Moneylines, betting against the spreads, and Parlay. While all of these are popular terms used in sports betting, Parlay serves a double meaning for Columbus.

“The Parlay concept came about with the state of Ohio expanding sports gambling and allowing it to be legal,” says Pontious. “The Short North didn’t have an ideal spot to view games, bet on games, and cheer on your bets versus your fan favorites, so we created an atmosphere where you could do both.”

This super-fan paradise opened in February of 2022, quickly following the sports betting legislation. Located on The Cap in Short North, Parlay Sporting Club + Kitchen is more than just a sports bar, offering an elevated experience that puts watching a game in your local dive to shame.

With over 100 TVs, two patios, and booths with TV control, Parlay provides a premium experience for all guests. For halftime breaks, you can visit the game room or try out the elevated man cave to escape the stress of your moneylines.

“Unique to our location, we have the Greater Columbus Convention Center just across the street, so we see a lot of business traffic from that,” says Pontious. “Higher attendance conventions bring a diverse business crowd.”

In this, a visit to Parlay doesn’t just mean frat bros with their backwards hats trying desperately to hit any bet. The vibe is welcoming and approachably upscale. If you want a cheap beer and some wings to watch the Guardians, you’ve got it. If you’re feeling a medium rare steak over a Reds game, you’ve got that too.

And, with the diverse crowds comes a diverse game selection. Of course, the local favorites will always be playing, but the sheer amount of TVs makes every game, no matter the platform or team, only a channel away for guests.

“It’s definitely lively here. We do tend to play music a little louder, or play game sound if there’s a significant game.”

Don’t worry, no nail-biters will go unheard.

Food & Drink

What Pontious describes as “upscale bar food” makes up the greater half of the Parlay menu.

^{A delicious spread, featuring star menu items: Bang Bang Shrimp and Parlay Pretzel.}

“You can get your basic wings in six different flavors and also have wagyu pigs in a blanket,” says Pontious. “We have a $70 steak accompanied with a $40 burger, so that we can go up or down, but being there’s a convention center across the street, we have to have those higher-end entrees.”

The menu impressively offers an extensive range of dishes, from flavor to price. A textbook crowd pleaser is the Bang Bang Shrimp, the best-selling appetizer on the menu. This best-seller is the perfect way to pregame, along with the giant Parlay Pretzel, served with queso blanco and spicy mustard.

When we think of sports, we’re thinking about the burgers and wings served alongside them. Parlay’s jumbo bone-in wings are a must for us, no matter what sauce you want to pair them with (but we recommend the Killer BBQ). The burger selection is full of robust flavors, but you have to try the Spicy Burger, topped with ghost pepper cheese, bacon, sautéed jalapeños, killer sauce, and crispy onion straws.

And what’s a game without a good brew?

With 10 taps and a small selection of cans available, local and national favorites are a given, but cocktails are Parlay’s specialty. From Blackberry Mules and Espresso Partinis to margaritas made spicy with their house hot sauce, it’s nothing short of a party.

And, you can be the life of any draft party with a “boozy bucket”, which includes three seltzers and three airplane bottles of choice. Our favorite combination is Mamitas and Patrón, but you can’t go wrong with any seltzer.

 

 

 

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