The Tastiest Beer Bar in Chicago

The Bad Apple

★★★★☆ 4.1 (1748) • $$

"We were staying two blocks from the Bad Apple this time in Chicago, and it seemed like it might be a toned-down, more family-friendly version of Kuma's, a place we've somehow never checked out despite many visits to the city: "gourmet" burgers, heavy rock and roll, etc., but with the volume turned down a bit. My developmentally-disabled brother-in-law joined us on this trip, and for some mysterious reason we acceded to his request to dine indoors on a beautiful 72-degree evening. (This was a couple of months back.) Inside, the decor is mostly a deep red with a strong, cartoonish dragon motif. And for early evening on a Monday, the music was pretty loud, although not overwhelmingly so--mostly guitar-heavy indie and "alternative" rock, much of which I recognized and most of which I liked. (Yeah, I'm old.)The titles of the burgers here don't really reveal much about what's on them---you'll need to peruse the menu closely if you're a first-timer--but the "Figs Is In" was a little more self-explanatory than the rest. It came with a fig & bacon relish, goat cheese, and smoked onion, a combination that clicked nicely and was less messy than I had feared. The burger itself had good flavor, although it leaned more toward medium-well than the medium I ordered. Handcut fries were excellent.Relatively extensive draft beer list with plenty of variety.Not at all inexpensive, but I guess nothing is anymore, least of all in larger cities."

Timothy O'Toole's Pub - Chicago

★★★★☆ 3.7 (1291) • $$

"Great local sports bar, plenty of seating, tvs to watch whatever you wish, and plenty of great food options. The burger I ordered with pork belly was delicious...but I wish I brought more of an appetite to eat because it was huge and couldn't finish it. Still hit the spot though. Appetizers were very filling and delicious. The group I was with all enjoyed ourselves."

3rd Coast Fish Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (1016) • $$

"We were in the mood for seafood, and it was girls' night, so we wanted somewhere cute and easy. Plenty of options to select from and shareable! We sat outside, and aside from the mosquitoes, we enjoyed our experience. The server was friendly and attentive, a sweet girls' girl. To our surprise, we made it just in time for happy hour! The Crab Bisque had good flavors, but it was not what any of us expected and it had a lot of vegetables. The Ceviche was light, Fried Calamari was extra crispy, and Crispy Fish was breaded on thick- all fine. However, we were thrown off ketchup was the sauce they served with the Calamari. As an entree, we shared the Hot Mess- the portion was enough for the 4 of us, and we liked the Cajun seasoning. Overall, I'd consider stopping in if I was in the neighborhood again."

Roots Handmade Pizza - West Town

★★★★☆ 3.6 (1012) • $$

"Service- greeter and waiter Right away from the front desk and the waiter was on top of his game. We'll mannered as easy to talk to. Food- the seasoned fries were a hit with my 5yr old. The pizza was just right. Had a good crunch to the crust (seemed like a sweet crust to me too) and the Italian sausage was flavorful. Ambiance- we came during a weekday on a Thursday for dinner and it wasn't loud at all. Good for families and to have a conversation without the loud music killing the vibe. we'll come back!"

Giant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (689) • $$$

"Wow, was I absolutely floored on my most recent trip to Giant. I'd like to think of myself as a retired Yelp reviewer, but I'm coming out of retirement to talk about just how impressed I was on my most recent trip to Giant was. I've been several times now and the food has always been excellent, but today I'm here to talk about the service.My boyfriend and I went to Giant last night to celebrate our anniversary, and due to a backup in the kitchen, we were seated just under 30 minutes later than our reservation time. This didn't really bother us because it was a beautiful night and the neighborhood was lovely to walk around, however, Giant took this very seriously. They went way way WAY above and beyond to show us how sorry they were for the delay by gifting us champagne, several dishes, and a dessert, all completely on the house. We were so appreciative of the initiative, and it only deepened our love of this restaurant. Giant is a prime example of a restaurant that values hospitality to the same degree that they value the quality of their food, which is something that you don't see all that often. Giant is easily one of my top 3 all-time favorite places to eat in Chicago based on their food alone, and the service-first experience we had last night just reaffirmed my opinion that Giant is one of the best restaurants Chicago has to offer. Bravo, Giant, keep up the excellent work."

Burger Bar Chicago

★★★★☆ 3.7 (862) • $$

"Quite a bit of variety on the menu and decent sized burgers. I got the firehouse stacker, and loved that the chorizo added a tiny bit of spice. The brioche bun was super buttery and soft, although I do wish it could've been slightly thicker (the burger was very juicy). Wait time was a bit long, but it looked like there was only 1 server at the time. The restaurant was clean and not too loud."

Laschet's Inn

★★★★☆ 4.4 (588) • $$

"Great old world ambience. Easy street parking on a side street. Food was excellent. I had schnitzel and my husband had sauerbraten.Service was prompt."

First Draft

★★★★☆ 4.1 (596) • $$

"A fun spot to watch a game or hang out with friends. It is a bit loud for talking but has a lively atmosphere and a varied menu. They have amazing fries and a lot of vegan as well as meat options. Our group opted for mainly meats but after eating the fries I was full! Such a large portion of perfectly cooked and not overly fried potatoes. Yum!If you are in the area this is a great spot to check out for hanging out and good. They have an extensive bar as well so you can get a bit of anything and everything!"

Broken English Taco Pub - Old Town

★★★★☆ 4 (558) • $$

"Amazing tacos especially the brisket one. Amazing churros too and the best ice cream I've ever had it's pomegranate that comes with the churros!"

Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (479)

"Such a fantastic hole in the wall (literally bc the entrance is hidden off to the side) wine bar with some killer kitchen offerings. I was in the neighborhood and checked this place out after hearing reviews that they have one of the best burgers in the city. They did not disappoint!I was seated quickly at the bar, and the bartender was fast to respond when I had questions. I ordered the isastegi cider from the basque region of Spain and the skilled bartender provided background on the composition and how to pour the cider, it was such a good experience! The burger was extraordinary! They can make it medium rare or medium and as a non-bloody type of person medium was the perfect fit for me. The patty was really flavorful, not too salty, and nicely crisp at the edges. Sauces were not overpowering but definitely present in the burger, and the buns were nicely toasted. The delicious pickles and pickles jalapenos were to the side and can be enjoyed together or separate. Needless to say I devoured everything and when I wanted a small addition to top off the meal the bread service with the toasted but soft sourdough truly hit the spot.Will definitely be back to check out their vast array of other imported beers, ciders, and wines! What a great spot!"

Federales Fulton

★★★★☆ 3.5 (715) • $$

"We couldn't walk past and not do the ice shot. If you are outside you get drawn to watching and can't help but want to be a participant. We got in and went straight to the bar and got our ice shots. I have to say it was a lot of fun and I hit the bell. I appreciate the fun and casual environment."

Prost

★★★★☆ 3.8 (493) • $$

"Had a great time here! Pretzel was amazing and the sausage platter was good!! Excellent, attentive service made it all perfect!"

HighLine

★★★★☆ 3.9 (333) • $$$

"Pretty dead when we went for a Saturday night dinner, but I'm sure it picks up later in the night! Seems like a great spot for drinks and games during a happy hour. Big and great for groups. Service was friendly and prompt! Highly recommend the burger, it was excellent. They also have the BEST kind of fries. IYKYK."

The CrossRoads Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (330) • $$

"Spent a couple hours there while our kids were at a concert at the United center on a Monday night. Greg the bartender was great. We told him right away we would be there for a while and he wasn't trying to rush us while there. Walked in and they had blues music playing and we sat by the fire all night. Ordered the fried pickles for an appetizer and they were great. My wife had the chopped salad and I had the fried chicken sandwich. Both had great flavor and the portions were huge. Will definitely go back at some point to try some of the other options."

The Harding Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.7 (325) • $$

"God, I love me some dive bars, more so when they're located in centralized locations i.e. on a major street, sandwiched between two train stops. The Harding Tavern is so much more than your average dive bar, though. With dine-in seating, you have premium beer/cocktail options on top of meals fit for any type of day. Their tap options are stacked, in my opinion. They have a rotating 'pint of the month' that highlights an alluring $5 price tag. Special mention, these guys have Goose Island Bourbon County stout on tap, which, to me, is incredible. I'm never in the market to buy a full bottle of one of these drinks, so a 10 oz pour is just right. The tavern itself is pretty compact, with the bar area located in the middle of everything, so it's pretty easy to get a tender's attention. Service is always prompt no matter the time of day. Brunch deals are available with their complimentary mimosas with a brunch entree purchased and a $38 package deal that includes a bottle of bubbly + OJ.I think the THT is a solid option to grab a drink in Logan Square. Great to bring some friends, to bring a first date, or to just grab a drink and watch a sports ball game alone. No judgment! Its accessibility alone to the NW side of the city is reason enough to check this bar out."

The Moonlighter

★★★★☆ 3.9 (261) • $$

"Cool place that's like a hipster sports bar. It has a lot of the typical things you'll find, plus a few others. The Moonlighter is known for the burgers, with some available for both meat eaters and vegans. Fun but relaxing atmosphere. You can watch a game or participate in things like trivia. After looking up a few close by sports bars, we came here. It had a good crowd but we were still able to get bar seats. There's a few big TVs. Good place for watching a game. We were impressed by the menu. Healthy for a bar. Lots of stuff for vegans. Also drinks. Prices are about what to expect. It's about $12 for a cocktail. The one I got was the Fly By Night. It's Amaro Noveis, Bonded bourbon, Giffard Rhubarb Liqueur, and lemon. Some high end ingredients in there. Each of us got one of the vegan cheeseburgers. It's about $14 for these. These are pretty big though. I got the Vegan BBQ Cheeseburger. This is a Beyond Burger with barbecue sauce, vegan cheese, fried onions, and pickles. Filling burger. This makes a healthier yet tasty alternative to the meaty stuff. Have to hit this place up again. It's on Armitage closest to the California CTA station. There's a whole lot of traditional barbecue offerings plus lots more for vegans and vegetarians."

Golden Crust Pizza & Tap

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (331) • $$

"Beer,pizza, and much morewe order apps caprese salad ,jalapeño peppers, and pizzaThe place was empty, took much time, and of course all came the same rime....Caprese Salad, I don't like the presentation, too big slice of tomatoes and not enough cheese and basilPepoers okThe pizza was pretty goodService okSee you next time......"

Pizza Beer & Jukebox

★★★★☆ 4.1 (215) • $$

"What an awesome bar! The food is delicious especially for bar food. They have tons of specials, events, and happy hour deals you can see online. They also have a brunch menu and a pizza of the month you can view on their website before stopping in. Their pizzas are what really steal the show for me - I love their Sweet Home Chicago pizza which comes with marinara, pepperoni, soppressata, capicola, calabrian chili oil, parmigiana reggiano, and basil. Their staff is super cool and personable, too (shoutout Mela and Megan!).Pricing here is very standard; it's not expensive and not cheap. This place can get super busy on weekends especially towards the evenings, so if you want to be able to hear your friends better I suggest going during the day or on a weekday. The ambiance is fun - it's like a regular bar with some added style to it. I've been here quite a few times and will definitely continue going here!"

Big Star

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (333) • $$

"I enjoyed my time here! We went to Wrigley Field right next door and were hungry afterwards and we got tons of tacos. Everything was good! Service was also super attentive and friendly. This place is huge since after games it must get super crowded. Great for groups and decent amount of stuff on the menu. My favourite tacos in the bunch were the braised beef tacos and the pork belly tacos (these were so juicy and flavourful!). I didn't get to try the fritos tacos but they did look super interesting (they come in the fritos bag)."

Gaslight

★★★★☆ 3.7 (218) • $$

"Nice sports bar on the main strip of Clark in Lincoln Park. I sat out on the patio area. It's a nice spot to watch a lot of sports games on one of the many TVs, while sipping on one of their many drinks and munching on one of their many food items. I just got some fries, they came with this really tasty house seasoning. They have your standard beer draft selection, with the usual crafts, and a good amount of house cocktails and old favorites. The staff were all nice. If it's real hot outside, the patio may be a bit hot as well, especially if there's a lot of people there, but if you're too hot you can always go outside as well. Not too expensive, especially for the area. I could see myself popping in again if I'm ever in the area."

Big League Burgers

★★★★☆ 4.2 (93) • $$

"We live in the neighborhood and walked by so many times before the grand opening. It was popping, the place is very nice inside and the patio area has heat which is really nice! The staff was very friendly and we really love the way you can see the food cooking. We were excited to try the pull pork sandwich, hotdog, north side burger, and their signature BLB burger. We waited 25 min for our order and got home to eat. They mistakenly gave us the curveball instead of the BLB burger:( my husband was very sad but the curveball was ok. The burgers themselves were decent size for the price. Overall really good atmosphere, nice staff, and everyone wearing masks. We will give BLB 4 stars for that. Just make sure you check your orders before leaving the place if you order to go."

Taco Lulú

★★★★☆ 4 (97) • $$

"This place is super fun and very affordable. You order up front and sit in the back. They bring you your food/drinks when they are ready but it's a super casual vibe. The food was great and the drinks were strong. The restaurant is based off the owners dog and we got to meet her which is so fun!"

Little Toasted

★★★★☆ 3.9 (90) • $$

"Stopped in for breakfast and it was delicious. I think it is dumb that reviews need to be at least 85 characters"

Ranalli's West Loop

★★★★☆ 4.1 (67)

"Love this place. The pizza tastes great! the ambiance is relaxed. The servers are attentive and courteous. You walk in and grab a table. The server comes quickly to serve you drinks and take your order. It's thin crust pizza and delicious. Our first time going there, we could not find any seats due to a basketball game. The next time we went, it was for early dinner, was able to find seats. we had their "hot honey soppressata, and Ranalli's special with no green peppers" Both were great. Fresh ingredients and crust have both crunch and chew. It's our go to place for thin crust pizza now."

Easy Street Pizza & Patio

★★★★☆ 3.9 (74) • $$

"Great neighborhood spot. It's consistently good food and yummy cocktails. It's fairly large so not hard to get a table last min either."

The Bad Apple

★★★★☆ 4 (22)

"This is a beautiful new gastropub with one of Chicago's best outdoor spaces. If you're looking for a beer and a burger you won't do much better than this spot. The beer selection is huge with 50 beers on tap and the burger is top notch! Here's what we ordered: 1)Everything wings.. tasty buffalo flavor with celery and blue cheese blended into the sauce. 2) Chicken, bacon, ranch poutine... they have four different types.. this one was decadent... could barely put my fork down. 3) Burgers... we ordered the Thunderdome and the Jake n Elwood both were juicy and flavorful... we have no problem calling this burger spot a top ten. Service was fast and friendly. It's obvious this crew knows how to run a restaurant. Highly recommend!"

Billy Goat Tavern - Wrigleyville

★★★★★ 4.8 (8)

"Amazing Tito's Blue Raspberry Lemonade drink. Would not get a frozen drink ever. Except for this one. Get here before this place is truly found out. Friendly staff, great spot."