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Categories: Pubs, American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: UptownSheridan (Red)
Chili's® Grill & Bar is as bold and flavorful as the food it serves. The energetic, fun atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a... more »
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seriously, what is wrong with me? this place is right down the street (and i've been here for 3 years), but it took me until last week to go in there- and now i'm officially making it my neighborhood bar!
called them to reserve a table for the steelers game last monday night, and they took care of it- table was waiting when we walked in. i don't think there is a bad view in the house, thanks to the 58923756028756 TVs they have in there, but we were right in front of the projector and next to the FREE pool table! yes, free. and you can play ball out.
not only that, but their pizza is good, their beer is cheap ($6 lite pitchers), and the people are friendly. one drawback is no pineapple for pizzas, but i can live with that.
Michael's is a friendly, relaxed sports bar & restaurant. It contains--I am told--34 televisions, including one large projector. So if you're coming here to catch the big game, you're not likely to miss any action. Unless you have to pee. I'm sad to report there are no TVs in the men's room. But I have not given up hope that one might soon be added.
They have some very good weekday specials here. Monday's is excellent for catching Monday Night Football (which I did): $6.50 Bud & Miller pitchers and $15(ish) 18" pizza with 3 toppings and an appetizer platter, though I'm not sure of the cost of that. It made for a very cheap night out! They have sandwiches & other stuff on the menu as well, though I didn't look at it that closely.
The pizza is good, though I wouldn't go out of my way to come here just for that. The service was great: friendly & chill but we never lacked for anything. The decor isn't going to win any contests, but what do you want from a sports bar? There's a pool table if that's your thing.
Michael's is basically your friendly neighborhood sports bar & pizza parlor. I wish it was in MY neighborhood, as it's quite a schlep for me. . . but you can't win 'em all!
I love Michael's -- it's a great local pizza joint that never seems to disappoint us. Lots of televisions (that are on REALLY loud for whatever reason) and great food.
The one issue I seem to have from time to time is that their service is a little spotty. For example, last night, we had requested a pitcher of water, and it took a reminder to get that pitcher.
The pizza is pretty damn tasty -- a great mix between dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings.
I wouldn't go out of my way to go to Michael's -- but not a bad neighborhood place.
Also, it should be noted -- this place does a LOT of take out business. We've done that a couple of times as well.
Love this place, it's my neighborhood bar. Maybe the food doesn't deserve 5 stars, but I'm selfish and want a cooler crowd (yelpers) to join in the team cheering.
As long as you don't walk in expecting anything fancy, you won't be disappointed.
There are plenty of televisions and the place has the aroma of deep fried goodness. We ordered a thin crust pizza and it was excellent. They seemed a little short staffed on a Friday night, but the service was still good enough.
I'll update if/when we order delivery.
Having grown up in Beverly, I am accustomed to a specific type of thin-crust pizza - not too thin, but with a little bit of heft to the crust, lots of cheese and a complimentary liter of RC Cola.
Michael's is the closest thing to "South Side pizza" I have found on the North Side. Slightly thicker crust than most thin crust, big pieces of sausage and lots and lots of cheese. It's not Milano's, but it will certainly do (and it helps that a pizza comes with a free liter of the best pizza cola ever - RC).
Lots of TV's, you want a game? They have it. If it's not on, they'll usually find somewhere to put it on for you. Casual, laid back; go-to bar down the street for drinks & no fuss. LOVE. THAT.
This place is great. The prices are cheap, but the beer selection and food are excellent. I highly recommend checking this place out. If you want to watch a game and get food and drinks on the cheap.
Just okay.
I've been taking the 36 Broadway bus to and from work and the other night as I was stepping off said bus Michael's caught my eye. I really wanted a glass of wine and was a little bit hungry, too.
Now, I am well aware that if I was looking for a quality glass of wine I should have gone elsewhere, but this glass of wine was really nasty. Almost undrinkable. I drank it anyway because I was tired and didn't want to start a fuss with the waitstaff.
The pizza I ordered was good, but most definitely not the best pizza in the neighborhood (hello Bojono's). I found the crust to be a bit bland and everything else was just okay. I mean, for the most part, all pizza is good pizza, but this pizza wasn't amazing..just good.
Service was just okay. I was by myself and the place was pretty busy so I know the guy had stuff to do, but I had to go up to the counter to finally pay and leave.
I think if I were to go back (which I probably will based on the proximity to my place) I would go more for the bar atmosphere. There were a ton of TV's for your game watching pleasure, if you are into that sort of thing.
I've been twice, as it's down the block from my girlfriend's apartment, and is quickly becoming our go-to quick-bite restaurant.
Before going, a friend told my girlfriend about huge burgers at good prices, so we thought to check it out.
Truth - the food is priced VERY appropriately, much better than so many of the crappy pretentious bars around the city. It was like $4 for a single burger, compared to $9 at other places - glad to see some sensible pricing somewhere. They have a special take-out menu with specials as well, which I appreciated, though dining-in most of their entrees lack those extras, i.e. fries and a drink, and are purchased separately.
My girlfriend RAVES about their chicken caesar salad. I've had their burgers twice now, very much a fan. The first outing I had a triple burger and an appetizer side of fries, which was in total about $7.50, I think - it was way, way too much food - a single burger and a regular side of fries did me just well the second outing. For take out, that was about $5.
I still have yet to have any of their pizza, which, word is, can be great.
I will say though... as we were paying the first time there, a MASSIVE centipede - the largest I've ever seen - came crawling out from around the desk onto the main floor. I tried not to freak out, as I've a deathly fear of insects, and yelled out to the worker, who smashed it nonchalantly. Granted, those bugs are all over the place, but that was unsettling...
I will be back many-a-time.
I'm a New Yorker born and raised, which means, yes, inherently I know what good pizza is. And before Michael's, it's certainly been hard to find during the past 5 years I've lived here - stuffed pizza is overdoing it. Maybe for every once in a while, but really people, that's certainly a good reason why so many Midwesterners are "plump."
I live near Michael's now and absolutely love it. Yeah, it's "blue collar" as some people put it (I didn't know we were reviewing pizza places on a socioeconomic basis, but okay...) but the pizza is GOOD. It's all in the sauce and the cheese - did you know they combine mozzerella and provolone? I bet you didn't. The weekday and game day deals are good, too, and judging by the crowds during football season, the TVs, free Wi-Fi and delicious (and affordable) apps and pizza are a trifecta of goodness.
The service can sometimes be slow, but you can see these guys working hard - they're not just standing around ignoring people. And they're always really pleasant. For Michael's, I'll even overlook the stupid way places cut their pizzas into squares, leaving random sized and shaped pieces.
Michael's is definitely a staple of the Gordon Terrace crew, and beloved by all of us, whether for bloodys on a Saturday morning or Sunday evening take out.
The special pizza was good (sausage, mushroom, green pepper, and mushorrom). Nothing to write home about, but was worth the money.
The pitchers were cheap and we were lucky enough to grab an outdoor table. Service was a little spotty, but I did see one employee hail a cab then walk a blind gentleman to the cab; that was refreshing to see this day in age.
I've mentioned before my quest to find the perfect chicago pizza. Though Michaels has some good points, for the most part it was just ok.
Some friends and I sauntered in here one day to grab some drinks and feed our appetites for some cheesy, tomato-y goodness.
The atmosphere wasn't quite our scene. We looked around at the sports paraphernalia plastered along the wall and the sports fans aligned in a row at the bar, yelling at the TV sets. We opted for the outdoor seating.
We all decided to split a large pizza. It was indeed, quite large. The toppings, however, were a tad on the skimpy side and the crust was kinda dry. The price wasn't bad, but even so, I'd rather spend a few bucks more and get something I actually enjoy eating.
Yes. Michael's is highly addictive. Love their pizza (thin crust, not stuffed), mozzerella sticks and chicken tenders. Even their salad is pretty damn tasty (get it with chicken).
In reading some of the reviews, I was disappointed that someone called it a Chuck E Cheese for adults, I completely disagree. This is a blue collar bar where you can walk in with sweats and a t-shirt and not worry about anyone judging you. And that's also what is great about this place-any and everyone is welcome: black, white, gay, straight, typical Lakeview Chad's and Trixie's, ethnic groups of all kinds, couples and singles.
As a regular, the service is a little slow in my opinion. I like my drinks a flowing, and I find myself a waiting more than I would like.
The only thing missing from this place is a dart board.
Michael's is nothing special. It's like Chuck E. Cheese for adults, minus the animatronic animals, plus some TVs, minus the video games, plus a pool table.
The food is fine. We had the extra thin crust pizza. I've had better frozen varieties. We also had the hot wings, which were good on the hotness, low on flavor, and they seemed to have been overcooked. It's just typical bar fare.
Service was merely adequate. I had to go to the counter to ask for someone to bring us a new pitcher of Coke.
If you were going someplace for a sports bar experience, I'd expect to get more than a couple rows of 19" TVs. Where's the big screen?
We came on a Friday night, which must have been "Lame Jukebox Night" at Michael's. The songs were loud, which would be great if I were an enormous Smashmouth fan. But I'm not. So the music was a clear drawback to conversation.
There is just one toilet in the men's room, so be prepared to wait it out if the restaurant is is the least bit busy.
Michael's does a lot of things okay, but nothing great. And that makes Michael's exceedingly average.
Um...I don't really like this place. Which kind of sucks because this is where we go after dodgeball. It's okay- pitchers are fairly cheapish and if you're sharing with a bunch of people, you don't end up paying a whole lot. But it's kind of dark and dank and awkward.
Food is okay- I've had their chili which tastes like it's out of the can, plus they have a lot of other fried stuff going on. Again, for cheap. Service varies; sometimes they pay attention to us and sometimes they ignore us forevs. They do bring us pitchers of ice water, so that's kind of cool after the VIGOROUS EXERCISE that dodgeball entails. If this wasn't where the team liked to go after dodgeball, I don't think I'd make it here that often.
Eating pizza at Michael's has completely amped up the level of pizza eating for me. I grew up in the South East where our only options were Pizza Hut, Dominos, and Papa John's...so I definitely didn't know good pizza until now.
There is something with the cheese that really makes me crave their pizza. And the dough is really good too...must be the water?? My favorite is sausage with extra cheese. You can't go wrong. And it's nice that you get a free soda when you order out.
Hint - if you're from the east coast, make sure to tell them to do a "pie-cut" or else you will be sorely disappointed when you get your pizza cut-up in squares.
My only complaint is that they don't deliver to my neighborhood! My husband even tried to bribe them by paying extra delivery fee...but the delivery folks weren't willing to drive down to Lincoln Park. Oh well, guess I can make the trip up for good pizza!
It has been almost one year since I last patronized Michael's...
Another co-ed sports league, another reason to visit.
I challenge you to find a better chicken caesar salad for under $7. No really, I do. It's downright magnificent, and cheap. 5 stars.
Social teams (sports leagues) get $6 pitchers, no matter what night you are in. $6? For a pitcher!? That's pretty sweet.
The number of TVs is almost inappropriate. The tables are big, the place is roomy (non-Bears game days) and the service was still quick and friendly.
5 stars and I'm stickin' to it. Oh, and randomly...they have free wifi.
Wifi, beer, chicken caesar salad? Let's do this.
Yeah, I'm giving this place 5 stars. I mean...normally, it's hard for a pizza place to impress me.… Read more »
Stopped in here with a group a friends after all of us said we wanted to go some place different and out of the way. Well it wasn't so different and not so out of the way but it was alright for what we wanted. We pushed a couple of tables together and got to drinking. The service was fast cause we were drinking fast. The Blackhawks game was one and no matter where you looked you saw the game because there a TVs every where. We all ordered food. The menu was full of typical bar food. The pizza was very good and the wings were just OK.
Good pizza, drinks are usually on the heavy side, and the other food selections aren't bad either. Actually it's pretty good, greasy food when you need that greasy fix.
They also play all the local sports and even the STL Cards if you ask them nicely enough to!
So why the three stars? Well every time I have been in here the service has been practically nonexistent. It's seat yourself, which obviously shouldn't be a problem. But then waiting for a server to come around is like pulling teeth. When someone finally shows up they aren't paying attention and orders get messed up or even worse he forgets about your drink orders and the fact that you asked for menus and still don't have them. It's usually a mess and they only have one or two people working in the front.
If you can manage to sit through all the frustration I promise the pizza is well worth the wait. So are the burgers and wraps. This is close to my job so I am sure I will be back here again. Oh and the eats are cheap, cheap and that's always a good thing!
People People People This is a "BLUE COLLAR" Sports Bar with food....and for that; I'll give it 4 stars.. the food was good for that type of bar. I had Pizza and we had wings. I won't give it a 5 for the service was slooow.
We wandered in here on Sunday afternoon after our kayaking adventure on Montrose beach.
I thought this place was quite a gem and the service was excellent! A excellent surprise to the end of the weekend.
We sat down outside, and someone brought us menus right away. Then every server who walked by made sure we were ok - maybe because we were sitting right by the front entrance. Everyone was very attentive.
The pizza was very good too - I definitely didn't think the sauce was sweet at all, maybe they changed the recipe? I do like sweet sauce though (i.e. Palermo's on the southside).
We got the Michael's special, and the it was very good - the mushrooms were a little lacking though. I thought the crust was perfect! It was super crisp on the edges and held up the toppings and cheese very nicely.
I definitely want to go back and try their taco pizza and buffalo wings!
A typical sports bar, but they have great greasy burgers and it's a nice place to sit outside during the summer. They also have a large selection of board games you're welcome to play over dinner or drinks.
i really like michaels for their pizza (also get free pop if thats ur deal), ital beef, and breaded shrooms
have never eaten in but take out has never ever disappointed and i wouldnt mind catchin a game here come spring ;)
Living in the place just between uptown and Wrigleyville, I was searching for a pizza place. I found Michael's Pizzeria & Sports bar.
There menu is relatively completed both from a pizzeria and a sports bar perspective. If you are on a date, a small pizza is all you will need, trust me. Thin crust is done quite nicely.
Bartenders we on the ball and beer was priced reasonably There are specials most days of the week both in food and drink. For food special look at the wall on the right on a red board. It shows standing specials each night of the week.
Bar extends pretty much the length of the room with the bathrooms in the back on the far left.
The juke box is also located at the back of the room/end of the bar ....so FYI...unless you want tunes blasting in your ear, don't sit there.
A pool table, but with so much traffic around I wouldn't recommend it.
Plenty of TVs going everywhere.
This is definitely a neighborhood bar and has that friendly feel to it.
We come down here every Sunday to watch the Cleveland Browns. I moved back into the neighborhood after 3 years of living in Cleveland and the guys working here remembered me, which made me feel very welcome back in Uptown.
Their thin crust pizza with extra cheese is to die for. We have it about once a week. Simple, but tas-ty! Their fried mushrooms are also really, REALLY good. Sunday is cheap pitcher day, so you can settle in to watch your favorite team or track your fantasy team and polish off a few pitchers for under 20 bucks.
In addition to a gazillion televisions, pool table, juke box, and cheap food/beer specials, they have some pretty great board games behind the bar that you and your friends can play for free. So, if you and your pals are looking for a low-key and cheap evening out, stop in and order the thin crust with a side of 80's Trivial Pursuit. You won't be sorry!
I live close to Michaels... so of course I'm ordering from here. HOWEVER, I fell in love w/ their sauce last year when they used to deliver right to Belmont Harbor after a long day of drinking. Seriously - can it get any better than that!?
I've only had their pizza, and it's always fresh & fast. Thin crust is the best.
I've never actually eaten in the place, but it looks to be a pretty good sports bar for north of Wrigley. I'll be stopping in soon!
Not great, but not terrible. It's like dozens of other pizza places with plastic table clothes and pitchers of bear. It's too loud, and a bit dark, but generally clean.
Cheap food and good atmosphere. TONS of TVs are spread out all around the place. There is always an abundance of sports to watch. I took the little lady here for burgers and beers. We were able to get in and out for under $16 with a pitcher of miller light, 2 burgers, and fries. Not a bad deal in my opinion.
Service was a little pokey. If you are dining in a hurry avoid hitting this place as they seemed a little understaffed.
This place is all it needs to be and nothing more. That's' why I love it. A sports bar with above average pizza, cheap cold beer, and a lot of non-HD TVs. Free pool is a plus, inconsistent service is a minus. Great spot to just chill out on a Sunday afternoon or Tuesday night.
Some odd things about the place...
Free Wi-Fi: Maybee its just me, but I just don't understand taking your laptop to a bar.
Board games: There's a large selection of classic board games above the bar. Do adults actually play 'Sorry!' in public places?
Great pizza! Always a fun place to watch the game. We went here Friday night for the NCAA tourney and had a great time with the rest of the fans. I would suggest the extra crispy thin crust with fresh garlic, sausage and mushrooms....mmmm.
edit 1/21/2008:
I have moved away from Michael's and now that I am not as close (and they don't deliver way over here) I realize that Michael's deserves 5 stars. Cheap, always friendly, always delicious Michael's. I miss it sooo much. I have never had pizza quit like there's and trust me when I tell you we are searching. Next time I'm in the area, hungry or not, I am getting some to go!
It was a football Sunday around 12:30 or 12:45. My ghetto fabulous TV was giving us hell. We were hungry. So what did we do? We walked a few blocks down to Michael's, knowing that it'd be packed but hoping for the best.
The place was full of football fans of all stripes. My initial reaction was that the abundance of TVs made it impossible to focus on the game you wanted to watch. I think it'd help to have a few BIG TVs showing the Bears game and then the smaller ones spread about showing the other games. I mean, come on, are we not living in Bear Nation!?
The guy came to our table immediately and took our order. I was hopeful. The boyfriend ordered a coke, the sausage/beef combo and some cheese fries for us to share, while I ordered the meatball sandwich and opted for water. The nice thing is that they provided us with a pitcher of ice (which makes the trips back and forth easier on them and less waiting for H20 for us). Then we waited.
Did I mention that we waited?
And waited. And waited some more. Where the hell was our food? More than an hour had passed and after watching my boyfriend grow irritated from tummy grumbles and watching the cook chatting casually with the server, I went up to the counter to ask where our order was. The guy, looking startled, informed me that it got lost. SERIOUSLY? Most of the people in the bar/restaurant were drinking beer. And our order got lost? The server hadn't come back to our table from the point we ordered until now, so it isn't like he would actually know that our order was lost. Talk about poor service (which I see is a frequent comment here).
The food was okay. Nothing special. I've had better. I've had worse. I might go back for the pizza, but probably not.
On the upside: The food was free because of his screw up. We still left the tip, though.
Another neighborhood bar I've been to a gazillion times. Very much a sports bar with almost as many TVs as Best Buy. The atmosphere fits a sports bar pizza joint but now and then we've run into some unpleasant patrons with unhappy attitudes. There's a jukebox and free pool. A fair amount of outdoor seating but I've never sat out there.
There are usually some decent beer/pitcher specials. The pizza is excellent and unhealthy as it should be and a lot of other items on the menu are tasty and often cheap.
Besides it being kinda smokey if it's full, my biggest complaint is the service. I know all the guys cause I'm in there a lot, and they're great folks, but their timing is getting worse and worse. Maybe 2 years ago, I would have said "Some of the best in the area!" but now you'll frequently see 15-20-25 minutes go by AFTER your pitcher of beer is empty. There are a lot of guys runnin around in there but it can be tough to flag em down sometimes.
Michael's thin crust is fantastic - something about the cheese. I used to live up North by Michael's and this was the best local place for pizza. I just went there again this weekend after almost a decade and it is still great stuff.
This is our go-to place on weeknights when we just want a pitcher off beer, and a lot of times, good pizza. It's laid-back, not at all pretentious, and has a nice diverse mix of people from the surrounding couple of blocks.
The pitchers are cheap, the thin-crust is legit, and they have Megatouch. as far as food goes, if you're hungry, stick to the pizza. I've had many of the things on their menu, and they're nothing to write home about, but the pizza is a neighborhood favorite.
Oh, yeah: they have like 30 flat-screen TV's for you sports-watching types.
The special pizza (green peppers, mushrooms, sausage and onions) is really good. Everything is so cheap! We spent a Sunday evening here with a group and a huge pizza and pitchers of beer and it was less than 8 bucks a person with tips...could that even be right? So many tvs everywhere and tables outside. I love Michael's.
P.S. Service is not awesome, every time we have had to go find the server to get the bill and pay (but it is forgivable because later you just remember the delicious pizza). So, if you feel like you have been waiting for a while, just go find your waiter and be on your way :)
I like these guys and their pizza. It's not crazy good, but it's a great option in the 'hood.
Plus, one time when my wife was supposed to make artichoke dip for a party we were attending, but forgot the artichokes, I went down there and they gave me some. Gave them to me for free. That's awesome.
Oh, and Mario once bought me a shot at Nick's Uptown at like 4 in the morning when I absolutely did not need or want it. Good guy.
I recently met and started hanging out with a boy who likes to watch his football on Sunday's. Though I stopped watching football when Ronnie Lott retired, I have found myself drawn back into this world these past two weeks and I think it is largely due to Michael's... Free wireless internet and dozens of television screens covering every game on cable at any given time, this place is a dream come true for the fanatic (or let's be honest, it's perfect for the fantasy football guy or the dude who likes to bet on the games).
The staff is incredibly nice and very attentive and if they happen to drop the ball on something, they make up for it. The food is pretty delicious (the standards, don't come looking for anything fancy) and the Pizza is pretty fantastic actually. The one item I would definitely avoid is the Nacho's. Unless you totally dig the concession stand-ey quality of cheese dip and canned jalapeno's, I would choose the cheese sticks instead if I were you.
I would give Michael's five stars just for the fact that it is a haven for so many regulars and I really, really appreciate that (I love good old boy regulars like Michael's "Tampa Bay Shea" or "Soks")... BUT, I can't. Though they are not legally required until the 1st of the year, this place is pretty smokey. Ew. I have had to break out the Febreeze the second I walk in my front door. Maybe I'll change this review to five stars after the first of the year...
Until then, if you're into the Sunday football thing and you live on the Northside and you are looking for somewhere fun to watch the game, I DEFINITELY recommend Michael's. Just not their nachos...
I love this place, but you have to know what you are getting into. It is probably better to get take-out because service can be kind of slow if you are dining in. But you can't beat the prices and I am slightly obsessed with the Maxwell Street Polish and their Gyro. Not to mention a single portion of fries is enough for 2-3 people. My boyfriend and I can eat to-go for about $9 which for is a definite plus. So like I said, don't go expecting world-beater treatment. The menu is pretty expansive so you can always try something different. The only thing I haven't enjoyed was the Italian beef- it was a little dry. Other than that everything has been above and beyond tasty. So take it for what it is and enjoy a meal that won't cost you a small fortune to eat all the time.
Tasty food & beer at great prices and I'm particularly fond of the gyro takeout meal. The staff is very friendly as well. Service was a bit slow (lack of refills, check never came so had to go to counter to pay) and I wish they'd get the Big 10 network, but for what it is, this place is great to have in Buena Park.
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