Patch Picks: The Perfect Neighborhood Bar

A neighborhood bar should be more than just a place nearby with cheap drinks. It should be a place where you feel as comfortable as you do in your own living room; where you’re just as likely to get caught up in conversation or the ballgame as you are at your kitchen table. Many so-called neighborhood joints try for that feel, but it’s a tougher thing to put together than you’d think.

For some places, though, it just comes naturally. And that’s the case at Foli’s Place in Edgewood. Founded in the late 90’s, this bar and restaurant feels like home.

Pull up a comfortable, high-backed bar stool at the U-shaped main bar and order a beer. They’ve got an impressive list on tap, including gems from Great Lakes, Troegs, Harpoon, and Hoegaarden; their bottles venture even farther afield, including Harp and Guinness for the Irish drinker, Peroni for those who prefer Italian beers, and even the Czech standout Pilsner Urquell.

Don’t worry, though, if you’re just looking for a plain ol’ glass of beer - all the regulars are represented as well.

By the time your drink arrives, you’ll be engrossed in a game on one of the screens surrounding the bar and probably wrapped up in a conversation about the Pirates or the Pens with your fellow patrons. The way the bar is shaped, no one is more than a few feet away from each other, so conversing comes naturally. While you’re sipping a cold one, grab a menu - you’re going to want to eat.

There’s a tantalizing array of juicy burgers, wings to match any in town, and a number of Italian specialities. My personal favorite is the BLOTCH - think BLT, but with O(nion), C(heese), and H(am) thrown on for good measure. It’s one of the best lunches around.

If you’re here for the night, consider one of the frosty margarita options - they have six flavors ready to go. The seven house wines are nothing to scoff at, either, and the bartenders can throw together your favorite mixed drink for a lot less than you’d pay downtown.

If you’re sticking around for awhile, you might want to call up a few friends and commandeer a booth by the windows in the dining room. Don’t worry, though - you can still see the game back here. Get comfortable and let the evening slip your mind, as the old folks say - and keep an eye out for Pirates legend , who is such a frequent guest, he has a whole corner of the room dedicated to him.

Foli’s should be a regular stop for anyone in Edgewood - for a quick drink, a long evening, or just take-out. Lots of neighborhoods have neighborhood bars, but few have one this good.