Chuck & Irene’s Hotel & Bar

5 stars for C&I’s? You’re darned right, because this is one of the best examples of a classic Calumet Region bar-​restaurant you’ll find. From its location right in the middle of the Hammond/​E. Chicago heavy industry belt, to the smoky bar, but smokeless dining room in the back, C&I’s got it right a long time ago — 63 years ago, as of this writing — and has kept it that way. The service is genuinely friendly, in that rowdy/​roughshod Region working class way that some might find brusque, but others will recognize as real and in no way false or pretentious. And so is the food: soups and salads are homemade (the cole slaw and macaroni salad are great!), lamb is periodically offered (next on 9−19−15), the traditional American fare is well-​prepared, and the Friday fish menu is full of choices; lovers of lake perch will find the ocean perch equally good. Same for the walleye and frog legs; the fat is hot and the food that goes into it comes out as it should, not soggy as you’ll get in some «nicer» places that foolishly seek to lower costs by cooking in cooler fat. The drinks are a bargain and made properly, and they pour pint-​plus draughts in football shaped glasses. The beer label and plasticized wood décor might trouble those who demand white tablecloths and reproductions of art cliches, but it’s clean, comfortable and fits the food and service perfectly. You can judge from the menu prices what a bargain the food is — especially breakfasts — but if that isn’t enough, coupons are offered in the local paper that’ll save you even more! There’s smoking in the bar, but there are also TVs, as there are in the DR, and team logos that’ll show you just where the patrons and the owners’ loyalties lie. If you find some of the patrons off-​putting, they probably find you even more so, but don’t expect them to look down their noses at you; for all their perceived faults, they’re better-​mannered than to do so: just leave and support your superiority complex elsewhere. So give C&I’s a try and decide for yourself whether it deserves the 5 stars I gave it that it so rightly earned.

If you’re into a bar with smoking it’s one thing but my friends and I went on a Wednesday night and kitchen closes at 6pm. We were told 6pm except on Friday nights. We decided to stay for a drink and watch the Sox game. Well we got more than we bargained for. There were two ladies of the evening in the bar. Each was more scantily clothed than the other. One female black dressed in all black see through lace. The female white was in a black mini dress that did not cover her behind! One male patron rubbed on her naked butt without hesitation. Needless to say we left shortly after. Besides that another patron decided to play the juke box while the game was on.

Chuck and Irenes is open. Good family owned business. Cold tap beer and great food (m-​f only for food)… Wokring class Bar. Seen a few bikers too but never any trouble. I’ve been going to C and I for about 6 years now. I love it.
See you there!!!

Its not closed. Dined there last week. Good food at a good price. Real working mans bar/​grill. Lots of interesting people! 5−30−10