Top Bars To Watch Thursday Night Football In Connecticut

By the start of the 1970s, pro football had become popular enough to feature a game on Monday night. In this century, the NFL is so huge that it has added a third night of games on Thursday, which this season will be aired on CBS and the NFL Network. Here are five great bars in Connecticut to catch the first game of each weekend this fall.

The Bar & Grille On 7
967 Ethan Allen Highway
Ridgefield, CT 06877
(203) 438-6033
www.facebook.com/TheBarAndGrillOn7

Ridgefield's Bar and Grille On 7 is a simple but inviting neighborhood sports bar. There are 11 flat screens in the main area and an additional pair in its Private Party Room, which can be rented out for family or corporate get-togethers and other special occasions. The menu is filled with tempting options like the house burger with melted brie, avocado and bacon or its lobster specialties – sliders, quesadillas and macaroni and cheese. The Bar & Grille on 7 also pours a nice selection of domestic and imported beers.

Pour House Sports Tavern
175 Church St.
Naugatuck, CT 06770
(203) 723-7687
www.pourhousenaugatuck.com

There are 11 large screens at the Pour House, making it one of the best bars in the Naugatuck Valley to see your favorite team (or Fantasy League players) in action. It's also one of the best places for wings, which are provided by Waterbury's Wing It On! They come in 18 different styles from the mild BBQ cheddar to the spicy mango habanero. Pair them with one of the Pour House's many local and national craft beers, including Back East, Long Trail and Goose Island. It has a rotating selection so you can find something new each Thursday.

Beachland Tavern
1128 New Britain Ave.
West Hartford, CT 06110
(860) 263-7167
www.beachlandtavern.com

A recent addition to West Hartford's Elmwood district, Beachland Tavern has been embraced by town residents as a classic neighborhood gathering place. Watch the game on one of several sets along the bar while sipping on a specialty cocktail or, for local flavor, a City Steam Naughty Nurse on tap. Regulars are crazy for the smoked kitchen sink wings, and the Philly spring rolls with beef tenderloin are another big hit. Beachland Tavern proves you can have a great West Hartford bar experience somewhere other than at the Center or Blue Back Square.

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Sidewalk Cafe
236 South St.
Hartford, CT 06114
(860) 956-8152
www.sidewalkbar.com

The Sidewalk Cafe has become one of the favorite hangouts for Hartford-area residents. That's because of its welcoming staff, fun music, plentiful space, outdoor patio and 10 flat-screens for catching the game. Football fans love to watch while indulging in mouthwatering creations like the avocado bacon burger or the buffalo chicken pizza. The Sidewalk Cafe offers red and white wines along with several mixed drinks, but if you're a designated driver, it also has $3 sodas with free refills.

McGuire's Ale House
130 Mount Pleasant Road
Newtown, CT 06470
(203) 270-3999
www.mcguiresalehouse.com

This friendly Irish pub is decorated with numerous HDTVs so it won't be hard for you to miss any of the Thursday night action. In addition to the most popular bottles, McGuire's has eight beers on tap from Bud Light to Ireland's favorite Smithwick's Ale. Its menu includes twists on familiar classics such as the Irish nachos – cottage fries with cheese, scallions, bacon bits and hot peppers. If you're really hungry, try the hearty Innisfree lamb stew with egg noodles or grilled bread.

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