Olmos Bharmacy

Me and the husband had the fish and chips on Monday. They were pretty good. Three good-sized planks of cod. I imagine they start off frozen but nonetheless, still pretty good and flaky. You get a choice of two sides with entrees. I selected fries and the side salad from the list of sides.  We were charged for the two side salads, which was disturbing. I didn't question the charge, but will definitely ask next time as to what the choices really are.

I love this place! It is great for a mid week breakfast or fantastic for an evening of live music and drinks. Its a beer and wine only joint but the Bharmacy capitalizes on its nostalgia and makes a fantastic Guinness Float in their old float glasses just like I used to have my floats when I was a kid here!  It's also a lot less racist then I was a kid too! Which is a perk! They have some awesome lunch fare a decent amount of space, great service and a wonderful outdoor patio! Its quickly becoming a new venue for some really neat artist and has been working on developing this for some time now. Its definitely one of my favorite City of Olmos places and I do reccomend a visit!

OK, I've heard a lot about this place.   Maybe I'm too old ... not hip ... or I am just from another planet ... I just don't get it.   From the point of parking and having to walk past stinky trash dumpsters to just how unclean this place was ... I just don't get it.  

I went with a friend on July 4th for lunch.  It was not busy.  In fact, maybe there were 3-4 other tables at most.   When you walk in, you're told to sit wherever you want.  Like another reviewer for this place said, I just don't get the seating.   The half booths with small tables and an opposite chair put you right next to the table next to you.  The tables and chairs in the dining area are pretty darn close together so, if it were busy, I would have waaaay not enjoyed that arrangement.  

So, did I mentioned how dirty the place was?   I mean, not a busy place when I was there and yet, dirty tables everywhere, flatware on the floor and general food particles on the floor as well.   I would have left (I know, I could hear you saying it too!) but 1) my friend picked this place and 2) I've always heard about this place and that I should try it.  

We ordered the nachos for an appetizer.   They are the kind of nachos that are a mound of tortilla chips with beans and cheese poured over them.  Then 1 big dollup of guac and 1 big dollup of sour cream.   Now, if the beans had been seasoned, these would have been pretty good.   But ... they weren't.  The cheese was good.  the chips were good.   At the end though, they looked pretty yucky as it all got smushed together!  

We both ordered burgers ... I had the Bacon and Bleu.  It came with steak fries.   The steak fries were uneventful although fresh - but they had no seasoning.   The burger ... omg.   While their trademark must be to brand the bread/bun with the Rx symbol, I have to tell you ... all I could smell was burned bread and all I could taste was burned bread.   The trimmings appeared to be fresh and you get mayo and mustard on the side if you ask.  The patty itself was OK but a wee bit overdone - as in well done.  It had no juice and no flavor.  

We moved onto a shake and a malt.   This was probably the best thing.  The malt was malty.  The whipped cream was fresh.   You get the extra malt stuff in the metal container thingy.  It was really good.  

Will I go back here again?  No.   I am sure at night when libations are flowing and you are there for the entertainment (which is hard to believe a band really fits in this place) - maybe it is all good.    if you have low expectations, it might work for you.