The Wild Hare & Singing Armadillo Frog Sanctuary

This place is amazing. It's a venue that legends have performed at. Reggae landmark open mic both music and comedy. Was here 12/16/2024 for my friend and favorite artist Rickey Hill . Drove cross country for the show and would do it again. Wild Hare kicks ass thanks guys

I had an enjoyable New Year's Eve experience; the ambiance was excellent, and the live band provided a high-quality performance. However, the kitchen staff's conduct was unprofessional. On multiple occasions, my attempts to place a food order were met with requests to return in an hour to allow for inventory checks. Upon my third attempt, I observed kitchen staff socializing in the back, and my order was ultimately refused due to the kitchen's purported closure. A service announcement regarding the kitchen's unavailability would have been appreciated. Conversely, the bar staff exhibited professionalism and provided exceptional service, along with complimentary New Year's Eve drinks. The owner's active engagement with patrons was also commendable. Overall, I recommend this establishment with the caveat that improvements to kitchen staff professionalism and order fulfillment processes are necessary. I plan to revisit and update this review accordingly.

This place is is by far the worst bar I’ve ever came to in the state of IL…. I went to buy chicken taco dinner on the menu it states $18 but when you go to order it’s jumped to $23 there’s 20% automatically gratuity (they stated it was a mishap on the menu) ok cool my total comes out to $23.30 I give him $24 he states they automatically round off the money to the nearest dollar… even after already giving them 20% gratuity they still took the rest of my change… on top of that after 8pm they charge $20 a person! And the vibe certainly isn’t worth it (NICE SET UP THO)…. I’ll NEVER RETURN!!!!!

I visited this place on a trip from New York. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, too. He was fantastic! Great personality and such a beautiful spiritm I got there early before the performance and almost left because I thought they had started sooner. I was soooooooo happy I stayed. It's definitely worth the wait. Great vibes, great atmosphere, beautiful venue. Highly recommend this place. Favorite part of my trip!

Food was A1.. I usually get their jerk wings but wanted to try something different so I opted for the nachos. They made the chips in house and it was delicious, not better than their wings though. My friend ordered their ribs (I didn't even know they served ribs) and it was so tender and juicy with like the best sauce. Mac and cheese was moist, cabbage was fried perfectly.. the dining experience in itself was everything. We absolutely loved the band.. they vibed us out until midnight.. I always come here and don't imagine me ever stopping lol.

The atmosphere at this place was very nice. They had a live band that was really good with room for dancing. Overall, I liked this place because of the music and the atmosphere, I wanted to love this place, but I was disappointed with the food we ordered and the cover charge at the door. I had the jerk chicken tacos with fries. My fries were cold, and they tasted old, so I didn't end up eating them. The chicken on the tacos did not taste seasoned. I believe the "jerk" was just some sauce added over the top of the tacos, and the chicken itself was not jerk. When we got the bill, there was almost a $14 pre-included tip that it did not appear that we had an option of not paying. We were visiting Chicago from out of town and had heard about this place ahead of time. My husband saw an ad online that said the cover was $10 per person for the night we planned on attending. At the door, they charged us $15 per person. The bouncer at the door did not care when we told him the cover was supposed to be $10. He just repeated himself saying, $15. This place was also recommended to me by someone who grew up in Chicago, so I was really excited to check it out. My husband wrote a review explaining the cover, along with his review of the food he ordered. The business responded, saying they were certain he was mistaken about the cover charge. My husband uploaded a screenshot of the flyer showing the $10 cover on his review. They did tell him to email them about coming back in and giving them a second chance, so he did email them. In the email, he let them know we would take them up on the offer and come back in. He also let them know that we would only be in Chicago that evening and the following evening. I waited to write my review of this place until after we went back in and tried the food a second time, but they did not respond to the email and we did not end up getting to go back in and give them a second try. All that being said, I can not recommend this place...

We went for a birthday celebration. The band was ok. The food was good according to others. The atmosphere was weak. The man at the front door tried to charge 50 dollars for parking then went down to 30. Not impressed. Yes parking is not readily available so be prepared to walk or park in the parking lot.

Went there for brunch (who knew they had brunch) . Of course the jerk wings were 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. The catfish and grits were really good the bottomless mimosas were on point. The only thing I didn't like was the hash browns. But the girls and I said we had to go back!

Came here on a Sunday after. They had drink specials available. We were able to find parking right out front. On this occasion there were drink specials. Grabbed $7 margarita (special) which was tasty. For food my husband and I shared the full lb of rib tips and fries. We thought they were tasty. We met up with some friends celebrating a March birth (Aries). The bar crowd was friendly...everyone just enjoying the music and each other. Bathrooms were big and never had an issue getting a stall. Security present and overall just a fun experience. Would love to come back when they have a live band playing.

I'm back to update my previous review. I finally got the chance to come back to The Wild Hare for the full dine-in and live music experience. I'm really glad I did. Our server was quick and pleasant. He was refilling and offering new drinks before we even knew we needed them. I'm not even sure I really considered the menu because I really came to retry the oxtail and rice & peas. I was not disappointed, and there was nothing but tailbones left on my plate. Ambiance is fun at The Wild Hare. The live music in the back room int he evenings are definitely where it's at. I would recommend checking out the event calendar on their website to help pick which day you may want to come. My only complaint is that I really wish the DJ played more reggae in the restaurant. I expected to have a full reggae night, but all the way up until the live band, it was mostly hip hop and R&B with the occasional reggae throwback. Give us more; we came for the reggae vibes!

The service is AMAZINGLY GOOD! And the bar has ambiance that makes you feel at home. This is the best bar I've been to in the Chicago area.

Amazing food! You must try the jerk nachos and wings!!!! I had such a great time Sunday! Also live music , they are also on Uber eats.

I would give it no stars if I could. I reserved a table for 7pm on 01 30 2025 for my birthday. Come to the location and they are completely CLOSED DOWN. Then had the nerve to send me reminders of my reservation. No one should be allowed to make reservations at this location if they are closed down.

food was horrible best nasty though oxtails hard rice disgusting gumbo very bad experience

Exceptional service at the bar! Great music and delicious food! The DJ was on fire with a mix of old hip hop!

The music is awesome. If you go late keep in mind the menu is limited but still good. I did find it to be a bit pricey. Basic bowls are about $20, Caribbean fries with meat is $20 and up. Service was quick, not a huge crowd on Friday nights.

FIRE THE COOK! my stomach is tore Up from the jerk tacos and red beans and rice!!! Throw him to the frogs and find someone else!!! Makes the party stop!

So I was visiting from out of town and found this place on yelp. I was excited because I'd read reviews about the food and we were starving. I believe this was on Sunday? They have an all you can eat buffet (which I didn't know). And when I walked in, there was no one there for like 4 mins. I was about to walk around and someone finally walked past to let me know what was going on. I wasn't given a menu so I don't really know what's on their buffet. I was just disappointed with the service. I don't know what the brunch side looks like because the side I walked through, there was no one there but someone setting up for what looked like a birthday party. So this review isn't based on food cause I'll never know, but the service wasn't the best and you really wouldn't know what was going on if you just walked in. You wouldn't know it's a restaurant because there's no one there to greet or seat you on Sunday

Awesome jerk wings and plantains. The mai tai's are flavorful and strong. The bar tender also served as the waiter: He is very knowledgeable and attentive

Y'all.... The Caribbean shrimp fries. I can't even breathe it was so delicious. Get there now!

Hidden gem alert! I seldom get a chance to try out Caribbean food so coming here was a pretty cool experience. We happened to be in the area and was looking for a place to eat dinner and there was no wait here. They have a DJ blasting Reggaeton music on the evening that we came and the bar area slowly filled throughout the night. You can tell this is a place locals love to frequent. The atmosphere is totally casual and friendly. Our server was fantastic. We ordered two of their dishes, the jerk chicken and a vegetable curry. Their food menu is simple, not a whole lot of choices, but the food is great. The jerk chicken was extremely well seasoned and juicy. The curry was very creamy from the coconut milk and they included lots of vegetables. I'm not sure that you can find a better Caribbean place in Chicago.

I had a craving for some jerk chicken and that's what led me to this spot. Weather dictated that I order in and placed it online and got my food relatively quickly, but without utensils per my request. Luckily the hotel was next to a grocery store where I just picked some up. Sad to say that I felt like the jerk chicken dinner plate wasn't as good as I would have liked it to be. The chicken was more on the dry, overcooked and burnt side. I did taste the spiciness of the jerk but lacking flavor other than kind of salty. I wasn't thinking in advance but it would have been great to have some jerk sauce on the side. The plantains were the winner for me. The cabbage was good and the rice and beans were just ok. The price was reasonable.

Good vibes and great reggae! Personally I would prefer some more beer options available but I still five FIVE STARS because the vibes of this bar are such a rare find! Great, quick service and loved dancing to reggae.

Never disappoint. Good service, food and music. Drinks not bad at all either. I will be back soon!

A few girlfriends and I came to Wild Hare on a Friday night for drinks and dinner. Food is your standard Caribbean food paired with rice and plantains. The portions are very generous - the jerk chicken dinner set I ordered can definitely be shared between two people, for example. I recommend their rum cocktail - the drink is deceivingly sweet but packs a punch (no pun intended), and can be the perfect segue to the rest of your night. Because no need to move, you have live reggae music in the room next door. Show usually starts around 10:30 PM, and that's when the place starts getting crowded - try to come before nine so you don't need to pay a cover. Overall a very unique atmosphere not provided anywhere else in Chicago. Giving an extra star for the live music!

I reached out to the folks over at the Wild Hare to set up my 50th birthday Party. Richard the general manager, took care of me, from step one to completion. Chef Allen prepared my catering order with great skill and expertise. My guests raved about the food. I just wish I got to eat more of it. But the experience was wonderful and many of my guests said they would return on their own. I have been coming for years and have always had a great time. Because it was my 50th birthday, it was even better. Thank you gentlemen.

Best jerk chicken I've had in Chicago, maybe ever! My girlfriend and I were in the mood for jerk chicken and this place had solid reviews so we decided to check it out. The place was smaller than expected but had a nice ambiance and laidback vibe with the bar, tables, and music all pretty close to each other. The menu is short but hits all the basics you'd expect Carribean restaurant: jerk chicken, brown stew chicken, oxtails, shrimp and fish dishes, plantains, rice and beans, etc. We got an order of their jerk wings and a jerk chicken platter (with rice+beans and plantains). The platter had a breast, drumstick and thigh, and the wings were 6 to an order; all of the meat was seasoned and cooked perfectly, with a dark and almost blackened exterior but meat that was juicy and fall off the bone. They were both served with a nice savory sweet jerk dipping sauce, but honestly the chicken was so perfectly cooked it didn't need it. I've had jerk chicken in a number of places in Philly and Chicago, and this is definitely my favorite. The meat is great, the portions of meat and sides were more than enough and prices were very reasonable; if you're around the area, do yourself a favor and stop by this place for the best jerk chicken around!

The Wild Hare has always been one of my favorite places in the City. I've never actually eaten here, though the food is supposed to be good. We've always come here for the music. The music never disappoints. It can overwhelm, it can awe, it can amaze but the music coming from the Wild Hare will not disappoint. Schedules are posted online. Covers vary based on the night and the artist. It is a reggae bar but we've heard lots of Sunday night blues guitar and we've seen many talented special guests at Wild Hare. That is the thing about a Chicago music club; you just never know who might show up and play and it could be the best thing you've ever heard.

Great drinks and the food was great the jerk tacison Tues are awesome. The music is great

I tried Wild Hare for the first time and was not impressed at all. The staff were pleasant and the drinks were cool (nothing major) but the food was terrible. NOTHING tasted close to Jamaican food. The food tasted like someone who does not season/marinade food overnight or before cooking but instead cooks the food and sprinkles season over it. How does Jerk Chicken and Shrimp taste horrible? How do you bring out courtesy Chicken Bites that are uncooked in the middle? It was disgusting. Ranch Dressing saved NOTHING. I probably won't visit again. I'm good.

The lady behind the bar closest to the main stage (light skinned black woman) lied abt the bar being closed when walked up to the bar but yet She served other patrons and 5 mins later I sent my husband to her to ask for the SAME drinks & she served him no question. For a $15 cover charge it's ridiculous that this establishment would allow a bar tender to pick and choose WHO to serve and who not to. ***I was not drunk at all & was able to go to both the other bars to order drinks with no issue. The bartender was JUST being choosy about who to service*** please be aware of this if you decide to visit & I hope you get good service -- who's to say?

I got roofied here last weekend:/ Great music but please watch your drinks. I recommend leaving before midnight. Staff is nice but unfortunately seems there are some predators that prowl here.

Stopped in to experience this place. We arrived early before the headliner and door fees were assessed. Service by the bartender was spot on. The Rum Punch was good but the Caramelized cheesecake was amazing

I had lots of fun here! The music was great, rum punch was hitting. But the food, meh. We ordered the jerk chicken and a beef dish. The jerk chicken is served a lil blackened, of course, but my first plate of it was straight up scorched. They took it and gave me another plate, which was better. The server was cool. I felt like Ms. Rona was probably here, because it can get real club like with people walking by you and your food pretty close, often without masks because they're going back and forth eating & drinking. But the tables were spaced and staff wore masks.

Neat concept. Reggae music, Jamaican food and tropical drinks. The bar menu just seemed kind of hobbled together lacking foresight. A lot of the menu drinks were premixed I guess to save time. The bartender was nice and attentive but was unaware how to make a Jungle Bird. They were pretty busy when I went. I got jerk wings and they were OK. With so many places doing jerk chicken you would think place would be more creative with recipes. From an economists point of view I think it's noteworthy that the kitchen stays open so long think that brings people in. There was a cover, live music. The crowd had some sprinkles of old folks, tourists, some Jamaican folks, some African Americans. Randomly ran in 2 people I knew in high school.

Hidden gem. Awesome music and drinks. Service is great. The best cheesecake I have ever had. Plantain cheesecake is a must

great food, great service, great music. owner needs to chill. otherwise place is great!

Ahhhh good rum punch, live reggae band, and good eats! This place is almost heaven. Parking was free! Arrived here on a Sunday night and it was empty Rachel our barmaid told us to get comfortable and she take care of us...and she did! 8 rum punches later the band started and we danced all night. Downside-They need to remodel the ladies room it's a hot mess.

Watch out for prices. Drink specials 16.00@. Food is good prices not bad. Except the cheesecake with plantains is a regular piece of cheesecake with chopped friend sweet plantains on top! And if you're thinking of paying with credit card ...a 20% surcharge will be added PLUS 25% gratuity too! Even if party is of 3 people. TAKE CASH!

Spent my 20's and my early 30's at the old location on Clark and Addison, (now 42) nothing but good times, good vibes, and good rum punch. I relocated to LA, but I visited the new location a couple times. I like the set up, every ting nice. I'm excited they are serving food now. God Bless them. They bring diversity and flavor to an otherwise lame neighborhood filled with sports bars and lots of drunk white college students throwing up in the streets. Wild Hare's crowd keeps it grown and sexy. I miss this place. Also probably one of few black owned businesses in the area. Please support these good people. Also if you didn't have rhythm or know how to catch a beat or move your hips before, you gonna learn after spending time here. Just be open minded and enjoy. What out for the Nigerians, Yoruba boys especially, Real Rudeboys, keep your 3rd eye open and don't drink to much

Service was nonexistent. I couldn't tell if the patrons were wait staff or if the wait staff were patrons. Food is overpriced for what it is. The environment wasn't friendly nor welcoming. Yes, we are from out of town but we visit the city often. Considering where this is located I'm surprised it's still running. The way this establishment is conducted you'd think it was ran out of someone's garage.

I happened to walk by this place with no intention of stopping, but they had a live Reggae band and a terrific jerk chicken aroma of which the combination of the two stopped me dead in my tracks to look at their menu that was conveniently posted on the exterior of their building... and well lit too. I was greeted by a more than helpful host who got me seated at the bar right away even though I didn't have a reservation (#CovidSucks). I have spent over a month in Jamaica and yet, the Wild Hare completely topped any jerk-chicken I've ever had! And their ghost pepper sauce is off the charts! I am definitely coming back... they just earned a customer for life every-time I come back to Chicago! (PS... this is NOT a paid review... completely honest by a first time visitor who was hungry for some authentic food... and wow, I found it!)

Cant rate the food because the business is closed. I made reservations through Yelp just to get there and see that they aren't open. Somebody finally noticed outside and told us that they are closed until the capacity restrictions are lifted. The website states that they are open. This should really be fixed it was a huge inconvenience.

Came because one of my friend's band is playing and it was a great time! The food smaller and tasted delicious and the live music was fantastic! Highly recommend for a night out!

Definitely coming back here once they open , the live music was wonderful, food was good, didn't care for the cabbage but the jerk chicken and rice was good. Drinks are pricey. Fee to enter after 9pm I believe.

Food was hot fresh and delicious! I had the jerk dinner, will definitely be coming back to try more things

Great music, INCREDIBLY delicious food, and good vibes. I had a fabulous time at Wild Hare a couple weeks ago. Went there around 11pm on a Thursday night and was surprised to see that they were still serving food. They also had some awesome live music going which I thoroughly enjoyed. You have to order the jerk chicken if you go here. It was spectacular! I was so shocked that bar food could be that good. I will definitely go back if I end up in Chi town again.

This review is for the food only. I didn't know it was a reggae bar and have never been for the music. Whenever I'm in town I always meet up with an old pal from school and she frequently suggests this place. Had it not been for her, I would have never known I could get some delicious Caribbean food on the Northside. Let's talk about their food! I've had their jerk chicken and whoo wee it's good, but so are many things on the menu. I'm a fan of their Jamaican patties, coconut shrimp, and oxtail platter. My biggest complaint about the Wild Hare is that several things are frequently not available. That sucks if you really have your heart set on oxtail and rice or a patty. Three of the four times I've been, they've had at least one thing unavailable on the menu. Meh, not cool. Since their food is good, I'll forgive them for this even though it is frustrating.

Visited last night with a family member for her bday. Arrived early to have dinner. Server was pleasant but somehow the front bar manager made us drinks that were not what we ordered. We ordered rum punch and were sent something blue. To make a long story short the front bar manager basically tried to force us to take the drinks (that we never ordered) at a discount. My family member questioned as to why she should have to pay for something she never ordered. At that point the manager aggressively snatched the drinks from the table and headed back up front. I felt EXTREMELY disrespected by her attitude. I wanted to cancel the whole order and leave but I took one for the team as the food had started to arrive and I didn't want to further spoil my family members night. The food was great however and so was the band. The jerk wings are excellent, oxtails were good as well. Also, the ladies bathroom needs a serious deep cleaning.

I came here specifically because of the pictures I saw on Yelp of the chicken platter. And I'm really glad I did. It was bomb. Tons of food. Tons of flavor. The cabbage is the unsung hero of the dish. It was spicy but not too spicy. Just awesome.

My Jamaican craving kicked while visiting downtown Chicago. After searching through a few spots I decided to give this one a try. Really nice restaurant. Would be great after work or late night spot because they offer a live band but the kitchen is open early and they have a very nice Bar area. I tried the jerk chicken rice and peas and cabbage and it also came with plantains man this food was awesome!!! Had the good authentic Jamaican taste and very good portions.

The food here is absolutely amazing! We ordered the Whole Red Snapper and Jerk Chicken Wings and shared amongst the two of us. The food was more than enough, and we could barely eat it all. The fish was beautifully prepared with a sweet/spicy tomato sauce, rice & peas, and stewed peppers and onions. OMG! So darn good! The fish was so fresh and literally melted in our mouths! The jerk wings were in a league of their own as well. The were beautifully smoked and you could actually taste the wood flavor from the smoking process. The jerk sauce was AMAZING!!! When I visit Chicago, this is definitely my new favorite spot! Oh, and the Rum Punch is legit too! I'm not even a fan of sweet drinks, but this drink definitely has a kick! Entry fee was $5, but I didn't mind because the band was awesome as well! Oh yeah, did I forget to mention the live music? I was craving live music at 10:00 pm on a Sunday night, and thanks to Yelp, I found the perfect place! They don't close until 2 a.m. on Sundays too! The bartender, Nicole, was warm, friendly, and inviting as well. She is the bomb.com! I love this place. Will definitely be back when I'm in town.

Food and atmosphere are great. I went expecting to listen to good music and eat decent Caribbean food. My experience was that and much more. It was dead--Tuesday night so i didn't expect much--but the band was live and put on a great show. The food, jerk wings dinner, was great. Service was pleasant and quick. I circled back in Friday night and, despite being crowded, they offered the same great service and food. Will definitely be returning.

Use to frequent this place every time I came to the Chi. But lately, it's been a bit misleading. There not serving food anymore yet they talk about their delicious Jamaican foods on all their social media. To add, They charge you a 10$ cover just to sit at the bar, while they overcharge you for drinks. Not sure if I get the concept behind that. On The surface it looks as if your charging me a cover charge just to buy my own drinks. Hmmmm

There was a cover band doing reggae covers of Alicia keys and a DJ playing Sean Paul. Don't go here if you like reggae.

Me and My Bestie wanted to unwind after a stressful work week. So I decide to use my Groupon for The Wild Hare. We get there around 8pm and there was no one at the door to check us. We waited and waited. Finally a guy comes back to the bar. I guess he was the waiter door check drink mixers all in one. I let him know that I have a Groupon. He tells me that there is no one at the door to check us inside. So basically don't buy the Groupon because it's free until later on in the night. SMH Hot Damn. The reason for my 3 star review is because the food was good. It took a minute for the live band to come on stage. But once they got on stage after how many hours later. The place was jumping. Great mixed crowd and I'm we finally got a chances to unwind and get our drink and boogie on. Just don't waste your money on a Groupon. Get there early for a free admission and a good table.

I came to Wild Hare for the first time on a Friday night. We got there close to 6:30pm (they open at 6pm) so it was pretty much empty inside except for a few older guys at the bar. The bartender was doubling as the waitress which was fine since there were so few patrons but did make it a little challenging when we needed to get her attention for something. As for the food, I was pleasantly surprised. The waitress informed us that their jerk is on the sweet side as opposed to being spicy. I didn't find it to be sweet at all but I thought that everything had a good flavor. I ordered the jerk chicken dinner for $14 though you have to add $1 to switch to jerk wings. I found the rice and beans to be a little dry and flavorless but the plantains, cabbage, and chicken were all excellent. I also ordered the rum punch which was delicious but pretty pricy at $12. I'll be back to check out the reggae club scene at some point and will return for food as well.