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Category: Pubs
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, RavenswoodWestern (Brown)
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You have to go to this bar just to watch the redhead bartendress. This chick is hilarious. She moves like she is acting in some 60's dance scene: http://www.youtube.com...
She has the Playboy dip down to an art and she shuffles and grapevines back and forth behind the bar, always bending at the waist, arching her back so the booty is angled just right. It is absolutely weird. Maybe it gets her extra tips but my girlfriend and I were just mesmerized by the strangeness of it.
Good beer and a bizarre waitress=entertaining evening.
I came here during the German Day festival and it was amazing. Fantastic space, with a cool decor. On a hot summer day the big window opening out onto the street was awesome.
Friendly bartenders, and a lot of great German beer on tap. I also recommend the apple schnapps if you're feeling plucky.
I am agreeing with Jason M. here about the bartenders. They have been friendly to me but not to some of my buddies-who by the way were picking up the tab. The place has become a big hipster joint, it kind of annoys me but the German beers are unbeatable.
My latest visit brought me and three other friends here and for a Tuesday night it was pretty packed. There was someone who was talking to everyone until my friend said something that offended her and then walked away from us.
I think I like sitting in the front of the bar, especially on nice nights with the big windows open it makes things feel more open. A nice respite from the glut of Irish themed bars in the city.
Back in the day, i used to spend Saturday and Sunday afternoons, muching on SnackMasters™ and drinking my Spaten with friends, and never leaving sober. When I started coming in the evenings a few years ago, I was a little annoyed with the Hipster Clientele. I liked when there were still some German men hanging out at the bar. I'd always remember seeing one of the band members from the Brauhaus drinking here. The place is really authentic (before the iPod jukebox), and I'm happy to see they offer the "klienes Bier" when you ask for it.
The waitresses are sweethearts, sure... but I have fond memories of the owner who used to bartend all the time.
I still usually leave with a buzz, and as long as I'm in one of the beautiful window seats, I'm still happy. It's just lost some of its charm over the years... and can you blame it? It's just too many people found out what a great place it is. Location can't be beat!
Me (two days before paycheck): I have $5. I don't need a fancy beer, I just want a drink and I want to leave you a tip. Is there anything I can get?
Bartender (friendly): No.
When you go to Huettenbar, don't ask for a Guiness or Murphys or they will politely request that you order something else. The German beer selection is decent and it's one of the only places in the city where I can get a Kutcher Alt, which is by far my favorite German brew, good between rounds of Spaten. The atmosphere is rustic and cozy, but it gets very crowded on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, especially since Lincoln Square has become trendier than it was a few years ago. The crowd is usually pretty diverse and friendly. I always end up chatting with random people. I hope Huettenbar doesn't become pretentious like many neighborhood bars have become, because I would absolutely hate to take this one off my list.
The only negative I can find about this place is the size. For it's popularity on weekends it's always completely packed. This has never stopped me from going, however.
Can we talk about German beer for a minute? Best bang for the buck ever. At only $5 a pop, two of these babies will render you buzzed in no time. Especially when they're serving the stuff in half-liter glasses.
So, the Huettenbar is small, rustic, and overwhelmingly German. But it's a fun time. If you can get here early enough to grab the table in front, you'll be able to easily accommodate a group of 8 or so as we did.
The bartender was quick to attend to my needs. And, I'm not sure about the menu here, but I was surprised and elated when a platter of sandwiches was delivered to our table. Just like the ones you'd eat at a Superbowl party-- small pieces of a master Hoagie. W00t! Or actually, a 'h00t' may be more appropriate.
Depending on what you seek, the Huettenbar can be a great place to go. Timing is essential. Yes, it is often packed to the gills on weekends, but many places are. Once you learn the rhythm of the place you can make your choices appropriately.
Want to meet lots of people? Go weekend nights or sunny afternoons. The crowd is very friendly - bizarrely so compared to most - and welcoming, whether it be neighborhood folks, visiting tourists or those trolling for dates. There are lulls between rush periods when it is easier to get in, settle down and enjoy this small place with a large following.
Prefer a quiet place to chat with friends? Huttenbar opens at 2pm during the week and noon on weekends. You can get a window seat if you don't wait until 9pm and then show up expecting the run of the place. With only 2 TVs, you can watch whatever game is on, but not be disturbed by it if you don't.
I have always enjoyed excellent service here, and I am not a demanding customer. A good selection of tap and bottled German beer is served at reasonable prices by a highly capable staff that makes you feel welcome whether it is your first time or your 100th.
The Huettenbar is a neighborhood institution for many good reasons - check it out when you can.
This bar was... OK. Meh. I was wavering between 2 and 3 stars, but went with 2 as it's unlikely I'll be back.
My overwhelming impression of this place was that it was just sooooo narrow. Packed to the gills with people and no where for them to all go. I had to fight my way back to the bathroom (one stall, by the way. Grr). As I forcibly parted a sea of people to return to the front I had flashbacks to the one time I misguidedly went to watch the "3rd of July" fireworks along the lakefront. [[Shudder]]
It was warm enough last night for the front windows to be opened, and thank goodness - I can't imagine how cramped and claustrophobic this place would feel otherwise.
All in all, the place is cute and the beer is good... but it's not cute or good enough to deal with the crowd.
In keeping with its German name, the façade of this establishment screams German as well as the beer selection, though you don't have to jump on a plane to experience it.
Located in the heart of Lincoln Square, this nice little neighborhood bar is laid back and quite cozy during the winter months. But the summers are also a treat when they open up the windows.
Practically off the Brown line stop at Western, there is no excuse for not trying out this little gem of a bar.
Best bar in Chicago - hands down. Just be careful if explaining a long drawn out story at a table full of Echter glasses. They are tall and can spill easily.
Updated to five stars for the fact that since my last review I have been here numerous times and… Read more »
Such a great neighborhood bar! There's nothing fancy about it but it's a great place to hang and have a drink with friends. Even on random nights, there's usually people in there and in the summers you can sit by the open window.
The biggest reason why I love this place and will come back....
I think the bartenders hook you up with the drinks. I was actually pretty tipsy one night. The next day I realized my tab only came out to $8. The next time I went back I apologized to the bartender because I thought maybe I was too tipsy to realize the tab was larger than that and shorted them on tip. She told me that there's a good chance the bartender that night gave us a few complimentary drinks. It didn't happen the next time I was there but the first time was enough for me to come back. It was a great way for them to get a few more new customers.
I think it's just a great laid back place to hang out with friends. Lincoln Square is a good location too.
My fellow Lincoln Squarians:
I think the time has come wherein we all take a deep breath in...then out, and just admit to ourselves and others that Huettenbar is overrated. It's okay. This is a safe place. No one will hurt you.
Yes, there are some great, rare(ish) beers on tap (I remember a delicious dark blond beer; I'm forgetting the name...but to be fair, I forget the names of so many dark blonds). And yes, in the summer, the open windows with the flowers in the window sill is quite the charming sight to behold. And during Apple Fest, I vaguely recall them supplying $2 shots of some flipping awesome apple schnapps.
However, there is a BUT here (a big, juicy, smackable one at that)...
On weekends, it's way too crowded. And even a crowd would be tolerable, but it's a crowd of pretentious d bags who seem to think that they're in Wicker Park. Go sip your PBR cans, opine about how no one at the bar is as smart as you, and compulsively readjust your painted on jeans elsewhere. We don't take kindly to your type...well we do, but I wish we didn't.
Furthermore, I don't know if anyone else has noticed this (and this, by the by, is a fact, not an opinion) but...the jukebox sucks and hairy, hairy, hairy fat one. Only one song by Queen? And it's "We Will Rock You"? C'mon now.
I've seen people say that they like this place because it's cozy. If you want cozy...go to the Grafton. There's much more room, a better selection and, coziest of all, a fireplace. Huettenbar is not what I'd call cozy. When it's busy, it's cramped and when it's not, it's just okay.
But at the same time, come Apple Fest, you bet your sweet apple cinnamon muffins I'll be there to sample and judge the merits of the schnapps. Yeah, it's going to be tough, but someone's got to do it.
This was my first time in Lincoln Square and this bar was an excellent introduction. It is cozy. The staff is friendly. The Kettle One and tonics are da bomb!! :-)
I even thought the cute little teeny tiny bathroom was cute. I can't wait to go again.
The Eugenics War was a global conflict that occurred during the mid-to-late 1990s. The progeny of a human genetic engineering project established themselves as supermen and attempted world domination.
The year 1994: From out of space comes a runaway
planet, hurtling between the Earth and the Moon,
unleashing cosmic destruction. Man's civilization is
cast in ruin.
These 2 events traumatized me as a child. But luckily they did not happen; they also have nothing to do with this review.
This is standard German bar Decor: various German beer signs, lots of dark wood, etc. Huettenbar has a fantastic selection of German beers. It's especially great in the summer when they open the front windows.
i was reading some recent reviews and that prompted me to add my 2 cents. I've been stopping in at the Huettenbar off and on for the past 4 years, but less and less often. I do like the atmosphere and location (danger close to my casa). But the bartenders have probably been there too long. The past 3 times I've been there I got the vibe when I ordered that was like "well, i suppose i'll make your drink...maybe". That's not what neighborhood bars are supposed to feel like.
This is a fun, sort of unique spot in Lincoln Square. I went there a little while ago with a group of friends, and we had a really great time. I wasn't really sure what to expect when I walked in, but was definitely pleasantly surprised.
There definitely isn't enough seating anywhere, and it does feel a little claustrophobic (I was there on a Saturday night), but I love the ambiance and feel that it's a nice change from the ordinary. They had a good beer selection, and the bartender was HILARIOUS. She kept busting out these hysterical moves...and my friends and I weren't sure if she was being serious or just having a good time. Either way, it was really funny.
I would come back here for a drink; but maybe not on a weekend night. It is certainly worth a try though!
Gemutlichkeit!
Every time I go to this bar I pretty much get numbfaced drunk. All it takes is a couple German beers in those big glass mugs to do the job. I consider this a plus, along with the open air windows in the front.
My only complaint is the clientele, who can sometimes leave something to be desired. Many nights, this place is chock-full of surly hipsters who are rude to you if you become too boisterous for their angsty tastes (and by boisterous, I mean minding your own business, having fun with your friends) or if you choose to play music on the jukebox that isn't esoteric enough for them (and really, who doesn't like Bruce Springsteen?)
Despite other people's comments, I think the bartenders here are great. Not only are they friendly, but one of them has chivalrously stood up for me when I was being mildly harrassed by an eldery drunk, and another one saved my laptop for me when I accidentally left it under my seat one night (see what I mean about the numbfaced drunk?)
I'm wavering on 3.5 here.
I stormed this bar with four girlfriends (well, three gals and one gay) last weekend and felt a bit like everyone in the bar was giving us the stink eye as soon as we walked in. I'd been here once before with the fiance and didn't get that vibe, so maybe it was just that particular evening -- or the fact that four hot chicks and one hot gay guy were taking over their turf. :)
The clientele on this particular evening was dude-heavy, hipster-heavy -- a pretty lame scene if you want to know the truth -- but our group didn't care! We just wanted to drink and have a good time with each other, and that we did! We quickly took over one end of the back bar, and the great lady bartender kept the drinks coming as well as the entertainment - she had some MOVES.
This bar looks kind of like a German tavern/ski chalet/dive all in one. It's pretty hilarious, really. The drinks are a decent price, and if you can get a seat, it's a lot of fun. Weekends tend to be pretty packed.
A decent place to drink in Lincoln Square, but I could deal with less 'tudes from the hipsters.
Used to like this place because of the friendly atmosphere. Now the bartenders think they are god's gift and that it is a privilege to be served by them. I will never go there again to be treated like a peon. Plenty of other places to go have a good beer. The beer isn't that good there anyway....
Well Mien fuhrer, I'm not so into the German things. That said, this place is ok. The beer's pretty good, I think it's just incompatible with what I'm looking for in a bar. I've never been when the place is packed, so maybe it's better than on Monday nights. There're better places to grab a pint...er, stein.
C+
I had a great time here late on a Friday night. It was just the right place to top of a casual date, cozy and warm. It was busy, but not packed and everyone was friendly and the beer was great! The bartenders were really nice. The jukebox is super diverse.
I don't live in the neighborhood, but if I'm looking for a beer when I'm visiting Lincoln Square, I'll be back.
Huettenbar is just the type of place I can embrace my .125% German heritage. You can get a tasty beer here for the same price that chumps pay for a Miller Lite elsewhere as well as real schnapps, not tha wimpy and sugary American imitation that middle school aged kids imbibe. If you're concerned with things other than the drink selection, like the atmosphere, they've got that too. The bartenders are friendly when it's not too swamped, there's a nice mural and a lot of welcoming patrons. The only downside I can figure it's it's popularity to size ratio. It's nearly always packed on weekends, so if you want to sit down and not hover in the three foot wide stretch that leads to the one-person bathroom arrive early.
I've attempted to go to Huttenbar numerous times while I lived in Lincoln Square. It was always packed - people spilling out those humungous windows that open out onto Lincoln Square.
However, one quiet dreary afternoon I found myself back in Chicago and after the unpleasant hostess at the Brauhaus was brusque as usual I wondered across the street to the Huttenbar. It had a few groups of people here or there but there was room at the bar. It is surprisingly small but comfy ... cozy I would say. Its a neighborhood bar where the bartenders get to know the regulars names and everyone meets up for a drink after work. They had a nice selection of German beers on tap and prices were reasonable - $5 for a pint (?).
I don't think there's anything necessarily special or unique about the Huttenbar. Its a pleasant place to stop in for a beer. I imagine the people watching is fantastic if you get one of the seats next to the windows on a beautiful day.
Overall it was an A-OK experience so 3 stars.
I've never had a bad time at Huettenbar. The bartenders are friendly, even when they're packed, and I find this place has a really diverse crowd - people of all ages, races, and whatever other subcategories you can think of.
Example: when I was there this weekend, there was an adorable gay couple in the corner, a group of hipsters to my left, a couple fraternity boy looking types, a couple younger looking dudes in their very best sweatshirts, a few girls in their 30's who seemed to be there for girls night out, a few friends who looked to be in their 50's, and a guy doing his best Pete Wentz imitation. So it's random, but in a good way - everyone should feel welcome here.
Good selection of beers and decent prices.
Not a bad place to go to and somewhat quaint inside. Located in Lincoln Square, it's filled mostly with your local hipsters of the neighborhood. They do have a decent amount of German beer on tap. If you are not a German beer aficionado, like myself, and not wanting to sound like a fool, like myself, by mispronouncing the German beer names, just ask for a BBK...it's simple to say and it's a good beer.
The juke box is filled with 80s-90s pop music, which grinds my nerves after so much of it. I had to endure some teeny bop sitting next to me screaming in her valley girl accent "Like, oh my God, I love this song!!!!" on each and every song that was played.
All in all, it's a decent place to go to. Get's a little packed on weekends, but you should still have a good time there.
Alright, I loved this bar before I ever set foot in here...just say it..."HOOOT-enbar"...ah, I just can't get enough. So when it comes time to celebrate my birthday with my favorite work peeps, and we decide to go to my neck of the woods, where do we go? "HOOOOOT-enbar" (or as my coworker called it, the "Flootentoogen", which is also super fun to say).
All fun words aside, this bar is fantastic...German beers, no pretension, and lots of dudes, which makes for short ladies room lines (gotta love that one, gals!)
Friendly bartenders, prompt service, jukebox, and a good crowd. Even better when the weather is nice and the windows are open.
Wanna meet for a drink? You can bet yer rootin'-tootin', we can meet at the Hoootin' (bar).
I really liked the feel of this place. It is a little Bavarianesque type place that transports you to the other side of the planet to little German town somewhere.
The place is somewhat dark with low lighting and dark wood everywhere. his appealed to me right off the bat as I am quite often attracted to this kind of atmosphere. I also liked the open front end of the bar to get a clear view and made an excellent spot for people watching.
The drinks were NOT cheap but the bartender was very attentive and was readily available to help us out. This is not going to be a final destination for me but if I am in the area, I know this is a solid place to unwind and have a fine crafted German brew
I really like this Lincoln Square joint. Cheap brews, and a fun, relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. A great German beer selection, too! My only complaint is that the space is small, so on a Saturday night it can feel pretty cramped. It's nice to find a place in Lincoln Square, though, that feels like it hasn't changed in several decades, despite the neighborhood's gradual move toward yuppification.
I almost want to say it sucks so people stop going because it's gotten crowded just about every night of the week now. But, I can not tell a lie. This place rocks! It's like the neighborhood Cheers. If you go enough you start to see the same people in there and the staff will remember your name (yes, thats my lame Cheers reference). And you just can't beat the selection of german beers. Which is probably why I can never go for just one beer there! The juke box also has a unique selection of music. My friends love it for the all the old country but I love it cuz I can still manage to sneak in an old 80's tune or some hip hop now and then.
And I agree with the reviewer below about it being full of dudes. The ratio is alwasy good for us single ladies....not the sole reason to go there but always a bonus. :)
Weissbier ist mein Lieblingsbier.
Oder genauer: dunkeles Weissbier ist mein Lieblingsbier. Schmeckt immer gut -- aber besonders gut, wenn es draussen ein bisschen warm und sonnig ist.
Oh, sorry, you don't speak crappy German? Well, you can still go to Huettenbar and get loaded like I did.
They don't have a wide beer selection, as others have noted, because THEY FOCUS ON GERMAN BEERS. There are only so many German brews you can get on tap in the US, after all.
With my Muenchener roots, I appreciate the Bavarian focus -- particularly the fact that there was dunkelweiss on tap. That's Deutsch for dark hefeweisen, Amerikaner.
Ich bin total blau geworden, aber das ist eigentlich kein Problem in Deutschland...und es ist auch kein Problem beim Huettenbar. Daher verdient es sich fuenf Sterne.
Translation: My Kidneys fucking hate me.
Aside from the creepy snaggle toothed woman that sat with us at our table, this place was great. It had a lot of people in it, and the drinks were flowing. Like most have said, it has a small amount of beer choices, but many German beer choices.
If you are in the area, check it out. It' has a nice rustic feeling...
Fair warning, most people will either love or hate the Huettenbar. I guess its because Huettenbar is a bar, and doesn't try to be anything else... like a restaraunt, or a pub, or a nightclub.
The formula is simple: One big long bar, a bunch of stools, a jukebox, and beer. They up the beer variable nicely by serving a good amount of decent German brews. Everything else is basically what you'd expect if you had precisely 15 seconds to describe "a bar".
So why 4 stars? Well, Huettenbar isn't trying to be anything fancy. Just a friendly neighbourhood watering hole. Its ace-in-the-hole is their relationship with The Brauhaus. Since Brauhaus gets so damned packed, you can actually go to Heuttenbar, and they'll call you when your table is ready.
Not a bad little place, it's in the hood..........good little Lincoln Square bar. Nice in the summer when you can have the front window's open and people watch!
Actually my friend's and I love to sit in " The Stampstich", the large booth by the front door!!!
This place really gets PACKED for May Fest or German Fest, AVOID THEN!
AVOID! AVOID!
You can never go home again- so the saying goes. I am not sure if I believe it but...
You can never relive fun, debaucherous vacations abroad- but you can always try! If you are looking to resurrect your German roots, or bring back memories of the Haubrahaus and running wildly through various fountains in Munich (no, not me!!), try the Huettenbar.
It is not designed in the beer hall style of many of the famous bars in Germany, however, it DOES remind me of some of the smaller local pubs found in Berlin and Frankfort (umm culture, no, I do admit, I did a bar crawl through Germany- after all, it is known for BEER).
This was one of my first hangouts when I moved to Chicago. Lincoln Square was not as gentrified then, Louie still ran the bar, and Erma was around often. I loved the place. Cheap, strong German beer, cozy intimate settings, and a rockin juke box. It does sport one of the smallest bathrooms I have ever seen (no need to worry about people multipurposing it- it would give the mile high clubbers a run for their money), and it was a stumble home to my apartment- with a stop at Jerry's Dinner on the way.
I have returned since I left the neighborhood. Huettenbar has changed some with the times, but still retains a glow. Louie has retired, Erma's picture remains, but I have not seen her, and it has become somewhat hipsterfied. However, none of these factors are total detractors from the glory it beholds- GREAT BEER!
ENJOY!
(And if you can resist, stay away from the fountains- it looks like fun, and it is, until you are completely soaked and slogging your way home!)
This place has about 12 German beers and one Dutch on tap. They serve said beers in hefty mugs and tall glasses for about 5 bucks a pop. It's got a nice, non-pretentious crowd, a jukebox, and an open-window front in the summer.
Whoever the bartender is with pink hair is excellent too; she'll give you a sip of the beer before you commit to it, which helps loads for anyone not totally familiar with German beers.
Bar none, it's a great place to hang and drink some different beers.
Try the dark lager. Ich liebe.
I have to agree with Mike C regarding the bartenders. In a city with so many choices it's unacceptable to go to a place where you're yelled at, ignored and treated poorly. If it's too much to ask for a drink all the while receiving dirty looks and terrible side comments, I think the Huttenbar may want to rethink their hiring strategy before it's too late and they lose more customers. I won't be going back any time soon until I know there's new staff behind the bar.
Shall ve go to Huettenbar? Ya, ve go to Huettenbar! (Yes, I have a Huettenbar song.)
The draw, and really the main--or only--reason to go, is the selection of German beer on tap. It's definitely not cheap, and the crowd can get a little yuppified, but the service has always been pleasant. I can't say as how I've seen any drink specials, although they do offer some seasonal beers, such as Oktoberfest. However, the beers on tap are a pretty small sampling of the wide selection of German beers one might find at a place like the Map Room, with dozens to choose from. And alas, the jukebox isn't necessarily one of the best around, either.
In the grand bar spectrum, I'd say it's a good after-work/early evening/summer afternoon place, but probably not so much a weekend night one. Then again, I'm hard-pressed for a place I can truly tolerate on a weekend night.
I'm going to agree with Amy V. and Mike C.... get a new staff!
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Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
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Category: Bars
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Category: Pubs
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