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Lucky Number Grill
Categories: Nightlife Bars Nightlife Dance Clubs Nightlife Karaoke Bars, Dance Clubs, Karaoke [Edit]
1931 N Milwaukee Ave(between Moffat St & Oakley Ave)
Chicago, IL 60647
Neighborhood: Bucktown
(773) 235-7761
- Nearest Transit:
-
Western-O'Hare (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 5 pm - 2 am
Sat 6 pm - 3 am
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
33 reviews for Lucky Number Grill
Review Highlights
"The upstairs has super cheap drinks and the DJs are great..."
(in 3 reviews)
"...the DJ, Maja, still spun great Balkan beats all night long."
(in 4 reviews)
"At the downstairs bar- it was open mic night."
(in 5 reviews)
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33 reviews in English
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Review from Carol M.
7/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'd like to say that I wish that there were more people that go here to support this place, but I'm gonna be selfish and say that's one of the things I like about it.
Conveniently located right behind my boyfriend's house, we frequent here for the super deals they have on PBR, Jamo, wings, and sliders. Oh. Free wifi too.
Build a swimming pool in the middle of this place and I'd never leave.
Really fun mix of shows, live music, and dj's too. I saw SAMWELL here a few weeks ago. What, what? In the butt? SAMWELL (in the butt!)
Cheers LNG! ::clink:: -
Review from Juliana R.
Chicago, IL
4/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came in here last week for a burlesque show upstairs and this place was dead and the show was terrible.
Their bartenders kept charging me a different price for the same beer I was drinking the whole night, they need better communication on what their drink prices are or maybe they were just plain stupid. -
Review from Bill L.
Chicago, IL
5/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good drink and food specials during the week. Not as busy as I would have liked, but it was bad weather so maybe that played a role. They could use more tvs, but then again, they don't pretend to be a sports bar.
I was there for a comedy night, and it was quite entertaining. I don't get to this area often, but I wouldn't mind stepping in again.
The bartender was very nice, not terribly talkative, but still very nice. I felt like I was her only customer! (and for a good bit of the time i was!) :) -
Review from Gary K.
Chicago, IL
8/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
Not a big crowd but I love the karaoke sect. They are dorky yet fun.
However, burlesque night is more Goth girl expressivism than traditional burlesque. But hey its Chicago watch it n dig it. -
Review from Pete D.
Oak Park, IL
1/7/2011
Came here for the burlesque "Festival of Flesh" echo the other comments that this is not a glam scene (especially burlesque night) but that is why I like it.
I like dark beer, and selection of that is limited. Nothing fancy, but a good regular Chicago bar. -
Review from Joshua P.
Chicago, IL
7/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is great! I don't understand why its not busier. I live around the corner and visit often. The service is fantastic. The female bartender covered in tattoos is super nice. The drinks are way cheap and the food is pretty delicious. Seriously, $1 burgers on weekdays. I just wish this place was open 7 days a week instead of only 5.
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Review from Kyle R.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 12/30/2008
This place really is a great, great, great bar. One of my very favorites. The fact that it's never crowded is great (for me, not for them) and that they always stock up the jukebox in the middle of the night and that the owners are incredibly nice make this the GEM of western/milwaukee/armitage. It's so much better than the green eye I cannot even begin to list the reasons. The waitresses are rotating but always extremely nice. I'm glowing like a pregnant woman about this place, but that's only because it has made sweet bar love to me.
Really this place rocks and you should go to it if you want to spend a great night getting hammered with your pals for dirt cheap and don't want to deal with a bunch of other snobby jerks.
I still haven't been upstairs, downstairs is just too awesome.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/28/2008
This place is great, and that's not just because I did business with them.
Well maybe a little.
The… Read more »
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Review from Ericka A.
6/11/2009
LNG is now high up on my list of places to go in the city to find cheap drinks and good entertainment. Sure, the scheduled event for the night I went fell through; however, refunds were offered and the DJ, Maja, still spun great Balkan beats all night long.
Everyone was friendly and there is a sweet little dance floor upstairs. How many places do you know where you can have a great time even with only about 10 other strangers around? -
Review from Steve J.
Chicago, IL
2/10/2010
Do you remember Club 950? Same folks, new address.
The upstairs is where the dancing happens as you've read in other posts-
This is not a glam nightclub for suburban girls in high heels, the cool kids will rule here as we did Medusa's, 950, neo & Exit.
With time I hope the upstairs gets darker, dirtier and more populated. -
Review from Carol K.
12/10/2009
I was a woman out of my element. Yes, me. For the night I wandered into the Lucky Number Grill- it was obviously a themed night upstairs and the theme was "women in leather with whips" (actually quirts but let's not split hairs). Hmm . . . .left my whip at home but the bouncer let me in and the music was good so I decided to stay and have a drink. Fascinating is all I have to say.
Since there is also a bar on the first level- I wandered back down the stairs to see what was happening there.
At the downstairs bar- it was open mic night. It was like a flashback to another time, almost a coffee house feel, as the guy played his guitar and crooned out some tunes to a mostly empty room. More my style and happily, no leather or whips required.
The bartenders on both floors were on their game. Good, strong drinks and quick service. And the drinks are cheap. If you are looking for frills, the Lucky Number Grill has none. This is purely a utilitarian space, a gathering mecca for different groups at different times. There is even a small kitchen on the first level that turns out bar food if you are in the mood to eat.
Check out their calendar on line before you go to see what is happening that night (wish I had done that!)
While the Lucky Number Grill probably won't go on my "gotta go back" list, it certainly opened my eyes to entirely new wardrobe choices. Hmm . . . . I wonder how those black boots with spikes would be received at my work place? -
Review from Jim K.
Chicago, IL
7/2/2009
This place has potential. Cheap drinks. Good DJs the nights I've been there (though I haven't been there on any of the genre-specific theme nights).
The only problem is that the upstairs feels cavernous when it's mostly empty, which is every time I've been there. It's right near the heart of Wicker Park but just outside of strolling distance so it doesn't seem to be picking up the random crowds in the 'hood. I'm hoping more folks do discover this place though since I'd really like a joint to go dancing to rock and/or roll and not bangin' beats. -
Review from Jamie A.
Chicago, IL
9/5/2009
"Meh" is exactly the word I would use to describe this place. I went on a Friday for "Dark Sounds" and indeed it was. It reminded me of the goth club I would frequent as a teenager. While there's nothing inherently wrong with that, I just think it's a scene I personally have outgrown. Great people watching, though.
The drinks were tasty (read: alcoholic) and cheap; which is a great thing. However, the online menu does boast food, and when we asked (around 11/11:30), we were told the kitchen was closed. However, about an hour later, the fryer was going. A little consistency - and kitchen hours - would be nice.
I'll second the Yelper who mentioned the operating room-strength lighting. Not only is the stark lighting in the bathroom a virtual buzz-kill, the entire first floor seemed overly illuminated. The second floor was much cozier.
I don't know if LNG or Dark Sounds Fridays just haven't caught on yet, but it was pretty sparse inside. Which I don't mind at all - more dance floor for me! But again, the soundtrack just didn't satisfy my dancing needs. -
Review from Ariel B.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2008
I've read the other reviews and I'm not sure we ate at the same place here, people.
When we went in, the place was dead. DEAD. There was no music playing and the history channel was on. No kidding.
We ordered burgers and fried calamari and watch Maritime Marvels on the History Channel. Again, not kidding.
The waitress/bartender was friendly. She offered me chihuahua cheese on my burger. It was tasty.
But the place was dead. And not so fun. I was hoping for better, I'm getting a little taco'd out in my 'hood.
We'll try it again in the future and we'll see if it's any better next time. -
Review from Lisa S.
12/8/2008
This place has a lot of potential. There's a great jukebox with a nice sound system and plenty of songs to choose from. There's the sleek and dark look of the place, both intimate and open. There's also a friendly staff who will talk to you and suggest their favorite menu items ordered in their favorite special way.
What's lacking is a good bar menu and drinks. When placing our drink orders a friend asked "What do you have on tap?" to which our waitress replied "Nothing". Nothing?! Really?!
Step One. Get a few micro brews and imports on tap. Step Two. Narrow down your bar menu and focus on a few specialized dishes. You want a burger on your menu? Fine, make it a burger that you can only get at Lucky Number. The Fried Calamari (which is what I ordered) needs to be something more than just fried calamari.
On a side note, you Chicago kids are crazy if you think $3 is a good price to pay for well drinks. I guess I'm just spoiled.
Back to the topic at hand, Lucky Number Grill has all the potential to be a great place to get drinks, eat well, and listen to some music. Just take those extra steps, guys! -
Review from Megan L.
10/19/2009
This review is only for the upstairs.
Lucky Number Loft (as apparently they call it) has kind of a weird vibe. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it works. They have some odd shows (I was there for goth night, but they also have burlesque and some others), but the crowd seems pretty cool.
The drinks are super cheap and poured well, too. -
Review from Katherine R.
Chicago, IL
7/23/2008
I think this place will get better not only because they have friendly people working there, but because the location is not bad.
They said they were still working on the menu, which is a given since they opened a week before I ate here.
Had a beer while waiting for my portabello sandwich with my boyfriend. My sandwich wasn't bad- it just was not very flavorful; it was a mushroom cap with two strips of red pepper on a bun. Maybe some sauce or other veggies on there? I'll give it another shot, but once the menu improves.
And FYI- as of right now- they are cash only. -
Review from Tonia O.
Chicago, IL
9/6/2009
Not too bad of a place if you are looking for something low key in terms of crowds. There were 3 extremely sketchy characters tonight at the Open Mic session. 1) Some completely inebriated guy walking around greeting and talking to himself multiple times. 2) Some woman that kept walking in and out of the club with a switch to her hips that told me more than trying to look sexy, she wanted a fix. 3.) The guy laying down in the booth, playing with his phone under the table...that's just WEIRD.
I think this place is good to go if you don't want to pay cover, spend money on drinks unless you yourself feel compelled to drink. I think I would go back, just not anytime....umm...soon. -
Review from Brian m.
Logan Square, Chicago, IL
6/6/2010
This review is for the food Only!
The food is nasty....even the french fries were bad....This may be a decent bar at night, but the food is terrible....Dont eat here -
Review from Su S.
Chicago, IL
8/12/2008
This place has so much potential but they need to advertise!
I ate downstairs and was served by a friendly, dancing waitress. The food is pretty basic, burgers and fried appetizer things.
Upstairs there is a nice area for sitting and dancing. I love the DJ and cannot wait for more people to come so I can go here and dance.
The drinks are cheap and the music is good. Lets go! -
Review from Melissa B.
Los Angeles, CA
9/16/2009
I must make the disclaimer that I've only been in the downstairs area, since I get the feeling like upstairs isn't really for me.
The beer here is cheap and the food smells great (I'm planning on sampling it on Saturday, I'll tell you how it is).
So the reason I stopped by here is the open mic. It's the only one I've found on the North Side of Chicago on Saturdays. The sound system's decent, not the best I've dealt with, and not the worst. The host, Phil, is a nice guy and if there's not that many people on the list, he'll let you keep playing. -
Review from Cecilia S.
Chicago, IL
12/4/2008
This place is awesome. Its been slow going since it opened, and I really hope it catches on.
I had my birthday party here a few weeks back - totally the best birthday party I've had in years!!! We had the upstairs to ourselves for the most part, and at the later stages of the night after many, many dirt cheap cocktails, it was absolute mayhem, and the owners didn't seem to care at all. It got a little wild, but they let us have our fun! It was amazing!
It would be sad to see this place go, so ditch the green eye for one night, kids! Everyone there is friendly and if you stay for more than two drinks you'll prob get one on the house (which is crazy because they probably need all the business they can get!). Get lucky. -
Review from John M.
Aurora, IL
10/3/2009
My review pertains only to the downstairs. The upstairs is more of a dance/club scene and not my thing. As some others have said, I found this place because of their Saturday night open mics which start at 10pm and end sometime after 2am. So far as I can tell there aren't any other open mics in Chicago on Saturday, and it gives me some place to go alone if I can't scare any friends up.
One night they were serving food until midnight, but another night I went in hoping for a bite to eat and the cook hadn't come in. Worst case scenario you can get a quick bite at the McDonald's next door and step back in for your drinks and music.
I'm not a regular on the bar scene and don't drink a whole lot, but the prices seem competitive. $5 for 7 & Citron, $3.50 for Gin & Tonic, and soft drinks are $2 if I remember right.
At any rate, I'll almost certainly be back there for open mic in the future. -
Review from lauren k.
Chicago, IL
9/7/2009
The upstairs has super cheap drinks and the DJs are great- makes me feel like im at Neo or Berlin- a great 80 dance club feel.
Food is OK, nothin to brag about- but i go for the drinking and dancing so no big deal. And everything is CHEAPER on Thursdays - OH YA plus they have aburlesque show that kicks it once a month. Small cover, cheap drinks and pasties? what more do you want in a club? -
Review from Katie S.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2011
I have been going to Lucky Number for just about a year. I love the downstairs area, the lighting, seating, and colors are subdued and relaxing. The drinks are strong, fun, and inexpensive. The food, of which I have tried many options, is delicious. I particularly prefer the Puppy Chow on the dessert menu. It is a great bar munchie.
By far, the best thing about this bar, and the reason I keep going back, is one particular bartender. She occasionally wears a bacon lovers shirt. Liz is fast, friendly, and AWESOME! She has a fabulous memory if you're ordering rounds all night, and will always chat with you if you are just hanging out at the bar. (These stars are for her btw.)
Between the atmosphere of the Luck Number and the personality behind it, I've loved this place since the first time I stopped in. -
Review from Kirsten C.
Chicago, IL
1/7/2011
Just wrapped up an awful night at this place. It was open mic night, and the acts were horrible even for being amateurs. I've watched a lot of stand-up in my life, and it was like crickets chirping in there.
The food wasn't any better. I ordered a sampler platter where I got to choose 3 appetizers. They were out of the one I really wanted, and instead of telling me with enough time to change my order, they brought it to me and said they made a substitution on my behalf, which I could change if I wanted something else. The food was gross. It came with some sort of disgusting white dipping sauce that was cold, sugary, and tasted like curry. My sweet potato fries were cold and clammy. Ugh... never again.... -
Review from Tommy A.
Chicago, IL
6/30/2008
If you were a goth, grebo, or industrial guy or gal during the club heyday of the late '80s, you need to hightail it down to Lucky Number ASAP. This place is for you (with particular emphasis on goth). That said, this really is just a place where folks who like the great alternative music of the times can hang out and dance without being hassled. It's not a hardcore drinking dungeon like Exit or Liars Club. Owned by the folks who ran the fabled 950, Lucky Number picks up where that club left off. One star is deducted for a lackluster sound system and a sterile feel that reminded me of a VFW Hall painted black. (I only hung out upstairs . . . not sure what the grill part is like). I do love the scene this place caters to, even if (like any other subculture) it can get a little incestuous. A nice addition to the no-man's land between Logan Square and Wicker Park. Ah, finally somewhere else in the neighborhood not populated by yarn-clad indie urchins wearing their little brothers' clothes and their mothers' eyeglasses! I'll be back and see how Lucky Number is shaping up. And, Courtney B., I'm not even geriatric or clad in black.
UPDATE: I went again on a Friday night at midnight and my friend and I were two of only three people there. Not a good sign. -
Review from Tom W.
IL
2/18/2009
I agree this place is awesome. The mini burgers and domestic beer special was really cheap and the burgers were delicious. They have a wide selection of beverages and the staff was extremely friendly. Enjoy this place.
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Review from Roger W.
Glenview, IL
9/26/2010
I arrived last night at 10:15 for DEBAUCHERY, which was supposed to start at 10:00. Almost an empty room, only three people there in vanilla clothing. (Nobody commented on my two-inch steel collar.) And no signs that anything was going to happen all night!
The room that some reviews have described as a "cavern" was just a big long anrrow room. Certainly smaller than I expected, but maybe the event attracts a handful of people?
Roger -
Review from Julia H.
Chicago, IL
1/24/2010
I came to Lucky Number Grill after seeing a show at the Gorilla Tango Theater. I was not impressed. The environment felt very contrived and quite sterile to me.
As you walk in -- there is a stairway leading to the upstairs -- and a door to the right leading into a main room downstairs. We had a choice of Karaoke downstairs or interactive Jeopardy. Immediately, I wanted to go play the amazing Trebek quiz game, but my friends wanted karaoke , so we stayed down.
I did give the place thorough checkout though... upstairs felt awkward -- it is a long north/south rectangular building and the windows were sheathed in dark curtains.
Downstairs was a bit warmer, with a view from the booths lining the Western wall of Western Ave/McDonalds (which could not be good for the weak drunk at 2:00 AM)
I just felt bored with the bar. The staff was friendly, but I couldn't get a feel for the place and my coworkers felt the same, thus we headed to Green Eye across the street. -
Review from Mark A.
Chicago, IL
10/29/2008
I love this place! It isn't pretentious it is what it is! Great music, great staff, and Free Internet! If you want something that is just a chill neighborhood bar try the Lucky Number.
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Review from Geoff H.
Chicago, IL
9/29/2009
I went last Sunday for the inaugural special 'Liquid', a gay/lesbian/trans-friendly event, with a mostly '80s theme, in the upstairs section. Going up the stairs reminded me a little of Medusa's, or a loft party, or maybe a rave? The feeling continued upstairs....it wasn't too crowded, the sound system is good, drinks were cheap (for the north side, anyway) and bartenders were friendly. The decor is a little....I dunno, sparse? There's a really long banquette, a couple of table/chair combos and a few seats at the bar, not much going on otherwise. Lighting is kind of uneven: there's a big picture window facing Milwaukee/Western near a makeshift DJ booth in front, with no window treatments, so you get the lovely orangish sodium street lighting, then the dance floor had hardly any lighting, then in back by the bartenders it seemed flourescent? Made for a strange, almost house party or basement-like vibe. Large space with lots of untapped potential.
I guess the main reason I had fun, really, was that I knew 75% of the crowd.
It's super-close to all kinds of transportation, and street parking was a breeze (though, as noted, this was Sunday after midnight).
I'd like to go when the first floor is open, maybe try some food, so I'll reserve further judgment til then, and perhaps do an update. -
Review from Caley R.
Chicago, IL
2/13/2011
I went here for the first saturdays sub tropical party thing. We got parking right in front of the building it was great. We were told the party was upstairs so up we went. The place was pretty dead and the music was 80's techno pop crap. Not my thing. The host was really nice and I liked the free stuff we got, Medusas makeup is awesome. Although the music wasn't really my style Pier, the DJ is great. It was kind of an odd scene. It was dead and no one was dancing at all. It was like an awkward middle school dance where the kids sit there and stare at each other. The first bartender was kind of slow during the open bar but the girl bartender was awesome. She was talkative, quick, friendly and made some good drinks! She even went out on the dance floor alone to stir up some energy in the place but it didn't really work. Nice try though. Maybe i'll go again one day to see if it's grown at all.
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Review from Patrick B.
Chicago, IL
8/24/2009
A hidden gem. Well, as hidden as it can be right on the corner of Western & Milwaukee. GREAT prices, especially on weeknights and good people who work there.
