Visiting a dive bar with a long name provides for an easy sobriety check. If you can’t say it after a few drinks, you really shouldn’t drive. When I saw this bar’s lengthy name (Don’s Drive-Inn Dive Bar and Daiquiris) I did some research to find the world’s longest bar name, and I located it in the UK (The Old Thirteenth Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn). The British are known for being rather verbose, so I wasn’t surprised.
Rather than rattle about things like bar names, let take a short look at Don’s Drive-Inn Dive Bar and Daiquiris in Houston, TX. It qualifies as a true dive bar on all three levels—1.) Looks so-so on the outside, something Dive Bar Tourists love; 2.) A fun staff, including personable bartenders, perky servers and that random old dude holding up the end of the bar; 3.) Wide selection of beer sold at reasonable prices.
Concerning the libation at Don’s, they serve a huge assortment of beers, wine and setups, which means they don’t sell hard booze. You can get a bucket of six domestic beers for only $15, a Texas-size deal that will give you a bang for your buck. In Texas, they have fairly lax drinking laws, and at Don’s Drive-Inn you can bring alcohol onto the premises, but you need to buy the mixers (“set up”) from the bar.
Don’s features a calendar packed with fun things to do, including Steak Nights on Thursdays, Saturday Night Karaoke, BBQ from Gridiron Cookers, poker, billiards and slots. That means that you can enjoy an amazing steak from Perfect Choice, sing a few country tunes on karaoke night and do a little pool sharking along the way. That’s a great night, right?
Most everyone who has been to Don’s Drive-Inn mentions a friendly staff and great customer service. The waitresses are the real thing, offering life advice with the beers, ribs and brisket, and calling you “darling” and “sweetheart” until they learn your name.
With a spacious front patio and a big backyard, revelers and diners can wander around and get outside to enjoy the consistently great weather in Houston.
In today’s world, many bars are nice enough, but they lack character and fail to connect with their customers. In the old days, every neighborhood had at least one bar and if you went there enough, the bartender became a personal friend. Today, bartenders come and go and many of the old ones have retired. Moe and Clem are gone, and Josh and Ryan have replaced them.
But fear not—there are still old school bars out there where the bartenders still believe that conversation is an art form and are good at it. Don’s Drive-Inn Dive Bar and Daiquiris is not just another faceless establishment; some have called it a “people place” –so drive to Don’s if you are in the area and enjoy a little hospitality, Lone Star-style.
Located in: Houston, Texas
Be sure to try: A daiquiri, but remember to bring your own rum!
