non sports bar along LSD in Lincoln Park area?

I have a perennial challenge I am hoping forumites can solve. Looking for a nice place to have a drink that is not a sports bar (no tvs, quiet enough for serious conversation) that works well as a meeting point for people coming up to the northside along Lake Shore Drive and for people coming east from Logan Sq/ Bucktown area. Someplace around Fullerton and Clark? Webster? DePaul area? Especially excited if they open at 4pm. Have used White Oak Tavern but it is closed. Thanks!

Theater on the Lake, perhaps? Parking should be ok if it's not a beach day!

chico

misterchico wrote:Theater on the Lake, perhaps? Parking should be ok if it's not a beach day!

It looks like there are TVs above the bar.
https://theateronthelake.com/restaurant/

Yelp has a list. So does The Eater.

The Red Lion, 2446 N Lincoln, doesn't have TVs.

Barrelhouse Flat (2624 N Lincoln Ave, 60614; http://www.barrelhouseflat.com/) fits all your spec's except for the open at 4pm part (opens at 6pm for whatever reason). Hopefully "especially excited" means it's not a total dealbreaker.

bweiny wrote:Barrelhouse Flat (2624 N Lincoln Ave, 60614; http://www.barrelhouseflat.com/) fits all your spec's except for the open at 4pm part (opens at 6pm for whatever reason). Hopefully "especially excited" means it's not a total dealbreaker.

They've had some tv's there for quite some time (since at least June of 2014), though who's to say whether or not they'll be on, or showing sports when you're there.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

bweiny wrote:Barrelhouse Flat

They've had some tv's there for quite some time (since at least June of 2014), though who's to say whether or not they'll be on, or showing sports when you're there.

Yelp's business info (http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-barrelhouse-flat-chicago) lists them as not having a TV. The most recent photo(s) w/ a TV were from about 18 months ago. I do not know whether they got rid of the TV, have it/them permanently off, or the Yelp answer is plain wrong. The oddsmakers have the 3rd option as the opening favorite.

Here are several more options that are perfect for your stated needs.

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba is a longtime tapas restaurant on Halsted. They open at 4 pm Mondays through Thursdays and are open all afternoon Fridays and weekends. The noise level is conversation-friendly - the layout is a bunch of small rooms - especially if you're there before the dinnertime peak.

Fish Bar and DMK Burger Bar are sister restaurants, around the corner from each other at Wellington and Sheffield. Both are open all afternoon every day. Again, the noise level is conversation-friendly, especially if you're there before the dinnertime peak.

All three have excellent food if you're hungry, or you can just order drinks if you want. Good places to sit and relax and converse.

The new Parsons in Lincoln Park (Halsted & Fullerton) doesn't have TV's at all.

On an aborted project I did in Greektown, we came to the understanding of no TV's (on my suggestion). That lasted until the husband of the owner insisted he and his friends needed them. It was downhill from there. Been told it's now a sports bar.

The Duke of Perth is a longstanding favorite of mine, especially if you can get a fireside seat when nippy out or a seat in the beer garden in summer. Open at noon (except Mondays when it opens at 5pm), no TVs, no loud music, great for intimate social gatherings and conversation, BUT -- it's a small space that can get loud and crowded on weekend evening hours, especially during Friday fish fry. If you're there at 4pm, shouldn't be an issue on a Saturday, but it could become an issue by 6pm or so on a Friday. That said, the back area is less noisy than the front room.

Solid Scotch selection too if that's your thing.

The Duke of Perth
2913 N. Clark St.
(773) 477-1741
http://dukeofperth.com/main.htm

J9 Wine Bar? Morgan is a very nice guy, with an interesting list, especially for the area. I haven't tried the food. (There is a TV.)

J9 Wine bar
1961 N Halsted
Chicago, IL
(312) 982-2488

The GP wrote:{other quoted responses snipped}
The Red Lion, 2446 N Lincoln, doesn't have TVs.

Oh yes it does. There is one at the back edge of the bar. It may or may not show sports.
But you should still go there anyway. It is a member of Spring Rewards.