Comments on: Something’s Brewing Here http://www.themangolassie.com/2007/06/somethings-brewing-here/ Going Gourmet on a Shoestring Budget Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:21:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mango Lassie http://www.themangolassie.com/2007/06/somethings-brewing-here/comment-page-1/#comment-109 Mango Lassie Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:12:20 +0000 http://www.themangolassie.com/?p=272#comment-109 You're right about the ambiance, John. In general, my comments probably weren't hard enough on Chicago Ale House. The interior was closer to an airport lounge than a cool weekend hangout. It will not be replacing the Hopleaf in my heart and mind anytime soon. Our waitress, like Mario the bartender, was aggressively over-attentive and kept telling us of her German upbringing and extolling the glories of the somewhat lackluster beer list. (The beers we ordered were in the specialty section at the bottom of a list of somewhat boring options.) My assessment of the regular pub food coincides with The Reader's opinion that Chicago Ale House doesn't even get the basics right. The Reader also goes into the other strange menu deviations into Thai and Middle Eastern cuisine. I have a feeling that Chicago Ale House won't be long for this world unless it regroups and gets more focused on its core identity as a beer-centric pub. You’re right about the ambiance, John. In general, my comments probably weren’t hard enough on Chicago Ale House. The interior was closer to an airport lounge than a cool weekend hangout. It will not be replacing the Hopleaf in my heart and mind anytime soon. Our waitress, like Mario the bartender, was aggressively over-attentive and kept telling us of her German upbringing and extolling the glories of the somewhat lackluster beer list. (The beers we ordered were in the specialty section at the bottom of a list of somewhat boring options.) My assessment of the regular pub food coincides with The Reader’s opinion that Chicago Ale House doesn’t even get the basics right. The Reader also goes into the other strange menu deviations into Thai and Middle Eastern cuisine. I have a feeling that Chicago Ale House won’t be long for this world unless it regroups and gets more focused on its core identity as a beer-centric pub.

]]> By: John http://www.themangolassie.com/2007/06/somethings-brewing-here/comment-page-1/#comment-108 John Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:54:58 +0000 http://www.themangolassie.com/?p=272#comment-108 You forgot to mention that the place has like zero ambiance, unless the fluorescent lights from the kitchen flooding into the bar area and pre-fab upholstered furniture better suited for an office park circa 1989 than for a cozy neighborhood tavern are your idea of ambiance. I was also put off by Mario the bartender foisting a menu on me (I was just there for drinks) and putting on a used-salesman shtick as he went on about the comprehensive offerings. The Reader's <a href="http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/restaurants/070629/" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">review</a> this week is perfect. You forgot to mention that the place has like zero ambiance, unless the fluorescent lights from the kitchen flooding into the bar area and pre-fab upholstered furniture better suited for an office park circa 1989 than for a cozy neighborhood tavern are your idea of ambiance. I was also put off by Mario the bartender foisting a menu on me (I was just there for drinks) and putting on a used-salesman shtick as he went on about the comprehensive offerings. The Reader’s review this week is perfect.

]]> By: Empanada Boy http://www.themangolassie.com/2007/06/somethings-brewing-here/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Empanada Boy Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:39:56 +0000 http://www.themangolassie.com/?p=272#comment-101 I absolutely agree about the fries. The smaller the better. It's more surface area to be delightfully fried when they're smaller! I hope the food gets better at the Chicago Ale House and I think it probably will. I think the place showed both promise and room for improvement. But having that many beers on tap goes a long way in my book. Also, it seems like the perfect place to bring a large group. I absolutely agree about the fries. The smaller the better. It’s more surface area to be delightfully fried when they’re smaller! I hope the food gets better at the Chicago Ale House and I think it probably will. I think the place showed both promise and room for improvement. But having that many beers on tap goes a long way in my book. Also, it seems like the perfect place to bring a large group.

]]> By: Forkster http://www.themangolassie.com/2007/06/somethings-brewing-here/comment-page-1/#comment-100 Forkster Mon, 18 Jun 2007 02:29:15 +0000 http://www.themangolassie.com/?p=272#comment-100 Just seeing those fries makes me disappointed. I'm not a fan of thick or "steak cut" fries. I agree--if you're gonna serve them, they have to be crispy. Do they serve a dunkel weissbier? That's even more fun to say! Just seeing those fries makes me disappointed. I’m not a fan of thick or “steak cut” fries. I agree–if you’re gonna serve them, they have to be crispy.

Do they serve a dunkel weissbier? That’s even more fun to say!

]]> By: Eating Adventuress http://www.themangolassie.com/2007/06/somethings-brewing-here/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Eating Adventuress Mon, 18 Jun 2007 01:38:25 +0000 http://www.themangolassie.com/?p=272#comment-99 M.L Last year Trader Joanna, Mango Mama and I attended a performance by Body Vox, our local modern dance/performance group, in their rehearsal space above "Bridge Port Brew Pub and Bakery" We had a fine dinner after the performance in this very spacious establishment. I believe Trader Joanna mentioned that you had eaten there also on occasions. M.L

Last year Trader Joanna, Mango Mama and I attended a performance by Body Vox, our local modern dance/performance group, in their rehearsal space above “Bridge Port Brew Pub and Bakery”

We had a fine dinner after the performance in this very spacious establishment. I believe Trader Joanna mentioned that you had eaten there also on occasions.

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