Elgin's Roadhouse taking late night for a ride
For many in Elgin, "what to do tonight" is a common problem. While there are downtown bars, small music venues and local favorites, the bar scene hasn't really had a hot spot that boasted extended hours and top-tier entertainment bookings as well as the food and drink offerings you want in a club. Roadhouse Bar and Grill, and its venue area Main Event, offer all that and more - creating a go-to spot in Elgin any given night.
Motif: Roadhouse sports a cowboy theme, a motif that goes well with the mostly wooden interiors and barbecue- driven menu. The wait staff carries the image with jean shorts and plaid shirts, usually topped with a cowboy hat. For certain songs, the "Roadhouse Honeys," usually a combination of servers and bartenders, will dance on the bar to coordinated routines.
High ceilings and wooden beams open up space. Brick walls and tall, narrow windows give off the feeling of being in a lodge, but flat-screen TVs and simple, functional seating let you know that you're more than welcome to come enjoy a game and cheer as loud as you want.
The design carries through perfectly with Roadhouse's venue, Main Event. The high ceilings, huge staircases and thick, wooden railings on the balcony create a spectacular venue for music, fights and more. Not to leave the bar gamers out, a pool table, darts and a few arcade games separate the bar area and the venue.
Service: When they're not putting on a bar-top show, the staff of Roadhouse is constantly in motion. Servers check tables every few minutes to make sure everything is satisfactory.
Food: The centerpiece of the menu is a barbecue section that features ribs, sausage, chicken, brisket and pulled pork. It certainly doesn't disappoint, as the Memphis-style ribs were about as tender and flavorful as any you'd find in Tennessee, and the chicken was so moist it nearly fell off the bone at the touch of a fork.
Barbecue isn't all that's available, however. Roadhouse's menu boasts a full appetizer list, including fresh cut fries, baked brie, sliders and what they not-so-modestly bill as the "freshest, most amazing onion rings in the world!" Additional entrees include burgers, steak and pizza.
The best deal on the table comes on Mondays, when the Roadhouse nachos are on special for $3. A massive helping of chips, cheese and just about every fixing you can imagine crown a plate that could easily feed two or three.
The best part of all? Because the bar is open to 3 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. on the weekends, they are required to keep their kitchen open until one hour before closing. A perfect solution to those late-night hunger cravings.
Liquid consumption: If you're there to drink, you certainly won't be disappointed. Roadhouse's full bar has just about every liquor you could ask for. For the beer drinkers, Roadhouse is a Bud-sponsored bar, so if you're a Miller or a Coors fan, you're out of luck. An occasional MGD can be spotted if there are bottle stations, but you'll get shut out at the bar. PBRs and Bud Lights are between $2 and $4 depending on the day, and that's usually the cheapest option. Most of the drinks are $5 and up, although nightly specials offer a slight reprieve. Monday brings $3 margaritas to go with the nachos; on Tuesday, you can check out $3.50 Twisted Long Island Iced Teas.
Crowd: Despite a mix of ages at the grand opening on Saturday night, the crowd generally features those in their early 20s through mid-30s. For concerts and fights nights, the crowd varies, but the usual bar patronage is skewed younger.
Entertainment: Attached to the Roadhouse, where the main dining room of Prairie Rock once was, is Main Event. The venue has already had considerable success, booking such bands as Modern Day Romeos, Dot Dot Dot and Saliva. In addition, Main Event offers Friday night fights. Turning the stage into seating and erecting a ring in the middle of the floor provide visitors with a local venue for mixed martial arts fights. During the week, the main event area is used for bags tournaments, parties and dancing, depending on the night.
Parking: A multilevel free parking garage backs up to the bar, with a walkway entrance that goes directly to Main Event. Out front, there is street parking available, as well as valet service.
Overall: With two months to perfect the recipe, Roadhouse Bar and Grill made its grand opening official Saturday. So far, a strong offering of good food, drinks and entertainment have led to success. For now, it seems that Roadhouse might just be the answer to "what do you want to do tonight?"
<p class="factboxheadblack">Roadhouse Bar and Grill</p>
<p class="News">200 Prairie St. Elgin, (847) 695-4454, <a href="http://www.roadhouseelgin.com" target="new">www.roadhouseelgin.com</a></p>
<p class="News">Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m to 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday</p>