Midnight munchies after a round at the bars are an easy fix in the summer months with Greek’s Pizzeria and Carter’s Hot Dogs posted along the Village’s sidewalks. During the winter, harsh winds, slick sidewalks and frozen car doors make two trips — one for drinks, one for food — seem like a hassle.
But there are a few one-stop Muncie bars where customers can have a drink and eat quality food that tastes good even when they’re sober.
Savage’s Ale House
With its down-to-earth feel, Savage’s Ale House located on High Street combines old and new with sturdy wooden counters, vintage Pabst Blue Ribbon signs and paintings from local artists lining the walls.
Extreme cheese lovers can enjoy the Grilled Cheese Melt. For $5.50, melted Swiss and cheddar cheese surrounds three mozzarella sticks sealed inside buttery Texas toast. A cup of marinara sauce for dipping is paired with the dish.
For $1 more, Savage’s also has popular melts such as the Shed Town Melt with diced chicken, ham, cheddar, Swiss, jalapeños and dressing in between grilled Texas toast. On the slightly healthier, less greasy side for $5.50, the Buffalo Chicken Wrap with diced chicken, hot sauce, lettuce, tomato and ranch or bleu cheese dressing sells frequently, bartender Kory Pratt said.
Daily drink and food specials for less than $8 are posted on Savage’s Facebook page. Homemade beef and beans chili with a peanut butter sandwich is one Hoosier favorite for $5 that reappears often. A General Tso’s crispy chicken wrap, a chicken burrito with chips and salsa and hot ham and cheese with fries are some of the other specials that are $6 each.
The public may claim Savage’s as a “hipster” bar, but anyone can enjoy the drinks and food, especially when it means one less car ride or cold walk to the nearest fast food joint.
The Locker Room
For that not dirty but not totally clean, sports-bar feel, the Locker Room in the Village provides a full menu alongside the day’s regular drinks and specials. Although the mini burgers and mini tacos are a crowd favorite, the Locker Room serves soup, salad, sandwiches and burgers to all ages until 10 p.m.
For a hearty salad that won’t add too many calories on top of the alcohol, the Southwest Grilled Chicken Dinner Salad for under $5 is almost too gourmet for The Locker Room.
The large 384-calorie salad has grilled chicken on iceberg lettuce with tomatoes, mozzarella and red onion to top it off. The salad is a refreshing, but filling choice served with a side of steamed veggies.
It is even possible to put together a full course Italian dinner. Warm up with a bowl of Minestrone soup before an Italian Grilled Chicken Sandwich served on wheat bread with lettuce and tomato for under $8. The 403-calorie sandwich is also served with a side of steamed veggies. And for dessert, a martini cocktail.
Timbers Lounge
A local 25-year-old gem on Kilgore Avenue is a rarity with a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. Timbers Lounge, with a lumberjack holding an axe and a beer for a logo, is a busy dive where students can eat in a true Muncie fashion.
The breakfast menu, complete with eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, biscuits and gravy dishes, is fit for a lumberjack — or a college student with a bottomless stomach. Timbers opens at 7 a.m. ready to serve breakfast for less than $7.
One of Timbers’ staples is the homemade breaded tenderloin, cook Dan Estes said. The steaks — served anytime — and ribeye are also favorites among Timbers’ regulars.
Timbers has a wide range of flavors and styled dishes including Hawaiian and Western burgers. A new plate called the New Orleans Grill is worth stepping out of the taste buds’ comfort zone. The red beans with rice, Cajun charbroiled chicken, grilled smoked sausage and shrimp skewer with garlic toast bring out the spice of New Orleans cajun cooking.
One of the most popular specials is the prime rib served the first and third Friday of every month. Muncie locals come in for it in herds.
“It’s a mad house in here for about three hours,” Estes said.
Timbers will soon feature a recipe from the Harley Davidson Café: a mini meatloaf proportioned for an individual dinner.
