Hamburger Mary’s Rec Room is a place that lets patrons enjoy all the perks that Hamburger Mary’s restaurant has to offer but in a sports bar setting. Located in the heart of Chicago’s far north Andersonville neighborhood, the Rec Room is another addition to the LGBTQ+ friendly bars and clubs in what is slowly becoming the “new Boystown,” though is proudly open to all who are open-minded.
The Rec Room opened its doors in the summer of 2009 and as the name suggests, it’s a place to hang out, grab a few drinks and watch your favorite Chicago sports team kick some butt, or so we hope. Like the main dining area in Hamburger Mary’s, the Rec Room isn’t very large but there are plenty of tables, even ones perfect for large groups. There are eight large flat screen TVs, so you’ll catch all the action from any seat in the bar: “NFL Sunday Ticket, ESPN’s College GameDay, March Madness, the Olympics, figure skating and just about everything else and in-between!” During halftime, the bar keeps you entertained with pool, foosball, video bowling, and Megatouch. If sports aren’t your thing then popular shows like Glee are broadcast on Tuesday nights and, depending on the crowd, you may even see some brave souls singing along with the show…
Next to sports, trivia is another popular event at the Rec Room. Every Tuesday night at 8pm, a new theme is highlighted and questions range from sports to songs to television and movies. I’ve spent several trivia nights at the Rec Room, gathering as many friends as I can and we still can’t compete against some of the Rec Room’s regulars who must have nothing better to do then study various topics to prepare for trivia Tuesdays because they get every question right. So, if you are feeling competitive and don’t mind losing to the smarty pants trivia regulars, then check it out.
The Rec Room is also home to “Mary’s Brew Tanks,” the restaurant’s own beer brewing system. I have tasted a few of their brews and can’t complain, though an avid beer drinker may take more pleasure in testing them out. Some of the brews include a pale ale named “Mary Hoppins,” an amber ale called “Gangster,” and a golden ale named “Blonde Bombshell.” They even brew a gluten-free beer. Drink specials are featured every night of the week, from “Margarita Mondays” to “Thursty Thursdays” (sic). Weekend specials vary but usually involve discounts on bottled beers.
The Rec Room offers the full Hamburger Mary’s menu until 11pm daily. The restaurant is known for their famously fantastic burgers and wide variety of toppings. [Editor’s note: the burgers at Hamburger Mary’s are second only to Kuma’s Corner.] They also offer sandwiches, entrées, salads, and the usual array of appetizers. They’re also known for interesting desserts like deep fried brownies, Twinkies and PB&J, as well as smores complete with a small fire for roasting marshmallows. And of course football wouldn’t be the same on weekends without Mary’s Mimosa Brunch, with its French toast, griddle cakes, egg scramblers, and breakfast sandwiches like the Monte Cristo.
The Rec Room opens at 11am on weekends so you can get a good seat just in time for college football and the mimosa brunch. As the name suggests, the Rec Room is very laid back and although widely known as an LGBTQ+ friendly bar, you can also find straight men and women enjoying beer and catching a game. It’s a place where no one cares who’s straight or gay, and where no one would even look twice if you came in dressed in drag. It’s more relaxed than bars in Boystown and even families and children are found here on weekdays. For anyone looking for more of a club atmosphere, check out Mary’s Attic, located above Hamburger Mary’s. The club is open Wednesday through Sunday and features DJs and dancing. For more info on Hamburger Mary’s Rec Room, The Attic and the original restaurant, check out the Hamburger Mary’s Chicago website. There’s something about Mary…
