Glendale Pub

This place used to be amazing: neighborhood feel, pretty good grub, eclectic selection of beers.  Then ownership change and they tried to streamline the operation, mostly by paring down the beer list but expanding the menu.  They still have some quality selections on tap (Great Lakes, Arrogant Bastard), but the previous glory of rarities has faded.  The food variety hasn't increased the quality; burgers/sandwiches are good, but the pastas and salads are bland.  I don't like heavy desserts, so the carrot cake pushed me over, but they do have Madison's gelatos (which are made a literal stone's throw away) for as cheap a price as you'll find anywhere.

The ambience, of course, remains.  Heavy wood decor gives it a really local feel, and the upstairs deck is still magnificent in the summer.  The frequent rumblings (I've heard that something like 60 pass through per day) from the nearby (read: 50 feet away) tracks might sound obnoxious, but somehow seems quaint.  None of the staff will agree with that, however.

Being the only unique pub in the area, this place really draws a crowd on weekends, and they almost always have live music to liven the scene.

If you're unfamiliar with Glendale, don't be disturbed by the giant squirrel statues.  Some guy smuggled black squirrels into Glendale back in the 40s, and now the dark-haired rodents are something of an icon for the area.  Enough so that they named the squirrel the official mascot of the village.  Yeah, I would have picked something different, too.

The three stars are for nostalgia. The Pub used to be my favorite deli (oh, Trackside, I miss you!). In 2004, it was transformed into a friendly local pub, and while I was initially reluctant to go, I quickly warmed up to the place.

A year ago, I would have given the Pub five stars and touted it as my favorite neighborhood spot. I used to come in several times a week, and a lot of the bartenders knew me and my then-boyfriend by name. However, early this spring, the Pub was taken over by new management, and the unique charm of the place has dropped significantly.

The Pub was once home to a wide selection of microbrews, a weekly rotating set of beers on tap, and tasty specialty entrees. These are now gone, and the Pub is reminiscent of every other suburban watering hole. The staff is warm and friendly, but the last time I went, it felt like I'd never been to the place before. The only trace remaining of the old Glendale Pub is the gorgeous decor - dark wood, dim lighting, and a cozy tavern atmosphere.