Sports Cafe — Restaurant in Bridgeton

Went here for my mother’s birthday today around 8pm with my 4 year old son. The vibes were off before we even walked through the second set of doors because there was a party of elderly people to the right that were looking our way like we weren’t supposed to be there or something. I stood there just to see if there was any signs on the doors about kids being there or anything since I only been there one other time and it was a long time ago. When I walked to the hostess area, the lady came up like she was grabbing menus or something, said hello, and walked away. Didn’t say I’ll be right with you or anything. It took another server to ask me if I was with the group of 16 people for her to overhear her ask me that (after I told her no) and asked if I was with the one lady who was by herself (which was my mother). So I got seated, my son woke up because he saw his grandma, he saw people dancing on the dance floor and wanted to dance. My mother went to the floor with him for a few minutes to dance then they came right back to the table. My mother spoke with the server about how they went to dance and the server even mentioned at some point in their conversation that if anybody says anything about him being out there then to let her know. They were about to go out for a second time because he kept wanting to go and the guy at the table to the left of us who had a Sports Café shirt on came by our table and told my mother that they shouldn’t be out there and that kids aren’t allowed in there after 9pm. He said it’s been a Bridgeton law for over 30 years. Mind you, there are plenty of establishments that allow kids as long as they’re accompanied by an adult after 9pm and also mind you, it was around 8:20pm at this time! Why are you making up stuff because you’re not used to seeing minorities in your establishment and are trying to find a way to make it unsettling for them? I’m not the boy who cried wolf, and will just say anybody is racist or prejudice for simple acts of unkindness, but the vibes I got from when I first entered that building to that guy who’s probably an owner or manager of some sort coming up to us specifically, causing issues when nobody else said anything, definitely made me feel unwelcoming as a minority. Some of the people in there were friendly but also a lot of people who kept staring. Could’ve been because of the kid, could’ve been because my son and I are minorities, or even because they were trying to figure out our correlation with the white woman, who knows. But if the owner/manager is like that, then I’d expect nothing less! Oh and when I asked him where the sign on the door was stating the age restrictions or that no kids are allowed after a certain time, he didn’t have an answer other than it’s a Bridgeton law. Not everyone is from Bridgeton if you didn’t know that, so even if it was a law in Bridgeton, then get a sign up. We just ended up leaving and going to Olive Garden and my mother still enjoyed her birthday so it’s all good. Side note: the server was very friendly after she saw who I was with and also has been with that restaurant for a long time from what my mother said and never mentioned anything like the...

Racist bigots and unprofessional. I have been a patron of Sports Cafe for over three decades including when they were located on Natural Bridge Road I had my 50th birthday party there, Brittany was my regular bartender and I've spent a lot of money there. HOWEVER, tonight I went in for my 57th birthday, to which my son took me to dinner at my request b/c I LOVED (past tense) Sports Cafe. Well, my son happens to be bi-racial, and he brought his son, my four-year-old grandson, who is multi-racial. I arrived by myself at first (we met there) and realized it was Swing Dance night; they have it every Wednesday. No problem. But when my son arrived, things changed. My grandson was mesmerized by the lights on the dance floor and the music and wanted to dance. My four-year-old grandson dancing with me on my birthday was the BEST gift. Most of the elderly WHITE people (btw, I'm full-blooded white and it's a shame I have to clarify), were kind, smiling and or laughing at my adorable grandson. One gentleman even stopped us as we were going to sit back down, looked at my grandson and told him he was such a great dancer! We went to the table where my son was, and a minute or so later, my grandson wanted to go dance some more. He tried to get his father to go out on the floor with us, but my son is not a dancer and very low key. HOWEVER, an elderly man, who posed as the owner/manager, and maybe he was--the original owner sold the business several years back, employees bought it and owned it for a while and I guess maybe this guy is a newer owner, I don't know. I've seen him in there a few times so he's "Somebody." Anyway, he came up to me and basically told me I could not go back on the dance floor. I asked, "What?" He said it was swing dance night and children aren't supposed to be there and to not go back dance floor. Again, I asked, "What?" He repeated himself and said, "Don't go back out on the dance floor." I asked "Why?" He said we shouldn't be there at Sports Cafe anyway because it was late and children aren't there at that time of the night. It was 8:30 and I'm grown, my son is grown, 30-years-old I told the guy I'm in there all the time and it was my birthday and that was my grandson and why was it a big deal? We were not obstructing anyone on the dance floor, and anytime my grandson got close to one of the couples, which was only a few times, I immediately told him to not get too close to the dancers. He always complied and never once ran into anyone, but apparently ONE lady complained we were on the dance floor, and complained to whoever this man is, and he was basically telling me I could not go back on the dance floor. What, are we in the 1960's? I told him he was being racist and if my son and grandson were white, there wouldn't be an issue. He said children that young cannot be out past 9:00 p.m. in Bridgeton, MO, and I could call...

Overall very good. Was promptly seated. My server was attentive and service was great. Had the pork chop for lunch. Came with two sides so I ordered a salad and broccoli. Salad came quickly and was very good. My entree arrived and I was quite impressed visually. It's a big bone-in grilled pork chop and large portion of broccoli. Great value for the price! Broccoli was a little bland, but improved with some butter, salt, and pepper. The pork chop had fantastic flavor. Seasoning was on point. Unfortunately, it was cooked very unevenly. Given the size and being bone-in it's a difficult piece of meat to grill properly, but you expect a restaurant to be able to cook it properly. The farthest away from the bone a little overcooked and slightly dry. Towards the middle was perfect. But, as I moved in towards the bone it became too under done and I couldn't eat it. I doubt those parts got to a temp of 145. It was a shame that I had to waste it since it tasted great. If it's cooked better it's easily a 5 star. I showed the server. She apologized, but didn't seem too concerned. Overall, Sports Cafe was very good. Looks like a great place to watch sports as there are lots of TVs....