Tomorrow the British Beverage Co., located at 2800 Routh Street in the Quadrangle, is opening for dinner service. It opens officially to the public on November 5. And on November 12, lunch service starts. Excited? Not Yet? You probably should be.
Plan B – the same guys who brought you Bolsa and Oak – designed the dark, cozy interior. It looks exactly like a London pub. It’s dim, but doesn’t feel stuffy. Not at all. Communal tables line the front of the room, where there’s easy access to the full-service bar. Just imagine: 45 wines and champagnes, 50 beers on draught, and 100 different bottled beers. Pair that with a BBC burger (blue cheese, onion marmalade, ground beef, croissant bun) or some herb brioche crusted fish and chips made by executive chef Jason Hice, who was most recently at Nana before it turned into steakhouse.
The BBC has several different seating areas. Anyone can be comfortable here. There are two patios: one in the front and one in the back. The front patio is good for people-watching, but the back patio has this little fire contraption machine you can sit around in a big camp circle. It’s like going to the woods, but not really. I asked the BBC people if they were going to have s’mores. Disappointingly, they said no, but I have a good feeling if enough of you bug them, they’ll change their minds. Maybe.
Towards the corner of the front room, there’s a stage where DJs and live bands can come and entertain you. Don’t you feel lucky? And there are TVs, too, so you’ll never be bored. Not with football playing the background.
Besides, the food that Jason Hice has planned will probably keep you busy enough. He’s got all the British staples on his menu and more. There are scotch eggs (hard-boiled quail eggs), beer steamed mussels, and bangers and mash. And he also has all the pie your heart could ever desire, all in one dish. Shepherd’s pie, cottage pie, and chicken and mushroom pie. You’ll feel very British (if you’re not already) after you finish eating at the BBC. It’s guaranteed.
