Porter Beer Bar

Went to the Porter Beer Bar last night for the AIWF Wonderful Wednesday. Coming from the office, I got there just before 7, in no small part because traffic on the connector and then the local streets was miserable. I was very happy to find that the parking lot we like to use (Junkman's Daughter) wasn't charging so I didn't have to break my $20.

The Porter was packed. AIWF had several tables. I ended up at a table with a lot of people I knew, but the people I mostly talk to were on the opposite end and I was next to someone who are consistently cold to me. After a few minutes of miserably sitting next to her, I realized there was an open seat next to Gena and moved.

Shortly after I arrived at my new table, the group decided to order food for dinner and I happily joined in. We shared:

Veal brain-stuffed pasta in a bacon sauce -- I was pretty excited to try this. I had read about it online. You couldn't taste the veal brain at all. The sauce was good, the pasta light. In the end though, it was like any other pasta.

Suckling pig terrine -- This was pretty good, but I have to say for as beautiful and mouth-watering as suckling pig looks, I'm always a little disappointed when I eat it. Maybe I just want to pull the meat right off the damn pig.

Sausages on kraut -- Josh has gotten this before and it's just meat and kraut, that's it, but it makes more sense when you are sharing a bunch of dishes. The sausages were okay, but the kraut was really really good.

Sausages in cheese fondue -- This was nothing to write home about. The sausages were a little dry, the fondue was boring and lacked any flavor.

Goat cheese sticks -- I don't know why everyone orders these. I've had them before and they are meh. Last night they were room temperature which means they weren't gooey at all. Meh again.

Pretzel dumplings in beer/cheese soup - The cheese soup tasted much like the fondue. They may have been the same thing. Bland and boring. And a little grainy/gritty on the finish. Ew.

Mussels -- These were awesome. The broth was awesome. Definitely a keeper.

I tried to order beer samples but was thwarted. Our server was swamped so I didn't fault her. I ended up drinking water which, since I had to drive home, wasn't so bad after all.

The walk back to my car was deserted. I saw two people total. I was a little nervous but the parking lot still wasn't full which is interesting because the Porter was PACKED. Seems like a good night to head to lil five.