Unable to make Sunday’s Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium?

Haven’t been invited to any Super Bowl house party? What, no friends?

Don’t want to stay Home Alone? Certainly not with Macaulay Culkin.

Thinking of heading out to a favorite Watering Hole?

Frankly, I don't blame you.

As many of you already know, I am very fussy about cold beer, good food and not being annoyed by some intoxicated loudmouth know-it-all.

So here are some places I will consider on Sunday.

Basil T’s, 183 Riverside Road, Red Bank: A longtime favorite of mine. Why? Good food, good friends, good viewing. All you need to know is that Victor Rallo Jr. is following in the footsteps of his late, great father, Big Vic Rallo. The big guy was a true restaurant guru. No one ran a place better than him and now his son is certainly no different. I still consider it one of my all-time best.

Caffrey’s Tavern, 440 Route 9 South, Forked River: Perhaps the most popular eatery in Ocean County. Every time I have dined here, the place has been jam-packed.  Of course, the reason is: good food, good drink. And as is posted on its web site – “No strangers here, just friends you haven’t met.” All friends here because everyone you know is probably here. If you have eaten here, you know why.

Frankie’s Bar & Grill, 414 Richmond Avenue (Route 35 South), Point Pleasant Beach: Two blocks from my condo makes this my local eatery of choice many, many nights. I can’t tell you how often I eat here. Steaks and burgers are the best, cooked perfectly on the grill, but I’m a strange one and find the hot turkey sandwich as good as it comes. Great gang work the bar at Frankie’s: Anna, Sue, Jeff, Matt and Pat. Mort and Eagles fan Rick are restaurant managers. A word of caution: Stay away from Rick when the Eagles are playing. New televisions make viewing the games here so much better. Now, replace them all and I'd really be pleased. And, please, more Boston Crème Pie and less Key Lime Pie.

Hemingway’s Café, 612 Boulevard, Seaside Heights: I find this place to be a diner’s delight. It’s where fine dining mixes well with pizza. But the real hit here is sushi, which I must admit doesn’t strike my fancy. I rely on others to tell me how good it is. Fine dining, no problem. Good pizza, nice. Cold beer, also at the top of my list. Easy viewing, a definite plus. The place makes a big, bold statement in a Jersey Shore town best known for its boardwalk.

Lighthouse Tavern. 397 Route 9 South, Waretown: Believe it or not, I had lunch here before I was old enough to drink. I went fishing with my friend, RJ Klockner, and his father, who we called The Sewer Man, when we were still in our early teens. As I got older and moved to the Shore, I couldn’t resist going back to relive old memories. Little has changed. It still goes by the saying, “where good friends meet.” Oh, how so true.

Mulligan’s, 1850 Hooper Avenue, Toms River: Plenty of easy television viewing here, which makes me very happy – and I’m a tough guy to please. Find yourself a good seat at the bar, order some of the great food served up here and who can be more content? The theme here is for sports guys (and gals) who couldn’t care less about American Idol or those strange charactors on MTV's Jersey Shore.  This is sports watching at its best.

Pete & Elda’s/Carmine’s Pizzeria, 96 Woodland Avenue, Neptune City: My dear, dear friends, former auto racing enthusiast George Andretta and attorney Robert P. Clark, own one of the most popular spots at the Jersey Shore. You just cannot resist their world famous thin-crust pizza. I’m a creature of habit: a bar pie with sausage is my favorite, each and every time. Nothing makes me happier. Other than Mr. Andretta staying at the other end of the bar. Only kidding.

Rod’s Olde Irish. 507 Washington Blvd., Sea Girt: What can best be said about Rod’s is its consistency. Always good, whether lunch or dinner. I know it’s good because my best friend’s son, Michael Scharibone, will drive an hour from Hamilton Township, Mercer County, to Sea Girt, just to have lunch. I often wonder if it’s the great food or a certain mighty fine waitress. I think I know that answer.

My all-time favorite watering, Klee’s Bar, 101 Boulevard, Seaside Heights, is going to be closed on Super Bowl Sunday for renovations.

I wonder what they’ll be doing to do to make it better?

I hope they don't discontinue the Wall Pie, named in my honor.