2-Minute Review: Rivals

The big glass building, near Circuit City on South Glenstone, has a long and non-illustrious history. Business after failed business has come and gone, including a healthy-eats place that had a big silver fork out front. Now it’s Rivals Casual Grille, a super-looking sports bar and restaurant, and we’re hopeful—nay, expectant—that the losing streak is over. So how does Rivals rate?

The Place: Rivals is a sports fan’s dream. Flags and banners from every sport grace the walls. Local and state sports memorabilia hangs on every wall, and flat-screen TVs can be seen everywhere (though they’re pleasingly unobtrusive). The bar is large but doesn’t dominate, and the game room in back has a variety of sports-related arcade classics, like air hockey, NFL Blitz, Golden Tee and more. A spacious, covered patio is another nice touch.

The Menu: We won’t give Rivals a ton of points for originality, but it certainly does have all the bases covered (okay, we’ll quit with the sports clichés). Pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, desserts, etc., there’s everything you want and nothing you don’t. Prices are right on average for an upscale sports lounge experience—expect to pay around $10 for lunch.

The Food: Everything we’ve had has been excellent. A highlight: the Reuben sandwich, which was scrumptious. The sauerkraut was super-fresh, with a lot of snap to it, and there was so much corned beef we truly had to eat it with a fork. The only gripe was soggy marbled rye, but when you have that much dressing and kraut, the juice has to go somewhere. Other dishes our friends raved over: the white and barbecue chicken pizzas and the buffalo chicken sandwich.

The Verdict: With a local ownership group (including, we hear, MSU football coach Terry Allen) and first-rate food and service, Rivals has what it takes to be a champion. On our to do list: Scope out the nighttime sports scene and score 30 points at Pop-a-Shot basketball.