Photo by Kelli Weldon
Photo by Kelli Weldon
Photo by Kelli Weldon
Photo by Kelli WeldonSports bar hosts bingo, karaoke, local events
Customers come to The Park on South Lamar to watch sports and socialize, but the restaurant's menu ranges from expected bar food fare such as Buffalo wings to more substantial steaks, craft pizzas and grilled entrees, General Manager Eric Dunahoe said.
The restaurant's slogan is "Good sports, good food"—a sentiment Dunahoe said illustrates the company's commitment to making sure customers are happy.
"We try to really offer something for everyone," he said.
Sandwiches, as well as sliders and mini beef and pork pastor tacos, are popular, he said. The restaurant offers a few salads, including the Park Salad ($8), made with a spring mix, candied walnuts, feta cheeses, dried cranberries and red onion with balsamic dressing. Other options include the Triple Grilled Cheese BLT ($9), smoked brisket quesadillas ($10), Thai chicken satay ($8), and Cinnamon Toast Crunch fried ice cream ($6).
The South Lamar location seats about 460 people and features an indoor dining area, a private room for events, a non-smoking patio and a smoking patio.
The bar offers bingo on Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. and gong karaoke on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. In gong karaoke, everyone that goes up to sing gets a shot of alcohol, Dunahoe said. Audience members hold up signs that say either "Sing" or "Gong" to rate the performance of each singer; if everyone holds up "Gong" signs then the singer must get off the stage.
"It's not mean-spirited," he said, adding regulars have fun with it.
On Sundays, The Park offers a $16 brunch buffet starting at 11 a.m. with $1 mimosas until 2 p.m., Dunahoe said. There are five different flavors of mimosas, he added.
"There's always something going on here," Dunahoe said. "It's not just the same thing every day."
Paving the way
General Manager Eric Dunahoe said the Van Delden family established the restaurant's concept about seven years ago with its Union Park restaurant on West Sixth Street in Austin and Sawyer Park location in Houston.
The family closed those locations and opened The Park at The Domain in May 2011. The South Lamar location opened in March 2014, and the company might expand with other Austin-area locations in the future, Dunahoe said.
Entree options
The Texas Ribeye ($26) is topped with fried onions and served with a side of Loaded Mashed Potatoes.
The El Juanito Burger features sauteed jalapenos, habanero jack cheese and chipotle mayonnaise. Burgers can be made with a beef patty ($11), vegetarian patty ($10) or chicken ($9).
Cornflake chicken tacos ($11) include fried chicken, cole slaw, mango-chile cream sauce and come with rice and "drunken beans" made with jalapeno sausage and Shiner Bock beer.
Drink destination
Beverages at The Park include the Rock Coconut Mojito ($8), made with Rock Coconut Bacardi, watermelon pieces, mint and lime juice; and The Sangria Fizz ($9), made with prosecco, elderflower liqueur, muddled strawberries and an orange slice. The restaurant also offers wine and beers, including some local brands.
Happy hour at The Park is Mon.–Fri.
4–8 p.m.
Specials include:
- $2.50 domestic drafts
- $2.50 domestic bottles
- $5 skinny margaritas
- $5 appetizers on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays
- $5 a la carte burgers on Tuesdays
- $5 personal pizzas on Wednesdays
The Park on South Lamar, 4024 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-731-2077, www.thepark.us
Hours: 11 a.m.–2 a.m. daily
