Kincades

 

7

74

Amy F.

Chicago, IL

GO KU! I HEART KINCADES! :) What can you not love about 25 cent wings, mini corn dogs, or mac and cheese bites?

It's crowded, super crowded on KU games and I love it!  The KU fans come out and it makes me happy.  One time my wife got kicked out because she was wearing an Ohio State t-shirt.

The new flat screens are really nice and it's nice to watch sports games on.  If you come here you might find me drinking a captain and coke at the bar.  I'll be the one wearing the Kansas Championship shirt.

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5

6

Richard S.

Chicago, IL

I have been here for several KU games this basketball season. The first game was a Mizzou game.  After we won I decided to go to the bar instead of waiting on our waitress.  I was standing at the bar for at least 5 minutes before this guy next to me.  The bartender decided to serve him first.  I gave the guy that got served a look and he actually apologized and bought my beer.  I than found out he was Mizzou fan so he knew what was up.

I really have no desire or reason to go here for anything else.  I really enjoy the camaraderie of the fellow jayhawk fans. The chances of you finding a seat less than 2 hours to game time can be pretty slim. Although, there are an abundance of Flatscreens!

I was itching for some Xtra hot wings and my buddy ordered some hot chili fries.  I would have to say the fries were more spicy than the wings. I have also tried a grilled cheese with a tomato, it was nothing fancy.  

Just your average sports bar...

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Elite '08

119

303

Kevin A.

Chicago, IL

I CALL BULLSH*T

So I get to my friend's birthday and am told that I HAVE to pay $30 for an "all-you-can-drink" bracelet despite the fact that there's only an hour of said "all-you-can-drink" time left.  I call BULLSH*T.  

Fine, it's my friend's birthday and I don't feel like trying to negotiate with a bouncer whose remaining brain cells are obviously busy enough trying to maintain basic bouncer bodily functions like scowling, breathing, flexing in too-tight black t-shirts, and pretending to be important.

So I start trying to reduce my cost per beer...

One Guinness gone...$30 per beer...55 minutes left.
Two Guinnesses gone...$15 per beer...50 minutes left.
Three Guinnesses gone...$10 per beer...45 minutes left.
Four Guinnesses gone...$7.50 per beer 35 minutes left (although I don't think I was able to do math at this point.)

Shot time for the birthday boy...oh wait, the bartender says shots aren't included with the bracelet...ok, how about a vodka tonic hold the tonic?  I get attitude and no shots.  

I CALL BULLSH*T!!!

This place sucks and I have no desire to ever go back.

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Elite '08

13

44

Erin M.

Shawnee Mission, KS

I've been to Kincade's on each of three trips to Chicago that I've made in the past year.  The two trips in March had KU basketball games going on, which I have a feeling are the real thing that makes Kincade's fun.

It's crowded.  CROWDED.  The bathroom situation is ri-DONK, and not just those tiny closet-bathrooms in the back room.  

But hey--What you see and what you expect is what you get.  It's a big enough bar perfect to bumble around in with friends and get rightfully wasted.  St. Patty's was a hilarious mass of green beer, but the price for a pitcher of beer was murder!  You know why?  Because they knew we would pay it.

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3

12

Lucia G.

Chicago, IL

okay, so I was getting ready for a night of fun fun fun endless drink drink drinkS and mucho drinks. I went on a busy night on KU's game.. Hey the crowd was awesome. You find funny, crazy drunk, KU fans and half sober drinkers there. Don't get me wrong.. Crowds like this entertained me. However, in terms of service... Okay where do I start? First I got my drink, ( kincades mix the best red bull vodka ever .... Ever.. Not too strong.. Not too light either.. Get you to drink it like a juice and hit you hard later..) okay well my buddy and I decided to get another and the bartender was right in front of us. We tried to order a million time but she just ignored us.. Count her tips.. N ignore us for a couple of time. We tipped good before so we thought we could get better service but I guess we were wrong..

We got to order after awhile when she is done with her tips and done chatting away with her colleague. We got frustrated an wanted to get some shots.. I tried brazilian bikini wax .. Apple washington.. NONE she knew. Heck, honestly lady really.. Did you know your drinks well??

Other than that incident .. I like that bar... Waitresses a little rude and snobby.. But I would go there for atmosphere and crowd.

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Elite '08

14

119

Joe S.

Chicago, IL

Just b/c it is St. Patty's Day does not give you the "green" light to gouge people. $5 for a coors light? Are you kidding me? It gets one star b/c the service was good. I did not eat here, so not sure about the food. I am just blown away that they charge $5 per coors light.

It was $6 for a guinness. Who knows what they are thinking

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Elite '08

11

26

Meredith B.

Chicago, IL

KUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

I've been coming here for years.  The older I get, the more I don't like coming here unless there is a KU game playing.

Cheaper location than it's alumni sister location, Lottie's, but contains more of the younger alumni.

During game days, the waitresses get overwhelmed and forget to put your food order in.  Stay on top of them or you'll never eat.

I love Lucy's = the back room that only if you're familiar with the layout you'll know there's a secret room in the back beyond the kitchen.  The bathrooms up here, however, are airplane-sized.

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6

20

Matt H.

Chicago, IL

Perhaps not the best wings in the city but certainly the best wings that are on special (Tuesday and Thursday 25c).

Yeah it's got a 'high douchebag count', whatever, get over it.  Stop crying and eat your wings.  Then come up with something more original than the template "Lincoln Park blah blah Trixies blah blah Frat blah blah Wicker Park going the same way blah blah" review, it's getting old.

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Elite '08

7

106

Janette L.

Chicago, IL

25 cent wings on Tuesdays/Thursdays and $7.50 pitchers.  Wings were not as good as I remembered, but the service was a world better than the last time I was here.  You have to order in groups of 10 wings.  Spacious and never had trouble with seating but on a big game night (this is a KU bar apparently) I could see this being a problem.  

Never been out here and not too inclined to, but food is decent if you are in the area (pre 10pm).  If you are looking for wings you can get better ones at Bird's Nest on Southport (same special).

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Elite '08

7

85

Sara W.

Chicago, IL

Haven't been here in ages, but I used to go for the dollar beers on Wednesday's.  The crowd is mostly college age I guess, and with a group of people, it's fun.  Not too packed usually, but it seems to depend on what time you get there.  It's your typical DePaul area bar, so go with that expectation and you probably won't be upset or too excited either way.

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Elite '08

114

461

Dane K.

Chicago, IL

Though I've certainly been to bars with a higher douchebag count, this ranks fairly high.  The drinks were a lot better than other bars I've been to, so that's a plus.  It was fun with a group of friends, though.  It was crowded but wasn't overly crowded.  

Music sucked, but I'd rather have bad music than hearing 30 Trixies try to sing along to good music.

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Elite '08

120

321

Vanessa M.

Chicago, IL

I've only gone in here when other people have wanted to go.  There is sometimes some good eye candy.  Most often than not, I just feel my IQ slipping every time I go in here.  I don't think it's the bar's fault, it's the clientele that come here.

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7

21

Tedd M.

Chicago, IL

My friend and I stumbled upon this place (literally had been drinking for a while already) last Saturday.  Initially we went inside to grab ONE drink and then head home to change and go out.  One thing led to another and before we knew it it was late in the evening.  

The atmosphere was remeniscent of college, but who doesn't like to feel  young every once and a while.  The service was good and we never were waiting for a drink.  The prices were a bit steep but it was a fun place!

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Elite '08

32

40

brennan s.

Chicago, IL

Kincades is just a nice good bar to have a good time amongst friends.  There is a choice of seating from loud and proud to quiet and content.  Around back is ANOTHER bar with space for dancing and louder music mingling.

The staff will throw you a comp item every now and then just for appreciation.  The service is typically great with a responsive timely wait staff and servers that deliver your food right off the grill.  Try not to challenge the chefs with 'their' version of hot wings.  Oh crap they almost had me call the fire department to put the fire out in my mouth.  That was a bad idea.  Maybe the right wager and the proper odds among friends and I'll venture down that road again.

I'll go back to Kincades.  It certainly grows on you, but I'm not going there to meet the people.

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Elite '08

187

410

Kristin C.

Chicago, IL

This one time, at Kincades I met an NHL player.  I didn't even know he was one until later  on in the night when his friend pulled me aside and told me.  I didn't believe him and didn't care because this dude was hot.  To make a long story short, I hung out with him all night and then the next week he was in my US Weekly.  Hot.

Anypoop, Kincades was the catalyst for my little brush of fame.  That's really it.  As other reviewers noted, it's a college-aged bar best left for college-aged guys and gals (lucky for them it has 'raoke on Wednesday) .   I am too old for this place now and won't be back.  Dang, I miss that shady gray area when I could still pass for a Coed.  Thanks for the memories Kincades - you totally put a little of the glory into my glory days.

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0

26

Carrie M.

Chicago, IL

Kincades is a decent bar with a nice mix of people (as in normal people, and those dressed up to nines because they are looking for someone to take home).  Up front it is loud and usually always crowded, but if you are into a quieter scene, go to the back bar.  It is usually less crowded, you can get table service from the wait staff and the back has better music with a lower volume.

The staff has always been just ok, but for a busy bar on a Saturday night, about a good as can be expected.

Just watch out for the bathrooms, they are usually awful.  Just hold it!

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38

10

Jennifer B.

Chicago, IL

As a former Lincoln Park trixie (reformed, and fresh from a few years in San Francisco) I returned to Kincade's after a long hiatus, and was shocked by the overall gross-ness of the kind of bar I used to frequent as a Chicago young-thing a few years back.  

This place is frat-tastic as they come... it's loud, smokey, dirty, crowded, and the food is disgusting.   Absolutely disgusting.   I looked hard to find a redeeming quality (and also try to justify why I spent so many nights here as a young-un) and well... the only thing I noticed was a favorable guy/girl ratio.  Unfortunately... 90% of the dudes here were of the "backwards baseball hat and shell necklace" variety.  

Yick.  Let's just say you won't find me here ever again.

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Elite '08

70

199

Jenny A.

Chicago, IL

Dollar burgers on Mondays? I'm there.
The food is really, really tasty. Maybe I'm just a sucker for greasy bar food, but the burgers, the fries, the tots - all very yum.

I've never been on any other night of the week, so maybe I'm missing the meat market that everyone seems to be annoyed with. The only meat I saw was the delicious, cheap cheeseburger in front of me.

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Elite '08

89

189

Stacey A.

Chicago, IL

I actually like this bar - and given the rest of the reviews of it, I wonder what that says about me. But you have to understand, I'm an early-20's recent grad who wishes she could afford to live in Lincoln Park. So maybe they're just hitting their target demographic with me...

But I digress...dollar burgers on Mondays are awesome, and they're not little dinky Steak N Shake-sized burgers, either. Service is fast and they have pretty decent specials on every night of the week. The clientle are generally in their early to mid-20's and more often than not are pretty easy on the eyes.

Proximity to the Armitage stop is a blessing and a curse. It's really easy to get to, but once inside, if the windows are open, every time a train goes by you have to pause your conversation and pick it up again when the train leaves. Not the best for any kind of intimate pick-up-some-hot-member-of-the-opposite-sex conversation.

EDIT: Every time I've been, I've had the same waitress, and she just seems so...disinterested? I know, waitressing is a thankless job and customers are assholes and blahblahblah, but seriously, lose the attitude. There's no need to be so surly-looking.

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Elite '08

31

192

Kathleen C.

IL

This bar is ok.  I feel as though I am a little too old to frequent it now but I went a lot on weekends when I was 20 and 21.

During the week they have pretty good deals.  Although I have found it to be kinda crowded after work when they have $1 beers or cheap pitchers.

Went there on a tuesday with some girlfriens and it was exactly what we wanted: $2.50 drafts with a place to smoke.

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1

36

C M.

Chicago, IL

Did a private party there.  Our bartender was cool, treated us right.  This place is for the 21-30 crowd, for sure.

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0

12

Erin A.

Chicago, IL

5 Stars because this is a KU bar and watching games in the back room is so much fun.

1 because being in the back room during a KU game is like being at the Hawk at KU and that is not my crowd

3 Good bar food

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Elite '08

343

600

Ed to the M.

San Francisco, CA

Everything I hated about college, wrapped up in one neat tiny little package called Kincade's.

Fratty, meat-market-y place for the yuppies of Lincoln Park and the Midwestern DePaul kids.  The bouncer was rude, the drinks were weak and overpriced, the girls were slutty, and the place was packed like sardines, so much so that I was worried about getting an STD from the couple getting it on practically in my lap.  

OH!  And the bathroom!  The bathroom was dirty and cramped, the sink is right next to the urinal and there is nothing distinguishing the two, so I felt like I was washing my hands in the airspace of some random dude's pee.  I'm shivering now just thinking about it.

Again, I was the only minority in the entire place.  Seriously, I'm sooo not about race, but this is getting old.

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Elite '08

45

213

Robert S.

Chicago, IL

The thing that makes Kincades a gem is LUNCH! Dollar beers on Wednesdays, Four dollar pitchers on other days, but very tasty food everyday. I usually get a basket of half mini corn dogs and half tater tots. When dipped in both ranch and hot sauce, either are heavenly, and compliment the ice cold beer harmoniously. The place is very cool and low key at this time, and the bartender is fun. On a warm summer day, lunch could not get much better.

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6

127

Jody C.

Chicago, IL

I love Kinkades for karaoke nights! The beer is cheap and its so fun to watch people sing drunk. Just a fun place to hang out with a big group of friends during the week. The bathrooms in the back are scary and gross, so hold it and go to the one in the front. Girls and guys share the two in back. Interesting conversation place though.
Also, the only place in Chicago where i've ever seen anyone even remotely famous.  Really didn't add to my fun times (from L.A.), but it's worth noting. I saw Brian Cook, Luke Walton, and the fat guy from Lost.

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Elite '08

26

175

Julie B.

Chicago, IL

You know what?  I kind of like Kincade's.  Besides the dollar burgers on Mondays and the dollar beers on Wednesdays, I like the layout of this place.  It's like a lot of little rooms and nooks connected.  The atmosphere is laid back, the karoake is hidden in the back room so everyone doesn't have to hear eight terrible renditions of "Don't Stop Believin' " all night.  The servers are nice and prompt. I have fun every time I'm here.

Yes, the bathroom is awful.  It's so cramped that you can wash your hands without getting off the toilet.  But overall?  Kincade's is pretty good.

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1

35

Lauren C.

Chicago, IL

Wednesday nights for dollar bottles...this is THE place to be in Chicago.  Not only that, but in the back bar upstairs....there is karaoke!!!  Always a good time here, and I always happen to run into familiar faces!!

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22

225

Brittany C.

Chicago, IL

Well, laziness probably prevailed if you see me at Kincades. In all honesty though, not a bad bar. Good weekday place, good people watching if you can sit by the windows or in the mini-outdoor seating area. Food is standard, lots of TVs for sports watching.

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8

72

Yvette F.

Evanston, IL

My favorite place to watch college hoops!  Rock Chalk baby!!  They do a really good job of making room for all the fans in the back room.  Love it - but only during baskeball season.  = )

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16

110

Kathy M.

Chicago, IL

This is the bar that I frequented with my Volleyball team last season.  They sponsored the CSSC league and we played up the street at Lincoln Park High.  It's about a 4 block walk from there?  Not bad at all.

We went on Sunday nights and always had great service, great conversation, decent food, and beer.  (beer's the same to me where-ever I go).  

It's seriously right under the Brown Line tracks, so it's easy to get to.  The clientelle was pretty normal the nights that we went, but since it's a Bar One bar, I can't imagine spending a weekend night there.  Highly recommend it on a Sunday night though.

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4

34

April M.

Chicago, IL

My friend frequents this bar every Wed night for Karaoke, and usually drags me with since I have Wed. nights off and he has to drive past me to get to the bar from the burbs.  

The cover is always $5 and than you get $1 bottles before it was crappy as Miller Light and you could hardly move in the back bar (where the karaoke takes place).  Also since there was so many people, mostly young 21 year olds (yes I'm only 23 but newly 21 year olds kinda irritate me) the beer was ALWAYS warm!  It didn't seem like they stored the beer in a cooler for storage when not opened.  

Just last week I went again and this time they have Coors Light bottles, which was at least cold since it was jam packed this time.  Not a bar for single women trying to find decent men, all the men i run into there aren't worthy enough to get my phone number!

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25

271

Cassie B.

Chicago, IL

a lot of things have been said about this place.  they were our volleyball sponsor a couple years back and (see my mcgees, durkin's and lincoln station reviews) they served us cheap beer and wings without a lot of BS.  
EDIT: came here on a friday for happy hour.  They had free buffet.  ok, a lot of bars do that on fridays, it's usually a steamer tray of fried crap.  This buffett was AWESOME!  The choices were totally random too!  I will list the them: carved ham with sub rolls; chicken gumbo soup; cut-up veggies and dip; cornbread with andouille sausage (YUM!); lasagna; taquitos, meatballs.  Then later they added jalapeno poppers and fried mac and cheese bites.  it was hilarious!
oh also good draft specials.

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11

370

Doug p.

Chicago, IL

This is my new favorite bar in Chicago, i'm just mad i didn't discover it sooner. The waitresses are really fast and friendly .. if you go with a bunch of your friends and are lucky enough to get a table its the best place

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Elite '08

85

555

Leang E.

Chicago, IL

I hadn't been here in ages, and took me a while to even remember or get my bearings since the bar has a downstairs and an upstairs level.  I wanted to say that I came here in hopes of meeting Kristin C.'s NHL player and Kristin C, but my friends were craving wings and Tuesdays just happen to be the bar's 25 cent wing night.  I have never had the wings here before so I was willing to check it out.  We had the option of Jamaican Jerk, bbq, and hot and really hot.  So we tried 3 out of the 4, pretty much a no on the really hot ones.  The crowd isn't as bad as McGee's when it comes to the college frat boys, but I don't that they can be completely avoided.  The bar does have Blue Moon on draft, and was happy until they ran out of orange slices.  Grrr!  Our waitress was kind of crabby and just not pleasant at all.  She seemed annoyed that she had to even talk.  She barely made it around to our table and we'd have to find her to get refills on our drinks and ordering our food.  The wings do come with a side of carrot and celery sticks.  We didn't know that the wings just come with blue cheese, so I had to specifically ask for ranch.  I guess my take on the wings is that they are ok, maybe a little bit bigger than McGee's but in the same equivalency realm.  It's a little tougher to get parking, so I'm not sure if I'd venture out here too often.

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1

81

Andrew M.

Chicago, IL

I think the deal was sealed for me a few nights ago when I was waiting outide another Chicago bar, badgering my friends about how we should be at Kincades, which I had proclaimed the "best bar in the city," and the bouncer came over, smiled, and said "you're right, Kincades is the best." Coming from the employee of another bar, this just confirmed what I aready knew. You want the best? Go to Kincades. It's got the vibe of the cool frat party all the time--with good looking people everywhere, great tunes and excellent beer on tap. Its two floors provide you with some variety and alternatives if you are feeling cramped. If you're in your 20's this is a great place to bring your friends and meet other young people your age.

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Elite '08

144

407

Niki C.

Chicago, IL

Edit:  I figured that I should be a little objective & honest in this review.
Quite frankly, it doesn't deserve 5 stars just because the fella I dated works here.

Double Edit:  Now that I'm no longer dating him, I can *really* be honest.

-5 stars for the abundance of d-bags that come here
+5 stars for entertaining karaoke on Wednesdays
-3 stars for the abundance of "i can't tell the difference between slutty & sexy" girls that come here
+5 stars for the drink specials (dollar beers isn't too bad a deal)
-1 star for the abundance of drinks spilled on you, god awful pickup lines used, & pathetic attempts at being "cool"

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59

1224

Ren H.

Chicago, IL

I really like this place, its HUGE!  From the outside it definitely doesn't look like a bar that has more than 4 rooms in it including a dance floor!  I agree with Sara about the beers... on a Wednesday night when there are a million people there and you can't even move the waitresses manage to bring you beers in a friendly and timely manner, I was very pleasantly surprised!  If you happen to be lucky enough to get a table here you'll have a great time, otherwise, plan on pushing and shoving your way through the crowd to get from room to room

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4

53

Zach A.

Chicago, IL

Kincades is hit or miss. I've had many fun nights here, but also some pretty crappy nights as well. I think it's pretty much the crowd you're with that makes kincades fun.  Whenever I've been here for someone's birthday it's been a blast...not a good place just to go to on a random night.

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0

122

Nicola C.

Chicago, IL

I used to love this place when I was in my early twenties, but I have gotten so over it now that i'm in my late twenties. It's just a bunch of drunk guys looking to pick up young girls, who  are wearing next to nothing.  There are too many different bar areas for mingling in.

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6

79

amy k.

Chicago, IL

met some friends here sunday eve. it was fine. just a bar. we were upstairs and so were a few other folk but we were pretty much left to our own devices. the service was fine. some woman apparently fell and broke her face on her way in downstairs. ambulances and flashing lights were involved. awful for her with christmas so soon. think of the family photos. other than that nothing about this place stood out.

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