The Yard House at The Glen

I've been to The Yard House in or around Palm Springs. Quite an impressive selection of beers. The bartender told me about a location in Illinois at "The Glen". Has anyone been there? Do they carry regional brews like Flossmoor or Three Floyds? How's the food?

Like the other Yard Houses, they have 120 - 130+ beers on tap. Food is reasonably good - above average for bar food. Checking their latest online selection, they say they have Bells, 3Floyds, Sprecher, and Goose Island; didn't see any New Glarus or Flossmoor, and I don't know if my list is up to date, but it does look like the chain allows local outlets to include a reasonable number of local/regionals.

They won't have New Glarus because they aren't sold in Illinois and if they still have Bell's drink up because once its gone, its gone

As with the rest of the Chicago area, the Yardhouse Bell's selection is MIA. I enjoy the beer selection here and the knowledgable bartenders, the food is secondary. (It actually seems like all of the restauraunts in the Glen are owned by one mega corporation as their menus are remarkably similiar. A greater selection of lettuce wraps and onion ring towers you will not find)
A couple of caveats: Like a lot of suburban places the cavernous area tries to be "kid friendly" which is seriously nerve racking mid-drink. Nothing like enjoying a Rogue Hazlenut while a child screams to a disaffected parent two feet away. Also, having talked to more than a few of the bartenders, they are not the best corporation to work for, to the degree that I have seriously considered not patronizing their place.
The problem? There is no where else in this neck of the suburbs (Glenview, Wilmette, Northfield) to get this kind of beer selection. If there is, I would love to be proven wrong

I had no idea this place existed, thanks. Despite mixed reviews online, it has to be worth a trip.

I'm on a quest to try as many different beers on tap as possible this year, and this place might help. They probably don't have anything I couldn't find in the city, with a few exceptions like Piraat and Optimator that I can't immediately name a place where I know might have them, but it sounds like it's worth checking out.

I was going to make a post about this quest eventually (after a bit more 'research') - and my quest really isn't about the Map Room/Hopleaf/Quenchers type beer bars with 2 dozen taps, but really about the regular bars that devote a tap or two to something you don't see everywhere. Those bars certainly deserve support from us drinkers if they bring us something new to try every once in awhile.

I consider myself a cerevisiphile, but I have sworn to never set foot in the Yard House again. I'm rarely happy in corporate food environments to begin with, and Yard House is very clearly one of those. I'll admit that the food is decent for the corporate/chain nature of the place, but the service staff has that "Stepford waitperson" vibe going on. The thing that keeps me from going back, though, is their insistence on taking custody of your credit card if you sit at the bar and want to run a tab. They don't just run the card to check it and open a tab, they take your credit card and keep it behind the bar. I spent 15 futile minutes protesting this ridiculousness up and down the hierarchy only to be repeatedly told that "it's our corporate policy". Your choice is either to pay cash for every new item brought to you, whether beer or food, or let them keep your card. They don't follow this policy with people at tables, just at the bar. This annoys me to the point where my "personal policy" is to never go there again.

Plus, they keep the beer too cold.

Map Room or Hopleaf for me.

Giovanna

Giovanna wrote:... The thing that keeps me from going back, though, is their insistence on taking custody of your credit card if you sit at the bar and want to run a tab. They don't just run the card to check it and open a tab, they take your credit card and keep it behind the bar. I spent 15 futile minutes protesting this ridiculousness up and down the hierarchy only to be repeatedly told that "it's our corporate policy". Your choice is either to pay cash for every new item brought to you, whether beer or food, or let them keep your card. They don't follow this policy with people at tables, just at the bar. This annoys me to the point where my "personal policy" is to never go there again.
Plus, they keep the beer too cold.
Map Room or Hopleaf for me.

G.,

It is an odd practice but it's not just chain places that do things this way. I know other, independent watering holes that do pretty much just what you describe (though treating tables and barstools differently is not so common, meseems). It doesn't bother me directly, since I pay in cash in bars and places I frequent know me well enough that I can run a tab if I like... Anyway, yes, the Map Room or Hopleaf are a lot more appealing (or for that matter some corner hole in the wall) than a corporate "pub"...

Antonius

Giovanna wrote:Your choice is either to pay cash for every new item brought to you, whether beer or food, or let them keep your card. They don't follow this policy with people at tables, just at the bar. This annoys me to the point where my "personal policy" is to never go there again. [...] Map Room or Hopleaf for me.

Perhaps you are a regular at Hopleaf Bar and abide by some different "house policy," but I was just there with friends a week ago and in order for me to run a food/drink tab in the front room the bartender demanded that I turn over my credit card.

E.M.

Erik M. wrote:Perhaps you are a regular at Hopleaf Bar and abide by some different "house policy," but I was just there with friends a week ago and in order for me to run a food/drink tab in the front room the bartender demanded that I turn over my credit card.

Nope. Haven't been there for a few years, and I guess now I'm less likely to go....

Giovanna

I went to The Yard House after work today and sat at the bar. I had 3 Three Floyds Alpha Kings, Tuna Sashimi and a pizza. Never did the bartender ask me for a credit card. Quite impressive place. Food was decent. Beer was good. And again, never did the bartender ever ask me for a credit card.

Giovanna wrote:

Erik M. wrote:Perhaps you are a regular at Hopleaf Bar and abide by some different "house policy," but I was just there with friends a week ago and in order for me to run a food/drink tab in the front room the bartender demanded that I turn over my credit card.

Nope. Haven't been there for a few years, and I guess now I'm less likely to go....

Giovanna

Hate to break it to you, but the Map Room has the same policy (although it is not always followed to a T).

kiplog wrote:I was going to make a post about this quest eventually (after a bit more 'research') - and my quest really isn't about the Map Room/Hopleaf/Quenchers type beer bars with 2 dozen taps, but really about the regular bars that devote a tap or two to something you don't see everywhere.

I can't recall if they did this with their tap selection, but I was always very favorably impressed with the selection of bottles at hte Independence Tap, on Irving Park, across from Indpendence Park.

EvilUs wrote:I went to The Yard House after work today and sat at the bar. I had 3 Three Floyds Alpha Kings, Tuna Sashimi and a pizza. Never did the bartender ask me for a credit card. Quite impressive place. Food was decent. Beer was good. And again, never did the bartender ever ask me for a credit card.

Normally they would not if you were dining at the bar. But I think it is pretty common for bars and restaurant bars to keep your credit card if you are running a drink tab. I'm fairly used to it at this point.

Matt wrote:

Giovanna wrote:

Erik M. wrote:Perhaps you are a regular at Hopleaf Bar and abide by some different "house policy," but I was just there with friends a week ago and in order for me to run a food/drink tab in the front room the bartender demanded that I turn over my credit card.

Nope. Haven't been there for a few years, and I guess now I'm less likely to go....

Giovanna

Hate to break it to you, but the Map Room has the same policy (although it is not always followed to a T).

This is a common practice at many places (not simply corporate owned) when you are sitting at the bar and just drinking. It's not always strictly enforced depending on how busy it is (more likely if the place is busy) or if the staff knows you. I've never really had a problem with the policy. Knowing a lot of bartenders, it is not uncommon for people to get drunk and "forget" to pay their tab before walking out. The credit card offers some security. Many places require bartenders to pay the tab on walkouts.

Giallo wrote:This is a common practice at many places (not simply corporate owned) when you are sitting at the bar and just drinking. It's not always strictly enforced depending on how busy it is (more likely if the place is busy) or if the staff knows you.

Okay fine. I can't argue with other folks' experience. Yard House is the only place it has ever happened to me, and it happened more than once. The last time I somehow paid my bill yet left without my card; I felt it necessary to cancel the card and get a new one because it had been out of my custody for a while.

Usually my honest face is enough to get a bartender to trust me.

Or maybe they just size me up and figure they can outrun me easily enough.

Giovanna

Has anyone been here recently and know if they run their beer specials on Mondays?

Edit: Just came back from there last night, nope, no more beer specials

pacent wrote:Has anyone been here recently and know if they run their beer specials on Mondays?

Edit: Just came back from there last night, nope, no more beer specials

I was there last night for dinner. Yes it's corporate dining. However, when I can get Alpha King and Delerium Tremens on tap with less than a 5 minute drive from my house I'm willing to overlook that.

Alpha King and the good ol' D.T.'s. Nothing better

heading here today, I see on their beer menu that they offer half yards of beer. nice...

curious if anyon ehas been recently, and what 3 Floyds they are offering, and how much a half yard runs. just curious. thanks

Spent a couple hours here yesterday. It is what it is, great slection of beer, good service, huge menu. Didnt get ""bothered by kids as someone upthread mentioned(kids are not allowed to sit @ the bar, maybe that is the place the kidphobic should sit so they are not bothered).

Started with a shot of tequila, and a 1/2 yard of Three Floyds Gumball Head(1/2 yard was $13). This is one of my favorite beers around, went down great. Moved onto a 1/2 yard of Pyramid Haywire Hefewezen($13). Nice beer, not as good as the Gumball Head(different style of beer I know, but for my taste the Gumball Head sets the bar really high.). Finished up with a pint of Gumball Head.

Also tried a cup of their French Onion soup, rich broth(not enough of it), priced right @ $3.95.

A nice afternoon, and a place I would go again for some beers.

shot & a 1/2 yard of Gumball Head:



gumball head:



Pyramid Haywire 1/2 yard:

I thought the food was good. I ordered a Steigl and they were out of it, so I had Shiner. The onion ring tower was quite tasty. The onion rings had a nice flavor and none of the onions pulled out of the breading. I hate when that happens! I also had jambalaya that was generous with the shrimp (size and number) and had a good kick to it. I was there with a kid--eek--but it was very loud inside (it being a weekend evening) and I can't imagine that he made any difference to anyone. They weren't too good on refilling our water, but that's the only beef with the service. My husband liked his burger but didn't think it was outstanding. He is a Kuma's fan and not much can compare. I would go back.

I'm a fan of YH. They have some really good food and some awesome beer. I would recommend getting 2 pints instead of a 1/2 yard though. It's more bang for your buck. On the food front I recommend the Lobster, Crab & Artichoke Dip, the BBQ Chicken Salad, the Mac And Cheese squared, or the scallops. I try to stay away from the burgers because they are poorly seasoned and grilled.

Nice servers, smart bartenders, lots of families.