Old Town Alehouse

Recommends

Joe Wino

Joined 2 years ago

It's all about the Fish and Chips. The Old Town is my favorite bar in Seattle for beer and nice bar grub. As the title states, the Fish is really good. It's fresh cod battered in and deep fried but there is something special about the crust and the tartar. What makes it really great are the fries that are seasoned with a zesty spice and tossed with parmesan. The cole slaw complements the dish wonderfully for the hungry eater. To top it all off; the beer selection is outstanding.

The Old Town Ale House features the best that the local breweries have to offer. You can find ale's, IPA's, Porter's, Stouts, Amber's, Reds, Doubles, Sours, Cask conditioned, Belgians and all the great style and differentiation that beer has to offer. The great thing about this place is that you don't have to look for a good beer - JOHN ONLY SUPPLIES THE BEST! If it ain't good it ain't at the Old Town. They let you taste the beer before you buy and they offer take home growlers for that awesome lager you have been looking for. There is also a nice selection of belgian ales on tap and conditioned in bottle.

The ambiance is layed back with an up tempo sound so that you feel good when you walk in the door.

Recommends

YAKKT

Joined 2 years ago

Great Food, Great Beers!. The Old Town is my go-to pub in Ballard! The food is always great and it's not too expensive. On my most recent visit I had the fried eggplant sandwich which was delicious and my fiance had the beef dip, which he loved. The house salad is made with quality greens with fresh-grated parmesan cheese and is a free substitution if you don't want fries (they are incredible though:).

The beer selection here is amazing and the staff is actually knowledgable about it. Plus, the service is friendly, fast, and not too overbearing (they don't hover).

This place maintains a cool, old Ballard Ave feel (not one of the new B. Ave meat-markets). Perfect for a night out with friends or a date-night. Love it - Highly recommended!

Recommends

SeattleDude

Joined 3 years ago

Ballard's Premier Alehouse. Found this place back in 2006, and was instantly a fan. The bar/restaurant is spacious and accommodating for small groups as well as families. The food is above average and reasonably priced. The staff has always been polite and prompt. At times I have thought they could have a little more personality, but overall they are good.

All that said the reason to visit Old Town is not the food or the staff. It's the beer! They have a great selection of both local microbrews and Belgium imports. The staff is well versed in the products they sell and clearly understand their portfolio.

If you are exploring Ballard and need a good beer, then Old Town is a great spot.

Recommends

blvugirl

Joined 5 years ago

Great Beer. Got a table on a Friday night at 8pm with no wait! Food was delicious and the beer selection was great. Atmosphere was fun and relaxed.

Recommends

ballarddining

Joined 6 years ago

Good bar food with Marginal Service. Better than average bar fare. The sandwiches are all very good and the salads are fresh. I've had spotty service though and hope that they get back on track. Most times something is forgotten whether it's a refill on a drink, a salad, etc. Overall it's a good spot to grab a casual bite and they do allow kids.

Recommends

notimportant

Joined 6 years ago

Good beer line up and some okay menu items.. The beer line up is good. Lots of fresh local beers that cover the spectrum of all the styles. There is porter, stout, hefe, pils, IPA, amber ale, etc. Small but dependable bottle list. The food is pretty good for pub-grub. Some decent items like the fish and chips. The ceaser salad is good and yes you can even get anchovies. The Ballard Brownie is amazing.

The service has always been good. I know of other people and friends that have complained about the service, but I have never had a problem. Everyone has always been prompt and friendly.

The only draw back is the hours. They close so early, don't expect to head there after dinner for a drink and some dessert because they will likely be closed.

Recommends

skinnaman

Joined 7 years ago

My Place - Best quiet pub in Seattle. Best Fish & Chips!. Quiet, homey ambience, good beer selection, really good lunch/dinner menu suited to the place. An Irish pub in Ballard which easily beats most of the actual Irish pubs I've been to (21 from Dublin to Galway). Quick, non-intrusive service and you can bring the kids! (although most people don't) We've had lots of friendly gatherings here and some informal business meetings. All in all, a fine place if you are anywhere near North Seattle

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Friendly neighborhood pub balances Ballard Avenue's past and present.. The Scene
Exposed-brick walls and weathered hardwood floors reveal this space's classic Ballard Avenue pedigree, but the Old Town clearly aims for a newer spin on the hard-drinking thoroughfare. The tidy alehouse features high ceilings and a no-smoking policy, which give it an open and airy feel. The freshest part of the bar, though, is a beer list comprised mostly of Washington state fare (including less obvious breweries like Boundary Bay, La Connor and Flying Pig) and Belgian ales. A genial crowd of beer connoisseurs and clean-cut Ballardites predominates.

The Draw
While beer is the star attraction, the large menu of salads, soups and "wedges"--sandwiches served on Bolo rolls with a house aioli--also entices. Health-conscious eaters will find plenty to choose from, but the Alehouse fries seasoned with Parmesan and secret spices are hard for anyone to resist.

Recommends

wollstonecraft

Joined 8 years ago

Good times. It's funny. 2 of the other reviews have cited "poor service" as a major drawback of the Old Town Alehouse. But I have received great service there. The wait staff is businesslike, sure but they do their job well. The food is good. I have a particular fondness, bordering on unhealthy obsession, for the Sausage sandwich. Good eating! The beers offered are a nice selection of Belgian ales and local favorites. The atmosphere is bright and airy and suitable for all sorts of occasions.

Doesn't Recommend

rndaudio

Joined 8 years ago

DON'T GO !!!!!!!!!. The most rude bartender i've ever had! My wife and I left after our first drink ... they should be in bellevue, not ballard.