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Moody's Pub
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants American (New) Pubs, American (New) [Edit]
5910 N Broadway St(between Thorndale Ave & Rosedale Ave)
Chicago, IL 60660
Neighborhood: Edgewater
(773) 275-2696
- Nearest Transit:
-
Thorndale (Red Line)
Granville (Red Line)
Bryn Mawr (Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 1 am
Sat 11:30 am - 2 am
Sun 12 pm - 1 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
487 reviews for Moody's Pub
Review Highlights
"Best romantic beer garden in the world."
(in 156 reviews)
"The onion rings are absolutely delicious, though."
(in 104 reviews)
"Absolutely love the Bleu Burger (add bacon."
(in 32 reviews)
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485 reviews in English
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Review from Ellen S.
Chicago, IL
12/1/2011
Moody's is a very special place for me and my friends. The second it warms up, we call each other and say, "Moody's??"
You take your time at Moody's. It is a place to catch up with friends over a cheap and very delicious pitcher of sangria. Yes, the service can be terribly slow. The garden could be better decorated and you have to bring cash. Yet, I LOVE the sangria and the ambiance sets the mood for amazing conversations.
I recently went in the winter. The fireplace was warm and toasty and our waitress was friendly and attentive. A great place in the winter to bring a date. -
Review from Brett B.
Chicago, IL
12/1/2011
Its definitely time for a re-do on this place. The burger I ordered, which they are known for, was so greasy that my bun was completely saturated with grease. The restrooms and floors in the dining room were filthy, and there were thick clouds of cobwebs hanging from the light fixtures. Honestly, this place looks like it hasnt had any investment in it since it opened in the 60s. Time for a rehab to modern standards of lighting and cleanliness.
All was not bad though. The service was good (restaurant was not very busy), fries that came with the burger were very good, and the long island iced tea was POWERFUL, and a great deal for $7.75. And they FINALLY started accepting credit cards. I think I would definitely return for some drinks but pass on the burgers.
Its a shame though. Some thoughtful upgrading to this place would do wonders. Its a gem of a spot and it has a wonderful patio.... -
Review from RJ W.
Indianapolis, IN
10/23/2011
Moodys,
I'm only giving you 1 stars because I do enjoy your patio and burgers. However, the buck stops there.
Not only am I restaurant manager but I eat out a dozen times a week and rarely do I feel taken advantage of like I was today at your establishment.
Normally I go in for a few beers and Faith has always done a great job taking care of me. Today I had a craving for a burger and soda but not a $15 burger and soda and my usual waitress was not in.
How is it you are going to serve me a fountain soda in an 10oz glass packed with ice, charge me a $1.50 and not offer free refills? Honestly...down right deceitful business. I know how much it cost you to serve an 8oz coke...about 12 cents. However, if you are not offering free refills you should either have your waiters communicate that to your customer or serve it in a can or a bottle so someone understands there are no free refills. Free refills are an industry standard and if you are not going to adhere to that standard then you need to notify someone. How would you feel if you were out getting Italian and a basket of bread was placed on the table and the waiter asked if you cared for more and you said "yes" and next thing you know those baskets of bread are on your bill? You would be livid and not return. Now you will understand why myself and my industry friends in the neighborhood will eat and drink else where. Judging by the other reviews you have this is clearly been a problem for awhile that you have failed to take care of. Good luck to you Moody's. I wanted to like you considering I live a block away.
In closing your service is average and I can go 4 blocks over to Hamburger Mary's, get better service, better product and not be insulted to my face while having my wallet raped from the back. -
Review from Andy J.
Chicago, IL
2/9/2012
Moody's is a great place that I enjoy going to every time. For starters, the must have plate in my opinion is the blue cheese burger. Its a decent size burger and comes with excellent fries. Another great thing about this place is the pitchers of Anchor Steam that they serve. The other major thing I enjoy about this place is the bowls of peanuts they provide for customers while they wait for their meals. The overall pub is alright- its rather dark and intimate but a rest place to have fun with friends. The reason why they are not a 5 star in my opinion is due to the service (not terrible but could be better) and the overall pub could use some thorough cleaning. But other than that- cheers.
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Review from Kerbear E.
Chicago, IL
1/14/2012
Moody's was definitely not what I expected it to be. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was how rediculously dark it was inside. Minimal lighting but not in the cozy kinda way, more errie, strangely quiet, & uncomfortable. I noticed previous comments on the lack of cleanliness but honestly it was so dark I really didn't notice.
The waitress was friendly enough, the burger was good, and there was a fire going in the fireplace not far from our booth so that is why I am giving 2 stars, but I do not plan on returning anytime soon, unless I am ordering to-go. The beer garden looks nice so if it was a summer evening eating outside it might have been a better experience... -
Review from Jay K.
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
There's a reason this place has been in business for so many years, and that's because the burgers are pretty damn good! I love the fireplaces in the winter and the peanuts and the cold beer. Patio dining in the summer. Excellent fries. Parking in their lot . Nuff said!
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Review from Luis L.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 10/18/2011
Times are tough. I understand.... but there's a difference between being thifty, and insulting your customers.
I ordered a diet coke with my burger. Ok, fine, it says on the menu that there are no refills. I see it. But your fountain drinks, do not come in different sizes. They come in ONE size. Next, they are served in what I believe are 10oz mugs. Next, they are FILLED with ice, so it probably ends up being about 6 fluid oz of Diet Coke. I'm sorry, but charging me FULL PRICE for having a refill on my 6 ounces of Diet Coke is ROBBERY. What kind of fool do you take me for? I get the concept of profit margin, but you expect people to be OK with paying those prices for what you offer? Times are tough for EVERYONE, not just you. And it would be ok if there was something to balance this out, but there isn't.
Listen, your burgers aren't all that. They're good, if you're in a pinch. Hamurger Mary's kitchen closes at, what? 10PM? So I go here instead. Plus, H. Mary's is several blocks away. You guys cook your burgers until 2AM, right? Ok, that's ONE point in your favor. But the burgers aren't great. They're probably 70/30 meat/fat ratio? Way too fatty, even for a meat eater like me who LOVES bacon. It's not even grass fed beef, so give me a break.
Next, the service is decent, but NOT good. BOTH times I've been there in the past MONTH I've dined alone. In a pinch because it was late and no one eats dinner at that hour, and no one is THAT FAR NORTH at that hour except people who live in the neighborhood... AND ME (I just HAPPENED to be walking by late, going home, and I hadn't had dinner). Anyway, I had to ask someone else to find my server to bring me my check (tonight, and the last time I went there this month). Not cool. I'm dining alone, and I ONLY ordered a burger. So what do you think I'm gonna do? Take an HOUR to eat it? Lounge around and read a book with the exceptionally bright lighting? I'm being sarcastic, it's REALLY dark in there. Be attentive! Bring me my check! I should not have to hunt you down, especially NOT on a SLOW TUESDAY NIGHT.
The only thing this place has going for it is ambiance. Seems like a nice place to lounge and drink beers with friends near the wood burning fireplaces (they have a few). I, however, don't drink beer. It's not MY scene. But if that's what YOU like, this MIGHT be a good place for it. Hard to tell. Everyone says the patio is nice. Yeah, it's nice, but those 10 year old green patio chairs are uncomfortable and ugly. Again, not MY scene.
Tonight was the last night I stepped foot in this place.
Burgers: fine, not great. I'd rather eat pizza instead (places are open until 2AM near me and probably HEALTHIER given the meat/fat ratio of the burgers).
Soft drinks: Overpriced for the amount you get, and no free refills on top of that. An insult to the customer's intelligence. Like we don't know what 6 oz of Diet Coke is worth!
Ambiance: Not MY scene.
Service: GET A CLUE, people.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/5/2009
This place is SWELL. I've been here before, but came back recently.
Burgers here are enormous (1/2… Read more »
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Review from G T.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2012
I have been coming here since the late 90s! I was impressed from the very first time because it was summer time and we ate on their outdoor patio. They have, I think the best patio in the city. I really don't like patios that are on sidewalks, This is not. It is just South of the building away from the street , In fact there is a large iron fence and trees separating the sidewalk. It is surrounded by tall trees that offer plenty of shade. The food is OK. No fancy smancy stuff here. I always get the burger. When it is too cold for the patio the inside has two fireplaces that are burning. It is always dark and there are peanut shells on the ground. The service is good, for a Pub. I dont remember ever having bad service out of the two dozen or so times that I have dinned at Moody's Pub. Oh and bring ca$h. They don't take plastic!
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Review from Matt T.
9/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Moody's is an apt name of this dive bar/restaurant. I've been coming to Moody's here and there for years and have a special place in my heart for this great establishment. Moody's is dark, dank and divey and I love it. Sometimes it just seems a bit too dark, especially after a few too many beers trying to find that cramped men's room. The same can be said for going to the awesome garden space out back, which seems ever more dark. Watch your step because you may trip or bang into someone but it's all worth it on a warm summer night with a burger and some sangria or anchor steam.
Overall, the atmosphere is like I said, a dive bar with a restaurant inside. you get a lot of locals and people from other parts of the City here to try their famous burgers. The crowd is a good mix but I never feel like I have to talk over the music or other customers. You really do get a great mix of down to earth people at Moody's.
As far as the service goes? It's adequate. The servers range from cold to pleasant and for the most part you get what you need and service is attentive. Moody's is not the kind of place for extra enthusiastic service, but that's fine because it just wouldn't fit.
I've only had a couple things outside of the burger and they were fine, but you come here for the burgers, a pitcher of beer or pitcher of sangria. The burgers are really awesome. I wish I knew what kind of beef Moody's uses but they don't tell you and I really don't care (which is rare). The patty is very good quality and has great flavor a texture. On it's own the burger is great and juicy. The patty is about a quarter pound of goodness and it's even better when you get blue cheese and sauteed mushrooms! The blue cheese is fantastic and just generously slathered on the burger. Often times I have to scrape some off as it's so much. Or, I just use the excess of the hand cut delicious fries. If you are feeling up to it, get the onion rings instead, as these are really great as well.
Come to think of it, it's actually been a while since I've gone to Moody's. I think it's time for a return trip. Make sure you bring cash (no CC accepted - ATM in the place) and your appetite. Give the place a few minutes and your eyes will adjust to the darkness.Listed in: Get your hamburglar on
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Review from Sarah J.
Chicago, IL
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Burger.. one word.... Its a MUST. Its cooked to perfection and its delicious. Basic burger, but done right.
That is all :) -
Review from Megan G.
8/15/2011
At least once a summer I forget how consistently underwhelming this place is and find myself back here. Hopefully this review will help me remember for next year.
It was a beautiful, slightly cool night and my dining companion was hankering for a hamburger - Moody's seemed a natural choice. We headed up Broadway and were pleasantly surprised to find Moody's shares a parking lot with the bank on its north side. We let our eyes adjust to the dungeon like interior as we stumbled towards the huge and, admittedly, very nice patio. We grabbed seats, looked at the menu and...cash only. Drat! And Moody's ATM was out of order, so I headed to the nearby Dominick's to hit the ATM. After that foray, I was finally ready to sit down and order food.
Okay, petty rant: Moody's doesn't offer free refills on pop. That is just ridiculously cheap and chintzy to me, though I suspect it's to lessen the burden on the servers (they also don't bring water to your table automatically). When I'm paying $9 for a lackluster burger, it rubs me the wrong way. And lackluster they are. I have no idea how Moody's ever got voted the best burgers in Chicago, but Moody's burgers always remind me distinctly of those pre formed burger patties you buy at the grocery store (or from the Market Days of my elementary school youth). Greasy, flavorless, and unexceptional. The fries are drenched in oil and are equally unremarkable. The grand total with tip for 2 burgers, 1 beer, and 1 pop (no refills) was just under $30. Way too expensive for this quality of food.
I think Moody's would be fine if you just wanted to drink on a patio (though skip the sangria, I've ordered it on previous visits and it is ridiculously weak and watered down), but as a dining location you can do way better. Now I just have to file that away for next summer. -
Review from Gwen R.
Chicago, IL
9/21/2011
You go here for the Bleu burger, Sangria, and Onion Rings!
Dont expect great service. Great place to relax with friends! -
Review from Gary B.
8/5/2011
Perfect...that is their patio in the summer time. I believe that their burgers are the best in the city and I have consumed many mediocre patties.
I always go for the Moody Blue which comes with a HUGE amount of blue cheese. Their fries are fresh cut and delicious and they offer a well balanced drink variety.
Yes, they don't do substitutions and arguing with them will not change that...these are well seasoned servers here and they will not budge regardless of your offering. The patio fills quickly and whatever you do don't sit by the fire place in the winter...while it will draw you in on a cold winters night...you will end up sweatin you A** off after about 5 min.
The place is low key and if you are looking for high end uptight them I suggest you look elsewhere. -
Review from Larz F.
Evanston, IL
10/12/2011
Moody's has one thing, and one thing only, going for it - their patio. Edgwater/Rogers Park is in serious need of places with outdoor seating (and I don't mean tables on the sidewalk 2 feet from traffic - who wants to eat next to bus exhaust?) Their food is so greasy Paula Dean would complain. Their sangria was probably one of the most disgusting things I ever drank - and I drank mystery punch out of buckets in college. Inside is like a sticky, black hole. The decor is so dark that it's hard to see and the booths and tables are covered in a film of decades old grease from thousands of Moody Burgers and onion rings.
My advice - don't eat here, but do enjoy a beer (and stick to beer) on the patio with a group of friends. It is a great outdoor space. -
Review from Rachel H.
8/5/2011
I don't get up to this neck of the woods that frequently, but my recent visit to Moody's may play a part in changing that.
A friend had a Sunday afternoon birthday shin-dig here, and I am pleased to have something new to Yelp, and pleased with the afternoon. Foodwise, the fish sandwich was good, crisply fried but pretty light and not excessively greasy. The fries were fine but not super memorable.
Far more memorable is the beer garden/patio area that's gotten so many raves. It is indeed wonderful. Even on a hot day, it was relaxing and nice and at 2pm on a Sunday, not crowded. There was even a spot to stash the b-day cupcakes. The cheap pitchers of sangria were equally nice, and were good for a blistering, boozy afternoon.
The inside did seem a bit dark, but I doubt I'll come here when it's not garden weather, so I'm not concerned about it.
Prices are a little higher than on the Chicago Menupages menu, but still affordable. Cash only, so bring your piggy bank instead of your plastic. -
Review from Emily H.
Chicago, IL
8/11/2011
Moody's is a heritage restaurant. My mom used to party there with her college friends and now I go there to party with mine. The burgers and Sangria are so good that occasionally my mother comes to my parties. But she never invites me when it's just her and her girls, which is kind of mean!
The fries? A+
The burgers? A+
The booze? A+
The beer garden in April? Cold as a witch's tit and still worth braving.
Moody's has kept it simple for more than 50 years. They don't follow fads, they don't try to compete with the burger flavor of the month club, and they don't have to. You will get a solid, tasty American meal at Moody's and be licking your lips as you leave, planning the next time you can come back. The ingredients are top-notch, the prices are reasonable, the cooking is on par with much higher-end dinner clubs and the waitstaff provide clean, speedy service with a smile.
You go to Moody's because you want to sit beside the huge fireplace and sip something warm with someone hot.
You go to Moody's because you want to bask in summer's glow and slurp surprisingly intoxicating Sangria that tastes of fruit and fun.
You go to Moody's because you want a lot of space and lovely food for a birthday celebration in a spilled-drink-forgiving atmosphere.
You go to Moody's because the kitchen is open to your eyes and your food is cooking seconds after you order it.
You go because everyone who has been to Moody's recommends it and wants to go back and wants to bring their 42 friends along.
You go because it's damn good and has been for half a century. -
Review from Caroline M.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2011
I don't know a better deal than paying $10.25 for a pitcher of sangria!!! Eight! (!!!!!!) servings of sangria per pitcher. Um, I suck at math, but I proclaim that's a bargain! Especially since it's $4.50/glass otherwise.
Perfect patio outdoorsy drinking weather + one lovely co-worker + a boatload of sangria = best kickoff to outdoor drinking ever.
And yes, I am currently medium tipsy. Moody's = ftdw (for the drinking win).
PS: don't sit inside. They don't turn on the lights and it's creepy dark. -
Review from PJ L.
Chicago, IL
11/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Um...i thought it was illegal to smoke where food is served, even if it's a beer garden. WTF? Also, not veggie friendly at all.
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Review from Nektaria R.
Chicago, IL
8/28/2011 8 photos
So the hubby wanted to go to Goose Island for a beer and grub. I'm thinking parking is a pain in the butt. I really don't feel like doing the parking spot dance on a Friday night. I recall a friend from work telling me about Moody's on Broadway. A mile from home, parking is pretty decent in that area, heck, why not? So I talked him into this place.
We get there, dark interior is true except for the light up ATM which was just sitting right as you entered the bar area. I also noticed that it's a little stinky in there, kind of stale and greasy, like they don't get enough ventilation. Ick! In any case, I knew we were gonna sit in the patio so I was OK with just passing through. Servers were kind of in their own world. They saw that we were confused as to where we should go so they told us that we can sit anywhere.
We made our way to the patio. It was pretty cool looking. I didn't expect the space to be so huge! Lots of trees, tons of seating for two or three people and larger tables for bigger groups all just interspersed. We sat under one of the trees towards the front of the patio. Very nice lighting compared to the indoors. Little candles on each table for a soft romantic glow. ;)
Menus were on the table already and there are only a handful of items. Cash only please! Burgers, steak, chicken, fish sandwiches and a couple of other items. Fries and onion rings for sides. The server came by to take our drink orders but we were ready to order our meal too! Steak sandwich medium and moody cheeseburger medium well. On tap we got a pitcher of GI 123. They also list some tasty beverages besides beer we'll have to come back before the winter sets in.
Beer was delicious! Of course it was. Food came out pretty quick. Cooked to perfection with fries on the side. Both menu items were very good although the steak sandwich was super thick and had lots of tendons, I would have preferred it sliced in half to make it not so difficult to eat (my hubby didn't mind it though since he also ate half of my steak!) The burger was really good. Not sure if it's the best burger I've ever eaten but I've been on the hunt for a while so I'll know when I've had the best for sure. Then again, he put A1 sauce on it so it probably killed the taste of the meat for me since I hate A1 sauce on anything!
Being that we had a whole pitcher to the two of us and our food was gone so quickly, he was really hungry, we ordered another order of fresh cut fries and an order of onion rings. Both really huge orders. Onion rings were very good with actual onions inside rather than the pureed onion stuffing that some places have and were cooked to perfect crispiness while still tender on the inside (love onion rings!). Of course since our eyes are bigger than our stomachs, we ended up bringing the onion rings home to my family who loved them.
I'm totally going back to get my own burger for sure so that I can update my review with my take on their burgers since that's what they're all about. -
Review from Michelle Z.
Chicago, IL
8/31/2011
I went to Moody's last night with some girlfriends. I didn't eat but we shared a pitcher of the sangria. Really yummy, really strong. Loved it. Very reasonably priced. $11.50ish for a giant pitcher.
Burgers looked really good and they were cheap too. Around $8. They have a buy one get one 1/2 off coupon on their website.
Outdoor garden is cute but could use a little decorating. Our waitress was really friendly and sweet even though we were not the greatest table. (One person didn't show, I didn't eat. Sorry!)
Cash only. This statement is printed everywhere in the restaurant so I don't know why people act all surprised about the no credit card thing.
Definitely will go back. -
Review from Chris J.
6/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
So the burger here is pretty solid. But the fries were pretty wilted and overly greasy.
The sangria is very tasty and great for sitting in their epic outdoor garden. Oh and pitchers are cheap!
But service is pretty terrible...
I'm really not sure what to rate Moodys. If you're not in a hurry and having fun on a nice night outside with some people, go for it. Otherwise, the annoyances might drive you away. -
Review from Katie L.
Chicago, IL
8/22/2011
I really want to "get" this place. It's a pretty cool place and a good location. The food is okay, pretty much all burgers.
Go for the ambiance and the outdoor patio, but if you didn't it would be okay too. -
Review from Jen M.
Fairfax, VA
7/22/2011
On a recent trip back to the hometown, my friends and I met here for dinner after much discussion and deliberation. I'm glad we chose Moody because we had a great time in the HUGE beer garden.
Moody's makes a great burger, paired well with the cheap and tasty pitchers of sangria and beer. The Moody Bleu Burger was fantastic! The Cheeseburger, onion rings and fries were good too.
Huge, cheap servings. Decent service. Crappy bathrooms - actually crappy everything inside. I can't imagine sitting inside the dark, gloomy interior, but we'll certainly visit the beer garden again Chicago weather permitting. -
Review from jim r.
Chicago, IL
11/7/2011
Went to Moody's to have lunch and was so pleasantly surprised! I ordered the Blue cheese burger... Came with a lot of frys! The food was perfect... What made this experience so nice was our waitress Digna :) She was so sweet, nice and informative. As in other reviews she mentioned there were no refills and suggested we order a pitcher which would save us $ for ordering single glasses... So you get a pitcher (no ice and a cup with ice and the value is met. She also took the time to chat with us while we were sitting by the fireplace (2). It was cold so it was great to sit by the fire... The tab was very reasonable. So I give it a good grade. Moody's might think about offering free refills to get the 5th star.
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Review from Eden S.
Chicago, IL
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
BRING CASH!!!
I don't know why this place doesn't accept credit card (the fees maybe) but you might walk out with a bill higher than $30, which is okay. This place shouldn't be called a beer garden since they have 5 maybe 6 different beers on tap (no bottles, nothing), including 312 and Bud Light. But anyways, the outside area was nice and big, though the picnic tables might need to be fixed a little. The inside was a little dark and kind of ghetto to walk through with food prep and other items in the inside area.
The burgers were okay, but if you name that as your specialty and that is all you really have listed on your menu, it's not really that special. Our waitress didn't like talking to us, but meh. FYI when you order a burger, it will take 30 mins. No idea why since that is your specialty. Oh well.
Won't be making a stop back...sorry. -
Review from Marissa G.
Chicago, IL
5/13/2011
As the sun and warmth comes back to Chicago you have to love Moody's. The beer garden is my favorite place to hang out with friends over a beer and burgers in the city-- laid back, good for groups, and wonderful on a hot summer evening.
The bleu burger with fries is sinful and the gigantic onion rings, I think, are the best in the city. Stick to beer-- I'm always disappointed by the sangria!
In the Chicago winters the dungeon like cave can be intimidating, but you'll find that the little booths are intimate and just fine.
Also, since we're in the Edgewater neighborhood, it's super-diverse! You can feel comfortable there because everyone is there -- the upwardly mobile set from Andersonville enjoying the aforementioned Sangria, Ethiopian friends gathering after work, Russian immigrant waitresses, and even jocks from Loyola. It's part of the charm. -
Review from Liz M.
6/12/2011
Love this place!!!
Food: yum yum yum! I love a Moody Bleu Burger. I've brought several people here and they always enjoy the burgers. Also, they are big enough to leave you more than satisfied. Many times I bring half home. Onion rings are great too.
Drink: cheap great drinks. Pitchers for $10-$12. Sold. Also have great prices for cocktails.
Service: can be lacking at times, but never bad enough to make me not want to come back.
Atmosphere: dark. Can be hard to read a menu. Love the fireplaces. So cozy. Casual, fun environment.
Etc: Beer gardens are FANTASTIC!!! I absolutely love coming here and enjoying a couple pitchers of beer and burgers with friends. Private parking lot is a definite plus. Remember: cash only!!!! -
Review from Barbara I.
Chicago, IL
3/12/2011
I have been going to Moody's for over 40 years. It was a big treat to go with my parents after Saturday Mass. It has not changed much. Some additions to the menu, slight price increase, but still very good.
A nice outdoor dining area for the summer, a fireplace lit indoor eating area for the winter. Ample parking directly north. Very good servers. Coupons available online. Does not accept credit cards.
Great burgers, cooked the way you like them. Great sloopy joes. Good fries and onion rings. Good salad.
I plan to continue to eat at Moody's for the next 40 years! -
Review from Connie A.
Chicago, IL
7/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Can you really say 'no' to Moody's beer garden in the summer?
But... in the winter, when it's pitch black inside and you can't see 2 inches in front of your nose? Well... I have to think about it. Even though it has a fireplace... which... in January is inviting. Oh ok, I'll go. I just won't touch anything.
The beer garden is so vast. It's hard to not find a spot somewhere to settle in. And I've never found it to be raucous out there, people are pretty chill.
I know the staff can be iffy, or at least it has been over the years, but this summer I've experienced nothing but kind, caring ladies (who remind me of my grandmother -- you ladies are treasures).
Great neighborhood burgers at a decent price. And at this time of year, their pitchers of sangria (though nothing special) hits the right spot. -
Review from Chris L.
Chicago, IL
7/16/2011
Of the negative reviews the only issue I agree with is the service. It can be a little spotty at times and the waitresses never seem very enthusiastic. This is the only place I've ever just walked out of because of the poor service (which considering I give it a good review tells you a lot about the rest of the place).
As for the other issues people have with this place I'm not sure what you were expecting. This is a good cheap hamburger joint with an awesome beer garden. If you want something brighter, squeaky clean, and contemporary go someplace else. I'll enjoy a good meal with cheap drinks in the beer garden. -
Review from Frankie R.
Chicago, IL
9/17/2011
okay.....I love the food here. The onion rings are burgers are amazing. Drinks are good, too. I'd give them 5 stars if it weren't for the CRAPPY service. EVERY SINGLE TIME I call for a take-out order, there is a mistake. And when I inquire the manager (some cranky old man) acts like it is my fault.....sorry. So I've been walking in and ordering in person, lately. Not as convenient, but I ensure my order is right that way.
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Review from Nima H.
Chicago, IL
11/2/2011
Good place to have standard burgers. Nice outdoor seating in summer.
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Review from Elizabeth b.
Chicago, IL
3/10/2011
When I think of a beautiful summer day, I imagine myself sitting out in the Moody's beer garden, drinking a pitcher of their fruit-laden, super-strong, super-yummy sangria and chowing down on a hefty moody blues burger (LOADED with blu cheese and served atop a bed of homemade fries)
I love this place. Inside it's super dark and cozy with a fire burning in the brick fireplace. More of a wintery thing, but still fine in summer if the patio's crowded.
Remember to print out your coupon from their website, and there's one waitress you'll want to avoid. I don't know her name, but trust me when I say you'll know within about 5 minutes if you've got her. -
Review from K T.
Chicago, IL
This is a great place to chill, summer or winter. On a beautiful day in the spring or summer expect to find the large, outdoor patio PACKED. You might have quite a wait but just remember .... Pitchers of Sangria are on their way.
In the winter cozy up in their rather dark, but eclectic indoor bar area with a basket of peanuts on the table and the heat from the grill keeping you warm.
Service can be kind of slow but thats because this place is always BUSY. It's cash only which is a big pain, but know this ahead of time and prepare appropriately. Their sangria isn't exactly top of the line, a big pitcher of cheap red wine, probably grape juice and limes and maraschino cherries, but it's still pretty good to knock back with some friends. They have good pitchers of beer for the men. Their burgers are good juicy pub burgers but I wouldn't call them the best in Chicago, as they claim. Their onion rings are pretty good too. Had their salad once, it was standard but very good. To be honest, we don't really come here for the food, not because it's bad, but because the menu is so small. We are really here for the pitchers.
A big, offensive strike against Moody's are the no free refills on sodas. I know most people come here for the booze, so who cares, but the other day I just didn't want a pitcher of sangria to myself (in fact I never want that to myself, best shared with friends) and while their individual glasses of sangria aren't outrageously priced (I think 4.50 a glass if you dont get a pitcher), I just didn't want. I was quite angry that I couldn't greedily drink soda all evening to my hearts desire. Oh well. But strike 2 is the fact that I am POSITIVE my $1.50 glass of soda came from a CAN and not the fountain. DISGRACE. I have quite a discerning tongue for soda. I am certain it was can. Oh well .... this isn't actually anything that would keep me from going back here, just disappointing. So I guess suck it up and drink that whole pitcher of sangria by yourself?? Maybe not .....
Anyway, the point is, no frills, busy, cash only, dive-y bar but beautiful outdoor patio. Awesome place to camp out with friends in warm weather. I always come back. Oh, baskets of peanuts are only served during the winter months ... I guess I'll have to deal. -
Review from Alice Y.
Chicago, IL
6/10/2011
Moody's is me and my friends' go-to spot if we're looking to have a drink. I like that it perfectly balances the vibe of a restaurant and a bar, so you can actually sit down at a table and chat.
Their sangria is strong enough to get the job done, and a pitcher is only a couple dollars more than buying two (albeit stein-sized) glasses of the stuff. Perfect for sharing with friends.
The burgers are pretty good, too, so you can easily make a whole night of it. Onion rings are nice and crispy, and affordable enough for me to prefer them over the free peanuts for having with my drink.
It is cash-only, and yes there's an ATM, but no one likes to be charged a fee, so don't forget.
After a long winter, I finally got to enjoy their beer garden for the first time last week, and it was much more spacious than I expected, and just as wonderful, especially if you get the right weather. Highly recommended! -
Review from Aurora S.
Chicago, IL
8/13/2011
Ok, this night started with my husband and I wanting to go to the Loving Hut. They were closed and since we already paid for the meter, I WAS going to find somewhere to eat on that block!
So, we get there and sit outside (nice patio) multiple workers walk by, see us, and keep walking. It takes about 10 minutes to be acknowledged. We order 2 veggie burgers and water. It took another 10 minutes to get a damn glass of water. I was a little annoyed at this point since there were so many workers walking/sitting and standing around. In particular one chick who was standing by the door with a pissy, sour look on her face the whole time we were there. Not sure if she was the hostess but she certainly didn't help us to our seat. I don't think she has a purpose.
Our waiter was a first class douche! There is no other way to say it. First he came over with 2 huge pitchers of beer and sat them down on our table. Hello, we ordered water and still don't have them and common sense would tell you that 2 people didn't order those gigantic pitchers.
When he came back his hands were totally full with different drinks and he asked the people next to us to put one of his loads on their table. WHAT? oh yeah, and our water was in that group. Just put my water down on MY table please. Got the veggie burgers about 15 minutes after the water. Nothing to write home about, the blue cheese was delicious and you get a lot of fries (which makes me happy) but they weren't out of this world, just ok. By the way, he never came back to refill our waters, I was out of water half way through our meal. Of course he never came back at all until way after we were done eating. You better pace your water intake because you won't get another!
Now the kicker is when we want to leave. We realize at the last second they only accept cash (stupid for a bar). Anyway, this is probably so they can try to screw people out of their $. Our tab was $19 and some change. We thought that was a little high for 2 veggie burgers with no drinks, but whatever. So after going to their atm all we had were 2/20's. So my husband asks him for a 10, 5 and 5/1's. He pretends to count some money and says, "oh, I'll need to go inside I don't have that change" hmmm. He comes back a few minutes later and says "we actually don't have any 1's, so I just got you 2/5's and a 10. At this point we are friggin livid because we were waiting around so long to leave that we were going to just leave a $20 to begin with and leave him little to no tip. We specifically waited because we were feeling bad and we never tip under 20% ( he was going to get 10%). After he pulled that shit we decided to leave without tipping him anything, except of course the coins he pocketed and never gave us back. Did he really think he could strong arm us into giving him a 25% tip!!?
I read another review where the waitress did the same thing. Maybe they have staff meeting on how to screw people but I am not buying that in the whole place you can't find five singles. Overall, it was a horrible experience with mediocre food. Would never sit in at this restaurant again. The only saving grace is the blue cheese. -
Review from Jennifer A.
Chicago, IL
6/19/2011
4 stars for neat outdoor space!
3 stars for food.
2 stars for service.
1 star for the bathrooms. -
Review from Matt M.
4/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
The burgers/chicken sandwiches are pretty good. The ambiance is on par with a medieval dungeon - but in a charming way. The prices are not out of control.
I'll leave you with this thought. Its five stars...for Rogers Park. -
Review from Johanna P.
Chicago, IL
5/28/2011
Good and cheap burgers
nice patio
romantic setting -
Review from Yogurt D.
Chicago, IL
10/14/2011
Awesome cheap sangria pitchers. Get us in a good mood fast. Wonderful atmosphere in the winter by the fire or in the summer on the outside patio. Typical bar food but a solid place to enjoy once in a while.
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