Lemont Bars, Restaurants Prepare for Bears-Packers Showdown
Several local establishments are offering free buffets, drink specials and plenty of big screen TVs for Sunday's NFC Championship.
Looking for a place to watch the Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers this Sunday? Various Lemont bars and pubs have you covered.
Drink and food specials won’t be hard to find in town as the Bears make their bid for the Superbowl against their rivals. From free food buffets to beer and liquor deals, customers should enjoy themselves no matter what the final score.
3 Corners Grill & Tap, 12372 S. Derby Road, expects to see a standing-room only crowd for the game, said owner Kevin Metz.
“It’s going to be packed to the gills,” Metz said. “Standing room only for sure. It’s the last playoff game. (Last week) we had people standing in the bar."
The restaurant will offer half-off appetizers, $5 Absolut Bloody Mary’s and $9 buckets of Miller Lite, Coors and Bud Light beer as the game plays on its numerous flat-screen TVs. They will also be getting customers in the game spirit by holding a quarter raffle with Bears and 3 Corners merchandise.
Metz said 3 Corners is further preparing itself for a large crowd by having extra staff and kitchen personnel on hand to keep patrons satisfied. If the Bears go to the Superbowl, 3 Corners will do something big, but they don’t want to jinx the hometown team if they plan too far ahead, Metz said.
"We expect a great crowd," he said. "It’s the spot to be.”
This Must Be the Place, 206 Main St., said it will celebrate the Bears’ bid for glory by offering $2 Bud Lights, $5 Bloody Mary’s and a free halftime appetizer buffet. An employee said they don’t expect a huge crowd for this game, but they plan on hosting a Super Bowl event where they will bring in a large TV.
Also getting in on the action is Tom’s Place, 110 Stephen St., which will offer $2 bottles of Budweiser and Michelob products, an employee said.
Slammers Pub and Grill, 1243 State St., will provide 50-cent wings during the game, owner Tom Gangas said. They will also offer drink specials, which have yet to be finalized. The pub has 22 televisions, a full bar and a hearty menu that should make the game-watching experience fulfilling.
Gangas said it’s difficult to predict the expected crowd for the game since it's usually quiet for them during Bears games.
“This past Sunday was quiet, but Saturday night was wall-to-wall with a line out the door,” Gangas said. “I’m hoping it’s going to be busier (this Sunday). The game starts at 2 p.m. so there’s plenty of time after church.”
Illinois Bar & Grill, 1131 State St., is expected a large turnout for the game, said manager Sherri Korosa.
“I don’t know how big it’s going to be, but we usually have a full house, so I’m expecting it to be packed,” she said.
Korosa added that if the Bears go to the Super Bowl, the bar will “absolutely” have an event for the occasion. The bar will feature $5 Miller Lite pitchers, $1 Bloody Mary’s, a free halftime buffet and deals on certain shots of liquor for each touchdown. They will also offer a slab of ribs for $9.99, she said.
Before Sunday's game, be sure to enter Patch's "Predict the Score" contest for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Target!