Compared to most other major sporting events, the U.S. Open has always offered an upscale experience for spectators when it comes to food and drinks. Here’s a quick roundup of some of the 2013 options at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Restaurants include fine-dining/sushi concept Aces and American steakhouse Champions Bar & Grill, which feature dishes from celebrity chefs David Burke, Tony Mantuano and Masaharu Morimoto, as well as Cuban-inspired restaurant and bar Mojito. The Flushing, NY, center also boasts a number of food booths in the US Open Food Village.
For instance, Farm 2 Fork specializes in local, sustainable and grass-fed meats, such as the Creekstone Farm All-natural Short Rib Sandwich for $16. At Hill Country Barbeque, a new addition to the Open’s food lineup, the Chopped Brisket sandwich will set you back $15. (You can add a side of Sweet Potato Bourbon Mash for $6.)
Fulton Seafood sells a Cold Maine Lobster Roll for $17.50, while Fish & Chips cost $13.50. A relative bargain is the Chicken Tika Masala at New Delhi Spice, which cost $11. The stand also sells a mango lassi, a yogurt and mango beverage, for $6. And Fresca Mexicana has a Mexican Salad with Cumin Lime Chicken for $14 and tacos for $9.50.
If you’re thirsty, domestic bottled beer is available for $8.25, while drafts of Heineken—a major U.S. Open sponsor—cost $8.50. The imported beer brand also operates the new Heineken House, a bar/lounge/pro shop, and the Heineken Red Star Café, which serves the brand’s Strongbow hard cider for $8.50. The Café also sells a cocktail called the Strongbow Archerita ($12), which mixes Strongbow with tequila, sour mix, orange liqueur and lime juice.
The Open’s 2013 signature cocktail is the Grey Goose Honey Deuce, which mixes Grey Goose vodka with Chambord raspberry liqueur and lemonade. The drink, garnished with three frozen honeydew melon balls skewered on a cocktail pick to look like miniature tennis balls, is sold in a souvenir cup for $14.
Or you can opt for a glass of Moët & Chandon Imperial Champagne, available for $24 at the swanky Moët & Chandon Terrace bar as well as at equally posh Moët & Chandon kiosks. You can find all the drinks at Baseline Cocktails, which also sells a Grey Goose L’Orange Frozen Cosmopolitan for $12.
The Open’s newly redesigned Cuban-inspired restaurant and bar Mojito sells plenty of the eponymous cocktail mixed with Bacardi rum: a classic version as well as peach, watermelon and cucumber mint variations. The bar also sells Sangria Rosado and a Grand Slam Margarita made with Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado tequila with Cointreau, prickly pear syrup and lime juice. These drinks are all priced at $13 each, $40 a pitcher.
To go with your cocktails, Mojito also offers appetizers such as Roasted Corn and Crab Dip ($16) and Smoked Pork Bocaditos ($11). The venue’s main plates include Beef Ropa Vieja (slow cooked Cuban stewed beef with black beans, fried sweet plantains with toasted bread) for $18, and a Squash Blossom Quesadilla (also $18) with zucchini flowers, squash, pepper jack cheese and avocado relish served on a whole wheat tortilla.
With all the terrific food and drink options, you might forget there’s actually a tennis tournament going on. The U.S. Open is scheduled to wrap up with the men’s final on Sept. 9.