Wheeling's new Club 94 ready for takeoff
Club 94 has a lot going for it. The new bar in 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant's former space has tons of room, good food and a layout to support diners, dancers and drinkers. The only problem: Crowds seem to be sparse.
Motif: The massive space on the grounds of the Chicago Executive Airport looks like a castle from the outside, with a pair of small, old-fashioned planes sitting out front. The dining area features booths and a group of couches surrounding a huge flat screen TV tuned to sports. The place smells of burning incense and also houses several lit fireplaces.
The bar area features two bars on either side of a large dance floor with a disco ball hanging above it. The dancing area is surrounded by a strip of table top with high-backed chairs and small tables along the edges. If you like to watch the dancing up close, there are couches and a fireplace tucked into a corner of the dance floor.
Competitive sorts can show off their skills at a pair of pool tables, an electronic dart board and hunting and golf video games.
Walls are lined with a mix of standard beer ads and booze-themed art, featuring images of wine glasses and martinis. A few TVs are tucked in the corners, with a larger flat screen behind the front bar. Lighting comes from a mix of red bulbs and white Christmas lights dangling from the rafters. A massive patio and beer garden is sure to be a hit in warmer weather, offering views of the planes on the tarmac.
Crowd: The enormous bar was empty around 8 p.m. Saturday and only a handful of young women and older couples had trickled in by 9:30 p.m. The somewhat abashed staff assured us that crowds do pick up after midnight for dancing.
Service: Our service was fast and attentive, with our server regularly checking in to refill drinks, especially when we ordered the hot wings. It's hard to say how service would be when the place is hopping.
Liquid consumption: The bar offers a small selection of bottled beers, but cocktails are the thing to order. Their signature Club 94 martini deserves its place of prominence; it's a sweet and refreshing mix of pineapple juice, banana liqueur, vodka and grenadine. Another recommended drink, the pineapple delight, was more disappointing. The mix of cranberry juice and pineapple vodka just tasted like a strong vodka cranberry. The cocktail menu also features plenty of more standard options like appletinis.
Food: The dinner menu is small, but we were sold on everything we tried. The hot wings appetizer had a pleasant kick without being too spicy and the chicken was crispy as opposed to greasy. The honey mustard chicken sandwich features a large chicken breast covered in panko bread crumbs served on a bun with a side of thin crispy fries. The bratwurst sandwich is hard to finish, an enormous juicy sausage covered in grilled peppers and onions on a warm toasted roll.
Music: Top 40 tunes play in the background of the bar, though there's an Internet jukebox in the dining area if you're looking for something different. DJs spin dance tunes Thursday, Saturday and Sunday nights and Latin beats Friday for salsa dancing.
Parking: There are plenty of spaces in a huge free parking lot.
Overall: Winter is a rough time to be in any business that requires people to leave the house. But Club 94 is worth a trip out to chase away the cold with a drink by the fireplace or to get a workout on the dance floor.
Club 94Info: 1070 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 459-3700, club94.netHours: 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday; 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday; 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 5 to 11:30 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday and TuesdayFalse20001133Club 94 in Wheeling offers a late-night place to drink, dance and dine.George LeClaire | Staff PhotographerFalse