whats the nicest pool room in chicago

For a meaningful answer, you're going to have to define "Nice." Chicagoland has two bona fide rooms where pool (and billiards, in Chris's case) are played seriously; those are Chris's Billiards on the Northwest side and Red Shoes in the southwest suburbs. If you prefer upscale places, there's Lucky
Strike and G-Cue, both just outside downtown, and there's a Dave & Buster's (ugh) on the near north side. GF
 
George Fels said:
For a meaningful answer, you're going to have to define "Nice." Chicagoland has two bona fide rooms where pool (and billiards, in Chris's case) are played seriously; those are Chris's Billiards on the Northwest side and Red Shoes in the southwest suburbs. If you prefer upscale places, there's Lucky
Strike and G-Cue, both just outside downtown, and there's a Dave & Buster's (ugh) on the near north side. GF
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George, it's been years and years since I've been in a "real" pool hall. I have to go back to the 1960s when I was in San Francisco and went, I think, to Cochrans (?). Maybe someday I'll get up to Chicago, as it's only about a five hour drive, and spend some time at Chris's Billiards.
 
George Fels said:
For a meaningful answer, you're going to have to define "Nice." Chicagoland has two bona fide rooms where pool (and billiards, in Chris's case) are played seriously; those are Chris's Billiards on the Northwest side and Red Shoes in the southwest suburbs. If you prefer upscale places, there's Lucky
Strike and G-Cue, both just outside downtown, and there's a Dave & Buster's (ugh) on the near north side. GF
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I agree, Red Shoes in Alsip,on south Pulaski.My truck broke down there a few years ago so I looked around for a place to play.Ended up watching Jeff Carter play 1 pocket and got to meet Glenn Rogers.A players room. Don:cool:
 
In Chicago Chris's Billiards at 4637 n.Milwaukee av. 773 286-4714..this is where the Color of Money was Filmed..their business cards also say that the Hustler was filmed there which is wrong..why they continue to say this i do not know.there is food there but in my opinion and that of friends that have been there it is not that clean and good.hardly any pool supplies ie.cues ect...but if you want an old nostalgic pool hall this is it...........now just outside of Chicago on the south side about 2 miles north of i-80 you will find Pro-Tyme..it is located at 15605 s.94th av.in Orland Park.708 403-0600...this is without a doubt one of the top 3 "nicest" most beautiful (elegant) pool halls in the Nation..great food and drinks are served and a great well stocked pro shop..it has alot of off street free parking..i highly recommend this....it has been about a year since i have been to either one so you might want to call first..hope this helps....:)
 
I agree with cuejoey. You can't talk Chicagoland billiard rooms without mentioning Pro Tyme billiards. That would be my choice in the area.
 
George:
For a meaningful answer, you're going to have to define "Nice." Chicagoland has two bona fide rooms where pool (and billiards, in Chris's case) are played seriously; those are Chris's Billiards on the Northwest side and Red Shoes in the southwest suburbs.
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The words "nice" and "Chris's" don't sound natural together. Don't get me wrong - Chris's is my favorite pool room of all time (reminds me of my grandpa's dive in LA) and it's full of great people like George and Freddie - but "nice"? Chris's is nice like this is cute:

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pj
chgo
 
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Patrick Johnson said:
The words "nice" and "Chris's" don't sound natural together. Don't get me wrong - Chris's is my favorite pool room of all time (reminds me of my grandpa's dive in LA) and it's full of great people like George and Freddie - but "nice"? Chris's is nice like this is cute:

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pj
chgo
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You got dat right.

Great place to play though.

Recently, Neil Jacobs and Rodolpho Luat played some 9 ball banks, race to 5 for something interesting. Jacobs had some Filipino barbecue ... 5 to zip.

Also Santos gave some players the 7. He barbecued them.

Characters abound. But it's not a "nice" place.

Flex
 
cuejoey said:
In Chicago Chris's Billiards at 4637 n.Milwaukee av. 773 286-4714..this is where the Color of Money was Filmed..their business cards also say that the Hustler was filmed there which is wrong..why they continue to say this i do not know.there is food there but in my opinion and that of friends that have been there it is not that clean and good.hardly any pool supplies ie.cues ect...but if you want an old nostalgic pool hall this is it...........now just outside of Chicago on the south side about 2 miles north of i-80 you will find Pro-Tyme..it is located at 15605 s.94th av.in Orland Park.708 403-0600...this is without a doubt one of the top 3 "nicest" most beautiful (elegant) pool halls in the Nation..great food and drinks are served and a great well stocked pro shop..it has alot of off street free parking..i highly recommend this....it has been about a year since i have been to either one so you might want to call first..hope this helps....:)
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100% agreed......well articulated:)
 
I agree that the pro-tyme in Orland is a very nice room. But if you happen to be flying into Midway, head south a few miles on Cicero Ave and check out the pro-tyme in Alsip. It's about a mile north of where Cicero hits 294.
 
Pro Tyme

yeah, it's by far Pro Tyme Billiards in Orland Park, IL, total class act.

Palace Billiards in Villa Park, IL previously owned by Champion John Abruzzo is going under a make over by the new owners. It will feature a full service kitchen, 16 Diamond bar tables after the renovation (4 there now), 20 Gold Crown's and 1 snooker table.

Tom Karabotsos opened a room recently, the name and city escapes me now, but I hear it's nice as well.

Shark City in Bloomingdale, IL is a monster of a room. 20,000+ sq ft features over a 100 foot bar with all the latest bar gadgets, beer garden and top notch tables in all sizes, shapes and brands....

Q Billiards in Darien, IL also has gone under some renovations.. New equipment, 2 projection screens and 25 or more flats. Diamond bar tables and gold crowns
 
The Green Room in Downer's Grove offers:

18 9' Kim Steel tables. (1/2 of these tables have recently been recovered with new rails as well.)

They also have:

2 5x10' Sam Heated Billiard tables.

check them out @ myspace.com/greenroompool

Then we have another cozy location in the SW suburbs;

The Pool Loft.

Check us out @ myspace.com/poolloft

Stop up on a Sunday to play some cheap sets!

-Dave
 
All good anwers.

Even though Chris's might technically not be considered the "nicest" room, I would include it as a must play, but keep in mind, it's a pool hall and no alchohol is served there, same with Pro-Tyme. You should also be more specific on your willingness or ability to travel because most folks consider anything in the northeast corner of the state to be Chicago. If you're just looking for an upscale place to practice, hang out with friends, have some decent food, you'll certainly find what you need without having to go too far no matter where you're at.
 
George, what's wrong with D&B? I would not hesitate going there to play some friendly pool. True, sharks are not trolling in these waters, but a great place for the novice to get intoduced to pool.
 
It's a personal prejudice, Steve; I don't like places that simply give you the balls and take your cash without a suitable level of equipment maintenance or some other form of giving back to the game. I don't mind the absence of serious players in the least; no doubt nice people go there, and it's clean, so in that sense I'd agree with you that it'd be a nice place for novices - except that they have no way to help nurture those novices' interest, via quality introduction, leagues, tournaments, etc. GF
 
Pro shop at Pro Tyme in Orland Park

When i mentioned the pro shop at Pro-Tyme i forgot to add they do retipping..when i went up there (again i haven't been to either hall in over a year) they have an assortment of the popular tips..the owners fiance did the retipping while i waited and does an impecable job..just something to think about if you want quality work in the south Chicago area...:)
 
ProTyme in Orland is a beautiful place. They keep their tables and balls very clean. We had a straight pool league going there for a while and the owners were very cordial and very supportive. As one poster mentioned, Kelly does a good job on the tips. They have a wine and beer license now, which they didn't have when our league was going.

Red Shoe is a place where we have a straight pool league now. I don't really gamble or play one pocket or banks, but there is a lot of that going on there. The tables are a little rough for straight pool but I guess the bankers and one pocket players don't mind.

Illinois Billiard Club is a beautiful private club in Willow Springs that deserves a look if only for all the memorabilia on the wall.

I was only to Chris's once, but may remedy that soon.

JMO:)
 
Yep, there sure is wine and beer at Pro-Tyme now!!! Bob (my husband) Bob Romano built the bar for them.
 
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