Litz it up

Sometimes, you want a burger and a beer in a place that’s comfortable enough to be your living room — only with pool tables, pull tabs, arcade games and even a tabletop shuffleboard game. And good pub food.

“My husband started calling it ‘the living room’ when we first opened,” says Tammy Hull, who purchased LITZ’S in April with husband David. “It’s a place where everybody knows everybody, and everybody can feel comfortable.”

The Logan neighborhood watering hole has been around for 25 years, and Hull has worked there for much of its history. Since taking ownership, they’ve cleaned and painted and generally spiffed-up both inside and out, and they’ve added a menu of favorite appetizers, salads, wraps and sandwiches — plus entrées at night and breakfast on Sundays.

“Our cooks can get creative here,” says Tammy. “They can experiment and try different things.”
Like the sweet potato fries ($4) — crispy and hot, with a light sprinkle of both salt and sugar. You can choose your favorite dipping sauce, but I love ’em straight up. The regular French fries ($4) are crispy, lightly seasoned shoestrings, just right for dipping into chipotle mayo or the special Guinness gravy ($1 more).

Among sandwiches ($6-$10), the burger and the Reuben are both winners, as are the melts, available with turkey, ham or roast beef ($8). Soup is made from scratch each weekday: On Tuesday, it’s potato — a chunky blend of diced potatoes, celery, onions and bacon in a savory steaming broth, garnished with fresh herbs and grated cheese.

At the bar, you’ll find 10 taps and 34 bottled beers, along with wines by the glass and a full range of mixed drinks. Zags games always draw a crowd, and the Hulls set up a chili bar on every game night. The place is equipped with wi-fi, so students (and anyone else) can stay in touch online.

The crowd at Litz’s is as diverse as the menu, says Hull, with retirees, working folks, professionals and college students all mingling. “This place is such a melting pot,” she says. “It’s just an eclectic array of people, and everybody gets along.”

Litz’s, 204 E. Ermina Ave., is open Mon 11 am-midnight, Tue-Sat 11 am-2 am, and Sun 8 am-midnight. Call 327-7092.