Bad Dog caters to college crowd

During the day, the tables at Bad Dog American Pub in University City hold burgers and fries. But on a Wednesday night, tables slam together for a beer pong tournament that creates the ultimate college bar.

The bar was crowded, but mellow with music like Modest Mouse and the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing in the background. A few young women stood at the bar and swayed back in forth as they talked to guys on bar stools.

The atmosphere caters to a younger audience with arcade games in the corner. Murals of Jack Daniels and Blue Moon are on the walls, with a taste of Charlotte thrown in with Carolina Panthers gear.

If you want to escape the crush of people inside, the bar offers outdoor seating that overlooks a small lake. A breeze off the water will cool you off and quickly get you back in the beer pong tournament.

Seats in the booths that line the wall were the perfect spot to view people coming in and out of the bar that night. If I've learned anything on this journey, it's to sit back and watch the action. The only thing that broke up the college crowd that night was an older man gambling on Triple Towers. I wouldn't have noticed him hidden at the end of the bar, but every time he won he stood up and clapped to congratulate himself.


Everyday specials at Bad Dog include $1 PBR bottles, $2 Michelob Ultra, $5 bombs and half-price appetizers from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Mondays offer $6 Bud and Miller Light pitchers; Tuesdays are $1 wells; Wednesdays are $6 Bud and Miller Light pitchers, $8 anything on tap pitchers, and a beer pong tournament that starts at 10 p.m.; Thursdays are $2 Coors and Miller Light bottles, $2 house bourbon whiskey, $3 pinnacle whipped flavors, and it's ladies night; Friday and Saturdays are $1-2-3 night with a DJ starting at 11 p.m.

Friday and Saturday nights there's no cover charge with a student ID.

Bad Dog American Pub
8933 JM Keynes Dr.
Charlotte, N.C., 28262
704-717-7177
http://www.baddogspub.com/

Brittany will blog about the Charlotte-area bar scene the month of July. Got a bar suggestion? Email penland.brittany@gmail.com.