urbanSTL

It's big and cavernous and loud and has shuffleboard pool and darts, with Miller-Lite St. patty's day banners, which indicates a bit of sports-bar-esque qualities to me. But their cheese fries are about the best in town, so I can't complain too much. And I know some of the employees have good rock'n'roll pedigree, so I'm not saying I dislike the place, but I wish there was somethign like I describe in addition to it.



They serve bottles of beer out of a tub.



What I think would be great is corner bar in the tradition of New York or Chicago that has a good beer and whisky selection, decent seating (aka isn't wobbly tables and gross chairs) and has that hard-to-describe quality of "comfort".

Jeff707 wrote:Looking for a good dive bar

Hair of the Dog, 1200 block of Washington.



Multiple taps with quality selections, and specialty beers in the fridge; as well, plenty of liquors and bar staff that can make quality cocktails. Lots of flat screens; not a big draw for underage, clubbers, or general douchebags; top-notch bartenders. Pool table, shuffleboard, video games (including Golden Tee), and sports on multiple flatscreens. It's not a theme bar, claiming to be Irish or Sports; it's just a good quality bar. If you haven't been before, I highly recommend you try it out.

I like Flannery's. Go there for lunch on weekends quite often.

Gone Corporate wrote:

Jeff707 wrote:Looking for a good dive bar

Hair of the Dog, 1200 block of Washington.



Multiple taps with quality selections, and specialty beers in the fridge; as well, plenty of liquors and bar staff that can make quality cocktails. Lots of flat screens; not a big draw for underage, clubbers, or general douchebags; top-notch bartenders. Pool table, shuffleboard, video games (including Golden Tee), and sports on multiple flatscreens. It's not a theme bar, claiming to be Irish or Sports; it's just a good quality bar. If you haven't been before, I highly recommend you try it out.

I despise hair of the dog. It's like drinking in a bomb shelter. The smoke is overwhelming. I have been there on several occasions when fights have broken out. A little too Landing-esque for me. But some of my friends love it, so I go every now and then.



And I never said I was lloking for a dive bar. I am very familiar with where the city's dive bars are. In fact, what I was pining for in downtown was very much not a dive bar.

innov8ion wrote:

Jeff707 wrote:And I never said I was lloking for a dive bar. I am very familiar with where the city's dive bars are. In fact, what I was pining for in downtown was very much not a dive bar.

Are you looking for the prototypical "Cheer's" (Bull and Finch Club?) It sounds like you're looking for something that's neither gimmicky, upscale, nor a dive. Just a place where everyone knows that you are Jeff707.

Everyone: Norm!



Diane: Norman

DeBaliviere wrote:

Jeff707 wrote:Basically yes. A public house. A Royale, a Newstead Public House, a Dressel's (which is more of a neighborhood bar than a Welsh Bar), or downtown Tanner B's-without-the-white-tablecloths

I went to a place in San Francisco that I would love to replicate downtown - the Old Ship Saloon.



No sports paraphenalia. Clean. Bright (corner bar with huge windows). Friendly bartender. Good beer selection. Good menu. No fake ethnicity. A couple of TVs to catch the game, but sports are not the focus. Very Cheers-like. Good mix of people.



http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-old-ship-sa ... -francisco

Pretty much, yeah.



That first coment on that page is solid work.

Downtown is lacking "normal" bars. You've either got the

-higher end restaurant/lounges (Lucas Park,Pepper Lounge, Nectar, F15teen, Mosaic, Drunken Fish)

-ethnic or faux ethnic (Dubliner, Flannerys, Tigin)

-faux dives (Hair/Dog, Tin Can, Jack Patricks)

-high end sports bars (J Bucks, Shannons, Skybox)



Side Bar kinda comes close, but the sound in that place is horrible.

Jack Patricks (10th and Olive)

you mean the one we had an extended discussion about in this thread?

Jeff707 wrote:you mean the one we had an extended discussion about in this thread?

I got cut off because I had an appointment come in. I meant to say that Jack Patricks (10th and Olive) is named after the owner's nephew. One of my favorite places to hang out and it's open late. Thank Jeff 707