Super places to watch the big game, enjoy giveaways, specials
To some, where you watch the Super Bowl might be as important (if not more so) as where you spend your New Year's Eve, so choose your bar wisely. Football fans have many options in the 'burbs, but some stand out because they offer more than just a bunch of TVs broadcasting the big game.
Here's your opportunity to be picky about drink specials, food deals, raffles and giveaways. Cheap beer, cheap food, freebies and football. Does it get any better?
Best place to count down the days until baseball season
Harry Caray's
Facts: 70 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard; (630) 953-9364; harrycarays.com
With football ending, baseball's spring training is right around the corner. And where else to get excited about the impending season than Harry Caray's? During the game, folks can take in $2 Blue Moon drafts, $3 Coors Light bottles and various food specials. You'll also have a chance to win a Coors Light mini fridge to store your booze in for seasons to come. Need some food to accompany your beverage? Build the burger of your dreams at the Holy Cow Burger Bar.
Best hotel bar to watch the game
Birch River Grill
Facts: 75 W. Algonquinn Road, Arlington Heights; (847) 727-4242; birchrivergrill.com
If you're going to go all out for the Super Bowl, why not do so at a hotel bar? At Birch River Grill, three is the magic number. Draft beer, chicken fingers, cheese sticks, hot dogs and fries and award-winning Game Day Chili are all $3 per item. Coincidentally, the food special begins at 3 p.m. (Sadly, it ends at 11 p.m. and not 3 a.m.) Also, complimentary chips and salsa will be available at every table.
Best place to reminisce about the Bears' glory years
Walter Payton's Roundhouse
Facts: 205 Broadway, Aurora; (630) 264-2739; walterpaytonsroundhouse.com
So the Bears didn't make the playoffs this year. How could Kyle Orton let Chicago down? Thankfully, at Walter Payton's Roundhouse, you can discuss a winning Bears team. And if talking about the good ol' days does not cheer you up, maybe the specials will: free chili until halftime, 50-cent buffalo wings, $2.50 14-ounce Payton Pilsner or Pilsner Light, $4 Absolut U-Call-Its, $5 Jager bombs and $9.75 Bud Select and Bud Light buckets. On top of all these specials, there will be bingo, raffles and giveaways. So maybe you'll be a winner here.
Best chance to watch the Super Bowl with Drew Peterson
Tailgater's
Facts: 431 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook; (630) 679-1994; tailgatersgrill.com
I'm just putting that one out there. Just a little heads up (unless you know of a different bar Mr. Peterson tends to frequent). So, if you're willing to take that chance, head over to Tailgater's. With a $35 cover you get: $1 domestic beer, $2 import beer, $3 you-call-its and $4 Jaeger bombs.
Best free half-time entertainment
RealTime Sports
Facts: 1120-22 W. Devon, Elk Grove Village; (630) 513-8800; realtimesportsbar.com
RealTime is a sports bar where I can safely say you will not have a hard time viewing the game, seeing as how it has a ton of televisions. But where the bar also stands out for the Super Bowl is its free halftime pizza buffet. Whereas other places have free food that you would call an "appetizer," RealTime actually goes all out. On top of that, it will have other specials such as $2 16-ounce Coors Light Drafts, $15 Mexican beer buckets, $10 Miller buckets, $3 Pink vodka U-Call-Its (yes, Pink vodka) and $4 Casadores margaritas. Also be on the lookout for raffles and giveaways.
Best Irish pub to watch American football
Finn McCool's
1941 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg; (847) 303-5100; finnmccoolschicago.com
Sure, the Irish tend to be a little more interested in another kind of football, but this is America, and you'd better be showing the Super Bowl! Thankfully, Finn McCool's knows what's up and will be showing the game on its many televisions.
Speaking of television, Finn McCool's will be raffling off one during the game, so maybe next year you won't have to go to a bar to watch the Super Bowl. If the prospect of a free television is not tantalizing enough, the bar will also have $2 Miller Lite and MGD drafts plus $7 one-topping pizzas.
Best all-around buffet
Morton's the Steakhouse
Facts: 1470 McConnor Parkway, Schaumburg; (847) 413-8771; mortons.com
Watching the Super Bowl at a steakhouse sounds odd, I admit. I mean, are they really going to turn off the big band music so we can hear what's going on in the big game? Well, at Morton's in Schaumburg, it looks like they will. As important as the Super Bowl is, here it looks like the main attraction will be the restaurant's incredible buffet lineup. For $49.50 you'll get a lot of food to choose from (however, you must pay extra for your alcohol). For starters, there will be chili, chicken guojenetts and tomato crustini. The main course runs during halftime, at which point you will be able to choose from prime rib, chicken Christopher, green beans, baked potatoes and dinner rolls. Dessert offerings are New York cheesecake, mini hot chocolate cakes, key lime tarts and chocolate mousse in a chocolate cup. So even if the team you're rooting for loses, you should leave Morton's fairly satisfied.
Best giveaways
Chicago City Limits
Facts: 1712 Wise Road, Schaumburg; (847) 524-9910; chicagocitylimits.net
Free food is nice, but I think I'd rather win a television. Chicago City Limits is giving away not one, but two televisions (42-inch LCD and 50-inch LCD) and a surround-sound system. If that's not enough, the first 200 people to arrive at the bar receive a free Super Bowl T-shirt. There are drink specials, too, as if they haven't already given you enough. Look for a $3 24-ounce NFL collector's cup, $3 bloody Marys, $3.50 screwdrivers and $5.50 bombs. So, you have a good chance of getting a free T-shirt, an NFL cup and other prizes. If that's not enough to interest you in Chicago City Limits, then I don't know what will.