Bar, Cigar Lounge and Full Restaurant
Cigar Lounge on Second Floor.
Satellite Sports TV.
Happy Hour 4 to 8pm.

 As anyone can see from the line outside on Friday and Saturday nights, Black Bear Bar & Grill is one of the most popular hangouts on Washington Street. Even the stray Manhattanite who ventures to Hoboken for a night on the town has downed a brew in “the Bear.” It’s a stronghold of familiar tunes, a full beer selection, and a packed house of lively binge-drinking enthusiasts. Many people think the Black Bear crowd is a blast; others consider these post-fraternity and –sorority types to be a little over-energetic.

Happy hour (Monday-Friday, 4-8 p.m.) is a less frenzied, more laid-back scene. Domestic drafts are $1.50; appetizers are $2.95. Wednesday they have $2 pints of Bud Light, and Friday $3 bottles of Amstel Light are on special. An up-to-date listing of other specials can be viewed on their calendar at blackbearbar.com.

Snacks are available at reasonable prices, in addition to salads, pastas, and steak. The menu also features “wraps,” a West coast inspiration of flavored shells stuffed with meat or vegetables. The Philly cheesesteak wrap ($7.95)--sliced steak, onions, peppers, and provolone cheese in a jalepeno shell--is an enjoyable twist on a steak sandwich. Another worth trying is the grilled vegetable wrap in a spinach shell. The Bear’s burgers are good ($6.95), as are the accompanying homemade crispy fries. And while you won’t feel like you’ve been transported to Italy, the pastas aren’t bad either ($8.95-$10.95).

There is plenty of seating inside, and during the summer months you can dine outdoors if any of the tables in front of the restaurant are available. However tight the seating, it’s in a prime location for people-watching.

As for bar perks, the Bear has ‘em all: a two-level bar, pool table, dart board, dance area on the top level, satellite sports televisions; it’s even cigar-friendly. But you’ll also endure the downfalls if you are going there for the sole purpose of eating. Boxes of beer are stacked along the wall for your viewing pleasure, and a distinct beery smell and heavily scratched-up floors make you wonder how many pints hit the floor every week. Of course the true mark of a restaurant that would rather just be a bar is the bathroom.

I would feel much better if these particular bathroom stalls were in a gas station. The certificate of sanitation displayed in the ladies’ room is a bit less than convincing, but then again, this doesn’t seem to deter anyone from coming to the Black Bear, or stop them from having a good time once they’re there. If you ever want to go to a bar to watch a sporting event, this is a good choice.