receive to Chef ’s Choice , where culinary mavin school you on everything from their preferred dive bar to donut shop class .
There is no better place to drink on Earth than a dive bar . Whether you go because of the tinny drinks , the company of regular , or the fact that you face well in dim lighting , it does n’t weigh . The good dive bars receive one and all , as long as you ’re fine with not drinking anything too fancy . If the cocktail has more than two ingredients , you necessitate to go elsewhere .
Chefs often gravitate to dive taproom to flub off steam after a foresighted switch – peculiarly because these types of organization are often undefended when they get off work deep at night . We asked chef all across the USA where they go to complain back with a cheap brewage . Here are their favorite lacrimation holes .
Lindsey McClave/Thrillist
The Sundown Saloon
" I live in Boulder , where I also go to college , and my go - to dive reminds me of those just old days . The Sundown Saloon is not a secret , unruffled place , but I have a lot of fun memories of tardy night chicane there . I ’ve been going to that barroom since they allow smoke inside and you could n’t see the bar through the smoke from the front threshold 20 ft away . Oh , the memories … " –Hosea Rosenberg , Blackbelly Market(Boulder , CO )
Molly Malone’s Irish Pub
" This is one of the first bars I ever went to in Los Angeles . It ’s been around for 50 years and still has a great crowd and local bands . The Irish punk band Flogging Molly used to be the star sign band . Fun story , my female parent was once kicked out on St. Patrick ’s Day . " –Kris Morningstar , Terrine(Los Angeles , CA )
Spring Lounge
“ From the days of my first paid occupation in Soho in 2002 to today , the Spring Lounge is still my preferred dive bar in NYC . It ’s that seat that ’s always overt , has at least a couple familiar fount , gaudy drinks , and that dive streak smell we can all relate to . The masses in there are always the most diverse ( and tipsy ) , leading to some heavy people watching and interesting conversations . ” –Michael Ferraro , Delicatessen(New York , NY )
M.K. Davis
" MK ’s is a groovy onetime - school region stick where you’re able to sit at the bar and drink a frosted 30 oz schooner of beer and chow down on crispy dogs . The live dogs have been slit with cheese in the middle , wrap up in a tortilla , deeply fry , and served with mustard greens . It ’s a dandy billet to steer over to after work to give up back with the guys in the kitchen ! " –Steve McHugh , Cured(San Antonio , TX )
The Sand Dollar Lounge
“ The Sand Dollar is down and dirty ( in a good way ) . It ’s raw but organic , there ’s live music , and it ’s the sort of space where a guy rope with a harp might show up and jump on phase to play with the striation – no pretenses and no ruffle . I love it . ” –Rick Moonen , RM Seafood(Las Vegas , NV )
The Anderson
“ I jazz The Anderson . Not only is it in my region , but it ’s downcast stress – something that ’s hard to recover in Miami . Great cocktail and salutary solid food , too . ” –John Kunkel , Yardbird Southern Table & Bar(Miami , FL )
Cherry Bomb
" I survive in San Diego for a few years and this place save me sane . Your only choices were old - school hardcore or thrash metallic element on the jukebox and warm or moth-eaten Fernet . My girlfriend once tried to order a cocktail and they almost throw her out . A neat dive bar does n’t care about what you desire . " –Jason Roberts , Rue(Portland , OR )
Roberts' Bar and Liquor Store
" Roberts ' Bar is great mixture of Tulane students and neighborhood people without the typical college bar vibration . It has an old , distressed bar with an awesome captains cycle on display , cheap PBR , and video stove poker machine . And it ’s just few city block from my house ! " –Slade Rushing , Brennan’s(New Orleans , LA )
Toe Bang
“ Toe Bang is likeCheersbut Korean . So , Norm is a little - old Korean lady , and beer nuts are replaced with red-hot and gamy lineage sausage and bubbling cauldrons of ramen and cheese . Soju rains from the sky ! ” –Chris Oh , Hanjip(Culver City , CA )
Reed’s Local
" It ’s where our staff heads after a long dark of butter chicken . Nice table top field hockey game , karaoke , burlesque nights , funniness nights , and music all neatly box in the darkest , scruffiest bar around . Bonus for having cheap crapulence and bartenders who just seem to really empathize you . ” –Josh Kulp , Honey Butter Fried Chicken(Chicago , IL )
Candlelight Tavern
“ Not only does this spot have affordable ( and tasty ! ) bar collation , it ’s a neighborhood staple that ’s been around for a long time . It ’s get that sometime - schoolhouse repair vibe – you never really recognize who you ’ll see on any given night . ” –Troy Guard , Mister Tuna(Denver , CO )
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