Behnam R.
Yelp
There's a lot of bars in Chicago. That's kind of what's great about this town. But I've been here a dozen times, and I have to say, for what it lacks, there are plenty of great things it makes up for. There's no wifi here--maybe only a half-dozen drinkable beers on tap, at best. And not a lot of rotation. But this is where you need to go if you want the quintessential dive bar experience.
So what's so great about this place? Plenty of seating, sure. Pool table in the back, of course. And there's always classic rock playing throughout the place. It's lit low enough to be intimate without the muted lights growing annoying. And guaranteed--this place has some of the best bar tenders you'll ever meet in all of Chicago.
Let's talk about some of these characters a little bit: there's the old, retired rock star. The young, socially-conscious bar-back, the woman with a rough sense of humor who makes everyone feel welcome, and the pierced punk-rock girl with an enthusiasm for art. These people, even after a few visits, start to feel like family. In fact, anytime I go more than a couple of weeks without dropping in to visit them, I start to miss them a little.
This isn't just a bar--this is a place where you're welcome, where you're loved, no matter what crap goes in the world. I can't imagine a better place to sit and watch the game, a film, or just shoot the shit. It's as good as it gets here, in Lincoln Tap.