Folks Huddle Around This Place’s Games and TV

It’s Thursday night at The Huddle, and the crowd inside is busy pursuing a variety of interests: three pool tables are under siege by a bevy of male and female players, a shuffleboard game is going strong at one end of the room and the L.A. Kings are winning on the big screen TV. Meanwhile, rock ‘n’ roll cranks throughout the room.

“People are here to have fun and meet new friends,” says one customer. It looks as if they’ve come to the right place.

The Huddle is just another unassuming neighborhood sports bar in Costa Mesa--the kind with no windows but plenty to look at anyway.

Owner Jere Lowe is proud that his bar has been in business for 26 years and, in spite of a slow economy, continues to thrive.

The place sponsors pool and softball teams that compete on Tuesday nights, and an annual golf tournament is held in May at a local club.

“It’s for fun,” Lowe said. “We get players of all abilities to compete and then we all head back to the bar for a luncheon.”

Pete, a die-hard Dallas Cowboy fan, keeps the cocktails and bottled beers moving on the oak and mirror bar. Kerri delivers drinks to patrons at the blackjack-like tables that surround the games area.

“The crowd is great. It’s like a big family,” Kerri said between service runs. More intimate tables are available for those who just want to relax.

The clientele here ranges from 21 and up, with a contrast of youth and experience. Tradespeople and business types mingle in a congenial atmosphere.

The Huddle makes for an interesting study in modern sports bar culture. Watch the game, play games, or just hang out and take it all in. You might even make some new friends while you’re at it.

The Huddle, 741 Baker St., Costa Mesa. Open daily 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. (714) 540-0966.