Stopped into Black Barrel Tavern on a recent visit to Chicago. It was highly recommended by some locals and it didn't disappoint. Indoor and outdoor seating was available. The interior has the vibe of an elegant pub with rich dark wood everywhere. There are choices of bar seating, high tops and tables. We were greeted and waited on immediately even with the lunch crowd. Our waitress had some really great suggestions as well. Our door came out quickly. Really great portions for the price point. I ordered the chicken parm sandwich and had it for lunch and dinner. The bread was fantastic, the sauce, amazing. Probably the best I've had. While I know fries are common, these were excellent. Crispy, seasoned just right. This is a great downtown Chicago restaurant. I highly recommend you give them a try. read more

Black Barrel Tavern - Chicken Parm and fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love the vibe here! It's a great place to sit on the patio and have a few drinks! Very dog friendly too! Service is great! They make a great michelada here! As far as the food it's very average. The pigs In the blanket is very different from what you would expect-I'd rather just have chicken and waffles. The chilaquiles were pretty mid. We asked our steak for medium it was beyond well done. Chips were very soggy too! read more

Black Barrel Tavern - Pigs in a blanket - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came across Black Barrel Tavern during restaurant week. My group opted to visit during brunch. Black Barrel Tavern is what you'd expect from a tavern, the decor is dark. This isn't the place you'd feel the need to dress up but a place you can grab a drink to watch a game. I arrived 10 mins before my group and they still sat me. My waitress was very friendly and let me start the bottomless mimosa package before my group arrived. I love that they just give you the juice craft and the bottle of champagne. I opted to not get the restaurant week menu because 2:3 items food categories you can select were basically the same thing. I opted to pick from the everyday lunch menu. I was originally thinking of getting the chicken and mac-n-cheese but my waitress strongly suggested the burger and she was right! The burger paired with bottomless mimosa was the perfect mix. It had enough protein to keep me full while also allowing me to take home a solid second meal. I wouldn't phone home about the burger but it was solid choice when drinking several glasses of mimosas. read more

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No worries, huh? More like be worried. The service sucks. The food is nasty, everything is overpriced. And they don't like Black people. I spoke to the owner, and he didn't seem to care about the bad experience or the nasty food. Unfortunately, the server was overworked but attentive. They took my food off the table before I could finish it due to them rushing us out. We had more friends coming but decided to tell them not to come there. So be mindful if you like good food and service; this is not the spot. No worries, huh? More like be worried. The service sucks. The food is nasty, everything is overpriced. And they don't like Black people. I spoke to the owner, and he didn't seem to care about the bad experience or the nasty food. Unfortunately, the server was overworked but attentive. They took my food off the table before I could finish it due to them rushing us out. We had more friends coming but decided to tell them not to come there. So be mindful if you like good food and service; this is not the spot. read more

Black Barrel Tavern - The slogan No worries. But it's More like be worried - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Honestly good food and drinks. The service was a little rough. The turkey burger is fantastic though, so I'd come back just for that lol. read more

Black Barrel Tavern - Turkey burger and waffle sweet potato fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My partner and I came here to watch the Pacers vs. OKC game. The windows and doors were open, and it was uncomfortably warm. We tried to find a breezy spot but ended up at the bar for the best TV view. The bartender was friendly and checked on us throughout. We ordered a margarita and the inaudible chatter cocktail, both were just okay. We got grilled wings with buffalo sauce as an appetizer. They were hot and fresh, but the wait was long, especially since the place wasn't crowded. For entrees, we had the classic Cuban and the huge grilled cheese with fries. The grilled cheese had a nice mix of cheeses, but the bread was kind of plain. The Cuban was on the dry side and just ok overall. Decent bar if you're looking to watch a game and grab a bite. read more

Black Barrel Tavern - GRILLED CHEESE - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Black Barrel is a great neighborhood bar that serves up all of your favorite eats and drinks. Upon entering they were very accommodating and are willing to put on whatever you game you want to watch. They were voted for their burger and I must say it did impress. The staff and service really stood out to me with my dining experience. They made me feel right at home. read more

Black Barrel Tavern - BLACK BARREL BURGER - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Always walked by this spot and finally found a day to stop by with our pup! We got a spot outside which was actually great despite it being a heavy traffic area. I did the Black Barrel Burger - this won the 2020 hamburger hop so I assumed it would be good and it was pretty solid! It was a hefty burger. They also had a meatloaf special the day we went and it was pretty good as well. Keep an eye out for their daily specials! read more

Black Barrel Tavern - Meatloaf - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Admittedly, I have only ordered from Black Barrel through delivery. Can't speak to the service or ambiance, but the food I had was delicious and a great price. Everything was packaged with care and the portions were large for the price. My husband didn't love the chicken tenders, but otherwise everything was good and we will go back again in person. read more

I live around the corner and have tried many times to like this place. The servers are always great, which is definitely a positive. Unfortunately, the food quality is extremely inconsistent. I usually order the same few dishes, but the quality varies a lot depending on the day. The last straw was during Restaurant Week. I'll admit the food was good, but the bussers were completely out of control. I understand they're trying to move food quickly, but they were repeatedly carrying large trays directly over my head while I was eating (even when there was plenty of room down the main aisle), which was both uncomfortable and unsafe. They also kept bumping into my chair as they walked by, and at one point stepped on my husband's shoe so hard on our way out, it came completely off -- without even apologizing. The entire experience felt stressful and chaotic for no reason. Management really needs to provide better training on basic dining etiquette and awareness around guests. read more

This place is great when it is not too packed. Good menu and cocktails. Super loud on a Friday/Saturday night. The servers are super nice and helpful! read more

Top tier experience! My wife & I stumbled upon this place walking by the other day and we decided to give it a try. So happy that we did! The staff was friendly, I believe an Owner/Manager was walking around greeting people (love that) and they always made sure our water was filled up. This was one of those experience where I said thank you way too many times because of how polite & great the staff were. We ordered: Truffle Fried, Tomato Bisque, Braised Short Rib Egg Rolls... I repeat Short Rib Egg Rolls. Wow. Spectacular. That one of my wife's favorite dishes and in egg roll shape, you can't beat it! Good vibes. Thank you to the staff and Black Barrel overall, we look forward to coming back soon! Personal Review: 8.9/10 read more

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Well, I have never eaten here, it's a great place to grab a drink. The environment is welcome, welcoming, and cozy. This is the kind of place that feels like it's been here forever, maybe it has. The service has always been very friendly, as of the fellow customers. Will definitely be back. read more

It gets a little crowded inside, but we were also there right before a Blackhawks game, so maybe that's why. Our server needed to be reminded multiple times about who ordered what, and she would disappear for extended periods of time, so her coworkers had to pick up the slack. Granted, we had a party of about 18 people. That said, you can't expect a perfect experience, but drinks didn't get refilled in a timely manner, entrees delivered to the wrong people, so it felt like our inexperienced server should have been better selected by the management team, considering the advanced reservation & expected revenue from such a large group. My "Cuban" sandwich resembled nothing like a true cuban, other than it had ham, decent pickles & yellow mustard; substituting pork belly for shredded pork was a bold decision, and actually that was the best part of the sandwich, but the bread is more akin to a rustic European loaf than the soft interior/crispy exterior Cuban style. The fries, despite a request for an extra crunchy cook, turned out to be a limp disappointment, so I didn't eat them. I wouldn't recommend it for a bunch of people, but it does have a certain charm if you aren't trying to entertain a lot of heads. read more

Black Barrel Tavern - Cuban sandwich & fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped here before a concert at the united center and it did not disappoint. We had the Philly egg rolls (comes with 4, but could have eaten 30). Then all had burgers because it was their Monday special. The burgers were delicious, no notes! Service was great and they had tons of yummy drinks on tap and cocktails! Highly recommend if you are looking for a great vibe and atmosphere with friends. read more

Came for the Thursday $20 rib special and it was so good and such a good deal. Also came specifically to watch the Dodger game and the owner came by with such a warm welcome. We also got the pretzel, and it's a simple pretzel but it was so delicious - served warm with a cheese and mustard dip. I love that they allow dogs here. The vibe was great and was poppin on a Thursday night. read more

I'm here from California and it was suggested we go here. Our waitress Lauren was lovely and helpful. The chicken Parmesan sandwich was huge. The burger, which is on special on Monday night was outstanding! The fries were cold, but they made us new ones. I don't drink, but the other said the drinks were good. I would recommend this as a stop read more

Black Barrel Tavern - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of my favorite spots in West Loop! Black barrel is a lovely little tavern that is great to pop in to for brunch, lunch, or to have some drinks and watch some sports. The service is always 10/10 with the owner George personally ensuring his customers are having a great experience. The interior is cosy and the exterior has a lovely patio which is great in the warmer months. The food is solid, I love their tomato basil soup & the burger is great too! Drinks are always great as well. read more

They hosted our Recruiter Networking event last month. The basement room was beautifully decorated and perfect for our needs. The food was excellent and delivered when promised and our bartender was available constantly to help us as needed. I was incredibly impressed with the entire experience and look forward to coming back at a future event. Everyone I spoke to said it should now be our standard downtown meeting place. read more

Came here on a Thursday evening after an event. Our group had no reservations, and we were seated right away. There were NBA games as well as hockey playing on the TV. They had a separate menu for food and drink specials. I love the cool names they have for drinks and the variety of food on their menu. I opted for a Paloma and their chopped steak sandwich with fries. Everything arrived promptly and it was delicious. I like that it has a sports bar vibe but the menu is a little more elevated versus what you would typically see. I will definitely return. read more

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The food is amazing! My son had the ribeye, mashed potatoes and broccoli. The ribeye was cooked to perfection, the potatoes were creamy, and the kiss smoke on the broccoli really set it apart from other restaurants. I ordered the buffalo eggrolls, ribs and substituted truffle fries. The eggrolls were edible if you dipped them In the Thai chili sauce. The taste of blue cheese very overpowering. The ribs are smoky (the sauce is delectable), fries were just ok, the elotes hit the spot, and I don't like slaw, but this one was tolerable... Almost forgot, the butter for the bread was some of the best I've ever had... Service was prompt, ambiance great! read more

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Nice solid bar. Plenty of TVs so if you're looking for a place to watch multiple games this is the place. The food is good, and the service was great. My only knock is the bread they give for starters was freezing cold and the buyer was super hard. Other than that it's a great place. read more

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Our food came out quickly. I'm glad we ate outside (pretty loud indoors). All the wait-staff, bartenders, and hostesses were very friendly. Both of us ordered the chicken panini - we agreed we could have split one (so much chicken/large size sandwiches). The flavor of the truffle fries was interesting... read more

Black Barrel Tavern - Chicken panini - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We stumbled across this cute tavern with both indoor and outdoor seating. I cannot rave enough about the service-- we were dining with my 5 year old who was immediately served a tray of fruit and apple juice to keep her satisfied while we poured over the menu, then slid a plate of little cookies while we paid the check. The cocktail I had was on point and the food all came out quickly and was delicious (fish and chips, beyond burger). Fries on the side were not piping hot and indoors can get noisy but overall this spot had a great ambiance with top notch service which is hard to come by! read more

Black Barrel Tavern - Fruit tray for my kiddo so we could look over the menu without a starving toddler - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Menu options plentiful! Fork and knife options, plenty of handhelds and salads. Service was super nice (Athena, you were gorgeous and efficient!) Bathrooms are clean, which is appreciated. Cocktails were really the standout here! Not necessarily original, but well done and thoughtful. Easy to book for dinner before a Blackhawks game. We shared a caprese salad and burger. Definitely enough food. Would for sure come again! read more

Black Barrel Tavern - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Didn't expect to have one of the best Cuban sandwiches in my life in a random bar in Chicago, but here we are. The Diet Cokes were flowing. The vibes were immaculate. The service was prompt without being overbearing, and the portion sizes were on point. Only thing keeping this from a 5-star experience was the nonsense 3.5% fee they have on all checks. If we knew we were going to be he hit with that we would've likely went elsewhere, but otherwise a good spot to hang. read more

The food was great. I would suggest the pork belly Reuben. It was unexpected, but the best sandwich I've had in a long time. In addition, the grilled seafood platter was great. You would never expect a grilled seafood platter with octopus in a tavern in Chicago! The seafood tasted very fresh. The tavern was busy, however our server was very attentive and patient. read more

Swung in after an event a few blocks away to put some recovery food down and I'm always sold when a place has tavern in the name. Saturday night, place was bumping, probably had about a 20 minute wait so not crazy. It was packed but I guess I arrived during end of early dinner pre dinner dinner? And got lucky. No complaints. My server and other staff supporting were on it. Extremely attentive and the right frequency of check in. Atmosphere is like an upscale version of a local bar you'd hit after college, or for a casual but classy first date. Trendy, hip, but not over the top. I went with the Black Barrel Burger which is smash burger esque. Double 4oz patties that were pleasantly juicy, cheese (you have a choice I went White American), caramelized onions, lettuce, tomatoes & house secret spread. Really solid stuff and would easily do again. Fries had a really nice crispness and well seasoned. Overall, really solid experience, pricing was more than fair, service solid. Recommend. read more

Black Barrel Tavern - Sign - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here on a Friday night around 9 pm. The place was bustling at the bar. We were here for more than drinks, though! So, we sat at a table to order food. We were promptly greeted by the waitress. Placed our orders. The food arrived within 10 minutes. But, while waiting, we enjoyed the bread and butter! That creamy cranberry butter was amazing. When speaking to one of the waitresses, come to find out, the kitchen rotates different butters, such as Cinnamon Honey, Raspberry, and even a Cherry Butter. For my meal, I had the Fish & Chips. Much to my surprise, the fish was very meaty. They were lightly breaded and generously seasoned. They were served with tartar sauce, vinegar, and catsup. My preference was for a hot sauce, and when requested, the waitress offered Tabasco, Chalula, or buffalo sauce. Overall, the Fish & Chips were good, except the potato wedges were a little dried out. We also had the Baked Meatballs. The serving consists of 2 very large meatballs floating in marinara sauce, with 4 slices of garlic bread on the side. This can be served as an appetizer, but it is also a filling item for one! Ambiance was cool. Service was fast and friendly. Drinks were great. Food was good. Hands down, the butter was the highlight of my night! Oh, and the waitress, Megan, was excellent and attentive! read more

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If you're a foodie or just like a good bar then you need to get to this place and try it out. Food here is amazing. Went here for brunch and it did not disappoint. The bar was cool and crowded the outdoor seating was nice option to have. They are per friendly we have our dog with us and baby. They did really good accommodating us. The service was great we were sat quick and the waitress was really good. She gave us suggestions was friendly and always checked in on us. If you are a chicken parmigiana fan then you absolutely have to get here and have this. It's probably one of my favorites I've ever had. Fresh hot and just really did a good job with this one. Get here asap it will not disappoint! read more

Black Barrel Tavern - CHICKEN PARM SANDWICH - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was good & the gentlemen refilling waters and clearing plates were attentive. However, we found a long strip of plastic cooked into our meal -- not something that fell in after, but something that went through the kitchen and was found after cutting into the second half of the Benedict. These things happen but when we kindly brought it up, the server barely reacted. She said she'd get the manager but never did. No apology or concern -- just 10% off the bill, after she already brought us the full bill and we followed up on it. Additionally, our sodas went empty before we even got our food and we never got a refill. Not a great experience when visiting from out of state read more

Cool spot for a cocktail. Outdoor seating is a plus. Service was great. Ambiance was chill. No happy hour but the drink menu had something for everyone. We didn't eat but everything we saw around us looked delicious. read more

Black Barrel Tavern - Paloma - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I joined a few friends to watch an Illini Bowl game that lived in the area and this was their local spot. The establishment looks like your typical tavern. The staff was friendly and attentive. The menu had diverse options from grilled calamari, burgers, short rib sandwiches, and pasta to name a few. So deciding on what to order was tough, because it all sounded delicious. I went with the short rib sandwich and it was okay. They had a nice variety of craft beers, which I always appreciate. My friend brought his young daughter and I saw another table with a young child, so no need to keep them home. Worth a stop in for a pint and grub. read more

I was expecting this place to be a lot better based on the reviews. I was pretty disappointed. First, the entire restaurant at that time reeked like weed. It almost smelled like someone was smoking it inside the restaurant. Won't fault them for that but it was a bit odd. What did bother me was the fact that the downstairs bathrooms smelled like sewer gas and it leeched up into the restaurant at times. I ordered the tomato bisque which was good but it came out only minutes before my meal came out which is never fun. I also ordered the ribs and they were very very nasty. They had an off flavor - like the meat had gone bad. Almost tasted like old meat drenched in heavy chemical preservatives. There was hardly any meat on the bone and it was intensely dry. Quite possibly the worst ribs I've ever had. Sides were good though. Service was also fine. Overall a very hit and miss experience. Wouldn't recommend. read more

Black Barrel is our absolute favorite restaurant in Chicago. The food is always incredible, but what really makes it special is the people--especially George. He goes out of his way to make every family feel welcome, and he always takes the time to make our son, Jack, feel like a VIP. It's rare to find a place that feels this personal and genuine. Black Barrel always delivers--great food, great service, and that warm neighborhood feeling that keeps us coming back week after week. Thank you, George, for making every visit special! read more

Cool nice lil spot in the west loop. I just landed and my favorite person in the world took me for a quick bite & drinks. It's a quaint little intimate bar, that has low lighting. Cool lil place for couples or date night. I was told this place is well known for all the beautiful people who work here, I can see that. We had a really cool & knowledgeable bartender whom made some great drinks. I started the late night off my typical IPA. Next I moved on to one of the best cocktails I've ever had; "One Night in Miami." This drink was everything I love, nice subtle smokiness of Mezcal & Ginger Beer. We got there a little late so we never got to eat, but that's cool we will definitely be back. Fyi kitchen closes at 11pm. The rest of the night was filled w/ great drinks & convo in this cool imitate spot. read more

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This is definitely a dude bar. Dudes were just...EVERYWHERE. At the bar, at the tables, I even saw one dude dining alone. Dude Central. Ok There were a few chicks, a couple on dates, like me, oh and the young, beautiful, hostess and server clad in skintight, all-black ensembles. But yeah, mostly dudes. But it was one of those places for a bunch of buds to meet up after work, watch a game and throw back a few. Dudes aside, my date and I found ourselves at the Black Barrel Tavern after leaving the WNDR museum (a less than 5-minute walk) in search of food and liquor. I couldn't believe how packed and lively it was! It was definitely an upscale sports bar with multiple widescreens showing whatever games were on. The dark wood and low lighting was sexy and inviting. For a dude bar. The menu had some great-looking options and since I hadn't had a good burger in a while, I chose the Black Barrell Burger. This juicy delight, with two, 4oz. patties, cheddar, lettuce, tomato and a secret "house spread" served on brioche definitely hit the spot. The fries, however, were limpy, wimpy and completely uneventful. Disappointing because I adore fries. My date chose the Cuban. I didn't get a chance to try it, but he polished it off and said it was great. He's also a craft beer lover and chose the Dovetail Hefeweizen and an IPA. I'm not much of a beer drinker, but I sampled both and really loved the smooth, fruitiness of the Dovetail. The IPA was a bit too bitter for me. This is a fun place and I would highly recommend for a DNO or a date after the WNDR Museum. read more

Black Barrel Tavern - CUBAN SANDWICH - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped in before xmas after an artisan. Great Guinness pour. Warm greetings all around upon entrance. It may have been the football, but very 'bro' and 'poochy.' And by that I mean, many bros, many bras, and many pooches. The noise level alone from the table next to us was a force. That element continued to grow as more and more attendants entered and made their way to this same table that was already at max capacity. More people, more dogs, the table grew and amassed into unprecedented proportions, it started to swell and grow into the neighboring areas. On top of this, the ever constant hovering and swarming of the staff, swooping in, bringing this, snatching that, removing this, all contributed to a growing dread that either the table next to us was going to eventually explode into us, or that the staff would remove us themselves. It was all very bizarre and disconcerting. Food involved brie special (meh), spicy tomato soup (meh), and pork belly reuben, which imho, was some of the best pork belly I have encountered. It was all a lost though, due to the ever present table stress and the 'next' processing of the staff. I kid you not, as soon as we stood up, staff started processing the table, my wife went to the rest room, mere feet away, we waited up front for her, by the time she reached us to leave, she said an entirely new party was seated at our table as she walked by. Take away? The turn game is strong here, but the art of the customer is lost. read more

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Its a Friday night and all the places we wanted to go to were fully booked. Me and my co worker decided to try this place as the energy was upbeat and the menu looked promising. The paloma was refreshing. The short rib egg was was soo good. The chili sauce is a good tough. Got the ny strip with chimi.. but there was barely any chimi sauce... not happy about that. Waitress was okay... nothing to brag about or drag. Loved the presentation of the mac and cheese. read more

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The BEST thing about this place is their drinks!!!! They contain the right amount of alcohol versus ice ratio. The service is also great. The manager came out to check on us.. HOWEVER, the food is horrible. It's UNSEASONED and UNDERCOOKED!!! Please do not go here for the food you will be sorely disappointed. Although I love pets,, I don't want them wagging their tails and shaking their hair while I'm eating my food. We ordered the chicken gyro tacos and they were so dry even with the tzatziki sauce that I had to drink a whole eight ounces of water to wash them down. My boyfriend ordered the garlic Parmesan wings which were crispy however they were severely undercooked and underseasoned. Great atmosphere and ambience though. We only need patronized this place because Crossroads was closed. Big mistake!!!! read more