I listen to a lot of sports talk radio. During the afternoon the Jeff Cameron Show on 97.9 ESPN Radio plays in my office. The Midtown Pass advertises during the show, and after weeks of the listening to the restaurant’s advertisement I decided to pay them a visit for lunch. Joe agreed to go with me, and together we made the drive down Thomasville Road.
The Midtown Pass is located at 1019 N. Monroe Street in the space formerly occupied by Café Cabernet. We arrived during what should have been the lunch hour rush, but were greeted by a tomb like restaurant. The right side of the restaurant was darkened. In the adjoining bar and dining area a solitary patron sat at the bar nursing a pint. The bartender/waiter looked up and told us to sit wherever we liked. We picked a table in a raised area near the front window. Once we were situated he dropped off a couple of menus and took our drink orders.
The restaurant offers up classic bar food. Wings, burgers, nachos, and sandwiches fill the menu. For those looking for healthier options salads are also on the menu. I wanted a burger and opted for the BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger. I also wanted to see if their wings lived up to the hype and ordered six covered in Kick’N Blue sauce. The waiter explained it was one of their most popular sauces and consisted of buffalo sauce mixed with blue cheese and then topped with blue cheese crumbles.
While waiting for our food to arrive I took in my surrounding. The low slung walls near our table were painted dark blue and topped with white moulding. Eleven television played a variety of ESPN networks. Black high backed chairs surrounded tables covered with solid colored table clothes. Compared to the other side this area had more of a restaurant feel.
The burger arrived on toasted bun topped with bacon, melted cheddar, and BBQ sauce. Lettuce and tomato were served on the side along with a pile of seasoned French fries. I took a bite of the burger. Something was not right. The bacon was crisp, the cheese nicely melted, and the BBQ sauce tangy, but the meat had an off-taste. A second bite confirmed something was wrong with my burger. Disappointed I turned my attention to the seasoned fries which appeared to have gone from the freezer, to the fryer, and onto my plate. They were reasonably hot but were otherwise not memorable.
Last up were the Kick’N Blue wings. Midtown Pass bills their wings as “the plumpest and juiciest wings in the Capital” and has an Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonator drive the point home in their radio ads while assuring they are PED-free. The six wings were doused in a creamy light orange colored sauce and sprinkled with a generous amount of blue cheese. The wings were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The sauce was mild and creamy. If I order wings in the future I would try another sauce, but they were still good.
The Midtown Pass is open Monday through Friday for lunch from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., and in the evening from 5:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. It is open on Saturday and Sunda from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. The Midtown Pass is on Facebook, can be found online at midtownpass.com, and contacted by telephone at (850) 597-9614.
Sweet Tea & Bourbon’s Rating:
Atmosphere: C
Taste: D+
Presentation: B
Service: B
Cleanliness: B
Price: $
Sweet Tea & Bourbon 
Saved me a trip… ouch.
I left out the worst part that happened later in the day. So it could have been worse!
I tried to go there once. I entered and saw a group of 6-8 in the bar area that consisted of two employees and the others patrons. After waiting for several minutes we went into the dining area and seated ourselves. Ten minutes later no one had come by the table. We exited, never to return. The group in the bar looked to be having an okay time, including the employees. My speculation is this place will be gone soon.
That doesn’t sound like a good way to run a business. Glad to see I wasn’t the only one who had a negative experience at the place.
There is a reason why it is so empty and your post confirmed it. I will pass on this place. Thanks for heads-up.
Smart move. You’re not missing much.
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I am very particular about my food. I love Midtown Pass’s wings and burgers. I never go in and find the place empty, there are always a lot of people in there.