Is 3rd Time A Charm For Springboro Eatery?

Sitting on St Rt 741 in Sprinboro, just north of Rt 73, in a little unassuming building shared with a dentist office is a restaurant owned by Shawnette Hixon.  Origninally leased by Shawnette and her husband in 2011, after much renovation, they opened in 2013 serving up crepes, bagels, frozen yogurt, salads, soups & sandwiches. We wrote about their first opening here.   Then it morphed into gourmet burger and  then it closed.

It reopened last week , with a new concept – SG75 Gastropub– casual dining serving gourmet burgers, small plate appetizers and hand crafted cocktails along with beer and wine offering lunch and dinner.  As I entered, you could tell this was going to be different.  With new more substantial tables and chairs, and table service,  the ambiance  was already an improvement.  Then I noticed 12 tap handles behind the bar, with Mad Tree, Rhingeist and Fat Head beers on tap , and yes this fill growlers. Bookers, Basil Hayden and Makers 46 were amongst the bourbon’s behind the bar.   So far so good.   The bartender also pointed out the infusion jars, where they were making bacon vodka and a chili infused vodka.  When I was handed the menu, I saw the new tagline for the eatery:  Burgers-Bacon-Brew-Bourbon.  Now these are a few of my favorite things, so now it was time to try a few things.

Started off with  some appetizers including  the Carmalized Bacon Sticks, which came 3 to an order and were served with a sweet cream sauce and the Bacon Jam & Ricotta Crostini, a serving of 5, both of which run $6 an order and both of which were good, tasty choices.  Other appetizer on the menu include bourbon fire grilled shrimp, bourbon wrapped little smokies, loaded twisted fries and a tapas plate with homemade humus.

Then it was on to decide which burger to choose, and I picked the Bourbon Fire, which came out about 5 inches high, a brioche bun with a thick burger, lettuce, tomato, onion straws, deep fried jalapenos, pepper jack cheese and bourbon fire sauce, served up with a small basket of twisted fries.  But on my next visit I’m trying the 5XB Burger- which according to the menu is a bacon stuffed burger with Applewwod bacon strips, bacon jam, bacon aioli and bacon cream cheese. Or maybe the Bacon Grilled Cheese.  And for those looking for healthier choices, there were several salads on the menu, including a Caesar, Oriental and California Club, each with the option to add grilled chicken or grilled shrimp.  Sandwiches and salads

I had the chance to meet Brian, the head chef, who most recently ran the kitchen at Lock 27 in Centerville.  He and the GM Mike,  had also spent time working together at Cadillac Jacks.  Brian was excited to share his vision for the future of the Gastropub, with more specials and having fun with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.  He said that the staff is learning to work together and find their rhythm, but he is truly excited with the team they’ve got.  About this time Tiffany came out of the kitchen with a little sample of something she’d been working on she described as “Bourbon Peach Cobbler with bacon yummyness” and after trying a bite, she was absolutely dead on with her description.

You can visit the Gastropub, which has seating for about 50 inside and  a small patio which seats about another 20, for lunch, dinner and cocktails at 75 North Main Street Mon- Thurs from 11am – 9pm, they stay open until 11pm Fri & Sat and Sunday they are open from 11am – 8pm.

They’ll be hosting their first  Bourbon Tasting on May 29th. ! Enjoy a generous pour of three amazing bourbons, High West Son of Bourye, Angels Envy, and a brand new whiskey, Hatfield & McCoy.Food pairings include Bourbon glazed pulled pork and bourbon creme brulee with a blackberry reduction. $28 per person before May 20th. $30 through the day of. Reserve your spot by calling (937)748-5353.