Chicago has a bustling bar scene with plenty of run-of-the-mill places serving mediocre pub food. Lately though, we have seen more and more bars and taverns show up in the city specializing in craft beers, locally sourced ingredients, and upscale spins of standard bar food. And I love it! Here are four bars we have been to lately where the food may very well outshine the drinks... although I'd recommend the drinks too!
The Motel Bar
The Motel Bar is a little off the beaten path for the River North neighborhood-- situated on the far west side right next to the river. They have a spacious patio outside and the inside is a retro 60's & 70's-inspired lounge atmosphere. Alex and I stopped in for a low key weeknight date recently and it was the first time either of us had been here in a few years-- and the first time ever for food. Their food was surprisingly good. They have a wide variety of standard bar foods available like sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads.
While the food here is very good for bar food, the service is spotty. The staff is nice, but not very attentive. We did a lot of waiting-- and I have heard that from other friends that have stopped in here. Bear that in mind when you stop by The Motel Bar, but if you're in the neighborhood and looking for a good dinner in a laidback atmosphere this is a great option.

Old Town
Old Town Social is one of my Chicago standbys for good bar food. First, I love the space: It's a spacious bar and restaurant, also with a great outdoor seating area. The decor is eclectic-- a modern twist on an old fashioned "sports parlour" with fireplaces, cushy parlour furniture, and wood paneled walls displaying flat screen TVs. I'd also point out that the bar scene in the Old Town neighborhood is a bit odd... from the very divey to the very clubby, they have them all. This place is more my speed: upscale, but still comfortable and trendy, but not pretentious.
They have a huge and eclectic beer selection here, which my husband was enjoying after his brother turned him on to sour beers (that sounds gross to you too, right?). Like the atmosphere, the food here is a more upscale and modern twist on traditional pub food. Think conventional old school pub fare, but fancier.
One of my favorite things to order here whether we come for dinner or just for drinks, is the warm pretzel bites. It's a perfect little snack to share-- soft pretzels portioned into bite size nuggets served with two dipping sauces: beer cheese sauce and a tangy mustard. I don't think I have ever been here and not ordered it.
Normally I order a salad for dinner here (they have one with beets that I love), but that night, Alex and I both decided to order burgers for dinner. They have several different burger options on the menu (including a Build Your Own option), which is perfect for us because Alex and I could not be more different when it comes to our taste in burgers. He ordered his beef burger with a fried egg and poblanos on top. I went with my standard turkey burger topped with Gruyere, caramelized onions, and bacon. We both loved our burgers and the option to order them exactly how we wanted them.

River North
I have sung the praises of various other Lettuce Entertain You restaurants here before, but brace yourself-- I'm about to do it again. HUB 51 is a modern bar and restaurant in the heart of River North. It's loud, energetic, and casual-- a perfect place to meet up for drinks and snacks after work, but with food good enough to enjoy for any meal. I have dined here for brunch, lunch, dinner, and snacks so I know what I am talking about.
But let's talk about the real star of the meal here: The pulled chicken nachos. If you order nothing else here, order these nachos. It's a huge portion of housemade tortilla chips topped with braised chicken, melty cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and fresh jalapenos. The combination of toppings is so tasty and the plate is so huge that if it's just two of you, this may be all you need to order. Except for carrot cake. You may also want to order the carrot cake.

River North
Last, but certainly not least, let's talk about Farmhouse. Alex and I really love Farmhouse. It's a "Midwest craft tavern" and almost everything on the menu is locally sourced from farms, bakeries, breweries, distilleries, and other artisans in Illinois and the surrounding states. I'm a huge fan of buying local so this on top of the fact that the food is consistently good is why I love coming here. The menu is tweaked seasonally, but always stays true to a theme of modern twists on homestyle Midwestern classics.
Farmhouse is one of those great neighborhood spots where you can grab a drink for happy hour, stop in for a casual lunch, or enjoy a cozy dinner date. I'd recommend it for any of those occasions. Any time.

Cheese curds... *drool*
ReplyDeleteCheese curds are just the best.
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