Broward County, meet Hazzard County

Daisy Dukes Saloon, run by the actress who played the jean-short queen on TV in the '80s, brings Hazzard County to Pembroke Pines.

By Gabe Berman

My grandma was outraged when Pines Seafood Grill, our Sunday night dinner destination, went out of business. I, on the other hand, was far from annoyed and found solace in steering clear of the near-perpetual standstill of traffic-laden Pines Boulevard. But the legacy of Catherine Bach brought me back.

Catherine Bach isn't an executive chef or a world famous sommelier or even a local beer brewer. She played Daisy Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard (if you're a fan, check out her website) and her ultra-short shorts inspired a group of young entrepreneurs to open The Daisy Dukes Saloon on Pines Boulevard, previous home of the seafood grill.

Before you enter the bar, you'll encounter Southern rock 'n' roll playing on outdoor speakers, door handles shaped as gas station nozzles and a playing-card size sticker on the door proudly displaying "01, " the racing number of the infamous General Lee, the Duke brothers' car.

The bartenders and servers are decked out, or better yet, barely decked out in gingham patterned half-shirts and of course, denim Daisy Dukes.

A tremendous rectangular bar, covered in stainless steel sheets you might see on the floor of an automotive shop, consumes much of the space at this 6,400-square-foot night spot. Aluminum awnings protrude inward and hang over the wood paneled walls to create the idea of sitting outside of an old shack (not to be confused by the foul-shot missing "old Shaq" of a certain Miami basketball concern).

Miami Heat fans can catch the games on the 40 flat screens at the Daisy Duke Saloon. Football, baseball, soccer and hockey games will be shown, as well as live broadcasts of Ultimate Fighting championships.

Neon beer signs, spaced between dozens of framed pictures of Bach, illuminate license plates, hoods of race cars, the pool table, a dart board and an authentic looking, green street sign with white lettering that reads: "Hazzard County Next Exit." Bottles of liquor are stacked in long rows behind the bar like teeth in a shark's mouth. Ten beers are on tap and a lengthy list of specialty drinks are printed on the back of the dinner menu.

Daisy's Tropical Punch is mixed with Mako Vodka, peach schnapps, melon liqueur, Bacardi Coco Rum and cranberry and pineapple juice. The "Redneck Rita" is concocted with Sauza Gold Tequila, Triple sec, pineapple juice, lemonade and topped with grenadine. If you're more of a Dukes traditionalist, "Moonshine" is available in five "octane" strengths.

Monday night is Fire Fighter Night at the Daisy Dukes Saloon. It's B.Y.O.M. for South Florida's bravest. Bring Your Own Mug for unlimited beer refills from 9 p.m. until midnight. Various prizes are given to the winner of the hourly three-alarm wing eating contests.

Artie B, a Jimmy Buffet style vocalist and guitarist, plays from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Blues bands perform Thursday nights but you won't suffer from the blues because Thursday is Ladies Night as well. Women drink free from 11 p.m.-1 a.m. and guys, as usual, pay full price. Rock bands jam on Saturday nights and on Sundays, sport your 10-gallon hats and Uncle Jesse accents for Country Night (five for $10 Coors Light buckets).

Drinks are two bucks cheaper during happy hour, which runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you're in-the-biz, you'll enjoy an exclusive 2-for-1 daily drink special from midnight until closing (3 a.m.).

A sociable singles scene congregates nightly at Daisy Dukes. A few guys may seem a bit rascally, but as the Dukes of Hazzard theme song states, they're just good ol' boys never meanin' no harm.

Daisy Dukes Saloon is at 10060 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines. 954-430-9330.

--Gabe Berman