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The Cubby Bear

2.5 star rating
based on 162 reviews

Categories: Sports Bars, Music Venues

Neighborhood: Lakeview
1059 W Addison St
(between Clark St & Seminary Ave)
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 327-1662
Nearest Transit:

Addison (Red)

Southport (Brown)

Hours:

Mon-Fri. 4:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.

Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Good for Groups:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Music:
DJ, Live
Best Nights:
Wed, Fri, Sat
Happy Hour:
Yes
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Smoking:
No
Coat Check:
Yes

162 reviews for The Cubby Bear

Review Highlights   

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"PlusI'm rarely ever disappointed when I see Mike and Joe." (in 6 reviews)
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"…usually drunk off of my ass after a Cubs game and I sometimes enhance my…" (in 14 reviews)
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"…friends and relatives before attending a baseball game at Wrigley Field…" (in 29 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Mai H.

Elite '09

41

105

Mai H.

Alexandria, VA

4 star rating
11/8/2009

I hate seeing the negative things about this place.  But I loved it! Maybe because I'm an out of towner, it was fun for me.  Probably the MOST fun I've ever had at a sports bar.  

It was kind of dead when I got there, but soon they started clearing out the tables and chairs and people from the game came spilling in.  The folks here were super friendly.. our group made friends with a ton of people.  The music was going.. the beer flowing.. the jello shots passed.. oh my... oh YESSS!

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Photo of Matt H.

 

6

40

Matt H.

Glenwood, IL

3 star rating
11/8/2009

Although beer being served in plastic cups is pretty much pure sacrilege, my two experiences with the Cubby Bear have been entirely positive. That being said, I was there in the afternoon both times, and each time it was for drinks. There was no one else there, so I have no place to comment on the clientele, or how notoriously rowdy the place gets during games or in the evening in general. The place is nicely decorated, and the view of the Wrigley sign right across the street does good to this Cubs fan's heart.

Both times I was there, they had some kind of drink special that pleased me. The first time, it was all beers for three dollars, which was great, and the second time, we had $3 Blue Moons. I wish they wouldn't be so cheap as to give us plastic cups, but the beer is still pretty cheap for the city.

The only food I had there either time were the mozzarella stick appetizers as a snack. They were certainly above average mozzarella sticks, which is promising, but not necessarily indicative of the quality of the rest of the food they offer. I was pleased in general, though, with the staff, beer, and the experience.

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Photo of Matt C.

 

6

96

Matt C.

North Hollywood, CA

2 star rating
10/16/2009 4 photos

Stopped by here for some quick grub and a beer while we waited for a friend once. Luckily we got in before the game got out because damn that place packed the hell up with a quickness afterwards.

At first glance it just looked like a typical sports bar across from wrigley field; end all be all, it was. The food was not bad though, i felt a bit better than your average bar on some aspects. Decent burgers and pretty good loaded tots. My gf really enjoyed their fried mac n cheese along with the pulled pork with cheddar on top.

Overall i dont think ill be coming back again being that there wasnt anything special about it, but it wasnt a bad experience.

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Photo of Erica S.

 

7

33

Erica S.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
9/8/2009

You'd think that as this was the place that my boyfriend and I officially started dating, that I'd give it more stars. But hell, that would just be for sentimental value and not actually based on anything.

I like that you can buy tallboys. I mean, who is drinking out of the plastic cups anyway? I want more beer! So tallboys it is. I have only been here three times and I can honestly say I only remember 1 and a half times. So there goes your answer to "is this bar filled with fun people?" I can honestly say that everyone in this place is usually sloppy, with myself included and I won't even hate on that.

I had some tequila shots here once. That was nice. Ordered burgers and fries here too. I ate all the fries and had two bites of the cheeseburger and decided that I just wanted the cheese and bacon on it. So, I took those off and gave my burger away. Did someone eat it? I will never know. I don't think it had anything to do with the food, I think it just had to do with being three sheets to the wind. I do recall thoroughly enjoying the bacon and cheese-mmmmm. My boyfriend ate his and he enjoyed it.

Ah, the times that I have in Wrigleyville. Also, hell, I'll go back here if only for the sentimental value and if only because there is probably someone there more wasted than me.

(Sidenote: As a Sox fan, I tried to write a review in which I didn't mention that I'm a Sox fan. It didn't work out. Sorry.)

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Photo of Carol K.

Elite '09

368

971

Carol K.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
8/26/2009

Beer.
Cute, young women selling beer.
Shots in plastic cups.
Burgers and fries
Easy out parking.

Oh Cubby Bear. I know you want to be so much more to me. I know you want me to love your crowded bar. To embrace the bouncers who check my ID twice just to get in the door. To understand the crazies who drink until they fall down. Or to forgive the guys who think a Cubs game is license to be jerks.

But I can't. So for now- you will just be my place to get "easy out" parking ($40), meet up with friends to exchange tickets for the game and to grab a quick beer before the real madness inside the stadium begins.

Love your name, though.

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Photo of T.J. B.

 

3

45

T.J. B.

Seaside, CA

4 star rating
11/4/2009

It was super expensive but when I was there the guy playing the guitar was amazing. made my night.

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Photo of Elton A.

 

0

19

Elton A.

Baltimore, MD

4 star rating
11/2/2009

It's across the street from the Friendly Confines of Wrigley! Where else would you go after a game? I'm from Baltimore but every summer I come here for a Cubs game and end up here, if only for the location and the Cub's fans...

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Photo of Erin C.

Elite '09

13

155

Erin C.

Watertown, MA

2 star rating
9/4/2009

I should have read the reviews for this bar instead of just seeing the name of it and thinking "Oh, how fun!" I'm willing to admit that I'm a bit of a sucker for tourist crap and this place seemed right up that alley. If I had, I would have known to just keep walking past this bar right across from Wrigley and visit any of the many bars down the street. Nothing really special about this bar except its right across the street from Wrigley, no cover, and there are tons of TVs.

Oh, and beer in plastic cups? Sinful.

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Photo of Julia A.

Elite '09

53

334

Julia A.

IL

1 star rating
7/23/2009

I don't know how this happened, but I met my friends here to watch a Hawks game and suddenly we were part of someone's party, complete with blue bracelets that equaled lots and lots of free beer. Being a Sox fan, I was prepared to hate it here, but who hates free beer? We ordered some appetizers that were a little on the pricey side, but did I mention we were drinking free beer? The bartender was fine, but the waitress was a little slow.

Here's my beef with the Cubby Bear, besides the obvious: When we were plenty sauced and almost ready to leave, my friend asked for a glass of water. The waitress said they don't give out free water, but you can buy a bottle for $2. I'm pretty certain this is illegal. Isn't every establishment that serves food required to serve free water if you ask? This is the first of this bullshit I've ever heard. We were in a hurry and there was no time to make an issue of it, though. Someone tell me I'm wrong. Regardless, I will not be back.

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Photo of Job E.

Elite '09

27

93

Job E.

Chicago, IL

1 star rating
7/13/2009

The group I was with was kicked out of here and none of us really know why (the lack of memory and the kick to the curb maybe related, but I usually know when I'm being a pain in the @$$).  Anyway, I'm not coming back.

39 Bookmarked places to review, 39 bookmarked places; take one down, pass it around: 38 bookmarked places to review

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Photo of Pam C.

 

0

3

Pam C.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
10/27/2009

I heart the Cubby Bear, even in the off season!  Live music every night of the week is killer!  I have never seen a band I didn't enjoy there!  Seeing Tonic there was amazing!  The service is great from the front door staff all the way up to the managment team.  It's so great to visit an old favorite & still enjoy it when the Cubs are not even playing!  I will be back for the service, the music & the awesome beer selection!

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Photo of Linsey C.

Elite '09

27

85

Linsey C.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
3/31/2009

So, here's the deal: I'm not really a drinker and I don't really like going out to bars or clubs on the weekend because I'm not really into the whole "see and be seen" scene.

I do make exceptions though when it comes to Wedding Banned playing at The Cubby Bear.

The Cubby Bear, isn't why I come...it's totally the band.

That being said, I don't actually mind the CB...it's definitely not the best bar in town, but then again, you should know that just by the mere fact that it's not only in Wrigleyville, but is basically on Wrigley Field...seriously, this is where frat boys and drunk sorority girls (looking for frat boys) hang out.

The bartenders are always nice, the drinks can be pricey, but again--wrigleyville...learn to expect that people!

Will you find me hanging out in the CB on a random night-absolutely not!  But if Wedding Banned is playing, chances are you'll see my drooling over the short asian guitar player...

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Photo of Melissa V.

 

0

5

Melissa V.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
9/8/2009

Eh?? It's okay as far as bars go.A little too touristy. Furthermore As a Sox fan .... well, I don't think any explanation is necessary...LOL

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Photo of Allison S.

 

2

31

Allison S.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
7/29/2009

Went to see a band. Of course the place was overly crowded, but I still managed to have a good time with friends. I'll give this bar a second chance on a non-live music night.

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Photo of Drew S.

Elite '09

30

173

Drew S.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
3/1/2009

Out of the daily special by 8:30? Suspiciously convenient when an Old Style runs you four(4) American dollars.  By that metric the Fat Tire draft should have run $9, but instead came out at $4.50.  Quit jerking me around, Cubby Bear!

Great stage and sound system.  Good enough that I would consider returning to see a show despite the proximity to Wrigley Field and all the douchey boyfriends therein.

The wait staff seemed to have better things to do most of the night.  And there was a weird old guy in a Hawaiian shirt and Panama hat (talk about dressing the gamut) walking laps around the establishment.

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Photo of Cortney R.

Elite '09

14

63

Cortney R.

Lake Oswego, OR

3 star rating
5/5/2009

Haa Haa Haa! I kinda liked this bar.  Way too young for me, but what the hell, it was a great time after the Cubs Game.

Went there with a large group, and enjoyed some delicious people watching.

The live band was good, drinks were stiff, staff fun.

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Photo of Erica I.

 

2

23

Erica I.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/8/2009

This review is based on the food mainly. I came here on a Wednesday night after Cubs season had ended, because I had a http://restaurant.com gift certificate to use. So my experience is probably a little different than coming on a Friday night after a Cubs game (which I imagine is full of douchy guys and is crowded). So anyway, we were the only people in there. I ordered the Kobe beef sliders w/ wasabi aioli, and they were pretty darn good! Didn't come with fries, so I ordered a side of those and they were good as well. My boyfriend got the Cubby burger with tater tots, and it was just like any bar burger. We had to spend at least $35 to use the gift certificate. The good thing about it was that alcohol was included! Some restaurants only count food. So we got a few beers w/ our food. All in all it was pretty good. Better than I expected I guess (after reading some of the reviews!) The server was really nice, too. We tried to get the cubby cookie for dessert, but they were out of ice cream. So we decided to pass cause it just wouldn't be the same!

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Photo of Martha C.

Elite '09

85

130

Martha C.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
Updated - 7/13/2009

The one great thing about The Cubby Bear is the live music they have on a nightly basis. Maybe its because I'm still new to Chicago, but as I've noticed few bars have live music, and the one's that do don't have quality bands or songs. I really enjoy that most of the bands that play at The Cubby Bear are good, high energy groups who play some original songs and some cover songs.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 3 star rating
    2/11/2009

    While this place is soooo cliche, I had a surprisingly good time my inaugural trip. Granted I was a… Read more »

Photo of Nicollette M.

Elite '09

18

112

Nicollette M.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
7/11/2009

Went here with a friend for a pre-game brew and food. It was packed. The place is pretty nice, it is definitely a popular spot. The food wasn't bad either - and it came out of the kitchen super fast which was nice.

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Photo of Alex R.

Elite '09

19

99

Alex R.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
12/11/2008

Whoa!  I am completely dismayed at the number of unfair and unrealistic reviews about Cubby Bear.  Yes, when going to any bar in Wrigleyville (on a Cubs night), you can expect to run into Cubs fans.  After the game, you can also expect those fans to be intoxicated.  Sorry, but that's what you sign up for when you visit (or live in) Wrigleyville.

Having been to Cubby Bear on a number of occasions, I can honestly say that it's a pretty good time every time.  The crowd varies wildly depending on the night (if you don't believe me, come on a non-Cubs night).

In fact, Cubby Bear often has some big-name bands play on their stage.  There is a separate back-bar, and an upstairs area where they often cater private parties.  Staff is generally friendly, and the drinks are strong.

Many years ago, I would have taken a star away for the sticky floor -- but 2 years ago, they replaced all the floors, thusly removing the stickiness.  Nice move.

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Photo of Steve P.

 

0

7

Steve P.

Chicago, IL

1 star rating
4/21/2009

Smelly, crowded, too many drunks

There are so many nice places in wrigleyville, why waste your money on a fraternity party?

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Photo of Daphne L.

Elite '09

36

138

Daphne L.

Evanston, IL

1 star rating
11/16/2008

I made it a point many years ago to steer clear of Wrigleyville like the plague for a number of reasons, mostly because I'm a lifelong Sox fan so there's no reason for me to dwell in Hoochieville, and Cubby Bear is mecca for the top grade dbags that make this area intolerable. I've (thankfully) only been there a handful of times, and each time it's been

unpleasant
overcrowded
lame
annoying

That's pretty much it.

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Photo of Alex F.

Elite '09

33

156

Alex F.

Park Forest, IL

2 star rating
10/27/2008

The Cubby Bear doesn't do much for me, and it doesn't do much against me. I'm a Sox fan so there is an automatic minimum 1-star deduction due to the deep-seated prejudice that was instilled in me during my developmental years. I'm working on it.

For some reason I feel like I've never gotten a "deal" on some drinks up there, so I don't think they have specials or, if they do, maybe they just aren't too special. But I can't complain about the visual talent that can be found there, and the audio talent is usually good as well. However, the live music is typically Maxell-Hi-Fi-sit-in-a-black-leather-chair-and-have -your-long-flowing-manmane-blown-back loud and the party typically on Level 10: Rage. In that sense it's similar to 2nd Floor Barleycorn, so my enjoyment here is limited to very select nights.

The back bar is much more relaxed so if I do get dragged here I always hang back there.

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Photo of miss m.

 

0

37

miss m.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/30/2009

Being the girly-girl type, I don't do baseball (or any team sports for that matter) and I always somewhat turn my head away and mutter "cubby bear" (lowercase intentional) when people ask where I'm going when I say I'm going out on a Sunday.  But here's the thing, for salsa dancing, this place has the best vibe of the dance scene all week.  The promoters are Latin Street Dance and Andres Melendez (the music producer who co-owns LSD with his studio-running wife Lisa) has EXCELLENT taste in Latin music. And so every Sunday there's a live band and 9 times out of 10, it rocks the place.  The DJ's interspersed between the live sets are great too.  The floor is not ceramic but good (although it seems to "sweat" or something as the night goes on). The flow of people is good.  There are plenty of good dancers.  There are places to sit, even for non-dancers.  So, oddly enough, as a Latin dance venue (which is all I know of it), it's great. I hope they keep it up.  It draws a good crowd and like I said, it's the one reliable place all week to go and BAILAR!

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Photo of Jackie P.

Elite '09

186

301

Jackie P.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
9/25/2008

"Conversation" I had with a drunk Cubs fan at the Cubby Bear.  

Drunk Cubs Fan: "I really need to get out of here.  I think I'm going to be sick!" He says while staring at my chest.
Me: "Well the door is that way."  I point in the direction of the nearest exit.
DCF: "Oh okay.  Well do you want to go with me." He says this while leaning up against me and still managing to look at my chest.
Me: "Ummm no, no I don't."
DCF: "Oh well you suck.  I think I'm going to be sick."
Me: "Well the door is that way."

I'm not saying all Cubby Bear bar goers are of this caliber but I'm just saying that this impression doesn't do much for the bar.  

All in all I had a good time.  A little booty shaking, some decent drinks , and inattentive bartenders make this place rather interesting.  I must admit I only went because there was a concert of sorts there that night and it also just happened to be the night the Cubs clenched the Division Title so it may have not been the best night to go but hey when a girl wants some nachos at least take her order damn it!

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Photo of Tony A.

 

576

116

Tony A.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
8/21/2008

This place rules after Cubs games.....This place is owned by my Dad's friend George Loukopoulos....He's never ever ever there anymore but his Nephew is there often....My Cousin also does the heating and cooling here....

Huge place....Somewhat cool bartenders, reasonably priced.....TV's scattered all around and the bar food is great....We came here after the Cubs game last night and it seems totally different sober....ha ha....From my last visit of course.....Theres always a huge line and sometimes they have shows here as they have a huge stage.....They also have an upstairs and a different section downstairs.....

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Photo of Matthew P.

Elite '09

19

86

Matthew P.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
1/11/2009

Cubby Bear has some weird ass rules. Did you know you cant get bottles of beer after 6 PM for some odd reason?

Anyways, This is a good place to go watch a game at. The drinks are pretty $$ and the sizes of the mixers are tiny. However, there are plenty of TVs and menu is pretty freaking big and the food is good. This is not my first choice to watch a Cubs game at (Houndstooth) but I don't mind watching them there.

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Photo of Sean K.

 

8

36

Sean K.

Chicago, IL

1 star rating
4/30/2009

If Chicago ever has a contest for most Gods-Forsaken, impossibly awful place in the city, I think the Cubby Bear would win in a walk.

It's just a really shitty bar.  The drinks are WAY WAY overpriced- even by Wrigleyville Cubs game day standards.  The music is loud, which is okay, but it is seldom, if ever, music that anyone would want to listen to.  It's always crowded, which wouldn't be too bad, except it's clientele is mostly douche bags from Lincoln Park, and suburbanites looking for a good place to puke.

And there's just something about the Cubby Bear that brings out the worst in people.  I can't tell you how many fist fights I've seen on the corner out of front of the Cubby Bear, or how many break ups, or how many random racist or homophobic slurs I've heard.

The place is just bad news.

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Photo of Alex G.

 

8

27

Alex G.

Arlington Heights, IL

1 star rating
3/5/2009

All I can say is that I'm glad to see that it wasn't my "Minnesota Nice" sensibility that my friends and I got the negative vibe from in this place.

It just made a real nice trip to Wrigley kind of a downer. There are other places elsewhere in this 'hood that make up for the blah attitude displayed at what some people told us was a great place to go.

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Photo of Tracy B.

 

13

44

Tracy B.

Mississauga, ON

Canada

3 star rating
2/6/2009

Surprisingly pretty fun on a random night.  I've been there a couple of times, once it was karaoke night (which is usually not for me) and it was backed by a live band!!  I thought that was pretty cool and my friends really got into it.  It's spacious because there's not a lot of people there if it's not after a cubs game and the drinks are pretty cheap!
Overall a good time, but it's not a place you'd stay at all night!

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Photo of R B.

 

0

43

R B.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
7/8/2009

It is what it is.  If you wanna watch the Cubbies and have a few, not a bad spot to be with other fans.

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Photo of Amy B.

Elite '09

4

123

Amy B.

Eagan, MN

3 star rating
6/15/2009

Oh Cubby Bear, why do I like Sluggers more?!?!  I really do like you and your name.  Maybe it's the open dance floor, so you get to see how badly people dance and how they try so hard to pick up dance partners?  Maybe it's the sunlight shining through so you can actually see these drunks clearly and realize you don't want to be one of them?  Not sure, but I only ever have one or two, then it's back to Sluggers.

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Photo of Jacob J.

Elite '09

166

1126

Jacob J.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
4/29/2009

If your a Chicagoan and a Northsider you find yourself in Wrigley countless times. I've been to most bars up and down Clark ave. The one place most are sure to stop at is the Cubby Bear. Funny, I'd always avoided this Chicago location, just because it was always so loud and obnoxious and when your walking on Clark your having a better time. Because of an expiring gift certificate I had for the Sports Corner (which closed down last year and is now demolished, unbeknownst to the Cubby Bear staff) which I recently learned one could use at either Cubby Bear location since the companies involved are all related. FYI.. Hope you saved yours! So I've got this gift cert for fifty bucks and it's about to expire, so I headed there for dinner on the first warm Friday of our Chicago spring yet. No cover, three bands playing. Walked in around 9pm and by lucky chance found a table in the way back, in the dark, a crappy table against a wall and a crowded walkway. Fifty bucks can go a long way if you order the right items. Let me start of by saying, if you've dined at Lincolnshire Cubby Bear it's not the same at the Chicago Cubby. Food is drastically different, in a bad way. The food here is typical bar food with a menu that begs to be different but doesn't make the cut. Wondering what I got? Steak nachos, filet trio, Cubby back ribs and a basket of tots. Two guys and all that food was crazy. Nachos were not good, too much bean paste, lots of jalapeno slices and the steak was $4 steak from Jewel's bargain meat counter. Bites were minuscule, in the darkness I couldn't tell if it was meat or beans I was ingesting and the chips were that Christmas colored chips sold during holidays. Leftover maybe? Filet trio $22, joke. Never again, it's prepared however the chef feels that day, so ask. Three filets cooked medium rare topped in mushrooms or onions and the meat quality was poor, portions insufficient. I can't believe they charge that amount for this dish, just a joke. The ribs have a great pineapple BBQ sauce, the menu says the meat falls right off the bone which is a lie. Meat that sits for days or day long in sauce and then is overcooked, sticks to the bone and is a hassle to eat. Worthless and then for no reason the garlic mash that was supposed to accompany turns out to be over cooked steak fries. In the end we had left overs which a guy down the street happily took. A couple beers out of plastic cups and we were out. Memorables.. the amount of ladies. Three guy bands and nice looking Chicago ladies in every direction. Bands were hit or miss.
For bands, crappy draft beers and drunken babes it's not bad.  Definitely more fun for the under 25 crowd.

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Comment from Dan K. of The Cubby Bear 4/30/2009   
user photo
Jacob,  I'm sorry that your dining experience was less than…    More »
Photo of Jesse S.

Elite '09

13

73

Jesse S.

Chicago, IL

1 star rating
8/31/2008

Let's get this straight. Lakeview, in general, falls into the category of neighborhoods that are good. Narrow that to Wrigleyville, in specific, and I begin to feel a little bit itchy. Further specify our setting to that strip of Trixie-and-Chad boozefests that are the bars on Clark between Addison and Belmont, and you've just about got my skin crawling.

However, sometimes you just gotta oblige your pals in order to avoid a Friday night crying in your bed curled up with LEGALLY downloaded episodes of The Venture Brothers, fist buried in a bag of cheez doodles. I was lured thusly.

I found the Cubby Bear, a name I can bear-ly utter aloud without bludgeoning my own face with a billy clubby, a not-so-happenin' joint on this particular Friday evening, it being around 11 or so when I arrived. I met up with my friends, who were convening to listen to some friends' bands play. I was just along for the ride.

Saddled up and within 6 minutes, paid 6 dollars for a 16 ounce CAN of Miller Lite, which, of course, tasted like piss, yes I knew this, but didn't pack enough of a wallop to make the evening begin to be tolerable, particularly when not-quite-friends-of-friends were attempting to engage me in inanities... what was it that you said you do? Oh you live in New York? But that doesn't count as an occupation...or make you cooler than me...

Anywho, company was alright, music was alright, but too many day-to-night-look amazonians and accompanying brosephs for my tastes. That said, the evening started to become a bit more palatable after I made the switch to vodka drinks.

Overall, shitty bar, shitty music on the stereo between the bands, shitty "socialites," shitty shitty bang bang.

To cap off the night, my bike tire was cut and I had to redline it home. The silver lining of this experience, however, was getting to observe a methhead complain that she had "just spent 3 hours cleaning a toilet" and then berate her boyfriend about not blaming her that a faulty bathroom shelf had fallen, which resulted in several bottles of cologne shattering, because "It's not my fault" and "your birthday's coming up anyway so don't even worry about it," all while she reapplied and reapplied and reapplied and reapplied and reapplied four different colors of eyeshadow from a compact with an inappropriately large makeup brush.

I love this city.

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Photo of Gary D.

 

11

47

Gary D.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
9/20/2008

This is sports heaven. The bar is humungous. They have great drink specials and the bartenders are nice and quick. What more do you need. Oh a stadium close by then look out the window and see the smallest jam packed stadium ever planted.

It's a sports bar that's right next to a sports park. Tonight the Cubs beat the Cardinals to win their division. I got a beer in about 10 minutes even with people flooding the streets and bodies pressing up against me in the bar while trying to get to the bar. Now if this bar could handle this level of excitement during baseball panamonium then you walked into the right bar.

The prices are very reasonable. Back in my old home, Los Angeles, they would milk you for drinking in such a great location. Miller Lite's would be $20. No need to dress up for a bar, just give me a beer the way it was ment to be served.

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Photo of Jim O.

Elite '09

1

64

Jim O.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
6/5/2009

I've been to cubby bear a bunch of times and I look at it as more of a concert venue then a bar/restaurant.  Most of the time I'll go with a group to see one of the local acts perform (See 16 Candles).  The layout of the bar makes it easy to see the stage and/or get close to the band.  The food is your standard bar food fare.  And the prices are what you should expect for a bar directly acrose the street from Wrigley Field.

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Photo of mike k.

Elite '09

71

204

mike k.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
4/12/2009

Ah, my night is complete. Cubby Bear. Sure, overprice my drinks abit, its Wrigleyville. I only go here to see my band or Mike and Joe, and tonite was a M&J nite. No surprises here, watered-down booze, over -served 21 year olds, lkots of testosterone and shiny button0down shirts. Drunk girls who have nothing smart to say but instead let their bouncing boobs do the talking for them, yadda yadda. They always have more than enough bartenders, which is great because no one likes waiting. PlusI'm rarely ever disappointed when I see Mike and Joe. great end to a long day.

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Photo of Jay S.

Elite '09

63

147

Jay S.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
8/3/2008

Maybe this place is good right after a Cubs game. It sucks as a concert venue though.

The stage is a decent size, small but decent. The sound system is great (provided there is someone who knows what he or she is doing at the controls). The lighting is cool (except for the extremely bright strobe lights pointed toward the audience that lighting operators seem to love to hit). They have at least a few decent bands a month (George Clinton last week, Butch Walker and Serena Ryder last night).

The main problems are these:

1. If it's a Bud sponsored show which I am told it often is, the only beers they have are $5+ cans of Budweiser products.

2. A lot of the crowd tends to be made up of ex-fratboy jerks who won't stop yelling to each other over the band on stage, throw their weight around wildly and without regard for knocking into someone half their size, and drinking massive amounts of aforementioned Budweiser products.

To sum it up: Nearly nonexistent beer selection and a crowd of people that no person with even a modicum of intelligence should want to surround themselves with makes this place pretty much unendurable. They do however sometimes have good bands, and their sound system sounds good. Unless it is a band you really really want to see, avoid this place primarily due to the crowd it seems to attract.

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Photo of Alexis L.

Elite '09

67

112

Alexis L.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
6/1/2008

Please, if you take one thing from this review, it's that you should NEVER order a Car Bomb here. Never.

I suppose this isn't the worst place to can go if you're in town after a game, but as a non Cubs related neighborhood bar (as it is for the 284 days the Cubs are not in town), the Cubby Bear is as bad as it gets. I went to SIU, and any time I hear Maggie Speaks or Mike and Joe are playing the Cubby Bear I begrudgingly make my way over because they are my two favorite bands from college.

At the bar, they use 16oz plastic cups (I will always find plastic cups in a bar trashier than anything) for beer and cups slightly larger than a dixie cup for mixed drinks. I've heard the theory that smaller cups means that the drink is stronger and I find it to be a pack of bull unless you specifically order a drink short. Those teeny cups pack the same 70:30 Coke to Jack ratio that they would have poured in the larger cup and they're generally more expensive than full sized drinks up and down the street.

Here's the straw that broke the camel's back. No one in that bar would be able to pour a decent car bomb if their mother's life was on the line. I'd really like to meet the person that decided to pair a 16 oz cup filled 3/4 of the way (12 oz) with Guinness with a shot glass (the same size as the ones that comes on a Robitussin bottle) of Jameson and a drop of Bailey's. Have you ever chugged 12 oz of Bailey's with a 1/4 shot of Jameson and a hint of Bailey's at $10 a pop? I have! I thought maybe I just had a moronic bartender but apparently they teach this horrible concoction in their training. Seriously, I've made at least 5 attempts at this.

I still will come in whenever one of my favorites are in town, but living so close I tend to drink enough beforehand so that I can coast through the night without having to deal with their horrible horrible drinks.

One other issue that I have with this bar is that their bouncers are pigs. I'd rather walk past a construction site full of men whose wives were 9 months pregnant than walk by the Cubby Bear in anything less than a parka. I purposely used to cross Addison on the North Side of the street when I would head to work on Saturday mornings. Even then so, they'd make it a point to chant "Back that ass up Hi-Tops" like a chorus of quacking ducks. As much as I'd like to think I'm special, I've seen them verbally violate many women that pass through that intersection on a Friday or Saturday night. Grow up boys!

Two stars ONLY because they book some great bands.

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Photo of Bill B.

Elite '09

214

455

Bill B.

El Cerrito, CA

3 star rating
8/29/2008

It's a massive space that is surely packed like a sardine tin on game days; however, at 11am on a non-game day, it's cavernously empty. I think there might even have been an echo when we ordered...

Still, the nachos and beer made a tasty lunch while we waited for our tour of Wrigley Field across the street.

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