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3 DRINK MINIMUM: Three beers at The Red Hot

No fuss, no muss, excellent service, cheap eats and damn cold beer

THE RED HOT: Elliot and Karla could set up a 3 Dog Minimum if you so choose. Photo credit: Steph DeRosa

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There's a difference between "going out to lunch with your friend" and "grabbing lunch with your friend."

One requires a designated server, assigned to your table specifically, who treats you as though you are numb from the waist down and can't do anything on your own. They hand you a menu, describe the menu, take your menu, bring you your food and then pace back and forth like a hovering vulture waiting for you to pay so that they can sell your seat to the next complacent customer.

To illustrate the latter term of "grabbing lunch" is, well, The Red Hot. Sure, they have attentive staff happy to treat you as though you were utterly helpless, but if you want to get off your ass, go up to the bar and throw your order at the nearest beer slinger, they'll let you do that as well. No fuss, no muss, excellent service, cheap eats and damn cold beer.

Grabbing lunch with Kris Blondin at The Red Hot was exactly what my Monday needed, and while we were at it, we grabbed three drinks as well.

First Drink: Bartender's Choice - Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager

Karla Corona, TRH's longtime beer mistress, picked out the perfect beer for a sunny start to my week - light and refreshing with just a hint of hops layered throughout. I heard the chords from "I Can See Clearly Now" in my head as I smiled at every sip.

Second Drink: Most Popular Within The Last Hour - Everybody's Brewing Country Boy IPA

IPAs are my favorite, right next to a good chocolaty coffee-ish stout. I'd like to personally thank all TRH daytime regulars for making this beer the most popular within the last hour. And by personally thank, I mean write a column about three drinks.

Third Drink: My Choice - Unibroue Terrible

Kris Blondin roped me into this one. Incredibly delicious and clove-centric as it was, the damn thing was at 10.5 percent alcohol! Thankfully it came in a smaller glass and I had Kris there to help me finish it off. Otherwise my Monday would've ended with a serious nap.

Who the hell am I kidding?  A peanut butter and bacon hot dog alongside a heaping pile of Filthy Nachos is a coma-inducing lunch in itself. The gas that comes along with it is just a bonus.

THE RED HOT, 2914 SIXTH AVE., TACOMA, 253.779.0229

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