The Wiener’s Circle: We’re Here For You

June 11, 2020 7:18 AM

With Chicago restaurants struggling to carry on in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the health restrictions it has triggered, The Wiener's Circle (previously, previouslier), has found its way to cope (NSFW).
posted by kgander (16 comments total)

Well, this is the first corona joke I've enjoyed.

It'll be interesting to see what happens to Wiener's Circle over the next few years. It's impossible not to acknowledge the insult-comedy of the Wiener's circle is fueled by an unspoken tension arising from Chicago's ongoing segregation. I haven't been there since 2009, actually, I wonder what it's been like since Eric Garner. Regardless of what change comes over the next year, sadly, I'm sure how much that will change Wrigleyville.
posted by midmarch snowman at 8:11 AM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]

Egad, I laughed out loud. Thank you.
posted by njohnson23 at 8:55 AM on June 11, 2020

A few years ago I went to a falafel place (long since closed) and the cashier unexpectedly roasted me for the entire time it took to get my order ready. It was sort of fun but way more of a personal interaction than I want when I'm grabbing lunch.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 9:00 AM on June 11, 2020

The thing about Wiener's Circle is that they're really only rude at night.

During the day it's all perfectly friendly chitchat (I used to live nearby and happen to like hot dogs god help me). I mean, it's still a scungy hole in the wall, but everyone is pretty friendly and the customers are all polite.
posted by aramaic at 9:05 AM on June 11, 2020 [8 favorites]

Yep. I used to eat there from time to time back in the late '80s, early '90s. During the day it was a perfectly normal hot dog joint. They used Merkt's Cheese on their hand-cut fries and that was amazing! They started the nasty stuff at late nights when dealing with drunks around when the bars closed (I was only ever there during the day) and at some point it caught fire and made them famous. Now they play it way, way up for the publicity and the crowds.
posted by SoberHighland at 9:10 AM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]

I'm sure how much that will change Wrigleyville.

FTR, Weiner's Circle is a couple miles south of Wrigley, in Lincoln Park — which has its own racist, segregationist past as a backdrop.
posted by me3dia at 10:16 AM on June 11, 2020 [4 favorites]

The thing about Wiener's Circle is that they're really only rude at night.

My only WC experience was sort of twilight - the staff were nice enough to my wife and i but merciless towards the drunks coming in on their way home from that day's cubs game (despite me3dia's geographic observation).
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:57 AM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]

The one time I went in late at night, I went with a Tunisian friend. The same woman featured in this video tried to dutifully fulfill her trash talking obligations by saying my friend looked like a terrorist. But, said friend being pretty good looking, she also tried to make clear she thought he could get. it.

It was a weird dichotomy. Let me throw some hate speech at you, but, uh, FYI, 10/10, would bang.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:39 AM on June 11, 2020 [7 favorites]

I’ve lived in Chicago for 20 years and finally went there last year (at night) and was very nervous that the yelling was MANDATORY but it was not and I just ordered like a regular person and the food was good!
posted by jeweled accumulation at 11:59 AM on June 11, 2020

The commercial makes it clear that you can order the abuse as a side. Or, sides, if you're feeling extra hungry.
posted by kaibutsu at 2:40 PM on June 11, 2020

When I lived in Chicago, I didn't even know they were rude at night till I heard the This American Life episode about it. I just thought they had good hot dogs. (Man, I miss Chicago hot dogs.)
posted by fiercecupcake at 3:12 PM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]

Ugh, now I'm just sitting here thinking goddammit I want a char polish, fries, and some beer from the 7-11 across the street from them.
posted by aramaic at 4:02 PM on June 11, 2020

Ehh, the original Ed Debevic's was more fun. The servers insulting you could also sing and dance, and the milkshakes were transcendent.
posted by Chitownfats at 4:27 AM on June 12, 2020 [1 favorite]

Apparently even the "side order of abuse" isn't always delivered.
posted by me3dia at 2:43 PM on June 12, 2020 [1 favorite]

I lived literally across the street (2611) from the Circle for about 3 years. The stories I could tell. My record is 8 nights (after midnight) in a row. Just getting up the nerve to order the first time I went in. Oh my. Staggering home from the Burwood Tap and getting a char dog all the way...
posted by AugustWest at 6:43 PM on June 12, 2020

They have good fries.
posted by srboisvert at 5:34 AM on June 13, 2020