Nightlife in Johnston

Whether they’re hungry for the crack of the bat, the snap of the shoulderpads, or the swish of the net, sports fans flock to The Stadium Grill & Bar whenever a big game beckons. There, multiple televisions broadcast major matches from across the sporting world while the kitchen's grill sizzles away at tender morsels of chicken or brisket slathered in Cookie's Sweet Hickory BBQ sauce. The bar's burgers come covered in gourmet toppings such as bacon, sautéed mushrooms, or a handful of smaller burgers. Baskets of wings challenge taste buds with six different hot-to-not flavors that are easily washed down with bottles of Coors, Newcastle, or Sierra Nevada. The bar doesn't just serve beer, though. Exotic shots mimic famous flavors, such as oatmeal cookies or girl scout cookies, and ursus Icelandic vodka turns fruit punch and sodas into international concoctions.

With locations dotted along the country, Funny Bone Comedy Clubs host local and nationally touring comedians plucked from sources such as Comedy Central and Last Comic Standing. Over the past three decades, these hallowed stages have served as a launching pad for up-and-comers and have been graced by the likes of Ellen DeGeneres, Kathleen Madigan, Jim Breuer, and the clown from It, who is no longer welcome at birthday parties. Funny Bone Comedy Clubs stay involved in their respective communities by also hosting numerous charitable functions, magic shows, and children’s comedy.

Owner Steve Halterman frequently ambles through the bustling dining room at Murphy’s Sports Bar and Grill, an Irish pub he founded more than a decade ago. As he mingles with the crowd, servers fill tables with traditional pub fare, made fresh to order rather than excavated from the fossilized remains traditional pubs. Patrons dig into entrees such as the chicken-fried chicken or the eatery’s signature burger, topped with A1 and bacon. Chefs also bake up specialty pizzas, such as the buffalo chicken pie slathered in spicy wing sauce and loaded with grilled chicken chunks. For a more intimate atmosphere, larger parties can retire from the main area to a private room, where groups of up to 145 can feast or swig pints of lager.

Twenty-three televisions line the wall, and the crack of pool balls colliding resounds while nearby a cheer erupts as a dart hits the bull's-eye. Rookies Sports Bar & Grill is a haven for the sports fan, demonstrated on parts of the menu dubbed “pre-game warm-ups” and “big leagues.” Chefs hand bread their onion rings and stuff sandwiches with blackened chicken and sirloin steak. They flip an octet of all-star burgers including the texas burger, a half-pound patty smothered in chili, cheddar cheese, and grilled onions. In addition to cooking American mainstays such as ribs, the staff presents karaoke and trivia, which ought not be combined into one event, lest someone sings the names of the president to a Boyz II Men melody.

Tired of huddling around a small TV to watch the big game with their friends, Champps Americana’s founders opened a small sports bar called Concourse 7 in Minneapolis. They served burgers—made from scratch and piled with toppings—and a large selection of brews as sports played on huge TV screens overhead.

Today, what began as a small gathering place has become a franchise with locations across the country. However, Champps' exciting, game-day atmosphere and made-from-scratch approach to cuisine has not changed. As players charge across large, wall-mounted TV screens, servers deliver made-to-order burgers, salads, pastas, sandwiches, and desserts. Behind the bar, bartenders shake and stir creative cocktails and conceal the fact that they are wearing pajama pants. A kids’ menu is also available.