Audio By Carbonatix
Have you checked out the latest offering from Nick Badovinus’ Neighborhood Services restaurant group? The new restaurant, which replaces the NHS Tavern that closed earlier this year, brings a whole new experience to Henderson Avenue’s nightlife scene.
At the Capital Pub next door bar patrons pack the patio while drinking cheap beer and munching on boring bar food. J Black’s on the other side of the building serves similar food and on some evenings hosts DJs and other entertainment. I heard Vanilla Ice spinning as I walked past J. Black’s massive patio — no joke.
And then there’s Tried and True in the center …
Badovinus’ new restaurant has far better food than the bars to either side. It also has a much more interesting interior. Neon signs cast an iridescent glow on the pool table and vintage knickknacks hang on the walls. A motorcycle hangs from the ceiling and bowls of peanuts invite customers to cast spent shells on the floor, contributing to a casual roadhouse vibe.
When the turntable spins vintage country the whole place really comes together, but I railed on the jukebox in this week’s review. A digital montage of stale, classic rock, heavy metal and hip-hop completely throws off the vibe and makes me feel like I’m sitting in a bar that’s trying to hard to fit in with its surroundings. Tried and True has the potential to be the cool, quirky, new kid in town amongst a set of restaurants that have no real identity at all.
