Editorial Juice Review: Johnny's Hall of Fame

The Bar: Earlier this year Des Moines' oldest sports bar took a big leap into the 21st century. The bar was opened up a bit so the pool table area doesn't feel quite so cave-like, and the bar was moved from right by the door, giving the place a better flow. If you're a Cubs fan, Johnny's is looking to cater to you. If you're not a Cubs fan ... well, your team will play the Cubs at some point.

The Crowd: The booths along the window were open, but a couple of large groups were dominating the tables in the center of the bar. There was a good-sized group playing pool in the back, and the nice weather meant a lot of people were spending the evening on the patio.

Around a dozen TVs are mounted on the walls, which would normally allow for some variety, but we went on an Olympic night. There was hardly a team logo to be seen as fans cheered on synchronized divers.

The Regulars: Johnny's caters to both kinds of Cubs fans: Chicago and Iowa. You can get $2 bottles and $2.50 16-ounce cans of Old Style during games by either Cubs team. The location on Court means Johnny's brings in plenty of patrons looking for a quick drink before the next bar, instead of just "SportsCenter" fans.

Are We Happy? Pretty much. We went in for dinner, but Johnny's is working with an abbreviated menu (the full menu will be completed in a few weeks). The happy hour draw specials being limited to Bud, Coors and Miller products was a little disappointing, but the beer was still cold, the potato skins were hot and there was a TV everywhere you looked.

Happy Hour:
4-8 p.m. Monday through Friday

The Specials:
$2 domestic draws, $2.50 well drinks, $2.75 domestic bottles