Crosstown Pub a welcoming sports bar for young and old
The name of Crosstown Pub and Grill might be there to illicit the feelings of animosity between certain North and South-side baseball teams. No worries though, because Crosstown Pub takes no sides, and is more than welcoming to any fan who is looking to enjoy a drink and some food.
Motif: From the outside, Crosstown Pub and Grill (formerly George's Place) resembles an older house that has been covered in white paint. Inside, the homeliness feeling remains. The large, three-sided bar at the entrance gives you the impression that you are sitting in someone's low-ceilinged kitchen, which they've decided to deck out into a bar. That's not a bad thing, as some patrons will prefer the homey vibe of Crosstown to some of today's cold, minimalistic bars. Fifteen flat-screen televisions adorn the walls of the bar and the adjoining sitting area. There are plenty of arcade games to play (such as Golden Tee), as well as darts, the punching bag game where you try to prove your manhood and one of my new favorite bar staples, the real-live lobster claw machine.
There is also a heated patio outside, but I don't know how effective that heat is going to come winter. I am assuming most people will limit their trips outside to the patio to smoke.
Crowd: The crowd was mixed to say the least, yet everyone got along with one another quite well. Across from me at the bar sat a group of twentysomethings and a man who was probably old enough to be their father, playing a game of remote poker on the television. Next to me was a middle-aged man who was up for a conversation detailing the finer qualities of buffalo wings.
Service: The service was friendly with just the right amount of attentiveness. They delivered what I requested in a timely matter; no complaints here.
Food: Crosstown Pub is known for its wings. In fact, it was once voted Chicagoland's best wings by NBC-Channel 5 News. If wings are not your thing, there is plenty more on the menu, including burgers, pizza, wraps, sandwiches, pasta, seafood and steaks. Be sure to check out the food specials throughout the week as well. For instance, wings are half-price (with a drink order) on Thursdays, tacos are $1 (maximum is three) on Tuesdays, Friday is the all-you-can-eat fish fry and don't miss the halftime buffet on Sundays.
Liquid consumption: Crosstown Pub has a decent-size drink list. On tap, you can expect such beers as Sam Adams, Guinness, Heinken, Blue Moon and Miller Lite. The bar's bottle selection is quite impressive as well with Two Brothers Domain DuPage, Sierra Nevada, Fat Tire, Peroni, Hacker-Pschorr and Bells Amber Ale, among others. There is also a full bar with various wine choices, and drink specials throughout the week.
Sounds: I noticed an online jukebox, but what I heard piping through the soundsystem was the classic rock station 95.9-FM The River. Check out the bar's upcoming events during your visit; it recently hosted a live band karaoke event and there's a Guitar Hero competition at 8 p.m. Mondays.
Parking: Crosstown Pub has its own, tight-parking lot, but I could definitely envision situations where it might get cramped.
Overall: Places like Crosstown Pub and Grill are becoming fewer and farther in between nowadays. Located just blocks from Naperville's slick, jam-packed downtown, Crosstown is more laid-back and certainly less flashy. Crosstown Pub is a welcoming sports bar for fans young and old, no matter your allegiance. With its location on busy Ogden Avenue, you could blink and miss it, and by doing so, you're doing an injustice to yourself and this cozy, low-key sports bar.
Crosstown Pub & Grill
Facts: 909 E. Ogden Ave., Naperville; (630) 357-9775; crosstownpub-grill.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday