Scoreboard Gourmet

NYC Bars for Fans of Non-NY Baseball

2013-04-06T10:07:17-04:00

The Presidents, Nationals Park

Given the number of games (ten times as many) baseball doesn’t draw regular season crowds like football. But that doesn’t mean you gotta sit alone on your couch in your jersey to root for your favorite team, even if that team resides outside the five boroughs. If you’re looking for your kind, a good rule of thumb is to check out your usual NFL (or even NCAA) spot because often the affiliation is based on owner homesickness. Otherwise, check out the list below and be thankful you live in a city unafraid of opposing cheers, though we do not recommend, say, parading into Stan’s (836 River Ave., Bronx) in anything but pinstripes. Ditto for orange and blue (and black) at McFadden’s (36-2 126th Street, Flushing).

Here's the list of Best Bars for Baseball Loving NYC Ex-Pats:

2012' #1: San Francisco Giants
FINNERTY’s (221 Second Ave.; 212-677-2655)

Finnerty’s is a no-brainer for fans of last year’s champs (and everything San Francisco sports, thanks to about a dozen 49ers fans who morphed into the hundreds and spun off). The World Series Trophy has been here - twice, of course - while on tour. And Giants CEO Larry Baer has stopped in and bought pizza for the house. Finnerty’s even organizes tickets and buses to NYC games when SF is in town. This year that means back-to-back Mets and Yankees series in September.

AL EAST

Boston Red Sox
PHEBE’s (359-361 Bowery; 212-358-1902).
PROFESSOR THOM’S (219 2nd Ave.; 212-260-9480).
NYC may be as far from Fenway as you can get (figuratively speaking), but Red Sox fans have many choices when it comes to sharing in their forbidden love. These venues tie for fan favorites. Phebe’s is a longtime frequented Red Sox refuge. Decades. With TV’s of all shapes and sizes, and one owner determined to get a rise from his neighbors (all of NYC), Professor Thom’s is becoming the same, with ticket giveaways, and Boston-related specials on Tuesdays (like $4 Harpoon).

Baltimore Orioles
SIDEBAR (120 E. 15th St., 212-677-2900).

This all out Ravens bar is also nest to fans of the other Baltimore bird who have landed far from Oriole Park.

Tampa Bay Rays
VILLAGE POURHOUSE (64 Third Ave.; 212-979-2337)

This NYU-friendly bar has tuned in to every Rays game since third baseman Evan Longoria first stopped in for a post-Yankees-game drink in 2006

Toronto Blue Jays
TAVERN 29 (47 E 29th St.; 212-685-4422)

A favorite spot of an ex-pat Canadians group, this bar will show any Blue Jays game, any time, though maybe not every TV (hey, this IS NY, eh?).

NL EAST

Philadelphia Phillies
SHORTY’S (576 Ninth Ave.; 212-967-3055)

We don’t like to say nice things when Philly and sports are in the same sentence but we cannot deny appreciation of cheesesteak, $9, nearly 40 beer options, and a venue that has deep (brotherly) love for its hometown teams. A Phanatic himself, owner Evan Stein has bread shipped in daily for that extra authentic taste. Of all the mini chain’s locations, this one is the place to watch everything Philadelphia. They’re currently swapping out Eagles gear for Phillies gear – on the walls, of course - to really get into the current season.

Atlanta Braves
Foley’s Pub and Restaurant (18 W. 33rd St., 212-290-0080)

Last fall, to honor the last time Chipper Jones – who named his son Shea for the stadium he loved to play in - would play in NYC (after 19 seasons with the Braves), Foley’s changed its name to Chipper’s for the Braves’ weekend visit. Since they have no official NYC home we’ll deem Foley’s the place for Braves fans.

“If you’re a true sports fan, you root for your team, but you have to respect greatness. I took grief from Mets fan but he’s a hall-of-famer. I had to go to Citi Field and meet him before his last game,” says owner Shaun Clancy. But, really, you’ll find fans (including visiting players and umps) of all teams at this classic, memorabilia-laden sports bar named for Red Foley, the NYC-based baseball writer and major league official scorekeeper, who was friends with Clancy (they met at a Mets game).

“I’d go as far as to say we’re the number one bar in NY for fans of other teams. If you’re respectful, we welcome you. Root for your team; don’t root against the other team.”

If you’re any kind of baseball fan, plan to watch at least one game here this season.

Miami Marlins

THE GIN MILL (442 Amsterdam Ave.; 212-580-9080)
Official home of the Gotham Gators (alumni association) for more than a decade, this is a well known destination for Florida fans, which spills off to include a few Marlins.

Washington Nationals
THE FULTON (121 Fulton St.; 646-545-6647)

About a dozen Nats fans congregate weekly (informally, on weekends, sans jerseys to root for of the team that finished first in the NL East last year.

NL CENTRAL

Chicago Cubs
Kelly’s Sports Bar (12 Avenue A; 212-388-1464)

Owner Gerry Doyle — who equally loves Wrigley Field and feels bad for “a team with a lot of bad luck”— tried to import Old Style beer (the Wrigley classic) to NYC’s only Cubs bar to enhance the game watching experience. NY laws blocked his efforts but there’s no law against supporting one of the MLB’s original teams.

Cincinnati Reds
MUSTANG SALLY’S (324 7th Ave; 212-695-3806)

It’s not quite the Great American Ballpark but two seasons ago management at Mustang Sally’s announced allegiance to the Reds to align with customer request and though it may not be en masse, you will see red here for every game.

Milwaukee Brewers
KETTLE OF FISH (59 Christopher St., 212-414-2278)

Owned by Wisconsin native Patrick Daley since 1999 this bar is the place for Brewers fans who know there’s more to Miller Park than the awesome Racing Sausages, and the stellar selection of beer. Every season there’s WI-brew too. Right now it’s Sprecher, on draft and in bottle.

Pittsburgh Pirates

HIBERNIA (401 W. 50th St., 212-969-9703)
Technically a Steelers bar that starts every spring with Pirates fans who peter out around July (hopes dashed), it’s just like the limited crowds at PNC Park.

St. Louis Cardinals
STUMBLE INN (1454 Second Ave. 212-650-0561)

Honoring the request of three guys from St. Louis who now live around the corner, Cardinals games are on the screen here nearly every night. This is just how some of these more crowded ex-pat fan bars got their start.

NL WEST

Colorado Rockies
TRAFFIC BAR & GRILL (701 9th Ave., 212-837-2702)

Don’t expect a bar full of purple and black caps but as a University of Colorado alumni association bar (the president lives down the street), there are often Rockies fans in the house. And in the fall they serve Boulder Beer.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Your Apt

It’s hard to believe that fans of the team birthed in Brooklyn and managed by Don Mattingly, have no true home in NYC, not even in bars near the former Ebbets Field. For shame! Dodgers fans, hope MLB Extra Innings (Time Warner Cable) out-of-market games suit you.

San Diego Padres
DEWEY’S FLATIRON (210 5th Ave.; 212-696-2337)

San Diego fans lost their NYC bar last season (it closed). A former Dewey’s waitress used to watch Chargers games there. Last season she brought the group here, and the expectation is that Swinging Friars faithful will follow.

Arizona Diamondbacks
STANDINGS BAR (43 E 7th St.; 212-420-0671)

At Chase Field there are concessions stands called “Streets of New York” -- but here in NY the streets don’t reciprocate the goodwill. So we suggest Diamondbacks fans slither down to the East Village where the folks at Standings have rotating baseball-themed beers – like Brooklyn Pennant Ale -on tap, and a high tolerance for out-of-towners (incl numerous alumni groups and Bostonians).

AL CENTRAL

Chicago White Sox
GAEL PUB (1465 Third Ave.; 212-517-4141).

This is a Bears bar that happily caters to off-football-season Chicago sports fans by tuning in to White Sox games upon request.

Cleveland Indians
MANNY’S ON SECOND (1770 2nd Ave,; 212-410-3300

Browns and Buckeyes fans from across the city know this bar well, and the open Ohio invitation extends to the less represented Indians too. Ask, and you shall receive televised Tribe.

Detroit Tigers
Cody’s American Bar & Grill (154 Court St.; 718- 852-6115)

Once a base for a few Michigan fans, Cody’s says they show Tigers games because they like to make people happy, and apparently many natives of the Wolverine State live near Cobble Hill (we know 4!).

Kansas City Royals
MULHOLLAND’S (312 Grand St., W’burg; 718-486-3473)

Another team that’s short on a NYC cheering squad (a 30-year curse started by George Brett and some pine tar, perhaps) so if you want to watch the Royals why not try to take over a sports bar in a not so sporty neighborhood?

Minnesota Twins
THE WINDSOR (234 W. 4th St.; 212-206-1208

Chances are high you can catch every Twins game at this upscale sports bar where a Minnesotan manager keeps constant tabs on his team.

AL WEST

Houston Astros
Any Bar You Dare

The team originally known as the Colt .45s is starting its first season ever in the AL (after 50 years in the NL). Maybe that will draw out their NYC fans and inspire someone to adopt them. We called some 200 bars and not one stepped up. Guess it’s hard to get too excited about a team with more than 100 losses in each of the last two seasons.

Los Angeles Angels
THE AUSTRALIAN (20 West 38th St., 212-869-8601)

Technically The Australian turns the sound up for any MLB team with a player from Oz. That mostly means A’s games (pitchers galore) …but convince the bartender that Sydney-native got called up from the minors and the Angels will rule the TV (or, just ask, because they like fans of all teams here).

Oakland Athletics
PACIFIC STANDARD (82 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn; 718-858-1951)

Since 2007, Berkeley-grad (and NoCal transplant) proprietors Jonathan Stan and John Rauschenberg have been supporting everything East Bay in Park Slope. Show up in A’s attire for $1 of Sierra Nevadas.

Seattle Mariners
CARLOW EAST (1254 Lexington Ave.; 212-650-9118)

Since owner (and former employee) Sean Spratt visited and was seduced by the Emerald City (!) many years ago, Carlow East has been home to NYC-based Seattle fans of all sports.

Texas Rangers
STOUT NYC (133 W. 33rd St.; 212-629-6191)

A Texas Exes bar (that’s the Univ of Texas) with Lone Star beer on the menu, they’re always ready to tune in to anything with Texas in the name.

Mr. Met waiting to enter Citi Field

p.s. If you cannot find a Yankees or Mets bar in this town, perhaps you should try leaving your apartment. And since this is NY, most every bar will show both teams, on at least one TV.

Lagasse's Stadium, Las Vegas Sports Book with Food and Drink

2011-11-13T10:07:19-05:00

Make Reservations if you don't want to miss the first quarter (or more) of the game standing in the hall waiting for no-shows so you can get a seat at Lagasse's Stadium in the Palazzo (newish part of the Venetian) in Las Vegas. There's better food in the sports world but it's fun to be comfortable and to have your own TV (or to watch the main game from the stadium stadium seating), a privilege which will cost you $50 per person per game. Go Giants!

Smoky BBQ Wheat Thins in my fridge, on my coffee table, with the Yankees, Giants, and once with the Steelers

2011-09-28T19:53:45-04:00

My life, as you know, is pretty good. No I have not travelled for games in awhile (hoping to remedy that soon) but I do have ALDS tickets and I have a dream that includes notfreezing weather and football. We shall see. I also have a new snack, thanks to the good people of Kraft who mailed a box to me: Wheat Thins Smoky BBQ. I'm not usually a fan of the flavored version of things, but I never say no to a cracker, and they're pretty good, if you like BBQ chips. What I like about Wheat Thins SBBQ is the texture and durability of a cracker, with a chip-like taste. I've decided to categorize them as "tailgating" and "potato-family" and "nacho-family" which means easy salty snack. Not for everyone, but neither are wings. Just saying.

Jack Daniel's Lounge at McFadden's at Citi Field

2011-05-06T17:42:26-04:00

In case you're wondering how long it's been since I went to a Mets game, this was my first time at McFadden's at Citi Field. It's a cool space, but I wish there was somehow an upstairs part that looked out on the field. Anyway, inside McFadden's, in a back corner, you can find the Jack Daniel's Lounge. This past weekend they were having $5(!) Jack specials. Just what you need before entering a game. That said, it's the best beverage deal in the ballpark (as you can see by this gorgeous photo).

Opening Day of Hot Dogs

2011-03-31T09:59:52-04:00

Baseball fans will enjoy “in the ballpark” of 26.8 million hot dogs at US baseball stadiums this season. That’s enough to circle the bases 36,000 times.
In 2010, consumers spent more than $1.6 billion on hot dogs in U.S. supermarkets.
Weight Watchers includes hot dogs in its medically-approved diet regimen.
Sixty percent of Americans prefer their Hot Dogs grilled.

In case you're wondering why on earth SG would run a Rays photo on MLB Opening Day, Kayem is the official hot dog and sausage of the Rays, and Red Sox (and Patriots, Lightning, Florida State Seminoles, and Boston College Eagles), and they're the ones who provided the hot dog stats.

p.s. Rays Opening Day is tomorrow. Red Sox too.
Go Yankees! Or, more importantly, Go Away Rain!

Food Network Steak Sandwiches at Reds, Indians, Tigers, Rangers, Cardinals, Brewers, Padres, Orioles games

2011-03-26T13:13:00-04:00

The Food Network has a sandwich for MLB fans: the Red, White & Blue Steak Sandwich, served on a French demi-baguette, topped with Maytag blue cheese and Peppadew-pepper mayonnaise. Sounds awesome. The sandwich will be available at eight ballparks (see below), along with a regional-tastes steak sandwich (also below). Thank you, Delaware North Sportservice:

Great American Ballpark; also in Cincinnati: a bourbon-spiked BBQ sauce and smoked cheddar cheese topping
Progressive Field; also in Cleveland: sauerkraut and Bertman’s brown Polish mustard
Comerica Park; also in Detroit: tangy banana pepper mayonnaise and feta cheese
Rangers Ballpark; also in Arlington, TX: a smoky charred salsa verde topping
Busch Stadium; also in St. Louis: St. Louis-style BBQ sauce and cheddar cheese
Miller Park; also in Milwaukee: sharp and hoppy beer cheese
Petco Park; also in San Diego: Kimchi and a touch of mayonnaise
Oriole Park; also at Camden Yards in Baltimore: Old Bay-infused steak sauce

At Target Field in Minneapolis fans there will be two new versions of Kramarczuk’s sausage: a smoked bratwurst with horseradish cream, and a wild rice bratwurst with pickled red cabbage and beer mustard.

Big Hot Dog and Opening Day of Baseball

2011-03-25T15:02:14-04:00

Hi. It's me, the Scoreboard Gourmet. I've been on hiatus, as you have undoubtedly noticed. But now baseball is almost back for real (read: I did not go to Spring Training this year), and a Big Hot Dog arrived in my inbox.

Let's go there first: The Big Hot Dog, made by Gorilla Tango Novelty Meats, is 16" long and 4" in diameter. It's a Chicago-born veal, beef, pork combo that weights 7 lbs. Wow. Until April 30th, 2011, you can buy one for $69.95 ($20 off) -and- $10 goes to Japan via the Red Cross. Anyone who brings one into a game must contact ScoreboardGourmet asap, with photos.

Second: Another email arrived today too: Your 2011 Ticket License Plan has been shipped! Finally. Yea. Opening Day is Thursday, March 31, 2011. Schedule:

Braves	@ Nationals	1:05pm
Tigers	@ Yankees	1:05pm
Brewers	@ Reds	2:10pm
Angels	@ Royals	4:10pm
Padres	@ Cardinals	4:15pm
Giants	@ Dodgers	8:00pm

How awesome is this gatorade packaging!?

2011-03-01T18:22:28-05:00

Mini coolers filled with mix.

Pizza and Football, literally together

2011-01-21T09:34:20-05:00

We've talked Pizza + NFL here before. It may not be the food everyone talks about when planning football-watching parties, but it's surely being eaten. Papa John's, the NFL's official pizza, said it posted its largest single sales day in brand history on Super Bowl Sunday 2010, selling more than 900,000 pizzas out of its 2,700+ restaurants. Wow.

But why, unless you live near an exceptional pizzeria, take-out when you can make it yourself? SG isn't usually a home-cooking source but we're making an exception becasue of this awesome product: football-shaped pizza crust. So simple, so smart. Since the instructions for prepping these crusts is "preheat GRILL" SG has to deem Boboli a perfect tailgating food. It's easy to transport, the topping options are limitless (we created a Gang Green garlic-onion-spinach-parsley Pizza), and it's realtively healthy.

Check out the team/town Football-related Pizza Recipes by Boboli. And Let's Go J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets!

Happy 75th Bday Hormel and Dinty Moore

2010-11-11T09:57:00-05:00

We don't usually do recipes around here, but since we love the former Hormel Hall of Fame, and since chili is great football-watching food, and since I have these great retro ads to share, and since it's not much of a recipe, we're doing it.

Chili Cheese Dip with Chips
1 (15-ounce) can Hormel® Chili No Beans
1 (16-ounce) package Cheddar cheese, cubed
Corn chips
*In large saucepan, combine chili and cheese. Heat over low heat, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted and chili mixture is hot and bubbly. Serve with corn chips. Serves 8.
recipe courtesy of Hormel Foods. Enjoy.

New (and some old) Food Concessions at Oriole Park at Camden Yards

2010-11-10T12:24:10-05:00

What happens when an already delicious ballpark (talking food here) brings in a delicious (still food) concessionaire?

The Baltimore Orioles and Delaware North Companies Sportservice today announced a 12-year partnership in which the global hospitality management company will provide food, beverage and retail merchandise services at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Sportservice will manage all concessions, catering, dining operations and retail stores and kiosks within the ballpark, including Eutaw Street.

This is an $11-million project. Most certainly one to watch.

Rangers Ballpark World Series Food Consumption

2010-11-01T14:26:22-04:00

Thanks to Delaware North for sending me this list - Expected World Series Food Consumption at Rangers Ballpark - Saturday, Sunday, Today:
2,000 burgers
344 brisket sandwiches
1,400 sausages
144 Lonestar burritos
15,000 jumbo hot dogs
600 foot-long hot dogs
600 bacon-wrapped hot dogs
5,000 nachos
45,400 bottled beers
23,500 draft beers
12,000 fountain sodas
2,688 bottle sodas
4,320 bags of peanuts
350 Asian Wok dishes
275 Bayou beans and rice dishes

Pepperoni and cheese in a disposable football in a supermarket cooler:

2010-10-07T08:18:52-04:00

Sara Pepitone

Red Sox Jerky

2010-09-26T07:31:37-04:00

Sara Pepitone

Connecticut, you're so fickle

2010-07-31T12:20:05-04:00

And, Wise, you're fickle too. I like you better with the Mets.

Hard Knocks #jets training camp

2010-07-29T16:32:44-04:00

Hard Knocks #jets training camp starts wed aug 11 on hbo. can I get that on my computer? Please say yes

How Safe is Ballpark and Stadium Food?

2010-07-28T09:04:00-04:00

ESPN's "Outside the Lines" reviewed health department inspection reports for food and beverage outlets at all 107 North American arenas and stadiums that were home to Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Hockey League and National Basketball Association teams in 2009. At 30 of the venues (28 percent), more than half of the concession stands or restaurants had been cited for at least one "critical" or "major" health violation. Such violations pose a risk for foodborne illnesses that can make someone sick, or, in extreme cases, become fatal.

ScoreboardGourmet surely sees the theoretical value in inspections but the public needs to understand there are many different categories of violation, some not particularly severe. The public also needs to understand that home kitchens are generally way more ripe for problems than restaurant kitchens. Really. That said, this article nicely points out inconsistencies in inspections reporting (inspecting Chicago ballparks on non-game days). And, let's also remember the grossness of all food that been in someone else's hands. Oh yes I'm talking about you, local supermarket deli guy who never changes his gloves.

Check out the story by ESPN's Paula Lavigne: What's Lurking in Your Stadium Food?

Nolan Ryan Hickory Smoked Beef Franks

2010-07-20T09:27:28-04:00

"Having grown up in ballparks, I know how important a good hot dog is," said Nolan Ryan in the press release introducing his Hickory Smoked Beef Franks, made from beef sourced from cattle sans growth hormones or antibiotics and have been fed a 100 % vegetarian diet. The hot dogs are now available at Corpus Christi Hooks and Round Rock Express games, and at various supermarkets in Texas, and online at NolanRyanBeef. I want some of these on my grill. Who has tried?

Scoreboard Gourmet is where sports and food meet

2010-07-12T20:12:00-04:00

Some Reader Favorite Links:

All things Mets and Acela Club. Follow More Posts » (at the bottom over every page) to page 2, 3, and beyond for complete coverage.

All things Yankees and New Yankee Stadium. Again, follow More Posts » (at the bottom over every page) to page 2, 3, and beyond for complete coverage.

All things Hot Dogs.

Complete list of Categories (teams, foods, etc).

All things Twins and Target Field.

Don't get it? Can't figure out how to leave a comment? wonder why some pictures are missing? want to tell me what You ate at the game? email SG

MLB's gluten free beer

2010-07-12T15:56:49-04:00

Sara Pepitone

Yankees in beer aisle

2010-07-09T18:50:05-04:00

Sara Pepitone

Fenway Franks on sale means what?

2010-07-09T18:44:11-04:00

Sara Pepitone

Baseball in Supermarkets

2010-07-09T18:39:10-04:00

Sara Pepitone

Burgers, Beer and Sports in Miami Beach

2010-06-25T14:28:34-04:00

Holy cow did we hit the motherlode - awesome burgers, 99 bottled beers (plus 6 or so tap), and a sports bar in Miami Beach: Burger & Beer Joint (1766 Bay Road). Bikers too. And people full of drink.

You may know that a Shake Shack just opened here too, but it's sure not the same. More on that later.

Senora Martinez (aka Michelle Bernstein in Miami) Loves World Cup Soccer

2010-06-24T13:02:57-04:00

Watch World Cup Soccer games in Miami's Design District at what may well be the best restaurant in town: Senora Martinez (#2 Michelle Bernstein). SG really thinks that, the best in Miami, which is why she did not take a picture while in the middle of the dining room, because she's completely overwhelmed by phones in restaurants. She knows she's not alone here. Anyway, throughout the tournament drink and food specials in the upstairs bar starting at 9:30am.

Sra Martinez
4000 NE 2nd Ave.
Miami Design District, FL

Gateway Grizzlies Burger Photo, thanks to a SG reader

2010-06-21T11:16:19-04:00

A Scoreboard Gourmet reader sent the below photo with this note: Single A baseball in Sauget, IL, across the river from St. Louis. This is a bacon cheeseburger between two slices of grilled krispy kreme donut. Nice to be back in the midwest

Jorge advertising rules

2010-05-27T03:05:07-04:00

Sara Pepitone