Opening Friday 6/2, Sideline Bar & Grill is another great addition to the Plaza district.


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Located at 1630 N. Blackwelder, Sideline offers a wide variety of appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, sides and desserts along with a kid's menu.

Full bar and lots of beers on tap with tons of TVs to watch your favorite game. They also have a popular location on Campus Corner in Norman.

Hours are Monday through Thursday 4 PM to midnight; Friday 4 to 2 AM; Saturday 10 AM to 2 AM (brunch 10-2) and Sunday 10 AM to midnight (brunch 10-2).



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wow food prices are pretty high for a sports bar .

any idea of their beer prices?

This looks like what used to be the Mule ??? I am not impressed with the significant use of chicken thigh (dark meat) for chicken sandwiches and the like. Why are they not using chicken breast like most other places?

This looks like what used to be the Mule ??? I am not impressed with the significant use of chicken thigh (dark meat) for chicken sandwiches and the like. Why are they not using chicken breast like most other places?

Because chicken thighs are better.

Because chicken thighs are better.

co sign

thighs>breasts

thighs>breasts

I’m just happy to be there.

I’m just happy to be there.

A real man of genius.

This looks like what used to be the Mule ??? I am not impressed with the significant use of chicken thigh (dark meat) for chicken sandwiches and the like. Why are they not using chicken breast like most other places?

Because chicken breast doesn't have much flavor?

Anyway, this design doesn't really give me a vibe.

Thigh meat is less healthy than breast meat ---- good grilled chicken breast should have enough flavor.

Thigh meat is less healthy than breast meat ---- good grilled chicken breast should have enough flavor.

Some people like myself decide to eat unhealthy but tastier food, there are quite a few places around town that serve healthy food though, there are always something for everyone.

Do they give the patrons of the booths control of the TVs at that booth? I'd be down for that.


Anyway, this design doesn't really give me a vibe.

I think the vibe is we have sports on lots of TVs and some food and drink.

Which, is basically the vibe of any sports bar, right?

Never enough sports bars with decent food.

Much more interesting to me than places like Rad Bar and whatever went into the Pritchard/Lua space (Grand Royale, I guess).

Thigh meat is less healthy than breast meat ---- good grilled chicken breast should have enough flavor.

not really on both points

Thigh meat is less healthy than breast meat ---- good grilled chicken breast should have enough flavor.

That's why people go to a sports bar, for healthy food.

Never enough sports bars with decent food.

Much more interesting to me than places like Rad Bar and whatever went into the Pritchard/Lua space (Grand Royale, I guess).

I've walked by Grand Royale a few times and it strikes me as having a very off vibe.

Thigh meat is less healthy than breast meat ---- good grilled chicken breast should have enough flavor.

Thigh meat is not less health than breast meat. It is not as calorically dense and it has significantly less fat for a marginal gain in protein. Chicken thighs not only taste better, but the are a better fit in diets that are actually balanced. I enjoy both, and typically buy whole chickens and butcher them myself to save cost and to regularly have fresh homemade stock. You have a very out of date understanding on nutrition if you think that breast meat is objectively better than thighs.

Thigh meat is not less health than breast meat. It is not as calorically dense and it has significantly less fat for a marginal gain in protein. Chicken thighs not only taste better, but the are a better fit in diets that are actually balanced. I enjoy both, and typically buy whole chickens and butcher them myself to save cost and to regularly have fresh homemade stock. You have a very out of date understanding on nutrition if you think that breast meat is objectively better than thighs.

I gain energy from eating a chicken breast. When I eat dark meat, on occasion, my body tends to treat it as fat and I feel tired after I eat.

Once you fry something, healthy should be removed from the decision.

Chicken thighs got a bad rap in the 90's when low-fat was the fad. Better understanding of nutrients yielded a more balanced diet is better and eliminating one macro isn't good, overall.

This looks like what used to be the Mule ??? I am not impressed with the significant use of chicken thigh (dark meat) for chicken sandwiches and the like. Why are they not using chicken breast like most other places?

I haven't seen a complaint like this in at least a decade. I must say, this seems a bit out-of-touch.

This opens today, yes? Any initial reactions of the food and service?

Edit: disregard I see they open at 4pm, so just 20 mins ago. I misread and thought it was 2pm.

wow food prices are pretty high for a sports bar .

any idea of their beer prices?

Which sports bars are you hitting up? Other than the sides, which are advertised as shareable, the tacos and the banh mi it appears to be standard fair if not on the low end to me.

This opens today, yes? Any initial reactions of the food and service?

I met a couple friends here last night to watch the NBA Finals. The place was fairly busy, with 10 - 12 people at the bar, about 7 or 8 tables inside and a couple groups on the patio.

Negatives: They have NO beers on tap and do not even have a drink/beer list, so I had to just guess as to whether they had a certain brand available and what it cost. They were also out of Miller Lite and Michelob Ultra. They server had no idea how to use the handheld ordering system and basically just stood at our table while she figured it out, which was annoying AF. The place also doesn't seem to have much of a "vibe" to it. They may be advertising themselves as a sports bar, but it could easily be mistaken for a hamburger joint or just any other neighborhood bar.

Positives: There are TV's all over the place, so it was easy to get a good view of the game. We didn't order entrees, but the Mozzarella Cheese Sticks we ordered arrived quickly and were hot and very tasty.

Overall, it was a so-so experience. It's nice to have another sports bar as an option, but I would rather watch a game elsewhere where the screens are bigger, like The Garage in Midtown.

I met a couple friends here last night to watch the NBA Finals. The place was fairly busy, with 10 - 12 people at the bar, about 7 or 8 tables inside and a couple groups on the patio.

Negatives: They have NO beers on tap and do not even have a drink/beer list, so I had to just guess as to whether they had a certain brand available and what it cost. They were also out of Miller Lite and Michelob Ultra. They server had no idea how to use the handheld ordering system and basically just stood at our table while she figured it out, which was annoying AF. The place also doesn't seem to have much of a "vibe" to it. They may be advertising themselves as a sports bar, but it could easily be mistaken for a hamburger joint or just any other neighborhood bar.

Positives: There are TV's all over the place, so it was easy to get a good view of the game. We didn't order entrees, but the Mozzarella Cheese Sticks we ordered arrived quickly and were hot and very tasty.

Overall, it was a so-so experience. It's nice to have another sports bar as an option, but I would rather watch a game elsewhere where the screens are bigger, like The Garage in Midtown.

what were the beer prices like?

what were the beer prices like?

A can of Modelo was $6. The High Noon seltzers were $8.

All in with tax and tip, 4 adult beverages came to almost $43. That's pretty pricey for a sports bar, in my opinion.

I met a couple friends here last night to watch the NBA Finals. The place was fairly busy, with 10 - 12 people at the bar, about 7 or 8 tables inside and a couple groups on the patio.

Negatives: They have NO beers on tap and do not even have a drink/beer list, so I had to just guess as to whether they had a certain brand available and what it cost. They were also out of Miller Lite and Michelob Ultra. They server had no idea how to use the handheld ordering system and basically just stood at our table while she figured it out, which was annoying AF. The place also doesn't seem to have much of a "vibe" to it. They may be advertising themselves as a sports bar, but it could easily be mistaken for a hamburger joint or just any other neighborhood bar.

Positives: There are TV's all over the place, so it was easy to get a good view of the game. We didn't order entrees, but the Mozzarella Cheese Sticks we ordered arrived quickly and were hot and very tasty.

Overall, it was a so-so experience. It's nice to have another sports bar as an option, but I would rather watch a game elsewhere where the screens are bigger, like The Garage in Midtown.

No beers on tap seems like a bit of a miss for a sports bar.

A can of Modelo was $6. The High Noon seltzers were $8.

All in with tax and tip, 4 adult beverages came to almost $43. That's pretty pricey for a sports bar, in my opinion.

lol comically high priced ..

Yikes.

I don't see any way that this, RadBar, and Grand Royale all make it until the end of the year, it's just a matter of which one(s) bite(s) the dust. Too many mediocre concepts in an area where the rent is too high for mediocre concepts to work.

^^^ This. And with no tap beer and those prices for can/bottle beers? i'm I know which one I would bet on not making it.

lol comically high priced ..

When I go to other cities, even "expensive" ones, beer is generally cheaper. Why is it so pricey in OKC establishments? Is it related to the alcohol taxes?

Very interesting considering their Norman location had $3 pitchers advertised on their saved instagram story a few months back.

Very interesting considering their Norman location had $3 pitchers advertised on their saved instagram story a few months back.

that kind of thing is required in a college town like norman ..

When I go to other cities, even "expensive" ones, beer is generally cheaper. Why is it so pricey in OKC establishments? Is it related to the alcohol taxes?

both that and that some owners think they can get away with it ..

this is the primary reason Urban Jonnies failed ..

1 they wanted to charge much higher prices for their burgers then they do at "normal" jonnies ..

and 2 they had crazy high drink prices .. (which pretty much made a spot locals didn't want to go and watch a game for 3-4 hours)

toward the end they created tons of beer specials while pretty much any sports was on TV but by then they are already turned off deep deuce residents ..

When I go to other cities, even "expensive" ones, beer is generally cheaper. Why is it so pricey in OKC establishments? Is it related to the alcohol taxes? Maybe due to old fashion greed?

When I go to other cities, even "expensive" ones, beer is generally cheaper. Why is it so pricey in OKC establishments? Is it related to the alcohol taxes?I've never understood this. As I said in another thread I have a friend that I used to go see in Dallas often. There's a Hooters that you can almost see Jerry World and the Rangers stadium. Last time I went a large domestic draft there was 4.50. In the OKC stores they were 5.25. I would think with the location the Arlington store would be considerably more expensive.

When I go to other cities, even "expensive" ones, beer is generally cheaper. Why is it so pricey in OKC establishments? Is it related to the alcohol taxes?

I’ve been in LA and a can of Coors Light is $8 at most places.

Went last week, music was obnoxious...not piping in game audio seems like a bad idea for a sports bar. Was also really expensive for a couple beers and shots.

Just walked by and it was dark, some guy even tried to go in and the door was locked. Anybody know what gives? Hope it’s okay because it’s a cool spot, but this was at 9:30 on a Friday night, Google says they should be open, and I see nothing about a closure on their social media.

Just walked by and it was dark, some guy even tried to go in and the door was locked. Anybody know what gives? Hope it’s okay because it’s a cool spot, but this was at 9:30 on a Friday night, Google says they should be open, and I see nothing about a closure on their social media.They posted yesterday on Facebook that they are closing the doors on the Plaza District location:

“ We have some bittersweet news to share with you all. After much consideration, we have decided to close the doors of Sideline Bar & Grill - Plaza District. We want to take this opportunity to express our sincerest thanks for your support and the memories we've shared in our short run in the Plaza District. Thank you for giving us a chance OKC, but for now we will just stick to Sideline Bar & Grill - Norman!”

The revolving door continues to turn in the Plaza.

Other than Scorecards, very few of the restaurants & bars in the Plaza are the original occupants of their space. Lots of closures, change of concepts, and moves down the street.

The revolving door continues to turn in the Plaza.

Other than Scorecards, very few of the restaurants & bars in the Plaza are the original occupants of their space. Lots of closures, change of concepts, and moves down the street.

Are high rents the primary cause?

Sideline was just the wrong fit for this district. It is the last place I would have put a sports bar.

Like Midtown, IMO it's just the maturation of the OKC bar and restaurant scene.

Long gone are the days when you can just open up something in the core, serve beer and bar food with TV's scattered around, and expect to succeed.

Sideline was just the wrong fit for this district. It is the last place I would have put a sports bar.I totally agree, and that building was not optimal for a sports bar due to having fairly low ceilings and thus being limited in how big the TV's could be. I went a couple times and the food and service were good, but if I need to watch sports in that area I go to The Garage in Midtown.

They also didn't have any draft options when I went which is essential for any place that calls themselves a sports bar.

I totally agree, and that building was not optimal for a sports bar due to having fairly low ceilings and thus being limited in how big the TV's could be. I went a couple times and the food and service were good, but if I need to watch sports in that area I go to The Garage in Midtown.

I went once just to check it out and I was not impressed at all. The food was okay and the service was not great at all. The interior was laughable. I am also not the best person to talk about sports bars. I find them lame and repetitive at best. Eddie's is doing really well, but I found it to lack anything that made me want to return. The only one I like is RePUBlic. Hahah!

Sideline was just the wrong fit for this district. It is the last place I would have put a sports bar.

I'm curious, what are the factors that make a great sports bar, in your opinion? What are the best places for it? Thanks!

I'm curious, what are the factors that make a great sports bar, in your opinion? What are the best places for it? Thanks!

Take The Garage, for example. Plenty of tvs and drink specials, especially on game nights. Even normal drinks aren't as expensive as Sideline was

Location isn't as important, but you need to actually be a sports bar and have things to get patrons in.

I'm curious, what are the factors that make a great sports bar, in your opinion? What are the best places for it? Thanks!

For the most part Bison is right, but you don't always need a ton of TV's or even food. Sometimes you just need to go all in on drink specials and attach those to a sporting event. One of the places that does this the best is Skinny Slims. A small bar with a few TV's that really gets the Soccer fans out for almost every game. It is successful because it is entirely based on a sport. It doesn't open for lunch. It offers all types of beer both local and domestic on tap. They will open just for a sporting event. This Saturday they open at 8am to get as many people in the door for the Manchester United game. That is a sports bar.

Man, whatever became of the Skinny Slim's in Norman? Still waiting to open?

Man, whatever became of the Skinny Slim's in Norman? Still waiting to open?

Ask myself this at least once a month. Still waiting for a soccer bar in Norman.

It will never stop being extremely funny to me that the Skinny Slim’s ownership group got 95% of the way to opening the Norman location and then just abandoned it for seemingly no reason at all. I don’t really have anything substantive to add, and I just can’t quite bring myself to get worked up about it in the way I get worked up about the Energy going dark for half a decade or OU building a new basketball arena five miles off campus, but it is just a very absurd aspect of a niche corner of the OKC sports scene that makes me laugh whenever it’s inevitably brought up on this board every few months.

Anyways, on topic, think for five minutes about the demographics and interests of the average person who visits the Plaza and it never made any sense why someone would think that a sports bar would work there. I have never been to Scorecards but based on their longevity in the face of very mediocre reviews, I can only assume that the owners of that place also own the location outright rather than having to pay rent. Whereas, if even Maples couldn’t survive in the face of Plaza rents, it never seemed realistic that Sideline was going to.

I told my wife about it closing and she wasn't surprised at all and she worked in the Plaza for eight years. Obviously that would do well on Memorial, Expressway, etc, but not in the Plaza distict. Midtown it would probably be ok and maybe even uptown, but not the plaza district.

I told my wife about it closing and she wasn't surprised at all and she worked in the Plaza for eight years. Obviously that would do well on Memorial, Expressway, etc, but not in the Plaza distict. Midtown it would probably be ok and maybe even uptown, but not the plaza district.

What will do well in the Plaza District?

I'm trying to understand more about the different districts in Oklahoma City. IMO, the Paseo District seems to thrive on finesse and an artistic, European vibe, which is why concepts like Frida and Picasso Cafe are doing well there, coffee shops or bakeries with a great ambiance will be successful there as well. On the other hand, the Plaza District attracts a younger crowd, making places like Up-Down bar popular, Sideline just doesn't have any distinctive vibe to me, nothing makes me want to come back.

I told my wife about it closing and she wasn't surprised at all and she worked in the Plaza for eight years. Obviously that would do well on Memorial, Expressway, etc, but not in the Plaza distict. Midtown it would probably be ok and maybe even uptown, but not the plaza district.

sideline the way it was run and its prices would not have done well anywhere ...

sideline the way it was run and its prices would not have done well anywhere ...

Totally agree with this! The pricing is to high for the quality of food they are giving you. Also the interior is just so bland. I just don't see this place being successful without a complete overhaul of the menu and design in general.

Greg Horton posted on facebook that Chef Jeff from Ma Der Lao already signed a lease for the space and has been remodeling the former Mule and sports bar into a new concept that would be related to Ma Der Lao but will have a Lao focus with other asian influences. It will be a late fall, early winter opening.

Greg Horton posted on facebook that Chef Jeff from Ma Der Lao already signed a lease for the space and has been remodeling the former Mule and sports bar into a new concept that would be related to Ma Der Lao but will have a Lao focus with other asian influences. It will be a late fall, early winter opening.

This is great news. If anything like the standard set at Ma Der Lao it will be excellent.

So Happy Chef Jeff is taking this spot over.