Monday, September 10, 2007

Sullivan's Sports Bar

The UT game was only available on pay-per-view this weekend and while I love the Vols, the thought of paying for the cable box plus an additional thirty plus bucks to watch the game at home, alone didn't sound that exciting to me. (Though I'm sure had I purchased the game, I'd have become immediately very popular among my UT friends). And even though I had several opportunities to purchase tickets at a good price to go, I wasn't able to go due to other commitments this weekend and not wanting to call my best friend the day of the game and impose upon he and his family's hospitality.

So, instead of purchase the game at home or going to God's House (Neyland Stadium), I decided to catch the game at a sports bar.

And wouldn't you know it? One has just opened up in Smyrna!

The new sports bar is called Sullivan's and it's off Sam Ridley. I don't know the exact road name, but it's the same shopping center as the new steak-house and the Sir Pizza. (It's right behind the Bob Parks building on Sam Ridley).

I stopped in Saturday afternoon and was informed yes, the game would be on. When I first walked in, I was impressed by Sullivan's. They have a good number of HD flat-panel TVs evenly distributed throught the bar. From where I sat Saturday evening, I could have at least two in my line of sight at all times, which in a sports-bar is a good thing. They also had a couple of pool tables and some dart boards. But I wasn't there to play games, I was there to watch the UT game.

Now, when I arrived, the game was supposed to start in about two minutes, but there were some issues with the feed. At one point, the manager told me that the game wouldn't be seen due to a paperwork snaffu on DirectTV's part and gave us the opportunity to go elsewhere. At this point, a few of the UT fans left, though I stayed. Why you ask? Well, I'd already ordered by burger and had a frosty adult beverage. I stayed, figuring I'd eat my food, watch the other games and then either go home and listen to the game on the radio or find somewhere else to hang out after half-time.

But I will give the management credit--they didn't let stop them. They were able to get the game about the start of the second quarter--or as I call it, when UT stopped playing around and got serious about playing some football. As a UT fan, I appreciate the extra mile the staff and management went to to get the game as promised. Definite points in the favor of Sullivans.

That said, getting my food took forever. Which at the time it seemed like a bad thing, but in the end was good. It kept me there long enough so that I could see the game. So, a negative turned into a positive.

The bar got progressively more crowded as the night went along. It's 21 and up only, so smoking is permited. My food was good, the service was nice and the prices were very reasonable. I noticed they have a ladies' night on Tuesday, karoke at various times during the week and the NFL Sunday Ticket package on Sundays.

So, if you're looking for a place to hang out and see your favorite team out of market, this might be somewhere to consider. I know if I don't get tickets to the game in two weeks, I'll be there again to watch the Vols.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Young crowd with lots of drama!!!

Anonymous said...

My experience there last evening was horrific. Friends of mine were booked to play last night, although when they arrived another band had also been booked by they won out and played. As the evening progressed and after my 3rd drink I realized that each bartender and wait staff chose their own price for the drink being served.When I inquired to the so-called owner, she had no clue what the price of the drink was and gave me a different price altogether then she started screaming so loud that I couldn't understand what she was saying, she even called her security boy over to throw me out due to my inquiry. I had already planned to leave before I asked the so-called owner about the price difference and apparently she got quite defensive. Also the toliets in the ladies restroom were broken, 1 girl said they had been broken for over 3 weeks, guess they didn't know Joe the Plumber's phone number.

Anonymous said...

I agree. We were there Sunday, Oct. 18 to watch some NFL Football. When we got there there was 1 couple with the big screen tied up supposedly watching the Bengals & only 2 other customers there besides ourselves. The only volume on a tv with a game on it was behind the bar & could barely be heard by anyone especially when the couple with the big screen tied up decided to put money in the juke box with the volume up so loud you couldn't even hear yourself. In my opinion if this is a "sports bar" the juke box should be unplugged on game days & the game turned up so you can hear it. We paid for our beverages & left.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it funny how only the people that seem to have had bad experiences post comments. As a bartender I can assure you that no one makes up their own prices. Prices may change throughout the day...happy hour, etc. If for some obsurred reason you are receiving different prices request a manager moron! I would!! If you're unhappy with the volume...ask them to turn it up!!! Be reasonable...not ignorant.
Now that I feel as though I have touched base on your complaints..Here are mine: #1. The drama in the bar (let alone any) stems from the customers. I don't like drama and WILL have it removed from my bar when I'm working. #2. DON'T go up to the bar, especially when it's busy, and look as though you are contemplating your life's biggest conquest when I ask you what you want to drink...know before I approach you. There is a 3 second rule here, and it always applies. figure it out or lose your turn. #3. DON'T tell me or any other bartender you want a beer...there are several varieties idiot...figure it out...I'm not a psychic!! #4. You're not cute when you have an attitude; you've only made it certain that you will either wait longer next time or completely be ignored. #5. Do you work for free??? Because WE WORK FOR TIPS!!! Don't tip, you don't get served! Don't tip, we give you an attitude or we ignore you! We HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE! JUST LIKE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO ANYWHERE! FIGURE IT OUT!!! #6. We are not there because we want to date you!!! We are there to make tips to pay our bills. (Spelling in parentheses is so accent is understood). So before you decide that it is a good idea to walk up to the bartender or waitress and say, "whut iz you?" "le me holla atcha guurrl," or "when we goan hook up" really think about what you are saying and who you are saying it to. I do not excuse ignorance, and I absolutely DO NOT have any problem telling someone to go #$*@ themselves. #6. Have some kind of respect. How does it feel when you are at work and people are dicks to you? #7. Like I said...I'm not here for a date... I don't want your boyfriend/husband/girlfriend or whatever they are to you so get over the caddy jealousy. #8. I'm not an ATM or a phonebook!!! #9. Don't call or come in and ask if I've seen some random person... I don't know!!! Unless you contribute to my bills...I don't remember your name. That's all I have time for now.

Anonymous said...

I received news that Ryan was playing in the group this coming weekend, but from the past comments I'm not sure Sullivans has live music. Do they? Or have I been invited out for drinks, and just do not realize it?

Anonymous said...

This place is absolutely horrible i don't know what part of vegas the above comment poster was from but no vegas i have ever heard of first of all the owner sherrie sullivan is the biggest bitch you could ever imagine thinks her shit don't stink cause she has a bar that with high hopes will be bought by a professional responsible well oriented person i love the location of this place but but thats it me and my friends are too nervous to go up their because we have young kids and no time for the drama that all her punk firends bring to that place and then kick innocent victims and by standers out for no reason beside the simple fact her drunk ignorant friends starting fights and gauking at women with dirty gestgures and comments that no one deserves...... Lets start a petition SMYRNA and get her out of there so we can have a nice place to hangout and enjoy ourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Anonymous said...

They charged my card twice...when I went back to complain the next day, they said it was the credit card company's fault, not them. BS

Anonymous said...

I definitely will not be going back here EVER!!! The big ugly blonde girl that bartends is horrible. The owner is obnoxious. The servers look like they are drugged up. The service sucked and it was way too smokey. If it was my bar I'd fire the while staff and start over with new employees. Georgia's is the new spot in Smyrna.