A Midwestern tavern is approachable without irony. An "approachable Midwestern tavern" is almost certainly not approachable.
The long-time tenant in this Midwestern spot was approachable. They even had a "secret" seating area behind the bar for intimate conversations. A beautiful selection of hard ciders. That tenant left the space in 2020.
An "approachable" type outlet took over the space. The secret sitting area was gone. The menu, besides being very expensive, only had a few reasonable priced entrees. When you read the description, they would be for dishes that felt overpriced without mention of quality ingredients to somehow make up the difference.
Sure you could get an expensive drink on the rooftop. The idea is to eat for a reasonable price.
That tenant didn't last long, about a year (2022-2023). Now there is a new "approachable Midwestern tavern" into the space.
The grilled cheese on tomato soup for $18. You get smoked gouda and sharp cheddar, a slice of Texas toast at the bottom of the cheese. Chives decorate the open-faced sandwich plate that has a thin layer of homemade tomato soup. You don't even get a bowl of soup for $18.
The long-time tenant had appetizers that was reasonably accessible on the menu, a gateway to get to eat on the rooftop. That would seemingly be "approachable."
These kind of places view "approachable" through a very different filter, such as you don't have to get dressed up to dine yet your wallet needs an upgrade. Coca-Cola has the gall to advertise "original taste" on its high-fructose corn syrup version. Technically true by using a definition no one finds relevant.
The kids menu ($8) and desserts ($7) offer slightly better access.
Be approachable without saying you're "approachable." Go into any place in the Midwest with a Friday night fish fry. That place will be approachable without any secondary motivation. The places that are truly approachable don't have to say it out loud.
We realize that these types of restaurants don't want to be truly approachable as in any adult feels like they can go inside. The common person inside their establishment reduces the intended image of those who are courted to be there. The irony is that even if you have the extra cash, the ROI will likely be rather dismal.
The rooftop feel is lovely, well, at least from 2 owners ago. We get that a rooftop view can come at a price. When the bar is set pretty high, you might enjoy having a rooftop place in your extended neighborhood. You would enjoy it more if a place was truly approachable.
Patrons who fall for the word approachable who don't know they are being tricked or hoodwinked. The modern culture might blame those patrons for not knowing irony. Patrons shouldn't feel shame if they are tricked into coming into their establishment.
Another neighborhood place was a cafe many years ago. A local upscale pie shop took over and had a good run cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The space was closed for about 3 years, opening recently as a private space for people to pay $70/person for a shared experience. The switch has been depressing for those who felt like the space belonged to the neighborhood. Technically, both of these spaces are private property so they choose the paths they are on. We can choose not to go to those places.
I could afford the ridiculous $18 grilled cheese with tomato soup where I would be hungry 30 minutes later. Getting friends to pony up $70 for the shared experience would be more difficult than paying $70 pour moi. The expensive place isn't marketing itself as "approachable" yet is even more out of reach.
Both are out of reach for most where not so long ago, these spaces were very open to the neighborhood.
BalanceofFood.com advice coverage
These 2 places are on the same street less than a mile apart from each other. Eating out is getting bad enough for places you like and respect. Place what little food money you have in places that are truly approachable that want to offer you value for a fair price.
photo credit: me