Mane Event/Taste of Arlington Heights Spotlight: Big Shot Piano Bar

Big Shot Piano Bar, 2 S. Vail Avenue is one of those hidden gems in downtown Arlington Heights that you just may want to discover. 

The restaurant and bar is hidden away on the lower level, between the soon-to-be Circa 57 restaurant [formerly Grand Station] and Metropolis Ballroom. 

Owner Larry Rebodos likens the venue to an old Chicago Speak Easy, which has free entertainment five days a week.

"We have an extensive dinner menu created by our general manager Eric Delgado, who also is trained as an executive chef," Rebodos said.  

The menu includes fish, steak and chicken dishes, in addition to lighter fare. Entertainment starts between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sauturday, and provides a background for conversation with crowd favorites such as Frank Sinatra and Bill Joel, along with a splash of jazz and broadway hits. 

Rebodos said the scene changes around 10 p.m., when the lights are turned down low, and customers many times will dance and sing along while enjoying a more robust sound. 

'Mash-Ups' are popular, which are musical interludes performed by a variety of the piano players. They mix older hits with contemporary music, providing an appeal for all generations. 

In addition to the extensive dinner menu options, Big Shot Piano Bar specializes in more than 30 martini varieties, along with providing a solid wine, beer and cocktail menu. 

The business is one of the food sponsors at Mane Event/Taste of Arlington Heights, and will be serving up spicy chicken skewers and basil pesto pasta, along with a sampling of their martini varieties. 

For more information, visit the Big Shot Piano Bar website.