Sports bar Crafty’s brings fried chicken, beers and ping pong to the new Harbour Town Eats precinct
Northern Gold Coasters, Christmas has come early – family-friendly all-day sports bar Crafty’s has finally arrived! The mammoth 330-seat restaurant and bar is the largest new addition to Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre’s newly expanded and renovated dining precinct Harbour Town Eats, and it’s slinging everything from cocktails and fried chicken to soft giant pretzels with beer-infused cheese sauce.
The details
The concept of a ‘sports bar’ has been spun completely on its head at Crafty’s. It’s the brainchild of Dave Galvin, a Sydney-based hospitality identity, who set out to redefine sports bars into an all-day family-friendly venue. Instead of the stereotypical sports-bar vibe (aka dimly lit and plenty of gents, beer and basketball), Crafty’s is bright, fun and approachable for all ages – think live DJs, ping pong, cocktails (hellooo cold-pressed mimosas) and rotating taps of craft beers, alongside a tasty menu that is designed to be equal parts fresh and indulgent.
The food
The Crafty’s menu covers all of the bases, from bar snacks to burgers, ribs, hot dogs, fresh and vibrant salads, pizzas and more. The ‘hand food’ section of the menu is dotted with moreish eats like chicken-parmigiana spring rolls and nachos with lashings of Jack cheese, while fried-chicken fiends will approve of the Crafty’s version, which is served hot and crispy with house-made hot sauce. The mains, served on old-school silver trays, are truly hunger busting – think (a gigantic) caramel-chilli pork hock, Memphis-style sticky pork ribs, and hot-mustard beef short ribs with onion rings. There’s also a selection of hot sandwiches with fillings like beer-battered fish, lettuce, cheese, slaw, tartare and pickles, as well as a series of classic hand-leavened sourdough pizzas. Prefer a salad? Go green with the hearty Caesar with garlic crumbs or the fresh chopped salad – and throw a bowl of smoked-cheese mac and cheddar on the side.
The rest
There are a few different elements under one roof at Crafty’s. There’s indoor and outdoor seating for snacking and feasting, a dedicated bar area with high tables and group booths (with direct television views), and a fully-equipped ping-pong space for pre-meal battles. Perched at the entry is a pink-hued retro van that serves Hong Kong-style bubble waffle cones in various decadent combinations (as well as coffee to go) for those that left room for a sweet treat or need a sugar hit before tackling the Harbour Town shops. Crafty’s will serve lunch and dinner on weekdays, with a brunch service to run on weekends – and yes, bloody Marys will be involved.
Check out the Crafty’s listing in our Stumble Guide for opening hours and contact details.
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.
