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Barfly Jason Genegabus |
Old School passes test
Back in October when I visited the Players Sports Bar near the University of Hawaii at Manoa, I wrote, "hopefully we won't see the day when your only way to spend some time in the company of the lovely Playerettes is to get in a car and make the drive out to Aiea."
Well, that day has come. About two months ago, Players University closed its doors and reopened under new ownership as Old School Bar and Grill. Would a change in name mean a change of vibe at this place? Would the menu be its saving grace as it was in the past? And would the beer-drinking public still have to pay ridiculously high prices for a pitcher of Bud Light?
Leave it to the Barfly to find out.
Old School Bar and Grill
Hours: 1442 University Ave.
Location: 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily
Phone: 949-5527
THE TWO MOST drastic changes you'll notice upon walking into Old School are the number of seats available to customers and the amount of lighting used in the bar. The number of tables in the room have been cut roughly in half, with some being replaced by four couches that occupy one corner. Four booths were also added.
One of my biggest gripes with the old Players setup was how hard it was to see in there, even if you stopped by in the middle of the afternoon to grab a drink or catch a game. Three months ago, I said there was "no need to make it strip-bar dark unless you're trying to cover up stains on the carpet or a lack of ceiling tiles."
These days, it's not a problem to glance across the room and make out who that is standing on the opposite side, motioning for you to come over and take a shot. With the lighting turned up and couches lining the walls, I started to feel like I was hanging out in a student lounge -- one that just happened to have a full bar attached to it, at least.
One of the big-screen televisions that used to be here is gone, but a pool table, three dart machines and a pair of Megatouch games remain to give people something else to do besides just drinking. Also gone are tiles that used to line the ceiling, a move that exposes the roof's support beams and gives Old School a more spacious, almost loft-like appearance.
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Bill Reynolds pours up a cocktail behind the bar at Old School Bar and Grill near the University of Hawaii Manoa campus. Check out how the bar scored on the Barfly's radar.
SITTING THERE with my designated driver and a pitcher of Bud Light, I felt like I should have been discussing the finer points of American literature in the 19th century instead of checking out the Winter X-Games on ESPN. Maybe it was the music being played that made me feel like I was in a coffee bar -- a mix of smooth jazz, oldies tunes, the Ka'au Crater Boys and Tom Jones doing a cover of "Burning Down the House" all got play during our visit.
Another nice touch the new owners have added to the mix is an outdoor seating area, three tables near the front door with a bit of fencing to give customers a bit of privacy from all the action on nearby University Avenue and Dole Street. There's even a speaker placed outside to keep folks entertained. And just inside the front door, a new convenience store-type setup offers a quick way for students to grab a snack on their way to nearby bus stops or back to campus.
Until Old School gets completely settled in and hires enough staff to offer a full menu (a limited amount of heat-and-serve pupus were available the night the Barfly visited), I'd have to hold off on recommending it as a worthwhile stop if you're looking for more than just a place to grab a drink.
But if you're a UH-Manoa student with time to kill between classes, or don't feel like dealing with the crowds over at Puck's Alley on a busy evening, this place is a definite step up from the old Players when it comes to affordable prices and comfortable surroundings. I just hope they do something to improve the music selection -- is it really necessary to hear Tom Jones crooning away while you're trying to finish a mug of beer?
How much for a Bud Light?
The Barfly happily paid $7.50 for a pitcher of Bud Light -- much less than the $10.50 charged for the same pitcher just three months ago. All the beer taps remained when Old School took over, so expect the same variety of domestic and imported brews. Bottled beers and mixed drinks are available too.Get things to do?
A pool table, dart machines and two Megatouch games are spread throughout the room, with three televisions and a big-screen also providing distractions to customers in the bar. Check out the magazines stacked near the front door if you'd like some reading material to go with that drink.What about the grinds?
Since there is no kitchen staff on duty at night, your only choices for the time being are foods that don't require a lot of preparation. Chili with rice ($3.50), pizza bread ($2.50), burritos ($2.50) and corn dogs ($1.50) are your only options right now. During the day you can order an Old School Burger ($4.50), barbecue pork sandwich ($4.75) and chicken wings ($5.50). Soy beans ($3.50), french fries ($2.25) and a house salad ($2.25) round out the daytime menu.And the help?
A lone bartender worked the room earlier this week when the Barfly landed at Old School, although there were at least two other employees in the back. It didn't take long for us to order a pitcher of beer, but it seemed like we were being discouraged from ordering pupus when we asked about a menu. I also got the feeling that the only way we'd be able to order another round was to go up to the bar and ask for it ourselves. Hopefully there will be more servers added to the bar's staff in the coming months.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Barfly appears every Friday in Star-Bulletin Weekend.
E-mail Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com with suggestions of neighborhood bars to visit.
