Centercourt Sports Pub and Grille

Atmosphere: 2/5

Amenities: 5/5

Game availability: 5/5

Food: 5/5

Price: $$$

Overall: 3.5/5

Located on 4th Street and Highland Avenue directly across from the Bradley Center, Centercourt Pub and Grille welcomes in patrons both before and after Milwaukee Bucks and Marquette basketball games.

The bar is one of Milwaukee’s newest, and it provides a much cleaner and high-end atmosphere than the city’s older, more run-down pubs. Its walls lack the plethora of sports memorabilia that adorn more traditional sports bars, but Centercourt maintains a feature that truly sets it apart.

Upon entering the double doors, patrons are greeted with a plush, living room-style viewing room that provides a very homey feel. The room contains four large and comfortable sofas situated opposite two flat screen televisions. The room opens up into the much larger bar area where sports fans can enjoy the typical viewing experience if the sofas are full.

“We get a lot of different fans on the sofas, particularly (Pittsburgh) Steelers fans,” Nick Stong, one of the bar’s managers, said.

Pricey but colorful consumables adorn the menu, as customers can order a variety of unique sandwiches and appetizers. The Hobo Fries are covered in cheese, beef gravy and bacon, and the Piglet burger features a half pound of pulled pork atop a half pound patty.

Centercourt’s status as a basketball-themed bar may contribute to its lack of excitement on Sundays during NFL matchups. As expected, a decent amount of Packers and other aficionados show up, but the overall atmosphere is rather flat. For the avid NFL enthusiast looking for a loud and passionate crowd, Centercourt may come up a bit short. But for other more casual fans, it provides a more laid-back setting.

“I would have to say compared to other sports bars, Centercourt really satisfies the customer’s needs with comfort and great service,” Kyle Smith, a sophomore in the College of Communication, said. “I’m a Bears fan, and I’ve had problems at other bars with obnoxious Packers fans, but this place is very low key.”

Josh Woolwine, a sophomore in the College of Business Administration, echoed those sentiments.

“If you’re looking to butt heads with your buds and get pumped for NFL games, Sundays may not be best,” Woolwine said. “It’s a lot crazier in here for big Marquette games though.”