St. Charles' Real Time Sports offers supersized experience
After just four years in Elk Grove, Real Time Sports has branched out to St. Charles. Can they recreate the winning sports-bar formula in this new location?
Motif: Compared to Real Time's first location, which was already fairly large, this new entry is huge. One massive, high-ceilinged room houses a large four-sided silver bar with televisions hanging above. Around the room are booths with personal televisions, a huge projection screen and arcade games and pool in the back corner. There's also an outdoor patio. There's more room on the balcony, which stretches along all four sides of the room. Up in this unique area, you'll find more booths with personal televisions, as well as a foosball table.
Crowd: Expect tons of sports lovers cheering on their teams on big game nights. Sure, sports is the main focus, but everyone is welcome, whether they're hard-core fans or just want to get out and hang out with their friends.
Service: During my visit, the staff was extremely friendly and scored some points for the bar. Get it? Sports reference. Anyway, they told me about their specials and answered any questions that I had about the bar.
Liquid consumption: Real Time has a very impressive beer selection, including seven Oktoberfest beers such as Paulaner, Becks, Warsteiner, Ayinger Marzen, Hofbrau, Sam Adams and Leinenkugel. Equally impressive is the bar's drink specials. On Monday there is Coors Light 22 oz. for $3, Wednesdays have Coors Light, Miller Lite and MGD 32 oz. pitchers for $2, Fridays have St. Pauli Girl and Peroni 22 oz. drafts for $4 and $3 respectively, and that's just a sampling.
Food: Real Time's menu is of the American sort. You can start yourself off with a variety of salads, appetizers (wings, potato skins, shrimp, spinach artichoke dip, etc.,), burgers, steak, ribs, barbecue and Suparossa pizza. Also be sure to check out the specials.
Sounds: Expect to take in the sounds of whatever game is on the televisions. Sure, there may be some tunes in the background, but all of the attention will be focused on the screens. Real Time also has a respectable stage for occasional live-music shows.
Parking: Real Time Sports is located in a strip mall, so there are plenty of parking spots to choose from.
Overall: Real Time's newest location takes everything from the original restaurant and makes it bigger. More televisions, more seating and more room to play and enjoy yourself.
Real Time Sports
Facts: 584 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, (630) 513-8800, www.realtimesportsbar.com
Hours: 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Friday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - midnight Sunday