There are too many bars on the South Side.

City Council certainly thinks so, having passed a restriction on new liquor licenses on Carson Street. And the old timers from Sarah Street on down to Harcum Way feel the same. Even Munch -- who once felt there weren't enough bars to hit before last call -- has even muttered the forbidden words: There are too many bars on the South Side.

But Munch can make exceptions, provided any new watering hole meets the following three criteria:

The Bar at 2132 is at, you guessed it, 2132 E. Carson St., South Side Flats. Information: www.barsmart.com/2132 or 412-488-3980.

1. It's a place that Munch likes.

2. It's a place that replaces an old dump.

3. It's a place that has good chow and IPA on draft.

And for Munch, that's all that's needed to give a hearty endorsement to The Bar at 2132 (E. Carson St., of course), a handsome new place fashioned in the style of a classic old tavern that fits all the above requirements.

The address has been home to a number of largely forgettable establishments in the past decade -- The Clubhouse, something called Club Implosions (a fortuitous name, given its brief tenure) and most recently, Wild Bill's. All of these places shared one thing in common: They looked like lousy dives that Munch wouldn't step foot in. And didn't.

The new ownership of The Bar -- a pair of CMU grads -- closed the place for several months to complete a gorgeous refurbishment of the interior. A fireplace sits in the front, a grand long bar adorns the left wall, and Corinthian columns sprout up from the booths. It's a terrific setting to pull a pint, watch a game, shoot some pool or take advantage of the WiFi on premises.

Or, stuff your gullet, as Munch and pals did on Saturday night.

Flanked by a pair of ethnic IFOM's (Italian Friend of Munch and Irish Friend of Munch), we got our eat on with some excellent pub grub. The typical wings, salads and burgers are represented, but menu items like Grilled Peaches and Prosciutto ($10.95) and Couscous and Grilled Vegetable Salad ($9.95) break the mold for standard barroom fare.

For starters, we loved the crispy Maryland Blue Crab Raviolis ($9.95) and the Grilled Portabella Mushroom Cap Stuffed with Sausage, Asiago Cheese and Roasted Red Peppers ($6.95).

Irish Friend of Munch broke ranks with his heritage and scarfed down the Italian Panini -- ham, salami, prosciutto, roasted red peppers, buffalo mozzarella, and Italian Dressing ($7.95) on toasted Italian bread, while Italian Friend of Munch stayed true to the game with a Chicken Parm Panini ($7.95).

Munch tried one of the six Flat Top Pizzas -- a Margharita style made with tomato, garlic sauce and buffalo mozzarella ($6.95) served on a paper-thin crispy tortilla. It was tasty, but too thin -- each little slice broke apart in Munch's hands -- and it wasn't very filling. You'd do well to order a side dish with it.

All of the above victuals were washed down with copious pints of Stone IPA, Augustiner and Franziskaner drafts ($3.50 -- $5). The beer list in general was a bit pedestrian -- too heavy on macros, not enough micros -- but it did the job.

The Bar has a good jukebox -- loud enough to enjoy, quiet enough to converse -- and a chill crowd of twentysomethings just looking for relaxed libations, not a sweaty-pawed meat market. The chalkboard walls in the restrooms make for some, uh, interesting reading, while tending to pressing matters.

So are there too many bars on the South Side? Nope. Not as long as they're quality. And The Bar is that.