Rio&#x27;s Bar &amp; Grill

The meat and three today was meatloaf which was very airy light and had BBQ sauce on it. I also had…read morefried okra, and collards which were delicious. The service is also fantastic. The cook's name is Joseph and he knows how to season. My only complaint was that it's a bar at night so still smoke filled during the day. I noticed a LOT of outgoing orders. My husband couldn't smell the smoke until we got into the car together, but I have asthma, and I could. He had meatloaf with black-eyed peas and collards. No seasoning needed! And it was $7 and change-we will go back. This is my second visit. It won't be the last.

This place is the definition of a dive bar. Sticky tables, smoky atmosphere, and service that felt…read morealmost nonexistent both visits. The first time we waited around 15 minutes at a table before anyone acknowledged us, and the second time was basically the same experience sitting at the bar. Friendly service definitely wasn't the strong point here either. That said, the food honestly saved this review from being much lower. The wings had a fantastic sauce with great flavor, the fried pickles were crispy and addictive, and the fried green tomatoes were genuinely delicious with a really solid batter. Even the beers were ice cold and crisp, which fit the vibe perfectly. The biggest issue is that the pricing feels a little high for the overall experience and environment. If you're charging those kinds of prices, the cleanliness and service really need to match it better. If you're coming strictly for fried bar food and cold beer, you'll probably enjoy it. Just don't expect attentive service or a polished atmosphere.

Sweet chili boneless wings (I added the ranch powder when I got home)

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Menu

Lil Bits Tavern

4.5(2 reviews)

1.6 mi

This is a neighborhood bar with a friendly enough staff and your typical dive bar ambiance. The…read moredrinks are cold and the service was friendly enough.

Absolutely amazing. Just had a hunch to check it out and it did not dissapoint. Karaoke was a blast…read moreand it felt like you were family. Southern Style food was off the chain as well. Live music, brews, and an amazing place to forget all the bad in the world for bit.

Owen's Bar & Grill

5.0(1 review)

1.5 mi

I think it's now called Lil Bits ... Great Blues Band .. local hangout .. pool tables .. Good…read moreselection of beers .. Friendly staff

The Wine Bunker

4.8(16 reviews)

2.3 mi

This whine bunker has added cute COFFEE spot to its resume. I wanted an excuse to pop in here and…read morethe yummy pastries did it for me today. I can't wait to try the coffee and a cold drink soon!

This place is so neat! From the old barrel high top tables to the airplane part coffee tables with…read moreleather sofas, it is worth the drive! There was a live band playing some oldie but goodie music! I got the blackberry smash with bourbon and it was so fresh and summery with the fruity taste! My boyfriend got the sazarac cocktail and it was strong! Great place to go after dinner to get drinks! They do make small plates fresh behind the bar too! Would recommend coming to try any of their bourbon selection because they have a big one!!

Now this is a bathroom sigh lol

Old fashioned smokey and sweet

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Bar area

The Chandelier Lounge

4.7(3 reviews)

5.0 mi

A couple I met invited me here for one of their birthday events a little over a year or year and a…read morehalf ago and I had a great time (even came back two more times). The Chandelier Lounge is a super cute karaoke lounge that I feel is welcoming to both young adults and more mature adults. There is limited seating, however, you can always get a section if available. Thankfully I haven't had an issue with seating or comfort for either visit, but this was the main complaint you'd hear from people waiting or standing around. There's only so much a business can do about this. Wings were pretty good (took a while), service was friendly/smiling, bathrooms were clean, space flowed. I'd recommend the chandelier lounge to others rather you're singing on the mic, in the crowd, enjoying a drink or food, or grabbing a hookah.

The atmosphere is real chill! It's Karaoke night is every night! The service was great! The…read morehushpuppies and sauce were delicious. The Sweet Heat Old Fashion was mixed well! It's a great to come with friends or worth your boo! Watch the game. Drink a drink or two! Sing some karaoke! Have a good time! It's right off Cahaba Valley in Pelham.

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House of Havana

5.0(1 review)

2.0 mi

OMG!!!!!!! This place and the staff/ SONYA!! is simply out of this world!! If you have not visited…read morethis well-kept gem, you are definitely missing out! The environment and facility is amazing! The cigar/smoke area my hubby loved it! Facility does not carry the Smokey smell at all!!!!My new go-to for fun and a wind-down! This is my new family!!! Be there or be square! My hubby and I are in love.

Our walk-in humidor.

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Our wonderful customers

Goodfellas Social Club

4.5(17 reviews)

2.0 mi

Fun bar and live music joint in Helena. It's two floors and also has a cigar lounge upstairs. There…read moreis a bar both upstairs and downstairs with pool tables downstairs.

Ok so I checked YELP and this place had good reviews. And yes....there is a menu posted. However…read morethey don't have what is on the menu as that was years ago according to the bartender. She said they had chicken nugget type things, they really don't do food anymore and they just serve that food in order to keep their liquor license. She was super sweet and the place very unique. I would imagine it's probably pretty crowded on a Friday and Saturday night. Just a place to come drinking. Nothing more.

Chair thing is out of order

The deck, with a view of Old Town Helena

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Old Town Helena

The Beer Hog

4.1(41 reviews)

4.4 mi

Great food, good selection of beer and great atmosphere. We had the beer cheese dip with pretzel…read morebites, chorizo quesadilla and wraps. We've had the pizza which is good as well.

When my friend told me about this place, I thought he was exaggerating -- but he wasn't. The Beer…read moreHog is absolutely massive. It's housed in what used to be an old elementary school, now converted into an incredible hangout spot. Inside, there's a full bar with an impressive rotating tap list displayed on a giant chalkboard, each beer listed with a number and description to make choosing easy. Beyond the drinks, there's plenty to do -- a small arcade, a virtual mini golf business in the back, outdoor seating, and yard games like cornhole and giant Connect Four. The vibe is relaxed, social, and full of energy without feeling crowded. I ordered two flights and loved the variety and quality across the board. Between the atmosphere, drinks, and entertainment, this is easily one of the best spots in the Birmingham area. A definite must-visit whether you're a local or just passing through.

Dunkel gold

Weekly events

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Dr Juice

Tap Ins

4.7(6 reviews)

5.1 mi

Locally owned & operated

Veteran-owned & operated

Tap Ins is awesome! We visited for a work gathering and it was such a fun environment. The…read moreChristmas decorations were great and can compete as being one of the best I've seen this season. I had the Old Fashion Drink which was delightful and an appetizer of mozzarella sticks. Both were perfect! Some of my coworkers had the turkey and cheese sandwich and said it was delicious as well. The owner is very personable and does a great job interacting with the guest. His service was above and beyond. I'm planning to be back very soon!

I saw a Tap Ins soft opening event advertised on Facebook, so on my day off my husband and I…read moredecided to try it out. There were four golf simulators that include mini golf and four duck bowling lanes with a bar in the middle. We aren't golfers so we passed on the simulators and decided to try the duck bowling. It was really fun and we were able to get in four games during the hour.

Duck bowling lanes

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Duck bowling area

Refined To Go

4.8(62 reviews)

1.2 mi

Update: 10/15/25... owner immediately responded and apologized for my experience. They had a new…read moreemployee and he addressed the concern with her. I really appreciate owner response and made things right. Back to supporting my favorite restaurant in Helena! Original post: 10/12/25... It's Sunday 10/12/25 4:33pm and they close at 5pm. I called to place an order and it was too late. What??? I have placed orders several times and never had a problem. I literally live 5 minutes down the road and it's too late?

We love having Refined to Go in our community! The food is always exceptional and the owner is so…read morekind and talented. We enjoyed the wedge salad and fish tacos today. Everything was seasoned or sauced immaculately. We did request fries as a substitute when we placed our order but still received the cumin chips alongside our fish tacos, so make sure you check your order before leaving the restaurant!

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Boots E.

0

7

0

4 years ago

I have never had a bad experience at this bar. In fact, the majority of people who go here and work here are very nice and incredibly fun to be around. Always great entertainment and food! Regardless of the misinformation posted on this website, the owner is nice. Because people get kicked out of bars they want to blame someone other than themselves. They shouldn't lash out at others but instead reflect inward. read more

Evil W.

0

1

0

13 years ago

this place is a total shit hole and I wish it was not in helena! Smoke filled wana be biker bar with a rude ass owner serving over priced beer and crap food to the same 10 people that come in this crap hole. read more

Rain N S.

0

2

0

4 years ago

Staff is amazing! The owner is amazing! This place is willl always be my go to ! Cannot express how amazing this place is! Never waiting for anything ! !!!! Outstanding! read more

Nick K.

205

57

28

12 years ago

Bartenders are nice and beer is cold. The smoke was just too much. Seems to have a very loyal local following, but just wasn't my type of place. read more

Rio's Bar & Grill - bars - Updated September 2026

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Courtyard Oyster Bar & Grill

3.0

(54 reviews)

The meat and three today was meatloaf which was very airy light and had BBQ sauce on it. I also had…read morefried okra, and collards which were delicious. The service is also fantastic. The cook's name is Joseph and he knows how to season. My only complaint was that it's a bar at night so still smoke filled during the day. I noticed a LOT of outgoing orders. My husband couldn't smell the smoke until we got into the car together, but I have asthma, and I could. He had meatloaf with black-eyed peas and collards. No seasoning needed! And it was $7 and change-we will go back. This is my second visit. It won't be the last.

This place is the definition of a dive bar. Sticky tables, smoky atmosphere, and service that felt…read morealmost nonexistent both visits. The first time we waited around 15 minutes at a table before anyone acknowledged us, and the second time was basically the same experience sitting at the bar. Friendly service definitely wasn't the strong point here either. That said, the food honestly saved this review from being much lower. The wings had a fantastic sauce with great flavor, the fried pickles were crispy and addictive, and the fried green tomatoes were genuinely delicious with a really solid batter. Even the beers were ice cold and crisp, which fit the vibe perfectly. The biggest issue is that the pricing feels a little high for the overall experience and environment. If you're charging those kinds of prices, the cleanliness and service really need to match it better. If you're coming strictly for fried bar food and cold beer, you'll probably enjoy it. Just don't expect attentive service or a polished atmosphere.

Tin Roof

3.4

(116 reviews)

A buddy of mine and i were in town and supposed to go to the Birmingham Barons game but I messed up…read morethe time and we would have been an hour late, so we skipped it. We decided to find a place in the area that had live music and Tin Roof came up. We walked in and the place had a decent crowd but not busy. I walked up to the bar and saw they only had domestic beer on tap so asked if they had any N/A options for my buddy and if they had any IPA's for me. The unwarranted shitty attitude of the bartender was as if I asked him to make me a long island iced tea with a line of 30 people at the bar. It was just me and I simply wanted him to give me a can of beer. He gave a snide remark about it being a bar when I asked about the N/A options and just gave me an IPA in a can from Good People brewing. I guess that's the only one they had, or he just decided it's what I was getting. The beer was good, but I wanted to see my options. We sat in the courtyard and listened to the 1-man band, aka a guy with a guitar. He played a variety of stuff and was decent. The courtyard was a decent place to chill. I went back to get another beer and asked if they had any different IPA's, I got an eye roll and a nope. I decided to bounce. I didn't want to hang out with Captain Douchepickle the bartender anymore. The place was fine, and if the dipshit isn't working, I am sure it would be better.

Got a chance to stop by while bar hopping with a bridal party didn't get a chance to try any food…read morebut we had the best time dancing the DJ was awesome and I can't wait to come back to try the food auntie was out and about and will come back

The Hangar Bar & Grill

4.3

(38 reviews)

Headed in for happy hour - not sure what the happy hour deal/pricing is - but we stayed for dinner…read more Small menu and really no vegetables / anything healthy, but if you're looking for dive food (and a bit salty) and good service, this place is what you might be looking for... Drinks: * First Class Fizz - heavy on the club soda, but otherwise good * Mile High Margarita - really good and made fresh Dinner: * Jalapeño Poppers - cheddar filled, very crispy * Buffalo wings - wish the buffalo was hotter * Burger - as advertised, and huge. Sides are huge too. Onion rings were 3xs the serving size as other restaurants.

Amazing atmosphere and great location to watch airplanes take off and land. Plus the food is great!…read moreGreat live music and entertainment during the week and weekends.

Overtime Grill and Bar

3.9

(126 reviews)

This Sports Bar is a great casual place to visit most anytime for a cool refreshing cold drink/meal…read morewith your friends or co-workers. Staff is always friendly and will make sure you are taken care of when you arrive with the food of your choice or a cold beverage. We have a regular group of people that visit here quite often as they keep different specials for everything whereas it is the food specials, the drink specials or upcoming events. We enjoy visiting each and every time. The location for us is nearby so we can round up the local neighbors and drop by to watch the different sports on TV or enjoy the weekly Trivia contest. The food menu is typical for a sports bar but is always served hot and fresh and the weekly specials are always interesting to try. Stop by sometime and give them a try.

We stopped by Overtime Grill on a Friday night around 7 PM. It was pretty crowded because a band…read morewas performing later, and there was not much seating inside. It looked like only two waitresses were working, so it took a while for our order to be taken. We also did not realize we had to order at the bar. The food came out very quickly once we ordered. Surprisingly and happily quick. We had the burger and the buffalo chicken sandwich. The fries that came with the burger were actually really good. Very well-seasoned. The food overall was decent. The restaurant has a casual, no-frills vibe. It feels more like a neighborhood bar than a full restaurant. There are TVs playing sports. If you are looking for something relaxed and familiar, this place gives off that laid-back, down the street feel. A spot to grab something decent, enjoy some music, and head back home.

Pub 261

3.3

(28 reviews)

Cigarettes are sublime. Freedom from idiotic government rules -- priceless. Felt like being back in…read moreNevada (a good thing). Shot some pool w family, drank some Cahaba beers on a quiet afternoon. Beautiful.

I've been coming to Pub for years and it's a great place. There's a pretty impressive selection of…read morecraft beers on tap. The food is good, we really like the wings and the fried mushrooms! I've never had any issues here, either from the staff or from other customers. It's a relaxed place with musical acts several nights a week, but karaoke tuesdays are my fave! Joe the karaoke DJ is SO great, and he can make basically anyone feel like a star. They also frequently have good acoustic music or full bands if you're in the mood to rock out. Like everyone else that has reviewed so far, I'm definitely not a fan of all the smoke, but they do have outdoor seating if you need some air. Go check them out!!

SOCIAL

3.8

(22 reviews)

I give this place 10a across the board. The ambiance was amazing and I loved the decor. The service…read morewas great. We were constantly asked if we needed anything. The food great!! I ordered lambchops, Gouda Mac and potatoes, also pictured is the lobster pasta, and chicken. My friends rated those a 10 as well. Will be back. Oh and my drink was great as well

I was on a girls trip with a friend and we were looking for brunch options before we headed out on…read moreSunday. We had some car trouble so we were looking local to the hotel we were at and Social popped up! Weirdly, there was no one on a sunday at prime bunch time..which made us a little skeptical. But, our meals were both great! I got the chicken and waffles and my friend got the steak. The menu was pretty limited but had some really solid options on there. The place is very cute and we loved the decor. Just felt pretty awkward being the only people in the restaurant the whole time we dined in.

Gabriel's Cafe

4.1

(43 reviews)

Gabriel's Cafe is a cool enough place to hang out on the outside porch and enjoy a drinks…read more The service was friendly and the whole vibe was enjoyable. I would definitely recommend.

My name is Jack Rouss. I own Gabriel's for 33years. I just want to think all of you for all these…read moreyears of support. I hope to continue seeing all of you soon. Thank You

Local 39

4.4

(9 reviews)

Grew up in the STL where every corner had a family pub. Local 39 so reminds me of those places…read more Great food and drinks, neighborhood feel, owner and staff are family. If only they had a karaoke machine....

One of my favorite spots on the Edgewood strip. Best bartenders in the City. All the staff are…read morefriendly and the owner is really kind. Food is amazing with some different takes on dive bar classics. Great venue for dinner and a drink.

Mojo Pub

3.7

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