The Parlor
1519 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90403

The Parlor is a great place for anyone who wants to watch a sports game and grab a beer. The decor was pragmatic and modern — there were several plasma screens surrounding the seating area so that you cannot possibly miss the sports game no matter where you were seated. There was also a second level seating area almost completely bordering the main dining floor so that you can watch the sports game comfortably at close to eye level without straining your neck. The waitresses were very friendly and also had very cute sports outfits — tank tops, short shorts, and in one case, knee length soccer socks.

But if you are looking for dinner, I recommend that you run to the nearest McDonald’s! Rich had ordered the Southern Fried Chicken Fingers w/ Parlor Honey Mustard while I ordered The Parlour Burger with bacon, avocado and cheddar cheese. Even though I have a big (and some would argue — unhealthy) appetite and was starving by the time our food came out, I could only manage to “wash down” half of my burger with my beer. My burger was just too dry — the meat was not juicy and tasted oddly like over-cooked fish. The chicken fingers were not any better and tasted like cardboard. Thank goodness for the side of fries that came with my burger, or else I would have left hungry that night! On the bright side, the dryness of the food meant that I finished the whole bottle of beer, a feat that I would not have been able to accomplish otherwise.

I give this place a 2/5 for food, and 5/5 for watching a sports game. Overall, I would recommend you go there on a full stomach and just enjoy the game and drinks, but leave hungry for something better!