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| - Al Mike's gets 5 stars because the atmosphere and ambiance are so uncommonly wonderful. From the beautiful wooden ceiling to the lovingly salvaged bar, to the incredibly awesome beer fridge, everything inside says "Welcome. Stay awhile."
second Ace: a lovingly selected beer list. Small, but thoughtful, this one had a few surprises even for me! There's big names like Duvel and Sierra Nevada, local beers from Asheville, Mooresville, and Charlotte, and even a few Germans you might not expect - Neumarkt and Moos are usually not beer producing cities you see in the US. Well, not Chicago anyway.
third ace: the food. Since the restaurant industry is label-obsessed, I'll make one up: upgraded comfort pub grub. Could a few of the ingredients benefit from the upgrade? Sure. But this is not a "blow your mind with something new" kind of place. It is a "let you know that everything is right with the world by doing the simple things well" kind of place. For example: The meatloaf is tender and meaty. The Reuben -- a sandwich invented at the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha, NE, yeah, that's right NYC, take your 'We invented everything' God complex and stuff it! -- is solid with rye bread that leaves seeds in your teeth, an unabashed amount of salty sauerkraut, and just enough 1000 Island to moisten the affair.
Fourth ace: Did I mention the beer fridge? It's just awesome.
Now, I may not be a big city poker ace, but I do believe four aces is a mighty tough hand to beat.
Checkmate!
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