There was an audible roar from the dozens of conversations already in progress when I made my way into the bar area at Magavin’s Restaurant & Pub shortly after eight o’clock on a Friday.

With no visible open spot at the rail, I jockeyed in between a few people and an elegant brunette bartender brought me a double of Glenlivet scotch on the rocks in a modest-sized glass goblet as well as a pitcher of Bud Light for $13. For the surroundings, the price was a lot less than I expected, but I’m certainly not complaining. The bartender (sheathed in a formal black outfit) spied an open stool toward the back and I seized the opportunity.

I chatted amiably with an older married couple enjoying an after-dinner cocktail to the left of me and swapped some stories with two guys coming in from an afternoon at the golf course on my right. The overpowering (and seductive) scent of steak permeated the building, and although I had dinner beforehand, the smell of well-seasoned beef made me strongly reconsider.

A small wooden lip ran parallel to the ceiling with an alternating stained glass floral design. The entire bar (the fixtures, shelves and cabinets behind it) was built from a lavish dark oak. Two cupboards housed a bevy of snifters, jiggers and ornate cocktail glasses. A random baseball game aired on two decent sized flat screens mounted behind the bar near a speckled white stucco ceiling.

Rather than elbowing and apologizing my way through the teeming masses to make my way up front for a cigarette, I opted for a wooden ramp via a swinging door in the back. Duty called on my way back in and I found the bathroom spotless in black tile with bordered wooden panels. The crowd parted comfortably from the middle and while my spot was compromised by two girls leaning in for an order, they relinquished it without complaint. One of the girls recognized the poet I was reading, so we talked about Bukowski for a spell. After eyeing up a never-before-seen bottle of Seagram’s VO Gold, I ordered a double and it was deceptively sweet while packing a wallop at the same time.

Magavin’s is the sort of pub where you can spend the better part of the evening shooting the bull with friends until the wee hours of the morning without batting an eye. It’s also the sort of restaurant where you can treat your significant other to a classy dinner out without crippling your budget. It was a nice surprise to find such a double-threat nestled away in the heart of Alden.

Magavin’s Restaurant & Pub

12433 Broadway Ave. Alden

Scene: A sophisticated bar and dining experience without the sophisticated high prices.

Drinks: Six draft beers including Sam Adams and Blue Moon along with well-priced liquor from the bottom to the top of the shelf.

Dress Code: Neat dress casual. Tuck in your shirt and wear a clean pair of jeans if you’re not getting dressed up.

Music: Light dinner music piped through a sound system.