Pretty standard sports bar
On a recent road trip to Philadelphia, my brother and I stopped here for dinner on our way out of town.

At 5:00 on a Saturday the place was filling pretty rapidly. We were seated promptly. While there seemed to be plenty of waitstaff moving purposefully around the restaurant, it took about five minutes for our server to approach for our drink orders. The drinks arrived quickly, however.

For dinner, I had the New York strip, ordered medium. Aside from one end being a bit on the well-done side, the steak was tasty and the rest was the medium I'd ordered. I was a little surprised that the server didn't either bring steak sauce with the steak or offer it- I had to request it.

The green beans that accompanied the steak were tough enough that I gave up after the second forkful, instead concentrating on the fries, which had a light seasoning that gave them a nice flavor without being overwhelming.

My brother's fish and chips arrived with one of its two filets done nicely, and the other inexplicably dried-out. We were both a little surprised that when he requested vinegar to go with his fish and chips, it arrived in an open-top cocktail sauce cup. The comparison that immediately came to mind was from, shall we say, a somewhat more medical setting.

Overall, I can say that while I'm willing to write off the kitchen's gaffes to it being a busy night, I'd probably choose a different restaurant rather than make a return visit the next time I'm in the area.    [12 Jul 2006 12:26:26]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­FM   

Champps
After a long day of shopping at King of Prussia mall, treat your boyfriend or husband to a nice dinner at Champps Americana, a sports-themed restaurant across the street from the Plaza. The restaurant is always fairly busy, especially at dinner time, so I would recommend making reservations. There is a large bar with seating to the right, and part of the kitchen is open to the diners. We were seated within five minutes of arriving, and our waiter approached our table for our drink order immediately.

The beer listing was above average, and the drink list included many fruity cocktails. For dinner, I ordered the boneless buffalo chicken with French fries. My boyfriend ordered the Champps cheeseburger, and considered it one of the best he’s had—which really says something, because he orders cheeseburgers everywhere! My buffalo chicken was excellent, and I was surprised how good the fries were. They stand out from most restaurant French fries because of the seasoning on them.

The menu also includes soups, salads, pastas, sandwiches, and a specialty and seasonal section. The winter specials were jambalaya pasta, chicken pot pie, sirloin steak, and pepperjack bacon stack burger. Their average entrée ranged from $9 to $16.

Our waiter was very attentive, and brought refills without us having to ask. The food was brought out to us quickly, despite how busy the restaurant was. I’d recommend the restaurant to sports lovers because of the various flat screens throughout Champps that all display sporting events. When the weather warms up, they will open up the outdoor seating again. Because the close proximity to the mall and heavy traffic, I’d prefer to stay inside when I dine at Champps.    [17 Mar 2008 16:45:36]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Jenna, State College