Bar bites, stellar service add up to a good time at 12-21
Bar 12-21 is both a tribute to Morton's, The Steakhouse's history and a step into its future. Named for the date in 1978 when the franchise's first restaurant opened in Chicago, the new bar concept aims to bring in customers for more than just big business meetings and special occasions.
Motif: Since opening 21 years ago, Morton's in Rosemont has been strictly a basement affair. Embracing a speak-easy vibe, guests walked in the door and straight downstairs to the dining room. Now Bar 12-21 has taken up residence in the building's first story. The central point is a marble bar lit by hanging lamps. Walls are lined with Morton's-themed artwork and black and white photography, keeping with the classic vibe. A few flat-screen TVs are tuned to sports with views from nearby small tables where you can eat while you watch. A patio lined with flower planters and trees makes an ideal place for a summer sipper.
Service: Morton's has been in the business of fine dining for decades, and it shows. Even when the house was packed, servers were polite and enthusiastic about all the dishes and drinks they doled out.
Liquid consumption: The bar boasts a huge selection of specialty cocktails. The caipirinha, a mix of Leblon Cachaca muddled with pieces of lime and fruit, provides much of the same taste of a mojito without the mint. Our favorite was the Cool as a Cucumber, a mix of Absolut Vodka muddled with English cucumber, St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur and lime juice with a topper of ginger beer. The result was truly refreshing and soothing, with no hint of the sweetness that can overwhelm warm weather drinks. If you prefer something fruitier, there's The Heavenly Palm Beach Passion. The pineapple-infused Skyy Vodka is blended with passion fruit liqueur, lime and mint and topped with the bar's signature thick raspberry foam. The effect is like having a fruit smoothie capping off your cocktail.
If cocktails aren't your thing, grab a Goose Island 312 for $4. There's also a wide selection of small batch bourbon and single malt scotch and a new wine list emphasizing affordable, by-the-glass options.
Food: It's hard to get a better deal than Bar 12-21's bar bites menu. For just $5 you can get a plate of three thick prime cheeseburger sliders or four mini-sandwiches of perfectly tender, medium-rare filet mignon. The same $5 also buys you a plate of jumbo lump crab, spinach and artichoke dip. The rich and creamy flavor works perfectly with the slivers of toasted French bread it's served with. For an extra luxurious treat, grab an oyster on the half shell for $1.75 or a colossal cocktail shrimp for $2.75. For more substantive fare you can order from the regular downstairs menu as well.
Crowd: The casual atmosphere, low food prices and cocktail selections lure crowds of young professionals and more women than typically frequent Morton's. Crowds can vary wildly depending on what's going on at the nearby Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and they also bring in traffic from local hotels and the Allstate Arena.
Parking: There's valet parking along with plenty of free spots.
Overall: Bar 12-21 offers a way to get some excellent quality food at bargain prices.
Bar 12-21
Info: 9525 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, (847) 678-5155, mortons.com/rosemont
Hours: 4 to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday