Starting the day in Lathrop, then a meeting, then another flight, I finally ended up in Burbank, CA.
Of course, since I hit a sports bar last night, I was planning to do something a tad different. Asian maybe?
But I decided against it.
Tonight was the Major League Baseball All-Star game. I needed a place where I could eat good food and drink good beer until the fat lady sang.
And as soon as I saw The Park Bar and Grill, I had found my place.
The inside is decked out in Dodger blue. They serve $2 Dodger dogs, $2 domestic drafts, and even serve free peanuts during Dodger games.
One of the owners or managers must be a Green Bay Packers fan too. Packers gear adorned some of the walls, along with a smattering of Raiders stuff.
They also had pool tables and a dart board for those looking to do something active while they drink way too much beer.
They probably had about ten televisions total. That’s enough for a small bar like this.
Before looking at the menu, I looked at the beers on draft. I was impressed.
More than 20 beers on draft. Less than six were the domestic puke kind.
I started off with a Dos Equis and ended up sprinkling in a few Sam Adams Summer Ales along the way.
The menu is small and dive bar-ish. Only a few pages of your typical fare. Almost everything is under $5.
I went with the “Mongo Burger” — a burger with Philly steak, bacon, pickles and cheese.
And it was awesome.
You could pick between curly fries, steak fries, or onion rings for your side, and I chose curly fries.
After my first bite, I knew this would be a great night.
The fries were seasoned wonderfully and came with your choice of ketchup, ranch, or both.
The burger was so juicy. And the beef, fried steak, and bacon didn’t get lost together. I could taste each individually, like an “I’m here to kick you in the taste buds!” It was incredible.
If there was a complaint, it was that the bun had disintegrated by the end of the meal.
But I had a great time and drank several beers, and felt right at home at this neighborhood bar and restaurant.
I talked baseball and a little NASCAR with some other patrons. Oh and the service was great too.
Despite only one bartender and one cook, they rocked it, so I left a better than average tip.
The bartender actually thanked me and said “See you soon!” as I was leaving.
Of course, I won’t get a chance to come back any time soon. But those who put The Park down on places to visit will love it just as much as I did.
And if you’re in Burbank, you should check it out too.
Rating: Seriously Thought About Buying a Shirt.
