I came here for the post-wedding/reception gathering here on a Saturday. There were a smattering of people, but not the crowd I'd expect on a Saturday (barring our wedding crowd). This does seem like a fun place to play shuffleboard, darts, and billiards. Do make sure to go up to the bartender to ask for the pucks/whatever-you-call-them to play shuffleboard, before some other group does so (snap!). The bathrooms weren't shiny, but they were clean. The bartender wasn't exactly rude, but I had a pretty weird conversation with him (though I might chalk it up to the fact that a lot in our party weren't drinking, and might not have tipped standard). I asked him how many ounces the lambic was, which, on the menu, was $9. He said, somewhat dismissively, that it was on the menu. I peered at the menu again. No, it wasn't. He repeated that it was on the menu. More peering at the menu. I said that all I could see was that it was $9. He then made a big "Oh" of realization, and told me it was 20 ounces. He wasn't prompt with making my drink, but rather prompt and friendly in getting me my water (this was after I tipped the standard 20%).
(3)
Alexis R.
Love this place! My friend and I each got a beer sampler last night, which had mostly tasty, Twains-made brews. The one "yipes" was a jalepeno-infused beer that neither of us was expecting. Ain't that a kick in the pants? Darts, pool, Flyers games, trivia night on Mondays... some nice additions to the average bar. The service was also excellent - our waitress was attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is great as well, with lots of open space, but still with an old pub-type vibe. I'm knocking off a star because honestly, my food wasn't that amazing. The fries were phenomenal, but my beet sandwich didn't taste fresh or warm, and lacked some serious flavor. I know what you're thinking: "Why the eff did you order a beet sandwich at a bar?" That question may haunt me for years to come. But to be honest, I normally like beets, so it shouldn't have been disappointing, even if a little weird. All in all, this is a great hangout place, and I'm reserving my judgment too harshly on the food until I try something more common for a joint like Twain's. Next time... I eat veggie chili and fries!
(4)
Matt M.
Very mediocre food, generic self-brewed stuff on tap. What sets this place apart is the pergola out front for dining, the billiards room, shuffleboards, and darts. They really could spend $50 and get an unlimited supply of dart tails though -- I've gone probably 50 times and they are always trashed. Beards galore at the bar. My favorite thing about Twain's is their method of getting people out when they're closing down -- they turn up the lights and then crank up the thrash metal. Who'd want to stay?
(3)
B B.
Seriously the tomato basil soup and the sweet potato fries are exact replica's of what I can get at fresh market. The tables are very sticky and that was it for me. The waiter was a cool redhead so they get at least two stars. The games and live music helped also. The beer varieties are nice. This just isn't the place for me. Maybe if I was drunk before I went in they would have gotten a sweeter review.
(2)
D M.
I came out to Twain's in celebration of Man Day, and had a delightful time. We drank pitchers Man Brew to dull the sensation of new tattoos. A few fries were snagged, and I was a little sad I'd already eaten elsewhere because those fries were good. The beer was very reasonably priced, and I was surprised that it was made there....nothing beats a good microbrew. If I'd stayed longer, I would have played some shuffleboard. So much fun. They had a good number of pool tables and dart boards, so even it if was busy, people could still play. The bathrooms were tidy despite it being busy. Everyone working was super friendly and seemed happy, which added to the experience. I'd come back again gladly, as long as I could play some shuffleboard!
(4)
Alex C.
First time here tonight. The environment is great. It's got the modern rustic feel to it and there isn't insanely loud music or tv's. They're there, but you can tune it out. The place seemed popular as it was consistently busy the whole time we were there, yet you could still get decent service and never felt crowded. If you're into billiards and booze, this place should be high on your list. Their selection is awesome and their prices were decent. I got the porter that they have, I don't remember the name, but its above the Guiness on the menu. It was good. I'm not big on most beers, but I liked it. As far as food goes, we didn't have any, though it looked good. If you're looking for a place to hang out and have some drinks, this place is excellent.
(4)
Dru M.
Twain's has a great vibe to it. It's very open in the front of the house. In the back is where the pool tables and shuffleboard tables are. This place is very good for large groups. Below are a few of my highlights. * Pool tables and shuffleboard tables are always a bonus. * Back patio is a great place to have a few cocktails with friends...especially when the weather is nice. * As for appetizers...I really like their fries, which are tossed in garlic or come with a choice of dips (my favorite is the horseradish mayo). I'm also a fan of their hummus that comes with pita and veggies. * Their "Beet-L-T" is actually pretty good. It's basically roasted red beets, with arugula and a goat cheese tarragon spread on toasted wheat. * Prices are very affordable and portion sizes are pretty large. * Pretty good service...usually fast and very friendly. Note - they also have a brunch. One that I hope to check out soon. Overall...a fun place in Decatur to spend an evening with friends whether it's for dinner, drinks or a friendly game of pool.
(4)
Alex M.
Worst service experience I have ever had. Server failed in pretty much every regard (never brought drink orders, no silverware when the food came out- had to ask twice and wait 5 minutes for it, my order was wrong and it took 15 minutes for it to be corrected. We complained to the waitress and she pretty much told us, too bad. I will never give this place my business again.
(1)
Sam M.
Twians is one of my Decatur go to spots for weekend evening fun. They brew their own beer on site and come off with some good brews from time to time, but also keep a decent variety of commercial beers at hand. The food is typical bar food, the wings are solid. The real draw is the pool tables, shuffle board, darts, and the wide open spaces seemingly lacking in other bars in Decatur. If I have a large crowd of friends, this is the place I think to bring them. The place is cavernous when compared to the Brickstore and most other area bars. Couple that with the fun of smack talking over a shuffleboard game, and you have the makings of a good evening. Just reserve your shuffle board table early, because folks tend to stay on them all night.
(4)
Ashley B.
I like Twains. Being married to a member of the Emory graduate school, we know a lot of people who live in Decatur and Twain's is a frequent choice for meetups And I admit that every time it's suggested I think a little "ugh, Twain's AGAIN?" but that's just because I'm obsessed with newness. Every time we go I always end up having a good time. First, the food isn't gastropub fancy, but it IS yummy and well-executed. Second, they've got great beers on draft. Three - games! Including lots of pool tables. Darts and shuffleboard are also included. Fourth, they have jazz on some nights, just to add a little bit of (potentially out of place, but still) class to the joint. Fifth, it's really big, so it hardly ever feels crazy crowded, even when it is. I've had pretty big groups get tables together, even on Friday and Saturday nights. In my progressive move toward old age I won't lie: I like to sit. Put these things together with the requisite good company that is always the key ingredient for a good time anyway and this place is a solid standby, either for a rowdy group outing or a drink out with your sweetie up at the bar to watch a game.
(4)
lito v.
Pretty cool looking spot. I like the decor. Very open layout. Came on a Sunday night it was a little dead. Thanks to the bartender for recommending me the Belgium Chocolate wheat beer. I usually stay away from these types of flavors. But f it, and glad I did. Outstanding beer.
(4)
Lee B.
Back in the day, I really enjoyed it but ever since they turned into a brewpub, it just doesn't have the same appeal to me. They have a rotating tap of beer that they brew in house. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't. They recently changed their menu and got rid of several vegetarian items which I wasn't pleased with. Fortunately, they kept the Mediterranean Platter which is Greek Salad, hummus and veggie chili. Unfortunately, the hummus was chunky and unflavorful - guess they changed the recipe for it. Service is hit or miss. I've had great service here and I've also left because no one came to my table in a ten minute period. I want to like this place. It's in a good location and parking is a breeze. So I continue to frequent it although it underwhelms me each time.
(3)
Martha M.
I came in on a Monday night for trivia with a group of 5 friends. We walked in, sat down, and waited for about 15 minutes for someone to take our drink order. Finally, someone in our party gave in and went to the bar to ask if we could order drinks there. While he was gone, our server walked up and said "Is he trying to order drinks at the bar? You have a waitress so it'd be a good idea if you actually waited" then walked away. My friend came back and said the bartender told him he had to place his drink order with his server. So we sat around for another 10-15 minutes until our server cooled down enough to come back and take our drink order. After bringing us our drinks, she ignored us for most of the night and we left after about an hour. It could be good if you're too drunk to notice how bad the service is.
(2)
Leon S.
Food came in a reasonable time, but ... fried onion rings should not be made using the tough outer layer of the onion and the Roasted Turkey on Wheat sandwich should be made with FRESH, not moldy turkey. Ugh. That moldy aftertaste. I much prefer the food at other Decatur area restaurants. We thought we would try this one after learning that the Harbour Bar & Fish House didn't open until 4:00. It was a big disappointment.
(2)
Jenn D.
I'd only ever been to Twain's once before this weekend, but they won me over this time. It's always amazing to see bartenders who can be patient with their non regulars and then switch right into fast mode, not missing a beat with a one drink order or a 5 drink order. Thanks a bunch for that! Was hoping for a cask, but there was not one available. No problem, the home brewed Hell something Society Stout was a nice change. We just munched on some fries while listening to a great band, never got a hassle from anyone. It was a little hard to get near the stage, either the set up is strange or they have got some rabid fans who do not want to share them with you!! Big plus? PARKING in Decatur. Thank goodness. Definitely a good gathering place for a big group of friends.
(4)
Kevin G.
Food is average. The house brewed beer is average to below depending on the style. The servers are very territorial! However, for some reason when my group of friends want to go out and play some games and drink beer this is where we end up. It is a fun place to through some back and sling darts, rack some pool, or slide some shuffle board. On the most popular nights there can be quite the waiting list for shuffle board so be prepared. There is plenty or room to hang out with friends and let the drinks catch up with you and the atmosphere is like the cool kids basement with all the cool games. I am a fan of that. They have live tunes from time to time and they just add to the garage/basement/backyard field i am looking for.
(3)
J L.
Check it out! It grew on me. After checking in here tons of times, I've continued to have a good time here, eating or not.
(3)
Darren H.
I agree with Michelle more of a hangout spot than anything else. The food was average & the service is slow. The beer selection looks to be pretty good and I'll give them another spin to win me over.
(3)
Russ G.
Still a great place to go virtually anytime, day or night, any day of the week. Recently a new menu was introduced and I had to point out for those unaware. I'm friends with the bar manager and last night we discussed some of the changes to the food, I was surprised to learn that they now make almost all their sauces and dressings in house, so they're not only fresh they're healthier for you. Food for the most part is now locally sourced, with grass fed beef and many organics as well. They're making strides to be more eco-friendly as well as better for you, and that's a huge plus in today's market. Just wanted to comment on that since people don't always know these things.
(5)
Robert M.
I went here yesterday afternoon because I had the young'uns with me and I had heard it was kid friendly during the day; it is. But every time I go here I can't help but thinking I paid too much for what I got. I always forget the locally brewed choices come in the smallish 13 ounce snifters. And the beer is good but, like my buddy Sammy T. always says, "If you get beer stronger than 12 percent you are defeating the purpose of drinking beer..." I agree. The enjoyability factor tends to decrease and you might as well be drinking wine." That point particularly holds true for me with most, perhaps most if not all, of Twain's home brewed beer high gravity beer selections. You do get "bang for the back" but it costs. I like the fact that they have plenty of pool tables but I somehow think the cost for that factors it self into the prices of everything else. I can't help but think I pay for that too even if I don't come here to play pool. The food is certainly good; however, a better food and beer selection can be had for less money a couple block away / a few streets over at Thinking Man. Don't get me wrong...I like Twain's ...but I don't love it.
(3)
Laura C.
This place is really pretty great. Good beer selection, hockey game playing, nice and spacious with awesome shuffleboard tables, and the food is pretty good. The veggie chili is very good. The garlic fries were more oily than I like, but they were nice and garlicky!
(4)
J H.
I was sad that the frat boys were completely dominating the dart area. This is a teeming bar and is pleasant enough despite the aforementioned fratboys, who seem to be the main clientele here during the times I've gone. I would go again. Probably a good place to go with a bunch of friends when the brick store is crowded.
(3)
Lohr B.
Awesome food, beers, and atmosphere
(5)
Megan M.
New menu is good. Except the same old burgers remain. I find them not delicious -- sorry to those of you whom like their burgers. My husband loves the new falafel burger -- much better than the black bean and the vegwich from the old menu. I love the new fries.
(4)
Bob M.
I just returned to Twain's this past weekend for the first time since my review over three years ago, and wow, what a transformation. It is now much bigger and better, and really has no resemblance to what it was back then. Plus they have some actually good beers they brew...Criminal Sin is a very tasty and well done IPA for example. The pool tables are still the small kinda crappy bar tables, but they have new felt and there are now 11 of them. There is a Tornado foosball table in good condition with good lighting, which I would pick over the pool tables. Also they are sporting the newly trendy shuffleboard game, which looks every bit as silly as the people playing it. Ryan is a great bartender and has a lot of good local knowledge about stuff to do in Decatur. Note however that they just lost the majority of their parking, and parking is going to be an issue. Plan on parking nowhere near the place. I didn't eat any food this time but it looks a lot better than it did last time.
(4)
Abhi K.
The atmosphere is great. They have pool tables, shuffleboard and darts. It is definitely large enough to accomodate groups. Their beer selection is also good. My personal favorite is the Abby Ale. What is NOT good at Twain's? The food. I have been there about four times and the food always sucks. I've had the meatloaf sandwich, shrimp fetuccine and the black bean burger. Their only redeeming item on the menu is the sweet potato fries.
(3)
Jim O.
I think Twain's would probably be pretty fun with a group of just adults later at night; but we were there with a several parents and the kids earlier in the evening. Their beer is tasty and reasonably priced. Their wheat and pale ale are decent but not stellar. The potato salad is mayonaise-based and fairly mushed up. I prefer mustard-based and chunkier. I really did not care for it all that much. The Cuban sandwich I had really did not taste like a Cuban sandwich. Sure, it had some of the same stuff on it as a Cuban, but it misses its mark. Nontheless, it was not a bad sandwich, just not great. Now, I'm not one who believes in dragging kids to a bar; but when you're out with a group of adults that have kids, you have to have some place to go. I would say Twain's is just as good or better than any of the other choices. Twain's has a small arcade, photo booth, and foosball table which keeps the kids occupied. Twain's is a great pick for this reason alone. The place seems big enough and has enough choices of areas to hang out in, including a decent sized pool room, and things to do. I could see coming back to hang out with the older crowd the next time if presented the opportunity.
(3)
Mike Y.
I'm honestly on the fence with Twain's. Part of me really wants to like it. I mean... they have 2 official sized shuffleboards and plenty of pool tables. They even had Deer Hunter and Foosball. We might've chosen a bad time to go since I saw a lot of people in wedding attire and they kind of took over the place. Shuffleboard is amazingly fun, but it's only cool if you can play. The lines are usually ridiculous and getting yourself on the list is impossible. The rest of the bar looked like a sports bar / pool hall. It was pretty spacious inside, but every table was occupied. I probably would have loved Twain's if our party was able to get on the shuffleboard. I can't really complain though. The one at Ormsby's is perpetually full too. I'll come back for round 2 and maybe try to come earlier to get some action on that board. 13/365
(3)
Rochelle D.
I have been wanting to check out Twains for months, so when a friend asked if I wanted to get dinner and shoot some pool there I jumped at the opportunity. When we arrived there was a scuffle brewing on the patio out front. Fortunately it didn't go beyond some heated name calling and shoving, I was a bit concerned that there was no one around to break things up. Once we got inside the atmosphere was much more laid-back. The music was a bit loud, but it was an interesting mix of rock and hip-hop that was suitable for the crowd of mostly 30 somethings. There was a wait for a pool table, so we decided to grab a bite and a drink while we waited. Recently I have had some questionable experiences with mixed rinks, but these were actually really good. I know Twains is a beer pub, but I hate beer, so I was glad to get a good mixed drink. The food was OK, nothing spectacular. I had a french dip and salad. The meat was a little overcooked (it's listed on the menu as medium rare) and slightly tough, but had good flavor. The salad was good, with crisp, green lettuce, chunks of tomatoes and cucumbers, and good quality blue cheese dressing. Our server was attentive, though not real friendly. Overall, the experience was OK. I would go back if a group of friends invited me, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend the place to others. There was nothing that stood out as great or horrible, all was just average.
(3)
Lydia V.
I really like the community atmosphere, and who doesn't approve of Mark Twain's work plastered all over the walls? I totally recommend this place not only for just a weekly treat to yourself kind of place, but also as a place to bring out of town friends to really show them a nice slice of the community. I run the Atlanta Burlesque and Cabaret, each year we pick a new venue to host, and after this year, we are parting ways with Twain's in a bit of a bitter sweet way. My last two large group experiences with them was not pleasant. Even after a year of bringing a lot of business to the bar, it was a crap shoot on how well we were treated there. One time I went, and my food was never brought to me, I was completely forgotten. Another time, we were booted out of our regular spot because of another group and though I understood, it was a bigger group, I thought at least a quick apology would be nice. But we stuck it out for the whole year. I plan to go to Twains for a good long while, because I adore the food and the atmosphere, but I never plan to bring a big group there again. They just can't handle it.
(3)
Liz C.
As a southerner, I have certain culinary expectations. One of those expectations is that potato salad is made with mustard. Not mayonnaise, not sour cream and (god forbid) not yogurt. Just mustard, the supreme condiment. So, on a recent visit to Twain's, I was horrified when my turkey club wrap arrived with a side of potato salad made with - dear lord, is that mayonnaise? My horror abated after one bite. Twain's makes a great dill potato salad that I would order again and again. The turkey wrap was also good, filled with a delicious smoked turkey and lots of avocado and spinach and other tasty veggies. I would avoid their nachos, though. They're the kind with the clumpy, greasy cheese and a lack of other toppings. Their boiled peanuts are decent, but hardly the best in town (that honor, in my book, goes to Manuel's Tavern). Twain's has a great beer selection, is an a-ok place to play darts or pool, and is kind of an odd place to see a band play. The crowd is cool, but the restaurant's set up makes for an awkward viewing experience for a live performance.
(3)
Stephie Z.
Twains, twains , twains.. what can you say that hasn't already been said? Ummmmm..... #1) pool hall with no smoking- very nice #2) local bands play here- find 'em before they blow up ( maybe) #3) food is a'ight. Veggie Sandwich was good but I was expecting a warm sandwich. Oh well poo on me not reading the whole description. Pot. salad (not made with dried greens) is mighty tasty and this comes from a pot. salad connoisseur #4) Freshly brewed beer is pretty darn good, especially when they kick out some of their porters and stouts. *Alert* - heard they had some issues with one of their beer brewing machines (no clue which one). Make sure you go soon to solve whatever ale's you (hahaha- I am so damn funny) #5) Damn if the clientele isn't oh so interesting to look at. Last time I was here I saw some bikers, a dude with a cat on is head, and a gentleman who must have used pliers to get the zipper pull of his madras pants to go up.
(4)
Laura N.
2 stars for the bland, insipid food. 4 stars for a fun time, if you like playing billiards, shuffleboard, and darts. Not really my scene, but it's better than just sitting around at a bar, merely talking and playing quarters with some of my favorite lawyers.
(2)
Jason P.
First of all, I really want to like Twain's. I've tried several times, various times of day, various days of the week... they're just up the road, convenient, and they offer all of the things I'm looking for: 1) drinks 2) food 3) games 4) people I've just never been impressed. The Drinks - I respect places that brew their own beer, and Twain's is no exception. So their exact selection isn't my favorite, but you can't fault a place that grows their own. Maybe a few more options would be nice, but you can always find ample supplies for intoxication. The Food - It's a pub. If you were locked inside for an extended period of time, you would not starve. It's a pub and, as such, offers standard pub-fare. But nothing stands out on the menu. I'm not expecting fine dining, but one or two unique or well-executed signature items would go a long way for them in my book. The Games - Shuffleboard is great. If you go in off-hours, you may be able to get a table. Evenings and weekends, you'll be waiting. Can't really fault the bar for this, but they got rid of the pinball machine that was a great way to kill time until the tables opened up. The pool hall is great, lots of tables, but again, gotta expect to wait when things are busy. You can watch a game there on TV, though it's not a sport-bar, so if you're looking for something obscure or out of market, you'll be better off at Taco Mac or Famous. The People - Patrons are a decent mix. Get there early enough and there are families, and kids. Later in the night you'll see quite a variety of Agnes Scott students, granola Decatur residents, hipsters, hospitality-industry employees, and those that just defy classification. It's not so much that Twain's does anything wrong... i've just always hoped for better.
(2)
Kyle W.
Went to Twain's last night for the first time after dinner at Brick Store. The draft beer selection, while not huge, is really interesting. Casked beer, smoked ales, and a few Golden ales later, it was a good night. They also have a ton of games - Fooseball, shuffleboard, pool, etc - which made for a good time. My main complaint was that it was tough to get a drink. I originally ordered at the main bar where I was sent away (the bartender wouldn't even take my order) and I was rarely approached by the staff down by the game tables for drinks. Otherwise it was a good time with a good atmosphere.
(3)
Courtney C.
I don't know what's taken me so long to review Twains. I come here probably once a week for their homebrewed beer and sweet potato fries. I can't really speak to the quality of their other food, but the sweat potato fries are perfectly crunchy on the outside but soft and creamy in the middle. The horseradish dipping sauce is awesome as well, though maybe i muck it up a little by doing a double dip with ketchup then the horseradish. Their in-house brews are all very good, but my favorite is definitely the Gingerbread brown Ale, although their other selections are decent as well depending on your taste. They will sometimes have specials with just their beer--you can get a 20ounce for the price of a 12 ounce sometimes. If you aren't into their stuff, the beer list is quite extensive, offering regional and seasonal brews as well (looove the pumkin ale!). This is really a great feel-at-home bar where you can come in t-shirt and jeans and play some pool, darts, or shuffleboard. I am terrible at pool, but that makes it fun to go on dates here and see who is worse. The staff is reasonably attentive, but not the best around. One word of warning, if you sit at a booth in the bar area, expect to have table service. Do not go up to the bar to order even if your waiter is a bit slow....they don't like it when you do that! So head over to twains to enjoy the live music on the weekend, the awesome home-brew beer, and the people watching. When it's warm enough be sure to sit on the patio and vegg out. Don't go here on a thursday night though, because that's MY night and I don't want to have to wait for a pool table or wait a long time for a beer just b/c you're crowding my spot! :-)
(4)
Canyouwoowoo W.
Another place that I hadn't been in, since my roaring 20s... A good starter spot: -Great beers on tap -Plenty of pool tables and darts boards (the main draw) -Several screens to watch a game (although not enough to qualify as a true sports bar) Like most places in Decatur, a good starter spot, but nothing worth staying in, beyond 2 hours. Shoot some pool, which you pay for by the hour, grab a couple of drinks, then you'll be ready to move on...
(3)
Jennifer G.
I frequent this place often. Great food! Great beers that they brew! And the pool tables are awesome too. On top of the great service staff I definitely recommend this place to grab a bite to eat and a drink over conversations.
(5)
Ferdinand H.
I'm torn. 2 Stars or 4? If I were reviewing it as a food-place, I can only say 2. Beer selection is mediocre, and the last set of mussels I had were nigh inedible. The fish and chips were not particularly appealing -- but... I can go to the Brickstore for such things. On the other hand, smoke free pool, darts, shuffleboard, and fuss-ball... that's quite appealing. It's not a bad place to play, whatsoever... just don't expect culinary spectaculars... So, I'm going to forget that it's a restaurant or that it serves food and stick with the game-side.
(4)
Shalin P.
I've never eaten at Twain's, but have come here often to play shuffleboard and drink good beer. I'm a big shuffleboard fan and they have a high quality table here. Service can be inconsistent but I've never really had a terrible experience like other reviewers have. The lack of parking is a big negative though.
(4)
Susan F.
We decided to swing by Twain's after a late dinner in Decatur last Thursday evening. It really wasn't that impressive. Definitely a college bar, but there's always a need for those, right? Pros: - Decent priced beer - Friendly staff - Lots of pool tables - Free shuffleboard on Thursdays (at least it was for us at 1am) Cons: - It smelled - Everything seemed shabby and grungy
(2)
Stephanie M.
Went there Tuesday for my husband's birthday, just to try their microbrewed beer. We had heard there was a new brewmaster and the beers were improved over a few years ago.... we had the different IPAs and really, really liked them. Kuddos to the brewmaster!! We'll be back for those IPAs often!!
(4)
Adam M.
Twain's is one of those places you can just count on. If you're looking for a good night, the environment here will do 50% of the lifting, and the rest is on you and the company you keep. I've been to Twain's probably 10 times over the last few years, with frequency picking up since i moved to East Lake. I'm always pleased with the mix of patrons - something akin to Little 5 circa 1998 - and equally satisfied with the in-house brew, both in taste and price. Recently i ate a Twain's for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. It's bar food - don't be mistaken - but there was an extra polish to it. Maybe it was the wheat beer talking. Suffice it to say, I'm a fan. If you've never been, think of Twain's as the last stop of the night, or the place you go before super-late night. The food is tasty, but this place really comes alive when it's chock full-o-patrons. In any case, i'm a big believer in knowing what to expect. For what i ask of Twain's, it always delivers.
(5)
Len L.
My local hangout. Great beer, good bar food (but please add some more vegan options) and a fun atmosphere. Plenty of games, such as shuffleboard, pool, darts, and video games. Monday night trivia is one of the better in the area. The service can sometimes be slow, but that's server dependent. Most of them are really good. They also support local bands and have free music several nights a week.
(5)
Hambri Enta M.
Pleasantly surprised with the burger. so much flavor! So yesterday I went passed thru here and what do you know: Open mic Jazz night on Tuesdays. I sure love live music. I sat next to young man who was enjoying a beer brewed at Twains and he was quite happy with it. Turned out he is the boyfriend of one of my ex's friend! what a fantastic 6 degrees! Enjoyed this jazz night, and the space is larger than it appears. No smoke around me, no funny smells, good food, cold beers. I recommend!
(4)
Triple Threat T.
Huge place! Cheap billiards, nice relaxed crowd
(5)
Josh G.
The beer has so improved in the Dave era, that I feel compelled to write a review. It's my favorite billiards spot in the area, the food has always been awesome pub fare, and now the beer is worthy of the restaurant. Don't miss Euro-bike night on Thurs. Bring your BMW, Ducati, MV, KTM, Husky, Triumph, Aprilia, Guzzi, etc.
(4)
Ben H.
Definitely a great place to hang out in Decatur. Lots of pool tables, 2 shuffleboards, free darts, tasty burger, mediocre microbrews (the only one I like is their ESB, but they rarely seem to have it). I like the new set up more despite the fact the fact that the "dining room" section is pretty useless for me (I wouldn't make this a dinner destination). It just feels more open and cleaner. I generally don't enjoy the bands they have - mainly because they are always way too loud. The service can vary greatly - I've had servers who are fine, but one guy who works there is a complete tool. They need to be careful about cleaning their glassware - both of the little tasting glasses I used last time had an overwhelming odor of ammonia/cleaner which was pretty gross and obviously not suitable for tasting a beer. You also don't smell like an ashtray after leaving which is a major plus. 3.5
(4)
Nazan Y.
Visited Twain's for dinner on 11/1/10. I had been there around a year ago, but was less impressed this time. Wife and I ordered the fish and chips (sweet potato fries instead of regular) and calamari. The fish was quite good, but the breading was a little mushier than I remember. The tartar sauce had some dill in it, and was quite enjoyable. Wife loved the sweet potato fries, I thought they were OK, but they needed a better dipping sauce. To be fair, this is always what I think of sweet potato fries. The calamari was not horrible - at least it was not funky, but the sickly sweet sauce was not pleasant. The beer I got - a dark wheat - was pretty good, and a pretty good price. Anyway, I was a little disappointed, and there are enough other restaurants around I probably won't go back.
(3)
Emily W.
I would give this 5 stars but the A/C was off yesterday and with the summer temps in ATL that just isn't cutting it. Other than that, there is nothing bad to say about this place. They have boiled peanuts on the menu which is awesome. The food is good too, not just typical bar food. I just had humus and pita bread with cucumbers but all of it was good. Pita bread was nice and warm, hummus was cold as it all should be. My husband had a hotdog which looked good with fried green beans. Sounds strange but isn't anything fried good? They were, I tried them. Free shuffleboard & darts on Wednesdays & Thursdays....cheap pool, $2.50 per person for an hour. They have foosball as well as some arcade games AND a photo booth! We ended up staying a few hours playing games and had so much fun. oh! and GREAT music as well...
(4)
Mariah M.
Been to Twain's at least 6 times and it is a good 15 miles for us so we usually go on a Sunday to avoid the traffic. We won't be back after tonight. The food was ehh nothing special, we had chicken strips, mac and cheese fritters and a reuben, do NOT get the garlic fries, they are not edible. My husband ordered the Aunt ?? Porter 12 oz for his second beer and it was really bad. So l said well just tell the bartender and get something else-it was brewed there and I am sure they have had other people who didn't care for a beer they have never tried before PLUS they have a new brewer, so it is going to be hit or miss. We were told in no uncertain terms that they don't switch out a beer that a customer doesn't like and we could BUY something different if we wanted. This is the first time I have ever heard of this policy, and I have been drinking in Atlanta bars since 1980, he said they "stand by their beers" huh??? So you DON'T stand by your customers??? He certainly could have made an exception but it is "house rules" wow. I am not used to being told I have to pay for something that I refuse to eat or drink. So by all means do yourself a favor, if you are going to get a beer that they have brewed get a sample first or you will be stuck with the crappy beer if you don't like it. Really poor way to treat customers. But hey they got their 4 bucks or whatever it cost, but they lost 2 customers-hope it was worth it.
(2)
Destin D.
I've been to Twain's a couple of times now, but only to drink. I appreciate that they have their own microbrews, but on my most recent visit, they were out of two. Not cool. Also, the food isn't good. My southwestern inspired turkey burger (Roadrunner) was surprisingly dry and was lacking on the toppings. I had ordered sweet potato fries on the side and they were lukewarm. I was hoping for the fries that Courtney C. described, but alas, I didn't get them. Also, can someone please explain why there was a horseradish dipping sauce on the side? That flavor didn't complement either the burger or the fries. My friend's black bean burger also sucked and the side salad was less than stellar. Like some of the other reviewers, I really want to like this place. Maybe I will go back another night and hope they have the microbrews on tap. Rest assured, I won't be eating...
(2)
Molly W.
The boiled peanuts here have inspired me to make my own. They usually are boiled with a mixture of cayenne pepper and lemon grass. I think I have pouted at a waitress because they were out of them. They are delicious! Also try the salmon burger if you are not scared of cilantro and just a tip: when ordering the salmon burger add bacon, makes a world of difference. The atmosphere is always laid back, and that's why I suggested to my boyfriend that we have our first date here. We ended up playing trivia and pool until about 2 AM. I thank this place for getting rid of my first date jitters and for making it a very successful first date. After Twain's we went to Taco Mac and I set off the alarm, so I still prefer Twain's. They have a great beer selection and make sure to try their home brews. I remember coming here when it just opened and adding the brew company has made all the difference. Also, the food is much better than their former pool hall fish and chips. Oh and the fried green beans are worth going for! The horse radish dipping sauce is decadent and if you're worried about the horse radish the garlic ranch does just fine. I haven't ever tried the entrees, but they're sandwiches are at least decent. They also have a Jazz night every Tuesday so if ya love Jazz come on down, if you want to hang out and play pool, avoid that corner or just come on a different night. But, I must say, when a full brass orchestra played the Presidential theme song when Obama gave his acceptance speech, it was pretty d*mn amazing. I think I cried like 50 times that night. And yes the official name is the Presidential theme song LOVE IT! DRINK IT! OWN IT!
(4)
Bryan B.
A great way to kill an evening - I'm in there several times a month. The beer selection is good (their own brews are very tasty), but the food is lacking. Nothing special about it. Fine to get and snack on with a group will you shoot pool, but I won't go there for a full meal. Last time I did that (and should have known better), they were out of hamburger buns! I'm not sure how they messed up the inventory on that, but that's an unforgivable sin for a place that sells bar food! Anyway, I'm still a huge fan of the place overall, just not a fan of the food. Fun place to hang out with friends.
(4)
Roy K.
Count on an eclectic experience worth revisiting on a regular basis. If you are at craving food, beer (at a great price!!!), + a lil competition you have found your place. They have darts, pool, vid games, & shuffleboard. I didn't have food, but per the rumor it's pretty tasty. The service is what you would expect in a place like this - urban setting, urban client base - so expect witty, not uber friendly, but in the end you get served what you need. No frivolities.
(4)
Rox R.
Dirty, noisy, beer is eh. Not a fan of the food. Salad is limp. Service I experienced was unfriendly. I wouldn't go back, except to maybe play some pool- Would got to Brick Store Pub first.
(1)
Adam P.
If I could give them a half star I would! Went today for lunch and was excited to try it. They were having a music event and the admission was 10.00. We were not going to have lunch only, in the restaurant, and not stay for the event. They wouldn't even let us in without paying the 10.00. So it would have been 20.00 for us and then lunch. Ridiculous. The girl just said "sorry guys" and didn't seen to care. Well they have lost my business and I will never try it.
(1)
Jose A.
Awesome place to shoot some pool and have a couple great house brews..nachos are pretty great too. This place is a must whenever I am in Decatur!!!
(5)
Michael D.
I'm a huge classic jazz fan and on Tuesday nights, this is the place to be. It's an open-mic jazz jam put on by Joe Grandsen. I have never seen so much talent in one place in ATL. The music is off the chart. Joe should record these sessions. Tell ya what, I live in Cumming and I plan to make that drive at least a couple Tuesdays per month. If you like jazz, real jazz, then you need to be here on Tuesday nights. One more thing, they don't take AMEX !!!
(4)
Dustin H.
I will make this short and sweet to get to the point. Their beer was pretty good & reasonably priced. I had the chicken tenders and those were excellent (and so was the BBQ sauce and fries). Service, while good at first, turned out to be down-right horrible. At one time, the six or so of us sat for a whole hour without our server nor anyone else coming to check on us and offer refills (of which we had all needed for at least the previous 30 minutes)! I finally got the chance to mention to another server that we would like some service since our server hadn't minded coming by in the past hour. A manager finally came over and got us refills, after we had to wait an additional 15 minutes for them to tap a new keg. Of course they didn't offer any discounts for our experience. As previous reviewers mentioned, they don't even offer refunds or replacements if you get a beer and don't like it. Not the way to do business, & I would say their lack of customer service is why they only have a 3.5 star rating.
(2)
Michael L.
Great spot to have some drinks and shoot pool.
(5)
adrian w.
I have been to Twain's more than 10 times easy. So sad that I don't live in Decatur anymore so I never visit as much as I use to or would like to. Great beer selection, though sometimes out of what I want. Food not bad at all, fish and chips = yum, chicken salad = yum. Some times the wait staff is just average but sometimes they go above and beyond. Wouldn't mind being a regular.
(4)
Christina M.
I love Twain's. I really do. I love the people who work there, I love the location, I love the awesome pool tables and the strong drinks. However, I cannot give 5 stars, much to my chagrin. Two reasons, and two reasons only: The pool tables are beautiful, regulation-sized pool tables. The pool cues, on the other hand, are consistetly warped and crappy. It ruins the billiards experience. I would rather pay more per hour and have a great stick. It is a terrible handicap. The other reason is that if I sit at the bar I end up with a terrible headache because they smash the empty bottles into the recycling bin. So, I do not sit at the bar anymore. Call me sensitive. Sorry.
(4)
mee n.
this isn't the place i go for a drink or two. the drinks themselves are rather lackluster, and you can get better food in many other places in Decatur. there's always a painful wait for a pool table, shuffleboard or darts. at best the service is off, and at worst, the service is rude n tries to avoid you. i guess what people like about the place is that it seems friendly. maybe they think "if i go here enough, I'll begin to tolerate the mediocre beer and food, not notice i can never play any games, and maybe the waiters will start to remember who i am. i would really like to go...where everybody knows my name. maybe it can be this boring and unoffensive place." with the BSP, thinking man, n Leon's in Decatur, there's no need to put up with mediocrity. I'm also not a fan of their $10 cake cutting fee. You bring in a cake, and they charge you 10 bucks for the extra plates, utensils and clean up. a friend brought cupcakes to celebrate a birthday, and our waiter did not even tell us there was such a fee that would apply to cupcakes (that do not require utensils, plates or clean up). It was a very unpleasant discovery when we received the bill.
(1)
Meg S.
What a great bar! They brew great beers, have great beers on tap and reasonably priced bottled/canned beers. The food is GREAT and there are tons of options for vegetarians. The calamari is cooked right - not rubbery - and served with a delicious ranch-like sauce. Twain's is a great place to run into everyone you know in Decatur on a weekend night! Getting seated for dinner is not a problem even on a busy Friday, but getting a pool table is another story entirely! There is more of a hostess station for pool tables than for eating tables :)
(5)
M A.
As far as a pool and beer combination goes, this is the best spot I've been in here. The atmosphere reminds me a lot of my time spent in London, with people from all walks of life coming in for a round of local brews and a game of pool, shuffleboard, board games, or darts. It may be popular, and can get crowded, but it never felt too loud or too packed in. The pool tables are run at various prices depending on the size of your group and the time of day. The prices are all very reasonable, and the equipment is up to par. All of the staff at Twain's are friendly and helpful, and they check in on the pool room often in case you need a refill or more grub. The food here is pretty good - not the best, but it's filling and tastes great. It's mostly your standard bar fare. This is a great spot to check out if you haven't already. Parking is a litle difficult - there is only a tiny lot and then street parking - but it's well worth the hunt for a space.
(5)
Teddy N.
Solid neighborhood bar with great date activities; pool, darts and shuffle board. Decent for kids when the sun is shining. FYI parents; it's adults only after 9pm. Food can be average, but hey are you headed to a pool hall and brewery to eat or drink? Stay away from the beef and bean burgers both are on the weak side.
(3)
Bill S.
Twains has some of the best bar food I have had in Atlanta, plus it's downright cheap compared to many places! Same with the drinks, I mean who else has Strongbow for $3.50? Plus they have a lot of other beers available including local brews. Twains is mostly known for being a pool hall, they have at least a Dozen tables available by the hour. All are in great condition. They also have two shuffleboard tables and several dart boards. Trivia and Poker games also happen on various nights of the week. The entire place is non-smoking except for mostly shaded outdoor patio. I highly recommend Twains if you are in the area!
(5)
Meg C.
I hadn't been to Twain's in a while, it was our former after-work hangout and when they re-modeled I was a little unsure of going back-- as much as I appreciate a craft brew, sometimes I want a Hoeegarden! Twain's has kept the good food and the atmosphere even with a schmancy makeover and their own brews; the brews are top-notch, by the way! The services is still fantastic, and I can't wait to go back and grab a burger and brew again! Highly recommend: Any of the lighter brews for the summer Burgers Fries The custom shots are creative, too!
(4)
Jeff M.
I really like this place, especially if I'm with a huge group. It's busy, but it's always accommodating. Very chill and laid back atmosphere, but conducive for a good night. Food and drink is decent. Large selection of games is a plus. One of many great hangouts in Decatur.
(3)
Mark D.
I guess I'm a regular now for trivia night. I like it a little better now. They make a good burger. And the fries are awesome. Our table is always sticky, though.
(4)
Jane D.
One of my favorite places in Decatur. I always order the beer battered chicken strips- I literally crave them. The service is great- I've been going there for the past few years and I usually see the same waiters/waitresses. The games are fun, the beer is good, and the parking situation is okay. As for cons- the patio kind of sucks. There's bird nests on top of the canopy and after 5 minutes, I'm totally annoyed by the chirping. It happens everytime I make the mistake by sitting out there. Also, the crowd tends to be "old man-ish" but that doesn't bother me too much. Also, there tends to be alot of babies there when I'm there in the afternoon. Maybe its a Decatur thing? Other than that its a great hangout spot.
(4)
Rob M.
One of my favorites places to meet people and hang out. The brewmaster has skills with the on tap selections. Always have to get the sweet potato fries.
(5)
Julia S.
I went here tonight with my husband and another couple and I have to say, we had a lot of fun at Trivia Night. The hummus appetizer was really delicious, and everyone seemed to enjoy their sandwiches. I got the bean - portobello sandwich on whole wheat bread, which was good, but unfortunately got a bit soggy after a while. Our waitress seemed a bit surly, but then again she seemed severely understaffed during Trivia Night, so I don't necessarily blame her. I was not, however, impressed with the chardonnay I got (sorry, not a beer person) - it was incredibly bland. I think it was toasted oaks or something like that. It was $7/glass, I do remember that. Oh well. That's what I get for ordering wine at a beer place. Trivia was definitely a highlight - I'd come back just for that again.
(4)
Lainy P.
i used to love going to twains. It used to be a cute neighborhood pub where my boyfriend and i could come late at night at have dinner, even study while eating, and enjoy a good beer. It still has pool, and darts and all the cute games my friends and I played, but it's completely lost its cute decatur ambiance. i went there with a couple of friends the other day, and the service was not only bad, but the staff was just plain mean to me. I wrote a follow-up email the next day, and they never responded. I've never been treated that way in a restaurant before, no less in decatur!!! boo. i give the restaurant more than one star since it used to be cool, and the food/beer was still decent.
(2)
Michael S.
Being from Chicago this was one of the few places I could find that showed the Blackhawks playoff game on TV. Keeping in mind that it was Easter night and the place was dead I found the service to be wonderful. With a great list of beers and good food I would absolutly come back again if I find myself in Atlanta.
(4)
Rachel B.
What a cavernous tavern. The decor is eye candy - I've been twice and the first time I chased the exotic fish with my eyes, and the second time I read tons of Mark Twain quotes mod podged to the walls. My boo tried the home brewed beer and seemed so-so on it. The fried chicken fingers are smashing, mainly due to the batter. The sweet potato fries and garlic fries alike are super yummy. Service both times was meh. The David Bowie tunes were yay!
(3)
Leslie W.
This is my Friday night hangout. They brew several beers that are fantastic. They change the list each night, and get there early because they run out of favorites. I like the Jumping Frog IPA and the Mysterious Stranger. They will also have a guest beer like Gordon's Double IPA, or some other yummy brew. Twain's also has decent food. I'm not a big meat eater, so I like to munch on the Mezza plate, or their black bean-portabello burger. Darts, pool, and video games are available and they usually have live music on the weekends. Twain's has drink specials Monday-Thursday like $1 off imperial pints or scotch. They also have free Wi-Fi for those who like to surf when drinking.
(5)
J D.
No half star, so no true ranking. 6 of us piled in recently, and enjoyed the meal, the beer and the ability to hang out, play pool, shuffleboard and watch the Thrashers totally piss away a big game. Food was solid all the way around. Nice beer list, and the cask special was terrific. Clueless service though. I knew the beer menu better than our disinterested server, and I was there for 15 whole minutes. Maybe it was his day off from the Brick Store. Seriously though, when does surly earn you a bigger tip?
(3)
L S.
I've been coming to Twain's for years. I guess since 1999 or so. And if I was rating the pre-renovation Twain's I would give it 5 stars. Post renovation it gets 3 stars. Maybe its just my nostalgia for the seedier pool hall atmosphere it had before. Since the renovation the focus has been split between pool hall/darts/shuffleboard and now a sit down restaurant. The food is not good enough to me to be a destination for dinner. We will occasionally grab an appetizer while we're playing pool. But I would not go out of my way to eat here. I keep trying to like their house beers. I've tried them all...but I just can't make myself enjoy them. We do continue to come to play pool though. They have full sized tables in decent condition. And its great to be able to come home from a bar and not stink like smoke. Yay Decatur smoking ban!!
(3)
Jamie K.
I had never been here before this past Saturday with a group of friends. I really liked the idea and set up of Twain's - dart boards, pool tables, and I think I read somewhere that there was shuffleboard but I don't remember seeing it - however we spend most of our time in the front at a few tables, so it's possible that I missed it on my one walk through the back. Overall, the experience was good. They have a decent beer selection and we got there early enough to snag a large table. Some of us had food and words thrown around were "interesting" (for the coleslaw that was made without mayo) to "not so hot" (the wing sauce was amazing but the wings themselves were tough and had very little meat). The later it got, the more people crowded around, so if you sit in the front, be ready for people to eventually be camped behind your chair because seating fills quickly and then people stand around the tables. Also, when the bill comes, (this is my biggest gripe) they WILL NOT do separate checks. And not only will they not do separate checks, but the waitstaff will expect you to figure out what you individually owe and tell her. I'm not sure if it was just our server but I found it completely rude to expect us to be the ones to calculate what we owed. We had a table of 4 couples and 3 singles, so there were 7 separate cards being used - she handed us each a copy of the total bill and we thought we were supposed to mark off each thing that was ours but instead she told us we were to bust out the calculators and figure it out. What it amounted to was all of us slightly overestimating to avoid the faux pas of leaving the last person with more than their fair share of the bill, and what it ended up doing for her was adding another $30 of tip onto the pre-added mandatory 20% ($50) we were already leaving her. Not something I'd like to do again.
(3)
Troy N.
I'm biasing my interview based on the live music. I went on a Tuesday night to hear Joe Gransden Jazz Group in a live jam session. The number of low-key inexpensive venues for jazz is shrinking in Atlanta. Twain's was refreshing in that jazz was played in a casual environment with no cover. Musicians sat in and the atmostphere was laid back. The group I was with had some food and they enjoyed it. The beers were enjoyed and the food was pretty good. Service was fine.
(4)
Frank M.
Local brewed beer and billards: good Friday night. ...plus they have bubble hockey.
(3)
Laura F.
Great atmosphere and lots of seating. The food is great and you have to try the garlic fries at least once although you'll probably feel a little guilty after but they are so yum. My favorite sandwich is the roadrunner but they have so many other great things to choose from. Their hours are great so any time during the week or weekend you can go grab a great meal and have an awesome beer. The service is great and you can sit where ever you want. Oh and there is outside seating too! As far as activities to keep you occupied they have pool tables and indoor raised shuffle board ( iceless curling??) If you go on a Wednesday or a Thursday I believe the shuffle board is free. I know on weekends there can be quite a wait for the pool tables. Twains rocks for just drinks or dinner.. good date spot as it's noisy but not too loud for conversations.
(5)
Katherine S.
I was at Twain's last night. It's a fun spot for a big group because the place is giant. Plenty of pool tables, dart boards and shuffleboard. They have some tasty microbrews that are worth trying. It's a fun, casual place to spend an evening.
(3)
Laura M.
Best waiter ever!!! The place was super packed, but our waiter was attentive and gave us plenty of time to wait on friends, stare blindly at the drink list and finally order. And yes, my group made lots of special orders--hold the tomato, add chicken, sour cream on the side, etc. The atmosphere was awesome--a diverse crowd of all ages, families, hipsters, etc. The baked nachos were sooo good--tons of cheese and not soggy at all. You can probably share with someone--I had tons left over.
(4)
Big Butt Z.
I came to Twain's for brunch this morning and was disappointed to find half of the menu items had been discontinued. I decided to eat somewhere else but before leaving, I had a drink at the bar. The saving grace of the experience was the spunky, tattooed bartender. She was inviting and made the BEST Bloody Mary I have ever had... EVER.
(4)
steven c.
A couple weeks ago I found myself here twice in a weekend. The first was a start to the night. We played pool, and our bartender at the back bar was a lot of fun. The place is huge. They had live blues and Football playing on the following Sunday that I was there. I appreciate both of these, so it made it difficult for me to focus. I felt bad for any gut reactions when the Falcons scored (or were scored upon). I was disappointed that the only TV's with the Falcons on were in the back. There was adequate space, but we got the old school projection screen. And that can be tough on a guy, when he's been spoiled by Plasma and LCD HD tv's.
(3)
Ron M.
Any place that brews there own automatically gets huge thumbs up from me. I love sampling their newest creations. If you don't care for that there's also a great selection of other quality beers as well as other stuff if beer isnt your thing. The prices are pretty solid which always make me happy. If you're pool person this is gotta be one of the top spots. They do also have shuffleboard, which is pretty cool, just make sure you get on the waiting list early. Overall, I'll recommend to everyone!
(4)
Dee W.
Twain's is a cool spot to come hang out grab some food, shoot some pool or darts, and just chill. The barbecue pork sandwich is SO good. It's a cool spot.
(4)
Charles C.
One of my favorite activities on Sunday is to ride my bicycle to Twain's, enjoy some shuffleboard, and drink a couple of their local brews. It is a nice way to refresh before the new week. The food is average and the drinks and company are always great but sometimes the service is a little different. I was prepared to give four stars but today my short skirted waitress bent over and I saw her anus. If I wanted a show I'd head to one of our famed city's strip clubs.
(3)
Ian T.
I've been coming here for awhile because it was a good place for a large group. The main bar area is fairly open and the atmosphere was conducive to talking. Recently Twain's has started having live music which changes this atmosphere. When the music started it was the occasional lone guitar player but the size and scope of the acts has quickly increased to the point that it's hard to hold a conversation. I guess it's time to find a new hangout if I want to talk to the people I'm with. I think the house brews are usually pretty good although the style seems to be shifting away from session beers to more esoteric styles that would feel more at home at Brick Store. Additionally, the food and service are just ok.
(3)
Chef D.
My 1st time there i was treating my friend for a B day dinner..........Had a great time there home brew is great. food was great and the staff was friendly and provided great service.
(5)
Rusty T.
Thing is, I want to like Twains, I really do. There's pool; they brew their own beer; it has a great patio to relax and sip on a beverage, especially at night. But my experiences there have been very mixed. I had been before the remodeling when it was a seedy bar and pool hall. I liked it then, but I understand not everybody likes a dive. The remodeling was a good business decision, and I was looking forward to the Brickstore Pub having some competition in walking distance from my apartment for places to drink great, hard-to-find beer. And when I first went after the remodeling, it was just that. IPAs are always my first choice for beer, and Twain's had a pretty good one they brewed in the Jumping Frog IPA. The other two beers or so I tried close to that time were also good. The food menu, however, was trimmed down pretty drastically from the old menu -- to its detriment. The new menu is unimaginative, and worse yet, I can't even rely on just getting a burger because they appear to pan fry it. Unacceptable. On top of that, another time I went fairly recently the beers brewed in-house just weren't very good. The Jumping Frog IPA had been replaced with something that looked and tasted more like a stout. I actually asked the waitress to verify she brought me the right beer, because it just seemed off. It's been a little while since I've been, so maybe I'll go back soon to see if anything has changed. It's reasonably priced and in a good location for me. And I really want to like it, but I just can't recommend it right now with the inconsistent experiences I've had there since the remodeling.
(2)
Molly D.
Not a fan. I went there with a group of friends and we tried several of the microbrews searching for one that was potable. After about three unfinished pitchers because they tasted really nasty we switched to bottles of Miller Light, which they don't have on tap (probably so that people who want pitchers will be forced to drink their beers). One thing thats kind of cool is that all of their beers are named for Mark Twain quotes but it doesn't make it taste better. I've never played shuffle board before so that was really fun to play. But they never have enough sand. It's a struggle to get the sand onto the table. I'm not a pool player so I can't comment about the pool other than the fact that they have a lot of tables and a lot of serious pool players, or at least I hope they are cause they bring their own cues. Please don't let me grow up to be someone who owns either a Pool Cue or a Bowling Ball! They also have Golden Tee, I don't see the appeal in that game but a lot of people do so I am throwing it out there. Oh they do play good alternative music but who doesn't in Decatur?
(2)
Katherine N.
GARLIC FRENCH FRIES! No really, they're amazing! They have a really good selection of standard bar food with the higher end twist with out the higher end price and a great beer selection in addition to the full bar. The sandwiches are amazing and it's got a great atmosphere! I just had their brunch for the first time and the Country Fried Steak was awesome. I ended up having to ask for extra gravy but they brought it out at no charge, but other people may be just fine with the amount they bring out. Of the three times I have been there I have always received amazing service from a very nice wait staff and left with a very happy tummy!
(4)
Michael B.
Four stars for a nice range of tasty microbrews and pub shuffleboard! I had never seen one of these magic creations until I had been to Twain's. The shuffleboard tables have red and blue pucks that glide mysteriously on a thin layer of sand...like something out of Roswell. (New Mexico...not Roswell, GA--though the inhabitants often seem alien to me). Excellent pool hall and the full-size billiard tables are in great condition--not that I would know the difference. Twain's attracts a friendly, eclectic crowd. Service is pretty good. There is one solicitous waiter who shows up pretty often to keep the beer and munchies coming. He's the guy with the mop-head and testicle-crunching skinny mod-rocker jeans. Kind of scary, but efficient.
(4)
Phin S.
If you're there just for the game (pool, darts, shuffleboard...), it can be fun. You just have to brace yourself for negative experiences with the staff, who are consistently edgy-- just try to be nice to them and you can get out of there with a good experience.
(2)
David B.
I've had some very, and I mean VERY, good wings at Twain's. The burgers are OK, and the Middle Eastern plate is always a winner. The brewery does better on the lighter side (IPA, etc.) Service can be spotty, but if you're at Twain's drinking beer, eating wings and playing table suffleboard, you're probably not really in a hurry anyway.
(4)
Mark O.
I recently went back and I've gotta say they've stepped their game up. Most of the big problems this place used to have (sticky tables, bad house beer, bad service) have all been corrected. I'm still not a fan of their food (except the best in the city hot wings), but they are at least trying.
(4)
Linda J.
This is a good place to go to shoot some pool and hang out. I don't remember if they have a ladies night, but I think they did at one point. Their food is decent as well. I've been to this place many times over the years, and it's good for what it's good for.
(3)
Anna I.
I went to Twain's last night and loved it as soon as I stepped foot inside. It's enormous which means I'll never have to worry about being packed into some hole-in-the-wall dive while tons of people step on my feet. The servers were a little surly, but warmed up to us as soon as they saw what generous tippers we are. I drank the Ballot Box (brown ale, I think) and it was sublime. The shuffleboard and darts was enough to make me giddy, but even better is the FREE shuffleboard on Wed and Thurs nights. I feel like I finally found my default watering hole! Booosh!
(4)
Lisa A.
We have been to Twain's a few times now. At first I was not to sure about this place, but it has grown on me. The food is typical bar food. I really like the chicken wings, but would warn you about the pasta dishes. Very watery sauce and pretty bland. The last few times we have just sat at the bar and had a good time. There tends to be a few kids, which I find a bit strange at a bar/pool hall.
(3)
Rachel P.
Twain's is a great spot for a chill night out with friends. We arrived around 1030p and found good street parking right across from the door. It was raining so we headed past the patio inside to dry land. There are lots of games to play in here, so the bf and his friends liked their choices of darts, pool, shuffleboard, air hockey, etc. I only cared about watching the Heels whoop up on the Zags, (GO CAROLINA) so I grabbed an open booth right in front of a huge tv. We ordered a range of beers for pretty cheap, had some extremely delicious chicken nachos--one order was devoured in 5 minutes so a replacement batch had to be immediately procured. Also tried the fried green beans and they were unexpectedly great as well. Lightly enough dipped in batter so they still had a green bean taste instead of being overpowered by the fried taste. Our waitress was helpful and attentive even though she was handling most of the tables in our area. Also they serve a full menu until 1am. Nice for late night snacking. Cost was pretty cheap for everything: $8 nachos and $2.50-$4 for most beers. They even had PBR which is a plus in my book. Apparently the shuffleboard game was charged by time instead of games played, which annoyed my friends since they stayed over there for a long time chatting and drinking their beers. Crowd was young and fun, lots of college age/young professional groups of guys with a few female friends here and there. My guy friend even commented that it seemed like there were way more guys than girls here. Good to know if you're hunting for an early twentysomething guy on a Friday night in Decatur. Basically, I really liked the vibe at Twain's and would definitely come back here again. Providing there's no college basketball on, I might even play some darts.
(4)
Natalie D.
So I found myself at Twains at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon (no judging!), and was really pleased with the atmosphere. I sat out back with a friend, and the two of us were able to enjoy a beer (or two....) while soaking in the sun. Our waitress was unbelievably friendly. And the beer....what a great beer selection! They have an extensive list of micro brews, including their own brand. I only tried Twain's Golden Ale, but it was refreshing and tasty. I would definitely come back again (if I lived in Atlanta...sigh).
(4)
Janice M.
I was torn about how to rate Twain's. The first night I was there, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the crowd, and the friendly bartenders. My group of friends and I practically shut the joint down. I had enough fun to warrant a second visit. Returned for a quiet dinner/drinks meeting with a friend, and was underwhelmed. The service was less than stellar. We got caught in a miscommunication between two of the staff and they were apologetic about it - but it doesn't help when the joint is practically empty at 6pm on a Monday night. I ordered the Fish & Chips. The fries were good but I was underwhelmed by the flavor of the fish. I did like the tartar sauce which helped to cover the flavor of the fish I didn't love, but I did not care for the cole slaw at all, not to mention that the portion they served took up almost the entire plate. My companion ordered the french dip and while I didn't ask him his specific opinion about the food, the fact that he left most of it on the plate indicated that he wasn't loving it. I still really really like the place. I would just advise that your money is better spent on enjoying food somewhere else in Decatur and spending your money on beer at Twain's
(3)
Shaun F.
Twain's is a great Decatur pub with delicious micro brews and yummy food. Their chili is top notch and the BBQ chicken sandwich always hits the spot. I also like the prices - the micro brew beers are $3 - you can't beat that. I usually stop in to catch some basketball or baseball on their many television while I enjoy my food and drinks. They have a dozen or so pool tables, dart boards and bar shuffle board. The only downer is they charge for bar shuffle board. I have never seen a charge for that before.
(4)
Laura M.
A big group of us headed to Twain's on Friday night a few weeks ago. We'd already been to a house party and didn't want to go home yet. Twain's was still hopping after midnight, but we found seats for all of us in the dining area and after a short wait we acquired a pool table, too. Food and drink not stellar -- I like that they have house beers, but the one I tried wasn't great. The sweet potato fries hit the spot, though, and helped absorb some of the beer in my belly. Service was decent and atmo was decent... so, yeah, I have nothing against Twain's. I think it's the kind of place that is what you make of it -- great with a big group of fun friends, perhaps not so great as a dinner destination or beer-appreciation venue. But, Decatur has other bars and restaurants for that, and Twain's fills a need for people who just want a chill hangout spot for whole gang.
(3)
Kristina B.
A group of friends tried Twain's when we were in town for a conference last weekend. They had plenty of room for a large group and the potential to be a lot of fun (plenty of games like pool). BUT, the service was awful, the food was mediocre, and they wouldn't split our bill. I WILL NOT be returning to Twain's EVER and would not recommend going there.
(1)
Mark B.
Came back here because I really really want it to be good . Its not. Another ESB that I had to leave in the glass. I see they are remodeling next week. Good. Hope it improves the beer.
(2)
Desiree Y.
the food is pretty great. I mean for what it is. The beer selection is so great, alot of choices. I love the pool tables, but even more I love those darts. Really a fun place to be
(5)
Young Mi K.
A friend and I just happened to be circling the area to find parking and ended up in front of Twain's. We sorta looked at each other and decided to go in. The ceilings were high and made the place look spacious. The decorations were neat and seems like a great hangout place to play pool, arcades and eat. We ordered a beer that they brew. It was very good and the nachos was better than we expected.
(4)
Kim D.
Sooo I decided to head to Twain's on a Tuesday night... There wasn't much of a crowd, but definitely enough people to make me NOT feel like a stranger barging in on a local bar. The atmosphere was casual and definitely fun -- we enjoyed our Sweetwater and even started up a game of shuffleboard. I think there may have been some live jazz in the bar area but I was too far away to enjoy. Buffalo wings were delicious, but HOT so be warned if you don't tolerate spice well! The only downside was some of the creepy / drunk guys lurking around the pool table area. Or I guess you could look at that as an up-side considering the new inside jokes my girlfriends and I have.
(3)
Amanda W.
I miss the old Twains. Maybe I don't like change (I miss the old Church Street Coffee too), but the Twains brew gives me a headache and the service gives me heartburn. I used to go a lot to play pool, but since they've become more of a restaurant, I hardly ever go anymore. Once they switched to the family-friendly restaurant, the service at the pool tables (and the quality of the tables) took a nosedive. You shouldn't call yourself a billiards place and have crappy pool tables. At least there's no smoking anymore - thanks to the City of Decatur. Plus, they don't do the restaurant part that well either - pick a focus and do it right, please (or at least 50% right!).
(2)
Mary M.
Their food is just really good. Crisp, clean. Good portion sizes. Their Caesar salad is some of the best I've ever had. Never had a bad meal there, and they make their own beers in house.The day bartender Sarah has more energy than I will ever have in my life and is nice as hell. It's good times.
(4)
Garrin H.
I just got back from Twain's...love this place. Tuesday night features a jazz jam session hosted by trumpeteer Joe Grandsden, and the number and quality of musicians that show up is pretty amazing. On Wednesdays they have a blues night hosted by Dave Ellington, which I'm told is also excellent (haven't been to that yet). As for the food and beer, I was pleasantly surprised by my bean burger. I was expecting a Boca Burger, Gardenburger or some other variety of mass-consumed faux hamburger. This bean burger was actually really good, and it seemed like they made it in-house to my surprise. Sweet potato fries were also tasty, as was the beer - the pale ale I ordered was made on the premises. As for the crowd, the people there seemed down-to-earth, and I liked how unpretentious the scene was. Good vibes man.
(4)
Chuck R.
They make great beer. You can play pool for a reasonable price. What more do you want?
(4)
Scott L.
Love this place. The beers Jordan brews are fantastic. He has a brew for al tastes, so some of you knobs still drinking Bud Light.....Try one....It will change your life. The food is good, but not on the same level as 5 Seasons or Bookhouse. Service can be iffy at times, but overall good. Live jazz on Tuesday nights.
(4)
Leigh N.
Typical bar food, decent brewery. Plenty of billiard tables. Relaxed, casual environment. There's never been much of a crowd when I've been, but would be a good place to hang out with friends and play pool.
(3)
Sean S.
food actually seems to have taken a turn for the worse with the "new menu", twice now we've had dishes that just taste strange. service is mostly friendly... their in-house brews are still above average. been coming here for 13 years but other than their great IPA, we are finding it less inviting. (PS- even their turkey burger tastes weird now, even though they charge more for it than their neighbor Brickstore's excellent turkey burger!)
(3)
Lindsey B.
Had some terribly rude service at Twain's a couple of years ago, but things have been better in the few times I've been since then. The new setup is a bit strange with the fancy fishtank and unpainted cinder blocks up front, but the games are still there. Other reviewers have bashed the bar's homebrews, but I've liked the ones I've had. Haven't had much food, but the wings and sweet potato fries are excellent. Probably not the best place to expect a nice dinner, but a great place to have a few beers and shoot pool or throw darts. I always seem to get drunk when I go to Twain's.
(4)
Will F.
I absolutely love this place. Rarely do I feel as at home in public as I do when I step through their door. Ownership/staff are very warm/inviting, and Jordan really knows his stuff in the brewery with an impressive selection of high quality beers. Tons of pool tables, dart boards, shuffleboard, high def TV's, and yummy uber "comfort food". They are very much a part of the Decatur community and anyone will feel comfortable. Always a very interesting/ecclectic crowd. One of my very favorite.
(5)
Boner J.
Cool place. Big, long bar, lots of booths around, and a pooltable area with about 6-8 tables. House drafts are around $4 for a 20oz, about 10 total, and a big menu of micros. Beer prices were right, but the food seemed disproportionately expensive ($8 for 8 wings and $6 for fries?). Lots of locals coming and going and overall chill vibe. Wings were "XXX Habanero" as promised. Not a dive but not pretentious and enough conversation about Critical Mass behind the bar for me to know what the ethic of the place is. Luckily I got the F outta there before the live music started - there were BONGOS. I was just visiting ATL but if I lived here this would easily be my regular. Docked the 1 star only for the food price.
(4)
Chase C.
It's huge, filled with fantastic decor, tons of professional size pool tables, a huge beer selection, & one of the best jukeboxes in town. It's also eclectic - a true neighborhood pub. All races, social classes, & sexual orientations convene here. It's not the best place to have a conversation since it gets loud, but it's FUN. Smokers have their own room for pool & non-smokers have another. Fantastic! Their menu is good for bar food, & vegetraian/vegan friendly. It's a good place to people-watch, unwind, drink, & play pool. For the pee-shy, in addition to men's & women's rooms, they have a unisex one-seater. It's the little things that count. But good luck getting a parking space, & be careful not to hit another car while you're in the lot - it's crammed like sardines.
(5)
Miss S.
Brickstore was too packed to even get inside, so we headed over to Twain's. Found a space in the parking lot, which is a plus. Our server was super nice and my Twain's-brewed-pale ale was tasty (not the IPA, but some other one), but the hummus was only okay-- wouldn't order that again. The crowd was mostly really, really young guys-- maybe kids home for Christmas break or something??? Regardless, a good place to have a beer and catch up with friends.
(4)
Erica D.
Twain's served me well in undergrad. The waiters were great, and a few knew my tastes well enough to suggest something new without my having to ask. Twain's used to be a 5-star place for me, but since they revamped their style and started brewing their own beer, it went down...way down. Their house-brewed beer is, frankly, not good. We've actually left unfinished pitchers on the table, and if you knew my friends, you'd know how serious that is. The space more trendy, the front pool room is now tables and a small stage. the back pool room is still the same, and that's a plus.
(2)
Miller J.
Not at all impressed. I tried most of their microbrews and they were terrible. The portabella sandwich was tasty but the service wasn't the best. Shuffleboard was fun but you have to pay to play.
(1)
Jarrod C.
Twain's had a nice renovation done and really is just a fun place to hang out. I've had many different friends join me there for shuffleboard, pool, trivia, etc. Everyone always seems to enjoy it. The food is solid, not spectacular but even their menu has had some nice changes to it. Their best upgrade came when they started making their own house beers. Try the pale ale and the "Ducatur" for some nice flavor. If you haven't been you should definitely make the trip...you'll find something there you like.
(3)
Joel F.
A brewpub cum pool hall cum neighborhood bar cum restaurant. A fun neighborhood feel and a nice beer menu. First of all, the good: I love the decor and ambiance here. Cool bar decorcations and a small amount of sports memorabilia (I particularly liked the Philadelphia Flyers banner hanging from the ceiling). It's neatly divided into a dining area with booths and tables, a bar area and a pool hall area. There's also a patio. The menu is mostly pubby, but I was impressed. They have a nice selection of bottled beers, too. Probably 50 or so, mostly microbrews and imported stuff (such as Unibroue, Chimay, etc.) The bad: They really need to work on their brewpub beers. The golden ale was decent: pale and not too hoppy. The other three beers I tried were all messed up. If you make a red ale, it shouldn't taste over-attenuated and too hoppy. The IPA was also a bit thin and not malty enough. The brown ale either tasted like a stout or the server gave me the wrong beer. The ugly: The service. I was there on a recent Friday night and there were two major problems: First of all, the server brought me a bottled conditioned Belgian beer and didn't bring me a glass. If this place is going to serve a big beer menu (which they do), they really need to give their servers proper training. You don't serve bottled beers without proper glasses to customers in a dining area. Second of all, a place this size (and it is quite big) REALLY needs to have a host or hostess at the door. This seat yourself situation caused us to wait far too long at our table for service. Then later during our meal our server took WAY too long (probably half an hour) to bring me another beer. I looked over and saw her dealing with a large party at the front of the restaurant who were trying to find seating. Meanwhile she had left seven tables with no service at all for the entire time. I don't blame the server. She can't be expected to do two jobs at once. I do blame the management for understaffing the place. There really is no excuse for not paying someone to man the hostess stand at the front of the house. This is extremely poor management, imo. Please fix your service problems and pay a host/hostess to do what hosts/hostesses do!
(3)
Matthew R.
Great place to chill, hang out, drink beer. They allow dogs on the outdoor patio which is nice. My only gripe is they had the best fried fish sandwich in Atlanta and changed their batter. I guess their extensive beer list and jukebox selection make up for it.
(4)
Julie M.
What's great about Twain's is that it's no smoking and family friendly. You don't find a bar with those elements in the atlanta/decatur area very often. The menu is typical for a bar (sweet potato fries are my favorite) but the service is usually lacking. They have some pretty good beers coming out of their brewery and are always willing to give you a sample or two. The billiards room is spacious as well as the dart area. My 10 year old loves the shuffle board table and the small arcade. It's a fun place to go with the family for a few hours on a sat or sun afternoon. Great patio too. Gets a little busy in the evening for kids though.
(3)
Blu M.
I've been to Twain's a few times purely to play pool, drink & eat. They have pretty good food considering it's a bar. I thought the music was awful but the pool tables and vibe of the place makes up for it. Overall, it's a nice chill spot to hang out and play pool.
(3)
Beau B.
Good place to Pre game before a night out. They brew their own beer and have good bar food.
(4)
Alison G.
Twain's is one of those places I never crave, am never super stoked to go to, but keep visiting anyway. They have a parking lot (and if it's full I can park at my former employer's across the street), the menu is a decent size, they have a full bar, and there's ample seating so there never seems to be a line or a crowd. The service is usually a miss. I've come at lunch and at dinner, on weekdays and on weekends, and the server always starts out nice and then becomes absent. Maybe I have a knack for showing up on the cusp of a new shift, but whoever I have seems to always be about to get off and is busy counting their money and closing out checks. Their house-brewed beer isn't the best but I don't care since I don't drink beer. Their fried green beans are addictive to the point of sickness, so I can't eat them anymore. The chips and salsa/nachos are okaaayyy but last time the chips had the faint chew of staleness. I used to LOVE their curried chicken salad sandwich but it has gone the way of the Dodo, sadly. Garlic fries are a must for your side. A MUST. Last week I tried their chicken and waffle and I gotta say--it was fuckin' delicious. The only weird part was the onion-bacon jam. I'm big on texture, and it was kinda disconcerting having the texture of cooked onion but the flavor of bacon--I kept thinking I was gnawing on bacon fat but it would turn out to be an onion. Yum? Also, it comes with a side of sauteed spinach. Again with my texture hangups! I can't stand cooked mushy leaves, so I asked if I could switch out the side. They told me no, and I told them to keep their spinach. They did, and I got to pay full price. I think that's kinda bunk, honestly. Twain's is a solid spot for food and drinks when you don't feel like being adventurous or looking for parking. Which for me appears to be pretty often.
(3)
Megan K.
This place is like a home away from home. Best buy on beers in town, since they brew their own awesome beers and most are $3.50. Go here for beers not cocktails. And don't be the guy ordering a yuengling at the bar. Great food - a lot is locally sourced, beef is grass fed... *most* of the time it's really good. Great bar tenders, most of the servers are good. Occasionally you'll get a random "off" day - usually when they're slow. Very local feel, cool mixed crowds, Friday and Saturday night you'll occasionally get some fratty people, but usually outnumbered by cool folks.
(4)
Chris J.
I'm a regular here at Twain's. I primarily come here for reasonably-priced, good beer they brew in house. The food is inconsistently good at best. Tonight, however, the food was exceptionally terrible. I had a PBLT which is essentially a BLT with pork belly instead of bacon. The pork belly was the worst I've ever had anywhere, exhibiting a tough, not-chewable consistency and no flavor. The bread tasted like cheap sandwich bread from Walmart and the aioli also had no flavor. My wife had a dry, overcooked, flavorless burger which she'll probably comment about on Yelp as well. There are a lot of good food options here in Decatur and I don't think I'll come back here for food anytime soon because the food was simply unacceptable. I wish I had gone across the street to Chick-fil-A before coming to Twain's for beer.
(2)
Zewditu D.
Nuts and bolts: A friend and I wanted a midway point between our homes to meet up for dinner. Decatur Square is the perfect spot for us. Neither one of us had tried Twain's so we decided to try it out that particular evening. Order: Fish and chips for me. Turkey burger for my friend. Pros: Not much in my experience. Cons: There was no one there to great us when we arrived so we went ended up wandering around the the place for a bit. Then someone came and seated us. But it was in an awkward booth at the front. Service was incredibly slow and we felt ignored alot of the time. We did not enjoy our food. Take home: It might be a good sport for drinks and games, but not for dinner!
(1)
Brian J.
A pretty lively atmosphere. The nut brown ale was perfect. The service at the bar was quick and pleasant. The servers were all tatted up with base ball capes and keys hanging form their belts. The feel of Twains was industrial, corner bar /pool hall. Noises, busy and fun. The beer was great! The food was good.
(4)
John X.
Twain's has had it's ups and downs. In food, service, and prices. You can't say they don't try though. They react and make changes. OK. September 2014 prices have been pared down. Beer is great. Had an american salad w/ house made ricotta that was Delicious.This visit was 5 star !
(5)
Hanna K.
I recently joined two friends for drinks & pool at Twain's, which is a weak stone's throw from Downtown Decatur. They arrived before me and grabbed a few seats at the big round bar in the front. The samplers seemed to be the way to go, most groups at the bar had order the 10 beer option for $18. Their beers are a nice quality, provide a good range, & are fairly priced. My favorite was the Sunset Amber. The bartenders are all friendly, helpful, and look the part of your neighborhood brewer. On Wednesday nights, you can get a 12oz beer & burger for $10. I ordered the Turkey Burger with a side of brussel sprouts. The burger was nothing special and not something I would ever go specifically to Twain's for. But let's be honest, I wasn't there for the burger. The main games area is comprised of a few pool tables, shuffle board tables, dart boards, and a couple of random video games. This is all in the back part of the main room, with high ceilings, a buzzing vibe, and lots of windows onto the patio. You have to put a card down for access to the any of the tables...pool was $10/hr for 3 people (will be prorated). There are waiters providing full menu/bar service while you're playing. Unfortunately, there was a large professional group that had reserved the whole main games area, so we had to play in the pool room off to the side. This has a much more pool hall feel-dark, lower ceilings, etc. I'm sure if you're a pool playing regular, this is good. But for us, we were more interested in a casual game in the ambiance of the main room. I'm looking forward to getting back to Twain's to check out the patio and a few more food items!
(3)
Brittney R.
I loved this place and come here all the time BUT today was the worst. We waited 30min before our order was taken and all the tables that filled after us were served. After waiting an hour for food, we decided to pay for our drinks and leave. The waitress was rude when we asked for the check to pay for our drinks. I've never felt discrimination here before today. My party and I were made last priority and we felt it. My visit today was unfortunate I will NEVER go to Twain's again.
(1)
Berry G.
I'd never heard of this place until I was invited to lunch with friends. PARKING: A little scary because there's a ton of signs nearby that read "NO RESTAURANT PARKING". My friends and I all parked in the back lot (next to the pink building" and none of us were towed so... shrugs. SERVICE: Our waiter was funny. Chubby hipster looking young guy with a thick dark beard. I arrived & ordered 30 minutes after my friends and somehow received my food FIRST. Odd. FOOD: I reluctantly ordered from the brunch menu - 2 scrambled eggs, hash browns and chicken sausage. Tasted FAR better than I expected. The egg portion was HUGE - I swear they must have scrambled 4 or 5 eggs. And the chicken sausage was IN the eggs... weird but good. The hash browns are shredded potatoes packed into a ball and then deep fried (I think with onions). Delicious. The orange juice sucks - tasted artificial, like Tang or something. The entire menu looks great, I'll definitely come back to try some other dishes.
(4)
Rico S.
I am writing this review to share a tale of magnanimity. The staff at Twain's gets the ultimate gold star from me although my visit was atypical. My very inebriated friend got into an altercation with several members of the wait staff over a tab he believed he had paid but had not. Incensed, he antagonized, threatened and called some of the bartenders names. Fortunately, another friend settled his tab so that we could leave. Unfortunately, that same friend left the keys in the car unbeknownst to me and I locked the door. Two of those very same bartenders tried to help us get into the car and when we failed, one of them lent us their phone to call AAA. Also, they have great beers on tap.
(5)
Jonette G.
On the plus side, it's a cool place to hang out with great atmosphere. The food is hit or miss. The sweet potato chips were quite tasty. The fries were okay but cold and the fish sandwich I ordered was bland and cold. The server was nice but a couple in our party didn't get their food until well after everyone had eaten and their plates cleared away. I guess everyone has a bad night once in awhile.
(2)
Steven R.
This is a really fun place. The drinks are great and the food is really good too. Yet have shows on the weekends, but plan ahead to go early cause this place can get packed. I recommend going off hour or during the week to get some casual pool in and hang with some friends. But it's a fun weekend spot too if you don't mind crowds!
(4)
Kenny R.
AWESOME BEER!!! Electric car charging station, large billiards room, shuffleboard, etc.... and good food. I came here for lunch on a hungover Thursday after catching a 2 night run of Phish in Alpharetta. This wasn't one of those, I need something greasy hangovers, I needed something healthy as a base and then to get back on the wagon(or falling off the wagon, I dunno how that works). I ordered the cured salmon sandwich and my counterpart got the crunchy aristocrat. Both were awesome and did the job. Battered/fried green beans were AMAZING! Our waitress was quick with everything and had some great recommendations but I was allgood at that point. I needed a coffee to get it together and belong as a functioning member of society as she went ahead and ordered a beer. Criminal Sin IPA was the booze. I took a sip and it was awesome but I still wasn't ready to commit to alcohol quite yet. We expressed a solid interest in the other beers and one of the brewers(Chase, I think his name was?) came out to talk to us about them. Tequila barrel aged IPA, wowzers. Some small batch Belgain/sassion/pale ale or something like that was one of the best "fruity" beers I've ever had. Supposedly, it was rather high gravity as well. After a flight, I felt much better about the world and proceeded to get a game of shuffleboard going. As a former 55 and over community resident, I knew I had this one in the bag. It wasn't fair but, it was fun. I wanted to hustle some pool as well but, after that, nobody wanted to play with me. After reading some other reviews I guess they have live music as well? Next time I'm in ATL, I'll be headed straight here.
(5)
Jessica H.
Updated review! We used to be regulars here, and I did love the fried chicken tenders and sweet potato waffle -- went there specifically for that! However, the last time we were in, I ordered and received a savory waffle. We commented on the new menus when placing our order, but the server didn't note any main ingredient changes - so I assumed all was the same. Alas, it was not. Very disappointing. Spoke with the manager about it, actually, because when I mentioned it to the server she got very defensive. They were nice about it - but very disappointing menu change. Burgers are good. My eldest kid loves the spaghetti but we always have to ask for extra sauce. She's not a fan of the grilled ham and cheese. Margaritas are to die for and the kids can watch the fish tank for hours - it's a win! Kid menus are inside a children's book, too! Service can be great - service can be terrible. Parking can be a pain, fair warning.
(2)
DeAndre J.
Kinda upset this place doesnt have a happy hour and the parking was TIGHT!!! (Almost nudged the car next to me) Definitely had plenty of pool tables and I'm glad they have shuffle boards. I'd definitely come back (but probably take an uber just in case). Also, maybe this was a rare occasion but there was a LOT of kids running around. Seemed sort of weird being that this was a bar and not a Chuck E Cheese.
(3)
Sara M.
Oh, Twain's. How I love you so. 1) Their beer is awesome. And it's far too often led to me looking at the clock and wondering how the hell it got to be 1am so fast. And on a weeknight! 2) Food is okay. The lemon pepper wings are the standout for me. I order them every time I eat here. 3) It's huge inside and there is a ton of stuff to do. Trivia on Mondays, live jazz on Tuesdays, a few TVs turned to sports, dog-friendly patio, billiards, shuffleboard, darts, and arcade games. Also good for groups. 4) After 9pm, it's 21 and up. Thank goodness. 5) Bathroom (I can only speak for the women's) is usually pretty clean and the stalls have recently been renovated. 6) Parking is easy compared to other Decatur bars. Overall, a fun, lively spot. Grab some friends and enjoy! WARNING: Time will fly here.
(4)
Christine R.
New Spring brews are on tap! Good balance of light and citrusy wheats and IPAs mixed with a few darker ales, stout and of course a Cask. Came for brunch and it was good. I like the new menu. They also expanded their liquor and cocktail selection if beer isn't your thing.
(4)
David L.
Twain's is awesome. Great sports bar but don't let that keep your girl from wanting to go. The food is amazing. Try the wings, some of, if not the best in the city. Great atmosphere, home brews, service and fun. Plenty of games to play with a large pool hall in the back. Now that they have Golden Tee back, you'll see me up there!
(5)
Candace M.
It was a Saturday night and me and the Boo were looking for something to do (my little rhyme). The "Places" app on my phone let us here and boy was it a good time. Although I had been to Twain's before, I had never really "been there" In the past I just stopped by to say hello to friends and mostly hung outside. This time was different. We were waiting for friends to join us so we got some dinner. The fish and chips were really good. So good in fact that we ordered another plate and shared it. What I really liked about Twain's was the number of billiards tables that they had. You go over to the side and put your name on a list and by the time we finished eating it was our turn to play. They also had darts and shuffle board. It didn't feel crowded although it was a pretty big place. This is a new go to place when we just need a somewhat laid back night of just hanging with good people shooting some pool.
(3)
Robin S.
Twain's gets an upgrade to four stars. Not sure why I had it rated at three before. While the food isn't among the best pub fare in the area, it's still decent. The beer, the bar and the space in general - including pool tables and shuffleboard - easily make it one of my favorite drinking holes. Last night was Langhorne IPA and Mad Happy beers, and a blacked mahi sandwich with onion rings. I really like their onion rings. The mahi could have been tastier - their blackening spices need spicing up.
(4)
Greta H.
Great atmosphere. The servers are very friendly and helpful. Late at night the crowd is younger but feels like a family establishment during the day. I love their chicken tenders and fries. Cheese dip is also incredible. Gum pork is is must. Fish and chips are decent, the apple slaw is great. The Reuben is not the best i have ever had. The corned beef was good but the sandwich was very dry.
(5)
Richard L.
Decided to try Twains for an early dinner since it's close to my daughter's college. Decor appealing with something for everyone. Booths, bar, outdoor seating, billiards with plenty of space. The menu got my anticipation up. Interesting entrees with local flair, and a fantastic variety of ales. Opened with a delightful appetizer - mac & cheese fritters. Two at my table ordered sandwiches - BBQ and vegetarian. They were pleased. I and another opted for pasta dishes - Pasta Bolognese and the House Vegetarian Pasta. Both were tasty but the portion size very small. The pasta entrees were served in cereal sized bowls, hardly enough for an appetizer. My second concern was poor service on a quiet weeknight. Waitress was sweet but absent. Passed the table three times before she remembered missing drinks. She was nowhere to be found during the meal. We had to search her out for the check. She never asked how our meal was, never inquired as to whether we wanted desert. Small portions and poor service trump a great atmosphere. I won't be back.
(2)
Chris Thomas H.
Awesome beer, reeeeally good food (depends what you order of course). The atmosphere is very nice, lively is a good word.
(4)
Lindsey G.
I am at a quandry. You see, my BF and I spent NYE together here for dinner and drinks and games before heading out to the Underground for the Peach Drop. The conundrum comes from the fact that both of us had only salads and apps to eat (and I had a Bourbon Flight), and I don't think any of that is representative of the food and drinks at the place, especially since they have their own brewery. Anyway, I had a ceasar salad which was only OK, along with a basket of perfectly crisp sweet potato french fries with a yummy chipotle mayo for dipping. BF had a greek salad with greek chicken, again, this was only OK, along with vegetarian chili. I'm thinking a bar/pool place doesn't excel at salads because that's the food that attracts the crowd, so I won't fault them for that. The apps were delicious though, which makes me think their burgers, sandwiches and other entrees will be worth another visit in the future. As for the service, it was aight. Nothing to write home about. Plenty of different bar games abound here, though, but as it was NYE, we were left playing Terminator Salvation which I suck at :-( The place looks like a lot of fun, with all the dart boards, pool tables, brewery, etc. So I think we'll be coming back for more sometimes soon.
(3)
Rene F.
I'm changing my earlier review. After going a couple more times I am a fan. The bloody mary I had was good, and drinks are always really fast. Prior to this, maybe I caught them on an off day.
(4)
Amy K.
Pros: Excellent beer, cider and mixed drink selection. Great service, pool & darts galore. Good music and volume, smoking on patio only (which is a con if you want to sit on the patio!). Cons: Food sucked, somewhat pricey. Went last night for the first time finally despite a great reputation and desire to go for many years. The service was excellent, really enjoyed sitting on the patio in the beautiful weather yesterday. They played some good music, it wasn't loud (outside). Got bacon mac & cheese bites. I didn't taste any bacon but they were hot and good. The jelly that came with it tasted right out of a jar though and didn't really compliment the app at all. I am burger obsessed and was incredibly disappointed with the BBQ burger I ordered. The patty was thick and cooked perfectly but didn't have much flavor. The BBQ sauce was bland and watery, the cheese was a thick glob of tasteless fat and the coleslaw and onions weren't even noticeable. The sweet potato fries were thick cut but also bland and had to be doused in ketchup. At $12.50 I felt robbed. SO got pulled chicken sandwich which was original in idea and spicy (yay!). The roasted carrots that he got as a side were some of the best I've ever tasted. Friends got burgers and sides of chili which they tried to doctor with every condiment on the table to no avail - it was left uneaten. Their beer selection was amazing and I really enjoyed their home brews. They had good ciders and a lot of mixed drinks. There wasn't enough time in the day to sample all the alcoholic beverages they had. Next time I think I'll stick to drinks and games and stay away from the food.
(2)
Meagan F.
Twains. Come on. Yes, it is Saturday night but you should plan appropriately to provide service. We have been waiting at our table for over an hour and a half and are still sitting here without food/drinks. Getting ready to walk out.
(1)
Tom G.
Twains brews their own beers, about eight or so. If you want another beer it'll be from a bottle. This keeps the draft prices low, but the quality of their seasonal recipes is absolutely solid. Don't believe me? Try a concorde and taste them all yourself. Food is good. It's pub food, but they put noticeable effort into it. My favorite appetizer (or sober up snack) is the boiled peanuts. They're fantastic. Thank you Twains!
(5)
Stone M.
eh, still not impressed by their home brews. Service was outwardly rude. The food is pretty good (not great) and the beer is alright, but server was offensive. Probably wont be back.
(2)
Jennifer S.
Didnt eat here but the atmosphere was good. Lots of different things to do at the bar...pool, darts and so on. Very big place so you dont feel cramped.
(3)
John S.
You know that part in the OutKast song AtLiens, "Softly as if I play piano in the dark"? Yeah, Twains isn't like that at all... it's loud as hell and our group of five Asian individuals were the only non Caucasian patrons at the bar. Not that it bothered me very much to be the token ethnics at the bar, I mean it's happened before plenty of times in my life. I just thought that what with greater ATL being 52% black, there would've been some small representation from the African nations. *Imagining Nuk Nuk and Po'Jo and 'dem playing shuffleboard* Twains boasted a very unpretentious setting that included shuffleboard, pool tables, darts boards and a plethora of different beer and full bar options. The wait staff was quite nice, even after my buddy - who has this irrational lust for women of a certain hair color - started to become a bit overly friendly. The service was quick and food and drinks were also replenished quickly and efficiently. Overall, a great place for a group to play games of skill which quickly devolve into contests of "try to stand up straight" after copious amounts of alcohol consumption. Good thing there was a Waffle House nearby to help us through the night.
(4)
Kelsey F.
I have been hearing about Twain's for 4 years now and I finally made it there last Thursday night. A friend and I strolled in around 9:30 and found a seat at the main bar. There was a good amount of people there listening to the walk up musicians, drinking in the booths, and playing games. It took the bar tender a bit of time to take our order even though there were only a handful of people actually sitting at the bar. We both opted for one of the house brewed Belgium ales. Twain's big positive is that it is very reasonably priced - house beer $3.50 and that they brew their own beers which is always respectable. We hung out at the bar for a little while but we must have had our invisibility cloaks on because it took the bar tenders ages to notice that we wanted to order anything or wanted to close our tabs. We headed over to the game area and played a couple rounds of pool (also very reasonably priced). I liked that the brewery/bar was a buzz with people having fun, but not so crowded that you couldn't get in on any games. There are several large parking lots behind Twain's for parking. Service could absolutely be better here but the relaxed atmosphere, awesome bands that come out, reasonably priced games, and variety of beers to be drank make it worth a visit or two.
(3)
Shirlyn D.
The food is amazing and authentic. The service is slacking, though. It's a big restaurant, but there weren't that many customers when we got here, and it took us 20 mins to get drinks and another 20 to order an appetizer. But the servers were friendly when they finally greeted us.
(3)
Shaye B.
I would give this place 4 stars if the food was better - however, it is still a very fun place to hang out! The atmosphere of the place is awesome - very laid back, fun place to hang out at. Plenty of billiard tables and dart boards around that make it a nice time to hang out with friends with some pitchers of beer. Decatur is a far venture for me so while I have a lot of fun, I typically would not go here unless for whatever reason I went to Decatur and couldn't get a table at one of the other trendy restaurants. Worth checking out and could be a fun place to move to after a nice dinner in the area and you didn't want a crazy bar scene for the night. If I lived closer I would give the place 4 stars since it is a brewpub and I would rather review it on the basis of its atmosphere than the food - but long drive & mediocre food - I can't rate it better. Def a fun place to hang out at though if you have a group of people and are looking for a change of pace!
(3)
Caroline G.
Good food, Great vibe and nice mix of people from all walks. Tuesday night is Jazz/open mic-ish night, didn't realize it when we walked in, but it was an enjoyable night for sure. Food is good, on par with Decatur fair and in line with places similar. Beer-They brew about 8-10 of their own beer and it changes regularly, some are hits and some are not so hits, but that's the way it goes. I commend any place that has the balls to brew in house so its all GREAT to me. Im an IPA, Porter, Stout and etc beer drinker so I know my palate can be a little snobby. Service is friendly when they aren't busy and are nice when they are. It is what it is and they do what they do....There is a girl that bartended one afternoon I was there with shoulder length brown hair in pigtails...I can't for the life of me remember her name but OMG if I could pinch her cheeks and hug the shit out of her I would..she is all sorts of awesome! Don't really have anything bad to say about this place expect for the girls bathroom runs out of toilet paper and at times you find "presents" left on the floor by some girl that thought she could drink with the boys...So really my complaint would be with girls that can't manage to pee IN the toilet and puke IN the toilet...STAY the hell home and quit stealing Twain's TP. Also have pool tables, shuffle board, darts and something else I didn't pay attention to...I'm there to sit at the bar, stuff my face with hummus, drink beer and people watch.
(4)
Judy C.
Pros: -wide menu options -beet salad looked amazing (regret that I didn't order it) -seasonal sides -the size of the back rooms and the variety of different games (pool, darts, etc.) -family-run business Cons: -burger patty was dry/overcooked -parking was impossible to find on a Friday night
(4)
Steve J.
Fantastic food, fantastic house-brewed beer, fair prices for both, and a great environment. I've been to Twain's a handful of times and each time has been a great experience. The wait staff/bartenders have almost never let my beer run dry and the food and beers have always been great quality. The spent grain bread is an extremely hearty loaf made of grain used in the brewing process. It's extremely filling and mildly sweet. The vegetarian chili has a great flavor to it- just the right amount of heat for most all palettes. I've had a couple other items on the menu and they've all been well worth my money. I REALLY love their house Imperial IPA, but the Choco-Rye stout, and Amber are also pretty good. I think in the past I had a Tripel they brewed that was really good. Only one time that I've been in was it uncomfortably crowded, but most nights it's relatively calm and there are enough pool tables to go around.
(5)
Gwanda P.
The service here is horrible!!!!!!!!!!!! We were not given silverware or small plates with our two nacho orders. The server (she )was sooooooo rude!!!
(1)
Michelle K.
This is one of my all time place to "chillax" in Decatur. There has never been a bad visit since my first one back in January of last year. I recently visited this lovely establishment for drinks last month and found it humorous that our waiter thought I looked A LOT younger than my date! HA! That's amusing to me because we were both born in the same year and our waiter was probably younger than both of us! The bar was packed and the service there was still consistent! Gotta love that about a place like this. Hands down, if I ever want to be in a "chill bar" where the drinks are decent and have a burning desire to play a mean game of shuffleboard, Twain's is my number one hot spot! #Yelp 365 - 12/365
(4)
Vonda D.
This was my group's last stop of the night. We went in around 1am Sunday morning. I'm not sure if that late is a hit or miss. It was crowded, but my gfs and I just hung around at our table drinking beer. The apple cider beer I had was tasty. I wish they had some random tables throughout the place. It would be better for guy watching. :) I can't comment on the food or the games because all we did was drink. I've been told that happy hour here is great.
(2)
Brian K.
I've always considered Twain's to be the adult equivalent to Chuck E. Cheese's. However, instead of soft drinks, singing robotic mice, and a ball crawl, you get beer, live music, and shuffle board. In the end, if you can't find something here to keep yourself occupied, then you're likely in need of a clinical intervention. Food: In addition to being a brewpub, Twain's is also a full-service restaurant. The menu offerings are predominately traditional American bare fare, but there are a few novel standouts such as the bacon mac & cheese fritters. In addition to the standard menu, they also serve brunch on the weekends. Overall, the food isn't that memorable, but that's not surprising considering that it's not the main reason that most people seek this place out. Service: Incredibly friendly, but not always the most efficient. On the weekends, wait times can get fairly long for pool tables, darts, and shuffle board, so be prepared to wait. Atmosphere: The interior of Twain's is really quite expansive. The facility features a large dining room, performance stage, two bar areas, a billiards room, and separate alcoves for darts and shuffle board. Families are welcome during the day, but Twain's restricts entry to persons 21 and over after 9PM. Also, Smoking is completely prohibited, regardless of the time of day, so you don't have to worry about smelling like an ashtray once the evening is over. Cost: Inexpensive. Appetizers and snacks are $5-$9, soups and salads are $4-$9, sandwiches (includes choice of side) are $7-$10, and entrees are $8-$15. Other: Twain's is more than capable of accommodating large groups or office parties. They also feature special events throughout the week, such as food and beer pairings, corned beef Sundays, and Jazz Jam Thursdays.
(4)
Emma G.
The 5th star here is because Tuesday night Jazz was so, so great. Twain's is huge (or maybe my recently-moved-out-of-NYC-perspective is off); there is a giant dining room, with a stage for live music visible from most angles. Then there is a giant back room with billiards and a separate bar. The food is actually quite good for being a pub; I went with a friend who hadn't been in about a year, and he said the menu was much improved from the last time he'd been. My turkey burger was succulent, my greek salad was yummy and well-balanced (although a little overkill on the feta), and my friend's Burner Burger (Blackened Brasstown Beef, tomato and poblano chutney, pickled jalapenos, sriracha mayo, jack cheese.) was seriously a flavor-bomb in the best way. Live jazz at Twain's is perfect. The first set seemed to be comprised of all the regulars, and then as the night went on, people from the room kept coming up with their instruments and joining in. The musicians were phenomenal; they were clearly just having SO MUCH FUN, and it was a delight to watch/listen. I keep telling everyone I know that I can't wait to take them here on a Tuesday night and I'm being sincere.
(5)
Mike O.
Pretty sweet bar. Lots of games like shuffle board, pool, darts. And lots of places for people to play those games. There are several bars around the place, so you don't have to go too far, and there is also waiter service. The beer list is great, the pub food is very tasty. All around a great place. Keep in mind I've only been here on an early Friday afternoon. I haven't witnessed it, but I could see this place getting crazy packed. I imagine it would be less fun then.
(4)
Angela M.
They get their 4th star back! We went in yesterday (Fri Jun 14 2013) for lunch and it was outstanding. We had the fried chicken sandwich special, which was DEELISH. The fried chicken had a crispy, slightly sweet crust and was moist inside - PERFECT. The jalapeño aioli was not very spicy, but just salty enough to offset the sweet radish and cabbage slaw. Simply delectable. Nommy noises were the only conversation during this meal! Chef Savannah has saved this place! We didn't have beer, but the newest selection looked great. We are SO happy to have our wonderful Twain's back!
(4)
Matthew E.
Nice place. We went kind of late on a Thursday and there were only 10-15 people in there. They have pool tables, darts, and shuffleboard. There are a lot of cool places within walking distance.
(4)
Shyam S.
I had not visited Twain's in years, but I'm seriously questioning my own judgment because this is an excellent sports bar. Fuck, I feel like I have seriously wasted my time at cruddy sports bars across the city when such a gem is right in Decatur. Twain's seriously has everything - shuffleboard, billiards, pool, trivia, outdoor patio, tons of seating indoors, great food, great beer, etc. I just popped in to watch the second and third period of the Blackhawks-Bruins game (Go Hawks) and ate the most delightful snack - something called spent grain bread and the jerky and jelly combination. It was short and sweet and delightful.
(4)
Neenee P.
A step above the rest as far as beer and food quality but service... that's a whole different story. I'm not going into detail, I'm not so enthralled with myself I think people want to read an essay on yelp but the gist of it is, can we please stop with the apathetic serving?! It doesn't make you cool, or hipster. It makes you a bad server. There are a few good ones here if you snag a decent station but as a whole, if you're not at the main bar; be prepared for serious slack service!
(3)
Tom C.
I love Twain's! They have plenty of things to do like: shuffle board, pool tables, arcade games, darts, and fooze ball. It's very spacious inside. The place has a lot of character to it. Very casual, down to earth atmosphere. It's not grungy. It's open late till 2am on weekdays and 3am on the weekends. The clientele seems pretty cool. They have a very good beer selection for bottled and draft. I haven't tried the food, only played pool while I was there. I'm definitely coming back. And what do you know....they are close to Agnes Scott and you can hopefully catch some beautiful Agnes girls if they are not "Dec"aturs...lol
(4)
Davie C.
20 something hell. And the under 21 crowd have to be filtered out before you'll even get served. Maybe it's Friday nights. Maybe it's the full moon and I'm raging. shouldn't take an hour to get served. They should card at the door and then I would have known this place is for college kids and cougars. This also a great place to play hipster bingo, you can Google search for cards. And, seriously, who the f*ck drinks PBR at a BREWERY?!?!?!?
(1)
Sam G.
Probably my favorite place to hang out at right now. I love playing pool, the option for darts, arcade games and shuffle board rock! The live music is always good and the atmosphere is always positive and the staff are great. Cool place to go if your a fan of beer and good times. Dont come here if your a dick! The hipsters will stare you down til your pecker falls off ;)
(5)
Ryan S.
It is true that most people only write reviews only when their experience was poor or if it didn't meet expectations. Mine's different. Here's why? Me and my co-workers have been having Thursday nights (not all, but many Thursdays) @ Twains, since most of us are off on Thursdays. On my friend's (co-worker) despedida party, we decided to celebrate it at Twain's -- but instead of Thursday, we did it on a Wednesday. Oh, boy... That Wednesday, everyone was confused... This place used to be our favorite hangout ... but the real unexpected happened ... First, we were served poorly. We were handed out bill/checks way too early -- like they were ready to kick us out. Then, our female server rarely came back to refill our drinks or asked for any more orders. No one among us really knew why? When one of us asked, she couldn't tell us what was wrong. Also, our tables were cleaned early, even when some of us were still sitting -- my chicken wings were thrown away (even if there's still more than half left on the basket). Just poor service to the extreme! I don't know if it was because it was a Wednesday, or if it was because we weren't on our usual tables (or not the usual servers). Even the manager that night offered no help. Of course he tried/pretend he was listening, but we could see on his bearded face that he didn't care about our complains. To note: it was not even busy that night -- on our area, there were maybe 4 to 6 parties. It was just heartbreaking. We have been their costumers for a while, and never until that day did we get an awful service and a careless manager response. Also, I seem to recognize the manager who came to our table -- he seem to be our former server. He cut some of his beard and had some neat cutting and trimming (compared to his former beardy, mustachy, hairy face.) It was sad -- I guess having higher position makes one act differently. I am not hear to influence you not to try Twain's. It was maybe just bad luck that came to our faces all at the same time. Just to let you know, we are not just random uneducated rude folks, we are healthcare professionals. We know our limitations, and we know if we are being treated awfully. I just hope this won't happen to any of you guys.. But yes, yes to great food, and great alcoholic drinks, tops the pool table, darts, etc. But here's to having had a ready-to-forget, sad-ending of a night... And here's to never ever coming back to Twain's... Ever!
(1)
Sarah F.
Great service. Terrible veggie chili. Delicious beet salad. Beer samples.
(4)
Joyous S.
I like this place and I think it's a great place to hang out with your friends and it's also great date spot. The first time I went out with my coworkers and for happy hour! I went again just to get some vegetarian chili and it was okay! The last time I went was on a date and we had a great time the only thing that I would say is the server wasn't that friendly she was also the bartender in the back. But another server came over to help her that night and she was very pleasant!
(4)
Emily C.
This place is amazing! I've been going to Twain's for a few years now and have converted many friends into believers. They brew many of their own beers in house and I've never had one I didn't like. Prices are extremely reasonable for both drinks and food. I find the food to be really, really good especially if you're looking for something local, delicious, but at the same time low key and laid back. I highly recommend the hot wings!
(5)
Christy B.
A great spot for tasty beer and fun games. They have some house brews that are not only well-made, but also inexpensive. Win-win-win. Throwing darts is obviously a little dangerous if you've been swimming in a beer ocean all night, so I suggest sticking to other games that don't involve throwing pointy objects around! Lucky for you, there are plenty of choices for that. The food is beyond bar food. Salads, sammiches, and other healthy options sit on the menu right next to some amazing sweet potato fries. The atmosphere changes depending on which side of the bar you're on, from library-ish to pool hall, but it holds a good vibe no matter where you are.
(4)
Jessica L.
I went here for trivia night with my host while I was couchsurfing. It's a bit grittier of a place than I'm used to but overall pretty fun. I got the roasted turkey on multigrain because I still haven't gotten over my obsession with sprouts. It was decent, but a little too salty/peppery if I recall. The trivia itself was fun, even though there were a few questions that were stupidly random. The bathroom stalls don't have locks (at least in the ladies' room), and that's just not cool. I accidentally walked in on some poor girl :/.
(3)
Bibi R.
We've been to Twain's a few times now. While it's maybe not my favorite place ever, they have great drinks and some really nice dishes. Unfortunately they changed their menu recently, so some of the really good veggie stuff is not available anymore, but the Crispy Kale Sandwich is unbeatably delicious. It comes with a side as well--they're fries are great! Their drinks selection is also great, and their shuffle board and pool tables just add to the fun. What I don't really like is that their "pool table for so-and-so" is extremely loud--unnecessarily loud. Nonetheless, a nice place to hang out. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Reba Jean B.
Oh, Twain's... What can I say about you. I thoroughly enjoyed your trivia night last week and wish I could make it this week. I'm thankful for your beer selection and hope you keep it up. The Founder's was fantastic on draft. Your pool tables have kept me entertained for years on end and I would like to say thank you for always being there. (My only complaint is with the boiled peanuts. Is that clove I taste? Two thumbs down on that one) Twain's, your staff and your guests are awesome!
(4)
Steve M.
Twains is an awesome bar. Whenever I go out in Decatur I always end up at Twains. They have good prices and the bartenders make stiff drinks, which I love. They also have a bunch of pool tables, shuffle board, darts and an outdoor patio. I haven't had any food there but the drinks are good and the beer they brew there is good as well. Atmosphere is the best part.
(5)
Silence R.
I wanted to like this place, I really did. Named after one of the greatest American authors of any era, pages of books on the walls, pool and darts. Plenty of space, once you finally find a parking spot, Twain's is a great place to meet friends. ...as long as you aren't planning on eating or drinking. If Almost Average was a flavor, Twain's food would be smothered in it. I've had burgers, reubens, salads, jerky - apparently they make their own, fries, and I'm sure a few others. Not once has the food been better than "just okay." Every time I tried something new it was an opportunity to be disappointed all over again. The food isn't bad, it's just not good. Go there hungry and you'll leave disappointed. Twain's own brews are hit or miss, heavy on the miss. But I'm sure a lot of that has to do with personal preference: I prefer good beer, not watered down craft concoctions just to say you make your own beer. I went to a place and made my own wine once - that doesn't make me a stellar vintner. The service is terrible. Just terrible. Oh, they seem nice enough. Lots of smiles and laid back personalities. So laid back in fact that they will forgot to come back to the table. Or will come back without what you asked for. Twice. I've been weekends and during the week, busy and empty. There are two constants: inattentive service and meh food. Looking back, I'm surprised at how often I've gone there, often due to convenience, given their track record. But I don't need to play that song anymore. Other than the service, it's not a BAD place - it's just not very good.
(2)
Kent M.
Awesome Food not only do they prepare it Great It's Good Food to start with !! Awesome community Place. can get a little loud as they have lots pool tables, games to entertain. One of My favs !!
(4)
SenorQueso G.
During our weekend stay in Decatur, we hit Twain's for an early lunch twice. We enjoyed the beer and food. With all of the pool tables and obvious PA gear, I can see how this place could get pretty loud at night. However, it was quiet and easy-going for lunch. The beer was very good. Particularly, the Gingerbread Bragon Brown Ale was great for the first beer of the day. We tried the bacon mac n cheese fritters and were comparing everything else we ate that weekend to those. Amazing. The tempura green beans were top-notch as well. Still firm and crunchy without being greasy at all. All of the food was excellent. Speed of service was another matter. There seemed to be only one person working the entire floor, so we had some long waits between visits. Luckily, we were on vacation and didn't mind the pace. In other circumstances this would have been an issue. If I ever get back to Decatur, I'll be going back.
(4)
Ross F.
Headed here earlier for lunch and ordered from the brunch menu. It was kind of disappointed. It came with borderline-overcooked chicken sausage patties and "hash browns" - or a small blob of fried potatoes. But the ambiance was nice and so was the server!
(3)
Ken M.
This is a great neighbor sports bar/resteraunt that also serves up live music. Thursday night bike night is usally when I go. Lots of space, patio dining and gaming galore.
(4)
Katrina W.
Twain's won my heart with their beer flight and their nachos. A friend of mine took me here and got me a flight of their beers, which a) was pretty tasty and b) got me rather drunk! For noms, we ordered a basket of fries (that came with the best spicy mayo ever) to share and then I decided to get the nachos with chicken for my meal. So, the nachos. These are the best nachos I've had in town, for serious. They add a cheese sauce and then bake cheddar cheese on top of that, add a yummy pico de gallo and jalapenos and give you sour cream and salsa on the side. You can add chicken, steak or veggie chili for an additional charge. Whenever I get sick of nachos, I'll try something else - but I'll take my husband's word for the other entrees (he was really fond of the pot roast). They do have a small parking lot and are slightly off the Square, so it's never been hard to find seats there. Restaurant is roomy with a game area (darts/pool) and service has always been spot on. Definitely will be back. :)
(4)
Obadiah S.
Had the occasion to stop here for Brunch on the weekend. The corned beef hash was fantastic. The beer that's beginning to pour from the new brewmaster is really worth a visit.
(4)
Alli H.
Service is always friendly. Food is pretty good, and the new brewmaster has brought some really great beers to Twain's. Sometimes they run out of the beer I want, but the options are plentiful enough that I can always find a Plan B that is just as delicious. I recently had the vegetarian chili and the falafel burger - they were DELICIOUS! The best part is the darts/pool/shuffleboard. Playing darts is free, but the shuffleboard and pool are both pay-to-play (and not that cheap). Overall a very fun place to hang out on weekends :-) Love it!
(4)
Katie C.
I've always heard great things about Twains, so maybe my experience was unusual. My friend and I went here after the Braves game Sunday and it was pretty empty. Only families with screaming children and a couple of people at the bar. The service was quick and competent. I got the chicken philly cheese steak with onion rings because I wanted something messy and hearty. My friend got the turkey bacon wrap with fries and we shared the cheese dip. The food was very blah minus the onion rings which would have carried a whole other star if they hadn't been so incredibly greasy. The sandwich was tiny and only lukewarm with no real flavor. The cheese dip was orange (I was expecting white since it said jalapeño cheese dip) and it only came with a handful of chips. By the time the waitress brought more chips (which we had to pay for!) it had cooled into a hard mess. I will come back to try the interesting selection of beers, but only after 9pm (when all those screaming kids get kicked out) and I'll make sure to eat before I come.
(2)
Nathan O.
Perhaps my favorite place in all of Decatur. You can have great brews, wonderful food, and enjoy some classic entertainment. The fried green beans are the best part of the menu. Pulled pork never loses as well. Someone else wrote about the large amount of porters and coffee-based brews, which is entirely true for any Belgium beer fan. Shuffboard, pool, foosball and live music often. A nice patio outside as well. The parking is the biggest blessing as well, as you are always guaranteed to find a spot in walking distance. You really can't beat it.
(4)
Richard K.
Any place that has shuffleboards rocks in my books and they got two at Twain's. Besides the shuffleboards, they have about a dozen pool tables, three dart tables, and some of that damn foosball. There are a few drawbacks to the games. First, they are not free and on the pricey side. Second, there is a good wait especially for shuffleboard. Even with the drawbacks, it is really an entertaining, worthy place to grab food and drinks with all the possible activities. As for the food, it was surprisingly good. The sweet potato fries were delicious and the pita appetizer proportion was big enough to feed a small country. Really, for $5 bucks, it was absolutely ginormous. Another plus is the microbrewery. I always appreciate a place that make their own beer. I ordered the golden ale and really enjoyed the overall smooth taste of the beer, but sadly I wasn't my usual self and had to call it quits after one beer due to heartburn or "one beer queer syndrome". With their microbrews, solid food, and games, Twain's is well worth the drive out to Decatur
(4)
Dio S.
Twain's is a combination of a pool hall and brewpub, but also kind of more than that. Offering and layout are very eclectic, with pool room in the back, front gaming area with two shuffleboard tables, a few pool tables, darts, and arcade games, middle eating area, and then a bar and even more eating area on the other side, not to forget a patio. Beer selection is quite nice, and priced agreeably, though I have not been too impressed with any of the house brews. The crowd is generally youthful, energetic, wide-ranging, and there's lots of characters. I think it's great for groups. Shuffleboards can be pretty hard to get on a busy night. There are people from Decatur Chess club playing on one table every Friday night, way past midnight, in all the bustle and noise. That is very cool. Now if only they would do karaoke occasionally, I'll go insane. There are times when you think, man, all I do at the Brick Store is sitting there drinking and talking, I wonder if there's somewhere to chill for a while where I actually DO stuff. Voila, this is a great option right down the block. When you get thirsty for that glass of Duchess, go right back to BSP. Love it.
(3)
Rob P.
Just had a fun Friday night at Twain's. Started off with dinner and it was a pleasant surprise. I had the pork loin and it was moist and delicious. The lady had the beet salad with salmon and also enjoyed it. The above average food was a nice surprise since we only expected good beer and games. That part didn't disappoint as there was a good selection of house microbrews and other craft bottles. Also got to play pool, foosball, and shuffleboard. Huzzah.
(4)
Frank C.
They brew their own beer, which is very tasty and consistent throughout the batches. The waitstaff is fantastic, they have a beer in my hand as soon as I finish the previous one. It is a great set up with pool tables, full length indoor shuffle board and a dart area. The patio is cool in the summer because of the ivy growing over the top, and the patio is dog friendly.
(5)
AJ J.
The lemon pepper wings are AMAZING!!!!!
(4)
Jerome M.
Twain's is a full service pub, restaurant, and pool hall located in downtown Decatur, GA. Open since 1996, they've been brewing their own crafted ales since November 2006. With an eclectic atmosphere, i.e. chandlers made from Tap Hammers, tricycles, bowling pins, pages of Huck Finn plastered to the wall, four dart boards, six pool table in the main room and more in the back, anyone can feel at ease at Twain's. Their menu contains: App's like: Fried Green Beans, The Trinity(Queso, Guacamole, and Salsa with Chips.). Entrees: Black Bean Burger, Cilantro-Salmon Burger, Country Fried Steak. Plus soups and salads. And names like: Heaven for Climate Golden Ale, Gingerbread Brown Ale, Mad Happy Pale Ale, and Hell for Society Stout coming out of the brewery, held within the within the restaurant, there is hardly a chance you couldn't find something for yourself. I myself had the Fried Green Beans, Drunken Mussels and a Heaven for Climate Golden Ale. The Fried Green Beans them-selves were a bit bland, the beer batter was crisp and wasn't bad. The horseradish mayo that accompanied it was very tasty and kicked the flavor up making this a very tasty and recommend appetizer. The Heaven for Climate Golden Ale wasn't very impressive to me. It had a bland taste, almost like a Lite beer from a name brand company. The Drunken Mussels were very good. They tasted fairly fresh and were cooked perfectly. They took a steam bath in Twain's brew with shallots, garlic and oregano. It really worked. My Foodie Outing group were there for awhile. I was the only one out of them that wanted to play some billiards, but for $7.50 an hour, it was something I could pass up. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am ready to go back. See my full review at: sites.google.com/site/iw…
(3)
Jon G.
These guys can make some beer!! I am a big IPA fan and they always have one on tap that I love. Food is super. Wonderful grass fed burger. Great fries too. They make a vegetarian chili that I love. Really nice people, good beers and food. I totally recommend this place.
(5)
Kathleen M.
After meeting a sold out show at Eddie's Attic, we decided to roll over to Twain's and grab a beer to celebrate Humpday. Or something. As if we needed an excuse to grab a beer. I was the first to arrive, made a lap, and settled in at a table towards the front window. I loved the space: very open and welcoming, with various options for seating depending on what you were looking for: booths away from the bar for the kid-toting folk, hi tops for a quick drink, and tables looking out over the pool hall for the gawkers in all of us. I love their rotating list of house-made beers, and settled in with a Bookzilla Brown Ale, as brown ales are my newest love. It's great that you can get a half-pint, just in case you don't feel like committing to one flavor: it's a great way to try their wide range of options. The beer I chose was delicious; quite flavorful and better than I expected, to be honest. It's no Bell's Brown but I would happily order it again. I also ordered a turkey sandwich that was the perfect choice: fresh, thick Thanksgiving-like turkey on great bread.. it was simple but totally hit the spot. And it had sprouts. I love sprouts. The sweet potato fries were equally divine and a huge serving: I had to push my plate away so as not to eat them all and thus have to be rolled home. Our server was on the ball and checked in often without being obnoxious about it. The price point was great for a casual night out and I really have no qualms about this place. I hope to be back here soon, that's for sure.
(4)
Matt T.
Yea, Im all of 45 minutes away from this place. Does that stop me? Nope. Should the potential DUI's stop me? Yup Do they? Obviously not. Sad that my liver controls my life, however my stomach has a part to do with that as well. With that said, GO TO TWAINS. See what I did there? You didnt? You suck. So heres the deal, the food, rocks. The beer, brewed by Jordan Fleetwood of Dogwood fame brews the beer. Then they add on a few well chosen beers and host this wonderful pairing of food and beer in one of the most amazing spaces I have ever set my 23 year old eyes. I love the openness, the dive feel, but the reserved almost classy, yea I said it, feel to the place. Want some real class? Tuesdays at 8 with Joe Gransden throwing down some awesome jazz. I came here for the World Cup as well. Lets just say I found the spot to cheer on the boys of the Nation Team. Im a picky eater, but everything I have eaten so far, rocks. The beers, well Im not so picky. But if I was forced to drink Twains beer till I died, Im sure I could do worse. Find me here one day. I might be passed out on one of their couches.
(5)
Lysa F.
Twain's is awesome. I love the people, the chill vibe, the awesome beers, sweet food, games, music... it's like an arcade, pool hall, concert venue and pub in one. The drinks/food are both very affordable. As far as drinks go, I'd recommend: Mad happy pale ale (light and smooth, their classic) Heaven for climate golden (poetic and great. a rich golden, deep but summery taste) Those are my two faves, but they have new beers rolling in constantly. Food wise, I loved: Mediterranean platter (killer, light and tasty) Nachos (pretty good; great beer munchies) Black bean burger (damn good) ...or anything else! The salads and sandwiches are all great. Check it out, I promise you won't regret it!
(4)
Jeremy A.
The food is remarkably bad here from what I have tried. The wings were average and the beer mussels tasted like they were cooked with dish soap, I had to send them back they were so bad. That being said they have a good beer selection and the shuffleboard tables are key here which from what i have heard are free on wednesday nights. Go here for the beer and bar activities, stay away from the food.
(3)
Kelly S.
I heart Twain's. Their microbrews are great, and so are their wings. Whatever the hottest ones are are DAYUM hot, but tasty. Go a level lower if you want to be able to taste anything for the next 3 days. I like to sit on the patio and have yet to play pool, because I get lazy and want to sit when I drink beer. Plus I'm an absolutely TERRIBLE pool player, so no one wants to be on my team (justifiably). But someday I'll get off my lazy ass and indulge in some billiards. Hmmmm . . . it kinda feels like a Twain's night. We'll have to see.
(4)
Frances W.
We had a little party at Twain's this weekend, and it turned out to be a pretty good decision. The boys had fun playing pool and darts, and I enjoyed being able to relax a little bit. I do have to say that the darts were in pretty rough shape, and I might suggest bringing your own if you are really into it. We ordered a bunch of food and all 11 of us shared. We sat in the back towards the pool tables at 2 big booths. They were perfect for our group. After all, we just wanted to eat and be merry. The women's bathrooms were awful. One of the doors had almost completely fallen off, and another one of the toilets had a plunger stuck in it...yay? I suppose they are too busy being proud over their bathrooms being labeled as "Balls" and "Racks" that they don't have the energy to maintain them. Yeah the food is pretty much bar food...but for bar food it's pretty good. I don't even remember everything we ordered...must have been half the menu, but I will tell you what I remember. We got the chips and queso first, which was pretty yummy, but nothing that you couldn't buy at the super market for 1/3 the price, but hey that's how it goes. We also got the french fries and some sort of orange spicy dip. The fries were tiny, probably the smallest I've ever seen, which means that you are eating more friedness per potato, but it was a party after all. We also got the pita and hummus. The hummus was pretty bland, and honestly I would suggest skipping this dish, even though the pita and cucumber were good. Finally we ordered the boiled peanuts, which were fairly good, but the portion size was tiny. I have to admit that when it comes to boiled peanuts I'm used to buying them from some guy on the side of the road for dirt cheap, so I'm a bit biased. Twain's was a good choice for us because it had the entertainment, space and food, but I wouldn't go back for the eats, but maybe the games. On a side note, they charge $10 if you want to bring in your own cake, which is crazy for a place that barely has any dessert on their menu.
(3)
Emily K.
I finally returned to Twain's a few weeks ago and I've been meaning to write an update. I went there on a blind date (ugh, terrible date!) and arrived first. It was about 9:30 on a Saturday night and wasn't nearly as busy as I'd expected it to be. I snagged a table by the bar and was served promptly. The waiter was helpful with suggesting beers as I'm not a big beer drinker. My date *shiver* ended up paying, but even if I'd had to foot my own bill it only would've been about $5 with tip. I didn't get any food this time as I'd eaten before I went out. The beer was good. It was right about what I like in a beer, which is admittedly a bit on the weak side. The server was attentive, but not hovering. Since it wasn't as busy as expected, he got us everything fairly quickly. The ambiance and beer is better than I remembered, but the company was decidedly much worse than the last time. *shivers again*
(4)
theron t.
New chef, new menu, about time. Really excited about the potential for the food here to improve. Our first sampling of the new menu was great. BBQ sandwich and hand cut fries were great. Wife's food was great as well. We will defiantly be coming back more often to enjoy the food and beers. Great job on tackling what's always been the weakest area of this place.
(4)
Katy S.
Twain's is a great hang out! Please note, this review is only for the nightlife. No food has been consumed by me at Twain's. I have visited this spot twice during trips to Atlanta. Both times have been a blast! Here's why: Bar games. They have pool and table shuffleboard. It is a fun atmosphere to play these games with friends and to have a little friendly competition. Good drinks. They brew their own beers but also have a full selection of wine and liquor. Decently priced, they go down easy. Laid back vibe. Everyone in here is just kickin back. Whether you are at a table, enjoying the patio, or playing a game with friends there is something for anyone. Someday I will come back for food, but this will remain a must visit spot for me on any Atlanta/Decatur trip!
(5)
Jose M.
Eh. It's just ok. Good beer but that's increasingly common in ATL. Service was fine but management could do better. Here are the details: The bartender was really nice and they offer a good beer selection. But for a place that advertises its billiards it doesn't have many tables and those get crowded quickly. I was also sitting at the bar when a group came in and asked to see the GOP debate (I was hoping to watch it too but I had been quietly sitting there). The bar changed it to the channel but refused to put on sound even though the place was basically dead but for the pool tables all being in used. Seemed arbitrary to me and like they were willing to lose the group's business over it, though I admit I could not hear the reason given for not putting on the debate.
(2)
Hunter B.
There is no one thing that makes Twain's a 4-star establishment... rather, it's the summation of a bunch of little things. Overall the food is superb for a bar. Tonight I got the pulled mushroom burger, which was pretty phenomenal (but short of life-changing). It was hard to believe that it was mushroom and not pork in the burger, and as the bartender said, it has just the right amount of kick to it. On the side I got the kale caesar salad. I believe this was my first time indulging in kale, and while I wasn't necessarily the biggest fan, hey, it's a caesar salad, so it still tasted fine by me. The beer on tap is all brewed by Twain's. In my experience it ranges from good to great, but won't knock your socks off. I had the Hashbiscus, which is a collaboration with Sweetwater (not the biggest Sweetwater guy), and it was very tasty; hoppy and a little tart. I do like that Twain's does a good job of rotating new beers on tap. There are a ton of pool tables and a couple of shuffle board tables in the lower part of the restaurant, which is a main attraction for most. The shuffle boards are really well kept up and super long, making them the best I've ever played on. In my opinion they overcharge to rent out time on these, but it's also not completely unreasonable, as it frees up availability on the tables. Twain's is usually busy without ever being crowded, which is nice. I'm still low key salty that Twain's took out their stage (and effectively killed the community jazz night they hosted on Tuesdays) in favor of a corner booth, but the service, drinks, and especially food is good enough for me to keep coming back. If you're looking to grab a couple of beers and some great, reasonably-priced bar food, and maybe play a couple of bar games while you're at it, this is your Huckleberry.
(4)
Angela U.
Twain's is a great neighborhood hang out with amazing staff, food and beer! A must go to hang out for a date, birthday or hanging with your friends. The food is amazing! I love the sweet potato chips and burgers! A all time favorite is the fish and chips! Go! See! Eat! And live at Twain's!!!!
(5)
Evan G.
I came here after work for a beer to watch a few games of nfl.. I had not been here in years but had always remembered a good time.. I was shocked to leave here And be offered the option of jail or a cab ride. I suggested an uber ride as there are cheaper than a cab and was turned down. At this point I was forced into a high priced cab home over a ride to prison with a cop. This has been been my worst experience ever in over 20 years of hanging out in Decatur. Will never spend a dime here again.
(1)
Adriana P.
Literally the worst service I think Ive ever experienced. Slow, almost non existent.. Our server or whatever he was came by once to take the order and never again. The rest of the wait staff are also extremely rude.
(1)
Jacquelyn M.
I love going here to hang out with friends after work or just meeting up in town. They have some great burgers and side item selections. The draft and bar selection is really nice and has a good variety. The inside can get a little loud on the weekend and weeknight. The outside seating is pleasant and is dog friendly.If you want to play pool you can usually get a table and the price for the time isn't too bad. They are ok with the wait staff and service. Sometime it can be hard to get service outside on the patio. They are pretty prompt when you are seated inside. They have multiple table options to accommodate for larger groups. They have events through the week as well for open mic or karaoke.
(5)
Andrea M.
A pretty hip place. The crowd here was, well, crowded and lively. lol. But really, you can find lots of folks in their early to late twenties here. The air was vibrant with so many conversations. There are of course an area for a sit down meal and the typical bar area for drinks. The other half of the restaurant is dedicated to the entertainments for the night (pool, darts, video games, and another game that I'm not sure what it is called--hybrid of air hockey and corn hole). My friends and I were here for a mini birthday celebration so for sure this place has that causal sit down atmosphere. The beers averaged out to be $6 to $7. There are cheaper ones for $3 plus change and others that were $9 and above. There is parking directly behind the building that's free, but it's only if you're lucky enough to find a space. There are parking lots all around this area or utilize the street parking.
(4)
Thi T.
2 underwhelming stars for the appetizers. Food was terrible. Bean soup was spicy, salty. I could barely muster up 5 bites and had to discard the rest of the bowl. I'd recommend going there for the other features. There are many games, including shuffle board, and pool. Ambience is laid back. A good relaxed atmosphere to hang out with friends and have a conversation because it is not too loud.
(2)
John S.
I've been here about 5 times. Each time has been the same. Good beer, good service and so forth. The food has been pretty satisfactory..... not the best.... but, dude, this is very good bar food. Your other option is to go be accosted by hipsters at Victory Sandwich bar. One of the best things is that the servers were very helpful, responsive, and knowledgeable on each occasion I went. The poutine was amazing.... so get that. Otherwise, they have an enormous selection of pool tables. There were a lot of teenagers trying to look cool, blatantly taking over the pool tables and trying to discuss strategy with a 40 year old brewery enthusiast. That's pretty much a euphemism for Decatur.
(4)
Alli H.
After 4 years at Emory, I would have assumed that I would have gone to Twain's more than just this one time. It's an everything bar that has pool, darts, outdoor areas and lots of beer. I liked how spacious it was and how crowded it was too...
(3)
Aleema A.
I've been here twice now and I have to say I love it! It is such a fun bar. They have a wide variety of drinks to try and their beer selection is definitely worth mentioning. The place is really huge. You aren't fighting large crowd or waiting forever to get a drink. it's the perfect amount of everything in my opinion. It also has a lot of games. Even if you aren't a drinker, there are so many things to keep you occupied! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Tyler-James T.
I'm reading some of these reviews and I'm shocked that people are rating three and under. Leave it to hipsters to be critical of a hipster restaurant. I thought the food was AMAZING. I'm super impressed that they had poutine as an appetizer. I've never seen it served with a fried egg, but my inner Filipino hipster was very happy. For my entree I had the Farmsted burger and I literally could not get a full bite out of it, it was that huge. I will say that I asked for medium on the burger and it was definitely well done, but stuff like that doesn't bother me. My sister-in-law had the chicken and waffle sandwich and it was very good, as well. Since my brother and his wife are team God-Squad I wasn't able to taste any of the craft beers, but they had a huge selection. The service isn't bad, but it's also not the best. Our waiter was very busy and short with us, but nonetheless he got the job done. I will say, however, that the worse part is the sit where you choose idea. We had a large group and had to seriously stalk tables once the customers were ready to leave. It could use some more organization. Overall, awesome place!
(4)
Andrew P.
Seriously? No sign or anything that says they kick people out without IDs? At least card people at the door before letting them sit down with menus, find something to order, and then kick them out.
(1)
Kyle B.
I love billiards, great place to play games. Food is pretty awesome and they used to have jazz night on tuesdays. I hope they can bring it back.
(5)
Laura R.
I like Twain's for the ultrahip atmosphere. I dislike Twain's for the ultrahip atmosphere. Let me elaborate. Twain's is, and always will be, a destination for those self-described youthful hipsters. The early-mid twenty somethings who want to drink beer and get laid and just hang out with their bros before the aforementioned laying of a person. In summation: there are a lot of dudes here (FYI--young twenty something females). Probably a ratio of 3 guys to every 1 girl. And, in general, there are a TON of people. Outside on the patio, inside in front of the doors, blocking the bar 3 people deep, standing here and there just, like, because. They're mostly in their early 20s, my third disliked group of people (after children and teenagers). If you want to come here to hang out, this place is great for that. They're constantly packed, there are fun things to do like billiards and darts, and there are some interesting people here to boot. Their liquor and beer selection is decent, and the atmosphere is downright chill. I've been here where a mildly crazy person who tried very hard to talk to every female in our group about the special finesse it takes to throw a dart. He mumbled to himself when no one was around, and just acted the part of a goofy, crazy person. I've also watched, in amusement, as people meet and greet and try to finesse their way into someone's pants. It's a good place to watch the crash and burn. Interestingly enough, I'm usually here for someone's birthday or a special occasion. And I would not recommend it for dinner. I would, however, recommend it for drinks. While the food is consistently 3-4 stars (better than Brick Store, but not as good as the Porter), the service is crap. Every. Single. Time. If you want to eat dinner on the weekend, good luck! It's likely your waiter will forget you exist at all. Eating out on the patio is even worse. They will forget you asked them for a menu. They will forget you told them you were on the patio. Twice. They will forget you are parched and just want some water. They will forget you asked for the check 20 minutes ago. I understand, my 20% tip isn't equitable to your 1$ per drink tip, especially when you serve 20 drinks in the span of time it takes for you to walk outside and get my order. But it's still frustrating. PROS: Youthful, hip atmosphere. Smoking is outside. Pretty decent food. Games to play inside, like darts and pool. Really cool atmosphere. I think there are two bars. So if one is full, you can hop over to the other one. Great place to people watch. The patio area is dog friendly. CONS: Youthful, hip atmosphere. If you're outside every person smokes like a chimney, and they make you smell like crap. Nowhere on the patio is safe from it. INCREDIBLY slow service. Forgetful waitstaff. Parking is a joke. The lot can hold somewhere close to 10 cars, and there's 5 times that number at the bar alone. I got the fish and chips, and the fries were burnt, small, and overly greasy. Probably the ones at the bottom of the barrel they wanted to get rid of before the night was out. THE VERDICT: I'm usually there to eat, and occasionally there to hang out. It's definitely the type of place to hang out, instead of eat at. The waitstaff service is a joke, even if the food is pretty good. The hip atmosphere is amusing, if not annoying, and at the very least this is a good place to watch failed exchanges between a pretty girl and an awkward boy. 4 stars if you just want to hang out 3 stars if you want to hang out and eat (which is what I usually do)
(3)
Rob C.
This place is awesome. Great food, great atmosphere, great staff. I've eaten the forager burger and the fish n chips. Wow to both!!! This is a must stop place to eat in the Decatur area.
(5)
Vanessa K.
Twain's is my go-to bar in downtown Decatur. I love the laid back and fun atmosphere, quirky and fun touches- notice the eponymous author's book pages lining the walls near the tables. Great for people watching, excellent beer selection, and strong & delicious LIT's. The nachos are also a must-have! Staff is always famously friendly and attentive.
(4)
Keith F.
Food is better than your average pub grub and the beer is made here. Try some Criminal Sin IPA if they're not out of it. Parking is probably no longer an issue because the seafood restaurant closed. Be sure to park legally because nobody likes those kind of surprises.
(4)
Randy T.
Fun locale - definitely a great place to hang out and play pool in Decatur. Average in terms of bar food - I'm giving a four star rating for atmosphere. The place is big and there are televisions and many pool tables. The rates for playing pool depend on the number of people playing and the time of day - at more popular late night hours, it costs more. Also, be prepared to wait for a pool table - this place is popular. Also, you can play darts or have a drink outside. Food was okay. I ordered the "Ronald", which had a "special sauce" which strongly resembles Big Mac sauce. Big burger with one huge patty that equals the two beef patties in a Big Mac, but too salty. I liked the onion rings though. They were huge - not as big as the Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Onion, but much bigger than what you typically get at a fast food joint. Also tried the mac & cheese fritters - they came with two sauces that tasted very good. Only gripe I have with this appetizer is that the sauces really aren't dipping sauces. Your best bet is to use a utensil to spread the sauces on your fritters. The food isn't perfect, but this place is certainly a lot of fun.
(4)
Dean H.
My family has dined at Twain's twice in the last month and found the food excellent. The hummus, nachos, wings and deviled eggs were greatly enjoyed. The burger is great and the salmon sandwich is excellent. I found the pastrami sandwich to have dry meat. Veggie chili tastes like it is meat. Onion rings are done right. Fish and chips were not up to my standard, filets were thin and batter tough. We drank SOB IPA, Criminal Sin, Snap Crackle Hops and Release the Hounds and enjoyed them all. The beer selection changes. This is a great place for kids with all sorts of bar games until late evening. Service was a little slow.
(4)
Kate S.
Twain's is my go-to bar in downtown decatur. Its got a little bit of something for everyone. Great food-great beer selection-tons of entertainment via pool, darts, shuffleboard, golden tee and more. I like the atmosphere and the fish tank. I love the beer queso, wings, fish n chips and enjoy that they brew their own beer and source things locally. I also like that they tend to pour heavy. I do like the staff, but some of them can be pretty cold and uninterested. As a frequent flyer, id expect to know some of the employees better by now. Its really more of a beer and whiskey type place, other cocktails are not a strong-point. Neither is finding a parking spot but hey its always busy.
(4)
Christie M.
Hummus/olive/pickled veggies were ON POINT. Lox not so much, but that's likely more my problem than theirs. All the beer was delicious. We went for brunch and with the exception of screaming children seated behind us and the lox, it was a super pleasant experience. We're planning on going back this weekend. Seriously, I've been dreaming about the Decatur Temptress Braggot. Nightly. And my husband is completely mesmerized by the aquarium.
(5)
Christine L.
Moar brewpubz plz. Seriously, this trend is freaking awesome. I was suggested this place by a client of mine at the clinic I work at. I often say that I should go to Downtown Decatur more often but really it's a bit of a trek for me and parking is an absolute nightmare. I drove my very hungover friend to Twain's to help him cure his hangover with more beer... because I'm that kind of friend. I didn't really get a chance to explore the whole restaurant so my overall view of the restaurant can only be told from the far end of the bar facing the pool hall. It was a gross-ish day and I dressed like an idiot so the patio was out of the question. Overall the feel of Twain's is very open. This is going to sound awful... but it felt like a barn that had been converted into a bar (at least that's how I felt). I noted everything was wooden (which may explain why it felt like a barn to me) with a dark lacquer to it. TVs were scattered sparingly around the open hall as to please the sports fans but not to distract the people that went in there to shoot pool or chat with friends. Ultimately it's a very down-to-Earth place, a crowd-pleaser. There's no pretentious beer snobbery that many local brewpubs give off but rather it seems like a good place to meet your friends and grab a beer, no bullshit. The best thing about this place? They serve "proper" (as the Brits would say) pints; 20 oz nonic pint glasses and the beer they serve is pretty damn good too. Moreover, the price is pretty good for the quality of beer you're drinking so win-win for beer lovers and beer snobs.
(4)
Dana S.
I was excited to try this place out with a big group of friends on a Friday night. The decor is pretty cool...the walls are covered in pages from Twain's writings and they have a huge fish tank in the middle of the restaurant. They had a good selection of craft beers - I had a gingerbread beer and it was amazing. Their sweet potato and parsnip chips were tasty and addictive and the chicken burger was good as well. The main complaint I have is that we rarely saw our waitress. We actually had a swap out of waitresses, but neither of them seemed keen on filling up our drinks or checking up on us. Overall, I would come back but the service is kind of a bummer.
(3)
Natasha C.
Good beer options. Friendly staff that I found quite helpful both of the times that I've eaten there. I ordered chicken fingers which were cooked perfectly except they forgot to add any seasonings. It's not the most exciting place but I definitely was able to relax.
(3)
Sandra D.
Love the beer here and the burgers are awesome (the onion rings and fries are delicious) !! We've brought the kids with us as we relax on the patio and all of us had a good time
(5)
Valerie N.
I really don't know how I've lived in the ATL so long and never made it to Twain's. We came on a weekday night to celebrate a friend who was taking a new job. We actually couldn't find him at first as this place is so huge! I love that there are so many bars and games to try out. We only stayed for a couple drinks, but the beer list was amazing and the service terrific. Super fun!
(4)
Charles J.
I've been here way more times than I should have, considering the short time that I've lived in Atlanta, and I'm sure I'll be back again soon. Best wings anywhere. They're fried a bit crispy and they often give me a couple extra. 8 jerk-BBQ wings with sweet potato chips and a sazerac and I'm a happy camper. Nice, medium-hip staff. I've never played the games, but it's a great, comfortable place to eat and drink. Also it's in downtown Decatur, which is cute as hell if you haven't been.
(5)
Katie O.
My husband and I chose to try a "new to us" restaurant on a Sunday night when neither of us felt like cooking. Given we are from Denver, any "Brewery" always pique's my husbands interest. I've never given a poor review, I believe in giving second chances in the moment that I was there on an "off" night. However, when my husband (who wears rose colored glasses) even complained, I felt it was only appropriate to review. SERVICE: or lack thereof... My drink glass was mostly empty, only refilled once. When my husband, finished his beer, we waited..and waited..and waited to get a new one. However, our waitstaff never came around to ask for another until after he was finished with his meal. At which point, we were just ready to leave. The service is INCREDIBLY slow. I'm usual a very patient person, but on a quiet Sunday night, where most of the tables that were there had already eaten their meals, I expected a lot more. The ironic part is that there were TWO people working our table. Perhaps it's a miscommunication between the two, but you would think we would have been over-serviced, not under-serviced. FOOD: HORRIBLE! I ordered a burger, which was very bland, and very dry. I ordered it medium, and it was very clearly well done. My husband also ordered a burger, his was a smidge better than mine, but both of us were underimpressed. Our french fries were also COLD. When you spend so much time waiting for your food, you would think it's coming right off the burner. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Part of me wants to give this place another shot, but most of me would rather not waste my money here again. There are too many other restaurants in Decatur with good food and drinks..
(1)
Robert P.
This is one of my favorite watering holes in the area. I love that they brew their own and have so many fun activities to do inside (personal favorite is darts though I need practice). It is about perfect except they regularly change the menu and always seem to remove my favorite dishes. Still the food is typically excellent, especially the stuff on the Sunday brunch menu.
(4)
David H.
Waste of time and money. Twain's justifies American tipping culture. Not only was the food utterly unimpressive, but the service was also egregiously bad. My cup spent more time empty than it did with any quantity of water in it! I would like to tip 15%-20%, but there are certain expectations I have for this premium. For instance, a medium-rare hamburger should not arrive mostly grey. Maybe their servers could stop by the table once every ten minutes? What a dreamer I am. Also, must I be punished every time I wish to use the bathroom? We live in a first-world country! The only thing this place has going for it is a trendy atmosphere, which if you value above all else makes you a nincompoop. Melton's App and Tap has better hamburgers. Beer of equal quality is ubiquitous in every gas station in the lower 48. Dine at Twain's if you need a noisy atmosphere and completely inattentive waitstaff. Believe it or not, I like to tip, and not tipping makes me sad. Going out to eat should not be an opportunity for me to save 15%.
(2)
Sophie C.
Twains has a great vibe. It's huge with lots of different areas for your group to gather. I'm interested in trying more of their brews but I like what I've tried so far. On the recommendation of a friend I ordered the chicken and waffle sandwich. Delicious! It didn't hold up too well in its structure but k didn't care. That chicken (brined in sweet tea) was sublime. Can't wait to try more but I'll certainly want to order this again!
(4)
Domonic B.
This place is actually a pretty cool place to hang out if you're into pool and games. They have a room set aside for nothing but playing pool. I'm not really a pool player but I have visited with friends that do. This is in Decatur and is a common hangout spot for the locals. I had the Brasseltown burger on my first visit here. The burger was decent but the fries that came with them were really bland and also cold when I got them. I'd go here for more of a hangout than for the food but it's def a decent place.
(3)
Steve A.
I was glancing at my three-star, four y/o review of Twain's earlier and decided an update was in order. My wife and I have visited perhaps 30 times since that earlier review. Since then, the kitchen has really stepped up their game. Wings, burgers -- at least to us -- are consistently good. The beer, brewed in-house, continues to stand out. Their collaboration brew with the Virginia Beer Company earlier this week was outstanding. I've read some grumbling about spotty service. It's seat yourself; you might wait a minute or two sometimes before somebody spots you, but we've never had any issues. The servers are pleasant, tattooed, pierced, and competent. The only issue that honestly bugs me is the lack of parking. Their tiny lot out front fills up very quickly and street parking is hit or miss. The courthouse deck 2 blocks away is free after 5 or 6 pm, but in the rain or the cold, places with parking lots win out. Still, Twain's is in our Decatur top three, and always will be. You owe it at least one visit.
(4)
Chamberlaine B.
I cannot yet write a true review... I was only in the bar for about ten minutes. Arriving at 9 pm on a Friday night, there was hardly room to breathe, much less play pool (I went to sign up for a table, and I was informed that there were 50 people ahead of me.) A wonderful venue, I'm sure, if only it weren't so crowded.
(2)
Brenna S.
I've been called a "pool shark" once or twice in my day, and I love a good local beer so Twain's was a necessary stop on my list of places to visit in Atlanta. It's located in Decatur, though it's a bit detached from the rest of the "hustle and bustle". There is a parking area on the side and despite how crowded it gets is inside, I've never had issues parking here. The ambiance is what you would expect for a pool hall mostly, though the crowd tends to be younger and a bit more mixed, which I like. They probably have somewhere around 10 pool tables, so I've never had many issues getting one to play on, and as most proper pool halls, you are charged per hour to play. The tables are in decent shape (for those of you that care), but if you're a true pool shark, you definitely want to bring your own cue. As for service, I've had both great and underwhelming service here, but I don't come here for 5-star treatment, so for me, it's fine. Twain's is one of those places that you can make of it what you will. So depending on what your style is you're likely to find something you like about it - whether it's good, cheap beer, a game of pool, some live music, a neighborhood bar setting, or a college bar setting.
(4)
Leticia C.
This is always the go to spot for an afternoon sport. They have PLENTY of pool tables too!
(4)
Stephie Z.
Twains, twains , twains.. what can you say that hasn't already been said? Ummmmm..... #1) pool hall with no smoking- very nice #2) local bands play here- find 'em before they blow up ( maybe) #3) food is a'ight. Veggie Sandwich was good but I was expecting a warm sandwich. Oh well poo on me not reading the whole description. Pot. salad (not made with dried greens) is mighty tasty and this comes from a pot. salad connoisseur #4) Freshly brewed beer is pretty darn good, especially when they kick out some of their porters and stouts. *Alert* - heard they had some issues with one of their beer brewing machines (no clue which one). Make sure you go soon to solve whatever ale's you (hahaha- I am so damn funny) #5) Damn if the clientele isn't oh so interesting to look at. Last time I was here I saw some bikers, a dude with a cat on is head, and a gentleman who must have used pliers to get the zipper pull of his madras pants to go up.
(4)
Laura N.
2 stars for the bland, insipid food. 4 stars for a fun time, if you like playing billiards, shuffleboard, and darts. Not really my scene, but it's better than just sitting around at a bar, merely talking and playing quarters with some of my favorite lawyers.
(2)
Jason P.
First of all, I really want to like Twain's. I've tried several times, various times of day, various days of the week... they're just up the road, convenient, and they offer all of the things I'm looking for: 1) drinks 2) food 3) games 4) people I've just never been impressed. The Drinks - I respect places that brew their own beer, and Twain's is no exception. So their exact selection isn't my favorite, but you can't fault a place that grows their own. Maybe a few more options would be nice, but you can always find ample supplies for intoxication. The Food - It's a pub. If you were locked inside for an extended period of time, you would not starve. It's a pub and, as such, offers standard pub-fare. But nothing stands out on the menu. I'm not expecting fine dining, but one or two unique or well-executed signature items would go a long way for them in my book. The Games - Shuffleboard is great. If you go in off-hours, you may be able to get a table. Evenings and weekends, you'll be waiting. Can't really fault the bar for this, but they got rid of the pinball machine that was a great way to kill time until the tables opened up. The pool hall is great, lots of tables, but again, gotta expect to wait when things are busy. You can watch a game there on TV, though it's not a sport-bar, so if you're looking for something obscure or out of market, you'll be better off at Taco Mac or Famous. The People - Patrons are a decent mix. Get there early enough and there are families, and kids. Later in the night you'll see quite a variety of Agnes Scott students, granola Decatur residents, hipsters, hospitality-industry employees, and those that just defy classification. It's not so much that Twain's does anything wrong... i've just always hoped for better.
(2)
Courtney C.
I don't know what's taken me so long to review Twains. I come here probably once a week for their homebrewed beer and sweet potato fries. I can't really speak to the quality of their other food, but the sweat potato fries are perfectly crunchy on the outside but soft and creamy in the middle. The horseradish dipping sauce is awesome as well, though maybe i muck it up a little by doing a double dip with ketchup then the horseradish. Their in-house brews are all very good, but my favorite is definitely the Gingerbread brown Ale, although their other selections are decent as well depending on your taste. They will sometimes have specials with just their beer--you can get a 20ounce for the price of a 12 ounce sometimes. If you aren't into their stuff, the beer list is quite extensive, offering regional and seasonal brews as well (looove the pumkin ale!). This is really a great feel-at-home bar where you can come in t-shirt and jeans and play some pool, darts, or shuffleboard. I am terrible at pool, but that makes it fun to go on dates here and see who is worse. The staff is reasonably attentive, but not the best around. One word of warning, if you sit at a booth in the bar area, expect to have table service. Do not go up to the bar to order even if your waiter is a bit slow....they don't like it when you do that! So head over to twains to enjoy the live music on the weekend, the awesome home-brew beer, and the people watching. When it's warm enough be sure to sit on the patio and vegg out. Don't go here on a thursday night though, because that's MY night and I don't want to have to wait for a pool table or wait a long time for a beer just b/c you're crowding my spot! :-)
(4)
Canyouwoowoo W.
Another place that I hadn't been in, since my roaring 20s... A good starter spot: -Great beers on tap -Plenty of pool tables and darts boards (the main draw) -Several screens to watch a game (although not enough to qualify as a true sports bar) Like most places in Decatur, a good starter spot, but nothing worth staying in, beyond 2 hours. Shoot some pool, which you pay for by the hour, grab a couple of drinks, then you'll be ready to move on...
(3)
Jennifer G.
I frequent this place often. Great food! Great beers that they brew! And the pool tables are awesome too. On top of the great service staff I definitely recommend this place to grab a bite to eat and a drink over conversations.
(5)
Ferdinand H.
I'm torn. 2 Stars or 4? If I were reviewing it as a food-place, I can only say 2. Beer selection is mediocre, and the last set of mussels I had were nigh inedible. The fish and chips were not particularly appealing -- but... I can go to the Brickstore for such things. On the other hand, smoke free pool, darts, shuffleboard, and fuss-ball... that's quite appealing. It's not a bad place to play, whatsoever... just don't expect culinary spectaculars... So, I'm going to forget that it's a restaurant or that it serves food and stick with the game-side.
(4)
Shalin P.
I've never eaten at Twain's, but have come here often to play shuffleboard and drink good beer. I'm a big shuffleboard fan and they have a high quality table here. Service can be inconsistent but I've never really had a terrible experience like other reviewers have. The lack of parking is a big negative though.
(4)
Susan F.
We decided to swing by Twain's after a late dinner in Decatur last Thursday evening. It really wasn't that impressive. Definitely a college bar, but there's always a need for those, right? Pros: - Decent priced beer - Friendly staff - Lots of pool tables - Free shuffleboard on Thursdays (at least it was for us at 1am) Cons: - It smelled - Everything seemed shabby and grungy
(2)
Stephanie M.
Went there Tuesday for my husband's birthday, just to try their microbrewed beer. We had heard there was a new brewmaster and the beers were improved over a few years ago.... we had the different IPAs and really, really liked them. Kuddos to the brewmaster!! We'll be back for those IPAs often!!
(4)
Adam M.
Twain's is one of those places you can just count on. If you're looking for a good night, the environment here will do 50% of the lifting, and the rest is on you and the company you keep. I've been to Twain's probably 10 times over the last few years, with frequency picking up since i moved to East Lake. I'm always pleased with the mix of patrons - something akin to Little 5 circa 1998 - and equally satisfied with the in-house brew, both in taste and price. Recently i ate a Twain's for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. It's bar food - don't be mistaken - but there was an extra polish to it. Maybe it was the wheat beer talking. Suffice it to say, I'm a fan. If you've never been, think of Twain's as the last stop of the night, or the place you go before super-late night. The food is tasty, but this place really comes alive when it's chock full-o-patrons. In any case, i'm a big believer in knowing what to expect. For what i ask of Twain's, it always delivers.
(5)
Len L.
My local hangout. Great beer, good bar food (but please add some more vegan options) and a fun atmosphere. Plenty of games, such as shuffleboard, pool, darts, and video games. Monday night trivia is one of the better in the area. The service can sometimes be slow, but that's server dependent. Most of them are really good. They also support local bands and have free music several nights a week.
(5)
Hambri Enta M.
Pleasantly surprised with the burger. so much flavor! So yesterday I went passed thru here and what do you know: Open mic Jazz night on Tuesdays. I sure love live music. I sat next to young man who was enjoying a beer brewed at Twains and he was quite happy with it. Turned out he is the boyfriend of one of my ex's friend! what a fantastic 6 degrees! Enjoyed this jazz night, and the space is larger than it appears. No smoke around me, no funny smells, good food, cold beers. I recommend!
(4)
Triple Threat T.
Huge place! Cheap billiards, nice relaxed crowd
(5)
Josh G.
The beer has so improved in the Dave era, that I feel compelled to write a review. It's my favorite billiards spot in the area, the food has always been awesome pub fare, and now the beer is worthy of the restaurant. Don't miss Euro-bike night on Thurs. Bring your BMW, Ducati, MV, KTM, Husky, Triumph, Aprilia, Guzzi, etc.
(4)
Ben H.
Definitely a great place to hang out in Decatur. Lots of pool tables, 2 shuffleboards, free darts, tasty burger, mediocre microbrews (the only one I like is their ESB, but they rarely seem to have it). I like the new set up more despite the fact the fact that the "dining room" section is pretty useless for me (I wouldn't make this a dinner destination). It just feels more open and cleaner. I generally don't enjoy the bands they have - mainly because they are always way too loud. The service can vary greatly - I've had servers who are fine, but one guy who works there is a complete tool. They need to be careful about cleaning their glassware - both of the little tasting glasses I used last time had an overwhelming odor of ammonia/cleaner which was pretty gross and obviously not suitable for tasting a beer. You also don't smell like an ashtray after leaving which is a major plus. 3.5
(4)
Nazan Y.
Visited Twain's for dinner on 11/1/10. I had been there around a year ago, but was less impressed this time. Wife and I ordered the fish and chips (sweet potato fries instead of regular) and calamari. The fish was quite good, but the breading was a little mushier than I remember. The tartar sauce had some dill in it, and was quite enjoyable. Wife loved the sweet potato fries, I thought they were OK, but they needed a better dipping sauce. To be fair, this is always what I think of sweet potato fries. The calamari was not horrible - at least it was not funky, but the sickly sweet sauce was not pleasant. The beer I got - a dark wheat - was pretty good, and a pretty good price. Anyway, I was a little disappointed, and there are enough other restaurants around I probably won't go back.
(3)
Emily W.
I would give this 5 stars but the A/C was off yesterday and with the summer temps in ATL that just isn't cutting it. Other than that, there is nothing bad to say about this place. They have boiled peanuts on the menu which is awesome. The food is good too, not just typical bar food. I just had humus and pita bread with cucumbers but all of it was good. Pita bread was nice and warm, hummus was cold as it all should be. My husband had a hotdog which looked good with fried green beans. Sounds strange but isn't anything fried good? They were, I tried them. Free shuffleboard & darts on Wednesdays & Thursdays....cheap pool, $2.50 per person for an hour. They have foosball as well as some arcade games AND a photo booth! We ended up staying a few hours playing games and had so much fun. oh! and GREAT music as well...
(4)
Adam P.
If I could give them a half star I would! Went today for lunch and was excited to try it. They were having a music event and the admission was 10.00. We were not going to have lunch only, in the restaurant, and not stay for the event. They wouldn't even let us in without paying the 10.00. So it would have been 20.00 for us and then lunch. Ridiculous. The girl just said "sorry guys" and didn't seen to care. Well they have lost my business and I will never try it.
(1)
Jose A.
Awesome place to shoot some pool and have a couple great house brews..nachos are pretty great too. This place is a must whenever I am in Decatur!!!
(5)
Mariah M.
Been to Twain's at least 6 times and it is a good 15 miles for us so we usually go on a Sunday to avoid the traffic. We won't be back after tonight. The food was ehh nothing special, we had chicken strips, mac and cheese fritters and a reuben, do NOT get the garlic fries, they are not edible. My husband ordered the Aunt ?? Porter 12 oz for his second beer and it was really bad. So l said well just tell the bartender and get something else-it was brewed there and I am sure they have had other people who didn't care for a beer they have never tried before PLUS they have a new brewer, so it is going to be hit or miss. We were told in no uncertain terms that they don't switch out a beer that a customer doesn't like and we could BUY something different if we wanted. This is the first time I have ever heard of this policy, and I have been drinking in Atlanta bars since 1980, he said they "stand by their beers" huh??? So you DON'T stand by your customers??? He certainly could have made an exception but it is "house rules" wow. I am not used to being told I have to pay for something that I refuse to eat or drink. So by all means do yourself a favor, if you are going to get a beer that they have brewed get a sample first or you will be stuck with the crappy beer if you don't like it. Really poor way to treat customers. But hey they got their 4 bucks or whatever it cost, but they lost 2 customers-hope it was worth it.
(2)
Destin D.
I've been to Twain's a couple of times now, but only to drink. I appreciate that they have their own microbrews, but on my most recent visit, they were out of two. Not cool. Also, the food isn't good. My southwestern inspired turkey burger (Roadrunner) was surprisingly dry and was lacking on the toppings. I had ordered sweet potato fries on the side and they were lukewarm. I was hoping for the fries that Courtney C. described, but alas, I didn't get them. Also, can someone please explain why there was a horseradish dipping sauce on the side? That flavor didn't complement either the burger or the fries. My friend's black bean burger also sucked and the side salad was less than stellar. Like some of the other reviewers, I really want to like this place. Maybe I will go back another night and hope they have the microbrews on tap. Rest assured, I won't be eating...
(2)
Michael D.
I'm a huge classic jazz fan and on Tuesday nights, this is the place to be. It's an open-mic jazz jam put on by Joe Grandsen. I have never seen so much talent in one place in ATL. The music is off the chart. Joe should record these sessions. Tell ya what, I live in Cumming and I plan to make that drive at least a couple Tuesdays per month. If you like jazz, real jazz, then you need to be here on Tuesday nights. One more thing, they don't take AMEX !!!
(4)
Meg S.
What a great bar! They brew great beers, have great beers on tap and reasonably priced bottled/canned beers. The food is GREAT and there are tons of options for vegetarians. The calamari is cooked right - not rubbery - and served with a delicious ranch-like sauce. Twain's is a great place to run into everyone you know in Decatur on a weekend night! Getting seated for dinner is not a problem even on a busy Friday, but getting a pool table is another story entirely! There is more of a hostess station for pool tables than for eating tables :)
(5)
Molly W.
The boiled peanuts here have inspired me to make my own. They usually are boiled with a mixture of cayenne pepper and lemon grass. I think I have pouted at a waitress because they were out of them. They are delicious! Also try the salmon burger if you are not scared of cilantro and just a tip: when ordering the salmon burger add bacon, makes a world of difference. The atmosphere is always laid back, and that's why I suggested to my boyfriend that we have our first date here. We ended up playing trivia and pool until about 2 AM. I thank this place for getting rid of my first date jitters and for making it a very successful first date. After Twain's we went to Taco Mac and I set off the alarm, so I still prefer Twain's. They have a great beer selection and make sure to try their home brews. I remember coming here when it just opened and adding the brew company has made all the difference. Also, the food is much better than their former pool hall fish and chips. Oh and the fried green beans are worth going for! The horse radish dipping sauce is decadent and if you're worried about the horse radish the garlic ranch does just fine. I haven't ever tried the entrees, but they're sandwiches are at least decent. They also have a Jazz night every Tuesday so if ya love Jazz come on down, if you want to hang out and play pool, avoid that corner or just come on a different night. But, I must say, when a full brass orchestra played the Presidential theme song when Obama gave his acceptance speech, it was pretty d*mn amazing. I think I cried like 50 times that night. And yes the official name is the Presidential theme song LOVE IT! DRINK IT! OWN IT!
(4)
Bryan B.
A great way to kill an evening - I'm in there several times a month. The beer selection is good (their own brews are very tasty), but the food is lacking. Nothing special about it. Fine to get and snack on with a group will you shoot pool, but I won't go there for a full meal. Last time I did that (and should have known better), they were out of hamburger buns! I'm not sure how they messed up the inventory on that, but that's an unforgivable sin for a place that sells bar food! Anyway, I'm still a huge fan of the place overall, just not a fan of the food. Fun place to hang out with friends.
(4)
Roy K.
Count on an eclectic experience worth revisiting on a regular basis. If you are at craving food, beer (at a great price!!!), + a lil competition you have found your place. They have darts, pool, vid games, & shuffleboard. I didn't have food, but per the rumor it's pretty tasty. The service is what you would expect in a place like this - urban setting, urban client base - so expect witty, not uber friendly, but in the end you get served what you need. No frivolities.
(4)
Rox R.
Dirty, noisy, beer is eh. Not a fan of the food. Salad is limp. Service I experienced was unfriendly. I wouldn't go back, except to maybe play some pool- Would got to Brick Store Pub first.
(1)
Dustin H.
I will make this short and sweet to get to the point. Their beer was pretty good & reasonably priced. I had the chicken tenders and those were excellent (and so was the BBQ sauce and fries). Service, while good at first, turned out to be down-right horrible. At one time, the six or so of us sat for a whole hour without our server nor anyone else coming to check on us and offer refills (of which we had all needed for at least the previous 30 minutes)! I finally got the chance to mention to another server that we would like some service since our server hadn't minded coming by in the past hour. A manager finally came over and got us refills, after we had to wait an additional 15 minutes for them to tap a new keg. Of course they didn't offer any discounts for our experience. As previous reviewers mentioned, they don't even offer refunds or replacements if you get a beer and don't like it. Not the way to do business, & I would say their lack of customer service is why they only have a 3.5 star rating.
(2)
Michael L.
Great spot to have some drinks and shoot pool.
(5)
adrian w.
I have been to Twain's more than 10 times easy. So sad that I don't live in Decatur anymore so I never visit as much as I use to or would like to. Great beer selection, though sometimes out of what I want. Food not bad at all, fish and chips = yum, chicken salad = yum. Some times the wait staff is just average but sometimes they go above and beyond. Wouldn't mind being a regular.
(4)
Christina M.
I love Twain's. I really do. I love the people who work there, I love the location, I love the awesome pool tables and the strong drinks. However, I cannot give 5 stars, much to my chagrin. Two reasons, and two reasons only: The pool tables are beautiful, regulation-sized pool tables. The pool cues, on the other hand, are consistetly warped and crappy. It ruins the billiards experience. I would rather pay more per hour and have a great stick. It is a terrible handicap. The other reason is that if I sit at the bar I end up with a terrible headache because they smash the empty bottles into the recycling bin. So, I do not sit at the bar anymore. Call me sensitive. Sorry.
(4)
mee n.
this isn't the place i go for a drink or two. the drinks themselves are rather lackluster, and you can get better food in many other places in Decatur. there's always a painful wait for a pool table, shuffleboard or darts. at best the service is off, and at worst, the service is rude n tries to avoid you. i guess what people like about the place is that it seems friendly. maybe they think "if i go here enough, I'll begin to tolerate the mediocre beer and food, not notice i can never play any games, and maybe the waiters will start to remember who i am. i would really like to go...where everybody knows my name. maybe it can be this boring and unoffensive place." with the BSP, thinking man, n Leon's in Decatur, there's no need to put up with mediocrity. I'm also not a fan of their $10 cake cutting fee. You bring in a cake, and they charge you 10 bucks for the extra plates, utensils and clean up. a friend brought cupcakes to celebrate a birthday, and our waiter did not even tell us there was such a fee that would apply to cupcakes (that do not require utensils, plates or clean up). It was a very unpleasant discovery when we received the bill.
(1)
M A.
As far as a pool and beer combination goes, this is the best spot I've been in here. The atmosphere reminds me a lot of my time spent in London, with people from all walks of life coming in for a round of local brews and a game of pool, shuffleboard, board games, or darts. It may be popular, and can get crowded, but it never felt too loud or too packed in. The pool tables are run at various prices depending on the size of your group and the time of day. The prices are all very reasonable, and the equipment is up to par. All of the staff at Twain's are friendly and helpful, and they check in on the pool room often in case you need a refill or more grub. The food here is pretty good - not the best, but it's filling and tastes great. It's mostly your standard bar fare. This is a great spot to check out if you haven't already. Parking is a litle difficult - there is only a tiny lot and then street parking - but it's well worth the hunt for a space.
(5)
Teddy N.
Solid neighborhood bar with great date activities; pool, darts and shuffle board. Decent for kids when the sun is shining. FYI parents; it's adults only after 9pm. Food can be average, but hey are you headed to a pool hall and brewery to eat or drink? Stay away from the beef and bean burgers both are on the weak side.
(3)
Bill S.
Twains has some of the best bar food I have had in Atlanta, plus it's downright cheap compared to many places! Same with the drinks, I mean who else has Strongbow for $3.50? Plus they have a lot of other beers available including local brews. Twains is mostly known for being a pool hall, they have at least a Dozen tables available by the hour. All are in great condition. They also have two shuffleboard tables and several dart boards. Trivia and Poker games also happen on various nights of the week. The entire place is non-smoking except for mostly shaded outdoor patio. I highly recommend Twains if you are in the area!
(5)
Meg C.
I hadn't been to Twain's in a while, it was our former after-work hangout and when they re-modeled I was a little unsure of going back-- as much as I appreciate a craft brew, sometimes I want a Hoeegarden! Twain's has kept the good food and the atmosphere even with a schmancy makeover and their own brews; the brews are top-notch, by the way! The services is still fantastic, and I can't wait to go back and grab a burger and brew again! Highly recommend: Any of the lighter brews for the summer Burgers Fries The custom shots are creative, too!
(4)
Jeff M.
I really like this place, especially if I'm with a huge group. It's busy, but it's always accommodating. Very chill and laid back atmosphere, but conducive for a good night. Food and drink is decent. Large selection of games is a plus. One of many great hangouts in Decatur.
(3)
Mark D.
I guess I'm a regular now for trivia night. I like it a little better now. They make a good burger. And the fries are awesome. Our table is always sticky, though.
(4)
Jane D.
One of my favorite places in Decatur. I always order the beer battered chicken strips- I literally crave them. The service is great- I've been going there for the past few years and I usually see the same waiters/waitresses. The games are fun, the beer is good, and the parking situation is okay. As for cons- the patio kind of sucks. There's bird nests on top of the canopy and after 5 minutes, I'm totally annoyed by the chirping. It happens everytime I make the mistake by sitting out there. Also, the crowd tends to be "old man-ish" but that doesn't bother me too much. Also, there tends to be alot of babies there when I'm there in the afternoon. Maybe its a Decatur thing? Other than that its a great hangout spot.
(4)
Rob M.
One of my favorites places to meet people and hang out. The brewmaster has skills with the on tap selections. Always have to get the sweet potato fries.
(5)
Julia S.
I went here tonight with my husband and another couple and I have to say, we had a lot of fun at Trivia Night. The hummus appetizer was really delicious, and everyone seemed to enjoy their sandwiches. I got the bean - portobello sandwich on whole wheat bread, which was good, but unfortunately got a bit soggy after a while. Our waitress seemed a bit surly, but then again she seemed severely understaffed during Trivia Night, so I don't necessarily blame her. I was not, however, impressed with the chardonnay I got (sorry, not a beer person) - it was incredibly bland. I think it was toasted oaks or something like that. It was $7/glass, I do remember that. Oh well. That's what I get for ordering wine at a beer place. Trivia was definitely a highlight - I'd come back just for that again.
(4)
Lainy P.
i used to love going to twains. It used to be a cute neighborhood pub where my boyfriend and i could come late at night at have dinner, even study while eating, and enjoy a good beer. It still has pool, and darts and all the cute games my friends and I played, but it's completely lost its cute decatur ambiance. i went there with a couple of friends the other day, and the service was not only bad, but the staff was just plain mean to me. I wrote a follow-up email the next day, and they never responded. I've never been treated that way in a restaurant before, no less in decatur!!! boo. i give the restaurant more than one star since it used to be cool, and the food/beer was still decent.
(2)
Michael S.
Being from Chicago this was one of the few places I could find that showed the Blackhawks playoff game on TV. Keeping in mind that it was Easter night and the place was dead I found the service to be wonderful. With a great list of beers and good food I would absolutly come back again if I find myself in Atlanta.
(4)
Rachel B.
What a cavernous tavern. The decor is eye candy - I've been twice and the first time I chased the exotic fish with my eyes, and the second time I read tons of Mark Twain quotes mod podged to the walls. My boo tried the home brewed beer and seemed so-so on it. The fried chicken fingers are smashing, mainly due to the batter. The sweet potato fries and garlic fries alike are super yummy. Service both times was meh. The David Bowie tunes were yay!
(3)
Leslie W.
This is my Friday night hangout. They brew several beers that are fantastic. They change the list each night, and get there early because they run out of favorites. I like the Jumping Frog IPA and the Mysterious Stranger. They will also have a guest beer like Gordon's Double IPA, or some other yummy brew. Twain's also has decent food. I'm not a big meat eater, so I like to munch on the Mezza plate, or their black bean-portabello burger. Darts, pool, and video games are available and they usually have live music on the weekends. Twain's has drink specials Monday-Thursday like $1 off imperial pints or scotch. They also have free Wi-Fi for those who like to surf when drinking.
(5)
J D.
No half star, so no true ranking. 6 of us piled in recently, and enjoyed the meal, the beer and the ability to hang out, play pool, shuffleboard and watch the Thrashers totally piss away a big game. Food was solid all the way around. Nice beer list, and the cask special was terrific. Clueless service though. I knew the beer menu better than our disinterested server, and I was there for 15 whole minutes. Maybe it was his day off from the Brick Store. Seriously though, when does surly earn you a bigger tip?
(3)
L S.
I've been coming to Twain's for years. I guess since 1999 or so. And if I was rating the pre-renovation Twain's I would give it 5 stars. Post renovation it gets 3 stars. Maybe its just my nostalgia for the seedier pool hall atmosphere it had before. Since the renovation the focus has been split between pool hall/darts/shuffleboard and now a sit down restaurant. The food is not good enough to me to be a destination for dinner. We will occasionally grab an appetizer while we're playing pool. But I would not go out of my way to eat here. I keep trying to like their house beers. I've tried them all...but I just can't make myself enjoy them. We do continue to come to play pool though. They have full sized tables in decent condition. And its great to be able to come home from a bar and not stink like smoke. Yay Decatur smoking ban!!
(3)
Katherine S.
I was at Twain's last night. It's a fun spot for a big group because the place is giant. Plenty of pool tables, dart boards and shuffleboard. They have some tasty microbrews that are worth trying. It's a fun, casual place to spend an evening.
(3)
Laura M.
Best waiter ever!!! The place was super packed, but our waiter was attentive and gave us plenty of time to wait on friends, stare blindly at the drink list and finally order. And yes, my group made lots of special orders--hold the tomato, add chicken, sour cream on the side, etc. The atmosphere was awesome--a diverse crowd of all ages, families, hipsters, etc. The baked nachos were sooo good--tons of cheese and not soggy at all. You can probably share with someone--I had tons left over.
(4)
Big Butt Z.
I came to Twain's for brunch this morning and was disappointed to find half of the menu items had been discontinued. I decided to eat somewhere else but before leaving, I had a drink at the bar. The saving grace of the experience was the spunky, tattooed bartender. She was inviting and made the BEST Bloody Mary I have ever had... EVER.
(4)
Jamie K.
I had never been here before this past Saturday with a group of friends. I really liked the idea and set up of Twain's - dart boards, pool tables, and I think I read somewhere that there was shuffleboard but I don't remember seeing it - however we spend most of our time in the front at a few tables, so it's possible that I missed it on my one walk through the back. Overall, the experience was good. They have a decent beer selection and we got there early enough to snag a large table. Some of us had food and words thrown around were "interesting" (for the coleslaw that was made without mayo) to "not so hot" (the wing sauce was amazing but the wings themselves were tough and had very little meat). The later it got, the more people crowded around, so if you sit in the front, be ready for people to eventually be camped behind your chair because seating fills quickly and then people stand around the tables. Also, when the bill comes, (this is my biggest gripe) they WILL NOT do separate checks. And not only will they not do separate checks, but the waitstaff will expect you to figure out what you individually owe and tell her. I'm not sure if it was just our server but I found it completely rude to expect us to be the ones to calculate what we owed. We had a table of 4 couples and 3 singles, so there were 7 separate cards being used - she handed us each a copy of the total bill and we thought we were supposed to mark off each thing that was ours but instead she told us we were to bust out the calculators and figure it out. What it amounted to was all of us slightly overestimating to avoid the faux pas of leaving the last person with more than their fair share of the bill, and what it ended up doing for her was adding another $30 of tip onto the pre-added mandatory 20% ($50) we were already leaving her. Not something I'd like to do again.
(3)
Troy N.
I'm biasing my interview based on the live music. I went on a Tuesday night to hear Joe Gransden Jazz Group in a live jam session. The number of low-key inexpensive venues for jazz is shrinking in Atlanta. Twain's was refreshing in that jazz was played in a casual environment with no cover. Musicians sat in and the atmostphere was laid back. The group I was with had some food and they enjoyed it. The beers were enjoyed and the food was pretty good. Service was fine.
(4)
Frank M.
Local brewed beer and billards: good Friday night. ...plus they have bubble hockey.
(3)
Laura F.
Great atmosphere and lots of seating. The food is great and you have to try the garlic fries at least once although you'll probably feel a little guilty after but they are so yum. My favorite sandwich is the roadrunner but they have so many other great things to choose from. Their hours are great so any time during the week or weekend you can go grab a great meal and have an awesome beer. The service is great and you can sit where ever you want. Oh and there is outside seating too! As far as activities to keep you occupied they have pool tables and indoor raised shuffle board ( iceless curling??) If you go on a Wednesday or a Thursday I believe the shuffle board is free. I know on weekends there can be quite a wait for the pool tables. Twains rocks for just drinks or dinner.. good date spot as it's noisy but not too loud for conversations.
(5)
steven c.
A couple weeks ago I found myself here twice in a weekend. The first was a start to the night. We played pool, and our bartender at the back bar was a lot of fun. The place is huge. They had live blues and Football playing on the following Sunday that I was there. I appreciate both of these, so it made it difficult for me to focus. I felt bad for any gut reactions when the Falcons scored (or were scored upon). I was disappointed that the only TV's with the Falcons on were in the back. There was adequate space, but we got the old school projection screen. And that can be tough on a guy, when he's been spoiled by Plasma and LCD HD tv's.
(3)
Ron M.
Any place that brews there own automatically gets huge thumbs up from me. I love sampling their newest creations. If you don't care for that there's also a great selection of other quality beers as well as other stuff if beer isnt your thing. The prices are pretty solid which always make me happy. If you're pool person this is gotta be one of the top spots. They do also have shuffleboard, which is pretty cool, just make sure you get on the waiting list early. Overall, I'll recommend to everyone!
(4)
Dee W.
Twain's is a cool spot to come hang out grab some food, shoot some pool or darts, and just chill. The barbecue pork sandwich is SO good. It's a cool spot.
(4)
Charles C.
One of my favorite activities on Sunday is to ride my bicycle to Twain's, enjoy some shuffleboard, and drink a couple of their local brews. It is a nice way to refresh before the new week. The food is average and the drinks and company are always great but sometimes the service is a little different. I was prepared to give four stars but today my short skirted waitress bent over and I saw her anus. If I wanted a show I'd head to one of our famed city's strip clubs.
(3)
Ian T.
I've been coming here for awhile because it was a good place for a large group. The main bar area is fairly open and the atmosphere was conducive to talking. Recently Twain's has started having live music which changes this atmosphere. When the music started it was the occasional lone guitar player but the size and scope of the acts has quickly increased to the point that it's hard to hold a conversation. I guess it's time to find a new hangout if I want to talk to the people I'm with. I think the house brews are usually pretty good although the style seems to be shifting away from session beers to more esoteric styles that would feel more at home at Brick Store. Additionally, the food and service are just ok.
(3)
Chef D.
My 1st time there i was treating my friend for a B day dinner..........Had a great time there home brew is great. food was great and the staff was friendly and provided great service.
(5)
Rusty T.
Thing is, I want to like Twains, I really do. There's pool; they brew their own beer; it has a great patio to relax and sip on a beverage, especially at night. But my experiences there have been very mixed. I had been before the remodeling when it was a seedy bar and pool hall. I liked it then, but I understand not everybody likes a dive. The remodeling was a good business decision, and I was looking forward to the Brickstore Pub having some competition in walking distance from my apartment for places to drink great, hard-to-find beer. And when I first went after the remodeling, it was just that. IPAs are always my first choice for beer, and Twain's had a pretty good one they brewed in the Jumping Frog IPA. The other two beers or so I tried close to that time were also good. The food menu, however, was trimmed down pretty drastically from the old menu -- to its detriment. The new menu is unimaginative, and worse yet, I can't even rely on just getting a burger because they appear to pan fry it. Unacceptable. On top of that, another time I went fairly recently the beers brewed in-house just weren't very good. The Jumping Frog IPA had been replaced with something that looked and tasted more like a stout. I actually asked the waitress to verify she brought me the right beer, because it just seemed off. It's been a little while since I've been, so maybe I'll go back soon to see if anything has changed. It's reasonably priced and in a good location for me. And I really want to like it, but I just can't recommend it right now with the inconsistent experiences I've had there since the remodeling.
(2)
Molly D.
Not a fan. I went there with a group of friends and we tried several of the microbrews searching for one that was potable. After about three unfinished pitchers because they tasted really nasty we switched to bottles of Miller Light, which they don't have on tap (probably so that people who want pitchers will be forced to drink their beers). One thing thats kind of cool is that all of their beers are named for Mark Twain quotes but it doesn't make it taste better. I've never played shuffle board before so that was really fun to play. But they never have enough sand. It's a struggle to get the sand onto the table. I'm not a pool player so I can't comment about the pool other than the fact that they have a lot of tables and a lot of serious pool players, or at least I hope they are cause they bring their own cues. Please don't let me grow up to be someone who owns either a Pool Cue or a Bowling Ball! They also have Golden Tee, I don't see the appeal in that game but a lot of people do so I am throwing it out there. Oh they do play good alternative music but who doesn't in Decatur?
(2)
Katherine N.
GARLIC FRENCH FRIES! No really, they're amazing! They have a really good selection of standard bar food with the higher end twist with out the higher end price and a great beer selection in addition to the full bar. The sandwiches are amazing and it's got a great atmosphere! I just had their brunch for the first time and the Country Fried Steak was awesome. I ended up having to ask for extra gravy but they brought it out at no charge, but other people may be just fine with the amount they bring out. Of the three times I have been there I have always received amazing service from a very nice wait staff and left with a very happy tummy!
(4)
Michael B.
Four stars for a nice range of tasty microbrews and pub shuffleboard! I had never seen one of these magic creations until I had been to Twain's. The shuffleboard tables have red and blue pucks that glide mysteriously on a thin layer of sand...like something out of Roswell. (New Mexico...not Roswell, GA--though the inhabitants often seem alien to me). Excellent pool hall and the full-size billiard tables are in great condition--not that I would know the difference. Twain's attracts a friendly, eclectic crowd. Service is pretty good. There is one solicitous waiter who shows up pretty often to keep the beer and munchies coming. He's the guy with the mop-head and testicle-crunching skinny mod-rocker jeans. Kind of scary, but efficient.
(4)
Phin S.
If you're there just for the game (pool, darts, shuffleboard...), it can be fun. You just have to brace yourself for negative experiences with the staff, who are consistently edgy-- just try to be nice to them and you can get out of there with a good experience.
(2)
David B.
I've had some very, and I mean VERY, good wings at Twain's. The burgers are OK, and the Middle Eastern plate is always a winner. The brewery does better on the lighter side (IPA, etc.) Service can be spotty, but if you're at Twain's drinking beer, eating wings and playing table suffleboard, you're probably not really in a hurry anyway.
(4)
Mark O.
I recently went back and I've gotta say they've stepped their game up. Most of the big problems this place used to have (sticky tables, bad house beer, bad service) have all been corrected. I'm still not a fan of their food (except the best in the city hot wings), but they are at least trying.
(4)
Linda J.
This is a good place to go to shoot some pool and hang out. I don't remember if they have a ladies night, but I think they did at one point. Their food is decent as well. I've been to this place many times over the years, and it's good for what it's good for.
(3)
Anna I.
I went to Twain's last night and loved it as soon as I stepped foot inside. It's enormous which means I'll never have to worry about being packed into some hole-in-the-wall dive while tons of people step on my feet. The servers were a little surly, but warmed up to us as soon as they saw what generous tippers we are. I drank the Ballot Box (brown ale, I think) and it was sublime. The shuffleboard and darts was enough to make me giddy, but even better is the FREE shuffleboard on Wed and Thurs nights. I feel like I finally found my default watering hole! Booosh!
(4)
Lisa A.
We have been to Twain's a few times now. At first I was not to sure about this place, but it has grown on me. The food is typical bar food. I really like the chicken wings, but would warn you about the pasta dishes. Very watery sauce and pretty bland. The last few times we have just sat at the bar and had a good time. There tends to be a few kids, which I find a bit strange at a bar/pool hall.
(3)
Rachel P.
Twain's is a great spot for a chill night out with friends. We arrived around 1030p and found good street parking right across from the door. It was raining so we headed past the patio inside to dry land. There are lots of games to play in here, so the bf and his friends liked their choices of darts, pool, shuffleboard, air hockey, etc. I only cared about watching the Heels whoop up on the Zags, (GO CAROLINA) so I grabbed an open booth right in front of a huge tv. We ordered a range of beers for pretty cheap, had some extremely delicious chicken nachos--one order was devoured in 5 minutes so a replacement batch had to be immediately procured. Also tried the fried green beans and they were unexpectedly great as well. Lightly enough dipped in batter so they still had a green bean taste instead of being overpowered by the fried taste. Our waitress was helpful and attentive even though she was handling most of the tables in our area. Also they serve a full menu until 1am. Nice for late night snacking. Cost was pretty cheap for everything: $8 nachos and $2.50-$4 for most beers. They even had PBR which is a plus in my book. Apparently the shuffleboard game was charged by time instead of games played, which annoyed my friends since they stayed over there for a long time chatting and drinking their beers. Crowd was young and fun, lots of college age/young professional groups of guys with a few female friends here and there. My guy friend even commented that it seemed like there were way more guys than girls here. Good to know if you're hunting for an early twentysomething guy on a Friday night in Decatur. Basically, I really liked the vibe at Twain's and would definitely come back here again. Providing there's no college basketball on, I might even play some darts.
(4)
Natalie D.
So I found myself at Twains at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon (no judging!), and was really pleased with the atmosphere. I sat out back with a friend, and the two of us were able to enjoy a beer (or two....) while soaking in the sun. Our waitress was unbelievably friendly. And the beer....what a great beer selection! They have an extensive list of micro brews, including their own brand. I only tried Twain's Golden Ale, but it was refreshing and tasty. I would definitely come back again (if I lived in Atlanta...sigh).
(4)
Janice M.
I was torn about how to rate Twain's. The first night I was there, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the crowd, and the friendly bartenders. My group of friends and I practically shut the joint down. I had enough fun to warrant a second visit. Returned for a quiet dinner/drinks meeting with a friend, and was underwhelmed. The service was less than stellar. We got caught in a miscommunication between two of the staff and they were apologetic about it - but it doesn't help when the joint is practically empty at 6pm on a Monday night. I ordered the Fish & Chips. The fries were good but I was underwhelmed by the flavor of the fish. I did like the tartar sauce which helped to cover the flavor of the fish I didn't love, but I did not care for the cole slaw at all, not to mention that the portion they served took up almost the entire plate. My companion ordered the french dip and while I didn't ask him his specific opinion about the food, the fact that he left most of it on the plate indicated that he wasn't loving it. I still really really like the place. I would just advise that your money is better spent on enjoying food somewhere else in Decatur and spending your money on beer at Twain's
(3)
Shaun F.
Twain's is a great Decatur pub with delicious micro brews and yummy food. Their chili is top notch and the BBQ chicken sandwich always hits the spot. I also like the prices - the micro brew beers are $3 - you can't beat that. I usually stop in to catch some basketball or baseball on their many television while I enjoy my food and drinks. They have a dozen or so pool tables, dart boards and bar shuffle board. The only downer is they charge for bar shuffle board. I have never seen a charge for that before.
(4)
Laura M.
A big group of us headed to Twain's on Friday night a few weeks ago. We'd already been to a house party and didn't want to go home yet. Twain's was still hopping after midnight, but we found seats for all of us in the dining area and after a short wait we acquired a pool table, too. Food and drink not stellar -- I like that they have house beers, but the one I tried wasn't great. The sweet potato fries hit the spot, though, and helped absorb some of the beer in my belly. Service was decent and atmo was decent... so, yeah, I have nothing against Twain's. I think it's the kind of place that is what you make of it -- great with a big group of fun friends, perhaps not so great as a dinner destination or beer-appreciation venue. But, Decatur has other bars and restaurants for that, and Twain's fills a need for people who just want a chill hangout spot for whole gang.
(3)
Kristina B.
A group of friends tried Twain's when we were in town for a conference last weekend. They had plenty of room for a large group and the potential to be a lot of fun (plenty of games like pool). BUT, the service was awful, the food was mediocre, and they wouldn't split our bill. I WILL NOT be returning to Twain's EVER and would not recommend going there.
(1)
Mark B.
Came back here because I really really want it to be good . Its not. Another ESB that I had to leave in the glass. I see they are remodeling next week. Good. Hope it improves the beer.
(2)
Desiree Y.
the food is pretty great. I mean for what it is. The beer selection is so great, alot of choices. I love the pool tables, but even more I love those darts. Really a fun place to be
(5)
Young Mi K.
A friend and I just happened to be circling the area to find parking and ended up in front of Twain's. We sorta looked at each other and decided to go in. The ceilings were high and made the place look spacious. The decorations were neat and seems like a great hangout place to play pool, arcades and eat. We ordered a beer that they brew. It was very good and the nachos was better than we expected.
(4)
Kim D.
Sooo I decided to head to Twain's on a Tuesday night... There wasn't much of a crowd, but definitely enough people to make me NOT feel like a stranger barging in on a local bar. The atmosphere was casual and definitely fun -- we enjoyed our Sweetwater and even started up a game of shuffleboard. I think there may have been some live jazz in the bar area but I was too far away to enjoy. Buffalo wings were delicious, but HOT so be warned if you don't tolerate spice well! The only downside was some of the creepy / drunk guys lurking around the pool table area. Or I guess you could look at that as an up-side considering the new inside jokes my girlfriends and I have.
(3)
Amanda W.
I miss the old Twains. Maybe I don't like change (I miss the old Church Street Coffee too), but the Twains brew gives me a headache and the service gives me heartburn. I used to go a lot to play pool, but since they've become more of a restaurant, I hardly ever go anymore. Once they switched to the family-friendly restaurant, the service at the pool tables (and the quality of the tables) took a nosedive. You shouldn't call yourself a billiards place and have crappy pool tables. At least there's no smoking anymore - thanks to the City of Decatur. Plus, they don't do the restaurant part that well either - pick a focus and do it right, please (or at least 50% right!).
(2)
Mary M.
Their food is just really good. Crisp, clean. Good portion sizes. Their Caesar salad is some of the best I've ever had. Never had a bad meal there, and they make their own beers in house.The day bartender Sarah has more energy than I will ever have in my life and is nice as hell. It's good times.
(4)
Garrin H.
I just got back from Twain's...love this place. Tuesday night features a jazz jam session hosted by trumpeteer Joe Grandsden, and the number and quality of musicians that show up is pretty amazing. On Wednesdays they have a blues night hosted by Dave Ellington, which I'm told is also excellent (haven't been to that yet). As for the food and beer, I was pleasantly surprised by my bean burger. I was expecting a Boca Burger, Gardenburger or some other variety of mass-consumed faux hamburger. This bean burger was actually really good, and it seemed like they made it in-house to my surprise. Sweet potato fries were also tasty, as was the beer - the pale ale I ordered was made on the premises. As for the crowd, the people there seemed down-to-earth, and I liked how unpretentious the scene was. Good vibes man.
(4)
Chuck R.
They make great beer. You can play pool for a reasonable price. What more do you want?
(4)
Scott L.
Love this place. The beers Jordan brews are fantastic. He has a brew for al tastes, so some of you knobs still drinking Bud Light.....Try one....It will change your life. The food is good, but not on the same level as 5 Seasons or Bookhouse. Service can be iffy at times, but overall good. Live jazz on Tuesday nights.
(4)
Leigh N.
Typical bar food, decent brewery. Plenty of billiard tables. Relaxed, casual environment. There's never been much of a crowd when I've been, but would be a good place to hang out with friends and play pool.
(3)
Sean S.
food actually seems to have taken a turn for the worse with the "new menu", twice now we've had dishes that just taste strange. service is mostly friendly... their in-house brews are still above average. been coming here for 13 years but other than their great IPA, we are finding it less inviting. (PS- even their turkey burger tastes weird now, even though they charge more for it than their neighbor Brickstore's excellent turkey burger!)
(3)
Lindsey B.
Had some terribly rude service at Twain's a couple of years ago, but things have been better in the few times I've been since then. The new setup is a bit strange with the fancy fishtank and unpainted cinder blocks up front, but the games are still there. Other reviewers have bashed the bar's homebrews, but I've liked the ones I've had. Haven't had much food, but the wings and sweet potato fries are excellent. Probably not the best place to expect a nice dinner, but a great place to have a few beers and shoot pool or throw darts. I always seem to get drunk when I go to Twain's.
(4)
Will F.
I absolutely love this place. Rarely do I feel as at home in public as I do when I step through their door. Ownership/staff are very warm/inviting, and Jordan really knows his stuff in the brewery with an impressive selection of high quality beers. Tons of pool tables, dart boards, shuffleboard, high def TV's, and yummy uber "comfort food". They are very much a part of the Decatur community and anyone will feel comfortable. Always a very interesting/ecclectic crowd. One of my very favorite.
(5)
Boner J.
Cool place. Big, long bar, lots of booths around, and a pooltable area with about 6-8 tables. House drafts are around $4 for a 20oz, about 10 total, and a big menu of micros. Beer prices were right, but the food seemed disproportionately expensive ($8 for 8 wings and $6 for fries?). Lots of locals coming and going and overall chill vibe. Wings were "XXX Habanero" as promised. Not a dive but not pretentious and enough conversation about Critical Mass behind the bar for me to know what the ethic of the place is. Luckily I got the F outta there before the live music started - there were BONGOS. I was just visiting ATL but if I lived here this would easily be my regular. Docked the 1 star only for the food price.
(4)
Chase C.
It's huge, filled with fantastic decor, tons of professional size pool tables, a huge beer selection, & one of the best jukeboxes in town. It's also eclectic - a true neighborhood pub. All races, social classes, & sexual orientations convene here. It's not the best place to have a conversation since it gets loud, but it's FUN. Smokers have their own room for pool & non-smokers have another. Fantastic! Their menu is good for bar food, & vegetraian/vegan friendly. It's a good place to people-watch, unwind, drink, & play pool. For the pee-shy, in addition to men's & women's rooms, they have a unisex one-seater. It's the little things that count. But good luck getting a parking space, & be careful not to hit another car while you're in the lot - it's crammed like sardines.
(5)
Miss S.
Brickstore was too packed to even get inside, so we headed over to Twain's. Found a space in the parking lot, which is a plus. Our server was super nice and my Twain's-brewed-pale ale was tasty (not the IPA, but some other one), but the hummus was only okay-- wouldn't order that again. The crowd was mostly really, really young guys-- maybe kids home for Christmas break or something??? Regardless, a good place to have a beer and catch up with friends.
(4)
Erica D.
Twain's served me well in undergrad. The waiters were great, and a few knew my tastes well enough to suggest something new without my having to ask. Twain's used to be a 5-star place for me, but since they revamped their style and started brewing their own beer, it went down...way down. Their house-brewed beer is, frankly, not good. We've actually left unfinished pitchers on the table, and if you knew my friends, you'd know how serious that is. The space more trendy, the front pool room is now tables and a small stage. the back pool room is still the same, and that's a plus.
(2)
Miller J.
Not at all impressed. I tried most of their microbrews and they were terrible. The portabella sandwich was tasty but the service wasn't the best. Shuffleboard was fun but you have to pay to play.
(1)
Jarrod C.
Twain's had a nice renovation done and really is just a fun place to hang out. I've had many different friends join me there for shuffleboard, pool, trivia, etc. Everyone always seems to enjoy it. The food is solid, not spectacular but even their menu has had some nice changes to it. Their best upgrade came when they started making their own house beers. Try the pale ale and the "Ducatur" for some nice flavor. If you haven't been you should definitely make the trip...you'll find something there you like.
(3)
Joel F.
A brewpub cum pool hall cum neighborhood bar cum restaurant. A fun neighborhood feel and a nice beer menu. First of all, the good: I love the decor and ambiance here. Cool bar decorcations and a small amount of sports memorabilia (I particularly liked the Philadelphia Flyers banner hanging from the ceiling). It's neatly divided into a dining area with booths and tables, a bar area and a pool hall area. There's also a patio. The menu is mostly pubby, but I was impressed. They have a nice selection of bottled beers, too. Probably 50 or so, mostly microbrews and imported stuff (such as Unibroue, Chimay, etc.) The bad: They really need to work on their brewpub beers. The golden ale was decent: pale and not too hoppy. The other three beers I tried were all messed up. If you make a red ale, it shouldn't taste over-attenuated and too hoppy. The IPA was also a bit thin and not malty enough. The brown ale either tasted like a stout or the server gave me the wrong beer. The ugly: The service. I was there on a recent Friday night and there were two major problems: First of all, the server brought me a bottled conditioned Belgian beer and didn't bring me a glass. If this place is going to serve a big beer menu (which they do), they really need to give their servers proper training. You don't serve bottled beers without proper glasses to customers in a dining area. Second of all, a place this size (and it is quite big) REALLY needs to have a host or hostess at the door. This seat yourself situation caused us to wait far too long at our table for service. Then later during our meal our server took WAY too long (probably half an hour) to bring me another beer. I looked over and saw her dealing with a large party at the front of the restaurant who were trying to find seating. Meanwhile she had left seven tables with no service at all for the entire time. I don't blame the server. She can't be expected to do two jobs at once. I do blame the management for understaffing the place. There really is no excuse for not paying someone to man the hostess stand at the front of the house. This is extremely poor management, imo. Please fix your service problems and pay a host/hostess to do what hosts/hostesses do!
(3)
Matthew R.
Great place to chill, hang out, drink beer. They allow dogs on the outdoor patio which is nice. My only gripe is they had the best fried fish sandwich in Atlanta and changed their batter. I guess their extensive beer list and jukebox selection make up for it.
(4)
Julie M.
What's great about Twain's is that it's no smoking and family friendly. You don't find a bar with those elements in the atlanta/decatur area very often. The menu is typical for a bar (sweet potato fries are my favorite) but the service is usually lacking. They have some pretty good beers coming out of their brewery and are always willing to give you a sample or two. The billiards room is spacious as well as the dart area. My 10 year old loves the shuffle board table and the small arcade. It's a fun place to go with the family for a few hours on a sat or sun afternoon. Great patio too. Gets a little busy in the evening for kids though.
(3)
Blu M.
I've been to Twain's a few times purely to play pool, drink & eat. They have pretty good food considering it's a bar. I thought the music was awful but the pool tables and vibe of the place makes up for it. Overall, it's a nice chill spot to hang out and play pool.
(3)
Katy S.
Twain's is a great hang out! Please note, this review is only for the nightlife. No food has been consumed by me at Twain's. I have visited this spot twice during trips to Atlanta. Both times have been a blast! Here's why: Bar games. They have pool and table shuffleboard. It is a fun atmosphere to play these games with friends and to have a little friendly competition. Good drinks. They brew their own beers but also have a full selection of wine and liquor. Decently priced, they go down easy. Laid back vibe. Everyone in here is just kickin back. Whether you are at a table, enjoying the patio, or playing a game with friends there is something for anyone. Someday I will come back for food, but this will remain a must visit spot for me on any Atlanta/Decatur trip!
(5)
Jose M.
Eh. It's just ok. Good beer but that's increasingly common in ATL. Service was fine but management could do better. Here are the details: The bartender was really nice and they offer a good beer selection. But for a place that advertises its billiards it doesn't have many tables and those get crowded quickly. I was also sitting at the bar when a group came in and asked to see the GOP debate (I was hoping to watch it too but I had been quietly sitting there). The bar changed it to the channel but refused to put on sound even though the place was basically dead but for the pool tables all being in used. Seemed arbitrary to me and like they were willing to lose the group's business over it, though I admit I could not hear the reason given for not putting on the debate.
(2)
Hunter B.
There is no one thing that makes Twain's a 4-star establishment... rather, it's the summation of a bunch of little things. Overall the food is superb for a bar. Tonight I got the pulled mushroom burger, which was pretty phenomenal (but short of life-changing). It was hard to believe that it was mushroom and not pork in the burger, and as the bartender said, it has just the right amount of kick to it. On the side I got the kale caesar salad. I believe this was my first time indulging in kale, and while I wasn't necessarily the biggest fan, hey, it's a caesar salad, so it still tasted fine by me. The beer on tap is all brewed by Twain's. In my experience it ranges from good to great, but won't knock your socks off. I had the Hashbiscus, which is a collaboration with Sweetwater (not the biggest Sweetwater guy), and it was very tasty; hoppy and a little tart. I do like that Twain's does a good job of rotating new beers on tap. There are a ton of pool tables and a couple of shuffle board tables in the lower part of the restaurant, which is a main attraction for most. The shuffle boards are really well kept up and super long, making them the best I've ever played on. In my opinion they overcharge to rent out time on these, but it's also not completely unreasonable, as it frees up availability on the tables. Twain's is usually busy without ever being crowded, which is nice. I'm still low key salty that Twain's took out their stage (and effectively killed the community jazz night they hosted on Tuesdays) in favor of a corner booth, but the service, drinks, and especially food is good enough for me to keep coming back. If you're looking to grab a couple of beers and some great, reasonably-priced bar food, and maybe play a couple of bar games while you're at it, this is your Huckleberry.
(4)
Angela U.
Twain's is a great neighborhood hang out with amazing staff, food and beer! A must go to hang out for a date, birthday or hanging with your friends. The food is amazing! I love the sweet potato chips and burgers! A all time favorite is the fish and chips! Go! See! Eat! And live at Twain's!!!!
(5)
Evan G.
I came here after work for a beer to watch a few games of nfl.. I had not been here in years but had always remembered a good time.. I was shocked to leave here And be offered the option of jail or a cab ride. I suggested an uber ride as there are cheaper than a cab and was turned down. At this point I was forced into a high priced cab home over a ride to prison with a cop. This has been been my worst experience ever in over 20 years of hanging out in Decatur. Will never spend a dime here again.
(1)
Adriana P.
Literally the worst service I think Ive ever experienced. Slow, almost non existent.. Our server or whatever he was came by once to take the order and never again. The rest of the wait staff are also extremely rude.
(1)
Jacquelyn M.
I love going here to hang out with friends after work or just meeting up in town. They have some great burgers and side item selections. The draft and bar selection is really nice and has a good variety. The inside can get a little loud on the weekend and weeknight. The outside seating is pleasant and is dog friendly.If you want to play pool you can usually get a table and the price for the time isn't too bad. They are ok with the wait staff and service. Sometime it can be hard to get service outside on the patio. They are pretty prompt when you are seated inside. They have multiple table options to accommodate for larger groups. They have events through the week as well for open mic or karaoke.
(5)
Andrea M.
A pretty hip place. The crowd here was, well, crowded and lively. lol. But really, you can find lots of folks in their early to late twenties here. The air was vibrant with so many conversations. There are of course an area for a sit down meal and the typical bar area for drinks. The other half of the restaurant is dedicated to the entertainments for the night (pool, darts, video games, and another game that I'm not sure what it is called--hybrid of air hockey and corn hole). My friends and I were here for a mini birthday celebration so for sure this place has that causal sit down atmosphere. The beers averaged out to be $6 to $7. There are cheaper ones for $3 plus change and others that were $9 and above. There is parking directly behind the building that's free, but it's only if you're lucky enough to find a space. There are parking lots all around this area or utilize the street parking.
(4)
Thi T.
2 underwhelming stars for the appetizers. Food was terrible. Bean soup was spicy, salty. I could barely muster up 5 bites and had to discard the rest of the bowl. I'd recommend going there for the other features. There are many games, including shuffle board, and pool. Ambience is laid back. A good relaxed atmosphere to hang out with friends and have a conversation because it is not too loud.
(2)
John S.
I've been here about 5 times. Each time has been the same. Good beer, good service and so forth. The food has been pretty satisfactory..... not the best.... but, dude, this is very good bar food. Your other option is to go be accosted by hipsters at Victory Sandwich bar. One of the best things is that the servers were very helpful, responsive, and knowledgeable on each occasion I went. The poutine was amazing.... so get that. Otherwise, they have an enormous selection of pool tables. There were a lot of teenagers trying to look cool, blatantly taking over the pool tables and trying to discuss strategy with a 40 year old brewery enthusiast. That's pretty much a euphemism for Decatur.
(4)
Laura R.
I like Twain's for the ultrahip atmosphere. I dislike Twain's for the ultrahip atmosphere. Let me elaborate. Twain's is, and always will be, a destination for those self-described youthful hipsters. The early-mid twenty somethings who want to drink beer and get laid and just hang out with their bros before the aforementioned laying of a person. In summation: there are a lot of dudes here (FYI--young twenty something females). Probably a ratio of 3 guys to every 1 girl. And, in general, there are a TON of people. Outside on the patio, inside in front of the doors, blocking the bar 3 people deep, standing here and there just, like, because. They're mostly in their early 20s, my third disliked group of people (after children and teenagers). If you want to come here to hang out, this place is great for that. They're constantly packed, there are fun things to do like billiards and darts, and there are some interesting people here to boot. Their liquor and beer selection is decent, and the atmosphere is downright chill. I've been here where a mildly crazy person who tried very hard to talk to every female in our group about the special finesse it takes to throw a dart. He mumbled to himself when no one was around, and just acted the part of a goofy, crazy person. I've also watched, in amusement, as people meet and greet and try to finesse their way into someone's pants. It's a good place to watch the crash and burn. Interestingly enough, I'm usually here for someone's birthday or a special occasion. And I would not recommend it for dinner. I would, however, recommend it for drinks. While the food is consistently 3-4 stars (better than Brick Store, but not as good as the Porter), the service is crap. Every. Single. Time. If you want to eat dinner on the weekend, good luck! It's likely your waiter will forget you exist at all. Eating out on the patio is even worse. They will forget you asked them for a menu. They will forget you told them you were on the patio. Twice. They will forget you are parched and just want some water. They will forget you asked for the check 20 minutes ago. I understand, my 20% tip isn't equitable to your 1$ per drink tip, especially when you serve 20 drinks in the span of time it takes for you to walk outside and get my order. But it's still frustrating. PROS: Youthful, hip atmosphere. Smoking is outside. Pretty decent food. Games to play inside, like darts and pool. Really cool atmosphere. I think there are two bars. So if one is full, you can hop over to the other one. Great place to people watch. The patio area is dog friendly. CONS: Youthful, hip atmosphere. If you're outside every person smokes like a chimney, and they make you smell like crap. Nowhere on the patio is safe from it. INCREDIBLY slow service. Forgetful waitstaff. Parking is a joke. The lot can hold somewhere close to 10 cars, and there's 5 times that number at the bar alone. I got the fish and chips, and the fries were burnt, small, and overly greasy. Probably the ones at the bottom of the barrel they wanted to get rid of before the night was out. THE VERDICT: I'm usually there to eat, and occasionally there to hang out. It's definitely the type of place to hang out, instead of eat at. The waitstaff service is a joke, even if the food is pretty good. The hip atmosphere is amusing, if not annoying, and at the very least this is a good place to watch failed exchanges between a pretty girl and an awkward boy. 4 stars if you just want to hang out 3 stars if you want to hang out and eat (which is what I usually do)
(3)
Rob C.
This place is awesome. Great food, great atmosphere, great staff. I've eaten the forager burger and the fish n chips. Wow to both!!! This is a must stop place to eat in the Decatur area.
(5)
Alli H.
After 4 years at Emory, I would have assumed that I would have gone to Twain's more than just this one time. It's an everything bar that has pool, darts, outdoor areas and lots of beer. I liked how spacious it was and how crowded it was too...
(3)
Aleema A.
I've been here twice now and I have to say I love it! It is such a fun bar. They have a wide variety of drinks to try and their beer selection is definitely worth mentioning. The place is really huge. You aren't fighting large crowd or waiting forever to get a drink. it's the perfect amount of everything in my opinion. It also has a lot of games. Even if you aren't a drinker, there are so many things to keep you occupied! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Tyler-James T.
I'm reading some of these reviews and I'm shocked that people are rating three and under. Leave it to hipsters to be critical of a hipster restaurant. I thought the food was AMAZING. I'm super impressed that they had poutine as an appetizer. I've never seen it served with a fried egg, but my inner Filipino hipster was very happy. For my entree I had the Farmsted burger and I literally could not get a full bite out of it, it was that huge. I will say that I asked for medium on the burger and it was definitely well done, but stuff like that doesn't bother me. My sister-in-law had the chicken and waffle sandwich and it was very good, as well. Since my brother and his wife are team God-Squad I wasn't able to taste any of the craft beers, but they had a huge selection. The service isn't bad, but it's also not the best. Our waiter was very busy and short with us, but nonetheless he got the job done. I will say, however, that the worse part is the sit where you choose idea. We had a large group and had to seriously stalk tables once the customers were ready to leave. It could use some more organization. Overall, awesome place!
(4)
Andrew P.
Seriously? No sign or anything that says they kick people out without IDs? At least card people at the door before letting them sit down with menus, find something to order, and then kick them out.
(1)
Kyle B.
I love billiards, great place to play games. Food is pretty awesome and they used to have jazz night on tuesdays. I hope they can bring it back.
(5)
Vanessa K.
Twain's is my go-to bar in downtown Decatur. I love the laid back and fun atmosphere, quirky and fun touches- notice the eponymous author's book pages lining the walls near the tables. Great for people watching, excellent beer selection, and strong & delicious LIT's. The nachos are also a must-have! Staff is always famously friendly and attentive.
(4)
Keith F.
Food is better than your average pub grub and the beer is made here. Try some Criminal Sin IPA if they're not out of it. Parking is probably no longer an issue because the seafood restaurant closed. Be sure to park legally because nobody likes those kind of surprises.
(4)
Randy T.
Fun locale - definitely a great place to hang out and play pool in Decatur. Average in terms of bar food - I'm giving a four star rating for atmosphere. The place is big and there are televisions and many pool tables. The rates for playing pool depend on the number of people playing and the time of day - at more popular late night hours, it costs more. Also, be prepared to wait for a pool table - this place is popular. Also, you can play darts or have a drink outside. Food was okay. I ordered the "Ronald", which had a "special sauce" which strongly resembles Big Mac sauce. Big burger with one huge patty that equals the two beef patties in a Big Mac, but too salty. I liked the onion rings though. They were huge - not as big as the Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Onion, but much bigger than what you typically get at a fast food joint. Also tried the mac & cheese fritters - they came with two sauces that tasted very good. Only gripe I have with this appetizer is that the sauces really aren't dipping sauces. Your best bet is to use a utensil to spread the sauces on your fritters. The food isn't perfect, but this place is certainly a lot of fun.
(4)
Dean H.
My family has dined at Twain's twice in the last month and found the food excellent. The hummus, nachos, wings and deviled eggs were greatly enjoyed. The burger is great and the salmon sandwich is excellent. I found the pastrami sandwich to have dry meat. Veggie chili tastes like it is meat. Onion rings are done right. Fish and chips were not up to my standard, filets were thin and batter tough. We drank SOB IPA, Criminal Sin, Snap Crackle Hops and Release the Hounds and enjoyed them all. The beer selection changes. This is a great place for kids with all sorts of bar games until late evening. Service was a little slow.
(4)
Kate S.
Twain's is my go-to bar in downtown decatur. Its got a little bit of something for everyone. Great food-great beer selection-tons of entertainment via pool, darts, shuffleboard, golden tee and more. I like the atmosphere and the fish tank. I love the beer queso, wings, fish n chips and enjoy that they brew their own beer and source things locally. I also like that they tend to pour heavy. I do like the staff, but some of them can be pretty cold and uninterested. As a frequent flyer, id expect to know some of the employees better by now. Its really more of a beer and whiskey type place, other cocktails are not a strong-point. Neither is finding a parking spot but hey its always busy.
(4)
Christie M.
Hummus/olive/pickled veggies were ON POINT. Lox not so much, but that's likely more my problem than theirs. All the beer was delicious. We went for brunch and with the exception of screaming children seated behind us and the lox, it was a super pleasant experience. We're planning on going back this weekend. Seriously, I've been dreaming about the Decatur Temptress Braggot. Nightly. And my husband is completely mesmerized by the aquarium.
(5)
Christine L.
Moar brewpubz plz. Seriously, this trend is freaking awesome. I was suggested this place by a client of mine at the clinic I work at. I often say that I should go to Downtown Decatur more often but really it's a bit of a trek for me and parking is an absolute nightmare. I drove my very hungover friend to Twain's to help him cure his hangover with more beer... because I'm that kind of friend. I didn't really get a chance to explore the whole restaurant so my overall view of the restaurant can only be told from the far end of the bar facing the pool hall. It was a gross-ish day and I dressed like an idiot so the patio was out of the question. Overall the feel of Twain's is very open. This is going to sound awful... but it felt like a barn that had been converted into a bar (at least that's how I felt). I noted everything was wooden (which may explain why it felt like a barn to me) with a dark lacquer to it. TVs were scattered sparingly around the open hall as to please the sports fans but not to distract the people that went in there to shoot pool or chat with friends. Ultimately it's a very down-to-Earth place, a crowd-pleaser. There's no pretentious beer snobbery that many local brewpubs give off but rather it seems like a good place to meet your friends and grab a beer, no bullshit. The best thing about this place? They serve "proper" (as the Brits would say) pints; 20 oz nonic pint glasses and the beer they serve is pretty damn good too. Moreover, the price is pretty good for the quality of beer you're drinking so win-win for beer lovers and beer snobs.
(4)
Dana S.
I was excited to try this place out with a big group of friends on a Friday night. The decor is pretty cool...the walls are covered in pages from Twain's writings and they have a huge fish tank in the middle of the restaurant. They had a good selection of craft beers - I had a gingerbread beer and it was amazing. Their sweet potato and parsnip chips were tasty and addictive and the chicken burger was good as well. The main complaint I have is that we rarely saw our waitress. We actually had a swap out of waitresses, but neither of them seemed keen on filling up our drinks or checking up on us. Overall, I would come back but the service is kind of a bummer.
(3)
Natasha C.
Good beer options. Friendly staff that I found quite helpful both of the times that I've eaten there. I ordered chicken fingers which were cooked perfectly except they forgot to add any seasonings. It's not the most exciting place but I definitely was able to relax.
(3)
Sandra D.
Love the beer here and the burgers are awesome (the onion rings and fries are delicious) !! We've brought the kids with us as we relax on the patio and all of us had a good time
(5)
Valerie N.
I really don't know how I've lived in the ATL so long and never made it to Twain's. We came on a weekday night to celebrate a friend who was taking a new job. We actually couldn't find him at first as this place is so huge! I love that there are so many bars and games to try out. We only stayed for a couple drinks, but the beer list was amazing and the service terrific. Super fun!
(4)
Charles J.
I've been here way more times than I should have, considering the short time that I've lived in Atlanta, and I'm sure I'll be back again soon. Best wings anywhere. They're fried a bit crispy and they often give me a couple extra. 8 jerk-BBQ wings with sweet potato chips and a sazerac and I'm a happy camper. Nice, medium-hip staff. I've never played the games, but it's a great, comfortable place to eat and drink. Also it's in downtown Decatur, which is cute as hell if you haven't been.
(5)
Katie O.
My husband and I chose to try a "new to us" restaurant on a Sunday night when neither of us felt like cooking. Given we are from Denver, any "Brewery" always pique's my husbands interest. I've never given a poor review, I believe in giving second chances in the moment that I was there on an "off" night. However, when my husband (who wears rose colored glasses) even complained, I felt it was only appropriate to review. SERVICE: or lack thereof... My drink glass was mostly empty, only refilled once. When my husband, finished his beer, we waited..and waited..and waited to get a new one. However, our waitstaff never came around to ask for another until after he was finished with his meal. At which point, we were just ready to leave. The service is INCREDIBLY slow. I'm usual a very patient person, but on a quiet Sunday night, where most of the tables that were there had already eaten their meals, I expected a lot more. The ironic part is that there were TWO people working our table. Perhaps it's a miscommunication between the two, but you would think we would have been over-serviced, not under-serviced. FOOD: HORRIBLE! I ordered a burger, which was very bland, and very dry. I ordered it medium, and it was very clearly well done. My husband also ordered a burger, his was a smidge better than mine, but both of us were underimpressed. Our french fries were also COLD. When you spend so much time waiting for your food, you would think it's coming right off the burner. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Part of me wants to give this place another shot, but most of me would rather not waste my money here again. There are too many other restaurants in Decatur with good food and drinks..
(1)
Robert P.
This is one of my favorite watering holes in the area. I love that they brew their own and have so many fun activities to do inside (personal favorite is darts though I need practice). It is about perfect except they regularly change the menu and always seem to remove my favorite dishes. Still the food is typically excellent, especially the stuff on the Sunday brunch menu.
(4)
Chamberlaine B.
I cannot yet write a true review... I was only in the bar for about ten minutes. Arriving at 9 pm on a Friday night, there was hardly room to breathe, much less play pool (I went to sign up for a table, and I was informed that there were 50 people ahead of me.) A wonderful venue, I'm sure, if only it weren't so crowded.
(2)
David H.
Waste of time and money. Twain's justifies American tipping culture. Not only was the food utterly unimpressive, but the service was also egregiously bad. My cup spent more time empty than it did with any quantity of water in it! I would like to tip 15%-20%, but there are certain expectations I have for this premium. For instance, a medium-rare hamburger should not arrive mostly grey. Maybe their servers could stop by the table once every ten minutes? What a dreamer I am. Also, must I be punished every time I wish to use the bathroom? We live in a first-world country! The only thing this place has going for it is a trendy atmosphere, which if you value above all else makes you a nincompoop. Melton's App and Tap has better hamburgers. Beer of equal quality is ubiquitous in every gas station in the lower 48. Dine at Twain's if you need a noisy atmosphere and completely inattentive waitstaff. Believe it or not, I like to tip, and not tipping makes me sad. Going out to eat should not be an opportunity for me to save 15%.
(2)
Sophie C.
Twains has a great vibe. It's huge with lots of different areas for your group to gather. I'm interested in trying more of their brews but I like what I've tried so far. On the recommendation of a friend I ordered the chicken and waffle sandwich. Delicious! It didn't hold up too well in its structure but k didn't care. That chicken (brined in sweet tea) was sublime. Can't wait to try more but I'll certainly want to order this again!
(4)
Domonic B.
This place is actually a pretty cool place to hang out if you're into pool and games. They have a room set aside for nothing but playing pool. I'm not really a pool player but I have visited with friends that do. This is in Decatur and is a common hangout spot for the locals. I had the Brasseltown burger on my first visit here. The burger was decent but the fries that came with them were really bland and also cold when I got them. I'd go here for more of a hangout than for the food but it's def a decent place.
(3)
Steve A.
I was glancing at my three-star, four y/o review of Twain's earlier and decided an update was in order. My wife and I have visited perhaps 30 times since that earlier review. Since then, the kitchen has really stepped up their game. Wings, burgers -- at least to us -- are consistently good. The beer, brewed in-house, continues to stand out. Their collaboration brew with the Virginia Beer Company earlier this week was outstanding. I've read some grumbling about spotty service. It's seat yourself; you might wait a minute or two sometimes before somebody spots you, but we've never had any issues. The servers are pleasant, tattooed, pierced, and competent. The only issue that honestly bugs me is the lack of parking. Their tiny lot out front fills up very quickly and street parking is hit or miss. The courthouse deck 2 blocks away is free after 5 or 6 pm, but in the rain or the cold, places with parking lots win out. Still, Twain's is in our Decatur top three, and always will be. You owe it at least one visit.
(4)
Brenna S.
I've been called a "pool shark" once or twice in my day, and I love a good local beer so Twain's was a necessary stop on my list of places to visit in Atlanta. It's located in Decatur, though it's a bit detached from the rest of the "hustle and bustle". There is a parking area on the side and despite how crowded it gets is inside, I've never had issues parking here. The ambiance is what you would expect for a pool hall mostly, though the crowd tends to be younger and a bit more mixed, which I like. They probably have somewhere around 10 pool tables, so I've never had many issues getting one to play on, and as most proper pool halls, you are charged per hour to play. The tables are in decent shape (for those of you that care), but if you're a true pool shark, you definitely want to bring your own cue. As for service, I've had both great and underwhelming service here, but I don't come here for 5-star treatment, so for me, it's fine. Twain's is one of those places that you can make of it what you will. So depending on what your style is you're likely to find something you like about it - whether it's good, cheap beer, a game of pool, some live music, a neighborhood bar setting, or a college bar setting.
(4)
Leticia C.
This is always the go to spot for an afternoon sport. They have PLENTY of pool tables too!
(4)
Beau B.
Good place to Pre game before a night out. They brew their own beer and have good bar food.
(4)
Alison G.
Twain's is one of those places I never crave, am never super stoked to go to, but keep visiting anyway. They have a parking lot (and if it's full I can park at my former employer's across the street), the menu is a decent size, they have a full bar, and there's ample seating so there never seems to be a line or a crowd. The service is usually a miss. I've come at lunch and at dinner, on weekdays and on weekends, and the server always starts out nice and then becomes absent. Maybe I have a knack for showing up on the cusp of a new shift, but whoever I have seems to always be about to get off and is busy counting their money and closing out checks. Their house-brewed beer isn't the best but I don't care since I don't drink beer. Their fried green beans are addictive to the point of sickness, so I can't eat them anymore. The chips and salsa/nachos are okaaayyy but last time the chips had the faint chew of staleness. I used to LOVE their curried chicken salad sandwich but it has gone the way of the Dodo, sadly. Garlic fries are a must for your side. A MUST. Last week I tried their chicken and waffle and I gotta say--it was fuckin' delicious. The only weird part was the onion-bacon jam. I'm big on texture, and it was kinda disconcerting having the texture of cooked onion but the flavor of bacon--I kept thinking I was gnawing on bacon fat but it would turn out to be an onion. Yum? Also, it comes with a side of sauteed spinach. Again with my texture hangups! I can't stand cooked mushy leaves, so I asked if I could switch out the side. They told me no, and I told them to keep their spinach. They did, and I got to pay full price. I think that's kinda bunk, honestly. Twain's is a solid spot for food and drinks when you don't feel like being adventurous or looking for parking. Which for me appears to be pretty often.
(3)
Megan K.
This place is like a home away from home. Best buy on beers in town, since they brew their own awesome beers and most are $3.50. Go here for beers not cocktails. And don't be the guy ordering a yuengling at the bar. Great food - a lot is locally sourced, beef is grass fed... *most* of the time it's really good. Great bar tenders, most of the servers are good. Occasionally you'll get a random "off" day - usually when they're slow. Very local feel, cool mixed crowds, Friday and Saturday night you'll occasionally get some fratty people, but usually outnumbered by cool folks.
(4)
Chris J.
I'm a regular here at Twain's. I primarily come here for reasonably-priced, good beer they brew in house. The food is inconsistently good at best. Tonight, however, the food was exceptionally terrible. I had a PBLT which is essentially a BLT with pork belly instead of bacon. The pork belly was the worst I've ever had anywhere, exhibiting a tough, not-chewable consistency and no flavor. The bread tasted like cheap sandwich bread from Walmart and the aioli also had no flavor. My wife had a dry, overcooked, flavorless burger which she'll probably comment about on Yelp as well. There are a lot of good food options here in Decatur and I don't think I'll come back here for food anytime soon because the food was simply unacceptable. I wish I had gone across the street to Chick-fil-A before coming to Twain's for beer.
(2)
Zewditu D.
Nuts and bolts: A friend and I wanted a midway point between our homes to meet up for dinner. Decatur Square is the perfect spot for us. Neither one of us had tried Twain's so we decided to try it out that particular evening. Order: Fish and chips for me. Turkey burger for my friend. Pros: Not much in my experience. Cons: There was no one there to great us when we arrived so we went ended up wandering around the the place for a bit. Then someone came and seated us. But it was in an awkward booth at the front. Service was incredibly slow and we felt ignored alot of the time. We did not enjoy our food. Take home: It might be a good sport for drinks and games, but not for dinner!
(1)
Hanna K.
I recently joined two friends for drinks & pool at Twain's, which is a weak stone's throw from Downtown Decatur. They arrived before me and grabbed a few seats at the big round bar in the front. The samplers seemed to be the way to go, most groups at the bar had order the 10 beer option for $18. Their beers are a nice quality, provide a good range, & are fairly priced. My favorite was the Sunset Amber. The bartenders are all friendly, helpful, and look the part of your neighborhood brewer. On Wednesday nights, you can get a 12oz beer & burger for $10. I ordered the Turkey Burger with a side of brussel sprouts. The burger was nothing special and not something I would ever go specifically to Twain's for. But let's be honest, I wasn't there for the burger. The main games area is comprised of a few pool tables, shuffle board tables, dart boards, and a couple of random video games. This is all in the back part of the main room, with high ceilings, a buzzing vibe, and lots of windows onto the patio. You have to put a card down for access to the any of the tables...pool was $10/hr for 3 people (will be prorated). There are waiters providing full menu/bar service while you're playing. Unfortunately, there was a large professional group that had reserved the whole main games area, so we had to play in the pool room off to the side. This has a much more pool hall feel-dark, lower ceilings, etc. I'm sure if you're a pool playing regular, this is good. But for us, we were more interested in a casual game in the ambiance of the main room. I'm looking forward to getting back to Twain's to check out the patio and a few more food items!
(3)
Brittney R.
I loved this place and come here all the time BUT today was the worst. We waited 30min before our order was taken and all the tables that filled after us were served. After waiting an hour for food, we decided to pay for our drinks and leave. The waitress was rude when we asked for the check to pay for our drinks. I've never felt discrimination here before today. My party and I were made last priority and we felt it. My visit today was unfortunate I will NEVER go to Twain's again.
(1)
Berry G.
I'd never heard of this place until I was invited to lunch with friends. PARKING: A little scary because there's a ton of signs nearby that read "NO RESTAURANT PARKING". My friends and I all parked in the back lot (next to the pink building" and none of us were towed so... shrugs. SERVICE: Our waiter was funny. Chubby hipster looking young guy with a thick dark beard. I arrived & ordered 30 minutes after my friends and somehow received my food FIRST. Odd. FOOD: I reluctantly ordered from the brunch menu - 2 scrambled eggs, hash browns and chicken sausage. Tasted FAR better than I expected. The egg portion was HUGE - I swear they must have scrambled 4 or 5 eggs. And the chicken sausage was IN the eggs... weird but good. The hash browns are shredded potatoes packed into a ball and then deep fried (I think with onions). Delicious. The orange juice sucks - tasted artificial, like Tang or something. The entire menu looks great, I'll definitely come back to try some other dishes.
(4)
Rico S.
I am writing this review to share a tale of magnanimity. The staff at Twain's gets the ultimate gold star from me although my visit was atypical. My very inebriated friend got into an altercation with several members of the wait staff over a tab he believed he had paid but had not. Incensed, he antagonized, threatened and called some of the bartenders names. Fortunately, another friend settled his tab so that we could leave. Unfortunately, that same friend left the keys in the car unbeknownst to me and I locked the door. Two of those very same bartenders tried to help us get into the car and when we failed, one of them lent us their phone to call AAA. Also, they have great beers on tap.
(5)
Jonette G.
On the plus side, it's a cool place to hang out with great atmosphere. The food is hit or miss. The sweet potato chips were quite tasty. The fries were okay but cold and the fish sandwich I ordered was bland and cold. The server was nice but a couple in our party didn't get their food until well after everyone had eaten and their plates cleared away. I guess everyone has a bad night once in awhile.
(2)
Steven R.
This is a really fun place. The drinks are great and the food is really good too. Yet have shows on the weekends, but plan ahead to go early cause this place can get packed. I recommend going off hour or during the week to get some casual pool in and hang with some friends. But it's a fun weekend spot too if you don't mind crowds!
(4)
Kenny R.
AWESOME BEER!!! Electric car charging station, large billiards room, shuffleboard, etc.... and good food. I came here for lunch on a hungover Thursday after catching a 2 night run of Phish in Alpharetta. This wasn't one of those, I need something greasy hangovers, I needed something healthy as a base and then to get back on the wagon(or falling off the wagon, I dunno how that works). I ordered the cured salmon sandwich and my counterpart got the crunchy aristocrat. Both were awesome and did the job. Battered/fried green beans were AMAZING! Our waitress was quick with everything and had some great recommendations but I was allgood at that point. I needed a coffee to get it together and belong as a functioning member of society as she went ahead and ordered a beer. Criminal Sin IPA was the booze. I took a sip and it was awesome but I still wasn't ready to commit to alcohol quite yet. We expressed a solid interest in the other beers and one of the brewers(Chase, I think his name was?) came out to talk to us about them. Tequila barrel aged IPA, wowzers. Some small batch Belgain/sassion/pale ale or something like that was one of the best "fruity" beers I've ever had. Supposedly, it was rather high gravity as well. After a flight, I felt much better about the world and proceeded to get a game of shuffleboard going. As a former 55 and over community resident, I knew I had this one in the bag. It wasn't fair but, it was fun. I wanted to hustle some pool as well but, after that, nobody wanted to play with me. After reading some other reviews I guess they have live music as well? Next time I'm in ATL, I'll be headed straight here.
(5)
Jessica H.
Updated review! We used to be regulars here, and I did love the fried chicken tenders and sweet potato waffle -- went there specifically for that! However, the last time we were in, I ordered and received a savory waffle. We commented on the new menus when placing our order, but the server didn't note any main ingredient changes - so I assumed all was the same. Alas, it was not. Very disappointing. Spoke with the manager about it, actually, because when I mentioned it to the server she got very defensive. They were nice about it - but very disappointing menu change. Burgers are good. My eldest kid loves the spaghetti but we always have to ask for extra sauce. She's not a fan of the grilled ham and cheese. Margaritas are to die for and the kids can watch the fish tank for hours - it's a win! Kid menus are inside a children's book, too! Service can be great - service can be terrible. Parking can be a pain, fair warning.
(2)
DeAndre J.
Kinda upset this place doesnt have a happy hour and the parking was TIGHT!!! (Almost nudged the car next to me) Definitely had plenty of pool tables and I'm glad they have shuffle boards. I'd definitely come back (but probably take an uber just in case). Also, maybe this was a rare occasion but there was a LOT of kids running around. Seemed sort of weird being that this was a bar and not a Chuck E Cheese.
(3)
Sara M.
Oh, Twain's. How I love you so. 1) Their beer is awesome. And it's far too often led to me looking at the clock and wondering how the hell it got to be 1am so fast. And on a weeknight! 2) Food is okay. The lemon pepper wings are the standout for me. I order them every time I eat here. 3) It's huge inside and there is a ton of stuff to do. Trivia on Mondays, live jazz on Tuesdays, a few TVs turned to sports, dog-friendly patio, billiards, shuffleboard, darts, and arcade games. Also good for groups. 4) After 9pm, it's 21 and up. Thank goodness. 5) Bathroom (I can only speak for the women's) is usually pretty clean and the stalls have recently been renovated. 6) Parking is easy compared to other Decatur bars. Overall, a fun, lively spot. Grab some friends and enjoy! WARNING: Time will fly here.
(4)
Christine R.
New Spring brews are on tap! Good balance of light and citrusy wheats and IPAs mixed with a few darker ales, stout and of course a Cask. Came for brunch and it was good. I like the new menu. They also expanded their liquor and cocktail selection if beer isn't your thing.
(4)
Candace M.
It was a Saturday night and me and the Boo were looking for something to do (my little rhyme). The "Places" app on my phone let us here and boy was it a good time. Although I had been to Twain's before, I had never really "been there" In the past I just stopped by to say hello to friends and mostly hung outside. This time was different. We were waiting for friends to join us so we got some dinner. The fish and chips were really good. So good in fact that we ordered another plate and shared it. What I really liked about Twain's was the number of billiards tables that they had. You go over to the side and put your name on a list and by the time we finished eating it was our turn to play. They also had darts and shuffle board. It didn't feel crowded although it was a pretty big place. This is a new go to place when we just need a somewhat laid back night of just hanging with good people shooting some pool.
(3)
Robin S.
Twain's gets an upgrade to four stars. Not sure why I had it rated at three before. While the food isn't among the best pub fare in the area, it's still decent. The beer, the bar and the space in general - including pool tables and shuffleboard - easily make it one of my favorite drinking holes. Last night was Langhorne IPA and Mad Happy beers, and a blacked mahi sandwich with onion rings. I really like their onion rings. The mahi could have been tastier - their blackening spices need spicing up.
(4)
Greta H.
Great atmosphere. The servers are very friendly and helpful. Late at night the crowd is younger but feels like a family establishment during the day. I love their chicken tenders and fries. Cheese dip is also incredible. Gum pork is is must. Fish and chips are decent, the apple slaw is great. The Reuben is not the best i have ever had. The corned beef was good but the sandwich was very dry.
(5)
Richard L.
Decided to try Twains for an early dinner since it's close to my daughter's college. Decor appealing with something for everyone. Booths, bar, outdoor seating, billiards with plenty of space. The menu got my anticipation up. Interesting entrees with local flair, and a fantastic variety of ales. Opened with a delightful appetizer - mac & cheese fritters. Two at my table ordered sandwiches - BBQ and vegetarian. They were pleased. I and another opted for pasta dishes - Pasta Bolognese and the House Vegetarian Pasta. Both were tasty but the portion size very small. The pasta entrees were served in cereal sized bowls, hardly enough for an appetizer. My second concern was poor service on a quiet weeknight. Waitress was sweet but absent. Passed the table three times before she remembered missing drinks. She was nowhere to be found during the meal. We had to search her out for the check. She never asked how our meal was, never inquired as to whether we wanted desert. Small portions and poor service trump a great atmosphere. I won't be back.
(2)
Chris Thomas H.
Awesome beer, reeeeally good food (depends what you order of course). The atmosphere is very nice, lively is a good word.
(4)
Brian J.
A pretty lively atmosphere. The nut brown ale was perfect. The service at the bar was quick and pleasant. The servers were all tatted up with base ball capes and keys hanging form their belts. The feel of Twains was industrial, corner bar /pool hall. Noises, busy and fun. The beer was great! The food was good.
(4)
John X.
Twain's has had it's ups and downs. In food, service, and prices. You can't say they don't try though. They react and make changes. OK. September 2014 prices have been pared down. Beer is great. Had an american salad w/ house made ricotta that was Delicious.This visit was 5 star !
(5)
Lindsey G.
I am at a quandry. You see, my BF and I spent NYE together here for dinner and drinks and games before heading out to the Underground for the Peach Drop. The conundrum comes from the fact that both of us had only salads and apps to eat (and I had a Bourbon Flight), and I don't think any of that is representative of the food and drinks at the place, especially since they have their own brewery. Anyway, I had a ceasar salad which was only OK, along with a basket of perfectly crisp sweet potato french fries with a yummy chipotle mayo for dipping. BF had a greek salad with greek chicken, again, this was only OK, along with vegetarian chili. I'm thinking a bar/pool place doesn't excel at salads because that's the food that attracts the crowd, so I won't fault them for that. The apps were delicious though, which makes me think their burgers, sandwiches and other entrees will be worth another visit in the future. As for the service, it was aight. Nothing to write home about. Plenty of different bar games abound here, though, but as it was NYE, we were left playing Terminator Salvation which I suck at :-( The place looks like a lot of fun, with all the dart boards, pool tables, brewery, etc. So I think we'll be coming back for more sometimes soon.
(3)
Rene F.
I'm changing my earlier review. After going a couple more times I am a fan. The bloody mary I had was good, and drinks are always really fast. Prior to this, maybe I caught them on an off day.
(4)
Amy K.
Pros: Excellent beer, cider and mixed drink selection. Great service, pool & darts galore. Good music and volume, smoking on patio only (which is a con if you want to sit on the patio!). Cons: Food sucked, somewhat pricey. Went last night for the first time finally despite a great reputation and desire to go for many years. The service was excellent, really enjoyed sitting on the patio in the beautiful weather yesterday. They played some good music, it wasn't loud (outside). Got bacon mac & cheese bites. I didn't taste any bacon but they were hot and good. The jelly that came with it tasted right out of a jar though and didn't really compliment the app at all. I am burger obsessed and was incredibly disappointed with the BBQ burger I ordered. The patty was thick and cooked perfectly but didn't have much flavor. The BBQ sauce was bland and watery, the cheese was a thick glob of tasteless fat and the coleslaw and onions weren't even noticeable. The sweet potato fries were thick cut but also bland and had to be doused in ketchup. At $12.50 I felt robbed. SO got pulled chicken sandwich which was original in idea and spicy (yay!). The roasted carrots that he got as a side were some of the best I've ever tasted. Friends got burgers and sides of chili which they tried to doctor with every condiment on the table to no avail - it was left uneaten. Their beer selection was amazing and I really enjoyed their home brews. They had good ciders and a lot of mixed drinks. There wasn't enough time in the day to sample all the alcoholic beverages they had. Next time I think I'll stick to drinks and games and stay away from the food.
(2)
Meagan F.
Twains. Come on. Yes, it is Saturday night but you should plan appropriately to provide service. We have been waiting at our table for over an hour and a half and are still sitting here without food/drinks. Getting ready to walk out.
(1)
David L.
Twain's is awesome. Great sports bar but don't let that keep your girl from wanting to go. The food is amazing. Try the wings, some of, if not the best in the city. Great atmosphere, home brews, service and fun. Plenty of games to play with a large pool hall in the back. Now that they have Golden Tee back, you'll see me up there!
(5)
Tom G.
Twains brews their own beers, about eight or so. If you want another beer it'll be from a bottle. This keeps the draft prices low, but the quality of their seasonal recipes is absolutely solid. Don't believe me? Try a concorde and taste them all yourself. Food is good. It's pub food, but they put noticeable effort into it. My favorite appetizer (or sober up snack) is the boiled peanuts. They're fantastic. Thank you Twains!
(5)
Stone M.
eh, still not impressed by their home brews. Service was outwardly rude. The food is pretty good (not great) and the beer is alright, but server was offensive. Probably wont be back.
(2)
Jennifer S.
Didnt eat here but the atmosphere was good. Lots of different things to do at the bar...pool, darts and so on. Very big place so you dont feel cramped.
(3)
John S.
You know that part in the OutKast song AtLiens, "Softly as if I play piano in the dark"? Yeah, Twains isn't like that at all... it's loud as hell and our group of five Asian individuals were the only non Caucasian patrons at the bar. Not that it bothered me very much to be the token ethnics at the bar, I mean it's happened before plenty of times in my life. I just thought that what with greater ATL being 52% black, there would've been some small representation from the African nations. *Imagining Nuk Nuk and Po'Jo and 'dem playing shuffleboard* Twains boasted a very unpretentious setting that included shuffleboard, pool tables, darts boards and a plethora of different beer and full bar options. The wait staff was quite nice, even after my buddy - who has this irrational lust for women of a certain hair color - started to become a bit overly friendly. The service was quick and food and drinks were also replenished quickly and efficiently. Overall, a great place for a group to play games of skill which quickly devolve into contests of "try to stand up straight" after copious amounts of alcohol consumption. Good thing there was a Waffle House nearby to help us through the night.
(4)
Kelsey F.
I have been hearing about Twain's for 4 years now and I finally made it there last Thursday night. A friend and I strolled in around 9:30 and found a seat at the main bar. There was a good amount of people there listening to the walk up musicians, drinking in the booths, and playing games. It took the bar tender a bit of time to take our order even though there were only a handful of people actually sitting at the bar. We both opted for one of the house brewed Belgium ales. Twain's big positive is that it is very reasonably priced - house beer $3.50 and that they brew their own beers which is always respectable. We hung out at the bar for a little while but we must have had our invisibility cloaks on because it took the bar tenders ages to notice that we wanted to order anything or wanted to close our tabs. We headed over to the game area and played a couple rounds of pool (also very reasonably priced). I liked that the brewery/bar was a buzz with people having fun, but not so crowded that you couldn't get in on any games. There are several large parking lots behind Twain's for parking. Service could absolutely be better here but the relaxed atmosphere, awesome bands that come out, reasonably priced games, and variety of beers to be drank make it worth a visit or two.
(3)
Shirlyn D.
The food is amazing and authentic. The service is slacking, though. It's a big restaurant, but there weren't that many customers when we got here, and it took us 20 mins to get drinks and another 20 to order an appetizer. But the servers were friendly when they finally greeted us.
(3)
Shaye B.
I would give this place 4 stars if the food was better - however, it is still a very fun place to hang out! The atmosphere of the place is awesome - very laid back, fun place to hang out at. Plenty of billiard tables and dart boards around that make it a nice time to hang out with friends with some pitchers of beer. Decatur is a far venture for me so while I have a lot of fun, I typically would not go here unless for whatever reason I went to Decatur and couldn't get a table at one of the other trendy restaurants. Worth checking out and could be a fun place to move to after a nice dinner in the area and you didn't want a crazy bar scene for the night. If I lived closer I would give the place 4 stars since it is a brewpub and I would rather review it on the basis of its atmosphere than the food - but long drive & mediocre food - I can't rate it better. Def a fun place to hang out at though if you have a group of people and are looking for a change of pace!
(3)
Caroline G.
Good food, Great vibe and nice mix of people from all walks. Tuesday night is Jazz/open mic-ish night, didn't realize it when we walked in, but it was an enjoyable night for sure. Food is good, on par with Decatur fair and in line with places similar. Beer-They brew about 8-10 of their own beer and it changes regularly, some are hits and some are not so hits, but that's the way it goes. I commend any place that has the balls to brew in house so its all GREAT to me. Im an IPA, Porter, Stout and etc beer drinker so I know my palate can be a little snobby. Service is friendly when they aren't busy and are nice when they are. It is what it is and they do what they do....There is a girl that bartended one afternoon I was there with shoulder length brown hair in pigtails...I can't for the life of me remember her name but OMG if I could pinch her cheeks and hug the shit out of her I would..she is all sorts of awesome! Don't really have anything bad to say about this place expect for the girls bathroom runs out of toilet paper and at times you find "presents" left on the floor by some girl that thought she could drink with the boys...So really my complaint would be with girls that can't manage to pee IN the toilet and puke IN the toilet...STAY the hell home and quit stealing Twain's TP. Also have pool tables, shuffle board, darts and something else I didn't pay attention to...I'm there to sit at the bar, stuff my face with hummus, drink beer and people watch.
(4)
Judy C.
Pros: -wide menu options -beet salad looked amazing (regret that I didn't order it) -seasonal sides -the size of the back rooms and the variety of different games (pool, darts, etc.) -family-run business Cons: -burger patty was dry/overcooked -parking was impossible to find on a Friday night
(4)
Steve J.
Fantastic food, fantastic house-brewed beer, fair prices for both, and a great environment. I've been to Twain's a handful of times and each time has been a great experience. The wait staff/bartenders have almost never let my beer run dry and the food and beers have always been great quality. The spent grain bread is an extremely hearty loaf made of grain used in the brewing process. It's extremely filling and mildly sweet. The vegetarian chili has a great flavor to it- just the right amount of heat for most all palettes. I've had a couple other items on the menu and they've all been well worth my money. I REALLY love their house Imperial IPA, but the Choco-Rye stout, and Amber are also pretty good. I think in the past I had a Tripel they brewed that was really good. Only one time that I've been in was it uncomfortably crowded, but most nights it's relatively calm and there are enough pool tables to go around.
(5)
Gwanda P.
The service here is horrible!!!!!!!!!!!! We were not given silverware or small plates with our two nacho orders. The server (she )was sooooooo rude!!!
(1)
Michelle K.
This is one of my all time place to "chillax" in Decatur. There has never been a bad visit since my first one back in January of last year. I recently visited this lovely establishment for drinks last month and found it humorous that our waiter thought I looked A LOT younger than my date! HA! That's amusing to me because we were both born in the same year and our waiter was probably younger than both of us! The bar was packed and the service there was still consistent! Gotta love that about a place like this. Hands down, if I ever want to be in a "chill bar" where the drinks are decent and have a burning desire to play a mean game of shuffleboard, Twain's is my number one hot spot! #Yelp 365 - 12/365
(4)
Vonda D.
This was my group's last stop of the night. We went in around 1am Sunday morning. I'm not sure if that late is a hit or miss. It was crowded, but my gfs and I just hung around at our table drinking beer. The apple cider beer I had was tasty. I wish they had some random tables throughout the place. It would be better for guy watching. :) I can't comment on the food or the games because all we did was drink. I've been told that happy hour here is great.
(2)
Brian K.
I've always considered Twain's to be the adult equivalent to Chuck E. Cheese's. However, instead of soft drinks, singing robotic mice, and a ball crawl, you get beer, live music, and shuffle board. In the end, if you can't find something here to keep yourself occupied, then you're likely in need of a clinical intervention. Food: In addition to being a brewpub, Twain's is also a full-service restaurant. The menu offerings are predominately traditional American bare fare, but there are a few novel standouts such as the bacon mac & cheese fritters. In addition to the standard menu, they also serve brunch on the weekends. Overall, the food isn't that memorable, but that's not surprising considering that it's not the main reason that most people seek this place out. Service: Incredibly friendly, but not always the most efficient. On the weekends, wait times can get fairly long for pool tables, darts, and shuffle board, so be prepared to wait. Atmosphere: The interior of Twain's is really quite expansive. The facility features a large dining room, performance stage, two bar areas, a billiards room, and separate alcoves for darts and shuffle board. Families are welcome during the day, but Twain's restricts entry to persons 21 and over after 9PM. Also, Smoking is completely prohibited, regardless of the time of day, so you don't have to worry about smelling like an ashtray once the evening is over. Cost: Inexpensive. Appetizers and snacks are $5-$9, soups and salads are $4-$9, sandwiches (includes choice of side) are $7-$10, and entrees are $8-$15. Other: Twain's is more than capable of accommodating large groups or office parties. They also feature special events throughout the week, such as food and beer pairings, corned beef Sundays, and Jazz Jam Thursdays.
(4)
Emma G.
The 5th star here is because Tuesday night Jazz was so, so great. Twain's is huge (or maybe my recently-moved-out-of-NYC-perspective is off); there is a giant dining room, with a stage for live music visible from most angles. Then there is a giant back room with billiards and a separate bar. The food is actually quite good for being a pub; I went with a friend who hadn't been in about a year, and he said the menu was much improved from the last time he'd been. My turkey burger was succulent, my greek salad was yummy and well-balanced (although a little overkill on the feta), and my friend's Burner Burger (Blackened Brasstown Beef, tomato and poblano chutney, pickled jalapenos, sriracha mayo, jack cheese.) was seriously a flavor-bomb in the best way. Live jazz at Twain's is perfect. The first set seemed to be comprised of all the regulars, and then as the night went on, people from the room kept coming up with their instruments and joining in. The musicians were phenomenal; they were clearly just having SO MUCH FUN, and it was a delight to watch/listen. I keep telling everyone I know that I can't wait to take them here on a Tuesday night and I'm being sincere.
(5)
Mike O.
Pretty sweet bar. Lots of games like shuffle board, pool, darts. And lots of places for people to play those games. There are several bars around the place, so you don't have to go too far, and there is also waiter service. The beer list is great, the pub food is very tasty. All around a great place. Keep in mind I've only been here on an early Friday afternoon. I haven't witnessed it, but I could see this place getting crazy packed. I imagine it would be less fun then.
(4)
Angela M.
They get their 4th star back! We went in yesterday (Fri Jun 14 2013) for lunch and it was outstanding. We had the fried chicken sandwich special, which was DEELISH. The fried chicken had a crispy, slightly sweet crust and was moist inside - PERFECT. The jalapeño aioli was not very spicy, but just salty enough to offset the sweet radish and cabbage slaw. Simply delectable. Nommy noises were the only conversation during this meal! Chef Savannah has saved this place! We didn't have beer, but the newest selection looked great. We are SO happy to have our wonderful Twain's back!
(4)
Matthew E.
Nice place. We went kind of late on a Thursday and there were only 10-15 people in there. They have pool tables, darts, and shuffleboard. There are a lot of cool places within walking distance.
(4)
Shyam S.
I had not visited Twain's in years, but I'm seriously questioning my own judgment because this is an excellent sports bar. Fuck, I feel like I have seriously wasted my time at cruddy sports bars across the city when such a gem is right in Decatur. Twain's seriously has everything - shuffleboard, billiards, pool, trivia, outdoor patio, tons of seating indoors, great food, great beer, etc. I just popped in to watch the second and third period of the Blackhawks-Bruins game (Go Hawks) and ate the most delightful snack - something called spent grain bread and the jerky and jelly combination. It was short and sweet and delightful.
(4)
Neenee P.
A step above the rest as far as beer and food quality but service... that's a whole different story. I'm not going into detail, I'm not so enthralled with myself I think people want to read an essay on yelp but the gist of it is, can we please stop with the apathetic serving?! It doesn't make you cool, or hipster. It makes you a bad server. There are a few good ones here if you snag a decent station but as a whole, if you're not at the main bar; be prepared for serious slack service!
(3)
Tom C.
I love Twain's! They have plenty of things to do like: shuffle board, pool tables, arcade games, darts, and fooze ball. It's very spacious inside. The place has a lot of character to it. Very casual, down to earth atmosphere. It's not grungy. It's open late till 2am on weekdays and 3am on the weekends. The clientele seems pretty cool. They have a very good beer selection for bottled and draft. I haven't tried the food, only played pool while I was there. I'm definitely coming back. And what do you know....they are close to Agnes Scott and you can hopefully catch some beautiful Agnes girls if they are not "Dec"aturs...lol
(4)
Davie C.
20 something hell. And the under 21 crowd have to be filtered out before you'll even get served. Maybe it's Friday nights. Maybe it's the full moon and I'm raging. shouldn't take an hour to get served. They should card at the door and then I would have known this place is for college kids and cougars. This also a great place to play hipster bingo, you can Google search for cards. And, seriously, who the f*ck drinks PBR at a BREWERY?!?!?!?
(1)
Sam G.
Probably my favorite place to hang out at right now. I love playing pool, the option for darts, arcade games and shuffle board rock! The live music is always good and the atmosphere is always positive and the staff are great. Cool place to go if your a fan of beer and good times. Dont come here if your a dick! The hipsters will stare you down til your pecker falls off ;)
(5)
Ryan S.
It is true that most people only write reviews only when their experience was poor or if it didn't meet expectations. Mine's different. Here's why? Me and my co-workers have been having Thursday nights (not all, but many Thursdays) @ Twains, since most of us are off on Thursdays. On my friend's (co-worker) despedida party, we decided to celebrate it at Twain's -- but instead of Thursday, we did it on a Wednesday. Oh, boy... That Wednesday, everyone was confused... This place used to be our favorite hangout ... but the real unexpected happened ... First, we were served poorly. We were handed out bill/checks way too early -- like they were ready to kick us out. Then, our female server rarely came back to refill our drinks or asked for any more orders. No one among us really knew why? When one of us asked, she couldn't tell us what was wrong. Also, our tables were cleaned early, even when some of us were still sitting -- my chicken wings were thrown away (even if there's still more than half left on the basket). Just poor service to the extreme! I don't know if it was because it was a Wednesday, or if it was because we weren't on our usual tables (or not the usual servers). Even the manager that night offered no help. Of course he tried/pretend he was listening, but we could see on his bearded face that he didn't care about our complains. To note: it was not even busy that night -- on our area, there were maybe 4 to 6 parties. It was just heartbreaking. We have been their costumers for a while, and never until that day did we get an awful service and a careless manager response. Also, I seem to recognize the manager who came to our table -- he seem to be our former server. He cut some of his beard and had some neat cutting and trimming (compared to his former beardy, mustachy, hairy face.) It was sad -- I guess having higher position makes one act differently. I am not hear to influence you not to try Twain's. It was maybe just bad luck that came to our faces all at the same time. Just to let you know, we are not just random uneducated rude folks, we are healthcare professionals. We know our limitations, and we know if we are being treated awfully. I just hope this won't happen to any of you guys.. But yes, yes to great food, and great alcoholic drinks, tops the pool table, darts, etc. But here's to having had a ready-to-forget, sad-ending of a night... And here's to never ever coming back to Twain's... Ever!
(1)
Sarah F.
Great service. Terrible veggie chili. Delicious beet salad. Beer samples.
(4)
Joyous S.
I like this place and I think it's a great place to hang out with your friends and it's also great date spot. The first time I went out with my coworkers and for happy hour! I went again just to get some vegetarian chili and it was okay! The last time I went was on a date and we had a great time the only thing that I would say is the server wasn't that friendly she was also the bartender in the back. But another server came over to help her that night and she was very pleasant!
(4)
Emily C.
This place is amazing! I've been going to Twain's for a few years now and have converted many friends into believers. They brew many of their own beers in house and I've never had one I didn't like. Prices are extremely reasonable for both drinks and food. I find the food to be really, really good especially if you're looking for something local, delicious, but at the same time low key and laid back. I highly recommend the hot wings!
(5)
Christy B.
A great spot for tasty beer and fun games. They have some house brews that are not only well-made, but also inexpensive. Win-win-win. Throwing darts is obviously a little dangerous if you've been swimming in a beer ocean all night, so I suggest sticking to other games that don't involve throwing pointy objects around! Lucky for you, there are plenty of choices for that. The food is beyond bar food. Salads, sammiches, and other healthy options sit on the menu right next to some amazing sweet potato fries. The atmosphere changes depending on which side of the bar you're on, from library-ish to pool hall, but it holds a good vibe no matter where you are.
(4)
Jessica L.
I went here for trivia night with my host while I was couchsurfing. It's a bit grittier of a place than I'm used to but overall pretty fun. I got the roasted turkey on multigrain because I still haven't gotten over my obsession with sprouts. It was decent, but a little too salty/peppery if I recall. The trivia itself was fun, even though there were a few questions that were stupidly random. The bathroom stalls don't have locks (at least in the ladies' room), and that's just not cool. I accidentally walked in on some poor girl :/.
(3)
Bibi R.
We've been to Twain's a few times now. While it's maybe not my favorite place ever, they have great drinks and some really nice dishes. Unfortunately they changed their menu recently, so some of the really good veggie stuff is not available anymore, but the Crispy Kale Sandwich is unbeatably delicious. It comes with a side as well--they're fries are great! Their drinks selection is also great, and their shuffle board and pool tables just add to the fun. What I don't really like is that their "pool table for so-and-so" is extremely loud--unnecessarily loud. Nonetheless, a nice place to hang out. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Steve M.
Twains is an awesome bar. Whenever I go out in Decatur I always end up at Twains. They have good prices and the bartenders make stiff drinks, which I love. They also have a bunch of pool tables, shuffle board, darts and an outdoor patio. I haven't had any food there but the drinks are good and the beer they brew there is good as well. Atmosphere is the best part.
(5)
B B.
Seriously the tomato basil soup and the sweet potato fries are exact replica's of what I can get at fresh market. The tables are very sticky and that was it for me. The waiter was a cool redhead so they get at least two stars. The games and live music helped also. The beer varieties are nice. This just isn't the place for me. Maybe if I was drunk before I went in they would have gotten a sweeter review.
(2)
Silence R.
I wanted to like this place, I really did. Named after one of the greatest American authors of any era, pages of books on the walls, pool and darts. Plenty of space, once you finally find a parking spot, Twain's is a great place to meet friends. ...as long as you aren't planning on eating or drinking. If Almost Average was a flavor, Twain's food would be smothered in it. I've had burgers, reubens, salads, jerky - apparently they make their own, fries, and I'm sure a few others. Not once has the food been better than "just okay." Every time I tried something new it was an opportunity to be disappointed all over again. The food isn't bad, it's just not good. Go there hungry and you'll leave disappointed. Twain's own brews are hit or miss, heavy on the miss. But I'm sure a lot of that has to do with personal preference: I prefer good beer, not watered down craft concoctions just to say you make your own beer. I went to a place and made my own wine once - that doesn't make me a stellar vintner. The service is terrible. Just terrible. Oh, they seem nice enough. Lots of smiles and laid back personalities. So laid back in fact that they will forgot to come back to the table. Or will come back without what you asked for. Twice. I've been weekends and during the week, busy and empty. There are two constants: inattentive service and meh food. Looking back, I'm surprised at how often I've gone there, often due to convenience, given their track record. But I don't need to play that song anymore. Other than the service, it's not a BAD place - it's just not very good.
(2)
Kent M.
Awesome Food not only do they prepare it Great It's Good Food to start with !! Awesome community Place. can get a little loud as they have lots pool tables, games to entertain. One of My favs !!
(4)
SenorQueso G.
During our weekend stay in Decatur, we hit Twain's for an early lunch twice. We enjoyed the beer and food. With all of the pool tables and obvious PA gear, I can see how this place could get pretty loud at night. However, it was quiet and easy-going for lunch. The beer was very good. Particularly, the Gingerbread Bragon Brown Ale was great for the first beer of the day. We tried the bacon mac n cheese fritters and were comparing everything else we ate that weekend to those. Amazing. The tempura green beans were top-notch as well. Still firm and crunchy without being greasy at all. All of the food was excellent. Speed of service was another matter. There seemed to be only one person working the entire floor, so we had some long waits between visits. Luckily, we were on vacation and didn't mind the pace. In other circumstances this would have been an issue. If I ever get back to Decatur, I'll be going back.
(4)
Ross F.
Headed here earlier for lunch and ordered from the brunch menu. It was kind of disappointed. It came with borderline-overcooked chicken sausage patties and "hash browns" - or a small blob of fried potatoes. But the ambiance was nice and so was the server!
(3)
Ken M.
This is a great neighbor sports bar/resteraunt that also serves up live music. Thursday night bike night is usally when I go. Lots of space, patio dining and gaming galore.
(4)
Katrina W.
Twain's won my heart with their beer flight and their nachos. A friend of mine took me here and got me a flight of their beers, which a) was pretty tasty and b) got me rather drunk! For noms, we ordered a basket of fries (that came with the best spicy mayo ever) to share and then I decided to get the nachos with chicken for my meal. So, the nachos. These are the best nachos I've had in town, for serious. They add a cheese sauce and then bake cheddar cheese on top of that, add a yummy pico de gallo and jalapenos and give you sour cream and salsa on the side. You can add chicken, steak or veggie chili for an additional charge. Whenever I get sick of nachos, I'll try something else - but I'll take my husband's word for the other entrees (he was really fond of the pot roast). They do have a small parking lot and are slightly off the Square, so it's never been hard to find seats there. Restaurant is roomy with a game area (darts/pool) and service has always been spot on. Definitely will be back. :)
(4)
Obadiah S.
Had the occasion to stop here for Brunch on the weekend. The corned beef hash was fantastic. The beer that's beginning to pour from the new brewmaster is really worth a visit.
(4)
Alli H.
Service is always friendly. Food is pretty good, and the new brewmaster has brought some really great beers to Twain's. Sometimes they run out of the beer I want, but the options are plentiful enough that I can always find a Plan B that is just as delicious. I recently had the vegetarian chili and the falafel burger - they were DELICIOUS! The best part is the darts/pool/shuffleboard. Playing darts is free, but the shuffleboard and pool are both pay-to-play (and not that cheap). Overall a very fun place to hang out on weekends :-) Love it!
(4)
Katie C.
I've always heard great things about Twains, so maybe my experience was unusual. My friend and I went here after the Braves game Sunday and it was pretty empty. Only families with screaming children and a couple of people at the bar. The service was quick and competent. I got the chicken philly cheese steak with onion rings because I wanted something messy and hearty. My friend got the turkey bacon wrap with fries and we shared the cheese dip. The food was very blah minus the onion rings which would have carried a whole other star if they hadn't been so incredibly greasy. The sandwich was tiny and only lukewarm with no real flavor. The cheese dip was orange (I was expecting white since it said jalapeño cheese dip) and it only came with a handful of chips. By the time the waitress brought more chips (which we had to pay for!) it had cooled into a hard mess. I will come back to try the interesting selection of beers, but only after 9pm (when all those screaming kids get kicked out) and I'll make sure to eat before I come.
(2)
Nathan O.
Perhaps my favorite place in all of Decatur. You can have great brews, wonderful food, and enjoy some classic entertainment. The fried green beans are the best part of the menu. Pulled pork never loses as well. Someone else wrote about the large amount of porters and coffee-based brews, which is entirely true for any Belgium beer fan. Shuffboard, pool, foosball and live music often. A nice patio outside as well. The parking is the biggest blessing as well, as you are always guaranteed to find a spot in walking distance. You really can't beat it.
(4)
Richard K.
Any place that has shuffleboards rocks in my books and they got two at Twain's. Besides the shuffleboards, they have about a dozen pool tables, three dart tables, and some of that damn foosball. There are a few drawbacks to the games. First, they are not free and on the pricey side. Second, there is a good wait especially for shuffleboard. Even with the drawbacks, it is really an entertaining, worthy place to grab food and drinks with all the possible activities. As for the food, it was surprisingly good. The sweet potato fries were delicious and the pita appetizer proportion was big enough to feed a small country. Really, for $5 bucks, it was absolutely ginormous. Another plus is the microbrewery. I always appreciate a place that make their own beer. I ordered the golden ale and really enjoyed the overall smooth taste of the beer, but sadly I wasn't my usual self and had to call it quits after one beer due to heartburn or "one beer queer syndrome". With their microbrews, solid food, and games, Twain's is well worth the drive out to Decatur
(4)
Dio S.
Twain's is a combination of a pool hall and brewpub, but also kind of more than that. Offering and layout are very eclectic, with pool room in the back, front gaming area with two shuffleboard tables, a few pool tables, darts, and arcade games, middle eating area, and then a bar and even more eating area on the other side, not to forget a patio. Beer selection is quite nice, and priced agreeably, though I have not been too impressed with any of the house brews. The crowd is generally youthful, energetic, wide-ranging, and there's lots of characters. I think it's great for groups. Shuffleboards can be pretty hard to get on a busy night. There are people from Decatur Chess club playing on one table every Friday night, way past midnight, in all the bustle and noise. That is very cool. Now if only they would do karaoke occasionally, I'll go insane. There are times when you think, man, all I do at the Brick Store is sitting there drinking and talking, I wonder if there's somewhere to chill for a while where I actually DO stuff. Voila, this is a great option right down the block. When you get thirsty for that glass of Duchess, go right back to BSP. Love it.
(3)
Rob P.
Just had a fun Friday night at Twain's. Started off with dinner and it was a pleasant surprise. I had the pork loin and it was moist and delicious. The lady had the beet salad with salmon and also enjoyed it. The above average food was a nice surprise since we only expected good beer and games. That part didn't disappoint as there was a good selection of house microbrews and other craft bottles. Also got to play pool, foosball, and shuffleboard. Huzzah.
(4)
Kelly S.
I heart Twain's. Their microbrews are great, and so are their wings. Whatever the hottest ones are are DAYUM hot, but tasty. Go a level lower if you want to be able to taste anything for the next 3 days. I like to sit on the patio and have yet to play pool, because I get lazy and want to sit when I drink beer. Plus I'm an absolutely TERRIBLE pool player, so no one wants to be on my team (justifiably). But someday I'll get off my lazy ass and indulge in some billiards. Hmmmm . . . it kinda feels like a Twain's night. We'll have to see.
(4)
Jerome M.
Twain's is a full service pub, restaurant, and pool hall located in downtown Decatur, GA. Open since 1996, they've been brewing their own crafted ales since November 2006. With an eclectic atmosphere, i.e. chandlers made from Tap Hammers, tricycles, bowling pins, pages of Huck Finn plastered to the wall, four dart boards, six pool table in the main room and more in the back, anyone can feel at ease at Twain's. Their menu contains: App's like: Fried Green Beans, The Trinity(Queso, Guacamole, and Salsa with Chips.). Entrees: Black Bean Burger, Cilantro-Salmon Burger, Country Fried Steak. Plus soups and salads. And names like: Heaven for Climate Golden Ale, Gingerbread Brown Ale, Mad Happy Pale Ale, and Hell for Society Stout coming out of the brewery, held within the within the restaurant, there is hardly a chance you couldn't find something for yourself. I myself had the Fried Green Beans, Drunken Mussels and a Heaven for Climate Golden Ale. The Fried Green Beans them-selves were a bit bland, the beer batter was crisp and wasn't bad. The horseradish mayo that accompanied it was very tasty and kicked the flavor up making this a very tasty and recommend appetizer. The Heaven for Climate Golden Ale wasn't very impressive to me. It had a bland taste, almost like a Lite beer from a name brand company. The Drunken Mussels were very good. They tasted fairly fresh and were cooked perfectly. They took a steam bath in Twain's brew with shallots, garlic and oregano. It really worked. My Foodie Outing group were there for awhile. I was the only one out of them that wanted to play some billiards, but for $7.50 an hour, it was something I could pass up. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am ready to go back. See my full review at: sites.google.com/site/iw…
(3)
Jon G.
These guys can make some beer!! I am a big IPA fan and they always have one on tap that I love. Food is super. Wonderful grass fed burger. Great fries too. They make a vegetarian chili that I love. Really nice people, good beers and food. I totally recommend this place.
(5)
Kathleen M.
After meeting a sold out show at Eddie's Attic, we decided to roll over to Twain's and grab a beer to celebrate Humpday. Or something. As if we needed an excuse to grab a beer. I was the first to arrive, made a lap, and settled in at a table towards the front window. I loved the space: very open and welcoming, with various options for seating depending on what you were looking for: booths away from the bar for the kid-toting folk, hi tops for a quick drink, and tables looking out over the pool hall for the gawkers in all of us. I love their rotating list of house-made beers, and settled in with a Bookzilla Brown Ale, as brown ales are my newest love. It's great that you can get a half-pint, just in case you don't feel like committing to one flavor: it's a great way to try their wide range of options. The beer I chose was delicious; quite flavorful and better than I expected, to be honest. It's no Bell's Brown but I would happily order it again. I also ordered a turkey sandwich that was the perfect choice: fresh, thick Thanksgiving-like turkey on great bread.. it was simple but totally hit the spot. And it had sprouts. I love sprouts. The sweet potato fries were equally divine and a huge serving: I had to push my plate away so as not to eat them all and thus have to be rolled home. Our server was on the ball and checked in often without being obnoxious about it. The price point was great for a casual night out and I really have no qualms about this place. I hope to be back here soon, that's for sure.
(4)
Matt T.
Yea, Im all of 45 minutes away from this place. Does that stop me? Nope. Should the potential DUI's stop me? Yup Do they? Obviously not. Sad that my liver controls my life, however my stomach has a part to do with that as well. With that said, GO TO TWAINS. See what I did there? You didnt? You suck. So heres the deal, the food, rocks. The beer, brewed by Jordan Fleetwood of Dogwood fame brews the beer. Then they add on a few well chosen beers and host this wonderful pairing of food and beer in one of the most amazing spaces I have ever set my 23 year old eyes. I love the openness, the dive feel, but the reserved almost classy, yea I said it, feel to the place. Want some real class? Tuesdays at 8 with Joe Gransden throwing down some awesome jazz. I came here for the World Cup as well. Lets just say I found the spot to cheer on the boys of the Nation Team. Im a picky eater, but everything I have eaten so far, rocks. The beers, well Im not so picky. But if I was forced to drink Twains beer till I died, Im sure I could do worse. Find me here one day. I might be passed out on one of their couches.
(5)
Lysa F.
Twain's is awesome. I love the people, the chill vibe, the awesome beers, sweet food, games, music... it's like an arcade, pool hall, concert venue and pub in one. The drinks/food are both very affordable. As far as drinks go, I'd recommend: Mad happy pale ale (light and smooth, their classic) Heaven for climate golden (poetic and great. a rich golden, deep but summery taste) Those are my two faves, but they have new beers rolling in constantly. Food wise, I loved: Mediterranean platter (killer, light and tasty) Nachos (pretty good; great beer munchies) Black bean burger (damn good) ...or anything else! The salads and sandwiches are all great. Check it out, I promise you won't regret it!
(4)
Jeremy A.
The food is remarkably bad here from what I have tried. The wings were average and the beer mussels tasted like they were cooked with dish soap, I had to send them back they were so bad. That being said they have a good beer selection and the shuffleboard tables are key here which from what i have heard are free on wednesday nights. Go here for the beer and bar activities, stay away from the food.
(3)
Frank C.
They brew their own beer, which is very tasty and consistent throughout the batches. The waitstaff is fantastic, they have a beer in my hand as soon as I finish the previous one. It is a great set up with pool tables, full length indoor shuffle board and a dart area. The patio is cool in the summer because of the ivy growing over the top, and the patio is dog friendly.
(5)
Reba Jean B.
Oh, Twain's... What can I say about you. I thoroughly enjoyed your trivia night last week and wish I could make it this week. I'm thankful for your beer selection and hope you keep it up. The Founder's was fantastic on draft. Your pool tables have kept me entertained for years on end and I would like to say thank you for always being there. (My only complaint is with the boiled peanuts. Is that clove I taste? Two thumbs down on that one) Twain's, your staff and your guests are awesome!
(4)
AJ J.
The lemon pepper wings are AMAZING!!!!!
(4)
Frances W.
We had a little party at Twain's this weekend, and it turned out to be a pretty good decision. The boys had fun playing pool and darts, and I enjoyed being able to relax a little bit. I do have to say that the darts were in pretty rough shape, and I might suggest bringing your own if you are really into it. We ordered a bunch of food and all 11 of us shared. We sat in the back towards the pool tables at 2 big booths. They were perfect for our group. After all, we just wanted to eat and be merry. The women's bathrooms were awful. One of the doors had almost completely fallen off, and another one of the toilets had a plunger stuck in it...yay? I suppose they are too busy being proud over their bathrooms being labeled as "Balls" and "Racks" that they don't have the energy to maintain them. Yeah the food is pretty much bar food...but for bar food it's pretty good. I don't even remember everything we ordered...must have been half the menu, but I will tell you what I remember. We got the chips and queso first, which was pretty yummy, but nothing that you couldn't buy at the super market for 1/3 the price, but hey that's how it goes. We also got the french fries and some sort of orange spicy dip. The fries were tiny, probably the smallest I've ever seen, which means that you are eating more friedness per potato, but it was a party after all. We also got the pita and hummus. The hummus was pretty bland, and honestly I would suggest skipping this dish, even though the pita and cucumber were good. Finally we ordered the boiled peanuts, which were fairly good, but the portion size was tiny. I have to admit that when it comes to boiled peanuts I'm used to buying them from some guy on the side of the road for dirt cheap, so I'm a bit biased. Twain's was a good choice for us because it had the entertainment, space and food, but I wouldn't go back for the eats, but maybe the games. On a side note, they charge $10 if you want to bring in your own cake, which is crazy for a place that barely has any dessert on their menu.
(3)
Emily K.
I finally returned to Twain's a few weeks ago and I've been meaning to write an update. I went there on a blind date (ugh, terrible date!) and arrived first. It was about 9:30 on a Saturday night and wasn't nearly as busy as I'd expected it to be. I snagged a table by the bar and was served promptly. The waiter was helpful with suggesting beers as I'm not a big beer drinker. My date *shiver* ended up paying, but even if I'd had to foot my own bill it only would've been about $5 with tip. I didn't get any food this time as I'd eaten before I went out. The beer was good. It was right about what I like in a beer, which is admittedly a bit on the weak side. The server was attentive, but not hovering. Since it wasn't as busy as expected, he got us everything fairly quickly. The ambiance and beer is better than I remembered, but the company was decidedly much worse than the last time. *shivers again*
(4)
theron t.
New chef, new menu, about time. Really excited about the potential for the food here to improve. Our first sampling of the new menu was great. BBQ sandwich and hand cut fries were great. Wife's food was great as well. We will defiantly be coming back more often to enjoy the food and beers. Great job on tackling what's always been the weakest area of this place.
(4)
Anna W.
I came here for the post-wedding/reception gathering here on a Saturday. There were a smattering of people, but not the crowd I'd expect on a Saturday (barring our wedding crowd). This does seem like a fun place to play shuffleboard, darts, and billiards. Do make sure to go up to the bartender to ask for the pucks/whatever-you-call-them to play shuffleboard, before some other group does so (snap!). The bathrooms weren't shiny, but they were clean. The bartender wasn't exactly rude, but I had a pretty weird conversation with him (though I might chalk it up to the fact that a lot in our party weren't drinking, and might not have tipped standard). I asked him how many ounces the lambic was, which, on the menu, was $9. He said, somewhat dismissively, that it was on the menu. I peered at the menu again. No, it wasn't. He repeated that it was on the menu. More peering at the menu. I said that all I could see was that it was $9. He then made a big "Oh" of realization, and told me it was 20 ounces. He wasn't prompt with making my drink, but rather prompt and friendly in getting me my water (this was after I tipped the standard 20%).
(3)
Alexis R.
Love this place! My friend and I each got a beer sampler last night, which had mostly tasty, Twains-made brews. The one "yipes" was a jalepeno-infused beer that neither of us was expecting. Ain't that a kick in the pants? Darts, pool, Flyers games, trivia night on Mondays... some nice additions to the average bar. The service was also excellent - our waitress was attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is great as well, with lots of open space, but still with an old pub-type vibe. I'm knocking off a star because honestly, my food wasn't that amazing. The fries were phenomenal, but my beet sandwich didn't taste fresh or warm, and lacked some serious flavor. I know what you're thinking: "Why the eff did you order a beet sandwich at a bar?" That question may haunt me for years to come. But to be honest, I normally like beets, so it shouldn't have been disappointing, even if a little weird. All in all, this is a great hangout place, and I'm reserving my judgment too harshly on the food until I try something more common for a joint like Twain's. Next time... I eat veggie chili and fries!
(4)
Matt M.
Very mediocre food, generic self-brewed stuff on tap. What sets this place apart is the pergola out front for dining, the billiards room, shuffleboards, and darts. They really could spend $50 and get an unlimited supply of dart tails though -- I've gone probably 50 times and they are always trashed. Beards galore at the bar. My favorite thing about Twain's is their method of getting people out when they're closing down -- they turn up the lights and then crank up the thrash metal. Who'd want to stay?
(3)
Kyle W.
Went to Twain's last night for the first time after dinner at Brick Store. The draft beer selection, while not huge, is really interesting. Casked beer, smoked ales, and a few Golden ales later, it was a good night. They also have a ton of games - Fooseball, shuffleboard, pool, etc - which made for a good time. My main complaint was that it was tough to get a drink. I originally ordered at the main bar where I was sent away (the bartender wouldn't even take my order) and I was rarely approached by the staff down by the game tables for drinks. Otherwise it was a good time with a good atmosphere.
(3)
D M.
I came out to Twain's in celebration of Man Day, and had a delightful time. We drank pitchers Man Brew to dull the sensation of new tattoos. A few fries were snagged, and I was a little sad I'd already eaten elsewhere because those fries were good. The beer was very reasonably priced, and I was surprised that it was made there....nothing beats a good microbrew. If I'd stayed longer, I would have played some shuffleboard. So much fun. They had a good number of pool tables and dart boards, so even it if was busy, people could still play. The bathrooms were tidy despite it being busy. Everyone working was super friendly and seemed happy, which added to the experience. I'd come back again gladly, as long as I could play some shuffleboard!
(4)
Alex C.
First time here tonight. The environment is great. It's got the modern rustic feel to it and there isn't insanely loud music or tv's. They're there, but you can tune it out. The place seemed popular as it was consistently busy the whole time we were there, yet you could still get decent service and never felt crowded. If you're into billiards and booze, this place should be high on your list. Their selection is awesome and their prices were decent. I got the porter that they have, I don't remember the name, but its above the Guiness on the menu. It was good. I'm not big on most beers, but I liked it. As far as food goes, we didn't have any, though it looked good. If you're looking for a place to hang out and have some drinks, this place is excellent.
(4)
Dru M.
Twain's has a great vibe to it. It's very open in the front of the house. In the back is where the pool tables and shuffleboard tables are. This place is very good for large groups. Below are a few of my highlights. * Pool tables and shuffleboard tables are always a bonus. * Back patio is a great place to have a few cocktails with friends...especially when the weather is nice. * As for appetizers...I really like their fries, which are tossed in garlic or come with a choice of dips (my favorite is the horseradish mayo). I'm also a fan of their hummus that comes with pita and veggies. * Their "Beet-L-T" is actually pretty good. It's basically roasted red beets, with arugula and a goat cheese tarragon spread on toasted wheat. * Prices are very affordable and portion sizes are pretty large. * Pretty good service...usually fast and very friendly. Note - they also have a brunch. One that I hope to check out soon. Overall...a fun place in Decatur to spend an evening with friends whether it's for dinner, drinks or a friendly game of pool.
(4)
Alex M.
Worst service experience I have ever had. Server failed in pretty much every regard (never brought drink orders, no silverware when the food came out- had to ask twice and wait 5 minutes for it, my order was wrong and it took 15 minutes for it to be corrected. We complained to the waitress and she pretty much told us, too bad. I will never give this place my business again.
(1)
Sam M.
Twians is one of my Decatur go to spots for weekend evening fun. They brew their own beer on site and come off with some good brews from time to time, but also keep a decent variety of commercial beers at hand. The food is typical bar food, the wings are solid. The real draw is the pool tables, shuffle board, darts, and the wide open spaces seemingly lacking in other bars in Decatur. If I have a large crowd of friends, this is the place I think to bring them. The place is cavernous when compared to the Brickstore and most other area bars. Couple that with the fun of smack talking over a shuffleboard game, and you have the makings of a good evening. Just reserve your shuffle board table early, because folks tend to stay on them all night.
(4)
Ashley B.
I like Twains. Being married to a member of the Emory graduate school, we know a lot of people who live in Decatur and Twain's is a frequent choice for meetups And I admit that every time it's suggested I think a little "ugh, Twain's AGAIN?" but that's just because I'm obsessed with newness. Every time we go I always end up having a good time. First, the food isn't gastropub fancy, but it IS yummy and well-executed. Second, they've got great beers on draft. Three - games! Including lots of pool tables. Darts and shuffleboard are also included. Fourth, they have jazz on some nights, just to add a little bit of (potentially out of place, but still) class to the joint. Fifth, it's really big, so it hardly ever feels crazy crowded, even when it is. I've had pretty big groups get tables together, even on Friday and Saturday nights. In my progressive move toward old age I won't lie: I like to sit. Put these things together with the requisite good company that is always the key ingredient for a good time anyway and this place is a solid standby, either for a rowdy group outing or a drink out with your sweetie up at the bar to watch a game.
(4)
lito v.
Pretty cool looking spot. I like the decor. Very open layout. Came on a Sunday night it was a little dead. Thanks to the bartender for recommending me the Belgium Chocolate wheat beer. I usually stay away from these types of flavors. But f it, and glad I did. Outstanding beer.
(4)
Lee B.
Back in the day, I really enjoyed it but ever since they turned into a brewpub, it just doesn't have the same appeal to me. They have a rotating tap of beer that they brew in house. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't. They recently changed their menu and got rid of several vegetarian items which I wasn't pleased with. Fortunately, they kept the Mediterranean Platter which is Greek Salad, hummus and veggie chili. Unfortunately, the hummus was chunky and unflavorful - guess they changed the recipe for it. Service is hit or miss. I've had great service here and I've also left because no one came to my table in a ten minute period. I want to like this place. It's in a good location and parking is a breeze. So I continue to frequent it although it underwhelms me each time.
(3)
Martha M.
I came in on a Monday night for trivia with a group of 5 friends. We walked in, sat down, and waited for about 15 minutes for someone to take our drink order. Finally, someone in our party gave in and went to the bar to ask if we could order drinks there. While he was gone, our server walked up and said "Is he trying to order drinks at the bar? You have a waitress so it'd be a good idea if you actually waited" then walked away. My friend came back and said the bartender told him he had to place his drink order with his server. So we sat around for another 10-15 minutes until our server cooled down enough to come back and take our drink order. After bringing us our drinks, she ignored us for most of the night and we left after about an hour. It could be good if you're too drunk to notice how bad the service is.
(2)
Leon S.
Food came in a reasonable time, but ... fried onion rings should not be made using the tough outer layer of the onion and the Roasted Turkey on Wheat sandwich should be made with FRESH, not moldy turkey. Ugh. That moldy aftertaste. I much prefer the food at other Decatur area restaurants. We thought we would try this one after learning that the Harbour Bar & Fish House didn't open until 4:00. It was a big disappointment.
(2)
Jenn D.
I'd only ever been to Twain's once before this weekend, but they won me over this time. It's always amazing to see bartenders who can be patient with their non regulars and then switch right into fast mode, not missing a beat with a one drink order or a 5 drink order. Thanks a bunch for that! Was hoping for a cask, but there was not one available. No problem, the home brewed Hell something Society Stout was a nice change. We just munched on some fries while listening to a great band, never got a hassle from anyone. It was a little hard to get near the stage, either the set up is strange or they have got some rabid fans who do not want to share them with you!! Big plus? PARKING in Decatur. Thank goodness. Definitely a good gathering place for a big group of friends.
(4)
Kevin G.
Food is average. The house brewed beer is average to below depending on the style. The servers are very territorial! However, for some reason when my group of friends want to go out and play some games and drink beer this is where we end up. It is a fun place to through some back and sling darts, rack some pool, or slide some shuffle board. On the most popular nights there can be quite the waiting list for shuffle board so be prepared. There is plenty or room to hang out with friends and let the drinks catch up with you and the atmosphere is like the cool kids basement with all the cool games. I am a fan of that. They have live tunes from time to time and they just add to the garage/basement/backyard field i am looking for.
(3)
J L.
Check it out! It grew on me. After checking in here tons of times, I've continued to have a good time here, eating or not.
(3)
Darren H.
I agree with Michelle more of a hangout spot than anything else. The food was average & the service is slow. The beer selection looks to be pretty good and I'll give them another spin to win me over.
(3)
Russ G.
Still a great place to go virtually anytime, day or night, any day of the week. Recently a new menu was introduced and I had to point out for those unaware. I'm friends with the bar manager and last night we discussed some of the changes to the food, I was surprised to learn that they now make almost all their sauces and dressings in house, so they're not only fresh they're healthier for you. Food for the most part is now locally sourced, with grass fed beef and many organics as well. They're making strides to be more eco-friendly as well as better for you, and that's a huge plus in today's market. Just wanted to comment on that since people don't always know these things.
(5)
Robert M.
I went here yesterday afternoon because I had the young'uns with me and I had heard it was kid friendly during the day; it is. But every time I go here I can't help but thinking I paid too much for what I got. I always forget the locally brewed choices come in the smallish 13 ounce snifters. And the beer is good but, like my buddy Sammy T. always says, "If you get beer stronger than 12 percent you are defeating the purpose of drinking beer..." I agree. The enjoyability factor tends to decrease and you might as well be drinking wine." That point particularly holds true for me with most, perhaps most if not all, of Twain's home brewed beer high gravity beer selections. You do get "bang for the back" but it costs. I like the fact that they have plenty of pool tables but I somehow think the cost for that factors it self into the prices of everything else. I can't help but think I pay for that too even if I don't come here to play pool. The food is certainly good; however, a better food and beer selection can be had for less money a couple block away / a few streets over at Thinking Man. Don't get me wrong...I like Twain's ...but I don't love it.
(3)
Laura C.
This place is really pretty great. Good beer selection, hockey game playing, nice and spacious with awesome shuffleboard tables, and the food is pretty good. The veggie chili is very good. The garlic fries were more oily than I like, but they were nice and garlicky!
(4)
J H.
I was sad that the frat boys were completely dominating the dart area. This is a teeming bar and is pleasant enough despite the aforementioned fratboys, who seem to be the main clientele here during the times I've gone. I would go again. Probably a good place to go with a bunch of friends when the brick store is crowded.
(3)
Lohr B.
Awesome food, beers, and atmosphere
(5)
Megan M.
New menu is good. Except the same old burgers remain. I find them not delicious -- sorry to those of you whom like their burgers. My husband loves the new falafel burger -- much better than the black bean and the vegwich from the old menu. I love the new fries.
(4)
Bob M.
I just returned to Twain's this past weekend for the first time since my review over three years ago, and wow, what a transformation. It is now much bigger and better, and really has no resemblance to what it was back then. Plus they have some actually good beers they brew...Criminal Sin is a very tasty and well done IPA for example. The pool tables are still the small kinda crappy bar tables, but they have new felt and there are now 11 of them. There is a Tornado foosball table in good condition with good lighting, which I would pick over the pool tables. Also they are sporting the newly trendy shuffleboard game, which looks every bit as silly as the people playing it. Ryan is a great bartender and has a lot of good local knowledge about stuff to do in Decatur. Note however that they just lost the majority of their parking, and parking is going to be an issue. Plan on parking nowhere near the place. I didn't eat any food this time but it looks a lot better than it did last time.
(4)
Abhi K.
The atmosphere is great. They have pool tables, shuffleboard and darts. It is definitely large enough to accomodate groups. Their beer selection is also good. My personal favorite is the Abby Ale. What is NOT good at Twain's? The food. I have been there about four times and the food always sucks. I've had the meatloaf sandwich, shrimp fetuccine and the black bean burger. Their only redeeming item on the menu is the sweet potato fries.
(3)
Jim O.
I think Twain's would probably be pretty fun with a group of just adults later at night; but we were there with a several parents and the kids earlier in the evening. Their beer is tasty and reasonably priced. Their wheat and pale ale are decent but not stellar. The potato salad is mayonaise-based and fairly mushed up. I prefer mustard-based and chunkier. I really did not care for it all that much. The Cuban sandwich I had really did not taste like a Cuban sandwich. Sure, it had some of the same stuff on it as a Cuban, but it misses its mark. Nontheless, it was not a bad sandwich, just not great. Now, I'm not one who believes in dragging kids to a bar; but when you're out with a group of adults that have kids, you have to have some place to go. I would say Twain's is just as good or better than any of the other choices. Twain's has a small arcade, photo booth, and foosball table which keeps the kids occupied. Twain's is a great pick for this reason alone. The place seems big enough and has enough choices of areas to hang out in, including a decent sized pool room, and things to do. I could see coming back to hang out with the older crowd the next time if presented the opportunity.
(3)
Mike Y.
I'm honestly on the fence with Twain's. Part of me really wants to like it. I mean... they have 2 official sized shuffleboards and plenty of pool tables. They even had Deer Hunter and Foosball. We might've chosen a bad time to go since I saw a lot of people in wedding attire and they kind of took over the place. Shuffleboard is amazingly fun, but it's only cool if you can play. The lines are usually ridiculous and getting yourself on the list is impossible. The rest of the bar looked like a sports bar / pool hall. It was pretty spacious inside, but every table was occupied. I probably would have loved Twain's if our party was able to get on the shuffleboard. I can't really complain though. The one at Ormsby's is perpetually full too. I'll come back for round 2 and maybe try to come earlier to get some action on that board. 13/365
(3)
Rochelle D.
I have been wanting to check out Twains for months, so when a friend asked if I wanted to get dinner and shoot some pool there I jumped at the opportunity. When we arrived there was a scuffle brewing on the patio out front. Fortunately it didn't go beyond some heated name calling and shoving, I was a bit concerned that there was no one around to break things up. Once we got inside the atmosphere was much more laid-back. The music was a bit loud, but it was an interesting mix of rock and hip-hop that was suitable for the crowd of mostly 30 somethings. There was a wait for a pool table, so we decided to grab a bite and a drink while we waited. Recently I have had some questionable experiences with mixed rinks, but these were actually really good. I know Twains is a beer pub, but I hate beer, so I was glad to get a good mixed drink. The food was OK, nothing spectacular. I had a french dip and salad. The meat was a little overcooked (it's listed on the menu as medium rare) and slightly tough, but had good flavor. The salad was good, with crisp, green lettuce, chunks of tomatoes and cucumbers, and good quality blue cheese dressing. Our server was attentive, though not real friendly. Overall, the experience was OK. I would go back if a group of friends invited me, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend the place to others. There was nothing that stood out as great or horrible, all was just average.
(3)
Lydia V.
I really like the community atmosphere, and who doesn't approve of Mark Twain's work plastered all over the walls? I totally recommend this place not only for just a weekly treat to yourself kind of place, but also as a place to bring out of town friends to really show them a nice slice of the community. I run the Atlanta Burlesque and Cabaret, each year we pick a new venue to host, and after this year, we are parting ways with Twain's in a bit of a bitter sweet way. My last two large group experiences with them was not pleasant. Even after a year of bringing a lot of business to the bar, it was a crap shoot on how well we were treated there. One time I went, and my food was never brought to me, I was completely forgotten. Another time, we were booted out of our regular spot because of another group and though I understood, it was a bigger group, I thought at least a quick apology would be nice. But we stuck it out for the whole year. I plan to go to Twains for a good long while, because I adore the food and the atmosphere, but I never plan to bring a big group there again. They just can't handle it.
(3)
Liz C.
As a southerner, I have certain culinary expectations. One of those expectations is that potato salad is made with mustard. Not mayonnaise, not sour cream and (god forbid) not yogurt. Just mustard, the supreme condiment. So, on a recent visit to Twain's, I was horrified when my turkey club wrap arrived with a side of potato salad made with - dear lord, is that mayonnaise? My horror abated after one bite. Twain's makes a great dill potato salad that I would order again and again. The turkey wrap was also good, filled with a delicious smoked turkey and lots of avocado and spinach and other tasty veggies. I would avoid their nachos, though. They're the kind with the clumpy, greasy cheese and a lack of other toppings. Their boiled peanuts are decent, but hardly the best in town (that honor, in my book, goes to Manuel's Tavern). Twain's has a great beer selection, is an a-ok place to play darts or pool, and is kind of an odd place to see a band play. The crowd is cool, but the restaurant's set up makes for an awkward viewing experience for a live performance.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Late Night Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Anna W.
I came here for the post-wedding/reception gathering here on a Saturday. There were a smattering of people, but not the crowd I'd expect on a Saturday (barring our wedding crowd). This does seem like a fun place to play shuffleboard, darts, and billiards. Do make sure to go up to the bartender to ask for the pucks/whatever-you-call-them to play shuffleboard, before some other group does so (snap!). The bathrooms weren't shiny, but they were clean. The bartender wasn't exactly rude, but I had a pretty weird conversation with him (though I might chalk it up to the fact that a lot in our party weren't drinking, and might not have tipped standard). I asked him how many ounces the lambic was, which, on the menu, was $9. He said, somewhat dismissively, that it was on the menu. I peered at the menu again. No, it wasn't. He repeated that it was on the menu. More peering at the menu. I said that all I could see was that it was $9. He then made a big "Oh" of realization, and told me it was 20 ounces. He wasn't prompt with making my drink, but rather prompt and friendly in getting me my water (this was after I tipped the standard 20%).
(3)Alexis R.
Love this place! My friend and I each got a beer sampler last night, which had mostly tasty, Twains-made brews. The one "yipes" was a jalepeno-infused beer that neither of us was expecting. Ain't that a kick in the pants? Darts, pool, Flyers games, trivia night on Mondays... some nice additions to the average bar. The service was also excellent - our waitress was attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is great as well, with lots of open space, but still with an old pub-type vibe. I'm knocking off a star because honestly, my food wasn't that amazing. The fries were phenomenal, but my beet sandwich didn't taste fresh or warm, and lacked some serious flavor. I know what you're thinking: "Why the eff did you order a beet sandwich at a bar?" That question may haunt me for years to come. But to be honest, I normally like beets, so it shouldn't have been disappointing, even if a little weird. All in all, this is a great hangout place, and I'm reserving my judgment too harshly on the food until I try something more common for a joint like Twain's. Next time... I eat veggie chili and fries!
(4)Matt M.
Very mediocre food, generic self-brewed stuff on tap. What sets this place apart is the pergola out front for dining, the billiards room, shuffleboards, and darts. They really could spend $50 and get an unlimited supply of dart tails though -- I've gone probably 50 times and they are always trashed. Beards galore at the bar. My favorite thing about Twain's is their method of getting people out when they're closing down -- they turn up the lights and then crank up the thrash metal. Who'd want to stay?
(3)B B.
Seriously the tomato basil soup and the sweet potato fries are exact replica's of what I can get at fresh market. The tables are very sticky and that was it for me. The waiter was a cool redhead so they get at least two stars. The games and live music helped also. The beer varieties are nice. This just isn't the place for me. Maybe if I was drunk before I went in they would have gotten a sweeter review.
(2)D M.
I came out to Twain's in celebration of Man Day, and had a delightful time. We drank pitchers Man Brew to dull the sensation of new tattoos. A few fries were snagged, and I was a little sad I'd already eaten elsewhere because those fries were good. The beer was very reasonably priced, and I was surprised that it was made there....nothing beats a good microbrew. If I'd stayed longer, I would have played some shuffleboard. So much fun. They had a good number of pool tables and dart boards, so even it if was busy, people could still play. The bathrooms were tidy despite it being busy. Everyone working was super friendly and seemed happy, which added to the experience. I'd come back again gladly, as long as I could play some shuffleboard!
(4)Alex C.
First time here tonight. The environment is great. It's got the modern rustic feel to it and there isn't insanely loud music or tv's. They're there, but you can tune it out. The place seemed popular as it was consistently busy the whole time we were there, yet you could still get decent service and never felt crowded. If you're into billiards and booze, this place should be high on your list. Their selection is awesome and their prices were decent. I got the porter that they have, I don't remember the name, but its above the Guiness on the menu. It was good. I'm not big on most beers, but I liked it. As far as food goes, we didn't have any, though it looked good. If you're looking for a place to hang out and have some drinks, this place is excellent.
(4)Dru M.
Twain's has a great vibe to it. It's very open in the front of the house. In the back is where the pool tables and shuffleboard tables are. This place is very good for large groups. Below are a few of my highlights. * Pool tables and shuffleboard tables are always a bonus. * Back patio is a great place to have a few cocktails with friends...especially when the weather is nice. * As for appetizers...I really like their fries, which are tossed in garlic or come with a choice of dips (my favorite is the horseradish mayo). I'm also a fan of their hummus that comes with pita and veggies. * Their "Beet-L-T" is actually pretty good. It's basically roasted red beets, with arugula and a goat cheese tarragon spread on toasted wheat. * Prices are very affordable and portion sizes are pretty large. * Pretty good service...usually fast and very friendly. Note - they also have a brunch. One that I hope to check out soon. Overall...a fun place in Decatur to spend an evening with friends whether it's for dinner, drinks or a friendly game of pool.
(4)Alex M.
Worst service experience I have ever had. Server failed in pretty much every regard (never brought drink orders, no silverware when the food came out- had to ask twice and wait 5 minutes for it, my order was wrong and it took 15 minutes for it to be corrected. We complained to the waitress and she pretty much told us, too bad. I will never give this place my business again.
(1)Sam M.
Twians is one of my Decatur go to spots for weekend evening fun. They brew their own beer on site and come off with some good brews from time to time, but also keep a decent variety of commercial beers at hand. The food is typical bar food, the wings are solid. The real draw is the pool tables, shuffle board, darts, and the wide open spaces seemingly lacking in other bars in Decatur. If I have a large crowd of friends, this is the place I think to bring them. The place is cavernous when compared to the Brickstore and most other area bars. Couple that with the fun of smack talking over a shuffleboard game, and you have the makings of a good evening. Just reserve your shuffle board table early, because folks tend to stay on them all night.
(4)Ashley B.
I like Twains. Being married to a member of the Emory graduate school, we know a lot of people who live in Decatur and Twain's is a frequent choice for meetups And I admit that every time it's suggested I think a little "ugh, Twain's AGAIN?" but that's just because I'm obsessed with newness. Every time we go I always end up having a good time. First, the food isn't gastropub fancy, but it IS yummy and well-executed. Second, they've got great beers on draft. Three - games! Including lots of pool tables. Darts and shuffleboard are also included. Fourth, they have jazz on some nights, just to add a little bit of (potentially out of place, but still) class to the joint. Fifth, it's really big, so it hardly ever feels crazy crowded, even when it is. I've had pretty big groups get tables together, even on Friday and Saturday nights. In my progressive move toward old age I won't lie: I like to sit. Put these things together with the requisite good company that is always the key ingredient for a good time anyway and this place is a solid standby, either for a rowdy group outing or a drink out with your sweetie up at the bar to watch a game.
(4)lito v.
Pretty cool looking spot. I like the decor. Very open layout. Came on a Sunday night it was a little dead. Thanks to the bartender for recommending me the Belgium Chocolate wheat beer. I usually stay away from these types of flavors. But f it, and glad I did. Outstanding beer.
(4)Lee B.
Back in the day, I really enjoyed it but ever since they turned into a brewpub, it just doesn't have the same appeal to me. They have a rotating tap of beer that they brew in house. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't. They recently changed their menu and got rid of several vegetarian items which I wasn't pleased with. Fortunately, they kept the Mediterranean Platter which is Greek Salad, hummus and veggie chili. Unfortunately, the hummus was chunky and unflavorful - guess they changed the recipe for it. Service is hit or miss. I've had great service here and I've also left because no one came to my table in a ten minute period. I want to like this place. It's in a good location and parking is a breeze. So I continue to frequent it although it underwhelms me each time.
(3)Martha M.
I came in on a Monday night for trivia with a group of 5 friends. We walked in, sat down, and waited for about 15 minutes for someone to take our drink order. Finally, someone in our party gave in and went to the bar to ask if we could order drinks there. While he was gone, our server walked up and said "Is he trying to order drinks at the bar? You have a waitress so it'd be a good idea if you actually waited" then walked away. My friend came back and said the bartender told him he had to place his drink order with his server. So we sat around for another 10-15 minutes until our server cooled down enough to come back and take our drink order. After bringing us our drinks, she ignored us for most of the night and we left after about an hour. It could be good if you're too drunk to notice how bad the service is.
(2)Leon S.
Food came in a reasonable time, but ... fried onion rings should not be made using the tough outer layer of the onion and the Roasted Turkey on Wheat sandwich should be made with FRESH, not moldy turkey. Ugh. That moldy aftertaste. I much prefer the food at other Decatur area restaurants. We thought we would try this one after learning that the Harbour Bar & Fish House didn't open until 4:00. It was a big disappointment.
(2)Jenn D.
I'd only ever been to Twain's once before this weekend, but they won me over this time. It's always amazing to see bartenders who can be patient with their non regulars and then switch right into fast mode, not missing a beat with a one drink order or a 5 drink order. Thanks a bunch for that! Was hoping for a cask, but there was not one available. No problem, the home brewed Hell something Society Stout was a nice change. We just munched on some fries while listening to a great band, never got a hassle from anyone. It was a little hard to get near the stage, either the set up is strange or they have got some rabid fans who do not want to share them with you!! Big plus? PARKING in Decatur. Thank goodness. Definitely a good gathering place for a big group of friends.
(4)Kevin G.
Food is average. The house brewed beer is average to below depending on the style. The servers are very territorial! However, for some reason when my group of friends want to go out and play some games and drink beer this is where we end up. It is a fun place to through some back and sling darts, rack some pool, or slide some shuffle board. On the most popular nights there can be quite the waiting list for shuffle board so be prepared. There is plenty or room to hang out with friends and let the drinks catch up with you and the atmosphere is like the cool kids basement with all the cool games. I am a fan of that. They have live tunes from time to time and they just add to the garage/basement/backyard field i am looking for.
(3)J L.
Check it out! It grew on me. After checking in here tons of times, I've continued to have a good time here, eating or not.
(3)Darren H.
I agree with Michelle more of a hangout spot than anything else. The food was average & the service is slow. The beer selection looks to be pretty good and I'll give them another spin to win me over.
(3)Russ G.
Still a great place to go virtually anytime, day or night, any day of the week. Recently a new menu was introduced and I had to point out for those unaware. I'm friends with the bar manager and last night we discussed some of the changes to the food, I was surprised to learn that they now make almost all their sauces and dressings in house, so they're not only fresh they're healthier for you. Food for the most part is now locally sourced, with grass fed beef and many organics as well. They're making strides to be more eco-friendly as well as better for you, and that's a huge plus in today's market. Just wanted to comment on that since people don't always know these things.
(5)Robert M.
I went here yesterday afternoon because I had the young'uns with me and I had heard it was kid friendly during the day; it is. But every time I go here I can't help but thinking I paid too much for what I got. I always forget the locally brewed choices come in the smallish 13 ounce snifters. And the beer is good but, like my buddy Sammy T. always says, "If you get beer stronger than 12 percent you are defeating the purpose of drinking beer..." I agree. The enjoyability factor tends to decrease and you might as well be drinking wine." That point particularly holds true for me with most, perhaps most if not all, of Twain's home brewed beer high gravity beer selections. You do get "bang for the back" but it costs. I like the fact that they have plenty of pool tables but I somehow think the cost for that factors it self into the prices of everything else. I can't help but think I pay for that too even if I don't come here to play pool. The food is certainly good; however, a better food and beer selection can be had for less money a couple block away / a few streets over at Thinking Man. Don't get me wrong...I like Twain's ...but I don't love it.
(3)Laura C.
This place is really pretty great. Good beer selection, hockey game playing, nice and spacious with awesome shuffleboard tables, and the food is pretty good. The veggie chili is very good. The garlic fries were more oily than I like, but they were nice and garlicky!
(4)J H.
I was sad that the frat boys were completely dominating the dart area. This is a teeming bar and is pleasant enough despite the aforementioned fratboys, who seem to be the main clientele here during the times I've gone. I would go again. Probably a good place to go with a bunch of friends when the brick store is crowded.
(3)Lohr B.
Awesome food, beers, and atmosphere
(5)Megan M.
New menu is good. Except the same old burgers remain. I find them not delicious -- sorry to those of you whom like their burgers. My husband loves the new falafel burger -- much better than the black bean and the vegwich from the old menu. I love the new fries.
(4)Bob M.
I just returned to Twain's this past weekend for the first time since my review over three years ago, and wow, what a transformation. It is now much bigger and better, and really has no resemblance to what it was back then. Plus they have some actually good beers they brew...Criminal Sin is a very tasty and well done IPA for example. The pool tables are still the small kinda crappy bar tables, but they have new felt and there are now 11 of them. There is a Tornado foosball table in good condition with good lighting, which I would pick over the pool tables. Also they are sporting the newly trendy shuffleboard game, which looks every bit as silly as the people playing it. Ryan is a great bartender and has a lot of good local knowledge about stuff to do in Decatur. Note however that they just lost the majority of their parking, and parking is going to be an issue. Plan on parking nowhere near the place. I didn't eat any food this time but it looks a lot better than it did last time.
(4)Abhi K.
The atmosphere is great. They have pool tables, shuffleboard and darts. It is definitely large enough to accomodate groups. Their beer selection is also good. My personal favorite is the Abby Ale. What is NOT good at Twain's? The food. I have been there about four times and the food always sucks. I've had the meatloaf sandwich, shrimp fetuccine and the black bean burger. Their only redeeming item on the menu is the sweet potato fries.
(3)Jim O.
I think Twain's would probably be pretty fun with a group of just adults later at night; but we were there with a several parents and the kids earlier in the evening. Their beer is tasty and reasonably priced. Their wheat and pale ale are decent but not stellar. The potato salad is mayonaise-based and fairly mushed up. I prefer mustard-based and chunkier. I really did not care for it all that much. The Cuban sandwich I had really did not taste like a Cuban sandwich. Sure, it had some of the same stuff on it as a Cuban, but it misses its mark. Nontheless, it was not a bad sandwich, just not great. Now, I'm not one who believes in dragging kids to a bar; but when you're out with a group of adults that have kids, you have to have some place to go. I would say Twain's is just as good or better than any of the other choices. Twain's has a small arcade, photo booth, and foosball table which keeps the kids occupied. Twain's is a great pick for this reason alone. The place seems big enough and has enough choices of areas to hang out in, including a decent sized pool room, and things to do. I could see coming back to hang out with the older crowd the next time if presented the opportunity.
(3)Mike Y.
I'm honestly on the fence with Twain's. Part of me really wants to like it. I mean... they have 2 official sized shuffleboards and plenty of pool tables. They even had Deer Hunter and Foosball. We might've chosen a bad time to go since I saw a lot of people in wedding attire and they kind of took over the place. Shuffleboard is amazingly fun, but it's only cool if you can play. The lines are usually ridiculous and getting yourself on the list is impossible. The rest of the bar looked like a sports bar / pool hall. It was pretty spacious inside, but every table was occupied. I probably would have loved Twain's if our party was able to get on the shuffleboard. I can't really complain though. The one at Ormsby's is perpetually full too. I'll come back for round 2 and maybe try to come earlier to get some action on that board. 13/365
(3)Rochelle D.
I have been wanting to check out Twains for months, so when a friend asked if I wanted to get dinner and shoot some pool there I jumped at the opportunity. When we arrived there was a scuffle brewing on the patio out front. Fortunately it didn't go beyond some heated name calling and shoving, I was a bit concerned that there was no one around to break things up. Once we got inside the atmosphere was much more laid-back. The music was a bit loud, but it was an interesting mix of rock and hip-hop that was suitable for the crowd of mostly 30 somethings. There was a wait for a pool table, so we decided to grab a bite and a drink while we waited. Recently I have had some questionable experiences with mixed rinks, but these were actually really good. I know Twains is a beer pub, but I hate beer, so I was glad to get a good mixed drink. The food was OK, nothing spectacular. I had a french dip and salad. The meat was a little overcooked (it's listed on the menu as medium rare) and slightly tough, but had good flavor. The salad was good, with crisp, green lettuce, chunks of tomatoes and cucumbers, and good quality blue cheese dressing. Our server was attentive, though not real friendly. Overall, the experience was OK. I would go back if a group of friends invited me, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend the place to others. There was nothing that stood out as great or horrible, all was just average.
(3)Lydia V.
I really like the community atmosphere, and who doesn't approve of Mark Twain's work plastered all over the walls? I totally recommend this place not only for just a weekly treat to yourself kind of place, but also as a place to bring out of town friends to really show them a nice slice of the community. I run the Atlanta Burlesque and Cabaret, each year we pick a new venue to host, and after this year, we are parting ways with Twain's in a bit of a bitter sweet way. My last two large group experiences with them was not pleasant. Even after a year of bringing a lot of business to the bar, it was a crap shoot on how well we were treated there. One time I went, and my food was never brought to me, I was completely forgotten. Another time, we were booted out of our regular spot because of another group and though I understood, it was a bigger group, I thought at least a quick apology would be nice. But we stuck it out for the whole year. I plan to go to Twains for a good long while, because I adore the food and the atmosphere, but I never plan to bring a big group there again. They just can't handle it.
(3)Liz C.
As a southerner, I have certain culinary expectations. One of those expectations is that potato salad is made with mustard. Not mayonnaise, not sour cream and (god forbid) not yogurt. Just mustard, the supreme condiment. So, on a recent visit to Twain's, I was horrified when my turkey club wrap arrived with a side of potato salad made with - dear lord, is that mayonnaise? My horror abated after one bite. Twain's makes a great dill potato salad that I would order again and again. The turkey wrap was also good, filled with a delicious smoked turkey and lots of avocado and spinach and other tasty veggies. I would avoid their nachos, though. They're the kind with the clumpy, greasy cheese and a lack of other toppings. Their boiled peanuts are decent, but hardly the best in town (that honor, in my book, goes to Manuel's Tavern). Twain's has a great beer selection, is an a-ok place to play darts or pool, and is kind of an odd place to see a band play. The crowd is cool, but the restaurant's set up makes for an awkward viewing experience for a live performance.
(3)Stephie Z.
Twains, twains , twains.. what can you say that hasn't already been said? Ummmmm..... #1) pool hall with no smoking- very nice #2) local bands play here- find 'em before they blow up ( maybe) #3) food is a'ight. Veggie Sandwich was good but I was expecting a warm sandwich. Oh well poo on me not reading the whole description. Pot. salad (not made with dried greens) is mighty tasty and this comes from a pot. salad connoisseur #4) Freshly brewed beer is pretty darn good, especially when they kick out some of their porters and stouts. *Alert* - heard they had some issues with one of their beer brewing machines (no clue which one). Make sure you go soon to solve whatever ale's you (hahaha- I am so damn funny) #5) Damn if the clientele isn't oh so interesting to look at. Last time I was here I saw some bikers, a dude with a cat on is head, and a gentleman who must have used pliers to get the zipper pull of his madras pants to go up.
(4)Laura N.
2 stars for the bland, insipid food. 4 stars for a fun time, if you like playing billiards, shuffleboard, and darts. Not really my scene, but it's better than just sitting around at a bar, merely talking and playing quarters with some of my favorite lawyers.
(2)Jason P.
First of all, I really want to like Twain's. I've tried several times, various times of day, various days of the week... they're just up the road, convenient, and they offer all of the things I'm looking for: 1) drinks 2) food 3) games 4) people I've just never been impressed. The Drinks - I respect places that brew their own beer, and Twain's is no exception. So their exact selection isn't my favorite, but you can't fault a place that grows their own. Maybe a few more options would be nice, but you can always find ample supplies for intoxication. The Food - It's a pub. If you were locked inside for an extended period of time, you would not starve. It's a pub and, as such, offers standard pub-fare. But nothing stands out on the menu. I'm not expecting fine dining, but one or two unique or well-executed signature items would go a long way for them in my book. The Games - Shuffleboard is great. If you go in off-hours, you may be able to get a table. Evenings and weekends, you'll be waiting. Can't really fault the bar for this, but they got rid of the pinball machine that was a great way to kill time until the tables opened up. The pool hall is great, lots of tables, but again, gotta expect to wait when things are busy. You can watch a game there on TV, though it's not a sport-bar, so if you're looking for something obscure or out of market, you'll be better off at Taco Mac or Famous. The People - Patrons are a decent mix. Get there early enough and there are families, and kids. Later in the night you'll see quite a variety of Agnes Scott students, granola Decatur residents, hipsters, hospitality-industry employees, and those that just defy classification. It's not so much that Twain's does anything wrong... i've just always hoped for better.
(2)Kyle W.
Went to Twain's last night for the first time after dinner at Brick Store. The draft beer selection, while not huge, is really interesting. Casked beer, smoked ales, and a few Golden ales later, it was a good night. They also have a ton of games - Fooseball, shuffleboard, pool, etc - which made for a good time. My main complaint was that it was tough to get a drink. I originally ordered at the main bar where I was sent away (the bartender wouldn't even take my order) and I was rarely approached by the staff down by the game tables for drinks. Otherwise it was a good time with a good atmosphere.
(3)Courtney C.
I don't know what's taken me so long to review Twains. I come here probably once a week for their homebrewed beer and sweet potato fries. I can't really speak to the quality of their other food, but the sweat potato fries are perfectly crunchy on the outside but soft and creamy in the middle. The horseradish dipping sauce is awesome as well, though maybe i muck it up a little by doing a double dip with ketchup then the horseradish. Their in-house brews are all very good, but my favorite is definitely the Gingerbread brown Ale, although their other selections are decent as well depending on your taste. They will sometimes have specials with just their beer--you can get a 20ounce for the price of a 12 ounce sometimes. If you aren't into their stuff, the beer list is quite extensive, offering regional and seasonal brews as well (looove the pumkin ale!). This is really a great feel-at-home bar where you can come in t-shirt and jeans and play some pool, darts, or shuffleboard. I am terrible at pool, but that makes it fun to go on dates here and see who is worse. The staff is reasonably attentive, but not the best around. One word of warning, if you sit at a booth in the bar area, expect to have table service. Do not go up to the bar to order even if your waiter is a bit slow....they don't like it when you do that! So head over to twains to enjoy the live music on the weekend, the awesome home-brew beer, and the people watching. When it's warm enough be sure to sit on the patio and vegg out. Don't go here on a thursday night though, because that's MY night and I don't want to have to wait for a pool table or wait a long time for a beer just b/c you're crowding my spot! :-)
(4)Canyouwoowoo W.
Another place that I hadn't been in, since my roaring 20s... A good starter spot: -Great beers on tap -Plenty of pool tables and darts boards (the main draw) -Several screens to watch a game (although not enough to qualify as a true sports bar) Like most places in Decatur, a good starter spot, but nothing worth staying in, beyond 2 hours. Shoot some pool, which you pay for by the hour, grab a couple of drinks, then you'll be ready to move on...
(3)Jennifer G.
I frequent this place often. Great food! Great beers that they brew! And the pool tables are awesome too. On top of the great service staff I definitely recommend this place to grab a bite to eat and a drink over conversations.
(5)Ferdinand H.
I'm torn. 2 Stars or 4? If I were reviewing it as a food-place, I can only say 2. Beer selection is mediocre, and the last set of mussels I had were nigh inedible. The fish and chips were not particularly appealing -- but... I can go to the Brickstore for such things. On the other hand, smoke free pool, darts, shuffleboard, and fuss-ball... that's quite appealing. It's not a bad place to play, whatsoever... just don't expect culinary spectaculars... So, I'm going to forget that it's a restaurant or that it serves food and stick with the game-side.
(4)Shalin P.
I've never eaten at Twain's, but have come here often to play shuffleboard and drink good beer. I'm a big shuffleboard fan and they have a high quality table here. Service can be inconsistent but I've never really had a terrible experience like other reviewers have. The lack of parking is a big negative though.
(4)Susan F.
We decided to swing by Twain's after a late dinner in Decatur last Thursday evening. It really wasn't that impressive. Definitely a college bar, but there's always a need for those, right? Pros: - Decent priced beer - Friendly staff - Lots of pool tables - Free shuffleboard on Thursdays (at least it was for us at 1am) Cons: - It smelled - Everything seemed shabby and grungy
(2)Stephanie M.
Went there Tuesday for my husband's birthday, just to try their microbrewed beer. We had heard there was a new brewmaster and the beers were improved over a few years ago.... we had the different IPAs and really, really liked them. Kuddos to the brewmaster!! We'll be back for those IPAs often!!
(4)Adam M.
Twain's is one of those places you can just count on. If you're looking for a good night, the environment here will do 50% of the lifting, and the rest is on you and the company you keep. I've been to Twain's probably 10 times over the last few years, with frequency picking up since i moved to East Lake. I'm always pleased with the mix of patrons - something akin to Little 5 circa 1998 - and equally satisfied with the in-house brew, both in taste and price. Recently i ate a Twain's for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. It's bar food - don't be mistaken - but there was an extra polish to it. Maybe it was the wheat beer talking. Suffice it to say, I'm a fan. If you've never been, think of Twain's as the last stop of the night, or the place you go before super-late night. The food is tasty, but this place really comes alive when it's chock full-o-patrons. In any case, i'm a big believer in knowing what to expect. For what i ask of Twain's, it always delivers.
(5)Len L.
My local hangout. Great beer, good bar food (but please add some more vegan options) and a fun atmosphere. Plenty of games, such as shuffleboard, pool, darts, and video games. Monday night trivia is one of the better in the area. The service can sometimes be slow, but that's server dependent. Most of them are really good. They also support local bands and have free music several nights a week.
(5)Hambri Enta M.
Pleasantly surprised with the burger. so much flavor! So yesterday I went passed thru here and what do you know: Open mic Jazz night on Tuesdays. I sure love live music. I sat next to young man who was enjoying a beer brewed at Twains and he was quite happy with it. Turned out he is the boyfriend of one of my ex's friend! what a fantastic 6 degrees! Enjoyed this jazz night, and the space is larger than it appears. No smoke around me, no funny smells, good food, cold beers. I recommend!
(4)Triple Threat T.
Huge place! Cheap billiards, nice relaxed crowd
(5)Josh G.
The beer has so improved in the Dave era, that I feel compelled to write a review. It's my favorite billiards spot in the area, the food has always been awesome pub fare, and now the beer is worthy of the restaurant. Don't miss Euro-bike night on Thurs. Bring your BMW, Ducati, MV, KTM, Husky, Triumph, Aprilia, Guzzi, etc.
(4)Ben H.
Definitely a great place to hang out in Decatur. Lots of pool tables, 2 shuffleboards, free darts, tasty burger, mediocre microbrews (the only one I like is their ESB, but they rarely seem to have it). I like the new set up more despite the fact the fact that the "dining room" section is pretty useless for me (I wouldn't make this a dinner destination). It just feels more open and cleaner. I generally don't enjoy the bands they have - mainly because they are always way too loud. The service can vary greatly - I've had servers who are fine, but one guy who works there is a complete tool. They need to be careful about cleaning their glassware - both of the little tasting glasses I used last time had an overwhelming odor of ammonia/cleaner which was pretty gross and obviously not suitable for tasting a beer. You also don't smell like an ashtray after leaving which is a major plus. 3.5
(4)Nazan Y.
Visited Twain's for dinner on 11/1/10. I had been there around a year ago, but was less impressed this time. Wife and I ordered the fish and chips (sweet potato fries instead of regular) and calamari. The fish was quite good, but the breading was a little mushier than I remember. The tartar sauce had some dill in it, and was quite enjoyable. Wife loved the sweet potato fries, I thought they were OK, but they needed a better dipping sauce. To be fair, this is always what I think of sweet potato fries. The calamari was not horrible - at least it was not funky, but the sickly sweet sauce was not pleasant. The beer I got - a dark wheat - was pretty good, and a pretty good price. Anyway, I was a little disappointed, and there are enough other restaurants around I probably won't go back.
(3)Emily W.
I would give this 5 stars but the A/C was off yesterday and with the summer temps in ATL that just isn't cutting it. Other than that, there is nothing bad to say about this place. They have boiled peanuts on the menu which is awesome. The food is good too, not just typical bar food. I just had humus and pita bread with cucumbers but all of it was good. Pita bread was nice and warm, hummus was cold as it all should be. My husband had a hotdog which looked good with fried green beans. Sounds strange but isn't anything fried good? They were, I tried them. Free shuffleboard & darts on Wednesdays & Thursdays....cheap pool, $2.50 per person for an hour. They have foosball as well as some arcade games AND a photo booth! We ended up staying a few hours playing games and had so much fun. oh! and GREAT music as well...
(4)Mariah M.
Been to Twain's at least 6 times and it is a good 15 miles for us so we usually go on a Sunday to avoid the traffic. We won't be back after tonight. The food was ehh nothing special, we had chicken strips, mac and cheese fritters and a reuben, do NOT get the garlic fries, they are not edible. My husband ordered the Aunt ?? Porter 12 oz for his second beer and it was really bad. So l said well just tell the bartender and get something else-it was brewed there and I am sure they have had other people who didn't care for a beer they have never tried before PLUS they have a new brewer, so it is going to be hit or miss. We were told in no uncertain terms that they don't switch out a beer that a customer doesn't like and we could BUY something different if we wanted. This is the first time I have ever heard of this policy, and I have been drinking in Atlanta bars since 1980, he said they "stand by their beers" huh??? So you DON'T stand by your customers??? He certainly could have made an exception but it is "house rules" wow. I am not used to being told I have to pay for something that I refuse to eat or drink. So by all means do yourself a favor, if you are going to get a beer that they have brewed get a sample first or you will be stuck with the crappy beer if you don't like it. Really poor way to treat customers. But hey they got their 4 bucks or whatever it cost, but they lost 2 customers-hope it was worth it.
(2)Destin D.
I've been to Twain's a couple of times now, but only to drink. I appreciate that they have their own microbrews, but on my most recent visit, they were out of two. Not cool. Also, the food isn't good. My southwestern inspired turkey burger (Roadrunner) was surprisingly dry and was lacking on the toppings. I had ordered sweet potato fries on the side and they were lukewarm. I was hoping for the fries that Courtney C. described, but alas, I didn't get them. Also, can someone please explain why there was a horseradish dipping sauce on the side? That flavor didn't complement either the burger or the fries. My friend's black bean burger also sucked and the side salad was less than stellar. Like some of the other reviewers, I really want to like this place. Maybe I will go back another night and hope they have the microbrews on tap. Rest assured, I won't be eating...
(2)Molly W.
The boiled peanuts here have inspired me to make my own. They usually are boiled with a mixture of cayenne pepper and lemon grass. I think I have pouted at a waitress because they were out of them. They are delicious! Also try the salmon burger if you are not scared of cilantro and just a tip: when ordering the salmon burger add bacon, makes a world of difference. The atmosphere is always laid back, and that's why I suggested to my boyfriend that we have our first date here. We ended up playing trivia and pool until about 2 AM. I thank this place for getting rid of my first date jitters and for making it a very successful first date. After Twain's we went to Taco Mac and I set off the alarm, so I still prefer Twain's. They have a great beer selection and make sure to try their home brews. I remember coming here when it just opened and adding the brew company has made all the difference. Also, the food is much better than their former pool hall fish and chips. Oh and the fried green beans are worth going for! The horse radish dipping sauce is decadent and if you're worried about the horse radish the garlic ranch does just fine. I haven't ever tried the entrees, but they're sandwiches are at least decent. They also have a Jazz night every Tuesday so if ya love Jazz come on down, if you want to hang out and play pool, avoid that corner or just come on a different night. But, I must say, when a full brass orchestra played the Presidential theme song when Obama gave his acceptance speech, it was pretty d*mn amazing. I think I cried like 50 times that night. And yes the official name is the Presidential theme song LOVE IT! DRINK IT! OWN IT!
(4)Bryan B.
A great way to kill an evening - I'm in there several times a month. The beer selection is good (their own brews are very tasty), but the food is lacking. Nothing special about it. Fine to get and snack on with a group will you shoot pool, but I won't go there for a full meal. Last time I did that (and should have known better), they were out of hamburger buns! I'm not sure how they messed up the inventory on that, but that's an unforgivable sin for a place that sells bar food! Anyway, I'm still a huge fan of the place overall, just not a fan of the food. Fun place to hang out with friends.
(4)Roy K.
Count on an eclectic experience worth revisiting on a regular basis. If you are at craving food, beer (at a great price!!!), + a lil competition you have found your place. They have darts, pool, vid games, & shuffleboard. I didn't have food, but per the rumor it's pretty tasty. The service is what you would expect in a place like this - urban setting, urban client base - so expect witty, not uber friendly, but in the end you get served what you need. No frivolities.
(4)Rox R.
Dirty, noisy, beer is eh. Not a fan of the food. Salad is limp. Service I experienced was unfriendly. I wouldn't go back, except to maybe play some pool- Would got to Brick Store Pub first.
(1)Adam P.
If I could give them a half star I would! Went today for lunch and was excited to try it. They were having a music event and the admission was 10.00. We were not going to have lunch only, in the restaurant, and not stay for the event. They wouldn't even let us in without paying the 10.00. So it would have been 20.00 for us and then lunch. Ridiculous. The girl just said "sorry guys" and didn't seen to care. Well they have lost my business and I will never try it.
(1)Jose A.
Awesome place to shoot some pool and have a couple great house brews..nachos are pretty great too. This place is a must whenever I am in Decatur!!!
(5)Michael D.
I'm a huge classic jazz fan and on Tuesday nights, this is the place to be. It's an open-mic jazz jam put on by Joe Grandsen. I have never seen so much talent in one place in ATL. The music is off the chart. Joe should record these sessions. Tell ya what, I live in Cumming and I plan to make that drive at least a couple Tuesdays per month. If you like jazz, real jazz, then you need to be here on Tuesday nights. One more thing, they don't take AMEX !!!
(4)Dustin H.
I will make this short and sweet to get to the point. Their beer was pretty good & reasonably priced. I had the chicken tenders and those were excellent (and so was the BBQ sauce and fries). Service, while good at first, turned out to be down-right horrible. At one time, the six or so of us sat for a whole hour without our server nor anyone else coming to check on us and offer refills (of which we had all needed for at least the previous 30 minutes)! I finally got the chance to mention to another server that we would like some service since our server hadn't minded coming by in the past hour. A manager finally came over and got us refills, after we had to wait an additional 15 minutes for them to tap a new keg. Of course they didn't offer any discounts for our experience. As previous reviewers mentioned, they don't even offer refunds or replacements if you get a beer and don't like it. Not the way to do business, & I would say their lack of customer service is why they only have a 3.5 star rating.
(2)Michael L.
Great spot to have some drinks and shoot pool.
(5)adrian w.
I have been to Twain's more than 10 times easy. So sad that I don't live in Decatur anymore so I never visit as much as I use to or would like to. Great beer selection, though sometimes out of what I want. Food not bad at all, fish and chips = yum, chicken salad = yum. Some times the wait staff is just average but sometimes they go above and beyond. Wouldn't mind being a regular.
(4)Christina M.
I love Twain's. I really do. I love the people who work there, I love the location, I love the awesome pool tables and the strong drinks. However, I cannot give 5 stars, much to my chagrin. Two reasons, and two reasons only: The pool tables are beautiful, regulation-sized pool tables. The pool cues, on the other hand, are consistetly warped and crappy. It ruins the billiards experience. I would rather pay more per hour and have a great stick. It is a terrible handicap. The other reason is that if I sit at the bar I end up with a terrible headache because they smash the empty bottles into the recycling bin. So, I do not sit at the bar anymore. Call me sensitive. Sorry.
(4)mee n.
this isn't the place i go for a drink or two. the drinks themselves are rather lackluster, and you can get better food in many other places in Decatur. there's always a painful wait for a pool table, shuffleboard or darts. at best the service is off, and at worst, the service is rude n tries to avoid you. i guess what people like about the place is that it seems friendly. maybe they think "if i go here enough, I'll begin to tolerate the mediocre beer and food, not notice i can never play any games, and maybe the waiters will start to remember who i am. i would really like to go...where everybody knows my name. maybe it can be this boring and unoffensive place." with the BSP, thinking man, n Leon's in Decatur, there's no need to put up with mediocrity. I'm also not a fan of their $10 cake cutting fee. You bring in a cake, and they charge you 10 bucks for the extra plates, utensils and clean up. a friend brought cupcakes to celebrate a birthday, and our waiter did not even tell us there was such a fee that would apply to cupcakes (that do not require utensils, plates or clean up). It was a very unpleasant discovery when we received the bill.
(1)Meg S.
What a great bar! They brew great beers, have great beers on tap and reasonably priced bottled/canned beers. The food is GREAT and there are tons of options for vegetarians. The calamari is cooked right - not rubbery - and served with a delicious ranch-like sauce. Twain's is a great place to run into everyone you know in Decatur on a weekend night! Getting seated for dinner is not a problem even on a busy Friday, but getting a pool table is another story entirely! There is more of a hostess station for pool tables than for eating tables :)
(5)M A.
As far as a pool and beer combination goes, this is the best spot I've been in here. The atmosphere reminds me a lot of my time spent in London, with people from all walks of life coming in for a round of local brews and a game of pool, shuffleboard, board games, or darts. It may be popular, and can get crowded, but it never felt too loud or too packed in. The pool tables are run at various prices depending on the size of your group and the time of day. The prices are all very reasonable, and the equipment is up to par. All of the staff at Twain's are friendly and helpful, and they check in on the pool room often in case you need a refill or more grub. The food here is pretty good - not the best, but it's filling and tastes great. It's mostly your standard bar fare. This is a great spot to check out if you haven't already. Parking is a litle difficult - there is only a tiny lot and then street parking - but it's well worth the hunt for a space.
(5)Teddy N.
Solid neighborhood bar with great date activities; pool, darts and shuffle board. Decent for kids when the sun is shining. FYI parents; it's adults only after 9pm. Food can be average, but hey are you headed to a pool hall and brewery to eat or drink? Stay away from the beef and bean burgers both are on the weak side.
(3)Bill S.
Twains has some of the best bar food I have had in Atlanta, plus it's downright cheap compared to many places! Same with the drinks, I mean who else has Strongbow for $3.50? Plus they have a lot of other beers available including local brews. Twains is mostly known for being a pool hall, they have at least a Dozen tables available by the hour. All are in great condition. They also have two shuffleboard tables and several dart boards. Trivia and Poker games also happen on various nights of the week. The entire place is non-smoking except for mostly shaded outdoor patio. I highly recommend Twains if you are in the area!
(5)Meg C.
I hadn't been to Twain's in a while, it was our former after-work hangout and when they re-modeled I was a little unsure of going back-- as much as I appreciate a craft brew, sometimes I want a Hoeegarden! Twain's has kept the good food and the atmosphere even with a schmancy makeover and their own brews; the brews are top-notch, by the way! The services is still fantastic, and I can't wait to go back and grab a burger and brew again! Highly recommend: Any of the lighter brews for the summer Burgers Fries The custom shots are creative, too!
(4)Jeff M.
I really like this place, especially if I'm with a huge group. It's busy, but it's always accommodating. Very chill and laid back atmosphere, but conducive for a good night. Food and drink is decent. Large selection of games is a plus. One of many great hangouts in Decatur.
(3)Mark D.
I guess I'm a regular now for trivia night. I like it a little better now. They make a good burger. And the fries are awesome. Our table is always sticky, though.
(4)Jane D.
One of my favorite places in Decatur. I always order the beer battered chicken strips- I literally crave them. The service is great- I've been going there for the past few years and I usually see the same waiters/waitresses. The games are fun, the beer is good, and the parking situation is okay. As for cons- the patio kind of sucks. There's bird nests on top of the canopy and after 5 minutes, I'm totally annoyed by the chirping. It happens everytime I make the mistake by sitting out there. Also, the crowd tends to be "old man-ish" but that doesn't bother me too much. Also, there tends to be alot of babies there when I'm there in the afternoon. Maybe its a Decatur thing? Other than that its a great hangout spot.
(4)Rob M.
One of my favorites places to meet people and hang out. The brewmaster has skills with the on tap selections. Always have to get the sweet potato fries.
(5)Julia S.
I went here tonight with my husband and another couple and I have to say, we had a lot of fun at Trivia Night. The hummus appetizer was really delicious, and everyone seemed to enjoy their sandwiches. I got the bean - portobello sandwich on whole wheat bread, which was good, but unfortunately got a bit soggy after a while. Our waitress seemed a bit surly, but then again she seemed severely understaffed during Trivia Night, so I don't necessarily blame her. I was not, however, impressed with the chardonnay I got (sorry, not a beer person) - it was incredibly bland. I think it was toasted oaks or something like that. It was $7/glass, I do remember that. Oh well. That's what I get for ordering wine at a beer place. Trivia was definitely a highlight - I'd come back just for that again.
(4)Lainy P.
i used to love going to twains. It used to be a cute neighborhood pub where my boyfriend and i could come late at night at have dinner, even study while eating, and enjoy a good beer. It still has pool, and darts and all the cute games my friends and I played, but it's completely lost its cute decatur ambiance. i went there with a couple of friends the other day, and the service was not only bad, but the staff was just plain mean to me. I wrote a follow-up email the next day, and they never responded. I've never been treated that way in a restaurant before, no less in decatur!!! boo. i give the restaurant more than one star since it used to be cool, and the food/beer was still decent.
(2)Michael S.
Being from Chicago this was one of the few places I could find that showed the Blackhawks playoff game on TV. Keeping in mind that it was Easter night and the place was dead I found the service to be wonderful. With a great list of beers and good food I would absolutly come back again if I find myself in Atlanta.
(4)Rachel B.
What a cavernous tavern. The decor is eye candy - I've been twice and the first time I chased the exotic fish with my eyes, and the second time I read tons of Mark Twain quotes mod podged to the walls. My boo tried the home brewed beer and seemed so-so on it. The fried chicken fingers are smashing, mainly due to the batter. The sweet potato fries and garlic fries alike are super yummy. Service both times was meh. The David Bowie tunes were yay!
(3)Leslie W.
This is my Friday night hangout. They brew several beers that are fantastic. They change the list each night, and get there early because they run out of favorites. I like the Jumping Frog IPA and the Mysterious Stranger. They will also have a guest beer like Gordon's Double IPA, or some other yummy brew. Twain's also has decent food. I'm not a big meat eater, so I like to munch on the Mezza plate, or their black bean-portabello burger. Darts, pool, and video games are available and they usually have live music on the weekends. Twain's has drink specials Monday-Thursday like $1 off imperial pints or scotch. They also have free Wi-Fi for those who like to surf when drinking.
(5)J D.
No half star, so no true ranking. 6 of us piled in recently, and enjoyed the meal, the beer and the ability to hang out, play pool, shuffleboard and watch the Thrashers totally piss away a big game. Food was solid all the way around. Nice beer list, and the cask special was terrific. Clueless service though. I knew the beer menu better than our disinterested server, and I was there for 15 whole minutes. Maybe it was his day off from the Brick Store. Seriously though, when does surly earn you a bigger tip?
(3)L S.
I've been coming to Twain's for years. I guess since 1999 or so. And if I was rating the pre-renovation Twain's I would give it 5 stars. Post renovation it gets 3 stars. Maybe its just my nostalgia for the seedier pool hall atmosphere it had before. Since the renovation the focus has been split between pool hall/darts/shuffleboard and now a sit down restaurant. The food is not good enough to me to be a destination for dinner. We will occasionally grab an appetizer while we're playing pool. But I would not go out of my way to eat here. I keep trying to like their house beers. I've tried them all...but I just can't make myself enjoy them. We do continue to come to play pool though. They have full sized tables in decent condition. And its great to be able to come home from a bar and not stink like smoke. Yay Decatur smoking ban!!
(3)Jamie K.
I had never been here before this past Saturday with a group of friends. I really liked the idea and set up of Twain's - dart boards, pool tables, and I think I read somewhere that there was shuffleboard but I don't remember seeing it - however we spend most of our time in the front at a few tables, so it's possible that I missed it on my one walk through the back. Overall, the experience was good. They have a decent beer selection and we got there early enough to snag a large table. Some of us had food and words thrown around were "interesting" (for the coleslaw that was made without mayo) to "not so hot" (the wing sauce was amazing but the wings themselves were tough and had very little meat). The later it got, the more people crowded around, so if you sit in the front, be ready for people to eventually be camped behind your chair because seating fills quickly and then people stand around the tables. Also, when the bill comes, (this is my biggest gripe) they WILL NOT do separate checks. And not only will they not do separate checks, but the waitstaff will expect you to figure out what you individually owe and tell her. I'm not sure if it was just our server but I found it completely rude to expect us to be the ones to calculate what we owed. We had a table of 4 couples and 3 singles, so there were 7 separate cards being used - she handed us each a copy of the total bill and we thought we were supposed to mark off each thing that was ours but instead she told us we were to bust out the calculators and figure it out. What it amounted to was all of us slightly overestimating to avoid the faux pas of leaving the last person with more than their fair share of the bill, and what it ended up doing for her was adding another $30 of tip onto the pre-added mandatory 20% ($50) we were already leaving her. Not something I'd like to do again.
(3)Troy N.
I'm biasing my interview based on the live music. I went on a Tuesday night to hear Joe Gransden Jazz Group in a live jam session. The number of low-key inexpensive venues for jazz is shrinking in Atlanta. Twain's was refreshing in that jazz was played in a casual environment with no cover. Musicians sat in and the atmostphere was laid back. The group I was with had some food and they enjoyed it. The beers were enjoyed and the food was pretty good. Service was fine.
(4)Frank M.
Local brewed beer and billards: good Friday night. ...plus they have bubble hockey.
(3)Laura F.
Great atmosphere and lots of seating. The food is great and you have to try the garlic fries at least once although you'll probably feel a little guilty after but they are so yum. My favorite sandwich is the roadrunner but they have so many other great things to choose from. Their hours are great so any time during the week or weekend you can go grab a great meal and have an awesome beer. The service is great and you can sit where ever you want. Oh and there is outside seating too! As far as activities to keep you occupied they have pool tables and indoor raised shuffle board ( iceless curling??) If you go on a Wednesday or a Thursday I believe the shuffle board is free. I know on weekends there can be quite a wait for the pool tables. Twains rocks for just drinks or dinner.. good date spot as it's noisy but not too loud for conversations.
(5)Katherine S.
I was at Twain's last night. It's a fun spot for a big group because the place is giant. Plenty of pool tables, dart boards and shuffleboard. They have some tasty microbrews that are worth trying. It's a fun, casual place to spend an evening.
(3)Laura M.
Best waiter ever!!! The place was super packed, but our waiter was attentive and gave us plenty of time to wait on friends, stare blindly at the drink list and finally order. And yes, my group made lots of special orders--hold the tomato, add chicken, sour cream on the side, etc. The atmosphere was awesome--a diverse crowd of all ages, families, hipsters, etc. The baked nachos were sooo good--tons of cheese and not soggy at all. You can probably share with someone--I had tons left over.
(4)Big Butt Z.
I came to Twain's for brunch this morning and was disappointed to find half of the menu items had been discontinued. I decided to eat somewhere else but before leaving, I had a drink at the bar. The saving grace of the experience was the spunky, tattooed bartender. She was inviting and made the BEST Bloody Mary I have ever had... EVER.
(4)steven c.
A couple weeks ago I found myself here twice in a weekend. The first was a start to the night. We played pool, and our bartender at the back bar was a lot of fun. The place is huge. They had live blues and Football playing on the following Sunday that I was there. I appreciate both of these, so it made it difficult for me to focus. I felt bad for any gut reactions when the Falcons scored (or were scored upon). I was disappointed that the only TV's with the Falcons on were in the back. There was adequate space, but we got the old school projection screen. And that can be tough on a guy, when he's been spoiled by Plasma and LCD HD tv's.
(3)Ron M.
Any place that brews there own automatically gets huge thumbs up from me. I love sampling their newest creations. If you don't care for that there's also a great selection of other quality beers as well as other stuff if beer isnt your thing. The prices are pretty solid which always make me happy. If you're pool person this is gotta be one of the top spots. They do also have shuffleboard, which is pretty cool, just make sure you get on the waiting list early. Overall, I'll recommend to everyone!
(4)Dee W.
Twain's is a cool spot to come hang out grab some food, shoot some pool or darts, and just chill. The barbecue pork sandwich is SO good. It's a cool spot.
(4)Charles C.
One of my favorite activities on Sunday is to ride my bicycle to Twain's, enjoy some shuffleboard, and drink a couple of their local brews. It is a nice way to refresh before the new week. The food is average and the drinks and company are always great but sometimes the service is a little different. I was prepared to give four stars but today my short skirted waitress bent over and I saw her anus. If I wanted a show I'd head to one of our famed city's strip clubs.
(3)Ian T.
I've been coming here for awhile because it was a good place for a large group. The main bar area is fairly open and the atmosphere was conducive to talking. Recently Twain's has started having live music which changes this atmosphere. When the music started it was the occasional lone guitar player but the size and scope of the acts has quickly increased to the point that it's hard to hold a conversation. I guess it's time to find a new hangout if I want to talk to the people I'm with. I think the house brews are usually pretty good although the style seems to be shifting away from session beers to more esoteric styles that would feel more at home at Brick Store. Additionally, the food and service are just ok.
(3)Chef D.
My 1st time there i was treating my friend for a B day dinner..........Had a great time there home brew is great. food was great and the staff was friendly and provided great service.
(5)Rusty T.
Thing is, I want to like Twains, I really do. There's pool; they brew their own beer; it has a great patio to relax and sip on a beverage, especially at night. But my experiences there have been very mixed. I had been before the remodeling when it was a seedy bar and pool hall. I liked it then, but I understand not everybody likes a dive. The remodeling was a good business decision, and I was looking forward to the Brickstore Pub having some competition in walking distance from my apartment for places to drink great, hard-to-find beer. And when I first went after the remodeling, it was just that. IPAs are always my first choice for beer, and Twain's had a pretty good one they brewed in the Jumping Frog IPA. The other two beers or so I tried close to that time were also good. The food menu, however, was trimmed down pretty drastically from the old menu -- to its detriment. The new menu is unimaginative, and worse yet, I can't even rely on just getting a burger because they appear to pan fry it. Unacceptable. On top of that, another time I went fairly recently the beers brewed in-house just weren't very good. The Jumping Frog IPA had been replaced with something that looked and tasted more like a stout. I actually asked the waitress to verify she brought me the right beer, because it just seemed off. It's been a little while since I've been, so maybe I'll go back soon to see if anything has changed. It's reasonably priced and in a good location for me. And I really want to like it, but I just can't recommend it right now with the inconsistent experiences I've had there since the remodeling.
(2)Molly D.
Not a fan. I went there with a group of friends and we tried several of the microbrews searching for one that was potable. After about three unfinished pitchers because they tasted really nasty we switched to bottles of Miller Light, which they don't have on tap (probably so that people who want pitchers will be forced to drink their beers). One thing thats kind of cool is that all of their beers are named for Mark Twain quotes but it doesn't make it taste better. I've never played shuffle board before so that was really fun to play. But they never have enough sand. It's a struggle to get the sand onto the table. I'm not a pool player so I can't comment about the pool other than the fact that they have a lot of tables and a lot of serious pool players, or at least I hope they are cause they bring their own cues. Please don't let me grow up to be someone who owns either a Pool Cue or a Bowling Ball! They also have Golden Tee, I don't see the appeal in that game but a lot of people do so I am throwing it out there. Oh they do play good alternative music but who doesn't in Decatur?
(2)Katherine N.
GARLIC FRENCH FRIES! No really, they're amazing! They have a really good selection of standard bar food with the higher end twist with out the higher end price and a great beer selection in addition to the full bar. The sandwiches are amazing and it's got a great atmosphere! I just had their brunch for the first time and the Country Fried Steak was awesome. I ended up having to ask for extra gravy but they brought it out at no charge, but other people may be just fine with the amount they bring out. Of the three times I have been there I have always received amazing service from a very nice wait staff and left with a very happy tummy!
(4)Michael B.
Four stars for a nice range of tasty microbrews and pub shuffleboard! I had never seen one of these magic creations until I had been to Twain's. The shuffleboard tables have red and blue pucks that glide mysteriously on a thin layer of sand...like something out of Roswell. (New Mexico...not Roswell, GA--though the inhabitants often seem alien to me). Excellent pool hall and the full-size billiard tables are in great condition--not that I would know the difference. Twain's attracts a friendly, eclectic crowd. Service is pretty good. There is one solicitous waiter who shows up pretty often to keep the beer and munchies coming. He's the guy with the mop-head and testicle-crunching skinny mod-rocker jeans. Kind of scary, but efficient.
(4)Phin S.
If you're there just for the game (pool, darts, shuffleboard...), it can be fun. You just have to brace yourself for negative experiences with the staff, who are consistently edgy-- just try to be nice to them and you can get out of there with a good experience.
(2)David B.
I've had some very, and I mean VERY, good wings at Twain's. The burgers are OK, and the Middle Eastern plate is always a winner. The brewery does better on the lighter side (IPA, etc.) Service can be spotty, but if you're at Twain's drinking beer, eating wings and playing table suffleboard, you're probably not really in a hurry anyway.
(4)Mark O.
I recently went back and I've gotta say they've stepped their game up. Most of the big problems this place used to have (sticky tables, bad house beer, bad service) have all been corrected. I'm still not a fan of their food (except the best in the city hot wings), but they are at least trying.
(4)Linda J.
This is a good place to go to shoot some pool and hang out. I don't remember if they have a ladies night, but I think they did at one point. Their food is decent as well. I've been to this place many times over the years, and it's good for what it's good for.
(3)Anna I.
I went to Twain's last night and loved it as soon as I stepped foot inside. It's enormous which means I'll never have to worry about being packed into some hole-in-the-wall dive while tons of people step on my feet. The servers were a little surly, but warmed up to us as soon as they saw what generous tippers we are. I drank the Ballot Box (brown ale, I think) and it was sublime. The shuffleboard and darts was enough to make me giddy, but even better is the FREE shuffleboard on Wed and Thurs nights. I feel like I finally found my default watering hole! Booosh!
(4)Lisa A.
We have been to Twain's a few times now. At first I was not to sure about this place, but it has grown on me. The food is typical bar food. I really like the chicken wings, but would warn you about the pasta dishes. Very watery sauce and pretty bland. The last few times we have just sat at the bar and had a good time. There tends to be a few kids, which I find a bit strange at a bar/pool hall.
(3)Rachel P.
Twain's is a great spot for a chill night out with friends. We arrived around 1030p and found good street parking right across from the door. It was raining so we headed past the patio inside to dry land. There are lots of games to play in here, so the bf and his friends liked their choices of darts, pool, shuffleboard, air hockey, etc. I only cared about watching the Heels whoop up on the Zags, (GO CAROLINA) so I grabbed an open booth right in front of a huge tv. We ordered a range of beers for pretty cheap, had some extremely delicious chicken nachos--one order was devoured in 5 minutes so a replacement batch had to be immediately procured. Also tried the fried green beans and they were unexpectedly great as well. Lightly enough dipped in batter so they still had a green bean taste instead of being overpowered by the fried taste. Our waitress was helpful and attentive even though she was handling most of the tables in our area. Also they serve a full menu until 1am. Nice for late night snacking. Cost was pretty cheap for everything: $8 nachos and $2.50-$4 for most beers. They even had PBR which is a plus in my book. Apparently the shuffleboard game was charged by time instead of games played, which annoyed my friends since they stayed over there for a long time chatting and drinking their beers. Crowd was young and fun, lots of college age/young professional groups of guys with a few female friends here and there. My guy friend even commented that it seemed like there were way more guys than girls here. Good to know if you're hunting for an early twentysomething guy on a Friday night in Decatur. Basically, I really liked the vibe at Twain's and would definitely come back here again. Providing there's no college basketball on, I might even play some darts.
(4)Natalie D.
So I found myself at Twains at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon (no judging!), and was really pleased with the atmosphere. I sat out back with a friend, and the two of us were able to enjoy a beer (or two....) while soaking in the sun. Our waitress was unbelievably friendly. And the beer....what a great beer selection! They have an extensive list of micro brews, including their own brand. I only tried Twain's Golden Ale, but it was refreshing and tasty. I would definitely come back again (if I lived in Atlanta...sigh).
(4)Janice M.
I was torn about how to rate Twain's. The first night I was there, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the crowd, and the friendly bartenders. My group of friends and I practically shut the joint down. I had enough fun to warrant a second visit. Returned for a quiet dinner/drinks meeting with a friend, and was underwhelmed. The service was less than stellar. We got caught in a miscommunication between two of the staff and they were apologetic about it - but it doesn't help when the joint is practically empty at 6pm on a Monday night. I ordered the Fish & Chips. The fries were good but I was underwhelmed by the flavor of the fish. I did like the tartar sauce which helped to cover the flavor of the fish I didn't love, but I did not care for the cole slaw at all, not to mention that the portion they served took up almost the entire plate. My companion ordered the french dip and while I didn't ask him his specific opinion about the food, the fact that he left most of it on the plate indicated that he wasn't loving it. I still really really like the place. I would just advise that your money is better spent on enjoying food somewhere else in Decatur and spending your money on beer at Twain's
(3)Shaun F.
Twain's is a great Decatur pub with delicious micro brews and yummy food. Their chili is top notch and the BBQ chicken sandwich always hits the spot. I also like the prices - the micro brew beers are $3 - you can't beat that. I usually stop in to catch some basketball or baseball on their many television while I enjoy my food and drinks. They have a dozen or so pool tables, dart boards and bar shuffle board. The only downer is they charge for bar shuffle board. I have never seen a charge for that before.
(4)Laura M.
A big group of us headed to Twain's on Friday night a few weeks ago. We'd already been to a house party and didn't want to go home yet. Twain's was still hopping after midnight, but we found seats for all of us in the dining area and after a short wait we acquired a pool table, too. Food and drink not stellar -- I like that they have house beers, but the one I tried wasn't great. The sweet potato fries hit the spot, though, and helped absorb some of the beer in my belly. Service was decent and atmo was decent... so, yeah, I have nothing against Twain's. I think it's the kind of place that is what you make of it -- great with a big group of fun friends, perhaps not so great as a dinner destination or beer-appreciation venue. But, Decatur has other bars and restaurants for that, and Twain's fills a need for people who just want a chill hangout spot for whole gang.
(3)Kristina B.
A group of friends tried Twain's when we were in town for a conference last weekend. They had plenty of room for a large group and the potential to be a lot of fun (plenty of games like pool). BUT, the service was awful, the food was mediocre, and they wouldn't split our bill. I WILL NOT be returning to Twain's EVER and would not recommend going there.
(1)Mark B.
Came back here because I really really want it to be good . Its not. Another ESB that I had to leave in the glass. I see they are remodeling next week. Good. Hope it improves the beer.
(2)Desiree Y.
the food is pretty great. I mean for what it is. The beer selection is so great, alot of choices. I love the pool tables, but even more I love those darts. Really a fun place to be
(5)Young Mi K.
A friend and I just happened to be circling the area to find parking and ended up in front of Twain's. We sorta looked at each other and decided to go in. The ceilings were high and made the place look spacious. The decorations were neat and seems like a great hangout place to play pool, arcades and eat. We ordered a beer that they brew. It was very good and the nachos was better than we expected.
(4)Kim D.
Sooo I decided to head to Twain's on a Tuesday night... There wasn't much of a crowd, but definitely enough people to make me NOT feel like a stranger barging in on a local bar. The atmosphere was casual and definitely fun -- we enjoyed our Sweetwater and even started up a game of shuffleboard. I think there may have been some live jazz in the bar area but I was too far away to enjoy. Buffalo wings were delicious, but HOT so be warned if you don't tolerate spice well! The only downside was some of the creepy / drunk guys lurking around the pool table area. Or I guess you could look at that as an up-side considering the new inside jokes my girlfriends and I have.
(3)Amanda W.
I miss the old Twains. Maybe I don't like change (I miss the old Church Street Coffee too), but the Twains brew gives me a headache and the service gives me heartburn. I used to go a lot to play pool, but since they've become more of a restaurant, I hardly ever go anymore. Once they switched to the family-friendly restaurant, the service at the pool tables (and the quality of the tables) took a nosedive. You shouldn't call yourself a billiards place and have crappy pool tables. At least there's no smoking anymore - thanks to the City of Decatur. Plus, they don't do the restaurant part that well either - pick a focus and do it right, please (or at least 50% right!).
(2)Mary M.
Their food is just really good. Crisp, clean. Good portion sizes. Their Caesar salad is some of the best I've ever had. Never had a bad meal there, and they make their own beers in house.The day bartender Sarah has more energy than I will ever have in my life and is nice as hell. It's good times.
(4)Garrin H.
I just got back from Twain's...love this place. Tuesday night features a jazz jam session hosted by trumpeteer Joe Grandsden, and the number and quality of musicians that show up is pretty amazing. On Wednesdays they have a blues night hosted by Dave Ellington, which I'm told is also excellent (haven't been to that yet). As for the food and beer, I was pleasantly surprised by my bean burger. I was expecting a Boca Burger, Gardenburger or some other variety of mass-consumed faux hamburger. This bean burger was actually really good, and it seemed like they made it in-house to my surprise. Sweet potato fries were also tasty, as was the beer - the pale ale I ordered was made on the premises. As for the crowd, the people there seemed down-to-earth, and I liked how unpretentious the scene was. Good vibes man.
(4)Chuck R.
They make great beer. You can play pool for a reasonable price. What more do you want?
(4)Scott L.
Love this place. The beers Jordan brews are fantastic. He has a brew for al tastes, so some of you knobs still drinking Bud Light.....Try one....It will change your life. The food is good, but not on the same level as 5 Seasons or Bookhouse. Service can be iffy at times, but overall good. Live jazz on Tuesday nights.
(4)Leigh N.
Typical bar food, decent brewery. Plenty of billiard tables. Relaxed, casual environment. There's never been much of a crowd when I've been, but would be a good place to hang out with friends and play pool.
(3)Sean S.
food actually seems to have taken a turn for the worse with the "new menu", twice now we've had dishes that just taste strange. service is mostly friendly... their in-house brews are still above average. been coming here for 13 years but other than their great IPA, we are finding it less inviting. (PS- even their turkey burger tastes weird now, even though they charge more for it than their neighbor Brickstore's excellent turkey burger!)
(3)Lindsey B.
Had some terribly rude service at Twain's a couple of years ago, but things have been better in the few times I've been since then. The new setup is a bit strange with the fancy fishtank and unpainted cinder blocks up front, but the games are still there. Other reviewers have bashed the bar's homebrews, but I've liked the ones I've had. Haven't had much food, but the wings and sweet potato fries are excellent. Probably not the best place to expect a nice dinner, but a great place to have a few beers and shoot pool or throw darts. I always seem to get drunk when I go to Twain's.
(4)Will F.
I absolutely love this place. Rarely do I feel as at home in public as I do when I step through their door. Ownership/staff are very warm/inviting, and Jordan really knows his stuff in the brewery with an impressive selection of high quality beers. Tons of pool tables, dart boards, shuffleboard, high def TV's, and yummy uber "comfort food". They are very much a part of the Decatur community and anyone will feel comfortable. Always a very interesting/ecclectic crowd. One of my very favorite.
(5)Boner J.
Cool place. Big, long bar, lots of booths around, and a pooltable area with about 6-8 tables. House drafts are around $4 for a 20oz, about 10 total, and a big menu of micros. Beer prices were right, but the food seemed disproportionately expensive ($8 for 8 wings and $6 for fries?). Lots of locals coming and going and overall chill vibe. Wings were "XXX Habanero" as promised. Not a dive but not pretentious and enough conversation about Critical Mass behind the bar for me to know what the ethic of the place is. Luckily I got the F outta there before the live music started - there were BONGOS. I was just visiting ATL but if I lived here this would easily be my regular. Docked the 1 star only for the food price.
(4)Chase C.
It's huge, filled with fantastic decor, tons of professional size pool tables, a huge beer selection, & one of the best jukeboxes in town. It's also eclectic - a true neighborhood pub. All races, social classes, & sexual orientations convene here. It's not the best place to have a conversation since it gets loud, but it's FUN. Smokers have their own room for pool & non-smokers have another. Fantastic! Their menu is good for bar food, & vegetraian/vegan friendly. It's a good place to people-watch, unwind, drink, & play pool. For the pee-shy, in addition to men's & women's rooms, they have a unisex one-seater. It's the little things that count. But good luck getting a parking space, & be careful not to hit another car while you're in the lot - it's crammed like sardines.
(5)Miss S.
Brickstore was too packed to even get inside, so we headed over to Twain's. Found a space in the parking lot, which is a plus. Our server was super nice and my Twain's-brewed-pale ale was tasty (not the IPA, but some other one), but the hummus was only okay-- wouldn't order that again. The crowd was mostly really, really young guys-- maybe kids home for Christmas break or something??? Regardless, a good place to have a beer and catch up with friends.
(4)Erica D.
Twain's served me well in undergrad. The waiters were great, and a few knew my tastes well enough to suggest something new without my having to ask. Twain's used to be a 5-star place for me, but since they revamped their style and started brewing their own beer, it went down...way down. Their house-brewed beer is, frankly, not good. We've actually left unfinished pitchers on the table, and if you knew my friends, you'd know how serious that is. The space more trendy, the front pool room is now tables and a small stage. the back pool room is still the same, and that's a plus.
(2)Miller J.
Not at all impressed. I tried most of their microbrews and they were terrible. The portabella sandwich was tasty but the service wasn't the best. Shuffleboard was fun but you have to pay to play.
(1)Jarrod C.
Twain's had a nice renovation done and really is just a fun place to hang out. I've had many different friends join me there for shuffleboard, pool, trivia, etc. Everyone always seems to enjoy it. The food is solid, not spectacular but even their menu has had some nice changes to it. Their best upgrade came when they started making their own house beers. Try the pale ale and the "Ducatur" for some nice flavor. If you haven't been you should definitely make the trip...you'll find something there you like.
(3)Joel F.
A brewpub cum pool hall cum neighborhood bar cum restaurant. A fun neighborhood feel and a nice beer menu. First of all, the good: I love the decor and ambiance here. Cool bar decorcations and a small amount of sports memorabilia (I particularly liked the Philadelphia Flyers banner hanging from the ceiling). It's neatly divided into a dining area with booths and tables, a bar area and a pool hall area. There's also a patio. The menu is mostly pubby, but I was impressed. They have a nice selection of bottled beers, too. Probably 50 or so, mostly microbrews and imported stuff (such as Unibroue, Chimay, etc.) The bad: They really need to work on their brewpub beers. The golden ale was decent: pale and not too hoppy. The other three beers I tried were all messed up. If you make a red ale, it shouldn't taste over-attenuated and too hoppy. The IPA was also a bit thin and not malty enough. The brown ale either tasted like a stout or the server gave me the wrong beer. The ugly: The service. I was there on a recent Friday night and there were two major problems: First of all, the server brought me a bottled conditioned Belgian beer and didn't bring me a glass. If this place is going to serve a big beer menu (which they do), they really need to give their servers proper training. You don't serve bottled beers without proper glasses to customers in a dining area. Second of all, a place this size (and it is quite big) REALLY needs to have a host or hostess at the door. This seat yourself situation caused us to wait far too long at our table for service. Then later during our meal our server took WAY too long (probably half an hour) to bring me another beer. I looked over and saw her dealing with a large party at the front of the restaurant who were trying to find seating. Meanwhile she had left seven tables with no service at all for the entire time. I don't blame the server. She can't be expected to do two jobs at once. I do blame the management for understaffing the place. There really is no excuse for not paying someone to man the hostess stand at the front of the house. This is extremely poor management, imo. Please fix your service problems and pay a host/hostess to do what hosts/hostesses do!
(3)Matthew R.
Great place to chill, hang out, drink beer. They allow dogs on the outdoor patio which is nice. My only gripe is they had the best fried fish sandwich in Atlanta and changed their batter. I guess their extensive beer list and jukebox selection make up for it.
(4)Julie M.
What's great about Twain's is that it's no smoking and family friendly. You don't find a bar with those elements in the atlanta/decatur area very often. The menu is typical for a bar (sweet potato fries are my favorite) but the service is usually lacking. They have some pretty good beers coming out of their brewery and are always willing to give you a sample or two. The billiards room is spacious as well as the dart area. My 10 year old loves the shuffle board table and the small arcade. It's a fun place to go with the family for a few hours on a sat or sun afternoon. Great patio too. Gets a little busy in the evening for kids though.
(3)Blu M.
I've been to Twain's a few times purely to play pool, drink & eat. They have pretty good food considering it's a bar. I thought the music was awful but the pool tables and vibe of the place makes up for it. Overall, it's a nice chill spot to hang out and play pool.
(3)Beau B.
Good place to Pre game before a night out. They brew their own beer and have good bar food.
(4)Alison G.
Twain's is one of those places I never crave, am never super stoked to go to, but keep visiting anyway. They have a parking lot (and if it's full I can park at my former employer's across the street), the menu is a decent size, they have a full bar, and there's ample seating so there never seems to be a line or a crowd. The service is usually a miss. I've come at lunch and at dinner, on weekdays and on weekends, and the server always starts out nice and then becomes absent. Maybe I have a knack for showing up on the cusp of a new shift, but whoever I have seems to always be about to get off and is busy counting their money and closing out checks. Their house-brewed beer isn't the best but I don't care since I don't drink beer. Their fried green beans are addictive to the point of sickness, so I can't eat them anymore. The chips and salsa/nachos are okaaayyy but last time the chips had the faint chew of staleness. I used to LOVE their curried chicken salad sandwich but it has gone the way of the Dodo, sadly. Garlic fries are a must for your side. A MUST. Last week I tried their chicken and waffle and I gotta say--it was fuckin' delicious. The only weird part was the onion-bacon jam. I'm big on texture, and it was kinda disconcerting having the texture of cooked onion but the flavor of bacon--I kept thinking I was gnawing on bacon fat but it would turn out to be an onion. Yum? Also, it comes with a side of sauteed spinach. Again with my texture hangups! I can't stand cooked mushy leaves, so I asked if I could switch out the side. They told me no, and I told them to keep their spinach. They did, and I got to pay full price. I think that's kinda bunk, honestly. Twain's is a solid spot for food and drinks when you don't feel like being adventurous or looking for parking. Which for me appears to be pretty often.
(3)Megan K.
This place is like a home away from home. Best buy on beers in town, since they brew their own awesome beers and most are $3.50. Go here for beers not cocktails. And don't be the guy ordering a yuengling at the bar. Great food - a lot is locally sourced, beef is grass fed... *most* of the time it's really good. Great bar tenders, most of the servers are good. Occasionally you'll get a random "off" day - usually when they're slow. Very local feel, cool mixed crowds, Friday and Saturday night you'll occasionally get some fratty people, but usually outnumbered by cool folks.
(4)Chris J.
I'm a regular here at Twain's. I primarily come here for reasonably-priced, good beer they brew in house. The food is inconsistently good at best. Tonight, however, the food was exceptionally terrible. I had a PBLT which is essentially a BLT with pork belly instead of bacon. The pork belly was the worst I've ever had anywhere, exhibiting a tough, not-chewable consistency and no flavor. The bread tasted like cheap sandwich bread from Walmart and the aioli also had no flavor. My wife had a dry, overcooked, flavorless burger which she'll probably comment about on Yelp as well. There are a lot of good food options here in Decatur and I don't think I'll come back here for food anytime soon because the food was simply unacceptable. I wish I had gone across the street to Chick-fil-A before coming to Twain's for beer.
(2)Zewditu D.
Nuts and bolts: A friend and I wanted a midway point between our homes to meet up for dinner. Decatur Square is the perfect spot for us. Neither one of us had tried Twain's so we decided to try it out that particular evening. Order: Fish and chips for me. Turkey burger for my friend. Pros: Not much in my experience. Cons: There was no one there to great us when we arrived so we went ended up wandering around the the place for a bit. Then someone came and seated us. But it was in an awkward booth at the front. Service was incredibly slow and we felt ignored alot of the time. We did not enjoy our food. Take home: It might be a good sport for drinks and games, but not for dinner!
(1)Brian J.
A pretty lively atmosphere. The nut brown ale was perfect. The service at the bar was quick and pleasant. The servers were all tatted up with base ball capes and keys hanging form their belts. The feel of Twains was industrial, corner bar /pool hall. Noises, busy and fun. The beer was great! The food was good.
(4)John X.
Twain's has had it's ups and downs. In food, service, and prices. You can't say they don't try though. They react and make changes. OK. September 2014 prices have been pared down. Beer is great. Had an american salad w/ house made ricotta that was Delicious.This visit was 5 star !
(5)Hanna K.
I recently joined two friends for drinks & pool at Twain's, which is a weak stone's throw from Downtown Decatur. They arrived before me and grabbed a few seats at the big round bar in the front. The samplers seemed to be the way to go, most groups at the bar had order the 10 beer option for $18. Their beers are a nice quality, provide a good range, & are fairly priced. My favorite was the Sunset Amber. The bartenders are all friendly, helpful, and look the part of your neighborhood brewer. On Wednesday nights, you can get a 12oz beer & burger for $10. I ordered the Turkey Burger with a side of brussel sprouts. The burger was nothing special and not something I would ever go specifically to Twain's for. But let's be honest, I wasn't there for the burger. The main games area is comprised of a few pool tables, shuffle board tables, dart boards, and a couple of random video games. This is all in the back part of the main room, with high ceilings, a buzzing vibe, and lots of windows onto the patio. You have to put a card down for access to the any of the tables...pool was $10/hr for 3 people (will be prorated). There are waiters providing full menu/bar service while you're playing. Unfortunately, there was a large professional group that had reserved the whole main games area, so we had to play in the pool room off to the side. This has a much more pool hall feel-dark, lower ceilings, etc. I'm sure if you're a pool playing regular, this is good. But for us, we were more interested in a casual game in the ambiance of the main room. I'm looking forward to getting back to Twain's to check out the patio and a few more food items!
(3)Brittney R.
I loved this place and come here all the time BUT today was the worst. We waited 30min before our order was taken and all the tables that filled after us were served. After waiting an hour for food, we decided to pay for our drinks and leave. The waitress was rude when we asked for the check to pay for our drinks. I've never felt discrimination here before today. My party and I were made last priority and we felt it. My visit today was unfortunate I will NEVER go to Twain's again.
(1)Berry G.
I'd never heard of this place until I was invited to lunch with friends. PARKING: A little scary because there's a ton of signs nearby that read "NO RESTAURANT PARKING". My friends and I all parked in the back lot (next to the pink building" and none of us were towed so... shrugs. SERVICE: Our waiter was funny. Chubby hipster looking young guy with a thick dark beard. I arrived & ordered 30 minutes after my friends and somehow received my food FIRST. Odd. FOOD: I reluctantly ordered from the brunch menu - 2 scrambled eggs, hash browns and chicken sausage. Tasted FAR better than I expected. The egg portion was HUGE - I swear they must have scrambled 4 or 5 eggs. And the chicken sausage was IN the eggs... weird but good. The hash browns are shredded potatoes packed into a ball and then deep fried (I think with onions). Delicious. The orange juice sucks - tasted artificial, like Tang or something. The entire menu looks great, I'll definitely come back to try some other dishes.
(4)Rico S.
I am writing this review to share a tale of magnanimity. The staff at Twain's gets the ultimate gold star from me although my visit was atypical. My very inebriated friend got into an altercation with several members of the wait staff over a tab he believed he had paid but had not. Incensed, he antagonized, threatened and called some of the bartenders names. Fortunately, another friend settled his tab so that we could leave. Unfortunately, that same friend left the keys in the car unbeknownst to me and I locked the door. Two of those very same bartenders tried to help us get into the car and when we failed, one of them lent us their phone to call AAA. Also, they have great beers on tap.
(5)Jonette G.
On the plus side, it's a cool place to hang out with great atmosphere. The food is hit or miss. The sweet potato chips were quite tasty. The fries were okay but cold and the fish sandwich I ordered was bland and cold. The server was nice but a couple in our party didn't get their food until well after everyone had eaten and their plates cleared away. I guess everyone has a bad night once in awhile.
(2)Steven R.
This is a really fun place. The drinks are great and the food is really good too. Yet have shows on the weekends, but plan ahead to go early cause this place can get packed. I recommend going off hour or during the week to get some casual pool in and hang with some friends. But it's a fun weekend spot too if you don't mind crowds!
(4)Kenny R.
AWESOME BEER!!! Electric car charging station, large billiards room, shuffleboard, etc.... and good food. I came here for lunch on a hungover Thursday after catching a 2 night run of Phish in Alpharetta. This wasn't one of those, I need something greasy hangovers, I needed something healthy as a base and then to get back on the wagon(or falling off the wagon, I dunno how that works). I ordered the cured salmon sandwich and my counterpart got the crunchy aristocrat. Both were awesome and did the job. Battered/fried green beans were AMAZING! Our waitress was quick with everything and had some great recommendations but I was allgood at that point. I needed a coffee to get it together and belong as a functioning member of society as she went ahead and ordered a beer. Criminal Sin IPA was the booze. I took a sip and it was awesome but I still wasn't ready to commit to alcohol quite yet. We expressed a solid interest in the other beers and one of the brewers(Chase, I think his name was?) came out to talk to us about them. Tequila barrel aged IPA, wowzers. Some small batch Belgain/sassion/pale ale or something like that was one of the best "fruity" beers I've ever had. Supposedly, it was rather high gravity as well. After a flight, I felt much better about the world and proceeded to get a game of shuffleboard going. As a former 55 and over community resident, I knew I had this one in the bag. It wasn't fair but, it was fun. I wanted to hustle some pool as well but, after that, nobody wanted to play with me. After reading some other reviews I guess they have live music as well? Next time I'm in ATL, I'll be headed straight here.
(5)Jessica H.
Updated review! We used to be regulars here, and I did love the fried chicken tenders and sweet potato waffle -- went there specifically for that! However, the last time we were in, I ordered and received a savory waffle. We commented on the new menus when placing our order, but the server didn't note any main ingredient changes - so I assumed all was the same. Alas, it was not. Very disappointing. Spoke with the manager about it, actually, because when I mentioned it to the server she got very defensive. They were nice about it - but very disappointing menu change. Burgers are good. My eldest kid loves the spaghetti but we always have to ask for extra sauce. She's not a fan of the grilled ham and cheese. Margaritas are to die for and the kids can watch the fish tank for hours - it's a win! Kid menus are inside a children's book, too! Service can be great - service can be terrible. Parking can be a pain, fair warning.
(2)DeAndre J.
Kinda upset this place doesnt have a happy hour and the parking was TIGHT!!! (Almost nudged the car next to me) Definitely had plenty of pool tables and I'm glad they have shuffle boards. I'd definitely come back (but probably take an uber just in case). Also, maybe this was a rare occasion but there was a LOT of kids running around. Seemed sort of weird being that this was a bar and not a Chuck E Cheese.
(3)Sara M.
Oh, Twain's. How I love you so. 1) Their beer is awesome. And it's far too often led to me looking at the clock and wondering how the hell it got to be 1am so fast. And on a weeknight! 2) Food is okay. The lemon pepper wings are the standout for me. I order them every time I eat here. 3) It's huge inside and there is a ton of stuff to do. Trivia on Mondays, live jazz on Tuesdays, a few TVs turned to sports, dog-friendly patio, billiards, shuffleboard, darts, and arcade games. Also good for groups. 4) After 9pm, it's 21 and up. Thank goodness. 5) Bathroom (I can only speak for the women's) is usually pretty clean and the stalls have recently been renovated. 6) Parking is easy compared to other Decatur bars. Overall, a fun, lively spot. Grab some friends and enjoy! WARNING: Time will fly here.
(4)Christine R.
New Spring brews are on tap! Good balance of light and citrusy wheats and IPAs mixed with a few darker ales, stout and of course a Cask. Came for brunch and it was good. I like the new menu. They also expanded their liquor and cocktail selection if beer isn't your thing.
(4)David L.
Twain's is awesome. Great sports bar but don't let that keep your girl from wanting to go. The food is amazing. Try the wings, some of, if not the best in the city. Great atmosphere, home brews, service and fun. Plenty of games to play with a large pool hall in the back. Now that they have Golden Tee back, you'll see me up there!
(5)Candace M.
It was a Saturday night and me and the Boo were looking for something to do (my little rhyme). The "Places" app on my phone let us here and boy was it a good time. Although I had been to Twain's before, I had never really "been there" In the past I just stopped by to say hello to friends and mostly hung outside. This time was different. We were waiting for friends to join us so we got some dinner. The fish and chips were really good. So good in fact that we ordered another plate and shared it. What I really liked about Twain's was the number of billiards tables that they had. You go over to the side and put your name on a list and by the time we finished eating it was our turn to play. They also had darts and shuffle board. It didn't feel crowded although it was a pretty big place. This is a new go to place when we just need a somewhat laid back night of just hanging with good people shooting some pool.
(3)Robin S.
Twain's gets an upgrade to four stars. Not sure why I had it rated at three before. While the food isn't among the best pub fare in the area, it's still decent. The beer, the bar and the space in general - including pool tables and shuffleboard - easily make it one of my favorite drinking holes. Last night was Langhorne IPA and Mad Happy beers, and a blacked mahi sandwich with onion rings. I really like their onion rings. The mahi could have been tastier - their blackening spices need spicing up.
(4)Greta H.
Great atmosphere. The servers are very friendly and helpful. Late at night the crowd is younger but feels like a family establishment during the day. I love their chicken tenders and fries. Cheese dip is also incredible. Gum pork is is must. Fish and chips are decent, the apple slaw is great. The Reuben is not the best i have ever had. The corned beef was good but the sandwich was very dry.
(5)Richard L.
Decided to try Twains for an early dinner since it's close to my daughter's college. Decor appealing with something for everyone. Booths, bar, outdoor seating, billiards with plenty of space. The menu got my anticipation up. Interesting entrees with local flair, and a fantastic variety of ales. Opened with a delightful appetizer - mac & cheese fritters. Two at my table ordered sandwiches - BBQ and vegetarian. They were pleased. I and another opted for pasta dishes - Pasta Bolognese and the House Vegetarian Pasta. Both were tasty but the portion size very small. The pasta entrees were served in cereal sized bowls, hardly enough for an appetizer. My second concern was poor service on a quiet weeknight. Waitress was sweet but absent. Passed the table three times before she remembered missing drinks. She was nowhere to be found during the meal. We had to search her out for the check. She never asked how our meal was, never inquired as to whether we wanted desert. Small portions and poor service trump a great atmosphere. I won't be back.
(2)Chris Thomas H.
Awesome beer, reeeeally good food (depends what you order of course). The atmosphere is very nice, lively is a good word.
(4)Lindsey G.
I am at a quandry. You see, my BF and I spent NYE together here for dinner and drinks and games before heading out to the Underground for the Peach Drop. The conundrum comes from the fact that both of us had only salads and apps to eat (and I had a Bourbon Flight), and I don't think any of that is representative of the food and drinks at the place, especially since they have their own brewery. Anyway, I had a ceasar salad which was only OK, along with a basket of perfectly crisp sweet potato french fries with a yummy chipotle mayo for dipping. BF had a greek salad with greek chicken, again, this was only OK, along with vegetarian chili. I'm thinking a bar/pool place doesn't excel at salads because that's the food that attracts the crowd, so I won't fault them for that. The apps were delicious though, which makes me think their burgers, sandwiches and other entrees will be worth another visit in the future. As for the service, it was aight. Nothing to write home about. Plenty of different bar games abound here, though, but as it was NYE, we were left playing Terminator Salvation which I suck at :-( The place looks like a lot of fun, with all the dart boards, pool tables, brewery, etc. So I think we'll be coming back for more sometimes soon.
(3)Rene F.
I'm changing my earlier review. After going a couple more times I am a fan. The bloody mary I had was good, and drinks are always really fast. Prior to this, maybe I caught them on an off day.
(4)Amy K.
Pros: Excellent beer, cider and mixed drink selection. Great service, pool & darts galore. Good music and volume, smoking on patio only (which is a con if you want to sit on the patio!). Cons: Food sucked, somewhat pricey. Went last night for the first time finally despite a great reputation and desire to go for many years. The service was excellent, really enjoyed sitting on the patio in the beautiful weather yesterday. They played some good music, it wasn't loud (outside). Got bacon mac & cheese bites. I didn't taste any bacon but they were hot and good. The jelly that came with it tasted right out of a jar though and didn't really compliment the app at all. I am burger obsessed and was incredibly disappointed with the BBQ burger I ordered. The patty was thick and cooked perfectly but didn't have much flavor. The BBQ sauce was bland and watery, the cheese was a thick glob of tasteless fat and the coleslaw and onions weren't even noticeable. The sweet potato fries were thick cut but also bland and had to be doused in ketchup. At $12.50 I felt robbed. SO got pulled chicken sandwich which was original in idea and spicy (yay!). The roasted carrots that he got as a side were some of the best I've ever tasted. Friends got burgers and sides of chili which they tried to doctor with every condiment on the table to no avail - it was left uneaten. Their beer selection was amazing and I really enjoyed their home brews. They had good ciders and a lot of mixed drinks. There wasn't enough time in the day to sample all the alcoholic beverages they had. Next time I think I'll stick to drinks and games and stay away from the food.
(2)Meagan F.
Twains. Come on. Yes, it is Saturday night but you should plan appropriately to provide service. We have been waiting at our table for over an hour and a half and are still sitting here without food/drinks. Getting ready to walk out.
(1)Tom G.
Twains brews their own beers, about eight or so. If you want another beer it'll be from a bottle. This keeps the draft prices low, but the quality of their seasonal recipes is absolutely solid. Don't believe me? Try a concorde and taste them all yourself. Food is good. It's pub food, but they put noticeable effort into it. My favorite appetizer (or sober up snack) is the boiled peanuts. They're fantastic. Thank you Twains!
(5)Stone M.
eh, still not impressed by their home brews. Service was outwardly rude. The food is pretty good (not great) and the beer is alright, but server was offensive. Probably wont be back.
(2)Jennifer S.
Didnt eat here but the atmosphere was good. Lots of different things to do at the bar...pool, darts and so on. Very big place so you dont feel cramped.
(3)John S.
You know that part in the OutKast song AtLiens, "Softly as if I play piano in the dark"? Yeah, Twains isn't like that at all... it's loud as hell and our group of five Asian individuals were the only non Caucasian patrons at the bar. Not that it bothered me very much to be the token ethnics at the bar, I mean it's happened before plenty of times in my life. I just thought that what with greater ATL being 52% black, there would've been some small representation from the African nations. *Imagining Nuk Nuk and Po'Jo and 'dem playing shuffleboard* Twains boasted a very unpretentious setting that included shuffleboard, pool tables, darts boards and a plethora of different beer and full bar options. The wait staff was quite nice, even after my buddy - who has this irrational lust for women of a certain hair color - started to become a bit overly friendly. The service was quick and food and drinks were also replenished quickly and efficiently. Overall, a great place for a group to play games of skill which quickly devolve into contests of "try to stand up straight" after copious amounts of alcohol consumption. Good thing there was a Waffle House nearby to help us through the night.
(4)Kelsey F.
I have been hearing about Twain's for 4 years now and I finally made it there last Thursday night. A friend and I strolled in around 9:30 and found a seat at the main bar. There was a good amount of people there listening to the walk up musicians, drinking in the booths, and playing games. It took the bar tender a bit of time to take our order even though there were only a handful of people actually sitting at the bar. We both opted for one of the house brewed Belgium ales. Twain's big positive is that it is very reasonably priced - house beer $3.50 and that they brew their own beers which is always respectable. We hung out at the bar for a little while but we must have had our invisibility cloaks on because it took the bar tenders ages to notice that we wanted to order anything or wanted to close our tabs. We headed over to the game area and played a couple rounds of pool (also very reasonably priced). I liked that the brewery/bar was a buzz with people having fun, but not so crowded that you couldn't get in on any games. There are several large parking lots behind Twain's for parking. Service could absolutely be better here but the relaxed atmosphere, awesome bands that come out, reasonably priced games, and variety of beers to be drank make it worth a visit or two.
(3)Shirlyn D.
The food is amazing and authentic. The service is slacking, though. It's a big restaurant, but there weren't that many customers when we got here, and it took us 20 mins to get drinks and another 20 to order an appetizer. But the servers were friendly when they finally greeted us.
(3)Shaye B.
I would give this place 4 stars if the food was better - however, it is still a very fun place to hang out! The atmosphere of the place is awesome - very laid back, fun place to hang out at. Plenty of billiard tables and dart boards around that make it a nice time to hang out with friends with some pitchers of beer. Decatur is a far venture for me so while I have a lot of fun, I typically would not go here unless for whatever reason I went to Decatur and couldn't get a table at one of the other trendy restaurants. Worth checking out and could be a fun place to move to after a nice dinner in the area and you didn't want a crazy bar scene for the night. If I lived closer I would give the place 4 stars since it is a brewpub and I would rather review it on the basis of its atmosphere than the food - but long drive & mediocre food - I can't rate it better. Def a fun place to hang out at though if you have a group of people and are looking for a change of pace!
(3)Caroline G.
Good food, Great vibe and nice mix of people from all walks. Tuesday night is Jazz/open mic-ish night, didn't realize it when we walked in, but it was an enjoyable night for sure. Food is good, on par with Decatur fair and in line with places similar. Beer-They brew about 8-10 of their own beer and it changes regularly, some are hits and some are not so hits, but that's the way it goes. I commend any place that has the balls to brew in house so its all GREAT to me. Im an IPA, Porter, Stout and etc beer drinker so I know my palate can be a little snobby. Service is friendly when they aren't busy and are nice when they are. It is what it is and they do what they do....There is a girl that bartended one afternoon I was there with shoulder length brown hair in pigtails...I can't for the life of me remember her name but OMG if I could pinch her cheeks and hug the shit out of her I would..she is all sorts of awesome! Don't really have anything bad to say about this place expect for the girls bathroom runs out of toilet paper and at times you find "presents" left on the floor by some girl that thought she could drink with the boys...So really my complaint would be with girls that can't manage to pee IN the toilet and puke IN the toilet...STAY the hell home and quit stealing Twain's TP. Also have pool tables, shuffle board, darts and something else I didn't pay attention to...I'm there to sit at the bar, stuff my face with hummus, drink beer and people watch.
(4)Judy C.
Pros: -wide menu options -beet salad looked amazing (regret that I didn't order it) -seasonal sides -the size of the back rooms and the variety of different games (pool, darts, etc.) -family-run business Cons: -burger patty was dry/overcooked -parking was impossible to find on a Friday night
(4)Steve J.
Fantastic food, fantastic house-brewed beer, fair prices for both, and a great environment. I've been to Twain's a handful of times and each time has been a great experience. The wait staff/bartenders have almost never let my beer run dry and the food and beers have always been great quality. The spent grain bread is an extremely hearty loaf made of grain used in the brewing process. It's extremely filling and mildly sweet. The vegetarian chili has a great flavor to it- just the right amount of heat for most all palettes. I've had a couple other items on the menu and they've all been well worth my money. I REALLY love their house Imperial IPA, but the Choco-Rye stout, and Amber are also pretty good. I think in the past I had a Tripel they brewed that was really good. Only one time that I've been in was it uncomfortably crowded, but most nights it's relatively calm and there are enough pool tables to go around.
(5)Gwanda P.
The service here is horrible!!!!!!!!!!!! We were not given silverware or small plates with our two nacho orders. The server (she )was sooooooo rude!!!
(1)Michelle K.
This is one of my all time place to "chillax" in Decatur. There has never been a bad visit since my first one back in January of last year. I recently visited this lovely establishment for drinks last month and found it humorous that our waiter thought I looked A LOT younger than my date! HA! That's amusing to me because we were both born in the same year and our waiter was probably younger than both of us! The bar was packed and the service there was still consistent! Gotta love that about a place like this. Hands down, if I ever want to be in a "chill bar" where the drinks are decent and have a burning desire to play a mean game of shuffleboard, Twain's is my number one hot spot! #Yelp 365 - 12/365
(4)Vonda D.
This was my group's last stop of the night. We went in around 1am Sunday morning. I'm not sure if that late is a hit or miss. It was crowded, but my gfs and I just hung around at our table drinking beer. The apple cider beer I had was tasty. I wish they had some random tables throughout the place. It would be better for guy watching. :) I can't comment on the food or the games because all we did was drink. I've been told that happy hour here is great.
(2)Brian K.
I've always considered Twain's to be the adult equivalent to Chuck E. Cheese's. However, instead of soft drinks, singing robotic mice, and a ball crawl, you get beer, live music, and shuffle board. In the end, if you can't find something here to keep yourself occupied, then you're likely in need of a clinical intervention. Food: In addition to being a brewpub, Twain's is also a full-service restaurant. The menu offerings are predominately traditional American bare fare, but there are a few novel standouts such as the bacon mac & cheese fritters. In addition to the standard menu, they also serve brunch on the weekends. Overall, the food isn't that memorable, but that's not surprising considering that it's not the main reason that most people seek this place out. Service: Incredibly friendly, but not always the most efficient. On the weekends, wait times can get fairly long for pool tables, darts, and shuffle board, so be prepared to wait. Atmosphere: The interior of Twain's is really quite expansive. The facility features a large dining room, performance stage, two bar areas, a billiards room, and separate alcoves for darts and shuffle board. Families are welcome during the day, but Twain's restricts entry to persons 21 and over after 9PM. Also, Smoking is completely prohibited, regardless of the time of day, so you don't have to worry about smelling like an ashtray once the evening is over. Cost: Inexpensive. Appetizers and snacks are $5-$9, soups and salads are $4-$9, sandwiches (includes choice of side) are $7-$10, and entrees are $8-$15. Other: Twain's is more than capable of accommodating large groups or office parties. They also feature special events throughout the week, such as food and beer pairings, corned beef Sundays, and Jazz Jam Thursdays.
(4)Emma G.
The 5th star here is because Tuesday night Jazz was so, so great. Twain's is huge (or maybe my recently-moved-out-of-NYC-perspective is off); there is a giant dining room, with a stage for live music visible from most angles. Then there is a giant back room with billiards and a separate bar. The food is actually quite good for being a pub; I went with a friend who hadn't been in about a year, and he said the menu was much improved from the last time he'd been. My turkey burger was succulent, my greek salad was yummy and well-balanced (although a little overkill on the feta), and my friend's Burner Burger (Blackened Brasstown Beef, tomato and poblano chutney, pickled jalapenos, sriracha mayo, jack cheese.) was seriously a flavor-bomb in the best way. Live jazz at Twain's is perfect. The first set seemed to be comprised of all the regulars, and then as the night went on, people from the room kept coming up with their instruments and joining in. The musicians were phenomenal; they were clearly just having SO MUCH FUN, and it was a delight to watch/listen. I keep telling everyone I know that I can't wait to take them here on a Tuesday night and I'm being sincere.
(5)Mike O.
Pretty sweet bar. Lots of games like shuffle board, pool, darts. And lots of places for people to play those games. There are several bars around the place, so you don't have to go too far, and there is also waiter service. The beer list is great, the pub food is very tasty. All around a great place. Keep in mind I've only been here on an early Friday afternoon. I haven't witnessed it, but I could see this place getting crazy packed. I imagine it would be less fun then.
(4)Angela M.
They get their 4th star back! We went in yesterday (Fri Jun 14 2013) for lunch and it was outstanding. We had the fried chicken sandwich special, which was DEELISH. The fried chicken had a crispy, slightly sweet crust and was moist inside - PERFECT. The jalapeño aioli was not very spicy, but just salty enough to offset the sweet radish and cabbage slaw. Simply delectable. Nommy noises were the only conversation during this meal! Chef Savannah has saved this place! We didn't have beer, but the newest selection looked great. We are SO happy to have our wonderful Twain's back!
(4)Matthew E.
Nice place. We went kind of late on a Thursday and there were only 10-15 people in there. They have pool tables, darts, and shuffleboard. There are a lot of cool places within walking distance.
(4)Shyam S.
I had not visited Twain's in years, but I'm seriously questioning my own judgment because this is an excellent sports bar. Fuck, I feel like I have seriously wasted my time at cruddy sports bars across the city when such a gem is right in Decatur. Twain's seriously has everything - shuffleboard, billiards, pool, trivia, outdoor patio, tons of seating indoors, great food, great beer, etc. I just popped in to watch the second and third period of the Blackhawks-Bruins game (Go Hawks) and ate the most delightful snack - something called spent grain bread and the jerky and jelly combination. It was short and sweet and delightful.
(4)Neenee P.
A step above the rest as far as beer and food quality but service... that's a whole different story. I'm not going into detail, I'm not so enthralled with myself I think people want to read an essay on yelp but the gist of it is, can we please stop with the apathetic serving?! It doesn't make you cool, or hipster. It makes you a bad server. There are a few good ones here if you snag a decent station but as a whole, if you're not at the main bar; be prepared for serious slack service!
(3)Tom C.
I love Twain's! They have plenty of things to do like: shuffle board, pool tables, arcade games, darts, and fooze ball. It's very spacious inside. The place has a lot of character to it. Very casual, down to earth atmosphere. It's not grungy. It's open late till 2am on weekdays and 3am on the weekends. The clientele seems pretty cool. They have a very good beer selection for bottled and draft. I haven't tried the food, only played pool while I was there. I'm definitely coming back. And what do you know....they are close to Agnes Scott and you can hopefully catch some beautiful Agnes girls if they are not "Dec"aturs...lol
(4)Davie C.
20 something hell. And the under 21 crowd have to be filtered out before you'll even get served. Maybe it's Friday nights. Maybe it's the full moon and I'm raging. shouldn't take an hour to get served. They should card at the door and then I would have known this place is for college kids and cougars. This also a great place to play hipster bingo, you can Google search for cards. And, seriously, who the f*ck drinks PBR at a BREWERY?!?!?!?
(1)Sam G.
Probably my favorite place to hang out at right now. I love playing pool, the option for darts, arcade games and shuffle board rock! The live music is always good and the atmosphere is always positive and the staff are great. Cool place to go if your a fan of beer and good times. Dont come here if your a dick! The hipsters will stare you down til your pecker falls off ;)
(5)Ryan S.
It is true that most people only write reviews only when their experience was poor or if it didn't meet expectations. Mine's different. Here's why? Me and my co-workers have been having Thursday nights (not all, but many Thursdays) @ Twains, since most of us are off on Thursdays. On my friend's (co-worker) despedida party, we decided to celebrate it at Twain's -- but instead of Thursday, we did it on a Wednesday. Oh, boy... That Wednesday, everyone was confused... This place used to be our favorite hangout ... but the real unexpected happened ... First, we were served poorly. We were handed out bill/checks way too early -- like they were ready to kick us out. Then, our female server rarely came back to refill our drinks or asked for any more orders. No one among us really knew why? When one of us asked, she couldn't tell us what was wrong. Also, our tables were cleaned early, even when some of us were still sitting -- my chicken wings were thrown away (even if there's still more than half left on the basket). Just poor service to the extreme! I don't know if it was because it was a Wednesday, or if it was because we weren't on our usual tables (or not the usual servers). Even the manager that night offered no help. Of course he tried/pretend he was listening, but we could see on his bearded face that he didn't care about our complains. To note: it was not even busy that night -- on our area, there were maybe 4 to 6 parties. It was just heartbreaking. We have been their costumers for a while, and never until that day did we get an awful service and a careless manager response. Also, I seem to recognize the manager who came to our table -- he seem to be our former server. He cut some of his beard and had some neat cutting and trimming (compared to his former beardy, mustachy, hairy face.) It was sad -- I guess having higher position makes one act differently. I am not hear to influence you not to try Twain's. It was maybe just bad luck that came to our faces all at the same time. Just to let you know, we are not just random uneducated rude folks, we are healthcare professionals. We know our limitations, and we know if we are being treated awfully. I just hope this won't happen to any of you guys.. But yes, yes to great food, and great alcoholic drinks, tops the pool table, darts, etc. But here's to having had a ready-to-forget, sad-ending of a night... And here's to never ever coming back to Twain's... Ever!
(1)Sarah F.
Great service. Terrible veggie chili. Delicious beet salad. Beer samples.
(4)Joyous S.
I like this place and I think it's a great place to hang out with your friends and it's also great date spot. The first time I went out with my coworkers and for happy hour! I went again just to get some vegetarian chili and it was okay! The last time I went was on a date and we had a great time the only thing that I would say is the server wasn't that friendly she was also the bartender in the back. But another server came over to help her that night and she was very pleasant!
(4)Emily C.
This place is amazing! I've been going to Twain's for a few years now and have converted many friends into believers. They brew many of their own beers in house and I've never had one I didn't like. Prices are extremely reasonable for both drinks and food. I find the food to be really, really good especially if you're looking for something local, delicious, but at the same time low key and laid back. I highly recommend the hot wings!
(5)Christy B.
A great spot for tasty beer and fun games. They have some house brews that are not only well-made, but also inexpensive. Win-win-win. Throwing darts is obviously a little dangerous if you've been swimming in a beer ocean all night, so I suggest sticking to other games that don't involve throwing pointy objects around! Lucky for you, there are plenty of choices for that. The food is beyond bar food. Salads, sammiches, and other healthy options sit on the menu right next to some amazing sweet potato fries. The atmosphere changes depending on which side of the bar you're on, from library-ish to pool hall, but it holds a good vibe no matter where you are.
(4)Jessica L.
I went here for trivia night with my host while I was couchsurfing. It's a bit grittier of a place than I'm used to but overall pretty fun. I got the roasted turkey on multigrain because I still haven't gotten over my obsession with sprouts. It was decent, but a little too salty/peppery if I recall. The trivia itself was fun, even though there were a few questions that were stupidly random. The bathroom stalls don't have locks (at least in the ladies' room), and that's just not cool. I accidentally walked in on some poor girl :/.
(3)Bibi R.
We've been to Twain's a few times now. While it's maybe not my favorite place ever, they have great drinks and some really nice dishes. Unfortunately they changed their menu recently, so some of the really good veggie stuff is not available anymore, but the Crispy Kale Sandwich is unbeatably delicious. It comes with a side as well--they're fries are great! Their drinks selection is also great, and their shuffle board and pool tables just add to the fun. What I don't really like is that their "pool table for so-and-so" is extremely loud--unnecessarily loud. Nonetheless, a nice place to hang out. Will definitely be back.
(4)Reba Jean B.
Oh, Twain's... What can I say about you. I thoroughly enjoyed your trivia night last week and wish I could make it this week. I'm thankful for your beer selection and hope you keep it up. The Founder's was fantastic on draft. Your pool tables have kept me entertained for years on end and I would like to say thank you for always being there. (My only complaint is with the boiled peanuts. Is that clove I taste? Two thumbs down on that one) Twain's, your staff and your guests are awesome!
(4)Steve M.
Twains is an awesome bar. Whenever I go out in Decatur I always end up at Twains. They have good prices and the bartenders make stiff drinks, which I love. They also have a bunch of pool tables, shuffle board, darts and an outdoor patio. I haven't had any food there but the drinks are good and the beer they brew there is good as well. Atmosphere is the best part.
(5)Silence R.
I wanted to like this place, I really did. Named after one of the greatest American authors of any era, pages of books on the walls, pool and darts. Plenty of space, once you finally find a parking spot, Twain's is a great place to meet friends. ...as long as you aren't planning on eating or drinking. If Almost Average was a flavor, Twain's food would be smothered in it. I've had burgers, reubens, salads, jerky - apparently they make their own, fries, and I'm sure a few others. Not once has the food been better than "just okay." Every time I tried something new it was an opportunity to be disappointed all over again. The food isn't bad, it's just not good. Go there hungry and you'll leave disappointed. Twain's own brews are hit or miss, heavy on the miss. But I'm sure a lot of that has to do with personal preference: I prefer good beer, not watered down craft concoctions just to say you make your own beer. I went to a place and made my own wine once - that doesn't make me a stellar vintner. The service is terrible. Just terrible. Oh, they seem nice enough. Lots of smiles and laid back personalities. So laid back in fact that they will forgot to come back to the table. Or will come back without what you asked for. Twice. I've been weekends and during the week, busy and empty. There are two constants: inattentive service and meh food. Looking back, I'm surprised at how often I've gone there, often due to convenience, given their track record. But I don't need to play that song anymore. Other than the service, it's not a BAD place - it's just not very good.
(2)Kent M.
Awesome Food not only do they prepare it Great It's Good Food to start with !! Awesome community Place. can get a little loud as they have lots pool tables, games to entertain. One of My favs !!
(4)SenorQueso G.
During our weekend stay in Decatur, we hit Twain's for an early lunch twice. We enjoyed the beer and food. With all of the pool tables and obvious PA gear, I can see how this place could get pretty loud at night. However, it was quiet and easy-going for lunch. The beer was very good. Particularly, the Gingerbread Bragon Brown Ale was great for the first beer of the day. We tried the bacon mac n cheese fritters and were comparing everything else we ate that weekend to those. Amazing. The tempura green beans were top-notch as well. Still firm and crunchy without being greasy at all. All of the food was excellent. Speed of service was another matter. There seemed to be only one person working the entire floor, so we had some long waits between visits. Luckily, we were on vacation and didn't mind the pace. In other circumstances this would have been an issue. If I ever get back to Decatur, I'll be going back.
(4)Ross F.
Headed here earlier for lunch and ordered from the brunch menu. It was kind of disappointed. It came with borderline-overcooked chicken sausage patties and "hash browns" - or a small blob of fried potatoes. But the ambiance was nice and so was the server!
(3)Ken M.
This is a great neighbor sports bar/resteraunt that also serves up live music. Thursday night bike night is usally when I go. Lots of space, patio dining and gaming galore.
(4)Katrina W.
Twain's won my heart with their beer flight and their nachos. A friend of mine took me here and got me a flight of their beers, which a) was pretty tasty and b) got me rather drunk! For noms, we ordered a basket of fries (that came with the best spicy mayo ever) to share and then I decided to get the nachos with chicken for my meal. So, the nachos. These are the best nachos I've had in town, for serious. They add a cheese sauce and then bake cheddar cheese on top of that, add a yummy pico de gallo and jalapenos and give you sour cream and salsa on the side. You can add chicken, steak or veggie chili for an additional charge. Whenever I get sick of nachos, I'll try something else - but I'll take my husband's word for the other entrees (he was really fond of the pot roast). They do have a small parking lot and are slightly off the Square, so it's never been hard to find seats there. Restaurant is roomy with a game area (darts/pool) and service has always been spot on. Definitely will be back. :)
(4)Obadiah S.
Had the occasion to stop here for Brunch on the weekend. The corned beef hash was fantastic. The beer that's beginning to pour from the new brewmaster is really worth a visit.
(4)Alli H.
Service is always friendly. Food is pretty good, and the new brewmaster has brought some really great beers to Twain's. Sometimes they run out of the beer I want, but the options are plentiful enough that I can always find a Plan B that is just as delicious. I recently had the vegetarian chili and the falafel burger - they were DELICIOUS! The best part is the darts/pool/shuffleboard. Playing darts is free, but the shuffleboard and pool are both pay-to-play (and not that cheap). Overall a very fun place to hang out on weekends :-) Love it!
(4)Katie C.
I've always heard great things about Twains, so maybe my experience was unusual. My friend and I went here after the Braves game Sunday and it was pretty empty. Only families with screaming children and a couple of people at the bar. The service was quick and competent. I got the chicken philly cheese steak with onion rings because I wanted something messy and hearty. My friend got the turkey bacon wrap with fries and we shared the cheese dip. The food was very blah minus the onion rings which would have carried a whole other star if they hadn't been so incredibly greasy. The sandwich was tiny and only lukewarm with no real flavor. The cheese dip was orange (I was expecting white since it said jalapeño cheese dip) and it only came with a handful of chips. By the time the waitress brought more chips (which we had to pay for!) it had cooled into a hard mess. I will come back to try the interesting selection of beers, but only after 9pm (when all those screaming kids get kicked out) and I'll make sure to eat before I come.
(2)Nathan O.
Perhaps my favorite place in all of Decatur. You can have great brews, wonderful food, and enjoy some classic entertainment. The fried green beans are the best part of the menu. Pulled pork never loses as well. Someone else wrote about the large amount of porters and coffee-based brews, which is entirely true for any Belgium beer fan. Shuffboard, pool, foosball and live music often. A nice patio outside as well. The parking is the biggest blessing as well, as you are always guaranteed to find a spot in walking distance. You really can't beat it.
(4)Richard K.
Any place that has shuffleboards rocks in my books and they got two at Twain's. Besides the shuffleboards, they have about a dozen pool tables, three dart tables, and some of that damn foosball. There are a few drawbacks to the games. First, they are not free and on the pricey side. Second, there is a good wait especially for shuffleboard. Even with the drawbacks, it is really an entertaining, worthy place to grab food and drinks with all the possible activities. As for the food, it was surprisingly good. The sweet potato fries were delicious and the pita appetizer proportion was big enough to feed a small country. Really, for $5 bucks, it was absolutely ginormous. Another plus is the microbrewery. I always appreciate a place that make their own beer. I ordered the golden ale and really enjoyed the overall smooth taste of the beer, but sadly I wasn't my usual self and had to call it quits after one beer due to heartburn or "one beer queer syndrome". With their microbrews, solid food, and games, Twain's is well worth the drive out to Decatur
(4)Dio S.
Twain's is a combination of a pool hall and brewpub, but also kind of more than that. Offering and layout are very eclectic, with pool room in the back, front gaming area with two shuffleboard tables, a few pool tables, darts, and arcade games, middle eating area, and then a bar and even more eating area on the other side, not to forget a patio. Beer selection is quite nice, and priced agreeably, though I have not been too impressed with any of the house brews. The crowd is generally youthful, energetic, wide-ranging, and there's lots of characters. I think it's great for groups. Shuffleboards can be pretty hard to get on a busy night. There are people from Decatur Chess club playing on one table every Friday night, way past midnight, in all the bustle and noise. That is very cool. Now if only they would do karaoke occasionally, I'll go insane. There are times when you think, man, all I do at the Brick Store is sitting there drinking and talking, I wonder if there's somewhere to chill for a while where I actually DO stuff. Voila, this is a great option right down the block. When you get thirsty for that glass of Duchess, go right back to BSP. Love it.
(3)Rob P.
Just had a fun Friday night at Twain's. Started off with dinner and it was a pleasant surprise. I had the pork loin and it was moist and delicious. The lady had the beet salad with salmon and also enjoyed it. The above average food was a nice surprise since we only expected good beer and games. That part didn't disappoint as there was a good selection of house microbrews and other craft bottles. Also got to play pool, foosball, and shuffleboard. Huzzah.
(4)Frank C.
They brew their own beer, which is very tasty and consistent throughout the batches. The waitstaff is fantastic, they have a beer in my hand as soon as I finish the previous one. It is a great set up with pool tables, full length indoor shuffle board and a dart area. The patio is cool in the summer because of the ivy growing over the top, and the patio is dog friendly.
(5)AJ J.
The lemon pepper wings are AMAZING!!!!!
(4)Jerome M.
Twain's is a full service pub, restaurant, and pool hall located in downtown Decatur, GA. Open since 1996, they've been brewing their own crafted ales since November 2006. With an eclectic atmosphere, i.e. chandlers made from Tap Hammers, tricycles, bowling pins, pages of Huck Finn plastered to the wall, four dart boards, six pool table in the main room and more in the back, anyone can feel at ease at Twain's. Their menu contains: App's like: Fried Green Beans, The Trinity(Queso, Guacamole, and Salsa with Chips.). Entrees: Black Bean Burger, Cilantro-Salmon Burger, Country Fried Steak. Plus soups and salads. And names like: Heaven for Climate Golden Ale, Gingerbread Brown Ale, Mad Happy Pale Ale, and Hell for Society Stout coming out of the brewery, held within the within the restaurant, there is hardly a chance you couldn't find something for yourself. I myself had the Fried Green Beans, Drunken Mussels and a Heaven for Climate Golden Ale. The Fried Green Beans them-selves were a bit bland, the beer batter was crisp and wasn't bad. The horseradish mayo that accompanied it was very tasty and kicked the flavor up making this a very tasty and recommend appetizer. The Heaven for Climate Golden Ale wasn't very impressive to me. It had a bland taste, almost like a Lite beer from a name brand company. The Drunken Mussels were very good. They tasted fairly fresh and were cooked perfectly. They took a steam bath in Twain's brew with shallots, garlic and oregano. It really worked. My Foodie Outing group were there for awhile. I was the only one out of them that wanted to play some billiards, but for $7.50 an hour, it was something I could pass up. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am ready to go back. See my full review at: sites.google.com/site/iw…
(3)Jon G.
These guys can make some beer!! I am a big IPA fan and they always have one on tap that I love. Food is super. Wonderful grass fed burger. Great fries too. They make a vegetarian chili that I love. Really nice people, good beers and food. I totally recommend this place.
(5)Kathleen M.
After meeting a sold out show at Eddie's Attic, we decided to roll over to Twain's and grab a beer to celebrate Humpday. Or something. As if we needed an excuse to grab a beer. I was the first to arrive, made a lap, and settled in at a table towards the front window. I loved the space: very open and welcoming, with various options for seating depending on what you were looking for: booths away from the bar for the kid-toting folk, hi tops for a quick drink, and tables looking out over the pool hall for the gawkers in all of us. I love their rotating list of house-made beers, and settled in with a Bookzilla Brown Ale, as brown ales are my newest love. It's great that you can get a half-pint, just in case you don't feel like committing to one flavor: it's a great way to try their wide range of options. The beer I chose was delicious; quite flavorful and better than I expected, to be honest. It's no Bell's Brown but I would happily order it again. I also ordered a turkey sandwich that was the perfect choice: fresh, thick Thanksgiving-like turkey on great bread.. it was simple but totally hit the spot. And it had sprouts. I love sprouts. The sweet potato fries were equally divine and a huge serving: I had to push my plate away so as not to eat them all and thus have to be rolled home. Our server was on the ball and checked in often without being obnoxious about it. The price point was great for a casual night out and I really have no qualms about this place. I hope to be back here soon, that's for sure.
(4)Matt T.
Yea, Im all of 45 minutes away from this place. Does that stop me? Nope. Should the potential DUI's stop me? Yup Do they? Obviously not. Sad that my liver controls my life, however my stomach has a part to do with that as well. With that said, GO TO TWAINS. See what I did there? You didnt? You suck. So heres the deal, the food, rocks. The beer, brewed by Jordan Fleetwood of Dogwood fame brews the beer. Then they add on a few well chosen beers and host this wonderful pairing of food and beer in one of the most amazing spaces I have ever set my 23 year old eyes. I love the openness, the dive feel, but the reserved almost classy, yea I said it, feel to the place. Want some real class? Tuesdays at 8 with Joe Gransden throwing down some awesome jazz. I came here for the World Cup as well. Lets just say I found the spot to cheer on the boys of the Nation Team. Im a picky eater, but everything I have eaten so far, rocks. The beers, well Im not so picky. But if I was forced to drink Twains beer till I died, Im sure I could do worse. Find me here one day. I might be passed out on one of their couches.
(5)Lysa F.
Twain's is awesome. I love the people, the chill vibe, the awesome beers, sweet food, games, music... it's like an arcade, pool hall, concert venue and pub in one. The drinks/food are both very affordable. As far as drinks go, I'd recommend: Mad happy pale ale (light and smooth, their classic) Heaven for climate golden (poetic and great. a rich golden, deep but summery taste) Those are my two faves, but they have new beers rolling in constantly. Food wise, I loved: Mediterranean platter (killer, light and tasty) Nachos (pretty good; great beer munchies) Black bean burger (damn good) ...or anything else! The salads and sandwiches are all great. Check it out, I promise you won't regret it!
(4)Jeremy A.
The food is remarkably bad here from what I have tried. The wings were average and the beer mussels tasted like they were cooked with dish soap, I had to send them back they were so bad. That being said they have a good beer selection and the shuffleboard tables are key here which from what i have heard are free on wednesday nights. Go here for the beer and bar activities, stay away from the food.
(3)Kelly S.
I heart Twain's. Their microbrews are great, and so are their wings. Whatever the hottest ones are are DAYUM hot, but tasty. Go a level lower if you want to be able to taste anything for the next 3 days. I like to sit on the patio and have yet to play pool, because I get lazy and want to sit when I drink beer. Plus I'm an absolutely TERRIBLE pool player, so no one wants to be on my team (justifiably). But someday I'll get off my lazy ass and indulge in some billiards. Hmmmm . . . it kinda feels like a Twain's night. We'll have to see.
(4)Frances W.
We had a little party at Twain's this weekend, and it turned out to be a pretty good decision. The boys had fun playing pool and darts, and I enjoyed being able to relax a little bit. I do have to say that the darts were in pretty rough shape, and I might suggest bringing your own if you are really into it. We ordered a bunch of food and all 11 of us shared. We sat in the back towards the pool tables at 2 big booths. They were perfect for our group. After all, we just wanted to eat and be merry. The women's bathrooms were awful. One of the doors had almost completely fallen off, and another one of the toilets had a plunger stuck in it...yay? I suppose they are too busy being proud over their bathrooms being labeled as "Balls" and "Racks" that they don't have the energy to maintain them. Yeah the food is pretty much bar food...but for bar food it's pretty good. I don't even remember everything we ordered...must have been half the menu, but I will tell you what I remember. We got the chips and queso first, which was pretty yummy, but nothing that you couldn't buy at the super market for 1/3 the price, but hey that's how it goes. We also got the french fries and some sort of orange spicy dip. The fries were tiny, probably the smallest I've ever seen, which means that you are eating more friedness per potato, but it was a party after all. We also got the pita and hummus. The hummus was pretty bland, and honestly I would suggest skipping this dish, even though the pita and cucumber were good. Finally we ordered the boiled peanuts, which were fairly good, but the portion size was tiny. I have to admit that when it comes to boiled peanuts I'm used to buying them from some guy on the side of the road for dirt cheap, so I'm a bit biased. Twain's was a good choice for us because it had the entertainment, space and food, but I wouldn't go back for the eats, but maybe the games. On a side note, they charge $10 if you want to bring in your own cake, which is crazy for a place that barely has any dessert on their menu.
(3)Emily K.
I finally returned to Twain's a few weeks ago and I've been meaning to write an update. I went there on a blind date (ugh, terrible date!) and arrived first. It was about 9:30 on a Saturday night and wasn't nearly as busy as I'd expected it to be. I snagged a table by the bar and was served promptly. The waiter was helpful with suggesting beers as I'm not a big beer drinker. My date *shiver* ended up paying, but even if I'd had to foot my own bill it only would've been about $5 with tip. I didn't get any food this time as I'd eaten before I went out. The beer was good. It was right about what I like in a beer, which is admittedly a bit on the weak side. The server was attentive, but not hovering. Since it wasn't as busy as expected, he got us everything fairly quickly. The ambiance and beer is better than I remembered, but the company was decidedly much worse than the last time. *shivers again*
(4)theron t.
New chef, new menu, about time. Really excited about the potential for the food here to improve. Our first sampling of the new menu was great. BBQ sandwich and hand cut fries were great. Wife's food was great as well. We will defiantly be coming back more often to enjoy the food and beers. Great job on tackling what's always been the weakest area of this place.
(4)Katy S.
Twain's is a great hang out! Please note, this review is only for the nightlife. No food has been consumed by me at Twain's. I have visited this spot twice during trips to Atlanta. Both times have been a blast! Here's why: Bar games. They have pool and table shuffleboard. It is a fun atmosphere to play these games with friends and to have a little friendly competition. Good drinks. They brew their own beers but also have a full selection of wine and liquor. Decently priced, they go down easy. Laid back vibe. Everyone in here is just kickin back. Whether you are at a table, enjoying the patio, or playing a game with friends there is something for anyone. Someday I will come back for food, but this will remain a must visit spot for me on any Atlanta/Decatur trip!
(5)Jose M.
Eh. It's just ok. Good beer but that's increasingly common in ATL. Service was fine but management could do better. Here are the details: The bartender was really nice and they offer a good beer selection. But for a place that advertises its billiards it doesn't have many tables and those get crowded quickly. I was also sitting at the bar when a group came in and asked to see the GOP debate (I was hoping to watch it too but I had been quietly sitting there). The bar changed it to the channel but refused to put on sound even though the place was basically dead but for the pool tables all being in used. Seemed arbitrary to me and like they were willing to lose the group's business over it, though I admit I could not hear the reason given for not putting on the debate.
(2)Hunter B.
There is no one thing that makes Twain's a 4-star establishment... rather, it's the summation of a bunch of little things. Overall the food is superb for a bar. Tonight I got the pulled mushroom burger, which was pretty phenomenal (but short of life-changing). It was hard to believe that it was mushroom and not pork in the burger, and as the bartender said, it has just the right amount of kick to it. On the side I got the kale caesar salad. I believe this was my first time indulging in kale, and while I wasn't necessarily the biggest fan, hey, it's a caesar salad, so it still tasted fine by me. The beer on tap is all brewed by Twain's. In my experience it ranges from good to great, but won't knock your socks off. I had the Hashbiscus, which is a collaboration with Sweetwater (not the biggest Sweetwater guy), and it was very tasty; hoppy and a little tart. I do like that Twain's does a good job of rotating new beers on tap. There are a ton of pool tables and a couple of shuffle board tables in the lower part of the restaurant, which is a main attraction for most. The shuffle boards are really well kept up and super long, making them the best I've ever played on. In my opinion they overcharge to rent out time on these, but it's also not completely unreasonable, as it frees up availability on the tables. Twain's is usually busy without ever being crowded, which is nice. I'm still low key salty that Twain's took out their stage (and effectively killed the community jazz night they hosted on Tuesdays) in favor of a corner booth, but the service, drinks, and especially food is good enough for me to keep coming back. If you're looking to grab a couple of beers and some great, reasonably-priced bar food, and maybe play a couple of bar games while you're at it, this is your Huckleberry.
(4)Angela U.
Twain's is a great neighborhood hang out with amazing staff, food and beer! A must go to hang out for a date, birthday or hanging with your friends. The food is amazing! I love the sweet potato chips and burgers! A all time favorite is the fish and chips! Go! See! Eat! And live at Twain's!!!!
(5)Evan G.
I came here after work for a beer to watch a few games of nfl.. I had not been here in years but had always remembered a good time.. I was shocked to leave here And be offered the option of jail or a cab ride. I suggested an uber ride as there are cheaper than a cab and was turned down. At this point I was forced into a high priced cab home over a ride to prison with a cop. This has been been my worst experience ever in over 20 years of hanging out in Decatur. Will never spend a dime here again.
(1)Adriana P.
Literally the worst service I think Ive ever experienced. Slow, almost non existent.. Our server or whatever he was came by once to take the order and never again. The rest of the wait staff are also extremely rude.
(1)Jacquelyn M.
I love going here to hang out with friends after work or just meeting up in town. They have some great burgers and side item selections. The draft and bar selection is really nice and has a good variety. The inside can get a little loud on the weekend and weeknight. The outside seating is pleasant and is dog friendly.If you want to play pool you can usually get a table and the price for the time isn't too bad. They are ok with the wait staff and service. Sometime it can be hard to get service outside on the patio. They are pretty prompt when you are seated inside. They have multiple table options to accommodate for larger groups. They have events through the week as well for open mic or karaoke.
(5)Andrea M.
A pretty hip place. The crowd here was, well, crowded and lively. lol. But really, you can find lots of folks in their early to late twenties here. The air was vibrant with so many conversations. There are of course an area for a sit down meal and the typical bar area for drinks. The other half of the restaurant is dedicated to the entertainments for the night (pool, darts, video games, and another game that I'm not sure what it is called--hybrid of air hockey and corn hole). My friends and I were here for a mini birthday celebration so for sure this place has that causal sit down atmosphere. The beers averaged out to be $6 to $7. There are cheaper ones for $3 plus change and others that were $9 and above. There is parking directly behind the building that's free, but it's only if you're lucky enough to find a space. There are parking lots all around this area or utilize the street parking.
(4)Thi T.
2 underwhelming stars for the appetizers. Food was terrible. Bean soup was spicy, salty. I could barely muster up 5 bites and had to discard the rest of the bowl. I'd recommend going there for the other features. There are many games, including shuffle board, and pool. Ambience is laid back. A good relaxed atmosphere to hang out with friends and have a conversation because it is not too loud.
(2)John S.
I've been here about 5 times. Each time has been the same. Good beer, good service and so forth. The food has been pretty satisfactory..... not the best.... but, dude, this is very good bar food. Your other option is to go be accosted by hipsters at Victory Sandwich bar. One of the best things is that the servers were very helpful, responsive, and knowledgeable on each occasion I went. The poutine was amazing.... so get that. Otherwise, they have an enormous selection of pool tables. There were a lot of teenagers trying to look cool, blatantly taking over the pool tables and trying to discuss strategy with a 40 year old brewery enthusiast. That's pretty much a euphemism for Decatur.
(4)Alli H.
After 4 years at Emory, I would have assumed that I would have gone to Twain's more than just this one time. It's an everything bar that has pool, darts, outdoor areas and lots of beer. I liked how spacious it was and how crowded it was too...
(3)Aleema A.
I've been here twice now and I have to say I love it! It is such a fun bar. They have a wide variety of drinks to try and their beer selection is definitely worth mentioning. The place is really huge. You aren't fighting large crowd or waiting forever to get a drink. it's the perfect amount of everything in my opinion. It also has a lot of games. Even if you aren't a drinker, there are so many things to keep you occupied! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Tyler-James T.
I'm reading some of these reviews and I'm shocked that people are rating three and under. Leave it to hipsters to be critical of a hipster restaurant. I thought the food was AMAZING. I'm super impressed that they had poutine as an appetizer. I've never seen it served with a fried egg, but my inner Filipino hipster was very happy. For my entree I had the Farmsted burger and I literally could not get a full bite out of it, it was that huge. I will say that I asked for medium on the burger and it was definitely well done, but stuff like that doesn't bother me. My sister-in-law had the chicken and waffle sandwich and it was very good, as well. Since my brother and his wife are team God-Squad I wasn't able to taste any of the craft beers, but they had a huge selection. The service isn't bad, but it's also not the best. Our waiter was very busy and short with us, but nonetheless he got the job done. I will say, however, that the worse part is the sit where you choose idea. We had a large group and had to seriously stalk tables once the customers were ready to leave. It could use some more organization. Overall, awesome place!
(4)Andrew P.
Seriously? No sign or anything that says they kick people out without IDs? At least card people at the door before letting them sit down with menus, find something to order, and then kick them out.
(1)Kyle B.
I love billiards, great place to play games. Food is pretty awesome and they used to have jazz night on tuesdays. I hope they can bring it back.
(5)Laura R.
I like Twain's for the ultrahip atmosphere. I dislike Twain's for the ultrahip atmosphere. Let me elaborate. Twain's is, and always will be, a destination for those self-described youthful hipsters. The early-mid twenty somethings who want to drink beer and get laid and just hang out with their bros before the aforementioned laying of a person. In summation: there are a lot of dudes here (FYI--young twenty something females). Probably a ratio of 3 guys to every 1 girl. And, in general, there are a TON of people. Outside on the patio, inside in front of the doors, blocking the bar 3 people deep, standing here and there just, like, because. They're mostly in their early 20s, my third disliked group of people (after children and teenagers). If you want to come here to hang out, this place is great for that. They're constantly packed, there are fun things to do like billiards and darts, and there are some interesting people here to boot. Their liquor and beer selection is decent, and the atmosphere is downright chill. I've been here where a mildly crazy person who tried very hard to talk to every female in our group about the special finesse it takes to throw a dart. He mumbled to himself when no one was around, and just acted the part of a goofy, crazy person. I've also watched, in amusement, as people meet and greet and try to finesse their way into someone's pants. It's a good place to watch the crash and burn. Interestingly enough, I'm usually here for someone's birthday or a special occasion. And I would not recommend it for dinner. I would, however, recommend it for drinks. While the food is consistently 3-4 stars (better than Brick Store, but not as good as the Porter), the service is crap. Every. Single. Time. If you want to eat dinner on the weekend, good luck! It's likely your waiter will forget you exist at all. Eating out on the patio is even worse. They will forget you asked them for a menu. They will forget you told them you were on the patio. Twice. They will forget you are parched and just want some water. They will forget you asked for the check 20 minutes ago. I understand, my 20% tip isn't equitable to your 1$ per drink tip, especially when you serve 20 drinks in the span of time it takes for you to walk outside and get my order. But it's still frustrating. PROS: Youthful, hip atmosphere. Smoking is outside. Pretty decent food. Games to play inside, like darts and pool. Really cool atmosphere. I think there are two bars. So if one is full, you can hop over to the other one. Great place to people watch. The patio area is dog friendly. CONS: Youthful, hip atmosphere. If you're outside every person smokes like a chimney, and they make you smell like crap. Nowhere on the patio is safe from it. INCREDIBLY slow service. Forgetful waitstaff. Parking is a joke. The lot can hold somewhere close to 10 cars, and there's 5 times that number at the bar alone. I got the fish and chips, and the fries were burnt, small, and overly greasy. Probably the ones at the bottom of the barrel they wanted to get rid of before the night was out. THE VERDICT: I'm usually there to eat, and occasionally there to hang out. It's definitely the type of place to hang out, instead of eat at. The waitstaff service is a joke, even if the food is pretty good. The hip atmosphere is amusing, if not annoying, and at the very least this is a good place to watch failed exchanges between a pretty girl and an awkward boy. 4 stars if you just want to hang out 3 stars if you want to hang out and eat (which is what I usually do)
(3)Rob C.
This place is awesome. Great food, great atmosphere, great staff. I've eaten the forager burger and the fish n chips. Wow to both!!! This is a must stop place to eat in the Decatur area.
(5)Vanessa K.
Twain's is my go-to bar in downtown Decatur. I love the laid back and fun atmosphere, quirky and fun touches- notice the eponymous author's book pages lining the walls near the tables. Great for people watching, excellent beer selection, and strong & delicious LIT's. The nachos are also a must-have! Staff is always famously friendly and attentive.
(4)Keith F.
Food is better than your average pub grub and the beer is made here. Try some Criminal Sin IPA if they're not out of it. Parking is probably no longer an issue because the seafood restaurant closed. Be sure to park legally because nobody likes those kind of surprises.
(4)Randy T.
Fun locale - definitely a great place to hang out and play pool in Decatur. Average in terms of bar food - I'm giving a four star rating for atmosphere. The place is big and there are televisions and many pool tables. The rates for playing pool depend on the number of people playing and the time of day - at more popular late night hours, it costs more. Also, be prepared to wait for a pool table - this place is popular. Also, you can play darts or have a drink outside. Food was okay. I ordered the "Ronald", which had a "special sauce" which strongly resembles Big Mac sauce. Big burger with one huge patty that equals the two beef patties in a Big Mac, but too salty. I liked the onion rings though. They were huge - not as big as the Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Onion, but much bigger than what you typically get at a fast food joint. Also tried the mac & cheese fritters - they came with two sauces that tasted very good. Only gripe I have with this appetizer is that the sauces really aren't dipping sauces. Your best bet is to use a utensil to spread the sauces on your fritters. The food isn't perfect, but this place is certainly a lot of fun.
(4)Dean H.
My family has dined at Twain's twice in the last month and found the food excellent. The hummus, nachos, wings and deviled eggs were greatly enjoyed. The burger is great and the salmon sandwich is excellent. I found the pastrami sandwich to have dry meat. Veggie chili tastes like it is meat. Onion rings are done right. Fish and chips were not up to my standard, filets were thin and batter tough. We drank SOB IPA, Criminal Sin, Snap Crackle Hops and Release the Hounds and enjoyed them all. The beer selection changes. This is a great place for kids with all sorts of bar games until late evening. Service was a little slow.
(4)Kate S.
Twain's is my go-to bar in downtown decatur. Its got a little bit of something for everyone. Great food-great beer selection-tons of entertainment via pool, darts, shuffleboard, golden tee and more. I like the atmosphere and the fish tank. I love the beer queso, wings, fish n chips and enjoy that they brew their own beer and source things locally. I also like that they tend to pour heavy. I do like the staff, but some of them can be pretty cold and uninterested. As a frequent flyer, id expect to know some of the employees better by now. Its really more of a beer and whiskey type place, other cocktails are not a strong-point. Neither is finding a parking spot but hey its always busy.
(4)Christie M.
Hummus/olive/pickled veggies were ON POINT. Lox not so much, but that's likely more my problem than theirs. All the beer was delicious. We went for brunch and with the exception of screaming children seated behind us and the lox, it was a super pleasant experience. We're planning on going back this weekend. Seriously, I've been dreaming about the Decatur Temptress Braggot. Nightly. And my husband is completely mesmerized by the aquarium.
(5)Christine L.
Moar brewpubz plz. Seriously, this trend is freaking awesome. I was suggested this place by a client of mine at the clinic I work at. I often say that I should go to Downtown Decatur more often but really it's a bit of a trek for me and parking is an absolute nightmare. I drove my very hungover friend to Twain's to help him cure his hangover with more beer... because I'm that kind of friend. I didn't really get a chance to explore the whole restaurant so my overall view of the restaurant can only be told from the far end of the bar facing the pool hall. It was a gross-ish day and I dressed like an idiot so the patio was out of the question. Overall the feel of Twain's is very open. This is going to sound awful... but it felt like a barn that had been converted into a bar (at least that's how I felt). I noted everything was wooden (which may explain why it felt like a barn to me) with a dark lacquer to it. TVs were scattered sparingly around the open hall as to please the sports fans but not to distract the people that went in there to shoot pool or chat with friends. Ultimately it's a very down-to-Earth place, a crowd-pleaser. There's no pretentious beer snobbery that many local brewpubs give off but rather it seems like a good place to meet your friends and grab a beer, no bullshit. The best thing about this place? They serve "proper" (as the Brits would say) pints; 20 oz nonic pint glasses and the beer they serve is pretty damn good too. Moreover, the price is pretty good for the quality of beer you're drinking so win-win for beer lovers and beer snobs.
(4)Dana S.
I was excited to try this place out with a big group of friends on a Friday night. The decor is pretty cool...the walls are covered in pages from Twain's writings and they have a huge fish tank in the middle of the restaurant. They had a good selection of craft beers - I had a gingerbread beer and it was amazing. Their sweet potato and parsnip chips were tasty and addictive and the chicken burger was good as well. The main complaint I have is that we rarely saw our waitress. We actually had a swap out of waitresses, but neither of them seemed keen on filling up our drinks or checking up on us. Overall, I would come back but the service is kind of a bummer.
(3)Natasha C.
Good beer options. Friendly staff that I found quite helpful both of the times that I've eaten there. I ordered chicken fingers which were cooked perfectly except they forgot to add any seasonings. It's not the most exciting place but I definitely was able to relax.
(3)Sandra D.
Love the beer here and the burgers are awesome (the onion rings and fries are delicious) !! We've brought the kids with us as we relax on the patio and all of us had a good time
(5)Valerie N.
I really don't know how I've lived in the ATL so long and never made it to Twain's. We came on a weekday night to celebrate a friend who was taking a new job. We actually couldn't find him at first as this place is so huge! I love that there are so many bars and games to try out. We only stayed for a couple drinks, but the beer list was amazing and the service terrific. Super fun!
(4)Charles J.
I've been here way more times than I should have, considering the short time that I've lived in Atlanta, and I'm sure I'll be back again soon. Best wings anywhere. They're fried a bit crispy and they often give me a couple extra. 8 jerk-BBQ wings with sweet potato chips and a sazerac and I'm a happy camper. Nice, medium-hip staff. I've never played the games, but it's a great, comfortable place to eat and drink. Also it's in downtown Decatur, which is cute as hell if you haven't been.
(5)Katie O.
My husband and I chose to try a "new to us" restaurant on a Sunday night when neither of us felt like cooking. Given we are from Denver, any "Brewery" always pique's my husbands interest. I've never given a poor review, I believe in giving second chances in the moment that I was there on an "off" night. However, when my husband (who wears rose colored glasses) even complained, I felt it was only appropriate to review. SERVICE: or lack thereof... My drink glass was mostly empty, only refilled once. When my husband, finished his beer, we waited..and waited..and waited to get a new one. However, our waitstaff never came around to ask for another until after he was finished with his meal. At which point, we were just ready to leave. The service is INCREDIBLY slow. I'm usual a very patient person, but on a quiet Sunday night, where most of the tables that were there had already eaten their meals, I expected a lot more. The ironic part is that there were TWO people working our table. Perhaps it's a miscommunication between the two, but you would think we would have been over-serviced, not under-serviced. FOOD: HORRIBLE! I ordered a burger, which was very bland, and very dry. I ordered it medium, and it was very clearly well done. My husband also ordered a burger, his was a smidge better than mine, but both of us were underimpressed. Our french fries were also COLD. When you spend so much time waiting for your food, you would think it's coming right off the burner. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Part of me wants to give this place another shot, but most of me would rather not waste my money here again. There are too many other restaurants in Decatur with good food and drinks..
(1)Robert P.
This is one of my favorite watering holes in the area. I love that they brew their own and have so many fun activities to do inside (personal favorite is darts though I need practice). It is about perfect except they regularly change the menu and always seem to remove my favorite dishes. Still the food is typically excellent, especially the stuff on the Sunday brunch menu.
(4)David H.
Waste of time and money. Twain's justifies American tipping culture. Not only was the food utterly unimpressive, but the service was also egregiously bad. My cup spent more time empty than it did with any quantity of water in it! I would like to tip 15%-20%, but there are certain expectations I have for this premium. For instance, a medium-rare hamburger should not arrive mostly grey. Maybe their servers could stop by the table once every ten minutes? What a dreamer I am. Also, must I be punished every time I wish to use the bathroom? We live in a first-world country! The only thing this place has going for it is a trendy atmosphere, which if you value above all else makes you a nincompoop. Melton's App and Tap has better hamburgers. Beer of equal quality is ubiquitous in every gas station in the lower 48. Dine at Twain's if you need a noisy atmosphere and completely inattentive waitstaff. Believe it or not, I like to tip, and not tipping makes me sad. Going out to eat should not be an opportunity for me to save 15%.
(2)Sophie C.
Twains has a great vibe. It's huge with lots of different areas for your group to gather. I'm interested in trying more of their brews but I like what I've tried so far. On the recommendation of a friend I ordered the chicken and waffle sandwich. Delicious! It didn't hold up too well in its structure but k didn't care. That chicken (brined in sweet tea) was sublime. Can't wait to try more but I'll certainly want to order this again!
(4)Domonic B.
This place is actually a pretty cool place to hang out if you're into pool and games. They have a room set aside for nothing but playing pool. I'm not really a pool player but I have visited with friends that do. This is in Decatur and is a common hangout spot for the locals. I had the Brasseltown burger on my first visit here. The burger was decent but the fries that came with them were really bland and also cold when I got them. I'd go here for more of a hangout than for the food but it's def a decent place.
(3)Steve A.
I was glancing at my three-star, four y/o review of Twain's earlier and decided an update was in order. My wife and I have visited perhaps 30 times since that earlier review. Since then, the kitchen has really stepped up their game. Wings, burgers -- at least to us -- are consistently good. The beer, brewed in-house, continues to stand out. Their collaboration brew with the Virginia Beer Company earlier this week was outstanding. I've read some grumbling about spotty service. It's seat yourself; you might wait a minute or two sometimes before somebody spots you, but we've never had any issues. The servers are pleasant, tattooed, pierced, and competent. The only issue that honestly bugs me is the lack of parking. Their tiny lot out front fills up very quickly and street parking is hit or miss. The courthouse deck 2 blocks away is free after 5 or 6 pm, but in the rain or the cold, places with parking lots win out. Still, Twain's is in our Decatur top three, and always will be. You owe it at least one visit.
(4)Chamberlaine B.
I cannot yet write a true review... I was only in the bar for about ten minutes. Arriving at 9 pm on a Friday night, there was hardly room to breathe, much less play pool (I went to sign up for a table, and I was informed that there were 50 people ahead of me.) A wonderful venue, I'm sure, if only it weren't so crowded.
(2)Brenna S.
I've been called a "pool shark" once or twice in my day, and I love a good local beer so Twain's was a necessary stop on my list of places to visit in Atlanta. It's located in Decatur, though it's a bit detached from the rest of the "hustle and bustle". There is a parking area on the side and despite how crowded it gets is inside, I've never had issues parking here. The ambiance is what you would expect for a pool hall mostly, though the crowd tends to be younger and a bit more mixed, which I like. They probably have somewhere around 10 pool tables, so I've never had many issues getting one to play on, and as most proper pool halls, you are charged per hour to play. The tables are in decent shape (for those of you that care), but if you're a true pool shark, you definitely want to bring your own cue. As for service, I've had both great and underwhelming service here, but I don't come here for 5-star treatment, so for me, it's fine. Twain's is one of those places that you can make of it what you will. So depending on what your style is you're likely to find something you like about it - whether it's good, cheap beer, a game of pool, some live music, a neighborhood bar setting, or a college bar setting.
(4)Leticia C.
This is always the go to spot for an afternoon sport. They have PLENTY of pool tables too!
(4)Stephie Z.
Twains, twains , twains.. what can you say that hasn't already been said? Ummmmm..... #1) pool hall with no smoking- very nice #2) local bands play here- find 'em before they blow up ( maybe) #3) food is a'ight. Veggie Sandwich was good but I was expecting a warm sandwich. Oh well poo on me not reading the whole description. Pot. salad (not made with dried greens) is mighty tasty and this comes from a pot. salad connoisseur #4) Freshly brewed beer is pretty darn good, especially when they kick out some of their porters and stouts. *Alert* - heard they had some issues with one of their beer brewing machines (no clue which one). Make sure you go soon to solve whatever ale's you (hahaha- I am so damn funny) #5) Damn if the clientele isn't oh so interesting to look at. Last time I was here I saw some bikers, a dude with a cat on is head, and a gentleman who must have used pliers to get the zipper pull of his madras pants to go up.
(4)Laura N.
2 stars for the bland, insipid food. 4 stars for a fun time, if you like playing billiards, shuffleboard, and darts. Not really my scene, but it's better than just sitting around at a bar, merely talking and playing quarters with some of my favorite lawyers.
(2)Jason P.
First of all, I really want to like Twain's. I've tried several times, various times of day, various days of the week... they're just up the road, convenient, and they offer all of the things I'm looking for: 1) drinks 2) food 3) games 4) people I've just never been impressed. The Drinks - I respect places that brew their own beer, and Twain's is no exception. So their exact selection isn't my favorite, but you can't fault a place that grows their own. Maybe a few more options would be nice, but you can always find ample supplies for intoxication. The Food - It's a pub. If you were locked inside for an extended period of time, you would not starve. It's a pub and, as such, offers standard pub-fare. But nothing stands out on the menu. I'm not expecting fine dining, but one or two unique or well-executed signature items would go a long way for them in my book. The Games - Shuffleboard is great. If you go in off-hours, you may be able to get a table. Evenings and weekends, you'll be waiting. Can't really fault the bar for this, but they got rid of the pinball machine that was a great way to kill time until the tables opened up. The pool hall is great, lots of tables, but again, gotta expect to wait when things are busy. You can watch a game there on TV, though it's not a sport-bar, so if you're looking for something obscure or out of market, you'll be better off at Taco Mac or Famous. The People - Patrons are a decent mix. Get there early enough and there are families, and kids. Later in the night you'll see quite a variety of Agnes Scott students, granola Decatur residents, hipsters, hospitality-industry employees, and those that just defy classification. It's not so much that Twain's does anything wrong... i've just always hoped for better.
(2)Courtney C.
I don't know what's taken me so long to review Twains. I come here probably once a week for their homebrewed beer and sweet potato fries. I can't really speak to the quality of their other food, but the sweat potato fries are perfectly crunchy on the outside but soft and creamy in the middle. The horseradish dipping sauce is awesome as well, though maybe i muck it up a little by doing a double dip with ketchup then the horseradish. Their in-house brews are all very good, but my favorite is definitely the Gingerbread brown Ale, although their other selections are decent as well depending on your taste. They will sometimes have specials with just their beer--you can get a 20ounce for the price of a 12 ounce sometimes. If you aren't into their stuff, the beer list is quite extensive, offering regional and seasonal brews as well (looove the pumkin ale!). This is really a great feel-at-home bar where you can come in t-shirt and jeans and play some pool, darts, or shuffleboard. I am terrible at pool, but that makes it fun to go on dates here and see who is worse. The staff is reasonably attentive, but not the best around. One word of warning, if you sit at a booth in the bar area, expect to have table service. Do not go up to the bar to order even if your waiter is a bit slow....they don't like it when you do that! So head over to twains to enjoy the live music on the weekend, the awesome home-brew beer, and the people watching. When it's warm enough be sure to sit on the patio and vegg out. Don't go here on a thursday night though, because that's MY night and I don't want to have to wait for a pool table or wait a long time for a beer just b/c you're crowding my spot! :-)
(4)Canyouwoowoo W.
Another place that I hadn't been in, since my roaring 20s... A good starter spot: -Great beers on tap -Plenty of pool tables and darts boards (the main draw) -Several screens to watch a game (although not enough to qualify as a true sports bar) Like most places in Decatur, a good starter spot, but nothing worth staying in, beyond 2 hours. Shoot some pool, which you pay for by the hour, grab a couple of drinks, then you'll be ready to move on...
(3)Jennifer G.
I frequent this place often. Great food! Great beers that they brew! And the pool tables are awesome too. On top of the great service staff I definitely recommend this place to grab a bite to eat and a drink over conversations.
(5)Ferdinand H.
I'm torn. 2 Stars or 4? If I were reviewing it as a food-place, I can only say 2. Beer selection is mediocre, and the last set of mussels I had were nigh inedible. The fish and chips were not particularly appealing -- but... I can go to the Brickstore for such things. On the other hand, smoke free pool, darts, shuffleboard, and fuss-ball... that's quite appealing. It's not a bad place to play, whatsoever... just don't expect culinary spectaculars... So, I'm going to forget that it's a restaurant or that it serves food and stick with the game-side.
(4)Shalin P.
I've never eaten at Twain's, but have come here often to play shuffleboard and drink good beer. I'm a big shuffleboard fan and they have a high quality table here. Service can be inconsistent but I've never really had a terrible experience like other reviewers have. The lack of parking is a big negative though.
(4)Susan F.
We decided to swing by Twain's after a late dinner in Decatur last Thursday evening. It really wasn't that impressive. Definitely a college bar, but there's always a need for those, right? Pros: - Decent priced beer - Friendly staff - Lots of pool tables - Free shuffleboard on Thursdays (at least it was for us at 1am) Cons: - It smelled - Everything seemed shabby and grungy
(2)Stephanie M.
Went there Tuesday for my husband's birthday, just to try their microbrewed beer. We had heard there was a new brewmaster and the beers were improved over a few years ago.... we had the different IPAs and really, really liked them. Kuddos to the brewmaster!! We'll be back for those IPAs often!!
(4)Adam M.
Twain's is one of those places you can just count on. If you're looking for a good night, the environment here will do 50% of the lifting, and the rest is on you and the company you keep. I've been to Twain's probably 10 times over the last few years, with frequency picking up since i moved to East Lake. I'm always pleased with the mix of patrons - something akin to Little 5 circa 1998 - and equally satisfied with the in-house brew, both in taste and price. Recently i ate a Twain's for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. It's bar food - don't be mistaken - but there was an extra polish to it. Maybe it was the wheat beer talking. Suffice it to say, I'm a fan. If you've never been, think of Twain's as the last stop of the night, or the place you go before super-late night. The food is tasty, but this place really comes alive when it's chock full-o-patrons. In any case, i'm a big believer in knowing what to expect. For what i ask of Twain's, it always delivers.
(5)Len L.
My local hangout. Great beer, good bar food (but please add some more vegan options) and a fun atmosphere. Plenty of games, such as shuffleboard, pool, darts, and video games. Monday night trivia is one of the better in the area. The service can sometimes be slow, but that's server dependent. Most of them are really good. They also support local bands and have free music several nights a week.
(5)Hambri Enta M.
Pleasantly surprised with the burger. so much flavor! So yesterday I went passed thru here and what do you know: Open mic Jazz night on Tuesdays. I sure love live music. I sat next to young man who was enjoying a beer brewed at Twains and he was quite happy with it. Turned out he is the boyfriend of one of my ex's friend! what a fantastic 6 degrees! Enjoyed this jazz night, and the space is larger than it appears. No smoke around me, no funny smells, good food, cold beers. I recommend!
(4)Triple Threat T.
Huge place! Cheap billiards, nice relaxed crowd
(5)Josh G.
The beer has so improved in the Dave era, that I feel compelled to write a review. It's my favorite billiards spot in the area, the food has always been awesome pub fare, and now the beer is worthy of the restaurant. Don't miss Euro-bike night on Thurs. Bring your BMW, Ducati, MV, KTM, Husky, Triumph, Aprilia, Guzzi, etc.
(4)Ben H.
Definitely a great place to hang out in Decatur. Lots of pool tables, 2 shuffleboards, free darts, tasty burger, mediocre microbrews (the only one I like is their ESB, but they rarely seem to have it). I like the new set up more despite the fact the fact that the "dining room" section is pretty useless for me (I wouldn't make this a dinner destination). It just feels more open and cleaner. I generally don't enjoy the bands they have - mainly because they are always way too loud. The service can vary greatly - I've had servers who are fine, but one guy who works there is a complete tool. They need to be careful about cleaning their glassware - both of the little tasting glasses I used last time had an overwhelming odor of ammonia/cleaner which was pretty gross and obviously not suitable for tasting a beer. You also don't smell like an ashtray after leaving which is a major plus. 3.5
(4)Nazan Y.
Visited Twain's for dinner on 11/1/10. I had been there around a year ago, but was less impressed this time. Wife and I ordered the fish and chips (sweet potato fries instead of regular) and calamari. The fish was quite good, but the breading was a little mushier than I remember. The tartar sauce had some dill in it, and was quite enjoyable. Wife loved the sweet potato fries, I thought they were OK, but they needed a better dipping sauce. To be fair, this is always what I think of sweet potato fries. The calamari was not horrible - at least it was not funky, but the sickly sweet sauce was not pleasant. The beer I got - a dark wheat - was pretty good, and a pretty good price. Anyway, I was a little disappointed, and there are enough other restaurants around I probably won't go back.
(3)Emily W.
I would give this 5 stars but the A/C was off yesterday and with the summer temps in ATL that just isn't cutting it. Other than that, there is nothing bad to say about this place. They have boiled peanuts on the menu which is awesome. The food is good too, not just typical bar food. I just had humus and pita bread with cucumbers but all of it was good. Pita bread was nice and warm, hummus was cold as it all should be. My husband had a hotdog which looked good with fried green beans. Sounds strange but isn't anything fried good? They were, I tried them. Free shuffleboard & darts on Wednesdays & Thursdays....cheap pool, $2.50 per person for an hour. They have foosball as well as some arcade games AND a photo booth! We ended up staying a few hours playing games and had so much fun. oh! and GREAT music as well...
(4)Adam P.
If I could give them a half star I would! Went today for lunch and was excited to try it. They were having a music event and the admission was 10.00. We were not going to have lunch only, in the restaurant, and not stay for the event. They wouldn't even let us in without paying the 10.00. So it would have been 20.00 for us and then lunch. Ridiculous. The girl just said "sorry guys" and didn't seen to care. Well they have lost my business and I will never try it.
(1)Jose A.
Awesome place to shoot some pool and have a couple great house brews..nachos are pretty great too. This place is a must whenever I am in Decatur!!!
(5)Mariah M.
Been to Twain's at least 6 times and it is a good 15 miles for us so we usually go on a Sunday to avoid the traffic. We won't be back after tonight. The food was ehh nothing special, we had chicken strips, mac and cheese fritters and a reuben, do NOT get the garlic fries, they are not edible. My husband ordered the Aunt ?? Porter 12 oz for his second beer and it was really bad. So l said well just tell the bartender and get something else-it was brewed there and I am sure they have had other people who didn't care for a beer they have never tried before PLUS they have a new brewer, so it is going to be hit or miss. We were told in no uncertain terms that they don't switch out a beer that a customer doesn't like and we could BUY something different if we wanted. This is the first time I have ever heard of this policy, and I have been drinking in Atlanta bars since 1980, he said they "stand by their beers" huh??? So you DON'T stand by your customers??? He certainly could have made an exception but it is "house rules" wow. I am not used to being told I have to pay for something that I refuse to eat or drink. So by all means do yourself a favor, if you are going to get a beer that they have brewed get a sample first or you will be stuck with the crappy beer if you don't like it. Really poor way to treat customers. But hey they got their 4 bucks or whatever it cost, but they lost 2 customers-hope it was worth it.
(2)Destin D.
I've been to Twain's a couple of times now, but only to drink. I appreciate that they have their own microbrews, but on my most recent visit, they were out of two. Not cool. Also, the food isn't good. My southwestern inspired turkey burger (Roadrunner) was surprisingly dry and was lacking on the toppings. I had ordered sweet potato fries on the side and they were lukewarm. I was hoping for the fries that Courtney C. described, but alas, I didn't get them. Also, can someone please explain why there was a horseradish dipping sauce on the side? That flavor didn't complement either the burger or the fries. My friend's black bean burger also sucked and the side salad was less than stellar. Like some of the other reviewers, I really want to like this place. Maybe I will go back another night and hope they have the microbrews on tap. Rest assured, I won't be eating...
(2)Michael D.
I'm a huge classic jazz fan and on Tuesday nights, this is the place to be. It's an open-mic jazz jam put on by Joe Grandsen. I have never seen so much talent in one place in ATL. The music is off the chart. Joe should record these sessions. Tell ya what, I live in Cumming and I plan to make that drive at least a couple Tuesdays per month. If you like jazz, real jazz, then you need to be here on Tuesday nights. One more thing, they don't take AMEX !!!
(4)Meg S.
What a great bar! They brew great beers, have great beers on tap and reasonably priced bottled/canned beers. The food is GREAT and there are tons of options for vegetarians. The calamari is cooked right - not rubbery - and served with a delicious ranch-like sauce. Twain's is a great place to run into everyone you know in Decatur on a weekend night! Getting seated for dinner is not a problem even on a busy Friday, but getting a pool table is another story entirely! There is more of a hostess station for pool tables than for eating tables :)
(5)Molly W.
The boiled peanuts here have inspired me to make my own. They usually are boiled with a mixture of cayenne pepper and lemon grass. I think I have pouted at a waitress because they were out of them. They are delicious! Also try the salmon burger if you are not scared of cilantro and just a tip: when ordering the salmon burger add bacon, makes a world of difference. The atmosphere is always laid back, and that's why I suggested to my boyfriend that we have our first date here. We ended up playing trivia and pool until about 2 AM. I thank this place for getting rid of my first date jitters and for making it a very successful first date. After Twain's we went to Taco Mac and I set off the alarm, so I still prefer Twain's. They have a great beer selection and make sure to try their home brews. I remember coming here when it just opened and adding the brew company has made all the difference. Also, the food is much better than their former pool hall fish and chips. Oh and the fried green beans are worth going for! The horse radish dipping sauce is decadent and if you're worried about the horse radish the garlic ranch does just fine. I haven't ever tried the entrees, but they're sandwiches are at least decent. They also have a Jazz night every Tuesday so if ya love Jazz come on down, if you want to hang out and play pool, avoid that corner or just come on a different night. But, I must say, when a full brass orchestra played the Presidential theme song when Obama gave his acceptance speech, it was pretty d*mn amazing. I think I cried like 50 times that night. And yes the official name is the Presidential theme song LOVE IT! DRINK IT! OWN IT!
(4)Bryan B.
A great way to kill an evening - I'm in there several times a month. The beer selection is good (their own brews are very tasty), but the food is lacking. Nothing special about it. Fine to get and snack on with a group will you shoot pool, but I won't go there for a full meal. Last time I did that (and should have known better), they were out of hamburger buns! I'm not sure how they messed up the inventory on that, but that's an unforgivable sin for a place that sells bar food! Anyway, I'm still a huge fan of the place overall, just not a fan of the food. Fun place to hang out with friends.
(4)Roy K.
Count on an eclectic experience worth revisiting on a regular basis. If you are at craving food, beer (at a great price!!!), + a lil competition you have found your place. They have darts, pool, vid games, & shuffleboard. I didn't have food, but per the rumor it's pretty tasty. The service is what you would expect in a place like this - urban setting, urban client base - so expect witty, not uber friendly, but in the end you get served what you need. No frivolities.
(4)Rox R.
Dirty, noisy, beer is eh. Not a fan of the food. Salad is limp. Service I experienced was unfriendly. I wouldn't go back, except to maybe play some pool- Would got to Brick Store Pub first.
(1)Dustin H.
I will make this short and sweet to get to the point. Their beer was pretty good & reasonably priced. I had the chicken tenders and those were excellent (and so was the BBQ sauce and fries). Service, while good at first, turned out to be down-right horrible. At one time, the six or so of us sat for a whole hour without our server nor anyone else coming to check on us and offer refills (of which we had all needed for at least the previous 30 minutes)! I finally got the chance to mention to another server that we would like some service since our server hadn't minded coming by in the past hour. A manager finally came over and got us refills, after we had to wait an additional 15 minutes for them to tap a new keg. Of course they didn't offer any discounts for our experience. As previous reviewers mentioned, they don't even offer refunds or replacements if you get a beer and don't like it. Not the way to do business, & I would say their lack of customer service is why they only have a 3.5 star rating.
(2)Michael L.
Great spot to have some drinks and shoot pool.
(5)adrian w.
I have been to Twain's more than 10 times easy. So sad that I don't live in Decatur anymore so I never visit as much as I use to or would like to. Great beer selection, though sometimes out of what I want. Food not bad at all, fish and chips = yum, chicken salad = yum. Some times the wait staff is just average but sometimes they go above and beyond. Wouldn't mind being a regular.
(4)Christina M.
I love Twain's. I really do. I love the people who work there, I love the location, I love the awesome pool tables and the strong drinks. However, I cannot give 5 stars, much to my chagrin. Two reasons, and two reasons only: The pool tables are beautiful, regulation-sized pool tables. The pool cues, on the other hand, are consistetly warped and crappy. It ruins the billiards experience. I would rather pay more per hour and have a great stick. It is a terrible handicap. The other reason is that if I sit at the bar I end up with a terrible headache because they smash the empty bottles into the recycling bin. So, I do not sit at the bar anymore. Call me sensitive. Sorry.
(4)mee n.
this isn't the place i go for a drink or two. the drinks themselves are rather lackluster, and you can get better food in many other places in Decatur. there's always a painful wait for a pool table, shuffleboard or darts. at best the service is off, and at worst, the service is rude n tries to avoid you. i guess what people like about the place is that it seems friendly. maybe they think "if i go here enough, I'll begin to tolerate the mediocre beer and food, not notice i can never play any games, and maybe the waiters will start to remember who i am. i would really like to go...where everybody knows my name. maybe it can be this boring and unoffensive place." with the BSP, thinking man, n Leon's in Decatur, there's no need to put up with mediocrity. I'm also not a fan of their $10 cake cutting fee. You bring in a cake, and they charge you 10 bucks for the extra plates, utensils and clean up. a friend brought cupcakes to celebrate a birthday, and our waiter did not even tell us there was such a fee that would apply to cupcakes (that do not require utensils, plates or clean up). It was a very unpleasant discovery when we received the bill.
(1)M A.
As far as a pool and beer combination goes, this is the best spot I've been in here. The atmosphere reminds me a lot of my time spent in London, with people from all walks of life coming in for a round of local brews and a game of pool, shuffleboard, board games, or darts. It may be popular, and can get crowded, but it never felt too loud or too packed in. The pool tables are run at various prices depending on the size of your group and the time of day. The prices are all very reasonable, and the equipment is up to par. All of the staff at Twain's are friendly and helpful, and they check in on the pool room often in case you need a refill or more grub. The food here is pretty good - not the best, but it's filling and tastes great. It's mostly your standard bar fare. This is a great spot to check out if you haven't already. Parking is a litle difficult - there is only a tiny lot and then street parking - but it's well worth the hunt for a space.
(5)Teddy N.
Solid neighborhood bar with great date activities; pool, darts and shuffle board. Decent for kids when the sun is shining. FYI parents; it's adults only after 9pm. Food can be average, but hey are you headed to a pool hall and brewery to eat or drink? Stay away from the beef and bean burgers both are on the weak side.
(3)Bill S.
Twains has some of the best bar food I have had in Atlanta, plus it's downright cheap compared to many places! Same with the drinks, I mean who else has Strongbow for $3.50? Plus they have a lot of other beers available including local brews. Twains is mostly known for being a pool hall, they have at least a Dozen tables available by the hour. All are in great condition. They also have two shuffleboard tables and several dart boards. Trivia and Poker games also happen on various nights of the week. The entire place is non-smoking except for mostly shaded outdoor patio. I highly recommend Twains if you are in the area!
(5)Meg C.
I hadn't been to Twain's in a while, it was our former after-work hangout and when they re-modeled I was a little unsure of going back-- as much as I appreciate a craft brew, sometimes I want a Hoeegarden! Twain's has kept the good food and the atmosphere even with a schmancy makeover and their own brews; the brews are top-notch, by the way! The services is still fantastic, and I can't wait to go back and grab a burger and brew again! Highly recommend: Any of the lighter brews for the summer Burgers Fries The custom shots are creative, too!
(4)Jeff M.
I really like this place, especially if I'm with a huge group. It's busy, but it's always accommodating. Very chill and laid back atmosphere, but conducive for a good night. Food and drink is decent. Large selection of games is a plus. One of many great hangouts in Decatur.
(3)Mark D.
I guess I'm a regular now for trivia night. I like it a little better now. They make a good burger. And the fries are awesome. Our table is always sticky, though.
(4)Jane D.
One of my favorite places in Decatur. I always order the beer battered chicken strips- I literally crave them. The service is great- I've been going there for the past few years and I usually see the same waiters/waitresses. The games are fun, the beer is good, and the parking situation is okay. As for cons- the patio kind of sucks. There's bird nests on top of the canopy and after 5 minutes, I'm totally annoyed by the chirping. It happens everytime I make the mistake by sitting out there. Also, the crowd tends to be "old man-ish" but that doesn't bother me too much. Also, there tends to be alot of babies there when I'm there in the afternoon. Maybe its a Decatur thing? Other than that its a great hangout spot.
(4)Rob M.
One of my favorites places to meet people and hang out. The brewmaster has skills with the on tap selections. Always have to get the sweet potato fries.
(5)Julia S.
I went here tonight with my husband and another couple and I have to say, we had a lot of fun at Trivia Night. The hummus appetizer was really delicious, and everyone seemed to enjoy their sandwiches. I got the bean - portobello sandwich on whole wheat bread, which was good, but unfortunately got a bit soggy after a while. Our waitress seemed a bit surly, but then again she seemed severely understaffed during Trivia Night, so I don't necessarily blame her. I was not, however, impressed with the chardonnay I got (sorry, not a beer person) - it was incredibly bland. I think it was toasted oaks or something like that. It was $7/glass, I do remember that. Oh well. That's what I get for ordering wine at a beer place. Trivia was definitely a highlight - I'd come back just for that again.
(4)Lainy P.
i used to love going to twains. It used to be a cute neighborhood pub where my boyfriend and i could come late at night at have dinner, even study while eating, and enjoy a good beer. It still has pool, and darts and all the cute games my friends and I played, but it's completely lost its cute decatur ambiance. i went there with a couple of friends the other day, and the service was not only bad, but the staff was just plain mean to me. I wrote a follow-up email the next day, and they never responded. I've never been treated that way in a restaurant before, no less in decatur!!! boo. i give the restaurant more than one star since it used to be cool, and the food/beer was still decent.
(2)Michael S.
Being from Chicago this was one of the few places I could find that showed the Blackhawks playoff game on TV. Keeping in mind that it was Easter night and the place was dead I found the service to be wonderful. With a great list of beers and good food I would absolutly come back again if I find myself in Atlanta.
(4)Rachel B.
What a cavernous tavern. The decor is eye candy - I've been twice and the first time I chased the exotic fish with my eyes, and the second time I read tons of Mark Twain quotes mod podged to the walls. My boo tried the home brewed beer and seemed so-so on it. The fried chicken fingers are smashing, mainly due to the batter. The sweet potato fries and garlic fries alike are super yummy. Service both times was meh. The David Bowie tunes were yay!
(3)Leslie W.
This is my Friday night hangout. They brew several beers that are fantastic. They change the list each night, and get there early because they run out of favorites. I like the Jumping Frog IPA and the Mysterious Stranger. They will also have a guest beer like Gordon's Double IPA, or some other yummy brew. Twain's also has decent food. I'm not a big meat eater, so I like to munch on the Mezza plate, or their black bean-portabello burger. Darts, pool, and video games are available and they usually have live music on the weekends. Twain's has drink specials Monday-Thursday like $1 off imperial pints or scotch. They also have free Wi-Fi for those who like to surf when drinking.
(5)J D.
No half star, so no true ranking. 6 of us piled in recently, and enjoyed the meal, the beer and the ability to hang out, play pool, shuffleboard and watch the Thrashers totally piss away a big game. Food was solid all the way around. Nice beer list, and the cask special was terrific. Clueless service though. I knew the beer menu better than our disinterested server, and I was there for 15 whole minutes. Maybe it was his day off from the Brick Store. Seriously though, when does surly earn you a bigger tip?
(3)L S.
I've been coming to Twain's for years. I guess since 1999 or so. And if I was rating the pre-renovation Twain's I would give it 5 stars. Post renovation it gets 3 stars. Maybe its just my nostalgia for the seedier pool hall atmosphere it had before. Since the renovation the focus has been split between pool hall/darts/shuffleboard and now a sit down restaurant. The food is not good enough to me to be a destination for dinner. We will occasionally grab an appetizer while we're playing pool. But I would not go out of my way to eat here. I keep trying to like their house beers. I've tried them all...but I just can't make myself enjoy them. We do continue to come to play pool though. They have full sized tables in decent condition. And its great to be able to come home from a bar and not stink like smoke. Yay Decatur smoking ban!!
(3)Katherine S.
I was at Twain's last night. It's a fun spot for a big group because the place is giant. Plenty of pool tables, dart boards and shuffleboard. They have some tasty microbrews that are worth trying. It's a fun, casual place to spend an evening.
(3)Laura M.
Best waiter ever!!! The place was super packed, but our waiter was attentive and gave us plenty of time to wait on friends, stare blindly at the drink list and finally order. And yes, my group made lots of special orders--hold the tomato, add chicken, sour cream on the side, etc. The atmosphere was awesome--a diverse crowd of all ages, families, hipsters, etc. The baked nachos were sooo good--tons of cheese and not soggy at all. You can probably share with someone--I had tons left over.
(4)Big Butt Z.
I came to Twain's for brunch this morning and was disappointed to find half of the menu items had been discontinued. I decided to eat somewhere else but before leaving, I had a drink at the bar. The saving grace of the experience was the spunky, tattooed bartender. She was inviting and made the BEST Bloody Mary I have ever had... EVER.
(4)Jamie K.
I had never been here before this past Saturday with a group of friends. I really liked the idea and set up of Twain's - dart boards, pool tables, and I think I read somewhere that there was shuffleboard but I don't remember seeing it - however we spend most of our time in the front at a few tables, so it's possible that I missed it on my one walk through the back. Overall, the experience was good. They have a decent beer selection and we got there early enough to snag a large table. Some of us had food and words thrown around were "interesting" (for the coleslaw that was made without mayo) to "not so hot" (the wing sauce was amazing but the wings themselves were tough and had very little meat). The later it got, the more people crowded around, so if you sit in the front, be ready for people to eventually be camped behind your chair because seating fills quickly and then people stand around the tables. Also, when the bill comes, (this is my biggest gripe) they WILL NOT do separate checks. And not only will they not do separate checks, but the waitstaff will expect you to figure out what you individually owe and tell her. I'm not sure if it was just our server but I found it completely rude to expect us to be the ones to calculate what we owed. We had a table of 4 couples and 3 singles, so there were 7 separate cards being used - she handed us each a copy of the total bill and we thought we were supposed to mark off each thing that was ours but instead she told us we were to bust out the calculators and figure it out. What it amounted to was all of us slightly overestimating to avoid the faux pas of leaving the last person with more than their fair share of the bill, and what it ended up doing for her was adding another $30 of tip onto the pre-added mandatory 20% ($50) we were already leaving her. Not something I'd like to do again.
(3)Troy N.
I'm biasing my interview based on the live music. I went on a Tuesday night to hear Joe Gransden Jazz Group in a live jam session. The number of low-key inexpensive venues for jazz is shrinking in Atlanta. Twain's was refreshing in that jazz was played in a casual environment with no cover. Musicians sat in and the atmostphere was laid back. The group I was with had some food and they enjoyed it. The beers were enjoyed and the food was pretty good. Service was fine.
(4)Frank M.
Local brewed beer and billards: good Friday night. ...plus they have bubble hockey.
(3)Laura F.
Great atmosphere and lots of seating. The food is great and you have to try the garlic fries at least once although you'll probably feel a little guilty after but they are so yum. My favorite sandwich is the roadrunner but they have so many other great things to choose from. Their hours are great so any time during the week or weekend you can go grab a great meal and have an awesome beer. The service is great and you can sit where ever you want. Oh and there is outside seating too! As far as activities to keep you occupied they have pool tables and indoor raised shuffle board ( iceless curling??) If you go on a Wednesday or a Thursday I believe the shuffle board is free. I know on weekends there can be quite a wait for the pool tables. Twains rocks for just drinks or dinner.. good date spot as it's noisy but not too loud for conversations.
(5)steven c.
A couple weeks ago I found myself here twice in a weekend. The first was a start to the night. We played pool, and our bartender at the back bar was a lot of fun. The place is huge. They had live blues and Football playing on the following Sunday that I was there. I appreciate both of these, so it made it difficult for me to focus. I felt bad for any gut reactions when the Falcons scored (or were scored upon). I was disappointed that the only TV's with the Falcons on were in the back. There was adequate space, but we got the old school projection screen. And that can be tough on a guy, when he's been spoiled by Plasma and LCD HD tv's.
(3)Ron M.
Any place that brews there own automatically gets huge thumbs up from me. I love sampling their newest creations. If you don't care for that there's also a great selection of other quality beers as well as other stuff if beer isnt your thing. The prices are pretty solid which always make me happy. If you're pool person this is gotta be one of the top spots. They do also have shuffleboard, which is pretty cool, just make sure you get on the waiting list early. Overall, I'll recommend to everyone!
(4)Dee W.
Twain's is a cool spot to come hang out grab some food, shoot some pool or darts, and just chill. The barbecue pork sandwich is SO good. It's a cool spot.
(4)Charles C.
One of my favorite activities on Sunday is to ride my bicycle to Twain's, enjoy some shuffleboard, and drink a couple of their local brews. It is a nice way to refresh before the new week. The food is average and the drinks and company are always great but sometimes the service is a little different. I was prepared to give four stars but today my short skirted waitress bent over and I saw her anus. If I wanted a show I'd head to one of our famed city's strip clubs.
(3)Ian T.
I've been coming here for awhile because it was a good place for a large group. The main bar area is fairly open and the atmosphere was conducive to talking. Recently Twain's has started having live music which changes this atmosphere. When the music started it was the occasional lone guitar player but the size and scope of the acts has quickly increased to the point that it's hard to hold a conversation. I guess it's time to find a new hangout if I want to talk to the people I'm with. I think the house brews are usually pretty good although the style seems to be shifting away from session beers to more esoteric styles that would feel more at home at Brick Store. Additionally, the food and service are just ok.
(3)Chef D.
My 1st time there i was treating my friend for a B day dinner..........Had a great time there home brew is great. food was great and the staff was friendly and provided great service.
(5)Rusty T.
Thing is, I want to like Twains, I really do. There's pool; they brew their own beer; it has a great patio to relax and sip on a beverage, especially at night. But my experiences there have been very mixed. I had been before the remodeling when it was a seedy bar and pool hall. I liked it then, but I understand not everybody likes a dive. The remodeling was a good business decision, and I was looking forward to the Brickstore Pub having some competition in walking distance from my apartment for places to drink great, hard-to-find beer. And when I first went after the remodeling, it was just that. IPAs are always my first choice for beer, and Twain's had a pretty good one they brewed in the Jumping Frog IPA. The other two beers or so I tried close to that time were also good. The food menu, however, was trimmed down pretty drastically from the old menu -- to its detriment. The new menu is unimaginative, and worse yet, I can't even rely on just getting a burger because they appear to pan fry it. Unacceptable. On top of that, another time I went fairly recently the beers brewed in-house just weren't very good. The Jumping Frog IPA had been replaced with something that looked and tasted more like a stout. I actually asked the waitress to verify she brought me the right beer, because it just seemed off. It's been a little while since I've been, so maybe I'll go back soon to see if anything has changed. It's reasonably priced and in a good location for me. And I really want to like it, but I just can't recommend it right now with the inconsistent experiences I've had there since the remodeling.
(2)Molly D.
Not a fan. I went there with a group of friends and we tried several of the microbrews searching for one that was potable. After about three unfinished pitchers because they tasted really nasty we switched to bottles of Miller Light, which they don't have on tap (probably so that people who want pitchers will be forced to drink their beers). One thing thats kind of cool is that all of their beers are named for Mark Twain quotes but it doesn't make it taste better. I've never played shuffle board before so that was really fun to play. But they never have enough sand. It's a struggle to get the sand onto the table. I'm not a pool player so I can't comment about the pool other than the fact that they have a lot of tables and a lot of serious pool players, or at least I hope they are cause they bring their own cues. Please don't let me grow up to be someone who owns either a Pool Cue or a Bowling Ball! They also have Golden Tee, I don't see the appeal in that game but a lot of people do so I am throwing it out there. Oh they do play good alternative music but who doesn't in Decatur?
(2)Katherine N.
GARLIC FRENCH FRIES! No really, they're amazing! They have a really good selection of standard bar food with the higher end twist with out the higher end price and a great beer selection in addition to the full bar. The sandwiches are amazing and it's got a great atmosphere! I just had their brunch for the first time and the Country Fried Steak was awesome. I ended up having to ask for extra gravy but they brought it out at no charge, but other people may be just fine with the amount they bring out. Of the three times I have been there I have always received amazing service from a very nice wait staff and left with a very happy tummy!
(4)Michael B.
Four stars for a nice range of tasty microbrews and pub shuffleboard! I had never seen one of these magic creations until I had been to Twain's. The shuffleboard tables have red and blue pucks that glide mysteriously on a thin layer of sand...like something out of Roswell. (New Mexico...not Roswell, GA--though the inhabitants often seem alien to me). Excellent pool hall and the full-size billiard tables are in great condition--not that I would know the difference. Twain's attracts a friendly, eclectic crowd. Service is pretty good. There is one solicitous waiter who shows up pretty often to keep the beer and munchies coming. He's the guy with the mop-head and testicle-crunching skinny mod-rocker jeans. Kind of scary, but efficient.
(4)Phin S.
If you're there just for the game (pool, darts, shuffleboard...), it can be fun. You just have to brace yourself for negative experiences with the staff, who are consistently edgy-- just try to be nice to them and you can get out of there with a good experience.
(2)David B.
I've had some very, and I mean VERY, good wings at Twain's. The burgers are OK, and the Middle Eastern plate is always a winner. The brewery does better on the lighter side (IPA, etc.) Service can be spotty, but if you're at Twain's drinking beer, eating wings and playing table suffleboard, you're probably not really in a hurry anyway.
(4)Mark O.
I recently went back and I've gotta say they've stepped their game up. Most of the big problems this place used to have (sticky tables, bad house beer, bad service) have all been corrected. I'm still not a fan of their food (except the best in the city hot wings), but they are at least trying.
(4)Linda J.
This is a good place to go to shoot some pool and hang out. I don't remember if they have a ladies night, but I think they did at one point. Their food is decent as well. I've been to this place many times over the years, and it's good for what it's good for.
(3)Anna I.
I went to Twain's last night and loved it as soon as I stepped foot inside. It's enormous which means I'll never have to worry about being packed into some hole-in-the-wall dive while tons of people step on my feet. The servers were a little surly, but warmed up to us as soon as they saw what generous tippers we are. I drank the Ballot Box (brown ale, I think) and it was sublime. The shuffleboard and darts was enough to make me giddy, but even better is the FREE shuffleboard on Wed and Thurs nights. I feel like I finally found my default watering hole! Booosh!
(4)Lisa A.
We have been to Twain's a few times now. At first I was not to sure about this place, but it has grown on me. The food is typical bar food. I really like the chicken wings, but would warn you about the pasta dishes. Very watery sauce and pretty bland. The last few times we have just sat at the bar and had a good time. There tends to be a few kids, which I find a bit strange at a bar/pool hall.
(3)Rachel P.
Twain's is a great spot for a chill night out with friends. We arrived around 1030p and found good street parking right across from the door. It was raining so we headed past the patio inside to dry land. There are lots of games to play in here, so the bf and his friends liked their choices of darts, pool, shuffleboard, air hockey, etc. I only cared about watching the Heels whoop up on the Zags, (GO CAROLINA) so I grabbed an open booth right in front of a huge tv. We ordered a range of beers for pretty cheap, had some extremely delicious chicken nachos--one order was devoured in 5 minutes so a replacement batch had to be immediately procured. Also tried the fried green beans and they were unexpectedly great as well. Lightly enough dipped in batter so they still had a green bean taste instead of being overpowered by the fried taste. Our waitress was helpful and attentive even though she was handling most of the tables in our area. Also they serve a full menu until 1am. Nice for late night snacking. Cost was pretty cheap for everything: $8 nachos and $2.50-$4 for most beers. They even had PBR which is a plus in my book. Apparently the shuffleboard game was charged by time instead of games played, which annoyed my friends since they stayed over there for a long time chatting and drinking their beers. Crowd was young and fun, lots of college age/young professional groups of guys with a few female friends here and there. My guy friend even commented that it seemed like there were way more guys than girls here. Good to know if you're hunting for an early twentysomething guy on a Friday night in Decatur. Basically, I really liked the vibe at Twain's and would definitely come back here again. Providing there's no college basketball on, I might even play some darts.
(4)Natalie D.
So I found myself at Twains at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon (no judging!), and was really pleased with the atmosphere. I sat out back with a friend, and the two of us were able to enjoy a beer (or two....) while soaking in the sun. Our waitress was unbelievably friendly. And the beer....what a great beer selection! They have an extensive list of micro brews, including their own brand. I only tried Twain's Golden Ale, but it was refreshing and tasty. I would definitely come back again (if I lived in Atlanta...sigh).
(4)Janice M.
I was torn about how to rate Twain's. The first night I was there, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the crowd, and the friendly bartenders. My group of friends and I practically shut the joint down. I had enough fun to warrant a second visit. Returned for a quiet dinner/drinks meeting with a friend, and was underwhelmed. The service was less than stellar. We got caught in a miscommunication between two of the staff and they were apologetic about it - but it doesn't help when the joint is practically empty at 6pm on a Monday night. I ordered the Fish & Chips. The fries were good but I was underwhelmed by the flavor of the fish. I did like the tartar sauce which helped to cover the flavor of the fish I didn't love, but I did not care for the cole slaw at all, not to mention that the portion they served took up almost the entire plate. My companion ordered the french dip and while I didn't ask him his specific opinion about the food, the fact that he left most of it on the plate indicated that he wasn't loving it. I still really really like the place. I would just advise that your money is better spent on enjoying food somewhere else in Decatur and spending your money on beer at Twain's
(3)Shaun F.
Twain's is a great Decatur pub with delicious micro brews and yummy food. Their chili is top notch and the BBQ chicken sandwich always hits the spot. I also like the prices - the micro brew beers are $3 - you can't beat that. I usually stop in to catch some basketball or baseball on their many television while I enjoy my food and drinks. They have a dozen or so pool tables, dart boards and bar shuffle board. The only downer is they charge for bar shuffle board. I have never seen a charge for that before.
(4)Laura M.
A big group of us headed to Twain's on Friday night a few weeks ago. We'd already been to a house party and didn't want to go home yet. Twain's was still hopping after midnight, but we found seats for all of us in the dining area and after a short wait we acquired a pool table, too. Food and drink not stellar -- I like that they have house beers, but the one I tried wasn't great. The sweet potato fries hit the spot, though, and helped absorb some of the beer in my belly. Service was decent and atmo was decent... so, yeah, I have nothing against Twain's. I think it's the kind of place that is what you make of it -- great with a big group of fun friends, perhaps not so great as a dinner destination or beer-appreciation venue. But, Decatur has other bars and restaurants for that, and Twain's fills a need for people who just want a chill hangout spot for whole gang.
(3)Kristina B.
A group of friends tried Twain's when we were in town for a conference last weekend. They had plenty of room for a large group and the potential to be a lot of fun (plenty of games like pool). BUT, the service was awful, the food was mediocre, and they wouldn't split our bill. I WILL NOT be returning to Twain's EVER and would not recommend going there.
(1)Mark B.
Came back here because I really really want it to be good . Its not. Another ESB that I had to leave in the glass. I see they are remodeling next week. Good. Hope it improves the beer.
(2)Desiree Y.
the food is pretty great. I mean for what it is. The beer selection is so great, alot of choices. I love the pool tables, but even more I love those darts. Really a fun place to be
(5)Young Mi K.
A friend and I just happened to be circling the area to find parking and ended up in front of Twain's. We sorta looked at each other and decided to go in. The ceilings were high and made the place look spacious. The decorations were neat and seems like a great hangout place to play pool, arcades and eat. We ordered a beer that they brew. It was very good and the nachos was better than we expected.
(4)Kim D.
Sooo I decided to head to Twain's on a Tuesday night... There wasn't much of a crowd, but definitely enough people to make me NOT feel like a stranger barging in on a local bar. The atmosphere was casual and definitely fun -- we enjoyed our Sweetwater and even started up a game of shuffleboard. I think there may have been some live jazz in the bar area but I was too far away to enjoy. Buffalo wings were delicious, but HOT so be warned if you don't tolerate spice well! The only downside was some of the creepy / drunk guys lurking around the pool table area. Or I guess you could look at that as an up-side considering the new inside jokes my girlfriends and I have.
(3)Amanda W.
I miss the old Twains. Maybe I don't like change (I miss the old Church Street Coffee too), but the Twains brew gives me a headache and the service gives me heartburn. I used to go a lot to play pool, but since they've become more of a restaurant, I hardly ever go anymore. Once they switched to the family-friendly restaurant, the service at the pool tables (and the quality of the tables) took a nosedive. You shouldn't call yourself a billiards place and have crappy pool tables. At least there's no smoking anymore - thanks to the City of Decatur. Plus, they don't do the restaurant part that well either - pick a focus and do it right, please (or at least 50% right!).
(2)Mary M.
Their food is just really good. Crisp, clean. Good portion sizes. Their Caesar salad is some of the best I've ever had. Never had a bad meal there, and they make their own beers in house.The day bartender Sarah has more energy than I will ever have in my life and is nice as hell. It's good times.
(4)Garrin H.
I just got back from Twain's...love this place. Tuesday night features a jazz jam session hosted by trumpeteer Joe Grandsden, and the number and quality of musicians that show up is pretty amazing. On Wednesdays they have a blues night hosted by Dave Ellington, which I'm told is also excellent (haven't been to that yet). As for the food and beer, I was pleasantly surprised by my bean burger. I was expecting a Boca Burger, Gardenburger or some other variety of mass-consumed faux hamburger. This bean burger was actually really good, and it seemed like they made it in-house to my surprise. Sweet potato fries were also tasty, as was the beer - the pale ale I ordered was made on the premises. As for the crowd, the people there seemed down-to-earth, and I liked how unpretentious the scene was. Good vibes man.
(4)Chuck R.
They make great beer. You can play pool for a reasonable price. What more do you want?
(4)Scott L.
Love this place. The beers Jordan brews are fantastic. He has a brew for al tastes, so some of you knobs still drinking Bud Light.....Try one....It will change your life. The food is good, but not on the same level as 5 Seasons or Bookhouse. Service can be iffy at times, but overall good. Live jazz on Tuesday nights.
(4)Leigh N.
Typical bar food, decent brewery. Plenty of billiard tables. Relaxed, casual environment. There's never been much of a crowd when I've been, but would be a good place to hang out with friends and play pool.
(3)Sean S.
food actually seems to have taken a turn for the worse with the "new menu", twice now we've had dishes that just taste strange. service is mostly friendly... their in-house brews are still above average. been coming here for 13 years but other than their great IPA, we are finding it less inviting. (PS- even their turkey burger tastes weird now, even though they charge more for it than their neighbor Brickstore's excellent turkey burger!)
(3)Lindsey B.
Had some terribly rude service at Twain's a couple of years ago, but things have been better in the few times I've been since then. The new setup is a bit strange with the fancy fishtank and unpainted cinder blocks up front, but the games are still there. Other reviewers have bashed the bar's homebrews, but I've liked the ones I've had. Haven't had much food, but the wings and sweet potato fries are excellent. Probably not the best place to expect a nice dinner, but a great place to have a few beers and shoot pool or throw darts. I always seem to get drunk when I go to Twain's.
(4)Will F.
I absolutely love this place. Rarely do I feel as at home in public as I do when I step through their door. Ownership/staff are very warm/inviting, and Jordan really knows his stuff in the brewery with an impressive selection of high quality beers. Tons of pool tables, dart boards, shuffleboard, high def TV's, and yummy uber "comfort food". They are very much a part of the Decatur community and anyone will feel comfortable. Always a very interesting/ecclectic crowd. One of my very favorite.
(5)Boner J.
Cool place. Big, long bar, lots of booths around, and a pooltable area with about 6-8 tables. House drafts are around $4 for a 20oz, about 10 total, and a big menu of micros. Beer prices were right, but the food seemed disproportionately expensive ($8 for 8 wings and $6 for fries?). Lots of locals coming and going and overall chill vibe. Wings were "XXX Habanero" as promised. Not a dive but not pretentious and enough conversation about Critical Mass behind the bar for me to know what the ethic of the place is. Luckily I got the F outta there before the live music started - there were BONGOS. I was just visiting ATL but if I lived here this would easily be my regular. Docked the 1 star only for the food price.
(4)Chase C.
It's huge, filled with fantastic decor, tons of professional size pool tables, a huge beer selection, & one of the best jukeboxes in town. It's also eclectic - a true neighborhood pub. All races, social classes, & sexual orientations convene here. It's not the best place to have a conversation since it gets loud, but it's FUN. Smokers have their own room for pool & non-smokers have another. Fantastic! Their menu is good for bar food, & vegetraian/vegan friendly. It's a good place to people-watch, unwind, drink, & play pool. For the pee-shy, in addition to men's & women's rooms, they have a unisex one-seater. It's the little things that count. But good luck getting a parking space, & be careful not to hit another car while you're in the lot - it's crammed like sardines.
(5)Miss S.
Brickstore was too packed to even get inside, so we headed over to Twain's. Found a space in the parking lot, which is a plus. Our server was super nice and my Twain's-brewed-pale ale was tasty (not the IPA, but some other one), but the hummus was only okay-- wouldn't order that again. The crowd was mostly really, really young guys-- maybe kids home for Christmas break or something??? Regardless, a good place to have a beer and catch up with friends.
(4)Erica D.
Twain's served me well in undergrad. The waiters were great, and a few knew my tastes well enough to suggest something new without my having to ask. Twain's used to be a 5-star place for me, but since they revamped their style and started brewing their own beer, it went down...way down. Their house-brewed beer is, frankly, not good. We've actually left unfinished pitchers on the table, and if you knew my friends, you'd know how serious that is. The space more trendy, the front pool room is now tables and a small stage. the back pool room is still the same, and that's a plus.
(2)Miller J.
Not at all impressed. I tried most of their microbrews and they were terrible. The portabella sandwich was tasty but the service wasn't the best. Shuffleboard was fun but you have to pay to play.
(1)Jarrod C.
Twain's had a nice renovation done and really is just a fun place to hang out. I've had many different friends join me there for shuffleboard, pool, trivia, etc. Everyone always seems to enjoy it. The food is solid, not spectacular but even their menu has had some nice changes to it. Their best upgrade came when they started making their own house beers. Try the pale ale and the "Ducatur" for some nice flavor. If you haven't been you should definitely make the trip...you'll find something there you like.
(3)Joel F.
A brewpub cum pool hall cum neighborhood bar cum restaurant. A fun neighborhood feel and a nice beer menu. First of all, the good: I love the decor and ambiance here. Cool bar decorcations and a small amount of sports memorabilia (I particularly liked the Philadelphia Flyers banner hanging from the ceiling). It's neatly divided into a dining area with booths and tables, a bar area and a pool hall area. There's also a patio. The menu is mostly pubby, but I was impressed. They have a nice selection of bottled beers, too. Probably 50 or so, mostly microbrews and imported stuff (such as Unibroue, Chimay, etc.) The bad: They really need to work on their brewpub beers. The golden ale was decent: pale and not too hoppy. The other three beers I tried were all messed up. If you make a red ale, it shouldn't taste over-attenuated and too hoppy. The IPA was also a bit thin and not malty enough. The brown ale either tasted like a stout or the server gave me the wrong beer. The ugly: The service. I was there on a recent Friday night and there were two major problems: First of all, the server brought me a bottled conditioned Belgian beer and didn't bring me a glass. If this place is going to serve a big beer menu (which they do), they really need to give their servers proper training. You don't serve bottled beers without proper glasses to customers in a dining area. Second of all, a place this size (and it is quite big) REALLY needs to have a host or hostess at the door. This seat yourself situation caused us to wait far too long at our table for service. Then later during our meal our server took WAY too long (probably half an hour) to bring me another beer. I looked over and saw her dealing with a large party at the front of the restaurant who were trying to find seating. Meanwhile she had left seven tables with no service at all for the entire time. I don't blame the server. She can't be expected to do two jobs at once. I do blame the management for understaffing the place. There really is no excuse for not paying someone to man the hostess stand at the front of the house. This is extremely poor management, imo. Please fix your service problems and pay a host/hostess to do what hosts/hostesses do!
(3)Matthew R.
Great place to chill, hang out, drink beer. They allow dogs on the outdoor patio which is nice. My only gripe is they had the best fried fish sandwich in Atlanta and changed their batter. I guess their extensive beer list and jukebox selection make up for it.
(4)Julie M.
What's great about Twain's is that it's no smoking and family friendly. You don't find a bar with those elements in the atlanta/decatur area very often. The menu is typical for a bar (sweet potato fries are my favorite) but the service is usually lacking. They have some pretty good beers coming out of their brewery and are always willing to give you a sample or two. The billiards room is spacious as well as the dart area. My 10 year old loves the shuffle board table and the small arcade. It's a fun place to go with the family for a few hours on a sat or sun afternoon. Great patio too. Gets a little busy in the evening for kids though.
(3)Blu M.
I've been to Twain's a few times purely to play pool, drink & eat. They have pretty good food considering it's a bar. I thought the music was awful but the pool tables and vibe of the place makes up for it. Overall, it's a nice chill spot to hang out and play pool.
(3)Katy S.
Twain's is a great hang out! Please note, this review is only for the nightlife. No food has been consumed by me at Twain's. I have visited this spot twice during trips to Atlanta. Both times have been a blast! Here's why: Bar games. They have pool and table shuffleboard. It is a fun atmosphere to play these games with friends and to have a little friendly competition. Good drinks. They brew their own beers but also have a full selection of wine and liquor. Decently priced, they go down easy. Laid back vibe. Everyone in here is just kickin back. Whether you are at a table, enjoying the patio, or playing a game with friends there is something for anyone. Someday I will come back for food, but this will remain a must visit spot for me on any Atlanta/Decatur trip!
(5)Jose M.
Eh. It's just ok. Good beer but that's increasingly common in ATL. Service was fine but management could do better. Here are the details: The bartender was really nice and they offer a good beer selection. But for a place that advertises its billiards it doesn't have many tables and those get crowded quickly. I was also sitting at the bar when a group came in and asked to see the GOP debate (I was hoping to watch it too but I had been quietly sitting there). The bar changed it to the channel but refused to put on sound even though the place was basically dead but for the pool tables all being in used. Seemed arbitrary to me and like they were willing to lose the group's business over it, though I admit I could not hear the reason given for not putting on the debate.
(2)Hunter B.
There is no one thing that makes Twain's a 4-star establishment... rather, it's the summation of a bunch of little things. Overall the food is superb for a bar. Tonight I got the pulled mushroom burger, which was pretty phenomenal (but short of life-changing). It was hard to believe that it was mushroom and not pork in the burger, and as the bartender said, it has just the right amount of kick to it. On the side I got the kale caesar salad. I believe this was my first time indulging in kale, and while I wasn't necessarily the biggest fan, hey, it's a caesar salad, so it still tasted fine by me. The beer on tap is all brewed by Twain's. In my experience it ranges from good to great, but won't knock your socks off. I had the Hashbiscus, which is a collaboration with Sweetwater (not the biggest Sweetwater guy), and it was very tasty; hoppy and a little tart. I do like that Twain's does a good job of rotating new beers on tap. There are a ton of pool tables and a couple of shuffle board tables in the lower part of the restaurant, which is a main attraction for most. The shuffle boards are really well kept up and super long, making them the best I've ever played on. In my opinion they overcharge to rent out time on these, but it's also not completely unreasonable, as it frees up availability on the tables. Twain's is usually busy without ever being crowded, which is nice. I'm still low key salty that Twain's took out their stage (and effectively killed the community jazz night they hosted on Tuesdays) in favor of a corner booth, but the service, drinks, and especially food is good enough for me to keep coming back. If you're looking to grab a couple of beers and some great, reasonably-priced bar food, and maybe play a couple of bar games while you're at it, this is your Huckleberry.
(4)Angela U.
Twain's is a great neighborhood hang out with amazing staff, food and beer! A must go to hang out for a date, birthday or hanging with your friends. The food is amazing! I love the sweet potato chips and burgers! A all time favorite is the fish and chips! Go! See! Eat! And live at Twain's!!!!
(5)Evan G.
I came here after work for a beer to watch a few games of nfl.. I had not been here in years but had always remembered a good time.. I was shocked to leave here And be offered the option of jail or a cab ride. I suggested an uber ride as there are cheaper than a cab and was turned down. At this point I was forced into a high priced cab home over a ride to prison with a cop. This has been been my worst experience ever in over 20 years of hanging out in Decatur. Will never spend a dime here again.
(1)Adriana P.
Literally the worst service I think Ive ever experienced. Slow, almost non existent.. Our server or whatever he was came by once to take the order and never again. The rest of the wait staff are also extremely rude.
(1)Jacquelyn M.
I love going here to hang out with friends after work or just meeting up in town. They have some great burgers and side item selections. The draft and bar selection is really nice and has a good variety. The inside can get a little loud on the weekend and weeknight. The outside seating is pleasant and is dog friendly.If you want to play pool you can usually get a table and the price for the time isn't too bad. They are ok with the wait staff and service. Sometime it can be hard to get service outside on the patio. They are pretty prompt when you are seated inside. They have multiple table options to accommodate for larger groups. They have events through the week as well for open mic or karaoke.
(5)Andrea M.
A pretty hip place. The crowd here was, well, crowded and lively. lol. But really, you can find lots of folks in their early to late twenties here. The air was vibrant with so many conversations. There are of course an area for a sit down meal and the typical bar area for drinks. The other half of the restaurant is dedicated to the entertainments for the night (pool, darts, video games, and another game that I'm not sure what it is called--hybrid of air hockey and corn hole). My friends and I were here for a mini birthday celebration so for sure this place has that causal sit down atmosphere. The beers averaged out to be $6 to $7. There are cheaper ones for $3 plus change and others that were $9 and above. There is parking directly behind the building that's free, but it's only if you're lucky enough to find a space. There are parking lots all around this area or utilize the street parking.
(4)Thi T.
2 underwhelming stars for the appetizers. Food was terrible. Bean soup was spicy, salty. I could barely muster up 5 bites and had to discard the rest of the bowl. I'd recommend going there for the other features. There are many games, including shuffle board, and pool. Ambience is laid back. A good relaxed atmosphere to hang out with friends and have a conversation because it is not too loud.
(2)John S.
I've been here about 5 times. Each time has been the same. Good beer, good service and so forth. The food has been pretty satisfactory..... not the best.... but, dude, this is very good bar food. Your other option is to go be accosted by hipsters at Victory Sandwich bar. One of the best things is that the servers were very helpful, responsive, and knowledgeable on each occasion I went. The poutine was amazing.... so get that. Otherwise, they have an enormous selection of pool tables. There were a lot of teenagers trying to look cool, blatantly taking over the pool tables and trying to discuss strategy with a 40 year old brewery enthusiast. That's pretty much a euphemism for Decatur.
(4)Laura R.
I like Twain's for the ultrahip atmosphere. I dislike Twain's for the ultrahip atmosphere. Let me elaborate. Twain's is, and always will be, a destination for those self-described youthful hipsters. The early-mid twenty somethings who want to drink beer and get laid and just hang out with their bros before the aforementioned laying of a person. In summation: there are a lot of dudes here (FYI--young twenty something females). Probably a ratio of 3 guys to every 1 girl. And, in general, there are a TON of people. Outside on the patio, inside in front of the doors, blocking the bar 3 people deep, standing here and there just, like, because. They're mostly in their early 20s, my third disliked group of people (after children and teenagers). If you want to come here to hang out, this place is great for that. They're constantly packed, there are fun things to do like billiards and darts, and there are some interesting people here to boot. Their liquor and beer selection is decent, and the atmosphere is downright chill. I've been here where a mildly crazy person who tried very hard to talk to every female in our group about the special finesse it takes to throw a dart. He mumbled to himself when no one was around, and just acted the part of a goofy, crazy person. I've also watched, in amusement, as people meet and greet and try to finesse their way into someone's pants. It's a good place to watch the crash and burn. Interestingly enough, I'm usually here for someone's birthday or a special occasion. And I would not recommend it for dinner. I would, however, recommend it for drinks. While the food is consistently 3-4 stars (better than Brick Store, but not as good as the Porter), the service is crap. Every. Single. Time. If you want to eat dinner on the weekend, good luck! It's likely your waiter will forget you exist at all. Eating out on the patio is even worse. They will forget you asked them for a menu. They will forget you told them you were on the patio. Twice. They will forget you are parched and just want some water. They will forget you asked for the check 20 minutes ago. I understand, my 20% tip isn't equitable to your 1$ per drink tip, especially when you serve 20 drinks in the span of time it takes for you to walk outside and get my order. But it's still frustrating. PROS: Youthful, hip atmosphere. Smoking is outside. Pretty decent food. Games to play inside, like darts and pool. Really cool atmosphere. I think there are two bars. So if one is full, you can hop over to the other one. Great place to people watch. The patio area is dog friendly. CONS: Youthful, hip atmosphere. If you're outside every person smokes like a chimney, and they make you smell like crap. Nowhere on the patio is safe from it. INCREDIBLY slow service. Forgetful waitstaff. Parking is a joke. The lot can hold somewhere close to 10 cars, and there's 5 times that number at the bar alone. I got the fish and chips, and the fries were burnt, small, and overly greasy. Probably the ones at the bottom of the barrel they wanted to get rid of before the night was out. THE VERDICT: I'm usually there to eat, and occasionally there to hang out. It's definitely the type of place to hang out, instead of eat at. The waitstaff service is a joke, even if the food is pretty good. The hip atmosphere is amusing, if not annoying, and at the very least this is a good place to watch failed exchanges between a pretty girl and an awkward boy. 4 stars if you just want to hang out 3 stars if you want to hang out and eat (which is what I usually do)
(3)Rob C.
This place is awesome. Great food, great atmosphere, great staff. I've eaten the forager burger and the fish n chips. Wow to both!!! This is a must stop place to eat in the Decatur area.
(5)Alli H.
After 4 years at Emory, I would have assumed that I would have gone to Twain's more than just this one time. It's an everything bar that has pool, darts, outdoor areas and lots of beer. I liked how spacious it was and how crowded it was too...
(3)Aleema A.
I've been here twice now and I have to say I love it! It is such a fun bar. They have a wide variety of drinks to try and their beer selection is definitely worth mentioning. The place is really huge. You aren't fighting large crowd or waiting forever to get a drink. it's the perfect amount of everything in my opinion. It also has a lot of games. Even if you aren't a drinker, there are so many things to keep you occupied! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Tyler-James T.
I'm reading some of these reviews and I'm shocked that people are rating three and under. Leave it to hipsters to be critical of a hipster restaurant. I thought the food was AMAZING. I'm super impressed that they had poutine as an appetizer. I've never seen it served with a fried egg, but my inner Filipino hipster was very happy. For my entree I had the Farmsted burger and I literally could not get a full bite out of it, it was that huge. I will say that I asked for medium on the burger and it was definitely well done, but stuff like that doesn't bother me. My sister-in-law had the chicken and waffle sandwich and it was very good, as well. Since my brother and his wife are team God-Squad I wasn't able to taste any of the craft beers, but they had a huge selection. The service isn't bad, but it's also not the best. Our waiter was very busy and short with us, but nonetheless he got the job done. I will say, however, that the worse part is the sit where you choose idea. We had a large group and had to seriously stalk tables once the customers were ready to leave. It could use some more organization. Overall, awesome place!
(4)Andrew P.
Seriously? No sign or anything that says they kick people out without IDs? At least card people at the door before letting them sit down with menus, find something to order, and then kick them out.
(1)Kyle B.
I love billiards, great place to play games. Food is pretty awesome and they used to have jazz night on tuesdays. I hope they can bring it back.
(5)Vanessa K.
Twain's is my go-to bar in downtown Decatur. I love the laid back and fun atmosphere, quirky and fun touches- notice the eponymous author's book pages lining the walls near the tables. Great for people watching, excellent beer selection, and strong & delicious LIT's. The nachos are also a must-have! Staff is always famously friendly and attentive.
(4)Keith F.
Food is better than your average pub grub and the beer is made here. Try some Criminal Sin IPA if they're not out of it. Parking is probably no longer an issue because the seafood restaurant closed. Be sure to park legally because nobody likes those kind of surprises.
(4)Randy T.
Fun locale - definitely a great place to hang out and play pool in Decatur. Average in terms of bar food - I'm giving a four star rating for atmosphere. The place is big and there are televisions and many pool tables. The rates for playing pool depend on the number of people playing and the time of day - at more popular late night hours, it costs more. Also, be prepared to wait for a pool table - this place is popular. Also, you can play darts or have a drink outside. Food was okay. I ordered the "Ronald", which had a "special sauce" which strongly resembles Big Mac sauce. Big burger with one huge patty that equals the two beef patties in a Big Mac, but too salty. I liked the onion rings though. They were huge - not as big as the Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Onion, but much bigger than what you typically get at a fast food joint. Also tried the mac & cheese fritters - they came with two sauces that tasted very good. Only gripe I have with this appetizer is that the sauces really aren't dipping sauces. Your best bet is to use a utensil to spread the sauces on your fritters. The food isn't perfect, but this place is certainly a lot of fun.
(4)Dean H.
My family has dined at Twain's twice in the last month and found the food excellent. The hummus, nachos, wings and deviled eggs were greatly enjoyed. The burger is great and the salmon sandwich is excellent. I found the pastrami sandwich to have dry meat. Veggie chili tastes like it is meat. Onion rings are done right. Fish and chips were not up to my standard, filets were thin and batter tough. We drank SOB IPA, Criminal Sin, Snap Crackle Hops and Release the Hounds and enjoyed them all. The beer selection changes. This is a great place for kids with all sorts of bar games until late evening. Service was a little slow.
(4)Kate S.
Twain's is my go-to bar in downtown decatur. Its got a little bit of something for everyone. Great food-great beer selection-tons of entertainment via pool, darts, shuffleboard, golden tee and more. I like the atmosphere and the fish tank. I love the beer queso, wings, fish n chips and enjoy that they brew their own beer and source things locally. I also like that they tend to pour heavy. I do like the staff, but some of them can be pretty cold and uninterested. As a frequent flyer, id expect to know some of the employees better by now. Its really more of a beer and whiskey type place, other cocktails are not a strong-point. Neither is finding a parking spot but hey its always busy.
(4)Christie M.
Hummus/olive/pickled veggies were ON POINT. Lox not so much, but that's likely more my problem than theirs. All the beer was delicious. We went for brunch and with the exception of screaming children seated behind us and the lox, it was a super pleasant experience. We're planning on going back this weekend. Seriously, I've been dreaming about the Decatur Temptress Braggot. Nightly. And my husband is completely mesmerized by the aquarium.
(5)Christine L.
Moar brewpubz plz. Seriously, this trend is freaking awesome. I was suggested this place by a client of mine at the clinic I work at. I often say that I should go to Downtown Decatur more often but really it's a bit of a trek for me and parking is an absolute nightmare. I drove my very hungover friend to Twain's to help him cure his hangover with more beer... because I'm that kind of friend. I didn't really get a chance to explore the whole restaurant so my overall view of the restaurant can only be told from the far end of the bar facing the pool hall. It was a gross-ish day and I dressed like an idiot so the patio was out of the question. Overall the feel of Twain's is very open. This is going to sound awful... but it felt like a barn that had been converted into a bar (at least that's how I felt). I noted everything was wooden (which may explain why it felt like a barn to me) with a dark lacquer to it. TVs were scattered sparingly around the open hall as to please the sports fans but not to distract the people that went in there to shoot pool or chat with friends. Ultimately it's a very down-to-Earth place, a crowd-pleaser. There's no pretentious beer snobbery that many local brewpubs give off but rather it seems like a good place to meet your friends and grab a beer, no bullshit. The best thing about this place? They serve "proper" (as the Brits would say) pints; 20 oz nonic pint glasses and the beer they serve is pretty damn good too. Moreover, the price is pretty good for the quality of beer you're drinking so win-win for beer lovers and beer snobs.
(4)Dana S.
I was excited to try this place out with a big group of friends on a Friday night. The decor is pretty cool...the walls are covered in pages from Twain's writings and they have a huge fish tank in the middle of the restaurant. They had a good selection of craft beers - I had a gingerbread beer and it was amazing. Their sweet potato and parsnip chips were tasty and addictive and the chicken burger was good as well. The main complaint I have is that we rarely saw our waitress. We actually had a swap out of waitresses, but neither of them seemed keen on filling up our drinks or checking up on us. Overall, I would come back but the service is kind of a bummer.
(3)Natasha C.
Good beer options. Friendly staff that I found quite helpful both of the times that I've eaten there. I ordered chicken fingers which were cooked perfectly except they forgot to add any seasonings. It's not the most exciting place but I definitely was able to relax.
(3)Sandra D.
Love the beer here and the burgers are awesome (the onion rings and fries are delicious) !! We've brought the kids with us as we relax on the patio and all of us had a good time
(5)Valerie N.
I really don't know how I've lived in the ATL so long and never made it to Twain's. We came on a weekday night to celebrate a friend who was taking a new job. We actually couldn't find him at first as this place is so huge! I love that there are so many bars and games to try out. We only stayed for a couple drinks, but the beer list was amazing and the service terrific. Super fun!
(4)Charles J.
I've been here way more times than I should have, considering the short time that I've lived in Atlanta, and I'm sure I'll be back again soon. Best wings anywhere. They're fried a bit crispy and they often give me a couple extra. 8 jerk-BBQ wings with sweet potato chips and a sazerac and I'm a happy camper. Nice, medium-hip staff. I've never played the games, but it's a great, comfortable place to eat and drink. Also it's in downtown Decatur, which is cute as hell if you haven't been.
(5)Katie O.
My husband and I chose to try a "new to us" restaurant on a Sunday night when neither of us felt like cooking. Given we are from Denver, any "Brewery" always pique's my husbands interest. I've never given a poor review, I believe in giving second chances in the moment that I was there on an "off" night. However, when my husband (who wears rose colored glasses) even complained, I felt it was only appropriate to review. SERVICE: or lack thereof... My drink glass was mostly empty, only refilled once. When my husband, finished his beer, we waited..and waited..and waited to get a new one. However, our waitstaff never came around to ask for another until after he was finished with his meal. At which point, we were just ready to leave. The service is INCREDIBLY slow. I'm usual a very patient person, but on a quiet Sunday night, where most of the tables that were there had already eaten their meals, I expected a lot more. The ironic part is that there were TWO people working our table. Perhaps it's a miscommunication between the two, but you would think we would have been over-serviced, not under-serviced. FOOD: HORRIBLE! I ordered a burger, which was very bland, and very dry. I ordered it medium, and it was very clearly well done. My husband also ordered a burger, his was a smidge better than mine, but both of us were underimpressed. Our french fries were also COLD. When you spend so much time waiting for your food, you would think it's coming right off the burner. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Part of me wants to give this place another shot, but most of me would rather not waste my money here again. There are too many other restaurants in Decatur with good food and drinks..
(1)Robert P.
This is one of my favorite watering holes in the area. I love that they brew their own and have so many fun activities to do inside (personal favorite is darts though I need practice). It is about perfect except they regularly change the menu and always seem to remove my favorite dishes. Still the food is typically excellent, especially the stuff on the Sunday brunch menu.
(4)Chamberlaine B.
I cannot yet write a true review... I was only in the bar for about ten minutes. Arriving at 9 pm on a Friday night, there was hardly room to breathe, much less play pool (I went to sign up for a table, and I was informed that there were 50 people ahead of me.) A wonderful venue, I'm sure, if only it weren't so crowded.
(2)David H.
Waste of time and money. Twain's justifies American tipping culture. Not only was the food utterly unimpressive, but the service was also egregiously bad. My cup spent more time empty than it did with any quantity of water in it! I would like to tip 15%-20%, but there are certain expectations I have for this premium. For instance, a medium-rare hamburger should not arrive mostly grey. Maybe their servers could stop by the table once every ten minutes? What a dreamer I am. Also, must I be punished every time I wish to use the bathroom? We live in a first-world country! The only thing this place has going for it is a trendy atmosphere, which if you value above all else makes you a nincompoop. Melton's App and Tap has better hamburgers. Beer of equal quality is ubiquitous in every gas station in the lower 48. Dine at Twain's if you need a noisy atmosphere and completely inattentive waitstaff. Believe it or not, I like to tip, and not tipping makes me sad. Going out to eat should not be an opportunity for me to save 15%.
(2)Sophie C.
Twains has a great vibe. It's huge with lots of different areas for your group to gather. I'm interested in trying more of their brews but I like what I've tried so far. On the recommendation of a friend I ordered the chicken and waffle sandwich. Delicious! It didn't hold up too well in its structure but k didn't care. That chicken (brined in sweet tea) was sublime. Can't wait to try more but I'll certainly want to order this again!
(4)Domonic B.
This place is actually a pretty cool place to hang out if you're into pool and games. They have a room set aside for nothing but playing pool. I'm not really a pool player but I have visited with friends that do. This is in Decatur and is a common hangout spot for the locals. I had the Brasseltown burger on my first visit here. The burger was decent but the fries that came with them were really bland and also cold when I got them. I'd go here for more of a hangout than for the food but it's def a decent place.
(3)Steve A.
I was glancing at my three-star, four y/o review of Twain's earlier and decided an update was in order. My wife and I have visited perhaps 30 times since that earlier review. Since then, the kitchen has really stepped up their game. Wings, burgers -- at least to us -- are consistently good. The beer, brewed in-house, continues to stand out. Their collaboration brew with the Virginia Beer Company earlier this week was outstanding. I've read some grumbling about spotty service. It's seat yourself; you might wait a minute or two sometimes before somebody spots you, but we've never had any issues. The servers are pleasant, tattooed, pierced, and competent. The only issue that honestly bugs me is the lack of parking. Their tiny lot out front fills up very quickly and street parking is hit or miss. The courthouse deck 2 blocks away is free after 5 or 6 pm, but in the rain or the cold, places with parking lots win out. Still, Twain's is in our Decatur top three, and always will be. You owe it at least one visit.
(4)Brenna S.
I've been called a "pool shark" once or twice in my day, and I love a good local beer so Twain's was a necessary stop on my list of places to visit in Atlanta. It's located in Decatur, though it's a bit detached from the rest of the "hustle and bustle". There is a parking area on the side and despite how crowded it gets is inside, I've never had issues parking here. The ambiance is what you would expect for a pool hall mostly, though the crowd tends to be younger and a bit more mixed, which I like. They probably have somewhere around 10 pool tables, so I've never had many issues getting one to play on, and as most proper pool halls, you are charged per hour to play. The tables are in decent shape (for those of you that care), but if you're a true pool shark, you definitely want to bring your own cue. As for service, I've had both great and underwhelming service here, but I don't come here for 5-star treatment, so for me, it's fine. Twain's is one of those places that you can make of it what you will. So depending on what your style is you're likely to find something you like about it - whether it's good, cheap beer, a game of pool, some live music, a neighborhood bar setting, or a college bar setting.
(4)Leticia C.
This is always the go to spot for an afternoon sport. They have PLENTY of pool tables too!
(4)Beau B.
Good place to Pre game before a night out. They brew their own beer and have good bar food.
(4)Alison G.
Twain's is one of those places I never crave, am never super stoked to go to, but keep visiting anyway. They have a parking lot (and if it's full I can park at my former employer's across the street), the menu is a decent size, they have a full bar, and there's ample seating so there never seems to be a line or a crowd. The service is usually a miss. I've come at lunch and at dinner, on weekdays and on weekends, and the server always starts out nice and then becomes absent. Maybe I have a knack for showing up on the cusp of a new shift, but whoever I have seems to always be about to get off and is busy counting their money and closing out checks. Their house-brewed beer isn't the best but I don't care since I don't drink beer. Their fried green beans are addictive to the point of sickness, so I can't eat them anymore. The chips and salsa/nachos are okaaayyy but last time the chips had the faint chew of staleness. I used to LOVE their curried chicken salad sandwich but it has gone the way of the Dodo, sadly. Garlic fries are a must for your side. A MUST. Last week I tried their chicken and waffle and I gotta say--it was fuckin' delicious. The only weird part was the onion-bacon jam. I'm big on texture, and it was kinda disconcerting having the texture of cooked onion but the flavor of bacon--I kept thinking I was gnawing on bacon fat but it would turn out to be an onion. Yum? Also, it comes with a side of sauteed spinach. Again with my texture hangups! I can't stand cooked mushy leaves, so I asked if I could switch out the side. They told me no, and I told them to keep their spinach. They did, and I got to pay full price. I think that's kinda bunk, honestly. Twain's is a solid spot for food and drinks when you don't feel like being adventurous or looking for parking. Which for me appears to be pretty often.
(3)Megan K.
This place is like a home away from home. Best buy on beers in town, since they brew their own awesome beers and most are $3.50. Go here for beers not cocktails. And don't be the guy ordering a yuengling at the bar. Great food - a lot is locally sourced, beef is grass fed... *most* of the time it's really good. Great bar tenders, most of the servers are good. Occasionally you'll get a random "off" day - usually when they're slow. Very local feel, cool mixed crowds, Friday and Saturday night you'll occasionally get some fratty people, but usually outnumbered by cool folks.
(4)Chris J.
I'm a regular here at Twain's. I primarily come here for reasonably-priced, good beer they brew in house. The food is inconsistently good at best. Tonight, however, the food was exceptionally terrible. I had a PBLT which is essentially a BLT with pork belly instead of bacon. The pork belly was the worst I've ever had anywhere, exhibiting a tough, not-chewable consistency and no flavor. The bread tasted like cheap sandwich bread from Walmart and the aioli also had no flavor. My wife had a dry, overcooked, flavorless burger which she'll probably comment about on Yelp as well. There are a lot of good food options here in Decatur and I don't think I'll come back here for food anytime soon because the food was simply unacceptable. I wish I had gone across the street to Chick-fil-A before coming to Twain's for beer.
(2)Zewditu D.
Nuts and bolts: A friend and I wanted a midway point between our homes to meet up for dinner. Decatur Square is the perfect spot for us. Neither one of us had tried Twain's so we decided to try it out that particular evening. Order: Fish and chips for me. Turkey burger for my friend. Pros: Not much in my experience. Cons: There was no one there to great us when we arrived so we went ended up wandering around the the place for a bit. Then someone came and seated us. But it was in an awkward booth at the front. Service was incredibly slow and we felt ignored alot of the time. We did not enjoy our food. Take home: It might be a good sport for drinks and games, but not for dinner!
(1)Hanna K.
I recently joined two friends for drinks & pool at Twain's, which is a weak stone's throw from Downtown Decatur. They arrived before me and grabbed a few seats at the big round bar in the front. The samplers seemed to be the way to go, most groups at the bar had order the 10 beer option for $18. Their beers are a nice quality, provide a good range, & are fairly priced. My favorite was the Sunset Amber. The bartenders are all friendly, helpful, and look the part of your neighborhood brewer. On Wednesday nights, you can get a 12oz beer & burger for $10. I ordered the Turkey Burger with a side of brussel sprouts. The burger was nothing special and not something I would ever go specifically to Twain's for. But let's be honest, I wasn't there for the burger. The main games area is comprised of a few pool tables, shuffle board tables, dart boards, and a couple of random video games. This is all in the back part of the main room, with high ceilings, a buzzing vibe, and lots of windows onto the patio. You have to put a card down for access to the any of the tables...pool was $10/hr for 3 people (will be prorated). There are waiters providing full menu/bar service while you're playing. Unfortunately, there was a large professional group that had reserved the whole main games area, so we had to play in the pool room off to the side. This has a much more pool hall feel-dark, lower ceilings, etc. I'm sure if you're a pool playing regular, this is good. But for us, we were more interested in a casual game in the ambiance of the main room. I'm looking forward to getting back to Twain's to check out the patio and a few more food items!
(3)Brittney R.
I loved this place and come here all the time BUT today was the worst. We waited 30min before our order was taken and all the tables that filled after us were served. After waiting an hour for food, we decided to pay for our drinks and leave. The waitress was rude when we asked for the check to pay for our drinks. I've never felt discrimination here before today. My party and I were made last priority and we felt it. My visit today was unfortunate I will NEVER go to Twain's again.
(1)Berry G.
I'd never heard of this place until I was invited to lunch with friends. PARKING: A little scary because there's a ton of signs nearby that read "NO RESTAURANT PARKING". My friends and I all parked in the back lot (next to the pink building" and none of us were towed so... shrugs. SERVICE: Our waiter was funny. Chubby hipster looking young guy with a thick dark beard. I arrived & ordered 30 minutes after my friends and somehow received my food FIRST. Odd. FOOD: I reluctantly ordered from the brunch menu - 2 scrambled eggs, hash browns and chicken sausage. Tasted FAR better than I expected. The egg portion was HUGE - I swear they must have scrambled 4 or 5 eggs. And the chicken sausage was IN the eggs... weird but good. The hash browns are shredded potatoes packed into a ball and then deep fried (I think with onions). Delicious. The orange juice sucks - tasted artificial, like Tang or something. The entire menu looks great, I'll definitely come back to try some other dishes.
(4)Rico S.
I am writing this review to share a tale of magnanimity. The staff at Twain's gets the ultimate gold star from me although my visit was atypical. My very inebriated friend got into an altercation with several members of the wait staff over a tab he believed he had paid but had not. Incensed, he antagonized, threatened and called some of the bartenders names. Fortunately, another friend settled his tab so that we could leave. Unfortunately, that same friend left the keys in the car unbeknownst to me and I locked the door. Two of those very same bartenders tried to help us get into the car and when we failed, one of them lent us their phone to call AAA. Also, they have great beers on tap.
(5)Jonette G.
On the plus side, it's a cool place to hang out with great atmosphere. The food is hit or miss. The sweet potato chips were quite tasty. The fries were okay but cold and the fish sandwich I ordered was bland and cold. The server was nice but a couple in our party didn't get their food until well after everyone had eaten and their plates cleared away. I guess everyone has a bad night once in awhile.
(2)Steven R.
This is a really fun place. The drinks are great and the food is really good too. Yet have shows on the weekends, but plan ahead to go early cause this place can get packed. I recommend going off hour or during the week to get some casual pool in and hang with some friends. But it's a fun weekend spot too if you don't mind crowds!
(4)Kenny R.
AWESOME BEER!!! Electric car charging station, large billiards room, shuffleboard, etc.... and good food. I came here for lunch on a hungover Thursday after catching a 2 night run of Phish in Alpharetta. This wasn't one of those, I need something greasy hangovers, I needed something healthy as a base and then to get back on the wagon(or falling off the wagon, I dunno how that works). I ordered the cured salmon sandwich and my counterpart got the crunchy aristocrat. Both were awesome and did the job. Battered/fried green beans were AMAZING! Our waitress was quick with everything and had some great recommendations but I was allgood at that point. I needed a coffee to get it together and belong as a functioning member of society as she went ahead and ordered a beer. Criminal Sin IPA was the booze. I took a sip and it was awesome but I still wasn't ready to commit to alcohol quite yet. We expressed a solid interest in the other beers and one of the brewers(Chase, I think his name was?) came out to talk to us about them. Tequila barrel aged IPA, wowzers. Some small batch Belgain/sassion/pale ale or something like that was one of the best "fruity" beers I've ever had. Supposedly, it was rather high gravity as well. After a flight, I felt much better about the world and proceeded to get a game of shuffleboard going. As a former 55 and over community resident, I knew I had this one in the bag. It wasn't fair but, it was fun. I wanted to hustle some pool as well but, after that, nobody wanted to play with me. After reading some other reviews I guess they have live music as well? Next time I'm in ATL, I'll be headed straight here.
(5)Jessica H.
Updated review! We used to be regulars here, and I did love the fried chicken tenders and sweet potato waffle -- went there specifically for that! However, the last time we were in, I ordered and received a savory waffle. We commented on the new menus when placing our order, but the server didn't note any main ingredient changes - so I assumed all was the same. Alas, it was not. Very disappointing. Spoke with the manager about it, actually, because when I mentioned it to the server she got very defensive. They were nice about it - but very disappointing menu change. Burgers are good. My eldest kid loves the spaghetti but we always have to ask for extra sauce. She's not a fan of the grilled ham and cheese. Margaritas are to die for and the kids can watch the fish tank for hours - it's a win! Kid menus are inside a children's book, too! Service can be great - service can be terrible. Parking can be a pain, fair warning.
(2)DeAndre J.
Kinda upset this place doesnt have a happy hour and the parking was TIGHT!!! (Almost nudged the car next to me) Definitely had plenty of pool tables and I'm glad they have shuffle boards. I'd definitely come back (but probably take an uber just in case). Also, maybe this was a rare occasion but there was a LOT of kids running around. Seemed sort of weird being that this was a bar and not a Chuck E Cheese.
(3)Sara M.
Oh, Twain's. How I love you so. 1) Their beer is awesome. And it's far too often led to me looking at the clock and wondering how the hell it got to be 1am so fast. And on a weeknight! 2) Food is okay. The lemon pepper wings are the standout for me. I order them every time I eat here. 3) It's huge inside and there is a ton of stuff to do. Trivia on Mondays, live jazz on Tuesdays, a few TVs turned to sports, dog-friendly patio, billiards, shuffleboard, darts, and arcade games. Also good for groups. 4) After 9pm, it's 21 and up. Thank goodness. 5) Bathroom (I can only speak for the women's) is usually pretty clean and the stalls have recently been renovated. 6) Parking is easy compared to other Decatur bars. Overall, a fun, lively spot. Grab some friends and enjoy! WARNING: Time will fly here.
(4)Christine R.
New Spring brews are on tap! Good balance of light and citrusy wheats and IPAs mixed with a few darker ales, stout and of course a Cask. Came for brunch and it was good. I like the new menu. They also expanded their liquor and cocktail selection if beer isn't your thing.
(4)Candace M.
It was a Saturday night and me and the Boo were looking for something to do (my little rhyme). The "Places" app on my phone let us here and boy was it a good time. Although I had been to Twain's before, I had never really "been there" In the past I just stopped by to say hello to friends and mostly hung outside. This time was different. We were waiting for friends to join us so we got some dinner. The fish and chips were really good. So good in fact that we ordered another plate and shared it. What I really liked about Twain's was the number of billiards tables that they had. You go over to the side and put your name on a list and by the time we finished eating it was our turn to play. They also had darts and shuffle board. It didn't feel crowded although it was a pretty big place. This is a new go to place when we just need a somewhat laid back night of just hanging with good people shooting some pool.
(3)Robin S.
Twain's gets an upgrade to four stars. Not sure why I had it rated at three before. While the food isn't among the best pub fare in the area, it's still decent. The beer, the bar and the space in general - including pool tables and shuffleboard - easily make it one of my favorite drinking holes. Last night was Langhorne IPA and Mad Happy beers, and a blacked mahi sandwich with onion rings. I really like their onion rings. The mahi could have been tastier - their blackening spices need spicing up.
(4)Greta H.
Great atmosphere. The servers are very friendly and helpful. Late at night the crowd is younger but feels like a family establishment during the day. I love their chicken tenders and fries. Cheese dip is also incredible. Gum pork is is must. Fish and chips are decent, the apple slaw is great. The Reuben is not the best i have ever had. The corned beef was good but the sandwich was very dry.
(5)Richard L.
Decided to try Twains for an early dinner since it's close to my daughter's college. Decor appealing with something for everyone. Booths, bar, outdoor seating, billiards with plenty of space. The menu got my anticipation up. Interesting entrees with local flair, and a fantastic variety of ales. Opened with a delightful appetizer - mac & cheese fritters. Two at my table ordered sandwiches - BBQ and vegetarian. They were pleased. I and another opted for pasta dishes - Pasta Bolognese and the House Vegetarian Pasta. Both were tasty but the portion size very small. The pasta entrees were served in cereal sized bowls, hardly enough for an appetizer. My second concern was poor service on a quiet weeknight. Waitress was sweet but absent. Passed the table three times before she remembered missing drinks. She was nowhere to be found during the meal. We had to search her out for the check. She never asked how our meal was, never inquired as to whether we wanted desert. Small portions and poor service trump a great atmosphere. I won't be back.
(2)Chris Thomas H.
Awesome beer, reeeeally good food (depends what you order of course). The atmosphere is very nice, lively is a good word.
(4)Brian J.
A pretty lively atmosphere. The nut brown ale was perfect. The service at the bar was quick and pleasant. The servers were all tatted up with base ball capes and keys hanging form their belts. The feel of Twains was industrial, corner bar /pool hall. Noises, busy and fun. The beer was great! The food was good.
(4)John X.
Twain's has had it's ups and downs. In food, service, and prices. You can't say they don't try though. They react and make changes. OK. September 2014 prices have been pared down. Beer is great. Had an american salad w/ house made ricotta that was Delicious.This visit was 5 star !
(5)Lindsey G.
I am at a quandry. You see, my BF and I spent NYE together here for dinner and drinks and games before heading out to the Underground for the Peach Drop. The conundrum comes from the fact that both of us had only salads and apps to eat (and I had a Bourbon Flight), and I don't think any of that is representative of the food and drinks at the place, especially since they have their own brewery. Anyway, I had a ceasar salad which was only OK, along with a basket of perfectly crisp sweet potato french fries with a yummy chipotle mayo for dipping. BF had a greek salad with greek chicken, again, this was only OK, along with vegetarian chili. I'm thinking a bar/pool place doesn't excel at salads because that's the food that attracts the crowd, so I won't fault them for that. The apps were delicious though, which makes me think their burgers, sandwiches and other entrees will be worth another visit in the future. As for the service, it was aight. Nothing to write home about. Plenty of different bar games abound here, though, but as it was NYE, we were left playing Terminator Salvation which I suck at :-( The place looks like a lot of fun, with all the dart boards, pool tables, brewery, etc. So I think we'll be coming back for more sometimes soon.
(3)Rene F.
I'm changing my earlier review. After going a couple more times I am a fan. The bloody mary I had was good, and drinks are always really fast. Prior to this, maybe I caught them on an off day.
(4)Amy K.
Pros: Excellent beer, cider and mixed drink selection. Great service, pool & darts galore. Good music and volume, smoking on patio only (which is a con if you want to sit on the patio!). Cons: Food sucked, somewhat pricey. Went last night for the first time finally despite a great reputation and desire to go for many years. The service was excellent, really enjoyed sitting on the patio in the beautiful weather yesterday. They played some good music, it wasn't loud (outside). Got bacon mac & cheese bites. I didn't taste any bacon but they were hot and good. The jelly that came with it tasted right out of a jar though and didn't really compliment the app at all. I am burger obsessed and was incredibly disappointed with the BBQ burger I ordered. The patty was thick and cooked perfectly but didn't have much flavor. The BBQ sauce was bland and watery, the cheese was a thick glob of tasteless fat and the coleslaw and onions weren't even noticeable. The sweet potato fries were thick cut but also bland and had to be doused in ketchup. At $12.50 I felt robbed. SO got pulled chicken sandwich which was original in idea and spicy (yay!). The roasted carrots that he got as a side were some of the best I've ever tasted. Friends got burgers and sides of chili which they tried to doctor with every condiment on the table to no avail - it was left uneaten. Their beer selection was amazing and I really enjoyed their home brews. They had good ciders and a lot of mixed drinks. There wasn't enough time in the day to sample all the alcoholic beverages they had. Next time I think I'll stick to drinks and games and stay away from the food.
(2)Meagan F.
Twains. Come on. Yes, it is Saturday night but you should plan appropriately to provide service. We have been waiting at our table for over an hour and a half and are still sitting here without food/drinks. Getting ready to walk out.
(1)David L.
Twain's is awesome. Great sports bar but don't let that keep your girl from wanting to go. The food is amazing. Try the wings, some of, if not the best in the city. Great atmosphere, home brews, service and fun. Plenty of games to play with a large pool hall in the back. Now that they have Golden Tee back, you'll see me up there!
(5)Tom G.
Twains brews their own beers, about eight or so. If you want another beer it'll be from a bottle. This keeps the draft prices low, but the quality of their seasonal recipes is absolutely solid. Don't believe me? Try a concorde and taste them all yourself. Food is good. It's pub food, but they put noticeable effort into it. My favorite appetizer (or sober up snack) is the boiled peanuts. They're fantastic. Thank you Twains!
(5)Stone M.
eh, still not impressed by their home brews. Service was outwardly rude. The food is pretty good (not great) and the beer is alright, but server was offensive. Probably wont be back.
(2)Jennifer S.
Didnt eat here but the atmosphere was good. Lots of different things to do at the bar...pool, darts and so on. Very big place so you dont feel cramped.
(3)John S.
You know that part in the OutKast song AtLiens, "Softly as if I play piano in the dark"? Yeah, Twains isn't like that at all... it's loud as hell and our group of five Asian individuals were the only non Caucasian patrons at the bar. Not that it bothered me very much to be the token ethnics at the bar, I mean it's happened before plenty of times in my life. I just thought that what with greater ATL being 52% black, there would've been some small representation from the African nations. *Imagining Nuk Nuk and Po'Jo and 'dem playing shuffleboard* Twains boasted a very unpretentious setting that included shuffleboard, pool tables, darts boards and a plethora of different beer and full bar options. The wait staff was quite nice, even after my buddy - who has this irrational lust for women of a certain hair color - started to become a bit overly friendly. The service was quick and food and drinks were also replenished quickly and efficiently. Overall, a great place for a group to play games of skill which quickly devolve into contests of "try to stand up straight" after copious amounts of alcohol consumption. Good thing there was a Waffle House nearby to help us through the night.
(4)Kelsey F.
I have been hearing about Twain's for 4 years now and I finally made it there last Thursday night. A friend and I strolled in around 9:30 and found a seat at the main bar. There was a good amount of people there listening to the walk up musicians, drinking in the booths, and playing games. It took the bar tender a bit of time to take our order even though there were only a handful of people actually sitting at the bar. We both opted for one of the house brewed Belgium ales. Twain's big positive is that it is very reasonably priced - house beer $3.50 and that they brew their own beers which is always respectable. We hung out at the bar for a little while but we must have had our invisibility cloaks on because it took the bar tenders ages to notice that we wanted to order anything or wanted to close our tabs. We headed over to the game area and played a couple rounds of pool (also very reasonably priced). I liked that the brewery/bar was a buzz with people having fun, but not so crowded that you couldn't get in on any games. There are several large parking lots behind Twain's for parking. Service could absolutely be better here but the relaxed atmosphere, awesome bands that come out, reasonably priced games, and variety of beers to be drank make it worth a visit or two.
(3)Shirlyn D.
The food is amazing and authentic. The service is slacking, though. It's a big restaurant, but there weren't that many customers when we got here, and it took us 20 mins to get drinks and another 20 to order an appetizer. But the servers were friendly when they finally greeted us.
(3)Shaye B.
I would give this place 4 stars if the food was better - however, it is still a very fun place to hang out! The atmosphere of the place is awesome - very laid back, fun place to hang out at. Plenty of billiard tables and dart boards around that make it a nice time to hang out with friends with some pitchers of beer. Decatur is a far venture for me so while I have a lot of fun, I typically would not go here unless for whatever reason I went to Decatur and couldn't get a table at one of the other trendy restaurants. Worth checking out and could be a fun place to move to after a nice dinner in the area and you didn't want a crazy bar scene for the night. If I lived closer I would give the place 4 stars since it is a brewpub and I would rather review it on the basis of its atmosphere than the food - but long drive & mediocre food - I can't rate it better. Def a fun place to hang out at though if you have a group of people and are looking for a change of pace!
(3)Caroline G.
Good food, Great vibe and nice mix of people from all walks. Tuesday night is Jazz/open mic-ish night, didn't realize it when we walked in, but it was an enjoyable night for sure. Food is good, on par with Decatur fair and in line with places similar. Beer-They brew about 8-10 of their own beer and it changes regularly, some are hits and some are not so hits, but that's the way it goes. I commend any place that has the balls to brew in house so its all GREAT to me. Im an IPA, Porter, Stout and etc beer drinker so I know my palate can be a little snobby. Service is friendly when they aren't busy and are nice when they are. It is what it is and they do what they do....There is a girl that bartended one afternoon I was there with shoulder length brown hair in pigtails...I can't for the life of me remember her name but OMG if I could pinch her cheeks and hug the shit out of her I would..she is all sorts of awesome! Don't really have anything bad to say about this place expect for the girls bathroom runs out of toilet paper and at times you find "presents" left on the floor by some girl that thought she could drink with the boys...So really my complaint would be with girls that can't manage to pee IN the toilet and puke IN the toilet...STAY the hell home and quit stealing Twain's TP. Also have pool tables, shuffle board, darts and something else I didn't pay attention to...I'm there to sit at the bar, stuff my face with hummus, drink beer and people watch.
(4)Judy C.
Pros: -wide menu options -beet salad looked amazing (regret that I didn't order it) -seasonal sides -the size of the back rooms and the variety of different games (pool, darts, etc.) -family-run business Cons: -burger patty was dry/overcooked -parking was impossible to find on a Friday night
(4)Steve J.
Fantastic food, fantastic house-brewed beer, fair prices for both, and a great environment. I've been to Twain's a handful of times and each time has been a great experience. The wait staff/bartenders have almost never let my beer run dry and the food and beers have always been great quality. The spent grain bread is an extremely hearty loaf made of grain used in the brewing process. It's extremely filling and mildly sweet. The vegetarian chili has a great flavor to it- just the right amount of heat for most all palettes. I've had a couple other items on the menu and they've all been well worth my money. I REALLY love their house Imperial IPA, but the Choco-Rye stout, and Amber are also pretty good. I think in the past I had a Tripel they brewed that was really good. Only one time that I've been in was it uncomfortably crowded, but most nights it's relatively calm and there are enough pool tables to go around.
(5)Gwanda P.
The service here is horrible!!!!!!!!!!!! We were not given silverware or small plates with our two nacho orders. The server (she )was sooooooo rude!!!
(1)Michelle K.
This is one of my all time place to "chillax" in Decatur. There has never been a bad visit since my first one back in January of last year. I recently visited this lovely establishment for drinks last month and found it humorous that our waiter thought I looked A LOT younger than my date! HA! That's amusing to me because we were both born in the same year and our waiter was probably younger than both of us! The bar was packed and the service there was still consistent! Gotta love that about a place like this. Hands down, if I ever want to be in a "chill bar" where the drinks are decent and have a burning desire to play a mean game of shuffleboard, Twain's is my number one hot spot! #Yelp 365 - 12/365
(4)Vonda D.
This was my group's last stop of the night. We went in around 1am Sunday morning. I'm not sure if that late is a hit or miss. It was crowded, but my gfs and I just hung around at our table drinking beer. The apple cider beer I had was tasty. I wish they had some random tables throughout the place. It would be better for guy watching. :) I can't comment on the food or the games because all we did was drink. I've been told that happy hour here is great.
(2)Brian K.
I've always considered Twain's to be the adult equivalent to Chuck E. Cheese's. However, instead of soft drinks, singing robotic mice, and a ball crawl, you get beer, live music, and shuffle board. In the end, if you can't find something here to keep yourself occupied, then you're likely in need of a clinical intervention. Food: In addition to being a brewpub, Twain's is also a full-service restaurant. The menu offerings are predominately traditional American bare fare, but there are a few novel standouts such as the bacon mac & cheese fritters. In addition to the standard menu, they also serve brunch on the weekends. Overall, the food isn't that memorable, but that's not surprising considering that it's not the main reason that most people seek this place out. Service: Incredibly friendly, but not always the most efficient. On the weekends, wait times can get fairly long for pool tables, darts, and shuffle board, so be prepared to wait. Atmosphere: The interior of Twain's is really quite expansive. The facility features a large dining room, performance stage, two bar areas, a billiards room, and separate alcoves for darts and shuffle board. Families are welcome during the day, but Twain's restricts entry to persons 21 and over after 9PM. Also, Smoking is completely prohibited, regardless of the time of day, so you don't have to worry about smelling like an ashtray once the evening is over. Cost: Inexpensive. Appetizers and snacks are $5-$9, soups and salads are $4-$9, sandwiches (includes choice of side) are $7-$10, and entrees are $8-$15. Other: Twain's is more than capable of accommodating large groups or office parties. They also feature special events throughout the week, such as food and beer pairings, corned beef Sundays, and Jazz Jam Thursdays.
(4)Emma G.
The 5th star here is because Tuesday night Jazz was so, so great. Twain's is huge (or maybe my recently-moved-out-of-NYC-perspective is off); there is a giant dining room, with a stage for live music visible from most angles. Then there is a giant back room with billiards and a separate bar. The food is actually quite good for being a pub; I went with a friend who hadn't been in about a year, and he said the menu was much improved from the last time he'd been. My turkey burger was succulent, my greek salad was yummy and well-balanced (although a little overkill on the feta), and my friend's Burner Burger (Blackened Brasstown Beef, tomato and poblano chutney, pickled jalapenos, sriracha mayo, jack cheese.) was seriously a flavor-bomb in the best way. Live jazz at Twain's is perfect. The first set seemed to be comprised of all the regulars, and then as the night went on, people from the room kept coming up with their instruments and joining in. The musicians were phenomenal; they were clearly just having SO MUCH FUN, and it was a delight to watch/listen. I keep telling everyone I know that I can't wait to take them here on a Tuesday night and I'm being sincere.
(5)Mike O.
Pretty sweet bar. Lots of games like shuffle board, pool, darts. And lots of places for people to play those games. There are several bars around the place, so you don't have to go too far, and there is also waiter service. The beer list is great, the pub food is very tasty. All around a great place. Keep in mind I've only been here on an early Friday afternoon. I haven't witnessed it, but I could see this place getting crazy packed. I imagine it would be less fun then.
(4)Angela M.
They get their 4th star back! We went in yesterday (Fri Jun 14 2013) for lunch and it was outstanding. We had the fried chicken sandwich special, which was DEELISH. The fried chicken had a crispy, slightly sweet crust and was moist inside - PERFECT. The jalapeño aioli was not very spicy, but just salty enough to offset the sweet radish and cabbage slaw. Simply delectable. Nommy noises were the only conversation during this meal! Chef Savannah has saved this place! We didn't have beer, but the newest selection looked great. We are SO happy to have our wonderful Twain's back!
(4)Matthew E.
Nice place. We went kind of late on a Thursday and there were only 10-15 people in there. They have pool tables, darts, and shuffleboard. There are a lot of cool places within walking distance.
(4)Shyam S.
I had not visited Twain's in years, but I'm seriously questioning my own judgment because this is an excellent sports bar. Fuck, I feel like I have seriously wasted my time at cruddy sports bars across the city when such a gem is right in Decatur. Twain's seriously has everything - shuffleboard, billiards, pool, trivia, outdoor patio, tons of seating indoors, great food, great beer, etc. I just popped in to watch the second and third period of the Blackhawks-Bruins game (Go Hawks) and ate the most delightful snack - something called spent grain bread and the jerky and jelly combination. It was short and sweet and delightful.
(4)Neenee P.
A step above the rest as far as beer and food quality but service... that's a whole different story. I'm not going into detail, I'm not so enthralled with myself I think people want to read an essay on yelp but the gist of it is, can we please stop with the apathetic serving?! It doesn't make you cool, or hipster. It makes you a bad server. There are a few good ones here if you snag a decent station but as a whole, if you're not at the main bar; be prepared for serious slack service!
(3)Tom C.
I love Twain's! They have plenty of things to do like: shuffle board, pool tables, arcade games, darts, and fooze ball. It's very spacious inside. The place has a lot of character to it. Very casual, down to earth atmosphere. It's not grungy. It's open late till 2am on weekdays and 3am on the weekends. The clientele seems pretty cool. They have a very good beer selection for bottled and draft. I haven't tried the food, only played pool while I was there. I'm definitely coming back. And what do you know....they are close to Agnes Scott and you can hopefully catch some beautiful Agnes girls if they are not "Dec"aturs...lol
(4)Davie C.
20 something hell. And the under 21 crowd have to be filtered out before you'll even get served. Maybe it's Friday nights. Maybe it's the full moon and I'm raging. shouldn't take an hour to get served. They should card at the door and then I would have known this place is for college kids and cougars. This also a great place to play hipster bingo, you can Google search for cards. And, seriously, who the f*ck drinks PBR at a BREWERY?!?!?!?
(1)Sam G.
Probably my favorite place to hang out at right now. I love playing pool, the option for darts, arcade games and shuffle board rock! The live music is always good and the atmosphere is always positive and the staff are great. Cool place to go if your a fan of beer and good times. Dont come here if your a dick! The hipsters will stare you down til your pecker falls off ;)
(5)Ryan S.
It is true that most people only write reviews only when their experience was poor or if it didn't meet expectations. Mine's different. Here's why? Me and my co-workers have been having Thursday nights (not all, but many Thursdays) @ Twains, since most of us are off on Thursdays. On my friend's (co-worker) despedida party, we decided to celebrate it at Twain's -- but instead of Thursday, we did it on a Wednesday. Oh, boy... That Wednesday, everyone was confused... This place used to be our favorite hangout ... but the real unexpected happened ... First, we were served poorly. We were handed out bill/checks way too early -- like they were ready to kick us out. Then, our female server rarely came back to refill our drinks or asked for any more orders. No one among us really knew why? When one of us asked, she couldn't tell us what was wrong. Also, our tables were cleaned early, even when some of us were still sitting -- my chicken wings were thrown away (even if there's still more than half left on the basket). Just poor service to the extreme! I don't know if it was because it was a Wednesday, or if it was because we weren't on our usual tables (or not the usual servers). Even the manager that night offered no help. Of course he tried/pretend he was listening, but we could see on his bearded face that he didn't care about our complains. To note: it was not even busy that night -- on our area, there were maybe 4 to 6 parties. It was just heartbreaking. We have been their costumers for a while, and never until that day did we get an awful service and a careless manager response. Also, I seem to recognize the manager who came to our table -- he seem to be our former server. He cut some of his beard and had some neat cutting and trimming (compared to his former beardy, mustachy, hairy face.) It was sad -- I guess having higher position makes one act differently. I am not hear to influence you not to try Twain's. It was maybe just bad luck that came to our faces all at the same time. Just to let you know, we are not just random uneducated rude folks, we are healthcare professionals. We know our limitations, and we know if we are being treated awfully. I just hope this won't happen to any of you guys.. But yes, yes to great food, and great alcoholic drinks, tops the pool table, darts, etc. But here's to having had a ready-to-forget, sad-ending of a night... And here's to never ever coming back to Twain's... Ever!
(1)Sarah F.
Great service. Terrible veggie chili. Delicious beet salad. Beer samples.
(4)Joyous S.
I like this place and I think it's a great place to hang out with your friends and it's also great date spot. The first time I went out with my coworkers and for happy hour! I went again just to get some vegetarian chili and it was okay! The last time I went was on a date and we had a great time the only thing that I would say is the server wasn't that friendly she was also the bartender in the back. But another server came over to help her that night and she was very pleasant!
(4)Emily C.
This place is amazing! I've been going to Twain's for a few years now and have converted many friends into believers. They brew many of their own beers in house and I've never had one I didn't like. Prices are extremely reasonable for both drinks and food. I find the food to be really, really good especially if you're looking for something local, delicious, but at the same time low key and laid back. I highly recommend the hot wings!
(5)Christy B.
A great spot for tasty beer and fun games. They have some house brews that are not only well-made, but also inexpensive. Win-win-win. Throwing darts is obviously a little dangerous if you've been swimming in a beer ocean all night, so I suggest sticking to other games that don't involve throwing pointy objects around! Lucky for you, there are plenty of choices for that. The food is beyond bar food. Salads, sammiches, and other healthy options sit on the menu right next to some amazing sweet potato fries. The atmosphere changes depending on which side of the bar you're on, from library-ish to pool hall, but it holds a good vibe no matter where you are.
(4)Jessica L.
I went here for trivia night with my host while I was couchsurfing. It's a bit grittier of a place than I'm used to but overall pretty fun. I got the roasted turkey on multigrain because I still haven't gotten over my obsession with sprouts. It was decent, but a little too salty/peppery if I recall. The trivia itself was fun, even though there were a few questions that were stupidly random. The bathroom stalls don't have locks (at least in the ladies' room), and that's just not cool. I accidentally walked in on some poor girl :/.
(3)Bibi R.
We've been to Twain's a few times now. While it's maybe not my favorite place ever, they have great drinks and some really nice dishes. Unfortunately they changed their menu recently, so some of the really good veggie stuff is not available anymore, but the Crispy Kale Sandwich is unbeatably delicious. It comes with a side as well--they're fries are great! Their drinks selection is also great, and their shuffle board and pool tables just add to the fun. What I don't really like is that their "pool table for so-and-so" is extremely loud--unnecessarily loud. Nonetheless, a nice place to hang out. Will definitely be back.
(4)Steve M.
Twains is an awesome bar. Whenever I go out in Decatur I always end up at Twains. They have good prices and the bartenders make stiff drinks, which I love. They also have a bunch of pool tables, shuffle board, darts and an outdoor patio. I haven't had any food there but the drinks are good and the beer they brew there is good as well. Atmosphere is the best part.
(5)B B.
Seriously the tomato basil soup and the sweet potato fries are exact replica's of what I can get at fresh market. The tables are very sticky and that was it for me. The waiter was a cool redhead so they get at least two stars. The games and live music helped also. The beer varieties are nice. This just isn't the place for me. Maybe if I was drunk before I went in they would have gotten a sweeter review.
(2)Silence R.
I wanted to like this place, I really did. Named after one of the greatest American authors of any era, pages of books on the walls, pool and darts. Plenty of space, once you finally find a parking spot, Twain's is a great place to meet friends. ...as long as you aren't planning on eating or drinking. If Almost Average was a flavor, Twain's food would be smothered in it. I've had burgers, reubens, salads, jerky - apparently they make their own, fries, and I'm sure a few others. Not once has the food been better than "just okay." Every time I tried something new it was an opportunity to be disappointed all over again. The food isn't bad, it's just not good. Go there hungry and you'll leave disappointed. Twain's own brews are hit or miss, heavy on the miss. But I'm sure a lot of that has to do with personal preference: I prefer good beer, not watered down craft concoctions just to say you make your own beer. I went to a place and made my own wine once - that doesn't make me a stellar vintner. The service is terrible. Just terrible. Oh, they seem nice enough. Lots of smiles and laid back personalities. So laid back in fact that they will forgot to come back to the table. Or will come back without what you asked for. Twice. I've been weekends and during the week, busy and empty. There are two constants: inattentive service and meh food. Looking back, I'm surprised at how often I've gone there, often due to convenience, given their track record. But I don't need to play that song anymore. Other than the service, it's not a BAD place - it's just not very good.
(2)Kent M.
Awesome Food not only do they prepare it Great It's Good Food to start with !! Awesome community Place. can get a little loud as they have lots pool tables, games to entertain. One of My favs !!
(4)SenorQueso G.
During our weekend stay in Decatur, we hit Twain's for an early lunch twice. We enjoyed the beer and food. With all of the pool tables and obvious PA gear, I can see how this place could get pretty loud at night. However, it was quiet and easy-going for lunch. The beer was very good. Particularly, the Gingerbread Bragon Brown Ale was great for the first beer of the day. We tried the bacon mac n cheese fritters and were comparing everything else we ate that weekend to those. Amazing. The tempura green beans were top-notch as well. Still firm and crunchy without being greasy at all. All of the food was excellent. Speed of service was another matter. There seemed to be only one person working the entire floor, so we had some long waits between visits. Luckily, we were on vacation and didn't mind the pace. In other circumstances this would have been an issue. If I ever get back to Decatur, I'll be going back.
(4)Ross F.
Headed here earlier for lunch and ordered from the brunch menu. It was kind of disappointed. It came with borderline-overcooked chicken sausage patties and "hash browns" - or a small blob of fried potatoes. But the ambiance was nice and so was the server!
(3)Ken M.
This is a great neighbor sports bar/resteraunt that also serves up live music. Thursday night bike night is usally when I go. Lots of space, patio dining and gaming galore.
(4)Katrina W.
Twain's won my heart with their beer flight and their nachos. A friend of mine took me here and got me a flight of their beers, which a) was pretty tasty and b) got me rather drunk! For noms, we ordered a basket of fries (that came with the best spicy mayo ever) to share and then I decided to get the nachos with chicken for my meal. So, the nachos. These are the best nachos I've had in town, for serious. They add a cheese sauce and then bake cheddar cheese on top of that, add a yummy pico de gallo and jalapenos and give you sour cream and salsa on the side. You can add chicken, steak or veggie chili for an additional charge. Whenever I get sick of nachos, I'll try something else - but I'll take my husband's word for the other entrees (he was really fond of the pot roast). They do have a small parking lot and are slightly off the Square, so it's never been hard to find seats there. Restaurant is roomy with a game area (darts/pool) and service has always been spot on. Definitely will be back. :)
(4)Obadiah S.
Had the occasion to stop here for Brunch on the weekend. The corned beef hash was fantastic. The beer that's beginning to pour from the new brewmaster is really worth a visit.
(4)Alli H.
Service is always friendly. Food is pretty good, and the new brewmaster has brought some really great beers to Twain's. Sometimes they run out of the beer I want, but the options are plentiful enough that I can always find a Plan B that is just as delicious. I recently had the vegetarian chili and the falafel burger - they were DELICIOUS! The best part is the darts/pool/shuffleboard. Playing darts is free, but the shuffleboard and pool are both pay-to-play (and not that cheap). Overall a very fun place to hang out on weekends :-) Love it!
(4)Katie C.
I've always heard great things about Twains, so maybe my experience was unusual. My friend and I went here after the Braves game Sunday and it was pretty empty. Only families with screaming children and a couple of people at the bar. The service was quick and competent. I got the chicken philly cheese steak with onion rings because I wanted something messy and hearty. My friend got the turkey bacon wrap with fries and we shared the cheese dip. The food was very blah minus the onion rings which would have carried a whole other star if they hadn't been so incredibly greasy. The sandwich was tiny and only lukewarm with no real flavor. The cheese dip was orange (I was expecting white since it said jalapeño cheese dip) and it only came with a handful of chips. By the time the waitress brought more chips (which we had to pay for!) it had cooled into a hard mess. I will come back to try the interesting selection of beers, but only after 9pm (when all those screaming kids get kicked out) and I'll make sure to eat before I come.
(2)Nathan O.
Perhaps my favorite place in all of Decatur. You can have great brews, wonderful food, and enjoy some classic entertainment. The fried green beans are the best part of the menu. Pulled pork never loses as well. Someone else wrote about the large amount of porters and coffee-based brews, which is entirely true for any Belgium beer fan. Shuffboard, pool, foosball and live music often. A nice patio outside as well. The parking is the biggest blessing as well, as you are always guaranteed to find a spot in walking distance. You really can't beat it.
(4)Richard K.
Any place that has shuffleboards rocks in my books and they got two at Twain's. Besides the shuffleboards, they have about a dozen pool tables, three dart tables, and some of that damn foosball. There are a few drawbacks to the games. First, they are not free and on the pricey side. Second, there is a good wait especially for shuffleboard. Even with the drawbacks, it is really an entertaining, worthy place to grab food and drinks with all the possible activities. As for the food, it was surprisingly good. The sweet potato fries were delicious and the pita appetizer proportion was big enough to feed a small country. Really, for $5 bucks, it was absolutely ginormous. Another plus is the microbrewery. I always appreciate a place that make their own beer. I ordered the golden ale and really enjoyed the overall smooth taste of the beer, but sadly I wasn't my usual self and had to call it quits after one beer due to heartburn or "one beer queer syndrome". With their microbrews, solid food, and games, Twain's is well worth the drive out to Decatur
(4)Dio S.
Twain's is a combination of a pool hall and brewpub, but also kind of more than that. Offering and layout are very eclectic, with pool room in the back, front gaming area with two shuffleboard tables, a few pool tables, darts, and arcade games, middle eating area, and then a bar and even more eating area on the other side, not to forget a patio. Beer selection is quite nice, and priced agreeably, though I have not been too impressed with any of the house brews. The crowd is generally youthful, energetic, wide-ranging, and there's lots of characters. I think it's great for groups. Shuffleboards can be pretty hard to get on a busy night. There are people from Decatur Chess club playing on one table every Friday night, way past midnight, in all the bustle and noise. That is very cool. Now if only they would do karaoke occasionally, I'll go insane. There are times when you think, man, all I do at the Brick Store is sitting there drinking and talking, I wonder if there's somewhere to chill for a while where I actually DO stuff. Voila, this is a great option right down the block. When you get thirsty for that glass of Duchess, go right back to BSP. Love it.
(3)Rob P.
Just had a fun Friday night at Twain's. Started off with dinner and it was a pleasant surprise. I had the pork loin and it was moist and delicious. The lady had the beet salad with salmon and also enjoyed it. The above average food was a nice surprise since we only expected good beer and games. That part didn't disappoint as there was a good selection of house microbrews and other craft bottles. Also got to play pool, foosball, and shuffleboard. Huzzah.
(4)Kelly S.
I heart Twain's. Their microbrews are great, and so are their wings. Whatever the hottest ones are are DAYUM hot, but tasty. Go a level lower if you want to be able to taste anything for the next 3 days. I like to sit on the patio and have yet to play pool, because I get lazy and want to sit when I drink beer. Plus I'm an absolutely TERRIBLE pool player, so no one wants to be on my team (justifiably). But someday I'll get off my lazy ass and indulge in some billiards. Hmmmm . . . it kinda feels like a Twain's night. We'll have to see.
(4)Jerome M.
Twain's is a full service pub, restaurant, and pool hall located in downtown Decatur, GA. Open since 1996, they've been brewing their own crafted ales since November 2006. With an eclectic atmosphere, i.e. chandlers made from Tap Hammers, tricycles, bowling pins, pages of Huck Finn plastered to the wall, four dart boards, six pool table in the main room and more in the back, anyone can feel at ease at Twain's. Their menu contains: App's like: Fried Green Beans, The Trinity(Queso, Guacamole, and Salsa with Chips.). Entrees: Black Bean Burger, Cilantro-Salmon Burger, Country Fried Steak. Plus soups and salads. And names like: Heaven for Climate Golden Ale, Gingerbread Brown Ale, Mad Happy Pale Ale, and Hell for Society Stout coming out of the brewery, held within the within the restaurant, there is hardly a chance you couldn't find something for yourself. I myself had the Fried Green Beans, Drunken Mussels and a Heaven for Climate Golden Ale. The Fried Green Beans them-selves were a bit bland, the beer batter was crisp and wasn't bad. The horseradish mayo that accompanied it was very tasty and kicked the flavor up making this a very tasty and recommend appetizer. The Heaven for Climate Golden Ale wasn't very impressive to me. It had a bland taste, almost like a Lite beer from a name brand company. The Drunken Mussels were very good. They tasted fairly fresh and were cooked perfectly. They took a steam bath in Twain's brew with shallots, garlic and oregano. It really worked. My Foodie Outing group were there for awhile. I was the only one out of them that wanted to play some billiards, but for $7.50 an hour, it was something I could pass up. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am ready to go back. See my full review at: sites.google.com/site/iw…
(3)Jon G.
These guys can make some beer!! I am a big IPA fan and they always have one on tap that I love. Food is super. Wonderful grass fed burger. Great fries too. They make a vegetarian chili that I love. Really nice people, good beers and food. I totally recommend this place.
(5)Kathleen M.
After meeting a sold out show at Eddie's Attic, we decided to roll over to Twain's and grab a beer to celebrate Humpday. Or something. As if we needed an excuse to grab a beer. I was the first to arrive, made a lap, and settled in at a table towards the front window. I loved the space: very open and welcoming, with various options for seating depending on what you were looking for: booths away from the bar for the kid-toting folk, hi tops for a quick drink, and tables looking out over the pool hall for the gawkers in all of us. I love their rotating list of house-made beers, and settled in with a Bookzilla Brown Ale, as brown ales are my newest love. It's great that you can get a half-pint, just in case you don't feel like committing to one flavor: it's a great way to try their wide range of options. The beer I chose was delicious; quite flavorful and better than I expected, to be honest. It's no Bell's Brown but I would happily order it again. I also ordered a turkey sandwich that was the perfect choice: fresh, thick Thanksgiving-like turkey on great bread.. it was simple but totally hit the spot. And it had sprouts. I love sprouts. The sweet potato fries were equally divine and a huge serving: I had to push my plate away so as not to eat them all and thus have to be rolled home. Our server was on the ball and checked in often without being obnoxious about it. The price point was great for a casual night out and I really have no qualms about this place. I hope to be back here soon, that's for sure.
(4)Matt T.
Yea, Im all of 45 minutes away from this place. Does that stop me? Nope. Should the potential DUI's stop me? Yup Do they? Obviously not. Sad that my liver controls my life, however my stomach has a part to do with that as well. With that said, GO TO TWAINS. See what I did there? You didnt? You suck. So heres the deal, the food, rocks. The beer, brewed by Jordan Fleetwood of Dogwood fame brews the beer. Then they add on a few well chosen beers and host this wonderful pairing of food and beer in one of the most amazing spaces I have ever set my 23 year old eyes. I love the openness, the dive feel, but the reserved almost classy, yea I said it, feel to the place. Want some real class? Tuesdays at 8 with Joe Gransden throwing down some awesome jazz. I came here for the World Cup as well. Lets just say I found the spot to cheer on the boys of the Nation Team. Im a picky eater, but everything I have eaten so far, rocks. The beers, well Im not so picky. But if I was forced to drink Twains beer till I died, Im sure I could do worse. Find me here one day. I might be passed out on one of their couches.
(5)Lysa F.
Twain's is awesome. I love the people, the chill vibe, the awesome beers, sweet food, games, music... it's like an arcade, pool hall, concert venue and pub in one. The drinks/food are both very affordable. As far as drinks go, I'd recommend: Mad happy pale ale (light and smooth, their classic) Heaven for climate golden (poetic and great. a rich golden, deep but summery taste) Those are my two faves, but they have new beers rolling in constantly. Food wise, I loved: Mediterranean platter (killer, light and tasty) Nachos (pretty good; great beer munchies) Black bean burger (damn good) ...or anything else! The salads and sandwiches are all great. Check it out, I promise you won't regret it!
(4)Jeremy A.
The food is remarkably bad here from what I have tried. The wings were average and the beer mussels tasted like they were cooked with dish soap, I had to send them back they were so bad. That being said they have a good beer selection and the shuffleboard tables are key here which from what i have heard are free on wednesday nights. Go here for the beer and bar activities, stay away from the food.
(3)Frank C.
They brew their own beer, which is very tasty and consistent throughout the batches. The waitstaff is fantastic, they have a beer in my hand as soon as I finish the previous one. It is a great set up with pool tables, full length indoor shuffle board and a dart area. The patio is cool in the summer because of the ivy growing over the top, and the patio is dog friendly.
(5)Reba Jean B.
Oh, Twain's... What can I say about you. I thoroughly enjoyed your trivia night last week and wish I could make it this week. I'm thankful for your beer selection and hope you keep it up. The Founder's was fantastic on draft. Your pool tables have kept me entertained for years on end and I would like to say thank you for always being there. (My only complaint is with the boiled peanuts. Is that clove I taste? Two thumbs down on that one) Twain's, your staff and your guests are awesome!
(4)AJ J.
The lemon pepper wings are AMAZING!!!!!
(4)Frances W.
We had a little party at Twain's this weekend, and it turned out to be a pretty good decision. The boys had fun playing pool and darts, and I enjoyed being able to relax a little bit. I do have to say that the darts were in pretty rough shape, and I might suggest bringing your own if you are really into it. We ordered a bunch of food and all 11 of us shared. We sat in the back towards the pool tables at 2 big booths. They were perfect for our group. After all, we just wanted to eat and be merry. The women's bathrooms were awful. One of the doors had almost completely fallen off, and another one of the toilets had a plunger stuck in it...yay? I suppose they are too busy being proud over their bathrooms being labeled as "Balls" and "Racks" that they don't have the energy to maintain them. Yeah the food is pretty much bar food...but for bar food it's pretty good. I don't even remember everything we ordered...must have been half the menu, but I will tell you what I remember. We got the chips and queso first, which was pretty yummy, but nothing that you couldn't buy at the super market for 1/3 the price, but hey that's how it goes. We also got the french fries and some sort of orange spicy dip. The fries were tiny, probably the smallest I've ever seen, which means that you are eating more friedness per potato, but it was a party after all. We also got the pita and hummus. The hummus was pretty bland, and honestly I would suggest skipping this dish, even though the pita and cucumber were good. Finally we ordered the boiled peanuts, which were fairly good, but the portion size was tiny. I have to admit that when it comes to boiled peanuts I'm used to buying them from some guy on the side of the road for dirt cheap, so I'm a bit biased. Twain's was a good choice for us because it had the entertainment, space and food, but I wouldn't go back for the eats, but maybe the games. On a side note, they charge $10 if you want to bring in your own cake, which is crazy for a place that barely has any dessert on their menu.
(3)Emily K.
I finally returned to Twain's a few weeks ago and I've been meaning to write an update. I went there on a blind date (ugh, terrible date!) and arrived first. It was about 9:30 on a Saturday night and wasn't nearly as busy as I'd expected it to be. I snagged a table by the bar and was served promptly. The waiter was helpful with suggesting beers as I'm not a big beer drinker. My date *shiver* ended up paying, but even if I'd had to foot my own bill it only would've been about $5 with tip. I didn't get any food this time as I'd eaten before I went out. The beer was good. It was right about what I like in a beer, which is admittedly a bit on the weak side. The server was attentive, but not hovering. Since it wasn't as busy as expected, he got us everything fairly quickly. The ambiance and beer is better than I remembered, but the company was decidedly much worse than the last time. *shivers again*
(4)theron t.
New chef, new menu, about time. Really excited about the potential for the food here to improve. Our first sampling of the new menu was great. BBQ sandwich and hand cut fries were great. Wife's food was great as well. We will defiantly be coming back more often to enjoy the food and beers. Great job on tackling what's always been the weakest area of this place.
(4)Anna W.
I came here for the post-wedding/reception gathering here on a Saturday. There were a smattering of people, but not the crowd I'd expect on a Saturday (barring our wedding crowd). This does seem like a fun place to play shuffleboard, darts, and billiards. Do make sure to go up to the bartender to ask for the pucks/whatever-you-call-them to play shuffleboard, before some other group does so (snap!). The bathrooms weren't shiny, but they were clean. The bartender wasn't exactly rude, but I had a pretty weird conversation with him (though I might chalk it up to the fact that a lot in our party weren't drinking, and might not have tipped standard). I asked him how many ounces the lambic was, which, on the menu, was $9. He said, somewhat dismissively, that it was on the menu. I peered at the menu again. No, it wasn't. He repeated that it was on the menu. More peering at the menu. I said that all I could see was that it was $9. He then made a big "Oh" of realization, and told me it was 20 ounces. He wasn't prompt with making my drink, but rather prompt and friendly in getting me my water (this was after I tipped the standard 20%).
(3)Alexis R.
Love this place! My friend and I each got a beer sampler last night, which had mostly tasty, Twains-made brews. The one "yipes" was a jalepeno-infused beer that neither of us was expecting. Ain't that a kick in the pants? Darts, pool, Flyers games, trivia night on Mondays... some nice additions to the average bar. The service was also excellent - our waitress was attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is great as well, with lots of open space, but still with an old pub-type vibe. I'm knocking off a star because honestly, my food wasn't that amazing. The fries were phenomenal, but my beet sandwich didn't taste fresh or warm, and lacked some serious flavor. I know what you're thinking: "Why the eff did you order a beet sandwich at a bar?" That question may haunt me for years to come. But to be honest, I normally like beets, so it shouldn't have been disappointing, even if a little weird. All in all, this is a great hangout place, and I'm reserving my judgment too harshly on the food until I try something more common for a joint like Twain's. Next time... I eat veggie chili and fries!
(4)Matt M.
Very mediocre food, generic self-brewed stuff on tap. What sets this place apart is the pergola out front for dining, the billiards room, shuffleboards, and darts. They really could spend $50 and get an unlimited supply of dart tails though -- I've gone probably 50 times and they are always trashed. Beards galore at the bar. My favorite thing about Twain's is their method of getting people out when they're closing down -- they turn up the lights and then crank up the thrash metal. Who'd want to stay?
(3)Kyle W.
Went to Twain's last night for the first time after dinner at Brick Store. The draft beer selection, while not huge, is really interesting. Casked beer, smoked ales, and a few Golden ales later, it was a good night. They also have a ton of games - Fooseball, shuffleboard, pool, etc - which made for a good time. My main complaint was that it was tough to get a drink. I originally ordered at the main bar where I was sent away (the bartender wouldn't even take my order) and I was rarely approached by the staff down by the game tables for drinks. Otherwise it was a good time with a good atmosphere.
(3)D M.
I came out to Twain's in celebration of Man Day, and had a delightful time. We drank pitchers Man Brew to dull the sensation of new tattoos. A few fries were snagged, and I was a little sad I'd already eaten elsewhere because those fries were good. The beer was very reasonably priced, and I was surprised that it was made there....nothing beats a good microbrew. If I'd stayed longer, I would have played some shuffleboard. So much fun. They had a good number of pool tables and dart boards, so even it if was busy, people could still play. The bathrooms were tidy despite it being busy. Everyone working was super friendly and seemed happy, which added to the experience. I'd come back again gladly, as long as I could play some shuffleboard!
(4)Alex C.
First time here tonight. The environment is great. It's got the modern rustic feel to it and there isn't insanely loud music or tv's. They're there, but you can tune it out. The place seemed popular as it was consistently busy the whole time we were there, yet you could still get decent service and never felt crowded. If you're into billiards and booze, this place should be high on your list. Their selection is awesome and their prices were decent. I got the porter that they have, I don't remember the name, but its above the Guiness on the menu. It was good. I'm not big on most beers, but I liked it. As far as food goes, we didn't have any, though it looked good. If you're looking for a place to hang out and have some drinks, this place is excellent.
(4)Dru M.
Twain's has a great vibe to it. It's very open in the front of the house. In the back is where the pool tables and shuffleboard tables are. This place is very good for large groups. Below are a few of my highlights. * Pool tables and shuffleboard tables are always a bonus. * Back patio is a great place to have a few cocktails with friends...especially when the weather is nice. * As for appetizers...I really like their fries, which are tossed in garlic or come with a choice of dips (my favorite is the horseradish mayo). I'm also a fan of their hummus that comes with pita and veggies. * Their "Beet-L-T" is actually pretty good. It's basically roasted red beets, with arugula and a goat cheese tarragon spread on toasted wheat. * Prices are very affordable and portion sizes are pretty large. * Pretty good service...usually fast and very friendly. Note - they also have a brunch. One that I hope to check out soon. Overall...a fun place in Decatur to spend an evening with friends whether it's for dinner, drinks or a friendly game of pool.
(4)Alex M.
Worst service experience I have ever had. Server failed in pretty much every regard (never brought drink orders, no silverware when the food came out- had to ask twice and wait 5 minutes for it, my order was wrong and it took 15 minutes for it to be corrected. We complained to the waitress and she pretty much told us, too bad. I will never give this place my business again.
(1)Sam M.
Twians is one of my Decatur go to spots for weekend evening fun. They brew their own beer on site and come off with some good brews from time to time, but also keep a decent variety of commercial beers at hand. The food is typical bar food, the wings are solid. The real draw is the pool tables, shuffle board, darts, and the wide open spaces seemingly lacking in other bars in Decatur. If I have a large crowd of friends, this is the place I think to bring them. The place is cavernous when compared to the Brickstore and most other area bars. Couple that with the fun of smack talking over a shuffleboard game, and you have the makings of a good evening. Just reserve your shuffle board table early, because folks tend to stay on them all night.
(4)Ashley B.
I like Twains. Being married to a member of the Emory graduate school, we know a lot of people who live in Decatur and Twain's is a frequent choice for meetups And I admit that every time it's suggested I think a little "ugh, Twain's AGAIN?" but that's just because I'm obsessed with newness. Every time we go I always end up having a good time. First, the food isn't gastropub fancy, but it IS yummy and well-executed. Second, they've got great beers on draft. Three - games! Including lots of pool tables. Darts and shuffleboard are also included. Fourth, they have jazz on some nights, just to add a little bit of (potentially out of place, but still) class to the joint. Fifth, it's really big, so it hardly ever feels crazy crowded, even when it is. I've had pretty big groups get tables together, even on Friday and Saturday nights. In my progressive move toward old age I won't lie: I like to sit. Put these things together with the requisite good company that is always the key ingredient for a good time anyway and this place is a solid standby, either for a rowdy group outing or a drink out with your sweetie up at the bar to watch a game.
(4)lito v.
Pretty cool looking spot. I like the decor. Very open layout. Came on a Sunday night it was a little dead. Thanks to the bartender for recommending me the Belgium Chocolate wheat beer. I usually stay away from these types of flavors. But f it, and glad I did. Outstanding beer.
(4)Lee B.
Back in the day, I really enjoyed it but ever since they turned into a brewpub, it just doesn't have the same appeal to me. They have a rotating tap of beer that they brew in house. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't. They recently changed their menu and got rid of several vegetarian items which I wasn't pleased with. Fortunately, they kept the Mediterranean Platter which is Greek Salad, hummus and veggie chili. Unfortunately, the hummus was chunky and unflavorful - guess they changed the recipe for it. Service is hit or miss. I've had great service here and I've also left because no one came to my table in a ten minute period. I want to like this place. It's in a good location and parking is a breeze. So I continue to frequent it although it underwhelms me each time.
(3)Martha M.
I came in on a Monday night for trivia with a group of 5 friends. We walked in, sat down, and waited for about 15 minutes for someone to take our drink order. Finally, someone in our party gave in and went to the bar to ask if we could order drinks there. While he was gone, our server walked up and said "Is he trying to order drinks at the bar? You have a waitress so it'd be a good idea if you actually waited" then walked away. My friend came back and said the bartender told him he had to place his drink order with his server. So we sat around for another 10-15 minutes until our server cooled down enough to come back and take our drink order. After bringing us our drinks, she ignored us for most of the night and we left after about an hour. It could be good if you're too drunk to notice how bad the service is.
(2)Leon S.
Food came in a reasonable time, but ... fried onion rings should not be made using the tough outer layer of the onion and the Roasted Turkey on Wheat sandwich should be made with FRESH, not moldy turkey. Ugh. That moldy aftertaste. I much prefer the food at other Decatur area restaurants. We thought we would try this one after learning that the Harbour Bar & Fish House didn't open until 4:00. It was a big disappointment.
(2)Jenn D.
I'd only ever been to Twain's once before this weekend, but they won me over this time. It's always amazing to see bartenders who can be patient with their non regulars and then switch right into fast mode, not missing a beat with a one drink order or a 5 drink order. Thanks a bunch for that! Was hoping for a cask, but there was not one available. No problem, the home brewed Hell something Society Stout was a nice change. We just munched on some fries while listening to a great band, never got a hassle from anyone. It was a little hard to get near the stage, either the set up is strange or they have got some rabid fans who do not want to share them with you!! Big plus? PARKING in Decatur. Thank goodness. Definitely a good gathering place for a big group of friends.
(4)Kevin G.
Food is average. The house brewed beer is average to below depending on the style. The servers are very territorial! However, for some reason when my group of friends want to go out and play some games and drink beer this is where we end up. It is a fun place to through some back and sling darts, rack some pool, or slide some shuffle board. On the most popular nights there can be quite the waiting list for shuffle board so be prepared. There is plenty or room to hang out with friends and let the drinks catch up with you and the atmosphere is like the cool kids basement with all the cool games. I am a fan of that. They have live tunes from time to time and they just add to the garage/basement/backyard field i am looking for.
(3)J L.
Check it out! It grew on me. After checking in here tons of times, I've continued to have a good time here, eating or not.
(3)Darren H.
I agree with Michelle more of a hangout spot than anything else. The food was average & the service is slow. The beer selection looks to be pretty good and I'll give them another spin to win me over.
(3)Russ G.
Still a great place to go virtually anytime, day or night, any day of the week. Recently a new menu was introduced and I had to point out for those unaware. I'm friends with the bar manager and last night we discussed some of the changes to the food, I was surprised to learn that they now make almost all their sauces and dressings in house, so they're not only fresh they're healthier for you. Food for the most part is now locally sourced, with grass fed beef and many organics as well. They're making strides to be more eco-friendly as well as better for you, and that's a huge plus in today's market. Just wanted to comment on that since people don't always know these things.
(5)Robert M.
I went here yesterday afternoon because I had the young'uns with me and I had heard it was kid friendly during the day; it is. But every time I go here I can't help but thinking I paid too much for what I got. I always forget the locally brewed choices come in the smallish 13 ounce snifters. And the beer is good but, like my buddy Sammy T. always says, "If you get beer stronger than 12 percent you are defeating the purpose of drinking beer..." I agree. The enjoyability factor tends to decrease and you might as well be drinking wine." That point particularly holds true for me with most, perhaps most if not all, of Twain's home brewed beer high gravity beer selections. You do get "bang for the back" but it costs. I like the fact that they have plenty of pool tables but I somehow think the cost for that factors it self into the prices of everything else. I can't help but think I pay for that too even if I don't come here to play pool. The food is certainly good; however, a better food and beer selection can be had for less money a couple block away / a few streets over at Thinking Man. Don't get me wrong...I like Twain's ...but I don't love it.
(3)Laura C.
This place is really pretty great. Good beer selection, hockey game playing, nice and spacious with awesome shuffleboard tables, and the food is pretty good. The veggie chili is very good. The garlic fries were more oily than I like, but they were nice and garlicky!
(4)J H.
I was sad that the frat boys were completely dominating the dart area. This is a teeming bar and is pleasant enough despite the aforementioned fratboys, who seem to be the main clientele here during the times I've gone. I would go again. Probably a good place to go with a bunch of friends when the brick store is crowded.
(3)Lohr B.
Awesome food, beers, and atmosphere
(5)Megan M.
New menu is good. Except the same old burgers remain. I find them not delicious -- sorry to those of you whom like their burgers. My husband loves the new falafel burger -- much better than the black bean and the vegwich from the old menu. I love the new fries.
(4)Bob M.
I just returned to Twain's this past weekend for the first time since my review over three years ago, and wow, what a transformation. It is now much bigger and better, and really has no resemblance to what it was back then. Plus they have some actually good beers they brew...Criminal Sin is a very tasty and well done IPA for example. The pool tables are still the small kinda crappy bar tables, but they have new felt and there are now 11 of them. There is a Tornado foosball table in good condition with good lighting, which I would pick over the pool tables. Also they are sporting the newly trendy shuffleboard game, which looks every bit as silly as the people playing it. Ryan is a great bartender and has a lot of good local knowledge about stuff to do in Decatur. Note however that they just lost the majority of their parking, and parking is going to be an issue. Plan on parking nowhere near the place. I didn't eat any food this time but it looks a lot better than it did last time.
(4)Abhi K.
The atmosphere is great. They have pool tables, shuffleboard and darts. It is definitely large enough to accomodate groups. Their beer selection is also good. My personal favorite is the Abby Ale. What is NOT good at Twain's? The food. I have been there about four times and the food always sucks. I've had the meatloaf sandwich, shrimp fetuccine and the black bean burger. Their only redeeming item on the menu is the sweet potato fries.
(3)Jim O.
I think Twain's would probably be pretty fun with a group of just adults later at night; but we were there with a several parents and the kids earlier in the evening. Their beer is tasty and reasonably priced. Their wheat and pale ale are decent but not stellar. The potato salad is mayonaise-based and fairly mushed up. I prefer mustard-based and chunkier. I really did not care for it all that much. The Cuban sandwich I had really did not taste like a Cuban sandwich. Sure, it had some of the same stuff on it as a Cuban, but it misses its mark. Nontheless, it was not a bad sandwich, just not great. Now, I'm not one who believes in dragging kids to a bar; but when you're out with a group of adults that have kids, you have to have some place to go. I would say Twain's is just as good or better than any of the other choices. Twain's has a small arcade, photo booth, and foosball table which keeps the kids occupied. Twain's is a great pick for this reason alone. The place seems big enough and has enough choices of areas to hang out in, including a decent sized pool room, and things to do. I could see coming back to hang out with the older crowd the next time if presented the opportunity.
(3)Mike Y.
I'm honestly on the fence with Twain's. Part of me really wants to like it. I mean... they have 2 official sized shuffleboards and plenty of pool tables. They even had Deer Hunter and Foosball. We might've chosen a bad time to go since I saw a lot of people in wedding attire and they kind of took over the place. Shuffleboard is amazingly fun, but it's only cool if you can play. The lines are usually ridiculous and getting yourself on the list is impossible. The rest of the bar looked like a sports bar / pool hall. It was pretty spacious inside, but every table was occupied. I probably would have loved Twain's if our party was able to get on the shuffleboard. I can't really complain though. The one at Ormsby's is perpetually full too. I'll come back for round 2 and maybe try to come earlier to get some action on that board. 13/365
(3)Rochelle D.
I have been wanting to check out Twains for months, so when a friend asked if I wanted to get dinner and shoot some pool there I jumped at the opportunity. When we arrived there was a scuffle brewing on the patio out front. Fortunately it didn't go beyond some heated name calling and shoving, I was a bit concerned that there was no one around to break things up. Once we got inside the atmosphere was much more laid-back. The music was a bit loud, but it was an interesting mix of rock and hip-hop that was suitable for the crowd of mostly 30 somethings. There was a wait for a pool table, so we decided to grab a bite and a drink while we waited. Recently I have had some questionable experiences with mixed rinks, but these were actually really good. I know Twains is a beer pub, but I hate beer, so I was glad to get a good mixed drink. The food was OK, nothing spectacular. I had a french dip and salad. The meat was a little overcooked (it's listed on the menu as medium rare) and slightly tough, but had good flavor. The salad was good, with crisp, green lettuce, chunks of tomatoes and cucumbers, and good quality blue cheese dressing. Our server was attentive, though not real friendly. Overall, the experience was OK. I would go back if a group of friends invited me, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend the place to others. There was nothing that stood out as great or horrible, all was just average.
(3)Lydia V.
I really like the community atmosphere, and who doesn't approve of Mark Twain's work plastered all over the walls? I totally recommend this place not only for just a weekly treat to yourself kind of place, but also as a place to bring out of town friends to really show them a nice slice of the community. I run the Atlanta Burlesque and Cabaret, each year we pick a new venue to host, and after this year, we are parting ways with Twain's in a bit of a bitter sweet way. My last two large group experiences with them was not pleasant. Even after a year of bringing a lot of business to the bar, it was a crap shoot on how well we were treated there. One time I went, and my food was never brought to me, I was completely forgotten. Another time, we were booted out of our regular spot because of another group and though I understood, it was a bigger group, I thought at least a quick apology would be nice. But we stuck it out for the whole year. I plan to go to Twains for a good long while, because I adore the food and the atmosphere, but I never plan to bring a big group there again. They just can't handle it.
(3)Liz C.
As a southerner, I have certain culinary expectations. One of those expectations is that potato salad is made with mustard. Not mayonnaise, not sour cream and (god forbid) not yogurt. Just mustard, the supreme condiment. So, on a recent visit to Twain's, I was horrified when my turkey club wrap arrived with a side of potato salad made with - dear lord, is that mayonnaise? My horror abated after one bite. Twain's makes a great dill potato salad that I would order again and again. The turkey wrap was also good, filled with a delicious smoked turkey and lots of avocado and spinach and other tasty veggies. I would avoid their nachos, though. They're the kind with the clumpy, greasy cheese and a lack of other toppings. Their boiled peanuts are decent, but hardly the best in town (that honor, in my book, goes to Manuel's Tavern). Twain's has a great beer selection, is an a-ok place to play darts or pool, and is kind of an odd place to see a band play. The crowd is cool, but the restaurant's set up makes for an awkward viewing experience for a live performance.
(3)