Beer, appetizers flow at Flowing Tide Pub by Jennifer Sweeney, Outpost Staff When you enter the double doors of the Flowing Tide Pub, you might feel like you've entered a quaint English pub. Or you might think that you have wandered into a factory. The dark wood bar and high tables, oddly complimented by high ceilings exposing rafters and pipes, creates a somewhat drafty atmosphere. The Flowing Tide's bar hosts almost 20 draft beers to suit any palate. Photo by Jennifer Sweeney. At least that's the impression I had when a friend and I stopped in for a light dinner and some cold beer. Aaron and I chose a table next to the pool table so we could catch a quick game after dinner. We were greeted relatively soon after we sat ourselves by a spacey waitress who never offered her name. Allowing time for us to peruse the menu, we ordered two Sierra Nevada Pale Ales ($3.50). The Flowing Tide's draft selection is vast and covers something for any beer drinker -- Coors Light to Guiness, with Newcastle Brown Ale and Black Butte Porter inbetween. They also offer a variety of wines and have a full bar, but why visit a pub without having a tall, frosty brew. The waitress took a while to come back with our drinks so we were ready to order our appetizer. Over other unique tempters like the Stuffed Portabello Mushroom ($5.95) and Irish Egg Rolls ($1.75 each), we chose Stout Battered Calamari ($6.95). After setting down the appetizer, the waitress scuffled off before we were able to ask for silverware and napkins. But we were hungry and went ahead without them. Unfortunately, the calamari, served with an uninspired tartar sauce, tasted a little too much like fish sticks for our taste and went virtually untouched. The menu covers most everything: salads, like the Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad ($6.25) with avocado, artichoke hearts and cracked mustard vinagrette to burgers, Breaded Sea Bass 'n' Chips ($9.95) and Ale Room Pasta ($11.95), which combines Basque sausage, prawns and vegetables. Aaron opted for a small Caesar Salad ($3.95) and I, over much deliberation, had the Drunk Chunk of Chicken ($6.95). They also serve breakfast all week long, offering Build-Your-Own burritos ($5.95) and Eggs Benedict ($6.95). The waitress returned quickly with our meals and again no silverware. Although we decided to forego that luxury with the appetizer, there was no way to eat a salad without them. When she came back several minutes later she giggled as she pulled our place settings out of her apron. After dinner entertainment. Photo by Jennifer Sweeney The Drunk Chunk of Chicken was excellent. The healthy-sized chicken breast was marinated in tequila, lime and cilantro and served with spicy jack cheese and tomatillo salsa. The chicken was juicy and the southwestern flavors were mouth-watering. The sandwich was served with thick cut fries, more like potato wedges and malt vinegar. Unfortunately, Aaron was disappointed by his entree. The Caesar dressing, normally rich, was thin and runny. Instead he entertained himself with the other half of my sandwich. We decided on another round and adjourned to the pool table. Our waitress came back several times after dinner to see if we needed anything else, dropped our check and let us play. So we didn't have a great meal and the service was, well, interesting, but the Flowing Tide Pub is a bar and they are a good bar. They have a great beer selection, lots of TV's for catching the game and an ambience perfect for having a few drinks, shooting pool and catching up with friends.   The Flowing Tide Intersection of Mae Anne & McCarran 747-7707 HOURS: Call ahead PRICES: $3 - $12 PAYMENT: Visa, Master Card, American Express and Diners Club credit cards   Posted April 7, 1998 Copyright 1998 Nevada Outpost TOP