Beefy deals

Hamburgers can run the price-tag gamut, but you don’t have to let fast-food joints corner the market on cheap eats. Gather up your spare change and eschew the drive-thru for these affordable all-beef creations. With prices like these, you can even afford to bring a date—that is, unless the object of your affection wields a lifetime PETA membership.

The Abbey Pub
The deal: $3 burgers on Tuesdays
The details: Hit up this music venue and traditional Celtic pub to catch both up-and-coming acts and a juicy, 8-ounce burger served on a brioche bun and paired with a heaping helping of fries. Douse the fries in vinegar for a true Irish experience. Drink deals include $3 Newcastle drafts and $4 Stoli and lemonade cocktails.
The catch: Toppings, including cheese, are $1 extra.

The Spread
The deal: $1 burgers on Tuesdays
The details: Digging through the couch cushions (preferably those on someone else’s couch) will likely yield enough loose change to buy this burger. Raiding a park fountain might help you accumulate enough coin to splurge on fries or a $2 draft.
The catch: Fries are $2.50 extra, cheese costs another 50 cents, and toppings (including mushrooms, fried egg and gorgonzola butter) run $1 each.

Addiction Sports Bar & Grill
The deal: $1.50 burgers on Wednesdays
The details: Shave the gams, grab the ladies and walk down the street with the "Sex and the City" theme song running through your head for $5 martinis at Addiction. After your tabletop fills with glasses, the filling, 8-ounce burger and fries combo will come in handy. The catch: Toppings, including cheese, cost 50 cents extra.

Rebel Bar & Grill
The deal: $2 burgers on Wednesdays
The details: Tickets to a Cubs World Series will cost more than hiring Eddie Vedder to play your next birthday party, so start saving now by eating at this stylish enclave of Cubbie fandom in Wrigleyville. The burgers are made-to-order and come dressed with lettuce, tomato and pickle. Anything more fancy, such as crumbled blue cheese, will cost you extra, but your choice of fries, tater tots or a side salad is included. Score a draft on the side for $3.
The catch: Toppings, including cheese, cost 75 cents extra.

Aberdeen
The deal: $2 burgers on Thursdays (pictured)
The details: Do you love cheering on the home teams, but still want to shake it like a Polaroid picture now and again? Aberdeen’s multi-personality atmosphere might be the answer. Get down and dirty with this substantial $2 burger and score after-party cred with $5 Effen drinks and $5 bomb shots.
The catch: Fries are $2.50 extra.

Union Park
The deal: $2 burgers on Mondays
The details: For a select group of people, Monday night means "Gossip Girl." For those unimpressed with the dalliances of wealthy high schoolers, Monday equals football specials. Glue your eyes to one of Union Park’s 22 screens while using one hand to hold this traditional, no-frills quarter-pound burger and the other to drain a Miller or Bud from $12 buckets.
The catch: $1 extra for fries; 50 cents for cheese.

Matisse Tavern & Grill
The deal: $3 burgers on Mondays
The details: Keep the picnic spirit alive and dine on Matisse’s patio while chowing on this heavy half-pounder. Keep it (somewhat) healthy with sweet potato fries, or indulge with $4 Beer of the Month bottles.
The catch: Toppings, including cheese (American, blue, cheddar, provolone or Monterey Jack), cost 75 cents extra.

Janine Schaults is a Metromix special contributor. metromix@tribune.com