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McGill's Bar & Grill
Categories: Nightlife Bars Restaurants American (Traditional) Restaurants Chicken Wings Bars, American (Traditional), Chicken Wings [Edit]
4553 N Pulaski Rd(between Sunnyside Ave & Wilson Ave)
Chicago, IL 60630
Neighborhood: Albany Park
(773) 478-6096
- Hours:
Mon-Fri, Sun 11 am - 2 am
Sat 11 am - 3 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
18 reviews for McGill's Bar & Grill
18 reviews in English
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Review from Michelle F.
Chicago, IL
3/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is my favorite dive bar in the city! This is one of those places where you always feel welcome. The bartenders are super friendly, the drinks are strong and cheap and the food is tasty.
Gill's really only serves bar food, but it's good nonetheless, especially when you're getting your drink on. I usually like to order the Cheese Cubes and Chicken Tenders. Their Grilled Chicken Sandwich is also tasty if you're in the mood for a sandwich. They also serve Tater Tots, which take me back to my elementary school hot lunch days. It's hard to find places that serve Tater Tots, so that's a plus. There are daily drink specials too.
Gill's has two dart boards, a large wrap-around bar, tables with stools and an area toward the back that can be used for private parties. Gill's is always throwing its own parties and events, as well. I've been there for a Halloween party, a pumpkin-carving party, a St. Paddy's Day party and a bunch of other parties that I can't remember. It's a truly fun place!
The women's bathroom is clean and modern, which is unexpected for a dive bar. I've heard the men's restrooms aren't that nice, but that's not my problem.
There's a small parking lot out back, or there is always ample street parking in front.
It's also important to note that Gill's does NOT accept credit cards. There is an ATM, but those things always have ridiculous transaction fees, so I suggest getting your cash ahead of time.
Overall, Gill's is a great place to hang out. Fridays are definitely the happening day there since they have dollar domestic drafts that night. Stop in for a couple drinks and some food the next time you're in the neighborhood! -
Review from Heather P.
Chicago, IL
11/11/2011
A cozy little dive bar with food after 7 and daily specials. There's TV's (but not overwhelmingly so), squishy stools, dart boards, and people who all know each other. Everyone was so FRIENDLY. There were sports on, and the place was full but it wasn't super loud.
The menu is full of bar nibbles and sandwiches. We opted for assorted nibbles. Wings are cheap every day ($5.50 for 10, but we got 11, because we are so awesome.) We also got the biggest basket of cheese fries ever for $3.50, and a decent portion of fried cheese cubes for $4. They have GOOD beer specials (meaning both the specials and beers are good.) For example, $2.50 for bottles of Two Brothers (and for those of you who don't like good beer, $1 cans of Miller Lite & Coors Light on Fridays.)
With drinks and tax, our bill was under $25. And the food was good. It's not gourmet, but for bar food, it was very well-prepared (even if the wings were a little small.)
My only gripes:
1.) I'm particular about my ranch and the ranch they serve is sub-par. Not a fan.
2.) They seem a tid bit understaffed. It was busy in there but there was a single bartender and one guy cooking, so things took a little bit. You don't always want to be in and out of somewhere in a hurry, so it's not a huge deal. But my advice is to not come by if you're in any sort of rush. -
Review from Shia H.
3/7/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Dive. Dive. Dive.
Yes, it's a dive bar.
Went here for a birthday party not to long ago and it was a real good time! The food was tasty and had good portions for the prices. The tater-tots and wings are my FAV!
I'm in love with the fact they have: Fat Tire, Blue Moon and Guinness all on tap and they also have $1 drafts on Fridays!
Music, food, drinks and darts; everything that makes me happy =]
Can't get sweeter than that baby! -
Review from Esther A.
Albany Park, Chicago, IL
1/30/2011
So we walked in and it was freezing cold inside. Wheel of Fortune blaring on the televisions and the most GODAWFUL randomized crap playing on the jukebox. Smelled exactly like what it was--a sad, old dive bar. Bartender poured half of my husband's Guinness, then left it to settle (which was fine) for TEN minutes (WTF?) while she vanished to parts unknown. We'd gone in intending to get dinner, but the cold, the smell, the awful noise, and the unfriendly reception had us hurrying to finish our beers and go somewhere less...well...horrible.
(By the way--one Yelp review mentions that they take plastic. They don't.) -
Review from Omar G.
Chicago, IL
7/27/2011
I've only ever been here on Friday nights unless there's a playoff game to catch. The food is great for the price, though the cook time is on the longside. The dollar MGD drafts work, causing many a happy, stumbly nights. The service is solid too.
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Review from LuLu R.
12/31/2009
I hang out down the block from here and whenever we get a chance, this is our neighborhood bar. The owners are very accommodating , funny, and want you to have a good time. Once you have been in there a few times, they give you a hug and kiss like you were family upon arrival. They run drink and food specials everyday. This isn't your regular bar fare, this stuff is good! Seating is plentiful and the bartenders are very attentive. This is a place for regular joes like you and me to sit down with an old friend and catch up. The patrons of this bar are one of a kind. They are all friendly which is surprising for Albany Park. Real surprising. They have other cool stuff like beer pong, RockBand, jukebox, free touchscreen games, and darts.
Writing this is making me thirsty! See you guys at McGills! -
Review from Melanie V.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 1/11/2009
FREE photohunt.
Yes, that's correct - it's FREE.
Kristina B. and I suffer from severe ADD. However, on Friday night at McGill's, we were intently staring at the screen, trying to determine the differences between the two pictures. (Shadows, what?) We kept losing, so when we made it up to Level 7, we were impressed with our ability to stay focused, for once.
Friday specials - $1 MGD bottles and $3 appetizers.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/28/2008
Now McGill's is the definition of a friendly, neighborhood bar. Seriously. The food is good, the… Read more »
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Review from Emily M.
Chicago, IL
11/7/2010
Good basic bar food (tater tots!), inexpensive, and the beer selection isn't half bad for a neighborhood joint. People are friendly, and my husband and I often go here on weeknights for a beer, darts and some burgers. As far as sports bars go (I'm not a huge sports fan), it's not obnoxious at all (i.e. not overrun by huge TVs or douchebags in baseball caps).
An update to this review--they have a delicious rib special on Thursdays served with cole slaw and (awesome) potato salad. -
Review from Kristina B.
Chicago, IL
5/28/2008
I have a good time whenever I'm here. Every. Single. Time. Period.
The food -- typical bar food. Wings, fries, tots, burgers, cheese sticks, etc. It's all pretty dang good (and believe me, over the past two days, I've had QUITE the array in front of me). There's a daily special; I have yet to try any of them. I keep ordering regular food items. I think I'm trying to mentally check them all off first before hitting up the specials.
The drinks -- cheap and strong! LOVE IT! There are also daily drinks specials; the only one I remember off hand is $2.50 Coronas on Tuesday nights.
The staff -- awesome. Everyone there is super friendly. It's hard to find that at some bars nowadays. Most people don't want to seem too inviting and warm because they're busy trying to get as many people taken care of as possible. These people are great, though.
Things to do -- jukebox, darts, drink, socialize with the staff and regulars, bitch about horrible things in life, stuff your face, dance, sing, party hard -- woot!!!!
Personal experiences -- Halloween was awesome! The place was decked out in holiday decor and almost everyone wore a costume (staff included). Good times! They also had an 80s themed party once and again, everyone was decked out in 80s attire. What fun! I love themed parties when people ACTUALLY participate.
Two thumbs up. Fine holiday fun. -
Review from Iris h.
Chicago, IL
1/21/2009
I love a decent hood pub.
The food here is edible, and there are daily specials. Colleen is the 'chef' - a nice Irish lass who fries a mean fry.
Decent beer select, Anchor Steam even.
Live music, I am told. Boppers on the weekend apparently don't over-run the place.
We had beef sams -- not so great, but fair.
A nice place to go for a cold one after a hard day.
Cops dig this place as it's just down the road from a station. -
Review from nate c.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2008 1 Check-in Here
This place used to be Murray's Pub and Grill, but changed over maybe a year ago? Not sure! But I used to pass by this place all the time and never went in until a friend had a birthday party there. Now i frequent the place since I lost my favorite bartender on Division St.
So now I stay in the neighborhood. Family owned business with smiling friendly faces. Everyone knows everyone. Good food. Specials everyday. Only complaint is they close early on some nites you want to stay out later....but understandable since it is a neighborhood joint.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from An P.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 1/24/2010
Back in December I stopped in McGills and saw some people ready to throw down for no reason and it was time to give McGill's a second chance. What was I looking for last night?
Blackhawks Game: Check
Bulls Game: Check
Darts: Check
Food: Check
Drink Special: Check
I got into McGills and felt guilty because I needed the TV changed to Blackhawks, the lights by the darts turned on, a food menu, and chalk for the darts. In a short amount of time the employees were hospitable and accommodating and hooked me and my friend up. By the time my other friend came through we were three dart games deep, a bucket on our table and watching the Bulls game and I got in an order of food.
The dartboard is in good condition as it's not often used and appears to be of proper dimensions. The lights pointing to the board are clutch as is the proper scoreboard right next to it. One of the managers commented that they used to have dart teams play out of the bar but not many play anymore. It's a shame since McGills has everything a darter needs.
The food came out quickly and the spicy BBQ wings were well sauced with a decent degree of crisp. Tots were terrific and I was happy to see wings and tots cost me all of $8.50! At around 9pm, it was either ladies' night / a birthday party and a DJ started to haul in speakers and DJ equipment and we the way of party setup. The manager politely let us know we probably couldn't play darts much longer since a party was going to start.
We eventually moved all of our stuff to the other section of the bar and started checking out the Blackhawks game. Much to our surprise, the manager dropped us a free round of beer for asking us to move. I really appreciated that gesture because he didn't have to do it and it wasn't his fault it was time for a birthday party.
All in all a good night at McGills with affordable food, beer, and plenty of entertainment. What was also cool was that at no point did the Jukebox ever stop and this time no ghetto fighting, thanks, McGills!Listed in: #81 Lawrence Bus, Cork Dartboard Bars for Steel…, Secrets of Albany Park, Get Yo Wing On, Dart Bars I like
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/19/2009
Take a step into Brawlerville.
There is a reason I don't hang out in my neighborhood because every… Read more »
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Review from Steven M.
Denver, CO
5/18/2009
Good divey neighborhood bar. Friendly staff, passable food, and reasonable drinks.
The setup is a little awkward if you're there to watch a game but not it's not too terrible. The ribs I had on special were OK and some of the other food didn't look too bad either. Friendly clientele as well. -
Review from Geoff H.
Chicago, IL
11/25/2009
I liked it....cool little neighborhood joint, with super-cheap daytime (lunch til 7?) specials, like $5 pork chops, fried chicken, etc.
Cielings are a little low, lending to that divey feel, but that's OK...the actual floor and seating space are larger than you'd think from outside. Prices are cheap, staff are friendly, they take plastic and also have food and drink specials EVERY day, even weekends. I'll be back. -
Review from Iveliss G.
Chicago, IL
10/11/2009
Awesome place to have a party for free!
I had a birthday party for my best friend here a couple of weeks ago and things couldn't have gone any better. The owner and the staff were completely accomidating. They allowed me to bring my own DJ and hooked me up with drink specials for my entire party.
The only thing I ate from here were some cheese fries and they were yummy.
I recommend McGill's for people looking for a private party feel without the cost. -
Review from Danny M.
Chicago, IL
9/8/2010
Place is ok... Next to a police station, so don't drive... Believe me.
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Review from Kay C.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2008
Low key, definite lack of folks with any sort of collared shirts, super friendly people. Bigger than it looks from the outside. Ladies' restroom is super clean! Outside is cute and tidy, little flowerpots in the parking lot and a very courteous rain shelter for the smoking crowd. Nightly specials are practical instead of "let's dump last week's old stuff before the weekend." A++ would buy again!
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Review from liz d.
Chicago, IL
2/22/2010
Now this is a dive bar. Love it. Perfect for winter Sunday afternoon drinking days. Met friends to watch the Olympics, play some darts (they both kinds of boards) and pound back some drinks. $10 for five domestic bottles is a deal! I also like being able to em up, making everyone happy. TVs are pretty old and hard to see, but after a few drinks. no one watched anyway. Inexpensive bar food, but ask first, because their menu is not up to date. And neither are the specials listed on the menu. Not crowded is an under statement, but that's left us room to be obnoxious without offending or bothering too many people. Hopefully they wil let us come back!
