Area Restaurants, Bars Gear Up For Game
Several bars will be offering specials during the game this Sunday.
Nick Schwall and Stephanie Daly know where they're going to be Sunday afternoon when the Chicago Bears take on the Green Bay Packers.
"We'll be right here," Schwall and Daly chimed in together.
The two ate dinner together this week at nearby Cary's Wool Street Grill & Sports Bar, a place with a 8-by-12 foot television screen that dominates a wall in the bar area. Dozens more conventionally sized televisions in the bar are there and also showing sports.
One can see why sports fans come here to watch games live.
And Sunday isn't just any old game. The last time the Bears played the Packers in the playoffs was in 1941. Add to the fact that the two teams have a rivalry that dates back even further, and its safe to say that fans are pumped for the game and ready to find a place to sit and watch the game unfold this Sunday. Kick-off is at 2 p.m.
Schwall, a Cary resident, said he's a big-time Bears fan and he and Daly have spent every Bears game this season together inside Wool Street.
Rachael Christian, a bartender and manager at Wool Street, said the special drink for the game is a make-your-own Bloody Mary.
"You can spice up your drink with shrimp, onions whatever you want," Christian said. "We also have wings and sliders."
One Crystal Lake restaurant has been very public in showing its allegiance to the Bears. A sign outside the Crystal Lake Rib House, 5111 East Terra Cotta Avenue, advertises prices for Packers' fans will be twice the typical menu listing, according to an Associated Press article.
"They say, 'We really don't have to pay double, do we?'" said owner Dave Faccone, who insists it's a joke, in the AP article. Still, some Bears fans have chimed in.
"I got a text saying, 'You big troublemaker, charging them double. It should be triple,'" he said.
Other spots to watch the Bears-Packers game:
Parkside Pub, 11721 E Main St., Huntley. The restaurant and bar has six television sets that will all be tuned into the game. It offers bar food and, appitizers along with burgers, sandwiches, steak house, American, seafood and Mexican dishes. The drink special on Sunday is Bloody Mary.
Niko’s Grill and Pub, 11900 Freeman Road, Huntley. There’s a cozy bar to relax in while you watch the game. The menu includes sandwiches, steak house, American and seafood.
Sammy’s Restaurant and Bar, 11012 N Il Route 47, Huntley. Customers can enjoy free food at half-time along with a drink special that features a $15 bucket filled with six domestic beers of your choice. The bar just installed three plasma-screen television sets.
Moretti's Ristorante & Pizzeria, 220 N. Randall Road, Lake in the Hills. This bar/restaurant has more than 100 plasma-screen televisions. They specialize in Chicago-style pizza. You can get a large pizza for $10 during the game and $4 for a Bloody Mary.
Barley House, 1520 Randall Road, Algonquin. The restaurant is having a cheese-free Sunday. There will be a free hot dog and chili buffet at half-time with the purchase of a beverage. The bar will have plenty of drink choices, Barley House has almost 300 craft brew beers.
Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar, 461 S. Randall Rd., Algonquin; and, 5755 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake. This chain of sports bars feature big-screen televisions and barbecued chicken wings.
Georgio's Chicago Pizzeria & Pub, 75 E. Woodstock St., in Crystal Lake. Across the street from the train station in downtown Crystal Lake, you can watch the game on a big-screen television with your family. There is also a bar in the back where you can watch the game.
The Thirsty Whale Bar & Grill, 1700 S. Randall Road in Algonquin. The Thirsty Whale will have $10 buckets of domestic beer, $3 bloody mary's, $4 Mai Tai's and plenty of TVs.