Just because you're headed out to watch football doesn't mean you need to sacrifice eating a decent meal and having some tasty drinks. Whether you're a beer fan or a barbecue junkie, there are spots in town that will cater to your cravings in the Valley, all while you watch your favorite team compete this season.
See also: 5 Bars in Metro Phoenix to Eat at Sober
Bootleggers
We'll admit Bootleggers isn't a sports bar, per se. But for the last year the north Phoenix location of this restaurant has been our secret go-to spot for sports watching with a side of delicious eats. There aren't dozens of screens at the cozy dining spot, but if you call ahead and ask they are happy to try to accommodate your game requests. That means you can cheer on your team over a glass of apple pie moonshine and PBLT (that's pork belly, lettuce and tomato), a nice alternative to beer and wings.
Handlebar
If you're looking for a sports bar vibe but don't want to deal with hoards of obnoxious sports fanatics, then Mill Avenue's Handlebar is a solid option. To be clear, that doesn't mean this bar doesn't take football seriously. Last year the Tempe spot announced it was going to be a Broncos and Seahawks bar (uh, bandwagon much?) and will be serving a breakfast menu starting at 9 a.m. on Sundays. In addition to the always-impressive selection of beers on tap, Handlebar also offers a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar.
20 Highland Tavern
When you're thinking about going out to watch the game, you probably aren't thinking about going to Whole Foods. However, if you're a craft beer lover, you might want to change your tune. Brews from Mikkeller, Dragoon, Mother Road, Dogfish Head, and more make the ever changing tap list, so you'll likely love exploring the menu. However, if you can't take the shame of Ubering to a grocery store, you can opt for a four beer flight to test out some different styles all at once without over-imbibing. Plus, if you have vegetarian or vegan friends, you can all find something to eat on the full menu, which features pizza, sushi, and sandwiches.
RnR
San Francisco 49ers fans will find their football haven at RnR in Scottsdale. But even if you're not a part of the team's fanbase, there's still plenty to love about the popular Sunday morning spot. First, there are the bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas, which pair well with pretty much everything on the restaurant's brunch menu. You can choose from brunch classics like French toast or biscuits and gravy, to more interesting offerings such as the Hangover Fries — they're topped with cheese, jalapenos, tomatoes, bacon, and two eggs. In fact, our only complaint about settling in for the big game at this place is the wait. It can be pretty much impossible to snag a table at RnR during big sporting events.
Catch 22
North Phoenix clearly lacks destinations to enjoy great food and NFL football simultaneously but Catch 22 delivers the goods in both departments. The family friendly restaurant offers fans of the pigskin the NFL Sunday Ticket with every game on over 30 tv's and two huge projection screens. The breakfast options are very reasonable priced and above average for bar food. They also have their TVs set up with Hear TV, which allows guests to access real time game audio through a smartphone which is great as the place is usually packed.Whether you want to bring your kids or get rowdy with your buddies, Catch 22 may be your best option on the north side.
O.H.S.O.
Most of the time we love O.H.S.O. because we can drink outside on the dog-friendly patio. But during football season, we take the action inside. That's where you'll have the best views of the game and with a cold craft beer in hand, you've pretty much got it made. To make the deal even sweeter, O.H.S.O. also offers a Beer Brunch deal form 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday that give diners and drinks a brunch entree and a locally-brewed beer for just $10. Then when afternoon rolls around head out back to the patio for the Back Yard BBQ from 3 to 7 p.m.
The Lodge
There isn't a better place to watch your favorite NFL team and munch on great food than The Lodge in Tempe. The log cabin interior and laid back environment make it the most unique NFL fan friendly dining destination in the area. The bar offers the NFL Sunday Ticket and shows most of the games. The burger on a pretzel bun is a must and the tater tots are on point. The drinks are cheaper than most of the surrounding bars and the staff is friendly and the place can get loud in the fourth quarter of a game so it may be best to leave the kids at home.