I'm not one to just walk into a random place if I haven't heard about it or AT LEAST looked up reviews online. Yesterday, I was walking over to a food truck nearby that happened to be closed. On the way there, my attention was grabbed by this restaurant/bar that was just opening up for the day. I'm not really into bikes or boards, but it still looked like an interesting spot. Since the food truck was closed and we were hungry, I asked my wife if she just wanted to eat inside The Pedaler. I wasn't very serious though. I thought she'd say no because we're not really into these kind of sports and were craving Mexican food at the time... but to my surprise, she said OKAY. I looked at the menu from the outside and it sounded like it could be good. So we went for it.....
As soon as we walked in, I could tell they were just opening up for the day. There was no one inside except the bartender and someone else setting up (who I assume is the owner because he was putting together all the little details to open up the place). At first glance, the place looked new. I had never heard of this spot and it looked clean, fresh, had a bit of a modern vibe with a sporty feel. We were greeted and the bartender was very friendly and welcoming. We sat down, glanced at the menu, and I was so excited and quite surprised to see they had Fernet! Not only did they have the classic Fernet Branca, but they had another one from San Francisco which is really good and hard to find in my opinion. I ordered a glass of that with coke and it was delightful. The bartender prepared it just right.
My wife and I were pretty hungry, so everything looked good, but I was especially drawn to the Baja Burger. I can't remember the name of her plate, but it was a grilled chicken sandwich. I ordered the side of sweet potato fries and she got the Parmesan fries. The gentleman setting up was putting out some Halloween decorations, which was really nice to see! It's always nice to see people putting in the little details. Each table also had a little trick or treat basket with chocolates inside! Like, WHAT?? Who does that??? Obviously they do, and I'm here for it! That right there is the "little details" that I'm talking about. They make a difference in the guest experience.
The food came out pretty fast since we were the only ones there. I can't speak on how it would be during a busy time, but I was content with it. I don't know how to explain it, but I could tell the food was going to be really good just by looking at it once it made its way to our table. I took one bite and that was it. I knew I'd be coming back. Everything tasted just right. The textures, the flavors, the appearance, it just checked all the right boxes for me. I tasted my wife's chicken sandwich and it was just as good. That grilled chicken was seasoned and cooked so well, that it's probably my new favorite grilled chicken sandwich. The parmesan fries looked amazing. They didn't look like your typical bar fries. They were hand cut/sliced, seasoned well, and cooked just right. I wish I could have taken a picture but I got too caught up on eating.
Overall, it was a really great early dinner and I know I'll be coming back. The ONLY downside is that they had such a great liquor selection, but they didn't have any Malibu. Sure, they have better rums, but for those that really like the sweet coconut rum flavor, Malibu is a must have. My wife was also craving a latte. They did have a coffee/espresso machine, but they were out of milk at the time. No biggie, but I would like to see those two things in the future (coffee and Malibu). I know there aren't MANY people that go to a bar and order a latte or a coffee, but we're out there! :)
I know where I'll be recommending my friends for food and drinks next time we want to get together. read more