Whether you’re running 26.2 miles on Sunday or just looking for an excuse to exceed your daily carb allowance, the city’s best bars and restaurants are pulling out the stops with discounts and freebies for the 39th annual Chicago Marathon. Bring on the free beer and pasta specials—you deserve it. Here’s where to eat, drink and relax before and after the marathon this weekend.
* Please note that all deals listed are valid through Sunday, Oct. 9 unless otherwise noted.
BEFORE THE MARATHON
Dolce Italian (127 W. Huron St. 312-754-0700): Exchange a $10 bill for the River North restaurant’s spaghetti and meatball lunch with a 3-ounce glass of wine or 5-ounce pour of beer. Consider it part of your training. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
DMK Restaurants: If running isn’t your jam, you’ll appreciate the restaurant group’s third annual Sorta Marathon, where guests are invited to walk, run, bike, skip or ride their way from DMK Burger Bar (2954 N. Sheffield Ave.) to Henry’s (18 W. Hubbard St.). You’ll be greeted with complimentary beer from Lagunitas Brewing Co. and Marz Community Brewing at the finish line, and all proceeds are donated to A Special Wish Foundation. 2 p.m. Saturday. Registration starts at 1:30 p.m. $25. Tickets: eventbrite.com
G & O (459 N. Ogden Ave. 312-888-3367): Whether or not you’re running on Sunday, get your carb on with Parmesan garlic breadcrumb-crusted mac ‘n’ cheese and a Coors Banquet draft for $10. Friday through Sunday, regular business hours.
Tesori (65 E. Adams St. 312-786-9911): The Loop Italian restaurant offers a pre-race three-course meal and half-priced bottles of wine. For $30, feast on carb-filled options, such as crostinis topped with chicken liver pate, marsala-soaked figs and house pickles, wild mushroom stricchetti with tomato, thyme and parmigiano and chocolate crema. Pair it with a bottle of red or white from the Runner’s Reserve wine list ($19–$47.50) or a $20 carafe from the tap. 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday.
AFTER THE MARATHON
AceBounce (230 N. Clark St. 773-219-0900): A race bib or medal will get you a pizza and beer for just $10 at this downtown pingpong hideout. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.
Balena (1633 N. Halsted St. 312-867-3888): The upscale Italian eatery rewards bib-toting marathon runners with 26-cent pours of Off Color Brewing’s Apex Predator farmhouse ale (limit one per runner). 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.
Blackwood BBQ (962 W. Belmont Ave. 312-487-4807): Stop by the Lakeview location with valid race ID to enjoy 10 percent off your purchase. 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday.
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba (2024 N. Halsted St. 773-935-5000) and Mon Ami Gabi (2300 N. Lincoln Park West 773-348-8886): Treat yourself to a free dessert of your choice with any purchase when you bring your medal to either restaurant. Dine-in customers only. Through Oct. 13, regular business hours.
CHI50 (1814 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-661-6132): Runners, you’re invited to stop by the Bucktown fitness studio the day after the marathon for an open house featuring Delos Therapy with pain-relief therapy stretching and massages. Complimentary pizza from neighbor The StopAlong will be provided at the studio. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday.
Cruz Blanca (904 W. Randolph St. 312-733-1975): Rick Bayless is picking up the tab on your beer and guac, marathoners. Bring your medal to the West Loop taqueria to receive a beer plus an order of chips and guacamole on the house. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.
Dough Bros (400 N. State St. 312-600-9078): Show off your runner ID and buy a slice of pizza and you’ll get a second slice on the house. Dine-in customers only. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday.
DryHop Brewers (3155 N. Broadway 773-857-3155) and Corridor Brewery & Provisions (3446 N. Southport Ave. 773-270-4272): Flash that medal at either brewery location in exchange for a complimentary pint (limit one per runner). 11 a.m.–midnight Sunday at DryHop and 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Sunday at Corridor.
Dusek’s Board & Beer (1227 W. 18th St. 312-526-3851): Cash in on a complimentary beermosa (normally $8) with purchase when you show off your marathon bib. 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday.
HI-VIBE (160 W. Kinzie St. 312-724-8423): Groggy spectators and runners can drop by the River North shop to enjoy $5 Bulletproof coffees (23 percent discount) made with grass-fed butter and Brain Octane MCT oil. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
IVme Wellness (1347 N. Wells St. 312-350-1822): Runners get $26.20 off select vitamin-packed IV packages at the Old Town rehydration clinic when they mention “marathon special” ($132.80–$152.80). 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday.
The J. Parker (1816 N. Clark St. 312-254-4747): Spectators, perch up above the city to watch the marathon while sipping the 26.2 bloody mary, a build-your-own bar with 26 garnishes to choose from and 2 ounces of vodka per glass ($6 and up). 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Lotties Pub (1925 W. Cortland St. 773-489-0738): Runners and spectators alike can sip $2.62 mimosas all day. Plus, flash your runner ID to enjoy 26.2 percent off food for your entire group. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday.
Miss Ricky’s (203 N. Wabash Ave. 312-940-4777): Everyone is invited to enjoy the Loop restaurant’s bloody mary bar, but marathon runners who flash a bib or medal get a bloody mary on the house. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday.
The Pony Inn (1638 W. Belmont Ave. 773-828-5055): Take your post-marathon celebration to the Lakeview bar and enjoy 26.2 percent off all food for your entire group with a runner ID. Nosh on specials including $15 party platters (pizza, wings and tater tots), $15 Miller/Coors buckets, $4 22-ounce Miller/Coors cups and $5 Jameson and Fireball whiskey shots. 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Sunday.
The Promontory (5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West 312-801-2100): Created just for all you dedicated runners out there, the 27th mile cocktail—a mix of rum, creme de banana, pineapple juice and lime juice—is on the house with a meal purchase during brunch (9 a.m.–3 p.m.) or dinner (5 p.m.–11 p.m.) at the Hyde Park restaurant. Just show your bib or medal. Sunday.
Saint Lou’s Assembly (664 W. Lake St. 312-600-0600): Pints of Veltins Pilsner are only a buck for hungry runners who stop into the Fulton Market restaurant for a Brunch ‘n’ Three ($11–$14) during brunch (9 a.m.–3 p.m.) or a Meat ‘n’ Three ($12–$22) during dinner (5–11 p.m.). Bring your bib or medal to show off. Sunday.
Shake Shack (12 S. Michigan Ave. 312-646-6005 and 66 E. Ohio St. 312-667-1701): Cool down with a free scoop of frozen custard at either downtown location. Runners who present their bibs as proof of participation will receive one complimentary scoop with purchase. So go ahead and order that burger, too. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday.
SteakBar (1500 N. Wells St. 773-966-0404): Runners can reward themselves with $2.62 Revolution Brewing Anti-Hero IPA and Lagunitas Brewing Co. Pils Czech-style Pilsner on draft, after showing a bib or medal. 11 a.m.–2 a.m. Sunday.
Troquet (111 W. Huron St. 312-202-9900): The French bar and restaurant offers diners who ran the marathon 26.2 percent off their final bill while enjoying the mimosa brunch (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) and all-day menu (3-10 p.m.). Just flash your bib to cash in on the deal. Sunday.
Click here for restaurants and bars along the race route and here for the carbiest ways to carbo-load before the big day.
@morgancolsen | mcolsen@redeyechicago.com
@ohitsheather | hschroering@redeyechicago.com
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