Fine food and fun on tap at Orchards Tap

Why: Orchards Tap, established in 1985, is a neighborhood bar that offers a modest menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner along with regular, weekday specials. Table shuffleboard, pool tables, arcade games and karaoke on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights provide an array of entertainment.

What I tried: I tried the Monte Cristo with potato salad, and my dining companions had the nachos and the Philly Steak San with fries.

The Monte Cristo, consisting of ham, turkey and cheese, was a non-traditional version — grilled instead of deep-fried. The meat was pleasantly lean, and the cheese was fully melted from the grill, which gave it extra appeal. The potato salad was a chunky and creamy, basic blend with a kick of dill to compliment the sandwich.

The nachos were piled high with deliciously seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, onions, tomatoes, olives, bell pepper and pickled jalapeños. Sour cream and salsa were served on the side. The only downside to the nachos was the serving temperature. They are served directly after layering the ingredients, most of which are cold. A stopover in the oven would have made them far more appetizing.

The Philly cheesesteak sandwich is made without the grilled peppers and onions on a wide hoagie roll. My dining companion enjoyed the meat and cheese sandwich, noting it was substantially filling. The crinkle-cut fries were fried to a light, golden finish.

Atmosphere: The building stands alone and has a fairly large parking lot. The unusually shaped floor plan with minimal windows, in conjunction with the activities and decor, makes the place feel like a large den or game basement. Bar-side seating is available. Several TVs provide visual entertainment. An electronic jukebox allows patrons to pick tunes. Wood paneled walls are heavily decorated with a potpourri of banners, neon signs and beer mirrors. Lighting consists of many ceiling mounted spotlights and billiard lights above the pool tables.

Menu highlights beyond what I tried: Other than the basic menu options, which include a traditional sandwich selection, fish and chips, chicken strips, a hamburger and a cheeseburger, weekday specials allow for more elaborate entrees such as a stuffed blue cheese and bacon burger on Thursday; meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, vegetables and a roll on Tuesday; and a rib-eye steak, loaded baked potato, vegetables and a roll on Saturday. Breakfast options include a burrito stuffed with ham, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, cheese and hashbrowns. French toast is also on the breakfast menu, as is a ham, bacon or sausage omelette served with hashbrowns and toast.

Other observations: The service was very slow on the evening of my visit. After a half hour of waiting to order food, I went to the bar and asked if food orders were taken at the bar instead of tables. I was told our food order would be taken at the table, and within the next minute the bar attendant came over and took our order. The food then took another half hour to arrive at the table. The atmosphere had a neighborhood vibe, which was comfortable and unhurried. The food was fresh and portions were generous.

Cost: Breakfast options are $4.95 to $10.95. Appetizers range from $3.25 to $6.25. Lunch entrees cost $6.95 to $11.95 and come with diner’s choice of fries, potato salad, chips or soup. Soup and chili are $3.75 to $5.25. Chowder is served on Friday for $4.25 and $5.75. Weekday specials range from $8.75 to $16.95.