Ah, Foster’s. It’s been a hot minute since we last visited. Or rather about seven years and a few months worth of hot minutes to be honest. But we always remembered you as the home of the serve yourself beer cooler, which is never a bad memory to recall.

Seems like they’ve expanded because we were seated this time in a sunroom type area at the front of the building – although whe we asked our server she said no, this has always been here. It just must’ve been cold enough during our last visit that this option wasn’t available. On this evening it was chilly enough to not have the windows open – but I could see this being a nice place to be with windows open on a summer evening.

I mean, it’s no hot seat next to the serve yourself beer cooler, but whatever.

Having been enthralled by the video presentation on the TV screens as we entered that featured picture of the menu offerings, we were eager to peruse the menu to learn more. Shane – who’d claimed to not be hungry yet on the drive here – was suddenly very much so.

Heads up, if you don’t love some form of kielbasa, then there’s a large portion of the menu that’s not for you. Just saying.

Shane was leaning toward a kielbasa app but I – not being a huge lover of it – overruled him with the pretzel sticks.

Ted was going to get the bologna sliders as an app, just because you don’t see that on a menu often. But then I pointed out you could get the slider sampler – sausage, burger, chicken and bologna – for just a few dollars more, so he decided to go with that option instead.

Our conversation with the server also led us to discover that Foster’s is known for their pizzas and burgers, which happened to be the two items Shane was torn between. So, not helpful, but thanks anyway.

He ended up choosing the steakhouse burger, after much discussion with the server (which I’m sure she was thrilled about). That earned him a coveted “excellent choice” award from her, though, so score.

Ted then taunted him by ordering the meat lovers pizza – which also earned an excellent choice stamp.

Let’s see how this goes. Anyone want to take bets on Shane’s jealousy level after both plates are delivered?

I got the caprese chicken sandwich- which wasn’t an excellent choice award winner, but was the server’s favorite chicken sandwich on the menu, so I’m going to say that counts for something. Either that or she just didn’t want me to feel badly after she praised the other two dinners so highly.

So, Ted’s pizza arrives and the person who dropped it off asked us “so are you all eating pizza tonight then?”

Ha. Let’s look at that photo again and ponder for about five seconds if that looks like something this group might be able to share.

Nope.

I mean Ted essentially ordered two meals for himself between his sliders and this pizza. Come on.

Ted did let Shane try a piece so he could determine how much he screwed up by not ordering it … er, I mean, if he should get a personal pan pizza to go.

Verdict: Ted said it best when he said that the fact that it was straight out of the oven and yet Shane (who purposely lets his food sit for a good amount of time so as to let it cool off) risked second degree burns to the mouth to eat a slice all the way through was a pretty good sign that he liked it.

And Shane did order a pizza to take home for lunch tomorrow.

Disappointingly, he probably should’ve just stuck with that as his order for dinner, too. His burger was OK, but he asked for medium rare and it was more like medium well. And we all know that’s not appreciated.

My sandwich had to be eaten open faced since two chicken breasts with cheese didn’t really bode well for a means to closure on the plate much less fitting into my mouth. I pretty much just ate the chicken and cheese and left the bun. But the fries were really good.

We’ve already discussed the feelings on the pizza. Ted took half of his home only because he wanted to be able to walk out and not be rolled down the steps Oompa Loompa style.

Overall I think we would come back to Foster’s so we could try some different things on the menu. I had commented that all of the apps looked good, so this could be one of those places I could plausibly just order a meal made out of those.

One thing we’ll probably avoid the next time around: mixed drinks. Our server talked up some new tequila whose brand is owned by George Clooney – saying that the staff got to sample the week prior and it was really good – and so Shane and I both opted for that in our traditional tequila soda mixes. Fast forward to the end of the night – and at least three rounds later – we get the bill and discover she failed to mention it was $10 a drink. Ouch.

After dinner we headed across the street to the Hoppy Dude Brewery – a tiny storefront of a place that doesn’t serve food, just their own craft beers. Hence why it had to be a bonus stop for tonight.

As soon as we arrived we learned three very important pieces of information within about two minutes of walking in the door: 1) music bingo was happening and we could catch up on songs if we wanted, 2) don’t worry that it looks full in the (teeny tiny) space – we’ll find you a seat and 3) it’s Greg’s birthday and there’s cake!

That may be the strangest welcome we’ve ever received.

It was like the exact opposite of what happens when a new person enters a place and everything stops while the entire room turns to look at you like you have seven heads. This was like hey, we’ve never seen you before but you look cool so we’re immediate best friends!

The three of us all gave off severe deer in headlights looks before I managed to stammer that we’d never been here before. So the bartender – Katie – was like oh, well in that case we’ll stop overwhelming you, let’s just get some beer, sound good?

I think this was the moment we realized we may never want to leave this magical place.

All three of us opted for flights – because, new beers to try. Hoppy Dude has a little of everything on their own craft menu, from blonde ales to stouts to even two types of beer brewed with their homemade pickle brine.

Yes, you read that correctly. Pickle brine.

And yes that’s a glass of oyster crackers. Because who doesn’t love snacks?

Hoppy Dude is a very tiny place. There’s a bar with about 10 seats, and then maybe three tables at the back of the room. I think there maybe were about 30 people in there that night and it was bursting full. Well there’s also a small alcove off to the side with a table in it, too, but that was the location of the cake.

There’s a sentence I’m not sure I’ve ever written on this blog before.

But the smallness was actually very charming and made it feel very homey, like you were having drinks in someone’s garage or basement.

It helped that everyone there that evening was super friendly, too. I legit think we were friends with 90% of the bar by the end of the night, and of course told we had to come back next week for the next music bingo game. Although we couldn’t be promised cake. You know, since Greg doesn’t have a birthday every week.

So the moral of the story is that someone needs to pass around the memo to start opening more restaurants in or very near to Hinkley so we have new places to eat before going to this amazing after party. Deal?

Picked by: Steph