Bank Shot Bar & Grill
Nov 19th, 2009 by Alex
After playing host to a truck driving school for a few months, the former Utopia club is now home to Bank Shot Bar & Grill. Make no mistake, it’s a pool hall that happens to contain a bar and a grill. Weekends and tournament nights the place is packed the rafters. You’ll find the parking lot full, with patrons leaving their vehicles across the street and up and down Route 198. That being said, it’s not a bad place to spend a laid back weeknight.
I took advantage of the half-priced burgers on Tuesday; if you have to try someplace new, why not try it out on the cheap? It was $4.50 for a half-pound bacon swiss burger with sliced onions and BBQ sauce, served with a good portion of crinkle fries (crisp on the outside, hot and soft on the inside). Both were excellent, especially when washed down with a $1.25 draft. What can I say, I like specials that come in pairs.
There are two 9-foot tables and at least a dozen 7-foot tables, split across both sides of the bar area. Plenty of televisions throughout the place; I’m betting it fills up for Sunday games too, independent of whatever league event is going on. Nothing but Diamond tables in the place, all well maintained and ready for competition. There’s a dart room on one side, close to the bathrooms. Everything was clean and the bartenders were friendly.
One odd fact: they don’t serve water, at least not from the tap. According to the bartender, it’s because the owner thinks the well water isn’t so good smelling or tasting. I find that a little hard to believe. Considering they have post-mix soda dispensers and plenty of ice behind the bar (all of which is fit for consumption) and no doubt make extensive use of tap water in the kitchen for prep and cleaning, I’m wondering if it’s more of policy to sell Deer Park for $1.50 a bottle. Whether or not it’s legal, it’s the first time I’ve seen this kind of thing at a bar.
Tap water aside, if you like to shoot pool and grab a good bite to eat this is as good a place as any.
