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I walked into a slightly hazy-eyed Phil’s Grill on Monday night after having what would amount to a very average 9-5 day for a very average person.I shouted for the bartender over a screaming jukebox playing ‘if 6 were 9’ by Jimi Hendrix and got myself a drink. I let my eyes adjust and took the place in.
Phil’s is a small bar with 3 rooms : the middle/main room is what you see when you first open the door. You’ve got a bar, kitchen, and tables in the dead center. The other two rooms are to the left and right, separated by a wall with open entryways.
To the left are two slightly worn pool tables, and a very impressive painting of Mr. Bob Marley on the wall. When I walked in Monday, I hung around long enough as to not interrupt the pool game that was happening in front of me.
To the right of the main door is a room used for Wed poker night. This space gets packed by an impressive array of people ready to drink heavily and throw their cards down. A must see for any card player, from moderate to extreme.
Phil’s is located between Atlantic and Pacific Avenue on 12th street at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, right across the street from the Branch family empire-owned Days Inn. It’s a relaxed place with a very comfortable atmosphere. If you’re willing to part with your dollars, I found a gem in the jukebox sitting on the wall at Phil’s : a copy of “king of the road” by the band Fu Manchu. This is an instant credit-giver, in my humble opinion.
I wandered back and forth through Phil’s and snapped a few photos while sipping on a sweet piece of grape heaven the bartender gave me. The name of the drink escapes me, but here’s what was in it :
1 shot grape vodka
1 shot grape pucker
a splash of Sprite
As I called the night done and stumbled out of Phil’s, I got the impression that this is the ideal local’s-only spot. Unlike other places on the Oceanfront, Phil’s isn’t full of hard-body beach guys-n-gals. In comparison to places like Chicho’s or Crazy Charlie’s, Phil’s seems much more layed back and calm…a sort of on-the-beach antidote to the chaos that happens a handful of blocks away, towards 19th street. This is a definite must-check-it-out kind of place for anyone looking for a relaxed bar with good drinks, a positive atmosphere, and awesome bartenders.
