Burkhart's (Closed Permanently)

If you're looking for the old ...

If you're looking for the old biker bar at Ansley Square, it closed in 1988 and has since been replaced by Burkhart's. It's not a "strike a pose" bar; this is one of the most unpretentious gay bars in Atlanta. It's a very comfortable place to hang out, have a drink, and play some pool if you like. The boys here are approachable and laid-back, and on Sundays the legendary Armorettes will make you laugh until you can't take it anymore. Other nights you can sing karaoke or even grab a full dinner. <p> <b>Insider Tip:</b> Burkhart's patio sprawls across the entire back side of the bar. It's also intimate enough to allow you to step back and disappear into the shadows if you want.

Food Additives all Natural

There is one place in town who really started and has been consistent with the gay bar food service thing. When I moved to Atlanta in the early 90's this place always served free dinner on Sunday's and I remember those days when, with ten bucks, you could eat and drink and have a blast all afternoon thru early evening. Those days are no more but what grew out of that is a fairly good bar menu with a daily special set in a funky, overly repaired and quirky tavern with that classic 80's gay bar look that never seems to go away. I've eaten at this bar so many times that I have eaten thru and with infestations of ants (in my food) saw dust falling (into my food) from active carpenter bees above, flooding in the back bar, a never ending pack of Ferrel cats with their sweet albeit wild as hell kittens (on the patio), an uneven brick floor by the back bar where, if you position your bar stool the wrong way, you will fall on your back and a couple times I have shared my meal with a couple European rats just hanging around looking for a hand out (yes on the patio). With all that crazy stuff I need to tell you the best deal in town for a NY Strip with fries and a typically cooked to death southern vegetables has got to be Burkharts. Cooked to order the Strip steak is just about the perfect meal. Burkharts offers a limited menu with all the stuff any gay person wants and some stuff that should be removed (the cluster fuck appetizer for one) along with seasonal, weird and surprising specials like steamed lobster, leg of lamb and others. The Paton Margatini is a drink that I trained my bartenders to create for me because I don't like the taste of booze so this drink is a keeper. Now. If you order this drink ask how much it costs before your bar tender makes it because it seems that every bar tender has a different price for this cocktail. The real price is $8.00 but I have been charged as much as $12 for the same cocktail. At 8 bucks it is worth every cent. So a great NY Strip cooked to your temperature with fries and southern vegetables will set you back about $8 bucks and with my Patron Margatinni about $16 buck and worth it. My Ratings are: Bartenders, Three Stars; Servers, Three Starts; Patron Margatinni, chilled, shaken, served up with salt, Five Stars; Food, Four Stars Food Additives (ants, sawdust etc), One Star;

drag haven

never seen so many overhill drags water down drinks below average bar tenders save your cash go across the way to oscars or flexies why must gay bars think they have to let drags take over

Burkharts is amazing!

I've seen a lot of drag in my time but the reason I keep coming back to Burkharts are the amazing drag queens! Mary Edith Pitts--you've done a great job of getting the best drag queens without the attitude. Not only do you keep the shows light and fun, you never seem to take yourself too seriously. Yall keep up the great work!

Interesting Managers.. A bit outdated

I felt compelled to tell you about my experiences at Burkharts. I have lived in Atlanta for three years and have been to this gay neighborhood pub. I especially like the fact the bar is basically undated. People say it has looked the same for years and if that is the owner's philosophy "if it ain't broke don't fix it" then let it be. I have not become a regular but have been enough times to know that the bartending staff is extremely friendly and efficient. The management staff; however, often seem aloof and a bit frazzled. Not only that, but one manager in particular rarely, if ever, speaks to any of the guests nor does he seem approachable. There is a drag show nearly every night and without mentioning any names a drag queen in particular who has her own show there just about every other night. The Amorettes, while often funny, work for a great cause and can be seen on Sunday nights with a packed house. The drag; however, is very repetitive and quite frankly we are tired of seeing one particular drag queen pull a guy onto the "stage" put her hands down his pants and sniff. The bar is spacious enough to spread out and enjoy your cheap drink. The food is extremely well priced, relatively good and suprisingly the vast majority of patrons do end up eating dinner there. I prefer the location of Blakes on the Park, but enjoy the Southern hospitality of this bar. Overall, this is an excellent venue as long as you don't mind repetitive drag and being ignored by the management staff.