Duke's Alehouse and Kitchen

User Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I was sad to see the more traditional bar menu go when Duke's remodeled last year, but the new menu is just as good - just different. The quality of the food has been stepped up a notch, as has the variety. Now you can get seafood, flatbread pizzas, and even homemade mac n cheese. Though the new menu has much better quality food, the prices are still pretty reasonable. I thought at first that they were converting mostly to a restaurant, but it's still more of a bar - good place to go for drinks after work or to see live music on the weekend.

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User Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

When Duke's was a smoky bar for the borderline 21 alternative rock crowd, we ate there a few times and loved the food every time. I think the smoking and the had to get out before the amateur alternative rock band showed up kept us from frequenting the place.
Now, however, it's non-smoking. The old crowd is in the bar for the most part. The menu, and I'm guessing the chef have changed completely, to the fresh, local theme. I was put off at first, because the menu is not very interesting, at first or second glance. By now I have eaten there a couple of times. Personally, I have had the meatloaf and the Tallgrass hamburger. The meatloaf was very good and the burger was the best in town. That is saying something, because there are 3 great burgers now in town. This was easily the highest price, but it's grass-fed beef, which costs 2-3 times as much to buy as "modern" beef (bef?) Also, it's big enough to split with someone and try an appetizer or salad. I had a family size group of adults there, ordering a wide variety of the food and no one was disappointed. The point is, once you find something to order, which is not so easy, the food is definitely a notch up for the given entrees. It's more "bar food" than fine dining, but at a very high level.
The nonsmoking environment makes it a more enjoyable dining room. I highly recommend getting there early enough to see the Rick Embach Duo on Thursdays. If you like jazz, you will love these guys. They are done around 8. I think they start in the late afternoon, but call. It's the best kept secret for live entertainment in town. Later, another guy named Dave Sarkus, whose act I have not yet caught plays for the later crowd. These acts have been around all summer on Thursdays . I don't know when they might be replaced, but it would be a shame to miss the Embach Duo while you have the chance. They can do requests from a large repetoire.

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User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding food now. The wonderful part about the food is that it is all from local growers and tastes so fresh. The dining area is comfortable and up to date and the dishes offered are fantastic.

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