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Arlington is the official sports capital of north Texas, being home to both the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys. And for those not lucky enough to acquire tickets to the games, there are many establishments that provide the game day experience. For all the excitement that is on the streets and the surrounding areas, these businesses corral and magnify the exuberance that is contained in every fan. Through my own experience, I have listed the top five places to watch the game in Arlington.
5. 3rd Base Sports Bar and Grill
www.3rdbasesportsbarandgrill.com
Atmosphere ♦♦♦
Service ♦♦
Menu ♦♦♦
Game Display ♦♦♦♦
Drink Prices $$$
My experience at 3rd Base Sports Bar and Grill is not going to put it at the top of my radar for places I want to continuously revisit, but it was good enough to find its way on the list.
Awesome: By far the best aspect of this bar is the numerous HD TVs that litter the walls. Just about every seat is considered a good vantage point to watch the game. Also, the speaker system they use lets you hear every bone jarring hit and crack of the bat. They have a very large menu that includes everything from hot soup to baby back ribs. And of course they have great pub food such as nachos and creative burgers. The atmosphere is decent, depending on what event you're watching (the Cowboys games are always more enthusiastic than a UFC fight).
Buzz Kill: 3rd Base is located right across the street from Six Flags Over Texas which always draws a large crowd on the weekends. So if you're planning on tossing back a few during a Cowboys game on Sunday, traffic is going to be worse than other areas around town. The service is also a bit under par. While they are usually pleasant, they seem to be overwhelmed on a busy game day. I'm not sure if it's a matter of understaffing, but don't expect world class attention if you chose 3rd Base as your game day location. They do have a good selection of drinks and a large assortment of beers to choose from, but the higher than normal prices reflect the added cost of variety.
4. Buffalo Wild Wings
Atmosphere ♦♦♦♦
Service ♦♦♦
Menu ♦♦
Game Display ♦♦♦
Drink Prices $$$
When it comes to watching my home town teams, I try to stay with the locally owned, Texas proud bars. But for a large chain that boasts a great sports experience, Buffalo Wild Wings did not disappoint.
Awesome: They really go all out for the local teams with the over-the-top number of TVs that double as wall paper for the restaurant. They always try to have one small TV tuned into any local collage that you request. There is usually a good turnout of loyal fans for the feature game that come dressed out in their finest sports attire. That brings the rating of the atmosphere up significantly, especially when there is a game of importance for their team. The service is decent with the wait staff being attentive and usually punctual.
Buzz Kill: The service really took a hit in the ratings because of the bar. It is easily backed up and, sometimes, it actually takes longer for my beer to make it to my table than my food. The wings are as good as any place that sells them, but the rest of the menu could use an improvement. I'm not a fan of trying to eat a meal on paper and plastic plates. I try to keep the fast food experience in the drive through. Buffalo has numerous TVs, but the main focus of the restaurant is build around the large projection TVs. These are usually blurry and very dark. I find myself trying to watch the feature game on an 18" HD screen 25 feet away. The projectors just need to by updated, possible to the new HD projectors that are showcased in many sports bars around the area. Like 3rd Base, Buffalo has a good selection of beers, especially if you love the draft taste. But, with the exception of the Beer of the Month, they are always overpriced.
3. Boomerjacks Grill and Bar
Atmosphere ♦♦♦
Service ♦♦♦♦♦
Menu ♦♦♦
Game Display ♦♦♦
Drink Prices $
The name Boomerjacks lets you know that you're in for a good time just by walking through the door. It was hard to drop this establishment down to third on the list, but it is definitely a contender for a higher ranking when baseball season starts.
Awesome: Boomerjacks could have beaten out many other businesses by service alone. I have been there numerous times and have never had a bad experience. Every order placed by my table has always come out perfect, no matter how complex the modifications were. I'm never waiting on a drink because a new frosty beverage has always been delivered just before my current one is empty. They have an average variety of beers, but promote a very generous happy hour. And unlike other restaurants, happy hour is encouraged during the game. And with two full bars, they are more than capable of handling the game day demand.
Buzz Kill: They have many TVs all tuned into the feature game, but the main screens are often hard to see. If you get a good seat, there is no problem with viewing the game, but the obstructed view tables make it difficult for everyone to enjoy. The atmosphere is a very important factor for many hardcore fans, and Boomerjacks provides more of a family restaurant feel than a true sports viewing location. And for the lovers of both sports and patios, they fail to have the game sound on outside.
2. No Frills Grill and Sports Bar
Atmosphere ♦♦♦♦♦
Service ♦♦♦
Menu ♦♦♦
Game Display ♦♦♦♦
Drink Prices $
No Frills Grill and Sports Bar is a hidden gem in north Texas that brings in some of the most loyal fans of the area. They seem to have one goal in mind when game day comes - provide a great experience for the sports fanatic.
Awesome: This hole in the wall bar is loaded with HD TVs big enough to be considered murals. Every person there is dedicated to their team showing off trivial knowledge and the occasional commemorative tattoo. It doesn't matter that it might be your first time there, if you show pride in your team, you're family. This atmosphere is awarded a top score because of the followers it brings in. They have great domestic beers and a few of the more popular imports, all at a good price. They have game day specials so there is always a celebration to be had. The menu is mainly of a bar food variety with a few specialties added. The service is above par with the wait staff showing basic instincts for what the tables need.
Buzz Kill: While the bar food is exceptional, there are a few specialties that should be left to specialty restaurants. The Mahi Mahi and Tilapia are both choices that should be avoided. There are many arcade games in the bar area which can prove to be loud and annoying if you find yourself at a table close to the back. And it seems as though even on Super Bowl Sunday, they would still have every other side TV on the NTN trivia game or poker.
1. Sherlocks Baker Street Pub and Grill
Atmosphere ♦♦♦♦♦
Service ♦♦♦♦
Menu ♦♦♦♦
Game Display ♦♦♦♦♦
Drink Prices $
Sherlocks Pub is the Mecca of sports bars for north Texas. Like No Frills, Sherlocks is dedicated to providing the most memorable sports experience second only to actually being at the game. Strangers become brothers in the journey of witnessing their favorite team succeed. This combined with other attributes at this bar assures its spot at the top of the list.
Awesome: My atmosphere rating is maxed out. It gets just as loud and rowdy inside as the stadiums themselves. And with the use of an impressive HD projection TV at the focal point of the bar, you can see the sweat drip of the nose of your favorite player. If by some unlikely turn of events you can't get a perfect view of the projection screen, you can find the game on any number of HD TVs surrounding the pub. The service is usually impeccable, and the wait staff is well knowledgeable in drinks and even pairing a certain beer to a meal. The menu offers a large variety of food well beyond that of traditional pub fare. They have the juicy burgers that you would expect at a bar, but also tempt those with an appetite for something more with steaks and salmon filets. They offer a great selection of drinks with a large number of beers on draft. Happy hour is extended through every day of the week, and game day specials ensure a fantastic time without taking out a small loan. And for those that do have the privilege of attending the sporting event, they have a shuttle to carry you to and from the game.
Buzz Kill: During a game where everyone arrives around the same time, the cooking time at Sherlocks tends to be lengthy. And I can't quite explain the phenomenon, but there always seems to be a high number of tables but very few chairs.
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