Saturday was another scorcher of a day, so a quick, where do you want to eat, I don't care where do you want to eat, etc., took us to Bevo's. Unlike the quick review of Tiny Thai and its great take out food, this will be a full blown review. But first a couple of quick confessions, once again blogger brain freeze caused me to forget my camera (It is NOT old age I tell you , it more getting used to carrying a camera around everywhere you go). This is especially unfortunate here, as food presentation is one of Bevo's strengths. I am going to throw an inexpensive digital camera in the car, so I have one when needed, I promise. I know, I know, I could join the masses and upgrade to a smart phone that actually has a good camera built in, but that would be too easy, and I just do not want to be connected all the time that bad, my old 12 lb. cell works great. Second, this is our 3rd visit to Bevo's since they opened, it is becoming our go to place, when nobody can make a decision on where to eat. Everybody needs a place like this, a spot you can go to at the last minute, when you find the freezer empty or you just don't feel like cooking. We have two, Tiny Thai (see previous review) and now Bevo's. Bevo takes the place of our former favorite restaurant in Vermont, Bistro Sauce, which sadly left us last year.
Sauce (as we cool kids called it) was known for its incredibly diverse food, a great wine list (Emily the owner, always had new wines for us to try) and most of all for its wonderful employees. By a strange coincidence, one of its best employees, Ryan, our favorite bartender, followed us to Bevos (OK maybe he started working here before our first visit, still a cool coincidence). So for those of you who always turn to the back of the Harry Potter novels to see who dies (Yes there are actually Harry Potter books not just movies), you sort of know the direction this review is going. BUT like the Russian judges at the Olympics I am going to be totally impartial and concentrate on reviewing this particular visit only.
On the way in, the first sign of a good night, the little specials board by the road listed pork sliders and fish tacos as tonight's specials YUMMY. We arrived about 5:15 (OK what is up with eating so dam early?? I might as well start wearing my Bermuda shorts up around my waist along with knee high black socks and sandals). But in this case I had an ulterior plan. Bevo's is one of the few places that has happy hour EVERY day, so if you eat there on weekends you still get a Happy Hour YEA. Oh and what a Happy Hour it is (actually 3:30 to 6 so a really looonnngggg happy hour). Happy hour specials include Tortilla Flat nachos (more on those later) , chicken wings, which are nicely glazed, sticky and a bit spicy, around 10 to an order, either one for $4.00 and PBR draft for $2.00 (what is it with Pabst Blue Ribbon all of a sudden, this is the beer we drank when we were 17 when we couldn't afford real beer, $3.00 or so a case if I remember right). So as you can see, for a ten spot, you can have a nice feed and go home happy and full. Now for my first quibble, the happy hour specials have not changed since opening, OK I admit, you can't really remove the wings and nachos , their great but maybe add a rotating 3rd special that changes by night? and REALLY, PBR, I know its cheap but can we add another real beer, I would happily pay more, maybe a $3 special and maybe a red wine and white wine special, we went to a great bar in Seattle that had a different wine by the glass every happy hour OH and a drink special wouldn't hurt business, either $4 martini, or mojitos. C'mon guys its great but spice it up a bit , keep us guessing.
Now lets see somewhere about a few thousand words ago , there was a review going on. So in we walk and order drinks and nachos, (We have priorities of course). Dos Equis on tap for me and a Vodka and Lemonade for the wife. And now my second quibble, Bevo strives to be a neighborhood bar that serves eclectic, fun food, the very definition of a Gastropub, but you can't have the gastro without the pub. And the wine and beer selections are quite thin. Lets start with wine, the actual selections are fun and varied, no grocery store wine here (WHAT No Yellowtail YEA), but with only 5 or 6 offerings in each of red and white and most of these from Europe (Spain is well represented at Bevo's) your choices are limited. My suggestion (for what its worth ) is to at least double up and fill in some categories that are missing, maybe 10-12 white offerings and 12-15 red. Not all wines have to be by the glass either, save some for bottles only. But while the wine offering is small, but unusual and varied, the same can not be said for the beer, sigh, please we live in a state that has some INCREDIBLE micro brews, I know you have a tap for Switchback and that's great, but truly isn't it now a law that if you have a bar in the Burlington area you MUST have a tap of Switchback? And I think I saw Long Trail up there also. How about a tap devoted to an ever changing selection of Hill Farmstead's range of incredible beers, maybe another one that can rotate through a who's who's of Vermont, Trapp Family, Magic Hat, (I know, I know its a NY company still made here though) Otter Creek, Harpoon,Trout River, Rock Art, you get the idea. And maybe a tap for an ever changing regional beer, I vote for Dogfish Head out of Delaware or maybe Brooklyn Brewery or Ommegang out of New York. I'd love to walk in and ask Ryan, What's new and he could say, we just got this incredible keg from (fill in the blank).
Oh yea review, ADHD anyone? The drinks came , beer was nice and cold, vodka and lemonade wasn't a personal favorite of the wife, taste was off, too much vodka, not enough lemonade maybe (WHAT too much alcohol, preposterous). And shortly after, our plate of nachos. Now these aren't your ordinary mess of ingredient nachos, nope rather three simple but tasty ingredients, chips (DUH No kidding), cheese (lots and lots) and special sauce. Not sure how they make the sauce buts its very smooth, no chunks, a little spicy , a little smoky and just plain good. A quick refill of the ole beer glass and a lesson from Ryan on how to make a proper mojitos (NOW this is a drink, served in a pint glass no less ). We are ready for more, a quick reading reveals lots of specials and we choose most of them, the before mentioned pork sliders, no slaw please. I know pulled pork and cole slaw are natural together but I really don't like mayo. For the wife, another special, lemon and thyme marinated lobster over a salad of slivered pea shoots and radishes. Summer on a plate, (really a picture would do a thousand words and I wouldn't have to write so much, again sorry). And for us to share a bowl of the special cucumber and yogurt soup. For those of you that know me, you all know i am not big on vegetables, but this was delicious. Served chilled and loaded with slivers of candied almonds, it was refreshing and tasty all at the same time. A perfect soup for a 90 degree day. Both of the entrees arrive, a bit on the small side but they were starters after all. Karen and I will do this often, make a whole meal of starters. The salad as you already know was incredible, visually and tastily (is that a word, it is now), a perfect summer salad. My sliders (two in a serving) ,were great. The bread (a homemade roll) was a bit dry (would of been better with the added slaw I'm sure) but the barbecued pork and the extra sauce, OH the extra sauce, a chipotle and cream concoction that added layers and layers of flavor, were incredible.
Satisfied with an incredible meal, we decided to share a simple dessert. And what could be more simple than vanilla ice cream with fresh Mazza berries, (Mazza's is our local super big farm stand) . Just picked raspberries and blueberries with ice cream and a bit of whipped cream, a perfect ending.
On a scale of 1 to 5;
Food, Quality means much more to us than quantity.
Beer and Wine, Based on selection and pricing
Service, Speaks for itself
Ambiance, Does the look fit the food and pricing
Ambiance, Does the look fit the food and pricing
Price, And finally does the pricing equal the results we had.
Food, 4 Slider rolls were dry but the rest of the meal was excellent
Food, 4 Slider rolls were dry but the rest of the meal was excellent
Beer and Wine, 3.5 What is there, is great but we need more choices
Service, 5 The staff here is great, period.
Service, 5 The staff here is great, period.
Ambiance, 4 Confession, we have only ever ate at the bar, its a small space overall but a very nice vibe. Lots of unused space upstairs right now but as Bevo's gets more popular things could get hopping.
Price, 3.5 This is not a "cheap" place to eat, sliders were $8.95, salad I believe was about the same price and these are small plates. But combine one or two menu items with the happy hour menu and you can go home very happy and some green still in your wallet.
Overall; 4 One of our new favorite restaurants in Vermont. Great staff, imaginative food and a great atmosphere. Will we be back, HELL YES, Should you visit, HELL YES. Do yourself a favor and stop in, you won't be sorry.
Overall; 4 One of our new favorite restaurants in Vermont. Great staff, imaginative food and a great atmosphere. Will we be back, HELL YES, Should you visit, HELL YES. Do yourself a favor and stop in, you won't be sorry.
No comments:
Post a Comment