Local Watering Holes

  The Firebird opened in February of 2026 in the building that previously held Turnstiles, a bar and music venue that closed in July of 2025 after operating for four years. Before that, Joe V's Sports Bar Pizzeria was a long time neighborhood staple here. We had to skirt some equipment to get into the parking lot. Robert Wahl is the new owner (he also owns Bridge Street Bar and the  The Win Tavern ) and this is a very cool looking bar with unique decor. There's a beautiful horseshoe bar running down the middle of the building. Pontiac Firebirds were produced from 1967-2002 and various firebird hoods adorn the walls. The firebird is also a mythical creature found in Slavic folklore and some tales also include a "Horse of Power". The lamps are also quite distinctive. Like Turnstiles, live music events are a regular thing here. There are plenty of TVs. The Firebird has an extensive liquor list, specializing in beer and Bourbon. We started with a very good Old Fashioned, ...

The bar previously operated as The Woodshed Pub for 21 years before being sold in 2000 or 2001, closed for 6 months for a remodel, and re-opened as The Rogue River Tavern. The outside was redone in 2009. And it is a very charming place with a large u-shaped bar in the middle of the restaurant, and free popcorn. Besides the waters, we enjoyed an Old Fashioned and a Yuengling along with our loaded tots. The Tots arrived with a highly organized presentation and were very cheesy. It was a great appetizer. Three chicken tacos were served with lettuce, tomato, and cheese, and a couple of dollops of rice and beans mixed together. Ingredients were fresh and the meat was well-seasoned. A baked potato ordered was one of the smallest potatoes ever seen in a restaurant 😉 The perch dinner was excellent, the fish being lightly hand battered and very tender. The broccoli was also well prepared and not over cooked. The River Burger was perfectly round 😊 but juicy with a good char flavor. You may cho...