by Tracy Dietlin
This past Sunday morning I was in Palm Springs around brunch time and decided to stop in Bar to have a Bloody Mary and perhaps a nibble. Jessica, our waitress/bartender said that Owner, Donavan Funkey, had made a special mix and suggested we try it. She did right by us because they were delicious with just the perfect amount of spicy kick.
There are several unique items on the menu and I just couldn’t make a decision so we decided to enjoy our beverage and start with Bar’s fabulous Devils on Horseback. This was the third time we have ordered them and they just seem to get better every time. If you’ve never tried these culinary delights, they are dates stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in bacon with slices of Granny Smith apples as an accompaniment.
From there I decided to partake in a cucumber Martini made with Crater Lake vodka. I was pleasantly surprised to find that a restaurant could make one as good as the ones I make at home. It was perfect and should be included on the drink menu. We also shared a Caesar salad for only $6 which was delicious and enough to satisfy us both before we went on to our final selections.
For my main event, I chose the ahi tacos, which for me was a real leap, since I’m not usually an ahi person. What a great decision it was as they were light, moist and flavorful. My fiancé had the BLT, which comes with a fried egg on the sandwich and is served with tasty french fries. He hasn’t stopped raving about it since.
Both their food and drink menus have several interesting selections to choose from such as the lobster sliders, which I’ve had before and they are amazing. Other unique offerings include: shrimp Singapore in a spicy, sweet cocktail sauce; picnic eggs with spicy sirachi wasabi; the Tijuana dog with bacon, pork salsa & avocado; and the spicy Vietnamese chicken club. They also offer the basics like the cheeseburger, grilled cheese, pizza, onion rings and salads that include garden, Caesar and Greek. All of these items are delicious and range in price from $4.00-$10.00.
Even the basic menu items are done with a unique and flavorful twist, which come from 21 year old chef extraordinaire, Andrew Chernikoff, who attended the Oregon Culinary Institute, and has been cooking and creating interesting dishes from a very young age.
I highly recommend going to Bar any day of the week, but if you are looking for a new place in Palm Springs to spend your Sunday morning, look no further. Located at 340 N. Palm Canyon. They also have live music in the evenings so check out their listings and menu at barwastaken.com.
