On a Saturday night, Picasso Restaurant and Bar opens at 5 pm. I was the first one through the door. Two weeks before I had stopped in with friends for a night cap and noticed a bar patron chomping on what looked like a gorgeous cheeseburger. I knew I’d be returning to check it out.
Taking an end seat at the bar, I chatted with amiable bartender Dan Cronin and reviewed the beer menu. They have a nice assortment of quality beers on tap, from hard hitting locally made craft ales to the classic, light and sweet Lindemans Belgian Frambois. I chose a Weyerbacher Merry Monks Ale to sip while waiting for my brother to arrive.
A short time later, the arrival of four women out for a night on the town livened the quiet restaurant up. They sat at the bar and began vociferously debating what to order from the mixed drinks menu. It was clear they were ready to get their night off to a rollicking start.
Picasso’s is billed as a mix of Italian and Spanish cuisine and although I had my mind set on the burger, I checked out their offerings. In addition to the Pablo Burger and several gourmet sandwiches such as the Salmon Burger or the Lamb Sandwich, they also offer a selection of tapas dishes and pasta. Entrees include Bistecca Primo, which is a prime sirloin steak, and Valencia Paella – a dish featuring clams, mussels, shrimp, chicken and pork.
Once my brother arrived, I ordered the Pablo Burger ($10) with blue cheese ($1). It’s an 8 ounce Black Angus Burger, and comes with caramelized onions, lettuce and tomato on a large kaiser-like roll. The Pablo burger can also be ordered with American or Swiss cheese, bacon, a fried egg or even shrimp. I chose the fries, though it can also be ordered with a mixed green salad. The french fries are cooked in peanut oil.
My burger made for an excellent dinner. First, I’ve become a huge fan of blue cheese on a burger. There is something about the tanginess of the blue cheese that elevates a well cooked burger to gourmet. My burger, ordered medium, still had a bit of pinkness in it. The combination of the angus, the blue cheese and the roll made every bite exceptional. The lettuce and tomatoes were fresh and the roll held up nearly to the end. The fries were crisp.
As we ate, the restaurant slowly filled with people coming in for dinner. We watched as Dan mixed and poured shots called Chocolate Pretzels. The women at the bar tossed the shots back and licked their lips, and then set out for their pub crawl. Other folks took their spots and the bar was now electric with couples chatting and friends dining together.
On Wednesdays, Picasso’s offers a flight of beers, samplings (4 ounces each) of any five craft beers for $10. They also hold Open Mic on Thursday night at 10 p.m. They also occasionally host a drag show called “Bro-lesque.” Check with the restaurant for upcoming dates and times.
Picasso Restaurant and Bar is located at 36 West State Street in downtown Media. They are open for dinner on Tuesday through Saturday, from 5 – 9:30 p.m., and on Sundays from 5 – 8 p.m. They are reachable by phone at 610-891-9600, or you can make a reservation through OpenTable by clicking here.
One Comment