[Begin Jerry Seinfeld impression] You know how some comedy clubs suck no matter how funny the comedian is? What is the deal with that? You go and it’s like “I’ll have a beer, please” and they just *hitting head with microphone, mouth agape*, you know? So, I went to this place last week called Belly Busters, you heard of it? It’s at 1870 State Road 436 in Winter Park, and, yeah, it wasn’t like those other places at all. Good service, decent prices, funny comedy. No, really, it was pretty good. Ahem. Is this thing on? [End Jerry Seinfeld impression] Décor: If Belly Busters looks familiar to you, you may remember it as the old Comedy Roadhouse (but probably not, since they weren’t open that long), and honestly, not a whole lot has changed. It’s still laid out primarily as a restaurant (thus the double entendre of busting your belly with both laughs and gratuitous amounts of food), with a little bar in the back for those who are really just after the booze and not the comedy. By the main stage there are multiple tables laid out picnic-style, meaning if it’s a packed show you could be laughing right into a stranger’s ear, so be mindful. It’s non-smoking (restaurant, duh), but there’s plenty of space out front, even if the host doesn’t give you enough time for a smoke between acts (hint, hint). The Bar: The fact that liquor is served seems almost incidental to Belly Busters being a dinner spot, but then again nothing laughs quite like a room full of loaded people, so they try a little more than your average restaurant. Domestic beers are pretty reasonable for a club-like place, at $3.99 a pint or bottle, and $9.99 for a pitcher, but things get out of control with the bucket of five at $18.99 (really? It’s beer served out of a bucket. What’s with the fancy price tag?). Imports (which also includes micros here, please note) move up the scale at $4.99 for a pint or bottle, $12.99 for a pitcher, and a whopping $23.99 for a bucket. If you find you can’t bust a gut without liquor, there’s also frozen drinks and specialty martinis (which have awful, punny nicknames) for $7.99, and other, non-martini specialty drinks for $6.99. Service: The worst you can say about the staff at Belly Busters is that they may hand you the wrong drink at first. Otherwise they are pretty swift, friendly, and have the amazing ability to hear your order over the loudmouth up on stage and the guffawing crowd around you. Sounds: Belly Busters is doing well at getting a roster of known and national acts on its stage, with tickets usually going for a paltry $10-$15. Do note that the comedians are allowed to be as salty as they like, so think twice before bringing any young’uns with you. Crowd: Depending on the comic, the demographic can be all over the board. But if you’re just stopping in for a drink you’ll likely find yourself amid a middle-aged set, so better research the shows beforehand.
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