Stanley's
Categories: Southern, Nightlife, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park1970 N Lincoln Ave
(between Armitage Ave & Ogden Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614 (312) 642-0007
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Music: DJ, Live, Juke Box
- Best Nights: Mon, Sat, Sun
- Happy Hour: No
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
16 reviews
Neighborhood: University Village
"4 stars for yummy yummy goodness and friendly atmosphere and original artworks on the walls. minus 1 because the service can be quite slow.…" read more »
120 Reviews for Stanley's
Stanley's is the place to go if you want some good ol' comfort food. Plan on not moving too much after your meal, though, because you won't be able to. You will be sweating gravy and such.
The wait staff is always friendly, and if they forget to tell you, I will- the mac n cheese is somethin special. Order a little plate of it.
If you're into breakfast or brunch, get to Stanley's early on the weekends... the wait can get mighty long.
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I want to write and sing songs about Stanley's. But I suck at songwriting and I could make a deaf person cry with my singing so I'll yelp it instead.
So there's two parts to Stanley's. Front room is the bar, strewn with peanut shells and beers clinking everywhere. The back room is the dining room and this where I put my hat down and thank God silently for the grub I'm about to partake in.
Get the fried chicken-it takes 30 minutes because they really put it in a pressure cooker which is totally old school. Get some mac n cheese with it and veggies to balance out the mac n cheese. I always get the crabcake appetizers and a hefty load of Dr. Peppers to help me pass the time. I also write all over their paper table covers with crayons-it's allowed. The wait for the fried chicken is totally worth every pound I gain from it with the mounds of mashed potatoes and vegetables they serve with it also. SOOOOO GOOD.
Did I mention they also do Sunday brunch? I could do another review on that alone. Go for dinner or lunch-both are fantastic but you HAVE to try their brunch once. Beer, Bloody Mary Bar and the game on a Sunday morning? What's not to love?
I thought the food at Stanley's was delicious, but definitely heavy. I love the cornbread that comes before the meal, and then our dishes were delicious! My mom got the ribs (which I ate for two days afterward), I had the pork chop (they give you TWO, so beware portion size), and my aunt had the mac n' cheese, which was unbelievable.
It's quality Southern-style food and a pretty good price (since the portions are so large).
Our table finished off with kentucky pie and cinnamon ice cream. If given a choice, i'd go with the ice cream again, though the kentucky pie was pretty damn good.
The wait staff was super friendly!
Amazing brunch for only $12! I pretty much tried to stuff my face with a little of everything...too bad I had no room for the omelette bar! Here's everything they offer:
- Scrambled eggs
- Bacon
- Sausage links
- Ham
- Corned beef and hash
- Biscuits and sausage gravy
- Waffles with fruit
- Bagels
- Muffins
- Toast
- Cereal
- Fruit
- Caesar salad
- Fried chicken
- Mashed potatoes
- Mac & cheese
- Yummy potatoes
Yeah, does the list go on? Like I said...didn't make it to the omelette bar! The toppings looked amazing and omelettes are made to order.
Stomach ache! I ate so much yummy comfort goodness and then took a three hour nap. It's perfect lazy Sunday food. It'll fill you up until dinner!
So conflicted about this place.
The good: Half a fried chicken for eight bucks. Solid brunch. Pour your own shots of Kessler Smooth As Silk Blended Whiskey. Really good free peanuts. Homemade (I think) sweet potato chips with your sandwich (they call them fries but don't be fooled).
The bad: No food or drink deals to be had. A bottle of Old Style is $4.50.
In short, not for the super-thrifty, unless you just want to embarrass yourself by loading up on the free rotgut (even I'm above that).
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Best brunch I've had. Ever. Granted, I was just coming off my drunk from the night before, and Stanley's helped me avoid a hangover all together. Big ol' Dixie cups for the bloody marys (great bloody mary bar), tons of wonderful hangover food. Lots of cute guys, as well. Not like that matters when you're still drunk from the night before, but it's never a bad thing to have some talent to scope.
Nighttime: very chill, super cool, peanuts on the floor, cheap drinks, nice crowd- very mixed. I didn't get the chance to check out the jukebox, but it was an old school one and I am anxious to try it when I get back. Great place.
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I have spent many a day and night at Stanley's.....and many years as a patron. After all these years of being a neighbor and drinking there with friends...I have never received a drink on the house from the waitresses or bartenders....and they know me.
They never have specials....but don't really need to. They pack it in due to reputation and good times. It is a bit different now that there is no smoking there...
Love the place regardless....a few bad/rude cocktail waitresses with attitudes, but there are a few that are great as well.
A classic place...I have many favorable memories of this place.
I like to think of myself as an expert on anything Fried...its part of the skills you are born with when you are a Kentuckian...so when I saw the fried Kentucky tomatoes on the menu I had to get an order. I was super disappointed before I even put them in my mouth. Rule number one never use fresh red tomatoes, they must be green or they will become way to soggy which was exactly what happened to them.
I also ordered the fried chicken and mashed potatoes and thankfully they redeemed themselves. It was excellent, crispy and tasty just like we like it.
Chewy the bartender was awesome and spent lots of time talking to me about my favorite subject...Kentucky whisky especially bourbon!
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The best brunch buffet I have had! Correction.....the best fried chicken and mac n cheese I've ever had!
Be sure and starve yourself the week that you decide to go for brunch, because you'll pack on about 3000 calories from all the fried chicken, mac n cheese, omlettes, cookies, fruit, bacon, sausage, and waffles your little heart desires.
If starvation isn't an option, then be sure to register for one of the 10k runs in the city within the following week.
Oh one more note, I've seen a lot of people get bloody mary's there.....so they must be good. Personally I'm not into any drink that is red and is described as bloody.
After running the Shamrock Shuffle, my friends and I headed over to Stanley's in search of a celebratory beer and some down-home cookin'. It being my first time, I didn't really know what to expect, and you could say I was pleasantly surprised.
Warm food. NCAA basketball on every TV. And a couple ice cold beers. The perfect afternoon for a cold, rainy day.
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I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS
Because my server was so efficient that a new pint glass of Ketel One Red Bull appeared like clockwork every time I ran low. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Seemed good at the time.
My first visit here was on the night of their "Polar Luau" (think girls in bikinis hula dancing in February) which played well with your standard Lincoln Park crowd. The food was surprisingly good as far as bar food goes with nice crispy tots and tasty chicken satays.
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I can not fault you for those who make you their brunch destination.
Listen, I completely understand what people mean when they speak ill of the Lincoln Park set....A Chicago neighborhood, which seems to be overrun with a large contingent of young 'uns just out of some state school who also happened to be in one of the many fine Greek institutions at said state schools..Essentially..the quintessential Chad and Trixies..It's as if every single person dining here during the morning hours has only made Stanley's their brunch choice for it's proximity between the house they're doing their walk of shame from and their home.
BUT....................................
I really am trying to be a more understanding, caring and open individual. I will not fault Stanley's for it's patrons and it's proximity between said Hook Up house and who'sever's home....and I will forgo the talking of trash against said Chad and Trixie's..I'm sure you're all fine individual's, but this morning I felt compelled to spill my cup o' steaming joe on each and every one of you.
$11.95 and you get....
*Amazing casserole of baked Mac & Cheese
*Mashed Potatoes
*Fried Chicken- (Better than a lot of places..especially for a buffet!)
*These crazy lil' oval shaped, crispy waffles
*A massive chaffing dish of scrambled eggs
*An omelette station, repleat with mushrooms, onions, green peppers, bacon, ham, chopped sausage and shredded cheeses.....PLUS
*A sandwich bar
*Sweet Buns
*Dry Cereals
*Fruit platter for days
So...for all of the hate love I felt for you fine Chad's and Trixie's..I actually felt more love than anything...Stanley put's out one helluva spread and your servers only add to the goodness. Ensuring that we have new plates..That our coffee's are kept replenished..and today; Sunday, March 16..you made sure that we contributed to the Water Tap Project. Which helped raise funds for clean water programs for third world areas.
Stanley's..I may be back, but don't bet your bucks on it..I'm an old man and only getting older..These young kids only add to me further realizing my own demise!
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Stanley's...you're a dirty little bar. But GOD, I love you for your magnificent brunch!!
You know, it's not a place to take people who're visiting from out of town- it really is a dirty little bar, but say your out of town guests love a killer, as in AMAZING, as in THE BEST YOU'VE EVER HAD, as in THE STUFF YOUR DREAMS ARE MADE of-mac n' cheese, and a super make your own bloody mary bar, and a fantastic omelet station, then, well, put side-blinders on your guests' eyes, cos they gonna love this brunch like nobody else!!
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Have not been here for breakfast or happy hour. I have only gotten take out from this place while getting my hair done close by. Good tots, grilled cheese, and chicken sandwich. My husband raved about the veggie lasagna, and he doesn't even like veggie lasagna! Must say, since I haven't been in the place I can't give it the full stars it needs. But as far as takeout gos, they are pretty good..(even if my hair stylist wasn't)!
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***Pros***
Very Good Food.
Servers work hard.
***Cons***
Farting frat boys.
Crowded/get hit by big boobed girls.
Great whiskey selection AND great bar food!
Stanley's is good for day morning after a late night of drinking. They have a brunch buffet spread that should be able to satisfy any post drinking cravings. The food is pretty good, but I also have different standards the morning after a long night of drinking. :)
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Wow, what a great place to eat...if you don't care at all about eating healthy. I mean this in the best, most delicious possible way possible. I went there with my friend Kris and we ordered a bunch of stuff and shared. I got the mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. They really were to die for, but we both felt really terrible afterwards and wanted to run to the gym. As previous reviewers have stated, I'm sure this kind of food would be a perfect cure for a hangover. I'm sure I'll go back, but I will try to order a bit healthier, if possible.
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So my first experience at Stanley's was about a week or two ago on a cold Saturday morning for the weekend brunch. It was nice and not overcrowded at all (although I was told by my BF that in the summer the place is a zoo for brunch).
They had quite the spread of breakfast foods. And believe it or not it was the first time I tried biscuits and gravy (poor judgment on my part - I should of known better that it would be an instant love affair). The coffee was pretty good and I liked the scrambled eggs and bacon.
I left feeling very satisfied and ready for the day! I cant wait to go back - for biscuits and gravy ... hehe.
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I love the brunch at Stanley's! I went with my family on a Sunday morning after a wedding and we had a blast. A piece of fried chicken followed by waffle was just what I needed. The buffet was great but they were often out of things... we just had to keep checking.
I've been to Stanley's a handful of times. Usually a decent crowd, yes it's sometimes hard to get drinks, but if you are patient it will pay off.
This is the place to be on Sundays for brunch, Bloody Mary's, and if you stick around long enough, some kick ass live music. Even cooler when someone like Kid Rock makes a surprise appearance. I saw Chris Chelios, Amaury Nolasco, John Cusack, and Kid Rock all here on separate occasions. The best part is that the crowd usually respects the celebs. I'm sure that's why this bar is a good place for famous folk.
It always makes you wonder who'll show up at this ultimate destination for Sunday Funday!
Had a nice time at Stanley's this weekend after watching the UNC game at Gamekeepers. The staff was great, but the people were a little snooty and uptight. I would have given them 5 stars except for the rude crowd sitting next to us and when we told our server - she very politely explained that the group were friends of the GM/owner Donny and that although she apologized - she could not do anything.
Came here for the buffet on Sunday and left full but not overly pleased. We got in at about 11:30 a.m. and had to wait for maybe ten minutes - not bad, and a flood of people came in behind us, so we seem to have timed it right. But the food! It was okay. My observations are as follows:
1. Biscuits and Gravy: Delish. The biscuits are soft and the gravy is good without giving you that heart-attack feeling.
2. The Waffles and Fruit: Cold. I thought I would be clever and build my own fruit covered waffle for my second plate. The fruit was ice cold and the waffle was of Eggo quality. Next!
3. Corn Beef Hash: Boring! Crumbly meat and tiny potato chunks. Then again, my boyfriend thought it was great.
4. Mac n' Cheese: Not bad, but still, a little cooler than I would like. Ditto for the ham.
5. Missing Items: Hash browns, pancakes, scrambled eggs
Service was a little slow. I'd got back for the biscuits and gravy and the fact that it's a buffet and I like to eat, but there has to be better options.
Had a great time...the brunch was great and the staff even better! Highly recommend for brunch. We went back after dinner for some drinks and had a nice time as well...and of course, in this little triangle it doesn't hurt that Gamekeepers is directly across the street for our late night martini's.
WE LOVE YOU MAN - when your not so crowded and the door guy doesnt try to charge us $20 to get in!!!
All I will say is this place has the best meat loaf in the city. I love it!! And it is a great place to meet some lovely frat boys during cubs season. De-lic-ious!!
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Stopped by here on a Saturday just after noon for some lunch. Ended up sitting in the back, and while being led there realized the place was all set up for a brunch buffet. We were moved from the first table we sat at after about a minute since it apparently was dirty. (turns out a group sitting near that table had seen someone change their baby on the table, and none of the staff had noticed so never cleaned the table). When our waitress came over, she dropped off some plates, said we could go up whenever we were ready, and vanished before I could ask anything. I really wasn't in the mood for brunch (I had already eaten breakfast) but all I could see on people's plates was brunch buffet. After a few minutes of waiting for our waitress to come back so I could ask if there was a menu, I just gave up and got brunch anyway since I was hungry.
Food was ok, but nothing amazing (the menu items might be better). The back room was very noisy.. at least as noisy as a cafeteria. While I was eating I saw other new arrivals offered the option of brunch buffet or ordering off the menu, so minus a star since our waitress never even gave the option.
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Um, no. You know a place is bad when you gear yourself up for the worst and it far exceeds your lousy expectations. I resigned myself to the fact that it's in Lincoln Park and the photos of the people on the website are all of 20-something Trixies and Chads and/or 30- or 40-somethings who think that wearing winter hats indoors somehow disguises their age and erases the fact that they need to grow the hell up already. A friend told me a while back: "Going to Stanley's for Sunday brunch is like going to a frat party, waking up after passing out there and being forced to stay and eat room-temperature sausage when you wake." That person was a true friend, and I'm ashamed to have ignored such an astute warning.
That said, I will admit that the clientele was not really the problem. Some of the friendliest ex-frat boys I've encountered in my many years as a reluctant LP resident, in fact. The absolutely cold food from the buffet, however, was the problem. Yes, the spread was chock-full of hearty "hangover" food, but I was hard-pressed to find any item that was hot except for the English muffin I toasted myself. And this supposedly "delicious" macaroni and cheese? Inedible. Call me crazy if you must, but I don't expect bleu cheese (which I generally like) in my macaroni and cheese and, even if I did, I would never expect that much. Nor would I predict it to be served 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Way to ruin the only thing I was looking forward to. And what is up with those soggy maxi-pad-shaped waffles?
Granted, I'm not a fan of buffet-style brunches to begin with, but this was exceptionally bad. I'll never understand why people think $11.95 (which is really about $20 once you figure in beverages and tip) is a good deal for food simply because it's "all you can eat." In a country where standard portions at non-"all you can eat" restaurants with made-to-order food are about triple what they should logically be, does anyone ever leave a restaurant hungry and wanting more? I don't, and I'm a compulsive eater! Had my friends not picked this as a meeting place, I would have gladly gone to any other nearby restaurant and ordered a real breakfast or lunch that was hot, tasty and more reasonably priced.
In the interest of saying something positive: There's a cute painted bench in front of the restaurant and bus stop that makes your inexplicable wait slightly less annoying.
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*CJ filling plate at the buffet line*
Mac 'n' cheese? *plops a huge scoop onto plate* Check!
Mashed potatoes? *mushes a well in the center* Check!
Gravy? *slather into well and let it run off the sides* Check!
Biscuit? *breaks in half and places open-faced on plate* Check!
Sausage Gravy? *cover biscuit so that it can't be seen* Check!
Crispy, Juicy Fried Chicken Thigh? *shoves it into the side of the mashed potatoes so that it doesn't fall off the plate* Check!
Scrambled Eggs? *Shit! They don't make these plates big enough!* Check!
Muffin? *jams it into a napkin and into pocket* Check!
Fruit? *plops cantaloupe and pineapple slice on top of white gravy* Check!
Stanley's brunch rules. I eat it with a vengeance...as if I am never going to eat again. And, dang it, that would be a fantastic last meal!
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I used to work here, so I am partial to this place....
Great waitresses, great food, great brunch!
Expect to wait for Sunday brunch, but they have it on Saturdays, too...and usually no wait.
Bumped into this place by accident. We were suppose to go somewhere else for breakfast but it was closed today. Driving around for a period of time right before my son would have had a meltdown, we found Stanley's. It's the neighborhood dive/diner and on Sundays they have a brunch.
For 11.95 excluding beverages, you get the typical American breakfast plus macaroni & cheese, smoked ham, and fried chicken. The biscuits were pretty good and they also have made to order omelettes.
We were seated quickly (it was around 10:15am), the waitress was nice and the atmosphere was family friendly (everyone from the neighborhood seemed to be there excluding us).
If you are in the area on Sunday and you're starving for breakfast, might as well go there especially for the price.
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Maybe it's the Southern girl in me coming out, but you cannot beat the down-home feel of the brunch menu. Start with a cooked-to-order omelette, then stack your plate with delicious, clog-your-arteries-but-who-cares? macaroni and cheese and maybe a waffle or two. And, of course, you must have some of that incredibly crunchy fried chicken (I even took a piece out, wrapped up in a napkin--which goes to show you how elegant a person I am). It was really easy to find something for everyone to eat here, so it's a good restaurant to take guests and family.
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Love me some Sunday Brunch at Stanley's. The food is lovely. I mean, seriously. The mac n cheese and fried chicken? Awesome. However, the patrons can sometimes be a bit, well, annoying. Whether it be the trixies and chads or the city parents armed with prams....its a bar people, babies don't belong here
Sorry. Back to the review. The wait can be long, so arrvie with the right frame of mind and all will be right with the world. In the summer, the picnic tables outside are a lovely way to waste a Sunday morning. Brunch, lingering over a few morning cocktails and a NYTimes. Enjoy.
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Nice staff, excellentt Fried Chicken and a wecoming atmosphere from beginning to end!
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Stanley's is cool. A consistent 3 1/2 star establishment. Brunch is money (one of the best in town if you don't mind waiting while you are hungover and feeling like you went 12 rounds with Floyd "Money" Mayweather afterwords).
We go pretty often and have been at night (decent crowd, give it a rip) and on Monday for the dinner buffet. Good for all ages, eaters and drinkers of all ability levels. Enjoy it.
Respect.
I wasn't that impressed with this place. The service was horrible and the food wasn't that great. The turkey burger sliders were good, but the mashed potatoes (which I heard were amazing) were so-so. It was also very loud in the back dinning area.
Maybe I need to go back for the brunch---seeing as the reviews for that are good!
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I haven't been here for brunch, so I'll make allowances for the possibility it might be decent. Otherwise, Stanley's is tragically overrated. Save your money -- or at least your dignity -- and skip this dump.
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The Fried Chicken is excellent!
I wish everyone knew about Stanley's Kitchen & Tap.
I only go on Sundays and I really try hard to beat the crowd. The brunch is freakin awesome. There is a good spread of food and you can also order plates from the menu.
Hmm ... let's see, the mac n' cheese is ouit of this world as are the mashed potatoes, french toast, waffles, omelets and pretty much everything else. Everyone should find something to their liking.
Like I said, I only go fro the Sunday brunch, but I can't imagine their cooking to be anything but good during the week as well.
Give it a try at least once. You never know, you might be bragging to your friends before the meal is over. :)
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I had brunch here on a crowded Sunday morning. Everything was good - but that's about it. Nothing to write home about. I admit I was expecting a little more given all the hype surrounding this place. The best items were the mac-n-cheese and the waffle boats.
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