I’m a fan of Happy Hour deals and I don’t care who knows it. In today’s economy, Bar Crudo is reeling in the patrons with $1 oysters and mussels on the half shell and $5 bowls of their deservedly famous seafood chowder, a rich creamy concoction of cooked seafood at its best. On any Tuesday through Friday, if you walk in between 5p.m. and 6:30 you receive a Happy Hour menu along with their standard dinner menu. If you need a decent dinner at a low price this is the perfect restaurant during the early evening. They even list some beers for $3. The best thing about it is the quality on items offered through both menus is identical, excellent, but the Happy Hour offerings are in smaller portions.
Let’s just start with the oysters sold by the dozen or half dozen. On this particular night they were Miyagi oysters with a light, briny, clean taste. I’ve been there when Pt Reyes, a normally larger oyster than Miyagi, was available. I’m still waiting to find Kumamoto oysters. Offering the smaller oysters of each variety that comes in, at this lower price point is a very smart move. It makes fresh oysters available to anyone who is watching their spending and attracts die hard bargain hunters who may not otherwise try the restaurant. It also rewards regulars and makes a return visit that much easier.
Whether eaten with a mignonette or seafood sauce, 6 of these make a nice start to your meal. If you add a beer you might even decide to stop ordering more dinner after one more menu selection. We asked for Gulden Draak, since this dark beer went so well with the shellfish on our last visit, but it wasn’t being offered. Our waitress asked if the Gulden Carolus would work, so we gave it a try and were happy with it.
It was beautifully golden, and tight little bubbles were making their way up the side of the glass. Full bodied, rich, spicy and very slightly sweet, it earned the title of “refreshment” and we stopped thinking about the Draak after the first sip.
For $10 the fresh uni on a baguette with avocado was easy to share, since it is composed of two pieces sitting atop a mixed green and chicory salad. We’ve ordered this before and I noticed that there was less avocado and no flaked salt this time. Insist on the salt as it perks up the mild sea urchin and contributes to the brine flavor. Once savored, you will not be able to walk into this restaurant without again ordering this cold starter.
Just look at that bowl thick with fish, shrimp, squid and bacon. No potatoes to bulk it up and keep the cost down while the profit goes up. Stock, cream, herbs and I suspect some saffron rounded out the flavor and made a very favorable impression. At $5 for the bowl, this was not a bargain as much as it was a gift from the restaurant. We walked away from this meal for under $40 for two and were completely satisfied. Since we merely wanted to try the chowder, we only ordered one bowl, but next time we’ll need two.
http://www.barcrudo.com/menu.php
| 655 Divisadero St San Francisco CA 94117 |
| 415.409.0679 |
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