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Brendan's Pub
- Nearest Transit:
-
Belmont (Brown Line, Purple Line, Red Line)
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
59 reviews for Brendan's Pub
Review Highlights
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"There is a jukebox is the back, which always makes for a..." In 10 reviews -
"...are friendly, and the drinks are reasonably priced." In 4 reviews -
"A nice "local bar" with lots of regulars." In 11 reviews
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59 reviews in English
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Review from Laura h.
Chicago, IL
12/17/2011
This is the best dive bar in Lakeview. If all you want is beer, some cool tunes & a variety of cool eclectic people that range in age of 21- 105- go to Brandans and enjoy the oddity of the place which makes this my favorite dive bar. I have never had a bad time in the over 20 times I have visited. They have a killer jute box, friendly bartenders, a regular following & you never know who is going to stop in- you always make a new acquaintance & be singing along with the jukebox. Good Times Always!
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Review from Carol J.
Chicago, IL
3/20/2012
Who may or may not have just negotiated a business deal due to the proximity to this place? I mean who wouldn't want to work near a dive bar with cheapish drinkies and music from my misspent youth? Where gregarious regulars steal your bar tab and leave you to blow your wad in the flashback jukebox?
Or hows about when a certain someone gets takes a nappie at the bar and they really don't make a scene but gently sing a lullaby until he wakes his butt up and walks out dignity in tact?
This gal. -
Review from Rick N.
Chicago, IL
5/24/2012
I am new to the neighborhood, and thought I would try the place out. Nice place, but they didn't have any air conditioning on and it was hotter in the bar that it was outside. I couldn't even finish my beer it was so miserable.
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Review from Laura G.
Chicago, IL
4/14/2012
Love this place and the bartender, Brandon was great. Its cute, has a good juke box with good music typically playing and the douchebaggery is at a minimum.
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Review from Kit G.
10/17/2011
My friends live across the street, so I have been several times. It is a small neighborhood gem. As soon as you walk in, you realize that this is a Red Sox bar. I love the Red Sox decorations. There are a couple tvs, but this isn't an in your fact sportsbar. The Sam Adams Seasonal on tap is a nice nod to New England.
There is a jukebox is the back, which always makes for a fun time. The music is never too loud - you aren't screaming to talk to your friends. It is a great place to grab a few beers and catch up with friends. Beers are pretty inexpensive! -
Review from Amie C.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2012
How have I lived across the street from this place for over a year and not stopped in for a drink?! Insanity. Stopped in for a drink with a friend. Love how cozy it is inside. Cheap beer specials! Score! $2 beer special at the time was smithwicks. They also have a $3 beer of the month. January seems to be miller lite. I may befriend the 40 something who was enjoying a glass of wine and raving about how much I reminded her of her niece. I did think the bartender was a bit pushy at having us close our tab at the end of his shift but I get why he did it.
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Review from Ron S.
Chicago, IL
8/2/2011
We live around the corner from Brendan's Pub in the Lakeview area and love this place. Its convenient (should get an additional star, but we chose to live there) and we never really spend too much. The bartenders (all names seem to start with a "B") are always nice and chatty with us. By the time we are to the bar, our beer is ready for us in a frosty glass and set in front of us.
The only thing that could make it better is if the crowd yelled my name when we walked in like Norm on Cheers, but I can live without. As some other posts stated, there are regulars here that you can engage in conversation with (mostly). We like it and enjoy stopping by. -
Review from jimi g.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2012
I went here on a Thursday night to catch up with a friend. Its a smaller bar, which is ok with me. I like the fact that the music isn't blasting at this bar so I can actually have a conversation with the person next to me. They have different Sam Adams on tap, and it changes every season to a different brew.
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Review from Maryjane J.
Chicago, IL
8/1/2011
Fantastic pub, the type of place you can walk in, sit down, and start talking to the bartender or the people next to you.
I drank Sambuca with four old men here the day of the 2011 Blizzard. So. Epic. Jukebox has a decent selection too. -
Review from Damian C.
11/17/2010 3 Check-ins Here
"Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot? Check.
"Go All the Way" by The Raspberries? Check.
"Hey Nineteen" by Steely Dan? Sold.
While the music is totally my style my friend and I stuck out like sore thumbs at this place. However, everyone was friendly and we quickly made friends with the bartender who served up quick drinks and made us his own version of Washington Apple shots (no pucker at the bar, sub rum).
The bartender told us over and over that we'd never be back.... but HEY BARKEEP. Count on two more future patrons!Listed in: The Hoppin' 'Hoods of Lakeview…
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Review from Amy J.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 4/4/2011
We made our amends with Brendan's pub and have been back since the last bad experience. I will say this:
They have a great atmosphere. Good music, good drinks, great bar. We actually really ended up liking it. After that first night I wasn't sure I'd be back, but I'm glad we gave it a second shot. We have also since made up with that same bartender who has treated us well since. It was just a bad night, and it's a good bar. I guess I realize it's not the bar's fault when a patron is in appropriate, but I just thought it could have been handled better. Then again, maybe it was just a mistake. We've liked it there since. Bad first impression, good bar.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/6/2009
I'm new to the neighborhood and I wanted to like this place. I REALLY wanted to like it, and I… Read more »
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Review from Nicki W.
Chicago, IL
11/17/2010
If you're looking for some hearty, southern inspired eats you need to swing on by to Brendan's. Stopped by for the first time this afternoon and yes it's a small little bar that most people probably pass up but I heard the food was above average for a bar.
On Wednesday they have half-off ribs so we had to try them. AMAZING! I have never seen meat fall off a bone so easily in my life. The sauce was great as well. We tried the cole slaw and it's made with butternut squash. The potato salad was yummy and the beans were delish!
Seriously come in here and try the food because you wont be sorry. Everything is made fresh!
The staff was super friendly as well. -
Review from Matthew S.
Chicago, IL
8/5/2010
After dinner at Casbah with a few friends, we wandered to this bar.
It sort of reminded me of a 1970's basement bar. The only thing missing was the shag carpet. First impressions are a killer.
One of the gang insisted this was a great neighborhood bar. I noted:
a)No one was openly shooting up heroin.
b)I didn't note any eager hooker looking ladies sitting at the bar.
c)No one was passed out ON the bar.
d)I could not get an illegal abortion in the bathroom.
e)I did not see rats or roaches scurrying around.
f)I didn't see any dog OR cock fighting going on.
g)No Satanic altar, or other scary cultish items hanging on the walls.
h)I did not have my wallet stolen.
i)I was not groped by any of the custom.
j)I didn't recognize anyone from the "WANTED" posters at the Post Office
So, I guess this place was kind of OK. It could have been worse. But it could have also been a lot better.
The service was slow - as the bartender was more interested in holding a conversation with the people at the other end of the bar, then waiting on our party of four. The most difficult drink we ordered was a vodka cranberry.
So overall:
*I thought the atmosphere was gross
*I thought the service at the bar was slow & inattentive
*I thought the music was loud
I won't be visiting this Pub again. Perhaps the type of people who visit this place don't look for the same things I find to be enjoyable in a pub. It was obvious that I wasn't the type of clientele this bar usually calls "its own", so it will work out for both of us. -
Review from Amy H.
3/27/2010
It is not a good idea to be lured into a bar because they are playing Motley Crue's song Girls, Girls, Girls...
....or is it?
After a 4 bottle of wine dinner at Casbah, my friends and I walked past Brendan's Pub and started jamming on the sidewalk to the Crue. We thought, "let's go in for one beer." You've heard of Hot Tub Time Machine? Well, this was Sidewalk Time Machine. We walked in the doors and were immediately transported back to 1987.
The bartender was wearing a Kiss shirt and singing along with Vince Neil while pointing at a group of girls. And these girls? One was wearing a spandex mini-dress and she should not have been wearing a spandex mini-dress. Another was in an equally tight outfit and was a perfect candidate for What Not to Wear. They were gyrating on this portly man who looked like a cross between a hobbit and a beardless Travelocity gnome. And it only got worse from there.
I looked at my friend and said "this bar is crazy!" She replied "this bar is AWESOME!!!"
We kept looking around and found a woman passed out at a table and using her purse as a pillow. Her date was having a great conversation with the guy next to him and didn't seem to notice that it was sleepy time.
There was a guy at the end of the bar wearing fingerless gloves. They might have been weightlifting gloves...I'm not sure. I nicknamed him "mittens."
The bartender kept playing 80's metal on the jukebox. Judas Priest, Ozzy, Bon Jovi, more Crue and suddenly I decided that shots seemed appropriate for that atmosphere. My friend asks the bartender for "some type of nipple..." and I added "...like a slippery nipple...not an actual nipple", because in that crowd you just never know!
The spandex dress girl kept sitting down on her bar stool and standing up (with her short, short mini-dress) and each time she did my friend would say "OMG, I just saw vagina!!" Eeeek!
Keep in mind that all of this crazy awesome drunk people watching was happening at 11 pm.
Sadly, all of the crazy people we were watching left eventually and Brendan's turned back into an average pseudo Irish bar. We ended up staying until last call because the beer was flowing as fast as the conversation.
I would go back to Brendan's, but I doubt it will ever be as awesome as the night we were transported back to 1987. -
Review from Nick M.
8/11/2008
The bartender was TRYING to get me drunk!!! Seriously all rum and no coke make Nick a very drunk boy!! All she would just say was whoops!!
Oh how much I appreciate a bar that isn't packed, good jukebox, friendly bartenders, and cheap drinks. It's a cozy small pub with a couple flat screens to watch games. The staff and performers come through the back from the Lakeshore theater throughout the night, sometimes all in costume which is entertaining.
I would say more but I really don't remember much...Listed in: Lakeview
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Review from Aaron B.
Chicago, IL
5/16/2009 1 photo
Small, little, quaint, charming, and did I say small?
This place is awesome!
Went here after a show at the Lakeshore Theater and was not disappointed. Cheap drinks, Guinness and Harp on tap....Black and Tans = good times, a bar that is as big as my kitchen, rockin jukebox, and regulars that make you feel like you just left Hal Sanitarium.
This one guy had an obsession with Frankie Valli and kept on approaching our group saying "Jersey Boys" and wanted us to all break into harmony over Walk like a Man. After stumbling around our crowd for a while we began to notice he was dressed in full Packers garb.
Packers shoes, Packers button up shirt, Packers wallet and Packers Oakleys...this in combination with his Geraldo helmut of flowing gray hair was too much.
He was followed by a Chris Elliot look alike that was obsessed with Chelsea Dagger's song as head at the Blackhawk's games. Though he kept calling them Chelsea Knife...
So many weirdos and so much fun only topped off by seeing Todd Barry after his last show at the bar. Though we did manage to scare him away after asking for his picture and goggling over him like annoying fans.
A great lil pub in a neighborhood known for frat bars and sports themes. The average age here is +40 so don't go looking if you are a cougar or panther.Listed in: Let's Get Pissed!
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Review from Carol K.
1/22/2010
I have driven down this stretch of Broadway countless times- yet never noticed this little pub until someone told me about it AND told me they carried my favorite beer. Really? I just had to check it out.
Bendan's Pub is intimate and friendly- intimate as it is small with only a handful of tables in the place and friendly all due to a great bartender named Brett who made me feel like I had just moved into the neighborhood.
We sat at the bar and with fingers crossed I asked if they had Kronenberg 1664. "Why, yes", said Brett. "Your friend said you might be in". And with that my favorite beer was plunked down in front of me and a big smile appeared on my face.
The place was comfortably full but not packed and the patrons were friendly ( a group in the back actually asked me if we wanted to join them as we were the only ones seated at the bar). And street parking, while it can be tricky- is usually available right across the street.
Great little neighborhood place with good music, friendly staff and patrons AND at least one terrific beer! You can bet I'll be back! -
Review from M. M.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2009
This is what you want in a pub:
Small and dark - check.
The old dude at the bar, both day and night - check.
jukebox options - check.
I thought this place was solid, if only a little cramped and I have no reason to complain.
Especially considering the super nice bartender who socially promotes the slow drinkers.... makes me so thrilled to live so close to Brendan's! -
Review from Natalie R.
Chicago, IL
4/9/2007
I freaking love Brendan's Pub. I don't know who Brendan is, but Steve is the owner and a nicer man you will not find on this stretch of Broadway. He just celebrated his one-year anniversary at this location.
The thing with Brendan's is that they are doing it better, not bigger. It's not very big, but it is open, clean, fun, and convenient. The staff is saucy and smart (I heart Natalie.) There is a weird golf game that requires an odd amount of physical exertion, an internet jukebox, and two large flatscreen televisions flanked by two smaller flatscreens. Also, Barman Brett keeps a huge file of takeout menus. He's dead sexy.
I just love this place. It's always such a good time. It's walking distance from Parrot's. The crowd is a good mix of young and old, baudy and prim, cranky and nice. It's primarily my man's hangout after work, but when I'm able to meet up with him, it's like I belong there, too.
**EDIT: Found out last night - Brendan is the owner's son.Listed in: Get Your Hair On
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Review from Chris J.
6/29/2011
Fun little bar, kinda a hole in the wall gay bar. But, a good selection of beers and great prices on mixed drinks! We went here after pridefest and surprisingly, it didn't get too packed. A very friendly crowd and good bartenders too! Definitely deserves more attention....or maybe I'd rather it stay a fun little secret...
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Review from Santiago A.
Chicago, IL
9/28/2009
Great little place. I had never been here until last Saturday. Is this officially in Boystown? I ask for 3 reasons. 1) I kept getting complimented on my jacket... and everytime it was by a dude. 2) the compliment had to have come from a dude because my friend's wife and the owner were the only females there. 3) The owner was gushing over our bachelor. Why? Apparently someone had told her he was marrying a guy named Michael. This lie was aided by the fact that the bachelor was still wearing a feathery pink tiara we had obtained after bartering with a bachelorette party at the previous bar. Results? Free shots on the house for our party of 16. Score!
It was a fun time. Maybe not the best place to go with 15 drunk guys that are growing progressively more bold and eager in their attempts to bring home a random woman. However, I wouldn't might going back on a regular night. -
Review from Jean C.
Forest Park, IL
1/16/2012
Had a great time visiting Brendan's too on Montrose/Troy. Everthing about the place was great....friendly bartenders (ie Annie) and locals, drink specials, plenty of flat screens for sports and even a cozy chair by a fireplace. Look forward to going back. It really is a hidden neighborhood gem.
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Review from Sam R.
Chicago, IL
11/25/2010
Love Brendan's. In a part of town mostly featuring loud, brightly colored bars, Brendan's is the spot to go if you and a buddy just need to grab a beer and hang out.
It takes all kinds in there, young and old, gay and straight, and folks are generally nice and chatty if you want to be.
If Brandon is bartending, get him to make you a Long Island Iced Tea. World famous, don'cha know? -
Review from Amanda G.
Chicago, IL
7/13/2011
I stopped in here last night for the first time since the spot used to be Reflections. I went in because I had a bit of a wait for the Belmont bus and stayed for a while because it was such a nice bar! It was pretty dead but the few people that were there were very friendly. The bartender, Brittany, seemed to know all of the regulars and was friendly and attentive as well. A couple of big screen TV's and nice welcoming decor. I will definitely be back to this bar when I'm in this area!
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Review from Hal C.
Chicago, IL
8/13/2007
A nice place to go if you want a quiet, more friendly atmosphere. A friend from out of town and I were walking around late at night and happened upon this place, and it was kind of a nice break from every where else we went to that night. The bar tender was a pretty nice guy, American Gladiators was playing on the TV(conversations about strategy ensued), and the play list was really sporadic- going on an awkward song change from Metallica to Wham! at one point.
The drinks here weren't too expensive either. Beers were cheaper than the normal spot, and liquor was about average.
I don't know if I'd ever become a regular at a place like this, but it seems like a pretty cool place to stop in every once and a while and meet a few friendly people. -
Review from Tom F.
Chicago, IL
2/23/2008
Brendan's is an interesting little spot amidst the hustle and bustle of North Broadway. A pub so tiny that you've probably walked by several times without noticing, Brendan's is cozy, fairly quiet, and a good place to meet a friend for conversation and a few stiff drinks. The service is friendly, the crowd is diverse (particularly for the neighborhood, which is fairly homogeneous), and the cocktails are reasonably priced and of the requisite strength.
I'm not sure that I'd make Brendan's a weekend party destination - as I said, it's pretty mellow - but it's the perfect spot to break up the monotony for an hour or two on a school night. -
Review from John S.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2009
So I just moved from Boston like three weeks ago. I did some research about the area and found out about Brendan's, and the fact that it's literally around the corner from my apartment.
On the night that I arrived in Chi, I had nothing but a bag of clothes and the moving truck wouldn't arrive until the next morning... that meant I was destined for the wood floor. Why not go try out the local Boston bar and get drunk enough to turn my floor into a sealey?
Adrianne and Brett were working and they both were so excited to have me in Chicago. They introduced me to the owner Steven who is actually from Boston, and was equally welcoming. It seemed like half the place was actually from Boston originally, and the Bruins and Celtics games were both on TV.
Best part was that when I went back in two or three days later, they all recognized me and called me by name. Talk about feeling like home!
Brendan's is a great spot if you like cheap drinks, good food (have the chowdah) and like to feel welcome. -
Review from Paul B.
Oxnard, CA
12/4/2008
This is my favorite neighborhood pub on the Northside for many reasons -
* If you go there more than twice the bartender will have your usual in front of you before your butt hits the seat.
* Erin, Brett, Adrian and Crystal are pros and believe in customer service.
* Steven the owner is like a dad. He looks out for his customers and will toss any rude or plastered customers.
* The beer specials are good beers. Hello?
* Forget all other Boston bars. The people here are truly from Beantown.
Coming at the end of the month, they are adding a light menu of home made soups, paninis and a few other yummies. -
Review from Allie B.
Chicago, IL
3/31/2008
I stumbled across this pub my first night living in the city and have been back a handful of times since then. It's cozy, the bartenders are friendly, and the drinks are reasonably priced!
Definitely recommended! -
Review from Ashley T.
Chicago, IL
1/25/2009
Hel-LOOO teeny-tiny neighborhood pub!
I liked:
** The bartender. Adriane, I think?? Super-sweet. And, she's been getting people loaded since you were born. That's what I'm talking about!
** The size. This place is smaller than the studio apartment that I had in college. And I love it for that! There are (maybe?) 3 tables, and the rest is bar seating....I feel like there may have been more seats around the back, but I never ventured from my stellar seat at the bar to find out for certain.
**The prices. Say it with me...."cheap....drinks...." - I know, it's practically an oxymoron now-a-days. Not here. I spent $12 bucks (plus a nice tip for my aforementioned friend Adriane) and left with a pleasant buzz. Okay....so I'm a lightweight.....
**The music level. They keep it at a perfect, low, conversation-level buzz. It's so nice to go out to a "bar", and not have to worry losing your voice the next day from trying to have a conversation.
I did not like:
**Jukebox. I am not "one" with any form of musicbox. I feel this is just an exellent opportunity for some drunken fool to start playing real, real, REAL bad music. I heard "I'm a Barbie Girl" and "Mmmm Bop!" back to back. No, really, I did. I couldn't make that up.
This place is perfect if you want to meet up and actually do some catching up with friends. Plus, they did have a food menu, which looked pretty tasty! (Not the menu, the food).... -
Review from art s.
12/31/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Solid option if you enjoy low key weeknight drinking, friendly bartenders and listening to 97.1 The Drive
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Review from Nick F.
Chicago, IL
3/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent spot to have a few pints while waiting for a 36 bus. (stop is right outside). Reasonably priced drinks. Have not had any food here yet, but plan on it in the future.
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Review from Michael H.
Chicago, IL
12/19/2010
Great little Irish bar tucked away next to a defunct theater. No bigger than my dining room, but a hidden gem on Broadway. Head over there if Wilde is too crowded or if you just want a quieter atmosphere. This is definitely a bar filled with regulars, but is inviting to those who want to try something new.
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Review from Leang E.
3/15/2009
I was so glad I was on Yelp looking for a place to drink near the restaurant where my friend and I were at. This place was perfect! It's a small bar that has a good sized bar that just seems to occupy the whole space. Our bartender was nice, and we were able to just chill and kick back and have a beer or two. They have some tv screens where you can watch sports, and it gives it a homey type of feel. The music was just right where it wasn't overpowering conversation. The prices weren't too bad either.
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Review from Patrick G.
Chicago, IL
1/13/2009
Just a pretty plain run of the mill bar. Nothing special. Prices were better than average for the area. I did have a drunken old guy ask to borrow my cell phone to call his son. He made me attempt this call and then his son wasn't there. I was then offered the opportunity to buy a Christmas tree. I guess I'm not really a fan of bars with sad drunks who have their own seat at the bar.
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Review from Barbara D.
Chicago, IL
4/6/2008
The girls and I love this place! We love ordering OBOMBS from Brett or Tim, playing the satellite jukebox, and chatting with anyone who gets up the nerve to come over and talk to the loudest girls in the bar. This place is one of those rare jewels that is just right for EVERYONE....for the quiet nerd staring at the painting of colorful doors, the drunk who just wants another stiff one, the broken-hearted who needs an ear, the veteran who wants to talk politics, and of course the ladies that want to laugh and sing and take you home tonight! WE LOVE THIS BAR! (This is the bar Toby Keith was singing about...I'm sure of it;-)
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Review from Bob R.
Chicago, IL
2/4/2011
I hesitate in writing this review as Brendan's is my local watering hole of
choice and I shudder at the thought of it becoming over-crowded but places this great should be shared. Also their new chef (Dish Functions catering) has a great menu of southern BBQ based dishes. They manage to do great stuff with their small kitchen. Stop by (but don't take my table). -
Review from Anpan W.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2010
No food, but you can carry in or order in. Too small for me. Yet service was not good.
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Review from KT V.
Chicago, IL
10/27/2008
I liked the atmosphere in this bar... mostly. I say mostly because of the 6 or 8 (seemingly) drunk 40- or 50-something women screaming--not singing--Tina Turner, Pat Benetar, etc., at the tops of their lungs. One of them had her little purse dog in the bar and, on at least one occasion, held it over her head like the Stanley Cup. Ummm.... I'm guessing they were regulars and therefore immune from being booted. I'm hoping.
Aside from that, it seemed like a pretty chill spot. We only stayed for one drink due to time restrictions, but honestly, these ladies were so freakin' loud, I don't know if I could have last much longer, unless I had consumed a lot more than one beer.
I'd like to go back some other time and see if the crowd is different/better. -
Review from Samantha L.
Chicago, IL
2/17/2010
Not too bad. Nice little dive... and I mean LITTLE. Good if you're going out with just one or two other people, but I wouldn't recommend this if you want to bring a large group. The beer specials aren't really all that cheap, but could be worse. I don't know if this is a common thing, but my friend and I were definitely the only minorities in the bar that night. I tend to enjoy places that are practically a rainbow, lol.
