photo: courtesy of Bridget Cicenia
The cream of the early-morning crop has to be Crabbby Kim's (perhaps the extra "B" stands for "Breakfast"), where the bartenders are barely dressed and the beer flows early and often. Patrons (usually blue-collar diners) file in starting at 7 a.m. and the grill stays open all day.
If you're not familiar with Crabbby Kim's, imagine the Hooters business plan without the stupid humor and the emphasis on bad wings, and with even skimpier outfits. All the barstaff wear are bikinis, even in the heart of winter, but there's not much management-enforced flirting to up the tips.
And before you start thinking that "bikini bar" means this place is too sleazy to stop in and eat, think again: Crabbby Kim's runs a tight ship and is more tidy than you'd expect. The wood-paneled interior and hanging surfboards scream "rec room," but the beers are cheap ($3 domestics daily), the view is pleasant and the hours make this an oft-ignored destination.
Centerstage Reviewer: Karl Klockars