Grubsnitch

My brother's friend Jeff used to buy us glasses of Oban here, and we'd mess with the waitress' iPod. They had a wicked yellow beet salad with truffle oil, and their fried calamari, well, tasted like fried calamari, which I like a great deal. The place has a good long wooden bar, and they have lots of fine beers on tap and a nice pinot noir. My brother likes their dirty martinis. They were renovating for quite a while and were trying to build a big backroom for billiards and such. A great place for a mellow drink on a rainy eve. But I think they may have closed down, or at least converted half their joint to a Burger Bar. If the Minnow has passed on, adieu, and I hope the burger place is better than the crappy sandwich shop that was in this space before Minnowwas (chicken wrap, food poisoning). But if she's still open, stop by and ask for an Oban -- I think Jeff left a finger or two for you. 

I had brunch here on the first half-way winter day in January; my friends were tardy, so the nice bearded proprietor let me in a tad before opening to drink coffee at the bar with the sleepy hipster waitress. Eggs Benedict usually beckon, though this time I went with the Nova Salmon and poached eggs – delectable. A little salad and potatoes - fried “to perfection” - accompany. Given that my very pregnant friend was expecting a baby at any moment, she ate her breakfast with suprisingly slow relish; the Israeli crispy bread with eggs over-easy served with pickles and chutneys (I think) – that’s what I’m having next time. I went here once a couple years ago for dinner but have only a dim recollection of it; I remember it as tasty, but I also remember it as Italian, and I think Rome and Jerusalem are whole different places. The wine list on their fancy flashed-up website (http://www.miriamrestaurant.com) looks pretty fine, including some Israeli and Lebanese varietals. Oh, and their eggs are organic, so tip the bearded owner and the deck waitress appropriately.

Sometimes I need a little sandwich to nosh on while watching a few episodes of Battlestar Galactica, and Pita Pan is my standby. I stick mostly with the shwarma, with hot sauce, though all their sandwiches are pretty good; ask them to grill the lamb up for you on their stove - it gives it that extra zing. The grape leaves are pretty tasty too. The guys are always friendly, and they play pretty great middle-eastern tunes that you can rock out to under their faux grape arbor. Though I've not yet imbibed, they also offer healthy smoothy things with wheat grass (they'll mow it for you right there on the counter), Spiru-Tein, and aloe-vera juice.  'Course, they have all the usual smoothy things too, but how often can you get aloe served up to you alongside your rollup of roasted meats?

I've been here twice and I had pretty damn good meals both times out. The pulled pork on bisquits is tremendous. The rough-cut cole slaw (where does that word come from anyway?) helps improve this ubiquitous side-dish's rep. The bar looks well stocked, and they've got some good brews (Six Point Sweet Action, et al), so stop by and have a beer and some of their great bisquits, with honey from their little honeybears. I'm looking forward to going back and giving the ribs a try, though they will have to work hard to beat my fiancee's uncle's central Florida recipe. His smoker has a trailer hitch. 'Nuf said. 

I go here most mornings to get some writing done. Matthew the barista is a gent, and chats about Emerson while steaming milk. The coffee of the day is always good -- usually something like an Organic Brazil. And their scones: my lord. The chocolate-cherry one is divine, but avoid the blueberry oatmeal, as it isn't nearly as good it should be. Their HVAC system is a little quirky and the coffee tends to get cold if you get the ceramic mug (as you should, green citizen that you are) and sit for too long nursing it; so when you order your latte ask them to get the thing fixed. And to get some new CDs, as their playlist is getting a little worn out. I too love the "The Rain King" by the Counting Crows, but it begins to grate after a while. The wine list looks good, but cher. And those chocolates, but you'll have to give those a whirl for yourself, as I've yet to indulge.