Top Ten Broward-Palm Beach Sports Bars to Watch Football In

By John Linn Wed., Sep. 1 2010 at 6:31 AM

Categories: The List

The preseason excitement, the fantasy drafts, the fatty food; it could only mean one thing: Football seasoning is ramping up. All across South Florida, sports bars slinging wings and burgers, beers and shots will be prepping for their Sunday rituals. But finding a good sports bar isn't just as easy as popping into a barstool. You need a place that offers good food at decent prices, a sizable beer list, comfortable digs, and a whole lot of TVs so you can watch the game you want. Well, here are five local sports bars that won't give you a false start this football season:

Mugs - Do you hate dive bars? Do you want sports, sports, and more sports without the risk of developing lung cancer secondhand? You couldn't get a more smoke-free, simple environment than Mug's on Oakland. Ironically, there are no mugs, just pints, and sports -- 14 TVs' worth to monopolize your attention. Young, college-aged faces fill the space. Gators and Hurricanes beware, though; this is 'Noles territory. Mugs serves game-day staples like hamburgers, wings, nachos, and fries.

Bru's Room - Entering a Bru's through the teal and orange patio bar area brings to mind entering Sun Life Stadium, which makes sense considering it's owned by '80s-era Dolphins linebacker Bob Brudzinski. Most locations are fitted with an outdoor patio area with plenty of seats, whether at a table or a stool at the large bar, and dozens of flat-screen TVs are strategically placed every foot or two. Inside is another large bar, dozens more flat screens, and a pool table and dartboard. In addition to a full bar, a full menu is available, and fried pickles with spicy ranch sauce are Bru's hallmark dish. Don't forget the chicken wings -- our favorite is the Triple Threat (BBQ, Sweet 'N' Tangy, and grilled with minced garlic). Fun fact for night owls: Bru's reverse happy hour runs from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. So you can stay on long after the games are over.

See if you can tackle the Beast at Bokamper's.

Bokamper's Sports Grill - Bokamper's has great food, drinks, and enough televisions to show every game in history. Just be sure to get here early if you're planning on watching the Sunday games, as it becomes standing room only around kickoff. If you come with a big appetite you can try to tackle the Beast, a five-pound burger with four fried eggs, ten strips of bacon, and eight slices of American cheese. Finish it and you get your name engraved in a plaque on the wall -- and a massive case of indigestion.

Champps Americana - Champps is laid-back, almost quiet, and certainly more restaurant than sports bar. Huge television screens line the ceiling, so it's often possible to watch two or more games at a time. The wait staff can be so attentive that your next beer is never too far away. They check in every few minutes to make sure you've got everything you need. This is a good place to take the family to watch the games but not so much if you want to scream at televisions with other drunks.

Hurricane Grill and Wings - One of a projected 400 franchises scheduled to roll out over the next five years, Hurricane has already taken Plantation and Palm Beach Gardens by storm, with 60 or more franchises opening in Broward and Palm Beach, practically one to every chicken-wing-loving family. Chris Russo founded the original Hurricane in Fort Pierce in 1995 starting with his hot garlic and Parmesan wings, on the menu today and still his favorite. Today, Hurricane offers roughly 30 chicken-wing sauces, from fruity to flaming; bone-in wings or boneless (made from hand-cut chicken breasts, and frozen); plus grouper fingers, fish dip, cheese steaks, and the best French fries you've ever tasted. Most locations have a fun, laid-back vibe with people watching sports, playing Xbox 360, and drinking at the bar.

Location Info

Venue

Mugs Bar & Grill

Map

Mugs Bar & Grill

2671 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL

Category: Music

Tags:

Bokamper's, Bru's Room, football, games, NFL, Sports Bar, watch, World of Beer, Wowies, Yard House

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This is an "older" article, but I'll comment regardless. Went to a Broward Duffy's with a group last night - we had reservations, and I had pre-ordered the food. After 2.5 hours, we had received half the food (and it was definintely NOT hot when we received it...dried out potato skins and wings are not so good) and we were able to order and receive exactly ONE alcoholic beverage - for a party of ten adults! That is just insanely poor service....the waitress was sweet, but something was deeply wrong. Give me Bru's any day, any location!!
i am not afraid to hide my feelings and beliefs behind only a 1st name, love me, hate me does not matter to me, i love my life and my friends, i will not hide. NOT MY STYLE..........MOM, MEATLOAF, hey dennis how was comic-con, and the star trek convention?
I meant to insult Ted, Sara, so sorry if you got caught in the crossfire. I've been to Blondies, but when people say that the guys there are a bunch of low-life a-holes I don't get insulted. So perhaps if you're insulted you need to take a look at your own insecurities? As for Ted, what's really not too brilliant is regularly exposing what bad judgement he has to most of the people who will be reviewing his new place of employment. The bonehead uses his full name, sealing his stupidity in perpetuity in the Google archives for all to find until the end of time. Mr O'Shaughnessy would do well to cut his losses sooner than later.
Sarah, you are as smart as Dennis is ignorant. My sources say he is suffering from "asbestos brain rot" from the air from still living in his Mom's attic==hey dennis let me hear a==MOM. MEATLOAF!!
@ Dennis. I like going to blondies and take that as a personal insult. I am not a chain smoker and by no means skanky. I am married and have two wonderful children and find it a fun and interesting place to hang out during the season with friends. Dennis, you really should watch what you say, as you don't know who you are talking about. I know you must be directing your comment to the person you are writing but understand that other individuals eating at these restaurants do read these articles and comments.
I like duffys. After Red Zone, its like dating Carmen Electra after being married to Roseanne Barr. :) You seem like a Blondies kind of guy, Ted. Skanky, chain-smoking chicks seem like a good match. There's nothing "cookie cutter" about Duffys. Every one is different, so your choice of terms is just patently ignorant. They know how to run a sports bar. They fix broken TVs. They have good specials. They treat customers like they're important. If you sign up for their mailing list they actually give you something of value. They're a well run organization. John, what place is that in the main photo?
is your name Dennis "Duffy", everything in your comments always goes back to "DUFFY'S IS THE BEST", a cookie cutter chain restaurant whoes food lacks flavor, imagination and freshness, guess that is why Dennis likes it so much, fits his style. I'll be watching the games at Blondies on the beach, the view, the ticket and the babes.
Ok, Well Palm Beach is out of range for me. The Duffys in fort lauderdale is clearly the best place in town. If John really wanted to properly research this article he should have stopped in when he was at Gilberts since he wouldn't even have to move his car. Brus really doesn't have the best wings. I like Duffys and Bokampers better by a wide margin. Brus are just small and too messy in my view. Duffys are big and meaty, almost like the buzzard wings they have at my beloved Red Robin. I'm not sure how you categorize them as just OK. They're really outstanding. I have issues with Bru's room in Pompano. But the problem with recommending Brus or Duffy's in general is that all of their locations are different. The main TV in Brus's pompano is a piece of crap and they have TVs at odd angles showing key games. There's just too high a chance of not being able to watch the game you want comfortably. Its different every week and they seem to have no plan.
VicG has it on the best wings at Bru's. I have yet to taste a better one. These wings are always large variety and the grilled option is a plus. I heard that Bru paired with some wing guy when he started it. Maybe I read that on here. These folks know wings. Dennis, PGA Blvd and US-1 in Palm Beach Gardens is the location of the Duffy's I am talking about. Big place, plenty of TVs, and even a private party room upstairs. Wings and burgers are OK but the blackened mahi mahi sandwich is hard to beat.
I don't love Hurricane Wings actual wings, but their other food is good. The Coconut Creek location is really a fun time. Also, I've only been to Duffy's once, so it just sort of slipped my mind. Is it really that much better than, say, Bru's Room?
Bru's has the best wings HANDS DOWN! They are ALWAYS meaty and tender. I like the Sweet and Tangy and of course, the Triple Threat (but with out the minced garlic for me). They also have tons of TVs. It's a great place if I want to bring my kids or if I want to sit in the bar with no kids or in one of the outdoor bars. I heard they are opening one in Wellington too!
@freaker I wasn't going to say it, but you're correct that this is a pretty lame list. When you've missed the best place in Fort Lauderdale and the Best place in Boca you've had a bad Day. What is PGA? The only one I know on US1 is in Deerfield and its by far the worst of the Duffy's locations.
60 future planned Hurricane franchises in Brow-PB alone? Somebody is really dreaming and those figures don't even seem realistic. Personally, I don't find them to be that great. Bru's wings are far better and I think their sauces are a bit on the bland side. How can you leave out Duffy's? Their location on US-1 @ PGA is the ultimate sports bar. Neighborhood's in Boca is huge but don't know about the food.
The plantation location is still open.
It's just that location... thanks for the heads up.
A caption on the lead picture would be useful. The link you have to Hurricane says that the restaurant is closed. Is that location closed? Their web site is still showing that location.