Bar of the month

Chicago Ale House
2200 W. Lawrence

The Basics
Where you’ll find it: 2200 W. Lawrence, not far from the busy Lawrence/Western/Lincoln intersection. (773) 275-2020. www.chicagoalehousegrill.com

When it’s open: Sunday-Friday: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday: 11 a.m.-3 a.m.

Peak time: The Chicago Ale House has some great lunch specials that is bringing in a solid mid-day crowd from businesses in Uptown and Lincoln Square. ... Dinner is a big draw, and crowds can easily gather to watch the game or for private parties on the weekends.

What you’ve heard: This area of Lincoln Square needed a reliable spot to watch the game with a variety of beer and good food. ... Easy to bring families, especially for the Sunday brunch or an early dinner. ... A friendly spot that is on the right track with its diverse menu and wide-open space. ... Stop in for some delicious Thai favorites.

Visual Aids
First impressions: If you’re tired of being crammed into a seat at a bar/restaurant and feeling borderline claustrophobic, this would be the place to cure you. This is a great open space with ample seating in two separate dining areas with tables and booths and an attractive U-shaped bar with seating for about 20 in between. ... The colors are bright orange and blue to go with exposed brick walls, and the large windows and doors bring in sunlight and a nice breeze off of the side street. ... They boast a pool table, 16 different 50-inch plasma screens and a massive 160-inch projection screen in the back so you don’t miss a second of the sports action.

The atmosphere: The first thought is how great the Chicago Ale House is for groups. Whether hosting a party in the back area or sharing a large booth or table with friends, it’s easy to feel comfortable with plenty of people (and the music isn’t overwhelming like a lot of other establishments). ... While sports is clearly a priority here, it’s easy for a family or group to come in and enjoy a nice dinner and not feel like they’re in the stands at the game.

What you’ll tell your friends: “Definitely a fun hangout that I can’t wait to share with more of my friends. It’s easy-going with great food, mixing Thai classics with regular bar grub, pizza, pasta and more. I’ve tried a lot of the menu and never been disappointed.”
— Lisa T.

“The beer selection is worth going back for on its own. Who has that many beers other than Hopleaf? I can tell it’s going to become a regular stop for me during baseball season.”
— William

The Experience
At your service: Several people said this is the kind of place where you find yourself recognized by the owners and managers very easily. There is no shortage of waitresses or bartenders ready to help, and they seem to really enjoy their work, as friendliness is a common denominator no matter where you sit. ... “I found they’re more than happy to switch the channels for you, which is nice, and the leg room you have is rare,” said Sam, a new regular. “And the beer samplers are always a good touch in case you’re not sure what to try.”

Get your drink on: Hard to know where to start, to be honest. The Chicago Ale House boasts 101 beer selections, including a whopping 60 on tap, as well as a full bar and a wine list that may surprise you. Several customary bottled beer favorites are available like Corona, Heineken and the Miller family, but the list of options on draft is where it gets fun for the true beer connoisseur. Blue Moon, Goose Island 312 and Honker’s Ale, Guinness and Stella are some of the more known selections, but fear not when it comes time to try other possibilities like a Kutscher Alt, Leffe Brune, Delirium Nocturem or Old Rasputin.

Menu variety: To be fair, the Chicago Ale House could be described as a restaurant with a great selection of beer. That’s how vast and well received their menu is. And with tasty options ranging from baby back ribs to pizza, four cheese ravioli, salads and sandwiches, steaks, herb-crusted salmon and even a host of Thai favorites, it’s not uncommon for patrons to need a few extra minutes to decide.

Daily specials: The Chicago Ale House offers a number of revolving specials, such as $4 Trumer Pilsner, Blue Moon and Dog Fish Head IPA in April and $4 Harp, Guinness, Smithwick’s and Boddingtons from Sunday-Thursday 5-9 p.m. Specials for the hungry patrons include $4 egg rolls, chili fries and pot stickers, 25-cent wings, $6.50 10-inch pizzas with two toppings and half-price appetizers Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. A variety of lunch specials, including soup and salad, cost just $6.95 from Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Who you can expect to see there: Patrons we talked to were mostly from the nearby Lincoln Square, Uptown and Ravenswood neighborhoods, but the staff has recognized word spreading to other areas in the city. ... Plenty of families take advantage of the menu and extra space for dinner and on the weekends, and groups are pretty common later at night. “I think it’s casual upscale,” said one of the waitresses. “We try to accommodate everybody from families to couples to big groups. It’s not really a 20-something crowd though. It’s kind of an older bar with a younger feel.”

It’s a good spot to … “relax with friends without feeling cramped. ... be in a perfect angle to catch the big game no matter where you’re sitting. ... tempt your palette with a large variety of beers. ... come for lunch or dinner and have a tough time deciding what to order.”

Click here for more Bar of the Month