Billiard's sit at St. Louis and Kimbrough across from the Shrine
When Scott Morris stepped away from managing Billiard’s in the mid-90s to raise his son, the pool hall was a constant packed house. They were tops in the city in draft sales – before a place called Remmington’s took that crown (before a place called Remmington’s flamed out almost over night). Well, Morris is back: “I dropped my boy off at college on a Thursday and walked back in here on a Monday.”
So, in with Morris and out with the Blue Room – as a music venue, that is. It was among the first orders of business for Morris, to turn Billiard’s back into a pool hall first. “The bulk of our customers come to play pool,” Morris said. For now, the room is open for reservations, with no deposit or charge. “If you need a room and can bring 20 people in, you can have it for the night.” The room has already undergone renovations, with fresh paint and new carpet. It lost some of that … how do you say? Gross feel. The room has been used recently for private parties, from sorority dances and Halloween parties to meetings. Morris spoke of nights less than 20 years ago when the Blue Room would get packed throughout the week for Blues’ hockey. He has plans to add television sports packages in the future to progress on the sports bar edge, but that will likely come before the 2010 NFL season.
The Blue Room is under transformation, from live music to whatever you need it for (unless you need a music venue).
Other than the absence of noise near the restrooms, there aren’t any noticeable differences (if you don’t count the beautiful, new HD Golden Tee arcade game by the back door). It’s a hot spot for pool – clearly, check the name – but it remains nice low-key option for a pitcher of beer and a cheap, delicious bite to eat. The menu screams bar food, but sometimes that’s what you want to hear.
They grill your angus burger on a flat top behind the bar. A variety of grilled sandwiches (from chicken to cheese) keep a place on the menu. Nothing you order will break your bank with some other usual suspects available for order (hot wings, chili, toasted ravioli, fries, mozzarella sticks, etc.). Unless you make a day of it (two full meals), it’d be difficult to reach a $10 food ticket.
Alongside the Buds and Miller Lite handles you will normally find a selection of wheats (Blue Moon, Boulevard and Leinenkugel’s Sunset) and occasionally another specialty, with a fair selection of bottles (it reaches the Sam Adams, Rolling Rock, Red Stripe level). AND, as Scott Perket said: “They have Mello Yellow!”
Billiards will always be king at ... Billiard's
Billiard’s
541 E St. Louis
(417) 866-4319
Mon-Sat: 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m.
Sun: 11 a.m.-Midnight
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