The Drunken Worm is now open on 39th Street West
Snuggled in between the recently opened bistro Kansas Town and the year-old Hi-Dive Lounge is another new addition to the 39th Street West neighborhood: the Drunken Worm.
A tequila bar with a Mexican-centric food menu, the Drunken Worm opened its doors for business last Wednesday, says general manager Levi Keefer, who has previously worked stints at the north-of-the-river Granfalloon, Mosaic, Angels Rock Bar and John’s Big Deck. (Ralph Sander and Matt Laffey are the other principal partners in the operation.)
“We’re big fans of this neighborhood,” Keefer says. “There’s a great energy, and everybody that’s stopped by has been super nice.”
The primary draw is the 75 tequilas the bar has on hand, but the Drunken Worm is also flush with cheap tallboy cans – $3 for domestics, including Bud, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors, Michelob Ultra and Pabst Blue Ribbon. Pacifico and Negro Modelo, plus a handful of other beers, are on tap.
Foodwise, the bar is offering taco specials for lunch (two tacos, plus rice and beans, for $4.99-$5.99). The menu is somewhat limited – it’s a small joint – but tamales, nachos and a handful of other options are available for happy hour and dinner. “The pulled pork tacos are the favorite so far,” Keefer says.
The owners are working on getting a Sunday license – they want to do a bloody mary bar – but for the time being, the Drunken Worm’s hours are 11 a.m. – 1:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday. Happy hour goes 4-7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Oh, and there’s a vague luchador theme to the decor – lots of those Mexican wrestling masks and Day of the Dead imagery.
“We’re going to start a luchador club,” Keefer says. “We’ll serve tequila flights, and once you’ve tasted all the tequilas we’ve got, we’ll take a Polaroid of you in a ridiculous sombrero and wrestling mask and put the photo up on the wall.”
