Alley 64 revs up the St. Charles bar scene
When I hear the term "biker bar," the first thing that comes to mind is the scene in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" where Pee-wee accidentally knocks down a row of bikes in front of a bar. The biker crew pulls Pee-wee inside to decide his fate: death. But when he gets on the bar and dances to "Tequila," he wins over the bikers, saves himself and gets his very own motorcycle - which he promptly crashes into a billboard.
Alley 64 in St. Charles goes with the biker theme, but draws a diverse crowd - and you won't have to dance on the bar to feel welcome. At least I didn't -
Motif: One of the first things I saw upon entering the bar was a brand new motorcycle that was going to be raffled off. The bar itself at Alley 64 immediately sticks out for its size. This is one of the longest bars I have ever seen. To give you an idea of how long the three-sided bar is, you could probably easily fit five bartenders behind it, maybe more.
The walls are covered with beer and biker memorabilia and plenty of HD televisions. There's a Golden Tee game next to the bar as well as touch-screen games on the bar itself. Next to the entrance there is a stage for weekly live music, while near the bar there are plenty of tables and chairs for people to sit at. As you go further back in Alley 64, you'll find a pool table and a private room that can be used for parties. Even further back, or outside of the building if you will, is Alley 64's large patio which can seat up to 100 people. Now that temperatures are summerlike, bargoers can finally enjoy drinking outside and Alley 64's patio is a great outdoor destination.
Crowd: Sure, Alley 64 beckons to the biker crowd, but everyone is more than welcome. In fact, the day I visited the majority of the bargoers definitely arrived via four-wheeled transportation. Also, the age of the folks in the bar varied a bit, but most people were in their 20s.
Service: The service at Alley 64 was respectable for the size of the bar. Seriously, the bar is extremely long, so seat accordingly, because if you are on either end, you may have a tough time signaling to a bartender with all of the other patrons who also need a drink.
Liquid Consumption: During my visit, I tried to play it cool and drink a beer that authentic bikers might respect with PBR, but there were plenty of other brews to enjoy such as Miller High Life, Old Style, Bud Light, Magic Hat, Guinness, Leinenkugel, Miller Lite and Goose Island 312.
Food: Alley 64 serves fairly simple bar fare with items like burgers, po'boys (OK, these are not at every bar), Italian beef, hot wings, nachos, various other sandwiches and plenty of appetizers. If you manage to visit on a Friday, be sure to check out Alley 64's fish fry.
Sounds: Like many new bars, Alley 64 has an online jukebox, but don't assume that you can play whatever you want. Next to the jukebox is a sign that clearly says that if you play metal, rap or hip-hop, your song will be skipped, and do not even consider a refund. In fact, some unwise soul chose to listen to Lady Gaga, and the song was quickly skipped. For all I know, someone chose Lady Gaga as a joke, but when I decided to play Franz Ferdinand, I'll admit that I was a little nervous that my song would be skipped. After all, it's not quite in the "Sweet Home Alabama" ballpark that Alley 64 tends to enjoy. Fortunately, my song stayed and I left with my ego intact. Also be sure to check out some live music on the stage near the bar's entrance. I suppose you can't skip live music songs, but Alley 64 could always pull the plug.
Parking: If you have ever ventured to downtown St. Charles, you should already be used to the parking scene. If you're looking for a spot, your best bet is either on the street or in one of the free lots throughout the area.
Overall: Alley 64 is a large bar - with an outdoor patio bigger than other bars' total indoor space - but you should not be intimidated by its size. And while Alley 64 embraces the Harley look, plenty of non-bikers hang here too. Everyone is welcome. Sure, your favorite song may be skipped on the jukebox, but it's not like they didn't warn you.
Alley 64
Facts: 212 W Main St., St. Charles, (630) 513-6464, www.alley64.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday