Best Bar in Greensboro, "Take 2" - Old Town Draught House

Best Bar in Greensboro?

I've been quite fond of MCoul's for sometime. Their Euroesque public house, themed of Ireland, and selling Guinnesses from the tap, in full British pint glasses, made me an instant fan. Indeed it still is the only place I know I can get real fish and chips in Greensboro. That said, I've become quite fond of the Old Town Draught House on Spring Garden Street.

MCoul's has a friendly atmosphere, and an awesome wait-staff unlike any I've ever met,  but the downtown location and uppity garden area for snooty city-elite diners often attracts members of the upper class. You know the type. They wear big sunglasses, carry handbags the size of a Smart-Cars, and take their friends to McCouls, because they want to show how diverse and influenced Greensboro is. Sure there's those of us upstairs cowering in the corner, half passed out with beer all over our Wal-Mart uniforms too, but it's generally because we're too darn embarrassed to walk out past our bosses on the front patio.

Then there's the Old Town Draught House, literally on the campus of UNCG. It's small, it's quaint, it's like the bar in Cheers but shrunken down to the typical size of a corner-side English pub. It's also the only bar in town that has "that feel", of authenticity. You will bump into people, you will start up a chat, and you will feel like you're in an actual pub with actual real, normal people just trying their best to have fun.

I of course must disclose that I am a student, and may frequent Old Town Draught House more than I should after an inordinately difficult French quiz, but, I really, really, like this bar. This was despite, Friday's visit, that found me face to face with a single bartender who seemed to short-change us on our full pints of Guinness. She was nice, and it could have been a "mistake", but none-the-less, the pub could use another bar-tender.

The food is awesome. Order the cheese fries, (no really, order them) and you get a foot-by-foot arc of seasoned fries covered in cheese and bacon and a side of ranch. If you know me, you know I love fries and ranch. I heart you OTDH! Their salsa is fresh and spicy, and their three onion and mushroom burger rivals any I've had at most finer restaurants.

The truth is I love MCouls and Old Town Draught in different ways. Both are amazing and fun, but if I don't want the hassle of worrying about what I'm going to wear to the bar, or just want to be in the presence of a non-judgemental college crowd, and drunkard faculty, then there's only one place where everyone knows your name.