roseembolism (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
roseembolism) wrote2004-04-04 02:56 pm
roseembolism) wrote2004-04-04 02:56 pm
(no subject)
In which I prove that I can indeed write about things that are non fan related. I am politically astute, I am aware of the world around me. I do not merely have hobbies- I have interests, damn it. I am willing to make SACRIFICES for my interests- not just money, but clothing. Read on.
One of the sad little things about the relentless upscaling of the SB region is the disappearance of the beachside burger shack. All it took was the discovery that upscale patrons would be willing to pay through the nose for food AND a view of the beach, and the shacks that merely existed to feed hungry swimmers were doomed. Goleta Beach now has the Beachside, with bay windows looking out over the water and a tank of lobsters. East Beach has a grill with a sit down restaurant encased in glass, and the Ledbetter Beach's Brown Pelican has compensated for their overpriced menu with lousy service. I can't see a bunch of sopping wet teens coming straight from the water into these places, leaving a wet sandy trail behind them n the polished floors. Especially not if they want to spend less then $20.00 a head. No, in this area, if one actually wants to grab a burger after swimming, one has to leave the beach area. The distance may be a half mile in Santa Barbara downtown, up to three miles away from the beach in Goleta, where possibly the best beachside burger joint is- Bellyboards.
Sandy and I ended up at Bellyboards yesterday. We were tired, hungry, and just wanted a good, inexpensive meal. The outside worried me- In Santa Barbara "cute, colorful surfing theme restaurant", is code words for "Your tenner won't cover the bill". Still, it was a place that cheerfully overindulged in its theme- multiple surfboards hanging from the ceiling, palm fronds, many bright colors. It had a barrel full of peanuts, and shells all over the floor- Sandy was ecstatic. The prices dispelled my fears- only a couple dollars more then your average inedible fast food joint. I ordered fish and chips while Sandy ordered a cheeseburger with onion, and we experimented with the flavored syrup dispensers for the sodas. Sandy liked the vanilla cherry combo, while I found that if one presses the button hard enough the dispenser is perfectly designed for shooting cherry syrup all over one's pants and the floor.
After a hasty and ineffectual clean-up trip to the bathroom , I sat down with Sandy, who was enjoying her hamburger She commented that the barbecue sauce had teriyaki sauce in it that made it taste better- I commented that worked with the theme as well. She gave me a part of an onion ring, which was huge, sweet, and perfectly crispy. I tried my fries first, which were definitely above average. The fish was incredible- instead of the usual batter, the fish was coated in panko flakes, which makes the texture much lighter then normal, and very crispy without being overcooked. We sat there and ate and listened to alternative music while watching the surfing movies on the TVs- because any beach burger theme shack HAS to have surfing movies playing. Sandy commented, and I agreed, that the place had a very comfortable, relaxing feel. My pants, squished, but it was all good.
In spite off all this the location was bad- the place was nearly empty on a Saturday afternoon, while next door Carrows was packed with people waiting to be served steaks that are simultaneously overdone and half frozen. It's rather far to drive from the beach- it would be too long to sit on a car seat in wet, sandy, swim trunks. Still, while its here, we have: excellent food, great ambiance, peanuts, prices well below the overpriced norm, and a syrup dispenser with a hatred of white pants. All in all, I recommend the place, but be careful of that dispenser. I am willing to sacrifice my pants in the name of good food, but you don't have to.
One of the sad little things about the relentless upscaling of the SB region is the disappearance of the beachside burger shack. All it took was the discovery that upscale patrons would be willing to pay through the nose for food AND a view of the beach, and the shacks that merely existed to feed hungry swimmers were doomed. Goleta Beach now has the Beachside, with bay windows looking out over the water and a tank of lobsters. East Beach has a grill with a sit down restaurant encased in glass, and the Ledbetter Beach's Brown Pelican has compensated for their overpriced menu with lousy service. I can't see a bunch of sopping wet teens coming straight from the water into these places, leaving a wet sandy trail behind them n the polished floors. Especially not if they want to spend less then $20.00 a head. No, in this area, if one actually wants to grab a burger after swimming, one has to leave the beach area. The distance may be a half mile in Santa Barbara downtown, up to three miles away from the beach in Goleta, where possibly the best beachside burger joint is- Bellyboards.
Sandy and I ended up at Bellyboards yesterday. We were tired, hungry, and just wanted a good, inexpensive meal. The outside worried me- In Santa Barbara "cute, colorful surfing theme restaurant", is code words for "Your tenner won't cover the bill". Still, it was a place that cheerfully overindulged in its theme- multiple surfboards hanging from the ceiling, palm fronds, many bright colors. It had a barrel full of peanuts, and shells all over the floor- Sandy was ecstatic. The prices dispelled my fears- only a couple dollars more then your average inedible fast food joint. I ordered fish and chips while Sandy ordered a cheeseburger with onion, and we experimented with the flavored syrup dispensers for the sodas. Sandy liked the vanilla cherry combo, while I found that if one presses the button hard enough the dispenser is perfectly designed for shooting cherry syrup all over one's pants and the floor.
After a hasty and ineffectual clean-up trip to the bathroom , I sat down with Sandy, who was enjoying her hamburger She commented that the barbecue sauce had teriyaki sauce in it that made it taste better- I commented that worked with the theme as well. She gave me a part of an onion ring, which was huge, sweet, and perfectly crispy. I tried my fries first, which were definitely above average. The fish was incredible- instead of the usual batter, the fish was coated in panko flakes, which makes the texture much lighter then normal, and very crispy without being overcooked. We sat there and ate and listened to alternative music while watching the surfing movies on the TVs- because any beach burger theme shack HAS to have surfing movies playing. Sandy commented, and I agreed, that the place had a very comfortable, relaxing feel. My pants, squished, but it was all good.
In spite off all this the location was bad- the place was nearly empty on a Saturday afternoon, while next door Carrows was packed with people waiting to be served steaks that are simultaneously overdone and half frozen. It's rather far to drive from the beach- it would be too long to sit on a car seat in wet, sandy, swim trunks. Still, while its here, we have: excellent food, great ambiance, peanuts, prices well below the overpriced norm, and a syrup dispenser with a hatred of white pants. All in all, I recommend the place, but be careful of that dispenser. I am willing to sacrifice my pants in the name of good food, but you don't have to.
no subject