Drinking is inherently fun, but
sometimes you have to swim around in a run of the mill bar for a while before
you actually find it. Then there are bars like Timmy Macks Grill and Pub, at
1062 W. S.R. 436 in
Décor: Because of the “Grill and” part of the name, Timmy Macks is nonsmoking, so you’ll spot the place from the phalanx of smokers crowding the outdoor patio. Inside, the stage and dance floor occupy most of the back, which is also peppered with tables that don’t crowd as much as they augment the space. Off to the side is a raised area for pool tables, foosball, darts, and arcade games. As a thoughtful way to keep everything in working order there’s even a handy tiled shelf by the pool tables for placing sweaty glasses. Finally, in back there’s the bar, hugging a tub of ice cold bottles. Flatscreen televisions and touchscreen games dot every sightline, making it really, really hard not to find something to do.
The Bar: For being as sports bar-y as it is, Timmy Macks has a pretty decent selection on tap: Guinness, Bass, Harp, Blue Moon, Yuengling, Smithwick’s, and some assorted domestics. The prices are pretty impressive, with a 16-ounce pint of Blue Moon going for $4.25 and a pint of Yuengling finally being recognized as a macrobeer at $2.75. If that doesn’t move you, then try and make Happy Hour, which has an extended running time of 2-7 p.m. Monday through Friday and an extra appearance on Saturday from Noon-4 p.m. Not only is it a longer Happy Hour, but it’s more than just fifty cents knocked off here and there: $1.50 domestic drafts, $1.75 select premium drafts, $3.50 Guinness, Bass, Harp, Blue Moon, and Smithwick’s, 2-for-1 wells and you-call-its, 2-for-1 house wines and Long Island Iced Teas, plus a $10.99 combo that nets you a domestic pitcher, ten wings, mini burgers, spinach dip, or potato skins.
Sounds: Live music plays a couple of nights a week, usually without cover, and if that fails there’s always Ol’ Touchy.
Crowd: Altamonte is home to aging sports bar lurkers and yuppies alike, but it’s the young and casual patrons that are grabbing hold of Timmy Macks and claiming it.
Service: The barstaff is surprisingly good, so it’s got to be one of two things: either they’re really new and naïve, or they really enjoy what they do. Sure, you can willingly ignore the games, music, and TV’s, but Timmy Macks’ fast and entertaining bartenders just might convince you you’re having a good time after all.
