Rivals has a sleek, inviting, exterior
They attack your vision as soon as you swing open the front door. You won’t find refuge even if you try to escape them by looking at the floor – there’s one waiting, a sniper from below. It doesn’t matter where you sit at Rivals Casual Grille, you can‘t avoid a great view of the game. The sports fandom doesn’t stop there, either. Team banners and paraphernalia pour out of the ceiling and trim the walls. If you can think about something other than sports, your ability to multi-task is unflappable.
The main room at Rivals is wide open with a funky, eye-catching layout – including a pair of seating areas perched over the room. A large, accommodating bar is in the back, stocked with several flavors of beer (from Miller, the Anheuser Busch family and Coors to Leinenkugel, Boulevard and Guinness). Venture past the bar to enter the massive game room (yes – a massive game room: air hockey, Golden Tee, Big Buck Hunter, Silver Strike, Hot Shot Basketball, and a variety of arcade games) where it’s OK for grown men to play (if only because they have a beer and the game in sight).
The press box VIP room overlooks the main dining area and bar.
A press-box (ish) VIP room is accessible via a set of stairs in the game room which is filled with local high school and college jerseys, photos and logos. The menu boasts burgers, salads, pizzas and starters, the usual suspects at a sports bar. They offer about a dozen “main events” which include poor man steaks, fajitas and grilled mahi.
We stopped in for a little party with pints of cold Guinness and starter samplers (slider burgers, chicken wings, onion rings, chicken tenders, potato skins and fried mushrooms).The fried mushrooms and chicken wings were the best options on the plate – along with the sliders which are also available as a full meal (get the waffle-cut fries covered in cheese for your side).
Whatever your game, it will be well within view and a fair price for pints and grub will keep your party satisfied. Rivals was listed as the third best sports bar in SGF by TAG.
For more information and a complete menu, visit their website.
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