Metro restaurants, bars warming up, too, for Lions NFC championship game

As the Detroit Lions prepare to head to San Francisco to take on the 49ers in the NFC Championship on Sunday, Metro Detroit bars and restaurants are preparing for hometown fans looking to gather to watch the game.

Reservation requests have been pouring in at Sidecar Slider Bar since the Lions advanced in the playoffs after beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, said Steve Simon, managing partner. The burger joint, with six Metro Detroit locations, has been a draw for large groups of 15 to 20 people.

“It’s great at our location because we have a lot of room to kind of spread out,” Simon said from the Birmingham location. “It's really not a bad seat in the house to watch the game. So it's fun watching people get together and kind of all celebrate for one team with one thing going. It's been a lot of fun. It’s about the loudest I've heard our bar since we’ve been open.”

Sidecar Slider Bar plans to offer a happy hour from 3–6 p.m. at each location, just before the NFC Championship game kicks off outside San Francisco at 6:30 p.m. local time here.

“Lots of good food to offer,” he said. “Stuff that's great for football. Lots of different sliders, pizza, great appetizers, good beer selection. All that kind of goes hand in hand.”

The increase in patronage during Sunday Lions games has been a financial boon for businesses like Sidecar Slider Bar, during a typically slower time of year, restaurateurs say. That’s the case for McShane’s Irish Pub in Corktown where staff is preparing for a standing room only crowd on Sunday.

“Financially, business wise and especially for our tipped employees, our staff it's been great because, traditionally, January and February are the two slowest months,” said Bob Roberts, owner of McShane’s.

Hospitality businesses compete with dry January, New Year's resolutions to not drink, not to go out to eat as often or to diet, Roberts said. Then there are people who take a pause to pay their credit card bills from Christmas expenses.

“It's a really nice good shot in the arm to have these playoff games which, of course, as we know, being Lions fans for so long, we have never experienced this before,” he said. “So it's new to us to be playing football deep into January and of course, hopefully on February 11.”

McShane’s isn’t taking reservations, but does expect a packed house for both games on Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs play the Baltimore Ravens at 3 p.m. followed by the Lions match up again the 49ers at 6:30 p.m. The winner of each advances to Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The restaurant is going to be open from noon to midnight to cover both games with a full staff, Roberts said. There will be an extended brunch from noon to 4 p.m. followed by an all-you-can eat tailgate buffet from 4 p.m. until the beginning of the fourth quarter. The night will end with karaoke with DJ Emily.

“We have some really good drink specials,” he said. “We have swag that we're going to be giving away. We also have a raffle at the end of each quarter, where people can win like a Budweiser prize pack or a basket of cheer. It’s a theme basket so that you can go home and make your own margaritas and palomas and whatnot at home.”

With the sell-out of the watch party at Ford Field, owners of the nearby Firebird Tavern in Greektown say they’re planning for a busy Sunday. Doors will open at 3 p.m. at both the location in Greektown and at the newest location in Troy. The menu items include a Honolulu Blue Mimosa. Other eateries downtown with game day watch parties include The Old Shillelagh in Greektown and The Skip, an open-air cocktail bar near Grand River Avenue and Farmer Street.

About a mile away from Ford Field, the Detroit Shipping Company is preparing to host another game day watch party. In addition to its indoor facility on Peterboro, the food hall and bar has set up a large, heated tent.

“When you walk in, it's like a whole different vibe and atmosphere,” said Angela Perez, director of events for Detroit Shipping Company. “You're like outdoors, but not. It's insulated. It's heated. It has a whole stage for entertainment and widescreen televisions. And on the second floor of our facility indoor we have private rooms. One of them in particular is called the Bridge Lounge and there's two large flat screen TVs that guests can go inside and watch from there as well.”

Perez said the draw is the location, free parking and a variety of food offerings among its five vendors. She said she expects a line and tailgaters in the parking lot before they open at noon on Sunday.

“So we're definitely gearing up and doubling our staff,” she said. “We're doubling our inventory because what we saw last week, it's like the holidays gone wild and double that. And it's just been so awesome to see guests really get excited and be so close to the stadium. Because when we win, I mean, that would just be a huge momentum and exciting for all of us and something that we all can't anticipate on. We don't know what's going to happen, but we're certainly pushing for us to win on Sunday.”

For those still looking to head out of town to see the game in person, round trip tickets as of Thursday afternoon, ranged from $900 to $3,703 across airlines.

United Airlines flights leaving Detroit Metro Airport on Saturday for San Francisco International Airport and returning on Monday averaged $1,632 a ticket, American Airlines tickets averaged $1,770 a ticket and Delta flights averaged $1,898 a ticket.

cwilliams@detroitnews.com