I just received my Bartending certification from ABC Bartending Chicago and I couldn't be happier! Laura and Chrissy were both amazing teachers and I secured a job before I even finished my course!! They prepare you for the speed and written test so well and I can't wait to start working. Thank you both read more

abc got the job done! very stress free environment and Curtis the instructor was super helpful and professional. It couldn't have gone better, thank you! read more

This was the best learning experience I have ever had with learning a new hobby/Job. Danielle who is the instructor, is a 10/10. She's so welcoming & knowledgeable about what she does. The way she teaches will have you wanting to come back to learn everything she knows. I love the hands on experience. Great school, GREAT instructor. It's nice to have someone teach what they love and know their passion !!! Thank you read more

The teachers were amazing and made learning not only fun, but easy. They answered all questions we had and they made sure we knew what we were doing and that we were ready to be real bartenders. read more

I had an informative and fun time at ABC Bartending. Mrs. Patricia was very kind and helpful explaining the process and options available. They have a wide range of times and dates to accommodate your needs. I was able to get an evening session Monday-Thursday. The location was easy to find and they have plenty of parking. Mrs. T was a great teacher. She was very knowledgeable, patient, and hands on. She let us know about state and local laws, and gave us very helpful tips for bartending in different settings. At first I thought it was a lot of information for a short class session, but Mrs. T made it interesting and fun which helped me retain so much information. I was so proud of myself after I completed the class. My classmates were also really cool and interesting which made the class even better. They also provide information for job placement upon completion. Would highly recommend. read more

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I really tried to give this business the benefit of the doubt, but it's just ridiculous that I haven't received my basset certification yet, seeing that I took the class in February of 2023! Here it is September of 2023 and still nothing! Very disappointing! Numerous calls/ texts to resolve this issue and only thing I'm getting is empty promises! Don't get me wrong, the class was on point but that means nothing if I don't have the credentials to back it up! read more

I took the one week it was pretty overwhelming at first because you do have to memorize a lot for the practical test as well as well as the speed test! But it was genuinely a great experience especially with Ms.T being our teacher. She's not only professional she's so sweet n passionate about her job which makes you wanna keep going & finish what you came there to do & more. Over all it was a great experience thanks Ms.T! read more

I had a wonderful experience! Our instructor Mrs. T. was super cool and down to earth, while also being professional and empathetic. I took her accelerated course and made friends along the way. At first I was nervous about memorizing drinks. But practice makes perfect! And by day 2 I found my rhythm. By the end of the course I was only sad to see my class end, but I'm happy to have learned everything I did. read more

I just finished class here last week. I learned so much. Ms. T is at the top of her game. She knows what she's talking about and makes sure you do. You don't have to be afraid to ask questions because she won't make you feel like you don't get it. I was worried about my speed test since the first day when she told us what the assignment was. She encouraged me and let me know if my drink was not right. When I took my speed test I succeeded in getting it done within the allotted time frame. I am eternally happy and completely satisfied with the skills I have obtained thanks to Ms. T and ABC. read more

I had a great time learning at ABC bartending school. Mrs. T is a funny, professional teacher, who builds confidence through her lessons and encouragement. As an older woman, I was hesitant to take a course in bartending. Mrs. T encouraged me and helped me find my first job placement, I recommend this place if you want to learn skills quickly in a fun environment Supported by a woman owned business. read more

BUYERS BE AWARE. This business does not exist anymore, yet they are still scamming people out of money!! I signed up for the class last month after seeing all the wonderful review, only to go to the location in person to the business being gone! Both numbers are magically disconnected, but the website still works! I paid $300 for a class that doesn't even exist anymore! Please do not fall for the trap! I'm sure there are other schools! read more

I took the 2 weekend class and it was brutal, lol!! Brutal in the sense you MUST pay attention and in between the classes, STUDY! Ms. T gives you ALL the information you need to succeed. She is straight forward and is full of bartending knowledge. She gives plenty of time to practice behind the counter mixing drinks. Be on time, listen to her instructions, and ask questions. Well worth the cost! Thank you, Ms. T!! read more

I had absolutely no experience bartending. I was very nervous but I leaned a lot! The instructor in Frankfort was very tough and particular but I think that's why I learned so much! It is all water based so that we could make mistakes. The only downfall is that some of the bottles smelled kind of bad. I'm assuming because the liquor from those bottles had sugar in it. I learned so many new drinks and the right way to pour. I go back at the end of the month to take the Bassett class. The groupon is cool if you're just doing it for fun but does not include the basset and possibly the book. Overall you have to spend money to make money. So if you're serious about becoming a bartender then it's well worth the money :) read more

ABC Bartending Schools - Bartending Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hey Y'all, I simply like to share my blessings! I finished ABC and got my Basset. And they helped me find a job, yelp. Their instructors (especially Tierra) is the Bomb, point blank!!!! ABC has job placement, real talk! Try'em out, if you want to change your life direction. ABC Rock!!! Rakin "ROCO" Amin read more

Took the 32 hr bartending and Basset class Chrissy and Laura where awesome instructors i feel i learned alot and they made it fun and interesting definitely recommending the class and the school read more

Ms. T was very knowledgeable, helpful, direct and fun! She truly makes the class and knows what she's doing. I took the one week course, so it was very fast paced but definitely doable. Still enough time for practicing which I appreciated. And ignore that review about this place being a scam...I just completed the course last week and it's definitely real! read more

This place is great. I took a class here using a Groupon I had purchased. It's the real deal. You learn all the skills you need to get a job at a bar. Can you get a job without this? Of course... especially if your initials are DD /cough Do you want to nail the interview and not be a screw up for the first 2 weeks of the job? Do you want to earn big tips from day one? Do you want to know how to work in a fast pace bar (read: more tips) and then clean your station quickly, so you can get out fast after a long night? The answers to all of the questions above are, yes. Basically, this helps get you prepared... and more importantly it helps take the stress out of an otherwise extremely fun job. All of the instructors are friendly, fun, and extremely knowledgeable. They combine for a century of bartending experience. They can do this in their sleep and can teach you how to do it, too. I recommend this place for both a fun experience and for those looking to find a job. P.S. Always remember: GTFM!! read more

ABC equals: A Bottoms-up Class!? Yes n no! You'll toast it after you pass the tests, but it's not really as easy as "ABC". I took this class because I like to dig into things and I'm with Santiago A. and I think Sarita T.'s review REALLY hits the high points. I also had the Groupon and thought it was well worth the 100 bucks. It's true: * The place is kind of a mess due to the rather foul smelling liquids with which you are working (they aren't actual liquor, but colored water to approximate) & I'm not sure just what exactly accounts for the odor. However, if you've ever been to certain bars...there's that "after party" aromatic effect (Yankee has yet to make this candle). If you aspire to work in such a setting...you'd be well-prepared to get adjusted to such olfactory inputs. * The instructors were casual, straightforward, and sometimes sarcastic, but I'd rather learn from that type than a dull stooge. Not to mention...both my instructors knew their way around a drink and had some excellent stories. Definitely was not boring! * You have a choice of different class times & drop-ins to practice & Sarita is right - that "test" of 12 drinks in under 8 minutes is a great exercise & I too, whizzed through it after taking the classes (never having made much more than a dirty martini in the past.) There's also a written exam! So, you will learn your stuff. I don't know about: * Job placement etc. If this is really important to you..better look into it. I think if you can make friends and connections here - that cain't hurt! THEY (the instructors) DID!: * make us clean up our work station and restock the liquids just as you would have to do in a regular bar/resto so I think that's excellent practice, especially if you've never worked in an F&B setting in the past. * treat me very respectfully and worked with me when I was initially scheduling my class time since I'm in/out of town. I was SUPREMELY satisfied with their professionalism on that side. I enjoyed that my class was very diverse - I met a lot of cool and interesting people and I learned how to mix-up everything from a Rusty Screw to a Cuba Libre ;) "You b*tch, why didn't you just tell me it was a rum n coke!?" read more

ABC Bartending Schools - Final exam - 12 specialty mixed drinks in under 8 minutes w/ no notes - Bartending Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I also did a Groupon for my ABC tuition, and it was well worth what I paid for it (around $100). The classes were fun, the teachers were very cool (especially Colorado Matt and GTFM Mike), and you genuinely do learn a LOT about how bars are set up, how to mix drinks, and what managers and patrons will expect of you once you get a job. On the other hand, ABC made it clear time-and-time again that getting a job is up to you. If you're looking for a bartending school that is going to hook you up with a gig, I suggest you keep looking. But you will learn how to look for a job, and with all the high turnover in this field you will probably land a decent position somewhere. Maybe. Another negative: the school itself is a mess. Most of the mess is a necessary part of learning since you don't use real liquor when you mix. Instead, you use a foul-smelling food colored water that is especially gross in dark brown form (i.e. whiskey, scotch, etc),and nasty as all get out when you're making white russians and are forced to combine it with the "cream" down in your well. Wear your play clothes to your lessons, because you're going to get dirty. I took the 2 week night class, and I learned a lot about alcohol and bartending during my time at ABC. Our final exam required us to make 12 drinks in under 8 minutes, and I passed with flying colors even though I've never worked behind a bar in my life. Edit: because I forgot to add that GTFM Mike was kinda cute. read more

I have always wanted to learn how to bartend and I chose the best place! Never boring always up to something. Laura and Chrissy are super great just got my certificate in a week acceleration course. Super excited! read more

I just finished my classes yesterday. Chrissy was a great instructor and has a lot of experience in bartending. However, there were some things about the facility that needed to be changed or fixed but Chrissy is already working on taking care of that. read more

Instructor Jim was very informative on not only making drinks but what not to do and do in the bar scene , as well as on interview and all the other aspects of bartending life such as customers what they do and say in certain situations , the other two instructors were great as well Jerry and I for got the girl name but all were nice and super easy to work with and learn from , well worth the money ! Tony read more

So I just completed the bartending class there and I'm very proud of my teacher Jimbo for being able to teach so much in a short amount of time. He is very good at what he does and is a great instructor the place is set up very similar to that of a real bar and is a pretty mellow class to take. It was fun and I met some pretty cool people brittny and nick who will b great bartenders for a long time. The school is in a nice location and has places close by for lunch coffee breakfast etc it's not expensive and they will even help you find a job. Jimbo you taught me a lot and I will do the best I can to remember all of it in my years to come as a bartender in Nashville or wherever this crazy life takes me. Thank you Jimbo and abc bartending for helping me with my career choice. read more

I took the entire class ($ 300) a few years ago. They had an ad for ABC Bartending in newspapers. It said that you could make $ 20-40 per hour and job placement will be available. Well, I took the class because I thought that job placement will be really available. THEIR JOB PLACEMENT IS A COMPLETE SCAM. What they do is send you the list of supposedly available jobs once you complete the course in e-mail. The list is nothing more than job openings ads from Craigslist copied word for word. The ABC Bartending only deletes the experience requirement from those ads. Then, you go to those places and wonder how those places do not ask for experience. The managers at those places give you applications to fill out, and you do not hear from those places ever again. How did I figure out ABC Bartending job placement ads? I went on Craigslist and saw identical ads. Six months after my class was over, I went for a Basset class (Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training). I saw the same people from my class. NOBODY HAS FOUND A JOB! People, you do not need any certification, especially ABC Bartending certification, to become a bartender. You become a waiter first. Then, if there is an opening and you are a good fit, the manager will train you to become a bartender. Otherwise, no restaurant manager or owner will let you play with their liquor bottles if you do not have any experience and only equipped with ABC Bartending Certification. read more

Extremely unprofessional group of people. No value for their customer or student. My friend and I bought a living social coupon and scheduled our class on Saturday. We wanted to do this for fun. We reached 20 mins late (our fault), but the guy at the door said we could not enter coz we were 20 mins late. We were okay with missing 20 mins of the class but he just was not in a mood to listen or let us in. He said he would call us and reschedule it. He seemed very pissed that we were late. Which ofcourse he didnt. I called them after 3 weeks to schedule and then they wanted to charge us $25 for rescheduling. This reschedule was unecessary. We wanted to attend the class the first time and were okay with missing 20 mins. Why should we have to pay $25 to reschedule. I explained the manager Tom the situation and he said he would check with the instructor and call us back. Which ofcourse he didn't. I called them back again in 10 days and now Tom claims that the instructor said we were 1 hr 20mins late!!! The instructor was outright LYING. 1. How will the instructor know if someone who was not even let in, late. 2. why would anyone take the effort to go for a 4 hr bartending class 1hr 20 mins late. The manager indicated very clearly that they only believe their instructor and dont really care what we have to say. They clearly dont care about their customers/students. Would never recommend dealing with them. read more

Great School! Highly Recommended! So fun, informative, efficient and is located in a nice neighborhood with a convenient parking space. Chrissy And Jerry are the teachers with over a twenty years of experience in bartending not only read/tell you an information which is very important to know, but actually sharing a smart decisions gained in a long term of their practice. They are extremely friendly and focused on how to make you a professional in certain occupation. I loved being with ABC Bartending School and I am absolutely happy I choose this one particularly! Good Luck! read more

I purchased a Groupon for bartending classes and attempted to get enrolled in a class for nearly THREE MONTHS before Groupon finally refunded me. No matter how many voicemails I left, they would never return my phone calls. The one time I did get in touch with an actual human, they completely blew me off and told me to call back the following week. This place is the absolute worst. Avoid it at all costs! read more

This is a great class for anyone wanting to get trained and certified. Process is pretty smooth and the evening class times were perfect because I work full time. The instructors are a little less hands on than I expected - you spend a lot of time practicing and don't get a lot of feedback unless you ask for it. But overall it's great because you really get your drinks and techniques down. Even with very little bartending or cocktail knowledge, I felt like I left with a good handle on everything I need to get started! read more

Great response time to get my niece enrolled. Class was great gave her a huge head start

I also had a living social voucher for this class and I'm glad I did it. I did the one week 9-5 which was kind of a lot to take on but you're learning from people who have tons of experience. Luis and Rob are like good cop bad cop but they are both great. Rob, you have my number I'd love to take you out for a drink sometime!! read more

This place SUCKS!!!! I had an Amazon Local voucher (same thing as a Groupon)...I called them several times to find out when the class would start....never heard back from them.....boo.... read more

DO NOT FALL FOR THIS LIVING SOCIAL OFFER! I bought it for my husband last fall and the school was a scam. They used colored water instead of alcohol. They didn't even demo new cocktails just the old standbys. The class only lasted for an hour. What a joke! read more

the instructors are so fucking awesome i would recommend this place to anyone very hands on!!!!! this spot is popular because it is great!!!!!! i took the 2 week class i'm very confident in myself i am a startender baby and you can become one too!!!!!! i'm so serious if your looking for skills, quickness this is the place chrissy is the bomb and laura is the shit!!!!!!!!!! sign up today you wont regret oh yea ive already had some jobs lined up read more

Just finished my class and received certification. Jerry Galvin ("Uncle Jer") an excellent teacher and a great guy. Extremely knowledgeable and helpful. The class was fun and I learned a lot. There was a camaraderie between all of us students and we all helped each other. Expect to put in effort and work to get your certification. read more