Jason Van Camp
Google
Rustic, hearty, large-portioned meals; stiff drinks; tasty, adventurous beers brewed on-site; pool, shuffleboard and slot machines, and vidya games for the littles (yep, this place is family friendly!), all under one roof, and wrapped in an upscale truck stop diner/sports bar aesthetic.
The Old Market Pub & Brewery seems like a great place for a casual breakfast, lunch, brunch, or dinner with family and/or friends. It's both relaxed and a little rowdy; the kind of place where the rugrats can run around being noisy and rambunctious without causing too much of a stir. The food is robust and unpretentious, and will definitely leave you feeling full, or taking home leftovers: the delicious meatball sub I ordered filled the role of two and a half meals! Similarly, my wife was in dire straits attempting to tackle Andy's BIG Buttermilk Biscuits and Gravy, with a side of bacon. If nothing else, you get your money's worth here!
Unsure of what beverage to accompany your meal? Not surprising; the list of brews is mighty, so ask for a sample before committing. The Hot Tamale is something else, with a spice that goes right up your nose! I should have ordered that, but as it was brunch time, I went with a Bloody Mary, which was...serviceable, but not particularly exciting. The Black Magic Stout, which my wife sampled, was so good, it could function as a dessert by itself, with its chocolate and coffee aromas and flavors. Very recommended!
The service was a bit of a mixed bag: things started strong - friendly, engaging, knowledgeable, helpful and attentive; by the end, we found ourselves asking "Where the hell is our server?" It took longer to get a to-go box and the check than it did to order and have our entrées delivered to our table. Thankfully we weren't in a hurry.
Service snafu aside (which I imagine is an isolated incident), and despite the fact that it's a little out of the way for us, the Old Market Pub & Brewery's rustic charm and lively, welcoming environment left a solid enough impression on the both of us to warrant a return in the future. In short, ditch the Denny's and skip the Shari's: the real meal deal is here!