Some Alberta Street restaurant notes that go meh

In recent times I have been to three Alberta Street restaurants and they are all worth saying something about.

Bernie's Southern Bistro.
There are people I know, love, and respect who regularly eat here. Once, long ago, I had a great experience at Bernie's. But lately I don't get what all the buzz is about. I visited Bernie's for happy hour and this is what happened: A glass of chianti. My girl had a hot boozy chai drink. I tasted it, and it was incredible, but she left half of it because it was too sugary. I likely would have also, but that first sip was really fun. We were presented with a paltry happy hour food list, and we ordered hush puppies and fried green tomatoes. The hush puppies were giant dough balls that had been deep friend and plopped on a small amount of what tasted like Safeway Brand orange marmalade with some pickled jalapenos mixed in. The fried green tomatoes were fine, but the sauce was a remoulade that really tastes like orange tartar sauce and could be much improved with a replacement of simple creme fraiche. We did not stay for dinner. Meh.
Halibut's Fish and Chips place.
First, no beer available.
VBM and I went and we shared a basket of giant prawns, some slaw, and clam chowder. A note about clam chowder: I never eat it, because when I was four years old, my sister was born. While she was doing that, my parents had me stay with a neighboring family. Now, as a kid, I was a picky eater, and would often opt out of eating things for really good reasons. The neighboring family has about 8473539340 kids, and they were not very sympathetic to my selective palate. However, on the fateful night I am about to describe, I was not being a snotty kid. I didn't feel well. In fact, I felt terrible. And Mom and Dad had left me with this giant unsympathetic family who were eating clam chowder for dinner. Naturally, I didn't want to eat it, but the family insisted I eat it. I ate it. And then I got very sick. There was barfing and clam chowder. My associations with clam chowder include cruelty, abandonment, fear, and nausea, and try as I might, I can't quite get over it all. When someone I am with orders the clam chowder, I will taste it to see if I am all better about it, but as of yet I have failed to let go of my Clam Chowder Neurosis. So I can't really comment on the clam chowder but VBM says it was good, the clams weren't rubbery, and the chowder was quite rich. It is served with a pat of butter melting in it. The prawns: perfectly battered and perfectly cooked, served with a cocktail sauce that had plenty of ass kicking horseradish in it. The guy who owns the place is somewhat annoying and talky. Also there was no soap in the restroom soap dispenser. We will go back and eat fish, but today I am giving Halibuts a grade of meh due to no beer, no soap, and the Talking Owner. VBM says he disagrees with my meh "based on the facts that lack of soap is not an inherent problem, the proprietor does talk a lot but he is actually very helpful and genuinely cares about whether you like the food (yes you are sensitive about that kind of thing). The no beer is kind of a bummer but in my mind that is the only shortcoming and not enough to knock it down from 'All Right!' to 'Meh'"
Siam Society.
I do not understand why we need three thai restaurants in three blocks on Alberta Street. But years ago when I first came to live in this NE neighborhood and there was nothing but La Sirenita and Videorama and all Alberta was a wasteland, I was thinking that the building that has been renovated to house Siam Society should be a restaurant. It is all concrete and metal beams and long drapes and friendly servers wearing white shirts and black trousers. I was there with a girlfriend for a drink and a snack and mostly a peek. We each had a pomegranate martini--tart and beautiful to look at, but not very boozy. We ordered a plate of sauteed mussels and some pulled pork spring rolls. The mussels were in a broth I can't responsibly recall (there was gabbing and storytelling) but it was good. The mussels tasted like the sea and could have been cooked a few seconds longer as they had a snotty texture. The spring rolls were fun to eat--nothing really of note, and the sauce they were served with was a sticky syrup-like sauce that was more sweet than anything else. I will go back and try it again with VBM's uncle Alan, who lived in Thailand and knows his thai. But until then, I give Siam Society a grade of meh.

2703 Ne Alberta
The Siam Society and Temple Bar is open Tuesday - Thursday 4PM - 10PM, Friday and Saturday 4pm - midnight (or later), and Sundays 4pm - 9pm.

Contact: 503.922.3675