There are a lot of commonalities between the original Emporium Arcade Bar in Wicker Park and its brand-new sibling, Emporium Logan Square (2363 N. Milwaukee Ave.) There are plenty of pinball machines at both, as well as a pop and indie soundtrack and solid beer list. But the Logan Square version, the latest in a rash of openings on this hopping stretch of Milwaukee Ave., is far friendlier for big-group gatherings.
Credit the games on hand for that—the Frogger and Pac-Man cabinets have been swapped for pool tables, air hockey set-ups, and shuffle bowling (so basically, all the games from your friend's rec room back in the day.) Between games, you can order deli sandwiches from the food-truck-inspired kitchen and admire the sprawling street-art-inspired mural. As for drinks, there are no beers on tap, but there's an impressive selection of bottled and canned craft brews on hand.
Here's what we saw when we swung by Saturday evening.