The House: Martini lounge meets brew pub
Downtown St. Charles truly has one of the finest bar scenes in our fair suburbs. Within walking distance you have great establishments such as The Filling Station, Alley 64 and Pub 222. One of the newest additions to the scene is The House Pub.
Motif: There are many different sides of The House Pub. You've got a pub, game room and a lounge. Some bars are not able to juggle multiple identities, but The House Pub pulls it off in stride. As owner Tom Wojcik puts it, "We're a traditional neighborhood pub" - with a nice martini lounge and a lot of beers.
Let's get down to the basics, the main room, or the pub, if you will. The long, wood bar is the centerpiece of the room. The wall behind the bar is one large chalkboard, detailing the current list of draft beers, bottles and specials, a great way to keep track of The House Pub's current offerings. Around the room are tables, stools, a few televisions, beer signs, a popcorn machine and big windows that look out onto the street.
Upstairs is the game room with a few Golden Tee machines, foosball, couches, tables, a fireplace and a television. This is where folks can go to relax and enjoy some games. If this doesn't promote good times, then I don't know what will.
Now, the lounge is a completely different beast, and that's a good thing. The dimly lit, upstairs room is all about relaxing, enjoying a cocktail and the company of others. The room is made up of lots of couches, some meant for groups of friends, others that would be more suitable for a couple on a date. There is also a fireplace to cozy up to. The lounge has its own bar which serves absinthe and plenty of different martinis.
Crowd: Since The House Pub has so much to offer, the crowd can be eclectic, but that's a good thing. On any given night, you could have guys hanging out in the game room, couples mingling in the lounge, beer lovers at the bar and others who came just to have a good time.
Service: The service at The House Pub is excellent. It's always great to see staffers who take pride in their establishment and are excited about what they're doing.
Liquid consumption: As is the growing trend with suburban bars, The House Pub takes its beer seriously. Coming in at 85 beers, The House Pub's selection of micro-brews and imports is very impressive. Among the bar's 12 beers on tap, you can find Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA, Goose Island 312, Fat Tire, Guinness, Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Extra! Ale, Stella Artois and many more. The House Pub also boasts some excellent specials, such as $2 Labatt Blue pints on Monday, $2 domestic bottles on Tuesday, $3 Carlsberg pints on Wednesday, $3 U-Call-Its on Thursday, $4 bombs on Friday and Saturday and $3 drafts on Sunday.
Food: While The House Pub has a lot going on, something that is lacking would be food. So before you visit The House Pub, grab a bite elsewhere in St. Charles unless you think you can fill up on free popcorn.
Sounds: As with beer, The House Pub takes its music seriously. Come in Wednesday through Saturday nights and expect to hear live music. On Wednesday, The House Pub hosts an open acoustic mic. Thursdays feature live jazz in the lounge, further classing up the joint. Friday and Saturday nights have live music that can range anywhere from rock to blues to acoustic rock. Be sure to check out The House Pub's Facebook page for upcoming events.
Also, if you stop in on Monday nights, bring your iPod. Guests have the option to play about 15 to 20 minutes worth of their own music for fellow bargoers. Please, choose carefully.
Parking: The House Pub has a lot across the street that guests are free to use.
Overall: Basically, there are two sides to The House Pub, a pub and a lounge. The pub is all about the huge beer selection, music, games and just having a good time. The lounge focuses on martinis, atmosphere and relaxation. Both sections have their strengths, and neither feels forced. Whether you've come to sit by the fireplace or try one of the 85 beers, you can't go wrong with The House Pub.
The House Pub
16 S. First Ave., St. Charles, (630) 945-3479, www.thehousepub.com
Hours: 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday