The Loose Moose Saloon is locally-owned restaurant and bar in the Baldwin/Whitehall area. The…read moreatmosphere, value, and variety of specials always have me coming back time and time again.
The Loose Moose is located on Brownsville Road, right over the boarder into Whitehall from Pleasant Hills. There is plenty of signage identifying the building from the road. Additionally, there is a large private parking lot that surrounds the establishment.
This visit to the Moose was on a Monday evening in July. Mondays are one of their Wing Nights, where whole wings are $1.25 each. We primarily came for this special, but also ordered some other items to enjoy with the wings. The restaurant was not too crowded at the time we arrived, which was right before 8 PM.
As stated, this is a restaurant and bar. So, when you walk in, the bar is straight ahead and the restaurant part is to the right. There are several booths and tables in the restaurant part. Tables can be pushed together to allow for a larger group to dine. Most of the booths seat 4 to 6 people. It is open seating, meaning you can choose your table.
The atmosphere here is very much a hometown bar vibe. There are TVs, pool tables, dart boards, and lots of life coming from the patrons and regulars. There are a few bubble gum/candy machines in the lobby. In the breezeway, there is even a cigarette vending machine.
After choosing our booth, we placed our order. Being that we come here rather frequently, we ordered some favorites at this visit.
To start, we chose a Combo Platter for an appetizer. This is a platter with 4 different appetizers from a specific list. We got the Zucchini, Pickles, Onion Rings, and Hot Cheese Balls. The Zucchini here is thicker, and all of the fried items have a thicker batter/breading. We liked all the items, and thought the size of the platter was very good for the price! It was enough to share with a few people.
In addition to my wings, I also ordered a salad. I had the plan of eating some, and then taking the rest home for a lunch the next day. The salads here are a hidden gem, in my opinion. My personal favorite is the Chef Salad, which is what I ordered this night. It is piled HIGH with turkey, ham, pepperoni, and cheese, along with lettuce and other veggies of course. It is delicious and very satisfying since there is so much meat and protein! I would highly recommend this item for anyone coming here.
Our wings came out last, about 35 minutes after we sat down. They fry all of the wings to order, so they will take longer than one might expect. However, because of this they always come to the table hot and fresh. There are several different sauce options to choose from. On this trip, I got the Loose Moose Sweet, which is similar to a Sweet Thai Chili-type sauce. My fiancé ordered Garlic Parmesan with Mild Sauce on the side. I am never disappointed with the wings, and this day was no exception.
The value at The Loose Moose is hard to beat. Along with the daily specials, their regular menu is very reasonably priced. Especially considering how much food is served for the prices. The salad I always order is less than $7, and is enough to split into two meals for me. All of the appetizers are under $8, with most being under $6. It is nice to be able to visit somewhere without spending a fortune for a good meal. Plus, there are Happy Hour drink specials during those times.
Service here is friendly and good. The waitresses and staff are always kind, and do get to know their customers that frequent the place. My only complaint is more-so about the management regarding this. On busy nights, such as Wing Night, the place will be packed and there will be 2 servers for the entire dining room. You can go 15+ minutes without speaking to your server. This can get frustrating. However, the actual servers themselves are not the issue there. This would definitely be an area for improvement.
We enjoy coming to The Loose Moose. My parents come here weekly, and I have been many times since they first introduced me. The specials and prices are hard to beat. It is close to me, and food is good, and the people and staff are friendly. It gives hometown bar vibes, which can be comforting and enjoyable for a lot of people. I would recommend giving this place a try, but be patient if you come during a busy time!
