Newly opened Manny’s Sports Off Broad features an international menu in a sports bar environment.
Manny “That Greek Chef” Hatzis, the 57-year-old sports bar owner, brings his years of catering and decades as a chef to downtown Augusta.
“We have Greek, Cuban and German influences. We try to mix it up,” said the former Marine, who has traveled the world.
On Manny’s menu are Greek or Greek-influenced cuisine such as dolmades, hummus, a Greek village salad, a Greek burger, a Greek gyro, baklava and even a Greek Cuban.
“The Greek burger is a beef burger with fresh cooked lamb over the top. This is served on a potato bun,” Hatzis said.
And the Greek Cuban brings a taste of Cuba in the chef and owner’s offerings with the roasted mojito pork, pickles, and mustard on Gambino’s bread but fused with Greek cuisine with the additions of lamb and feta and tzatziki sauce mixed in with the mustard. Harkening back to traditional sports bar influences, all the entrees above come with a side of fries.
One surprising international touch on Manny’s Sports Off Broad’s menu is the Mexican chocolate mole in the pistachio ice cream sandwich. Hatzis said he puts pistachio ice cream between two fried donuts and then adds the chocolate mole to the dessert.
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“It gives it more depth,” he said.
There are other international influences on the menu that can serve as surprises to those who visit the sports bar or read the menu online.
The sports bar, with a vibrant, red-painted sign is located at 215 10th St., off Broad, in a white painted brick building.
With the many competing restaurants and a few sports bars downtown, Hatzis explained why he wanted to add a sports bar there. “There was no sports place (like this) downtown, and I just saw the opportunity to add one,” he said.
Paralleling its international culinary options, Manny’s Sports Off Broad regularly shows the Premier Soccer League from the U.K. and the NHL with Canadian teams, among other sports broadcasts, on 16 interior flat-screen televisions, soon to be joined by a 17th outside, according to Hatzis. These international offerings are also joined by NFL broadcasts, Braves live broadcasts, Mixed Martial Arts, and UCF (combat sports). In contrast to some noisy sports bars, the sound is often off on these screens, and people who visit the sports pub can watch the text play-by-play on screen.
“Unless there is a big game, there will be no sound on the flat screens (and different broadcasts will be displayed at that point). If there is a big Georgia game, for example, all of the flat screens will be on that game with the sound on,” he said.
At large family-style tables to encourage socializing, Hatzis also serves more traditional pub fare such as the chicken wings with sauces that are found many places and loaded cheese-fries. More can be found on the menu online or in person.
Hatzis next said he does have some family in Louisiana. This may have influenced his Cajun chop chop in the sports bar – a Hass avocado loaded with fresh Louisiana crawfish, Cajun seasoning and broiled with spicy aioli.
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“We may slowly add some more Southern U.S. food such as ribs,” he said.
Cocktails or liquor drinks are not available at the sports bar yet. The eatery serves a variety of beers, wine, and soft drinks.
“In January (2023), we will be getting our liquor license,” he said.
Hatzis said they have been filling up each night since their soft opening, adding that they have been getting a lot of soldiers from Fort Gordon, and that they have been averaging at least 75 patrons every night.
Manny’s Sports Off Broad is open Mondays through Saturdays from 5 p.m.-11 p.m. They will be open on Sundays, starting on Sept. 11, and will then be open every day of the week thereafter
Starting on Saturday, Sept. 10 (and every Saturday unless otherwise noted), Manny’s will be open for brunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
For more information, see its website at https://mannyssportsoffbroad.com/ or its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mannyssportsoffbroad .
Ron Baxley Jr. is a correspondent for The Augusta Press.
