Perched on the corner of North 12th Street and Patterson Road is Grand Junction’s The Ale House. The old, brick exterior framed by soft yellow lights makes for quite the inviting entrance for hungry bellies. 

Once inside, the gentle ambiance is only heightened. The middle of the room is taken up by the bar, which offers a wide selection of popular and local drinks. Grab a locally sourced beer of your choice and spend an evening chatting with friends, or head to the outskirts of the bar, sit down and enjoy various dishes that guarantee satisfaction.

The appetizer we chose to begin the night with was the seared ahi steak. With your choice blackened or coated in sesame seeds, the fish is served with soy sauce, wasabi and pickled ginger. Scoop up a little bit of everything to create the perfect combination. 

The amazingly tender steak will fall apart in your mouth; the sesame seeds will add that needed bit of crunch and nuttiness, and the soy sauce and wasabi bring the tang and spice that just completes the bite.

When deciding on an entree, our waitress was extremely helpful. The sample of the homemade buffalo sauce she brought us led me to the buffalo chicken mac ‘n cheese. 

Spiraled noodles line the bottom of the dish and swim in a smooth creamy cheese sauce; shaved parmesan melts in the gaps between the chicken and noodles; the panko-crusted buffalo-coated chicken rests easily on the bed of tender noodles. Each bite forces the eyes closed, allowing the eater to experience each individual flavor. I would recommend topping off this beautiful feast with a light, refreshing orange basil kombucha.

The environment of the Ale House is perfect for a lively evening with friends or family. Stop by to watch the game, grab a drink or just to enjoy some damn good food.