Antioch's 45 North rustles up rustic feel

Straddling the border between Antioch and Bristol, Wis., 45 North Bar & Grill offers locals the opportunity to have dinner and drinks out without visiting a big chain restaurant. Since opening in September, the family-owned restaurant and bar has been doing great business by offering comfort food, local drinks and a comfortably rustic setting.

Motif: Built on 11 acres of farmland, 45 North's look pays tribute to the area's agricultural heritage. The building resembles a barn, and inside bales of hay sit above the bar, and wagon wheels fitted with lights hang from the ceiling. Walls are lined with pictures of Lake County and Kenosha barns taken by a local photographer, which are all for sale should you see something you like. The large dining room features spaces for both couples and bigger groups, and sports fans can hang out by the bar and watch the game on two flat-screen TVs. More events are planned for the spring and summer, including live music and tractor pulls.

Crowd: The crowd at 45 North is genuinely eclectic, from local farmers and families to motorcyclists. Business people pack in at lunch time, with 25- to 45-year-old couples coming in for dinner out. Weekend days, the crowd depends on what game is on.

Service: Our server's casual friendliness made us feel right at home. She showed excellent knowledge of the menu and the day's specials and checked in regularly throughout our visit.

Food: 45 North uses disposable menus so that it can change the food options as often as the owners want. Some hits like steaks, meatloaf, bruschetta and bacon-wrapped shrimp will always stick around, but dishes with low demand will be scrapped so they can feature seasonal items including ingredients from a garden in back. On Saturdays, the spot runs a prime rib special until the meat runs out and they just added a Friday fish fry because of requests from Wisconsin customers.

All the food we tried was great. The New England clam chowder is packed with chunks of carrots, red peppers, celery and potatoes, along with plenty of clams. The baked cod is nice and flaky and served on a rich bed of creamy pasta.

The ultimate grilled cheese lives up to its name, featuring a blend of Swiss, cheddar, American and Brie cheeses with apricot preserves served melted on toasted multigrain bread. Sandwiches all come with a choice of thick-cut homemade sweet potato or french fries, though our server was happy to give us portions of both.

Liquid consumption: 45 North offers daily drink specials including $2.50 domestic beers on Thursday and a popular Bloody Mary bar from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, featuring tons of garnishes including cheese, shrimp and beef sticks. The taps are dominated by local brews including Mundelein's Tighthead and Michigan's Bell's.

Parking: There are plenty of spots in the large free lot.

Overall: Delicious food, good brews and friendly service make 45 North worth seeking out.

45 North

43441 N. Route 45, Antioch, (847) 838-7004; <a href="http://forty5north.com">forty5north.com</a>

<b>Hours:</b> 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday