Yoav’s Yaps: Rating the USC-adjacent Scene

Rock and Reilly’s

Ever wished you had a complete guide to some of the bars near USC I like going out to? No? I’ll give you one anyway, starting with a shapeshifting establishment nearby.

Study Hall→Roadside Taco→Patty Smash

For three years of my college career this joint was Study Hall, a local sports bar with limited hours and even more limited food options. Eventually, those short hours must have come back to bite the bar and it was replaced by Roadside Taco. While the new tenants offered great deals on beer and cheap(ish) Mexican fare, it wasn’t enough to save them from Study Hall’s fate just a few months after opening. Patty Smash took up the mantle soon after to a pretty ignominious reception. I haven’t heard anything about them, and don’t soon expect to. Anyways, I liked watching away games at Study Hall, went to Roadside Taco once, and have never visited Patty Smash.

Final Rating: 5/10

Rock and Reilly’s

A classic embedded in the Village, Rock’s is a must-visit. It’s everything a college bar should be (except cheap), and has recently been swept by waves of Wednesday revelers in a sort of post-90 ritual. It’s that surge that pushes this hub further down in the ratings that it deserves to be. There should never be a Disneyland-style line outside of a calm campus bar like this one, and its failure to effectively control demand is a self-inflicted quality loss. Despite my gripes, this is still a great place to have a beer with friends at any time of the day, and remains at the top of the food chain.

Final Rating: 8/10

901 Bar and Grill

The 90. What a place, what people. A rite of passage for upperclassmen at USC, this bar offers half-price drinks every Wednesday night before 9:01 pm. Afforded with the privilege to drink easily, most students opt for an AMF or four, a sky-blue concoction of pure, boozy wonder. At least, that’s what it tastes like until you wake up with a nasty bruise on your face and no memory of the last 14 hours of your life. Still, to 90 is to live USC life to the fullest, and I have to recommend. That being said, this is a grill in name only, so I wouldn’t recommend going hungry.

Final Rating 7.5/10

Bacari

The premier bottomless brunch spot near campus, Bacari offers unlimited pitchers over a 90-minute period. For just 30 dollars, you can have sangria, beer, or seltzer to your heart’s content. If you’re not in the mood to drink, there is a genuinely tasty tapas restaurant behind the bottomless facade. The brussel sprouts are some of the better I’ve ever had, and the pork belly is another gem. I’d steer clear of the forgettable mac and cheese, as it’s under seasoned and under crumbed. Overall, a solid spot to drink and a great spot to grub.

Final Rating: 7/10