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The Super Bowl may be a time for elaborate and well-attended house parties, but there are still those among the game-watching population who prefer to watch the annual spectacle in the atmosphere of a bar.

With the New England Patriots facing the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII on Sunday, and the resultant hype surrounding the sporting world's biggest annual event, many area bars and restaurants are expecting a healthy turnout, reworking their menu and throwing parties of their own.

Tom's Tavern in Wrentham is holding its annual pig roast for Super Bowl Sunday, an event that has been 25 years in the running. Buffets will be available during pre-game and halftime, with an "ice cream sundae station," prizes and 28 screens throughout the spot.

The restaurant began selling $12 tickets for the pig roast - which requires 17 hours of outdoor roasting and begins late Saturday night - immediately after the Patriots won the AFC Championship game, and as of Friday morning was close to sold out.

"It's always been a great day," said manager T.J. Gianfrancesco. "For about 25 years now, we've been sold out. It sells out a little quicker when the Pats are in the Super Bowl, but it sells out every year." Just down the street from Gillette Stadium, Stoneforge in Foxboro is offering its regular menu, along with several Super Bowl specials, including the Gridiron Platter, a mixture of boneless chicken fingers, chicken wings, barbecue ribs and Philly cheese steak rolls.

The restaurant/bar, which has about two dozen TV screens throughout, is preparing for a healthy turnout and getting "a little bit more revved up" than usual, but not to the point of doing "anything too crazy" or expecting the rush that comes during Patriots home games.

"During the last two home games, we were really busy," manager Melissa Coles said. "We were acutally at capacity - we were so busy, we had to turn people away."

Morin's in Attleboro is offering half-price appetizers and halftime specials for what manager Mike Joubert expects to be a mixture of regular customers, along with a private party.

In past years, the restaurant offered prime rib specials, but is taking things down a notch this year.

"This year we're just taking it a little bit easier, so we can just kick back and relax and watch the game ourselves - hopefully see them go 19-0," Joubert said.

In North Attleboro, Jenarations is throwing a Super Bowl bash offering appetizers, pizzas, sandwiches, prizes and T-shirt giveaways for $20.

Others are offering up food and fun for free, including J&M Sports Pub in Plainville, which is running a free buffet during the game, and Fitzy's Pub in Plainville, which will provide a free appetizer buffet, pizza and chicken wings at halftime, plus T-shirt and prize giveaways.

Patrons at Fitzy's will also get to watch the game with Mosi Tatupu, former Patriots running back and father of Seattle Seahawks linebacker and King Philip Regional High School grad Lofa Tatupu.

Co-owner Sue Fitzpatrick said that despite the tendency to want to stay home and party, a healthy number of fans do come out on Super Bowl Sunday, especially if the home team is in the mix. "(The turnout) is pretty good if the Patriots are in it," Fitzpatrick said. "Last year with Indy, of course they're our rivals, so I mean nobody wanted to watch it really, they didn't really care. But this year will be good. I think it'll be a good bash."

LAUREN CARTER can be reached at lauren-carter@hotmail.com.