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Rock-N-Sports Cafe Bar and Grille
By Julie Garisto
Published July 13, 2007
Vitals: 1811 N 15th St., Ybor City, across from the Laughing Cat Italian restaurant. (813) 248-6220. Major credit cards accepted; wheelchair accessible.
www.rocknsportsbar.com.
Upscale but not stuffy: It's one of those upscale sports bar but don't hate it because it's beautiful. The 5,500-square-foot establishment has arched entry ways, pale olive walls with framed photos of celebrities, columns with electric guitars, dark wood fixtures and furniture, and mini HD flat screens surrounding the bar. Clever touches include a green painted floor with white yard lines like a football field. There's a high-quality feel and cleanliness to the place, but the servers are accommodating and down to earth. On our visit, bartenders Brandon and Jessica were especially easy to talk to while mulling over a Tanqueray and tonic on a dreary work night.
Total TVs: 45, with Direct TV sports packages.
Play some tunes: Digital Internet jukebox.
Cabaret entertainment: Check out the Judy B Goode show with Paul Thomas during Thursday happy hours. Goode carved out a career playing gay resorts and it's the fun, kitschy type of gig Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau would drag their L.A. Swingers entourage to see.
Other ways to amuse yourself: Pool table, electric darts and Megaforce electronic trivia.
Work and play: Free wireless Internet access
Reserve a room: A VIP lounge with cushy leather sofas, plasma TVs or a huge dining room are available for private parties or pay-per-view boxing.
What, no Gators and 'Noles? Rock 'n' Sports says its home for Virginia Tech, Auburn, Georgia and North Carolina football teams. It makes a special note of being the "viewing headquarters for the North Carolina Tar Heels."
The juice: Full liquor bar. Two-for-one always on draft beer and well brands. On tap are Guinness, Bass, Blue Moon, Miller Lite, Coors Light and Bud Light.
The grub: High end, low end and all stops in between. Unique appetizer the Lightning Sticks electrify the humdrum fried cheese with marinara concept by wrapping mozzarella, garlic and butter around breadsticks. Tuesdays are all-you-can-eat wings.
Do you dare do the Dane? A chalkboard announces a dare that only one diner has taken. If you eat the Great Dane completely in 30 minutes, it's free. Before you laugh it off, read how it's made: A 12-inch hot dog comes wrapped in a pound of beef, covered with chili, scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese. Ugh. A smaller version, though equally unhealthy we're sure, can be ordered: the chihuahua.
[Last modified July 12, 2007, 12:31:34]
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