It’s been a long time coming, but for owner Mike Schmidt, the five years it’s taken to remodel the building, and wrestle with city codes will be well worth it when he sees his Patterson Street Tavern filled with people enjoying the live blues music.
Mike credits his wife Bev for keeping him going when the rules and regulations of the zoning and the costs incurred to do things right became overwhelming. The bar is vintage, the original floor has been restored and Mike proudly calls his cook, Chef John Pope, the Pope of Riff Raff Village. Just barely open, he’s already in competition for the best wings in town, up against longtime favorites Bunkers and Frickers according to DDNews Ken-yon Hardy.
Mike is quick to admit his food isn’t fancy, he calls it blue collar food, saying it’s good and inexpensive. The Tavern will offer burger baskets, ribs, sandwiches and of course wings. No menu item is over $10.50. And you can wash it down with $2 drafts specials every day.
Riff Raff Tavern on the Canal will feature live music every Friday & Saturday without a cover charge, 
except perhaps for some major special bookings. The Hathaways are the featured opening band and Labor Day Weekend Nashville’s RB Stone will perform Fri & Sat night starting at 8pm.
Schmidt says he’s aligned himself with the Dayton Blues Society and plans to feature the best in local and regional blues and jazz. But that’s not all- for football fans, starting Sept 8th, Sunday’s will be all about football, with the NFL Ticket allowing the bar to feature your favorite teams games. As a Redskins fan I made need to be careful when Chef Pope’s Cowboys are playing, but hopefully by then the Sunday buffet they’ve planned will be the way to go.
The grand opening celebration for Riff R Raff Tavern on the Canal is this Friday night from 5-9pm. You’ll be welcomed to the building, which is next to Southern Belle, by statues of the Blues Brothers. Mike says he and his best friend from his Army days earned the nicknames Jake and Elwood, for their fun loving spirit and the pranks they used to pull. He says that attitude is exactly what you’ll find at Riff Raff- great attitudes, fun and good times for all!
The hours of the tavern are still being worked out, but for now the plan is Wed – Sat, until football starts with lunches rolling out soon. They’ll be open til midnight Wed & Thurs and til 2:30am on Fri & Sat.
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