Christy had me at bibimbap.
“I’m going to take Jenni to Arsenal in a bit,” she texted. “You should come!”
How could I say no?
It turned out to be Christy, Jenni and Hannah—and by the time I got there, they’d already claimed a narrow rustic-red picnic table on the Arsenal Tap Room’s cozy outdoor patio, with its vine-covered walls and lights strung overhead.
Dine And Dish: AnShu Asian Cafe
I may have referred to the tap room as a café during our texting, but it’s really more of a pub, featuring a huge beer and wine list, as well as not-so-average pub fare. A hard-copy menu is available by request, but easier still is to whip out your smartphone to scan the QR code at every table to view the pub’s more up-to-date online menu.
The Tap Room’s drinks list is smartly organized by flavor. In the mood for something sour, tart, wild? Or are you more the roasty, chocolatey, earthy, spicy type? With more than 90 options available, the menu—which not only organizes its alcohol by flavor but also describes each drink’s key flavor notes—made the job of choosing a lot easier. Plus, our server, who talked fast and moved even faster, was also a great resource.
[adrotate banner=”54″]
But first, I was on the hunt for that bibimbap, which sadly wasn’t on the menu that night since it changes often. But there was a build your own grilled cheese (with options including veggies, meats, even a sunnyside egg!), five hearty house sandwiches, a couple of salads, a variety of tots and chips and small plates, such as pierogis or pretzel bites with cheese dip.
Pierogis are on the menu at Arsenal Tap Room. Photo by Danielle Wong Moores. 
The Arsenal Tap Room’s build your own grilled cheese is one of the many options. Photo by Danielle Wong Moores
It was well past my dinner time, so I went for the meats, choosing, appropriately, The Arsenal, a house sandwich stacked with honey-roasted turkey, thick and chewy peppered bacon, thin slices of pear, pepper jelly and havarti on grilled multigrain bread. It was warm and crisp, meaty, cheesy and slightly sweet from the jelly. Meanwhile, Jenni offered a taste of her salad: the summer arugula, loaded with bacon, curds, dill, onion and red peppers in a lemon vinaigrette. The greens were bright and bitter, which balanced the heaviness of the bacon and curds. And both, I thought, were great bar food—hearty, heavy and rich.
Jenni had the summer arugula, loaded with bacon, curds, dill, onion and red peppers in a lemon vinaigrette. Photo by Danielle Wong Moores Fried pretzel with cheese. Photo by Danielle Wong Moores.
I always love fruit or citrus-based drinks. We were sharing sips, and my first taste was the Charm City Meadworks blackberry lime: It was tart and zesty, refreshing, but not super fruity. But my favorite by far was Florida Seltzer’s prickly pear guava hard seltzer. As you lifted the glass, you caught the sweet scent, and when you tasted it, it was like nectar—my idea of the perfect cool and fruity summer drink.
Christy ordered one more round to finish—sweet potato tots dusted with cinnamon sugar and pretzel bites with caramel sauce. As we talked, gossiped, laughed, we dipped both into the sauce. It was a little unexpected—much like my overall experience—but it was so good.
Make Your Reservation: Arsenal Tap Room, 1419 Monte Sano Ave. arsenaltaproom.com.
Danielle Wong Moores is a local freelance writer who’ll never turn down a shrimp cocktail, sushi or cheese dip. Her greatest food influences are her mom and writers MFK Fisher and Amanda Hesser. Her Dine and Dish column will run the second and fourth Friday of each month.
