Zippy's Saloon

in a few words : narrow-minded yinzer bar .
smoky, full of brookline local yokels.
i've tried to like this place but , no, sorry .
you're better off walking a bit further up Brookline Blvd. to the Brookline Pub which has better beer selections, a better atmosphere and isn't annoyingly painted black and yellow as in case of zippys .

Even though I have lived in Brookline for over 13 years now, I have never really felt like a local. And you know how when you're not a local and you walk into a small local bar, there's that distinct record-scratch moment when everyone stops talking, maybe a glass breaks behind the bar, and every single head in that joint rubbernecks to gawk at you, giving you a judgmental, precursory once-over?

Well, that has never happened to me at Zippy's. In fact, I have always been treated exceptionally well - every single bar tender I have ever encountered there has been extremely accommodating and made me feel like I belonged there. The service is quick, the drinks are cheap, the people-watching is prime. Other patrons have engaged me in friendly repartee every single time I've visited (which admittedly isn't often enough).

Zippy's is definitely the type of bar I'd take my out-of-town friends to give them a real taste of the local flavor.

The folks at Zippy's love the Steelers like Big Mama loves The Lord. This is not just a bar and grill but a shrine of sorts. Life-sized cut-outs of various players adorn the walls and pillars.

Being that it was around 11am, the place was virtually empty, like a church on a Friday night. Now if all bars were like this all of the time, I might go to them more often.

Yesterday, I finally gave them a try on yet another hazardous-to-my-perfect-for-6-years-punctuality trip to work.

Having no menu to go on, I deduced that they must sell burgers. I ordered one with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, mayo, and a side of fries; the usual.

I got there, and i wasn't ready yet! *Cue the suspenseful music*

So I went to Kribel's for a sweet treat, or two, or 6, come back, and they were still waiting on the fries.

It was back to Kribel's, since they were still boxin' up my stuff!

An old man sitting outside on a plastic chair chuckled as I ran back and forth between each business.

Finally, my lunch was ready, and I devoured everything in the styrofoam container, all of which was still piping hot while curious and jealous co-workers looked on.

"Man, that 'aint no Wendy's burger."

F'n right it 'aint. Great fresh bread, lots of cheese, and one  fat, fatty, patty with slovenly Primanti's style fries usually takes anything from a fast food chain into a back alley and smacks it around. Zippy's is yet another instance of this. A good, stout beef cookie Zippy's makes.

Note: I didn't get a menu to take with me, but while I waited for my food, I found out that they also sell pizza, fish sandwiches, and homier fare such as pigs-in-a-blanket and stuffed banana peppers.