Bites Nearby: Brick House

Brick House Tavern + Tap takes to heart its motto, “Dispensing happiness to the common man.”

Think of it as a PG-rated Playboy Mansion. Nothing especially overt – it’s more of a wink-wink, nudge-nudge club among the boys. The bar and floor are staffed exclusively by young women (save a barback or bus boy) who wear short tops as part of their uniform.

There’s a section that could best be described as Man Cave with big, cushy chairs lined in front of big screen TVs for guys who either lack a man cave of their own or don’t want to deal with hosting and cleanup.

A fireplace warms the room from a spot near where a dividing wall used to be back when the place was a Bennigan’s, and the bar has moved, giving the room the open feel of a lodge.  

The clientele is largely but not entirely male. On a recent visit two women ordered frozen margaritas.  

The menu continues the wink-wink, nudge-nudge theme with food sections like “I like big bowls” (of soup, including “dominant red meat chili” and “submissive baked potato soup”) and “The happy ending” (desserts, including “ ‘double-d’ cup cakes” – yes, it’s trademarked). The to-go menu suggests, “Take me home for a quickie!”

There’s actual food, too. The “Start it up” appetizers include white meat chicken bites with fries ($7.49), and there’s enough there to make it a meal for one. It comes with ranch, barbecue and honey-mustard dipping sauces.

Meat and potatoes fare includes “steak and shrooms” (two filet mignon steaks, $18.99), grilled mahi-mahi (with roasted garlic butter, $14.99) and herb-roasted half chicken ($14.99).

The bar favors imported and local beers. Tuesday night is “pint night” at the Cuyahoga Falls location, featuring Great Lakes beers on March 15 and Thirsty Dog beers on March 29. And in a nod to blue-collar manly men, Schlitz and Pabst Blue Ribbon are available in a can. 

For men of a certain age, the name of the place will immediately bring to mind a 1977 hit by the Commodores, “Brick House.” In case anyone needs a refresher or is too young to remember, the folks at Brick House thoughtfully included the song and a few others as pop-up at the website. Shake it down, shake it down, now.