Saturday, March 1, 2014

Four Brothers Sports Tavern Review

Four Brothers Sports Tavern, Athens, GA
Four Brothers Sports Tavern is now open on Mitchell Bridge Road in Athens. It’s a welcome addition to the dining options on the westside of town and a step above the usual sports bar fare. Four Brothers is spacious and open with two levels and a terrace that is awaiting warmer weather. The lower level has a bar and bar tables; a curved stairway leads to the upper level, which has tables and large, curved booths. Several TVs are scattered around. The decor feels casual and modern at the same time, appropriate for the unusual green and blue building where it’s located.

We arrived on the night that Four Brothers received their beer and wine license, expecting there could be some opening week hiccups. There were very few. The beer options were limited to what they could order and receive that day, but we understand the list will grow. A couple of Jekyll Brewing beers were on tap. Hop Dang Diggity has a wonderful hop aroma - I would guess it’s dry hopped - and is a nicely balanced IPA. The Red Brick beers were not yet tapped; Fat Tire was available.

Our view of the food is taken from a vegetarian, primarily vegan, perspective. There were several options, and given that veggie choices are not usually a sports bar’s first priority, we expect the rest of the menu is quite tasty. Hot Boiled Peanut Hummus served with pita chips is a creative way to fuse middle eastern and southern favorites. There is a definite hot boiled peanut flavor, but it is not overpowering. My dining companion has a strong dislike for boiled peanuts, but said “not bad” after the first bite and “good” a short time later.

Bean’s Bean Burger was topped with generic lettuce and tomato, but the black bean patty itself was delicious. Quinoa could be tasted and there was some lingering spicy heat. Fries are standard, but we upgraded to Onion Rings, which were good, but nothing exceptional. We also added a side of Sweet Potato Tots. They had lots of sweet potato flavor and none of the grease often associated with their cousins from Idaho.

upstairs at Four Brothers Sports Tavern
There are a few additional veggie options and a range of appetizers, sandwiches, burgers and more that cover a typical range of bar food, but with a twist or two in the descriptions that hint at extra flavor.

The servers were cheerful, and one of the brothers was making the rounds to check in with diners. Bar service was a little slow, but that is not unexpected for first week of service. We understand there may be live music in the near future and outdoor bands in the summer. There are a number of sandwich or burger and a beer options in Athens, but based on our first experience, Four Brothers Sports Tavern belongs near the top of the list.