25 Comments - Honeybear - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:10 pm: So my idea of a good political bar and restaurant is one where I feel that I can speak freely without being overheard. Thus I love the bar at Mimosa (Fountain of Youth cocktail) the restaurant at Mimosa Love me some Vietnamese food. Unlike other spots I don’t feel like I’m going to get in trouble for having a political conversation. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had a friend relay a conversation that they overheard at another table. - Wow - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:12 pm: Political Bar: JP Kelly’s. I’ve seen some unusual groupingsbat night, every once in a while the Gov and his staff would hold court. Political Restaurant : it’s brand new, but during the 1st week of veto Nu Vous (sp) had an interesting clientele one evening. Incoming Gov JB’s COS had a table, the illustrious press crew of Sfondeles, Vinickey et al had another full table. Leader Durkin with a full table of close Republican advisers. - unspun - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:21 pm: Best bar: The Butternut Hut has friendly, knowledgeable bartenders that usually know what you want before you do. Political types from all persuasions co-mingle, and check their party affiliations at the door. Never disappoints. Best restaurant: Pao, where you’re nearly always greeted by the owner. It’s off the beaten path, but offers excellent food in a formal setting–or belly up to the bar for appetizers and cocktails. Legislators love the relative anonymity and swanky atmosphere. - Les Nessman - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:22 pm: Best Political Bar- The last couple of years the bar at Saputo’s has become one of the better spots to hangout for a drink after dinner. You can always find legislators, staff, and lobbyists there and the bartenders do a great job. Best political restaurant-This is a tougher one because of the two newer restaurants that opened in the sandbox last year. Vele and Loukinens both exceed expectations when you go, and the food is always great. I would pick Loukinens to be the best out of the two because the menu has a little more variety and is more traditional, the drinks are a little better, and the view of the mansion is second to none. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:25 pm: Bar: JP Kelly’s. I recall at one point early in Rauner’s term there were two bottles of Jameson, from Rauner and Cullerton. That’s the kind of crowd it is during session: mixed, but not in a contentious way. As long as you don’t start filming. That’s another good reason it’s my nominee: it produced one of the stranger campaign stories. Restaurant: I’ve heard the new place in the St Nick is drawing a similar mixed crowd, so I’m going with that. Added bonus of being in the infamous St Nicholas. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:26 pm: Political bar: Sangamo Club. Dennis the bartender is super efficient and welcoming and the clientele is mostly in the know. It’s just a great place to relax, have a glass of something before dinner and chat about the day before everyone goes their separate ways for the rest of the evening. Best political restaurant: Augies gets it this year for me. Food and service are excellent and you just never know who you will run into. - view from the cheap seats - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:32 pm: Best restaurant: Loukinen’s. Their food is very good and interesting. Best bar. Saputo’s bar. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:33 pm: Here’s what I’ve never been sure of, is the Sangamo Club “members only” or can any schmoe off the street go it for a drink? I usually stay at the Abe when I’m in town so the Globe is a convenient spot for me. And since many legislators either stay there too or have to stop by events being held there, the Globe attracts a good showing. Lobbyists too. (as an aside, the reason I didn’t vote for Kathleen yesterday is because I didn’t know anyone to nominate in the other category. I wouldn’t miss it if those categories disappeared next year, but FWIW, Kathleen is the Wordslinger of bartenders.) I will nominate Alexander’s for best political restaurant. I used to love the Alexander’s in Normal back in the day and couldn’t picture myself standing over the grill pit in Springfield until a buddy of mine brought me there and showed me the magic of having them cook the steak for me. While it sort of defeats the point of a “cook-it-yourself” joint that made Alexanders famous, I have a hard time seeing Speaker Madigan cook his own steak. Although after the public abuse he took last year, I don’t think he’ll be coming back anytime soon. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:34 pm: ===I don’t think he’ll be coming back anytime soon=== Saw him there the first week of veto. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:35 pm: ===Saw him there the first week of veto.=== Does he cook his own steak? - So_Ill - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:37 pm: Political bar: Butternut Hut. Alisha is an excellent bartender. You never know who you’ll run into or who might be playing music. Ownership is top notch. Political restaurant: Saputos. Great staff, good atmosphere and simple, yet good Italian food. - Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:04 pm: Bar - While I’m fond of JP Kelly’s, it’s hard not to vote for the Globe. You can always count on legislators (yes, Lou, I’m looking at you), staffers and lobbyists populating the place until they close. Restaurant - Augie’s works for me. It’s not where I like to go, but you can always count on the political crew to be there. - Annonin' - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:18 pm: Most of us try to avoid naming really good places to avoid crowds forming…still picking Missy at Gabs… But just moved to Navoo…opps meant Nu Voh Servers…whole crew at Magic Kitchen on Lewis - Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:30 pm: Political restaurant- Augie’s is really the main place for the legislative dinner crowd. Every night during session your bound to see at least 5-6 legislators having dinner. Lukinens is second, doesn’t have the amount of legislators and lobbyists yet but food is really good and the view of the newly done mansion should look great in Spring. Best political bar- the Globe always has someone in it. A legislator with an issue willing to talk, a lobbyist looking to hire more folks on their contract, a local elected up for the night getting their Springfield business done. - A 400lb. Guy on a bed - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 3:17 pm: Saputo’s to both. - frisbee - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 3:37 pm: Butternut is still my favorite political bar. Maybe it is the late nights or perhaps the popcorn that does it for me but the place is a no frills bar that many politicals end up at once most of the others close. Runner up Boones - the beer garden is perfect for end of session cold ones and many lobbyists and staffers can be found there at any time of day it seems. Best restaurant - I like Boones for the reasons listed above but am going to go with Sangamo Club if that counts. Plenty of functions always going on, respectful discourse among attendees and good location. Not sure if that counts as a restaurant but they serve food and plenty of politicos there during session. - Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 3:53 pm: ===Here’s what I’ve never been sure of, is the Sangamo Club “members only” or can any schmoe off the street go it for a drink?=== You have to be a member, but the out-of-town membership rate is super-reasonable, and you get reciprocal benefits at some Chicago clubs that are way swankier and way pricer - Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 3:55 pm: To the question- Bar: JPK - you get a pretty diverse crowd there for happy hour, and we always got tipped off when the Gov was coming so we could leave. Restaurant: Still has to be Saputo’s, right? I mean, it ain’t gourmet, but you will be seen. - I Miss Bentohs - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 4:16 pm: Political Bar: I like the patio area at Obeds. When political people arrive I like watching how they divide into separate areas/camps. I like to try and get a bocce game and talk smack to get them going. But, it is fun and good too. Best Restaurant: I like Alexanders for many of the reasons as Obeds was for the bar. And it fun how you see two people grilling a hunk of meat can talk civil to one another no matter how much they disagree. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 4:19 pm: ===You have to be a member=== Or with one. - I Miss Bentohs - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 4:21 pm: = Does he cook his own steak? = No. - bear3 - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 4:24 pm: Tony and Dennis at Sangamo is always my quite place for the last 40 years. Consistent and a great new Chef. Quiet class and quiet to discuss anything. Especially with my attorney of just under 40 years - Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 4:30 pm: Best Political Bar: JP Kelly’s, of course. Best Political Restaurant: I’m kinda digging the change by the additions of Loukenkin’s of 4th, Vele and NuVoh. - Way Way Down Here - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 6:42 pm: Like Cynic, I really love Kelly’s, but it’s hard to beat The Globe for overall accessibility to folks on any given night. Plus Kathleen . . . because, well, Kathleen. If you want to eat and talk I pick Augie’s. Great food, nice atmosphere, and a “How YOU doin’” or two. - Credit - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 8:46 pm: Augies became the “it” place, followed by Alexanders The food at Augies is superb these days and they have a great wine list. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.