my “healthy” food habits,
but when football season starts, the ball (and waistline) start rolling in opposite directions. Happily, I
discovered the Dugout Sports Café in Parkland, where there are plenty of TVs (7), comfortable booths and tables, an impressive beer and wine selection and a great menu that runs the gamut of sports fare, with some healthy alternatives to boot.
My fellow fans were happy to be seated front and center so they could view their respective games and still be part of the table action. We scanned the menu (both the regular and the “daily specials” are easy to read) and sent the server forth to fetch our brewskis and appetizers.
Of course, when you are watching a game, Buffalo Wings must be present. I have
no idea who instituted that golden rule, but I believe it’s part of the Ten Commandments of Football. They were excellent, crispy and
moist and made me cry (I love hot sauce!). The Steak Quesadilla was devoured as the plate was be-
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ing lowered to the trough along with
the Jalapeno Poppers. I didn’t let anyone get near my Crabcake, which was filled with tender chunks of crabmeat and perfect seasoning.
We also ordered a number of sandwiches to share. Our favorites were the Cheesy Bullpen Beef Wraps—slices of roast beef with onions, cheese, salad greens and tomatoes, wrapped in a tortilla and served with blue cheese or ranch dressing. It was a great alternative to your typical cheesesteak (which also is on the menu). The Home Run Chicken Sandwich was definitely worthy of its name—grilled chicken breast with marinated red onions and tomatoes complemented the salad greens on the seasoned Italian roll. Crunchy Grouper was also worthy; it crackled when bitten into and a touch of vinegar made it lip-smacking good.
To push us over the edge, a full rack of BBQ Baby Backs was delivered and I believe someone did lick the plate—
and their fingers—CLEAN. For the Fly Ball side dishes, the Crispy Onions, Garlic Smashed Potatoes and Dugout Rice were tasty additions. I thought I would sneak in one of their Dugout Salads, just to ease my guilty conscious. The No Hit No Run chopped salad was great, and I wasn’t the only one who tried it. I think the idea of more weeks of this kind of gluttony was on the minds of my mates. Vegetables were actually consumed—no mother’s guilt involved whatsoever. We pretty much had to be rolled out of there.
On a separate visit with the family, the kids ate all of their choices (the kids’ menu also has a great selection) and even tried some of my pasta, the Blackened Chicken with Broccoli in a creamy Alfredo sauce. Here I go again, trying
to compensate with some vegetables.
This is definitely a terrific place for either the gang or
the family. All can be satisfied here. Now, if I can just get through Halloween and the candy raids, I can come back here for the playoffs!
Restaurant reviewer Kelly Ferrara is a freelance writer in Delray Beach. E-mail her at
ferrara@theparklander.com
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