Swagger Fine Spirits and Food (Waldo)

No Longer In Business

Dive bar with two adjoining spaces, one with a bar plus tables, one with tables and the kitchen. Server was friendly enough. Lots of beers missing that were on the list, but the list itself was quite large. The beers they did have were varied and tasty. OK for a quick stop.

Visited a few days ago for the first time. Beer selection is pretty good, about 40 tap selections and while none of them really blew me away, it was pretty solid. Bottle list is far more extensive, but I don’t go to places like this to drink beer out of a bottle. Ordered a burger, which was not terrible but not great either, a little bit on the salty side, and the fries were the real dark brown, non-crispy variety, which is not my favorite style. Service was below average, our server eventually coming back to our table to tell us that they lost my wife’s debit card (they found it about 5 very tense mins later). Music was quite loud and very offensive, ("A Lap Dance Is So Much Better When The Stripper Is Crying", "Looks Like I’m Up Shit Creek Again", etc. etc.), not that it bothered me much, just tells you a bit about the place, I guess. Ambiance is kind of a joke, very "dive bar/roadhouse". Since all the folks I know that have visited gave it such high praise, I was definitely disappointed, and am not planning on going back.

I like this place, have visited a handful of times. Best aspect is their specials, beer and food. Check that in advance to find what works best for you. Also, not pretentious at all yet has a nice theme (a bit biker-esque). My biggest complaint is no one knows what is available. Tap list is not up to date, wait staff don’t the list well enough (its a big list so I don’t blame them), and the bottle menu is a mess. I once came here and literally had 5 bottled beer orders that were no longer available. Some bad services moments as well, usually food takes too long but they make up for it by taking money off your bill. A good visit but some beer selection issues.

1960s hole-in-the-wall saloon with Texas tacos, great bar burgers, standard saloon fare done very well. They have a ridiculous triple sandwich burger called a Dead Texan which is a large burger between two grilled cheese sandwiches - with an egg. Onion rings are great, fries are excellent. Selection lists 200 and maybe 30-40 on tap.

Surprisingly large selection for Kansas City, and just south of the Waldo district. Two connected rooms in an old strip of shops. City bus stop not to far away. Long bar in one room with taps on wall and on tap towers. They appear to carry all of Boulevard’s standard (and seasonal) beers on tap and the Boulevard Smokestack series in bottles. Local beer pint prices hovered around $4-5, with West Coast beers a bit higher and Belgian specialty beers into double digits. Some tall tables with stools and view of TVs silently showing sports. Attached room with pool tables and more dining space. Interesting collection of young couples, old timers drinking Bud Light, and beer geeks. Young servers but some know their beer. With places now non-smoking, this would make a great neighborhood pub, if a bit upscale in its prices.

I could have sworn I had rated this place already. Interior is a somewhat gritty loco neighborhood bar, with a number of regulars who are seemingly always there. The tap and bottle list are always solid, particularly the Boulevard selection - always more Blvd drafts than anywhere else. Would love to see more rare and one-offs, but they can grow into that. Food and service are always solid. Certainly a regular part of my rotation.

76 = ★★★ (Worth the visit, must for locals, and visitors with time)

I only use the total score, not the component parts.

What a great surprise this was. I did not eat here, but I drank a lot of beer. Great beer selection, lots of beers on tap including a lot of ones that are pretty rare on tap. The owner is very knowledgeable and an overall nice guy. Great music. More of a local place, but with great beers. I’ll be heading here more often.

Slowly turning into a better bar day by day. Good beer selection. Above par food. Great bartenders.