Kavikas Grill & Bar

Kavikas Grill & Bar was such a cool place. Everything about the bar had a lounge type feel and I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant. They have a huge fireplace in the center of the bar and the bar top and lights change colors that match the colors of the lighthouse at the Pike in downtown. Aside from the awesome atmosphere, the wok-style food was delicious. As an appetizer, I ordered the chicken spring rolls, which had a spicy sauce that gave it a real kick. They were really good and made me more excited for my entree. I ordered the Mandarin Wok with tempura fried shrimp and jasmine rice. The rice was really sticky and the slight hint of jasmine made it very unique. Paired with the citrusy sauce on my shrimp, it was a perfect combination.

Kavikas also had some interesting martinis and drinks on their menu. I decided on a caramel apple martini and it was amazing. The glass was lined with caramel sauce and tasted like a real caramel apple. It was sweet and tangy and did not taste like alcohol.

The prices at Kavikas seemed a little bit expensive when I first looked at the menu. However I definitely feel that the $14.00 I paid for my shrimp was worth it. I did order one of the least expensive entrees, but I think the food would be worth it.

Gallagher's Pub and Grill

Gallagher's Pub and Grill is an Irish pub located on Broadway. The menu consists of your typical bar food such as burgers and sandwiches as well as traditional Irish dishes like corned beef and shepard's pie. I ordered a stuffed cheddar burger and fries. The burger was good, although I did not get to specify how I would have liked it cooked. I prefer my burgers medium rare and this was well done. However, the cheesiness of the burger was delicious. I think my favorite part about Gallagher's was definitely the atmosphere. This place had more of a bar type feel than a restaurant. The TVs were all playing college football games since it was Saturday and they have bottomless mimosas until 2pm. I felt that the drink specials that they offer all week were pretty good. They have a different promotion for drinks every day of the week.

The prices were pretty reasonable. My burger was $10.95. I added an extra dollar because i added avocado. I had a pint of snakebite and that was around $5.00, which I found very reasonable.

In conclusion, I will definitely go back to Gallagher's for drinks. Next time I go there for food, I think I would try a more traditional Irish dish instead of a burger.