Brown Lantern

03/01/06

Small and Busy

by jiffxx

The most popular bar for the 20 something crowd in Anacortes. Definite party atmosphere with live music, but it's often too small for the crowd with everyone getting squished, including the band squeezed into a corner without a stage. The west facing trellised beer garden out back is nice. Good oysters, but I'd rather they left the sunflower seeds out of the cole slaw.

• Pros: lively, attractive patrons, beer garden
• Cons: small, crowded

08/26/09

Burgers to die for and a great beer selection!

by KeithN

My wife and I cruise into Cap Sante Boat Haven about twice each summer and we really look forward to the Brown's food, great beer, and awesome staff. The bartenders are top notch and seem to really know their microbrews. It's a short walk from the marina and we recommend this place to boaters all the time. I will be having my 60th birthday here because this is my favorite bar in all of Puget Sound!

• Pros: helpful waitstaff, amazing burgers
• Cons: too many microbrews to choose from

07/01/09

awful service

by orchidlover

WE LIVE in anaco and have had lousy service every time we've tried it for lunch. Snooty waitress at best when you can get her attention. Thank goodness we could get to the tea by ourselves!!!

The food wasn't great either.

Not going to waste my time and money here again, I suggest the same to all of you!

• Pros: none
• Cons: everything

06/25/09

Don't judge a book by its cover...

by ballisticpantz

We found this place online and we figured it would be the perfect end to a day of riding. We found the joint, not too busy for middle of the week, and found good parking. Inside looked promising, even smelled like a real ale house from the door on the way in. A couple of bartenders and a couple of what would've been called beer-wenches, but we're in modern times so I won't call them anything but servers.

We sat down at an empty table and waited. After a while of having staff walk past us, around us..we stood up and tried approaching the bar. Staff continued on their merry ale way, looking at us, looking through us, past us, over us, besides us..no service. Nice braids, too bad you didn't pay the same attention to the customers as you did to your hair.

We ended up leaving and fortunately, some customers who walked in after us found my fiancee's glasses and ran out to the street. We watched people being served all around us...even some dude who ordered a BOTTLE OF WINE?? Um..hello..you're in an Alehouse. After asking around with some of the local folks, it turns out Brown Lantern is "known for their bad service." No kidding was our reply. In our opinion, that is definitely the case.

The strange thing was that the nice folks who ran out with my fiancee's glasses seemed to get served pretty damn fast. Hmm...(stroke chin thoughtfully here) Could they have been regulars? Could Brown Lantern Ale House be some stuck-up 'we only care about regular customers' poseur 'micro-ale haus'

That's okay, we spent our money elsewhere. We also, as you can see, have wasted no time sharing our experience.

• Pros: Customers who sat where we sat found my fiancee's specs
• Cons: Waddya mean I can't rate 1/2 a star?!?!

01/30/09

Brown Lantern Ale House

by DHoppe

Great beers. Friendly servers. I fell in love with the Anacortes IPA. The fish and chips is to die for.

11/25/05

Martini Heaven

by bizbo

I can actually get a Manhattan or a Martini here that is stirred and not automatically shaken (bruised)! Now that is hard to find. I frequent this place and love it! It gets a bit too crowded for me but the rest of the people there do not seem to mind. They easily have the best burger in town ( I like the S.O.B. with Habinero ranch).

• Pros: Fun People, Great Drinks, Cool Beergarden
• Cons: Crowded, Too hot inside

11/25/05

Great Bar

by bizbo

This is a must stop in Anacortes. It is laid back and fun. The bartenders know what they are doing.

• Pros: Great Drinks, Good Buzz, Good Prices
• Cons: Crowded, Hot, Smoky