Bites Nearby: Boomtown Kitchen + Tap

Cool, trendy upscale dining or good times sports bar? Casual Sunday afternoon place to watch the game or great place to celebrate with the girls? Local restaurateur Craig Heath said "why not both?"

Partnering with Executive Chef David Starzyk, they created in Brighton, and the boom began.

"I saw a huge need for an alternative to both traditional fine dining and the casual, laid back sports bar," explains Boomtown owner Craig Heath. "Something of a hybrid, that offers the friendliness of a sports bar with a sophisticated, hip environment, serving up some really good food."

"The idea for the casual and cool vibe behind Boomtown comes from the 'gastro pub' concept making waves in foodie cities like New York and Chicago," Heath explains. Rather than a full formal dinner, patrons gather with friends and order a selection of goodies from the Pub Fare menu. Sharing a plate of the savory deviled eggs or passing the platter of old-school marinated olives lends itself to sharing, engaging conversation and good times. 

Traditionalists need not worry; Boomtown now offers a full dinner menu too, and the rotisserie chicken continues to be a favorite for both the taste buds and the eyes, as patrons can glimpse the little darlings on their spikes behind the window in the lobby area.

In creating the décor, the challenge was how to manifest the upscale, sophisticated setting, all the while incorporating 19 HDTVs into the landscape without overpowering the lounge-like vibe. Somehow it works. If you are there to watch the game, you'll have no problem. If you'd rather pay attention to the people at your table, or go tete-a-tete on that first date, you may never even notice the TVs are on. 

The Boomtown concept is poised to move beyond the Brighton area, as Heath and Starzyk are working on a franchise concept for other cities. Is Boomtown the next big thing? In Brighton, it certainly has added a new dimension to the usual choices in the local dining scene.