UPDATED FOR 2011

Sometimes it seems like the Super Bowl is more about getting together with friends to watch the big game than the game itself. Every once in a while the NFL’s premier event lives up to it’s billing. Most times it falls short.

So, what to do when the game lets you down. How about eat, drink and socialize with friends. If you’re not going to a private get together, then, a trip to one of our Sarasota restaurants to watch the game is a more than suitable substitute.

Of course there are lots of choices. Super Bowl specials and happenings abound in Sarasota. Here’s a list of some of your possible viewing spots. Sorry in advance if we didn’t list your favorite.

Cosimo’s Too!
8201 S. Tamiami Tr.
Westfield Sarasota Sq.
Sarasota, FL 34238
941-927-3800

Lee Roy Selmon’s
8253 Cooper Creek Boulevard
Sarasota, Florida 34201
941-360-3287

Siesta Key Oyster Bar
5238 Ocean Boulevard
Sarasota, FL 34242
941-346-5443

Mattison’s Forty One
7275 South Tamaimi Trail
Sarasota, Florida 34231
941-921-3400

Mattison’s City Grille
1 North Lemon Avenue
Sarasota, Florida 34236
941-330-0440

Captain Curt’s Crab & Oyster Bar
1200 Old Stickney Point Rd.
Sarasota, FL 34242
941-349-3885

Gecko’s Grill & Pub
The Landings
4870 S. Tamiami Tr.
Sarasota, FL 34321
941-923-8896

Gecko’s Grill & Pub
Braden River Plaza
4310 SR 64E
Bradenton, FL 34208
941-744-2664

Gecko’s Grill & Pub
Twelve Oaks Plaza
SR 70 and I-75
7228 55th Avenue E.
Bradenton, FL 34203
941-727-8988

Gecko’s Grill & Pub
Palmer Crossing
5585 Palmer Crossing Dr.
Sarasota, FL 34233
941-923-6061

Legacy Grille Sarasota
6606 S. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34231
941-924-1918

If you know of a great place to watch Sunday’s game that we didn’t list, leave a comment and let others know.

The NFL season is upon us once again. And, I think we all know what that means. For the next five months, anyone who is a football fan and isn’t lucky enough to get their home teams games on local TV every week (like our Bucs fans do), will be looking for a place to hang out and catch the action. Thankfully, here in Sarasota, we have lots of options to satisfy your football fever.

Each of these spots below has the NFL Sunday Ticket, so you can pretty much be assured that the team you want to root for will be on somewhere in the building. Most of these places have a full menu of delicious casual fare and some offer special football Sunday items. Of course, all of them serve ice cold beer.

For more information on each restaurant click on their logo.

Do you know of a great place to catch the game, food and drinks that we may have missed? Leave us a comment and let everyone know where you’ll be watching next weeks game.

Our regular Menu Monday feature comes to you a day late this week. With all of the BBQs, get togethers and relaxing over the Labor Day holiday weekend, you probably didn’t notice anyway. I know I didn’t.

All that being said, here’s our Menu Monday restaurant. Gecko’s Grill & Pub. No matter which of the four Gecko’s locations you choose, you are sure to have a great meal along with fantastic Gecko’s service. It’s also the perfect place to take in an NFL or NCAA football game. Each location has lots of big TV’s for watching your favorite team.

Here’s  a look at Gecko’s casual dining menu.

Click on the image for a full printable version.

Gecko’s Grill & Pub

The Landings
4870 S. Tamiami Tr.
Sarasota, FL 34321
941-923-8896

Braden River Plaza
4310 SR 64E
Bradenton, FL 34208
941-744-2664

Twelve Oaks Plaza
SR 70 and I-75
7228 55th Avenue E.
Bradenton, FL 34203
941-727-8988

Palmer Crossing
5585 Palmer Crossing Dr.
Sarasota, FL 34233
941-923-6061

The wait is over! The renovations at the Gecko’s Grill & Pub located in Twelve Oaks Plaza are finished. You’ll now be greeted by beautiful new surroundings when you walk in the door. Of course, you can expect the same great Gecko’s food and service. That hasn’t changed one bit. Diners will however experience the newly remodeled 4200 square foot dining room and bar area. The kitchen has undergone renovations too, which makes it easier to turn out that fantastic Gecko’s food.

If you’re there for football, you can catch all the Saturday NCAA or Sunday NFL action on one of their 12 flat screen TV’s. They also have outdoor seating, for those who would like to sit and enjoy some of our great Sarasota weather. The restaurant is on State Road 70 and I-75 in Twelve Oaks Plaza and is open for late night dining until 1am Thursday thru Saturday.

And that’s the end of the first quarter! Well, as least as far as the 2008 NFL football season goes. It’s hard to believe that one quarter of the season is already in the books. The good news is that you still have twelve more weeks to try some of Sarasota’s best NFL game day spots.

This week we’re taking a look at The Old Salty Dog, in particular, the Siesta Key location. The restaurant is situated right at the north end of Ocean Boulevard in Siesta Village and has been marking the entrance to “The Village” for quite a while. They had a pretty extensive remodeling several years back and the place really has that great island feel to it now.

On Sundays, The Old Salty Dog features a $10 beer bucket special. That’s five ice cold bottles of beer for just $10. Your server or bartender can tell you which brands you can get. As far as food, they have a really have a unique setup. Each Sunday Perry’s BBQ sets up their giant smoker in the parking lot. You can smell the ribs, pulled pork and chicken cooking blocks away. Perry cooks some amazing food. You can buy Perry’s BBQ and eat it right at the restaurant while watching the games and have a cold beverage of your choosing. You can also carry out and take that great BBQ home or to the beach for a picnic. They also serve their regular full menu if you’re looking for something other than BBQ or want one of their famous “Salty Dogs”.

The Old Salty Dog is a meeting place for Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills fans, but they have all the games on. They do have TV’s inside and out so you don’t have to miss one minute of the great fall weather.

Next up: Captain Curt’s

We promised we would get around to giving you some valuable information on where to watch your favorite NFL team play this year. Places where you can get some food and drinks and not miss any of the action on the field. And, our first installment is, the Siesta Key Oyster Bar or SKOB as it is better known to the locals.

SKOB ranks right up there as one of the best NFL viewing spots in town. Located in Siesta Village it has enough TV’s for all the games to be shown at the same time. It’s considered a “Bears” bar; the owners are originally from Chicago. So there is usually a pretty decent sized Illinois contingent there. There is seating both inside and outside. So, that means if you would like to enjoy our great fall and winter weather while rooting for your team you’re in luck. They offer dozens of different types of beer on tap or in bottle, as well as all kinds of mixed drinks including their signature “Village Idiot” and a great margarita.

Add to all of this a menu that features award winning wings and lots of different types of sandwiches (oh yeah, did we mention freshly shucked oysters) and you have a combination that’s hard to beat. So, roll off the beach, or out of bed on Sunday and let SKOB be a part of your game day activities.

If you have a place that you would like us to feature, leave a comment or drop us an email.

Next up for our series: The Old Salty Dog

Well, the football season is upon us once again and you know what that means. Yes, it means that some of us who can’t get enough gridiron action are looking for places to watch the game each week. Sitting in your living room or den and watching on your giant, brand new, state of the art, plasma/LCD/High definition piece of furniture may have its advantages, but it can’t take the place of cheering on your favorite team with other fans.

So, where does that leave us? Oh, football viewing, there are lots of great places around Sarasota to check out the games on Sunday afternoon. On Siesta Key there is the Siesta Key Oyster Bar, Captain Curt’s and The Old Salty Dog. Downtown you can always stop in at The Sports Page. And, any of the Gecko’s Grill locations never disappoint. We’ll talk more about these viewing spots a little later this fall. But how about if you want to get out and watch the Monday night game?

Maduro’s Cigar Bar at 7386 South Tamiami Trail in the Coral Cove Plaza is now making a weekly event out of Monday Night Football. If food, beer and cigars are your thing, this is a great choice on Monday nights. Choose from a nice selection of domestic and imported beer or have a glass of wine. Your first draft beer of the night is free and complimentary food is available for the evening. You can watch all the action on either of the two big screen TV’s. They even have big overstuffed leather chairs to sit back and relax in, almost like being home, but better.