Nevada Magazine

"Dining Out"
May/June 1998
Overton Sports Cafe

It's easy to find Sugar's Home Plate on Overton's Main Street. Just look for the baseball diamond painted on the building and follow the aroma of home-baked pies into this sports-themed restaurant.

Owners Ray and Judy Metz came to Overton, a farming town 65 miles northeast of Las Vegas, from Los Angeles, where they moved and stored equipment for Rock'n Roll bands. After years of L.A. traffic and late night calls from groups anxious to record "the hit song", Judy recalls, the couple set their sights on Overton, which they'd visited while waterskiing on Lake Mead. She had dreamed of owning a restaurant, and they decided to name it for Ray's nickname (as in "Sugar Ray" Robinson). Sugar's Home Plate opened for business on April 10, 1991, just in time for the annual Clark County Fair up the road in Logandale.
Lifelong Dodger fans-they used to date at Dodgers games- and parents of three sports-minded sons, the Metzs display a collection of sports memorabilia, including a photograph of Tommy Lasorda and former president Ronald Reagan autographed to "Sugar" Ray Metz by Lasorda; a No. 44 jersey worn by Mickey Hatcher; and an autographed Steve Sax poster.
A recently acquired Jack Kramer tennis racket (An Andre Agassi is untouchable", says Judy) hangs near the oak bar.

How does the food score? Particularly popular are the burgers, chicken fried steak, and Saturday night's prime rib feast. The crisp salad's are delicious, as are the pies, with fillings and flaky crusts made from scratch by Judy or under her watchful eye. Ray is known for his barbecue tri tips, barbecued ribs, and beans. Breakfasts include generous three-egg omelettes_Denver, vegetarian, and meat-filled. "If we have it, we'll put it in", adds Judy. Away from the restaurant, the Metza still go boating on Lake Mead. While the guys waterski, Judy finds a peaceful spot on shore to sit back and unwind. As a volunteer EMT, Judy sometimes makes ambulance runs to Las Vegas. Their café's customers include locals, Utah and California travelers, foreign tourists, and park rangers. Visitors to Overton can take in the Lost City Museum, which describes the Pueblo Indians who lived in the Moapa Valley centuries ago. Nearby are the Valley of Fire State Park and two Lake Mead Resorts, Overton Beach and Echo Bay. And Sugar's, a good place to eat, is right there on Main Street. Sugar's Home Plate: 309 Main Street in Overton, 702-397-8084. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinnder. Beer and wine. Entrees $3.75 to $11. MasterCard and Visa accepted.