There's a sports bar west of Fort Worth that's in a league of its own: Called Bush League Bar and Grill, it opened in 2024 in Hudson Oaks, in the former Bourbon-n-Branch Brewing at 900 Cinema Dr #6114, where it's serving burgers, wings, and ice cold beer.
Bush League is from husband-and-wife duo Eric and Rachel Tonips, restaurant veterans who previously owned a takeout spot west of Fort Worth in Brock called Comfort Kitchen To Go, which they closed in May 2024.
At Bush League, Eric can celebrate his love of baseball. Sports is in his blood: He was the first Texas Rangers team chef in 2009 and a full time caterer for the Dallas Cowboys at Valley Ranch for three seasons. He's also been a finalist on Guy Fieri's Guy's Grocery Games.
"About 15 years ago, I had an idea for a baseball-themed sports bar that would promote more minor league teams and teams out in the bush that nobody has ever heard of," he says.
Chef Eric Tonips competing on Guy's Grocery Games.Bush League
The menu features sports bar fare but executed at a high level, with everything made on-site, even slicing the pickles for their fried pickles. Their onion rings are a thing of beauty: Extra-thick rings which are breaded twice, so there's an irresistibly thick and golden crust.
"It's my dad's recipe, I don't know how he dreamed it up," says his daughter Kelsi Tonips, who serves as general manager. She's not the only family member chipping in.
"My brother is the kitchen manager, and my younger sister just started being a host," Kelsi says.
They're known for their almost comically over-the-top burgers such as the Cage Bomb featuring a half pound beef patty topped with bacon, grilled mushrooms, onions, avocado, egg, four cheeses, lettuce, pickle, tomato, and housemade black pepper mayo.
"It's literally everything out of the kitchen sink," Kelsi says. "It's a huge burger — our portions are like no other. My dad has always made it a point to overserve than to underserve."
In addition to 11 varieties of burgers, they offer wings, nachos, sandwiches, wraps, fried appetizers, and salads. There's a full bar with 25 beers on tap, ranging from Miller Lite to rotating taps for Fort Worth brewers like Martin House and Rahr. They even do seasonal craft cocktails such as a spiked pink lemonade with Deep Eddy vodka, coated with a tajin rim, or an espresso martini with a churro twist.
For sports viewing, there are 32 TVs, and every table in the house can see at least three at a time; for big games, they hook up the surround sound. True to Eric's original vision, they air minor league games, too.
Echoling the bush league vibe, they have mismatched tables and decor, pulled from the family garage, such as old baseball equipment. If regulars bring in their old sports jerseys or baseball gloves, they'll hang those up, too. They want to make the dining environment anything-but-corporate and pair it with good eats and service, a connection to the community, and a sense of fun.
"My family grew up playing baseball, softball and we all wear the number 22 because that was our dad's baseball number and my brother carried that along," Kelsi says. "We incorporate a lot of our family ties."
