Unrivaled!

Rivals Sports Grille co-owners Nick Lowe and John Simmons have created a unique establishment certain to “rival” anything you’ll find anywhere else. With an executive chef to design the menu, 25 big screen TVs and two fully equipped bars, they’ve taken the affordable, family-friendly sports-themed dining spot to a delicious level all its own.

By: Ken McEntee
Date: 08/20/2008
An upscale restaurant with a family-friendly environment doesn’t have to mean upscale prices. At least not since the opening last year of Rivals Sports Grille in Middleburg Heights, where fun, class and budget don’t have to compete.

A glance at Rival’s comfortable décor, which includes rich wooden paneling and two cozy fireplaces, barely lets on that the restaurant is an active venue for sports fans to hang out and enjoy the games. Then, on second glance, the normal displays of football helmets, team banners and Rivals’ 25 independently controlled high definition large screen plasma satellite TV monitors—some as large as 58 inches—give it away.

The menu and specials created by Chef Jimmi Rollin really set Rivals apart from your typical sports bar.

“I don’t know where you can find another sports bar that has a trained chef running the kitchen,” boasts co-owner Nick Lowe. Nick, owner of Marketing Directions in Westlake, purchased the restaurant with long-time friend John Simmons in 2006. “We offer fine dining, but at very reasonable prices.”

The food isn’t all that makes Rivals unique. The family-friendly atmosphere is key. While you watch the Browns and Steelers pummel each other on one screen, and cheer as Ohio State drops yet another KO on Michigan on another screen, the kids can be entertained by Sponge Bob Square Pants on still another.

With the handy Sound Dog (Sound Dawg is more appropriate around here) wireless sound system, you get your own portable speaker that tunes in to what you’re viewing on any of the TV monitors. That means you always can listen to what you’re watching. The Sound Dawg speaker even has a jack to plug in your own headset.

“We always have Nickelodeon on one of the screens,” John says. “A lot of times all the kids who don’t even know each other will congregate to watch it together.”

Much of the Rivals concept was designed around John’s experiences on the road with good and bad restaurants.

“I drove trucks for 19 years and ate at a lot of restaurants—a lot of bad restaurants,” John says. “I know what I like and what I don’t like. Nick understands people and how to communicate with them. Together, we came up with some great ideas.”

Noting the absence of a classy west side sports restaurant, John and Nick decided to purchase the establishment formerly known as Instant Replay and Bobers. Eight months later, after a significant investment in renovations, Rivals was opened sporting two bars—each with their own unique atmosphere—a spacious outdoor patio, plus a fine dining room with a fireplace.

Included in the décor are original sport-themed oil paintings done specially for Rivals by local artist Shaun Kinley, who also is an assistant wrestling coach at St. Ed’s.

With full lunch and dinner menus, Rivals is not only a perfect place to hang out and watch the game, but also to enjoy your lunch hour or dinner with the family.

“We started out with traditional sports bar food like burgers and wings, but we have earned a reputation for our great steaks and other entrees as well,” Jimmi says. “We put a unique twist on everything we do.”

Along with a full menu that includes sandwiches, entrees, pizza, soups, salads and a kid’s menu, Rivals offers unique daily specials. One of the favorites is the “R” steak—a fire grilled flat iron steak topped with garlic butter and an onion ring, served with a potato pancake and freshly made Cole slaw—all for just $12.

Or try the BBQ Beef Brisket Paninni—slow roasted brisket tossed with smoke bourbon BBQ sauce and topped with cheddar cheese, Cole slaw and hand-cut French fries sandwiched between slices of grilled Paninni bread—all for $10. Or the fire-grilled salmon fillet with your choice of two sides for $17.

You’ll be “Full of Bologna” after trying Jimmi’s half-pound fried bologna sandwich served on a toasted ciabata roll, topped with Swiss cheese, fried green onion mayonnaise and roasted tomatoes, served with fries for $8.

If you have a taste for a great burger, The Assassin 51 has no rival. It includes a full pound of certified Angus beef, a variety of cheeses and onion rings, is named for the late Browns linebacker Eddie Johnson and is almost as big. You also can build your own burger or pizza.

Rivals’ Monday through Friday Lunch Express, featuring $5.50 soup and salad combos and $6.50 soup and sandwich combos, are a perfect way to enjoy a hot lunch for a reasonable price without resorting to fast food. Soups include Smokey Tomato Bisque—ripe tomatoes simmered in a smoke infused cream sauce with hints of basil and fresh herbs—chicken noodle or the soup of the day. Have your soup served in a sourdough bread bowl for just $1.99 extra. Pair your soup with a Cobb, Caesar, Teriyaki Chicken, a High-House salad, or a sandwich—like the fire-grilled Chicken Wrap or the Turkey Pita featuring toasted Greek pita bread with sliced turkey, beefsteak tomatoes, melted Swiss cheese, lettuce and raspberry mayo.

The Rivals’ bar, which hosts the “best Happy Hour in town,” Nick insists, features 30 different brands of beer on tap, including a monthly special like August’s Peroni, which is imported from Italy.

While you enjoy the wide selection of $6 martinis, 25-ounce domestic drafts for $2, or your favorite cocktail, try the TNT Buzztime trivia game. It is always exciting to see Rivals flash across the screen among the national Buzztime leader board.

Rivals is located at 6710 Smith Road, right at the bend in Middleburg Heights. Call 216-267-0005 and ask about call-ahead orders. By calling ahead, your meal can be ready when you arrive. Find out more about Rivals at www.RivalsCleveland.com.

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