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Take me out to The Throwback, a new sports bar that opened in August at 710 Amsterdam Avenue between West 94th and 95th Streets. The space, previously home to The Chelsea House, debuted on August 14.
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Owner Alex Bryant welcomed guests with a playroom-style basketball hoop setup, taking shots with staff and passersby. Bryant’s wife, Brittni—a school teacher, mother of one (20-month-old), and part owner—focuses on marketing and events. The room is open to all sports fans and features some nifty concepts to share screen time, just as baseball season heads into crunch time before the playoffs, the US Open reaches its final rounds, and college and pro football kick off their seasons. It’s a great time of year for sports fans.
A Harlem resident for the past 13 years, just up the road on Amsterdam Avenue, Bryant told ILTUWS he has spent a considerable amount of time in the neighborhood and appreciates its developing culinary scene. “My last job was at a hedge fund,” he said. No stranger to the bottom line—or to sports films—Bryant, whose favorite is Brian’s Song with James Caan and Billy Dee Williams, had past bartending experience at the BBQ joint Brother Jimmy’s and always kept it in the back of his mind to return to the trade in retirement. However, when his wife Brittni made it clear she didn’t enjoy the usual sports bar experience—whether because it was too dirty or she wasn’t a fan of the food and drink options—they decided to change the game.
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“She picked the colors, she picked all the furniture,” said Bryant of his wife Brittni, who also worked on the cocktail menu, finalized just last week. “We spent a lot of time on our wine program because we really wanted to make it into a bar for everybody—like a date night kind of bar, whatever you want to do.”
Bryant said he, Brittni, and the team always come back to three leadership principles: be nice, be clean, and serve a good, consistent product. “And as long as we do that, I think we can be something for at least 95% of people.”
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They recognize the location has seen more than its fair share of turnover in recent years. Bryant thanked their neighbors—Rudraks, the Indian restaurant which opened in September 2024; Chinese restaurant Kam Lai; and Taqueria 86, a great place to watch soccer and crush tacos. “They introduced themselves early on and were helpful from the beginning,” said Bryant.
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He also gave a shoutout to someone named Val. “Since I met him at a liquor tasting in mid-April, he told me he would love to come and help. I said we couldn’t pay him, but Val came to help anyway. For three months, he came in six days a week and just, you know, scrubbed floors, nailed things in—just for free, because he believed in this concept and he believed in me and my wife.”
“It’s a pretty beat-up location,” Bryant said. “We had to get new HVAC units for both coolers, install new gas lines, and all-new equipment. Everything is pretty much new.” Bryant noted that this location was the only viable spot for them to make the business work. He credits his colleague Chris, a Harvard graduate in electrical engineering, for helping find a spot that gives them a shot at success when you get into the business side of being profitable.
The Throwback has eight TVs upstairs, and they’ll hang an indicator jersey to signal which game is showing—spot a Mets jersey behind the bar, and you know the Mets are on upstairs. There’s also a downstairs section, packed with sports memorabilia, including multiple Lawrence Taylor photos, a 1954 Giants program, and a painting of legendary Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. That area features three TVs and pinball machines. The spot has retro man-cave vibes while still being fun for everyone. “Seventy percent of the stuff on the wall came from my grandfather. He was a big, big collector,” said Bryant. From Caddyshack to Notre Dame’s “Play Like A Champion” sign, there’s something for everyone.
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For The Throwback’s starting lineup of food, appetizers include fish and chips ($18), made with fried cod tail and served with fries. Classic crispy wings ($14) come tossed in your choice of buffalo, honey BBQ, or sweet heat sauce, with blue cheese or ranch on the side. For the more health-conscious, a kale Caesar salad ($9) features fresh kale, herb-encrusted breadcrumbs, and grated Parmesan tossed in Caesar dressing. Or try the Bacon Boom Wedge ($10), with baby gem lettuce, heirloom cherry tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles, habanero bacon jam, and red onions, served with ranch.
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There’s also a sandwich section. The Triple Play ($12) is a trifecta grilled cheese with melted gouda, sharp white cheddar, and creamy fontina on Texas toast. A New York chopped cheese ($15) features ground beef, red onions, sharp cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, and “The Throwback Sauce” on a hoagie roll. The Brisket Dog ($12) comes with smoked sausage on a soft pretzel bun, topped with baked beans and caramelized onions.
A kids menu is also available, including the Baby Mozzie ($8), a thin, crispy flatbread topped with zesty marinara, bubbling mozzarella, and garlic oil. There’s an adult version for $14, with an option to add pepperoni for an extra $5.
Adults can enjoy a lengthy happy hour from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, with $6 Blue Moon drafts, High Lifes, and Miller Lites, as well as $9 wines and well drinks. From the cocktail menu, the Shakedown features rectified bourbon, lemon juice, ginger syrup, and bitters for $17. The Breakaway includes Silver tequila, orange liqueur, agave, lime juice, and orange juice. The Throwback also stocks LALO tequila, crafted by the grandson of Don Julio. They are proud to showcase wines from Regal Wine Imports, who worked with Brittni to build out the bar’s wine list.
“I got very specific about what’s on my wall and what we’re serving,” said Bryant, who likes small brands and their stories. “So we only have three distributors right now, because they were the ones who were with me early on and spent a lot of time helping me curate a branded alcohol menu.”
Currently, The Throwback is open from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., Monday through Sunday. You can visit their website here.
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