You’re probably familiar with other bars and restaurants run by Sam Chammas: Live Wire, Whistle Stop, the Turf Club (where “grill your own steak” was invented), and Riviera Supper Club (where it was perfected). So expectations for his latest venture, the long-awaited Station Tavern & Burgers, have  been high. We got a preview recently during the Station’s two-week soft opening, and it did not disappoint.

The Station really does resemble a train station – the back wall opens up to a long, diagonal outdoor space strewn with picnic tables and colored lights overhead that look like signal lamps. The place is exceptionally kid-friendly – the outside portion has soft, playground-grade pebbles underfoot and a wooden “trolley car” to play on. The vibe is reclaimed vintage, with rich panels of horizontal finished wood and what looks like a salvaged hand-painted cigar billboard serving as a back door. Menu graphics feature an old trolley map of South Park.

The food and drink offerings are simple but well-done. I counted 4 beer taps (including Stone Levitation Ale, Slim Chance, Paulaner Hefeweizen, and Stella Artois), a limited full bar, 5 kinds of burgers (beef, cheeseburger, turkey, black bean and veggie), and the expected sides: fries, garlic fries, sweet potato fries, tater tots and salad. Kids can get grilled cheese or a hot dog.

Word is out that there is finally a place you can have a decent beer and bring your kids. I saw folks I haven’t seen out at night in years, chatting and eating while their kids played nearby. Sam’s the father of two young girls himself, so my guess is he simply created a space he’d like to go to himself.

Looks like the formula worked again.

Station Tavern & Burgers is located at 2204 Fern St. between Ivy and Juniper in South Park. It officially opens in mid-September. Check http://stationtavern.com for more details.