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Y! MyWebBar Review
Little York Pizza and Tavern
An entertaining stop for two to 50 of your friends looking to watch a football game, play pool or order tasty treats.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
VANDALIA — When it comes to exploring strange new bar worlds and pub civilizations, boldly going where we haven't gone before, it's really anyone's guess where the Lounge Lizards might end up on a given night. On a recent journey we found ourselves at the crossroads of Little York Road and Poe Avenue in Vandalia, where we decided it was time to launch into our next mission. In front of us a large, well-established watering hole, the Little York Pizza and Tavern, beckoned.
The sign in the front welcomed us with the news that we were just in time for the trivia contest featuring cash prizes — a selling point to be sure. Finding the entry void of anyone to welcome us, we seized the opportunity to look around.
Extras
Little York Pizza and Tavern
- WHERE: 4120 Little York Road, Vandalia. [Map]
- HOURS: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-12:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m.-11 p.m. Sunday.
- MORE INFO: (937) 890-6700
- MORE: Reader ratings, complete profile
Peering around the corner into the nonsmoking section, it was clear we needed to head the other direction unless we wanted to spend the evening alone. The dinner crowd had cleared out, and we did the same, heading to the bar.
The trivia was going strong, but we noticed several of our fellow Lounge Lizards struggling to hear the questions over the bar's ambient noise. Happily, a traveling server with a list of questions ensured that those who may have missed something could stay in the game.
With the bar area packed, we made our way to a large room that, in addition to a number of tables and booths, housed two pool tables, two electronic dart boards, neon signs, memorabilia and TV screens galore (21 total, according to the sign outside).
While this sizable space was clean, well lit and perfect for a large group of friends to gather, the vast open area lacked the warmth and charm of an intimate watering hole; a remnant from the days when the location was a Damon's. Don't be fooled by this — it may feel like a chain, but it has all of the mom-and-pop charm you'd expect from the staff of a locally owned business.
On our first visit, our server was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, guiding us to the Reuben sandwich ($7.49 — one of the more expensive sandwiches on the menu). The lean corned beef, rye bread, sauerkraut and sauce struck just the right balance of flavors. The drinks were well chilled and mixed. Appetizers are the standard fried fare. The onion bloom ($6.99) appeared to be made on site. While flavorful and crispy, the batter didn't seem quite thick enough to stand up to the texture of the onion. Still, it was a nice snack to pair with one of the many beer or cocktail combinations.
A second visit reaffirmed the notion of never straying too far from the bar, and more important, the bartender. The bar was full of faithful football followers, so we took a seat at a high table where the bartender, Angela Hall, performing double duty as our server, quickly made us feel right at home.
Alexis asked to be surprised by a fruity libation of Hall's choice (which wound up being a Swedish Fish, $4), while Craig ordered an Old Fashioned.
Hall scored a touchdown with both drinks as well as our pizza order. Following her sage advice, we ordered a couple of small pizzas to share. The barbecue chicken and Sicilian pizzas were standouts. The crispy, crunchy crust helped to carry the flavors of this perfect game-time meal.
Little York Pizza and Tavern is an entertaining stop for two to 50 of your friends looking to watch a football game, play pool or order tasty treats. The trek is a little off the beaten path, but well worth seeking out.
happy hour
4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, happy hour specials include special drink prices.
buy a brewski
Domestic beer will set you back $6 for a pitcher, $3.50 for a mini pitcher or $2 for a mug.
do it yourself
Want to try a Swedish Fish? Most often found in shot form, it makes for a refreshing palate pleaser when served over ice. Simply mix an ounce of Black Haus, a German blackberry schnapps, with an ounce of cranberry juice and an ounce of sour mix.
special events
Live music on Wednesday and Sunday nights, trivia on Thursdays beginning at 8:30 p.m. and on Tuesday nights, one of the more interesting events for those of you in the restaurant business — bar wars. Just wear your work uniform and bring your fellow workers along. The group with the most people wins a $50 bar tab.
