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| Dunbar's for every generation |
by Gabriela Gonzalez
DownIsland Staff
DownIsland Staff
click on picture to enlarge
People tend to think that things get old and broken-down with the wear-and-
tear of time, until someday they’re forgotten. Well, maybe not.
Contrary to the belief that everything eventually goes out of style, Dunbar’s –a
bar and restaurant located in a sector popularly known as Ocean Park– has
been going strong for 24 years. And like a rare jewel, Dunbar’s sits on
McCleary Avenue, waiting to be discovered by new generations, and prized by
the older generations who have come to love it.
“It has a charm because it’s neither a restaurant, or a bar, or a nightclub,”
says owner and founder John Belsky. “It’s a cornucopia of nightlife in an
atmosphere of informality.”
And if you ask anyone of the many locals who frequent the establishment, he
or she would probably agree.
“I love this place,” says Vanessa Ortiz, a 34-year-old who’s been hanging out
at Dunbar’s for years and who usually goes on Fridays to listen to the live
band while having drinks with friends.
Dunbar’s has live music every night from Wednesdays to Sundays, featuring
different local bands each night. On Fridays it’s Melissa & Madre Tierra, a
rock cover band that has a pretty steady following. Other featured bands are
La Banda Sin Nombre on Wednesdays, Celenia & Grupo Indigo on Thursdays,
RPM on Saturdays, and Debora Brum on Sundays.
And just before the band goes onstage, the tables get cleared out from the
midsection of the restaurant to make way for those wanting to dance and
mingle.
But for those who are more interested in the food than the music, there’s an
extensive menu with different appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and
entrées to choose from.
Starting with the menu itself, which is a colorful montage of hundreds of
pictures of happy customers at Dunbar’s, just deciding what you want to eat
can be a fun experience.
There’s even an entire section of the menu devoted to Wings and Skins,
where you can choose how hot you want your chicken wings and create your
own potato skins with the toppings of your choice.
There’s also a brunch menu for those coming in a little earlier, featuring
different types of late-breakfast dishes.
Wednesdays are Sushi nights from 5-10:30 p.m., where sushi aficionados can
enjoy their favorite Japanese delicacies, like the popular rolls and sashimi
pieces.
Kids age 12 and younger are also given a play menu made especially for
them, decorated with pictures of kids at Dunbar’s and with lots of fun games
inside.
“Rather than just being a bar, we’ve also become a family-oriented business,
which has helped us survive over the years,” says Belsky.
And we can all be sure Dunbar’s will be around for many more.
Dunbar’s opens from 11:30 am to midnight on weekdays, from 5 pm-1 am on
Saturdays, and from 10 am-midnight on Sundays. Tel. 787-728-2920.
tear of time, until someday they’re forgotten. Well, maybe not.
Contrary to the belief that everything eventually goes out of style, Dunbar’s –a
bar and restaurant located in a sector popularly known as Ocean Park– has
been going strong for 24 years. And like a rare jewel, Dunbar’s sits on
McCleary Avenue, waiting to be discovered by new generations, and prized by
the older generations who have come to love it.
“It has a charm because it’s neither a restaurant, or a bar, or a nightclub,”
says owner and founder John Belsky. “It’s a cornucopia of nightlife in an
atmosphere of informality.”
And if you ask anyone of the many locals who frequent the establishment, he
or she would probably agree.
“I love this place,” says Vanessa Ortiz, a 34-year-old who’s been hanging out
at Dunbar’s for years and who usually goes on Fridays to listen to the live
band while having drinks with friends.
Dunbar’s has live music every night from Wednesdays to Sundays, featuring
different local bands each night. On Fridays it’s Melissa & Madre Tierra, a
rock cover band that has a pretty steady following. Other featured bands are
La Banda Sin Nombre on Wednesdays, Celenia & Grupo Indigo on Thursdays,
RPM on Saturdays, and Debora Brum on Sundays.
And just before the band goes onstage, the tables get cleared out from the
midsection of the restaurant to make way for those wanting to dance and
mingle.
But for those who are more interested in the food than the music, there’s an
extensive menu with different appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and
entrées to choose from.
Starting with the menu itself, which is a colorful montage of hundreds of
pictures of happy customers at Dunbar’s, just deciding what you want to eat
can be a fun experience.
There’s even an entire section of the menu devoted to Wings and Skins,
where you can choose how hot you want your chicken wings and create your
own potato skins with the toppings of your choice.
There’s also a brunch menu for those coming in a little earlier, featuring
different types of late-breakfast dishes.
Wednesdays are Sushi nights from 5-10:30 p.m., where sushi aficionados can
enjoy their favorite Japanese delicacies, like the popular rolls and sashimi
pieces.
Kids age 12 and younger are also given a play menu made especially for
them, decorated with pictures of kids at Dunbar’s and with lots of fun games
inside.
“Rather than just being a bar, we’ve also become a family-oriented business,
which has helped us survive over the years,” says Belsky.
And we can all be sure Dunbar’s will be around for many more.
Dunbar’s opens from 11:30 am to midnight on weekdays, from 5 pm-1 am on
Saturdays, and from 10 am-midnight on Sundays. Tel. 787-728-2920.
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