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| - I have memories in college of heading to the local Damon's, watching the NCAA tournament first round on a 16-screen video wall and playing trivia while trying to shout out the wrong answers to surrounding patrons. This is not that Damon's. The interior really doesn't match what you would think of as a sports bar, more just like another iteration of the 25048 Sperry Road address (a line that, in recent history, goes from Frank & Pauly's to Manero's to Taverne of Westlake) with a couple more televisions placed here and there.
The food didn't make up for the disappointing surroundings. The signature Steamboat sandwich--a hoagie with BBQ pulled pork and melted cheese--from my first visit is a pretty messy eat, a little on the bland side, but will really stick to your ribs. Surprisingly, the ribs were not listed as a "signature item," so I went with the prime rib on a second visit. This was a major letdown--the meat came out dull gray with a soggy and spongy texture. You would do much better for yourself getting the prime rib at the Outback down the street.
I think if a business is going to succeed at that location, they would have to fight an uphill battle against the established and popular Outback and Carrabba's and further distinguish themselves from Hooley House (which I haven't been to, but if it's along the lines of the previous tenant, The Boneyard, more accurately fits what a sports bar should look like). This means beating those guys at their own game or going in a completely different direction, like possibly pizza or seafood (filling a gap left by the Sperry Road departure of Joe's Crab Shack).
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