Iron Horse Sports Pub – which includes the related People’s Choice Pizza delivery business – is now open at 14 Oakwood Avenue in West Hartford’s Park Road neighborhood.

By Ronni Newton

After a few weeks in soft-opening phase, owners Bob Mercier and Rob Bylykbashi cut the ribbon at noon Wednesday at a celebration with town officials, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Park Road Association, officially opening the new sports pub – a business that many have said is one of the few types of dining establishments that West Hartford has been lacking.

Iron Horse Sports Pub, located at 14 Oakwood Avenue, even has their own private label beer, brewed locally by Bloomfield’s Back East Brewery.

With 11 TVs spread throughout the restaurant, patrons have plenty of games to choose from for their viewing pleasure. And those who prefer to actively participate in sports rather than just watching can also enjoy a game of pool or billiards.

The goal, Mercier told We-Ha.com during a previous interview, is to create a “Cheers” type establishment – not just a place for food and drink but also somewhere they can gather – encouraging locals to feel like Iron Horse is their own space, where they can have a “usual” table or a seat at the bar.

The available wall space not occupied by TVs is covered with sports memorabilia – some of which is definitely worth a closer look. Prominently displayed near the bar is a signed photograph of Babe Ruth that was given to the mother of Mercier’s wife, Christine, by Babe Ruth’s granddaughter, Linda. Included in the frame is a personal accident insurance policy issued to Babe Ruth in 1920 by The Hartford.

“It’s been very busy, and we haven’t even done the delivery aspect yet,” said Bob Mercier – who became the People’s Choice pizza delivery company’s first franchise owner in 2005. There were 15,000 discount coupons sent to West Hartford residents this week promoting the pizza delivery, which is also also being operated out of the West Hartford space, he said, and more to come.

But while the extensive variety of pizza (in 8-, 12-, or 16-inch sizes and gluten free is available) is featured prominently on the dine-in menu – and it’s been met with very positive reviews on social media – the menu includes apps ($8-$12) such as loaded tots, fried cheese curds, pickle fries, and pretzel bites; a robust selection of wings; and other pub-type food such as salads that can serve as a meal, soups, and sandwiches ($14-$16) accompanied by fries (regular or curly) or onion rings. For a bit extra, you can choose an upgraded sides such as truffle fries, sweet potato fries, mac ‘n cheese, garlic mashed potatoes, and even jalapeño poppers.

There are also burgers ($16-$18, half price on Mondays, black bean available) with the same choice of sides, and entrees ($15-$19) that range from a hearty mashed potato bowl topped with cheddar, bacon, buttermilk fried chicken, corn, scallions, and herb gravy, to ravioli ala vodka, to chicken parm, and a carne asada quesadilla.

The rotating tap list includes a beer brewed especially for Iron Horse Sports Pub – Back East Iron Horse Out of Your League Lager – and a total of beers/ciders on tap, many of which are from Connecticut such as Back East Ice Cream Man, Fat Orange Cat Brew Baby Kittens, and New England Fuzzy Baby Ducks, other brews by can or bottle, and a “Cocktail Comeback” beverage menu as well.

Bylykbashi, the president of People’s Choice Pizza, said the business expanded to include the first Iron Horse, in Simsbury, in 2017. There is also an Iron Horse Pub in Unionville, and its owner, Lisa Rivera, celebrated the ribbon cutting in West Hartford as well.

Christine Mercier manages the West Hartford restaurant, which most recently was Park Road Pasta Kitchen and still includes the same bar. Outdoor seating is available on the Oakwood Avenue side, and there is parking accessible from Park Road (just past the driveway for River Bend Books), and a side door from the parking lot.

Iron Horse Sports Pub is open seven days a week beginning at 11 a.m. for lunch and dinner.

Bylykbashi said he hopes they will eventually be able to expand to the second floor at some point, adding several pool tables and allowing space to have “a lot more private functions.”

Iron Horse Sports Pub’s website is connected to the Simsbury location’s website, and pizza and other items can be ordered for delivery (directly or from UberEats or DoorDash) at peopleschoicepizza.com.

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