9 home runs on sports bar’s special ballpark menu

• DRINK OPTIONS: THE COKE FLOAT ($4) AND PINCH HIT PUNCH ($6)

  
  The Coke Float and the Pinch Hit Punch. Photo by: Vivienne Machi

  The Coke Float is the perfect drink indulgence. All-American Coca-Cola mixes beautifully with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream, topped with a maraschino cherry to give you a dessert in a glass.

  For the 21-plus crowd, the Pinch Hit Punch mixes Captain Morgan rum, Peach Schnapps, triple sec and blue raspberry shaken with lemonade and squeezed lemon and orange with a cherry on top. It’s like sipping a Sour Patch Kids candy — sweet with a slight twist at the end. Perfect for a patio treat!

• BALLPARK PRETZEL BITES ($6.99)

  
  Deep-fried pretzel bites with queso. Photo credit: Michelle Fong

  These deep-fried pretzel bites are dangerously delicious. These pretzels reminded us a bit of the original flavored buttery Auntie Anne’s pretzels you find at the mall. But the Ballpark Pretzel Bites, we argue, are even better because they are deep fried (and it’s a proven fact that everything is better deep fried). What you get is an extra crispy crust, with a warm, melt-in-your mouth, buttery inside. These sinful bites pair beautifully with the warm and yummy queso dip topped with jalapenos and salsa. It’s no surprise this item is the top-seller off the special ballpark-themed menu, which store manager Olohana Fyffe confirmed. It’s one we truly hope is a permanent addition to the menu. Home run!

• JACK’D UP WINGS ($6.99)

  
  Jack'd Up Wings. Photo by: Michelle Fong

  Buy us some wings and Cracker Jacks. Who’da thunk that Cracker Jacks could become such a great accompaniment to wings? This unexpected pairing was surprisingly tasty. We were a little hesitant to order these, but are glad we did. You get a plate of five generously sized boneless wings tossed in a sweet Thai chili and sea salt caramel sauce. The wings are garnished with applewood-smoked bacon bits, black sesame seeds and scallions and served with caramel coated popcorn. First they’re sweet, then they pack a little heat.

• BASES JAMMED BURGER ($10.99)

  
  Bases Jammed Burger. Photo by: Michelle Fong

  Two All-American classic sandwiches come together to create one heckuva burger. A thick, juicy patty is topped with pepper jack cheese and topped with applewood-smoked bacon and shredded romaine lettuce. Pretty standard, right? Then the curveball. The bun is coated with creamy whipped peanut butter and strawberry preserves. Call us crazy, but this PB&J/burger fusion was scrumptious. We tried ours with a side of homemade, crispy chips. Why isn’t this on every menu across the U.S.A.?

• GIT'YER HOT DOGS HERE! (All at $7.49)

  
  The Island Diamond (top) and the Hall of Flame dogs. Photo by: Vivienne Machi

  One of us is a self-proclaimed gourmet hot dog fiend, and the two tried today did not disappoint. The Island Diamond Dog offers a refreshing bite of all-beef hot dog sliced in two (Five Guys-style) and topped with housemade pineapple, jalapeño and red onion salsa and served on a King’s Hawaiian bun. The side of their wing peach habanero sauce kicks it up a notch. Gotta love that sweet and spicy combo! The sweet potato waffle fries go perfectly with this dog.

  The Hall of Flame Dog is for the more adventurous souls, and has been the fan favorite so far at the Centerville location, Fyffe said. This all-beef hot dog comes topped with a specialty giardiniera relish of pickled carrots, olives, jalapeños and celery, along with melted Swiss cheese. I loved the crunch of the veggies against the hot dog and King’s Hawaiian bun, and topped with smooth Creole chipotle mayo-style sauce, the heat factor is real! This dog comes served with Cajun fries.

  Another option we didn’t try (hey, you can only eat so much) is The Mound Dog. This hot dog will certainly bring back memories of the ballpark games of your youth: The tried-and-true flavor combos of hot chili and shredded cheddar-Jack cheese on an all-beef dog sliced in two, topped with sliced red onions and jalapeños on a King’s Hawaiian bun, with French fries. If you’re torn between which dog to buy, buy one for full price and get the second for $3. Someone will help you finish it, we guarantee.

• BATTERED-UP FUNNEL STIXX ($6.99)

  
  Batter'd Up Funnel Stixxx. Photo By: Vivienne Machi

  Much easier to handle than your usual mountain of funnel cake (though we know, that’s half the fun), these sticks are the perfect size to share for dessert or a small snack. They taste just like your favorite fair item, topped with powdered sugar and paired with two dipping sauces: a perfectly sweet and salty caramel sauce and then our favorite, a light vanilla custard-style creme anglaise. Dipped in the two sauces and followed by ripe strawberries on the side, these sticks are truly heaven to taste.

• WANT TO KNOW MORE?

  
  Buffalo Wings N' Rings, Centerville. Photo by: Vivienne Machi

  A MENU FOR ALL GROUP SIZES

  We all know the struggle of dining out with a big group, then trying to split the check at the end of the night. The Crowd Control menu provides variety of food options while taking the guesswork out, giving price options for different numbers of people to split wings and four to six starters, and it all comes out to about $6 per person.

  THE ATMOSPHERE

  Buffalo Wings and Rings (with locations in Centerville, Piqua, Monroe, Fairfield, Cincinnati and Columbus) bills itself as a family friendly sports restaurant. The Centerville location feels open and inviting. It features a bar area with plenty of big-screen TVs, in addition to regular restaurant seating (and more TVs scattered about). An added bonus is that the building is attached to the Chaos Room (http://thechaosroom.com) next door, which offers interactive gaming on a 15-foot HD screen. The Chaos Room also features traditional arcade games. So mom and dad can stay in the restaurant and relax and enjoy some quiet time while older kids play or they can take their beverages into the arcade and join in the gaming fun. Win-win for everyone.