Very local, sort of a hidden gem in CBUS, great beer list and rotating tap list. A must if you are in CBUS! read more

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Great place to grab a beer or cocktail. The music always varies, the service is second none. Can't recommend Bob's enough. read more

Bob's Bar - Great service, amazing beer selection, and a truly diverse music selection. - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Absolutely adored it. This is your typical dive bar. I love a good dive bar. Our bartenders were great. Pauly and forgive me I forgot the other gentleman's name took great care of me. Loved the conversation and I can't wait to come back. read more

My husband loves this place. It your good old fashion back in the day kinda bar. Good beer and nice selection of bourbon says my husband. I even played darts. Go check it out !! read more

Bob's Bar - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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If you want to go to a fun, local, dive bar....you found it. The girls stopped after a long day of shopping and if they had food, we would have stayed a lot longer. It reminds me of Cheers (if you are old enough to know that show) where everyone knows your name. We stopped for one cold drink and stayed for several. We made friends with some of the other patrons who taught us how to play Keno. Or maybe I should say How to lose at Keno!! We had a great time and would definitely go back if I'm ever up in Columbus. The only down side is the parking- but we were lucky enough to park right at the door!! read more

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It is a Great place! Friendly atmosphere and staff. Enjoyed the darts and the drinks.

A friend and I stopped in after a nearby fitness class because our favorite place Local Cantina is closed on Mondays. I had heard it's a good neighborhood bar so we gave it a try. Apparently most of the parking spots in front are designated for the other businesses in that strip. We parked on the side street. It was not busy. There were a few people at the bar, and a few smokers on the patio. There are also some picnic tables in front of that area. Our bartender was great and we chatted about cocktails he then made for us. He also brought us waters. He said we could take our drinks out the to picnic area when we asked. Cool bar, and we will go back! read more

So lucky to have this gem right up the street--but also well worth making a trip for! First of all, the staff in this place are just the best. They have great memories, or they have a book behind the bar with all of their regulars in it (if it's the second one, I don't want to know). They've got a great selection of drafts and bottles, and good liquor options if beer's not your thing. They're friendly and attentive without hovering, make great recommendations, and seem like they really like what they do! It's everything I want in a great neighborhood bar. They also have pool, darts, and a jukebox, if any of those things are up your alley. It also looks like they've expanded into their parking lot to provide some additional outdoor space, which I really appreciate! read more

Bob's Bar - a glass of beer on a bar - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I only stopped by here to get a drink after work. This bar only has like 5 parking spots and one entrance. It's a very local bar from the patrons to the bartenders to the vibe itself. It feels... great. From the Monday and Wednesday evenings I came in here if was quiet and had actually good music playing. Punk, rock, indie and blue grass. There's this big old bartender that has a beard that sticks out from his mask that made me feel very welcome, automatically knowing it was my first time here. The bar has a golf game by the front that people play and watch. 1 pool table i haven't seen used but as I'm looking around now I need to give credit to their beer selection! Even in covid times this bar didn't lose its charm. Highly recommend just to sit at a bar that no one knows you but treats you like you've been there your whole life. read more

Bob's Bar - Solid liquor selection for a small bar. - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Gotta be one of my favorite dive bars in the city. I always run into people I know whenever I drop in. The parking situation however is horrendous with only a couple of spaces in the lot, you often have to park deep back in the neighborhood behind. Pros: excellent beer choices Darts and pool Fun crowd Helpful staff Cons: crowded Small parking lot read more

Denied service from the bartender since I had a service dog. Was told the owner Chris would deny service to anyone who had a dog even if it was a service dog unless we sat on the patio on a 30 degree night. Service dog and I went down the street to O'reillys pub where we got good service. read more

When I asked some locals where is the go-to bar in Columbus... Separately and unanimously was told go to Bob's. Really unassuming place with a fantastic beer selection. In a strip mall- I wasn't even sure if they were open and it most certainly doesn't even look like a bar from the outside. Staff was very nice. The perfect kinda dive bar. Definite dive bar feel but high quality service and beer behind it. This is why I always ask locals where to go. read more

This is the dank, low ceiling underground of the city's past, disappearing Columbus, #howthingswere, the true cultural hub of dive bars. Apropos of the dry irony of its motto, is Bob's mascot pictured on the awning, a Dick York looking face toasting his 1950s white male oppression over his all-powerful house wife--apparently. No fear, there is scant chance an ad-exec in pricey suits will be found here, though many born in the 1950s barflies the property, showcasing the diversity of Bob's clientelle. Walking in from High past the narrow patio of smokers one is delighted by the crusty wear and aged grime reminiscent of High Street of old. The acoustic ceiling squares above seems like waves as they are warped such, and the flooring is nonexistent except for rubber like prefloor. It has the comforting dark den feel anyone with subterranean taste can enjoy. It is not really a place for one demographic; instead a mix of flashy college club-types, aging hippies, weird hairdos, and bored 20-year-olds buzz its environs. You have the gaggle of bar crawling debutants toasting the summer, the frat boys programing jukeboxes with new hip-hop, 30-year regulars throwing darks in rock tees and white mullets, barkeeps off the clock hanging, hipsters lamenting how Comfest sucks, pool sharks shooting contorting shots and missing badly, Billy Idol dressed punks with alienated affects, and patio hangers chain smoking away the summer with Camel Crushes. A throw back place yes, they don't serve food, but they are not inflexable to change; today they serve the modern choice of beers, 30-plus taps of local brew are written on a blackboard, too many choices for the staff to remember. The staff by the way is quality and friendly. I had a Bob's Bar IPA, made by who knows I didn't ask (hey I do this for free after all), that they will have for a couple more weeks before gone forever. It was very heavy with a strong malt. So get that while you can. They do well with mix drinks, but it is a dive, so don't expect the best of Martini's here. There is some seating for four but it is mainly the bar. Experince this cultural hub before 'culture' rubs it out. read more

Bob's Bar - Stickers advertising the expansive beer choices here. - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Great little bar to have drinks and hang out. Stumbled in here after a quick Yelp search. Close to our hotel and seemed like it had a good vibe about it. Bob's sits on the corner of a small building unit. Parking is very limited. We ended up parking on the adjacent street. There is an area out front for smokers, if you do that. As you go in the bar is off to the left and goes almost the entire length of the space. There are a few tables here and there, but don't expect to take a big group and sit all together. Their beer selection is bigger than the bar. Great choices on the beer menu. IPA'a to Stouts, they have a beer for everyone. Their bottle selection makes up for what they don't have on tap. They have tv's showing all kinds of sports and all of them are different. I'm sure local teams will get universal showings. Two pool tables at the back and two dart board set ups. Darts were free. Not top notch but good enough to throw and have a good time. Solid dart boards, good quality. The crowd is a ever evolving. While we where there, it changed over 3 times. With the regulars coming in towards the later part of the night. Wait staff behind the bar was attentive and helpful. We never had to wait more than a minute or two to get service. If you are in the area of Bob's and want to have a good cold beer, by all means do do. You will have a good time. Picking the beer you want will be the hardest decision you make. Enjoy. read more

Bob's Bar is the best dive bar in Columbus. I always hear it come up in conversations regarding what is the best bar in the area. The bar is located close to Graceland and next to a good restaurant. It's better looking inside but it's still for sure a dive bar. There is plenty to drink and see. Bob's is not much to look at from the outside. It's located in a strip mall. The sign always makes me crack a smile. It sits unassumingly near the Graceland Shopping Center, seemingly untouched by the nearby renovations. There's a small area to park in front. Inside, you will find some of the best beer selections around for pretty good prices. The happy hour includes $1.75 domestics from 2 to 8. The rest of the beer selections are usually about $3 so good prices for these too. It has over 200 beers. The beer menu is so fucking big it takes up pages. It's safe to say you'll find something you like. They also have cocktails if you feel like that. It's most popular for the beer. They have a surprising craft selection, with beers from all over the world. In fact, you can even earn a mug after completing a huge list of beers around the world. Those wanting an easier way to get a souveneir can buy a tee shirt. The atmosphere is also fun. It has its share of local regulars, and newcomers wanting to see what the fuss is about. The bar is also located next door to the fantastic Pita Hut, so you can eat some falafel to soak up that beer. I urge bar fans New in Columbus to go to Bob's Bar. It seems to have something for everyone. This is a place those looking for cheap and interesting beer need to check out. read more

Bob's Bar - Inside - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Bob's Bar is like Cheer's. I think every time I come here, it feels a little like a friend's house. It's not that the bartenders know my name, or they're glad I came (but they damn sure act like they are - great service) it's because of my myriad of friends that love this place - and their awesome beer selection - and their awesome bartenders that can help you find a beer you want. That's all I really want from a bar. Also, they're next to a Pita Pit. That's a plus. read more

Looks can be deceiving. Looks teeny tiny and like a hole in the wall from the outside. Huge beer selection with about 30 craft beers on tap. There are another 50+ craft beers in bottles, small and large. They also have a few domestics if that is what you like. Nice jukebox and it sounds pretty good, not too loud that you have to scream at your friends. They have a couple of pool tables and a dart board. Don't forget the 6 TV's to watch multiple games and keep everyone happy. Tonight it is packed with regulars and newbies (including me). I got the Great Lakes Christmas Ale...Awesome:-) I will definitely be back to try some more beers. read more

Found this place shortly after moving to Ohio and fell in love! The drinks are wonderful always, the bartenders amazing and the other patrons are always fun and friendly. We will gladly continue to come here! read more

How have I lived in Columbus for 5 years and only just now made it to the Cultural Hub of the Midwest? My husband and I went here for beer on a random weekend, and I fell in love. The place is dive-y, but CLEAN dive-y. Tons of seating. Great atmosphere. PHENOMENAL beer selection. (They had some really interesting stuff on tap, and a bottle of Schneiderweisse Aventinus, which is the mark of a good beer place for me.) Pauley was behind the bar, and not kidding, he is one of the BEST bartenders I have ever had the pleasure to be served by. Friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable. This place is my new fave! Go have fun! read more

Bob's Bar is pretty awesome. They really know what they are doing when they pick their beers and they get top notch beers in from time to time as KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout). In fact, when I went to Pies and Pints for KBS it tapped out in 21 minutes, the entire keg, I got two pours. At 101 Beer Kitchen the keg tapped out in 7 minutes. At Bob's Bar, after having two pours I went to pay my bill and they still had a bunch and asked if I wanted another, F-yea!! I probably could have had a fourth pour, but anything past two is unheard of anywhere around here and the three I had plus the couple while waiting for them to tap KBS...well, I was pretty drunk. Service is excellent, the bartenders know their beers and they know what they are doing. It's not too hard to get a table either and there is outdoor seating. The crowd is unique in that it has everyone from 21 year old college kids up to old men in their 60's and 70's and they all get along. Some Napolean Dynamite type movie had a scene filmed in the bar and they have it playing on a constant loop up on the wall above the liquor. Sometimes one of the movie stars comes in and wears the same shirt that he has on in the movie. read more

I had a great time here over the weekend with friends. Pool, darts, and a good selection on the jukebox are just a few of the pluses. The beer selection is great as is the liquor selection. The prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is nice. It is active, and can be loud but chatting with friends is still easy. The crowd is friendly and there is a good mix of people, both men and women. Parking can be a little tricky. Pay careful attention to the towing signs. Parking at Graceland is a convenient option. read more

Bob's Bar - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I went here with some friends on a Saturday afternoon. We were looking for some place to grab drinks and play pool to start our evening out. The parking lot is small, but street parking is available on surrounding roads. The beer selection is really great. They don't have individual beer list menus, but all the current drafts are listed on a board above the bar when you first walk inside. Lots of craft beer and an interesting selection of cider. The bar itself is pretty large for the size of the place. We were excited because they have two pools tables in the back of the bar. $1.25 per game. There are multiple TV's through out each area of the bar. This seems like a fun place to go to watch a game. read more

Bob's Bar - View from the back of the bar - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Staff wasn't all that nice and welcoming but he was responsive enough. There's about four tvs to watch...although when I was there they were showing the nature channel and, more specifically, a goat being eaten alive by an alligator...oh so very entertaining that was (sarcasm). The bartender let us taste a few things before we committed to drinks, so that was awesome. And we were able to eat food from an outside establishment here, which was also nice. I noticed that they had some OYO (local brand) vodka---very cool. I would go here again...it just wouldn't be all that high up on the list. I remember visiting this bar one other time with a group and it was jam-packed-- just horrible. So be thoughtful of which day you go (maybe avoid on the weekends if you're not into crowds). read more

Bob's Bar - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We love Bob's Bar (the "cultural hub of the midwest") and have been going (weekly) for about 3 years now. They have a number of TVs that are above the bar - they're smaller, so no "big screen" for the games, but it works well for us. The have a great happy hour, the largest selection of beer in Columbus, and great staff. They don't serve food, but the Pita Hut is right next door and Bob's Bar is perfectly fine for patrons to bring in food from another location (or even have it delivered). The parking lot is really small, but there is some street parking, just be courteous to the homeowners... We usually go on "off-nights," when it's not so busy, but we have been on busier nights and had a blast! There is a juke box, a couple pool tables, and darts. There is also a beer "challenge" where you can get a list of various beers on a card (they keep track of this) and once you finish trying all of the beers you get a t-shirt and a 2nd card (on a lanyard, which they continue to keep track of). Once you finish the 2nd card, you get your own glass mug, which can be filled with any beer you choose for regular price! My friend only has 4 more beers left before he gets his personalized mug! :) This is our favorite bar in Columbus! read more

Best place in Columbus to get a beer. Great selection, good variety, great bartenders, always a good vibe.

Ah Bob's. This place rocks. And not in the usual, third row at a Rage Against the Machine concert kinda rocks. This bar rocks as though Jimi Hendrix descended on a flaming chariot to close the show at a Led Zeppelin reunion tour. First off, it's a bar. Just a bar. No food, or light show. Just a bar with televisions. And a pool table or two. But why does this qualify as awesome? The beer selection here is beyond amazing. There is a better bench of amazing craft beer here than almost anywhere else in Columbus. And the kicker? The staff actually KNOWS about good craft beer. That is a rarity with any other speciality craft beer bar in this town. When I feel a need for amazing beer boil from the pits of my soul, Bob's is the fix. read more

Bob's Bar - Sweet, glorious, soul fulfilling beer. - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

What made me turn into this converted strip mall bar - devoid of adequate outdoor lighting and requiring that I park in a shared lot with a bank branch? Was it the desperation of having to kill a couple hours before picking up my son from his Catholic School dance - or - was it the inviting Bob's Bar sign replete with the image of the 50's era Brylcreem guy - hoisting a beer with the promise of better times ahead? At a very emotional level, the sign conveyed a promise to me: "If you come in and have a cold one, you stand a very good chance of seeing a guy that looks exactly like your dead grandfather." This allure was like a Venus-flytrap for a nostalgic like me. When I got inside, I realized this little place was about Bob's beer, and not his bar. The patrons were a cross section of the kind of border town that is Clintonville - a mix of the terminally collegiate young businessmen, English/Philosophy majors and a solid representation of the kind of standard issue "Big Lots Buckeyes" you see a lot around Columbus - those vibrant souls who likely invested a lion's share of their last paycheck on the newest variant of scarlet & gray "leather looking" vinyl flocked varsity jacket, with enough money left over to secure a few cartons of American Spirit cigarettes at the Herb's Tobacco Patch. Friendly enough folks, but with a dialect and mannerisms that hammers home the fact that Columbus is closer to Kentucky than it is to Michigan. I struck up a conversation with an undercover white-collar professional - who was ranting on about having traveled several miles for a very specific beer that was no longer in season. I tried to comfort him with the notion that one of the other 199 varieties may help, in some small way, to satisfy his brew lust. The bartenders were schooled in the classic "we're a one of a kind kinda place" repartee - shouting orders & insults at one another to endear themselves to their clientele - making me feel as if I was an integrated part of some Midwestern passion play that runs nightly. Here's the good news. I really liked the place. The beer selection was voluminous and the prices were right. It doesn't need gimmicks like live bands or a plethora of flat panel TV's to attract its customers. It's where you go to meet friends for a beer together - and to ponder the irony of "cultural hub" and "Midwest" being used in the same sentence. read more

The cultural hub of the midwest doesn't have much culture. But aside from that exaggeration of a tagline, it's a solid bar. I am fairly certain the tagline is in jest anyway. I mean, I doubt it literally intends to suggest the opposite (which is the truth): that only white people, most of them men, hang out here, but I also don't think they literally intend to suggest that this is a melting pot of culture. Anyway, that's way over philosophizing this Beechwold bar. They have a decent draft list, nothing too crazy compared to the wider options available further south, but for the area, it's one of the better ones. The prices, even at happy hour, could be better. Again, I think location is a factor. Downtown, if you aren't doing 50% off happy hour or close to it, you probably aren't getting much business. Up here, you can get away with worse. The bartenders are pretty exceptional when it comes to service. They are fast, no frills. Don't expect a bunch of chatting. The bartenders are, with few exceptions, male. You can actually see bios of their staff on their website. Or could. The high volume of male bartenders made me think this place probably attracted a lot of females. Not really the case. Sure, ladies do go here, but not in numbers that outweigh anywhere else. So the bartenders are just here because they're good. I'll take it. There are two pool tables and two dart boards, so it's good for that. Seating anywhere other than the bar is a bit tight. It can be a bit cramped as it's more of a long, thin bar. Parking sucks, as does the tiny smoke filled patio. If you picked this place up and put it somewhere else, it might garner another star. One of its biggest selling points has nothing to do with its own operation (neighboring Pita Hut with its amazing food). That's all I have to say about that. read more

I've been thinking about my review of Bob's for a while. To be honest, I doubt if this is an unbiased review, because Bob's is my favorite bar in the entire world. But in the interest of trying to be fair, let's get the bad stuff out of the way first. The parking situation sucks. Bob's is located in a strip mall. They only have 4-5 spots in their portion of the lot out front, and the other half of the strip mall's lot has lots of signs making it clear that bar patrons shouldn't park there. Parking on the side street next to the bar is discouraged since the residents need to park there too. If it's a busy Saturday night, your best bet might be parking at the south end of the Graceland parking lot and walking over. Like all bars, Bob's gets crowded on the weekends. It's a pretty narrow space, so you can expect some jostling as you're waiting for your beer or heading to the restrooms in the back. You have to do the whole negotiation with the people playing pool and darts on your restroom journey too. For me, these minor drawbacks are worth it. I think the only places that rivals the beer selection in town are Bodega and Winking Lizard. Those are both great establishments, but Bob's is what feels like home to me. I usually go during happy hour, and I see the same folks there day in and day out. I feel like I have friends when I go in there, not just with the patrons but with the employees. Since I'm a happy hour girl, I usually end up hanging out with Flo or Nate. You could tell them I said hi, but they'd just say "yeah, whatever." And that's what I love about this place. They're not trying to kiss your ass, so you know that if they treat you well, they really mean it. I guess there's something rewarding in knowing that these guys are talking to me because they *like* me, not just because they're trying to get a bigger tip. It's also nice that you'll often see the off-duty bartenders hanging out on their days off - another testament that it's actually fun to be there. What else? Oh yeah - the tour. Like Winking Lizard and lots of other places, Bob's has a World Tour. You pay $10 to start it and get a card listing 88 beers. When you finish that, you get a t-shirt and move on to the second part. The addendum has 44 more beers. If you finish that, you get your very own mug. The mug is awesome. You can get it engraved with whatever you want (mine says ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED). It holds 23 ounces of beer, but the cost to fill it is the same as a pint. This means you're getting 7 free ounces of beer each time. (Please ignore the fact that it's not REALLY free since I paid for all those beers that I didn't want just to finish the tour.) The tour is especially great for folks who are just getting into craft beer and want to get a good sampling of different styles. Since I was already a pro, there weren't a lot of styles on there that I hadn't already tried, but I suppose it got me more well-rounded in my knowledge. Anyway - at the end of the day, I love Bob's. I really really do. If you want your bartender to be fakely nice to you, if you are incapable of sometimes waiting 5-10 minutes for a beer, or if you're wanting elaborate cocktails, this isn't the bar for you. But since that's not what I'm after, I kinda want to move in here. read more

I live down the street from Bob's Bar but I'm only a mid-week kind of girl and that's what these stars are for. There's nothing better after a long day than a falafel sandwich from Pita Hut, brought over to Bob's and enjoyed with a beer in hand and one on deck. The weekends, that's another story. If you're a girl, someone's gonna play grab ass with you. Double grab ass if you're wearing a skirt. Post break up or low self-esteem day, maybe that's exactly what you're looking for, but if that's not your thing, consider yourself warned. The selection is pretty stellar, the parking is shit. Take the number 2 COTA and you'll be fine. read more

I found myself needing to kill some time in North Clintonville one night while the Mrs. was sex-kittening, so I asked Yelp, "Yelp, at which bar shall I waste the next couple of hours playing with my phone?" Yelp didn't blink, it looked me right in the eye and said: "Aaron A., you will be going to Bobs Bar this evening." Of course, Yelp was right, I was totally going to Bobs. Wouldn't you know it, my buddy Mark ("Flo" to his friends,) was behind the bar. This could get ugly if I'm not careful. Boom! Bulleit rocks, a draft Stella and I am good to opine about the various attributes of this establishment. Bobs has an extensive collection of drafts and bottles to please the annoying beer snob in your group, and enough strip mall ambiance to balance it out. It's an unpretentious hangout for folks in the thirty-forty something demographic. Jesus, I'm so old and gross. I can tell you that there's wifi, dart boards, pool tables, one of those jukeboxes that downloads songs for you, a popcorn machine (nice) and six televisions. There is also a golf game of some sort that keeps jumping into my peripheral vision and distracting me from the all-important task of writing this review. The Republican/Clown Car debate came on one of the many televisions. The bartender quickly changed it to basketball citing the long-honored tradition of "no politics." Good job, sir. It should be noted that there is a gyro place right next door to Bobs where you can hopefully soak up some of the drinks they are going to pour you. Whatever that place is called, it may be the subject of my next, albeit less coherent, review. I don't think I would make the trip from Vic Village, but I'm sure I'll be back. read more

It may be because I am a regular here, but I love this bar. I won't give you a wordy description, full of great adjectives, instead, I will describe Bob's in a simple manner and in Bob fashion... bullet points, short and sweet. -Its name is Cultural Hub of the MidWest -Plenty of rotating beer selections -World of Beer tour (which ends in a mega glass) -Amazing, no fluff bartenders -Bobs shots (they're big) -It is a bar, nothing more, nothing less -A couple regulars, but never obnoxiously crowded like those "hip" bars get And before I start to sound like an old grumpy man, I will stop here. But seriously, come in, you may even see my ginger face there! read more

I think Yelpers confuse "dive bars" with "local bars." When I think "dive bar" I think paint peeling off the wall, bathrooms with pee on the floor, bartenders with less than the normal amount of teeth, PBR and PBR only... This ain't that. Sure, the bar itself is located in a sketchy little strip in sort-of-the-middle-of-nowhere - it certainly does not look from the outside like a place that would be as rad as it is - but hey, it is, so come on in. Bob's is known around town for its remarkable selection of beer - more bottled craft beer than I care to count (150+) and upwards of 20 varying brews on tap. Two pool tables, darts, and the obligatory touch-screen bar game where you find the differences in pictures of scantily clad women - a personal fave. Bob's-goers covers the entire demographic spectrum. The bartenders are snarky and chatty. It's the self-proclaimed "cultural hub of the midwest!" Whatever the hell that means. read more

Bob's Bar was my introduction to craft beer, so I definitely have a soft spot for it. Full of character, laid back people, and most importantly, excellent beers; Bob's offers a great experience for any beer connoisseur. Great beer selection, 30 odd taps. Forget exactly how many beers they have, it's extensive and excellent. If they don't have it on tap, they have it in a bottle. Disregard the comments about feeling lame for lacking beer knowledge. When I first stepped into Bob's, Landshark was a "nice beer" to me. They never made me feel stupid, and I came in with absolutely no craft beer knowledge. I live in Austin, TX, but if I still lived in Columbus I would 100% recommend this spot. It's essential for anyone looking to enjoy a few good pints. Bonus point for being able to bring food in here and eat while you enjoy your beer. Pita Pit next door is phenomenal. Cheers! read more

Believe me, I get the allure of a neighborhood bar. You're looking for a Cheers, a place where everybody knows your name, a place where you can show up in your jeans and relax. But this place is less "quaint neighborhood bar" and more "we tried real hard to make this place look like a quaint neighborhood bar". Parking's a disaster. Park at Graceland by Applebees and walk over, or take the bus like a good drunk. Don't even try the parking lot or the side streets. When I went, the front entrance was blocked by two employees on a ladder. I stood there for a couple minutes and neither of them acknowledged me, so I ended up climbing over a fence to get to the front door. Dude, I understand you gotta hang your Christmas lights, and I'll wait on you, but at least understand that you are preventing a customer from getting into your bar and spending money. Say 'sorry'. Sam Malone would have. Once inside, I noticed the walls were painted to look older and dirtier than they actually are. It was like a couple of hipsters got together and tried to come up with an idea for what an ironic blue-collar bar would look like, and then built it. If you're looking for Cheers, this ain't it. Bob is trying too hard, and coming off inauthentic. To help round out the faux-working-class vibe, they have one of those horrible touch-screen jukeboxes that seems to only play Nickelback, a couple dart boards (making standing-room crowds hazardous to your health) and a grimy-looking pool table. They have PBR, of course. Oh, and every table or place on the bar I touched was wet or sticky... always the hallmark of a classy establishment. It's hard to get a bartender to wait on you, which only further diminishes the "everybody knows your name" vibe it seems the owners are going for. Bob's has a massive beer selection, which was possibly something unique ten years ago, but they're hardly the only place on the North side of town with a boastworthy beer list. If fancy beer is your thing, I'd head to the Winking Lizard... same beers, less attitude. If fancy beer's not your thing, go to Applebees... same Nickelback and sticky tables, and you're parked there anyway. read more

Come for the beer, stay for the complete absence of pretentiousness, despite their claim of being the "cultural hub of the Midwest." This place has one of the best beer selections in columbus, along with a regularly rotating set of taps. As a rough metric of their beer chops, they have *sadly* empty bottles of Pliny the Elder and Westvleteren behind the bar- assumedly, to taunt patrons. Also, gotta love a bar with ample games (pool, darts, yes please). They don't serve food, but you can always order in. There's a pretty cheap greek joint next door that's open late...I may frequent it more than I'd like to admit. Hailing from the south, I can be pretty wimpy about temperature. So, take this for what it's worth, but Bob's can get pretty drafty in the winter. Bring a jacket. Happy drinking! read more

I'm not sure what I love more about Bob's- the fact that it touts itself as "The Cultural Hub of The Midwest" (whatever that means) or the fact that it has a facsimile of none other than Bob Dobbs, glorious leader of The Church of the Subgenius (any Dead Kennedys/Devo fans out there?) as the visual accompaniment to the signage that's home to this outrageous claim. Other noteworthy facts: it's in a strip mall that's 20 feet from a Target and an Applebee's, there's motorcycles parked every which way out in front, and it's immediately adjacent to a generically awesome gyro joint. Are you curious yet? After stepping inside, you'll quickly feel your expectations for whatever the hell their aforementioned claim to fame may be deflate, but a quick review of the business end of the bar will soon bring your spirits back to life. Yes, this is a dive bar of sorts, but the beer selection in the coolers and on tap is anything but. Microbrews, obscure domestics, imports- you name it, it's all here. At last count, Bob's had three different types of Magic Hat on tap, which is certainly no small feat. Their happy hour, which lasts until 7 PM, is nothing to scoff at either. You'll pay a measly $1.75 for any domestic bottle of your choosing, and good lord are they COLD! I had to let the first High Life I was working on while I watched the Indians give the Tigers a shellacking on Tuesday night sit out for a good ten minutes before I attempted to bring it to my mouth- any colder and it would have had icebergs floating near the top. Luckily, that Magic Hat No. 9 they had on draft filled in nicely in the meantime. In addition to a spacious and friendly bar, Bob's also boasts a dart board and two pool tables, the latter of which are spaced in a way that minimizes awkward shots when the bar is packed. There are plenty of TV's showing a variety of dude-approved sporting ventures as well. The only gripe I have with Bob's is the jukebox, which is little else than watered-down cock rock from the early 00's that one is likely to hear on 99.7 and the like. It's the appropriate soundtrack for bro-ing down and drinking ten ice-cold PBR bottles over a game of pool, I s'pose. So if cheap, cold beer, rampant pool-sharking, and unpretentious vibes are what the Midwest is all about, I'll firmly endorse the fact that Bob's is, in fact, the "cultural hub" of this fine region of America. And God bless it for that! read more

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Last week I stopped by to meet a friend during happy hour and to watch the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Parking isn't the greatest, but the neighborhood street at the intersection this bar sits on had plenty of spaces. It is a narrow dive bar with a great beer selection at okay prices. They have about 4 or 5 small TVs mounted on the backside of the bar, but they weren't on top of changing the channels to make sure all the basketball games were being shown. At one point just one of the 3 games in progress was on two of the TVs. It was St. Patrick's day, so of course the narrow little bar was a bit crowded. I wouldn't come here to watch sports, but if I just wanted to chill and try several different beers this would be a great place to do it. The bartenders were very friendly. read more

I completely understand why regulars love this bar... that is the point of being a regular after all- to feel like you belong somewhere. A lot of neighborhood bars do this with a sliight acknowledged deference to its regular clientele... putting their drink on the bar before they ask, greeting them by name, giving them happy hour prices on their drinks 15 minutes after happy hour ends, chatting them up more than less recognizable patrons. They do this while still being welcoming and attentive to new people. OR you can accomplish this by providing basic customer service to your regulars, while ignoring everyone else. Your regulars feel good about being regulars either way, but the second pretty much sucks as a business model for gaining new bar patrons. Now I have plenty of friends that love this place but they constantly apologize for the service... "It just takes some time getting used to...." Um, no. They have a good beer menu, but so do about a dozen other places without having to fight to get a drink. I am not that girl that is going to lean across the bar and frantically wave at you to get your attention (I am fairly sure the bartenders would continue to ignore me regardless). I am not going to fight you to take my money, I will leave and perhaps that is exactly what you want. And by the way, coming from a small town I know what a neighborhood bar is- and this sirs, is not it. read more

A lot of people had reviewed this place as being unkind to outsiders, but I would have to disagree completely with this statement; and although I only spent 10 minutes at Bob's Bar, my time here was great. My boyfriend wanted to take me somewhere on St. Patties Day for my first Irish Carbomb, and this place didn't disappoint. We live really close so we chose Bob's just in case I got a little too tipsy. We walked in and found a chair at the bar, the place was hoppin! There was a band playing in the back, Irish style, and people were dancing and getting on real well. The people around seemed super friendly, and the drinks were cheap and great. Everyone was talkative, even to me, a stranger, and I thought that was nice. On my way out a guy shook my hand and said thank you, because I apparently won him $5.00 by finishing my bomb first. All-in-all I have to say my first Bob's Bar trip was memorable and I am excited to check it out again! read more