Timothy O'Toole's, a 17-year mainstay of Streeterville (where bars, let alone authentic Irish pubs, are hard to come by), is once again pioneering new territory. The much-loved neighborhood hangout has found a new zip code to call home -- 60031, to be exact -- for its second location. The Gurnee outpost of Timothy O'Toole's opened earlier this month, just in time for some serious St. Patrick's Day revelry, Lake County style.
The suburban incarnation of Timothy O'Toole's will offer many of the charms of the downtown locale, including 19 beers on tap and the bar's signature cocktail, "Holy Water," an ungodly concoction of 12 liquors and three juices. Timothy O'Toole's executive chef Sean O'Brien will bring many menu favorites to the new venture, including the pub's famous wings, Irish nachos, fish and chips and baby back ribs. A brunch lineup features classics such as a fried egg sandwich, Irish benedict and breakfast enchiladas, and an expanded children's menu accommodates this family-friendly area near Great America, Key Lime Cove and Gurnee Mills. The 7,100-square-foot venue boasts 24 HDTVs with sporting packages, Golden Tee, steel-tip darts, complimentary WiFi and live music on Saturday evenings. (Finally, a place in Gurnee where it isn't all about the kids!)
The festive bar and restaurant will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day in style from Friday, March 13 through Tuesday, March 17. The party kicks off on Friday with live Irish music from Character Fleadh from 7-10PM. Saturday brings a visit from Timothy O'Toole's very own leprechaun, who will be handing out swag while Character Fleadh returns to play from 12-3PM and bagpipers perform from 4-6PM. On Tuesday, the bar will host a live radio broadcast with WXLC from 5-7PM, the leprechaun will be back at 4PM and bagpipers will once again toot their horns from 6-8PM. Irish food and drink specials, including corned beef on rye ($8.99), Guinness beef stew ($11.99), green beer ($3.50 pints, $5.50 jumbos, $13 pitchers), Irish apple martinis ($8) and whiskey shots ($4), will be available all five days of the celebration.
