Beck Tavern   

Boasting the coldest beer and the warmest buns in town -- for hot dogs, which are served all day -- Beck Tavern is a place where you can talk to your companion and actually hear their response. Dimly lit and congenial, this the kind of place where regulars are regular and newcomers are welcomed, particularly if they have chops for storytelling. Patrons haven't had much use for pretense -- or remodeling -- since the doors first opened in the 1940s. One corner wall remains loaded with pictures of the original owners and FOB (Friends of the Bar). But all this only adds authenticity to a bar that's plunked in the middle of a residential area. The drink selection is impressive and cheap (especially during a happy hour that begins before school lets out and ends in primetime). If you'd rather not chit-chat, go hone your dartsmanship in a separate area or catch the Bucks on one of several sets. On your way out, note the sign: "Quiet Please -- Respect the Neighbors." No pretense, but a surplus of class.