Melrose is the bar 8th Avenue's been waiting for

Patrons down a few drinks at the Melrose. (Credit: Samuel M. Simpkins)

There's enough music being made in and around the Eighth Avenue/100 Oaks/Berry Hill area that it's always been curious there wasn't a place to wet one's whistle that wasn't already a club. (RIP, The Sutler.)

And there's enough of a creative, upwardly mobile neighborhood feeling to the area that it's far past time for a joint like Melrose Neighborhood Pub. 

The space is almost ludicrously wide open, with a long, L-shaped bar bracketing the open kitchen and bar-height tables greeting patrons as they walk in. The north wall is dominated by eight large booths (including a couple that can seat 10 if your group's feeling slightly cozy). Vizio flat-screens dot the walls throughout, though the place never feels like a sports bar.

The draft selections run to the traditional Music City set of Bud and Miller products, along with Yazoo, Yuengling and Fat Tire. (And who woulda thought even three years ago that we'd have regular access to the latter two on taps around town?)

Menu highlights include the cheeseburger (with your requisite choices of frommagery - Swiss, American and cheddar), the sizable quesadillas (which come with ample portions of guac, salsa and sour cream) and the runaway favorite for both visits, the waffle fries, either solo or with cheese.

The smoke-free environs (even though there's a cigarette machine in the back room, alongside a pool table and pop-a-shot basketball game) make for an extremely pleasant munch 'n' quaff experience, something that's going to draw fans from all over town, not just The Mel's immediate neighborhood.