Sports bars and wing chains typically vie for college basketball fans during the annual NCAA tournament, but this year, concepts ranging from steakhouses to Japanese restaurants are promoting March Madness specials.
The latest to join the party is Pizza Hut, launching two menu items Wednesday in time for the start of the Sweet 16. Both are designed to dip and dunk while watching the action on the court.
To begin, the Plano, Texas-based chain is bringing back its Cheesy Bites Pizza, which features 28 pull-apart, cheese-filled bites in place of a traditional crust. This format is convenient to share and dip into the new Ranch Lover’s Flight, a trio of sauces that includes classic Ultimate Ranch, smoky and bold Chipotle Ranch, and Pepperoni Ranch flavored with pepperoni spices. Customers can order a large one-topping Cheesy Bites Pizza and Ranch Lover’s Flight package for a limited time, available for delivery, carryout or dine-in at participating locations.
Pizza Hut's Cheesy Bites Pizza and dip trio was timed to roll out at the start of the Sweet 16 tournament. | Photo courtesy of Pizza Hut
Along with the menu items, Pizza Hut is introducing a new TV spot and brand campaign starring the fictional “Peter Zahut”—the ultimate delivery guy who “brings the pizza and the party.”
Fans looking for something a bit more upscale and unique can order a Big Game Bundle from full-service chain The Melting Pot, and hold a fondue-at-home viewing party. Each package (about $165) feeds up to 10 and includes two Aged Cheddar & Gouda Cheese Fondues, a selection of proteins such as tenderloin tips, boneless chicken breasts, meatballs and kielbasa, the brand’s signature garlic and wine seasoning, and accompaniments including garlic butter baguettes and caramel apple tartlets.
Buffalo Wild Wings is a magnet for sports fans, and March Madness is no exception. The Atlanta-based casual-dining chain is sweetening the pot with new menu items and cutting edge technology.
On the food side, there are two new sandwiches on the permanent menu and a pair of new sauces. The sandwiches include the Beer Cheese Cheesesteak Sandwich with shaved sirloin steak, beer cheese and American cheese, grilled onions and scallions on a toasted roll, and a Chicken Parm Melt layered with mozzarella sticks, Parmesan garlic sauce, pepper jack and Parmesan cheeses, marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Buffalo Bleu, a Buffalo sauce mixed with blue cheese, garlic and cayenne, and BBQ Ranch, a blend of ranch and barbecue sauce, are the limited-time sauce additions.
On the tech side, BWW is offering mirrored goggles that allow guests to watch several games at once on multiple televisions. Five mirrors, three of which rotate, another which bends and a fifth that extends out, make it possible to take in buzzer beaters from a number of teams simultaneously—a plus for BWW customers, since most locations boast 60 TV screens. B-Dubs Vision Goggles can be ordered for $9.99 from the website.
Porter House in NYC offers its full steakhouse menu in the TV-equipped bar area. | Photo courtesy of Porter House Bar + Grill
A high-end steakhouse in New York City is inviting basketball fans to watch the tournament in style. Porter House Bar + Grill calls itself an “under-the-radar, elevated destination for game-day viewing” with booth seating, expansive bar seating and television views from every seat.
The bar area offers a special game-day promotion: With an order of Porter House’s Aged Prime Beef Cheeseburger, diners get a complimentary beer of their choice. But the restaurant’s full menu is also available, with signatures such as shrimp cocktail, filet mignon and Buttermilk Onion Rings. And for NCAA matchups on Sunday and Monday evenings, the corkage fee is waived for customers who bring their own wine.
Asian restaurant chain Jinya Ramen Bar is getting in on the action, too. On March Madness days through April 7, guests can enjoy any draft beer for $5, paired with a five-piece order of crispy chicken for $5. Locations are equipped with TVs to catch the game-day thrills.
Customers at California Tortilla who make a purchase through April 7 get to shoot a basketball in-store at any of the chain's 30 locations. Those who make the shot earn a chance to win free chips and queso through Saturday, a free order of Taquitos from Mar. 30-Apr. 3 and a free burrito or bowl from Apr. 4-7. Prizes can be redeemed through the end of April.
Arby’s started way back with a bracket-busting deal before the first NCAA tournament tipoff. The Atlanta-based fast-food chain offered to reward fans every time an underdog came out on top during the opening games. The Arby’s Upset Alert was set up for fans to score a free sandwich with a $15 Arby’s purchase the day after an upset occurred.
Fans of losing teams came out winners even if their colleges fell short.
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