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Stumbling Monk
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6 pm - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
183 reviews for Stumbling Monk
Review Highlights
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183 reviews in English
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Review from Mary J.
Seattle, WA
I don't think super awesome really encapsulates how really uber-awesome this place is. And you really can't truly appreciate it's grandeur without actually setting foot in here.
Dark, cozy, small, and the largest selection of Belgian beers I have ever seen in one place. Both on tap and in bottles, served in the proper glasses for your selection, and with an alcohol content high enough to tranquilize an elephant, Stumbling Monk lives up to its name.
Good luck finding the place if it's your first time going, sans the flashy lights or a glowing sign in the window, the large wooden door seems appropriate for abbey theme. And nothing says romance like fogged up windows on a cold, winter night. -
Review from Yiling W.
They have really strong beer here, and a good variety...and a wide but well-worn selection of parlor games here, and the bathroom is..chilly? Otherwise a pretty simple setup, but I think a good neighborhood spot to meet up. Also they have giant windows full of condensation to draw on.
Food offerings: a plain bag of chips, or salt & vinegar bag of chips. -
Review from Calvin Y.
I hope you like beer, otherwise you'd be parched here at Stumbling Monk as they only serve beer.
For $6, you can get a challis of Dick's Grand Cru from Centralia, WA. They also serve a lot of foreign-sounding beers, which is why I ordered Grand Cru as it is the easiest to pronounce.
The great thing about Stumbling Monk is that it is a very chill bar that allows you to play board games. They have some older games like Trivial Pursuit IV. The other option would be to bring your own, which is what we did. Like most bars, Stumbling Monk is pretty dark. It does make gaming a little bit more difficult if it requires you to read.Listed in: CAPITOL Hill
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Review from Justin M.
Holy wow these beers are dope!
From the suggestion of our favorite transient Thrill, we decided to check this place out after Dinner Club at Dinette.
First thing's first, I was totally impressed by the selection of beers here. It's a refreshing change as opposed to some of the cookie cutter dives on the hill.
While dank and a little dark, the place isn't exactly the kind of ambiance to take a date, but for a few brews with the boys... and a good game of chess... the Stumbling Monk has charm for days.
4 knight-takes-pawn stars out of 5 -
Review from Richie P.
Los Angeles, CA
I love the Stumbling Monk. The dim atmosphere, the quiet ambiance that encourages conversation, the foggy windows looking out on the street, the shelves of board games available for the guests, they all make this a special place for me. It is a humble bar, and you can tell that it has been a labor of love building it up to where it is today. There are no glitzy lights or neon jukeboxes. It is a simple place, appropriate to the abbey beers that populate it. What more do you need than some sturdy wooden chairs, tables and comfy booths, along with your friends and some fine ales. Some might say that it is too modest of a setting, since the ceiling is slightly crumbled and there are no truffle-oil-chicken-quesadillas to be had. To each their own. They probably wouldn't appreciate a nice sour ale anyways.
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Review from J D M.
Seattle, WA
I'm sorry this beer bar is too good. You want a gueuze, done. You want a NW craft IPA done, you want a choice of 5-6 Belgian triple's done. New beers coming in and out of this place, and prices are almost cost. Rock bottom.
No noisy TV's or music to yell over. Just you and your beer, and the fellowship of good friends. There is so much love inside the Stumbling Monk that the windows fog up. -
Review from Srta l.
Bellevue, WA
We got here by an accident. We got curious because of the location, and because it was cold out, and we saw the steamy windows... LOL
Anyhow, It was a nice beer bar. Interesting beers they have. I am not a beer drinker, but we still stayed, I got the cask IPA for $4, what can be wrong with that?
And the environment was a chill place to hang. OH! if you feel like playing some board games they have it too
The have beer for all prices -
Review from Bill S.
Seattle, WA
As a Belgian beer fanatic I instantly fell in lust with the beer selection at the Monk. The list consists of all Belgian or Belgian style beers. The bartenders are knowledgeable (maybe not quite as knowledgeable as some of the ones say, at Uber Tavern), but they can answer most of your questions. They are cordial but dont necessarily make you feel at home or are the types to call you by name. I super critical about my bars. So the consensus is 5 stars for the beers but atmosphere and and bartenders are a little dull.
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Review from Sung P.
Seattle, WA
This is a great standby if you're in the mood for it. It's been here for as long as I remember - used to be a typewriter repair shop I believe a looong time ago. I loved going here after I got off a shift working at a nearby restaurant to get some awesome belgian beers that they had on tap. It's the perfect chill hangout space for you and your hipster friends. They also have board games. I like it because it's very unadorned - the bartender has been there for freaking ever, you can only get bags of chips behind the counter in terms of food, but they always have an awesome selection of very solid beers on tap. This is a place that neighborhood folks hang out - which is to its credit.
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Review from Kate S.
Dear lords, Stumbling Monk... where have you been all my life? And why have I only so shamefully ~just~ graced your doorstep?! I've heard about you before, yes. Though I must say, for a member of the clergy you have quite the reputation.
You're dark, a little musty and and maybe even dank at times. As the evening wears on you can get a little crowded and the temperatures start to rise inside. But you have the perfect solution to that little problem, don't you Brother? That's right. Beers. Glorious, higher end, delicious beers.
The majority of your offerings are Belgians, natch -- what else would one expect? But so many varieties to choose from! Lambics, Tripels, Quads, Saisons, Trappists....a Barleywine here or there. A Stout for those who need something darker. (All with the appropriate glasses to pour them in) Your tap and bottle list is impressive, and you have left me staring all keen eyed and awe struck at your menu -- sad that I cannot afford let alone drink all the lovely brews you have to offer. Mayhaps this is a good thing Brother -- cuz you have no food here and your drinks pack a punch.
Board games abound for all the laymen who walk through your door, and perhaps with a nod to St. Francis you allow our four legged canine friends in as well.
Please forgive me for not stopping by sooner, but worry not. I will be back again and again. I have seen the light! -
Review from Chris W.
Amazing seasonal rotating taps and choice of bottles. Belgians, barleywines, ciders, and local breweries all mesh in a wonderful (if a bit musty during the summer) atmosphere.
There's a ton of great bars and brewhouses in Seattle, certainly a ton that're bigger, but few that create their own neighborly niche as well as the Monk.
Most rarer import, craft, and cask beers are delightfully cheap here, but you can find some fairly pricey stuff, if you're looking for the brewed equivalent of "top shelf". -
Review from PJ M.
Seattle, WA
I'd give 2.5 here..
I've been trying to get to the Monk for years, but every time I'd go by, they were closed? They don't open until 6:00 p.m. WTF???
How does this place make enough money to pay the rent? Oh yeah, no heat, 1 light on, and they hooked up a porta-potty to the back door to use.
Seriously, I am a beer guy, brewer, fan of Belgian beers, etc and was really expecting to be blown away by a place with such a great name and hip looking interior.
But, they just don't cut it. Decent beer list, but SO MANY more great tap houses now in town that their 'Belgian' inspiration is lack luster.
Ladies Note - I'm a guy so I really don't care about bathrooms, but I had to laugh when the handsink was outside the bathroom in what looks like what would be the kitchen in this common area.
Oh yeah, they don't have a kitchen either.
I'm guessing if you live right there in the hood, stop in for a beer, whatever.
But, I would NOT make this a travel destination for beer aficionados.
Seriously, how does a bar not open before 6:00 p.m.??? -
Review from Anna P.
I don't even remember why I didn't give the Monk five stars before. Either way, I was wrong.
You see, I once met a guy in Brussels, whose sole goal for the night was to buy the most delicious, highest-gravity beer he could find, for the lower price possible. In case you don't have the time/cash to fly to Brussels, this place will help you accomplish a similar goal.Listed in: Cap Hill Livin', Drinking
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/9/2010
This place is cozy and feels more laid back than most bars on the Hill, which is a plus. An enormous… Read more »
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1/9/2010
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Review from Jason R.
Stumbling, indeed. Definitely stumbling on the way out. Dark and moody like some of the beers. Didn't seem to have a large selection but did have an excellent selection. Good place to round out a full evening.
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Review from Clover A.
Clearly, this is a solid 4 star establishment from reviewing my friends' reviews.
I have been in twice and was introduced -thanks to the charming Chris W- to La Fin Du Monde, and we've been having a thing ever since (me and the beer, that is)
We played a board game, we drank good beer, we had a pizza delivered, we shared it with the bartender. We laughed and stayed for hours.
It - and this place- was a really memorable good time.Listed in: Capitol Hill - MY WAY
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Review from Katy H.
Do you like beer? Then you'll love this place.
Good for small groups, (don't try bringing 10 people here) The Stumbling Monk is a great bar for folks who want a chill night out. Tons of awesome beers but no food. Eat somewhere nearby and plan to spend your evening here playing board games and downing tasty brews. Very simple spot. The fanciest part is the beer! -
Review from Michelangelo S.
Seattle, WA
Quenches the Thirst brought by Invading Armies!
SITREP
So I am moving around Capitol Hill after dining with friends, trying to find a place to get a good ale, to locate a good beer to take the spice of wasabe off my tongue, to acquire a pint of amber brew that will put out the fire in my gut...... and the Yelp search engine tells me there is this place called the Stumbling Monk just a couple blocks away that I should go "stumble to"..... and I so I do....
THE SETUP
Wow. What a nondescript place to find on Olive Way deep in the Capitol hood. It certainly doesn't look like a tavern from the outside, but the address matched up and so IN I go.....
Wow, again. What a no-frills pub! But that's a good thing! Not a lot of noise. There was no loud *ka-THUMP ka-THUMP ka-THUMP* DJ-Dance music, nor even a jukebox as far as I could tell. People were just sitting, having a drink, and enjoying quiet conversations.
I could see how for the hipster, scenester crowds this might be a TOTAL bore (in my best Valley-girl, "like, Omigod, they didn't even have KARE-EE-O-KEE..."). So I was happy! The vibe was truly on par with how I remember the old TV show "CHEERS", where there wasn't anything fancier than the patrons being entertained with conversations with each other and the bar staff.
Now if you wanted to play some boardgames, there were plenty strewn about the place so that you would grab one or two with our mates and head into a booth and be cosy as clams.....and drink your beer....
THE BEERS
And the beers! You can get incredible tasting Belgian beers here for hardly more than $5 a pint. Hair Of the Dog, New Belgium Eric's, and so many more. I lost track after 10 beer selections..... ;^)
THE LOWDOWN
I will be making regular visits here to cool off my the spicy foods from my tongue and in my tummy with those delicious Belgian beers. -
Review from C M.
Seattle, WA
I moved down the street from Stumbling Monk just because of the Stumbling Monk, no not really but I am glad I found this place.
Huge, huge, huge fan of the sour beers. A great selection! Board games, fun people and the cute bearded bartender who I always love to look at.
The beers are super cheap compared to anywhere else. I went to the tap house recently and saw a beer the Stumbling Monk had and it was at least 4 dollars more.
This place is dog friendly (yes!) and a nice place to enjoy your yummy beer.
They don't serve food, just chips but you can always order delivery or go wonder to a place near by. -
Review from Thor T.
Philadelphia, PA
Walked into the Monk straight and sober and immediately liked the atmosphere of the place. Since I came with a bunch of real beer aficionados, we eagerly scanned the list of drafts on the left side of the beer menu hanging above the bar. The list, while very small, is varied and contains a nice balance of well-known beers (like the Saison DuPont) and lesser-known, more local brews.
Only catch: more than half of the beers on the list were not available! Huge bummer, we were forced to move to the right side of the beer list - the bottle list. It is a good one, with a broad choice, so in the end, we were satisfied.
Having such a defunct draft list, however, is unacceptable. -
Review from Corinna K.
Seattle, WA
Corinna & Duchesse, sitting in a tree, s-i-p-p-i-n-g. Actually I was sitting on the table, because of a lack of chairs and because I am just class incarnate, but still.
So. Belgian beers have never been my thing. Too syrupy, too fruity? No idea, but they just haven't made me love them the way, say, a good brown ale or IPA does. Stumbling Monk, therefore, never really tripped my radar as a place to go. But after wandering into this steamy little bar I felt pretty good. At home. I've been curious about sour ales for a while, so I broke myself in with the Duchesse on the bartender's recommendation.
Love. Love love love. So delicious. A whole new world [of beers], a dazzling [beer] I never knew. Folded in that pint's warm (actually chilly) embrace I felt complete. When it was time to go, I stumbled out (how apropos!), secure in the knowledge that I would be back for more sours and more table-sitting.Listed in: My Girl Wants To Party All The…, Are Oh Tee Dees
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Review from Amy S.
Brooklyn, NY
No murals-unless you count the impressive sketched coaster montage on the wall, three-four times larger in size, no shushing, and no Pommes Frites...nonetheless, Stumbling Monk I knight thee my west coast Burp Castle (aka. place of reverence).
A serious Belgian beer selection at decent prices, dark, and open late. If I lived closer I would take communion here often.Listed in: If you like beer (the good…
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Review from Heather H.
Seattle, WA
Packed like sardines with vats of ales, stouts, and imported beers!
Sure, there is no ventilation system, and its usually condensed with a fairly rounded group of the Hill's hipsters ready for a nightly cap off. But for what the ventilation lacks the beers make up for a minor part.
I gave the espresso stout and a try came off with a slight twist of pucker and pow.
Helpful tips:
- $10 minimum for cards, so if your planning to drink light here, bring the cash.
- seating can be hard to come by as its usually crammed from the back on.
-Don't bother asking for help from the bartender on choosing a beer, best bet is to just randomly pick and choose. -
Review from Emmalee S.
Renton, WA
Stumbling Monk is a great place to try out of the ordinary beers. The atmosphere is welcoming and the people are very laid back. What got me was the fact they have a selection of different board games to play while you drink. Over all I would have to say it's a great place to meet up with friends and relax.
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Review from Tony G.
If you like good beer, then this place is pretty awesome. I came in here with a couple of friends and was really happy to find they had Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws there. We also had another Hair of the Dog beer, this time their IPA which I thought was only ok. It looks like they change their beer selections so I am sure the menu will be different next time I come.
This place is kind of small and tends to get packed quick, so get there early so you can get a table or a good place to stand. Also, the place gets a little warm and the windows steamy.
Overall, a good place and I will be back.
Zipzap Zubidy Bop! -
Review from Bunneh L.
Seattle, WA
Yeah, yeah, they DO have a great beer selection. But who cares when the place smells like total ASS? Well, maybe more like piss. Whatever the stench is, it's unbearable. And they don't even have fucking napkins. Seriously? I was told to go get paper towels from their disgusting bathroom. Sick.
Listed in: Bunneh on the Hill
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Review from Shekinah S.
Seattle, WA
Stumbling Monk is not your everyday bar. Weird little corner location that's easy to miss. Medieval - like wooden door with tiny window. Fancy (and pricey) European beers that a Corona drinker like me has never heard of. HIGH ALCOHOL CONTENT. Different glasses to go with different drinks (the glasses are also pictured on the menu which I think is cute). Board games. Dog - friendly. Coaster art wall. Chill, dark, and relatively quiet.
I like Stumbling Monk but it's not a place I'd go to frequently. This is definitely a spot for the discerning, serious beer drinker. I guess you can also get wine if you ask nicely. I wouldn't go here if you have respiratory problems, as it gets all humid and foggy in there when it rains (and this is Seattle, so...). And the bathroom smells like piss. But we played Scrabble till bar close and my beer fiend friends enjoyed their brews last night, so I'll add an extra Star for not being your typical Capitol Hill PBR hipster bar. -
Review from Jon M.
Providence, RI
The Stumbling Monk may be my favorite bar on the hill and if you love sour ales and craft beers it might become yours very quickly.
A glass of La Folie for 5 dollars? Cozy unassuming attitude and board games? A surprisingly low number of sourpusses mussin' about?
The monk is definitely not a bumping party bar but go here to enjoy something very tasty and then while away the night wondering why you hadn't been here before. -
Review from Bob Z.
It's easy to miss the Monk. Looking at it from the street you might guess it was a used book store, or maybe an electronics repair place. Nope, it's a fabulous place to find great Belgian and other craft beer. The fact that they survive on word-of-mouth despite their seeming attempt to operate on the down-low a testament to how nice a place it is for beer lovers. They have bunch of rotating beers and I've never had a bad one. I bought several bottles of Barrel-Aged Leviathan here, long after I'd given up hope of ever seeing that beer again.
As other reviewers have noted, you'll find knowledgeable staff, great beer properly stored and served. The fact that they sort of hide away from the world seems to keep the noisy hipsters and annoying scenesters away for the most part. Time just seems to slow down when I walk in. It would be nice if they could figure out a way to serve food here, but there are plenty of good restaurants nearby so that's a quibble. -
Review from Perry H.
I wasn't a big fan of this bar when I was hanging out here, but the next day it really grew on me. I'm not sure why, maybe it was the smell that night, the poor restroom facilities, the fact that it was super hot in there when I visited...I'm not sure...
But in hindsight this was a really great place with knowledgeable bartenders and a varied selection of beers on tap that I'd never tried. I'm a fan of sour beers and they had more on tap than anywhere I've ever seen. So as many previous have noted, go for the beer but be prepared that you're sampling world class beers in a VERY laid-back, mellow dive. -
Review from Clarke W.
Los Angeles, CA
Lots of Belgian beers on TAP! The highlight for me was the local organic cask beer, for $5! A few standard beers were also available in a bottle: Chimay, Duvel, ect. But, with the awesome selection on tap who needs a bottle? The Stumbling Monk is completely accessible, unpretentious dark dive-pub. It's the perfect introduction to beer culture in Seattle.
Tip:
- Board games. -
Review from Kris L.
Seattle, WA
Stumbling Monk is a simple and cozy place. A bar, tables with chairs, a chalkboard menu on the wall, and plenty of locals to hang out with. The acoustics are on the loud side - but that is to be expected. I feel like it is a little divey, but those are the types of places that help Seattle to be what it is: fun.
When I went, it was really humid and warm inside. You could see that the windows were foggy. I am not sure if that is normal or that was a rare occasion. For wooden chairs, they were rather comfy.
The beer is good. If you aren't into the typical Belgian beers, they have some not-so-chocolaty beers as well. The really nice thing is that their beer typically has a higher ABV. This means that you just might end up "Stumbling" home. -
Review from Olga K.
Seattle, WA
What other bar has people playing board games, exploring on their laptops, and just chatting with friends all in the same space without crashing? The Monk!
The beer selection can be considered expensive but is amazing. And when you think about the fact that most of the beers are over 10%, you get more for your money than in other bars. Every beer comes in a specific glass for that brewery - it is all very personalized.
The bartenders are great - always attentive and making sure everything is clean, in order, nobody is too drunk, and chat with you when there is not a crazy amount of people in the bar.
There is booths to sit in, some bar space, and tables in the remaining areas. Lots of board games (old school ones like Sorry/Scrabble and fun new ones like Dirty Minds and Worst Case Survival Handbook).
I also love the bar for the fact that there is not loud blazing music that one has to scream over. I come to the Monk to have a conversation, to play a game, or to rest up after a stressful day and people watch. All things that it is easy to do in such a friendly place.
The only real minus of the bar is how crowded it can get at peak times - nowhere to sit and Belgian beer is not something that you gulp down - it needs to be enjoyed over a conversation. So it can be disheartening to arrive with nowhere to sit, but be on the lookout and it will appear?
Oh and if you don't like beer - try 'duchesse de bourgogne' - it is sweet, but not as sweet as a Lambic, got a little bit of a sour zing to it and still has the amazing Belgian yeast. My hands down favorite. -
Review from JASON R.
So if it had not been for the advice of a fellow beer snob at the Moore's front desk, we NEVER would have found this place.
In short, The Stumbling Monk is a bit of a rundown, dark, Belgian ale bar with an incredible selection of both beer and board games. It's a plus to see beer served in PROPER glassware! This place earned its fifth star when we discovered New Belgium Eric's Ale on tap...I bounced around and tortured my pallete with the sour goodness of Eric's Ale and bitter, tongue-twisting Caldera Brewing IPA in the can.
We walked 4 miles to get here, got lost in the process, and it was worth every ounce of heartache. We would go out of our way to stop here the next time we are in Seattle.Listed in: Beer, Beer, Beer! Best of the…
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Review from Summer C.
Long Beach, CA
Ah, the last stop of the day on our beer tour. Yes, we stumbled to and from here, so the name applies.
This gem of a bar is small and homey and relaxed feeling. Country music was playing, not the music I'd expect from a Belgian beer bar, but I enjoyed it. The decor in this place reminds me of the leftovers of an elder's garage sale. With big booths, a bar, and random tables with mismatching chairs.. But who am I to judge? ;) Also, a big stash of board games were available to play. People were on their laptops, so I am assuming it has WiFi available.
On tap were a great selection of Belgian beers and Belgian style beers: Dicks, Ommegang, Russian River, Chimay, Allagash, Hooegarden. Their bottle list is pretty decent and had some nice gems. The bartender was super friendly and knowledgeable, he offered us tasters of some of the beers on tap and on cask.
I don't think there is food to order, however they do have a big selection of potato chips, if that is your thing.Listed in: Seattle for a Beer Snob
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Review from Muffin S.
Seattle, WA
This is a nice cozy little place with amazing beers, and a ton of board games to play while you sit and sip.
Only downside: there's only one bathroom for all and it is a little scary. -
Review from Colin D.
This place is great. It's a tiny little pub which has some of the best selection of interesting Belgian beer you can find anywhere I've ever seen and does it at a better price than I've seen anywhere else. You can get a glass of Belgian beer for less than $6 here pretty easily. Combine that with the selection of random board games (drunken battleship anyone?) they have and the cozy feel of the place and you'll be in love.
The only thing wrong with it is that it's in Capitol Hill which means it's a pain to park near, and a pain to get to unless you live in Cap Hill, Downtown or the south end of the U-district which I don't anymore. -
Review from David M.
Everett, WA
Great place to grab some off the wall beers and stuff you wont find at your local store.
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Review from whitney S.
Mercer Island, WA
In my update, I will give Stumbling Monk:
5 stars for deliciousness of beers.
1 star for restroom/facility
2 stars for odor. It smells like a boys locker room/frat house, with no ventilation. Seriously, the windows get totally fogged up.
5 stars for having such great board games to play
1 star for food choices
4 stars for staff
2 stars for cleanliness
= 2.85714... stars, rounded out to 3.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/1/2009
I would have given this place 4 stars if it weren't for the following:
1) They have the worst, most… Read more »
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4/1/2009
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Review from Daren D.
We had a lil game night shindig here and Apples to Apples just totally stole the show. Flippin' awesome and bundles of fun and laughing. Pizza delivered, courtesy of Chris W and I got a Fiji water from the market nearby to wash it down.
And no, I did NOT have a stash of Mel Gibson's up my sleeve! =P I finished with the green cards "cheesy" and "nasty". -
Review from Michelle F.
Seattle, WA
For having heard about this place for ages, by the time I got around to it, I was already doomed by wheat, gluten, and other food allergies that make beer a serious no-no. Which is sad. But they carry a solid selection of interesting brews. I tried a stout and Jesse tried a sour beer. Both were delicious, though I'm not sure my brain knew how to react to the flavors of sour beer. I don't dislike it, it's just different. I will definitely be back to try more, and to try sour beer again (despite how evil it is to my allergies).
Bonus? They have tons of board games. Woot!
