Nothing beats a rough afternoon of swingin’ at Milton’s Kemper Park then a quick trip to the Hide-A-Way Room at Dave’s of Milton. Dive bar veterans unite! The Hide-A-Way Room is a genuine find, and well worth the trip up I-5.

The servers are like family as they mingle around the guests. Carrying on conversations I’m sure they’ve had going for decades, no one misses a beat as I enter the building. Smiles and greetings welcome me immediately, but it’s the door in the corner that’s really calling my name.

Dark, yet not at all gloomy, Dave’s lounge (Hide-A-Way room) seats about five people belly up to the bar. Although it’s my favorite place to sit, all the spots are full. Dive Bar 101 tells me the regulars are plentiful and loyal here, so I opt for a side seat at a nearby table. Stephanie the bartender (I dig the name) exudes a laid-back happiness as she pours me a superb, cold as frozen-over-hell draft beer. I’m in love.

Pull tabs, ceiling tiles, afternoon local lounge lizards, wood paneling, faux brick fireplace, only two beer selections on tap, and great cheap steak deals (16 oz for $14.95) make me give this small backroom lounge a “thumbs up” on the dive bar scale.

What I didn’t know, but was definitely happy to find out, were all the outlets of entertainment that lie hidden in this glorious, dark dive bar. Texas Hold ‘Em every Thursday, karaoke on the weekends (every good dive needs a karaoke machine), and comedy acts once a month. I’m so stoked. I plan on planting my ass on one of those barstools to hold my place until the next poker tourney comes around.

Thankfully they serve good grub as well as cold beer, I’m going to be Hidin’-Away at the Hide-A-Way for quite a while.

Dave’s of Milton

1502 11th Ave., Milton, 253.926.8707

Food: from Fajitas, to fried eggs, to Halibut — they have it all
Beer: Budweiser and Hefeweisen
Mullet count: one

Bar Exam Dive Grade: A-