Sick of Same Old Bar Food (North Burbs)

Going out with a few good friends on Friday night in the North/Northwest Burbus (HP, Northbrook, Deerfield, Lincolnshire-ish area). Looking to get a decent burger/wings, etc. at a place where we can hang and have a few drinks, too. A guy place. Looking to avoid loud piped-in music, live bands, and smoking. Any suggestions? In the past we have hit the Ram in Wheeling (great beer, but the music is too loud, we are all prematurely deaf), Champps (kind of blah and corporate), and Trax (food isn't so great). Flatlanders has a band that night, so it is out.

I had some very tasty meals at the Cubby Bear North, and their live music didn't start until around 10:30. The jerk chicken was very good, and I thought their burgers were pretty good. Most recently I had their pepper jack potato soup and a rueben and thought it they were both fantastic.

The Yard House at the Glen has pretty good food and they claim the world's largest selection of draft beer. It can get a bit loud in there though.

Yard House Restaurants
1880 Tower Drive
Glenview, IL 60025
(847) 729-9273

Good thought. The Cubby Bear North came up in the original discussion, but was dismissed for some reason. I will bring it up in the next round of negotiations.

Fujisan wrote:The Yard House at the Glen has pretty good food and they claim the world's largest selection of draft beer. It can get a bit loud in there though.

Yard House Restaurants
1880 Tower Drive
Glenview, IL 60025
(847) 729-9273

I agree that the Yard House chain is good for the beer, allthough I think some of their other locations have a wider selecion of beers on tap. But their selection is still very good. I also agree that it can get pretty loud - if you look at all the hard surfaces in there, it's pretty clear they try to keep the volume up.

Have you thought about the train-themed Lantern in Lake Forest?

The Lantern (burgers and sandwiches)
768 N. Western Avenue, Lake Forest
847-234-9844

HI,

It seems like you really want a new bar destination, where you can get the same bar food you always like: burgers and wings.

Charlie Beinlich's has the very good hamburger, it does not have wings. They do have a shrimp and crab cocktail. They do have a Wisconsin north woods atmosphere in Northbrook on the edge of Highland Park. They have beer and the harder stuff as well.

Charlie Beinlich's
290 Skokie Road
Northbrook, IL
(847)-714-9375

Regards,

Mickey Finn's in Libertyville is pretty good. Not sure about band, smoking etc.

The Firkin in Libertyville has very good food for a bar, and 25 beers on tap (many micro-brews and imports). They serve dozens of interesting appetizers and small plates for sharing. They also have decent burgers as well as a dozen other sandwiches and some pretty solid steak and seafood entrees. I have usually found the place to be pretty comfortable and low-key. However, I have not been there on a friday or saturday night. I believe it is associated with, and shares a kitchen with the upscale Tavern restaurant next door.

http://www.firkinoflibertyville.com/

Firkin
515 N. Milwaukee
Libertyville, IL 60048
847 367 6168
847 367 5763

Enter from the parking lot in the rear.

Great suggestions.

Unfortunately Libertyville is a little out of the way for this group, but I am filing those two away for later.

I am a Beinlich's lover since birth (born and raised about a mile away). I suggested it, but someone had an objection that I can't recall. Now that I have typed the words, I am so craving a Medium rare with cheddar and seafood cocktail.

Have you tried Half Day Inn?

It's a bit divey, but certainly a historical, interesting place!

At Half Day Rd and Milwaulkee, if I recall.

jonjonjon wrote:Have you tried Half Day Inn?

It's a bit divey, but certainly a historical, interesting place!

At Half Day Rd and Milwaulkee, if I recall.

BTW scheduled to be demolished in spring, 2007. It was supposed to close at the end of August, then got a 6 month extension.

Regards,

What about Hackney's in Wheeling or Glenview? Or Boston Blackies in Deerfield?

Hackney's
www.hackneys.net
241 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling 847/537-2100
1514 E. Lake Ave., Glenview 847/724-7171
1241 Harms Road, Glenview 847/724-5577

Boston Blackies
866/44-JUICY
www.bostonblackies.com
405 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield 847/418-3400

I don't work there anymore, but I used to.... I would definitely reccomend you guys go hit up the Clubhouse and Tavern at the Buffalo Grove Golf Course. It used to be the Village Tavern (same one thats in Carol Stream and Schaumburg) but they switched owners. They have really good food, good bar and "guy-like" atmosphere.

-L

My objection to the Cubbie Bear on Milwaukee was how LOUD it was; that blotted out any other memory of what we ate or how it was. Oh wait, here's a vestige of memory -- I think we had fish and chips. Did we like it? .... nope, can't remember anything beyond the LOUDNESS.

I like Firkin's a lot (yes, the owner does also own the fancier Tavern next door. Haven't eaten there yet, but eager to do so and post a report). I am not much into beer, but I like that they vary the beer menu and have guest bartenders from other countries. I would like to like Mickey Finn's as much as Firkin's, but I have to say that in my experience to date the food at Finn's has not been nearly as good, and sometimes has been irritatingly bad.

Was at the Cubby Bear last night and I wasn't too impressed with the fettucini alfredo. The sauce was thick and the garlic bread was burnt, but the pepperjack potato soup was deeelicious!

Got there around 8:30 for the dinner, and then the Pat McCurdy show, and they didn't crank the house music up until after 9:30.

fearlessfitz wrote:Was at the Cubby Bear last night and I wasn't too impressed with the fettucini alfredo.

Thanks for the Sunday morning laugh. Although I have never visited the suburban version of the Cubby Bear, ordering fettucini alfredo there would probably not be something that I would even consider. The fact that is was unimpressive could hardly have been a surprise, no?