Home > Chicago Bars & Clubs > Editorial Review > Inside: Mad River

The first Midwest location of East Coast outfit Mad River Bar & Grille aims to bring a Vermont ski-resort style to a somewhat quiet stretch of Lakeview. But don't let that fool you into thinking this is some serene space: Come 10 p.m. on the weekends, this place gets packed, turning into a high-energy bar that draws the nearby Lincoln Park Trixies and Chads out of the woodwork.

Inside: A vaulted ceiling and exposed beams open up the 7,000 square-foot space with forest green faux-finished walls. Decorative snowshoes and a large antler chandelier create a lodge-like atmosphere.

Slide into the enormous wooden booths with eight to 12 of your closest friends. Unfortunately, the super-erect, unpadded benches make these a tad uncomfortable. But having one contained place to sit with your crew on a Saturday night? Priceless.

Mini flatscreens at these tables keep you entertained. And with 24 plasmas (there are seven TVs behind the 35-foot coppertop bar alone!) and two projection screens, it's hard not to watch the game.

Need some air? Head towards the front of the bar, where large windows open onto Sheffield Avenue and a huge, corner table provides one lucky group with prime real estate for scoping the incoming crowd.

Drinks: Choose from a standard selection of 12 beers on tap or go by the bottle. Domestics will cost you $4, imports are $5. Don't bother with cosmos that'll get jostled by the crowd. Opt for mixed drinks, which generally run around $5-$7 depending on the liquor you choose.

Food: Munch on pub grub that features flatbreads, burgers, salads, soups and Mad River's most popular option, sliders. Unfortunately, you can't mix and match, so decide on three BBQ pulled pork, Angus beef or grilled chicken sliders on bread ($6). Our pork was a tad overcooked and chewy, but it did have a nice flavor. We added to our meal with a side of sweet potato fries ($3) and uber-gooey, totally yummy mac 'n' cheese ($3).

For those of you wondering what the heck Merkts cheese is, Wisconsinites might be able to better acquaint you with the soft, spreadable cheddar that comes on the grilled cheese and Angus slider sandwiches. We're still partial to slices.

Service: On a Friday night we encountered a wonderfully bubbly yet dim server plus an annoyed waitress that seemingly couldn't wait to end her shift. When we returned for dinner on a Sunday, we were greeted by a friendly, attentive waitress who kept our drinks fresh and the otherwise low-key vibe upbeat.

Crowd: Early 20-somethings and nearby DePaul students flock to this place. Dress is pretty casual: Think your standard LP uniform of polos or Ts and khaki shorts for guys; jeans or short skirts and tiny tops for girls.

Lining up: Arrive before 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays or you could end up waiting outside for a bit. On the plus side, there's no cover charge.

Bottom line: Mad River already looks to be a hit with the younger bargoing crowd. What more could you ask for? This bar corrals all the local cuties into a spacious venue with pulsating beats. Then again, that's exactly why this place will not go down well with the tamer and a tad older neighborhood folk.

Karen Budell is the metromix nightlife producer.

Originally published July 26, 2006.

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