Brass Rail Bar

We liked this neighborhood bar. Bartender Sue was great– worked there for 13 years. Very friendly! Just stopped in for a quick drink on our road trip and glad we did– we will be back.

Wow. We came here from out of town and we were greeted with condescending looks and obnoxious attitude by the bartender and customers. It seems like if you’re under the age of 25 they will look at you that way. We actually came here twice just trying to give it another shot and it was just as bad. So disappointed. Would never recommend.

Bartender was rude to both my friend and I. We are from out of town and were looking to find a nice bar to spend one of our nights on vacation at. Nothing but dirty looks all night. We were recommended to this bar from the Irish bar nearby. Very disappointed.

Well, admittedly, the place isn’t completely the same since long time owner Helen David passed a few years ago, but it’s about as close as you can get. Anytime of year is good here, but Christmas… ah Christmas… that a different thing entirely. Christmas here is, in a word, legendary. While most of the rest of America stopped doing Tom and Jerry’s before JFK was president, here at Brass Rail the frothy concoction (made with Brandy & Rum, although there are other tasty versions) comes served in a coffee cup piping hot and full of holiday goodness. The froth sit on top, and is basically like eggnog whipped with a nutmeg topper (see pic). Anyhow… stop in and get you some goodness!

Good service at a value. Cash only but who cares, they have an ATM

Tom and Jerry’s in the wintertime are the best way to celebrate the holidays! This is such a fun classic way to celebrate coming back home for the holidays. I love all of the decorations that they put up during Christmas time.

Came in for a holiday visit from LA. Love this place! It has a classic bar feel and the staff are very friendly. Started our night off with their Traditional Tom & Jerry. Delicious. This place has a small town feel with great hospitality. Smoking is no longer allowed in bars so the air was clean. Surprisingly, I couldn’t even smell the remnants of its bygone smoking days. Good to note also that this place is a bar, not a restaurant– there is no food served.

Need a good drink at a good price, stop into the Brass Rail.

Josh W. got it right when he says «this place is an instituation»
well almost right… its The PoHo Institution. If you only go to one place in Port Huron this should be it. If you have to go to two places, stop here first.
Old Fashioned Tom & Jerry or a Stroh’s Draft please. (EDIT) No more Strohs :(Blue, Miller Light or that one Anheuser beer… They do have Guiness in bottles which is nice. Shots are usually a healthy pour.
Don’t embarrass yourself looking for a micro brew.
Great for watching Detroit sports or curmudgeons of all ages.

The Brass Rail at Christmas is always an experience. Something you CANT MISS is you are in the Port Huron area. Even the Scroogiest of Scrooges will melt when they see all the beautiful decorations… and if that doesn’t work, a Tom & Jerry or two will set em straight!
xoxo

This bar is now in my Top 5 Bars list which is heady praise indeed. I visited on Thanksgiving and it was a delightfully festive, warm and comfortable experience. The décor is straight-​up vintage Scorsese with great red patterned carpet, rounded brown and red booths and a gorgeous back bar. I had their famous seasonal Tom & Jerry served in a Christmas mug by a very nice woman who has obviously worked there for decades. It was delicious. A couple friends ordered whiskey neat and those were served in a shot glass which I don’t like as much as a rocks glass, but it’s indicative of the type of joint it is – you take your booze like a man (or woman!) after a hard day’s work.
Love this place. Love, love, love. It’s what a good, blue collar, classic American bar should be.

A must before and/​or after a hockey game. The service is great and during the holidays the atmosphere is off the charts!

I had always driven by here and dismissed it without a second thought. DO NOT make the same mistake I did. The atmosphere here is spectacular. Everyone talking to one another across the bar (like a real-​life Cheers, except less laugh tracks). The bartender made the best Kamikaze I have ever had and the drinks were cheap! They let you pick the music (which is nice) and they use their phone to call you a cab– when you’re too drunk to use your own. How nice!

Get a booth and watch the festivities. Great people watching, awesome decorations during the holidays, and classic.
Other reviewers are right it is a bit smokey, buy hey go there enough and you can get your own stool at the bar. Watch out for the end ones they have owners!

Even though our beloved Helen David passed away back in 2006, the spirit of the Brass Rail has been kept alive — it is at its heart a local watering hole, but one imbued with hospitality and warmth.
You’ll find few native Port Huroners who will speak ill of the Brass Rail, despite its faults — enough smoke to cure bacon and a cold shoulder for beers not produced in the US or Canada.
However, there’s few places I’d rather be on a warm summer night or a cold Christmas evening that shoulder-​to-​shoulder with the people I grew up with. Go during Boat Weekend, and you’ll see generations pass through over the course of the night — those graduating in 1980 or earlier come through early, and those of us who came later tend to close the place down.
And yes, even though a Tomy & Jerry does have eggs as an ingredient, they’re good for what ails ya, and are guaranteed to put something akin to Christmas Spirit in your heart.

The Brass Rail is a Port Huron instituation it is the rock of all PH bars. During the holiday season a stop in for Tom & Jerrys is a must. They have great nachos and cheap beer prices. The service is top notch! This place can get far beyond seating capacity during any holiday so plan on standing.

Great but smoky bar. Be nice to Di and she will be good to you (really do not piss her off) Try a tom & jerry during the holidays. They offer typical bar food.