No. 32 rewrite

Andy McCarthy’s Sports Grill

The New Pub in Town…..

Privately and independently owned, quite contrary to chain restaurants, Andy McCarthy’s is conveniently located on the East side of town. This restaurant is truly a local upscale sports grill that gives patrons the opportunity to enjoy fresh cooked meals in a fun and relaxed environment. You better come hungry because the portions are huge!

I was greeted by friendly staff members and seated immediately. The atmosphere was warm and inviting with upscale contemporary soft lighting outlining the restaurant’s interior. Dark wood trim detailed the windows, tables, and booths. Black and white pictures of historical sports memorabilia occupied the walls providing the opportunity for customers to brush up on their sports trivia. If you come here to watch a sports game, you will have no trouble with locating a television nearby. There are several big screen televisions accompanied by smaller televisions throughout the bar and dining area.

My waitress, Crystelle, greeted me with a smile. Initially I had thought about ordering one of the many microbrews listed on their bar menu but then quickly decided on a nice glass of Chardonnay instead.

The appetizer menu although not unusual, was appealing, offering a variety of munchies to choose from to include wings, nachos, quesadillas, corn dogs, and shrimp cocktail. I opted for something spicy and ordered the Santa Fe Chicken Egg Rolls. Filled with spicy chicken, black beans, jalapenos, red peppers, corn, and spinach, this appetizer smelled delicious and came nicely arranged on a bright and festive plate exposing its many tasteful ingredients. The egg rolls were deliciously crunchy and full of flavor though not as spicy as I originally thought they would be.

Andy’s Entrees. Where to begin? The menu offers a variety of options to include salads, burgers, ribs, fish-n-chips, specialty sandwiches and even Mexican dishes. I ordered the Penne Alfredo with Spicy Chicken, one of Andy’s Signature Dishes. The menu indicated my entrée would be served with a side salad and choice of one of their side dishes; however, I was only offered soup or salad so I choose a cup of their homemade green chili. Served piping hot with a warm tortilla by its side, this green chili was fantastic! Darker than most green chili, with sort of a smoky color to it, this chili was thick, peppery and full of flavor and contained large tender pieces of pork. Get this to go by the gallon, you will not be disappointed!

The Penne Alfredo was served shortly after. Served in a large pasta bowl there was enough of this dish to feed a football team! Topping this mountain of pasta was a combination of fresh garlic, parsley, greens onions, and parmesan cheese. This dish was both elegant and fragrant. The chicken was moist, lightly dusted with a Cajun spice and grilled perfectly. Tying all of these ingredients together was the Alfredo sauce. Not as heavy as I expected, it was lighter but yet creamy and silky with the tang of parmesan in every bite. This was truly a satisfying and filling dish.

The dessert menu was tempting with favorites such as Banana’s Foster and Apple Cinnamon Crispitos; however I had to pass as I knew I couldn’t eat another bite.

Andy McCarthy’s is more than just a sports grill, this is a place where family and friends gather for a good time and enjoy a good meal without having to blow their budget.

Rating scale: 1 to 5 Stars (5 being the highest)

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Kids menu: Yes

Party Accommodations: Yes

Address: 5710 S. Carefree Cir. (Powers Blvd. and S. Carefree)

Phone: 719-574-3400