A friend stopped me recently from telling him any more about the Surly Goat when I suggested meeting there for a drink, the name alone convinced him.
I heard about it first because I was talking about how much I loved the Verdugo, but never go because it’s out in Glassell Park. The same folks own the two bars, and plenty of other places I’d probably never want to set foot in, but the Surly Goat focuses its selection mainly on beers—and they have quite a wide selection of uncommon and whatnot beers. I was disappointed not to see a cocktail menu out at the bar, because the Verdugo has such great cocktails. It’s close enough to home though, and pleasant enough inside, that I’m sure I’ll end up there again soon enough.
A place I wish were closer to home is Good Girl Dinette, in Highland Park. I went to an opening over there recently, and decided to head over early and find a place to get some pie or something first. Searching for pie in the area brought up Good Girl Dinette, which boasted on their menu having lattice top pies with “fruit from the farmers’ market”. I was disappointed when I got there that they didn’t have any pie that day, and would have left without getting anything if I didn’t have some time to kill before the opening. I decided to get their coffee-chocolate brownie (with candied kumquats and whipped cream on top) and … wow … was I glad to have stayed. I plan on taking Metro out there again sometime soon to try one of their amazing-looking cauliflower pot pies.