On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Grand (Blue O'Hare)
Loading...
Another Irish bar in Chicago? Wait, this place is way cooler than you are thinking. Emmits has a long and rich history on this corner and has even been featured in a number of movies. Despite the fame, this bar has remained fun and low key. Here are some more reasons to love Emmits:
1. The Quesadillas
2. Fish n chips
3. Pub burger
4. Guinness tastes better / stronger here than anywhere else
5. Lots of TVs for watching Chicago teams
6. Friendlier than normal servers
7. The booths
8. Right off the blue line, so even in the dead of winter its an option
9. Low tourist count
10. I don't have a ten - just wanted an even number
Come here for a beer or four!
They pour a mean Guinness.
Imperial 20 oz pints; the traditional Irish way and the only way in my book. Not served until settled. Complete with a shamrock imprinted in the foam.
That was the highlight of my night here. The rest of the experience was just Meh.
The music was too loud and we had to shout to hear each other. When we asked our waitress if she could turn it down a bit, she gave us the rudest look and turned up the music. It got so loud my ears were hurting because we were seated right under the speakers. Lovely.
We ended up leaving shortly after this incident to seek a quieter atmosphere.
Hopefully, if you decide to make a drink stop here, you'll have a nicer waitress who won't seat you under the speakers.
Not a fancy joint by any measure, but that is a big part of the appeal. First and foremost, they pour a mean pint of Guinness - which is basically a necessity for a good Irish pub in my book.
I used to live right down the street when this neighborhood was totally sketchy. Emmit's was then an anchor for us locals, and seems to continue to be, even with the influx of yuppie dollars.
The food is solid if unassuming pub-grub. The staff continues to be friendly and accommodating by all measures. (The bartenders and waitstaff have suffered some turnover recently, and some of my favorite sudslingers have departed - thus 4 not 5 stars.)
Avoid it on St. Pats - too many amateurs drinking their once-a-year Guinness out of plastic cups. Weekend nights can get pretty packed but the barstaff does keep the line moving. Weekday evenings are a perfect time to hang out and take in the scene (which has been in tons of movies and commercials).
Bottom line: very convenient to the Blue Line and plenty of buses; excellent beer and whiskey selection; owned by a trio of old-school Chicago guys - at least one of whom is a retired firefighter. A true Chicago-Irish pub with some history behind it.
Whenever I go to this roomy, loud, slightly shady, fun, Irish dive bar, I always wake up with a wee bit of a headache the next day. I'm not sure what it is about this place, but it just makes me want to be a little bit... naughty. Uninhibited. Loud. Giggly.
Strangers will talk to you. The waitress will check on you often. They have Taboo. The music is pretty good. The wings are really good. And they have what you want to drink on tap. I like it here.
This is "my" hangout. I spend at least one or two evenings a week here. It has become the meeting place of choice for me and my friends. Really casual atmosphere .... very friendly staff and great food (the Quesadillas here are great. They also have a huge selection of beer.
Haven't had the food but the beer selection is good and the atmosphere is low key cool.
I dig it. Especially when Funky Budha asked for a twenty buck cover and my friends and I had but fifty bucks between us. Spent it all in Emmit's instead.
Thanks!
love this spot! most recently, i came here after i realized my boisterous crowd of friends was going to be a bit too much for the swank bar setting across the street a piccolo sogno.
the atmosphere is cozy, servers are friendly, food is great, and everything about it is super comfortable. whether you're looking for a quiet booth or a gathering of highboys for a bunch of friends, you're sure to find a spot at emmits!
Yay for Emmit's! I love coming here for St. Patrick's Day and since I am related through marriage to one of the owners, I never have a problem getting in! Aside from Patty's Day, this is just a great bar to hang out with friends and watch football games. A lot of people on Saturday afternoon will stop in before a wedding at Galleria Marchetti since it is down the street.
Overall, the people that come here are people that want to enjoy a fun evening out. Plus, it's been in movies (Oceans Eleven, etc) and in that Budweiser American Ale commercial. Also, famous people like George Clooney and Hugh Dancy say they like Emmit's. So, go there! You may just run into a famous person!
Went to Emmits last night at about 10pm and were surprised to see the age of the crowd in there. I would say the youngest person there was in their mid thirties. By the looks of the place, we thought it would be a younger crowd.
They did have some specials last night on whiskey drinks for $4, but we don't drink that so we stayed with their decent selection of tap beer. For a 312 and an Oberon, it was $10.50, so it is about the same price as anywhere else.
I would call this a chill bar to go to with your own group of something after work where you won't get disturbed by others.
Love Emmits. Came here before heading over to La Scarola with colleagues. Drinks were solid and the beer was ICE cold.
Lots of guys in this place too -- so single ladies get your butt over there.
Mmmm....beer.
I want to like Emmit's, I really do. It's a lofted Irish pub mere blocks from my humble abode. But, when it comes right down to it, the place leaves me feeling a little apathetic. Meh.
I can't say any particular thing has stood out for criticism, but neither has anything positive stood out. To be honest, despite 4 or 5 return trips, I still can't find myself feeling particularly passionate about this place, either way.
The crowd is a mixture of neighborhood residents and area workers. Melissa is quite right in that the place tends to be dominated by men. The waitresses are nice without falling over themselves to please customers, and my friends have generally had nothing negative to say about the mixed drinks or food that we ordered. Added bonus? The beer selection tends towards European brews, although you can still find American stalwarts on tap. Attempting to get served at the bar, regardless of the number of customers present, has always been one giant FAIL for me, here.
I generally love Irish-style pubs, but for whatever reason Emmit's just does not do it for me.
Emmits was great for our large group after the Yelp Elite party. We cozied up and got Punch drunk in the back booths and service was excellent! I even got carded by the bartender! Way to make a guy feel 18 again! As Andre W. regaled us with some of the Ocean's Eleven history and others piped in with the Mob history of Emmits, the place took on an eery beauty. The frosted white glass lights hanging over the booths are from when it used to be a Mob bank. And a skeleton was found buried standing up in a brick wall when the CTA was digging the Grand station? Super cool!
Ronnie R. regaled us with the Cheers theme on that spindly old piano that gave it that perfect Scott Joplin ragtime feel. Mod Martha got all up in there and played Heart and Soul like a Book 2 pro!
I like the Triangular shape of Emmits (you gotta love a six corners in Chicago) and I'll definitely be back whether everybody knows my name (it's Nachos, bitch) or not!
Finally got a chance to check out the place Clooney got Damon to go in on a Las Vegas bank heist in one of my favorite movies, Ocean's Eleven.
Checked this joint out with fellow yelpers after the Elite Event at Mars Gallery. The waitresses were really nice and took care of us. Really cozy, spacious booths towards the back near the bathrooms. This place is bigger than what I exected it to be. They had my favorite Stella for $5.50, which was great. Pretty cool crowd in this place. Some of the patrons even took an interest in hanging with us for a while. Due to the Stella warping my mind, I cannot remember too much more about this place, except for the fun I was having with my yelp mates. I will definately go again!
Great bar in a great area and just so happens to be right across from my old girlfriend, The Funky Buddha Lounge.
Post Lube was here after the Elite party.
Fun times, good service, great Tequila Sunrise.
Really nice place, big booths, not cramped at all, I looked at the menu but didn't order anything, it seemed really reasonable.
I wish that I was getting recruited to take part in a bank heist on Las Vegas by George Clooney. But I wasn't...I was just getting drunk, but that's ok!
I used to live a stone's throw away and would stop in with quite some regularity. It's nothing fabulous, but it's not horrific. I had plenty of good times there. The food's all right, the crowd gets weird sometimes, and sometimes it gets far too packed in there but all in all, still on the list for being an ok spot. Though they are kinda whoring themselves out to films and commercials in the last few years.
They had Woodchuck on tap and that was reason enough to go for me.
The first time my teeny little feet crossed this threshold, they were en route to the nearest bathroom. Luckily nobody who worked here had a problem with that. I'm sorry, sometimes waiting for the Grand bus is a bitch.
Tonight however, I was accompanied by someone who works in the area and we decided to grab some beers and eats. The spinach artichoke dip was definitely awesome and chunky and worth the $$. Way better than the suburban chains of my spin/arti/dip past. I got a burger, not amazing, but good, and I now have leftovers for tomorrow's lunch so that can't be bad. My dinner date's fish n' chips seemed to be equally satisfying and the bite that I sneaked was pretty rad in my book.
We saw some dude who looked way too much like Neil Patrick Harris and the whole atmosphere was a bit off putting, but hey, it could be worse.
I was referred to Emmits by a friend who claimed they pour the best pint of Guinness in town.....a very bold statement to make to a Guinness connoisseur, I might add, but a couple of other compadres reaffirmed her opinion so off I went......
Low and behold she was right! Great location, friendly helpful bar staff, and the handful of times I have been there the joint has been hoppin'......and unequivocally the "BEST PINT OF GUINNESS" in the Chi !!!
I don't know how I managed to never set foot in this joint before yesterday, but man was I pleasantly surprised. It seems to be a true blue irish bar as opposed to a lot of other ones, but I have no idea for sure and didn't give it a DNA test. I walked in and they were playing some old kinda obscure Faith No More and Primus...BIG PLUS in my book. Drinks were average priced, a nice of 10 or 12 taps like you would expect...Guinness, Blue Moon, 312, etc. In particular I was happy to see they had Kalamazoo/Bells white. The waitress was nice enough, but it was at times very hard to get her attention in a relatively empty place and puzzlingly didn't know what a weiss beer was. Ah well, she was cool enough to go grab smokes from Richard's for my friend.
We shared the chicken quesadillas which were decent if a bit average. What more can you do with cheese, chicken, and a tortilla I guess? I had the pulled pork sandwich which was REALLY good. Or maybe I had a lot of beers. Decent bar food, nothing that special but certainly hit me where I wanted hittin'.
Overall it was a cool beer bar I would happily go back to, where I got fucking smashed and am still nursing said hangover at the very moment of writing this. I could see it getting into my pantheon over time.
The sad thing or not is realizing that the number of reviews that I have is not inflated by any means. After looking this up on Yelp, I couldn't believe that I hadn't written a review of this place. I was here years ago after some work event/dinner, but never remembered to put a review in. I just came back from there, and am somewhat intoxicated right now only after a very small number of drinks. Crap, I think someone threw a shot in there. In any event, I can appreciate the Irish theme, and it's a great way to extend your St. Patrick's Day all year long. I had the $6 BLT, which wasn't too shabby that came with fries. The Soco and Lime shots seemed to be more heavy on the lime though. A great place to just hang out with friends, and the staff is pretty nice as well.
Went here on St Patty's day (which fell on a Tuesday this year) even though I spent Friday and Saturday celebrating with the rest of the drunks in this city. I hadn't eaten before coming here, fortunately they were serving corned beef sandwiches , burgers and a variety of other food. The owner of the bar was very friendly, he even bought my friends and I a pint of guinness! Definitely a fan! I Will be coming back here!
MAN I love me some Emmits! And I had to write this review to upgrade my star rating- the girls and I were here all night Saturday- we had intended to start off our post-dinner drinking there and continue on to greener pastures, but never left, and we ended up closing it down. In short, I love Emmits because:
1) I am a total Guinness snob and they pour one of the best pints in town,
2) We're in our early 30's and the crowd and music were right up our alley- not too young, not too old.
3) This place never fails to deliver on very good-looking men. Definitely a bonus.
Ah, Emmits. I always have a good time when I come here! And a good time as in, a few laid-back beers… Read more »
Good place, friendly waitresses and bartenders that pour a proper pint of Guinness (complete with the clover in the foam).
Specials highlights:
30 cent wings on Sunday -- sizable wings, with a delicious vinegar-base spicy Buffalo flavor
$4 pints of Guinness on Wednesday -- it's Guinness!
Food-wise:
I love the Pub Burger, a nice half-pounder with bacon. I also like the Fish and Chips (I forget which day it goes on special). The traditional Irish Stew was okay. (This version has barley in it, and unfortunately I kept comparing it to the one I had in Dublin).
Drink-wise:
An average selection of beers on tap. Think Guinness is too heavy? Try a Smithwick's, which they have on tap.
TV-wise:
4 flat screen tvs, 3 across the bar, one visible through the main seating area, and an old CRT-TV for the booths in the back. Most times they will show the obvious sporting event. They are more likely to show Blackhawk games than Bulls game. (but the Bulls suck this year, so it's no surprise!)
Parking:
Depending on the night you go, it shouldn't be terribly difficult to find street parking within walking distance.
Music:
You are at the mercy of people who make selections at the jukebox. Otherwise, the bartender on duty usually has something decent playing.
Fun place to drink with friends. It does get crowded on the weekend but what bar doesn't. If you are looking for a place to sit down check upstairs you can usually find an open table.
Decent music, good service and a nice selection of beers.
This is one of those belly up shot and a beer kind of places. Therefore, I love it. The decor is very Irish bar, but not "purchased at the bar warehouse" Irish bar with lots of neat historical items on the walls. My favorite, the Backdraft movie poster? Hm, okay.
The food is really good, especially for bar food. I had their chef salad and it was delicious. Normally used to limpy lettuce and strange, half frozen vegetables for a bar salad. The waitresses are remediately friendly, but prompt with your brew...and that's pretty much what matters.
My good friend's relative partially owns this place, so I should start out with something less than glowing. I know a lot of people who hate this place. Although it's never bothered me, this place does not attract a very young crowd like any good Irish-styled pub. It's a lot of cops and firemen. So don't go there looking or the hip, young scenesters of Chicago.
Although many of my friends would be considered hipsters, I still feel totally at home at Emmits. I have to admit, it was a lot more fun when my friend worked there and we'd stay after closing sampling whatever new beer they had that month. But I still like going back there and relaxing.
3.5 stars. Pretty decent bar. Much larger than I expected. Stopped in when Richard's got too crowded next door. Service was a little slow, but the bar has a nice look and pours a good pint. A big fan of the multi level loft style bars.
Great, spacious, vibe and old-world look with dark wood panelling, and wonderful to go to before or after a meal at La Scarola.
For a good watering hole after work hours, dont look any further. Emmits is walking distance from West Loop and Near North offices (if you are the types that don't mind stretching your legs after a long day of sedentary work life). Good beer, good prices and decent food with very good service.
It is a good spot to hang out with co-workers, ex-co-workers who still managed to remain friends and friends in general - grab a drink or two... or five! Chill out and enjoy.
So how fun is this place? I stopped by here the other night with friends to grab a beer and catch up and ended up having a really good time.
The bartender was friendly, the beer was cold and the people surrounding us were fun and funny, in that order!!
Of course- I also liked that it is located in an old bank building (circa 1890) so there are remnants all around of what the structure once was. I hear that the old vault is now the wine cellar. I was also told a story by the bartender that the old bank was a front for the Italian mob in Chicago (funny- all I wanted was a beer and here I get a little bit of Chicago history!)
For those that know me- I am a historic building nut so anytime an old building can be re-purposed so that future generations can enjoy it- I am happy. Put a couple of beers in me and my happiness increases!
The menu looked good so it's definitely on my "try" list for when I am back in the neighborhood.
Check it out. You might even feel the presence of one of the old Italian mobsters hanging about one of the back corners of this fun Irish bar. Hmm . . . Italian bank to Irish bar- bet that is causing some tongues to wag in the hereafter!
Went here on a Saturday night, it was crowded but not overly crowded since we were able to find a small table in the back after only 15 minutes of standing around. Drink prices were reasonable and the customers all seemed to range from mid 20's to early 40's. I was not a huge fan of what the crowd was playing on the jukebox that night, but that isn't their fault.
Our waitress was very nice, but she kept forgetting us so we had to wait awhile for drinks. The bartebders there were working hard though and fast
This was the first ever bar I went to when I moved to Chicago 4 years ago. I used to go there to meet friends and girls because I literally didn't have a friend in the city. Immediately I was greeted by great, friendly bartenders and the owner Ronny who bought me a drink or more. They showed me hospitality and made me feel at home.
The bar is located on the very busy intersection of Grand, Milwaukee, and Chicago. It is directly across the street from Buda Lounge. The neighborhood is very yuppie, but the bar always attracts a nice diverse crowd of suits, sports fans, artsy folk, and beautiful women. Everyone feels at home here and is welcome.
Emmits is a medium sized place with a huge beautiful wooden bar.
The place has history from being in such movies as Oceans 11, Backdraft, and Playboy photo shoots. Another cool feature is the photo albums on all the tables of good times past. I am in three of the albums with some of my friends and other drunks.
If you are in the neighborhood, this is a sure thing any night. St. Pats Day is very well represented there, as well as a good place to watch Chicago sports on the big screen projector. Anytime a year you may be shocked to discover that an Irish bagpipe crew has snuck in to play a few Irish tunes, standing on the bar going at it. After you have had like 23 beers, 5 dudes in kilts jammin real loud on bagpipes rocks!
Little know secret- the bathrooms are small so when the bar is busy you may find yourself in a long line waiting. There are secret bathrooms downstairs that not a lot of people know about. Don't tell no one or else it will not be a secret very much longer.
This pub is legendary in Chicago. It has been around a long time because they are friendly and have good service, food and drinks.
They filmed a scene from here and the pub was mentioned in the film Oceans 11.
This is a classic Irish bar. I heard that it's very well-known in Chicago as being a "real" Irish bar.
I went here about a month ago with some co-workers. The place was quite busy on a Friday and was really fun. Luckily we were able to grab a table. The staff are really friendly and accommodating.
I ordered a lemon drop martini... and they didn't know how to make it! Haha guess it's not that surprising since most get beers. But they looked it up and it tasted really good!
We also ordered nachos and chips w/spinich dip. Both were really good though the nachos were a little bit too cheezy for my taste.
I would recommend this place for a happy hour or just to hang out on a Saturday afternoon. But I do have to say that the surrounding area is not the greatest! Be careful when you leave.
Cheap beer. Cheap mixed drinks.
Enough said.
You just can't get let down at Emmitt's. Can't. Well, the unaimed arrow never misses. And, I don't need much. All I ask for is beer. I know it sounds simple but you'll see my point.
You don't have wait for a beer here. Even when it's busy, the bartenders seek out your puppy dog faces when your drink is getting a little low. And, by the way, winking works. It does. Just ask Tommy.
The crowd is mixed, but in a good. You could walk in there and meet your next love, an old high school buddy, or your old high school teacher.
And, not to forget, you never know when you just may run into George Clooney in the 100th Ocean's movie. And, I guess if Matt Damen came it too, that would be cool. All is cool and ok as long as I have my beer. Thanks, Tommy.
This place is a known resort for pickpocketing, if you know what i mean.
Actually love the food -- terrific and authentic Irish menu (my German/Italian grandparents are turning in their grave). Notice, however, the music is quite loud everywhere, and thus, bring a brave voice, and be sure to have something to say.
Staff are cool, usually.
And. They pour an excellent Guinness.
This place used to be the best, Ronnie knew how to do things up. He still does, and the staff usually takes care of you. It's just that in recent years, yuppity princesses and their boyfriends have discovered the place.
Still, the food is pretty good and the price on a good selection of beers is down-to-earth for the area.
I love Emmit's. I think it's my favorite dive bar in the city and now that it's sans smoke, I'll probably be here even more. The staff is always awesome and the crowd is usually pretty cool too. I've never eaten here but the beer is good and cold and reasonably priced.
Classic neighborhood Irish bar with a friendly staff, friendly guests and classic (and good) bar food. Great beer selection, perfectly poured. Bar tenders are attentive in a good way and seem to be having a great time. Cozy booths, an interesting upstairs level and decor that looks like it evolved rather than coming from some master warehouse. Wouldn't change a thing.
Uniquely able to redefine dull every time friends drag me here.
Food Specials
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
$4 x $4 Every Day
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Irish
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Gastropubs
Neighborhood: Beverly
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: West Loop
Category: Pubs
Here are some great bars (outside of the downtown…
Here are my favorite places for brew that I think…
places that only let you past the door if you are…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Since 1999, things have changed in the West Loop.…
