A hidden North Center gem, Goldie's has everything a small bar needs to attract a consistent and loyal crowd. The bar is renowned for its daily special of $1 PBRs on tap (served in pint glasses) and an old-school Nintendo connected to a wireless remote.

The atmosphere is friendly, with a gritty edge. On a good night, you'll find patrons competing with one another, raising stakes and placing small bets on who can get the furthest on Super Mario Bros. (the stakes get higher the later it gets into the evening). Local sports teams can be viewed on a large flat screen when the demand is high, or the newest Simpsons episode on any given Sunday.

During the week, you'll find neighborhood regulars and Trader Joe's employees off shift at the bar. On weekends, there's a trickle of young locals shaking off the 9-5, playing tournaments on a warped pool table (which is free on Monday nights) or a friendly round of darts.

Depending on the evening and music interests of the crowd, you'll hear familiar Wilco and Beck songs echo from the jukebox. When the crowd is listless and a little low on cash, you might be lucky enough to catch The Weakerthans on a bartender's iPod playlist of choice.

Goldie's is definitely not the place to find fancy beers or liquor drinks, so don't expect a pickle in your Bloody Mary (you'll most likely get a slice of lemon). But when you can buy the best, cheapest beer in the city for $1 ($4 for a pitcher), why would you order anything else?

Centerstage Reviewer: Sondra Morin