City Works Eatery and Pour House in Vernon Hills does not offer 99 bottles of beer on the wall. It doesn’t offer bottles, period.
But it does have 90 beers on draft, mostly craft brews from around the world. From its expansive space and evolving menu, City Works, which opened last October in the Melody Farm shopping center, is a lively big tent kind of dining experience, according to general manager Sean Moody.
“We don’t want to be labeled as just a bar,” he says. “We want to be approachable to families, office workers, after-work crowds, singles and couples. We offer variety for all the guests who want to come in and dine or drink with us.”
On the menu: “Classic American food, but elevated,” Moody says. “You haven’t had chicken wings like the way we prepare them; we brine them, we smoke them, we grill them and bake them.” The watchword at City Works is options, from bar bites (marinated spicy Cajun chicken firecracker rolls) and sharable treats (duck nachos is a breakout favorite, according to Moody) to tacos, burgers, salads sandwiches and main entrees (smoked in-house barbecued ribs, salmon and Cajun linguine).
There are also vegan and gluten-free selections, including a plant-based “impossible” burger and cauliflower steak. All are created from scratch. A weekend Rock N Roll Brunch includes such whimsically-named selections as the Jon Bun Jovi (a 10 oz. cinnamon roll) and the Johnny Hash. A quartet of breakfast dishes are available all day, including a breakfast taco, steak and eggs and avocado toast.
“We’re not beer snobs, we’re beer geeks”: The massive beer list is divided into styles: pale ales and IPAs, goldens, ambers and browns, Belgians, macro lagers, wheats, stouts and porters, independent lagers and others. Midwest brewers are well represented, including Chicago’s Revolution Brewing; Munster, Indiana,-based Alpha King; and Totally Roasted out of Spring Lake, Michigan. Beers are served in two sizes, a full glass or a six oz. tasting portion.
About the owners: City Works is operated by Chicago-based Bottleneck Management, which also operates Sweetwater and Old Town Pour House. Along with Wheeling and Schaumburg, Vernon Hills is the third City Works in Illinois (there are seven others across the country). “We are focused on great neighborhoods with a lot of energy,” Moody says.
Philosophy: “Genuine hospitality,” he says. “We’re open, we’re friendly. No matter what event you are here for, we can accommodate you.”
Décor: The dining room seats about 200; the room-length bar accommodates just over 20. There are two patios, one with three flat screen TVs and the other, a firepit. City Works’ predominant design element is copper.
There is a copper-paneled wall behind the bar and copper-topped wooden tables. “We love copper,” Moody says with a smile. Nestled atop the exposed high ceilings are 21 speakers and embedded bass boxes.
Pricing: All-day breakfast items start at $11 (breakfast taco). Bar bites are $8 each. Items to share range from $12 (Buffalo chicken dip) to $16 (the duck nachos). Combine soup and salad for $11 until 2 p.m. Entrée salads start at $13. Tacos range from $14 to $18. The half-pound City Works burger is $13, the “Impossible” burger is $14. Sandwiches range from $13 (pulled pork) to $17 (filet mignon sliders). Entrees range from $15 (the cauliflower steak) to $26 (smoked barbecue ribs). Desserts are $8 each. Brunch items start at $8 (the Jon Bun Jovi) and top off at $16 (the Boss). Kids menu items are $6 each.
Logistics: City Works Eatery and Pour House is at 929 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Vernon Hills. Hours are 11 a.m.-midnight Mondays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-12 a.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Rock N Roll Brunch hours are 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Call 847-984-3571 or go to cityworksrestaurant.com/vernonhills.
Donald Liebenson is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.