Stone Porch Alehouse, from the owners of Sugar River Pizza, took over the space that previously housed Boulder Brewpub. The interior is pretty much the same, but the menu has been improved.
It took me a while to eat here. One time, I was planning on going on a Tuesday only to find out the restaurant was closed that night of the week. Two other times I encountered a more than one-hour wait, and upon seeing many open tables, I assumed it was due to a lack of staff.
Despite the setbacks, I finally got in a few meals. Entrees are seafood-heavy and include walleye and bluegill among the options. The ginger sesame salmon ($18) was a hit. It was flaky and perfectly cooked, and the ginger sesame sauce brought savoriness to the dish.
I also got the smothered pork chop ($17.50), which is a misnomer since you get two. The tender pork gets all of its flavor from the rich and slightly salty gravy.
Under the House Specialties section, I thought the Alehouse mac n’ cheese ($10 + $2 for bacon) was okay. The pasta was a little undercooked, but at least it was helped by a generous portion of cheese.
On the other hand, the fried chicken with waffles ($15.50) was an outstanding dish. The chicken was juicy with an excellent seasoned breading, and the waffle came with both gravy and syrup.
The brisket poutine ($14) is a big, filling dish that could make for an entree instead of an appetizer. The brisket was tender and delicious, and the fries soaked up the onion gravy well. The cheese curds could have been melty-er.
I also liked the beef in the prime rib sandwich ($15). Instead of a hunk of steak or at least slices, the sandwich came with shredded beef. The flavor profile was enhanced by the fried onion strings and the dash of horseradish. Meanwhile, the chicken bacon wrap ($12) was an average wrap, certainly not worth ordering again.
You’ll find a few specialty cocktails on the menu. The Stone Porch Old Fashioned was enjoyable, but it was the same as any other Old Fashioned.
Stone Porch Alehouse is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Monday.
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See more photos in our Stone Porch Alehouse Flickr album.
