Ugh. Last night Bruno's was full of scary old white bigots. I used to think this place was great - a convenient, old-fashioned dive-bar, with cheap beer that let's you bring in takeout, etc. I'll never return, after what happened last night. My boyfriend and I (we are both white and in our 40's) had plans to meet a few friends (two black men and a black woman, in their 20's) at Bruno's for his birthday. When we got to the bar, we find our friends waiting outside because they had been kicked out -- They had arrived before us, and asked if there was anyone celebrating a birthday inside. The bartender said "does this look like a place where people celebrate birthdays?" and then told them rudely to leave, saying that they don't allow people wearing backpacks inside (one of our friends was wearing a backpack). My boyfriend and I then went in, and asked the bartender why he kicked our black friends out of the bar. An older white patron at the bar barked at us that our friends reeked of weed, and they don't want "that kind of thing" in there. The four other, all white, older patrons at the bar chimed in with grunts and "yeah"s. I didn't think that our friends smelled like weed, and I told the bartender that. I also asked him, even if he did smell weed, how did he know the weed small was coming from them? One of the patrons replied "we don't want their kind in here". I told the bartender and the patrons that they were being racist, and that had lost my business forever. The bartender and the rest of the patrons started yelling at us, saying we were idiots and they didn't need our business anyway. My boyfriend shot the bartender the finger from across the bar, and one of the older patrons got off his stool and got up in my boyfriend's face, saying angrily that he would have us arrested if we didn't leave immediately. After reading some other Yelpers experiences with bigotry at Brunos, including a review by one longtime patron who actually commends Brunos for their attitude against people of color, I'm convinced that our experience was not an isolated one. I think that dive bars are great because they are unpretentious places for EVERYONE to drink and hang out, regardless of how they look. If you feel the same way, then please, please consider boycotting Bruno's. There are so many other great bars in the area that value the diversity of the Rogers Park community, and are way more deserving of your business. read more

Great neighborhood joint , a last of a dying breed. This is a no frills shot and a beer place. The reason I don't trust yelp is places like Bruno's . After reading the reviews I wasn't going to stop by, however my friend Beth from DePaul insisted I meet her there before we went to a Loyola hoop game. The 1 star reviews were everything from A guy saying 10 times They have no "Tap Beer"..., Homeless people hang out there, No tap beer Oh my lord.... What will we do? I have a suggestion, drink a bottle! The number of bars that don't clean there beer lines, and the build up of living organisms living in those lines would probably make you vomit. As for the homeless, please show me a liqueur store that doesn't have that element lurking around. "Every one there has no teeth is old and racist " "Dirty and unfriendly" "Cash only" Sorry junior hipsters if this isn't your cup of tea, you have to realize you are in Rogers Park. If this isn't your scene head back south on Clarke St and go wait in a huge line at barleycorn or moe's ....You will find CLEAN PEOPLE- $7 PBR-ON TAP- & you can use your mom or dads credit card .The bar scene is isn't the greatest so I was happy to go to a place with some open stools, good juke box and bartender named Marty who is attentive, knew when we needed a drink. There was also a good cross section of people, from old timers to younger coeds having a drink before the game. No frills, great service , great jukebox, fun bean bag game, good conversation and nice people. I'll defiantly be back any time I'm in the area. I wish there were more places like Bruno' s around. read more

went Bruno's Lounge last night as I do every few weeks like any loyal and law-abiding customer and was falsely accused by a visibly impaired man of trying to steal bottles then physically threatened. After I was so harshly kicked out, I was told that he was the owner. I don't know what to believe because I had no indication that he is anything more than an angry and intoxicated fellow customer on a self-righteous power trip. Either way, one of the most offensive things you can ever do to someone is to falsely attack a someone's moral character using irrational logic, and then on that basis, tell them that they are going to get slapped and get their skull cracked. I would have given 3 stars to the place because of their prices and selection but this highly offensive experience completely ruins my view of this establishment. I would come back to reason with him and make peace for the misunderstanding but his threats of violence if I ever returned gives me no chance for that. read more

The "younger" bartender with the beard, mustache, and glasses (sometimes wears a baseball cap) is the biggest pussy in the world!! Talk about a coward. What a douchebag. He threw me out because the hot girls he thought he was picking up shifted their focus of attention to me because I don't look like a sex offender. So what if they stopped talking to you, you little bitch? Can't you tell by now that they were just trying to get free shots? Dumbass. He is violent and stupid and will more than likely force your hand to defend yourself. He belongs in jail. Better yet, he should not look both ways before he crosses the street. The world would be a better place if he was dead. read more

I'm an assyrian woman and just went in there to buy bottled water during the day time around 3:00 pm and when i walked in , a young baldish bartenter asked me rudely what i wanted, and i subtly remarked that he didn't have to ask me in such a volitile manner. he called me an arab cunt and pushed me out. I called the cops and when they came, to my surprise, they told me if i ever walked in there, i'd be arrested. I was shocked and have thus filed a report against officer circcioni from 24th district. to independent police review. is it my imagination or is rogers park extremely racist and low life!! Please ban this bar and it's vulgar racist employees/owner! read more

The owner Tim is a blatant racist and by going here you are supporting this. Please use your money to patronize a more deserving bar. A friend of mine overheard Bruno call black people "monkeys" in response to a television ad featuring African Americans. Before ever even hearing this, I went and got a very, very weird vibe from Tim(I am Asian and was with a white girl)- despite him being polite to others. I actually thought it could have been racism at the time, but I brushed it off- until I heard this little ditty. Please don't go here. Also it is just gross and depressing. read more

I returned to Chicago and stopped into Bruno's coming from the Loyola "L" stop. I swear, one old guy was still sitting on the same stool. I know Tim from St. Ignatius days, but he wasn't in. I must say, nothing really changed. Still cash n carry and higher prices than they should be in the package store, due to being across from Loyola U. Nothing new. I wonder what the place would become if they sold the bar ... something upscale and more accommodating to having women drop by. Naw ... never happen. Why ask why???? read more

I've been coming to the liquor store side for years, and it has gone completely downhill. If you're not stuck dealing with the guy with long hair getting mad you won't choose debit over credit, it's the young white guy who clearly hates his job/life groaning through the purchase and only talking up the other bros who come in. All of the employees treat everyone with disdain. Get a better staff. Won't be giving them my money anymore. read more

If you were searching for a grumpy Trump supporting knuckle dragging haven then at last you have found your venue! The Old guy behind the bar is an insufferable troglodyte; flippant, rude and disinterested. I wasn't alive during Jim Crow but I got the full experience. My being there with a white female friend likely added fuel to the fire. The saltiness was evident. Won't be going to this toilet bowl again read more

All the negative reviews are right (dimly lit, fuckin weird/homeless clientele, cash only [WHAT?!], overpriced, racist). But the worst part? NO BEER ON TAP. WHY THE HELL AM I GOING TO GO TO A BAR WITH NO BEER ON TAP. NO BEER ON TAP NO BEER ON TAP. WHO'S GOING TO GO TO A BAR WITH NO TAP? NOBODY. IF YOU'RE A NOBODY, YOU'RE PROBABLY AT THIS BAR WITH NO BEER ON TAP. read more

You would think a bar that is directly across from the Loyola campus would be filled with Loyola students. This is not the case at Bruno's. Bruno's is an oasis for those Rogers Park locals who don't want to deal with stupid drunk college kids. Although, they do have a liquor store attached to the bar that almost never cards.... go figure. read more

If you are a bitter white guy who has trouble relating to women and loves Trump, this is you're place. There were only four people there while other bars nearby were packed with fans of women soccer during the World Cup, The vibe was dark and desperate. A shithole of bad kharma in an otherwise great town to visit. read more

came here today and paid $9 for a shot and a beer, accompanied by the people behind the bar and their friends having a deeply misogynist conversation about the women they've slept with. bad price, terrible atmosphere. don't come here if you're a woman, or care about women, or if you want to drink for cheap read more

The beer is cold, the TVs play a few different channels, and that's about it. Using the bathroom, it looked like they hadn't cleaned at least for a full day. And this was on a busy night! There's a million bars around, and I can't think of what makes Bruno's unique enough to be a return customer. read more

Friendly Bartenders (if your white).The "N" word is used quite frequently after 8pm. This is a straight up homophobic -completely racist joint-the domestic beer prices are great-my conscience won't let me drink here anymore-C read more

If you're an old, white, crotchety, racist, lowbrow goon, you will LOVE this place. If you have at least an 8th grade education and all of your teeth, chances are this bar is NOT for you. This place is bad, stay away. read more

Might want to update their security/procedures when customers use credit cards...especially the one that was stolen from me and used at Brunos... read more

This place is great. Its never packed, the drinks are strong, and CHEAP! Whats there not to like.