Pop's place — Restaurant in Upravna Enota Ljubljana

An Honest Review of Pop's Place

My friend and I recently visited Pop's Place with the expectation of enjoying some craft beers and a good meal, but our experience was rather mixed, leaving us with some concerns about the choices and service we received.

We initially arrived at Pop's Place around 5:15 PM, hoping to have a craft beer before dinner. However, upon arrival, we were informed that we could only get a table if we also ordered a main course, which seemed odd since most guests at that time were only drinking beer. A bit frustrated, we left and went to another bar instead.

After a few beers elsewhere, we started feeling hungry and decided to return to Pop's Place, knowing they had good food. When we got back, we saw the last two available tables being taken by two couples. We noticed another couple was about to leave, so we waited for them to vacate their table. Just as we sat down, the same server who had previously refused us came over and told us we couldn't sit there because there was a waiting line. Strangely, the two couples who had taken the initial tables were allowed to skip the line. This inconsistency was confusing and frustrating, but we decided to wait in line, hoping it wouldn’t take too long. Yes, we could have argued this directly, but we just noticed after we joined a waiting line. Fortunately, we were seated after a couple of minutes.

We started with two "beer tastings," each consisting of four different beers. Oddly, my friend and I received different beers in our tastings, which made it difficult to compare and discuss them. When it came time to order food, we were disappointed to learn that both the hot dog, which was newly promoted, and the fish and chips were unavailable due to an issue with the fryer. This was particularly perplexing as our recommended choice, the Jack Ryan Burger, came with fried onions and we also ordered fried chips. It made us wonder why the hot dog couldn’t be prepared.

The Jack Ryan Burger itself was quite good, and the beers were enjoyable. However, after our meal, we ordered a can of water and coffee. By then, it was 9:20 PM, and we thought it reasonable to order coffee after dinner. Yet again, we were disappointed to be informed that coffee is only served until 9:00 PM. This added to our frustration as it seemed to be just one more thing that did not go as expected.

In summary, while the food and beers at Pop's Place were good and the gesture of offering complimentary shots was appreciated, the overall experience was spoiled by inconsistent policies and service. Whether we were simply unlucky or if this is a common theme at Pop's Place is unclear, but these repeated surprises and inconveniences left a bad taste in our mouths. I hope this review provides constructive feedback for...

VERY DETAILED AND HONEST REVIEW

Pop's is one of those places that if you're going to Llubljana, people will tell you that it's a must visit. However, in my case, it was nothing short of disappointment, especially since everyone over hypes Pop's.

I did like a couple things about Pop's. Their Asian Wings starter was really good. But better yet, the most impressive thing to me was their Pop's Gin and Tonic. I have never liked gin and tonic, but their signature G&T is good especially for people who don't like regular G&T like me. Also, their service and atmosphere was really cool. The staff was really nice about having our 10 year old bringing in dessert from next door (because he's picky about food.)

However, I really expected more from the burgers. I got the Pop's Burger, and I really expected everything good about it, considering how the burger itself has the name of the restaurant. You'd think this would be the main burger that would make them proud. Though this is more of a personal thing, I will list the things I think they could've done better.

1)Their patty was acceptable but not amazing. Their "beef blend" made the flavor of beef weak. And perhaps this is because I like my patty with the flavors of filet mignon and rib eye. But the patty tasted like they used cheap cuts of beef. Texture wise, it was nice. It's almost as if they hand minced it a knife rather than grinding it. This made the patty really juicy and held moisture really well.

2. Poor choice of cheese. My fault for not knowing what English Stilton was and also for not liking very pungent cheeses, however, that was the only thing I tasted on my burger. Which leads me to number 3.

3. It was a poorly designed burger. The flavor of the patty was weak, the cheese was too strong and the sauce, I can't even remember if I tasted it because all I tasted was the English Stilton. With that being said, if you're going to construct a burger and you're going to use a strong cheese, make sure that you pair it with strong enough flavors so that you're serving more than just an English Stilton sandwich.

Another disappointing thing was their Parmesan and Herb Potatoes (fries/chips). However, it is also just as poorly designed. The flavors were nice and fresh, although it could've used more salt to bring everything together. But the most disappointing thing is probably fact that the season was really only sprinkled. Which could have been improved by coating the fries while they are still hot and freshly removed from the oil.

If you're planning on getting the onion rings, don't...

There’s something comforting about a thick, juicy burger washed down with a cold, craft beer, and that’s exactly what you can expect at Pop’s Place. This gourmet burger joint is located right in the center of Ljubljana, and is well-known for using locally sourced ingredients, including Slovenian beef, and bring classic American-British pub grub to the capital.

Pop’s Place takes the concept of barbecue and burgers and brings it out in the ambient design, from exposed wood beamed ceilings, to a long communal table in the center of the restaurant. It has a bar-like atmosphere with the subtleties of gourmet dining, and even offers sidewalk seating with views of the river, perfect on a nice day.

Lunch with my friend began with an order of Asian-style chicken wings, which are cooked twice and marinated in their own sticky sweet Asian sauce. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and the sauce was thick enough to stick to the wings but not overpower them. Delicious.

I had to try the Boss Burger, all 180g of a custom beef blend, served with marmalade, English stilton, and savory truffle oil on a fresh brioche bun. Top it off with a side of sweet potato fries seasoned with sea salt, cooked to perfection with a delicate natural sweetness and I’m game. This meal has the potential to become my go-to comfort food in Ljubljana.

My friend ordered the famous BBQ spare ribs, Kansas City style. You could tell they were slow cooked in a pit for six hours because the meat fell off the bone. Their barbecue sauce has the perfect amount of spice and sweet, as I admit I had to have a taste.

We finished the meal with an amazing freshly baked apple pie served in a small cast iron pot topped with vanilla ice cream. From the service to the food, I highly recommend...