The atmosphere in the seating area favors a measure of intimacy and on-going conservation. Not too dimly lighted so as to make menu reading difficult but certainly not Broadway. The wait staff is friendly and they make every effort to insure that your dining experience is a pleasant one. The menu has just enough diversity so that you keep coming back but it's not so large or convoluted that making a choice becomes a chore or undesired expense. They make an excellent thin crust personal pizza and their freshly-fried potato chips, Thai chicken skewers and fried calamari appetizers are nothing short of superb. The burgers are delicious as are the salmon, crab cake, grilled meatloaf and prime rib dinner entrees. Salad entrees are plentiful as well. And yes, in case you're not having wine or are simply tired of drinking cola, they serve Pellegrino by the large bottle. Their Sunday brunch menu is relatively short but the Eggs Benedict in particular are very nicely done and presented, accompanied by a generous pile of very tasty potato chunks. So, if you're looking for a reasonably priced sit-down restaurant with a bit of atmosphere and privacy as well as good food and service, try the Village Tavern in the Gainey Shopping Center on Scottsdale Road. They do accept reservations and from what I have seen, can accommodate fairly large groups.
Pros: Conversation-friendly; good portions; decent menu diversity
Cons: gets very crowded quickly; suggest making reservations
more