Newly opened Clutch Kitchen and Pour House isn’t your typical sports bar
Nestled beside the Panthers Stadium, the newly opened Clutch Kitchen and Pour House blends the ambiance of a sports bar with the satisfaction of a well-executed menu.
The space, formerly occupied by Draught, draws on its name to entice a crowd seeking a local hangout with a neighborhood feel. According to a wall decorated with framed iconic sports moments, Clutch means “to thrive under pressure, calling on strength, discipline and whatever else it takes to succeed, attain what’s desired or perhaps change the outcome of a crucial moment.”
The modern bar blends the building’s industrial bones with over a dozen flat-screen TVs for a sports fan’s paradise, complete with a rotating list of mostly local brews and over 15 draft beer selections. Think painted brick, unique lighting fixtures and top hits radio.
Even though the space just premiered, the post-work crowd was already seated and enjoying drinks on the pup-friendly patio with views of Uptown in the distance around 6 p.m.
Sports bars can make your mind drift to a place with sticky countertops and sub-par food. The words “fresh” and “hand-made” rarely come to mind. But Clutch Kitchen and Pour House changes that perception.
Every item on the menu — including pickles, mozzarella, sauces and hand-sliced chips — is prepared fresh from scratch by Chef Carmine Loiacono, a Brooklyn, NY, native who’s been cooking for 15 years.
“Grandma put a chef knife in my hand at 5 years old and told my mom to shut up,” he shared.
His kind personality and passion for cooking are evident in the way he talks about his kitchen, which is staffed with a team he hand-picked from people with whom he worked over the years.
“I’m happy to settle down and have my own place to have fun,” Loiacono said.
The menu is simple, with staples like burgers, salads and wraps to leave room for “outrageous specials,” like lamb lollipops with a carrot souffle.
Waitress Kari Preston shared that some of the specials are inspired by dishes popular in Rochester, NY, which is the owners’ hometown. Look for Chicken French (breaded chicken in sherry wine and lemon butter sauce with pasta and broccoli) and Chicken Riggies (chicken with rigatoni pasta in a vodka and cheese sauce with peppers and onions).
Specials rotate daily, and are announced on Clutch’s Instagram (@clutch_clt) and Loiacono’s Instagram (@chefcarmineloiacono). You can always count on taco Tuesdays.
Not sure what to order?
Start with the fried pickles ($8) with a cajun tempura batter, served with house-made ranch. (Is there anything better?)
Then, lighten your palate with a caprese salad ($11) prepared with house-made mozzarella and pesto with a roasted garlic oil and balsamic drizzle.
Loiacono recommends “The Crazy Goat” flatbread ($12), with a rosemary-infused goat cheese, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, wild mushrooms and topped in balsamic-tossed arugula and goat cheese.
In addition, brunch is served from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. each Sunday. One Sunday a month will be dubbed a “DJ Brunch,” with hip-hop tunes and breakfast favorites like chicken and waffles.
If you don’t want to pair your dinner with a beer, try a wild cocktail.
“Truly, Madly, Deeply” ($8) blends flavored vodka, pineapple juice, orange juice and spiked seltzer and is served trashcan style. It’s 32 oz. of sweet goodness inviting you to “Dive In” (and then Uber home).
Something less sweet? Order an “Are You Dillin’ Me Smalls?” ($9), which was described as a dirty martini with pickle juice subbed for the olive. It comes with speared, house-made pickles, so really could you ask for anything more?
Manager Reid Clayton describes the cocktails as “funky, fun and easy,” and shares that the idea was to give each drink a different, relaxed feel. “Fun and creative, but anyone can walk in the door,” he said.
As a bonus, the space expands to the basement-level, which can be transformed for neighborhood events. So far, they’ve hosted a birthday party, EDM pop-up party, wedding rehearsal and gumbo cook-off in the space, so the versatility speaks for itself.
This story was originally published May 2, 2019 at 10:04 PM with the headline "Newly opened Clutch Kitchen and Pour House isn’t your typical sports bar."