By Jared Curtis
Fanatics Grille & Bar
Arcade games and tasty drinks satisfy the kid in all of us
When heading to All Play, you might expect to see kids playing numerous arcade games and competing in Lazer X. But would you be surprised to find a bar that features some of the best tasting drinks this nightlife writer has ever sipped on? That’s right, Fanatics Grille & Bar is not your ordinary keep-the-adults-happy-while-the-kids-play type of place, it offers a cocktail menu of unique drinks that, taste-wise, could rival any place in the city.
“With new ownership comes new concepts,” said Don Cook, bar and restaurant manager. “We’re still a family environment, but we are looking to attract more of an adult crowd.”
Cook, who can legally call himself a mixologist after winning cocktail competitions on a national level, came to Fanatics after leaving downtown hotspot Dos Rios, where he designed the cocktail menu. He has brought unexpected skills to a place where some would expect Rum and Coke to be the most complicated drink on the menu.
“Every cocktail is my own original concoction,” Cook said. “I like the challenge of putting ingredients together and creating a tasty and refreshing cocktail. It’s my passion.”
The bar does have 16 beers on tap and more than 20 in the bottle, but Cook’s own Fanatics infused Vodka — Honeydew Citrus, Strawberry Vanilla and Chipotle — is the star of the show.
“Our infused vodkas are our signature, and patrons have really been taking to them,” Cook said. “People see the jars, and it gets them interested. You won’t find them anywhere else.”
Fanatics also expanded its menu. If you think you could compete on “Man Vs. Food,” try “The Fanatics Fatty Challenge,” a three-pound-plus sandwich featuring a little bit of everything.
“If you finish it, you get a game card and a certificate,” Cook said.
Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. Specials include $2 wells, domestic drafts, domestic bottles and $5 domestic pitchers. If you can’t make it to Happy Hour, stop by during one of their nightly specials. Monday is “Mixology Monday,” when patrons can create their own drinks by choosing from more than 50 different liquors and more than 15 different mixes. Enjoy a $4 Fanatic Margarita (numerous flavors) on “Tasty Tuesday.” Patrons can enjoy any of Fanatics martinis for $5 on “Wet Your Whistle Wednesday.” Get ready for the weekend on “Thrifty Thursday” with Smirnoff flavors and Monster Energy drink for $3 and Monster Bombs for $5. Try any of their house-made infused vodkas for $4 on “Infusion Fridays.” Beer drinkers can get their fill on “Sippin’ Saturdays,” when they can enjoy any beer in the house for $2.50. Finish your weekend with “Pick-Six Sundays” and enjoy $15 buckets (six beers) and $3 Chipotle Bloody Marys.
“We offer some of the better drink specials in town,” Cook said.
With so many nightlife choices, it’s refreshing to see a kid-friendly place that also focuses on adults.
“My goal was to create unique cocktails and to offer specials that not everyone has,” he said. “Bring the entire family out — we have something for everybody.” CV
Caption: Don Cook, Bar and Restaurant Manager, pours a few of the house specialties at Fanatics Grille & Bar, 515 Third St. (inside All Play). Hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 to 1 a.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For drinks specials and upcoming events, visit www.allplaydm.com.
