Local Watering Holes

If you don't know it's here, you just might drive past this unassuming place.  But do yourself a favor and stop in. It's casual and low-key with food made from scratch, and Charlie is usually in the house. That's her in the hat behind the bar. Charlie and her husband opened the restaurant back in the 1980s, sold it, and reacquired it in 1996 (her husband passed away 16 years ago). She gave us a lot more history of the space but that's all I can recall other than her daughter, Jodi, is the current owner. So it's still family owned and is a popular local, neighborhood restaurant. Charlie is so friendly and greeted most people in the place. If you want to hear more stories, she'll be glad to share them.  We started with a Scooby Snack Basket: fried mushrooms, fried green beans, fried pickles, and mac & cheese bites. It was a great beginning 😊 Our main entrees were the Wet Burrito (huge), the Turkish (turkey, havarti & avocado on sourdough), Smelt Baske...

You know you're walking into a local favorite when everyone in the place turns and stares at you because they don't recognize you. Yes, that happened here 😊 The space is divided into three parts: the bar that includes a few tables, the large middle section with most of the seating, and a third room that contains pool tables. The bar has some very cool lighting. The middle section has a stage where live music takes place on the weekends. Tonight was Comedy night, which sounded fun, but we didn't stick around for it. The gaming section also has some seating. We seated ourselves and were promptly greeted and welcomed by Michael. Arriving during Happy Hour we had some questions, and follow-up questions, and thought we might be being difficult. Michael's response: "This is the Westside. You're child's play to me." We were instant fans 😊  We have a tradition of starting with tots if they are on the menu and River City offered up Philly style tots. Light an...