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Cheap drinks, pizza and scenery abound at Cooper’s on Sundays.

Monday Sep 29, 2008.     By Erin Brereton

Lifestyle Feed

If you haven't realized fall has started, you're probably not alone. The temperature varies during this time of year, and it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact beginning of the season (unless you have a reliable almanac—or weather ESP).

But this much is clear: The leaves will change color and fall off at some point, and if you want to dine al fresco after that, it's going to have to involve an open flame, mittens and at least one article of clothing stuffed with down (or, in January, possibly something lined with live bears).

Which is why I've been on a quest to dine and drink outside now, before winter makes its inevitable play for calendar dominance. I will enjoy a relaxing meal under the stars for as long as I can! My sandwiches will feel the cool breeze upon them! I will drink beer in beer gardens until the surrounding foliage withers and dies around me!

For a reasonable price, of course. Which is why—when I found myself searching for a Sunday-night bargain spot a few weeks ago—I suggested Cooper's on Belmont. I had eaten dinner at Cooper's a couple of years ago, and vaguely remembered that it was within walking distance of the Red Line and had huge open windows, which gave it an outdoorsy feel. And I'd heard it had Sunday night specials.

My friend Matt and I decided to check it out. To my delight, Cooper's actually has a large outdoor porch adjacent to the restaurant—which was next to empty the night we went. Success! Matt and I grabbed the table closest to the sidewalk for maximum people-watching and inquired about the Sunday deal. It's pretty stellar: A select beer of the month (served in a bottle; there are no draft beers here, but you can get a tall glass to pour it into) is just $3. And we're not just talking Miller Lite; September's beer, for example, is Hoegaarden.

The night I was there, they were also serving up a $1 beer that was said to taste "nutty." I wasn't sure if I'd truly enjoy a beverage went down like pureed acorns or walnuts, but I was willing to give it a shot. However, when I tried to order it for my second drink, the server informed me that the beer had sold out earlier that day. (Damn alcoholic squirrels.)

By the second drink, we had grown hungry (as is my way). And, as luck would have it, our waitress told us that Cooper's offers a food special on Sundays, too. Cheese pizzas, she said, were just $5, and they were---as she assured us—big enough to split between two people. They certainly were, and came topped with slightly sweet sauce and lots of cheese. (If you can't make it on the weekend, the $5 pizza deal is also offered on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.)

The best part? Cooper's was just a really relaxed place to hang out. The waitress checked in just enough to make sure we had what we needed but was never annoying. And although it was clear when we left they were in the early stages of closing, no one tried to push us out. I got the feeling they would've let us stay another hour if we wanted to. But after several $3 beers, that was not something I was looking to do. So, deliciously full of pizza, fresh evening air and probably a little too much alcohol, I left—having spent less than $20. Not bad for a summer—I mean fall—evening.

Curious about Cooper's? Find out more about its deals by calling (773) 929-2667 or stopping by the restaurant, which is located at 1232 W. Belmont Ave.

Erin Brereton is our resident urban cowgirl on a bi-weekly search for life on the cheap. If you know of the mythic happy hour that she missed, do clue her in.