The torrential downpour was downgraded to a drizzle by the time I made it to Flattery’s around 8 o’clock on an overcast Thursday. I had to circle the parking lot twice to find an open spot — and the place has an expansive lot to begin with. One look at the regulation-sized volleyball court outdoors (and the crowd on the patio) explained the scarcity with the parking situation.

I went indoors first to assess the interior. About 15 of us hugged the L-shaped rail inside and watched a hockey game on the overhead LCD flatscreens. The interior of the bar was covered in green: green walls, green shamrocks, green ceiling. After a few minutes, a cheery blond bartender wearing a leopard-print scarf served me a pitcher of Bud Light with a plastic cup and a by-the-book double of Jim Beam in a drinking glass for $15. After serving my drinks, she returned to the two or three people she was talking to beforehand and stayed there.

A lone bar back buzzed frantically between the patio bar and the adjoining bar inside, restocking bottles and jockeying empties off the countertops. The bar back shouted out “Fire in the hole!” and opened a large trap door in the floor behind the bar where they stowed their empty cases.

Even in the rain, 90 percent of the action took place on the patio, with a sizable party crowd congregating to cheer on the weekly sponsored coed volleyball game already in progress out back. I wandered outdoors and found a spot along the gray-speckled countertop bar in the thick of the action. Spectators lined the front balcony with a bird’s-eye view of the action in the sand, while other groups of singles congregated at the standing tables and on wooden benches. A small white tent to the left of us sheltered the teams on deck, as well as their hardcore fans.

My buddy Mike showed up, and we flagged down the bar back and ordered a Southern Comfort and Diet Coke (also served in a plastic cup) along with a cup of Bud Light for $6.50. We watched one of the leagues play for a while and after waiting for five minutes with empty glasses in front of us, we decided to head out.

I’ve been to more than my share of beach bars and dance clubs, and I’ve seen better attentiveness when the places get packed. A neighborhood bar should make everyone feel at home the first time they stop in. In this regard, Mike and I weren’t particularly wowed by our first impression of Flattery’s. It’s a place that is clearly thriving, but a little more attention to those of us with empty glasses would go a long way.

Flattery’s

1130 Orchard Park Road, West Seneca 674-9963

Scene:Neighborhood Irish tavern with a loyal outdoor volleyball following.

Drinks:Four draft beers on tap and the basics in terms of hard liquor.

DressCode:Party gear. Cut-off T-shirts, windbreakers and cargo shorts.

Music:Live bands with no cover on Wednesdays and Sundays.