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Is Common Theory a better beer bar?
A bit of both. Your article is contradictory. You say that Common Theory is going at it differently, yet it's doing it exactly like every other hipster beer-centric eatery trend - complete with the badge logo, Edison filaments, and reclaimed wood. In fact, from the menu and pictures, they aren't doing anything "original". You say the place is ridding itself of self-indulgent ingredients yet there's truffle duck fat fries on the menu - which, is critisized by many on Yelp, for being very "meh." Your article is simultaneously condemning places like this, and yet hyping it up, and further still saying how good it could be. It's like a food snob, telling us how those shitty trend gastropubs are all so pretentious, and here's another one, except it's not pretentious this time because it has TVs, but it still has much room for improvement... what? It's like you're fighting your inner hipster who wants to come out and just be accepted but is afraid of being called a snob. I'm all for trendy pubs, like Urge, Blind Lady, Tiger Tiger, and etcetera. The public wants a nice atmosphere because that's part of what draws us to hang out there. Yes, there are places that talk a lot of talk, yet don't put out. Fact is that these "hipster" places (such as Stone, & Blind Lady) were started by people that had a vision, and used devices such as those "needless adjectives" to perpetuate a culture of excellence to their team. They wanted to show how much they cared about giving their customers the best experience possible. Whether that means "no ketchup", because food should be good on their own, or "no TVs" because a pub should be where you meet strangers and friends come and actually talk to each other.— November 19, 2014 6:03 p.m.
First Drafts: Toolbox Brewing Company
Nice! I'll have to check this place out.— September 12, 2014 9:51 a.m.
Is Common Theory a better beer bar?
*Finally* a place where I can get locally sourced truffle duck fat fries and a hand crafted, artisan Belgian Saison micro-brew, without all the pretentious atmosphere, and still watch my favorite Bravo shows on their TVs! And damn those *snooty* adjectives, and pompous ingredients! All I want is fried food and beer! Everything else is for the pretentious and snob elite!— August 18, 2014 2:44 p.m.