Best Bars to Watch BCS

Where to watch college football's biggest game: 5 top bars to cheer on Auburn or Florida State

Any sports bar worth its salt will be showing the BCS Championship game Monday night. With a promise of no Heisman Hangover from Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston and the unexpected journey that landed Auburn in the title game, it should be an exciting game. If you want to watch it with a rabid crowd in Houston to see which team clutches the glorious crystal trophy, here are five top bars that offer a little something extra:

Auburn fans unite

Wear your orange and blue gear and cheer with Auburn alums at Midtown Drinkery. Hosted by the Greater Houston Auburn Club, hundreds of fans turned out for the last watch party when Auburn defeated Alabama in one of the wildest finishes ever. Expect an even bigger turnout for the championship game as the bar has become a lucky charm for Tiger fans.

Specials include $5 “Pint the Power” (buy the beer keep the glass), $10 domestic buckets, and $3 well drinks.

Florida State fans gather

Not rooting for the underdog? The Florida State Alumni Association is organizing a watching party of their own at Bubba’s on Washington where you can enjoy specials like $3.50 well drinks, $9.75 domestic pitchers, and $11 import pitchers.

Food here is Texas-sized, with huge wings grilled to perfection and gigantic burgers.

A really big screen

Nestled between BBVA Compass Stadium and Minute Maid Park, Lucky’s Pub boasts the largest HD TVs in Houston. Munch on their addictive Philly Egg Rolls and watch the game on the 20-foot (yes, we said foot) HD screen in the main room. Or enjoy watching the game on one of 50 TV screens sprinkled through one of Houston’s most iconic sports bars.

All-night happy hour specials

If you’re looking to stray from the typical sports bar, check out D & T Drive Inn. Having been open a little under six months, D & T’s innovative, chef-driven food menu and carefully curated beer list has earned well-deserved buzz among food-snobs and beer nerds. However, the owners don’t see their menu as anything precious and strive to be a neighborhood bar that makes patrons feel comfortable the moment they set foot in the bar.

D & T will be showing the championship game on all of their TVs, with all-day happy hour specials: $4 pints and $7 jugs (equivalent of two pints) on selected beers, Or you can get a pint and a bratwurst for $10.

Football & food

Picked by Houston Press as one of the top five sports bars in Houston for healthy eating (huh?), whether you’re a fan of their edamame and veggie burger or — if you’re like us, their deep fried cheese burger and chicken fried ribeye, anyone can find something to satisfy their cravings at the Houston Texans Grille. If you choose to watch the championship bowl game at this popular spot in CityCentre, get there early to get a good parking spot and prime seats.

Auburn fans turned out at the Midtown Drinkery for the big win against Alabama. They'll be back for the BCS Championship game.

Courtesy photo

Auburn fans turned out at the Midtown Drinkery for the big win against Alabama. They'll be back for the BCS Championship game.

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bring on barnaby's

Favorite Houston comfort food spot picks Garden Oaks for 10th location

Courtesy of Barnaby's Cafe

Barnaby's Cafe is coming to the Stomping Grounds this fall.

Earlier this week, real estate developer Bryan Danna promised “big news…very soon” about a new tenant for the former LuLoo’s Day & Night space at his Stomping Grounds development in Garden Oaks. That news is that Houston favorite Barnaby’s Cafe has claimed the space for a new location that will open later this year.

When a Barnaby’s decal appear on the restaurant’s door a couple of days ago, news of the restaurant’s imminent arrival spread quickly on social media. It will be Barnaby’s tenth location, joining outposts in Montrose, River Oaks, the Heights, and more.

The restaurant will occupy a 2,250-square-foot space at the Stomping Grounds. It will offer a to-go window for people hanging out in the development’s green space as well as a gated, dog-friendly patio. Houston artist Roberto Cervantes will contribute works to the restaurant’s interior.

Founded in 1992 by restaurateur Jeff Gale, Barnaby’s is known for its wide-ranging and affordable menu of classic American fare, including salads, sandwiches, breakfast items, and dinner entrees. Customer favorites include the Lebanese chicken fattoush salad, chipotle black bean burger, baby back ribs, and green eggs, which are scrambled with spinach and artichoke hearts. Dogs can snack on a special “puppy menu” of ground beef, sliced chicken breast, or scrambled eggs over brown rice.

Stomping Grounds green space A to-go window will expedite orders for people in the Stomping Grounds' green space.Courtesy of Stomping Grounds

“Bringing Barnaby’s to Garden Oaks and Oak Forest has been on my wish list for more than a decade, so I’m incredibly grateful that Jeff Gale and his team saw Stomping Grounds as the right fit,” Danna said in a statement. “Jeff and I go back to his first Heights location, which was one of Barnaby’s first big moves north of Montrose, and I have always respected what he and his longtime team have built. Thirty years in the restaurant business is a serious accomplishment. You do not make it that long unless you know how to take care of people, build loyalty, and become part of the neighborhood.”

When it opens this fall, Barnaby’s will be open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. It will join other restaurants at the Stomping Grounds, including Fat Cat Creamery, Tex-Mex restaurant La Mex, Bollo Woodfired Pizza, casual sushi restaurant Himari, Little Sister Cake Shop, and High Five Mini Bar. Earlier this week, casual Vietnamese restaurant Pho Prime announced that it had claimed the space formerly occupied by The Pho Fix for a new location that will also open this fall.

news-you-can-eat openings stomping grounds barnaby's cafe