Early Drinking In Hinsdale Restaurants? Yep

HINSDALE, IL — Drinking is likely to get earlier at more Hinsdale restaurants under new rules.

Last month, the Hinsdale Village Board approved a new class of liquor license that would allow restaurants to offer liquor as early as 7 a.m.

Earlier this year, the village approved requests from Egg Harbor Cafe and Yia Yia's Pancake House to serve drinks such as bloody marys and mimosas in the morning.

As a result, the village decided to create a new license to allow morning drinking at restaurants. Traditionally, Hinsdale allowed no drinks to be served before 11 a.m.

Recently, the village surveyed eight towns about how early they allow liquor to be served. Three of the towns were nearby — 11 a.m. in Western Springs and 6 a.m. in Oak Brook and Clarendon Hills.

The other five towns are suburbs farther away, but wealthy like Hinsdale — Glen Ellyn, Winnetka, Wilmette, Northbrook and Lake Forest.

Northbrook and Lake Forest allow sales at 6 a.m., Glen Ellyn at 7 a.m., Winnetka at 9 a.m. and Wilmette at 11 a.m.

"The staff and I were sympathetic to the idea to let these breakfast places serve in the morning," Trustee Matt Postuma said at last month's board meeting. "But we were a little reluctant to let every restaurant in town serve alcohol in the morning."

The new class of license will let such restaurants serve from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In another change, Hinsdale is allowing wait staff as young as 18 to serve alcohol in restaurants, though that does not apply to bartending or selling of package liquor. The village code previously said no one younger than 21 could do so.

"A lot of restaurants are having a hard time finding employees to work there," Posthuma said. "It's a great time for teenagers to get jobs."

In May, trustees approved requests from ZaZu Salon and the White Buffalo Barbershop to have personal care services liquor licenses. This allows for limited retail sale of glasses of wine and beer for consumption on the premises.

In addition to the recent ones, Elysian Nail Spa, Nourished Table and Home, and Ten Friends Blow Dry and Style House also have such licenses.

To prevent abuse from occurring, the board decided to limit service to one glass per visit.

Trustees unanimously approved all the changes.