After the Round – Victory Tap Sports Lounge

In recent weeks, the Willow Bend area of Plano has been a major topic of conversation among Dallas sports fans. The reason for this is the recent announcement the Dallas Stars will be constructing a new $1 billion arena and $3 billion entertainment district right off the Dallas North Tollway. Although the move won’t happen until 2031, the area is already buzzing with anticipation as they await the Stars’ relocation.

Just across the highway from the eventual site of the Stars, a new, state-of-the-art sports bar recently made its debut. Victory Tap Sports Lounge is the latest from Lombardi Family Concepts, the group behind such Dallas restaurants as Mar y Sol, Penne Pomodoro and Bistro 31. This new upscale sports watching and dining experience offers a diverse menu, dynamic cocktail program and more seating than most movie theatres.

The first thing you notice upon arrival is the massive space capable of holding almost 400 patrons at any given time. This is critical for those nights where there might be multiple events taking place. This will be a top-notch arena to watch NCAA and NFL games come fall with their multiple massive screens, one of which can be tuned to multiple different games at once. It’s the ultimate game viewing experience.

One main bar and one back bar can accommodate rabid sports fans even on the busiest nights, whether you are looking for a cold beer or one of Victory Taps’s signature craft cocktails. The names of the drinks are almost as clever as the ingredients themselves. The “Knucklepuck”, a reference to the great 90s movie The Mighty Ducks, features Maker’s Mark bourbon, barrel aged stout, coffee and cocoa bitters. Although more of a cool weather beverage, it does pack a punch not only with the burn of the bourbon, but also the wallop of coffee. If you are interested in something a little lighter on the palate, the “Pit Stop” is a refreshing combo of aperol, lemon, honey and hefeweizen. This light sipper is perfect for those hot summer days. In addition to their signature drink menu, they also have rotating specials, including a World Cup-themed drink menu that will be around for the remainder of the biggest soccer tournament the United States has ever hosted.

Not only does the décor scream sports and entertainment, but Victory Tap has something that … unless my research is incorrect, no other sports bar in DFW offers … and that is … wait for it … two, count them, TWO F1 simulators. These are undoubtedly the crown jewel of Victory Tap and a welcome addition to the DFW sports lounge scene. These are the same simulators actual F1 drivers use to prepare and train for upcoming races. How cool is that? You aren’t going to find that at your local watering hole while you are watching the Rangers play a Wednesday getaway game.

The menu at Victory Tap has more twists and turns than a track on their F1 simulators.

If you are looking for a smaller portion-type dish to accompany some craft cocktails or ice-cold beer, then the appetizer and sushi portions of the menu are a good place to begin … and yes, I said sushi … in a sports bar … more on that in a moment.

The more traditional apps include crowd pleasers like onion rings, queso blanco, guacamole, wings and tenders. All of which are packed with flavor and perfect as a snack for one or sharable for the table. If you are looking for something a little more exotic, the calamari, hummus or birria brisket tacos check that box. My personal favorites are the bang bang shrimp, which come breaded, crispy fried and soaking up a delicious sticky sweet chili garlic sauce. They aren’t too spicy but offer a subtle kick on the back of the throat with each bite. A drizzle of spicy mayo and some chives offer a succulent and fresh finish to this unique appetizer.

Now, more on that sushi. It’s very rare to see sushi on the menu at a sports tavern. When I was perusing this portion of the menu I was immediately intrigued. A more traditional California roll or spicy tuna roll keep things simple, but fresh. If you are looking for something a bit more complex, then the Parker Roll is a great choice. This roll has tempura fried shrimp, crab mix, spicy tuna, cream cheese, jalapeño, avocado, sweet soy sauce and a bit of spicy mayo. Quite simply, it’s a flavor bomb with incredible textural elements that won’t leave you disappointed in your choice. Speaking of texture, if you love crunch as much as I do, then don’t pass on the tuna crispy rice. These blocks of crispy rice are the vehicle delivering a delicious tuna sashimi with sweet chili sauce and spicy mayo. If you love crunch, it’s a must-order.

If more traditional sports bar fare is what you seek, then Victory Tap knocks those out of the park as well. Their tavern style pizza is a home run, with four options like the Margherita, BBQ chicken, chicken pesto or the spicy, salty sweet Calabrese. Our group tried the Calabrese, and the crackery, crispy thin crust was a great base for the gooey mozz and salami, all drizzled with some sweet hot honey. As far as bar pizza goes, this is one will dazzle your tastebuds with multiple notes all delivered via a great crunchy undercarriage.

As with any great spot with sports on the tube, Victory Tap offers a multitude of handheld options, each of which offer great taste. A crispy chicken sandwich, turkey club, cheesesteak, Reuben and even a New England style shrimp roll are on the menu. But, let’s be honest, the sign of a great sports lounge is a well-crafted burger. Two burgers adorn the menu at Victory Tap. The Texas burger is one option with pepper and bacon jam, jalapeño aioli, Vermont cheddar lettuce, tomato and onions. The other burger is their signature victory smash burger, which offers double patties, grilled onions and white American cheese on a sesame seed bun. The victory smasher is undoubtedly one of the best sports tavern burgers that has ever passed over my lips. The patties were beautifully smashed yet still juicy, the melty cheese blankets the beef with a nutty note and the grilled onions offered a slight sweetness. One thing I will say about this burger is that it is turbo-rich. If there is one thing I might suggest it would maybe be some pickles or an acidic element to help cut down on some of the richness … that being said, it’s a really great burger and vaults toward the top of my list for Dallas sports pubs.

If you are a sucker for sweets, then don’t pass up the chocolate cake to complete your meal. This isn’t your standard cake, as it is coated in a hardened chocolate mousse that adds an interesting textural component before you get to the moist cake inside. It’s different, but scrumptious.

When it comes to game watching experiences, this is toward the top of my list. The atmosphere is fantastic with a massive television presence, open floorplan, comfy seating options and some of the best “sports bar” food I have ever sampled. Everything from the apps to the pizza and burgers are special, and even if sushi isn’t your idea of something to nosh while watching a Cowboys game, I would recommend you give it a try, because it’s stupendous … even if the Cowboys aren’t at times.

From top to bottom, Victory Tap is one heck of a place to pop in post round or for the big game. I can only imagine what those Saturday and Sunday crowds will look like during the peak of football season later in the year. Until then, I’m going to have a beer, a burger and begin training for my next career as an F1 driver.

Victory Tap Sports Lounge

5973 West Parker Road

Plano, TX 75093

469.862.0101