In full honesty, typical sports bars aren’t usually my scene. Often, they feel exaggerated in almost every way, especially in big cities. They’re massive, loud, chaotic, and almost always overpriced. During a trip to Atlanta last year, we met friends at a sports bar that felt like an airplane hangar filled with televisions, and somehow still short on restrooms. We spent what was supposed to be a relaxing evening shouting trivia answers at each other across a table, surrounded by walls of video screens and servers in those cliché referee outfits. Hardly original.
And that’s precisely what we crave in a sports bar – a spark of originality. Frankly, it doesn’t even need to strictly be a “sports bar” in the traditional sense. It just needs to be a place where you actually want to be, somewhere you can enjoy watching sports and having a good time with friends. For this exploration, I enlisted the help of my friend Richard Brooks. In true sports fan fashion, we even managed to have fun while our teams stumbled and fell apart like a house of cards.
South of the Broad: Bluffton
A Guy Walks Into a Bar, Part 1
A classic joke to set the scene: A man walks into a bar in Cork, Ireland, and asks the bartender, “What’s the fastest way to Dublin?”
“Are you walking or driving?” the bartender asks.
“Driving,” the man replies.
“That’s the fastest way,” the bartender deadpans.
Jocks Sports Bar
95 Baylor Drive, Bluffton (Publix Shopping Center)
Phone: 843.815.7474
John Dempsey, the owner of Jocks, is a lifelong Steelers devotee, hailing from Morgantown, West Virginia. As you might guess, there’s a subtle nod to the black and gold of his team within his Bluffton establishment. However, it’s cleverly woven into an impressive collection of pennants, posters, banners, and logos representing both professional and college teams. “Majority rules here,” Dempsey explains. “It doesn’t matter who you root for. The team with the most fans gets the biggest screen.”
“Even for Patriots fans?”
“Even the Patriots,” he affirms.
Jocks transcends the typical sports bar; it’s more akin to a sports sanctuary. It’s not just a venue for watching games, but also a place to engage with sports. This expansive bar boasts pool tables, interactive Wii games, NTN Trivia, darts, ping-pong, Tee Golf, and the ever-popular cornhole game that’s taken the Lowcountry by storm. Jocks actively sponsors numerous sports teams throughout the year, including co-ed softball and even a championship full-contact football team. Dempsey also ensures Jocks is deeply involved in the local community. Even as we watched football, he was finalizing details for a raffle to support an injured local patron. The prize? A large framed and autographed photo of Steelers legend Troy Polamalu intercepting a pass from Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. Perfect for the setting.
“We host a lot of fundraisers,” he adds.
Before venturing into bar ownership, Dempsey spent a decade as Food and Beverage Manager for Sea Pines and previously opened hotels for Hyatt. The sports bar industry might even be in his genes. If the name “Dempsey” sounds familiar, it should – literally. He’s a distant relative of the legendary heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Dempsey. A modest tribute to “The Manassa Mauler” holds a special place on the wall, nestled among signed photos of other sports icons. Jack Dempsey himself had a famous establishment, Jack Dempsey’s Broadway Restaurant, a Manhattan landmark for decades until its closure in 1974. And as any Godfather fan knows, it’s where Michael Corleone waited for Solozzo and McCluskey before the infamous restaurant scene.
At Jocks, the focus is on fun without emptying your wallet.
“We aim to be a family-friendly extension of your living room,” Dempsey states. “Everyone feels comfortable here, and we keep prices affordable.” Indeed, nearly everything on the menu is around $7, including daily specials (rib-eye steaks are just $5 on Mondays) and their renowned burgers. Dempsey is particularly proud of The Pittsburgher, served “Three Rivers style” with American cheese, coleslaw, and fries piled right on top of the burger. There’s a wide selection of beers on tap, and a bucket of six domestic longnecks goes for $15, with daily happy hour specials from 4 to 7 PM. And yes, if you actually came to watch sports, Jocks offers more screens than a Vegas sportsbook, even extending to the outdoor patio. You can even manage your fantasy league with the bar’s free Wi-Fi.
“We really have a little something for everyone,” Dempsey concludes.
Capt. Woody’s Sports Bar
Calhoun Street Promenade, Bluffton
843-757-6222 www.captainwoodys.com
The first time I sat at the upstairs bar of Capt. Woody’s new Bluffton location, the skies unleashed a torrential downpour, leading Mr. Brooks to declare it “a rain-in.” No such “rain-in” on this perfectly crisp fall day. In fact, the day is so stunning it almost feels wrong to be inside a dimly lit bar watching football. Which, of course, is exactly why we’re here.
Capt. Woody’s lives up to its name, with a rustic, “woody” interior featuring rough-hewn walls and exposed beams. The bar area evokes a nostalgic feeling of simpler times when people gathered around a radio in wooden shacks to listen to baseball games, pulling ice-cold longnecks from galvanized buckets. That old-school vibe is present here, where buckets of Budweiser are $12 for a half-dozen. Pair your game viewing with some fresh, local oysters, either fried or on the half shell, while enjoying one of the bar’s four large flat-screen TVs. But the real highlight is the open-air design. Weather permitting, one entire side of the bar opens onto a spacious deck overlooking the Promenade’s interior courtyard. No guilt about missing the beautiful day here. You can watch the game while still soaking in the cool breeze and blue sky, ice-cold drink in hand.
North of the Broad: Beaufort
Rosie O’Grady’s Irish Sports Pub
2127 Boundary Street, Beaufort Town Center (next to Kmart)
843.379.7676
“We’re a Lowcountry Sports Bar, Beaufort’s only Irish pub, and the coolest little bar in town,” boasts Rosie’s owner, Michael Pressley. Like John Dempsey, Mike and his wife, Leslie, became bar owners after nearly three decades in the nomadic hotel industry, with stints at places like the Doral Country Club and the Sheraton Music City. “I’ve done sous chef, executive chef, food and beverage director – everything,” he recounts. Now, Pressley puts that extensive experience to work in his own kitchen, cooking at least four times a week and preparing almost everything from scratch – including all his sauces. His habanero sauce is legendary for its fiery intensity. I still break out in a sweat just recalling a run-in with Mike’s hot wings over a year ago. As I remember, it was the third wing that nearly finished me. “You’ve gotta watch that third wing,” he chuckles. “The third one always gets you.”
Pressley’s half-pound burgers are considered by many to be among the best in the Lowcountry, a claim he doesn’t dispute. “We have a very fun menu with the best burgers in town,” he declared in a recent email. “We always have 4 to 5 specials running.”
Rosie’s reminds me of a neighborhood bar I used to frequent in Boston’s Back Bay. Stepping inside, you could be anywhere. The place exudes a classic neighborhood vibe. It’s comfortably dim without being depressing, adorned with a diverse collection of what Pressley playfully calls “bar crap.” Of course, there are also plenty of screens and ample sports programming to watch on them.
“We have the NFL Ticket & MLB package, plus extra sports programming, which gives us an insane amount of sports coverage. We constantly have food specials like ‘Futball Wings’ – 10 for $5 – and Fried Chicken Livers on Thursday’s Man Night.” In addition to daily food and drink specials, Pressley adds, “We have drink specials all the time, like $2 Peppermint schnapps and Kamakazis, $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon, Busch, and Icehouse.” They also have an outdoor area with a full bar and a 20×30 event tent, used for oyster roasts and numerous charity events throughout the year. Recent events include oyster roasts for Maranatha Farms Animal Rescue of Ridgeland and the Wingmen Motorcycle Club’s Toys for Tots drive.
Pressley spent part of his childhood on Hunting Island, where his father served as Park Superintendent in the 1960s. Beaufort feels like home, and the Pressleys treat their regulars like family.
“We’ve been here for six years and hope to be here for at least six more,” Mike says.
For more on Rosie O’Grady’s, check out lcweekly.com and their Club Scene section for live entertainment and special events.
A Guy Walks Into a Bar, Part 2
A guy from up north walks into a bar down south during the Christmas holidays. He notices a small nativity scene behind the bar and asks, “That’s a nice nativity scene. But why are the three wise men all wearing firemen’s hats?”
The bartender replies, “Well, it says right there in the Bible that the three wise men came from afar.”
The Office Sports Bar & Grill
2121 Boundary Street, Beaufort Town Center
843.524.GAME (4263)
The moment you step inside, it’s clear this place is the creation of serious sports enthusiasts. The walls are covered in pennants and memorabilia representing nearly every college and professional sports team imaginable – some faded relics from sports history. Rumor has it that you might even spot some big names from the PGA tour here regularly, checking out the competition on one of the bar’s 20 plasma TVs.
“You never know what’ll happen at The Office,” says owner Jim Laferriere. The Office is truly a family operation, with Jim’s wife, Ruth, and daughter, Kalin, both involved in the business. “There’s almost always a family member here,” he notes.
After two decades in the Hilton Head restaurant industry, Laferriere was seeking a change when this former brewery space became available about two years ago.
“When I first saw the place, I knew it would make an incredible sports bar,” Jim recalls. The real challenge was creating a space that appealed to more than just hardcore sports fans, offering more than just cold beer and peanuts. “The food sets us apart,” Jim emphasizes. “It’s not just typical bar food; it’s bar food with flair. And everything is homemade, even the chips and salsa.” The menu boasts an inspired variety of appetizers, burgers, soups, and salads – over forty items in total – all at remarkable value. “Everything’s six, seven, eight bucks,” Jim says. “And nothing will ever be over ten dollars.”
The Office features a different special or theme each night of the week, like $2 vodka drinks on Tuesdays, $2 well drinks and wines on “Working Women Wednesday,” and, of course, “Sunday Bloody Sunday” means $2.50 Bloody Marys. But nothing quite matches the controlled chaos of “Thirsty Thursday,” when $2 buys a 24-ounce margarita, perfect for loosening up those vocal cords for Karaoke from 7 to 11 PM.
Happy hour at The Office runs from 4 to 7 PM, seven days a week, year-round. The beer taps feature seasonal and regional brews, alongside the ever-popular (and best-selling) Bud Light. The Office also offers a covered outdoor patio and upper deck with plasma screens and a cigar-friendly atmosphere for sports fans who enjoy a good cigar with the game. “The ultimate sports experience,” Jim insists. “It’s all good fun,” he says.
The Office is also family-friendly, with a special kids’ menu and access to Wii games. All major sports packages are available for viewing, and private space and service are available for groups. Find more information at lcweekly.com.
A Guy Walks Into a Bar, Part 3
A man walks into a bar and asks the bartender, “Was I in here last night?”
“You certainly were,” replies the bartender.
“And did I spend a lot of money?”
“You spent well over $100,” the bartender answers.
“Whew! Thank God for that,” the man sighs. “I thought I’d wasted it.”
Luther’s Rare & Well Done – Waterfront Sports Pub
910 Bay Street, Downtown Beaufort
843.521.1888
Luther’s is a bit of a hybrid, an anomaly – part restaurant, part sports pub, and part waterfront escape. It’s the only waterfront location in Beaufort where sports fans regularly gather to cheer on their teams. As previously mentioned, the place has a distinct Cheers vibe, but with a stunning river view and a pet-friendly deck. It’s also infused with semper fi, the Marine Corps motto, which translates to what I call the “Regular’s Creed”: Always Faithful. And the regulars are indeed loyal. World-famous motorcycle daredevil Robbie Knievel is a known patron. Recently, a group of Luther’s staff and regulars road-tripped to see Knievel jump a lake at an amusement park in South Georgia (chronicled in the Backyard Tourist by Richard Brooks and myself).
If you’re a regular, or even semi-regular, chances are “Stretch” will have your drink of choice on the bar before you’re even settled on your stool. Grab a table or a seat at the large rectangular split-level bar to watch the game or race on a multitude of screens. We recommend their seasoned wings – a tasty twist on the classic – and Fred Flintstone would definitely approve of the burgers. Happy hour is from 4 to 7 PM, and they offer daily food and drink specials as well.
Emily’s Restaurant & Tapas Bar – Upscale Sports Viewing
906 Port Republic Street, Downtown Beaufort
843.522.1866 www.emilysrestaurantandtapasbar.com
I’ve previously called this Beaufort’s living room, and I stand by that – except when a game is on. Then, it transforms into more of a grand den with bartenders. The adjacent restaurant is a long-time Beaufort favorite for fine dining, and the bar area reflects that sophistication. The bar itself is a beautiful antique art deco piece that owner Tommy Winburn found on eBay (ask him to tell you the story). There’s not much “bar crap” here – none of the usual sports bar clutter. This is a classy establishment, except, of course, when a passionate crowd is watching their team falter (cough – Gamecocks at Kentucky – cough!). In such situations, some of Beaufort’s most refined and well-mannered citizens have been known to shout expletives so colorful they could cause unease among tourists in horse-drawn carriages several blocks away.
No need to strain your eyes here. Four giant flat-screen TVs make Emily’s an excellent spot to meet friends for a big game. There’s no happy hour, but cocktail prices are significantly lower away from the waterfront on Port Republic Street. The wine list is full of great values, by the glass or bottle. There’s no draft beer, but a decent selection of bottled beers is available. If you get hungry, Emily’s tapas menu is two pages long, packed with delicious options. We’re particularly fond of the grilled Andouille sausage, the Lobster Ravioli, and the Garlic Beef. On game days, Chef Mike usually prepares killer burgers, brats, wings, and other hearty “man food.”
Find more on Emily’s in our Moveable Feast section
A Guy Walks Into a Bar, Part 4
A man walks into a bar and orders a beer, but before he can take a sip, a monkey swings down and snatches the pint right out of his hand.
The man asks the bartender, “Who owns the monkey?”
“The piano player,” the bartender replies.
The man walks over to the piano player and asks, “Do you know your monkey stole my beer?”
The piano player responds, “No, but if you hum a few bars, I’m pretty sure I can pick it out.”
As I mentioned at the beginning, this isn’t an exhaustive list. There are countless bars out there – sports bars, dive bars, and even karaoke bars (okay, maybe not karaoke bars). The small but dedicated team at Life Behind Bars remains committed to discovering the best, regardless of the “sacrifices” required. What might seem like a complete waste of time and money to some is what we call “research.” And we pride ourselves on being dedicated researchers.
Find more online at lcweekly.com and email us your reasons why we should include your favorite watering holes at [email protected].
