The Butcher Block, such a strong name, makes me think of meat, chopping meat, cooking. grilling, spices and peppers. Makes me want to cook, cook, cook, and not some wussy cooking, really cooking- like ribs- and then once they are done eat them with my hands. Or barbarically chew steak right off the bone. Needless to say, as you may guess, the Butcher Block specializes in meat!
The Butcher Block is a small northeast restaurant, tucked away on a busy street--Hennepin Ave. Inside it's alright, nothing too great, mostly because I'm not a fan of fabric covering the walls in lieu of paint or other decorations. It has a nice looking bar, but again small.
Prior to eating there, I would frequently walk by, stopping to look at the menu, and never thought it looked like much. I thought it would be mediocre, nothing special, things that I could make with ease. Oh how wrong I was. Granted I didn't order a full entree (just a small Caesar salad, you know watching the waist line and the wallet--mostly the wallet), I did pig off my sister, brother and boyfriend. And let me tell you, those bites were mouthwatering. Butcher Block offers wings, in 14 different exotic flavors. We all shared some wings, which were mmm, mmm, cumin and lime (YUM!) and sambal chili. They were delightful. Those worked as an app, not leaving us too full, but just perfectly satisfied. Now the entrees... New York Strip, a bit chewy but the brussel sprout with pancetta, made up for all the steak lacked. Best brussel sprouts in town!!! Their "special" pasta dish wasn't all the special. It actually lacked a lot. So, top tip, don't order it. What you should order is this: SPUNTATURA DI MANZO CACCIATORE--AKA SHORT RIBS. Honestly, I'm telling you, no need to look at a menu. So good, so good. This dish won over my heart. It was the envy of everyone at the table. I wanted to lick my brother's plate, even eat the fatty pieces..it was that good. GO THERE. ORDER IT.
As for their drinks, their beer menu is lacking, and they don't have any beers on tap. However, their wine menu is extensive, and impressive (I'm guessing, I don't know wine).
Honestly, I don't have much else to say about the Butcher Block. All I can really remember is that the short ribs were divine. My mind has blocked everything else. The short ribs, the short ribs, the short ribs.... seriously I gotta start turning tricks in order to order the short ribs...and not a damn salad.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Anchor Fish and Chips
Hello again, friends young and old-All spry and hip regardless of age. Deepest apologies for being away for so long, ah how you must have missed us and our large appetites. Well...despite the size of our stomaches, WE ARE BACK IN BUSINESS BABAY! Starting out the month of March is Anchor Fish and Chips, a favorite of some local editorials. This blog however, disagrees with all the hoopity hype.
Anchor Fish and Chips, while reasonably priced leaves much to be desired by the taste buds, and leaves a whole lot to be desired after spending time on the royal thrown (aka the pot, aka the krapper, aka the dunny, aka the porcelin god, aka the john, aka the shitter, aka goin' pittles, aka the pool, aka the pissbak, aka, to be polite...taking a dump or a few. The Anchor offers a small menu, nothing vegan or veggie, a poor beer selection, and wet fries coated in grease. While I may not being giving the Anchor the chance it deserves, especially after only eating there one time, I instinctively feel that regardless of how many times I frequent Anchor Fish and Chips, I will still be disappointed and leave with a stomach ache.
The Anchor is in fact so disappointing, that they force you to order food in order to drink. POW! BAM! BANG! KABLOOEY! I think my head just exploded from this absurdity. ABSURD! CATASTROPHIC! UNBELIEVABLE! Honestly, what kind of place, what kind of management, what/where/why/who? Seriously though, they told me I can't drink without eating their shit nasty food. Honestly...I can't even speak-type how pissed that makes me. What kind of restaurant is this?
If someone forces me to go to The Anchor, I possibly would. Only for the fact that so many people have said this is a good place, a top place. I want to be wrong, and I want them to be proven right. Maybe for their breakfast menu on Saturday and Sundays, possibly for their Shepard's Pie, probably even for their curry/gravy chips. BUT NEVER FOR THEIR FISH AND CHIPS! It's quite sad that the name of the restaurant is most likely the worst dish they serve. If I have a hankering for grease nasty fish, I would rather spend $5.00 at McDonalds for their lenten special- the McFish Sandwich. I would rather stick my head in a toilet bowl that has fish swimming around and around. I would rather get some Gordy's fish sticks from my local market and burn them to a crisp.
But I cannot rant all day, and am working on positive thinking, so.... here is some positive aspects about Anchor. It's a great building, tin ceilings, nice red walls (I'm a sucker for red walls), and offers small/quaint booths. Also, another huge A+++ in my book, the ingredients that they use are mostly local and organic (even if they are poorly prepared). I respect and appreciate Twin Cities restaurants supporting local farmers, produce, and businesses.
So after all of this, possibly, maybe, ehhh if you feel a real need, try Anchor Fish and Chips. You may not be disappointed while you slurp down your food, but you surely will be while it is slurping out of you.
Anchor Fish and Chips, while reasonably priced leaves much to be desired by the taste buds, and leaves a whole lot to be desired after spending time on the royal thrown (aka the pot, aka the krapper, aka the dunny, aka the porcelin god, aka the john, aka the shitter, aka goin' pittles, aka the pool, aka the pissbak, aka, to be polite...taking a dump or a few. The Anchor offers a small menu, nothing vegan or veggie, a poor beer selection, and wet fries coated in grease. While I may not being giving the Anchor the chance it deserves, especially after only eating there one time, I instinctively feel that regardless of how many times I frequent Anchor Fish and Chips, I will still be disappointed and leave with a stomach ache.
The Anchor is in fact so disappointing, that they force you to order food in order to drink. POW! BAM! BANG! KABLOOEY! I think my head just exploded from this absurdity. ABSURD! CATASTROPHIC! UNBELIEVABLE! Honestly, what kind of place, what kind of management, what/where/why/who? Seriously though, they told me I can't drink without eating their shit nasty food. Honestly...I can't even speak-type how pissed that makes me. What kind of restaurant is this?
If someone forces me to go to The Anchor, I possibly would. Only for the fact that so many people have said this is a good place, a top place. I want to be wrong, and I want them to be proven right. Maybe for their breakfast menu on Saturday and Sundays, possibly for their Shepard's Pie, probably even for their curry/gravy chips. BUT NEVER FOR THEIR FISH AND CHIPS! It's quite sad that the name of the restaurant is most likely the worst dish they serve. If I have a hankering for grease nasty fish, I would rather spend $5.00 at McDonalds for their lenten special- the McFish Sandwich. I would rather stick my head in a toilet bowl that has fish swimming around and around. I would rather get some Gordy's fish sticks from my local market and burn them to a crisp.
But I cannot rant all day, and am working on positive thinking, so.... here is some positive aspects about Anchor. It's a great building, tin ceilings, nice red walls (I'm a sucker for red walls), and offers small/quaint booths. Also, another huge A+++ in my book, the ingredients that they use are mostly local and organic (even if they are poorly prepared). I respect and appreciate Twin Cities restaurants supporting local farmers, produce, and businesses.
So after all of this, possibly, maybe, ehhh if you feel a real need, try Anchor Fish and Chips. You may not be disappointed while you slurp down your food, but you surely will be while it is slurping out of you.
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