As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, some Buffalo Grove restaurants are busily preparing for a spike in business, while others are taking a more laid-back approach.

Amanda Eckart, assistant manager of Papa John’s Pizza, said she is ready for Super Bowl Sunday.

“Super Bowl Sunday is one of the store’s busiest nights of the year. It’s so hectic, as we make at least 500 pizzas that day,” she said. “The phones are always ringing. The orders normally start coming in about an hour or two before the game, and then there’s a bit of an uptick before halftime so people can have their pizzas during the half.”

“While everything is prepared fresh to order, we prepare vegetables and fold boxes ahead of time,” Eckart said.

Moises Dorola, manager of Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, said that carry-out and delivery have always been extremely popular on Super Bowl Sunday.  

“People eat-in at the restaurant during the game, but it’s slow. We do a lot more carry-out and delivery orders on that day. We do have televisions that will be on for Sunday,” he said.

He also noted that most orders are for pizza, with only some appetizers included. While food is prepared fresh for each order, the staff will have vegetables cut and ready for each order ahead of time.

“We get more take-out orders before the game and during the middle of half-time,” Jake Rodriguez, owner of Grande Jake’s, said. “People order more salsa, guacamole, and chips on Super Bowl Sunday. We get some business from the dine-in, but it’s mostly to-go during the game. If we don’t get business one way, we hope to get it another.”

Rodriguez’s staff prepares fresh salsa “four or five times a day” to keep up with demand. “Someone might stop in and ask for salsa, and we can get it for them, no problem,” Rodriguez said.

For some restaurants in Buffalo Grove, Super Bowl Sunday is not a busy night.

“I’m expecting a busy morning and lunch,” Chris Papaioannou, manager of Buffalo Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, said. “While, typically, Sundays are busy for us, it might not be that busy during the game. I will still have the full staff, as you never know — people might come in.”

“It’s one of the slowest nights of the year for us,” Michael Sullivan, manager of Outback Steakhouse, said. “We have TVs in the restaurant, but people usually go to bars or stay at home.” Sullivan is planning to adjust staff “as needed” on Sunday.

“We’re not very busy during the Super Bowl,” Pete Panayiotou, owner of The Continental Restaurant, said. “It’s probably our second worst night of the year. Our worst night of the year is Christmas Day, and that’s because we’re closed!"

“People who come to the restaurant during the game usually don’t want to watch it,” Panayiotou said. “We do get orders for take-out. We’ll be busier in the morning, but I think we’ll have a lighter staff that night.”

Winberie’s Restaurant and Bar will be open on Sunday morning for brunch, but will be closed in the evening. It has historically been closed for the Super Bowl.