I haven't been here in a while. I used to go more, but the food has gone way down hill. I used to love the Trailer Park Monday Specials, best deep fried dill pickles and hamburgers for insanely good prices, and they took it away. The chinese chicken salad used to be good, but is now a soppy mess of iceburg lettuce and dressing.
On the up side, the drinks are good. The scene is a bit interesting on certain nights, a bit weird, but fun usually.
My very first dining experience happened in this very place back in 2007. Â During my first day arriving at the Arcata plaza in the early afternoon, I was hungry, and had no clue where to go for a decent lunch. Â Conveniently a police officer on bike was nearby so I asked for his advice. Â The officer pointed to Alibi and said, "I go there pretty much once a week. They got a nice burger selection." Â So I went in. Â It was weird walking in because the place was very dark compare to outside, so for about 3 seconds inside Alibi was blind. Â
They do have a large selection of burgers. I ended up getting "sole brothers," a delicious fish burger made with grilled/fried sole fish fillet. It was great. Â
Like many have noted, during the night time it is a bar (actually it is ALWAYS a bar). Â If you visit these bars at night you'll realize Alibi is the least busiest of the 4 bars on the plaza. When you are struggling to find a seat in the other bars, you can often find comfortable seating at the Alibi with your friends.
Years ago I used to eat and drink here all the time, when they had the jukebox. They replaced that with some horrible sound system, which was unfortunate. But the burgers were still great. Then some idiot or idiots decided to constantly play music that was unbelievably loud and chaotic, Â and often obscene. Couldn't hear yourself think, didn't even want to try a conversation. We just gave up after a few crazy-making dinners. Recently we decided to try it again and were thrilled to find the music was gone. We've been in there twice in the last few weeks and there was no music at all. Just the conversational hum from the seedy patrons. Yay! Hope it stays that way, because I really want to love the Alibi again. Also the last time we were there the bartender evicted some drunk obnoxious guy, which was entertaining.
Review Source:This place has many sides to it.
As a breakfast and lunch place - It sucks! The portion of food is super small and always disappoints me!
As a dinner spot - it's okay. They have specials that sometimes are super tasty. The wraps are the best followed by burgers, and the appetizers. Do not get a dinner plate of any kind! The veggies are freezer bag and the meats are gross. The oysters here are super fresh and their oyster shooters are cheap and tasty.
As a Bar - Â this place fills up at nights as a decent place to get a drink. They usually have some kind of live music, but it's nothing I'm into. There isn't a cover - so it can be worth a try.
The Alibi is our favorite bar in Arcata! They have the best shows, the best drinks, and the best clientele. And the food is outta this world! Seriously, if you're new to the area and were wondering which one of those bars staggered (pun intended) along the Plaza is best, try the Alibi first and last. It wins hands down.
Review Source:We stopped by on a Labor Day Monday while we were vacationing and wanted to check out the bar scene here. We came around 12 but it was dead of course because it was a Monday and it was Labor Day. There were still some college kids hanging around and kept putting money in the music player which made it somewhat lively. The only thing that's weird is the door which kind of scares me but they have a really nice drink selection and alcohol.
Review Source:My review is over a decade old but The Alibi has a special place in my heart so better late than never.
I hit 21 during spring break at college when NO ONE is in town. It empties out to the point that if someone were to waken from a coma and wander around outside they'd think the rapture had happened and they had been left behind.
As such, I spent my 21st alone and as my birthday is the day before St. Patrick's day, even grizzled old bar hounds wait a day to go out drinking so even the bars were empty.
I was prepared for a lonely drink.
But when I went to the Alibi the bartender was there holding down the fort with his girlfriend. He was practicing St. Patrick's day drinks and he and his girlfriend didn't want me to sit there alone so they included me in their conversations like I was an old friend, if he messed up on a special drink he was practicing, well he'd pass me the remainder with a friendly 'cheers'.
Frankly, it's one of the reasons why small town Arcata living was just so awesome. Strangers put aside all pretension and just share a drink and some company. It was such a nice transition into the public drinking world and beat out the traditional version of a ton of people getting you disgustingly drunk.
For me, it was the perfect 21 celebration and I thank The Alibi for that.
I worked here as a bartender in 1981-82 when I was finishing college at HSU. Â Butch was the owner and I learned a great deal about the underbelly of Arcata, the struggle for dignity among folks who didn't attend college in Humboldt County, and what it takes to make money in the booze business. The Alibi back then had Olympia beer in cans (Mardell's favorite) and we got paid from the cash register at the shift's end. I miss that kind of business
Review Source:Excellent 'dive' bar. Go early for a nice conversation or go late (on certain days) for rock, punk, metal and even dance music! The bartenders are attentive and dont take much shit, so you wont see idiots getting stupid. The food is good, especially breakfast! The weekday theme nights are fun for the food and drink specials. Be aware the clock on the back wall is off by about 15min. Try and count all the dogs on the walls!
Review Source:The alibi has it's flaws, but I would say that It is the only acceptable bar on the plaza. I feel safe, as the crowd is a combination of service industry folks, musicians, and long term residents. I would not say locals but they come here as well, just when the students leave. The staff is mix of fun, friendly, and surly, just how I like my bar staff. If you go here you must have respect, and act like a decent human and an adult because they do not tolerate asshole or rudeness.
Every Saturday there is live music, some a little loud for my taste but sometimes there are real gems, like several country punk shows, and soul rock.
The problems with the alibi do not stem from staff, but from poor decision making from those in charge. Do not blame a bartender for the price, being understaffed, or the menu. By the way those are some of the flaws, some over priced drinks, pretty mediocre menu and sometimes a wait as the server is usually working by themselves, doing the dishes, prepping food, all while dealing with serving customers and one cook! But they are consistent and if you know how to order you can get away with a cheap ticket...like pbr deals and 2$ well drinks on Wednesday's.
All in all you can enjoy you friends here with a pretty kick ass juke box and if you give the staff a chance they are pretty funny and slightly insane.
-on a sidenote I do not work there but being a customer for years I have developed friendships with the staff and fellow regulars. Â I go to other bars of course, but this place is the most comfortable.
The Alibi gets on e lonely star for serving mediocre food and employing an idiotic staff. Â Their website would have you believe they are something they are not. Â The staff, especially one barback (maybe he tends bar at this point) in particular, are horrible and really do detriment to the title of server. Â Avoid this place especially when there are so many other bars and food establishments that are better.
Review Source:On a strip of fratty dives this place is the oasis.
I love dive bars, so some of the other Yelpers' complaints I don't necessarily agree with. When you're walking down this block on the Plaza in downtown Arcata, this bar seems to have the least number of transient or otherwise despicable/creepy people standing outside of it. Â
It was here that I discovered my current favorite beer, Steelhead Extra Pale Ale. Also available are a bunch of drink specials and a Bloody Mary menu filled with 10 or so variations.
Didn't experience any obvious situations of being blatantly ignored by the bartenders, that's not to say service was exceptional either. Â
There is an expansive menu renamicent of east coast diners: tons of wraps, sandwiches, salads, fried food, and full dinners (steaks, seafood). The only food I had was incredibly disappointing mozzarella stiks and mediocre fried mushrooms. Â It's pretty upsetting to get such poor friend food - Â I already feel bad eating it, but come on, if I'm going to waste all the calories at least be tasty. Tasty fried food isn't hard to make. Â My mozzarella sticks weren't even melty and gooey - they were luke warm and not melty.... Â If the food were better this place would garner an easy 4 stars.
Despite the crappy food I revisted and still find it to be the most comfortable bar in the area, just what you expect out of a dive.
Thanks to Yelp, we changed our expectations before going to The Alibi. Â The web site might make you think you're headed into an old-school steakhouse and bar with a style like The Dresden Room. It is NOT like that. Â It is, as some have said, a dive bar. Â Luckily, we love dive bars.
It has the trappings of great old dive: great sign outside, little natural light inside, old carpet, worn-down makeshift booths, and regulars arguing loudly at the bar.
We ordered some fried appetizers, a sandwich, and some fish and chips. Â For pub grub, this was good stuff! Â The zucchini was cut unevenly, because they were fresh, hand-cut veggies in those fried zucchini and mushroom appetizers! You can taste the difference from the frozen prepared kind. Well-done, Alibi.
The bf's sandwich was good. Â My small fish and chips was still a generous portion, so I shared.
I'd go back for their long list of topped fries.
Oh Alibi, it hasn't been long but I miss you so. Â Excellent dive bar atmo, cheap n' good drink specials. Â
Food superlative for a bar. Â Spicy oyster shooter! Â The most best shape of fried pickle, spear. Â Excellent steak, esp the bleu cheese smothered.
Somehow my gaydar led me here like iron filings to a magnet and TGF gaydar. Â Many cute lesbionic wems. Â My waitress seemed to think I was a playa cuz there with diff woman every night.
Not much escapes notice in a town as small as the Arc! Â Unless it's the dread-ied Plazoid smokin' a dank spliff right next to the cop outside. Â Seriously, that truly happened. Â If ya ain't been to the 'boldt, ya don't know. Â Homeless ppl there smoke better than you are spending student loan monies on, folks.
Happy hour and different night o' week specials. Â Don't miss white trash night.
Oh the Alibi, like an old friend, it's always there and knows just what will make me feel better. The ultimate in comfort bar food, it's the BEST place in Arcata to get a drink, some fried appetizers and hang with friends. It's dark, seedy and I love it.
The menu here is HUGE. If nothing more you have choices. Breakfasts here are sure to cure any hangover along with one of their signature bloody mary's. Lunch & Dinner are comprised of a vast burger menu, hot n cold sandwiches, wraps, salads, the list goes on. Their burger menu alone goes on forever and you can order any specialty burger with beef, turkey, boca, garden, tofu, portabello, or chicken. I am partial to the luau, blue cheese (with a side of wing sauce) and the greek. They even have theme menu nights during the weekdays, it's my go to place to decompress after a long day at work.
It's ain't fancy, but hey, Â it's not meant to be!
The best bar food around. Â I rarely go elsewhere for hangover breakfast, and the burgers come just about anyway you want them (try the Eye Opener with a fried egg on it, or the Cowboy Bob with onion rings.) Â They actually have tasty wraps, not something i'm normally into - but the Fish and Chips, in my opinion, are some of the best in Northern Humboldt. Â Try a mojito, stay for the Mary's, and don't forget the fried pickles. Â If you're feeling fiesty, it's the best venue in town for hard rockin' bands. Â Oh yeah, did I mention the pints of Olympia with a slice of lime?
Review Source:My fave bar on the 'strip' of Arcata, haha.
For those that know me, i am forever on the quest for good hush puppies. What a welcome surprise when i glanced the menu and found they had them! (they have a good selection of bar food, and i and my company didn't rate as 'barf' food)...
I had a bloody mary, not the best, but i had worse, but the beer selection and tenders of the bar were very pleasant.
Not quite a dive, not quite a bar restaurant, but very much a place i would like to visit again!
Oh yes, it's 80s night, and the feelin's right. Yes it's 80s night. Oh what a night!
The alibi was a favorite spot to boogie on down with my ladies on 80s night thanks to DJ Red. Aside from that, It had live music, friendly bartenders, good food, and fun people. It was also the bar where some dude bought me the double shot of Tuacca that did me in on my 21st birthday! Hurray for the happy hipster haven off H street!
this place has a massive amount of sandwiches, burger , wraps ... most with vegetarian options ... i had the thai tofu wrap and it was excellent ... the staff is pretty awesome and attentive . very hipster .. much like The Local in Atlanta, GA
I am going back almost immediately tomorrow, for my entire visit here in humboldt ....
once i returned home i realized the receipt / register printed date is one day off.
that's why it's called the alibi ...
Oh Alibi, how I love and loathe you. I spent my college career and what little money I had inside of your belly.
And to the guy from Chicago who said there weren't any hipsters here - this is (or at least used to be when I was in college) *the* hipster bar. Not like there are a lot of bars to choose from in "downtown" Arcata.
HOORAY! Â This is a good dive bar. It's a bar that has slightly grumpy, excellent bartenders who can get you a ginormous margarita and gin n tonic if you need one (see my previous review of Rita's.).
This place makes me nostalgic for my college days, when I was a winsome lass playing pool in the dingy Irish pubs found in the Sunset in SF. But, kudos to the Alibi for not being chock-full of the agressive button-up-shirt type. I can enjoy my drink(s) in peace with my lady friend.
Seedy, yes. Dirty, maybe. But B*tches, they have crab melts.
It's dark & delightful. It's next to all the other bars... they each have their own thing going for them. Had lots of drunken good times here. The food is greasy but you are wasted and just don't care. The place has character.. like every other place in Arcata. If you feel like drinking on the Plaza this place has to be hit up. The darkness.. the martinis.. you just have to go and experience it for yourself
Review Source:Love the food, love the darkness, love getting drunk here. Once I walk in I really feel like I am part of the creepy, dreadlock-ridden underbelly that is Arcata. Once I step out, I realize that I shower more than twice as often as everyone else in the bar. Â But who cares? No one. You're in Arcata.
Review Source:5 stars for the name. 4 stars for the drinks. 3 stars for the venue. 2 stars for the bartenders. 1 star for the attendees.
It looks like a ship hull. There's a regular that wears a sailor hat and scabies. They have over 50 different types of martinis so you can forget about all the stuff I just mentioned.
Good to go... (for Humboldt County...)
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