Had a great Saturday afternoon here enjoying the beer, picklebacks, and the dogs! Keep in mind that it was super crowded, even in the afternoon, so if you're going to have a large group, you definitely want to come early and grab a spot. We came at 2 PM and the place was packed by 4. The drinks are reasonably priced (beer was $8 on average with the cheapest being $4, $5 picklebacks). However, they won't make any cocktails other than well drinks (ie. no fancy shots). We were okay with this, but definitely be aware that this place keeps it simple. They have a beautiful outdoor patio in the back as well. read more

d.b.a. - Beer Bar Near Me - New York, New York

This is one of the best places for beer lovers like me in the city. they have ~15-20 different beers on taps, which constantly rotate. The bottled beer selection is vast to say the least. I will have to agree that the service can be somewhat sketchy. I like to come to DBA on sunny afternoons in the spring/summer, so that I can enjoy the peaceful garden in the back; but even though the place is half deserted, some times it takes a real effort to capture the bartender's attention. Their happy hour is $1 off, which means $6 for a pint instead of $7. Not the best deal in town. Although the garden has a "no smoking" sign, some people were smoking the last time I went there. The restroom is borderline scary, it rivals some of the worst ones I've seen in Chinatown. There is a Miss Pacman/Galaga in front of the bar (VH kicked my ass brutally at Miss Pacman the other day...my revenge will be merciless!). It seems that they just opened a sister DBA in BKLN. I will certainly check that out. read more

DBA... hell of a place. Bartender w the mullet got his friends shots, but not me. His mummy shirt was dope tho. Wish Morgan was here, she always makes my day better. The ex doorman, an angry failed artist, had a young woman rubbing cream on his back while I was trying to enjoy a slice of pizza, but it truly added to the laidback vibe. CHEERS read more

If Dba had a spirit animal, it would be the turkey. Clueless. We stopped in Dba after dinner at Upstate; I thought I had bookmarked it, but was obviously thinking of another place. We were greeted by a bartender who had just started; she was extremely green, I couldn't believe she was basically covering the bar herself. Ordering drinks was like a game of charades. If you asked her a question about something on their beer or liquor menu, she didn't know hide nor hair about it. I don't know why they didn't have someone more seasoned actually supervising her. Another patron a few seats over was concerned the new bartender jacked up her tab and based on what we saw and experienced, odds are she was right. Eventually another bartender appeared, but he wasn't much better. Less clueless, but far more apathetic. They were out of a number of things when we were there. Manfriend ended up going with his third choice of beverage and me, my second. Prices were kind of all over the map, some prices seemed stupidly high and others in line with what you'd expect. Not impressed with the bar's ineptitude, we moved on after a drink. read more

Nice place to have a beer on a warm summer's day. Plenty of craft beers on tap. And even more by the bottle. This is a serious beer bar. Amateurs beware! Can you believe it? They have a cocktail table MS PACMAN/GALAGA. I couldn't resist. I had to play ;-) Their garden is Zen-like, quiet and earthy. Great place to just relax and sip a cold one! read more

My goodness, who drinks here, Ann Wilson and Mike Reno*? Why... because it's "Almost Paradise"** I kid, I kid...it's really just pretty good. Lots of beers, nice enough service. Bathroom a little dingy. Barstools had backs, which is nice. Did I mention it has lots of beers? Wasn't too crowded on a Sunday afternoon as I sat with a friend and caught up on things. The Fuller ESB I was drinking went down smooth, maybe too smooth based on how I felt Monday morning. His cider looked like Sprite. Or maybe 7-Up...the Uncola. Do they still make that? While I was there, a steady stream of regulars and tourists came in and everyone got served with no problem. This place seems pretty nice, but I like the one in Brooklyn a little better, probably because I had a really good time there. If you like beer and you're not wearing your good clothes, you should have no issues with this place. _______________________________________________ * She was the singer from Heart, he was the lead singer from Loverboy. Do you know anyone who didn't like Loverboy? They were like the Canadian ZZ Top, only without as much hair. Friday just doesn't rock without hearing "Working for the Weekend" ** Their monster ballad from the original "Footloose" soundtrack. http://youtu.be/Yc40EasXz18 read more

I've passed this bar for years, and am a huge fan of their sister bar in New Orleans, but never had a real reason to go. I needed somewhere low-key to meet a friend, so we headed here to take advantage of the warm weather on their back patio. Unfortunately, they close off the backyard at 10 pm on weeknights, so we only had a few minutes to savor the night air before being shuffled inside. Inside wasn't too bad-- dim lighting, a late twenties crowd, a couple TVs with sports but more of a dive-y atmosphere. There's a photo booth in the back. Bathrooms are a little grungy. Dog friendly. The beer list is massive and a little bit geeky (no mass market brands, though you'll see the usual craft beer suspects). They have BeerAdvocate ratings and ABV clearly displayed. Prices are typical NYC, with most pints and bottles around $8 and up. I did a gose which ended up having a nice raspberry taste. My friend ordered an IPA but the bartender must have misheard her as what she received was clearly a stout. It's a chill bar so I'll try to make it back for a summer night on the patio. read more

d.b.a. is probably one of the 5 best beer bars in NYC in terms of sheer selection, especially when it comes to bottles. As far as taps go, I thought it was a pretty conservative selection (then again, my most recent visit was St. Patrick's Day so there were more obligatory stouts than you'd normally see). But they are an older beer bar in a city replete with stiff competition from serious upstarts like Rattle 'N' Hum, The Pony Bar, Stout, and even smaller places like Marshall Stack on the LES. The bottle and single malt list stacks up against bars like Ginger man, but be prepared to pay the price for quality libations (the $1 Happy Hour could be a lot happier). I'm not crazy about how crowded this place gets, and not yet sold on the quality of this crowd. More trips are warranted, so I'm leaving this with a somewhat tentative 3 stars. PS: There's a cool back patio if you can actually find a seat. read more

I've heard mention of this bar from friends, beer garden lists, as well as fellow Yelpers so when my old coworkers suggested we make this our venue for my little going away shindig I was game. However, my experience reminded me of my recent visit to 124 Rabbit Club. It definitely isn't going to my list of drinking places. Positives: Backyard, they let you bring food in, and it's cheap for NY standards. Negatives: The bar itself smells like a frat house and the female bartender we had was horrible. I'd say if you want a straightforward dive that has cheap beer, sure go here. But otherwise, head to better beer gardens and craft beer bar. read more

My friend and I came by on a Friday night to grab a couple rounds of drinks with another friend, and as soon as I saw that they have a separate category for sour beers, I became a fan! A bit pricy, the fact that they allow one to bring in food from the outside counterbalances it. Furthermore, their enclosed garden with a heat lamp during the colder months further lends to the generally laid back atmosphere. I definitely would go back! read more

I was here amongst a large crowd and still got my beer quickly. That's just good bartending. What's the best part? The back drinking area. It features an outdoor garden and has Rock em Sock em Robots! This is a terrific spot to hang out and have some drinks. This is high on my list of bars to just swing by and relax. read more

I love this bar, they have a great selection of drafts and it's overlay just a cool spot to unwind. It's a dog bar so there are plenty of fluffy friends to make. Sasha the bartender is really nice and gave me great new brews to try. Also on sundays they have tricia night and it could get wacky but it's really fun! This is definitely a great spot to enjoy with some friends or make some new ones! read more

d.b.a. - they have a switch to play mario kart and other games! - Beer Bar Near Me - New York, New York

Hands down the best place to get beer in NYC. Lots of different American beers and also imported beers from France, UK, Belgium, Germany. Not to mention a selection of whisky, bourbon, rum, brandy, gin, vodka, cognac and armagnac if you're bringing friends that aren't into beer. In the summertime you can sit out on the back patio and enjoy drinking outside under the shade of the trees. If you have serious beer drinkers visiting NYC, this is definitely the place to take them. read more

So I've been here twice. First time was around 8pm on Friday. Grabbing a beer before dinner at a place close by. The second time was around 10pm on Friday. The only upside--if there is one--of remembering that you left your credit card at a bar is that you can just go back and close out your tab. Noooobody needs to know, right? Anyway--in two hours, the vibe completely changed. When I came around 8, it was laid back and ordering one of many many beers dba offers was a breeze. I chatted with the bartender about the beers that I tend to like (Belgian and/or dark), and he recommended La Chouffe, which is as much fun to say as it is to drink. Flavorful, full-bodied, etc. etc. I don't have any sort of beer lexicon, sorry. But I know that when I like something, I finish it a bit too quickly, and when I don't, I really really don't. I tasted another beer while I was there, which tasted like a mulled beer, if there is such a thing. Drastically different from what I ordered, but still great. My point: the selection here is fantastic and diverse. They have way too many options to choose from, hence me needing to enlist the bartender's help. Beer selection alone, 4 stars. But the other factors here fall short for me. When I say the vibe changed, I mean that when I returned to abashedly retrieve my credit card, this place was a madhouse. Closing out my tab became an ordeal ("just the one beer?" "yes yes, I was drinking one beer over the course of two hours...that's not strange at all..."). When I first came, I remember thinking that the space was quite small given that it seems like the type of place that beer lovers would flock to. And flock they did. If you're going to offer such a stellar selection of beer, you need to be better equipped for the volume of people that will want to show up. This is New York, people. That said, I didn't make it out back, so I can't speak to the space there. I'd definitely come back, but definitely not at peak hours. read more

There are many possibilities behind the meaning of "d.b.a.", but my guess would be "darn big assortment"...of all kinds of alcohol that is. There is absolutely nothing to dislike about this casual bar that caters to all types of drinkers. The bland interior space gets down to business, shifting the focus away from the environment and over to what truly matters. The right wall is lined with understated wooden tables and blank walls, while the opposite side of the room hosts the bar and a wall adorned with blackboards full of beverage selections. The dizzying array of options, from domestic and foreign beers to imported cognacs and more, will leave you speechless. Be prepared for a thirst at first sight, as you desire a speedy resolution to your internal drink debate. I settled on a draft of a fantastic British cider and was not let down by its crisp sweetness. My only disappointment of the evening was not being able to procure a picnic table in the laid back rear garden, where a friendly crowd enjoyed their beverages and the lovely weather. Hopefully I will have better luck next time, and, believe me, there will be a next time at d.b.a. read more

Fantastic chill daytime spot- during weekend evenings, it's a pretty crowded spot and not my style, but I LOVE it as a chill weekend spot, especially when it's warm enough to chill out in the backyard. Great beer & whiskey selection, friendly bartenders, and they do a mean bloody mary when that's what you're in the mood for ;) read more

Went today with my pup Frank, the French​ Bulldog. Great place to bring your pup! No food, but you are welcome to bring your own. Will 100% be back, very few places in NYC that allow you to have your pup! read more

I don't want to forget this bar!! So many adorable dogs . Came here on a Sunday afternoon for the first time and was surprised right away by the beer selection. Nothing basic about it. A few TVs to watch sports, but not somewhere I'd do for a big game. All the dogs made me so happy! Come here alone or with a puppy and they have an open outdoor seating place. You can also order food from seamless and have it delivered here which I thought was cool. Highly recommend. read more

Jake and Brian are some of coolest bartenders I have met. This bar has a plethora of beer options and a great atmosphere to match! They play great movies and there are TV's to play video games. Plus, there are so many cute dogs to pet! Be sure to check this place out! read more

d.b.a. - Doggos! - Beer Bar Near Me - New York, New York

Came here for happy hour just for drinks and I had a very chill time. A huge plus I noticed was the backyard and dog friendly rule. The backyard was nice because of the way it was set up and the lights. Definitely a date spot, but got no time for dates so I sit at the bar...What really disappointed me was that the bar didn't have any basic beers like blue moon...jk..wasn't disappointing. I really loved that they only sold crafted beers, and had a huge selection of them. I love beer, so having the opportunity to try out new beers is a plus. The bartenders were mad chill and nice so it made our visit comfortable and easy going. Good HH place! read more

d.b.a. - Beer Bar Near Me - New York, New York

I hosted a happy hour for ~50 people at d.b.a. in their indoor patio. It was a PHENOMENAL experience. As an event space, it was ideal because we could rearrange the furniture, request that the volume of music in the indoor patio be turned down, and reserve tables close to each other. Our happy hour was fairly casual, so we did not need to reserve the entire room, but for those of you who are curious, that is an option Mon.-Fri. and includes a minimum purchase. But most importantly, we received fantastic customer service. The team at d.b.a. answered all my questions leading up to the event and during the event itself, was very accommodating and responsive. Thank you d.b.a.! I'll be recommending you to other people organizing events and hope to host another event with you again. read more

Awesome dive bar! Welcome all with pups! This place was real smooth coming in through the front, once I reached the backyard it was awesome! Game of Thrones was on 1 tv and are you kidding Karate Kid was on another! Enjoyed a couple of beers and met some people! Thanks for a good time! read more

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Been here many times a long time ago so I decided to comeback. Service was good at first. Crowd seemed friendly enough. I ordered to drinks , tipped well, and made conversation about a dog in the bar. Everything seemed okay. Then I grab a slice of pizza and come back only to be told that I'm cut off. Because I was "behaving erratically and roaming the bar". I have a neurological disorder that causes me to twitch sometimes. Also I was "roaming around" trying to find an outlet to charge my phone. This bar will never get my business again. If it were worth my time I would file a suit for discrimiation. But I might change my mind. Because I don't want this happening to anyone else with a disability. read more

Awesome beer bar - super laid back and bright light setting. Great draft list doesn't hurt as well. Will be back. read more

GREAT for a quick happy hour if you're in the area. And if you happen to like beer, even better! Happy hour is until 7:30, which is a weird time, but I can't complain - it lasts longer than most NYC happy hours at 7. I've been here on both a Thursday and Friday around 6 and neither time was packed, which I like. They also have a back patio, which I'll deffo check out one of these days. ALL of their draft beers are $5 (except for their 2 special drafts of the day/week) And I'm not talking about your average shitty Bud Light. It's the good stuff. I recommend the Belhaven Scottish Ale. And if they have the Mad River Flor de Jamaica, get that! It tastes like a beer version of Starbuck's passion tea. But of course, if beer isn't your cup of alcohol, their well drinks are also $5. I'm just sad that I didn't find out about this place sooner. Will deffo be back to try some other brews they have on tap! read more

This place has so much potential. The extensive beer selection, the large space, the happy hour specials are all great. What is very disappointing is the service and the crowd it attracts. We came before the happy hour crowd burst onto the scene. We said "what a find!" We said, "what great beers!" They have a large selection of beers separated by type. What was nice was they also included each beer rating on the board. We were happy with our drinks but will probably not be back unless it's a quiet day. The tiny crowd was loud and obnoxious. The service was slow and full of attitude. read more

If you are looking for the perfect Pub, this is it. No food, No kids, good music at moderate levels......great beer, wine & liquor selections. If it's alcoholic they will have it. Best real ale selection and condition in the city and it has a beer garden & free wifi. Burp.... read more

Really disappointed in the service tonight. I brought a group of 16 people in tonight for my going away party and had a great time. We all ordered multiple drinks and tipped appropriately. When one of my friends went to close out her tab, the bartender accused her of sneaking in wine to the bar. He then proceeded to come outside and accuse our entire group of "stealing money out of the bar's pocket." When prompted, he couldn't say where this mysterious wine bottle was found. This "wine" was by no means brought in by anyone in our group. And after giving you so much business tonight, it's flat-out insulting. We're all in our mid to late 20s, we're not children who sneak in booze to bars and none of us were drunk at all. No one in our group will ever be visiting your establishment again. read more

I wrote the same review on their facebook page and the manager wrote back and said my interaction is not true. Instead of trying to mediate they call the customer a liar, pretty sad to be treated this way. read more

I live about 2 aves away from DBA and this is my go to bar. They have three rooms: the inside bar, the indoor and outdoor patio, each of which is very dog-friendly. My boyfriend and I love bringing our dog here when we don't feel like taking him to the dog park but also don't want to leave him home alone :) We plan on having my bf's bday party here in August! They also have an amazing beer selection - which it seems like the beers are always rotating. The don't serve food but are very chill about letting you order food to the bar. At times, the service has been a bit slow but I won't even ding them for that because they are super friendly, just a bit understaffed. read more

Absolute trash service. Trash. There were 3 bartenders. Waited 30 minutes, literally saw one of the bartenders serve one drink. Other bartender was reviewing receipts like we were at a tax office. At 3pm on a Saturday. Packed bar. Walked out without being served. Trash. Terrible. Could have walked to my apt in BK and gotten a drink faster than it took to get the bartender to even open a beer. Everything about my experience here was *STRAIGHT* basura. read more

d.b.a is a hipster bar in the EV. It's a dog friendly beer snob spot with a good happy hour. The atmosphere is pretty chill and bar is large. The service was fine and the patrons seemed to be regulars. read more

d.b.a. - Beer Bar Near Me - New York, New York

If I could give a zero I would!!! Went in with a group of friends for a drink on the way to dinner. They singled out our Hispanic friend and threw him out of the bar, and gave no actual reason for doing so. Our friend bought a round, PAID THE TAB, and then they decided to kick him out. We are about five years older than the typical demographic of this bar and about five times more sober yet he, the I only non white person around got kick out. As a white female I have never been in this situation personally and this honestly disgusted me. Will never in my life set foot into this racist bar. Disgusting!! read more

d.b.a. could stand for quite a few things: Dope Backyard Area: The open garden in the back is pretty sweet, and the spacious covered patio can be enjoyed throughout the year. Delightful Bartenders Aplenty: Shout-out to Morgan, the awesome bartender who made me a Bloody Mary from scratch on a Thursday night. (She busted out celery salt, Worcestershire, horseradish... the whole shebang, and with a smile. Bloody awesome.) She also doubled as a photographer for a proposal happening in the rear garden! (Note: Though this proposal had a happy ending, this is not a prime proposal spot, guys...) Different Booze Available: Great selection of beers, whisky, and more! Mmm. Dark Bar Atmosphere: Dim lighting, high ceilings, wood paneling. Comfortable and not a dive. Deals Basically Absent: The "$1 off" until 7:30 makes for one Crappy Hour deal. Don't Bring Appetite: There's no menu, but they rock about letting you bring in outside food. Burritos seem to be the bring-along bite of choice here. Don't Be Antisocial: The tables in the rear garden are practically communal, so make friends with your neighbors! Drink Beside Adults: It's a young crowd, but it's no frat bar. I found it to be a nice change-up from some of the spots over on 2nd Ave. d.b.a has definite potential to become a neighborhood spot for me. The rear garden and spacious covered back patio make this place a stand-out, and the knowledgeable, chill bartenders and selection of booze make it one of the Dopest Bars Anywhere! read more

This review is entitled "d.b.a. equals" (with the most obvious ones first) By Michael F. d.b.a.=doing business as (well, DUH) d.b.a=database administrator(s) (the geek in me is ashamed to repeat this one, but it's there) d.b.a.=drink beer always d.b.a.=drinking beer again? d.b.a.=drunken biznatches appropriate d.b.a.=don't bullshit anyone d.b.a.=do bullshit Alabamans d.b.a.=don't be (an) asshole d.b.a.=dog-breath activator d.b.a.=de-rigueur breath assure d.b.a.=disparate beer assortment d.b.a.=douche bags are (us) -- (the "us" is implied) d.b.a.=desperate bat-faced altercations (no fuckin' idea what that's about) d.b.a.=delectable brew allocations d.b.a.=deleterious brain atrophy d.b.a.=definitely bring aspirin (for the hangover) d.b.a.=difficulty being articulate (after a bunch of beer) Enormous selection. Free internet. Back garden. Doesn't smell like a beer hall. A tad on the chilly side (today, anyway). All in all, a great place for a brewsky. read more

After three or so visits to d.b.a, the name finally stuck and I was able to visually recall the inside, the back patio and, more importantly, the beer list, when d.b.a was mentioned in conversation. Before that third all-important visit, I am pretty sure I denied ever being at d.b.a. that dozen plus times it came up in conversation with friends.Yep, I'd heard of it. Yeah, apparently their beer list is vast. Yea, I should check it out. Blame it on the alcohol? No matter, because now I remember that I really, really like this bar. I like the harder-to-find beers on tap. I like the fact that I can nearly always find a seat. The patio is cool in the summer (though it closes super early), and the screened-in porch area connecting the patio to the front bar is surprisingly welcoming all year long, thanks to a few well-places heat lamps in the chillier months. If I am thirsting for a delicious, well-poured, not-exactly-rare-but-definitely-not-easy-to-find-brew in Manhattan, d.b.a is my spot. They win out over Burp Castle any day, thanks to the Castle's horrid smell, rude staff and ridiculously tiny and dingy interior. read more

This bar did not do it for me. Poorly served beer, outdated menu, and really uninterested service about sums it up...but I'll elaborate. First, the bartender seemed to not want to serve us, even though we were just sitting there being patient. I'm pretty sure we were seen, yet she kept attending to others who would just walk up to the center of the bar. I might understand, if we were being rude, obnoxious customers, but we weren't. Nor was the bar completely slammed - comfortably full, but by no means jam-packed. It's difficult to put my finger on exactly what was going on, but it was a weird vibe. The beer menu....hey, on the surface, it appears that they are trying to put together an interesting selection. Unfortunately, I don't think their chalkboard has been updated in quite some time, because when Ms. Uninterested finally did come to us, every beer I'd choose, they didn't have. This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine with beer bars. Update your damned menu. I've seen bars that feature hundreds of beers constantly updating their lists, with the owners themselves sitting there at a laptop every week adding and crossing out beers, printing new menu pages, etc., so there's no excuse. Lastly, after exhausting 3 options that the bartender sheepishly informed me that they didn't have, I settled on an IPA from Abita, on cask. OK, cool, cask ale, surely they'd score some points here, right? Wrong. My beer wasn't lightly chilled....it was slightly warm. There's a common misconception about "real ale" served on the hand pump - apparently, some believe it should be warm. This is not the case. The serving temperature should be warmER, but not WARM. I quote, from the American Brewers' Guild Guide to Cask Conditioning, "Temperature Control" - "The ideal serving temperature is 'cellar temperature,' or around 55 degrees F." This was probably closer to around 75 degrees F, possibly even higher...slightly below the temperature of bath water. The IPA was nice, but no IPA will be presented in its best light at that temperature. That makes three strikes. Worst beer bar I've experienced in some time, possibly ever. read more

So the first time I came here, I absolutely despised the place. It was one of the hottest nights of the summer and the unofficial Yelp event was being held in the backyard area. Fine. I assumed it would be a normal backyard, not a greenhouse with a single, pathetic fan lazily spinning above our heads. After sweating out all of my natural juices, I sought refuge indoors where the A/C was thankfully pumping. Beer me please. The selection is great. Tons of beer and whiskey to choose from. Problem is, the bartenders spend more time with their backs to you and seem more interested in fiddling around with the cash registers. I understand it's busy but I'm pretty sure most bartenders can take more than a single order at a time. The ones here cannot. They take one order, pour one beer, take your money, go make change (very slowly), and come back. Repeat for the 40 people, 2 deep at the bar. I almost pulled my hair out watching this process. How the hell am I supposed to get a buzz when I sober up waiting for my next beer? I returned another night (definitely not my choice) and it was much less crowded and it was not an epic wait to get a drink. However, even with the smaller crowd, I found the service to be intolerable as the bartender was still suffering from ITMT (Inability To Multitask) Syndrome. Honestly, my impatience makes this place completely unbearable -- come if you are a yogi or are sleeping with the servers. ----------------- (I've also heard the men's room is the worst in the city.) read more

Great beer selection, fabulous backyard garden that wasn't too crowded even on a Friday night after the after-work crowd dissipated. Also, they let you order or bring food from other places, which may actually be standard for non-food-serving bars - but I don't know. Unfortunately, this wonderful experience was shattered by the cracked out, rude bartenders pouring said great beers. I bought a round early in the night, entrusting my credit card to one of the bartenders as one does in such a place. When I went back to close my tab at the end of the night, I was first told that they had accidentally given my credit card to someone else, who had closed out my tab for me. Then they trotted out tab after tab with other women's names on them to show me - nope, that's not me. After about 20 minutes of being told to "hold on" while they served other customers, the bartender returned, requesting that I come back to dba a week later to give them a chance to do a more comprehensive search for my card. No way in hell am I leaving my credit card floating out there - lost - for a week, while they "look". After being interrupted multiple times while explaining my rationale, and being told that "I know I took your card, but I didn't lose it; it must have been someone else", I just said to forget it: I would cancel my card. I get that sometimes these things happen. But when they do, 1) own up to it, 2) don't propose a totally ridiculous solution, 3) make some semblance of an effort to actually appear like you're sorry, rather than repeatedly interrupting and throwing out obviously insincere apologies, 4) don't be on too many drugs to actually make eye contact with customers. The end. read more

The antithesis of a limited beer menu. I've subtracted one star due to the disturbing trend of bars, such as d.b.a., charging $7 for draft beers. read more