Folks come to Arizona from all over the world to catch a glimpse of what they perceive to be the Wild West and to mingle with gunslingers, Indians, cacti, dusty roads and so on. But here in the Scottsdale Desert, we do things a little different.
There’s a hidden country bar/restaurant just off of Shea on Scottsdale Rd. that offers a Southwest experience with a Scottsdale twist to its visitors and loyal neighborhood patrons. Handlebar J’s is a cowboy-style restaurant serving hearty portions of food that taste home cooked in a picnic-like setting complete with twinkle lights on the ceiling to simulate a clear, star-filled sky.
The restaurant walls are covered with all sorts of Southwestern memorabilia adding to the rustic ambiance. There are hundreds of pictures of Handlebar J’s friends and family enjoying the Southwest, Scottsdale-style (drinking and partying), lining the path to the bathrooms at the back of the restaurant, which are simple and snug, no-frills-needed. The party is outside anyway…
Speaking of party, the bar extends almost the entire length of the restaurant and is accessible from both inside and the large open-air patio. Drink on the patio and play a maddening round of the ring on a string game while you smoke or drink inside hoping for an opening on the dance floor. A live band offers an authentic country sound.
As a restaurant and bar, Handlebar J’s offers the valley a local establishment rich in history headlining country music, hearty food, and lots of fun with a Southwest theme fit for anyone out to have a good time.
