Bar of the month

North Beach
1551 N. Sheffield

 

The Basics

Where you’ll find it: 1551 N. Sheffield. Near the corner of Sheffield and Weed Street, less than a block from North Ave. (312) 266-7842. www.NorthBeachClub.net

When it’s open: 5:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday through Friday; 5:30 p.m-3 a.m. Saturday.

Peak time: Friday nights are absolutely huge at North Beach, where you’ll find $1 mixed drinks and $1 Bud and Bud Light drafts. Tuesday and Thursday nights are popular times for leagues with the Chicago Sport and Social Club, and Saturdays can be occupied with private parties.

What you’ve heard: Great place to have sports leagues and host parties. … If you end up bored at North Beach, it’s your own fault. … You can reserve your space and be an active participant or just relax in the bar and watch the action.

Visual Aids

First impressions: Decked out liked a beach-side resort, North Beach is filled with island decor, complete with tiki bars and palm trees, making even a blustery Chicago winter night feel warm. The first two rooms are loaded with eight TVs in the main bar areas and a pair of eight-foot big screens that make any sports fan foam at the mouth. Two cavernous rooms are attached and house two full sand volleyball courts and one half-court basketball area. As you make your way further back, there is a four-lane bowling alley, pool room and extra party areas that have ping pong, foosball, darts and air hockey set up, as well as plenty of additional seating.

The atmosphere: This is about as unique as it gets in the Windy City, with a little bit of everything offered. With a tropical look and plenty of sports offered, both on the TV and on the courts or alleys in front of you, it’s a fun, casual vibe. As the night wears on and the DJ starts spinning, it can take on a dance club-sports bar hybrid look to it.

What you’ll tell your friends: “They have great buffalo wings and pitcher specials throughout the week and a fun, random mix of music. It’s the only place where you can go out on a cold, slushy, stormy night and still come home with sand in your ass.”
— Charlotte and Katie

“This place sold me during the Super Bowl, when they didn’t gouge people with prices and kept hundreds of people happy right throughout. I’ve been here for a birthday party as well, and we were so busy jumping from one activity to the next that the night just flew by.”
— Jake

What the manager thinks: “I just love how unique this place is. You can catch corporate suits from local financial offices in here after the work day is over to the most hardcore Brazilian volleyball players and those just swinging by to catch a game on TV and have a bite to eat. The DJ is popular later on the weekends, and Friday nights are worth checking out for sure.”
– Alex Plungis

The Experience

At your service: You never find yourself waiting for drinks, as there are tiki bars in every area of the bar and smiling staff members at every turn. ... Word is, they really spoil you at private parties. “I guess if I had to describe North Beach in one word, it would be versatile,” says bartender Andrea King. “We offer volleyball, basketball, bowling, pool, a DJ, dancing, great food and reasonably priced drinks. It’s definitely a place to come for a change, and we won’t let you get bored.”

Get your drink on: Besides a full liquor bar, North Beach has Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, Trumer Pils, Berghoff and other rotating specialty beers on tap. With a lot of customers enjoying the island-type atmosphere, fruity concoctions like margaritas, rum runners and pina coladas are popular as well.

Menu variety: With all that’s going on at North Beach, you might not think you have time to eat, but the menu and those hunger pains worked up from bowling or volleyball say otherwise. Plenty of appetizers like wings, fried calamari, quesadillas, fried shrimp and toasted ravioli provide some quick nourishment, or you can step up to a salad, a number of sandwiches, such as a mean cajun chicken, or their popular 16-inch pizzas made fresh to order. Most appetizers range from $3 to $6.25, sandwiches run from $5 to $7.25 and pizzas only set you back $13.50.

Daily specials: $7 pitchers every day is huge. Monday: $3 Absolut drinks, $4 burger and fries; Tuesday: $4 Berghoff pints; Wednesday: $3 Stoli drinks; Thursday: $3.50 Bomb shots; Friday: $1 mixed drinks, $1 Bud and Bud Light drafts, $3.50 Long Islands, $3.50 Bacardi Bombs, $4 import bottles; Saturday: $3 shot specials; $5 Grey Goose drinks; Sunday: $3 Stoli drinks.

Who you can expect to see there: So much depends on the day and time in which you stop by. Leagues of 20- and 30-somethings playing volleyball and hanging around for drinks and dinner afterward are prevalent on some weeknights. North Beach is a popular destination for the business crowd right after work, especially on Fridays. On weekends, you can find crowds there to watch sports on TV, and a DJ spinning tunes late into the evening on the weekends can bring out the dance crowd.

It’s a good spot to … “be active by playing sports with friends in a league or on your own. … Host parties, big or small, that include bowling, volleyball, ping pong, pool, basketball, etc. ... A place where girls can let their hair down and don’t have to wear heels to have a good time. ... Take advantage of great prices, a welcoming change of scenery and great people-watching.

 

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