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John Hickey/Buffalo News
Televisions and sports memorabilia from a wide range of sports dominate the landscape inside Tully's Good Times, which also features a large menu. |
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As we unofficially say goodbye to summer this Labor Day weekend, sports fans know what's next: It's time to say hello to another season of nonstop game action. It's the perfect time to discover or rediscover some great Western New York sports bars - fun places to watch your favorite game, whatever your sport.
The Bills have completed the preseason and open the regular season at New England on Sept. 10. And if it's football time, hockey isn't far behind. For delirious Sabres fans, still savoring last year's surprise post-season run, it's time to think preseason. Then there's NASCAR's Chase for the Cup races and the Yankees and Red Sox in the post-season pennant races. Did we mention college games? So get out your lucky shirts, caps or whatever you prefer to don and celebrate a new season. There are too many great places to review them all here, but we've taken a hard look at several sports bars spread across the area to give you a sampling of what's out there.
St. James Place Sports Bar & Grille
1531 Military Road, Kenmore
874-4122
http://www.wnymenu.com/
Touchdowns: Menu standouts are 10 types of chicken wings, including Italian, Greek and Cajun and haddock served seven ways, including Lemon Pepper. Food is reasonably priced, yet high quality with large portions. Salads, sandwiches, pasta and pizza are also available.
Stadium Seating: One indoor room has about 15 tables and about 20 more tables outdoors, including the large patio, which is heated and carpeted. There are 10 indoor televisions, including a projection screen and three televisions outside, all receiving satellite feed.
Fumbles: The no-frills bar room decor may not please everyone.
Halftime Happenings: Dart boards and a pool table.
Insider's Tips: It reopened in October 2005; new owners have given it a new look and a new menu.
Special Event: Buffalo Bills cornerback Nate Clements will tape the first of his new weekly WNYO television show here at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11. At press time, the owners were in negotiations for Clements to also tape the entire season. Call St. James Place for details.
Wrap Up: St. James Place is an undiscovered gem if you don't mind a basic decor.
Tully's Good Times
1459 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst
446-0007
8070 Main St., Clarence
634-2234
522 E. Main St., Batavia
(585) 343-9030
http://www.tullysgoodtimes.com/
Touchdowns: Snack attack, a combination of potato skins, Tully's Chicken Tenders and mozzarella sticks is a perfect choice for dipping. Salads, seafood platters, pasta, burgers and sandwiches are also available.
Stadium Seating: Tully's is a large restaurant, and each location has more than 82 televisions (yes, you read that right) receiving satellite. This is a sports lover's dream come true. The walls are lined with memorabilia of every sport, from pro football and golf to tae kwon do.
Fumbles: Balloons were great when you were a kid, but holding one now when there is a wait for a table may feel awkward to some adults. Tully's doesn't use a vibrating buzzer to signal when your table is ready.
Halftime Happenings: Two pool tables, dart boards and video games. Plus, check out the action on all the other televisions.
Insider's Tips: The best dessert is the new baked apple crumb pie with layers of apples, a flaky crust dusted in cinnamon and all topped with vanilla ice cream. Best of all, it's big enough to share.
Wrap-Up: With more televisions than you can count, a sports-themed decor and a large menu, Tully's is a strong option.
Buffalo Wild Wings
2017 Elmwood Ave. (Regal Cinema Plaza)
876-9464
3035 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst
691-5691
5433 Transit Road, Williamsville
636-6211
http://www.buffalowildwings.com/
Touchdowns: Buffalo wings and chicken tenders are menu standouts, with your choice of 14 different sauces, ranging from "smiling" to "screaming." A message to garlic lovers: The parmesan garlic sauce is intense. Try the sour cream and chive potato wedges with cheese. Also features sandwiches, ribs, burgers and salads.
Stadium Seating: More than 24 televisions at each location, including four large projection screens, tuned to sports with satellite TV.
Fumbles: Sure it's a chain, based in Minneapolis, with 405 locations in 36 states. But it was started by two Buffalo transplants searching for authentic chicken wings in Ohio. How cool is that?
Insider's Tips: Try the two free Buzztime trivia games and keep score against others in the restaurant or nationwide. It's fun seeing your name in the standings on the television scoreboard, if you are winning of course.
Halftime Happenings: In addition to the trivia game, there are video games, bubble hockey and a dart board. Free Wi-Fi internet access is offered, too.
Wrap-Up: Buffalo Wild Wings is a fun spot with a pleasing menu and lots of diversions.
Pearl Street Grill and Brewery
76 Pearl St.
856-2337
http://www.pearlstreetgrill.com/
Touchdowns: Extensive menu offers pizza, salads, sandwiches, burgers and full dinner entrees. The crispy fries loaded with two cheeses, bacon and sour cream are addictive and invite sharing. The onsite brewery means eight different beers on tap are available. For quicker service, a special buffet is offered for every Sabres and Bisons home game.
Stadium Seating: This expansive four-level restaurant, which can seat up to 2,000 people, features exposed brick in many rooms. It is a former warehouse building, dating to 1858. There are at least two screens in the cellar, five televisions on the first level and four on the second floor, including a new 70-inch plasma screen. Negotiations are under way for up to 15 additional televisions for throughout the restaurant, including the third-floor banquet rooms, used during busiest game days. Outside, there are two screens, with plans for more, on the tri-level heated patios, weather permitting. All televisions receive games via digital cable.
Fumbles: Pearl Street can get crowded, especially before and after Sabres home games. Free parking is available after 5 p.m. weekdays and all days weekends in the restaurant's parking lot on Seneca and Franklin. If it's full, you may have to park in nearby lots.
Halftime Happenings: Second floor offers five pool tables, dart boards, foosball, bubble hockey, air hockey, video games and Mega Touch digital video games at bar booths. Free wireless Internet access is also available inside and on the patio.
Insider's Tips: Buffalo Bills and Sabres players have been spotted here. Pearl Street takes reservations and tries to accommodate requests to sit in specific areas.
Special Event: Blue Friday, a free Downtown Bills Pep Rally open to the public, will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. next Friday at Pearl Street Grill.
Wrap Up: Hip, urban atmosphere makes this a popular meeting place, especially on hockey nights.
Danny's South
4300 Abbott Road, Orchard Park
649-1194
http://www.dannysrestaurant.com/
Touchdown: It's almost a "Hail Mary" pass from Ralph Wilson Stadium. If you're heading to a Bills game, head to Danny's first. Features a Sunday Bills game day buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with omelet station, sausage, bacon, homefries and featured entrees such as chicken ala king, lasagna and baked chicken.
Stadium Seating: Three large rooms with a total of 16 televisions, including a 50-inch plasma screen and a projection screen, all receiving digital cable service. There are more than 1,500 pieces of sports memorabilia, including a row of old Ralph Wilson Stadium seats, which were replaced by luxury boxes.
Fumbles: For those going to the game, parking here is a great convenience. For those not going to the game, it can be an added cost. Here's the parking policy: During Bills' home games, you pay $25 to park in the restaurant's lot and receive a $15 restaurant credit, good anytime; a trolley takes you the short distance to the game, but you must walk back to your car due to traffic closures. A VIP Package is also available.
Insider's Tips: Make early brunch reservations. Fans start arriving at 9:30 a.m. on Bills' home game days because traffic only increases as the day progresses. The Buffalo chicken wing soup, although not included in the buffet, is a popular choice for tailgate parties. Bills owner Ralph Wilson comes in so often they named his favorite tuna melt sandwich after him; Bills coaches including Dick Jauron have also been known to visit.
Halftime Happenings: During Bills away games only, enjoy the free halftime buffet, with wings, salad and pasta.
Wrap Up: If you don't mind the traffic, this lively spot offers a hearty buffet before heading to the game, tailgating, or cheering for your team inside the restaurant. |