Batavia's Lodge on the Fox appeals to beer buffs
Since opening in July, the Lodge on the Fox has proved willing to try new things to make customers happy, adding or replacing events, deals and menu items depending on their popularity. The result is a spot that offers a little something for everyone, whether you're a beer buff, live music fan or a parent looking for an affordable night out with the kids.
Motif: The space is divided into two parts, a bar area and a dining room equipped to handle big groups, which converts into event space after the dinner rush. With décor inspired by the bar's name, the Lodge on the Fox features antler-shaped chandeliers with flickering lights reminiscent of candles, nature-themed art and carved wooden benches. Both rooms feature flat screen TVs tuned to sports, and game lovers can play electronic darts, Golden Tee or air hockey. The Lodge's huge selection of beers is on display in a fridge and in the form of empty six-packs arranged around the rafters.
Crowd: The demographics at the Lodge on the Fox vary wildly depending on the time and night. College students pack in to play beer pong until 1 a.m. Wednesday nights, seniors from local retirement communities come in weekends, and families with young kids flock in Mondays when kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal.
Service: Our server was very enthusiastic and friendly, happy to gush about his favorite menu items and recommend brews. He was attentive throughout, and quick to update us on the status of our food before it came out.
Food: The Lodge offers a quality menu, featuring mostly house-made appetizers and hand-packed burgers. The corn fritters are a deserving favorite. Made to order and served piping hot, they're fluffy and crispy rather than greasy. The fall-off-the bone baby back ribs are excellent. They're thick, tender and covered with a sweet sauce that makes them more reminiscent of spare ribs than traditional barbecue. They come with a heaping portion of crispy waffle fries, making a half-slab easily enough to fill you up. The Mexican burger is also great, with the tender meat topped with huge slices of avocado and a slice of pepper jack cheese.
Liquid consumption: Beer is king at the Lodge, which offers 55 to 65 brews at any time. The selection rotates about every five to seven months, changing according to what's popular and seasonal. With a menu featuring great selections from Two Brothers, Metropolitan Brewing and Stone, Saturday's $4 12-ounce microbrew bottles deal is particularly great. If you're not a hops fan, there's also a specialty martini menu, available for $6 on Thursdays.
Music: The Lodge on the Fox offers live music every Saturday, mostly featuring classic rock acts with some local original groups. On Fridays, a DJ spins top 40 and hip hop, and rap and hip hop artists perform live some weeks. The bar had phased out karaoke following complaints that performers were always singing the same songs, but managers plan to bring it back Tuesday nights and cure the repetition issues by only letting singers pick a band, with the host selecting the song.
Parking: The Lodge has a free lot and there's more free street parking nearby.
Overall: The Lodge on the Fox offers something different every day, but you'll always be able to find good food and an amazing selection of beer.
The Lodge on the Fox
35 N. Water St., Batavia, (630) 761-0145, <a href="http://thelodgeonthefox.com">thelodgeonthefox.com</a>
<b>Hours: </b>4:30 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday; 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 4:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday