Casey Moore's is totally an institution in Tempe. It's probably one of the more unique bars I've ever seen & it fits right in with the cute Maple/Ash neighborhood.
The oysters are always really fresh; the drinks are strong (though the Bloody Marys have a weird taste to them... not sure what that's about) and everything non-oyster I've gotten has been good too. Happy Hour is great; half a dozen oysters for $7!
The whole place is a cool atmosphere to hang out with a friend and get toasted. I like that it's always reasonably busy, even at 10 pm on a Sunday (so I don't feel awkward being one of 3 tables in an empty restaurant, and the vibe stays upbeat) but not so busy you can't get a server to take notice of you.
The inside is dark & cool and feels like an old bar in somewhere like Boston. The patio is dog-friendly, with tons of foliage & shade, and misters.
The only negative is some of the staff seem to have attitudes.
- The door guy arbitrarily cards people; he'll let 5 frat dudes of questionable age in no problemo, but then makes me (at 26) dig out my ID & then scrutinizes it heavily.
- The last 2 waitresses on the patio have turned their nose up when I ordered a water first while deciding on liquor/food & waiting for someone... then they disappeared for 15 minutes. Their attitudes magically change when you order a bunch of cocktails & food... Gosh, I wonder why.