When it comes to football, the food you enjoy alongside the game has become something of an event itself. So for the Super Bowl's 50th anniversary, we've put together the best L.A. takeout menus worthy of the big 50: from platters of smoked meat, to caviar and Champagne, to gourmet sandwiches and everything else in between. Dig in.
Wexler's Deli
The smoked-meat masters over at Wexler's Deli are going all in this Super Bowl with supersized platters for your viewing party. Enter the Stan Kroenke ($195), which feeds 10 to 12 people and includes 1.5 pounds of house-smoked pastrami, corned beef, turkey, a loaf of rye bread, four kaiser rolls and four sides each of coleslaw, potato salad and pickles (along with mustard and Russian dressing). There's also the classic takeout option, dubbed the Sam Rothstein ($265), for 14 to 16 people — that gets you 1.5 pounds each of lox, sturgeon and smoked fish salad, two dozen bagels and sides of potato salad, coleslaw, pickles, cream cheese, red onion, capers and lemon wedges. Place your orders on Caviar and get your platter delivered right to your place for the big game. 317 S. Broadway, downtown; (213) 620-0633, wexlersdeli.com.
Maple Block Meat Co.
Offering takeout packaged for groups as small as four people and as large as 15, this Westside barbecue joint puts together a little bit of everything, with combos made up of brisket chili with the fixings, smoked wings with white sauce and fermented hot sauce, full racks of pork spare ribs, creamy or vinegar slaw and assorted pickles. Combos from $115 to $445. 3973 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City; (310) 313-6328, mapleblockmeat.com.
Petrossian
Do you want to make your Super Bowl viewing party the thing of Champagne wishes and caviar dreams? Go big by hitting up Petrossian for a caviar and blini platter. The starter package consists of premium caviar, Bellinis, mini toasts, creme fraiche and Tsar-cut smoked salmon with mother of pearl spoons for serving. The combinations range from $250 to well over $1,000 depending on the size of your party and how baller you want to go in the Champagne department. Cristal, anyone? 321 N. Robertson., West Hollywood; (310) 271-6300, petrossian.com.
Bludso's Bar & Que
West Hollywood's barbecue titan always seems to be a crowd-pleaser — and is pretty affordable, too. Translation: more glorious meat to scarf while cheering on your team. Get a platter of smoked meats, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw and cornbread starting at $17 per person and spend your saved cash on dessert: peach crisp, chocolate chess pie or banana pudding. 609 N. La Brea Ave, Fairfax; (323) 931-2583, barandque.com.
Yalla Mediterranean
If you want to keep it on the healthier side, go for a Mediterranean vibe with Yalla. Pick from combos of different spreads such as baba ganoush, tzaziki, tahini or the signature fire feta, as well as falafel, shwarma and meat skewers. Catering orders can be made online and picked up in-store or delivered for an additional fee within Yalla's service areas. Prices range from $40 to $288. 9516 Culver Blvd., Culver City; (310) 280-1650, yallamedi.com.
Petit Trois
If burgers are what you're after, look no further than Trois Mec's game-day catering package, featuring the much revered and deliciously messy Big Mec Burger. For $40 per person (plus any additional setup costs), enjoy the game while two Petit Trois chefs whip up their signature burger alongside frites with mornay sauce and Boston lettuce salad. Top it all off with their mouth-watering Paris-Brest for dessert. If you want to go all out, you can also add cocktails to the mix. 718 Highland Ave., Hollywood; (323) 468-8916, petittrois.com.
Belcampo
If you want takeout but you still want the feeling of tailgating, pick up a chili dog tailgate pack from Belcampo and have the best of both worlds. Quickly grill your dogs, load them up with Belcampo's delicious chili con carne, slap them on a bun, and you have yourself a hot dog straight out of a Super Bowl tailgate — without spending thousands on a ticket. $24.99 for a pack of six. 317 S. Broadway, downtown; (213) 625-0304; or 8053 W. Third St., West L.A.; (323) 937-0170, belcampo.com.
Sweet Rose Creamery
Whether you're skipping savory and going straight to dessert or you want to end your Super Bowl feast on a deliciously sweet note, Sweet Rose Creamery is putting together packages of its artisan ice cream alongside homemade fudge, a bag of house-made marshmallows and a bag of house-made brownie bites for a 10-person sundae celebration. Customers get three ice cream flavors so they don't have to choose just one: salted caramel, Old Rasputin stout or old-fashioned vanilla. In-store orders will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and available for sale at all five locations until Feb. 7. 225 26th St., #51, Santa Monica; (310) 260-2663, sweetrosecreamery.com.
Esters
If your idea of a party isn't complete without a cheese plate and some nice wine, then don't let the Super Bowl's more traditional food choices get in the way. Own it and head to Esters wine bar, where you can create takeout baskets with bottles of wines from small producers and boutique wineries from around the globe, as well as craft beers and specialty cheeses from local purveyors. Charcuterie plates are also available using chef Jeremy Fox’s selection of ham, two styles of salumi and nduja – all served with crostini, whole-grain mustard and cornichon on wooden platters. $150 to $500. 1314 Seventh St., Santa Monica; (310) 899-6900, esterswineshop.com.
Beer Belly
In honor of the big game, Beer Belly has concocted a special menu inspired by both teams. For the Panthers fans there's the Southern three-bean baked wings with lima beans, kidney beans, chili beans, bacon and onions, or the Carolina pulled pork fries with hot pepper slaw and house pickles. If you're more of a Peyton fan, there's the Denver “omelette” fries with bacon fat, fried ham, green pepper, onion, cheddar and fried egg, or the Denver green “chili” wings with green chile sauce hot sauce, onions and pickled jalapeño. Orders also are available for delivery via Postmates. 532 S. Western Ave., Koreatown; (213) 387-2337, beerbellyla.com.
Pok Pok L.A.
You can't go wrong with wings at a Super Bowl party, especially when they are the delicious and crispy Ike's fish sauce wings from Pok Pok L.A. Packages can be tailored for groups of 10 to 30 people and come with jasmine rice and papaya salad. They range from $75 for wings only to a full meal for 30 at $295. 978 N. Broadway, Chinatown; (213) 613-1831, pokpokla.com.
ink.sack
At chef Michael Voltaggio's sandwich shop, for $150 you'll get 10 cold fried chicken and pastrami brisket sandwiches, a big bag of both rinds and chips, cookies for dessert and Mexican Cokes for 10 to wash it all down. 8360 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood; (323) 655-7225, mvink.com.
Jon & Vinny's
The Animal guy's popular Italian-American restaurant on Fairfax is offering Super Bowl packages filled with classic deli staples, including garlic buffalo wings, marinara-braised meatballs, cold-cut hoagies, chicken cutlets and fresh cannoli. Party packages range in size from the “Little Frankie” ($175, feeds 5 to 6) up to the “Big Boss” ($3,500, feeds 60-plus). 412 N. Fairfax Ave., Fairfax; (323) 334-3369, jonandvinnys.com.