TJ's Sports Bar and Grill

TJ's topped off a fun night out for our group this weekend. We came in later in the evening so didn't try any food, but I am pretty sure they are the best deal in town for drink prices. The place is a little rough around the edges. It has a dive bar feel, but in a friendly way, if you know what I mean. Case in point, the bathrooms, (which are super-important to me) were immaculate and relatively new. You don't get that in many "dive bars". The space is small, but didn't feel too cramped. They had a DJ playing some great hip hop and we even had enough space to do a little dancing. The one criticism I had is the music was slightly too loud for me. I think just a tiny bit lower would make it more comfortable. It was late October so too cold to spend much time on the patio at night, but I looked and the space out there is really nice, and big. The bartenders were excellent. They paid attention, we never waited for a drink, and like I already said the prices kept surprising us! We'll definitely be back.

During the International Chili Cookoff, we had had enough 1 ounce portions of chili and expensive beer, so we walked over to TJ's to fill up. We found a table of chili cookoff judges. The judges figured out where to go for $2 beer - the same beer that the cookoff vendor was pouring in the beer tent for $5.

We ordered wings, a burger, nachos and jalapeno poppers. All of the food was fine, when it came out. The cook lost the dupe. The waitress comped a round. Nice.

I wandered out on the patio and it was full of new tables, recently painted walls and much more attractive than it was the last time I looked out there.