CHIGuide
Where To Watch Football With People Who Don’t Care About Football
photo credit: Sandy Noto
For true fans, football season is a balancing act. You try to watch every game you can, without alienating the people in your life who don’t understand why you tend to disappear from September until February. Starting over next year with a new friend draft, like you can with a fantasy team, isn’t an option. (Well, technically it is, but that’s pretty aggressive.)
Instead, include the non-believers in your weekend plans by hitting up spots that are good for more than just watching football. These places all have great food, as well as plenty of ways to watch the game - and best of all, no one needs to paint their face or wear a jersey. Unless your long game works, and you expose your friends to so much football that they end up loving it, too.
THE SPOTS
The downstairs of the Lincoln Park Pequod’s is 100% a sports bar, but the upstairs feels like a normal restaurant. A normal restaurant with discreet television sets - and some of Chicago’s best deep dish pizza. You won’t miss out on the game, and any non-fans who appreciate great deep dish won’t mind being here.
photo credit: Sandy Noto
Little Bad Wolf is definitely a bar, but sets itself apart with its great food and an excellent craft beer selection. There’s an interesting mix of food on the menu, and you should try the pork belly bao and tacos. Plus, the understated space won’t make you feel like Hank Williams might pop out screaming, “ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?”
There are plenty of burger spots in Chicago that are great for watching sports. We like DMK in particular because it has a wide variety of really good burgers and milkshakes, and the space is small enough that you don’t have to sit in any specific spot to see the screens. Come here with that person who pretends to like football, but only watches the Super Bowl for the commercials.
If you’re with people who are fans of great Italian food and getting drunk, then this clubby restaurant in the West Loop is a solid game-day move. It’s definitely not a sports bar, but it has enough televisions to rival Hooters, and it’s loud enough for you to get excited without ruining anyone else’s good time.
Yes, this is another pizza place, but it can’t be denied that the pizza/beer combo pairs perfectly with watching sports. Plus, Piece makes an excellent pizza with a chewy New Haven-style crust, and the beer they brew is really, really good. Since Piece is in Wicker Park, it’s ideal for hipster friends in denial about being sports-loving Midwesterners. It’s also roomy and has a huge collection of TVs that manage not to feel intrusive.
You planned to watch the game, but now your buddy’s bringing his girlfriend and her annoying friends. Go to Homeslice, a crowd-pleasing pizza spot in Lincoln Park with plenty of neon signs, swing sets, and a patio Airstreamer that’s perfect for occupying people with Instagram photography. The menu has an extensive variety of hand-tossed pizza - basically a really great version of the kind you used to have delivered to your dorm room. There are lots of couches and TVs, and there’s a large patio, making this an overall good spot for a game day hang.
