PLAIN TWP. − Tucked in the northeast corner of Oakwood Square in Plain Township is The Bourbon Room. A narrow space with an inviting bar area and several tables along the brick wall, this lively addition to the restaurant scene has been open since Aug. 15.
When I arrived with friends on a weeknight, most of the bar chairs and tables were occupied, with a steady stream of new patrons entering and lingering.
If you’re a bourbon lover, more than 50 bourbons are offered by the glass, served with a traditional bourbon ice cube. Specialty cocktails and wines are also available. Happy hour specials Tuesday through Saturday include $2 off cocktails and $1 off draft beers from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. There are food specials as well, including half off all appetizers on Wednesday and $5 off a full rack of ribs on Saturday.
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We started our meal with drinks and appetizers, choosing the smoked wings with both hot and mild sauces, cheesy corn fritters and Andouille sausage hush puppies. The wings are slow smoked in house then flash fried. They were crispy on the outside and tender inside. The fritters were a combination of cheese, jalapenos and sweet corn, hand rolled and breaded for a parmesan and panko crust when deep fried, and served with Mexican street corn dip. The fritters were served warm with a meltingly cheesy center. We enjoyed the fritters, but the hush puppies weren’t a favorite at our table.
Owner Tina Horning has an extensive background in sales and has been in the food and beverage industry since her early 20s. Horning also owns a moving company, and her business and management experience has allowed her to create and run a restaurant and bar that’s been well received.
Our server, Tiffany, was busy but attentive while we were there. After reviewing the menu, I was tempted to order the grilled mac and cheese sandwich between slices of toasted Texas toast and cheddar cheese and topped with deep-fried pickles but instead went with a less carb-loaded option, the battered cod dinner. My friends ordered the pulled pork dinner and a full rack of smoked ribs. Sides ordered included mashed potatoes and coleslaw, as well as cowboy baked beans.
We feasted. The portions were generous. The ribs had a pleasant, smoky flavor and were well seasoned from the rub. Both the ribs and the pulled pork were served only lightly sauced, with additional sauces on the side (hot, sweet, mild).
Horning has been making the beer batter for the deep-fried cod for 10 years. My cod dinner was served with fresh cut fries, a jumbo cornbread muffin and coleslaw. The fish had a peppery taste and was served with house made tartar sauce. My only complaint was I prefer my fries to be hot and they were not.
Everything at The Bourbon Room is smoked in-house, including the burgers (there’s a smoked cheeseburger and a smoky bourbon BBQ cheeseburger on the menu), steaks, ribs, as well as the pulled pork and pulled chicken.
Horning said they also cold-smoke their own cheeses. Because so much of the menu is made in house, the ingredients are fresh and waste is kept to a minimum.
My friends and I share the same thoughts on dessert. We eat just until we are satisfied, saving room for desserts. We chose the bourbon balls, which were a generously sized, candy-like treat − perfect for a true bourbon lover. The bourbon-infused cobbler, our other choice, was a triple berry version. Served warm and topped with vanilla ice cream, it was shareable and flavorful.
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The space originally was the storage area for the plaza, which explains its narrowness. Horning who tweaked the design for The Bourbon Room, creating an inviting atmosphere. Sunday brunch, available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., offers not only the extensive bourbon selections but a full bar of wine and cocktails. Bloody Mary’s are a brunch staple.
A mother of two, Horning bakes cutout cookies for kids to enjoy and decorate as Saturday giveaways during December in the restaurant. A kids menu is also available.
The Bourbon Room offers drink options to please everyone’s tastes, and the menu is extensive. The portions are generous and the food and drink are reasonably priced.
Reach Bev at [email protected] or 330-580-8318
If you go
WHAT – The Bourbon Room
WHERE – 2710 Easton St. NE, Plain Township; 330-546-0214
HOURS – 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.