Bar of the month

Take Five
3747 N. Sheffield

The Basics
Where you’ll find it: 3747 N. Southport, next door to the Mercury Theatre. (773) 871-5555. www.take5bar.com

When it’s open: 5:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday.

Peak time: Take Five gets busy during the big sporting events and on weekend evenings, and the outdoor patio is typically crowded when the weather is pleasant.

What you’ve heard: Everything on the menu is $5, but that shouldn’t lower expectations for the food whatsoever. ... A sports fan’s paradise with all the TVs and atmosphere. ... Fun place for singing along to the music. ... A great mix of bar and restaurant, especially with the sidewalk patio. ... The quesadillas are some of the best you’ll find anywhere.

History in short: In the former spot of Strega Nona, an Italian restaurant, the same ownership took a shot at a unique approach with the $5 menu and sports bar niché. They re-opened as Take Five in April of 2006.

Visual Aids
First impressions: There is ample seating outside in the sidewalk patio, but they do a good job of not cramming too many chairs and tables in like other places, which makes things feel more comfortable. ... Televisions are everywhere inside, leaving every possible angle covered to see the action. ... A half-dozen large plasma televisions and a pair of gigantic 110-inch screens steal the show, but a big selling point is the seven leather booths, each with their own smaller plasmas. ... The space is huge. An exposed brick wall, pool table, island bar, bronzed ceiling and dark-wood tables are nice touches.

The atmosphere: As much as Take Five caters to sports viewing, it’s clear there’s more to it than that. It’s a casual environment where you can take a group and get a table or booth, hang by the bar or enjoy the Southport scene outside. On weekends, you can make music requests and watch thousands of videos on the TVs, as the crowd that has a tendency to let loose a bit.

What you’ll tell your friends: “I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting much when I heard about the $5 deal, but my friends took me there for my birthday, and I really enjoyed it. The food was better than a lot of places on the North side that charge twice what they do. The wine selection is decent too, especially for a sports bar.”
— Cindy

“I caught a lot of the NCAA Tournament there, and despite it being crowded, it was never uncomfortable and was a really great atmosphere. I liked Strega Nona a lot, but I don’t miss it as much anymore now that I have a new place to catch the game.”
— John W.

What the bartender thinks: “There’s not one place you can sit where you wouldn’t be able to see at least a couple of TVs, which is great when there’s more than one big game on. People really like our booths with their own TVs. Two of them have curtains, so you can make it your own private party if you want. Our music videos are kind of unique too.”
– J.T.

The Experience
At your service: The waitstaff is in abundance at Take Five, and the management is said to be “ready to help and make things better at a moment’s notice,” according to several patrons we interviewed. They aim to create a casual, laid-back vibe, and it works.

Get your drink on: Besides a full liquor bar, Take Five has 13 selections of wine and 12 beers on tap, including Fat Tire, Pilsner Urquell, Guinness, Harp, Sam Adams Summer Ale, Goose Island 312 and Miller Lite.

Menu variety: Not only is the food all $5, but there is an enormous selection of grub for the price. They don’t skimp on the portions, either, leading people to try a tapas-style approach and order several items to try. Some of Take Five’s specialties include a half-pound burger, salmon fillet, veal skirt steak, meatball wedge, roasted chicken, Texas chili nachos, salads, tilapia fish tacos and chicken parmesan. It looks like the menu of a full-scale restaurant.

Daily specials: $5 menu items every day. Monday: $5 Captain Morgan drinks; Tuesday: $3.50 Goose Island 312 and Honker’s Ale; Wednesday: $2 Lite and MGD drafts; Thursday: $5 Long Islands; Friday: $5 Cuervo margaritas; Saturday and Sunday: $5 Smirnoff Twisted Lemonade and bloody marys.

Who you can expect to see there: A young business crowd stops by after work during the week, sponsored sports teams and sports fans roll into the place in droves for the big games. Viewers of television’s ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘24’ cruises in for weekly parties and specials. Families are present during the weekend for lunch or early dinners, and runoff from Cubs games is constant.

It’s a good spot to … “get quality bar food for a low price, which allows you to sample more choices than you normally would. ... sit outside in comfort. ... catch a quick bite or drink before catching a play at the Mercury Theatre or a movie at the Music Box Theatre. ... have plenty options when it comes to viewing the game. ... see the videos of your favorite music that MTV seems to have lost along the way. ... watch whatever you want in your own private booth. ... watch ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘24’ with fellow fans and get specials during the shows.”

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