# The Best Bars in America: do they know YOUR name at any of these? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 6, 2008, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-bars-in-america-do-they-know-your-name-at-any-of-these/462296 "2008-09-06T04:20:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-bars-in-america-do-they-know-your-name-at-any-of-these/462296/41 "2008-09-08T12:05:03Z")
> [@shellofmyformerself](#): > > Also, **Ogre** the FloraBama was mostly wiped out by Hurricane Ivan. Not sure if they’ve rebuilt yet. I know they were trying to get a building variance last October do they could just add on to the existing structure (what was left, anyway) but I haven’t heard anything since. I missed this earlier: The Flora-Bama has been going strong since about two months after hurricane Ivan. Some rebuilt, some has now spilled over into a large tent they’ve put up beside the original structure. They’ve added around 30 porta-potties, to help with the chronic shortage of pisser space. The usual four different bands were playing when I was there last, in the summer of '06. No, _Esquire_ can’t use the hurricane as an excuse. They just blew it on this one. ---
**Author:** ![G41184B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/87869e/32.png) [@G41184B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G41184B)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-bars-in-america-do-they-know-your-name-at-any-of-these/462296/42 "2008-09-08T17:19:00Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’ve been to the Sunset once. I used to order out from them a lot, but I’ve only been drinking there once. I met **Autolycus** and a couple of his friends there. Not our first meeting, but he called and said to come on over.) > > I’ve been to Doyle’s a lot, but considering that a lived about 4 blocks from there for 15 years, surprisingly little. I can count on one hand how many drinks I’ve had there. I’ve had far more meals than drinks. Their German plate is pretty decent. Some more Doyle’s trivia, it was the bar where they filmed the scene in Mystic River that Katie Markum danced on the night before she was killed. I have been there more than a dozen times, most of them to eat. The pizza is actually excellent and the breakfast is solid, although overpriced. I hear the bloody marys are good but I don’t drink them. I usually will get a Guiness or Sam Adams seasonal beer there. ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-bars-in-america-do-they-know-your-name-at-any-of-these/462296/43 "2008-09-08T17:19:42Z")
> [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](#): > > I’m going to **Barcade** in Brooklyn tomorrow night! I might see you there. Barcade is within walking distance of my apartment and during the week, all the good video games are always available! ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-bars-in-america-do-they-know-your-name-at-any-of-these/462296/44 "2008-09-08T17:35:38Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > I’ve been in both of the DC bars. Both of them are dives on Capitol Hill, and their charm is that they are dives so close to the halls of power. I wouldn’t call the Hawk n’ Dove a dive. I thought it was rather nice, at least in comparison to The Tune Inn. The cool thing about The Tune Inn is that it’s proud to be a dive. It’s an institution in spite of itself, serving cheap beer and blue-plate-special type eats. I wouldn’t call either of them a ‘best bar,’ though - why isn’t the Brickskellar on that list? ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-bars-in-america-do-they-know-your-name-at-any-of-these/462296/45 "2008-09-09T01:04:20Z")
> [@TheMerchandise](#): > > I might see you there. Barcade is within walking distance of my apartment and during the week, all the good video games are always available! Ah, I posted late Saturday night. I was at the Barcade yesterday, and we beat Moon Patrol _twice_! ---
**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-bars-in-america-do-they-know-your-name-at-any-of-these/462296/46 "2008-09-09T03:43:04Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I came across [this list](http://www.esquire.com/bestbars/complete-list/) while reading [“The Falling Man”](http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0903-SEP_FALLINGMAN) at Esquire. Fascinating story. > > Anyhow does anyone here drink at any of these places. I promise to read each link to the bar and imagine you having a drink. So what’ll it be for you - a beer, a shot, a cocktail? What will you be wearing? Who will be with you? Montana: I’ve been drinking in Montana for 30 years. I travel everywhere in Montana. Name a town and I’ve been there. Name a bar in a town and I’ve probably been there. So here’s my comments and suggestions: Esquire chose: The Little Cowboy bar in Fromberg - You’re not going to be in Fromberg unless you are lost. It’s OK, but it’s dark, terribly smoky and the locals are stupid. Charlie B’s in Missoula - Missoula has a lot of great bars and Charlie B’s is one of them (repeat smoky) It’s one of the three Cajun restaurants in Montana and I highly recommend the Oyster Poor Boy, which I had a few weeks ago. whistlepig’s choices for the Most Interesting Bars in Montana: The Jersey Lilly: [http://www.thejerseylilly.com/](http://www.thejerseylilly.com/) It’s in true cowboy country, 40 miles from the nearest bar (which is a long ways in Montana.) There are no bathrooms, only outhouses. The Jimtown Bar: It’s just over the border of the Northern Cheyenne reservation. If you can’t fight or can’t handle yourself when being called, “white boy”, don’t go in. The New Atlas: [http://www.legendsofamerica.com/MT-NewAtlas.html](http://www.legendsofamerica.com/MT-NewAtlas.html) Dead animals and I bought a t-shirt that said, “Whirling Disease Cures California Infestation.” The Missoula Club: Good burgers, old guys in the afternoon, college kids at night. ---
**Author:** ![Saratoga\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Saratoga\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saratoga_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-bars-in-america-do-they-know-your-name-at-any-of-these/462296/47 "2008-09-09T04:34:45Z")
Twenty + years ago I used to stop in at Brennan’s Pub in Marina del Rey for a beer or two. I used to work near there or I wouldn’t have bothered. Their big draw at that time was turtle racing, don’t know if they still do it or not. In searching my memory for the best bars in America, it seems like all the ones that come to mind are closed, like O’Mahoney’s and the George and Dragon in Santa Monica. I guess the world’s getting older… ---
**Author:** ![Trollhaugen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Trollhaugen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trollhaugen)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-bars-in-america-do-they-know-your-name-at-any-of-these/462296/48 "2008-09-09T06:52:24Z")
Bartender does not know my name at these, but I am proud to list the bars on the list (crap or not) that I have been to . Wisconsin: Essen Haus - Cool place. Had a good time here. People were very nice and the beer was cold. Like all the mugs. Minnesota: Half Time Rec - Cool place. Had a good time here. People were very nice and the beer was cold and the band was Irish. Illinois: Greenmill - Cool place. Had a good time here. People were assholes, but we were talking during jazz night, so I suppose we were the assholes. Duke of Perth - Cool place. Had a good time here. People were very nice and the fish and chips were good. B.L.U.E.S - LOVE THIS PLACE. Had a good time here. Music is awesome, beer is cold. Colorado: Cruise Room - meh. But they serve cold beer and I had a good time here. El Chapultapec - LOVE THIS PLACE. Had a good time here. Minturn Saloon - pretty cool. Had a good time here. It does not take much for me to have a good time, so to me…I like the list. These were some of the best bars I have been to. Mostly because they all sold cold beer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-bars-in-america-do-they-know-your-name-at-any-of-these/462296.md?page=2)