The Tap Room

6 Sporting Spots for football fever Get your game day vibes on at these energetic, tribal enclaves throughout Ac adiana

By Lisa LeBlanc-Berry // Photos by denny culbert

Pondering a new place for the coin toss? We've got you covered with a list of six diverse venues to accommodate your personal viewing style. Our suggestions range from lively sports bars filled with cheering fans to the laid-back little neighborhood “Who’s ya daddy?” joints with bayou food and sporting Cajun camaraderie. Chances are, you’ll have more fun feeling the spirit of a high-octane football showdown at places where regulars welcome you into their inner realm like old friends — unless you’re wearing the other team’s colors. Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar The Tap Room 1795 Martin Luther King Blvd. 202 Settlers Trace Blvd. Houma // 985/262/8501 Lafayette // 337/984/9280

Since the Saints A popular gathering spot handed the Atlanta Falcons their among the 20s and 30s crowd first defeat of the season in in Lafayette is The Tap Room in October (31-21) and theirs is the River Ranch, where you can play oldest rivalry in the NFC South Monday fantasy football to your division, you may want to see heart’s delight and watch the the Jan. 3 game, when the Saints Eat this Devils on games with fellow fans without challenge the Falcons in Atlanta Horseback: Jumbo going downtown. The large (for the close of the regular Gulf shrimp stuffed with windows give it an open feel. You season) at an upscale sports cream cheese and pickled can play shuffleboard, watch the bar filled with Who Dat fans and jalapeno, wrapped in bacon game, and order a large variety flat screens aplenty. The snazzy and lightly fried Drink of beers in addition to hand- new Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar this Death Valley: crafted cocktails. Food selections in Houma, which is co-owned by Served in a whopping include flatbreads and gourmet Saints Drew Brees, 32-oz. glass with Svedka hot dogs served with kettle chips, is a prime spot for viewing the vodka, Bayou Silver rum, but there are oyster-on-the-half- face-off. It will also no doubt be Triple Sec, DeKuyper shell specials when available. hopping for 50. Raamatazz, orange juice and pineapple juice General manager David Savoie Drew and his wife, Brittany, creates drink specials tied to the announced they were buying seasons (he was formerly with into Walk-On’s Enterprises as Social Southern Table and Bar, co-owners last May. The company Brees recalls visiting Houma known for their superb hand- caught their attention when the the summer after winning the crafted cocktails). He is rather New Orleans Walk-On’s was voted Super Bowl, and commented proud of the Tap Room’s extensive ESPN’s “Best Sports Bar in North “how great the fans are.” The selection of beer, which includes America.” Locations to date are sprawling Houma Walk-Ons, international lagers and pilsners, in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, which has an 8,000-square-foot American crafts and ciders, and Lafayette, Houma and Shreveport, restaurant and a large enclosed international ambers, ales, porters while Lake Charles is underway. patio and beer garden, opened and stouts, plus a design-your- Sept. 8 with no less than 70 Brees foresees a national own flight of 4 draught beers. TVs, 48 beers on tap and an franchise. Saints fans may recall Upscale yet casual ambience; it extensive menu. “It was voted the when “Hurricane Drew” reigned as can get a tad loud evenings. the King of Bacchus XLII in 2010, ‘Best Sports Bar in Terrebonne Among the array of cocktails, just a week after he led the Saints Parish’ less than a month after try the bold and spicy Buzzy to victory in Super Bowl XLIV, it opened,” general manager Bayou made with Agave Loco and was named MVP. Although Brett LeBlanc pointed out. Pepper Cured Reposado Tequila, the Saints won’t be marching “We’re not just passive investors,” Cathead Hoodoo Chicory Liqueur, into the upcoming Super Bowl Drew stated. “Brittany and I are jalapeno honey simple syrup 50, it will be held Sunday, Feb. committed to working closely and sour mix, garnished with a 7, and coincides with Bacchus, with Brandon and the team to do lemon wedge or the refreshing which rolls at 5:15 p.m. Since the whatever we can to contribute Ruston Grove designed with kick-off will be at around 3:30 to Walk-On’s success going Ruston peach infused bourbon p.m., Super Bowl fans and parade forward.” Brandon Landry and with Chinese 5 spice, orange peel, revelers may catch the last half Jack Warner, the founders, were Bitter Truth Pimento Dram and on a mobile device (for the first former LSU basketball teammates. Eat this The Buck & Johnny's The property was originally a car dealership, Buck & Johnny’s previously focused on El Guapo Polynesian Kiss bitters, time, NBC will be live streaming Best bets among the starters: appetizer platter: so there’s plenty of antique car memorabilia, gourmet pizzas, and then added several Italian 100 Berard St. // Breaux Bridge peach amaretto simple syrup the Super Bowl halftime show, The seared Ahi Tuna medallions Includes drunken 337/442/6630 including the recently installed gas pump in specials. Since Chef Savoy came on board, it and an orange peel for garnish. which will feature Katy Perry and served over Asian mango slaw, shrimp, praline the lounge, plus quaint lighting and signage has become the most popular restaurant in special guest Lenny Kravitz). spicy boudin balls with a side of chicken laced with throughout the restaurant, with its cathedral- town, offering an expanded menu of authentic Dijon horseradish, and the duck local Steen’s syrup, Whether you’re a newcomer or a longtime height ceilings and fetching loft. The special Cajun dishes and creative specials. Live music and andouille gumbo. There are fiery wings, stuffed regular, chances are you will feel at home at events hall next door, the Glass Room (popular adds to the allure and so do the excellent for weddings and political events), is located specialty cocktails galore, plus mushrooms and fresh Buck & Johnny’s in downtown Breaux Bridge. martinis. Eat this Friggin’ beside a large antique mall that is just down burgers, poor boys, great salads, catfish bitesDrink Owner Coatney Raymond, who took over in Fig-n-Pig: Flatbread made the street from Café des Amis, known for its The pizzas are tops. For starters, order the crab wraps and specialties, this Tiger Bait: 2013 after her husband Johnny passed away, with fig preserves or the weekend zydeco breakfast. portabella brie soup, made with a rich, creamy the best of which is the blackened Curaçao, cranberry recently expanded and renovated the lounge, broth, or the award-winning zydeco gumbo. Love You, Long Time hot catfish Atchafalaya, topped juice & vodka which now seats 60, and is adorned with deep Although the lounge is normally jamming For the main course, try the blackened tilapia dog: Beef frank topped with with spicy étouffée and a pile leather chairs. It opened during Mardi Gras, during both college and NFL games, the finished with a smooth shrimp basil cream, the spicy mayo, pickled carrots, of crisply fried crawfish tails, a 2015 and is flanked by a small courtyard that restaurant side is where most fans gather for zesty crawfish enchiladas with plenty of pepper jalapeños, cucumbers favorite of Brees and his family. opens through garage doors. Named the Filling football viewing, while simultaneously enjoying jack, or the pan-fried crab cakes that melt in and fresh cilantro Drink Station Lounge, it’s where fans gather for team the delectable Cajun cuisine prepared by Chef your mouth, enveloped in a fragrant pesto this THE RUSTON GROVE: spirit and handcrafted cocktails named after Tony Savoy. He was formerly the head chef of cream sauce. Be sure to grab a quart of gumbo Peach-infused bourbon and cars. “We stay open as late as the games are Mulate’s in Breaux Bridge and New Orleans. from the freezer on the way out. Chinese 5-spice playing, and it’s always packed,” she says.

44 | acadiana profile DECember 2015/january 2016 acadianaprofile.com | 45 Black’s Oyster Bar 319 Pere Megret St. // Abbeville 337/898/2597

In Vermilion Parish, if you want to catch a college game and enjoy some excellent seafood among major LSU fans, stop by the recently reopened Black’s Oyster Bar across from the “big” church, just a half-block from picturesque Magdalen Square. Fighting Tiger die-hards continue to watch the college games with spirit, even though LSU’s star running back Leonard Fournette’s grip was loosened on the Heisman Trophy when he was overpowered by Alabama’s Crimson Tide defense in November. There are always the playoffs. Black’s 44-foot bar, frequented by ultra-friendly locals, is flanked by a couple of large flat screens and several dining tables, which are taken once the adjacent, cavernous restaurant fills up on weekends and during Thursday karaoke nights. The new owners, Corey Gardener and Chance Thomas, have gone all-out with renovations and the food, so just about everything is tops on the menu, and the lunch specials are always generous and reasonably priced. Of course at Black’s, you should start with their pride and joy, the plump, Fat Pat's Bar & Grill salty Grand Isle bivalves on the half 626 Verot School Road // 337/504/4288 shell that you can also order in three Loggerhead’s Bar 117 Westmark Blvd. // 337/706/8882 styles of chargrilled (they’re a sure Lafayette 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Road) match for Drago’s in New Orleans). Lake Charles // 337/491/6794 gumbos or pig roasts for parties. Eat this Burgers: Big and juicy with The Bloody Marys are legendary, good Pizzas and above-average burgers If you’re a fan of the college football bowls onion rings and fried for any time of the day or night, and are served, as well as boiled (Dec. 19-Jan. 2) and plan on following the Jan. 11 If you’d like to catch the NFL seafood spiced just the bartenders are skilled at whipping shrimp, pulled pork and chicken College Football Playoff National Championship games off-the-beaten path right. Drink this up whatever cocktail you desire. Drink wings, served in baskets lined with (which Dr. Pepper has paid a whopping $35 overlooking the water, and sit Gator Bite cocktail: specials run throughout the week. fleurs-de-lis in honor of the Saints. million for sponsorships through 2020), you’ll Starters to nibble on during the games beside a roaring fire, head to Refreshing yet powerful Inside the bar, there are a couple want to watch the games where the casual include the spicy etouffee balls, crisply Loggerhead’s Bar in Lake Charles and containing three of fireplaces where you can warm college fans geaux. Fat Pat’s Bar & Grill on Verot fried frog legs, tender strips of fried on the Calcasieu River. This casual kinds of rum distilled in up on a chilly winter night, while School Road is the spot. Both college and NFL rabbit laced with Hebert’s Specialty spot is a big Saints hangout, but nearby Lacassine: Bayou the outside deck offers splendid fans gather at this iconic sports bar for team Meats seasoning, and the shrimp en they also tune into the college Rum’s Silver, Spiced sunsets, gorgeous views and a camaraderie. You’ll find plenty of flats screens, brochette. The earthy, dark chicken and football games. and Satsuma rums are patio with a tiki bar. Locals often and also an individual TV in every single booth, sausage gumbo will warm you up on blended with orange You can get there by car or by drive up to the dock on their which allows you to watch any game that’s on. a cold winter’s night. The oyster poor and pineapple juices and boat and pull up right to the dock, boats, and use the bait stand that Younger fans tend to gather at the second, boys, seafood platters, salads topped Grenadine, served on where the Lady of the Lake three- sells fuel, ice, tackle and supplies. newest location on Westmark Blvd., where there with grilled shrimp and tuna, crawfish the rocks decker 102-foot yacht, rented for Some beautiful yachts pass by are six TVs on the patio. or fried oysters and juicy steaks topped evening dinner cruises and private at night. This small, casual bar Specialties are the burgers (ask for the unusual with crabmeat are all sure bets. parties, is parked. It usually goes is popular among locals who but surprisingly good peanut-butter-and-bacon out once a month but is especially prefer watching the game at a burger or the signature Mile High burger, which popular during the holidays. Live non-sports bar, with the added is layered with pepper jack cheese and a trio music on Sundays usually starts allure of a water view just about Eat this Fat Boy of grilled yellow, red and green peppers, then around 4 p.m. on the patio, and Eat this raw oysters: Enjoy a 15 minutes from downtown Lake Mile-High burger: dressed) and the hot dogs (try the Dome dog, there are live local bands several dozen salty, plump oysters on the Charles. Owner James Mistretta A two patty burger made with andouille, and topped with red times during the week, from Cajun half-shell fresh from Grand Isle. has mentioned that he may with an option to pile beans and Creole mustard). If you’re not in the French bands to jazz ensembles. Drink This The Mosquito Bite: a be planning an expansion of on the toppings Drink mood for dogs and burgers, order the shrimp Although it’s not a full-service refreshing mojito made with Bayou Loggerhead’s bar to include an this Margaritas: grilled in garlic butter, dressed and served restaurant (you order at the Silver Rum and fresh mint eventual restaurant and resort powerful and will have on a sweet bun. Good bar food, but the main concession stand and bring it with cabins, so stay tuned. you rooting for the attraction is the atmosphere that includes inside), the staff occasionally has home team in no time. sports memorabilia, fans and especially those prepared specials such as chili, booths with individual TVs.

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