I’ve probably been to a hundred sports bars in the Valley. I can count the ones that serve great food — I mean, really great food — on one hand.
So I didn’t exactly have high expectations when I stopped by the just-opened Blue 32 Sports Grill on the northwest corner of Williams Field Road and Val Vista Drive in Gilbert.
After trying a half-dozen menu items, though, I think this rookie is destined for All-Star status.
Blue 32 — named for a quarterback’s audible call — is the brainchild of Gilbert residents Steve Conrad and Kenny Rea (pictured above), who have turned the newly constructed building into a 5,000-square-foot sports fan’s paradise.
Twenty-eight high-definition TVs allow guests to watch multiple games from any of the tables, booths or bar stools. Wireless speaker boxes let them tune into their contest of choice.
There’s not a lot of sports memorabilia other than several framed No. 32 jerseys — from basketball’s Magic Johnson to football’s Jim Brown. The hostesses, servers and bartenders, all young women, also wear blue jerseys with the number.
The menu is populated with sports bar standards like Buffalo wings, burgers and steaks, but there’s nothing “standard” about the quality. Conrad and Rea have applied the best of what they’ve learned during 20 years of working at various Valley restaurants.
Steaks are hand-cut at Blue 32, and the leftover trimmings are used to make its own hamburger meat. The latter produces an exceptional hand-pattied burger, such as the mushroom Swiss burger ($8.99).
Even better is the Black and Blue 32 Burger ($8.99), which is topped with two of the thickest strips of applewood-smoked bacon I’ve ever encountered. Both burgers come with plank-like pub fries.
Boneless buffalo wings ($7.99) are tossed in a choice of three sauce heat levels. The medium sauce, applied more like a light garnish than a heavy coating, is nicely spicy, but not so much it burns the mouth.
The Philly cheesesteak ($8.99) features chopped-up steak grilled with finely diced onions and peppers served — with Cheez Whiz, of course — on a soft hoagie roll. I’m always on the lookout for a good Philly, and this is one of the tastiest I’ve had in a long time.
Another of my favorite sandwiches, the Monte Cristo, is typically grilled at most restaurants. Blue 32’s version ($8.99) is made the traditional way: dipped in its entirety in batter and deep-fried. It’s cut into crunchy quarter-shells filled with turkey, ham and two gooey cheeses.
The only entrée I try is the tacos al carbon ($10.99), three soft tortillas filled with delicious marinated steak that’s been grilled and finely chopped. The tacos are accompanied by cilantro-lime rice.
I can’t recall the last time I was so impressed by every menu item I tried at any restaurant, much less a sports bar where all but one of those items was less than $9.
There’s still a lot on Blue 32’s menu that I haven’t tried, such as the country-fried chicken ($10.99), pulled pork ($11.29) and pesto chicken pasta ($11.99).
So I’ll definitely be going back this week.
Blue 32 Sports Grill
Where: 1524 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert (northwest corner of Williams Field Road and Val Vista Drive)
Open: 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Prices: Appetizers $4.99-$9.29, salads $8.99-$10.29, sandwiches/burgers $7.99-$8.99, entrees $10.49-$18.99, desserts $3.99-$4.99.
Info: (480) 963-0032 or blue32sportsgrill.com.
First Taste reviews offer first impressions of new East Valley restaurants. Full reviews, based on multiple visits, aren’t written until restaurants have been open at least several months.
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I live in North Phoenix and had the opportunity to have lunch at Blue 32 a couple of times while I was down there on business. All I have to say is that if you are fortunate enough to live within 15 miles of this place and you haven’t been there yet then you need to get off you can and get down there.
The food is fantastic. Their hand breaded calamari was perfect. The Monti Cristo is the best for lunch. I also tried the Chicken Fried Chicken. NICE!!!!!! It was cooked perfectly and it was served with some tasty baked beans, homemade mashed potatoes and smothered in gravy. I’m hoping to get back there for dinner some time so I can try their Certified Angus Beef Ribeye. Please open a Blue 32 in North Phoenix so I don’t have to drive to get awesome food at Sports Bar.
I live in Gilbert and haven’t been there but I will surely will be trying this place in the next couple of days. Finally a good food place in Gilbert! They are few and far between anywhere here in Great Phoenix.
Living mostly in the northeast where there were many many good food eateries, then coming to AZ where there isn’t hardly ANY and now this place.. Thank God!
(Unless you call Mexican food good)
Hopefully they have a reason for using 32 instead of 42. “Blue 42″ is the common one that everybody coined in the past. Maybe these guys played soccer in high school.
Ok, Bobby up there needs to get over the 32 thing and try eating there. It’s awesome. The food was the best I’ve had at a sports bar in a long time, no doubt! The manager, a super nice and very professional young lady was helpful and made our experience even better.
Hey that is one good sport grill to eat at and the prices are also low.
This review reflects poorly on blue 32. This is an unbelievably poorly managed establishment. Steve Conrad couldnt control or manage anything. all the talk up on thi s ite is biased. horably racial and sexist establishment.
b do not go here it is hype in a big way. racially constricted. no hispanics are welcome. conrad is a racist. 32 blue is a fraud. know the truth. we were completely singled out because of race. He is a fraud no joke.
WOW! I cant belive what rackone is saying! Ive been to the blue atleast two or three dozen times since they have been open, and I have never seen any racisim or discrimination. I have seen many people of all kinds of age and color(working and as customers) and all were treated with degnity and respect! In my opinon they are better off with out you. There food, service and atmosphere is incredible (upbeat, stylish, and fun). Every time you enter the establishment it is with a warm welcome and freindly smiles and faces. I will definitely be going back. Well actually im going there now. see you there!
I agree with Douglas. I’ve been to Blue 32 at least a half-dozen times and have never seen anything like what rackone describes.
Unfortunately, I am in agreement with rackone above.
I was recently at Blue 32 with a group of friends (mainly hispanic) and we were denied service. There was no reason given either by our server, manager, or the owner. We had not had too much to drink, but were told they would not serve us anymore. I did not get the impression that our server appreciated us speaking Spanish at the table (although we ordered in english). I have no other explanation than this. This is too bad, because I had been to Blue 32 four (4) times previously and enjoyed the place. We will never go back, obviously.
I am considering legal action at this point, that is how strongly I feel this was discriminatory in nature.
In response to the comments from “rackone” and “Mario”, the owners of Blue 32 Sports Grill would like the community of Gilbert to know that we are a business that does not discriminate against anyone with regard to age, gender, ethnicity, disability, or religion. We have zero tolerance for that kind of behavior.
But we are a business that is obligated to ensure that all of our guests can enjoy an enviroment that is friendly and comfortable. Further, the community of Gilbert, of which we call home, can be asurred that Blue 32 Sports Grill handles alcohol service in a responsible manner. Sometimes we are put in the position that requires us to refuse or stop alcohol service to particular guests. Although this can be an uncomfortable situation for management and guests, it is a situation that demands our immediate attention and action. In this case, we took it.
Fortunately, most guests are understanding when this type of action occurs and usually just continue to enjoy our food and atmosphere throughout the remainder of their visit. Unfortunately, some guests, when we refuse alcohol service, become distressed, defensive, and somewhat irrational. They also make rediculous accusations, refuse payment, and walk out. But as business owners and operators, we recognize that this is a small price to pay so our guests and the community of Gilbert can continue to enjoy our establishment for many years to come.
Thank you for visiting us and we look forward to seeing you at Blue 32.
“Rackone” sounds like an angry drunk to me. Nothing worse than when a person can’t cut themselves off and the restaurant has to do it, and then to top it off, you pull the race card? Give me a break!
Not only don’t I believe what “rackone” is saying it took a few seconds to actually understand it? To decipher the poor grammar misspellings and incomprehensible punctuation. I think I get the gist, however, he couldn’t act appropriately, got way to drunk and was cut off by some responsible manager. Maybe he is embarrassed! Any hoo I personally am so thankful Gilbert has been able to finally attract this type of badly needed establishment. I have been and will be a regular. The food is beyond amazing, the atmosphere works for lunch with the girls and kids (homemade chocolate chip cookies are you kidding me?) Happy hour specials and yummy martinis! I think I have tried them all. Buffalo chicken wrap, Phenomenal! Shrimp Quesadilla with bacon is fabulous! It’s high time we have something in the area that is not a chain with the same humdrum food and cheesy corporate décor. It’s been a long time in coming to be able to take my friends and family to a real local place with no corporate logo. Gilbert finally has another staple to be proud of the Joe’s and now Blue 32. Whew!
Hey steve, alot of people wont get this but maybe rakeone and mario should take a “RAS” class. For those who do not know what a RAS class is, it is a Responsible Alcohol Service class. Then maybe they would be more understanding of WHY the buisness has to take these actions of not overserving patrons. As far as Mario goes they did not deny service they simply stopped serving, BIG DIFFERENCE.
I am sorry but my co-worker and I just got salads from Blue 32 for lunch and they were AWFUL. The lettuce was brown and bitter and when we called them to let them know this, they said “Sorry, but there have been no other complaints”….Well no shit! It is only 11:30 and the parking lot was empty when we went to pick up our food. $21.00 for TWO SALADS!!! and they were the worst thing ever! What a disapointment! We do NOT reccommend. Especially when management doesn’t even concern themselves with a customer complaint. 3 On Your Side…Where are you????
OK now we are feeling sick. Bad lettuce?
Best wings ever, and yes, I have had them all!!
Love their burgers, but the wings? Tiny and bland seem to be the best words to describe them. So they have lousy wings; at least everything else I’ve had there was great!
Food was really good. It came hot and had great taste. The meat had flavor, in so many places that is missing. Waiter kept the drinks filled, took care of us as customers.
We will go back
I have been here several times since it opened and am very impressed with both the food and service. I usually sit at the bar, and the bartender (whose name I can’t remember, but it is always the same guy) is excellent. He is Johnny on the spot with the drinks and even gave me a free one once for having to wait for the keg to be replaced. The first time I went in, I was hoping to watch an obsucre Missouri Valley Conference basketball game and one of the owners put it on the tube even though I’m sure nobody else in the whole bar wanted to watch. The food is great…I like the wraps and queso dip. It comes in a taco shell bowl, which I eat even though I probably shouldn’t
I like it so much, I am having my birthday there this Friday. Glad that there is finally a good sports bar in my area.
I have heard bothing but good about this place and I leave really close was thinking about going today BUT am a little apprehensive due to weirdly enough a large amount of the review’s I would be going with Latin friends first of all and is it really going to be a bad experience becuase I would take that VERY personally and definately the message of bad service WOULD get to the people that need to hear about it I guarantee it. Also I have learned to NOT trust these comment pages because if one person leaves bad message many times it creates copycat bad messages and alot of times they are personal not against the establishment at all so Ill most likely try it some day just not today .
sorry about poor typing just bought laptop mini and VERY hard to get used to hahhahahahahaha anyways see ya soon guys
I am betting that the people who made these acusations are
ILLEGAL ALIENS anyways.
I HAVE BEEN TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT MANY, MANY TIMES
and i see a pretty good mix of people there, black, hispanic, asians….
even though htis part of town IS prodominantly white, there are other races that go there and have a GREAT time.
as a former bar owner, i know exactly how these things work. as soon as someone gets cut off, they go off. and unfortunatelly, if it envolves hispanics
or african americans, the RACE CARD comes out. and ita a shame.
not always, but most of the time, “your racist, i’m suing you” were not paying, etc…. mostly because it works in lawsuits a lot and they know it.
but this is fine place with good people and patrons. i would recomend them any
time and vouch for there character in ANY race accusations.
mmm, i think i’m on my way for a tasty burger at BLUE 32!!!
[and to that other guy with blue 42 issue, there is also a BLUE 28, BLUE29,
BLUE 46, etc....... therea re differernt colors and numbers for audibles.]
obviously, he must have NOT played football in school. or ANYWHERE ELSE!!