I don't agree with paying for any type of cover so I like to think of the cover charge as an entrance fee to a show. For a measly 2 dollars or however much the cover is you get to see "dancing" ... and I use that term loosely.
To encapsulate my thoughts on this place. I'll go, but only if someone pays for my cover.
(Visited on a Friday)
People are packed like sardines in here during pint night. Â The place either smells like vomit or like chemical cleaner. Â Never in between. Â The pool tables are in a separate room in the back which is more mellow. Â Cheap beer is always great, but having to slowly meander through crowds of people gets old. Â Places like this are fun when you just turn 21 but get old fast.
Review Source:After all the years I spent in Arcata, I rarely went to the bars. Â I've been to the bars more times in the rare visits I've made to Arcata post-graduation though. Â On a recent visit, I drove 10hrs all the way down to Arcata (w/ my bro), and we pulled into town around 11pm. Â It was a Wednesday, and it was Pint Night at Toby & Jacks, so we all headed over to T&J's after dumping the dogs off. Â
So, on the Arcata Plaza, you have a range of bars to choose from; we were of direct mind and chose Toby & Jacks.
One nice thing about being in Humboldt County, you get Lost Coast brews on tap all over the place. Â I had a Downtown Brown. Â A couple of tables opened up, we nabbed them, and enjoyed the ambiance near the dart boards. Â
Man, is it me or are 21-year olds looking more like 14-year olds??? Â
So, I think the deal for Pint Night, is you buy a "logo" pint glass for $5, and then you get to have cheap fills the rest of the night. Â You can bring your glass in on any other Pint Nights for the same deal.
All in all, this is a fairly chill bar (as opposed to jock-filled Sidelines a couple doors down). Â We were able to people watch, have non-screaming conversations, and enjoy a few pints while decompressing from the long drive south. Â This was a good choice for a first night out.
I was first introduced to T&J's like most people like me, it was during my 21st B-Day bar crawl. I don't hit the place up much these days though. One of the main reasons I do go when I do is Wednesday's Pint Nite. Which is fun the first time and only the first time pretty much. I'm not saying it's the establishment's fault.
I should say something good about the place first before you stop reading, dear reader. I like the bartenders a lot! There is a fellow who let me try the single malt whiskeys he had to offer. And he is a whiskey afficionado like me (really should've got his name!)  I also got hit on but it was in good fun (he probably runs into a lot of female clientele  who order "appletinis" and "fuzzy navels") I don't mean any offense when I make this statement but a lot of my female friends prefer these beverages and that is fine! Drink and be merry!
Okay, getting off track. What made me dock some stars from this place is the clientele in general. From the previous reviews, a lot of science people hang around here and I am a science person (I believe in Science!). I see these people at school constantly and I'd like a break from them time to time. Seeing the same people get drunk/buzzed week in and week out gets somewhat boring. Going here every once and awhile is fine by me.
Clouds of pot smoke billowing from the rear of the establishment to the front? Â Yes.
Pool and darts? Yes
Cute bartender? Oh yes!
Good drinks? Â Big fat yes!
Fun place? Â Whoop Whoop!
The only bar we hit while in Arcata and that says alot. Â I would definitely go back here again.
The one thing I did find unnerving was the way Arcata police officers would regularly walk through to "check things out" - anywhere else I would have felt like it was a step to ensure my safey but at a bar I'm not trying to see any cops!
Not my all time favorite bar in arcata, but a decent spot to grab pticher with some friends. I like sitting in back by the pool tables, personally, because the main room gets too crowded on weekend nights. It has a pretty good jukebox. During the school year, it's mostly the kids from the natural resources / forrestry department / enviornmental sciences that pile in here. I nicknamed it the lumberjack bar. The only thing I don't care for is the "wall" that seperates the bar from the tables. It makes it near impossible to get by on a weekend night during the school year. I think TJs is Aok for a weeknight or early evening drink. After that, to get some space, I hop on over the Everettes.
Review Source:I love going to Arcata and I love Toby and Jack's for a nice drink when I am there. Or a mean one if I am in the mood...
The clientele is college people in the school year and more local in the summer, plus the people who are going to school in the summer. It is right off the square and has a super friendly bouncer who cards everyone in your crew, even the "older folks" Making them laugh and get all silly "He carded me!"
The bartender is great, I think her name is Betty whenever I go. She makes the drinks stiff and has a great laugh. I haven't been there in a few months and it seems from the other reviews that she left, dammit.
The music rocks and the people are laid back, it is Arcata after all. Best thing? you can walk in the square and hang out looking at people before you head home.
The only bar I go to in Arcata, it's not because I love it...it's because the other bars are just that bad. Â The best bartender in Arcata, Betty, doesn't work there anymore, she moved down to Everett's (just a few doors down) but even her cooky charm can not compel me to enter Everett's hick-da-fied interior. Â Toby's has a kickass jukebox, pool, darts, a popcorn machine and a stank that is apparent as soon as you round the corner of G or H and step on to the plaza. Â It's like part puke, part stale beer, all bad. Â Nick is the man behind the bar, he hooks up stiff drinks and loves some serious rock. Â So throw a couple of dollars into the jukebox, put on AC/DC and go order some Jack and Cokes; he'll be your new best friend.
Picking up women here is a questionable move, then again picking up women at any Arcata bar is a questionable move. Â So ... just drink and be merry, and if you wake up next to a troll, don't say I didn't warn you.
My favorite bar as well. This is the place I'd start at and try to finish at. It's got a great vibe. It's not all dark. You can see who's in there.. a total plus. Betty the bartender is awesome and hooks it up for the regulars. Every time I'm back in the area and want to go to the bars with some old friends we meet up here and usually stay.
Review Source:
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