The Copper Rocket, Maitland

Upon first glance, The Copper Rocket might seem like just an average bar. The bartenders pour 16 ice cold beers on draft, while the kitchen serves up grilled cheese, nachos, and other classic bar eats. Look closer, however, and you'll find the team's creative touch in just about everything. First of all, all the brews come with names like "Great Divide Yeti" and "Persimmon Hollow Beach Hippie," a stark contrast to the domestic standbys found at most bars. When it comes to the food, they subvert expectations with unconventional takes on classic pub grub dishes. Take the aforementioned grilled cheese sandwich: instead of using pre-packaged slices of American cheese, cooks use artisanal cheeses, such as brie and gouda, and serve the whole melty shebang on a brioche roll. Even the nachos have a funky twist: they come topped with a smattering of french fries in addition to all the classic fixins'.