North Side Review: Easy Bar

By Laura Oppenheimer in Food on Dec 7, 2006 5:54PM

What was formally Bar 13/Mad Jack's Tavern has now become Easy Bar (1944 W. Division St.), the newest endeavor from the team of guys behind Estelle's and AliveOne. When it was Bar 13, the venue was made over for a short-lived A&E show, resulting in Mad Jack's Tavern. Mad Jack's may be gone, but the redesign is still there, with the deep red walls, large framed posters, lounging area in the back and sleek flat screen TVs.

We originally thought to ourselves, "These guys have a lot of balls to open up a bar in an area where there are already seven bars within two blocks." After last night, we were able to see where Easy Bar fits in to the greater bar scene in the area. Though there are plenty of hipster hangouts and restaurant/bar hybrids, before Easy Bar, there wasn't a slightly upscale, regular hangout bar. No pretension, no menu, not too many skinny jeans — just a place to grab a drink with pals.

We've heard a lot about the music at Easy Bar, and it was decent, as expected. Our server was outgoing, but not in the irritating way. When we ordered a gin and tonic, she suggested that we might want to go with one of the evening's specials: $3 Jameson shots or cocktails, $3 Goose Island drafts, or $4 vodka cocktails. These prices were more than enough to convince us to order a vodka tonic instead. Overall, other drinks weren't too pricey either. Draft beers were about $5 a piece, with mixed drinks being roughly the same.

Easy Bar wasn't amazing by any sense of the word, but we didn't leave disappointed like the last time we went to a newly opened W. Division Street bar. We tend to believe that neighborhood bars are like fine wine — they improve with age. It will be interesting to see where Easy Bar ends up in 6 months to a year.

Easy Bar, 1944 W. Division St., (773-227-4644). Sunday through Friday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m.-3 a.m.