Yankee Doodle Bar

Nice little dive bar.   Good tap selection and cheap Martinis.

Barrington's finest.  You say Wool St. is too crowded, McGonigal's is too expensive, the Onion Pub is in the middle of nowhere, and the Blue Heron is on the wrong side of the tracks. But wait what's this a bar in Barrington with colorful people and an open seat always waiting for you? Is this a mirage before my tired no eyes? No good sir you are at the Yankee Doodle "a place where friends gather". Grab a Grolsch, put on the Bob Seger, order up the duck tenders, throw some darts, and get ready for the most fun you can have on East Main St.

There are not many bars in Barrington and I wanted to check out a place I had not been to yet, so my boyfriend suggested Yankee Doodle. It is sort of hidden in what seems like a mini strip mall in the back corner of the building, adjacent to the Barrington Metra train station parking lot.

It is a divey bar and not very spacious. They have jukebox and fireplace (but it wasn't on, which would have been great considering it was such a cold night). Washrooms (at the least the women's) were not very clean. The patrons consisted of both a younger crowed (20's & 30's) and older adults; it was probably a 60/40 ratio.

The beer selection was decent. It's getting to the point where I've tried so many beers that not every bar has ones that I have not had yet, but Yankee Doodle did have a few. I can't remember which beer I ordered, but it was new to me and a special of the day.

The thing that irked me about this bar was the bartender. She was plain rude. I told her nicely I needed a minute to decide on a beer and when I was ready to order, I looked her right in the eyes, we made eye contact, yet she still walked away & basically ignored me. I continued to look up and right at her, an obvious signal that I'm ready to order. She even took the order of a guy standing next to me, even though I had been standing there before him. I gave up and had one of the guys I was with order for me. Surprise, surprise, she waited on him. Seems like she picks the males to wait on, maybe in hopes of getting a better tip. Luckily, there was also another older male bartender behind the bar, so for the next round, I ordered through him.

Another thing that tainted my impression of this bar was during the last few minutes before the bar closed. The bartenders announced that if everyone wasn't finished with their drinks by time the exact closing time came around, they would collect the drinks regardless if you were finished or not. I've actually experienced this at one other bar, but it seems these people enforced the rule more so. I understand the bartenders probably wanted to get out of there as any employee usually does at the end of a shift, but you have to understand it's a bar! It's one thing to keep announcing that the place would be closing soon or that everyone needs to get out (after the closing time). I've seen many bars do that, otherwise they would have belligerent drinkers sit around all night, but to take paid drinks away is plain rude, in my opinion.

I really can't see myself ever returning to this bar, mostly because of the rude service. I'd rather drive to another town than to go here again, even though it's probably one of the closest bars to my house.