Today’s Reason To Drink

Bourbon on tap!

Checked out the new Parlour Pizza last night in Jeffersonville, which is located at the base of the Big Four Bridge. Very cool digs that include an indoor pizza restaurant, an outdoor patio complete with corn hole, a carriage house with its own 30+ beer options, and an upstairs cocktail bar featuring mother-fuckin’ bourbon on tap!

The place is an ideal spot to stop after walking or biking across the bridge. The thin-crust pizza is delicious, and the 42 beer options keep it interesting.

Highlights were the homemade garlic butter, the BBQ chicken pizza, the peppercorn ranch salad, the American Beauty beer concoction created by carriage house manager Windy Wonder, and, of course, the Old Forester Signature on tap.

Run, don’t walk, to Parlour. The biggest challenge is deciding which space you want to occupy. My favorites were the carriage house and cocktail bar.

Today’s Reason To Drink

Susie Hoyt of The Pearl

Susie Hoyt of The Pearl

Good news for a Monday? How about this … The Pearl can now sell hand-picked bottles of single-barrel bourbons, as well as some beer. Go for a drink, leave with a six-pack.

They’re offering more than 16 at the moment, and that will change as more bottles come in and others sell out. I had a sip of a fabulous Weller Antique and immediately put my name on the waitlist for that. Holy cow.

The link above will take you to my conversation with Susie Hoyt, the bar’s beverage director.

And the best part is, it’s in my neighborhood! Let’s meet up for a cocktail and spin the dangerous wheel of drinks.

Today’s Reason To Drink

A shiny new old bar!

A shiny new old bar!

When weather permits and I have a free afternoon, I love walking over the Big Four Bridge and doing a mini pub crawl of sorts in Jeffersonville. There are currently a handful of bars and restaurants you can stop in at, including Big Four Burgers, Flat 12 Bierwerks, Red Yeti, Cluckers and Match (a bourbon and cigar bar). And soon, there will be a familiar face — O’Shea’s.

Yesterday I met up with proprietor Tom O’Shea, who gave me the tour of the 119-year-old building they’ll be operating out of on Spring Street. Here’s a link to the story I wrote for Insider. O’Shea told me they’ll be calling it H.M. Frank’s: An O’Shea’s Public House in honor of the original tenant of the space who ran a dry goods store around 1897.

Very cool history, and you can tell O’Shea and his team have put in many hours restoring the spot to its former glory. Exposed brick walls and shiny hardwood floors create a comfy, chill atmosphere. Expect about 14 beer taps, a full bar and counter service for food.

He says it’ll hopefully be open April 1, and that’s no joke. Can’t wait!

Today’s Reason To Drink

 

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Yum and carb-loaded!

I love pizza. I love bars. I love new. So I was thrilled to stop by the new Germantown pizzeria called The Post last night. The pizza, which you can get by the slice, is New York-style, meaning thin, cracker-crisp crust and lots of cheese. I had the slice of the day, which was cheddar, bacon and jalepeno, and it was absolutely delicious — and not just because I’ve been carb starving myself for two weeks now.

The interior is fresh, inviting, clean and spacious. I sat at the bar with my friend Steph, and we made fast friends with the bartenders (naturally) and even the people sitting next to us. I think I may have even been one of those over-sharers last night with a new friend — sorry about that, Stephanie, and thanks for the advice!

The full bar is priced reasonably, with all craft beer selections on draft at a reasonable $5 (except for Coors heavy, which is $2). Since I was counting calories, I couldn’t enjoy a Bell’s or Angry Orchard, so I stuck with the tried-and-true Miller Lite, which is served in cans only. All domestics are in cans, and this is my only gripe. I don’t mind paying $3 for a bottle of Miller Lite/Bud Light/other American swill, but I do prefer it in a bottle. If I’m drinking from a can, I expect to pay a little less — like $2.50. But that’s just me, and I can easily get over it with a few more drinks.

IMG_1287Also, there’s a happy  hour from 4-6 p.m. and midnight-2 a.m. where all domestics are $2. I like that.

So next time you’re craving pizza and are near the Germantown neighborhood, stop by The Post. It’s right next door to Four Pegs on Goss Avenue.

Today’s Reason To Drink

louvinoI’ve been digging Louvino lately — a new wine bar that opened in the former De La Torre spot in the Highlands. You can get wine flights at a reasonable price, and I found a wine I love — Sledgehammer Zinfandel — for $7 a glass.

Of course I always choose the cheese pairings with the wine (only $2 more), and they add a nice complement to the delicious reds I’ve been sipping. The menu is great, too — mostly small plates and entrees that range between $7-$12.

If you’re a wine fan, head over to Louvino and check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

Today’s Reason To Drink

The new Dundee Dip is still the old Dundee Dip, thank god!

The new Dundee Dip is still the old Dundee Dip, thank god!

OK, so I survived my first visit to the new Dundee Gastropub. Thankfully they didn’t change the interior of the bar/restaurant, and there were still lots of familiar faces bringing food and drinks. Of course I ordered the Dip as soon as I sat down, and while it’s served on a new white plate, I’m happy to report it is the same recipe. Whew!

The rest of the menu hovers on fancy bar food. I made a note to try the Chicken & Waffles when I’m more hungry, so I ended up splitting wings with my buddy Kevin. They were a lot better than what they had been, but still were nothing to write home about. I doubt I’ll order them again, but I may try the boneless option next I’m craving something hot.

My friend Laura got the BELT sandwich, which was a take on the BLT but added an egg. And my friend Courtney got a grilled cheese made with spare rib pork. The sandwiches were both delicious.

My one complaint is the price of the draft beer. For a pint of Miller Lite (only the best), it was $3.25. I’d say that’s a little much for a domestic draft — I’d be happy if it was $2.75, or even an even $3. That’s just me being cheap, I suppose.

Today’s Reason To Drink

6929697914_0fd3bd4457_bI’m going to check out the new Dundee Tav — er, I mean Gastropub — tonight, and I’m slightly nervous. I get along with change about as much as Rosie O’Donnell gets along with Donald Trump. I’m worried it’s becoming too fancy, or that they’ve changed the Dundee Dip.

I shall report back here tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Today’s Reason To Drink

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Horseshoes & Hand Grenades

Checked out Roux last night for a quick drink with a friend. It’s a New Orleans-inspired restaurant and bar in the Highlands.

I found a cozy seat at the quaint upstairs bar and marveled at the stocked bar. I perused the drink list and had to order the Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, because the Hand Grenade down at New Orleans’ Tropical Isle bar is one of my favorite drinks. Of course this isn’t a replica but more of a tribute — and it includes Old Forester bourbon, which the New Orleans version doesn’t, as far as I can remember.

I’d like to go back for the Hurricane and The Conjugal Visit. And the beignets. I had an order of three and they were delicious and messy, especially if you’re wearing black.