Danny Z.
Yelp
not a bad place. very funky and I do mean 'funk' - as in, like, Rick James after a long, live set at the Memorial Aud in Buffalo. my lunch date thought it smelled like someone's basement. she said it in a condescending manner but for me, many special things happened in someone's basement, so I didn't mind the smell. after much internal dialogue, I thought I could detect a little wet leather, the toasted scent of Camel cigarette, maybe a single shake of Old Spice and a whiff of Charlie. She thought the pole in the middle of the east end was a former stripper pole but I assured her it was the wrong diameter and incorrect material. (actually I didn't tell her that, I advised her it appears to be a structural support of some sort.) it's dark inside, even in the daytime, so if you are bringing your Dostoyevsky, the down-and-out vibe of the place may match your Winter in Khabarovsk mood but the lighting may not allow you to make out the words. bring a headlamp and order vodka.
first off I asked for a menu and we were directed to the chalkboard. (see photos, sorry, one pic is out of focus) friday was allegedly happy hour 2-7 so I don't know if Happy Hour has been discontinued or what. it was not presented as an option. so don't assume there's a happy hour.
second - I check out reviews and menus online, and I'm always disappointed when these online menus don't mesh well with reality. online, you will clearly see a varied and interesting menu which includes fried ursters ('oysters' for you west coasters) and promising entrees like fish and chips, short ribs, skewers and summer squash ravioli. please don't get your hopes up. I don't know why they aren't on the menu - 'lettuce' assume some ingredients are out-of-season or covid unavailable or because of cost-cutbacks or supply chain or whatever. you will NOT find these items, at least when I strode in late January. You WILL find good solid pub fare: appetizers and entrees including some promising items like chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese (can add bacon, tomato or jalapeno) and mac-n-cheese. (I'm not saying mgmt has control over all these Crab Louis-listing online menus but certainly they could at least tailor the Yelp menu to reflect most commonly available items.) feel free to look at my chalkboard photos (Jan2022) but I assume the menu will vary grately. yes that was a cheese joke there.
was the food good? all I can say is the Skinny Man cheeseburger was awesome and the fries were great, esp since they were not salted to death. (ring any bells, Five Guys?) the chef really knows what she is doing. the patty was cooked to perfection, the burger was carefully assembled and you carnivores will not regret that first huge bite as long as you remove that giant wooden stake before you indulge. it's quite possible that this whole review is moot if the average person simply comes into Sandy Hut to get slapped with a powerful Mai Tai, and chases it with trio of Miller High Life brews. It's the Champagne of Beers. Party on, Wayne.
what's Fred Flintstone doing in a place like this? check out my photo and if you bring quarters, you can come in and find out what he's up to. and you will enjoy the music, it was pretty spectacular. Lou Reed, Ramones, Bowie, no runs, no drips, no errors. Somebody knows their tuneage.
Cheers!
DZ