Kilted girls tilting heads at new Ridge restaurant

National chain opens first eatery in areachain opened its first restaurant

By Matthew Piechalak

A successful restaurant is measured on the volume of product sold, so perhaps there is no better sign for the newest joint in Chicago Ridge than having to order a second pizza oven and more of the company’s signature beer — all before the official grand opening.

The Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery, 6401 95th St., opened last month in the building that last housed Bennigan’s Grill and Tavern. The restaurant, which features waitresses clad in knee-high socks, plaid mini-skirts and white tops, has been attracting a lot of attention, according to Joe Perry, co-owner of The Tilted Kilt.

“It’s a unique experience,” Perry said. “Our premise is a pub and eatery with great cold beer, an extensive menu, very family-friendly [atmosphere] and we’re famous for our Tilted Kilt girls.”

The restaurant features a lengthy menu that includes pizzas, steaks, sandwiches, wraps, salads and “a great desert menu,” said Perry. They also have more than 25 domestic and imported beers on tap and a full liquor bar. The Gaelic chicken and the restaurant’s signature beer, TK Lager, have been two hot sellers so far, Perry said.

“People compare us to Hooters, it’s a nature thing,” Perry explained. “But the distinction is our menu.”

The Tilted Kilt is also the best place to watch a sporting event according to Perry. The restaurant has 40 flat-screen televisions and three projection screens, which means every seat has a good view, he said.

Bennigan’s operated in the village for 25 years before closing abruptly July 29, 2008 when the restaurant’s parent company, Metromedia Restaurant Group, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and closed about 200 locations overnight. The Chicago Ridge Village Board voted 5-0 in June to approve both a business and liquor license for The Tilted Kilt. The inside of the building was completely remodeled and the outside was repainted, Perry said.

“The village has been wonderful to work with,” Perry said. “We’ve spent somewhere around $1 million and we couldn’t be happier with the corner and vibrancy of the [area]. We really think 95th Street and Ridgeland Avenue can be a destination for entertainment and dining.”

“It’s a new concept,” said Chicago Ridge Mayor Eugene L. Siegel, who said he has been to the restaurant a couple times. “I’m glad it’s in our town. They’re doing big business.”

The Chicago Ridge location is the third Tilted Kilt to open in the Chicago area. There are about 30 of the restaurants in the country and dozens more are expected to open in the next 14 months. The areachain opened its first restaurant in Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 2003.

In celebration of the grand opening scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 17, the restaurant will have drink specials and live music, said co-owner Paul Dibenedetto.

“It should be a pretty good time,” Dibenedetto said. “I think people are enjoying this [as a] fun place to hang out.”

After twice running out of TK Lager, the restaurant made sure to begin ordering more in preparation for its grand opening, when business is expected to really pick up.

“That won’t happen again,” Perry said of the beer shortage.

This is part of the November 12, 2009 online edition of The Reporter.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you. Click here.