Excellent American-style barbecue and nice microbrew beers to go with them are the surprising finds at this charming neighborhood bar. Richly marbled pork belly was our favorite, but we also greatly enjoyed Hatos's baby-back ribs, pulled-pork sandwiches, and very flavorful barbecued chicken. An array of various hot sauces is available if you want to liven things up further.

Hatos's side dishes live up to the high standards of the barbecue. They're generally simple, but each has a bit of a twist on the usual recipe - the macaroni and cheese (made with colby rather than cheddar) is tangier than average, and the cole slaw is pleasantly infused with coriander flavor. Around half a dozen microbrews are served on tap; the selection during a recent visit included brews from Shigakogen, Minoh and Coronado.

The layout comprises a small counter bar, a comfortable sofa area up front, and a bit of outdoor seating on the front terrace. The soundtrack is dubstep and reggae, and the atmosphere is generally laid back (although sometimes the small space can get crowded). Kids and dogs are welcome.