Chicago Golf: Tap In Pub and Carvery

Alright folks, I know what you're thinking. Tap In Pub and Carvery sounds more like a bar than a golf course. In that case, you would be correct. But in addition to being perhaps my new favorite bar in the Chicago area, it is also completely golf-themed! Now are you intrigued? Good. Located at the corner of Route 59 and Ferry Road in Naperville (City Gate Complex), Tap In Pub and Carvery features a unique golf-themed atmosphere for anyone looking to grab a quick beer after their round or dinner with the family. What's a "carvery", you might ask? A carvery is a restaurant where cooked meat is freshly sliced to order for customers. What is a "pub"? It's a place where dreams are made. Sounds like a winning combination to me.

I recently visited Tap In with my wife for a quick dinner and a couple drinks in their bar area on a Friday night. Their beer selection was small, admittedly, but still very much high caliber. I enjoyed a couple offerings from Two Brothers Brewery, another local Chicagoland establishment. My wife preferred a couple selections from Tap In's wine menu.

Despite it being a Friday night, we were pleased to find the atmosphere very low-key and uncrowded. While this is surely due to the pub's newness, the bar area is comfortable enough to keep the crowd at a minimum. You won't have to wait long for a refill at this place. The bar's "Upcoming Events" calendar is reserved solely for drink specials surrounding every PGA TOUR event.

The true highlight of our evening was the food. The menu has a nice selection from which to choose, spanning everywhere from seafood to salads and everything in between. This place does NOT offer your typical bar food, ladies and gentlemen. Tap In takes their food seriously, and it definitely shows.

For example, we ordered an appetizer of al pastor tacos to start our meal, which were absolutely fantastic. For our main courses, my wife went with a pastrami and cole slaw sandwich on a pretzel roll while I chose the "Chitown-Phil" -- hand carved beef, gravy, melted Wisconsin colby and homemade giardiniera on an Italian roll.

If you are looking for the perfect place to relax after playing 18 holes with some friends or a nice meal with your family (there is a traditional restaurant seating area, too!), check out Tap In Grill and Carvery.