Bennigan's

As I walked into one of 6 remaining Bennigan’s in the US, the nostalgia hit me like a Britney number 1 hit. As I was transported back in time, I half expected the Smashing Pumpkins to greet us, but alas, TLC was right - don’t go chasing those waterfalls. It was almost like Bennigan’s never went away, except of course, for the fact this one was attached to a Holiday Inn. We were greeted by a friendly server and found ourselves sitting near a woman celebrating her 100th birthday, no doubt remembering Bennigan’s as a staple during her heyday. The decor took me back to 1998, when all I had to worry about was having a cool AIM profile and not cramping up during my Backstreet Boys pool aerobics. We didn’t need to look at the menu but we did for old time sake. The broccoli bites were a must and they came out hot, crispy, and served on a bed of onion straws, like every good appetizer should. The honey dijon dipping sauce was divine and should be served on everything. Next came the main entrees. Do they still have the Irishman Whiskey Glazed burger? Yes. Did I order it? Well no, but it’s there for next time. My wife ordered the Kilkenny Country Chicken Salad, with crispy chicken of course and I ordered the classic - the Turkey O’Toole. I have had dreams of this sandwich. Bennigan’s was serving the Turkey O’Toole on a pretzel bun before people knew pretzel buns were cool and they did it to perfection. Today was no different. My sandwich was a cheesy, buttery, turkey dream. Did I mention it was smothered in the honey dijon? Did I also mention I used the extra honey dijon from the broccoli bites to dip my fries in? Fries that happened to be the crispiest, fattest fries not in the steak fry family. We finished lunch off with the brownie and ice cream. Did we need it? No. Were we full? Oh yes. Did we eat it anyway? You betcha! It was only as I paid the tab that I remembered it was 2025, but even by 2025 standards it was very reasonable. Overall it was worth the 45 minute drive out to Elgin. The people were nice, the food was great, and if you get drunk you can stumble to the front desk and ask for a room. I’ll end by saying Bennigan’s should quit playing games with my heart, and open more locations.

Popped in to celebrate my dad's birthday. We live about 2 hours away from here, and it's a favorite! We were so sad to see the Chicago location go. It was always a must on our trips to the city. When we discovered this location, we were thrilled. We've been in 4 or 5 times now. The food is just as good and brings back great memories! Everything was delicious and cooked just right. Couldn't be happier, and we will be back again in the future! 😊

I was planning a small family reunion of about a dozen people, and needed a place to hold the event. Bennigan’s on Airport Rd. in Elgin was at a great location, but we needed room to seat a dozen people comfortably at one table, and somewhere quiet enough where we could talk. Also, to keep it simple, we wanted to order off the regular menu, and allow attendees to have separate checks. I worked with Sandy, who told me there was some renovation work planned around that time, but assured us she could accommodate our needs. A few days ahead, Sandy called to inform us the renovation had been put off, and confirmed we were good to go. When we arrived, we found a table set and ready in a quiet corner of the VIP Lounge, with a side table for the custom cake we brought in for the occasion. Taylor was outstanding as our main server for the event. Drinks, food orders, and checks were handled flawlessly as requested, the food was delicious, and they turned off the music in our area to allow us to talk. The staff also put out dessert plates and utensils for us to cut, serve, and enjoy our custom cake. My thanks to Sandy, Taylor, and the rest of the Bennigan’s staff for helping us to have a very successful reunion! We would highly recommend this location and its team to handle your event!

Staying at the hotel we ordered the Monti Crisco. And Onion rings side they claimed to be house made. Man both items were better than expected. Highly recommend.

Bennigan's Monte Cristo is a favorite. This location is attached to a hotel but wasn't super busy at the time we were there. Excellent food, Excellent service.

I wish I could give this Bennigan's 10 Stars! The food, service, atmosphere, value, etc... it's all very, very good! Rami, the manager, could not be a kinder and more professional manager. Such a sweet man! The servers have all been so kind too. As for the food, it is really good! It is definitely not just your typical bar food. The food here is at a much higher level imo. I love their broccoli bites (for my guilty pleasure)! Really tasty. I've also had their sea bass, salads, sandwiches, Pick 2/Pick 3 appetizers, soups, etc. All of the food I got here was very good. I've been to this restaurant probably 5 to 10 times so far and every time the food has been delicious and they provide excellent service too. Whenever I'm in the area, I always stop by. Can't wait until I'm in the area again to visit Rami and his team at this Bennigan's. Thank you Rami and the team at Bennigan's for such great food and service, and I'll see you all again soon!

I decided to surprise my husband and take him to dinner at a restaurant we first met at in May 2020 in Virginia! We are now celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary and was thrilled to be back at a Benihana as I thought they all closed. The service was great and so was the food. My husband says the Monte Cristo tasted the exact same! I loved having the nachos for dinner. What a great way to celebrate.

I actually haven't been there. Google thinks I have though, because I was googling the closest location to me because I haven't been to one since 1990 in New Jersey when I I was a little kid.... But I still remember exactly what my bacon cheeseburger tasted like and how much I loved every bite of it!!! So I want to figure out how to taste it again, because I haven't lived anywhere near one since then.

We were so bummed when all the Bennigan's restaurants closed overnight several years ago! I thought I would never be able to have one of their Monte Cristo's ever again! I was so happy when we found this location inside the Holiday Inn hotel. The Monte Cristo is the same as I remember it, with the crispy fried exterior! So yummy! I always ask for extra raspberry preserves because I like to have some with each bite! We also ordered the fried potato skins and they were so delicious! Cannot wait to come back again and again!

I wish I could give this Bennigan's 10 Stars! The food, service, atmosphere, value, etc... it's all very, very good! Rami, the manager, could not be a kinder and more professional of a manager. Such a sweet man! The servers have all been so kind too. As for the food, it is really good! It is definitely not just your typical bar food. The food here is at a much higher level imo. I love their broccoli bites (for my guilty pleasure)! Really tasty. I've also had their sea bass, salads, sandwiches, Pick 2/Pick 3 appetizers, soups, etc. All of the food I got here was very good. I've been to this restaurant probably 5 to 10 times so far and every time the food has been delicious and they provide excellent service too. Whenever I'm in the area, I always stop by. Can't wait until I'm in the area again to visit Rami and his team at this Bennigan's. Thank you Rami and the team at Bennigan's for such great food and service, and I'll see you all again soon!

Came here on a whim, not sure where to eat, my family and I decided to get bennigans, to my surprise this spot was great! Loved the monte cristo and the brownie dessert. Such a nice atmosphere as well with the low lights. Lovely service by Jolie as well! I would request her every time! Cheers!

Came out to IL's last standing Bennigan's to enjoy a Happy Hour with my husband. He wanted to visit to get their famous Monte Cristo sandwich. I was able to enjoy some 1/2 off appetizer deals. The Onion Ring Tower was a bit greasy and didn't have much onion in it. The burgers came out not as the "bomb style" I ordered. It was clear they just took the top part of the slider off, added, and reserved to me. My husband did enjoy his Monte Cristo sandwich which was worth the visit! The only other drawback was they were understaffed. There was often someone not behind the bar, staff was notably gossiping with regular guests, and didn't get our bill right the first time. This was certainly a nostalgic visit but didn't love it enough to come racing back.

An amazing Thanksgiving dinner. The food, ambiance, value and service were perfect. To itemize our selections: Bufallo burger: cooked perfect with that grilled flavor. Monte Cristo 16.99 special for $16.99 I got a soft drink, 3 of their Hogan egg rolls with the thin sliced onion rings which I call Tanglers. Fries and a full order of the Monte Cristo sandwich. The star of the show was their full turkey dinner. Take a look at the photo I posted. There was so much food that it would take me a long time to comment on each item. All items were fantastic. We took the dessert, pecan pie with us to enjoy later. Our server Lily was so nice and she took good care of us to make sure we had everything we needed. By unanimous vote, next Thanksgiving we are coming here again!9

When I saw that there was a Bennigan's in my hotel I couldn't believe it! I looked at the menu and it was the Bennigan's from my time as a young man. I ordered the cheeseburger because that's what I've always ordered. It tasted amazingly familiar. It was cooked perfectly, and the fries were as well. I know people that would travel far and wide to get the Montecristo from this place. If you were a fan of Bennigan's like I was, I highly recommend checking this place out.. great bar, very clean and well kept restaurant. Outstanding service. 5/5

The Server was amazing.The food was awesome. Would be going to this place again for sure . - Sam

Bennigan's is a flashback to the 90s! The menu is classic and speaks for itself. I miss the former Schaumburg location, but I embrace the Elgin location. It's attached to a hotel, instant clientele, but I wonder what a regular night looks like. The bar is always full, I imagine with a lot of traveling sales workers, and the restaurant portion is less packed. I e been twice now just for a girls night of killing time during sports practice. The servers have been excellent! The service has been great. So based on history and current customer service, I recommend! Give Bennigan's a chance. Plenty of drinks. And a classic American menu. With the best minute cristo on it!

We had just flown into Chicago and stayed at the attached hotel. This was the obvious choice. This is a chain that's been around for ages. You know what you should get. They didn't miss a step. The service was processional, the food was good, and it was a nice facility. There's not a lot more to say.

Stopped in for lunch with my daughter and sister on a Sunday. Sat immediately and drinks came right away. I had the Kilkenny chicken salad with grilled chicken. Very tasty and fresh. My sister had the Monte Cristo half sandwich and salad and my daughter had the full Monte Cristo with fries. They both raved about the sandwiches which were huge and delicious. Highly recommended as a nice spot for lunch.

My go to is the Monte Cristo with fries. Beer is cold and service is perfect. They offer several different TV options with most sports games on for your viewing

Food was awful, cold, greasy, crap. Restaurant is fice minutes away. Grub Hub picked up and delivered quickly... Won't ever order delivery from Bennigan's again. I've never had a worse experience with a restaurant!!!! (They did refund me the whole order, but did not ask if they could rectify the situation at the time I called them to complain. The manager did lecture me on third party app ordering and the use of my one expletive...

Not a bad place to grab something to eat if you are in the area. Restaurant interior is quite nice, no doubt meant to compliment the adjoined Holiday Inn hotel. Service was quick and friendly. Food prices are a bit high, especially for appetizers. Food itself was good, nothing to write home about. I did get some mashed potatoes that were not thoroughly heated and had cold spots. Did not like that the automatic soap dispensers in the washrooms were both out of soap, and instead they decided to put bottles of Dove lotion soap next to the sink. That being said, I liked the above average restaurant itself and the staff more than the average quality food.

The bar was slow ... the kitchen was fast ... and the food was meh! The waitress was amazing!! Props to her for trying so hard! The drink menu said my drink had blackberries but it showed up with blueberries which I can't have. She changed it out for another drink and was amazing the rest of the meal. The food and drinks came out at the same time. My pot roast was greasy as all hell and my husband chicken was drier than the desert.

This place is surprisingly decent. Our food and drinks were good, and the service very good. Quality was definitely better than, say, Applebees. Super handy if you're staying in the hotel (don't bother with the Alcove).

Well folks one of the last Bennigan's around! What can I say, I used to come here 20 years ago and the food is still as amazing as it was then! We ordered the fish n chips and a turkey sammie, but I must say the fries stole the show. They were not steak fries or typical restaurant fries they had an identity all their own. The fish was lightly breaded with big chunks of fish and flavor! The pretzel bun on the turkey sandwich is a pretzel ! If you haven't been here in a minute stop by you will not be disappointed! Added: This restaurant is very affordable it will not break the bank to take the family out.

Stayed at the hotel for a few days so the restaurant was convenient, but that's really all I can say positive. It really feels like an Applebees or such chain, nothing to really put its self above the rest. I found it strange that while they advertise as being an Irish based restaurant there is almost nothing Irish on the menu. I did order the Ruben one night and a steak Salish the other. The staff was indifferent and the food overall mediocre.

You know, when you grow up with a place like Bennigans (as I did in SoCal), you remember the great food (and I loved going to the old Bennigans in Westminster Mall back in the day). Then, they went bankrupt and pulled out of SoCal. After moving to Illinois, I found there was one (now part of a Holiday Inn, of all places) in Elgin, only a short distance from where we live. We HAD to go. Oh my. Sometimes restaurant concepts deserve their fate. I didn't want that to be the case with Bennigans - not at all. But let's do a quick review- the ambience was nice, pleasant, and we were quickly seated. The menu looked great. I had a black and blue beer (a mix of Guinness and Blue Moon) - it was great. I ordered the whiskey glazed chicken, and hub-hub ordered the chicken and shrimp pasta. Easily a winning combination. WRONG. The chicken was so dry and lukewarm - it was so patently obvious it was yesterday's leftovers. Even my garlic mashed potatoes were lukewarm. Not good. The flavor would have been SO much better had it been fresh! Hub-hubs chicken/shrimp pasta? Ok- the shrimp and pasta were great. But the chicken? Like my chicken, it was from the day prior, and drier than an English comedian. So - I desperately wanted to enjoy Bennigans given that there are only a handful left in the country. But since they can't even be bothered to serve freshly cooked food? Nope. My illusions were shattered, and my desire to frequent them dissipated like hot steam in a Japanese Onsen. Bennigans- if you cared, you'd be able to reclaim your place in the American pantheon of great chain restaurants. But your team in Elgin let you down, and given that the beer was the only truly great, inspired item? It's not, sadly, enough. It was my first Bennigan's visit since 2008, and sadly will be my last.

First time trying to this place out. I've always passed by it and finally had the chance to try it out. I would definitely recommend coming to this place. I came on Halloween night. It wasn't too crowded or busy. Even if they were busy, they definitely have enough space to accommodate for big parties and lots of people. Out waitress was super nice and very attentive to whatever we needed. The food was served quickly. I had the St. Brigid Burger which is smothered in their pub cheese (which was sooo good, I thought it tasted like chili). The fries were good too! I wish I had some of that pub cheese to dip into. Overall, a pretty good burger. The burger bun looked too nice to eat. I would come back!

I've really missed this chain; it went belly-up in 2008--a victim of the Recession--but a handful of independently-owned restaurants continue to thrive and this one happens to be just off the I-90/Rte 31 interchange. I haven't enjoyed a Monte Cristo sandwich out in 15 years because, quite frankly, most restaurants don't prepare it the "right" way. One bite of Bennigan's 'World Famous' version and I was in retro food heaven. Be back soon to indulge in Kilkenny's Country Chicken Salad and other menu items I've been longing to enjoy again.

We stopped by today to see our favorite person Mary. Who is always such a joy when helping us select menu items. The food is great the service is outstanding. A great place to have a meal party or a meeting.

It's one of the last Bennigan's still around. Super convenient if you're staying at the Holiday Inn that it's attached to. Food is good, drinks can be a bit more than other spots, but still highly recommend trying. The staff is nice and it has a fun vibe. Their Monte Cristo is by far the best I've ever had. I get that every time since trying it.

Stopped on the road for some dinner. Great service, decent food and a very clean and welcoming restaurant. It's attached to the Holiday Inn, so it's easy to fine. Enjoy!

Oh, so very terrible, I'm sorry to report. Worst meal I've had in many years. Friendly servers.

Great bar. Great bartenders.Nothing to complain about them. Food is good. It's a chain, so it is very consistent.

I ordered the rib dinner, it was awesome! Probably the best ribs I've ever had. My friend had the Fish and Chips, he also loved the Fish and Chips. Since then, I've ordered their ribs for delivery and that were just as good!

I happened to be in the area, and since they closed all of the city locations, it was like a trip down memory lane coming here. All of their staple items taste the same. The broccoli bites and Monte Christo are worth every cent. It is located inside the Holiday Inn, so you could miss it. Otherwise, I highly recommend

We arrived at 12:30 on Sunday and didn't receive our food until 2:15. Absolute WORST service ever!!! We will never return here. Server kept apologizing but it was clearly a management problem. Lack of personnel. No time to refill beverages or come back to the table at all. Food was ok but not hot. I definitely would not recommend this location.

Good service good food. Enjoyed it. Nice to see one still open. Located in the hotel.

Food is always great, service is sometimes excellent and sometimes like pulling teeth to get the waitress's attention.

Always great food but the thing I love the most is the wait staff! Whether sitting at the bar or in the restaurant, every time, the service is so friendly and great. Always busy with the locals, I travel for work and stay in the Holiday Inn (same building) so it's nice to get some "home town" vibes!

Monte Cristo is great just like we remember it. Wish they would open more locations closer to Chicago.

Love this place. Right off the Interstate, fast service, fresh food, and great price. I rarely venture off a few items on any menu, but the Monte Cristo is one of the best sandwiches I have had. Their version paired with the jam is a hit. All the food is good here. The appetizers and chicken tenders fo hard! Never understood why this chain is struggling. This is one of the few remaining and worth a stop!

The food is always amazing! Service is impeccable and we always feel like family. Have had a few events over the last few months and they have been off the charts. The service that Mary, Tyler and Anna has been nothing but spectacular!!!! Love this restaurant!

Finally tried this spto and I was not disappointed. Our waitress and staff were awesome. Very attentive. Clean place. So many drink selections. The corned beef and cabbage was good. Chicken tenders were great with their own special sauce. Really good. Definately want to come back.

I ordered a bison burger medium well with no onions to take to hotel room. The burger was not edible. I took 2 bites and threw it away. It was well done on the inside and burnt on the outside. The bacon was greasy. It was just awful! The fries were decent. Service was good though.

This restaurant has it going on. It's Saturday night and the special of the night is prime rib. I honestly cannot say that I have ever had a better meal in my life. The asparagus was cooked perfectly and the scallop potatoes were amazing. The Prime Rib was cooked to perfection.What makes this even more special is the staff who were so spot on with a genuine caring personality . Thank you Bennigan's

My name is De, I've been eating and bennigans 4 over 20 years and I believe I had the best experience out of those 20 years, not. By the way, staff, not by. The bartender but management.That was wonderful.Her name was Letty.I believe I will continue eating there more because of her

Bennigan's in Elgin is AMAZING!! The food is always delicious and the service is outstanding!!

Went here and they gave some pretty good options food was just okay in taste and the one margarita was not that good

Great food great prices awesome service. I stay at the hotel all the time in Elgin is an awesome addition to the Holiday Inn.

The only restaurant within walking distance from the hotel I was staying at. There was a fly in the lemonade I got, and they screwed up my order. Food was bland and not good.

Something I for sure miss is Bennigans near my house . The monte cristo was amazing as it always has been . The server was very friendly and agreed how good a monte is ! The atmosphere was quiet for lunch time but it is connected to a hotel and this was a Monday we visited. If I am ever in that area again I will be stopping

I'm actually surprised I haven't reviewed this yet. This is not a run-of-the-mill chain restaurant and it's incredible. Monte Cristo is the best there is and everything I've tried on the menu has been insanely good. Never had a bad meal here. One of the best restaurants in the area and there's hardly anyone ever there. Luckily I'm assuming it gets subsidized by the hotel side of the house, because this place is a gem.

We were recently in town for a basketball tournament and wanted to give a shout out to our server, Chris. He did a phenomenal job accommodating our large group, while being friendly, prompt, funny, and kind. What a great job representing your establishment! Side note--the desserts were epic!

How surprised were we to find a Bennigan's in the area! I even called to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. For you youngins, Bennigan's was a chain with an Irish pub theme started in the 70's. They were all over with a pretty good food and drink menu. Big after work gathering place. Not like in "you aren't wearing enough flare on your uniform", after work type of place, but a "let's get a beer and a burger" kind of place. They still have the burgers but have added some great healthier, tasty choices. My husband had one of those and loved it. I went old school and got their fish and chips. Crispy, flaky, delicious. Don't let it being in a hotel fool you. Most hotel restaurants phone it in because they don't expect to see the customers again. Our server was friendly and attentive. The food was great. We'll definitely be back.

Taking a walk down.... or over a 30 mile drive down Memory Lane to Bennigan's! Yep, the place that had the claw machine in the entrance to win a prize, Happy Hour on Friday nights with two four one drinks, and the famous Monte Cristo Sandwich. Curiosity got the best of me and I Googled Bennigan's only to find one in Elgin, housed inside the Holiday Inn. While online I registered for their emails..... that was almost a year ago. December brought an email wishing Birthday wishes and a free entree. Bennigan's has changed since our last visit years ago...... this location has more of a Sports Bar theme, with large screen televisions everywhere. We were immediately seated and our server Bri met us immediately when we were seated and took our drink order. For lunch Connie ordered Irishman Whiskey Glazed Burger, I ordered the Monte Cristo. Both entree's arrived within ten minutes, fresh, hot and abundant! The was so much food that looked so good, we immediately decided to share and had half of each entree boxed to take home. The Monte Cristo was as good as we remembered, and the burger and fries were perfect. Our server Bri made sure are Diet Cokes never ran empty and gave us excellent service as well. It was well worth the long ride, that we will gladly make again. In fact, the next time I get the guys together to watch a football or hockey game, we will make the trek up to Elgin and Bennigan's. This was one time a fond memory of ones misspent youth was worth the trip. The biggest difference is that now I'm drinking just Diet Coke's and not two for one Happy Hour Specials.

Eric and crew (Taylor) did a great job tonight! Food was great and the beer was cold!!! Thanks!

This is the Bennigan's I remember. Sad to say this is the only remaining Bennigan's in Illinois. I got my old favorite, the monte cristo. It tasted the same way it did 20 years ago. They have all you can eat fish and chips. The fish was delicious! The manager came to our table and greeted and talked to us. I love when management takes the time to interact with customers. The staff was friendly. I will be coming back! I'm praying this restaurant do not close.