Wednesday 29th of October 2008 01:25:25 PM

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Palmer Place is a good spot if you find yourself around La Grange, Brookfield, Westchester, etc. Located on the west side of La Grange Ave, Palmer’s occupies a space that is larger than a first look would leave you to believe.

The space has been divided-up into several different dinning areas and a bar room. They have one of the best beer gardens in the suburbs and it can often get very crowded when the weather is nice. This is also a very family friendly pub and on some summer afternoons expect to see about 20 moms with strollers taking over the beer garden.

They offer 32 beers on tap. About 1/3 are good, 1/3 are crap the remaining 1/3 so-so. They really shine in their bottle offerings. The menu is divided by country of origin and then subdivided by brewery. Note that they have about 12 weise offerings and a maybe 8 to 10 lambics. The menu is always changing and evolving, so there is usually something new to try. Last night I had pint drafts of Magic Hat #9, SN Anniversary Ale & a bottle of Lake Front Oktoberfest.

The food is a step above standard pub fare. If you like burgers, they offer at least a dozen good choices.

The bartenders tend to be a little more beer knowledgeable, but don’t expect any beer geeking. The rest of wait staff is friendly and is usually pretty good as long as they are not busy.

I like Palmers and have been going for a number of years. One of my favorite places to take the kids as Dad & Mom can also get good beers.

Wednesday 21st of May 2008 04:23:57 PM

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Large bar/restaurant in 'downtown' LaGrange. Beer selection is extensive, but the discerning drinker can ignore most of the list - lots of iffy imports (who really cares about a lager from the Philippines?). However, there's generally a good selection of midwest craft bottles, plus a few good draft selections. Prices are a bit on the high side though. The menu's extensive, mostly pub fare. The place emphasizes their burgers (which are good), but the sandwiches and other selections are also pretty decent. Your standard appetizer selection as well. Place divides into a bar area (where you want to go) and a more family-friendly restaurant area in the front, plus a very large patio when the weather's nice. This place gets VERY crowded on a Friday/Saturday night, especially the patio area in the summer, so be prepared to wait if you want a table. The actual bar is rather small too. Free parking available in a lot behind the building (which fills up fast), plus municipal lots all around, and easy access via the Metra line. Staff is friendly, but can get overwhelmed when the place is busy. Bar staff tend to know a little bit about the beer, but don't expect to be able to converse about IBUs or gravity.

Wednesday 18th of July 2007 03:48:41 AM

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Essentially right of the BNSF metra at Lagrange is Palmer's place, a really good place for lunch and decent place for a beer when wanting to experiment.... the taplist and bottle list are extensive to those who haven't dabbled as much as they've should.

This place likes to boast a huge bottle selection (currently 66) and a large tap, 32 at the moment... I started off with stiegl pils, went to a domaine dupage and finished with honkers... They had hopjuice and a handful of good drinkable choices. The bottle selection is nice, but things here can turn pricey if you don't watch your tab... But thems the breaks...

This place is pubish, but more restauranty than pubish... the interior is a mellow brown, with lots of booths and table seating... bar itself is fairly small but packed with taps, this isn't a place to be bellying up.... What makes this place great is the bier garten and the rooftop seating... Being out there in the summer or fall with a beer and burger is great and relaxing and great again... The brick of the building kinda pulls you in and you relax knowing you're surrounded by comfort... I know that sounds a bit wishy washy, but it's what I get from there...

Service inside is fine, even when it's busy. Service outside is a pain if it's busy or they are short staffed... It's sort of a crapshoot... samples can be had, but the servers are a bit confused at first, and most don't know their beer from a hole in the ground...

the food here is above pub quality and they have manage to give the vegan a fair but slim selection.... the burgers here are great... (I get the chili-cheese burger... it's a favorite...)

Glassware is what's available, tho like everybody else, my beer today was served in those new sam adams perfect pint glasses.... when the goose specialties are in like demolition, they get served in pints too...

the neighborhood is something to look around at... and down the street a block on the other side, is a kickass ice cream/fudge shoppe called kilwins... it's pricey too, but it's quality...