College basketball is over, and football season may be months away, but the appeal of sports bars is still very much alive. However, not all chicken wings and beer are created equal. With competitors like Wallaby’s and Minsky’s vying for the TV-watching dinner crowd’s attention, Okoboji Grill faces some real competition. The Daily’s exuberant eaters put the restaurant through the paces.

Atmosphere:

AL:Almost all sports bars share one common trait — their menus and environment are horribly generic, and Okoboji is pretty much the same. The place definitely gets the job done with comfortable booths, a few pieces of flair on every wall and a TV within every seat’s viewing distance. It may not be fancy, but it accomplishes its purpose.

ER: There’s nothing like eating at a bar and grill where you don’t have to say anything to the person you’re dining with and still be entertained. I could still “listen” to Aaron ramble on about his alleged birthday and enjoy in the background the image of the crushing blow that Barry Bonds gave his 660th home run. This suited me just fine, because I actually ran out of things to say to Aaron several weeks ago when we reviewed Es Tas. Besides that, the dining room of Okoboji was quite clean, but the decor was nothing to write home about.

Service:

AL: Our waitress was incredibly fast when we first arrived. Before I had time to really even think about it, she was ready to take our drink and food orders. I felt a little rushed, but at the same time, such speedy service makes Okoboji a quick lunch grab. Although the food took just a little longer to arrive than it probably should have, everything was still fairly timely.

ER: I don’t think I can really rate the speed of our waitress. We were the only ones there. Of course it’s going to be fast. If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat and you’re hungry at 11 a.m., Okoboji is the place to be. The service at peak hours remains to be seen. If service at lunch was any indication of how fast the dinner rush service would be, then Okoboji has quite a wait staff.

Quantity/Value

AL: After downing an entire reuben and fighting to finish my delicious Boji fries, I was uncomfortably full, and it made for a pretty long hour of sitting through my Spanish class afterward. For $6.99, I was very satisfied with what I received. Once again, however, the thought of how generic this place was crept into my mind when I noticed even the prices of Eric’s meal and mine were uniform. It’s kind of like the restaurant in “Office Space” — everything looks the same. And unfortunately, Jennifer Aniston doesn’t work at Okoboji.

ER: The seven-inch French dip was a good amount of food, but a bit hefty for the price. Although I did leave feeling full, the price just didn’t sit with me well. A buck cheaper and this meal would’ve been a hit. The large helping of Boji fries helped the cause, but didn’t save the meal. You can find better deals on Welch Avenue for $6.99.

Quality/Taste:

AL: Okoboji’s reuben is exactly like Mom used to make it, only she never charged me $6.99. Two slices of bread encase a large portion of mouth-watering corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. Even the small details, like a generous slathering of Thousand Island dressing, were taken care of. Although anyone can make a reuben, Okoboji knows how to make a reuben you’ll remember.

The real treat at any Okoboji visit, of course, are the Boji fries. Crispy, deep-fried French fries with ranch dipping sauce are one of the few standout menu items, and anyone who’s had them — except for Eric, who incorrectly thinks they’re the same as a certain fast food restaurant’s curly fries — knows these little puppies are worth the trip alone. Okoboji may be just like every other sports bar, but it nails a few key details that make it a little bit better than average.

ER: All this talk about the Boji fries had me really excited, and yes, as you can imagine, I was let down. I know this place down on Duff Avenue, called Arby’s, which serves the same thing — just curly. My hopes and dreams were crushed by the fact that a meal at Arby’s would have cost me a few less bucks. A plus to the meal was the French dip. Not only was the meat tender, but there were added peppers and onions. It was a bit close to a Philly cheese steak, but who’s keeping track? I guess if you’re into mediocrity, then Okoboji is the place for you.

Final Say:

AL: 3 of 5 forks

ER: 3 of 5 forks