Madison Oyster Bar

Adam Gallippo
Staff Writer

After watching the good old Michigan Wolverines hand it to Notre Dame my friends and I began our bar choosing ritual.

That brings up a valid question: What are the best bars in South Bend?

One friend suggested we check out Madison Oyster Bar. Initially I was hesitant. I’m a Corby’s guy. Besides, I’d always thought that the Oyster Bar tailored to an older crowd.

However, by the end of the night my opinion changed.

Here are the positive things that the Oyster Bar has going on.

1) Its called the Oyster Bar because, you guessed it, you can order oysters. Not just oysters but all kinds of other food items from mozzarella sticks to fried mushrooms. This beats Taco Bell at two in the morning.

I take that back, nothing beats Taco Bell at two in the morning.

2) The service: The Oyster Bar has bartenders/waitresses that take your drink orders even when you least expect it. You may be standing outside the bathroom and a woman approaches you with, “Do you need another drink?”

The answer should always be, “Yes.”

This is definitely a nice touch and considerably better than squeezing past the cool jerks that hog the bar space at bars like Corby’s and Linebacker.

Why block the bar? Get your Mike’s Hard Lemonade and move.

3) The Oyster Bar attracts a good cross section of people, despite my preconceived notions.

Other bars tend to draw the same kinds of people in. However, I was very pleased with the variety of people I talked with that night at Oyster.

4) $1.75 pints: Need I say more?

Now some negatives.

The only thing I didn’t like was the whole three tiered bar thing. Sure this sounds great, but it’s really not.

The first and second levels don’t provide much space and seem to encourage people to sit down. Unless you’re eating oysters or too drunk to move why would you want to sit down? You’re at a bar.

The third level is better though. That’s where you can find the pool tables and the younger crowd. For those of you who frequent Corby’s, Linebacker, or Bookmakers this is where you’ll feel most at home.

All in all Madison Oyster Bar is a lot of fun. I recommend it for you and your friends for those nights you want to break your routine.

Madison Oyster Bar gets 4 drunkards out of 5.

In two weeks I’ll review another bar. If any of you have a favorite bar or club then send us an e-mail. We may just review it.