Half the fun of being a Bears fan is showing your Chicago pride in public, with the grinning and grunting support of your other bar-mates. Belly up to one of these bars and enjoy anything from beergaritas to gourmet buffets.
10pin Bowling Lounge
It doesn't get much better than watching the game on eight theatre-size screens. Guests pay $75 to indulge in the all-you-can-eat buffet (think sub sandwiches, mini cheeseburgers, baked mac 'n' cheese, pizza and fresh chocolate chip almond toffee cookies) plus a four-hour open bar. Not to mention, when you're ready for a break, step onto the lanes for unlimited bowling.
Abbey Pub
Getting in free isn't all you'll get at the Abbey. Free pizza and an optional $30 drink package (draft beer, wine and soda) will keep you tummy filled while you watch the game on a 15-foot screen.
Alcock's Inn
Fork over $40 for an open bar, buffet and the game playing on 14 screens.
Avenue Tavern
The loungey Lakeview sports bar is serving up simple but satisfying specials: $4 burgers with sides and $10 Bud and Bud Lite buckets.
Belly's
It's a bevy of specials at Belly's on Super Bowl Sunday. The menu of drinks includes $3 domestics, $5 mimosas and bloody marys, $4 screwdrivers, $3.50 Woodchuck ciders and $5 Bacardi O and Bacardi watermelon drinks.
Caramel Bar
A $50 wristband buys you four hours of food and drinks (starting a half-hour before kick-off and ending a half-hour after the game ends). The cost includes basic liquors and beef-heavy eats from Buona Beef. If you're counting on cocktails, though, expect to pay out of pocket.
Cans Bar & Canteen
Cans keeps it simple with a $20 all-you-can-eat buffet during the first-half of the game plus $4 Jim Beam shots.
Crew
Place your bet on the winning team at the beginning of the game 'cause if you guess correctly, you're in for a complimentary drink. Nonetheless, the drink specials are flowing in the form of pitchers all afternoon: $9 Miller pitchers, $12 beergarita (beer and margarita mix) and monsoon (New Orleans-inspired rum and punch) pitchers. A raffle with giveaways such as portable DVD players will keep your ears perked up while your eyes are busy watching the screen.
Enclave
Spend $60 on tickets to slide through the doors around 2 p.m., feast on gourmet pizza by Piazza Bella, accompanied by an open bar, and enter Enclave's raffle to win one of five round-trip vacations to any locale where Jet Blue flies. Better still, you'll be in good company; Steve "Mongo" McMichael will serve as guest host. Email nick @ enclavechicago.com for tickets.
Grace O'Malley's
The $75 cover charge will get you V.I.P upstairs access at Grace O'Malley's, where top-shelf liquors and a full buffet will keep you busy while the game plays on the big screen. When it comes to the raffle, this place doesn't mess around; you count on prizes such as a 42-inch plasma screen TV.
Harry Caray's
Harry Caray's exceeds your selection of standard Super Bowl eats with a $35 tailgater buffet, specialty martinis and a shot at four skybox tickets to Bulls game. The menu includes everything from calamari, chicken vesuvio and rigatoni with vodka sauce to cakes, pies, cookies and coffee. Guests who'd prefer to settle into the dining room have the option of feasting on a 41-ounce prime rib of beef or 21-ounce braised short ribs. Call (312) 828-0966 for reservations.
Joe's Bar
While table seating is already sold out at this large sports-loving establishment, you still have a shot at bar or patio seating. Otherwise, it's standing room only. The $20 cover charge just gets you through the door (which opens at 1 p.m.); it's a cash bar affair.
John Barleycorn
This end-all-be-all sports bar is offering reserved seating at tables for four for $100 at each of its four locations. Booths are available for $150 at the Lincoln Park West and Wrigleyville locations.
Junior's Sports Lounge
In addition to over 30 plasma screens worth of game-watching, this upscale sports lounge offers a $30 all-you-can-eat buffet from 4 p.m. through half-time.
Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club
This Sunday at the Kit Kat means half-price martinis, five jumbo screens and $2 Miller Lite bottles.
Kroll's South Loop
Hosted by Miller Brewing Co., Kroll's party features two huge projection screens, 20 flat screens, Miller Girls live, blackjack and a raffle.
Lucky Magee's Racino Grill and Sports Lounge
The suburban sports lounge boast more than 200 TVs, high-back leather recliners and a $10 half-time buffet piled high with beef sandwiches, meatballs, wings, spaghetti and more.
Hog Head McDunna's
Appetizers plus a pizza buffet and an open bar don't come without a cover charge at McDunna's. But give up $50 and find yourself basking among multiple TV screens and more food and drinks than your stomach can handle.
Merkle's Bar and Grill
The game may not start until early evening, but Merkle's opens its doors at 10 a.m. Let the drinking commence! It's best to arrive early, and note: you must arrive with your entire party to be seated.
Motel Bar
It's ladies night at Motel Bar, where "mini" manicures, bedroom "accessories" and Ketel One and Bailey's cocktails like the Turtletini, pomegranate-cranberry cosmo and the Thin-Mint Martini. Order ala carte or invest $15 in an evening package, which includes one drink and a manicure.
Orso's
Come one, come all singles. Orso's heats up its outdoor patio and serves a complimentary pizza buffet at half-time, with $2 beers.
Players Bar & Grill
Players special Super Bowl menu features the usual suspects: burgers, wings, rib-eye sandwiches and Miller and Coors bucket specials. T-shirt giveaways are an added perk.
Redmond's
Roll out of bed early and you'll be rewarded at Redmond's. In addition to serving brunch until 3 p.m., the bar offers $15 domestic buckets and $20 import buckets.
Rockit Bar & Grill
The second floor is all about football, with more than a dozen TVs to accommodate the crowds. Football-themed eats include cheeseburgers, Vienna hot dogs, buffalo wings, turkey chili, blood Marys and mimosas.
Roscoe's Tavern
More free food?! That's right. Roscoe's serves up a complimentary buffet along with gift giveaways, drink specials and a jumbo projection screen.
Salud Tequila Lounge
Toss back tequila shots, $5 tacos and $10 buckets of Coronitas at Salud's version of Super Bowl Sunday.
Stanley's on Racine and Stanley's Kitchen & Tap
The king of comfort food doles out favorite eats like fried chicken, mashed potato and mac 'n' cheese during the big game. In case you'd like to watch the game from the dining room, the restaurant is dragging in extra TVs for your viewing pleasure.
Trader Todd's Adventure Bar
Tailgating at Trader Todd's entails all-you-can-eat brats, dogs, baked beans and potato salad plus unlimited draft beers for $25. Before the game get revved up watching clips from the Super Bowl XX and the Bears Super Bowl Shuffle. Make it to the bar by brunch and tap into the early bird special, a two-for-one brunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Uberstein's
It's all about traditional tailgating at Uberstein's. Lounge on lawn chairs, La-Z-Boys, while tossing back grilled brats, Jell-O shots and all-you-can-drink draft beers. Face-painting and prizes will keep your spirits high if the going gets tough.
Victory Liquors
Opening its doors at 11 a.m., Victory welcomes guests on a first-come-first-serve basis. Slide in for the $40 drink package or order specials a la carte,like the $6 pitchers of Bud and Bud Lite and $4 bloody marys.
Wild Goose Bar & Grill
The Lincoln Square spot hosts 20 screens plus two 10-foot projections, drink specials such as $12 domestic buckets and $15 import buckets and $4 Italian beef sandwiches. Put your hat in the ring for prize giveaways at each quarter.
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