Mr. Goodbar

Mr. GoodbarMr. Goodbar
Mr. GoodbarMr. Goodbar
Bar, Eatery

1110 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, New York, 14222-1226
United States

(716) 882-4000 | map
mrgoodbarbuffalo.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.64
Reviews:
18
Ratings:
23
pDev:
19.78%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.5 by Iamjeff6 from Virginia

Apr 14, 2015
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Reviewed by Vivelepositif from New York

3.55/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 2.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
Maybe it's just my luck, or horrible timing, but there's been at least three occasions I've ordered a draft that was the end of the keg leaving the pint undrinkable. This has happened at different times of business, morning, afternoon, and late evening. Noticed currently they have the Elysian Space Dust IPA on draft, the only establishment offering it in the area. So they always offering a gem, here and there. Staff is always helpful, friendly, attentive, and fast.
Mar 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by spark3148857 from Ohio

Nov 03, 2014
 
Rated: 2.92 by Danny511

Oct 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by trxxpaxxs from New York

Oct 07, 2014
 
Rated: 1.25 by deviousdannyg from New York

Nov 25, 2013
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Reviewed by sliverX from S. Georgia & S. Sandwich Isls.

3.87/5  rDev +6.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4
Next door to Coles. This is almost like the dive bar version of Coles, dim lit, almost smokey (though not allowed). Can become a bit of a bro fest depending on the night and college happenings. Will pull limited regional offering on occasion. Always a cask. Annual cask fest. Would drink again.
Jun 09, 2013
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Reviewed by TheSevenDuffs from Canada (ON)

3.6/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4
Not a great place and certainly not a typical beer bar, but a decent option on Elmwood Ave, especially given its location right next to Cole's.

We walked in and there was a band playing, it was filled with College kids and it was very loud. Not what I was expecting. The atmosphere in general wasn't the best, but the liveliness of the band actually helped.

There were about 20 taps that were of good quality, including some stuff that was not available at Coles, like GD Titan, GD Yeti and others. Selections included beers from Troegs, Southern Tier, Great Lakes, Ithaca and Flying Bison.

Prices were decent ($3 pint night) and the service was what you can expect for a packed and loud bar. Wouldn't go out of my way to go back, but I may return if Coles has a lackluster selection on a future visit.
Dec 22, 2011
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Reviewed by cratez from Canada (ON)

1.83/5  rDev -49.7%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1 | service: 1 | selection: 4
Second biggest shit hole I have ever encountered next to Colter Bay Grill (also a Buffalo creation).

The inside resembles a dirty cavernous lair, with wooden tables and bar stools that are so old and worn down, they look like they're made out of cave rock from the prehistoric era.

As we walked inside, the bartender gave us a raised eyebrow and grimacing stare down, as if to say, "do you really want to come in here?" The all-male clientele was equally unwelcoming, presumably because I was with my girlfriend and we were both well-dressed.

Yes, they have a good lineup of craft beer taps (I noticed 20 or so micro draughts), but they also serve slop from Budweiser and Labatt, and with an atmosphere and crowd this bad, and the grisliest service you can ask for, who really cares about the selection?

Overall, I would say your time and money are much better spent at Cole's next door.
Apr 13, 2011
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Reviewed by WeedKing4 from Canada (ON)

4.08/5  rDev +12.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Wow, what a dive. Dark as hell in this place, and it was even during the day. Took a peek in here to see what they had on tap before heading into Coles, and wow. Green Flash West Coast IPA. So we had to stop for a pint before heading over to the next bar. Didn't want to risk the food here. Very good selection of beer though. Saw Victory Storm King and some Victory Pilsners on tap. Stone and Dogfish Head, just name a couple more on the tap list. Not sure about the bottle selection as we didn't stay long.

Take a peek to see what they have on tap if you are by there, but bring your flashlight so you can see. Not a bad place for a good beer. Still heard people asking for Canadian and Blue Light though, in there. I'll never understand how people can drink those. Oh well, more good beer for me.
Nov 08, 2009
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Reviewed by bobsy from Canada (ON)

4.2/5  rDev +15.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Its Sunday afternoon and I've already had lunch at Cole's. Its the start of my Buffalo bar-hop and this is the bit I feel most self-conscious about. There's something supremely decadent about leaving one bar, and taking a sharp left straight into the bar next door. I feel like a lush.

Goodbar is dark and gloomy, even on this sunny July day. An L-shaped bar lies off to the right, and a cross between a pool joint and a frat house lurks on the left. A disparate group of locals line the bar, and they all seem to know each other. The bartender looks like a roadie, but turns out to be a gentle giant. He's manning the frying station, which is kicking up an awesome smell of hot and barbecue wings. I belly up to the bar after checking out the menu of roughly 30 taps, and decide to take it east with a Troegs Pale. The person next to me is talking about beer advocate. It appears to be a place in the know. I make short order of the Troegs - its a simple, easy drinking beer, which fails to last long in the glass - and move on to a Weyerbacher Double Simcoe. The prices are stupidly low, especially considering the barman gifts me my first beer for making me wait a few moments. The damage comes to $4. I'd heard about the washrooms and had been crossing my legs in anticipation since drinking my second beer at Coles. True to form, they are legendary. Every surface is covered in graffiti. The stall door won't close. The toilet seat isn't actually attached to the toilet. Best of all, the urinal seems to resemble a horse's trough and would be the ideal recepatacle for some vomit. The place oozes character in a disgustingly beautiful way. It reminded me of Havana, and how the decay made the place. Back at the bar, a four year-old boy is now sat on the stool next to me. Things are getting weird. I drink my Simcoe and leave.
Jul 28, 2009
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Reviewed by Hibernator from Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
Mister Goodbar is literally right next door to Cole's and makes a solid 1-2 punch when on Elmwood in Buffalo. Dimly lit and decorated with random beer and movie posters as well as a beer list that will have at least a few drafts to please you. It seemed like a younger crowd overall. There is outdoor seating available, which was a nice option on a classic summer evening.

Draft selections included DFH Festina Peach, Ommegang Rare Vos & Hennepin, Southern Tier IPA, North Coast Red Seal, Lagunitas Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Brown Saison and Weyerbacher Double Simcoe. There were also some local beers like Flying Bison and Lake Placid available too. The prices are very reasonable. I bought a round here and remember it being much less than at Cole's.

I went on a Friday night and there was a $3 cover for a few bands and a comedian. This place does a nice job at fusing a better than average selection of beers and live music.
Jul 15, 2009
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Reviewed by dogfishandi from New York

3.7/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
came here after dinner and some drinks at coles. definately not the selection of coles, but still not bad. a chill relaxing frat house atmoshpere. couchs, pool tables, and dart boards throughout.

service was very quick and i would guess somewhat knowledgable. they offer several different pint clubs. they gave me a card that was good for a free pint after you drink 10 different craft brews. but i didnt recieve this till my 2nd pint.

not a huge selection, but definately not bad. about 20-25 taps, 1 cask and all sorts of macros.
reasonable prices for drinks, as my friends had some cheap mixed drinks, i think 4.50 for a pint.
i think they have some average bar food like wings and such, but i didnt eat anything as i had just had dinner nextdoor at coles. not a huge crowd on a saturday night, just the right amount of people.
Apr 20, 2009
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Reviewed by wieserjd from New York

4.04/5  rDev +11%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Although Goodbar does not boast the selection and quality of beer of its next-door-neighbor Coles, it is still a pretty decent place to have a pint or two.

The atmosphere is nothing special: kind of a dirty college bar. They have lots of tables and the bar itself seats about 20 or so. Goodbar is never that busy until the late night crowd arrives (11pm-midnight or after). I usually go earlier so that you do not have to put up with any meatheads.

The selection and quality of their beer on tap is always good if not great. Lots of NY micro's (ommegang, ellicottville, middle ages, southern tier, flying bison, ithaca, etc..) plus a decent amount of west coast (stone, rogue, lagunitas & north coast) and east coast (dogfish) breweries as well. They do not usually have a lot of belgians but I can live with that if your other beer choices are good.

Service is good and the bartenders are happy to tell you about specials and what's going to next on tap. Plus they have deals where if you purchase 10 pints of higher end beer, you get the 11th free.

I know they serve food here but you do not want to eat it. Chicken fingers and wings are pretty much it.

The bathroom has a huge trough in it so it feels like you are relieving yourself at a Bills game.

Overall a real good place to have a few drinks.
Mar 15, 2009
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Reviewed by gestalt162 from New York

4.08/5  rDev +12.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Atmosphere: Pseudo-dive bar. Much classier than some other Buffalo joints (several Allentown bars and Broadway Joe's make the top of Buffalo's dive bar list). Decor is all over the place- nice wooden columns on the bar, knickknacks behind the bar, sports photos, beer promos and drink special ads plaster the walls. Also displays two "Best of Buffalo" awards from 2005-2006: Best Happy Hour and Best Place to Get Blind Drunk :). Pool and darts, small stage with live entertainment 2 nights/week. Small outdoor patio in front ("no glass allowed"). Wall of craft taps behind bar, macro taps (Labatt, Rolling Rock, Bud) are small and shoved off to the side :). Trashiness shows up in slashed padded booths in stage room, and especially in men's bathroom (urinal trough, toilets without seats obviously meant to be vomitoriums, tons of graffiti, etc.). Frequented mostly by college kids from nearby Buffalo State. On a saturday night, busy but not packed. Atmosphere is not bad except for the fairly digusting bathroom- men needing to to drop a deuce should consider heading next door to cole's.

Quality: Had 4 draft beers here, and never ran into freshness or quality issues. Glassware is clean, and always a pint glass. From what I can tell from a couple visits, they change 2-4 taps and 1 cask per week, so freshness is not a concern. Beer can tend to be served on the warm side, but this is hit or miss and is never enough of an issue to be a serious misgiving.

Service: Never an issue. Quick, even with a good deal of people there. Proper glassware, and even with a multitude of taps bartenders never screw up your order. One of the bartenders runs the monthly Good Beer Club, and is more than willing to talk to you about craft brews. He even gave me a good beer club members' card gratis that gets me discount pints.

Selection: Surprisingly, there is no bottled beer at Goodbar- all draft. That being said, they don't disappoint. Roughly 30 taps, 25 of which are craft. Beers range from IPAs to Hennepin Saison, weizens, wittes, a hard cider, a pair of (usually malty) offerings from local Flying Bison brewery (discounted on Thursdays), and one beer every week in a cask- tapped on Fridays, and usually runs out by the end of the following night. Not nearly as good a selection as next door cole's, but most taps are truly micro, and will keep BeerAdvocates busy.

Food: Goodbar laid out a free buffet on a Saturday night, so I was able to sample. Food on the menu is cheap- most bar food staples (fried food) are on the menu, all $5 or less. $.50 wings are decent, even by Buffalo standards. What you'd expect from a Dive bar kitchen.

Value: As I've said, the food is cheap. Craft pints usually run $4-5, and $6 for one of the three beers they designate as "high-end" (double IPA, imperial stout, etc.) Flying bison pints are $3 thursday night, and they have good drink specials most other nights of the week. Can buy a pint club card which gets you 10 pints for $32. Coming to a Good Beer Club meeting nets you a club card- $1 off all drafts and $2 off pitchers, 2.50 pints and 8.00 pitchers for the featured beer of the month, and buy 10 drafts, get 1 free, all on the same card, and good anytime!! One of the best valued beer bars in Western New York. I highly reccomend making a visit (or filling up a card).
Sep 16, 2008
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Reviewed by slander from New York

3.71/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
On the way back from Fredonia the long way around, this one last place to see. I'm almost fascinated by this strange city on the other lake in the other corner of New York State. Almost, but not nearly enough so to want to relocate my life there, and there's the rub that was a job once. Nice place to visit for beer though; a few brewpubs and some bars of wonder about. The folks at the bar next store had recommended Mister. Goodbar to me the week before; supposedly they held a better selection than the place I was sitting in which would have been quite the feat. I was just thinking that any place named after a candy bar needs to be looked in on...

Under scripted awning, half a dozen small tables in a pen out front below macro neoned windows, and through and in. Not uncomfortably divey & somewhat cavernous, I can't see it all from here. An angled beaten copper topped, wood bar seats 15 or so, and runs the far wall from the front corner to the rear open kitchen area. On the center of the barback wall, a panel holding 29 taps alternating (15 over 14) over mirrored backing and stained glass pieces on the ends. Shelved booze to both sides over glassware below, and angled flatscreens mounted above. The wood panel back wall is done up with trophies & plants, macro mirrors, a Mr. Goodbar movie poster with hottie young Diane Keaton (meow), a mounted buffalo head, a strange cut out of some guy dressed like a jester, you know, the usual stuff. Strung colored radish and mini Cuervo bottle lighting overhead, candles all along the bar, and Phil's fish tank on the barback counter. Angled slat wood walls, ceramic tile floorings, and spots throughout.

A pair of large obstructive arches holding bar counters and a tap list board sit in the middle of the room. They effectively separate the bar from a single pool table and forward seating area with a large flatscreen. Now, besides the obligatory Buffalo Bills posters & pennants adorning the walls there, they're sporting both Yankees & Red Sox prints. Make up yer fuckin' minds, you don't get to play both sides. Beyond there, a side room accessed via a connecting cut through done up with photos framed, some new and others funny 70's big hair & pleather jacket people. A single pool table there, electro darts and Phil's golf game '05 (fore!), forward a small angled stage, and a pen with half a dozen tables to the rear.

Okay, so space for 29 taps, a couple were off. Of the 27 up, nearly half of them were New York State micros (Ellicottville Nut Brown Ale, Flying Bison Blackbird Oatmeal Stout & Maibock, Southern Tier IPA, Customer BrewCrafter's Double Dark Cream Porter, Middle Ages Grail Ale, Ommegang Hennepin & Rare Vos, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout & Lager, Blue Pint Toasted Lager, and the house Mister Goodbar Anniversary Dunkel), the rest an even split mix of micros (Victory Prima Pils, DogFishHead Rasion D'etre, Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, Sprecher Black Bavarian, Great Divide Hercules Doudle IPA, Lost Coast Great White, Sierra Nevada ESB) and imports (Paulaner Hefe, Murphy's Stout, Gaffel Kolsch, Bass, Newcastle, Lindemans Framboise), plus Blue Moon and a cider squozen from woodchucks. Also a single handpump, the CB's Dry Hopped English Pale Ale tapped last. Me, I'm drinking the CB's Double Dark Cream Porter everywhere I find it, but this time I got dealt a slushy slushy. The beer was served ice cold, and it wasn't a frosty glass, they've just got that shit going way too cold. I couldn't taste it and had to go next door for a Bell's Cherry Stout rinse afterwards.

Crowd of kids. Good tunes though. Bowie, Flaming Lips, Marvin Gaye, Pa-Pa-Portishead, and more. They do events; tastings and pairings they be. Nice selection but beer cold, beer cold. Fix that.
Jun 27, 2008
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Reviewed by Hackey04 from New York

3.88/5  rDev +6.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
A nice compliment to it's next door neighbor, Cole's. A comfortable, albeit somewhat dirty bar complete with a couple of pool tables, greasy bar food that is fried right behind the bar, and a great tap selection (just read the other descriptions). What more can you ask for? Oh yeah, the location is great. Elmwood is a neat area of town and the people are (for the most part) great. It's nice to have two contrasting beer bars so close to one another. Parking is a bitch. I usually park on Forest. Don't leave valuables in the car.
Dec 10, 2007
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Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.74/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
A fairly basic place, no present heat on a colder day, and a very good set of taps. Pales in comparison to its next door neighbour, Coles, but still has a variety of good taps from across the globe. Known as a college hangout, with lots of tables and pretty dark inside. Suggests to get your pint or two and move on, not hang out. The area itself is a relatively decent band convenient part of Buffalo. Only one server, but he hustled to serve a fairly good sized Sunday aft football crowd.At least two dozen taps on, Cask only on Fridays.
Oct 15, 2007
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Reviewed by Viggo from Canada (ON)

4.15/5  rDev +14%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Its basically a dive bar with a cheap and good tap selection. Working class city bar feel, pool tables, wicked trough urinal, all the food is deep fried, etc. I've always had good service there, and servers will provide generous samples of anything on tap. Bonus are $2 half pints of basically everything if you want to try a few without getting bombed. $12 pitchers of Weyerbacher Double Simcoe brought a tear to my eye, good thing we had to get back to Toronto that day or it could have gotten ugly real fast. If you're in town to hit Coles, its more than worth it to check out Goodbar and have a look at their draftlist, as there will more likely be a few things Coles doesn't have.
Oct 01, 2007
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Reviewed by Chefremarkable from New York

4.47/5  rDev +22.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Great selection and wonderful staff. They always offer a taste before you try.
Wed. night beer club is a great way to try new beers or styles.

The staff goes out of their way to make sure you drink a good beer. Friendly regulars and some halfway decent looking college girls to look at. The crowd is generally well-behaved.

Lonesome Tom plays the same songs every week but he still manages to rock.

Love the IPA's and Barleywine selection and the Jameson shot are priced just right.

Highly recommended for a good night out.
Mar 30, 2007
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Reviewed by kpwill07 from New York

4.05/5  rDev +11.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Located on the Elmwood Strip, right next to Coles and Buffalo State College. A bit of a run down sports bar, but there is plenty of room to sit and enjoy your beer.

Goodbar has a ton of taps, and they cover a lot of ground and styles with them. I've had some great stuff here that I've never seen anywhere else in the area, and for a decent price at that.

The ONLY drawback is that sometimes the quality of the beer isn't 100%. I'm not sure if it is the tap lines or what, but last time I had tried a Maudite there, it just wasn't the same. This shouldn't deter you from stopping in however, as I've only experienced that a few times.
Feb 13, 2007
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Reviewed by oberon from North Carolina

4.06/5  rDev +11.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
My first time coming here I always go next door to Coles when I hit the area but Iam certainly glad I stopp in.Its dingy its dark and its plainly not nice inside the chiars up against the bar are old and ripped the old wooden floor needs repair and it smells like Coles like an old bathroom stall but dont let that deter ya.A chalkboard full of great beer and some cool "regulars" to talk to,the tap list included Rogue Old Crusty,Southern Tier IPA,Brooklyn Blanche,Avery Maharaja,Blue Point Double Blond,Gaffel Kolsch,Stoudts Triple,and a few others that were noteworthy just to much to type.The bartender was hot but she thru the F bomb here and there and everywhere obviously not happy about something,the few that were in there this afternoon were friendly,my Flying Bison Blackbird Oatmeal Stout was $3.00 for a pint and my Bluepoint Double Blond was $3.50, pretty good deals.Didnt try the food but I'll grab some wings at some point and time,a great one-two punch with Coles attached next door on Elmwood.
Jul 24, 2006
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Reviewed by wailingwench from New Mexico

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5
Cheers: For Buffalo, this is a godsend. 27 taps, most are micro. . $2.50 pints on Fri after 10pm. Bartenders are quick to get you a much needed refill. 2-4-1 pizza is conveniantly located next door. Live local music. Nice bathroom grafitti to read while using the trough. Thats right, the trough. I love that. The floors dont stick to your shoes anymore, which means that they mop at least once a month vs. once a year previously. If you want to get hosed and are out of cash, Tues is your night. 25 cent drafts of Rolling Rock. The heated patio is enclosed. Basically, a quality college bar with a great tap selection.

Jeers: $3 cover which discourages most from entering. All of the bartenders have no clue as to what is what.Sometimes the live local music should be on tape delay and only played in the bathroom. The bathroom is not a bathroom. I certainly wouldnt change anyone's diapers in there. No TP in sight. Very sticky bathroom floor. Rolling Rock is not Rolling Rock after midnight. 2-4-1 pizza is actually a very bad idea.
Nov 10, 2004
Mr. Goodbar in Buffalo, NY
Place rating: 3.64 out of 5 with 23 ratings