We were attracted to this hard-to-find joint because of a coupon in a magazine calling for "buy one, get one free" sandwich or burger at lunch. When we arrived it became apparent why they had resorted to the ad; the restaurant was nearly vacant. Maybe four other patrons.
In fairness I don' think they see themselves as a lunch location. It is really more of a sports bar with multiple TV mounted on various walls around the restaurant. And indeed as we sat at the bar and talked to the server, it turns out that their claim to fame is college and NFL football in season. Regardless, we were anxious to try out their food and see how it was.
It turns out our server is the cousin of one of the owners. That owner's brother (or the server's cousin) was the chef. My wife had a hamburger which was good but not great. That notwithstanding the cook spending much time telling us how he was cooking the meat, infusing it with seasoned salt, placing the cheese on it and throwing a pan over it to get the cheese to melt evenly. Absent the conversation, it was just another 'burger.
The real problem came when I asked if I could just get a salad under the coupon instead of a sandwich or burger. The cook said sure and then very confidently suggested he make me his version of a Chinese chicken salad. He showed me the sweet & sour sauce he had been experimenting with for this as yet not-on-the-menu salad. What arrived was a salad lacking in lettuce or cabbage, about half a dry chicken breast, wontons galore and the dressing which clearly needs more work. It would have been more appropriately named Won Ton Salad.
Perhaps I should have been more critical but the server and the cook could not have been more genial and down right neighborly. They gave us the low down on our pick for dinner (Bodee's) the best pizza in town (Papa Lennon's in Meiner's Oaks) and told us what it was like to grow up in this community where their families are fourth generation. It didn't seem right after getting to know them to then go off on someone who was working so hard to be a good and inventive chef.
Again, most of the food here is bar grub. I suspect had we been unwilling to experiment with the Chinese chicken salad, my review would have been a point higher. I also know that this young man is only the lunch chef giving way to a more senior guy (who came in while we were still there) during Happy Hour and evenings. Happy Hour and evenings is apparently when they hit their stride. We walked by the Wrec Room later that evening after returning from dinner and they had a band playing in the corner. In a town where most places roll up the sidewalks at 9:00 pm, the Wrec Room offers music several nights a week until 2:00 am.
So if you are looking for a nice place to have a drink, eat some chicken wings and watch a sporting event, this is the place. If you are there for fine dining, you will be disappointed. But give this family run business credit, they are working hard for the money.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.