The Tin Cup

Agree with the 1st post, I love this place. The bartenders are all friendly and sweet. The beer is cold and the ambiance is really unique. The regular clientele are great to be around, there are few youngsters here, the juke box has great music and the Silver Strike Bowling game is very generous.The 5 or so LCD HD TV's have the games in HD, for the most part. Trust me...go here, you'll enjoy it.

Can't believe I am the first review of this classic south city bar, but here goes.

I've been driving by this place on Bates and Virginia (next to the BP/across the street from the 7-11) for a few years and it always seemed to beckon but this Soulardian rarely drinks "off island" so I just kept driving by.  Occasionally, while stopped at that crazy street light that seems to favor the wrong direction of traffic all day, I would get a look inside and it looked like my kind of place.

Finally, about 4 weeks ago a couple of pals were bored with the juke box blasting out the same old Friday night hip-hop so I proposed doing something different.  

A synapse fired and the next thing I know we're walking into the Tin Cup.  Well, actually, we had to get "buzzed in" by the bartender since it was after midnight and well...lot of shady characters out and about.

When my friends and I arrived we were greeted by a lovely bartender and a couple of locals.  Much to our surprise and pleasure, the bar was immaculate.  It is a "shotgun" style bar, not much wider than 20 feet, but probably 75 feet deep.  The "art deco" bar which mimics many other south city spots, is on the right side of the room and has about 20 stools.  There are about 4 "high def" LCD big screens with "actual" HD.  Plus!  The bartender (Stephanie) will switch to whatever you want to see.  There is a soft-tip dart game, a bar-top poker/video game, a Silver Strike Bowling (with the 42" screen) and a pinball machine.  Finally, there is an Internet Juke Box which seems to be more generous than the 2 plays for $1 that I see around most places.  Walls are decorated in "Tin Cup" the movie golf paraphernalia.  Walls are exposed brick and floors hardwood.

Because this is a smoking bar you will only find a "Lay's Buffet" to dine on.  I do not know whether outside food is welcome, but if I find out I'll update.

Clientele ranges from ancient to retirees to strippers (lesbians on one occasion) to union guys to city employees to, apparently, some neighborhood homeless types who weren't being too obnoxious so they were permitted in on a "dead" business night.

The back of the bar has a step up to an enclosed (winter) patio that may become open air during the summer months.  If so, it will add a few hundred more square feet of space.

Bar accepts credit cards and is fairly cheap.  3 mixed drinks (major brand) ran $10.50.

The owner, Randy, is very proud of his place and he has a right to be.  In a neighborhood where "The Wedge" seems to change hands on a quarterly basis, his place has remained open for a solid 3-4 years.

Since we found it out we've been back 4-5 times in only a month and look forward to many returns.  If you're looking for a quiet-to-fun place to bowl, play tunes and rub elbows with some genuine south city folk, well, I can't think of a more welcoming place to do it!