Both the food and beer deserves more than a 3, but hear me out…read more
I love Korean food. I have actually made my own authentic Kimchi (with the fermented shrimp!) and we love places like this, ie Nakwon Garden, Golden Pig, etc.
Beer: It's all pretty much the same when it comes to NeIPA and IPA and Hazy etc. Slightly different flavor profiles and viscosities. I enjoyed the HazyWumpus because it had a cleaner finish than the Space Cactus. My wife got the sours. I don't like sours but tasted them and they tasted as expected. Bartender served us. She spent most of her time behind the bar but did pay attention to our needs just fine.
Food: I had the "Korean KFC" wings ($13 for 6 deep fried wings), they were crunchy. In fact, the chef's husband/owner came to our table (without really introducing himself, we had to ask) while we were ordering to "tell us what he tells everybody" that the first bite should be without the sauces to experience just the crunch. Yes, it was crunchy. Thanks for the tip. Not sure it was necessary. Write it on the menu. I can be sociable but it felt so random. Again, I think it's because where they seated us, we're a focal point. I preferred the gochujang sauce my wife liked the other garlic sesame. I felt like the garlic sesame had a very bitter after flavor.
My wife had BiBimBap (chose beef) with Dolsot ($17+$2) it was good I had two bites.
I got the K-SMASH Burger. It was good, but admittedly the patties were dry. I suspect maybe they don't smash it with onions? Not sure. They used a white cheese. The pickles and kimchi on it tasted good. Overall not a bad burger, but it was vertically large and very narrow horizontally if that makes sense. I believe I counted 20ish fresh cut fries, it was not that much. I would have expected something more akin to what you would get at one of many places around this part of the state that serve you such things. They were good though, don't get me wrong. The burger's kimchi dripped out all over them and that only enhanced them further, and I dipped them in my retained gochujang sauce from the wings and they went well together. They should offer that as an option, I never touched the vinegar or ketchup I was offered. If they had doubled up on the fries, it would have been much better in my mind. Don't skimp on those! For $16 I deserve too many.
Everything was served on metal plates with metal chopsticks and we were given forks and napkins.
Service:
Did not have a reservation. Apparently to have KBBQ you need a reservation most of the time. KBBQ starts at $29. These prices may change in the future I'm sure.
Upon arriving at the place, things were very confusing. You must park in Sprankles and there is no way to enter the parking lot near the eatery. We had to turn around and won't make the mistake in the future, but that's the brakes. Anyway, once we arrived there was an outdoor area in a heated tent, and an indoor area with an open window. We went to the indoor area and the food service was in the back near the kitchen inside of a window with its own register. We were asked several times if we had a reservation, it was jumbled but there were three empty tables. We were given the one in the center of the room near the bar. I didn't love it, but we took it.
Look, the place is very small. I get that for some legal reason you have to keep your food separate to your beer because its two distinct businesses I assume. Grist House is a well known brand and we're giving it a chance etc.
The chef did come out and say "Everything tasting good?" and then left us alone. She spoke with someone nearby for quite a while, probably her personal friend. That's fine. We, again, felt overwhelmed where we were sitting.
For example, I was telling a story after our meal had finished and I was still finishing my second beer, when I was immediately interrupted during the first sentence about the bill. I just don't think that person needed to do that. It was not our original server, but someone we had never interacted with prior. I felt like a good waiter/waitress would simply hang back and wait for the right time, this was not it. It was nowhere near closing time, with no one coming in, so what is the rush? We were happy to get the bill but I mean right at that moment ??? Then we were derailed again by the bar bill showing up, and yada ya.
I really believe the staff needs to go a little lighter on that central table.
The following morning I am for an unknown reason nauseated. I had a headache when I woke up, I am not 100% sure it's their fault but it's been some hours and I've had a small bland breakfast, yet I'm still feeling sick. Their food is in my fridge and has a strange odor. A lot of Korean sides are fermented, perhaps there's something going on with that, or maybe I'm just crazy.
Anyway, given the ambiance, limited seating availability, that it is 30 minutes away from us, we might be back, but not sure
