A Not-So-Special
On the one hand, Johnnie McCracken's Pub's specials sound like a great deal. Last night? All the beer you can drink and all the barbecue you can eat for a mere $10. They even offered four reasonably nice varieties of beer, New Belgians most of them.
On the other hand, the beer: flattish. My cup of Fat Tire was skunky, though I should say that others at my table seemed satisfied with their multiple cups. I was driving and heavily medicated for allergies, so one was the limit. I also didn't wish to try another one, though. Fool me once... Now, the "barbecue": a pan of lukewarm to cold, large-chopped very fatty pork sitting on a cold grill all night open to the elements (Hello, critters! Hello, health inspector!) and white buns. No sides. No extra sauce. No condiments. Later on when one of our company went upstairs to fetch the shelled peanuts they have everywhere for the taking, she was told she couldn't take them outside because she would make a mess. This woman is an adult, by the way, and we'd had peanuts at our table all night. On top of all that, our table was just under the door. If you do go there and sit on the patio out back, sit away from the door. Everyone going through the door ashes their cigarettes or shakes the swill out of their cups before entering and you'll be treated to a disgusting, impromptu shower.
It seems that the staff's view of these special events is that since they're practically "giving something away" that that something should be as crappy as possible. One the one hand, I understand that. Why put a lot of effort or grace into something you may be taking a loss on? However, presumably McCracken's reason for hosting these events is to gain new customers who are drawn in by the special and then wowed by the service, the food, and the drink. They made their money off me last night (one sandwich, one beer, blech) but they'll take a loss on any future visits I might have made.
I suspect they are trying to skew their clientele very young and drunken. The kind of patrons who care more about free beer and a beach ball -- did I mention the endless beach ball bullshit? -- than good product and good service. The barely legal girls standing on the benches and repeatedly "WooHoo!"ing seemed to think a lot of the place.
At least the company was good thanks to yamguitar , Scott, Gillian, and Dustin.
On the other hand, the beer: flattish. My cup of Fat Tire was skunky, though I should say that others at my table seemed satisfied with their multiple cups. I was driving and heavily medicated for allergies, so one was the limit. I also didn't wish to try another one, though. Fool me once... Now, the "barbecue": a pan of lukewarm to cold, large-chopped very fatty pork sitting on a cold grill all night open to the elements (Hello, critters! Hello, health inspector!) and white buns. No sides. No extra sauce. No condiments. Later on when one of our company went upstairs to fetch the shelled peanuts they have everywhere for the taking, she was told she couldn't take them outside because she would make a mess. This woman is an adult, by the way, and we'd had peanuts at our table all night. On top of all that, our table was just under the door. If you do go there and sit on the patio out back, sit away from the door. Everyone going through the door ashes their cigarettes or shakes the swill out of their cups before entering and you'll be treated to a disgusting, impromptu shower.
It seems that the staff's view of these special events is that since they're practically "giving something away" that that something should be as crappy as possible. One the one hand, I understand that. Why put a lot of effort or grace into something you may be taking a loss on? However, presumably McCracken's reason for hosting these events is to gain new customers who are drawn in by the special and then wowed by the service, the food, and the drink. They made their money off me last night (one sandwich, one beer, blech) but they'll take a loss on any future visits I might have made.
I suspect they are trying to skew their clientele very young and drunken. The kind of patrons who care more about free beer and a beach ball -- did I mention the endless beach ball bullshit? -- than good product and good service. The barely legal girls standing on the benches and repeatedly "WooHoo!"ing seemed to think a lot of the place.
At least the company was good thanks to yamguitar , Scott, Gillian, and Dustin.