Is this a revisit? Sort of. I mean if we’re counting the number of times we’ve been in this space then yes, this is definitely a revisit. But is it a technicality if every time we’ve been here it’s been under a different name?

Bricco.

Table and Tap.

And now The Basement.

Let’s also not forget that we’ve been to a Basement in the Valley – but this is a different location. That one was in the old Johnny J’s building (shout out to our 5AM St Patrick’s Day home the first year we moved to the Falls – RIP) so really the restaurant just moved around the corner to this building. 

And then there’s the fact that we’ve been to probably no less than four different Basement locations around the area over the years. Sagamore Hills. The other side of Cuyahoga Falls. Portage lakes. 

Are you confused yet?

In any case, it’s safe to say that we’re familiar with both the menu and the location, but not both together. So this was still fair game, I guess? And since this location just opened we figured we needed to claim it for a WTGW before we all visited on a non-Wednesday excursion.

Anyway.

They’ve done a nice job renovating the inside of the space. It’s been opened up quite a bit so now it feels very sports bar like, lots of options for screens and groups of many sizes. They’ve only just opened within the last month and it was definitely busy on a Wednesday night. 

Wednesdays are also $2 off Phillies so you know that was right up my alley. I thanked Shane for picking this just for me. 

Of course I got the classic Philly with a side salad.

Shane and I got fried pickles as an app.

Ted got the fish sandwich with fries and six of the hot garlic wings.

Shane skipped the usual in depth server inquisition of the menu but did ask which was better, the meatzilla pizza or the hot honey pepperoni pizza. She recommended the hot honey so he trusted her and ordered that one.

Word of warning, pizzas take a bit to cook at this establishment. Ted and I were almost done with our meals when Shane’s dinner finally showed up. 

Thankfully he’s never hungry when we go out on Wednesday nights or anything.

And then after all that build up it turned out to be just OK. Which means it won’t end up on any of his top number of the week lists, but it was edible at least. I tried a bit of his pepperoni and I liked the hot honey flavor, but he didn’t seem too impressed by it.

Ted said his wings didn’t have any flavor, so those were a no for him, but st least he liked his fish sandwich. He usually orders club sandwiches or burgers at other Basement locations so this was a branch out for him and meant he didn’t have a real scale to compare it to, but said he would order it again.

My Philly was good. I could’ve done without the salad as it was really just lettuce and tomatoes with some dressing – but the sandwich was good. If I were to be like Shane and keep a list it may even end up on it.

Overall I have to think given this location’s proximity to our house we’ll be back for some sporting events and other evenings that call for a sports bar motif and food from a known local chain, so it’s nice to know it’s an option. If they’ve kept it from the previous ownership then I believe there’s still a small patio off to the side so that could be a summertime option as well. I’m not going to get too attached, just given the number of times this place has turned over to different establishments already, but for now it’s a solid go-to.

Picked by: Shane