Whitewater’s a small Midwestern town. Part of the charm of that way of life is finding a simple, small-town grill. Nothing fancy, nothing pretentious – all very traditional, familiar, and comfortable. Rick’s Eastside Pub & Grill is that sort of place: pub food, beer on tap, in an open, rectangular dining room.
What will you find? You’ll enter on the right, with the grill to the far right, a u-shaped bar in the center, and over a dozen tables in front of the bar and to the left. I’d guess about seven bright monitors with sports programming, easily seen from about any seating location.
A few electronic games line the wall to the left of the bar. There’s no American grill in the Midwest without at least one.
I visited twice, with a dining companion who enjoyed a salad both times, but for me it was two of the highlighted dishes: once a Rhode Island Red burger (hamburger, fried egg, and bacon) and then at supper the beef brisket on pepper bread.
On each visit, I chose a beer on tap (Fat Tire Ale for the first visit, Spotted Cow for the second) and a coke.
I thought the brisket was good, and the burger very good – a burger with a fried egg is – really should be – a pub staple. You’ll have your choice of how you’d like the burger cooked, and my preference is always rare (one tastes the meat most fully that way).
I looked around, to see my fellow patrons on both visits, and there were tables and a bar with happy diners, including two larger groups seated at tables conveniently pushed together to become larger ones.
The crowd was middle aged during these visits.
Now I know – and you know, too – that there’s more than one style of dining. There’s much to enjoy in a fashionable, upscale establishment – but there’s equal enjoyment in a small-town, causal, Midwestern grill. To enjoy dining out, to appreciate different selections, is to enjoy more than one style and one cuisine. There’s a type, of food and atmosphere, to each style.
The question is whether the establishment presents that style well and enjoyably.
A friend and I were cycling a month ago, in another area, and we stopped into a place like Rick’s in that community. We sat at the bar over lunch, talked with the bartender and other patrons, and had a great time. Had we been in Whitewater that day, we would have had a similar and good time at Rick’s.
What I’ve not tried on either of my visits – but have heard is popular – is the fish fry at Rick’s.
That’s something, to be sure, for another visit.
Easily recommended.
Enjoy.
LOCATION: 561 E Milwaukee St Whitewater, WI 53190. (262) 473-9879.
OPEN: Mon – Thu: 11:00 AM – 2:00 AM, Fri- Sat 11:00 AM – 2:30 AM, Sun 10 AM – 10 PM.
PRICES: Meal & beer for under $10.
RESERVATIONS: Unnecessary.
DRINKS: Beers, sodas, other drinks.
SOUND: Moderate – no background music (probably different on a fish fry night.)
SERVICE: Friendly servers on both visits.
VISITS: Two (lunch and supper).
RATING: 3.5 of 4.
RATING SCALE: From one to four stars, representing the full experience of food, atmosphere, service, and pricing.
INDEPENDENCE: This review is delivered without financial or other connection to the establishment or its owner. The dining experience was that of an ordinary patron, without notice to the staff or requests for special consideration.
Nice place, very friendly
I’ve never been in this restaurant but like your reviews because they talk about the look of a cafe. The whole ambience obviously matters to you (a lot). There’s a big range in what you like, too (from Japanese to pub food).
They also have a free brunch and bloody mary specials during Packers game, and the Friday night fish fry has options including perch, bass and shrimp. Their appetizers are numerous, including fried cheese curds, etc.