Baza Sports Bar/Restaurant

Baza Sports Bar has opened quietly in Ukrainian Village. I live on the other end of this block and have watched the progression from overlooked warehouse-y building, initial liquor application (challenged by many neighbors, due to proximity to elementary school I'm thinking), signage changes (is it a restaurant, a sports club, or a sports bar?) to finally opening their doors BYOB last week.

They are currently serving a menu that seems to be a Ukrainian-influenced "classic" bar menu, complete with the requisite fried calamari, chicken fingers (PB Cap'n Crunch crusted!), sammiches, sliders & burgers, soups & salads (yes there is Borscht), and a few entrees like NY steak and pan-seared salmon.

Since they are currently BYO, they are focusing on the fresh-made juices and smoothies, and LaVazza coffee. But since it is a sports bar (in the basement "European style") they have a bunch of flat screen TVs showing any number of sporting events. The room is well-done in nice wood paneling, but it's still a sports bar. Oh, and I think there will be DJ's on Fri/Sat nights.

Baza Sports Bar
2500 W Chicago Ave (at Campbell)
773-252-4775
closed Mondays

Thanks for the report, I'm pretty curious about this place. It looks huge from the outside. I was afraid (and it's still possible) that it'll prove to be another Nxxt.

Peanut butter Cap'n Crunch-breaded chicken fingers sound truly awful.

The building is very large, and the current space only takes up the basement level of the northern side of the building, by the alley. What they will eventually do with the street-level space on the Chicago Ave side, I haven't a clue.

As for Nxxt, that space seems to be cursed, but at least they started with a liquor license. How long Baza can operate without one...hmmm.