Bar of the week

Bar of the week

Sure, we could have had a "bar of the day," but we wanted to make sure you would have plenty of time to stop in and check the place out. So, grab your crew, set the GPS on "party" and check out this week's bar.

Henry T‘s Bar & Grill

By SPLASH
March 10, 2010

Henry T's, 1521 SW 21st St., is a spacious bar and grill imported from Lawrence that packs in the fans for KU games, but it isn't exclusively a favorite of Jayhawk faithful. Henry T's — located near Washburn University — serves up rum specials every day as well as other specials that will quench your thirst. Check out their great wings and burgers served with insane amounts of French fries.

DECOR: Giant TVs dominate the walls of the wide-open dining area as well as the bar. The bar is large enough to handle big gameday crowds, but you can find cozy nooks to have a conversation as well. The large bar that stretches across the west end of the building is stocked with lots of beer and a variety of mixed thirst quenchers.

ATMOSPHERE: If you want a seat to watch KU's run into the NCAA basketball tournament, get there early. The place fills up fast with rowdy sports fans jammed around all of the TVs. On nights when there isn't high profile events on TV, you can find plenty of room to spread out and relax.

DRINK OPTIONS: Lots and lots and lots of beer, but also great margaritas and top-shelf favorites.

AT A GLANCE: Henry T's made a smooth transition from a Lawrence staple to a great Topeka college bar located seconds away from Washburn's athletic complex. For WU fans, this is a great place to stop in before or after a game for food and drinks. The wait staff is attentive, though at times the crowd strains the staffing levels. Go early. Party late.

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Terry’s Bar & Grill

By Food and Flicks
March 1, 2010

Located at 522 S.W. 6th Ave. near downtown Topeka, Terry's Bar & Grill is the type of place where you never know who you'll run into. The kind of place where legislators and judges dine next to construction workers and pipe fitters as journalists watch. It's lively and unpretentious. Yet, it's friendly in that "Cheers" sort of way. A comfortable place to kick back with a pitcher of domestic beer and take in the scene.

DECOR: Comfortable as an old pair of shoes
ATMOSPHERE: Heavy lunch crowds give way to an early afternoon drinking crowd and a vibrant late night contingent that closes the place down
DRINK OPTIONS: Lots of beer but also a well-stocked bar where Tuaca is heavily consumed

AT A GALNCE: Terry's is one of THOSE places. Whether you are part of the regular crowd, or just dropping in occasionally, chances are the bartenders and waitresses know your name and what you are drinking.

MORE INFO: http://splash.topeka.net/bars/sports/terrys-bar-grill

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The Celtic Fox

By SPLASH
February 16, 2010

Fancy a pint? Find a bit of Ireland at The Celtic Fox, 118 S.W. 8th. This cool limestone storefront in downtown Topeka serves all the great Irish beers -- Smithwicks, Harp and Guinness -- from a long wood bar. Fill your belly with Irish classics like shepherd’s pie or a Reuben sandwich. The Fox draws a varied crowd, from area regulars to state lawmakers. It also books parties.

DECOR: The Fox feels like an Irish pub because it is. A rustic, renovated downtown space has been perfectly restored into a comfortable, sometimes rowdy drinking spot. The long bar on the right as you enter has a dozen comfortable bar stools, and tables and chairs on different levels dot the rest of the place. A stage near the kitchen hosts lots of live music each week.

ATMOSPHERE: While there are TVs located in a variety of spots, The Celtic Fox seems like much more of a pub than a sports bar. When it is crowded the place gets loud and boisterous. Don't be surprised to see a kilt-clad bagpiper wondering amongst the regulars.

DRINK OPTIONS: Irish beer. lots of it.

AT A GLANCE: This place has been an anchor in the Topeka bar scene for years. A new city parking garage just east of the bar makes parking in foul weather easy and dry. An outdoor seating area out front is a perfect spot for a late afternoon cocktail before the fun and rowdy bar and live music area gets cooking later in the evening. One of the best bar views of the statehouse in town. The place is literally less than 100 yards away.

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Spanky's

By SPLASH
February 8, 2010

With eight flatscreen TVs and your favorite brew on tap, Spanky's Sports Bar & Grille, 3100 S.W. Gage Blvd.. is sports bar heaven. The neighborhood feel and friendly staff will make you feel comfortable, while the full-service bar and generous food menu offer a multitude of options.

DECOR: In keeping with the neighborhood sports bar theme, Spanky's looks every bit the part. Booths line the wall and pub-height tables fill the center on the place. A bar that greets you when you first walk in has about 8 stools for those who like to stay close to the suds.

ATMOSPHERE: The crowd is pretty much blue collar beer drinkers. In the evening you'll see families with their kids enjoying the tasty bar food served up from the kitchen (we suggest the cheese fries!). In the afternoons you'll run into a bunch of friendly regulars. On weekend nights the place can get packed and loud.

DRINK OPTIONS: You might think that beer would be the only option in a place like this, but think again. A generous selection of harder stuff can be found at the bar and our experience tells us that the bartenders at Spanky's know how to pour a stiff drink.

AT A GALNCE: Spanky's Sports Bar & Grille has been around long enough to have a loyal following of regulars. The beer is frosty and the food is top-notch bar cuisine. For the adventurous souls who don't like to just sit at the bar, look for karaoke and video games to keep you entertained.

MORE INFO: http://splash.topeka.net/bars/college/spankys-sports-bar-grille

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The Kansan Grill

By SPLASH
January 25, 2010

You'll find lots to like about the bar at the Kansan Grill, 705 S. Kansas Ave. In addition to having eight beers on tap, 22-ounce drafts, every liquor you can think of and daily drink specials, there's live entertainment on the weekends. The food menu features Creek Stone Black Angus beef from Arkansas City and is loaded with lots of other tasty selections.

DECOR: While the dining area at the Kansan Grill is quite spacious, the bar area that greets you when you walk in the door is cozy and neighborhood like. About eight bar stools line the beautifully built bar and there are several tables and chairs in the area as well

ATMOSPHERE: Despite being near the heart of downtown, the Kansan Grill has a neighborhood bar feel with an eclectic group of regulars as well as one-timers popping in for afternoon drinks or a beer after work.

DRINK OPTIONS: While there are plenty of great beer choices on tap, the daily drink specials are almost always a hit if you are in the mood for a cocktail. Look for the chalkboard out front to see what is featured.

AT A GALNCE: Now that the crane in downtown Topeka has left, things should start getting back to normal. When that happens, the foot traffic that passes in front of the Kansan Grill will resume and a steady stream of patrons will find an afternoon oasis inside the bar at the Kansan Grill at 7th Street and Kansas Avenue.

MORE INFO: http://splash.topeka.net/bars/neighborhood/kansan-grill

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Speck’s Bar and Grill

By SPLASH
January 18, 2010

Drop by Speck's Bar and Grill, 2105 SW Mission Ave., early in the day and you might get to share a can of beer with one of the regulars who knew the bar's namesake, Franklin 'Benge' Speck. From behind a large horseshoe-shaped bar, Specks offers four beers on tap, liquors and coolers filled with both cans and bottles. Speck’s also has wireless internet, Keno and seven flat-screen TVs. For the hungry, Speck's offers a three-pound hamburger.

DECOR: Speck's is a throw back to the good old neighborhood bar. Nothing flashy. No flashing lights. A large horseshoe-shaped bar is the centerpiece of the joint. The regulars usually fill the stools that surround the bar, but there are also booths and tables if you want to relax.

ATMOSPHERE: Just as you'd expect in a neighborhood bar, Speck's has a lot of long-time customers who frequent the place daily. Those regulars provide a perfect backdrop for a comfortable bar where everybody either knows your name, or they will before you leave.

DRINK OPTIONS: While at first glance, Speck's appears to be a beer bar, that is not necessarily the case. There is also a demand for cocktails and mixed drinks poured by friendly bartenders.

AT A GALNCE: Speck's is a Topeka bar with a lot of history. Stop by and look at the newspaper clippings on the wall or talk to some of the regulars and they will fill you in on the good ol' days. Don't forget how wonderful the food is at Speck's either. Besides a signature gigantic hamburger, you'll find a menu that is delicious from top to bottom.

MORE INFO: http://splash.topeka.net/bars/neighborhood/specks-bar-and-grill

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Water’s Edge Lounge

By SPLASH
January 5, 2010

Water's Edge Lounge at the Capitol Plaza Hotel is a great place to get away from the rest of Topeka and mingle with people from across the country. The bar is in an open canopy filled with a lot of natural light, plants, fountain and pond with water passing through. You sit down and forget you're in Topeka. Order food from Falling Water Grille. The public is always welcome.

DECOR: The Water's Edge Lounge is a very relaxing place to enjoy a cocktail or beer. The trees and pond provide a perfect backdrop to the open-air design of the place. A flat screen TV keeps you up-to-date on what is going on in the world without being obtrusive.

ATMOSPHERE: You never know who you'll run into at this place. One day it might be a group of dog handlers in town for a dog show, the next night the place might be packed with cowboys having a drink after competing in a rodeo at the Expocentre. The diverse crowd is one of the things that makes the Water's Edge Lounge a great place to visit.

DRINK OPTIONS: Sure they have great beer on tap (including the Belgium favorite — Stella Artois), but they also offer wonderful top-shelf cocktails as well. A variety of trendy martinis is just a start at what they shake up at the Water's Edge Lounge.

AT A GALNCE: The Water's Edge Lounge is not a place the typical Topekan would find themselves in which is exactly why it is a cool, unique place to hang out. Taking in a Topeka RoadRunners game at the Expocentre? Come early and grab a beer, or stop by after the game and have a drink while the parking lot clears. With access to an impressive restaurant, the Water's Edge Lounge is a nice relaxing change of pace.

MORE INFO: http://splash.topeka.net/bars/wine/waters-edge-lounge-capitol-plaza-hotel

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The Blind Tiger

By SPLASH
December 29, 2009

The Blind Tiger brewmaster brews about 1,000 barrels of beer yearly and keeps eight different beers on tap. Growlers are available to be filled and refilled. Plus, the Blind Tiger has an extensive menu, with pastas, soups, salads, steaks, shrimp and appetizers. Look for patio seating in the summer.

DECOR: This place is large and showcases the brewery operation at every turn. Expect to see beer making in progress while you are there. The bar are has a lot of seating from high-top tables dotting the perimeter to a bunch of comfy bar stools surrounding the bar.

ATMOSPHERE: The Blind Tiger can go from a quiet spot to grab some delicious grub to a raucous party place joint in the span of 15 minutes. The wait staff and bartenders are all properly versed in the variety of beers that are brewed on site and are always eager to help you make a good selection.

DRINK OPTIONS: It is a brewery, so obviously Blind Tiger beer is the drink of choice. From wheats to lagers to stouts to IPAs, The Blind Tiger serves up world-class brew. Look at the awards on the walls. Talk to the hardcore beer aficionados. This place is the REAL deal when it comes to hand-crafting serious beer.

AT A GALNCE: The Blind Tiger is an oasis of awesomeness when it comes to beer. Sure you can get a tasty meal at The Blind Tiger. No doubt about it. But the reality is that this place is an amazing brewery. The beer rivals any beer produced anywhere in the world. Luckily, at the end of the night, you can also take home a jug or two to drink at home..

MORE INFO: http://splash.topeka.net/bars/brewery/blind-tiger-brewery-restaurant

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Seabrook Bar & Grill

By SPLASH
December 21, 2009

Seabrook Bar & Grill may have moved downtown to 10th and Quincy, but it hasn't forgotten it's favorite crowd from Washburn University. WU photos and memorabilia decorate the digs, but it still has a full bar, great food and live entertainment. Yes, you can still order the artery-clogging, three-pound Speck Burger!

DECOR: A comfy bar area greets you when you enter Seabrook. Hi-top bar tables and about a half dozen bar stools provide the seating closest to the bar. A large room with tables and booths holds another 100 or so patrons and an outdoor patio is a perfect retreat in the spring, summer and fall.

ATMOSPHERE: Like a lot of downtown bars, Seabrook attracts a very diverse crowd. Office workers flock to the place over the lunch hour and at night, Seabrook is transformed into a more college-centric joint. Live music on the weekends draws a variety of music styles and patrons.

DRINK OPTIONS: Seabrook has a full service bar, but you'll see tons of beer flowing non-stop during the evening hours. Great daily drink specials. Check the board on your way in.

AT A GALNCE: Sure, Seabrook is known for a gigantic hamburger. Nothing wrong with that. But the fact that it is a cool, cozy place to hang out in downtown Topeka makes it a unique spot to bring your friends. The addition of Giovani's Pizzeria next door makes the corner of 10th and Quincy a mini party dictrict!

MORE INFO: http://splash.topeka.net/bars/college/seabrook-bar-grill

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The Pizza Parlor

By SPLASH
December 14, 2009

Little changes at the Pizza Parlor, a no-frills joint frequented by Oakland locals at 1919 N.E. Seward Ave.. Don't be fooled by the name "Pizza Parlor." Bill Domme serves just about anything. "If you can't find something on the menu to eat," he says, "you're not hungry." He serves a more limited offering of drinks. The Parlor offers 3.2 beer -- mostly domestic stuff but some imports, too. Wine coolers as well.

DECOR: Expansive place with booths lining the walls and tables in the middle. You'll have to wander all the way to the back of the joint to get to bar and a half dozen drab stools.

ATMOSPHERE: The place opens at 10 a.m. so you can get an early start on your party. And, while the place is generally populated by regulars, the neighborhood bar can pack in quite a diverse crowd for lunch.

DRINK OPTIONS: The Pizza Parlor is a 3.2 bar and they've got you covered with all of your domestic favorites. Last we checked, it was one of a very few local bars where you could still get a "red" beer. Tasty!

AT A GALNCE: The Pizza Parlor has been an Oakland neighborhood fixture for decades. The staff is always cheerful and friendly and the beer is served frosty cold. The Parlor is one of those places that is as comfortable to hang out in daily as it is s a place you can drop by once a month and feel at home.

MORE INFO: http://splash.topeka.net/bars/neighborhood/pizza-parlor

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