Foods You Need to Eat This Super Bowl Sunday

The biggest TV day of the year also happens to be one of the biggest eating and drinking days of the year. Because can not binge on football and gimmicky commercials without bingeing on hot wings, barbecue, and other game day staples. This year, Chicago restaurants and bars are kicking off Super Bowl specials to celebrate the big day (February 7). Here's your guide for where to fuel up, what to order, and what to eat:

 

The Smoke Daddy
The Smoke Daddy



The Smoke Daddy: When it comes to quintessential Super Bowl chow, you can't watch football without at least a little barbecue. Or a lot of it, preferably. The Smoke Daddy has been a Chicago fixture for more than two decades, and this year the Wicker Park restaurant is once again featuring a catering menu like no other, ideal for all your Super Bowl shindigs. The menu contains all the requisites, from baby back ribs and pulled pork to cornbread stuffing, mac & cheese, cole slaw, and even Bloody Mary's and mimosas. The full catering menu is available on The Smoke Daddy's website, and pre-orders can be made by calling the restaurant or emailing catering@4srg.com.   

County Barbeque: Another reliable barbecue favorite, County Barbeque is featuring the ultimate Super spread this year. Available for dine-in, takeout, and delivery, the restaurant's glorious feast for the occasion will include a spread of 25 wings for $20, ranging in flavors from buffalo to Thai, along with whole roasted pork butts with half pans of two sides (corn pudding, mac & cheese, garlic fries) for $185. The latter meal comes with BBQ sauces, slider buns, napkins, and all the essentials, and it's designed to feed eight to 12 people. Orders must be placed 48 hours in advance and can be made by calling the restaurant or visiting their website. 

Pleasant House Bakery: Leave it to this crafty, British-accented eatery to up the ante on game day classics. For Super Bowl Sunday, Pleasant House Bakery is making Buffalo Hot Wing Royal Pies, which consists of hot wing stew in a flaky pie crust with blue cheese dressing. They're available for dine-in or pick-up for orders placed by February 5. Email pleasanthousebakery@gmail.com to make it happen. 

Buck's: Another apt destination for your wing fix is Wicker Park newcomer Buck's, which is cooking up buckets of wings in varying flavors for Super Bowl Sunday. To accompany the two-dozen wings, the game day special for $28 also includes four housemade biscuits. Guests can wash them down with buckets of Coors or Budweiser. The restaurant is also offering takeout fare via their "On the Run" menu. For $42, customers can order the "Meal Deal," an eight-piece whole bird with one pint of mac & cheese, collard greens, broccoli slaw, and four biscuits. 

Oyster Bah: This Lincoln Park seafood spot may be brand new, but it's wasting no time getting in on the game day action. The restaurant is opening its doors for lunch starting at noon, affording ample opportunity to fuel up on lobster rolls, crispy clams, red snapper, oysters, and much more. In the future, Oyster Bah will continue lunch service every Saturday and Sunday at noon. 

The Duck Inn: When it comes to Super Bowl poultry, go beyond chicken with duck wings and duck fat hot dogs. The Duck Inn is just the spot, what with their "Super Fowl Party Packs" this year. The Bridgeport restaurant is offering combo packs to-go with these novel takes on football fare. Package pricing ranges from $60 to $150, and orders can be placed by calling the restaurant. 

The Whistler and Henry's: Creative cocktail bars dressing up as sports bars is a thing this year, and you've got two options to satisfy this very niche itch. The first is The Whistler, one of Logan Square's original craft cocktail bars, which is putting its own upbeat twist on the sports bar motif with a projector screen and neo versions of old-school "disco drinks." Expect a riff on the Cosmopolitan, as well as the Logan Island Iced Tea. The event also entails a live halftime show and post-game entertainment courtesy of the band Whitney. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Another option is Henry's in River North, which is transforming into a sports bar for the Super Bowl with buckets of Schlitz and Shiner Bock, plus specialty games and prizes throughout the game. Table reservations can be made by calling the bar.  

J. Parker: Head up to the roof of the Hotel Lincoln to drink in the big game with gorgeous views as a backdrop at J. Parker. The bar will be featuring an expanded menu of football-friendly bites for the occasion, including chili, patty melts, pork sandwiches, chili cheese fries, and sliders, plus beer specials. 

Mon Ami Gabi: When you think of the Super Bowl, you probably don't think of pajamas and brunch, but Mon Ami Gabi is about to start a new tradition. The Lincoln Park mainstay kicks off Super Bowl Sunday with a special "Big Game PJ Brunch Party" from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., wherein guests are encouraged to dine in their pajamas and feast on blueberry French toast, waffle bananas Foster, quiche, and more. Guests who arrive in their PJs or their team's jersey will receive Mon Ami Gabi gift certificates equal to the price of their meal for a future visit. 

Acre: For a comfortable dine-in experience, Acre in Andersonville is your answer. All televisions will be attuned to the game, with several food and drink specials kicking off at 5:00 p.m. for the evening. These include $1 oysters, $2 sliders, $10 wood-fired pizzas, and $4 select drafts. 

- Matt Kirouac

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