Martini Room - Elgin

Staff friendly Food bring your own Appearance shabby chic Service lacked coordination Drinks meh Bottom line up front. My first impression is that the Martini Room focuses on too many things (eclectic presentation, homey seating, entertainment and not enough on quality, classic bartending. This bar quickly filled up on a Wednesday night (we were early, but a show was in the making after dinner and appeared popular for groups of female friends gathering for drinks and carry in food (allowed around the dinner hour. The establishment hosts numerous varietal shows (drag, music, etc , and there are lots of seasonal, and colorfully sugar enhanced concoctions of martini flights. Bar seating upon entry, with some high boys flanking the opposite wall. All of this flows into tracts of sectional, low profile seating with coffee table style serving on two levels. All the comfy couture aside, my gin martini arrived first, a weirdly solitary delivery, and was adulterated by too much vermouth or warm olive juice; whatever the reason (hot stemware? the drink was tepid. The flights would all follow minutes later. I just drank up anyway because I needed to dart out. The carry in food was ready down the street. I 'm not a fan of sugary drinks anyway, so skipping the signature martini flights, I had hoped that a standard gin martini could be well prepared at a namesake bar. Additionally, my martini was served in a glass with an unusual, counter balanced stem that curves to one side, which made the drink unwieldy and more challenging to hold than the ordinary funnel cone on a stick. Even my waiter had problems transferring it to the table. Ian Fleming 's James Bond certainly would add this prohibition to his maxim: shaken, not stirred, and not poured into curvy or zig zaggy stemware. Toward the end of our drinks and carry in food bazaar (everyone seems to love this bring your own food feature , our party of four was interrupted by a stream of showmen with suitcases, theatrical lighting sets and flying extension cords literally over our heads a troupe setting up for a show that evening. I had just flown in from Philly to meet family and friends, so this was my first visit to a bar in Elgin, but I 'm sure there must be a better place to relax and enjoy a well crafted, classic martini.

Love the Martini Room! I've been regularly going there for their flights on Wednesdays for about a year. I decided to have my 22nd birthday here and easily planned with Gery, he and the bartenders are Super friendly. Had about 20 people in our section that Angel made sure were taken care of. I love that we can bring our own food and they let you order to there as well. I mostly only go during the week because I'm not into drag shows or burlesque- everyone has their own opinion- if you're also not into that be forewarned they do those often on weekends. But they also have live music on some weekends, definitely check their website first if that's a concern. Parking can be tricky especially when it's cold because it's street parking on the bank next door but in the summer time it's not a far walk from the train station on national. I love love love the martini room! My favorite local place.

Good service and drinks, no food. Came on a Wednesday for their martini flight special $17. Parked in the free parking lot down the street.

I love the ambiance, the decor, the drink options and the location. Been here a couple times when they've held drag show and just to have a couple drinks with friends; it's always a good time!

Martinis and service were fantastic. Live music on a Friday night was great. I cannot say anything negative about this place. We will be back.