A pair of Clark County newcomers are putting their own spin on Super Bowl XLV festivities, and each has come up with a few twists to make its party stand out.

Main Event Sports Grill opened in downtown Vancouver in November and distinguished itself by offering bar fare with an upscale twist. The sports bar will offer happy-hour specials on appetizers such as roasted red pepper hummus and marinated steak tips while broadcasting the Super Bowl on its 10 high-definition televisions.

The restaurant is also serving a couple of regional staples in honor of the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the teams squaring off in the Super Bowl.

The Green Bay-inspired dish is a meatloaf sandwich, which is a Midwest staple, said sous chef Santiago Coca.

The dish in honor of the Pittsburgh Steelers is the Roethlenburger, so named for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The hamburger will be served with sausage, fried egg and American cheese. The hamburger is popular in the Pittsburgh region, Coca said. Each sandwich will run about $8-$11, Coca said.

Buffalo Wild Wings is also hosting Super Bowl festivities for the first time in Hazel Dell. The restaurant opened in June and has made a name for itself by serving wings tossed in one of its 14 signature sauces. Fans won’t miss a single play; the restaurant will broadcast the Super Bowl on every one of its 40 televisions.

The fun doesn’t end there. Two Clark County entertainment standbys — Big Al’s and Cinetopia — are again putting on their own Super Bowl parties.

Here's a few Clark County parties worth attending:

Main Event Sports Grill

Main Event Sports Grill may be the newest sports bar on the scene, having opened in November in the spot formerly occupied by Pepper’s Taqueria at Eighth and Main streets in downtown Vancouver.

Main Event is outfitted with 10 high-definition televisions, so fans are never far from the action; it has two 50-inch TVs, six 47-inch TVs and two 32-inch TVs. Co-owner Steve Hilken expects that the bar will give away T-shirts emblazoned with beer company logos during the game.

But the sports bar sets itself apart by offering upscale and unusual bar fare that goes beyond mozzarella sticks and onion rings. Its most popular salad is the BLT Wedge Salad, which includes a wedge of iceberg lettuce, blue cheese dressing, diced tomatoes, bacon, blue cheese crumbles and a balsamic glaze.

Other menu highlights include the Peanut Butter Burger, which co-owner Steve Hilken said is one of the restaurant’s top sellers. “After everyone tries it, they tell their friends about it,” he said. This cheeseburger is adorned with extra crispy bacon and nearly a quarter of a cup of peanut butter spread on the buns.

Also popular is the Jager Burger, which includes grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, pickle and a glaze made from Jägermeister.

Cost: There is a fee of $10 per person for groups of four or more to reserve seating.

The food factor: Main Event will offer its happy hour menu during the Super Bowl, a rarity on Sundays. All domestic pints will be $2.50, all import pints will be $3.50 and all appetizers will be $4-$8. The sports grill’s appetizer menu includes roasted red pepper hummus, truffle fries, marinated steak tips, beer-battered corn dogs, hot wings and pot stickers.

See review, Page F25.

Where: 800 Main St., Vancouver; 360-448-7146 or http://mesportsgrill.com.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings is charging a fee for fans to watch the game, but assistant manager David Gray hopes that everyone gets their money’s worth.

The $10-per-person charge entitles anyone with a reservation to a seat in the restaurant, which will be broadcasting the Super Bowl on every one of its 40 screens, the biggest of which is a 117-inch projection model.

Admission also includes coupons for Buffalo Wild Wings and Taco Bell, and a raffle ticket. The restaurant will give away prizes such as a 42-inch high-definition television, two snowboards, a barbecue and a mini refrigerator. Plenty more prizes are being offered, Gray said. “Our goal is that everybody who comes in here is going to walk out with a prize,” he said.

Cost: Fans must make advance reservations, and there is a $10 fee per person. Reservations must be made in person at the restaurant, and the fee must be paid in advance. Buffalo Wild Wings is not accepting reservations over the phone.

The food factor: Buffalo Wild Wings won’t run any food specials during the Super Bowl. But the restaurant will serve its traditional and boneless chicken wings, which can be tossed in any one of its 14 signature sauces. Flavors include Honey BBQ, Parmesan Garlic and Mango Habanero.

Where: 7704 N.E. Fifth Ave., Vancouver; 360-597-3486 or http://buffalowildwings.com.

Big Al’s

Big Al’s is known for its bowling alleys, but on Feb. 6 it’s going to be all about giving Super Bowl fans the ultimate sports bar experience. The entertainment center’s sports bar area is open on a first-come, first-served basis, and festivities will begin long before kickoff.

All-sports radio station KFXX-AM will be on hand from 1-3 p.m. to give away prizes such as Regal Cinemas passes, NFLShop.com gift cards and Coors Light apparel.

Giveaways will continue throughout the game, as well.

The game will be broadcast on Big Al’s’ big screen, which measures 36 feet wide and 8 feet tall. Big Al’s is also outfitted with four 50-inch high-definition TVs, two 42-inch high-definition TVs and a 6-foot projection screen, all of which will be tuned into the game.

Cost: There is no fee for seats in the sports bar area, and Big Al’s won't offer discounts on food items.

Fans should show up during the pre-kickoff party at 1 p.m. in order to make sure they have a seat and to get in on prize giveaways, said Brad Lechtenberg, marketing manager for Big Al’s.

The food factor: For $10, fans can get either a pitcher of Coors Light or six sliders — miniature hamburgers.

Beyond that, the basics are the most popular dishes at Big Al’s, Lechtenberg said. They include nachos, hot wings and burgers.

Where: 16615 S.E. 18th St., Vancouver; 360-944-6118 or http://ilovebigals.com.

Cinetopia

Cinetopia is catering to Super Bowl fans in search of comfort. The movie theater complex delivers a luxurious setting for watching the game that rivals the most expensive stadium box seats. Fans can either sit in the living room-style theater outfitted with leather lounge chairs and ottomans to watch the game on a 35-foot screen or opt for the theater’s 50-foot screen in the grand auditorium.

Those attending should arrive at least one hour before the 3:30 p.m. kickoff.

Cost: $30 gets viewers into the grand auditorium, and $50 buys a seat in the living room theater.

The food factor: Leave the chips and dip at home. A prime rib buffet is included with admission.

Where: 11700 S.E. Seventh St., Vancouver; 360-213-2800 or http://cinetopia.com.

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