Soccer on: Where to score dining and drink deals while watching World Cup action
The World Cup is finally here, and bars and restaurants around the suburbs are ready. The tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, starts Thursday, June 11, and runs through July 19.
• Fans of the Brazilian side can watch all their games at Brazil Express Grill in Schaumburg, where they’ll be offering caipirinha specials and a special menu with burgers, apps, snacks and more. Brazil’s first game is against Morocco at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 13.
• Dave & Buster’s wants to be your “Fútbol HQ,” with 40-foot screens showing every match, soccer-themed arcade games, and limited-time food and drinks tied to match days. Special bites include the Hat Trick Sliders & Fries that includes an all-American slider, a Canadian Maple slider and a Mexican Street slider, and the Copa Tres Leches cake. Sips include the Red Card ’Rita with Casamigos blanco and Ghost reposado tequilas, and the Skinny Striker Rita with Casamigos blanco tequila shaken with muddled strawberries. They’ll also have customizable beer buckets and commemorative World Cup Michelob Ultras. Locations are in Lombard, Orland Park, Rosemont, Schaumburg and Vernon Hills.
• Fat Rosie’s Taco & Tequila Bar locations (Frankfort, Lincolnshire, Lincolnwood, Naperville, Oak Brook, Rosemont and Schaumburg) will celebrate throughout the tournament with a number of specials, including free queso for tables wearing team jerseys on game days, $1 shots every time Team USA or Mexico scores a goal, and $1 shots for fans wearing other teams’ jerseys when their team wins. Also, whenever Team USA or Mexico play, they’ll offer a $25 Taco Platter special featuring 10 street tacos with assorted proteins. Fans can also try the limited-time El Tricolor Margarita, inspired by the colors of the Mexican flag and topped with Tajín, as well as Gran Centenario's limited-edition World Cup reposado available as the “El Goalie” shot.
• Finn McCool’s Irish Sports Pub in Wheeling will welcome soccer fans throughout the tournament by airing every game on their 28 large-screen TVs. Guests can take advantage of 99-cent wings every day throughout the Cup in addition to a menu that lets you match your cuisine to your favorite team, from breaded pork schnitzel to quesadillas to corned beef egg rolls.
• Jason’s Deli, with suburban locations in Naperville and Oak Brook, is rewarding Deli Dollars rewards members with the launch of Deli Dollars Goal Rush. Every time the USMNT scores during the tournament, loyalty program members will have rewards automatically loaded into their account. The first goal gets members a free strawberry shortcake with any purchase and other offers follow as they score more goals.
• Nando’s Peri Peri will debut a limited-edition Saka Sauce, created in collaboration with England soccer star Bukayo Saka. The sauce will launch on the menu at all Nando’s in time for its first National Free Chicken & Chips Day on Friday, June 12. Diners who show up to any Nando’s restaurant (locations are in Naperville, Oak Brook, Oak Park, Skokie and Chicago) in their favorite team’s soccer jersey will get to try the Saka sauce and a free chicken and fries meal.
• Old Town Pour House locations in Oak Brook and Naperville will show every game on TVs throughout the restaurants, and they’ve added some World Cup-themed drink and food specials. The Golden Ball features Ketel One Oranje, Myers’s Dark Rum, honey syrup, orange and lemon juices and Sprite; the Penalty Shot blends Jameson, peach schnapps and sour mix; and the Trophy Fries are a poutine featuring house fries, pimento cheese gravy, smoked brisket, cheese curds, Fresno chilies and pickled red onions.
Sister restaurant City Works Eatery and Pour House, with locations in Schaumburg and Vernon Hills, also will be showing all the games and have the same drink specials, but puts their own spin on the Trophy Fries by adding chorizo.
• Osteria By Capri in Downers Grove will stream all the games and offer match day food and drink specials, official merch for sale and raffle giveaways for the last few stages.
• STK Steakhouse in Oak Brook has created a Match Day menu that pairs elevated sports bar bites with globally inspired cocktails for hanging out at the bar and watching games. In addition to several $3 beer and seltzer specials, they’ll offer the Hat Trick margarita ($9); the Yellow Card, which features Jameson, pineapple and lime juices and toasted coconut ($9); the Red Card michelada with Michelob Ultra ($9) and other cocktail creations. Food specials include Mac’ Balls ($3), loaded fries with braised short rib and cheese ($6), Wagyu fried rice ($9), the STK cheeseburger ($9) and Buffalo wings ($9).
• The Side Lot in Wauconda, which has been hosting Chicago Fire watch parties since last season and recently added Premier League and Chicago Stars matches, is prepped for the world’s biggest tournament. Buy a 22-ounce “cleat cup” to get discounted beer during every game (World Cup, Fire, et al). Check their socials for a full slate of theme nights, giveaways and special events planned around key World Cup matches throughout the tournament.
• Topgolf will show every game and has added soccer-themed experiences and menu items for the World Cup. The Breakaway Breeze ($14.99-$17.59) features Casamigos blanco Tequila with strawberry, passionfruit and Q Sparkling Grapefruit, served in a collectible cup at select venues, while supplies last. The Global Cup ($10) is a customizable cocktail featuring spirits from participating soccer countries with lime and ginger beer. While you’re there, play Shot Shuffle, which has been given a soccer makeover with country flags and a soccer ball tracer.