Pastime Tavern

This is my favorite hangout, been coming here for years now. u can bring your own liquor and u get a chance to see the owner swing on that pole… nice environment everybody is so nice… no drama open fri, sat, sun, and we watch mon nite football every week. come out and enjoy… this is ms. dee dee

I somehow never realized this was a place I was allowed to enter until Kristie A took me over there. She must know the secret code to get in. Jk — the back door was wide open!
On a nice night, most of the patrons were hanging out in the back on the picnic tables (awning covered in case of rain). Beer and wine only, unless you BYOL, which you can totally do if you are that prepared in advance of shimmying over here.
The thing that struck me the most about PT (not sure if it’s Pastime or Pasttime) is how insanely friendly everyone was. Seriously — if ever everyone you know is out of town, and you like low maintenance B&W bars, I bet you would have a fantastic time meeting some new friends here. You might even ditch your old friends for the new ones — they are that nice!

Stepping back in time, you have walked into the best dive bar around!
Harry, the owner and Christie, the bartender are so friendly and always remember you. It’s kinda like family because they make you feel so welcome.
They serve beer, wine and setups, prices are great.
This weekend, Harry is celebrating his 27^th year of owning this bar with a Chili Cook Off and $ 3.00 brews! Call Harry and reserve your place in the cook off or just drop by, bring your friends and help celebrate his anniversary!

I love this bar
It’s my kind of place
Just walkin’ through the front door
Puts a big smile on my face
It ain’t too far, come as you are
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar

I have really failed as a Dallas resident to not have been to this bar sooner. So Dallas, I welcome you to my new favorite bar. It reminds me of bigger version of Ships. It’s as dirty and old feeling as Ships, and you can bring in your own liquor, as they only serve beer.
Harry, I assume the owner, is a delightful old man. Not only did he give me money to play the juke box, he bought our beers for me and my friend. So very nice. And my charming personality talked myself into Harry’s pool tournament team. Giggle. But seriously he said they play on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s so I’m going to go check them out some time. I imagine that would be a fun group.
The pro tip I learned is there is parking in the back, and to go through the back door. Don’t be a total newb and go through the front. You’ll get looked at funny.
Who wants to meet me for happy hour?

In terms of true dive bars this place is the mother load. This is not an ironic hipster hangout, it is not a stripped down sports bar in North Dallas this is a real Texas honky tonk dive bar. There is no hard liquor, just beer and backups, no drafts, no food other than chips etc, likely no wine and most of all no BS or pretense. There are bottled and canned beers including Shiner, a modern juke box, a small pool table, a very low ceiling, tiny bathrooms, a few picnic tables in the parking lot and atmosphere lots and lots of atmosphere. There are enough old beer signs and other Americana to make the guys from American pickers jerk off on-​the– spot. I love the gold tinted vinyl on the bar stools, the comfy but worn booths and the sounds of Robert Earl Keen playing on the jukebox. While some old dives have signs banning the F-​word here it seems to be required.
For a fun night out, travel 60 years and several tax brackets by going the half mile between the Pastime and Cedar’s social.
Rail access from the Cedars station via the blue and red lines. It is around .5 mile through some quiet streets in not the best part of town so take care if walking late at night. Strangely you can only enter through the back door.

Bring-​your-​own-​liquor bar. Dark, damp, old place. Friendly older crowd. Outdoor and indoor seating. The bar sells you the mixers. Feels like louisiana in here. No pretension. They just don’t give a damn. I like it.

Driving toward downtown from Lee Harvey’s, my friend did a quick u turn right after I said, «I’ve always wanted to go there.» And so began our little adventure into quirky small town Texas. The front door, for some reason was locked. We went around to the back where it looked like an outdoor BBQ place with 3 people just hanging out under flourescent lighting. Some modern day cowboy character told me they were closed. But a friendly curvey Texas gal laughed it off, «He’s just playin’.» He looked psycho. Kristy took us inside to the dusty bar that had a Texas musty smelling, stuffy feelling, kinda hot, I guess they were savin’ on AC.
«Set ups, beer, and 6 packs to go.» down home girl told us. We shared a landshark and Kristy hung out with us like we were distant relatives sittin’ on the porch. The owner hung out with us too and was drinking a «mojito» from a skinny can. They would have talked to us for hours. No one else was there on a Wednesday night.
If Dallas had some coolio kids ala Austin, this place would be a trendy hot spot. And it is for me.
5 stars for classic funky dive bar with a ton of charm.

I’m on my dive bar kick today, so I thought I’d review one more.
Opened in 1937, Pastime Tavern is located close to Lee Harvey’s, and you’ll pass it if you’re not careful. Even though there is a sign out front, it sneaks up on you just as your turning on to Ervay off of St. Paul. Parking is in the back.
Much like Ships, the place only sells beer, wine and set-​ups. It also brings in the same type of regular crowd as Ships, meaning a little older than what’s found at Lee Harvey’s or lower Greenville.
Staff is friendly, and sometimes you can see a live show in the back room, anything from country to garage rock to experimental.

Perfect place to escape the Greenville-​Expo Park rut I’ve found myself in plenty of times. The owner is darling, and they’ve been hosting a lot of really good shows lately. Be careful where you park — my car got broken into here, but nothing stolen and the police and owners were very accommodating.