You'll probably never see George Wendt, John Ratzenberger or Kelsey Grammer knocking a few back at Cheers Sports Bar & Grill, but chances are the bar at the corner of South King and Keeaumoku streets already has its own version of popular TV characters Norm Peterson, Cliff Clavin and Dr. Frasier Crane.

The Cheers name definitely fits the vibe here, with its mix of local residents who appear slightly older than customers at other watering holes in the area. If you don't want to deal with the 20-somethings at Tsunami's, can't afford the higher food prices at Champions and need a little more wholesome fun than what's offered at Club 939, then Cheers is for you.

Formerly known as King St. Cafe, the space now known as Cheers has been refurbished slightly in recent months. There's lots of room for tables and couches here, with another half-dozen bar stools or so at the bar proper on the Diamond Head side of the room. If you visit alone, this is where you'll want to sit; if you come with friends, however, the booths are where you want to be.

A variety of couches and love seats provide ample space to kick back and relax, with additional tables available to accommodate larger groups. My seating pick would be the pair of leather couches on the Ewa end of Cheers—bring a few friends and you'll have your own private corner with a dedicated flat-screen television for everyone to watch.

THE FOOD at Cheers is relatively unmemorable, with a variety of standard bar fare available to customers.

Looking for staples like Korean Style Chicken ($9), Buffalo Wings ($8) or local-style Fried Rice ($9)? They've got you covered, with additional items like Pork Chops ($14), Chicken Gizzards ($8) and Fried Noodles ($8) also on the menu. Serving sizes are generous; items like French Fries ($6) and soybeans ($7) arrive with enough food for two or three people to share.

Be careful, however, when ordering the steak—we asked for our Pan-Seared Rib Eye Steak ($17) to be cooked medium rare, but it arrived at our table way too undercooked. And for that price, a side of rice should be standard, not offered as an option for an additional charge (as it was to us).

Instead of fried foods, consider ordering a pizza when you visit. The 10-inch pies are served hot and fresh to order, with several choices available: Cheese ($8), pepperoni ($10), Italian sausage ($10), Garlic Pesto ($12) and Italian sausage with pepperoni ($12). These pizzas are big enough to share with a few others, and while the ingredients aren't as gourmet as some other bars in town, they're fresh and flavorful enough to satiate those too lazy to drive down Keeaumoku for a pie from V Lounge.

SO WE'VE COVERED food and drinks—what else makes Cheers worth visiting?

First, the location of the bar is perfect for those who want to enjoy pau hana and possibly move on to another bar later in the evening. While parking can be a little rough in the area before 6 p.m. due to no-parking zones on South King, there are plenty of spaces along Young Street and a parking lot the bar shares with next door neighbor Del's Place (the two establishments also share access, with an interior door separating the two bars).

Second, the service here is friendly and efficient enough to make customers want to return. After a busy day at the office, a smile and a few kind words to accompany your beer can go a long way in building a customer base. During multiple visits the employees on duty were friendly without making you feel like you were drinking in a hostess bar. There's a fine line between providing attentive service and being an overbearing presence when you're just trying to relax and unwind, and the bar staff at Cheers gets it right.

Finally, the other people who patronize a bar play a bigger role in its success—or failure—than some might realize. At Cheers, the relatively mellow vibe and general friendliness of the people around us during our visits made it feel like we'd been drinking there for months. We weren't regulars at all, but did get polite nods and waves from others when entering and exiting the bar. Add live music (rotating bands on Wednesdays and local singer Sunway on Thursdays) to the mix, and Cheers only looks better and better the more you think about it.

Like the song says, “;Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got / Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot / Wouldn't you like to get away?”;

They might not know your name just yet, but the folks at Cheers Bar & Grill will surely be glad you came.