As one of the unlucky ones who isn’t blessed with summer hours at work, last Friday I decided to make my escape and ditched the office at 4:30pm (scandalous!) to join my more fortunate friends who were already out celebrating their freedom. We were on a mission to find a casual spot to unwind without sacrificing our ability to breathe fresh air and enjoy the weather, so opted for the obvious choice, Justin’s Beer Garden. (3358 N Southport) Justin’s has long been one of my regular nighttime destinations, and I’m embarrassed to admit, I didn’t even know they had an outdoor patio (in my defense, I tend to frequent Justin’s more often in winter….and after a few drinks).
The bar’s beer garden gives the interior square footage some stiff competition, boasting a full outdoor bar, televisions, and seating for 50+. Shadowed under full grown trees and surrounded by hedges, it’s easy to forget that you’ve just escaped the confines of your cubicle.
Before you get too excited, I would by no means regard Justin’s as a heavenly oasis; we were not happy campers when we discovered that our access to fresh air came at a price. In order to partake in our outdoor activities, we were forced to endure mediocre service, abundant smokers, and the most tragic of all, subpar bar food. We were sorely disappointed in their failed attempts at foodie creativity, it’s pretty challenging to screw up onion rings and nachos, but Justin’s did it. If you’re on the verge of starvation, stick to the classics (hummus, wings, chicken fingers, etc.), no guarantees of course, but the big plate of wings at our neighbor’s table looked a whole lot more appetizing that our strange onion ring concoction.
All in all, our complaints fizzled away pretty quickly after our pitchers arrived and we were left enjoy our beers in great company under the open sky.
So if you’re a laid back individual (as most awesome Lakeviewers are) give Justin’s a chance, I just recommend showing up with a few friends, a full stomach and sit back and appreciation the outdoors, oh yah, and keep your fingers crossed your waitresses brings you at least one beer before she forgets you’re there.