The Morrissey Pub

Connected to the Downtown Ramada, this is a fun, funky joint, and a great place to grab a quick pint.

Actually, from a decorating point of view, The Morrissey reminds me a lot of Locus, though not quite as dark.  It has the same kind of style; exposed wood, with lots of of weird, pieces of art and metal sculpture.  However, The Morrissey is very open, so the effect doesn't come off as quite as claustrophobic.  That being said, the pattern on the lounge seating actually made me dizzy.  All in all, the effect works.  You feel comfortable when you walk in the door, which is of course, the point.

When it comes to the menu, The Morrissey seems to have gone with a less is more approach.  Not too many items on the menu, but every one of them a winner.  Again, I think it works.  You're not exactly spoiled for choice, but anything you can choose is bound to be good.  It's pub food, but it's good pub food.

This is a good place to get a pint.  Twenty beers on tap (some of which rotate), and all of which are eminently quaffable.  Another fifteen or so bottles.  (Really, though, who goes to a pub to buy bottled beer?)  Lots of variety in local and import microbrews too.  Whoever buys their beer knows what they're doing.

A word of note.  The Morrissey turns into a bit of a dance club on Saturdays after 10.  Not really my scene, but it might be yours.  They also do an open mic night on Sundays.

Overall, a fun, weird place, with good beer, good food, and the friendliest waitstaff I've ever met.  I'll definitely be heading back there soon.

The Morrissey Pub

Brickhouse Late Nite Bistro & Bar

Right from the start, I should mention that this is one of the strangest bars I've ever found myself in, in my life.  From my perspective, that's a good thing.  Recently, I've been very interested in finding the city's lesser-known holes in the wall, and I think this qualifies.  In fact, when we got there at 8 pm, the doors were chained shut.  We went down the street to drink somewhere else, but a friend who smokes discovered on one of his breaks that Brickhouse had opened an hour later than the internet told us it was supposed to.

The opening discrepancy was only the first sign that this place is... eclectic.  Apparently the owner just opens up the bar when he feels like it.  So getting in can be a total crap shoot.  Once you do get in, you walk down a short hallway, and find yourself in what appears to be a very well decorated basement.  Pool table, ancient sofas, fishtanks in the walls, hipsters pretending they're too cool to play pool.  It's a weird place, but it's got a great vibe.  Don't go by yourself, go with a group of friends.  This is a place to chill and chat.  In other words, it's exactly what I'm looking for in pub.

Beer list is definitely respectable.  Six local micros, none of the big brewer's stuff.  Fantastic prices!  $4.75 a pint.  No wonder I had a couple too many.  As for food, though.  I don't know how the word bistro ended up in Brickhouse's name.  The only food they sell is packages of potato chips.

Bordering the gungey part of downtown, Brickhouse is a very cool place, that I will definitely be going back to.  You should go too.  At the rate that area is gentrifying, Brickhouse, and the lovely ancient brick building it resides in may not be standing for many more years.

Johnnie Fox's Irish Snug

There are a lot of Irish bars in this city (and around the world) that take kitsch to an art form.  Girls in plaid skirts, Guinness advertisements from a hundred years ago, and signs explaining the term "craic" to the uninitiated (look it up).  They're everywhere.  I've reviewed some of them.  Johnnie Fox's isn't one of them.  Ok, they do have the Guinness ads, but let's be honest those are adorable.  

I have no idea if the management of Johnnie Fox's are Irish or not, and I really don't care.  The place seems authentic.  I've said before that I will let a lot slide in the name of pub atmosphere.  This joint has the kind of atmosphere I've been talking about.  It's friendly, inviting, and regardless of how old it is, it feels like it's been standing for a hundred years.  It's a tiny little place on what is still the (somewhat) grungy portion of Granville street.  You mightn't notice it at all if it weren't for the bright red door.  I suppose the friendly atmosphere is necessary.  On a busy night, people are packed in to the gills.  You make friends fast.  

The beer list follows one obvious philosophy: Simplicity.  There are only four beers on tap, and one cider.  All Irish.  Normally lack of diversity in a beer list would vex me, but here it works somehow.  I think it again comes down to that authentic atmosphere.  If the barman here were pulling from twenty casks it would just come across as artificial.  ...There may be a downside to trying to review the ephemeral.  Good greasy pub food, and all day breakfast.  I don't know why, but eggs always seem like a good idea after a few pints.  

I'll definitely be back.

Johnnie Fox's