds and always douch-bag free
To tell you the truth, it was our first time eating here. But we do have out own favorite pubs that we love. (I love McG’s in Chatsworth, Renee loves Kingshead in Santa Monica) And tonight we were feeling a bit tired of everything so we decided to head South to Ventura Blvd. and randomly close our eyes and throw the proverbial dart on the map and take a blind go at it.
Run by two ex-Pats, The Robin Hood Pub and Restaurant has been open since 1982, and they’ve been serving the Valley old fashioned British home-style Pub food. Food your Mum would make. We didn’t even make it to Ventura before hitting Robin Hood on Burbank while we headed South on Woodman Ave.
Service: 8 out 10. The waitress was decent. Checked up on us, got us refills but really didn’t make much conversation, but it was okay since the dinner rush did start to get busy. We didn’t even ask that much in the first place since she was prompt with my pint of Boddington’s
Menu: We salivated within minutes of scanning the menu. Robin Hood not only boasts a Happy Hour, but always Afternoon tea from 2-5 in which they serve tea sandwiches and scones. They also have specials every weekend (that we totally plan to hit up) Their menu is very traditional; Fish and Chips, Shephard’s Pie, Banger’s and Mash. Their bar is very vast as well. They have 11 great beers on tap such as Boddington’, Guinness, Stella, Greene Abbot Ale, etc.
First we started off with pints. I love Boddington’s personally, light but creamy. I loved how there was practically no foam (less foam means more beer), this was poured by a professional. Renee ordered a pint of Stella for herself and we also had fried mushrooms, which I was let down by.
The batter looked light, but also tasted old. As if the oil that they fried it in seemed like they friend the fish in. Not getting that again.
Steak & Mushroom Pie with Chips and Peas
Cornish Pastie with Mash & Peas
For our main dish I ordered the Steak and Mushroom Pie with Chips and Peas. The food came piping hot. I being the crazy one who loves abnormally hot food took one bite of my Steak and Mushroom Pie choked and then appreciated the doughiness and the buttery taste of the crust. The pie had pieces of steak, mushrooms and potatoes that were cooked in a wine sauce which didn’t taste bitter at all.
My only complaint is that the pie should have had more meat. There was most potatoes. The chips were okay. I was hoping for the authentic chips where they’re thick, crispy and hot, I have a feeling that I had half of a cold batch and then half of a hot batch put together. The peas were good. Not mushy at all. And the gravy that came with the dish was not too salty and well seasoned. I honestly didn’t even think it was gravy because it was so dark, it’s more of a demi glaze. Renee thought hers tasted very good. She liked the seasoningg of the ground beef and the mash that came with her dish were creamy without feeling too heavy. Her only reserve was that the peas wernen’t mashed.
All in all, the Robin Hood is a pub that we plan to definitely come back to. Look out for our future post when we check out their high tea!
“SHOT.” YOUR NEW FAVORITE 4-LETTER WORD. September 25, 2006
Posted by foodies in Bars, Outisde Los Angeles, Places to go when you're drunk, Trendy / Hipster.add a comment
Location: 923 8th Ave (Cross Street: Between 54th Street and 55th Street)
New York, NY 10019 View Map
Phone: (212) 245-3212
I’d like to think that I’m an organized person and I have my jet-setting trips planned to the second. So of course I’ve scheduled a night to get completely fucked up and when my bestfriend Peter told me about a place that specializes in nothing but shots and not metion accessories–I said nothing and simply nodded my head and let him lead the way!
Silver stars dangle throughout narrow, red-walled saloon, perhaps foreshadowing what the local and after-work crowds will be seeing after they throw back the bar’s 100-plus different shots. Five plasma screens flash with sports, while a digital jukebox plays everything from ’80s hair bands to modern pop. Creative shots, which are typical of the namesake city, run different prices.
Essential Orders:
Since I had no idea when the hell I was ever going to be back under such cheap circumstances (ahem, staying for free at a friends’ place) and not to mention, knowing someone in the inside, Peter and I were especially feeling adventourous in choosing what we were going to drink.
Being a bit shy and awkward in a new place, we tried their new “Snakes On a Plane” shot. It was on special for $3!
You can’t see it that well, but there’s a lemon rind that’s supposed to be the snake! If the owner is making it–he’ll do his bestest Samuel L. Impression!
One that I tried was “The Top Gun Shot”. You wear a hat and dark glasses while “Danger Zone” plays in the background. Get a friend with you and he gets to be your ultimate wingman–Mother Goose!
“The Jose Conseco Shot”- Straight from a syringe–Need I say more?
“The Monica Lewinsky Shot”–No Cigar, but then again, no hands either.
Oh, and did I mention there’s a wig involved?!
“Truth Syrum”–For the Ladies
And the craziest one of all–”The Full Metal Jacket Shot”.
Yes, girly-style the push-ups were–I at least was able to do 10!
Alright, soldier!
Now, for this one, I have no idea what the hell I was going to get myself into. But when I put an army helmet on and my bartender not only did 2-3 shots of Seagrams’ for extra confidence and started shouting commands and I quickly threw back a shot of Wild Turkey and then proceeded to do 10 pushups on a floor–a bar floor, and I got up quick again and threw back another shot of Wild Turkey, I did not know that they were going to take it that far! Thank god I’ve been working out for the past 4 months. I knew that would come in handy. Thank god I didn’t look like some chicken-shit weakling.
Service: 10 out of 10. The bartender was very nice and personable. She also made the drinks very well.
Things to Know:
- 5 IMPORTANT WORDS: THE BARS CLOSE AT 4 a.m.
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Save Money-Each week a new batch of shots goes up for a $3 pricetag all the time, but daily happy hour from 4pm to 7pm also means $3 drafts, $4 bottled beers, $4 well drinks, and $5 Guinness. During Yankee games, pitchers of Bud Light are $12.
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No food is served, but the bartenders are happy to let you bring outside meals in.
