It was Mid-May and humid as shit when I felt the need to play darts. I hadn’t been to the Highliner II since the wintertime, but knowing that this is the best low key spot on the Shoreline to play, there was no better place to set off towards. Upon arrival there were two remarkable things adorning the Brown Shack — as its affectionately known. The first was that they were still promoting the hell out of their NFL Sunday Ticket with both the entrance and nearly every window littered with Direct TV propaganda. Good to know. The second was somewhat harder to reconcile, which was why Santa and his sleigh were still perched on the Highliner’s roof in 82 degree heat.
DeMarcus Ware retired from the NFL on March 3rd, 2017. He won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos in 2015 and the last time he played for the Dallas Cowboys was the 2013 season . Here he is featured at the entrance to the Highliner II CAFE. At minimum, this Sunday NFL Ticket poster is five years old.
The answer is because the Highliner doesn’t give a fuck. There is a dearth of rappers residing on the Shoreline, but thats probably because the Highliner II is such an OG that they’d shank any newcomers who’d dare challenge their throne. Put it this way, outside of a few Trip Advisor reviews, nobody in the history of the internet has ever written about the Brown Shack. Further, I have to imagine that AT LEAST 90% of the regulars will never even have the opportunity to read this, because they are stubborn donkeys who are still holding out hope that this internet fad will pass. Yet all of this is the great appeal of the Highliner II. Its a place that absolutely shouldn’t stay in business, but somehow keeps its doors open against all odds, which thus adds to its allure.
Structurally both the exceptionally long bar and side nooks that house darts are plus features. Behind that there’s a porch with the grand view of the Westbrook Train station to smoke cigarettes. The theme here is that it’s an ideal place to hideaway and throw some back. It’s one of the few bars on the Shoreline where a bottle of bud tends to be accompanied with a shot of well whiskey. And those drinks are far from expensive. $3 PBR pounders and $4 dollar domestic beers are staples and reinforce the authentic dive bar mystique. To double down on cost savings and efficiency, the Highliner offers FREE food every happy hour, which will last through dinner time. You can get loaded and have dinner — if you’re brave enough to make the 4 hour old Tuna Melt on a hot plate your meal — for like $20. This is both disgusting and glorious.
If your expectations are set correctly, you can embrace the fact that you’ll almost always be the only people at the bar. This can be nice. And if you aren’t the only ones there, well, there will be characters to encounter and top people watching to be had.
FEAST: 2/10 – FROTH 4/10 – BAR: 4/10 – DIVE BAR: 10/10
You spoke not of the service which I adore. When most places seem like you can visit there 80 times and not be remembered. This place’s staff are friendly despite you being at your worst and still want to see you get home safe.