Duffy’s Sports Grill Finally Comes to Miami
For years, if you lived in Miami a trip to Duffy’s meant heading out to Red Road and the venerable Duffy’s Tavern. But about ten years ago another Duffy’s came to South Florida, Duffy’s Sports Grill in Palm Beach County. Since then, the mega sports bar has been expanding all over PBC and Broward. And finally, this month, made its way to Dade.
DUFFY’S TAKING ITS TALENTS TO NORTH BEACH
If you’re a Miamian who spends any time north of the County Line – and you are a sports fan – chances are you’ve been to Duffy’s. It’s a place with cheap drinks, more TV’s than your entire block, and every sports package imaginable. You could probably convince a bartender to put on a Cricket Match from Pakistan if you tried hard enough.
Duffy’s first venture in South Florida’s most populous county is at the old Water Club site on NE 163rd Street in North Miami Beach. The setting right on the Intercoastal seems like it would be better suited for a romantic candlelit bistro-type place. But surprisingly, lining a waterfront patio with flat screens works at Duffy’s. As does its massive outdoor bar.
DRINK CHEAP, THEN DRINK FREE
But Duffy’s isn’t just a sports bar on steroids. What has kept people coming back in Broward and Palm Beach are its drinks specials and rewards programs.
The Happy Hour is really a Happy 10 Hours, as the 2-for-1 drinks go from 4 p.m. to close. And unlike a lot of Happy Hours that force you to get Rot Gut Tequila or Vagrant Special Vodka, this deal extends to everything Duffy’s has on the shelf (excluding shots). So, basically, it’s a cheap place to drink in addition to a great place to watch a game.
The rewards club, though, is really what sets Duffy’s apart. For every dollar you spend, you get a point on your Duffy’s MVP card. And for every hundred points you accrue, you get $10 to spend at the restaurant. So it’s basically a 10% return on whatever you buy. And on Tuesdays, you get double points. So a simple meal with a few drinks can net you a couple of gigantic free beers on your next visit.
MAKING OUR JOBS A LITTLE BIT EASIER
Miami had really been missing this kind of sports bar. We frequently get questions on the site asking what good places to watch games are, but there’s never anywhere really mind-blowing. Now that Duffy’s has entered Dade, Miamians have a go-to place for anything sports related.
The North Miami Beach location is Duffy’s largest restaurant, with three indoor dining rooms, a massive indoor bar, two outdoor dining rooms and another giant bar on the patio.
A MIAMI RESTAURANT WITH BROWARD SERVICE
The question, really, was if this formula would work in Latin-dominated Miami. But Duffy’s apparently did its homework before coming to Dade County. The night we went Duffy’s comfortably hosted parties for both the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and a Copa America Futbol match, essentially showcasing the two most popular sports in Latin America. If Duffy’s can continue to adapt its business to suit Miami’s needs, it should have no problem becoming an institution down here as it has in Broward and Palm Beach.
The service at this particular location was, like most new restaurants in Miami, excellent. Hopefully Duffy’s will not follow the pattern, though, and revert to rude, slow, incompetent service once local managers take over. The Duffy’s brand is big on service, so I am optimistic. Word on the street is the next location will be in Miami Lakes, then hopefully in Kendall. Which will finally give Kendall at least one redeeming feature. But until then, celebrate Duffy’s entrance into our county, and give it a shot. At worst, you’ll get 10% back.
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16 Comments on
"Duffy’s Sports Grill Finally Comes to Miami"
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Maria de los Angeles says:
I’m so glad there’s a Duffy’s in Dade. We need more places like this instead of stuffy, pretentious ones.
The prior establishment was the Water Club, not the Waterhouse. It seems to have folded after Executive Chef Andrea Randazzo pulled out. The big screen TVs were everywhere even when it was the Water Club, but judging by the photos, it seems like there are more now.
When I went to the Water Club and saw this sports bar trying to be a fancy restaurant at the same time, I never thought it would work. A sports bar is a great equalizer.
Matt—does it still have the pool and is docking still available for people who want to pull up on their boats? Also, it it still buggy outside in the summer? (It’s right next to a mangrove).
Another big plus to this place is FREE parking!
Posted on 07/13/2011 at 8:50 PM