Friendly Bar Bistro: In The News

THE FRIENDLY BAR BISTRO

HILL COUNTRY WINES, BEER & BISTRO FOOD

IN THE NEWS

Recent articles & reviews in the media

Review from The Texas Wine & Food Gourmet.com, by Terry Thompson-Anderson, reprinted below. To see on-line article, click: Article

The Friendly Bar Bistro – 106 North Nugent, Johnson City, Texas 78636 (830) 868-2182. Now, here’s a wine bar with a smoky history! Originally opened in the 1870’s as the Palace Saloon, the building has seen its share of cowboys, ranchers and Texas characters. The great mirrored back bar, which still remains, was added in 1883.The name was later changed to Friendly Bar and had a score of owners over the years. The years built up a patina of cigar and cigarette smoke as the town of Johnson City grew around the free standing building. In 1995 the owners commissioned Nathan Jensen to do a huge panoramic mural which they titled “Friendly Bar Customers Past Present and Future”. When Tom and Cindy Talcott bought the bar in June of 2006, they set to work removing the smoky patina, down to scrubbing the original tin ceiling, but decided to leave the mural as a visual history of the place (and perhaps the town). The Talcotts renamed the bar ”The Friendly Bar Bistro” and completely renovated the interior. The great original bar remains, refitted with comfortable stools. Individual groupings of sofas, chairs and tables and chairs provide intimate seating areas for enjoying the fruit of the vine or a cold beer, with choices from Texas breweries.

The wine list is small, but varied and Texas wines have a good showing on the list. Cheese, fruit and bread plates prepared by Temptations Bakery of Johnson City are available. With a nod to its former incarnation, Friendly Bar Bistro has a back patio with dart board, pool table and seating. In true Texas tradition the bistro will offer various music venues such as blues, country and jazz with occasional chamber music. Noted Texas musician Johnny Greenberg (Texas Music’s top producer for 2006) actually got his start at the old Friendly Bar during a “hot mike” session. Greenberg even wrote a song about the bar – “The Too Damned Friendly Bar”. (See www.johnmgreenberg.com/home.) The Talcotts will keep the open mike tradition alive at the Friendly Bar Bistro. It’s a great little place – definitely not your average wine bar! If you’re on your way to Fredericksburg on a Friday afternoon, stop in for a wee libation to jump start your weekend, a little tete a tete with some friendly folks and lots of local color in the land of LBJ. www.friendlybarbistro.com.

Review From The Johnson City Record Courier, Salsa Dancing + Salsa Tasting = Friendly Bar Bistro, By Ruth Ann Marshal, 9/12/06.

While there was football going on inside, there was something much more exciting going on outside! This past Sunday, Selah Simpson and her trusty sidekick/sister Dannon were on hand in the beer garden to teach salsa dancing. Selah comes to us from Alice’s Dance Studio in Austin and has been dancing many genres for a number of years. They taught participants the basic salsa dance steps as well as a few not so basics. After getting the essentials down, participants learned the ‘hair brush’ and even the ‘double hair brush’. Sound intriguing? Do you want to know more? The music was entertaining, and to go along with the unique atmosphere, there were plenty of chip dippin’ salsas and snacks to keep the body fueled while dancing. If you missed it last week, don’t despair! The response was so great that Selah agreed to come back again next Sunday, September 17^th from 3-4pm [Ed: Next is Sun Oct 8 at 5pm]. Admission is free, so come out and dance the afternoon away with your favorite drink, fun and food! The fun will be out in the beer garden, with more salsas and snacks to enjoy. So get your dancin’ shoes on and come join the fun. Don’t forget to check www.friendlybarbistro.com for more fun events coming up.

Review From The Johnson City Record Courier, The Friendly Bar and All that Jazz, By Heather Hogan, August 24, 2006.

The soulful sounds of blues artist Patsy Thompson spilled out into the streets of Johnson City from the Friendly Bar Bistro Friday night. A native of Canada, Thompson’s sound shows all the colors of her influences who include Bonnie Raitt, Patsy Cline, Janis Joplin, and Willie Nelson—but with a decidedly Texas flair. Though not appearing with her usual band members, the skilled players who joined her meshed together flawlessly for an incredibly smooth, entertaining show. The band filled the Friendly’s classy but comfortable room with a mix of jazz and blues, covers of classics by Patsy Cline and others, and Thompson originals like “Sweet Blanco Rose.” While still in college, the now Texas-based Thompson and Wailin’ Walker and the House Rockers made rock and blues for biker dances and parties around British Columbia until she felt the stage had gotten too small for both of them. Thompson has been entertaining Texans since 1992, when she first played Austin’s South-by-Southwest music festival.

Friendly Bar Bistro owner Tom Talcott’s plans are to continue providing Johnson City with a variety of musical guests in the newly reopened Friendly. With a variety of award-winning Texas and international wines and beers, Talcott aims to create a clean, conversation-friendly atmosphere in the newly reopened bar. While accommodating smokers with outdoor tables and the soon-to-open beer garden, Talcott has designed the indoor wine bar/bistro to be a smoke-free atmosphere to provide all customers a relaxing, “friendly” venue. With its eclectic décor, cozy but upscale furnishings and such acts as Thompson, the new Friendly is a classy, intimate alternative for a weekend night in the Hill Country. Patsy Thompson’s band will be appearing at the Friendly again in September. Information on future events at the Friendly Wine Bar Bistro is available at www.friendlybarbistro.com.

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE BACK TO HOME PAGE