Lucky Baldwin's

Alpha Bar - the Letter L

Lucky Baldwin's

Look I get it.  You like Lucky Baldwin's.  A lot of people do.  My friend Samara loves the place.  they have lots of beer on tap. They serve food.  But I must tell you, this place just doesn't hold up next to some of the otehr bars I'e been to.  it's okay, sure.  But it's not amazing, an that's what I'm looking for these days.

So, my date and I pulled off the 134 into Pasadena and turned onto colorado blvd, and I knew we were in trouble.  It looked like the 101/405 interchange at rush hour.  Break lights forever.  Well,  at least we only had a mile to go.  That mile was the longest mile I've ever driven (hyperbole alert - it wasn't that bad.  But still, traffic was nasty).  what's up pasadena?  When did you get so crowded?  I was expecting a bunch of little old ladies.  You know, like the beach boys song from the 60's.  Oh, it's 50 years later you say?  Pasadena has a thriving nightlife, you say?  Whatever.  Give me little old ladies and no traffic.  Also, I had to pay to park.  WTF, pasadena?

So, we parked in a structure, and awalked down the back alley past several bars to where Lucky Baldwin's was sittuated.  It seemed a little more quiet than the otehr bars which was fine, as I am an old man (I'm 36, which makes me practically dead in Los Angeles terms.  I should be home watching Whell of Fortune.  

We met up with our Alpha-Bar crew (there were around 14 of us this time) and proceeded to the drinking.  No liquor here, and I hate that.  However, there were like eleventy billion beers on tap (hyperbile alert - eleventy isn't a word, and there were between 60-70 beers on tap, realistically).  I got an IPA, and it was good.  People got food, and that was good.  But...eh, what's the big deal?

Okay, the outdoor patio was cool.  I liked that.  I recommend the place for that.  But a lot fo the bars in teh area had that.  Really, why am I here?

So, yeah, it's a fine place.  But nothing about it really makes me recommend it one way or another.  three stars.  it goes in the middle of the bars I've been to, because it had to go somewhere....

Up next, the letter M.  Malo in silverlake.  See you there.

Nice atmosphere, great beer selection, Strongbow draft cider on tap, and really tasty jalapeno poppers make this place perfectly peachy in my book.

I as many really wanted to like this place, I have been to their Colorado location twice and this is the first to the Raymond.
Colorado - food is just ok, and I go for things British pubs should be great at, cottage pie, fish and chips...  But it's just not good
Bar staff seem disinterested, waiters are slow and forgetful
You're a restaurant / bar these two things are basically why you're in business!!!
Raymond, got food to go, kinda like a salt lick
Bar staff is again disinterested, the place isn't packed, kinda dead really, the staff is just bad.
They get 2 stars for the selection, I want to use this place to add to my argument for friends to make the pasadena trek.
But I can't recommend this place.