If the Warriors could somehow be in the playoffs year-round, this article might not even be necessary.
Because during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, uptown Oakland’s new sports bar, The Athletic Club, was packed to the gills, just a week after its soft opening. Your reporter foolishly thought he could stroll in around half an hour before tipoff and grab any table, but much like tailgaters outside the stadium hours before game time, hardcore sports fans had already laid claim to many of the tables around the expansive space.
As a reward, those dedicated fans could watch the Dubs absolutely wax the Houston Rockets while loading up on classic sports snacks and cold beverages in a sports fan’s paradise.
The decor: Formerly the home of the short-lived Izzy’s Steak & Chop House, The Athletic Club has opened up much of the place, knocking down walls to make what was once several small connected rooms feel like a unified space. Walls are covered with the wood from old gymnasium bleachers, a trophy case dominates the middle of the main room, and sports paraphernalia is hung from every wall. And there are televisions everywhere; I did my best to find a space in the bar where one could not easily see a screen, and I couldn’t find one.
The “Skybox” on the restaurant’s second floor, with its own dedicated televisions, can be reserved for large groups, as can the “Rivalry Room,” where pull-out bleachers and projection screens can allow fans of rival teams to literally face off.
The vibe: Sports. Sportsing. Do you love sports? You will be happy here. If you’re hoping for a quiet, dark corner of the bar to cuddle up with your date and pitch some woo, you should … maybe go somewhere else. But if you want to get your blood pumping with a couple hundred fellow fans going crazy every time Steph Curry makes the net whisper “swoosh,” you’ve found your home.
The menu: For the moment, The Athletic Club is still on its “preseason menu,” which features the sports-bar classics you’d expect: Chicken wings (10 for $14 or 20 for $27) in your choice of five sauces, or crispy cauliflower ($10 for a small portion, $19 for large) for the vegetarian and vegan crowds. The AC Burger ($15) is a classic 1/3-pound Angus patty with classic toppings; the vaunted Impossible Burger ($16) is also available. There’s a salad, a chicken sandwich, fries, nachos and more. The “mid-season menu” will debut soon, featuring an expanded selection of bar snacks, soups and salads, sandwiches, and ballpark hot dogs.
The bar features a dozen beers on tap (including hometown brews like Line 51’s Dub Nation IPA) with 20 more in cans. The completed cocktail menu will included 10 rotating mixed drinks, including the “Slushie du Jour.” Large groups can also order a case of beer, delivered in an old-fashioned cooler, right to their table (price varies).
Perfect for: The big game. Or a little game. A drink after work when there’s not really a big game on.
Details: The Athletic Club, 59 Grand Avenue, Oakland; open at 4 p.m. every day (earlier for some sporting events). www.theacoakland.com