I’ve been here before, Joe’s Bar and Grill in Llano, Texas, but I’ve failed to notice this cool pool room in, well, the back, you may say. What makes this stand out to me is you don’t expect it, it’s classic straight out of the movies. Walking into Joe’s, you have a good layout, bar at the right to order that cold drink you might be thirsting for, grab a table, take a seat and maybe order some food, hamburgers and fries just to complete the experience. Good stuff here. Great wait staff, servers, bartender and the people are friendly. You’ll have those passing through that make this a stop on a tradition (smoke a good cigar our front because you can. Yes, this was actual this day talking with a visitor), families on a food outing after some little league games, and those like us who put it on a days ride itinerary as a damn good place to stop. The other side to this establishment is store where you may find some cool things you can’t live without or take home to someone. Maybe a souvenir because, well, Texas is just a cool place to remember. But here’s the kicker on today’s visit. I joined the ride by invitation of a new group, it was a great morning, so how could I refuse?! Well, in all honesty, I did at first, after the week, I was tired and cranky, but, this sure would be some good therapy. So one of the riders, which now a friend, let’s call him Jeff for the sake of this story, was walking around the place taking it in as this was his first time here. he came back and told me what a cool Pool Room they had. Naturally, I got up from my chair to go check out what he was talking about. Sure enough, there were some stairs which lead to a lower level. The door way, is low, so anyone taller than me, which will be a lot of people, will have to watch their heads. And there is was, one of the coolest Pool Rooms I’d ever seen. Again, straight out of the movies. Original stone wall from whenever this historic building was made that was embracing three tables, covered and ready for action. The room was well aligned for some heavy duty evenings. Seats, tables, lights and chalkboard representing a tournament bracket from who knows. If this were the movies, you could almost see Jackie Gleason cueing up a ball, black and white with a glass of bourbon sitting next to a burning cigarette laying on an ashtray. Maybe Paul Newman and his slick smile gliding along a table. George C. Scott, Willie Mosconi, you know the movie. Jeff was taking it all in as well. We looked at a music poster tacked to one of the posts and talked about what it must be like when the place is “hustling” along. It’s cool to see the world through others eyes, it’s also cool when they help you see what you might have missed. I’m going to mark this spot to hopefully come back when it’s hopping. I need to see that, I need to hear those stories.
Joe’s Bar and Grill, Llano , Texas – right on the square!