Dashboard

BIZ MENU
0% 0% 0% 0%

Leave a review or a tip...


Reviews & Tips

  • 0

    Something about the classic interior of this place makes it appealing asides from the snicker inducing name. Definitely an older crowd here with an underground, "escape from the top 40 bars" vibe to it.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Stopped by the Back Door Lounge in between shows at Sacramento Music Festival. My friend had been in here before and had some tasty martinis, so he was eager for me to try it out. Had a G&T and he got a vodka gimlet all for the low, low price of $11. And that was on a holiday weekend.

    In short: Awesome jukebox, cheap drinks, and that dive bar smell.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Its midnight on a wednesday night and a friend and I go wandering into the now completely closed and deserted Old Town. We wonder down the alley and the doors to the Back Door are still open. The smell of bourbon and smoke waft outside and I find it enchanting. I can barley see across the bar but the bartender who im assuming by his age must have owned the place tells us to take a seat. "what'll you have?" he ask. "what'd you recommend sir?" He slides me the most divine Manhattan I have ever tasted. I felt like it was 1950, and I was the star of Mad Men. Given the crowd was a little sketchy though. I love this place. Its dark and seedy and I really like that. Take a stroll down there. Maybe you'll fall in love like I did.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Now here is a dive bar that makes a concerted effort to show some class!  It preserves an old fashion 1900's look to keep up appearances with being in the Old Sacramento district with its strange, yet interesting mixture of décor, such as red velvet wall paper, brick walls, ornate gold framed oval mirrors, outdoor fake gas lights, chandeliers, Tiffany lamps, ornate black rod iron, white pillars, and a red canvas awning over the stairway that leads to the upper level of additional seating...??

    My boyfriend and I decided to stop here for a drink before going to the Firehouse Restaurant for dinner, which is directly across the ally.  Since it was about 4:30 pm on a Monday, the bar was easily accessible - unlike other reviewers who mentioned that they are often quite busy.   We asked our bartender Dee if there was a Happy Hour going on, but they don't offer them.  She did explain that instead, they give you generous pours with the alcohol.  We had a simple well drink of rum and pineapple juice, which hit the spot pretty quickly.

    A piano is located at one side of the lounge in which we were informed a popular singer - Lee Diamond is featured, who croons on Friday & Saturday nights.  There is a jukebox, (but no TV).  They also have Karaoke on certain nights, and even room for dancing.  My first impression of this business was that only us old folks would most likely patronize such a place, but there were actually customers of all age ranges talking, relaxing and enjoying their drinks.  It was an interesting "stop off" place to converse with fellow drinkers, and Dee's friendly face made this evening worth writing about.   I wouldn't mind coming back here again to people watch and check out the other forms of entertainment......

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Came in for lunch and an Irish coffee.  Very friendly staff -- the kind you'll never find at a larger establishment.  It kind of reminds me of old-time Las Vegas, but without the smoke and gambling.  The prices are okay and the food is acceptable (I had the Boston steak sandwich and a salad).  I might have to come back late night to see what it's like with the all-nighter crowd.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    This place is my favorite to get a drink. My advice, do not come here. It'll only get more crowded! Lol, just kidding but seriously. The ladies here take care of you. If they get an order wrong, it's all good, they take care of you if you want it fixed. They have some fun singers and pianists in there sometimes too. Sometimes it's a hoaky cover singer but the place is hidden gem among bars.

    5 stars because  it's classy, real, priced well, fun, and classy.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    I usually try to make a stop here whenever I'm in old sac. I love the old school vibe and the ambiance. I'm also a big fan of live music, something this place delivers on every weekend. I would have loved to rate higher, but the fact that they only accept cash is kinda weak. Who still carries cash?

    Review Source:
  • 0

    We wandered in here after spending some time in Old Sac. What a great, relaxing, enjoyable place on a Saturday night. Great music. Not too loud.

    The atmosphere is welcoming and cozy. I will definitely be going back!

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Unfortunately I was in Old Sac on NYE when the shooting happened. As cops urged people to leave the area, and the fireworks had been canceled, my group struggled to find a bar that was open where we could unwind and calm down after being just steps from the bar where the incident occurred.

    We found Back Door and the cover was $10. We asked the bouncer if we could get in for $5 each ($20 total for our 4 person group). I don't typically ask this of a bouncer, but given the circumstances I figured maybe he'd budge. I explained that people were being asked to leave Old Sac and pleaded our case, and rather than sympathize at all, he just grunted, "Well I don't care, we're staying open", refusing to accept the $5/each even though they probably lost a ton of money after patrons left for home.

    The interaction left a bad taste in my mouth and I definitely will never be back. That's an outrageous price to charge considering they were just blocks from a crime scene, and the least the guy could have done was be a bit respectful. I understand having to decline my offer, but be a human about it.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Swanky Speakeasy - Better "Back In The Day", But Still A Good Time

    SITREP

    I remember the days 15-20 years ago when my friend Bobby Burns would pull out his trumpet here and there's be a jam going on that would rival any night at the Casino Royale.  There would be quite the crowd of fun peeps enjoying an eclectic night of music and mixing.

    SETUP

    Alas, Bobby has passed onto the next realm of existence, and the crowd that once attracted me here does not come here like they used to:

    * Swing Dancers
    * Rockabillies
    * The Dapper & Their Dames

    Nowadays, it tends to be more tourist and less "Old School."

    GREAT DRINKS

    However, even if some of the original character of this establishment is missing these days, it is STILL a dam good place to get drink, meet up for a stop with some friends while moving through Old Sacramento, and enjoy the ambiance of a still beautiful bar establishment.

    Bottomline:  if I want to get a drink in Old Sacramento, this is STILL the place I want to hit.

    THE LOWDOWN

    Back Door still has my vote for a wonderful bar in the heart in Old Sacramento.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    It's been 10 minutes and the cougars seem to get great service but we're sitting at the bar and haven't even been glance at yet. 5 more drink-free minutes and we're bouncing.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    This bar has a feel of a "hole in the wall" when you're walking up to it through the alley. It's not very big on the inside but this place has a huge selection of alcoholic beverages. The bartender that served us was older and was very generous. After a while he seemed like one of the crew and we knew him on a first name basis. There wasn't a drink that we asked for that he didn't know how to make.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    This place is a gem.   A back alley bar in Old Sacramento.  Coming in from the mid day sun, a cowboy can't even see a thang for a minute or two before his eyes adjust to the dark.  

    Lots of characters take up camp at the bar at this drinking hole.  Quips and one liners flow. A wise cracking barkeep keeps it light.   Perfect place to wet the whistle with a cold one.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Total dive bar. We wanted to come here to chill out. I'd been here once before with a group of classmates, and it had been quiet that time.

    We probably chose the wrong night to just chill -- there was a lounge singer playing to a group of dedicated fans, very loudly. We almost left, but eventually, the need to ply my spouse with alcohol after a horrible day outweighed the need to find somewhere else on a Friday night. (Not to mention giving up the parking spot I wrestled for.)

    Anyway, the drinks are cheap, and the bartender gave my spouse a couple of drinks for free. (Bad bad day). He also kept the designated driver water coming.

    Love the velvet wallpaper. The overall decoration is something to behold too. We'd definitely come back.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    One of my all time favorite bars, and definitely the best Old Sacramento has to offer!

    It is reasonably priced and the drinks are pretty strong. There is usually a great crowd here, and a lot of fun to be had.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    LOVE LOVE LOVE  The Back Door...Lounge, that is;-)  The place has such character!  Quite the "loungey" atmosphere that's pretty neat.  Nick, the bartender, is a great guy and their drinks are very reasonably priced, especially for being in such a cool location.  Wednesday nights are a blast with karaoke.  The place usually has a large crowd but not too large that you can't get yo' sang on.  Some people go just to enjoy other people singing.

    I believe Lee Diamond is still playing there.  If you want some great Rat Pack type of entertainment, he's definitely the guy;-)  He's got the voice that takes you back to the days of Frankie, Dean-o, Sammy, Peter and Joey!

    Review Source:
  • 0

    This place sucks for the younger crowd.  They don't take anything but cash, or at least the 2 times I've been. The only reason I came here the second time was my friends were there.  Wow really. That will be the last time for sure.
     Bar tender was rude as hell. Just because it busy doesn't mean you can treat your paying customers like hell.  The only thing I can say about the place that's good is the drink took awhile to get down. It was stiff. Deffinetly hurt going down.  4th sip in. It was all good. Didn't help with the atmosphere tho. Had one drink and got the hell out of  there.
     To top it all off. They charged a $7 cover. Wow.   I hope to never find my self here again...
     The name of this bar makes it seem like its a gay bar. Yehhhhh, NO. It's just one of those bars that lets everyone in as long as you pay the cover.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    This truly one if the best dive bars in town.
    If your on a date & want to just talk & have cool beans time, the back door is handy.
    Love it!
    Red walls, old bartender. This place is full of personality.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Back Door Lounge is one of my favorite haunts in Old Sac.  It's dimly lit gateway into an era long forgotten.  But one that I am so glad to know about.  Walking in, you see an old style decor of dark wood, velvet, and deep colors adorning the walls and furniture.  A jukebox in the corner is usually playing older music which fits with this place beautifully.

    The crowds are typically pretty tame and friendly.  You'll see a diverse mix of patrons here which just adds to the fun you'll have.  The bartenders are friendly and well versed in old style drinks which happen to be right up my alley.  Though there are plenty of fruity flavored liquors for those of you with a taste for them.  Along with beer and wine.  No tricks, gimmicks, or anything else here.  What you see is what you get.  A comfortable atmosphere, sensibly priced drinks, and the ability to just relax and escape the current time for a few hours.  Come on down for a drink sometime, you'll probably see me there.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    The music is awesome, the drinks are stiff, the atmosphere "small town great". Gets overrun by really drunk middle-aged women early Saturday nights which is good people watching fun.

    A really nice guy with a cool stache sings any song for you for a 1 dollar tip. I tried Ace of Base, and before I knew it he was singing "I saw the sign". Fantastic.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    The Back Door is by far the best dive in Old Sacramento, but that's not saying a lot considering there are so few bars in this tiny district. Dive or not, it has a lot to offer on the personality front, which is more than can be said for many of the more touristy businesses in the district.

    Located directly across the alley from the classy back patio of the Firehouse Restaurant you'll find colorful patrons of a different, more blue collar stripe. One measure of a good dive bar in my opinion is the quality of the persons who frequent it. At the Back Door you'll find all kinds, from off-duty tour guides to business casual executives to elderly alcoholics. The bartenders are generally pretty friendly and don't mind who you are, what you look like or the ridiculous amounts of alcohol you drink. Disappear into this intimate little bar and do as you please.

    They serve up the hair of the dog, cheap and stiff. The only beer on tap during my last visit was Sierra Nevada, so if you're aiming for selection look elsewhere.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Best dive in old town Sac. .

    The main entrance is through the alleyway across from the Firehouse grill where we were attending a wedding. The Firehouse was charging $14 for one shot of Hennessy. At the Back Door, I got three shots of Remy for $21! This was about 7pm.

    The crowd matched the furniture. We were in and out with those drinks in less than a 3 minutes.

    Later on that night around 9pm went back for more but the place got packed! The crowd got younger, little rowdier, with people trying to act hard. There was only one bartender still, he must have been at least 60 years old, who moved slower than slow. After trying to flag him down for an eternity to grab some drinks, we just left.

    Come early for the real chill dive vibe and cheap drinks. Come later and find yourself waiting for drinks with Raider fans.

    Cash only.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Dropped by on an early Monday evening, during my one night in Sacramento.  Empty except the barman  ( turned out to be 81 years old!); I asked "how are the martinis?"... He answered "they're wet or they're dry."   Ended up having two, nicely made, in chilled glasses with cocktail onions.  Quite good.

    The place is elegantly shabby, decent tunes (the jukebox is heavy on lounge lizard).  Definitely geared for cocktails, rather than beer or wine.  I'd out it in the "historic dive" category.

    Big plus was chatting up the barkeeper.  He's  a Sacramento native who has been behind the bar since the place opened in the 60's.  Lots of good stories when he opens up.  Made good restaurant recommendations as well.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    The atmosphere is pure lounge lizzard, which at first I thought was kind of cool. There were big round booths with tuck and roll leather, dim lights, red velvet burnout wallpaper, a piano, no TV's which was actually very cool, Barry White on the stereo and even a couple of couples swallowing each other's tongues in the booth next to us. I was kind of stoked for the 60's music and campy-ness of the place but that changed quickly.

    Once we were there more than a few minutes this bar got weird. Very weird. All the patrons kept staring at us, the next song to play was more Barry White, they served no food at all and the bartender girl had a giant sore on her lip.

    We were still debating whether or not to have a drink there since we were doing a pub crawl for my friends birthday and two of us decided to use the restroom while the other two decided about the drink. We were then followed and fully accosted by this wasted old hag who claimed to be the owner for using her restroom before we bought anything. We exchanged some unpleasantries and our mind was made up to just keep on movin' on. She totally lost any chance of us actually ordering with that moronic maneuver.

    Personally, I cannot believe this place has 4 stars. I am a fan of the dive bar, but I still value good service and this place has NONE.

    Oh, and..... if you value your health, do not pick up a 'date' here. I'm giving you fair warning.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Totally cute, totally fun, totally in Old Sac?

    Who knew something so awesome was hiding in an alley in Old Sac. No, the Back Door Lounge isn't a gay bar - it's a classic 30's or 40's (I don't know my eras) inspired bar with a great lounge singer and fabulous vibes.

    I was happy to see older folk hanging out, drinking and dancing. This place is really fun and my only complaint is that they only take cash- so be prepared!

    If you like the Shady Lady but not all the d-bags- come here!

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Ok. I suppose I must write a review.

    So the lovely Katie B. put together a cleavage event to support breast cancer awareness.

    Boobs and alcohol. What a perfect mix.

    Back to the BDL.

    I have not acquired my frequent flyer miles for Old Sac, so this bar was very hard to find. Even the staff at a nearby establishment gave me the wrong directions. But they could have just been effing with my head. Who knows.

    Luckily I ran into Dat and company, and we eventually found the place.

    First thing I noticed, was that it was cash only. Thank goodness I brought cash.

    The place is kind of small and cozy. But it was super hot, even with not so many people in the mix. All you have to do is just keep drinking as the patrons flock in, and you won't feel the heat.

    The lounge singer was a nice addition. What was even better was seeing the elderly man dance. It kind of reminded me of the old man that always hits in Chris, on The Family Guy. That is, if he were to ever dance.

    Now on to the bartender. His name is Thomas. Not only is he super good looking, but he makes really strong drinks. Not only did he make super strong drinks, but he made sure I got home safe and sound. That is all of the story I will tell. I am trying not to embarrass myself. In fact, I would just like to forget that night ever happened.

    Let's just say, best bartender ever.

    That is all.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    If you were to walk down a dimly-lit alley, step through a nondescript doorway, be enveloped by velvety, red walls, hear the schmaltzy crooning of vintage Sinatra, question the placement of an entrance awning, watch a white-haired elderly couple, dressed in churchwear, cut a tattered rug, frown at paltry tap offerings, be aurally accosted by the cough-laughs of weathered bar denizens, and wonder, wide-eyed, how in the world you ended up in a David Lynch movie, you'd be in none other than the Back Door Lounge.

    Need I say more?

    Review Source:
  • 0

    I gotta piggy back on the shoulders of great reviews.  The past several reviews say everything I would say . . . and to think that the Back Door Lounge exists in Old Town.  I had no idea, and until the Yelp UYE I never even heard of this place.  It was a great contradiction:  a splendid bar in Old Town.

    Back Door Lounge is the sort of place that is at the intersection of appropriateness.  I could either (1) go here by myself, (2) go here with male friends, (3) go here with female friends, (4) go here with a lover, (5) go here with a girlfriend, or (6) go here with my parents.  That's a wide range of potential.

    When I went inside the Back Door Lounge I felt a little skanky and so I ordered from the well.  I had their finest regular Jim Beam on the rocks ($6).  Jim Beam on the rocks just makes me think of Virginia's Charlottesville summers.  To make the experience complete I would just have had to been surrounded by gals wearing summer dresses, flip-flops, and aviator sunglasses.  I like summer.

    The downside of the bar was that it only accepts cash.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    I've been coming here off and on for a number of years. Located directly across from the Firehouse restaurant alleyway, this place radiates charm and doesn't have that Old Sac seediness vibe.

    There were a group of us wimmin and one lounge singer who was part Love Boat, part Frazer. He crooned some tunes that I recognized and, hey, that little sound system of his does a good job!

    This older guy, who must have been in his late 60s or 70s, took it upon himself to be our mascot for the evening. He pulled up a chair and started slapping the table to the music. Okay, let's face it, he was annoying.

    My time is precious to me and I did not want to have a lousy evening because of some alcoholic codger. So after 10 - 15 minutes of putting up with him, I politely told him that this was a private party and to leave us. I think he took it well...he just stood behind me on the other side of the booth and glared at us.

    Meanwhile, a random businessman in suit took turns spinning us on the dance floor. Yes, it was an interesting evening.

    They have Sierra Nevada on tap - three drinks set us back $12.50. Now that's what I call a bargain! I'll definitely be back - what stories may come of the next visit...?

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Walking around Old Town made me thirsty, so we stopped into the Back Door Lounge. It was early afternoon so the bar was not as crowded as it could be.

    We ordered a couple beers and enjoyed our conversation with the Bartenders. They are very friendly and even found a sweet lemon for my Blue Moon, no oranges - but was quite good in my beer.

    I love this place and think it's a fun place to stop in. Can't wait to come back at night.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    What a great little bar. Tucked into the alley across from the Firehouse in Old Sac, we almost missed it.

    Once through the doors, you walk into a dark, yet vibrant little bar with a great vibe. You got your regulars sitting at the bar that look like they've been parked there a while. The bartender knows them by name and you can tell they all have a lot of history.

    The decor is....interesting. Eclectic. Red velvet damask wallpaper with gold leaf mirrors behind the bar. Very bordello-ish. I'm pretty certain it's looked this way for at least 20 years. I liked it.

    Bartender was funny and loud and quick-witted. Perfect for our group. She could sling 'em and also made a mean Bloody Mary. We'll definitely be going back soon!

    Review Source:
  • 0

    The Back Door Lounge in Old Sacramento isn't a place that comes to mind when thinking of places to go out on a Friday night in Sacramento. It definitely should be considered more often because it is one of the best kept secrets in Sacramento. It's unassuming, literally in the alley behind the Firehouse Restaurant and covered in brick and beautiful green vines. It feels like you're stepping into a time warp to the 60s when you walk in, but that's part of the charm. Its brick walls, street lamps, and iron railings leading to an awning up the stairs almost give it an inside/outside feel but the red velvet wallpaper and mirrored bar make it feel like the comfortable basement bar your dad or husband's always wanted. The best part of the bar that particular Friday night though was TJ the lounge singer.

    Perhaps this isn't considered live music because some sort of special machine attached to a computer was making the music, but the TJ's singing sure was real! The bartender let it be known that it was his first night singing at the Back Door and to give him a little encouragement. Apparently his father was a regular lounge singer there but had gotten a different gig and just offered his son the position. First night or not, TJ was amazing. He could sing anything, and he did with ease. He sang songs from every decade and had most people up dancing to fast and slow songs. He was better than a jukebox, and sounded a lot better too.

    Hopefully he'll be there again, and each day the Back Door offers something different musically - but if you're in mood for a great time, filled with great music, see if TJ is singing at the Back Door Lounge. Even if he's not, you're guaranteed to have a good time. But don't go there too much because then maybe the novelty will wear off and you won't say, "This place is amazing, why don't I come here more often!"

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Backdoor Lounge is awesome!  The ambiance is unbeatable. The bartenders are busy, but always make time to be nice and have a quick chat, they have long pours and are usually pretty quick, they have a few booths which face the piano and the lounge singer (unfortunately, no one plays the piano, the singer has pre-recorded music he sings to), then the upstairs has the big tables for larger groups... not to mention velvet'ish wall paper with some fantastic paintings that only enhances the lounges atmosphere.
    Once you're hanging out there, you think to yourself, "if these walls could talk".  The awesome stories that have probably come out of this place are probably one of a kind.
    The bar is in Old Sac which adds another star, make a night of it and head to Fannie Anne's and Backdoor lounge and the other cool places down there.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    This place loses one star because I never seem to remember the end of the evening...and I'm sure it was worth remembering if I was here.  This seems to be the go to bar for a great time.  The lounge singer is just cheesy enough without being lame, and the drink.....phew...STIFF!

    Note: when gleefully walking out the front door of the Back Door...remember...the alley way is slick.  If you don't remember this you could fall directly on your arse TWICE when going outside.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Wow, this is a tolerant bar if there ever was one.

    I was in a psychotic-drunk state when I showed up Friday night, and I didn't even get kicked out, much less cut off.

    I remember singing some Frank with my old girl Liz, talking some serious shit to some old man and some jocks talking on their cell phone, talking on my own cell phone after talking a rash of shit to others because of their phones, calling someone the c-word in the bathroom (OMG,) falling down a couple times. Then it gets foggy.

    Liz paid for like 2 rounds. We had something like 6 rounds due to the friendly patrons in our midst. After Liz helped me out by propping me up against the wall, I did a lot better. No one could hear me talking shit either, thank god.

    The bartender Andrea was very wonderful and let me answer the bar phone. I found that highly entertaining. The drinks here are like 6$, so you could potentially go broke. But if you show up wasted, you'll be fine.

    I fear what one would have to do to get cut off here. I left this place absolutely hammered with two full drinks in front of me. Thank you to whoever bought those. There were [at least] 3 people that didn't like me at all by the end of the night. Sorry to those people. If it's any consolation to them, the night ended very poorly on my bathroom floor .

    I think I'll give these folks a few months to forget me before going back here. I think some man named Donald (?) was really nice. Good times.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    The Backdoor Lounge is one of my favorite places to go get a drink or two or three.

    It has this great air about it. As soon as you step in it feels as though you've entered another era. The red velvet walls,  candle lighting, old photographs and jazz inspired art just give off a vibe of swank. The bartenders all know what they are doing and are really on top of getting you your drinks quickly. I was in there last weekend during Jazz Jubilee and it was packed. I didn't expect to get my drink too fast because of the amount of folks at the bar. It took about 5 minutes to get my drink, not bad, but the bartender told me my drink was on the house because it took so long to get. Ummm, awesome! I always leave a nice size tip to the bartenders here because they are always so good to me.

    Aside from serving drinks there is entertainment at least three nights a week there. Every Friday and Saturday evening there is a lounge singer performing. I don't recall his name but he's pretty entertaining. On Wednesday nights you can go to the karaoke party. I'm a sucker for karaoke but  at some places folks just take themselves too seriously. Not at the Backdoor though, most everyone performing just has fun singing into the mic and the folks in the crowd are really supportive. Its not a terribly clicky bar either, if your a newcomer someone will start talking to ya (and not just in that let me chat you up kind of way). And if you don't feel like talking to folks thats fine too, sometimes I'll just go sit up in the balcony area and people watch.

    Did I mention they have a grill? I have yet to try their lunch/dinner menu but I went there for breakfast last weekend and found it was pretty tasty. They serve your typical country breakfast: eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage... I had the half order biscuits and gravy with potatoes, which was huge by the way. I couldn't finish the meal, I'm glad I didn't get a full order.  One thing that was kinda odd about my meal was that although it came with biscuits it also came with toast. As my partner in crime stated "You're over starching em!" I guess no mater what you order for breakfast you get toast. The waitress was very attentive, if half my cup of coffee was half gone she was already filling it up for me.

    I sure am glad I work just across the street from the Backdoor Lounge because it means I can go there as often as I please. In fact I'll probably be there today once I clock out.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Great vodka martinis, lots of olives and anything by Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, or Patsy Cline. Every time I go here, alone or with friends, I end up enjoying myself and feeling better about life. It could be the martinis, or I've just been fortunate, but I think there is just a good vibe here.

    Step inside, soak it in for a bit, order a martini, walk over to the jukebox, play some Frank or Dean or Tony, sit down and get right.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    This place is SO cool. It's everything I love in a bar.
    It hasn't been redecorated since the 70's, it's dark, the bar area is swarming with barflys, the jukebox selections rock and the bartenders are memorable. Plus the drinks are reasonably priced and fairly strong.
    It's hard to have a conversation when Rudy Valentino's doing his thing, but he's great.
    I heart this place!!

    Review Source:
  • 0

    I've been meaning to write this for ages, but reading these reviews finally nailed it.

    The Back Door is not a dive bar. In fact, nothing in Midtown outside the Monte Carlo or perhaps the Flame is really a dive bar.

    Suburbanites, read closely--just because it's not like the Chili's in Roseville or some ninja turtles sushi joint where the drinks look like they come from some kid's chemistry set, it's not a dive.

    Dive bars open at 6 am, have male to female rations of like 3,000:1, and produce a stabbing at least once every six months.

    The Back Door is a classy establishment and the men follow the golden rule that a man's drink should never contain more than two ingredients, (don't worry brah, Jager Bombs are still choice!).

    Highlights include Lee Diamond, (who can sing the Italian parts to Dean Martin songs) and that one time I sold dances with my date for shots of whiskey and some Taft oil tycoon ended up buying me like 10.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    The last time I was here I had an in-depth conversation with the bartender about where I might be able to acquire a rack of antlers for my wall.  Really I was trying to butter him up in hopes that he might offer to sell me some of his (hunting came up earlier), but according to old man bartender, a real hunter never parts with their antlers.    

    Despite leaving without my antlers, I've yet to leave sober or without a good chat with the bartender.  And that's really the point of a bar like this.

    Review Source:
Nearby Suggested Listings Close

Warning: include(/home/indulgery.com/htdocs/db_down.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/indulgery.com/htdocs/classes/database.class.php on line 157

Warning: include(): Failed opening '/home/indulgery.com/htdocs/db_down.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php:/usr/share/pear:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/indulgery.com/htdocs/classes/database.class.php on line 157