The wifey, toddler and I were walking through old town and wanted to grab a bite to eat on our way home so we dropped in here. My wife had the chicken tenders and I had the portobella mushroom burger. It was really messy and just ok. If I were in the mood for something heavier I would have tried the fish n chips but that was not the case. It is also a Notre Dame bar per the sign on the bottom on the door, but it was not in your face about it as obnoxious as some domers are. read more

I was here with a bunch of friends for the big Packers-Bears game. it was packed obviously so we couldn't really get great seats, however, the bartenders kept the beers coming at a decent clip. The most important factor in a situation like that. Standard pub grub was on the menu. Middle of the road. read more

So not an amazing experience. The guy running the bar tonight felt very empowered to let us know that we had closed our tab one too many times. (We don't keep our tab open because we have jerk friends that take advantage of us.) This had caused him an apparent over excising of his powers which limited his abilities. It was all way too much and he decided to cut us off because that was in his power to do so...(just so you know). What a douche...we probably will never be back which seems unfortunate considering the remainder of the employees seemed totally normal and non douchey and the food seemed awesome. read more

Please change the chicken fingers to chicken breasts. My friend and I had a horrible experience eating "chicken fingers". We were so excited to eat them but what showed up was not chicken fingers. They were chicken breasts and I think the cook must have spilled the whole bottle of pepper on them. So gross. Please change. read more

The service was subpar at most. We ordered nachos and it's took over solid 45 minutes not to mention we got our entrees before ... the nachos were an appetizer. Needless to say, we were EXTREMELY disappointed. Would not recommend. 1/10 at most. read more

Declan's Irish Pub - Expected at least a more extravagant plate for the wait but what came out was rather plain. Smh - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

OK so went here two times now and second time we walked out. The servers are incompetent from the moment you walk in. They look at you and then look away, no hello can I help you nothing. A guy at the bar I believe the manager was eating food and the same, nothing. We went to a high top table and sat down. No one helped us for 5 min. We were all of 10 people in the place. We looked at each other and decided to scat. We decided that we wanted to not drive ourselves nuts by taking this treatment any longer. Go else where or plan on being treated like an imposition to the workers. :( read more

Declan seems like a nice guy, but the food here? Not so much. I'd rather eat cardboard. My mother always said that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. So I'm going to stop here. read more

Came here to watch the Notre Dame game and the bartender was SO RUDE. I nicely asked her to remake our drinks because they just didn't taste right. Instead of just remaking it like any other bartender would, she argued back and forth with me and told me that if i didn't like it then I should leave the bar. What a nasty and rude girl, definitely wouldn't want my employees treating customers like that. read more

Without a doubt the best new bar in the area, while I'm not quite ready to call it the best on the Wells strip, it's close. The small menu is diverse and the food is really good. However, the best part is people. It is not the frat boy scene of Lincoln avenue, but rather a good mix of adults. It has the feel of both a destination and neighborhood bar. The servers are so sweet (and adorable--if that matters to you). They have some of the best bartenders in town. Get to know both your server and the bartenders. And you might even meet Declan himself who is super cool. There are plenty of TVs and the last time I was there dualing Cubs and Sox games did not cause a rift in the friendly crowd. Exactly what a night at the bar should be. read more

Was happy to see this bar come to the south end of wells in old town. Manage your expectations is the key to this place. You are at a bar after all. The service is by no means fast, the drink specials are a bit above average, and the food is good. I would like to say I will be back but who knows. I say try it, and hope that the wait staff improves. read more

Relatively terrible for an Irish pub. I've sent back about 16 beers in my extensive drinking life for being flat and 5 were here. Something is wrong. read more

Went there expecting typical bar food after a long day at the restaurant and was very happy to sample food other than my own especially comfort food! Waitress was very friendly (as well as cute) and the crowd nothing like I saw when it was that wannabe nightclub "Spoon"...what a nightmare that was. This was my first time eating there since they opened a few weeks ago and after tonight it will be the first of many! The beer was cold and the fish (fresh,never frozen) and chips delicious!!!!!!! Long Line cod which basically means sustainable and I am all about that. The seasoning on the fries is quite unusual and I am gonna have to try them again to figure this one out..don't care if they where made in house as they just tasted great!! My girlfriend had the Shepard's pie and this as well was from scratch....simply great flavor throughout every tasty bite with Asiago cheese crisped on top to a golden hue....MMMMMmmm that's on my list for next week when I bring my friends from NY. I will be back %100!! Found out the owner is actually from Belfast,Ireland which is refreshing nowadays! Menu looks to be mostly from scratch which means it's not quite as huge as one is used to at those nameless chains popping up all over town....this place has most everything beat around here as far as a comfortable affordable place to eat. So, if you are looking for great food and even better beer look no further than my now favorite neighborhood pub.... however if you want a "cookie cutter" typical bar menu better stay away as you won't find that stuff on the menu! read more

Food came out wrong, ended up waiting 40 mins for nachos... Our waitress, Veronica said out next drink was on her, and then charged us. First and last time here. Also she never came to our table I had to flag our waitress down each time. read more

I went here for their Halloween party, it was being hosted by a friend of mine so I went more for the people than the place. I didn't order any food so I can't comment on that but otherwise, the place was great. The bouncer at the door was nice (unlike some places who have jerks at the front door) and the bartenders did a great job managing the large crowd who all wanted to get their money's worth with an open bar party. The bathrooms weren't bad (considering the crowd). I only used it once and I was cool with it and I didn't wait that long. read more

I had a lot of fun here on Saturday night for a friend's birthday party. We got a wristband deal and the bar had set aside a few tables for our party on the second floor. The first floor was packed but the second floor had more room to dance and socialize and such. The bartender was very nice as was the DJ. The music was very danceable and everyone was having fun. I would definitely recommend this venue for a party - it was very hassle-free and they had a good space! read more

My husband and I came here for a quick drink. We had a nice, friendly waitress who knew the menu well. I had a glass of wine and my hubby had a great, delicious beer. I woukd definitely go back to this bar. We didn't get to stay long, but I would come back for drinks. read more

Been here a few times & the food is really delicious. And, today, when they made a mistake with our order, the waitress & manager were kind enough to comp the entire bill. That was above & beyond good service. We'll definitely be back. And, happy to pay full price :-). The food is that delicious. read more

Great place to come watch a game and/or eat some really good pub food. I would highly recommend the fish and chips. They have some of the best that I have had in Chicago. The wait staff is always very friendly and they generally have some pretty good specials. read more

Heck yeah, I'm excited to give this place a 5! Compared to other bars/pubs, I personally have an affinity for this place because 1) it's an ND bar, 2) good service, 3) I ordered fried fish and it was actually hot and delicious. I think fried fish is the ultimate test for a good pub. Anyways, go Irish! read more

My birthday party was awesome!!! So I wanted to have my 25th b-day party at a bar in a central location in the city, so that all my friends could easily get to it. I called around (I did kind of do this party planning last minute) and most bars I tried were not available for the night or the package didn't sound like that good of a deal. Then (luckily!) I called up Declan's Pub and I was able to speak to the person in charge right away (some of the other places I gave up on because I couldn't even get a hold of a manager) and he was super friendly and helpful and totally helped me organize the details. Long story short, I was able to reserve the entire upstairs area (for a few hours, but it was still cool) with its own bar. We had our own bartender up there, who was really nice, and the drink package was a good deal. Basically, we had open bar for a few hours and appetizers for our party. The only thing I might have wanted was more vegetarian/health food options but it was delicious anyway. It was a fun night and I've been back on several weekends since then. It's always a good time! read more

If you like chill irish pubs with good beers, good chill crowds, great wings, and very nice staff then check it out. Only reason it's 3 stars is bc its a small irish pub what ya looking for can't give Em all 5s! And it's much better than a 3. Go check out a game, have a beer, and chill. read more

I came in for the ND game and found a seat " upstairs" it took about 5 mins to get a drink which was just a lemonade cause I had to work after the game and only got one no refills on soft drinks and got the pub fries which were ok but the so called aolli was just hot sauce and mayo I asked for cheese and never got it needless to say I will never go back read more

My husband, a few friends and I stopped into Declan's for a few drinks last Saturday night and we did not excepted to have so much fun. Music was awesome, bartenders were fast, waitresses were great! We will definitely be back and I have already recommended Declan's to my friends. Two thumbs up! read more

Came here on a Saturday afternoon to watch a soccer game with a friend. Place was neither crowded nor empty, and the atmosphere/ambience is what you'd expect from an Irish pub. We were able to get a good table with a view of multiple tvs. Our waitress Anna was personable and attentive, and explained everything well. They had good drink specials, and I have to say that the wings were some of the best I've had in the city. Overall it was a great experience, and I would definitely return to catch a game. read more

This place is a sad excuse for an establishment. Only people in the restaurant, not offered a beer menu (learned the entire place only has one), food took 30+ minutes (again, the place was empty), half of the food was cold, the waitress never checked on us (too busy leaning on dudes). I hope this place doesn't last. I would like to see a respectable bar/restaurant move in. read more

I've been here a few times over the past year and have always had a great time. Weds night trivia was a blast. Dave took care of us and made sure we had a great time. I'm a big fan of the French onion soup, wings, and chicken pot pie. read more

This is a great spot to have a drink. It has a pub like feel to it, but the food is a lot better than normal pub food. I highly recommend the chili when it is available during the fall and winter. read more

One word: wings. The regular buffalo wings here are my weakness. I've been here on many occasions and it's rare that I don't order wings AND an entree. The salads are all delicious and the Rueben and the pulled pork sliders are two of my favorite sandwiches. The staff is super friendly and accommodating. They have a great beer selection and awesome specials. So if you're looking for a bar that's not filled with D Bags like Benchmark down the street then go to Declan's! Great service, food and drinks. read more

Declans is a great place for Sunday football and for Blackhawks games. Love the Carne Asada burger, frest cut fries, fish tacos, chili... on and on.. If you haven't been to Declans in a while it's time to visit again! read more

We had a late night drink here after a Sunday night show at The Second City. It was a great place to catch the tail end of the game. The atmosphere was welcoming and the bartender was very friendly. We forgot my wife's birthday gift at the bar and left the city the next day. They were nice enough to mail it back to us in PA that week and they refused to accept payment for the shipping. Talk about going the extra mile for the customer! I will go out of my way to visit this bar again the next time we're in town. Thanks Declan's! read more

Place has potential. Needs better cleaning. Lots of bar flies and a stale beer smell. Had what they called the "Worlds best fish and chips". Good quality fish, unfortunately cooked very poorly leaving the coating more doughy than crisp. Fries were limp too. Not sure their fryer is set hot enough. My friend loved her Salmon and couscous though. It looked delicious and perfectly cooked. read more

Great, great place. Way above average pub food and great service. And, try the donuts. I'm serious.

I usually like the atmosphere and beers at Declan's. For the most part the staff is very friendly. Tonight we walked in and there was a doorman there that was on an ego trip. He harassed our entire group, I think someone forgot to tell him that we are the customer. With that said we had to take the abuse as we were there for a birthday party. I will not be back and suggest the same for everyone else. read more

We loved the appetizers! Fried pickles were the best we've ever had and the nachos were a large portion...perfect for sharing. We went there to watch the Notre Dame football game. We loved being in an Irish environment to watch an exciting game. Downside...you can't watch the game from every seat at every table. They need to add miller lite to the draft list. Overall- great pub! Make sure to call ahead if you would like a seat during the game. read more

Really well-run and reliable Irish pub. Clean, good service, and the food is miles ahead of your standard pub fare. On the weekends, it gets a little clubby -- very crowded and loud, which is not for me, but if you like that kind of thing, then have it. This place is gold on weeknights. Very friendly staff, reasonable prices, excellent food. It's got a nice Irish decor, spruced up just enough to fit in among the nicer Wells St. bars. If you like the very conventional, mainstream late-20s/early 30s bar scene, this place is as good as any you'll find. read more

Have had a couple really fun nights here--good food and strong drinks. It's been busy when we've gone later, but our server was cool and held it together in the face of dealing with some demanding jerks at the next table. Also nice when it's quieter in the early evenings. Definitely sit outside when you can! read more

Declan's Irish Pub is as good as it gets..... lots of outdoor seating, lots of great food (The fish and chips are amazing!) The staff is very friendly and courteous, and the bathrooms are clean and well stocked. Great place to relax and enjoy a beautiful day with a drink in hand and a full belly of delicious food! read more

Declan's has a nicely done interior (for the location and price) and a very friendly staff. That saved it from two stars. The positive: If you want a nice place to drink with friends, but want to avoid bars overcrowded with college students, Declan's is a good candidate. Also, they have edible fries. The negative: Do not go if you want any other edible bar food. I ordered a spinach salad and grilled chicken tenders. Oy. Everything in sauce form here is pretty awful. The vinaigrette on my salad was so bad, I just picked off the tomatoes and blue cheese, and left the rest on the plate. Same with the bbq sauce. The chicken tenders? Burned. And not "we're sorry, we'll make another plate" burned. These were meant to be the way they were. All in all, I paid 20 bucks for two plates of garbage. read more

I had the wings and the grilled cheese. They are the bomb. The DJ on Saturday rocked the house. My wife and I enjoyed experience and will be back during our next trip..... read more

decent pub overall, however they were listed on yelp as being one of the best dart bars in the area. we went there on a saturday night specifically for that reason, and they have NO dart board - just shuffleboard. disappointed there for sure, however it was nice that their upstairs area where shuffleboard and the 'shot bar' was, wasn't very crowded, even on a saturday. read more