On a quiet Thursday evening at the Metropolis Bar & Grill in Hoffman Estates I met Aphrodite. It was love at first sip.
Aphrodite
Absolut Vanilla Vodka
Midori Melon Liquor
Strawberry Liquor
The Metropolis Bar & Grill Opened December 2010 in Hoffman Estates just west of the corner of Barrington Rd and Rt. 72. It’s really a pleasant place to get a grab a drink or a bite to eat. It not a huge bar but it doesn’t have to be. It’s definitely a sports bar… there are screens everywhere, even the booths. What it didn’t have however were sports paraphernalia littering the walls; it looks more like a pub. There wasn’t a big game the night I stopped in so it was relatively quite. I saddled up to the bar and asked for a menu.
The menu is mostly burgers and pizza. Local reviews are hit or miss as with most new restaurants. I can only speak for myself and I had no complaints. Their beer nuggets (buttery nuggets of fried dough with marinara dipping sauce) are the best I’ve ever tasted. A couple cute blonde bartenders kept things moving along mixing drinks but never too busy to chat. Everyone was friendly and down-to-earth. I found this place relaxing and without any pretentiousness.
Their drink menu consisted of 8 Martinis and 6 Margaritas. I went with the Aphrodite. For a drink that was essentially all liquor, it was light, slightly sweet and fruity. I’d definitely group this one in with those deceptively potent drinks; the ones that don’t taste all that strong and go down all too easy…we’ve all been there, done that.
On the whole it was a worthwhile trip. Good food, great cocktails, relaxed atmosphere. I would peg it as a good neighborhood bar. Of course history will decide. In the mean time I plan to return and sample the rest of their cocktail menu. If the rest are as good as the Aphrodite, I just may have a local favorite too.