Tap Shack, Newport Beach

Tap Shack blends the convivial atmosphere of a lively sports bar with the hearty, flavorful burgers, pizzas, and small plates of a gastropub. Servers haul out plates laden with prime-rib sliders, coconut shrimp, and fish tacos, while tableside taps let patrons sip a nice, frosty glass of draft beer without having to line up behind a crowded bar or fire off a flare to alert a bartender. Twenty flat-screen TVs broadcast games, and a separate video game room lets friends blow off steam with Xbox and PS3 contests. Guests sip craft brews from the bar's lineup of 28 taps, forming a perfect complement to the menu of thick, gouda-covered burger patties, pizzas smothered in Italian sausage and pastrami, and filet mignon surf-n-turf plates with shrimp scampi.