Keg & Kitchen

I came here for Farm to Fork week since they had that 2-for-$10 deal during lunch hours, and I really enjoyed my experience here.

The atmosphere was rustic and dark, pretty unique for a place that is situated right in the middle of Westmont. At the same time, it had a fairly sophisticated vibe to it as well with a large selection of drinks. For the 2-for-$10, I ordered the soup of the day, which happened to be Corn Chowder, and the House Smoked Beef Brisket sandwich. My friend ordered the Short Rib Sandwich. The wait was a little bit long, but it wasn't unbearable.

The chowder came in a much larger portion than I expected, and the flavor was very nice. It was rich and thick, but not densely so, and the corn was fresh and crisp. I tried eating it sparingly because if my simple bowl of chowder was this big, who knows how large my sandwich was going to be, which came within minutes of the appetizer. Layered with ham, the signature meat, a nice guacamole/chipotle mayo sauce, cheese, and some veggies, the sandwich was very very tasty and packed with flavor. The bread, toasted to a dark brown color, was surprisingly soft, and not soggy from the sauce and cheese that was smeared on the bottom bun. It really complimented nicely with everything in between. After finishing the chowder, I barely got through half of this sandwich. It was really big, not physically, but in the sense that the sandwich was so dense and packed.

As if that wasn't enough of a description, I tried my friend's short rib sandwich, and it immediately became the real center of the lunch dining experience. Packed between two slices of warm, crispy bread, this sammich looked small, but it had enormous punches of juicy, seasoned flavor. The color of the meat itself says it all. It was so well marinated and seasoned, and on top of that, the whole sandwich was baked before  being served, which made the whole dish literally sing. The salad (which I also stole a bit of) also balanced out the heaviness as well, making my stomach feel a bit more relaxed after eating such heavy dishes.

Even with a regular dining experience, the menu displayed great prices for the quantity and quality of the food served. Those sandwiches were definitely worth the price on the regular menu. A trendy-looking atmosphere also kicks it up a notch for anyone that wants to go somewhere to relax with friends, get a few drinks from a great menu selection, and eating some major nomz. I'm really looking forward to going back and trying new items off the menu for a 2nd shot.

First impression of the aesthetics was that this place is a simple and rustic fusion of Sports Bar meets modern day Pub. We were quickly seated but I was then disturbed by the time it took for a waiter to acknowledge our presence. Big No-No for me!  The restaurant was a couple of waitstaff shy of their service being efficient on a Monday night with a moderate crowd. Just one more server to provide the proper attention could have proven the difference between an average rating and a higher mark.

Appetizers ... hummus with Mediterranean olives & feta with warm pita bread was on point & hit the spot. Edamame was fresh & steamed to perfection served w/ a lemon citrus salt.

Entrees  ... we both ordered turkey burgers, mine with the blue cheese (as it is on the menu) & J ordered it w/ cheddar cheese. Both burgers were very nicely prepared ... juicy & well seasoned. The hand cut fries were very tasty, not overlooked or oily.

I would have given this spot 4 stars but the service was poor-fair at best. Can't imagine how it would have been if they were busier.

I will try it here again but will give myself time to recover from the slow (let me twiddle my thumbs) service. It could have been a case of management just not staffing properly for a perceived slower  Monday night in early-summer.

You see that map in the upper right? For a year, I lived within that area. As in, super-close and walking distance to Keg & Kitchen. Did I ever stop in? No, no I did not. Why? I have absolutely no idea at all and am kicking myself!

...Luckily, I *do* still live in the area, just one town over now. Last night, while trying to figure out where to bring my picky-eater mom for dinner, Keg & Kitchen randomly came to mind out of nowhere (fate, I tell ya), and we drove on over.

The place wasn't packed at all when we arrived at 5:30 p.m., but an hour later, people were vying for parking spots in the lot. And I can see why.

Man oh man. Okay, I'll start from the beginning:

Decor is welcoming and modern. The hostess was nice and agreeable when my mom requested one of the only a few booths. Our server, Ashley, was really nice and attentive as well, and offered suggestions on the best dishes.

We ended up splitting a pretzel appetizer (really good!), followed by grilled cheese (me) and the half chicken and bacon (mom.) All were amazing and, darn it, I want more now!

I also ordered the Ruby Sour, which was a steal at $8.

By dessert time, I was way too full to even think about consuming my favorite dish of the day. But, alas, I *will* be back. Soon.