2008 Woodie Awards
Critic's corner: Restaurant attracts diverse patrons
Issue date: 10/14/04 Section: Culture
- Page 1 of 1
One downtown restaurant and pub attracts an eclectic clientele, ranging from college students and families to bar-hoppers and bikers.
The Pickle Barrel, located at 1012 Market St., is well-known for its laidback atmosphere and authentically "worn" ambience.
The restaurant is located in a triangular building on the corner near Warehouse Row, and the actual shape of the building makes it feel a little more crowded than is comfortable, especially on a Friday night. Customers must push past the bar patrons to get to the bathrooms, which have writing on every corner of the walls. A thin, metal spiral staircase provides access to the roof, where customers sit in plastic patio chairs. But these are all qualities that make the Pickle Barrel unique and endearing.
The prices are relatively affordable, and the food is decent. Burgers, salads, sandwiches and appetizer-type menu items make up the main fare. The fried pickle appetizer, for which the restaurant is named, costs less than $3.
For patrons over 21, there is a variety of beer on tap and bottled, mixed drinks and wine in individual airplane-sized bottles.
Depending on the time of day, it may be difficult to have exceptional service, but keep in mind that on a Friday evening (namely following a Nightfall performance), the place is packed, which says a lot about the popularity.
However, no matter how crowded it is, the waitstaff is consistently friendly and helpful. So be patient with them. They aim to please, and running up and down the stairs, dodging people and taking care of their other customers is bound to get a little overwhelming.
The Pickle Barrel, located at 1012 Market St., is well-known for its laidback atmosphere and authentically "worn" ambience.
The restaurant is located in a triangular building on the corner near Warehouse Row, and the actual shape of the building makes it feel a little more crowded than is comfortable, especially on a Friday night. Customers must push past the bar patrons to get to the bathrooms, which have writing on every corner of the walls. A thin, metal spiral staircase provides access to the roof, where customers sit in plastic patio chairs. But these are all qualities that make the Pickle Barrel unique and endearing.
The prices are relatively affordable, and the food is decent. Burgers, salads, sandwiches and appetizer-type menu items make up the main fare. The fried pickle appetizer, for which the restaurant is named, costs less than $3.
For patrons over 21, there is a variety of beer on tap and bottled, mixed drinks and wine in individual airplane-sized bottles.
Depending on the time of day, it may be difficult to have exceptional service, but keep in mind that on a Friday evening (namely following a Nightfall performance), the place is packed, which says a lot about the popularity.
However, no matter how crowded it is, the waitstaff is consistently friendly and helpful. So be patient with them. They aim to please, and running up and down the stairs, dodging people and taking care of their other customers is bound to get a little overwhelming.
