AND TWO OF THE BEST BUGGERS IN TOWN
October 25, 2006
“I believe every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don’t intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.” – Neil Armstrong
Y’ALL KNOW THAT I’M THE BUGGER AFFECIONADO in town. So when I tell you about two eateries that serve terrific buggers, you know that I know of what I speak.
I now have four official offices. First and foremost is the one that I generate my income, and that’s on South Wadsworth. I also have a North office at Alameda and Wadsworth. Third is the West office, also known as the country club office. Foothills Golf Course. ‘Course I ain’t been on the golf part of the golf course in 15 years. Finally, my Southwest office is at Q’s Pub. Wanna know why I have these “offices”? Read on, mate.
Q’s Pub & Grille, 10133 W. Chatfield Ave, 303/973-2905
It’s been about a year since the first time I visited Q’s Pub. Michael Floorwax was headlining a special comedy nite here and I had to go. Not had as in “had”, but really had. You got it. Anywho, I was sitting in a back booth with several friends when G Man stops by my table and sez to me, “Order me some egg rolls.” So I do. They came, he didn’t, so I ate them. Well, then I had to get another order for G Man. Cuz he mighta kicked muh butt. He could do it, too. Ate half of the second order. Fortunately (for me) G Man was too busy doing his shtick, whatever that might be, and he only ate a few of ‘em. Didn’t even notice the dish was short a few. Best damn egg rolls in town!
The other thing that I observed that nite was the terrific service. We’ve all been to an entertainment venue where they serve drinks and sangies and a munchie or two. But you wait for 20 minutes for a soft drink or a cocktail, and even longer for something to eat. At Q’s, the full menu is available even on live entertainment nites when the place is packed wall to wall. The service is FFF (fast, friendly, and ‘fficient. LOL – I just made that up). The kitchen keeps up with the demand. Even if Jack and Jean Q both have to lend a hand.
Jack Quinlivan has been in the dining business for many years, having operated the food service at a number of area golf courses. He acquired this restaurant, formerly Conville’s Pub, in 1993. Old timers will remember a column I wrote on Conville’s in the old Sentinel newspapers back in 1992. March 12th, to be exact, if anyone cares.
When you go into Q’s and Jack comes by your table, which he often does, be sure to let him think he runs the place. We really know that it’s his wife, Jean, who runs the place. But it makes him feel good if he thinks he’s in charge. But let’s talk about the grub. Cuz it’s really terrific.
The Bugger. Certainly it has to be in my current TT (Top Ten). A hand-packed, half-pound, cooked to order, 80% lean patty on a fresh, crusty Kaiser roll. Don’t get any better than that folks. Yo!
There are two things you gotta know about Q’s. First, the prices at Q’s are cheap. The bugger, with all the trimmings and choice of side is $4.95. You can’t get a hand-packed half-pound bugger anywhere in town for anywhere near that price! Second, the portions are large. As in really big. All the sangies come with choice of fries, chips, house salad, or cole slaw. House made onion rings are a buck extra. So what else does a paid belly like me want other than low prices and big portions? Nada.
The aforementioned egg rolls ($5.95) are one of 14 munchies. Try the hot wings ($6.95), butterfly shrimp basket ($7.95), potato boats ($6.75) or the fantastic chicken fingers with honey Dijon ($6.75).
Select from one of 19 sangies. Other than the bugger, I’ve eaten or sampled: the delish chicken club ($7.25) with grilled chicken boob, bacon, and Jack cheese; the fantastic Reuben ($6.50); The Phenomenal Phamous Philly (real roast beef - $6.95); the terrific chicken fried steak ($6.50); the blow-your-mind world-famous chicken parm ($6.95); and the maaavelous Outrageous BLT ($6.50). Probably sampled several other dishes that I can’t think of at the moment.
In addition to the menu, there’s a house-made daily special. Usually something like a yummy meat loaf or wonderful BBQ ribs. Breakfast is served on the weekends. Q’s even has desserts, but I couldn’t tell you what they are. Not when I waddle out of there after chowing down on a big bugger, fries and an order of egg rolls.
Did I mention the LIVE ENTERTAINMENT every Thursday thru Saturday nite? It’s generally R&B, Funk, Classic Rock or Motown. There’s a small door charge but worth every dime. Check out their website for more info as well as for the complete menu.
Be sure to tell ‘em The Fox sencha.
The Foothills Grill (at Foothills Golf Course), 3901 S. Carr St, 303/409-2407
Yeah, I know, grub at a golf course? Hit a ball and munch a bugger, putt a ball and slurp a soda. I’ve had some terrific buggers and other grub at golf courses all around this town. I don’t go to golf; I go to eat.
Before I forget, after you go to the Foothills (Recreation District) website, click on Golf, then Foothills Golf, then the Foothills Grill link.
Since the first of the year, new management has been running the food operations at this lovely golf course. These guys are pros. With just a few days to set up, they had really good grub coming out of the kitchen from Day One. I tell you this cuz if you think the menu is good now, wait til they add more goodies.
The dining room has one of the best golf course views in the area, with huge windows overlooking the pristine course. But I sit at the bar. Yak with the bartender, read one of my tax or restaurant journals, and feast on one of the many dishes they do very well.
The restaurant is open rain or shine, seven days a week. On them bad days, as in when it snows, its only open part of the day but that depends on the season. Right now it is open from 10 am to 2 pm on a snow day, but you should call first if the weather is bad. Otherwise they serve breakfast and lunch now and will be starting dinner service soon. But let’s talk about the grub.
I always start with the bugger. ‘Ceptin of course when they don’t offer one. But here the bugger is great. It’s not hand-packed, but it’s a full half-pound and has plenty of fat for flavor. They serve it on a good toasted bun and accompany it with yummy fries or really good cole slaw. Or some of that sick stuff that some people like. You know, that white pukey stuff. A mere $6.50 including fries.
I’m not a ketchup person. There are times when it’s necessary, like on meat loaf. Also, when fries are ok, but not real good, I call ‘em ketchup fries. The fries here are good. But one of the lovelies – cudda been one of the guys – suggested I try tarter sauce on the fries. Now I like good fish and chips but rarely use tarter sauce. As y’all know, I’m a purist. Don’t put nuttin’ on nuttin’. Buggers are rare and plain. Maybe toast the bun. Fish is fish and I want to taste the fish, not the fish with whatever. But tarter sauce with french fries is quite good. Quite yummy. Quite.
Why does my computer always want me to capitalize “french” as in french fries? It ain’t supposed to be cuz the origin of the words has nothing to do with France. Anywho, I digress.
I recently added the large portion (count six of ‘em) chicken tenders ($7.95 w/fries) to my list of favorite items on the menu. But there’s more. Oh yeah.
The breakfast menu offers a giant burrito ($6.95), French toast ($4.95), eggs and omelets. Lunch includes sangies, salads, and stuff. Several Mexican items, a very good Rockies Wrap (with chicken tenders - $6.95), fish & chips, Philly cheese steak, a darn good club sangie, and other fare.
The only desserts (sad but true) are some pre-packaged muffins and candy bars and the like. But I’m told that desserts should be on the menu soonish. Maybe not as soon as dinner, but soon. Ish.
So you’ve now been to two of my “special” offices, maybe someday I’ll tell ya about the other(s). Meanwhile, check out these two eateries. Both are kinda tucked away, off the beaten path, but you can find ‘em if you look. And if you don’t look, it’s your loss.
Cya.
In his real life Jay Fox is a CPA. He offers all kinds of good tax planning advice, financial calculators and the latest in tax news at his website: www.jayfoxcpa.com. He just writes this column for the money.