Restaurant Review

April 23rd, 2009

The Café Critic
The 55-Yard Line
A Restaurant Review
by Paul VanMiddlesworth

Nome says, "If God wanted me to spend my life washing and cooking I would have been born with stainless steel hands." As a result we dine out often. Sometimes we go to places I really like. One of my favorites is the 55- Yard Line in Restaurant Row.

It's a noisy, bustling sports bar with at least a dozen strategically placed TV sets tuned to just about everything that is going on in the sports world. A jukebox blasts away in the background. The bar area is the perfect color of darkness. Cute, perky barmaids prowl the backside shuttling flagons of cold brew between a couple of dozen draft taps and thirsty customers.

The atmosphere puts one in mind of those raucous college town "rathskellers" where student princes lift their flowing bowls to the strains of drinking songs. Makes me want to carve my initials on a tabletop.

At the tables, the wait staff is efficient and easy to look at. The owners Jim Hadley or Jim Chrysler are likely to stop by your table to make sure you're having a good time. Both Jims are long time employees of American Airlines. They decided to start a business together based on their favorite things, good sports, good beer, good food and good friends. It sure works for me.

Probably the most amazing thing about the 55-Yard Line is the size of the menu and the quality of the food. This is no typical sports bar menu. Eliel, the kitchen manager, is a genius. Nome and I have sampled dozens of his menu items and have never been disappointed. The prices are right too.

The 55 Yard Line ain't for sissies. It's not the place to come for a quiet candlelit dinner for two. It is boisterous and jolly. If you are in the right spirit it's definitely a great place to hang.

Editor’s Note: Paul Van Middlesworth has not missed many meals. He is a semi-regular restaurant critic for The Paper. He and his wife, Nome, also own The Computer Factory, 845 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos.