The Speakeasy Alehouse

A small but surprisingly hip and lively saloon-style pub hidden in a sleepy, corner of downtown Concord that features a creative menu and a beer selection  to kill for. Any restaurant that will beer batter and deep fry a burger (The Dillinger) and add root beer to its pulled pork empanadas (The Houdini)  will always be OK in my book, if for the superior effort only. But it's not just the burgers and appetizers that are unique-- the desserts take the experience to a whole other level. I dare you to find another restaurant that will serve creme brulee cheesecake with Bananas Foster bathed in a bourbon creme anglaise for six bucks -- so good it could be illegal.

This place is one of our favorites in downtown Concord. The food is always delicious & I always find myself trying many different beers that I normally wouldn't try.  The service has been a little slow a few times; However, the place is normally packed, so that is to be expected. Thumbs up all around.

Atmosphere: Hole in the wall pub style atmosphere. Relatively small for the number of people dining at tables. I arrived at around 7 on a Saturday, and left shortly after the music started. The band was good, but given the small venue you may want to steer clear if you don't like it loud.

Food: I had the "Groucho Marx ($9.50)," which is an open-face bacon-wrapped veal meatlof sandwich with mashed potatoes and a side of green beans. It was excellent.

Beer: There was a pretty good beer selection including lots of bottles and 6 or 7 drafts. I had Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout (bottle, $3), New Holland Cabin Fever (draft pint, $6) and Terrapin Moo-Hoo (draft pint, $6)

For what I had this was a great value at $26.17+tip. One small note is that the specials board was misleading. It read "Stouts & Porters $3" and.the Moo-Hoo, a chocolate milk stout, was $6. I didn't mind because it is an excellent beer. The bartender explained (after I got the tab) that the special was bottles only.