Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern
Barbecue restaurant · Old Town Triangle ·
Old-school tavern famed for tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs
Old-school tavern famed for tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs
"If your Midwestern parents are visiting from out of town, this spot will make them happy. It’s been an institution since 1932, serving Chicago-style ribs (they’re slow-cooked rather than smoked, so this is technically not barbecue), and it has giant laminated menus that remind us of old-school supper clubs. The ribs are tender and juicy, so we’re pretty sure everyone (not just Midwesterners) will actually be happy here. It also has light-up beer signs in the windows. What’s not to like?" - adrian kane
"You can get their BBQ, along with cans of beer (priced from $2-$4), for carryout or delivery." - adrian kane
"Twin Anchors is a Chicago classic, a subterranean dining room with walls covered with memorabilia. The ribs, a North Side classic, are solid with the spicy prohibition sauce. The kids menu offers plenty of options. But to survive this business, the service is important and Twin Anchors staff understands that children are just as important as adults. This is a place to bring the kids and have a cocktail to treat parents and guardians for their hard work." - Naomi Waxman
"There’s a rich stickiness softly holding this Prohibition-era, former speakeasy and rib sanctuary together, the stickiness from a sweet-tangy sauce you will never know the secret behind. The neon anchor sign has welcomed travelers through snowstorms and heat waves since 1932, and the Tuzi family has owned the place for more than four decades. They’ve kept the magic alive long after Frank Sinatra held his last party there. The ribs are famous, of course, but don’t sleep on the homemade chili." - Alex Jewell
"When it’s taking forever to find a movie to watch, sometimes the best thing is to just go with something everybody enjoys, like the The Matrix. That’s a good strategy for picking a restaurant too - like Twin Anchors, a classic place on the border of Lincoln Park and Old Town with some very good ribs. It’s a perfect option when making a decision is taking longer than when you scroll through “90s Sci-Fi With Keanu Reeves” on Netflix knowing you’re just going to end up with The Matrix anyway." - josh barnett
