Eclectic music fans will flock to downtown Bristol this weekend for one of the biggest festivals in the region – the Rhythm and Roots Reunion. Situated right in the middle of this musical madness is Macado’s, a “something for everyone” kind of restaurant featuring a lengthy list of sandwich choices and an atmosphere any sports fan would love.

Although Macado’s is a hot spot for lunch, I decided to check out the night scene, considering their hours are from 8 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. The location is quaint. Just a short walk from the Paramount Center for the Arts, Macado’s is a nice addition to Bristol’s main drag: State Street.

Arriving about 9 p.m., my compadre and I were seated in what I would like to call the “Nascar room,” complete with posters of Dale Earnhardt and Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights. The light was a tad too bright for a dinner setting, yet the décor seemed fitting, considering we were near the world’s fasted half-mile. The restaurant was full of quirky nostalgic artifacts, such as a glass shelf full of Beatles memorabilia.

The large bar area was buzzing with sports fans gathered around many of the flat screen televisions to watch season-opening NFL action. There was a large drink selection and lots of specials.

Macado’s menu is appetizing, but overwhelming. It folds out like an accordion and is so long, I couldn’t spread it out without disturbing my dinner guest across the table. Appetizers are two for one on Thursday, but we opted out and ordered the popular “crinkle fries” with our meal.

They have anything from chicken fingers to spinach and artichoke dip to Mexican skins – a blend of onions, jalapenos and black olives with cheddar and monterey jack cheeses.

My advice: Macado’s isn’t a place to take an indecisive friend, because you could be there for hours. They have quesadillas, wings, soups, salads and Italian dishes such as lasagna, chicken parmesan and chicken broccoli alfredo.

The other side of the menu is crammed with what appeared to be a million sandwich choices, each with its own hilarious and unique name such as “Burlesque,” “Betty Boop” and “Dirty Harry.”

As a glanced over each sandwich description, I began making a mental list of what I wanted. I was looking for something sophisticated. I narrowed it down to the “Annie Oakley,” “Stogie” and “Dr. Watson.”

The first two were variations of a turkey and bacon sandwich. “Annie Oakley” consisted of mesquite turkey, Canadian bacon, cole slaw, provolone cheese and tomato on a croissant, while the “Stogie” had white turkey breast, bacon, provolone cheese and mayo on wheat bread. I chose the “Dr. Watson,” which had a grilled chicken breast with Canadian bacon, melted provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo on a bagel.

My date went with the “Bid Daddy” – sliced steak with grilled mushrooms, onions, Swiss and American cheese with mayo on French bread.

Both of us loved our sandwiches, although mine was a little hard to keep together and the “Big Daddy” was a bit on the soggy side. The tanginess of the tomato on the “Dr. Watson” made an otherwise salty sandwich, very enjoyable.

I was not satisfied with the service, however. Our fries were not fresh and the server refilled my glass of Sierra Mist with water, making for a strange drink combination.

The prices are reasonable. The “Dr. Watson” cost $7.35, and the “Big Daddy” was $7.65. Each comes with a pickle spear and your choice of potato chips, cole slaw or potato salad. Main menu items and appetizers range between $6 and $9. Our basket of crinkle fries was $3.25 and soft drinks are $1.85 each with free refills. And if for some reason none of the sandwiches on the menu tickle your fancy, you can always build your own for $7.45.

Bristol isn’t the only place to visit Macado’s, but it is the only one in Tennessee. The independently owned restaurant has been opening up branches in downtowns, college towns and malls in Central and Southwest Virginia, as well as West Virginia and North Carolina, since the late 1970s.

Whether you’re in Bristol for Rhythm and Roots or a concert at the Paramount, I recommend stopping by Macado’s.

For your own sanity, skim through the menu online beforehand at www.macados.net, where you can also find daily specials, such as 29-cent wing night.

They have a $6.75 daily lunch special too.

If anything else, go to Macado’s for a good laugh at the sandwich names and for the eccentric atmosphere. As their slogan says, “Just to be there!

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