Finding Your Watering Hole

The quest of a perfect bar. When moving to a new city, that becomes the highlight (and occasional lowlight) of the process. Having a favored watering hole is an American tradition. The key becomes having the type of place that fits your personality and style. Is it the small corner bar "where everybody knows your name" immortalized on the television show Cheers. Is your thing more young, loud, and trendy where the all the girls where their best barely there outfits? Or are you looking for more of a Sports Bar where you can hang and cheer with the guys? Myself, I like the quiet brewpub where its rather quiet and can hang out with a microbrew and my laptop. However, I can definitely appreciate any of these types of bars. Meanwhile, here are the three best in Modesto.

St Stan's/Hero's on the corner of 9^th & L.

Great food and excellent beer brewed right on the premises. Their Red Sky Ale is my favorite beer. (See my forthcoming article on microbrews for more details.) The décor is sports themed, but still retains much of its brewpub atmosphere from before Hero's took over the restaurant side. It has a patio section as well as booths for more relaxed conversation. The food is excellent, I can't recommend their hot wings enough. Not only are they hot, spicy, and flavorful, they are huge. It is a great place to meet with friends and just chill, or to watch a game on one of the many TVs placed throughout the bar area. In addition to the beer, there is a full bar available.

The Firkin and Fox on the corner of 11^th & I

Right across from the courthouse sits this mock British pub. Their commercials during Raider radio casts are annoying, but the atmosphere is nice and the food is great. This is the spot to get authentic British style fish & chips in Modesto. (What they call chips, we call French fries.) They don't have a full bar, but a selection of top quality beers and wines. It is an excellent spot for a beverage and a meal before a show at the Gallo Centre for the Arts which is across the street and over less than a block.

The Speakeasy at 928 12th St.

This place gets hopping on the weekends, and when it does it gets over-crowded easily. At night they have a DJ and live bands. It is definitely a spot to check out the girls in their barley there attire. If you are looking to just relax with a drink and not check out the barely legal crowd, the time to go is earlier in the evening. That is when you can relax and enjoy a cocktail.

I used to hang out at the patio at the Red Pepper back in 03 & 04 and enjoy their beer and live bands there at Tenth Street place, and people watch. Sadly, that place has passed on to oblivion. The vast majority of the bars are straight up dives, which can make for a good adventure, but can be intimidating.