TLC Sports Bar & Grill: The next best thing to being at the game

TLC Sports Bar & Grill (“The Loose Cockaboose”) is under new management and looking forward to a new season of USC home football games.

Kareem Manning, head bartender, is one of the people getting the word out that the stadium-adjacent bar is a great place to be for those who want to be close to Williams-Brice Stadium.

“If you don’t have anywhere to tailgate you can definitely come here,” said Manning. “There are a bunch of people here that just want to be close to the stadium but don’t want to go in. You can hear everything from here.”

Manning discovered the bar during his days at the University of South Carolina. He said the current crowd is a mix of new faces, Conquest brewery staff (they are neighbors, after all) and regulars who not only come for the drinks but for the live bands, local artists and DJs.

USC home games draw a lively and spirited crowd. Manning couldn’t even find the words to describe the number of people the bar serves and seats. As far as drinks, the bar is like any other: there’s a Budweiser crew, a Jameson crowd and then those looking for specialty drinks.

The specialty drinks include an Absolute Mandarin Punch, an Altos Margarita, a Beefeater Madras and a Jameson Mule. Manning said they will feature these drinks throughout the season, along with specialty shooters, like the Royal Jameson.

His prediction is the Mandarin Punch will be one of the biggest hits, citing its fruity blend of Absolute Mandarin Vodka, pineapple juice and ginger ale that make it too sweet to resist.

Another fruity drink that seems to already be a hit is one they came up with and named “The Gamecock.”

“It’s Absolute Citron with lime juice, triple sec, sour mix with a splash of grenadine and a splash of Sprite with a sugar rim,” said Manning. “It’s perfect for the weather.”

What’s also perfect? The bar’s vicinity to Williams-Brice. You can actually feel the stadium looming in the background. But even with that, Manning said the bar doesn’t draw a rowdy bunch.

“It’s a hidden gem,” said Manning. “If you haven’t been here yet you’re missing out on a lot. It’s a fun atmosphere, everybody gets along. You can come here and meet some amazing people. It’s definitely a bar you need to check out.”

This story was originally published September 14, 2016 at 9:15 AM with the headline "TLC Sports Bar & Grill: The next best thing to being at the game."