The opening of the Hard Rock Hotel in the restored Carbide and Carbon Building downtown may have pleased architecture fans, but the verdict on its hotel bar is still out. Will it be the kind of young, sexy scene one finds at the Hard Rock’s casino in Vegas, or will it be the more mature, mainstream environment characteristic of Hard Rock Cafes from Pittsburgh to Jakarta?
Base isn’t really one or the other. Right now, it’s little more than a gussied-up, generic hotel bar for out-of-towners, not likely to woo native scenesters the way bars at Sofitel and the Ws have.
Inside: With nary a signed guitar or framed jumpsuit in sight, Base shakes off the Hard Rock chain’s memorabilia-based schtick and instead tries to honor its new home’s vintage 1929 pizazz. In truth, the look is more mafia chic than art deco, but what it lacks in cutting-edge decor, it delivers in people-watching.
The space is essentially a roped-off part of the main lobby. Long, silvery curtains line the windows looking out onto dull Wacker Place; piano-key-style panels overhead separate clusters of cube-like couches and blue armchairs. Tinted glass tables, two flat-screens airing VH-1, black-stone columns and a black reptilian couch round out the “Sopranos'” Christopher-and-Adrianna look. Still, there’s plenty of room for lounging or standing.
Crowd: A mix of good-looking yuppies and older, dorkier guests makes for a range of fashions, from jiggle-shirts and snug oxfords to loose-fit jeans, suits and cocktail dresses. Only one instance of spiky, hard-rock hair was spotted.
Food: A menu of shareable eats ($7-$35) includes mini-burgers and fries, an American caviar sampler and a white chocolate and cherry mousse dessert bombe. Food served until 2 a.m.
Drinks: Specialty cocktails ($11-$13 and broken down into baffling descriptions like Hi-Fi and Majors) include mojitos and apple-cactus margaritas. Beer is $5-$6; cocktails start at $7.50. There also are 44 wines by the bottle.
Sounds: The Hard Rock has never been about new or cutting-edge music but, rather, easily recognizable hits; the loud melange of piped-in faves ranged from Moby to INXS to the Beatles.
Service: Thanks to the midnight bustle, it took a while to get served. But once our tattooed waitress swung by in a dowdy black uniform (supposedly the latest Milanese fashion), she proved attentive. Bar manager and “Big Brother 4” vet Amanda Craig was seen helping out by picking up dirty glasses.
Bottom Line: While it’s not the kind of super-trendy bar other hotels boast, it’s still hipper than the Hard Rock in nearby River North. It may be a weak attempt to please everyone, but judging by the crowd on a frigid Saturday night, it just may work.
