Two Bit Villains (TBV) is a soda bar, diner and clothing store in the upper level of the beautiful Adelaide Arcade. I knew there were shops upstairs, but I didn’t even know the location of the stairs until tonight. Coming up here was a real treat because you could closely admire the magnificent architecture of yesteryear. There’s so much history entrenched in this building, and the quality of the construction is nothing like it is today.

TBV on the other hand has a quirky vibe about it. One wall was filled with straw and timber umbrella shades, which made me feel like I was in Hawaii. There’s an extensive use of timber here, particularly with the furnishings. There are various seating options from lounge suites, bar tables and normal tables, to sitting at the main bar itself. Tonight, we just sat at the normal table which were in the colours of Bob Marley’s beanie.

The menu, as with the clothing, is based on American 1950’s. The food options are limited, but the choices are what you would expect if you were on the set of Happy Days. Everything seems to be deep fried or sugary, so you might as well put your diet on hold when you come here. The menu caters for everybody from the gluten intolerant, lactose intolerant, vegetarians and vegans.

Tonight, I ordered the Sloppy Joe with a side order of Chili Cheese Fries. The meals came out after a 15 minute wait and all meals arrived at the same time. Having never had a Sloppy Joe before, I didn’t realise it was stuffed with a sweet and savoury mince. Just from the look of it, I knew it was going to be a difficult task to consume without making a mess. Personally, I didn’t like it. The filling was so sweet I felt like I was eating a dessert. The bun was toasted and tasted a bit stale. They also served the dish with the napkin under the burger. When you lifted the burger from the basket, half the filling fell onto the napkin.

The Chili Cheese Fries were OK, but it appeared the same mince used in my Sloppy Joe was just put on a serving of fries. I was hoping for a bit more variety, but to me, it just felt like more the same. My friend on the other hand, had the Veggie Burger with a side of Onion Rings. The Onion Rings are the best I’ve ever had! They had a nice solid crunchy coating and they weren’t over battered. The people sitting next to us just got two large servings of Onion Rings, so obviously they had been here before.

The staff here were really friendly and accommodating. They gave me a side serving of Chili Cheese Fries even though it wasn’t on the menu. The atmosphere was relaxed and the pricing was reasonable. The menu seems a bit too unhealthy for me, although I would come back for the Onion Rings if I felt like indulging. They also have a range of 1950’s clothes and accessories as well, but I’m sure I could find clothes from that era if I looked in my father’s closet. Definitely an interesting place, but not my cup of tea.

WHERE: Shop 128, Balcony Level, Adelaide Arcade