Honest John's Whiskey and Provisions
 

Announced in today's Daily Sun as going into the old TGI Fridays, It will have a "Northern tavern feel." My limited and very dated experience with Northern taverns does not make this sound like a place I would want to patronize. I believe there are a few Northerners in the villages. Can some of them help manage my expectations please?

I am so looking forward to this restaurant. Mike & Gina, owners of City Fire, have been in the restaurant business for many years as has Gina's family. I think this will be a great place !! I'm a northerner from Michigan. Can't wait for this restaurant to open. I'm excited. :pepper2:

Northern tavern atmosphere, to me, is appealing but the menu item they mention is fried chicken and waffles...that's southern where I come from! Would love to see a restaurant with good New England seafood...hope such items are part of their menu.

I LOVE the name. VEDDY WITTY!!

Northern is good. Was a northerner for a long time. Now I am a cracker?

Yup Gracie, I think you're a cracker.....

Atlantic Coast Management out of Winter Park is the owner. They also own City Fire among others. The trademark was just applied for on August 6th, so it doesn't have another location for comparison. As far as northern taverns go they usually have substantial comfort food and a warm atmosphere.

There is a bar & grill in Detroit Michigan named Honest John's. No relation.

We were in San Diego California and they have chicken & waffles. Out friends ordered it and loved it. Here is the description. The restaurant was Hash House A Go Go.
Sage Fried Chicken stacked with our famous bacon waffle, hot maple caramel reduction and crowned with fried leeks

Post upset people.

This is a popular tavern in Royal Oak, Michigan. It was always busy and great food.
Dinner

Let me get this straight.
Posters come on here and bitch that there are no new/different restaurants, just the same old thing.
Now there is going to be what appears a new and different venue. And posters come here and bitch that the menu is no good. And others bitch that its "not what I think a bar should be" or they don't have clam chowder.
I say wait and see. If it is not for you don't go there.................just don't come on here and bitch about it!

@@@

I wonder if there will be a jar of pickled eggs on the bar. Or darts. Or shuffleboard? Think we can sit and play cards if we want to?
:beer3:

That menu is awesome! Maybe the place here can borrow some ideas. If so, I would definitely eat there.

At least they did not call it Honest Abe's

Yup!

Yep, I agree. Everybody complains. It's the same restaurants in every square. I want something different ! Then something different is going in & the complaints begin when they have no clue what the menu is !!!

I have seen the menu for the new place. It's great. Lots of good food on it. I'm very excited !!!

Don't forget pickled pigs feet :ho:

Can't wait to try it
 

We spend summers in Ohio, Columbus specifically, which is known nationally, believe it or not, as a "foodie" town. Tremendous number of good restaurants of all types. Due to partly, I think, a recent liquor law change, there are now an amazing number of what I would term "gastropubs." Casual restaurants where you can just go for a beer, glass of wine, or premium cocktail, or pair with appetizers, really good innovative salads, homemade soups or full meals.

Haven't found a bad one yet. Latest one we tried (last night) was called The Market at Italian Village. Combined craft beer or wine, cocktails, pizzas, salads, or full meals with a case of fantastic fresh and smoked meats (like prime steaks, some kind of smoked ham, etc. as well as upscale groceries like you find at Fresh Market.

Would be great if something like one of these would open in The Villages, but am looking forward to the TGIF replacement also. We do get really tired of the same old, same old in The Villages - eat out down there much less than we do up here.

Our favorites in TV are Bonefish Grill and World of Beer, looking forward to this one and also the new Tapas restaurant in Brownwood. Interested in the latest transformation at Havana also.

THAT sounds nice, but we may have to wait for the card playing until after high season. lol.

Bogie, My grandma used to say "some people would cry if they were hung with a new rope"
To me, happy is as happy does..

How about letting it open before you form a negative opinion?

xke, I guess you got your expectations managed!

I'm sure it will have great appeal to many and maybe none to some. Just have to wait and see. Or listen for Bonny to tell us how she likes it. She'll be one of the first ones there, our own TOTV restaurant reviewer.:coolsmiley:

Or one of the bowling machines with the heavy puck and the pins that tilt up!

This is the tavern I used to go to in Long Grove IL, the Village Tavern. Very rustic and a throwback to a tavern/inn look. The place was always packed.

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Bogie Shooter, I believe your comment about the clam chowder refers to my post. I simply said that, with the northern tavern feel, it would be nice to see New England seafood on the menu. Not bitching, as you put it, just making a statement. I am extremely pleased to see a new restaurant in the area.:doh:

No comment.

This is good news. Not only is it something different as a restaurant, it also will be a nice addition to Sumter Landing.

I do not like seeing empty commercial space.

I wish them well.

Wouldn't it be nice if they had a huge outdoor covered bar - City Fire has done so well with theirs and since they are owned by the same people, maybe that's in the plans.

Are you saying this is what the menu will look like, since you have seen the menu, or are you just guessing?

Soon as it opens be happy to give you my thoughts. As for your expectations I think you can manage them on your own.

I only put that up for the OP as an example of tavern food.
He said "My limited and very dated experience with Northern taverns does not make this sound like a place I would want to patronize."
I thought this would give a better look at this type of restaurant.

I'm not sure what "northern tavern" means either. Does that mean they keep the air conditioning set to the 30's? Will they put ice on the floor? When you order do they say "fuhgedaboudit?" Do they have special places where you "pawk your cah?"

OK, these are lame attempts at humor, but really, what distinguishes a northern tavern?

I'm not sure. My guess is taverns are more popular in northern states or maybe different from southern states.
Mike from City Fire is from Ohio.

A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging. Usually small rather quaint places with good food for a reasonable price-but that is just my experience coming from the north.

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So maybe whiskey will be involved and beef jerky as the provisions and you can trade them with pelts

Theme restaurants rarely have great food.

I guess there's a difference between a "northern tavern" and a "northern bar". In my experience, northern bar=strong smell of cigarettes and stale beer with just a hint of vomit.
Glad it's going to be a "Tavern"!

And dont forget the distinct odor of chemicals and urine as you headed to the restrooms.