Restaurants

The Imperial

Old garages convert handsomely into come-hither bars, as this funky Oakhurst building—long abandoned and now refurbished with a green roof and sprawling patio—attests. The interior reveals plenty of wit. Next to the zigzag-shaped bar, for example, is an old sign painted on the exposed-brick wall that reads, “Lubrication 75¢.” A mix of local brews and standards like Guinness and Miller Lite revolve through the bar’s sixteen taps. The menu is pure pub grub, including five-ounce burgers on fluffy buns, spicy black-eyed pea dip, chicken wings served Buffalo-style or with spicy cranberry sauce, crisp hand-cut French fries, and mac and cheese browned in a cast-iron pan. Among the owners is Robert Holland, whom we named best bar trivia host in 2009 for his brain-teasing events at the Euclid Avenue Yacht Club and Universal Joint. Check the Imperial’s Facebook page for details on upcoming trivia nights.