By END
October 30, 2009
While I was perusing gbnightlife.com for a bar to check out on a Friday evening, I came across Billy Goat's Pub which is the name of a famous burger joint in Chicago so I had to test this place out. I know it's not the same bar but still... grabbing my usual partner in crime, we were out the door.
Billy Goat's is located in the Green Bay West neighborhood and from what I understand; the merchants down there are trying to revive this area. I'm still kinda new here, my knowledge on good/bad areas are pretty much non-existent, but the vicinity did seem on the run down side with lots of vacancies mixed with bars like Billy Goat's Pub ready for your business. They have an unpaved parking lot right next to the Pub, so ladies leave those stilettos at home, you'll bust ass trying to walk from your car to the front door in that gravel pit.
Upon opening the front door you are greeted by two things: the bouncer (who I SWEAR wasn't a day over 17 and which makes me feel old) and by smoke. Smoking is permitted in this bar and it fills the place up, but I think that’s because it’s on the smaller side so the smoke stays trapped and you need a gas mask. Actually, it's not THAT bad, but I'm a non-smoker and smoke clings to everything and especially to long hair, so I reek like an ashtray even if I was in the bar for only 20 minutes. This hangout is covered with all sorts of memorabilia. And when I say covered, I mean even on the ceilings. All the classic beer signs, recycled gray wood paneling, decorative tin ceilings, and tin roof above the bar give Billy Goat's a more rustic look. 
There were three bartenders or "trolls" working. I'd never call a girl a troll no matter how ugly she was, but they did it themselves and they were all on the cute side. Hmmm, maybe they could call themselves trollettes? Err, maybe not, never mind. Anyway, they have a small tap selection, one tap was out, but I think it was a Leinie's something and the other two were called "light" or "dark". They were $4. My girlfriend and I weren't into the draft beer so I got a Bud Light and she got a Bud Lime. The domestic bottles were $3. As I was getting the beers at the bar I noticed something waving over my head, I looked up and what did I see? Bras. Lots of bras. And ugly ones at that, you can call those things trolls, they were that ugly. There was this one that had this purple-y floral arrangement on it, I don't know what woman in their right mind would pay money for that bra, no wonder they left it for Billy Goat's. I kinda liked mine so I left it on.
We sat at a table by the bar and just people watched for a bit. It's an interesting mix of people that come in for a cold one. You can tell who are the other industry people that come in after their shift, you can tell who are the frat looking boys, you can tell who are the biker boys... do you notice that I keep saying boys? The pub started filling up around 10ish, and it was mostly boys. Oh, sorry, MEN. So guys, if you're looking to score, this is not the bar for you, but ladies, you can have your pick ;)
I wouldn't pass up Billy Goat's Pub, it had a great atmosphere and there's awesome people watching too. Plus, the beer's on the cheap side, I'll be back and maybe I'll even bring an ugly bra to spare.
