Everyone else can have the holidays, but for football fans, this is the most wonderful time of the year. For the next few months, weekends revolve around football, friends, food and fizzy drinks. Along with a healthy dose of making fun of the Browns.
If, like me, you tend to spend what borders on an entire gameday sitting in one spot at the bar, you want to make sure there’s good food around. You’re going to get hungry. To that end, we’re working with NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer to highlight some of the best local sports bars, specifically with football-appropriate food day and night. Like the Pop-Tarts Bowl or the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, we’ll call this the NÜTRL Sports Bar Guide, a roundup of local spots worth settling into for football, good food and a few cold drinks. And it’s a natural fit, as the light seltzers leave more room for smoked meats and fried food, all at about half the price of a cocktail.
Rather than just list every sports bar with food, we’re breaking this down into four different categories with one pick for each. Upscale dining with sports bar vibes; classic bar food; elevated pub grub; and convenience with variety. We recommend pairing it all with NÜTRL, and preferably a bucket, if you have a crowd. Ice cold drinks and hot food is our kind of dinner pairing.
Classic bar food
Salty J’s
5625 4th St N
There may not be a more underrated spot in town to catch a game. It has, perhaps, the best ratio of affordability to quality in a deep menu that is just absolutely packed with classic sports bar grub. The most popular appetizer is pile of loaded potatoes called “Drinker’s Fries.” This is the place for those who dream of burgers, wings, sandwiches, nachos, and every fried food possible. They have a dozen appetizers that are under $10, including loaded tater tots, fried mac and cheese, and corndog nuggets. Save room for the Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie after the game. I will continue to beat the drum for Salty J’s as a sneaky great spot. Underestimate at your own risk.
Upscale dining
The Galley
27 4th St N
My favorite thing about The Galley isn’t that it’s friendly, that it’s relaxed, that the beers and NÜTRLs are cheap, that it has a great location, or even that the nautical theme makes every visit feel a little like vacation, though those are all great qualities. My favorite thing is the food. Let me say this: if you haven’t eaten at The Galley in a while, you’ve missed on a transformation. The food at downtown’s local pub has always been solid, but they have seriously elevated their game the last couple years, which you can both see and taste in the menu. Where else are you going to have yellowfin sashimi or filet mignon that you’re also allowed to yell like a maniac when the Bucs score? You can also kick it with chicken wings and a NÜTRL. It’s your oyster. Point, Galley.
Convenience and variety
Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill
1320 Central Ave
Let’s start with three words: pizza vending machine. Three more: order by phone. And a final two: food trucks. Just like Ferg’s has it all in terms of entertainment (a dog park and axe throwing and a concert venue…), so too do the food options show real range. For convenience, my favorite thing about the expansive sports wonderland of Ferg’s is that you can order food and drinks from your phone. You don’t have to wait for a server or bartender. It’s all on your time, when you’re hungry or thirsty. Just tell the internet you want a basket of wings and a NÜTRL bucket, and they will appear. Meanwhile, Ferg’s is the rare spot that has its own kitchen and multiple food trucks and pop-ups. Vinnie’s Pies and Maxi Empanadas are two of our favorites that set up shop outside. Ferg’s is St. Pete’s something-for-everyone spot, and they make it easy.
Elevated pub grub
Localz Sports Bar
1 Beach Dr SE
Can a place be a hidden gem and be on Beach Drive at the same time? Localz pulls it off. What they also manage to pull is a fantastic scratch kitchen that churns out some legit and creative takes on pub grub. The pretzel bites have their own dry rub. There’s a ghost pepper patty melt. There are individual sections of the menu just for their variety of loaded brussels sprouts and tater tots. There are a full 10 different housemade wing sauces, including peach mango habanero, maple bacon sriracha, and spicy Thai peanut. Localz doesn’t settle for just coating your stomach while you drink. They make sure you enjoy the experience to its fullest. Stick with NÜTRL, you’ll want the room.
A big thank you goes to NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer for their support of local businesses and making stories like these possible. Eat well, drink up, and enjoy football season.