A bunch from munch: Our peripatetic diner serves up best places to watch Super Bowl
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Marc "Bubba" Snider, owner of Ugly bar on the North Side, celebrates a playoff win in January 2005. -
Steelers' fans at Hi-Tops Sports Bar on the North Shore cheer on the Black 'n Gold in 2006.
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Sorry, folks. There will be no review this week. Munch has come down with a fever.
Steelers Fever, that is.
Black and Gold Bronchitis.
Roethlisberger Rubella.
Tomlin Typhoid.
Hines Ward Hemorrhoids.
Polamalu Pancreatitis
We could do this all day. (Sixburgh Shin Splints?)
So Munch is going to go ahead and do all of Steeler Nation a real solid -- listing The Bagged One's picks for the best spots to watch this year's Super Bowl. Our criteria -- beer availability, television accessibility and sightlines, atmosphere and quality of the foodstuffs.
Oh, and whether it's open or not. Fathead's in the South Side, for example, is closing up shop so its employees can watch the big game. You can knock all you want, but they won't let you in.
Hough's, 563 Greenfield Ave., Greenfield, 412-586-5944. This shiny new spot has big projection screens for Steelers and Pens games (in addition to their five 42-inch wall TVs), an inventive beer list and a nice mix of locals and youngsters.
Silky's Sports Bar and Grill, 1731 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill, 412-421-9222. One of the old guard among Pittsburgh sports bars. The upper-deck balcony makes Silky's feel bigger than it really is. Try the PittsBurger; enjoy a game of air hockey during those interminable commercial breaks.
Acapulco Joe's Sports Cantina, 1804 Brownsville Road, Carrick, 412-886-9998. The perfect spot for folks who want to pray for a Steelers win -- just take in a Mass at St. Basil across the street, then walk about 10 yards to AJ's. Two big rooms, plenty of TVs, and no worries. Like Mexico, without the Mexican food.
Morton's Steakhouse, 625 Liberty Ave., Downtown, 412-261-7141. Looking to impress your sweetie by tossing around some serious cash on Super Sunday? This is the place to do it -- the renowned steakhouse is opening up its private "Velocity High-Definition Suite" -- it's a 9-foot drop-down screen with cinema surround-sound. Advance reservations, plus $99.99, get you a steak and seafood dinner for two.
Peter's Pub, 116 Oakland Ave., Oakland, 412-681-7465. It's crawling with college kids and post-grads most of the time, but hey, co-eds are OK by Munch. Big semi-circle booths, above-average wings, and did we mention the co-eds? Sunday: $25 in advance, or $35 at the door, gets you a dinner buffet.
Redbeard's, 201 Shiloh St., Mount Washington, 412-431-3730. Ten years ago it was a dive. Now it's the best sports bar on the Mount -- lots of flat-screens, great wings and Reuben sandwiches, and a waitstaff that isn't totally surly, which is always a plus. Sunday: No cover, first come, first served, so get there early.
Anywhere in the South Side, East Carson Street. Pick a bar, any bar. Enjoy the game. If the Steelers are victorious -- or should I say, when the Steelers are victorious -- watch as the parties, and all of Steeler fandom, spill out into the streets for the next few hours. Munch recommends Mario's, Smokin' Joe's, Cupka's II, the Double Wide Grill, Shootz and the Bar at 2132.
Try not to get nabbed by the fuzz, OK?
Honorable mention: Sports Rock (Strip District, 412-552-1199), Bootleggers (Oakland, 412-682-3060), Buckhead's Saloon (Station Square, 412-232-3101), Jerome Bettis' Grille 36 (North Shore, 412-224-6287).
Fox & Hound, 2002Shoppes at Northway, McKnight Road, Ross, 412-364-1885. Hidden away behind the Shoppes at Northway, this English chain has good pub grub, a big beer list, and plenty of room -- two dining areas, plus the "pub club" in the front, where regular patrons will find their own ceramic mugs hanging from the bar. And if you don't have anything to do after work on Friday, the Fox & Hound is giving away two Super Bowl tickets, plus airfare and pre-game party passes, to one lucky customer. The drawing's at 11 p.m. Friday.
North Park Clubhouse, 5301 Ranalli Drive at Route 8, Richland, 724-449-9090. Panicked because you waited until the last minute to book a table? Don't worry about this place -- it holds 650. A $25 advance ticket gets you an appetizer buffet (fries, wings, ravioli, meatballs) and a chance to win door prizes.
The North Park Clubhouse isn't to be confused with ...
The North Park Lounge Deckhouse, 20810 Route 19, Cranberry, 724-772-2233. In the summers, it's a beachy lounge with live bands and DJs. On Sunday, it's a $25 all-you-can eat buffet. Call ahead for reservations.
Honorable mention: Shenanigan's (McCandless, 412-821-4355), Bob's Garage (Blawnox, 412-963-9552).
Rick's Sports Bar and Pub, 5400 William Penn Highway, Export, 724-327-4148. Lots of room, lots of beer, and lots of TVs, including tiny flat-screens in many of the booths. They'll take reserved seating until 3 p.m. the day of the game -- after that, it's first come, first served, and there's no cover. It's probably the biggest sports bar in Westmoreland County this side of ...
Dino's Sports Lounge, 3883 Route 30, Latrobe, 724-539-2566. Munch is conflicted. On one hand, Munch is naming some pretty obvious places. Another sports bar? Duh. On the other hand, they are obvious for a reason -- because they're great places to watch a game. And any place that serves "Wings of Joy" is a Friend of Munch (FOM). Game day: No cover, Miller specials, and one customer is going to win a color TV.
Duke's Upper Deck Cafe, 122 West Eighth Ave., Homestead, 412-461-8124. Big sandwiches with a football theme -- try the massive Cowher Club, with piles of roast beef and turkey, or one of the burgers. Ten TVs of various sizes are spread around the bar. Sunday: no cover, first come, first served, beer specials.
Honorable mention: Rock Bottom (Homestead 412-461-3776), Sharky's (Latrobe, 724-532-1620), Penn-Monroe Restaurant and Tavern (Monroeville, 412-373-1701).
Rook's East Side Saloon, 282 Fourth St., Ambridge, 724-266-1556. Looking for a spot that won't break the bank? Other bars use the Super Bowl as an excuse to, uh, rook its customers with exorbitant cover charges, but not Rook's, owned by former Buccos pitcher Jim Rooker. No cover charge, 30-cent wings all day long, $1 Miller Lites, plus a Super Bowl buffet (Sloppy Joes + Super Bowl = perfection).
Honorable mention: Buffalo Wild Wings (North Fayette, 412-788-9464), Bullheads Bar & Grill (Moon, 412-262-2778).
Cain's Saloon, 3239 West Liberty Ave., Dormont, 412-561-7444. Joe Demarco used to own the above-mentioned Redbeard's. Now he runs Cain's, and he's added 10 flat-screen TVs, which go nicely with the beer selection (20 brews on tap, 50 or so in bottles). For the game -- first come, first served, $2.50 Coors Lights.
The Hop House, 2749 Noblestown Road, Green Tree, 412-922-9560. It's not a sports bar per se, but with all these flat-screen TVs, and with all these draft beers and specialty bottles, and with these snazzy wood-fired pizzas, it will do in a pinch. Sunday: no cover, but you might want to make some reservations.
Honorable mention: The Saloon of Mt. Lebanon (Mt. Lebanon, 412-531-5666), Pittsburgh Bottleshop Brewpub & Cafe (Bridgeville, 412-279-8170), Damon's Grill (Bridgeville, 412-278-2115).
First Published January 29, 2009 12:00 am
