Fred's is one of those places that is really pretty impossible to dislike. Just for fun, let's try asking a few questions about it:
Is the food out of this world? It's pretty good, but nothing earth shattering, even for pub food.
Do they have the best selection of beers on tap? No, pretty much just your standard domestics, imports and premiums.
Is the service the most friendly and attentive? It's perfectly pleasant but nothing to write home about.
And yet...it has this certain inescapable charm and super positive vibe. I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's because my dad was taking me here since I was a kid. I remember that the chicken wings were plump and juicy and even though I'm now a vegetarian, I'm told that they're still among the best in the city. I usually stick to the pizza and fries when I drop by (with or without the old man) and I'm rarely disappointed. Dad has moved on to calamari for the most part and still, no complaints about the quality of the food. It remains tasty, the beer is still cold and the place hasn't changed, which is a good thing in this case.
So I guess it's more than just nostalgia. It really is a pretty great neighborhood pub and if you drop by, be sure to say hi to Father Mike...he's not there in person but they've been good in keeping his memory alive for many years. Quite a classy place.