MacGregors Grill and Tap Room

5/28/2008 2:13:24 PM, wednesday, may 28, 2008 [ Updated thursday, may 29, 2008 ]
I’ve only been once, but I wasn’t happy with any part of my experience. The huge draft selection was really just a bunch of beer from only a few breweries. Everything they offer is readily available in plenty of other places in town. Nothing unique, nothing to make me say WOW, I’d love to try that one.” Food was of the pre-frozen deep fried variety. Nothing tasted as if it were actually made fresh on premises. The table staff knew nothing about beer at all. Clearly it’s the kind of place that would be great if I were still in college and hadn’t developed any discerning tastes, but thankfully I left that world behind a long time ago. I’m sure the nearby RIT kids will keep the place packed and successful for many years to come.

5/10/2008 1:26:49 AM, saturday, may 10, 2008
Fun, and a good selection. Completely unpretentious.

4/10/2008 1:27:59 PM, thursday, april 10, 2008
Huge number of taps, many I had never had and some I had never heard of. Food is a little bit more than your average bar food. Pretty crowded, but it was Friday evening so that was expected. I went looking for their house beers brewed by Southern Tier, only to find out that they no longer had them on tap. That was kind of a bummer, but the rest of the stuff they had on tap made me get over it real quick.

3/17/2008 10:18:53 PM, monday, march 17, 2008
Located right near RIT, tons of beers on tap 136. good its not bad. but its a fairly nice enviorment to hand out if your in the younger croud.

8/2/2007 7:55:34 PM, thursday, august 02, 2007
It was early evening, and a lot fo drinkers, some eaters. Little staff, wait a bit for a bartender but not too unhappily. Sixty taps I counted, but there could very well be the 130 plus as stated, mostly the local stuff, and also a handful of national interesting ones. Turnover looked good. Core aged crowd, music not too loud, tables but nothing in the way of privacey here.A fairly roomy place, not far from the entry shopping place going to Rochester from the I-90. Prices at all of the bars I have been in Rochester are reasonable.

6/14/2007 2:46:45 PM, thursday, june 14, 2007
136 beers on tap at the Jefferson Road location. Busy when RIT is in session. Bartenders at McG’s have never set any records for outstanding service, but the beer selection is why you go. Food is middle-of-the-road. Newest location in Webster is nice, but much fewer taps. The old Rochester location was great (those bartenders were good), I miss it.

3/19/2007 9:54:21 PM, monday, march 19, 2007
Nothing real special here. No west coast beers besides Anchor, SN. wheres the stone, bear republic, rogue. Every saranac known to man is there though. lots of macros & not many if any taps that make you say Wow they have that.

9/11/2006 3:49:31 PM, monday, september 11, 2006
Pervasive smell of bleach throughout the building. Good selection, with some surprises. Fairly pedestrian pub grub menu. Similar selection, menu and smells at the other locations.

9/5/2006 1:21:55 PM, tuesday, september 05, 2006
This place is draft beer heaven. The staff doesn’t always know the beer however so you may want to look over the online menu ahead of time and come prepared. Food is so-so, normal bar fare.

2/26/2006 7:37:21 PM, sunday, february 26, 2006 [ Updated monday, june 11, 2007 ]
This is my favorite MacGregor’s. The tap list is gigantic (the most of any MacGregor’s, about 120 or so), and while it is heavy on the lagers, there are more than enough others to choose from. The main beef with the selection is that they don’t deal with some local distributors, hence no DFH, Smutty, Stone, Victory, Avery, and the list goes on. I have found myself going to other local bars that have far less taps, but a far more interesting selection. It is a pity how Macgregor’s has declined. Lots of Brooklyn, Ithaca, and Southern Tier (ST also makes their house brews now, including an outstanding Milk Stout). The prices on the beer are good ($3-$4 for an imperial pint). The food is generally pretty good pub food (try the Tremendous Fries or Buffalo Chicken Sandwich). There is a deck, a couple pool tables and dartboards, and some arcade machines. Service is acceptable, but sometimes slow. One caveat for those picky about glassware is that virtually everything is served in a 20oz mug. That really doesn’t bother me, though. During the school year, there are usually a bunch of RIT students in here, who usually come in and promptly order pitchers of Blue Light or Mich Ultra.