The Standard has opened for food service.
Bridgewater's newest and eagerly awaited riverfront destination will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Liquor license approval is still pending for a business looking to take the Beaver County food and drinks scene to a new level.
No, it's not snooty or stuffy. Located at 1462 Riverside Drive, Bridgewater, The Standard offers an accessible menu with sandwiches, wings, smash burgers, salads, pastas, steaks and entrees ranging from Grandpa Paul's Pot Roast Dinner served over mashed redskin potatoes ($16) to Peach Bourbon Glazed Salmon served with fresh seasonal veggies and your choice of starch ($26), to a 12-ounce Bone-in Bekshire Pork Chop ($28).
From a Pepperjack Mac & Cheese ($12) to Matty's Meatloaf Melt ($10); a Pulled Pork Sandwich ($8) to Sulli's Riverside Strip ($32); and the Standard Burger, topped with American cheese, candied bacon, lettuce, beefsteak tomato, red onion and pickle served on a toasted pretzel bun ($12) to Pizza Spaghetti ― just what it sounds like ― a supreme pizza tossed with spaghetti, house marinara and melted mozzarella ($14), the menu is elevated, a tad eclectic and eager to please all palates.
Though it might be the little touches and the location that spark the loudest buzz.
The state-of-the-art restroom sinks, for instance, are equipped with small blue lights that automatically turn red when the water becomes hot.
The only luminous door, glass garage fixture of its kind on the East Coast provides a stellar view of the Beaver River for those seated inside on plush furniture in front of a fireplace. In warm weather, those garage doors open to a double-sided patio/porch overlooking the river, with firepits and lounge seats and an area primed to accommodate bands.
The kitchen's infrared double-stacked broiler reaches 1,600 degrees and will sear a steak and seal in the juices at a quick speed.
The long U-shaped bar, with leather-backed seats, has cellphone chargers, and affords an unobstructed view of The Standard's open floor plan.
"Usually, you go to places and the bar is tucked in the corner. You walk in here, the bar's the center of the show, which is cool," owner Jimmy Kline said. "Everything's open and everyone should feel part of everything, so people can conversate. Even from that corner over there, you can see if your buddy is still playing pool over there (points to a blue-felt pool table at the opposite end). That's how we wanted it. That's how we designed it, to be a welcoming bar that has good food, instead of a restaurant that has a bar."
Though parties and event planners desiring more of a VIP feel or privacy can rent an upstairs room with private restrooms, a meeting room that seats 20, and a balcony overlooking the bar and dining area.
Once state liquor license approval comes, on tap at that bar will be recognizable names, like Sam Adams, Great Lakes, Angry Orchard, Southern Tier, Coors Light, Labatt and Fat Head's, ready to pair with an appetizer like the Ooey Gooey Meatballs ($10) or Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Platter ($8).
Business partner Shawn Sullivan sees The Standard as a place where workers at the Littell Steel Co. in Fallston will be able to pop in for wings and beer, and sit next to a courthouse attorney on a business dinner.
"Or bring grandma down for an awesome dinner," Sullivan said. "They're all going to feel comfortable. This is taking the old-school corner bar and adding some nice, different touches that you're not going to find anywhere else."
Kline, who runs Jimmy K's Bar & Grille in New Brighton, said, "We just want to appeal to everybody. From young people who want to come play darts and shoot pool and eat wings to someone who wanted to bring their wife for an anniversary. I think the menu is all over the board. We've got a coffee rub burger. Crazy stuff on there, and it's all plated nice."
Helping publicize The Standard are two World War II-era amphibious vehicles purchased from the former Just Ducky Tours in Pittsburgh. Those vehicles, bearing The Standard's name and info, are road- and river ready, and The Standard is planning fun uses come warmer weather.
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But for now, the focus is simply opening a business to a potential customer base that's waited eagerly since 2020.
The ownership is well aware people have been anxious for The Standard to open, adding to the already hopping nightlife scene in Bridgewater. Supply chain issues and state approval procedures have made this a long process for new construction.
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The Standard's owners summed things up with this Facebook post:
"We will be open every day starting (Nov. 25) from 11-9 for food only. We did not want to open until we could serve both alcohol and food but unfortunately it is completely out of our control, and we have employees with families that we need to worry about before anything else. Please be patient with our first couple days, and hopefully we will be able to serve alcohol sooner than later."
So, what about that name? Why call it The Standard?
"Because we are," Sullivan said.
"We wanted to stay away from water-related names, so we didn't isolate ourselves to just the summer," Kline, said. "We almost named it The Lighthouse. We almost named it The Bridgewater but that was confusing. Kind of just wanted 'The' something. Cliche as it sounds, we kind of wanted to set the standard here and do something that would really be at the top. That's why it took a little longer, we really didn't cut any corners. We stayed the course."
Harold's helps
Harold's Inn embraced this season of generosity by donating 1,000 of its frozen "lil wings" to 412 Food Rescue, a Pittsburgh nonprofit serving people experiencingfoodinsecurity.
"We are grateful to this wonderfully ran program and their volunteers for their help," Harold's owner Susan Hineman said in her weekly newsletter.
The long-popular Hopewell Township restaurant uses the term "lil wings" to describe the parts "that aren't big enough to make the cut as aHarold's Jumbo whole wing."
Hineman said, "They are delicious, but trying to serve as a smaller size wing for a smaller price was just not the best answer when our jumbo whole wings and wingettes are so clearly what we are known for. Even the free-wing nights just didn't feel right to us."
Those lil wings were a good fit for 412 Food Rescue, which the website touts as part of its mission, "preventing perfectly good food from going to waste."
"So happily, after some research and just one call to the 412 Food Rescue our lil wings will be distributed to the food pantries they work with on a regular basis," Hineman said. "May God bless the 412 Food Rescue staff, volunteers, and the people they serve. We are grateful. And to you, our guests, thank you for continuing to love our chicken. None of this happens without your support."
Chicken Guy in the 'burgh
Speaking of chicken, a highly anticipated Chicken Guy! restaurant opened Nov. 14 at 4 PPG Place in the heart ofdowntown Pittsburgh.
In partnership with famed chef and TV personality Guy Fieri, the new restaurant became the first Chicken Guy! location in Pennsylvania.
“This is a foodie’s town and we’re excited to be bringing Guy’s awesome new chicken concept to downtown Pittsburgh,” Brendon Malone, vice president of development & operations for partnering Magic Eats, said.
The restaurant, adjacent to the PPG Place Courtyard, is just steps from the city’s huge Christmas tree and UPMC Rink at PPG Place.
“We look forward to offering our skating guests the absolute best in rink-side dining with succulent chicken tenders, Chicken Guy! seasoned fries and more, served hot, fresh & fast,” Malone said in a press release. “And yeah, of course, we’ll serve hot chocolate."
Fieri himself called Pittsburgh "a great American city that knows good food," adding, "I've got family there and of course, there are a lot of great DDD joints.”
That's the abbreviation for his popular "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives" show on Food Network.
The menu at Chicken Guy! features tenders brined in fresh lemon juice, pickle brine, buttermilk and infused with fresh herbs. Customers can order tenders grilled or fried ― in sandwiches, straight up on skewers, or in meal-sized salad bowls. Customers also can choose from 22 Fieri-created, house-made signature sauces to enjoy with the chicken as well as sides like Chicken Guy! Fries with Fieri’s special fry seasoning, Mac Daddy Mac ‘n Cheese, fried pickles and fresh slaw.
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Guests can cap off their meal with a sweet indulgence such as the Triple Double Ice Cream Treat ― triple chocolate and double mint ― or the Cinnamon Apple, a cup of vanilla soft serve ice cream smothered in Cinnamon Toast Crunch & Apple Jacks cereals.
Chicken Guy! Pittsburgh offers dine-in, carry out and online ordering for pick-up at order.chickenguy.com/ with plans to add third-party delivery soon.
The restaurant seats 50 guests and plans to offer an exterior order and pick-up kiosk during peak skating season.
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Scott Tady is entertainment/dining & drinks reporter for The Times, and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com .
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