Tom B.
Yelp
I've loved this place for years, and by Seattle beer scene standards, that's really going some. There was a small first wave of places in the 80s that launched the craft beer renaissance here, and then another group that filled out the scene on their heels. The 74th was one of that second group, which puts it firmly at the epicenter of the craft beer world here.
Lots of things stand out about this place. First, the decor suggests an English pub in as many ways as it is possible to suggest an English pub without crossing the line into theme restaurant territory. There are banners and signs from English and UK breweries and, best of all, beautiful old stained glass windows mounted into the walls. Stained glass windows might or might not suggest an English pub, but they're a great touch, and they're off to the side. It's so neat when a place adds nice details without making too much out of them.
The barback is a classic old mirrored beast of carpentry. I am a sucker for such barbacks, and everybody who spends thousands of dollars, or tens of thousands of dollars, on one of these things can probably look forward to a visit from me, and probably even a half-star round-up on my rate. Is this a good business strategy for them? No. Not at all. Not unless hundreds, or at least dozens, of other potential patrons feel the same way. But you, dear reader, are entitled to know my biases, and beautiful old barbacks are one of them.
They always lay out a nice line of good local beers, mixed in with some west coast and a few national and international offering from time to time (unsurprisingly, given the decor, the international offerings can tend to lean more to the UK than to Belgium, Germany, or Scandinavia). There are usually a couple beers on nitro, and a cider. I'm pretty sure Guiness is almost always on. Beer lovers and beer freaks alike can find something here, and can easily bring their beer newb friends.
Like their sister pubs (Columbia, Hilltop, I think I am forgetting one), they don't have a fryer in the kitchen. Yay. And I do mean yay. Their soups are great, always thoughtfully detailed on the specials board. Their specials are usually really good. They even do seafood well, particularly the fish taco. They tend to the side of restraint when it comes to seasonings; they also tend not to goose things with lots of butter or salt (to say nothing of never deep frying anything). I actually really appreciate that. Eating food like this with good beer makes me feel better about consuming both things. The goat cheese salad is pretty fantastic.
As I have moved farther and farther north, my return trips to the 74th grow less frequent, though my affection for it has never diminished. I need to start coming back more often.
