Zanies Comedy Club

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  I think this places needs a makeover - just now sure how. The space is long, like a bowling alley. Not sure if this is the best space for a comedy club.
  
  We got there early, thinking that they served food (since it's a 2 item minimum) like the Improv in Schaumburg. So we had pretty much our choice of seats. We weren't sure if this comedian picks on people in the audience, so Instead of sitting basically on the stage, we picked seats a little further back. They had these long tables with old chairs - like you would see at a bingo hall!  I mean, bowling and bingo was all we thought of.
  
  They really do NOT serve food here - eat before you come! They had a bowl of snack mix, or "nachos" - a plate of chips and cheese. We have been totally spoiled by the Improv and their decent menu. Lesson learned, I should have checked the other yelp reviews first!
  
  Drinks weren't as expensive as we had expected. I think we had 5 or 6 and the bill was around $40. Not too bad.
  
  So drinks and tickets were around $100 total - not too bad since we were super excited for the headliner.
  
  I think new tables and chairs and maybe a refresh to the hallway/stairwell you walk up could rejuvenate this place.

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  Posted on 02.16.13 Maureen C.

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  I am conflicted. The show was great, the comedians were good (not great) as expected of a smaller suburban comedy club. Honestly, I have no complaints on the performance side. My biggest complaint is the comfort of the facility. The room is smaller than other Zanies locations, which wasn't a problem since the show we went to was not sold out, but if i was I would have felt very cramped. The worst part about this experience was that the chairs were AWFUL. After about 10 minutes of sitting my tailbone already hurt and I was incredible uncomfortable throughout the entire show. Honestly, I am of the opinion that if you expect people to remain in their seats attentively watching a show for 1.5 hours, you should provide adequate seating that allows them to do so. The chairs are super cheap and hard. This may actually be a deterrent that prevents me from returning to Zanies (or this locations anyways). Get better seats and I'll be back in a heartbeat.

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  Posted on 02.15.13 Laura S.

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  Honestly its hard to know how to rate a comedy club. Do you rate the location, service or the entertainment? Is it Zanie's fault if the comedians suck?
  
  Anyway, I drove ALL the way out to St. Charles from the city & if you don't know let me tell you that it's a LONG TREK. Not sure it's worth it either if I'm being honest. Zanies on north avenue will do just fine in the future.
  
  Location: Too far from the city, parking sucks but there are restaurants nearby so getting food or grabbing a drink is easy.
  
  Service: Friendly, Prompt, Drinks were good & I got a nice buzz
  
  Entertainment: Opener (Denise Ramsey) was actually funnier than the headliner (Dr. Bill) The doc definitely shouldn't quit his day job! Too many jokes about his profession. I thought his other material was actually funnier.
  
  Probably wouldn't go back to this location just because of the distance but if they had a more well known comic then I might. Overall, its a cool place. I was happy with the locations interior & they didn't pack us in like sardines like some clubs BUT it is small.

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  Posted on 02.03.13 Sonya M.

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  I hate to say this, but I'm not really a fan of this location. Was here for a fundraising event a few months ago. We were told we needed to sit in a certain section towards the back of the theater. Not realizing it at the time but we sat at a table right under a huge speaker. I had a splitting, migraine headache by the time the show was done.
  
  2 drink minimum per person....drinks were tasty but were pretty weak. Also, we witnessed one server completely spilling his tray of drinks on some poor woman. Ironically enough, I almost sat in that very same seat...I guess the blaring speaker is better than having a tray of drinks dumped down your back and into your lap??
  
  Some of the comedians' jokes were pretty outdated. The one guy (can't remember his name but he claimed he was a doctor during the day) was making references to a hurricane happening that weekend. You mean Hurricane Sandy that happened a few months prior??
  
  There was an incident towards the end of the show where a patron behind us had a medical emergency. The Zanies staff were quick to respond and medics were on the scene shortly after. It was a bit weird because the comedian who was on the stage just continued on with his act...maybe he wasn't aware that someone had passed out in the audience? Oh....and that doctor/comedian I mentioned earlier...he just stood from a doorway and looked on (this was before medics arrived).

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  Posted on 02.01.13 Susan G.

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  Went there on a Friday night to a 9:45 pm show for a date night. I was reluctant to read about pheasant run not having the best food so we got dinner before the show, but to be perfectly honest why would you eat at a comedy show I would be afraid of chocking. Well back to the show, the host was pretty funny,  the opener Corey manning was probably the worst I've ever seen it seemed as if it was his first time on stage. I was so relived when the head liner came on stage Rob little. I didn't go because him. I just wanted to go see a comedy show for a good date night. A girl laughs and smiles all night, you get to hear her true laugh, have a few drinks way better than just a dinner date. Rob was pretty funny, but he did loose the audience a few times. I think it was due to looking at all 15 of us in the audience. The 8:00 pm show prior to ours was packed when we were waiting to go in people kept pouring out. During the show they require you to purchase two drinks per person, which I really don't understand just include it in the price of the tickets don't force people to drink alcohol. Inside the theater it was extremely cold, I believe with everyone in the first show they turned the a/c on and then with us in the second show the didn't adjust the thermostat - poor job on their part. The theater isn't set up the best, so get to the show early to get good seats since it is open seating. I like the atmosphere it's like your in a secret unground room even though you walked up a spiral stair case to get there. My next point - if you get drunk caution spiral stair case watched a lady totally hammered battling with the stairs she took her heels off and had one hand on the railing and the other on the stair. So I wondered if they have an elevator, because the bouncer was right at the top of the stairs and let the hammered lady battle herself down the stairs probably for a good laugh. We did have 4 miller light bottles during the show - $24 wasn't expecting it to be that much! To break it down I went and saw a comedy show - was just okay, the drinks over priced, you want to charge that much I want better seats than chairs from a 1970's dumpy dinner. Renovate this place and I would comeback more often instead of going to other clubs that are further away, or lower your prices and I can put up with seating.

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  Posted on 05.01.12 Eric L.

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  Don't ever go to this place and see the same comedians.  I have been a few times and all the comedians do the same act, even years later.  the drinks are weak and expensive and the seating sucks.  the only good thing here is the service but I'm sure it's b/c they want to buy as many expensive drinks as possible.  the comedians are funny but only the first time around.  oh yeah, and don't count on anyone but the headliner being funny.

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  Posted on 03.25.12 Ellen D.

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  We saw Craig Shoemaker on 3/9/12 and he was as talented as can be.  We laughed so hard during his entire (gosh - 1 1/2 hour show) that our face hurt.  My brother-in-law that doesn't laugh so much was laughing like crazy right from the get-go!  The wait service is not so friendly, but was efficient.  Do NOT order a bloody mary as they are undrinkable!  The bar bill was so high that I wondered after we left the show if the tip was included and the waiter did not inform us?  They just bring you the bill at the end in the dark and leave.  Make sure to get this 'ticket' from your server, so that when you leave the bouncer asks for it and if your server didn't give it to you they do not let you leave until you track down your server for 'the ticket'!  Overall, very enjoyable venue.  We did sit in the back room and had a great view!  Thanks Zanies for having this venue in the West Burbs!!  By the way, the ticket people were REALLY friendly!

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  Posted on 03.22.12 Laura R.

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  Great Place too see a show.  I don't know why it got such bad reviews.  Who goes to a comedy show to eat food anyway?  It's bar food you morons not Mortons Steakhouse.  Larry Reeb is awesome! I loved it when he put the hecklers in their places.

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  Posted on 03.15.12 Anthony R.

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  My husband and I came here last night to see Tom Green on his stand up tour.  I have a separate review for Pheasant Run which I found to be really quite scary.  Anyway.
  
  We picked up our tickets from the box office with ease and no hassle (after we looked around for it for like 10 minutes).
  
  I would also like to mention that I was absolutely DEVASTATED to learn that I had missed Norm MacDonald here by a hair.  
  
  The 2 drink minimum thing really sucked because #1, they didn't have Rolling Rock beer and #2, they had Pepsi products!  Aw man.  So I was forced (yes, forced because we HAD to buy two items apiece) to drink a rum and diet pepsi and Miller Lite.  The only food items they had on the menu were nachos and "snack mix" whatever that would consist of.  My husband ordered nachos since he doesn't drink alcohol OR soft drinks.  I guess he could've gotten coffee or tea or hot chocolate.  The nachos were barely edible.  The chips were borderline stale and the cheese was... well let's just say I felt gross allowing it into my body and the salsa was very thick, almost like marinara sauce.  They really should offer a little more variety considering you MUST order something.  And maybe listing the beers they had would be helpful considering we were ordering while Tom was onstage.  
  
  When we were waiting in line, there was an incredibly obnoxious woman a few people behind us.  She was loud, large and kept yelling "It's Katelynn's birthday!!!" every 5 minutes.  I would later learn something even more terrifiying, she was someone's MOTHER.  
  
  Much to my horror, once we were seated, she ended up being 2 chairs away from us.  It was pretty funny because the warm up fellow and "host" called her out on it, as did Tom during his routine.  Turns out, she's an army wife from (gee guess where?) the south and she HAD to add her two cents after EVERY.SINGLE.THING Tom said.  I think there were 4 in her "party."  Herself, her husband, the birthday girl and another guy who was maybe Katelynn's husband.  I honestly wanted to fly over the table and strangle her.  I think Tom asked her if she was the kind of person who had to have the spotlight on her at all times.  Hahaha.  It was funny.  They also became incredibly offended when Denise, the opening comic, told white trash and Nascar jokes.  Everyone else was roaring with laughter - probably half laughing at them.  They were truly just gross.  If they wouldn't have been so obnoxious, no one would've even noticed them but when you're such an interruption, you're just asking for it and they got what they deserved.  
  
  I found that I got very little enjoyment out of the beverages I consumed because I was forced into ordering them.  I would've had no problem paying for FOUR drinks if I had the choice of something I actually liked.
  
  I agree with anyone else who said that the layout of the room is very odd.  To repeat others, the room is long and narrow.  Fortunately, we were right up front so seeing for us wasn't an issue (aside from my not-strong-enough glasses prescription).  
  
  Also, a very scary middle-aged woman actually tried to climb up on the stage.  It was very, very odd.  I would never go back unless there was another comedian I wanted to see - and they redo that menu!

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  Posted on 02.26.12 Claire M.

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  This review is only a reflection of the Zanies location in Saint Charles - and certainly NOT a review of the performances.  When we went here to see Norm McDonald all the comedians who performed, from the host to the opener, a surprise visit from Kevin Farley & then Norm - were wonderful!
  
  BUT - this location is a stinker :-(
  This place was clearly not designed to be a comedy club.  It's long & narrow so there are very few "good" seats.  And they essentially have no food.  Okay, there IS 2 items of food on the menu - Nachos for like $5 or $6, which consist of a disposable plate of tortilla chips & small cup of microwaved cheese dip, OR "Snack Mix" for $4 served in a small disposable bowl.  Wow.  SO glad I read other reviews of their menu ahead of time as we had planned to eat dinner there!  Yikes!  Needless to say we ate our meal elsewhere and just stuck to drinks at the club.
  
  If you are looking for a fun night out WITH great food AND a beautiful location go to the Improv Comedy Club in Schaumburg.  The only reason we went to Zanies is because Norm McDonald was there.

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  Posted on 12.13.11 Rose D.

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  I've been here a few times now. I think this past visit was the best so far. I laughed a lot. However I think the comedians can be hit or miss here. I've had the displeasure of watching a couple of not so funny guys stumble through a performance in the past. I think audience participation can make a performance suck too! A woman seated near the front was roped into some banter with opening host. Yes he got some laughs at her expense nothing outrageous. She was so pissed off the rest of the show. Some people need to lighten up! FYI if you're sitting near the front you may be zoned in on,depending on the comedian. You can ask to change seats if you're worried about this. I watched a group get seated right next to the stage then watched them ask the seating host to change their seats. No big deal. Also it is true the drinks are pricey,but that's to be expected. I had 2 appletinis $8.25 a piece. They do offer other alcoholic  drinks for less. If you're feeling  cheap, soda is $4.00. If you're at the pheasant run resort or in the area check it out.

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  Posted on 10.31.11 Michele H.

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  My trip to Zanies in St Charles can be summed up by these 4 words: 'Nachos and Snack Mix. '
  
  I am a veteran of numerous trips to comedy clubs, I have been to the Improv in Schaumburg (many times) and had a great time at the Zanies in Chicago a few years ago.  This one does not compare.
  
  Even though this was my first time here, finding the place was easier than I thought it was going to be. They checked our IDs at the door and then sat my group of 4 at a table that was 2 feet by 2 feet.
  
  Having been to the Improv many times I had thought I could grab a bite to eat once I got there and the 3 other people in my group thought so as well. We knew there was a 2 item requirement so we assumed we could order a drink and a food item and enjoy the show.
  
  The single piece of paper on our table was the menu, I looked it over and saw nothing but drinks. 6 bucks for a bottle of beer, 8 for a mixed drink, 4 for a soda, and no food. I then turned the menu over and saw the food list: Nachos or Snack mix. I wasn't looking for fillet mignon or fresh salmon, I just wanted  burger, some fries or something that could be called a dinner.  Maybe, I thought, the real dinner menu was something they brought out if you asked for one right? Nope.
  
  We asked our waitress if there was any food that could be ordered and she said "Only Nachos or Snack Mix."
  
  My girlfriend and I ordered two sodas (Pepsi) and shared an order of Nachos and Snack Mix.  The Pepsi came out in a plastic cup filled with chunks of  ice. I should have just asked for a shot of Pepsi, I would have likely gotten more. The Pepsi quickly became watered down from the ice, and to top it off? It was flat.
  
  The snack mix was just that, a styrofoam bowl filled with some snack mix. I think I saw peanuts, cheeze-its and some dark rye cracker things. The nachos were of the store bought variety, they came on a tray with plastic cups filled with cheese (at room temp), salsa (store bought) and canned jalapenos. I think the total bill was around 18 bucks. I would have paid someone 10 bucks to drive down to Steak N Shake for a burger.
  
  I understand comedy clubs make money from the food and drink sales, but there wasn't anything on the menu that I wanted to buy. I don't drink alcohol so my options were limited. I see why the shows are all 21 and up... if you are underage there isn't much to chose from.
  
  The show was great, the tickets I bought were for charity and went to a good cause. I just don't think I'll ever go back. I have no problem with having to buy two items. But if one of the 4 items a designated driver can buy is snack mix (which they put out at  bars for free) what is the point of even going?
  
  Sorry Zanies, this just wasn't funny.

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  Posted on 10.28.11 Mike S.

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  I love a good standup. But you have to be able to see and here him/her to really enjoy it. The oddly shaped and elongated room is awkward and no fun to watch a show in.
  
  Of course you have overpriced garbage here, its standard for a comedy club thats how they make their money. While I respect that, in return I expect their not to be so many bad seats in the house and to have such an awkward seating situation.

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  Posted on 08.14.11 Matt M.

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  I have been to my share of comedy clubs and don't feel like this one is up to par.  We saw a gentleman that they booked to perform to a demographic that was all wrong.  The opener for this show was WAY better than the headliner.  
  
  Our group thought that the drinks were WAY overpriced, but overall we made the best of the night.  
  
  Pheasant run is a great place, but i think that this Zannies is not quite right.

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  Posted on 10.12.10 Megan T.

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  I had a good time at this Zanies. It's not in an easy to get to location like the one in the city but parking was so much easier.
  
  The acts were great (I laughed my lungs out) and I think Zanies does a pretty good job of getting some well known faces on stage.
  
  What's not cool is forcing people to get two items and then only having crappy overpriced crap...did I mention it was crap? the only food was "nachos" and "snack mix" the snack mix was probably whatever they swept off the floor the night before. Heavily iced pop, 5 dollar bottled beer, and a ton of  sugary sweet "specialty" drinks.
  
  Definitely check out the talent but don't expect much from the refreshments.

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  Posted on 05.01.09 Rhonda G.

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  Tiny little smokey dive of a club last time we were here.  The food was overpriced and blah - what you would expect.  The crowd reminded me of being in Florida for some reason

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  Posted on 06.26.07 Emily C.

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  We visited Zanies last weekend after having visited The IMPROV in Schaumburg several times. It seemed that Zanies was overdue for a visit, since it's only 4 miles away.
  
  Simply put, I don't feel I was missing anything.
  
  I can't help but feel a bit bad for Zanies (at least the St. Charles location), because had I not been to The IMPROV first, I might have enjoyed myself a bit more. The waiting area is pretty small, so it gets crowded fast. The inside of the club is pretty tiny, and honestly, looks pretty outdated. There are benches on each side of the barn-like structure, with a table and then a chair on the other side of the table; in the center of the room are a few more tables, then several rows of chairs with no tables.
  
  Another con is the fact that the place allows smoking. I believe I saw that in accordance with a new ordiance passed in St. Charles, the place will become smoke free on May 1, but my hair reeked of smoke after leaving.
  
  If you go to a late show, make sure you eat beforehand. Though we were told on the phone that they had some snacks and mini-pizzas, we found when we got there that they only appetizer they seemed to have were nachos. Their nachos were chips placed on a disposable plate with a cup of microwaved pre-made nacho cheese on the side. Not at all worth $6.
  
  I felt that for the money this place is far too expensive. The tickets to the show we saw were priced at $22 regularly, and if we hadn't received half off both admissions, I would have felt ripped off. The talent on the night we visited was in my opinion tolerable at best; I only genuinely laughed a couple times in an hour and a half, and found myself wishing the show would end. In addition, all the closest parking spaces are valet, as this Zanies is located in Pheasant Run Resort. For my money, I'd much rather visit Schaumburg's IMPROV.

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  Posted on 04.24.07 Aesha W.

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