Revelry offers own take on pub food, drink
With a party-hearty spirit and a crafted pub menu, Revelry Tavern is scheduled to open Thursday in the Dublin Village Center.
Taking over the former Average Joe’s Pub & Grill space at 6711 Dublin Center Drive, Revelry is looking to hit that sweet spot between upscale and ultra-casual, said Blaise Antonio, who owns the tavern with Rich Spagna.
“We’re looking to shoot that middle,” Antonio said.
Located in 4,000 square feet of space, catty-corner to the AMC Dublin Village 18 movie theater, Revelry has 18 beers on tap — Bud Light being the only noncraft choice — and a signature cocktail program complete with fresh-squeezed juices and homemade syrups.
The menu offers plenty of comfort food and tavern classics, such as short ribs with grilled cheese on sourdough, triple-cheese mac ’n’ cheese, banh mi sliders with shredded pork and a shrimp po’ boy. Nothing costs more than $11. Customers have the choice of three homemade sauces for their chicken wings: traditional Buffalo, tikka masala and Korean barbecue.
“We’ve got to do something to stand out,” Antonio said.
There are a few vegetarian options, such as the roasted Brussels sprouts salad and grilled eggplant muffuletta.
Both Antonio and Spagna are veterans of the local restaurant-and-bar scene. Spagna was the former owner of Donerick’s Pub, which preceded Average Joe’s in the Dublin Village Center. Antonio honed his skills behind the bar and as a front-ofthe-house manager.
They had been searching for a spot for at least six months but nothing came through. The current location is near new housing in the Historic Dublin area, the theater and busy Sawmill Road, Antonio said.
“We’ve been very anxious to get something going,” Antonio said.
Revelry’s kitchen hours will be 3 to 11 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. For information, call 614-389-7910.
Vittles in the Middle
Following an aggressive 2 -year growth plan, Middle West Spirits is scheduled to open the doors to its restaurant Oct. 5 in the Weinland Park neighborhood.
Ryan Lang and Brady Konya are owners of Middle West Spirits.
Part of Middle West’s 10,000-square-foot complex at 1230 Courtland Ave., the dinner-only restaurant will serve “nostalgic contemporary cuisine,” said Karen Reed, general manager of the restaurant.
The dishes will be the creations of Avishar Barua, chef of the touted Veritas and 1808, both in downtown Delaware.
Reed said he will draw on his diverse palate by creating
a rustic michelone marzetti, a take on Johnny Marzetti using homemade pasta, and heritage recipes for meatballs and sauce. Barua also loves fast food, so customers should be on the lookout for a double-gordita crunch, and General Tso’s chicken, using pork spare-rib meat instead of chicken, Reed said.
Menu items will peak out at around $30.
The massive renovation project included expansion and reconfiguring the space. Middle West now seats 72 at copper-top tables, long communal tables and a custom-made marble bar. Private dining is available. The restaurant will be open Wednesday through Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday.
Roll out the Barrel
The Tilted Kilt has a new name and look.
The Polaris-area restaurant is expected to relaunch Tuesday as the Rustic Barrel Sport and Tap.
It will signal a major reboot of the 7,000-square-foot space at 8665 Sancus Blvd.
Sean Cahill, founder of the AC Rustic One restaurant group, said the Rustic Barrel will be completely sportsoriented, with 45 TVs and 48 draft beers.
The menu will offer a full line of burgers, sandwiches, flatbreads and several entrees, including steak and seafood pasta. Most items are priced $16 and less.
The Columbus store is the second of 10 going through the changeover, which should be done by the end of the year, Cahill said.