What was once a contender to many of the homegrown sit-down staples of Pella has slowly fallen into disarray. While I'd love to say that the current state of Sports Page is due to worker shortages and an increase in food prices, it's almost certainly not the whole story.In my most recent visit to the ole' edge-of-town eatery, our party of 8 walked into what looked like the relic of a restaurant. The place was nearly empty and there wasn't a worker to be seen for a quarter mile. It was a Sunday afternoon (about 12:45pm), and we made the decision to just seat ourselves in the hope that we'd be seen by the waitstaff. We were seen — but it took another 10 minutes to be greeted.After ordering, we waited 67 minutes to receive our food. While the chicken sandwich was adequate, the fries were nearly room temperature and had the consistency of deep-fried spray foam.It's a shame really, because I wish this establishment no ill will. I remember fondly the days of a Friday night Firehouse Burger and a cold draft beer with friends. But unless management / ownership figures out whatever is going on behind the scenes, Smash Park will take whatever business they still manage to get. 3.2/10.
Brian Gerhards
Enjoyed a firehouse burger for lunch with waffle fries. The burger was good, the fries were great. The waffle fries are seasoned and make for a good dude.This restaurant has one other diner while we were there and from what my local coworkers say, this is how it usually is. With that said, expect a short wait.
Todd Shackelford
Not the greatest. The food was fair at best. I can say the portions were large, but I would have preferred better quality. The wait staff and kitchen were not in sync. When food came out for my party one person was informed they couldn't make their order. So we all wanted to eat and one person was starting from square one with no menu to look at. Things went down hill from there.
Sidney Rulo
Has amazing food, but had to wait 15 minutes for a burger an fries to get out of kitchen cause some of the kitchen staff had to have long smoke breaks and they only had one poor guy working the whole floor. The bartender needed to cut off a group of people cause they were getting loud and falling out of their seats when they decided to leave they were stumbling one ran straight into the door and waited for their friend to open it cause they couldn't figure it out. But other than the things above it's an amazing place.
Tyler A
My wife and I had been going to Sports Page quite frequently (twice a week at least) when we moved to Pella over a year and a half ago. When we first got here it was a pretty decent restaurant. In the last year it has really gone downhill. The atmosphere is very nice and the location is very good but the service is awful. From uncooked to overcooked food, to sitting 60 minutes without food, waiting 20 minutes for a menu, bar tender flirting with a customer and not taking care of customers, rudeness, you name it, it has happened here. We got to a point even though we live in Pella we weren't going back which is very sad because it has the potential to be great. People want to say not having help isn't their fault because of Covid but they were like this before Covid got crazy. Every other restaurant in town finds a way to make things work but somehow Sports Page cannot. I know it's not easy but if Applebee's (they're not the best either), George's, El Charro, Cantaritos, Liberty Street Kitchen, Breadeaux, Pella Country Club ect, can do it, Sports Page could too. Their management just isn't very good. Ownership won't pay up and doesn't pay close attention. I farm and own a trucking company and my input costs have gone through the roof but I still make it work bc the alternative is to quit business and quit making money, so I don't want to hear how Covid is responsible when everyone else is dealing with the same thing.
Phillip johnson
Way slow, no one here & waiting forever again. Been better off going to caseys convenient store. Food was ok. Tried the swine burger. Had to add ketchup mustard to flavor it.Won't be back...
Mr. Triple Bogey
We stop for lunch after taking a buddy's Shelby GT for a spin around the country and the lake.. There were 4 other customers in the entire restaurant. So, they were not busy. It was 1245pm. We ordered Pepsi and tea with lemon. The waitress brought us water and diet coke!!!! After 10 mins she came back and we told her the drinks were not what we ordered. She apologized and 10 mins later came back with the correct drink. We order our food and it took almost 30 mins for two burgers. My pork burger were charred and bitter because it was so burnt my buddy ordered a burger that was very dried. I asked the waitress if they offer military discount. She was rather rude and said "we do not offer any military discount, except on veterans day for 10%. While we were eating, 4 customers came in, sat down, and after 15 mins, they were not getting any service..so they got up and left.Subpar food, subpar service..stop at your own risk.
Nick Souza-Personal Account
Great service and good food, but the place has been dead the last 2 times I've been there. I'm not sure if it's closing or what, but it used to be busy and had a full menu.
Melody Dittmer
well...looks like you haven't had a kind review in a while. we were disappointed to see the limited menu, but the food was fabulous and the bar manager who waited on us was fantastic! loved him and his enthusiasm. unfortunately didn't catch his name. these are hard times...at least some people are trying!
Laurel Pangman
We should have known when it was Friday night at 6 PM and every other restaurant was packed but this one was literally empty. We should have left right away but hadn’t eaten here in awhile so wanted to give it a chance. The waitress had no idea if they had a cocktail menu. The food was undercooked and cold and definitely concerning. Even the ketchup & hamburger buns tasted odd. Very limited menu but the temporary menu they did have doesn’t even include any descriptions so you have no idea what your options are without asking a lot of questions. Definitely don’t recommend.
Great food and good people, bar knowledge is a bit lacking ?♂️
gina freeborn
Will not be eating here again. Place was not busy (5 other tables of patrons) but our food order took extra long. Only 2 of us in our party. I ordered a cold wrap. Husband ordered a hamburger. The burger was raw and cold in the middle. Overheard "they were getting ready for a party so were busy!" Really. No excuse for serving raw meat. Still had to pay $33. UNACCEPTABLE!
Robin Buitenwerf
Service friendly, had to wait for food which was ok. We had hamburgers which were very good. Would go back.
steven26762000
This place was my go to for many many years. I would at the lest get takeout twice a week. This place fell apart long before the VID. Now the only serve Burgers and wraps. Its a shame! do not waste your time or money. Go to the one in 1802 W 2nd Ave, Indianola, IA 50125. It has not changed still good food ,service, and value.
Tashra
Came from Cincinnati for Knotfest and stopped in here the night before. Best fried cheese curds I've ever had! Service was quick, staff were nice, and the rest of our food was great too!
What was once a contender to many of the homegrown sit-down staples of Pella has slowly fallen into disarray. While I'd love to say that the current state of Sports Page is due to worker shortages and an increase in food prices, it's almost certainly not the whole story.In my most recent visit to the ole' edge-of-town eatery, our party of 8 walked into what looked like the relic of a restaurant. The place was nearly empty and there wasn't a worker to be seen for a quarter mile. It was a Sunday afternoon (about 12:45pm), and we made the decision to just seat ourselves in the hope that we'd be seen by the waitstaff. We were seen — but it took another 10 minutes to be greeted.After ordering, we waited 67 minutes to receive our food. While the chicken sandwich was adequate, the fries were nearly room temperature and had the consistency of deep-fried spray foam.It's a shame really, because I wish this establishment no ill will. I remember fondly the days of a Friday night Firehouse Burger and a cold draft beer with friends. But unless management / ownership figures out whatever is going on behind the scenes, Smash Park will take whatever business they still manage to get. 3.2/10.
Enjoyed a firehouse burger for lunch with waffle fries. The burger was good, the fries were great. The waffle fries are seasoned and make for a good dude.This restaurant has one other diner while we were there and from what my local coworkers say, this is how it usually is. With that said, expect a short wait.
Not the greatest. The food was fair at best. I can say the portions were large, but I would have preferred better quality. The wait staff and kitchen were not in sync. When food came out for my party one person was informed they couldn't make their order. So we all wanted to eat and one person was starting from square one with no menu to look at. Things went down hill from there.
Has amazing food, but had to wait 15 minutes for a burger an fries to get out of kitchen cause some of the kitchen staff had to have long smoke breaks and they only had one poor guy working the whole floor. The bartender needed to cut off a group of people cause they were getting loud and falling out of their seats when they decided to leave they were stumbling one ran straight into the door and waited for their friend to open it cause they couldn't figure it out. But other than the things above it's an amazing place.
My wife and I had been going to Sports Page quite frequently (twice a week at least) when we moved to Pella over a year and a half ago. When we first got here it was a pretty decent restaurant. In the last year it has really gone downhill. The atmosphere is very nice and the location is very good but the service is awful. From uncooked to overcooked food, to sitting 60 minutes without food, waiting 20 minutes for a menu, bar tender flirting with a customer and not taking care of customers, rudeness, you name it, it has happened here. We got to a point even though we live in Pella we weren't going back which is very sad because it has the potential to be great. People want to say not having help isn't their fault because of Covid but they were like this before Covid got crazy. Every other restaurant in town finds a way to make things work but somehow Sports Page cannot. I know it's not easy but if Applebee's (they're not the best either), George's, El Charro, Cantaritos, Liberty Street Kitchen, Breadeaux, Pella Country Club ect, can do it, Sports Page could too. Their management just isn't very good. Ownership won't pay up and doesn't pay close attention. I farm and own a trucking company and my input costs have gone through the roof but I still make it work bc the alternative is to quit business and quit making money, so I don't want to hear how Covid is responsible when everyone else is dealing with the same thing.
Way slow, no one here & waiting forever again. Been better off going to caseys convenient store. Food was ok. Tried the swine burger. Had to add ketchup mustard to flavor it.Won't be back...
We stop for lunch after taking a buddy's Shelby GT for a spin around the country and the lake.. There were 4 other customers in the entire restaurant. So, they were not busy. It was 1245pm. We ordered Pepsi and tea with lemon. The waitress brought us water and diet coke!!!! After 10 mins she came back and we told her the drinks were not what we ordered. She apologized and 10 mins later came back with the correct drink. We order our food and it took almost 30 mins for two burgers. My pork burger were charred and bitter because it was so burnt my buddy ordered a burger that was very dried. I asked the waitress if they offer military discount. She was rather rude and said "we do not offer any military discount, except on veterans day for 10%. While we were eating, 4 customers came in, sat down, and after 15 mins, they were not getting any service..so they got up and left.Subpar food, subpar service..stop at your own risk.
Great service and good food, but the place has been dead the last 2 times I've been there. I'm not sure if it's closing or what, but it used to be busy and had a full menu.
well...looks like you haven't had a kind review in a while. we were disappointed to see the limited menu, but the food was fabulous and the bar manager who waited on us was fantastic! loved him and his enthusiasm. unfortunately didn't catch his name. these are hard times...at least some people are trying!
We should have known when it was Friday night at 6 PM and every other restaurant was packed but this one was literally empty. We should have left right away but hadn’t eaten here in awhile so wanted to give it a chance. The waitress had no idea if they had a cocktail menu. The food was undercooked and cold and definitely concerning. Even the ketchup & hamburger buns tasted odd. Very limited menu but the temporary menu they did have doesn’t even include any descriptions so you have no idea what your options are without asking a lot of questions. Definitely don’t recommend.
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food and good people, bar knowledge is a bit lacking ?♂️
Will not be eating here again. Place was not busy (5 other tables of patrons) but our food order took extra long. Only 2 of us in our party. I ordered a cold wrap. Husband ordered a hamburger. The burger was raw and cold in the middle. Overheard "they were getting ready for a party so were busy!" Really. No excuse for serving raw meat. Still had to pay $33. UNACCEPTABLE!
Service friendly, had to wait for food which was ok. We had hamburgers which were very good. Would go back.
This place was my go to for many many years. I would at the lest get takeout twice a week. This place fell apart long before the VID. Now the only serve Burgers and wraps. Its a shame! do not waste your time or money. Go to the one in 1802 W 2nd Ave, Indianola, IA 50125. It has not changed still good food ,service, and value.
Came from Cincinnati for Knotfest and stopped in here the night before. Best fried cheese curds I've ever had! Service was quick, staff were nice, and the rest of our food was great too!
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