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- Nearest Transit:
-
Bedford Av (L)
Marcy Av (J, M, Z)
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
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$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Erin O. said: "Loved the feel of this bar, went on a Tuesday night and it wasn't too crowded. we got a boothy type table and cozied up. It's definitely the type of place you want to go to on a cold winter night. My tequila cocktail was delicious,…" read more »
48 reviews for Savalas Bar & Lounge
Review Highlights
"Very nicely priced drinks, always some shens a happenin."
(in 3 reviews)
"...drinks were well priced and the bartenders were friendly."
(in 11 reviews)
"Dj was playing some indie type dance 70s tunes with some..."
(in 3 reviews)
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48 reviews in English
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Review from Doreen M.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 1/27/2011
They are closing!!! I am so sad. This Saturday is the last time we can have a cocktail at this great bar. I have been coming for years. The music and the happy hour is great.
The bartenders also rock.
I am sooooo sad. boo.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/5/2009
note: we only go during the early week.
always great bartenders and drink deals. my boyfriend and i… Read more »
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Review from Kyle H.
Brooklyn, NY
11/23/2009
I have to admit, at this point I've had more fun here than I haven't. Look at me contracting to confuse. Ha!
First time I went here was a few years ago with my gayest friend ever Marky. The bartender was a total bitch to him so for a long time I said FUCK YOU SAVALAS. FUCK YOU.
About a year ago, newly transplanted Billdozer suggests the place. I had forgotten all about it, and upon entering the establishment with the Doze, I recoiled in horror. I was never going to go here again!!!! But here I am.
It seems that particular bartendress is longer around. The bar is staffed with young (er than me) gentlemen and ladies, most of them being the Doze's friends. They have decent drink specials, and although I feel that if I never drink a peeber again in my life it's too soon, the beer and shot special is pretty good.
Everyone's pretty friendly and they wooden booths in front and a front patio where you can smoke and where people who eye you condescendingly for smoking on their sober way in to the bar, can bum cigs from you after a few. Jerks. You people.
I guess they close the front patio on the weekend nights, but who cares? I go out on Thursdays, the best day of all to go out.
Really the best part of this place is on Thursday, you can dance. The music isn't that great but it's loud and has a good beat and the ladies are lovely and willing to dance with you (me). Most of all, it's not crowded so you can actually MOVE when you dance, instead of doing that little side-to-side shimmy you wind up doing when the dancefloor is packed. No one wants to shimmy.
If you're with the Doze and you guys are trying to escape from one of his "mistakes", you can go across the street and hide behind a car until you see her leave. The entrance is well-lit and makes such occasions easy to manage.
Bring a coupla buds and go a little nuts. This place is best that way.Listed in: Avert your eyes
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Review from mike b.
Brooklyn, NY
6/30/2007
My new favorite local bar.
Every time I go to Savalas I have a good time...the people are nice, the bartenders are cool, and usually they have a pretty decent DJ playing. Drinks are cheap and they even do buy-backs. The last time I was in they were playing a movie on the projector called "Cannibal women in the avocado jungle of death." Surely a classic. -
Review from Heather F.
Brooklyn, NY
9/12/2010
Went here to "dance the night away", however the DJ that night played 80s music and hardcore rap (I was fine with the 80s but after the rap we scooted out there). Plus, we asked for some Rihanna songs and the DJ said he didn't have any - not sure if that's a Williambsurg thing, but I was surprised by this.
The drinks were well priced and the bartenders were friendly. $20 min for credit cards. I liked that you could drink outside though in front of the bar - a definite plus.
The crowd was OK - a bit sketchy, but pretty friendly otherwise. Not a place to find the love of your life by any means though. -
Review from Danielle S.
New Orleans, LA
11/1/2007
Well. I'm not a fan of Savalas. I think it's kinda lame. The crowd is meh, the drinks I can't remember (maybe that's a good thing), the atmosphere is eh and mostly there is just something I can't put my finger on that I don't like.
But after reading Mike B's review below maybe I'll give it another chance. I mean how can you go wrong with a bar that plays a movie called "Cannibal women in the avacado jungle of death"?
If for no other reason than that I'll give it another chance. And the music wasn't terrible, actually not bad.Listed in: Hangin' in Brooklyn, yo.
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Review from Brock B.
Brooklyn, NY
12/22/2010
Quickly becoming my favorite neighborhood bar.
Good music. Good beer. Good deals. Cool bartenders. Nice decor. They love my dog there.
Enough said.
I would recommend to anyone. -
Review from Ethan C.
Brooklyn, NY
9/12/2008
Nothin like a bunch of picture-less one-reviewers arguing on a review website. Geezum.
Savalas is okay. They have a good happy hour special, $3 drafts and mixed drinks. Outdoor seating in the front that's perfect for that time of day. Worth swinging by if you're within a couple blocks, but nothing to go out of your way for.Listed in: Williamsburg List
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Review from Claribelle C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/28/2008
Friday night, too many people dancing
+
two little asian girls
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= getting stuck in the corner surrounded by creepy drunkies trying to dance to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
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two little asian girls
_________________________________
= time to leave -
Review from Alessa M.
6/22/2010 2 Check-ins Here
It's a quite night and Andres and I are in the mod for a drink. He happens to walk by Savalas' board outside about drink specials and we decided to walk in and have a drink. They were playing Kill Bill Volume 1 on a nice big screen towards the back and we watched. It was our anniversary (6 month) and we had just eaten at a great sushi spot. We were waiting for the food to settle.
The bartender was awesome and loved that we chose t celebrate at Savalas. The decor is awesome, it's dark and dingy and it truly is the definition of a bar.
We've been back a few times after and every time is s pleasant. -
Review from Jeff R.
Brooklyn, NY
12/30/2008
I've DJed here a few times with my friends Kids With Snakes and I must say, a great little place to have a dance party.
I can't say I agree with the majority of reviewers but I've had good times there, even when I wasn't there to DJ. I have a soft spot for this place mainly because there's an amazing deli rather close to it that makes some of the best wraps i've ever had. You can't really have a bad night when you spent the entire time drunk, partying and then finishing it off with a wrap that comes with a free banana.Listed in: Places I've DJed
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Review from Ahmed H.
Brooklyn, NY
11/14/2008
I always pass by the place on my way home from work, and there's almost always something going on every night of the week. I decided to go check it out on a Thursday night with a friend from the city (as part of my Tour de Williamsburg) and it was one of the better spots of the night.
The DJ was playing some nice tunes (nothing too crazy, as nobody was dancing), and the music was loud enough to be heard - but you could still talk to the people around you. The bartenders seemed pretty cool, and wasted no time serving up beers - which were more than reasonably priced (can't argue with a $5 Hoegaarden).
Even though it was kind of drizzly outside, the atmosphere was warm and and really chill. The booths were comfortable, and were fun places to crowd around a large group into. Overall, i'd say that it's a pretty fun place to hang out, and i'm sure to dance on the weekends as well. -
Review from Briana M.
11/21/2008
If you enjoy coke and you want it for free, come here!
This place is a sketch fest. Perhaps it is better on weekdays or when it's quiet, but I found myself repulsed by half of the people that were getting their party on. The other half I just found to be obnoxious. The highlight of the evening was a talkative yet shady gentleman who asked my name, gave me his, and then proceeded to offer me coke. I immediately declined and made my way back into a drunkfest...
Now, for the positive (why this place deserves any stars at all) The bartenders were GOOD. My bartender (a tall, friendly bearded fellow) was so nice that I tipped him for my glass of water. If you're looking for some decent drink specials, even at 1 am, I guess you could come here. There were pretty good beer/shot deals...I got the Yuengling/Jameson combo (why, oh why did I do that?!) which cost me 8 bones. There were cheaper tequila/Jack Daniels combos as well.Listed in: I am a drunk., the douche filez
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Review from Vinci A.
Brooklyn, NY
5/2/2010
As close to a five star review without being five stars.
1. Make friends with the bouncer. In most cases, you would have to grease him to be his "friend." Not here. Just point out that you admire the fact he bounces on the weekend and works in mergers-acquisitions during the week. If he likes you, he makes you look good. Some times, I'll bring a girl there and have the bouncer take me in through the kitchen (alla Goodfellas). After seeing that she usually lets me "take care of her in MY kitchen."
2. Do not refer to this place as Savalas; refer to it as the Jumpoff. If you are confused as to why, listen to the song with the same name by Lil Kim and you will understand all.
3. Wear a noseplug. There is always this one black dude there dancing alone who forgets to shower. ( yes, it is the same guy).
4. Dance! Now, I will point out you will not outdance the blacks and Latinos there, but you will be better than the hipsters there who consider dancing to be crossing their arms, nodding their heads, and quoting Trotsky condescendingly.
5. If you cannot do step four, then stop reading. If you are down with step 4, then get ready to "get down" because the girls there are looking to get busy and plentiful. However, they will only gyrate for you later on if they see you gyrating your hips inside. I pondered why the girls are so eager to get downand found out they put oyster juice in each drink. (Am I kidding? Guess you'll have to find out).
Great mix of music. You will hear The Ten Crack Commandments remixed with Gregorian Chant. I don't know why it works, but it does.
Now go jump off at the jumpoff. -
Review from Rachel M.
Brooklyn, NY
10/7/2010
The bouncer actually checked on me to make sure I was cool, because I left after 2 drinks (nothing bad happened, just got tired at about 2AM).
Music went from Toto to Biggie to some whiny hipster crap (I think that's when I got tired, haha). Young, polite crowd. Clean bathrooms.
A totally calm, but fun experience, which is wonderful on a Friday night in what can sometimes be a 'hood full of kindergartners. -
Review from Edwin C.
New York, NY
3/4/2007
Everytime I've been to Savalas, it's been a good time. In fact, I have a HILARIOUS story about this place that involves a bottle of Jack Daniel's, a stripper from Scores, cops (singling out the lone black man involved, no less), and an outstanding arrest warrant. As for me, I was just an innocent bystander. No, really. I mean, c'mon, I'm a responsible adult.
Um, so anyway... Savalas is a great place to escape from Manhattan on the weekends. Especially if Caps & Jones are in town and on the decks. Savalas has a great soundsystem and the DJs to match. Don't expect run-of-the-mill club music, but don't worry about getting lost in the obscurity of it all, either . In fact, you may recognize a lot of it, but just never have expected to hear it played together or even played in this type of setting -- like one time Caps & Jones threw in the theme to Top Gun (the Van Halen instrumental) in their set and blew everyone's mind (although that particular time they were playing somewhere else, but you get the idea).
I know, I know... You might be thinking, "Hey, we don't need any more of those damn Manhattan yuppies invading the neighborhood that we still delusionally think hasn't already been gentrified." Or you might be like, "I hate Williamsburg, it's so full of all those hipsters trying too hard to look artistically scruffy, and besides, even though I'll take a train miles down from the Upper East Side to the meatpacking district, one stop across the river is so far away." WHATEVER. All that people seem to care about here is getting their drink on, getting their groove on, and basically just having fun. The ONLY problem you'll have is if the stupid L train isn't running. -
Review from TJ G.
Brooklyn, NY
8/30/2010
I went here for a birthday party last weekend, for Williamsburg this place isn't too shabby. I am a huge hip-hop fan and its tough to find a bar that plays music I enjoy listening too and they definitely had some good tunes going. The drink specials are also great, Bud and a Jameson for $6, yes please.
The bar itself is not very impressive, pretty boring looking. I also didn't understand why some people could take drinks outside to the patio and smoke, but yet others couldn't. Really strange being asked to put your drink inside when three guys next to you are enjoying theres. The male bartender was also a big prick, like he felt special because he was behind the bar and had to flex his muscles. The other bartender was super nice and accommodating, thanks!
Overall pretty good spot. The hipster level was kept to a minimum, good music and good drinks. -
Review from Ben P.
San Rafael, CA
4/1/2009
Been here three times, twice with Moe from Trash Bar on our infamous Monday night liquor derbies so can't offer much there, except to say that it was loud, I danced excessively and somehow made it home.
The third time was a sedate ordeal early in the night with two friends. They took off early and I hung around for the company which consisted of Matt the bartender, the cute bartender with the cinnamon skin, the owner, the owner's (girlfriend's?) dogs, that Scotty dude with the cowboy hat ('Burgers, you know who I mean) and a couple of randoms.
First off, they gave me two free PBR's with no provocation which earns at least, like, 3 stars. They were very welcoming and cool, to the point that I would say it was my best bar experience with strangers in some time.
The decor reminds me of a smaller My Moon and is much classier and more comfy than most Bedford bars. The sound system is great too. The bathrooms didn't smell like dead animals and were quite spacious and granite-ty, which I enjoyed.
What else do you want, ma bitches? -
Review from Thomas C.
New York, NY
9/26/2009
Not really sure how to objectively rate this place since it's totally NOT my crowd. Not sure exactly what this place is doing in Williamsburg. This dude I skate with was there so I headed over from the Charleston... Some bro who reviewed it said, "Its prob the number hipster seen in Williams burg." [sic] Having trouble deciphering that, but I did not see any 'hipsters,' whatever that means today, there.
I don't mean anything other than what I say when I say, I thought this was a gay bar by the time I sat down. There might have been three girls in the place, and it was packed. Bizarre crowd, a mix of 'urban' types and white dudes in collared shirts. Very weird. Moderately expensive drinks... I guess this is like what a lounge is like in Manhattan? Don't know, never been to one.
I guess I'm not the best guy to go to for advice about this place. Weird crowd, beat music, beat location, overall pretty boring and just... weird. -
Review from Justin L.
Brooklyn, NY
1/18/2010
One
Of the
Few Burg bars
With Actual late
Night dancing that is worth the drunken walk. -
Review from kevin d.
Brooklyn, NY
3/10/2011
Awful bar, awful patrons, disrespectful owners as well as disrespectful bouncers. Not an actual neighborhood-community-based kind of bar, but rather a place for out-of-town kids standing out on the street shouting Yahoo!, throwing up in the street, setting nearby garbage cans on fire and other cool stuff. Drugs sold in the bar. People running out in the street and standing there, unsure what the next plan-of-barhop is going to be.
Nothing cool about the place. Unless Sopranos Night is cool in 2011.
Seems they're ripping it up now to build some other delight. Wonder what it'll be.
If you're genuinely cool, you'll go to IONA around the corner. If you're more on the dork side, you could try The Woods. South 4th Street. -
Review from Sienna A.
Brooklyn, NY
12/13/2009
I totally dig this place. Its not really my crowd. but they play great music and have a good wine selection. Its got a great feel that I love. Sometimes its really quiet and other times way too loud.
CLOSED!!!!! -
Review from Jeff L.
Brooklyn/East Williamsburg, New York, NY
7/4/2007
If you're looking for a good scene, decently priced drinks ($5 for a PBR and a shot of Whiskey, $6 mojitos) and often obscure but still great music, come to Savalas!
A quick hop, skip and jump on the L and a walk to Bedford and South 2nd will deliver you to this small, but cool red lounge.
The times I've been, DJs were playing obscure Motown and 50s/60s rock throwbacks. Dancable, enjoyable, with space! Bathrooms (and this is important) are sanitary and abundant for a place this size, and once you're done, you can hop back on the L to check out other neighborhoods or explore the Bedford bar scene which offers other great haunts! -
Review from Ann B.
Boston, MA
12/2/2008
I came here a lot when I first moved to the neighborhood. I have to admit my memory is always a bit foggy by the time I end up here..
It's always pretty busy, most nights of the week. Nice to have an area to smoke outside. Drinks are reasonably priced and strong enough. The bathrooms are decently clean but I don't like having the sink area so public. Also, too dark to really use the mirror/ fix makeup. Main complaints: few too many hipsters, but that's what I get for living on Bedford. The music is never quite good enough. Maybe I'll start going back again but I tired out on this place for no real reason.. It just doesn't have enough of a draw for me. -
Review from Margarita S.
Brooklyn, NY
5/19/2009
I love Savalas. It is my neighborhood bar, and I go hear on most nights. Last night DJ Stereotype was spinning and she was amazing. Lola the flame-haired bartender who is my new girl crush was there as well...
Savalas has great ambiance and nice decor. The drinks are cheap, the music is sexy, the booths are great for having a good conversation or smooching a hottie. It's also fun to sit outside and smoke ciggies and people watch. I think Savalas is the best bar in the 'burg. Get your but down there! -
Review from Ace A.
Brooklyn, NY
1/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Beer + shot for $5..or if I feel like bein a baller, upgrade to Jameson + Bud BOTTLE for $6. My kind of place. Went on a fri and not much goin on. Dj was playing some indie type dance 70s tunes with some hipsters goin nuts to it. Bartender and the bouncer were friendly. If I lived in the neighborhood, id come by regularly.
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Review from Nancy R.
San Francisco, CA
1/12/2009
I can't really rate this place fairly because I was already intoxicated when I darkened its halls. All I do know, or was told the next day, was that I lost my sweater, keys, and lunch here.
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Review from Mike S.
Bogota, NJ
9/5/2008
This place is beyond annoying. Horrible, loud, thumping club music. Obnoxious would-be Manhattan club goers that were too lazy to get on the L train and were so wasted that the second I walked in it was like a tide of annoying seemed to spill onto me and who I was with. Granted who I was with was at fault for me even being there. They went inside, I left without even trying to order a drink and stood outside smoking while they found out just how annoying and obnoxious it was inside on their own. If loud clubs that play the same song all night is your deal, then this is your place. But if it is, odds are you already know places to go.
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Review from melissa m.
Brooklyn, NY
2/21/2008
Hipster Hell.
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Review from R. P.
Brooklyn, NY
5/5/2010
"It was really entertaining watching you get stalked all night," so said the random guy to us at 4 in the morning outside of Savalas.
Savalas on a Saturday night is like Chex Mix - you've got quite a panoply of people here. We came here because a friend's friend DJs on certain weekends. It was pretty dead at around 10 and picked up and got packing after 11:30 (wink). Contrary to some of the reviews here, the bartenders were actually really cool.
And here come the caveats: if you're a woman, bring a guy with you. At some point in the night, my friend yelled "I really wanna punch someone" because this place is a cesspool for passive aggressive creepers who kind of come up behind you A Night at the Roxbury Style. As a matter of fact, bringing a guy with you may not work, because they don't discriminate here - there are cohorts of men randomly dancing with each other; when we walked out, some of them hailed a series of cabs and left together; they had Nordic accents. Clean bathrooms, though.
Either way, I had tons of fun -- it's really about being here with the right crowd ;). -
Review from Arno F.
Brooklyn, NY
8/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
Good selections of beers on tap at reasonable prices is just about all this place has going for it. Everything else will annoy you the minute you step into this place. So, drink up and leave quickly.
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Review from Chris O.
3/9/2009
I pass by this place very often and see a lot of hipsters here, which is annoying. However, I went on a quiet night, and was very pleased with the red lighting and large comfortable booths. The Yuengling was $2 a pint, which was great. I probably won't come here often as it's usually packed with annoying drunk hipsters, but on dead nights, it can be pretty enjoyable.
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Review from Patrick K.
Brooklyn, NY
3/3/2006
Amazing sound system and a friendly staff, drinks specials up the wazoo. A good time for sure, although it can get pretty damn hot in there if enough people are inside. The front patio helps with the cooldown, though. Check their website for who's DJing what nights, etc.
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Review from Kathryn L.
Brooklyn, NY
8/3/2010
Love the bartenders!
..and I used to like this place until one of the DJs refused to take any song requests even though no one was dancing. (And even though every other DJ takes requests)
They play good music, but this one DJ was seriously a douche and didnt go outside his comfort zone for w/e reason.
I didnt get his name but he plays there some fridays... I wouldnt come here again on a friday. -
Review from Dana F.
4/19/2009
I've been here a few times, usually when Kids with Snakes is spinning or for the Grim parties in general. The music is good and the crowd is what you expect from Williamsburg. I've gone with friends, but haven't observed much cross-group socializing. The only people who have approached me have been the non-hipster types, who were complaining about the music (my thoughts: if this isn't your scene, you're free to leave!). The bartenders are super-nice and there's the occasional PBR-shot combo special. The ambiance of the place is great -- very laid back, you don't have to be super-dressed up, it's dark and does get busy.
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Review from Seiji C.
San Francisco, CA
7/3/2009
if you want a place to dance drunkenly and singalong to mediocre music all over the place, this place is soso.
if you want anything else, i would not recommend it. -
Review from jeannette a.
Brooklyn, NY
11/8/2008
we went out to savalas for panty raid, and we had a really good time. mike famous plays some pretty sweet songs, and the blueberry lemonade was pretty tasty. more lemonadey-than blueberry, but my gin and tonic was definitely kicked up a notch.
met some fun people at the bar, and saw an old homie from back home. i can't complain! i wish you were allowed to bring your drinks outside while you smoke ... but maybe that's a law instead of a bar rule.
there were plenty of people to laugh at, and it looked like the dance floor was about to actually have some dancing people on it right before we left. the door dudes are nice, the bartenders friendly.
i didn't check the bathrooms out, like i normally do, but next time i promise to.
drinks weren't that expensive either. $20 min on cc at the bar - standard. -
Review from Lisa Y.
New York, NY
2/10/2008
Nice selection of beers on tap and reasonable priced. It's on the small side, but it wasn't overly crowded. The music could be a little better, but at least everyone was dancing. If you're with the right company, this place could be fun.
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Review from Trevaughn w.
NY
5/5/2009
Theres always a party at Savalas. Its prob the number hipster seen in Williams burg. The music is always great n lots of drink specials. Some times its difficult to get in, if ur not on the guest list. I dont c y any place in the burg should have a G-list. I certainly wont go to Williams burg to party at Savalas its not that great of a place. May be better suited as a plan B or C
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Review from J. E.
Brooklyn, NY
3/27/2010
Sometimes it's hit or miss at Savalas. On some nights it can be pretty empty so the music and atmosphere don't make sense, but then there are nights were the crowds are great and the music's pumping. With great music, a cool vibe, and decent drink prices make this one of our favorite places to go to on Bedford.
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Review from Cheryl M.
Brooklyn, NY
4/2/2008
Savalas is good most of the time. Very nicely priced drinks, always some shens a happenin. I somehow seemed to be drug out on nights I shouldn't just to go to Savalas. Digging the booths. Place gets pretty packed, though. DJs usually play OK tunes.
