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- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 4 am
Sat 11 am - 5 am
Sun 10:30 am - 4 am
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
270 reviews for Fireside Restaurant & Lounge
Review Highlights
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"Patricks Day are coming up, and Sunday Bloody Mary bar." In 34 reviews -
"Their backyard patio is just amazing." In 79 reviews -
"My favorite dish here is the cajun meatloaf." In 11 reviews
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270 reviews in English
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Review from Lee R.
Evanston, IL
3/10/2012
This place is ever-changing, but still offers the same great bar and great restaurant atmosphere. I used to live in WRP on the east end of CrazyCarPedstrianDevon Ave so this place was a constant source of take-out for us.
I recently returned in person to have dinner in the restaurant and noticed a few interesting changes. They now have a DVD player and giant LCD screen taped to the outside of the business' building, covered in glass, which shows a looping video of a fireplace burning. WEIRD.
They have an excellent indoor patio in the winter with heat-lamps. In the summer it's open air and fantastic. They have an excellent beer and cocktail selection and I've never had a bad meal or bad service here. I typically go for the pizzas: the bbq chicken and mexican are especially good. Lately I've been trying to branch out to other options on visits because they have a pretty expansive menu and all of their food is home-made. I recently had the brisket sandwich and I loved it. Parking is easy because they have a lot and they're near the Rosehill cemetary entrance, along the Metra embankment. It's truly an awesome neighborhood joint. The waitstaff and the bartenders are chatty and don't just sit there aloof when they're not serving someone. If you are ordering delivery, they have a bunch of "coupons" on their website, including the "Be Nice!" /don't be an asshole coupon that gets you $2.00 off your delivery order. :) -
Review from Chris P.
Chicago, IL
5/17/2012
Fireside is the epitome of a 3 star Yelp review. The service is so-so, I've had decent servers and some that were just horrible. The fact that I've been multiple times shows that it's not too bad of a place. They have a big menu and the dinner portions are great for the price, but I never leave saying "wow, that was great".
It is exactly what you'd expect it to be, a serviceable place to have some food and drinks in an area where there aren't a whole lot of options. -
Review from Erin E.
4/25/2012
yelpers seemed to overwhelmingly recommend the pesto shrimp pizza and the calamari, so naturally that's what we ordered. in my opinion, both items completely failed. the bites of the pizza that weren't way too salty were just bland. the calamari lacked flavor, with soggy breading and chewy squid.
if those were the best they can do, i can't imagine what the rest of the menu tastes like.
noooo thanks. -
Review from Kristen S.
Chicago, IL
3/14/2012
I really would like to love Fireside. It's a neighborhood place and very sweet.
The service is not great and the food is meh! I just don't know what to say. If they re-imagine this place a little, I'll definitely try it again. -
Review from Denise J.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2012
Worst place for a Mother's Day brunch. We ended up leaving because it was over crowded the food was cold and the hostess was obliviously overwhelmed. We made reservations but when we arrived there was no where for us to sit, so the hostess had a table put in the rear of the patio that had an excellent view of the junk the restaurant either did not want or was not using at that time. It looked like a pile of junk. our chairs were the cheap plastic chairs some people buy for their patios, I did notice that all the other chairs were black wrought iron, our were the exception.
This place was differently ill equipped to deal with the crowd. They overbooked and then could not handle the people their. even with reservations there was a long wait. We ended up going to Ruby Tuesday and had a very enjoyable meal. Never, never, never go to this restaurant on a day like Mother's day. They had banners up for a Father's Day brunch, avoid at all cost. -
Review from Jerry B.
Morton Grove, IL
5/4/2012
Good burgers, good beer, good service. Small town feel in the city. Too cold for patio, but it looks realy nice, so will have to return. Very friendly, family place. Hipster free.
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Review from Carrie H.
Chicago, IL
5/15/2012
I order delivery from Fireside more than I dine in but I've never had any complaints. The phone staff are awesome and so are the waiters. I came in Sunday with my family for the Mothers Day Brunch. It was packed unlike the prior year and my party was rather large. The hostess in the flowery dress explained that it was gonna be a wait regardless if I had a reservation. I understood especially since I reserved at the last minute. However, we were comfortably seated after 15 minutes. Our server Jeremy was very polite and so was Naomi. The food was very fresh and neat. My wife and her parents enjoyed the eggs benedict and I, the French toast. I am definitely going back. Good food and the staff treated us like family. It was very worth the wait.
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Review from Reema S.
Chicago, IL
4/24/2012
I always love going to Fireside. I don't understand why people complain about slow service when its normally extremely busy or there's just a lack of employees sometimes but considering the size of the place around the bar, you don't need many. Most of the food is good, just gotta try some things out. The steak sandwich, pizzas, and wings are what I usually get and they're worth the wait! and I really appreciate the Fireside friends and family card they offer now !
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Review from Samantha J.
Chicago, IL
4/12/2012
Why oh why must have to ask for a clean cup TWICE! This place is nasty! Mystery floating nasty came in my coke. The food was cold and very bland.
DO NOT VISIT THIS PLACE! -
Review from Dan G.
3/22/2012
I have always enjoyed the food, drinks, and atmosphere of this place. Real friendly staff and good bartenders. The patio Lots of great beers on tap and the bloody mary bar on Sunday is a cornucopia of ingredients that is stacked to look like Mt. Fuji. The food is better than normal bar fare. My roommate insists that the Spicy Blackened Chicken Pasta is the best in the city. I have to agree it is that right amount of heat and the cream sauce is fantastic. The burgers are good and they have plenty of flavors for you to choose from. The Fireside is just a fun place to have some food, booze, and company.
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Review from Meghan O.
1/9/2012
Solid bar, solid food - open late (I think...).
The crowd is usually a good one at all odd hours of the night. -
Review from Cat H.
Chicago, IL
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have such mixed feelings about Fireside. It's right around the corner from me and is consistently a cozy, comfortable place.
But their food is mediocre and their service is disappointing. While their burgers and salads are great, the rest of their menu is fairly boring. I recently ordered their gouda mac & cheese, and couldn't even finish it. While i'll go there, i'll never be wowed by the food. Recently their service has gone downhill; it's taken me 20 minutes to get a drink, and you practically have to put on a show to flag down your server to order. The crowning affair was when my card was charged completely wrong, and after a 10 minute conversation with our server, we still left having paid the totally wrong amount.
The bottom line is that Fireside is a great place to go split a bottle of wine with a good friend, or to sample a beer. Their late night delivery is perfect for when you are sick on the couch. But overall they don't live up to their image. -
Review from Dan N.
Evanston, IL
1/15/2012
I wanted to like this place. The Fireside Restaurant has free parking, ample seating, great beer selection and friendly staff. The problem is that the service and food is below par and not professional.
We sat down and had to wait 10 minutes for our drink order. It was a busy night, but was in no way packed, so I cannot provide a pass on our having to wait. Our food orders were missing key ingredients, such as pico de gio on our appetizer. My burger was missing both the cheese and bacon. It also failed to be served with ketchup, mustard, etc. We furthermore had to remind the waiter about our drink order... twice.
As much as the order was messed up, I would have given the Fireside a passing grade if the food was worth the wait and aggravation. The food was not good, you get a better meal at Costco. My wife's Tortilla Encrusted Tilapia was below Long John Silver standards. My burger was bland and tasteless. After I returned the burger for the Cheese and Bacon which the waiter initially forgot, it was delivered to me back with a cold piece of cheese casually placed on top.
Folks, as I stated when I started this review I want to like this place. Neighborhood restaurants in Chicago are typically great. Even dive bars have decent food. The Fireside just fails miserably in regards to the quality and taste of the food. If you live in the area, stop by for a drink or two, just stay away from the food menu. -
Review from Hungry M.
Chicago, IL
11/7/2011
My receipt from here tells me to support local business. I am all for supporting local business - unless it's (at best) mediocre food and bipolar service. I've been here many times since my girlfriend introduced it to me. Three years' worth of visits. It's tucked away by the graveyard, where I'm sure they sourced my latest waitress. This last experience has finally spurred me to review this place from the sheer disbelief at the inconsistent service and unpredictable food.
Note: Mediocre food and above average service has consistently been observed during regular hours. Terrible food and equally terrible service typically occurs late at night. They have a full menu until they close in the wee hours of two or three. Maybe they shouldn't try to do a full menu that late. What they do not have is a decent wait staff later at night, as I only observed a single frazzled woman hell bent on maintaining her composure so as not to resort to stabbing her table guests in the eyes. "We all have bad days'" I figured - I want calamari, let's be polite. So in we go into what I will be my last venture here.
First, let me state that my waitress glared at us approaching the exterior patio and didn't verbally acknowledge my girlfriend nor myself as we walked towards the outside deck. We passed her by, due to the need to get out of her way as she entered the kitchen. Polite eye contact was met with the "I am upset with being the only waitress for the outside area" look. Fair enough. We get seated. I asked a question about the menu. She must have remembered the Seinfeld episode wherein George gets the middle finger from his waitress delivered through a supposedly innocuous facial scratch. Lady, I'm onto you - but the look in your eyes tells me you already knew that. What the hell is the matter with you?
I would've forgiven this remarkable display of continued hostility, even when she later loudly slammed a baby seat atop a precariously stacked tower located directly adjacent to and above our table, were it not for the food. I was mildly amused by her antics actually, as I knew I'd reference it here. But the food was unforgivable. I will tolerate shitty, stupid service for food of quality I cannot be bothered to prep or possibly create with my level of skill. But I could've prepared the meal I paid for by deliberately failing in every basic cooking principle. I paid for fucked up food, and that pisses me off.
My rice was loaded with diced tomatoes and it was chewy. Throw diced tomatoes on it! That'll doctor up overcooked rice. I tried to ignore the rice with my vegetables that looked freshly picked from the cemetery nearby. They were tough, cold, and soggy. Freezer burned, or cooked in the microwave. Probably both. Strange mix of soggy zucchini and tough green beans that looked lifeless. Brilliant way to tie in their location I guess. The crowning jewel was the protein: a chicken that was feared to be a zombie evidenced by being cooked twice through. Dry, flavorless, and sad. The hamburger the SO had was also bland and somehow managed to soak the bottom bun, which was evidently toasted. How the hell that was accomplished I don't know. The calamari was the only positive. And it was forgettable.
My girlfriend says the ambiance is nice, but she's been there since she was in the sixth grade. So I guess memory flavors her palate - it doesn't mine. Still, she concedes the quality here has steadily declined. And from this most recent experience, the decline is accelerating to a plummet. At least as far as the restaurant portion is concerned - so if you decide to go here, do so for drinks. The people in the bar were having a great time. I was jealous. The music in there was good too. In general, the drinks here are great or just way too strong on the alcohol. Neither of which is a problem given the issues of some establishments banking on the placebo effect.
The $30 per person price tag you get for the whole restaurant experience (with drinks) is not OK. I had better deals for similar, if not cheaper, cost near the loop at The Scout and Sable. Jaded with this experience, I went to these places afterwards with the thought that it would be more expensive but have a higher standard. I was half right. l got better value/treatment for my money in River North and SoLo than Fireside; and I somehow spent less. -
Review from ilovesushi- L.
Chicago, IL
3/8/2012
This place is a lot of fun. Good food, fun and nice crowd, and open late. Tough to get a taxi home because of the location. The bartender will call for you or its a little hike to where you might see one. Their food is good and they serve pretty late. One of the best 4am bars on the northside. I've been wanting to try their bunch and bloody mary on the weekends.
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Review from Katie T.
11/29/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Fireside is one of my favorite spots in the Roger's Park area! They have a great bar and even nicer dining area, huge patio, ample parking. This place has a really nice, cozy pub feel.
I go here quite regularly, the service is always great, really friendly staff. The boyfriend enjoys the large beer selection and is currently obsessed with their cajun meatloaf sandwich. I love the pesto shrimp pizza with perfect thin, crispy crust & the spicy blackened chicken pasta - sooo seriously good. Their fish and chips are really great too. Randomly, their mashed potatoes are seriously the best I've ever tasted.
Their delivery is quality too. First time I ever ordered from Fireside I got their Jack'ed Up Burger (BBQ sauce & onion straws) with mashed potatoes and gravy on the side (I couldn't resist) for delivery. I was particularly impressed with their packaging. I've never had a burger and mashed potatoes delivered before but Fireside does it well. No crappy styrofoam packing - burger was juicy, bun was NOT a soggy mess and the potatoes & gravy came in a separate container in perfect tasty condition.
Just last week I had their Thanksgiving Day dinner with the boyfriend and his mom in the dining area and it was awesome! Way better than cooking. I was totally impressed their turkey was not dry. Really good stuffing & their awesome mashed potatoes and gravy on the side. My bf & his mom both got the prime rib & said it was cooked to perfection. I sampled some and I can vouch that it was delicious!
I also really love that Fireside has a huge fun drink selection - especially at the Holidays. They have a huge list of festive specialty drinks. Their Raspberry Truffle is LIFE CHANGING. Plus the Apple Pie Martini, and the Glogg .... need I go on? Particularly fun to go with a group of friends and enjoy great drinks & food and share in the holiday spirit. Will be back here for many many more times to come. -
Review from dan k.
11/29/2011
The food here is delicious, and their kitchen is open late. Their blackened rub is so amazing. It's a tad spicy but not too much heat. It's just great.
I wanna say their ktichen is open till 3. Maybe 4.
Check it out. -
Review from Kristin M.
Chicago, IL
9/29/2011
I don't know why I love Fireside so much, but I do. It's a neighborhood gem that falls somewhere between cozy and dive-y. I always seem to come back for more.
The space is really diverse. When you go in, you can either go left into the Little House on the Prairie dining room (with a fireplace, hence the name!), or right to the dive bar with the regulars. If you keep going past the bar, there's a great indoor/outdoor tented area (complete with heaters in colder months). There's also a front patio in the warmer months. I love all the options!
The food is pretty solid, typical family restaurant fare. I love the fish n' chips and make your own mac n' cheese. The burgers are hit or miss. The cajun meatloaf was good, just not as spicy as advertised. The pizzas are pretty good as well. I went for Thanksgiving one year and their Thanksgiving dinner was excellent. "Best stuffing I've ever had" (says a non-stuffing lover). I might even go back this year! The beer list is also quite impressive.
The service is usually slow, but for some reason it doesn't stop me from coming. The frequent diner card is a nice perk, you get 10% off your first meal and coupons throughout the year.
Note: they offer delivery (including beer!), though I've never tried it. -
Review from matty z.
11/15/2011
Before you actually eat or drink here, everything about this place seems fantastic. It has a very interesting location in Ravenswood, a huge patio, and a cool layout. The menu is kitschy, and they have specials.
Then you try the food. Disappointing, to say the least, for American fare that should be extremely difficult to mess up. Beers and other drinks that were priced too high, and service that, while very friendly, just took a long time.
I had high hopes for you, Fireside, but some improvements might be in order. -
Review from Dave O.
Chicago, IL
9/8/2011
This is not just a good but a GREAT neighborhood bar/restaurant.
Wanna drink? Belly up to the bar and sample from their excellent beer selection. Wanna hang with a group of friends? No problem, the back patio is open rain or shine. Just wanna eat? They have a separate dining room for that too. Want somewhere to hang after 2 a.m.? You'll have to ask some other, younger yelper b/c I'm no longer out at that hour.
My only beef with Fireside is that the menu is hit or miss. I've had really good and very mediocre food here. But with this place I can shrug off the mediocre because it's such a great neighborhood hangout. -
Review from Jennifer Q.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 3/28/2012
You know, I have to give a special shout out to Fireside. I was getting tired of heavy, greasy food and needed to order something to eat that could be delivered. My mom is a vegetarian so we had limited options and were tired of the old Thai and Indian standbys. Fireside to the rescue. I was in my car, driving home, and a very sweet girl answered named Keela (hope I'm spelling that correctly!) I basically said, "Hi, I'm in the car, and I need to order something vegetarian." She was so helpful! As she mentioned items, I was like, "Great -I'll take one of those." I ended up ordering the Eggplant Parmesan entree (comes with spaghetti), a bruschetta appetizer and two side salads. Grand Total? $24! Way cheaper than when we order Thai and Indian! Plus, the food arrived in under an hour, and was there when I got home! Niiiiiiice. Thanks, Fireside, for making my night with some delicious comfort food!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/21/2009
Totally unassuming place. Looks like a little dive, hidden on Ravenswood, just south of Peterson.… Read more »
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Review from Dara O.
Chicago, IL
One of the top places to go for late-night bar food. Their kitchen is open late!
I've been going here for years. Great tap menu, great bottle menu, and again, GREAT food. Staff are friendly and timely (might be delayed with a crowd). The place really fills up after 2 AM.Comment from joey m. of Fireside Restaurant & Lounge 7/24/2011
THANKS Dara for your review. I am so glad that you have… More » -
Review from J P.
Chicago, IL
6/22/2011
Great local place and a rare, 4AM liquor license... what's not to like?
Seriously; not a big drinker here but the beer offerings and selection are notable, as is the menu. Gourmet fare? Well, not quite, but most everything is at least decent if not downright great and I'd put it many notches above standard pub grub. The mashed potatoes are a treat (and I'm not a mashed potato guy normally) they leave a bit of the red skins on and whip it up with seasonings and serve with gravy. Yum! Burgers are good and cooked the way you want. If you like blackened food you should appreciate several of the special dishes offered at Fireside.
The wait staff tends to be friendly, responsive and there's nothing pretentious about the place. Decor is well worn, Chicago-funky but inviting just the same. The dining room feels a bit like a rural Wisconsin supper club but it's great in the winter as there's a gas fireplace to keep you toasty. The rear garden area off of the bar is open almost year round and a nice place for a family or small group.
Rich, the owner, has developed this place into a neighborhood institution and is frequently on-site so don't be shy to say hello. -
Review from Roseann M.
Chicago, IL
4/10/2011 ROTD 2/13/2012
Two small-"m" miracles occurred today. . . I didn't have to work on Sunday, and the temperature was in the 70's. What do middle-aged women do when a harmonic convergence like this occurs? They go for brunch!
Fireside definitely would not have been my first choice, mainly because I didn't realize they even offered brunch! And apparently, not too many other Chicagoans know about their brunch either, because there was no wait for a table. In fact, we glommed onto an outdoor table with no problem. The whole time we were there, other tables remained available. So friends, do not stand in line at Lincoln Park eateries with too-cute names -- you can get a very good brunch without any hassles at Fireside.
First, the downside - the service is friendly but a little erratic and slow. Maybe they are understaffed; I only saw one waitress working. About halfway through our meal, a man appeared who was delivering food, filling water glasses, etc., and that speeded things up a bit. But really, who should be in a big hurry when you have such a glorious day and a spot in the sunlight? Not a huge deal, but service has to be top-notch for a restaurant to get a 5-star rating, and that didn't happen.
There is a bloody mary bar, but we were a sober group today, so I cannot tell you about the alcoholic offerings. Sorry.
The food was very good. We had:
- banana nut bread french toast
- ultimate Veggie skillet
- Spinach and goat cheese omelet
- cajun omelet
Portions are large, so bring your appetites. Prices are reasonable for what you get.
Parking is very easy in this area. Fireside does have its own lot adjacent to the building. However, there is plenty of free parking along Ravenswood Avenue. Try to do that at some cutie-pie Lincoln Park restaurant!
Summing up: Good food, reasonable prices, easy parking, so-so service. The next time there's another harmonic convergence of weather, work schedules, and appetites, I'd be up for another Fireside experience. The quiches and veggie burrito on the menu sound very good! -
Review from Jenny R.
Chicago, IL
5/6/2011
Everytime I'm in the neighborhood visiting, I like to visit Fireside. Great service, lots of room, wonderful menu with something for everyone. My favorite dish here is the cajun meatloaf.
This place is like the TARDIS-it's bigger on the inside.Comment from joey m. of Fireside Restaurant & Lounge 5/6/2011
Thank you so much Jenny for your review of us. Being a "Dr.… More » -
Review from Marie R.
Chicago, IL
6/19/2011
Let me start by saying ... I used to be a fan. But my experience today squashed it. This place has really gone downhill.
I came here with the family for brunch. Big mistake. The only option was to have the Father's Day brunch buffet and couldn't order from the regular menu. I was starved (...and hungover), so I went with it. Very few options appealed to me. In fact, the setup was sloppy and reminded me of the dining hall from college.
First of all, some of the plates in the stack were still dirty! (gag).
All the food was cold. For the record, cold eggs benedict is disgusting and actually destroyed my appetite. You even managed to screw up my coffee. No wonder you were able to accomodate a walk-in party of 6 on Father's Day.
I feel totally ripped off. This brunch was an appaling $22, which didn't even include drinks. I want my money back.Comment from joey m. of Fireside Restaurant & Lounge 6/19/2011
Hi Marie thanks for your review. I don't agree with what… More » -
Review from Lesley A.
7/10/2011
Who knew that a restaurant existed in the backwoods of Ravenswood.
Apparently you should come here for drinks, but I came here for dinner. Since it was my first time here, I figured I should try the namesake entree, "Fireside Chicken," a citrus and garlic marinated chicken, flame broiled and served with melted mozzarella, shredded cheddar, diced tomatoes, and sliced green onions.
My dish was slightly cold, tough, and lacked juiciness. I should have sent it back to be reheated but oh well.
Ambiance is of a typical bar with wooden trim, but with an additional, more family friendly restaurant side. -
Review from Amanda C.
3/1/2011
Great neighborhood restaurant and bar. They have a huge menu and friendly staff (especially Laura who was an awesome server). There is a separate restaurant and bar area, as well as a back patio area which is heated and enclosed in the winter, and open in the summer. I'll definitely have to go back to try it then.
The fireplace in the restaurant area is very cozy but you need to specify you want to sit by it when you make your reservation. They have their own beer- Fireside Ale- as well as a huge list of cocktails and other beers. We ordered appetizers of cajun shrimp, coconut shrimp (don't go here for the shrimp) calamari (go here for this), and chicken wings. I ordered the slab of ribs for dinner which is supposed to be one of their specialties, but were just OK. The best things to order here seem to be the burgers and the pizza.
They have various celebrations for holidays- Mardi Gras and St. Patricks Day are coming up, and Sunday Bloody Mary bar. Definitely would go back.Comment from joey m. of Fireside Restaurant & Lounge 3/13/2011
Thanks Amanda for your great review! I will let Laura know… More » -
Review from A. A.
Wilmette, IL
7/30/2011
The best part about this restaurant is the do-it-yourself bloody mary bar. I am a big fan of bloody marys, but have never had a knack for making my own until I was able to experiment with their different ingredients. I love being able to make sure that my bloody mary is up to my correct spiciness and taste standards (so many bars serve shitty bloody marys unfortunately). Mostly its just a fun way to spend some lazy Sunday afternoons.
The food is pretty good too. I enjoyed their chopped salad, which I would definitely order again. Their gouda burger was a bit overcooked, however. I ordered it medium-rare and got it medium-well, but it still tasted good. Next time I will make sure they cook it the way I want it.
The decor is simple, but really cute and quaint. A great local spot. The service is attentive and friendly, which is refreshing. -
Review from Mark M.
Chicago, IL
8/10/2011
I've been here many many times over the years, its sort of our occasional family place to eat. I came in tonight with my parents and brother, and was very disappointed.
We ordered about 7:35ish (Eggplant Parmesan, three Salmons), and at 8:45 the food was still not at the table. Our server (Laura, who was awesome, by the way) apologized, and told us she was yelling at the kitchen.
Finally, three of the four of our dishes came out, an we had to wait five more minutes for the last one. When I tasted my food (blackened salmon), i was immediately dissatisfied. It was very dry and overdone.
I tasted my mom's (who ordered the same thing), and it was also dry, though she said it was "fine".
(as an aside, the mashed potatoes were excellent, and the veggies were bland and cold.)
Our waitress (again, awesome) brought me a menu, as I wasn't ready to give the salmon another chance, so I ordered quesadillas, which were just ok.
As I was inspecting the quesadillas, a man came over, and introduced himself as Rich, the owner. He personally apologized for the wait on our food. He let us know that our meal would be taken care of (no charge) and apologized again. He said that he hoped we would give them another chance in the future.
I was almost in shock. That is just amazing. To comp the whole meal? Wow.
We tipped our waitress on what the food would have cost, as, again, she was really awesome (and it turns out, she brought the situation to Rich's attention to let him know, and, we found out later, also stood in the kitchen telling them she was not going to leave until she had our food.)
Honestly, this review was going to a be one star, but I upped it to three simply because of the customer service, both by our server, Laura, and the owner Rich.
I will come back again for sure. -
Review from Ericka A.
12/6/2010
The bar we were at shut down way too early for our taste on a Friday night. We were still thirsty for beer and starting to feel pangs of hunger. Fireside was relatively close, would still be open and was serving alcohol and entrees. We didn't give it a second thought.
I went with the Gouda covered mac and added chicken to it. It wasn't the best mac n chicken ever, but it hit the spot and there was enough for leftovers. It was all washed down with a pear cider in the heated tent patio area. Good food, good friends, warmth and beer. How could I not be a fan?Listed in: I Like It On The Patio!, Mac the Knife
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Review from Chip S.
Chicago, IL
4/17/2011
Let me start out by saying that I have been a longtime fan of the Fireside Restaurant.
My experience today, however, will make me rethink visiting again.
Getting to a table was quick and our order was taken very fast. That's where the positives end. One of the big selling features of the Fireside is the Sunday Bloody Mary Bar. After paying for two Bloody Marys and receiving our Grey Goose over rocks, we visited the Bloody Mary bar to make our own libations--which normally is a real treat. However, the Bloody Mary bar was a disaster and out of many of the ingredients that are typical to a Bloody Mary, like olives, pickles and a variety of other ingredients.
We returned to our table and waited for our food while enjoying our drinks and conversation.
Finally, after 30 minutes and no return visits to our table from our server, our food was brought over by another server. We were pretty disappointed as we had been out of water, ice tea and Bloody Mary's for about 15 minutes at least (okay, we drink fast). When the food was dropped off, we asked to see the manager.
We ate our food, which was good and consumed our refilled waters and ice teas and sat in front of dirty dishes for about 15 minutes after eating. Still not having seen the manager.
Our server asks us if we have received our check, to which I replied no and not sure how she would have expected us to receive a check since she would have been the one to present it. So, we waited about another 10 minutes for the check and still no manager. She finally returns for the check and takes our money, at which time I inform her that we have been waiting to speak to a manager since our meals were served (still have our dirty dishes in front of us).
The manager finally makes it to our table and we share our disappointment regarding our service and how we may never return as a result. He did comp our lunch and asked the server to return our money. When returning the money, she told us that she hoped our day got better but did not apologize for us having such a terrible experience.
Not sure if we will give them another chance and maybe everyone was having a terribly off day. -
Review from Susan L.
Chicago, IL
3/3/2011
Expensive takeout that is average at best, terrible at its worst.
Order in from Calo instead.Comment from joey m. of Fireside Restaurant & Lounge 3/13/2011
I'm sorry that you had such an expensive takeout from us.… More » -
Review from Jason G.
Chicago, IL
11/21/2011
I can not believe this place doesn't have at least 4 stars. I consider this one of the best kept secrets in Chicago. I have been here so many times since I have lived in Ravenswood. The Blackened Cajun Chicken and Pasta with that cajun cream sauce is epic. Their brunch food is also delicious, especially the banana nut french toast. Shut your mouth Fireside! They have great beer specials and a huge variety. The servers are always super helpful and attentive, and last time my server enrolled me in their loyalty program and I keep getting free stuff. Needless to say, Fireside and I are dating now.
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Review from Nicole S.
10/24/2011
I forgot how much I enjoyed Fireside I haven't ventured into the area in a while until I was out with some friends yesterday and we stopped in for lunch. It has a great cozy and casual atmosphere and friendly service. Everything I've eaten in the past has been good, yesterday our table had the asparagus bruschetta which I enjoyed and I ordered the lemon and dill grilled tilapia special which was delicious.
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Review from Jelena Z.
Updated - 10/2/2010
Four stars seem a bit too generous? Well, when comparing against other bars in the open until 4am (5am on Saturdays) category, Fireside is the best of the worst. Know what I mean?
Pros: open 'til at least 4am. 365 days a year. Even Christmas! There's a jukebox, plenty of seating, a parking lot (!), a patio, and alcohol (duh!).
Cons: the food is... well, it's average. But, the quesadilla is actually decent, and the guacamole is fresh.
As far as late-night drinking destinations go, Fireside is it.Listed in: Alfresco? Al Yesco!, Game Time., Strength in numbers., After Last Call., Non-Gremlin Friendly.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/25/2009
It was Friday night, or early Saturday morning depending on your philosophy. I had good intentions,… Read more »
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Review from Lynn B.
Chicago, IL
1/18/2012
I agree with Cathryn in these posts. I want to like the Fireside and it usually disappoints. On Christmas Eve our server was downright surly. And even though we had a reservation we were stuck out on the patio and it was cold. Food was cold and mediocre at best. We walked in full of Christmas spirit and left cranky. Ugh. My last few visits to Fireside have been about the same. Disappointing. We are going to L. Woods next year on Christmas Eve. It'll be loud and crowded, but the service and food will be excellent. And we will be inside.
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Review from Beth R.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 8/8/2010
Color me disappointed.
I strolled over to my former flame, Fireside, for dinner on this sultry summer Sunday. I was tossing the usual coin between the veggie burger and the vegetable stir-fry as we approached. We chose to sit inside due to the aforementioned humidity. That's where the choices ended.
I opened the menu and began reading, or actually scanning, for my usual suspects. Funny, there's no veggie burger in the burger section.
(Okay....)
Hmm, not in the sandwich list either.
(Worry grows.)
Maybe there's a vegetarian section I forgot about? Maybe it's in the fine print?
(No. And, whoa.)
Well, what about the stir-fry? Where was that listed?
(Not in specialties.)
Was it in the pasta list?
(Oh Jeebus: no.)
Fireside has taken my two favorite things off the menu. Our waitress confirmed it and waved a carrot, saying they might be back in the fall. We'll see if I am.
In case you think I starved tonight, rest assured that I ate the portabello mushroom sandwich with spinach. It was pretty salty and a little hard to swallow with the lump in my throat.
Pour a little of your 40 oz. for my phantom favorites. :(Listed in: Veggie Burgers Full of Win
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/13/2010
The north room of Fireside was the location of a mediocre date, years ago. Thank little baby Jesus… Read more »
Comment from joey m. of Fireside Restaurant & Lounge 8/9/2010
I'm sorry Beth about your recient visit to the Fireside. I… More » -
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Review from Ashley S.
Chicago, IL
8/24/2011
This might my new drinking spot! This place is one of the rare 4am bars/lounges in the city that doesn't reek a heavy hipster clientele. Its a little more grounded and casual. The beers were really good. I tried one with beets -yes beets- that was infused into the beer and it was surprisingly sweet and tasty. The metropolitan ones are really good too, as i am a bit partial to the machine works one. And they have flat tire which is one of my favorites available. There was also a bitter pale ale that had a kick and was amazing but i don't remember the name. Possibly it's one of the other metropolitan ones.
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Review from Courtney R.
Chicago, IL
5/9/2011
Good burgers. Great ribs. Good mac n cheese - usually hits the spot.
We have ordered for delivery a few times and takeout once. Each time we've gotten delivery, some small thing was messed up, small enough that you get annoyed, but don't actually bother to pick up the phone to let somebody know.. Once it was getting charged a dollar for a switch out that didn't happen; once was for giving an incorrect side or something.
Most employees are polite - not overly nice and accommodating, but not rude either.
So all in all - food is consistently good. Service is underwhelming.
I was wavering on choosing three or four stars. The deciding factor was Fireside's response to the reviewer below who stated that it was expensive takeout. Catty remark/response from Fireside followed. Ew.
