It's Friday and it's time to shake off the dust on the ol' blue collar. I swung by and loaded up my trusty co-conspirator and we set out for the lakes region of Minnesota. Now, I know what you wanna say: The "lakes" region of Minnesota is like the desert region of Arizona. True enough! So, we headed to the "not desert" with the little town of Vergas on the radar.
I got word that Vergas has a little saloon that serves colossal comestibles at a commoner's cost. Whoa! That's enough to get my adventure seeker going! This shop is called Skal Bar and Grill. Pronounced 'Skahl', if my hearing aid batteries are still good. It's a hat tip to the Scandinavian countries out there in the Nether regions of Europe. There's a lot of Norway in these parts, and that generally works to my benefit. We tripped over the threshold into Viking territory! Let's Go!
Oh... I gotta share a tidbit of knowledge for the men in the audience. If you are going to take care of business in the ol' "WC", so to speak, you might throw the latch on the door. If you are standing to get the job done and another party throws open the door, a packed pub gets a fully framed figure faking a fountain. Some people are picky about the scenery. Your mileage may vary.
Now, before we get started here, there is one rule that's gotta be set in concrete: Do not touch the tree. This rule is clearly defined by a homespun font inscribed upon stationery which is mounted on a nearby wall as if to suggest the tree had experienced malice at the hands of agents of dubious intent. It is a tavern, so let your imagination do the heavy lifting, here.
Tree. Off limits.
There's no need to stand for a saloon secretary to seat you. Grab and open seat and hope the person next to you is a neighborly individual. We took a four top and settled in under the glow of a couple TVs. Soon enough, a young lady named Alison pulled our drink order and tossed a couple culinary conspectuses at our faces. Peeling back the pages revealed a humble list of customary comfort foods. Of course, at a new joint, I'm inclined to have the hasher wreck a cow for me, so I opted for the portabella burger. This ain't the typical vegan offering that replaces a meat patty with a fungus. This is a half-pound heifer hamburger capped with a glorious dome of earthy delight! The big dog ordered a Reuben. A solid choice in these parts!
We had a beefy wait while watching a little competition on the tube. Alison skated out and dropped the truth on the table. Holy smoke! The presentation was much better than I anticipated. I could not wait to dig in!
One bite. This bad boy burger earned its legitimacy in a single jaw jack! First, and foremost, this food came out HOT! It has been a long time since I had to wait for my pub grub to come down to my tolerance. Big respect to the chef! Furthermore, the portion was a heck of a thing to stare down. The grill boss nailed it to the wall! This burger had all the check boxes filled! Hot! Fresh! Big! A delicacy on a bun with a perfect toast cradling a double stack with perfectly-melted Havarti. I ain't about to profane, but, the incredibleness of this burger would inspire strong language!
All this food talk is just dandy, but I gotta throw some ovation to our maître d', Alison. What an rich personality she was! Listen... In a normal world of hubbub and bad news, we all need a little glimmer of light. Alison was a star and she took a little of her hustle time to chat us up. It takes a conscientious individual to keep a conversation even when duty calls. She let me know that the hash slinger's name was Billy, though she said it in a way that made me think he might be in a witness protection arrangement. Respect to Billy's spatula skills! The food was outstanding! Both my buddy and I double tabbed in exchange for Alison's tremendous service. People like Alison make the adventure memorable! Many Thanks!
Having said that... you know me. When I get something above average, I reciprocate above average. I highly recommend skidding into Skal. Play a little Led Zep Immigrant Song to get you in the mood for a møljekalas! Skal will surprise you. Come on in from the outside and ask for Alison. You are going to get a great dining experience. Please keep in mind, as you plunder the countryside with your Viking horde, to throw a few extra kroner at your taverna jente! Be a hero for the cause! Be awesome!
"The older the flute, the sweeter the tune."
- Norwegian Proverb read more