Pooley's
Update 5/5/11: Per email from Pooley's owner, a different food operator (Dog Eat Dog) will take over from Exceptional Catering on 6/6/11.
In a word: Okay for a "SPORTS!!!" bar.
The specs: #0492
Address, hours & details via Isthmus; reviews at Yelp, , listing at Eat Drink Madison; official web site; Exceptional Catering web site,
Latest Pooley's news and reviews
JM ate the club sandwich with fries and a lemonade.
Nichole ate the knuckle sandwich with coleslaw and a Winter Skal.
The bill was $23, or $11.50/person, plus tip.
JM gave Pooley's a B+; Nichole gave Pooley's a B- (see our grading rubric).
Pooley's is one of the few places out by American Parkway where office folks can strap on their feedbags. The aggressively sporty decor goes well in the gymnasiumlike interior, which houses a full volleyball court (or the like, we just peeked and quickly retired to a booth to get on the wifi).
JM's club successfully balanced its hot and cold components, though there was nothing of particular note in it. The fries were light and crisp but had a unmistakably fishy overtone. We're guessing the fish fry oil was the same as that for fries.
Nichole deserved a knuckle sandwich to go with her ultra-cold Winter Skal. The sandwich was described as "not a knuckle bone, but an 8 pound boneless roast, cooked slow, shredded" so it was odd to get basically a sliced roast beef sandwich. That said, the horseradish was truly zingy and the Swiss cheese went well. The veggie slaw was mostly broccoli in a vinegar dressing that toed the bitter vs. bland line, but it was filling and felt moderately healthful.
This reflects more poorly on Pooley's than it should, but Nichole's bottom line is that she'd just as happily gone to Arby's for the 5 for $6 deal, with plenty left over for a six pack of each our favorite tipples. But to each her own.
That description sounds like you're going to get an eight-pound sandwich! Pooley's is not my favorite place. I've only been there once and I don't plan to go back. Ever.
Posted by: Amanda | January 11, 2010 at 10:07 AM
I read that Arby's roast beefs are like 20% pork.
Posted by: Timmy | January 11, 2010 at 11:43 PM
Where, on Uncyclopedia?
Posted by: nichole | January 12, 2010 at 11:07 AM
I loathe Pooley's. Might be the worst hang out in Madison. I've never had their food.
Posted by: jomama | January 13, 2010 at 11:38 PM
Ahh yes, the Pooley, Pedro's, and Prime Quarter trinity of bad restaruants that wouldn't survive without the American Center office workers (of which I am one)who live east of I-90(which I do not), who think that any part of Madison west of Wright Street is too inconvienent to get to. Suggesting going downtown, or to the near east side, to this population is akin to asking them to vacation in Greenland.
And what is even sadder, most of these people think the food is good at these places, and the PQ and Pedro's are special occasion restaraunts.
Posted by: Lola | January 15, 2010 at 10:40 AM