Pub 97

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  We were in the mood for a good burger and thought that a place with 97 options of burgers would be an absolute hit.
  
  Well, yeah, the burgers were good. That's about it.
  
  First off, it should never be listed as family dining. The "dining" area is a small, dusty little corner with poker machines in it. I felt uncomfortable having our 2 children with us. ESPECIALLY considering it was the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday and the bar was FULL of obnoxious drunks who were so loud we had to keep reassuring our children that everyone was okay - as townies were cheering obscenities over a horse-racing gambling game at the bar. We even overheard one of the waitstaff informing the table next to us that the guys screaming obscenities were pounding beers.
  
  We ordered our drinks and a fried pickle appetizer and asked for another minute to look at the 97 options of burger - about 15-20 mins later the waitress came over and apologized because she "Thought she already took the order"... it wasn't busy (at the time we were the only ones in the "dining" area) and I witnessed the waitresses all sitting around and talking many times while we waited. The waitstaff seems clueless and unorganized - and definitely don't seem to know anything about serving tables for people that want to eat - not just drink.
  
  The decor was Chef Robert Irvine's worst nightmare. Outdated, dirty, hacky and VERY drab & dark.
  
  The only reason this place got 2 stars instead of 1 is because the food was good - although, if it looks that bad where the customers sit, I can only imagine what the kitchen must look like.
  
  We will NOT being returning.

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  Posted on 04.22.13 Cara M.

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  Don't waste your time or Money.   The waitstaff was terrible and the food was the same.   The bar was teaming with over served drunk people who appeared to be local townies.   Never ever going back.

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  Posted on 03.02.13 Eddie C.

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  We ordered take-out burgers, potato skins and a pizza and were happy. Burgers were seasoned to perfection and really flavorful. Pizza wasn't anything special but our young son enjoyed it. We were a bit dissapointed by the potato skins - not much cheese or bacon and instead of a side of sour cream to dip them in there was just a small drizzle on top of each skin. Definitely go for a burger if you try it - you won't be dissapointed and the prices were great.

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  Posted on 12.30.12 Mrs. J.

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  Pub 97 really does have the best burgers I have ever eaten and I am from beef land!!!(Iowa)  The service is great the decor is outdated but the food is worth a step back into time.  My kids love the food and the Keno....a very cheap night out for our family.

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  Posted on 11.09.12 Marya D.

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  Great place to have a meal or a beer. The atmosphere is casual, dark, and a little divey, but in a good way. I've tried 4 burgers so far and all have been amazing. Will definitely be coming back and bringing friends!

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  Posted on 10.24.12 Jessie S.

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  BURGER SNOBS BE AWARE....  while their selection is huge- don't bother.    if you specialize in burgers ....  have 97 of them on your menu....   maybe at some point the chef should learn how to properly cook them temp wise.   Group of 5 of us.  All the burgers came out overcooked not just slightly but dry and to the point it was hard to finish.  For the record there were 2 rares and 3 mr ordered.  All came out very well done and tasteless.  Considering all the crap they put one there - all of our burgers tasted pretty much the same.  Service was ok but agree maybe they should have a draft list on the table.  Won't be heading back any time.

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  Posted on 08.16.12 Beach Girl M.

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  The veggie burger here is great. The decor is terrible: wood paneling, vinyl seats and inadequate light plus TVs in the dining area showing sports. The bar area is already three-quarters of the space why do TVs have to be in the dining area too?
  
  I've been here twice and both times the waitresses were fine. They're very young so a bit lackadaisical but polite.

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  Posted on 06.07.12 Dena G.

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  My boyfriend and I went here a few weeks ago because we heard nothing but great things about their burgers. Well, they were right about the burgers! We read through the extensive 97 burger menu, and we were both pleased with what we ordered. We'll go again to have a burger here for sure.
  
  If I could have one suggestion for the waitstaff at this place, it would be to have a list of beers on tap at the tables. The waitress had to read the draft list off of a piece of paper, and read it very fast. She looked annoyed when she read it, so I dared not ask her to read it again.

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  Posted on 05.10.12 Jessica S.

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  I can't help go back to this place since it's around the corner from our house. Mostly, I regret the decision every time.
  
  I'm not sure why, but the service and attitude has gone downhill from a year or two ago. Maybe it's just hard to find good people, but you can get some pretty rude waitresses now who don't like to give the cooks anything special. I'm not sure if this is the cooks' problem, the owners' problem, or the waitresses, but it ends up feeling like you should be so lucky to eat there, so just eat what they have on the menu with no changes. I wish the owner read these comments and actually cared.
  
  Their latest gimmick to try and drive traffic is the "97 burgers." Really? That took a marketing genius to come up with, especially considering many of the "burgers" aren't even burgers at all.
  
  Call me a burger snob, but a good burger really should stand on its own. If it's so overwhelmed with side ingredients, it can easily hide the overcooked meat or what-not. (This is where a place like 5 Guys gets it 100% right.)
  
  So I see the "97 burgers" as a marketing gimmick -- because the burgers are still variable in quality, depending on who you got cooking them and whether they're busy or not. You might get a great burger here, but you're just as likely to get a mediocre one that Wendy's could've done better.
  
  And that's why I've lowered my rating to 2 stars. This place is just too darned variable in its food quality, service quality, and friendliness. It's more of a neighborhood hangout bar that happens to serve some food (if you're really hungry). I'm not going back here except for the occasional draft.

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  Posted on 02.10.12 Dave H.

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  My fiance and I have been looking for a great local restaurant in the Georgetown area.  We were a little put off by the outside, but were very happily surprised when we finally ate there.
  
  The staff was very friendly and efficient.  The food and service is always great.  We ordered take-out one evening, and they were very busy.  There was a line out the door and the phone didn't stop ringing.  As we were leaving the parking lot a staff member ran outside to stop us.  Apparently they had forgotten our french fries and remembered before we left.  Mistakes happen to everyone, but I was very impressed that they were able to fix the problem even with a line out the door.

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  Posted on 01.13.12 Laura F.

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  Some places need a gimmick. Pub 97 has a 97-burger menu (and another menu with regular food on it). The burgers are hand-formed, not frozen, but just enough overcooked not to be sent back. The staff are just competent. There were no towels in the men's room (but it was clean). They have keno (the lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math) and so many televisions (having them outside the bar costs a star), so nobody has to talk to their companions.
  
  It's probably the best restaurant within 20 minutes of there.

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  Posted on 11.27.11 J F.

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  This is a local watering hole with decent food at a reasonable price. The burgers were done correctly and the pizza was quite acceptable with a crispy crust and a good sauce.  All in all a good value for the meal.

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  Posted on 10.26.11 David L.

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  Have been driving by this place for years.....finally made a point to stop in and check it out.  This is by no means fine dining......step above a dive is a pretty accurate description, but let's be real.....good food is usually to be had in a dive!  Starting with the staff, super friendly- eager to help you decipher through the (seriously!) 97 different types of burgers they serve. Beer- cold and good (sam adams boston for me- sierra nevada for dave)  Potato skins- pass on these....lukewarm pieces of potato with some sour cream drizzled over them - bland and frankly not very good.  I had the texas burger cooked medium. the texas burger is bbq sauce, cheddar cheese and bacon.   Good combination of sweet and tang.  Burger was cooked to perfection and I do reccomend.  Dave got the cordon blue burger, which was swiss cheese and bacon and he enjoyed it.  The fries were pretty good, but most importantly they had malt vinegar available....ah the importance of a good malt vinegar to help you dress up your fries...always a good sign!  The tab total was around $36.00- not bad.  
  Bottom line, if you are looking for a good burger and beer and don't care about being in a fancy establishment- this place is for you!

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  Posted on 04.26.11 Lin C.

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  This place is a local waterhole -a step above a dive..  It looks like a bungalow house from the outside, with the wrap around bar being in the front and a few tables and booths in the back.  They added big screen flat panel TV's and some video games.  We've gone there and they have been closed for no apparent reason, so that has been a turn off in the past.
  
  The first time I went to the Pub 97 was around 2006 and it had just opened.   There were limited choices for pub food in the area so we were thrilled.  They offered excellent homemade potato chips that were great, and all the food was very fresh.  I recall having a wonderful scallop dinner there and great thin crust pizza served on one of those high stands like more upscale restaurants.
  
  Since their opening I have had more bad experiences than good.  This evening was the first time I have had service issues, but it was the tip of the iceberg lettuce for me.
  
  In the past we've gone there for meals which were hit or miss.  The Italian dishes were a sure bet, but anything with a side of veggies was a turn off.  If they are still using the same veggie mix, it's like the frozen Market Basket Medley overcooked in water.  
  
  They offer about 10 specialty burger.  The burgers are prepared fresh with good meat, so they stay nice and high when cooked.  Last Friday I called to make sure they were open for lunch, and since it was my kid's last day home before heading back to college, my squeeze offered to take us to lunch wherever he wanted to go.  To my surprise he said he wanted to go to the Pub 97 for burgers.  Needless to say, the burgers were outstanding and our waitress was a joy.  Burgers are generally about $10 each and include fries, and are served on a nice roll with a couple of pickles, and a slice of tomato and lettuce on the side.  Kind of pricey for a burger, but on a GOOD day well worth it.  Reminds me of a burger at Morton's.  $50 bill for 3 burgers included tax, 2 soft drinks and one tap beer. Prior to last Friday my last visit there was September of 2008 and I swore I would never go back. The burgers were overcooked and dry, not medium as ordered.  I was appalled at spending $50 for 3 burgers we did not enjoy.
  
  Well 9pm tonight my squeeze got home late and it was raining so we were too lazy to grill or venture out, so I offered to pick up take out.  Most places close around 9pm in this area, but I recalled the Pub 97 was open till 10pm so I placed a take out order.
  
  A young lady answered, very sweet.  She calls me back a minute later to tell me the rings are $6.00 extra!.  I said forget it, just give us a few fries because it's too late to be eating all this fried food and burgers.  
  
  I jump in the squeeze's wheels and arrive about 20 minutes later and the burgers aren't ready.  No problem, I can wait.  Finally some Broad comes out from behind the bar and tells me to come over, my order is ready. (I'm like, OK-I guess I can come over-but why don't you use some customer service skills and bring it to me?)  So I go over and she hands me a bag and there are 2 foam containers with fries and the mushroom swiss burger and cheddar burger inside, looking overcooked, but I figured maybe the interior was a pink medium color.
  She rings me up, $20.14-no issue; I knew they were pricey burgers.   Since we were hanging out in the sun room, I asked if she had utensils and she doesn't even turn around and says No!  At this point there are 2 girls with their backs to me figuring out customer's bills, and I ask if they have any ketchup or mustard.  The other one answers No! Again without turning around.  So then I ask if they have any napkins (which I know they do as they give you paper napkins when you dine in) and again they both say No!  So I said to them, you have no napkins, no utensils and no condiments?  They said no and that they have no condiment packets.  I'm thinking $10 burgers and you don't put a little ketchup in a small container like when I've gotten my dressing on the side?  Anyway, these broads were rude and seriously lacked in customer service.  I always tip, but since the sweet girl was MIA I decided to not tip the battle axes as they didn't deserve it so I just walked out.  No thank you from the wait staff.
  
  Then- when I get home the burgers were well done and dry.  Waste of $20.
  
  So listen up Pub 97.  I won't be back but I will go to Bub's across the street (also a great burger for half price) and to the new Sports Pub opening in a week or so that is located 1/8 of a mile from your parking lot.  I'll bet the service is a lot better and since they will specialize in pub food I'm sure they will cook my $10 or less burger the way I want it and serve it with condiments but WITHOUT the side of attitude.

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  Posted on 08.25.10 Mrs. R.

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  The food is great, but not alot of beer choices and the staff is quite rude. They do have keno and some lottery, and there is alot of parking. I usually go here as a last resort if my husband and i cant agree on another place.

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  Posted on 02.13.10 Kelli F.

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