When Carol Mengel, Evanston businessman Ted Mavrakis’ wife, described Tilted Kilt waitresses’ outfits as “really not all that revealing” at Tuesday night’s liquor control board meeting, laughter erupted among the nearly 50 attendees. Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl immediately shushed the Tilted Kilt opponents and told them they had their chance to speak.
But Mavrakis’ claim was not the first time throughout the 90-minute meeting that audience members reacted. During the final portion of the community gathering, Tilted Kilt representative Anthony Baroud accepted questions from both Tisdahl and the four liquor control board members. Some of his responses were met with audible disapproval from restaurant critics in the audience.
In hopes of clarifying some of Baroud’s more contested claims, The Daily contacted two Tilted Kilt managers from the surrounding region – one from Roselle, Ill., and the other from Elgin, Ill – and searched crime reports in their respective cities.
The managers asked for their names not to be printed, and all four paraphrased statements were spoken by Baroud unless otherwise noted.
There have been no reported incidents at all 54 Tilted Kilt locations nationwide.
At the Elgin Tilted Kilt, there have been four crime-related incidents thus far this year, according to the Elgin Police Department.
Two intoxicated men were arrested for starting fights with restaurant patrons around 2:30 a.m. Jan. 15. They also swung at security guards who attempted to escort them off the premises.
A 30-year-old man was arrested shortly after midnight Feb. 6 and charged with battery, aggravated resisting arrest and disorderly conduct after punching another man in the head.
A 24-year-old man was arrested around 2:30 a.m. Feb. 26 after police responded to reports of an ongoing fight in the restaurant parking lot. The man was charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery for causing great bodily harm and two counts of aggravated battery for using a deadly weapon.
A 20-year-old man was arrested around 3 a.m. April 16 when a nearby police officer noticed him striking another man in the restaurant’s parking lot. The 20-year-old man was charged with aggravated battery, unlawful use of an ID card and unlawful consumption of alcohol. The man who was struck was taken to a local hospital, where police said he was treated for a broken nose, a cut lip, chipped teeth and a cut on the back of his head. While police were arresting the 20-year-old man, another customer, a 21-year-old woman, backed her car out of its parking spot and almost ran over the victim lying on the ground. A police officer attempted to stop her car and suffered a sprained wrist and cuts. The woman was charged with driving under the influence and possession of cannabis.
Waiters are required to wear kilts just like waitresses.
The Roselle manager said male bartenders are required to wear a black, knee-length kilt inspired by Irish tradition. He added that there is no themed dress code for other male employees.
When asked about the difference in required outfits between male and female employees, the Elgin manager emphasized the traditional Celtic theme present at every pub.
“They’re considered to be playing a role,” the manager said, referring to kilt-clad employees.
Waiters are referred to by the same label – “cast members” – as waitresses.
Both managers interviewed asserted that there is no difference in the terms by which employees – male or female – are addressed.
“Yes, they’re all cast members,” the Elgin manager said. “That’s why they wear costumes.”
The Roselle manager reiterated that the sports bar adheres to its Celtic theme and said that “everybody is a cast member here.”
When a liquor board member inquired about potential restaurant closing times, Baroud deferred to an associate seated on his left. The Tilted Kilt representative assured board members that business significantly tapers off after 10 p.m. at locations that are open late, sometimes until 2 a.m.
Both managers interviewed agreed that late-night traffic heavily depends on whether high-profile athletic events are on television and what’s happening in the surrounding location itself. They also said it is not uncommon for their restaurants to near capacity as sports broadcasts drag on into the evening.
“We are busy during those times,” the Elgin manager said. “People will stay for the entire event. Some people will taper off, or some people will stick around [after the athletic event is done].”
The Roselle manager added that their location was “packed” for Tuesday night’s NHL playoff game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks, which stretched into overtime and ended roughly after midnight. The manager defined “packed” as all tables full and seven to eight names on the wait list.
The Roselle manager estimated his restaurant has a capacity of about 450 to 500 people.
