The Curtis Club

Created by musician-turned-restaurateur Scott Bagus, the Curtis Club exudes a vibe that would be hard to imagine outside of the West. Walls are decked out with cedar-fence wood, horseshoes hang by the tin ceiling, and a mural of a lake backs the bar. In other towns and in other hands, such touches might verge on kitsch; here they feel like a part of our heritage. Despite the decor’s nod to the wild West, though, the menu has none of the cliched buffalo stew, chicken and dumplings or cornbread that you might expect. Instead, the easy-to-like lineup includes a grilled cheese sandwich with poblanos and a surprising selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes – inclusive bar fare that might surprise some diners who’ve walked through a rough-and-tumble downtown neighborhood to reach this reimagined version of the mild, mild West.