Park Avenue Wine Bar a place to sip and savor

South Barrington has become a haven for wine lovers, with Cooper's Hawk Winery and L'Eiffel Bistrot & Creperie offering plenty of opportunities to taste and sip. The local passion for grapes seems to have migrated north, with the new Park Avenue Wine Bar bringing a stylish night life destination to downtown Barrington.

Motif: The chic, modern space showcases its selections with floor-to-ceiling wine shelving and bottles of alcohol illuminated with a blue hue behind the curved, marble bar. Lighting comes from blue-tinted panels, hanging gold lamps and plenty of huge windows. Black chairs with cushions made from recycled corks line the bar and the small black-topped tables.

The exposed brick walls feature original paintings and photographs produced by local artists. More of their works are on display upstairs, which serves as space for private parties and special events such as wine dinners, where winery representatives can use a TV to show pictures of their vineyards. Groups can also congregate in a downstairs nook, featuring couches surrounding a table with some added cheer from flowers and potted plants.

Crowd: Turnout has been impressive so far, with the restaurant often booking entirely for dinner on weekends and waits of up to two hours. Patrons are an eclectic mix, ranging from well-dressed couples in their 40s to 20-something guys in jeans and hoodies.

Service: Park Avenue Wine Bar employs three sommeliers, and all of their other staff members were required to take 25 hours of wine training. The result is that everyone knows how to talk about wine at great length and can recommend personal favorites, pairing suggestions and describe the subtle tastes you can look for in a glass. Smartly dressed in all black, the staff manages to be attentive and polite even when things are hopping.

Liquid consumption: Vino lovers can choose from 25 wines by the glass and 70 by the bottle. The bar's sommeliers chose what to carry after tasting more than 700 wines. The regularly changing list spans the globe, focusing on smaller producers that might be hard to find elsewhere. Winemakers regularly come in to host tastings and dinners, and all of the bottles can be purchased to take home for a lesser fee. If you're looking to experiment and expand your palette, try a $12 flight for the chance to sample three takes on the same type of wine.

For a change of pace, order up a craft beer such as Goose Island's Matilda or Sophie. A martini list in the works features quirky drinks like a coconut martini with shaved coconut around the rim and a champagne cosmopolitan.

Food: The small food menu is meant to complement wine and will change with the seasons. The top entree is plantain-crusted ahi tuna served rare with a sweet potato chorizo tamale. A plate of three cheeses from Europe and the United States changes multiple times a week to pair with whatever wines are being highlighted in the flights. Other options include poached octopus salad, crab cakes and steamed mussels tossed with garlic, basil and tomatoes.

Parking: Parking right in front of the bar can be tight, but there are several free public lots just a short walk away.

Overall: Park Avenue Wine Bar manages to have the breadth of selection to satisfy experienced wine lovers while offering accessible education for novices.

<p class="factboxheadblack">Park Avenue Wine Bar</p>

<p class="News">205 Park Ave., Barrington, (847) 382-3900, <a href="http://parkavenuewinebar.com" target="new">parkavenuewinebar.com</a></p>

<p class="News"><b>Hours:</b> 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday</p>