Stolen Saddle, a new country bar in Wrigleyville, will debut in April | Eater Chicago
"Launching in time for Opening Day at Wrigley Field, the venue will debut on Friday, April 4 at 3505 N. Clark Street and marks the fourth country spot to hit this section of Clark Street near Wrigley Field. The hospitality group behind the project, Lucky13 Hospitality Group (which also operates Lost Never Found, Kincade’s Bar & Grill, Matchbox Bar and others), says the concept emphasizes Tex-Mex as well as live music and dancing. General Manager Jasper Robinson sees this strip evolving “into a bit of a Nashville scene,” comparing its potential to Honky Tonk Highway — the famous four-block stretch of Lower Broadway in the Music City lined with bars featuring live music acts — and adds, “You know, there’s enough business for everyone to go around. And lately, in the recent years [country music has] really been trending,” Robinson says. The conversion follows a series of prior identities for the massive 16,000-square-foot space — it had been called Deuce’s Major League Bar since 2011 until rebranding as a tiki-themed Bamboo Club just under two years ago — and replaces the Bamboo Club’s ceiling adorned with glass fishing floatings, netting, tropical drinks, and a thatched bar area with spinning disco balls and neon lights, cowhide accents and wood paneling, and four real saddles visitors can pose on or use as seating. The space holds more than 1,100 visitors across three floors, includes an outdoor patio with seating for 250, rooftop access, seven semi-private cabanas with lounge seating and a TV accommodating between 10 and 20 people (available by reservation), and a second floor with space for up to 300 private guests. On the food side, Robinson says the brisket is smoked on premises and is a standout, available as a topping on nachos or as a filling for tacos, burritos, and quesadillas; visitors can also find tacos, burritos, queso fundido, salads, desserts, and a weekend brunch menu. For drinks, expect “batched drinks that include a line of margaritas,” available in flavors like watermelon, coconut pineapple, and avocado, along with made-to-order cocktails such as the Bourbon Hurricane, beer on draft and bottled, frozen drinks, and nonalcoholic beverages. Entertainment plans include live DJ sets mixing country and pop, a rotating lineup of live music on Fridays and Saturdays, themed trivia, karaoke, expanded game day hours, and line dancing lessons, and the venue will continue to host popular holiday pop-ups like Charm’d Bar, Nightmare on Clark Street, and Santa Baby. Reservations can be made online; hours are listed as 4 p.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday." - Serena Maria Daniels
