Bar of the month

The Ivy on Clark
3462 N. Clark St.

The Basics

Where you’ll find it: 3462 N. Clark St. Roughly halfway between Barleycorn and Blarney Stone, on the west side of Clark. (773) 348-9084.

When it’s open: 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday; doors open at 11 a.m. on Cubs game days; the kitchen stays open until closing time.

Peak time: Before and after Cubs games, Friday and Saturday evenings and during various Chicago Sport and Social Club functions.

What you’ve heard: Newer Wrigleyville sports bar that seems busier with each passing week and has the quality food to compete in a competitive neighborhood. ... They’re keeping their daily specials on Cubs home dates, which is virtually unheard of on Clark.

History in short: In the former location of an Ethiopian restaurant, The Ivy turned one year old in March and continues to gain steam.

Visual Aids

First impressions: Hard-wood floors and black walls with a classic dark wooden bar that extends for more than half of the room, and 11 high-definition TVs are positioned high above the tables and bar. A small stage in the back plays host to live bands on Fridays and DJs on Saturdays. Unlike other bars on Clark, it’s relatively easy to maneuver around, as the middle walkway is not cluttered with tables. The large front window opens to allow patrons a taste of the warm, spring air.

What you’ll tell your friends: “The open front window is nice. That is never overrated when you live in Chicago.” — Sara

“The pitchers were cheap, like $7 after a Cubs game. You just can’t beat that.”— Dave

“There’s a friendly staff and no Wrigleyville attitude. That’s a big deal to us, especially when it’s busy after games.”
— Kerry and Stephanie

“I like the TVs at every angle. It’s just a very approachable place, very welcoming. And I really liked the clean bathrooms. That’s a plus for a sports bar. A huge one.”
— Chris and Jamie

What the Bartender thinks:

“We have this kind of old-school, neighborhood feel, but at the same time, we give you everything you expect from a modern, upscale sports bar.” – Liz

What the manager thinks:

“We’ve done well for the first year. We weren’t worried about establishing ourselves because the food and service is great, and we knew people would learn that quickly. It’s a higher-end sports bar we felt would be a good fit for the neighborhood.” – Rafael

What the owner thinks:

“Thanks to an outstanding staff and the great people who come in, The Ivy has become the perfect blend of sports bar & grill meets neighborhood bar that I always wanted it to be.  The private party room upstairs has completed the picture.” — Mike

The Experience

At your service: “Everyone who works here is happy to be here, and that shows with our customers,” says Kate, a waitress in a constant state of motion.

Get your drink on: Eight beers on tap, including Blue Moon, Guiness and Hacker Pshorr, as well as domestic favorites. A total of 11 different bottled selections are available, including Michelob Ultra, Red Stripe, Rolling Rock, Sierra Nevada, Stella Artois and Woodchuck Cider.

Menu variety: Plenty of typical bar-fare favorites, like pizza burgers, quesadillas, Philly cheese steaks and a chicken caesar sandwich. But there are a host of additional options you might be hard-pressed to find in Wrigleyville, such as a shrimp basket, a belly-buster beer-battered fish sandwich, a Dixie BBQ pork sandwich served on a bed of battered onion rings, a Sausalito salad, cheese tots and the beef tenderloin mushroom skewers, which came highly recommended by plenty of patrons and are largely considered the house specialty.

Specials: Monday: $2 Blue Moon, $1 tacos, 25-cent wings; Tuesday: $2 domestic drafts, $2 burgers, $2 Corona Lights; Wednesday: $7 Coors Light pitchers, $3 domestic drafts, $2 Corona Lights, 25-cent wings; Thursday: $1 domestic drafts, $1 tacos, $7 Coors Light pitchers, $2 Corona Lights; Friday: $5 Jager bombs; Saturday: $5 you-call-it bombs; Sunday: $3 Bloody Marys, $3 drafts.

Who you can expect to see there: A younger Wrigleyville crowd out to socialize and enjoy themselves. Casual, sun-drenched Cub fans have no problem mixing in with the 20- and 30-somethings out for the night. ... The Ivy on Clark is home to Iowa State University and also welcomes the sponsorship of rec-league sports teams. ... Bands like Blazin Saddles and More Cowbell make regular Friday appearances.

It’s a good spot to … do it all in Wrigleyville — eat and drink on the cheap, watch the game, take in some live music, catch up with friends, play in a weekly Euchre league, etc. “They make it easy to hang out with a nice mix of people who are always having a good time,” says Alex, a recent transplant from Texas. “With the front window open, it feels like you’re out on someone’s patio, and you can sit and watch all of Chicago walk by.”

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