ATLANTA'S NEWEST SPORTS BARS have got game, and a whole lot more.
For a striking reminder of how times have changed, just squeeze inside the crowded, decidedly ramshackle confines of the original Taco Mac in Virginia-Highland.
By comparison, the latest Taco Mac locations are positively glitzy — well-lighted and spacious sports playgrounds with high ceilings, comfy furnishings and banks of glossy, high-definition televisions. And the food and drink have been pumped up to match the ambience.
At the Lindbergh City Center Taco Mac, there's a fancy private dining room for special tasting events. And the Taco Mac Metropolis in Midtown features a beer cellar stocked with rare and vintage-aged brews.
Fred Crudder, beverage director for the 22 Taco Mac stores owned by Tappan Street Restaurant Group, says the days of the dive bar with framed jerseys on the wall are all but over, as customers look to trade up for more quality and variety.
"The atmosphere and the focus of the sports bar had to change," says Crudder. "The old formula, with two big, dusty TVs behind the bar and a whole bunch of guys watching the home team, that just doesn't work anymore. And now, you notice two things that you never saw in sports bars — women and children."
Beyond the burgeoning Taco Mac empire, others are also reimagining the sports bar scene in new, sometimes eye-popping ways that appeal to people who don't know a jump shot from the infield fly rule.
Stats, in the heart of downtown, may be the epitome. Call it a sports bar on steroids. The chic, multileveled space and upscale classic American food offerings were conceived by Bob Amick and Todd Rushing of Concentrics Restaurants — better known for their high-concept fine dining places, such as Two Urban Licks and Trois.
And in suburban Woodstock, Andy Klubock has opened a fresh version of Summits Wayside Tavern in a former steakhouse — improving on his sports-and-beer theme with a warmer, more worldly look, and a menu that features international dishes that go beyond the usual pub grub.
Stats
It's definitely not your grandfather's sports bar — unless granddad was a Studio 54 kind of guy. Stats scores with a sophisticated take on game-watching that feels more like a nightclub. And, actually, there are five bars here, with 70 high-definition TVs, a sports ticker and a host of swanky private party areas.
In the main bar, you can reserve one of four high-top tables, equipped with a patented Table Top draft system that lets you pour your own beer. In the main dining room, you can snag one of the three party tables, with pop-up beer systems and personal drop down televisions. Want to feel the wind in your face but not the rain on your head? The rooftop deck has a retractable awning. And the Adidas Room next door offers a place for private dining and cocktail receptions. If you're just hanging out at lunch or on game days, you can sometimes catch the jocks from 790 "The Zone" broadcasting their sports shows from a special glass booth.
As for chowing down, the food here is both familiar and ambitious. Barbecued bacon-wrapped shrimp with grits and Southern lima bean hummus meet all-American hot dogs, hamburgers, wings and nachos. Comfort foods include roasted turkey breast or old-fashioned meat loaf with mashed potatoes. Go whole hog with a barbecue pulled pork and rib plate or move up the food chain with a $34 filet mignon. Pair it with a glass of Oregon pinot noir or a pint of Numbers Ale, Concentrics' hearty Atlanta Brewing Co. collaboration.
300 Marietta St., downtown Atlanta, 404-885-1472. www.statsatl.com
Taco Mac
Taco Mac is Atlanta's original wing joint. But the newest of its rapidly multiplying locations have become symbols of the changing face of sports bars, with more of everything. The vanguard Lindbergh City Center features some 100 beers on draft and another 280-plus in the bottle, and you can watch multiple games on 38 high-definition TVs and two high-definition big screens.
Classic Buffalo-style wings are still on the menu, along with other old favorites, such as tacos and burritos, and the signature "Kenmore" burger — a half-pound monster covered in sautéed onions, mushrooms, bacon and Swiss cheese. But what really sets this location apart is a series of beer dinners, highlighted by imaginative creations from executive chef Matt Deckard. They take place in the intimate, mezzanine-level private dining room, and reservations are limited to small groups.
Last year, Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster and beer and food pairing expert Garrett Oliver introduced a menu that included pepper-encrusted Ahi tuna with Belgian-style Brooklyn Local 1 ale and Mexican chocolate tiramisu with Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. More recently, Deckard offered the likes of grilled peach salad, pheasant and Niman Ranch brisket, paired with exotic beers flavored with fruit, herbs and spices from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.
573 Main St., Lindbergh City Center, Atlanta, 404-574-5813, and other locations. www.taco-mac.com
Summits Wayside Tavern
In Woodstock, the recently opened Summits Wayside Tavern brings an international flavor to the Towne Lake area. The brick-faced main bar setting features flags from 182 countries hanging from the ceiling. And the dining room is surrounded by a world map mural. All of that reflects the selection of world-class beers — 150 on draft and 700 in the bottle — and wide variety of food. But there's still room for plenty of high-definition TVs and even a small game room.
On the menu, starters include Thai-citrus marinaded beef skewers, lotus wraps with grilled Asian-spiced chicken and pork pot stickers. Entrees go from an Ahi tuna plate to fish and chips to baked grouper. And standing out among the usual burgers and sandwiches, there is housemade brisket and American Kobe beef burgers and hot dogs.
Besides the huge beer selection, look for an impressive selection of spirits, including chilled vodkas served in frozen glasses. In the fall, Summits Woodstock will host Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Brewery founder and author of "He Said Beer, She Said Wine" for a one-of-a-kind exploration of ancient and modern beer and food pairings.
2990 Eagle Drive, Woodstock, 770-924-5315, and other locations. www.summits-online.com.
