It’s FOOTBALL SEASON, folks! And sure, some of you might have fancy big-screen TVs and man-caves, but there’s something about watching the game in a bar, surrounded by other football fans, enjoying some friendly rivalry, drinking a freshly poured pint, and grazing on some buffalo wings while enjoying America’s favorite pastime! (And no, it’s not baseball–a recent study by Bloomberg concluded that football is the nation’s most popular sport now!) There’s no shortage of terrific bars and restaurants in the Cranford-Westfield Area . . . here’s our list of some great LOCAL BARS TO WATCH PRO FOOTBALL! 

1) STAGE HOUSE TAVERN, 366 Park Ave., Scotch Plains, NJ

Good luck finding a bar in our area that has more TVs or more food and drink specials during football–you won’t find it because Stage House has it all: TWENTY TVs with Sunday Ticket, happy hour pricing during games ($1 off any drink and discounted apps), a special $5 tailgate menu on Sundays featuring favorites like sausage & peppers and mac & cheese, $4 Blue Moons during Monday and Thursday games, and awesome RAFFLES with big giveaways every Sunday! Plus they have a huge outdoor patio bar with 5 TVs, so you can even enjoy the games al fresco on warmer days. 

Visit their website at: http://www.stagehousetavern.com 

2) ECHO TAP & GRILLE, 1079 U.S. 22, Mountainside, NJ

The newest establishment among our Top Five, Echo Tap knows the way to a football fanatic’s heart! Nine big-screen TVs with Sunday Ticket are located in both the bar area and dining area. The list of game-time specials is long: $3 pints of Coors, Blue Moon, Yeungling, and Bud Light (or $9 pitchers of the same beers), $2 ribs (each), $6.95 wings, $5.95 nachos, $6.95 pizza, and $5.95 egg rolls. And let’s not forget what a COOL atmosphere they have going on there, with the industrial-chic decor! 

Visit their website at: http://www.echotapandgrille.com

3) CROKE PARK (in the basement of Molly Maguire’s), 1085 Central Ave., Clark, NJ

This is such a fun spot to catch the game, with 12 flat-screen TVs and 5 booths with personal little TVs–great for bringing the kids or even turning it into a romantic date! Specials include $3 domestic pints, $4 imported pints, and 75-cent wings. 

Visit their website at: http://mollymaguires.dropzite.com/page/4804-CROKE-PARK

4) KILKENNY HOUSE, 112 South Ave. East, Cranford, NJ

Kilkenny’s just one of the friendliest bars around, where they remember their repeat customers by name and treat guests like family. Six big-screen TVs with Sunday Ticket are located at the bar, and “3” is the magic number for specials at the bar during football season: $3 domestic bottles or drafts on Sundays, $3 Millers on Mondays, the $3 Yuengling and Bud/Bud Light on Thursdays. Mondays are also 2-for-1 wings, so belly up the the bar! 

Visit their website at: http://www.kilkennyhouse.com

5) CRANFORD HOTEL, 1 South Union Ave, Cranford, NJ

Inside one of Cranford’s most iconic buildings is an awesome bar for watching football–make that two bars, since there’s one upstairs in the Hotel and another downstairs in The Cellar where you can watch every game! Some of the deals you’ll find during football are $3 Coors Light and Yuengling pints, $3 IPA cans, $9 pitchers (in The Cellar), and $5 menu items like pulled pork tacos and loaded chili fries (hello!!), not to mention some of the best buffalo wings around. Tell them I sent you–the Steele family is well known at the Hotel since our son worked there! 

Visit their website at: http://www.cranfordhotel.com

Honorable Mention:

GARWOOD LANES, 346 North Ave, Garwood, NJ

Garwood Lanes is no ordinary bowling alley–it has one of the best “dive” bars around with surprisingly great food, and thought they don’t have many TVs like the other bars in our Top Five, they do have a big-screen TV with Sunday Ticket at the bar. And their football specials are second to none: $2.50 domestic pints at the bar and COMPLIMENTARY SNACKS AT HALFTIME! Yep, free food. How could you not love this place?

Visit their website at: http://www.garwoodlanes.com

There are plenty more options for great game-viewing in our area, like Bar Americana (Cranford), Thirsty Turtle (Cranford), Riverside Inn (Cranford), Rathskeller (Cranford), River and Rail Cantina (Cranford), Station Bar and Grill (Garwood), Darby Road (Scotch Plains), Publick House (Mountainside), and Grillestone (Mountainside), to name just a few. Where do YOU like to get your football on??