The Sports Fan-Attic Bar & Grill is obviously created for the sports fan. While maintaining much of the same space arrangement of previous tenants, Sports Fan-Attic has opened up the space a bit and installed more than 13 large HD TVs, so, as General Manager Dave Lewis said, "no matter where you sit you can have a view of the TV." The night I was there, Boston and Los Angeles were playing, and the TV broadcast was audible throughout the bar and dining area, but not so loud that I couldn't carry on a conversation.

The bar section is elevated and provides a cozy area for a group of friends to gather, as was the case tonight. Fans for each team were sports fanatics, cheering on their respective teams.

My friend and I selected a booth to take in the full atmosphere of the place. A few tables were occupied in the dining room, one by us and another by a person seemingly prepping for a test or presentation, reading off index cars with one eye, keeping the other on the game and sneaking a French fry every now and then.

Lewis said, "We make our food to order. We have wraps and salads for fans who want something on the lighter side."

He said a few of the more popular items include the French Dip ($6.99), Club Sandwich ($7.99) and the 14-ounce Certified Angus Ribeye Steak ($18.99). He says specials are offered during the week, and on Thursdays, the Ribeye is just $14.99.

After ordering a cold beer, my friend and I decided to begin with Cheese Fries ($6.99) from the Starting Line Up section of the menu. The appetizer section has many of the same finger foods found at bars and grills around town--Fried Green Beans, Chicken Nachos, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Chips & Salsa, Mozzarella Sticks, Chicken Tenders, Chicken Quesadilla, Buffalo Wings, Onion Rings and an for a sampler plate, the Appetizer Combo Platter. All are $7.99 and under. While none of these is new or out of the ordinary, these are all good bar food to share with others.

The rest of the menu, likewise, screams of bar and grill food. The Wild Card Salads/Wraps include Chicken Caesar Wrap, Crisp Chicken Wrap, Texican Club Wrap, Buffalo Chicken Wrap, Caesar Salad, Chef Salad and House Salad. Burger and Chicken Sands include Pastrami Cheese Burger, BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger, Black and Blue Cheese Burger, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Monterey Chicken Sandwich, Crispy Chicken Sandwich and Buffalo Chicken Sandwich.

Home Plates include Club Sandwich, Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, French Dip, Monterey Chicken Platter, Chicken Platter, Ribeye Steak and the Little Leaguers--for the little sports fanatics.

After some deliberation, I chose the Pastrami Cheese Burger and my friend chose the Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, each for $6.99. A one-third pound 100 percent Angus patty was topped with pastrami, Swiss cheese and 1,000 Island dressing and secured within a Kaiser bun. The thinly sliced pastrami added a new taste to the classic burger, which was good. Our server failed to ask how I wanted it cooked, and I neglected to ask the beef to be cooked medium rare, so the patty was well done. This was fine, but a juicier version would have please me more. This burger came with French fries, or for $1.25 more, I could have my choice of side salad, steamed veggies, onion rings or fried green beans. I selected the green beans, and they were hot, crispy and a fun change with a burger.

My friend's Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich is written up as "lean chopped roast beef served with grilled onions, bell peppers and classic melted Cheez Whiz served on a French roll." When was the last time you had Cheez Whiz? It was fine, he said. There are better versions of this classic sandwich, but it was fine for what it is. He said, "It was good enough that I wanted to eat it." He selected onion rings with his meal--they were large, crispy and tasted like they should.

Sports Fan-Attic Bar & Grill also has a large outdoor patio for dining--"a good garden setting" said Lewis--and there are also autograph signing sessions. During football season, Lewis says, game day tailgate parties will be held for both college and pro team.

"We're definitely a family friendly place," Lewis said. "We have signings throughout the year with well-known celebrities. People can sign up to be on our e-mail blast list to know when we will have the signings."

Sports Fan-Attic Bar & Grill

51st & Sheridan, Farm Shopping Center

384-0900

Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 11am-10pm

Fri.-Sat. 11am-11pm

Rating:

Atmosphere *****

Food **3/4

Service ***