Slim's
By Rae Gordon
In the heart of downtown St. Johns, at 8635 N. Lombard, is a quaint cocktail bar and restaurant that could easily be classified as the neighborhood tavern. It has a rustic feel that makes your eyes involuntarily search for a moose head on the wall. Slim's opens early enough at 6 a.m. to have breakfast before putting your nose to the grindstone.
Slim's prides itself on having a large first-meal-of-the-day menu, stays open until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Prices are extremely reasonable. Yes, that's $8.95 for a Sirloin Dinner.
You can get your day off to a sweet start with "Peaches 'n' Cream Waffles." Omelets are $4.95. Unbeknownst to some, Slim's caters to the lunch crowd including local business people and longshoremen, among others. Maybe at the middle of the day, your stomach would welcome the variety of soups and salads, including the clam chowder on Fridays for $1.75. Cold sandwiches such as chicken and French dip can be had for under $4, hot sandwiches for under $6.
As for dinner, you have the opportunity to choose something that no warm-blooded human could turn down - pizza! The choices include the good old standby pepperoni and pineapple. The best part that can be said for any pizza, beside enough cheese to stretch to the ceiling, is a good price. Slim's offers a small size pizza for a measly $4.50. And what would a restaurant be with-out the hamburger? But Slim's adds a twist by offering "the Super Gutbuster." You won't go home hungry. Friday and Saturday, don't forget to look for the special prime rib with au jus and horseradish sauces at $8.95. Appetizers are along the norm with particularly good chicken and fries.
A previous venue for live bands, Slim's now has DJ music on Fridays and Saturdays. Based on the variety of people who find themselves entering Slim's door, "On The Go" DJs include a wide selection of '50s to '90s music. They play everything you want to hear and some tunes that you might want to fade into the background. But don't' worry, the best part is you have a choice! The DJ takes suggestions and is happy to oblige your many music tastes with his bag of music tricks.
Karaoke rounds out the rest of the week from Sunday through Thursday with local St. Johns talent from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. The songbook is sufficient to include goodies for the Elvis or the cowboy in ya'all.
A pool table and poker machines are available for your pleasure. If you like to sit sipping your beer and watch people dance, a short, high bar faces the dance floor. If you prefer your significant other all to yourself, the booths further back should fit your hand-holding session just fine. Come and relax. There are many friends here that seem to have known each other for some time. Slim's is a casual place with local flair.