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| - I was recently lamenting that FreeMoreWest didn't have a neighborhood bar, and poof! Draught announces their opening. Why, thank you alcoholic Genie for granting me my wish!
I went to the soft opening and was really impressed by the comfortable, stylish interior that isn't trying too hard. I loved the open front with the garage doors, lots of TVs and private dining room downstairs you can rent for company events, family parties, etc. They added some picnic tables outside on the patio in the shadow of the uptown skyline, which is lovely in the evening. Personally I get claustrophobic with big crowds so I'm not going to be one to go on game days, but good for them for making it a huge destination. During the Steelers pregame, the whole parking lot was crazy.
This is called Draught so I should focus on the beer and bar, but I'm not an expert on that so let me focus on where my talents lie. As others mentioned, they do not have the typical boring bar food, and I really appreciate that they have lower fat items too. I've been for both lunch and dinner and their lunch menu has lots of gourmet delicious salads like Cranberry Apple Salad with grilled chicken and maple cider vinaigrette or Warm Kale salad and even a lemon dijon salmon burger (which I really really enjoyed!!) I can't wait to try the turkey cornbread sandwich too.
They also have a kids menu for the littles.
Their appetizers take some classics and turn them on their head like Root Beer or Cheerwine BBQ wings, or crab stuffed deviled eggs, and pimento cheese fritters (the stud's favorite, though not the healthiest). We also tried the egg roll of the week one time and it was chicken enchiladas, and it was surprisingly delicious!
For dinner, their entrees are definitely beyond what you'd expect from a bar: how about a Crown Royal Maple Glazed Smoked Duck Breast over a bed of wilted Purple Kale and Wild Rice or Hoisin Glazed Scallops over cucumber slaw and Orange Jalapeno Vinaigrette (good but definitely lighter). I really enjoyed the Paleo-friendly Bulgogi steak Lettuce wraps. Perfect dinner choice for me. The pasta with garlic shrimp was really enjoyed by my hubs, but I hated the chicken with pineapple marinade. I am hoping they replace that chicken dish with something else.
If you like finishing off a dinner with something sweet like me, they bring in desserts from a pastry chef in town but I am surprised to report the berry tart was To. Die. For. Definitely worth the calories.
Service is friendly, frequent and really prompt, even when it's a busy Saturday night which is appreciated.
Bottom line: 4.5 stars, great underrated lunch spot, and fantastic casual place to meet friends for a drink and gourmet grub.
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