The Picnic
Hyde Sunset Kitchen Cocktails – Sbe

Hyde Sunset Kitchen Cocktails – Sbe

8117 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, United States

Wine • Full • Kitchen • American


"To the owners of this establishment, this kind of treatment happens all over Los Angeles, from Montecito to Big Bear. I've experienced it in grocery stores and auto shops, but I imagine it all starts in Hollywood clubs. Speaking as someone who moved to L.A. for the nightlife, I can tell you it should never cost more than $20 to get into any celebrity party—if it does, that's a red flag. It means the place is either empty or just another indoor version of Hollywood's generic pink wall. Don't take the door staff's word for it; they’re not the ones out partying. Here’s a life lesson you don’t want to learn the hard way: never pay door fees in cash, because if the place is terrible, you’ll want your money back—and trust me, it usually is. This venue operates as a business spot at best, and I have no interest in discussing business on a Saturday night. This sentiment seems to be shared by all of us who aren’t regulars here. It really could be so much better. You might wonder why I come here—it’s because it’s my local bar. For anyone who got turned away, I snuck in (you might want to practice climbing hedges), but I assure you, it’s not a party. About 90% of it is just a selfie spot, with 75% of the crowd there to be seen with their friends. I’d say there's about 1% who are actually dancing and another 2% genuinely having a good time. There’s no dancing from the waitstaff, and the crowd isn’t dancing either. Sure, they fill the place with attractive people (yawn), just like every other country club. But as always, the real answer is personality. The nightlife in Hollywood on weekends is dead, except for some spots off Santa Monica. It doesn’t improve in Hollywood; it just gets worse. In Chicago, there’s a well-known gym called the East Bank Club, which isn’t really a gym either, but people do flock there—not for workouts, despite the NBA players who train there. Unfortunately, L.A. isn’t solving this issue anytime soon. Eventually, I’ll find a club where the waitresses can dance because they’re treated well by management and the crowd. But the clientele here—sorry, mom and dad—is like a bunch of misbehaved children. If you’re looking for genuine fun, there are jam sessions in Antelope Valley, and the Ying Yang Twins have the whole place dancing in the foothills of Big Bear (which is the easiest of the four routes there). Also, if you’re a fan of the American Olympics, Phelps enjoys craft breweries in Thousand Oaks. And to the man who dressed and sounded like Common asking about this venue, I suggest checking out Elbow Room off Cahuenga or Moms in Culver City."

Jack's Bbq

Jack's Bbq

3924 Airport Way S, Seattle, WA 98108, USA, United States

Bbq • Salads • Western • American


"Jack's BBQ is situated in a rather unappealing industrial area of Seattle, surrounded by large iron structures, graffiti-covered walls, and topped with chain-linked fences with razor wire. The only sounds in the vicinity are vehicles passing by. The exterior features a lone ornamental longhorn steer and a vibrant Texas flag painted on a side wall—a hint of the experience that awaits inside. The interior is warm and inviting, adorned with wood accents, and staffed by friendly faces, all built around a kitchen channeling as much Texas charm as possible. My host, Michael, played a crucial role in my visit. With his beard and military background, he might be a bit over the top for some, but I appreciated his down-to-earth demeanor. I started with a Shiner Bock beer on tap—definitely a must-try if you haven't been to Texas before—before turning my attention to the food menu. I opted for the "Double Trouble," which allows you to choose any two meats and two sides. I selected brisket, sausage, mac and cheese, and their Trinity chili. The meal was nearly exceptional until Michael checked in on me. Noticing that my brisket looked a bit dry, he took it upon himself to converse with the kitchen staff and brought me a new, luscious, and juicy slice at no extra charge. The difference was remarkable; the second piece practically melted in my mouth. The potato salad was well-chilled, crunchy, and had a delightful mustard flavor. The chili was hearty and comforting, while the sausage was outstanding. I recommend opting for two smoked sausages since the cheese-filled one was a bit too rich for my taste. However, a little sauce helped balance it out, though true Texas BBQ should ideally stand on its own without sauce. My total bill (including tip) came to $46, and thanks to Michael's attentiveness, it was well worth it. I highly recommend giving it a try."

Hopkins Eatery

Hopkins Eatery

1660 N Monroe St, 32303-5558, Tallahassee, United States

Coffee • American • Ice Cream • North American


"I will never eat at Hopkins again because of the poor service. Others were also frustrated with the same poor service. When we placed our order and went to the self serve area to get our drinks there was no ice in the machine. I returned to the counterwaited on the hostess to finish a telephone order before explaining there was no ice. Before I could say more she yelled at meshe had to wait on the people who had just walked in and she would get ice when she had time. No offer to fill our cups in theback or to let the women waning in the kitchen for assistance. I sat back down to wait. Our food order was called and still noice. When I went to get our order I asked for a refund on the drinks since there was no ice. The hostess told me she would geta manager. She continued to wait on customers as they came in the door with still no effort to get ice for us. After we hadfinished our sandwiches she came out set up a ladder at the drink machine and then went to wait on more customers. Still nooffer to get two cups of ice from the back even though she had now made several trips to the kitchen. She then came out andtold me that the manager said there were no refunds for lack of ice. I asked to speak to the manager who came out as thehostess poured ice in the machine and stated there was now ice so no refund. While all this was going on I watched a woman giveup trying to get hot water out of the coffee machine for hot tea because it was only dripping. Finally, while the manager wasspeaking to me the hostess stood there smirking about denying us ice and a refund."