Restaurant Review: Ye Olde Ale House

Restaurant:
Address: 405 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill PA, 19444 (610-825-2469)

Rating: ★★★ (3) out of 5 stars
Style:  Local Sports Bar
Food: Traditional Pub Food
Atmosphere:  Outdated Décor; Dive-Bar feel
Parking: Yes, lot parking
Service: Satisfactory
Price Range: $
Unique Feature:  Fresh Hand-Carved Roast Beef Station, Craft Beers on Tap

I love a good pub- the type of local hangout where you can have a drink, grab a bite to eat, catch up with friends and watch sports highlights. With so many pubs within the Plymouth Meeting area, only a few things can really set them apart from others, mainly: food and service. After stopping by Ye Olde Ale House on a Sunday afternoon, it was then that I was able to form my own opinions.

We arrived at 1:30 pm, just as a few of the standard NFL matchups were underway (broadcasted on the several flat-screen TVs). As soon as we walked in, we were confused as to whether there was a hostess or not, and after staring down the bartenders for two minutes without a response, we slunk into the nearest booth. As soon as we sat down, we soaked in the atmosphere around us. Truthfully, I felt like I had been transported back to a Philly dive bar from the late 1970s. Fortunately, I really liked the feel - the outdated wood-paneling on the walls, the red vinyl booths, the shoddy signs for the restrooms, etc. Having grown up in Northeast Philly, I’ve gown quite accustomed to the local sports pub, so I instantly felt at home.

Our waitress brought over menus and took our drink orders, though we waited about five minutes until she returned with them. Arriving with empty stomachs, we studied the menu to decide on what would be the best appetizer. We agreed on Shrimp in a Basket, which was brought over within ten minutes. Deep fried and served with cocktail sauce, the appetizer was traditional and filling. A slight hiccup occurred when we realized that we had never been given utensils or napkins, so I had to make myself useful and grab them from the bar.

As we waited for our meals, we looked around to get a better idea of the clientele within Ye Old Ale House. Half of the crowd was locals who had gotten a seat at the bar, watching the several NFL games while workers carved Fresh Roast Beef at the center of the bar. The rest of the patrons were parents that had brought their children to enjoy lunch after a little-league football game.

Through we ordered at the same time, my meal was brought out five minutes before my girlfriend’s. I decided on Homemade Crab Cake Sandwich with Hot & Spicy Fries. Originally, I had asked the waitress if I could have the sandwich on toasted rye bread, and when it was served on an untoasted Kaiser roll without explanation, I was clearly disappointed. As for the sandwich itself, it was completely adequate; the crab cake had been broiled and it oozed out of the roll with every bite. The fries definitely hit the spot, but there was simply nothing special about them.

My girlfriend had originally ordered the Spring Mix Salad with Tuna, but right before my meal was brought out, the waitress told her that the kitchen was out of spring mix, so she substituted with romaine lettuce. The tuna salad was appetizing yet mushy and the rest of the meal included tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and store-bought croutons.

All in all, it was just what we had expected: traditional bar food. This of course, isn’t a bad thing whatsoever; one just might want to make sure that they are aware of this before going to Ye Olde Ale House. I will definitely be coming back, but next time, I’ll probably just stick to a crafted beer and roast beef sandwich.

Click Here to See the Menu

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