Undercover Diner Visits Sweetwater

Good Food, Great Service and a Golf Twist in Lake Wylie

Sweetwater Sports Bar & Grill in Lake Wylie comes with strong online reviews, and our visit mostly matched the positive buzz.

The service was really good, the food was alright, and the atmosphere had the familiar feel of a comfortable sports bar. It is not a white-tablecloth destination or a place where every dish is trying to be over the top. But for a casual meal, plenty of TVs, Panthers and golf memorabilia, and a relaxed setting, Sweetwater delivers.

I ordered the battered fish sandwich, which was good and easy to handle thanks to the hoagie-style roll. The American cheese was a nice added touch, giving the sandwich a little extra flavor. The homemade chips were fine, though not especially memorable.

My wife ordered the fried chicken wrap with fries, and our daughter had chicken tenders with fries. The tenders were just OK, but the overall meal was satisfying.

The more interesting twist may be what Sweetwater now offers beyond the dining room. The restaurant has opened the Indoor Golf & Lounge at Sweetwater, a private golf simulator space with access to more than 30 courses, practice options, touch-screen controls, seating for up to eight people, two TVs with DirecTV sports channels, and full food and drink service from Sweetwater.

Rates are $65 an hour on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and $85 an hour Friday through Sunday. The hourly price is for the entire private lounge, not per person.

For golfers, families, groups of friends or even small business outings, that gives Sweetwater something different in the Lake Wylie market: a year-round place to eat, watch sports and take a few swings without worrying about the weather.

Undercover Diner’s take: Sweetwater is a good casual sports bar with strong service, solid food and a new indoor golf feature that may be the real reason to give it a closer look.