I used to be a regular here, member of the mug clu...

I used to be a regular here, member of the mug club and all the good stuff. Hales was by far my favorite place in Seattle and easily the best burger in town. I would usually visit at least once a week and typically more. I brought friends with me often. I raved about this place all the time. It was PERFECT. Needless to say, I was very apprehensive about the change when one of the bartenders told me it was coming. I hurriedly ate as many bacon and blue cheese burgers as I could in the next two weeks or so because I had a horrible feeling they'd be my last Hales burgers. I knew things were getting bad when prices for everything would be a dollar more every couple weeks and certain food items started disappearing. It sucks to say I sort of felt this coming.

Well, I finally went back this past weekend for the first time since the change and I was completely disappointed to realize my gut was correct. My once favorite place is now a shell of its former self. The mood is absolutely dead, there's no life in the place any more. I didn't recognize one person on the staff. El Camion renting out the kitchen is absolutely nothing compared to the amazing food Hales used to offer. I don't mind bar service and bussing my own stuff, but to me that's not what Hales was about. Hales was a fantastic brewpub with a restaurant and great beer, but now it's just like all the other newer taprooms in Seattle with no energy and no fun. Sadly, I don't see myself coming back ever again. I hope they do well and continue to make great beer, but this isn't the place I fell in love with. Good luck, Hales. I'll still order a Supergoose whenever I see it on tap somewhere.