Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Furl
Google
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Y! MyWebBar Review
Harrison's
Sturdy structure makes for a warm, cozy feel
Monday, January 07, 2008
TIPP CITY — Thanks to the vision of John Clark — one of the founders of Tipp City — building lots were sold with the restriction that no log structures be built. More than 160 years later, the Tipp City business district is filled with handsome, sturdy brick structures, one of which is home to Harrison's.
Like its neighboring storefronts, Harrison's recalls Tipp City's rich history and, with warm lights glowing at dusk, had no trouble luring us indoors. Entering a quaint reception area, the Lounge Lizards were faced with two options: dining room or bar.
Extras
The Tipp City business district is filled with handsome, sturdy brick structures, one of which is home to Harrison's.Harrison's
- WHERE: 106 E. Main St., Tipp City [Map]
- HOURS: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. Sunday
- DRESS CODE: Dress up, dress down, Harrison's will accommodate
- BEST BET: BBQ Beef Sandwich, Boneless Buffalo Wings, Southern Salmon Salad Sandwich
- MORE INFO: (937) 667-5200
- MORE: Reader ratings, complete profile
Not surprisingly, we opted for the latter, a simple, elegantly-appointed space with a bar flanking one wall and dark wood tables, chairs, exposed brick and a fireplace finishing the room, creating a warm, cozy environment to enjoy a beverage.
Parched from an early evening shopping experience at the many nearby stores, Alexis ordered a Cosmopolitan ($6.75) and Craig ordered a Manhattan ($4.95). Our menu selections arrived and we dug into the Harrison's Signature Bleu Buffalo Black Angus Steak Burger ($7.99). Despite a tantalizing menu description, "burger stuffed with bleu cheese and onion, lightly breaded and deep fried, then dipped in buffalo sauce," the dish couldn't meet expectations. The flavors were solid, albeit dry, but the breading surrounding the burger fell apart quickly, leaving us to play a game of search and rescue. Still, this is one of the menu items you might order once to experience for yourself, as it is an interesting creation.
The BBQ Beef Sandwich "Memphis Style" ($6.99) featured beef that the waitress told us is smoked on the premises, and was topped with onion, barbecue sauce and cole slaw. Served with homemade potato chips, this was a savory mixture, messy on the hands (have napkins at the ready), but perfect for the palate.
The evening's winner were the Boneless Buffalo Wings ($6.49 for eight). One of the downsides of eating wings is the mess. Harrison's has taken away the mess and created a flavorful treat with a extensive list of sauce options. The wings were meaty, moist and perfect for dipping and sharing. Better yet, you can use a fork.
On a second trip, we returned to the bar where we challenged our bartenders to create a fruity cocktail — they came up with a Cherry Martini ($5.95). We also guided our bartenders through our version of a chocolate nut and berries cocktail ($6.50) — lauded in an earlier review. The nuts and berries were a winner. On the Cherry Martini, we learned an important lesson: Never challenge a bartender to create a drink they are unsure of. After a little fine-tuning with Cointreau — a magic elixir that can fix almost any cocktail gone wrong — we ended up with an acceptable beverage and a lesson to store away for future use.
After perusing the menu, we concluded snacks were in order and sent our bartender on a mission. Despite what was clearly a bustling night, he returned swiftly with our spread: Loaded Baked Potato Skins ($5.99), Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops ($8.99) and a Southern Salmon Salad Sandwich ($6.99).
True to its name, the Loaded Baked Potato Skins, a traditional bar food favorite, were loaded with bacon and cheese. Despite its visual appeal and heaping stack of toppings, the potato was dried out. The bacon wrapped scallops, served with a white cream sauce, made for rich and decadent bar food. Our favorite selection for the evening, the Southern Salmon Salad Sandwich was packed full of flavor. A different choice of bread (we ordered sourdough) and more of the Salmon Salad would take this very good sandwich to the next level.
To cap off our evening, we ordered a Fudge Nut Ball ($4.95) and a special desert the servers were calling Christmas Pie ($4.50) — a delectable Egg Nog custard — both of which we paired with coffee.
The hot coffee, served in handmade mugs — perhaps from a nearby store — was a nice touch.
Harrison's, owned by the same folks who operate the Barnsider in Harrison Twp., the Wellington Grill in Beavercreek and the Blue Berry Café in Bellbrook, has plenty of restaurant know-how to draw from and on several of Harrison's dishes it showed.
The Lounge Lizards were rewarded for their stop and ready for a return visit the next time we're looking for an upscale bar in a historic setting.
