When we first heard about “the goat” sports bar opening in Clarendon, we were pretty excited for a sports bar with goats. (Goat yoga is a thing, so why not?) Sadly, there are no live goats at the G.O.A.T., which for the acronym challenged means the “greatest of all time.” Co-owner Mike Cordero (also behind Arlington spots Don Tito, A-Town, and Barley Mac) says that after a lengthy soft-opening stretch, the massive 463-seat spot is officially debuting this weekend.
What the place lacks in barnyard fun, it makes up for in televisions and games. Over 70 are scattered throughout the space, which will show everything from basketball to golf and UFC fights. Patrons can also entertain themselves with arcade games, shoot-to-win basketball, and skee-ball.
The menu is also goat-less, unless you count goat cheese on the house burger. Cordero says the idea was to create more than just an average sports pub when it came to the vibe and menu.
“I’ve taken American comfort food and put it on steroids,” says Cordero.
To that end, amped-up dishes include “epic” fried grouper sandwiches, a “big baller burger” topped with cheddar-stuffed jalapeño poppers and bacon, giant wagyu meatballs, and waffle-batter fried Oreos. And of course, plenty of beer.
The G.O.A.T almost had a much more generic name: Stadium Premier Sports Bar. But can it live up to its lofty title? Maybe if, and only if, they get a goat.
The G.O.A.T. 3028 Wilson Blvd., Arlington.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
