Winking Lizard Tavern

Went here for a recent work event, where we rented out the downstairs and had an open bar. Ok. Win. Definitely a great place for a casual work event, and a very cool location overall.

Pros:
- The upstairs is gorgeous. It used to be a indoor tennis hall, apparently, but was built back where architecture mattered, and it shows in this building. It's beautiful.
- The beer list. I was very impressed, and I'm kind of a beer fan. Lots of good local microbrews, a number of different rye beers on tap, and quite a few belgians/hard to find beers in the bottle. More importantly, everything was served in appropriate glassware, which surprised me in a place this large. Kudos to them for serving me an Orval in an Orval goblet.
- There's a 6-8 lane bowling alley in the basement! Never would have expected this. It was fun to bowl a few games while drinking some beers with colleagues.

Cons:
- The food was typical bar food. Chicken fingers, greasy pub pizza, etc. I wouldn't likely go back to eat, but I'd certainly go to drink some beers.

Overall, a good bar, and a great beer bar. It was very crowded, so don't expect peace and quiet. The food docks it a star though. Not great.

Always good food and great beer selection.

This is by far the best Lizard location in town. The building used to be the old Elks lodge and still has just enough clues to the building's former life.

There is an honest-to-God bowling alley in the basement  with at least 6 lanes and a separate bar. You can rent this out for events - a really nice little option for parties that can hold a lot of people. Separate bathrooms downstairs too which is a plus.

On the main level there are a couple different seating areas with TVs and also a nice patio out front for the summer months.

The bar area, though is the real jewel here. The bar is HUGE HUGE HUGE. The old gymnasium/auditorium of the Elks lodge is now the bar of the Winking Lizard. Tons of seating, really long bar itself and a separate elevated area with some arcade games/skee-ball which can also be rented out for an event. The first time you see this bar area, your jaw will drop. It's just so cavernous yet somehow not as loud as you would expect.

The food is average as with all the Lizards in my opinion and the service is ok but often slow in the big bar area if you're sitting at a table. Also beware of the stupid-ass rule that you have to get carded to enter the place after 5 pm. This is a Lizard-wide policy which defies logic, but it is what it is I suppose.

Overall, a nice place to grab some wings and beers and watch a game or two.