| The
Quest for the Holy Grain - Best Beer Bars |
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SLOPPY JOE'S Sloppy Joe's, established December 5, 1933, was the first bar in Key West, Florida. It moved from Greene Street to Duval Street in 1937 when Joe's rent increased from $3 a week to $4, and there it has remained. Inside is exactly what you'd expect from a Duval Street establishment - several bars, a stage with live music, plenty of dancing, and, on weekends, barely enough room to move. The ambiance is perfect for your traditional raucous bar fan; it's loud, it's dark, and there's plenty going on. On the walls you'll find dozens of framed pictures of fighter jets, autographed by the pilots who flew them. You'll also find several images of Joe Russell himself.
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Raglan Road Raglan Road is a cross between a dark, mellow Irish pub and a large, boisterous German beer hall. Located in the Disney World mall - also known as "Downtown Disney "- it serves Irish-like food and a small but tasteful set of beers. We had the scallop forest appetizer because it was an odd looking foodie gimmick - still, very good eats. On tap at the two bars were Irish standards (Guinness, Smithwick's, Harp and Murphy's), hometown beers from the Orlando Brewing Company (blonde, pale ale, brown ale), and an assortment of the usual beer suspects. In the spirit of drinking locally we tried the brewing company's offerings; all were pretty much brewed to style. During our visit a small band performed Irish music and a Irish dancer performed atop a small table in the middle of the cavernous main dining area. If you're looking for a comfortable place with decent beer and food, and you don't mind waiting for a seat, then this is your place in Disney World.
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The Ice House Pub The Ice House Pub is the nearest thing to a beer bar in the Punta Gorda, FL, area. In an historic building, an Icehouse, the bar has a British pub theme. There is a large bar area and an equally large game area. They have 24 beers of the world on tap and a bottled selection of about 160. The limited pub grub menu was moderately priced. |
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