As much as we wish it were the Ravens stepping onto the field this year, the Super Bowl is an excuse to party no matter which teams are playing. Whether you’re inexplicably pulling for the Patriots, or cheering on former Raven-turned-Eagle Torrey Smith, there are plenty of local bars and restaurants throwing watch parties to celebrate the big game. So throw on a jersey, crack open a beer, watch Justin Timberlake take the stage during halftime (here’s hoping for an ’NSYNC reunion), and enjoy the biggest competition of the year at any one of these area eateries.

B&O American Brasserie: To celebrate the matchup, this downtown dining destination inside the Hotel Monaco is getting creative with its cocktail menu. Bartender Anna Welker will be serving three specialty drinks, “two that are very different, plus one that just wants everyone to get along,” she says. For $10, sip the “Dawkins Knock Out” (Laird’s applejack, Kinsey rye, and Lillet Blanc with an orange twist), the “Beli-check Yourself” (a play on a Cape Cod cocktail with vodka, cranberry-juniper shrub, and grapefruit liqueur), or the “Peacemaker”—a boilermaker with Sam Adams beer from Boston and Kinsey bourbon from Philadelphia. 2 N. Charles St., 443-692-6172

The Baltimore Eagle: This Station North standby is famous for its ragers, and the Super Bowl will be no exception with the game projected on the big screen and $3 Absolut and Miller Lite refills. 2022 N. Charles St., 410-200-9858

Bo Brooks: No Super Bowl party is complete without tailgate fare, and this Canton crab house will have plenty of it. For $50, take advantage of all-you-can-drink beer paired with a bottomless buffet featuring crab and taco dips, steamed mussels and shrimp, Swedish meatballs, and baked ziti. 2780 Lighthouse Point, Ste. A, 410-588-0202

The Brass Tap at the Fitzgerald: This Midtown beer bar—which celebrated its one-year anniversary earlier this week—is backing the Eagles with draft specials from Philadelphia-based Victory Brewing. Be sure to line your stomach with pub grub including loaded tots, hushpuppies, rib nachos, and Buffalo chicken dip. 1205 W. Mount Royal Ave., 888-901-2337

Dogwatch Tavern: Patriots fans frequently flock to this Fells Point watering hole to get their fix of bites and beer on game days. This Sunday, head to the laid-back bar to down $2 Jello shots, $5 22-oz. Miller Lite drafts, $7 orders of wings, and $15 Miller and Coors Light buckets. 709 S. Broadway, 410-276-6030

Five & Dime Ale House: Settle in at this Hampden hangout to enjoy food specials (Sriracha nachos, anyone?) paired with $3 domestic beers, $4 Oliver Brewing Company ales, and $5 house wine and rail drinks during the game. 901 W. 36th St., 443-835-2179

Jimmy’s Seafood: Now in its 27th year, this annual Super Bowl bash offers all-inclusive eats and drinks. Enter into raffles, pack into a photo booth with friends, and have a caricature drawn while indulging in a full bull and oyster roast featuring pit beef and tons of sides. 6526 Holabird Ave., Dundalk, $65, 410-633-4040

JD’s Smokehouse: It’s tough to resist the beer and barbecue at this Canton favorite, which has become known for its mouthwatering meats. (You can’t go wrong with the pulled pork macaroni and cheese served in a Mason jar.) Head to the bar during the game to enjoy a free appetizer buffet, $10 domestic buckets, $20 Union Craft buckets, $5 Crushes, $2 Natty Bohs, and $1 wings. 623 S. Luzerne St., 410-522-2266

Magerks Pub: You probably shouldn’t bother showing up to this Federal Hill favorite—which also boasts a second location in Bel Air—if you’re not wearing midnight green. The pub is expected to be packed with Eagles fans chowing down on cheesesteaks, downing $15 Miller Lite buckets, throwing back Eagles Bombs (green shooters mixed with Red Bull), and chanting “Fly Eagles Fly” while watching the game on 14 plasma screens. 1061 S. Charles St., 410-576-9230

Mt. Washington Tavern: With big screens around every corner, this inviting Mt. Washington haunt is an ideal spot for game watching. The tavern is going all out for the big game, offering an open bar package and bottomless halftime buffet highlighting chili, veggie burger sliders, house-made kettle chips, Buffalo wings, Mexican dip, hot dogs, and more. 5700 Newbury St., $40, 410-367-6903

The Point: Stroll along the Fells Point cobblestone and head toward The Point to throw back $6 Smirnoff bombs, $6 Super Bowl bombs, and $15 domestic buckets. At the bar’s sister-spot in Towson, enjoy endless tailgate fare including crab dip with soft pretzels, wings, meatball sliders, bacon macaroni and cheese, and seasoned fries. Wash down all of the eats with bottomless rail drinks, as well as Miller, Coors, Natty Boh, and Angry Orchard drafts. 1738 Thames St., 410-327-7264 & 523 York Road, Towson, $54, 443-991-4293

R. House: Gather around the massive screens at Remington’s communal food hall to watch the top teams duke it out while sipping $2 Natty Boh tallboys from R. Bar throughout the game. Plus, food stalls are getting in on the fun with specials of their own. Take advantage of discounted pizzas from Molina Pizze & Polpette, fried chicken sandwich specials at BRD, and a $10 deal on dips and eggplant fries from Arba. 301 W. 29th St., 443-347-3570

Twist: Get the party started early with the BYOB brunch at this Fells Point favorite. Brunch service will start at 10 a.m., and will continue throughout the game with a la carte items including waffle bites, hash brown bowls, Parisian almond croissant French toast, and classic huevos rancheros. 723 S. Broadway, 410-522-4000

The story goes that one of the Dolaway boys was on a business trip in Baltimore for his father’s scrap metal company when he took interest in a beat-up corner building for sale in Federal Hill. He called his brother and asked him how he felt about moving from Philadelphia to open a bar together, and by October 2000, they established MaGerk’s Pub and Grill.
 

Eventually, the bar gained a reputation for being Philly-themed, both for its food and football, and expanded to three additional locations including one in Harford County and two in the Philadelphia suburbs.  

“We welcome new fans every year,” said Sarah Clark, manager of MaGerk’s in Federal Hill for 16 years. “There are people who have moved to Baltimore and hear that MaGerk’s is the place to watch the Eagles game, so they show up alone and leave feeling like they’ve gained 100 new friends.”
 

The bar will certainly be packed this Super Bowl Sunday as the Eagles battle it out in the championship game for the first time since 2004, and vie for the ultimate title for the first time in nearly 60 years.
 

“We’re [really excited] to spend the day with the fans that have been coming in through the good times and the bad,” Clark said. “We want it to be a great day shared by the people who love the game and the team.”
 

MaGerk’s will be featuring $15 buckets of Miller Lite and Eagles Bombs—green shooters mixed with Red Bull—to celebrate. The bar will also be serving pub grub including its famous Philly cheesesteaks—made with rolls delivered straight from Philadelphia—and its cheesesteak egg rolls. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.  

The staff is keeping the restaurant reservation-free because they want to leave the space open for regulars and provide a memorable experience for devoted fans.  

Regardless of the game’s results on Sunday, MaGerk’s will always be a proud supporter of the Philadelphia Eagles and promises to chant the team’s fighting song even in the middle of July.  

The owners credit their success to the local community and deem their pub crowd as being one big and welcoming family. MaGerk’s prides itself in giving Baltimore’s growing number of Philadelphia transplants a sense of home.  

Clark recalls a number of regulars who come in on Sundays, including a Philly migrant who hesitantly showed up alone at the bar last year in an Eagles jersey and even a couple who got married at the restaurant last fall.  

“Seeing the way the Eagles have played this year and the momentum that’s grown at this point has just been phenomenal,” Clark said. “Their fans deserve this.” 

For football fans spending their Super Bowl Sunday at home, Clark has shared the restaurant’s original cheesesteak recipe, which has been a long-time staple on the menu. Although she highly recommends using a sub roll from Philadelphia, any open-faced one will do the trick.  

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Recipe

The inside:

• Chopped 8 oz. rib eye
• Sliced onions (MaGerk’s uses Vidalia onions)
• Two slices of white American cheese
   

The outside:

• An open-faced sub roll
• Two slices of white American cheese

Start by sautéing the shaved rib eye and sliced onions until the meat is cooked and the flavors are combined nicely, then add two slices of white American cheese to the mixture until they are melted. While that is cooking, melt two more slices of American cheese on the open sub in a toaster oven, and once the meat is ready, place it inside of the roll and enjoy.