The Keg and Egg, at Masonboro Station, has put a new spin on the bottle shop craze by combining a retail shop with a restaurant. And the menu brings a new kind of pub food to the area: the Pittsburgh-style sandwich.

Originally created in the 1930s by Joe Primanti of Primanti Bros. in Pittsburgh, the sandwich is a hearty mix of meat and cheese topped with tomato, cole slaw and French fries and served on thick Italian bread. The Keg and Egg puts its own twist on the concept by adding a fried egg.

The menu also includes fry pies, which are hand-cut fries topped with a variety of toppings such as chili, cheese and bacon or brown gravy and caramelized onions and pork cicles: chunks of roasted pork shoulder that are skewered and deep fried. The “cicles” are then tossed with sauces such as Sriracha teriyaki or spicy garlic.

Owner RJ Russell has selected more than 120 beers for carry out or on-premises consumption. The beers are organized by state from East Coast to West Coast, and Russell says he’s happy to take requests from customers for beers from their home states.

“We wanted to bring a craft beer bottle shop to the Masonboro Loop area,” Russell said. “We’re not a sports bar and we’re not here to compete with other bottle shops, just to bring something different to this part of town.”

Russell, a Pittsburgh native, has been in the area since graduating from University of North Carolina Wilmington nearly 20 years ago. He is a carpenter by trade and has worked at several local restaurants over the years. He did all the interior work at The Keg and Egg, and it reflects a rustic, relaxed atmosphere.

“This is a place for people to relax and unwind with a good bottle of beer and a bite to eat,” Russell said.

The Keg and Egg, 4039 Masonboro Loop Road, will also feature six rotating draft beers and a variety of wines available by the bottle. Russell says he hopes to be a stopping point for those on their way to the boat launch at Trails End Road and neighborhood folks looking for a great craft beer selection without having to travel across town.

The past week’s soft opening allowed the restaurant to continue to tweak its menu, which Russell says will soon include several options for children. A grand opening celebration is planned for early July; details to be posted to the restaurant’s Facebook page.

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