Restaurants get their game on with Super Bowl specials

The matchup for Super Bowl 55 was just decided Sunday, but operators have been planning menus for the big day way before fans knew the Kansas City Chiefs would be playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Super Bowl Sunday is typically one of the biggest days of the year for off-premise sales, and although the coronavirus is limiting the size of gatherings, restaurants are downsizing or reconfiguring their catering packages in sync with the times.

Now that almost a year has passed since the pandemic hit, operators in every segment have had a lot of experience with takeout and delivery. Some are relying on tried-and-true Super Bowl favorites but others are offering more creative solutions for football fans watching at home on Feb. 7. Here’s a sampling.

Brewhouse Homegating Packs are on hand from BJ’s, filled with fan favorites, including that most popular of Super Bowl fare—wings and pizza—along with a choice of extras. These include a family-sized portion of chips and dip and two shareable appetizers (sliders, chicken tenders or baby back ribs in addition to wings). Each package, which sells for $64.95, also features a deep-dish pizza and a growler of BJ’s signature beer or 64 ounces of a nonalcoholic beverage.

This barbecue-centric fast casual is offering a package of its specialties, sized for a gathering of eight to 10 people. Mighty Quinn’s Super Bowl Feast includes a pound each of smoked brisket and pulled pork, a full rack of spare ribs, a quart each of cole slaw and mac and cheese, 10 slider rolls and a selection of pickled cucumbers, chiles and red onion along with the chain’s signature barbecue sauce. The feast is available for carryout only and starts at $90; guests can add on a tray of wings for extra.

Fast-casual Mediterranean chain Roti is rolling out two new packages for Super Bowl Sunday: a Family Feast ($49.50-$59.50) and a Big Family Feast ($85-$95). The menu is geared to consumers who may want to snack on healthier dishes. Each package includes an entree choice of chicken or steak roti, salmon kabob or falafel, paired with two sides and several add-ons, such as rice, fresh-baked pitas, sauces and cookies or baklava for dessert.

The Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You group of independent restaurants is offering “The Best of Lettuce Delivered” on Feb. 7. Guests can order a varied game day meal from diverse restaurants, available for pickup at one central location in the city or for delivery both in Chicago and the northern suburbs. Customers can mix and match items from barbecue specialist Bub City, pizza from Pizzeria Portofino, a Mediterranean spread from Ema, seafood from RPM Seafood and several other participating concepts. Bottles of wine and cocktail kits are also available to add to the order. There is a $100 order minimum.

For the indecisive who want to stick to more traditional fare, LEYE’s B Square Pizza has a meal for two that includes a classic Caesar salad, boneless chicken wings, a 12-inch pizza and chocolate chip cookies. The package is priced at $59.95.

Customers looking to economize with a Super Bowl deal can check out IHOP’s to-go package, available for takeout or free delivery via Uber Eats. The limited-time bundle includes a family-size serving of crispy chicken strips with dipping sauce and fries for $27.99. Purchasers can add on a basket of churro bites with icing dipping sauce for $2.99.

Cabo Wabo Cantina, a restaurant inside Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, is inviting football fans indoors for a socially-distanced viewing party on Feb. 7. The Tailgate Fiesta, priced at $200 per person, is an all-you-can-eat-and-drink event with favorites such as guacamole and chips, nachos, chicken wings, mac and cheese, carne asada and chicken sliders and churro and brownie bites. The unlimited bar features house margaritas as well as other cocktails and draft and bottled beers. Capacity is restricted so reservations are required.

The Las Vegas restaurants in the PT’s Taverns portfolio are throwing a Beer Game Sunday celebration on Feb. 7, featuring party pack bites, buckets of beer and takeout specials. The Big Game Party Pack includes a sampling of wings, pretzel bites, mozzarella sticks, fries or tater tots, a pub classic burger and a six-bottle beer bucket priced at $50 for two and $75 for four. The Big Game Munchie Box is filled with mozzarella sticks, boneless and bone-in wings, pretzel bites, pot stickers, fries and dipping sauces ($55). There’s also a Nacho Party Box for $40. Buckets of beer are available in a 12-bottle size ($45) and 24-bottle size ($70).

For fans with a sweet tooth, four football-themed doughnuts are the draw at Pinkbox Doughnuts. There’s the Halftime Show, a red-frosted shell topped with black lettering spelling out “I’m just here for the commercials;” the Quarterback, a chocolate-frosted football shape filled with chocolate and decorated with white icing stiches; the Super Bar, a green-frosted raised bar topped with a white yard line and rainbow sprinkles; and the MVP Unicorn, a white frosted pink velvet decorated as a quarterback. The doughnuts sell for $3 apiece.