Sports Page (Denver)

Though this blog may give me a certain amount of anonymity, let me assure you, I am a man. And even though I may be, could be, probably am writing this in my polar bear pajamas and fuzzy slippers; once I actually wake up I will be doing manly things. Like mowing the lawn, using a chain saw, and drinking appletinis beer. In the interest of keeping my toes, I usually put-off the drinking until after the power tools are put away. :)

So, yesterday when I was feeling the need to assert my manliness, I went to Sports Page in Denver, NC -- a nearby sports bar. As it turns out, this place is actually one of three in the area. And I find that reassuring. With all the games and races now available on the television, sports bars are a slowly vanishing breed. Which, in my opinion is a bad thing.

Once I entered, I was faced with a decision -- do I go to the room on my right? Or the room on my left? Fortunately, before I had to make that monumental decision with only a 50% chance of choosing correctly, a hostess came and seated me in the room on my right (non-smoking). FYI, the bar, and the smoking section are in the room on the left.

I was given a seat, where I could easily see at least four TVs, and was able to catch up on this weekend's golf tournament (Tiger Woods is unstoppable!). And I took a look at the menu. The menu had a good selection, from salads and sandwiches to steak and fish entrees, this place has something for everybody.

I settled on the Chicken Monterey Sandwich. It's described as a "Lightly breaded Chicken Breast, topped with Applewood Bacon, Cheddar and Monterey Jack Cheeses on a Kaiser Roll with Lettuce, Tomato, Onions & Mayonnaise. Add Any Wing Sauce .50¢."

WOAH! Fried Chicken, bacon, cheese, AND wing sauce? Sign me up! So I ordered the sandwich minus the mayo, but added their original wing sauce and a side of blue cheese dressing. Oh, and I got the fries as well. Too bad they didn't have a side of Lipitor!

The food came to my table quickly -- or at least it seemed quick. With all the TVs grabbing my attention, time flew by! Fortunately, I wasn't disappointed with the sandwich. It was fantastic! I've already the ingredients above, so you know what was in it. But it should be noted that the lettuce and tomatoes were fresh and delicious. And the wing sauce was tangy and spicy -- and just plain delicious on this sandwich. I'm glad they suggested it -- because I wouldn't have thought about adding it by myself.

The fries were the weak spot of this meal, they weren't as crunchy as I would have liked, but they still had their skins, and I actually like that. So while the fries weren't great, they weren't bad either.

I had a good time there, and the service was great. My waitress was attentive and quickly attended to every request. I'll be heading back any time I need some man time.

Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 11/15
Price: $$ (Most entrees are under $10, but with tax and a beer, you'll be over $10)

Conclusion: The prices were slightly more than I was expecting, but then again, the food was worth every penny. And the service was simply great. If you like sports bars, this place is for you.

Restaurant Info:
Sports Page
179 Cross Center Dr.
Denver, N.C. 28037
p) 704-827-6283
f) 704-827-6376
http://www.sportspagefoodandspirits.com/denver.html