Better Days

Better Days looks like it’s on its death bed. This bar looks like it’s been working in the coal mines and having unprotected sex in Tijuana brothels for two decades straight. The optimism of its name might be the only thing keeping this old dog from farting into the afterlife.

But like a grizzled detective who’s close to retirement and too old for this shit, there’s something to be said for giving up. Better Days isn’t trying hard and that’s a good thing. Especially when it happens to maintain the absolute worst patio in the city.

Do I like drinking on a patio that looks like a cross between a junkyard and medical waste disposal facility? No. I fucking love it.

I think you can shoot pool inside or maybe even order a cocktail. I’m not sure though because every time I’ve visited I got some awful rail liquor and went outside to sweat on the patio like a politician hooked up to a lie detector test.

I especially like the gangway along the building that feels like drinking in a prison yard. Just gotta watch your back like you’re General Cornrow Wallace at the Battle of the Kool Moe Dee concert.

Cheers to Better Days, a good dive on Red River with the worst patio around.

Online reviews

- “Asked for a lemon drop and instead was poured a shot of Deep Eddy ... Do they not know how to make drinks here?"

- "Garbage"

- "Strongest drinks on Red River."

- "Better days?? More like the worst day of my life."

- "I walked in the bar and people were walking up to me just talking about cream soda."

- "As we walked out, the bartender yelled at us, 'Welcome to Texas'. When we said that half of us actually live in Texas, he yelled some more rude comments about us being from Dallas.".