Photos and links

Those who visit this site directly will note the new page in the top bar [sorry for the pun....not really]. I have started taking photos of the outside of EC bars and posting them to Flickr.

This first batch is those bars generally north of the Eau Claire River and east of the Chippewa River along with the bars which are north of Madison/Cameron Streets. Water Street will be a separate project, as will those on Hastings and in the south part of town.

I may or maynot add out of town bar photos, depending on how the spirit moves me.

Waterfront Bar & Grill

I stopped in Menomonie last night. I was driving through town, and it was a pretty day, late in the afternoon. The sign for the Waterfront Bar & Grill caught my eye. I pulled into the municipal lot across Crescent Street, and walked it. The deck overlooking the lake was full, but there were seats at the bar. Most of those on the deck were eating, and they had what looked like a great special on the menu.

I sat down at the bar. After asking about the special (they were out), I ordered something else, which was just great. They have Leinie’s Honey Weiss (and a number of other beers) on tap. The bartender also makes a great Long Island (and bargain priced, too!)

I hung out for a bit. It was a very mixed crowd, and many came (at least at that hour) for the food. The waitress serving those on the deck was kept hopping. I got to chatting with a guy at the bar, who turned out to be the bartender’s father and part-owner. The other part-owner was the bartender! (And he was barely 30, would be my guess.) The bartender was very, very good. He heard the shouted orders from the waitress, and kept up. He clearly loves what he does. At slow moments, he did the usual “house-keeping” with help from his dad, brother, and others. You know, adding ice to the well, refilling the condiment server, etc.

It was a great place, and I highly recommend it!

Name change/New location

Fat Boys has closed for renovations. It has a new owner and should reopen soon as Diversions. It will be interesting to see what the differences are.

The City Council has an agenda item for April 7/8 to approve a Reserve Liquor License for Red Robin Restaurants on Golf Road. Since it is a Reserve License, I expect that it will pass.

When licenses are renewed in June, I’ll have to check the master list again to see what changes I need to record here!

Bars not receiving a second review – Part Two

The following are not receiving a separate repost for reasons noted under each:

• Jericho’s (Day’s Inn)
  [Closed, the roads in the area are being re-configured, the hotel restaurant are is being remodeled, and the bar is closed.]
• Boston’s (pizza restaurant on Hastings Way)
  [It is a chain, it is loud, and it is mostly a "sports bar."]
• Green Mill (Holiday Inn)
  [It is a chain.]

Porter’s (formerly Bistro)

The bar at the Ramada Inn, formerly known as Bistro, has opened under a new name. Today’s Leader-Telegram has a story on it. That inspired me to stop in this afternoon after my 4 pm meeting. It was happy hour time. I did not try the LIIT, but had a draft. However, no Leine’s. I had to settle for a New Glarus “Spotted Cow.”

It is a nicely appointed room, and the bar is separate from the restaurant, as the article points out. It has an intimate feel, and does not seem like a hotel bar, or part of a chain. Nicely done!

Dooley’s, Clancy’s, Houligans

It was a snowy day, but there were errands to run. very late morning found us on Water Street, and we decided to go back to Dooley’s. It is very clearly an Irish-themed bar (witness the big Irish flag on the Fifth Avenue side of the building). It has an appeal as a smoke-free establishment also.

They do serve food, although we did not eat there this time — we had a luncheon engagement. But there was a party of 8 or so in the back corner there for lunch, and a group which was clearly a UWEC student and his parents who came and sat at a table as we were preparing to leave. At the same time, it is clearly a bar, and has an interesting mezzanine level (which is probably worth exploring some time). Good Long Islands, and Leine’s on tap!

Later in the day found us downtown, early for an event at Houligans [the next part of the post]. We slopped through the snow into Clancy’s. It is a typical smoky tavern with tropical paintings on the walls, and sports on all the TVs. They have good Long Islands, and several beers on tap. The occupants on either side of us were having an extended conversation about the NFL Playoff picture, and it was fairly quiet on a snowy early Saturday afternoon.

Then it was time for the party at Houligans. I have commented on Houligan’s before, but need to add more. They had several parties there that evening, some just for dinner and others in separate rooms. There was a pretty full bar in our room, but no draft. At one point I ordered a Honey Weiss for which the bartender headed to another room and came back with a draft. The Long Islands were “city-priced” at $7 each, but the drinking partner really liked them (I thought that they had too much sour and not enough cola).

The food for the party was great, and the staff did a great job of keeping the food warmers full. One of the women there told a funny story about having been at a bar to watch the Packer’s game last Thursday. [It was one of those NFL Network deals, so unless you have a dish you could not see it. Since many bars have dishes, they advertised heavily and drew large crowds.] It was a long, sad (for her), smoky night. The next day she washed her sweatshirt, sweater, and blouse. She did not wash her brassiere because, as she said, “I wear these for more than one day!”She then went to get dressed. Her husband said “You reek of smoke!” She realized that the smoke in the bar had penetrated to her brassiere! That is a smoky bar!!! Houligans appears to be smoke-free.

Anderson’s B&B

Well, that is what it says on the receipt I have. The sign out front calls it Anderson’s Bar & Grill Grill & Bar. It is right next to Exit 59 of Interstate 94, but you have to leave SR312 (North Crossing) where US 12 peels off to the west, and take the frontage road past the AmericInn to get there.

From the outside it looks like a rustic log building, it is nicely furnished inside. I was there for a “meeting” late in the business day, and we were alone in the bar until just after 5 pm, when the joint started hopping.

Even though my drinking buddy joined me at the end of the meeting, we stuck to beer and wine (no Long Island Iced Tea this time).

It is pleasant, and there is a dining room in half the building. It is light and clean. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.

Outside Town: Fanny Hill

It is set on a hill over the Chippewa River, and, I understand, started as a classic Supper Club. Fanny Hill hosted an event for the Chamber of Commerce. It was packed, but is clearly a nice facility. It even has rooms for the bed and breakfast which were open for view and were quite spectacular. Almost all had both fireplaces and a whirlpool. Looks like a nice romantic getaway.

Because of the crowd, I did not order the usual, but a return trip is indicated!

Galloway Grille

They are open! I had lunch and a beer there today, stay tuned for a full review (including the obligatory Long Island!).

The Finish Line

Well, I have now had at least one drink in the 80 bars which are open in Eau Claire. Of the 86 bars there are two which are simply catering or special event halls (Florian Gardens, Eau Claire Regional Arts Center) and four are not open (Galloways [closed before I got there], The Livery, Galloway Grille, and The East Room [open by appointment]).

The Finish Line was the end. It is located in a fairly industrial area, but also near both some motels, and the Wagner’s Bowling Alley. It is just off Hastings Way. When we walked in, it seemed like deja vu because it is similar in layout to several other bars. The first bartender mad the Long Islands from scratch, and they were pretty good. The second bartender used “the mix” which resulted in mediocre drinks.

The initial quest is over. However, since I did not blog the first thirty, several are due for re-visits, and notes. This blog will not die. I need to decide how much further afield will I go? There are townships around Eau Claire (and the City of Altoona), plus Augusta and Fall Creek as incorporated municipalities. Then there is Chippewa Falls. Stay tuned!