Good food and super cute outdoor area. I have only eaten here once but it is open before noon which is a plus because some places just aren't. They have amazing live shows almost every night of the week. Occassionally the crowd seems a bit young but that is because they support emerging artists. However, Pat McCurdy on a Monday night is about the best thing around if you just want a good laugh/sing-a-long type show. He puts on an entire show of making fun of people, turning popular songs into his own version, calling out Pat McCurdy Virigins, the list goes on. If you haven't been to a Pat McCurdy show you should give it a try. He plays in the back where the stage is. read more

Love this place! Great music and good food. Love the gluten free options too!

I've mostly only been to big venues like the Metro, the Riviera, and House of Blues, but when I visited the Beat Kitchen to see Tub Ring/Dog Fashion Disco/Karate High School/Look What I Did, I was quite impressed. It's a small place in a lovely location and they get all manner of independent acts, some with a fair amount of fame, others just local outfits. The floor was clean with coat racks on the side. The crowd was friendly, active but not so much that if you just wanted to stand and watch you couldn't. And, my favorite part, the bands will hang out with you and chat when they're not playing: there's no where else for them to go. I just had such a wonderful experience here, very personal and fun. I will definitely be coming here for future shows! Check them out! Oh, and they have a bar too. But I'm under 21 so I couldn't tell you much about it. read more

The Beat Kitchen is a good, small place to see bands. Lots of good bands come through to play here. I've grown to really like this place a lot. Sitting outside in the summer is great. The food is great (Thai pizza = yum), the drinks are decently priced. Decent selection of good beer to choose from for the price. read more

Your standard Chicago alternative dive bar. Drinks were weak... Boo! Food is cheap and large portions... Yay! My boyfriend enjoyed his grilled cheese and I felt okay with my empanadas... Next time I will order something else. Tater tots were also a bore, bring in fries! Service was quick and friendly, but getting the bill paid could've been faster. I liked the decor and the ambiance, it's fun and alternative and minimally decorated. We came here on Tuesday for open mic comedy and ehhh... It was a great fun date experience, a couple stand out comedians from like 12; but I just didn't get some of the comedians. read more

I have never been to their location. Just tried their veggie emapanada at Taste of Chicago. Big mistake. You would think that at a place to showcase your restaurant, good food will be provided. But, nope. I just ate half an empanada and my stomach started complaining. I am still not back to normal. I am pretty sure they used stale re-reused oil to deep fry their flavorless empanada. No need to mention that I will never visit their business again. read more

Came here to see a friend of mine's CD release party and really dug the place. The separation of the restaurant/bar from the concert venue is excellent. We had a quick bite to eat before going into the show and the volume level was just quiet enough for my wife and I to talk to each other while having some good pesto pizza and beers. We then went into the concert venue which has a great setup. There's a small bar so you can get some drinks, but it's a simple walk back to other bar if you need something else. The acoustics were great and I also dug the arrangement of posters for upcoming shows. Definitely worth checking out. read more

Come for the music. Stay for the music. There's not really much to say about this place. I went here not too long ago to see The Coathangers perform. Overall, it was a cool show the band was great and the opening acts weren't too bad. It's a very small venue and I highly suggest you get there early if you want to grab a good spot. Also, make sure you grab your beer early because that place fills up pretty fast in between bands. They have some decent stuff on tap, but I recommend drinking the good beer in the restaurant area. The venue is definitely made for cheap drinking. Chances are somebody will knock your beer out your hand during the night. That being said, it turned into a real magical shit show fueled by PBR and loud music. Halfway through the headliner's set I noticed that the floor had become a sea of broken bottles and cheap beer. I would go back to the venue because it is very intimate and rarely to you get to share such a small space with one of your favorite bands. Lastly, it gets hot as all hell in front of the stage. Be prepared covered in sweat. Mostly other people's sweat. read more

Haven't seen a show here, but at times I frequent the Kitchen for a meal or a beer. Beer selection/specials are decent, but nothing to write home about. The food is above average for what I was expecting. Not gourmet, but definitely tasty and filling. The staff is generally hit or miss. The first time I was there, the bartender was flaky and overworked. But the most recent time the bartender was probably one of the best I've encountered. Editing to 5 stars because this is my weekend bar of choice. The bartenders are awesome. The music sucks, but it does everywhere else too. read more

Meh. This place is like a sucky version of Schuba's. I went here to see a show last night and decided to get something eat, too. The place was crowded at 7PM on Thursday and we had to wait a while to get a seat. When we did sit down and placed our order, we were told they were "out" of the tomato soup, which is a permanent menu item. Ugh. Then they charged $7 for a dollop of hummus that came with maybe 2 pitas, which was not really enough for the hummus. The prices for beer weren't that good, either, unless you stick to the $3 specials... I'd only go here again if I was here to see a band that I couldn't see anywhere else. The back area where the stage is, is nice, albeit small. And even then, I'd chose to do my eating and drinking elsewhere. read more

Every show I have seen here has been awesome. A lot of bands I don't like play here, but there are just as many bands I love that do. Lots of fun to be had here. read more

This place is awesome. Great atmosphere, food, music...what's not to like. I've been here so many times and it has always been a good time. Here's the best part. I was behind Rosie S. On 3/28/14 and she is out of her mind. ROSIE S. your license was EXPIRED! I couldn't believe I was reading her review bashing the security at the door. What's not to get about the concept of security at the door. He was doing his job. My friend and I remember this because Rosie S was oddly upset. In my opinion more door security should be half as on top of their games as Beat Kitchens door security is. Three cheers for you Beat Kitchen on hiring good staff. We will keep coming back, and good thing Rosie S. Won't. Ps you told the waitstaff they weren't needed because you took care of yourself. That's why they didn't come back. You really need to review what you wrote. read more

Even though I am not able to drink yet, the live entertainment is great. Location-wise: for the first few times going here I always got lost. read more

I have been here for drinks a couple times because it is right around the corner. The ambiance is a bit dark, but very relaxed. They had great music every time, which is nice. The last time I just stopped in after work to grab a burger ( $5.00 burgers on Thursdays). The service was great and it was quiet while I waited. The burger was okay thought. The bun was a little over the top, it was taking over the meat and kinda hard ( pretzel bun). The potatoes, which were Cajun crusted, were just okay as well. They were spicy but very bland. I would come back for drinks and maybe one of the pizzas I saw come out of the over! read more

Well after reading through I saw some not-so-good reviews of this venue and restaurant. First, as someone who has played as a musician there, the staff is great and looks out FOR the neighborhood. For example, their security dudes are always out side telling bands to keep it quite or get back inside (for late-night respect for their neighbors!) Second, the food and beer selection is great! I get (at least!) 1 specialty pizza when I'm there. Lastly, the bad review I read said something to the effect of "my car was vandalized by staff" , this is a PROFESSIONAL business and I can tell you, personally, "4 white owners" don't exist here! Also they most likely have a camera system so be sure that you and your property are safe here. Sounds like a fraudster trying to get rich off a hard working local business, shame on you. Also Carmen H, the street is PUBLIC parking, so I'd suggest riding a bicycle to this venue! read more

I'm probably being unkind, but I give three stars for a few really irksome reasons. The Good: The door staff has ALWAYS been friendly to me. This is HARD to find at a music venue. I've never had a bad experience at the door and usually walk away with a crush or two. The bar staff is also really nice, and I like the bar area. They also have what looks to be a nice private upstairs area. The Bad: The coat hooks have been broken forever. Get some new coat hooks, you teases! It's Chicago! We come in parkas! The Ugly: In my book this is the most annoying attribute of all venues I've visited in the city (lone exception: the overzealous security at Metro). The Beat Kitchen has a guy on staff who just randomly walks around during the show. I don't know what his job is. At first thought it was related to sound, but he doesn't appear to be communicating with the soundboard or musicians in any way. Then I thought he might be some form of crowd control, but he spends most of his time jacking around, standing in front of girls like me - who are MUCH shorter than him, and finding a buddy to talk to. I've recently given up trying to figure out what his purpose is and started getting mad. Now it's to the point that I literally cannot *think* about the Beat Kitchen without getting a mental image of this guy. I wouldn't go so far as to say he's RUINED shows for me, but he's come close. PLEASE Beat Kitchen! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD - do something. Banish him! Shut him up! Make him stand in a corner! Get him the hell out of my way! Now that my major complaints are out of the way, it's a decent venue. The accoustics are better than you would expect for a room mostly made out of brick. I probably wouldn't be a repeat customer if it weren't for the bands that they book... BUT they book some GREAT bands. I wish they would sell tickets at the door the days leading up to a show so I could swing buy and avoid paying the extra ticketweb charge. (I'm too paranoid to buy tickets the night of and risk a potential sell-out.) Food is okay, nothing special. read more

Came here for a show a while back. I was really surprised that they had my absolute favorite beer, Dragon's Milk, here. The beer is 9.5% and comes in a 22oz bottle, so I got pretty damned sloshed that night. Anyways, the venue is good and small, and made for a very good performance. Unfortunately, the Dragon's Milk got to me and I don't remember too much of the evening after the show. I remember seeing someone had a shirt on that I thought would b e perfect for one of my friends. A week later, that shirt arrived in the mail at my apartment. Apparently I was so trashed that I came home, ordered him the shirt, and forgot all about it until it arrived. It gave me a good laugh though. read more

Darwin Deez, 9/9/13: Last minute switch from close-to-el-stop-Lincoln-Hall to must-now-drive Beat Kitchen. Arrive at beat kitchen to be told that a brownout has temporarily canceled the show. Sit down outside because inside is UNBEARABLY hot and humid. (no AC) Wait 10 minutes for overworked and now slammed solo patio waitress to come by. Order a few beers and a delicious salad, which arrives just in time to listen to the manager tell the audience that the show is now canceled. Finish salad, Catch a glimpse of Darwin on the sidewalk, drive home. I'm not totally mad a Beat Kitchen- brownouts happen, but I am secretly glad the show was canceled- I hope this venue normally has AC, because I would have been a puddle of sweat within 2 minutes of this show. Imagine the stench of 100+ hipsters packed into a small venue with no AC and its 85+ degrees out? Thank you no, So, to recap: kind of a waste of a Monday night- spent money I didn't need to while waiting for a show to happen which didn't, in a venue with climate-control issues. What an awesome night out. Boo. read more

I really like the Beat Kitchen. The food, although a little on the pricey side is good, beer prices are decent with a solid selection and the live room has a good line of site and excellent sound. They've updated their PA and stage over the years and it's now on par with any other venue in Chicago. I've seen everyone from Agent Orange to Dillinger Four here and haven't had a bad experience. If you're in a band, this is a great place to play. The sound guys are friendly and tend to be on the knowledgeable side of the spectrum, the door guys pay out fair and the bookers are easy to deal with. The only reason I don't give it five stars is that parking can be a little harry sometimes if you drive to a show. It would also be nice to have more bike racks for those days when I ride down. Aside from that, no complaints. read more

I usually come here to see comedy on tuesdays. Great food, great beer selection, tons of hipsters. All in all a great bar that has some really good bands come through. Their men's bathroom though makes the toilet from Trainspotting look like a palace but hey no one is perfect. Chicago Underground Comedy is great but don't sit in the front row or else one of the comedians will make fun of your shirt that you obviously bought at an outlet mall. Well played. read more

Cool dive bar. While we did not have food, they had really great drink specials the night we visited Bear Kitchen. Went to a show, and really cool smaller space for a venue. Only major issue was the sheer volume of the music. As a person who sees live music on the regular at a variety of types of venues, there is appropriate concert/show loud, and there is my ears are ringing multiple days later. Unfortunately Beat Kitchen falls into the second category. read more

Went to see a show last night. I like that the live music has a separate space. Drinks are moderately priced, service is attentive, and acoustics are pretty decent. Reminds me of Schubas. I'll be back. read more

Cute corner place, pretty much a bar with booths in the front and a stage with standing room only in the back - almost exact same set up as Schuba's. I was here to see Waxahatchee and the sound was a-ok. The bartenders and door people were very nice and friendly and they have drink specials every day of the week. I would go back again and again for libations and tunes. They take credit cards! read more

I came here last night for a concert and had been here once prior for a stand up comedy event. I really like the venue/space and am always thrilled to find a bar that has solid wine. I really hope they do more stand up events in the future as I'd love to come back! read more

Not a bad venue. Not really a great one either. Bartenders are quick and on their shiz. The show I went to was amazing and the band sounded damn great so this is what kicked this spot from 3 to 4. My only complaint really is the distance to the small dirty bathroom from the main room. Otherwise a pretty decent spot to see a show, will definitely continue going here for shows of bands I like but couldn't see myself simply stopping in for a drink. read more

Pros: Great pizza Small venue for local music Crazy trip if you want to use the restroom Awesome bartenders Decently priced beers No cover most of the time Cons: Parking or lack there of Timing for food is off sometimes The music is LOUD on the nights they have it which is like everyday. You have to go to the front room to get all your drinks. Boo. Overall though, you gotta try this place once. I mean, it's right on Belmont and you'll pass it so many times seeing that familiar sign and never know what a gem it could be in the neighborhood. read more

My friend has played a few shows here, so it was only appropriate that I come over and support his endeavors. But while he usually took his time with the band setting up, Beat Kitchen had plenty to offer to keep me and my friends busy. The food selection is about as average as you come by, no disappointment there really. The beverage selection is pretty decent, given a lot of folks come here to see a band with a drink in their hands. As for the service, it's definitely a plus, given a cute face or two are always attentive without harassing you. Haven't been here in a while since my friend's band has been in hiatus for a bit, but thinking about it now, I think I'll be back for sure. Especially once the weather warms up again. And oh yeah. The bathroom is scary indeed. But are we really all that surprised? read more

Solid neighborhood bar. Nice corner patio good shows most nights. One of the good ones. 6/5 stars honestly and I'm a tough nut to crack. Love this place. read more

A little bit of a small place, but some rockin bands come here! There isnt any easy L access unless you bus xfer (takes a while). But honestly its worth checking out if the band is good! They have a nice front bar area with some seating and then a separate back room venue. So if you get sick of the jammin beats you can come out front to relax. On the night I went they had some amazing fish tacos and they were on special $6 for 3 (was a Sunday). Cheap beer too! read more

With its decent sound system, seperate music room from the bar, comfortable booths and above average bar food, Beat Kitchen is arguably a more comfortable place to hear bands than Empty Bottle, Hideout or Schuba's. It all comes down to the muscle and taste behind the booking. For at least 15 years, Beat Ktichen has seemed to settle for the scraps of the above bars, touring bands that can't get booked elsewhere, and a plethora of local bands. So the quality of music is hit or miss, but every week there's usually someone worth hearing for a very reasonable price (usually $5 to $10, sometimes free). Even the open mic nights are pretty entertaining. Beat Kitchen is definitely just a half-step below the cream of Chicago's small rock venues. read more

Beat Kitchen - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Despite the fact that it seems like it's in the middle of nowhere, I really do like the Beat Kitchen. Sadly, I seem to forget about it unless someone I know is going to be playing there, but I'm going to try to keep it in my regular going-out repetoire from now on. I love the fact that you can hang out in the front and eat and listen to great music in a comfy booth with a really good and attentive server OR you can chill in the back with great live music and plenty of space to move around. It's pretty perfect for an all-in-one night when you just want to drink, eat good apps, and hear good music. I don't have any andecdotal stories which is actually a really great endorsement. Usually my andecdotes are based on annoying people but there were very few annoying people there so alas, a boring but raving review. Just be ready to have to wait a few and/or compete for a taxi. They are not extremely plentiful on a busy Saturday night. read more

Kinda hard to write a review for this place, I've only been here once or twice - had decent food from a decent selection for a bar. Both times were late night show type events (including a comedy show), so I wasn't really there to eat as much as to hang out in the stage area and watch a show. Beer selection is good, and it's not too hard to get here without driving (a must for you drinkers out there!). Ultimately, these are the easy criteria on judging a place. The crowds were decent and fairly chill, so nothing really stood out good or bad. I'd go back to this place again. read more

Come for the music; don't stay for the food/service... My guy and I waited about 30 minutes just to get water, and missed half of the show that we paid cover for just because the service was so slow and inattentive. I used to be a server, so I am definitely aware and appreciative of good service. When I have to get up and order my own drinks from the bar, that's not good service. We waited almost an hour for our food; and once it finally arrived, it was cold and soggy and nearly inedible. What ticks me off the most is that we rarely have enough money to go out for a date night; and to spend so much money on such a disappointing night makes me sick to my stomach (or maybe it was the food.) I don't see myself going back here any time soon. read more

Food was okay, prices high for the quality of food. You're really paying for the River view. Probably wouldn't eat here again.

Worthy of 6 stars if I could. Their COVID precautions were all on point. The patio is appropriately distanced with partitions between closer tables. Also, all the servers were masked and gloved and kept their distance when checking in. Felt totally safe. read more

Beat kitchen is really the anchor to Roscoe Village. You really get all you need rolled into one at this bar. I'm going to start with the menu because it is ridiculously good and the food is savory and somewhat healthy for bar food. I recommend all the pizzas, the steak sandwich, and for more filling meals - the grilled chicken sandwich. You need at least two buns for the the grilled chicken breast they throw at you. Brunch Menu is fantastic as well. Good variety of drinks. Bartenders are pretty willing to create whatever concoction you throw at them. October, they carried Ichabod pumpkin ale, a new fall favorite for myself. Bartenders are awesome by the way. Definitely friendly and fun. They always have some pretty awesome play lists thumping from their ipods as well. Great service all around. Lastly, the music venue is great to catch smaller and lesser known bands. I generally make myself more comfortable at the bar. From time to time I'll wander into the back room for some live tunes. And finally, it's about as close as stumbling distance gets to the home-front. Oh and don't be fooled by all the one-timer reviews here. It was too much for them to handle the first time around. All they needed was a second visit. read more

Went to see a couple bands play and the space is really good, and the sound is just fine for the type of music I saw. (Rock/Reggae vibe). The main bar area is very normal bar BUT a pretty good beer selection! The back room is where the bands play, lots of space - they also "sold out" which means they regulate the number of sweaty bodies into the venue, which is a good thing on those hot months in the summer! Staff was friendly, and drinking outside on sidewalk/porch was nice, no complaints in this department. Overall, I will be back for various shows, I imagine the crowd will make the experience but what the venue offers is solid. Good people means a good time! read more

I can't say a lot about Beat Kitchen--I didn't try the food and I stuck with my regular beer, but as a venue, I thought it was pretty good and I would go back if invited. Beat Kitchen is not a place my boyfriend and I would normally try just because it's a little bit out of the way. However, one of the kids I used to babysit was in the School of Rock program and was playing at the Beat Kitchen so we decided to go see what he could do (he was brilliant, for those interested). We didn't do any research on the place and walked in expecting it to be a family restaurant with a little stage area with a middle school talent show quality show happening on it. This place WAY exceeded our expectations. There was a cover for the show and we got wristbands for alcohol. The bar was nice and, well, pretty big with booths along the back wall for those getting food. It was a small space and I wondered where they were going to play. Downstairs by the restrooms? Then I was led into the back room. It was loud--as a concert should be--but you couldn't really hear anything up front. I thought that was a really nice element to the bar. The back room is a legitimate sized space. It's perfect for a small crowd and an intimate show. I would love to come back to see a professional band perform. (Not that I was disappointed by the School of Rock kids--they were legit. LEGIT--like, back to back Muse then The Clash then Van Halen--everyone knew every song and it was a GREAT show). The crowd cleared out really quickly after everyone was done playing (I think a lot of the kids lived in the suburbs and it was a mixture of bed times and dinner calling to them). My boyfriend and I hung around a little bit to finish our beers and just sit. WE went back to the front area where service was really friendly, but not at all overbearing. The bathrooms were pretty clean, also. If I lived closer, I think I'd be here all the time. read more

This is a great venue to listen to some music and I was pleasantly surprised by the food. Our waitress was really friendly and I had no other issues with the staff. We started with the potato skins which were delicious and then I went for the fish tacos which were also tasty. read more

I came here about a year ago to see one of my favorite bands-Ryan Montbleau Band. It was winter and there was no wait to get in, and coat hooks all along one wall where I could hang my coat. Who needs a coat check? The place is tiny, the atmosphere is amazing, and the sound is excellent. This past Saturday a friend and I decided to try their dinner, after we both heard the food was "really good". We were both pleasantly surprised that the food surpassed those ratings. The menus are bound by old album covers, which we both thought was really cool. It's different. I ordered the Southwest grilled chicken sandwich or whatever it was called. I was eyeballing it even before the server suggested it. When it came out, the chicken breast was almost twice the size of the bun! I cut a good portion off so I could eat this properly. It came with cheese, bacon (which was real bacon-like the kind I would make for breakfast. So many times I order bacon on a sandwich and it comes out flat and tasteless. Not here!), avocado (entire half of an avo!), semi-shredded lettuce, tomato, and onion. A delicious mayo/sauce came on the side. I dipped my perfectly cooked tater tots in it...it was amazing. My friend ordered the steak sandwich, and was amazed at how good it was, and that she ate her entire meal, not because it was small, but because it was that damn good. And she's the kind of girl who never finishes what's on her plate, and her figure shows it. She told me she'd come back just for that sandwich. That good. The weird thing was, though, when we came in we got carded and wristband-ed. We told the bouncer we were only eating, but since there was a band, we had to get the bracelet. Whatever. When we asked him who was playing, he told us as he rolled his eyes, but in a friendly way, "some local punk bands". Way to promote the place. The band started while we were still eating, but we could still converse the same way we were, which was nice. The noise wasn't a problem at all. I'd definitely go back, for the same sandwich I got, or to try something new. And of course to see another band. read more