Spleen, Just Got To Love The Word

Okay, no spleen on this post, but I was on my way to get a spleen sandwich, really. In fact I even got there and ate it. But, that will have to wait until my next post.

Why, because I passed the Atlantic ChipShop and I am a sucker for a good British Beer. Or any beer, if one must know.

Come Into My Parlor


As you can see, they are touting their selection of British Beers this month and I would really suggest that, if you can, you stop in.

Repeating Myself


Ironically, I missed a three day cask ale festival at Brazen Head the other day. Really pissed me off because I walk by the place every day, almost. How I missed it, I do not know. I have now signed up for their email thing though.

Anyway, the irony was that ChipShop was out of their cask ale too. They said to come back tomorrow, but I missed that too. I will make it a point of getting back one day soon to see what they have.

Today, No, Maybe Tomorrow


The bar here isn't all that big, but it is a decent bar with a nice selection of draft beers and a bit of a bar ambiance. I think it should be set back a bit more from the windows, but it is a small place. I guess they did the best they could do.

Nice Selection, Though


And the bartender, Adam, is really a nice fellow, or mate, or chap, or whatever they call them across the pond. Even though he is from Britain he didn't know anything about snooker. Quite disappointing. But a good guy anyway.

Adam, The Snooker Challenged


I have been in here before and I am sure I mentioned that they have dynamite fish and chips. Probably the best I have ever had. Let me emphasize that a bit, if you have better, let me know. You can eat at the bar, but they do have a nice little dining area in the back.

Cozy, In A British Kind Of Way


I had a draft Well's Bombardier, a really nice ale. I would strongly recommend that, if you can, you stop by the Chip Shop on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn before the month is over to try a selection of their British offerings.

My next post will address my spleen sandwich. Trust me when I say that the Mysterious Chinese Woman says the combination of spleen and beer is a truly repellent mixture.

Mainly Murray's

My last day in Minnesota brought back memories of years past when I had to walk three miles to nursery school, in the dark, wolves howling nearby, near blizzard conditions. Ah, those were the days. Lose a mitten, then you probably lost a few fingers too. Ah, yes, those were the days.

Ah, but back to the present. There were snow showers in the morning. That sounds like such a pleasant thing, big fluffy flakes of snow gently drifting downward. Well, there was also strong winds with gusts up to fifty miles an hour. Wind like that can drive a fluffy snowflake right through a two by four.

We spent most of the day tucked inside and watching a football game but I had Murray's on my mind so that is where we headed to for dinner.

We arrived a bit before Murray's opened so we decided to stop next door to Ike's for a pre-dinner cocktail.

Ike's


I have written about Ike's before. It is an excellent place for a hearty lunch or a good dinner. They also have an Ike's at the Minneapolis airport and it is not your typical airport restaurant. It is every bit as well appointed as the one downtown and the food is just as good too. I had a steak with melted blue cheese on top one time and it was fabulous.

Cocktails At The Bar


But before dinner drinks only. Murray's was on my mind and to Murray's we would go.

Murray's


Murray's has been around forever and is the only real classy restaurant left from when I was just a Bar Boy. Oh, there are a lot of very good restaurants in downtown Minneapolis, make no mistake. Far more than when I lived here. It is just that the old great ones like Harry's and Charlie's are now long gone. Although there is a new Harry's that just opened. Not sure how it is related to the old one that burnt down many years ago.

If you go to Murray's you go there for the meat, pure and simple. The Silver Butterknife Steak for two, which is a 28 ounce strip sirloin that they carve at your table and a Chateaubriand for two, a 24 ounce beef tenderloin, also carved tableside. That is the way to go and that is the way we went.

A Carnivores Delight


Capturing The Moment


Let me tell you, this was one of the all-time great meals. If you are ever in Minneapolis and have the time and have the coin, it isn't cheap, you would be remiss if you didn't indulge yourself at Murray's. It has been here since 1946 and doesn't look like it is going anyplace soon.

After a great meal in a classic restaurant like this with old friends, what would be better for dessert than another classic, a real Grasshopper, just like in the old days.

A Couple Of Classics


Well, let me tell you, this was one great way to end up a really fun trip to my old stomping grounds, Northern Minnesota and Minneapolis. I sure wasn't looking forward to getting up early enough to catch a 6:30 AM plane, but I wouldn't have traded the night for anything. Let me rephrase that, I wouldn't have traded for a lot of stuff.