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Article printed from OnMilwaukee.com:  05:42 a.m. April 29, 2004 West Side bar guide by Dan Curran
O'Brien's Pub on 50th and Vliet is an example of an alternative post-game destination (or a good choice on any day, any time of year for that matter). O'Brien's is a lively bar with a large selection of beers. And the best aspect of O'Brien's when that baseball team from the north side of Chicago is in town -- it seems to be unknown to the Cub Nation. Take a trip to O'Brien's and other West Side watering holes with OnMilwaukee.com. (Please note, Tosa bars have not been included, as they will be featured in a separate guide.)
Derry Hegarty's "This place is dead," a newcomer to Derry's once said. His comment was not a reflection of how busy Derry's was -- in fact there wasn't a single seat open at the bar that particular night. The truth is that Derry's is not the type of place that will meet the expectations of a young bar-hopper -- and to many, that's a good thing. Derry's is a quiet joint, with no pool tables, dartboards or loud music. And the demographic there definitely skews old -- it's a favorite haunt of many Milwaukee politicians. Proprietor Derry Hegarty is the dean of Milwaukee Irish pub owners. Hegarty's place seems to have become the touchstone of the St. Patrick's Day experience in Milwaukee -- the place is a zoo on March 17 and during the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. Derry's has good burgers and a Friday night fish fry. If you just want a snack, try the cashews for 50 cents -- they warm them under a heat lamp behind the bar.
Friday's Front Row Grill When the Brewers played at County Stadium, league rules dictated that beer couldn't be sold after the seventh inning. Fortunately, the Brewers were able to exploit some sort of loophole when they built Miller Park -- Friday's Front Row Grill serves drinks throughout the game and after. They usually have a pretty good post-game beer special. Open year-round, the Front Row Grill offers one of Milwaukee's best respites from the long winter -- a view of the bright green baseball diamond at Miller Park (although at times it's covered by a white tarp). The Front Row Grill has the biggest selection of beers on the west side -- over 20 beers on tap. This is definitely the place to go if you want fruity drinks or dessert drinks -- Mudslides, Strawberry Banana Coladas, Strawberry Daquiris, and Rum Runners to name a few. Happy Hour specials are offered Monday through Friday, from 4 to 7 p.m. and again from 9 p.m. until close.
Kelly's Bleachers Kelly's Bleachers is a good spot to watch big games: five big screen TV's, numerous smaller ones, and they know enough to turn the music off and the game sound up. The walls at Kelly's are decorated with Wisconsin sports mementos. A notable one is an autographed picture of the almost forgotten Bonnie Brewer. After Brewers games you can use your ticket stub for half off beer taps. If you want to discuss the game in detail, you might want to try another bar -- the music here is very loud. It's the only bar near Miller Park with a dance floor, so it may attract more girls after the game -- or at least the guys trying to meet them.
Long Wong's Long Wong's bills itself as Milwaukee's only Chinese-American sports bar -- while we have not verified this, it is true to the best of our knowledge. Long Wong's is a good choice after a Brewer game if you're looking for something more subdued than the cacophony of Kelly's Bleachers. Like many bars in the area, Long Wong's runs a shuttle to Miller Park for baseball games. Long Wong's is the only venue on the west side of the city that features jazz on a regular basis. Gary Christensen's All-Star Super Band plays every Thursday from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m.
McBob's The interior of McBob's (see photos) has an unpretentious, dive-bar feel -- the wooden stools and tables are scratched and unpolished, the walls are cluttered with old signs, flags and other knick-knacks. It's the type of place you'll definitely feel more comfortable wearing an old pair of jeans than slacks and a tie. McBob's is best known for good, cheap food. The selection here is larger than you find at a typical bar-grill: how many pubs do you know that serve New York strip steak, chicken cordon bleu, and pan fried perch and walleye? On the weekends McBob's serves breakfast, with a menu that includes eggs benedict, waffles, and corned beef hash. Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends are Taco Nights at McBob's. If a recent Thursday is any indication, the tacos are a big draw -- the bar was packed with taco diners, and there was a steady stream of carryout orders as well. McBob's is distinguished by the diverse crowd it draws, a reflection of its location on the edge of multicultural Sherman Park.
O'Brien's Pub O'Brien's is a neighborhood joint that feels like a college bar -- the customers tend to be young and casually dressed, the music is often loud, and O'Brien's stays busy later into the night compared to other west side bars. The place pulls in a lot of softball players from Wick Field across the street. O'Brien's is also famous (or infamous) as a cop hangout. Contrary to reputation, they do close at 2 a.m. O'Brien's is a good choice after a Brewers game -- it's a little less crowded than spots closer to the stadium. O'Brien's can also serve as a refuge from Cubs fans after games in which Miller Park has turned into "Wrigley North." (Although maybe this summer we should hang around with Cubs fans after the game just to taunt them with: "Game 6, Wrigley Field ... just five outs from the World Series ... Cubs lead 3 to nothing ...")
Papa's Social Club We were going to use a funny Italian phrase to describe the vibe at this place, but, nah -- fuhgeddabowdit. OK, sorry, but this place does have movie posters of "Good Fellas" and "The Godfather," photographs of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, and a sign that says "Milwaukee's Little Italy." On a recent evening, they were showing Robert DeNiro in "Casino" on the big-screen TV's -- just in case you still couldn't figure out the theme. Papa's goes for the Las Vegas cocktail lounge look -- dark lighting, candle-lit tables, padded bar stools with backs, and large, round booths. The bartenders wear ties, and the cocktail waitress wear low-cut black dresses. Pizza and appetizers are available from Mama's restaurant next door -- the garlic bread is definitely a standout. Papa's has a drink menu offering a large selection of martinis and shooters. There's a good happy hour at Papa's: half-priced drinks and free hors d'oeuvres daily from 2 to 6 p.m. Papa's offers other specials throughout the week, including deals during Bucks and Packer games. Wednesdays are billed as "an evening with the Rat Pack -- enjoy their movies, music and drinks."
Saz's State House Saz's is more of a restaurant than it is a pub -- patrons at the bar can get crowded out by diners waiting to be seated at this popular eatery. As you would expect at a restaurant bar, Saz's offers a lot of hearty appetizers -- ribs, mozzarella marinara, clam strips and chicken tenderloins are some of the items to snack on. Saz's is the only west side bar that has a shuttle to the Bradley Center for Bucks and Marquette games. The shuttle is free to those who patronize Saz's, $5 to non-diners. Saz's runs a Happy Hour special on domestic taps Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.
Slim McGinn's Slim McGinn's is similar to Derry Hegarty's Pub -- it's a quiet, conversation-friendly bar that attracts an older crowd. McGinn's has the best-named stadium shuttle -- the Slimosine drops off patrons at Miller Park. The menu at McGinn's offers a wider variety than most pubs - meat loaf, pork chops, Porterhouse steak and garlic-mashed potatoes are some of the entrees available. There's also a Friday fish fry. On Sundays McGinn's serves a brunch that includes omelets and French toast.
Steve's on Bluemound Steve's on Bluemound is a spacious sports bar with a shuttle to Miller Park, and all the classic barroom amenities -- darts, pool, air hockey, foosball, big-screen TV's and video games. This is probably the top place on the west side as far as bar games are concerned. Add your favorites using the talkback feature below. Web address: http://www.onmilwaukee.com/articles/westsidebar.html |
A dilemma confronts some Brewers fans as they leave Miller Park -- where to go for a post-game beer. Many fans instinctively go to the pubs on Bluemound Road. But after games on a Friday or Saturday, these bars can be pretty crowded. And a series against the Cubs brings another unpleasant factor to the Bluemound night spots -- the presence of over-served and over-confident Cubs fans.
