Dinner of Champs
By: Kaitlyn Carney
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If you ever find yourself traveling through Altoona, PA, and you’re a fan of sports and good food, Champs Sports Grill is the place for you. The restaurant, located in the parking lot of the Hampton Inn next to Plank Road, has a speakeasy feel with lowlights and an oval-shaped bar in the middle of the floor with multiple TVs broadcasting an array of different sporting events and specials. The restaurant offers patrons a more sophisticated sports bar experience, shying away from the typical neon lights and highly decorated walls. Instead, they opt for a more neutral color palette and display carefully picked sports memorabilia and pictures of the greats throughout the years. The two-story eatery has a wide variety of bar foods, ranging from hoagies and cheesesteaks to shrimp and rigatoni. They also offer many beer and ale options for patrons looking to add some hops to their meal.
I prefer the classic cheeseburger anywhere I go. Champs’ “Say Cheese!” burger was what I went with. Paired with a side of Hartley’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, I did what any good American would do and upgraded to a side of cheese fries. The meal was presented with the classic tomato, onion, and lettuce toppings, a pickle on the side, and a toothpick with two olives sticking out of the bun. The cheese was perfectly melted and oozing down the sides of the patty. After applying the appropriate sauces (ketchup and mustard) and taking a bite out of the pickle, I had my first taste. The condiments combined perfectly and slightly soaked into the bun, making for the perfect mixture of flavors on top of the masterfully grilled and seasoned patty. Between bites of the burger, I picked at the fries, which were topped with a gooey cheddar cheese sauce and grated cheddar sprinkled over the entire dish. The burger was gone by the time the waiter came to see how the meal was going.
After finishing the meal, I asked for the check and was pleasantly surprised with the total. While the menu offers higher-priced items, such as the steak and the chicken parmesan, most meal options are around the same price as a typical bar & grill. Even with the upgraded cheese fries and a soda to wash it all down, my total, tip included, came to under $30, a decently-priced meal for the upscale feel of the restaurant. Overall, I would be excited to return to Champs and see what other great-tasting food they have to offer.
(Appetizers $10-$16, Entrèes $10-$16, Desserts $5-$7)