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Caffrey’s Sports Pub

10/6/2021

Caffrey’s Sports Pub in Waukee is located at 1320 Hickman Road. Photos by Jackie Wilson

The food menu and drinks go beyond typical bar food.

Waukee is one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa. Building houses and schools are essential ingredients to handle this explosive boom, but people also need a little refreshment and a local watering hole to call their own.

Look no further than Caffrey’s Sports Pub, located at 1320 Hickman Road in Waukee. 

Caffrey’s was 1908 Draught House for the past seven years. Owner Collin Caffrey and his partner owned the place, and Caffrey split ways in July 2020, renaming it Caffrey’s Sports Pub.

Walking inside on a warm, late summer evening, it was a perfect place to sip a cocktail on an outdoor patio. The bar accommodates both indoor and outdoor patrons. In the wintertime, the patio can be enclosed, as heat lamps keep things toasty.

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Playing bags is a popular pastime at Caffrey’s. Photo by Jackie Wilson

The dark wood booths on the patio are cozy for conversations. A group of enthusiastic bicyclists were throwing bags and downing mixed drinks and local beers. A family with two toddlers came in, giving their parents the night off from cooking. Groups from college age to baby boomers sat inside the dining area.

The black leather bar stools are roomy and comfortable. Sports memorabilia across the walls is a mixture of all the sporting events Caffrey enjoys. There’s sports inside the bathrooms, too. The men’s room is treated to Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover models, while the women ogle over various bulging-muscle athletic men, most with their shirts off. 

The food menu and drinks go beyond typical bar food. The food is something your friend might serve at home to watch the game and munch on homemade appetizers. Try the buffalo chicken dip, served steaming hot, with flatbread and tortilla chips. The bacon-wrapped jalapeños are overstuffed with cream cheese, while the cowboy bites included sweet corn, jalapeños, cheese and bacon, deep fried and served with chipotle ranch.

The food at Caffrey’s is something your friend might serve while watching a big game at home, but at Caffrey’s, they do the cooking and you catch all the action. Photo by Jackie Wilson

Nachos, wings, sandwiches, burgers and pizza round out the menu. A popular weekend brunch from 10-2 serves tasty hangover fare. Pair it with a bloody mary to get the party started all over again.

Happy hour from 3-6 p.m. includes $1 off all drinks. My favorite is the greyhound — vodka with fresh squeezed (not canned) grapefruit, a great way to get your Vitamin C.

Sports fans can view dozens of athletic events at all times of the day. After all, it is a sports pub.

Caffrey says most servers have remained on staff for several years, and the location is a solid one.

“We kill them with kindness,” he explains. “The staff is very attentive. Often the bartender will have a beer waiting for the patron the minute they walk in. We’re blessed to have quality food and great staff.” ♦

The service at Caffrey’s works to “kill them with kindness.” Bartender Trang Tran is pictured here.. Photo by Jackie Wilson

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