Bar of the month

Waterhouse
3407 N. Paulina

The Basics

Where you’ll find it: 3407 N. Paulina. Virtually underneath the Paulina Brown Line stop, at the corner of Paulina, Lincoln and Roscoe. www.waterhousechicago.com. (773) 871-1200.

When it’s open: 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday though Thursday; 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday.

Peak time: Usually a consistent dinner-and-drinks crowd during the week, with a later-arriving crowd on the weekends to enjoy the atmosphere and DJs.

What you’ve heard: An upscale bar with reasonable prices. ... A great place to sit outside in the summertime and partake in a few pitchers of sangria.

History in short: Previously a Mexican restaurant, the building (built in the 1890s) was purchased by the father-and-son team that owns Matisse on Diversey last May.

Visual Aids

First impressions: Candlelit background, with a big front window that is inviting to those walking by because they can easily see in. ... A good mix of jazz house music that is loud enough to enjoy but not too loud to disrupt conversation. ... A modern yet classic look with brick walls, exposed heating ducts and paintings combined with flat screens to carry all the games.

The atmosphere: Waterhouse has an upscale, loungy vibe to it, but it also carries a neighborhood bar feel. DJs spin late on the weekends. It tends to be lots of couples early and more of a singles’ crowd late. The low lighting and close seating can make for a romantic setting.

What you’ll tell your friends: “This is the first time I’ve been here, and it’s very accessible to get here between street parking and the El. I enjoyed the music a lot — great variety and great background sounds that aren’t too much. And a really friendly waitstaff.”
— Erin

What the owner thinks: “I think we’ve created an extremely warm environment, where even if it’s your first time through the doors, it’ll feel like you’ve been coming here for years. We have kind of an upscale, neighborhood lounge. A lot of people think you have to go downtown for that. You don’t. It’s right here. Come on out and enjoy the beer garden.”
– Dan

What the bartender thinks: “This was the first place I worked at when I moved to Chicago, and I’ve had no desire to go anywhere else. I was here from the first day they opened last summer, and the weekends from then until now have really gotten packed. This place has really turned the corner. And it’s a good mix of people, where everyone can find what they’re looking for in a bar.”
– Brett

The Experience

At your service: Waterhouse is always well-staffed, with someone to greet you at the door during busy times and an ample supply of bartenders and waitresses making the rounds.

Get your drink on: Waterhouse is a haven for martinis and cocktails, with options like a chocolate-dipped banana, Belvedere Orange Cosmopolitan, a two-person dose of Waterhouse Punch or a house blend of tasty red or white sangria. They have five beers on tap, including Stella Artois, Blue Moon and Guiness, and they have added to their bottle selection recently, with over 20 options now available, including such diverse brews as Bell’s, Fat Tire, Magnum’s Cider and Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Ale to go along with your typical favorites.

Menu variety: A nice mix of bar fare, but with a little more style and substance than other neighborhood stops. Appetizers vary from a hummus platter and “super macho nachos” to steamed mussels. Sandwiches and wraps such as a sweet pear and chicken pannini, an orange mandarin chicken wrap, baja tacos or a blue shroom burger are quality choices. The chocolate quesadilla served with fresh strawberries for dessert needs to be mentioned.

Specials: Monday: $2 burger with fries, $3 beer of the month; Tuesday: $5 personal pan pizza, $3 you-call-its; Wednesday: $3 chocolate martinis, half-price wine; Thursday: half-price drinks; Friday: $5 martinis; Saturday: $3 bloody marys, $3 bellinis; Sunday: $8 domestic pitchers, 2-for-1 appetizers.

Who you can expect to see there: A crowd generally between 23-35 years of age. Waterhouse gets a consistent after-work crowd with its proximity to the El, but also plenty of casually dressed customers on the weekend or those stopping in for a quick bite and a drink or two. Women tend to appreciate the martini specials and show up in bunches. It’s home to the University of Wisconsin alumni club, so it’s not uncommon to see plenty of Badger fans during football and basketball season.

It’s a good spot to … come and make a night of it either meeting with old friends or making new ones. Every other Tuesday they host a jazz band that plays some smooth tunes in the front of the bar, and for you Texas Hold ’Em fans, free tournaments are held in the back every Tuesday. ... “It draws you in. You walk by and it’s tough not to come in. It’d be great for meeting up with friends after work. The booths are conducive to a group setting, but I also felt comfortable at the bar. You could be really social here and work the room or find a quiet booth and catch up with friends and not be bothered. That difference, in one place, is hard to find.” — Aaron

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