By Darlene Brace
The Tap Room in Westfield is one of the area’s amazing hotspots for excellent food, drinks, and
entertainment. It has been a family-owned and operated business for decades. Recently, Josh Eppinger (pictured) took over this family establishment, which has been a part of his family for generations. It all began with Josh’s grandmother, who owned The Tap Room for eighteen years, followed by his father and stepmother, who owned and operated it for thirty-two years.
Josh, a Westfield native, began working at The Tap Room after graduating from high school. He often took charge of booking live music for The Tap Room and for other local businesses, building valuable music connections for over 15 years. For the last seven years, he also worked as a mailman. In July 2025, after his dad and stepmom stepped down, he and his wife, Gabe, took over the ownership of The Tap Room.
Josh believes that The Tap Room is where people from all walks of life can come in and feel
comfortable. The Tap Room has a cozy and casual vibe, seating around thirty people, with a total capacity of about seventy-five. Josh has a strong interest in beer, and he takes pride in offering a diverse selection of beer including beer from local breweries such as Southern Tier, Big Inlet Brewery, and Maza Beers, and it also includes a full bar.
Before Josh took over the restaurant, the bar didn’t offer consistent food service. Now, he works alongside his wife, and together they manage the kitchen while Josh focuses on the bar as well. Gabe handles much of the food preparation, creating special sauces and dishes.
The Tap Room offers a small high-quality menu, focusing on smash burgers made from eight ounces of fresh ground beef with a variety of toppings as well as a selection of large quesadillas. They feature weekly “kitchen specials” which are homemade dishes. Josh said, “I really enjoy the restaurant side of the business. Making people happy by serving them great food has become a real passion for me.”
The Tap Room features a fun jukebox that sets the mood each night, and typically the bar hosts live music once a month during the summer and twice a month in the winter. Many local musicians take the stage, mostly featuring soloists and acoustic bands. On February 28th, The Assembly will perform their unique blend of music starting at 9pm. Then on March 27th, The Tap Room will feature the Buffalo band Eberwine, led by guitarist Todd Eberwine, for an energetic rock jam session.
The Tap Room is also considered an unofficial Buffalo Bill’s bar, perfect for watching Bills games in Westfield. With eight TVs, including an 86-inch screen, you can catch all the action from anywhere in the bar. The bar features Bill’s memorabilia, including 30 jerseys on the ceiling and a 15-foot Bills logo. They often have fun tailgating parties and also promote Buffalo Saber’s games and other sports.
Josh enjoys offering a variety of activities to entertain his customers. You can play pool with friends or join their pool league on Monday nights at 6:30pm. He also hosts Karaoke Night about four times a year. Recently, Josh introduced a Music Bingo Night, which was a hit, and he plans to host it a couple of times each month, for a fun option for weeknight entertainment.
Looking ahead, this summer, Josh is planning to host more bands, including Loose Connections, which is a band from North Carolina that a friend of his is part of. He is also hoping to bring back an event that the bar used to have, called Rally in the Alley, which is a huge outdoor party.
The Tap Room, located at 43 E. Main Street, is open weekdays from 3pm-2am. Food is served on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 4:30-9pm, and lunches are offered on Fridays. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, The Tap Room is open from 1pm-2am.
The Tap Room is a lively venue filled with delicious high-quality food, refreshing drinks, and fantastic entertainment. They proudly support local breweries and sports teams. So, gather your friends and come experience the fun at The Tap Room, and you are sure to have a great time! To stay updated on their menu specials and events, visit their Facebook and Instagram pages or call 716-326-2500 for more information.