Old Chicago

I had read some good reviews, but was a little let down when I saw their tap list . Nothing new for me here. Good, but not great pizza, and some decent bottles, but not that broad. I was expecting more. Same as downtown review.

 

 

I didn't realise that this was a chain until we went in, at which point suspicions began to arise until it became clear when we sat down, but this is a pretty good place and amazingly good considering it's a chain.

Atmosphere is ok, but has that stock, fake, chain feel. It is also really loud and busy, and seems to be a lot, with a lot of boisterous drinkers looking to chug some down rather than good beer.

That said, it has a pretty good selection of beers, including US macros, a number of imports, and several good-quality craft beers. The imports are fairly numerous but mostly standards like Stella Artois, Bass, etc., although with a few slightly less common and better choices. The craft beers are the best part, with a lot more than just standards like Sierra Nevada or Red Hook choices, including Ninkasi brewing, etc. The number is large. although only about 1/5 are on tap.

Service seemed good, but not great, friendly and reasonably efficient but not really good, although it was loud and busy so that could be a factor.

Food, in the form of pizza, was tasty and enjoyable but not great and by no means real Chicago-style pizza. It was more of a puffy-crusted regular pizza, although it was enjoyable. I would probably go here again if in Boise again, but only if I really felt like it and for both food and beer, there are better places in Boise.

Old C's downtown Boise is loud and busy on the weekends. Keep in mind this downtown Boise, if anyone knows this area the BSU crowd and Air Force crowd love this place. It is large, pool tables and plenty of seating but never enough. It is a younger, louder crowd but exciting at the same time. During the weeks its pretty laid back. There is another location in the Boise Mall that is laid back and quiet w/ better service. The beer selection is very good. 110 beers all the time as exciting and they rotated taps. Great Place!!! Food was good too.

I still disagree with Hoffman (and he and I have a pact to agree to disagree so that we are not chastising one another whenever I review an Old CHI) about this being a "seen one, seen 'em all" chain. The lineups are always different, the clientèle and servers change, the location changes. Sorry, my brother, but I just cannot get behind the sentiment.

This place was another wide one, ala Minneapolis or Omaha, with the bar area on the left side and the restaurant area on the right side of the space. Over on the bar side, the bar ran along the left wall with the bank of thirty (30) taps and three (3) coolers as the back bar. I stuck mostly to locals that I was curious about. Booths lined the right wall of the bar area, while high tables and stools dominated the center, along with two pool tables and a Golden Tee machine. The lavatories were out a door to the left and down a long passageway. Against the back wall was the "Hall of Foam" - a series of brass plaques commemorating those who had completed their tour.

There were lots of color chalkboards with current "tours"; brews of the month; specials; and reminders about karaoke and live music. I love colored chalk, but it is a pain to erase later. I am in awe of places that use it extensively. I was also able to access the Internet during my visit, which was a real boon for keeping in touch, especially for those people whom I was to visit next.

My server, Jennifer(?), was really busy with a lot of people coming in for the Fourth of July, but she took the time to turn me on to Leinie's Sunset Wheat. I would have otherwise glossed it over, but it had a powerful anise/pepper nose and was actually to my liking. She also gave me an entry form for an online survey that included a cash prize as well as the guarantee of a free appetizer or dessert. I love this chain!