By Nia Sanders
Staff Writer
artsent.asp@gmail.com
Pearl Street offers its very own pub. The Pearl Street Pub and Dirty Martini Lounge, located on 1 Steuben St., grabs people’s attention with its own corner, stone exterior, and sign that instantly grabs onlookers.
It prides itself on offering large portions that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. No pub is complete without alcohol, and this place is no exception to the rule. On the search for a delightful lunch, I stopped by to see if it lived up to its motto.
The food is meant to be eaten without utensils. Customers can choose from a wide variety of appetizers that lead into several kinds of burgers, sandwiches, pizzas and lastly desserts.
Some of the ingredients used are local. The pulled pork sandwich consists of locally-smoked pork and a brioche bun from Rockland Bakery, which makes for a delicious sounding sandwich.
Unfortunately, the pork rub was overbearing. It disguised the flavor of the meat and, quite frankly, made it taste like beef-jerky. Bite after bite, I felt an explosion of grease in my mouth. The grease, combined with unsettling taste of the pork, prompted me to order another meal.
The black bean burger packed the most flavor and was worth every penny. The black beans, onions, garlic powder, cumin, and Thai chili blended extremely well in the patty.
A meatless burger can go very wrong or really well. Some try to make it resemble a hamburger or make it unique. Luckily, this chef was able to jump that hurdle and work the black bean’s magic. Carnivores, vegetarians, and vegans alike will lick their plate clean once this meal is presented to them.
My food was ready in 10 to 12 minutes, but it was executed with little attention to detail. The lettuce and tomato that accompany the black bean burger were nowhere to be found on my plate. After I brought my concern to the waitress, she served me a thin slice of romaine lettuce. Much to my disappointment, the following slice I asked for was just as mediocre.
It was clear that the waitress was not familiar with the menu. Ironically, the menu is intentionally displayed outside to attract customers.
Others faced similar experiences to the one I had, like University at Albany junior Yasmine Pessar.
“The area was quaint and roomy, but the food and the service seemed was disappointing,” she said. “What was stated on the menu was not what I was served, and it felt like a rip off.”
In settings like this, it is best to provide customers with cheap, yet high-quality food that will leave them wanting more than just another drink. Hopefully, things will sober-up for the Pearl Street Pub in order for something like that to happen.
The Pearl Street Pub and Dirty Martini Lounge
Location: 1 Stueben Place, Albany (518) 694- 3100
Hours: Monday-Friday (11 a.m.-4 a.m.), Saturday (12 p.m.-4 a.m.), Sunday (12 p.m.- 8p.m.)
Kitchen Hours: Monday-Saturday (11 a.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.- 8 p.m.)
Price range: $ 3.50-$ 11
