The past couple-a weeks have been pretty good for bar-patio-ing. Not only has the weather been perfect — not too hot, not too cold, and relatively mosquito-free — but there are more outdoor-drinking options than ever.
The Moon (2911 W. Berry St., by TCU), where I tend bar, has just enlarged its patio — it extends the entire length of the façade. Now all 500 people who regularly packed the previous, smaller patio will have more room to spill their drinks. (Yay.) Halo Lounge (3051 S. University Dr., by TCU) has a patio now, and, of course, there’s the relatively new rooftop patio at 7th Haven (2700 W. 7th St., by the Cultural District). To get there you have to climb a lengthy flight of pitch-black-painted stairs that HearSay likes to call the “Stairway to Haven.” (Sigh.) And if you’re on the East Side, you can enjoy the balmy climes on the deck of the Ozzie Rabbit Lodge (6463 E. Lancaster Ave.) or in tiki-fied backyard of Caves Lounge (900 W. Division St.). Wet t-shirt contests not included. Unless, you know, you’re a spiller. – Steve Steward
Tell Olga Hi
A while back, I headed to the Mid-Cities in search of a fabled bar called Volcano’s. As I drove around and around, I got the feeling that I was in some unwritten Stephen King novel, one that combined elements of It, The Wastelands, and From a Buick 8, three of his most surreal and unsettling stories. In any case, I wrote off the Mid-Cities, referring to them as a series of tumors metastasized around the main artery between Fort Worth and the airport. Yeah, yeah, totally harsh. I know. That’s why I’ve given them a second chance.
Or Euless, anyway. See, I have a couple buddies who live there, and they recently told me about a gem on Highway 10 called Marina’s Restaurant & Club. Named after the nice Lithuanian lady who runs it, Marina’s is a classy dive where the cocktails come in actual glasses and the kitchen is open until 2 a.m. It’s one of those places where the bar is in what I like to call the “boozefort,” a wooden frame from which hang wineglasses that shine in the warm lighting. At Marina’s, it’s red lighting, but whatever. It made me feel at home. It’s the sort of vibe you might remember from joints like J&J’s Hideway (R.I.P.) or wherever your dad took you when he needed a beer between errands.
Better yet, the friendly environs are augmented by the even friendlier service. Yes, it’s a family affair. Both of Marina’s daughters work there — I met just Olga, but she was fast with the pitchers and remembered my name when I walked out the door. Friendly without being insincere, convivial without talking your ear off, Olga and another employee, Rick, were great hosts. Without getting into Cheers clichés, Marina’s is what every neighborhood watering hole should be.
But wait. There’s more. If Best Bar Sports remains a category in the 2009 Best Of issue, Marina’s is my current front-runner. There are a couple pool tables, shuffleboard, and video poker. For some reason, video poker machines are always in these types of bars. Probably has something to do with the more mature clientele. Whatever. – S.S.
Contact Last Call at lastcall@fwweekly.com.
