COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Meet Tobacco Road Sports Cafe
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12 - 15 Minute Walk from Elliott Square
Hey, batter batter! There’s no place you’d rather be to experience a Durham Bulls game (outside of the seats themselves) than at Tobacco Road Sports Cafe on the American Tobacco Campus in downtown Durham. Overlooking the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and walking distance from the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), Tobacco Road offers a uniquely casual yet elevated experience by hitting the classics out of the park - serving great food, being attended to by a wonderful staff, enjoying an unbeatable locale.
With three locations in Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh - Tobacco Road has become a Triangle staple by consistently providing an exceptional dining experience. They serve locally sourced, fresh food that’s transformed into a vibrant and curated menu brought to life by a professional chef then served by a warm and attentive staff. While for the purposes of this blog we will be focusing entirely on their Durham location, it’s pretty impressive that they can guarantee their quality and service across the board.
So, back to Bull City. Here you can sit down to an incredible meal where there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Don’t believe us? See for yourself.
View from the Balcony overlooking the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
You couldn’t be closer to the action - literally, because even now if you sit in the tables on their expansive, almost entirely covered patio space you’ve got to have a keen eye for home runs! This incredible overlook also comes with a full outdoor bar directly above the left-field overlooking the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
“They serve locally sourced, fresh food that’s transformed into a vibrant and curated menu brought to life by a professional chef then served by a warm and attentive staff.”
Of course, moving inside doesn’t mean moving away from the action! The layout of the restaurant is ideal for anything from an intimate dinner or a large event, as it comes equipped with both small patios, expansive dining rooms and even a row of recliners to view your sports in optimal comfort. Opposite the long bar that stretches the length of the dining room is a massive wall of floor to ceiling, flat-screen TVs playing any and every sports program you could want from the Super Bowl to a cricket championship.
But, even though this is a sports lover's dream, don’t make the mistake of calling them a sports bar. Owners and brothers, Brian, Alex, and Rommie Amra promised in 2008 that when they established Tobacco Road they would exceed the expectations of any old sports bar. This is a place for anyone who enjoys fresh local, food prepared mind-blowing well. This is where the “Sports Cafe” comes in; here the restaurant delivers on their promise of being a “Locally Grown, Scratch-Made Kitchen with Infinite Sports”.
We’re sure your mouth is watering by now at the mention of this incredible menu, so let’s get to the meat and potatoes of this blog - pun intended. No matter what you order, the food is going to be exceptional and when you pair your meal with one of their craft cocktails, it’s “cheers-worthy”. They are constantly working to add delicious items to their menu, including new entrees and appetizers added as recently as last month!
They have two distinct menus, one full-time menu and a late-night menu starting at 10 pm on Thursday and Sunday, and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Get started with a huge selection of appetizers, including fan-favorite Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls or local classic, NC Prosciutto & Pimento Cheese Bruschetta. Be careful not to fill up though, because, with the incredible portion sizes of the entrees, you still have a lot of food ahead of you!
Now, no matter what you pick, you are in for the meal of a lifetime. If you’re feeling bold, try their brand-new Wolfpack Hot Chicken Sandwich. Currently only served in their Durham location with a much-anticipated rollout for their Chapel Hill and Raleigh restaurants, this Hot Chicken joins the bold, heat reminiscent of Nashville Hot Chicken with the fresh ingredients of Bull City to create a killer combo. Served with your choice of sides, although we’d definitely recommend the crispy fried okra or their garlic mashed potatoes.
Looking for lighter fare? No worries, they’ve got you covered. With a variety of garden-fresh options to choose from, you’re guaranteed to have a great meal without busting your budget or your belt! Try their Strawberry & Avocado salad, another new menu item made up of mixed greens, strawberries and avocados tossed in a white balsamic vinaigrette served over whipped goat cheese spread & topped with toasted Marcona Almonds. It’s like summer in a bowl year-round, and we can’t get enough.
Good food that’s actually good for you - a simple idea that’s unbeatable when it’s done right. While Tobacco Road is a sports lover's dream come true, no matter whether you’re athletically inclined or not this local sports cafe is going to become a fan (and fam) favorite. Next time you’re exploring American Tobacco, make sure to hit your visit out of the park with a stop by Tobacco Roads Sports Cafe. From taking in a show at DPAC to a ball game at Durham Athletic Park, you’re going to want to add this incredible meal to your itinerary.
Or, just come in for yourself? A meal this great doesn’t need a special event to justify a visit - the food, location and service make any visit to Tobacco Road an event in itself worth celebrating.