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The Lucky Monk
Categories: Restaurants American (Traditional) Food Breweries American (Traditional), Breweries [Edit]
105 Hollywood Blvd(at Studio Dr)
South Barrington, IL 60010
(847) 898-0500
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 11 am - 11 pm
Thu-Sat 11 am - 1 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Nichole K. said: "How can you NOT like a place that has Build Your Own Burgers (my other favorite BYOB)? Every time I come here, I am totally convinced that it will be the day that I can replicate Kuma's Metallica burger or at least make the World's…" read more »
171 reviews for The Lucky Monk
Review Highlights
"Truffle fries = A Truffleicious WIN."
(in 26 reviews)
"the Warm Pretzel Trio (OMG, they are heavenly."
(in 10 reviews)
"And the key lime pie tastes so light and refreshing."
(in 8 reviews)
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171 reviews in English
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Review from Cindy E.
Arlington Heights, IL
Updated - 1/24/2012
I have been back to Lucky Monk five times since my initial review and I have been pleased more and more each time!!
They have changed their menu a bit, have added a couple more burgers & upscale pizzas as well as more taco options & a couple appetizers!
I've now had the spinach and goat cheese burger, which is messy but amazing!!
I have also tried the whipped goat cheese appetizer which is just phenomenal!
My favorite pizza, which was added when they changed their menu, is the short rib and farm egg pizza, I can't even find words to tell you how good it is, just try it, trust me you won't regret it!
My mom had the short rib pasta as last time we were there & it was out of this world!
The service continues to be impeccable and I've really yet to be disappointed by any experience I've had here!
Do yourself a favor and try The Lucky Monk!Listed in: Personal Favorites!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/4/2011
I've been to The Lucky Monk several times now, and I can honestly say I have been thrilled every… Read more »
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Review from Maciej G.
Streamwood, IL
1/23/2012 3 photos
I've been to The Lucky Monk a few times, and it's one of the few places where I keep wanting to go back to try more of their menu because everything is just top-notch for a very reasonable price. It's got a nice atmosphere without being too dark but also not really crazy in its design. I feel cozy and comfortable each time I'm here.
I'm a big fan of stout beers, and their in-house brewery serves up one of the best ones I've had in a long time. I promise to try their other offerings, but I just cannot say no when it comes down. I tend to avoid alcohol with my meals but not here.
I ALWAYS get the buffalo wings. ALWAYS. They're just perfect in both flavor and tenderness. There's nothing more to say about them other than they're perfectly cooked and juicy on the inside with the sauce being a perfect balance of spicy and tangy and sweet without an out-of-place note of flavor. My only gripe is that they don't offer a wing plate as a main course, but I guess I can always just keep on ordering them...
Thinking about it, I would go here just for their wings and flirt with this idea every now and then.
Recently, I had their loaded fries, and I was very pleased and surprised at the subtle things which set these apart. Sure, you're going to get fries and cheese and bacon and scallions and sour cream. What's most interesting about these is the cheese. First off, it's either pepper-jack or a Swiss-style cheese with jalapenos or similar peppers diced in. Secondly, IT DOES NOT CONGEAL instead remaining creamy and easily applied to fries. We ordered a second batch of regular fries after finishing the loaded fries and greedily sponged up the leftover cheese.
*PIZZA*
I'm trying to set this section apart because, for their pizzas alone, The Lucky Monk needs to be applauded. The bread and crust are how a pizza should be: soft but crunchy, thin but substantial, subtle but flavorful. Of the several which I've tried, I can't honestly pick a favorite. Each one becomes the one which I like most. I don't know how or why this place has the pizzas it does, but I wish EVERY restaurant served these kinds of pizzas. The world would be a better place. -
Review from Phillip C.
Schaumburg, IL
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
I regret not having tried the Lucky Monk earlier. It's just one of those places I've passed by many times and didn't think much of it, since there have been several restaurants come and go in it's place. Well I hope they stay put, since they have good beer and a tasty food.
They serve wine and cocktails, but the beers are the drink of choice here. They have a nice selection craft beers, with the likes of Lagunitas, Three Floyds, and Dogfish Head. But they brew their own beers, so make sure to give their house brews on tap. I've tried their Fallen Angel - very smooth, not bitter, and an all around great beer. There's about 7 house brews on tap, but they also have guest beers on tap.
The food overall was solid. The beer battered Cheese Curds were tasty, but the Breakfast Burger was finger lickin good! A half pound of USDA prime beef, juicy and packed with flavor, which is topped with a fried egg and a sweet bacon marmalade. Mmmm mmmm was that good! It was a bit messy, but was definitely worth it. I recommend upgrading your included side to the White Truffle Parmesan Fries for only an extra buck.... because I said so and who doesn't like truffle fries?
They also have pizza, sandwiches, and other entrees, but I'll be back to try one of their other burgers. Their Grilled Cheese Burger sounds really interesting. Just picture a meaty burger, remove the buns, and replace them with bacon grilled cheese sandwiches. Yah it sounds very unhealthy, but also sounds amazing at the same time.
Great food and tasty beer - what's not to like? -
Review from Maureen M.
Western Springs, IL
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Lucky Monk was stop #27 on my journey through "the list" of 30 sandwiches. I have to admit that I wasn't very excited about driving 45 minutes for a portabella mushroom sandwich. The sandwich was quite good and I would orde it again. The sandwich came with choice of side and I chose sweet potato fries, delish! My sister has been kind enough to come with me on quite a few of the restaurants on "the list" She ordered a pizza with beef short ribs with an egg on top. It may sound awful but it was really good. One thing we have discovered eating all these different sandwiches is that beef short ribs are pretty darn good.
The restaurant is big, but not loud. The server did not rush us. It was a fun afternoon lunch with my sister. -
Review from Kathleen M.
Frankfort, IL
I am no where near being a Monk but I am sure cognizant that I was damn lucky to have eaten here! My sister is soclose to finishing the 30 best Sandwich list from the Chicago Tribune and this was her 26th stop on her quest.
Lucky indeed! I liked the feel of the restaurant, the comfort, the noise level and the unhurried way we were able to peruse, order, savor and linger. My sister had the requisite Portobello Mushroom sandwich and I got to taste it, scrumptious! It was like a burger but it was a mushroom. YUM! I had a short rib pizza with an egg on top. Sounds kindof funky but the taste was superb!
I drove 90 minutes to get here. (Yes, I do love my sister) and it was worth it!
If you are lucky enough to live close, go on over and enjoy, you don't have to be a monk.Listed in: Adventure Fridays, Out and about
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Review from Andrea H.
1/2/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I now officially love this place. I don't make it out that way often, but I now have something to look forward to after the long trek out to the Willow Creek mother ship. It's on the way back to the highway and, since I can make a reservation on Open Table, we can bypass the crowds and get to the table right away. This is huge since we normally have a hungry 3 year old in tow. Yay!
The first time we stopped by, we decided to share the parmesan crusted tilapia and the bourbon stout burger. Both were delicious and the Monk's Choice beer that day, a smoky bourbon stout, was the perfect accompaniment. I also felt that the kids menu was a pretty good deal. At $5.95, the little one got carrot sticks, a burger with veggies and a cookie and milk. I'm not too familiar with kids menus these days but it seemed like a lot of food for not too much.
The second time, we decided to share again. This time we opted for the beer braised short rib pasta and the green chile queso burger. The pasta was solid but pretty standard. The burger, on the other hand, was awesome. And the fries are terribly difficult to stop eating. So good. The Monk's choices this night were a cherry bourbon stout and a brown ale. Of course I had to try both. The cherry was very interesting. Rich cherry flavor without being too sweet. The brown ale was more my speed. Nutty and delicious.
I still enjoy how they put their burgers on a pedestal. They say that their specialties are the burgers and pizzas. I have yet to try the pizzas but the burgers seem pretty worthy of that pedestal. It seems like they also have great specials throughout the week. I'm still trying to figure them out, though, because house beers are supposed to be $4 on Sunday but I guess the Monk's Choice doesn't count for that. It's cool, though, I appreciate the fact that they switch up their offerings regularly.
Every time we go, the service is friendly, the atmosphere is warm, and I always leave wishing this place was closer to home. -
Review from June P.
Schaumburg, IL
1/4/2012
For me, this four-star rating means that I would go back to this place over and over and it would be worth it every time, but it's not one of my all-time favorites (my five-star ratings are few and far between). For me, the Lucky Monk is the quintessential upscale-ish bar. The environment is casual yet clean and inviting, and I can always expect quality, satisfying meals when I go.
The Lucky Monk's menus is full of your all-American classics, some with a few trendy twists (think sweet potato fries and prosciutto-wrapped scallops) and some that are true classics/staples (think margherita pizza and a good selection of burgers). The pizzas have great fire-baked flavor and the burgers are interesting yet not overly fanciful. The menu also includes a few random toss-ins, such as an al pastor pizza, wisconsin cheese curds, and butternut squash ravioli (my girlfriend was in heaven with this dish).
The service is great, and the food is always good. It's a great place for a casual dinner, and many are drawn in by the beer selection (take home a growler!) With generous portions and reasonable prices, the Lucky Monk is a great local joint for American cuisine. -
Review from Bob D.
Schaumburg, IL
1/25/2012
This restaurant is delicious and we primarily frequent with out of town guests. Every meal must start with the warm pretzel trio, by far the best warm, soft pretzels ever! With 3 dipping sauces, melted cheddar, Dijon mustard and tomato sauce so creamy and delicious - like a thick tomato bisque. The mushroom pizza is my favorite meal, paired with the lavender unfiltered ginger ale, can't go wrong! My husband has tried a few of their burgers and likes them!
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Review from Tony H.
12/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Just how lucky is a monk? Well, considering that certain sects of monks have their own trademarked beer, I'd say pretty darn lucky. Unfortunately, my last visit to the Lucky Monk would have benefited from a bit more luck and magic in certain parts of the service and food.
First off I gotta say I thoroughly enjoy their goat cheese and tomato sauce appetizer. The accompanying bread is crusty, slightly buttery, and compliments the goat cheese well. I decided against a house beer and went with a Bell's Cherry Stout. Only one for me, thanks. That served as side dish and dessert very well. The first glass I got with the beer was hazy and loaded with fingerprints. I asked for a new one and our server Chris took it without a word otherwise. The second one I got was slightly better, but the appetizer had arrived by then, so I just went with it.
For dinner I ordered the Al Pastor pizza. It's supposed to be a take on tacos "al pastor", which are usually made with spicy marinated pork shoulder, onions and cilantro, sometimes with pineapple, and usually a little elf sprinkling magic and sexiness. Or not. This pizza had a bland "pork belly" meat, cotija cheese, green onions and a tomato sauce. I can't describe the crust as anything else than uninspired. It was a vehicle for the rest of the toppings, and it just didn't work. Pub food meets flub. Now I know better.
Service was adequate. Not a whole lot of conversation, but the company made up for it. I only meet up with friends here; certainly wouldn't make the trek otherwise. -
Review from Chris C.
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place was pretty large inside and also had a large outdoor seating area. I sat at the bar which had lots of room and seemingly TVs at every angle.
For beer they had a great selection of both their own brews and others. As you could guess by the name the selections were pretty heavy leaning towards Belgians, but they had more traditional ones as well. The prices were average for all the options.
I had one of the burgers with the truffle fries. The burger was a total monster and I barely finished it. They really layered on the toppings and you certainly need two hands to eat it. The fries were good, but not nearly as truffley as I was hoping for. -
Review from Nichole K.
Bloomingdale, IL
1/8/2012
This is my third visit to The Lucky Monk and I always feel the same when I leave: Full, half-lit, but half-annoyed. Let me explain.
I really like the food here. It's traditional American fare with a twist to try and make it 'different' (you know, presentation is contemporary, there is truffle oil and fancy sauces, etc.). I have gotten the burgers twice and the fish and chips once...all are good. I am a big fan of meat coming out the temperature you ask for so that's a plus here. You ask for a medium burger and you shall receive. (Keep that in mind if you are temperature challenged individual. I know you people are out there, now you have fair warning.) I also really like the fries and the fried pickles are delicious (truly, most places have me at "fried pickle").
Beer. Oh man, do I love a good microbrew. I am a HUGE fan of having the crappy beers OFF the tap so the good shit can be had. The Lucky Monk provides. Yes, there is still a pilsner and a couple of low IBU ales for the sissies...no worries. If you enjoy a fuller bodied, malty, or hoppy beer, they have you covered here too. My two faves made in house are the Confessional IPA and the Solitude Stout (NOT THE BOURBON BARREL AGED STOUT THOUGH! That is some serious shit if you are not a Bourbon fan.) The Confessional IPA is a maltier pale ale with a good hoppy aroma and citrusy hoppy finish. It is stronger so it tastes almost like an imperial, but not as rough. The Solitude is a creamy and dark stout with a strong coffee finish and a nice lacy head. Both are pretty good. I also really like that they have a flight so you can sample each brew to see what you like.
The only thing this restaurant has going against it is the wait and the service. You really never know what you are going to get, but the three times I have come here on a Friday or Saturday night they have been packed. Even at 8 or 9 at night. The movie theater is right there, so I am sure that has a lot to do with it. Your best bet is to sit at the bar, at a table around the bar, or in the "living room" and get a cocktail waitress to serve you. My annoyance with the service is that it has never been GREAT. I don't need you to kiss my ass or anything, but it would be nice to have someone who a) knows what they are doing/talking about and b) is friendly (I'm looking at you, crabby ass hostess!). -
Review from Sabrina M.
Palatine, IL
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went to The Lucky Monk a few weeks back with my fiance. We have been eyeing it for awhile as we frequent the AMC 30 movie theater almost weekly. After many months of driving by and saying we should check this place out we decided to stop in for a couple brews after an afternoon Sunday matinee. We sat at the bar and ordered a few samples of their offered microbrews. Both of us were pleased with our selections and agreed that we needed to come back to try the truffle fries. I gave The Lucky Monk four stars because they advertised a Sunday $4 special on a pint of their house brew and the bartender overcharged us on our order. We told the bartender and they corrected it on our bill right away but I was still annoyed that I had to point it out.
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Review from Jennifer M.
Portage Park, Chicago, IL
12/2/2011
All this time I thought the name of this place was Drunken Monk. You can imagine my surprise when...
We immediately recognized the subtle change in their menu when the appetizer crab cakes & mushroom risotto and the burger w/BBQ sauce AKA our usual orders were missing!
It took a few minutes perusing the menu before asking the Server, "What happened?!" She pointed out that the Wild Mushroom Risotto was so popular, that it had become a Signature entree for $10.95. You may opt in chicken for $2.00.
Rather than trying another burger, my boyfriend ordered the Chicken Salad Sandwich with White Truffle Parmesan Fries for $10.25.
The White Truffle and Parmesan Fries would taste better if the flavors weren't overpowered by the taste of potato skin and oil. For the record: Parmesan and Garlic Fries at the Tilted Kilt have a much better balance; but, the Garlic and Butter Fries at the Sub Tender in Forest Park, IL are still the best!
Overfall, the micro brew is not the only thing they keep fresh and exciting here! -
Review from John A.
Elmhurst, IL
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great menu with upscale bar food and nice presentations.
Had the Hot Head Burger with truffle fries. Burger and fries were good, but was still hungry afterwards. We also had the fried pickles that were decent.
Had a bite of the wife's Monk burger and wished I had ordered that instead.
Can't wait to go back and try some other appetizers and more truffle fries. I would had given 3 stars based on my experience, but have faith that other things on their menu are outstanding.
Also had the Cardinal Sin Pilsner beer was tasty and would buy in the store if available.
Based on the crowds you can tell this place will be around for awhile. -
Review from Neal C.
Zionsville, IN
12/2/2011
Ate here and Emmett's on back-to-back nights. While both were good experiences, I would give the Lucky Monk a slight advantage if I was having dinner as they have a better variety of non-house beers, but Emmett's the nod if I was hanging out with friends as the atmosphere at Emmett's was more energetic. I would give 4.5 stars if I could, but it's not quite at the 5 star level.
As a first visit, I went with the sampler of the house brews. Had a very good server, he did me a favor and allow me to substitute the standard stout for the seasonal bourbon barrel aged stout. It was a solid pour. The bourbon gave an almost sweet flavor that didn't overwhelm the palette. The sampler size was perfect for me. The other highlight was the Confessional IPA (but I do like me some IPA's). The Belgian Ale was also top-notch. If I was just ranking the beers, I would be very close to handing out 5 stars.
My green chili cheese burger was very good and close to being great. The meat was cooked perfectly, the cheese was perfect, but the green chili's were fairly bland. They just weren't like the ones that you get in Albuquerque. If you've never had green chili's in New Mexico, than you might be happy. That being said, I still really liked my burger. The truffle fries were disappointing. I could barely taste the truffle oil. This is one thing that Emmett's did much better.
Maybe it was just because I had dinner early and they had a wine special, but while the restaurant was fairly full, it was also fairly quiet. I would definitely come back here for dinner/drinks. -
Review from Maria R.
"What Maria Did This Summer" Series
Review TWO! :)
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The Lucky Monk, what can I say about this restaurant smack dab next to the AMC South Barrington 30 theaters. This restaurant used to be a similar-themed craft brew-pub type restaurant before, but I do not recall the name. The Bronze something or other....anyway, I digress!
The current restaurant, The Lucky Monk, is your typical, trendy craft beer, burger, and pizza pub(oh, they have wine too, btw!) with fairly typical, but unique pub fare on the menu.
We first went here after, you guessed it, seeing a movie at the AMC South Barrington theaters. It was date night for my husband and I and it was late and they were open.
We had wanted to try this place ever since the restaurant changed from its previous incarnation to this one.
We were seated almost immediately as it was towards the end of their day. The dining areas were full of dark woods, which I love, and spacious booths. They had a few TVs, but not a whole lot to take away from the casual, yet trendy atmosphere.
There was quite a selection and my husband tried one of their craft beers, which he enjoyed quite a bit. Then, he had another beer, also good. I'm not a craft beer or wine gourmand, but it seems if you really enjoy craft beer, you'll enjoy coming to The Lucky Monk.
We started off with the White Truffle-Parmesan Fries, naturally! I love me some truffly-cheesy goodness! :9 OMG they were soooo good, but quite filling! :) They have a fair number of other unique appetizers like the Shrimp and Grits, Wild Mushroom Risotto, and Pickle Fries. Oh, I gotta try the pickle fries next time, they are apparently pretty awesome!
My husband had their Hot Head burger, which is apparently pretty popular, it has pepperjack cheese, lettuce, jalapeno-tomato pico, and chipotle ketchup. It is kind of a messy burger, but the presentation is quite awesome as the burger it placed upon a wooden pedestal as if you must bow to it and go "We're not worthy to consume you, oh almighty burger of awesome!" :)
I had their Fish 'N' Chips because I was not in a "burger mood" It was crispy, not too greasy and you got more than enough fish for a meal and leftovers.
Since we had fries for an appetizer, my husband opted for a side of broccoli and I went for their Wild Mushroom Risotto. I was expecting a creamy, mushroomy-cheesy goodness that is the risotto I love, but was kinda let down with a not-so-cheesy and bland mushroom flavor. Suffice to say, I did not order that the second time I went.
Service was pretty quick at this time of the night and the noise levels were quiet.
Fast-forward to yesterday, our second time to The Lucky Monk, and this time WITH KIDS IN TOW!
The place was PACKED, lots of cars in the parking lot, it was Saturday Night at about 7:30pm...PRIME dinner hour. We THOUGHT we were going to have to wait at least 30minutes to an hour, but we ended up only waiting about 10 minutes. Awesome!
We were seated right away and had our orders taken pretty readily by our server. The Lucky Monk was a bit louder than the last time, naturally, and a lot more busy!
We started off our meal with one of their Appetizer Specials, Fresh Guacamole with Chips. When it came out, it was probably 15-18 chips with a small taco salad bowl of guacamole in the middle. Nicely presented and it was a good portion that would not overfill us. The guacamole was good too!
The kids had the chicken fingers and fries and the pasta with tomato sauce. My daughter kept complaining it was cold, but I didn't think it was. The kids chicken fingers were apparently pretty good since my son ate them all, which is not typical for him.
The kids meals had a "appetizer" of about 5 baby carrots and a small bowl of ranch to dip them in. Nice healthy touch, sadly, my kids didn't go for it, so, my husband and I ate the carrots and ranch dip instead. :)
I ordered the Farmhouse Burger this time around with a fried egg on top with the White Truffle-Parmesan Fries as an upgrade to their regular hand-cut fries. My husband ordered the Hot Head Burger again with the White Truffle Parmesan Fries upgrade as well. All the food was awesome. Again, the burgers were a bit messy, and I ended up having to ditch the bun as 1/2 lb of burger meat is NO JOKE! :) BUT, it was very yummy and nicely presented!
The white truffle parmesan fries on the side were not as spectacular as they were in their appetizer form...hmm, need more truffle and parmesan? Yes, please!
The kids' meals had a cool dessert that came with the meal, a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie and a small glass of white milk with a little dish of chocolate syrup to use to make the milk chocolate and/or to dip the chocolate chip cookie into for more added chocolatey goodness!
Kids enjoyed themselves quite a bit....ate most if not all their meals. Overall, it was a good meal out with the family. Would I go again? You bet! -
Review from Laura A.
Bartlett, IL
1/8/2012
I can't even describe how much I LOVE The Lucky Monk. Admittedly I've never eaten any of their entrees, but their appetizers are absolute manna from heaven. If you go, definitely get the whipped goat cheese appetizer -- it changed my life -- especially if you love goat cheese. But even if you don't, it's incredible. Also the pretzels are good, not too salty and just firm enough but soft in the middle, plus they come with a kind of mustard butter that will clear out your sinuses (in a good way!). I went recently with some friends who had the Proscuitto-wrapped scallops, and apparently those are amazing as well.
And of course, who doesn't love a great beer selection, including microbrews made on-site? If it's your first time the tasting platter is a really good deal, and I highly recommend the wheat beer (Tritica). I've heard their IPA is incredible as well, but IPA is not to my taste so I haven't had it outside the tasting sampler.
Highly recommend!! Probably a good idea to make a reservation though, especially on a Friday/Saturday night. Sometimes they have live music too which is a draw for some people but I think it's the only downside to the place. -
Review from Eman A.
The food here is fantastic.
I came once on my own, once with a large group and once with my husband. Everytime I got awesome service and the food was great.
Great place for burgers. Pizza was good. The pretzel bread is amazing. And the fried pickles are to DIE for. -
Review from Chris F.
Schaumburg, IL
11/17/2011
My fav place. Burgers are awesome, but the Crusted Tilapia is to die for!!! A must if you love real burgers, great beer and just plain awesome food!
UPDATE: Okay I use to give them 5 stars but I had to downgrade to 4 stars on 1/30/12 because they no longer carry the bottled natural (REAL) gingerale. It was amazing and I always went there just to have that with my meal. Now they have just high fructose fake from the fountain ginger ale. Crap! I want them to bring back the bottled all natural REAL ginger ale they had.
Also, they got rid of my FAVORITE. The Macadamian Tilapia, now it is a peppercorn or parmesan cheese. Yuck. The macadamian was the BOMB along with the corn salad or rice they had, cant remember it was amazing. GONE AS WELL
Well my two favorite things are gone, but they still have some other great items on the menu. The Burgers are the best of course.
But Oh How I will miss my top two favs.
BRING THEM BACK!
-Chris -
Review from Paula D.
Bloomingdale, IL
11/21/2011
LOOOOOOOOOVE this place! Been there many times. Food is excellent. Everything I've ever ordered was so good. The ambiance is lovely and the staff is very friendly! Lastly, the martinis are AWESOME!
Enjoy........ Cheers! -
Review from Ashley A.
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
ordered the flight of beer, which included six Lucky Monk brews. I liked the amber style ones and the stout was ok.
also ordered the Trappist Trio, which was good.
I like the decor of the place. I would go back, especially to try seasonal brews. -
Review from Pari P.
10/7/2011 2 photos
We suburbians enjoy our food just as much as city folk but I admit that the selections aren't as wide. The Lucky Monk stands out amongst an area predominantly surrounded by food chains with new American cuisine. There are food chains that do an excellent job but sometimes you just want something else.
The menu consists of American classics from wings, burgers, to pizza using quality ingredients - it's definitely a step up from the norm. They offer dishes that you are familiar with but with flavors and ingredients that you may not always see. The décor reminded me of J. Alexanders with the high ceilings and dark wood interior. From the location and appearance, I was expecting to pay more but was pleasantly surprised at the prices - it's definitely reasonable. I have easily paid more for the same type of food for smaller portions.
We ordered the Monk burger and the triple mushroom pizza. The Monk burger was cooked well and the meat had good flavor. The pizza was exactly how it was described on the menu - thin and crisp. Although not very filling, the pizza was light where you could really taste the fresh ingredients. We cleaned both of our plates and left feeling satisfied.
Don't forget the beer since this is also a brewery. They go from ales to pilsners to lagers. We ordered two of their own brews and both were solid. I would definitely come back and try the others during their happy hour.
Although not worth the trip if you are not in the area but if you are, I would recommend The Lucky Monk. Food you know with quality ingredients at reasonable prices and more importantly, in the suburbs. -
Review from Gerry A.
Barrington, IL
8/28/2011
Very nice piece of S. Barrington Real Estate, well run with above average help so why NOT charge $11 for a LARGE half pound hamburger? Considering the entire package, limited well done menu and above average staff I think it is a good value. Lucky Monk pretty much has it all including a view of a pond and HUGE parking, just be sure that you at least wash your old car so you aren't totally shamed parking there.
You CAN split the half pound burger and you will be glad you did, what are you other options, EAT it all or have a hamburger leftover? Nice avacado nacho appetizer, and pay the extra $1 for the truffle fries with your burger so that you won't have to do that again. Very tasty $9 beer sampler, even better the second round, and interesting wine menu with enuf by the glass options. Busy Friday night included some live entertainment inside but we never felt hustled out, and the fireplace pit looks very inviting. Creative dessert choices but no contest versus a half price blizzard something at Culver's and then home to have our arteries pumped out. We are fans.
Update: Went AGAIN on a Friday night and that parking lot gets pretty small around 8pm. Had the mushroom pizza, very tasty AND had some leftovers so ONE pizza can feed two if you take a breath. The fried onion tumble something appetizer, that you will regret eating ALL of unless there were at least 4 people working on it, was yummy. This is a great way to eat and walk (ie the FULL parking lot) to catch a movie reasonably if you don't drink your dinner. -
Review from Lisa R.
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Last trip to Chicago my dousing and I were out and about for dinner and we decided to grab a drink here. GREAT place! Didn't expect such a hip place in the suburbs.
Great outdoor space with a big fire pit, comfy chairs and outdoor tables.
The bar inside was good too, great service, comfy bar tables.
The place was PACKED on a Saturday night. Lots of good looking people with muscles. I approve. -
Review from Lisa M.
Chicagoland, IL
1/24/2012
What a great place! Great for adults and for the kids too! Soup was outstanding, pretzels awesome, tacos delish! The kids meals came with carrots and ranch for appetizers and a chocolate chip cookie (homemade) with melted chocolate sauce and a glass of milk for dessert all included. Very clean and great service! Will absolutely be back! Highly recommend!
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Review from Erin S.
Chicago, IL
8/30/2011
After parking in the adjacent movie theater parking lot (b/c their lot was out the gills full) & a little table confusion (tried to seat us w/ another party).... the meal went off w/o a hitch. Really enjoyed the goat cheese & crab cake appetizers!
Of course we got the beer flight & burgers- love, LOVE the "hot head" burger! Their stout was very coffee forward. Fun atmosphere & good food, bring a friend and enjoy the microbrews. -
Review from Laurin G.
Algonquin, IL
9/25/2011
Based on the great reviews here on Yelp, I went to The Lucky Monk for a late lunch/early dinner with my family on a Sunday afternoon before the Bears game. The decor and atmosphere was very nice. The place was pretty empty and we had excellent, very attentive service from our server (Norman).
We started out with an appetizer of Chili Cheese fries. These were tasty, but the portion size was really small--I'd guesstimate about 35-40 skinny fries for $6.25.
I had the smothered burger (caramelized onions and gruyere cheese) and it was divine! Very juicy and flavorful. My husband tried a bite--and then begged for several more bites. He had the fish & chips, which he said was excellent, but he also said that next time (and there WILL be a next time!) he will get the smothered burger. I got the truffle oil and parmesan fries for the $1 upcharge. They were good, but my order seemed to be lacking in the truffle oil department. My husband got the loaded fries (Merkt cheddar cheese sauce, bacon, sour cream and green onions) and it was the bomb diggety! I will definitely get that next time with my burger.
My daughter got the Farmhouse burger, which is Tillamook cheddar and bacon. She loved it and proclaimed it one of the best burgers she has every had, and possibly THE best.
Our son got the sausage pizza and didn't say a word through the entire meal (because he was busily chowing down and enjoying his pizza!)
Yum! We'll be back -
Review from William B.
Glendale Heights, IL
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Started with the fries- excellent. Had the BBQ chicken pizza. i guess it tasted good, but i don't think the crust was made in house; probably a frozen crust. I think I can geta comparable BBQ chicken pizza from the freezer at the grocery store. Decent beer, though.
Will probably go back, but will probably try the burgers, instead. -
Review from Josh M.
Fried pickles! I'm fairly sure that my friend wanted to take them home and make sweet sweet love to them all night long. Too bad he ate all of them... That being said that wasn't the only good thing to be had there. The truffle fries were ok - not as good as everyone was hyping them up to be. The sweet potato fries were so much better. But the burgers were killer - we tried the peppercorn ranch, the hot head, and the farmhouse. All of which were cooked perfectly and seasoned well (I hate an under-seasoned burger).
The service was a little hit or miss. The server didn't do the best job of recommending some of the mixed drinks. She didn't care for cucumber so that led to passing on the cucumber pomegranate mojito that was very good. I had the beer sampler that was missing the oatmeal stout due to the brewmaster getting to drunk at a beer expo earlier in the day (ill let that one slide :p). I went with the Confessional IPA that was nice and hoppy but not too over the top.
We finished the night outside next to the fire pit which was amazing and it was a beautiful night. Moral of the story sit outside and get yourself some fried pickles and a good beer - to be honest all of them were pretty good. -
Review from Angela M.
9/2/2011
I went here recently with my husband and my mom and brother, who stopped to stay with us on their way from Minneapolis to Pittsburgh. I had a LivingSocial voucher expiring soon and the place is super close to our new house.
After asking if we preferred to sit in the bar or the dining area, and us saying we didn't have a preference, they seated us at a table in the very corner of the bar, near the entrance to the kitchen. Hmm... if you're offering us an option, you presumably have several open spots... why put us in the worst possible option?
The beer IS good, I'll give them that. Unfortunately, they were out of the porter my husband wanted to try. Bummer.
I had a cup of white chili, which was decent but not great and a beet & goat cheese salad which was overdressed. My brother had a peppercorn burger, which he actually really liked, so I was happy that he at least had a good experience, as our out of town guest. My husband had the steak and spicy mashed potatoes and thought they were pretty terrible.
So... not great food + not great service + usually pretty crowded means we likely won't be back any time soon. -
Review from Anna V.
Chicago, IL
7/20/2011
I organized a surprise birthday party for my husby, and I decided to have it at the Lucky Monk, since he was golfing in South Barrington. I was really impressed with the interior, service, and food.
I expected it to be a typical and casual bar food kind of place, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was able to reserve the Abbey Room, which is really spacious and modern. They have unique light fixtures that randomly hang from the ceiling creating a really cool effect. Also plenty of seating and a lot of room for set up, (we were expecting around 30 ppl).
The servers (I forget their names) were super accommodating, and helped with the timing of everything for the surprise. I was able to bring in our own special cake, and our ipod to hook up to their sound system in the room. They also had a flat screen tv that was playing ESPN for the guys.
The food was delicious, they brought out these awesome pretzels with various dipping sauces, and truffles fries. I had the burger which was very flavorful and everyone else was really happy with their choices.
I would definitely come back, and hopefully check out their patio in the back. Thanks to Lucky Monk for helping me surprise my husby! -
Review from Denise J.
Hampshire, IL
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Thisnis one of my favorite Places to eat but this experience was not a good one. I went with a friend for dinner and some drinks before leaving on vacation. The bears were playing so we thought it would be crowded, we were very excited when it was not, however with the service we received younwould have thought they were packed!!! It took our server 10 minutes to come get our drink order and another 10 mins to bring us our drinks.......so you can guess I was annoyed by this poit. We ordered our food, which you can guess took forever and when I did finally get my food it was cold and tasted horrible. I ordered the turkey burger that I get every time I go to lucky monk, this DID NOT taste good. The burger was mostly green onion and not actually a lot of meat......if you want to eat an onion burger then order this, but I doubt you do!!!
The s'more skillet did make up for the lack of my meal though, I highly recommend ordering these:)
After this experience it will be a while before I go back to eat here!!! -
Review from Megan K.
Elgin, IL
11/10/2011
Been to the Monk many times. Good beer, awesome burgers, great wings and pretty good pizza. Salads are a bit sloshy so get the dressing on the side. Definitely should go if you love burgers. Oh, and the patio rocks in the nicer months. Right next to the Barrington movie theater so it's super convenient before and after shows.
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Review from Kim M.
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Been here a handful of times either for Yelp events or just to enjoy one of the best burgers around. The burgers are consistently juicy, to the point that I feel like I'd be better off wearing my napkin as a bib. They have great pizzas both for appetizers and meals. It doesn't look kid friendly, but it is if you are there early enough in the evening.
The service here is consistently good. You won't be asking your server for anything because they come by enough times.
The beers are also great.
Summary? If you are a beer drinking burger lover, check this place out. And maybe bring a bib. -
Review from Larry R.
Schaumburg, IL
Updated - 9/13/2011
The Burgers are great, service left nothing to be desired. My wife loves the salads at the Lucky Monk. Fried pickles or as they are called "pickle fries" are definately worth trying. Refreshingly different, but nothing you would want to have every time you visit.
Just had the Chipolte Chicken and it was outstanding...The Chipolte Mashed potatos that came with it were the best ! But, the "Corn Casserole they served up with this otherwise great meal was horrible! It looked old nnd tired and tasted even worse than it looked.......What were they thinking. Order the Chipolte Chicken, but tell them to throw the Corn Casserole out back behind the parking lot!
Enjoy the outdoor seating while the weather cooperates. Watch the sunsets over the movie theatre. The only thing that would make it a 4 star is if they offered a little more variety on the menu. Pizza, Burgers, Beer, Salad....1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/7/2011
A good outdoor dining area with some wind protection to watch sunsets while our summer weather… Read more »
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Review from D. C.
Harwood Heights, IL
7/12/2011
Average, forgettable experience--I couldn't even remember the name of the place by the time I got home. Everybody and their dog does froofy burgers/pizza/rotisserie chicken these days so I'm not getting the appeal here. Is it the beer? I don't do beer and even the man (who does) agreed that his house brewed oatmeal stout wasn't that good--bitter like black coffee with an oddly sour tang to it.
I had the BBQ rotisserie chicken with cheese grits and tumbled crispy onions, which was good, but nothing to write home about. And at $16, it feels like you're helping foot the bill for their decor (which is nice and all, but I'm not there to chow down on a lighting fixture no matter how nice it is). The man's Over Easy looked good, but at $11 it's still just a meat patty with some lettuce, tomato, onion and an egg with what looked like a pretty small yolk. And what is up with that pedestal they put it on and the dainty cup of ketchup for a pile of fries?
Definitely not a place to go out of your way for and, personally, I would rather try some place else if I were ever in that area again.Listed in: Skip It
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Review from Don Z.
6/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I am always looking for new beer places in my area. I was happy to see that The Lucky Monk had taken over the Brass building. (I hated Brass.)
We stopped in for "brunch" early on a Sunday. The decor was typical upscale suburban with lots of TVs. (not a good thing in my opinion) We sat at the bar so we could be closer to the beer.
The bartender, Lauren, was attentive and helpful. There weren't many people at the time, but she took good care of us throughout the day even as the lunch crowd came in.
The Lucky Monk has six house beers on tap and another half dozen others. They also have a nice selection of unusual beers in bottles. The only macro brew that I saw was Miller Lite and it was in a bottle only. Good thing they didn't waste a tap on it.
The prices on the beer were on the high side, but that was not surprising for the area. They did have a sampler of the six beers for $8. The bartender was also willing to give away small tastes if you asked.
The beer was served VERY cold, but at least the glass was not chilled. I just let each pour warm up to my preferred temperature.
My opinion of the house brews:
Pal's Porter: A good, drinkable beer, but not a great example of the style. Not as big on flavor as I would have liked.
Pale Belgian Style Ale: a surprisingly good beer; balanced bitterness with a bit of that Belgian yeast flavor. A little too subdued for me though.
Holiday Bock: tastes practically the same as the Pal's Porter to me.
Gr'ale (Belgian Style Amber): one of my favorite beers at this place. Light and crisp with enough punch to the flavor to keep my tongue interested.
Tritica: a fairly bland example of a wheat beer. Not necessarily bad, but I prefer ones with those exotic flavors like bananas and cloves. It was still very drinkable.
I didn't waste my time on the lager that they have because I typically don't like them enough to be fair.
I also had the Three Floyd's Alpha King and Half Acre Over Ale that they have on tap.
In between all that beer, we had "Lunch with the Monk". For $14 you get a 12" pizza, two cups of soup OR a single salad and four little, warm cookies. The crust on the pizza was slightly puffy, just the way I like it, but overall the Margherita pizza was bland. The cookies came with a little cup of chocolate syrup for dipping in case you need more calories.
I saw several people order hamburgers that were HUGE, but I did not try them so I don't know how good they were.
Overall, I had a good time with the Monk. The beers were good, but not exceptional. The atmosphere was a little sterile, but still enjoyable. Many of the people we talked to at the bar were either coming or going to the nearby AMC theater. I will be coming back to The Lucky Monk in the future.
update 2010-11-12:
I have been back a few times since my initial review. The beers are still good, but not great. Today, I had a good porter and the Gr'Ale was tasty as usual. I also discovered a Russian Imperial stout called Big Eddy by Leinies.
On a food note, I really hate those stupid platforms that they put the burgers on to make them look bigger. It is ridiculous. -
Review from Cam S.
Hoffman Estates, IL
1/4/2012
Modern decor with plenty of tables and booths. Nice, warm atmosphere. Service very good. Food excellent with nice variety of gourmet burgers, pizza and entrees. Had Burger ($12) and Skirt Steak ($16) - both were excellent. Craft beer very good (Fallen Angel). Nice location for movie theater. Plenty of parking.
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Review from Allison G.
Chicago, IL
7/4/2011
The food at Lucky Monk RULES! It's bar food done really well...homemade pizza, burgers, fresh cut fries, frizzled onions, etc. It's a microbrew, and their locally brewed beers are great.
I had my rehearsal dinner here. Claudia Ruiz, sales manager, is very sweet and great to work with. She's also flexible, she allowed me to substitute BBQ Pizza with Pizza Margherita on the private party menu. We were on the upper patio outside by the fire pit, the view of the pond and sunset was gorgeous.
At first, service was slow. Nobody took my beer order for quite some time (and isn't it customary to serve the bride first?) I had to ask waitstaff to order a beer, and they said they'd have to come back to me. We were all standing around for quite awhile before they brought out the appetizers. My guests were getting hungry and drunk on empty stomachs. I had to ask to have the apps brought out twice. Considering we had a clear start and end time, it would've made more sense to start with drinks and apps immediately, and then ease into dinner.
Additionally, our party had to meet a food/beverage minimum. It was crazy that night, so the shift manager asked if I had a problem seating some restaurant guests in the unused tables in the upper patio. I asked him if he would reduce our food/beverage minimum if we allowed this, and he said no. So I passed him off to my mother in law, who made the rehearsal dinner. Staff did not waiver on the minimum, so my mother in law told him, rightfully so, "we contracted for a private party and this whole patio, I'm not going to give to you if you won't give back." The restaurant would've received a windfall if they got our whole minimum AND extra orders on the patio for other diners. Lucky Monk would've made more money if they took our final bill as is (which was very near the minimum anyway) AND sat additional diners.
Once we got seated, service picked up considerably. The waitstaff was much more attentive and personable. They also added the tip to the final bill, which made figuring it out much easier. We took some growlers home with us (to meet the minimum).
My guests (and myself) had a great time at the rehearsal dinner, the setting is gorgeous. I would definitely eat at the restaurant again, it's delicious. My biggest recommendation for private parties is to stand firm, don't allow restaurant guests in your area unless the minimum is flexible, and plan a schedule with the sales coordinator regarding when appetizers and food go out. -
Review from Megan O.
6/19/2011
Date night with the bf, decided to come here then go to the movies.
They are a brewery, so they had their own beer as well as premium quality beers. They even have Crispin which is really light sweet hard cider.
We ordered whipped goat cheese for an appetizer, which came along with bread (2 loaves to be exact)! The goat cheese was so decadent and there was marinara sauce around it so you weren't dipping bread into plain goat cheese... I'd eat this all day if I could ($8)
The bf and I ordered chicken sandwiches, although they are known for burgers and pizza. I really wanted a burger because others around us ordered them and they looked so good--one even had grueyer cheese and an egg called Over Easy burger. . . Kind of looks like Kuma's Corner burgers, but I wouldn't know how it tastes! haha ($9-12)
I had the herb chicken which had avocado, some herb spread and bacon. . . I could only eat half at the restaurant, then I was craving it as soon as I got home after the movie! ($9.25)
I would recommend this place over and over, and I can't wait for another cheat day to go back!
