J R's Sports Bar & Grill

My go to spot for good cold cheap drafts and good food. Pool tables and video poker.  Free jello shots when the saints score. Don't come on the weekends way to busy, love this place. Also opened 24/7 365

So.. I'm globe trotting again, I'm here in NOLA for the first time. We got in last night.

First place we hit up wasn't the French Quarter or Bourbon street, it  was the nearest dive bar. We were looking for another place we found on Yelp but could never find it so we found this place finally.

Went in and the sign by the door said everyone was subject to a weapons search that made me slightly scared. When we entered and  some hard rock was playing on the juke box, I think the bartender liked that kind of music. We later learned she was in a band and did indeed love hard rock music. The bartender was so full of personality. We didn't eat there but I'm sure we will at some point.

The cons I noticed were that I forget when we're in Oregon you cannot smoke in the bars this place had ashtrays on every place at the bar and people were smoking like crazy, we're not used to that so we may have stayed longer but the smoke was killing me. Evidently you can work behind the bar and drink as well. I think I have a few things to learn about this side of the country.

I have never been this far south before. I learned lots of things but I really liked this place because of the bartender, the drinks were small but the bartender makes this place! She reminded me of the gal that managed the bar in Coyote Ugly.. I think her name was similar too. You must go in and see Julz.

Other things I observed here that if you start a tab they charge you 50 bucks off the top, although I do not think we were charged. There is a minimum purchase of 10 bucks if  you use your credit card. I think we may need to get cash so we don't get in trouble debit card wise. I told DH we need to do that.

I've been going to JR's for several years - off and on.  In the beginning, they had awesome bartenders and I very much considered it my friendly neighbor bar.   Not to say the current bartenders are great, but the personal touch isn't what it used to be.  I occasionally still go but no longer a regular.  The weekends contain a full range of folks and live bands and karaoke makes it a happening place.  I enjoyed that owner started theme parties, such as toga, 80s, and Hawaiian luaus.   They have 3 pool tables and depending on the night may have pool and dart leagues.  At midnight on weekends, they pass out tickets for a chance to win a small prize (free dinner, bar tab, etc.). It's cool and keeps the patrons engaged and entertained.  

JR's kitchen is open 24 hours and I've eaten a number of things on their menu.  I'm not big on bar food, but it has been at least consistent.  2 for 1 steak night is always popular. While their food is too greasy for my taste, it especially goes down well with beer.  Any of their fried appetizers or burgers on a drunken night will surely satisfy your late night bar food splurge.

During footballs season, every Saints touchdown is a Jell-O shot for the whole house, so that's awesome.  Although I'm not a Saints fan, it used to be much easier to watch non-Saint's game.   The place is advertised as a "Sports Bar," and the current bartenders are not as apt to changing the dish channels for other teams.  They reluctantly accommodate but still continue to have trouble understanding how to change the satellite channels which is frustrating.