Grumpy Doyle's Reading

[phonelady]

Looks like a happening thing:

http://www.homenewshere.com/articles/...

Planned August opening.

[sinned61]

Nobody been yet??? Driven by a bunch of times and it looks busy EVERY time. Gotta get there this week!

[Frank Enbean]

I did make it there on opening night. It was quite loud by the time I left (about 9:00 pm). It is 70% bar and 30% restaurant. I was seated at a high-top in the bar area. Lots of interesting beers on draught. I got a Long Trail and noticed an odd chemical smell that was reminiscent of cleaning or sanitizing solution. The taste was ok, but I figured it might have been a bad glass or something. My second beer did not smell but my third did. I never mentioned anything to the server and just shrugged it off.

I had the Shepherd's Pie. It was about a B or B+. Good meat, nicely browned whipped potatoes on top, but nothing to get too excited about.

All in all, it seems like a more "upscale" alternative to the 99 with pricing about the same, or maybe a buck or 2 higher.

I will certainly return for a beer and a burger some day, but am not in a hurry to highly recommend it.

[sinned61]

Thanks Frank, hope to get there by weeks end.....

[sinned61]

OK folks, finally made it to Grumpys. Got there just shy of 7pm and had a 20 minute wait. We were called for a table somwhere around 20 minutes (one Guinness) later. We were very happy with our experience. The service was fine, the food was very good, and the atmospere (for Reading) was very upbeat. I had the Jameson Steak Tips. Very nicely executed and served with Grilled Aparagus and a nice Yukon Gold Mashed
Potato. Tips were cooked to a perfect Medium as ordered. My wife had the Shepherds Pie and was quite impressed. I started with Clam Chowder which was very good, but very different to my favorite (my own). Probably had a bacon base...like I said good but not what I am accustomed to. We WILL be back!

[phonelady]

I have plans to meet a friend here next week - what is the bar scene like (if you noticed :-))

[sinned61]

The bar was hopping. Many nice draft beer options.

[owen_meany]

Sinned -- thanks for the update.

Thoughts on whether one could take a well behaved 4.5YO? Is the vibe "special night out" or "family friendly" or "divey bar" or somewhere in between?

Thanks! Sara

[FionaJane]

I dropped in with my husband for a quick beer and a glance at the menu on Wednesday evening. Can't comment on the food (yet); but, the menu looks quite promising. And, everything we saw looked really nice. It seems very family friendly. The hostess seemed quite accommodating for the folks with kids arriving while we were there with high chairs and boosters, etc. And, they have nice kids menu, too.

[sinned61]

Absolutely, just sit in the dining room. We were seated at a high top in the bar area which was fine for us. I guess thr vibe would be "family friendly" but we left there at 9pm so not sure what the later crowd was?

[sinned61]

has opened as of today.......

http://www.grumpydoyles.com/index.php

[Frank Enbean]

I may check it out tonight and will provide a report tomorrow