The Salty Dog 2015

This says it all !

        It won't be long before it's 2015 and I plan to be in Brooklyn the last day of this year and the first day of the New Year, celebrating my last supper of this year having the best burger at my favorite place. Coming back to Brooklyn means home and any time I can visit the Salty Dog only makes it more meaningful. It isn't just a bar or just a restaurant but it's the people,
        From the moment I take a first step over and into The Salty Dog, I always first notice the wooden floors and then me eyes sweep the room taking it all in, the firetruck, blazing a deep red, the brick walls and the bar. The bar at times looks lonely, waiting. It sits and waits for elbows, smiles, pats on the backs of friends, hugs, kisses on cheeks and orders of big beer mugs.  Here it comes, a frosty one and a big man grabbing the cold handle after a long day and taking that first swallow and just as he does a buddy walks in, pulling his thick blue jacket off, nodding his head and another beer is set up. The voices. Two men who share a same kind of job, now relaxed at home with who they know. Home as in the neighborhood place to be.
        As I continue to walk to the back, I notice a few servers on each side waiting to see where I want to sit, not where they want me to sit. That's a nice feeling. No one is pushing me to sit in a section. Ah, I am comfortable. Adjusting my eyes to the dimly lit area I see some familiar faces, smiling and welcoming. They know me, as a visitor who comes up every few months or sometimes longer. It  doesn't matter. I'm just as good as any regular. They know what I order but ask anyway to make sure I didn't want anything different.
       Then they look to the other side. My guest, usually a kid, but once in a while a friend I grew up with and no matter who or what, we are treated as friends, as long time neighborhood friends.
      I'm a listener and a watcher and I see how people are treated at The Salty Dog, how they are spoken to, smiled at. Warm hearts. It's almost like saying, Who loves ya baby?  At times I forget why I'm there as I get lost in looking around. The photos on the walls, a fireman, history, buildings and a fireplace with a dalmation.
That dog who never moves but reserves in silence a place, a place for newcomers, almost makes me want to walk over and pet him, but all of this means, There's No Place Like Home.
Thank you Salty Dog

Goofy's Rt. 116 York Pa.

       Some time ago I friend told me about Goofy's, only that "she heard" that Goofy's has the best burgers in town or anywhere around here. I should have gone then, because my very first visit tonight wasn't what I expected. Exhausted, paint stained body and hungry all I wanted was that great burger.
The first waitress had a tattoo on her left arm and approached me asking who was first, me or the table next to me. I told her the other party. I had two boys with me. They were more patient than I was tonight as I watched another waitress go right to a couple, man and woman who just arrived within  three minutes of the waitress coming over and getting drinks and then taking their orders. SO here I was, just a woman with two kids being ignored for too long, but still I waited. I waited only because it would take to long to go elsewhere, order and wait again.
     Finally she comes over and takes our orders. Pleasant enough she smiles at the boys, myself and returns some time later with our food. Then brought the mozzarella sticks because as she explained the were burned with cheese all over the fryer-all that is understandable. I was fine-until I bit into that supposedly great burger.
      I ordered it cooked medium. It came back well-done. I didn't complain. What's the use. Hungry and now disappointed I ate all of it just so I could leave as soon as possible. This bar/Restaurant is a family type in a sense but really, it's made for hard working every day people. It has a strange sense of home. I felt like that when I sat down so I could see why the locals liked it, and yes I too am now a local, have been for too many years. Many bikers patronize Goofys. I guess when you're drinking you can't taste quality. Yet I have to add,  as well done as my burger was, it wasn't awful. I ordered a mushroom Swiss and with lettuce and tomato it was juicy and a little tasty, but fat from Great. More like the kind you'd have with a beer.
      I have to say on a positive note the mozzarella sticks were delicious with just a right hint of spice.  Yet on another note there was a baby in a carrier/seat about seven month old with older people. I'd guess grandparents. The music was rocking to a beat like a thump, thump, loud and wrong for a bas delicate ears. How selfish it was of those adults to bring a baby into that noisy atmosphere, and as far as Goofy's goes, they should have a sign: Children under five or seven, something like that "not allowed"! For me on a scale of one to ten, Goofy gets a three. I was looking for that forever great bar restaurant, but I know Goofys isn't the place. The music too was wrong for even my age boys at twelve and sixteen. Goofy's I wonder what happened to that great burger I was told about. Mine tasted like a frozen patty.

Hello Salty Dog !!! Great Visit

       HELLO Brooklyn ! 
          
                       I was lucky enough to stop in for lunch on Friday, yesterday. Driving up from Pennsylvania, all I could think about was my as always first stop, The Salty Dog. I brought a teen with me who took a while to take it all in for a day trip. He's not an average teen, but a kid with some disabilities. I let him order whatever he wanted and he ordered Shrimp Scampi. It's been a while since I've had Scampi  as my usual is their great bacon cheese burger, cooked again as always perfect, medium.
     So this kiddo dipped into his scampi and he's s slow eater, enjoys his food. Without expression he tells me, this is really great Shrimp Scampi and I love this place. He asked questions, looked at the photos on the wall and I asked him to sit with the famous spotted firehouse pet, Salty as I call him. He let me know too how nice our waitress was. He said, she was really friendly to me.
    Megan our waitress, was friendly. This trip I was lucky enough to walk in just minutes before the lunch crowd poured in and this time I was lucky enough to take another look around, have a chat with Megan who I never made time for before as I just get so distracted. Megan took time with us, welcoming us and remembered me too which is always nice.
   My bacon cheeseburger as asked on rye bread, was mouth watering. It's a rare thing for me to get a half decent burger anyplace, so when I come up to Brooklyn I know I have not just great food to look forward to, but wonderful people. Megan I am very thankful for the time you gave us and paying the same attention to my young guest. He left feeling important and satisfied, as did I. On our way home, he asked so are you going back to the Salty Dog for supper? I do every time, but this trip, unfortunately I had to leave the Salt behind :)
    The Salty Dog is the place to be.  Kelly, Congrats ! Hope to see you all next month.
   

Brooklyn's Salty Dog & a Candyman

       In case you never heard of a salty dog, I'm about to tell you the best kind.
Located in Bay Ridge Brooklyn on third avenue between seventy-fifth and seventy-sixth street, it's a restaurant, and a bar, and both suit me very well.
       This past Saturday was very important for me as I finally got back there with a childhood friend of mine. We missed too many times at The Salty Dog and made up fr them Saturday. The Salty Dog is a Firehouse, converted into a bar/Restaurant where generations of families and friends meet for a fantastic time of food and drink and meeting up with acquaintances, and the best of the best. For me that means, Larry and Kelly and I am sorry I forgot the guy who deserves a lot of thanks, their busboy/young man. I watched him so busy Saturday keeping his eye on a path of traffic so as not to bump into anyone or on anyone.
     As this good looking and pleasant personality guy zoomed in and out, tables were cleared to keep busy servers, busy and a kitchen cooking. These three, Larry, Kelly and the busy bus boy make things work. For reasons not important here I am able to go up, only about once a year, and boy is it memorable.
    This particular evening my friend and I who recently lost her husband and son two days apart, two months ago, very much needed this time out. The people who were taking care of us gave us attention which only meets the highest of standards when it comes to personal attention. For myself who rarely has a drink I usually order two, and a great burger and fries. However my usual drink wasn't available and while I waited, I see a man pass us who is an old neighborhood friend of my friends'. His nickname is, The candy Man. I think he caught my eye first as my friends' back was toward him, so he gave a quick turn about and stopped to offer condolences. She was not only happy to see a familiar face, but comforted in his words.
     As he needed to leave to make deliveries, the bartender came to me with Larry. Wow was he personable and I meant to get his name, but didn't. Sorry guy:)
Either way he suggested a certain drink as did Larry ensuring it was a tasty drink. So yes, I went with the guys and it was great, called The Nutty Irishman, I could have had four, but knew better or I might just hop, yup hop on the bar and dance.
    Kelly returned a few times, Larry stopped passing but not hovering to make sure we had what we wanted. Kelly had a nice chat with us as the restaurant was slowing down. The Candy Man stopped again to talk more to my friend and invite us both over to his home another time and I watched as my friend had a whole and complete, feel good experience. She didn't want to leave suggesting I have another drink, but if I did, I wouldn't be responsible for my actions:)
     For the bartender, I am sorry I didn't say so long and thanks again for your kind words. Your personality was so welcoming my friend noticed too and let me know what a great and freeing night this is turning out to be.
    For anyone who might read this weather you live close to the Salty Dog or are going to Brooklyn, please do your self a favor. Start with dinner and take some time to check the menu. Listen to the servers. They do know their food as well as beverages very well. It's a blast. It may be a ,little noisy at times, but so what. You're out for a good time right. Take plenty of money, have a few drinks and show your appreciation at the end of an awesome evening. By the way, they also have  a DJ. Music was just starting as we were leaving.
    On my next trip, I want to plan to adjust my time so I alternate lunch and dinners at The Salty Dog. My Friend wants to go to the local hotel  as I usually stay there. It's all about new experiences, some things she has put off way too long. So just imagine, a hotel stay, waking up when yo want and then meals and music at The Salty Dog. One last note, while I love Larry, Kelly, The bus guy, and now adding the bartender, I have been there enough to have different servers, and I've been there with teen boys(foster care) and family and never a negative comment. Bringing the kids in from another state I Let them know about my favorite place to dine. these kids always ask to go back.
      Larry, Kelly and the whole Salty Dog team, I am sincerely thankful to all of you for making me feel like one of the neighborhood regulars. That's what it's all about.