Old Town Alehouse

04/05/09

Great Beer

by blvugirl at Citysearch

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.

• Pros: good food and beer
• Cons: floor is a little slick if you wear heels

06/10/07

Good bar food with Marginal Service

by ballarddining at Citysearch

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.

03/16/07

Good beer line up and some okay menu items.

by notimportant at Citysearch

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.

• Pros: Solid beer line up with some good menu items
• Cons: Hours. Closing at 10? I don't get it. Don't you want to be open and busy?

12/27/06

My Place - Best quiet pub in Seattle. Best Fish & Chips!

by skinnaman at Citysearch

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

• Pros: Ambience, Food, Ales, quiet, friendly
• Cons: Parking in Ballard

08/14/06

Friendly neighborhood pub balances Ballard Avenue's past and present.

by Contributor at Citysearch

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.

08/18/05

Good times

by wollstonecraft at Citysearch

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.

• Pros: Good atmosphere, non smoking, good food and beer
• Cons: a bit pricy

05/31/05

DON'T GO !!!!!!!!!

by rndaudio at Citysearch

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

• Pros: beer selection
• Cons: terrible staff, RUDE, pretentious

05/23/05

Just Plain Terrible.

by seatown1 at Citysearch

Very Dissapointing Place! Does not belong in Ballard. Clearly belongs in a shopping mall or suburban plaza. Not sure if it's a franchise-chain, but it sure seems like it. The staff is very rude, and the food is average at best. They do have a nice beer selection, but this is seattle ... every pub has a few good beers on tap ...

• Cons: rude people, bad ambience, high prices

05/21/05

too stuffy for me

by juanita16 at Citysearch

the fact that it's non-smoking is the only thing going for this place. the atmosphere was stuffy, our service was rude (in a quiet, passive-aggressive kind of way), and the beer, while good, was certainly not unique enough to be worth the visit. ballard has far better to offer.

01/23/03

The best little bar in town!

by padruig at Citysearch

The Old Town Alehouse is a great little find. It's out of the way, so it's not usually really crowded. It's really great for lunch. The beer and ale list is wonderful and they know it well. Belgian ales are their specialty. The food is excellent. Very unusal. You won't find the "norm" here in terms of sandwichs and pub grub. The food has been set a level higher than that and they don't charge alot for anything. The Alehouse Fires are to die for. You will never have to look any longer for a better seasoned french fry. It's also none smoking which is a blessing for those who don't like to smell like an ashtray at the end of the night.

• Pros: Enexpensive, Great Food and Beer, Non Smoking