The bartender Chris is a douche.... I came in on a Tuesday with a friend and from the very beginning anytime I asked for anything he would give me a side eye and a very sarcastic "sure, no problem" I laughed it off multiple times because I know how assumptions can be made.... I ordered 2 shots, and Chris seemed annoyed because I evened out the shots between my friend and I. He assumed we were upset because the shots were uneven but in all actuality I only evened them out because my friend doesn't take shots!!!!!! I wanted his extra liquor so I poured it in my glass!! He then rudely explained under his breath that he'd over poured us that's why there was a discrepancy in the shots EVEN THOUGH WE NEVER COMPLAINED OR SAID ANYTHING. He just assumed. We went on to try and explain there was no issue and again he rudely gave us a very sarcastic "sure, no problem" the night progressed and we are 4-5 shots in. We asked for another round and he brought us the check...... WE ASKED FOR ANOTHER ROUND. As I'm talking to my friend I tell him " regardless of the service I'm a good tipper" Chris then comes over and tells us he heard what I said and he heard that I would now only tip him 15%. I NEVER SAID THIS!!!!! I went on to tell him he heard wrong but AGAIN he rudely gave us a very sarcastic "sure, no problem" Chris completely ignored us from this moment on however my friend and i decided to continue to enjoy the night. We paid for our check and I politely wrote "I would never say that I wouldn't ever tip 15% :)" on the check but then Chris picked up the check, read it, and then proceeded to laugh hysterically and tossed it in the trash.......Even still, having gone through what we witnessed we still decided to patronize....so now I'm Obviously upset and speaking to my friend about how were being treated but Chris decides that I'm not allowed to be upset with his treatment of me and my friend (Who are the only black people in the bar by the way) And proceeded to take our unfinished drinks and ask us to leave while he called the cops. I asked for a manager HE REFUSED TO GET THE MANAGER. Instead he threatened us Even though we had done nothing but sit at the bar and pay our check. Two other employees surrounded us and began to harass us even though we were literally just sitting at the bar finishing our drinks (well a drink because Chris refused to give my friend back his unfinished drink that we paid for) Chris asked us to leave because he would not acknowledge that he was being racist and prejudice. He accused me and my friend and I of saying and doing things that we did not do. When we tried to explain to him that we did not do these things he was very dismissive and rude. His way of rectifying the situation was to ask us (The only black people in the bar) To leave, and embarrass us, all because he could not apologize for assuming we were upset. We were drinking Jagër!!! Who's upset when you're drinking Jagër????!!!! not to mention we STILL paid our $95 check and tipped him a $20 bill on top of the bullshit :) I'm not one to believe the hype but this bar caters to the Caucasian crowd and that's OK if that's your demographic, but I've been here twice and myself included I've witnessed the only African-Americans in the establishment treated hostly. The only ones they treat nice are the ones in the kitchen making the food. read more

Trackside Tavern - Dive Bars Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Just woke up from a 2 hour food induced coma! I went by today around 4pm and had the bar all to myself for a few minutes, so I took the time to really look around and feel the place out. I have to say, the vibe is certainly an improvement from the old days. Gone is the smokey, divey feel, now it feels more like a Cheers/Applebee's hybrid. There is a strong "regulars" client base that likes to sit at the bar and tell stories, hence the Cheers feel, but there are also giant flat screens on every wall, dart boards, and pool tables. In other words, it's perfect for an after work hang out spot, but I wouldn't wanna go there on a date. As for the food...5 stars. I had the Blue Plate Special- 2 big slices of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. My plate was HUGE! Cost? $8! As a born and raised Southern girl, I have to say...they got it right. The meatloaf was juicy and flavorful. The mashed potatoes were fluffy and buttery. The green beans were fresh (they get most, if not all, of their vegetables from The Dekalb Farmer's Market weekly) and crisp enough that I picked them up with my hands and dipped them in my potatoes! The only thing I was missing was a bread of some sort...hushpuppies would have been nice. :) Ultimately however, the food was way above what I was expecting! As I ate my food, the bartender kept me company. He was funny and attentive without being overbearing considering by this point there were only me and 4 other patrons in the restaurant. I was the only person eating, so upon cleaning my plate, the cook came out to check on me and laughed when he saw a 110lb woman sitting there. "I take it you liked it?" he said. "It was terrible; hated every bite." I replied with a smile. Will I go back? Totally. Should you check it out? Definitely. Great food. Great prices. Awesome staff. Oh...and cheap booze. I checked ;) read more

You're an idiot if you think this quintessential local dive bar isn't the shizz. You only get kicked out if you break the rules, the drinks are inexpensive, the food is good, and there's a wonderful lack of douchebaggery. I'd live here if my wife and child were cool with it. read more

A nice around the corner bar. Me and a friend went out to grab a bite and watch football. Bartender was a friendly rock star looking guy with great customer service. He had made the best long island ice tea I have every had so far... We order 3 items of the list to try (greedy) Gyro, Cuban sandwich and a club sandwich with fries. All Delicious! The only down fall was the ladies bathroom. The reason for the 3 Stars... Before you opened the door, you smelled this sewer oder which was really bad. I had to pee so bad that I held my breath before entering the restroom (can you imagine). Being that I drink water to balance my liquor I use the bathroom a lot. Not in this case, that one time visit was enough for me. I would really like to come back. Only, and I mean only if they fix the bathroom.. read more

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Trackside is our neighborhood bar. We love it here. The bartenders are friendly and courteous without being overly so, and they know how to make a good drink. We love the fact that the place is usually not packed, and we can take our time playing billiards or darts while getting sloshed. We also are music fans and their music selection is on point. Great beer selection too. I love the FAFATL artist collection showcase they have on their brick walls, I'm always tempted to spend all my $$$ on them when I go. The food we've had here has always been ordered while intoxicated, but even still I remember them to be yummy: - Greek gyro - Teriyaki green beans - Chili - Fried zucchini - Fried pickles Overall great bar, great atmosphere, great drinks, and great service. read more

I have been to Trackside a total of three (or four) times now and I have always had a great time. When it comes to a neighborhood bar this is what every bar should strive to become. A few pool tables, some dart boards, pinball, Ms. Pac-Man, air hockey and a foosball table. This place has everything for those looking to spend a couple hours with friends and just chill. Now about the food. Bar food should be graded on a different scale than restaurant food. Only cause of silly Georgia laws are bar required to serve food in order to operate. The shocking thing though is the food here is exceptional even amongst other non-bar restaurants. The French Dip and Reuben are definitely worth a try at this dive. And to top it all off, an excellent draft beer selection. THE BOTTOM LINE -- Meet up with some friends here after work or late night and you won't be disappointed. read more

Scuze me, but what on earth could possibly be wrong with this Trackside? Oh, well maybe overbearing regulars who might round you into a sexist conversation for funsies. I suppose this could become obnoxious, considering the large amounts of Agnes Scott students (go Scotties!), mingling with Trackside regulars from before the fire. But this aint the plantation anymore ya'll- and Scarlett will never be hungry again...because it's newly reincarnated and ready for ALL the business! Though it doesn't feel like a worn-out glove these days, it's nice to know that you're still going to your neighborhood dive, without the messy bar-tar and such. My only qualm is that the smoking section outside can become a bit crowded, but T-side definitely added a touch with the exposed TV's in the patio area. I always meet cool people here, and I'm bound to go back whenever I am in Decatur. read more

Pretty good hole in the wall. Definitely has dive bar vibes, but it's a fun time. Decent sized outdoor area, 4 dart boards, and 2 pool tables make for a lot of fun. Open late which is great. Good bar food, affordable drinks. Service is decent--one of the bartenders is an expert at making you feel like you're wasting his time, but he gets the job done, so fine with me. read more

It's nice that it's back from the fire. ...It's a potentially cozy little local spot once townies warm up to it. This is our 2nd time back this week. But truly, it ain't all that. My friends were chilly. The servers were surly and inconvenienced by guests at the bar. The burger was decent, but not the greatest thing. Ambiance: The place still smells of sawdust and shellac. The music is all 80's metal rock -- if you like that music. A couple good points: sweet potato fries are REALLY GOOD. The beer specials make it a better deal. the picnic table/smoking area out back looked to be a lot more fun than inside. Will I come back? Probably not. read more

Any bar that plays Sleep (Dragonaut/Holy Mountian) is good by me! Big ups to Greg (aka) Kim's brother! Great bar! Soon to be my new regular spot... 100% tips all day! -Dimitri read more

Five Stars to Trackside. Longtime local bar that was its infancy when I was a student at Agnes Scott in 1986. Since then, it has continued to improve and today has become a cornerstone of the local community. The drinks are always good, the food is always good, the vibe is always good. And there is an outside smoking porch with picnic tables and TV screens. What's not to love???? read more

I will miss the late night Sundays there as well as the fried Mozzarella sticks with a side of ranch dipping sauce. The one night I played darts there with Mike Rinchiuso and Rivers Odendahl until 4:30 am will stay in my memory banks forever. Trackside, if it does not return, will be sorely missed. read more

Cheap drinks and bar food! We had some fried zucchini which was totally unhealthy and absolutely delicious! A nice dive bar!

Definitely the best dive bar in Atlanta - good beer cheap and good cheap beer, and it's hard to complain about any place that has Ms. Pac-Man, pool tables, air hockey, and darts. As far as the friendly staff goes, they seem really good if you're a regular, but they aren't necessarily friendly if they don't know you. They've got sort of a holier-than-thou hipster attitude, so you won't get great service if you're not in there with a trucker hat and your parents' credit card. read more

I gotta say I was reeeeeeally skeptical when my friend picked this place to meet up for drinks. I was thinking more of a cozy but posh kind of vibe, and when I saw this place it was definitely not it. It turned out to be pretty chill, however, and I enjoyed the evening so I don't regret going. This has nothing to do with my review and is definitely very nit picky- but the logo... What is going on there?? So outdated and does not at all fit with the vibe of the place. Maybe if everything inside was train-related (which would be AWESOME, bc I love me some trains), but it just doesn't fit. It's also kind of poorly designed and definitely stretched horizontally. Somebody needs to fix that. This is not at all something that people- or the tavern, probably- care about, so I'm not including that in my rating. Just a suggestion. We sat in one of the booths along the back wall. No one waits on you so you have to order from the bar even if you're sitting at a table. Weird, but whatevs. We all ended up getting a good buzz, off of two pitches of Allagash white on draught. The beer was really fresh and they served it with plenty of hefty lemon slices. The food was kinda gross, not as bad as it could have been for bar food though. We ordered fried pickles initially, and then went for the teriyaki greens beans (also fried) and sweet potato fries. Imo every place that has sweet potato fries does them differently, and at Trackside they had a funny taste to them. I debated ordering the Trackside chili, because of the whole "Trackside chili" thing and what that might entail, but decided against it. Chili isn't really a share-able dish. Overall not my thing, but it's obviously a popular neighborhood hangout. There was a crowd of people by the dart boards, and a good number scattered around every where else. Strange plus: the outside patio has two tiny TVs for your viewing pleasure. Sweet. read more

One of the bartender's is extremely rude. He seems angry at life. It's customer service. This guy should be back of house.

Trackside is the type of bar where you're sure to see a few familiar faces every time you go. It's kind of a dive, but that's one of the best parts. Plus, I love any place where i can play a good game of air hockey. The people are local, the bartenders are friendly, and the drinks are strong. read more

Come here to drink. It's a bar, and a non-pretentious bar at that. It's right by Agnes Scott College so expect some college students, it's a younger crowd. There are pool tables and tables out back to hang out. This place is really chill. Don't come expecting something fancy. read more

Immediately upon entering this dingy bar we were snapped at spoken very rudely to buy the owners and staff. Then when I opened a large tab the attitude shifted. However I was told that a drink I ordered would be substituted for another as it was not very good. Upon looking at my bill I see I was charged for both. If you don't mind being treated poorly feel free to frequent this establishment. A place for beer or not good cocktails. read more

One of my favorite bars around. Divey for sure, but a cool place to hang out and grab drinks. Prices are good and food is actual pretty decent (if you like fried food, try their fried pickles!). Their chicken fingers are the best in Atlanta - I swear. Staff are always friendly and I've always felt welcome. Come as you are type place. read more

Me and my friend came here last night after going out to eat and we wanted to drink and play air hockey. It was a nice crowd playing bingo, drinking and playing darts. They had my favorite beer at the moment, which is Creature Comforts Tropalina IPA on draft. Bartenders were SUPER nice!! We def. will be back to eat and hang out here more -- especially since its AIR HOCKEY HERE!!!!!!!!!! read more

Was distraught to hear that this place burned down, but ecstatic when they reopened. It is definitely a different bar compared to how it used to be, but at the same token, not much has changed. I think the menu is damn good and much better than typical bar food. I love the fact they don't have servers - you order at the bar - and that the prices include tax. What's better than a bar open till 4 am on the weekends, and that too with a killer jukebox? Not too much .... read more

Love their salad. Love the back area, very quiet.

I used to be quite skeptical of this bar. It is classified as a dive bar and it was supposedly for the college crowd. I don't think that's the case at all. It has a decent vibe, plenty to do, and a nice lineup of beers. Our company celebrates special occasions here at Trackside and we rally up large tabs of great food and many drinks. The bartenders are always excellent with us and give us the extra TLC that makes us come back time and time again. Food is surprisingly good. I love the Hot wings and usually get a side of fried pickles along with it. The only thing I hesitate with is the Last Supper- its a massive hunk of tater tots with chili, cheese, and sour cream. It was a bit of an overload. Pool tables are great, darts are a must, but leave the kids at home- the darts showcase some naked women which cab be a bit awkward with the wrong person. read more

This is one of the coolest, chillest dive bars in Decatur; uh, wait, are there any other in Decatur? Probably, but I haven't been to them, so this will have to do. The atmosphere is extremely laid back. They can make whatever you want to drink. There are pool tables. There are dart boards (in fact, a game of darts there one night is when Team Awesome was formed... no lie). There is a hockey table. The food is awesome. Do I NEED to go on? I will meet you there any time. AND it is smoke free! Rock! read more

My roommates practically live here. Me, not so much, but I come once in a while - it's ok. The bartender's are quick and accommodating, drinks are pretty good and the food isn't bad, either. Outside, there's picnic tables to sit on and smoke cigarettes/socialize and there's 2 pool tables if you like to play pool. It's very much a 'regulars' type of place, you go there and see the same people over and over and over. There's nothing really WRONG with it, per say, it's just not my scene - it's got kind of a biker/hipster dive-bar vibe to it, so if that's your scene, this is the place for you. It's just not mine. Update: I'm giving it 4 stars now because the food is amazing and the place has grown on me in recent months. read more

@trackside_tavern BRAVO!!! Their wings are outstanding, their fries are out of this world, their pimento cheese dip is scrumptious, their hamburgers are delicious many of you know trackside as the hole in the wall bar and it still kind of is but their food has stood the test of time... just go already.. what are you waiting for?? Oh and for you youngins go later and catch a huge crowd. (I'm too old for that shit, but have fun and ask for mike or dan they are certainly the best!) I wish I could make it more often now a days read more

I would like to preface this review by saying this is the first one star review I've ever made. I have worked in restaurants and hotels several years and am very understanding that you get busy and things happen that would impact service. I visited Trackside after a concert for dinner and sat at the bar. Heineken representatives were there offering a free tall boy can as a promotion and I got one, free beer right? They were nice and accommodating. Unfortunately, they were the only ones that acknowledged my girlfriend and I over the course of 20 minutes. The bar was not super busy or anything and wasn't peak hours on a Sunday night. The bartender and bar backs passed us multiple times while I was giving the "I would like service, please" look while not even getting eye contact. I'm not sure if wearing a blazer with a button up shirt would signal that I'm not cool enough to be there but that is evidently how this bar operates. My beard isn't long enough and I don't have tattoos. The owners and managers are losing money because I was willing to spend my hard earned money there. All you need to do is acknowledge me to let me know you'll be with me and I never got that from any employees. I will not be back to Trackside Tavern and would not recommend it. read more

Great atmosphere, the bartender was very attentive and knowledgeable, perfect pour on my Guinness. Very laid back if i lives closer this wood become a regular spot... read more

This bar seem pretty weird to me, the crowd is kind a hippie-ish and not to open minded to other ideas. The food was just ok. The games they have look pretty straight tho ;) read more

Waited around 20 minutes to place my food order, kitchen staff told me as long as I placed by 2 I'm good. Tried to place order before 2 and bartender stated that they are closed early. I stated that the kitchen staff had told me that I can order by 2 and I've been standing here waiting to place an order, and the bartender stated it doesn't matter what they say, the bartender's have the final say. I use to be a regular. Now I'm a former. read more

I usually do not have an issue with this place, but lately I have been disappointed! Tonight I ordered food, but it was missing things that we get charged for and it did not seem to be a big deal with them! read more

The bartender sucked at customer service. The place has Mediocre food and drinks. You will have a better time and atmosphere at Twain's.

I have never really written reviews, but I would like to say this bar is actually a health hazard. The bartender and bouncer are irresponsible as well as their cooks. The cooks have beards and don't wear gloves or hair nets over their beard. I also experienced them completely disregard the fact that one guy had hit his limit way before I walked in. His friends had to carry him on their shoulders and he was paying for everybody's drinks. This is usually when bartenders cut someone off, but no, the man continued to buy drinks and slowly but surely get wasted. Having spent nights shadowing in the ER, I have firsthand experience of how dangerous this is. People throw up in their sleep and die, but I firsthand experienced the scum of society when the bouncer and bartender asked me why I should care if someone is that drunk. Oh also, they allowed his drunk friends to drive him home even though they were so drunk they had to look for their keys in the bar. The guy couldn't walk for hours, and nobody seemed to care. This place needs to be shut down. Also, the food was garbage, waffle house even tastes better and they use a hose to clean their floors. I wish I could only give fewer stars. read more

This is the only bar that I need. Resurrected from the ashes and a bit cleaner than it once was, Trackside did not lose the vibe that won over a diverse cross-section of clientele before being gutted by fire in early '09. With the exception of a few charred mementos of the old place, there's no sign of the devastating blaze that left so many of us socially homeless for a solid two and a half years. Trackside is a dive bar with all the fixin's. There are a couple of pool tables that you can use without having to wait a month for your turn. Quality dartboards are set up in a logical way that greatly reduces the likelihood of impaling a passing patron. Ample flatscreen TVs are scattered conveniently about the walls that allow you to easily stay up to date on whatever sports may be in season, you're unlikely to be subjected to a belligerent fan screaming at a screen. The bathrooms are great. I mention this only because anyone who knew pre-fire Trackside will be blown away at the spacious, clean, fully-functional facilities. The place is hoppin' when you'd expect, and the characters certainly qualify as one of the best elements in the experience, but you'll never have a hard time finding room, and service is always prompt and responsive. Trackside clearly has a devoted gallery of regulars, and many of these folks are what make it so unique. The chick covered in tattoos may just be a professor at Emory, while the grandfather on the other end of the bar plays lead guitar in a rock band and can drink you under the table. Lawyers and doctors mix with Agnes Scott students, 20-somethings, and hospitality employees from other bars that don't stay open as late as Trackside, and are pleased to have found a place to do some serious post-work drinking, and the whole thing is watched over by the folks behind the bar, who are as knowledgeable as they are friendly. It doesn't matter if you're a regular or this is your first time in Decatur - they'll take good care of you from your first stiff drink to your last, while happily calling a cab to get you safely home. But why leave? Trackside stays open late. The food is what you expect at a dive bar. The wings are good, the potatoes are fried, and the burgers are as filling as they are flavorful. Since the re-opening, a few new items have crept onto the menu. They have exotic-sounding dishes made mostly of green and vegetable matter - my wife called it a "salad." I haven't gotten that experimental yet, myself, but if you come to a place like this looking for foie gras or sushi, you're not paying attention. The food goes well with beer, and that's the whole point. Aside from the people, the best part is the booze. The bar is stocked. Rarely will you request a concoction that can not be provided. The bartenders know how to mix a beverage - you will not be disappointed. An excellent selection of tap beers is complimented by a healthy variety of bottles. If you can't find something to drink at Trackside, you need to reexamine your life. Parking is a breeze. Trivia on Tuesday is at 7:30, the caller is great, and the competition is stiff, but fun. Whether you're looking for a comfortable watering-hole for a quick drink after work, or somewhere to go hide from the world while having some interesting conversations and several leisurely drinks, Trackside is what you seek. read more

I went here on a Tuesday night with 2 friends for trivia! None of us had been here before but we figured we'd give it a try. I must say that trivia was fun and tough but it was our first time so we just had fun with it. We didn't win but we had fun losing. The crowd here is a mix of the college students from the area and the locals that lived in the area. It was really funny to simply sit back and watch people. I saw folks in suits, folks with funny graphic tees and jeans(one of the bartenders wore a "666" shirt), and a good measure of tattoo'd but socially awkward people. The art work here is pretty cool and looks to be for sale. If I ever return, I probably wouldn't mind finding a cool piece to bring home. I had a turkey burger with sweet potato fries as my entree. I was satisfied with the burger and fries. The burger was actually bigger than i expected and they gave me a huge portion of sweet potato fries. The tater tots were quite tasty also. The service here is a bit sketchy simpy because you don't have a waiter/waitress. All food/drinks have to be ordered at the bar. I waited a good while to order my food. I was passed over by the workers at the bar and usually had to go out of my way to get their attention to get help. Not only did we have to wait a good while to order but we had a substantial wait to close our tabs also. This alone is why i didn't give this place 4 stars. They should look into getting wait staff. It would probably help the experience here. The food wasn't great but wasn't bad either and I can see how this would be a great local spot for regulars. I won't go out of my way to revisit here but i won't be mad if I happen to end up here on a future night either. I deem this a nice, serviceable middle of the road tavern. read more

Trackside Tavern - Interesting enough? Bartender - Dive Bars Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Josh (baseball hat, black hair), and Steve (blonde) are the best bartenders! Josh and I will hug when I see each other, Steve is more quiet and reserved. My dorm room for three years was straight across from this place and I would walk over there many times after I turned 21 (I came to college after the fire). There is something so romantic about a bar you walk to on cold winter nights alone. FOOD N DRINKS: They always have shot specials, and they're ham n cheese sandwich is the best one I've ever had. PEOPLE: This is definitely a guy bar. Men outnumber women in this bar 10:1. DECATUR: Out of all the places in Decatur, this is the most relaxed and down to Earth. BOTTOM LINE: This is my favorite hangout spot in Decatur. Go there! read more

Very good local spot. The bartender was great and the drinks were good. We ordered fried green beans (okay) and jerk wings ( too saucy and not enough flavor once you were past the sauce). Liked the atmosphere we will definitely try it one more time but order something different. read more

I used to come a lot when I was in college, before the fire. Then I came because it was open later than ATL bars. It was what it was, a dive bar with really rude bar tenders. Now it still wants to be a dive, but its actually really nice inside. Also, the bartenders are really nice now. Service is great, but kinda not still. If you sit at a table, you have to go to the bar for everything. Its just weird, if you have booths and serve food, you are kinda obligated to have servers. That is why it gets 3, not 4 stars. I usually sit at the bar anyways, but when my dad was in town for the holidays, we sat at a table. I was pretty shocked that they still just yell at you that they wont serve you and you have to come to the bar and order. The food is really good for bar food the service has improved with leaps and bounds. Just go if you want to sit at the bar. read more

I've visited a few times since I moved to Avondale. The food is good. The place is unpretentious. They have darts, and a couple of pool tables. I've enjoyed every visit so far and see this as regular staple. read more