The food isn't bad, I honestly like the burger and actually got a burger median rate like I ordered it so huge plus there, but the fries were ehh, and the nachos aren't great. As far as drinks are concerned is pretty good for it being downtown $5.50 for a mixed drink. Now you might wonder why I'm only giving it three stars, well the servers leave something to be desired, I ordered a shot of fireball and she poured something else, when I complained she snapped at me and said something along the lines of "Well there's just like fireball but better." I would have been fine with getting it instead, but at least tell me that you don't have what I want and suggest what you do have that's similar. Over all the bartenders seem to be more interested with taking to one another and checking their phones than serving the customers from what I have seen. And I feel comfortable saying that considering that I work as a bartender.
(3)
Chris S.
Can't say I have ever tried the food so Its not fair for me to rate them based on that. When I have friends come into town the pourhouse is always one of the places I take them when touring downtown. The atmosphere is unique with the not so speak easy theme I think they we're going for. The usually have two bands that rotate on weekends, 'Some shitty cover band,' and 'the white keys.' The former of the two is the more entertaining, they are good musicians and know how to get the crowd energized, however they do play just about the same playlist every night. The keys bore me, they are not loud enough to cover the large space and don't play enough songs that will get the crowd moving. And the house DJ seems to have more success on keys nights. The crowd varies but is predominantly college girls looking to dance and the bros who prowl on them. So the dancefloor around 1am usually turns into a bunch of guys trying to post up behind whoever they are attempting to take home. And it can get a little aggressive at times. So the upstairs is usually the place to go. Service was always good, never ignored by the bartenders and they don't under serve.
(4)
Sejla S.
They always have great events going on.. It's always a fun place to go dancing, my friends and I always make sure to stop by there when we're out downtown! :) Also, the $10 lunch during HH is perfect, and the food is really good! I personally love the Monte Cristo wrap, it doesn't get any better than a flour tortilla rolled in pancake batter and fried!!! YUUUMMM
(5)
Lorraine N.
Totally not what I expected from the sign out front and the name of the place. Very open with a ton of spaces and places to grab a cocktail and hang and talk with your friends. I like the urban, rustic, warm vibe it has going and the big mural of a skyline on the wall by the stage. They have a variety of beer on tap and I think they run around 6.00 for a middle of the road beer from tap. We happened to be here for a Whiskey, Wine, and Swine Event and that was a lot of fun but they over promised and under delivered on the little glasses we were all supposed to get. So I had to drink top dollar whiskey out of a freaking plastic glass. I did not find this acceptable and a bad move on managements part. They should have given whatever they had out until they were gone and once gone--substitute with a glass from the bar. I am a cocktail snob and hate plastic. In fact I don't like drinking from plastic ever!
(3)
Leif B.
I'd never been to Spin so this was my first time in this part of the Lumber Exch Bldg. Upon entering for a local rap show I was surprised at the massive space, amount of bars, and tables all over the place. Instantly impressed with the layout. However, we were at our table for over 75 minutes before getting our food, while 3 tables around us got theirs before we did, and they ordered after we did. Our server brought out a wrong order and gave it to another table, and then ours was another 30 minutes past that. My burger was good for a burger with eggs, hash browns, etc on it, but the bun looked like it had been ribbed in half and just thrown on top of the meat and toppings. I ordered a Jameson and Ginger which definitely was not such, it tasted more like a rum and coke at some points. Learn curves aside, I will be back to give them a second chance for sure. I know it's been open for only 8-9 weeks and there is an innate finesse to running a place like this that needs to be learned. Also, as a typical male I must state that the servers and bartenders (female) were extremely helpful, friendly, and attractive - enough to keep me coming back.
(3)
Heather H.
Drinks were so over priced!! And it's a weird change from the evening to the night. Music does a complete 180. Outside games are fun. That's all the positive.
(3)
Brandon C.
Last visit was for 612 brewing release.... The atmosphere is cool, they have many TV's, video games, shuffle board and other things to appeal to the folks. The atmosphere appeals to many, I enjoy this! The staff is attentive, sometimes overworked. I enjoyed the cheese curds a lot, but not so much some other apps. I have not eaten all of the menu, but many good beers. This makes me want to go back and it is a great happy hour local.
(4)
Josh M.
Went here with a Friend and we'd definetely come back for the burgers, space is a little imposing on the ground level as it is multistory but would be a cool place to watch a game or special event due to the theater screen inside! I had cajun seasoning added to my burger, highly recommend it. If you're looking for a large and great burger Downtown and/or a large screen for a game or event I would definetely come here.
(4)
Nazgul W.
I can't speak for the atmosphere at night, but I wanted to bump the Pourhouse up to three stars and update my review because we came in on a weekday afternoon and wanted to watch the A's-Rangers game on the last day of the baseball season, and were promptly attended to. The staff not only found the game for us on the MLB Network but also put the game on the giant screen for us. The server was helpful and appetizers we had were greasy but good. Thanks for accommodating a request for baseball amid all the Sports Center haze.
(3)
Danielle B.
I had the pleasure of finding my way into this bar last weekend during my friend's bachelor party. Not only was is a blast to dance there but the hidden bookshelf and refrigerator door literally blew my mind. I can't tell you how excited I was. I found every bar was fun and had a good bartender as well as a good energy to each area. I would love to go back here.
(5)
Kelsey P.
We had SUCH a wonderful time at Pourhouse tonight. Our server was such a sweetheart. And the food was delicious (see photos)! I'm not super fond of going downtown because I consider it expensive and inconvenient, but I will come back to Pourhouse. LOVE. Call me naive, but I was not expecting gender neutral restrooms and I was SO EXCITED when I came across them tonight. That's a major plus for me. Social justice, hoorah!
(5)
Andrew A.
Awesome Buffalo Chicken Won Tons, great atmosphere, lots of TV's, great bartenders and bands!
(5)
Richard L.
This place is pretty cool! As a visitor to MN I've never had cheese curds, and it just happened that this was the first stop on my Minnesota tour that happened to have them. So I ordered much to the chagrin of my compatriots who were condemning me for not getting the correct ones. Either way i had the Cheese curds here along with a few different local beers and had a chance to walk around the bar/restaurant. This place is pretty nice. Clean and kept up, a little work going on but i love the prohibition era like hidden walk ways to different areas and the fridge that is actually a door. Lastly - the drink specials are pretty good. Again from NYC every drink price here was awesome, but the specials were especially good! I never heard of this but apparently this place, at the end of every month - they have free beer until they empty their taps. What is this insanity!?! I'd take the day off and go there and drink until i can't stand!
(5)
Carissa U.
Best nightclub in downtown. Go to watch a sports game and get a few drinks/apps and able to stay for the shitshow. Perfect! Then $10 lunch is an amazing deal as well!
(5)
Emma S.
I can't say I've ever eaten at Pourhouse, but I've frequented it more times than I can count for their dancing and drinks. While it's one of the few halfway decent "clubs" in Minneapolis, I wouldn't write home about it. Pourhouse can be described as the place 20-somethings go to escape the campus and/or neighborhood bar slump. ByMe has a Thursday night deal where you can get free cover and free drinks from 10 p.m. to midnight, so this would be the night I'd recommend going. After all, you're going to spend enough money getting to and from Pourhouse to begin with. If you're already having a good night, Pourhouse is a good place to continue the fun until around 1 a.m. After that, the scene starts getting sketchy, and the guys don't seem to get the hint that you're not interested. Stick to the upstairs area, and you'll be clear of any downtown creeps that swarm the place on weekends. Overall, their gin and tonics aren't half bad, so I can't complain about much besides odd characters who roam around the massive bar. Prices aren't as bad as downtown could be, so it's a spot to check out if you haven't been, before.
(3)
Brittney M.
The owner/manager completely disrespected our MSU alumni association group during the final four tonight! After we've given them so much service during football and bball season, they had a battle of the bands playing excruciatingly loud, mediocre metal music for the first 20 minutes of our game! On top of that, we had to get our own drinks from the bar, get a rag to clean a dirty table we wanted, and beg a waitress to finally come take our food order. I will never go back.
(1)
Julianne Z.
I have come here for a night out and I am personally not a huge fan of pour house. Too many people, music isn't that great and somehow there is always a fight that breaks out. THe lines are super long, and once, I had to take a call outside and when I did, they told me the only way to enter back in was to wait at the beginning of the line again. That makes no sense! I had a stamp on my hand and they just saw me walk out. The one thing about this place that shocks me though, is their food and during HH, you can get a whole plate of nachos for $5. It is enough for 2 people to eat! Would def. come back for a HH but stray away from spending late nights here!
(3)
Hannah T.
I love dancing, and it seems that the dancing has been diminishing in the cities. Maybe I just can't locate where the good beats lie, but I had a lot a blast at the Pourhouse! My friend put me on a list so I wouldn't have to pay the cover, but you have to get there before 11pm for that magic to work. Luckily, the host let us in anyways, I'm sure this won't always be the case. I'm not sure where this magical list is located, Facebook? Their website? Otherwise, it the cover is reasonable at about $5 They had coat check for $2, which is nice, I'm still angry us Minnesotans can't get free coat check when it is so cold we don't even want to come out, but do anyways! I'm not sure about the drink prices, they seemed comparable to other downtown establishments. All I know, is the music was fun for those who love top 40's and those who enjoy other music! Everyone was dancing and having fun. The music starts at 11:30 or 12:00am, so if you are looking to only dance, stop somewhere else first!
(4)
Jessica S.
Pourhouse is an absolute cluster-you-know-what. The space is massive, boasting multiple bars and swarming with young intoxicated things. With the primary objective of getting hammered or finding a short-term partner, popular drinks include Kamikaze, Rum & Coke, Vodka Red Bull, and the like. Don't expect fancy-pants cocktails or even cheap house wine. Both times I've visited I was charged a $5 cover for some silly cover bands (neither of whom I could tolerate, but the young'ins seemed to enjoy), when I'd much rather prefer the DJ to keep playing top pop. A second story overlooks the dance floor. Look out below as drinks coming flying from above are not unheard of. One differentiator here is the Cirque du Soleil-ish acrobat that whirls around from strands of fabric or a hula hoop-like ring attached to the ceiling without safety devices. I'm sure if I was freshly legal, I'd have a blast at this place. But, as a crotchety old woman, nearing my third decade of life, I have little tolerance for a mess such as this. With this all being said, pay no mind to the "Duchess" status I have secured here....
(2)
Andrew C.
A sweaty debacle of a place. A maze of rooms, over flowing trash bins, and the bathroom was disgusting. I won't even mention the food.
(1)
Ian R.
More like 2.5. Atmosphere is cool and TVs are great. Don't ever order the nachos. My 8 yr old cousin could make better ones. So pathetic food here. Don't waste your money eating here, only on liquor.
(3)
Tim O.
Not really a sports bar. Played heavy metal music over the college basketball games. Had to leave and find a real sports bar.
(1)
Albert L.
Huge space, lots of wood paneling and seating everywhere. There are three bars inside and a large center stage for live acts to perform. Service is awesome and quick, the crowd is a good mix of people, and the location is unique. I really like the upstairs area with the huge "last supper" table. Tons of TV screens to watch the game from, and the staff will change channels for you if you request politely. Also, free beer and 35-cent wings on Sunday for certain games' first quarter? Heck yeah! Also, Bloody Mary bar on Sundays as well. No joke. If you're ever in downtown Minneapolis, hit up The Pourhouse.
(5)
Renee W.
Two words: TATER TOTS. This is a frequent lunch spot when I am in town because I love the $10 lunch option that the Pourhouse has - and they also have a good happy hour selection as well. The tater tots here are why I have a serious tot addiction; crispy and salty on the outside and hot and mushy on the inside. The only way to eat them of course, is dipped in ranch. I also have had apps there - queso, buffalo bites and also the cheese curds. Cheese overload maybe, but a good beer that's on tap assists with the creaminess of all that cheese. Good selection of beers on tap as well.
(5)
Megan E.
We rented out a section of the top floor for a friend's birthday. The bar had a fun atmosphere, a good band, and the wait staff were really attentive. Overall, a good experience.
(4)
Matt G.
The Pourhouse is not for the poor at all. In fact the only think I was pouring out was my cash to get another drink, and they aren't cheap. The night I was there it was overcrowded, and too loud. The idea of the hidden doorways and passageways is cool, until you find yourself lost and have no idea how to get back to your friends! I have to say there are a few things I like about this place though. They have plenty of bars, so you are never too far away to refill your beverage. They have a beer-pong table and a bean bag games outside, if you can find your way to back. They also get some good bands to play there. I can see why some people love this place, and I can see why others hate it. I'm somewhere in the middle, its just not my style.
(2)
Kasondra A.
My sister and I had the queso dip and chip appetizer and each had burgers for dinner. The food was outstanding. Our only dissapointment was the service. Our waitress was unpleasant and rarely checked on us. She also incorrectly placed both of our orders. The place was not that busy and we did not see her waiting on many tables. Even though the food was amazing I don't know if I will return because of how poorly we were treated.
(3)
New_to_CA L.
Cool place! Went here for a pre-game party for UND hockey fans. Place was packed, but a friend of ours was on a first name basis with one of the bartenders, (Sarah I think?) and she hooked us up quickly. It has two levels so it can accommodate a lot of people. Made it upstairs the second day and there's another bar up there along with lots of seating, couches.. Huge projection screen in the center of the place. We didn't eat there so I can't comment on that, but it was awesome that they hosted UND fans.
(4)
John D.
Just too loud and too expensive when there are plenty of other options. Maybe I'm just too old and cheap but I'll take my biz elsewhere.
(2)
Tian Q.
Shitty: -What is this, little india?? WAY too fucking crowded -Lights were too bright and killed my beer goggles, and I needed my beer goggles Pros: -Friendly bartenders -Great covers by White Keys, but awful repertoire for the setting- too many songs from my 6th grade camp memories, and I couldn't force myself to dance to country
(2)
Cyn L.
Best dance floor and love the different levels/vibes! I'd never come here to eat or sit around... arrive around midnight and be ready to dance!!
(5)
Marissa C.
A friend and I decided to go to The Pourhouse after concert plans fell through and we wanted to go out and enjoy the evening. We scoured Yelp for a cool place, and stumbled across The Pourhouse. I had previously heard good things from friends and always thought to check it out while walking around downtown, so we decided to go for dinner. My friend and I arrived at 9:15 and were seated for dinner without any problems. We ordered way too much food to share, and while the menu consists of typical bar food, we were both surprised at how tasty, aesthetically pleasing, and inexpensive everything was. After we paid, we were just going to try to lay low and stick around for the music at 10:30pm, but the bartenders started walking around with drinks so we helped ourselves to a few. The cover band was actually pretty good and they played tons of 90s and early 2000s hits that the crowd was loving, and when it changed to DJ every 30 minutes or so, they played your usual club music with a healthy dose of sing along hits (Think R.Kelly's Ignition and SexyBack). The place itself is pretty cool - the second floor kind of bends around the lower level so you can see what's going on, and the variety of seating options make it great for a group night out. We saw the "secret door" bookcases swing open every once in a while but we didn't go back there, although I'll be sure to check it out next time I'm there and include a bit about that in this review. The bathrooms are nice too - the ones with the wood doors just up the staircase on the first level have cool newsprint wallpaper, and the stalls to the left were very clean and not typical sketchy bar bathrooms. The last point I want to make is in regards to the crowd - which I quite enjoyed. I don't know if it was just that particular night or if it's always like this, but it was less grungey than First Ave and more chill than most other clubs downtown (read, women a little more clothed and men less rapey), but nicer and a better dance scene than most bars I've been to. I'll definitely be back there soon.
(5)
Lakshmi R.
This place is awesome . We went to this place around 1 pm on Saturday. Believe me this is place is freaking crowded. They got live show and it's so good. I like this place.
(5)
David C.
Friendly and attentive bartenders and wait staff. Great service. Great drink specials on rails and beer during happy hour. Definitely a cool and affordable place to grab a drink after work. Come check it out! PROTIP: They have a huge screen spanning one of the walls, so it is a great place for game day.
(4)
Sara O.
You would think a prohibition bar would be a bit more hidden but we were welcomed with open arms outside the front door. Walking in I noticed this place looks nothing like spin. It is replaced by numerous tvs, one in particular that stems two floors. I look forward to watching a badger game or two here. We found a spot by the giant jenga and began to play. It took ahwile to get a server and they didnt have drink menus yet but did have a few specialty cockails. One of which was the pantydropper which my husband and his buddy enjoyed. Good news is drinks came fast and they were tasty! The decor is sets a good tone and gives it a bit of a 1920s vibe but not enough for a prohibition type bar. There are multiple bars throught so coming by a drink should be easy. The see through bathrooms have been replaced with a good solid door thankfully. Make sure you go through the bookcase then the fridge to get to beer pong and bean bag toss. Thats if you havent had enough fun with jenga, buck hunter, golden tee, pool, and shuffleboard. Overall a decent vibe, lots to entertain you, and looks to be a good place to watch a game. I just wonder if it can't decide weather its a sports bar or cocktail lounge.
(3)
Gabriel S.
very nice place. I was there for the victory party for the Red Ribbon Ride. They were very accommodating, had a very good price, super venue. The waiters also gave their tips from the night to the Red Ribbon Ride. I was there this weekend and had a burger and it was very good at a very good price for down town. It has a one of a kind atmosphere and I would suggest anyone go there and check it out!
(5)
Deidred A.
I recently went to the Poorhouse for the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs. The Pourhouse was awesome. It has an East Coast vibe and modern decor that make it a fun place to hang out. The DJ did a great job alternating between the games and music. The bartenders are attractive while the waitresses were attentive. The food was OK; it was good for bar food. And they have huge TVs. Most importantly everyone was having a great time. Smiles everywhere. Just an atmosphere of "its January, its freezing, but we are going to have a great time." My only qualm is the unisex bathrooms upstairs. If you are looking to have fun with friends or just get a drink downtown the Pourhouse is a must go.
(5)
Tim C.
Great queso!
(3)
Brettan B.
Apparently you guys don't want to make money because we are sitting here on a Friday, during March Madness, and you have a packed house with ONE bartender and TWO waitress for two floors. Pretty pathetic. You'd think someone would call in a backup server or two??
(1)
Amy S.
Food was above average for "bar food" but the service was a bit on the slow side (though friendly). We liked the Warren "Sapp" burger quite a bit. The decor was nice. Tip: On Friday and Saturdays they charge a cover at 10pm of $5, so get there earlier than that to avoid it.
(3)
Jason K.
My buddy and I were off to our biweekly lunch at a new spot in the Twin Cities. We were going to hit the Greek restaurant below The Pourhouse, but there was a long line, so we tried the restaurant. You enter the establishment and you instantly notice how large it is. There is one movie theater size TV screen in the middle of the room and about 15 TVs that line the walls. There are a bunch of tables upstairs and about 25 tables that sit in front of a stage which had a drum set on this afternoon. We sat at a table downstairs and I instantly noticed about 14 taps lining the wall back by the bar. We found out that all beers are $3 during happy hour. Nice! Our waitress came by and was pretty nice; we looked over the menu, which had quite a few items on it. My friend and I ordered the open face Cuban. I ordered a sub side salad which I thought was $2.95 and my friend got some taco seasoned tater tots as what we thought was a sub for the potato chips because that is what it said you could do for the sandwiches, which were right above what we found out later were entrees and couldn't have subs, which we weren't told. Our waitress just asked us if he wanted tots, why would anyone want a gigantic plate of chips and a huge basket of tots? At least ask, you know you can't sub the chips for those right? Would have added a star too the review. So disappointing. Why are you trying to screw over new customers? We waited about 15 minutes, which was a little long for only having about 15 people in the place. Our waitress did refill my Diet Coke 3 or 4 times, which was nice. Our food came out and my salad came out on its own plate, I thought I had subbed? Huh. The Cuban was pretty huge on a baguette style long half a loaf. There was a good pile of shredded pork on top and a few slices of ham with a couple slices of cheese on top. The potato chips on the side were plentiful, good kettle style chips. The salad looked a lot like bagged Dole salad mix and the blue cheese on the side was nothing special. The pork was very dry compared some other Cubans I have tried, and the ham was unbelievably salty, like way over the top. The cheese kind of congealed on top. The bread was very crispy though and the best part of the sandwich. Really nothing special, my friend said it was reminiscent of Applebee's quality. My friend thought the sandwich was okay as well, but his tots were wonderful and crispy from the two I tried. The seasoning wasn't spicy enough for me, I would have gotten buffalo if it were me. Then came the bill and mine was $18.06. I was charged 3.95 for a salad I thought should have been $2.95 because that is what s sub was supposed to be. I thought to myself, "Huh?" Then my friend's came out and he was charged $5.50 for the tots. What!? We thought it was $1.50 to substitute tots. She explained you couldn't sub for "Entrees", just sandwiches. Who does that, I never have run into this issue where you can't sub. Boo. We explained we didn't understand that, she said let me check. I really expected her to make an adjustment since they are a new restaurant and maybe didn't understand their policy was confusing and not clear on the menu. Nope. So never back here for lunch, for $5, they lost two lunch customers for life and I have told a lot of people what happened. Bad word of mouth is not good for a new business. If it were me, I would have made an adjustment. Might try for happy hour, but never for lunch. Still, I left a good tip and we left very unhappy. Our waitress made a good lunch horrible at the end. It could have been so easy. Make the customer happy, especially if you are new.
(2)
Ronnie G.
So I get it. This spot use to be occupied by 18+ clubs. So if you remember hitting on that hot high schooler here, I understand why you wouldn't want to come back to a low point in your life. That said, the pourhouse is legit (despite the fact it sounds like a place for broke wall street investors). First, I dig the music. The DJ's spinning an hour, the live band goes on for a half, back and forth. It's the right mix for the right crowd. And the crowd, not bad at all. When you have good music, the crowd goes south but the extra $5 cover. All in all, I've drank way more here than I expected. And you should too. Oh..and nice new format Yelp. I'll write more reviews now.
(5)
Jess S.
This place was a blast to go to. I love dancing, and you cannot always find a great dancing place with great atmosphere. There are at least two levels and then dancing area was big enough to accommodate everybody. And there were a lot of people there! There was even a waitress type person in the bathrooms to give you towels after you washed your hands. Which I thought was kind of weird, but hey! Whatever. We went on their shitty cover band night and they were awesome! Great songs, great atmosphere, great place!
(5)
Shawn S.
I like the Pour House and their prohibition style theme. It is ginormous inside, with lots of seating options - long high tops, booths, bars galore, and your typical bar and grill tables. Aggressive happy hours with food specials, and a lot of TV screens. I had not ever been here before but will make this a stop for whenever I'm trying to find space for a gathering of 20 or so of my besties.
(4)
Bridget L.
I went here for the big Packers playoff game. It was great as a sports bar; TVs all around and the big game projected on the wall. The seating is weird as it used to be a club so the main floor has tons of open space which they filled with rows of tall tables. Any time you needed to get out you had to squeeze between the rows of people sitting at their tables. I'm not sure if this was the normal set up, but to me, it was awkward seating. That and it still had that club atmosphere. It was really open with the high ceilings and the balcony overlooking the main bar area which was an odd feeling. I tried their cheese curds which were really gross. I'm not a cheese snob or anything, these were just nasty; thick deep fried shell with gross solidified cheese on the inside. We had two orders on the table of 13 of us and both plates ended up going to waste. For my meal, I had their burger and while it tasted fine (nothing special) I got a little sick. Not food sickness sick, but something didn't sit right. It may have been those damn cheese curds but I can't be sure. Our service wasn't that great. It was hard to get the servers attention and she did not show any sort of personality. In her defense, it was busy. It was a good place to watch the playoffs but I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Alycia M.
I have been here once since it opened. While it is not my favorite place it is definitely better than Bar Fly, which was here before. I went here for a Saturday night out on the town. When I got there there was a line, but it only took about 10-15 minutes and there was a $5 cover. I would have to say the speakeasy that they have upstairs to get to the bar is pretty neat. I loved the music they played, the band played a lot of 80's hits and when they went on break they had a DJ. It was a good mix of music, which makes for a fun night. However, the music was really loud so you had to yell to talk and it was extremely packed. They seem to have a lot of events. I happened to be there for the maxim party, which also had a giant inflatable slip in slide inside of the bar.
(3)
Sam N.
Food is tasty enough, but you're certainly paying for it to be at LEAST so good. Drink options were OK, priced as you can expect downtown. I detested the ambiance. The place was just about empty, but it was impossible to have a conversation because the TV was so god-damn loud. Especially during commercials. I suppose I could see the appeal of going to this place to see a football game with people I didn't care to converse with much at all. Otherwise I see no reason to ever return.
(3)
Jon C.
I recently went to The Pourhouse in order to support a friend during a Cystic Fibrosis benefit... In that benefit, a plethora of musicians played on the main stage of the bar (perhaps someone could call it a small venue?). Needless to say, I was impressed. The stage was viewable from virtually every place in the bar and the music sounded great... In addition, its decor is unique and polished. For example, its "book cases" that are in fact, "secret passageways" to other rooms was a wonderful surprise. As was the quality of their food which I originally expected to be your typical bar fair quality but turned out to be remarkably delicious. Last but not least, this establishment has amazing specials on Sunday... I will be returning :)
(4)
Angela S.
I have only been to the Pourhouse 3 times. 2 of the 3 times have been for an afterparty for the Red Ribbon Ride, and one time was to have dinner. The only drinks I have had there have been beer and wine, so I can't say much for the drinks. But, I can comment on the food. It's ok. It's bar food. I honestly can't remember what kind of sandwich I had when I went there with my husband to eat, but I do remember eating the whole thing, so it couldn't have been too bad. The service wasn't great that night, hence the three stars. My husband had some questions about a couple different food items he was contemplating ordering, and the server just appeared to be really annoyed with this. (It wasn't anything like, "Can you tell me an exact calorie count of each of the items that will come on my plate" it was more of a, "How many ounces is this burger". We were only asking because we were staying downtown for our anniversary and didn't have a way to bring anything back with us and keep it cold.) For the Red Ribbon Ride parties that we have been there for, the Pourhouse has been great. The servers are constantly replenishing the food at the mini buffet of appetizers that they set up for us. The secret passage way behind the bookcase is always fun to go and explore. One thing our party got hooked on was trying to catch a lobster in the lobster tank. No one succeeded, but it was fun trying!
(3)
K P.
Service was terrible. It was a early May Friday night after work and the place was dead. I had pick two 1/2 sandwich and 1/2 salad. I was there in May and they have since changed the menu and the chicken sandwich I had isn't even available anymore. We also had nachos which were good though.
(2)
Raj B.
I had heard that the Pourhouse was a decent place to go and had a chance to check it out recently. I caught the tail end of the hockey game (the big screen is good for that), but there weren't places to sit (I got a table, but a waiter came after a little while and said they needed to move all the tables off the dance floor; half an hour later, the table was still there and occupied by a group of older women), drinks were very weak, and we were overcharged because the bartenders and servers did not know about the drink specials that had been advertised (they explicitly acknowledged that they did not know about any drink specials). I was even charged a different amounts (all higher than the correct price) every time I ordered the same drink (3-4 times)!
(2)
Lindsay B.
I went to the Pourhouse last week to see a friend's band play. My first impression was - great! We ate dinner - the food was okay, but definitely nothing exceptional. The layout of the space is great and the sound quality was good too. My only complaint was the design aesthetic and the TV screens. I'm not quite sure what they were going for with the interior design. It didn't seem to match the "poorhouse" theme. The MOST AGGRAVATING part was that they kept the semi-circle full of flat screen TVs on during the band's performance. It was distracting to me as a spectator and so I can only imagine how distracting it was for the band looking straight at them. I mentioned this to the hostess on our way out and she said "some people want to watch the game." Personally, I didn't know what game she was talking about since I'm not a sports fan, but you need to choose - either you're a sports bar or you're a music venue. Not both!! I'll go again if I see a good band on the schedule, but other than that I probably wouldn't go hang out there.
(3)
Jeni S.
We went with a group of 9. The food was great and we loved the vibe. We wouldn't hesitate to go back and in fact plan to soon!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Bike Parking : No Ages Allowed : All Ages Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : Yes Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Tarik H.
The food isn't bad, I honestly like the burger and actually got a burger median rate like I ordered it so huge plus there, but the fries were ehh, and the nachos aren't great. As far as drinks are concerned is pretty good for it being downtown $5.50 for a mixed drink. Now you might wonder why I'm only giving it three stars, well the servers leave something to be desired, I ordered a shot of fireball and she poured something else, when I complained she snapped at me and said something along the lines of "Well there's just like fireball but better." I would have been fine with getting it instead, but at least tell me that you don't have what I want and suggest what you do have that's similar. Over all the bartenders seem to be more interested with taking to one another and checking their phones than serving the customers from what I have seen. And I feel comfortable saying that considering that I work as a bartender.
(3)Chris S.
Can't say I have ever tried the food so Its not fair for me to rate them based on that. When I have friends come into town the pourhouse is always one of the places I take them when touring downtown. The atmosphere is unique with the not so speak easy theme I think they we're going for. The usually have two bands that rotate on weekends, 'Some shitty cover band,' and 'the white keys.' The former of the two is the more entertaining, they are good musicians and know how to get the crowd energized, however they do play just about the same playlist every night. The keys bore me, they are not loud enough to cover the large space and don't play enough songs that will get the crowd moving. And the house DJ seems to have more success on keys nights. The crowd varies but is predominantly college girls looking to dance and the bros who prowl on them. So the dancefloor around 1am usually turns into a bunch of guys trying to post up behind whoever they are attempting to take home. And it can get a little aggressive at times. So the upstairs is usually the place to go. Service was always good, never ignored by the bartenders and they don't under serve.
(4)Sejla S.
They always have great events going on.. It's always a fun place to go dancing, my friends and I always make sure to stop by there when we're out downtown! :) Also, the $10 lunch during HH is perfect, and the food is really good! I personally love the Monte Cristo wrap, it doesn't get any better than a flour tortilla rolled in pancake batter and fried!!! YUUUMMM
(5)Lorraine N.
Totally not what I expected from the sign out front and the name of the place. Very open with a ton of spaces and places to grab a cocktail and hang and talk with your friends. I like the urban, rustic, warm vibe it has going and the big mural of a skyline on the wall by the stage. They have a variety of beer on tap and I think they run around 6.00 for a middle of the road beer from tap. We happened to be here for a Whiskey, Wine, and Swine Event and that was a lot of fun but they over promised and under delivered on the little glasses we were all supposed to get. So I had to drink top dollar whiskey out of a freaking plastic glass. I did not find this acceptable and a bad move on managements part. They should have given whatever they had out until they were gone and once gone--substitute with a glass from the bar. I am a cocktail snob and hate plastic. In fact I don't like drinking from plastic ever!
(3)Leif B.
I'd never been to Spin so this was my first time in this part of the Lumber Exch Bldg. Upon entering for a local rap show I was surprised at the massive space, amount of bars, and tables all over the place. Instantly impressed with the layout. However, we were at our table for over 75 minutes before getting our food, while 3 tables around us got theirs before we did, and they ordered after we did. Our server brought out a wrong order and gave it to another table, and then ours was another 30 minutes past that. My burger was good for a burger with eggs, hash browns, etc on it, but the bun looked like it had been ribbed in half and just thrown on top of the meat and toppings. I ordered a Jameson and Ginger which definitely was not such, it tasted more like a rum and coke at some points. Learn curves aside, I will be back to give them a second chance for sure. I know it's been open for only 8-9 weeks and there is an innate finesse to running a place like this that needs to be learned. Also, as a typical male I must state that the servers and bartenders (female) were extremely helpful, friendly, and attractive - enough to keep me coming back.
(3)Heather H.
Drinks were so over priced!! And it's a weird change from the evening to the night. Music does a complete 180. Outside games are fun. That's all the positive.
(3)Brandon C.
Last visit was for 612 brewing release.... The atmosphere is cool, they have many TV's, video games, shuffle board and other things to appeal to the folks. The atmosphere appeals to many, I enjoy this! The staff is attentive, sometimes overworked. I enjoyed the cheese curds a lot, but not so much some other apps. I have not eaten all of the menu, but many good beers. This makes me want to go back and it is a great happy hour local.
(4)Josh M.
Went here with a Friend and we'd definetely come back for the burgers, space is a little imposing on the ground level as it is multistory but would be a cool place to watch a game or special event due to the theater screen inside! I had cajun seasoning added to my burger, highly recommend it. If you're looking for a large and great burger Downtown and/or a large screen for a game or event I would definetely come here.
(4)Nazgul W.
I can't speak for the atmosphere at night, but I wanted to bump the Pourhouse up to three stars and update my review because we came in on a weekday afternoon and wanted to watch the A's-Rangers game on the last day of the baseball season, and were promptly attended to. The staff not only found the game for us on the MLB Network but also put the game on the giant screen for us. The server was helpful and appetizers we had were greasy but good. Thanks for accommodating a request for baseball amid all the Sports Center haze.
(3)Danielle B.
I had the pleasure of finding my way into this bar last weekend during my friend's bachelor party. Not only was is a blast to dance there but the hidden bookshelf and refrigerator door literally blew my mind. I can't tell you how excited I was. I found every bar was fun and had a good bartender as well as a good energy to each area. I would love to go back here.
(5)Kelsey P.
We had SUCH a wonderful time at Pourhouse tonight. Our server was such a sweetheart. And the food was delicious (see photos)! I'm not super fond of going downtown because I consider it expensive and inconvenient, but I will come back to Pourhouse. LOVE. Call me naive, but I was not expecting gender neutral restrooms and I was SO EXCITED when I came across them tonight. That's a major plus for me. Social justice, hoorah!
(5)Andrew A.
Awesome Buffalo Chicken Won Tons, great atmosphere, lots of TV's, great bartenders and bands!
(5)Richard L.
This place is pretty cool! As a visitor to MN I've never had cheese curds, and it just happened that this was the first stop on my Minnesota tour that happened to have them. So I ordered much to the chagrin of my compatriots who were condemning me for not getting the correct ones. Either way i had the Cheese curds here along with a few different local beers and had a chance to walk around the bar/restaurant. This place is pretty nice. Clean and kept up, a little work going on but i love the prohibition era like hidden walk ways to different areas and the fridge that is actually a door. Lastly - the drink specials are pretty good. Again from NYC every drink price here was awesome, but the specials were especially good! I never heard of this but apparently this place, at the end of every month - they have free beer until they empty their taps. What is this insanity!?! I'd take the day off and go there and drink until i can't stand!
(5)Carissa U.
Best nightclub in downtown. Go to watch a sports game and get a few drinks/apps and able to stay for the shitshow. Perfect! Then $10 lunch is an amazing deal as well!
(5)Emma S.
I can't say I've ever eaten at Pourhouse, but I've frequented it more times than I can count for their dancing and drinks. While it's one of the few halfway decent "clubs" in Minneapolis, I wouldn't write home about it. Pourhouse can be described as the place 20-somethings go to escape the campus and/or neighborhood bar slump. ByMe has a Thursday night deal where you can get free cover and free drinks from 10 p.m. to midnight, so this would be the night I'd recommend going. After all, you're going to spend enough money getting to and from Pourhouse to begin with. If you're already having a good night, Pourhouse is a good place to continue the fun until around 1 a.m. After that, the scene starts getting sketchy, and the guys don't seem to get the hint that you're not interested. Stick to the upstairs area, and you'll be clear of any downtown creeps that swarm the place on weekends. Overall, their gin and tonics aren't half bad, so I can't complain about much besides odd characters who roam around the massive bar. Prices aren't as bad as downtown could be, so it's a spot to check out if you haven't been, before.
(3)Brittney M.
The owner/manager completely disrespected our MSU alumni association group during the final four tonight! After we've given them so much service during football and bball season, they had a battle of the bands playing excruciatingly loud, mediocre metal music for the first 20 minutes of our game! On top of that, we had to get our own drinks from the bar, get a rag to clean a dirty table we wanted, and beg a waitress to finally come take our food order. I will never go back.
(1)Julianne Z.
I have come here for a night out and I am personally not a huge fan of pour house. Too many people, music isn't that great and somehow there is always a fight that breaks out. THe lines are super long, and once, I had to take a call outside and when I did, they told me the only way to enter back in was to wait at the beginning of the line again. That makes no sense! I had a stamp on my hand and they just saw me walk out. The one thing about this place that shocks me though, is their food and during HH, you can get a whole plate of nachos for $5. It is enough for 2 people to eat! Would def. come back for a HH but stray away from spending late nights here!
(3)Hannah T.
I love dancing, and it seems that the dancing has been diminishing in the cities. Maybe I just can't locate where the good beats lie, but I had a lot a blast at the Pourhouse! My friend put me on a list so I wouldn't have to pay the cover, but you have to get there before 11pm for that magic to work. Luckily, the host let us in anyways, I'm sure this won't always be the case. I'm not sure where this magical list is located, Facebook? Their website? Otherwise, it the cover is reasonable at about $5 They had coat check for $2, which is nice, I'm still angry us Minnesotans can't get free coat check when it is so cold we don't even want to come out, but do anyways! I'm not sure about the drink prices, they seemed comparable to other downtown establishments. All I know, is the music was fun for those who love top 40's and those who enjoy other music! Everyone was dancing and having fun. The music starts at 11:30 or 12:00am, so if you are looking to only dance, stop somewhere else first!
(4)Jessica S.
Pourhouse is an absolute cluster-you-know-what. The space is massive, boasting multiple bars and swarming with young intoxicated things. With the primary objective of getting hammered or finding a short-term partner, popular drinks include Kamikaze, Rum & Coke, Vodka Red Bull, and the like. Don't expect fancy-pants cocktails or even cheap house wine. Both times I've visited I was charged a $5 cover for some silly cover bands (neither of whom I could tolerate, but the young'ins seemed to enjoy), when I'd much rather prefer the DJ to keep playing top pop. A second story overlooks the dance floor. Look out below as drinks coming flying from above are not unheard of. One differentiator here is the Cirque du Soleil-ish acrobat that whirls around from strands of fabric or a hula hoop-like ring attached to the ceiling without safety devices. I'm sure if I was freshly legal, I'd have a blast at this place. But, as a crotchety old woman, nearing my third decade of life, I have little tolerance for a mess such as this. With this all being said, pay no mind to the "Duchess" status I have secured here....
(2)Andrew C.
A sweaty debacle of a place. A maze of rooms, over flowing trash bins, and the bathroom was disgusting. I won't even mention the food.
(1)Ian R.
More like 2.5. Atmosphere is cool and TVs are great. Don't ever order the nachos. My 8 yr old cousin could make better ones. So pathetic food here. Don't waste your money eating here, only on liquor.
(3)Tim O.
Not really a sports bar. Played heavy metal music over the college basketball games. Had to leave and find a real sports bar.
(1)Albert L.
Huge space, lots of wood paneling and seating everywhere. There are three bars inside and a large center stage for live acts to perform. Service is awesome and quick, the crowd is a good mix of people, and the location is unique. I really like the upstairs area with the huge "last supper" table. Tons of TV screens to watch the game from, and the staff will change channels for you if you request politely. Also, free beer and 35-cent wings on Sunday for certain games' first quarter? Heck yeah! Also, Bloody Mary bar on Sundays as well. No joke. If you're ever in downtown Minneapolis, hit up The Pourhouse.
(5)Renee W.
Two words: TATER TOTS. This is a frequent lunch spot when I am in town because I love the $10 lunch option that the Pourhouse has - and they also have a good happy hour selection as well. The tater tots here are why I have a serious tot addiction; crispy and salty on the outside and hot and mushy on the inside. The only way to eat them of course, is dipped in ranch. I also have had apps there - queso, buffalo bites and also the cheese curds. Cheese overload maybe, but a good beer that's on tap assists with the creaminess of all that cheese. Good selection of beers on tap as well.
(5)Megan E.
We rented out a section of the top floor for a friend's birthday. The bar had a fun atmosphere, a good band, and the wait staff were really attentive. Overall, a good experience.
(4)Matt G.
The Pourhouse is not for the poor at all. In fact the only think I was pouring out was my cash to get another drink, and they aren't cheap. The night I was there it was overcrowded, and too loud. The idea of the hidden doorways and passageways is cool, until you find yourself lost and have no idea how to get back to your friends! I have to say there are a few things I like about this place though. They have plenty of bars, so you are never too far away to refill your beverage. They have a beer-pong table and a bean bag games outside, if you can find your way to back. They also get some good bands to play there. I can see why some people love this place, and I can see why others hate it. I'm somewhere in the middle, its just not my style.
(2)Kasondra A.
My sister and I had the queso dip and chip appetizer and each had burgers for dinner. The food was outstanding. Our only dissapointment was the service. Our waitress was unpleasant and rarely checked on us. She also incorrectly placed both of our orders. The place was not that busy and we did not see her waiting on many tables. Even though the food was amazing I don't know if I will return because of how poorly we were treated.
(3)New_to_CA L.
Cool place! Went here for a pre-game party for UND hockey fans. Place was packed, but a friend of ours was on a first name basis with one of the bartenders, (Sarah I think?) and she hooked us up quickly. It has two levels so it can accommodate a lot of people. Made it upstairs the second day and there's another bar up there along with lots of seating, couches.. Huge projection screen in the center of the place. We didn't eat there so I can't comment on that, but it was awesome that they hosted UND fans.
(4)John D.
Just too loud and too expensive when there are plenty of other options. Maybe I'm just too old and cheap but I'll take my biz elsewhere.
(2)Tian Q.
Shitty: -What is this, little india?? WAY too fucking crowded -Lights were too bright and killed my beer goggles, and I needed my beer goggles Pros: -Friendly bartenders -Great covers by White Keys, but awful repertoire for the setting- too many songs from my 6th grade camp memories, and I couldn't force myself to dance to country
(2)Cyn L.
Best dance floor and love the different levels/vibes! I'd never come here to eat or sit around... arrive around midnight and be ready to dance!!
(5)Marissa C.
A friend and I decided to go to The Pourhouse after concert plans fell through and we wanted to go out and enjoy the evening. We scoured Yelp for a cool place, and stumbled across The Pourhouse. I had previously heard good things from friends and always thought to check it out while walking around downtown, so we decided to go for dinner. My friend and I arrived at 9:15 and were seated for dinner without any problems. We ordered way too much food to share, and while the menu consists of typical bar food, we were both surprised at how tasty, aesthetically pleasing, and inexpensive everything was. After we paid, we were just going to try to lay low and stick around for the music at 10:30pm, but the bartenders started walking around with drinks so we helped ourselves to a few. The cover band was actually pretty good and they played tons of 90s and early 2000s hits that the crowd was loving, and when it changed to DJ every 30 minutes or so, they played your usual club music with a healthy dose of sing along hits (Think R.Kelly's Ignition and SexyBack). The place itself is pretty cool - the second floor kind of bends around the lower level so you can see what's going on, and the variety of seating options make it great for a group night out. We saw the "secret door" bookcases swing open every once in a while but we didn't go back there, although I'll be sure to check it out next time I'm there and include a bit about that in this review. The bathrooms are nice too - the ones with the wood doors just up the staircase on the first level have cool newsprint wallpaper, and the stalls to the left were very clean and not typical sketchy bar bathrooms. The last point I want to make is in regards to the crowd - which I quite enjoyed. I don't know if it was just that particular night or if it's always like this, but it was less grungey than First Ave and more chill than most other clubs downtown (read, women a little more clothed and men less rapey), but nicer and a better dance scene than most bars I've been to. I'll definitely be back there soon.
(5)Lakshmi R.
This place is awesome . We went to this place around 1 pm on Saturday. Believe me this is place is freaking crowded. They got live show and it's so good. I like this place.
(5)David C.
Friendly and attentive bartenders and wait staff. Great service. Great drink specials on rails and beer during happy hour. Definitely a cool and affordable place to grab a drink after work. Come check it out! PROTIP: They have a huge screen spanning one of the walls, so it is a great place for game day.
(4)Sara O.
You would think a prohibition bar would be a bit more hidden but we were welcomed with open arms outside the front door. Walking in I noticed this place looks nothing like spin. It is replaced by numerous tvs, one in particular that stems two floors. I look forward to watching a badger game or two here. We found a spot by the giant jenga and began to play. It took ahwile to get a server and they didnt have drink menus yet but did have a few specialty cockails. One of which was the pantydropper which my husband and his buddy enjoyed. Good news is drinks came fast and they were tasty! The decor is sets a good tone and gives it a bit of a 1920s vibe but not enough for a prohibition type bar. There are multiple bars throught so coming by a drink should be easy. The see through bathrooms have been replaced with a good solid door thankfully. Make sure you go through the bookcase then the fridge to get to beer pong and bean bag toss. Thats if you havent had enough fun with jenga, buck hunter, golden tee, pool, and shuffleboard. Overall a decent vibe, lots to entertain you, and looks to be a good place to watch a game. I just wonder if it can't decide weather its a sports bar or cocktail lounge.
(3)Gabriel S.
very nice place. I was there for the victory party for the Red Ribbon Ride. They were very accommodating, had a very good price, super venue. The waiters also gave their tips from the night to the Red Ribbon Ride. I was there this weekend and had a burger and it was very good at a very good price for down town. It has a one of a kind atmosphere and I would suggest anyone go there and check it out!
(5)Deidred A.
I recently went to the Poorhouse for the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs. The Pourhouse was awesome. It has an East Coast vibe and modern decor that make it a fun place to hang out. The DJ did a great job alternating between the games and music. The bartenders are attractive while the waitresses were attentive. The food was OK; it was good for bar food. And they have huge TVs. Most importantly everyone was having a great time. Smiles everywhere. Just an atmosphere of "its January, its freezing, but we are going to have a great time." My only qualm is the unisex bathrooms upstairs. If you are looking to have fun with friends or just get a drink downtown the Pourhouse is a must go.
(5)Tim C.
Great queso!
(3)Brettan B.
Apparently you guys don't want to make money because we are sitting here on a Friday, during March Madness, and you have a packed house with ONE bartender and TWO waitress for two floors. Pretty pathetic. You'd think someone would call in a backup server or two??
(1)Amy S.
Food was above average for "bar food" but the service was a bit on the slow side (though friendly). We liked the Warren "Sapp" burger quite a bit. The decor was nice. Tip: On Friday and Saturdays they charge a cover at 10pm of $5, so get there earlier than that to avoid it.
(3)Jason K.
My buddy and I were off to our biweekly lunch at a new spot in the Twin Cities. We were going to hit the Greek restaurant below The Pourhouse, but there was a long line, so we tried the restaurant. You enter the establishment and you instantly notice how large it is. There is one movie theater size TV screen in the middle of the room and about 15 TVs that line the walls. There are a bunch of tables upstairs and about 25 tables that sit in front of a stage which had a drum set on this afternoon. We sat at a table downstairs and I instantly noticed about 14 taps lining the wall back by the bar. We found out that all beers are $3 during happy hour. Nice! Our waitress came by and was pretty nice; we looked over the menu, which had quite a few items on it. My friend and I ordered the open face Cuban. I ordered a sub side salad which I thought was $2.95 and my friend got some taco seasoned tater tots as what we thought was a sub for the potato chips because that is what it said you could do for the sandwiches, which were right above what we found out later were entrees and couldn't have subs, which we weren't told. Our waitress just asked us if he wanted tots, why would anyone want a gigantic plate of chips and a huge basket of tots? At least ask, you know you can't sub the chips for those right? Would have added a star too the review. So disappointing. Why are you trying to screw over new customers? We waited about 15 minutes, which was a little long for only having about 15 people in the place. Our waitress did refill my Diet Coke 3 or 4 times, which was nice. Our food came out and my salad came out on its own plate, I thought I had subbed? Huh. The Cuban was pretty huge on a baguette style long half a loaf. There was a good pile of shredded pork on top and a few slices of ham with a couple slices of cheese on top. The potato chips on the side were plentiful, good kettle style chips. The salad looked a lot like bagged Dole salad mix and the blue cheese on the side was nothing special. The pork was very dry compared some other Cubans I have tried, and the ham was unbelievably salty, like way over the top. The cheese kind of congealed on top. The bread was very crispy though and the best part of the sandwich. Really nothing special, my friend said it was reminiscent of Applebee's quality. My friend thought the sandwich was okay as well, but his tots were wonderful and crispy from the two I tried. The seasoning wasn't spicy enough for me, I would have gotten buffalo if it were me. Then came the bill and mine was $18.06. I was charged 3.95 for a salad I thought should have been $2.95 because that is what s sub was supposed to be. I thought to myself, "Huh?" Then my friend's came out and he was charged $5.50 for the tots. What!? We thought it was $1.50 to substitute tots. She explained you couldn't sub for "Entrees", just sandwiches. Who does that, I never have run into this issue where you can't sub. Boo. We explained we didn't understand that, she said let me check. I really expected her to make an adjustment since they are a new restaurant and maybe didn't understand their policy was confusing and not clear on the menu. Nope. So never back here for lunch, for $5, they lost two lunch customers for life and I have told a lot of people what happened. Bad word of mouth is not good for a new business. If it were me, I would have made an adjustment. Might try for happy hour, but never for lunch. Still, I left a good tip and we left very unhappy. Our waitress made a good lunch horrible at the end. It could have been so easy. Make the customer happy, especially if you are new.
(2)Ronnie G.
So I get it. This spot use to be occupied by 18+ clubs. So if you remember hitting on that hot high schooler here, I understand why you wouldn't want to come back to a low point in your life. That said, the pourhouse is legit (despite the fact it sounds like a place for broke wall street investors). First, I dig the music. The DJ's spinning an hour, the live band goes on for a half, back and forth. It's the right mix for the right crowd. And the crowd, not bad at all. When you have good music, the crowd goes south but the extra $5 cover. All in all, I've drank way more here than I expected. And you should too. Oh..and nice new format Yelp. I'll write more reviews now.
(5)Jess S.
This place was a blast to go to. I love dancing, and you cannot always find a great dancing place with great atmosphere. There are at least two levels and then dancing area was big enough to accommodate everybody. And there were a lot of people there! There was even a waitress type person in the bathrooms to give you towels after you washed your hands. Which I thought was kind of weird, but hey! Whatever. We went on their shitty cover band night and they were awesome! Great songs, great atmosphere, great place!
(5)Shawn S.
I like the Pour House and their prohibition style theme. It is ginormous inside, with lots of seating options - long high tops, booths, bars galore, and your typical bar and grill tables. Aggressive happy hours with food specials, and a lot of TV screens. I had not ever been here before but will make this a stop for whenever I'm trying to find space for a gathering of 20 or so of my besties.
(4)Bridget L.
I went here for the big Packers playoff game. It was great as a sports bar; TVs all around and the big game projected on the wall. The seating is weird as it used to be a club so the main floor has tons of open space which they filled with rows of tall tables. Any time you needed to get out you had to squeeze between the rows of people sitting at their tables. I'm not sure if this was the normal set up, but to me, it was awkward seating. That and it still had that club atmosphere. It was really open with the high ceilings and the balcony overlooking the main bar area which was an odd feeling. I tried their cheese curds which were really gross. I'm not a cheese snob or anything, these were just nasty; thick deep fried shell with gross solidified cheese on the inside. We had two orders on the table of 13 of us and both plates ended up going to waste. For my meal, I had their burger and while it tasted fine (nothing special) I got a little sick. Not food sickness sick, but something didn't sit right. It may have been those damn cheese curds but I can't be sure. Our service wasn't that great. It was hard to get the servers attention and she did not show any sort of personality. In her defense, it was busy. It was a good place to watch the playoffs but I wouldn't go back.
(2)Alycia M.
I have been here once since it opened. While it is not my favorite place it is definitely better than Bar Fly, which was here before. I went here for a Saturday night out on the town. When I got there there was a line, but it only took about 10-15 minutes and there was a $5 cover. I would have to say the speakeasy that they have upstairs to get to the bar is pretty neat. I loved the music they played, the band played a lot of 80's hits and when they went on break they had a DJ. It was a good mix of music, which makes for a fun night. However, the music was really loud so you had to yell to talk and it was extremely packed. They seem to have a lot of events. I happened to be there for the maxim party, which also had a giant inflatable slip in slide inside of the bar.
(3)Sam N.
Food is tasty enough, but you're certainly paying for it to be at LEAST so good. Drink options were OK, priced as you can expect downtown. I detested the ambiance. The place was just about empty, but it was impossible to have a conversation because the TV was so god-damn loud. Especially during commercials. I suppose I could see the appeal of going to this place to see a football game with people I didn't care to converse with much at all. Otherwise I see no reason to ever return.
(3)Jon C.
I recently went to The Pourhouse in order to support a friend during a Cystic Fibrosis benefit... In that benefit, a plethora of musicians played on the main stage of the bar (perhaps someone could call it a small venue?). Needless to say, I was impressed. The stage was viewable from virtually every place in the bar and the music sounded great... In addition, its decor is unique and polished. For example, its "book cases" that are in fact, "secret passageways" to other rooms was a wonderful surprise. As was the quality of their food which I originally expected to be your typical bar fair quality but turned out to be remarkably delicious. Last but not least, this establishment has amazing specials on Sunday... I will be returning :)
(4)Angela S.
I have only been to the Pourhouse 3 times. 2 of the 3 times have been for an afterparty for the Red Ribbon Ride, and one time was to have dinner. The only drinks I have had there have been beer and wine, so I can't say much for the drinks. But, I can comment on the food. It's ok. It's bar food. I honestly can't remember what kind of sandwich I had when I went there with my husband to eat, but I do remember eating the whole thing, so it couldn't have been too bad. The service wasn't great that night, hence the three stars. My husband had some questions about a couple different food items he was contemplating ordering, and the server just appeared to be really annoyed with this. (It wasn't anything like, "Can you tell me an exact calorie count of each of the items that will come on my plate" it was more of a, "How many ounces is this burger". We were only asking because we were staying downtown for our anniversary and didn't have a way to bring anything back with us and keep it cold.) For the Red Ribbon Ride parties that we have been there for, the Pourhouse has been great. The servers are constantly replenishing the food at the mini buffet of appetizers that they set up for us. The secret passage way behind the bookcase is always fun to go and explore. One thing our party got hooked on was trying to catch a lobster in the lobster tank. No one succeeded, but it was fun trying!
(3)K P.
Service was terrible. It was a early May Friday night after work and the place was dead. I had pick two 1/2 sandwich and 1/2 salad. I was there in May and they have since changed the menu and the chicken sandwich I had isn't even available anymore. We also had nachos which were good though.
(2)Raj B.
I had heard that the Pourhouse was a decent place to go and had a chance to check it out recently. I caught the tail end of the hockey game (the big screen is good for that), but there weren't places to sit (I got a table, but a waiter came after a little while and said they needed to move all the tables off the dance floor; half an hour later, the table was still there and occupied by a group of older women), drinks were very weak, and we were overcharged because the bartenders and servers did not know about the drink specials that had been advertised (they explicitly acknowledged that they did not know about any drink specials). I was even charged a different amounts (all higher than the correct price) every time I ordered the same drink (3-4 times)!
(2)Lindsay B.
I went to the Pourhouse last week to see a friend's band play. My first impression was - great! We ate dinner - the food was okay, but definitely nothing exceptional. The layout of the space is great and the sound quality was good too. My only complaint was the design aesthetic and the TV screens. I'm not quite sure what they were going for with the interior design. It didn't seem to match the "poorhouse" theme. The MOST AGGRAVATING part was that they kept the semi-circle full of flat screen TVs on during the band's performance. It was distracting to me as a spectator and so I can only imagine how distracting it was for the band looking straight at them. I mentioned this to the hostess on our way out and she said "some people want to watch the game." Personally, I didn't know what game she was talking about since I'm not a sports fan, but you need to choose - either you're a sports bar or you're a music venue. Not both!! I'll go again if I see a good band on the schedule, but other than that I probably wouldn't go hang out there.
(3)Jeni S.
We went with a group of 9. The food was great and we loved the vibe. We wouldn't hesitate to go back and in fact plan to soon!
(4)