Taking you along on the journey through my neck of the woods searching to find the best drinking venue on the 2.0 mile strip I call home.

Meeting up with a motley crew of acquaintances to enjoy the final college football Saturday of the season. Building off of a buddy’s suggestion as well as some recent publicity, we decide to check out the newly opened lounge/ restaurant/ sports bar, The Republic, a rebrand of the old Jones.  The Republic boasts an extensive list of taps and beers by the bottle as well as plenty of cocktails and wines. The venue contains a number of flat screen tvs, a projection screen and more than enough tables and couches to make your visit a pleasant one.

Though the game is on, very few of the other patrons seem interested in watching (this is a sports bar isn’t it?). The bar’s television schedule dictates what’s on offer, which on this particular evening entails UW’s blowout of the hapless Cal Bears on the majority of the screens, the enticing Big XII Championship pushed to the periphery and the ACC Championship nowhere to be found. As luck would have it (or merely the owner’s desire to stop my group’s kvetching), there’s open space at the lounge’s anti-chapel VIP room and we’re quickly seated and given the remote so we can enjoy the evening’s games as we see fit (talk about customer friendly– hope it’s not too late to apologize (haha) for our earlier complaining).

As the game ticks on the drinks keep flowing and I realize that eating something might be a good idea (it is a restaurant after all). Building off of my ever growing collection of completed beers I opt for what I hope is a house specialty, the burger (very adventurous, I know). With the final kick of Texas’ victory sending the Longhorn faithful into an uproar the staff is similarly a buzz rapidly transforming the sports bar into an expansive lounge. Still buzzing from my drinks and looking to unwind after my delicious burger I’m a little taken aback as my Sports Center displaying flat screen is transformed into a pastoral scene of a rustic country side (strange).

With the mood evolution my group decides it’s about time to make a change as well. Having made my way through a good portion on the venue’s extensive beer list as well as fueled the fires for the next stage of my evening I’m happy to bit The Republic adieu. Nothing out of the ordinary, but more than anticipated. The Republic delivers on all fronts, but is it a jack of all trades while being a master of none?

The Rundown:

Address: 3213 Scott St at Lombard

Hours: Monday – Friday: 4:00pm – 2:00am, Saturday: 10:00am – 2:00am,  Sunday: 10:00am – 12:00am

Best Nights: Saturday and Sunday for game time, Friday and Saturday for the pre-bar lounge.

Drinks: Enjoy the extensive beer list containing local favorites as well as some seasonal selections – house staff is more than willing and able to help out with a recommendation.

Synopsis: Nothing out of the ordinary, but more than anticipated. The Republic delivers on all fronts, but is it a jack of all trades while being a master of none?