Bonnlair

How long had it been? Three, four years? Definitely pre plague for certain. I'd picked up J. from work and was fancying a drink and a snack at least. The grid was thronged even for a Tuesday, so she suggested Bonn Lair, and Lairward we headed. We parked in the teeny lot behind the building and greeted some regulars sitting on the patio/smoking area while we walked through the back door, through the back room and into the bar proper. Mike is still keeping the flying circus that is this neighborhood bar floating after all of these years, and he pulled a pint of dragonfruit cider for J., while I had a very crisp IPA, which was a pleasant surprise because the Lair was Quite British when it came to beer selections- West Coast IPA's were rare. It's still a place where you can get an ESB or a Brown ale easily, or if you're new to British brew, get a quick primer. J. asked if we could still get Scotch eggs, and that was a solid yes. We grabbed a menu, and decided to add a giant pretzel, Fish&Chips and a Shepherd's pie. The condiments arrived with utensils and the apps a few minutes later. HP sauce is a must for Scotch eggs, and the basket features that, ketchup, mustard, and malt vinegar, which goes on fries as well as the fish. The mains were delivered after we'd killed the apps and both were right-sized and tasty. I was hungry and chatting with The Lovely J, so I wasn't paying much attention to the finer points of fish and chips or shep's pie other than the kitchen does Yeoman's work with these pub fixtures, we demolished both meals. We're definitely heading back much sooner so our faces become familiar again.