The East Valley is chockful of sports bars and, just like the teams they showcase on TV screens, there are star players, average players, and benchwarmers when it comes to the food and drink they dish out.
Let’s face it, there’s not much effort required to grill a hot dog or dump a bag of frozen chicken wings into a fryer. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with ballpark-quality food when you go to watch your favorite team.
Here are the best places in the East Valley – some traditional sports bars, some simply restaurants or pubs with at least 15 TVs – to catch a game and enjoy top-notch food and drink.
As you’d expect, there’s plenty of good Irish fare like shepherd’s pie (with real lamb), fish and chips, and Bailey’s bread and butter pudding, but also a nice selection of hearty burgers (pictured: the Saint Jalapeno Burger) and sandwiches and usually several daily specials. Fibbers is the official East Valley home of Seattle Seahawks fans, but Cardinals fans shouldn’t hold that against it. 1989 W. Elliot Road, Chandler (map), 480-722-9434.
GTC lays claim to the official East Valley watch location for Ohio State football, and whether you’re craving a burger, a sandwich (pictured: Great Balls of Fire Grinder with house-made beef meatballs), pizza, tacos, or even, Lord forbid, something ‘‘healthy,’’ the wide-ranging menu can satisfy almost any appetite. Stick around after the games for live music every night of the week. 6045 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler (map), 480-556-1420.
With a well-curated roster of 27 craft beers on tap and food options ranging from basic wings and burgers (pictured: Monk’s Patty Melt) to chef-driven dishes like Sriracha-bacon Brussels sprouts and ‘‘pineayaki’’ salmon, the Monk has earned a reputation as one of the Valley’s favorite hangouts. Owner Jim Lolli hails from Michigan so expect to see Detroit games on some of the 16 TVs. 1760 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler (map), 480-963-8000.
This casual Mexican restaurant has three distinct areas: a dining room, a large patio, and a sports cantina for watching games. Seafood dishes, more than three dozen, are the highlights, including some of the best fish tacos (breaded or grilled, pictured) in town. Other house specialities include steak picado, carne asada, carna adobada, and steak and chicken fajitas. 1927 N. Gilbert Road, Mesa (map), 480-655-1828.
Much of the menu at this cozy sports bar in downtown Chandler is locally inspired and sourced. Highlights include the Queen Creek Sandwich with spicy grilled shrimp and jalapeño cheddar brat, the I-17 Burger with bacon and BBQ sauce, and the Zona Rancheros with roasted brisket (pictured). In the evening, you can sit next to the patio’s fire box and watch a game projected onto the outside of the building. 55 W. Chicago St., Chandler (map), 480-699-9104.
If craft beer plays an important role in your football-watching, this upscale gastropub in downtown Gilbert with 72 taps is where you’ll want to be. Menu highlights include thick-style flatbreads, tempura beer-battered chicken sliders, a sirloin steak sandwich, Korean BBQ pork street tacos, and the option of turning any burger into a double. There’s another location in Mesa but it has a bare-bones food menu. 313 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert (map), 480-268-9557.
If man’s best friend watched sports, this is where he’d hang out. The dog-themed decor includes dog photos from customers and bone-shaped tables and tap handles. Besides burgers and pizzas, the menu has a hefty Tex Mex section with options like tostada nachos (pictured), fajitas, and beer-braised brisket tacos. 21151 E. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek (map), 480-882-3177; 4921 E. Ray Road, Ahwatukee (map), 480-961-2374.
Besides one of the East Valley’s best TVs-to-seats ratios, three locations feature a menu of tried-and-true favorites like the Hot Texas Burger with jalapeños and Tabasco, a Philly cheese steak with Cheez Whiz, tacos el carbon, and an 8-ounce sirloin steak (pictured). 1524 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert (map), 480-963-0032; 4845 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler (map), 480-284-6496; 6348 S. Higley Road, Gilbert (map), 480-248-7002.
Standard sports bar fare gets creative and upscale twists with such enticements as chicken wing lollipops (pictured), loaded duck fat frites with roasted pork belly, jackfruit carnitas tacos, and a brisket mac ’n’ cheese sandwich at BKD’s. Nearly three dozen large screens – including a 120-incher that covers most of a wall – are scattered across the interior and enclosed patio. 980 E. Pecos Road, Chandler (map), 480-935-2537.
Most brewpubs go out of their way to avoid being seen as a sports bar. Not Helluva, which boasts 14 75-inch TVs and the NFL Sunday Ticket package. Besides BBQ platters and sandwiches, the menu features smoked meats and vegetables in many dishes, such as the mac ’n’ cheese (pictured with pulled pork) and Everything Chili (with pork, chicken, sausage, and tri-tip). Even the salsa is smoked. 3950 W. Ray Road, Chandler (map), 480-664-6488.
A scratch kitchen doesn’t get overly complicated with well-portioned basics – from the Big Country chicken sandwich (pictured) to the The Draft Burger – but displays its creativity with dishes like beer bread-wrapped blackened chicken and a donut hole dessert with Skrewball Peanut Butter Whisky cream cheese frosting. As its name implies, there are plenty of beers – two dozen – on tap. 1130 W. Grove Ave., Mesa (map), 480-588-8988.
Copper Grill’s menu may look like standard, albeit well-executed, sports bar fare. If you look closely, however, you’ll find some unusual temptations like peanut butter and jelly chicken wings, beer-battered pickle fries, and The Popper (pictured), a grilled cheese sandwich with sautéed jalapeños, bacon, cream cheese. 2531 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert (map), 480-656-1476; 7450 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler (map), 480-350-7469.
Green chile cheesy bread, stuffed green chiles, a green chile mac ’n’ cheese burger, a green chile Philly, a green chile chicken burrito (pictured), green chile meatloaf … are you starting to see a pattern? If Southwestern flavors aren’t your thing, there also are belly-filling burgers, sandwiches, tacos, pizzas, and pasta dishes. 1860 S. Stapley Drive, Mesa (map), 480-494-2699; 1925 S. Sossaman Road, Mesa (map), 480-718-5440.
Another brewery and restaurant that has plenty of TVs scattered around its sprawling, 10,000-square-foot interior and patio. Brunch items, like the Fruity Pebbles French toast (pictured) or chicken and waffles, include a mimosa or breakfast beer. A French onion patty melt, a brewer’s grilled cheese sandwich, and a brat burger are among the more creative options for lunch or dinner. 335 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert (map), 602-900-9004.
Diehard Chicago sports fans are the target audience of this casual hangout. The bait? Cheese curds (pictured), poutine, and saganaki, a flaming Greek cheese dish. The menu also boasts eight kinds of chicken sandwiches, eight other sandwiches, and seven burgers. 7200 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler (map), 480-940-4745.
CK’s offers a little bit of everything – 35 TVs, games like pool and shuffleboard, a nice patio, live music at night. The solid menu includes a PB&J burger, a spicy shredded pork sandwich, a quarter-pound stadium dog, and a giant chimichanga (pictured). 4142 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee (map), 480-706-5564.
If you’re looking for a wallet-friendly destination, this neighborhood hangout has been popular since the mid-’80s. Wings are the highlight of the simple menu and come in a choice of 19 flavors. Burgers, sandwiches, and 12-inch pizzas all start under $10. 5030 S. Mill Ave., Tempe (map), 480-456-3663.
The nostalgic meatloaf TV dinner grabs a lot of attention on the creative comfort menu, but there’s also a brunch version with eggs and bacon (pictured). Other top picks are the Buffalo mac ’n’ cheese, Chicago Black Sheep burger, and beer-braised short ribs. 135 W. Ocotillo Road, Chandler (map), 480-802-6659.
Whether you prefer chicken wings and a Bud Light or balsamic-glazed rack of lamb and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, this light and airy gastropub has you covered. Other entrees include street tacos, house-made egg rolls, and lemon-rosemary chicken (pictured). 1245 S. Price Road, Chandler (map), 480-500-5247.
With enticing starters like potato and cheese pierogies, sirloin kabobs, and jalapeño bottle caps, you’ll be lucky to save room for an entree. 3245 W. Ray Road, Chandler (map), 480-814-1400; 23706 S. Power Road, Queen Creek (map), 480-668-3800; 1929 N. Power Road, Mesa (map), 480-985-8259.
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