By Jared Curtis
Zimm’s Food & Spirits
Stop by this Ingersoll mainstay
For 18 years, Zimm’s Food & Spirits has been serving quality eats and drinks along Ingersoll Avenue. Although it hasn’t been on the street as long as some of its veteran neighbors (Greenwood Lounge, Alpine Tap), Zimm’s packs them in thanks to a large patio overlooking the street and two similar, but different bars.
“The back bar is more of a game room and offers patrons a jukebox, while the front bar is more like a social room where customers can enjoy a drink and chat while watching the game,” said Rod Bothwell, general manager.
Before owner Doug Zimmerman took over, the location housed a number of different bars.
“This location has been a bar for at least 35 years,” Bothwell said.
The bar offers a wide variety of menu items including burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, steaks and shrimp dinners. Monday through Friday, the bar offers a rotating lunch special ($6.95 to $7.95).
“We serve something for everybody, including some great homemade soups,” Bothwell said.
Happy Hour takes place Monday through Friday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Patrons can enjoy $1.75 domestic draws, $2 domestic bottles and $2.75 well drinks. They also offer select appetizers at half-price and free popcorn.
“We always have a great Happy Hour crowd,” Bothwell said.
Zimm’s also offers a number of nightly drink specials. On Monday, stop in for “Monday Monday” and pay Happy Hour prices from 10 p.m. to close. Double your fun with “Taco & Two Fer Tuesday,” and enjoy two tacos for $1 from 4 to 9 p.m. and two-for-one drinks from 8 p.m. to close. Celebrate “College Daze” on Wednesday with $1 off all food and beverages (current student/faculty college ID required) from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. On Thursday, play cards with other people’s money during “10 Card Thursday” from 7 p.m. to close. Cure your hangover on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with two-for-one Bloody Marys, Screwdrivers and $1.75 domestic pints. And get ready for the workweek on Sunday with Happy Hour prices from 8 p.m. to midnight.
“We’ve added some new specials, and people are really enjoying them,” Bothwell said. “We have a great deal almost every night of the week.”
For blues fans, Zimm’s hosts the Bob Pace Band every Wednesday from 8 to 11 p.m. with no cover.
“Wednesday nights are very popular, and we’re getting a lot of the Blues on Grand crowd stopping in to hear the music,” Bothwell said.
The bar has a number of games including shuffleboard, foosball, pool, darts and video games. Along with the eight beers on tap, Zimm’s also has a “beer of the month” tap, which they rotate in a number of different brews.
“Our customers love it because it gives them a chance to try new things, and it lets us know what our customers like to drink,” Bothwell said.
Even though there are a number of eclectic bars spread throughout Ingersoll Avenue, Bothwell has a number of reasons to stop by Zimm’s.
“We try to offer everything our customers want, from food, drinks, games, live music and plenty of TVs — including our new 90-inch — to watch the game on,” he said. “We offer a diverse place where are customers can relax with great specials all week long.” CV
caption: Bartender Pam Charlson pours a Vegas bomb at Zimm’s Food & Spirits, 3124 Ingersoll Ave. Hours are 11 to 2 a.m., daily.
