Stillwater wine bar great addition to downtown Downers Grover
Wine bars are a little classier than your usual bar experience, and that might scare some people away from checking out Stillwater in downtown Downers Grove. But they let me in, so how bad can it be?
Motif: Stillwater radiates an upscale bar experience but still remains very welcoming. The place is made up of two separate rooms, the bar and the restaurant. This visit took place exclusively inside the bar (read: it was time to drink, not eat). But I did take a peek into the restaurant, and it also looked quite classy.
Walking into the place, you immediately encounter the small bar on your left. There are a limited number of stools along the well-stocked bar, and though the television above the bar was showing basketball, people could've cared less about the game. Candlelit tables and booths sit past the bar. The light fixtures hanging from the ceiling are extremely cool, and the walls are different shades of a tranquil green. A slightly elevated stage rests against the back brick wall, ready for live music that's a fixture on Fridays and Saturdays.
Stillwater also has a small secluded back patio, which is currently open for lunch and dinner. Expect the patio to be open later when the nights get a little bit warmer.
Crowd: I might have said this about a previous wine bar I reviewed, and it holds true here: A place like Stillwater is a gold mine for single 30-year-old men. Women in their 30s represent the overwhelming majority at Stillwater. If I find myself as a single man when I hit that age, I will take a comprehensive class on wine and then spend my nights at various wine bars where I will discuss the intricacies of numerous glasses of wine with the hot and single ladies crowd.
Service: Very friendly and knowledgeable. Servers gladly help those lacking any real wine knowledge and will be more than happy to discuss Stillwater's vast selection of wines.
Sounds: Stillwater's back stage hosts live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Friday's music tends to be of the solo-acoustic fare, while Saturdays feature jazzier acts complete with full bands in tow.
Liquid consumption: Wine, and lots of it! Stillwater has bottles of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gras/Grigio, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah/Shiraz and Zinfandel (all wines made in America). They also offer a selection of whites and reds that they say are "outside of the box." Personally, I wouldn't have realized whether a bottle of wine was inside or outside of the box, but one friend who knew his wines assured me that this selection was indeed quite different.
If wine isn't your thing, Stillwater has a full bar from which to choose your poison, as well as bottles of beer. Note that specials include $2 off any martini on Wednesdays and on Thursdays, you can take off $10 on any bottle of wine.
Food: There's lots to choose from off of Stillwater's bar menu. The selections vary from cheese and sausage boards to bruschetta and shrimp to stuffed portobello and baked brie with fruit. Want something even more substantial? Try the pizza bites, scallops, burger or chicken sandwich. It is probably a good idea to nibble on something while downing your bottle ˆ- advice I didn't take and paid for the next morning.
Parking: There's street parking available, but the best bet is the large parking garage just east of Main Street.
Overall: Stillwater is a great addition to downtown Downers Grove. The place screams class and has quite the varied selection of wines to prove it. The service is excellent and the atmosphere relaxed. Once Stillwater's patio opens, this surely will be one of the top spots to have a laid-back night and your favorite glass of wine in the suburbs.
Stillwater
5141 Main St., Downers Grove, (630) 324-4292
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; closed Monday