by Erin S. on This is the epitome of a dive bar. It has all the characteristics: location in the worst part of town, clientele all look like they spend way too much time there, very limited alcohol selection, old & dusty wall decorations, and the feeling that you just might not make it out alive. This is definitely not the place that 2 blond women should visit alone. But yet, we did, and we had quite an interesting time. This was stop #1 on our Christmas Eve Eve pub crawl. I had admired the 21 Club from afar for a few years now but never had the guts to go in. So I dragged Holly B. there with me last Thursday & I was determined to get a beer & sit right down at that large window looking out on Turk & Taylor. I've been around the TL enough to know that a female by herself is basically left alone, but if you get one or more in a group you're fair game. Immediately after stepping in to the bar we were greeted by an overly friendly bar patron who was determined to get our attention. It wasn't hard seeing that it was dead quiet inside & everyone was looking at us anyway. We got our beers & sat at the window while I tried to diffuse the situation as best I could. Luckily we were saved by a guy from my former workplace, so we ended up chatting with him and the other guy eventually gave up. It would have been a fairly successful first stop on our pub crawl but we still seemed to be drawing way too much attention just by sitting there so we chugged our Coors & left. I give the 21 Club 3 stars because I doubt I'll be back, unless I'm with a guy or two. The beers were nice & cheap, and later in the night the crowd might get a bit more diverse (according to previous rateclub reviews). This is definitely not the place to go & have a quiet drink with a friend. On the plus side, you will probably make a new friend or two.
by Ryan S. on Oh, Golden Temple. There really is something sentimental about this place for me.. I have had some great times here, I guess. After my first meal in the "E-Room", I was sold on this place. The food and service were far and above what I had expected, and the amount of choices on the food/drink menus is seriously intense- certainly nothing to complain about. To be honest, my first handful of experiences were ALL this satisfying. So satisfying, in fact, that I had begun suggesting it as the place to go for ALL of our occassions among friends. "Sure, you can get chinese food any time.. But is it all 'organic'? Not to mention the service!" So what happens the first time I convince a group of friends to actually take a trip here? We get terrible service! I'm talking "meal-swapping, forgotten orders, passive-aggressive" service! And so, I ate my words: I felt like an absolute asshole, Golden Temple. Thanks. But the food was awesome! Since then, I've been twice more with much of the same result. And it's gotten to the point where I actually have to give orders to the staff to have a pleasant meal. "Okay, can you bring the entrees out at the SAME TIME please?" Seriously, I can't even count how many times I've needed to ask these guys to just back off for a minute while everyone decides what they'd like to eat or drink.. It's just absolutely nerve-racking to have someone hounding your friends and family as they ponder the GIGANTIC menu that they have. Nonetheless, the food has always been great. I've tried a few different things, but have found myself going back to the boneless spare rib to start, with sesame chicken & brown rice for dinner (I am salivating.) And you know, if the time's right, a Golden Temple Bowl for two can really add to your meal. In any case, I WANT to give this place five stars.. REALLY! But I can't... Aside from our service woes, the price point can also be hard to swallow for some (my friends, to be precise; $20 for said scorpion bowl, $10 per App., $15 per entree.) And without addressing the service issues, Golden Temple just isn't realizing its full potential. But seriously: the food is good.
