Old Town Alehouse still feels like Ballard

While Ballard is swiftly becoming the new Bell Town, there are still a few corners that have kept that old Ballard feel. Old Town Alehouse is one of these. Workers from the boatyards just blocks away drop in for lunch, or later in the day, for a few cold ones before calling it a day.
I have stopped in a couple of times in the last few weeks for a bite of lunch. I can say that this place is pretty consistent. The beers are consistently good & cold, and the food is consistently well below average.
While the "Caprese Platter" sounds like a nice starter with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and cracked pepper. Served with bread and a dollop of tapenade. Truth is, not much looked or tasted fresh! The mozzarella was decent, but the tomatoes were green in the center and the basil was shriveled & black. The better choice is the Tapenade served next to a bolo roll. Nicely salty and perfect with Belgian Hoegaarden white ale.
Twice I had the "Hot Barbequed Beef" and twice I wish I had ordered the house special "Fish n Chips". While the BBQ Beef was only warm, the roll was frozen in the center and the slaw topping was mushy, the fish and chips were at least hot, and Old Town has great fries topped with parm cheese & fresh ground black pepper.