Faust Tavern Offers Homey Atmosphere, Devilish Bargains and Late-night Scene

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Pizza worth selling your soul for? If it’s right after last call, maybe

This article has been updated to reflect that only Danny Delgado owns Faust. We previously misidentified Miguel Delgado as a co-owner.

The northernmost end of the Strip is going through some changes. Just last year, Web House or Russian Bar or whatever they were calling it, still occupied the small building just off St. Mary’s. A mere block away from Hard Bodies and Saluté, Web House was a refuge for motley crews of bar-goers that didn’t want a lap dance or a full-on live music experience. The dive was just that: a place for people to grab cheap well drinks and catch up with friends. And don’t even think about taking plastic—the joint was cash only.

But the times, they are a-changin’ and Faust Tavern is here to stay.

Don’t expect a massive overhaul. Instead Danny Delgado, owner of Hi-Tones, along with partners Adrea Vince and Alan Codd, has made tiny, yet necessary, tweaks throughout the bar: The wrought-iron fence still leads people in, but it now dons a bright neon blue Faust sign and the cobblestone patio is filled with neatly arranged picnic tables. Anyone a fan of sitting? This is perhaps the biggest change Delgado brought to Faust. Gone are the days of harassing people for a wobbly patio chair. The crowd is also a bit more cohesive: a good mix of college kids and hipsterish jorts-wearing 20- and 30-somethings looking for friendly service.*

At night, a long string of blue LED lights hangs over a canopy, giving the patio a spooky vibe. Inside, the bar was relocated and shortened to the back wall so there’s more room to sit and chat (seriously, there are so many stools and chairs), or take in a TV show on the new flat screens. Slap on a brand new dark blue coat of paint, a snazzy mustard stencil and a serious collection of ghoulish and tribal artwork, and Web House’s essence has been wiped clean.

There’s a wee cocktail menu with nothing over $6.50, but the program still needs work. The pineapple and cherry-laced Faustina was a bit of a dud. Stick with the wells, or try the shots. Remember, these are the same folks that brought pickle and pineapple chamoy shooters to the Strip. The shot board features the usual fare of starfuckers, jagerbombs and purple geckos, but you’ll also find sweet pink lemonade and hard candy varieties (a Red Bull and high-proof watermelon sip for those looking to close down the bar).

Web House, which relocated to 310 Riverside Drive, did offer a few cookouts, but nothing was ever set in stone. The Delgados finished the bar with the addition of pizza by the slice served until 4 a.m. These aren’t gourmet slices by far, but they get the job done, especially at 2 a.m. when you don’t want to fight the crowds at the taco truck down the way. A slice of cheese runs $3; omnivores can try the Meat Lovers slice for $4.50. The veggie was the favorite with its thin slices of red onions, mushrooms and colorful peppers. It almost felt healthy (Let’s not talk about the Jack and Coke used to wash it down). Ordering gets a little dicey: You can get pizza and booze from the bar, but the window outside is pizza-only. Be prepared for a wait if you order around last call.

Early adopters are frequenting this renovated watering hole for happy hour to either catch up with buds before heading to the latest Pecha Kucha or to finish some homework while sipping on a decent Bloody Mary. For now, happy hour, which runs Sunday through Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, is relegated to inside the dark interior of the bar where patrons are keen on ordering $2.50 wells and $2 Lone Star tall boys. Beyond that, Faust is already a late-night staple for those who hang on the Strip

Some business owners just know what people want, and so far the Danny Delgado has made welcoming bookend bars out of Hi-Tones and Faust Tavern. Either that, or he followed the example set by Faust in the old German legend and sold their souls to the devil for this unlimited bar knowledge.