Pool is a food deals app for UChicago students. The app is free right now.2-for-1 subs at Subway 53rd Street.2-for-1 jerk or honey wings at Ja' Grill.And thirteen more around Hyde Park. Tap Use now at the counter, show your phone and pay for one.
First deals went live Monday, September 28
1,890 free Founding Member spots open Oct 5 at 12 PM.
15 Hyde Park restaurantsSee every deal
Cedars
Palestinian. 53rd, east of Woodlawn.
2 FOR 1
Two shawarma wraps. Pay for one.
Order two Chicken Shawarma Wraps and the second one is free. Both come with fries.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Subway 53rd Street
Subs, open 24 hours. 53rd and Dorchester.
2 FOR 1
Two subs. Pay for one.
Order any two subs and the cheaper one is free. Every sub except 5 Meat Italian, Steak & Avocado and Chicken & Avocado. Paid extras not included.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
15 deals are set, and 1 more restaurant is on the lineup. You can use each one once every 30 days.
Açaí bowls and smoothies. Harper Court, off 53rd.
2 FOR 1
Two 12 oz bowls. Pay for one.
Order two 12 oz açaí bowls and the second one is free. Build them how you want.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Subs, open 24 hours. 53rd and Dorchester.
2 FOR 1
Two subs. Pay for one.
Order any two subs and the cheaper one is free. Every sub except 5 Meat Italian, Steak & Avocado and Chicken & Avocado. Paid extras not included.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Comfort food. 57th, by the bookstores.
2 FOR 1
Two Philly sandwiches. Pay for one.
Order two Philly Sandwiches, chicken or mushroom, and the second one is free. They do not have to match, and both come with fried potatoes.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Jamaican. Harper Court.
2 FOR 1
Two orders of wings. Pay for one.
Get two orders of Jerk Wings or Honey Wings and the lower-priced order is free. Wings only, not the Jerk Chicken entrée.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Steakhouse. 51st and Harper.
2 FOR 1
Two steak frites. Pay for one.
Order two Steak Frites, the 10 oz wagyu bavette, and the second one is free. Dine in only.
Only Saturday to Thursday.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Bowls, wraps and salads. 53rd Street.
2 FOR 1
Two wraps, salads or bowls. Pay for one.
Order any two from the Wraps, Salads, Bowls menu, each as a wrap, a salad or a bowl, and the lower-priced one is free. Nothing else on the menu is included.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Palestinian. 53rd, east of Woodlawn.
2 FOR 1
Two shawarma wraps. Pay for one.
Order two Chicken Shawarma Wraps and the second one is free. Both come with fries.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Cookies, cupcakes and coffee. Harper Court.
FREE REFRESHER
Buy a treat. Get a free refresher.
Order any treat and get a refresher free, one of the four house-made lemonades.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Mexican, tacos and tortas. 53rd and Kimbark.
TACO PERK
Third taco free. Or a soft drink with dinner.
Pick one per visit. Buy two tacos and get a third taco free, or buy a Taco Dinner and get a free drink. No alcohol.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Indian and soul food. 53rd, west of Harper.
2 FOR 1
Two combo meals. Pay for one.
Order two Indian combo meals and the lower-priced one is free. Tandoori Chicken, Butter Chicken, Chicken Curry or the Vegetarian Meal. Not the Lamb Curry combo.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Southern brunch, all day. 56th and Cornell.
2 FOR 1
Two orders of chicken and waffle bites. Pay for one.
Order two Chicken & Waffle Bites and the second one is free. The appetizer, not the Vegan Chk'n Bites.
Only 8 am to 7:30 pm.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Waffles, crepes, gelato and coffee. 53rd and Hyde Park Boulevard.
2 FOR 1
Two lattes. Pay for one.
Order two lattes and the second one is free. Any latte, hot or iced, any flavor, matcha too. Oat or almond milk is $1 more on each drink.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Sushi, pizza, smoothies and sandwiches. 53rd Street.
2 FOR 1
Order two. Pay for one.
Order two of the same item and the second one is free. Sushi rolls, pizza, smoothies, sandwiches, salads and more. Combos, lunch specials and alcohol are excluded.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Modern Asian. Harper Court.
2 FOR 1
Two plates of fried rice or udon. Pay for one.
Order two plates of Fried Rice or Stir-Fried Udon and the second one is free. You can mix them, then you pay for the udon. Chicken is $2 more and steak or shrimp $3 more on each plate.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
Photo: Christopher Andrew
African diaspora. 55th Street.
FREE DESSERT
Buy any entrée. Get a free dessert.
Order any entrée, at lunch, dinner or weekend brunch, and get a dessert free: Monmon Bread Pudding, Key Lime Pie, Tante's Banana Pudding Tart or the Sorrel Ginger Sorbet. At weekday lunch it is the bread pudding.
Cannot be combined with other discounts.
This restaurant is on the lineup, and each deal goes up here and in the app the day it's ready.
Nando's PERi-PERi
Flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken. 53rd Street.
Deal coming
Every restaurant has its own page, and every 2-for-1 we run in Hyde Park is on one page. The food deals map sorts them by how far they are from your dorm or street. We add restaurants as they sign on, and you can suggest one in the app.
Feeding a club, house or lab? Pool asks these restaurants for a catering quote, and you pay the restaurant directly.
Staff at the counter check a live pass on your phone.
Live pass
Example
Maya R.
2-for-1 subs at Subway 53rd Street
The pass shows the current time, ticking every second.
Pass closes 0:00 PM. The clock keeps ticking, so a screenshot won't work.
Go during the deal's hours. Some deals run only part of the day, and the app shows when. It also tells you when a place is close to running out of spots for the day.
Show your phone. Your pass shows your name and a live clock. That is how staff know it is real, so a screenshot won't work.
Order two and pay for the pricier one. The cheaper one is free. You pay the restaurant for one, plus tax and any gratuity. Pool doesn't handle payment.
After you use a deal, it comes back 30 days later.
It's free. The first 1,890 students to join get a member number, like grabbing your username early on a new app.
To get one, download Pool now. On Monday, October 5, at 12 PM, open it and tap Become a Founding Member. You don't need a card, there is nothing to pay, and it is one per UChicago email.
Founding Member
No. 214
of 1,890
Add friends from your house or your classes. When they redeem a deal you see where, and when you redeem one they see it too, unless you turn it off. Nobody sees what you spent.
You can invite people from the app. The link opens Pool if they have it and the app store if they don't.
Friends
Example
Maya used 2-for-1 chicken shawarma wraps at Cedars
Devin redeemed 2-for-1 subs at Subway 53rd Street
Priya joined from your invite
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Pool is a food deals app for University of Chicago students, with 2-for-1 deals at Hyde Park restaurants. The app is free right now. The deals are 2-for-1 12 oz açaí bowls at Deep Purpl, 2-for-1 subs at Subway 53rd Street, 2-for-1 Philly sandwiches at B'Gabs Comfort Cafe, 2-for-1 jerk or honey wings at Ja' Grill, 2-for-1 Wagyu Steak Frites at Chemistry, 2-for-1 wraps, salads and bowls at Litehouse Whole Food Grill, 2-for-1 chicken shawarma wraps at Cedars, a free refresher with any treat at StruggleBeard Bakery, a free third taco or a free drink with a Taco Dinner at 5 Rabanitos, 2-for-1 Indian combo meals at Rajun Cajun, 2-for-1 chicken and waffle bites at Dawn A.M. Eatery, 2-for-1 lattes at Sweet Drip, 2-for-1 sushi, pizza and smoothies at The Sit Down Café & Sushi Bar, 2-for-1 fried rice and udon at Mi Mi Dao and a free dessert with any entrée at Mahari. During a deal's hours you tap Use now at the counter, show your phone, and pay the restaurant for one.
Deep Purpl on Harper Court, off 53rd: Order two 12 oz açaí bowls and the second one is free. Build them how you want. Subway 53rd Street on 53rd and Dorchester: Order any two subs and the cheaper one is free. Every sub except 5 Meat Italian, Steak & Avocado and Chicken & Avocado. Paid extras not included. B'Gabs Comfort Cafe on 57th, by the bookstores: Order two Philly Sandwiches, chicken or mushroom, and the second one is free. They do not have to match, and both come with fried potatoes. Ja' Grill on Harper Court: Get two orders of Jerk Wings or Honey Wings and the lower-priced order is free. Wings only, not the Jerk Chicken entrée. Chemistry on 51st and Harper: Order two Steak Frites, the 10 oz wagyu bavette, and the second one is free. Dine in only. Litehouse Whole Food Grill on 53rd Street: Order any two from the Wraps, Salads, Bowls menu, each as a wrap, a salad or a bowl, and the lower-priced one is free. Nothing else on the menu is included. Cedars on 53rd, east of Woodlawn: Order two Chicken Shawarma Wraps and the second one is free. Both come with fries. StruggleBeard Bakery on Harper Court: Order any treat and get a refresher free, one of the four house-made lemonades. 5 Rabanitos on 53rd and Kimbark: Pick one per visit. Buy two tacos and get a third taco free, or buy a Taco Dinner and get a free drink. No alcohol. Rajun Cajun on 53rd, west of Harper: Order two Indian combo meals and the lower-priced one is free. Tandoori Chicken, Butter Chicken, Chicken Curry or the Vegetarian Meal. Not the Lamb Curry combo. Dawn A.M. Eatery on 56th and Cornell: Order two Chicken & Waffle Bites and the second one is free. The appetizer, not the Vegan Chk'n Bites. Sweet Drip on 53rd and Hyde Park Boulevard: Order two lattes and the second one is free. Any latte, hot or iced, any flavor, matcha too. Oat or almond milk is $1 more on each drink. The Sit Down Café & Sushi Bar on 53rd Street: Order two of the same item and the second one is free. Sushi rolls, pizza, smoothies, sandwiches, salads and more. Combos, lunch specials and alcohol are excluded. Mi Mi Dao on Harper Court: Order two plates of Fried Rice or Stir-Fried Udon and the second one is free. You can mix them, then you pay for the udon. Chicken is $2 more and steak or shrimp $3 more on each plate. Mahari on 55th Street: Order any entrée, at lunch, dinner or weekend brunch, and get a dessert free: Monmon Bread Pudding, Key Lime Pie, Tante's Banana Pudding Tart or the Sorrel Ginger Sorbet. At weekday lunch it is the bread pudding. Nando's PERi-PERi is on the lineup too, and its offer goes up the day it is set. The first deals went live Monday, September 28, the first day of fall quarter.
Order two eligible items and the cheaper one is free. You pay the restaurant at the counter. Pool does not handle payment. You can use each deal once every 30 days.
The first deals went live Monday, September 28, the first day of fall quarter. StruggleBeard Bakery starts Tuesday, September 29. B'Gabs Comfort Cafe starts Wednesday, September 30. Rajun Cajun, Dawn A.M. Eatery, Sweet Drip and The Sit Down Café & Sushi Bar start Thursday, October 1. Deep Purpl starts Saturday, October 3. Mi Mi Dao starts Friday, October 9. Mahari starts Sunday, October 11. Each deal works from the day it starts.
Yes. Pool is free right now for every verified UChicago student, through January 17, 2027. Every deal, every restaurant, no card. The first 1,890 students to become Founding Members in the app, from Monday, October 5, at 12 PM, keep their member number and get a founding price if Pool ever charges. You always pay the restaurant for the food, at the counter.
One of the first 1,890 students to tap Become a Founding Member in the app, from Monday, October 5, at 12 PM. It's free, and it works like grabbing your username early on a new app. Your member number stays yours, and no one else gets it. If Pool ever charges, Founding Members get a founding price while they're at UChicago. One per UChicago email, no card.
On a 2-for-1 the cheaper of the two items is free. At Deep Purpl that is a 12 oz açaí bowl, $12.95. Each deal works again every 30 days.
Yes. Pool checks your UChicago email so the deals go to students.
No. Pool is an independent app built and run by a UChicago student who lives in Hyde Park. It is not a university service.
No. UChicago Pool is the food deals app for University of Chicago students, listed on the App Store and Google Play as Pool: UChicago Food Deals. The campus swimming pool is Myers-McLoraine, in the Ratner Athletics Center.
Yes. It is free for restaurants right now, with no commission. No POS integration, no hardware. A Hyde Park restaurant sets a 2-for-1 or a free extra with a meal. Students show it on their phone and pay at the register. The form is on the Pool for Restaurants page.
Yes. Pool is on the App Store and Google Play, and it works the same on iPhone and Android.
Get Pool and use your first deal.
On Pool this quarter. The app is free right now.
Live Monday, September 28. StruggleBeard Bakery starts Tuesday, September 29. B'Gabs Comfort Cafe starts Wednesday, September 30. Rajun Cajun, Dawn A.M. Eatery, Sweet Drip and The Sit Down Café & Sushi Bar start Thursday, October 1. Deep Purpl starts Saturday, October 3. Mi Mi Dao starts Friday, October 9. Mahari starts Sunday, October 11.
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