There’s a new place to catch the game on Bridgeport Avenue. Sidelines Bar & Grill has moved into 229 Bridgeport Avenue in Milford, the longtime home of Liberty Rock Tavern, with a pool table, dartboards, TVs along the brick walls and a menu built for game day.
The bar has been warming up on its Facebook page for a few weeks. On Thursday, Oct. 1, it posted its full menu, and that afternoon it invited fans in for Thursday Night Football, promising “good food good friends and cold beer” and a game-time menu while the game is on. Sidelines hasn’t posted regular hours yet, so call (475) 549-8300 or check Facebook before you head over.
What’s on the menu
The posted menu is straight-up sports-bar comfort food at friendly prices. The Sidelines Burger ($12) comes with lettuce, tomato, onion, American cheese, banana peppers, bacon and BBQ sauce; a classic cheeseburger is $10. Wings run $9 for six or $16 for twelve, with sauces including Buffalo, lemon pepper, BBQ, sweet chili and a Cajun dry rub.
There are also chicken tenders, grilled or crispy chicken sandwiches, chicken and steak quesadillas, cheesesteak egg rolls ($11), a steak and cheese ($14), nachos, onion rings with chipotle ranch, a BLT and French bread pizzas with toppings like pepperoni, sausage, meatball and Buffalo chicken.
Pool, darts and league nights
Photos the bar shared show a blue-felt pool table, dartboards mounted on the exposed brick and TVs throughout the room. In late September, Sidelines posted that it will be looking for pool and dart teams for the next league session. Among the replies: a dart team that used to play out of Liberty Rock, saying it would like to make Sidelines its new home.
Who’s behind it
The building is owned by 227 Bridgeport Ave LLC, whose principals include Richard Jurzyk Jr., Christopher Saley and Francis Basile, according to Secretary of State filings cited by CT Insider in August. Jurzyk told the outlet that the three own the building only and that Nicole Durkin would rent the space. Durkin was unavailable for comment at the time.
Liberty Rock’s run
Liberty Rock Tavern opened on Bridgeport Avenue in 2016 and built a loyal following for elevated bar food (especially its O.G. Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich and wings), plus craft beer, darts, shuffleboard and live music. It closed in Milford in May after about 10 years, Patch reported. The team carries on in Shelton as The Commissary by Liberty Rock at 3 Huntington St., and the Liberty Rock food truck is still booking events.
What’s next
Milford Voice first put Sidelines on the radar in our September coming-soon roundup, back when the new signage was the only clue. Regular hours, any grand-opening plans and league details are still to come. We’ll update this story as Sidelines shares more. In the meantime, the TVs are on and the wings are on the menu.
KEY FACTS
What: Sidelines Bar & Grill, a sports bar with pool and darts
Where: 229 Bridgeport Avenue, Milford (former Liberty Rock Tavern)
Phone: (475) 549-8300
Menu: Burgers, wings, tenders, chicken sandwiches, quesadillas, cheesesteak egg rolls, nachos, French bread pizzas; most items $9 to $16
Hours: Not yet posted. Call or check Facebook before you go
What will you order first at Sidelines?
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Photos courtesy of Sidelines Bar & Grill
