Half Moon Sports Grill, Phoenix

It can be hard to keep a straight face while golfing with friends, especially when the trousers of the player in front of you reveal slightly too much of his backside. That's exactly what happened to the founders of Half Moon Sports Grill, who decided to name their fledgling sports bar after the "half moon" they giggled at one fateful afternoon. This tongue-in-cheek sense of humor permeates Half Moon, cultivating a festive atmosphere where glasses of craft beer clink on amber and cherry hardwoods, televisions stream the latest games, and a menu of refined American bar food keeps hunger pangs at bay. Pub classics such as spicy chicken wings join updated comfort favorites, such as the BLT n'A with applewood bacon. A robust burger list features a build-your-own option as well as the California, whose guacamole, bacon, and provolone make up the eighth-largest economy in the world.

Beers from local breweries such as Lumberyard and Four Peaks fill the bar alongside imported bottles of Guinness, red and white wines, and specialty cocktails including guava margaritas.