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By Anne P. Braly, Food Editor
Bud's in Brainerd is still in Brainerd, but recently this upscale sports bar moved from its old Lee Highway hangout into a larger building, the former home of Christopher's on Brainerd Road. Sometimes, a move can mean the loss of loyal patrons. That's not the case with Bud's. On a recent weeknight, I went with my husband and a friend for dinner. As it was in its former location a mile away, Bud's was packed.
Although many things about Bud's have changed, primarily the larger space, the menu stays the same and reflects the restaurant's sports tone. The wings are perhaps the best in town. You won't find any regular wings here. They're the drummette kind, big and full of meat. They're messy and excellent. Be prepared to through a ton of napkins. For dinner, I had the chicken breast with mozzarella, sautéed onion and peppers. It was good but on the dry side and could have used a bit more seasoning. However, I tasted my friend's bologna sandwich and was blown away. A thick slice of bologna was blackened and served on a bun with lettuce, onion and tomato. Prime rib is the No. 1 entrée choice for dinner. At lunch and dinner, incredible specials are offered, such as potato-crusted salmon and other fish dishes. Bud's has a menu that's far and above most other bars of its type in town. What other sports bar puts its wings and prime rib on the same level? Best bets: Prime rib, wings, burgers and specialty sandwiches. Something different: Southwest egg rolls and any of the daily or nightly specials, which change regularly.
I remember when Bud's was on Main Street in the 1970s. It was small but popular. It then moved to Lee Highway in a somewhat larger building. Now it is in the biggest space ever and is looking good, which befits one of the most popular sports bars in town. Televisions for watching games abound with good views from every seat, save the large outdoor patio. There's a large room for nonsmokers, so don't feel as if you have to stay away if smoke bothers you. There's plenty of parking, but I wonder, just as it was on Lee Highway, when there's a popular game going on, will there be enough? Check this out: A life-size concrete sculpture of Jack Daniel stands proudly near the entrance. Noise level: Typical of any sports bar. On game day, it's gonna be even louder with standing room only.
Our waitress, Melissa - "But you can call me Red," said the darling redhead - was as professional as they come. It was service with a smile all the way. Her calm in the midts of a large crowd was impressive. Even though many tables were full on the night of our visit, dinner arrived with little wait time involved. Room for improvement: Nothing to report.
Bud's has been a Chattanooga institution for more than three decades. It must be doing something right. It offers good food and has that neighborhood bar feel, though its neighborhood streches well beyond Brainerd.
Establishment: Bud's Sports Bar |
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