Silo

Great place for young professionals in Muncie

I stopped by Silo on a whim today after work for a snack and a beer before heading home.  It's my first time here, it was a noteworthy treat--  this bar appears to be filling a void that's been bugging me ever since I moved into town.

I walked in and found a decently stocked bar in an appealing, well-lit open space that DID NOT REEK OF SMOKE.  Guess I'm still acclimated to the strict bans from my previous city, and bars don't always have to be dark caves, right ?  I'm not bashin' smokers, light 'em if you got 'em... I'm just sayin': it's really nice to have the option of a bar with clean air.

The food was better than I expected, but I only had appetizers this time.  Tasty all around, gotta come back and try a meal.  The sandwiches I saw looked pretty good, as did the nachos.

The menu was unusually ambitious for a bar.  It had typical pub grub alongside fried comfort and some interesting twists.  I was surprised to see hummus and olive tapenade.  Oh-- and having a grilled cheese & tomato soup plate available is old-school joy.  The menu included a limited late-night section, so maybe check the kitchen times if you're after regular items.  I didn't think to ask about that.

Beer prices were about what I'd expect downtown- reasonable but not dirt cheap.  Stella was on special while I was there... cool by me.  They stocked some good call liquors, but that's not really my thing.

A small but welcome bonus was finding a dartboard in good condition with enough room to actually play.  It's a typical plastic tip coin-op if you're curious.  I like to throw and there's only a handful of places around to do that.

There are a lot of places to have a drink in town.  College rah-rah, upscale, restaurant, niche specialty, ancient, boring cookie cutter national chains, and an astonishing collection of neighborhood dives catering to every walk of life... something for everyone it seems.

Silo is a decent place to hit with friends after work/early evening for a pint and a bite.  If you find yourself leaning towards Applebees or Buffalo Wild Wings (yuk), consider this joint.  Stay longer if you want to watch sports or listen to music.  It's a nice addition to all the other great Muncie originals downtown- homegrown variety kicks ass.

Happy Trails

I've given it a few weeks and a few visits, but Silo STILL doesn't offer anything new to downtown.  "Drink specials" that are a dollar or more than preexisting bars' regular prices, bands that already over-saturate, and virtually nonexistent food.  Oh wait, they have pizza.  That's something that downtown bars have missed all along.  

I ordered a gin tonic, and got gin and soda three times.  Pretty girls are not bartenders born.  I think I heard her ask a patron what was in a Crown and Coke.  Furthermore, the beer selection is dull.  

Non-smoking and devoid of personality,  Silo's - as it's sure to be called - will be yet another sterile, bland bar for sterile, bland people.