In Fort Worth, the last TCU-area dive bar is also a restaurant with surprises
First, we lost the Hi-Hat Lounge. Then, we lost the Oui Lounge.
Now, the University Pub is closed as of May 18, and that leaves only one old-time dive bar near TCU: the Poop Deck.
When it opened nearby in 1974, the beer drinkers would never have believed the Poop Deck would be serving shrimp Alfredo, blackened redfish or anything on baby spinach.
But today’s Poop Deck Bar and Grill has expanded its menu to draw patrons for dinner and $10 weekday lunches, plus weekend brunch at 3505 Blue Bonnet Circle.
The spirit of the old Poop Deck definitely dwells in the bar.
The music selection one recent evening included “Lucky Man” (1970) and “Day Tripper” (1965).
A surprise: $10 weekday lunches, $7 burgers on Saturdays
But the $1.50 Taco Tuesday special was far better than typical bar food.
The half-price burger special all day Saturdays ($7 with fries) also comes highly recommended, along with grill dishes ranging from chicken-fried steaks to apple-butter pork tenderloin and fried oysters.
One note: Do not expect white-tablecloth service.
The only bartender was also the only restaurant server one recent night. She had to cover the entire bar and grill, which includes both a former Fred’s Texas Cafe and the former Oui Lounge (1952-2013).
Even the fish tacos are $1.50 on Tuesdays
But just when the Poop Deck seemed like a bar cosplaying as a restaurant, the tacos arrived.
Any taco is $1.50 on Tuesdays, even with shrimp, cod or mahi-mahi. (They’re usually $3-$4.)
A traditional crispy beef taco came in a fresh-fried shell — which takes time — and was filled with spicy beef.
The chicken flour taco was even more loaded with shredded white meat. It was only lightly seasoned, but there are better restaurants that don’t make Tex-Mex tacos this well.
.jpg "IMG-9263 (1).jpg")
The real surprise was getting a blackened codfish taco on corn with avocado and lime crema for $1.50.
This was easily worth the regular daily price, $4. At Velvet Taco, for example, the same taco would cost $6.
The Poop Deck is worn around the edges. But it has 51 years of character — and characters.
Some of the prices are from another century.
This story was originally published May 14, 2025 at 5:35 AM.
