Suburban bars have football on the brain all weekend long
True fans know that the best part about watching a pro or college football game (Bears, Illini anyone?) is the camaraderie. Not that having a few friends over for the game doesn't constitute satisfactory fandom. But for some of us, it's more about the roar of the crowd and the between-play high-fives than wings and a brew.
In case you're not sure where to start, we checked out the local short-list of area bars hoping to entice your football sweet tooth. We're talking drink specials, buffet deals, giveaways, some of the biggest TVs in the Chicago area and even an indoor tailgate party. Some of these places even stepped up their TV coverage, plastering their tubes everywhere. Even, well, you know: in the bathroom. Because, really, where else can you keep your eyes on the game while aiming for the drain?
Cubby Bear Lincolnshire, 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, (847) 541-4700
Not only does Cubby Bear boast more than 70 TV screens (that's two big-screen HDs; four 50-inch plasmas; and a TV in every single booth), the management decided to up the ante this year on giveaways. During halftime on the second Sunday of every month throughout the season, the Cubby Bear plans to give away a set of Bears tickets to one lucky raffle entrant. And that's not all. Cubby Bear is raffling off a 50-inch plasma TV the last Sunday of each month (earn an extra raffle ticket every time you order a Miller beer). P.S. There's wi-fi for all you fantasy football geeks and the (brand new) Big 10 college-game package for Illini fans.
Specials: Every day in September: $2.75 Miller Lite bottles; Saturdays: $3 Miller High Life bottles; Sundays and Mondays: $2.50 MGD Lite drafts; Thursdays: $1 drink night
Famous Freddie's Roadhouse, 1799 S. Busse Road, Mount Prospect, (847) 593-1486, and 510 S. Park Ave., Fox Lake, (847) 587-9677, famousfreddiesroadhouse.com
Offering up views of Illini and Boilermaker football on Saturdays in Mount Prospect and Wisconsin football in Fox Lake, Famous Freddie's doesn't skimp on its NFL offerings, including access to NFL Sunday Ticket and QB1.
Specials: Sundays: $1.50 Miller High Life and Miller Lite Drafts, $2.75 Smirnoff Bloody Marys, 25-cent wings during Bears games; Mondays: $1 domestic drafts, $2 Bud Light 22-ounce stadium cups
Walter Payton's Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, Aurora, (630) 892-0034, walterpaytonsroundhouse.com
Make sure to call ahead to find out if Payton's has any Personal Seat Licenses left. Reserve your own and be guaranteed a seat to watch the game every week. The deal comes with loads of goodies, including access to the Roundhouse's picnic lunch, Payton Pilsner Draft specials, special raffles/giveaways, and oh yeah, an 8-by-10 HDTV. Yes, that's measured in feet!
Moretti's, 1893 Walden Office Square, Schaumburg, (847) 397-4200, morettischicago.com
Catch all the football you can handle: Moretti's signed up for both the ESPN Game Plan and NFL Sunday Ticket. Watch it all on 35 plasma TVs. Want more? Moretti's has PlayStation ("Madden Football," anyone?) and QB1.
Specials: Sundays: $2 Miller Lite and MGD drafts; Mondays: $2 22-ounce Bud Light stadium cups
Finn McCool's Irish Sports Pub, 72 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, (815) 356-1155, finnmccoolschicago.com
Sure, TVs are great, especially when you have 60 -- yes, 60 -- large plasmas. But we all know you're more interested in hearing about never having to miss a big play. Brace yourself. Finn McCool's features screens in the bathroom! They've got NFL Sunday Ticket, the ESPN Game Plan and QB1 all day long.
Specials: Sundays: $2.50 Miller Lite drafts, $2.75 Bloody Marys and Screwdrivers; Mondays: $1 domestic drafts, $2 22-ounce Bud Light stadium cups, $10.99 New York Strip Steak