The Sporty Bar & Grill

So I ended up here due to the demise of the Escape Bistro & Gallery r.i.p. Apparently the chef from that establishment has provided the expertise at Sporty for the last couple of years.
It wasn’t an auspicious start. From the non-​culinary name to the outdoor «décor» I wasn’t sure what to expect. There was also a lag between taking my seat at the community round table and being noticed by the manager (owner/​chef?). I was in no hurry so it didn’t affect my open mindedness in this case.
Eventually a very experienced server (a teacher on summer schedule) came over and ran me through the usual intros and specials. I noticed prime rib on the menu and inquired as to the availability of a rare slice. After a quick check of the kitchen I was happily informed that I could enjoy that very doneness. I grabbed an appropriate brew and waited. After a reasonable amount of time my dinner appeared and I was in awe of the size. A generous slab of prime rib done to perfect rare sat on top of a heap of fresh roasted potatoes and delicious veg cooked to the edge of crunch. Yum! I should also mention the giant Yorkshire pudding and jus which could not be ignored. I asked for more even though there was no chance that I was going to finish this meal. Bravo!
This would be a 3.5 in any city due to the Sports Bar/​Keno atmosphere but it’s definitely a 4.5 in Port Hardy.
I asked my server if she was the senior staff member due to her knowledge and easy explanations of the dishes and various drink offerings. It turns out that this was her third day working at this establishment. Impressive!

Very friendly staff, excellent food. Highly recommended. It’s my first time here in Port Hardy, even tough the search filter showed this was closed for lunch but I drove here and sure enough it was open. I really enjoyed the food and the environment. Will come back again for sure.

I was there for a birthday party with friends. The food was excellent the service very friendly and the guests around us were very cool with our party. They sang happy birthday with the staff. Way to go kids!!’

Sure looked like a biker bar at first glance but we were desperate for food. Actually turned out well. This wouldn’t be a 4 star place in anywhere else than Port Hardy. Food was reasonably good and not too expensive. Nice wait staff. So, if you are stuck in Port Hardy (at the northern tip of Vancouver Island) Sporty Bar and Grill is OK!

I had to work beside the Sporty for four weeks. Everyday just before lunch they would fire up the grill and our tummies would start rumbling and our mouths would start salivating. The guys on the crew wandered into here and ordered lunch almost everyday. They seemed pretty satisfied with their meals. One night I broke down and went here for dinner. I ordered the halibut burger and fries. After all the build up I was a little disappointed. The bun was dry and the burger toppings were uninspired. I also thought it was a little overpriced. That said I think if I went here with friends to watch a game on one of their many TV’s and had appies and drinks I could have enjoyed myself.