Jimmy's Old Town Tavern

Jimmy's Old Town Tavern is one of those friendly, down-and-dependable bars that looks as if it had always been in its turn-of-the-century warehouse (it probably was a tavern in its early years), where it takes only one visit to get to know the names of as many (or, nicely, as few) locals as you wish.

The sandwiches here are seriously hearty -- Reubens, clubs, subs, burgers -- but the nightly blue plates are the draw, each with matching drink specials: Monday night is lasagna with Moretti lager; Tuesday, it's jerk chicken and Red Stripe; Wednesday, bratwurst and sauerkraut with Spaten, etc. (Sunday's Carolina barbecued baby back ribs come, however, with Montevina Zinfindel, which no self-respecting pit in Carolina would recommend. And Chateau Souverain with fried fish and pierogies?

For entertainment, there's plenty of weekly action: foosball tournaments on Mondays, trivia on Tuesdays, and open mike on Wednesday nights.

-- Eve Zibart