First Post-pandemic (sorta) Meal Out!

Sure, it’s cinco de Mayo, but this girl needed American red beef in her belly.

After weeks of night in after night in, where did we take our foraging appetites?

Goozlepipe & Guttyworks

To the one and only Goozlepipe and Guttyworks Gastropub. That’s right. We headed out IN PUBLIC to Kickbacks on King Street.

Burger Hunt

The hubby and I were hungry. I wanted a big ol’ greasy burger. Now I didn’t go for their burger made with donut buns (the David Ponslor Thor Burger would have to wait for another night).

We nervously drove up to a mess of construction and crossed our fingers in hopes that my Facebook perusal of their opening status wasn’t misleading.

We saw a gaggle of servers lollygagging in the porch and believed our luck had turned for the good. “Table for two?” Asked a sassily masked server. Yes!

Post Pandemic Imprisonment

We saw 3 other restaurant goers sitting at a table, a smattering of 3 or 4 stragglers at the bar, and more employees than patrons overall.

The servers had a little of that stunned look of being out in the wild after weeks of polite pandemic imprisonment.

Just Ask for Debbie

Our kind server Debbie hesitated briefly over our happy hour beer inquiry, noting that it was her first day back. We understood. It was our first meal back. Back out in the open air with lingering cigarette smells, city strangers and blissfully unhomecooked meals.

Safely-masked superhero Debbie scuttled off to grab our drinks and app plates.

I mentioned to her that I was a server too and possibly forgot the entire Bazille menu after this extended furlough.

Finally we got to the good stuff; we ordered Perogis! Yummy, dipped in sour cream with a little bit is spice sprinkled on top of each tasty crescent creation. Yummmmmm. I love the taste of not-my-fridge creations.

Penny-Plastered Walls in Steampunk Paradise

Nothing like a steampunk dive bar to welcome back to the world outside our sleepy neighborhood.

I ordered a burger with cheddar cheese and fries. Classic, piping hot fries! The hubs ordered a patty melt. One of his fave go-to’s. Then we got a coke to split.

Ah American classics. Burger, fries, coke and restaurant convo with my sweetheart. Life is good.

It was nice wearing heels and dangling earrings. Saying hi to other Jacksonvillians. Seeing other haggard quarantine survivors. We were freeee.

Hunger isn’t nature’s greatest spice, quarantine is.

Thanks for being there for us Kickbacks!