Play by Play Rock Cafe

Detail:

The Foo Fighters’ “My Hero” thunders loudly as I enter Play by Play’s cavernous, no-frills interior. A guy picks from his cheesefries as photos of Chris Sabo, Babe Ruth and Pete Rose hang behind him on the yellow cinder block wall. An impressive, 40-foot bar runs nearly the length the rectangular room, which is anchored with a stage opposite the entrance. A sign confirms that several stellar local bands like to play here: Blues guitar badass Kelly Richey, Noctaluca and The Strongest Proof, to name a few. A large dude with disheveled hair walks in as I finish my beer. “Is that Wildman Walker?” I say to myself. Seems unlikely — he speaks with a meek voice and doesn’t say a thing about Bud Selig being an A-hole. Six gigantic plasma TVs, free WiFi, 50-cent drafts on Wednesdays and a full menu that includes something called Not Cincinnati Chili are among the enticements Play by Play has to offer its devotees.

What a regular says: “The happy hour is the best.”
Amenities: Video games; pool tables; jukebox; darts; appetizer-based menu