Cheers to 25 Years of L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge!
Time to celebrate Lincolnwood's storied supper club
If you live in the Chicagoland area, chances are you’ve been to L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge, heard of L. Woods, or fondly recall a restaurant called “Bones” now known as L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge. The rustic, Northwoods Supper Club-inspired restaurant is celebrating 25 years of BBQ, Old Fashioneds, Key Lime Pie, and memories!
In honor of this milestone anniversary, we’ve put together a list of 25 things to love about L. Woods that have made it a stand-out Lettuce Entertain You spot for more than two and half decades.
Make a reservation at L. Woods.
1. The Team
A restaurant is only as strong as the team of people who serve our cherished guests, prepare the delicious food and drinks, and embody the hospitality for which we’re known. The employees of L. Woods have created a special community and family all their own, and we’re grateful to all of the team members who have helped create this incredible legacy through the years!
2. Frank’s Tap
With craft beers, sangria, classic cocktails and more behind the bar, Frank’s Tap is *the* spot to belly up to for a drink or two, plus full dinner service. Fun Fact: Frank’s Tap is named after Frank Rotondo, the dearly missed and beloved bartender who worked at L. Woods, Bones and its original pre-Lettuce iteration as the Kenilworth Inn over the course of 48 years. Here’s to Frank!
Explore the drinks menu at Frank’s Tap.
3. Old Fashioneds
We can’t mention the bar at L. Woods without shouting out the entire section of the menu devoted to our favorite classic cocktail: The Old Fashioned. Choose from the Wisconsin Old Fashioned made with Korbel brandy, Classic Old Fashioned, Chicago Old Fashioned featuring Jeppson’s Malort and L. Woods’ own Koval “L. Woods Select” Rye, or a Cherry Old Fashioned with cherry whiskey and candied cherries.
Want to give it a try at home? Click here for the recipe for L. Woods’ Cherry Old Fashioned.
4. The Host Stand
Every guest who enters L. Woods is greeted warmly at “Sima’s Stand.” Named after the late Sima Southgate, a longtime fixture in the dining room where she was known for handing out samples of her own house-made recipes. Her spirit lives on in the big smiles and friendly hellos that welcome every guest, new and familiar.
5. Wisconsin Cheese Curds
A must try appetizer is the iconic Wisconsin Cheese Curds coated in a house-recipe crumb and filled with ooey, gooey white and yellow cheddar, served with buttermilk ranch dressing to dip.
Hungry for another iconic L. Woods appetizer? Get the recipe for the Crispy Cauliflower.
6. The Northwoods Supper Club Décor
A visit to L. Woods is like being transported to a different time and place – namely, a Wisconsin Northwoods supper club complete with oxblood booths, warm wood tables and walls, rustic décor reminiscent of summers at a cabin on the lake, and nostalgic photos of guests from the last few decades (and beyond)!
7. Famous Apple Strudel
It’s famous for a reason! Between the flaky pastry, warm apples bathed in cinnamon, and the rich house-made caramel drizzled on top, L. Woods’ Apple Strudel is as comforting as if your grandma made it herself.
8. Lynn’s Back Room
The private dining room at L. Woods has hosted thousands of celebrations, dinners, weddings, meetings, lunches and other special occasions. Known as “Lynn’s Back Room,” the space features a cozy hearth, inviting atmosphere and a group dining menu accommodating up to 36 guests.
9. Ribs, Ribs & More Ribs!
What’s a supper club without a delectable slab of ribs? Not only are the classic Baby Back Ribs a house favorite, don’t miss the Creekstone Beef Ribs. Fun Fact: L. Woods serves over 1,500 pounds of ribs a week!
10. The Barbecue Sauce
You can’t have ribs, chicken, or brisket without a stellar barbecue sauce to slather them with. We can confirm that it’s worth getting an extra side of L. Woods’ signature sauce to have on hand, literally…and an extra napkin or two wouldn’t hurt.
11. L. Woods in Hollywood
L. Woods has a fun claim to fame: The restaurant closed for a day in 2004 to allow for the filming of scenes for the heist movie, Ocean’s Twelve. See if you can spot the restaurant’s iconic wood-paneled walls the next time you watch!
12. Friday Wisconsin Fish Fry
In true Northwoods form, guests can enjoy a Wisconsin Fish Fry special every Friday made with lake perch, salt & vinegar fries and house-made tartar sauce.
13. French Onion Soup Au Gratin
L. Woods’ French Onion Soup Au Gratin has been on the menu since opening, and once you get a spoonful of rich, flavorful broth, melted cheese and bread, you’ll realize why over a quarter of a million bowls of this beloved classic have come out of the kitchen!
14. The Merch
For L. Woods’ lovers tall and small, there are t-shirts and hats available for purchase at the restaurant so you can bring the ‘Woods’ home with you.
15. L. Woods Chopped Salad
We’ll go ahead and say it: the L. Woods Chopped Salad puts other salads to shame! With every forkful, you get a complete bite of tomato, blue cheese, scallions, bacon, pasta and mustard vinaigrette. (You’re not a true Chicagoan if the pasta throws you off.)
16. Free Parking
That’s right, FREE! With a parking lot twice the size of the restaurant itself, L. Woods has no shortage of free parking available for diners, so save the valet for another day! (But a word of warning that you might have to circle a few times to snag a spot during busy weekend evenings.)
17. Monday Oven-Roasted Turkey Dinner
Mondays might be the most mouth-watering day of the week since it’s the only day you can dig into the Oven-Roasted Turkey Dinner with dressing, gravy and cranberry sauce. Where else can you enjoy Thanksgiving year-round?
18. A Location with a ‘Rich’ History
The cabin-like structure that makes L. Woods so distinctive has been home to multiple concepts over the years, beginning as Kenilworth Inn in the 1950s before becoming a Lettuce Entertain You fan-favorite as Bones in 1979. Rich Melman and the Lettuce team officially opened its doors as the newly dubbed L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge in 1999!
19. Key Lime Pie
Served ‘ice box cold,’ this fan favorite is a little tart, a little sweet, and always a perfect finish to your supper club experience.
20. Spinach Fingers
They’re back on the menu and we can’t stop snacking on them! Another original menu item, the Spinach Fingers with mozzarella and marinara are a satisfying way to get your greens in.
21. Complimentary Warm Onion Bread
It’s warm, it’s onion-y, it comes with salted butter, and the best part – it’s on the house!
22. Sunday Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Buttermilk Fried Chicken served with a biscuit, mashed potatoes and house-made coleslaw – what else is there to say?! This Sunday special sells itself!
23. Back of the Woods Carryout
Separate from the restaurant, L. Woods has its own carryout store, known as “Back Of The Woods,” that makes to-go orders a breeze every night of the week. No need to wait for a host to help – pull up to the dedicated entrance out back and you’ll be on your way with a hot and ready meal in no time!
24. Double Baked Potato
Sure, we love L. Woods sides like Creamed Spinach, Macaroni & Cheese and Au Gratin Potatoes, but insiders know the Double Baked Potato is where it’s at. Crispy, creamy, and sizeable enough to enjoy as an entrée on its own.
25. The Guests!
Saving the best for last – we wouldn’t be L. Woods without the amazing guests who come through our doors every day! Thank you for all of your support, smiling faces and patronage over the last 25 years. Looking forward to 25 more!
Make a reservation at L. Woods.
