Monday, June 13, 2011

Momma Donna's


I've found my new favorite spot for a late night bite.
Dishing out an array of your good ol' American bar eats, Momma Donna takes drunk food to the next level.
Momma's eclectic decor of brightly colored walls, hanging african tribal masks and chinese checkers boards also give the restaurant a comfortable, homey feeling. Momma's miscellaneous furnishings go even further with table tops covered in a collage of timeless newspaper and magazine cut-outs of Lennon and post WWII headlines that shout "PEACE" and "THE WAR IS OVER".
"Around here, anything goes," Donna said.
Her menu is simple. Whether or not I'm drunk, simple is better.
"I'm not trying to sell people on the details," Donna said. "I'm not looking to draw a snobby crowd," Donna said. "Once people start criticizing my food, that's where we have problems."
The everyday customer or late-night prowler would probably have no idea that she hand carmalizes bacon, allows her burger buns to proof (rise) for 20 hours and even uses free-range beef in all of her burgers. Most of the produce used in her dishes are also local.
On my visit, I ordered the PBJ Burger. The sweet bun, thick cut bacon, patty and a healthy dose of PBJ actually works. I returned the next day for her other house special, the Hawaiian Loco Moco. Coming from Hawaii while being a State Street regular, Momma Donna's couldn't be more convenient. I was meant for this place.

While sipping on my Hemp Ale, to match my irie mood, I enjoyed Donna's tableside company, which is just as good as her food. After enjoying my burger and a brew, I left the place with the peace of mind that reminds me of getting off the phone after a good talk with family, or even dinner at my mom's house.
(My mom would probably get mad if she read this).

Monday, June 6, 2011

Happy Hour: Enterprise Fish Company


For the last couple months, I'd been waiting to review Enterprise Fish Company's Happy Hour.
My friends have praised it. For years, local polls have claimed it as No. 1. I mean, who could complain about $1 Fanny Bay oysters on the half shell, $4.50 20 oz. drafts, and $3.50 well cocktails? But on this particular afternoon it seemed like somebody, or just about everybody working there suffered from a bad case of the Mondays.
I arrived alone, fifteen minutes before Sour Hour started, to a bartender with the attitude of a beer maid better suited to work at a grungy sports bar in Oakland.
An acquaintance of mine, invited me a while back to join them for their appetizer and drink specials, and I promised I would. Waiting for my friends to arrive, I politely asked the bartender if she was working. She bluntly responded by saying "I don't keep track of people's schedules."
After my company arrived, we were rushed into ordering our drinks when we were some of the only diners in the restaurant. After our drinks arrived, we waited for nearly ten minutes to place our food order only to notice our server stuffing her face in the back station.
On the other tangent, the more enjoyable one, our plump, sweet dozen of Fanny Bays arrived ice cold, the way oysters ought to be served. Their "traditional" Ahi poke, which consisted of cubed Ahi served under caramalized red onions and shredded cabbage was unlike any kind of poke I've had. Coming from the islands, the caramalized red onion twist was a nice substitute for raw Maui Onions which are normally used.
The spicy fried calamari and the Kobe beef sliders were also exceptional.
When our food arrived, I began shooting photos and taking notes of our meal. My problem: that's when decent service arrived as well.
The manager, who delivered and presented the food himself came back a few minutes later to see if we were enjoying our food. Textbook service. But his one flaw: The manager with the Carolina blue tie didn't stop at any other table to ask if they were also delighted with their meal. I Guess checking on tables at this place only happens when things go wrong.. What had been done had been done. I'd been snobbed by the bartender. Rushed at a time when I could have probably heard a pin drop in the dining room. Then sucked up to after the staff had noticed I was doing something official.
As an honest food critic, who's normally easy to please, I expect no special treatment. Just looking to be treated like everyone else. If I weren't taking pictures, or taking notes, would I be treated with the same respect? I doubt it. At a place like this, which has been awarded "Best Happy Hour" by the Santa Barbara Independent numerous times, it's hard to believe that their wait staff had anything to do with the nomination. The food here definitely overshadows the service.
Nearing the end of our meal, my friend arrived for her shift. She was sweet. But she always is. Definitely a shining star amongst a dull constellation.