Happy hours at Vines on Clark
I admit it. As much as family life fulfills me, sometimes I miss the days of Friday evening happy hours. The combination of loud music, big-screen TVs and cold beer seemed the perfect way to end a hectic week. But while this hardly seems a family-friendly environment, you might change your mind with a visit to Vines on Clark. Friday night Kids’ Night manages to capture happy hour while also catering to kids.
Between 4-7 p.m., families can take advantage of food and drink specials in this comfortable and friendly restaurant/tavern. Off season and at an early hour, parking was not an issue. We found plenty of spots right on Clark Street. My sons were thrilled with the loud music that greeted us. From classic rock to ’80s “hair bands,” the playlist took my husband and me back to our single days and kept the kids bouncing.
It was too cold to take advantage of Vines’ large outdoor seating area, so we settled comfortably into a large booth in the main dining room. In addition to the usual sports shows, the giant screens were tuned in to kids’ channels for these hours. I’m not sure how much you get from shows without sound, but they watched college football highlights, SpongeBob and iCarly without complaint.
We ordered some beers (the real stuff for mom and dad, root beer for the boys). They loved getting their own bottle of exclusive Cubby Bear Root Beer. As big Cubs’ fans, they’ve heard the Cubby Bear mentioned during games, so they felt “famous.” It’s some pretty tasty stuff.
During Kids’ Night, meals from the Kids’ Menu are just $1.99. Offerings are the standard burgers, chicken strips and pizza, but the food is good and the portions are generous, especially for the price. We really liked the wood-fired pizza with its thin and crunchy crust. Luckily, the grown-up versions are also a “happy hour” special at half price.
Vines offers a full menu of sandwiches and pastas, but we stuck to the appetizers and pizzas, in the true spirit of happy hour.
