The Chicagoist will be launching later but in the meantime please enjoy our archives.

Case Study in Random: Bridget McNeill's

By Hanna Aronovich in Food on Mar 3, 2006 7:03PM

If grandma, a teenage boy and a sports fan all joined forces to decorate a bar, the result would be Bridget McNeill’s . Travel through the sliding doors of the Bel Harbor condominiums at 420 W. Belmont. Go straight and you’ll find yourself in the condo's lobby, but hook a left and the world Bridget McNeill’s lays before you.

Calling itself an Irish pub, Bridget McNeill’s boasts some of the most eclectic décor in the city. By the front entrance, a classic Golden Tee arcade game sits across from an old-fashioned popcorn cart. Golden Tee.jpg

If that weren’t fabulous enough, two streetlights stand up by the front bar, creating an interesting visual focal point. A pool table anchors the middle of the room, with a cozy fireplace area toward the very back. And what’s a fireplace without a comfy armchair? Three fading, floral-patterned overstuffed chairs are arranged near the fireplace – a perfect area for chatting and sipping a beer. Behind sitting area, Chicagoist discovered a shelf of dusty, hardcover titles, keeping with the living room vibe.

For all you sports fans, there’s a dartboard off in the corner, and several large TVs broadcasting the game. Warm red walls create an intimate feel, and, neon Bass and Guinness signs hang in the front windows, inviting passer-bys. Bass.jpg

Chicagoist stopped by Bridget McNeill’s on a Thursday around 11 p.m., and to our surprise, the fairly well-lit bar was almost empty. However, the bar draws a respectable dinnertime crowd.

For all its odd fixtures, Bridget McNeill’s is as welcoming and laidback as it gets. Friendly bartenders and solid pub food (including fish and chips) score some points. And, although there’s no shortage of Irish pubs in Chicago, for a relaxed, pretentious-free evening, Bridget McNeill’s fits the bill.