Happy Hour at HandleBar: Steering in the Right Direction?

Kristen Klempert

Handlebar

The Hours: Tues.-Sat., 4-8 p.m.

The Deal: $1 off draft beer and $2 bartender's choice bottled beer

The Scene: Despite the obvious choices of numerous bike racks and decorative hanging two-wheelers, HandleBar does a good job of pleasing a varied crowd. There are fairly priced drinks and a menu that caters to vegetarians and the health conscious as well as grease lovers. Booze is definitely the main focus (after bicycles, that is) of the locale; the drink list covers more of the menu than the food. But what the place does best is embrace a certain fun-loving lack of maturity. Come on, where else can you play a dirty version of Jenga at a bar?

Why You'll Go Back: The chill atmosphere of HandleBar makes it a great place to catch up with friends without having to fight for a quiet tables or spots at the bar. But it's also a good, laid-back place to have a drink by yourself.

The Verdict: HandleBar is lovable, and while there you might even make a mental note to come back. But since the discounts and offerings aren't very memorable, you could just be spinning your wheels.