Are you ready for some football? And maybe some beer and queso? There might not be a Texas team in the Super Bowl, but football fans will still be celebrating in Austin-area bars and restaurants. Plenty of spots will be packed and serving their regular menus; here are a few that will be running specials for dine-in customers or for carryout on Super Bowl Sunday.
(NB: You can also get in the spirit for the Philly-New England tilt by trying the best cheesesteaks in Austin or the best lobster rolls in town.)
Super Bowl party platter at Fresa’s. (Credit: Julia Keim)
Austin Taco Project. 500 E. Fourth St. 512-682-2739, austintacoproject.com. The Tex-Mex spot at the downtown Hilton will serve $4 draft beers, 75-cent Buffalo wings and offer a free chips and salsa bar with purchase of a beverage.
Backyard at Waller Creek. 701 E. 11th St. 512-478-1111, backyardbaraustin.com. The bar and grill at the Sheraton near the Capitol will feature a special menu that includes boneless wings, pulled pork sliders, nachos and more.
Barley Swine. 6555 Burnet Road #400. 512-394-8150, barleyswine.com. One of Austin’s best restaurants gets in the spirit with a Super Bowl to-go package that includes smoked pork belly, beer can chicken, beef barbacoa, sides and the typical barbecue accoutrements. Price is $25 per person with a minimum order of six people. Guests must call the restaurant and pre-pay for the Super Bowl and pick up between 3 and 5 p.m Sunday.
Central Standard. 1603 S. Congress Ave. 512-942-0823, centralstandardaustin.com. The swanky American bar and grill at the South Congress Hotel will have the game on at the bar and on the patio and be serving large-format cocktails and bar food for 50 percent off.
Cover 3. 2700 W. Anderson Lane. 512-374-1121; 1717 W. Sixth St. 512-982-1550; 2800 N. Interstate 35. 512-693-2393; cover-3.com. The upmarket sports bar is selling to-go spreads that include queso, nachos, chicken wings, pie and more. There is a $300 minimum, and orders, which require 24 hours advance notice, must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Fresa’s. 1703 S. First St. 512-992-2946, fresaschicken.com. The family-friendly Mexican restaurant’s Super Bowl party starts at 3 p.m. There will be a 115-inch LED hi-def video wall showing the game outside and several TVs inside. Beer, wine and margaritas will be sold at happy hour prices, and there will be free endless queso, along with Super Bowl snacks like grilled wings for sale. Reservations are highly encouraged and can be made by emailing events@fresaschicken.com.
Gabriel’s. 1900 University Ave. 512-404-3654, meetattexas.com. The cafe and bar at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center will serve $20 appetizer platters (brisket and carnitas quesadillas, Buffalo wings and sweet potato tots), $14 pitchers of beer and $22 buckets of bottled beer.
Guero’s Taco Bar. 1412 S. Congress Ave. 512-447-7688, gueros.com. The South Congress Tex-Mex joint is selling to-go packages that include two tamales, guacamole and chips and queso for $7.50.
The Park. 11601 Domain Drive. 512-478-7275; 4024 S. Lamar Blvd. 512-731-2077; thepark.us. The two locations of the upmarket sports bar will celebrate the two teams playing in the Super Bowl by serving $4 Samuel Adams Boston Lager and $9 Philly cheesesteaks.
Trace at the W. 200 Lavaca St. 512-542-3660, traceaustin.com. The restaurant and bar at the W not only will serve happy hour all day and show the game on a bunch of TVs but also offer some VIP group viewing experiences, with one part of the screened porch going for $3,000 for 40 people and another one selling for $1,200 for 15 people. In addition to giant screens for viewing, the experience includes multiple bottles of Don Julio Tequila and Crown Royal, Bud Light and an assortment of wings, sliders, chips, dips and more. Inquire with the hotel for specific details.
Whisler’s. 1816 E. Sixth St. 512-480-0781, whislersatx.com. The East Austin bar is firing up the grill for handcrafted sausages from B-Side sausages and offering a complimentary spread of chips and dips and football-related snacks. Hogan Sullivan & the West Texas Teardrops will perform after the game. Doors at 2 p.m.; party starts at 4 p.m.