The Place: Swagger Fine Spirits and Food, 8431 Wornall Road, 816-361-4388.
The Hours: Monday to Saturday, 3 to 7 p.m.
The Vibe: Tin signs hang over the bar that runs along the right-hand side of Swagger. At 5 p.m., only a single barstool was empty and the rest were filled by men, who enjoyed teasing each other and the bar staff that this bar has a solid cast of regulars. One patron kept calling for a "social smoke" out back in the parking lot, even though he got no takers. Undaunted, he passed by a pool table where a laid-back game seemed to take the better part of an hour.
By 6 p.m. the four elevated tables along the left-hand wall were filled with couples and young professionals. The bartenders were quick to recognize when I needed another drink and were glad to recommend something off the extensive beer list. I didn't realize how dim Swagger is until I stepped outside into the sunshine and found myself wincing.
The Food: The appetizers are oversized and easy to share. Chili cheese fries made with Flying Monkey chili are the standout. The fries are crisp and thick with a healthy slathering of chili and sour cream. The hummus plate has two enormous pyramids of Feta cheese, olives, cucumbers and tomatoes; this housemade plate could just as easily be at home at Tasso's down the street.
There's also a daily food special: Mondays, it's 50 cents wings; Tuesdays, $1 hard tacos; Wednesdays, more than a pound of crab legs ($14.99); Thursdays,
