When last we spoke to ex-Old Toad manager Joe McBane about his new bar opening in the original MacGregor's building, he was a little vague on the details. By August he had yet to decide on the bar's name and could only allude to a signature brew that was in the works. In fact, one of the only concrete things McBane could tell us was that the bar would be "the best beer bar in Rochester."
Three months later, the bar has been dubbed Tap & Mallet (referring to the process of using a mallet to drive a tap into a cask), the now-revealed signature brew - McBane's Best Bitters - has quickly become the bar's best-seller, and there's a plethora of satisfied patrons who'd be glad to stand behind McBane's initial claim.
"There's lots of really smiley, happy faces," McBane says, now that the bar has just passed its one-month anniversary. "I really want to make my mark as a great destination in Rochester for good beer and I think we're doing it by staying focused on what we are. It makes for a good, relaxed, mellow vibe in here."
On any given night, Tap & Mallet offers more than 100 different beers to choose from (30 on tap and more than 70 bottles) ranging from the familiar - Labatt, Miller, Heineken - to the more exotic - Kasteel Rouge, Blue Point Hoptikal Illusion, Butternuts Snapper Head IPA. What makes Tap & Mallet so unique among other "beer-themed" bars is that the tap lineup changes nightly, so not only can you try something new every night of the week, but you can be assured that the beer coming out of the tap is fresh. In addition, Tap & Mallet allows customers to "try before they buy," providing samples of beers upon request so they can make sure they're happy with their order.
"I want people to be able to come in here and drink what they drink," McBane says. "I don't want to come across as all snobby about beer. We want people to have something they enjoy and make trying something new less risky for them."
Tap & Mallet serves only beer and wine (no liquor), but also offers a full menu of foods that fall somewhere in between casual and fine dining (consider that Mex owner Casey Walpert is a partner in the establishment and you'll get the general vibe). While you'll still find pub grub standbys like chicken wings, nachos and burgers, you'll also find unexpected choices like caramelized shallots with goat cheese tarts, shrimp Diablo, and mussels. Tap & Mallet even serves its own version of bangers and mash (though the menu calls it sausage and mash) made with its own homemade sausage recipe.
"It's all stuff that we like to eat," McBane says. "We wanted it all cooked from fresh and we wanted it to be sort of like comfort food with good flavors, but it's not fine dining."
McBane also has big plans for the bar's future: Tap & Mallet's walls double as a gallery of sorts for work by prominent local artists (works by Paul Dodd and Mark Moore are currently on display), and McBane intends to keep the artwork going up on a rotating basis. He is holding a New Year's Eve beer dinner featuring a four-course meal paired with complementary beers; and as we roll into 2008, McBane plans to begin something akin to a "beer school" offering themed tasting events with discussions led by brewers.
"There's a clear social aspect to beer and I want to focus on that and have fun with it," McBane says. "I just want people to come in, enjoy and be happy."
Tap & Mallet is located at 381 Gregory Street, and is open daily 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Food is served until midnight. For more information call 473-0503.
Comments for "Tap & Mallet" (12)
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Jason said on Dec. 11, 2007 at 6:18pm
I have been here twice and have enjoyed it each time! The fish and chips as well as the NY strip steak were excellent and the portions more than enough to satisfy an hearty appetite. And having a beer selection that changes keeps the place interesting and forces me to try new things, and it helps you can sample before you buy!
Rochesteraddict said on Dec. 12, 2007 at 8:14am
Tap and Mallet rocks. Best beer selection I have had anywhere in the world. And Ive been to every country there is.
The interior isnt memorable, but who cares the beer selection is sweet.
cathy said on Dec. 28, 2007 at 2:43pm
To DD,
Nothing special? Where have you ever seen a better beer selection in Rochester? Maybe you're not a beer lover; in that case, I guess you wouldn't think it was special. Try going to a place with similar beer choices in Toronto, Atlanta, NYC, etc. The prices are not out of line. When it comes to food and drink, Rochesterians say they want quality but don't want to pay for it.
DD said on Dec. 23, 2007 at 7:44am
I dunno, I liked it alright and all, but I didn't think it was anything really special. The food we got was just ok and while they had a good beer selection I thought it was a little over priced - not a lot, but $.50 - $1 more than the same beer at other places. We'll go back to try again, but I don't think I'd call it the best bar in Rochester or the best beer selection in the world.
Woody said on Jan. 17, 2008 at 5:22pm
This bar does NOT open at 4:00pm. I've tried to get a beer after work 3 times since they have opened and I am amazed that with all the media buzz this place has gotten and the glowing blog reviews that the Tap and Mallet have received, they have dropped the ball on a chance to pick up the hard working, blue collar dollar that longs for a good beer selection at NORMAL happy hour time in the city of Rochester.
Will never go back and will share my disgust. FOOLS!
superprez said on Jan. 17, 2008 at 5:44pm
Rock on Woody! They can stick the bangers and mash up their 5 hole for ignoring the huge crowds that once swelled McGregors on any given weekday!
Going elsewhere!
Stewie said on Feb. 19, 2008 at 2:22pm
Yessss the whole idea is to keep the townies out with their superior linguistic skills and fancy micro-brews, if it's budweiser and a bowl of pretzels you're looking for there's a little place I know called Townie's Tavern. Low and behold however I am not really vouching for this place just makin fun of you sad mothahuckas!
Patrick said on Feb. 25, 2008 at 11:11am
I went this past Friday for the 1st time since it was MacGregors. I must say the beer selection is outstanding, the food is good - with that being said, please spend $30 a night and hire a hostess. To represent yourself as an upscale establishment and have people have to fight for their table with each other because there is no wating list is ridiculous. Come on, pull it together. I have probably been to 100 different eatery/watering holes - never come across something so dumb
JustWantABeer said on Feb. 28, 2008 at 2:06pm
I have been to the Tap and Mallett quite a few times and will continue to go back because it is a neighborhood bar. The beer is great, the food is OK. However, I have NEVER experienced such horrible service anywhere. Each and every time I go I think that it can't get any worse; I am wrong. It is next to impossible to get someone to wait on you if you are at a table in the bar even if you already have a tab going. Please don't get me wrong, I am not talking about it being super busy and the wait staff is running around trying to maintain the numerous tables that they have. There are usually a few sullen looking people lurking around in black. I once sat at the bar (after wasting 15 minutes dangling my feet at one of the bar tables) and stared at 4 people's backs (including McBane's) for over 5 minutes before one of them turned around and said "Oh, did you want something?" I have no problem paying for good beer and a good atmosphere in which to drink it but I don't think that some semi-prompt service is too much to ask for. Hire one person with good bar experience and whip those people in to shape!
GEO said on Mar. 07, 2008 at 7:48am
JUSTWANTABEER - I couldn't agree more!!! They really need to make changes if they are going to make it. The service just keeps getting worse and worse!
Spanky said on Mar. 07, 2008 at 8:11am
You folks are way too upset about happy hour, beer and waiting for food.
Dr. Doug Shearer said on Oct. 27, 2008 at 12:19am
Nice new shiny furniture, everything "right purty,"...but this place will NEVER replace the old McGregor's bar that used to be here. After a hard day of cutting up bodies at the Medical Examiner's Office..."the Mac" was a welcoming place to have a great burger and one of the several beers on tap. What happened? But alas...all good things must come to an end. "New and shiny" will never replace McGregor's. So, it's off to the lake!
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