Grocery store lines will be longer than usual, pizza places and restaurants offering carry-out wings will see an uptick in orders and a lot of football fans will be settling in at home to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday.
But for those with no party plans or who simply want to go out to enjoy the big game, there are plenty of local sports bars to choose from – whether you’re rooting for the Denver Broncos or Carolina Panthers or just tagging along for the food and commercials.
Buffalo Wild Wings is always a trusty fallback. However, for something a little different, here’s a list of the top nine sports bars to watch the game within the I-275 belt circling Cincinnati.
1. Holy Grail at The Banks
Where: 161 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown
Open Sunday: 11 a.m.-midnight
Capacity: 350
Why go there: Holy Grail is a popular place on game days for good reason. It has 32 TVs, including four 70-inch screens, and a wide variety of options on the menu and at the bar. The Reuben wontons – homemade egg rolls with corned beef, Swiss and sauerkraut inside and Thousand Island dressing to dip – are a popular appetizer, as are the loaded fries (bacon, ranch, cheddar cheese and chives) and traditional wings. There are 20 taps including mainstream brews, rotating crafts and local offerings, but the most popular is the Rivertown blueberry beer. As a Super Bowl special, get $14 buckets of domestic beers.
Information: 513-621-2222; www.holygrailcincy.com
2. Lachey’s Bar
Where: 56 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine
Open Sunday: 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Capacity: 225
Why go there: Lachey’s features 25 TVs, including a 90-inch screen over the bar, tons of drink options (28 beers on tap, 41 bottle and can options, signature cocktails and more) and a menu full of perfect Super Bowl snacks and foods. Among the most popular eats are the “5 O’Clock Wings,” build-your-own burgers and the Tot Bowl, which features three flavors of fried tater tots to choose from (jerk rub, spicy garlic or bacon and cheddar cheese) and is served with Rhinegeist beer cheese, malt vinegar aioli and ketchup. As a Super Bowl special, Lachey’s will have 75-cent wings and $4 craft drafts.
Information: 513-275-0740; lacheys.com
3. Blue Goose Sports Café
Where: 11060 Reading Road, Sharonville
Open Sunday: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. (will stay open for the entirety of the game)
Capacity: Seats about 200
Why go there: Blue Goose features 20 TVs, plus two giant projector screens. The Big Goose burger, a half-pound burger topped with sautéed mushrooms, bacon, jack and cheddar cheese and onion straws, is the house specialty, but wings, baby-back ribs and a battered fish sandwich are also popular. Eight beers on tap include import, craft and domestic brews, with Rivertown Brewery’s Roebling Porter also available. As a Super Bowl special, get $3.50 tall Bud Light, Miller Light and Yuengling (or $2.50 shorts).
Information: 513-769-5700; www.bluegoosesportscafe.com
4. Shooters Sports Grill
Where: 780 Loveland Miamiville Road, Loveland
Open Sunday: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
Capacity: 200
Why go there: With its popular wings (patrons come from all over Cincinnati for them), Shooters traditionally experiences its heaviest carryout traffic on Super Bowl Sunday, but it’s also a great spot to stay and watch the game. There are 46 TVs, including three 80-inch flat-screens, and 16 drafts on tap, including eight or nine craft beers and a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel not found many other places.
Information: 513-774-7007; www.shooterssportsgrill.com
5. O'Bryon's Bar & Grill
Where: 1998 Madison Road, O'Bryonville
Open Sunday: 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday
Capacity: The first floor seats about 125. (The second floor is rented out for the night.)
Why go there: If you’re looking for a low-key but enjoyable atmosphere, look no further than this hot spot in quaint O’Bryonville. It has 11 decent-sized TVs, including one giant main screen, and everything from wings and quesadillas to chicken tenders and of course, fish and chips. The draft selection is a nice mix of craft and domestic beers and ciders (10 on tap), but O’Bryon’s is most known for its 32-ounce “Shark Tank,” which includes four shots of vodka, sour mix and Sprite and comes with a vinyl shark whose mouth is filled with grenadine to dump into the drink. As a Super Bowl special, get buckets of Coors Banquet and Light, five for $15, or $2 Bud Lights.
Information: 513-321-5525; www.obryonsirishpub.com
6. Oakley Pub & Grill/Anderson Pub & Grill
Where: 3924 Isabella Ave., Oakley; 8060 Beechmont Ave., Anderson
Open Sunday: 11:30 a.m.-midnight
Capacity: About 100 at Oakley; 180 at Anderson
Why go there: For more of a dive bar, head to Oakley, which has fewer TVs (10) and a smaller setting; for the full sports bar experience, go to Anderson, which features 19 TVs ranging from 42 to 65 inches. At both, you can find the same great food and also have some fun with $5 squares during the game. Enjoy the “Soul Burger” – Black Angus chuck, seasoned with jerk spices, and topped with bacon, American cheese and grilled onions – among the favorites. And, if you’re not a burger fan, there are plenty of other items on the menu, such as boneless and bone-in wings, pizza, sandwiches, crab cakes, stuffed portabella mushrooms and nachos. Drink-wise, they offer a variety of craft beers, bottled or among the eight taps. Anderson is offering a Super Bowl special of five domestics for $12 or tall Shock Top drafts for $4.50. Both offer a Chef’s Special to be determined.
Information: 513-531-2500 (Oakley), www.oakleypubandgrill.com; 513-474-4400 (Anderson), www.andersonpubandgrill.com
7. Tap House Grill
Where: 8740 Montgomery Road, Sycamore Township
Open Sunday: Noon-10 p.m. (will stay open until end of the game)
Capacity: 280
Why go there: Find 26 TVs and a menu highlighted by items such as build-your-own burgers, pretzels with beer cheese and a build-your-own salad menu for those with healthier appetites. The 34 taps rotate often but usually include 24 local and featured beers and the rest mainstream.
Information: 513-891-8277; www.taphousecincy.com
8. MVP Sports Bar & Grille
Where: 6923 Plainfield Road, Silverton
Open Sunday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (will stay open until the end of the game)
Capacity: About 125
Why go there: MVP offers a casual atmosphere with 15 TVs, mostly 55-inch, with one main large screen. Enjoy burgers, wings, potato skins, sandwiches, melts and flatbread pizzas. You can choose from a beer selection that includes domestic, import and local craft brews in can, bottle or draft form (12 on tap), including hard root beer and pale ales from MadTree.
Information: 513-794-1400; www.mymvpsportsbarandgrille.com
9. Champions Grille
Where: 3670 Werk Road, Green Township
Open Sunday: 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m.
Capacity: 135
Why go there: Champions has more than 20 TVs, including one giant projector screen and five 70-inch screens. There are 20 beers on tap, including domestics and crafts, and a menu that features wings and build-your-own burgers – beef, chicken or veggie – with unlimited toppings, including 10 different cheeses and 15 homemade sauces. Special for Super Bowl Sunday, it’ll have five for $10 buckets of domestic bottles or five for $12 buckets of 16-ounce cans of Bud Light, plus eight wings for $5. There also will be giveaways from distributors.
Information: 513-376-8920; www.championsgrille.com
