Ideal Sportsbar

Underrated family friendly atmosphere. Some of the best wings in Atlanta. Lovely people running the restaurant. We love this restaurant and bar it is a neighborhood staple. They even have an outdoor area in the back that isn't used very much that looks like a beer garden. In Lakewood Heights there are not very many good restaurants. Many of them claim to be very good (they aren't) and very expensive for this area. This is the only restaurant I eat at in the neighborhood. All of the younger people are starting to come from the city as things develop, they want more "hole in the wall" or "dive bar" types of places that were orginal to Atlanta. Not fake fancy crap. Go here if you want a GREAT TURKEY CLUB OR HOT WINGS. OR jalapeno poppers! Love love love me some Ideal Sports Bar.

I gave the stars years ago. I am sharing my experience 3 years later on my birthday! It was AMAZING!!! BINGO Thursday is still my favorite past times. I had a BLAST!!! Check out Ideals Sports Bar. Nice vibe. Go where everybody knows their names!

Visited ideal Sportsbar on yesterday. Was a homegirls birthday and it was the closest place to where we were. The food was good. Just regular sports bar food. The bathrooms were clean. The service was great! Kayla our Server and bartender was amazing. Very personable and friendly. It was like hanging out with a girlfriend. Todd was also our server he was so sweet and attentive. They had Karaoke which was a lot of fun. It had a “Cheers” like feel, where everybody knows your name. I definitely plan on going back.

This place was recommended by friends. For the most part I enjoyed myself and thought I would return. I had a chili dog that was great - possibly the best in Atlanta. Like a previous patron we were told it was a shift change so we closed out to honor our bartender who served us. Now I know I saw that sign that said no auto gratuity on a bill under $20. I was given a bill that was not itemized for $20 and change. I generously left the bartender $5. Only to find out per my card that she did add 20% gratuity. So she walked away with a $10 tip on a $16 bill. So yeah - that’s how she handled that.

Bartender kept getting smart with me for no reason. When I asked for another plate and a drink, it was straight attitude. Had my fiance pay his tab early, saying her shift was done but still was there a long time before we left. I know it was the simple fact that we looked young and African American. Will never go back The response from the owner says everything. Go at your discretion 😁

Great cozy bar, friendly staff. Live music, pool tables, karaoke, bingo exc

A staple hole in the wall off of Lakewood. This place has been here for 40 years and isn’t going anywhere soon. The chicken philly is the best in town. Also, they’ve started doing karaoke on Friday nights

The bartender tried to overcharge $177 for 2 people when i brought it to her attention our bill went down. She was kool at first and the atmosphere was decent but you shouldn’t try and con new people DEFINITELY NOT GOING BACK

Great Sports Bar Angie made us feel so welcomed. Love it Highly recommend coming here.

Ideal is right around the corner from my house, so I end up here randomly and way more than I should. Everyone is always mega friendly, ready to talk, and buy ya a shot. It's a real neighborhood feel with a mixed crowd unlike any other spots around. I love to play pool and they have two tables. I will say it can be hard to get a game in sometimes though cause there's often a line. They do bingo, I think it's on Tuesday or Wednesday, but I can't remember. There's a great big parking lot, so parking is never an issue. They have good bar food too, their wings are great! Come on in for a drink or three and make some friends. Best dive on the Southside.

This is a great bar with good food and lots of music on weekends the service is like neighborhood vibe

I LOVE IDEAL!!! We go often and we love Angie and Todd. Service is amazing and the food is awesome. The teriyaki lemon pepper wings and the Turkey blt are my favorites. The environment is welcoming and very inclusive. The name definitely fits...it's truly you IDEAL neighborhood sports bar.

A staple hole in the wall off of Lakewood. This place has been here for 40 years and isn't going anywhere soon. The chicken philly is the best in town. Also, they've started doing karaoke on Friday nights. For more food reviews in Atlanta, follow me @thebougiefoodie !!

I experienced the worst customer service in this establishment by the bartender Gretchen who's a scammer. I'm quite shocked because she was so upbeat and friendly upon entry. I'm assuming she didn't feel the need to be friendly anymore because we didn't sit at the bar. My friend and I only went to shoot pool, but I ordered wings and a tea which came to $16. At 830pm Gretchen had the cook come to the pool table and tell us the pool table closes at 930p, we said ok. At 9pm she sent the custodial person over who said to us, This is the last game, I told him we're aware it closes at 930pm. I felt harassed at this point. I asked Gretchen for my check and she said it was $16, I tipped her $3. I tapped my card and left. When I got home, two more $10 transactions tried to post to my account. Thankfully I only put what's needed on my card or else she would've tipped herself $20 on a $16 transaction. She should've said something before we walked out vs being sneaky.

Walked in with some friends and just couldn't deal with the smoke. I would have never walked in if I knew that I would be hit 20 cigarettes. I will never go back here, it's definitely not my style or scenery.

Ideal Sports Bar...I came here to meet a friend.. we in the hoodest of hoods..go figure?? But everybody seems cool and friendly..Believe it or not it's a mixed crowd, white and black, and everybody seems to get along. The bar kinda reminds you of Cheers. It's has pool table, tv's. It's dim lit, and dicey. The service is good, the bar tender really has a great personality, the kinda person who never meets a stranger. The beer is cold, but the menu is limited to mostly wings and things. It's a cool place to come and chill after work to get a cheap drink. They play country music. It's really a relic from the distant past that has managed to survive through sheer determination and adaptation.

This is my Aunt's favorite local bar, so I had to stop by on a Friday night and check it out with her. For what it is, a local hometown bar with pool tables, stiff drinks, fun crowds, crispy tater tots and friendly staff, Ideal is a pretty legit place that I would not mind visiting again! Just a friendly FYI to the non-local...this place is a cash only bar!

Fun, friendly unpretentious neighborhood bar with a jukebox that carries a HUGE variety of music. SO the music depends on the crowd. Some of the regulars here have been coming here for decades and have their birthday parties here. It's a great place to relax and be your self. Black/White/Spanish/Asian/Gay/Straight/Republican/Democrat... THEY DON"T CARE! Pool tables, Dart Boards, Karaoke and you WILL hear some darn good jokes! Every bartender will learn your name and greet you as you come in the door. There aren't many places like this around anymore

Try it, you'll like it. karaoke, bingo, fun folks and cold beer. Two half pitchers of beer and an order of wings for only 19 bucks. Try to do that anywhere else!

We stopped here on our way to a concert at Lakewood. The people were really nice and the food was decent but I couldn't figure out my bill when the menu say $9 for the burger plate. $66 for 2 burgers, 1 buffalo chicken sandwich, a draft beer and a couple sodas. If we didn't need to run to the concert I would have stayed and questioned the bill. If I am going to spend that I will go to a high-end burger joint...once was enough

If it wasn't for Angie I wouldn't stop by this hole in the wall every Saturday she is just amazing always welcoming & sweet on top of that amazing services. She can have a full bar & still server every single customer . Came in on a Thursday and I waited 20 min for a beer bc the bartender couldn't stop taking to serve customers. Long story short if you want to have the best experience at ideal sports bar go see my girl angie ik me and my crew will!

There are pick-up trucks with gun racks out front- on a regular and consistent basis. There are beer flags hanging out front. People get beer here. The drinks are awful here. They should just sell beer here. No one would complain. This is a SMOKING ALLOWED establishment. You will smell like smoke when you leave here. So will your hair, underwear, shoes, etc. It is dark, damp, and musty in here. PETS are permitted inside. Everyone knows everyone here. The people seemed nice here. You can come here, be left alone, be checked on at appropriate intervals, get friendly service, and have uninterrupted conversation with whomever you came with. The waitress is a hoot, very funny, and friendly! The food is questionable, but admittedly the tater tots are delicious. They serve FRIED SPAM SANDWICHES here. There is not much diversity in this crowd, even though its' location dead smack in the middle of one of ATL's most notorious 'hoods might suggest otherwise. Enjoy yourself. I don't think they'll miss me much. P.S. They ONLY take cash here.

This is a great place to go to have good drinks and conversation. The bartender Mandy was great. I enjoyed her energy, style and conversation. She took care of our party the whole night. FYI you are allowed to smoke Cigarettes, so if you don't like the smell of cigarettes I wouldn't recommend you to go. If I ever go back to Atlanta I will defiantly go back to the ideal sports bar.

Fun neighborhood bar with friendly service, good food and cold beer. With big TVs and pool tables, it's always a good spot to hang out

Classic bar. Pool tables, country music, cold beer. It's not trying to be anything special. I love it. Good bar food, nice bartenders. I will definitely be back

My favorite neighborhood bar...a space filled with cheap drinks, fun jukebox, good bar food, and friendly folk. It's a perfect place to stop time and unwind.

This is one of the last bastions of a true bar experience. 2 pool tables, a dart board, old CART TVs, friendly patrons/staff and delicious unhealthy fried food. The closest you can get to a Cheers style atmosphere within 45 minutes of Atlanta. The cash only aspect only servers to make it more authentic and to keep out the hipsters. This is a true 5/5 bar.

Great wing. Good better. Love these country folk. Reminds me of NC. Thats abouy all i got to say. Bingo night!!

This is a great local spot to grab a drink get some fresh hot wings and tater tots. Environment is for adults only, a lot of locals know each other there... Bartenders are always friendly... Did I mention good prices on beer especially draft?!! There is alot of seating, pool and darts. It says on here that they accept credit cards but just to let you know its a cash only business but there is an atm inside. I like the taters lol.

Angie was GREAT. She took the time to know my name and have good conversations between her customers. Wings and salad were good and would like to come back if in the area. Thanks Angie, have fun with your granddaughter, good luck mowing your fields and take care of that nice truck.

Mostly redneck bar but if you like that you'll like this place. I did. Country music. Inexpensive taps. Tina the bartender was very personal and friendly. She bought me a beer as a result of first time customer. All the regulars were very friendly

This place is pure awesomeness. We stopped in on our way to Lakewood Ampitheater and almost didn't make the show we were having so much fun. The regulars were friendly and welcoming. They even bought us drinks. The beer is cold and cheap. What more could you ask for?

We just moved to Lakewood and decided to give Ideal Sports Bar (formerly Ideal Oyster Bar) a chance. The inside is very clean and we liked the bartender that served our table. The food is typical bar food, but good. We have been back and will continue to go there.

Great Bar!!! This bar has an old school neighborhood feel. The beer is always on ice and cold. Great wings and chili dogs, not a huge menu but everything is really good. Perfect place to go before or after a concert at Lakewood Amphitheater, Its not an oyster bar anymore, but a sports bar with TVs and pool tables Its not the most inviting place when you drive by but once you come in you will love it.