Thursday, December 20, 2012

First Bite: Pour House

Posted by on Thu, Dec 20, 2012 at 5:45 AM

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After a long buildout that seemed to include a skyscraper's worth of steel in the construction process, Pour House Burgers, Bourbon and Brews opened earlier this week at 730 Eighth Ave. S., right in front of Frugal MacDoogal's. The two-story restaurant should have an immediate impact on downtown drinking and dining, as well as the parking situation in that neighborhood.

Currently they offer mandatory valet parking to help control the expected volume of cars, but some street parking is also available. Just don't try to park in the liquor store lot, especially during the holidays.

The interior of the building is as impressive as the large facade, with attractive wall coverings designed to mimic bourbon barrel staves. A large stage runs the length of the main dining room, and management promises a schedule of rock bands to entertain patrons after the dinner hour is over.

As soon as you enter you'll notice what appears to be a typical small wine cave/cellar just inside the front door. A closer look will reveal that the cage is designed to hold hundreds of bottles of whiskey, from the cheap stuff up to velvet bags concealing the oldest vintage of Pappy Van Winkle.

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Both the downstairs and rooftop bars run off the same draft beer system and offer 28 local and imported beers on tap. Tennessee beer and liquor products are thoughtfully marked on the menu with little icons of the outline of our state, and high-gravity beers are cleverly signified by little hipster mustaches.

The food is typical bar food with some excellent fried pickles and jalapenos highlighting the appetizers and some fairly creative burgers, sliders and sandwiches available for heartier fare.

The two burgers that we sampled during our visit were substantial and loosely packed, just like I like them. They were also expertly cooked to our requested temps of medium and medium-rare and accompanied by nicely seasoned hand-cut fries.

The upstairs bar area isn't quite completed yet, but should become a popular hangout, especially when the weather is nice. Kind of a cross between a whiskey bar and a beach bar, the open air bar and upper deck offer a fantastic view of downtown. Pour House hopes to be able to throw some raging block parties once they get their feet under them and figure out the logistics of shutting down the streets. Make me a reservation on that deck for July 4!

If you find yourself in the Pour House to experience the nighttime vibe and the rest of the menu, be sure to report back here at Bites.

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