Old Broadway

12/4/2006 8:54:07 AM, monday, december 04, 2006
I have visited this bar hundreds of times, and speak with great experience. Purely mainstream beers that no frequenter of RateBeer would drink (Miller, Bud, and shit like that). The establishment is an eclectic mix, showing transformations over the years. The Old Broadway’s origins were that of a local peanut and beer pub, it grew and grew, becoming a hard rock dance and drinking bar (with very poor quality drinks) to an off-track betting and pool hall, to a Hip-Hop "rave" club (rave in the Fargo interpretation that is). The bar now caters almost solely to college kids and blacks. In a city that is 90% white, it does not do a good job of being a Hip-Hop club or a rave. The prices, however, are very reasonable and there are always drink specials. Basically, for $20 you can get smashed on rot gut liquors. Of course, the standard kiddy fare is available (Rumplemintz, GoldSchlager, etc.). There are no good beers available, nor does the environment promote leisurely enjoying a good beverage. This is a easy place to get into a fight (and I speak from years of experience and dozens of fights). Warning, if you win said fight, leave fast as the police will arrive and they will arrest the winner, even if the loser started the fight (and they usually do). This is a place to avoid, spend your money elsewhere in Fargo, the Ho-Do (Hotel Donaldson) would be a good start.

12/17/2005 2:33:52 PM, saturday, december 17, 2005
I was here twice while in Fargo. I ate at the restaurant both times. Tiled floors and old school ceilings set the mood. I was more than a bit excited when I opened the menu and saw a list of nearly 100 bottled beers. Taps were pretty mainstream (heine, guiness, Leiny Honey, and BMC stuff). Bottled beers were heavy on Euro & american pale lagers, with a few quality ones and a couple I’d never heard of. There was a decent selection of american micros (anchor, Goose Isalnd, Summit, Sierra, Rogue, ect...). I had an Ayinger Altbiersch Dunkel and anchor steam on my visits, and both were in good shape. The "club" or bar permits smoking, the restaurant does not(Fargo law). The service was good and friendly on the restaurant side. Sitting in the huge, dead bar for a drink after dinner proved to be annoying as the bartender felt the need to chat us up. It took my friend telling him he was gay to get the guy to leave us alone! He claimed the place was rocking on the weekends, but not a soul was there on either of my 2 weekday visits. On Wed they do a little beer sampling that apparently you can join a club and keep coming back for. I don’t live there. This particular Wed the beer for sampling was Pete’s Stawberry Blonde. While this is not exactly a beer enthusiasts haven, one can find some better than average beers here and have a good meal.