Urban Cowboys, beware! Cadillac Ranch is not for the part-time ranchhand. This "boot bar" features the area's biggest country-dance floor, and if you're not line-dancing or two-stepping, get out of the way. Don’t worry if you don’t know the moves, because the Ranch offers beginner line dance lessons on Tuesdays and beginner couples dance lessons on Fridays, both at 7:30 p.m. If you miss the free dance lessons, there's usually no shortage of boot-wearing locals to show you the ropes. Dark and windowless, with neon beer signs and wood panelling, Cadillac Ranch feels a bit like your parents' basement, complete with a sea of lasso-less cowboys.
Cadillac Ranch has both kinds of music: country and western, but after midnight the dance club folk start filtering in. The Ranch is one of the only 4 a.m. bars in the west suburbs, and the DJs go out of their way to accommodate, switching to dance music in the wee hours. Wednesday and Thursday nights cater to a more conventional crowd, featuring retro, pop and dance music and a more free-styling dance scene.
The Cantina bar at the attached Carmelita’s Cocina hosts karoake nights from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday night's "Sunday Stampede" from 6-9 p.m. gets you entrance to the club, a dinner buffet and two drink tickets for $10. Drink specials on most weeknights make the cover charge worth the price, but you can grab a bite to eat at Carmelita's to get in free of charge. Carmelita's menu of Mexican food, sandwiches and burgers will run you about $8-$12; pair with a "legendary" margarita to warm you up for a night of hooting, hollering and boot-stomping.
Centerstage Reviewer: Aimee Hall