Super Bowl watch parties hardly need a theme, what with all the delicious game-day food options, but if we were going to pick one, it would be New Orleans. The host city may not have a team in the big game, but it’s a winner in terms of indulgent eats. Here’s where to find all the po’ boys, Abita beers, jambalaya, crawfish, etc. you could want—both for dining out and for taking home to the comfort of your couch (all places are showing the game unless noted). Note that a few go-to spots for Louisiana eats are closed this Sunday, including Acadiana, the New Orleans Po Boy Shop, and RT’s.
You want: Spicy!
The place: Bayou Bakery
The deal: Chef-owner and Louisiana native David Guas throws down the gauntlet, challenging any diner to a plate of his mouth-searing crawfish tamales. Anyone who eats them all gets the cost of the dish waived, plus a free pitcher and a $25 gift certificate. You can also order milder eats for the game, such as muffalettas, gumbo, and jambalaya.
Dine in/out: Both. Takeout-friendly items include pimiento cheese, gumbo, collards, and deviled eggs, as well as whole king cakes. Call ahead to place an order.
You want: A Cajun buffet.
The place: The Cajun Experience
The deal: The $25 spread includes free rein with a spread of crawfish étouffée, jumbos, jambalaya, fried catfish, fried shrimp, hushpuppies, and more, plus $4 Abita bottles.
Dine in/out: Both. The regular menu is available for carryout.
You want: The game screened on a heated patio.
The place: Bayou
The deal: There’s a television on the restaurant’s covered front patio and nine more inside for viewing, as well as specials like $18 Abita buckets, $5 Hurricanes, and discounts on snacks such as fried pickles and wings. Another perk: You can make reservations (though not for outside).
Dine in/out: Both. Larger parties can pick from the catering menu (advance notice required), or you can place individual orders for regular menu items.
You want: Dollar beers. And crawfish.
The place: Hot N Juicy Crawfish
The deal: Good news: It’s only a buck for beer. Bad news: The deal is limited to three. Good news again: seven televisions for watching, and plenty of crawfish for eating.
Dine in/out: Both. Call 202-299-9448 for orders.
You want: Gator chili dogs.
The place: TruOrleans
The deal: The bayou’s fiercest inhabitant shows up in spicy chili-topped hot dogs, which are on special for $7. There’re also $12 pitchers and cocktails like Hurricanes, juleps, and Sazeracs.
Dine in/out: In.
You want: Discount wings to go.
The place: Bardia’s New Orleans Cafe
The deal: This Adams Morgan cafe doesn’t have a television, so you’ll have to place a carryout order to watch the game. Wings are 10 percent off.
Dine in/out: Both, but again, the game won’t be shown here.
You want: Gumbo for ten, without cooking.
The place: Louisiana Kitchen & Bayou Bar
The deal: The Bethesda-by-way-of-New Orleans spot is doing swift catering business with ten-person servings of jambalaya and gumbo ($75 to $90). It’s also showing the game with the regular menu and drinks.
Dine in/out: Both. Carryout portioned for large groups and individuals is available, with curbside pickup.
You want: All-day happy hour and fried chicken.
The place: Black Jack
The deal: You can always find all-day happy hour at this Gulf Coast-inspired bar/restaurant, but it’s adding extra specials for the Super Bowl. Look for $10 beer buckets, and six-piece sets of fried chicken with three sides for $25 in addition to half-price beers and two-for-one oysters.
Dine in/out: In.
You want: A cornucopia of seafood.
The place: Chasin’ Tails
The deal: Crawfish, crabs, lobster, shrimp, mussels, and clams are just some of the items on offer—get simply boiled or jazzed up with sauce. Call for game-time deals.
Dine in/out: In.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
