“Serving Up Premiere Fun”
On February 1, 2020, Jonathan and Amy Davis bought the property that was to become “Tap That Craft Beer & Wine Bar.” Boasting a 4,800 square foot restaurant and bar—the largest in New Bern—with a high-tech indoor performance space, sprawling outdoor area for games and entertainment, and a full bar with upscale food, the popular hangout has quickly become a staple in the community. “We offer a fun and exciting venue that has lots of choices for people of all ages,” said JD. “It’s our goal to create a cheerful atmosphere and always provide the best customer-friendly service that exceeds expectations so that people want to keep coming back.”
For beer drinkers, Tap That offers 14 to 16 rotating craft beers, mostly made in North Carolina, with many from Ashville or Raleigh, as well as wine by the bottle, glass and on tap, and inventive cocktails.
Tap That is also a well-known premiere event center, with an almost dizzying array of performances rotating throughout the month: music bingo trivia, karaoke, cornhole tournaments, open mic night, dueling pianos and comedy shows. But perhaps what is most impressive are the bands and performers that come through the door every Friday and Saturday night, including local favorites like Bryan Mayer, the Wicked Shimmies and Band of Oz.
Differentiating itself from its neighbors though their versatility and the ability to serve and entertain larger crowds—275 inside and no limit outdoors—Tap That is also able to provide spirits and an appealing selection of food, including nice vegetarian options. “My favorite dish is the chicken taco, which is served with a pineapple salsa and a mild siracha sauce,” says owner Amy Davis. “But if I’m just going to have a drink, I will have the bartender mix me up a Malibu with pineapple, with a splash of OJ and grenadine. Our kids, Talon, Baylie and Easton, love the food and games, especially the duck claw game. Even adults love that one—hiding them all over the place and using hashtags to put them on social media!”
However, JD and Amy had their fair share of challenges in opening their venue, starting up their new business post-Florence and pre-COVID. They renovated it, transforming it from a dark performance space, to an airy, hip-yet-low-key joint designed for good times with friends. “We feel very lucky that we didn’t have to close our doors during the past year, and that we were able to continue to serve food and drinks and lift people’s spirits during such a tough time,” says JD.
JD, who in addition to being the owner of Tap That, also owns Carolina Facilities, enjoys bringing in a wide variety of beers for his customers to enjoy. But he has his preferences: “My three favorite beers on tap right now are Sweet Josie Brown Ale by Lonerider Brewing, People’s Porter by Foothills Brewing, and Endless River by Mother Earth Brewing,” he says. “The first two are brown ales which I have always been a big fan of and they both have generous amounts of chocolate and aromatic malts, but the last one is a favorite because it is made in my very own hometown of Kinston.”
But with so much to offer, the true beauty of this place is the people who bring it to life. Like one of the charming bartenders that I met last week, Kristen Graham, whose day job is the Associate Band Director at New Bern High School. She will become the band director at Swansboro high school next year. I asked her, “So what instrument did you play when you were little?,” and she replied, “The flute.” “Me too,” I said. And we proceeded to laugh about what life was like as band nerds and then she had to get back to work, but I could see in JD’s eyes that he could tell that I was really listening, and wanted to hear more about his people, about their journey, and the bumpy road that led them to today.
“I want to tell you about our cook, David,” he said. “This is a guy that never misses a day of work. One night I noticed that he was walking down the street after we closed. I found out later that he had been hitch-hiking, for like a year, to get back and forth to work so we provided him with a dependable vehicle. We have relied on him, so we felt like it was important for him to be able to rely on us.”
It’s clear how much JD values his employees, but his #1 MVP is his wife, Amy. “Amy has been a medical office manager at Carolina Craniospinal Neurosurgery for the past 18 years,” he said. “But after she works all week, running the kids around while I work late nights, she still comes to our restaurant and bar and there is nothing that she won’t do—wash, clean, prep, serve, anything. I am a very lucky man to have her by my side.”
The story of Tap That is one of a team coming together. Sure, it’s great big space, but what makes it so special is the small town feel, the inviting atmosphere, and the warmth of the people that bring the versatility and diversity of this terrific place together.