Lavar Arrington’s Sideline Sports Bar - Finally Open in Largo, Md. at The Blvd.
February 2nd, 2008 by PG Chic
Note: All photos below are courtesy of PG Chic and are copyright protected.
After a lot of local anticipation and waiting, Lavar Arrington’s Sideline Sports Bar finally opened on Wednesday (1/30) in Largo, MD at The Blvd. — just in time for this weekend’s Super Bowl. I had an opportunity to check out the restaurant on Friday evening before the crowd. As I approached the front door, I was greeted by a bouncer who looked remarkably like Faizon Love — and I told him so (but I said “Big Worm”…lol) — who carded me. The rule is 21 and over after 8pm and a strict dress code is enforced (no shirt, no shoes, no entry…just kidding - the dress code is no athletic wear, hats, athletic caps or skull caps, tennis shoes, timberlands, or workboots).
As I entered the restaurant, I was promptly greeted by two hostesses. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. Also, there were quite a few secret-service types in all black suits standing at their posts. Some of the highlights of the restaurant include the bar that sits inside the giant football, the 8 flat-screen TVs around the bar, the reservable VIP area on the main floor of the restaurant with optional semi-private curtains, the main large screen in the center of the restaurant, the flat screen TVs under the glass of some of the tables, and Lavar Arrington’s VIP lounge area that hovers over the restaurant.
Football Bar
Football Bar (Closer View)
Main Flat-Screen TV
I did not have time to indulge in food or “spirits”, so I will definitely post another blog entry in the near future to comment on food and service. I did look at the menu, which includes a wide assortment of appetizers (ranging from $5-10), seafood and steak entrees ($9-26), several burgers and sandwiches ($8-10), and soups and salads ($5-$14). Also, varying order sizes of wings from 10 wings to 100 wings (ranging from $8-$70) is on the menu with a variety of sauces to choose from–mild, medium, hot, super hot, Jamaican, BBQ, honey mustard, Cajun, Chesapeake, and teriyaki. I‘ll have to see how these wings rate against the area favorite Cluck-U. The menu looks appetizing and if you’re wondering, they have both a crab cake entrée (two 8oz jumbo lump) and a Maryland crab cake sandwich on the menu. Lastly, there is also a very reasonable 4-item kid’s menu at $4 each. Side note– I peeped the “18% gratuity may be added to any check” (yes, “any”) on the main menu…just a head up if you know you’re a bad tipper…lol.
Overall, I was impressed with the layout, decor, and ambience so far. The crowd was professional African Americans in business attire, which I am sure was directly related to the time and day that I went (Friday after work around 7pm). Again, I will post another blog entry in the near future with more commentary.
Reservable VIP Area on Main Floor of Restaurant
Note: I was told by the staff that the reservable VIP area (on the main floor of the restaurant) fee is $500, but please call the restaurant for current reservation information. The number is 301-336-0056 and the address is the location of the previous Red Star Tavern, 880 Capital Center Blvd. at the Boulevard at Capital Center in Largo, MD.
Football Bar Flat-Screen TVs
Football Bar Flat-Screen TVs (Side View)
Two Flat-Screen TVs under Glass on a Few Tables
Posted in Entertainment, Prince Georges County, Dining, Did You Hear About? |
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February 4th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Cool! I look forward to checking the new spot out. I’m sure it was packed today! I just hope that it stays nice…remember how the BET Soundstage started out nice. LOL
February 4th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Hi PG Chic, I just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful article you have written regarding The Sideline. I was one of the hostesses that greeted you. I love the site it is very informative about many of the events and news in Prince Georges County. I’ll be sure to save it in my Favs. We really support the enthusiasm and support shown by our patrons. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!!! Once again thank you
February 4th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Thanks, Sophie and Dawn. I hope law enforcement can keep The Blvd. safe to help positive businesses like The Sideline stay open.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I honored Sideline with my presence on Saturday Feb 2, 2008 at 8 for a private VIP party. All the servers were friendly and eager to help. I must say that I am dissappointed with the billing process. My friends and I asked for a bill to leave the restaurant as we had somewhere else to be. The server took more than 10 minutes to get us our bill, mind you she took 45 minutes. On top of that, she charged me the total cost of the bill twice to my credit card cause I had to check her for for taking so damn long to get me the bill in the first place. Her excuse, Sideline is having difficulties with there billing. Not a good start to this restaurant that I liked. I might not go back because of this incident but if I do bring cash!
k
February 6th, 2008 at 7:25 am
I know i’m late…but what exactly happened to Red Star Tavern?
February 6th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
I was thinking about doing a post on this, but looks like you’ve already done a wonderful job of describing the joint.
As a PG-to-Baltimore transplant, I’m just to lazy to get back home to eat Arrington burgers.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:56 am
I love the rotisseire chicken/roast chicken it was off the chain.
February 19th, 2008 at 12:14 am
You have me wanting to go right now! I finally went back tonight and had their lump crab cake — single serving. It was pretty good. Also, their hot wings were tasty. My friends ordered crab soup, and grilled salmon salad. No complaints on food. I was a litle disappointed that I didn’t get to try their crab pretzel, which the waitress said was sold out.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Good morning, I was at Sideline last Friday eveining and enjoyed every minute I was present. The food, atmosphere, and service was great! The personal handshake with Mr. Arrington was the best!! Also, I’d like to know the cost to reserve a “private” area for a party of 8 this Friday night. Thanks, Joe
February 27th, 2008 at 11:41 am
I have to check this out. Do they play low lounge music or none like Jaspers?
It reminds me (looking at pics) of the sports “My Place” in Largo Town center. Wonder how they’re taking this… lol
February 27th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
We heard so much about the place that we decided to visit. However we cannot tell you anything about the cuisine because we never got to taste it (no fault of our own). We were promptly greeted at the door and seated quickly. We sat there for approximately 10 minutes+ and no one ever came to the table. At least 4 waitresses walked by and never looked our way. We eat out alot and never have we been ignored in that way. Needless to say we got up put our coats on and went across to Gladys Knight’s restaurant. No one even bothered to ask why we were leaving without being serviced. So we have decided to stick to the sports bar, MY PLACE in Mitchellvile. It’s a great place with great service and food and at least we can wear our athletic clothing to root for our team on game day!!!! LeVar your restaurant dropped the ball!
February 27th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
My girlfriends & I heard about the restaurant being opened & thought it would be a great time to celebrate one of my friends bday there! While I was impressed w/ the security & dress code I was not impressed w/ having to stand in a line of 5 people wait to go into a restaurant 1 by 1. The atmosphere, food, & drinks were nice, however my party was not allowed to sit together instead we had to sit between two booths & talk over & around them! Our waitress was pretty good until it was time to clear the check, it took her well over 10 minutes to get back w/ our party. I found myself having to summon her a couple of times. I really liked the idea of the VIP lounge area & Im actually considering having my bday party there! My overall experience was okay,but I understand that it takes time to work out the kinks!
March 7th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
How can a sports bar say no athletic wear? But I’m still gonna check it out.
March 17th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Very bad service and food on Sunday, March 16, 2008. Compared to Thursday, March 13th for my 50th BD, everthing was excellent. I don’t know what could have happen in 3 days. They ran out of lemonaide, large carry out trays, and no pickles. After sunday, I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I went there on Friday with a group of friends for happy hour at about 6pm. I had the same problem some one els had already stated. They said they couldn’t seat us unless we were ok with not sitting together. The thing is, there was hardly anybody in there! there were people at the bar area and that was about it. 99% of the tables were EMPTY. They said they were expecting a few parties that eveing and wanted to make sure they had enough tables. My thing is, if that’s how you’re gonna do it you need to put more tables in the bar area. WE LEFT and went to Jasper’s where, though they had quite a few people there,they managed put tables together to accomodate us. Another friend went to Sidelines to meet us not knowinf we had left and she had the same problem. It was only TWO of them.
…too much drama for me.
March 24th, 2008 at 11:20 am
I patroned the Sideline this past Saturday 3/22 after 9pm and sat in the bar area. My experience-I inquired about a martini drink I noticed at another table and the waitress replied “that’s a Sean Traylor is costs $21″ in a way that implied we perhaps could not afford to pay that much. After ordering our drinks, I asked for a drink menu which should have been readily available ant noticed that the Sean Traylor drink was $21 because proceeds were donated to a charity in his name. Now if the waitress would have educated us on this info we would have been more inclined to indulge. We also orderd Ceasar salads and the dressing used was quite tart, I would suggest Sideline try another dressing selection. As with other post the hostesses and seating arrangements need improvement but the music was jammin!
March 31st, 2008 at 11:36 am
Horrible experience
March 31st, 2008 at 2:56 pm
The food was not good, the service was slow, but most importantly, the MANAGER was very unprofessional, unaccommodating, and unfriendly. I explained to the manager the horrible experience I was encountering. Her response to me was “what do you want me to do?” I replied, could you comp 1/2 of our meal. Her response was, “No I can’t do that”. She offered no options and basically walked off. For the restaurant to only have been open for 2 months, you would think the overall service would be exceptional.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:41 am
I can’t believe the bad response my experince wasn’t any better I had friends who came all the up from Dumfries, VA the food was horrible I order a steak-cheese I only took two bite didn’t eat the rest. I was very disappoint I don’t I’ll ever go back.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
My friends and I decided to check out SideLine on Friday. Being that I am from Baltimore, I have gained an appreciation for the Metro area. However, I could not get a table to eat, because we were waiting for some other people to join us. They basically said that we couldn’t add people to a table that was already seated. My friends and I ended up waiting there for a whole hour and then decided to go to Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles a few feet away.
I would like to go back there, and maybe even have my 25th b-day there. They just need to lower the prices for the VIP sections.
♥
May 10th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Hey there. I decided to give this place a try on Wednesday. My experience here was overall pleasurable. I was there in the early evening (7:40pm or so), so it wasn’t very crowded. I sat at the bar and had dinner and drinks. The food was good in my opinion…I had the two crabcake dinner, with broccoli (in lieu of fries). Drinks were good…you can’t screw up grey goose on the rocks. It was a tad bit pricer than I anticipated though. I ended up spending $50. But overall, I was pleased with my experience. Not sure if I’m willing to go at a more popular time to ruin my impression though.