Its a fun Dive Bar with Live Music and a respectable amount of pretty attractive local girls. Its a down to earth type place for the fun inclined. If you are a person who has ever worn a black turtle neck or waited in line for the newest apple product, or have used phrases like "the nihilism of post colonial India has been thoroughly unmoored..." then this is not your kind of place. The local bands and girls and corn field midwest location give it a kind of Road House vibe that I think a lot of people will dig.
Oh yeah and the guy to girl ratio is pretty good. Lots of chicks.
We drove almost an hour to see a band that we really liked so we paid the $10 Cover Charge, ordered some food (average), Drinks (overpriced) and tipped our servers. We then found out that the band we paid the cover to see and all the other 3 bands did not get paid after they hauled their equipment to there from Chicago to play their Sets. What kind of business does this nowadays? It's unfortunate they don't pay the bands after they provided entertainment for their paying customers. I recommend that if ur in a band either make sure there's a contract or get paid upfront.
Also I reccommend reading the FILTERED Reviews. How convienent it is for them that 7 of the 10 Filtered Reviews are 1 or 2 stars.
After passing by the sign for this pub a couple times on our way to and from South Barrington, I convinced my mom that we needed to stop in and try it.
We went at about noon on a Sunday, so there wasn't too many people but there was a few(including two illinois sheriffs!) The girl behind the bar told us to sit where ever we liked, and promptly came over to take our drink order. After that we ordered food, and chowed down!
I ordered the chicken wings with garlic buffalo sauce with curly fries on the side, and both were really good. The wings had so much sauce that by the time I was done, I had a pile of bones and napkins.. just the way it should be! My mom had the beef nacho's and said that they were really good too. Didn't order anything fancy to drink(just iced tea and water) but the ice tea tasted fresh and had a different twist to it.
Over all, I would go again. Not sure if I would go at night when there is band, but for lunch/early dinner, I will def. be back!
Its a dive and its in the middle of nowhere, but, you can have a good time here. I had a blast with some friends late night after a few other bars, this was our last stop so we were already "feelin pretty good." It was summer and we played bags outside with a waitress popping out every now and then to see if we need anything. The kitchen was closed or closing, but she was able to get a pizza and aome wings in for us which was awesome. I woke up covered in mosquito bites from the grass! Maybe get some kind of repellant out there? Anyway, this isn't a date spot or a family spot but not bad for a late night stop.
Review Source:Stopped by here for lunch while out in the nearby woods. I was pleasantly surprised by the low prices (I'm used to city costs) and the food was not bad at all. (Perhaps it's surprising that I'm not saying something more positive given my 4-star rating, but I'm adjusting the rating to expectations for such a place.)
I had absolutely no idea what to expect, but we were ready for lunch and this was the only place in the area we had spotted. We arrived in the afternoon and other than one or two other people eating and a group of ten men chatting over drinks, the place was empty. The waitress came over in a few minutes and took our order. They have an impressive list of burgers to choose from, it was actually a hard decision to make. I ended up going with the cheeseburger and curly fries. These were yummy. My friend got a different sandwich and was happy with that except for the fact that he didn't get the blue cheese on the side (as suggested by the menu).
I wouldn't go out of my way to visit this spot, but if you're in the area and in search of a meal, it's worth a visit.
If you are looking for a fun place to stop in for a round or 3 then this is your place. Â Amazing specials on weekdays along with an amazing staff that's laid back, willing to joke around and make the weekday much more enjoyable. Â
Their selection of bottle beer is pretty diverse, don't come here for craft beer but if you want anything from an Amstel to a Hacker Pschore then Penndy Road has got you covered! Â Mixed drinks yea they got that too!
I was drawn to this place when I spotted it at a lonely intersection in the midst of large expensive houses. I wondered what a place that looked like this was doing in such an affluent neighborhood. One night, I had the chance to go and check it out. It seemed out of place. This is the kind of bar you'd find out in the country.... THE classic dive bar. Not a place you'd expect in an upscale area!
Temptations cover band? Check.
Local, rowdy crowd? Check.
Good food? Check.
Cheap drinks? Check.
Good time? Check.
Would I come back? Eh. Probably not.
This place was ok... but I'm glad I didn't spend more than a couple hours there. There seemed to be only one bartender working even though there were a ton of people there. And oh my gosh, the bathroom... I'm not sure if it's always like that or if the staff was shorthanded for some reason and/or they don't usually have such a big crowd on a Saturday night (...?) but the women's bathroom was almost totally out of toilet paper and one of the toilets wouldn't flush, so there was a long line. One girl went to find someone to replace the TP but I guess there were no Penny Road Pub employees to be found. Oh well, it was still a fun night because I was there to see my favorite band!
Review Source:When I hear the term "dive bar", I can't help but immediately think of Penny Road. Â I love coming here, mainly for the food & drink specials, but the other night my friends band played & the sound downstairs was awesome! Â On a Wednesday night, it's $1.50 night, so burgers, 9" pizzas, fries & onion rings were only $1.50 each, plus domestic bottled beer & well drinks were $1.75, which equals a recipe for a good time. Â The food is good & doesn't taste like it cost $1.50 per item. Â Each day they have specials on different items so if you're pinching pennies & want to grab a cheap drink, stop by for a few.
Review Source:This review only concerns the basement area, since that is the only part I've been in.
I was just in this past Saturday, and the only other time was over 2 years ago (for my friends' band). The appearance has changed quite a bit down at the basement stage. It used to be a wood panel-ish backdrop with neon beer signs all around. Now everything is black with a simple black curtain directly behind the stage, with blue LED lights on either side near the ceiling. One hand it looks a little cheap now, but on the other, it's a lot less distraction and seemingly draws your attention to the bands.
One of the security guys says there are 2 sound guys for the basement - one who knows what he's doing and one who doesn't. Fortunately, both time I've been here it has sounded awesome, for all bands, not just my friends'. The bands' performances are obviously a different story, but the mixes are good. I really can't comment on drinks or prices, since I'm driving almost an hour via expressway, I don't want to take that risk, but you may as well check if anybody's playing if you want to stop in. The bands sure as hell appreciate it, and who knows, you might end up becoming a fan of a band you've never heard of. I know "larger" acts such as Local H have played here, among others, but the more unknown local scene gets the bulk of the gigs, at least downstairs. Do check them out.
While growing up in the area, I had heard of Penny Road Pub for years. Â I was visiting the area recently and decided I would seek it out and stop in for a cocktail in the afternoon. Â I was hoping for the classic stick-to-the-floor, biker-dudes-mixed-with-yuppies neighborhood dive bar. Â What we pulled up to was a new(er) building that looked more corporate than neighborhood. Â Walking in the wait staff was very friendly. Â We were served right away and they included us in their conversation. Â We didn't eat anything but the menu looked good and it sounds like Wednesday is the day to be there. Â The drinks were strong and not too pricey. Â They apparently have bands on the weekends and there is a large beer garden, which is closed for the season. Â I bet this place is hoppin' when a good band is playing. Â
All I can say is it was a little disappointing that the old structure, the pictures I had seen, was not there. Â It is new and modern inside, but seems to have lost that neighborhood dive bar feeling I was so hoping to experience. Â My bad for not stopping here years ago. Â It is a staple and a must see if you are in the neighborhood. Â I will be checking it out again the next time I'm in town.
Let me first start off by saying, pulling up to this place I don't expect 5 star service but seriously... I truly hope the bartender with hair down to her waist has another means of income as I can't imagine her paying the bills with her tip income. Â One word: Â RUDE.... We walked in, sat down at a table. Â Waited for 10 minutes before we walked up to the bar for a menu. Â An addtional 10 minutes later, she finally prances out to ask if we needed something. Â Um no... We've been sitting here for 20 minutes staring at you to come do your job. Â She then had the nerve to tell us if we wanted something we needed to come to her. Â So irritated we just got up and left... Â Mind you, we've been there several times & the waitstaff actually waited on us....
Hey- Â I really don't ask for much, but when the place has literally one other table of customers and a handful of people sittng at the bar, Â I do expect a little more. Â Perhaps putting a drive-thru window would be more suitable. Â I will NOT be going back despite whatever bar food late night craving I have. Â Two thumbs down!
My girlfriend and I decided to give Penny Road Pub a try on a Saturday night after a movie around midnight. Â I really enjoyed the casual atmosphere and felt very comfortable. Â There were all types of people at the place from bikers to college kids. Â I did not try any food, but the drinks were reasonably priced. Â The staff was very nice and helpful, continuously asking us if we needed anything throughout the night, and cleaning up our trash. Â On the night that we went, there was a cover band playing, and they were actually pretty good.
Review Source:I get the wings and other appetizers. They have great specials on a certain night for wings. Wings here are huge! Better than those chain restaurants that everyone is so hype about. I get extra sauce and blue cheese on the side-perfect! Mushrooms are good too!
This is a bar type environment-not a typical restaurant so if you get over that-you will enjoy the food. I ate in here a few times during the day-but usually get take-out. The music and scene late nights is a bit much for me-great food people!
Am always surprised when I drive by this place - not where you expect a pub to be.
Finally went over for lunch. Â Definately a dive bar type atmosphere. Â
Service was fast and polite (but not quite friendly). Â Food was tasty but unimaginative. Â Prices were reasonable.
Would I return: Â Yes. Â It's a little out of the way for me, but may watch what bands they've got going on and head over some evening.
Would I recommend: Â Only to certain people. Â :-)
This place has cheap beer. It is a dump and reminds me of the Boar's nest from the Dukes of Hazzard. The only difference it is filled with snobbinsh yuppies who like screaming music. I mean thie music here is so bad. All because you yell ina microphone that should not qualify you as a band. The food is bad and I can't understand why this place so crowded. I guess young folks in Barrington area just cannot stay at home in their parents big houses on the weekend. They will flock and crowd a dump like the Penny road pub and make owner very rich. I am sure the owner lives near by in a house that is three times bigger than this old dumpy bar house that needs many repairs.
Review Source:From the outside Penny Road looks like a dive bar you just drive by and might stop by on a random night. Â It's hidden back in a slightly wooded area and could be tough to find if you don't know where you're going. Â I'm relatively new to the area and some friends from work introduced me to it for happy hour. Â Their drink and food specials through out the week are wonderful! Â Monday nights are 50 cent domestic pints, Wed is 1.50 domestic pints & 1.75 domestic bottles. Â
Along with cheap drinks there is usually some sort of food special. Â Wed nights involve 1.50 personal pizza which is delicious for being "bar food". Â Penny Road has turned into a weekly hangout for my colleagues and I. Â If you're ever in the area it's worth stopping by for a few drinks and go from there.
Wednesday Happy Hour should be called Stimulus Wednesdays.
$15 could get you 10 pints of domestic beer
$10 could get you 10 large individual sized pizzas
The list goes on.
This is a towny bar without the townies and the towny attitude. In fact, it's filled with corporate joes like me. All I know is that I am reminded of why I wake up at 5am every morning when I hang in joints like this. Because not having to live in the Burbs is so worth the commute to and from Chicago.
For the occasional Happy Hour, this place rocks.
Not quite up to the hype.. (although the lobster crane is kick ass)
(you put in $2 and try to get a lobster out of a tank! huh? is this the 22nd century?) Â (nah, damn cool)
Otherwise, they have an appetizer called mac and cheese squares, they are friggin out of this world! Â (I could actually feel my chol rise!) (and I may change this to my last meal on earth)
Hamburgers are cheap and ok, not terrif. Â
As in any of my reivews which includes a beer review. Â They have good beer at not killer prices.
Before they built up all around it, it had much more atmosphere. Â The damn yuppies are takin' all the good land. Â (for those not from around here...that translates to, used to be surrounded by alot more trees)
And as always with my reviews. Â good tv's for the viewing..Good times to be had in Barrington Hills, guys
TOTALLY BIASED REVIEW! Â I grew up here. Â I mean right here. Â Back in the day before the face lift and the fancy things like flush toilets. Â It began as a road house, a stopping place if you will, for travelers by horse. Â Then it evolved to a "working mans bar" with sluts for lunch. Â Then I became the first cocktail waitress the place ever had....with my best friend as the bartender and well therein lies the legend.
The silly movie premise of a preppie guy knocking a row of Harley's down. Â Happened here. Â Only it was a drunk biker doing an air guitar solo that started the domino effect. Â No blood shed. Â No chrome scratched. Â Thank god. Â And the stage hands and riggers before every Poplar Creek show....new meaning to "up on the catwalk". Â Craziness. Madness. Â Memories!
Cheap drinks, cover bands and a mean grilled ham and cheese. Â I've never paid cover, I've never waited for a drink. Â But then again.....I was the first cocktail waitress they ever had. Â Great regional bands and an intresting mix of haves and haves not. Â Or haves and haves alot. Â Either way, love Penny Road. Â Wasted my youth here. Â No regrets!
one of my fav places in town to see some live music. they have a magic bus that they keep running in the winter time for all you smokers. they have a lobster crane, that's right a live lobster crane. i think it's a dollar to play, if you win a lobster they will cook it up for you just the way you like it. it's entertaining to watch to say the least. the food is decent, not too pricey. drinks on the weekend can get a little pricey but i think that's pretty normal around here. no specials during the weekend! they have 2 areas for music one upstairs and one in the basement. (that's usually where the hard rock/metal bands play) i heard they have had a comedy night but i'm not sure where they do that. but over all good place to go!
Review Source:I honestly don't know what to think of this place.
Far be it from me to be forgiving, but maybe I have a new lease on life today and made a vow to be less negative, more positive. blah blah blah....
The husband and I often pass by the makeshift ply wood hand-painted advertisement atop a truck parked in the corner of a field that's surrounded by expensive houses nearby. One day, we decided to follow the sign and were stunned to see a 2-story Federal-stylelike house down the road. It wasn't until tonight when we were both feeling under the weather, too tired to cook, out of ideas on where to eat, and wanting to avoid junk food, that we followed the road ahead of us and ended up here.
The parking lot was quite full and we thought we had to leave cuz there's nowhere else to park until a man beckoned to a spot near the back entrance.
We wanted to eat but was kindly forced to cough up a $5 cover charge each at the entrance inside for a county band, or if we prefer, go to the basement and pay $6 for a punk band. We told her we were not interested in either but dinner, and she looked at us with a blank "You have to pay something since the band will be playing right where you are eating" look.
There was only 2 waitresses serving both levels and a handful of tables. We must have waited 5 minutes for a menu, and another 30-45 minutes for our orders of chili, chicken wings and steak burrito.
Mind you, we're wings aficiondos, and we weren't taken by them buffalo wings at all. The chili was rather good -- thick and chockful of ingredients. We had to pack the burrito home as we were rather full. But it was a sizeable burrito, enough to rival Chipotle's. No free refills on a pop BTW.
I have to give credit to a place that can host two different genres of band, and still make everyone happy, as well as a busy waitress who takes the time to provide great service with a smile and good attitude.
Will I be back? Sure, if we are bored by the usual offering of entertainment in the burbs and want some all right live music.
Decent joint , came for a metal band night. floor has some room , good sized stage , cheap eats and drinks. There is a downstairs band area but I didn't check that out. Sound guy was wicked high (he was smoking up with a friend of a friend) and he kinda screwed the pooch on the sound mix of my buddies band. Wait staff wasn't great ,they were essentially nonexistent. I sat for 40 minutes in the same place and never was approached to see if I needed a drink. Bartender was good enough though. Had one of their "sliders" and it was really good. The only real flaw is that this place is in the middle of nowhere. I thought I was pretty far out but this place was almost 40 more minutes west of me. I would definitely be back if they were hosting some band I wanted to see.
Review Source:Meh. Most of the bands featuring here are local to the Northwest suburbs. This doesn't necessarily mean they suck...but I don't know how to finish that sentence.
Drinks are cheap. Crowd is mostly overweight suburban "biker" types getting all kinds of pissed, and underage-or-acting-it creeps with too much makeup and/or tattoos. Occasionally there is an unspeakably hot Stoli girl skulking around. Buy enough shots and she'll call you "baby" and graze her breast across your shoulder.
Ambience, or whatever, is okay; I like the architecture and acoustics, but this is still a WASP bar trying to be a punk bar and failing embarrassingly.
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