Rafters Beer Pub

First bar I went to, upon arriving in Columbus. Karaoke night was fun, until I realized I was missing a dollar per $20 I gave to the bartender. The owner, however, is nice, as his girlfriend. The clientele is hit or miss, depending on the time of day. Mostly, they size you up and down, and don't like chit chat with a stranger, no matter how often you've been there. I don't return, mostly because almost every other place I've been has been better, and I don't get ganked a dollar for every time I receive change from evening bartenders.

Also, outside sign has said "Bar and Grille" for ages apparently, but serves no food but for evening casserole (at least when I was there) on busy nights. The owner needs to re-evaluate his staff picks.

No draft beers, also. Don't ask for blended/mixed drinks - it'll just confuse everyone. ;)

Meh. That about sums up my experience here. I went in knowing it was going to be a "hole-in-the-wall bar," but that we would have fun and be someplace more chill then the downtown, Saturday night scene... But that all changed when we walked in....

After entering into an awkwardly quiet bar and having everyone stare as we entered, we were greeted by a not-so-friendly bartender who asked if we were "in the right place" (I swear I didn't look like a hooligan, whatever a hooligan looks like).

He took our drink order and we turned around to have a seat, the only problem was that there were no seats. There were about 10 stools at the bar, which were all occupied, and then there were three booths, one occupied the other two had boxes of "junk" piled in them. So we stood near the bar talking until I realized that those in the booth had instruments. After striking up conversation, I found out they were the band and begged them to play (attempting to liven up the place).

They played Mustang Sally which got everyone (by everyone, I mean just us) up and dancing. The band was great! They were engaging and friendly and were actually quite good.

But other then the band I have a thumbs down on this place, the crowded, junk filled rooms and unfriendly staff and regulars do not make this place enjoyable, we left after one beer...

I have wanted to go to Rafters for a looooooong time, but we never really have the occasion... and it never really seems like the type of place you just stop in to for no real reason. Finally, my friend's band was playing here last night, so a bunch of my friends and the boy and I descended upon Rafters. Eh, comme ci comme ca. It's like Dick's Den and the Crest had a love child. And I don't really mean that in a good way. But not in an awful way, either.

I expected this place to be smaller, guess. The layout is weird - the bar is separated from a seating area (with a buffet that was not in use while we were there, much to our hungry chagrin). There is a lot of wood decor, which is why it reminded me of Dick's. Beer seemed a bit expensive - I paid 17 bucks for three Miller lites and two shots of whiskey, and that was just one round, dammit. The locals also did not please me well - I got massively hit on to an uncomfortable extent by two very forward older ladies who would not leave me (or the boy) alone and repeatedly kept telling me what they thought of me and wanted to do to me. Effing yikes. Perhaps most disappointingly, there were no awesome buffont hair-dos or mullets upon which to gaze, which was what I would hope for from a place like Rafters. Instead there were old people drinking wine, the aforementioned lusty women, and ladies who couldn't dance at all. Oh, but there was a dude who looked like Rivers Cuomo who was wasted out of his mind and kept telling people to get the party started. I told the boy he should make it rain. That was kinda funny.

I dunno. Ultimately, I was let down. I'm sure it's different when it's just being a regular ole bar and there is no event going on. I didn't find this place to be blue collar (like Keith) - if it was, I would have liked it more. I found it to be just kinda weird.