First Look at The Sandbox at Derby

The new entertainment complex called The Sandbox is now open in Derby, KS. Their restaurant was the first part to open in the past week, so I swung by to grab a meal and get a sneak preview of the space.

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2412 N Rock Rd, Derby, KS 67037
316-400-5454

Monday – Saturday: 11am – 1:30am
Sunday: 9am – Midnight

Website | Facebook
Cash/Card Accepted
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While I don’t live in Derby, one of the things I always hear about is the desire for the city to get a steakhouse. Even though the Sandbox, technically isn’t a steakhouse, they have prided themselves on steaks in social media posts leading up to their opening. So, it only made sense I ordered a steak on my first visit.

I went with their 12oz hand cut ribeye, cooked rare with a side of mac & cheese and broccoli. To start things off, their sides were delicious. I loved their mac & cheese, which was very creamy, and the seasoned steamed broccoli had the picture-perfect texture.

Unfortunately, the steak left me feeling underwhelmed. It was overcooked, which rendered most of the steak to be tough and chewy. My server and two other people randomly came to check to see how things were going. If asked, I’ll always share my honest opinion and let them all know the exact thoughts I just typed out.

Each person said something along the lines of “We’ll get you taken care of” or “We’ll fix it”. I wasn’t looking for any type of free meal or discounted price, and said not to worry about it, and gladly paid the full price. One gentleman said they’d let the chef know and that they appreciated the feedback.

While the steak wasn’t all it was cut out to be, I do want to comment that the service was great. My server did an impressive job throughout my visit.

After I finished my meal, I made my way to check out the rest of The Sandbox.

What people may be more excited about is the entertainment portion. They have a big 65,000 square foot dome scheduled to be open within the week that will feature eight sand volleyball courts, five outdoor and four indoor pickleball courts, cornhole area and yard games. It’ll be covered during the winter months, then during the warmer months the covering will be taken down.

They were still putting on the finishing touches when I arrived and said that would be completed soon.

For those curious, they also had a venue space that had a capacity of 200-300 people. They’ve already hosted and started taking bookings for the venue.

Here were my takeaways from my visit:

• The steak was obviously the biggest letdown of my visit. It was cool to see them take feedback and offer to fix it, even though I didn’t feel the need for them to cook another steak on my behalf.
• The service was great from start to finish.
• I believe once the dome opens and people can start playing volleyball, cornhole and pickleball, that’ll really set the tone for the Sandbox. It should be a very exciting time once it’s ready for the public. This summer should be a fun one for Derby.
• I’ll have to return in the future to check out other items on the menu with friends and/or family.

Here’s the menu:

Happy Dining
Eddy

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