urbanSTL

how about tearing down that obviously run down building next door so a surface lot can be built to provide much needed parking...hey I bet they could get some goverment help to accomplish that good deed too!

innov8ion wrote:

SShoe wrote:Is that Antwerp?

Ding ding!

My favorite bar in Antwerp was the Pater's Vaetje. Any pictures?

SShoe wrote:

innov8ion wrote:

SShoe wrote:Is that Antwerp?

Ding ding!

My favorite bar in Antwerp was the Pater's Vaetje. Any pictures?

None that I took. However if you sponsor my trip, I will take the best damn pictures you've ever seen of Pater's Vaetje!



In the unfortunate case the above proposition is unacceptable, here is a subpar picture from http://www.adrianbell.co.uk/pubs/antwerp/.

I've always liked The Dubliner, but I haven't been in awhile. My wife and I went back for dinner tonight, and frankly, I was unimpressed. The food was decent, but it wasn't as good as I've had at several of the other Irish/Welsh/Scottish pubs in town. The server was competent but completely indifferent. It was a quiet night and I almost felt as if my business wasn't wanted all that much.

The worst thing, in my opinion, is that this place is really beginning to look a lot worse for the wear. There was a hole in the wall next to the booth where we sat, and worse yet, the bathroom was atrociously filthy. There was also a powerful stench of stale smoke in the air. I realize that's still par for the course for a few more months at many local bars, but you'd think a place that size and with as much restaurant business as bar business would have better ventilation in place. And I'd expect this from a South Side dive, but not a place in downtown that's only been around for a few years. I know it's a chain, but I think the next time I want fish and chips and a Smithwick's, I'll head over to Tigin instead...

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:

threeonefour wrote:I know it's a chain, but I think the next time I want fish and chips and a Smithwick's, I'll head over to Tigin instead...

It is?

Also, if you don't like smoke, you may want to skip Tigin. I go there once in a while on weekend mornings, but I've walked in twice at night and turned right back around, after seeing a cloud of smoke hanging in the air.

Tigin is a chain, yes; I believe it's the same folks who do Fado places. Also, come 1/1/11, smoke shouldn't be much of an issue.

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Yes, Tigin is a chain. He was referring to The Dubliner.

A bit confusing, but not the way I read it. Besides, 314 knows enough that Tigin is a chain and the Dubliner is not. But only he knows the answer.

The Dubliners bathroom has always been a dump since the place opened. The crowd is hit or miss during the week depending what is going on. I had stew there about a month ago and it was real good.

innov8ion wrote:

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Yes, Tigin is a chain. He was referring to The Dubliner.

A bit confusing, but not the way I read it. Besides, 314 knows enough that Tigin is a chain and the Dubliner is not. But only he knows the answer.

Thanks for clarifying my admittedly scattered thoughts at the end of my rant. Perhaps I wrote it a little too close to my bedtime and had one beer too many by the end of the night.

So, when I said:

I know it's a chain, but I think the next time I want fish and chips and a Smithwick's, I'll head over to Tigin instead...

What I meant to say was...

Tigin may be a chain, (which I only mentioned as a disclaimer because that may disqualify it as a legitimate dining and drinking option compared to The Dubliner for some people out there) but I think I'll give it a try the next time I want fish & chips and some beer.

That said, I haven't been to Tigin in awhile either, so I was unaware that thick smoke was an issue there. Whenever I've been there, I've usually dined during the early evening hours when the bar wasn't as busy and the smoke wasn't all that noticeable. So I'll give Tigin another try, but like TCS, I may wait until January 2011 to go there again.

Both Tigin and The Dubliner are places I visited several times after they first opened. But my visit to The Dubliner last night was the first time I've been there in almost a year, and it's probably been the same length of time since my last visit to Tigin. The smoking ban that will go into effect beginning in January will increase the appeal of both places, not to mention a lot of other places in the city and county. But, based on my most recent experience at The Dubliner, it's going to take a lot more than that to make it a viable dining option again, at least in my opinion.

dweebe wrote:The bathroom upkeep has always been poor at The Dubliner. Even on a slow winter weeknight they seem messy. That's why I've never ordered food there as a dirty bathroom is a good indicator of a not well kept kitchen.

I worked at The Dubliner. The bathroom cleanliness has always been an issue but Eddie and co keep a very clean kitchen. I have absolutely no qualms about eating there.

dweebe wrote:

lukethedrifter wrote:

dweebe wrote:The bathroom upkeep has always been poor at The Dubliner. Even on a slow winter weeknight they seem messy. That's why I've never ordered food there as a dirty bathroom is a good indicator of a not well kept kitchen.

I worked at The Dubliner. The bathroom cleanliness has always been an issue but Eddie and co keep a very clean kitchen. I have absolutely no qualms about eating there.

Good to hear your spin/inside knowledge.

Any reason why the bathrooms are always trashed there? Are they just not a priority for the FOH management?

I really don't. They have been pretty much of a mess from the beginning.

The Central Scrutinizer wrote: I'll wait until 1/2/2011 to return (same day I check out the Pour House). At night, that is. In the morning, it doesn't seem like anyone smokes much.

Agree. Went to the Pour House Thursday night and it was like sitting in a ash tray. Did not want to eat in a cloud of smoke.