Sports

Eight places to get in the NFL spirit—belly first

Image
Head to Crab Corner for Chesapeake authentics. Just don’t wear Steelers gear.
Photo: Beverly Poppe

Detroit Lions: Northside Nathan’s (7531 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 255-8822; 9320 W. Flamingo Road, 212-8032)

Detroit sports fans have a hangout serving up Motor-City-style deep-dish pizza. Not quite as thick and doughy as Chicago deep dish or Sicilian pie, it’s built upon a deliciously crisp, buttery crust with all the melty mozzarella goodness and toppings you can handle. It’s kinda hard to pay attention to a Lions game with this square, sublime pie on your table.

Chicago Bears: Shuck’s Tavern III (7155 N. Durango Drive, 651-6227)

It’s all about Da Bears but also da grub at Shuck’s, which reels off a greatest-hits collection of Chicago eats on Sundays: hot dogs, sausage and pepper sandwiches, Italian beef sandwiches or the sausage-beef combo sandwich, which may keep you satisfied until the fourth quarter.

New Orleans Saints: Lola’s (241 W. Charleston Blvd., 227-5652)

Lola’s is no sports bar—it’s Downtown’s delicious Louisiana kitchen, hiply perched in the Holsum Lofts. And it’s closed on Sunday. So you’ll have to wait until New Orleans’ only Monday night game on November 5 to yell “Geaux Saints!” while taking down a bowl of spicy, hearty chicken and sausage jambalaya, or a dish of classic New Orleans-style BBQ shrimp over rice.

Philadelphia Eagles: Off the Strip (9837 W. Tropicana Ave., 876-3080)

Get your game-day Philly cheesesteak fix at this Eagles-friendly bistro and bar, which also serves up some hefty appetizer specials and Italian grub during the game and daily happy hours.

Cleveland Browns: Kopper Keg West (2257 S. Rainbow Blvd., 254-5495)

Is Cleveland known for its panini sandwiches? This location of Kopper Keg is. Cheer on the Browns while devouring this feast-on-a-bun: your choice of meat and melted cheese on grilled Italian bread topped with fries and a vinegar-based coleslaw. There’s also a Skyline chili dog on the menu. Isn’t that Bengals chow?

Baltimore Ravens: Crab Corner (4161 S. Eastern Ave., 489-4646)

Ravens fans know where to go when Ray Ray & Co. hit the gridiron. At Crab Corner, the owners come from Maryland, the crabs come from the Chesapeake and everyone puts on black and purple when football season hits. Pair your crustaceans with boardwalk fries (with crab spice and vinegar) and a Baltimore-style snowball (shaved ice) and you’ve got one hell of a Sunday, hon.

Green Bay Packers: Big Dog’s Draft House (4543 N. Rancho Drive, 940-2739)

Home of the Packer Backer Fan Club for the last 25 years, this Northwest bar and brewery is the closest you’ll come to Lambeau Field without leaving Las Vegas. Green Bay fans flood the restaurant each week to watch Aaron Rodgers do his thing over plates of white cheddar cheese curds, Klement’s smoked brats and Wisconsin beer cheese.

Buffalo Bills: Naked City Pizza Shop (At Moondoggies, 3240 Arville St., 368-4180)

Opened by chef Chris Palmeri to fill the Western New York-style pizzeria void, Naked City serves home-style bar favorites like pizza and wings if home is Buffalo, New York. Belly up to the Back Home Pie with thick tomato sauce, pepperoni and sausage on a garlic crust or take down wings in six flavors (including pit BBQ and Suicide), and be prepared to cheer for the Bills. Palmeri wouldn’t have it any other way.

Share
Photo of Sarah Feldberg

Sarah Feldberg

Get more Sarah Feldberg
Photo of Brock Radke

Brock Radke

Brock Radke is an award-winning writer and columnist who currently occupies the role of managing editor at Las Vegas Weekly ...

Get more Brock Radke

Previous Discussion:

Top of Story