Meghan "Pickle" B.'s Profile

I heard people talk about this place at work a lot. They'd mention grabbing an after work beer and frequenting it quite often since it was so close.  One day a coworker mentioned (since they knew that I was obsessed) that they had fried pickles there and I was gung-ho about going there soon.

That same week my boyfriend mentioned that he would be going there with a group of people that Friday and invited me to come. I was ecstatic.  I was ecstatic until the moment the GPS turned us into a very familiar parking lot of a very shady establishment.  I was suddenly reliving a repressed experience from about a year prior.  The experience had been so bad, I had forgotten the name of the place all together.  Skip and Jan's sounds so lighthearted, friendly, and inviting.  It is not.

Memories of disgusting chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks (things you wouldn't think would even be possible to mess up cooking) flew through my mind.  And the second I walked in the door I got the same feeling that I needed to sanitize every surface that I dare touch.

Now let me say, there is shady good, and shady bad. This is shady horrific. It reminds me of the smell of a plastic puke bucket from when you are sick as a child.

But deep inside me, I just had to stay, socialize, and try their fried pickles. I did, and they were the best things I have eaten there. At least you could tell they were not 3 year old frozen pieces of cardboard like everything else on the menu.  But for fried pickles they still weren't the best.

The only positive thing that I can think of is the fact that our waitress did seem to handle our huge unruly space-cadet group of people quickly and with ease. If that is the only saving grace, I'd rather eat my fried pickles elsewhere.

Fried Pickles!

Fried Pickles!

Fried Pickles!

Fried Pickles!

I had never visited a Hooters until about 4 years ago. Mainly I hadn't been in one because I was turned off by the whole concept of the establishment. I have to give it props however, because this is the place where I tried my very first fried pickle.

Their fried pickles are chip cut. I like to get mine extra crispy (meaning they double fry/ batter them).  This was actually suggested to me by one of the waitresses that served me at this location.  They also get props because they serve their fried pickles with a fabulous sauce.  It's a delicious zesty ranch sauce and I hear supposedly it is just hooters hot sauce and ranch dressing.  The ultimate bonus comes in when you hit them up for Happy Hour; then it's only $2.50 for a whole order of them!

Overall, I feel as though Hooters is a-ok now. Maybe because they allowed me to discover one of my true loves.

In all honesty though, I like this location on a Sunday afternoon outside on the balcony overlooking Mill Ave. Throw back a beer, people watch and stare at the pigeons that often visit (including ones with only 2 toes).

Good place to have a beer, duck fart, or whatever you may fancy.  I am absolutely in love with their fried pickles. They are so far my favorite in the valley. Long sandwich style slices with a crispy light beer-esque batter.

They also have some wonderful perogies on the menu. If you order a burger... you must try the red cabbage slaw as a side.

I like going here to just have a low key night. Good place to watch sports too- that's just not really my scene.

I really loved this place. Went their on Sunday night with my bf after our disappointment that Marcello's was closed. The atmosphere was cozy and quaint and I was even delighted by a surprisingly not annoying live accordian player.

I opted for the special of the evening which was a pasta duo. Homemeade gnocchi in a creamy pesto sauce and also a mushroom stuffed ravioli topped with prosciutto. The gnocchi was to die for. Melt in your mouth.

I would have loved to try their dessert but two bottles of wine later and I was just too much of a stuffed monkey.

If you are a beer lover, this place should be on your list to stop at.  They have a great selection for such a small establishment.  Tip: Don't just look at the beer menus they leave at the tables, new kegs that they've recently gotten in will be listed on the specials board up front, or always helpful is to just ask the bartenders.  They are friendly and give good recommendations.

They recently started doing beer flights which I personally think is great.  That way you get to sample a bit of all the best worlds.  Flights are $5 and you get four 5 oz. beer samples of your choice.

In terms of food- I say Garlic Parmesan boneless wings all the way!  Their spice is a bit on the mild side, so I always go one step above Hot but not Atomic.

And... what could be better than fried pickles?! It's always so hard to find places that have these scrumptious treats.  Theirs are spear style with a traditional bread crumb breading mixed with dill.  They always come out extra hot so I have to give them a few minutes to cool.

If you normally order ranch as a dipping sauce for you wings and things, you should really give their blue cheese dip a try. It is homemade and on the mild side.  It's the perfect creamy consistency and doesn't scream blue cheese (which is normally what keeps me away from ordering this at other restaurants).

Karaoke on Friday nights is a blast and not too crowded.

I visited Meatballz several weeks ago before a night at the movies. All I can say is that the Calzone crust was obviously made out of Pillsbury's Hot Roll Mix and dry out of the box tortellini is not what I expected for nearly $9 for a small bowl. Never returning.