Sports Bar Yard House to open in Tampa on Dec. 3
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Nov 20, 2023

Yard House is set to open its first Tampa Bay location.

The sports bar – which is known for its extensive beer menu – will be located at 450 Channelside Dr. in Tampa, just outside of Amalie Arena.

Scheduled to open on Dec. 3, the Water Street restaurant marks the company’s 88th location across the U.S. Originally, the restaurant was expected to open in October.

Yard House features 150 taps of American craft and imported beers and regional and local offerings. The glass-enclosed keg room connects via beer lines to the taps at the expansive bar. The Tampa location will also have an outdoor beer garden complete with a bar, picnic tables and yard games.

The restaurant also includes more than 100 menu items, including poke nachos, street tacos, Proprietary Blend USDA prime burgers and Nashville Hot Chicken. There are also gluten-sensitive, vegan and vegetarian options.

Yard House is a concept from Orlando-based Darden Restaurants Inc., which is also the parent company of Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V's and Bahama Breeze. As of May, Darden said there were 86 company-owned Yard House restaurants.

In its fiscal year 2023 results reported in May, Darden (NYSE: DRI) said total sales increased 6.4% to $2.8 billion, driven by “a blended same-restaurant sales increase of 4.0% and sales from 47 net new restaurants.” In Q1 2024, sales continued to be strong due to a 5% increase in same-restaurant sales and the addition of 77 Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants.

Yard House Tampa will be adjacent to The Tampa Edition and is blocks from Predaline, ROOST Tampa and the Publix GreenWise Market.

It will be open for lunch, dinner and late-night dining daily. Happy Hour will include half-price appetizers and $1 to $4 off beer, wine and cocktails.