This industrial chic bar serves inventive cuisine and crafted cocktails alongside a vibrant atmosphere, ideal for relaxing with friends or catching a game.
"This Lincoln Park sports bar has been dominating local wing competitions, getting high marks for mild and barbecue sauce varieties. The Bourbon Barbecue wing is probably the highlight, a sweet and smoky treat. All wings at Broken Barrel are smoked over oak for four hours. The intriguing option is customers can opt for grilled wings over deep fried and while the skin isn’t as crispy, the smokey flavor rises, and the seasonings come through a little cleaner. Honey habanero and garlic Buffalo are two other choice options." - Ashok Selvam
"Lincoln Park has seemingly lost its title as the neighborhood with the most annoying sports bars in Chicago. The current champion may be Wicker Park. But not all sports bars are awful. Broken Barrel, on a quiet residential strip, is an example. It’s got plenty of TVs, a friendly waitstaff, and a bar menu that won’t make fans regret staying through overtime. The chicken wings come in fried or smoked, which are some of the best. And there’s a patio." - Eater Staff
"Broken Barrel’s massive patio and three indoor dining rooms are all equipped with their own bars and plenty of TVs—the ideal setup for catching a game. But even if you have zero interest in screaming profanities at a screen, the wings alone make it worth stopping by this Lincoln Park spot. They get an extra flavor from being smoked over oak logs before hitting the fryer, and come with all sorts of sauces ranging from a mild bourbon BBQ to the spicy ”sex panther” made with ghost peppers and habaneros. Make sure to get a few grilled wings, too—the extra char pairs perfectly with their tangy smoky chipotle sauce." - adrian kane, phaithe norman, john ringor
"With three indoor sections and a massive patio (all of which have their own bar and TVs) there is no shortage of booze and screens in this cavernous Lincoln Park bar. And while their burger and pulled pork sandwich are tasty, the wings need to be part of every order. They get an extra layer of flavor from being smoked over oak logs pre-fry, and come with a variety of sauces ranging from bourbon BBQ to the fiery ”sex panther” made with ghost peppers and habaneros. There’s also an option to get them grilled—something we recommend since the char pairs perfectly with their tangy smoky chipotle sauce." - sam faye, john ringor
"Broken Barrel’s three dining rooms and patio are all equipped with bars and plenty of TVs—the ideal setup for catching an early weekend game while enjoying savory brunch dishes like steak skillets or chilaquiles. But even if you have zero interest in screaming profanities at a screen, the $25 bottomless mimosas make this Lincoln Park spot worth the visit. And unlike many other places on this guide, the food is better than expected. Get the excellent wings or the burger disguised as breakfast thanks to the addition of bacon and a fried egg. The Deal: Bottomless mimosas for $25 (with food purchase)" - adrian kane, veda kilaru
