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Y! MyWebBar Review
The Pub
Out for a bevvy, or a nosh-up british-style? The Pub at The Greene is a bloody good place to start
Thursday, January 10, 2008
BEAVERCREEK — The Brits are known for a lot of things, but food isn't one of them. Still, anything resembling an authentic pub strikes a chord with mid-Americans who still, knowing it's not the English way, demand their beer cold.
The Pub is the latest drinking/eating/mingling establishment at The Greene, and because everybody wants to be among the first to check out the new kid, it's crowded and raucous. The bar is beautiful — handcrafted and assembled on-site — and the waitresses show off their allegiance to Scotland (and their legs) with their short-short plaid skirts. The lighting is flattering, a few thronelike seats swallow their coronated occupants and the booths aren't made for long-legged patrons, but the atmosphere is loud and beersoaked, just the way we like it.
Extras
Photos
The Union Jack is painted on the ceiling above the bar
Exterior view of front doors to The Pub which is modeled after traditional British style pubs.
A view of the front of the bar from the dining area
Beautiful woodwork at the bar is a highlight at The PubThe Pub
- WHERE: 9 Greene Blvd., Beavercreek [Map]
- HOURS: 3 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Thursday through Sunday
- MORE INFO: (937) 320-1199. Reservations not accepted; please call with special requests.
- MORE: Reader ratings, complete profile
Trouble is, we couldn't immediately categorize the place. It's a chain, but small (six Pub locations in Ohio and Kentucky, including the three Kentucky deSha's, Nicholson's in downtown Cincinnati and The Polo Grille in Deerfield Towne Center). It's most definitely a bar — just ask it — yet some of the menu items aren't your usual bar fare.
Mark's review
The Pub does pub food right (Shepherd's Pie, Bangers and Mash), but when it tries to stretch into more creative, finedining fare, the results are a bit more uneven.
From the Starters menu, the Seared Ahi Satay ($9.95) served up marinated ahi over Asian noodle salad redolent of toasted sesame oil, while the Spicy Jamaican Jerk Shrimp ($11.85) ramped up the spice level to appropriate jerk levels. Both appetizers were a hit at the table full of Leadbellies, Lizards and lone dining guy.
But the entree of Crab-Crusted Halibut — at $19.95, it's the second-most-expensive item on the menu — was a disappointment. The menu described the fish as "grilled, then baked," and the result was a filet that was oddly mushy in texture. The crab crust offered a hint of peppery crabcake-like flavors that simply didn't complement the fish. It wasn't just the dining guy who turned a thumbs-down to this expensive entree. The verdict was unanimous.
More traditional items such as the curry-infused Shepherd's Pie ($9.95) and the hunger-bashing Bangers and Mash ($10.85), which consists of two large sausages grilled and served over chive whipped potatoes with ale-onion gravy, were thoroughly satisfying. Is it any coincidence they marry so well with the rich, dark British ales that The Pub offers on tap? I think not, Watson ...
Ray, Laura and Ron's report
Brother Ray: Three words: Bangers and Mash. That was my order, and I'm glad it was. The sausage was tasty, the mashed potatoes thick like I like them. Nothing else I tasted came close, which is too bad. With a wide-ranging and too-eclectic menu, the Pub is a fun place that needs a better food identity.
Sister Laura: Among the specials listed by Erica, the awesome waitress, was the Toastie of the Day, which sounded a lot like grilled cheese. And it was. There's nothing wrong with grilled cheese, and there was nothing wrong with this one, even at the $6.95 price. The plus was that fast food is normally consumed at lunch, and this was dinner, so cocktails were on my menu in droves. The "Lovely Rita" margarita was really, really green and just OK; the "White Cosmopolitan" (cranberry vodka with Cointreau and lemonade) was delicious; the Sex and the City (vodka, peach schnapps and cranberry juice) was wonderful; and the Penny Lane Hurricane a nice change of pace (different shaped glass). After all that, I was able to walk without falling down while taking part in a coherent conversation, which leads me to believe that the drinks, while cute and tasty, were a little lacking in the alcohol department.
Brother Ron: I had a very fine time with my cohorts at the Pub. In general terms, it was a big, lively, fun joint that performed at par for what I expected, had good beers and excellent service, an atmosphere that suggested Brit authenticity (football on the telly!) and didn't cost too much. Will it make me stop going to the Dublin Pub downtown? Nope, laddie, but I'll surely be stoppin' back fer a pint.
Alexis and Craig's take
The Pub at the Greene has a bloody brilliant vibe to it, which is crucial for any Lounge Lizard habitat. Sporting a massive, regal bar and a rich warm interior that buzzed with conversation, we felt immediately at ease. Sure, the piped-in music was a little too American to go with the theme, and we longed for a rousing round of pub songs, but it's a picky little detail. As Sister Laura alluded to, the cocktails in the beverage bible hit a rather flat note, failing in both consistency and pours throughout the evening. The Lounge Lizards verdict: Come for the beer and stay for the beer — start with the Belhaven Scottish Ale, our personal favorite. With an impressive draught and bottled beer list, there's plenty to try; and if you find you haven't tried most of them, be sure to ask for the beer sampler (four fiveounce pours of your choice). The list of single malt scotches single - bons is also impressive if that sort of thing appeals to you (also available in samplers featuring three one-ounce shots). While the food choices ranged from traditional to the more exotic, the starters and authentic British pub fare were the way to go. We ordered the Turkey Reuben ($10.50) and the Pub Cuban ($10.75) and found them to be a little pricey and soggy for what we got. The evening's stars were the appetizers, Brother Ray's three magic words — Bangers and Mash — and a delicious carrot soup ($2.95 for a cup) that was a featured special. It may sound too healthy for some, but let us assure you, it couldn't have been with such a heavenly creamy taste. The lesson here is, if you order to the Pub's strengths, it should be a smashing good time. But do prepare yourself ... finding parking won't be.
