Sports/Celebrity Restaurants That Actually Have Decent Food [merged threads]
Theree was a mention in the Midwest forum about a Detroit-area restaurant owned by hockey player Chris Cellios. It reminded me of meals I've had in various sports-themed restaurants around the country.
One that stands out is NFL player Junior Seau's place in San Diego's Mission Valley. Besides the regular seating area and menu, what I really liked here was a separate area with a sushi bar and Japanese menu. Easy view of the big-screens and excellent, friendly service made it a good way to spend a couple of hours on a playoff afternoon.
Down here in S.Florida, Dan Marino has a few restaurants. The food is passable, but they seem to exist more for the bar scene, which is not my thing.
And of course, Harry Caray's place in River North, Chicago, has good Italian food (once when I was there in the early '90s, the Great Man was two tables away, well into his Budweiser cups)
What are your favorites in this genre?
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Down here in S.Florida, Dan Marino has a few restaurants.
Shula's is a very, very good steakhouse. I know there are separate steak threads. The Miami Lakes (original) location has the best memories for me but there are locations throughout the US. I was not as impressed with the Shula's on the Beach in Ft. Lauderdale.
As you indicated, most restaurants run by sports guys have a bar focus (featuring lots of fried dishes). However, I had many great meals in defunct sports celebrity restaurants. I can only guess that the business aspect did not work out, since the food was more than decent.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Non-NonRev
One that stands out is NFL player Junior Seau's place in San Diego's Mission Valley. Besides the regular seating area and menu, what I really liked here was a separate area with a sushi bar and Japanese menu. Easy view of the big-screens and excellent, friendly service made it a good way to spend a couple of hours on a playoff afternoon.
I'm surprised by this... I've been to this restaurant three times when I lived in San Diego and everytime, I swore not to return. (But I ended up going back a 2nd/3rd time because the "group" I was with overruled me.) The food was always bad...I don't recall ever liking a thing I ate there. I distinctly remember one time where I had grilled fish and it was so dry, I couldn't even eat it. I also had a pasta dish where it was so bland, I couldn't stop putting salt in my dish. And last but not least, I ordered something (probably a burger or sandwich) and paid for "extra avocado" and there was one slice.
The only celebrity restaurant that I have actually enjoyed is the Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas. http://www.cabowabo.com/cwa/index.php? Great food and drinks. Ceviche and Stuffed Mushroom appetizers are amazing. I also had some kind of Filet of Beef or Beef Tenderloin, however it wasn't really filet mignon tenderloin...maybe mock tenderloin or sirloin? But flavor was out of this world. Way to go Sammy Haagar!!!
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I enjoy Seau's here in SAN, and eat there every couple of months or so. A former Padre and Cy Young award winner, Randy Jones, has a great BBQ that is at the stadium and caters. Shula's in Florida was so-so, but I really liked Harry Carey's retaurant in Chicago.
I didn't know that Cabo Wabo was Sammy Hagar's place. I was in Cabo over the weekend, but didn't check it out.
Jock's and Jills in Atlanta (owned by Doc Rivers, Scott Hastings, ex atlanta hawks players) used to be pretty good but has become a run of the mill sports bar.
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Mike Shannon's restaurant in downtown St. Louis is pretty good too. As an added bonus, lots of ballplayers- home, away, and retired alike hang out there before and after games. Great place!
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I must admit I was very pleasantly surprised by a dinner I had at MJs steakhouse in Grand Central Station. Damn fine steak. Certainly comparable to Ruth Chris or Mortons in my opinion.
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Harry Caray's here in Chicago is quite good and popular with tourists and locals alike. Also agree with Shula's. Another that comes to mind is Wayne Gretzky's in Toronto. Its been a few years, so I'm presuming its still there. Definitely not one of the top places in a pretty good restaurant town, but a good place for families with reasonable prices, as well as good food and service.
I also had some kind of Filet of Beef or Beef Tenderloin, however it wasn't really filet mignon tenderloin...maybe mock tenderloin or sirloin?
Sure it was Filet Mignon. But it was Mexican Beef. Which is a lot different than USDA or Kobe Beef. I've never seen fat cattle in Mexico ever. All are skinny little things.
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Friends of mine have said good things about Yao Ming's family's restaurant in Houston. As for Gretzky's in Toronto, I'm not so sure. I don't really know anyone who goes there for a good meal - it's more of a hockey game hang out, IMO.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken in Phx
Sure it was Filet Mignon. But it was Mexican Beef. Which is a lot different than USDA or Kobe Beef. I've never seen fat cattle in Mexico ever. All are skinny little things.
I'm not sure if that's the case...I stayed at the Crowne Plaza in Cabo during that trip (when it was the Faro Del Cabo all inclusive) and they served filet mignon on several occasions and it was DEFINITELY filet mignon...no question about it. There was a HUGE contrast between that and what was served at Cabo Wabo...so unless the hotel flew in beef from the US or elsewhere... Although like I said before, the flavors at the Cabo Wabo were awesome...they could have used a better cut of beef tho.
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