Loveeeee Brehon! I highly recommend getting a nice cold pint of Guinness and their giant pretzel with cheese. You won't be disappointed! Waitstaff friendly and service good. Very much your Irish Pub go-to. Great selection of beers and HUGE menu of food. Highly recommend! read more

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This is a place I used to go to regularly when I Officer in River North--loved it then and love it now! I attended a large group reception in one of the areas they cordoned off and it was a perfect venue: friendly wait staff, great cocktails and good food in an old fashioned Irish Pub setting! read more

Took 10 minutes for a server to get to us and it was completely empty. For 2 pitchers of miller lite - which tasted off, and 4 shots of bottom shelf tequila, we were charged $100! Who do they think they are? You also are upcharged 3% to cover their credit card fees...not like that's already built into their prices. What a scam. Avoid. read more

I can't believe it took us this long to try this place. It's just down the block from our son's condo. The service was quick, the food was great, and the atmosphere can't be beat for watching games. It was perfect for our burger cravings. The fries were so good!! Already dreaming of my next burger. read more

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5* drink selection 5* atmosphere 5* service This place has everything you need just wish I had an appetite I'd like to try their food. Shepards pie, wings and the burger all looked good! read more

Before dinner we passed by The Brehon and decided to pop in for a quick pre dinner drink. It's a large bar in the Irish style and layout but that's as far as it goes. I'd say it's a Chicago bar with an Irish influence... maybe.. The staff are not very friendly like you would expect from this type of establishment and they do not have Irish accents. A bit of a bummer. Our drinks were fine. We did not order food but plenty other people were eating and seemed to enjoy. read more

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I came here after work for a couple drinks with a buddy. I feel like Irish pubs are usually pretty safe bets and Brehon was fine. The front room was super crowded while the back room was extremely rowdy. The yelling around the pool table was just a little much for me at 6 pm on a Wednesday. The drinks were good and the prices were reasonable, but it just wasn't my vibe. read more

Walked into Brehon on a Monday night and it was not crowded at all. Typical Irish pub atmosphere and a decent amount of taps and bottles available. A dude's food two down from me looked pretty good and smelled amazing. Some TVs were on and folks were watching the Yankees game. Sat there for 15 minutes at the bar while the lady bartender was chit chatting at the other end.. She never came by us. No acknowledgement, no "hey sorry we're slammed just give me a few minutes"...nothing. Won't be back. Shame. We have a place right around the corner too. read more

Stumbled in on a beautiful Sunday, and there was a decent amount of people. We sat at the bar and started with some refreshing aperol spritzes. A look at the food menu tempted us right away too! The menu options all sounded delectable, especially for bar food, so we struggled only picking two items. The buffalo chicken salad and spinach artichoke Mac and cheese were both huge portions and absolutely divine. The spinach artichoke Mac and cheese was genius and deliciously rich. I must go back to try more of their different options! A surprising hidden gem for amazing, quality bar food. read more

Brehon Pub - Buffalo chicken salad and spinach artichoke Mac and cheese - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Could be a good place for locals, but feels like you have to earn it. Regulars were treated well, but new comers were barely noticed.

Walked in last night at 12am after our bartender at Godfrey Hotel told us that it was open till 2am. There were people at the bar, not crowded, but there were people there. As soon as we walked in, the guy said " We're closed". My friend and i looked at each other because Yelp confirmed what we were told at Godfrey, the bar was open till 2 am. We kindly left. We arent sure it was an issue of color, but needless to say, we wont be back. read more

Brehon Pub - Looks open to me. This was 12am on a friday night. - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped in because my friend lives up here for a job right now. It's freezing outside and our walk was long. Great ambiance. Nice and chill hole in the wall type bar that I love (even tho it's not...super clean and nice) Didn't get food. Just drinks. Yummy Magners Bartender was nice, friendly and prompt. Music was nice too. Good place to have a beer at 2 pm! read more

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Stopped in here on Sunday while I was waiting on my brunch reservations. The drinks were really good. The bartender got me right. Idk how it is during busier times but I would recommend if you want a nice neighborhood bar. Especially if you get the bartender I had. I didn't get her name. read more

Brehon Pub - Cosmo - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was pleasantly surprised with this place! Seems like a dark pub when enter but the food and service was excellent! Great burger! Good prices. Parking on street easy! read more

Brehon Pub - Pub burger - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Me and my cousins stumbled into Brehon Pub, and not the way you would expect. It was a late-night bite after rounds of ping pong and thankfully their kitchen was still open. We sat in the back area that at first we didn't even think you could enter (they even have a pool table on that side). Furthermore, the food was AMAZING! I feel like they took bar food to a whole different level. Everyone cleared their plates and the prices were reasonable. I would recommend the Nachos, guacamole bacon burger, or the Mac & bacon. The waiter was very nice but I forgot her nameeeee, will definitely be back. 10/10 read more

Brehon Pub - Irish Nachos + Chicken - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Taking advantage of the first gorgeous day of 2021 and walked around looking for food I could take back home to my husband so we could watch Episode 1 of Falcon and Winter Soldier. Anyway, Irish bars always have good burgers, so I took the chance! First off, this place had about 6 people in the bar, but about 40 covers out on their street patios. Only Naomi was working. She was hustling! What a star. Even with all the people (who let's be honest, were probably like me and hadn't left their house in 12 months) she was taking care of. Drink, food orders, sanitizing tables and enforcing social distancing. She was really doing it all! I sat at the bar and let her know I was there for takeout, but told her to take her time. Menu is substantial (irish nachos, fried ravioli, salads, wraps, mac and cheese...and of course burgers! I ordered the Bleu and the Guacamole Burgers with fries to go. Naomi was so sweet! She took my order and honestly within 12 minutes I had everything boxed up and ready to go. Let's talk about take out presentation. Honestly, this kind of presentation is what I've been waiting for this entire pandemic. Cold toppings (LOTP) were not on the burger but wrapped separately. Fries were cut thick enough to still be a little crispy (gotta remember, I'm coming back to South Shore). This was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Plus, it was really nice to sit on a bar stool again...even if it was by myself and just to order takeout. read more

Brehon Pub - Burger Sunday - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing fries. Could have crispier chicken strips. Expansive menu for whatever mood you're in. Good place for a chill hang with sports on TV. read more

Love this pub! Great bar food and great atmosphere. We always have a great time! Highly recommend! read more

Brehon Pub - Watching the elite 8 ! - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great ambiance, good food, reasonable prices for the area. Great location. Friendly service

Stopped by here for a late-night dinner last minute because it's so close to my apartment. Since it was Wednesday, there was a $6 beer deal on a pint of Fat Tire -- tasty! And I've gotta say, I didn't expect much from the food walking into the pub, but I enjoyed the Guinness bratwurst and the green bean fries. Good price and sizable portions. And awesome Halloween decorations!! I'll be back here for sure. read more

Brehon Pub - Bratwurst with fried green beans - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

An amazing hidden gem in the upscale River North neighborhood of Chicago. Disclaimer: I come here for after-work drinks. I have not tried the food yet so my review may be a bit biased. Brehon Pub is an Irish bar that beckons back to the days of "Old Chicago." Quiet, low-BS, and cheap AF. It's a short walk from the Chicago Purple/Brown or Red line CTA stations. It's away from all of the rowdiness of the Hubbard and Kinzie street bar scenes. Drink selection will contain the macros with a few local brews. Skewed more towards local for draft options. Whiskeys will contain the usuals but with emphasis on Irish and Americans. Price is $-$$. I got a Black & Tan (Guinness + Harp's) for $7 and a shot of Tullamore Dew for $10. There are few places in River North where you can find drinks that cheap. The bartenders were attentive and nice. They were quick and attentive. Clean restrooms were a big plus. 5/5. Amazing vibes, cheap, and everything you could want from a local Irish Pub. Favorited for the River North area. read more

Brehon Pub - Black and Tan. - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was our first time there, so wasn't sure what to expect. We only had drinks. Actually, we had beers and quite a few people showed up, for an afternoon. I was surprised. About half the people were eating, so maybe they have good food. Service was fine. The ambience is old-school from the 1980s which suited us just fine. Average in cost as any other place. If I was in the area, I may stop by again, but not a destination. read more

Brehon Pub - a view of the bar area - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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let me start by saying that we really wanted to like this place. we're relatively new to the neighborhood and still looking for a regular spot. this place is low key with a fair selection, after perusing the menu online we thought it had great potential. first time we came in was okay, but the service was pitiful considering the restaurant was nearly empty. empty drinks most of the meal, and our server had an attitude. that said, the food was decent and we brushed it off -- everyone has bad days, we didn't want to hold the waitress fully accountable. we let it go and decided to try for round 2 a few weeks later. we called ahead to check availability and already got red flags. we asked if they'd have room for 2 in about 20 minutes -- a normal question to ask a hostess. she was very condescending and said "well i didn't bring my crystal ball with me today so i don't know". against our better judgement, we went anyway. i went inside to put our name down for a patio table, the hostess stormed up, scribbled my name down, and literally ran off without a word. after about 20 minutes, a table left and we were sat. she told us she'd be back with a rag in a minute. a full 40 minutes went by, during which time this same hostess/server walked past us multiple times, as did the manager. finally we snagged the manager and explained that we've been waiting. his response was "well did you speak to anyone or did you just sit down out here?" he sighed and took our drink order, then came back with a dry rag and wiped a couple crumbs off the table. (see pic - clearly didn't attempt to disinfect or sanitize at all) we put in an appetizer as well. by the time it came out, we were ready for another round, but the manager (who now assumed the position of server) ran off without giving us a chance to do so. after about another 20 minutes, he came back and we ordered one more round of drinks and a plate of wings. we weren't half way through this round when they decided we were ready to wrap up, and dropped the check without a word. we left over 2 hours later without ever being given the chance to order entrees. like i said, we wanted this place to be our regular spot but i can say with certainty we will not waste our time and money here again. read more

Brehon Pub - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A great place, there is good food, a lot of different types of beer, you can watch sports events, you can play darts or other games with friends. read more

Great food and drinks and vibe at Brehon. AMAZING mac n cheese which I will be coming back for read more

Brehon Pub - Mac n cheese, bacon grilled cheese - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Your regular Irish pub with bar food and cheap beers. My friends got Swiss mushroom burger and chili fries. All of us agreed that burger was exceptionally good. Honestly, you do not expect much from bar food but that burger was a bomb. Unfortunately, chili fries did not leave a lasting impression and we left half of the portion on the plate. I also do not believe that glasses were entirely clean, but I rinsed them with my beer anyway haha read more

Pros: large menu. Open late. Large portions. Clean business. Food is put out quick. Cons: The worst service I can ever remember having...for real. After the waitress finished her convo she graced us with her presence maybe 20 min after sitting...this is the last time we saw her unless we went to the bar to ask for something. Before you ask... they were definitely NOT busy. She never brought waters and when I asked we got 1 for 2 people. Someone from the kitchen came out multiple times to get our food, plates, asked if we need anything. If I saw her working I would just sit at the bar or go somewhere else...it was a joke especially since we were seated in her chat view from the bar. I ordered a bacon cheddar burger...it was good. Also ordered a Reuben to go and that was large sized and had a lot of flavor. 2 sandwiches and 2 beers was like $42. read more

Brehon Pub - Bacon cheddar burger - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Service is always above and beyond best Irish pub in Chicago ! Oh and also best mac and cheese in the city for sure !!!

This is what a pub should look like! Great food! I had the pulled pork which I will go back for. Service was right on. Thanks Nicole! read more

Brehon Pub - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice local bar with friendly staff and good service. Good selection of Irish beers as well as others. I'd recommend if you're looking for a cheaper bar on the River North area. read more

Great neighborhood pub! We frequent this spot for drinks and bar food. The bartenders are always very friendly and service is quick. They have a pool table as well as TVs to watch sports. They have a daily special for about $7-$9 for a complete meal. Our favorites include - -tots - fried green beans -$3 PBR - Black bean veggie burger topped with guacamole We are excited to try the giant pretzel, various Mac and cheese options, and the loaded waffle fries. read more

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Clearly a part of Chicago history. Involved in a shaky story that entrapped Chicago politicians, Brehon pub is a quintessential river north bar. Around since the 80s but dressed up to look like Carl F*** Sandburg wrote about massive shoulders in this pub alone. Come here to drink in old Chicago atmosphere surrounded by young Chicago money. Play a Tom petty song for Naomi and tip her well. read more

Brehon Pub - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'll start with the positive- the food was delicious! I got the blt which had a nice smoky flavor to it. My friend was super happy to find out they had the impossible burger! Sadly, the service was so bad that I will not be coming back. I try to keep in mind that sometimes people have bad days, I'm hoping this was the case but immediately the waitress came to get our order, my friend asked what amber beers they had. Her response was to open my friends menu, point to the beer list and said you can look right here. Not a good first impression. When she came back she had her mask off and was way to close for Pandemic comfort... she took our food orders came back a few minutes later said she completely forgot our order and asked again- this time wrote it down on paper but at least she was nice this time? Our food came out pretty quick and like I said was the best part of the experience. She never came back again so we had to ask someone else for our check. COVID- waitress sometimes did not wear mask and they are still using regular menus. read more

Happy hour specials are amazing...but if the serving sucks then what's the point? I literally sat outside for an hour and only had 1 beer, the server NEVER came back to our table. Horrible. She was serving other tables but before we could get her attention she would dart back into the bar. Maybe she thought 1 beer during happy hour was enough? read more

Nice and cozy. Close to home. Large awnings provide ample shade during these hot summer days. Cons: Drinks were quite watered down. The cheese curds were overly fried [couldn't even poke my fork through them] Will come back because 1) close 2) support local :) read more

One of my favorite dive bars/pubs in Chicago and the River North area! The foods stands a step above similar restaurants, and there are food and drink deals throughout the week. I suggest going for a beer and watching your fantasy team lose. read more

Food was very good, I wish the mushrooms were fresh. Fries were hot and flavorful just how I prefer. Beer was cold and nice selection of tap beers. Service was above average. Great pub atmosphere! read more

Every time I've been here the waiters and waitresses have been incredibly rude. I'm not sure what is going on in the water over there, but they all look extremely unhappy and it feels like you are an inconvenience to them. I wanted to like this place because I live so close, but it's just not pleasant because of the staff. However, the patio seating is nice. The food is verryyyy average. read more

Enjoyed the outside patio on this nice, warm, sunny day with some friends for a quick moment before we headed to our main event for the evening. The patio is a little tight with the positioning of the tables, but we made it work. Any place that pours a great makers and coke is ok with me, plus they had my Stella on tap! The bartender was a nice guy. I will return soon to try the food. read more

Seriously, I've never reviewed this place? I've been going here since 1988, when I worked a block away. Was here last night, with a girlfriend, after a trunk show at WEAR eyewear, with her two optician friends. This is really the best place to go to in River North. It's woman-owned (and she is awesome), it's unpretentious, the bathrooms are clean, the bar itself is clean and it always attracts a wide cross section of interesting people. It's a bastion of real Chicago in the melange of Rainforest Cafe/Hard Rock Cafe stupidity that River North sadly has a lot of these days. My friend ran into a friend and former coworker of hers there. Some other guy joined our group when he overheard me mention Matisyahu (a jewish rapper that I sometimes play on my radio show). Crazy! Random! I always have a good time here, whether it's to have a heads-together discussion with a friend on the state of our lives, or to chat with the random people that wash up on the beach of our presence. And Stellas are $6 - not a bad price for the otherwise oh, so FABulous and pricey River North. And RIGHT to the reviewer who calls out the parking complainers. Seriously?! Transit and cabs abound! And he's absolutely right that you shouldn't be drinking and driving anyway - leave the damn car at home. read more