Reuben Update: Naked City Taphouse

We went to Naked City Taphouse in Greenwood to celebrate Re's birthday with his mom. I'm pretty sure the sandwich was good, but unfortunately it took a long time to order, and around 40 minutes to get our food. Also unfortunate (and hilarious), Gr woke up late and didn't eat anything before we left for lunch, and started his day with a pint of very strong beer.

The sandwich was what I'd expect of a homemade Reuben, where all the parts are identifiable--"grain-fed natural pastrami" and marbled rye. (I guess it doesn't count as a true Reuben, since it's not corned beef.) But nothing really stood out. It's kind of disappointing, because the menu was mostly sandwiches, and you'd think the sandwiches would all be awesome. I know, it's a primarily a bar, but the Elysian was better than that.

I also made the poor choice of pairing the sandwich with a chicken chowder. I couldn't help it, I was starving, and hoping I'd get the soup right away. It was good, but it resembled a chunky creamy chicken salsa. Meh. Salad next time, for sure.

I will say that the kitchen guy was busting his ass, and I appreciated his efforts. He was the only one in the back, occasionally serving food as well. And then the Tour de Beers rolled in--20-30 cyclists on a daytime pub crawl. (Somehow, 2 more bartenders magically appeared then. Really wish they had appeared earlier.)

Final thought: If I end up at Naked City again, I will probably try something else. And try one of their million beers.


Great
Three Girls Bakery - Pike Place Market (Current Favorite)
Giant sandwich, warm and consistent. [It's been awhile since I've had one, but in my mind, it's the best one.]

Good
Naked City (5/9/09)
Tasty, but nothing outstanding. Could've been an off day because it was so busy, but I was hoping for something special. Craig's Reuben $9.50

Elysian Brewing Company - Tangletown
There's a caramelized sweetness that I couldn't identify after one bite. I need to try my own. $10 (12/08)

Update (4/17/09): I'm downgrading the Elysian Reuben from great to good. I had it on a Friday night, and it just wasn't the same. I couldn't taste the intriguing sweetness I remembered, and the corned beef was full of indigestible bits of fat. Considering I love the fatty bits, that says a lot.

The Pike Pub and Brewery (1/31/09)
Soggy bottom bread (hee hee), nothing special but still delicious. Wish I had fries or a salad instead of a half plate of chips. $10 for the smaller Son of Reuben