The search for a dive bar that doesn't suck…

Posted By: Adam 2 Comments
Something we're really lacking around here is a dive bar that doesn't suck. I know that sounds contradictory, but if you look hard enough you can always seem to find a dive bar that fits your style pretty well. We've not had any luck near home so far. The Blarney Stone is good example of a dive bar in Philly that doesn't suck, while Cavanaugh's (a couple of blocks away) isn't, because it sucks. The easiest way to tell is to go there while it's empty. If you're content hanging out in a bar that has a grand total of 10 people in it, including the bartender and your friends, congratulations… you found a good bar.

Now, there are a few bars close by that we're not all that interested in checking out. You might say that they're "in the ghetto" — but that would be rude and insensitive of you. Jerk. All it really means is that they are in downtown Coatesville and there isn't anywhere near them that I would feel comfortable parking my car.

We've tried T.G.I. Friday's and Applebees, but they aren't divey enough. We went to one place in Thorndale on a secret mission to check out the bar under the guise of just having lunch, but were not impressed.

We tried a place just west of here called the Somewhere Tavern or Saloon or something like that, (you know, "It's always 5:00 somewhere…") and as hard as it may be to imagine, it seemed a bit rednecky, even for us.

So in our ongoing search for a dive bar that doesn't suck, I'm adding a new post tag called Finding a dive bar that doesn't suck. My friend Oscar and I (and probably the Missus) will be checking out a place called "The Landing Strip" (which is only acceptable as a name when it's in the vicinity of an airport, which it is) in the next couple of weeks, depending on free time, and I will report back. Unless "The Landing Strip" turns out to be a great bar, this may turn out to be an interesting ongoing thing.

2 responses to “The search for a dive bar that doesn't suck…”

  1. I went to <a href="http://yp.yahoo.com/py/ypMap.py?Pyt=Typ&tuid=2072210&ck=590366139&tab=B2C&ycat=8105021&city=Coatesville&state=PA&uzip=19320&country=us&msa=6160&cs=4&ed=QXleIa1o2TypZJZVmPBfQzlQmt3Yv_akQUVfLMWh6_i_&stat=:pos:3:regular:regT:6:fbT:0">Mr E's Restaurant & Tavern</a> (sorry, no link.  That's just how it copied) at 313 W. Kings Hwy in Coatesville not too long ago.  Most DEFINATELY a dive.  But, they do serve deep-fried chicken livers.  It's a restaurant/bar kinda place that is filled with ALL KINDS of folks.  Can't say I'll be RUNNING back any time soon, but you could try it out.

    Ed

    Ed ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:56 PM

  2. The owner wasn't by chance a Mr. Edward Nigma, was he?<br />
    <br />
    It <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=313+W+Kings+Hwy,+Coatesville,+PA+19320&sll=39.99515,-75.82945&sspn=0.032877,0.064373&ie=UTF8&z=13&ll=39.995534,-75.823088&spn=0.065754,0.185051&om=0">looks like</a> the place is far enough out of town that it warrants a visit. I will add it to the list.

    Adam

    Adam ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:56 PM