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UBAA-The Old Crawfod Inn

Address: 9956 Crawford Ave
Pricing: $5.50 to $12.00
Phone: (847) 673-3080
Hours: Restaurant:Monday-Satirday, 11 a.m. to 10:45 p.m.; Sunday, Noon to 7 p.m.; Bar: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-3 a.m.
Parking:
Ubba has its own free parking lot




UBBA Bar and Restaurant--The Old Crawford Inn

Jul 23, 2009

Founded in 1939 by Richard Diesterheft and named Ubar for its U-shaped bar, UBBA is a favorite for diners who find comfort in an old roadhouse setting.

 

Known for their delicious burgers and daily specials, UBBA, also known as The Old Crawford Inn, had originally been a tavern. Forced to change its name after a local ordinance prohibited the word “bar” in signage, the owner chose UBAA, aiming for the way an East-Coaster would say “baa for bar” utilizing the most of the short “a” sound.

 

Specializing in home cooking and simple fare, patron favorites include any and all of the burgers, including the Rueben burger served on rye with sauerkraut, cheese and Russian dressing. The menu reads like a comfort-food log; Macaroni and cheese, brats, chicken, chicken fingers, meatloaf and fried fish.

 

Upon entering you’ll be met by a chalkboard listing the daily special—always a wise choice.

 

What patrons love about this place are the beamed and stucco walls, the old wooden booths and vinyl table clothes. There’s no pretention, the wait staff and bartenders are incredibly friendly and chances are the owner’s daughter, Marilee, will be carrying food to your table. The cook rings a bell when an order is ready and on busy nights the ding is non-stop.

 

UBAA is divided into two parts—the U bar being in a separate room. If you’re just heading out for a beer and perhaps a ballgame, UBAA attracts a good crowd on game nights.

 

This throwback dining spot can be packed on weekends with regulars who come from all over the North Side. To beat the crowds, get to UBAA by 6 p.m. and be sure to grab one of the cozy wooden booths.

 

Dollar-wise, UBAA is easy on the wallet. Burgers start around $5 and dinners can top at $10 plus for salmon. Portion sizes are ample and they offer a kid’s menu. Beers start at $3.

 

UBBA has its own parking lot—and like the restaurant, it is simple and paved with gravel. This is the place to go when you’re looking for comfort—both in your surroundings and in your stomach. UBBA is the second best thing to the family kitchen.

 

 

 

 



- by Lori Rotenberk , Chicago Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Lori Rotenberk

Lori Rotenberk graduated from Drake University and is a Chicago-based journalist whose work has appeared in The Boston Globe, Newsweek and various magazines. She worked as a staff reporter on The Chicago Sun-Times, the suburban section of The Chicago Tribune and The Des Moines Register. In addition, she has studied fiction writing in adult education at the University of Chicago.
"We employ our own Local professional journalists (not bloggers) to give you an accurate hyperlocal story"





 

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Click Images To Enlarge
Ubaa. An odd name, indeed. It was once UBar but was changed when a local ordinance prohibited the word "bar" in its name.
Dining or having a beer at UBAA is akin to visiting an old, small town road house or wayside cafe. It is seemingly from another time and place which is why it's a great place to grab a burger.
Famous for its hamburgers, UBAA serves them with a choice of regular or cottage fries. Cooked to order, the burgers are charbroiled and are served on homemade buns or even dark rye. Topping choices include sauerkraut.
Another menu favorite is Ubaa's homemade meatloaf platter.
The decor is plain and simple, a cross between a roadhouse and small town bar.
The ambiance in UBAA is perfect for those who like good food and simple surroundings.
The restaurant offers daily specials. The grilled brats and sauerkraut are a weekly hit.
If you've been a good kid, a sucker awaits you.
The U-shapped bar which gave the place its name, stands as it has since opening.
Patrons sitting around the rim of the U-bar say the atmosphere is kind, friendly and filled with flannel shirts.
How Ubaa got its odd name.
Someone at Ubaa loves baseball.
The daily special chalk board.
Ubaa, also known as The Old Crawford Inn is a place of comfort in the busy North Shore.
Although the restaurant hasn't a nautical theme, this bell rings every few seconds, alerting the waitstaff that an order is ready.




 



     
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