Cheers to Scotty's

One of the newest restaurants to descend upon the Bloomington dining scene is Scotty's Brewhouse, a "Chicago-esque, Brick-style" new-age version of Cheers. The upbeat atmosphere of the restaurant is an invitation to people of all ages to meet up with friends or catch a game on one of the big screen TVs.\nWhile the presence of a sports bar is apparent, Scotty's is a much more refined establishment than a regular pub. Beyond "Margaritaville" on the jukebox, Scotty's offers live jazz and blues bands and the occasional karaoke night. \nSituated on the corner of Walnut and Seventh St., Scotty's is located in downtown Bloomington and it provides a great spot to meet with friends either to begin a night of partying or just hang out.\nThe Brewhouse is open to all ages during dining hours, which last until 10 p.m. weeknights and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. While the kitchen closes at the end of dining hours, the bar is open to the over-21 crowd until 3 a.m. Monday through Saturday. \nBut don't get caught at the tail end of the dining experience. We hear the carrot cake is delectable. Unfortunately, we missed our chance to taste the dessert. For those of you with a sweet tooth, we advise you to show up with the early crowd. When they say the kitchen closes at 11 p.m., they mean it! Our dessert menu was swiped from our table without any last chance to order. \nWhile the service was prompt, the desert situation epitomized our personal service as a whole. At 11 p.m. sharp Scotty's transforms into a complete bar. Apparently our server was too occupied returning the salt and pepper shakers to check back after bringing us our meal. The meal felt rushed to the two of us, probably due in part to our arrival time. Finally, while innocently perusing our bill, one of our delicious entrees was taken without any warning. So much for a doggy bag.\nIf only we could have taken some of the excellent beer home. \nScotty's brews their own beer: Scotty's Wise Ass Amber Ale. This beer is just one of what we would call an extensive beer list. There are more than 30 drafts with everything from Guinness and Bud Light to Bloomington's own BBC Quarryman Pale Ale. Oliver Winery and Kendall Jackson, among others, were present in the wine list. \nThe food itself was downright hearty. Scotty's concentrates on bar room meals such as burgers, wraps, deli sandwiches and pasta dishes. We tried the Brewhouse Buffalo Wings to start things off. If you like your wings spicy, get them in "Mo-'Fo-'Hot." The Bow Tie Blues, a veggie pasta dish, tantalized our tastebuds with its exquisite Italian flavor. We also test drove a plump Swiss-n-shroom burger that was absolutely delicious. \nScotty's Brewhouse aims to cater to its customers. There's a gift shop, an interactive Web site (www.scottysbrewhouse.com) and even curb-side service so you can get take-out without even leaving your car. They also offer a "frequent-flyer-style" VIP card that offers awards for repeat customers. \nOverall, Scotty's is a sociable scene for dates or groups. Its combination of lively atmosphere and excellent food offers customers the ability to enjoy one another's company, catch a game, talk about classes, discuss politics, ponder the possibility of graduating…well you get the idea.