Our next stop on the Cycle Saloon blog brings us to the legendary and self-proclaimed, “Best Bar in the Whole Wide World,” - Big Daddy’s - at 1000 Sidney Street in historic Soulard.
Just right around the corner from the famous Anheuser-Busch brewery, Big Daddy’s was established in 1999 by Jimbo “Big Daddy” Sinovic. It quickly became the place to be for both young and old. During the day and into the evening, the kitchen is bustling with food orders, and at night the bar transforms into a place where patrons can drink and dance the night away.
Big Daddy’s owns a special place in my heart because it was one of the first bars I frequented when I moved to Soulard roughly 15 years ago.
I remember the lines of party buses full of people celebrating their birthdays and bachelorette parties, and the lines to get in.
I remember Nick J. working the front door and the other bald security guy with glasses (forgot his name) interrogating underage looking kids trying to get in with their fake IDs.
I remember ordering a drink that came in a red bucket with six or seven straws to share with my friends, and to this day I still don’t know what was in it.
I remember chilling on the back patio with a bucket of beers watching football with my buddies.
While the late nights are less frequent for this old guy, every-time I drop a group of riders off at Big Daddy’s the memories come flooding back. What makes me smile now is seeing a packed patio, feeling the same energy I felt 10-15 years ago, and knowing that the groups I’m dropping off are going to have a great time and make memories like I once did.
What I noticed this year is that more and more riders are asking to be dropped off at Big Daddy’s. Why you ask? Well, this is what they had to say.
“I love the atmosphere. While it’s changed slightly since Covid as Big Daddy’s has been strictly adhering to the city’s safety recommendations, it’s still a party. Music is pumping, drinks are flowing, and people are still smiling and laughing, just six feet away from each other. It’s a place you can go and feel safe, especially on their beautiful patio.” – Aimee L of Crestwood
“The bars! They have one downstairs, one upstairs and one outside. I never have to worry about waiting for a drink.” - Trent P of Fox Park
“I go to Big Daddy’s, or as I like to say Large Fathers, because of the patio. It’s partially covered so I can choose to either sit in the sun or shade or enjoy fresh air if it’s raining. Plus, it’s a great place to grab a beer before I take the Big Daddy’s shuttle to the ballgame.” – Jake B of Edwardsville, Ill.
“The food is clutch for me. I’m a pretty picky eater so I like the broad menu. They have pizza, wings, burgers, sandwiches, nachos – you name it, they have it.” – Angie B of Oakville, Mo.
Photo cred: Big Daddy's FB Page
It’s no wonder why Big Daddy’s claims that they are “The Best Bar in the Whole Wide World.” They have everything you can ask for in a neighborhood bar, and are a welcoming stop for the Cycle Saloon. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend.
Big Daddy’s is open for lunch, happy hour, dinner and late-night fun. They host parties from 10-200 people, and you can rent the entire upstairs bar. They offer discounted food and drinks for all parties. As they are strictly following Covid precautions, call or visit their website for more information.
Til next time,
Driver Jeff
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Some say it’s the personable, authentic, and knowledgeable staff. When you walk in, you’re greeted with a warm welcome by Soulard’s most well-known bartenders, Jessica, Barbie, TK, and Kayla. They have been serving up a good time to locals and out-of-towners for years. Also, be on the lookout for one of the most genuine bar owners in all of Soulard, Dan Shields. If he gets a break from the kitchen, Dan loves making guests feel more like family.
Some say it’s the atmosphere. Grab a Bud Light or an STL Cycle Saloon shot easily from their 20 ft long bar. Above the bar sits large flat-screen TVs for you to catch the score of the St. Louis Blues game or who’s leading the NASCAR race. If you’re into games battle your friends in Golden Tee, Duck Hunt, or in darts.
If you just want to let loose, pick your favorite songs on Touch Tunes to drink and dance the night (or day) away.
Some say it’s the open-air patio. Step out back to one of Soulard’s newest and nicest patios, decked out with string lights and plenty of tables. Their large outdoor projector makes every seat the best seat in the house when rooting your favorite sports team onto victory.
It’s also a great spot to take a date for a drink or game of bags, or your four-legged friend out to meet some buddies. Yes, D’s Place is pet friendly on the patio. The staff will bring Fido some fresh water and if he’s a good boy (and Mom and Dad say it’s okay!) an occasional treat or two.
I say it’s their delicious food and inexpensive drinks! Starting with their phenomenal food menu, “The Danimal” burger is a must-try. Voted RTF’s Best Burger several years in a row, these two juicy 7oz burgers both topped with two slices of cheddar cheese, two slices of bacon and a crispy onion ring is sure to satisfy.
Looking for something on the lighter side? Their salads are made fresh with crispy chopped lettuce, colorful diced veggies, and made-in-house dressing. Seriously, you must try their food, it’s like a hidden secret of Soulard.
Wash the food down with the freshest beer on tap, brewed for the Lou just blocks away at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. STL Cycle Saloon’s favorite is Budweiser Select, not just because we share the same brand colors, but because it’s light and refreshing during those hot summer days on the bike.
Not in the mood for beer? Pop open a refreshing Bud Light Seltzer, ask Barbie or Jessica for one of their favorite cocktails, or grab a round of Fireball. Catch Happy Hour specials, Monday – Friday from 11 am - 7 pm, and on Sundays, enjoy bottomless mimosas from 11 am - 3 pm.
Are you hungry, thirsty, and ready for a good time yet? We know we are.
See you at D’s Place!
]]>How Do I Reserve?
Visit www.stlcyclesaloon.com and select which tour you would like – Soulard or downtown St. Louis. Soulard, our more popular tour, is essentially a “bar crawl on wheels.” Our professional driver will take you to all of the hotspots in Soulard such as Molly’s, Duke’s, McGurk’s and D’s Place, to name a few. If you are from out of town or just want to explore the city of St. Louis, we recommend selecting our downtown tour, where your driver will take you to see iconic St. Louis sites such as the Arch, City Garden, and Busch Stadium.
After picking your tour, you will need to choose which two-hour time slot you would like to reserve. We run five tours a day in both downtown and Soulard. You will be required to put down a $100 deposit and then the full amount will be due day of the event prior to your ride. We ride rain or shine but will cancel the ride with a full refund if we have inclement weather.
What Happens Day of the Ride?
Show up to the agreed-upon pick-up spot 20 minutes prior to your tour. Our default pick-up in Soulard in D's Place at 9th and Barton, and downtown is Wheelhouse at 1000 Spruce St. This allows time for the driver to help everyone get comfortable on their seat, load their coolers, and liability waivers signed if not already done so online.
The driver will go over a few rules, ask the group who wants to be the DJ or at least connect their phone to our Bluetooth speakers, and go over bar specials as well as ask the guests where they want to stop. Quite often people are from out of town, so they leave it up to one of our drivers who will take them on their routes that hit all of the hotspots. Once everyone is saddled up and those calf muscles are ready, it’s time to pedal away.
You said coolers. Do I bring them? Can I bring food and drink?
We do not provide food or drinks, so yes, you can bring a cooler full of those items. We have room for two regular size coolers, which you can fill with the beverages of your choice, whether that’s beer, water, or soda/pop. Food is also allowed, although we typically recommend just snacks because the streets can be bumpy at times and it can make a mess on your clothes.
Pedaling! Do I really have to? Does it do anything?
Pedaling is the fun part and yes, it does make the bike move. However, we do have electric motors so if those calf muscles get tired, you need any extra push up the hill, or you’ve had a few and don’t want to pedal, we can take it from there. We often get asked if the pedaling charges the motor. It does not, but it does help take the strain off the motor.
Where do we go? What do we do?
As mentioned, it’s completely up to you where/if you want to stop. On an average tour in Soulard, most groups stop at three to five bars to use the restroom, grab a drink or take a shot. We do have relationships with many of the bars that will offer our guests discounted drinks and shots.
If you have zero desire to step into a bar, that’s ok too. We can just drive around while you sing to the music and connect with your friends. The driver will announce when the two-hour mark is approaching and will start to head back to the pick-up spot or any bar/place of your choice, within reason. We encourage everyone that was drinking alcohol to make sure they drink responsibly or have scheduled a ride home.
If we’re having too much fun, can we extend the ride?
Sometimes. It ultimately depends on if there are tours right after yours. If not, it is up to the discretion of the driver as well as an additional $150/hr will be charged.
What else ya got for us?
Make sure you dress comfortably including shoes that you can pedal with. As mentioned above, we ride rain or shine, so dress according to the weather. We recommend building a music playlist for the ride. Some Cycle Saloon favorites include Thunderstruck, Party in the USA, Africa, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Sweet Caroline and Bicycle Race. If you are bringing alcohol, make sure to bring water to stay hydrated. Other than that, just relax and have a great time!
For more information, you can visit our FAQs on the STL Cycle Saloon website.
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Their big-flavored smoked sandwiches range from the Three Cheesy Pigs, containing a cherry and hickory shack-smoked ham to the Cheesy Clucker, a sandwich made with pecan-smoked and pulled chicken. In addition to their sandwiches, their menu includes wraps and salads, along with many mouth-watery sides such as mac n' cheese, potato salad, and pork rinds. Yes, I said pork rinds. Sandwiches cost around $11 and include a side.
However, I didn't hit the brakes on the STL Cycle Saloon last Saturday because of the food. We saw a sign for a $20 Rum Runner and $1 jello shots, which was perfect because my riders wanted to pump up the party but didn't want to break the bank so stop we must! As always, the staff was super friendly and super quick to take drink orders. My riders were back on board in no time after taking their jello shots, distributing the Rum Runner amongst the 5 of them, and cracking open a few beers.
If you like inexpensive drinks we recommend their happy hour which is Mon-Fri, from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Domestics are only $3 and they have plenty of them including Budweiser Select, a hometown favorite. You might as well grab a sandwich too because they are only $6.
So, if you're in the mood for a drink and a sandwich, The Wood Shack is a spot you must try. We recommend checking out their site www.thewoodshacksoulard.com for hours of operation and promotions.
Join us next week when we Hit The Brakes at D's Place in Soulard.
Til next time,
Cowboy (a.k.a. Cycle Saloon Driver)