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Categories: Gay Bars, Sports Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: LakeviewAddison (Red)
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I love getting a bulls-eye -- don't you? Well, that's exactly what you're gonna get when you go to this gay bar in Chicago. It has dart boards, pool tables, and other games to keep you content and hap-hap-happy for hours. It is located on Halsted St. -- on the north end (get it) of the bacon strip we like to call BOYS TOWN.
Speaking of bacon, this bar is meaty. The mensssss inside the joint come in every shape and form. A lot of the local gay sports clubs meet up here after their games -- all schvity and dewy from some man-on-man scrumming. Oh my. Just the other day while I was enjoying a drink with some friends -- a rugby team ran naked thru the bar and beer got poured on them. That sounds like my kind of Saturday night.
I kid --- i would rather that happened on a Tuesday night.
And if you are a sports-minded gay, they play sports games all da damn time. You would be in heaven. I don't give two shizzits about sports, but I like the laid-back vibe of this place. And I love darts.
So give it a chance. On Friday night, the next door bar - Bobby Love's - has Karaoke. You couldn't ask for a more exciting time. Give them a looksies.
If you're a pool player, go to this bar. Don't waste your time at any other bar in boystown or wrigleyville. If you have a friend, or if you're alone-- you'll find others at this bar. Also three dart boards, very tall beer glasses and a laid back unimposing atmosphere also raise this bar on the scale. Not the typical gay bar-- it's very straight-friendly as I have found on fridays and saturdays. The barstaff is hit or miss-- the cute ones are the slowest servers, while the average-joe types are the nicest and fastest to serve you. The best ones there right now are Chad, Frank, and George.
Also, they'll put on any game you wanna watch. During the day this is a GREAT hiding spot if you just want to sit, drink, and watch a game.
Walking into this place on a Saturday night got a hushed "ooh, look, lesbians!" reaction from a small crowd of men gathered near one of the bars. A strange first welcome for me and my friend's girlfriend, considering a) we're not gay, b) if we were, how would being a lesbian duo make us a spectacle at a gay bar? Interesting.
Maybe it was just the sports-bar theme, or the fact that we were the only women in the joint.
In any case, our group still had a fun time. The pool tables are a nice distraction, as well as the flock of crazy people you're bound to meet while sipping on relatively cheap domestics here for a couple hours.
But should you straight girls journey to the bathroom and absentmindedly walk in together, beware. I don't know if this is common universal practice, but the "buddy system" is not allowed here and you could get the boot. Or shouted at until you feel like a douche.
I came here the day after memorial weekend....right before the prop 8 rally. It was pretty mellow. The beer (draft) comes in a solid frosted mug! The proper way to serve a drink and the bartender is simply adorable...
Great conversation and great company. What else can a gal ask for...
Oh the ladies room had this slight vibration when entering, *wink* when you are feeling a bit tipsy with all these hot men around...what more can I ask for right?
Another cold beer waiting for me!!!
*woot*woot*
After reading some other reviews I am wondering if I have been going to the same place. There are more drug dealers, prosititutes and porn actors here than most of the places people are "scared" of. They tend not to kick the obvious pick-pockets and dealers out, at least during the week.
Weekends have always been fun... a little more low-key than most of the other Halsted bars. Like the pool and darts. Lots of the "I have sex with men, but I am not gay" types here. They let you fuck them and then want to beat you up when the guilts set in.
Another count -your- change place. They go through bartenders here like water...and consistently attract scammers. They have advertised drink specials in the gay rags, but act like they don't exist. You have to ask very specifically for what you want. Bartender will play dumb then accomodate you.
There is nothing I love more than when a bartender handles the following statement with aptitude and zeal.
"I don't know what to have. . . you pick".
Bookended by my husband and our favorite gays, we were on a fairly explicit mission as part of "Emily D., Acting Out 2009, Sponsored by Grey Goose". I've taken to falling in love with shots again. We did several. Jaeger, Red-Headed Sluts and Hottie Bartender's specialty: Washington Apple. I inquired if it had Pucker in it, which is clearly rhetorical.
He thought I was cute, but here I still have to pay.
We could have easily gone the way of oblivion and karaoke'd to several showtunes but opted to hop to the next location. I want to come back and introduce myself to the bar hop wearing the "I Love My Penis" shirt. There's more to that shy soul. He really needs to come out of his shell. Tragic.
I love the North End. That's what she said.
OK, so this past Saturday night, was a night of many first for me. (All of which, I really enjoyed!) My first experience at a gay sports bar (nothing at all like the gay bars I'd visited in DC). My first encounter with Hacker-Pschorr; and what a sweet encounter it was (just refer to review below). And lastly my first sports obsession, the World's Strongest Man competition - this blows my mind.
Anyhow, back to the actual review. I had a fabulous time here. The bartenders were very friendly. The mugs were tall, frozen and filled to the top with fresh beer on tap. Fun music, plenty of visual stimulation and most importantly great company. So a big thank you to my buddy Justin and to The North End for helping me experience my many firsts!
I really like North End! I'm the "Illini football season ticket holding, Cubs game going, Cardinals hating" kind of gay guy so drinking cold cheap beer in a laid back gay sports bar a couple of blocks from Wrigley (and a world away from Roscoe's) is my idea of a good time. I have been to North End on many occasions and I've never had a bad time. My favorite nights are when it's not completely packed (this can happen on some weekends) and you can actually get a bar stool and enjoy a conversation with the bartenders.
North End is also close enough to Charlie's that by the time the rest of the queens have hauled it down Halsted from Sidetrack and Roscoe's you'll already be inside the bar before the cover charge while the cowboys are still line dancing. It's also right next to Buck's which is also a GREAT time. I'll take the NORTH END of Halsted anyday!
Do you like beer?
Do you play pool?
Do you like darts?
And occassionally you like to sing kareoke and play wii games???
THEN YOU'RE HOME.
If you want a nice relaxed night out without all the Boystown pretentiousness of a few other places, head to North End.
It's a layed-back gay sports bar with enough video screens to keep you entertained all night.
It's a good place for darts and pool also.
This place is fabulous. I'm a sports bar kind of gal, so I'm always open to the type of atmosphere The North End offers. Saturday night my beau and I ran into a few of my friends who were headed out. Am I ever glad we joined them!
I just love the, dare I say, head bartender, George. He's been there for about 17 or so years (I was drinking when he told me so I might be a year or two off), which in my world makes him a staple in the community. He's just fabulous, caring and hilarious. Although his job is to keep the drinks flowing, he makes the experience fun and memorable, which to me, makes The North End a new favorite.
Pool tables are a plenty considering the bar size and I do believe I spied a dart board, or two, I can never be sure. And from what I hear, the specials are pretty decent, but I'll have to get back to you there.
This place is actually fun. It's strange that I had walked by hundreds and hundreds of times having never gone in... a few weeks ago we decided to give it a whirl. we stayed for awhile... went back this weekend.
It seems to be a pretty laid back crowd, slightly older (30-60 seems average) crowd. A lot of the "I'm 38 wearing abercrombie still" crowd too.
They recently upgraded their TVs and now have nice huge 60" LG plasmas throughout. It was a fun social place to watch the Grammys...
did someone say... porn star bartender with his own dildo named after him?
Hockey night in Chicago...GO HAWKS. having just converted a lovely couple to the wonder that is fresh I lied to them and told them we were going to a bar that was just right down the street. I picked this one cause I knew it was more down to earth and low key than the rest of boystown, didn't want to scare them with a trip to the lucky Horseshoe. So we walked the short mile and found 3 seats right at the bar. Soon the hockey game was on and all right. The conversations were hilarious and the alcohol was flowing leading to more hilarious conversations. My friend Lori was transfixed on the World's Strongest Man competition. I don't think she glanced away at all even while downing her drinks like a pro....which she is of course. This place is what you make it, so bring some great friends and a thirst for beer and watch your sports. Hawks won 4-2
So, it's a gay bar, but not the kind that your thinking of. I have never, nor will I ever, been inside a place more unique without even trying to be. It is what you make of it. Daytime is mellow, shows the 'game' usually, and serves up big, cheap beers. Nighttime picks up. There is pool and darts and usually someone to play with if you show up alone. (Take that as you will) It's not generally full of "queens" or "bears" or any other attempt to categorize it, but don't EVER be think you won't be suprised by who walks in the door next. It's friendly, relaxing, and just the kind of place for the gay man who just happens to be that way... I think if you are in the area, you need to at least pop in for one beverage. It may just become your favorite. Miss ya NE.....
North End is a gay bar without the attitude. I'm not much one for primping and posing at the trendier bars on Halsted, so The North End is a nice option for hanging out in a relaxed, low-homo-pressure environment.
My experience here has been drinking beer and throwing darts with friends. Check out the pool tables, dart machines, and popcorn machine.
Everyone is friendly and you'll feel welcome as a newcomer.
Very cool.
Hands down the best gay bar in Chicago, or at least that I have found thus far. Here are four important reasons why:
1. I am always greeted with a friendly hello by the bartender(s), and served promptly.
2. The DJ is respectful and polite in taking requests.
3. The staff is curteous, consistently checking up on tables and counters to make sure they are clear.
4. The operators will go out of their way to make a special accomodation if they're able to.
If you're a bar/tavern owner and reading this, I suggest using this as a model for operating your own establishment. It will keep people coming back. Trust me.
Small, quaint, sometimes overcrowded but they took out the pool tables so you just lost a star!
This is my favorite gay bar in the city. People here are (mostly) so laid back and unpretentious that you'll almost forget that you're hanging out on Halsted.
Don't get me wrong; the place is filled with gorgeous guys. (And, unfortunately, the random straight guy who is so lame that he's unable to pick up women at a hetero bar.) And they play a lot of Madonna. And you will get air kisses from the (sometimes shirtless) bartenders if you're a regular.
But there's pool tables and darts and the beer is cheap and there's free popcorn and it's usually not TOO crowded and everyone is pretty down-to-earth and friendly. Love this place!
Its kind of like Woody's from "Queer as Folk".
Its just your friendly neighborhood gay bar. Play darts, shoot pool, or watch TV on one of their new HUGE ASS flat panel TVs (amazing!). Free popcorn and Chili(which wasn't half bad, I was brave, or drunk, and tried it). Beware of the salt shaker for the popcorn, it comes out fast.
Great place with no 'tude! Check it!
Top 3 reasons to visit The North End:
1. Free pool on Wednesdays
2. Friendly & fast bartenders
3. Laid back atmosphere
This is the gay bar for all of you gay men out there who would rather not deal with all the typical crap that goes down at gay bars. I'd list all of that, but if you are looking to avoid it, you know what I am talking about.
The North End is your gay Cheers. It's cozy and laid back. The bartenders are friendly. The clientele is respectable. It's a great place for grabbing a beer with your friends. It's a little detached from your typical gay fare, but that works in its favor.
If you are looking for you next favorite gay bar, this is it.
So why not five stars? I hate when gay bars get big heads.
If you are a man who likes hanging out with other men, doing man things...yet also likes to take these men home and undress them...North End is the spot for you. It is very laid back, friendly, and just an all around great place to hang out. They have pool tables, a few dart boards, and karaoke on certain nights. There are also several big screens showing every kind of sporting event you could imagine. And even if you are not a fan of watching sports, which I definitely am not, you can't deny those boys in the tight singlets rolling around all over each other are hot! Also I am not sure if this is a regular thing, but one night randomly they set up a nacho bar. Awesome! My only gripe is that they use a machine to measure out the shots, I know that it pours the same amount that you generally get anywhere else (well except for those certain places we all know and love) but for some reason I feel like I am getting cheated. My solution to this is to drink the massive mugs of draft beer which suit me juuust fine.
I was here with David S., Sean K. and my friend Scott thanks to the great reviews this place got and can I say, I did not think it would be like a real sports bar! It was really laidback and refreshing in all honesty and not usually my kind of place but I really enjoyed myself. I had a huge beer (sooo manly, I know), played pool and darts and even watched a little sports, all in one night! How great is that! There was a healthy and rather varied crowd, and I bet it's a lot minglier on a big sporting day. I'd love to be here during the US Open or something.
I think this may well be the first true gay sports bar I've ever been to... Seriously, if it weren't for the (gay) crowd, you'd think yourself in just any other sports bar: big screen TVs... showing sports, pool tables, darts boards etc etc. I'm not usually into sports bars (or should I say... into spectator sports), but I had a pretty good time there. I even played pool (which happens maybe once in a quarter century or so!). The crowd was very mixed, the drinks reasonably priced. Still I must say this isn't exactly my kind of place.
I'm surprised by all the great reviews for this place. There must be an evil twin of this bar, because that's the place I was at last night. The mixed drinks were not good. The staff certainly was not friendly. In fact, some were so rude that they are reason for this bad review. Hated it and won't be back.
great sports bar! $5 gets you a giant mug (22 oz at least) of domestic beer, and the shots are fairly cheap and delicious. even though the crowd is mostly gay men, they have the best mix of any of the boystown bars. pool, darts, free popcorn, sometimes rowdy sports bar karaoke.
this is my favorite late night boystown bar. also my favorite chill weekday in boystown bar. the only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because it sometimes smells strongly of bleach. strongly. i guess that means it's clean.....?
Probably the best bar to go to for friendly people! Great service, diverse crowd, and plenty of people to meet. Definitely has a leg up on the competition along Boystown row. Read my rant in my review of Roscoe's for why i automatically deduct a point from boystown bars if you need to know my problem with boystown bars. Otherwise, definitely in my top three chicago gay bars.
I was just in this bar and am wondering what happened to it. I read all these great reviews but I was extremely disappointed at the small drinks, the cost, and measured liquor (and I am not even sure if they substituded some cheap vodka for the Grey Goose i ordered). If you got money to blow then this must be the place. At least they got pool and darts. The staff was snarky and rude and complained the whole time I was there about the owner - well if you dont like it there then get another job.. I don't need to hear that when I want to relax.
It's a nice space with things to do like darts and pool but I found the bartenders to be kind of… Read more »
Not classy never crowded which is what you need sometimes. A good gay bar to watch sports if you don't want to travel to Cru. It's laid back and cheap. I love playing pool and there's a bar right there for me. Sometimes have free food which is great if you're brave...but it's clean, no worries. When you don't feel like yelling to have a conversation and drink, this is a good place to go!
This bar is real. It is what it is. A sports bar with great service, lots of big screen TVs friendly fun staff. Oh yeah and one of the bartender's is a real porn star how cool is that.!?
Hey I am a homo thats not too into sports. I just like this bar. I like the big beers, i like the music, usually, i like the darts and the no attitude crowd. I even dont mind standing elbow to elbow to pee. Its fun. The bar and ok the bathroom too. But its not dirty like that so stop thinking that. The bartenders can be dirty like that tho.
Maybe you're not looking for dance music or fancy drinks. The North End is a sports-oriented bar where guys can have a beer while watching the game. No fuss, no frills, patrons shoot pool and throw darts, all while a Britney Spears video plays on one screen, a Cubs game on another. The bar fills up with a mixed crowd on Wednesday nights, when karaoke begins at 10:00 p.m. Hop along Halsted to meet the boys; bring them to North End if you actually want to TALK to them.
Gotta love the change of scene from the rest of Halsted. Yeah it might not be hip, or very clean, but hands down probably the only bar in boystown where you are guaranteed to have a good time. Go to the clubs for dancing, go the North End for some quality fun with friends. Always a diverse crowd. They should get a juke box!
I have been coming here to shoot pool for years. Mainly cuz it's within walking distance from my home but also cuz I'm a straight (with a few quirks along the line) gal and this gay sports bar is so laid back and down-to-earth you'll feel like you're shooting pool on a table in your basement...well, with a bunch of hot guys running around. Don't mind them and they don't mind you....unless you want to and then they're friendly & sweet as apple pie. Great place for pitchers of beer, quiet enough to have a conversation, yet music videos are playing so you can tune out. I bring straight guys here all the time and they enjoy it also. So much smoother than a straight man's sports bar. Bring a friend when you go here...it could get a bit lonely. Unless you're a gay man...but then you'll have to read someone else's review. Free Pool on Wednesdays! Watch out for the pool leagues on Mondays (certain times of the year). Good drinks and friendly bartenders!
Good alternative to the rest of Halsted. Friendly and laid-back clientele, guys actually watching sports. You can make it whatever you want--looking for a date or a quiet drink. Bathroom is nasty, but most are. They don't have a coat check to speak of, but you can set your coat down and you won't have to worry about it. If you like to play pool or darts, this is a good spot.
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