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A Bummer of a Bar Buffet
Monday Nov 26, 2007.
By Erin Brereton
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 photo: Erin Brereton
Burwood is like so many Wrigleyville and Lincoln Park corner bars: tables built into the wall, weathered bar stools and narrow rooms that fill fast on Saturday nights. On Monday, however, things are a lot more low-key. And while Monday may not be the most likely night to go out drinking, it is a cheap one at Burwood: Miller or Miller Lite pitchers cost just $7, well drinks are $3 and the bar has a free buffet that starts at 8 p.m.
The term "buffet" is a widely interpreted one. To some, it includes a massive spread; to others, it's a Dixie cup of potato chips for all to enjoy. I always suspect that restaurants just put out leftovers for these free happy hours snacks—which I'll eat anyway, but try to look suspicious while doing so—so I was curious to find out exactly what Burwood paired with those reasonably priced pitchers.
When I met my friend Matt at the bar just before 8 p.m., the waitress took our beer order and told us the buffet was on its way. The buffet didn't arrive until after 8:30, and when it did, it came with little fanfare: no big announcement and no signs directing us to its location. Some guy just rushed through the bar with the trays and dumped them in the empty back room. I was not far behind.
I was happy to see the snacks were catered, but, as I'm an extremely nonjudgmental yet fairly strict vegetarian, was bummed that the only choices were two types of chicken wings—hot and not hot (I am told)—and the standard wing accoutrements. So, as Matt piled up a plate, I began to assemble my delicious dinner of carrot sticks with ranch dressing.
But, really, it's hard to complain about something free, especially when a bar makes the effort to pay for goodies to bring in. Still, if the buffet's goal was to boost Monday night attendance at the Burwood, the wings weren't workin'. I didn't see anyone else eat them, or even go back to look at them, as we listened to '80s hair band and Regina Spektor tunes. I did, however, see a few people linger, enjoying the drink specials a bit longer than they should.
My carrot sticks were quite fresh and very tasty, but (and this is hard to believe, I know) somehow failed to soak up the two pitchers of Miller Lite we'd split. Drunken from beer and beta carotene, I asked for the bill and we rolled out onto the street in search of supper.
But it was a Monday—and Veteran's Day, no less—so the first two places we stopped by were closed. Luckily, we stumbled across the Other Side bar, which had an open kitchen and specials.
We nabbed $2 Coors Lights and ordered up some really unhealthy, really tasty fried appetizers, thanks to the bar's $7.95 "Build a Combo" platter, which allows you to pick three. Our platter included golden brown, delicious mac 'n' cheese wedges, fried onions and tater tots, which got me through grade school lunches (as well as several dates in my mid-20s.)
Matt also ordered fried pickles, but I wasn't feeling brave enough to try any. It was, after all, only the beginning of the week—and I don't get too adventurous until around Thursday.
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