Gnarly Barley: A Local Girl's Favorite

Here is an update on my ultimate favorite place to go eat, drink, watch football, or just have a good time! The Gnarly Barley is a great place and my Taco Tuesday stop! If you still have not been, then I will just have to show you again why you need to go.

Wanna eat some great tacos? Then go Gnarly! They have amazing tacos...you won't just eat one. They are soo good! Black bean, chicken, brisket...you won't be disappointed! This past Tuesday, they made me an even happier taco eater by accommodating my like for tomatoes, but dislike for onions. I always order the pico de gallo on the side because it is good, but I have always picked out the onions (still have not acquired a taste for onions). The server this last Tuesday offered to have them just cut up some tomatoes and add some cilantro (because she heard me tell my cousin I pick out the tomatoes). I was so thankful...so nice to see that they are really all about making the customer happy. I of course already knew this, but it's another great example of how awesome they really are! Black bean tacos with tomatoes, cilantro, sour cream, cheese, peppers...my belly enjoyed it of course! 

Trying to get my friend to take a bite

Not a taco fan? Okay, then how about mac n cheese and roast beef on a sub roll, jalapeno popper flatbread, turkey bacon and cream cheese pressed sandwich, great grilled cheese with 5 different cheeses, brisket bacon sandwich, or a ham, turkey, bacon, provolone, honey mustard sandwich? Those are just a few of the other delicious choices they offer. I am a huge fan of several of their sandwiches! The last two Saturday nights I have indulged in the Johnnie Mac N' Cheese and of course was a very happy girl! The Johnnie Mac is my favorite sandwich. I love that two of my favorite things have been put together on this sandwich...it's like a cheese steak with mac n cheese...can't get any better than that! Their mac n cheese by itself is great and on the sandwich it's amazing! I could go on and on about their food, it is amazing!

Okay, so maybe you wanna just try their beer (or cider)...well they have multiple options for you! I have never been unhappy with either choice. They have really good ciders and craft beer. This month has been especially awesome! They have had Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers. Mmm just delicious! Last night's pumpkin beer was really good. Like pale ales or IPAs, they've got some great choices.The options are limitless! If you are a craft beer junkie or just like beer...then Gnarly is a place you should try; you won't regret it!

Now if my this update still hasn't sold you on trying my favorite local craft beer and food stop, then these pictures sure will. Enjoy!

  

Barley Brisket Bacon and Chicken Vinaigrette Flatbread

 

The 38 and a Black Bean Taco

Johnnie Mac N' Cheese (with a taco) and the Gnarly Dip

My dad enjoying his tacos and me enjoying The 38

Night out with friends? They have plenty of games to make for a great time! Jenga and Cards Against Humanity are two of my favorite games; the night always ends up being interesting with these two games.

Dessert! Not only do they offer great food, beer, cider, wine, games, but they also now have amazing desserts! They recently started offering Gnarly Desserts by Nina and they are really good! They have had peanut butter pretzel brownies, banana muffins, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cupcakes...it changes each week. Don't forget to try dessert when you go!

Pumpkin Nutella Cake and a Chocolate Cupcake

The Gnarly Barley is really just a cool place! The staff is always helpful and friendly and the owners are really nice. I really love the place!

One of the owners, Trace Pleicones

Still want more info? You can visit their website at http://www.thegnarlybarley.com/ or their Facebook Page.

Beer, games, football, fun night out, tacos, sandwiches, you can't go wrong if you choose to visit The Gnarly Barley! Don't forget to tell them one of their biggest fans sent you!

CHEERS!!

The Hammered Lamb - 1 Star

Hammered Lamb is located on North Orange Avenue in the Lake Ivanhoe area. It's a neat bar with a nice view and clientele.

Blue Moon

I first went the night Orlando Weekly had their Blue Moon Artfully Crafted Box Party there. It was a pretty cool deal! My cousin and I got tickets for free Blue Moon and then a ticket to vote for our favorite Box Artist. While there, we got to drink for free (of course we tipped), play a game (throw a ping pong ball in a cup to win a prize) and try some tasty hors d'oeuvres. Pretty cool set up for sure! The people we met and talked with were really friendly. The bartenders were also fast and on it for it being so busy. It definitely was a nice night out!

After the event finished, my cousin and I decided to stay a little longer and try some food. I ordered their House Baked Chicken Wings and my cousin got the Fruit and Veggie Flatbread. Both were really good. The wings were kind of spicy (I may be more sensitive than most) and flavorful. I enjoyed them. The fruit and veggie flatbread was my favorite though! It has peaches, apples, spinach, booseberry jam, with manchego, fontina, and goat cheese. When I took my first bite, it made my mouth water for more. It was pure deliciousness! It is one of the best flatbreads I've had.

House Baked Chicken Wings and the Fruit & Veggie Flatbread

All in all, we had a really good time! We got to meet one of the owners that night and take free shots (they give out free shots when a train passes by). The owner we met, Jason, was really nice and friendly and the free shot idea is really cool.

Since my first visit, I have been back. Some biking friends and I stopped by this past Sunday (2013) for drinks while on our bike ride. It's nice that they are bike friendly. We stayed for about an hour and had a nice time. There was live music playing and the drinks were refreshing on such a hot day.

I recently went to the Hammered Lamb for their brunch with a couple of my friends (back in February 2015). We have started started doing brunch on Sundays. A friend recommended Hammered Lamb because she wanted to try it out. I had been before and agreed that it would be a good place to go. Disappointment was to be had though. One of my friends and I ordered the breakfast pizza. It had no flavor. We ate it, but had to think of our own ways to doctor it up. My other two friends weren't overly pleased either with their meals. The food just wasn't as good as it had been the few times I had gone before. Their bathrooms are also not clean anymore. We were there in the morning/brunch time and it was dirty. That is not okay in my book. At night I understand they can get a little dirty or trashed due to it being a bar, but on a Sunday for brunch...no excuse for it to be unclean. One positive, they have a bloody mary bar (one of my friends enjoyed it) and their mimosas were good for the price. I was really looking forward to eating something great based off my previous experiences, but it was just a disappointing experience this time.

So...what do I recommend? My recommendation is, go for drinks, but not for brunch or to eat. They no longer offer the fruit and veggie flatbread. My favorite is gone, therefore, I will not go back there to eat. But, if you are looking for a bar to stop at when on a bike ride or to go out and drink with friends, then Hammered Lamb is an okay place. Will I be back again? No. It is not good anymore. In my opinion, it has gone from being a cool place to being like the dirty downtown bars.

If you want more information about The Hammered Lamb or to check it out for yourself...visit either their website at 

http://www.hammeredlamb.com/index.html or their facebook page. 

My cousin and I having a good time (first free train shot)

         Busy place....                             Me with one of the owners, Jason

Biking trip...drinks were refreshing!

*Pictures are from previous visits in 2013.