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.
