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Scenes from Our Weekend: Lunch on the Patio

By April 11, 2011Food, Local Food, restaurants

Dinner on the patio well worth the wait

It was 90 degrees on Saturday. Everyone was outside. After a 6-mile bike ride on the trail, we met up with Rachel and her boyfriend Luke who were in town for a concert; and my long-time friend Dan for dinner. When it’s nice out, there is no better place to eat and people watch than Flat Branch Pub and Brewery. Luckily we only had 6 tables in front of us, when we left there were over 20!

Finally!

A look at the menu. Tough decisions to make, everything is so good!

Hmmm root beer...

I always get the root beer. I know they’re a brewery, but I LOVE fresh root beer. Neil got the Oil Change Oatmeal Stout, another favorite. It’s sweet, not all that bitter and a bit lighter than other stouts we’ve had before. Neil has really been getting into stout beers this year. I didn’t mean that to rhyme.

Rachel's margarita

Rachel had been eying the margarita of someone waiting for a table. Doesn’t this look like the cure for a hot day? It was a little sweet for my taste, but still refreshing.

Neil's Nachos

Neil’s nachos. HUGE portion. He actually developed a bit of nacho delirium toward the end. Seriously, he was getting a little weird.

My Reuben and Cucumber Salad

Ahh my Reuben. Big “R” because it’s special. A lot of people don’t get my love for Reubens, mostly because sauerkraut is a straight love/hate food. Growing up in a very German family, kraut is one of the first adult foods babies in our family are allowed to gum. I love the sweet and sour taste that reminds me of the hundreds of batches my grandma made in her kitchen. Guten Appetit!

8 Comments

  • Krista says:

    OK, 90 might be a little too hot for April. Ahhh, Missouri.

    I have to ask, what are those little cucumbers in the cup by your Reuben?

    • Jessica says:

      Definitely, I kept saying, “but what about spring!?” Luckily there wasn’t any humidity, we were spared for now.

      It was a cucumber salad. Very good, although I should have planned better. Sauerkraut + dill cucumber salad + dill pickle = DILL

  • Erin says:

    I love the patio at Flat Branch. We still go every time we get to Columbia.

  • Jessica says:

    We usually aren’t willing to wait when it’s just the two of us, but whenever we have people in town it’s always the first place they ask to go. They do have really fast lunch though. Like <10 minutes fast. We'll have to go when you come down!

  • Christa says:

    I haven’t been to Flatbranch since the weather turned warm. We usually go at off times so we don’t have to wait as long. Your photos are making me hungry!

    • Jessica says:

      That’s exactly what we did. Went at like 4:45, super early, but we only had to wait around 30 minutes. I feel sorry for all the people waiting when we left. I think they had a two hour wait?

  • Elizabeth says:

    My hubby has a serious thing for turkey Reubens…like seriously I think he would marry one if he could (his family is German too so it probably is in his genes–but his ancestors may be are turning over in their graves because he prefers them with turkey). Personally, I like a good Rachel (aka turkey special), which is similar to a Reuben, but it is served cold, with cole slaw instead of sauerkraut. I’m with Neil on the oatmeal stouts. I can’t get enough of them, which is probably a bad thing(?). Looks like a fun day.

    • Jessica says:

      I love cole slaw in my sandwiches too! Especially shimp po’ boys. I love tangy and sweet flavors and different textures. I didn’t know they were called Rachels!? I like mine with turkey too. Try as I may, I like the lighter taste and flavoring better.