First Draft

The food had that comforting pub feel and tasted really good. The wings were a little on the dry side, but the team happily brought extra veggies and dipping sauce when we asked, which made all the difference. The fried dill pickle chips were absolutely amazing, crispy, and full of flavor. Overall, we had a wonderful time and left completely satisfied.

Was in Chicago over the weekend found this place near our hotel... Cool atmosphere... Good food... Good service... Great place to watch the games! Only drawback... I was not drinking alcohol... I was drinking Arnold Palmers.... The bill came... I then realized that refills were not included.... I brought it up to the waitress... And stated if the refills were not included I would have not got them... She did take a few of them off the bill... Overall it's was a good experience... Cheese curds and barbq brisket burger were delicious

Post workshop meal! Great bar food in a quintessential Chicago bar…first time but had it bookmarked based on their reviews and menus…great service, slow when we got there at 6:30 but gradually got packed and we learned why…food was delicious! All of it from the pretzel bites to curds to homemade salt & vinegar chips…but the wings really stole the show…Kung Fu sauce was unique but the Caribbean BBQ was one of the best sauces I’ve ever had…which makes a second wing sauce I’ve had this month that’s wowed me! Reuben, Lettuce Wraps, Chicago Beef and Mac Daddy were all fantastic! Check them out if you’re in the area!

I truly cannot say enough good things about this place. From the staff, to the craft beer selection, and the amazing food this was the best place as a visitor to choose for a Saturday to watch some sports and have a great time. All the servers are friendly, helpful, and great at their job. The bar backs always made sure we had plenty of water and our table was always clean. The owner was interactive with his patrons, accommodating, and seemed to respect his staff. Ultimately I cannot say enough or recommend this spot enough and can't wait till we visit Chicago again to come back!

Food is good and it came really quick, ordered a big 10 piece wings and great taste and good sauce. They have a great selection of draft beers as well as canned. Music is good and have an app so you can songs to playlists. Great for a dinner with friends, recommended bar. Multiple screens to watch all games at the same time.

Went for a quick drink and some rest after a day on our feet. It's the first day of college football so it was busy, but they made room for us at a Reserved table with the stipulation that we be out by a certain time - no problem. The large beer list was great, and I have the Door County Cherry Wheat 4 stars on untapped. Lots of TVs showing many different sports.

Stopped in before a concert in the area. Staff was attentive and friendly. Food was great! I got a turkey club with sweet potato fries. Club was bigger than expected. Fries were crispy and seasoned well. Had a couple drinks that were great, as well. I will definitely stop here again when in the area. It has touch tunes so you can choose your music so that was fun! Bathrooms were clean and smelled clean as well.

Usually do the specials during the week. The portion is decent and the price is reasonable for chicago. I gave it 5 stars because the food us always fresh. I recommend the wing special on Wednesday as well. Great food. Great drinks. Great service.

This bar is my go-to for sporting games or events. Living right down the street, it's great for an after-work drink. All the servers are fun and attentive. My favorite part about this bar though is the classic Chicago tavern feel.

Delicious bar/pub in Chicago that had Americana food and a musicbox for anyone willing to splurge on coin, First Draft offers a wide variety of burgers and sandwiches as well as every drink you can offer. This place definitely feels like it'd be more lively during a game day or a weekend but due to the fact that we had a festival and this was next to our hotel, we went with it for lunch in which it was not busy at all. And we are kinda glad because the food here was on point. It's nothing special and more simplistic and most but everyone had a burger in one form or another and some often for sweet potato fries or fried pickles. They were well seasoned and were filling. Overall I could see this place as more of a drinking spot than a food place but given that we had a complete meal here I'd got to give props.

Great food and service. Waitress was new ( 3 weeks) and was wonderful and very helpful. All 6 of us had great food. Good ambiance as a bar with many tvs around the place.

A fun spot to watch a game or hang out with friends. It is a bit loud for talking but has a lively atmosphere and a varied menu. They have amazing fries and a lot of vegan as well as meat options. Our group opted for mainly meats but after eating the fries I was full! Such a large portion of perfectly cooked and not overly fried potatoes. Yum! If you are in the area this is a great spot to check out for hanging out and good. They have an extensive bar as well so you can get a bit of anything and everything!

I loved this place! We went after the Chicago marathon and it's a small place which was packed with runners but they accommodated our party of 4 at a small table and even moved us to a larger table after it became available. The server was friendly and fast. We came for the great beer list and I had a delicious stout I'd never had and I loved how the menu linked to Untappd. Ever enjoyed their food we had pretzel bites and fried pickles for aps. Then we got the bbq burnt ends brisket sandwich and fries- so yummy!!! Friends got the turkey wrap and Reuben and loved those too. It was a great vibe with yummy food and beer. We really enjoyed ourselves and got to hang out, watch Sunday night football, and recover from the race. (We were so hungry I didn't get photos of the sandwiches and wrap )

I stopped by for dinner last night with a friend as we were looking for something casual in the South Loop area. We weren't exactly expecting a quiet dinner spot, but we also didn't expect to have to yell at each other over our table to have a conversation. Ambiance aside, the food was unfortunately pretty subpar. I had the G.O.A.T. sandwich with a side of chili and my friend had the Burnt Ends sandwich with a side of brussel sprouts. The goat on my sandwich was marinated too heavily in my opinion and some pieces were burnt to a crisp. Some bites were extremely sour that I could not finish a third of it. The chili was decent. My friend seemed to have enjoyed her sandwich, but her brussel sprouts were also really burnt. First Draft is a great spot for liquor and appetizers, but I'm not sure that I would come back for a full meal.

I love IPA beers, and they had an extraordinary selection. Not just of IPAs though, I believe they had over 50 beers on tap. I got a flight, so got the sample a few. I got a burger and fries, and honestly was not expecting anything great. However, the burger came out juicy and flavorful and the fries hot and crisp. Definitely one of the better burger and fries I've had at a pub. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. Chill vibe. I really enjoyed this place!

Stopped by First Draft with family for my cousins 30th birthday. We truly had a great experience. Our waiter was super nice. After my cousin sent back the Apple donut cider (which I loved lol) the waiter gave us samples to see which we preferred. I ordered the salmon burger which came with a side. I got the sweet potato fries. The burger was really tasty but maybe a tiny tiny bit over seasoned. It's also topped with some sort of lemon aioli sauce. Which was pretty good if you like lemon. I love a good sweet potato fry and these were great but some of the pieces had too much kosher salt. I prefer mine plain. We also had cheese curds and fried pickles. The cheese curds were good but a little greasy and the fried pickles were divine. Seasoned to perfection. Everyone said they really enjoyed their food but one of my cousins in particular couldn't stop raving about the baked chicken with hot honey sauce. She literally said I can't keep saying how good it is and went around the table making everyone try a piece. I'm pescatarian and I was sooo close to saying yes because of how enthusiastic she was. I couldn't even get the no out so my other cousin had to say it for me lol. However the rest of the table said they were ordering that the next time they came. Ambiance was honestly a little bland but our night was the total opposite. After like 20 shots and 4 ciders I'd say we had an amazing time and would come back for more.

Generally a pit stop when I visit Chicago, especially since it is easy to find downtown. Lots of great domestic and craft beers with a friendly environment. Very much a slightly above a dive bar bar. Which I appreciate! Dive bars or dive bars-ish are lots of fun. I generally sit at the bar, because it's usually just me or one or two friends. It's also interesting to chat with the bartenders about other Chicago spots to hit up. When I've been, it has been relatively quiet. I imagine it get quite busy later in the afternoon and evening. The bartenders who have served me in the past are generally talkative and happy to answer questions. It's a good spot if you just want to stop for a beer, be around some locals, or watch a game.

Cute little neighborhood sports bar. I like the decor inside, dimly lit, exposed brick, it's a nice vibe. Lots of tvs and a nice relaxed environment to watch a game. We had cocktails and apps, the drinks were good and strong. Get the cheese curds!

Really great beer and food. Fast service and friendly staff. We have been there twice and both times hit.

Went in on a Thursday night. This was a cool neighborhood dive bar with great beers, great service, and amazing fried pickles.

This is a great local sports bar that you can come to to watch games with friends. Definitely love the ambience of fellow fans cheering four our mutual teams. It makes watching the game way more interesting and fun. The drinks are good and you can't go wrong. They have a great happy hour. Definitely recommend the fries and burgers. Fellow vegetarians, there are definitely a decent amount of options for you to choose from when you dine in here. Worth checking out for the next big game!

Best bar food in Printer's Row area by far. They have daily sandwich specials as an added bonus. My favorites are the sweet potato fries and salmon sandwich.

What a great place- except they were literary out of all of our favorite items due to a cooler issue. Sadly we brought friends to their location only to be embarrassed by the lack of fav items on the menu. The management has-to ensure that a least a few top items are available. Try harder, work harder, for success. However, the wait staff was outstanding as always.

Great draft list, good food, understaffed on a busy night but great service. Came right before a Bulls playoffs game with my wife and 1 year old and had a perfect experience. Even though the place was busy and understaffed, our waitress was deeply empathetic and got us set up with a high chair and the kid items they had on hand (crayons and coloring books). The drink selection is fantastic, with dozens of great draft options. Even when busy, the drinks came out in minutes. Chicken Quesadilla - 4/5. Very strong, lots of cheese, good amount of avocado, tasty side sauce. Pulled pork - 4/5. My wife really liked it, good BBQ sauce.

Fun place lots of rotating beers on tap, service has always been good as has the food . Worth checking out.

First Draft in the South Loop is a solid spot to kick back with a cold one and some hearty grub. I spent about $55 on a Friday night, grabbing their Platypus-Ish Burger--juicy beef patty, crispy bacon, and that house beer cheese that hits just right--and a side of fried pickle chips that were crispy, tangy, and perfect with a cold brew. The beer selection is top-notch, with 64 rotating taps, so there's always something new to try. The vibe is lively, especially during game time, with plenty of TVs and a cozy, rustic feel. Service was friendly and attentive, making it a great spot for a casual night out or to catch a game with friends. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area.​

Came for lunch and ordered the fried mushrooms, the beef sandwich, and the poutine. It was amazing! Audrey was our server and she was great! Attentive And kind. 10/10 recommend this place.

Walked here from the congress hotel. Massive beer selection, and the platypus-ish burger was killer! Fries were nice and crispy. The waitress was super friendly. If we lived in the city we would definitely be back... Until then I'll be dreaming of that burger.

We came to Chicago for a few days. Someone at our hotel recommended First Draft. We finally got to go today, just before work got out for everyone else. Service was fantastic so friendly and quick. Our server was Ashley. We had Brussels and they were great . Would definitely recommend to others, hence why I'm taking my time to write a review

Really affordable and conveniently-located bar in the south loop area. I enjoyed the vibe at this place and was able to make it to happy hour for some great beer deals! Also ended the night with an espresso martini, which I was pleasantly surprised by. Our server and the manager were really friendly, checking in on us often. Overall, seems like a great spot to hang out with some friends, and I'll definitely be coming back!

I love this place! When I lived in that neighborhood in Chicago I was here almost every weekend. The beer selection is fantastic! And the scotch whisky and Irish whiskey selections are pretty good too. The food is always excellent. Every time I go back to Chicago I make it a point to go here. The staff and service is always great.

We were here again on a beautiful warm October day and they didn't have the fans on. Just a/c. Much more comfortable and great service!

Cool Irish pub with lots of booze and some okay food. First Draft won't be the last. It has a pretty typical menu of what you expect from this kind of place. Also it has a cool name befitting of a Printers Row bar. This place can get crazy packed at times. A lot of people mostly care only for the drinks but the food isn't all bad. It's pretty typical pub fare. The prices are about what you expect for a bar in a trendy location. It's about $12 for cocktails. These at least are strong. Best time is earlier before it gets super busy. It takes long enough to get drinks. The later you go it's even harder and you can forget about getting any food. It has a few healthier choices. There's the vegan friendly Roasted Cauliflower Wings. It's $15 for a basket. These come with a choice of a sauce. Barbecue is good. These are healthier than the greasy chicken wings most bars have. Good except for it being expensive. It's way too much even though it's better than typical bar food. They're open late but the kitchen closes early so get here early if you want to eat something.

Visited on a Saturday evening, sat outside. We had no problems getting seated, they didn't seem super busy. Service was quick and attentive. I appreciate that the server brought us a to-go box with our silverware and napkins, so we were set for our leftovers. I got the pulled pork sandwich and sweet potato fries, both of which were outstanding. The portions were large. My husband got the turkey club, which was huge. He loved it and had no leftovers . I had the strawberry cheesecake craft beer, and omg, it was ahhmaaazing. Get. It. The outside dining was great. It's a busy street, and the people watching is always fun. I only saw the image when going to the ladies room. It was big, had that historic building feel (which I love), and lots of tv's. The bathroom, however, was less than stellar. Very dirty, which is why I docked a star. Overall, great sports bar with solid food and a terrific draft beer menu. If we come back to Chicago, would visit here again.

Sat out here on the patio for a quick bite with friends before heading to a concert at Soldier Field. Overall ok meal - the quesadilla and pretzel bites were nice and fresh but the chicken wrap honestly tasted a little moldy. I forgot to take a picture of my shrimp with shishito peppers - it was enjoyable but a little heavy on the acid. Maybe stick to the basic bar food order here since that's what I've heard most of the good reviews for. The server was not very friendly and it was difficult to get water or silverware without feeling like we were bothering her. They did have a good selection of beers and a dog friendly patio which was nice!

Food and service was great - priced fair for being in the city !!!!!! Great ambiance !!!!

This place is great for a bar--food was outstanding as was the service and beer selection (if that's what you are into). Great ambiance and atmosphere along with a solid music selection. If you are looking for a fun, friendly place with great food and a great selection of drinks--and a TON of televisions--this is the place for you.

What a great little bar! Tons of draft beers, ample menu and seriously amazing service. Cara was a gem! After having less than lackluster service at other establishments close by (Half Sour, I'm looking at YOU) my hope were not high...but Cara was able to be exceptional! Super quick and pleasant, if we hadn't had to get back to the dogs, we would have stayed longer. We will definitely be back! Thank you!

Came here from Seattle to catch a Bears game. Was amazed by the attentive service before and during the game... and the fact that they had both Belgian tripels and quads on tap. Awesome experience!

I think if I am going to spend over 100 dollars for a meal. I would get much more than a beer, beer flight, a Ruben sandwich, and a chicken quesadilla. We went to this bar for our first experience in Chicago. Hoping to catch week 1 of the college football season. We were met with a bar tender who does not like beer or could even help us out on local great beer selects. I ordered a Guinness beer and she messed up on building a Guinness properly. She destroyed the build creating to much air making the beer sour in taste. Then we asked for beer flight to try some of the local beers they had on tap. Nobody told us that a beer flight is 18 dollars and all you get is 4 2-3 ounce cups. What a total rip off!! In what world does a Ruben sandwich, and a chicken quesadilla cost over 45 dollars? We did not finish the Guinness or the food left this place totally disappointed for our first experience in Chicago. We found some other sports bars that are way better than this place. If you don't like beer at least train or learn about the beers you sell to help the customers who have questions.

I've come here several times this year. I love their draft beer list and all the food has been very good. I brought some family from Germany here and they loved it. Good place to come and watch sporting events.

BEST BURGERS! I can't emphasize this enough. I'm from California and miss the In n out burgers. Mac Daddy Burger is a heftier and thicker version of that. Moist brioche bread, delicious and creamy cheese, and well seasoned flavorful sauce! I got the Mac Daddy Burger Spicy bbq wings (great smoked wings here, not craving a burger then get the wings ) And different types of sours! Everything was 10/10 the limited edition flavored sour stouts like the sour skittles is DELICIOUS AND A MUST!

Food is super expensive Service-- wrong order sent to r table twas the next tables order n good thing they saw n told us its their food.. i had to get up and ask for utensils kuz we had nothing-- nxt table to us had to do the same thing no silverware nor napkins we literally saw r server 2x wen she took r oder n wen she gave us r tab .. $100 for party of 3 -- got poutine fries, impossible burger, another sammich n (kid size glass of beer).. the only bad experience we had vacationing in Chicago All together, NEVER AGAIN! I dont even wna leave a star but my post wont go through so oh well

Excellent food, phenomenal service, and the bartender really knows how to make a drink. My husband & I are on vacation and stumbled across this place online. So glad we decided to come in! Spent the evening enjoying delicious food and friendly service. My husband had the hot dogs. I had grilled cheese & tomato soup. The place was busy, but not overly crowded. With only 2 servers, Audrey & another, 1 bartender, Danny, and 1 "jack of all trades", Wyatt, the restaurant/bar ran as smoothly as if there had been twice as many employees on shift. If you decide to visit, say "Hi!" to Audrey. She's super friendly and very helpful'

Beer is good, food is solid, service is bad. Typical sports bar. Set low expectation on service if you plan to visit.

We had an absolutely amazing experience! Food was fantastic, super flavorful with generous portions. Both the Chicago Beef sandwich and the Poutine appetizer were perfect. Service was fast and friendly. 10/10 highly recommend

This is a long overdue review... Suffice to say I didn't have a Yelp account for a few years, but I'm here to say First Draft is a legit place for good times. I can't remember why I stopped in here the first time years ago, but I think it had something to do with trying to go to (now long gone) Villain's across the street and they were closed. So I dropped in here and had a legitimately good burger. Second time I was out drinking with a couple friends, Sarah S (see her review for her take on First Draft) and Tim R. My strongest memory of that evening is they had insane specials on some Pipeworks and other bombers, and by special I mean like almost half off. The three of us cranked down like 4 of these strong bombers together, on top of whatever else we started out drinking. Everyone left in top spirit and form that night! Tim and Sarah got Ubers back to their homes and to tell the truth I can't remember how I got home.. probably the #3 bus. Anyway, in summation, FD has much better food than you'd expect at a sports bar, their service has always been very good in my experience, and if you go when they're trying to clear out the last few of certain beers you can get a screaming deal on some otherwise fairly pricey bombers!

Great beer selection, friendly staff, cool atmosphere, and very solid pub food menu. One of the best neighborhood spots in Printer's Row / South Loop.

A real neighborhood gem with great food. Our server was a delight and took great care of us. There is an extensive local craft beer menu. For dinner, I had the Vegan Hero with sweet potato fries. Pro tip: ask for the lemon cayenne aioli if you order the sweet potato fries. The combo is amazing! My husband enjoyed his wings, and also got the Pizza Bread, which he said was just okay. We will return next time we're in the area.

Good food, lots of great beers and delicious appetizers Service was excellent , we were seated right away

Read whole review!! 5 stars for service! 50+ people and one bartender covering tables and taking orders! She was fantastic! Hands down! 4 stars for the food of my friends! They loved it! Great food all around and the Honey mustard chicken is great and they said the house chips are kinda sweet but a great crunch! 2 stars for my food though. The chicken smash burger taste weird and the crispy smash crust was black and tasted of the grill top and just burnt flavoring all around. The fries had great salting but lacked flavor too. Will I be back? For sure! Just won't be getting the chicken smash burger. Might try the house pizza!

It was hard to choose what I wanted from the menu because everything sounded so good. We ended up splitting a huge Italian Beef sandwich and the fries were awesome too. Great list of beers on tap and a million TVs to watch all the games. Perfection.

Heard about this place by word of mouth and it did not disappoint. The menu is uniquely great and the 61 beers is insane (order a flight, I believe they're all on draft). The food was so good, thought I'd have leftovers, but nope. The sweet potato waffle fries taste like a funnel cake it was a great mix with what we ordered. I hope they get some weekly specials so I can frequent here. Regardless, I'll be back. P.S. - Audrey is great!!

My boyfriend and I went last Sunday afternoon. I'll start off with the good: the food was DELICIOUS!!! I got the honey mustard chicken sandwich-& EVERYTHING was good about it!! My boyfriend had the salmon burger, and it was a tiny bit BETTER than the chicken sandwich. I got a fruity beer that was decent and my bf got a really good Manhattan. The bad: we felt as though no one wanted us there. We walked in to no greeting at all. We found our own seats, and the employees walked past without acknowledging us for about 15 minutes. We decided to go to the bar, where our order was taken. We waited about half an hour for our food. If the customer service was as good as the food, I'd be suggesting this restaurant to everyone! But, that uneasy feeling of being ignored is not something I'd want my friends and family to experience.

Best chili around. They use beef brisket . Sitting here on a Saturday afternoon during March Madness. Completely packed. And nobody is waiting on drinks . Hailey the bartender is incredible.

I met a friend who was in town for a conference and this was a great mutually convenient spot. Since we're both avid beer fans, we were immediately drawn in by the wide variety of draft beers. I also brought my dog and I couldn't help but contain my excitement over their specifically curated dog menu. The staff were incredibly kind and knowledgeable about what food pairings would work best. I had the Slammin Salmon Sammie. I'm not going to lie, I was a little shocked at the price of the sandwich. However, I felt the quality and amount of salmon given did make up for the price! It was so well seasoned and such a big piece of fish that it hung off the bun. And THOSE FRIES! They were delicious!! If I am looking for a light snack and some beers, I know First Draft will be at the top of the list to consider. Also- it can get a bit noisy if you're outside on the patio since it is right next to a busy street. However, that's nothing they can control and otherwise was a great experience. I'm definitely going back here!

Was there for the first time last Saturday. Great food our bartender was outstanding. A great vibe in the place. Poutine and mushrooms were excellent. We'll be back