There's a thread of Calvinistic puritanism going back to the time of the pilgrims that exists in American society that makes the idea of going somewhere just to drink seem slightly morally wrong maybe. Those ideas never really took hold to any great degree in mainstream society here. Thoughts?
I think that pubs do well in the UK because they are very much a local thing. They tend to be in every neighborhood or town, a place for folks to hang out, see their friends, share the news of the day, etc. They exist organically, outside of a lot of puritanical rules and regulations about zoning and whatnot. They are almost entirely walking distance from their patrons' homes - thus the notion of "the local."
The zoning thing is very much relevant. In many parts of the U.S. it is illegal to operate a bar, tavern, or any restaurant that sells alcohol within close distance to a school. This can often block the opening of a neighborhood bar or tavern, forcing it to more commercial or industrial land that, more often than not, isn't walking distance from where people live.
As far as "pub grub" is concerned, it definitely is hit-or-miss. Yes, there are gastropubs that have tried to raise the game in terms of cuisine, but sometimes you want some simple bangers and mash, or roast dinner, or whatever. And folks almost always want an ale, lager, stout, porter, or shandy.
In the States there are the local dive bars that often exist due to being grandfathered into code. But the rise of microbrewery culture has definitely made it easier to find a neighborhood watering hole in many cities that, until recently, lacked a bar or pub culture. One I can think of immediately is Salt Lake City, Utah, where the microbrewing scene is flourishing and local tap rooms are often the place for locals to hang out and unwind.