Bar Review - Slacker and Latin influences mix at El Myr

Found at the south end of Euclid Avenue in Little Five Points, El Myr offers food from south of the border in an atmosphere that’s miles away from Latin America. At night, a dimly lit fluorescent sign is barely legible on the outside of the garagelike building that houses the area’s most original burrito joint and bar.

With about 12 tables and five or so barstools in the entire restaurant, the small serving area is spread between the bar, a narrow corridor, and a screened-in porch. El Myr’s walls are adorned with original artwork, tagged with graffiti or covered by Van Gogh murals. The mood instilled by the surroundings and the attitude of the staff is decidedly slacker at heart, evidenced by a disclaimer on the menu: “Service is at our discretion.” The majority of customers appear to follow the lead of the grungy wait staff, and an unspoken minimum age of 18 is generally in effect.

The fare is basic Mexican with a hippie twist: nachos, soft tacos, burritos, quesadillas and salads. Notable ingredients in many of the options include broccoli, spinach, whole-wheat tortillas and other earthy foods not traditionally associated with Mexican cuisine. Prices for vegetarian or meat-filled entrees range from $3.50-$6, with a little more scratch for any of the extras.

Once nighttime hits, El Myr draws a sizeable crowd of boozers, especially when there is a concert at neighboring Variety Playhouse. Bar patrons are lured by the tequila shots and the variety of margaritas offered by the glass or pitcher. The cerveza menu is standard, oddly lacking any Mexican flavor, but European imports Hoegarden and Stella Artois are present. Pabst, the thrifty domestic beer, headlines the short list of major American breweries represented, but a couple of microbrews including Terrapin and Sweetwater round out the field. Beers range from $2-$5 individually, and up to $13 for pitchers with shots, and margaritas fall between $5 and $22 for glasses or pitchers.

The jukebox is stacked with anything and everything, but is particularly heavy on the rock and punk side. On a recent Sunday night, I was greeted by the Clash and sent home with the high-hat drops of an unfamiliar industrial rock song in my head. Sinatra is as likely to be followed by Danzig or the Grateful Dead.

Despite the constant mixing of genres in every aspect of El Myr, it is easy to enjoy the perk of safe, free parking and a healthy-sized burrito at this classic L5P hideaway.-- Chris Browning

El Myr. Sun.-Thurs., noon-1:30 a.m.; Fri.-Sat., noon-2:30 a.m. 1091 Euclid Ave. 404-588-0250.