Black Barrel Tavern

American restaurant · Near West Side

Black Barrel Tavern

American restaurant · Near West Side

3

1061 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607

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Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null
Black Barrel Tavern by null

Highlights

Creative pub fare, brunch & craft cocktails in swanky setting  

Placeholder
Placeholder

1061 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607 Get directions

blackbarrelchicago.com
@blackbarrelwestloop

$$ · Menu

Reserve

Information

Static Map

1061 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607 Get directions

+1 773 280 5500
blackbarrelchicago.com
@blackbarrelwestloop

$$ · Menu

Reserve

Features

dine in
takeout
wifi
payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations
outdoor seating

Last updated

Aug 8, 2025

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@eater

Get in the St. Patrick’s Day Spirit all Season Long at These Chicago Spots | Eater

"Black Barrel Tavern is something of a neighborhood staple in the West Loop when you’re looking for a good time — and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception. The kitchen is open until midnight, so you can grab rib-sticking dishes like poutine, homemade egg rolls, and a juicy burger when you’re craving them most. And that’s just the food. At Black Barrel Tavern, the drinks are the highlight and on St. Patrick’s Day, try a delightfully bitter Boulevardier: Jameson Irish Whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Campari. You could also opt for a shot or a cozy Jameson Irish coffee." - Ariel Kanter

https://www.eater.com/ad/maps/get-in-the-st-patricks-day-spirit-all-season-long-at-these-chicago-spots
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Where to Find Jameson Black Barrel in Chicago | Eater

"When the winter chill hits hard, warm up with a cozy meal at the West Loop’s Black Barrel Tavern. The neighborhood gem is a staple for locals, a convivial spot to grab a casual bite and celebrate, whether it’s just another Sunday or, indeed, a special holiday. Grab a few friends for a burger, homemade egg rolls, and a Jameson Black Barrel Old Fashioned. Or come here for a date and linger at the bar over Jameson Black Barrel on the rocks. However and whenever you visit, Black Barrel Tavern will feel special, delicious, and celebratory." - Ariel Kanter

https://www.eater.com/ad/maps/jameson-black-barrel-whiskey-cocktails-in-chicago
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Great Chicago Bars for Relaxing With a Rum Cocktail | Eater

"Nothing beats a place you can count on for the right vibe no matter what mood you’re in. Black Barrel Tavern has two locations — one in the West Loop and one in Old Town — and both offer an easy, pub vibe, comfy bar stools and big tables, TVs for watching your favorite games, and great drinks. Don’t miss the Daiquiri Darling, a take on the classic island-inspired cocktail made with BACARDÍ Black Rum, Malibu, pineapple juice, and lime juice served in a coupe. Whether you’re hoping for a quick bite and drink, a spot to watch the game, or a night out with friends, Black Barrel Tavern is a solid choice." - Samantha Leal

https://www.eater.com/ad/maps/chicago-bars-with-rum-cocktails-made-with-bacardi
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Morgana

Google
We came here for Sunday brunch, the food is DELICIOUS! The chicken pot pie and the barrel club are two must try!! Service is great, attentive and quick. The bartenders are insanely quick. Staff are all so attentive and bubbly.

Fereda Allen

Google
My hubby and I were here for the weekend getaway from Dallas and flew in Friday and found this place. Food and service was so good to our liking and ended up going there 2 days in a row but a total of 3 times. Madeline served our table Friday when we had lunch and dinner there. We sat on the patio on 2 of our visits. Very nice at night. Will definitely return on our next trip to Chicago.

Gray McGregor

Google
The service was super fast and the food was good! Love any restaurant that gives you bread! They have lots of specials along with a large regular menu. Lots of meat and seafood but there are a couple vegetarian options!

H82LOZE33 LNU

Google
Fantastic food and service! Emma (our server) was delightful, friendly, knowledgeable about the menu and just genuinely nice! We shared the burata appetizer, had a couple of glasses of wine, and shared the prime rib sandwich with Brussels! Everything was yummy! We will definitely go back!

Courtney Smith

Google
We had the best experience at Black Barrel Tavern- West Loop. Upon arrival with a party of 8 (we did not make a reservation) we were seated almost immediately- the restaurant was very busy so this was a welcome surprise! Once seated at our table (4 adults, 4 kids) the staff immediately (and unprompted) brought water, apple juice boxes for the kids, fruit and bread to the table. The food was delicious and although the wait for our food didn’t seem long, the wait staff apologized many times and even gave us a discount. We appreciated this but felt it was not necessary because it wasn’t long at all AND we didn’t even have to say anything - they just appreciated our patience. Overall amazing experience, delicious food and great atmosphere! Highly recommend!!!

Natanya Abraham

Google
Went Saturday morning for brunch and it was nice. Coffee based drinks were stronger than I thought. Also got the Paloma and it was delicious. Ate the salmon and kimchi on the summer menu and it was also great. Kimchi has a great spice heat to it without being too lingering and salmon glaze was perfect. The mussels were the star of the show. So good. Only wish I had more bread to eat with the sauce. Can’t wait to come back and try more things on the menu

Victoria Reeves

Google
The food and service at black Barrel was fantastic! We are so glad we happened across this Tavern. The Buratta was the only way to get this meal started. Everything from Filet sliders to the grilled cheese was flavorful. It was a great dining experience for the last night of our trip to Chicago.

Ishan Guliani

Google
Do I have a bone to pick with these guys! I asked them for the ‘second’ best burger in Chicago, but every single time I order it, they give me the Best one in the entire city! It is the BEST DAMN BURGER I HAVE EVER HAD. The quality of ingredients they use, it speaks volumes! 5/5. The service is impeccable, better, warmer and more courteous after each visit! It feels like a second home, a true neighborhood gem, and the drinks, OMG the drinks! This is starting to sound like a paid promotion but I promise you it’s not 😂 Definitely check out “Black Barrel Tavern” if you’re visiting Chicago or are in the neighborhood! Cheers!
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LaToyia J.

Yelp
The food is amazing! My son had the ribeye, mashed potatoes and broccoli. The ribeye was cooked to perfection, the potatoes were creamy, and the kiss smoke on the broccoli really set it apart from other restaurants. I ordered the buffalo eggrolls, ribs and substituted truffle fries. The eggrolls were edible if you dipped them In the Thai chili sauce. The taste of blue cheese very overpowering. The ribs are smoky (the sauce is delectable), fries were just ok, the elotes hit the spot, and I don't like slaw, but this one was tolerable... Almost forgot, the butter for the bread was some of the best I've ever had... Service was prompt, ambiance great!
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Brian K.

Yelp
I was expecting this place to be a lot better based on the reviews. I was pretty disappointed. First, the entire restaurant at that time reeked like weed. It almost smelled like someone was smoking it inside the restaurant. Won't fault them for that but it was a bit odd. What did bother me was the fact that the downstairs bathrooms smelled like sewer gas and it leeched up into the restaurant at times. I ordered the tomato bisque which was good but it came out only minutes before my meal came out which is never fun. I also ordered the ribs and they were very very nasty. They had an off flavor - like the meat had gone bad. Almost tasted like old meat drenched in heavy chemical preservatives. There was hardly any meat on the bone and it was intensely dry. Quite possibly the worst ribs I've ever had. Sides were good though. Service was also fine. Overall a very hit and miss experience. Wouldn't recommend.
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Sean L.

Yelp
If you're a foodie or just like a good bar then you need to get to this place and try it out. Food here is amazing. Went here for brunch and it did not disappoint. The bar was cool and crowded the outdoor seating was nice option to have. They are per friendly we have our dog with us and baby. They did really good accommodating us. The service was great we were sat quick and the waitress was really good. She gave us suggestions was friendly and always checked in on us. If you are a chicken parmigiana fan then you absolutely have to get here and have this. It's probably one of my favorites I've ever had. Fresh hot and just really did a good job with this one. Get here asap it will not disappoint!
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Jorge P.

Yelp
Top tier experience! My wife & I stumbled upon this place walking by the other day and we decided to give it a try. So happy that we did! The staff was friendly, I believe an Owner/Manager was walking around greeting people (love that) and they always made sure our water was filled up. This was one of those experience where I said thank you way too many times because of how polite & great the staff were. We ordered: Truffle Fried, Tomato Bisque, Braised Short Rib Egg Rolls... I repeat Short Rib Egg Rolls. Wow. Spectacular. That one of my wife's favorite dishes and in egg roll shape, you can't beat it! Good vibes. Thank you to the staff and Black Barrel overall, we look forward to coming back soon! Personal Review: 8.9/10
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Shizar H.

Yelp
Nice solid bar. Plenty of TVs so if you're looking for a place to watch multiple games this is the place. The food is good, and the service was great. My only knock is the bread they give for starters was freezing cold and the buyer was super hard. Other than that it's a great place.
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Jackie R.

Yelp
Came here on a Thursday evening after an event. Our group had no reservations, and we were seated right away. There were NBA games as well as hockey playing on the TV. They had a separate menu for food and drink specials. I love the cool names they have for drinks and the variety of food on their menu. I opted for a Paloma and their chopped steak sandwich with fries. Everything arrived promptly and it was delicious. I like that it has a sports bar vibe but the menu is a little more elevated versus what you would typically see. I will definitely return.
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Gamaliel E.

Yelp
I joined a few friends to watch an Illini Bowl game that lived in the area and this was their local spot. The establishment looks like your typical tavern. The staff was friendly and attentive. The menu had diverse options from grilled calamari, burgers, short rib sandwiches, and pasta to name a few. So deciding on what to order was tough, because it all sounded delicious. I went with the short rib sandwich and it was okay. They had a nice variety of craft beers, which I always appreciate. My friend brought his young daughter and I saw another table with a young child, so no need to keep them home. Worth a stop in for a pint and grub.
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Kylie C.

Yelp
Our food came out quickly. I'm glad we ate outside (pretty loud indoors). All the wait-staff, bartenders, and hostesses were very friendly. Both of us ordered the chicken panini - we agreed we could have split one (so much chicken/large size sandwiches). The flavor of the truffle fries was interesting...

Lamborghini G.

Yelp
Nashville chicken sandwich. Unsure if my order was messed up, but it literally tasted like chili cheese dog with a kick. It was soaked in dark brown sauce. Very out of the ordinary for Nashville hot sauce.
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Annette D.

Yelp
Cool spot for a cocktail. Outdoor seating is a plus. Service was great. Ambiance was chill. No happy hour but the drink menu had something for everyone. We didn't eat but everything we saw around us looked delicious.
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Amanda D.

Yelp
Menu options plentiful! Fork and knife options, plenty of handhelds and salads. Service was super nice (Athena, you were gorgeous and efficient!) Bathrooms are clean, which is appreciated. Cocktails were really the standout here! Not necessarily original, but well done and thoughtful. Easy to book for dinner before a Blackhawks game. We shared a caprese salad and burger. Definitely enough food. Would for sure come again!
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Julia B.

Yelp
Black Barrel Tavern never disappoints! The game day specials included the pictured chicken wings with fries and was a great deal! The staff is always incredibly kind and I appreciated the fresh watermelon! Tip: if you choose to sit outside, be aware of the bees!
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Tasha W.

Yelp
I came here on a Friday night around 9 pm. The place was bustling at the bar. We were here for more than drinks, though! So, we sat at a table to order food. We were promptly greeted by the waitress. Placed our orders. The food arrived within 10 minutes. But, while waiting, we enjoyed the bread and butter! That creamy cranberry butter was amazing. When speaking to one of the waitresses, come to find out, the kitchen rotates different butters, such as Cinnamon Honey, Raspberry, and even a Cherry Butter. For my meal, I had the Fish & Chips. Much to my surprise, the fish was very meaty. They were lightly breaded and generously seasoned. They were served with tartar sauce, vinegar, and catsup. My preference was for a hot sauce, and when requested, the waitress offered Tabasco, Chalula, or buffalo sauce. Overall, the Fish & Chips were good, except the potato wedges were a little dried out. We also had the Baked Meatballs. The serving consists of 2 very large meatballs floating in marinara sauce, with 4 slices of garlic bread on the side. This can be served as an appetizer, but it is also a filling item for one! Ambiance was cool. Service was fast and friendly. Drinks were great. Food was good. Hands down, the butter was the highlight of my night! Oh, and the waitress, Megan, was excellent and attentive!
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Suhani P.

Yelp
Great local spot for brunch! We came here on a Sunday late morning and were seated right away, perks of beating the rush! If the weather is nice, I recommend you sit outside. Our server was so nice and checked on us often to make sure our bottomless mimosas were always full. We enjoyed all of our food. Don't skip out on the cinnamon roll!
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Matt W.

Yelp
Swung in after an event a few blocks away to put some recovery food down and I'm always sold when a place has tavern in the name. Saturday night, place was bumping, probably had about a 20 minute wait so not crazy. It was packed but I guess I arrived during end of early dinner pre dinner dinner? And got lucky. No complaints. My server and other staff supporting were on it. Extremely attentive and the right frequency of check in. Atmosphere is like an upscale version of a local bar you'd hit after college, or for a casual but classy first date. Trendy, hip, but not over the top. I went with the Black Barrel Burger which is smash burger esque. Double 4oz patties that were pleasantly juicy, cheese (you have a choice I went White American), caramelized onions, lettuce, tomatoes & house secret spread. Really solid stuff and would easily do again. Fries had a really nice crispness and well seasoned. Overall, really solid experience, pricing was more than fair, service solid. Recommend.
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Grace L.

Yelp
Just meh, but we also didn't get the burgers, which is what the place is known for. The sandwich and soups we got felt pretty much like frozen food that was heated up.
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Abilasha N.

Yelp
Excellent food Super kid and dog friendly They always give your kid a toy to entertain themselves during dinner Free pup cups for your furry buddy Nice cocktails as well
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Jeff O.

Yelp
Its a Friday night and all the places we wanted to go to were fully booked. Me and my co worker decided to try this place as the energy was upbeat and the menu looked promising. The paloma was refreshing. The short rib egg was was soo good. The chili sauce is a good tough. Got the ny strip with chimi.. but there was barely any chimi sauce... not happy about that. Waitress was okay... nothing to brag about or drag. Loved the presentation of the mac and cheese.
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Joey M.

Yelp
Fun atmosphere and gives a great upscale meets dive bar vibe. I dig it. I had the filet minion sliders and my bf had the chicken parm sandwich. Both were great and fine. I think that's why I gave this place 4 stars, the food was just fine. Like nothing really was like: wow! Service was wonderful, I believe Lindsey was her name, lovely!! Would come back and try something else but overall just nothing was like: this is a go-to place.

Blackdoormanagement Llc B.

Yelp
This place just provided the worst service I have ever experienced The place was crowded which was fine sat at the bar was ignored by the bartender finally got a drink the glass was dirty the bartender was dismissive the owner George was totally dismissive to my concern and told me to have a nice day basically leave his restaurant. Horrible experience!!
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Flip F.

Yelp
Cool nice lil spot in the west loop. I just landed and my favorite person in the world took me for a quick bite & drinks. It's a quaint little intimate bar, that has low lighting. Cool lil place for couples or date night. I was told this place is well known for all the beautiful people who work here, I can see that. We had a really cool & knowledgeable bartender whom made some great drinks. I started the late night off my typical IPA. Next I moved on to one of the best cocktails I've ever had; "One Night in Miami." This drink was everything I love, nice subtle smokiness of Mezcal & Ginger Beer. We got there a little late so we never got to eat, but that's cool we will definitely be back. Fyi kitchen closes at 11pm. The rest of the night was filled w/ great drinks & convo in this cool imitate spot.

John G.

Yelp
Everything was great. Since the moment I called to make a reservation to the service I've gotten. I can only remember few places where I ve been served this way. Great food, service and atmosphere. Especially enjoyed how they take care of kids with bringing fresh fruits. It is definitely worth to come all the way from California to visit this place.
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Kara K.

Yelp
This is definitely a dude bar. Dudes were just...EVERYWHERE. At the bar, at the tables, I even saw one dude dining alone. Dude Central. Ok There were a few chicks, a couple on dates, like me, oh and the young, beautiful, hostess and server clad in skintight, all-black ensembles. But yeah, mostly dudes. But it was one of those places for a bunch of buds to meet up after work, watch a game and throw back a few. Dudes aside, my date and I found ourselves at the Black Barrel Tavern after leaving the WNDR museum (a less than 5-minute walk) in search of food and liquor. I couldn't believe how packed and lively it was! It was definitely an upscale sports bar with multiple widescreens showing whatever games were on. The dark wood and low lighting was sexy and inviting. For a dude bar. The menu had some great-looking options and since I hadn't had a good burger in a while, I chose the Black Barrell Burger. This juicy delight, with two, 4oz. patties, cheddar, lettuce, tomato and a secret "house spread" served on brioche definitely hit the spot. The fries, however, were limpy, wimpy and completely uneventful. Disappointing because I adore fries. My date chose the Cuban. I didn't get a chance to try it, but he polished it off and said it was great. He's also a craft beer lover and chose the Dovetail Hefeweizen and an IPA. I'm not much of a beer drinker, but I sampled both and really loved the smooth, fruitiness of the Dovetail. The IPA was a bit too bitter for me. This is a fun place and I would highly recommend for a DNO or a date after the WNDR Museum.
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Deamontria R.

Yelp
I came here for a happy hour team outing after work. We sat down to find that they only have happy hour at their other location in Old town. Wasn't a big deal so we still ordered. We got our food and it was standard bar food. We ordered drinks and when it came to the second round I never got mine which is understandable, but then it was like 15 mins later and she comes back with something i didn't even order. We let her know it's wrong and she said that that's what the bartender gave her. I'm like girl you know what i ordered why would you bring me the wrong thing and I waited 15 minutes for it. This was not the only time we have come here and they completely make our drinks wrong. Not sure if the bartender is new, but I was ready to jump behind the bar and make our drinks my self. Definitely will not be coming back.

John S.

Yelp
Made a reservation for 2:00pm, host told me I needed to wait 30 minutes because no one was leaving. I asked why the reservation was made available for 2:00 and she laughed at me. will not be back
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Steven H.

Yelp
Steak and eggs were reasonable, but nothing special. Wouldn't recommend the cinnamon roll. I expected a lot more for the price. Bar seats are comfortable and readily available for Sunday brunch time. Bartenders attentiveness comes and goes. It takes a miracle to change a TV channel.
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Lee S.

Yelp
Bottomless mimosas are good. French toast was small soggy bread. Pancakes overcooked, hard and very dry. Potatoes undercook. Steak mediocre. Omelette was 8/10, only think really good during my experience
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Michael W.

Yelp
Stopped in before xmas after an artisan. Great Guinness pour. Warm greetings all around upon entrance. It may have been the football, but very 'bro' and 'poochy.' And by that I mean, many bros, many bras, and many pooches. The noise level alone from the table next to us was a force. That element continued to grow as more and more attendants entered and made their way to this same table that was already at max capacity. More people, more dogs, the table grew and amassed into unprecedented proportions, it started to swell and grow into the neighboring areas. On top of this, the ever constant hovering and swarming of the staff, swooping in, bringing this, snatching that, removing this, all contributed to a growing dread that either the table next to us was going to eventually explode into us, or that the staff would remove us themselves. It was all very bizarre and disconcerting. Food involved brie special (meh), spicy tomato soup (meh), and pork belly reuben, which imho, was some of the best pork belly I have encountered. It was all a lost though, due to the ever present table stress and the 'next' processing of the staff. I kid you not, as soon as we stood up, staff started processing the table, my wife went to the rest room, mere feet away, we waited up front for her, by the time she reached us to leave, she said an entirely new party was seated at our table as she walked by. Take away? The turn game is strong here, but the art of the customer is lost.
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Janet C.

Yelp
Well, I'm still waiting for something good to happen. It's not busy tonight, and yet I am rather invisible. I want to love this place because the neighborhood does, but every time I come here the service is crap.
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Alex A.

Yelp
I have been here a few times and every time, has been great! I usually like trying their specials...which so far has been their ribs and fish and chips. Both have been GREAT! I have also tried their burger and chicken sandwich, which both have been absolutely great! They have a great selection of beer as well, which is always a plus! It's usually always packed, so try to be a bit patient! They are friendly and as accommodating as possible (they once asked if i was ok just pulling up a stool on the corner of the bar....which I was and still had a great meal)!

Bari S.

Yelp
Great place, friendly service and delicious food. The portions were large. The spicy tomato soup was so good and not really spicy. The caprese salad was a little over dressed but still very good.
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Ali M.

Yelp
The food here is just unfortunately not good. It's greasy bland bar food at best. I will say this place looks really fun if you go to the bar but definitely wouldn't go for a sit down meal. They also don't have a happy hour which is a bummer.
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Candace A.

Yelp
Delicious brunch! Really good service! I came here for a solo brunch after church. I spent $40 and it was well spent. I ordered the traditional French toast with just strawberries, a single scrambled egg, breakfast potatoes and sausage. They didn't have any mocktails or curated non-alcoholic beverages, but the bar made me a strawberry lemonade and added tonic water and it was tasty! The service was good, I was able to come right in and get seated. The server was attentive and answered all my questions. Here's what I loved: the French toast were really good without syrup. They didn't need syrup they were that tasty. The breakfast potatoes and the eggs were cooked to perfection. The sausage wasn't my favorite. The sausage have kind of a tough exterior and soft inside. I wasn't used to that and didn't like that very much. I'd definitely come back in the future and recommend this restaurant. Their patio was great. I sat outside on a 75 degree day. It was perfect!! The ambiance is pretty casual inside, but still nice and clean. A great place for brunch in the west loop!

Luiz Fernando G.

Yelp
The place is really beautiful and the food is good, but I worked for about 2 years in the restaurant's 3 units, and to this day they haven't paid me more than 2,000 dollars, I think it's absurd for people to go to a place where they don't pay their employees

Connor N.

Yelp
West loop cheers right here. George makes you feel like you are a part of the family every time you are there and his staff carries that energy over as well. Burger won best in chicago back in 2020 and the rest of the food doesn't disappoint either! Great patio/dining room for a meal or the bar for late night the vibe never misses.
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Joneice B.

Yelp
This was our first restaurant to open up Restaurant Week 2022. We opted for lunch before heading to a movie. This business has more than one location. We choose the West Loop location for a change of scenery but will check out North Ave Location soon. Drinks: The Real G.O.A.T. was amazing. Would grab again. Rye & Reynolds was also nice and strong. Food here...fire!!! Service was also exceptional. The owner was seen working the restaurant and you could tell he took pride in his place. Also in addition to our waitresss, one of the cooks (didn't grab his name but 1 of 2 brothas that work here) came out and hung out with us. Amazing customer service. Value was definitely great. We opted for Restaurant Week Special for $25. Included appetizer, entree and dessert. For apps we got Buffalo Egg Rolls and Brussels Sprouts. My husband enjoyed Egg Rolls but those Brussel Sprouts were fan-f*ck-tastic. For entree we got the Salmon with Couscous and Half-a-rack Ribs with Fries, Slaw & Corn -on-Cob. Both entrees were good. Ribs fell off the bone. Salmon and all Couscous was devoured but did have some leftover ribs. Luckily we were smart and asked for out dessert to be packed to go. That Cheesecake was giving NYC vibes. The Tres Leches didn't hold up well in the trunk but tasted good during my movie. All in all 4.5 stars. I was gonna give this place a 4 Star but opted for 5 because the customer service, food quality and packaging of your leftover. Only reason to downgrade was the music was so damn loud when we got there. It was like club loud. Tip: Thursdays is Rib Day, can get whole rack for $18 buckaroos. Good deal!!!
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Michelle C.

Yelp
What a great local spot! The owner and staff are super friendly and give fast service. It appears they have a strong local following with a lot of frequent repeat customers. Great vibe with good cocktail and food options with outside patio and TVs for watching sports.

Shannon B.

Yelp
Definitely not sure how this place gets an average of 4. Location and atmosphere were good, but the service and food wasn't worth the money. Our server forgot all the kids drinks. After spilling half a glass of sprite on my kid, she even managed to forgot one of the kids drinks completely. The wait for Food was longer than expected and came out cold. Burger tasted okay, but it's really the same thing as Big Mac - just on a thicker bun. I wouldn't put this one on your "best burger" list like we did.
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Amanda S.

Yelp
Visited here on a whim with my fiancé as we were looking for somewhere to eat. This is your typical west loop bar and it was insanely crowded when we went in the evening. It was definitely giving "frat boy with a corporate job" vibes with the people here; certainly the only black people dining at the time but it wasn't a huge deal. It was just a little hard to hear one another since it was so loud. At any rate, the service was good and the food was well done. I love homemade style fries and theirs was done really well. They made a pretty decent old fashioned too.
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ivan t.

Yelp
No more than 30 minutes ago I came and sat at the outdoor seating for happy hour but was very rudely interrupted by the owner with a very dismissive attitude... while trying to pay my bill, i voiced to the owner I'm still finishing my drink which he relied " I have people waiting for this table" which was very odd to say to a paying customer... still waiting for the waitress to return so I can sign and tip the owner returning with a bottle of sanitizer went a head and started wiping the table down while I'm still sitting finishing my drink... I've been a member of the service industry for over 18 years and this was insanely rude and unprofessional... I really hope this manager gets sat down and talked to about how to treat a paying customer... because the he's a piece of shit and I was very very insulted wish I could give 0 starts

David B.

Yelp
$93 for a super mediocre burger, the worst nachos I've ever had in my life, and 3 drinks. Also somehow my subtotal of $58 turned into $93 total after tax and tip, I assume the waitress just didn't bother to tell us happy hour was over and overcharged for the drinks. Either way it wasn't even worth going back to dispute the charge. Will never return here lol.
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Emily K.

Yelp
Stopped in here for a quick breakfast after my friend, graduated from UIC! About a 10 minute walk from the UIC East campus pavilion, or a few minute drive from there, three parking available right in front of the restaurant. We were seated immediately, it was pretty quiet at around 10:30 AM. The waiter brought us Hawaiian rolls with a side of strawberry butter to start the meal. The place was pretty dark, had a few cute little Christmas lights. We got coffee, chicken gyros, and the pork belly eggs benedict and both meals were PHENOMENAL. I loved the concept of a taco and Gyro form! The tzatziki sauce was super fresh and so we're all of the veggies. Eggs Benny was fabulous too, very unique with the pork belly on top! I'd come back in the future to try other menu items!!

Addison Lim L.

Yelp
Came in with a group all wanting to drink. Took 20+ minutes for a server. Then our orders of draft beers & cans took long too. I saw a dog who showed up after us be served that whipped cream before we were acknowledged. Not only all this but the beer on tap was flat. You can't call yourself a tavern and have shit tap. Cute inside but service & beer sucked
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Maria B.

Yelp
The service was decent and so was the food. My friend and I came here for lunch and we had a good time. Great energy and the place seems clean. Food was okay, not the best burger I've had but definitely far from the worst. Unfortunately we had to wait for over an hour for our burgers. Apparently there was a shift change and that delayed the order. They seem to be HUGE dog lovers! All the dogs received a bowl of water and a bowl of whipped cream!

Charity F.

Yelp
Was pretty disappointed here the waitress was sweet but the manager wouldn't let us do separate checks causing most of the pple leave and got another restaurant that did due to expense accounts I was excited to stay and try the food I ordered the ribs and I wish I had taken a picture they were so hard I couldn't even bite into them they took it off my check but the manager when he came to grab the ribs tool all of it like why couldn't he have left the sides they where hust going to toss it I mean I would of paid for the potatoes any way it was just a bizarre experience I do recommend the chicken gyros though much tastier also my friends dinner was hard and rubbery but she was to kind to complain
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Joel S.

Yelp
I've been coming here on and off for some time now. The staff is always friendly and we are seated immediately. I came in with my team (work lunch) to do some good Ole brain storming over some food and drinks. Our server was Leslie R, and she was a great, very attentive and making sure we were good with our meal, which, by the way, the fish and chips was dam good. So why the 2 stars, you may ask? I mean, the service was great, the food was great, so what's with the low rating? Well, this one will not make many happy, but I just have to call it out. One of the patrons came in with a French bulldog, which, while a nice dog, should not have been there. I would have left it alone, but when a gentleman picked the dog up and was stroking it while sitting at the bar, it became concerning. To add to this, one of the bartenders started to pet the dog and then proceeded to return to serving drinks. It bugged me, and as I was going to call over Leslie, one of my colleagues asked that I leave it alone, but in all honesty, I can't. If someone has a pet dander allergy and they were served a drink or even sat close enough to the bar, that would have become a problem. Service animals is one thing, but to handle a dog the way this one was is horrible and unsanitary, to say the least. As much as I hate to say this, I won't be coming back, and my team agrees that this is not how a place that handles food should operate. The only and I can't stress this enough reason why I gave them 2 stars is because the food and Leslie's service was great.
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Meghan C.

Yelp
Black barrel has a nice, inviting atmosphere. However, most of the dishes we had today were not very good. The tomato "soup" that came with the grilled cheese, was a sort of spicy red sauce. The elotes were flavorless, as was the Mac & cheese. This was my second time trying black barrel, and I have unfortunately been disappointed both times. If I come back, it would only be to drink.
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Kylie A.

Yelp
Loved checking out black barrel tavern in West Loop! We sat on the patio and had a bucket of seltzers and lunch. The patio and outdoor space was great with lots of pretty flowers in planters. When we were seated we were brought yellow watermelon which was a great touch in the summer while waiting on drinks. Will definitely be back again to sit on the patio again!
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Sam V.

Yelp
Came here Sunday for brunch before Bulls game. Nice decor inside from what I remember it used to be. Huge selection for brunch with breakfast and lunch items. Had the chilaquiles and added chicken. Huge portion and crisp chips just could have used a little more sauce. I like the big selection on the sides and that there are pancakes on the side! Had to get that as well. Definitely will be back when it warms up to sit outside with my dogs.