Addison's 601 Bar & Grill draws the crowds
After five years of running a fine-dining restaurant, the owners of Solace 601 decided to change their spot to a neighborhood bar to be more in tune with the current economy. In January, the Addison space reopened as 601 Bar & Grill, and the gambit has paid off by drawing in large crowds.
Motif: Rows of flat-screen TVs tuned to sports hang over the bars, with more sets positioned in the corners and a projector set up against the windows. Walls are lined with beer signs and sports photos, and the spot shows its North-side allegiance with a prominently displayed Cubs schedule and a Cubs logo surrounded by ivy. The space includes Golden Tee, electronic darts and video bowling games. And the bar is working on starting up a bowling league along with bags tournaments on the recently opened patio.
Crowd: The space was utterly packed at 7 p.m. on a recent Saturday to the point that the hostess couldn't even give us an estimate on the wait. Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest, especially when a big game's on, drawing in huge groups encompassing all ages. Many customers come several times a week. Dress is very casual, with the default being jeans and jerseys or team T-shirts.
Service: The bartenders were all very friendly and attentive, checking in regularly and quickly refilling drinks. Our server was excited that we ordered the crispy pickles and came by after we'd had a chance to try them to share our enjoyment. When they're not in the kitchen, you can also catch one of the owners mingling and occasionally doing shots with patrons.
Liquid consumption: The bar offers a wide selection of beers, including Goose Island 312 and the smooth German brew Spaten. Daily drink specials include $2 import drafts Thursdays and $12 domestic buckets Sundays.
Food: Patrons sitting at the bar can snack on buckets of handmade chips, which have the perfect blend of salt and grease. The $6 crispy pickles are 601's most popular appetizer for good reason. It's a bizarre concept that works really well, with firm spears of pickles lightly battered and served with a house-made aioli sauce. The sour pickle combines perfectly with the sweet breading and lightly spicy dip.
Their sizable menu of handmade half-pound Angus beef burgers is also very popular. The $9 black Jack features melted Jack cheese over a patty well-seasoned with Cajun spices. It worked particularly well with some warm bacon jam that the owner had just whipped up and was proud to share. The strange side had a distinct bacon flavor but was sweet from plenty of brown sugar.
The $9 California burger was topped with so many big slices of avocado and roasted green chilies that toppings kept sliding out. Our only disappointment was that we'd ordered our burgers medium-rare and they came out closer to medium well. Burgers are all served with a choice of checkered french fries and thick-cut sweet potato fries, which both made for a great side.
If you're looking for more upscale fare, 601 kept several of the items from Solace's menu, including their take on oysters Rockefeller and pan-seared tilapia.
Music: The bar has hosted classic rock and country bands on Saturday nights and plans to expand the live music offerings once owners have a better gauge of what the crowd is looking for. Wednesday is karaoke, and you can find people from 22 to 60 belting out everything from AC/DC to Frank Sinatra.
Parking: The spot has a large free lot, though finding a space can still be tricky when the bar is hopping.
Overall: Friendly service and good food makes 601 Bar & Grill a great place to relax and watch the game.
<b>601 Bar & Grill</b>
601 W. Army Trail Road, Addison, (630) 458-9300, <a href="http://www.601barandgrill.com" target="_blank">601barandgrill.com</a>
<b>Hours: </b>11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday