Friendly atmosphere, food draw fans to 'Wild Bull'
The owners of Wild Bull Bar & Grill hoped to revive the west side of Schaumburg when they decided to open up in a former secondhand shop space that had been unused for years. The neighborhood has responded, and in the short month and a half since the spot opened it's already attracted a significant following.
Motif: A pair of 10-foot-wide HD screens is visible from the parking lot, broadcasting that Wild Bull is a sports bar better than any sign could. The spot also features four 50-inch plasma TVs and 15 other sets that line the green walls along with neon beer signs and framed sports pictures.
Roomier than it might seem from outside, the 7,500-square-foot bar leaves plenty of space between tables so it never feels cramped. For a quieter dinner, you can get booth seating in the back or if you want to keep your eyes glued to the big screens you can grab a space at the bar or at a separate bar top with stools.
Service: The primarily female servers dress in tight black shorts and tops, but are far from just eye candy. They're happy to rattle off the beer list and recommend their favorite dishes and were constantly checking in on diners and drinkers.
Liquid consumption: Owned by a beer enthusiast, Wild Bull features an extensive draft list that includes Guinness, Stella Artois, 312, Dos Equis and Sam Adams Summer Ale. All brews are served a few degrees colder than your usual tap, making the taste a little more refreshing so long as you can avoid getting a brain freeze by taking too big a gulp. If you're not a fan of hops, there's also a menu of tropical cocktails including the sweet Caribbean colada, a piña colada with Malibu Tropical Banana and Myer's Original Dark Rum. On all Chicago team game days you can get $12 domestic buckets, and if you're looking to stretch your weekend budget you can order $3 Captain Morgan cocktails Saturdays.
Food: Wings and burgers are the most popular eats, though the menu also offers plenty of other options including wraps and ribs. The Southwest fiesta chicken salad is another favorite, a huge plate of greens mixed with black beans, shredded cheese and tortilla strips and topped with a generous helping of grilled chicken. Any of the chicken dishes can be ordered with their wing sauce, with options including teriyaki, Cajun and garlic Parmesan. For a starter, try the onion rings which are crispy and sweet rather than greasy. If you've managed to save room, the dessert menu features a light cheesecake served with raspberry or strawberry syrup, fudgy chocolate cake served warm and a brownie topped with ice cream.
Crowd: The bar brings in an eclectic mix, ranging from twentysomethings looking for a late-night spot to drink to serious sports fans and their families who come in for the games. The spot has free Wi-Fi with the goal of attracting local workers who need to catch up on e-mail during their lunch breaks.
Sounds: Wild Bull received its live music license in July and has a small corner stage where they plan to host karaoke and live music four nights a week.
Parking: Parking is free but the strip mall lot can get packed during big game days.
Overall: Whether you're looking for an affordable dinner and drinks or a place to catch the game, the friendly atmosphere and service makes this bar well worth checking out.
Wild Bull Bar & Grill
Info: 1819 W. Golf Road, Schaumburg, (847) 285-3333
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday