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Act One Pub
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Gastropubs American (New), Gastropubs [Edit]
1330 W Morse Ave(between Wayne Ave & Glenwood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60626
Neighborhood: Rogers Park
(773) 381-4550
- Nearest Transit:
-
Morse (Red Line)
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 5 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 12 am
Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
72 reviews for Act One Pub
Review Highlights
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"Really a nice bonus to the Mayne Stage." In 13 reviews -
"For dessert, we split the tootsie roll cheesecake." In 5 reviews -
"Tater tots with goat cheese." In 7 reviews
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72 reviews in English
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Review from Paul R.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 1/4/2012
After eating at Act One several more times since my initial review I have to increase my rating. We've mostly had lunch or dinner and every time the food has been well executed and the service was good.
There are enough vegetarian and fish dishes to satisfy a hardcore veggie or pescatarian, and they're all tasty rather than seeming like afterthoughts. There's also an excellent beer list populated by many regional microbrews.
I like that I can get a tasty bite before or after a show at the Mayne Stage, and I'm glad that Act One is there.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/19/2010
My wife and I went to Act One for brunch after going to the first Rogers Park Winter Market around… Read more »
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Review from Cynthia E.
Evanston, IL
5/13/2012
The food here is consistent, but not outstanding, although the menu is reasonably priced. Caesar salad croutons were better than the salad. Ribs were okay, but not smoked. Salmon was tasty but overcooked. Great atmosphere, make sure to take in a show- beautiful venue! Valet parking available.
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Review from Daniel C.
Chicago, IL
5/18/2012
Great beer selection. Love the warm pretzel appetizer. The live music is great!
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Review from Izzy N.
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was H-H-H-Hot when I visited this place in the summer before a jazz show next door. Even a backless dress could hardly keep me cool. So I ordered a.... salad. One with strawberries and basalmic vinegar in the mix. Sounds good on paper but ixnay on that one. I was unsatisfied and unhappy so I put in a late order for the lobster bisque. The bisque was decent. Not really any lobster meat swimming around. As was the bloody mary being decent. They teamed it up with a slim Jim like beef stick in it. I ate that thing cuz I was HUNGRY. Would I order it again? Probably not.
I ordered more from the kitchen.. The calamari. It's dry. They over fried it. The only saving grace for me was the friendly service and the dessert. I had the chocolate pots de creme. It was divine! Rich and chocolately- very good.
Perhaps their salads aren't their strong suits but I'd hesitate in returning here for a meal before a show next door. If I had to I might return before a show again to give their other entrees a shot. I'll just make sure I'm not famished next time if you know what I mean. Not bookmark worthy. Service can be stellar though. An overall meh. -
Review from Leanne A.
9/21/2011
This is exactly how every cafe/bar that's attached to a music venue should be.
Reasons why Mayne Stage and Act One Pub are a match made in heaven:
-the servers understand you might be in a hurry to see the show
-it's freaking attached to the Mayne Stage
-It has quality food at reasonable prices. So you don't have to spend 15 bucks on a drink and get boring 18 dollar mini steak skewers just because you're at a nice performance venue
-they let you take your drinks in to Mayne Stage
-They will HOLD your leftovers at the coat check so you don't look like a fatty fatty with a smelly bag of leftover dinner while you chill in the classiness of Mayne Stage
Reasons why Act One is awesome on its own:
-The service is very amiable and genuine
-I fell in love with Dark and Stormy's here (I'm not talking about beautiful, passionate Latin men, I'm talking about the drink)
-the atmosphere is low key yet sexy and romanticListed in: Cozy cozy nooks
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Review from Mi S.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2011
During a stellar performance at Mayne Stage, my friends and I ordered dinner from Act One. The dinner: not so stellar. Here is why.
1. The menu is abridged. Despite what their marketing says, if you are sitting in the concert hall, you cannot order everything available 25 yards away in the attached pub.
2. Despite moderately high prices and nice decor, our food came in plastic baskets with travel packages of plastic cutlery. Hello, landfill.
3. My $9 "in-house" veggie burger was tasty but cold and soggy. Not to mention naked. No tomato, onion, nothing.
4. A pickle spear appeared with every burger. Each also appeared on the bill. We weren't asked, "Would you, for an extra dollar, like a pickle with your meal?"
Mayne Stage has wonderful acoustics and draws incredible acts. But be prepared, at 10:00 pm on a weekend, to be shushed by a bunch of senior citizens.
Two stars go to the handsome, hustling wait staff. -
Review from Jason M.
Chicago, IL
7/15/2011
I ended up here when Morseland was packed with 10,000 people trying to use their Groupon on the same night. I really don't like anything about Rogers Park. I mean that.
Despite this, I did appreciate the decent-above average food and the solid outside seating at Act One. They even had 90 minute IPA on tap. That's pretty terrific.
The place was pleasant, which is especially impressive when it's surrounded by so much unpleasant.
I'd generally prefer to eat somewhere where I don't worry about my car or the forgetful panhandlers who request my cash multiple times, but if I had to be on Morse St, I'd certainly consider Act One again. -
Review from Alyssa G.
Brooklyn, NY
8/21/2011
I can't speak to the dinner menu or the actual venue, but I wouldn't recommend the brunch at Act One.
And if you ignore my advice and do go there for brunch, don't sit near the flower planters outside -- they attract tons of flies.
The overworked waitress took forever to bring us and our dog water, take our orders, clear dishes, deliver the bill etc. She cleared my boyfriend's clean plate and silverware before I was finished so we had to take turns with mine so he could help me finish my meal. She also dropped a glass, spilling liquid and shards of glass on the guy at the table next to us.
My biggest complaint, though, is the salad. It was advertised as containing grilled artichoke hearts but instead had un-grilled artichoke hearts from the jar.
The pancakes were pretty good, though I wouldn't go back because the rest of the experience wasn't enjoyable enough. -
Review from Desirae K.
Chicago, IL
7/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
The condiment containers are adorable.
Visited Act One around 5 the Sunday of Pride.
Food:
( + ) Reuben: Probably one of the better Reuben's I've had and for $10 pretty reasonable.
Service:
( + ) Only 1 waiter for about 14 tables (most 4-tops). Kudos to him. Considering the situation he did a pretty great job.
Enjoyed the outside seating and super clean restrooms. -
Review from Eliza B.
Chicago, IL
1/7/2012
This is a good spot for a casual burger. We were there on a Friday night and it was a good crowd. It wasn't very loud where we were seated by the window in the front section of the restaurant. GREAT for people watching.
Now to the food. I wouldn't say that it's knock your socks off good, but it's descent for a "it's close by and I can't think of anywhere else to go" kind of night. We indulged and ordered the onion rings, which were lightly battered and served crispy. They were of course greasy, maybe a little too much so but good. The dipping sauce was nothing inspired but good, being a spicey aioli dip. The burger was fine. It was cooked properly and flavorful. It had that hint of char to it. We both had the sweet potato fries which lacked substance. They were crispy shoe string sized potatoes. They had a good selection of craft beers that you would expect from a gastro pub.
Would we go back? Sure, but probably wouldn't be our first choice. One thing to note about this area is that it is still in a transitional stage so don't be surprised if you see a lot of police in the area. Having the Pritzker name attached to a business in the neighborhood has done the area a bit of good. They also have valet parking for $5.00 if you don't feel adventurous enough to venture out onto the side streets for a spot. I would also suggest reservations on a weekend show night. I seemed to be filling up quickly. -
Review from Tom M.
Chicago, IL
2/19/2011
Really a nice bonus to the Mayne Stage!
Room is small, bustling, fun.
Server was slow, table runners were fast.
I had Fish and Chips: fish was very balnd, but with a good crisp coating. Fries were almost room temp, but tasty. Tartar sauce was top notch!
Really good Tootsie Roll Cheesecake! -
Review from Arielle M.
Winnetka, IL
7/24/2011
Visited on a saturday night and could not have enjoyed it more. It is a great addition to the Rogers Park restaurant "scene", if you can call it that.
Cocktails are delicious and they have plenty of beer on tap. I went with two other women and ordered a bunch of plates to share. Round one included fried pickles and bacon mac and cheese. Pickles were perfection. While mac was delicious, could perhaps use another sprinkle of bacon. We then opted for the polenta dish our waitress recommended. Crispy polenta with bacon wrapped figs (oh yeah....), a little salad, and marinara sauce. Different and divine! We ordered two entrees, the fish and chips along with a hangar steak. The steak was cooked exactly how i enjoy it, medium rare and seasoned just right. My mouth waters thinking about it. I am not a huge fish fan, but these were battered nicely and even i enjoyed them. We were too stuffed to eat desert, not to mention a few creeping guys...it is Rogers Park after all.
Our server was super nice and gave us great recommendations. They have live music every Tuesday and Saturday which can be a plus or minus depending on the band and amount of talking you want to do. Overall this is a really great spot to frequent for satisfying dishes and drinks! -
Review from Scott K.
Wheaton, IL
4/28/2011
This place rocks. Great decor, great food, great beer! Victoria Lager with a fine meal is perfect warm-up to a concert.
Pros: Beer selection, food, decor, good service
Cons: A little cramped at the tables
No better place to go if you are seeing a show at Mayne Stage. -
Review from Rob B.
Chicago, IL
3/19/2011
Stopped in for a little fun on St. Patty's day. They dressed the place up a bit with some decor on the tables and on the light fixtures.
The beer list was very good, albeit shy of excellent with a lot of the regional craft brews and belgians you expect at "cooler" places. Fully stocked bar with a nice list of mixers and potions. We stayed for a while and talked because the music wasn't obnoxious.
Service was very good, as well. Laid back, but attentive to empties.
I'd like to go back for some of the food in the future. The menu looked like my kind of food, with gastropub faire and good sauces. -
Review from Emily B.
Chicago, IL
6/25/2011
Reviewer Steven S. is full of s***. This place has amazing prices for the high quality and portions of food you get, super friendly staff, and a really comfortable atmosphere to meet with friends for dinner to hang out and catch up.
Hidden gem in Chicago! I had a gift card to go so we finally went and it exceeded everything that I thought it would be.
The cheese plate and mussels were amazing. The cheese plate had 4 cheese from tangy to mild and the walnuts were sweet and spicy. I loved that the sauce for the mussels was a creamy sauce and so you could sauce everything up with the crispy baguettes. The Bacon Mac was smokey and cheesy.
The tots were perfect peppery and a little extra salt. The BLT was yummy with thick-cut bacon and toasted bread with crispy lettuce. Best BLT I've had in a long time.
The burger (cooked medium) was juicy and tasty and the fried goat cheese on it, well, I ate it by itself while it was hot and melty.
Great selection of wine and beer and it's basically under the Morse stop on the red line so you have easy transportation to and from. We will DEFINITELY be back here.
Outdoor seating as well! -
Review from Steven S.
Chicago, IL
2/14/2011
My wife and I ate here before a show on a chilly Friday night. We had a 6:30 reservation and were seated immediately. 1 star! The place was pretty busy but the staff was friendly and attentive. Our server made sure we were done by 7:40ish so we could grab seats for the show. 2 stars! After that, it was downhill.
We quickly discovered that the food needed to exit stage left....
We started with the cheese plate. The cheese wasn't anything special, and tasted pretty bland. It's a fancy bar environment so we didn't expect anything that fancy, but it kinda sucked. One of the cheeses was definitely basic string cheese in a bulbous form. We are cheese lovers and usually like most cheeses, but this plate was lame and flavorless overall. At least the portions were good. On to the entrees.
I had the BLT and my wife had the vegetarian Shepard's Pie. We both didn't like our food. My BLT was the weakest attempt at a BLT I've ever seen. Each slice had two small tomato slices, one wilty lettuce leaf and some old, two pieces of microwaved bacon that was chewy like baco-gum. Not cool! I'm guessing the bacon came straight out of the fridge (after being cooked the night before and stored away) and was microwaved to reach room temp. It was dry and flavorless (a theme here apparently). The side of fries were OK. Fries, you are my hero! I know a BLT isn't something chefs dream of making, but put some effort in!
My wife's said her Shepard's Pie tasted odd, with the peas overwhelming it too much. The whipped potatoes on top were lumpy and flavorless.
Food - 0 stars for being the low point of a fun night. Maybe we should've tried something else? Maybe we should've brought our own food? Who knows but if it's on the menu, it better be good or don't put it on there. Know that... know that.
We probably won't be back since there are other places to eat before a show. BTW, the Mayne Stage venue (attached to restaurant) was really cool. I'd give that 5/5 stars but that's not what this review is about. -
Review from Marcos L.
Chicago, IL
11/27/2010
Worth a visit. I'll give it a 5 because it's on Morse and it's nice, which brings the grand total of nice things on Morse to 1, roughly. The barman mixed a fine cocktail for a decent price. Had a salad and spring rolls, and the food was OK. I'll try the other stuff. It's not too pricey and the room itself is quite attractive. The people were nice. Anyone who goes into a place on Morse expecting more than Act One delivers is a dope.
They have some good acts in the music area also. I honestly hope this place can stay open for a while. A lot of people are scared to go to Rogers Park, which is funny - Morse isn't Fullerton, but it's a lot less seedy than Uptown. -
Review from Heidi N.
Chicago, IL
12/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
The convenience of this place being attached to Mayne Stage is really the only reason I'm giving it 3 stars. The food was only so-so, and my dining companion and I felt very cramped as we sat at a table that felt like it was squeezed into an awkward corner at the last minute.
We had plans to go to a show at Mayne Stage last Saturday, so we decided to check out Act One beforehand, as we were told that by making dinner reservations here, we would also get reserved seats in the theatre. Well, the place was packed when we walked in, so lucky we had the reservations. But the table we were given was space better used for the passage of people. Cramped. Awkward. I cannot use those words enough.
We ordered the lobster mac as an appetizer, and were disappointed. It was almost completely devoid of flavor. I could taste the few chunks of lobster, but the cheese was tasteless. For my entree, I got the wrap, and my bf got the fish and chips. And while my wrap came with a gigantic bowl of fries, his fish came with ... American chips? It was a little odd. The wrap was tasty, and I did like the fries, but the boy was taken aback by how salty the chips were.
Now, I'm making the assumption that it is the restaurant's responsibility to communicate to Mayne Stage who is on the reservation list, so they can reserve seats accordingly. But when we arrived next door for our show, our name was nowhere on the list!! Perhaps they were just having an off night - they were very busy - but this is unacceptable. (See my review for Mayne Stage for what happened next.) -
Review from Victoria B.
Chicago, IL
1/16/2011
Came here on a Saturday night, around 9 pm. We were seated immediately, but service was weirdly slow after that for the amount of people in there. The ambience was a bit weird to us--at one point "Celebrate Good Times" came on the radio.
We ordered the Cheese Plate, Caprese Salad, and Fish and Chips. The plating was excellent--very attractive--but the food was nothing too special. The cheese plate had way too much cheese, compared the amount of olives/bread/grapes we were given, and the cheeses themselves somehow didn't go that well together (tasted like Swiss, Bleu, and Cheddar to me, plus a tiny ramekin of chevre). I would recommend getting the cheese plate only if you have 4 people in your party, and ask for extra bread. The homemade chips in the F&C meal were very good--though they mean literal American chips, not the fries you might be expecting.
Nothing terrible here, but nothing awesome. Morseland down the street is just as good, if not better. -
Review from Shakura H.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 10/14/2011
I returned to Act One Pub for brunch. I was super excited because I am not a big brunch fan. You usually spend more time waiting for a table than you do enjoying your meal and company because the waits are always long and service is rushed at most restaurants that serve brunch.
We went to Act One on a Sunday morning before going to the farmers market. Before we went my neighbors had gone a few weeks before; my neighbor said she order chicken and waffles. Did you say chicken and waffles??? Yumm I am sold! She did tell me she was disappointed because her chicken was burnt. Humm that's really odd..... what restaurant burns friend chicken? Any way my friend and I went for brunch, he order the eggs Benedict, it looked amazing he said it was quite delicious. I order the chicken and waffles, the waffles looked awesome the breading on the chicken looked a little dark, but it couldn't be that bad. Wow! burned fried chicken. The chicken was not edible, I sent the chicken back and kept the waffle, I told the server I wanted another piece of chicken that was not burned. The server came back and told me that the chef says "buttermilk is used to fry the chicken and the chicken seems burned because of the buttermilk". What? That is one of the craziest things I have heard! Most people use buttermilk when frying chicken. He must have been absent on the day his class learned to fry chicken when he was in culinary school.
I told her to cancel the chicken and I order a scrambled egg instead. The waffles was light and flavorful; quite delicious. The egg was perfectly scrambled, light, fluffy, and not over cooked. I am disappointed that the chef can't perfect a simple American food that been around forever, fried chicken that is flavorful but not burned.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/11/2010
My friend and I went decided to try a new restaurant; so we went to Act One Pub. When we walked in… Read more »
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Review from Moni K.
8/29/2010
I decided to give Act One a try and come in for a beer and a bite after the Rogers Park Fest.
Large beer selection:
I had Dogfish which has definitely challenged my perceptions of what beer is supposed to be! Also tried the Mad Hatter.
For appetizers we had the Crab Parfait, which consists of crab, smoked trout, cucumber and charred tomato with house-made Old Bay toast point. I think the Crab Parfait was ok. It needed a little bit more of salt but its presentation was very nice.
I also had French Dip, Roasted pork loin shaved thin and piled high served on a bakery baguette. That was pretty good.
Service was excellent. I was very impressed with the nice cloth table linens and cool jars for the mustard and jardiniere.
It enjoyed the outdoor patio and the beautiful summer night.Listed in: Quick Bites, Top Restaurants
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Review from Carolynne M.
Chicago, IL
7/19/2010
Love this place!
Awesome service - check.
Gorgeous night with comfortable outside seating - check.
A delicious, obscenely juicy burger with sharp cheddar and green chiles on a brioche bun? - oh my yes! check, check and double check!
The fact that ginger beer is served? Oh yeah. You bet I will be back! Sit outside...the people watching is extraordinary! -
Review from Jen L.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2011
This place is close to my apt and I hadn't had a chance to get there yet. However, when I saw Act One show up on Groupon, I finally found the little push I needed to get in the door.
We showed up on a Wednesday evening and had a nice, witty waiter. I had the salmon, which was delicious. The side of spinach was over salted, so I only ate about half of it, and the mashed potatoes were great as well. The boy got the pork wellington, which he seemed to love as well. For dessert, we split the tootsie roll cheesecake. There wasn't much special about it, but it was tasty, and the boy has an unhealthy obsession with tootsie rolls, so I'm not sure if it was even possible for him to dislike it...
It is a bit more expensive than other places in the area, but it's also a lot nicer than many places in Roger's Park. AND they have Dogfish Head on tap, which is a major plus in my book. I'll be back! -
Review from Sarah B.
Chicago, IL
10/15/2010
Perfect place to relax, drink a beer, and maybe order a sandwich. Or meet up with friends.
A half dozen sandwiches for $10 or less (try the pulled pork with housemade mustard), nicer entrees from $13-25, and plenty of beverage options.
Weeknights are a good time to go, and you won't be overwhelmed by 30 tvs blaring every game on every channel of ESPN--i think there are just 2 discreetly placed tvs.
Two downsides: 1. Whoever built the bar did not take into consideration that people would actually be sitting there. The overhang was too short so I had to lean in quite a bit, and I couldn't get my stool close enough b/c of the rail along the floor. The rail was also pretty low, so i had to be forward in my chair to even rest my feet on it. 2. The front window of Act One is directly aligned with N. Wayne--think lots of glaring headlights as cars drive up Wayne and turn on Morse.
Next time I go, I'll be sure to sit at a table with my back to the window. Good thing I am not a mobster. -
Review from Katie T.
7/17/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Another restaurant where I am really torn between 1 and 2 stars.
I am leaning toward 1 star because their food is simply not good and their menu selection is SMALL. We refuse to order their nearly 20 dollar entrees so we are left with few options. I give this place 2 stars though because their service is prompt, friendly and professional and they have a pretty good selection of beer on tap, a nice change up from Morseland down the street (but I would rather go to Morseland any day, their food is actually good and while I am becoming bored with their tap selection it does not mean their beer is bad, quite the contrary).
As usual, my dinner-mate and I have a mediocre experience at a restaurant but we come back because of the beer, thinking, if we try a different meal this time we will be surprised but the food at Act One Cafe just does not cut it.
First visit I ordered their French Dip which was not terrible but there was something off about it, a flavor I couldn't place that did not belong. I slathered on super spicy hot mustard to try to hide this unwelcome flavor. My dinner-mate ordered their burger, adding bacon. The burger may have been okay, just your typical burger but it did not come with lettuce tomato or onion as the menu states. When something like this happens to me, I say something, but my dinner-mate never says anything, so he suffers in silence and has a bad meal. All in all the first time wasn't a complete fail but we are wondering if anything else on the menu could possibly be any better.
Second time I was trying to eat something "lighter" (fail) but since their menu is so stinking small I was left with the only sandwich we hadn't tried, the tuna salad. I don't know what I was expecting, stupid stupid me. I could make a better tuna salad sandwich with cat food. For my side instead of fries I ordered their veggie tater tots. I had high hopes for these but they were bland, gooey mush in batter. I think I ate 2 pieces. My dinner-mate ordered the Fish and Chips and he really must learn to stop ordering this dish. He is never happy with it. Bland and needing salt, the only good thing about it were the dips and the lemon and you really can't just eat various mayo dips and lemon for dinner.
All in all eating here is a waste of time. Their pricier entrees might be good but I will never know because I refuse to spend 20 dollars on a pasta dish. The atmosphere is nice and their beer/bar is pretty nice. I would not be opposed to going back for a drink but I will certainly not be trying anymore of their food. -
Review from Vanessa d.
Chicago, IL
1/21/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I came here because I figured I would try some of their food before ! caught a show. I came here with a friend and I was not impressed. I tried the food that was recommended on the menu and found that the 'starred' food was lack-luster. For the appetizer we tried the lobster mac; it could have used more lobster. For the main course I tried the ribwich; meh. For dessert, we tried the flour-less chocolate cake. I think that was my favorite part of the meal but by all means was not the best dessert I've ever had.
Besides that, the place looked decent and the wine was half-off so that was a total bonus. (I guess the Wednesday special is half-off bottles of wine)
Review synopsis: Meh -
Review from Amaliya L.
Chicago, IL
5/22/2010
Hot Damn and hallelujah!
I've been waiting for this restaurant to open up!
We had the opportunity to dine here opening night, and wow! It was definitely worth the trek!
For starters, we ordered their veggie tater tots, calamari, french fries, seared scallops and Caesar salad. It was seriously an explosion of flavors. The sauce and dip that accompanied the calamari and veggie tater tots were incredible. What we really liked about the tator tots is the fact that it incorporates so many veggies instead of being just a plain potato tot. This is a great way to get your serving of veggies and it would fool a veggie hater. We inhaled the scallops! I think that I could eat 4 of these on my own. My husband went crazy over their Caesar. The dressing had a kick unlike any Caesar that he had ever tasted.
For entrees, my husband ordered the Bistro steak and I ordered the Fish and chips. Portions were way bigger than we anticipated. The Bistro steak was a steal at $18. It's the most beautiful cut of meat, the hangar steak. It came with a Guinness Bordelaise sauce and perfectly seasoned mashed potatoes. My fish was perfect. Flaky, and moist on the inside with the crispiest batter on the outside.
For dessert, we chose their Tootsie roll cheesecake and their bread pudding. My son claimed that it was the best dessert that he ever had.
Service was impeccable. Dishes were cleared immediately, clean silver brought with each course. What makes the service really shine for me is that I am a chronic coffee drinker. Instead of refilling my cup and throwing off my sugar to cream ratio, our server brought me a fresh cup every single time. More restaurants should offer this service.
My son is not at the age where he can sit and savor a food coma. He wanted to mingle and be a bar fly. I really want to thank the staff for their patience and for entertaining him. They offered him cherries and gave him a private tour of the entire restaurant and theater. It really made his night. They are definitely not there to entertain children, but they have mad skills. It gave us more time to be absolute pigs.
I am horrified to admit this, but our whole family went to sleep at 830pm after eating that amazing meal. When their brunch opens, I'm in trouble.
P.S. The theater will soon be open for live acts. I imagine that the sound will be incredible. They have an incredible sound system and booth in place. -
Review from Adam S.
Chicago, IL
6/4/2010
I really wanted to like this place as it is a few blocks from my house, but unfortunately none of us among our party of 4 were pleased with our experience.
First off, the drinks. Decent beer and wine selection plus a few concoctions.
On to the appetizer - the veggie tots. These were billed as zucchini, red pepper, and olive "tots" with a goat cheese dip. The goat cheese dip was great but the tots ended up being breaded and the vegetables mentioned pureed so it kind of tasted like eating fried mashed potatoes.
For entrees we kept it simple: fish and chips, a burger, the french dip, and the ravioli. The fish was very greasy and the breading tasteless, the burger cooked well-done despite a request for medium rare, the french dip made of pork vs. beef was literally mince meat and very greasy, and the ravioli was swimming in butter and cream.
The prices on the menu were fairly reasonable and service was attentive, but this was some of the poorer tasting food I've had at a restaurant in awhile. I'll likely give this place one more shot in a few weeks given its proximity, but competition with uncommon ground, ropa, and morseland cafe whom are in the same game price-wise this is not.
Man I'm getting more depressed writing this because I wanted this so badly to be good. It would be really nice if they added to the menu healthier and additional vegetarian options, i.e. less grease. Naming the farms and bakeries on the menu where your stuff comes from only goes so far. -
Review from Julie G.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2010
Okay, this place probably only deserve 3.5 stars at the moment but they're brand new so I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. Plus, the more I think about the meal I had, the more I liked it.
I went for dinner with my neighbor the other night since we both live down the street from the restaurant (or we wouldn't be neighbors, duh) and have been wanting to check it out. I kind of thought it would be a little cozier and slightly more charming, but it seemed to lack atmosphere and warmth. We went late and it wasn't very crowded so maybe it's different with more body count.
Anyway, I thought they had a nice drink menu and I applaud them for having some old fashioned drinks available, but as another reviewer commented, I'm not sure they know what a Dark and Stormy actually is? (Sidebar: For the best D&S ever, go to The Bristol in Bucktown.)
The special of the evening was lobster mac and cheese, so we ordered one serving to share as an appetizer, and I must say it was very good. Very cheesy with big chunks of actual lobster and very good quality pasta. And it wasn't even expensive.
My neighbor had the burger, which he said he liked, and I had the caesar salad with steak which I really enjoyed. As the menu mentions, the dressing is spiced with a special ingredient to give it a little something extra, and it worked. The steak was also cooked properly to order and was seasoned nicely.
We then split the Tootsie Roll cheesecake for dessert out of morbid curiosity, and were pleasantly surprised. If someone didn't tell me it had Tootsie Roll bits in the crust, I probably wouldn't have noticed, but it was very well made cheesecake regardless. It had a homemade taste and texture that one doesn't usually find in restaurant cheesecake. Really good stuff.
The service was okay...pretty slow considering how not-busy they were, and our waiter was only so-so, but I've certainly had worse.
Our total bill was only like $45 which was cheaper than I would have expected and we left very full.
So all in all, a good experience, but I'm kind of worried about this place. I was so glad when it (re)opened and it certainly has potential, but it's never very busy when I walk by, so I really encourage you to check it out, especially if you live nearby and want a change of pace from Morseland. -
Review from Abigail B.
Chicago, IL
7/8/2011
The first time we went to Act One we thought the food was bland and mediocre but that was right after it opened, so we decided to give it a second chance last night.
We ordered and split a salad, the chili, the spicy dip and panna cotta. They all tasted pretty good, I was happy with the flavors in the chili. So, why only 1 star? I don't want to get too graphic but lets just say I wish our apartment had 2 bathrooms.... eeek.
probably wont be going back. I'll stick to Morseland. -
Review from Al I.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2010
Glad to have it in the neighborhood. Not perfect; they're trying a little too hard with the food. One dish had some baconed something-or-other as part of it, and when we asked what it was, she clearly thought we were asking about the giardiniera.
Our food was delicious, but a little wacky. Here's what I mean by "trying too hard." My pork french dip was more of a loose meat sandwich. The mustard was so hot, it would burn the chrome off of your Buick. Thankfully, the menu warns you of this. The fries were entirely average. If I had a dollar for every time the menu said "house made" next to something, I'd be rich. You don't need to make your own mayo, really. We'll still love you.
Regardless, like I said, the food was tasty, and we're very glad to see this place back up and running.
I had an "Elder Statesman" cocktail, a gin + elderberry liqueur drink served on the rocks. Very good. Service was very attentive.
It's been open less than two weeks. I'm sure we'll be in again in the future, and I'll update my review after things are on a firmer footing. -
Review from caitlin j.
Chicago, IL
9/5/2010
Breaking this place down, star by star.
Pleasant outdoor seating. +1 star
Consistent service. +1 star
Tater tots with goat cheese. +2 stars.
Do you think I'm joking?! Check the menu now. Do it. See that? Classic tater tots blah blah blah goat cheese. While I do not subscribe to the belief that goat cheese can make all things "prettier" or "fancier," I am a firm believer in this marriage of tater and cheese.
This place doesn't take itself too seriously. I mean, it's a pub. But that doesn't mean the food isn't good or the staff doesn't give you their attention. (It is. They do. Bravo. Bravo). Roasted chicken and sauteed spinach, pork chop with a bit of pineapple and a berry galette have won my heart. Also, the tots. Always, the tots.
If I ever get up the nerve to brave a Sunday buffet, I might go here. I'm not making promises, Act One, but you add some more potatoes to the buffet line and you might have yourself a new brunch buddy. -
Review from Charles H.
Chicago, IL
2/4/2011
The Ribwich is the greatest sandwich I have ever eaten anywhere.
My girlfriend and I always get those jerk chicken spring rolls too, those are pretty good.
I don't really know much about their theater or whatever they've got going on in the back, but the Ribwich is awesome. -
Review from Ethan H.
Chicago, IL
7/6/2010
1. Yay that the theatre is opening back up!
2. Yay for restaurants in Rogers Park!
3. Yay for seating outside!
Now that we have that out of the way...
My Rogers Park Foodie friends and I, afraid of the Morseland Groupon, decided to give Act One a try last week. We were pleasantly surprised! Brielle, our waitress, was friendly and knowledgeable. Oftentimes, I'm on the fence when I hear recommendations. This time, I trusted her when she suggested the white wines and to go for the fish and chips. I'm not a huge fan of white wine - but Brielle's choices were right on the spot. And they went well with fried fish! I'm also tempted to argue that their fish and chips were one of the top 3 I've ever had - the batter was perfectly crisp, light, and not greasy. The fish was excellent. The only (small) complaint was that their tartar sauce might be made with greek yogurt rather than mayo (it had a taste...not sure what I thought of it).
Their menu was appetizing and their food was wonderful. Service was great. I'd definitely go again. -
Review from Derek C.
Chicago, IL
6/4/2010
My girlfriend and I were excited to try this place since it down the street from us. The staff was really friendly and my water barely got 2 sips down before it was re-filled. Which was nice but also a little annoying since it seems we had to stop our conversation every time they filled it up.
The food was not impressive. I ordered the safe bet with a burger. I ordered it medium and it was very over cooked. Also the meat was very small for an $8 burger. I did get the veggie tater tots which I thought were pretty good. My girlfriend order the French Dip. It was also unimpressive and we both decided that we would not order what we had got again. Which is not good because there menu is not a huge one. We may try this again and get one of the entrees but we are not sure.
The atmosphere was nice and the place itself is very inviting. They do have shows at the Mayne stage which is connected. That will be the next thing we check out.
I'd say this is a good place for a drink, but the food needs some work. It just opened so maybe they are still working it out. -
Review from Heather N.
Chicago, IL
8/27/2011
Act One is a solid "good." Not amazing, but definitely good. The food is..,well, good. The cheese plate is huge, so that's a plus. Some of the specialty cocktails are meh, but they mix decent basics.The atmosphere is lively but not overwhelming. Rogers Park is not exactly overrun with excellent bars, so it's cool to have this place to go to after shows at Mayne Stage.
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Review from Nicole M.
Chicago, IL
10/27/2010
Tried bunch only:
I love going out to breakfast and I was surprised to discover a Sunday Brunch hosted at the Act One Café. It is a bit pricy, around $15 a person and drinks are extra. Roger's park is filled with down to earth working class people, so I am not sure how such an upscale café will fair in this neighborhood, nevertheless the brunch was good. There was fruit, pastries, bacon, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, and muffins. Coffee and juice were good. The café is clean and the décor is simple classic American Pub with green accents, hardwood, and brass fixtures. I would recommend this place once or twice, because you will have a good breakfast experience, but it is overpriced for a buffet. So unless you want to be fat and broke try it only once. -
Review from Maya A.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 12/30/2011
Something has changed here! As a Rogers Park resident, I was thrilled to try Act One out. In the Spring, I ate there several times and declared their roasted chicken as the most delicious thing I have ever eaten to many of my friends. I encouraged everyone I knew to check out Act One. However, I went back in August and the chicken was off the menu. My husband and I ordered other items and we were both very disappointed. I recently went back and the food was even worse! Does anyone know what has happened to this place?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/31/2011
As a Roger's Park resident, I am always excited to see new restaurants opening. A friend and I went… Read more »
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Review from Cathleen H.
Chicago, IL
4/13/2011 20 Check-ins Here
Gluten free is possible in Rogers Park! They are awesome in understanding my food allergy and easily adjusts meals to fit my need. Great food, good drinks and good atmosphere!
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Review from K D.
Chicago, IL
8/2/2011
The food is good and I like the atmosphere, but the pricing is off. We need better restaurants that actually encourage us to stay near home in Rogers Park. This is a valliant attempt. The food should improve to meet up with the cost. Perhaps, it is a chef thing.
When I return, I'll be more careful about the prices. The quality v. value did not match up for us. However, I will consider stopping for an appetizer or drink after a show at the Mayne Stage.
