Super Duper Places to Watch Super Bowl XLV

The hardcore Steelers and Packers fans probably have already scoped out exactly where they are watching the Super Bowl this year and have their face paint ready. But for most everyone else, it’s about the food, the beer, the games and the commercials.

Forget about the usual sports bars, this is all about who has the all-you-can-eat best drink specials, the biggest screens, free betting pools and the oddest entertainment just in the case the game (and the commercials) are a snooze.

Instead, here’s FuncheapSF’s 2011 guide on the best places in the San Francisco Bay Area to watch the 2011 Super Bowl.

FuncheapSF’s Super Bowl XLV Guide | 2011
>> The Best (and most usual) Places to Watch the Big Game | San Francisco and the Bay Area

Free In-N-Out Burgers & Super Bowl Party
– The Parlor / Fisherman’s Wharf
This bar/lounge in the historic Cannery building on the northern waterfront may be showing the game on four 9 ft projector screens and six huge plasma flat screen TVs, but let’s be real… you’re coming for the complimentary In-N-Out burgers! Arrive early to get your paws on one of the 300 free burgers they’re handing out (with veggies options too) | FREE before 2pm with RSVP

Super Bowl Heavy Metal Chili Cookoff
– Bottom of the Hill / Potrero Hill
Do the Super Bowl “Bottom of the Hill” style at this concert venue where the game will be shows on several screens with DJs and with chili! After the judges taste the 25 entries you’ll be allowed to sample whatever is left. Free admission, but bring a complementary side dish to share. | FREE

Open Bar Super Bowl Party + All You Can Eat Tri-Tip
– The Vin Club / North Beach
Quite a bit more expensive than your average Super Bowl party, but you’ll get seriously hooked up so we think it’s worth the splurge. For $35 you get unlimited food (and not crap either… tri-tip sliders, chicken wings, homemade meat-ah-balls, salad, appetizers and more) plus there’s an unlimited open bar of wine, beer and spirits during the game. To top it off, you get one free entry in their $200 Super Bowl square pool. | $35

Super Bowl XLV: Men In Tights (Mystery Science Theatre 3000-style)
– CellSpace / Mission District
Looking for a less serious more comedic view of this iconic American sporting event? CellSpace in the Mission will play host to IndieFest’s event, Super Bowl XLV: Men In Tights. The game will be shown on a huge 10×15 foot screen with IndieFest’s SportsSweater Commentators making fun of the game, the commercials and probably the crowd ala Mystery Science Theater 3000. Beer/Wine/Soju & Bloody Mary’s for sale. 100+ seats plus sofas and comfy curvy couches. | FREE but donations accepted

$5 Super Bowl Pre-Party with Open Bar
– 330 Ritch | SoMa
330 Ritch will be showing the Super Bowl on 6 giant screens. But the real reason to come to watch the game here is because from 1:00 to 2:00pm 330 Ritch is offering free drinks – that’s right – open bar!. The free drinks stop at 2pm, but throughout the game there will be drink specials and Little Skillet’s Chicken and Waffles available for purchase. Could be the perfect place to just show up for pre-game and then hightale drunk and happy to watch somewhere else. | $5 per person | $20 group ticket (four people plus a reserved table)

Superbash XIII: $10 All You Can Eat BBQ
– Elixir / Mission District
MoDaddy returns with his Caddillac Gril and the “MoBQ”. Bar opens at noon, party at 1pm and there’s a $10 all-you-can-eat BBQ during the game. The menu is still being determined, but if it’s anything like their NFL season BBQ, expect burgers, dogs and salad. $1 off heinekins and $5 super bowl shot specials | FREE admission | $10 for BBQ

Nude Super Bowl Tailgate & House Party
– Sequoians Club / Castro Valley
Oh boy… how to write about this one…  Break out your suntan lotion for that all-over-glow at this clothing optional tailgate party (with nude cheerleading competition). Once the game starts, you’ll move indoors to watch the game (still nude) with byob drinks, potluck hors d’oeuvres, betting squares, massages (yes, nude massages during the game) and Bev, the delightfully progressive host , will have the hot tub fired up and ready for all sorts of “skins vs. skins” action. | FREE

221″ Screen Super Bowl Party
– The Independent | NoPa
This concert venue takes to the day off from live music to pull out its 221 inch screen (that’s 12 feet by 14 feet) to show the Super Bowl.  The bar sells beer and cocktails, but for grubbing it’s strictly BYOFood.. but there are tons of great options along Divisadero and the venue is more than happy for you to pick up food at Nopalito, The Little Chihuahua or Little Star Pizza to bring in. | FREE

Super Bowl on the Wharf
– Knuckles / Fisherman’s Wharf
Knuckles at the Wharf inside the Hyatt at Fisherman’s Warf will be showing Super Bowl XLV on their many TVs with various drink specials. $1 off all draft Coors Light and Miller Light plus beer buckets for $15 and $5 Absolout Bloody Mary’s. But if you want a big discount on your bill, anyone wearing an NFL jersey will receive 20% off all food orders throughout the game. | FREE

Movie Theater Super Bowl Party | LIVERMORE
– Vine Cinema / Livermore
Steelers? Packers? Doesn’t matter when you’re watching the game on a friggin’ huge movie screen – 30 feet wide in HD. The game will be on two screens seating nearly 450 people. This Livermore theater has wine and an alehouse selection on their menu with both food and drink from the Zephyr Grill and Bar served to your table or couch. Doors open at 1:30pm | FREE

Movie Theater Super Bowl Party II | MORAGA
– The New Rheem Theater / Moraga
Another movie theater showing the game, although this one isn’t claiming to be the biggest. They’ve got the usual movie theater food (popcorn & soda) and claim to be expanding their usual menu for the Super Bowl. | FREE

Free Nacho Bar Super Bowl
– George & Walt’s / Oakland
The jukebox will be turned off and all nine of George & Walt’s TVs will be tuned to the game. Admission is free but most importantly there’s a gratis nacho bar for everyone’s pre-game snacking | FREE

Got a favorite place to watch the Super Bowl that we missed? Leave us a comment below!