Bar Review - Corner Tavern provides (East) Points of pleasure

Broader Point: To many CL readers, the statement "Let's hang out in East Point tonight" is about as ridiculous as "Iraq poses a grave danger to the security of the United States." But to those of us who, in the search for an affordable intown home, have settled in southwest Atlanta, it's not a ridiculous statement at all. Southwest Atlanta is a retail and amenities wasteland. For nearby pizza that doesn't come from a "Hut," or a nearby bar without five or six napping drunks out front, East Point is the place to go.

Game Point: East Point is southwest Atlanta's Decatur. That makes East Point Corner Tavern its Twain's — a friendly neighborhood bar with food, a fine jukebox and pool — five pool tables and a league that meets every Wednesday. Tired of those annoying trapezoidal pool tables with the fountains in the middle? You're probably not alone, because Corner Tavern's various menus and brochures point out that their pool tables are "regulation size."

Obscure Point: Tuesday is trivia night. If the Tuesday that I played is typical, then Corner Tavern's trivia match has the most obscure questions of any trivia night I've been to. How much would the "average 160-pound man" weigh after all of the water has been removed from his body? The answer — 64 pounds of human jerky. If Barbie were a full-sized person, what would her measurements be? The guy at the bar next to me said that he didn't know, but that Barbie's full name is "Barbara Millicent Roberts." I looked it up. He's right, and I'm scared.

West Point: Corner Tavern is very close to Fort McPherson, home of the Third U.S. Army Command. You can usually find soldiers in East Point restaurants during the day (eating, not warring). I wonder if they ever order Corner Tavern's Fort Mac — a 1/2-pound bacon cheeseburger. They might have some interesting war stories. If not, ask them to tell you about the bowling alley at Ft. McPherson. I hear it's fun.

Point Oh Eight: The bar has a large selection of premium imported beers and some excellent wines. I reckon that means we gots us some cultured folk round here. The drink menu's most peculiar item is the Bruegel Belgian Ale. It comes in a 48-ounce bottle and costs $23. I asked the bartender about the Bruegel, and he said it's "champagne meets beer." I don't remember Champale being quite that expensive though.

East Point Corner Tavern. Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-2 a.m.: Sat.-Sun. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. 2783 Main St., East Point. 404-768-0007.