Mouthwatering Pubs in Chicago

MCM Pub and Eatery

★★★★☆ 3.6 (45)

"I genuinely like this place. It has a wide variety of craft beers and a nice, friendly atmosphere. The reason for 3 stars is that the quality of food has shifted. When I first started going there last summer (2018), they had these amazing chicken wings. Big, meaty wings that could fill you up. Six wasn't quite enough but twelve was too many. I'd get the garlic parmesan. Did I mention they were amazing? Now? I swear they walk next door to Dominos and take their wings (yes Dominos has wings and if I'm gonna get small bits I might as well save some money). I'm still impressed that they have the truffle french fries. Those are amazing too and about the only reason, I keep going back. I'm sure the wings is a cost-cutting move but please, please, please find another way to save money."

Union

★★★★☆ 4.4 (58)

"Soft opening! The new sit-down addition to the same owners as Lardon--this is the adjacent dining room that they've refitted to make an evening menu with craft beer. Right off the California blue line stop, and it shares a kitchen with Lardon, who does the charcuterie and sandwiches with house cured meats. It turns out Lardon is going to cancel it's dinner hours so they can focus on Union.This new menu is a little bit wider (and pricier): the full plates go from Burger at $18 to Hanger Steak at $32... but with mid-sized and small sized plates available as well. Fried olives. Breaded--like fried pickles but better. Tiny little salty explosions.Bresaola Tartine. Recommended by our server--it's like sourdough toast points topped with cheese, aged pieces of meat, and garnished with blackberries and sage. It sounded amazing, and we loved it, but it felt like it was trying to do a lot, and if the beef was supposed to be the star, it was drowned out by the cheese and balsamic. Still tasty.Hanger steak. Juicy. The potatoes carried noticeable beef tallow flavor, and the steak was cooked on point. Chimichurri sauce was lost among other flavors. At points the gristle was a bit too much to chew and i had to pull out parts on my plate. For a "large / entree" I wish the platter was a bit more full-sized. There's enough steak, but more than 3 fingerling potatoes couldn't hurt. I realize i live my life in pubs more than high-end joints, where the higher the price point, the smaller the portion. Marketed as a craft beer bar, and while the list is well done and features a lot of local options, there's not much you wouldn't find at a variety of bars nearby.Service for us was a bit rough. Didn't get greeted (!) at our table for almost a full 15 minutes, and a drink didn't arrive until about 35 minutes in. This was a soft opening, and we know the staff were all working hard to get up to speed, so giving this a pass. In another case it would have counted as a bad experience.The vibe is brick and metal and wood and the design feels great. Doesn't have a standout feature though and it feels quite a bit like other similar spots. The inside noise level at points was so loud just from conversation it was hard to converse. We were seated at a hightop that had three couples at the same table and it felt fairly cramped, so this probably contributed.Not a "wow" factor for me on our first visit, but this is another welcome Logan Square spot and we'll try again."

Larry's

★★★★☆ 4.3 (55) • $$

"The vibes here are perfect - elevated and classy cocktail bar meets dive bar meets library coffee shop. Probably could sit in this building all day. The lobby atrium space has so many great seating options for working and I noticed the cute coffee bar as well. Would be such a great spot for working from home!Larry's itself was classy, dimly lit, and timeless, open to the atrium so you could hear the live jazz band playing beautifully in the background. And the cocktail menu was soooo good! I only got red wine but the names of the drinks and the presentation was immaculate. This is a hidden gem that I would go out of my way to come back to!"

Exchequer Restaurant & Pub

★★★★☆ 3.8 (676) • $$

"I was staying right down the street at the Palmer House Hilton and wanted to try this spot. The exterior gave me a great vibe, see picture. The interior decor is old school, they have movie posters from Psycho on the wall and the mug shot of Frank Sinatra being arrested, great stuff to see all around the restaurant. The Exchequer Pub is right as you walk in the front door, the dining room is further back. They have great pizza, according to the person sitting next to me. For dinner, I got the Capone's Rigatoni with sausage and vodka sauce (A grade). This was a nice size serving, I could not finish everything. The service was very friendly, thanks Moe, who wore a Toronto Bluejays hat. The prices are great considering you are downtown in Chicago and you definitely get your money's worth. I washed it all down with a Zombie Dust - pale ale 6.5% ABV (Munster, IN)."

The Clark Street Dog

★★★★☆ 3.6 (410) • $

"Ordered 2 cheeseburgers and a fry for my dinner. This was so delicious the patty was so thick and juicy! Toppings included my favs tomato, lettuce, chopped onions, mustard, and pickles for delivery French fries were so crispy and not soggy at all. Packing was great too, sealed with a staple."

Tokio Pub

★★★★☆ 3.6 (611) • $$

"It was decent. We stopped here for dinner. We were seated right away and we're brought water. Drink order was taken. My wife had a $5 (Taco Tuesday special) Margarita. She enjoyed it. I tried it. A bit sweet for my taste. We ordered the Chicken Potstickers for an appetizer. Very nice. For dinner, we ordered:- Red Dragon Roll- Filet Mignon Japanese Hot Rock- Roasted Tofu and Shiitake Mushroom RamenMy wife enjoyed the Hot Rock meal, though not very filling. We loved the Red Dragon Roll. Note too that they use minimal rice in the roll. I was happy for that. I had the Ramen. I really liked the Soy Marinated Egg half. The rest of the bowl was just so-so in my opinion. I would come back for the Ramen, though their other varieties may be better. The broth wasn't very tasty or inspiring."

Big Hill Bar & Grill

★★★★★ 4.5 (101) • $$

"If you're familiar with Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club, then you should come here for dinner! They're owned by the same person. The food is delicious and they have a great selection of drinks. Never disappointed with the food or service. Take advantage of the patio during warm months."

The Albion Manor

★★★★☆ 4.4 (45)

"Cute place to hang out for a quick bite before a movie at the Webster theater. This was our first time stopping in here as we had some time to kill before the movie. We were going to see Oppenheimer and based on the time, it would have been too late for The Doctor and my BFF to eat, so we decided to stop in here.Honestly, at first glance there is nothing that pulls one in to explore. I have gone to the Webster theater a lot and actually park on the side street where the restaurant is, but never felt a pull to check out the place. I am so glad that I did. The interior is very British pub looking. Based on some of the photos on the wall, you can see that they did some work to give the décor that feel of being in a pub. I was very happy to see that they had bubbles on the wine list. We got a bottle of sparkling rose prosecco. This alone will get me back in the joint as I love a good sparkling rose. This one has a hint of violet in it and is dry. I decided to start with the Ploughman's Plate (British Charcuterie). This consisted of several cheese and meat selections, Branston pickles, a pickled egg and crostinis. I laughed when I saw the menu calling this a British version of charcuterie because typically these platters focus very heavy on the bread, cheese and pickles, maybe throwing in some ham. This plate did have meat though. Overall this was a good dish, but I was not a fan of the crostini and asked for regular bread. The pickled egg was very good and it would have been nice to have a second one as part of the presentation, just something to think about.For our main course we got the Albion Burger (Beef Patty, Arugula, Bacon Jam, Garlic Aioli, Smoked Gouda). The bacon jam was a nice touch as it added a little of sweetness against the meat and cheese. The burger itself was good, not overcooked, with fries. I saw that there was Shepherd's pie on the menu that I would like to go and try. I love that dish but oddly enough, not many places do it justice. So I am always on the hunt for a good one.Service was good as we sat at the bar. The bartender took good care of us and got us out in time to walk across the street to get to our movie on time. This joint will definitely be on our radar as a place to hang when we come to The Webster for movies."

BallPark Pub

★★★★☆ 4.3 (55) • $$

"Great neighborhood bar in Bridgeport and close to Sox Park. Plenty of beers on tap as well as bottles and cans. The food here is excellent - the Ballpark Burger and Buffalo Chicken Sandwich are delicious. Servers are very friendly - BallPark Pub is a must visit in Bridgeport!"

Marge's Still

★★★★☆ 3.7 (177) • $$

"Have mostly only gone here for drinks - need to do some market research on the food menu - but I love coming here. Cozy, neighborhoody, friendly, welcoming, this just feels like a good spot to meet up with friends, watch the game and get a drink.Family friendly with seated tables for food and bar/high tops for more casual stop in. Staff are awesome"

Paddy Mac's

★★★★☆ 3.9 (167) • $

"Great neighborhood bar! I've been twice and both times service was great and the food was good. All of the food has been delicious. Cheese curds were great along with the fish fry and Rueben. They have a diff special each day of the week - fish fry is all you can eat on Friday and very delicious. They also had a deal for beers too. Will be back! Only compliant is they didn't have Guinness on tap either time although it was on the menu. Seems like they should with their name :)"

Weather Mark Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.5 (444) • $$

"I had a great burger and fabulous Blood Orange Cali beer for lunch yesterday. I haven't been here for years even though it's right near my house. I'll be back soon. I mostly dine alone and felt very comfortable here despitthe brunch groups. Friendly place. Fast service. Good food."

The Red Lion Pub

★★★★☆ 4.3 (266)

"This was a blast from the past from me. I spent many an evening here with the previous owner (John Cordwell) and the current owner (Colin Cordwell). Many a night was spent watching movies while having a meal or drink. I was not prepared for what I walked into when The Doctor and I went there for a meal. The original Red Lion, while it had a second floor, most of the activity took place on the first floor. There was the main bar, some tables in the front and a fireplace. Walking into the Red Lion, I was amazed at the transformation! I felt like I had walked into an English country estate library room. The second floor was gone, and the main room had an expansive view. The walls were covered in books and interesting memorabilia. While everything was new, it was good to see that the TV and Colin were still there.I will say the food was better than I remember, definitely a step up from general bar food. The Irish Nachos were a big hit with me, and I would definitely get those again. The Scotch Egg was also very good, but I am a sucker for those. The mac and cheese with the fried egg was a good side and the Shepherd's Pie was delish as well. The Doctor got a half house salad with chicken. While it was only a half of a salad, there was a lot of chicken on that sucker. The Ploughman's Plate was also a nice side, definitely would recommend that as a snack if you want something to munch on while having drinks at the bar. And they have bubbles, so that is a win win for me.Service was a little slow, but not a deal breaker as there was one person serving as hostess and waiting the tables. Staff is friendly and Colin is still Colin, full of jokes and a good conversationist, so it was great to reconnect. Jake, another bartender, was also lovely and good company. So glad to see that The Red Lion is still around and doing well. Definitely will be adding this to our rotation of places to hang."

Village Tap

★★★★☆ 3.8 (341) • $$

"Awesome neighborhood bar in Roscoe! My wife and daughter wanted to visit a bookstore, so my son and I visited here just two doors down. It was pretty busy for 3 pm, but we got a hi top table and placed our orders right away. We had a couple of Old Styles, and I tried the Krombacher pilsner. It was the beer of the month and very good. My wife and daughter joined us about an hour later and had a couple of drinks. This seemed to be a less expensive bar than most we visited in Chicago. That's always a good thing! Service was outstanding! I can't get over these beautiful Chicago bars. Long and narrow. Awesome architecture. Perfect setup here at Village Tap! Will definitely try and make it back here on our next visit to Chicago."

O'Callaghan's

★★★★☆ 3.5 (276) • $$

"Thank you O'Callaghan's for such fun last night in Chicago. Went to so many different bars and this was the only one that would let us in we also had great service for food and drinks! Overall I was just drinking water which they have bottled water. My friend was drinking black label on the rock and our server came by multiple times to ask if we needed anything. It was amazing and I'm so happy that the servers were so nice. We also decided to order their chili fries which are made in-house and also came with waffle fries. This was the bomb and delicious. A must for just snacking and enjoying the night."

Monk's Pub

★★★★☆ 3.7 (549)

"Classic pub in the Loop. It even looks older because the outside is medieval. Monk's Pub is a popular gathering spot for downtown workers. Has the drinks and food you expect in a place like it. The prices also are about what you expect in a hip area though. Anyone looking for classic old pubs in Chicago has to come here. It's been here quite awhile, but with the old looking exterior it looks even longer. They have some kind of medieval theme. Just too bad they don't have old time prices. There's some pretty pricy stuff. Beer list is pretty big. Lots of local ones to choose from. It's about $9 for a basic cocktail. There's better ones that are even for expensive though. As for the food, pretty good, but expensive. There's typical pub fare like burgers and wings. Also they have a Beyond Burger. It's $16 and comes with a side. Good in spite of the price of course. The last time here the food came out fast and the atmosphere was good mostly. Gets pretty busy at lunch. It has plenty of workers from nearby coming in and when they get off. This is also one of the few places around here open on the weekends."

The Windsor Tavern and Grill

★★★★☆ 4 (102) • $

"So I have been to The Windsor Tavern a few times now, as some peeps I know really dig this unassuming watering hole at the corner of Milwaukee and Windsor just a few blocks south of Jefferson Park. They have outdoor seating along Windsor during the warmer months. The servers seem pleasant, but when it gets busy here you sometimes have to flag them down to pay up or check on your orders. The wait for the food to come out can take a few minutes so hang in there with your beverage and check out a sporting event on one of the TV's, or do some people watching amongst the locals who come here for a brewski.They do have a pretty good beer list here, along with a limited food menu. The sandwiches come out with fries that are crispy and taste like those at Popeye's chicken, so that is a good thing. The reuben with sauerkraut is a solid sandwich, and comes with sides of Thousand Island dressing and cole slaw. The burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and pizzas are also popular choices. They also have something called Irish nachos on the menu, but we have never seen those come out yet."

O'Donovan's

★★★★☆ 3.6 (466)

"Big ass bar. It's actually more like two because there's two sides, just like to a story, so here's a story about our time on a recent to visit to this North Center hangout. O'Donovan's is a good place for chilling or wilding out, depends on when and where. Enclosed bar is calm except when a party is using it and the screeching girls sing bad pop lyrics. The patio is the better one because of the fresh air and more room to even move. A good decision the last time here was coming earlier, because it wasn't as busy. It gets lots of parties on weekends, for birthdays and other events. The enclosed bar is okay when it's not crowded, which is on weekends. Patio is usually open on weekends if the weather is okay. That's the bar's better side. I like the breeze. The menu prices aren't as likable, but these aren't as bad as many places. It's about $10 for a cocktail. They have quite a few. My favorite is the James Bomb. This is some good shit. It has banana rum, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and Tropical Red Bull. Last time we each got a Beyond Burger, because it's one of the few vegan friendly good items. It's about $13, so not cheap. This came with a choice of a side. Good place to have a party or an event. It's also a unique bar because it has a few areas to choose from. The inside bar is great for parties and the patio is fun for relaxing and whatever."

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."

The Rambler

★★★★☆ 3.8 (74)

"The most expensive wrap in the city :( Really wanted to love this place but dang do they nickel and dime you. $21 for a chicken wrap with curly fries before tax and tip, so really $27 all in which is insane. To charge $3 to provide less food inside of a tortilla inside of a salad, and $5 for chicken, and $2 to switch fries to curly fries is just ridiculous. Rambler Burger for $14 was comparably a total steal and much better than the wrap. Waitress was okay but apparently there were a bunch of holiday specials that she neglected to mention to us. Weather was iffy but they have a side patio and a back patio that both looked like great spots for nice days."

Dugan's

★★★★☆ 3.7 (139) • $

"Dragana is the best part!Everyone who works here is super nice!Some lady was being super disrespectful to the business and they handled it very professionally A+ ILL BE BACK!"

The Lodge Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.9 (186) • $$

"When I tell you this place was crowded!!! So many people in a tiny space. Really cool space I must add. Definitely a diffferent vibe here. Bartender was excellent!!! Not sure if they serve food, but the beer was good. 3 stars because the place was dirty and crowded. But then again it was a busy bar on a Friday night. Cool history and people watching."

Wilde Bar & Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (1362) • $$

"Really cute more traditional Irish pub and restaurant. Lots of great wood work and art. The exterior is always nicely decorated and on point. It's a great vibe just to even walk past their dining section in front. The food and service was great too. I really need to head back for Sunday brunch. Just looks like a nice place to relax in the morning."

George Street Pub

★★★★☆ 4 (323) • $$

"Great sized patio and fun vibe. The food was good and the beer was reasonably priced. Service was friendly and quick. Great spot for lunch or to watch the game."

Bar on Buena

★★★★☆ 3.8 (594)

"This is one of my go to neighborhood bars with my fiancé! They have a special on the menu each weekday and it's always slightly different so you never get bored with the menu. During the summer time I love sitting at the patio with our dog. The service is pretty good as well. Definitely recommend as a chill go to neighborhood bar to grab a bite to eat and hangout with friends"

Kelly's Pub

★★★★☆ 3.5 (160)

"This is a mandatory stop on every trip I take to Chicago. It was fairly empty on a Wed night, so we got the prime corner by the front window. (I wish they had hooks under there bar for your purse, but the isn't that kind of place). NOTE TO OWNER: put them in (it is a low cost high impact improvement) - girls will love it!!!Kelly's is just a old man, classic. Chicago neighborhood joint (where, if you were a regular, "everybody knows your name")Our bartender was a doll, though I do not remember his name. I will try and ask my friend and update this review.(Other note to OWNER: - update your t-shirt styles and re-order. Note that on your hoodies - the hood covers your logo) -"

Brehon Pub

★★★★☆ 3.6 (170) • $$

"Me and my cousins stumbled into Brehon Pub, and not the way you would expect. It was a late-night bite after rounds of ping pong and thankfully their kitchen was still open. We sat in the back area that at first we didn't even think you could enter (they even have a pool table on that side). Furthermore, the food was AMAZING! I feel like they took bar food to a whole different level. Everyone cleared their plates and the prices were reasonable. I would recommend the Nachos, guacamole bacon burger, or the Mac & bacon. The waiter was very nice but I forgot her nameeeee, will definitely be back. 10/10"

The Beetle Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (197) • $$

"Okay, I came here on a whim with some friends on a Sunday and I loved it! Their menu is very enticing! I split food with a friend: Figgy Stardust burger (with a turkey burger) and Fish and Chips (on special). It was one of the best fish and chips that I've had outside of Europe. The burger was savory and sweet. The fries were cooked perfectly, cripsy crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.I can't speak to drinks, but I can speak to food. I loved what I had and I look forward to coming back. Also, shoutout to the Sunday bartender because he was working alone for a portion of my time there and he was still tending to all guests at the bar and in the dining room."

Gannon's Pub

★★★★☆ 3.9 (162) • $

"Had a visit to another Lincoln Park dive bar. It's not that much of one but it's as divy as you can get there it seems. Gannon's has a mix of Irish and other themes going on pretty much. More known for the drinks such as the beers on tap and some mules that are refreshing. The food is pretty basic stuff like pretzels, wings, and those types of things. Came in at lunch and it wasn't that busy for a weekend at least. It has a pretty good amount of space inside and out. There's a beer garden in the back open for summer. It's about $10 for a cocktail. Pretty good stuff like the Irish Mule, made with Jameson. Basic food on the menu however. There's greasy stuff like burgers and that if you want. It's $8 to get a couple of Jumbo Soft Pretzels. These are good to munch on with beer or whatever. Also they have cheese curds. These greasy things are among the good things for sharing. Get some great beers on tap and some cocktails. It has a pretty basic food menu. There's burgers, pretzels, and whatever."

The Green Door Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.9 (520) • $$

"This historic pub (established 1921) in River North is a casual place for a drink and a bite. My partner and I both had chicken sandwiches, which were sizeable and filling. The place was a bit busy on a weekend afternoon but our waitress did a decent job of balancing everything. Eclectic decor and a historic setting."

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 Green Post

★★★★☆ 4 (82) • $$

"What a lovely little spot! I was actually there for coffee and coworking this morning, meeting up with a couple of local colleagues. During the day, the bar side is a coffee shop with your typical array of coffee, espresso, tea and so on, as well as pastries and breakfast sandwiches. Coffee was great, service was good, wifi was fast, and it's a great place to meet up with a friend if you're in the neighborhood."

The Kerryman

★★★★☆ 3.7 (519) • $$

"The ambiance is an Irish pub. We were there around 4pm on a Wednesday and the place was lively. There was a huge group soon as you walked in having a drink together. They also had the big soccer game on.Most of the booths were taken. We got one of the last booths and we were greeted soon as we sat down and our order was taken. Soon as our order was taken someone else brought us waters. My honey ordered an Irish Coffee. He thought it was really good and loved the shaved nutmeg on the top.I highly recommend this pub."

The Pony Inn

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (279) • $$

"A sport's lover's Paradise. This is an Ultimate Sports Bar. Went here for the Kentucky #Derby Day party. For $50 per person we had unlimited food, bourbon glazed smoked Pig, fried chicken, mac and cheese, coleslaw, baked beans, salad and cornbread. Unlimited beverages included Woodford Reserve mint juleps which by the way we're very good, important, crafts, and domestic pints, Pony punch cocktails and wine. Both live and recorded music added to the festivities.The drinks and food were really good, but the company and atmosphere were even better. A picture of the lady in the yellow dressWith approximately 25 flat screen TVs, including one of each table in the main bar you can watch a sporting event from any place in the main area. Lots of space, with at least seating for 8 at the bar oh, there's also 9 booths thaty seat 4 and tables in both the front and the back in order to accommodate many more.Loved the rustic decor, and the efficient staff.My only complaint, is that we were sitting in the back and the music was way too loud. In fact, when we left, you could still hear the music from a half a block away.Will come back here with friends on another occasion"

Gracie O’Malley’s Six Corners

★★★★☆ 4.1 (36)

"Gracie O'Malley's has three locations in the city. My love and I have been to the Six Corners location (well, about a block northwest of the Milwaukee - Irving Park - Cicero intersection) a couple of times now and have enjoyed our experiences. The shepherd's pie is a satisfying dish, and the tasty cheese curds somehow have a light and delicate batter. My love enjoyed a "small" order of two pulled pork sliders and a sizeable pile of fries. A couple of our friends liked the stuffed nachos, featuring double-decker tortilla chips "stuffed" with cheese and topped by a stack of ingredients. The draft list of beers is pretty decent, and the staff keeps you hydrated with water too."