When patrons enter Mount Vernon’s newly established Midtown BBQ & Brew (the latest incarnation of what was recently known as Midtown Yacht Club) they are greeted by a long bar, lined with a good number of stools. Going further into the dim interior, one finds half-a-dozen tables for dining, as well as the longstanding barrel of complimentary peanuts against the wall, beckoning customers to nibble and leave shells on the ground. 

With a name like Midtown BBQ & Brew, it’s easy to assume what might be the main attractions here. One does encounter a wide selection of smoked eats, including large portions of pulled pork, ribs and burgers, abetted by some standard bar selections. Refreshingly – and surprisingly, given the atmosphere – this is a farm-to-table restaurant. Though this is by no means a new concept, it is quite welcome for a casual bar environment. However, the dining cred is not well advertised on the menu nor the website, and it was only when prompted that the server mentioned it. All beef served at BBQ & Brew is organic and free-range, purchased from a Pennsylvania farm before being butchered and smoked in-house.

The beer selection is disappointingly modest considering the expectations raised by the establishment’s moniker – just 16 taps have been installed, and most are stocked with macros, although there are exceptions, such as labels from Flying Dog, Dogfish Head and Heavy Seas. The bourbon selection covers a somewhat better range, with Jim Beam’s high-alcohol Booker’s in the top shelf position.

It seems that Midtown BBQ is trying hard to restore its vigor, though, judging by the steady lineup of weeknight entertainment and happy hour options. Mondays bring $4 martinis (all day) and half-priced burgers (11:30 AM–5 PM); Tuesdays are trivia nights;  Wednesdays see “big ass beers” (from 8 PM–close, buy a 16-oz. pint and get 22 ounces instead); karaoke rules the roost on Thursdays; and free BBQ sliders are offered up on Fridays from 5–7 PM. What with March Madness starting very soon, their new TV screens will surely be put to good use. There is room for improvement, but with some time and patience, the bar has the potential to blossom into a solid hangout.

115 E. Centre St.; 443-835-2472

Photo via the restaurant on Facebook