Chaplins

Chaplins is a nice little dive bar with friendly servers and nice management.  We used to go all the time for Karaoke until we started having too much fun and going in groups.  The usual KJ (sometimes there is a lady there who is very nice) is a total jerk and he treats his song tickets like they're made of pure gold. No matter how much money you are spending at the bar, he reserves spots for his personal favorites and could care less about everyone else.  He will hand out two tickets per table usually and that is regardless of how big your group is and how many people want to sing.  If you're coming in a big group, as we usually do, you might go up once. If you're one of his favorites, expect to go up 3-4 times.  I don't get out much (I work full time and have a baby at home) and so the fact that he's ruined a few good nights for me means that my friends and I will probably not go back even though it's very close and we otherwise like the place just fine.

My review is probably atypical, as I stopped in early afternoon on a Saturday for lunch. No karaoke happening, sigh. I do get why folks call this a dive bar, but it's a dive bar in a GOOD way. We had a blast. Had salmon, which was not distinguished, but definitely serviceable. A step above standard pub grub. Surprised the "craft beer whore" wasn't pleased to find SweetWater 420 on tap, unless that's a new addition. They had Guinness as well. Service was over-the-top friendly. We were greeted like old friends by every single employee as we walked in, even though we're from out of town. I felt like I was walking into Cheers. Indeed there were some interesting looking day-drinkers, and it did smell like an ashtray. We sat on the patio as non-smokers, but I almost wished we'd bitten the bullet to get the whole "experience", did feel a bit segregated on the patio. The Iranian-born owner came out while we were eating, though, and again treated us like old friends, even giving me a warm pat on the back. I am thinking we will probably return to Chaplin's when we are in town for the Peachtree Road Race next year, apparently many racers "bend their elbows" at Chaplin's after the race.

I'll make this quick; slow service, below average over-cooked burgers, and it's dirty.  We sat on the covered tented porch area since we aren't smokers.  Our waitress forgot utensils, napkins, water...and we were two of maybe 10 people in there.  They state on the menu that they have "the best burger in Roswell", definitely NOT the best burger ANYWHERE.