Slater’s 50/50 – Extreme Overindulgence at It’s Best

January 8, 2013 by

Another visit to Slater’s 50/50 Pasadena. Tried a few different things, was reassured that entrees are enormous and very reasonably priced, and left pleading for the assistance of a fork lift. If you love huge portions, lots of piled on tasty ingredients and are even eating on a budget (or not) this is definitely a place to indulge.

This time around my beau and I decided to share a few new things. We started with the Slater’s Fries (served with BACON ketchup — yes it’s amazing), and shared The Old Timey Burger and the Chicken & Pancakes. It was probably enough food for four people, but we tackled it as best as we could with just the two of us.

SLATER’S FRIES

I’m not sure if this is the usual protocol, but the fries were brought out as an appetizer. They were fresh cut, and barely salted. Suprisingly, they weren’t greasy at all. The bacon ketchup was absolutley amazing, I had to ask for seconds. We also sprinkled some bacon salt on top of the fries, which made them extra tasty. If you haven’t picked it up yet, the theme of the whole 50/50 experience is bacon in every nook and cranny possible.

THE OLD TIMEY

The classic American burger with Sterling Silver ground beef, American cheese, thick cut bacon, grilled onions, green leaf lettuce, tomato and 1000 island dressing on white brioche. The Old Timey burger doesn’t have the traditional 50/50 (half ground bacon, half ground beef) patty. We opted for the all ground beef patty in an attempt to save a few hundred calories. The patty was equally huge and juicy and the toppings were real good.

FRIED CHICKEN & PANCAKES

Fried chicken topped with house-made-bacon-infused-country-gravy, two strips of thick cut bacon and a sunny side up egg sandwiched between three buttermilk pancakes, smothered in real maple syrup. The Fried Chicken and Waffles was …. HUGE. That’s the first thing that came to mind. We barely made a dent on one of the pancakes, but finished the chicken. The chicken is really juicy, and the dish was real good overall, just huge.

Once again, Slater’s proves to be fantastic. Ever since it opened up last month, every single night has drawn in huge crowds. The bar is full of TV’s for sports enthusiasts, and the restaurant is warm, fun and family friendly. There’s a place for everyone here. With the addition of 2 Diet Cokes, this bill came to only $35. I’d say that’s a bargain in Pasadena.

Check them out on Yelp. With 4 stars on almost 200 reviews, I’m sure there are plenty of others that agree with me.

61 N Raymond Ave
Pasadena, CA 91103
Neighborhood: Pasadena

(626) 765-9700

 

Filed Under: Casual Dining, Food Reviews, Hot Spots, Quick Eats Tagged With: ,

POP Champagne Bar – Old Town Pasadena

October 7, 2012 by

   

POP Champagne & Dessert Bar is one of a kind! It’s sexy and swanky, but warm and intimate environment is welcoming to anyone. Whether you’re on a first date, going to happy hour, a passionate foodie, or catching a night out on the town, you’re sure to have a fun and memorable experience at this Pasadena gem.

Chef Ray Vasquez has been with POP since it’s opening in 2008. His personalized creations are unique and mouth-watering! He’s always using new ingredients and ideas to create an ever changing and exciting menu. He offers a different Souffle every single night of the month. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll definitely want to look ahead and check out the Souffle calendar so you can plan your visit on the perfect night for your taste buds!

I’ve visited POP on multiple occasions, and as a self-proclaimed “foodie,” I’ve always been impressed with what I’ve ordered.

We dined at the bar last night, as we frequently do. We ordered a couple glasses of the wonderful Testarossa Chardonnay ($14 glass), an excellent recommendation by Nathaniel. We started with the soup du jour, the Chicken Tortilla. It was garnished with a baked tostada, queso cojita, onions and cilantro. I was so excited to dig in and try it that I forgot to take a photo! But, I assure you it was fantastic! For dinner entrees, we selected the Margarita Flatbread Pizza and the Trio of Sliders (pictured below). The pizza was perfectly panned out, crispy in all the right places, with a delectable balsamic reduction drizzled on top.

Margarita Flatbread Pizza $14: cherry heirloom tomatoes, basil, parmesan, marinara

Trio of Kobe Beef Sliders $19:

  1. Surf and Turf- Shrimp, Jack Cheese, Cocktail Sauce, poppy seed bun
  2. POP Burger- Garlic Aioli Mayo, Bacon, Port Salut Cheese, port wine reduction, on onion brioche
  3. “BBQ Burger- House Made BBQ, Bacon, Cheddar, Crispy onions, on sesame bun

Of course we saved room for the souffle of the day. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare, so you may want to order it when your entrees come out. I appreciate that the Vanilla Anglaise is a generous portion that will make it through the whole souffle! I don’t think we left a single crumb behind, it was amazing!

Cookies N Cream with Vanilla Anglaise $12

The moral of this story is: indulge yourself in this experience, you won’t find it anywhere else. POP’s extensive selection of champagnes, wines and artisanal beers (for those manly men that wont partake) will please everyone. Chef Ray and his team do an outstanding job of keeping the menu fresh and tasty, with a menu of delectable entrees, small plates, gourmet cheeses, caviar, charcuterie, and of course the house made desserts that will tantalize your taste buds.

If all the talk about amazing eats hasn’t convinced you to, perhaps you need to know about POP’s best kept secret, Speakeasy champagne Sundays. Every Sunday, from 5-10pm, look for the secret password on POP’s Facebook and Twitter page, and get deeply discounted bubbly all night long! You’ll even get live music, every Sunday starting at 7pm.

Check them out on Yelp.

Filed Under: Food Reviews, Happy Hour, Hot Spots

Kings Row Gastropub – Old Town Pasadena

May 28, 2012 by

While the vibe at Kings Row is casual, upbeat and inviting, the folks in the kitchen offer diners some serious pub nosh. You’ll find varieties of creative reinterpretations of British classics, like their Shepherd’s Stack and Cheeky Bastard Poutine or conscientious food, sourced almost exclusively from California, is served on small plates or share plates, along with a charcuterie carte menu, blackboard specials, and an ever-changing array of delectable dishes made from the freshest ingredients from the farm and sea. Kings Row’s full bar offers more than 60 beers, specializing in small-craft and local brewers and Belgian ales and styles, as well as handcrafted cocktails, and quaint, unique wine selections.

The Duck Sliders are back folks! The first time I had these small little bites of heaven was over a year ago — because Kings Row changes their menu often, unfortunately, they flew away for a bit. The duck sliders have a Pekin style marinade, with hoisin, ginger and sesame, and are topped with a Shiitake mushroom relish and home made Chinese mustard ($11.00). Served with a side of kennebec fries (garlic, herbs & white cheese) — how could you go wrong?

We also tried the Proper Fish & Chips ($14.00), served with a side of kennebec fries — not as delectable as the duck sliders, but I appreciated the quality of the Alaskan white cod, and the fact that the IPA beer batter was thin and crispy, without that weird rubbery film that usually lies between the fish and breading. Only thing I’d add here is a little seasoning — maybe some Cajun, or even some fresh salt & pepper and I think I’d be a happy camper. The home-made tartar sauce accompanying the dish was the best I’ve ever had! It was lemony, tangy and mixed just perfectly.

The serving style of this gastropub is quite unique. You seat yourself, either in the bar, inside restaurant area, or the patio — then you walk over to the bar to order your drinks and Eats. You can cash out, or leave a tab open, but either way you’re on your own to get back to the bar for any refills or additional orders. A waiter will bring your food to you when it’s ready. Service is pretty much do it yourself – there’s a bucket of silverware and napkins on the table and jugs of water around the pub that you help yourself to.

An added treat is the incredible live music you’ll hear Thurs-Sun. My favorite is the Reggae on Sundays! The bands are always really talented, and for a moment, while you’re sipping on your hops or mimosa, you really feel like you’ve escaped on a tropical getaway!

Happy Hour - $4 well drinks, $2 off all beers, and a handful of good ‘Eats’ at discounted prices.

Everyday from 4pm-7pm

All day on Tuesday

Late Night Sun-Wed 10pm-12pm

20 E. Colorado Blvd. Ste. 102, Pasadena CA 91105   Tel: 626.793.3010
Mon-Thurs 1130am-12am Fri 1130am-2am Sat 1030am-2am Sun 1030am-12am
Filed Under: Casual Dining, Food Reviews, Hot Spots