Oak Room spreads its charms
The Oak Room
9882 W Linebaugh Ave., Tampa; (813) 926-6746
The swank Westchase haunt is almost literally an oak room, with dense hardwood furniture, floor, wine racks and trim throughout. Moss-green and mustard walls, along with neutral-toned leather sofas soften up the gentleman's club feel of the place. Two high-definition flat-screen TVs hang over the bar, with another in an adjacent cigar room, where you can buy a stogie and smoke it, or just duck out from the boisterous main bar area.
Sink into the plush couches of the cigar room or get fresh air out on a brick patio. The crowd comprises upwardly mobile types, and the birthdates dip a little younger as the night rages on.
It feels like a neighborhood bar, with guys watching games and their wives gossiping off on their own as their husbands bring them martinis. When Michael Barnes isn't playing his piano jazz and pop standards, soft rock pipes in from the bar's impressive sound system. Just as the age gets younger with the hours, so does the music. Jazz yields to classic rock and then to modern rock and techno. The bartenders are all female, attractive and dressed in super-sleek black outfits.
Martinis are the name of the game here. Try the decadent chocolate martini with Hershey's syrup lining the glass, or the zippy Key lime. A nice variety of vinos from California, Italy and Australia make up the wine list, and Stella Artois and Harp are on tap, along with domestics. No food is served, so smoking is permitted. If you're hungry, bartenders will call in orders to one of the neighboring businesses. -Julie Garisto jgaristo@tampabay.com
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Pegasus Lounge
10008 30th St. N, Tampa; (813) 971-1679, www.pegasusniteclub.com, www.myspace/pegasuslounge
The wood-paneled dive looks like a biker bar but one without toothless women propositioning unsuspecting fellas. Regulars run the gamut from freshly shampooed college students to punk rockers covered in tattoos. Many are cut of a macho, working-class ethic that involves a greaser-rockabilly fetish, or they’re “gearheads” who soup up old cars. The 200-capacity bar offers a lot of seating and a large stage with one of the best sound systems around. The full bar features Killians Red and Michelob Ultra on tap, plus 28 bottled brands; among them, Newcastle, Amstel Light, Bass Ale, Sierra Nevada, Hoegaarden and Guinness. Local and national bands — metal, punk and other genres — play several times a week, and when they’re not, the pornaoke (karaoke with porn movies in the background) and open jam nights draw drinkers in by the droves. Pass the time off-hours with a big screen TV, pool, darts and jukebox. Pub grub is served, and smoking is permitted inside.
Tank’s Tap Room
13150 N Dale Mabry; (813) 961-2337
The college and sports hangout formerly known as Bilmar Station is a down-to-earth hangout for serious beer lovers. Up to 300 kinds of beer can be had, and 39 are on tap. Try the Smithwick’s, and you’ll have fallen in love for good. Almost hidden between Walgreens and Melting Pot in the Disney-like Main Street shopping center, Tank’s features short and tall tables, widescreen TVs and vintage beer labels under the plexiglass of the joint’s extra-long bar. No liquor yet, but plans are in the works to change that. The menu has undergone some improvements, but the luscious white chili and popular smokestack Reuben are still available.
The Bull Ring
241 E Fowler Ave, Tampa; (813) 866-8386
By day, Bull Ring’s atmosphere makes it inviting to bring children or to have a power lunch. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, the place gets jumpin’ as college students descend on the place. As the name indicates, it’s all things USF. You can purchase T-shirts or you come watch a Bulls baseball game on one of the many flat screen televisions. Each evening, there is a theme, with a live band on Tuesdays and all the domestic beer you can drink from 10 p.m. until midnight. The square-shaped bar offers ample seating on all sides. The usual domestics are on tap, plus full liquor. Order the Philly cheesesteak. The Bull Ring’s general manager is from Philadelphia and knows what it takes to make them right.
The Brass Mug
1441 E Fletcher Ave, Suite 101, Tampa; (813) 972-8152
The birthing ground of local bands, Brass Mug features live music (mostly metal) and karaoke nightly in low-frills and smoky trappings. It’s bigger and better than years past, having gone through some major renovations, but it’s still not the place to take a first date or your mom. A friendly and affordable hang, nonetheless, and if you don’t dig the band playing, there’s plenty to do — pool, darts, pinball, trivia. Metal karaoke with Lazer Ray takes the mic on Tuesdays, and $5 domestic draft pitchers are served daily. Full kitchen offers up greasy bar-food favorites. Arrive early to open mic on Mondays. It fills up fast. Bring earplugs, always.
Copper Top
5112 E Fowler Ave., Tampa; (813) 988-8656
Loved by USF students and alumni long out of college, the Copper Top has tables, booths and a stand-alone pool room with four tables where spectators hang out at stools and tall tables along a mirrored wall. The digital jukebox plays classic and even some indie rock hits. Draft beers are relatively cheap and include some choice imports such as Hacker-Schorr Oktoberfest, Blue Moon, Guinness, Harp and Bass. The wings are praised by locals as some of the bay area’s best. Darts, foosball and video games amuse the young and restless. The clientele, though mostly college students, is laid back.
