By TJ Hatchett

With a wide variety of delicious food to order from, Sports Page Bar and Grille is one of Goochland’s best restaurants. Located in Manakin Sabot, this is an amazing place to get away from the outside world.

Photo credit: Sports Page Bar and Grille via Facebook.

Sports Page Bar and Grille began in 2003 on Midlothian Turnpike. The restaurant had great success, so an additional one was established in 2006 in Mechanicsville. In more recent years, the restaurant expanded to their third location in Manakin Sabot and a fourth in Mechanicsville. The restaurants are filled with numerous flat screen TVs and have arcade games. Sports Page’s goal is to treat all customers like family.

I have had the pleasure of eating at the Sports Page in Goochland for the past few years. Every time I go, my dad, brother, and grandparents come along. When we walk into the restaurant, we are immediately greeted by the kind staff. Once inside, the restaurant has two different doorways to choose where to eat. On the right is an enclosed outdoor area where artists often perform. On the left is like most other restaurants, with tables and a bar. My family and I usually take a table inside. There is often talk about recent sports events because of the large amount of TVs throughout the room.

Old Bay wings. Photo credit: TJ Hatchett.

Sports Page’s menu ranges from cheeseburgers, sandwiches, to tacos and much more. Their large menu gives many different options that all sound delicious. Although the menu has a variety of food, I stick to the same order every time I go: twelve Old Bay seasoned wings. Since the first time I’ve tried these, I’ve wanted them every time I come back. They have a sweet but spicy taste that I’ve found nowhere else. Unlike other wings, they’re plated on top of tortilla chips, with celery on the side. The chips have Old Bay seasoning on them from the wings, which is an unusual addition to chips but provides a striking flavor.

On a recent visit, when the waitress came for my family’s orders, my grandfather decided, as always, to go last. He took a long look through the menu and then ordered the Reuben sandwich. My grandfather said, “I always order the Reuben, because there’s no point in trying something less tasteful.” My brother ordered the same Old Bay wings, and when asked how they are, he responded, “They’re the best!” The wings must have been delicious, because there was a food stain on his shirt after we ate. My dad, Travis Hatchett (’92), ordered the fried shrimp tacos and said, “There’s nowhere better to get a great taco.”

The restaurant has a drawback, depending on when and what time you decide to go: sports fans. I recommend doing some research before going, to find out whether a large sports team is playing a game. During one of my family’s frequent visits, a Major League Baseball game was taking place. Standing at the entrance, I could see the overflow of people crowding around the bar and tables. My family walked in, and a waitress walked up and started talking, but none of us knew what she said because of the loud background conversations. She then walked into the inside of the restaurant, away from the outdoor area, where she motioned us to follow. We were then seated at a table on the far side of the building, and the loud talking was now gratefully a faint whisper.

I was happy to get away from the loud people and finally be able to eat a meal, but I didn’t realize what was about to come. The waitress came out with the drinks, and my family and I all ordered. Around an hour later, the food finally was put on the table. Even though we didn’t get our food in a short amount of time, my family enjoyed hanging out together, and the wait didn’t feel as long as it was.

The restaurant’s welcoming staff and environment make eating there more enjoyable than other places. The experiences I have had with my family there keep us wanting to go back, as does the delicious food. I recommend Sports Page to anyone that’s in the area or is able to make the drive.