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Belmont (Purple Express, Brown, Red)
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The thing that I love about sports bars is that they're almost completely dead around lunchtime.
Its an awesome place to hang out. None of the crazy happens until later in the evening when your sports fans show up going "WHOOOOOO! WHOOOOOOO! COLLEGE FOOTBALL WHOOOO!"
They have good food too. It makes you feel real good after you're wasted!
I used to live by Sheffield's after college and thought it was overrated--weird beers, awkward set up and weird people. I was never thrilled when my friends wanted to go here.
I guess I'm all grown up because I went last night and it was amazing! Sheffield's hosts pumpkin carving in October. They have free pumpkins along with all the tools you would need to carve. My husband and I ordered a few drinks and carved our hearts out. His didn't turn out so well so he did more drinking than carving. However, my pumpkin pirate ship turned out pretty well!
After a few pumpkin-themed beers and finished pumpkins, we ordered some food. I don't like BBQ so the menu wasn't up my alley but the fries I ordered were delicious.
**The WHOLE place was full by 8pm so make sure to get there early if you want a table and seat to carve your pumpkin.
First off--I stay away from the bars on Clark. When my friends come to visit and think it's exciting and cool to go out in Wrigleyville, I'm consumed with feelings of overwhelming dread.
Instead of actually giving in and going to the Casey Moran's or something, I take them to Clark and Addison (it's Wrigley Field, ya'll!) and then stroll down Clark through clouds of smoke and the army of northface clad boys. And I keep going until I reach Sheffield's.
It's far enough away to keep out an OVERWHELMING amount of the above mentioned crowd. Sure, there are a few that trickle in, but Sheffield's is pretty awesome. Decent BBQ, too, but I'm from KC, so...there's that.
It's coolness was further validated when one of the 22-year old I used to live with asked me to meet her and her new older boyfriend there one night. She grew bored within ten minutes of sitting comfortably and having real discussions, and said, "Is this what people do when they're old?" Just LOL.
Other:
*French fries were delish.
*Interesting selection of beers, but for a "beer garden" I thought it could be better. I wanted to be overwhelmed and not know what to pick out of such a huge selection, but it took me two minutes. Fewer IPAs, please.
*Pretty patio. I took off Friday afternoon once to sit here and drink, and it was nice.
Had a quick dinner here. I opted for a couple beers and the 2 meat plate. The beer selection is fantastic. I opted for a standby then tried a new one to me, a Scrimshaw. Also, the very-friendly bartender mis-poured a pint of something and gave it to me to try.
The Barbeque is respectable. It's nit the best I've ever had, but it os very good, and the carolina-style sauce was spot on. I'll definitely go back.
Pros:
good draft beer selection: oberon, two brothers, some other midwest microbrews
not overly crowded on a Friday night. We got there around 11:30 and found a table near the back right away.
Cons:
slightly douchy crowd. more girls dressed in slutty skirts than i think is necessary in 30 degree weather. i'd hoped that sheffield's would be far away enough from depaul to avoid that type. oh well, wishful thinking
This place is really pretty great. If you don't want to deal with the surreal crowds at Kirkwood or Mad River, come over to Sheffield's It is kinda like a slightly more laid back version with cozier surroundings.
And the beer selection is fantastic. I had something call Dragon's Milk there that I just can't get enough of.
This place certainly has quite an extensive beer selection that's mainly based in bottles, but you couldn't try everyone of them before a year's time has passed. Huge beer selection usually constitutes a high ranking from myself automatically. Unfortunately the wait staff and mediocre food deducts from the total. I visited the previous evening on a trip before a concert at the Vic and our time was short though so we couldn't try all the beers we wanted.
Unfortunately sitting down at a side tabe away from the bar, the ditsy waitress assigned to our area had no clue who the heck we were and refused to approach to take our drink order. She must've had invisible blinkers on or something. After 20 minutes of a drought in any communication we got up and moved to the bar where everyone of our wishes and desires came to fruition.
I was quite excited to try the BBQ Bites on the appetizer menu and the beer cheese soup that my buddy ordered. The Bites would fill you up, but they really had no taste whatsoever and tasted more like egg roll made of pure breading. The Beer Cheese Soup was obviously cooked too quickly that particular day as it tasted as grainy as someone poured sand in to the broth directly. I appreciated that they grill their BBQ Chicken Wings instead of deep frying like so many other places but they were just as bland as the BBQ Bites and quite undercooked as well.
I'd go back for the beer and possibly give it another try for other menu items to give the place another chance and to minimize my dining risks.
I don't usually like wrigleyville bars and crowds but this place is one of the only places I really like in the area. I really enjoy the outside seating area. I've come here a couple Saturdays with some of my friends and had a great time.
The outside has small benches for 4 people, two long standing benches (which it seems are for people who want to smoke cigars) and is very large. Its nicely spaced and on a warm Chicago day, its the perfect places to be. The volume of people goes up x10 within 10 minutes after a cubs game ends, so make sure to beat the crowd.
The main thing that impressed me here was the unique beer selection that included lots of great unheard of beers. The service is fast and friendly, which is a great plus. It does get loud and crowded but thats expected for the location. I only had the pizza and nachos there but it was good.
Since your in an outside open area make sure to bring your sunglasses or a hat if thats what you wear because you'll most likely have the sun in your eyes at one point in time.
If its a nice warm sunny Chicago day, I would recommend going here for a good time and good beer. We'll see how it is going here once its too cold to sit outside!
Usually I'm not a big fan of the bracelet package deal. It usually ends up that the bar is so insanely crowded that you don't get your drinks in a timely fashion and at the end of the night you are triple fisting trying to get your moneys worth.
Well Sheffields had so many places to order from this was never a problem. I did end up triple fisting at the end of the night though anyways. I know you're asking yourselves. I knew Destry had 3 arms. No wonder he can jerk it and write reviews at the same time! Well no, smarty pants I only have 2 arms . The triple fist is achieved by having a drink in each hand and one being held close to the body by the arm of your choice.
This place would have gotten some higher marks but some of the staff was rude and they were running out of common types of beer by the end of the bracelet package period. I would definitely come back here though.
And to everyone that complains about the clientele that comes in here...why are you so worried about what others look like or their mannerisms are? Live your own life and you might not have so many grey hairs. Or be a dick and use Grecian male. Your decision chief!
Oh and to everyone that's wondering still how I jerk it without being blessed with 3 arms? You're kind of weird...but I will answer it. I am very flexible and I had a few ribs removed.
Only kidding. I jerk it once I'm done writing. Silly goose.
Sheffield's does indeed have a nice beer garden, but it shuts at 11. We were there last night for a friend's birthday, and we were forced in the back room. It is HOT back there - how about some better fans or an AC please?
They have a decent beer selection here, but they don't have enough bartenders to deal with the crowd on weekend nights. We sat at the bar for a good 20 minutes before someone got our order.
I think this could be a cool place, but I don't think I'd come back on a weekend night, or during a Cubs game. Maybe on a chill afternoon, when it wouldn't be so crowded.
I have friends who live in Wrigleyville, and this is probably one of the only bars I'm willing to go to in the area. Oddly enough, it is pretty close to the Houndstooth, and I'm surprised that Sheffield's patrons don't catch whiffs of the country rage emanating from the Houndstooth like a stink.
Moving on, though, Sheffield's is one of the most laid back bars I've ever been to. It's separated into three sections. The front room is rambunctious, the second room is a classy(ish) micro brew spot--the "Beer School," , and the third room is kind of awkwardly in between (although they were showing Hellraiser there on Halloween, and it has a photo booth--both plusses).
I like Sheffield's. It doesn't exactly know what kind of bar it is, but it is a beacon of good times amidst hordes of drunk-ass tricks and ass-drunk marks.
As is proper to do on a summer day, we made sure to find the biggest beer garden in the neighborhood and stepped into the Sheffield's. As the sign outside to dissuade underaged youngin's indicated, three forms of photo identification were required, but I was glad to show my Illinois driver's license.
Inside, we wound through the first bar and burst out into the crowded beer garden. My head scanning like a robot, it was unsurprising that every table had plates, glasses, and people and thus we stood rethinking out drinking strategy. After quick deliberation, we decided to stay, elbowing our way to some standing areas and parked out drinks there while an endless sea of servers, people shuffling to relieve themselves, and other inebriated parties crashed on through the beer garden.
Patrons of Sheffield's after the Cubs game included popped collars, buttoned up shirts, tank tops, Cubs jerseys, and featured carbon copied sunburnt blondes flashing their newly bronzed skin. Servers came at staccato bursts, replacing empty glasses with pint glasses filled with amber liquid goodness. At certain points, the servers would ninja out, and thirst began to dominate. After spending several hours enjoying the buzz and bustle of Sheffield's, it was time to get some high quality Chicago eats.
Since there is only so much nice, outdoor weather left, a group wanted to get together to sit outside. Naturally we stumbled upon Sheffields because of their great Beer Garden. This place gets 4 stars for its Beer Garden. Without it, It would be at least three stars. There isn't enough seating area inside to accommodate everyone - especially when the Beer Garden closes (it was midnight Saturday).
We thought getting there at 8:30 would be plenty of time to score a table and wait till everyone arrived - we were mistaken. It was already pretty crowded back there and we got a table next to some obnoxiously drunken frat party (and there wasn't even a home Cubs game). Aside from that, it was a great time. Besides the tables, they have standing areas with places to put your drinks. I don't know whether we were lucky, but there weren't many bugs out in the area (mosquitos - the downside of outdoor drinking).
Unfortunately a little before midnight they herded us inside. There just wasn't enough room to accommodate everyone. We stayed a bit, but this isn't a place I'd want to stay real late.
I usually write very long detailed reviews but this place only needs a few lines.
Excellent BBQ food. The dry rubbed ribs were incredibly well done, even the side of soleslaw was delicious.
Very big selection of rare draft beers at reasonable prices.
The outside patio is great and it feels like you are out at a BBQ in someones back yard.
I highly recommend this place.
One of the best beer gardens for summertime. Extensive selection of quality beers. BBQ is solid, especially the all you can eat deal on Thursday nights.
Bumping this up to five stars based on the great time I had here yesterday. I spent my birthday drinking all afternoon (and evening) here, and the service was outstanding.
We had snagged a great spot on the patio, but when the brief rainstorm moved in we went inside and sat at the bar. The 2nd server I mentioned in my previous review took care of us again, and was so awesome we opted to stay inside for the rest of the night. If you come to Sheffield's, have Matthew take care of you - the guy is a freaking riot and the best bartender/server ever.
Great spot for an afternoon (and evening) of low key drinking.
They have a beer almanac. How cool is that? AND a *color* photo booth! Um, hell yeah!
Came here on…
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I was here for the first time Sunday before going to the baseball game. I immediately thought to myself, if I lived in Chi this would be my hangout. I'll make it simple: great bartenders, good seating, and great beer selection. (Being from Wisconsin I was extremely impressed to see PBR on tap and not Miller Lite. Kudos to you)!
Loses one star for being near Wrigley and all the Cubs fans. Otherwise awesome!
one time i had a discussion as to whether or not there are any decent bars in lakeview/east of ashland. pretty sure i got my answer. this place's "beer school" bar is pretty top notch, considering it got the surly brewery tapping of their RIS "darkness," WHICH btw was very delicious and please don't order any of it so i can drink it all myself thank you.
Great beer and good bbq. The real selling point of Sheffield's is the beer garden. Beyond perfect on a warm summer day. We had my husband's birthday party here and there was plenty of space for everyone. The wait staff is pretty attentive, too. I don't remember ever having an empty drink.
I don't know if I'd give it 4 stars in the winter. The beer garden really is the best part.
Great hangout with ok barbecue. I really like Sheffields, but mostly for the great staff and good beer selection. The barbecue is just ok. The sauce is not anything special, and a bit too smoky in my opinion. I do love, however, the set up of this bar. I love that each room has a different feel to it. I love the fireplace in the back room and the beer garden is really nice in good weather. I will definitely go back often.
Two friends of mine and I came by Sheffield's on a recent Saturday afternoon. They really had to twist my arm and cajole me with promises of an awesome patio because I'd only been here once before on a Saturday night. I gather on weekend nights this place is very...Wrigleyville...which is so not my scene. Fortunately my friends were right - any other time this place is a cozy, welcoming neighborhood pub.
My friend told me I had to get a Bloody Mary; I'm not usually a fan but this gal knows her booze so I went along with it. I was not disappointed - this was one amaaaazing Bloody Mary - by far the best I've ever had. They also have an extensive beer list as well as full bar offerings. Their menu focuses primarily on barbecue. I wasn't feeling hungry enough for a whole entree, so I ordered the fries with garlic mayo appetizer which was also fab. So fab my friends wound up scarfing half of it. Hmph.
The service problems noted in other reviews were not an issue for us. In fact, we were the only ones on the patio (it was a wee bit chilly) and our waitress made a point to come out several times to make sure we were okay. I really enjoyed Sheffield's and I'm adding to my (unofficial) list of must-go destinations for summertime day drinking!
Well if you read my reviews, you know that I'm a beer fan and I'm a bbq fan. This place brings bother together with some nice bartenders that will let you sample any drafts for free (of a beer you never had or if they are recommending a beer for you).
I was a little disappointed that they carry Miller Lite, Bud Light, Coors and that whole mess. I want my beer bar not to pander to the crap beers. But then again this is in Lakeview so they have to cater to the majority of their local market.
But I was happy they had the 'beer school' where even more fancy pants beers are held (fancy pants is the technical term).
Good beer and pretty good bbq is a solid place (its no Fat Willys though)
Definitely recommend this place for a private party- especially a surprise party if you can get the back room b/c the set-up is perfect. My friend was soooo surprised, it was awesome!! Let us decorate too. Friendly staff throughout and did a good job of keeping drunk Cubs fans at bay!
P.S.- No disrespect for the drunk Cubs fans out there. I'm usually right there with you. But if I'm sober, I need to catch up before I can hang!
I came here yesterday for some St. Paddy's day beer drinking. We had to put down a nice drinking base so we tried some of their pub grub. We had the cheese curds and tots. The curds were very good, not as good as Wisconsin curds but it helped with the craving. I had the pulled pork sandwich. My sandwich arrived dry, with no sauce. There was a bottle of BBQ sauce on the table so I slathered it on. My sandwich wasn't warm, it was cold. I had about half of it and gave it to my hubs. He didn't care for it either. I also tried a piece of the BBQ chicken pizza. That was pretty good.
The others that were with us had burgers. They said the burgers were very greasy. They looked OK to me and the burgers were served on a pretzel roll. Sheffield's is an awesome place to grab a drink with some friends. We had a nice spacious table in back with a booth. There are about 3 bars plus a beer garden. There are plenty of spaces to chill out and have a few cold ones. I will be back in the summer to try out the beer garden! Service is great and the bartenders are fun.
I'm not a big fan of "beer" bars but I'm in love with this place! We stopped here last night after… Read more »
Yep, just OK.
My boyfriend and I went last night before a concert at the Vic because I read that they had half-price appetizers every night between 4 and 8 p.m. Awesome! I ordered the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus with Pita Chips and my boyfriend got the Quesidilla. Mmmm. Half price is always awesome. They also had $3 Bud products on special, so our total bill was $17 for food and drinks. You can't beat that.
However, the normal appetizer prices are way too high for what you get and the rest of the beer is expensive. I probably came here on the wrong night (they seem to have tons of events like Beer School, RUI, Beer Club, etc.) so maybe I just wasn't that impressed because at 6 on a Thursday night it just seems like every other McPub with overpriced beer. If you come here to just try some good beer (they really have a great list) prepare to spend some serious cash. This is definitely not a bar to come to drink. You need to come to sample and savor.
The decor was pretty typical of a pub - nothing special to report. The service was friendly, which was nice because I had to wait for my boyfriend to come so I was alone for a bit. Apparently they have good barbecue but my Weight Watchers doesn't call for that right now so I'll try it in the future.
I'll definitely go back to give it another go - they seem to have a lot of really cool stuff going on every month and I love beer so this place seems like a good match for me. I read the description of their Beer Club and I think I'd like to join - it sounds like a really cool experience (beer tastings, free t-shirts, free pint glass - YES!). I'll try again in the future, probably on a night when they have something awesome going on.
I've been hitting up Sheffield's for some time but hadn't been in quite some time until recently.
Went after a Friday's Cubs game a couple of weeks ago and remembered why I always liked the place. Good selection of beers, laid back attitude and great beer garden make it an easy summer choice especially after games. Just had a few munchies but everything was tasty as far as bar food goes.
Add the usually friendly service and it makes for a good time all around.
"Wait, you ordered food?" The server asked. Always a bad sign. Especially since she'd taken both food and drink orders for our table of five about 25 minutes ago. Three of us had already received food, but no drinks. Two had received drinks, but no food. It was a tough choice, which side of the table you'd rather be on... beer, or food... food, or beer.... hmm.
"It's been a stressful day," the server explained, after re-taking the food/drink orders. Eventually everyone got their beer/food or food/beer, but not without a struggle. It shouldn't be that hard. I'm always impressed (albeit nervous) when a server can take orders without writing anything down... but I'm only impressed when they actually come through with everything. There's no shame in writing orders down; people would actually rather get their food/beer than be fantasize about how helpful their server's impressive memory must have been back in school when they had to memorize the periodic table of elements.
Regardless, I recognize servers make mistakes - we all do. BUT, that should be followed up with an apology (which I didn't hear) and a nice gesture (i.e., a complimentary appetizer while half the table drools over the other half's food, waiting for a food order that was never put in).
Besides the service issue, I've had good times at Sheffield's. Love the beer garden, although it gets packed. Love how the place is cavernous, I feel like I'm walking into different bars just by going into each different room. However, the photobooth leaves something to be desired - pics are in color (boo) and the camera is so zoomed in that you can barely fit two people in a frame properly (and certainly not three. Bad, bad idea.).
The best part about Sheffield's: It's one of the few places around here I've found my favorite beer - Purple Haze, a raspberry wheat microbrew from Abita Springs (near New Orleans).
BOTTOM LINE: The Purple Haze is what will bring me back... and, lesson learned, I'll order it directly from the bar.
EDIT (8/7/09): After writing my original review I received a very nice message from Michael B., a manager. He apologized for the situation we'd experienced and invited me back. I did appreciate his acknowledgment and apology for the bad service, always a good sign. We did go back last night and enjoyed beers on the large patio. Our server was infinitely more attentive and sitting outside was very enjoyable!
So last summer was my first summer in the city. And I was seriously seduced by the beer garden. Drinking? Check. Vegetation? Super. http://I.love.beer.gardens.
And Sheffield's is one of my favorite ones so far. The beer selection is mind blowingly huge. Even though I stuck with 312 on tap. But still, the options are overwhelming. The food isn't the best but I've only been here to eat once.
Overall, I'm a fan for sure!
Was here for a birthday celebration this past weekend. I've been here before when it's warm enough to sit outside, and I must say, the beer garden is pretty nice.
Anyway, wonderful beer selection, but if you sit in the back-middle part (where the smallish bar is) the waitresses there won't walk to one of the larger bars (in the front and back) to get the beer you want. No worries, I have legs, I'm on it! The bartender in the front was super nice, so that made up for my trip.
We ended the night by getting the small votives at our table confiscated, but that's the mark of a good night with good beers!
This place is douchebag central on weekends or Cubs game nights. Hit it up on a weeknight over the summer when the Cubs are not playing, and the beer garden is perfect. Not too crowded but not too dead, not terribly expensive and lots of big comfy benches for larger groups. Plus it is relatively secluded from the street, which I like. I'd go out of my way to go here on a summer night for the beer garden, but probably wouldn't step foot in the place during the colder months.
On my first night there I won $200 playing a game I still don't fully understand, so I must give the place some props for that. Extra points for the photobooth as well.
Came here for an Bell's Oberon release party. If you're from Michigan, have any connection to Michigan, or have been through Michigan, you probably drink this stuff like water. On this night, it appeared that everyone from Michigan got the invite, and it was packed.. on a Monday night.
The way the bar is set up, with three large rooms and three large bars, made the bar less crowded than it was. They even had live music.
If you're looking for a good spot in Lakeview or Lincoln Park with a good layout, beer selection, you might want to come here. Probably can get cluster-f'd on a weekend, however.
I liked this bar mucho! I came here on the way to somewhere else....
Service was quick and fine for a bar. I tried a beer I had not had before that was 3 bucks...mmmm...... we all had a nice little time! I was blown way when I started reading all the beers they had... Looks like i could have some serious fun here! food looked good too....
All in all good time great friends! could have stayed all night!
Finally tried the food. I had the Carolina BBQ sandwich. It was pretty good but I was introduced to Carolina BBQ in South Carolina... I expected it to be more vinegary. The coleslaw was OK but I would have liked it to have been more creamy so that when you pile it on top of your sandwich it gives the pork a nice creamy taste with the vinegary BBQ. The beans were really good plus the back bar was really light on the ever annoying cubs fans.
I went to Sheffield's for the first time last week and I really enjoyed it. The bar is huge and it… Read more »
This was always a go-to location when the weather turned nice in Chicago, and with good reason: the beer garden is great! I have many happy memories associated with that beer garden -- including celebrating after finishing the Illinois bar! There are usually places to sit -- except for during and immediately after Cubs games, of course -- and the tables have benches, which makes it easy to pile in with friends. The staff is always friendly, and there are usually specials on good beer!
Well, this was a nice surprise. I had not ventured into Sheffield's in over a year, and last night I met a friend here for drinks. What a nice surprise to find they now serve BBQ. And not just typical bar style BBQ, but some pretty impressive stuff.
I had the pulled pork sandwich and was relieved to find it didn't come with the sauce already on it. (One of the 10 commandments of southern BBQ.) That gave me a chance to try the meat on its own, and it was very tender. The sauce is served in squeezable bottles and the ne I used was labeled Memphis style. And sweet it was. I'll be sure to keep Sheffield's in mind the next time I want some BBQ.
And of course, you can;t forget the beer selection. They serve Great Lakes Dortmunder, which might be my favorite beer on the planet.
Good to see the upgrades.
This is a fun spot with a friendly clientele. If you're close by and you'd like to grab a pint, you should stop by.
Always wanted to try this place as a native Chicagoan but never made it in. Finally on a Saturday night with some friends made it in. Love the place and I will definitely be back.
Huge beer selection, the beer menu is literally a small book. Love it! I bounced around from Sierra Nevada Bigfoot to Matilda to Sierre ESB to who knows what. Had a very good time and will be back to check out the other bar...never made it past the front one.
High-quality beer at SWEET prices, so sweet I bet this place gets packed on weekends, and it doesn't help the beer garden is not in use wintertime.
I went with a buddy of mine for a quick bite-n-drink at about 5 pm on a Saturday and we got served quickly. My BBQ burger w/ one side was a bit pricey at $9.95, since I know that additional thimble of coleslaw they included was not worth $2. The occasion would have been better with two more amigos as it would excuse the shouting you have to do over the music they're playing.
I'll probably stop by after my staged reading of "Graham Cracker" by J Antonio Mendoza at Stage Left Theatre, Wednesday March 4th at 7:30 PM. PLUG!
I have only been to the back room of Sheffields for their RUI: Reading Under The Influence event, and I have to say this event is AWESOME!
How it works: Every month or so, they pick a theme and then they select guests to read original work as well as published work that relates to the topic for that month, followed by trivia. The audiance gets to participate during the trivia section and if you answer a question correctly you can win cool prizes, like books. Brilliant concept really!
I'm currently working up the nerve to go there in person and submit my original work in hopes of getting picked to read at a future installment of RUI. Wish me luck and go check it out, please!
Tasty beers. Damn good fries. Attentive staff for a crowded weekend. Not too loud. A server provided samples of beers for an indecisive friend. I didn't love this place, but I can't come up with a legitimate reason why not. It's good. You should go.
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