Even if you don’t care about this show at all, the Season 8 launch of HBO’s sword and sorcery saga Game of Thrones is worth keeping in mind for food lovers not because we’re blatantly SEO trolling with this headline, nope — but because just by being aware of the launch time, you are going to be a savvier diner on Sunday night. Pro tip: Like during the Super Bowl, the premiere night will surely be a great time to visit any restaurant that’s typically impossible to get into, and now is probably a great time to scan OpenTable, Tock, or another reservation site to see what’s still available. And the night of, the hour before the show’s premiere will also be a particularly awful time to order a pizza or other food for delivery.
Of course, if you’re trying to avoid Game of Thrones entirely, you might want to steer clear of Shake Shack and Buffalo Wild Wings on Sunday, both of which are offering show-themed specials, and you might also want to skip a trip to the local convenience store, where you can find branded cans of Mountain Dew and packages of Oreos. Many independent restaurants across the country are also hosting viewing parties and/or serving themed menus on Sunday night.
But if you yearn for a communal cultural experience on Sunday night without all the Targaryens, you might also consider going to a local restaurant where you will surely find other like-minded souls who also don’t care about the foxy knights and royals doing battle with CGI dragons and zombies. Or, settle into your couch with a fascinating history of online publications attempting to game search engine optimization for major pop culture events.
And by the way, Game of Thrones returns for its final season on Sunday, April 14 at 9 p.m. EST (and on the West Coast, fans can watch it at 6 p.m. PST on HBO Now or HBO Go).