Surge Coffee Bar & Billiards

Love these guys! I come here every other weekend and hang out with friends. The food is good and the tables, sticks, ambiance and drinks are all great. Music selection is never the same but I enjoy them all

Surge Billiards on Montrose is nothing short of spectacular! This excellent pool hall boasts great happy hour deals, with table prices that won't break the bank. Not only is it a haven for pool enthusiasts, but it also doubles as an amazing coffee bar. The space is expansive, offering plenty of room to sit, chill, and enjoy yourself. The drink selection is solid, ensuring there's something for everyone. The APA pool leagues here are fiercely competitive and incredibly fun, adding to the vibrant atmosphere, especially on Tuesday nights. Even when it's busy, the accommodating staff ensures you'll get a table without hassle. What truly makes Surge Billiards exceptional is the people. Victor, the regional manager, keeps everything running smoothly, while Alex, the bartender, is a riot—he's got jokes 🙄, but really, his playful banter adds to the fun. Ely, Sofi, Danielle, Roberto, Annie, Lilly, Jake, and the rest of the team are awesome and truly contribute to the welcoming vibe. Spending a day, a weekend, or even a whole week here is great and you won't regret!

Surge is awesome!!! Our house flooded during the last big rainstorm and we had to relocate my birthday party last minute. After calling a few places and getting turned down… I reached out to Surge a week before the party and asked if they would be able to host. They said yes!! They were super flexible. They had party packages, but we decided to just reserve a couple pool tables and do the cash bar. It worked perfectly!!!! The service, food, and drinks were all great!! Many of our guests said they wanted to come back! Thanks Surge for hosting us last minute! Also S/O to SJ for coordinating the plans with us!!!

Great place for any event! Staff is very helpful and organized. I've had 2 events here which have been very fun and will continue doing so!

Drinks are amazing! Sofía the bartender made the best Cucumber Mimosas that I ever had!!! The vibe and music was so good! Its a cute spot to take a date and play pool, have drinks and food. Def recommend this spot!

I love this place! I met my family here and was blown away by the creative space, FANTASTIC coffee, and EPIC service. Alex, the bartender was wonderful and treated us like family. I am not a pool player but had a blast just hanging out. I will definitely be back!

The bitter old mexican guy working the bar and door tonight needs to be completely let go. Rude all the way around from the moment I called to ask a question to the minute we arrived, to the minute we ordered our drinks. Guess he decided he wanted to be playing pool all night like everyone else instead of doing his job. We were also told last call was at 11. At 11:45 another woman came around and told us last call was actually at 12, When the hours say they’re open until 1am. They came to our table three times starting at 11pm to basically rush us and tell us they were getting ready to close. Bad service all around. It was obvious these people did not want to be at work and were trying to rush people out.

Front desk was very nice! This is a great place to come play and relax with your friend/family.

Food & Service is amazing! Atmosphere is very chill! Definitely recommend the lechón tacos

I've been playing pool off and on for more than 60 years. Yeah, I'm an old man and not a great pool player. BUT - I've been around. SURGE on Montrose in Albany Park is my favorite place to play pool, meet with friends and the food is fabulous! Parking is almost always available on the street. The staff is friendly and more important - extremely competent. The tables are in great shape and always clean. Same for the restrooms. There are pool leagues available. Been going there for a couple of years and never had an issue. OK, they could turn down the music but then, I'm an old fart.

I've been to Surge a few times in recent years, even though I'm no great pool player. This location on Montrose used to be Marie's Golden Cue back in the day. I never went to Golden Cue, but I imagine Surge is way nicer than the old joint. The other day I had a decent pool outing, actually knocking in an occasional ball with some sort of semi-skill. Surge has some fun murals, and the bathrooms never seem to be gross. I've not had any food or coffee here, but Surge has a decent beer selection.

This is a great addition to the area. Family friendly on weekend days, we have been coming here with our 13-14 year old son and his friends and their parents. The food is fine, service is good, prices are very reasonable for both the billards and the food. I am so glad Surge is here and made it through the panny!

Loved this place. Legit old school pool hall with a modern feel and an excellent bar. Great draft beers and spirits. Places to hang if not playing pool. Nicely redone interior . Classic barrel roof chicago building with tile facade. My buddy had his birthday there. Total blast.

Went in on a Sunday night, bar was already packed & pools tables were getting filled. I haven't had a chance to try their food, minimal on the drinks. I wish it was a better way to order things over so it's less hassle asking for everything at the bar.

Service was great and so was ambiance! Food was below average and I would not eat again. The empanadas tasted as thought they were stale and rotten!

Wow! My first time here last night and I'm def coming back! Staff really nice and friendly, drinks were great. I didn't order food but I did get fryers that were great! Ambiance was great as well.

Premier is the only place in the burbs that my friends and I go to for pool. We decided to try a place in the city to have some drinks and to play some pool. This place is fancy, nice and has a great vibe. Pretty busy because we had to wait about 35 minutes until it was our turn for the pool tables. The cocktails here were nice as well. Our only issue was the fact that the hostess/ waitress here do not communicate. We had the table and the back right corner where there were sofas and tables. We set out drinks down while we played and some were taken away because the lady taking away the empty drinks was not aware that our drink was not finished yet. We found out that it was the her first day on the job. She apologized and gave us a free drink to make up for it so that was nice of her. If you are in the area and would like to hangout with friends at a place with good vibes and music, come check this place out.

We had a great time at Surge last weekend! Alex the bartender is incredibly helpful and knows any cocktail you could order. Also, if you don't drink, their coffee is outstanding. It's clean and roomy with plenty of pool tables and seating. We will be back!!!

Awesome friendly environment! Came for a game and some cafe! Delicious and chill environment! Family friendly and enough space to enjoy in this pandemic and open on Sunday's! Pool tables in good condition and clean.

My love affair with Surge continues. What a great place to work during the day, hang out during happy hour, meet a friend for a drink after-hours. And let's not get it twisted: it's not the uber-chill atmosphere, the delicious coffee, the drinks with freshly ground/squeezed ingredients, the tostones, or the music that makes the place so great; it's the people. There has been some staff turnover, but the new folks who work daylight hours have won my heart. MK is a ray of effing sunshine and always down to split a cookie with me, which makes guilt-free cookie-buying possible. Mike, the new manager who has stepped into the illustrious and hardworking Haley's shoes, is killing it and has perfected _both_ Magic Milk (created by Haley, London Fog-ish) and the fresh ginger Tito's mule (first perfected by Alex, who has an amazing collection of irreverent t-shirts). Go! Drink something nice, shoot pool if you can, work if you must; but definitely tip well!

I love the vibe in this place to hang with my friends. Although I don't play pool, I do like to come here and have a quick bite and drink. The staff is always very friendly and the food is always brought out quickly. They have good after-work specials such as four-dollar tap beer. Another plus is the parking on the side of the building.

I needed something printed while I was at Surge. Alex saved the day! Muchas grassy ass Alex!

Fun night out! Took the kids here and we had a blast. Typical bar food and the drinks were good.

Absolutely love this place. Great spot for coffee, cocktails and bar bites. There are always ample pool tables and darts. The staff is kickass and super chill. They always support the community and this is great local spot to hang with all our friends. They always play really good music too. There's a lot of comfy table spots too with outlets for laptops. Support local!!!!

I want to start by apologizing for taking my frustrations out and directing them towards the person working the register. He genuinely shared our views. I'm sorry for the way I spoke and meant it when I said f*** the place, not you. You're a solid dude. I am genuinely sorry that my frustrations felt pointed towards you. The review: Amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases, it seems that the ownership of this business does not care about other small businesses in the city. It seems like they encourage folks to walk around without masks. The policy is: "walk in with a mask, take it off as soon as you rent a table. It seems like they're dissuading staff from saying anything to anyone. It seems like they're letting the APA League of Chicago run the show with reckless abandon and self-serving carelessness for the virus that is literally killing its constituents family members and friends. Good for Surge. I wish that I could completely forget societal needs for the sake of business. Bummer. Again, I'm sorry for saying, "wow, it's really crazy that you guys LITERALLY do not care if people wear masks" to the guy at the register. He seemed to care about the situation and felt helpless about it, and I didn't mean to take it out on him. I'm genuinely sorry, man, but our livelihoods are at stake here. Keep fighting the good fight.

I went here on a weeknight for my partner's birthday. We had food and drinks prior to playing pool, and the establishment met our expectations in every way. We all had a great time and will def be returning. My only complaint is small, but it's in regards to the shortage of pool sticks. We had to share two between the five of us, so if you have your own stick I would suggest bringing it. Highly recommend!

Great atmosphere, always chill and friendly vibes. Very interesting food menu with some great cocktails to match.

I really love that this place exists! Doesn't have the dive bar vibes I usually find with pool tables, plus the cafe option really classes up the place. I did come at a pretty empty hour, but the tables are honestly so clean and fun, I would come and wait if I had to! Really cozy and pretty reasonable pool prices for an hour, plus apparently women play free on Wednesday's!

We went in around 10 pm and they were really busy which is good. However, it being a weekend, it's the norm to get your own drinks from the bar instead of trying to get a cocktail from the cocktail waitress. The food is really good and it helps out since the kitchen opens late. It's a great place to have a date night as well as a friend gathering. There are six single gender neutral bathrooms, which they keep clean. The music is lively and consists of reggaetón, hip hop, country, to indie. It depends the type of night and reason why they choose the type of music they will play. For example, tonight was a celebration of Latin American heritage so they put a variety of reggaetón.

The place LOOKS great. Really, it's beautiful. Tables are nice, they have spots to lean the cues (I'm amazed not all pool halls do this), the lighting works perfectly with the colors of the table, yada yada. Clearly a lot of attention was paid to the design of the space. Food could use some help. Tostones really lacked flavor. Thinner cuts and more salt would be great. Fries could also use more seasoning. As for the drinks, let's not be so skimpy on the cocktails. Use a full 16 oz glass for Bloody Marys like everyone else does if you're going to charge what everyone else does. And staff: be a little more attentive. I waited up front while one of the staff members spoke to a friend for a good three minutes. Literally just waiting for them to finish chatting while I didn't even get a hello. That's not cool. Is three minutes the end of my life? No. Is it a good first impression for a new customer to ignore them while having a completely non-work-related convo? Also no. Serve the customers and then return to your convo. Win-win.

They have pastries, coffee, and food at the billard. Customer service is nice and bartenders make good cocktails. Tap beer is served in cold glasses. Plenty pool tables. Clean bathrooms. Variety music. Good vibe. Happy Hour

Amazing place & service. 10/10. Wahib the owners is a great host & the staff was very friendly. Can't wait to come back again

Awesome spot, we defiantly need more places like this in this neighborhood. I was looking for somewhere to work on editing photos, and I saw Surge pop up in my yelp. I had passed the place in the past, and it always looked empty. It's a pretty large space with a bar in the front (coffee, tea, beer, booze, wine so there is something for everyone,) and billiards in the back. I came in on a Tuesday and met Henry, who made me a mojitoo even though he's claimed to be more barista than bartender. It was great, and I had a blast hanging and working there the whole afternoon. Also had a fun string of patrons who came and went, all seemed to enjoy their time and many knew Henry by name. I'll definitely by coming back! Oh and they have food. I can't wait to try!

Great spot to grab a drink, eat yummy fries and play pool the music was a good selection of chill hip hop. Definitely a vibe and good spot to hang with friends or take a date.

So this big dude comes up to our table and tells us a party of over 4 needs another table. We were 5 in the group and just got there. I wasn't even playing and sitting on a couch minding my own business drinking a beer. I told him I am not even playing and am just sitting here drinking my beer. He said. Are you going to sit there all night? And I said yes. He said well.....I will be watching you then. Really? I was there 2 weekends ago with a party of 6 and only 1 table. So what are your rules? Does it change every weekend? This employee was very rude and unprofessional. Needless to say we paid for our drinks and left. I wasn't going to spend my money on this place after being treated like crap.

Surge is the BEST place to have your next party! SJ who helped us set up our reservation was very quick to respond and help us plan and adjust our party as needed. Their food menu has a lot to choose from and everything is fantastic. The drink menu is packed with fun cocktails, beers, and non-alcoholic beverages. We love to visit Surge often, but it's definitely the perfect place to host a big group of people - prices are super affordable! The party packages are customizable and can include just pool or can even include food and drinks, I really appreciated their flexibility in creating the perfect party for us!

Don't let my friends know that I went out to play pool. Really, keep this between us. They all know I don't like to play games, and that my experience with pool comes from watching Paul Newman movies. I mean, I know which end of the stick you use to hit the ball, but not much more than that. So why was playing pool at Surge so much fun? But it was -- it was a blast, and my friend and I have already got our next outing planned. I only suggested pool to my friend because we were looking for something inexpensive to do on a Tuesday afternoon. She's in need of a hip replacement and is not working right now, so money is an issue. When I said, how about this pool place on Montrose that just reopened, that has coffee drinks and looks nice and not sleazy (Paul Newman movies, remember?), she loved the idea. It cost $7.50 per hour, per person. The lighting is low over the tables, but you can see very well. The atmosphere is more intimate than dark, somehow. When I (accidentally) hit my first ball into a pocket, she said, "oh, you want to hit the stripes and I'll hit the solids," I looked at her and said, don't be fooled by my seeming competence; it's pure luck, not skill. Pretty soon, I saw she was as bad at pool as I was. We laughed a lot and somehow played two games, enjoying every minute. There is a small food list, but we weren't hungry. Surge serves alcoholic beverages as well as coffee drinks, but, like I said earlier, it was mid-day Tuesday, and one of us needs a hip replacement, so you can guess that we aren't 25 years old anymore. If we had alcohol midday, we'd be sleeping on the pool tables, not taking 10 tries to knock one ball into a pocket. She had a steamed beverage and I had a Mexican mocha made with almond milk instead of cow-produced liquid. This is good for vegans (me ) and anyone who is lactose-intolerant. They also have soy milk. And boy, was that Mexican mocha DELICIOUS! It was a spicy coffee drink, and I loved it. Also, thanks to Haylee, who was making the drinks and handling the register. She was friendly and informative. Tip her and the other baristas well, people! Finally, thanks to my fellow Yelpers. I saw your reviews and bookmarked Surge. I never would've known Surge existed, were it not for you. Surge lets women play free on Wednesday. Look for us around midday on some coming Wednesday. We'll be the tall, graying women laughing loudly while getting seriously caffeinated.

leaving this review because on the rise of omicron and covid cases the establishment is doing nothing to ensure patrons safety. the majority of league players are running around no masks. leaving other patrons to follow by example. other than that tables are great, love the vibe. beer and coffees good. just do better.

Best pool hall ever. Lots of high quality tables (close to 20 maybe?), pretty reasonable pricing, decent music, cool artwork on the walls. Went on a Friday night and didn't even have to wait for a table. Will definitely be back here again soon.

Just walked into this place and loved it! The food, music and the billiard tables are a delight! Just make sure that you put your name in to play before ordering. Just saves time. I would recommend the Mozzarella Garlic Naan. It is spicy and pleases the Indian palate. Would love to come again!

Apparently coffee bars, booze bars, and billiards all together are a thing. I was waiting for Surge to open for a loooong time. I lived right down the street and watched the location unfold before my eyes. I knew Surge was going to be a coffee bar, but I think I missed the billiards part. My husband went in before I did, and he was like "Yea, they have like...a bunch of pool tables," and I said "How many?" and he said "I dunno, babe. Like...a bunch." Since Surge opened, I have been in twice. He was right. They do have probably...12 pool tables. They have blue carpeting and look pretty cool. I'm not a big pool player, but it makes me want to play pool. They have a full service bar (beer, wine, liquor) and snacks as well as a coffee bar. At this point I've had a mocha, a beer, and tochos (nachos with tater tots instead of tortilla chips). All great! Though...the coffee was not to die for. I don't care because the overall experience of Surge is great. I think I will start working there on days I can work remotely because it's a large open space with all of the treats I need and a good vibe. Welcome to the neighborhood, Surge! I'll be back.

I liked it! I especially appreciate that the music volume is low so you can have an actual conversation. Although I'd rather hear Acid Lounge: Little Dragon, Tycho, Koop, Dimitri from Paris. Keep a mental tab cuz these drinks can get quite pricey.

So I've been here a few times now, and at about 2:30pm I am writing this review. I like to come here to study since I can sit at the bar or at a table (NO TABLE SERVICE), they are known to be a coffee shop AND bar, so it provides the opportunity to consume both coffee and alcohol (they have beer, wine, and spirits). I ask for an espresso martini in which they reply they cannot make that. I am VERY confused, as they have every ingredient needed to make one. The bartender says she is just a barista, and she cannot make that but they have maybe 5 other designated alcoholic cocktails that can be made. Again, confused, I ask why. The manager who is sitting at the bar doing laptop work speak across the bar at me (does not get out of her seat) and says they do not have the recipe and the bar is not prepped. Mind you that I have been working in the service industry for over a decade. I know they have the ingredients, there is no set up besides a shaker and jigger, and not only can I look up a recipe on my laptop that I am writing this review on, but the barista is also working on a laptop and the manager is also working on a laptop so we can honestly all look up a good recipe. Basically, after going back and forth with the manager (across the bar) I accept their answer of 'no' and if I am still around at 4pm when the "Bartender" arrives, I can order it from them. STILL SO CONFUSED Why can't they accommodate this request??? They have espresso machine, they have vodka, they have simple syrup... they might not have a coffee liquor but that's ok! I would have loved any creation that they would have made with those three ingredients at least.. but they would not even try. I ordered another glass of pinot noir Management - any rebuttal?

First things first: It's snazzy. The dim lighting and modern decor instantly drew me in. I am super fond of places where I can get coffee and do work, but the setting is not your typical coffee shop. Add this to the list! They serve Metropolis Coffee and sell pastries from pHlour Bakery in Edgewater. I really wanted to love the iced Mexican Mocha that I ordered but it was just very clumpy and grainy. My friend ordered it too and hers was the same. The cocoa powder didn't fully disintegrate, so there were clumps of it swimming in my drink. That's how both drinks were served to us, and I thought maybe I just had to stir mine up more, but that didn't help. Honestly, it tasted good but the fact that it wasn't smooth and well made knocked down 1 star for me. The cafe is open til 5pm, to presumably allow for dinner seating and pool hall guests. FYI, there is a lot next to the building that they share with the neighboring business that is not available for Surge patrons until 6pm on weekdays. Since we got there at 1pm, we had to park on side streets, which thankfully didn't require permits.

This place was amazing. Went here for a birthday party, and it was legit. Staff/bartenders were great. Efficient, yet friendly, even when the bar was packed. The pool tables are clean. This spot is spacious and wide. Im so surprised I loved their food! Craving some munchies, we had the naan pizza with spinach and mushroom and maybe something else. It was a smaller pizza for sure, but flavorful, and swiftly DEMOLISHED! I could have ordered two more and still have been in love with it, as much as my first bite. We also ordered chicken tenders, which were huge! I just think it's great how shareable their food menu was. On to drinks. I'm in love. I had their margaritas, which come in maybe three different flavors. yes, yes, more yes. super tasty, concocted well. The pool tables were clean, and there were numerous tables. Beautiful. spacious. I don't think there would be any problems in terms of overcrowding. plentiful bathrooms (maybe 3 individual ones? but wasn't really a problem). Idk. I loved this spot, for a chill celebration gathering... can accommodate a ton of people, with numerous areas to chill and vibe in. I'm definitely a fan.

Best pool place in the city that I have been to. Very chill and great vibe. The tables are well kept and they take care of the place. I went there recently and was very surprised by how good their food was. They also have a great drink selection and great coffee. Make sure to check this place out.

Great pool hall. Friendly staff. Decent selection of beer and drinks. Limited but good food menu. Well designed and clean. They did justice to the old space that was Golden Cue. Great addition to the neighborhood. For those complaining about people joining maybe close out your tab and reopen it with additional people. It unrealistic to expect a pool hall to monitor when your friends arrive.

I am finally writing a review after a few times of going. A great, engaging concept by combining coffee, beer, and pool tables! It was a Friday night and was told there is a waitress for pool tables. We expected a longer wait but it was only 20 min or so! Personally, I think drink prices are a dollar or two more expensive than other places in the area. They serve a strawberry ginger beer (non alcoholic) but was served really sweet this time around. That wasn't the best. The venue brings various people of all types. The atmosphere was really relaxed and kept really clean. The bathrooms are gender neutral too. For 1 hour, we had a party of 3 and paid $23 for the hour. They also have a food menu that I haven't explored yet. I usually come full and needing only drinks. It's just a typical bar menu with some unique options! I believe there is about 15 pool tables or so with other bar games like darts. 9/10

They said it was $15 for two people an hour, then $20 for four people an hour. The first hour (9:10pm) start) my boyfriend and I played, then two friends joined us for the second hour (10pm) and they charged us $41 (11pm balls returned) When I brought this to the attention of the cashier, she maintained the bill was correct, not open to what I had to say in a snotty way, so I didn't tip. I felt shitty because the bartenders shouldn't have to suffer because of an imprecise cashier, so I went back to tip in cash. I started off by saying I didn't feel my bill was right but that I wanted to tip. As I was getting my cash out, both bartenders angrily insisted my bill was right, lecture me about not tipping, I said I came over her to give you money, and they said they didn't need my money. The waitstaff is uneducated and think they are the shit so they don't have to be nice to customers, can upsell them, then embarrass them when they try to rectify a situation. Fortunately I live near west Loop and don't have to put up with this terrible customer service

Passed this place on our way down to this restaurant just a couple blocks down, and decided to try it after dinner ! Music vibes were awesome, and the drinks are to die for . I didn't get the bartenders name but man he made a killer margarita and mojito ! Probably one of the best margaritas I've had in a while ! So kudos to him ! Overall a very enjoyable place .

Very cool coffeehouse/bar vibe here! I love that you can take your laptop to do work and have a coffee, or grab a drink and play pool. The food was pretty good as well! My husband and I stopped in to play a game or two, and stayed for 5! Had a great time and plan to bring friends back in the future.

A MASTERWORK OF POOLHALLS!!! Long have I searched--combing through dive-y pool rooms across the land--vastly disappointed, finding languishing equipment, gross bathrooms, and sparse food and drink offerings. But no more! My quest has ended--this is my new pool spot! SURGE breathes much needed life into the Chicago pool scene! Their 9 foot Brunswick tables are kept immaculate, their espresso is fresh, their multiple private bathrooms are pristine, and their full service bar and cafe provide a diverse array of libations for anything one could desire for day and night life. This used to be the classic Marie's Golden Cue -- and the owners honor that heritage by incorporating and recycling elements of Marie's into the scenery -- the table lighting is preserved, a long dining table is framed inside the old Billiards table, and the tile pattern on the side of the bar is similar to that of Marie's classic flooring. I prayed to the pool gods every night for a place like this--finally my prayers are answered!

The service is really bad. They seemed friendly but they simply did not come to my table to refill my water, beer or even clear my empty plate from the table? The naan pizza was burnt and tasted like something I would've concocted in my college dorm room. I guess if you're here to play billiards/pool, it works, but otherwise the food is very unremarkable and service is godawful.

Great place for hanging out with friends! They have around 10 pool tables to play with your friends. The food is great too. We tried the mozerella garlic naan pizza and the fry basket. Both were amazingly tasty! The naan pizza was a bit on the spicy sid, we loved it nonetheless!!

Very fun idea to have the pool tables available for play while offering food. Food tasted quite good and the bartenders were very attentive. Will be back!

Clean, organized, and friendly service at this billiard with a cool coffee bar and food. I've hard their burgers a few times and have not been disappointing. The pool tables are separated by considerable space - so no worrying about being too close to other parties. Booze selection is good - local booze to macro offerings. The coffee is good, but unsure of the roaster they use in their coffee. They have some tables in the front to relax and grab a bite or sip on some coffee. Seen some folks who come just to enjoy some coffee while studying on their laptops (have never seen that at a billiard anywhere in Chicago).

Went here with Junior on a freezing Saturday morning. What a beautiful pool hall. They did a great job remodeling here. I'll be a regular here.