I REALLY enjoy this bar! Its not fancy at all, but it is very cozy. All the bartenders & staff are Very approachable & friendly. I love Taco Tuesday where you get your choice of 2 tacos; pork, chicken, or beef street tacos! So Yummy! On Sunday, they open at 12 & service a very simple breakfast menu. For $7 you can get 2 eggs,(anyway), hashbrowns, toast & sasauge or bacon! I love my bacon VERY Chrispy & Robert gets it right every time. There are several different breakfast options as well as full lunch menu. If you are a smoker, you can smoke in the bar, just not at the bar. Vapes welcome too, even at bar. read more

Went in and we were greeted by Alisa right away...she served is quick and was super friendly. She turned us over to Baron and he was AWESOME!!! We ordered Irish Nachos and Buffalo Wings and they were very tasty. The atmosphere was that if a ling lasting establishment...it was greatness!!! Highly recommend!!! read more

John B's - Bar - A bar interior with two employees, one male and one female, talking at the counter, with multiple TV screens displaying sports and games. - Dive Bars Near Me - Pantego, Texas

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Great atmosphere, delicious food and yummy drinks! Wonderful service, my friend and I have been twice now and we love it. Awesome employees who really care and are fun! Robert, Barron, Sophie, Alyssa, Skylar, we love you!!! I feel like I'm forgetting a name or two, I may update later! read more

If you are not "regular", you will get poor service. I sat for quite a while without even being spoken to one night, and finally got up and left. Thinking it may have just been an off night, I returned the following week. I managed to get served, but when I finished my beer, I had to just sit there until the bar manager actually came over. I tabbed out and told her that tending bar is not difficult, and that I could get a beer quicker if I had it delivered by UPS than they could get me one. To the Bar Manager: Do you see a consistent pattern in your reviews regarding you bar staff ? They show EXACTLY where your problem is. It is YOUR apathy that caused it, and continues the problem. it couldn't be more obvious if it hit you in the face. read more

I used to go there a lot because of the great karaoke. However, the place is just too smoky. Your hair and your clothes stink of cigarette smoke after you go there. read more

If I could give this place less than 1 star I would. 2 bartenders on duty, both looked right in my face and never acknowledged me and they werent busy just walking in circles just to keep from serving me. I didn't feel welcomed at all. I sat there while my brother went to the restroom and came out. Still no acknowledgement so we left. I have never had this type of experience at this bar in past times. The 2 blondes on evening shift need to be fired. I said what I said and don't respond to me. I don't want complementary NOTHING from your establishment. read more

The food is amazing, the drinks are strong and the air smells! We would hang out at John B's much more often if we didn't smell like a 1970s ashtray when we left. It's 2024... Can we please do away with the smoking inside? read more

Terrible experience. Mean people managing the bar. Go here if you want to feel sad and mad when you leave. If I could give this place zero stars, I would. John B's, I was so excited to hang out there recently. However, my experience was short lived and something I would never like to go through again. This place used to be full of kind, welcoming people...not anymore. I do not recommend this place. read more

Oh my Goodness y'all you HAVE to Eat here! Burgers were Delicious and the Chili Cheese Fries were Amazingly good. They have so Many choices that All sound so good, that it was hard to choose ! Loved our sweet waitress read more

Went earlier afternoon on a Saturday to watch some college football and was surprised at how reasonably priced not only the drinks were, but the food too! Was expecting bar quality food but was pleased with how good it actually was. Pool tables are a nice touch in the back but the bathrooms are a little tight, hard not to shoulder check someone getting to a urinal . Our server Betty was friendly and attentive and made a great old fashioned. Overall great vibe, definitely will be coming back! read more

Came for a late night hangout with the wife. Amazing burger and handcut fries? Heck yes! Service is phenomenal! The smoke is heavy, so if that is an issue get it to-go. Worth it! read more

John B's - Best burger I've jad in a LONG time! Thanks John B's! - Dive Bars Near Me - Pantego, Texas

Tried to force us to order food claiming it was a Covid rule, after extremely slow service (more attention to regulars bellied up to the bar) then told to f@(%ing leave. read more

Love this place! Amazing staff, great drinks, atmosphere, clean, and best jalapeño cheese sticks of life.

Thank you John B's for having my friend's birthday to be the best . The bartenders were outstanding. The DJ was very awesome !! Thank you so much for taking care of all of us and we appreciate your business . read more

Food is simple. But, dang, that was a GREAT BLT! Atmosphere is SMOKEY! Service is, well, there was only the bartender serving the bar and the tables. Enough said? She did her best considering she was alone. read more

If you like dive bars than John B's is probably just what you're looking for. It's a neighborhood bar with cheap, cold beer that offers karaoke every night of the week. The GF and I have been stopping in pretty regularly for some time now and John B's has yet to disappoint. The regular karaoke singers are actually quite good for the most part and the clientele is both chill and racially diverse. With the lone exception of an overly friendly drunken barfly one night, the atmosphere has always been very laid back. We visit fairly regularly; the waitress knows us and what we drink! What I like most is that John B's is located in Pantego, which still allows smoking. I rarely light up, so it's extremely rare that I can enjoy cold beer and good music while smoking a cigar. That said, know that a LOT of other folks go for the same reason. The joint is EXTREMELY smokey and you WILL leave smelling like a smokestack. I have to immediately wash my clothes or leave them hanging for several days to get rid of the smell. All in all, John B's is a great neighborhood bar that's both friendly and a fun place to spend an evening. read more

This is the best place to go on a Thursday or Friday night I have been coming here for 5 years and this place has become a home environment for me! The KJ is amazing!!!! Friday nights are the busiest for karaoke so if you want to hear an array of singers and styles of music this this is the place to go!!! The bartenders and servers are amazing as well!!! Never a dissatisfying experience for me or the friends I bring here!!!! read more

There was a time -before it got so crazy hot- that me and the BF would go fly kites in Veterans Park in Pantego. One night driving home we needed to stop and eat/drink something and John B's was just right there on Arkansas waiting to be discovered. It is kind of a dump. The furniture is so old that it is retro without trying to be. It's smoky like you wouldn't believe. The etching on the mirror behind the karaoke stage is awesome: John B's written in jagged 80's style font with a bumble bee. The crowd is all over the place -young, old, country and western, douche bag, community college. It lacks pretension so intensely that it's almost pretentious. ALMOST. Because, really, it's just totally awesome. We've been a few times and although there are clearly regulars, we did not feel out of place -it's basically a judgment free zone. I need as little judgment as possible when I sing (because I can't.) The song books are sticky and falling apart, just how I like them. "Sweet Caroline" was the big song at the end of the night that everyone sang together. It was beautiful, I almost cried. This is also a place where an old lady can sit and drink a pitcher by herself, chain smoke, and then go sing "I Will Survive." I know this because I've seen it. Last I saw they have karaoke every night after 9. The food is what you would expect; the lady will have the chili cheese fries. They have a dance floor and after a few, the BF will even dance with me. I sang the Randy Travis hit "Forever and Ever Amen" and the dance floor was packed. It's always wise to know your audience when choosing karaoke songs- country, Beastie Boys, classic rock will all serve you well here. I don't generally even like bars -I'm a bit of a homebody- but this place is the tops if you're not interested in the whole see-and-be-seen scene in Dallas. read more

We've been going to John B's for about a year now - and are pretty much regulars. Its a dive bar, so don't expect fancy, but it is on the upper end of dives and is clean and well kept for the most part. The staff is awesome - great bartenders and waitresses. And the food is generally very good. Karaoke here is fun - some really good regular singers. Not sure what the previous reviewer was talking about...Kerry is great and has a huge selection of songs. It can get a bit smokey, but what bar in Arlington/Pantego isn't? They have at least 9 large flat screen tvs and its a great place to watch a game. As someone else mentioned, BE CAREFUL when leaving...the cops in Pantego are ridiculous - Ive even seen them make a parking lot arrest before someone even got to their car! - Scott Childress read more

I use to be semi regular here. The music was hopin. The karaoke was killer. And the food...well that's normal bar food - that hasn't changed. While the beer is still cheep and they still have kareoke, what has changed is this. The owner (I think) runs the karaoke and she favors her older crowd of singers more than the more talented bunch. So the music has been shifting far toward the older country side. Because of this the scene has been thinning there. If you're into older country karaoke this is the place for you. Also it's pantego...so look for cops when leaving. read more

Great bar, food, and jukebox and pool tables. Specials daily and bands and dj, and karaoke. A lot of fun If you can not tolerate cig smoke then guess you are out of luck. Great friendly staff. read more

John B's - Dive Bars Near Me - Pantego, Texas

A group of friends went to JOHN B's last night to have a couple of drinks and sing karaoke. I hadn't been here in years but it was just like I remember. It was very loud and I had a hard time hearing anyone in our party. There were some good singers for sure. Our waitress came over to our table once all night. We stayed for 2 hours. Service was non existent so we went to the bar to get drinks. Very very smokey and the restrooms were not stocked with tissue. It was ok I guess. It is the same ole John B's it's always been. read more

My favorite place, great drinks and excellent food. Love love the bartenders. Jukebox plays the best music, just love this place.

Cool neighborhood bar and grill. Really good kitchen and staff. The burgers are 1/2 pound and lots of amazing variations including a veggie burger with the same amazing variations. I like the black bean burger Cali Style. Nachos and other apps, many fried. Very very good French fries!! They are soo good with chili and cheese. read more

John B's - Cool tree growing through the roof. - Dive Bars Near Me - Pantego, Texas

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5 stars for a dive bar, 3 stars or less, if you are sensitive to energy....1 star if the smell offends you...stale alcohol. yuk. its fun if you know ppl there. cool that it's a longtime neighborhood bar. the bar crowd seemed regular...(i'm not)...and it was late...idk...loneliness seemed abundant, probably just me on the outside looking in. food: fried and ok bar food. I didn't order a salad. in past years, they had bands...and lots of dancing, not in the last 4-5 x i've been in tho...even on the weekends. I was glad to be a couple, bc it would've made me lonely to be there otherwise. read more

This hidden gem in Pantego is amazing. As long as Taylor is working, your glass will never be empty. Be a grownup, take an Uber or Lyft. Thanks to Robert, food is wonderful. read more

usually there is an older crowd that goes here but I am a young man myself. I love the atmosphere and the drinks are priced great. old people drunk on karaoke night is very amusing. read more

This place sucked so bad, smelled awful, just don't go, trust me. Unless your 45, smoke Pall Malls, and like over priced, watered down drinks, and waiting forever/getting ignored when trying to order drinks. read more

I've been coming here for years. It's local and nicely priced for drinks and bar food. I always have a blast every single time I come!

Been going to John B's on and off for a few months. The bar is a kinda cool neighborhood place and the staff is friendly. We didn't know they have karaoke 7 nights a week and usually the karaoke guy they have when we went really sucks! We went this past Sunday and they had karaoke again but it was 2 new guys and they were GREAT. they were very helpful in finding a song my girlfriend could sing and there song selection is massive. we were a party of 7 and we all sang and had a great time! wish they had these guys on more than one night a week..maybe we would go more! the rotation was full but they moved the singers thru fast and they also played great video's every once in a while too. They also have great bar food and the burgers are good. If you like neighborhood bars, good food and karaoke go check this place out! read more

Amanda was my bartender here at John Bs on Thursday night. I was in watching the San Fran Seahawks game. Cold draft beer and a good selection of it. Good people good time, alot of regulars it seemed. Amanda was awesome, very attentive and my glass was never empty. read more

John B's is a great place to hear the Blues on Tuesday nights. Aspiring musicians need to grab your guitar or tambourine and come jam with "Little Bennie and the Sofa Kings" every Tuesday and have a great burger too. We love our neighborhood blues bar. read more

This place is not technically in arlington so it's the only place that still allows smoking anywhere inside the building. It smells bad, and the food is akin to something you'd get from a 24 hour bowling alley. read more

Always a good time here. Used to be a regular here years ago and started coming back when I recently moved to the area. Really good drinks and attentive staff. Food is good when I've gotten it as well. Wing specials on Wednesdays! Karaoke sound isn't the best but still a fun time and some really good singers. Feels like a safe environment. No thugs that you see at some other places. Would recommend this place to anyone that likes dive bars. read more

Love the place. The bar staff is pretty professional. But the cook is an arrogant ass. Tried to ask for something off menu and basically told to f off. Should have kicked his a. read more

Kitchen always closes early....last time I tried to order food at 9:30 they would not serve me. This used to be a great bar. Karoke, however, is saved for the host's favorites and the bar is becoming an "older" venue. Nice for a dive bar, though. They do have a really cool tree growing through the roof. Service, if you know the staff, is usally ok. But...if you are not a regular or don't know the staff you will wait for service all night. It is definitely a "neighborhood" bar. read more