Fun Time Food in Sports Bar Atmosphere
by Julie Yates, Food Editor
Detour American Grille-Southport, located at 4530 Southport Crossing Dr. just off exit 103 on Interstate 65, seems like the type of establishment where coworkers might meet for drinks at the end of the day or friends would gather to watch a major league sporting event. Families with slightly older children might enjoy it also; tucked away in the corner of one of the larger eating areas is a small arcade for the kids. Although the food for the most part is tasty and the atmosphere is festive, this reviewer thought the menu was a bit pricey for a casual dining experience.
The expansive interior is starkly furnished with bare dark wood tables and matching chairs, black leather upholstered booths and a roughly finished cement floor. Void of the usual country barn/flea market rustic ornamentation found hanging on some bar walls, the main decoration is 40 televisions, four of which are in the men’s room. It is safe to say there is not a seat in the house that does not have a good view of a television.
The happy hour crowd has many options in which to partake: 24 different beers on tap including some that are locally produced. Twenty-two are microbrews that are seasonally rotated, and patrons are allowed to try a sample before they commit to a whole mug of something exotic like pumpkin ale. Specialty drinks, signature martinis and daily specials have their own dedicated menu, while other libations can be shaken or stirred up if just requested. There aren’t any peanuts on the floor of Detour’s bar area. Instead, this place has bacon – really great bacon from local supplier Moody Meats – loaded into glasses and placed on the tables to munch on. In addition to the daily drink specials, appetizers are half price during happy hour Monday through Thursday from 3-6 pm and again from 9 pm until close.
Our server was attentive and friendly, and although she was waiting on several tables, she never seemed rushed. She handed us our menus along with silverware rolled in a black terrycloth towel. The menu offers plenty of fun bar food such as wraps, flatbreads and burgers and carries out the road trip theme through their menu items’ names including “Under Construction Nachos,” “Speed Bump Chicken Tenders” and “Road Rage Shrimp.” We selected the above mentioned $12 shrimp for one of our appetizers. The four fresh and plump jumbo shrimp in large martini glass resting on a bed of shredded lettuce topped with traditional cocktail sauce were given a first rate rating by my dining partner. Our other appetizer choice was “Fried Avocado” for $7. The avocado slices had been dipped in batter and were bland by themselves but got a needed kick from the chipotle honey mustard dipping sauce.
Fajitas were the dinner special that evening for $10 instead of their usual $16 price. I opted for the steak version. The ample portion of beef strips and colorful peppers was adequately seasoned but a bit dry and not something I would order again on a return visit. My companion ordered the grilled mahi-mahi, and the kitchen graciously accommodated his request to blacken it. Although the fish was perfectly cooked and very delicious, the proverbial “deck of cards” serving seemed a bit small for $16. We also tried the sweet potato fries that were served with a caramel-marshmallow fluff dipping sauce for $3. They were definitely unique and fun to try.
We finished the meal by sharing the “Chocolate Chip Cookie” for $7. This sinfully rich dessert is a large fresh baked cookie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. It was worth the calorie spree!
Detour American Grille has two sister restaurants: one at Keystone at the Crossing area and another in Geist. Recently transferred from the Keystone Detour, Manager Jeff Osler came by our table and shared that the current menu is going to be revised in the near future. He mentioned that Thursday is Trivia Night, and from 8 pm on, a large crowd comes in to enjoy the festivities.
Detour American Grille-Southport is a great destination for someone who wants to mingle with the gang and watch the big game. It would also be a fun place for a special family dinner if the one who gets the check doesn’t mind splurging.
About Julie Yates
Julie Yates is a former teacher and current food blogger, Yates Yummies. She enjoys sharing quick, easy, and healthy recipes with people who love to cook. Visit her blog at www.yatesyummies.blogspot.com.
