Runners from around the country will be descending on the Windy City this weekend to test themselves in the Chicago Marathon. If you’re a runner, someone supporting a runner or just want to watch the action, you can take advantage of the specials being offered at these 15 spots, which include carb-loaded Saturday night dinners, celebrations along the route and deals for athletes to make getting to the finish line even more rewarding.
Bistronomic
840 N. Wabash Ave., 312-944-8400
The Gold Coast restaurant offers a special menu of pasta dishes for $13.10 to $26.20 all weekend plus a $26.20 brunch featuring brioche French toast and bottomless mimosas. Runners who complete the marathon in less than two hours and 45 minutes will receive a complimentary dessert and a local beer in addition to bragging rights.
Equinox Pop-Up at Box Shops by Related
725 W. Randolph St.
The West Loop fitness studio is transforming into a free runners’ lounge from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday where you can stop in for foam rolling stations, massages, healthy snacks, coffee, tea and juice. Protein Bar will also be providing brunch. RSVP: eventbrite.com
ETA Restaurant & Bar
455 N. Park Drive, 312-840-6605
The Streeterville spot packs some carbs into its menu from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, serving rigatoni with Italian sausage, roasted red pepper and mozzarella ($18) and pasta with clams, grilled broccolini and tomato confit.
Fisk & Co.
225 N. Wabash Ave., 312-236-9300
Put away plenty of carbs and protein during Saturday dinner at The Loop spot, which will be serving cavatelli pasta with shrimp, calamari and fennel ($21) and an arugula and bulgur wheat salad featuring roasted squash, grilled chicken and cumin-scented yogurt ($20).
The Florentine
151 W. Adams St., 312-660-8866
Fuel up from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday with a $42 buffet including mushroom ravioli, grilled chicken breast and seasonal pizza. On Sunday, the Loop restaurant will be offering half-price meals to all parties with at least one runner sporting a bib. Two Brothers seasonal drafts are half-price all weekend long and runners who come in to eat on Sunday will get a free brew.
HopCat
2577 N. Clark St., 312-257-2599
The Lincoln Park bar opens their street-side windows to provide a view of the race and offers spectators 10 percent off their bill. Runners who show their bib get a 20 percent discount.
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127 W. Huron St., 312-374-1830
The rooftop bar hosts a marathon after-party from 2 to 7 p.m. where runners will get a free beer when they show their bibs and can also get custom engraving added to their medal at no cost. A $39 brunch buffet includes a prime rib and turkey carving station, sushi, make-your-own tacos and dessert. You can also get hydrated with $12 frozen Gatorade cocktails.
Lottie’s Pub
1925 W. Cortland St., 773-489-0738
The Bucktown bar offers $2.62 mimosas all day on Sunday and rewards runners who present their race ID with 26.2 percent off food for their entire group.
LH Rooftop
85 E. Upper Wacker Drive, 312-357-1200
Racers can circle back to the spot near the starting line from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and show their bib or medal to receive a complimentary mimosa or bloody mary with the purchase of any brunch entree.
Margeaux Brasserie
11 E. Walton St., 312-625-1324
Anyone who shows off their participation number at the Gold Coast spot will get a free order of brioche French toast (normally $18) made with vanilla, blueberries and Meyer lemon curd.
Shore Club
1603 N. Lake Shore Drive, 312-635-8058
Cool off at the lakefront spot, where runners will get $4 off all frozen cocktails and 20 percent off large-format cocktails.
Swissotel Chicago
323 E. Upper Wacker Drive, 312-565-0565
The Loop hotel is offering a special package for runners, but even if you’re not staying there it’s worth stopping by for all the other support they’re giving the race. They’ll have a poster-making station and sell $3 cowbells throughout the weekend if you want to get geared up for the sidelines. The hotel lobby bar, Amuse, will offer a $17 carb-loading happy hour on Saturday where you can design your own pasta with ingredients including shrimp, fresh mozzarella and turkey Bolognese. Reward yourself after the run with a half-pound sirloin burger and draft beer for $17.
Taco Joint
158 W. Ontario St., 312-337-8226 and 1969 N. Halsted St., 312-951-2457
Both the Lincoln Park and River North restaurants are offering marathon medal holders and their friends $2.62 tacos and cans of Modelo Especial all day on Sunday.
Travelle Kitchen & Bar
330 N. Wabash Ave., 312-923-7705
Watch the race from the restaurant, which offers views of the first and third miles, and enjoy a special pasta-focused menu featuring sweet potato gnocchi with chorizo, salsa verde and a sunny-side up egg ($21) and rigatoni with roasted tomato and almond pesto, grilled shrimp and basil ($29).
Weber Grill Restaurant
539 N. State St., 312-467-9696
Located just off the marathon route, the restaurant will be hosting a viewing party breakfast buffet from 6:30 to 11 a.m. where $17.95 gets you French toast, muffins, waffles, sausage, bacon and made-to-order omelets.
Samantha Nelson is a RedEye freelancer.
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