Vintage Review: Brickhouse Bar and Grille / Steve's Pizzeria and Restaurant

Brickhouse Bar and Grille/Steve's Pizzeria and Restaurant
3334 Grant Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19114(215) 677-0191

Nachos
(add ground beef $2.00 more)

Price: $7.95

Batman and Robin! Gin and Tonic! Bert and Ernie! Abbot and Costello! Brickhouse Bar and Grille and Steve's Pizzeria and Restaurant? Um, ok. There have been many famous doublets throughout history, unfortunately BBaGaSPaR is not one of them. My theory is for every "and" you add to your name or call sign you decrease the effectiveness of your brand. Take Run-DMC and Jam Master Jay. Three Gods and one "and." Perfect.

So, now that the stage has been set let's actually talk about nachos. One would normally think that the combined powers of a Bar/Grille/Pizzeria/Restaurant would create the conclusive nacho platter not only for this blog, but for all of humanity. One would also have lost this bet. When the nachos were being delivered to my table my eyes went from "wide-open" to "Skeptical Hippo" (Google it). I have never seen such a painfully bland looking platter of nachos in my life. What the nachos lacked in any hint of color certainly didn't make up in taste either. What is truly unfortunate is that this meal held a surprise that would ultimately be squandered. I'm talking about "Assembly." Every chip all the way to the bottom of the plate had something on it. Whether it was the indeterminable flavor of the watered down cheese, the oddly gray "ground beef" that simply added texture and not taste, or the red-like tomatoes hidden throughout the platter, every chip was a flavorless blast to your tongue. Thankfully the side cup of salsa brought something to the party - color and taste. So, thank you Frito Lay for saving the day.

As for BBaGaSPaR they have a lot to think about. Perhaps they would be better off getting a divorce, plastering up that hole in the wall connecting their businesses and going their separate ways. It may not be that bad. Not every duo is meant to work: Tom & Jerry. Romeo & Juliet. John & Yoko. George W Bush and Presidency. I see what I did there!

• Presentation: 3
• Assembly: 8
• Uniqueness:3
• Value: 4
• Taste: 4
• Overall: 4.4