Oak Park's Avenue Ale House finally brings spirits to town

By NICK POWILLS

When I was a little kid growing up in Oak Park, my friends and I felt as if the 2-by-4-mile town had little to offer. But after living the majority of my life in the town, I have fallen in love with it, especially with the much-needed changes over the last five years.

New businesses are popping up all over the place, helping the historic town get some flavor. Up until a few years ago, though, the drinking scene had been limited because of Oak Park's no-alcohol policy. Prohibition never reversed itself in the small western suburb, just minutes from downtown Chicago. It was a town with limited night life.

That was until the Avenue Ale House broke the barriers. On the surface, it looks like just another restaurant gracing its presence in the town, but if you look a little closer, the restaurant’s look is just a disguise for Oak Park's first real bar.

Fortunately for the Ale House owners, the buzz on this little venue has continued to grow. It is one of Oak Park's major night hot spots, and I don't expect that to change any time soon.

If you do want to get your eat on, then there are a lot of different options for your taste buds to munch on.

In my humble opinion, there is nothing better than the Spinach and Artichoke Fondue, and at the reasonable price of $6, you are in for a wonderful culinary experience. The fondue is served with pita bread slices and its taste is amazing. Once you have experienced this
appetizer, your mouth will water every time it's mentioned for the rest of your life.

The Jalapeno Poppers, Baked Goat Cheese and Onion Loaf are also great options to solve a bad case of munchies.

For main courses, steaks and chops are delicious and not overpriced. You can get a 12-ounce Prime Rib Eye Steak for $24 or an 8-ounce Prime Filet for $29. My favorite is the New York Strip, priced at $21 for 12 ounces. Add $1 for blackened CRUST, bleu cheese crust, or peppercorn crust.

The Burgers are also a great option, and are usually what I go for after getting all buttered up on the booze. The best part is the cost – all burgers are $8 or less. If you want a different taste, try the Popeye Burger, which includes sautéed spinach and feta cheese.

The booze is not overpriced either, and the Ale House offers a great variety of choices. The Lagers list: Corona $3.50; Labatt's Blue $2.75; Dixie $3.75; Budweiser $2.75; Rolling Rock $2.75; Peroni $3.50; Harp $4.75 (2-ounce draft); Negra Modelo $3.50; Spaten Premium $3.75; Miller Genuine Draft Light $2.75 (draft); Miller Genuine Draft $2.50; Stella Artois $3.00; Miller Lite $2.75; Moretti $3.50; Kirin Ichiban $3.50; Heineken $3.50; Bud Light $2.75; Sam Adams Boston $3.50; Sam Adams Seasonal $4.50 (draft); Red Stripe $3.50; DAB $3.75; Amstel Light $3.50; Corona Light $3.50; and Miller High Life $2.75.

And no ale house could be complete without a variety of different ales for your drinking pleasure. The list includes: Caffrey's $5.00; Rogue Oregon Golden $3.75; Murphy's Irish Amber $3.50; Crimson Voodoo $4.00; Boddington's $4.50; Anchor Liberty $4.00; Sam Smith Pale Ale $4.75; Bass $4.75 (20-ounce draft); Killian's Irish Red $3.50; Sierra Nevada Pale Ale $3.75; Goose Island $3.75 (Seasonal); Newcastle Brown Ale $4.00; Sam
Smith Nut Brown Ale $4.75; Turbodog $3.75; Bell's Seasonal $4.75 (draft); and Leffe Blonde Belgian Ale $4.00.

And that's not the entire list of beers! You will also find Sapporo, Guinness, Summit Porter, Hoegaarden White, Ayinger Brau Weiss and Tequiza, and more.

There is also a wide variety of wines and house specials.

On Sundays and Mondays, boozers can get $2 Miller products and $2:50 Sam Adams drafts. On Tuesdays, you can get $4 Ale Alternatives and $2 Rolling Rocks. Wednesdays you can drink $2 Bud and Bud Lights as well as my favorite, $2 specialty shots. On Thursdays it’s $5 specialty martinis. And on Sundays through Thursdays, Alehouse-goers can get half-price appetizers in the lounge from 3 to 5 p.m. and 10 to 11:30 p.m.

The options are almost endless.

So if you find yourself in Oak Park, it’s worth your time to check out the Avenue Ale House for some good eats and great drinks.

Cheers.