Baseball Fans: What Stadiums Do You Like To Eat At?
Everyone knows I love baseball and love to eat. So put the two together, and I am in heaven.
When I was growing up, we had season tickets to the Red Sox and must have gone to 35 games a year. Back then I did everything backwards. As a 10 year old I remember going with my dad and having ice cream in the first inning, a pretzel in the third and then a hot dog in the sixth. It sounds like a stomach ache waiting to happen but, what a great time I had each and every game. I still relish those moments and frankly miss them a ton.
I was reading a USA Today article and they were discussing which stadiums have the best food. Here is their list:
AT&T Park San Francisco
Kauffman Stadium Kansas City, Mo.
Dodger Stadium Los Angeles
Petco Park San Diego
Safeco Field Seattle
PNC Park Pittsburgh
Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia
Jacobs Field Cleveland
Coors Field Denver
Miller Park Milwaukee
I have been to all the stadiums listed above except for two: Coors Field and Kauffman Stadium. Two of my favorite parks for food are on this list. I agree with their choice of AT&T Park in San Francisco. The garlic fries are awesome and worth the 25 minute wait. I have had them in other stadiums but they have the best by far.
I also love the food at Dodger Stadium. I still remember going to Dodger Stadium with my college roommate Kenny and dinning on Dodger and other great food at the park.
The one that quickly comes to mind that they left off the list is Camden yards. I love Boog’s Barbecue. The barbecue sandwiches are a must-have at any Oriole game!
To no surprise Fenway Park isn’t on this list or frankly any list. The food there is very weak. Over the years it has improved, but the lack of space probably hampers them from getting state of the art equipment in the kitchens.
- Do you agree with their list?
- What is your favorite?
- How about your least favorite?
I look forward to your comments.
May 11th, 2007 at 8:32 am
My husband and I just went to Safeco Field; and we had seats at the window in “Hit’em Here Cafe” inside the ballpark. I knew it was going to be 45 degrees which is why i booked them. I’m from the south we don’t do cold. On the menu was Mini-Corn Dogs. My husband fell in love! He is still talking about them.
Also, the braves stadium has variety but nothing stands out. I wish they modeled themselves after Phillips Arena in Atlanta; where the local restaurants are actually in the area. You can have a prickly pear margarita and barbecue quesadillas from Nava; among other yummy treats.
The Nationals stadium also has extremely poor food. I suggest eating before hand.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:07 am
I have to agree that San Francisco deserves a place at the top of the list. Safco, Petco and Philly are pretty good as well. And, Boog’s is great. They have put together a pretty good list. Having a job traveling to all of the ballparks to taste food would be a life…
Stephenie is right. RFK (the Nationals) has pretty horrible food. To say it is extremely poor is being nice!
May 11th, 2007 at 10:36 am
The garlic fries in San Fran are great, but the food in general is great at the AT&T park. In my opinion though, Seattle has the best selection. You can get just about anything you want at Safeco. It is by far one of the best ball parks I’ve ever seen, but you can dine like a king there as well. Kauffman Stadium brings back so many memories since we used to travel to see the Royals play every year. Of course back then it was Royal’s Stadium and it was probably one of the best parks in the country. It’s still a great place to catch a game and if you want some KC style BBQ, you can’t go wrong. The only parks listed above that I haven’t been to are Cleveland and Milwaukee. Even so, I can’t speak about the food at the other ball parks since going to a baseball to me is normally all about a grabbing a dog and a cold drink and getting wrapped up in the game.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
I am going to take a little creative license with the question and expand the boundaries, and with respect to my friends from Boston. Fenway and Wrigley are the two best ballparks in baseball. Murphy’s Bleacher is a bar just outside the right field bleachers at Wrigley. So close in fact that I finished my beer when the Star Spangled Banner started, ran across the street, and was in my seat before the anthem was over. That would make Murphy’s Bleacher closer to the field that some new stadium restaurants. Anyway, on game day the hot dogs and brats are great. I was there one day when they had brisket on an open grill in the back. It was awesome. Query to Merrill and Jim - what would be a similar place outside of Fenway.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I must say that anything baseball comes with a nostalgic flavor; and for that I am required to mention my beloved Wrigley Field and the dogs that so many of us can taste just by the mere mention of the Friendly Confines. Sure the overall wealth of flavors at Wrigley is lacking - no sushi, lackluster pizza, etc. But those dogs. Oh those dogs.
Go CUBS!!!!
May 11th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Will,
Thanks for your comments. Wrigley Field is a great stadium as is Fenway Park. the rules have changed at Fenway - you are now able to enter the stadium on Yawkey way and actually go in/out of the park during the game. It provides a great atmosphere around the game.
As a comparison to Wrigley Field, Boston has Lansdowne Street that is on the other side of Fenway park which is filled with bars and a few restaurants. This is the closest to Wrigley Field that Fenway has to offer.
Both stadiums are great and always a blast to attend games.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Merrill
May 12th, 2007 at 4:14 am
I was just at the Ranger game last night. We had a BBQ sandwich in the Cuervo club. It was very good. Haven’t been to any other Major League parks so I can’t compare
May 15th, 2007 at 9:01 am
I haven’t been to Miller Park but saw many games at it’s predecessor, Milwaukee County Stadium. And there the brats with the secret sauce were the best ballpark food I have ever had. If they are the same at Miller Park, they would be hard to beat.
May 18th, 2007 at 11:20 am
I have only been to Fenway Park. The food there seems to fill me up and soak up the beer quite well. Other than price are there any other metrics to judge ball park food?
May 18th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Owen,
Good question. For me I do judge the food on the overall experience of standing in line;
Can I watch the game while I am standing in line?
Does the line move quick?
Are they always out of the item I want?
Is there alot of choices on the menu?
Do they have enough cashiers to handle the traffic.
Things like that - Ed/Bob/Jon you go to alot of games did I leave out anything?
Owen - thanks for your comments.
Merrill
May 18th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
I’d definitely add metrics associated with how well the food service is integrated into the ball park. For example, you can get pierogies at PNC in Pittsburgh, which is a dish that the town is known for. I also really enjoy stadiums like Anaheim and Petco that offer restaurants where you have table service outside and can be waited on while you watch the game…there’s nothing better than that. Houston does a nice job of that as well, with a bar and grill behind left center field which is a terrific place to catch BP and maybe a home run ball.
My final criteria is whether they have healthy items on the menu. One thing that is really lacking at many ballparks is that there is absolutely nothing that isn’t fatty or fried.
As many of you know, a growing group of folks from the research industry have instituted an annual Baseball Weekend, where we hit three or more different ball parks. Luminaries like Mr. Dubrow and several MRA past presidents have graced us with their presence on this caravan that has taken us to some 20 ballparks over the past four years. This year’s trip is scheduled for August 10–12 with Detroit, Cleveland and Akron (We typically hit a minor league park as well) on the schedule. If you are interested in catching up with us, feel free to let me know through this blog or directly. It’s always a lot of fun…and we will certainly sample the food.
May 19th, 2007 at 2:19 am
Hi Merrill!
I was actually a beer vendor the day that Safeco Field in Seattle opened up 7/15/99 against the Padres. I agree with the young lady who spoke of the Hit It Here Cafe.
The mention of cold at a game made me think of another Ballpark issue. Having attended an average of 70-75 Ranger games a year since 2003, I have noticed that whenever North Texas gets a cold snap, hot chocolate is the one item that is never available at the Ballpark in Arlington.
When younger and an attendee of Anaheim Stadium, I remember always enjoying a plate of their nachos with a Monster Beer. Their sushi wasn’t too bad either! Circa 1983 and smallball with Gene Mauch.
I really enjoyed the footlong hot dogs the people of Minute Maid Park sell when catching an Astro game on the sly.
Nothing beats the experience of a hot dog and a drink at Wrigley Field! I went one time 5/31/80. Even though Mike Schmidt homered twice and Steve Carlton tossed a 4-hitter, to be surrounded by the ivory you sensed the history and futility…
Great topic as always Merrill! Keep it up!
May 20th, 2007 at 7:50 am
Food, schmood … if it’s at Yankee Stadium and even barely palatible it’s better than Spago’s! (Although the Hot Polish sausage is pretty outstanding if you are into gastroenteritis!) Although early, and it pains me to say this, Sox take it all this year.
May 20th, 2007 at 8:55 am
As a general rule, I don’t go to ballparks to eat, I go to watch a game and I’m pretty much a traditionalist when it comes to game food. First a soda in a souvenir cup, then a hot dog and a beer, followed by another beer.
Dodger Dogs are great and blind loyaty to all things Sox makes me champion Fenway Franks (in the New England style roll, of course). But my all-time favorite ball park delicacy is actually eaten by others–it’s when I can watch Yankee fans eating CROW (which they seem to be doing a lot of lately, it’s become their steady diet).
May 21st, 2007 at 9:37 am
Jon,
I wish I could join you on the baseball tour this summer but I will be at baseball’s all-star in SF the month prior and can’t fit it in.
For any interested readers - Jon puts together a fun trip. Usually 3-4 games in a 72 hour period. Lots of fun.
Have a great time Jon.
Merrill
May 31st, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Food is always secondary at a ballpark for me. I don’t want anything that takes too much effort and could really care less about the quality. Give me any ole hot dog i can grab in one hand, leaving the other hand free for that fly/foul ball that never comes my way.
July 20th, 2007 at 6:48 am
Merrill, I know I’m weighing in way after the fact on this one. Having been to a number of ML parks including a lot of the newer ones I have to say that while the food selections have improved nothing really stands out. I’m a sushi lover and Shea Stadium now offers that but I don’t really trust that it will be good so I have not tried it.
There is a great book that might be out of print but if you can find it it’s worth a read Dodger Dogs and Fenway Franks. It chronicles a Washington state schoolteacher visiting every ML park then in existence one summer. He rates many things including the food ( see title )
Joe
July 20th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Joe,
Thanks for your comments and mentioning the book. I will try and find it this weekend.
Merrill