Ajia T.
Yelp
Somehow, it still amazes me when non-smokers go to smoky bars and give them bad reviews because they're smoky. It's so predictable to scroll down and read about stinky clothes and heavy smoke in every single 1- and 2-star review. Sheesh...Tryon Creek is a bar where smoking is allowed. Hence, if you don't smoke or are sensitive to smoky places, you shouldn't go here. There are certainly plenty of non-smoking alternatives, aren't there? Just like I don't go to crappy Taco Bell because I can't stand crappy Mexican food. It makes me feel crappy. I already know I'll be disappointed. I will admit, however, that Tryon Creek should install a few fans.
Smoking aside, Tryon gets an A-OK from me because, #1: it has some of the friendliest staff around. They really go out of their way to make you comfy and full of beer and decent food.
Speaking of which, they have nicely priced pitchers of Fat Tire and other micros, along with some pretty tasty pizza. Not the best in town, by any means, but it definitely tastes good, soaks up the beer, and doesn't cause problems later. The rest of the food on the menu is mediocre, sports bar food. Since most people don't go to smoky sports bars for the food (that would be odd), it's not a big deal. They'll feed you here, but it's not spectacular. Anyway, that's reason #2: Tasty pizza and a good selection of well-priced beer are important features of any sports bar, in my opinion.
Now, I am a pool shark. No really, I will kick your ass. At Tryon Creek Grill, the pool tables are short and fast, at only $0.75 per game. Trust me, it's hard to find pool that cheap anymore and thus, reason #3. Some would say that short tables aren't genuine, and I agree, but you can't beat the price. They need a bit more A/C in the summer, though, as the temps rise considerably inside when it's packed. There are plenty of TVs for sports fans, tables for after-work happy hour groups, as well as fooseball and pinball machines in the back.
Overall, I dig going here, but it's not amazing. It's nice for a beer and a game of pool on a Sunday afternoon. Unless you need your lungs, apparently. I'm not sure how I managed to escape with mine, but somehow, it worked out.