Choosing where and what to eat in downtown Clemson can be challenging. My first pick was Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. If you’re visiting on a Sunday, expect a moderate wait time — around 30-45 minutes. I recommend taking a seat outside and engaging in conversation with someone to pass the time. The interior has a great sports-pub-meets-Lousiana feeling with plenty of TVs to entertain you.
Among many choices on the menu, I was recommended to have the double bacon cheese burger. The burger had a phenomenal presentation with a glossy brioche bun, cheese slices melted down to perfection and bacon hanging over the sides surrounding two charred patties.
The bacon rested on top of each patty for optimal distribution. This placement also helped keep the bacon on the burger, sticking to the melted cheese slices. Each bite of the tall burger offered a challenge, paying off with a greasy reward. There wasn’t much seasoning on the patties, so the burger had an overall sweet taste due to the Thousand Island dressing. Big shoutout to the brioche buns for holding the integrity of such a juicy burger.
On the side, I had the hush puppies. The portion size was fair despite the small serving dish. Each hush puppy had a rustic brown, rugged fry and a golden center. They remained in the overall spherical shape, perfect for dipping into any sauce.
The tenderness of the puppies is not to be underestimated, but I wish they weren’t as powdery as they had been. I was shocked by the flavor the most. Each bite had green pepper flakes that added a pleasant surprise to balance the corn.
I brought my friend with me, who is a moderately picky eater. She chose the picky eater’s perennial favorite, chicken tenders. She remarked: “They’re good!” However, the side of honey mustard wasn’t an appetizing addition to her. She would consider the tenders if she were walking downtown hungry; however, Walk-On’s isn’t necessarily her top pick of all the eateries in the vicinity.
In my opinion, the tenders were satisfying and juicy. Each tender had a good breading-to-meat ratio, and the breading had light seasoning to set it apart from the regular chicken tender. The honey mustard dipping sauce was my personal favorite. The chicken tenders provided a good crunch and a solid plain choice for that one picky-eater friend we all have.
