By Marcy Franklin
The Daily Meal
The only thing that's more red-blooded American than watching a game in a stadium is gathering your friends, drinking beer, and watching the game at your local watering hole. The sports bar holds a special place in a spectator's heart -- it's where you can collectively experience the triumphs, the heartaches, and the last-minute surprises of any game.
The only thing that's more red-blooded American than watching a game in a stadium is gathering your friends, drinking beer, and watching the game at your local watering hole. The sports bar holds a special place in a spectator's heart -- it's where you can collectively experience the triumphs, the heartaches, and the last-minute surprises of any game.
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| The Daily Meal: America's Best Sports Bars |
But what's made the American sports bar what it is today goes far past the TV (though it certainly helps to be watching games on a 10-foot projector screen). Today's best sports bars reimagine what the collective sports experience really is. Some fans may want the loud, rowdy, in-your-face game-watching that you can get at bars like Dallas' Frankie's or Atlanta's Stats. Others may want the updated bar food that brings the comfort of home-cooking to the game, like at Philadelphia's Chickie's and Pete's or Brooklyn, N.Y.'s Red Star. Still others may want a more plush experience than the average watch party, for which Emeril Lagasse's Las Vegas outpost, Lagasse's Stadium, fits the bill. And then there are those that may just want to feel surrounded by the sports legends of the past, for which we recommend the "sports museum" in Kansas City, Mo., Chappell's.
But no matter the amenities, a sports bar is not truly a sport bar without the fans. Better get there yourself and see.
America's Best Sports Bars Slideshow
8. Chickie's and Pete's (Philadelphia)
This family-owned Philly sports bar chain has won numerous awards from ESPN, but they’re also known for one particular item on the menu: Crabfries. Imagine a crinkle-cut fry topped with the season’s leftover crab seasoning, with a cheesy sauce on the side — doesn’t get any better than that. Besides the seafood-heavy menu, it’s the fans and constant games on TV that make the Chickie's and Pete's outposts a favorite for game-watching. The South Philly location is known for legendary Eagles watch parties, but we’re sure any Philly team gets a lot of loving at Chickie's and Pete's.
7. STATS Restaurant and Bar (Atlanta)
What makes Stats stand out from the others? Six separate viewing areas for the games, which means you won’t rub shoulders with your rivals, plus there's a whopping 70 HDTVs in the bar so everyone can have a great view. And as if that wasn’t enough, wait until you see the beer tap system set up throughout the bar, so patrons can pour their own beer instead of relying on a waitress during a particularly intense inning — and that’s on top of the five bars. This mecca of sports (it’s the home of radio broadcast 790 The Zone) also serves classic American bar food, with a long list of draught beers. We’re already in the car.
Chappell's Restaurant & Sports Museum (Kansas City, Mo.)
Upon entering this Kansas City, Mo., bar, you’re immediately greeted with 100 years of sports greatness: 1,000 football helmets, Super Bowl rings, autographed Hall of Fame baseballs, and more — there’s a reason it’s called Chappell’s Restaurant and Museum. While taking in the relics around you, watch a game and dine on some classic American dishes, like the fish and chips and Chappell burger.
5. Duffy's Sports Grill (Florida)
We can see why Miami Dolphins fans love this bar. A Dolphin Express bus to all Miami Dolphins football games?! We’re in. For those sticking around the bar for the game at the Miami outpost, there are a mere 700 seats to fill and 200 flat screens to watch the action on. And the extras are what keep this bar at the top of its game: gluten-free items on the menu, a wine list, a poolside bar (yes, really) and dockside parking for all you boaters.
4. STATE (Chicago)
Even if you aren't a sports fanatic, it's worth heading to STATE if only for the food — filet mignon burger, sockeye salmon, and quinoa salad aren’t your typical sports bar offerings. And making STATE that much more impressive? The bar’s 124 HD plasma TVs to keep fans watching all night. If that’s not enough, STATE also has a giant draught beer selection: 100 total. We’ll take it.
3. The Four's Restaurant & Sports Bar (Boston)
Ah Boston, home to the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, Bruins, and The Four's, a bar known to be a relic of sports history in this town. Come to see the walls covered in sports memorabilia, and stay for the clam chowder (they’re known for it) and rowdy crowds. Just steps away from TD Garden, The Four's has been named the number one sports bar by Sports Illustrated, among others — you know this is a bar home to the true sports greats.
2. Red Star (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
New Yorkers, rejoice: you have a full, state-of-the-art sports bar to take in all your MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, and NCAA games. It’s consistently ranked as the best place to watch March Madness, the Super Bowl, and any other televised sporting event on its 40 TVs. With 14 beers on draught (including the Red Star Amber Lager), plus an extensive wings and food menu, the bar sets you up perfectly for a night of sports. (Or tequila, if you go on a Tuesday.) We recommend the crispy curry wings and the bacon Cheddar wings — two stellar recipes.
1. Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar (Louisiana)
Walk-On’s is the passion project of two Louisiana State alumni, Jack Warner and Brandon Landry, which may explain why the Louisiana state chain is such a favorite among locals. The bar most recently beat out others national sports bars in ESPN’s mobile contest, and continues to draw in sports-hungry fans with traditional Southern bites like Louisiana alligator, catfish, crawfish, and jumbo Gulf shrimp. (Be sure to check out the Final Four challenge, too — complete a 2-foot sandwich of shrimp, crawfish, and catfish served with cheese fries, a cookie skillet sundae, and a 32-ounce Coke in less than 30 minutes and the meal is free.) The beer menu is your traditional Miller Lite, Coors Light, and Budweiser taps, but you won’t even notice you're not sipping a craft beer when watching the game.
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