Fun place to grab drinks with friends and admire the atmosphere! Went here to grab a few drinks with friends and the bartenders were very nice! The food (we ordered pizza) was great too. Overall, if you're in the area, take a minute to stop by because all the art and decorations are worth a look but it's a relaxing place. They also have trivia which is always a fun time! read more

HandleBar STL is amazing. A really great spot for going out with friends, drinking, dancing, the bartenders are AWESOME and I love that they don't have only female/model bartenders as others do. Very forward thinking, progressive, non-intimidating bar to have a good time at with friends. Lots of seating and also lots of space for dancing. Pool table has a big stain. Lots of outside space for talking because it is quieter. read more

I gathered a fun group of about 10 people for a night of pierogi-eatin' at Handle Bar, and we all rather liked the place. I had never been there before and didn't know much about it, but I'm glad I went! Before this meal, I knew the following: * The Handle Bar was a bike-lover thing. * It was a bar. I had seen a tweet about Handle Bar redoing its menu to include more Russian-inspired items, including pierogi. PIEROGI? SIGN ME THE FREAK UP! Lord knows I've been lamenting St. Louis' lack of pierogi for more than a decade, so I was super-stoked to gather up my pierogi-loving friends and try these suckers out as soon as the new menu was available. After making sure from friends that the Handle Bar was 100% smoke free (YAY!), I made it a thing and sent out Facebook invites. The bar was full of wood (that's what she said) and had a strange two-room feel, with that big divider wall between two sections. A few friends were already at the bar when I arrived, so we moved over to the only long table so that more of us could chat and look at each other (we were very pretty). Note to groups: this table isn't that long. We squeezed 10 around it, but we had a difficult time. Tatiana was a fabulous waitress and bartender (and perhaps an owner and chef? I'm unsure, but I think she's at least one of these). She answered questions about beers and food all night long and didn't rush us at all. I ordered the pierogi. These were different from the ones I was used to in Pittsburgh. Whereas Pittsburgh pierogi are doughy and boiled/steamed, Handle Bar's were kind of fried and crispy. We ordered potato/cabbage and potato/cheese pierogi. Two pierogi on a plate per order. They were very good and I'd totally eat them again, though I was still left craving the pierogi I was used to. I also ordered veggie blinchiki, a pancake-type thing. I don't remember much about them, though. It was almost a month ago, for crying out loud! Nosing around, I noticed that the Handle Bar had a great stock of board games. I'd love to get a group together to play, though I do wonder where we'd all fit. Maybe it would have to be a four-person night so we could just sit at a booth? I need to return and try a few more menu items and really take stock of the place. I like it so far, though! read more

HandleBar - Pizza Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

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HandleBar knows how to throw a party. I am not a huge fan of crowded places and might be the last guy to run to the pubs for a special occasion. However, when HandleBar is having a special event, which seems like every other day, I want to be there! It's actually where I spent New Year's Eve. I even watched a few World Series games there! The key to this establisment is owner Tatyana Telnikova. My wife and I met her the first time we entered HB, MY SUGGESTION THIS TIME, and we were in love with her in a matter of moments. Little did we know then that she and her wonderful place would become a big part of our spare time. Tatyana is always thinking up new ways to entertain her patrons and gets involved with happenings in the Grove and really all around the city of St. Louis. And her patrons respond. There's always something cool going on around the bar. Recently, they started Sell Your Sh*t Sundays where local artists and retailers hock their creative clothes, jewelry, or art. This venue is enormous: a lounge area, a "stage" side where djs and musician perform, and a nice patio with murals covering the wooden fence surrounding the back. They used to have an open mic night, which I thought was pretty great! And the beer. Again, HB tries to incorporate all elements of the city. Local breweries are highlighted with great pride here. At one point, they gave Four Hands a monopoly on the taps, in honor of 4H's anniversary. As for Schlafly, pick your color from the rainbow. They probably have it. How can I forget the food? I really like the pizza, but recently I tried some of their Russian items. Very unique, very cool. Tatyana kept talking about her Russian menu, and I was skeptical at best. Everything I have tried is wonderful. I could go on forever. Go to HandleBar. Meet Tatyana. It will be worth your while! Suggestions: Swine & Dine Pizza, Meaty or Veggie Blinchiki, Any Pierogi read more

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ive been a patron of handlebar for many years but recent events have forced me to boycott the place. the bouncer at 2am on march 31 took my 23 year old friend's id, claimed it was a fake, refused to give it back, and was incredible rude--literally taunting us to call the cops. we had to get the manager and it took like 15 minutes to finally get his id back. previously, i'd gone with another friend who had an official id from mississippi official state app and not only did he refuse to even look at it (same bouncer btw), after we offered him $20 he threatened to "give that $20 to a crackhead to beat her up". THREATENING VIOLENCE???? that is immensely fucked up. we come to handlebar for a safe place to be queer and this bouncer has made handlebar an immensely unsafe space for us and we will never be back. i hate to post this about small queer businesses but this is unacceptable. do better for your community! read more

Yet another crazy bar on the Groove. But, this is a decent spot. Pros: + Bicycle great for photos upfront + Always can get a rousing game of pool going + Great events - fun to watch Cards play here + Lot of local STL Beer Cons: - Cover on weekends that sometimes seems a bit too much for what you're getting - difficult to find parking Definitely need to be back to try out the food though. read more

I have visited the HandleBar at least twice and each time has been for a birthday party. Both times the service has been decent and the drinks have been great. I like how they have craft beers on tap and I like how the bartenders (even though they are slammed with business) provide me with information about the beers so I know what the expect. The atmosphere is pretty cool if you are into bikes. Some really cool architecture and decorations throughout the entire place, including the patio. I definitely know I am old though because one the DJ starts playing I am usually ready to go! The music is loud and I don't fell like dancing when I am drinking my craft beer (I don't want to spill it)! Overall, I do enjoy the HandleBar, but I don't know if this would be a top pick for a location I would choose on my own. read more

Excellent happy hour. Half off pizza and dollar off beers and cocktails from 4-8. Service was very good and so friendly. 90% of food is made in.horse, rest is locally sourced. And you can tell. Me and my friend sat at the bar for 3 hours. Music was great too. I will be returning! read more

I really liked this place! Stopped in for lunch on a Saturday. Miles (manager/bartender) took great care of me and really gave me some unique insights into how they run the place and where they place emphasis. Rare to find these days... I started with the pierogis. One pork and one potato. Each was accompanied by its own dipping sauce. The dough was slightly crispy but not dried out. The pork was slightly spicy and the accompanying sauce was a little sweet so they paired very well. The potato was more savory and accompanied by a dill sauce. Also delicious and paired well. It is important to note that their pierogis are a little different than most that you find in Eastern Europe (haven't been to Russia so can't comment on their version) but that's not a bad thing. Different but still very good! Next up was a small portion of their pelmeni - basically a pork dumpling soup. I would say the dumplings are more closely related to tortellini than dumplings. Very flavorful vege broth that they make in house. Lots of pieces of veges in the broth and the addition of green onions and sprouts gives the dish an interesting combination of both flavors and textures. The dumplings themselves are amazing but pairing them with the broth and a little sour creme puts this dish over the top. I opted for dessert, mainly because I cannot name another time I've ever been offered sweet potato cheesecake with a beer-caramel sauce. It's been a few hours and I'm still not really sure what I thought of the cheesecake but the beer-caramel sauce was pretty amazing. Lots of house-made stuff and great presentation shows that they take their food seriously here. Can't wait to go back and try some of their wild pizza ideas... read more

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Went to Handlebar on their opening weekend and became an instant fan! The bike theme and discount for those who came in on their bike is awesome, and I am an even bigger fan of the huge patio out back. The patio has chalk-like paintings on the pavement, which I thought was quite clever. They do need to get more tables set up out there, as there was plenty of room for more (although they may have already done this since I am a bit late on writing the review.) The live music was great, and it would be helpful to have more of a stage area for them as I felt that they were sort of shoved back in the corner of the bar. There is also a pool table up front for your entertainment! The local beer selection is always a hit with me and they had a variety of other local micro-brews on tap that I have never heard of that I would like to try. And of course they had some New Belgium beer to go along with the bike theme. They have some great happy hour specials with $3 STL bottles and $1 PBR nights (Tues- Thurs), which will definitely bring me back! I would love to try their pizza too! What a great new STL bar! read more

My review is based solely on my last visit which was with friends after ice skating at Steinberg. It was a chilly night and the "hot cider rider" was the perfect warm-up drink. Hot cider, some combination of alcohol (I wasn't paying attention) all topped off with a thick orange slice and cinnamon stick - oh, holy winter this was the perfect drink that only needed a crackling fireplace to complete the warm lovely feeling. As if it could get any better, we had a s'mores shot. Godiva liqueur along with some other things with a 151 top-off then lit on fire as to roast mini marshmallows on a toothpick. Blow out the flame, down the shot then eat the marshmallows. Wow. There really weren't words. It was a strong shot that was warm, chocolaty, and melt-in-your mouth then finished with the 'mallows. I'm not a shot person but this one had the taste and novelty to have me wanting to come back for their next concoction. Love it! read more

HandleBar - S'mores shots being set aflame. - Pizza Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

I will not return here. Proof of vaccination required but yet have no masks on. Go down the road and no requirement needed. Go down further and have to have mask on when you go to counter for service. Would rather wear a mask than reveal my private health history! read more

I went here for lunch on a Friday. I loved the way the bar looked and enjoyed the murals on the wall. My friend and I sat in a booth along the wall, there wasn't a lot of seating. My friend and I decided to get a couple drinks first. She loves ginger beer so she ordered a Blonde Bastard. I wanted something sweet but off their drink menu and Keeley recommended A Superior Sour. Both drinks were good. Keeley was not only our server but also the Director of Inebriation, a title posted on a page in the menu. It looks like all the employees are listed with little comments about them. I liked it. Some might say it's silly to put something like that in a menu but I think its fun. My friend and I decided to try a couple things. We started with the Sausage & Pretzel Board. The sausage was good, the pretzels were salty and the aioli and mustard and sauerkraut was perfect with both. The only thing I would change would be to offer more of a serrated knife to cut the sausage into bite-size pieces. I was dying to try the pierogi and she was wanting to follow the "must try " section of the menu and so we got the pierogi and the Russian Flatbread. I'm so glad we did. The pierogi was good...the sweet potato stole the show...but that flatbread but great. The perfect crisp with smoked salmon that I would have eaten off the floor if it fell, cavier, dill creme fraiche and pickled onions that didn't have that strong onion taste. It was as beautiful as it was tasty. Finally we had the Pelmini (pork and sweet onion). These dumplings were in such a flavorful broth that we would take a dumpling out, cut it in half so it would fit with some flavorful broth and greens on the spoon. I can only assume that the dumplings were made in house but they had a nice portion of pork and sweet onion in them. It complimented the consistency of the dough. My only issue with this dish was that the crunchy bread served with this didn't soak up the broth and maybe that's not what it was there for but that broth is fabulous and a bread to soak it up would be a good addition...I think. My friend works in the neighborhood so she plans to go back soon for lunch. I would if I worked closer. read more

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Only went for a bit, but a fun and interesting bar! Love the ambiance! Very edgy and interesting. Church benches, bicycles, and a sweet patio to get some fresh air and escape the AC. The bartender that served me and my friends was super nice! He Had great recommendations too! I heard they usually have specials and when i went they had a $5 moscow mule special. I signed up right away! Cannot say for when it is full, but to start off the night, get a few drinks and get on your way? Its a good spot. read more

Came for local StL event. First time here. Was nice and welcoming. The staff was very friendly and patient as I was trying new beers for the first time. Got some samples to test then settled on one. Though it was somewhat crowded for the event never felt too crowded. Very clean and the staff worked to keep it that way. It was great that they hosted the http://carfreestl.eventbrite.com/ . read more

HandleBar - Evenings event - Pizza Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

Such great vibes here. Expansive drink options - cans and drafts - and the pizzas are fab - generously sized and affordable. Service staff are friendly and chill. You just couldn't feel out of place here if you tried - super welcoming to weirdos of all stripes! read more

Went for karaoke and requested a song, waited for an hour only to be told we had to buy something in order to sing. Maybe advertise that before you have someone sit there for a whole hour. Never had this problem with karaoke before until tonight. read more

The newest business in the Grove was launched by the former owners of the Cabin Inn (which split ways with the City Museum a few weeks ago). It's a good space, good theme, good patio and full of bike art (with more coming in each day). The only problem is that the beers are a little pricey and the selection is still somewhat limited. Let's support this place to see where it goes. Hours: Opens at 4 Special: If you bike out there you get 10% off your bill Future note: they're working on a kitchen. Last note: until the kitchen is up and running they let you bring in your own food for the nearby venues (ie, @cowboy or everest) read more

HandleBar - handlebarstl.com - Pizza Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

It seems that every city I've been to has a place called the Handlebar. I came in here after falling down a hill and cutting my leg open, (I'm sure it won't scar too badly - thanks for your concern). Decent priced, quick service and after the bartender took my drink and it still had booze in it, I complained and they quickly brought me another no charge. Twas chill, I dig. read more

I was pleasantly surprised with how great the food tasted! There was some sort of happy hour happening so it was somewhat loud in the restaurant. The service was pleasant and quick! (The male bartender/server was super was nice and accommodating). Ordered a drink and shared the meat Pierogi, which I've never had before. It was warm out of the oven and tasted great. I also ordered the Break Fast pizza. It was crunchy, well-flavored, and plentiful serving! I was very pleased with the two things I ordered. My friend ordered the Naanwich + side and was not very satisfied. They also honored the yelp $1 off your first drink coupon. read more

HandleBar - Break Fast pizza. Really good! - Pizza Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

I came here because of some of the great reviews and I gotta say I was greatly disappointed just on service alone. Music was great and place had a nice atmosphere but the bartender was so rude. I asked for a whiskey sour and it tasted awful. It tasted like it was just water and sweet and sour mix. I told him the drink didn't taste right and he said " well what do you want me to do about it?" I was so shocked by his reply because normally a bartender would remake it or ask if they can make me something different. Since he was so offended I didn't wanna have him make me something else so I asked for a beer and he said he would have to charge me for it since I'm "wasting alcohol and someone has to pay for it". So basically I was charged for two drinks but only received one. Sad I won't come back here because I really liked this place. read more

This is a fun place to go on the weekends and the theme nights are fun, even if you don't participate by dressing up. It's a good place to dance without feeling trapped or going to a club. I'm not a local but felt like one while enjoying a night out. There's also a patio outback if you need to get some fresh air. read more

We went on Saturday, it was packed. The drinks were nice and not overly expensive. The crowd was very diverse. DJ Irene was nice, good beats. We didn't need to show vaccine card for those that wonder. The black haired bartender was super nice and she helped us get some toilet paper in the bathrooms. The pink haired bartender was nice, they did seem to be trying their best by getting everyone their drinks asap. If you're gonna order, just know what it is that you want and you should be good. The dressing is relaxed, but if you wanna feel good the dress however you want. I recommend not wearing flip flops lol cuz the floor gets wet. The bathrooms are all inclusive? so there's no labeling. Masks aren't worn. read more

Darn it , took me 30 Minutes to get here . Yelp and the business should update the hours . It's Saturday and they are supposed to be open . I called to make sure and the recording said that they are open but too busy to answer the phone . No problem , I figure I'll have a drink or two while I wait for my order to go . Nope . Closed . Hours on the door say different . Why would you go through the trouble of stenciling new hours on the door but not change your phone message or digital message ? Seems like the latter would be even easier . And save peeps from driving and wasting their time . Not cool handlebar read more

Whoever innovated the menu at this establishment is amazing. The pizza, pirogies, and salad is craze amaze. Like read more

HandleBar - Pizza Near Me - St Louis, Missouri

Visited with friends for drinks, and I love this bar! Have gone twice and had great experiences both times. They have an 80s night where a DJ plays all the best hits of the 80s and the bar gets pretty crowded. So much fun! They also have pool, and the bar itself is pretty open so it's a great place to go with a few friends or a huge group. They have 10+ craft brews on tap at pretty good prices, and they also offer a full bar of liquor drinks. The bartenders are super nice and friendly, and the place has a very relaxed vibe that all will love. Can't wait to visit for brunch and try their food! read more

Typically I'll go on Saturday nights! The atmosphere is extremely diverse and welcoming. I'm rare occasions some of the Djs play edm which isn't my cup of tea when I'm out dancing with my friends other than that I always have a good time. read more

The atmosphere here is incredible. Decorations include deconstructed but working bikes on the walls (you can turn the pedals to see the wheels move), as well as one of a kind paintings on the walls. The staff is always friendly and accommodating (I'm lactose intolerant). I am consistently impressed by what comes out of their kitchen... I mean the food here is better than some MAJOR players In STL. Plate presentation gets high marks from me. I'll listen to my friends when they say the beer selection is great (I don't really care for beer). The cocktail menu is seasonal. On the weekends this place transforms into a dance club atmosphere and it couldn't be more fun. I've had several nights here dancing my tiny tush off. Overall 13/10: Would eat and dance here again, and again, and again... You get the idea. Go here. read more

For starters, to allay any confusion, this is not a gay bar. Its right in the middle of the grove, which has a lot of LGBT establishments, but this one is unaffiliated. I have come here on a few occasions, mainly for late night (its open til 3 am) and once for trivia. On every occasion, I've had an awesome time. Its a very cool space, with a large indoor bar area and an outdoor patio. They have an awesome beer selection and great specials (if you check on yelp you get $1 off your first drink :)). There typically is a small cover when coming out here on the weekend and the place is converted to a large dance party (mostly), whereas during the week its a reasonably mild mannered hipster bar/restaurant. I have yet to eat here, but apparently they have great russian food and pizza. However, I can firmly endorse it as a solid late night spot (i'd probably only 2nd to Talayna's) and for their impressively challenging thrusday night trivia. read more

Come on down for some...Russian food? The menu is chock-full of delightful Russian-inspired goodies, such as wraps made with traditional buckwheat pancakes, packed with meat and veggies. Any of the appetizers are a good choice, but to get the Russian experience check out the Zakuska plate with some vodka! I partied here on New Year's Eve and had a wonderful time. The place was crowded but not packed, and the music was great. I'll definitely be coming back for more of their 80s nights. The owner of the bar, Tatyana, is also really cool and super dedicated to her bar, her neighborhood, and her city. She has installed a ton of cool art in and around the bar, so be sure to check it out sometime. read more

Who knew St. Louis could be so hip? The Grove area has it going on these days - first a giant sign that now lets you know exactly the name of their 'hood, now a bicycle-friendly bar! Seems like our fair city is starting to keep up with the rest of the world... Stopped in Handle Bar for a quick drink with a gal pal the other night. It was empty inside, but I got here right at 5 pm. In addition to cheap drafts during happy hour, they also have a "Bartender's Special" - that night it was Guinness. I wasn't having it, but I know we have some yelpers out there who are fans. I tried the Six Row Whale - MAN! That's some good beer! Had I not had other plans that night, I would have been content sitting at that bar and drinking myself silly with Whale beer. My companion and I tried to order an appetizer, but the kitchen wasn't opening until 6. And about the time we were packing up, our cute little bartender brought us a plate of hummus. I felt terrible 'case we didn't have time to eat it, but I'm thinking she was able to put it to good use (i.e., her tummy). Come check out this cool bar! It's in a great STL area, the drinks are cheap, the staff is nice and they care about the planet. What more do you want, people? read more

This bar was founded by Tatyana Telnikova, a Russian expatriate and cycling enthusiast. She also opened Propaganda bar on Cherokee. I actually gave that place a positive review. I think she did a much better job there. It's great. I'm giving Handlebar a somewhat negative review, but she has no need to worry. Handlebar is thriving and will continue to thrive. It's a St. Louis powerhouse. Have you been to it yet? You will eventually. I've been to it so many times. It's simultaneously the Grove's resident Russian restaurant as well as the local hipster bar. Every bar hop in the Grove must inevitably pass through Handlebar. As a Russian restaurant, it's decent. It's watered down by pub fare, though, and most dishes come with goat cheese in some form. St. Louis actually has a large Bosnian community, y'know. So if you're looking for Eastern European food, you can do better (and get a shot of slivovitz while you're at it). Telnikova's other bar, Propaganda, does Russian food better. Most people who eat at Handlebar order pizza. As a hipster bar, well, it's not Tower Grove's CBGB's. Which is to say, you can expect it to be *a lot* more crowded on the weekends, and you can expect to find the kind of people who generally avoid dive seedy dive bars like CBGB's getting white-boy wasted from the tops of their Polo shirts to the bottoms of their Sperries here. There's an outdoor patio area (which, if you're here on the weekend, is the only place there will be room to breathe) where people will be vaping and smoking cigarettes next to bonfires. Needless to say, the bartenders are often overwhelmed and already sick of your poseur sh*t. It doesn't matter. On busy nights, there's really only time to order a Pabst and a shot of rail whiskey, anyway. This is all a roundabout way of saying that if you're 22, this is *the* place to be. It's a great place to take shots, do bar trivia, and grind on the crowded dance floor on the weekends. If you're 22, though, you aren't reading Yelp. If you're reading Yelp, you're probably looking for a delicious Russian restaurant. This ain't it. Honestly, St. Louis ain't it. Go back up to the search bar and search "Bosnian". If you're looking for a Russian bar, try Telnikova's other bar, Propaganda. It's great. If you're looking to chug Pabsts on a Saturday night--well, you're probably already here. read more

I'm not one for bars, but I come here often on Wednesday nights for the Gateway Burners Meet n' Greet. I don't drink beer much, so I can't say anything exciting about the beer here but I love everything I've experienced of this place. They have a healthy supply of firewood for their fire pit things to keep the air warm in the spring and fall. There is often a cat or two staring at you through the windows when you're on the back patio. My first impression of this place was "OMG BIKES! I needs one!" My second excited memory was"OMG traces of exploded people! Huzzah!" Also, this place has some of THE BEST pizza I've had in a while. I've had about 4 or 5 of their pizzas and each one is SUPERB. Their garlic bread is amazing too (most likely due to the fact that they use their pizza crust for it). My friends and I completely devoured the pizzas we got. :D I know one day i'll go there JUST for the pizza. In the winter, I sometimes firespin outside and the thing I always get after to warm up my hands is their spiced apple cider. I know others get it spiked (which I imagine would only make it more divine) and I love how they put an orange slice into the cider -- just to make it THAT much better. The TV in the bar doesn't always show sports. It once showed a strange cartoon about a bear. I ended up asking the owner about it. Apparently it was a russian cartoon she loved as a child. This isn't your typical bar but it's fun, interesting, and very cool. read more

There are few things I love more than bikes and beer. These two loves of mine combine into a delicious bike/beer sundae at the Handlebar. Not that I've ever really ridden my bike here or anything. In fact the bike thing is more of a suggestion than anything. It's really just a fun bar that always seems to have a party vibe. The several times the gf and I have went we've met some very nice people. I get that it has somewhat of a "hipster" vibe but I don't feel anyone here is pretentious or anything like that. Everybody is usually chill and down to Earth. People socialize with strangers. I really like that about this place. Even though they have their "regulars" nobody will look at you like you're crazy for coming here. I can't say I've ever had their food except for snacking on garlic bread. The pizza looks so amazing though. They have some great house drinks and a very nice tap selection of mostly local brews. They also have a 2 dollar mystery can that I'd recommend not doing unless you can stomach some really nasty beer. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the very large patio. As of this past weekend they now have an outside bar that was complete with live music. I really really like this bar. It's fun, cheap, has great beer, everyone is really nice, and they love bikes. What's not to love? read more

This is a great hipster/LGBTQ hangout, with very friendly bartenders (shoutout to Roy and Lily!) I go every week for the Geeks Who Drink trivia on Thursday's, when they have tall boys on special on a price that can't be beat. I love the consistency and it's always a blast (except when other teams cheat, but the host is pretty good at catching cheaters and he handles them well, in a way that doesn't disrupt the night.) If you're looking for an entertaining excursion to shake up the doldrums of the work week, I recommend the Handlebar. My only complaint is they recently replaced some of their dining tables and seating with plywood bench seats affixed to the wall and picnic-like tables, and the wall-affixed bench is very high set to the tables (so when you sit across from friends you feel like you are looking down on them) and it is deep, so you can't lean back against the wall for a backrest. It's a little less comfortable than their previous seating but it's by far not the worse situation I've ever been in. ***Update August 2018: they've replaced the regular trivia with a guy who writes his own questions. It's awful, so only go if you want the tall boys and to sit outside. read more

HandleBar is a Grove staple. It has late night dancing, eclectic decorations, and plenty-O-hipsters hanging around. The drinks are cheaper than some of their neighbors and just as tasty. I actually haven't been here very many times except late at night with a group. I need to come in sometime during the day to try their food. When I first saw Russian I thought someone was trolling us but alas, it's real! Most recently I came in this past Saturday and the DJ was terrible. Soooooo bad that people were all running away from the dance floor. Too artsy for us casuals. We ended up going to Atomic Cowboy but the music ins't always that wack. They change it up. read more

We came here for trivia night. First time to attend here. Easily the worst trivia night I have ever been to in my 30+ years of going to these events. Sound is awful in this place. The terrible Emcee speeds through repeating the questions so you can't understand what he's saying.. Horrible questions that are not really trivia in nature. They should rethink their contract with their trivia provider. If you're serious about trivia, don't come here. Food was just OK. read more

It was the day after Mardi Gras in St. Louis and the place was totally empty which was awesome news for us, the non-partiers, since we had the run of the place and the menu. We previewed the vegetarian options online and was excited to try this place out and it was so worth it. The menu clearly marks their vegetarian options with little leaves and there were many leaves to choose from. My wife and I got two different vegetarian pierogi to split/share. The potato, cheese, broccoli and the cabbage, mushroom, egg, and onion. These were both tasty and these were in a slightly different style being baked rather than pan fried. Think kolache rather than potsticker. We were informed that Russian food is widely interpreted, so it may not be what your grandmother made you, but still tastes like someones grandmother was at the helm! I also enjoyed the Veggie Blinchiki which was basically a filled buckwheat crepe. Also very tasty, though I was hoping for a more toothsome feel to the veggies inside. Instead it was more of a mince like the pierogi. To finish off the meal we shared a piece of their blackberry cheesecake. I'm not normally a cheesecake person since most places serve a flavored cheesecake as a standard slice of NY style cake with a flavored topping. On no sir, this was a blackberry flavored cheesecake on a chocolate crust with some fresh blackberries. Very homemade and rustic...and not as rich and heavy as a cheesecake can be. I'm looking forward to exploring more leaves on their menu. read more

Ok. I'm not fully sure of what to make of this place. I understand the theme of it, the graffiti art and what not but I am still somewhat confused. First when we got there we were charged a small cover. When we got in there was a dj spinning possibly the weirdest mix of music I've ever heard. I don't think it was house music or electronica. I don't even think he knew what he was doing. The best way I could describe is as something you would think of when you're on some sort of heavy drug induced trip. Acid trip maybe? I wouldn't know considering I've never even tried a drug, but if I had to imagine -- this would be it. This is a straight bar in the middle of the gay community. I like that they are mixing it up a bit, but still it just seems kind of out of place with the rest of The Grove. There wasn't a lot of people there for a Saturday late evening. What crowd of people there were, they were all outside smoking and hanging about. 8 people were maybe in the house listening to confusing dj mixes including the bartender. The crowd primarily is a hipster, eclectic kind of crowd. Au naturale if you will. I felt kind of grossed out being around some of the people because they kind of seemed dirty. Am I being judgmental? Slightly. But everyone needs a bath, right? The patio had graffiti art everywhere. Think 90s art and grunge graffiti. A few chairs and tables about, and good enough room to hold about 40 people. Back to the bar - drinks were decent. The bartender was nice too. This place probably has more of a "local" feel than a random crowd that comes in. I could totally see the same patron coming in at 4pm on a Tuesday afternoon as I could see them coming in for a late night drink at 1am on a Saturday. Take your pick. It's a cute bicycle bar. But not necessarily my type of crowd or feel. read more

So you may say 5$ cover on a Friday night! Say what?!!! However it was the best 5 dollars you can spend in the grove if you wanna have space, dance, and jam to really good music. The crowd was great, the music was on fire, and overall a really fun experience. We just moved to the area and it's nice to know that when you want to shake it you can hop over to Handlebar! Really great place!! We went on a Wednesday night for drag bingo and that was so much fun. No cover that night so don't worry that it's every night! read more