Reviews
Daily
Herald
By Lisa
Friedman Miner | Daily Herald Staff
-
9/30/2009
Food, historic setting make The Beehive a honey of a
place
Downtown St. Charles seems to have an embarrassment
of riches when it comes to quaint, cozy taverns. The
Beehive Tavern & Grille has its own unique charms,
starting with its historic location. Add proximity
to the river, good food and a fun beer-drinking
bumble bee mascot, and The Beehive becomes a spot
worth buzzing about.
Motif: Located at the site of the old St.
Charles Hotel, former home of the bar Hoops, The
Beehive opened in May 2005. You enter off Main
Street into the bar area, complete with stools, a
few tables and enough TVs to comfortably watch
whatever game is on. A separate section holds a pool
table as well
as a couple video games. And yet another area
separates those there for dinner - perhaps with kids
in tow - from the bar crowd.
Owner Tom Castronovo saw plenty of Irish pubs in the
burbs and wanted something different: an American
tavern with patriotic decor. The walls are covered
with old photographs - many from the World War II
era - as well as flags, signs and quotations
praising the troops.
It's not all victory and valor, though. The Beehive
makes good use of its name as well. Mats and signs
bear the image of a beer-mug-hoisting bee. And pink
and blue beehive wigs - as in the old-style hairdo -
sit behind the bar. Yes, you can try them on. Wear
one for awhile and you might even have an appetizer
sent your way.
Crowd: The Beehive draws a diverse crowd that
depends on the day and time. Around 6 p.m., you'll
find families there for dinner. As the night wears
on, twentysomethings make the place their own,
Castronovo says.
Service: Our waitress couldn't have been
nicer. She was attentive, friendly and spot on with
her suggestions. Though at a table, we could hear
the bartender chatting with customers. She too
seemed warm and knowledgeable.
Food: The Beehive is best known for its
burgers. Other sandwich options include Italian
beef, a BLT, grouper and grilled chicken. Salads,
personal pizzas, fish and steak are also available.
If you're just there for appetizers and drinks,
however, you will not be disappointed. Our waitress
recommended the baked pretzel sticks, and we were
glad she did. Four long, soft pretzel loaves about
the size of hot dog buns arrived warm and covered
with just the right amount of salt. They were served
with a sweet honey mustard sauce and a rich cheese
fondue. We also ordered some wings - half with hot
sauce, half with barbecue - and enjoyed every one.
They were meaty, moist and not at all greasy.
Liquid consumption: The Beehive has 16 beers
on tap and a variety of specials. When the Bears are
playing, for example, you can get Miller pints for
$2.50 - and burgers for just $3.50. For those who
want to go a bit more highbrow, the bar also serves
wine and cocktails.
Sounds: You can tune into the games on the
big screens or try to catch the music: quieter '80s
and '90s tunes for the family crowd and top 40 for
the late-night crew. The tavern is just getting into
live entertainment.
Parking: There is a free parking garage
nearby.
Overall: The Beehive could easily take the
sting out of a tough or dreary day. This quaint
tavern offers good food, cold beer and a warm,
welcoming atmosphere - all attributes that make it
more than worth a visit.
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The
Beehive Tavern & Grille
204 West
Main Street
St. Charles, Illinois 60174
T: 630.584.0800
F: 630.584.8203
E:
thebeehivetavern@yahoo.com
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Hours
of Operation
11:30am
until late 7 days a week.
Kitchen is open till 9pm during the week, and 10pm
on the weekends
New
Daily Food Specials!
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Beehive Gift Cards
Ask your
server about our NEW Gift cards. Available in any
amount. They never expire and
are always fun! |
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