I came in here on a Tuesday evening, panicking because I had just been stung by a bee. They immediately got me a towel and some ice to put on the sting. That was cool. For the next hour, they put up with my husband, sister-in-law, friend, and I as we asked them to teach us about whiskey and bourbon. Seriously, they spent time just hanging out with us at the bar explaining different styles or processes. I appreciated one bartender's advice that it doesn't matter what other people say is best or what they say is bad because you should just like what you like. In light of all the expensive, fancy whiskeys they had here, it was good to know that they were not snobby or elitist. They just wanted us to enjoy our drinks and have a good time. I'll also say that they have a decent enough beer selection, but come here for the vibe and for the expertise of the bar staff so you can try something new in the realm of whiskey!
Review Source:Pretty decent little bar. Not too loud for conversation. They call themselves a whiskey bar (I didn't ask why), but they stock and make all kinds of great drinks that are not whiskey-based. I had a tasty cherry cider and a Moscow Mule, they were both delicious. I'm not in Pasadena often, nor in bars often, but this one was quite enjoyable.
Review Source:The drinks are strong and good and creative, and the music is LOUD.
But snootiness is a deal breaker for me. Again, I'd rather frequent places that enjoy having customers.
How annoying that it's attempting to be a dive bar, when the prices and snooty staff clearly indicate otherwise.
I'll take a pass.
I'm not a Pasadena expert by any means so I don't really know what 'type' of bar this is. All I know is that I stopped in for a Moscow Mule or two with some friends on a Saturday night (though I didn't drink whiskey, the cocktail I chose seemed at least to fall within the same animal category), and I had a perfectly pleasant time! As the night got later the place definitely got a bit squished, with an accidental elbow flying to the back of my head a couple of times from people having animated conversations behind me. But I have to say that the crowd seemed fairly divers... OK, there were one or two overly drunk just out of college types, but there were also older patrons who weren't as obnoxious. It seems like a casual spot where you can get some fine whiskey, a few food selections, and enjoy a well-styled atmosphere that you don't see all that much of in this part of town.
One complaint I had was that there was just one bathroom for girls and one for guys and I spent a LOT of time waiting outside that one bathroom!
It's not a bar I'd go way out of my way for, but definitely something I'd suggest if I was meeting someone in Pasadena... especially if it was early enough in the evening to avoid the elbows!
Chill atmosphere for a laid back Friday or Saturday night!
Some TVS & Shuffleboard!
I call this place a Whiskey town because their drinks are predominately whiskey based! Â They are pretty strong and you maybe wishing for another one but, be careful it may hit you later
Perfect for a friends laid back chill place, but make sure one of you guys is the DD Â
Shuffleboard is a must ;) Â This is the spot i learned how to play !
Parking in nearby structures or street parking (be AWARE pasadena street parking signs are tricky & they don't end till pretty late on Friiday & Saturday night - if i can recall correctly not till 10pm).
I'll make this short and sweet.
# If you like whiskey, you'll love this place because it has a large selection
# it has a good crowd, ranging from people with t-shirts and jeans to suits
# Penny the manager is warm, friendly and engaging
# evan williams (whiskey) is only $4 during happy hour
# the fried pickles and fries are delicious
the end...
One of my favorite bars in LA!
Although I'm a beer man first, I'm a whiskey guy second! Asides from their great selection of whiskeys, they make a great old fashioned (order it with Templeton Rye). They also have a nice beer selection, both on tap and in bottles. Haven't had their food yet though, although I surprisingly enjoyed the pickle back shot with my drink!
Bartenders know what they're doing and are attentive, although it definitely helps that I always go on weekday evenings.
Plus, you can drink whiskey AND play checkers.
I liked the overall look and feel of the place. I went on a Thursday afternoon and there weren't very many people. Service was a little confusing, you have to go up to the bar to order anything (drinks, food), eventho there are tables - there were no servers. I tried the moscow mule for the first time and it was delicious. Drinks were about $10 ea. and they had an impressive selection of whiskey. Service that afternoon was fast and friendly. Parking off union st can be a little difficult to find, I usually park in the large lot off Fair Oaks and Green st. First 90 mins free!
Review Source:Dear Owner-
If you would hire some servers, your business would grow. It's bad that patrons have to snake a path to the bar to get a drink. Get some servers and work that crowd!! Was there for happy hour on 6/27/13 and our group would have eaten and drank 2x what we did if you had servers !!
I was looking forward to this place, but did not have a good time here. Â It was just whatevers for me. Â I have to give them 2 stars for the wide selection of whiskey, the easy-feel type of atmosphere, and the gentleman who gave us our chili fries. Â The bar tenders are definitely knowledgable in the whiskey they serve. Â
There is no order to this place. Â Do you walk up to the bar or can you get service at the tables?! Â Where do you order your drinks/food?!
To go with our drinks we ordered some chili cheese fries. Â For $9 you would think it would have some flavor/taste. Â The chili was blah and the fires were blah as well. Â The only good thing about the fries was the portion. Â It was pretty big. Â But I honestly could make better and for a fraction of the cost. Â
Because we ordered fries my buddies and I grabbed a table and I asked the bartender to close me out. Â With my hands full I turned around to sit down. Â Minutes passed and my fries came out, but I still didn't have my card. Â I asked the guy who brought my fries where my card was and he went to the bar and found it lying on the bar the entire time. Â Doode, what if someone stole my card?! Â It was quite reckless, irresponsible, and terrible customer service/practice to just leave a customer's card out in the open. Â Like I said there is no order to this place. Â Not even the basics.
I dislike drunk and disorderly humans.
I dislike having to get all photon death ray on their asses.
I like whiskey.
At the Blind Donkey I was able to enjoy the latter without enduring the former.
I like friendly, non-antagonistic people. Â
The bartenders and patrons fit that criteria.
The selection of spirits was impressive, however tBD lacked sufficient inventory of some of their more interesting offerings: Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve and Prichard's Double Chocolate Bourbon in particular.
I did sample and consume numerous drams of Blanton's Single Barrel - Taste: Char, maple, ground amalthea,  zoåtc9 (possibly 8).  Extremely pleasant through to the finish.
Despite the establishment's name, no donkeys - blind or otherwise - were drinking at the bar or available on the menu. tBD does serve other types of food, though the kitchen was closed at the time: 00:21:13:05 Thursday. Â A bowl of sweet and spicy nuts were offered which I accepted and savored.
The music playing on their sound system was eclectic and unobtrusive.
I will return.
I found this place by accident on Monday evening. Â A co-worker and I dropped in. Â She loves bourbon and I love scotch so this place was perfect. Â The guy behind the bar turned out to be one of the owners and was extremely knowledgeable about his whiskeys.
We spent a great hour or so chatting about whiskey and trying some new things. Â I found the pricing reasonable, the whiskey selection great, the bartender friendly and knowledgeable, the place great looking, and of course the location excellent. Â For sure I'll be back.
What an awesome place! Great selection, great service, and awesome decor. This is a fun spot to grab a drink and just hang out with friends. If you like playing shuffleboard, please beware, the table is right by the window and random tourists are very intrigued by this... we ended up having a group of people stand outside watching us play...
Review Source:4.5 - 5 stars. A solid bar with solid drinks. And by solid I mean heavy on the whiskey, light on the sugar. I like that they expect everyone to have at least an inkling of a whiskey tongue. They unabashedly stand by their definition and it serves them well.
The drinks. Are. Strong.
Also strong are the Rock, Targaryens and the beer selection here. So come here and grab a few drinks, make sure you have a driver and enjoy the shuffleboard table. Right now this is my favorite bar in Pasadena.
The Blind Donkey is pretty fabulous.
We came here to grab a few drinks while waiting for our table to open up at Slater's 50/50 which is literally within walking distance. I think the thing I liked the most about The Blind Donkey is it's chic but laid back vibe. I also really enjoyed the fact that they serve food- you can drink, socialize, and snack which is perfect for the Pasadena area. I can't really speak for the food because I didn't get a chance to eat it but I can tell you it did smell fabulous.
Tip
They do have some unique beers and drinks
Drinks are reasonably priced (ex. 2 for $13)
Recommendation
Anthem Cherry Cider is an awesome option when drinking beer especially if you're not really a fan of beer, ehem me.
Overall
I'd stop by for happy hour :)
I saw a few Yelp reviews about The Blind Donkey and bookmarked it to try out. After some plans foiled, we went to Pasadena to check it out. We went at around 2pm and it was pretty empty. We sat at the bar and the bartender and one of the owners chatted with us about the cocktails and the concept and such. I love when bartenders and staff engage you in conversation. Keep me talking and I'll keep drinking, fo sho.
I ordered the gin slinger which was their only gin based cocktail on their menu. They have other spirits and beer as well, so if whiskey isn't your thing you can order anything else. Oh, yes, this is pretty much a whiskey bar.
The menu isn't very big, which I loved because it didn't take me 3 hours to order food. We split the fried pickles and were not disappointed. The batter was perfect and actually stayed on. They make their pickles in house so the owner was nice enough to bring out some pickles for us to taste. And since they make their own pickles they obviously have pickle juice. It was only right to do a pickle back shot. The pickles were delicious and the pickle juice was also delicious.
I'd go back here in a quickness!
This review is based on my 1st visit to Blind Donkey. We came in after 8:00 PM last Sat night and the place was pretty empty. Not a good sign for a Saturday night. Slaters 50/50 next door had a line going out the front door! The Blind Donkey has a very limited food menu (pickles, fries, burgers & sandwiches). Even though we were hoping to eat better, we were starving, so darling hubby ordered the chicken sandwich and I ordered the chicken wrap. We both received a side of chili fries with an extra bowl of chili which was much appreciated. We were pleasantly surprised that our meal was better than we expected. The chili is pretty awesome (if you like it really meaty) and I think I liked his chicken sandwich better than my wrap. (Too much blue cheese in the wrap.) As far as whiskey goes, the selection is quite good. Normally, my hubby likes his Scotch straight or on the rocks. However, we decided to try the cocktails.
Old Fashion: Good. Strong. However, it does not include anything muddled at the bottom which I think most people are used to. The flavor is the same only without the sweetness.
Nick Of Thyme: Good. Strong. Nice balance of whiskey and ginger beer. I could probably drink these all night long. They go down too easy ;-)
Though we thought the food & drinks were good and the bar staff was nice. I'm only giving 3 stars instead of 5.
Pros: Good selection of whiskey. Strong cocktails. No wimpy stuff here. Nice bar staff. Surprisingly good food.
Cons: Limited food menu. Also, I'm taking points away for the environment. The bar was so dark, we couldn't even see the menu. Also, we were with some friends and it was NOT a good environment for conversation. By the time we left, my voice was hoarse from shouting across the table.
This is a pretty cool place. It's serious about whiskey.
The bar area is speckled with people who have been drinking since before I was born and everyone there is nice and willing to recommend you something to drink, from the bartenders to the regulars.
It was nice to just take a break from the day and relax and drink some whiskey while playing shuffleboard. Passerby are also very curious, including this one cute Filipino family that watching us play through the window. We invited them in, but they didn't seem the drinking kind and giggled away shyly.
Great place to chill. I'd come here again to try more whiskeys.
Show me the way to the next whiskey bar..... Great drinks, fried pickles, hot nuts... need I say more? okay then... I have tried everything on the drink menu and I just cant get enough. Standard old fashion recommended but I love the Moscow Mule. The staff is  friendly and knowledgeable.  Just ask! They ran out of fried pickles on my last visit and the friendly owner suggested the triple fried fries which were okay but not what I was craving he did  mention something about a fresh batch being brought in soon.  I was a bit disappointed and decided to drown my sorrows by having a 2nd delicious drink before I knew it the owner comes up and shoves a heaping pile of fried pickles in my face,, heaven!! thumbs up for keeping this customer happy !!
Review Source:Let's see, as far as whiskey bars this place has a selection of whiskey and scotch that will satisfy any drinker. Â You can find hudson manhattan rye here. Â Also on the cheap side, it's cool they serve powers. Â Not everyone goes for Jameson. Â Get's packed on the weekends. Â Try coming weeknights, less people.
Cheers!
Good gawd!, my Old Fashioned was strong. Maybe it's because they made it the real way.
For a Wednesday evening, the place was packed. 10pm and there's no where to sit. It didn't even look like half the people were drinking, they were just sitting. Looking cool, and uninterested. Standard hipster shit. When we finally snagged a table, we wanted to order food, but the kitchen was closed. They allowed us to bring in some tacos to eat (thank you, because I was seriously getting sloshed off of my one-drink).
No one seemed to care that we busted out into song in celebration of my fiance's glorious day of birth. Nor did they care about the chocolate cake that was smeared all over the table, completely by accident of course.
Cool place to go with a few friends. Remember to order your whiskey with an ice ball.
PROS
- Great whiskey selection
- Fair prices
- Nice ambiance
- Busy, but not overly crowded
- Ample TVs to watch games
CONS
- Not enough chairs for people to sit (lots of space to stand, adding a few more chairs wouldn''t hurt)
- Ghetto and unusually small shuffle board (you guys can afford something a little nicer)
- One of the bartenders gave me regular ice when I ordered top shelf scotch, twice! I ordered from a different bartender the third time and got an ice ball. The first bartender didn't seem like he was new, but cheap ice paired with fine whiskey is an amateur move. *smh*
Overall, this spot is just what old town pas needed. A cool space with great beer and whiskey. Not too divey, but also not pretentious. It's the perfect medium for a casual good time.
If I had a penny for all the great things I could say about the bartender, Penny!
A whiskey bar with over 100 different kinds of whiskey and a bartender who loves her job and pairs you off with the right whiskey, yep, that's The Blind Donkey for ya!
Go in thirsty and with an open mind, and you'll walk out a little tipsy and pretty satisfied about your bar choice. Then give yourself a nice pat on the back because you rock!
I'm not really a huge whiskey fan, but came here b/c its in my hood and it's fairly new still. Â Its usually always crowded w/ people when I walk my dog down the street at night. Â I happened to enter the dimly lit bar on a Monday night I think it was? Â Yes, it was a Monday night. Â It wasn't empty, but it wasn't busy... there was PLENTY of open seating around. Â Had I known they served food, I wouldn't have eaten at Slaters 50/50 (next door) - since I've already eaten there several times already. Â
My Drink: Â Sidecar - not bad... I don't like the fragrance of whiskey (any alcoholic drink for that matter). Â As long as I didn't smell it, I was good, haha. Â
Note: Â Shuffleboard & an arcade game are available to play :] Â There are also a couple or maybe just one TV (don't remember).
This bar wasn't super packed which is awesome! The drink was served whiskey in a glass with a big ball of ice. Â It was pretty cool looking. Â They also served some kind of ice cream but I never got a chance to get any.
I did play a game of shuffle board and it was fun! Â The layout is standard and the bathrooms weren't grotesque. Â I liked this place and it's next to slaters so it's a win win !!
If you love whiskey, then this is the place for you bc there is a huuuge selection of whiskey to choose from. Their whiskey selection ranges from some that are 80 proof, to some that are 122 proof!
I've come here on two different occasions - once for Happy Hour with coworkers before we went to a company dinner, and another time for a friend's birthday. Since I went at two different times, I was able to see the difference in crowds. Earlier in the evening, there aren't as many people around, so it's easy to find a place to sit after you get a drink. However, the later the night gets, the more packed it gets, so it's harder to find seats (unless you call ahead of time to reserve a table for a big party).
The location is not bad - it's located near Union and Raymond. And it's only a few minutes walking distance from other bars in Old Town, like Barney's.
Besides whiskey, The Blind Donkey also has beers on tap and mixed cocktails to choose from. The ones I tried were the Old Fashioned, Chumash, and Moscow Mule. The last two were my faves. With all of those, plus whiskey, you def have a good selection to choose from.
For parking, street is very limited, but there is also a structure across the street that is paid parking, and probably the most logical place to park.
Pretty average. Decent bar option for the Pasadena area.
Nothing that stands out about this place. 3.5 stars. Dark, muted interior.
Staff was nice and had good drink recommendations.
Had a Manhattan $12 which was well made.
Also tried the pear cider which ia good drink for girls as its very sweet.
Came back on a Tuesday night and to my surprise, it still had a good crowd going!!
My original post still stands: mediocre mixed drinks. They do have a good selection of whiskey, although not as expansive as Seven Grand. But DAMN, there were sooo many hotter (and relatively younger) guys vs. Seven Grand!! I personally think men who drink whiskey are sophisticated and sexy. So... that's an extra STAR for them! **bumping them up from a 3 star to a 4 star.**
Another plus for the ladies: Blind Donkey is pretty good. At least you have a choice between 1 ounce and 2 ounce pours for whiskey. I opt for the 2 ounce since it's a couple bucks cheaper.
Nice bar! they even played Solarbabies on their video feeds ...Google it. It is an 80s flick that rips off Mad Max and Xanadu but hey I learned about it that Saturday night.
Anyways, we had a party of 16-17 and i'm glad they had enough tables for us. Well a long table plus a smaller one to fit our group. Nice ambiance, at first this place was chill and the noise level was moderate around 9pm but an hour later it picked up, the crowds started coming in but overall we got a nice lounge.
I wanted something to not too bitter, so I've ordered their Anthem Pear Draft Beer, its not too much on the sweet tart side, it has a smooth flavor do it, with a bit of a champagne pear after taste (I hope that makes sense).
The restrooms our on the back wall to the ride side, you will see an arcade machine there while you wait when someone is handling.
I give this place 3.5 stars but because the staff was so friendly and attentive, I have to round up.
So if you love yourself some whiskey, I am guessing this is the place to be. Now my fiance is a whiskey drinker but I am not. We decided to stop here anyway because I figured that I could try one of their signature whiskey drinks while he got his whiskey neat. Well, none of the speciality combinations looked yummy to me so I went for the Moscow Mule. It was good, actually a bit stronger than I am used to, but didn't come in copper mug which was a huge letdown because I like how it keeps my drink cold. I mean if you are going to list it on your specialty drink menu, at least get those copper cups. Anyways, my fiancee enjoyed his whiskey but I could see that he was a bit overwhelmed by all of the choices. It would have been nice if they had someone that gave you a bit of an education on all of the different types that are not readily available at most bars (minus 1/2 star).
I also had to take 1 star away because of the terrible smell inside... kind of a sewer and stale booze combo. I base my deduction on the fact that drinks here are a bit pricier and because the clientele is spending a good chunk of change, this place could pay a bit more attention to the ambiance factor.
Great addition to Old Town Pasadena....
It's tucked away on Union (between Fair Oaks and Raymond, on the north side of the street - close to Raymond).
Great colors (gray muted tones), cool wall decals, great vibe. Â A perfect spot for a pre or post dinner cocktail. Â Friendly and informative staff (who actually acknowledge you when you walk in!).
The focus is whiskey/scotch - although, they do have 1 gin and 1 vodka cocktail. Â They also have a couple wine options in addition to their many beer options.
Whiskey is ordered in 1 or 2oz pours... neat or on the rocks. Â We opted for a large ice cube which was a ball of ice that fit snuggly in the glass (whiskey perfection).
I was nearly blind, and sometimes a jackass, for several years. Â That is, until I had my cataract surgery (I know, cataracts was a surprise to me, too, especially at such a young age). Â Nowadays, I can see very well, but the latter issue may still rear its head from time to time...and I apologize in advance.
John, one of the owners of the Blind Donkey, has worked in some of Americas most well-known establishments across our fine nation, and is out in the lead for the first time in his career. Â During our little chat (ie. formal Yelp Q&A session), he is in no manner a jackass, or a donkey, or blind -- although, he does wear glasses. Â A seriously super nice gent with a hipster Seattlesque 'tude, he's seasoned and educated in NY, is customer-facing, and seemingly very willing to share his well-earned stripes to train and groom his staff in order to create a tip-top whiskey saloon (no sarsaparilla served, so don't even ask). Â Drafts and a small food menu is also available, including a burger -- which, must be had soon by you, me, and all of our amigos (even the ever-so-snooty Yelpers, they have some nerve!).
From 67 types of Whiskey at its soft launch to 95 types just 12 days later. Â How many bottles will fit on the shelves, and how far they are willing to accommodate the aficionado? Â Rustic in decor, it's small and intimate, and the overall feeling is very welcoming here.
In case you were studying to be the next Cliff Clavin, you can read a nice little article about the differences of a mule, a jackass, a donkey, and a burro.  <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fask.yahoo.com%2F19991021.html&s=4e6e81fc3a0760c28d02d734e8a84c1bd43e5b35ee4446cf1ac3c4797c88f6d9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://ask.yahoo.com/199…</a>.  Good luck with that.
This was my first time here and we came here to celebrate a buddy's birthday.
FOOD/DRINKS - 4 Stars: We came for happy hour and they have plenty of happy hour specials. We had:
Chili Cheese Fries <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-blind-donkey-pasadena?select=iR7HBn2EBtkgA1q17RiPqA">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>): These were really good and there was a lot. These fries were thick cut and covered in chili more so than cheese. I prefer it with more cheese, but this was still good.
Vodka Tonic (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-blind-donkey-pasadena?select=D2eavEwvdf2R3KJLuUYGfA">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>): This was your normal mixed drink. It tasted good and was gone in a couple mins. Not much to say on this drink. Bottom line: It was good!
Chumash (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-blind-donkey-pasadena?select=D2eavEwvdf2R3KJLuUYGfA">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>): I decided to try this as I'm not a huge fan of whiskey by any means, but this had Bulleit Rye, Luxardo Maraschino, and pineapple juice. This was strong with the taste of whiskey (of course!), but it was good with the pineapple and maraschino flavors. I really liked this drink.
SERVICE - 4 Stars: The bartender was really nice and let us take our time as we went over the menu. The drinks were made on the spot and the food came out quickly. No complaints there!
ATMOSPHERE - 4 Stars: This place is pretty cool and has plenty of seating. It's great place to meet up and socialize not to mention this is the spot for you if you or your friends are whiskey lovers.
RECOMMENDATION: This place is a hidden gem in Old Town Pasadena and I hope more people frequent this place.
Awesome find on our mini-vacation to Pasadena! Â
Being in a very old-fashioned-craving mood, this whiskey bar seemed PERFECT!
First impressions: decor and vibe was nice, classy, hipster, clean, and well organized. It was relatively early on a Tuesday night when we stepped in, so we were easily able to grab a couple of seats at the bar. Right away the bartender (and owner) John greeted us as asked us what we'd like. We told him we usually go for maker's mark, but would love to try something new along the same lines. We left the selection of whiskey in his hands, and he decided on an excellent and well-priced one called Larceny. Hadn't had it before, but will DEFINITELY be having it again.
The crafting of the old-fashionds was the best part. If you have an appreciation for cocktail making, you will appreciate the way drinks are prepared here. A precise pour of whiskey, dash of bitters, and a splash of simple syrup were delicately poured over ice and then carefully stirred before being strained over a huge sphere of ice in our glasses. To finish, a freshly shaved piece of orange rind is rubbed around the rim of the glass a dropped in as the edible garnish.
All of that said .....
we returned the following night, but disappointingly John was not there. Instead, two female bartenders were there in his place. Right away, we could tell neither one was as knowledgeable or experienced. Our drinks came out slightly incorrect the first time around, and overall the experience just wasn't up to our FIRST night's par.
I will add, though, that this bar has not even had it's 6-month anniversary yet, so at this point I still think it has the potential to be completely successful. Maybe a little more intensive training of ALL the staff?
In any case, it's a place I would love to return to any time I visit pasadena.
Thanks guys and good luck!!
Ugh. Â
Should be called the Blind Douchey. Â
The Bro's and Bro'ettes are in full force in this otherwise exceptional watering hole. Â No, that's not beer pong, that's shuffleboard, but really, what's the difference, except the players are now in law school instead of undergraduate.
I literally overheard two guys talking about their screenplays.
Worse yet, the bartender was trying to out douche them by talking about Jean Luc Goddard. Â
Kill me now.
EXCEPT, they have such an AMAZING selection of hard to find whiskeys, scotches, ryes, bourbons, etc., that it's worth the insufferable clientele.
Bring your I-Pod, turn up the volume, and drink quickly.
This is a great spot for WHISKEY!
There was a good selection of whiskey based mixed drink, a lot of beer you can choose from. Â Lots of bartenders working so you didn't have to wait too long to order your drink.
The bar was a bit loud, but that's expected. Â Half of it was filed with tables you could sit at but for most of the night it was all taken. Â The other half had games you could play like shuffleboard. Â Near the restroom there was an arcade game with over ten pages of old school games you could play like Donkey Kong, Galaga, Pacman, Donkey Kong Jr and more.
The bar was a popular place and there were tons of people in it but it didn't get to the point where it was too crowded. Â Most of the people in here were standing though. Â Around 11:30ish it kind of died down and was pretty empty. Â Not sure where everyone went? :P
Anyway, this is a good place to check out.
I came to the Blind Donkey this past Sunday night for the first time to meet up with a couple of friends. Â My first impression was that the place was BRIGHT! Â Way to lit for a bar, and I wished it would have been much dimmer. Â
As I looked around, I saw that it was a decent sized place. Â The bar was filled with people, but there were plenty of tables to sit at. Â Their menu has a lot of interesting drinks that are primarily whiskey based. Â I like mine fruity, so I got a couple of pear ciders. Â I wanted food to munch on too, but their kitchen was closed when I tried to order at 10:30PM. Â That was a bummer! Â However, the service from the bartenders was great and it was super easy to get drinks.
I wouldn't mind checking out The Blind Donkey again to have drinks with friends, but it is not a place I would go out of my way to visit. Â After a while it got too warm in here. Â I was hungry and getting hot, so we moved on to the next place...
After drinking some premium brews next door at 50/50, we needed a bit of a palate cleanser, so The Blind Donkey was suggested.
A friend of mine had asked me if I was a fan of Mad Men, because if I was, The Blind Donkey makes some great "Old Fashioned" whiskey beverages that Don Draper partakes of. Since I rarely ever mix my whiskey's and scotches, I followed his lead and ordered an Old Fashioned with Buffalo. I would have gone for the Makers Old Fashioned, but will have to get that next time. I think the price is still the same.
The female bartender is a libation artisan and she turned out an exquisite old fashioned that would make Don Draper blush. It was awesome. I think it was $11, so not too bad for what you get. It was really loud in there and I had an interesting conversation with an Irish chap as we reminisced about World Cup 94 where Brazil beat Italy in penalties. We proceeded to make fun of Baggio and his lame air ball kick that cost them that game. Yeah, that was completely random. You know what else is completely random? The chess tables that they have here. Bring your chess pieces and on a more quiet night have yourself a game, a drink, and a bite.