Pleasantly Surprised By Great Atmosphere at Soup’s Sports Grill
Ever since Soup’s Sports Grill opened in 2007 I have been meaning to stop by, but haven’t for one reason or another. I’d say really it boils down to two reasons. First, they have an outdoor seating area in the front, and it always looks dead. It just didn’t seem like a happening place to go. Also, they – at least in the evenings - seemed to always have valet parking. I’ll be honest – I’m a purist – I don’t want or need valet parking at a sports bar.
It seems as of my recent drive-bys that the valet parking may be gone or reduced. That is a good thing. There is parking on Ventura Blvd. and the restaurant has a smallish lot in the back.
So, this past Saturday I decided to finally stop in an give Soup’s a try. It’s owned by a guy named Jeff Suppan, a Major League Baseball veteran pitcher who currently plays for the Milwaukee Brewers. That’s pretty neat.
So, the first thing that strikes you when you enter the place is that despite the dead appearance of the exterior there’s a bunch of people inside and it’s really busy. It’s striking. I’d suggest they figure out a way to make the places exterior look less sterile and do something to convey the fact that people do indeed actually go to this place.
Saturday is of course college football gameday, and the place was filled with people watching the games. There were still a few tables available, so that was nice and I was quickly seated. I was impressed with how bright and airy the place is. It was a very nice, wholesome establishment with families and a clean cut crowd of sports fans there having drinks, eating food, and watching the games.
I checked out two items from the menu. The first was the Buffalo Chicken Wings ($7.95). I am from the East Coast, where chicken wings are practically one of the major food groups. In LA, it’s hard to find good chicken wings. Oddly enough, I find myself going to Friday’s when I’m really itching for wings, as I find they do them pretty well.
Sadly though, I was unimpressed with the wings at Soup’s as it appears they came from the chickens at Karen Carpenter’s house. As you can see in the picture, no one on Earth would be wowed by that wings presentation.
The other menu item I tried was the Barbary Coast Burger ($9.95). Since I’ve been trying burgers area town I figured I’d continue the trend here, too. The menu describes it as:
1/2 lb. Angus ground beef with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato & thousand island dressing served on grilled parmesan bread
So, much like the burger I tried yesterday at Gaucho Grill this is an 8-oz burger, which I also ordered rare. I also upgraded for $1.00 from the fries to the onion rings. First, I’ll say that the onion rings were really good, so I was definitely impressed with them. And, the burger was pretty damn good too. The bun was buttery and delicious, and was definitely a highlight. But the meat itself was flavorful and juicy. Definitely a good burger. I don’t think it’s probably going to end up on the list of Best Burgers in Woodland Hills, but definitely makes honorable mention status.
I think what ultimately makes Soup’s a winner is the fair prices and nice atmosphere. It’s definitely one of the better places in Woodland Hills to catch a game on one or more of it’s many flat screen TVs. Check it out soon, if you haven’t already. They also have a full liquor bar with many beers to choose from, too.
Also, during college football and NFL football seasons (hint: now) they open at 9:00AM on Saturdays and Sundays – and serve breakfast! (See that menu here)
Happy Hour is Mon-Fri from 3pm to 7pm, features $2 bud bottles, and appetizer specials. (See Happy Hour menu here)
Post your comments and let me know what you think.
Popularity: 9%
Apparent Murder/Suicide In West Hills – Donna and Craig Edwards
This older couple was found by coworkers of the wife deceased in their home on Monday. It happened in West Hills, but still I think relevant to the blog. Daily News writes:
WEST HILLS – A 66-year-old woman and her 62-year-old husband were discovered dead in their home in a murder suicide, police said Tuesday.Donna Edwards was found shot to death at 10 a.m. Monday in the master bedroom of their home in the 7900 block of McLaren Avenue by colleagues who became concerned when she failed to show up for work, said Los Angeles Police Department officials.
Craig Edwards was discovered dead on the kitchen floor. His cause for death is being determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner. Police said there were no obvious signs for his death.
Authorities are still determining a motive for the slaying and have recovered several weapons from the home.
Police ask anyone with information on the deaths to call LAPD’s Topanga division homicide detectives Foster Rains and Ammon Williams at 756-4820. After hour calls can be directed to 1-877-527-3247.
A comment left by Larry of North Hills makes some good points about sad incidents like this:
Well, either way, I wouldn’t rush to judgement on this. Life, as you know, is crazy and very unfair. Just look around you. We have a 13% unemployment rate, we have the highest tax rates in the country, the union and government workers getting bloated salaries and pensions for doing basically nothing to improve our own infrastracture and they could retire early,… I could go on and on. We were never asked to suffer this way, never.
Maybe the couple’s house was about to be foreclosed on or that their savings were blown away by the greedy Wall Street executives or both, who knows.
Now I don’t wanna hear statements like “Suicide, a permanent solution to a temporary problem” or “Suicide has no salvation in God’s Kingdom” or what have you. I don’t wanna hear that crap. I want someone to step forward from “Profiles of Courage” and rescue us.
Popularity: 10%
Woodland Hills Ice Secures Lease, Permits, Set to Open November 25th
Ice Skating Goodness, Sample Photo
As previously reported, Topanga Promenade Mall will be getting a temporary seasonal ice skating rink in its northwest corner this year, run by a company called Woodland Hills Ice. They had experienced some delays, but have put the word out that things are set for opening November 25th (The day before Thanksgiving). Leases have been inked and permits have been expedited.
From their Twitter:
(November 2) Rink Lease is signed and we are moving forward with a NOVEMBER 25 opening date! Come be part of the coolest event in the valley!
And their Facebook:
(Today) Huge thank you to Councilman Zine’s office for giving Woodland Hills Ice Rink permitting the big push through City Planning and Building and Safety! We cannot express enough gratitude! We will celebrate with Mr. Zine himself on Monday December 14th at 5pm, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and holiday party!
Woodland Hills Ice will end its run on February 21, 2010. Here’s a blurb from their site:
Woodland Hills Ice opens November 25, 2009 for our first annual winter wonderland, in the heart of the West San Fernando Valley at Westfield Promenade in Woodland Hills. Featuring over 6000 square feet of real ice, our outdoor ice rink will offer daily recreational ice skating along with special events, skating exhibitions and shows, birthday parties, holiday activities, skating lessons and more throughout the duration of the holiday season and through the winter.
Popularity: 11%
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