Wicked Wolf

Every weekend, two men stand before an audience to battle for their honor and the adoration of their onlookers. They stoically turn to one another and bow. The crowd erupts. “Play Billy Joel’s Piano Man,” yells a college kid. “_Enter Sandman_ by Metallica!” shouts a young woman. The men have a seat at the L-shaped dueling piano bar and commence in a key-pounding showdown of speed. As they face off, fans are urged to bark out requests and sing along with the tunes, which can range from ‘50s rock-and-roll hits to current numbers, such as that video of a cat meowing sea shanties. The eight on-staff performers draw from diverse backgrounds. Some honed their chops on Broadway while others cut their teeth in Las Vegas nightclubs opening for the likes of Ray Charles. The ivory-ticklers square off every Friday and Saturday evening from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., and fans get a chance to show off their vocal talents during Monday-night karaoke.

To fuel the merriment, the cooks churn out a hearty menu of Irish-influenced upscale pub food. Black Angus-beef burgers and new york strip steaks satiate carnivorous cravings, and helpings of shepherd's pie, fish ‘n’ chips, and Guiness stew fill up even the biggest holes in legs.