Scooter's Bar Journal » Downtown

Blu Bar

scooterj — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:23:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1783rd bar, first visited in 2024.

Finally, in the only sensible bad decision of the evening, I returned to my hotel but chose to make the obligatory hotel bar visit.

Clearly the bartender could tell I was done, because “This is going to just be one and done, right?” is the only thing I can remember being said.

Based on my picture I believe I had a chocolate martini.

The only thing I remember beyond the initial conversation with the bartender is a woman tapping me on my shoulder as I was leaving and handing me my phone that had fallen on the floor. However I woke up the next morning to discover that I had (a) made it to me room, (b) taken my medicine, (c) set my 8:30am alarm, (d) got all my devices onto their correct chargers, and (e) launched my white noise app. Based on the wrappers in the trash it seems I also ate some Nutty Bars right before bed.

201 5th St. N
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 271-7717
Visit Web Site

Würst Beer Hall

scooterj — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:22:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1782nd bar, first visited in 2024.

Because of its early closing time, this place wasn’t originally on my itinerary. But it was on my if there’s somehow enough time list.

At this point, a smart me would have just returned to my hotel room. But I’m not always a smart me, and when I noticed it was basically right across the corner from where I’d just eaten dinner being dumb was too easy a decision to make.

I was expecting a German beer hall with primarily German beer. The actual vibe seemed more like a mashup of craft beer and sports bar with some German food.

I had a Burning Skye Scottish Ale by Empyrean Brewing Co.

630 1st Ave N
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 478-2437
Visit Web Site

Blarney Stone

scooterj — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:21:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1781st bar, first visited in 2024.

If not for the fact that I hadn’t eaten since 11:30am I would have gone back to the hotel at this point, but I knew I needed to eat something and I knew Blarney Stone had food.

I had the Kilkenny Cod for dinner (Flour dusted, pan sautéed cod with a light white wine and lemon-garlic sauce nestled on a bed of wild rice. Accompanied by house vegetables and served with a lemon) and it was absolutely delicious. I had Guinness with my meal.

101 Broadway N
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 478-8888
Visit Web Site

Teddy’s Back Alley Bar

scooterj — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:20:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1780th bar, first visited in 2024.

This is a tiny bar at the back of a restaurant, and the bartender remembered me from downstairs at Marge’s. By now the two cocktails from downstairs plus all the Aquavit from Troll Lounge was really kicking in, so I don’t remember a whole lot here except that I decided to stay away from anything too complicated so I ordered a White Russian.

212 Broadway N
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 551-0777
Visit Web Site

Marge’s Bar

scooterj — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:19:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1779th bar, first visited in 2024.

I had tried to come to this basement alley cocktail bar the night before but it was unexpectedly closed — I cannot remember what the sign taped to the door stated as to why. But I returned tonight and I’m glad I did, because even though it was the start of my Thursday night downfall it was a fun little place and I had a nice time.

I started with the All Nighter — basically an espresso old fashioned — then finished with the Pornstar Martini. I learned during my visit that this is apparently the only bar on this block of Robert’s Alley that serves Mallort. During that same conversation I alsy learned that Teddy’s Back Alley Bar was an equally small bar directly upstairs, so that’s where I decided to head next.

212 Roberts Alley
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 478-1990
Visit Web Site

Sons of Norway Kringen Lodge / Troll Lounge

scooterj — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:18:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1778th bar, first visited in 2024.

On almost every bar trip I take I come across at least one place that blows me away. But this takes the cake. Hands down my absolute favorite bar find of this trip — or of this year — or perhaps even so far this decade. I am not Norwegian nor can I came any Norse ancestry, but I was completely blown away and felt truly at home here. This place alone is enough reason for me to want to make another trip to North Dakota.

When I first arrived there were only two other people here, sitting off against the far wall. By the time I was left, it was filling up as an accordion band was getting set to play.

The signature drink here is aquavit — a spirit from Norway that I’d never heard of. It’s similar to vodka, but with a strong herbal flavor. For at least the Linie brand, it is aged in oak sherry casks which are then sent to sea to rock in the waves and cross the equator twice — I kid you not. I was served a flight of it in a little Viking ship. The flavors in the flight were Citron, Dill, and Caraway. The Caraway was my favorite of the three. After I finished the flight I got a fourth shot — this time of the base version of aquavit (which is the standalone bottle in the photos below).

As I was drinking that 4th shot a couple came in who stumbled across this place out of sheer luck — they had just checked into their hotel and were heading into downtown for dinner when they saw the sign outside. They were in North Dakota for the exact same reason I was — to scratch off a bucket list state. This was their 50th state, so the visitor center (which I would be going to the next day) took their photo and gave them free shorts and “Saved the Best for Last swag”. Sadly for me this was my 49th state, as I still need to get to Hawaii. So no free swag for me. (I’m too honest to lie about it.)

As I was getting ready to leave I noticed a poser on the wall for a beer whose name made me do a double-take, and I just had to have a can of it for the name alone. So I re-opened by tab for that beer and also to buy a shirt.

Drinks consumed here: Dill Aquavit, Citron Aquavit, and Caraway Aquavit (Älskar). Then I had Aquavit Original by Linie (Norway), and finally Aass Pilsner by Aass Bryggeri (Norway).

722 2nd Ave N
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 232-9222
Visit Web Site

Bismarck Tavern

scooterj — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:14:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1774th bar, first visited in 2024.

This is another dive bar that I’d been warned was sketchy but seemed like a pretty normal place to me. Despite how the carefully-framed photos make it look there were about 8-10 people here during my visit. There’s a pool table in the back. I had a PBR.

After I finished here I returned to the hotel to take a short break, as it would be another hour before the next place on my list opened.

522 Broadway N
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 235-6607
Visit Web Site

Empire Tavern

scooterj — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:13:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1773rd bar, first visited in 2024.

Locals warned me that this place could get stabby, but in the middle of the afternoon it seemed to be a pretty typical dive bar. Nice people, good bartender, and a real well-worn environment that has to be packed with stories. Also, the bathrooms and much nicer and cleaner than they have any right to be for a dive bar.

I had a Lagunitas IPA because that was my favotite of the draft selections, it wasn’t until later that I realized there were more craft options in bottles hidden behind the black cooler doors.

424 Broadway N
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 235-4705
Visit Web Site

Beer & Fish Company

scooterj — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:12:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1772nd bar, first visited in 2024.

After I spent some time walking around downtown (and in particular Robert’s Alley) looking at the various sculptures and murals, I decided it was time to try to eat something. Fish & chips sounded good. Accompanying my meal was a Fargo Original Lager Beer by Fargo Brewing Company.

230 Roberts Alley
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 532-1342
Visit Web Site

Dempsey’s Public House

scooterj — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 17:19:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1769th bar, first visited in 2024.

After striking out at two places that were closed for various reasons, I swapped in another place from my “if there’s time” list.

Dempsey’s (as well as many of the downtown Fargo bars) was still in mourning due to the unexpected death of a beloved Dempsey’s employee several days earlier, so it seemed a bit somber in here.

I debated getting something to eat here (and it’s possible I did and simply forgot I did), but I am pretty sure since I had a big day planned for tomorrow I just had my Guinness and returned to the hotel.

226 Broadway N
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 235-5913
Visit Web Site

Rooters Bar

scooterj — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 17:18:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1768th bar, first visited in 2024.

This cash-only expansive sports dive has multiple rooms and multiple bar counters. There’s darts, at least one pool table, and various casino games. It was also karaoke night.

I had a Lagunitas IPA.

107 Broadway N
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 235-4082
Visit Web Site

Fort Noks Bar of Gold

scooterj — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 17:17:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1767th bar, first visited in 2024.

I’m not going to lie, I visited this bar (located in a historic former bank building) only for its name. I really knew nothing about it and was unsure if it was a casino, a dive bar, or a cocktail bar. In the end I think I’d called it a “cocktail dive” maybe. Oh, there’s a deck outside overlooking the north parking lot.

Still feeling it from my earlier choices, I went with a Guinness here as well.

52 Broadway N
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 478-9191
Visit Web Site

Sports Bar

scooterj — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 17:16:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1766th bar, first visited in 2024.

Resuming my originally-scheduled programming, my next stop was a sports bar named… Sports Bar.

This sports dive is bigger than it looks from the outside, with a separate seating area / game room located behind the main bar.

There’s a reasonably decent beer selection here for a dive bar, but I opted for Guinness since I’d had a few more “big beers” already than I’d planned.

619 Northern Pacific Ave
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 293-2085
Visit Web Site

Front Street Taproom

scooterj — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 17:15:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1765th bar, first visited in 2024.

My next stop was supposed to be a highly-recommended dive bar named Duffy’s, but after I got dropped off and my driver left I found it was closed. (I later learned the bartender had had a stroke earlier in the day.) Rather than try to get another ride I decided to just start walking toward downtown since that’s where the rest of my planned stops for the night were located.

Along the way I came across Frost Street Taproom, which had originally been on my if there’s time list. Since I was right here and had missed Duffy’s, now there was time.

Because the building is so skinny it makes the bar area itself feel a bit cramped, and though I took my pictures in such a way as to try not to include any people the bar counter was full.

In the back half of the building there’s mezzanine-level seating, and there’s also a deck in the back that overlooks the alley.

I had a Fallen Angel Sweet Stout by Empyrean Brewing Co.

614 Main Save
Fargo, ND 58103
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 566-7226
Visit Web Site

Chubs

scooterj — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 17:12:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1762nd bar, first visited in 2024.

This dive bar wasn’t originally on my radar but while I was finalizing my travel plans I realized it was a very short walk from Fargo Brewing.

You enter through a liquor store, which is unusual where I’m from but seems to be more common in the northern plains states. The bar is around the corner in the back, divided into the main bar room and a separate back room with a pool table and casino games (another northern plains states staple). There’s also a separate covered patio opposite a breezeway but I didn’t check it out.

I had a Guinness.

421 N University Dr
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 235-8425
Visit Web Site

Fargo Brewing Company

scooterj — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 17:11:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fargo, ND)

Scooter’s 1761st bar, first visited in 2024.

After landing in Fargo and checking into my hotel, I decided my first stop in the city should be the brewery named for the city.

The entrance is in the far back, so I walked around three sides of the building to get to it. The murals on each side of the building provide reassurance you are going in the right direction. Once you reach the patio, it becomes abundantly clear where you are.

There’s a leased kitchen vendor on the opposite wall from the bar, as well as… a barber shop? I was happy with the current state of my hair, but I felt a food base before barhopping would be a good idea so I got myself a plate of buffalo shrimp.

For my beer flight I had the Wood Chipper (American IPA), Glacial Plains Alsatian Pilsner, Dad’s Session IPA, and Stone’s Throw (Scottish Ale). While ordering I misunderstood something the bartender said and through she said the Stone’s Throw was out, but she reassured me that not only was it in stock, but it would also be very bad news if they ever let it run out.

By this point there can be no doubt what city you are in:

610 N University Dr
Fargo, ND 58102
US
[launch map]
+1 (701) 478-2337
Visit Web Site