Chuck’s Bar seems to be known as a lot of things: a sports bar, “Your Home Town Bar,” and “The Last Neighborhood Bar in the Central Business District.” Open 24 hours, I have found the place to be friendly in a “watch your back” kind of way.

Out of the Quarter and one of the few bars in the Central Business District, Chuck’s takes on a personality depending upon what personality it wants to be.

On weekends it wants to be a sports bar, even though a Golden Tee coin operated video game machine and a signed photo of the Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus are the only supports for that claim. In fact I had to ask the bartender to turn a game on the TV.

“Your Home Town Bar” is a slap at the chains that come in and dominate New Orleans real estate. The bar is very friendly – the bartender introduced himself and the customers to me – and a bowl of fresh, free popcorn accompanied my drink order.

“The Last Neighborhood Bar in the CBD” is a tribute to its roots, but more of an oxymoron since there is very little neighborhood left on Gravier St. Chuck’s is a place where people feel real comfortable – the F-Bomb was easily worked into conversations – and a good selection of bottled beer and drink specials await.

The beers on the back bar are perfectly displayed to make selection easy. Signs on the back bar included “no sleeping at the bar” and “Tipping. It’s just not for cows.” I knew I was going to like the place.

Almost no bar in New Orleans is totally free of drunken riff-raff, and Chuck’s is no exception. The Big Easy promotes over consumption. So it is suggested that a “pop your head in” look is better than a grand entrance at Chuck’s. Chances are you will find a mix of friendly people just having fun.

One will never confuse this place with the Grill Room or Galatoire’s, but this may be a place to find if you’re fighting insomnia at the five-star Windsor Court Hotel just two block away. But remember, “no sleeping at the bar.” – D.M.

POST KATRINA: Chuck’s is tough. They reopened about three weeks after the hurricane hit.