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| - The Blue Moon is a nice laid-back neighborhood bar that is a comfortable place to meet up after class or on a weekend afternoon to watch the game and play a little pool. I used to frequent the place regularly when I lived a few blocks away in my college days, but now that I'm out in Middleton I don't get back that often. A place like the Blue Moon is a good decision when it's only a few blocks from your place and even better when it's on your way home after class, but it's not exactly a destination you would make a special effort to get to.
The bar has a fairly comfortable layout, with a smallish ell-shaped bar up front with an open grill at the end. Past the bar is an open area with tables and stools. There is a staircase near the front door, and I prefer to go upstairs whenever there aren't seats at the bar. There is a pool table upstairs and an assortment of boothes and tables, some overlooking the open ceiling to the areas below. If you go on a busy night (Fridays or Game Days are generally packed) it can be difficult to find a seat. The atmosphere of the place is always pretty relaxed, and it is true that the jukebox is not very good. Fortunately it isn't set at ridiculously loud sound levels like many places in Madison, so it's easy to escape the hair metal by going upstairs or to the end of the bar. There's a good deal of TVs showing a variety of games, and it was always one of my favorite places to go on Sunday to watch a variety of football games while shooting pool with my friends. I saw that there were a couple of tables out on the sidewalk the last time I was there, which should be pretty nice on warmer months.
The menu at the Blue Moon is a bit light, focusing on mostly sandwiches and appetizers with a special Friday fish fry. There are usually daily lunch and dinner specials which do round out the selection a bit more. When in season I highly recommend the chili, and the soup appears to be homemade and is usually good. As for the sandwiches, most of my friends find the burgers good and I can't disagree. My favorite is the Spanish, which is a burger with pepperjack, pico and olives. There's also a burger called the Piledriver that my friend used to get that was egregious in size - a half pound burger with ham, onions and like 3 different cheeses. The angioplasty comes separate, and you've gotta go across the street for that. Last Friday we went because my friend wanted the fish fry, and I decided to try the cajun chicken sandwich. It was fairly standard but well seasoned. The tap selection at the bar is good, with a couple of Capitals and Spotted. I've never gotten a cocktail but the bar seems decently stocked. I also remember that in college they used to have cans of Blatz for 75 cents, which brought me in like a moth to a flame on those lean days before payday.
The service is generally pretty quick. Last Friday at the height of the fish fry rush we waited a bit to order but our drinks came quickly. The bartenders have always been friendly, as have the regulars. The place is a solid 3.5 stars, and if the menu were a bit broader or the jukebox less crappy I'd definitely give this place a four. It's not a flashy place and the food isn't gourmet by any means, but that isn't something you look for in a neighborhood bar anyways. The Blue Moon plays the part well, and for that I always like to stop by when I'm in the neighborhood.
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