First Look: Mason Tavern

1371 Clairmont Road N.E., Atlanta, 404-963-2322, masontavernatl.com.

Billed as a “community gathering place,” Mason Tavern debuted in August in the former Scoreboards space on Clairmont Road in north Decatur. The partnership with Concentrics Restaurants and Next Door Hospitality is open for lunch and dinner daily with brunch and late bar hours on the weekends.

The look: Located in the same busy strip center as Community Q and Bhojanic, the rustic-meets-chic build-out features a large central bar constructed from railroad ties, distressed leather booths and hickory table tops. Industrial garage doors open to a spacious covered patio.

The scene: One rainy weeknight at dinnertime, there were a surprising number of parties willing to brave the elements for a seat on the patio. Inside, couples of all ages cozied up at the bar or in booths as busy servers worked the room.

The food: The new American-style menu kicks off with hefty starters and shares such as Piggy Mac & Cheese ($10) studded with braised pork belly and crispy crackling. The Tavern Burger ($12) is a house blend of short rib, brisket and chuck, topped with melty American cheese, Russian dressing, shredded lettuce and spicy bread and butter pickles on a squishy bun. Among the entrees, the Grilled Butcher's Steak ($23) with Peruvian marinade comes with fries and roasted beets. Decadent desserts ($6) include a S'more Brownie stacked between Swiss meringue and marshmallow ice cream.

The drinks: The bar keeps 10 local beers on tap ($5-$6), with selections from nearby Blue Tarp, Three Taverns and Wild Heaven in the mix, plus bottled beers ($4-$19) from Miller Lite to Rochefort 10. The wine list ($6-$60), curated by Concentrics partner Todd Rushing, is probably better than it needs to be.

The extras: Weekend brunch service started on Sept. 26 with signature dishes such as the Tavern Scramble ($12) with crispy pork belly, peppers, onions, potatoes, and cheddar, and Banana Fosters Pancakes ($11) with applewood-smoked bacon.