Pats In The Flats

Pat's Rated Top-Ten Tavern In The Country - November 2003

MSN City Guide recently ran their "10 best taverns" in the Country.

Pat's came in at number 10, which is a pretty large feat considering Pat's has no Guinness, Hollywood movies being filmed and as far as I know, there are no Politicians or talk-show hosts that hang out here.

Thanks to the fine people at MSN City Guide and their users that recognize that there is more than "glitter" that makes a local tavern a enjoyable place to visit.

The table on the right has been borrowed from the MSN City Guide page, be sure to check out their best-of features and input your opinions.

Raise a pint of your favorite suds and find a comfortable seat at the 10 best taverns in the country.
	Dubliner Pub: St. Paul, Minn. Jigs and reels rule the dance floor at this homey, Guinness-friendly Irish tavern.
	Flying Saucer: Nashville, Tenn. Finish off 200 different beers--not at once--and get your name on a plate on the wall.
	Linda's Tavern: Seattle, Wash. Happy and homey, this is a real neighborhood joint with an always-popular patio.
	Manuel's Tavern: Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta's most diverse neighborhood bar, drawing everyone from yuppies to politicians.
	Marie's Rip-Tide Lounge: Chicago, Ill. Open until the wee hours, this comfortable tavern is a favorite of Conan O'Brien.
	McGillin's Old Ale House: Philadelphia, Pa. A cavernous watering hole that's been in the heart of the city since 1860.
	Mitch's Tavern: Raleigh, N.C. Famous for its appearance in "Bull Durham," this classic pub always attracts a diverse crowd.
	Old Town Bar: New York, N.Y. Union Square's 1852 pub boasts a connection to David Letterman.
	O'Reilly's Irish Pub & Restaurant: San Francisco, Calif. Just a few years old, it already feels like a true-green Irish pub with all the fixings.
	Pat's in the Flats: Cleveland, Ohio The owner describes this dive as "no frills, cheap beer, blues during the day and punk at night."
Our editors select these lists based on editorial content and user input. Placement in our top 10 lists is not paid for. Design by Mark Seawell; Photography by Chris Meck, Oscar G. Perez, Scott Springer and Matt Roberts

Editorial Review from MSN City Guide

Cleveland's rusty Brigadoon has hard to track digs and easy to dig tracks.

The Bar
Nobody gives it to you straighter than Pat. Ask her about her tiny house-bar that sits on the dark perimeter of the industrial Flats, and she'll answer, "No frills, cheap beer, blues during the day and punk at night." That's about it for this enigmatic bar that she likes to call "Brigadoon." Like the town in the musical, it appears out of nowhere--and vanishes in a mysterious fog. Like Pat's, most people can't find it. Music reviewers write that they missed the opening act trying to pinpoint the locale.

The Scene
Those dive fans fortunate enough to stumble upon it get very little in the way of retro aesthetics, but often experience a one-of-a-kind punk show. Other times, it plain sucks. The regular crowd of music fans and professional drinkers are remarkably subdued, and visitors can feel like they're the only ones who don't know anybody. But two shots and four songs into the show and you're glad to be experiencing the edge. Don't let anything about Pat's scare you away, because just about everything will. It's the real deal--not real like a retro rusted license plate, just hard and unpredictable.

The Untouchable
Everytime we catch a show, there's a 10-foot cop that stops by just to check in. Pat says Eliot Ness used to do the same thing back in the '40s-- but that he always stayed for a drink.

—Tim Piai