Holy moly... there are dive bars and then there are DIVE bars. This is a true DIVE bar. It's…read moreabsolutely what I expected and then some. My friends and I stopped in here on a Thursday evening. There wasn't exactly a record screeching to a stop, but some pool players definitely called us out and asked where we are from (we all live in the metro area). Anyway, I'm pretty sure we were the ONLY people not smoking in this fine establishment. This place is not for anyone who despises anything less than sparkly and shiny, nor for anyone with reactive airway disease. They're also fazing out their bar food menu, and I had what were possibly the worst bar tater tots ever (the bar tender DID warn me) and didn't charge for them. That said, the service here was fast, the drinks were hella cheap, the pours were strong and everyone was friendly... even if we did get a couple of side eyes. I actually had a great time here, but I definitely had to shower the smoke out of my hair immediately when I got home!

My Mom used to always talk about The Hangout. The first time I went to the place, the bartender…read moretold me who my Mom was. I was like, wow... the Hangout. My mother probably hasn't stopped in there since the 80s, so that... in a nutshell, tells you how long this place has been around and that the clientele doesn't change much. I like the Hangout, why? Because nobody from Westport goes there, the juke box (if that's what the music comes off of) is not loud, beers are cheap, and the bartenders are usually cool and down to earth. The clients mind their manners and you only get an occasional creepy glance from the old dudes who hang out there. Mr. C does not like the Hangout. He doesn't like to be around people who are just bumbling through life. And to his credit, they kind of are. Although I think it is hard to judge people by their looks. I mean, he and I both wear fairly new fashions, and our hairstyles reflect the time we live in, but that doesn't necessarily mean people are just like pinballs bouncing off each other like the world is a big bumper. Mr. C and I go out to enjoy a drink outside of our home. I cannot be so haughty to say that I haven't gone to a bar to drink to "forget about life for awhile." (Billy Joel) I think people sometimes get stuck in their ruts and their misery, that the bar becomes the place to go to forget it all. The Hangout is offering this as every other bar on the planet. It just so happens it is in Raytown and the clientele look funny. I don't need a certain ambiance to go out and have a beer. I do like to go out to more modern places, but not every occasion calls for fancy. The Hangout is a get out of the house place. I like it. There is however one drawback. It is in Raytown and no-smoking ordinances have not been passed here. To avoid the smoke, sit in the corner away from the main crowd at a low table. Do not sit at the bar if smoke offends you. My review: Food: N/A Service: Friendly, friendly, friendly Would I go back? I wish my fiance was down for our wedding reception to be held here. Not gonna happen.

smokey dive bar. bartender was also the cook. the freezer is easily mistaken as a bathroom.read more

Everything seems to change but Spankys hasn't. Nor should it. Gritty dance floor, pool tables and…read moredarkness in the middle of the day make Spanky's a perfect place to hide away and shed all pretentiousness. If you find yourself here, it's probably not an issue to begin with. Come here for Jack and Jill Darts with or without a partner.

This place is so fun! Its like walking into your friends parents basement. They have lots of…read morevintage video game consoles to play with a large collection of games As well as board games! The drinks are always yummy and the bartenders are super friendly. I like that the drinks are movie themed and I love karaoke on Fridays after 9!!

Fun spot that transports you back to your friends basement in the 90s playing N64, lounging on a…read morecouch that may or may not have been found on a curb, and kicking back playing trivia on select nights. We joined in their Pop Culture Trivia night and it was a sort or mashup of bingo and trivia. For instance, a short trailer of a movie, and if you recognized it on your board, you mark it off. The topics were all over the place, with one being Catherine O'Hara films (RIP), together with modern slow folk music, and mockumentaries. OK! Could be cool to have a round of just 90's hits, or 80's movies, etc. If you're one of the very select few to win, you take home... an old VHS tape. Funny, but I would probably "accidentally forget" mine on the bar table had I won. It would be kinda fun if they threw in a free drink or something to make it worth it. The final prize was a few comp tickets to Screenland Armour upstairs, which they are connected to. The hosts were both friendly, and the vibes of the place are good. Overall just a fun, throwback place where you don't have to shout over anyone to talk. Highly recommend!

I was recently invited to participate in a trivia contest at Woodruff's, a cocktail bar in the…read moreheart of beautiful Odessa. Having recently opened, I'd never heard of the joint. A good friend told me, though, that the cocktails were exquisite and that there was a waiting list for limited memberships. Needless to say, I was intrigued. I was immediately impressed upon entering. Plenty of comfortable seating (we're talking couches and easy chairs), soft ambient lighting, and a kind of quiet mystical aura make it a charming spot to gather with friends and discuss the latest Love is Blind or sit quietly by yourself, writing the poetry of your soul. The two drinks I had were, indeed, fabulous. They have beer and wine as well. Some snacks, too! The drink menu is not extensive, but it is ever-changing, like a good speakeasy will do. The bar staff were all super friendly, helpful, and adept at making spectacular concoctions. The place is open to the public but they also have memberships which gets you a free drink each month and other perks. One in particular is that you get your very own drawer, all of which are located on the front of the bar. I have no idea what a member does with his very own drawer but i find that I am beguiled and must have one for myself. Alas, there is a waiting list, but someday...

We came here on our trip to Missouri. The town of Odessa is small and home-like feeling. We felt…read moreright at home when we entered the doors. The decor is artfully chosen. We enjoyed the gin spring tease cocktail and a smoked old fashioned. The bar tender was very nice and conversational. The speakeasy feel is very comforting. The service was very personalized. Would 12/10 recommend if you want to spent a nice evening with family or friends in a comfortable setting having top-tier hand-crafted cocktails.

This place just needs 5 stars to balance out a 1 star from 8 years ago and a few 2s and 3s since…read morethen for criticizing it for its innate dive bar characteristics. As a dive bar, it is 4-5 stars. Super cheap drinks, pool tables, darts, wifi jukebox.... but yes smoky Af. My bartender was super nice despite me being a temporary transplant. And i felt totally welcome here.

It's decent. Roomy, drinks are ok. Drinks are not garnished well if at all. Nothing positive about…read morethis bar but not too much negative.

Your basic strip mall bar & grill, though this once is a little nicer than most. It didn't seem…read morelike as much of a d-bag magnet as some suburban strip mall bars can be. I didn't try the food, just had some beer. The basic set of domestics are available on tap. The most memorable aspect of the bar for me was the really strange piece of art hanging over the bar. It was a mirror.... but in the mirror is painted a picture of a couple. Possibly the owners? What gives it that special touch is that it is painted in that late-1980s televangelist style. It's just... odd.

This is a small, kinda hard to get to dive bar off 24 Hwy in western Independence. We actually…read morefound it more by accident. It's jammed right up against the railroad tracks so it can get a little noisy at times. My friends and I enjoyed our really cheap beer as we played a few rounds of the Bags video game. This place is rough around the edges. It's not a place for hipsters who go to dive bars to drink PBR and feel ironic. It's the real deal. We got a kick out of the inappropriate (yet somehow appropriate for this setting) decor item that "watched" us as we played our game: a blackfaced lawn-jockey sitting in a high chair, wearing a Laffro. (See picture.) I apologize for the quality of the pictures, I'd forgotten my camera and was stuck using my cell phone. Cellphone pictures are bad enough when there's light!

This is a pop-up bar in Powell Gardens' Festival of Lights…read more Bar is a bit of a stretch. This is a side room, just off of of the beginning of the Festival of Lights path, that has a small pond, some plants and some Christmas lights to add to the theme. A small banquet-style bar is set up on the side. Some tables and chairs are set off to the other side. The menu features blue island-inspired and darker Pain Killer rum-inspired premixed (pre-made?) drinks that are poured and served like a Slurpee at 7-Eleven. They. Are. Awesome. They come with a little kick, too. Just enough to take the edge off before and during the journey. If you're not into the festive pours, that's okay. Limited domestic beers and simple mixed drinks are also available. The drinks are sold at event prices. They're poured that way, too. It's an a-ok bar, but it's kind of fun, and 'Tis the season. I'm giving four stars. Happy Holidays and Bottoms Up.