Warm service
meets frosted glass
Ocean Sports Restaurant
Open 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily
2012 S. Beretania St.
955-4753
WHEN THE BARFLY landed at Ocean Sports Restaurant last weekend, the bartender had just finished experimenting with a drink and was trying in vain to persuade a regular to shoot it.
Cursing the guy for not trying her mix of three types of rum, three juices and pina colada mix, Ashley yelled, "Just shut up and try it" before stomping over to check our IDs. I was already starting to like this place; you just have to admire a cute bartender who doesn't take any B.S. from her customers.
Although the word "restaurant" is used in their name, Ocean Sports is a bar. Budweiser, Bud Light and Heineken are all on tap, and four televisions (including a big screen) are placed throughout the room, most tuned to ESPN.
Other nice touches at Ocean Sports include a $9.99 New York steak and pitcher of Bud special that's offered Sundays through Wednesdays before 8 p.m, surprisingly comfortable seating and a server who didn't seem like she was counting the minutes before she got off work. Ipo was always smiling when she checked on us and even remembered a buddy who had been there last week for the first time. Little things like these are what turn a new bar into a regular hangout.
I didn't notice at first, but the partially opaque front windows also helped: when cars entered the parking lot, it was the frosted glass that kept the glare from getting into our eyes. A jukebox also played a good mix of music ranging from Bob Marley and Koa'uka to Aerosmith and 2Pac.
Only open since June, Ocean Sports Restaurant is still trying to build a following. With lots of Japanese fare on the menu to choose from and reasonably priced beer, it's a good bet you'll find the Barfly there instead of enduring the crowds and uncomfortable booths at other spots in the area.
How much for a Bud Light?
$1 mugs and $5 pitchers are offered before 8 p.m. and go up to $2 and $8 afterward; Heineken is available for $2 a mug and $8 a pitcher, or $3 and $10 after 8 p.m. Bottled beer, liquor and jello shots are also available.
Get things to do?
Three dart boards, two pool tables and a pair of Megatouch game machines are placed throughout the room; a "Golden Tee" golf video game also occupies a corner.
What about the grinds?
Sushi, pho, steak and chicken are on the menu; prices range from $2.95 for a smoked salmon salad and $6 for BBQ chicken to $12.95 for a platter of nigiri sushi. Rice is the only starch offered; no french fries on the menu here.
And the help?
Our server was attentive and didn't let our pitchers run empty the entire night. I'll be sorry to see the bartender leave later this month for another gig; her spunky attitude provided just as much entertainment as ESPN's Chris Berman on television and the drunk guy sitting behind us.
Barfly appears every Friday in Star-Bulletin Weekend.
E-mail Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com with suggestions of neighborhood bars to visit.
