Charlie’s — What a Sports Bar Should Be

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Charlie's Sports Bar

Charlie's Sports Bar

In business for a bit more than a month now, the folks at Charlie’s Sports Bar and Grill on Hixson Pike have begun transforming their location into the ideal sports bar. That process has entailed introducing elements that are a crucial part of the sports bar experience.

A great sports bar is more than just a watering hole. One crucial distinction between the two is the choice of entertainment options—after all, you can have a drink anywhere.

At Charlie’s, assuming you meet the minimum age requirement, you can enjoy all manner of welcome distractions while you enjoy your adult beverage. Four full pool tables are joined by a couple of dart boards, if manual dexterity is your thing. Silver Strike and Golden Tee are available for those more drawn to video gaming, and a jukebox pumps out classic rock anthems for those who want to cut up the dance floor.

If you’d rather just park in one spot and take it all in, Charlie’s is great for that, as well. Plenty of seating means you should be able to find an ideal spot for watching your favorite team. And ensuring your team is on one of the 18 televisions should be pretty easy, considering that they subscribe to all the major sports packages. (Baseball will be in full swing soon, and this weekend, of course, supplies the grand finale of March Madness.)

A good-humored crowd of regulars and friends keep lively conversation flowing, and there is a notable absence of the drama that shows up at a lot of other 21-and-up spots. Charlie’s is definitely a grown-folks’ establishment. That doesn’t mean you can’t let loose, though—Thursday nights, for instance, bring loads of fun in the form of Karaoke Nights, and live bands will grace the joint on occasion, as well.

Charlie’s helps ensure that your night will end as enjoyably as it started by keeping drink prices low. Happy Hours run Monday through Saturday (with savings on each and every drink, as well as pitchers), and Sundays bring $6 pitchers.

Even if you can’t make it for Happy Hour, Charlie’s has some of, if not absolutely, the lowest prices on top-shelf drinks in town. A high-end tequila, vodka or whiskey will only run you $6.75! (Make it during Happy Hour, and that price will drop even further!)

After a few drinks over the course of a long game, even the hardiest of stomachs begin to growl. Charlie’s offers all the classics you’d expect from any self-respecting sports bar. From late-night staples like mozzarella sticks and jalapeño poppers to classics like onion rings and cheese fries, they’ve got you covered. Wings, the center of many a sports-fueled fete, are of course on offer, available naked or in hot, mild, or BBQ sauce.

The burger drew me in. Promised to be a gargantuan 10 ounces by the menu, the seasoned patty did not disappoint. My bacon cheeseburger was positively massive—as in, I had to slow down to consider how to take a bite. The juicy giant was accompanied by an ample portion of thick-cut steak fries to complete the quintessential all-American meal, washed down with a tall Yuengling draft.

Charlie’s is essentially a family-run establishment. It’s easy to build a rapport with the bartenders, who are always a source of lively conversation if you’re so inclined. (Just in case you’re new, I’ll give you a piece of advice: it’s always a good idea to get to know your bartenders.) Stop in earlier rather than later, though—Charlie’s currently closes at 11 p.m. each night, though that will probably be extended once summer rolls around and nights grow longer.

When it comes to what’s required of a good sports bar, Charlie’s fits the bill. The layout screams for a party, and they give you everything you need to get your own started as soon as you walk through the door. Watch your team’s next big game with them, and see if they don’t quickly become one of your go-to spots.

Charlie’s Sports Bar
and Grill

4021 Hixson Pike

(423) 825-4811

Hours: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily

21+ at all times