Oakwood 83

This bar is clean, well-run, affordable with good selection and Victor the owner is a kind and genuine guy. All those things would be enough for 5 stars, but it’s also a time capsule. The untouched vintage decor makes this an absolute must-hit. I still need to try the food but I will report back.

I've truly never seen a bar with such an authentic vintage feel maintain such a clean atmosphere. Usually you have to go to a place that is truly filthy to match these vibes. Only way this place could be any better would be to carry a vegan impossible burger, but I recognize that may not necessarily be a big seller with the clientele here.

Great bar, very kind people. It's quite empty before midnight but they offer really good food (one of the best Greek salads I've ever had) and you have so much space for yourself. After midnight, it's always a good option since they close at 4 am

Been coming here long enough it deserves a review. Oakwood 83 is a cozy haven where Victor, the owner and bartender extraordinaire, crafts magic in every drink. The vibe? Pure class mixed with warmth. The place is spotless inside, like they have cleaning fairies working overtime! Cheers to Oakwood 83 for keeping the spirits high and the glasses clean! P.S. I learned it's only available early when there's no crowd but there's an Instagram moment where they light up saganaki on fire!

Stephanie is amazing!! She is the best bartender ever and will WOW you with her acrylic nails. Best bar and service ever. I love all the regulars and it’s my home away from home. THE FOOD IS AMAZING VICTOR IS SO TALENTED AND A CHEF

If you feel like literally going back to what is a fancy bar and restaurant from 1986 and play ALL your favorite songs and hang out with the friends you've known since H.S.? Then come to Oakwood 83!

Great Ravenswood neighborhood bar. Great character, hope it stays just as is.

Really lovely little Ravenswood hideout local bar. It’s nice and clean, not a dive. Reasonable priced drinks and they sell food late, mostly Greek menu that always satisfies. Several ciders on the beer list which I always appreciate, and they take cash and credit and have a jukebox as well as one TV in the corner by the bar. Many tables throughout that are usually fairly quiet when I’ve gone. Bar is for chatty folks. I strongly prefer places that don’t have TVs in every corner Bathrooms are always well stocked and patrons are friendly but not cliquey.

I went here once many years ago and last night I stopped in with my friend after the farm bar rooftop closed early. I loved the bar and the bartender was lovely. Mozzarella sticks were good. Wine pour was generous (and surprisingly good for a house wine!) Good chill neighborhood vibes and a great place to have a conversation with my friend around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m..

I've been to this bar 3 times. It's a 4 am bar which is nice. One of the things I appreciate about Chicago is the selection of 4 am liquor licenses. Place also has kitchen+ food which is a real game changer.2nd time I came got a chicken Caesar salad which comes with bread. The bar design is pretty old fashioned but the other patrons are cool and the bartenders are professional+ good.

My favorite hole in the wall for over 20 years. I grew up on the south side and found this place as a kid because of its early morning hours. This was the after, after party. 20 years later, I found myself living less than a block away. Gus the owner remembered me, always did a shot with me. Victor is solid security and a great conversationalist. Awesome low key vibe for any late night. Anyone with complaints for this place is too pretentious to appreciate its true beauty. This is for the low key crowd. Come here to fade into the background or meet someone new. Just as I found it, gets full the later it is. Gus was the best, I hope his after hours hideout continues his legacy.

While unassuming and a little out of the way, there's nothing better than a restaurant/bar with a small town feel, cheap drinks, and an interesting menu. The bartenders were easygoing and helpful, the other patrons were very chill, and we were able to find our own spot and enjoy the day. We went on a Saturday afternoon/evening and had an excellent time.

I think I found where they shot all the 1980s-era interiors from "Boogie Nights." Step into this place and you'll fall back in time, "Land of the Lost"-style. Do a Google image search for "Nastassja Kinski snake" to see the most prominent image in the bar. I looked at the drink menu and asked for a Rolling Rock. They didn't have it. I asked for a Heineken. $5. $5! For a bottle? Later, I asked for a Woodchuck Cider. Also $5. Nothing on tap. The jukebox gives you one song for a dollar. One. All of this makes me long for the Old Town Ale House.

While it is clearly not what it once was, on that right night rockers of all persuasions will be at home here. After the smoking ban went into effect 13 years ago this place changed big time and not necessarily for the better. But anyways, I hadn't been here in a bit and was shocked at the new prices. $4 domestic $6 imported. Haven't ever eaten the food here so so can't attest to the quality of it.

It's a late night bar, 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturdays. It has everything you would except at a 5 a.m. bar on Saturdays. It's actually a cool place. Drinks are good and they have a decent beer. Been here a few times, met and talked to some random but cool people. It's never been packed when I have been there but a decent crowd. 5 a.m. bars are always a bad decision, this bar makes it less of a bad decision.

If you have to go to a late-night bar on the north side, aim for this one. The bartenders are friendly, there's lots of space, and the patrons are a little more seasoned than they are at, say, The Store or Ravens. At 4am, experience counts. I also recommend checking this place out BEFORE 4am, because it's very relaxed. Yes it has the decor of a 1980s Denny's, but that's relaxed isn't it? I'd go back any time.

Great Bar!! My girlfriend and I like to frequent it. I like the fact that it is nice and quiet until 1 or 2 am. Most of the bars around it are so crowded and cramped; I appreciate that you can also find a seat right at the bar, also good luck at hearing your songs played on the juke box at those other places. Prices are reasonable and drinks are refilled quickly. The decor is great and I enjoy the posters and lights. Old school would definitely describe this place. The bartender is very friendly as well. I wish they had t-shirts I would totally buy one.

Yeah, it's like you're walking into your creepy Uncle's basement who for some inexplicable reason has a full bar with wood paneled walls and framed pictures of 80's celebrities. And yes, the year-round Christmas lights remind you of a dorm room trying to class up the joint. But if you hit this place up before the 2am rush of drunk assholes, YOU can be that drunk asshole in either a completely empty bar or among a handful of strangers who will begrudgingly listen to the shitty songs you insist on playing on the jukebox (Labyrinth's Magic Dance, anyone?). They actually have a pretty decent beer selection for a dive bar, and the bartenders are pretty cool (will serve you some shot you've never heard of but is absolutely delicious). They serve food that I've always been too afraid to try -- but I gotta admit the flaming cheese has me intrigued. But considering I'm always trashed when I'm there, a dish that's on fire probably isn't the best idea....

This is a delightful 4 am bar you go to just get lost and enjoy yourself. Make sure your touch tunes account is up to date and be ready for some amazing service. Step inside, sit down and you'll feel like you just walked into your own basement and set up shop.

The sign says 'Open till 4am,' but they were definitely open until 5am on the night I was here... so it's got that going for it. A friend (who is not from Chicagoland) brought me here to show me (who was born and raised in Chicagoland) what a "real Chicago bar" is like. Thanks, condescending friend. Sure, it's blue collar Chicago-y, but it also has wafting smells of toilet water that are hard to ignore. And I gotta be real, it didn't seem all that different from just about any townie bar in Schaumburg. From the clientele to the terrible music they chose on the juke, to the super dark bar and dimly lit 80's type diner area, all I kept thinking was that this place seemed plucked right out of the suburbs and got a break with that early morning liquor license... because who doesn't love watching the sun come up over your final beer? Props are due to the easy peasy street parking sitch, the really friendly and on-point staff, the surprisingly decent craft beer selection they had, and it was nice that nobody made a face when my second and third round at the bar was a water. I could easily see where this would be a regular stop for locals, but a true slice of Chicago Americana? I don't know about that. Also, there should be a law about how many times drunk girls can play Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' in a row on the jukebox. Thank you a million times over to whomever broke the streak with a Pixies song. I owe you my sanity. All in all, a solid 3.5. Everything you'd expect it to be from the outside is what it is on the inside. Not a terrible thing and as far as late, late bars go, this is actually one of better ones... maybe even your best option if you absolutely need to be out and about around the 4am hour.

I've concluded I can no longer go to the Oakwood 83, I'm just too old and end up feeling like crap for 2 days later. No more 4 AM bars for me. (I really need to remind myself of this rule at 2am after drinking all night. Too bad rules seem to be thrown out the window when one is drunk at 2am...) This place was a lot different 7 years ago, and it's a shame since I did like it better then. I asked the husband "Want to go see a tranny bar down the street"? "Of course" was the answer returned to me. It was a Friday, so maybe it was the wrong night, or they could have simply moved on to a new bar. But it's now a bar for twenty somethings with no trannies to be found... bummer. (*Seinfeld disclaimer of "Not that there's anything wrong with that". There isn't, to each his/her own. But it was fun watching my really drunk friend hit on them back in the day.) It's still the same cheapish drinks, same divey look, but just not as much fun any longer. Who knows, maybe it's just me, after all we did come here after seeing Yo-Yo Ma play at Ravinia. I'm just not in the same place I was 10 years ago. If you're in your twenties and arrive wasted, you'll probably have fun here. If not, good luck with that hangover the Oakwood gives.

Got to the bar around two in the morning after last call at Quencher's and my friend thought that Oakwood was the low key environment he was looking for and was pleased. It was relatively empty and a Bud Light and Heineken cost $9. My friend compared it to being in his parents' basement as the wood paneling on the wall looked of the 1970's. In the corner there were video poker and a jukebox people kept feeding money. As the night wore on more and more people rolled in and the bar all of a sudden became packed to the brim. There were some cute girls there but it was also a kielbasa festival as the P. to D. Ratio was somewhere between 1:25 and 1:20. There are always weird locals who are there by themselves trying to pick up girls or do whatever the hell, that is why Oakwood gets three star.

One word comes to mind when I think of the Oakwood 83: FILTH! Unfortunately, I have been to this sewer of a bar a few times after liquor masked my better judgment. WHY WHY WHY, do I think after the "normal" bars close, that it'd be a cute idea to go slumming at the Oakwood 83 with the trash that frequents this dump? Here's the truth...you'll meet a diverse group of patrons, predominately unemployed----not due to the sluggish economy, but due to pure laziness. PRICES---I don't get it? And yes, I am to blame for letting liquor persuade me into going here and chucking $4.50 onto the bar for a Miller Lite at 3:45 AM. But, don't fret, there are a few reasons to go here: 1) You'll definitely have some indigent, unemployed bum(s), down on their luck, trying to pick a fight with you. 2) Drugs---Yep, you'll see usage and "deals" going on here---Quite blatantly in the restroom 3) The lovely smell of "sewage" Yep, this is the place! 4) Overpriced drinks----Once again, Oakwood's your baby! Uggghhh, I vow to never go into this dumpster ever again. I only have myself to blame.

This place has a really late liqour license...that's about the only thing I like about this place. My gf and I are almost always approached by some weirdo when we are just trying to have a late night drink. Two more notes...prices aren't bad...and there's a jukebox.

Not sure what everyone else is talking about, but I dig this place. I haven't gotten in a fight, come close to getting in a fight, nor even seen a fight break out here. Granted, I was here late late night, but still. There were about 15 of us or so in the whole place, the drinks were stiff, and everyone seemed to be having a good time without being obnoxious. True, it's a service industry hang out, and I no longer work in a restaurant or bar, but how can guys complain that they can't meet a girl here? Yeah, you can't meet a girl here if you're a muscle-bound dick basket, that's true, but if you have any kind of skill, you should be able to pick up a cute service industry chick, which I did as an out-of-towner when I was here for Lolla. And, yes, she was hot... no beer goggles involved... So, the moral of the story is: if you're chill and just want a place to hang out with your friends and drink, this is a cool bar, and you might even get lucky. If you're a frat boy moron, we're glad you hate it here. Go somewhere else.

Very outdated space but has cheap drinks and gets lit during late night hours. Kind of dead during regular hours but bartenders are friendly so it's a cool place to go to anyway

When I drive by Oakwood I sneer at it and tell it I hate it. But once I'm drunk and the 2am is closed, I'm ready to head on over since it's right down the street from my house. A piece of pizza at Chicago's and a few at Oakwood are a great way to cap off a night out. Make sure you're drunk before you get there though. You'll know if you're too sober to be in there, cuz the place will smell of sewerage. Yes it's true. Get your nose drunk first.

The Oakwood 83, you'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. However they do offer a nightly gentlemans drink special of 3$ Pbr and 6$ Jack & Coke. DO try the "Steak" as suggested by the neon sign in the window and I suspect you'll never book an anniversary dinner at Mortons again. The chicken strips and french fries are pretty dang good, and the dining hall on the west end of the restaurant boasts a 5 star make out closet. There is some great cell phone reception in some areas of the bar, posters of cats, posters of ladies with snakes...OH and they also have a couple of bathrooms! Stop showing off Oakwood, just stop it.

Oakwood is definitely one of those places you go and then wake up Sunday morning thinking that you shouldn't have gone to a 4am bar. It's strategically situated across from Fountainhead so when you've had your fill of fine ales and can't really notice the taste of swill, this is a perfect spot. Overall the bar doesn't offer too much in terms of beverage selection but gets by on vibe. It can be chill, it can be dancey, you can essentially make it what you want. I stumbled in here on a Saturday night and our group decided to start throwing down the dance moves to Wilson Phillips but it was great because everyone else was so tanked they didn't notice how terrible it was. I don't consider 4am bars (outside of Hangge Uppe) real destination bars but if you're in vicinity and need a place to booze it late, this place is decent and old school looking.

I've stumbled into this place on my way home (roughly 200 feet from my back door) and was amazed at the crowd after 2 am. I recently discovered why this is an attractive place. This is due to the fact that it's open till 4am, which attracts local bar tenders and staff after hours, and people who live in the area on their way home looking for a couple more drinks before calling it a night. Oh, and the prices are decent as well. Personally this bar is right up my alley. Aside from the place smelling like my grandparent's basement and the possibility it is a front for an illegal business - I enjoyed my experience. Cheap beers, pleasant bar tender, and a rowdy crowd. They sport a long bar and an abundance of seating if you're looking to stop by with a big group. Seriously you could throw a banquet in this place. If you live close to this place go check it out after leaving your last water hole of the night. Most likely you will be hammered, but who cares, slam the rest of the beer and get another one!

The Oakwood is the ultimate late night dive bar. You can stroll in here at 3am with a group of 15 and their will be ample room for you to mix and mingle. The decor is on par with your Uncle Frank from Aurora's basement complete with pre pregnancy Britney Spears posters. The drinks are strong and cheap and they even have this funky bench with a piano built in. Be warned though, if you come before 2 the Oakwood is no different than sitting on your couch watching the Saturday Night Movie. Just at the Oakwood you have some strange people watching it with you.

The only reason why I venture into the Oakwood? It's open REAL late (or early depends on how you look at it) and right by my house. Yup...no other reason. I heard they sell food...but from the looks of it, I am not that adventurous to even go there. Drinks however, can't be messed up too much, especially at 3 am on a Sunday morning right? Given these facts, don't expect much. This is definitely the place where you get one more for the road and call it quits.

Oakwood 83? What is the 83 for- the year it was opened? It wouldn't surprise me given the decor, but I'm not saying that's a bad thing. In fact, this bar is awesome. It might have to do with the fact that I am always trashed by the time I get here, but even on the less trashed nights I've enjoyed myself. It's so nice to have a late night bar within walking distance. Drinks are reasonable and the tunes are usually pretty good. The people watching though is really the best!! I knocked one star off because of the jukebox never playing my song. I even got my songs in first once then the thing went out so they let me put my songs back in and they STILL didn't play- I don't like that skipping feature cause I NEVER hear my songs. Otherwise the Oakwood is really awesome.

If you've never been to the Oakwood the only reason you WOULD go is because there isn't anywhere else TO go. People don't go to the Oakwood because they love it, they go there because its the only place in the area to get wasted til 4am. If that is your goal, I'm sure you'll have a fun time. If you want to hang out with a bunch of people that probably should have gone home at 2am, this is your bar. If you're lucky, on the weekends you might even find some belligerent d-bag to get into a fight with. The men usually out weigh the woman a solid 3 to 1, and the drinks are fairly expensive (not crazy expensive, but more than they should be). If I could create a slogan for Oakwood, it would be something along the lines of... "Oakwood: because you're too drunk to know you probably shouldn't be here." *Please note, this doesn't apply to their Thursday comedy night. I have never been, but its definitely very different than the normal crowd.

Eh. I couldn't believe that this place actually made any money. Went in on a Saturday night at about 10PM and there was no one in there. Ok, so maybe a few people. Six to be exact. Nothing to make me believe that they were actually profitable enough to remain in business even with the late 1-4 or 5AM crowd. Too expensive for what it was, although the eighties artwook mixed in with the Christina Aguilera Rolling Stone magazine cover, mini squash hanging on Christmas lights, and faux plants do make for some fun conversation. I would keep it for what it is - a place to go when you've already had enough but still don't want to go home. Actually, you're better off saving the cash and just going home.

The last time I was here, I witnessed a man with a hamburger on his head (mascot style headgear, not a McD's #2) talking to a transvestite. 'Nuff said.

you are "A-OK" in my book. After living in the area for about a year and a half, i finally worked up the courage to come into this shady-looking-from-the-outside-4-am-bar. Pro's: open till 4am, jukebox, reasonable drink prices - especially considering you wont be having too many more by the time you get here, interesting clientelle and great people watching, surprisingly ok bathroom Con's: lots of creepy dudes that prey on you - and they're hard to get rid of me and two of my girlfriends came here after closing another bar - it was an interesting experience. everyone kinda turned and stared at us when we first walked in - fresh meat for the guys? it was creepy. We walked over and ordered 3 drinks right away. Immediately hit on by a dude when i walked to the bar - woooooah buddy! chill out! anyway, I'm married - i tried to shrug him off and my friends and i found a little table to hang out at. Bar guy and his friend kept staring at us. creepy. we tried to ignore it...but you just can't. he came over - he talked - and talked - and talked. his friend came over - he talked in a -i've had way too much to drink but really don't know it yet sort of way. We somehow got rid of them. I spent most of the night trying not to laugh at everything around me. It was fun. We met a handful of really nice people - but there were an awful lot of weirdos too. The thing that makes it so strange is that there is so much liquid courage running through everyone's bodies. what do you expect for a bar that's open till 4 am? The experience here will be whatever you make of it -as strange as it was, i enjoyed myself- i have a feeling i'll be coming back again soon with a big group of friends which will surely be a good time.

By day, a casual dining restaurant - I have never eaten there. At night though, the Oakwood is an after hours bar. The punters usually show up at about 1 am and stay until at least 4 am. During the after hours portion, The Oakwood transforms into the bar from the original Star Wars movie. The attentive bar staff quietly provides effective and satisfactory service to the scores of drunks who pack the place. The clientele during the after hours, is a diverse group spanning every age, race, socio-economic background and level of inebriation. Bad music (selected by drunks from the juke box) typically blares overhead, but at a reasonable volume. Mostly, the drunks remain in their little groups of cohorts and things seem to remain fairly civil. During the day, many of the patrons are normal human beings, but eventually, if the cloud of drunkenness encompasses them enough, they will be drawn to The Oakwood at the end of the night - one of the few places where one can drink till 4 am in the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood area. Additionally, they tend to turn a blind eye towards behavior that might draw stares or get you thrown out of other establishments. I've never seen a fight or anything too disturbing. Those who patronize tend to be able to handle their alcohol, but it is not uncommon to see pukers in front of the establishment, or see the terrible debris of defeat on the pavement outside, the next morning. It seems that some use The Oakwood as a venue to attempt to pick up some company for the night...probably not difficult to do, as most of the people there are wasted, but no guarantees on the quality, coherence, or mental stability of the person you meet there...best to remain focused on your drinks and not to attempt to purvey talent (or lack thereof) from this establishment...you may get quite a bit more, or quite a bit less than you bargained for. Very few good things have come from a night at the Oakwood...usually, you finish your time there having had a neutral experience and with a lighter wallet the next day. I wouldn't say avoid, but I would say be prepared and be intoxicated for sure.

Get ready for a knife fight, cause your gonna be fighting like your in West Side Story! HA! Not really - I dont know why everyone seems to think that the Oakwood is a bad place. Sure it gets crowded at times, but what bar doesnt. Sure, it gets it cast of shady characters, but again, what bar doesnt? It's a bar people, and a late night bar at that! When other bars close, Oakwood is just starting, so you can expect that the drunks that need to keep drinking are going to be pouring in through the door. If you are looking for something out of this world fancy, no, this isnt the bar for you. if you are looking for a place to hang out with your friends, and possibly entertained at the same time.. this is definitely a spot to hit up in the after hours. As far as food goes, I couldnt tell you.. I have never eaten here before, and honestly, I probably wouldnt - because the only time I think of going to Oakwood is when a friend of mine who is more then obsessed mentions that we "NEED TO HIT UP THE OAKWOOD!". Just a note, if you go in before the afterhours- It is a pretty calm place with some older people sitting around drinking a few beers.. So if you just dont want to be bothered, and want to hang out at the bar, go for it.

Every once in a while, I find myself at the Oakwood after hours, and I have mixed feelings about the place. I've had great times there, met fun people. I've also been there a couple of times when everyone looked like they wished they were dead. Standard, cheap beer. Some of that cheap beer may end up in your lap. You will meet interesting characters. There are also assholes banging on the piano despite being unable to even play chopsticks. It's open after most places are closed, and the crowd is mixed.

Is Oakwood three-star quality? No. But it holds a special place in my heart, because every time I ended up there, it meant I had had a good long night of drinking and didn't want it to end. I'll list the strange things about Oakwood that lead me to like it in some kind of perverse way: it's really a diner. So at 4 AM, when it's packed full drunkies, you all hang out at the 80s fake wood diner tables and booths. But it's like the diner isn't really open. So you are actually hanging out in a closed 80s diner. You always see the same characters every time you come. Oakwood has dedicated regulars, and the same guys will hit on you over and over again. These same characters have no sense of manners. On more than one occasion, my boyfriend and I were pestered and bothered. These guys don't care if you're with your boyfriend, which is pretty hysterical. On big nights out, like halloween weekend, this place is hopping at 4 AM. Peoples' costumes are barely in place, no one can create full sentences, and everyone becomes best friends when masked with beer goggles. This dive bar/diner thinks nothing is embarrassing. So solo-dancing to your jukebox tunes for five songs in a row is not frowned upon, or even given special attention. You WILL witness a passionate argument or fight outside the front doors. Now that I don't live down the street, I certainly won't be making trips to Oakwood. But if you live nearby, drop in, because this weird place is a stand out among the rated G vibe of Ravenswood.

Some of the best people you'll ever find! Victor and Katie run the show, for all of those who avoid 4 am bars because it's a Zoo...this is the place to go. Great people, good vibe, reasonable cost. The only 4am I will ever go to again and a spot that I'd be happy to patronize any hour of the day.

Not a bad place for a 4amer. Really low key and a little old fashioned. A decent group of individuals seems to make up the post 2am crowd, save a couple creeps, but you'll get that anywhere at that time. What I like about this place is that they fill your glass to the top and don't rip you off while doing it.

I've been here a few times and everytime it's been good. Sometimes you have to extend the night a little bit past 3 in the morning and this is the spot to do it in. Don't have to worry about long lines to get in or too many tough guys looking for a fight. You can just sit back relax and wind down the night with an extra cocktail or two. Last time I was in here was a couple days before the smoking ban and I'm not a huge smoker, but was craving one that night. The bartendar opened up one of the packs from behind the bar and let me and my buddies have at it. I thought that was pretty sweet. Overall a good after hours bar with a very tame drunk crowd.

This place is great. Kind of divey but it's like a home away from home for many of Chicago's stand-up comedy community. They have a cool organ that they let you play for about a half an hour before they tell you to knock it off and it just started doing a weekly comedy show every Thursday at 10. called Rotten Comedy. Check it out.

True LAST resort bar. To be honest, not sure how this place stays open....never seeing a soul in there 90% of the time....you draw your own conclusions? Yes..yes, they're open til 4am and I'm sure they get the 1am to 4am bar, but again, how does this place remain open for only 2-3 hours of business? And supposedly serves dinner too. I would say that there appears to be some shady people in there all the time, but that's what you can expect. They did put up a brand new sign 2-years ago...and with the OPAH, I would assume the chewy pieces you eat are lamb or Greek oriented.

A strong decent neighborhood bar in Chicago. There is an age limit in this bar from the one time I went and numerous times driving past it as everyone looked like they just either graduated college or high school. The place is cool yet small inside and beats any strip mall bar you will find heading East with good bar service and a laid back atmosphere. Across the street from another very popular bar in this hip area. Worth a visit.

This place is the trapdoor to Hell. Seriously! Yes, it stinks! True, there is never a soul in this place before 1am. However, when late night rolls around and if you find your self near, this place becomes a black hole vortex. It sucks you in and spits you out when it closes. Also, you probably won't remember a thing...which is good.

Nicer on the inside than expected, with wood paneling kept in good conditions and a strong jukebox playing. Bartender was very nice on a Saturday night although she has a limited bar to work with. Definitely a place to talk to friends while nursing a very cheap (in taste) domestic.

Ah, the Oakwood is hilarious. There's an old guy (or 3) sitting alone, sipping out of a shot glass, and really drunk guys yelling at each other. Plus it's 3 am and you're wasted. At least that's what you should always be when visiting the Oakwood. The night I went there my friend got so drunk she puked outside. I mentioned that to an acquaintance and he said, "The Oakwood? Last Saturday? Did you see those two guys get in a fistfight? Well, that was me and my friend." Haha. That's the Oakwood.

My son and I were out for a winter hike enjoying the snow. I'm from Philly, he lives in LA and we were in town for a family party. Meeting at Slim's across the street for hot dogs with family members. We had enough time for a quick pop of something clear and alcoholic. The Oakwood 83 lit up one corner of the intersection. Gus and Victor were the only two guys in there on a Saturday night. Father and son ordered Ouzo and the gents comped us on a refill. I used to live in Albany Park back in the day, and lived as crazy and wild as a guy could manage in 1977. Some 35 years later, here I am back in Chicago, nursing a shot with my 23-year old son. For me, sweet and poignant. The ghosts of Nelson Algren's barflies and bums seemed to fill the empty seats around us.

This place has all the panache and flair of a Quapaw, Oklahoma American Legion Hall. I am not saying that as a bad thing since I have experienced the glory of stealing an underage drink there back in the day. Neon beer signs, wood paneling, the smell of stale beer, and the crunch of loose peanut shells under your feet, this place has it all. And the real coup de tat is the potential for late night fist a cuffs breaking out at any time. Come here if you need a late night beer and a sojourn with some real salt of the earth type folks........and blacked out drunks.

Now THIS is my kind of late night bar. There were a ton of old dudes sitting around shooting the shit, it was NOT crowded, it was NOT too loud, and the only slutty girls and meathead guys that were there left immediately because it wasn't up to their standards. I love it.

I think you have to manage your expecations with this place. It's a late night bar plain and simple. You have to know that people are going to be drunk and to embrace it and make fun of them for it. The bartenders are nice, its never super packed, the prices are reasonable, there is plenty of space to sit or stand, and the jukebox is packed with great songs. Its not going to win any style points for decor or smells but just go if you need a few more late night beverages before you pass out and thank me later

This is a great 4 am bar. I would not recommend coming here to find your soul mate or even late night hook-ups. But if you want to keep drinking and hang out with your friends in an atmosphere that is not filled with idiots, Oakwood is great. You can stop in a 3 am and get a seat at the bar. It is a big service industry hangout for Lincoln Square.

There are two reasons to go to Oakwood 83. They are: 1. You want to get your late morning/early afternoon drink on, or 2. You have been drinking for a good 7-8 hours and want to top the evening off with a last dose of poor choices. I have experienced both. The first time, my then boyfriend (now fiancé) decided, way too early in the day, to go have a couple of drinks at the bar next door. We walked in to Oakwood and were, literally, the only people in there. The bartender was so, so nice. After finding out that we had recently moved to the city, and that I was a former teacher looking for employment, she tried to hook me up with a preschool job at the hospital where her daughter worked. I can't recall (that's what the Oakwood does to you) if I was supposed to come by and see her later regarding the job, or if I gave her my number for her daughter to call me, but either way I didn't get the job. I didn't get a lot of jobs last year. The second time, we went out with my very good friend and her then boyfriend (now creepy ex). We went to Cesar's (not for the food, read my review) where we had just a few margarita's. Then we headed to L&L, before making the Brown Line trek back to the comfort of our 'hood. My friend and her guy went home, and Brandon and I decided to keep the night going. Knowing that Oakwood is a 6am bar, and that it was next door, we decided to head in. Long story short, we ended up downing multiple tequila shots with an authentic Mexican, before his lady came to take him home. She was angry. He was always out drinking, never home. I tried to console her, and I remember shouting " I LOVE this girl" numerous times, as I tend to do on nights like that night. Eventually the couple left, arguing, and Brandon and I had another drink or two before calling it a night. More like a morning, as it was probably 5am. Basically, Oakwood 83 is what it is. No pretenses, no flash. It's where you go just after you have indulged too much, but just before you end up in your bathroom, head resting on the edge of the toilet seat.

nothing too special and the beer selection is bad. however, the bartenders are always nice and i like that there is a piano in the bar that you can play. i would never go out of my way to come here but since i work down the street, it's a place to go in a pinch. i think my favorite part about this bar is the amazing half lady/half tiger 1980s picture on the wall when you walk in.