Photo by Emilie Lutostanski[/caption]The owners of Highlights Gametime Grill said they have hit a home run with their sports bar concept.
The restaurant and bar, which opened in October 2013 in Cedar Park, is the second Austin-area Highlights location after owner Sharlyn Threadgill and others opened a location at the Trails at 620 shopping center in Austin in summer 2012.
"We have a sports bar feel with upscale food," said Jamie Moon, operations manager for both locations, as she described the restaurant's take on the usual beer-and-TV combination. "Our idea is one-of-a-kind."
Menu items at the Cedar Park location include the Maine Lobster Mac 'N Cheese ($11.99 and $19.99), crab cakes served with arugula salad ($16.99), and grilled fish tacos with a chipotle aioli sauce and guacamole ($9.99).
The chefs at the restaurant put their spin on more typical sports bar fare, too. Their burgers, for example, are made with a brisket and chuck mix and are seasoned with signature spices. Two burgers were named after the local high school mascots: the Cedar Park Timberwolves and the Vista Ridge Rangers.
"What we are working toward is for every [Timberwolf or Ranger] burger that's sold, we would donate a dollar to the athletic booster club," said Marcus Cooper, general manger of the Cedar Park location. "Highlights is fun, and it's a place for you to hang out before and after football games and pep rallies."
Along with adding mascot burgers to the menu in September, the restaurant introduced pizza, Cooper said.
"We have been making pizzas and getting feedback on them," he said. "Everyone loves the really thin crust and that it's nice and crunchy. It's not a lot of bread. You actually get to taste the pizza—the sauce, cheese and all of the toppings— and that's what we were shooting for."
Highlights serves lunch and dinner daily and offers an additional brunch menu on the weekends starting at 11 a.m. Along with its more standard fare, the brunch menu includes specialty items such as The Super Bowl (jalapeno cheese grits, pulled pork, fried eggs, grilled sweet corn, roasted cherry tomatoes and habanero salsa, $10.99) and Hangover Hash (green chiles, caramelized onions, tomatoes, chopped bacon and two eggs topped with queso blanco, $9.99).
Patrons in Cedar Park can gather around the bar, sit in a booth or head outside to the patio, which features a playscape, fireplace and live music.
"We have kids that will tell their parents this is where they want to go because of the playscape," Cooper said. "[Parents] can sit and have a glass wine, food and watch their kids on the playground."
Inside, a private dining room with two flat-screen TVs can be reserved by large parties or sports enthusiasts hoping to congregate for a big game. The restaurant has subscriptions to the NFL, SEC and Big 10 television networks, Cooper said.
"One thing I'm working on is getting watching parties," he said. "We want to encourage people to come and watch the game here."
The weekly lineup
Margarita Mondays—Half-price margaritas
Tuesdays—Half-price pizzas
Wine Down Wednesdays—Bottle of wine half-price and kids eat free
Thursdays—Ladies night (special prices on cosmopolitans and martinis)
Sports on TV
With 17 TV screens and subscriptions to the NFL, SEC and Big 10 television networks, Highlights can broadcast multiple games at once to satisfy even the most rabid sports fan.
"The football season is absolutely insane," said Marcus Cooper, general manager of the Cedar Park location. "We want to make sure we get all of the games on."
