Committing to something over a long period of time can be rewarding, although you do need to keep your Compaq Presario in good enough shape to finish Myst...god, why do these screens take so long to load? Turning years of hard work into a new restaurant, the guys behind 8 East.

From two machine shop coworkers who put in a couple years' worth of nights and weekends to restore the former Toad's Tavern, 8's a sun-laden, two-level bar/resto serving up man-sized pub fare and sammies in a space repurposed-floorboard walls, cushy banquettes, and a row of counter seating separated from the rest of the joint by a railing, which is hopefully not "The rent is too damn high!" Starters include upsized portions of spinach & artichoke wontons; cheeseburger and pulled pork sliders; and tomato sauce/cheese-filled fried dough balls called Pazotti Bites, which are delicious, but imagine how the Pazotti family feels. Bigger dishes include Angus burgers topped with everything from Canadian bacon to spicy sriracha mayo, big sammies like the filet tip/ demi glace/ provolone/ horseradish aioli Rancher and the Italian sausage/ sauerkraut/ roasted pepper Torpedo, and entrees like an Angus filet with a vegetable medley, also a collection of songs with hot beets just leeked onto the Internet.

Drink-wise, they offer a fully stocked bar and a suds lineup of 30 bottles and 23 taps pouring seasonals from Stoudts and Victory along with Chimay and Rogue Dead Guy, who you assume you'd have seen in Myst at some point, but nope! Just another damn linking book!