Overlook

Great dive bar atmosphere—perfect for pregame and postgame Cardinals or Blues games. The vibe is laid-back and lively, with tons of TVs so you’ll never miss a play. The buffalo chicken wrap is a solid 10/10, and the nachos are just as impressive—big portions and full of flavor. They’ve got a great selection of beers on tap too, which pairs perfectly with the game-day energy. During Blues games, they step it up with raffles and drink specials, adding to the fun. Only downside: the bathrooms are super small, and some of the stalls don’t latch properly, which isn’t great when the bar is packed. Still, it’s a go-to spot if you’re looking for good food, cold beer, and a fun crowd on game day.

Overlook is more than just a bar for Illini and Chicago sports fans, it’s a great bar in its own right. There’s tons of space and seating, attentive service, and a very nice outdoor area upstairs which is rare in midtown. My friends and I came here to watch the Illinois basketball game and the place was absolutely rocking. Felt like I was back on campus for a night. I’d recommend this place to anybody, but especially to Illinois fans.

We were seated and immediately a guy came over looking annoyed and asked to take our order. I asked for a tall gin and tonic to which he rolled his eyes. We thought that was strange. Its a very basic 2 ingredient drink so it shouldn’t be an issue. He said he needs our credit card to hold our order. He too it tothe back room and we turned around to see him handing it to another guy. We asked for the card back and he said they hold it the whole time . We told them we weren’t comfortable with that as we’ve had major identity fraud. He laughed and was obviously annoyed. No establishment should be holding a credit card! No customer should be ok with this. He was snarky and plain rude. A dive bar doesn’t mean rude service and low standards.

Fun spot next to the IHG branded EVEN hotel, big screen sports TVs, pretty decent late night menu. Karaoke is fun.

Fantastic staff and patrons! The place to go if you're watching the bears game. DJ on set to add fun to the game, with little TVs at the booths should you want a private experience. Only wish they had more vegetarian options

I went on Friday night with a friend with the expectation of having a good time. Unfortunately, the experience was terrible from the beginning. We ordered some nachos and three beers. We were served by a woman bartender whose service was very poor: instead of taking care of the customers, she spent most of the time socializing and drinking with other people, which made her completely ignore us and we had to wait a long time to be attended. The most serious thing happened in the end. I asked for a glass of water and, at the time of drinking, I realized that the lid of the glass was beer. This is extremely unhygienic and reveals a total lack of care. The worst thing was the bartender's attitude: she didn't even apologize; she simply changed my glass with a cold "it's clean now." I believe that customer service is essential, especially when you are working. That night, however, we did not receive the slightest attention or professionalism. We left totally disappointed

Was here for a Chicago Bears game after googling where to go. Had an amazing time. The bartender RA was very helpful although he did not care for my updates for him of his Jets. The wings were crispy and the burger was cooked to actual perfection. I am a stickler for medium rare. Highly recommend checking this place out. Also they have Malort!

Great bar to watch BEARS games. Was in town visiting from Chicago and it felt like I was catching the game at a neighborhood tavern. Owner and staff were fantastic. Looking forward to visiting again.

We are on a chicken wing journey and sports game journey and landed here. All I can say is it checks both boxes and really what else can you ask for? Pro tip! Get the lemon pepper wings, they were the STAR of the show

Ordered wings & chicken tenders with their buffalo sauce on top since I saw someone else mention it on yelp, when I received my food the tenders were cold, extremely flat as if they belong in a chicken sandwich & buffalo sauce on the side. My rating of 3 stars is because I've had better experience with the staff & Nachos during my previous visits. Very sad i didn't get what i expected.

This was one of the most unprofessional restaurant experiences I have ever had. Their special drink that night was a whiskey, and the bartender actually urged me not to order it, saying it was gross and always made her feel sick. She let me taste it, I agreed it was terrible, didn't finish it, and returned it -- yet they still charged me. When I asked for it to be removed, the staff argued with me about it, went back and forth instead of just doing the right thing, and still refused to refund it. Because of this, I did not leave a tip, but when the charge posted, they added one anyway. I never signed the receipt or authorized the additional amount. Instead of apologizing or resolving the issue, the owner privately messaged me on Yelp after I posted this review, saying: "Nothing to say? You forgot the Marine that almost stomped your head after you wanted to give a female bartender? Did you put that in your review tough guy" This is how management chooses to handle complaints -- by sending what I consider a threatening, harassing message to a customer. Any business that thinks this is an appropriate response to negative feedback does not deserve your money. I am filing formal complaints with the BBB, Yelp, and the liquor control board. Customers should know how they treat people who speak up.

I was pleasantly surprised and will return often. The meals demonstrate extraordinary preparation. We experienced no disappointments!! The customer care here deserves specific acknowledgment. I assure you this restaurant is excellent.

Amazing service by Kiki the bartender, she exemplifies what customer service truly means....Best bartender in midtown!!!

If you want to check out a cool bar in midtown East then I recommend Overlook. I had a great time going here with my girlfriend and the food was really tasty. We started with the Overlook Nachos which had homemade beef chili, Jack cheese, lettuce, sour cream, and salsa. For the main dishes we both had burgers - Cheeseburger with Swiss Cheese - Pesto Burger with Pomme Frites They even had some classic cartoon art on the walls and it wasn't too noisy. I recommend this place a lot!!

It was our last afternoon in the City, so the wife and I stopped in here to have a beer or two; I ended up having three. Our bartender, Josh, was friendly and attentive. Good selection of craft brews -- I had a couple of "Merman" IPAs, and a "Hazy Beer Hug." The ambiance is pretty much as you might expect with an Irish pub, and I could see myself becoming a regular here if I lived in town. If we'd had more time, I would've liked to toss a game of darts on their traditional (non-plastic-tipped) board.

the vibes 10/10. service 10/10. i love coming here. they have a great selection of alcohol.

Get to the bar and bouncer immediately stands inches from us and barks "ID" at us. OK ... that's the greeting I suppose. Put a few songs on the jukebox ... of a heavy variety ... and the volume is promptly turned down. Alrighty then. NCAA games were on, fair enough, and were told that the NY Rangers came could go on after one of them finished ... game finishes and the TV still doesn't get switched. Start to finish ... quite unenjoyable.

2 Stars.... not for the bar itself, it's what you'd expect from an average NYC bar in terms of selection, cleanliness, etc..... so not knocking that. The 2 stars is for the A-Hole bartender who really should find another job if he hates his so much. I walked in there around 5/5:30pm, no crowd yet. I'm literally 1 of 2 people patronizing the bar. Bartender is chatting with the only other patron, he sees me as I'm sitting down and the LOOK I got was like "oh great, now I gotta serve this guy!" I get my beer with a snarky attitude for some reason, and then I asked for a High Noon..... I ask what flavors are available and he says "I don't know its all random.....", like he couldn't even give me an option for a flavor? He couldn't look in the fridge and tell me? OK, whatever, I took what he gave me and STILL said nothing. I forgot my credit card there (actually for some reason he didn't give it back when he gave nme the bill, but OK, as much my fault as it is his), so I went back about 30 minutes later to get it. I walk in, he recognizes me, gets the card, and THROWS IT AT ME. Says nothing. Seriously, you can't make up someone as unpleasant as this guy. I don't write reviews..... Not for great service, not for poor service, but in this instance, I have to. In hopes the owner might see it. Your big bald bartender is a straightup D-bag who treats customers like they're a problem. I don't need my bartenders to act like my best friend, but when I feel like a BURDEN, I promise I won't EVER come back to your establishment, especially when theres a million other bars around. Hoping the owner sees this and talks to that Bartender (tallish bald guy) to be better with how he treats customers. We all have bad days..... don't take it out on me when all I want is a drink. EDIT: Now that I've read a few other reviews, it seems I'm not the only one who's encountered this bartender (at least I assume it's the same guy... dear lord I hope they don't have MULTIPLE that are this bad). So don't take my word for it, check out some other unhappy people who apparently found themselves in the exact same situation I did! Almost nobody else to serve and yet hated that I was there. Don't come here.

Shoutout Zach and the wings are so good too. This place has become my frequent goer and the drinks and service are consistently fire! Much love overlook! Friendly staff and service mixed with amazing food

Mike and summer are the greatest. Best bar around, great food and all around vibes. Would come back

Solid sports bar focusing on the Chicago Bears and Fighting Illini. Serving some of Chicago's favorites; Chicago loaded dogs and Italian beef. Solid service and selection of beers too.

We walked thinking we would be able to see the city from an "overlook". We were told the "overlook" was closed until 5pm. We decided to sit at the bar and have the Pommes Frites and a beer. The beer was cold and our bartender was a delight and friendly. My daughter and he conversed sports and the recent trade of "our" Freddie Freeman to the Dodgers. Before we left, he allowed us to go up to the "overlook" which is not an overlook but an outside patio with no view. Haha- the joke was on us, but the name did get us to walk 3 miles to visit. We enjoyed ourselves despite the disappointment of a view.

Completely agree with Alex below: "The 2 stars is for the A-Hole bartender who really should find another job if he hates his so much. I walked in there around 5/5:30pm, no crowd yet. I'm literally 1 of 2 people patronizing the bar. Bartender is chatting with the only other patron, he sees me as I'm sitting down and the LOOK I got was like "oh great, now I gotta serve this guy!" I get my beer with a snarky attitude for some reason, and then I asked for a High Noon..... I ask what flavors are available and he says "I don't know its all random.....", like he couldn't even give me an option for a flavor? He couldn't look in the fridge and tell me? OK, whatever, I took what he gave me and STILL said nothing." This happened to me several times during lunchtime (very quiet) over the course of a year and had the same experience. I stopped going months ago. There are too many other restaurant/bars nearby with friendly bartenders. I have no idea what their business strategy is with hiring unfriendly bartenders (but who are magically friendly to their friends who hang out there).

Full menu looks great but a little pricey for bar/fried food. Came for Taco Tuesday and I would say they have one of the best deals around. $2 for really full and delicious Tacos. The downfall... they charge for sour cream and cheese!!! We made it very clear to the waitress it was our first time but she didn't mention the extra charge when she asked if we wanted some, thinking nothing of it we said "yeah of course." So she brought out like 10 of each!!! We ended up spending like $15 plus dollars on sour cream and cheese!!! RIDICULOUS. Waitress was also very slow and they were not busy. Would be 5 stars if the service was better.

I really enjoy this place when I'm in the area. Being close to the UN and diplomate preference parking every where being a challenge - one reasonable person might ask, why the trouble... this place is awesome. Food is great. Wings are legendary. They have great accommodations for sports fans and boast a roof top with a TV upstairs. The pressure for serving drinks is a cinch for the employees here: Particularly Josh who is humble and on the ball! Highly recommend for the game, happy hour or wing night! Do IT! Do It! No pressure, of course! Lolita approves...

I came here for the first time about a month ago for trivia. My buddy and I won, so we got a $50 voucher to return. On my first visit, everyone went well-- I had a burger and fries. My buddy had chicken wings and spinach. We both were happy with the food, but were even more impressed with the server; she went above and beyond and always made sure we didn't need anything. The bar itself isn't the largest bar, but seems very clean, have tv's everywhere, including on your table. Seems like a great place to watch Sunday football. Our second visit was just as great, she remembered us from our previous visit. She was equally as friendly on this visit. All and all, I'd return here, and it basically simply due to the server. She's great and a model for how servers should patrons. FYI-- they do trivia here on Monday nights and I believe Karaoke one night a week on the second level.

Don't know what has happened to this local pub. Enjoyed going here for years. Guess aged out. There was a couple at the bar who should have gotten a room at EVEN Hotel.

Was a bit worried after reading the reviews but was actually great. I was in town for the weekend and wanted to watch the Jet game. Walked in and didn't know it was a Bears bar. After some much deserved ribbing I sat at a booth and watched the game. Had a great burger and drink. No attitude. No problem. Wonderful service. Everyone was lovely even with my Jets hat on. Will certainly come back when I'm in town again.

Came here for a networking event. It was hard to find as I had an impression the place would look a lot nicer than in reality what the storefront really looked like. Dark, very unwelcoming, and outdated neon sign that only stood out at night. During the day, their neon sign is unreadable due to the sign being black. Once inside, you get a better vibe to the place and you can see that it's actually a sports bar. The drinks made met expectations. The bartender was not very friendly nor inviting, pretty much there to do his job and gtfo with the next paycheck attitude. The host of the event ordered a bunch of food from their party platters menu which were pretty decent. Wished I brought the leftovers back with me, but I'm on a diet and everything that was ordered would have set me back. These included Fried Ravioli, Tex Mex Quesadilla, Chicken Tenders, chicken wings, and other items I can't remember. Fried Ravioli was probably my favorite dish as it was the first thing to pop in my mind and the only thing I can remember.

With a group that went here for a few hours after a good day, and got an amaretto sour; very good! Would come again.

I used to come here years back for karaoke but ended up here after a friend I'd not seen in ages invited me to a get together. I'd not eaten dinner and Hungry Monica isn't a good thing so I got fries and some chicken that hit the spot. I don't drink so I can only comment on water but the food was good. Service even managed to happen while I was on the rooftop though I had my reservations about it. The event itself was fun and the menu here was pretty good so I'd come back, especially if karaoke has resumed.

Went here on a Monday night for football. The two bartenders were friendly, the beer was cold and it was a great place to watch the game and have a beer. If you are going for the food, i wouldn't. I was expecting bar food but it wasn't flavorful at all. I had nachos and left wishing i had gone somewhere else for food.

Overlook is back open with even better drinks and appetizers. Also, I have missed it so much that everything tastes so good! Even a Blue Moon on draught We recently tried their spinach and artichoke dip which surprised us! It was served piping hot in a pot with generous amounts of nachos, sour cream and salsa. So good! Best I've had anywhere. Highly recommend

Mark and his crew run a great place to watch any game you want on tvs everywhere. 3 great tvs at the bark and individual ones at some of the booths. Cool patio on the second floor. Cold beer, good drinks, and a great menu. Had the large app sampler and enjoyed all the different items.

Fun place on the East side with decent beer, great food and super service. Came here after doing a scavenger hunt in Grand Central and ended up staying a couple of hours. The draft list isn't anything to write home about, but I was happy with my fresh tasting Magic Hat. The fried mozzarella balls were great and the buffalo chicken nachos were perfect. Service from Mira was outstanding. The men's room is a bit of a tight squeeze but otherwise, this is a comfortable and friendly place.

The kitchen has hidden jewels! The kitchen may be a jewel in it's self. I speak of the Cuban Sandwich and the Asian Salad. Both were wonderful. The cuban was wonderful. Full of meat 3 meals for me. My Asian salad came without one ingredient but the bar server noticed and bought what was missing. This happens and the staff was excellent in correcting it.

Let me first say that I love a good dive bar, but this place was terrible. I worked in the restaurant industry for well over a decade and the things I witnessed here were shocking. I do not know if it was the owner or just a bartender, but this gentleman was vaping and drinking behind the bar. A huge turn off to see an employee getting drunk while serving you. We had the artichoke and spinach dip with chips. The dip was so heavy and disgusting it made my stomach hurt immediately. The establishment is dirty and dusty.... Do yourself a favor, do not come here.

Came here twice for events where the organizers reserved part of the 2nd floor of the bar. It's actually a pretty cool place to be at in the spring and summer especially if you're watching the game outdoors. If you're getting a meal here, you might be lucky enough to get a booth with a small TV to watch the game. One thing about this place is that there are plenty of TVs to watch games. Otherwise, it's your typical bar setting. And as people can easily tell, it is a Chicago Bears bar. Enjoy!

Good drinks, good food. Enjoyed the burger in the sports bar environment. Nice staff.

If u are from the St. Louis area, you GOTTA hit this place. Stl blues bar- so fun! Sooo many people originally from Stl area. Great time !

Midtown in these parts can get a little congested around lunch time. For the working class in need of some conversation, Overlook's lunch setup is preferred over its happy hour in my book. A quick lunch with surprisingly huge servings, with all the sports to your heart's content. No literally, there are screens everywhere. The Turkey burger is your best bet, paired with an IPA. Just be mindful of the itis that will ensure when you head back to the office

I used to come here all the time, practically every Tuesday for karaoke. My favorite 2 people who worked at Overlook were Clarence (door security) and Carlos (best bartender ever who can make a mean Shirley Temple... You would think that would be an easy drink to make, yet most bartenders are not able to make it perfectly). They are both incredibly easy to talk to and get along with, as well as very sweet. I was sad that didn't see them when I came to Overlook recently with a friend- They may not even work here anymore. Anyway, we sat in the back of the main floor and had a lovely waitress. We ordered french fries with the chipotle mayo dip, which was as amazingly delicious as I remember. Served in a large basket with newspaper, the fries come out hot, crispy and extremely flavorful. We also shared a satay sampler platter of steak, chicken and bacon wrapped shrimp. Each were wonderful on its own so that even though it came with 3 different sauces, I didn't have to use any of them. The steak was perfectly cooked and seasoned, the teriyaki chicken very juicy and yummy, the shrimp was fresh and the bacon crunchy. Overall, really nice atmosphere and great service. And the fries are a must try!

I went a few days ago with a friend, to have a few drinks and have a quick bite. The place is pretty cool have two floors, the second floor is not that big is they only have a few tables there. But it have a bar there, so no need to go to the first floor for drinks. The dining room has lots of TVs everywhere, turned to CNN and sports in the day. In the first floor they have a wall that is paint with a lot of cartoon that looks kind of cool. Me and my friend share some fries and Stay-Sampler. Fries were marvelous. and the Stay-Sampler taste fantastic. Satay-sampler: is making of chili chicken breast, Teriyaki beef filet, and bacon wrapped shrimp served with spicy peanut, House soy, and mustard sauces. This is the perfect appetizer to share with another person. You have the option of several sauce and the beef, chicken or shrimp taste amazing. I fully recommended this plate. The server was great, always on top of our table, double checking if we had everything we want.

A great place to come to the Sunday to watch again and hang out with some old friends.

Old school, Chicago sports team backing sports bar with an updated second floor. Respectable bar bites and a 2 for 1 happy hour 4-7pm you can't go wrong. Neat comics historic wall on the main floor. A repeater if I'm in midtown east side ... especially during football season.

Happened to drop in with some colleagues after work on a Wednesday. (13 December). The place has a nice decor and ambience but the service needs to improve. Pros:- Excellent ambience and decor. Very spacious and has a walk up space if you want to use it. The happy hour deals are pretty good. Cons:- The toilets are dirtier and smellier than a porta potty after the NYC Marathon. The service is iffy at best. The lady serving us constantly kept getting our drinks mixed up. Unusual to see a waitress getting a Lager and a IPA mixed up. Also, she was not able to recommend any Irish Whisky. The snacks are good; though you should ask the waitress what exactly each dish contains, to avoid getting served something you didn't want. Yup, happened with us. The busboys seemed in a hurry to clear the tables. I am yet to see a place where they whisk off glasses with Alcohol remaining, WHILE the guests are still sitting on the table. Summary:- 4 for ambience and decor. 3.5 for the snacks. 1.5 for the service 0 for cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation

Came here for a meetup event - some sort of happy hour. There was supposedly free grub at 9pm-10pm, but who'd really stay that late for a Tuesday night unless you live in the area. Took a quick glance at the menue and noticed they've got $10+ burgers which don't even come with fries? FTW? Bar specials for the event was supposedly $5 vodka drinks & $5 select draft beers, but some reason the bartender charged me $8 for my cranberry vodka. The decor is nice and there's sort of a lounge upstairs. The people from the meetup were nice but I'm not expecting a friendlier crowd on regular nights. Some karaoke downstairs at the bar.

SOLID. Stiff drinks, crispy hot bar food, friendly service and fair prices. GO. Seriously, I am a lifelong New Yorker and would be happy every work day to wind down here.

Came here 2 weeks ago and went upstairs to the fake outdoor roof top which was a cute set up ...my Asian guy waiter was really sweet and the food was good typical bar food . The wings were good but the fish wasn't all that great too much batter not enough fish tasted gooey and the drinks were good nice frozen strawberry daiquiri. Nice little lunch around 5pm not too crowded and took our time eating didn't feel rushed . I would recommend if your looking for a quick bite to eat in the city located near grand central station .

Alright! This bar has happy hour 2 beers for the price of 1! Not a bad deal at all. They even bring you 2 beers automatically when you order. Way to go! They also offer $25 unlimited tacos and sangria/beer (not a bad deal). My colleagues and I came here last week for a work-related happy hour. At first I didn't realize that this place was really a Chicago fans bar (you'll see memorabilia for Cubs, White Sox, etc. on the walls, as well as TV screens tuned into games coming to you from the Windy City). Nevertheless, the Chicago presence is really not overdone. On tap, this bar has quite an array of beers, all of which is displayed on a chalkboard across from the bar. You'll also find your standard assortment of wines and spirits, as well as standard pub food. I did not try any of the food in this particular instance but would venture back to try some in the future. So why 3 stars? If I were a Chicago sports fan, this place would easily be 4 stars. As a New Yorker, this bar is simply what's expected in midtown. With so many bars to choose from, it's rather tough to earn a 4 or 5. This place is a solid choice though! I would gladly come back.

Great Chicago bar, good karaoke place as well. For a midwesterner a slice of home for sure

Typical, gross, overpriced bar food. Small portions, bland, but they make sure to throw in tons of butter for "flavor"... just gross. I paid $14 for two empanadas that were mostly dough and had almost no flavor. Our waitress, Carolina, SUCKED. She never even offered us water - after 30 min. or so we finally asked and even then it took another 10 min. to come. And it's wasn't even busy - we were one of the only tables there. One of my friends asked Carolina what from the menu she would suggest - and Carolina actually said "I don't eat here, the food is gross". Big red flag. My other friend said she wanted something spicy and Carolina said she could just bring hot sauce for whatever my friend ordered - the hot sauce never came. Carolina was so rude and obviously discontent with her job. At the end, we left her a $6 tip for 3 people... she came back to us and angrily asked if something was wrong with the service, almost like she couldn't believe she had done a bad job. How do you politely tell something that they just suck?? Girl should be lucky she event got $6 - what other job could you have where you get paid to be a jerk? We took pity on her.

My very favorite karaoke host just kicked off what will (hopefully!) become a regular Tuesday night gig here and, if night one was any indicator of what's to come, I think this will become a regular weekly stop for me. The crowd was great (engaged, supportive, talented, etc.) and the space works quite nicely for it. There was also a paint and sip type class going on towards the beginning of the night -- seems like these guys take their events programming quite seriously. From what I saw and smelled, the food seems to be as good as people are saying it is -- looking forward to finding out firsthand next time.

As a Chicago Bears / local bar what a great place. Wife shopped while I caught the game. Treated like a local. Great food and service. Felt comfortable from second I walked in throughout the whole game. Great TVs with great sound. I will be back. Go Bears!

Not sure how he food is, apparently 2 in he afternoon with 5 people at the bar the food/drink etc is 'self serve'. Never saw a menu and my initial request for a water was placed on the bar. After 10 minutes I was told my water was on the bar; I guess I will never know if the fries were as good as other Yelpers claim them to be... *update* I like that the business leaves a "complement" calling my review "fake" 6 months later. Not fake, and I am sure they have great people working there and great patrons. Didn't find it funny. Pretty petty actually. Swing and a miss on the day I was there...

BEWARE!!! This bar adds extra drinks to your bar tab that you did not order so watch out! We were there for after work Friday night drinks, at the end of the night we went to pay and there were several drinks added - lucky we check these things. Very poor customer service. Our office is located on the next block, pity our company won't be frequenting this place for after work drinks again!

I get it, this place is a dive bar so I wasn't expecting much but the service is really terrible. Drinks that we didn't order were added to our bill and we had to fight to get them off, I asked for a water that was never delivered, fries were served cold, no ketchup, condiments or napkins given to the table when we ordered food, the waitress gave our round of drinks to another table who gladly accepted the free drinks, then we had to track down the waitress, when we finally did we had to reorder our drinks. Some dive bars work well but this one doesn't because the staff need more customer service training. People don't expect much at dive bars but they do expect the basics like hot food, napkins and correct drink orders. Customer service 101. Will be going elsewhere next time.