Cheeseburger and fries. Olde Liberty Tavern.
Cheese Steak and fries. Olde Liberty Tavern.
Buffalo style wings. Olde Liberty Tavern.
In a city that used to have any number of casual, pub-style bars, it was easy to find a place where you could get a fair drink and good bite at reasonable costs.
Changes in recent years have narrowed the choices somewhat and while our waistlines might appreciate it, our psyches have suffered. Cozy, neighborhood oriented places have exited the city scene.
Enter the Olde Liberty Tavern. Open since June of 2012 in the location most recently known as “Gersh’s Place,” new owners Jeff and Jodi Stephens have restored the circa 1930’s building. The hardwood floors, bar and back bar have been stripped and refinished. Flat screen TV’s and billiard tables plus an MP3 jukebox combine to give the bar and grill a “new” old feel.
Associate Muncher and I slipped in on a recent rainy Friday evening to check things out. Walking in, we had our choice of seating at tables in the bar area or at the bar itself. We chose the latter.
The beer selection here would best be described as mainstream with the occasional craft brew or import thrown in for good measure. We ordered a pint of Yuengling ($4) and a pint of Victory Hop Devil ($4.25) and set about contemplating the menu selections.
Before we could order, Jason (who was doing triple duty as bartender, cook and server) enlightened us as to what on the menu was not currently available. This amounted to some of the finger foods: chicken and cheese taquitos ($5.75 for an order of four with salsa), Philly cheese steak rolls (three for $6.25), and such. I tried these on an earlier visit and found them to be the equivalent of the frozen snacks one might pick up in the grocery store frozen food case to heat and serve while watching a game. No loss as we were there for something a little more substantial.
We started with a small order (six pieces) of buffalo style chicken wings ($6.50). The wings can be ordered in three degrees of heat: mild, hot or extra hot sauce. They are accompanied with the traditional celery sticks and blue cheese dressing.
Associate Muncher ordered a burger ($5.75) with American cheese ($.50 extra). Options include a “Trenton-Style” (with pork roll) for an additional $1 or a California version (lettuce, tomato and onion) for $7.25.
I thought I would try the Tavern cheese steak ($6.75) with some grilled peppers and onions ($.75 extra).
Both sandwiches come with french fries, onion rings can be substituted for an additional $1. However, they were out of onion rings. Jason did offer to grill up some onions for Associate Muncher’s burger.
Other sandwich selections include pork roll ($5.25) or chicken tenders, regular or buffalo style ($5.75).
The wings came out pretty quickly considering all that chief cook and bottle washer Jason was doing. They were perfectly crisp; nicely pungent (I would have gone for the extra hot, but yielded to my associate’s more delicate palate). We were a little confused by the dressing. It tasted very much like ranch dressing that had a tablespoon of blue cheese crumbles stirred into it. Fortunately, the wings were perfectly fine on their own.
Despite his multiple tasks, Jason kept the pace with our food. We finished the wings without feeling rushed and had just enough pause to let them settle before our sandwiches were delivered.
Associate Muncher’s burger was moist and flavorful. The grilled onions were there, as promised. My cheese steak was the perfect sized portion, satisfying but not so large and filling as to put one into a “meat coma.”
The fries that accompanied both sandwiches were of the crinkle cut, shoestring variety. They were cooked perfectly. Golden and crispy on the outside with a fluffy interior. Both baskets of food were piping hot.
The Olde Liberty Tavern is a throwback to the “local” of earlier times. It’s the kind of place you can get a good burger or other sandwich or just while away a couple of hours shooting pool, listening to music, or chatting with friends over a couple of drinks.
Olde Liberty Tavern is located at 2114 Liberty St. Phone: (609) 396-2262. oldelibertytavern.com. Open 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. Cash and major credit cards accepted.
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