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Brownstone
Categories: Nightlife Bars Sports Bars Restaurants Sports Bars, Restaurants [Edit]
3937 N Lincoln Ave(between Damen Ave & Irving Park Rd)
Chicago, IL 60613
Neighborhood: North Center
(773) 528-3700
- Nearest Transit:
-
Irving Park-brown (Brown Line)
Addison-brown (Brown Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 2 am
Sat 11 am - 3 am
Sun 11 am - 12:30 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Thu, Sun
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
239 reviews for Brownstone
Review Highlights
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"That skillet cookie tastes amazing with beer." In 20 reviews -
"Tater tots are always a plus for me." In 32 reviews -
"They have the best fish tacos." In 19 reviews
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239 reviews in English
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Review from Joel W.
Chicago, IL
5/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is great. My group pops in once a week before rehearse to talk shop and have a few beers, sometimes eats. The waitresses could not be any nicer or cuter. Good prices, pretty quiet location, great outdoor seating! Neighborhood feel. Weekly day specials seem pretty good. They always have several games on their HDTVs, there are always at least several people there. Good times.
Only complaint: I sorta prefer my Miller High Life's served with a champagne flute. She said they only had 1...that they never use. She was sweet and quickly grasped my half-seriousness. ...but still, i woulda liked it. -
Review from Bridget K.
Chicago, IL
4/25/2012
For a period of time my older brother was really into GroupOns and all of those online deals. Since the Brownstone is close to his place he bought two deals. We were running out of time to use them. We ended up going two days in a row on a Friday and Saturday night.
The food is upscale pub food. The prices are pretty decent as well.
The first night I opted for the Fish Tacos which I substituted for shrimp. They were great especially with the fresh lime squeezed over top. My mouth is starting to water just thinking about them. The second night I opted for the chilli mac which is awesome and some sweet potato fries. You can not go wrong with the food at the Brownstone. They also have decent amount of vegetarian options which is important because my sister is a vegetarian.
The atmosphere was also nice. Friday night we were able to watch all of the NHL play-off games. Saturday we were able to watch more play-off games and the Bulls game. This would be a great place to head on Saturday to watch Texas games because they are University of Texas bar. -
Review from Ryan G.
Chicago, IL
4/24/2012
want to talk about the best shrimp and Cod tacos in the world...this is the place.. and you can bring your kids...i thought kids were not allowed in this bar, but they are..
the prices are great..but dont ever take out...lthey have no TO GO cups or spoons or forks....its only to dine in..
you wont be sorry you went here.!!!! -
Review from Brock W.
Chicago, IL
5/20/2012
The Brownstone hosted my fiancee's 30th birthday party last Saturday night and everything went extremely smooth. Anthony, the manager on duty, was very responsive in helping plan the party and was Johnny on the Spot during the party; he even supplied birthday cake candles after I realized we forgot ours! Our waitress - whose name I cannot remember - was fantastic! She was very attentive for handling such a large group. Everyone received their drink orders promptly all night and we certainlly got our money's worth with the $35 drink package we selected. Overall, a great first experience at the Brownstone and we'll definately be coming back!
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Review from Adriana F.
SOMA, San Francisco, CA
5/18/2012
We were surprised. Expected a Texas-style-middle-of-the-road affair. Friday evening, staying at our sons flat, hungry, Graf evening to eat al fresco. Walked a few blocks checking what was available an settled for Brownstone. Ordered a couple of appetizers. Spinach and artichoke was very good, chips fresh crunchy and tasty. Edamames were served with a tangy sweet and sour sauce making an excellent paring. Falafel burger, fish tacos, tater tots, all excellent. Tacos came with cilantro rice, our taste buds were very happy. A friend joined us later and order chicken tacos, superb. Our taste buds were thankful.
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Review from Richard P.
Alhambra, CA
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stopped at the Brownstone on Sunday night while visiting Chicago. We wanted to catch the Lakers playoff game at a bar. Being a Sunday night there weren't many people there. It was a nice quite spot where we were able to grab a few local beers and watch the game. They have many TV's so it's a good place to catch an sporting event. I'm not sure about the atmosphere on busier night, but late Sunday was very quite. We were the loudest people there. Go LAKERS!
Listed in: Chicago Part Deux
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Review from Erin E.
4/21/2012 2 Check-ins Here
SKIL-LET COOOO-KIE!
the mere thought of that ooey gooey, sweet & buttery, drool-worthy piece of heaven on earth reduces me to the vocabulary of a blue muppet. i desire one thing, and one thing only. that damn skillet cookie. good lawd.
the rest of the place okay, too.
i enjoyed the mac & cheese + bacon, and would totally get it again. the rest of my group had: one of the salad specials with steak- hit!, spinach & artichoke dip- double hit! (the chips were good on their own), and beer and wine specials (homerun! whoooo!).
the tuesday night trivia is not too hard, not too easy, but juuuust right. the questions will definitely make you think, but unlike other trivias i've been to-- where there may be a whole stupid round on march madness for godsake-- at the brownstone your team should always be able to at least come up with an answer, even if it is ridiculous...which, by the way, could still earn you the point. correct answers, creativity, and even bribery count in this version. BRING. IT.
if i had a complaint (and let's face it, i always do), it would be that the bathroom stalls have no locks and i almost got my face punched in when i accidentally opened the door on some poor girl. seriously, brownstone, this is a simple thing. nobody likes peeing under the threat of indecent exposure. invest in some locks.
so there you go, an overall 4 stars. i will totes be back, with my trivia-knowin' friends. victory is mine!!! *maniacal laugh*Listed in: Things I Crave
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Review from Rich H.
Flossmoor, IL
5/12/2012
I went here with a friend recently and was very pleased with the atmosphere of the place. I was prepared for a college bar only sort of ambiance but was pleased that there were a few more mature guests although there was a frat party going on at the same time which is pretty entertaining as long as your not one of the frat members being made to look and act silly - LOL
Beer selection was decent. Whoever cfreated it knows a thing or two about good beer.
The staff was attentive and very friendly.
The day we went, I had no intention of eating but their food looked quite good. They had put on a crawfish boil shortly before we arrived so most people had already loaded up on that.
I look forward to a return visit to this place and I think I'll try the shrimp and cod tacos - sounds good.
Very comfortable place. -
Review from Rachel V.
5/7/2012
OHMYGOSH, Who would've thought the food would be SO delicious here?! My visit to Brownstone came as kind of a last-minute, hockey-watching night. They have plenty of TV's for such an endeavor. We were completely surprised by how good (and cheap) the food was. I had mac and cheese with sausage, which I'm kind of craving as I write this. But really, everyone LOVED their meal, and they have a good beer selection too. Plus, the atmosphere is awesome - perfect for mid-late 20 something's who want good food, good beer, and a bright place to be with friends.
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Review from Yanyao N.
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Want to have a great time at Brownstone? Follow these tips:
* Say hello to Thony, the dude with the beard! He is a doll.
* Order the tater tots. They are so crispy and hot and awesome. TOTS!
* Order the mac & cheese. Shells in a SMOKED CHEDDAR CHEESE SAUCE. Yes. Believe it. With breadcrumb topping and scallions. So good. Totally worth cheating on every diet for. But who diets anyway?
* Better yet? Add Andouille sausage to the mac & cheese. Now you've covered the important food groups of: meat, carbs, and cheese. You win!
* Thirsty? Drink some drafts beers. (I am quite fond of their iced tea).
* A different kind of thirsty? Take a Cinnamon Apple Jameson shot (or five). Ordinarily, Jameson makes me make my "tastes like poison!" face. But this? This shot is delicious. Infused in-house with organic apples and cinnamon sticks. It tastes like apple juice for adults.
They do Trivia Nights on Tuesdays at 8pm. I'm going to start recruiting the best team ever! First round of Cinnamon Apple Jameson shots is on me. Who's in? -
Review from Moe f.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 5/1/2012
Update: Best turkey burger I've had in some time(and only $5 on Mondays). All around great bar food. And the fish tacos are surprisingly quite good.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/20/2009
Great spot for beer and a bite. Every night they have great specials. Like tonight's all-u-can eat… Read more »
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Review from Martin Y.
Washington, DC
4/9/2012
A lively bar and restaurant with allegiance to the Texas longhorns and dallas cowboys for those of you football fans. Lots of HD TV screens so its more of a sports bar then a dining establishment. A pretty comprehensive food menu and quite the alcohol selection. They even have an alcohol book so choices galore. I have been there s few times and the service has always been good. Very friendly servers, especially Maria who seems very genuine. I notice lots of young parents with babies and young children as well whenever I go there early. Ample street parking available on lincoln ave and free ones to be had if you are patient enough to drive around the block
Listed in: Fun places to hang out over…
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Review from David B.
Peoria, IL
1/4/2012
Have come here for the last couple New Year's Days. It is a pretty large place, but it was been full both times. We luckily get a table and have a nice view of several TVs to watch the requisite football games.
Even though it is packed to capacity the service. is always very good. The servers are attentive and helpful and the food and drinks arrive rather quickly.
The food is very good for a pub, with a nice variety, not just burgers and fries. The Bloody Marys were good; spicy with some nice accoutrements.
It is a rather young crowd with a mixture of loyalties, whether it is to an NFL team or an Alma mater.
Both times we have stayed from around twelve and left around 4. The crowd changed, but did not dwindle. -
Review from Kevin Z.
Chicago, IL
3/8/2012 12 Check-ins Here
Great place - excellent bar food great beer selection. Love all the appetizers especially. Consistent great service even though it's often very busy. Maria - you're the best!
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Review from Rafael C.
Updated - 1/13/2012
This place is still as good as I remember it. There has been some changes since my last review but I still say this is the best bar from the four corner tavern group in the city. The pretzels still rock, the service is above average and I still can take advantage of their specials albeit they do have less than they used to back in the day.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/25/2008
Yes the Brownstone is first and foremost a neighborhood bar. As such, it succeeds in having ample TV… Read more »
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Review from Rose O.
Evanston, IL
12/9/2011
A friend of mine suggested we meet at Brownstone to watch the Bears game. This place is considered a Dallas Cowboys bar - all the Cowboys fans go there for the game. If the Bears are on the same time slot they divide the room in half to show the games. I recommend arriving early to find a spot because it gets very crowded an hour before a Bears or Cowboys game.
Their menu is rather tasty - especially the shrimp quesadillas and guacamole/salsa with chips. Their cookie baked on cast iron grill topped with ice cream and hot fudge sauce is decadent and yummy! -
Review from Julie H.
Lakeville, MN
12/7/2011
I ordered the turkey burger and sweet potato fries and my BF ordered the philly cheesesteak sammie and reg fries. He said he wished his sammie had more meat but he liked it and I thought my turkey burger and sp fries was delicious. The burger especially was quite savory, including the luscious bun.
What I most liked about this bar was that: 1) you have the option of ordering your draft beer in a 22 oz pint for an extra $2, 2) it was WARM and TOASTY inside (minus the bathroom area) whereas I often find that in the winter many of Chicago's dining establishments are chilly beans nearby windows, and 3) the server was very good natured about my ditzily asking her for a side of BBQ when she had just walked to the kitchen and back for a side of mayo for my BF, 4) it is family friendly.
So---that is what I liked about the bar.
I will say that I had an unfortunate experience in the bathroom, but I don't think this was the restaurant's fault (rather, that of the patrons that evening). -
Review from Phil J.
7/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here and sat at the bar with a buddy while embarking on a mission to consume an epic amount of beer for the evening. My stomach told me it was time to consume solid food. So be it. While savoring a lovely alcoholic beverage known as Guinness, I opened the menu and l saw Smoked Mac&Cheese listed...
Ok here's the thing, when I see Mac&Cheese on a menu, I almost always have to try it. Plus, it's smoked cheddar? Hell yes! Tell me where else I can find smoked cheddar mac&cheese. Go ahead...I'll wait. When you tell me I can add bacon, Andouille sausage, or grilled chicken for an extra dollar, done. I got bacon. Baked Parmesan Panko crumbs and scallions on top are also standard. If you have never enjoyed m&c with bacon, scallions, & panko crumbs...then you need to realign your priorities...NOW. It's all kinds of awesome. Brownstone knew what they were doing when they made this. It was delicious. Easily one of my top m&c's. Now brace yourself for the following revelation...
If Yelp had such a thing as "Top 10 Elite Foodie Tips of the Year", the following tip would fall into this category:
***If you like mac 'n cheese, and you also enjoy spicy food, put Sriracha sauce on it! Yes, that red sauce with the rooster on the bottle. Game Changer, trust me.I asked the bartender if I could get Sriracha sauce on the side. No problem! I was surprised they had it. Whether you put just a little bit or a lot, I cannot stress how this sauce takes mac&cheese to the next level without overshadowing the taste of the dish itself. Just get it on the side and try a little for yourself. TRUST me.
Pair this with a bottle of Bell's Two Hearted IPA and you might as well just loosen a notch on your belt and throw in the towel, because you will be consuming this combo for years to come.Listed in: Mac N Cheesy Fo Sheezy!
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Review from Virginia T.
Chicago, IL
9/1/2011
I stopped in the Brownstone last week on Monday after work for a couple drinks with a friend.
I sat at the bar and never saw a menu. Their tap selection was pretty good for a random sports bar. They had Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Sumpin, Finch's Golden Ale, Bell's Oberon, Goose Island Sofie and more. Monday night special was $3.50 drafts (except Sofie & a few others).
The bartender didn't rinse the glasses before he filled them but that's the beer snob in me. It's close to work, I'll prob be back for the $3.50 drafts a couple times.Listed in: Bier!
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Review from Susan F.
Being privy to mostly all of the Four Corners bars in Chicago, I wasn't surprised when riding south of Lincoln Square that there was yet another bar that boasts a similar feel to my neighborhood Kirkwood Bar.
The corner bar is at a great location with outdoor seating. The menu had more craft beers than its other sister bars which is always a plus, and of course, daily specials.
We snagged a table right away outside, there were about 10 tables. We knew that there was a $7 5oz craft brew tasting on Thursdays and $2.50 fish tacos. This alone, sold us. However, the craft brews you could choose from were limited to their draft list, not bottle list...bummmaaaa.
The fish tacos are the way to go, my friends. Let me break it down for you. Fish tacos, $2.5 a pop, with a 2 taco minimum. Oh, so doable! But wait, there's more! You get to choose from tilapia, shrimp, or cod. Wow, I actually get choices for my cheap ass tacos? Count me in! But wait... You ALSO get a side of your choosing! Basically, you get an entire meal for $5 I got a shrimp and a tilapia taco. They were both great, not greasy, filled to the brim with cabbage, lettuce, and a tangy type of ranchero sauce. Better yet, they came with really good salsa with a spike of cilantro...uh sshheaayy!! I opted for the sweet potato fries which were in between stringy and regular size and not greasy at all.
Hands down, if you choose to come here on a Thursday, go for the tacos. The rest of the menu looked great, I believe I saw BBQ shrimp quesadillas! -
Review from Karrie O.
Chicago, IL
7/31/2011
This is a great restaurant/bar to add to my list of go to spots in Northcenter/Lincoln Square area. I've been here about 5 times and the service, food, and drinks are always fantastic no matter the time of day or crowd.
Recently I had the Goat cheese & pear salad...wow! Perfect summer salad in my eyes and the serving is more than enough. I would highly reccomend this place for a quick date spot, time with the gals, the whole fam, It accommodates everyone. Thumbs up to BROWNSTONE:) -
Review from Julie Y.
Chicago, IL
1/19/2012
Me and my friends go here all the time since we live so close. The food is amazing and everyone that works there is awesome!
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Review from Mike K.
Chicago, IL
2/24/2011
I believe I've been in Brownstone five times altogether over the years, with the latest being just recently. I believe three visits were either very short or abortive because it was always so loud and crowded. So I was a little tentative walking in on a weeknight when it would be possible that the utterly gigantic local fan base of Butler University (cough) might be inside watching a Butler game. We walked in and actually found the noise level to not be ear splitting and plenty of tables, so we grabbed one and stuck around.
The only reason we ended up at Brownstone was because, yet again, there was absolutely nowhere to park a little further north on Lincoln around The Grafton. I'm starting to wonder what it is about The Grafton that's preventing me from patronizing it. I have some history there. I'm going to call it The Curse of Donovan. Right.
Anyway, it was half price bottles of wine night, so why not? Burgers and Malbec. Hey, I like Malbec. Who knew? I could actually tell that this was a very good Malbec, despite not having the palate to discern the difference between a Boone's Farm and a Cristal when it comes to wine. It all gets you to the same high. The only difference is how and where you land. I digress.
I ordered a tortilla soup and a burger with bacon and Merkt's. I think someone had to run to 7-11 to grab a can of Campbell's tomato soup to make it, as it took 10 minutes to come out and tasted like canned tomato soup. I've had tortilla soup. This wasn't tortilla soup. However, the chicken in the soup was very good, as were the tortilla slices. Forgo the "tortilla" soup, folks.
As for the burger, I found it to be strangely thick and the consistency to be oddly dense. It seemed to be that they added bread crumbs to the mix. The only burger I've ever had that was this dense was a Kobe burger I had at Paramount Room that absolutely sucked. This burger wasn't that bad, but it wasn't the same burger I expected based on my experience at their sister location, Westend, which has a good burger. The bacon topping was tasty, but the Merkt's was a bit too much for me. There are better burgers nearby on Lincoln that I'd opt for over Brownstone's.
The best thing about the meal was the tots. They were tot on! I downed all of them and then stole a few from the cute little potato lover across the table. I'll be ordering tots if I ever come back to Brownstone. Book it.
Get your tot on at Brownstone. Get your burger on down the street. You're good to go.
Three stars. -
Review from Magen R.
7/3/2011
I am a big fan of all of the Four Corners Group's restaurants but I'd have to say that Brownstone is at the top of my list. I went here today for lunch and it reminded me that I should probably give it the positive review it has earned after my experiences there.
The atmosphere at Brownstone is very relaxed and casual, very fitting for the north center/roscoe village neighborhood it inhabits. Today was the first time I sat on the patio and it had a great ambiance I loved how they had couches out for people to lounge it. It made me want to relax and stay all day!
The food at Brownstone is also delicious. My favorite would have to be the southwest salad turned into a wrap with their awesome fries but pretty much everything I've had has been good. They have $5 appetizers all weekend long which is pretty incredible. Today we tried out the boneless buffalo wings, reuben rolls and guacamole and hummus plate. Everything was really yummy and it was a great deal for a lunch in the city!
I've also played trivia at Brownstone before and they have a neat set up that I have not seen at other bars. All the trivia questions are up on the screens and it is very interactive. If you like playing trivia and would like to mix it up I'd definitely try Brownstone.
My only complaint is that I wish they had a brunch on Saturdays and Sundays! -
Review from Amanda L.
Chicago, IL
6/5/2011
I have a soft spot in my heart for Brownstone, since it was the first bar that I went to when I moved to Chicago. It's right down the street from my house and I'm sad to say that I don't go there that much.
The allure of the patio was too much to resist on the gorgeous night last night so Mr. Quinn, Lori, and I headed over to grab some grub.
We were lucky enough to be seated on the patio and our server, Amanda (all Amandas are awesome!), came over to take our drink order. I was delighted to see that they had a special Bloody Mary menu and decided to take a risk with the Bourbon Bloody Mary, made with Jim Beam instead of vodka. I drink bourbon like its water but I was a little apprehensive about mixing it with Zing Zang. Let me tell you -- DELISH! I think I'm converted.
Mr. Quinn was happy with the huge beer selection and Lori was happy with the beer specials as I noshed on the yummy Mary accessories while waiting for our appetizer.
The hummus and guac app is the perfect starter. Yummy, warm pita bread, veggies, and chips for the guac. I had the fish tacos (one of each:cod, shrimp, and tilapia), which were awesome. I'm originally from Cali and we do fish tacos right, so saying the Brownstone has good tacos is definitely high praise. Lori had the goat cheese and pear salad, which looked awesome and Mr. Quinn enjoyed his BBQ pork sandwich with sweet fries. Another score for Brownstone.
Server Amanda was all over it, refilling our waters and checking on us. Definitely five star service.
All in all, a wonderful neighborhood place that everyone should try and stop by! -
Review from Melanie S.
Chicago, IL
1/3/2011
I've been to Brownstone +/- six times. It's not one of those places that I look forward to going to, but it's also not a place I openly avoid either. I seem to end up here out of convenience more than anything else. The clientele is a little too young and rowdy for me, but it's not on the level of say, any bar in W'Ville (which I'd rather gargle glass than go to), so I can spend an hour or two in here without wanting to blow my brains out.
The crowd on a game night (which was the case the last time I was there) is, as expected, noisy, and when it's busy, it can be difficult to get a drink. Had I remembered that there was a game, we would have opted to go elsewhere before seeing our show at Martyrs.
The food is decent, nothing to knock your socks off. Their wings are passable and their tater tots are great (but when was the last time you had a bad tater tot?). The beer selection is decent and prices are on par with just about any other establishment in the area.
Even when it's frightfully crowded, the staff still endeavors to give good and friendly service.
Brownstone is a nice spot to have a drink or some food if you're in the neighborhood, and despite the fact that there are dozens of other places I'd rather go, I'm sure circumstances will find me back here again; that's just how it goes.
2.5 stars. -
Review from Mary T.
12/30/2010
Do you ever wonder what your life would look like if you'd done one thing differently?
I'm happy with my life, but walking into Brownstone flooded me with some "what if" thoughts. Confused? Let me take a step back.
Fresh out of college and not ready to enter the workforce, I applied for a job at a bar in my hometown. Much to my chagrin, they were only hiring for their soon-to-be city location. I took the job and quickly met a cute boy at work. When the new location was ready to open, I had a major crisis; you know, like the Iran-Contra Affair or bangs. It probably went like this: Like OMG, why do I have to be banished to some uncool part of the city; far, far away from my soulmate. I will die. DIE. I. TELL. YOU! Life is soooo unfair. ::sobs uncontrollably and stomps around::
I stayed with the boy and never transferred. However, neither the bar or the relationship lasted; today, the bar goes by the name of Brownstone and the boy....well, he's ancient history.
I ended up at Brownstone after a show at Martyr's sold out literally in front of our faces. My friend suggested Brownstone and I'm really glad she did, not just for the trip down memory lane. On a Tuesday the place was packed and loud, really loud. Per our server, trivia usually draws a crowd, but she thought a perfect storm of sporting events was a heavily influenced the uber crowd. Service was friendly, but a bit more inattentive than I would've liked, but I totally understood as our server was slammed and really busting her ass.
I ordered the smoked cheddar mac & cheese and finally had an opportunity to try Three Floyds Gumballhead. I attempted to try Gumballhead a few places recently, only to be shot down, which piqued my interest in the elusive local-ish brew. If you haven't tried it, you should. The mac and cheese was fantastic. The sauce was perfect; nice and creamy and they didn't oversell its smokiness. The shells were the perfect noodle choice, standing up well to the sauce. At $6, I found the dish quite the value; the rest of the menu, higher-end bar fare, looked quite delicious too and had a little something for everyone.
The menu isn't the only thing different about this self-described sports bar. The interior is dark, warm and cozy; I think I'd enjoy it as much (if not more) if the TV's were absent. It was a perfect place to escape on a cold, wintry Chicago evening for a while. The only aspect I found confusing was the bathroom. The sign for each bathroom is next to a door, naturally I assumed that door was the bathroom, but lo and behold - it was a storage closet.
Great food, great beer list, great atmosphere, fun memories; I can't wait to return. -
Review from Patrick E.
Oak Lawn, IL
6/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food; especially the mac-n-cheese.
Also, NON-TYPICAL bar food and for that, I'm grateful! I love going to Martyr's, but not a fan of their kitchen, so this is my go to spot! -
Review from mad i.
Chicago, IL
8/27/2011
Awesome! Love four corners, esp gaslight in the winter.
Jalapeno pretzel-yum!
Chili Mac-double yum!
Quesadilla-different in that the chicken is on a red sauce, loved it -
Review from Karolyn S.
Chicago, IL
8/13/2011
Love the outdoor seating. Their pretzels are awesome for just a nice snack. Last week I had a mango, avocado, grilled shrimp salad that was amazing. Told them they should take it off specials and put it on the menu. I would normally give a place like this three stars, the waitstaff pushes it up for me. They are kind yet not overbearing and really seem to enjoy their work.
A friend of mine swears by their fish tacos. Their mushroom/veggie quesidillas are fantastic. The meat quesidillas need more veggies in my opinion.
I go there with friends to enjoy the day, but I also go there to work by myself. Great atmosphere for both. -
Review from Kori E.
5/24/2011
Came here on a Friday night and were seated immediately, although shortly thereafter the bar started to fill up quickly!
We started off with the chips and cheese dip, and we had to send the chips back! They were COVERED in this un-edible, completely too spicy seasoning. She brought us out some fresh ones with no seasoning and it was much better. So, if you plan on ordering the chips, I would hold off on the seasoning, its just too overpowering! I had the BBQ Chicken Salad, and it was really good. I love when my salads are chopped to small pieces (easier to eat). Our experience was overall a good one. I dont live in this neighborhood, but if I am out around here I would definitely stop in again. -
Review from Richard M.
Chicago, IL
2/4/2011
I have been here many times. This can be a decent place to hang out if you like sports bars and it is not too busy. Classy decor and the food is above average for the "regular bar food" category. Tater tots are always a plus for me. The service has been generally OK. and the beer selection is good.
There is a real downside when this place gets busy. The acoustics are terrible. The game is turned up too loud and with everybody talking (shouting), I can't have a conversation with the one other person at my table. Even when I am interested in the game, I still want to converse with my companions. The worst is trivia night. The MC's volume is always past annoying. I don't have a problem with trivia but sometimes I just want to eat my dinner. One nice thing I can say is that when commercials come on the TV during the game, they replace the audio with music, sparing the ears of the patrons from the extra amplitude that normally accompanies television commercials.
I would like to give them more stars if they could find a way to reduce the volume when it is crowded. Its not like I have ears that are extra sensitive to noise. I have done more than my share of damage attending rock concerts, however I don't expect to have conversations at concerts. When I am having a Guinness and some food at a local tavern, I also hope to enjoy some good company and conversation. Perhaps they could install some acoustic baffles and turn down the TV volume to earn more stars from me. -
Review from Shonda D.
5/16/2011
This past Sunday we went to Brownstone to watch the Bulls game. It's a cool and spacious place. We were seated promptly, they have a gang of plasma's and the crowd was into the game (mostly Bull fans woot woot)! We met some great people.
The service was slow. But, in all fairness, it was uber busy and with only one waitress for our area... that was to be expected. We ordered wine, which was probably a bad idea, as the wine glasses were dirty. I know its a bar and grill and they generally serve beer. But come on, send out clean glasses for all patrons. Ya dig? For these reasons, I'm giving Brownstone 3 stars. Don't get me wrong, all in all, it was a good experience. But clean the glasses and maybe hire one/two more waiters/waitresses when 'any' Chicago team makes the play offs. -
Review from James D.
Chicago, IL
12/16/2011
This place is a popular spot. I have been here many times and typically enjoy it. Decent food and beer list. The service has been hit or miss. The busser-runners are always on top of things and friendly. The times I have always experienced good service is from a certain server, Mallory I think is her name.
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Review from Helena B.
11/2/2010
First off, this may be one of the only University of Texas bars in the city. Longhorns, gather here.
I was quite impressed with the food selection. Boyfriend and I had stopped in for lunch, and I was able to chose from several salads (tryin' to be healthy!). I went with the southwest salad with grilled steak (dressing on the side, naturally). Boyfriend perused the sandwiches and ordered a chicken gouda sandwich with tater tots.
My salad was quite tasty (although probably not all that healthy as it was covered in cheese, but whatever). I was silent for a while as I shoveled food in my face. Boyfriend offered me several tots and cheese sauce - what's not to like about tots and cheese sauce?!
Food was accompanied by a delightful selection of beers both on tap and in bottles. I can see myself spending an evening here drinking through the beer list.
If you are sportier than I and want to watch "the game," there are about 40 flat screen TVs lining the walls. On our quiet Saturday afternoon, however, the din of college football did not interfere with our meal. Hooray for a bar that exercises volume control!Listed in: Livin' La Vida Lincoln
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Review from Scott C.
4/23/2011
The Brownstone is a good bar on the north side - their food is typically on the higher end of most bar food and they have a pretty wide beer list. When the weather is nice, the outdoor seating is a great place to enjoy the weather and escape a somewhat loud bar (especially as the night goes on). There are many tables in the bar area for dining and a flat screen TVs covering all of the walls - you really can't miss a game while you are there.
What keeps bringing us back to the Brownstone are the fish tacos! They may be the best in the city. They are served with either cod, tilapia or shrimp with a tasty cole slaw. The salsa that the tacos are served with has a bit of spice to it and really adds to the flavor of the taco. All together, these ingredients make for one heck of a taco! They are also filling - they don't scrimp on the amount of fish in the taco, so it's definitely a good meal.
Most of the portions of any dish at the Brownstone are pretty big - so bring your eating pants when you come here. If you come for just drinks, they offer several different appetizers from sliders to baked soft pretzels to help your beer go down easily.
If you are in the neighborhood, it's a great place to check out for a beer or a meal. -
Review from Jennifer C.
Schaumburg, IL
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome place if you're a Texas fan. I am only giving it 4 stars because I haven't tried the food yet, but this is definitely the go to place to watch the Longhorns play. They play the school song after each touchdown and the atmosphere is great. I will definitely go back.
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Review from Dab s.
Chicago, IL
10/5/2010
Ive been here more than a decade. This place has had a few different names. But Brownstone appears to be here for the long haul.
I have yet to read a review on this prior to scripting this, but I'm guessing it's Texas fans waxing poetic about how great this place is. Fair enough, I do the same thing with all the Michigan sports bars in Cook County!
In addition to being a die-hard Wolverine fan, I am also a graduate of Butler University. To those of you who didn't grow up in Michigan, I would be referred to as a Walmart Wolverine fan. Jealousy because they root for a second hand program. Am I not aloud to root for the Cubs because I never played an inning in the Cubs farm system? By Michigan State people, the answer to that is yes. Silly.
But as I was saying, this is also the place to be to watch your Butler University hoops games. Short of being in Hinkle Fieldhouse itself or the Bulldog in Indy (sorry, Moe & johnny's these days) , this is the place to be.
Ton of beers to choose from, and they have the best sweet treat in the entire 60613 zip code. The Cookie Skillet! Bring a date in here, get two spoons and dig in. Thank goodness I don't live here, I'd weigh 300 lbs and have an insulin IV because I'd eat this thing night and night out, and I'm not kidding.
Thanks Brownstone. You've got a good thing going here, glad you're here to stay (fingers crossed)! -
Review from Lauren V.
My boyfriend and I were in the mood for dinner out one Wednesday night and decided to finally try Brownstone...it was $5 salad night so why not?! What was I upset about when we were leaving??? That this was our first time eating here!
They have great daily specials, great food, and a great beer selection-everything that I love! I've been trying to eat a little healthier lately so we ordered the Hummus & Guacamole appetizer to start-it was awesome! Fresh dips and veggies, homemade tortilla chips and warm pita triangles...win!
My boyfriend went with the Southwest Salad for dinner (even though we were full from just the appetizer!). Wednesdays are $5 salad days which is a fantastic good deal because not only are their salads awesome, they're huge!
I ordered the Blackened Tilapia sandwich with no bun...so basically just a piece of blackened tilapia...and a side of sweet potato fries. The tilapia was sooo good, very tasty blackening seasoning that had a tiny kick at the end and the chili garlic aioli on top went perfectly. Their sweet potato fries are skinny and crunchy-perfect in my book.
The only thing that left a little to be desired at Brownstone was our waitress, not very attentive, but other than that we thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be back!! -
Review from Beth T.
Chicago, IL
5/2/2011
Great service. Great drinks. YUMMY Korean tacos--I've never had these before and the sauce on them is out of this world. Cilantro rice is meh and dry, but I added some sour cream and it was edible. Chips and dip is spicy and filling.
I really just LIKE this place. if I lived closer, this might be a regular stop for nights when we don't feel like cooking.
