Football Fare in Bear Country
As summer winds down, football season heats up, and with football season comes some of the best eating of the year. Assuming, of course, you like burgers, chili, and barbecue. In light of the new NFL season, restaurants throughout Chicago are kicking off a slew of new football-inspired menu items.
When it comes to football eats, burgers are pretty pivotal. Especially when stacked with the likes of Polish sausage and chicken Parmesan. Bar Toma scores a gustatory touchdown with its game day Bomba Burgers, wherein a different rendition of the burger mainstay will be on deck alongside the house burger and a Chicago spin-off. Each week, executive chef Erik Freeberg will feature a few different burgers, one being the regular beef and veal patty burger with arugula, tomatoes, fior di latte, and pecorino, another being the Maxwell Bomba Burger topped with a Polish sausage and caramelized beer onions, and the third being a rotating special themed to the opposing team. This includes a West Coast Bomba made with lettuce, tomato, onion, and secret sauce as the Bears combat the 49ers on September 14; a Chicken Parm Bomba when the Bears play the Jets on September 22, and a Fried Chicken and Waffles Bomba on October 12 against the Atlanta Falcons.
At the JW Marriott’s Lobby Lounge, executive chef Michael Reich knows the way to football-lovers’ hearts is paved in chili. The chef has compiled a concise selection of football-friendly dishes this season such as smoked short rib chili with white beans and barbecue-dusted oyster crackers, warm pretzel bites with aged cheddar cheese dip, and chicken wings with buffalo and sweet chili sauces.
For both Sunday and Monday games this season, Bub City has some winning specials to enjoy, including pitchers of Coors Light during Sunday games and chicken wings and General Joe’s chicken on Mondays. Additionally, both days feature special Flamethrower shots made with housemade cinnamon-infused whiskey.
Municipal Bar + Dining Co. is serving up a bevy of meaty dishes in honor of Midwestern football teams this season. During each Bears game and Michigan State University game, the downtown bar and restaurant will serve up Buffalo chicken “Cutler” sliders, chili cheese hot dogs, and flatbreads.
For any New Orleans transplants in town, Frontier is the place for you. The Cajun- and Creole-friendly bar/restaurant, cheffed by New Orleans native Brian Jupiter, features a specialty menu during every New Orleans Saints game. Said menu contains po’boys, gumbo, oysters, frozen daiquiris, and more.
Bar Toma
110 E. Pearson Street, Chicago
(312) 266-3110
Website
JW Marriott
151 W. Adams Street, Chicago
(312) 660-8200
Website
Bub City
435 N. Clark Street, Chicago
(312) 610-4200
Website
Municipal Bar + Dining Co.
216 W. Ohio Street, Chicago
(312) 951-2125
Website
Frontier
1072 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
(773) 772-4322
Website
