Jason B.
Yelp
This is the easiest review I've ever had the pleasure of writing. Simply put, Jack's is EXACTLY what you'd expect in a smallish town in Wisconsin like Marshfield, whose main charm is it's townies, quaintness, and propensity to belly-up and have a good time.
Where to start? How about the bartender, Mark. This guy is hilarious. Wry, witty, cranky, effervescent at times, brooding at times, observant, helpful, can "take it" and "dish it" ... hanging with people is his calling, clearly. I live in a college town, a SOUTHERN DRINKING town, and in my 10 years there I've yet to come across a bar tender as cool as this guy. If you go, call ahead and see if Mark's working the three-sided bar. Make fun of his midwestern accent and the fact that his girlfriend is the bar owner's daughter. Tell him "that's convenient, bro." Watch him glare at you and then barb you right back with playful banter. This guy needs to take his Marshfield charm to a big city some time ... people would LOVE him at a cool dive bar in a city: you know, the ones where folks know each other and you get reasonable drinks without a bunch of bs. Oh, and play dice with Mark. You'll lose and buy a round, but he pours 'em like a champ. Great guy.
Okay, in the South, we rarely have things like PBR and High Life on tap. They do. And it's $1.50. I just got back from Manhattan where a PBR was $11 because the hipsters have co-opted our blue collar birthright of PBR for $.75. Jack's has the working class swill down. Bring a 20 spot, leave happy. The draft High Life made me think I was working the dairy farm or lumber yard or scrap yard. Just down-home BEER. Nothing fancy.
Relaxed and cool atmosphere ... as an out of towner I was happy to see all the Brewers and Packers and Badgers stuff all over the walls. There were Brewers games on the two tvs the two times I visited. GREAT music that ranged from classic rock to some 80s to some outlaw and popular country. They played "Sweet Home Alabama." I'm from Alabama. I rocked out like a frat boy to an AC/DC song about some shlocky topic. I think they have darts and I saw some gambling machines. So, there's that. I was too lazy to walk over there. Don't say "Go Bears" as one of my friends did. The darned needle nearly scratched off the record, if you know what I mean.
I bought a Jack's hat. Call me a tourist. But I **had** to remember this place. If I'm ever back in Marshfield (maybe likely because I have friends there; maybe not because it takes two flight legs and a 3-hour drive in a rental car to get there) I will camp out at Jack's.
If you're a local, you know what I'm talking about. If you're a visitor, do not pass Central Ave ... go directly to Jack's and pretend to be a midwesterner (don'tcha know).
