Cozy decor, expansive menu add charm to St. Charles' Pub 47
Everything about the dark wood and stone walls at St. Charles' Pub 47 feels like you've just walked into a ski lodge after a few runs down the mountain. But with flat-screen TVs spread throughout this new space, Pub 47 also works as a place where sports fans can gather to watch a game.
<b>Motif:</b> The St. Charles location shares its name with the original Pub 47 in Huntley. Both places strive for that casual neighborhood bar and grill experience, but with a much wider variety of food and drinks than your typical pub. I mean, where else can you watch baseball while pairing Shrimp Jambalaya with a Bikini Martini or a Limerick Lemonade?
<b>Food:</b> Before we could open the sizable menu, our server thoroughly briefed us on that night's specials along with the featured dishes and drinks of the week. After weighing our choices, we had to try the battered cheese curd starter platter with marinara sauce and southwest ranch dressing. We probably would have been happy consuming an entire bucket of these golden nuggets of goodness, but we couldn't stop there with a menu this big.
Burgers are a big deal at Pub 47 and come in different variations, including the BBQ Mac Burger - featuring barbecued pulled pork, mac and cheese and onion crisps. I went the build your own route, opting to add grilled onions and a fried egg. Served on a pretzel bun, my burger did not disappoint.
Tacos, wraps, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, soups and many more items round out the menu, along with pizza. When we sized up the menu online, we spotted a number of different specialty pizzas. On the night we visited, another option was on the specials menu: a prime rib pizza - made with thinly sliced prime rib, horseradish sauce, crispy onions and mozzarella cheese. So expect the unexpected.
<b>Liquid consumption:</b> In addition to having a fully stocked bar of brews, wines and spirits, Pub 47 features specialty cocktail and martini menus along with a brewery of the month. Penrose Brewery of Geneva was the spotlight brewer on our visit, but other local craft brewers included Pollyanna Brewing Company in Lemont and Crystal Lake Brewing. I went with the latter, pairing my burger with Crystal Lake's very smooth Fox Rocker American Red Ale.
Drink specials may also vary depending on when you visit. Among the choices on the night we stopped by was a Purple Rain Martini with berry-infused vodka and a Root Beer Float Martini with vanilla vodka, root beer and whipped cream. That one is definitely not on the kids menu.
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Service:</b> From the moment we walked in, the high level of service was apparent. After being greeted, we were given the full menu tour of regular items and specials. We never had to wait long for our orders and, with the exception of receiving a beer glass with a chipped rim that I pointed out to our server, all other plating and presentations were impressive.
<b>Crowd:</b> There were about a dozen patrons at the bar and around nearby tables on the night we stopped in. Families with young children and visitors of all ages seemed to relax in Pub 47's cozy atmosphere. There is also a small outdoor dining area for those who want a different experience.
<b>Music: </b>I liked the place immediately when I recognized '80s classic rock tunes playing on speakers overhead. Music is held at a level that is conversation-friendly and TV volume is kept low, so no one had to shout over the table to be heard.
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Parking:</b> The bar is in the middle of a strip mall so there are plenty of parking spots in the lot.
<b>Overall:</b> Pub 47 is definitely not the same-old same-old when it comes to sports bars. The menu and weekly listings can be a bit overwhelming at first, but the number of eye-opening choices make this place stand out.