First impressions

For most of last week, the POST STREET ALE HOUSE’s bar was stocked and its neon signs were blazing but, alas, we weren’t allowed in. On the door, a sign read: Private Party. That party ended at 3 pm Friday, and another party began, this one big and open to the public. By sundown, this new pub was packed, the waitresses looked like frightened deer and almost every table was taken in the expansive location that once housed both 360 and Cavallino Lounge. First day, new staff, an untried menu and a packed house. Needless to say, there were some bumps, but plenty of potential.

Sitting down in the back of the restaurant, the place seemed familiar. Not in the I’ve-been-here-before way, but in the this-kinda-looks-like-a-chain way, despite it being locally owned by Walt Worthy, the man behind the Davenport Hotel, who bought the piece of land the new pub stands on earlier this year along with the Hotel Lusso.

While the décor did not overwhelm us, the menu, at first glance, did. Twenty beers on tap and a full bar promised many quaffable selections. And the food menu — with BBQ Pork Sliders ($7), Peel & Eat Shrimp ($8), Patty Melt on Grilled Marble Rye ($9) and Guinness Braised Short Ribs ($14) — was nothing to scoff at.

Looking closer, however, the beer selection wasn’t as awe-inspiring as hoped, mainly because there was nothing too surprising there — Bud Light, Northern Lights Chocolate Dunkel, Stone IPA, Anchor Steam, Moose Drool, Blue Moon and others ($3-$5). All brews you can get in many other locations.

And for vegetarians there is zilch. Some salads (which all come with meat, so you gotta tweak ’em) and appetizers (mainly deep fried) and that’s it. How ’bout a veggie burger or some fake German sausages?

A downtown pub is great. And we have high hopes that they’ll soon start staking out taps for truly strange brews, and add a little more greenery to the menu.

On this night, though, the place was packed and buzzing with cheery diners. “We’re staying across the street [at the Davenport],” I overheard the man next to us telling his waitress. “We asked for a great restaurant, and they told us to come here.” — NICHOLAS DESHAIS

Post Street Ale House, 1 N. Post St., is open daily from 11 am-2 am. Call 789-6900.