“Bye Buddy, hope you find your dad!”
If you have eggnog flowing through your veins and a propensity for sugary breakfast foods, you have to check out Elf’d Up in Wrigleyville. One of many Christmas bars that have taken over the neighborhood, Elf’d Up is a Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrel) themed pop-up at the Stretch Bar & Grill. For breakfast fans, the bar hosts a “Brunch with Buddy!” and for movie buffs, it also has Wed night trivia all about the film Elf.
Elf’d Up really spared no expense transforming the Stretch Bar & Grill into its seasonal Christmas bar. Elf legs hang off the sign, from the ceiling, and out of mirrors; there’s a giant tree in the back corner being straddled by Buddy himself; they even dress up the bouncer in elf-attire. The pop-up is a truly dedicated space for fans of Will Ferrel’s classic Christmas movie.
The bar’s menus take it another step in the red & green direction with a nice (food) and naughty (drinks) list. You can try many Elf themed bites including the Claus-O-Meter Quesadillas, Papa Elf’s Homemade Mac & Cheese, and a Buddy Burger. They also have incredible fried cheese curds with notes of garlic and a choice of marinara, mustard, or ranch.
Our favorite drink on the menu is the Yule Mule– a festive Moscow mule– with Naughty or Spice– a hot red wine and apple cider cocktail– coming in at a close second. Elf’d Up also has two mock-tails, Elf on the Shelf with strawberry puree, lime, ginger beer and pop rocks and Mench on a Bench with mint, lime, soda water, and a splash of cranberries.
For those who want to meet Buddy the Elf himself, Elf’d Up hosts a “Brunch with Buddy” every Sun. Enjoy a fantastic brunch menu ranging from $8 to $12 per entree including Papa Elf Pancakes, a Buddy Burrito, You Smell Like Bacon, Egg & Cheese Sandwich and more. Buddy has been known to show up on occasion, so look out for him while you sip on Sleigh All Day cranberry, vodka, and prosecco cocktails.
If trivia is more your thing, Elf’d Up hosts an Elf movie trivia every Wed night. Teams of four can compete for prizes like free drinks, a $100 Elf’d Up gift card, and fun swag. If you’re not a trivia person, we suggest timing your visit a different night as it can be a little awkward if you’re just there for drinks.
Elf’d Up is open daily including Christmas and Christmas Eve. It will also host an NYE party, All That Glitters.” We highly suggest attending to get in your holiday fix before the bar returns to being Stretch Bar & Grill for the new year, although the normal bar is great, too.
Practical information
Feature photo by Charli Renken.