Oh, Pub!

Oh, Pub!  What is with this new craze in America?  Unlike our British counterpart, many of these new start-up pubs are bland. No style. Stealy.

https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/english-pubs-vs-us-bars-15-reasons-why-british-pubs-are-better-than-american-bars

You can't have a conversation in these places.  The acoustics are non-existent, the place isn't necessarily clean - new grunge, as some refer to it.  It is pure and simple - a watering hole.

I don't much care for this type of entertainment.  Since I am not a drinker - have never felt the need to inebriate in order to forget my troubles, or even, have a good time.  Apparently, many do.  They cater to the 30-40-50 crowd.  I have to wonder if these frequenters will lose their hearing in a few years because of all the noise.

As one who prefers smaller gatherings, meaningful conversation, you have a better chance of finding me in a nice little restaurant with a friend or two.  Clean bathrooms, good service.  Ambient matters so how the owners designed the place is important.  Whether it is done on the cheap, artsy, simplistic, I don't care.  I do like to see what others put together.

I am saddened that my town has succumbed to the beer joint idea.  Few offer food at the table.  Some do food trucks.  FOOD TRUCKS?  Who wants to eat out of them?  Had enough of them during my Rutgers days.  The food is usually palatable but I just don't want to be served on paper plates, paper utensils. You understand where I am going now.

Pubs in Maine are a whole different situation.  The food is usually pretty good, served at the table and reasonably priced.  Sure, it is pub food, not necessarily organic, fried on the grill.  The bathrooms are always clean and the seating is family friendly.  They also have higher revenues which explains why my little town has sparse beer joint offerings.

Nope, you won't find me in one of those places again.  Unless it is 4 p.m. before the crowd gathers.  No doubt I will have cider in my hand.  I'll only consume half of it because it doesn't bode well in my digestive tract.

I'll be looking out for the next Annie's Bakery.  A place where multi-generations can gather  Where the food is healthy and where you never know when you will meet your next friend.

In a pub?  I don't think so. At least not here.  Most likely, I'll be on the mountain.  The food is delicious, the company grand and the bathrooms immaculate.