Post by ssmynkint on Jun 5, 2011 12:12:28 GMT -5
Hair of the Pint
The Honest Pint
35 Patten Pkwy
Chattanooga
Pint is part of the group that also owns Terminal Brew House and Hair of the Dog. All three are beer-centric establishments with active bar scenes. Each has a “theme” to (slightly) differentiate itself from it’s siblings, and each serves a variation on pub grub.
Pint presents itself as an “Irish Kitchen” as well as a pub and venue. Located in a space that had previously been a billiard parlor and club, the main bar/venue section has been fabulously renovated in polished woods, brass and glass. This, however, is also the smoking section. Up a few stairs, thru a door, and down a few stairs is the non-smoking dining area which adjoins the kitchen. The room has all the warmth of a high school detention room with institutional green walls, little decoration and the constant passage of servers in and out to the main rooms, trailing smoke with them.
There is an excellent selection of beers and a very good list of whiskeys, all reasonably priced. There are enough libations here for multiple visits. The menu is sectioned into “Shares Well With Others”-(appetizers) $3.5-$13, Wings $4-9.5, Salad $4-9.5, Soup $5.5+, Sammy’s$6-9, Burgers $4.5-13, Boxty (potato pancake wraps)$7.5-8.5 and Dinners $8-13. Two desserts are offered. Most items have a cutesy name (“OOOOOEEEEEE!!! for Cajun roast chicken, a “Celtic Cobb” salad) or initials; “B.S.S.D.S.L.T.” for a BLT with salmon and sun-dried tomato.
Service was clumsy. Although our server claimed five years experience, she did not know what fish was in the Irish Fish Tacos (ahi, not cod), nor how it was prepared; seared, she guessed. She was, however, quick to suggest the most popular items which were “awesome” and “amazing” and happened to be her favorites.
Pomme Tots, $5, is a cone of frozen tater tots fried in duck fat. The fat adds a unique mouth-feel and flavor, both of which are obscured if one uses the accompanying dips. Bonny Scot, $6, are hard-boiled eggs “breaded” in American country sausage and fried. The advertised ale mustard missed the plate. The eggs were an interesting one time taste. Irish Cheese Dip, $6 was a crock of melted cheese, spinach, potatoes and a bit of bacon (and I suspect, a dash of ale) served with crackers and a nice soda bread. Fully flavored and rich, this is sufficient as a lunch when slathered on the soda bread.
The Rube, $8, is the house Ruben, with thick chunks of corned beef and the usual suspects on thick rye. Nothing new here, but a hearty serving fit for knife and fork. The Grilled Eggplant Boxty, $7.5, was a thick potato pancake (not your momele’s latke) wrapped around eggplant, feta, olive spread and peppers. It paired well with beer, but the ingredients lacked distinct flavors resembled a veggie stew, and after a few bites the dish became a bit monotonous. Herder Pie, $8/$15 present as an island of cheese-mashed potatoes in a pond of wine/mustard sauced lamb stew. There was one thick slice of carrot. The lamb was tender, but so mild in flavor it could have been beef. It was none the less enjoyable comfort food. Irish Fish Tacos, $9.5, contained that most Irish of fish, ahi, in corn tortillas with some wilted cabbage and a ”Malt vinegar house salsa” which seemed to be little more then dilute vinegar. Flavors were indistinct to the point of being insipid.
The first piece of the Tuna Burger, $9, chopped fish and flavorings, had been passed for sampling when the recipient discovered a hair in her mouth that was imbedded in the burger. The waitress was informed and asked to see the hair and allowed she was mystified where the hair came from as everyone in the kitchen wore hair nets. She suggested the hair was one of ours. A women thought to be the floor manager (she did not introduce herself) came over to offer a reorder, which was refused, the tacos being asked for as a substitute. A moment later the taco eater discovered a hair in her taco. After finally getting the waitress’ attention- she was talking with friends- she and the manager again expressed mystification as to the origin of the hair. The Pint Dip, $8, was substituted for the fish orders. The meat, like thick Steak ‘Ums was adequate with onions and stout jus. At this point, others at the table had stopped eating.
The servers clearly did not believe that the errant follicles were of staff origin and said as much, further stating that the hair had been “analyzed“ was not theirs, but looked like one of ours.. No offer of comping was made nor were apologies offered.
Ambiance: poor-fair in non-smoking section
Value (Price/portion): good
Service: poor-insulting
Food: unacceptable due to hair, fair otherwise
28-May, 11
The Honest Pint
35 Patten Pkwy
Chattanooga
Pint is part of the group that also owns Terminal Brew House and Hair of the Dog. All three are beer-centric establishments with active bar scenes. Each has a “theme” to (slightly) differentiate itself from it’s siblings, and each serves a variation on pub grub.
Pint presents itself as an “Irish Kitchen” as well as a pub and venue. Located in a space that had previously been a billiard parlor and club, the main bar/venue section has been fabulously renovated in polished woods, brass and glass. This, however, is also the smoking section. Up a few stairs, thru a door, and down a few stairs is the non-smoking dining area which adjoins the kitchen. The room has all the warmth of a high school detention room with institutional green walls, little decoration and the constant passage of servers in and out to the main rooms, trailing smoke with them.
There is an excellent selection of beers and a very good list of whiskeys, all reasonably priced. There are enough libations here for multiple visits. The menu is sectioned into “Shares Well With Others”-(appetizers) $3.5-$13, Wings $4-9.5, Salad $4-9.5, Soup $5.5+, Sammy’s$6-9, Burgers $4.5-13, Boxty (potato pancake wraps)$7.5-8.5 and Dinners $8-13. Two desserts are offered. Most items have a cutesy name (“OOOOOEEEEEE!!! for Cajun roast chicken, a “Celtic Cobb” salad) or initials; “B.S.S.D.S.L.T.” for a BLT with salmon and sun-dried tomato.
Service was clumsy. Although our server claimed five years experience, she did not know what fish was in the Irish Fish Tacos (ahi, not cod), nor how it was prepared; seared, she guessed. She was, however, quick to suggest the most popular items which were “awesome” and “amazing” and happened to be her favorites.
Pomme Tots, $5, is a cone of frozen tater tots fried in duck fat. The fat adds a unique mouth-feel and flavor, both of which are obscured if one uses the accompanying dips. Bonny Scot, $6, are hard-boiled eggs “breaded” in American country sausage and fried. The advertised ale mustard missed the plate. The eggs were an interesting one time taste. Irish Cheese Dip, $6 was a crock of melted cheese, spinach, potatoes and a bit of bacon (and I suspect, a dash of ale) served with crackers and a nice soda bread. Fully flavored and rich, this is sufficient as a lunch when slathered on the soda bread.
The Rube, $8, is the house Ruben, with thick chunks of corned beef and the usual suspects on thick rye. Nothing new here, but a hearty serving fit for knife and fork. The Grilled Eggplant Boxty, $7.5, was a thick potato pancake (not your momele’s latke) wrapped around eggplant, feta, olive spread and peppers. It paired well with beer, but the ingredients lacked distinct flavors resembled a veggie stew, and after a few bites the dish became a bit monotonous. Herder Pie, $8/$15 present as an island of cheese-mashed potatoes in a pond of wine/mustard sauced lamb stew. There was one thick slice of carrot. The lamb was tender, but so mild in flavor it could have been beef. It was none the less enjoyable comfort food. Irish Fish Tacos, $9.5, contained that most Irish of fish, ahi, in corn tortillas with some wilted cabbage and a ”Malt vinegar house salsa” which seemed to be little more then dilute vinegar. Flavors were indistinct to the point of being insipid.
The first piece of the Tuna Burger, $9, chopped fish and flavorings, had been passed for sampling when the recipient discovered a hair in her mouth that was imbedded in the burger. The waitress was informed and asked to see the hair and allowed she was mystified where the hair came from as everyone in the kitchen wore hair nets. She suggested the hair was one of ours. A women thought to be the floor manager (she did not introduce herself) came over to offer a reorder, which was refused, the tacos being asked for as a substitute. A moment later the taco eater discovered a hair in her taco. After finally getting the waitress’ attention- she was talking with friends- she and the manager again expressed mystification as to the origin of the hair. The Pint Dip, $8, was substituted for the fish orders. The meat, like thick Steak ‘Ums was adequate with onions and stout jus. At this point, others at the table had stopped eating.
The servers clearly did not believe that the errant follicles were of staff origin and said as much, further stating that the hair had been “analyzed“ was not theirs, but looked like one of ours.. No offer of comping was made nor were apologies offered.
Ambiance: poor-fair in non-smoking section
Value (Price/portion): good
Service: poor-insulting
Food: unacceptable due to hair, fair otherwise
28-May, 11