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ow to go:
What: Eli's Sports Bar & Grill
When: 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday and Monday; 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Kitchen closes at 10 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with the exception of limited light appetizers. Lunch specials are offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and dinner specials are offered Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. until close.
Where: Liberty Twp. — 4895 Princeton Road (at the corner of Ohio 747); Ross— 3825 Kraus Lane (just off Ohio 128 behind Gold Star); Maineville — 3187 Western Row Road
More info: Liberty Twp. (513) 868-Elis (3547); Ross (513) 738- Elis (3547); Maineville (513) 770-0077. Or www.elissportsbar.com (menu available online).
I don’t mean to gush, but I absolutely love Eli’s.
With locations in Maineville, Ross and since March, Liberty Twp., the sports bar and grill has long been popular for those wanting access to the best in the world of sports. But for me, it’s not about catching the game of the week, although you can do so. It’s not about the drink specials, even though there are too many to mention. It’s not even about the dart leagues, Last Call trivia or the many bus trips the owners sponsor to area events.
No, for me, the essence of Eli’s is found in the food. Lots of delicious food that’s creative, reasonably priced and much higher end than you’d find in a similar type of establishment.
“We won the best entree at last year’s Taste of Colerain for our Walleye Sandwich, everyone loves our wings and homemade sauces, and Randy is always coming up with something new and creative for our customers to try,” owner Dave Westerbeck said.
Randy Glascock is the creative force behind Eli’s food and now that the third location is open, he’s been spending his time creating new treats to the delight of both new customers and old.
Since I’ve long been a fan of Glascock’s cooking, I was very enthused about trying some of his latest creations at the new Liberty Twp. location. After being served a feast fit for a queen, I had so many favorite dishes, I couldn’t choose just one.
That being said, the Burrito Bowl, a salad topped with rice, seasoned black beans, cheddar cheese, tomato, cilantro and sour cream ranked right at the top. The massive dish has a southwestern flair that will appeal to those who like Mexican and Spanish cuisine.
Another “must try” is the Philly Pinwheel, a cheese steak wrap stuffed with the tender meat that made the sandwich famous.
Hot wings at Eli’s are now double dipped, making them extra crispy with sauce on the side. The only exception is with the popular Grippos wings, which are hand sauced to order and taste just like the flavored potato chips.
Another appetizer that’s becoming a customer favorite, and rightfully so, is the battered pretzel bites with hot mustard dipping sauce. The soft, gooey pretzels would be perfect for anyone who wants a small bite with a kick to munch on during the game. The spicy buffalo shrimps are tailless and another one of my favorites, but while I loved the heat, those sensitive to spice will want to order them plain.
Finally, the Funnel Cake sticks for dessert are shaped like French fries and are filled with the sweet goodness of funnel cakes served at the county fair.
“Customers should check out our white board when they visit any of our locations because many of these dishes are not on our regular menu but we will make them if we have the ingredients on hand. They just need to ask” Glascock said.
Regular menu items include a variety of burgers, hot wings, soups, salads, wraps and numerous sandwiches. There’s a kids menu for those younger than 10 and bar specials throughout the week. One note about the new Liberty Twp. location is that it has the same feel as the others, making you aware it’s Eli’s when you walk through the door. Daily lunch and dinner specials are offered at all Eli’s locations and drink specials start at 11 a.m.
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