Eric S.
Yelp
This sports-themed restaurant is now called 'ChiSox Bar & Grill' after having lost its Bacardi sponsorship, but the menu and atmosphere hasn't changed. I came here for the unofficial grand-opening of the "new" place, and all food and drinks were comped because my old man and I have been season's ticket holders for the past decade. So naturally, we dined like kings. Had we been legitimate kings holding unlimited power, however, we would have demanded that the chef be tarred and feathered.
.....Okay, maybe that's a tad extreme, but the food was definitely sub-par. Considering the (over)prices, the quality was not good. Keep in mind, everything I ordered was on the house--all patrons that evening drank and dined for free.
~NOMS~
I started with a "roasted" corn on the cob. Late March is not the peak season for corn, and while I could tolerate the lack of yummy juicy corniness, I could NOT deal with the fact that it was served cold. Like, less than room temperature, as if it just came out of the fridge. This glaring oversight cost them a star, at least. It's normally $4. Bleh.
I continued on with chopped brisket tacos (three of them, normally priced @ $9, so $3 per taco). They were marginally okay. There are two BBQ sauces on the table so you can slather on as much as needed for the less-than-flavorful dishes.
From there, I placed an order for the chicken tenders (@ $9.75) and cheese fries ($7). Tenders were served with buffalo and blue cheese dipping and tasted decent, but the fries were easily the best thing I had that night. Something so simple, yet it outshone everything else. They ran out of jalepeno cheddar bites, which I desperately wanted to sample. Sad face :(
~BOOZES~
A tall boy of IPA (read: good beer, not cheap domestic shit) will run you $8-9. Cocktails are upwards of $10. The margarita I got was STRONG, and while no where close to being worth $11, I'd get one of those before I even considered paying for a beer.
~BOTTOM LINE~
If it weren't for the fact that this "demo night" included everything on their menu at no charge and somewhat-attentive service, this would be 2-star review at best. Yes, it's essentially ballpark food, but that doesn't mean you still can't get a decent meal. The value here is appalling. Point in case: for twenty-five cents shy of ten bucks, you get 5 chicken tenders. That's it. No fries and a side, no combo meal, nothing. Just tenders. Double-you-tee-eff.
TL;DR--I ate and drank myself silly for absolutely no cost, and this place still gets 3 stars out of my easy-to-please self. I'll probably wind up coming here to get the pulled pork nachos (without question the best thing they serve), but that's likely all I'll get. What you get for what you're paying is in line with everything else at Sox park, Wrigley, the United Center, Soldier Field.....that's to say, ridiculous. Wasn't too pleased, but I suppose it could be worse. That cold corn, though......*shudders*