You do not go to Buford for a bar crawl. You go for one specific reason, and then you stay for the tenders.

This list runs from a steakhouse that makes you pretend you have money to a game bar where you will lose track of time and possibly your wallet. I have verified this range by personally eating a hot appetizer sampler at 37 Main and also getting a custom cocktail at Diesel Tap House.

The rest of the city is just a series of acceptable, dependable places to get a drink near a lake. Pick a starting point and work it out from the water.

37 Main Restaurant + Bar

Highlights
Strong tribute-band concert venue
Attentive, friendly box office staff
Front-and-center reserved table service
Fresh, hot appetizer sampler plates
Reliable cocktail quality all night

37 Main is the rare bar that actually earns its cover charge. The tribute bands are strong enough that you'll forget the original artist is probably doing something less interesting that night. Box office staff were friendly and didn't treat me like an inconvenience, which is a low bar they cleared easily. The front-and-center table service is worth booking if you hate standing. Appetizer sampler plates came out fresh and hot, and the cocktails stayed reliably consistent from first round to last. Nothing fancy, but nothing broken. That's a win in my book.

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Tavern at Mall of Ga

Highlights
Ask for Cash, great service
Chilled vibe, solid music
Clean, well-kept restaurant space
Food matches its advertised price

The Tavern at Mall of Ga is what you'd call a safe bet. Ask for Cash, because he apparently holds the operation together with good humor and quick refills. The vibe is chilled, the music is solid, and the place is clean enough that I didn't feel the need to inspect the baseboards. Food matches its advertised price, which is a rare honesty in this economy. If you're shopping and need a beer without navigating a food court, this works. It's not a destination, but it's a dependable stop.

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Cork It Buford - Wine and Charcuterie Buford

Highlights
Terrific service from Maria
Great wine and music
Welcomes large groups well

Cork It Buford does wine and charcuterie without pretending it's a religious experience. Maria ran the night with terrific service, and she didn't flinch when our group showed up large and loud. The wine list is solid, the music fits the mood, and they handle big parties well, which is more than I can say for most places with cork in the name. It's a relaxed spot to talk over a board of meat and cheese. I left with a full glass and no complaints.

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Twisted Tavern

Highlights
Best chicken tenders in town
Poker, pool, arcade, slots
Great sports viewing spot
Friendly staff worth tipping

Twisted Tavern has the best chicken tenders in town, and I say that as someone who normally avoids tenders like a food critic with dignity. They're crisp, juicy, and somehow not greasy. Beyond that, you've got poker, pool, arcade games, and slots, so you can lose money in multiple ways. It's a great sports viewing spot, and the staff are friendly enough that tipping feels like a choice, not an obligation. The place is a little chaotic, but that's the point. Go for the tenders, stay for the scramble.

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Diesel Tap House

Highlights
Attentive service, quick food
Jumbo connect four for kids
Hole-in-the-wall bar vibe
Olivia nails custom cocktails
Wings miss the mark sometimes

Diesel Tap House is a hole in the wall with a heart, and I mean that affectionately. Olivia made me a custom cocktail that actually tasted like she cared, which is a rare skill. Service was attentive and food came quick. The jumbo connect four kept the kids busy while I drank, so that's a plus. Wings miss the mark sometimes, but you're not here for wings. You're here for the vibe. It's dingy in a comfortable way. I'd go back, just maybe order a burger instead.

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LandShark Bar & Grill at Lanier Islands

Highlights
Strong drinks, including the margarita
Friendly, joking waitstaff
Solid Philly cheesesteak option
Clean, lake-front patio seating
Chill, relaxed waterside atmosphere

LandShark Bar & Grill at Lanier Islands is the kind of place where you forget your job exists. The margarita is strong enough to make you question whether you need another, and then you order another anyway. Waitstaff joke with you, which is nice, and the Philly cheesesteak is solid, not a gourmet thing, just a good sandwich. Patio seating is clean and lake-front, and the whole atmosphere is chill and waterside. You can watch boats and drink. It's not complicated, and it doesn't try to be.

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Hacienda Bar & Grill

Highlights
Saxophone adds lively atmosphere
Solo bartender handled busy night
Drinks and food impressed
Service was genuinely world-class
Bold, modern Mexican decor

Hacienda Bar & Grill brings a saxophone into the mix, which sounds like a gimmick but works. It adds a live, lively layer to the room without overpowering your conversation. The solo bartender handled a busy night like a pro, and the drinks and food both impressed. Service was genuinely world-class, which is a phrase I don't throw around lightly. The decor is bold and modern Mexican, all bright colors and sharp angles. It's a place that feels like an event, even on a random Tuesday.

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Bare Bones Steakhouse

Highlights
Exceptional onion ring appetizer
Steaks cooked perfectly
Attentive and personable staff
Worth repeated visits
Consistently great service

Bare Bones Steakhouse is the kind of place you go to when you want to act like you have money. The onion ring appetizer is exceptional, which is a bold opening move. Steaks came cooked exactly to order, and the staff were attentive and personable without hovering. It's worth repeated visits, and I mean that as a threat to my wallet. Service has been consistently great every time, which is rare for a steakhouse that doesn't coast on its name. Go hungry, leave happy, tip well.

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Game Changer at Lanier Islands Resort

Highlights
Kids loved the games
Great New Year’s party
Packed bar, everyone had fun
Five-star game place
Food and drinks solid

Game Changer at Lanier Islands Resort is what happens when someone actually thinks about what a game bar should be. The kids loved the games, and I loved that they were occupied. Great New Year's party, by the way, if you're into that sort of thing. The bar was packed, and everyone seemed to be having fun, which is a testament to the crowd or the drinks. Food and drinks were solid, nothing fancy. It's a five-star game place in the sense that it does exactly what it claims.

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Ligero Tobacco House

Highlights
Knowledgeable staff recommendations
Welcoming lounge atmosphere
Cuban coffee pairings
Top-notch cigar selection
Memorable hospitality experience

Ligero Tobacco House is not a bar in the typical sense, but it's a place to drink and relax, so I'm counting it. The staff know their cigars and made recommendations that didn't make me feel like an idiot. The lounge atmosphere is welcoming, with Cuban coffee pairings that actually complement the smoke. Selection is top-notch, and the hospitality is memorable, which is a nice way of saying you'll remember the people more than the cigars. If you don't smoke, skip it. If you do, stay a while.

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Bullfrogs Bar & Grille

Highlights
Gluten-free wings worth trying
Beautiful poolside views
Attentive service from Fabi
Salmon cooked perfectly
Relaxing resort atmosphere

Bullfrogs Bar & Grille sits right on the water, and those poolside views are worth the trip alone. The gluten-free wings are worth trying, even if you don't need gluten-free. Fabi took care of us with attentive service that didn't feel forced. Salmon came out perfect, which is a gamble at a pool bar and a win here. The whole place has a relaxing resort atmosphere, so you can actually unwind. It's not a party spot, but it's a good place to recover from one.

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Downtown Buford

Highlights
Quiet on Mondays
Restaurants stay open
Good friend spot
Food variety available

Downtown Buford on a Monday is quiet. Like, town-fell-asleep quiet. But that's not a bad thing. The restaurants stay open, and the food variety is decent enough to keep you from driving elsewhere. It's a good spot to meet a friend and actually talk without shouting over a crowd. You won't find a wild scene, but you'll find a beer and a seat. Sometimes that's exactly what you need. Low key, no drama, and the parking is free. That's a win.

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