I stumbled upon The Deuce by accident while looking for late-night food on a Monday night, and I'm so glad I did! First off, finding the parking lot completely full was surprising for a Monday, but it makes sense now; this place has a lot to offer. They have a large private parking lot, which is impressive for a smaller business in the Sunset Heights area.
Upon entering, I realized it was a true dive bar, complete with a pool table, arcade games to the left, a jukebox straight ahead, and a bar surrounded by coolers stocked with a diverse beer selection to the right. They also serve cocktails and bar food, including pizza, wings, and subs, so I decided to give it a try. Alejandro was my bartender and mentioned they'd opened about six months ago. I also met Heather, a regular, who shared that The Deuce was created from two beloved local bars that had recently closed.
The walls are decorated with memorabilia from those bars, and there are photos of past employees who've passed away, giving the place a strong sense of history and community. Heather told me she's been a regular for over 20 years at the former bars, which speaks volumes about the loyalty and warmth this place carries.
I ordered the Hot Honey Garlic Wings ($9) and the Italian Stallion Pizza ($16), which came topped with Italian sausage, pepperoni, roasted garlic, and roasted fennel, with fresh jalapeño added for an extra $2. While waiting for my food, I decided to try an Old Fashioned cocktail ($12), made with Bulleit Bourbon, bitters, turbinado, orange, and cherry. When the food arrived, I decided to dine in instead, and Alejandro kindly provided a plate and napkins. Both the wings and the pizza were good, and the Mexican Coca-Cola I ordered to go was a nice touch.
If you're looking for a dive bar with character, history, and good food in Sunset Heights, The Deuce is worth checking out. It's got a great vibe, a strong local following, and is open late with solid food options. read more