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The Yardhouse (718 17 Ave)

As the name implies, The Yardhouse sells half-yards of draught beer (The Half-Yardhouse doesn’t quite roll off the tongue the same way, does it?). A half-yard is a pint-and-a-half of beer and comes in some really cool glassware — hourglass-shaped, 45 centimetres tall and widening at the rim. It’s one part novelty and one part extra beer, so it’s a winner no matter how you look at it. Yet somehow, with all that going for it, I went blank and asked for a simple pint of Guinness ($7.38).

In addition to their impressive glassware, on Wednesdays you can get a pound of wings for $3.95, 50 for $7.95 or 100 for $14.95, with your choice of mild, screaming, salt and pepper, barbecue, teriyaki or honey garlic. The wings were a good size and clearly enjoyed by everyone in our group. We polished off 200 of them — a decent accomplishment considering we had two vegetarians in tow and two of us ordered full-sized meals. The “hot” wings had the familiar taste of Frank’s Red Hot — typical of most hot wings — and the salt and pepper variety had a nice crunch to them without overdoing the staple spices.

I decided to try the beef melt ($12) — slow roasted, thinly sliced Cajun-rubbed roast beef, tossed in honey garlic sauce and served on a fresh baguette with melted mozzarella. My guest sampled the signature Yardhouse clubhouse ($12). We each ordered yam fries as our side ($2 extra, each).

In any pub, customer service can make or break the experience. As decent as the food is, The Yardhouse essentially serves the same fare as most other pubs. On the night I was there, the service was a highlight. When our food arrived, I was given the wrong dish, but as I debated whether or not to mention it, our waitress reappeared, looked at my plate and then gasped. She immediately said, “That’s not what you ordered,” apologized and said she’d have my beef melt out as soon as possible.

The clubhouse was served on toasted whole wheat bread and offered a generous portion of real turkey — not that funky pressed stuff sold at your local grocery deli counter. There were the standard accompaniments of bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, cheddar and mayonnaise, and there wasn’t a scrap of sandwich left when my guest was done. He declared it a success with the caveat that a little less mayo and butter would have been preferred. We both agreed that the yam fries were good, but not great.

When my dish arrived, it looked fantastic and tasted delicious. The meat was tender and moist, but not enough to sog out the bun. There were enough toppings that picking it up wasn’t an option, which was fine by me. The meat didn’t appear to be Cajun-rubbed, as promised, but I still enjoyed the sandwich.

With an abundance of TVs, a scenic view of Kensington Road, hospitable staff and decent food, The Yardhouse is a great destination for after work meet-ups, catching a Flames game or simply enjoying some food and drink with friends.