Gale Street Inn Chicago

There’s a reason this is a neighborhood classic and Chicago native classic for ribs on the Northwest side spanning a few decades! It’s a limited but traditional menu of ribs, steaks, fish and some appetizers and pasta entrees. I highly recommend trying the ribs when there. However all the appetizers looked really good too! Server was thorough and very professional. This is a nice experience of fine dining and spending a good buck to get a quality meal. The ambience is classy and feels almost like you walked into the past with the wood work, classic wood bar, dark lighting.. we enjoyed it!

Ribs were good and well cooked. Yummy. .My Wagyu burger was dry unevenly cooked, though.(I noticed the next table return his burger as well.) Unfortunately, the Greek Chicken was very dry, dense and tasteless despite the seasoned sauce. I wish they use young quality meats and potatoes. Maybe the chef needs to focus more on quality and retraining. It's fine that the choices were so basic, but please deliver it well. Service was pleasant. Parking full but ample. The entertainment, delightful!!! A very clean place. Great ambience!!! Let's support this place to stay great. Practically a Chicago tradition and landmark.

Old school, old-world charm, has a nostalgic atmosphere. The piped in Jazz gave way to live music from a solo act. The ribs we excellent, the service was friendly, and efficient, count me a fan. Thanks for the recommendation, Gary Wiviott. You were spot on as usual.

This place comes with live music! Food is reasonably priced and the quality of food is outstanding. I made a reservation for moms birthday and all the staff talked to her under the name of the reservation which was awesome. Not first or last visit here

We haven’t been in a while and it was so good to see this place in a good shape again. Service was top notch. Our waiter recommended the Duck gumbo and it turned out to be delicious. Of course we had ribs and as always outstanding.

Everything was very tasty! A bit busy on Friday, so service a tad delayed. Chill live music. The crab cakes and the duck gumbo were really tasty. Ribs were good as usual.

One of the better Jefferson Park area restaurants, with an old school vibe, and immaculate interior that was apparently recently re-done. Only open certain days during the week, but the ribs (which they will tell you that they're known for) are out of this world good. Fall off the bone, melt in your mouth, easy to finish off a full rack. They give you extra BBQ sauce as well as different choices of sides with the ribs. Full service bar looked really nice, fast, friendly service and you can make a reservation on Tock, which I'd recommend as this place gets very busy, with some longer wait times for tables depending on when you go. Our dinner party also had the loaded baked potato and stuffed mushroom appetizers, gumbo, London broil and blackened salmon, all very good. The quality and experience was a good return for the price, which was substantial for four people with appetizers, entrees and a bottle of wine, about $60 per person. However, they do have menu items in the $15-20 range that are just as good. But if you go, get the ribs. I'd have to put them up against Carson's, Twin Anchors, even Smoque.

Great experience. I'm going to rate this without considering the history and importance to jefferson park - just focusing on food and such. Starting with food. We got a classic ribs and they were pretty good. Nothing game changing like you'd get from a BBq house, but not bad. The BBQ sauce may have been house made. I wish yhey had more saucd options though (like a spicy one). The coleslaw had a bit of crunch and acidity, which made it clear this was likely house made. The fries were double fried. The calamari had a good mix heat and acidity to balance the fried exterior, while the interior wad flavored (good dredging). The salmon was seared well on the outside so that the insides weren't dried out. The soup tastes housemade. The food is more expensive than nearby places, but I found that it was worth it given the quality as well as the atmosphere. Right away the service is good. We walked in and knew my name. They're well run machine and have times when tables are available. The servers knew their specials and knew the food when asked questions. The atmosphere was good with some musician on stage. The bathrooms were clean. I'll be coming back and I'd recommend others check this place out too.

After a last minute pivot in my plans last night, I ended up in this charming pub! Owner George and bartender Shaun (Sean, Shawn?) took excellent care of me throughout the evening. The atmosphere was energetic, but the volume was at a still at a perfect level to carry on a conversation. While I won't be back with that particular date, I can say that I will bring my friends! Thank you again George!

As always the ribs were fantastic. I also had a cup of their gumbo which is the best I have had. I liked it so much I took a quart to go. George really cares about his customers. He walks thru and takes a moment to chat with all of them whether he knows them or not. The kind of service that is lacking in so many places these days. I will forever be a customer here.

Good food .. Quality use to be better but that's everywhere now a days They also use to have live Jazz that was the main reason we would go and have dinner. When last we were there there was no live music and I think I was told that they cut back on somethings because of surviving Covid. Will return..

Let me start by saying the 3 stars was given before we even placed our order. This place is just too loud to allow anyone to sit down and enjoy a meal and conversation. It used to be 2 separate rooms, a bar and dining area, they decided to remove the wall and make it on big room, so regardless what part you made your reservation, either the bar or dining experience, you're in a giant large bar. The live music doesn't help at all. So ambience is the reason for 3 stars. If you've been here before then you know the food is good, if you haven't, I suggest going between

It has been many many moons since I have dined at Gale Street Inn. On a recent Friday evening, I returned there for a pleasant dinner along with my love and another couple. Originally, we booked a reservation for six, but one of our couples scratched due to last-minute illness. I remember the restaurant used to be very crowded on a weekend, and you would wait around the bar for an available table if they were all taken. Currently as a Covid measure, the tables are spread far apart, so the four of us appreciated our situation without any other customers pressed up against us. Service was terrific throughout our meal, as we were served water and bread with honey butter. We each ordered an adult beverage. I ordered braised short ribs with bacon cheddar mashed potatoes, and I did not leave a morsel on the plate. Dinners come with choice of soup or salad, and choice of a side. The chicken tomatillo soup is an unusual choice for a "standard" soup, but it is tasty topped with tortilla strips. My love ordered a half slab of baby back ribs with potatoes au gratin, and the bites I sampled from her plate are as good as I remembered tasting in years past. Our friends ordered the full slab of ribs and a fish dish, and both walked away with leftovers. Gale Street Inn is not a cheap date, but we certainly did enjoy our dining experience.

6:00 pm walk-ins. Full restaurant. Able to accommodate high-top party of 3. Service was ever so slow. Waitress was super busy and slightly annoyed. Our London broil was cold. The side of fries came way later. Highly overrated ribs.

We still really love this place. They are remodeling, but still open. Great ribs and London broil. We liked the acoustic guitarist and his song selection. Worth the trip to Jefferson Park.

Gale Street Inn gives off total old school Chicago vibes, which makes sense, because it's be in Jefferson Park since the early 60s! The place is definitely a time warp, but I think it adds to the charm. We were actually seated in the banquet room and it instantly brought me back to the local bar & grill in my hometown that my family used to go to. Our server was so wonderful and I go the sense that she was a staple here. She knew the menu inside out and gave great recommendations. After peeking at the photos on Yelp, I knew I had to start with the French onion soup and wow, this did not disappoint! The top layer of bubbly cheese was insanely delicious and complimented the soup perfectly. The soup was pretty filling, so I ended up splitting a burger and fries with a friend. This was pretty standard pub fare, but tasty nonetheless. Nice experience at Gale Street Inn overall, and would love to come back and grab a seat at the bar or the main dining room.

One of Chicago's most iconic and respected restaurants. I started off with a bowl of French onion soup followed by my main course of a half a rack of ribs. The ribs were cooked to perfection and fell right off the bone. The service was prompt and always appeared when I needed assistance. I finished my dinner with the bread pudding, and it was moist with a ton of flavor.

Great place as always! Come check out the updated dining area, now with a small stage for live music. A NW side pillar of dining.

Absolutely delicious. The BEST French onion soup ever...lots of onion, good bread, and super cheesy. Comes out hot and has the best flavors. The ribs are fall off the bone but still have a good bite to them. Grilled, tender, sweet, apple cider flavored bbq sauce. I got a baked potato on the side with sour cream and butter as well as a salad with creamy garlic. My boyfriend got the au gratin potatoes and enjoyed the cheesiness of them... Ambiance is romantic. It's dark with mood lights and candles on the table. Food is excellent, will be back!

Great food at a old fashion restaurant on the Northwest Chicago, Jefferson Park area. The ribs are very special. Good service. The restaurant was a bit dark for my taste but I guess that's how people liked it back in the 60's, small windows not much light. Go there for the food, no the ambiance. The restaurant has some parking onsite since you can't park on the street in front of the restaurant. Pretty busy location due to the CTA blue line train station across the street. It's not cheap to eat at this restaurant, but great food.

I ordered the baked cod. It had a mustard rub with noodles and spinach. It was amazing. Light and flavorful. My BF had the jambalaya. Which is his staple here. To top it off we had the whipped Greek yogurt with honey and pistachio. Not too sweet but enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. I've never had anything like this. Im going to try to replicate it at home. The service was amazing. Very attentive. And the ambiance was perfect. There was live music with soft renditions of the Beatles. Highly recommend.

Always fun ! Love the ribs and bar and vibe is friendly and fun . Stay with the ribs or burger . I tried the Greek noodles and bit dry and tasteless . Going back to my ribs !!!!

I had a chance to go for dinner with three friends. I must admit we all went there for the ribs. The service was great. Of course the ribs were fantastic. The drinks good. The owner made his rounds stopping at every table to ask how the service was and to thank us for stopping in. Great customer service.

Wow. Their ribs are fantastic. Great remodel of the whole bar and dining area. Servers who take their work seriously. Hosts and owner were very accommodating. All told a great experience from the moment we walked in until we left. Will definitely be back.

Ribs here are my go to meal always. Get them charred thank me later. That's usually all I order when I come but soups and salads are nice and fresh. You can dine in or carry out.

This place has some incredible food. The food came warm and tasted great. The service was fast and friendly and the ambience was cozy and friendly. There was adequate parting available. I really enjoyed having dinner here. Highly recommended.

Jefferson Park Landmark, old school classic, got to love the Gale Street Inn. Excellent BBQ Ribs, consistently perfect, I'm close by and have carried these out many times. Don't forget the Au Gratin Potatoes which are incredible. We dined in recently, as always a wonderful experience, the service here is exceptional. The Old Fashioned is a classic, I've grown to appreciate this much valued neighbor, their Ribs set the standard. (FDV Approved 4.6 - Food, 4.7; Design, 4.5; Value, 4.5).

I'm not sure why it took us so long to try out Gale Street Inn. The ribs were delicious and fall off the bone. Sauce is sweet without being too sweet. I got an appetizer of the meatballs with polenta which was excellent. My em wife got the onion gratin soup and said it was great as well. Service was great. Very attentive. Will definitely be back.

One of the best dining experiences I ever received! My friend and I came in shortly before closing time. I hate being that kind of person but my friend insisted we go. Any other place, the servers would have all been hiding, the bartenders wouldn't look up from wiping bottles, the hostess would have been long gone...but not here. Our server, a wonderful woman with beautiful white hair and impeccable sense of humor didn't seem the least bit bothered by our late arrival. The bartender, just as professional didn't either. In fact they insisted we stay and made us feel warm and cozy for lack of a better word lol. The lighting, the music, the vibe. It was just perfect. The food? Amazing. I'm not a rib person by any means but man was I a Tasmanian devil that evening. Devoured a half rack and a side of mashed potato's. I know where I will be coming back to, to celebrate my fathers retirement!

The food and service were good but the we way we were treated by the man we assume was the maître d was terrible. I've travelled extensively during my 45+ year career and eaten in many restaurants of all types throughout the country. This treatment at Gale Street Inn was without a doubt in my mind far and away the worst ever. My wife and I went to Gale Street Inn for a weekly "date night" last night because we had been given a Gale Street Inn gift card a while ago. We could not get through by phone and website had no record of the card, so when we arrived we asked him to check it to be sure it was still good (we'd had it for a while). From that point on, he treated us as if we were homeless old folks asking for a handout. I tend not to notice that type of nonsense much, but it made my wife feel very bad. However, since we were already there, we stayed. As I said, the food was good; the only downside was with a bite of my burger I also got a long, dark, human (I assume) hair (my wife's hair is blond). Didn't want to make a big deal of it, but showed it to the maître d and just said they may want to be sure the kitchen staff had hairnets. I wasn't being argumentative, wasn't looking for a free meal (wouldn't have accepted it even it offered. We already had the gift card and, after all, mistakes do get made. Just thought he'd want to know to avoid having a problem if the same thing happen with another customer. My wife and I therefore were very surprised when telling him about it earned us a disgusted look as he took the hair from my hands, rolled it in his fingers, let it drop on the table pretending he couldn't find it and then casually brushed it onto the floor. He then walked away, without a word, not even a simple thanks or apology. We finished our meal (I was rewarded with another hair, so I stopped eating my burger), paid our bill and left. Can absolutely assure you we will never go back there, though I'm sure that's of no concern to Gale Street Inn given the way we were treated.

Need to get a handle on their reservation system. No one checking anyone in. Waste of time making a reservation. 6 pm reservation still waiting at 6:30. It's a zoo. Once we're seated it was great. Food was delicious. Service was just right.

Pedro at the bar and the staff made our delicious dinner even better! We loved the cocktails and wine. Grilled octopus, crab cake, ribs and shrimp combo were excellent! The best was the tortilla soup...we will be back! Thanks again!

Wonderful evening with old friends made even better with delicious food and attentive service provided by George and his team. Best ribs in town.

Called and gave rib order for 8 to Denise,who was accommodating and polite.Called the next day to add sides.A hostel and argumentative man answered and said why aren't my grandkids doing this on line for me? This phone is not used for orders,he said....DO I WANT THIS ORDER OR NOT.....rushing me to get this over with. Decades of calling this place are over for me...other rib places were very accommodating over the phone . If you dont want phone orders dont have the number on line as an option for ordering,

By far the best ribs you'll ever have. They are fall off the bone delicious. Parking is easy and service is good. The 4 vs. 5 is only due to prices being a bit high. Highly recommend.

We were hesitant if the ribs would really fall off the bone but they did!!!! Bbq sauce is 10/10 and the Ambiance is nice. I would say it is best to have a reservation, you can do this on their website now. Will definitely be back.

I AM FURIOUS. First. It's nearly impossible to make a reservation due to what only seems to be a way to save money I'm sure on front of house. I made a reservation for 8. When we arrived we were told no children. The elderly woman working the door was nasty and rude to myself and my family. I WILL NEVER RETURN HERE. Not worth the terrible customer service. She wouldn't even talk to me she just started to ignore me. Disgusting behavior.

Do NOT go anytime soon. Renovations going on and menu is very limited. Choice of only 2 dressings on salad. The garlic dressing is going to talk to me all night. No twice baked potatoes any more. No homemade croutons on salad . Ribs were tender but the spices and bbq sauce was different and not for the better . $38 for a full rack. Rack was on the skimpy side . Had to ask for a handiwipe , which you always need post ribs. Ran out of chives for baked potatoes. Just lacking , the whole experience . . Used to be our favorite spot for ribs. . Won't be back

Great food. The place is like an icon it's been there so long. a big group of us used to go there after softball games

Fantastic gem in the northwest side of Chicago. The food, service (dine in and take out), and quantities are quality. Highly recommend!

This my second time to eat in this restaurant, and it's always been good the foods and the service. I had a super good Greek salad and wine. The place is really nice and clean it looks very classy. So I enjoyed my dinner so much. Plus this was a very special night for me :)

We went to Gale Street for the first time since the renovation. The restaurant and bar are gorgeous on the inside. The absolute highlight of the visit was the service that we received at the bar from Patrick. Not only was he warm and inviting, it was very evident that he cared about our experience. The new cocktail menu was incredible! With Patrick as our guide, we tried several new and fun cocktails and had a truly wonderful evening!

It's definitely old school decor but with that comes the most delicious ribs and sides. My husband and I each order different sides and share. As for service you will find long term employees who know what they are doing.

This is a neighborhood classic. Very well maintained and traditional offers incredible service and amazing food and drinks. Come with an appetite and say hello to George while you're there.

Five stars!!! Great service, warm ambiance, and delicious food!!! We ordered the burgers , chicken, and ribs.... Super tender and falling off the bone!!! KS

I will give it less than one star if possible. Walked in around 715 pm. Ignored about 10 minutes and looked around a lot to try and find someone to seat us. Host told us would be a minute even though we saw empty tables. Asked again after another 10 minutes. Was told it would be a few more and asked if we wanted drink. Still empty table. 10 minutes more we looked for host, couldn't find him decided to leave and then he walked up and said we could go to bar. Coming here many years for service obviously no longer a standard. When we said we didn't want the bar seat and said we were leaving he seemed shocked we told him with some money, empty tables, and he made no attempt to stop us from leaving. If they don't need the business we won't go back.

I've been coming here for years. In fact, we made it a point to come on the last day before restaurants shut down because of Covid to show our support. I hate to say it, I'm done and will never return. We had a reservation for 6:00pm on Derby Day so I went early to catch the race before eating and have a drink while watching. I was informed by the owner upon entering that they didn't allow people to just be at the bar while waiting for a reservation(they keep guests penned into a small waiting area upon walking in) and said I should go across the street until it was time. Please note: There was plenty of room at the bar. I was flabbergasted but went across the street. It didn't end there, we finished our dinner, but one of our crew was drinking slower than the rest of us. The owner actually brought another group to show our table and said loud enough for us to hear, we are waiting on them. So we left our table and went to the bar, (I know a restaurant needs turns to be profitable) so our friend could leisurely finish his drink. As we stood unobtrusively at a corner of the bar, the owner came over to us. I said we gave up the table and are waiting on him to finish his drink. The owner said we don't "mill" around the bar. At that point I told him I didn't need the hassle and I was leaving. He said "exactly we don't need the hassle" We spent $400 for 4 of us and our server Adriana was great. That said I can't in good conscience support a place where the owner treats his clients as if they are disposable. The ironic thing is the owner posts here(see picture) that it's a Fun Bar. It used to be - NEVER AGAIN

Came in here for a drink and we were turned away because the hostess said they didn't have any room. Why would you turn business away?

Excellent ribs and au gratin potatoes!! Wow!! Have never been let down with any of the food we ordered... you get what u pay for!!! Yumm!!

Has anyone had the butter here? It's like the best butter I've ever had. And the chicken tomatillo soup? It's like the best soup I've ever had. And the ribs? They're like the best ribs I've ever had. This place rules. I have no witty comments to make. 5 stars

Service was great. Server kept checking in with us, pleasant but not overbearing. Overall great service!

For whatever reason, this restaurant has not reopened their dining room and has limited tables in the bar with max of 4 people. As others mentioned here - no one under 18 is allowed to dine in. They do not post this discriminatory rule on their website which will definitely inconvenience families showing up. What kind of 'restaurant' doesn't serve food to children? Maybe they should rebrand as a bar serving food. Sad that another local place with good food is no longer an option.

We were lucky enough to get a sampling of tasty food from Gale Street Inn tonight and I wish that we had done so much sooner. We had the filet, BBQ chicken and a few other things to choose from, but the delicious star of the night was the rack of ribs. They literally fell off of the bone and were the best ribs I have had outside of Memphis. Another surprising highlight that I absolutely loved was the sweet honey butter. It is so tasty and not like anything I have ever tasted. They make it in house and if you ever go to Gale Street you must try both! They deserve the reputation that they have earned and are a true Northside gem. Give them a try, you won't regret it!

A neighborhood staple. Still delivers the quality I remember through the years. Never disappointed

Consistently Great food, service & ambiance. Love the ribs & carrot cake. The staff was welcoming & professional- from the moment we arrived.

Best ribs in town I been going there for years now my son loved them and the steak is amazing great service and people are really nice I highly recommend them

Was there on Saturday nite. Came as soon as it opened at 430pm was told since I didn't have a reservation I can sit at the bar and eat. Really! Then I asked if I could sit at a small empty table in the bar he reluctantly agreed but told me I had to be gone by 6pm. My friend and I were talking a little loud because the bar was noisy. The manager or owner came over and told us to keep it down. We were in the bar not in a church. Food was good but I won't be back. At quarter to 6 we were given the evil eye. My friend said let's leave. I wanted to enjoy my nite not feel like the hall monitor was watching us

The owner claims they were not a family restaurant and now will not allow anyone under the age of 18. Before the pandemic they had a magician on Sundays. My family and I supported Gale Street for 30 years before the pandemic and did carry out when indoor dining was shut down. Now I can't bring my 13 year old daughter who would order from the adult menu? This business forgot how many families supported them over decades. I will stop recommending Gale Street to other families and will bring my business somewhere else.