Tobacco Road Sports Cafe

Finally checked out Tobacco Road…what a find!  The most upscale, swanky ‘sports bar’ I’ve ever been to.  The atmosphere was spot on…recliners w/pretty much your own personal 32” plasma t.v. to watch the game.  And the food was incredible!!  Definitely not ‘sports bar’ food…so fresh…you have to try the guacamole.   The service was impeccable too, everyone was polite, friendly & really on point.  I was truly impressed.  I will most certainly frequent this restaurant & next time I’m bring all my friends.

By {screen_name} 01/09/10

We haven’t eaten there yet, but our (top-shelf) drinks were the weakest we’ve had anywhere in town in three years, and that’s saying a lot.

By {screen_name} 12/28/09

Just providing an accurate account on the story relayed by a Tobacco Road manager below. Let me preface by saying that I have an extremely small fuse for annoying drunk people and had nothing to drink that night so my memory is clear.
There were NO out of control drunks or anyone acting inappropriate.
When the time came to pay bills, no one in the bar area was sitting at all. People were up, moving around, and watching the Panthers lose embarrassingly to the Dolphins. The people who skipped out on the bill were not even with our party. The waitress had put them on the same table tab (understandably because as I said, everyone was moving around the bar area) but we had never even spoken to these people.  The customer who posted a complaint previously DID try to resolve both the food and bill issue with the waitress who told him she “didn’t know what he could do, but she was going to have to pay for it if he didn’t”. THAT is when he approached the manager with the situation at hand. I personally witnessed the manager not only argue with the customer about his dissatisfaction with the food (that had 4 bites taken out of it), but tell him that he and his “bleepin” friends weren’t to come back. The manager NEVER approached the group the entire night to ask them to settle down or anything of that nature.
I find it sad that not only did the manager use assumptions and terrible customer service that night, but is now fabricating and falsifying events that never took place.
Good luck to your restaurant where your waitresses are afraid to discuss issues with their management and you offend loyal customers.

By {screen_name} 12/18/09

First of all, I’d like to state that I am one of the owners of Tobacco Road Sports Cafe. I would simply like to respond to the post by vaughanmatt and not to rate our restaurant, but the review system requires that we assign a star rating to submit.

We welcome feedback from our guests, whether it be positive or negative. In the last year the feedback that we’ve received has directly resulted in changes at Tobacco Road. We hope that our guests continue to provide us with their perspectives on our menu, service and atmosphere.

I have to admit that vaughanmatt’s feedback and return to our restaurant is not welcome. He is well aware of the reasons, but let me reiterate, since he failed to mention that on Thursday evening:
1) His group was repeatedly rude to surrounding guests and our staff. They repeatedly treated the tables of nearby guests as their own, rudely interrupting the meals of other guests by placing their drink glasses on the tables of other guests. This continued despite polite requests for them to not disturb other diners.
2) Someone in his group walked out on their tab. He definitely knows this since he approached me and said he had no intention of paying his friend’s “f-ing bill.” To which I responded that I never asked or planned on having him pay the bill.
3) As for the claim that we “messed up” sliders and fries—when you told your server that the fries were not hot, I delivered a new hot plate of fries myself. You did not let anyone know that you were unhappy with the sliders until after you paid your bill.

Our guests and our staff should be able to enjoy a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere at Tobacco Road. We do not welcome or pander to guests that treat other guests or our staff poorly.

By {screen_name} 11/22/09

I went to Tobacco Road last night for the Carolina Panthers game and had easily the worst meal I’ve ever eaten at a sports bar in the Triangle.  I thought it would be tough to mess up sliders and fries - but they did - twice.  Then I spoke to the manager - Rami - and he said that not only could he not reimburse the meal but that me and my expletive friends could go somewhere else if we didn’t like it.  I frequent NUMEROUS restaurants in Raleigh and would say go almost anywhere before you visit here. Carolina Ale House, Macgregor Draft House, Locker Room, Upper Deck all better options.

By {screen_name} 11/20/09

We finally checked out Tobacco Road after months of glowing reviews by our close friends and next-door neighbors. Initially we were reluctant because of the whole “bar” thing (we have 2 sons, ages 7 and 10), but since we trust our friends and had already been briefed on the smoke-free atmosphere, we headed out on Thursday night with the boys to have a late dinner and catch the first half of the Steelers game. Our experience was fantastic from start to finish. Despite being fairly busy, we managed to snag a table in the “Big TV Room” (as dubbed by the boys) and were immediately greeted by our waitress who proved to be friendly and prompt throughout the night. The food was exceptional, and the atmosphere was boisterous and fun—and to our pleasure, VERY kid-friendly! We had the guacamole and wings first (some of the best guac in town, I’d say)and the boys split mac and cheese and a corndog and green beans. My husband and I had the steak frites and lamb wrap—and everything was excellent, fresh and came out fast. We even stayed a little past the first half since the boys had discovered the Deer Hunter game in the corner and the crowd really did seem to be mostly folks out with their families, like us. It was not a typical bar crowd at all—but I suspect it’s the type of place that gets more of a out-and-about crowd as it gets later (meaning we’ll be getting a babysitter some night soon). We were checked on by both the manager and one of the owners by the time we left…the latter we found giving our boys pointers on the video games. All in all, we found all the good things we had heard to be true, and then some. We will definitely be back!

By {screen_name} 09/12/09

I’ve read a couple of reviews on this place that said it was “kid friendly” and “a great place for ladies”. From our experience, nothing could be further from the truth. My wife and I heard good things about Tobacco Road so we went in for a light dinner. The menu was very unique and included a lot of creative ingredients not often found on the typical sports bar menu. We decided to sit at the bar since it was just the two of us. The bartender was a little terse and seemed a little uninformed about what liquors they carried and some of the menu items. But, we were just relaxing so it was no big deal. The food was good and did seem a step up from the usual.

There we a couple sitting next to us at the bar also enjoying drinks and dinner. About halfway through our meal, a gentleman approached the other couple and started a conversation. He was very cocky and was bragging about the restaurant and ragging on lots of other places in downtown Raleigh. Although he was conversing with them directly, he was speaking loudly enough (purposely) so that other patrons (including us) could hear him. Within the next five minutes, he trashed a number of Raleigh establishments and used the “F” word at least five times. He continued on, telling this couple that a women he knew was an “F-ing B…”.

He then proceeded to leave and approached a number of other tables, including some with children. It was obvious that he was the manager of the restaurant. I asked the bartender if he was the manager and the bartender said “Oh no, that’s the owner, Alex.” We asked to speak to him so we could voice our displeasure, and the bartender tried to get his attention but never got him to come over. After five or ten minutes of waiting, we decided to leave.

I’m not sure what the obsession is with foul language these days, but I certainly don’t expect it from the owner of an eating establishment in the presence of women and children. It’s really a shame we won’t be going to Tobacco Road ever again. The food was pretty good.

By {screen_name} 08/17/09

Love that it is non smoking!  Food was really good, nice change from fried sports bar food.  Not a bad seat in the house, we will for sure be back.

By {screen_name} 06/19/09

So, it was a beautiful Sunday evening. Game 5 of the Canes and Bruins series was starting soon. It was also Mother’s Day, and I was taking the parents out for dinner. Well, I decided to go to Tobacco Road Sports Café. I had walked by there lots of times and had stopped in for a drink outside on their patio once before. Well, we got an outside table——their outside seating is really well done—-quite comfy. And, it is cool to be able to see TVs from out there.

This was my first experience with the food at Tobacco Road. It was quite tasty. Our table had an order of their corn dogs—-delectable. Corn dogs are far from something that I eat everyday, so it was nice to have some that are homemade and a quality product. All three of the sliders were tasty——had one of each kind that they offer.

What I really liked was that the owners were there working on a Sunday evening. I ran into both Alex and Brian Amra. Perhaps this is part of the reason why things were running so smoothly. I’ll be back for more vittles, drinks, sports and good times.

By uncwgirl77 05/11/09

Ok, I must say that I was a little hesitant when my husband suggested this place.  A sports bar, with the kids?  Well, I was pleasantly suprised.  I was unlike any sports bar I’ve ever been in.  Great food, wonderful service, and child friendly.  Yes, child friendly!!!  Even if there is a big game on.  They have a seprate dinning room away from the bar.  The menu was good.  The kids LOVED the mac-n-cheese and the fresh chicken tenders.  And now, kids eat free on Tues!!!
The only opportunity, they need a better dessert menu.  Other than that wonderful place to dine.
By the way, hey ladies, the restrooms were VERY clean!!!!

By MAKH 02/27/09