Arriving: The shamrocks on the menu tell me that the Jake & Micky's owners fancy their place an Irish pub. I'd say it's more neighborhood sports bar with Kelly-green walls and Guinness on tap. That's not a knock -- just don't expect corned beef and cabbage. There are no ashtrays either. Whether that's good or bad depends on how badly you need a ciggie.
Scoping: I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and everybody looked to already know each other and the staff, which is pretty good for a new bar. Except for an older biker who also knew everyone, the crowd was all college-age, leaning heavily toward guys. Maybe they came to see that server in the short denim skirt.
Drinking: Jake & Micky's has specials seven days a week. My favorites? Wednesdays, it's $1 cans of PBR and Schaefer and 2-for-1 well drinks. Saturdays, you've got $5 Rockstar bombs, $2 "Jake & Cokes" and $2.50 Sam Adams bottles. Mondays are ladies night with $1 domestic drafts and wells. For the guys, it's just special that the ladies have been drinking a lot.
Chewing: Appetizers include wings ($7.99 for 10) and a "Greasy Basket" of chicken fingers, onions rings and fries ($9.50), but I wanted to try something at least a little Irish. That would be the "Irish" nachos ($7.99) -- a mounded plate of potato nuggets, covered with cheddar, chili, fresh jalapenos, scallions and sour cream. The chili is way too bland for my taste, but it's a damn big plate. Two of us couldn't finish it.
The Jake burger ($6.99) is a half-pounder with cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion. Chips and a pickle come on the side. The menu also promises slaw, but not on my plate. It's a fresher burger than I expected, and any time a "rare" burger actually comes hot and pink in the middle, I'm happy.
The menu also lists a triple-decker grilled cheese sandwich for $3.99 ($4.74 with bacon or tomato). It's toasted (not grilled) and only sorta melted, but adding bacon saves the sandwich. With chips and maybe slaw, it's a budget-priced choice for soaking up those $1 cans of American lager.
Going: You know how bars tack up the sports page over the urinal so you've got something to look at? I noticed newspaper pages over three walls. Something got my Spidey sense tingling, so I peeked behind them. Some jackass has punched three holes in the wallboard. Dude, that's no way to win her back.
Departing: Jake & Micky's may be a youngster in the big bad world of UCF watering holes, but it shows promise. The next year or so should show whether the bar "plays well with others" or "doesn't work to the best of his ability."
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