Bar of the month

Merkle’s
3516 N. Clark

The Basics

Where you’ll find it: 3516 N. Clark. Just steps from Wrigley Field.
www.Merkleschicago.com.

When it’s open: 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday though Friday; 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday

Peak time: During a big Illinois or Iowa basketball game. The place tends to get packed around 10 p.m. on the weekends.

What you’ve heard: A friendly sports bar with a growing following.

History in short: Four friends who had experience working in the bar scene in Boston, New York, San Diego, Iowa City and Chicago decided to put their heads together and become entrepreneurs. After working at other bars in Chicago, they figured they had the loyal following and the ability to run the show themselves. Turns out they were right.

Visual Aids

First impressions: Plenty of plasma high-definition TVs and dark mahogany wood give the place a kind of modern, sophisticated look.

The atmosphere: There’s an upscale feel to Merkle’s, but without the attitude. Depending on when you go, it can range from a quiet neighborhood pub to a crowded, lively sports bar or weekend hot spot.

What you’ll tell your friends: “You’re not just a credit card here. A lot of bars around here look for pure volume, but they look for quality. They aim to treat you like their neighbors. I’m a Southsider, and a lot of bars are like that down there. But you don’t see it up north very often.” — J. Malak

“Everybody who works here acts like a close friend. It’s pretty easy to have a good time with the music and the crowd. — Ben Hood

The Experience

At your service: Unlike other bars in Wrigleyville, Merkle’s knows when it’s going to be busy and staffs accordingly. There are always two or three waitresses covering the whole place, and bartenders work quickly.

Get your drink on: Ten beers on tap, ranging from Miller Lite to Bells and Guiness. They are proud to be offering Fat Tire beer, as it makes its way east across the Mississippi for the first time in the coming weeks.

Menu variety: You’ll find a little bit of everything from buffalo chicken sandwiches and burgers to wings, nachos and salads. The menu is getting overhauled in March, but know that it’s one of the most reasonable in the area, with most everything coming in at less than $7. More than one patron mentioned they come for the food and stay for the drinks.

Specials: Monday: $2 drafts, $2 grilled cheese and fries, $2 Bacardi drinks; Tuesday: $3 you-call-its, $2 burgers; Wednesday: 20-cent wings, $8 domestic pitchers; Thursday: $2 bottles, $3 Jack Daniels drinks, $4 bombs and $5 martinis; Friday and Saturday: $5 bombs; Sunday: 25-cent wings, $5 bloody marys, $10 buckets.

Who you can expect to see there: A wide range of people, from young professionals to sponsored teams to sports fans looking to catch the game.

It’s a good spot to … Relax and catch the game or hang out with a larger group on the weekend. “I’ve never felt a more friendly vibe,” says Valerie Navarro. “It sounds cheesy, but it almost feels like Cheers, where everybody knows your name. All you have to do is notice how many people keep coming back.”

What the owner thinks: “We try to make every patron feel like a regular. I think it’s important to make people feel comfortable on Clark Street, because very few bars around here really have a neighborhood pub-style feel to it. If you’ve ever noticed how many handshakes went over the bar, you’d realize how close we are to the customers.”
– Pete

What the waitresses think: “It’s a fun and laid-back place. The owners are super friendly and always around. I think the closeness of the staff carries over to the people who come in here. I really couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.”
– Sarah

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