The other gem on Galveston: Brother Jon's Public House

So, 10 Barrel Pub opened on Galveston this week to much fanfare and pretty big crowds. Just down the street, though, is a great little bar that's been around for just under a year: Brother Jon's Public House. It started off kind of unassumingly -- one day it seems like it just appeared on the block. If you think it kind of looks like a house with a sign on the front, you'd be right:

But don't let appearances fool you. It's a great little bar with very good food at affordable prices. Having gone there from just about day one, I can tell you that it wasn't exactly bustling when it first opened. But it has slowly grown into a favorite spot on the West side, so much so that it's just about full around dinner time on any night.

Why? Well, despite a recent review in The Bulletin that gave it uneven marks, it does it what it does well, with few frills. It's inexpensive (everything on the menu is $10 or under, with the odd special that ticks just above). The food is good (the owners used to work at the Downtowner -- try the club sandwich, or any sandwich, really). There's great beer (you can usually get up to eight different local and/or regional beers, including at least one Deschutes tap, plus Guiness, plus a good selection of bottled libations). You can watch sports (there's a bunch of TVs tuned to all matter of sporting events, and it's a nice alternative if you don't like Rivals or Sidelines). And it's a family-friendly neighborhood hangout (even though the inside is a little weird -- it's a lot like a house on the inside, too -- it's a comfortable place to spend an evening that has a much different, laid back vibe than a lot of other local bars.)

Ever since I left Washington, D.C., four years ago, my wife and I have been searching for a bar where we wanted to be regulars. And after years of searching, we finally found it in Brother Jon's. (It probably doesn't hurt that it's stumbling distance from our house, too.) I think that's as good of an endorsement as I can give it.

Anyway, if you haven't checked it out before -- even if it's just because there's too long of a wait at 10 Barrel -- please do so at your earliest convenience.