Mike: Carlton's Bar & Grill had been teasing me for months. I'd see it right there on the corner of O Street and Ventura Avenue, with its colorful sign and a banner that read "Opening soon." I'm all about new bars -- especially downtown bars, so I was curious to see what the place would be when it finally opened. I learned on Saturday, as we were headed to the Fresno Convention Center and saw a new banner was in place. One saying that Carlton's was, in fact, open for business.

Heather: I, too, was very excited to see Carlton's open as, following the Smog City Roller Grrls bout at Valdez Hall, I really wanted an alcoholic beverage. Despite my blind quest for liquid refreshment, I have to admit that I was initially a little skeptical of Carlton's. It's sort of isolated (few businesses in the area are open late at night) and despite all the "I feel safer downtown than I do at River Park!" protestations on Fresno Famous, I still get nervous visiting places I've never been before. One glance at Carlton's interior, however, and all my fears were forgotten.

Mike: One of the things downtown really could use, in my estimation, is a neighborhood bar with a more relaxed vibe than 2039. A place where people can just stop in and get a drink. When we walked in, Carlton's seemed like that place. A band was packing up its gear. The bar was full, but the table area was wide open. The workers were very good about greeting us – three times even. And the place was decorated nicely. I was impressed.

Heather: Not only were we greeted promptly and often, the manager of the place took the time to walk around and introduce herself to patrons, and she said Carlton himself had been hanging out earlier. When the place started to fill up (by the time we left, the small bar was at capacity) she moved tables around and made sure everyone was accommodated. Speaking of patrons, Carlton's location – across the street from the convention center – seems like it will attract one of the most diverse groups of people in all of Fresno: everyone from Coyotes coaches and cheerleaders stopping in after a game to older folks in nice clothes out for some Louisiana-style food to roller derby girls fueling up after a bout to lowly bloggers looking for a cheap drink were all sharing space Saturday night.

Mike: And the music guys! We missed it, but Carlton's has live music 5-8 p.m. on Fridays and 6-9 p.m. on Saturdays. It's blues and jazz – and the bar takes on that theme, with old posters from the Monterey Jazz Festival on the walls. Another thing we missed that I want to go back for is the barbecue. Carlton's barbecues 12-8 p.m. on Saturdays. Food-wise, there are different specials every day (Friday, for instance, is Southern; Tuesday is Mexican). There's also standard menus for lunch and dinner – sandwiches, wraps and more for lunch, catfish, ribs and more for dinner.

Heather: The Saturday we were there Carlton's was testing later food service – they seem to have recognized early on that a crowd coming over from Selland Arena will be in the mood for food as well as drink. I had the Cajun spiced fried okra, which was very tasty, and a salad, which was less tasty. But my gin and tonic was very strong, very good and quite reasonably priced.

Mike: I had the chicken wings. They weren't what I hoped. I like my wings saucy, not breaded like Carlton's serves. It's just a matter of preference. They tasted fine for what they were. Another thing I didn't like was that the men's bathroom was in the bar area, not down the hall like the women's. When you walk out, you're literally standing at the bar. Minor, I know, but not something I was digging.

Heather: Yeah, samesies for the people at the bar who saw you walk out and wipe your hands on your shorts while muttering, "Eh, that's clean enough." So, what do you think, Mike Oz? Will Carlton's fill the void the downtown bar scene so desperately needs?

Mike: That didn't happen. And to your question: I don't know that it fills a void as much as adds to the nightlife landscape. One bar does not a downtown make. But Carlton's is a solid addition and a place I see myself going again.

Heather: I agree. Carlton's is less a destination spot, and more a great place to stop either before or after attending an event at the convention center. I'm glad it's there, and I hope it sticks around (hint: it will if you, the public, go there, so try to do that before it's too late, eh?).

If you have a Fresno Firsts experience you'd like to share with The Beehive, email it to mosegueda@fresnobee.com.