Due notice: I know the owners and most of the employees.

The Art is great (dig the Evel Kneivel portrait), the patio is kicking, it's non-smoking (at least early in the day), there's tons of space in there and a boutique/art thing is opening in the space next door--i saw handmade messengerbags on the walls and assorted other hipster chochkies. I recall seeing Hamms, Widmer Hef but the two other taps are escaping me. they've also got a bunch of specialty cocktails that I didn't try.

I had my fingers crossed for a dive bar...but instead we got another Vendetta. Alberta needs less pretentious beautiful people hanging around, not more. The smattering of overpriced boutique track bikes out front can only mean tight-pants douchebags inside ordering overpriced drinks, chatting about radiohead and pretending to like literature.

Plus, more vegan culinary abortions? If you don't like eating food then just fucking say it. Why pretend?

"All of the rooms were filled with very attractive people"

Translation : Only under 25 and white need stop by

roguespierre's insurmountable southwestern wrap .... is my hero.

If it's a BAR not a RESTAURANT - it needs food people actually want to eat when they're loaded. I'm all for vegan/vegetarian options - but an entire menu of 'we'd like to eat meat but we want to appear cool so instead we'll eat crap' will guarantee that the crowd be just as superficial.

Whoa--wait a fucking minute!!

Evel KNIEVEL portraits? Vegan food? "Very attractive" crowd? Specialty cocktails? "Handmade" messenger bags and "hipster" TCHOCHKES? Track bikes chained up out front? Customers who can't spell?

What will the "creative-class" think of next?

I will be there tonight!

Yesssssssss!!!!!!

how on earth can you build a dive bar???? thanks for not coming back.... i will head back down again this evening.

Is there pinball?

Who-ever thinks this is just a hipster place - shut the F&$% up!

non-smoking - hell yeah
I love the specialty cocktails - who the fudge said over-priced above? You don't know squat! $7 got me a gallon of love - I honestly couldn't drink more than one. That was the "Bye and Bye" drink... for those who will give the place a shot despite the lame review. There is also a non-booze version that I hear is also full of love.

To be honest, I hope the jaded fools above don't come... the 3 times that I have been so far have all been mixed crowd. I'm a 31 female - Went with non-cauc friends one night, and over 40's another... everyone said they thought the place was super friendly, reasonably priced and fun.

I loved the food too - so what there is 1 vegan bar in town now? Holy crap - that is too many? Let everyone have some grub as long as it is good. this is a bar - it is about the drinks anyway. which are right on and priced nice. shoot.

And - the juke box? even better!

I didn't know until the 3rd time I went that this place was owner operated and built - but you can totally tell it was a labor of love and thank god there is a place where people treat the customers like they are happy to see them. This isn't some place where some out of town rich folks dropped a load of cash on some American Apparel co-workers to make something fad-ulous.

I think it is a much needed middle ground bar - interesting - fun - feels good - cool looking - great drinks - clean bathrooms - neighborhood-style friendly attitude - progressive in business owner and worker attitude (not thinking just for profit in their choice to be conscious) - the line of bikes outside in an not-so-central location should be an indicator that this place rocks... not sucks.

mr wrap....I happen to know that some of the "boutique" track bikes were handmade by one the employees. As for the rest of your spew, i would bet my life that the guys that built that place are far less pretentious than you dear sir. obviously you have not been inside, for you would then see that the drinks are well priced.

The food????..... are you kidding? you must be.

Also, the under 25 comment couldnt be further from the truth. i felt like one of the younger people there and im 29 .

Sigh.

I still miss the Alberta street "Murder Mart," the Whatever Bar and the Jockey Club.

Might as well long for the days when everyone in the neighborhood agreed that "Killingsworth" was the most appropriate street name, ever, for all the good that would do.

roguespierre's insurmountable southwestern wrap- you have ABSOLUTELY no idea what or who you're talking about. So just don't say anything.

I've been to The Bye & Bye three times. There are far too many beers for me to remember, and even some I'd never heard of. The food is pretty good-- Great for my bi-weekly fix of black-eyed peas, and the BBQ sauce is exactly how I like it. The mixed drinks are varied and interesting. The space is comfortable, with good looking art, cozy patio. The jukebox is like a mix tape straight from my brain. Best of all, everyone employed is friendly, genuine, understands good customer service, is happy to see you and remembers you when you come back.

Alison,

I was so drunk that night that we could have been sitting next to a urinal at the Triple Nickel and I would have felt a cozy glow. Indeed, I almost puked over breakfast with The Gastronaut the next day (look at me in the blog universe!). That being said, I liked this place. Maybe hipster charm is less offensive to me than when I lived in Portland on Alberta (cough*the know*cough) or maybe the rest of the world has succumbed but it was a fun night. One thing to note: I remember Liam saying that they were changing the menu in some way or another, so keep posted for changes. Also, it looked like they were still ironing out some little details. I did notice a glut of attractive people at the bar and, though we were outside, a jovial atmosphere and good artwork. Did someone say something about a bike theme? My only complaint is that it took fucking forever to get drinks, but everyone was super nice at the bar and I expect (hope) that this will become a smoother process once the bar has been open longer. All in all, happy it's no longer a mechanic's shop. It's definitely giving the Alberta St Public House a run for its money, but the ASPH has a different atmosphere, and, I'm not fucking kidding, the best ice cubes in town. Go check for yourself.

Oh and in response to roguespierre: clever allusion to the French Revolution. I also think that the Reign of Terror was super cool! Wow, wish I could have been responsible for that! In any case, the Radiohead and pretending-to-know-about-literature cliches are overplayed. Get over it. I think there was an international decree in '96 that Radiohead has been terminally boring since "The Bends," and we all know that you didn't make it all the way through Finnegan's Wake. So why don't you get off your pedestal and try the place and realize that bikes--and skinny jeans!--are not necessarily an indicator of educational background or intellectual capabilities.

RUDE DUDES
Went there last night (wednesday), and I wasnt impressed with the service AT ALL.

It was medium busy but not packed, and we walked up to the bar and stood at an empty spot for at least 10 minutes, while the 2 bar staff looked at us in the face and then walked away and started talking to thier friends.

We left and went to another bar instead.

Pretty rude and dissapointing, which is a bummer because we live in the hood and it would have been nice to have another spot to choose from.

I agree that it does feel very much like Vendetta, although at least at Vendetta you arent treated rudely!

jesus mina, wipe up your snail trail and get a grip.

rhonda.. actually on wednesday there was only one bartender. i was confused as well and i was told that they were training another guy there because they had become busy than they originally thought they would be. after hearing that... i relized that only one guy was working that place. i am truly surprised that you were treated rudely.... and if that was the case than thats a different story. i havent ever been treated bad while i was there. i would give it another try. maybe mention the service to one of they guys working there.. im sure they will take care of you.

This place is amazing. The food is vegan because the owners are vegan, not because they "want to seem cool". To the several people who are talking shit: I remember when I hated everything that seemed remotely cool because it made me feel superior. Don't worry, it'll pass (hopefully). Next time you bash a place, try actually going in and checking it out first. The fact that these guys put in (and continue to put it) tons of work to make this place really nice is a good thing in my eyes.
By the way, the food is great, the drinks are well priced, the atmosphere rocks and the staff is friendly. My new favorite bar!

check baby check. I went into this place and relized something very special to me.... All the beautiful people in this place need to start giving more than their ID, but maybe their ankle circumfrence? Holy crapers, I mean "hello who is it?" Its the manager. Yea and Im the maintanence man. Good food, Great people and dont forget to check out doormans hairpiece.

the doorman once took a crap on my chest. Nice hair, whatever, doesn't quite make up for it. Maybe they can serve some sort of vegan braised bowl of dicks for a Saturday night special.
shit eaters, all of them. peace.