Nothing beats a good beer straight from the tap -- though the sweet strong taste of draft cider comes damn close.
At St Petersburg's Dog and Fox traditional English style pub you can do both. And when the hunger a few amber liquids creates hits you, you can more than satisfy that yawning gulf in your stomach with a variety of tasty snacks and meals.
With its slightly unusual and innovative design, the Dog and Fox is a good bet either for a drink or to dine out in cozy surroundings.
Seating arrangements consist of a number of tables set in the open area of the pub in addition to a number of comfortable booths for a more secluded and private atmosphere.
The food consists of snacks and starters like homemade cottage pie ($4), BBQ chicken pieces and hot chicken wings ($5 each) and deep-fried, homemade potato chips ($3). The latter are one of the highlights of the establishment's board of fare.
Thick and juicy without being too greasy, they prove the point that the simplest things in cuisine, as in life, can also be the best. A serving of chips is also available with all of the main meals.
My dining companion and I shared a serving of the chicken wings to start our meal. They were a tifle overdone but nonetheless mouth-watering and savory to taste. For the main meal I went for the homemade Beef in Beer with rice ($9), while my partner had the Chicken Cordon Bleu ($9).
The beef was tender and perfectly seasoned to bring out the flavor of the meat. The large portion of beef was seated on an ample serving of rice that left me well and truly full although my taste buds still cried out for more.
The chicken had my companion in raptures; she has asked me several times since when are we going back so she can sample its delights again. The chicken fillet was tender and juicy and the ham and creamy sauce inside were just perfect.
Also available were homemade chili con carne ($9), pizzas with either pepperoni or ham and mushroom ($10), homemade lasagna ($8), cooked vegetables ($6) and chicken Kiev ($9). All of the homemade dishes (the chili, Beef in Beer, lasagna, cottage pie and the vegetables), are subject to a special offer of two for the price of one until the end of June.
I had the occasion to sample the pepperoni pizza at a later date and it was one of the best pizzas I've tried; crisp, spicy and hot.
To wash this down, the Dog and Fox offers the best bottled and draft beer and cider in town. Beers on tap are King and Barnes' Broadwood bitter, Fosters lager and Beamish Irish stout. Broadwood is a very amiable bitter with an attractive dark amber color, while Fosters is a lightly flavored ale, straw-colored and easy to drink.
Beamish is sweeter and smoother than Guinness, and is dangerously drinkable. Also on tap is Stowford Press Cider. Its robust character and fresh flavor will have you quaffing it with gusto.
All of the draft drinks are $4, as are most of the bottled varieties.
Some of the highlights of the bottled range are Newcastle Brown Ale, Longman's cider and King and Barnes' Special Ale (partially fermented in the bottle).
During our meal we were entertained by a talented local piano player. On other occasions the pub has played host to a jazz band and other local members of the ivory tinkling fraternity, and plans are afoot to include an R&B ensemble.