Barfly Jason Genegabus

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8 Fat Fat 8 is a spot to drink with the boys

Never underestimate the power of good signage. For years, I've driven by 8 Fat Fat 8 Bar and Grille and never given it much thought. It was only during a recent trek along South Beretania that I became curious enough to actually park and venture inside.

8 Fat Fat 8 Bar and Grille Location: 1327 S. Beretania St. Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call: 596-2779

The reason? The bar had a new sign up out front, one carved out of wood and much more attractive than the simple plastic ones I've passed all this time. And that got me wondering -- if the sign was redone, what about the interior?

IT DIDN'T take long to figure out that the sign outside was just about the only thing new at 8 Fat Fat 8.

Walk through the bar's front door, and you'll find yourself among the action almost immediately. Seven dart machines line the walls to your left and right, so your best bet is to walk straight ahead towards the bar itself.

About a dozen barstools are crammed into this cozy corner of the room, with the U-shaped bar flanked on one side by the kitchen and restrooms. Nine high-backed booths occupy the rest of the space.

The lighting is surprisingly bright, which makes it easier to avoid the collapsed portions of some seat cushions. You've also got a better chance at spotting mysterious stains before sitting on them.

Parking isn't an issue here either, especially if you visit after the sun goes down. The bar shares a parking lot with an auto repair business, and it's a lot easier to find metered spots after 6 p.m. in this area.

A COUPLE of visits last week showed that 8 Fat Fat 8 primarily caters to an older crowd, but some younger customers were spotted as well.

Most of the regulars appear to work in the area. A few sported the standard aloha shirt and slacks combo, while others rocked employer-issued shirts. This isn't a stuffy spot where you'll rub elbows with martini-sipping cuties who shop at the mall with Daddy's credit card. You'll come here to knock a few back with the boys before throwing darts for beer money.

One disappointment is the lack of a jukebox in the bar, but that was minimized somewhat by the management's musical choices. I haven't had a chance to listen to an entire Jack Johnson album lately, but I got that opportunity at 8 Fat Fat 8.

Golf fans will want to check this spot out, too, since it's got a game that I don't remember seeing anywhere else around town. While I didn't pony up the money to actually play "Putting Challenge II," it looks to be a lot more fun than anything video-based.

With this game, you actually send a golf ball rolling across a "green" towards a cup on the other side. Can you imagine how much fun this could be after three or four drinks?

IN THE end, this joint is best suited for beer-drinking dart players.

Tournaments are held at 8 p.m. every Saturday and Tuesday* at 8 Fat Fat 8, with a dry-erase board acting as a temporary "wall of fame" for the previous week's top finishers.

You're also apt to find a selection of bottled brews here that rivals some of the more established watering holes in town. Not only can you order a Bud Light here, but a Guinness or Tsingtao as well.

How much for a Bud Light?
The Barfly drank $2.75 bottles of Bud Light at 8 Fat Fat 8. Take a look at the Ewa wall when you visit -- that's where you'll find a current listing of all the bottled beers available.

Get things to do?
You can find a couple of the usual bar diversions here, with dart machines and Megatouch game machines to go along with four televisions and a house stereo. Karaoke appears to be offered as well. If you're a golfer, be sure to try the "Putting Challenge II" game.

What about the grinds?
The kitchen has a Chinese influence, with items like lup cheong fried rice ($6.50) and pot stickers ($6) to go with standards like chicken katsu ($6), spencer steak with onions ($12) and shrimp tempura ($8). The Fat Fat Special Chicken ($9) is also worth a try.

And the help?
We had to visit the bar every time we wanted a drink, since there was only one bartender working the entire room at any given time. It wasn't much of a problem though, since the crowd at 8 Fat Fat 8 was never busy enough to cause a backup.

CORRECTION Friday, December 2, 2005 » 8 Fat Fat 8 Bar and Grille holds dart tournaments on Saturdays and Tuesdays, and is closed on Sundays. Incorrect information appeared in the Barfly column on Page 26 of last week's Star Weekend. Please see the applicable Corrections Page for more information.

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