Do Mondays make you sour? Let these spots turn lemons into lemonade (and add a splash of vodka) with cheap eats and bargain drinks, all priced to help make the start of the workweek less painful. The only problem left will be figuring out what to do with Tuesdays.
Finn McCool’s
If a hearty, juicy steak isn’t enough to draw you into this popular Irish pub, perhaps the price tag of $6.99 will. Locals and tourists pack the place for the 10-ounce New York strip steak, then wash it down with $1 Bud Light drafts and $3 Jack Daniels mixers. If that’s not enough to chase away your Monday woes, McCool’s has 14 TVs that blare sporting events to drown out all your worries. 15 W. Division St. 312-337-4349.
1492 Tapas Bar
We can’t tell you the secret ingredient in the sangria at this River North spot, but we can tell you that it’s a steal on Monday nights at only $2 a glass. The restaurant uses owner Victor Borras’ family recipe to create the crimson concoction so that patrons can “get as close to Spain as possible,” says manager and bartender Fuzell Tucker. 42 E. Superior St. 312-867-1492.
The Pumping Co.
Famous for its Saturday night “penny pitchers,” this Rogers Park bar keeps the deals coming on Monday nights, when pints of Budweiser and Bud Light are only $1. You’ll always find a slew of frugal college kids crowding the place–a sure sign that you’ve found the best spot for bargain beers. 6157 N. Broadway, 773-743-7994.
Hog Head McDunna’s
Be forewarned: The grub specials at McDunna’s are bound to force your belt buckle down a few notches by the end of the night. Start off with a hefty pitcher of Miller Lite for $5 and a stack of 25 cent jumbo wings, then add a crock of chili for $1.50 and a gooey plate of nachos for $2.99 (after 6 p.m.). We’re confident you’ll learn the true meaning of Hog Head in no time. 1505 W. Fullerton Pkwy. 773-929-0944.
Jeremy Lanigan’s Irish Pub
Beers for a buck sounds like a bargain until you step into this South Side pub, which knocks out the competition with its 75 cent domestic drafts. Irish nationals dominate the crowd, but it’s clear from the friendly patrons that everyone’s welcome to partake in the pints. If you don’t get your fill of Irish goodness on Mondays, stop in on the first Sunday of every month when live bands perform. 3119 W. 111th St. 773-233-4004.
Celtic Crown
It shouldn’t surprise you that Monday is the busiest night for this Lincoln Square bar, since the $1 half-pound burgers are the cheapest in town. Feel like splurging? Go for the $2 deluxe burger and have your patty topped with cheese and accompanied by a pile of crispy fries. 4301 N. Western Ave. 773-588-1110.
Dunlay’s on Clark
Wining and dining won’t break the bank when you go to Dunlay’s, where all glasses of wine are half-price on Mondays. Choose from a selection of 12 wines, including Cosentino cabernet savignon, Carneros pinot noir and Coppola merlot. Why offer such a deal? “We want to help educate people about wine,” owner Doug Dunlay says. “But we don’t want people to get beat up by the price.” 2600 N. Clark St. 773-883-6000.
