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Bad Dog Tavern & Grill
Categories: Restaurants American (Traditional) Nightlife Bars Pubs American (Traditional), Pubs [Edit]
4535 N Lincoln Ave(between Sunnyside Ave & Wilson Ave)
Chicago, IL 60625
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, Ravenswood
(773) 334-4040
- Nearest Transit:
-
Western-Brown (Brown Line)
Damen-Brown (Brown Line)
Rockwell (Brown Line)
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
206 reviews for Bad Dog Tavern & Grill
Review Highlights
"goat cheese wontons and crispy grean beans."
(in 10 reviews)
"for a spot on the patio, but it was totally worth it."
(in 80 reviews)
"The beer selection is great and fairly-priced too."
(in 30 reviews)
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206 reviews in English
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Review from Alicia B.
Elgin, IL
11/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I go here for the University of TN college games! Have a blast. The Bacon and Brie burger gets nothing but thumbs up from me! As for the drinks, well depends on who makes them...but overall its a great place, with awesome burgers and UT football!!!
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Review from Daphne L.
11/22/2011
I've been to Bad Dog twice, and while there isn't anything remarkable about it, it's a decent place. The burgers are really good, and I've found the service to be pleasant and friendly. We stopped in last Saturday after dinner to have a drink, and caught the end of the Tennessee game, which was great. Very lively but not obnoxious crowd, and, there was a nice mix of ages. I hate walking into a bar and feeling like I'm the oldest person by at least 15 years.
I was turned off by the ladies room, and shocked by the ick factor. It was like monkeys had been let loose in there. I don't know if it was super crowded before we got there, but, they might wanna be more diligent about keeping the bathroom clean. -
Review from Laura W.
11/7/2011
I came here for someone's birthday gathering and I wish they had actually reserved part of the back room for the party. The space was a little tight to have 15+ people but this isn't the fault of the bar.
I had no idea it was University of Tennessee bar but it was nice to have some college football on the tvs to help initiate small talk. I do with they didn't have the sound on the tvs and played music because it was hard to talk to people without shouting.
But the beer specials were totally affordable especially for a Saturday night. $4 for 22oz orange plastic stadium cups and you could totally keep them for a souvenir. -
Review from Channa P.
Got the turkey, bacon, avocado and it was okay. Nothing bad, nothing really good.They did have a pretty decent beer selection.
Really I would g back in Chicago because this place has University of Tennessee flags everywhere and will play the football games on all the TVs. That's important. -
Review from Rebekka L.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2012
Good neighborhood bar! Only went there once on a late Tuesday evening. The bartender was pretty cool, interacting with the customers like a good bartender should. He definately had the knowledge of one. I ordered a Three Floyd's Gumballhead. Next drink was a shot and before I could say anything, the bartender said "Jamieson?" Yes please! Great predication at a good bar!
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Review from Magdalena W.
Chicago, IL
9/12/2011 6 Check-ins Here
I've been an unwilling regular here for far too long. The trivia, run by Whaddyaknow (?) Trivia, is great. The host is personable and the competition is pretty fierce, but Bad Dog does nothing to allow for more than a somewhat enjoyable trivia night.
Seating is difficult to come by, which is not much of a problem until the bartender gets angry at you for sitting at the bar and not ordering enough alcohol. My gut feeling is that a paying customer should never be told at the beginning of the night that he or she will be kicked out of a seat for someone who is willing to spend more money on the worst martinis I have ever tasted in my life. The food on the other hand is good. The fries are a great deal, and the sweet potato tots and wontons are exciting appetizers. But good bar food is easy to find on that stretch of Lincoln.
Inattentive service in previous weeks I could have dealt with, but there is little excuse for such rudeness. Right before our disgruntled party left for the night, we saw the same bartender requesting that the people next to us never return to him. We're definitely heard and are heeding that request. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Chicago, IL
12/31/2011
I love the outdoor patio here in the summer, but if you have to sit inside, the music is always obnoxiously loud. Don't even attempt to have a conversation if you aren't prepared to yell.
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Review from Erica I.
Chicago, IL
12/10/2011
Hmm the atmosphere was nice, and the service was great. However, the food we ordered looked better than it tasted. I got the 3 slider sampler, and they looked all pretty on pretzel buns, but the burger itself was like a thin frozen hamburger patty. It had no taste, and was like I was eating fake meat with a bunch of toppings to make it taste better. The fries were decent though, and the sweet potato tater tots were a nice change. We also got the buffalo egg rolls, and I like those, but not a lot can go wrong with chicken and buffalo sauce deep fried in batter. I would come here again if it's on a good drink special night, but I definitely wouldn't order the burger!
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Review from Gina F.
8/26/2011
Didn't I review this forever ago? No? Oversight!
Bad Dog s a regular Lincoln Square haunt that I have been frequenting since I moved here 6 years ago. The food is consistant & they are very veg-friendly. The veggie burger & grilled wrap are both delish, I always love a caprese, & he hummus with curry pita chips is great. My hubby recommends the Cuban, the Ahi tacos, & the Nicoise.
Their one flaw is that service tends toward slow & occassionally inattentive. I don't know whether they're understaffed or we just get the pick of the litter, but usually it's tolerable. Only once was it very bad (and unfortunately I wasentertaining several people that night, but isn't that always how it goes?). When I was in this week service was pretty good.
As for the restaurant itself, it's nice enough. I love the fireplace in winter, and I love the patio in summer. However, we were recently seated at the back against the fence & I occassionally smelled something bad. After a while we realized there was a dumpster on the other side of the wall. Why would you seat there when there are other tables open? Oh well, I will just ask not to be seated there in the future.Listed in: My Hood's Haunts
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Review from matty z.
9/16/2011
Bad Dog can be a little hit-or-miss, but I am fan of their cheaper beer specials, and I am a huge fan of their fish tacos.
One wouldn't expect to find such excellent fish tacos, but nevertheless, here they are! So, until a Wahoo's moves into Chicago, this is my go-to spot! -
Review from Christine S.
Chicago, IL
6/16/2011
Super cute place...
Had the goat cheese wontons and the grilled chicken and bruschetta salad and both were delish!
Good size beer selection, and all priced pretty decently.
Clean, quick & friendly service, paid street & parking lot, large patio, great nightly specials.
Che-che-check it out!Listed in: Pub Trivia
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Review from Erik M.
6/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
We were making our way up Lincoln Ave to check out the opening day of Maifest after doing some shopping further down the street, and the patio at the Bad Dog Tavern beckoned to us when we passed by. Then we never made it to Maifest.
There's nothing particularly outstanding about the Bad Dog itself. The kitchsy dog motif inside is more of a curiosity than an attraction, the service was on the slow side (although quite friendly), and the food was about what you'd expect for a neighborhood pub.
But then they threw us a curve with an impressive selection of higher end regional and imported beers. And then there's that patio. In Seattle our patio season is pretty brief - at best we'll get Memorial Day to Labor Day, but even that can be spotty even in a good year. So when we happen across a free patio table in agreeable weather we tend to camp out as long as we can, which is exactly what we did.
We were more than happy to take a pass on Maifest crowds as we relaxed over rounds of drinks in the heat and light breeze, occasionally chatting with other patrons and petting the four-legged visitors as they passed by.
From what we were told, there are plenty of options in the neighborhood that are more unique or offer better food and drink. But the Bad Dog may fit the bill quite nicely if you can snag an outdoor table on a nice day.Listed in: On The Road - East
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Review from Patrick M.
Chicago, IL
9/11/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Bad Dog Tavern. Emphasis on the "bad". I've been to Bag Dog several weeks in a row for their Thursday night trivia. The trivia game itself is actually done by an outside company. They do a great job -- the trivia and trivia staff are both excellent.
However, Bad Dog itself is less than satisfactory. Their prices are way too high for their average food and poorly-made drinks. The place gets super crowded but the staff makes little to no effort to get patrons seated.
Worst of all was the last time I went there: I've never been treated so poorly at a restaurant or bar my entire life. My friends and I sat down at the bar because of course we couldn't get a table (though there were some available). After we ordered several beers, the bartender told us "You'll need to order something else or I'm gonna need these stools." We mostly brushed off the comment but it escalated later. He seemed miffed after he asked us if we were waiting for a table outside but we replied that we needed one inside so we could play trivia. Then after ignoring us for over an hour, we paid and he scoffed at our small tip. He was rude to other customers too, but when two girls (who were 20 years younger than him) came up to the bar, he suddenly changed his demeanor to flirt with them. Gross. He then said to us, "I'm really gonna need these seats." When we got up, no one sat down because the bar wasn't crowded.
If it weren't for the rude, sexist bartender, I would probably give Bad Dog 2 stars. But he was really unforgettable and we'll never be back. -
Review from chris c.
Chicago, IL
11/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Average in an absolutely average sort of way. Requisite menu items, beer selection etc. Would not go out of my way to go there nor would I object to friend saying they wanted to go there.
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Review from Holly M.
Chicago, IL
7/26/2011
I was craving Mac&Cheese wedges. That's all I wanted....for two days. It was all I talked about at work, it was all I craved at night. My first attempt to get to Bad Dog Tavern was thwarted when I walked about a half a mile there and discovered that their credit card machine was down. Sadly, I walked back home. My second trip, the next day, proved more successful...but much to my horror....Bad Dog Tavern no longer has Mac&Cheese wedges.
Besides this incredibly sad, sad situation, I do quite like the beer selections here. They have a variety and the beers are reasonably priced. The food is interesting, but I have never been blown away. Well....their appetizers were always what called to me. I had the Shrimp Po' Boy, which smelled great, but lacked a lot of the flavor. The french fries were really good, though! I'll still come to Bad Dog, even though they don't have the Mac&Cheese wedges, but the very nice wait staff and awesome selection of beers make this place A-Ok! -
Review from Claudia M.
Chicago, IL
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Been here before for drinks on a Saturday night. This time it was Sunday night and we wanted to grab a burger and some fries. We sat on the patio in the back. It's very spacious and comfortable, not crowded. I ended up ordering the fried green beans as an appetizer and a shrimp po boy sandwich which came with fries. I split this meal with my BF. What a great sandwich! The sauce that comes with it had a smoky kick. I taught I was back in New Orleans. That's how authentic it tasted! The waitress was very friendly and accommodating. Def will be back for more shrimp po boys!
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Review from Pamela P.
6/13/2011
For being a somewhat "upper scale" bar in the Square, this place is great. It being the middle of June, we were determined to sit outside, 60 degree weather or not. The waitress readily and happily obliged and we were seated in a nice patio area with some great music.
I started with a soup "special" that really, wasn't so special. It was cream of red pepper with cheese. What emerged was basically nacho cheese sauce in a bowl. Really, not great and supremely artery clogging.
I also had the grilled tilapia sandwich with a side of fresh fruit. $2 extra for fresh fruit was a rip off, but, it was fresh and abundant. The tilapia, sadly, tasted like fish jerky. I haven't the slightest inclination on what they did to the poor fish but it surely wasn't grilled. Nonetheless, it went down into this gestating-a-human-and-therefore-immensely-hungry belly.
My other half had the cuban. Good, not great. He prefers his cuban's (the sandwiches, that is) pressed and thin with melted cheese. No such luck. Slab of pork, slab of ham and slab of cheese does not a cuban make.
One iced tea and $5 beer later, this expedition cost about $45....not worth it....and, sadly, terribly over-priced.
One bright note: the fries are TO-Die-For!!! -
Review from Erin H.
Chicago, IL
11/11/2011
This place is OK. Nothing special. Food is not really that good, but typical bar food. I do enjoy the dog theme as I find it unique and a bit quirky. Nice patio space for beer drinking in the summer.
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Review from Jessica G.
Chicago, IL
3/23/2011
Bad Dog is one of our regular spots for a boozy work lunch (the very best kind of lunch!) and had little to complain about. One time our sweet potato tater tots were still cold in the middle (frozen?) but they quickly corrected it and brought us a GIGANTIC basket of fries as well. The tots are AMAZING and the fries are really good too.
Entrees, eh... nothing really special, but not bad. The (housemade?) veggie burger was really tasty, but smooshy. Maybe it needed to be cooked longer to crisp up? Or it might just be how they make them.
Pesto chicken sandwich could use a touch more pesto.
But the sides are great, the food ok, the beer list good and the staff really nice! They know my boss by name and bring him his go-to beer along with the menu. Now THAT'S service.
Just waiting for it to warm up so we can hit their patio! -
Review from Liz P.
9/27/2011
This place serves a perfectly legit burger. The Bulldog is awesome--cheddar, bacon, BBQ and onion strings. Awesome! The Parmesan fries are good and the drinks are decently priced. As an avid dog lover, I totally dig the decor with the pics of pooches everywhere. I'd definitely go back, cute little place.
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Review from Heather R.
Chicago, IL
5/29/2011
I went to this bar once on impromptu whim to meet my friend for a few beers on the patio since it was actually a nice evening for some patio dining and drinking.
I love Lincoln Square to begin with, but it was nice to go somewhere and sit on a patio where there's plenty of seating, you're not cramped, and you get great service. One of my favorite things about this bar is it is very dog friendly. There were tons of different breeds of dogs there with their owners, and the staff not only took care of us, but our dogs too. They scored big points in my book when they brought the dogs styrofoam trays of fresh water on their own accord, anytime they'd bring us water. This was huge and much appreciated.
We only ordered a few apps that night cause we weren't that hungry and we were getting full off of our beers. This was the first time I tried sweet potato tater tots. They were pretty dang awesome. However, we ordered the sweet dipping sauce based on the waitresses recommendation, but we both agreed we should've gone with the savory sauce. The prices seemed pretty reasonable for the food items, especially when I saw the size of portions the tables next to us were getting. I'll definitely be back. :D -
Review from John C.
Chicago, IL
5/10/2011
This place has a great patio, lots of seats inside and out, plays reasonably good music if you're not there on a weekend night, and has a ton of good brews on tap. Oh, and their fries are seriously delicious.
I used to be obsessed with the goat cheese wontons, but my obsession has ceased. There's certainly nothing wrong with them, but I think I just had them a few too many times.
The servers are not exactly the friendliest, but they do a good job. I love that they let dogs on their patio, and the gallery of dogs in the entrance. They've also recently added some items to their menu which are more veg. friendly that I'm looking forward to trying! -
Review from Mahsa T.
10/11/2010
This is one of those places that you're curious to go check out once (probably because of the bad-a$$ sounding name) and then you're pretty much done with it. I had a late night dinner and drinks here so the place was pretty much empty. It's a shame I didn't make it here when it was warmer to enjoy their outdoor patio. We grabbed a two-top by the bar and our waitress was quick in stopping by to take our drink order.
I ordered the shrimp po'boy--why on earth did you order a po'boy you ask??? Because earlier that day I had been watching WGN and saw a special on Cajun/Creole po'boys and imagine my excitement when I flip open the menu and see shrimp po'boy as one of their specials! Of course I had to get it. It was edible but uninspired. It's a good thing I had my left hand milk stout to put out the fire in my mouth from the spicy mayonnaise. At least I got my po'boy craving out of my system. My friend was equally un-wowed by her goat cheese wontons. If you're curious about Bag Dog, feel free to check them out for yourself. -
Review from Nick B.
Los Angeles, CA
3/14/2011
Like a good Polish American, I went out on Saturday for St. Patrick's Day in Chicago. I wore my green and white shirt proudly saying "You Bet Your Dupa I'm Polish." Google "dupa." Anyway, I started the day out at bad Dog Tavern in Lincoln Square. I've been meaning to come here for awhile but haven't been able to make it there. I was starving for a veggieburger and hummus, Bad Dog had both. I was surprised that it wasn't more crowded, my friend and I were one of only 3 tables in the restaurant. No big deal.
We started with the hummus and the portion was HUGE. It was refreshing to see that they didn't skimp on the hummus, pita, or vegetables. For lunch I chose the garlic and rosemary veggieburger. That sounded awesome. Again, huge burger and a lot of fries. Can't complain! I was drinking double tall screwdrivers which were probably making my meal more enjoyable.
However, I'm going throw 3 stars at Bad Dog. The food was good but I can't help but think it was slightly overpriced. Sure the portions were huge but I'd rather pay less then feel like a cow after leaving my food. Secondly, our waitress was very nice but she was chatty with her co-workers and I felt like I was consistently waiting on drink refills and to have her run our cards. No big deal though but I can't help but make a note of it. Good food, basic interior, I think it'd be fun to come back when it's warm out to sit outside. -
Review from Michael R.
Des Plaines, IL
9/20/2011
Went here on a Sat night during collage football. The TV was turned up extremely loud, too loud to hear anyone talking. Great beer selection with normal pricing. We had the fried green bean appetizer, the beans were fresh and the tempura batter was light. The were nicely cooked and came to the table hot. The burgers were very good. The meat was good quality, cooked as requested and very juicy. The pretzel rolls were fresh. The parmesan fries were undercooked and tasted a little raw. The service was friendly but not very attentive. If you want a super loud bar full of drunk 20 somethings to watch some sports and have a good burger, this is the place for you.
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Review from Davy W.
Chicago, IL
4/9/2011
Sometimes you want to go out to dinner and be left alone. You want to be seated promptly, gotten your drinks and food and then only have someone pop up when you need something. Tonight at Bad Dog that happened for me, and it was good.
Had never been before. Pleased by the beer selection. The sweet potato tots were a fun appetizer, and surprisingly nuclear-hot. Got the Dog Town sandwich without avocado, because avocado is a waste of time. Super tasty. Sister got the veggie burger, and could it be? A veggie burger that appears to be NOT frozen and shipped in a box? I didn't ask to share, but I wish I had - after reading about the super-gourmet fanciness that's going on with veggie burgers lately, it's nice to find a place that is following the trend against Boca burgers. The fries were extra-crispy and tossed in parmesan - a nice touch, although for the most part the cheese fell off onto the plate or onto my shirt. We were way too full for dessert, but that's OK.
But the service. i don't remember our server's name, but she was pleasant, could take a joke and appeared just when we needed her. My favorite.
So I was super surprised when I looked up Bad Dog after i'd visited earlier today. Three stars? I enjoyed my visit enough to give it four, why did everyone else give it three? On reading the reviews, I get it - people are expecting different things in the area, they feel like it's too expensive for what you get. Having gotten used to Chicago prices, though, it's exactly what I expected, and exactly what I needed tonight. And really, a place where you'll be left alone instead of the constant "EVERYTHING OK? EVERYTHING OK?" that pervades the service industry is priceless. -
Review from David Z.
Updated - 1/18/2011
Unfortunately I have to downgrade my rating for Bad Dog. We went in this past Saturday and were surprised to learn that they have gotten rid of the brunch menu. Dang it, the brunch menu was my favorite thing about Bad Dog! The french toast was AWESOME, and the chilaquiles were great as well.
They still have brunch food, for those that are still interested. But now it is a brunch buffet. For $14 it is all you can eat. I like buffets. And the Bad Dog brunch buffet has a pretty decent selection (breakfast burritos, french toast, pancakes, sausage, bacon, cinnamon rolls, churros, biscuits & gravy, mini burgers, wings, and a few other things), but unfortunately the buffet simply isn't as good as the old brunch menu.
Service was still good, drink menu is still great, and the TV situation is still excellent - but I'm sad that this will no longer be my favorite brunch place in the 'Square.Listed in: Essential Lincoln…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/21/2010
I usually find myself giving less stars than average for an establishment, but in this case I'm… Read more »
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Review from Roman T.
Chicago, IL
9/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Sigh. Bad Dog is fine. Fine. That's about it. I've been several times and it's always okay, never great, never terrible, but passable. Tonight the bartender was fine, but when it came time to call for my bill, she was busy making out with her boss/the owner (whom I've met before). My team lost, I'll admit, but it shouldn't take me 15 minutes to get my tab when the bartender is necking with the owner.
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Review from Brian L.
Chicago, IL
10/4/2011
Food is ok. Drinks are fine too. Ambiance is good. Generally it's an ok place that you need not necessarily avoid. But the service is so spotty. Sometimes it's fine. Sometimes you get the impression that the staff just doesn't give a damn. And really I'm just taking about the bartenders. There's one guy who is a straight up aloof prick. He never looks up. He doesn't do a proper sweep of the bar when taking drink orders like a bartender is supposed to. Then when you finally get his attention he has this reaction as if he's doing you a favor. I've been with people who have noticed this too. Great person to hire. Way to go Bad Dog. Then there's a girl.. she's nice enough (I'm not looking for a relationship here) but she sucked at her job. I went in on a Sunday for a day game. Sat at the bar.. surprisingly not that busy at all. She socialized on the other end of the bar. Came over to check on me every once in a blue moon. My drink was always long sitting on empty by the time she made it back around. Then she decided to give me $5.25 change on $30 for a $24.67 tab. I don't give a hoot about the 8 cents. But it was amusing and shows that they're not really all there and it may explain the lack luster service. I may give the place one more try. If it's the same, I'll stop going there. There are too many great places near by.
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Review from Yaeko M.
Chicago, IL
8/25/2011
The outdoor seating is very nice during summer time. The setting is very nice. It's facing to the parking lot not to street. My favorite is hummus & veggies. I enjoy hanging out around Lincoln square neighborhood.
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Review from Erica T.
Chicago, IL
1/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I always have a hard time deciding what to eat here because nothing really stands out on the menu - but once I find something I usually enjoy it. The standard chicken or turkey clubs with avocado and bacon are pretty good. The new tuna melt is also good, but way too big. I find the fries to be loaded with too much seasoning, so I usually substitute with sweet potatoes instead. Oh, and the fried mac and cheese bites, dipped in ranch, are pretty much as good as they sound.
One Sunday morning we came for the brunch buffet, but it looked pretty sad so we ended up getting regular food instead. I got a Bloody Mary which was pretty hearty but had waaaayy too much pepper.
They have a huge beer list, but for some reason every time I come here I am in the mood for a cider on draft, which they don't carry. :(
The place is usually isn't full, which is nice because it's easy to get a table, but it usually gets pretty crowded on Thursdays (trivia night) and during Tennessee games (it's a UT bar). -
Review from Nick H.
Chicago, IL
11/23/2010
Bad Dog is fine. There is nothing extraordinary about it. The service was fine. The prices were fine. The food was fine. The decor was fine. The beer selection was above average. I will give them that. As bars go, this is fine for a neighborhood hang out, but is certainly not somewhere for which I would prefer to travel.
You may be asking why, if everything was fine, this was a two-star review and not a three-star review. One point deduction for being a Giants bar. -
Review from Roseann M.
Chicago, IL
10/8/2010
The moon must be in the 7th house, and Jupiter has aligned with Mars -- something like that, because friends persuaded me to leave my nice cozy apartment, stay out later than I and the Amish normally do, and participate in a trivia contest at Bad Dog Tavern. Even stranger than that - we all had a good time, even me. In fact, I'm encouraged enough by the Thursday night experience that I will probably go to Bad Dog Tavern again.
By the by, this favorable review has nothing,absolutely nothing, to do with the fact that I, a first-timer, and my team of veterans actually won the trivia contest (Two Dave's and a Lori, actually consisting of six people. Go figure.)
Anyway, our little group did not all eat - among us were a hamburger (medium rare), an angus burger (medium well), and potato soup. Samples were tasted by all. The french fries are crispy and delicious. They kind of stick together, I don't know how because I didn't taste any Elmer's Glue. But boy, they were good. Food was a hit.
Bad Dog has a humongous beer list. Our group (not me) ordered MGD. Duh!! Because yours truly is such a super-weenie, I had coffee with a shot of kahlua served on the side. This served to keep me awake for the entire contest, and soothed my little sore throat.
We were sitting in front of the restaurant, by the fireplace. Very comfortable, and I liked it. No complaints from anyone.
This trivia contest is held every Thursday evening, starting at 8pm. I have never participated in anything like this before, but I gotta tell you, it was fun. The time just flew by. All the other members of our group had been many times before; I was the only virgin. And thanks to my knowledge of useless entertainment news and too much time spent in historical research, I was actually able to make a contribution. We did win, after all.
All in all, a very pleasant evening. I am definitely encouraged to go back and give Bad Dog Tavern another try. And I will encourage the others to get off the MGD treadmill and start working through the very extensive beer list. MGD, for heaven's sake . . . that's like ordering a White Hen taquito when you could have gone to Frontera Grill. Sheesh. -
Review from Tara P.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2011
We showed up with a group of around 8 people and the server was extremely accommodating in finding seating for us, and ensuring we got our food order in before the kitchen closed.
Service and beer selection were solid, and everyone in our party was satisfied with the various dishes ordered. I had a BLT with spinach on the side - both tasty. My husband got a grilled cheese - and though we paid $9 for that grilled cheese, there was an add-on charge of $1 for cheese on the sandwich, according to the tab. Huh?
So, Bad Dog will sell you a tasty grilled cheese for $9. Or $10, if you want cheese on it. -
Review from doris d.
Chicago, IL
6/3/2010
Bloody marys here are insanely spicy, the kind where you're crying but you just keep drinking because you're afraid of running out and then realizing what you've done to your mouth (and stomach)?
Perfect.
Deep fried mac and cheese bites, oh yeah.
Angus beef burger could have been not so greasy. And the girls at the table next to us could have, um, not been speaking at all.
Other than that, I'll be back! -
Review from Katie C.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 5/6/2010
"Come. Sit. Stay." Why thank you, I will!
So why the addition of two extra stars? I mean, isn't that a little too generous? Let's just say that after becoming a mommy to a beautiful puppy dog (you didn't think I was actually preggo, didja?) I have been on the lookout for patios in the 'hood that allow pups to hang out during their parents' meals. Although I had previously dismissed Bad Dog for being mediocre, time heals all--err, most--wounds and figured it was time to give it another try since I am borderline sickly-obsessed with my pooch.
Success! Once we had knotted her leash to the wrought iron patio chairs, we settled in, ordered decently priced beers--$3 Coronas, $5 Ebel Bros--and decided on some grub. I chose the turkey, bacon, and avocado club (delightful!) and the man had the BDTBLT (you guessed it--Bad Dog's version of the classic). Both came with fries which were crispy and flavorful. I really enjoyed my sandwich--everything was fresh, and the chipotle mayo gave my sandwich a little extra kick.
So was it the best meal I've ever had? Of course not. But the Bad Dog did provide us with decent food, friendly service, and an inviting space for our little family...drooling creature included.Listed in: Lincoln Square Livin'
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/7/2008
So, Bad Dog Tavern is convenient. I'm about to move and I'll be much closer to Lincoln Square and… Read more »
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Review from Kevin C.
6/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Bad Dog looks not so busy (which isn't necessarily a bad thing on Sunday). Windows are open...bar has a few seats. Well let's stop there. The premise was walking through Lincoln Square on a sunny Sunday afternoon on the search for some munchies and a few beers.
Bad Dog definitely hit the spot on what we set out for. They had an ample beer selection with a good assortment of America micros. Five bucks a pop was certainly tolerable.
The outdoor patio is very large but seemed a bit crowded. Not really in the mood for a waitress running around to several other tables including ours. So we opted for the bar seats - a little more attention and a lot less wait.
The bar tender was on top of his game considering he had the front section to cater to as well. We ordered a pile of nachos which were done surprisingly well. Melted chihuahua cheese, pico de gallo, black beans, topped with lettuce, sour cream, guacamole and a side of homemade salsa.
A bar worth stopping by if you are in the Lincoln Square area. My only tiff was the menu seemed a bit pricey for some not-so stand out items. I guess that comes with the territory and the fact I'm a cheap-ass. You decide.Listed in: North Side
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Review from Dora V.
5/29/2010
When Lincoln Square seems quiet, and all the bars seem whack,
despite its imperfections, Bad Dog picks up the slack.
Ample outdoor seating and a diverse clientele,
not as hip as Bucktown, which I find just as well.
The food beats mediocre, yet one thing I find strange,
is days and months and years go by: the menu does not change.
Beer is cheap if you like cheap beer,
Martinis are good but pricey.
They're tiny, too, you heard it here:
The value can be dicey.Listed in: Lincoln Square, Y'all
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Review from Matt G.
9/20/2010
Going in with limited expectations based upon prior experience, I ordered a Garlic Burger and a Bud light draft. Upon his return, my waiter brought me a bottle with a warm glass and informed me that they were out of draft (wouldn't you think he knew that when I ordered and could have offered me a different choice?). No apology or anything. I don't think I was his type... if you know what I mean.
The burger was excellent, with pretzel bread and plenty of trimmings and the fries are delicious, albeit a bit cooler than I would have liked.
This seems to be pretty much a sports bar these days, unlike when I went in there about 18 months ago.
Food is decent, the wait staff could use some help. -
Review from Kristin M.
Chicago, IL
5/31/2011
Great neighborhood patio. Nice beer list, big portions, and delicious burgers. The inside is pretty dark, but you can't go wrong on the patio on a hot day.
