We cruised up Boston Street, a battalion of blinking Boh heads in the rearview, and turned into an alley a block before Bartenders hoping to avoid metered parking spaces. Neither of us was quite positive how much we had in change, and, since a 25 cent miscalculation can lead to a $26 ticket, we figured better safe than sorry. Approaching Bartenders on foot, though, we noticed a wide open spot and realized that this block didn't actually have meters on it after all. Damn.
Inside the long, fairly narrow bar, several empty booths lined one wall and the person I believed to be the owner sat at the bar -- a 30-something man dressed sleekly in business caj thumbing away at a Blackberry or some other hi-tech status symbol.
We scooted into one of the many empty booths, looking over our shoulders at the chalkboard colorfully scrawled with each of Bartenders' pizzas, though found it easier to peruse the menu instead. Not much of a crowd on this summery Monday evening -- a breeze and screaming sirens blowing in through open doors and windows -- which is surprising, since Monday is $6 Pizza Night.
The gentleman I presumed to be the owner rolled out with a friendly goodbye, and several others just like him wandered in with similarly friendly salutations. Seems I was mistaken and the owners were actually the two gentleman behind the bar. Of the four owners, two were working this evening -- Chris Peyton and Dave Spence. After Peyton took our order, he ran off to make the pizza himself. That's what I call service.
The owners, who seem more like childhood friends or college drinking buddies than business partners, grew up in Highlandtown reared on Matthew's Pizza, so rest assured they know how to put together a good pie. And, Peyton admits, the menu (a compilation of a little more than a half-dozen pies, as well as some salads and appetizers named after the owners, their employees and some friends) was created while the guys were all hanging around drunk one night.
Like Matthew's, Bartenders eschews tableware and relies instead on paper plates -- though not of the same corrugated strength associated with Matthew's. Theirs is of the flimsy picnic variety.
While we ate, a commercial for Domino's or Pizza Hut or some other bleached out, heartless pizza corporation came on one of Bartenders' flat screens. As my girlfriend and I fought over the largest and most topping-laden pieces, I watched the smiling family and thought, you poor, poor ignorant bastards.
Dish: The Spence Pie, "best pizza on the list" according to Dave Spence, includes a hearty homemade sauce, roasted red peppers, spicy andouille sausage, onions and Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses that melt into a soft and runny, delicious mess.
Damage: The Spence (normally $10) only costs $6 on Mondays, and coupled with a single beer, our tab still only came to $9. Other pizzas range from $7 to $12.
Decision: Most readily likened to Matthew's or even Thirsty Dog, Bartender's makes a hella good pizza that's not too expensive, so stop by, grab a pie and save some loot for the drinking you'll do with the bartenders.
Inside the long, fairly narrow bar, several empty booths lined one wall and the person I believed to be the owner sat at the bar -- a 30-something man dressed sleekly in business caj thumbing away at a Blackberry or some other hi-tech status symbol.
The gentleman I presumed to be the owner rolled out with a friendly goodbye, and several others just like him wandered in with similarly friendly salutations. Seems I was mistaken and the owners were actually the two gentleman behind the bar. Of the four owners, two were working this evening -- Chris Peyton and Dave Spence. After Peyton took our order, he ran off to make the pizza himself. That's what I call service.
The owners, who seem more like childhood friends or college drinking buddies than business partners, grew up in Highlandtown reared on Matthew's Pizza, so rest assured they know how to put together a good pie. And, Peyton admits, the menu (a compilation of a little more than a half-dozen pies, as well as some salads and appetizers named after the owners, their employees and some friends) was created while the guys were all hanging around drunk one night.
Like Matthew's, Bartenders eschews tableware and relies instead on paper plates -- though not of the same corrugated strength associated with Matthew's. Theirs is of the flimsy picnic variety.
While we ate, a commercial for Domino's or Pizza Hut or some other bleached out, heartless pizza corporation came on one of Bartenders' flat screens. As my girlfriend and I fought over the largest and most topping-laden pieces, I watched the smiling family and thought, you poor, poor ignorant bastards.
Dish: The Spence Pie, "best pizza on the list" according to Dave Spence, includes a hearty homemade sauce, roasted red peppers, spicy andouille sausage, onions and Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses that melt into a soft and runny, delicious mess.
Damage: The Spence (normally $10) only costs $6 on Mondays, and coupled with a single beer, our tab still only came to $9. Other pizzas range from $7 to $12.
Decision: Most readily likened to Matthew's or even Thirsty Dog, Bartender's makes a hella good pizza that's not too expensive, so stop by, grab a pie and save some loot for the drinking you'll do with the bartenders.
