Pint, Pass & Kick

Sometimes, the best sports bars aren't sports bars at all.

by Tim Hyland

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Published: Oct 9, 2007

ANOTHER ROUND: Patrons take in a game at Barristers Bar & Grille at 18th and Sansom. : Lauren Nash (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

The problem with sports bars is that they're usually full of sports fans.

This is especially problematic during football season, when the mega-size sports-watching joints are commonly packed with drunken middle-aged men wearing face paint and jerseys. They are passionate, yes, but also loud.

It left us wondering: Are there any places in this city where a discerning sports fan can go to see a game, drink good beer, enjoy decent grub and not have to listen to the rantings of overemotional lunatics? Are there bars here — not sports bars, necessarily, just good bars — that serve up both plenty of college and pro football action and a decent atmosphere?

After weekends of grueling research — OK, drinking and watching sports in the afternoon — we are pleased to report that, yes, Philadelphia has some places like this. They're just not easy to find. Luckily, we've done the work for you: We've blown out some of our favorite finds below.

Misconduct built a loyal following under its previous ownership before closing without warning in 2006. Luckily, it reopened this spring with almost no changes — except the addition of fancy new flat screens. It's not a sports bar, or at least doesn't claim to be, but its relaxed atmosphere, solid brew selection and above-average food jive with those monstrous boob tubes enough to make it a legitimate football destination. Though Eagles fans made up the bulk of the crowd on the day we visited, Philly supporters shared the space with Steelers, Broncos and Bills fans and, notably, a large contingent of Patriots boosters (wearing Pats jerseys but Sox caps). The beer list isn't extensive, but Misconduct scores points for offering offbeat selections such as Aventinus, Rogue Dead Guy Ale and Delirium Tremens and local favorites from Victory and Dogfish Head. The bar menu is highlighted by a hearty sausage platter and the well-regarded Misconduct Burger.

If good beer is every bit as important to you as a good game, Nodding Head is tough to beat. There are just enough televisions here to keep you updated on the action. The award-winning brewers have even created a beer designed for the prototypical Philly sports fan — the 700 Level, a blond ale dedicated to the infamous upper deck of Veterans Stadium.

It hits you as soon as you hit the door — the scent of the Schmitter, that artery-clogging, salami- and special sauce-topped cheesesteak that's famous thanks to crowd-pleasing distribution at Citizens Bank Park and the Linc. It's quite possibly the greatest sandwich ever devised — and it was invented right here at McNally's, a cozy Chestnut Hill institution that was established in the 1920s. The bar does not boast a wall of plasma TVs. It's tiny and cramped and almost always packed. But its broken-in charm and Elks Club-like atmosphere make it a great place to catch a game.

Tucked away on a quiet stretch of Sansom, Barrister's seems a little uncertain of what it wants to be. The bar promotes itself as "Rittenhouse Square's Neighborhood Bar," a name that suggests a dimly lit, comfy corner tavern. And, from the street, it appears to be just that. Step inside, though, and Barrister's reveals itself for what it really is: a surprisingly large space with bars both upstairs and down, complete with seven flat screens, a full menu and a nice beer selection (12 drafts, 19 bottles). Though the lack of local brews is somewhat disappointing, there's enough variety to keep us happy. The food is standard pub grub, but it's done well — starters include mini cheeseburgers and quesadillas, and entrées range from steaks to salads. The bar, which offers all of the NFL and college action every weekend, labels itself a home for both Eagles and Steelers fans, and that rang true during a recent visit: The upstairs space was packed and right down the middle — half Philly, half Pittsburgh.

Random? Yes. But our research turned up a hidden gem at this unlikeliest of spots: The tiny upstairs bar at Eulogy has just a few stools and one (small) television. But if you and your buddies can commandeer this spot (open Thursday through Sunday) early enough to switch that lonely set to your game of choice, you'll have the best seats in the house, a stellar beer list long enough to keep you busy for hours, and — best of all — your own personal bartender.

(t_hyland@citypaper.net)

CP contributor Tim Hyland edits TCFAOnline.com, a Web site designed "for the intelligent college football fan."

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