For football fans, appetizers, drinks and barbeque are to the Super Bowl as turkey and pumpkin pie is to Thanksgiving Day—it’s an unofficial American holiday.

This year, the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams are competing for the coveted 53rd Super Bowl championship title. They may not be local teams, but they’re still American. As are the locals who will be watching them play on Sunday, Feb. 3 from their living room TVs.

But for those choosing to watch the Super Bowl elsewhere, a variety of local venues are providing hospitality, food and fun on the annual Sunday-funday.

Alfonso De Alba, general manager of Buffalo Wild Wings at 6805 Camino Arroyo in Gilroy, says the local restaurant chain will have a viewing party, as they do every year.

“We get families that don’t want to cook at home and don’t want to clean up the mess,” explains De Alba. “We take care of them.”

The restaurant plans to show the game on all 56 of its televisions. Beer vendor swag will be given away, and limited offers on food and drinks will be available—such as $5 beer pitchers.

And to prepare for the large number of to-go orders, De Alba says Buffalo Wild Wings in Gilroy will start taking phone orders at 8 am, even if their doors normally don’t open until 11 am. “We’ll have food ready to be picked up anytime after 10 am for their home parties.” Its closing time is midnight.

De Alba says the restaurant will have appetizers including salad platters, tacos, nachos, burgers, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, mushrooms, and cheese curds.

“All of these (and more), we can do in platters and extra large orders to go,” he says. Customers can also expect an added Super Bowl special on Monday, Feb. 18 if the game goes into overtime.

“From 4pm to 7pm local time, everybody will get boneless or traditional wings, no purchase necessary. It’s dine-in only, while supplies last,” says De Alba. “We can do something special here that night, too.”

Another familiar chain, located in Gilroy at 6925 Camino Arroyo in Gilroy—Famous Dave’s—is also welcoming families to enjoy the game on its bar’s four televisions.

“We will have happy hour all day,” says its general manager. While the bar area will have drinks and select food at happy hour prices, there will also be beer specials on Samuel Adams, BBQ pull-chicken sandwiches, mac and cheese, and chicken tenders. “There’s a few extra things that we’ll be doing in the bar area,” its manager promises.

For those seeking more of an adult setting, the Morgan Hill Wine Shop and Cigar Company Morgan Hill at 16375 Monterey Road Morgan Hill is hosting a “Superbowl Smoke” on Sunday. Open from 11 am to 8 pm on Super Bowl Sunday, the establishment offers its patrons more than just wine and cigars.

“We’re having a complimentary taco bar set up for all patrons,” says co-owner and general manager, Amy Yancey. “We also have a sign-up sheet for a potluck for any kind of side dishes, appetizers, desserts. Some people have signed up just to bring in something, but it’s not mandatory.”

While the cigar lounge and smoke-free wine shop features a 400-square-foot walk-in humidor, and a vast selection of wine and twelve beers on tap, Yancey says it will be able to offer more on Super Bowl Sunday. The establishment now has its Type 48 license, so bourbon, scotch and whiskey will also be available on game day. Quarterly specials will be offered throughout the game too, Yancey adds.

And this year, Yancey says they are hosting and supplying the taco bar for their customers “to show appreciation for staying loyal and coming in.”

For folks who want to watch the game at a sports bar, Huntington Station Sports Pub at 30 East Third Street in Morgan Hill will also be offering food specials, drink specials, and free raffles. The pub will show the game on its 11 television screens. It will be open from 12pm to 8pm on game day.

And if you want the sport’s bar vibe—but still need to keep the entire family in tow—Box Seat Sports Grill and Pub at 15650 Vineyard Boulevard Suite F in Morgan Hill is a good option, combining the two.

Owner, Kevin Fitzgibbons, says his establishment welcomes kids, which includes an arcade. “That’s kind of my business model,” he explains. “Not only can your kids run around and not bother anybody, but you can see them from any seat in the place.”

But Box Seat isn’t just kiddie fun.

“We have the volume pumped up and everybody’s watching the game, wearing their jerseys,” he says. “It’s kind of like being at the game, there’s a lot of excitement.”

For Super Bowl Sunday, Fitzgibbons is showing his appreciation for customers by offering specials on customer favorites. The popular drink, Chili Bomb, will be half price; PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon) and jello shots will be sold for one dollar; and appetizers will be sold at happy hour prices all day. “So you can get strips and fries for five bucks, wings and fries, any kind of appetizers with fries for five bucks,” he says. The sports grill will be open from 11am to 10pm (its normal hours) on that day.

Whatever plans are made, good food and good surroundings will always score big among football fans.

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Jenny Arbizu

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