The Village, the cozy neighborhood of affordable condos just behind Falsetta’s Market on Washtenaw across from Arborland, seems tailor-made for a neighborhood gathering spot or pub. But it’s never really had one–until now.

Lisa Rasak, forty-two, opened the Village Pub in December next to Falsetta’s. She knew what the neighborhood needed because she grew up near it. Although Chili’s and Paesano’s are across the street, Rasak doesn’t consider them direct competition. “We get a lot of parents, infants, kids–they walk or bike,” she says. “We’re a neighborhood pub.”

Rasak wanted to buy locally, so most of her fixtures and wall art come from Gross Electric on South Industrial. She put in a flagstone floor and an unusual custom-made brick bar, tore out the ceiling to expose the space’s high wooden trusses, and searched hard to find tables and chairs that look both elegant and aged.

The place has a number of flat-screen TVs so customers can catch the game or the latest on CNN, but Rasak doesn’t see the pub as a sports bar. “We’re not loud and boisterous,” she says. “No neon lights. It’s going to be relaxed, calm, elegant.”

The menu includes appetizers, sandwiches, and specialty burgers like the Villager, a half-pound of prime beef topped with barbecue sauce, cheddar, and fried onion rings and served with chipotle mayo and a side of fries for $10.99. They also make pizzas using dough from the Cottage Inn–the only non-CI restaurant in Ann Arbor to do so, thanks to a connection Rasak has with the Cottage Inn folks.

There are a dozen beers on tap and whimsical improvised cocktails. “Whoever our bartender is that night comes up with a special drink, and that’s what we offer,” Rasak says. “Just something fun, something creative. We offer it to the patrons to see how they like it.” One customer favorite is a vodka and soda classic topped, surprisingly, with a splash of Midori. “It’s now been tagged as a Ninja,” Rasak laughs, “Because it sneaks up on you.”

The Village Pub, 3452 Washtenaw, 929-5370, Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-midnight, Sun. noon-10 p.m.