The long-awaited return to UD has finally arrived. We, as students, must make the transition from homemade meals to the infamous college cuisine. As a writer for “The Sauce,” I am making it my mission to open the student body to unique restaurants and food ideas that typically are overshadowed by places on Brown Street. So join me for another year of culinary adventures.
Following the age old adage that you should not judge a book by its cover is applicable to all aspects of daily life.
Inside a small, hole-in-the-wall style dive on the corner of Park Drive and Wayne Avenue is an establishment where you can experience taste bud enlightenment. Hand-crafted foods made in-house, from scratch and using family recipes have become staples at the South Park Tavern.
On their menu are already traditional pizzas like the Ultimate Meat, which features pepperoni, sweet sausage, ground beef, ham and bacon. If you’re feeling adventurous you can make your own and choose from a “list of 45 different meats, cheeses, vegetables, herbs and spices,” according to the Tavern’s website. To make the order complete, you ought to order a side of their homemade pesto. It is out of this world.
The wings are excellently seasoned and tossed in house-made sauces. I had the pleasure of ordering their Jamaican wings, which accompanied by their blue cheese dressing, is a dish I will continue to indulge in.
What’s surprising about the Tavern’s wings is that they are not fried. Can you believe it? Instead they are baked using “two 300 lb. heat stones,” according to their website. Everything on the menu is baked so those afraid of the greasy demon known as fried foods can worry no more.
If you are 21-years-old and older, you will have the thrill of picking and choosing delicious microbrews. Don’t know which one to choose? Ask the waiter or waitress for a sample platter in which they will offer the beers of choice in shot glasses, for free.
The beers to look for are Rogue Double Chocolate Stout, New Holland Imperial Hatter and Goose Island Fleur Belgian Pale Ale among others which can be found on a decorated chalkboard next to the bar.
How I stumbled upon this great restaurant was through my landlord this year, Vincent Pecoraro, a contracting officer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
“It’s a great place to watch football on Sunday, and Monday night is half-price pizza,” he said.
“There are 18 different beers on tap and more than 50 kinds in the bottle,” Pecoraro said.
Once you have placed your order, take a look around the place. You might just find yourself beginning to relax. On the walls are neon signs of artisanal ales and old guitars showing the Tavern’s passion for the good times.
In the background of conversations are the sounds of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bob Marley and other great musicians. At times, the Tavern has live, local bands play on their makeshift stage boasting a large projector screen and a serious sound system.
Now we all know the school week can be rough and the convenience of Domino’s and Cousin Vinny’s is quite the temptation. But I urge you to break out of the bubble and try something new and exciting.
To find out more about the South Park Tavern, visit their website www.southparktavern.com or better yet stop by, kick back and enjoy in person. Remember, always stay curious and more importantly stay hungry.
