Back to the Beach: Club returns with sand volleyball, tropical drinks
When North Beach Club shut down this summer it seemed like the suburban nightlife scene had suffered a serious blow. But the closure was only temporary, as new management refurbished the massive club's interior and updated the food and drink menus. Now the spot is back in business, just when a tropical escape is most enticing.
Motif: A truly massive space, North Beach features three rooms, each with its own bar. The tropical theme carries throughout, with tiki hut roofing over tables, fake palms out front, parrots and fish hanging from the walls and odd touches like a claw grab game where you can try to snag a live lobster. Sports play on TVs lining the walls, though drinkers who'd rather compete than watch can use two bowling alleys and a sand volleyball court in addition to pool tables, electronic darts and other video games. More TVs hang over the four neon-colored lanes, so you can keep your eye on the score even as you try for a strike. Bowling is $10 per lane, per hour, and usually available for walk-ins; volleyball is $50 to $60 per hour and can book up far in advance.
Some walls feature fake windows sporting painted beach views, while the bar near the volleyball court is just open glass so you can watch the game with a drink in hand. There's a large dance floor in one section and a stage for live acts in another, while a third boasts a private party area complete with a projector screen. Colors are bright throughout, with yellow, red and turquoise stools surrounding small candlelit tables.
Crowd: North Beach is one of the more diverse hangouts in the suburbs, not only representing a wide age spectrum but all ethnicities. A typical weekend night brings out between 600 and 1,000 people and you'll find a mix of the after-work corporate crowd, twentysomethings dressed in club attire and shirtless guys showing off their skills on the sand volleyball court.
Service: When new ownership took over, they kept about 50 percent of the existing staff and brought in new people to fill vacancies. While it can be tough to flag down a server on busy nights, once someone knows you're there the staff is highly attentive, giving solid advice on the menu and making sure a fresh drink is always at hand.
Liquid consumption: The new menu features a list of tropical-themed concoctions in addition to the bar's selection of shots and martinis. Drink deals like $1 PBR drafts and $4 Long Islands help ease the tab. Long Islands rule the cocktail menu, with fruity but potent varieties including the peach - a mix of peach rum, Stoli, Peach Schnapps, orange juice and sour mix - which actually tastes more like sweet alcoholic lemonade. The raspberry has a more alcoholic flavor, but still goes down smooth.
Food: Everything on the new menu is made from scratch in house and the result is some well-above-average pub grub. The mozzarella sticks achieve a nearly ideal cheese-to-breading ratio, served hot so the mozzarella is melted. The chicken quesadillas are packed with crisp, sweet peppers and the chili lime wings are one of the best picks, big meaty pieces of fried chicken with a citrusy zest. By comparison the hot wings are disappointing, failing to live up to their name, and while the pulled pork sandwich came highly recommended it was more like chopped pork and too sweet.
Music: DJs spin top 40, dance and house music Thursday through Saturday night and rock and alternative bands perform Fridays, Saturdays and some Wednesdays. Cover is typically $3 to $6, though the fee can spike for big-name entertainment. Young Buck is scheduled to perform Feb. 4, and the bar is also courting other national acts such as Nickelback and Chevelle.
Parking: There's a large free lot, though it can get pretty full on busy weekends.
Overall: North Beach is a great place to chase away the winter blues.
<p class="factboxheadblack">North Beach Club</p> <p class="News">1211 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, (630) 434-1290, <a href="http://northbeachclub.com" target="new">northbeachclub.com</a></p> <p class="News">Hours: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday</p>