Pop's Safari

If Marlin Perkins blew up, this would be the resulting scene. Or so I would imagine - I'm too young to actually know. Pop's is a Cigar Bar with an African theme, about six tables and a patio. Pop specializes in wine, beer, and cigars. They also serve food.

Remember back when I asked about this place? The information I received was that the food was nothing special but the ambiance made up for it. I will whole heartedly agree.

This place feels like what I imagine old Fort Worth was like, but without the boots. Nobody was wearing boots the night I was there, but that doesn't disqualify them from being a Fort Worth restaurant (although Chef Love would possibly disagree - Again, I don't know him so please don't tell him I'm putting words in his mouth. One more restraining order and I can't even live in Tarrant County).

My favorite parts were definitely the beer (and the knowledge of my waitress), the crab cakes, the tuna, and the Max's Salad!!!!OMG!!!AWESOME!!!!

My less favorite parts were the ribeye and the hamburger.

The crab cakes have an Asian flavor and are superb. I imagine this is what Thai crab catchers eat all day long. If you know any, ask them for me. The tuna was also delicious. I guess the Trinity is finally allowing the marine life to really flourish. All Fort Worth restaurants get their seafood from the river right? Isn't that why Papadeaux is on the river?

Another thing I had was this old school Fort Worth salad known as the Max's Salad. It comes from a restaurant (Max's) that is no longer open due to Chesapeake. The current Pop's chef made these at the restaurant for thirty seven years before rowing immigrants across the Amazon. He's back, and making this salad that is best described as a caesar salad, without the tang, but with sesame seeds. Apparently this is what everybody who has lived in Fort Worth for a long time craves. It was good but I wouldn't kill somebody for this salad. To be fair, there are no salads I would kill somebody for - unless it was a defensive kill to keep the salad away. But you have to get it when you're rolling with the old time Fort style.

I've also got to give props (thats what us ghetto bloggers do...give props) to the waitress on her excellent beer recommendations. I said, "I want a beer" and she complied. And it was a good beer and she even made recommendations on other beers. This Coor's Light stuff is delicious. Anybody know where I can get it? Maybe Central Market. Just kidding.

On the negative side - the ribeye was unspectacular and the burger was a bit dry. The ribeye was cooked exactly to order but the flavor was lacking. The burger had great taste but was overcooked. I'm thinking they got the cooking instructions messed up. Either way, I'll still go for five dollar burgers on monday night. That, with a good beer in a cigar bar sounds like what I would do if I were 80 and pissed at the world. I just need a fedora. And thats every young guy's goal right?

Don't we all kind of want to be a crotchety old man so we can get away with yelling at that stupid lady at the gas station between Belknap and Weatherford with the sonic that doesn't open the doors when you're standing there at 7:15 a.m., just trying to get a newspaper, but, "she's not ready to open yet"? Wow, I am a crotchety old man.

Anyways, go to Pop's and practice the art of getting angry at young people, enjoy a smoke, some wine or beer, and some Thai crab catcher food.

Pop's is at 2929 Morton's, just south of all the construction on 7th.