Restaurant Review: Win or lose, Chicago Bears menu “speaks to Chicago” with input from fans, players
“We really wanted a menu that spoke to Chicago.”
Ryan Craig, Levy Restaurants Executive Chef, Soldier Field
With September comes 17 weeks of NFL regular season football! For Chicago Bears fans, that means daylong tailgating, delicious smells coming from every section of Soldier Field, and sampling some of Chicago’s finest game time food, courtesy of the Bears’ multi-year partnership with Levy Restaurants, which has, according to a Chicago Bears press release, “transformed concessions and hospitality experiences at Soldier Field.”
Chef Craig leaned into iconic spots and people to accomplish his goal, including former Bears defensive end Israel Idonije, a member of the 2007 Super Bowl team, now a restaurateur himself, with places like the South Loop’s Signature Steak and The Staley.
“He is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet,” Craig said on a press release. “He cares about people. He loves hospitality. I think he might even be better at hospitality than he was at football, and he was a pretty darn good Bear.”
With the Bears celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1985 season this year, creating a dish alongside former fullback and Super Bowl champion Matt Suhey.
The Bears have cultivated numerous local restaurant partnerships over the years. In 2025, Soldier Field will feature Mr. Beef, the iconic Italian Beef sandwich shop, which gained national recognition on the TV show The Bear. They have a dedicated location near Section 134.
Connie’s Pizza, available in the United Club and on the Midway, is serving a special Italian Beef and Sausage Combo Pizza.
I ask you…can you “speak to Chicago” any more loudly than a combination of deep-dish pizza and Italian Beef? I think not!
The United Club is also featuring Idonije’s specialties from his restaurants, including a Butter-Brined Crispy Chicken Sandwich, and Izzy’s Smokin Loaded Mac, topped with brisket or pulled pork.
Other options include Pardon My Cheesesteak, acollaboration with Barstool Sports for a flavor-packed cheesesteak, and the Suhey Andouille, craft sausage featuring ‘Suhey Peppers,’ a hot pepper recipe perfected by Suhey’s mother, Ginger, in the 1970s. Another player honored is Rome Odunze and the Odunze Dog, a charred jalapeño-cheddar dog over a bed of juicy Italian beef, topped with hot giardiniera, cheddar cheese crumbles and a drizzle of Levy’s secret sauce in a French roll.
Another of Craig’s specialty creations for 2025 is Brisket Nachos, (it had to happen!) served in a football-shaped dish.
And as we always say where appropriate, don’t skip dessert! This year, try their Bear Paw Donuts, a large, bear paw-shaped donut, potentially with ice cream and caramel. Or for smaller appetites, the Bears teamed up with Sugar Bliss bakery to create Bear Claw Cookies and Orange and Blue Macaroons designedto match the team’s colors.
Don’t forget the Kids!
One important focus this year was to create a Kids Club menu. According to a Chicago Bears.com story, Craig worked with several partners to create a pair of kids meal boxes, Pigs in a Blanket, Molly’s Mac and Cheese and Bear Cookies. the creation of Molly’s Mac and Cheese reflects the Bears’ focus on implementing fan ideas and feedback at Soldier Field.
The dish was inspired by a chance meeting between second-generation Season Ticket Holder Kevin McDonough and Bears President & CEO Kevin Warren at a Chicago steakhouse.
While talking with Warren about the gameday fan experience at Soldier Field, McDonough told Warren about his 6-year-old daughter Molly’s desire to always have mac and cheese available at concession stands at sporting events. From there, Molly’s Mac and Cheese was born.
These new kid-friendly options, including the meal boxes and other items, can be found at various locations throughout Soldier Field.
A new food plaza on the 300-level of the stadium also provides more opportunities to find these offerings.
For more information about the Chicago Bears, their 2025 schedule, and Soldier Field, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
