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Categories: American (New), Gastropubs [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Uptown, AndersonvilleMon-Fri. 3:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 3:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sun. 3:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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I'm crazy about beer. And so is the Hopleaf Bar--huge points in my book!!!
While they may not provide the bulk of their beers on draft, what little they lack in drafts they make up for with their wide selection of bottled beers. Where else in the city can you score a kriek lambic, a Corsendonk ale, and mead? And, to be fair, the beers that they do have on draft fairly represent the seriously fearless brew-masters of our own proud nation and of those abroad (namely Belgium--sweet, sweet Belgium).
But don't let the "Bar" in the name steer you away from a solid Hopleaf meal! They've got the wherewith all to sate your hankering for some ridonkulously well-paired beer-drinking fare with (my personal favorite) moules frites/mussels and fries served with a decadently rich garlic aoli. Mmmm...or the Sausage Plate appetizer--super hearty and perfect alongside a German beer. Yes. I am drooling as I type. However, I wouldn't attempt anything adventurous there. I was sorely disappointed with their squash flower appetizers (a special for the season). Something like $14-16 for three measly, and unimpressive flowers.
A fantastic reason to check it out: having your beer served in the glassware that was made especially for the beer you've selected is quite the treat.
The only downside: this fancy-schmancy beer place will burn a massive hole in your sad little wallet. The Hopleaf provides quality and expects us to pay for it. How could they!!! In a perfect world I would be paid to drink beer and not the other way around. Alas, at the Hopleaf one must shell out some serious cash to drink more than one beer. But, really, isn't it worth it?
Check out:
-their wide range of Belgian beers
-their cute, but somewhat squashed and small, upstairs area
-their fries--it's a massive serving in a fun presentation, and perfect to munch on whilst savoring every last drop of liquid gold (beer) in your glass
In the words of Spinal Tap "This one goes to 11"
I can't give enough stars to this place. Do you know why its crowded? Because everyone and their mother knows this is the all around best establishment in the entire city.
The beer: The most unique menu in the city, maybe in the country in terms of American and Belgian brews. Craft beer standards and rare gems are par for the course here.
The food: Flat out f@*#ing amazing. This is listed as my last meal in my Yelp profile. I stand by this and can point to numerous things on the menu I would gladly devour before my death/execution
The servers: Awesome folks. They know their stuff and can put up with tight squeezes in the corridors with smiles and quick wit. My dream would be to date a Hopleaf waitress.
The people: The NY Times and Lonely Planet recommendations of this place bring in the best kinds of tourist. The neighborhood, food, and atmosphere bring the rest of the great crowd. Considering how packed it gets, everyone is still in a great mood. It has to be the beer, or maybe its the frites.
A Chicago life without the Hopleaf is a life incomplete
A couple years ago, my then-fiance (now husband) and I set out on a mission to try as many of the things on Time Out Chicago's "100 Best Things We Ate This Year" list as we could. Almost three years later, we are still working on that list. So it was off to Hopleaf for griddled ham and gruyere with apple slaw sandwiches.
Huge beer list, knowledgeable servers, so-so mussels, delicious frites, and THAT SANDWICH. Sweet Jesus, that sandwich was good.
I must admit, when I first looked at the menu here I was a little taken aback. There were some things that just sounded weird. A duck reuben, CB&J, Octopus?
I played it safe and got the soup, which was split pea and ham. Very tasty, but not as good as my moms. Since those that were with me were more adventurous than I was, I got to sample some different things though. The duck reuben is indeed delicious. While I love duck, I had my doubts about its pairing with sauerkraut. They blended very well though. It's something I would order in the future.
I was also a fan of their mac and cheese, although I think you either like it or really hate it. They use some weird type of cheese that was described to me as "very strong, english blue cheese." If that's not your cup of tea, I would avoid it.
Their selection of beers is amazing. Since I had just spent about 4 hours drinking mimosas though I didn't feel the need to have any beer at that point. Since I like this place and plan on returning, I'm sure I'll sample their beers then.
This place was cool, definitely cool.
As you walk in, you wouldn't think this would be that amazing of a place. The ambience is alright (picture a semi sports bar), a crowded area, barely any place to sit. My friend and I happened to walk in at the right time, as two people were leaving from the bar- after we sat down, we learned that the wait to actually sit in the dining area was 1.5 hours.
Hopleaf is known for its beers. Lots of beers- but more specifically, Belgian beers. As I am one of the few females out of my large group of friends who actually like beer, I told my friend that I wanted to go somewhere unique, somewhere that can only be found in Chicago. He recommended Hopleaf.
First, I started out with the Oud Beersel. It wasn't too heavy and was pretty sweet- had more of a berry taste, and I just liked it overall. My friend started out with the famous Delirious Tremens (every other person seemed to be getting this), and that was a lighter beer, but that was good as well. Later on, I got the Leffe Blond- which wasn't as fruity, but definitely light and refreshing- reminded me of nature, for some reason. My friend got the Chimay beer- something made by a monk- but it was dark, sweet, and man, I liked it.
Additionally, we got the mussels- where the flavor was REALLY good. We also got some frites- which was just the right amount of potato-ness with a great dipping sauce (kind of a zesty mayo)?
The wait staff... was slow. We kept trying to get their attention, but they kept ignoring us sitting at the bar- maybe because we were small? but still, ignoring us, or kept trying to take away our plate. Not rude, just.. the wait staff could have been better.
Definitely crowded. Not super loud though- my friend and I were still able to hold a conversation. People were asking for us for our seats though...
Nonetheless, I wish I could have tried the food, but definitely a cool place to eat and chill. Good drinks, good food, good friends= my kind of place to be.
Hopleaf and Guthrie's are at the top of my favorite bars in Chicago, though I've never eaten at the Hopleaf before. So many types of beer - many of which you have difficulty finding elsewhere. Lots of people there, but I have never really had any problem finding a table. Upstairs is cash-only...my only real complaint about the place.
Still need to try their food...
Have some beer.
Hopleaf has an awesome array of deliciously rich belgian ales. The main floor, admittedly a bit hectic, is first-come first-serve seating. They also have a mezzanine where groups can comfortably wait for a table, on the second floor. The menu, which can be viewed from their website, offers indulgent, and very detailed, appetizers and entrees. I favor chicken, seafood, and gamefowl so I usually do pretty damn well here.
****Note to beer lovers abroad, picture an ale selection like San Francisco's Toronado, with the added option of indulgent eats. Yeah, nice.
Hopleaf is hands down the best Belgian-themed gastropub in Chicago. Their list of amazing Belgian style beers never fail to impress. They are each served with distinct glasses made specifically for the type of beer to enhance the experience. They have everything from tall glasses to goblets to the wacky looking hour-glass for my namesake beer, Kwak (ok, maybe not. That's a different Kwak). I was not a big beer drinker until I start going to Hopleaf. Not a problem if you don't like beer. They serve some really nice wine and meads too.
Their beer steamed mussels served with frites and toasty rolls is a must-try. If you are feeling exotic, they have mussels made with curry and kaffir lime leaves too. But the best part is probably the juice at the bottom of the pot. Just soak them up with the toasted bread. Heavenly!
The dining room opens at 5pm I think and they don't take reservations. So expect to wait a little if you're not early. It's not exactly pleasant waiting in there because the bar/drinks only area is small and they are usually crowded. But it's worth the wait because the dining area is cozy and nicely lit, with a fireplace. It's just a wonderful place to hang out.
I love this place! They have an adventurous food menu and a mile long beer list! HEAVEN! The only draw back is the wait. Not sure if they take reservations but this isn't a bar you can just call your girlfriends to meet you at for dinner. You would have to plan in advance to go there and wait for at least 45 minutes. I had the sausage plate and frites. My friends got the mussels and some kind of sandwhich they were raving about. The server suggesting food/drink pairing which was great for us.
The service was great, the atmosphere was great and the wait was worth it. But I may not stop in as often as I'd like if I'm crunched for time or hungry!
Good stuff. Long wait as expected. About 1.5 hours. Drank some great beer and had good convo while waiting so not terrible. Dining room was way nicer than having to sit in the bar area to eat.
Ordered mussels, Stuffed Pheasant Thigh and the Walleye. We split the mussels four ways as an appetizer and it was a perfect amount (we got oysters for one) The pheasant thigh came in four pieces which also worked out great. Mussels came with fries which were good.
My walleye was superb. Cooked perfectly with a crispy skin to it. The celery root puree was great. I've never had anything quite like it and it worked so well with the dish. The consistency was super cool and it had a great flavor. I loved my dish.
Make sure to ask for some extra bread with the mussels to soak up some of the goodness of the mussel juices.
My buddy had Orval as his dinner beer and it was very very good. I recommend it, very different. I've never had anything quite like it. I was also happy to see that it was bottled only a month ago.
Oh beacon of light in a night where there was no hope. Halloween night in Chicago - stopped by a few restaurants, people were very rude and we took a cab to your glowing door. Got a great table and with beer in hand we relaxed and ate. It was just great.
We had the cheese plate, brisket sandwich, and the CB&J - cashew butter, fig jam and j for some kind of cheese, toasted. tasty. the brisket was good - a bit dry for my taste but my other half very much enjoyed it.
Thanks for a great meal!
ahhhhhhh life away from 22 year old obnoxious frat boys. i need to head north more often. i love their huge beer list but next time when i plan to stay for dinner, i'll make it a weekday or just arrive earlier. a three hour wait on a friday night was not ideal but we were committed.
this is another place i had no excuse for not trying earlier. granted, we were a bit tipsy after the wait and a few pumpkin ales - but we still appreciated the spread.
the spinach and leak tart and dessert (of course) are the most memorable. in case you haven't heard me say this before, there's NOTHING wrong with salted carmel gelato...
Oh no!!!
NO!
NON!!!
NEIN!!!
NEE!!! - it's the Dutch version - just in case you were wondering.
And NEJ!!! - just because we are in Andersonville, I thought I would throw a little Swedish in there....
I was SO anticipating what I thought would be the absolute BEST mussels in the city......
I had talked about it for months.
Was salivating every time.
And the worse happened.
They were undercooked.
Now - I ask you: is there anything worse in this world?!?!? (if we leave Adam Sandler's movies apart)
I chose the 'exotic' version - coconut, curry, ginger, sweet potatoes, jalapenos, Kafir lime leaves. Because sometimes you need something extra, you know.
The broth was actually quite tasty and I used my bread to soak it up.
But the stars of the show......let me down.
Then again - it happens. I am forgiving and will be back because I just need another pint of this fantastic Ayinger. And probably something else too.
But be prepared for my return and cook your mussels THROUGH!!
I am so thankful for Hopleaf being in the neighborhood! This place never disappoints for a laid-back, casual spot for friends to hang out. The dining area is not as crowded so it might not be so bad for a date night either, you can go upstairs until your table is ready. The downstairs bar area gets packed first but the upstairs fills up too by 9pm (at least on the weekends) The beer selection never disappoints. Every time I go, I am always able to try something new and different from the extensive list. The staff will usually let you try something you have never had before so you don't have to make the full commitment blind. The staff is always helpful and keeps the mood of the place calm, despite people being shoulder to shoulder at peak times. Defintely a must try for anyone new to the city, even if you don't live directly in the neighborhood.
I took a bite of my brisket sandwich and got a mouthful of hot fat. Yuck! But at times I am prone to BRMK or bad red meat karma when I chose to order it in just about any restaurant. And the only kind of fat I really want to chew is the figurative varitey with friends. Fortunately, the other half of the sandwich WAS filled with some tender meat. But for 12 schmackers, you would think the quality contriol there in the kitchen would be a lot more reliable, especially at the beginning of the dinner shift. Oh, well, I could have sent it back, but I chose not to. So, I should stop complaining...
I love the Hop Leaf and I've been coming here, bringing out-of-towners, sending newcomers, meeting friends since before they served food. (I lived in Andersonville before it got all "hot" and self-conscious.And when Simons was just a regular old bar, clueless to the fact that it would require future validation by the Indie crowd.) And I will keep on coming as long as it's here. Our little group, which included newbies from Mexico, Columbia and Tennesee all loved their dinner choices. The Steak Frites, the Duck Reuben, the mussels, the frites. Although I could talk no-one into this (so I could have a bite), the most unique sandwich here is the Cashew butter, fig jam and Morbiere cheese combo on toasted sourdough. What a goober-licious treat that one is.
But I was thinking that it is for me an occasional treat foodwise, when on my own little dietary guidelines, I decide to have a fat day. I don't think most of the menu items here would pass the online guy's "Don't Eat That/Eat This" column without some shocking nuturitional facts. But again, my fat days mean a one-day romp with some fatty foods and not chomp on a mouthful of the stuff. Next time, I will stick with my Nueske Ham sandwich, I think, and save the brisket choice for my fat day visit to Smoke Daddy's or Smoque.
I'll skip any redundancy in discussing the beers and ales, since it's been nicely addressed by the other 616 Yelpers! In the coming winter months, I look forward to hanging in the front room of the Hop Leaf, quaffing a Belgian Ale, people-gazing, and pretending I'm in some little boite in the Left Bank of Paree.
Someone at the bar made a wisecrack when I ordered a Fat Tire. And, the bartender was pretty darn oblivious and inattentive, really.
So fucking what that I like beer from Fort Collins, Colorado. As Ms. E put it: "excuse us for not being in the beer fraternity."
Beer. So much beer. Tasty beer you want to hang out with for a long time. Tried my first Satan Red, and Orval Trappist Ale...and finished it off with a Duvel.
Oh, wait, there was food in there some place. I had the duck reuben, which was dy-no-mite. The marble rye was nearly blackened, but not too much, so it came out crispy with a cranberry cream cheese (?) spread and a light sauerkraut. I'm adding this to "play in the kitchen" menu at home - great sammich.
The atmosphere when we came in (9ish on a Saturday) was great. Crowded but not suffocating. A piece of advice, though: Put your name in for a table and then make a beeline upstairs. A lot more space to enjoy a beer while you wait. There tends to be a logjam at the front door as people park themselves by the front bar.
Be prepared - its pricy here. Cash is also your friend in the upstairs bar (no CC up there), so get ready to make it rain.
6 friends, Mussels for 2. I think you can do the math!
Gone, baby, gone... in a Hopleaf minute. All washed down with Unibroue Maudite. Let the choir sing and all that jazz. Gosh, it was good while it lasted.
And now I have proof that a table can be snagged even on a packed Saturday night. Amen!
I've finally found my special, 'happy' place.
I mean, don't get me wrong, it was difficult... but on…
Read more »
Great holiday BEER!!!
Hopleaf: One of the great beer bars in Chicago, hands down. Just when you see the beer menu and say, "Whoa, this place is going all Map Room!" your eyeballs then glance over the food menu and Hopleaf blows the doors right off!!
There are tons of reviews up here, extolling the virtues of Hopleaf, but the food. Holy shiz! CB&J - Cashew butter and cherry fig jelly sandwich. Served with STILTON Mac and Cheese. Whaaa?? Mind: blown. Also, the duck reuben with homemade sauerkraut, served w/ a mayo aioli for dipping your frittes. Drooool. It's a bit different from your regular reuben in that the sodium content is a little lower. This is both good and bad. Good because it's different and excellent tasting; bad cause salt is excellent tasting. Hopleaf, what a conundrum you've created.
We didn't really get as far as dessert, but we didn't need to. Our meals were filling enough. Also, that back dining room is really cool. High ceilings, exposed bricks, a view out into the back patio, and mezzanine level were all definitely a surprise -- nothing you'd guess was in the bar upon seeing it from the outside.
I'll definitely go back.
Since my previous review the front room staff seems to have improved their disposition. The room is still the same size, though. I recommend going right when the place opens, around 3:00 in the afternoon, and avoiding "rush hour" (Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 until around midnight).
When you can get a seat, and you can spend some time sipping a fine brew with a friend or by yourself, there are few places like it in the city.
I go to this bar semi-regularly. Fortunately it's within walking distance of my house. The food is… Read more »
OH MY GOD.
I had dinner here for the first time last weekend. WOW.
I went with a chef friend so naturally we got a bunch of stuff to try: the duck charcuterie plate and pork belly for starters, then the rabbit stew and brisket for our entrees. I have never had duck liver mousse before and was hesitant at first, but it was DELICIOUS. Everything we had was so well prepared and presented and tasted amazing. It's been a while since I had a meal of that calibur.
Hopleaf is perfectly situated on the Clark strip in Andersonville with the likes of Konaks and… Read more »
When my dear and venerable friend in Chicago required a thorough lesson in the changing state of beer, we made for the Hopleaf to dine and sample several brews.
The atmosphere is terrific, conveying a strong sense of a clean, well-maintained yet still rustic tavern. The inside seems larger than the outside suggests.
The beer selection is really phenomenal. I live in a corner of the country, where only the largest craft brew from other regions make it to market. What an advantage to live in the midwest and then be able to pick and choose from the other three corners all the best they can offer!
The menu at Hopleaf is built around two principles of either contrasting flavors with beer, or being hearty enough to keep you drinking for as long as possible. My choice for this was the duck reuben, which, if anything, is even richer than the menu describes and enabled a heroic binge. My friend had the far more delicate tilapia, the decidedly lightest option on the sandwich board.
Our table service kept the steins full, which is always the number one part of pub service.
After I try the food I'll update more, but after having New Belgium's tasty new sour beer for $5? More, please!
It definitely can get pretty packed, but I came here with a bachelorette party of about 12 and after squeezing in, we headed upstairs for a bit more breathing room. After a few minutes, we found seats and some obliging patrons even gave up their table so we could all sit together. Very nice. I was expecting hefty beer price tags like you might find at Local Option, etc. but was super happy with my $5 craft brew.
It was too crowded on the Saturday night to really talk to the bartender or be served, but I was waited on pretty quickly and efficiently.
The beer is amazing, the food looked good as I walked through the dining room to the bar upstairs, but the atmosphere seems like it would be a lot better on a weekday when you're not fighting for a spot. I'd even go here for an early dinner to stay away from the crowds. Still, their beer selection cannot be beat, and with such reasonable prices, I'll be back as soon as I can drag my man up to Andersonville.
I was too hard on you, Hopleaf. You can get a great sammy there (The Ham and Gruyere) and the garlic aioli and frites is nom nom nom ... and my beer comment was crabby (they obvs have a selection above and beyond any place else in the city). But I still wish it was ... quieter. Not a place to hang with a headache. It's L-O-U-D.
The Hopleaf is kind of like the Coldplay of bars. It's really not so bad, but I have no idea why so… Read more »
The most delicious beer menu paired with the most inventive panini sandwiches you have ever had. Fig in a sandwich? Check. A beer menu that would make a wine snob cry? Check. A place to go visit, You betcha. No seriously the food is good, and not good for a bar good, GOOD and if you had 3 different beers every time you came here, it would take you close to 20 visits to complete the list.
First, a warning: Yes, this place gets crowded something awful. Try coming here anytime after about 5:45pm on a Friday and Saturday and you're likely looking at a two hour wait.
Aw, but it's so worth the wait.
I remember reading about Hopleaf in travel books before I moved here. When I read about the dozens of craft beers on tap and the pommes frites and mussels, it triggered a Pavlovian response of drooling and shuddering that scared the hell out of the GF and ruined a perfectly good travel book.
I can't say this about a lot of places, but here goes: this place has never disappointed. Yeah, it's not fast food and you better believe it's not a lo-cal experience. But it's like the Willy Wonka Factory of Bars. Remember that scene where they lose the fat kid. Yeah, like that. Would you count calories there? No.
First, the suds: Hopleaf specializes mainly in two kinds of beer: Belgians/Belgian-styles and North American microbrews. That's not all they have, but it's what they do best. I absolutely worship microbrews and Hopleaf is my shrine. They rotate the selection pretty often, but there's always a selection of Midwestern stuff and--much to my surprise--Pacific coast stuff. As a native Californian, many a twinge of homesickness has been sated at this establishment.
There's incredible attention to detail here. The beer is always served in the proper glass and at the proper temperature. So, this isn't really a place for frat boys and other assorted binge drinkers. It's a temporary shelter for bon vivants.
Oh, there's food too, strange and delicious food. The frites and mussels are phenomenal as advertised. The specials menu is seasonal and some seasons are better than others; late summer and fall brings delicious fried smelts, winter brings dishes based on obscure root vegetables and peasant-style heartache. But never fear; the regular year-round menu has some excellent sandwiches (including the obscenely good ham and slaw sandwich) and entrees, including a very respectable steak frites.
So, brave the crowds--the happy, drunken, well-fed crowds. Time fades into irrelevance here anyway.
I'm going to keep it simple...
Mussels + Belgium* beer = YUM^2
* Yes, some are "Belgium style" beers, but I never knew how good some of these brews could be.
Don't miss this place.
As promised, I returned to Hopleaf again as I showed up as soon as they opened. My buddy and I thought we were there early enough to get a patio seat, but nope, they were filled. We got a seat in the dining area which was fine. My pal has been telling me about their delicious sandwiches for a few months now so mouth was watering and all I was thinking about was the Duck Rueben and the Cashew butter & Jam (CB&J) sandwiches.
For beer I ordered the German Ayinger and a Jever. I got the Duck Rueben which came with fries and my buddy got the CB&J. We decided to switch half of the sandwiches so we could enjoy the taste of both. The Duck Rueben was really juicy and flavorful and the CB&J was outta this freaking world!!!! These sandwiches really lived up to the hype and my day was made!
Hopleaf, I am gonna make you my new backyard, Understood????!!!!!
Heard a lot of great things about this place and I'm not totally sure how I really feel about it as… Read more »
This place was really great - the beer selection is overwhelming if anything, especially for someone that isn't so much a connoisseur as a fan. The food is also great; can't beat a bucket full of mussels and a duck reuben. I was a little too timid to try the pb&j with cheese on it, but maybe next time.
I see some complaints about the atmosphere and busyness as I scroll down, and having only been there once, I won't try to refute it all, but when I went it was sunday night after lollapalooza and the wait wasn't bad at all, especially considering there was another bar/burger joint that we couldn't get into at all. Good times.
Yet another otherwise great place that is just basically not an option because of the lunatic scramble to get there ever earlier in order to secure a comfortable experience. I'm sorry, but I have better things to do than go to a bar at 530 in the evening just so I'm not rammed up against a wall by the back of someone's chair or four people deep away from the bar. The tragedy is that I live in the neighborhood, it should be my sweet go to.
I love duck! Best duck sandwich in Chicago. World class beer selection. Plus they have Sidra, but I'd be cautious pouring it if you don't have a steady hand. Try to say something nice today. These are peoples lives you screw with your nasty reviews. 5 Star revolution!
If you're in Chicago for one night and you don't stop in to Hopleaf, what's your problem? Delicious food, ample beer selection, so what if you have to take the Red Line El up from The Loop. Make it to Andersonville for a taste of the Hopleaf.
Why is it that when I review the places I really, really like I personify the establishments and talk directly to them?
Oh, Hopleaf. You are so lovely. You are everything I look for in a bar. To say your selection of both draft and bottle beer is "great" would be an understatement (seemingly endless options!). You offer me delicious food (mussels, duck Reuben) and even more delicious beer in a friendly, familiar atmosphere. Your cozy upstairs room feels like drinking in a warm little haven where everyone is nice. In the dining room, they just want what's best for you, a fulfilling meal. In the front room, at the bar, I just feel at home. The bartenders are unpretentious and the people watching is top-notch.
Hopleaf, I just wanna hang out with you. All the time. Is that bad?
(See pics)
I really love this place, lots and lots of great Belgian beer and very decent food!!!
The line is ridiculous in the evening but you can grab some fantastic beer while waiting for the tables.
I always sit at the back or outside when the weather is warm, both are much more quiet and less bar scene like.
The Kwak beer is one that I found to be really cute as it ooks like a scientific experiment or half of an hourglass tube! Me like.
This place is fine, GREAT beer selection, nice ambiance. Problem is, it's way too crowded. All the time. The only way to do it is to eat in the back, and then leave and go to one of the other neighborhood bars. It's too bad, because it should be a place where you can just relax with your friends and take advantage of the amazing beers they have in the appropriately selected glass. I really dislike going here because you can't move at all. Much prefer Glasgott's
Hopleaf has an amazing selection of beers on tap and in bottles. If you like Belgian beers, you will be in heaven. There is no question that the variety of beers makes this a must stop place.
The food, however, is nothing amazing, mostly because of inconsistency. At times the kitchen gets overwhelmed - probably because the kitchen seems to be about the size of a closet. I've ordered the same sandwich several times and each time it comes out a little different. Sometimes it's cooked, sometimes it's merely warmed. The mussels are very well done, but let's be honest - it doesn't take a magician to make a mussel taste good.
Be warned, however, the bar service can be surly and downright rude at times (the owner can be terse and impatient). Be prepared to wait until a bartender is darned good and ready to serve you because you will probably have to wait a while.
You'll also have to deal with a crowd in the bar that makes it hard to enjoy a beer. Best bet is to get to the bar as early as possible (if not at the open) to get a space. You -will- be shoved around, bumped into and likely have beer spilled on you due to the fact that there are far too many tables and not enough space. Making matters worse, if you're walking on the sidewalk the overflow crowd of smokers on the sidewalk tends to hover and makes passage difficult.
Due to the inconsistent service and kitchen I give 3 stars. If Hopleaf could improve on this they would easily earn a 4 star, in my opinion.
Meh. I'd give Hopleaf 3.5 stars if I could, but not four.
Having been told that Hopleaf was The Violet Hour of beer, I came in with pretty high expectations. I'm a beer snob, so I was pretty excited.
The food was great, the beer was great. The sheer volume of the selection was impressive. For just the food and the beer, I'd give Hopleaf a solid 4 stars, but really, I wasn't as blown away as I expected to be.
The place was packed and our server was plain not nice. After a discussion with her about seating our medium sized group (about 7-8 people) we were told that we needed to split into two tables on the patio, which was fine, she gave us very confusing directions about where to sit, and glared at us, and in fact bitched at us a little, when a friend of mine took his beer with him from one of our tables across the patio to another to carry on a conversation. She seemed to have realized she was not being a good server about half way through our visit and became very nice - I think she was just overworked, and I felt bad for her- but all in all, it was an unfortunate experience.
I'd like to go back on a less crowded night/at a less crowded time, and maybe it'll be better.
How do YOU spell overrated?
I knew things would get rough when I walked in the front room of this place and the oracle/divine shaman inside my head intoned, "This place is too crowded and IT STANK!" We headed into the back room in which we found relief from both of the prior conditions, but we then ordered all kinds of BLAND, TASTELESS, IMPROPERLY SEASONED FOOD. The mussels (their specialty) were so devoid of flavor that I just didn't eat them - and I was starving - and I'm a greedy motherforya even when I'm not hungry so you know this stuff was plain! The fries were little crinkly tasteless things, the onion rings were slightly more flavorful, the battered squash blossoms were fairly tasty but, really, were nothing more than glorified pieces of crab rangoon, and the beans with pancetta just formed a plate of oversalted nastiness. And the beer? I felt like being a girlyman so I tried the "Bier du Miele" and it turned out to be "Bier du Merde". Didn't think I knew French, didja?
Ill start with the only reason I did not give it 5 stars... I really think they should either have a list for out door seating or some sort of bar area along the flower box to set your beer and stand next to-as not to awkwardly loom while you wait for the first come first serve out door tables...
The waitress was amazing! I told her what I craved in a world of dark beer and she delivered beyond my expectations... On a side note I went to buy this beer at SAMS and it was $4 or $5 a bottle which means Hopleaf's markup was not all that much-which-blows my mind not only do they have one of the best beer selections in Chicago it is decidedly fairly priced!
I had the Duck Reuben and it was just delicious! What more could I ask for? Oh I know!-A spoon or a straw to suck down that amazing dipping sauce for the fries-are you kidding me! That sauce is mind blowing our table clearly almost had a passive fight for that amazing little cup of sauce! It was no weak sauce for sure!
I was dining with some discerning out of towners who had just done the Alinea 23 courses of ecstasy the day before... They still found excitement here at my neighborhood Hopleaf, little did I know that this place is known at all corners of the earth... Now I do and understand the wait a little better-darn tourists! Just kidding!
I have had more then a few questions as to what beer I was drinking as with many of the beers you will partake in-it was served in a glass specific to its varietal... It is - I copied this from the brewers website...
St Bernardus Abt 12
The absolute top quality in the hierarchy of the St. Bernardus beers. It is also the beer with the highest alcohol content (10.50 %).
A dark ivory coloured beer with a high fermentation.
The show piece of the brewery.
Thanks to its soft and unconditionally genuine aroma, the beer can be smoothly tasted.
The Abt has a very fruity flavour.
Hop Hop Hop To The Hopleaf!
Appetite Stimulus Package
Evanston, IL
Wednesday Dinner Deal!
Neighborhood: Uptown
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Category: Gastropubs
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Edgewater
Category: Pubs
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