Wednesday
Joey’s Brickhouse
1258 W. Belmont Ave. 773-296-1300
What’s free: Dessert. Well, specifically: fresh, cinnamon-sugar sprinkled doughnuts served with three dipping sauces. On-menu desserts are still full-price.
What’s not: Dinner. Entrees include 10-ounce skirt steak ($18) and meatball casserole with house-made noodles ($14).
Other freebies: Owner Joey Morelli scatters cheap-o trinkets like retro Elvis ashtrays and Wonder Woman key chains around the place that you’re welcome to pocket.
Thursday
North End
3733 N. Halsted St. 773-477-7999
What’s free: Chili. Have it your way at this straight-friendly gay sports bar. Sidle up to the chili bar and doctor up a bowl with your choice of fixin’s.
What’s not: Beer. Pitchers of Miller High Life and Miller Light are $8.
Other freebies: Sunday Bears football parties offer a free buffet spread, football trivia and live entertainment from Mama, a laugh-a-minute drag queen.
Friday
Full Shilling
3724 N. Clark St. 773-248-3330
What’s free: Wings from 5-7 p.m. OK, so wings aren’t exactly pricey, but judging from the size of the crowds here, you’d think they were giving away Pontiacs.
What’s not: Energy cocktails ($4). And you’ll need all the energy you can muster to fight your way to those wings.
Other freebies: Stop by for a free hot dog on Cubs home games (in town through Sunday), starting one hour before and ending one hour after the game. Beer purchase required.
Saturday
Randolph Wine Cellars
1415 W. Randolph St. 312-942-1212
What’s free: Wine. Tastings, that is. Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. sample fine wines. This week, German reisling gets the spotlight. No bottom-of-the-barrel grapes here; wines are usually in the $10-$20 a bottle range.
What’s not: Wine. Bottles, that is. If you like what you try, take home a bottle. A 2001 Gunderloch Reisling Kabinett, one of the wines featured this week, retails for $16.99.
Other freebies: During the 30 wines for $30 event at adjacent spot The Tasting Room (next Tuesday and every third Tuesday of the month; 312-942-1313), munch free beef tenderloin skewers, shrimp cocktails and salmon croquettes while you sip.
Sunday
Blue Water Grill
520 N. Dearborn St. 312-777-1400
What’s free: Your Sunday eye-opener. During brunch (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) your first bloody mary, screwdriver, bellini, mimosa, campari or champagne is free.
What’s not: Your Sunday brunch. Try the fantastic crab cake Benedict ($12). Other options: peach beignets ($10), seafood salads ($12-$19) and sushi (prices vary).
Other freebies: Can’t do brunch? Dinner guests get a postprandial house-made mini-chocolate bar that arrives in its own special box.
Monday
Golden Budha
312 W. Randolph St. 312-609-0000
What’s free: Appetizers from 4:30-6 p.m. This after-work special (offered nightly) includes appetizers like diced teriyaki or barbecue pork, egg rolls, steamed chicken dim sum and fried wontons.
What’s not: Cocktails. Try the Golden Budha Mai Tai ($6.95) or the Super Mai Tai with an extra shot of Bacardi 151 ($7.95).
Other freebies: Free almond and fortune cookies after meals.
Tuesday
Brasserie Jo
59 W. Hubbard St. 312-595-0800
What’s free: Alsatian-style pizza. These thin-crust pizzas come with fancy toppings; white cheese, bacon and bacon fat-sauteed onions, anyone? Bartenders pass them around like hors d’oeuvres for all in the bar area to share from 5-7 p.m.
What’s not: German-style beer. “Brasserie” means “brewery” in French, but manager Kevin Reed recommends a Hacker-Pschorr ($7.50) to wash down the pizza.
Other freebies: Beyond your inflated sense of satisfaction from all the pizza, not much!
