New Restaurant, Sports Bar Opening Soon Near Watertown's Arsenal Mall

A flurry of construction is underway as workers look to put on the finishing touches on new restaurant moving in next to the Arsenal Mall, Miller's Ale House, which will feature a variety of food, drinks and will have dozens of televisions so sports fans to catch their favorite teams.

The plan is to open the restaurant, which will be the 59th in the Florida-based chain, on Dec. 20, said general manager Jeff Brooks. Miller's Ale House will take over the spot on the east end of Arsenal Street last occupied by Bugaboo Creek.

"It's a nautical-themed, sports-themed family restaurant, Brooks said. "It will have a little bit for everyone: some for mom, some for the kids, some for dad, and some for dad and his friends who are coming out to watch the ballgame."

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., with last call at 12:30 a.m., so Brooks also hopes to attract the late-night crowd.

The menu includes more than 100 items, and ranges from wings and burgers to steak and seafood. It will also have a raw bar for those looking for oysters and clams on the halfshell.

One of the signature items on the Miller's Ale House menu, Brooks said, are Zingers — boneless chicken wings, hand rolled and served with one of several sauces.

Brooks, who has worked at other locations in the chain, said one of the goals is to provide affordable meals to families.

"We will have lunch specials that range from $4.95 to $6.95," Brooks said.

The bar will feature 42 beer taps, with Bud, Coors and Miller brews, several Sam Adams beers, along with beers from smaller breweries such as Dogfish Head, Goose Island, and Rogue, Brooks said. Margaritas, cocktails, bottled beer and wine are also on the menu.

Sports will be a big part of Miller's Ale House, which will have more than 65 televisions from 42 to 70 inches in size, Brooks said.

"We'll have football, the Red Sox, the Bruins, and around here soccer is big, too," Brooks said. "We will have all the satellite sports packages."

The restaurant is nearly done hiring 155 staff members, Brooks said. He hopes Miller's Ale House will become part of the Watertown community.

"We are trying to mesh well with the community," Brooks said. "If someone comes in and says something about Donohue's [Bar and Grill] we'll say we go there all the time."

The Watertown restaurant will be the first one in New England, and Brooks said Miller's Ale House is looking to open four more in the Boston area by 2013. The chain has more than 40 locations in Florida, as well as two on Long Island, two in the Philadelphia area, one in Las Vegas and one in Illinois.