Inside: Big Beaver Tavern in Troy

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Big Beaver Tavern

Status: For 19 years, the prominent brick building near the corner of Big Beaver and Rochester roads was home to Larco’s Italian Chophouse, a fine dining restaurant chain owned and operated by the Larco family since the 1950s. Keeping just a few of the classic dishes from the original menu, current owners Mark and Sue Larco recently decided to “change with the economic times and undergo a complete concept reconstruction.”

Overseeing the remodel, manager Laura Janzito was excited to see the changes that were taking place. With the transformation complete, the formerly formal restaurant has been morphed into Big Beaver Tavern, a casual tavern-style bar and grill.

Sporting knee socks and a barely-there plaid skirt, bartender Kirsten Barton, 21, of Royal Oak says the change “has made a 100 percent improvement in business.”

Welcoming a more laid-back clientele, Big Beaver Tavern is steadily gaining a reputation around town as a great place to kick back and throw down.

By adding a dance floor and a rotating list of DJs, Big Beaver hopes to make a successful change at this location while keeping the tradition alive at their Larco's Italian Grill on Orchard Lake road in West Bloomfield.

Mood: The days of leisurely Italian meals have given way to groups of game-watching guys and co-workers enjoying an after-work affair.

More than 20 HD-TVs guarantee there’s not a bad seat in the house. Whether you’re looking to catch the kick-off or just get in on some good eats and cheap drinks, you won’t be disappointed here.

The late night crowd is still picking up steam, and each week finds more and more partygoers sticking around for some serious drinking and even a little dancing.

Gear: The casual atmosphere carries over to the dress code at this now low-key establishment. Jeans and tees are par for the course and anything you would wear to the club would be more than a little out of place here.

Pick me up: Switching over from a moderately-priced menu featuring traditional and contemporary Italian dishes, Big Beaver Tavern’s new entrée options are decidedly more American in nature.

Enjoy favorites like fish and chips ($12.99) and piled-high salads and sandwiches along with more exotic picks like Yellowfin Tuna ($13.99) and spicy calamari ($7.49).

Put your stomach to the test and take on the Big Beaver Burger -- two half-pound patties layered with bacon, Swiss and cheddar cheeses and sautéed onions for $12.99. Conquer the challenge and take home a shirt proclaiming your voracious victory.

Great drink specials are available every day of the week and run the gamut from $3 martinis for the ladies on Wednesday nights to $3 shots of your choice on Thursdays. Take your pick from 50 different selections including some familiar standards and even a few quite potent Big Beaver originals.

Pull up a bar stool on Saturdays and take advantage of all-you-can-eat pasta for just $3.99 and $1 off bottled beers.

Entertainment: In an effort to bring in a more bangin' crowd, DJs hit the booth every week from Wednesday to Saturday including noteworthy names like DJ Katalyst and Turbo T spinning hits from today and back in the day.

You can also try your luck at a few hands of charity poker every Tuesday thru Saturday. Check out the separate, non-smoking gaming room downstairs complete with over a dozen different tables and its very own bar for your consuming convenience.