Barleycorn bonanza
Three things you should know before going to John Barleycorn's newly opened and first suburban location in Schaumburg: 1. It's huge; two stories packed with a wrap-around bar, 1,000-capacity stage area and a whole brewpub-sized restaurant. 2. It's busy. All the time. Especially after work. Don't think you're going to squeeze in a quick nip at 4:30 p.m. without battling the masses; it's not going to happen. 3. It's open, but not quite finished. Though the main-floor dining room and bar look impeccable, the stage area is still being completed upstairs. When it's finished, it's expected to draw regional talent almost immediately.
Motif: A construction worker was still pounding parking signs into Barleycorn's freshly laid lamp posts when we arrived one Thursday evening after work, solidifying the fact that dust is still settling after the bar's extended grand opening. Last-minute construction didn't deter Schaumburg's corporate worker bees from flooding the place for a bite to eat and a beer, though, nor did it detract from the pub's first impression: big, shiny and surprisingly inviting.
Barleycorn's adjoining pub and dining area sparkle with floor-to-ceiling windows, dark-wood accents and an understated nautical theme that ties its gold-plated main doors into the interior's ship-decorated shelves. Here's a quick mental map of the place: walk in, bar's to your left, dining room to your right. (Diners, check in with the hostess just to the right of the foyer.) Entrance to the upstairs rock venue/stage area is up the hotel-caliber staircase right in front of you. Bathrooms are on either side of the staircase, FYI.
The place's overall vibe screams Wrigleyville pub for college grown-ups. Barleycorn kept the sports-bar theme that started it all in Chicago, but stepped it up and made it upscale. And big. They made it very big.
Liquid consumption: How smart Barleycorn was to keep the pub in a separate room from the restaurant! Every stool in the house was full, not to mention every seat at the bar, which spans along two full walls beneath a row of bright Hi-Def TVs.
It's just as pub chic as the rest of the building (no gaudy neon in these windows, folks), but dining-room laws need not apply to the crew cheering on sports teams and the thirsty patrons trading their cash for beer at the bar.
If a loud, bustling pub atmosphere is what you want, this is where to find it -- along with the usual brew selection on tap (Blue Moon and Guinness were about as risky as they got) and a full-bar supply of alcoholic mixers.
Food: The dining room, on the other hand, is Barleycorn's laid-back counterpart. Not much quieter than the bar, but far more spacious, this is their chance to wow people with the food and service.
They do it with ease: Our server set us up with drinks within what felt like minutes of sitting down. Dinner materialized just as quickly.
Barleycorn's menu covers all bases: from their signature spicy chicken wings and gourmet pub burgers to "house favorite" selections like fish 'n chips and salmon siciliano. It isn't cliche to say they offer something for everyone (even vegetarians! Look for chop, garbage and harvest salads).
Each dish is handled with culinary finesse. Their spin on a typical wrap included apples and Swiss, and the chicken wings were so big that my dining friend exclaimed: "There's actually meat on them! Look! It doesn't even fit in my dippy cup!"
Parking: Barleycorn needs every space of its huge lot. Don't be afraid to park near the back; you might need to.
Entertainment: Stay tuned for nationally and regionally touring acts once that stage is finished upstairs. Bands and DJs will find a nice weekend home that'll likely be packed in the months to come.
Overall: So you grew up, strayed away from Wrigleyville and want an upscale version of the college experience. Barleycorn gives it to you close to home in Schaumburg.
Good food, packed pub and a music venue to come, this place is every bit the entertainment complex it promised to be.
Though its opening was pre-empted by a few false-alarm rumored openings, it's on its way to becoming one of those frequent hangout spots for after-work partiers and weekend warriors.
Just be warned: It's destined to be packed. If you're looking for a romantic night out, call ahead for a table in the dining room. You're not likely to find privacy anywhere else in the bar.
Info:
1100 American Lane, Schaumburg (847) 619-5540