Well, add to that list a new spot with an awesome outdoor bar with a seat for you and your party.
Bargo’s Grill & Tap is a sports bar in Centerville on Route 725 that has just completed an outdoor bar addition that is roomy, inviting and perfect for this summer’s weather. Opened at the end of June, the three-sided, covered bar seats about 25, complete with three large-screen TVs for sports-watching patrons. This place is perfect for summer and fall football weather. And don’t worry about being too chilly. Management has included overhead heaters on each side of the bar, facing downward, extending the ability to be open well into November, weather permitting. The rest of the patio is full of umbrella-adorned bistro tables, seating about 44 when full. It’s not too crowded and very inviting.
Another feature that makes the outdoor bar so compelling is the large garage door opening to the rest of the bar. Its inviting, double-wide size makes moving in and out of the bar easier. It may sound silly, but not having to open heavy glass doors every time while holding your beverage is a major party plus. Kudos for the garage door!
What we had:
We tend to choose a restaurant’s signature meal option on our first trip. One thing we’ve learned in our dining quests is there is always too much food left over when we’re done. Both of our fridges overflow with white Styrofoam boxes. This time, we chose to share an appetizer and a meal, and that was plenty for these two hungry, hard-working Dining Divas.
Bargo’s has about 10 beers on tap outside, and Sam Adams Oktoberfest was Sandy’s choice. This seasonal beer is perfect for cool fall evenings, or any time you want a hearty, flavorful brew. While Bargo’s does carry wine, Connie chose the Angry Orchard Hard Cider.
Knowing this review is geared toward football season, we went for traditional football-menu choices. The boneless wings come in 6-piece ($5.50) and 9-piece options ($7.95). Sandy was leaning toward one of the three Buffalo sauces (mild, medium and hot), but thankfully was steered away when Connie suggested Bourbon Teriyaki. What a choice! Sweet, but not too sweet. The chicken was perfectly cooked — nothing leathery or chewy here. These golf ball-size chicken chunks were delicious, and Sandy quietly wished either 1) there were more or 2) Connie wouldn’t eat her portion.
The Bargo Burger is a half-pound, grilled ground beef sandwich with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, onion, chipotle mayo and tomato. We sliced that puppy in half and dug in. The cheese and mayo combination gave this burger a real nice kick.
Your meal comes with potato chips, but we chose to upgrade; either fries ($1 extra) or beer-battered onion rings ($2 extra). We went for the latter and were thrilled with the perfectly-browned rings of onion-y delight. Crisp outside, just chewy enough inside.
Bargo’s menu is simple, with appetizers, three salads, two sizes of pizza made to order, five burger options and nine sandwiches. They even have wraps, which our server explained was one of her favorites.
Usually, The Adventures of Connie and Sandy include some sort of raucous laughter, some silly turn of events to make the dining even more enjoyable. Connie mentioned how much fun the place must be on a weekend or for a football game. Sandy is praying her favorite Indianapolis Colts can be found on one of their big plasma screens this fall. On this night, however, it was quite different. We will always remember we were sitting in the sun and enjoying adult beverages at Bargo’s when we learned that Robin Williams had passed away. We felt somber and not much like laughing, and, of course, that had nothing to do with Bargo’s.
We reminisced and realized that life is short, that it’s important to take advantage of every single moment. Carpe Diem.
The place: Bargo's Grill & Tap, 588 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Centerville; 937-433-2500.
Hours: Open 365 days a year, Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.; Sunday, noon - 2:30 a.m.
Final musings:
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