People's Pub (Ballard)
5429 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 783-6521
Website
Every seat in the bar of the Ballard institution the People's Pub is occupied by congenial types hoisting pints of beer and eating, eating, eating. A plate of the deep-fried pickles and a pint will erase anything bad from your mind, at least temporarily, and when it comes to the kind of hearty fare necessary to power through dark, cold winters, this is the place. The goulash soup—thick, paprika-colored, with chunks of beef and pieces of spätzle suspended in it—is good; the Wienerschnitzel is epic. The decor is pubby, for the people; look for the flag (for a German soccer team, maybe?) depicting the extremely muscular rooster, glowering directly at you while feeling his immense bicep with a weird, feathered hand.
Categories: Bar, Restaurant
Restaurant Details
Bar Details
The Stranger's Reviews of People's Pub
-
The Happiest Hour: People's Pub in Ballard Jul 16, 2009
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Bar Exam: From the Fryer Jun 30, 2005
- Write your own review of People's Pub »
Average Rating:
Reviews/Comments (10)
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10
Yep, the service is terrible
The service is terrible but the food is great. The servers are nice but so slow and often mess up orders. One time, however, the server brought me the wrong dish entirely but I ended up loving it.
9
grilled cheese and tomato soup for $4!!!
took my maternal unit (aka mom) here recently - her background is 1/2 german, and she adores most things german. we were there literally 3 minutes before happy hour was scheduled to end, so the waitress let us know immediately, and we ordered the grilled cheese & tomato soup, which during happy hour (early happy hour, from 4-7:00) is only $4! also got some potato salad (not the nastyass mayonnaise-laden kind you get most plaes - this is vinegar & mustard-based) and a green salad, and it was all fresh and delicious.
on wednesdays if you go during happy hour they offer $1 off all the german food (which is just about the entire menu) and on other days they have other day-specific happy hour offers.
the service i've experienced there has only ever been prompt and friendly, so i don't know what other users are talking about. 'course i always sit in the front part, not the back bar...
on wednesdays if you go during happy hour they offer $1 off all the german food (which is just about the entire menu) and on other days they have other day-specific happy hour offers.
the service i've experienced there has only ever been prompt and friendly, so i don't know what other users are talking about. 'course i always sit in the front part, not the back bar...
8
Poor Service Schmoor Service! The P's Pub Rocks.
To the schmiel that thinks poor service is the thing at the People's Pub, maybe here is the small problem - YER A DEMANDING FUCK.
Quite seriously, demanding fuckheads will not obtain quality, or even nonquality service. The guy who sits and snaps his fingers at the waiter will find himself happily ignored while the guys who lounge with elbows in pools of beer at the bar chat politics slowly with the guy pouring doubleshots of Maker's on the rocks. The in-and-out crowd who love to bounce from bar to bar will not like the People's Pub, because the PP loves to take it slow. German food here is the kind of soul food you'd find in Munich or Munchausen - if soul food has a polka backbeat to it. The beers are ALWAYS good and authentically presented.
So, to the Legendary Poor Service man, we salute and tip our lederhosen in your general direction - obviously, the People's Pub, with its friendly, easy-going bartenders, mellow waitresses, and full selection of food are obviously not for you. For all others, come down - this hole in the wall is a hole in the Berlin Wall straight back to the pubs I remember drinking in for hours with friends in Munich and Stuttgart - no pretense, no real mission to serve and seat as fast as possible - just good beer, good people, and good food - and exceedingly beautiful women who come in for all three.
Quite seriously, demanding fuckheads will not obtain quality, or even nonquality service. The guy who sits and snaps his fingers at the waiter will find himself happily ignored while the guys who lounge with elbows in pools of beer at the bar chat politics slowly with the guy pouring doubleshots of Maker's on the rocks. The in-and-out crowd who love to bounce from bar to bar will not like the People's Pub, because the PP loves to take it slow. German food here is the kind of soul food you'd find in Munich or Munchausen - if soul food has a polka backbeat to it. The beers are ALWAYS good and authentically presented.
So, to the Legendary Poor Service man, we salute and tip our lederhosen in your general direction - obviously, the People's Pub, with its friendly, easy-going bartenders, mellow waitresses, and full selection of food are obviously not for you. For all others, come down - this hole in the wall is a hole in the Berlin Wall straight back to the pubs I remember drinking in for hours with friends in Munich and Stuttgart - no pretense, no real mission to serve and seat as fast as possible - just good beer, good people, and good food - and exceedingly beautiful women who come in for all three.
7
Comfortable place, attentive service.
Excellent selection of German beers and a few English ones for you obnoxious kids that can't go drinking anywhere without wearing your 'football' jerseys.
Only bar I've seen yet that pours Koestritzer, the Schwarzbier that sustained Goethe through illness.
Delicious sausauge. Delicious mustard. Delicious Schnitzel.
Ausgezeichnet. Ich liebe Die Volkskneipe.
Excellent selection of German beers and a few English ones for you obnoxious kids that can't go drinking anywhere without wearing your 'football' jerseys.
Only bar I've seen yet that pours Koestritzer, the Schwarzbier that sustained Goethe through illness.
Delicious sausauge. Delicious mustard. Delicious Schnitzel.
Ausgezeichnet. Ich liebe Die Volkskneipe.
6
Favorite Pub
I love People's Pub. It's so unassuming about... everything? Yet it's got a massive reasonably priced beer selection, you can sit there for hours, it's not too loud (although you may have trouble finding a table) and the fries are great - only german & bar food though - but still great.
5
great institution
The beer selection is great, the ambience is great, the food is great. It's also strangely possible to find a single table opening up as you arrive (or maybe that's just me).
I wouldn't say the poor service is "legendary," but on weekends, service can be a little slow. Go there sometime when it's raining out. Get the pickles.
4
Deed Fried Pickles
Anywhere you can get deep fried pickles is good news. It is worth a visit just for these.
3
I love this place
I love this place. The happy hour pork croquette and some hacker schorr... mmmm.
the bartender used to be this wonderful nice blond woman. she's still there sometimes but other times the staff is not as friendly. it diminishes the charm, but it's still a great place.
2
Legendary Poor Service
This place is known for it's poor service. It's not uncommon to sit at a table for 10 minutes without even a nod from the staff. If you can endure the horrendous service, the food is good german food and the beer is great.
People's Pub
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