Table for Tara is a column by Tara Gilts, sharing her dining experiences and takeaways from Athens County eateries.
ALBANY, Ohio –– Located 15 miles from Court Street, Doug’s Vault (40526 Salem School Lot Rd.) is a casual bar and restaurant tucked into the beautiful, rural Albany countryside. The fresh and distinctive ambiance also evokes the familiar comfort of a friend’s basement. Doug’s Vault is a welcoming spot, filled with people who are genuinely happy to be there — on both sides of the bar.
Established in 2021, Doug’s already feels like a community hub where everyone knows your name. Owners Amanda and Michael (Doug) Douglas wrapped into one location everything I didn’t know I wanted in an establishment: a sand volleyball court, a fine carryout wine and beer selection, a koozie with a magnet strong enough to hold a full Mystic Mama upright on my fridge, and a gumball machine exclusively stocked with banana Runts.
Open daily, Doug’s is a popular meeting place for locals and a destination for out of towners. At Doug’s, I observed collective playful jeering from the patrons when a bartender arrived for his shift a few minutes late. On a quiet Sunday evening, Bill the cat sauntered in and curled up in a bar stool. When I asked the bartender if he came around often, she said that Bill sleeps right outside when they are closed and is a regular when they are open.
Doug’s Carryout and Grocery, located above the bar and restaurant, opens early for breakfast and will deliver anything from the carryout or on the menu within an eight-mile radius.
The interior boasts roomy booth seating, high-top tables, a pool table, and multiple large-screen televisions. Outside, a spacious patio overlooks a sand volleyball court and a serene pond.
Entertainment options are abundant: Large tabletop Connect Four and Jenga, chess, cornhole, and a folding table in a utility closet and stack of red Solo cups leads me to assume that Beer Pong is an option. Depending on your arrival time, the season, and the day of the week you might be able to partake in a pool tournament, catch a game, sway to live music, or impress your date with a karaoke performance or your serve on the volleyball court.
On the menu you’ll find familiar favorites and well-priced libations. The standard side salad (iceberg lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and diced red onions) was adorned with a few surprise pepperonis and a sprinkling of bacon bits, which felt nostalgic.
Another notable opener: Tater Kegs (taterkegs.com). There is nothing tot about these taters. Three times the size of a normal tater tot and stuffed with bacon and cheddar, eating tater tots for dinner also felt a bit nostalgic.
The most popular menu item is the Italian Sub, which the carryout sold more of than cases of beer in its opening year. Doug the Thug, topped with pepperoni, sausage, ham, and bacon, is the most popular pizza. A slightly more adventurous pizza option is Mae’s Favorite: hot sauce, chicken, red onions, and pineapple. The 12” pies range in price from $10 to $17, and a cauliflower crust is available.
While scratch-made dishes are not the focus at Doug’s, the house-made chips and queso were a flavorful opener, and the fries were just-out-of-the-fryer fresh.
While there wasn’t an IPA on tap when I visited, they do often have beers from Albany-based Rice Family Brewing available as well as rotating seasonal brews. Domestic beers in all forms, including a tallboy PBR, are always available and well-priced. Doug’s also has a full bar with a weekday happy hour from 4–6 p.m. and frequent drink specials.
As I left, I walked upstairs to the carryout to pick up a few items, and asked the clerk if there was a story behind the candy dispenser that contained only banana Runts, a polarizing flavor. He said, “I don’t know, I’ve never thought about it.” This surprised me, because four weeks later, I’m still wondering about those banana Runts.
Doug’s has a little bit of everything, and a little something for everyone. Take a date, take your kids, take your grandpa. Doug’s Vault is a delightful place to watch a game, enjoy a meal, play in the sand, pick-up some ham salad, or fill a propane tank.
5/5 Stars.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the Vault did not serve IPAs.
