Emerson's is a great place to meet for dinner and drinks. I recently met up with a friend, and we ordered some apps and drinks. The food is excellent. We got sliders, chicken tenders, and fries. They all were very filling and decent portion sizes. I'm not much of a drinker, so I was excited to see a nice n/a menu. I tried a peach Moscow Mule. They have some other fruity flavors as well. The service was very quick, and we were seated quickly despite it being busy. While it is loud and busy in there, it wasn't hard to hold a conversation. The location is also perfect for anyone taking the train. There is also plenty of street parking. read more

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If you're in the northwestern burbs of Chicago, this is definitely a solid restaurant/bar to visit. Ambiance was good - lit well enough but not overly bright or dark. Establishment was clean. While it was very busy, even the noise level was at a normal volume (acoustics of the bar?). Server was Nicole, and she was attentive and cordial. The food was great! We decided to share a few apps: chicken tenders, fries, and bacon burger sliders. My friend got a non-alcoholic peach Moscow mule, and I had Slow Melt Pale Ale from Half Acre Brewing. My beer was awesome, and the chicken tenders were my fave out of the 3! However, they were all very good. Go check it out when you're in the Mt. Prospect area - great beer list and lots of menu options. read more

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We frequent Emerson's as we live in the neighborhood. The food is solid- I've ordered different items from burgers, wraps to salads and salmon entree and always thought it was delish! Service is always fine. Sometimes you have to wait for a table but they never keep you waiting long. It's a fun place, ambiance is an upscale neighborhood sports bar. For food recommendations: My favorite sandwich is the chicken club. My favorite app is the cheese curds. My daughter loves their Mac n cheese. read more

Wings were probably my favorite! Hot Honey wings are a must have!! Short rib grilled cheese was good, could've had a little more flavor but would def order again. Italian beef rolls were surprisingly delicious. My family and I love this place for a quick bite with some great service. Love having option to sit indoors and outside. Can't wait for my next visit! read more

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I was a dedicated customer at Emerson Ale for about 6 years. Every time, I enjoyed the food and the nice environment. I don't know what happened to this place, but today it was disappointing. I ordered my favorite tacos (Prime Rib Birria Tacos) and was very disappointed. Three tacos were lying on the plate, each inside the other. At first, I couldn't understand why the servers didn't check it and served it as a triple taco. It took me some time to separate them. Then I tried the first one, and the tortilla was completely over burned. The waitress asked if the food was good, and I didn't know what to even say. It was clear to me that the food was overcooked and entirely burned. On top of that, all the tacos looked like a three-layer cake. I am sorry, but this was not what I expected after several years of being a loyal customer. I don't think I will go back to that place (I can't call it a 'restaurant'). read more

Cute spot in downtown Mt. Prospect. They have daily specials, and Tuesdays are all day happy hour which includes some drinks and food. The cheese curds were a bit too breaded for my liking, but still good. They have different salads that you can get as a wrap- I'd definitely get one again! read more

Emerson's Ale House - Bars Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

Dined in on Monday and they had $10 slider special. 3 sliders of your choice. I went with 2 prime rib and one buffalo chicken. They were all good. We were seated quickly and had a great server. Standard sports bar atmosphere. Would come back read more

Emerson's Ale House - Sliders - Bars Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

Been coming here for quite a while. Food always good. Just returned and see menu prices have gone up quite a bit and my favorite teriyaki salmon meal changed to exclude vegetable and was not as enjoyable or delicious for the higher price. read more

This was a great place to visit! A friend and I visited after a workout and it was perfect. Shoutout to Mimi for being a great server, we definitely recommend her if you ever have a chance to get her. But, in general, the overall experience was great! In terms of food - definitely get the cauliflower appetizer. This was probably the best cauliflower one I've had. I couldn't get enough. The El Fuego burger was really good and I would definitely get it again. I might want more hot sauce or something for a bigger kick but still really good! And I asked for medium rare and it was spot on. The ambiance was great, a great sports bar type of environment but still has areas in the restaurant that other vibes were, from what I saw. There were families, girls night type of groups, sports, etc. Honestly 5/5 we'll be back! read more

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Emerson's Ale House has exactly what you are looking for in a Sports Bar. I've been here a number of times, but feel it's time for a review. Julie was my bartender/server and was phenomenal. Give her a raise. She did everything right. I ordered the Braised Rib Grilled Cheese (Julie's recommendation). It was full of flavor and accompanied by a Tomato Bisque soup which was perfect for dipping the grilled cheese in actually (not sure if that's the intention but the combo was super good). Mediterranean dressing for the side salad was excellent. I had a Red Ale (or a few) and watched the games. 90s music on while I watched was a plus as well. 5 stars to Julie and Emerson's Ale House! read more

Emerson's Ale House - Short Rib Grilled Cheese - Bars Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

Great bar food! Always a good spot for football sunday & the service is great every time read more

Emerson's Ale House - Buffalo wings & Parmesan Truffle Fries - Bars Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

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Excellent food! The quality of their beef is great.... apparently they get it from Ascot's which is a top notch butcher in the area. Can't wait to go there in summer! read more

We arrived very full lots of people. We just waited few minutes and got table. Food comes very fast and very fresh and hot very tasty. I don't like very loud music but is ok . read more

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Way too loud at this place on a Saturday at 5 pm! Don't go here is you are sensitive to loud restaurants!

Nice bar with plenty of TVs to watch sports. Above average craft beer list and my classic burger with fries was very good.

Great local bar. Awesome service, nice selection of beer and very filling food, that is meant to be a compliment . We shall always return to Emerson's read more

Emerson's Ale House - Taco Tuesday. Our first visit to Emerson's and we shall return. Excellent service and very tasty meal - Bars Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

Great place if you want to catch a reasonably priced bite to eat and have some drinks! The food is very good here and they have a big menu with a lot of different options. I also really loved the atmosphere - cozy and relaxed, and the interior is pretty and modern. We ordered the cauliflower bites for our appetizer and they were soooo good. They're breaded and coated in sweet chili sauce and served with ranch. I think it's a really unique appetizer that I haven't seen offered anywhere else. I had the Cajun chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries. The sandwich was way bigger than I expected! It was really good- melted cheese on top and peppers on the inside. Loved the fries and they were the perfect side! My friend says she always orders their ale house fried fish. I took a photo of her plate so you can see the portions they serve. I did try her mashed potatoes and they were delicious. Our initial server was very nice but could have done a better job. We didn't have utensils when we were given our cauliflower bites appetizer, and we were so hungry that we started eating with our hands lol. Server didn't come back for a long time, but we luckily got our utensils from the guy who served us our dinner plates. This is a simple mistake and I won't let it deter me from coming back in the future! read more

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Wow. Major disappointment. When we sat down at the rail, the bar tender left dirty glasses in front of us until we had to tell her to take them away. Kinda gave me the side eye when I made this request. Ordered a Makers rocks. See the picture. MAYBE a one ounce pour. I was shocked. She did ask if I wanted another. Well, no. When the bill came, the drink was $7.00. Redemption. But why didn't she up sell us into doubles instead a serving a thimble? I'll try again; but I won't be in a hurry. read more

Emerson's Ale House - This is AS presented by the bartender. - Bars Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

The most glorious green grape crossed my path today at Emersons. A true marvel of pulpy sweetness. Its sheen nearly blinded me. I was not prrpared for its greatness. It's the closest I've come to heaven on earth. Thank you Emersons. Truly, thank you. read more

Have been here a handful of times and the food, service, and drinks are consistently good. A local bar but with really good bar food. I love their espresso martinis!! They are made with real espresso, not with a random flavored mixer. I order one everytime. I've ordered their wraps here and have enjoyed it. I ordered their chicken club which is a really nice portion and very good. Last night, I ordered their Prospect steak sandwich and was not disappointed. My boyfriend ordered their southwest wrap and loved it too. They offer carry out and I feel like the carry out options are as good as what you get in the bar so the quality is not compromised. Some cons: just not a fan of their fresh cut fries. Just wish they had better fries. I also wish they had a bigger specialty cocktail list. I know this place has gone through some ups and downs with new ownership, but whatever they have now is working nicely. Good drinks, good food, lots of TVs for sports, swing through and you won't be disappointed. read more

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Came for the Rodeo Old Fashioneds and apps, and they didn't disappoint. OFs were excellent - muddle the cherry and it'll be perfect. Chicken fingers were solid, Cole slaw was light and tasty, fries were great. Loved the pickle chips - probably one of the best - and the sweet thai buffalo 'n Bleu shrimp. Jack and Jill Rangoon was a fresh take on the app with the steak and southwest flavor - will definitely have these again. Other plates looked delicious - especially the chopped salad. Give this place a try! read more

The first time I came here was with a few friends as our wives had a ladies night. None of us had been here and it was a Wednesday night and it was busy. So we sat at the bar and got some drinks. While waiting for a couple guys to arrive we ordered some appetizers. We asked the bartender for her recommendations and she suggested either the fried pickles or the Italian beef egg rolls. My buddy said he hates fried pickles (and pickles in general - heathen!) and he was not interested in the egg rolls. So he got cheese curds and we got the egg rolls. Holy cow! The Italian Beef Egg Rolls were awesome. Even my buddy was pleasantly surprised. Next we got dinner. I got the Pretzel Prime Rib Dip Sandwich. Juicy, flavorful, crisp bun, aioli with a slight kick...all hallmarks of a very good sandwich...which it was. My buddy (who doesn't like pickles - the heathen!) got a burger which he said was one of the best burgers he's ever had and that our Burger Club will have to revisit just for everyone to review. Another got the Buffalo Salad and another got the Ale House Fish & Chips. We all loved our food and vowed to return. And return we did! We went back a second time and got the Italian Beef Egg Rolls again (because - awesome) and also got their wings: BBQ and Hot Honey. Both are good sauces and worth the trip to Emerson just for them. Our Burger Club has been as well and we rank their burgers as some of the best we've had and we've been to over 30 places all over the North Shore, Northwest Suburbs up to Kenosha, WI. I highly recommend visiting Emerson Ale House and trying whatever they recommend (or what I recommended) as everything is great ther. Oh, and I have tried the fried pickles and they are really, really, good. read more

Great food. Pretty decent sized portions, highly recommending sharing with one or two other people. Great location and the staff was really nice and helpful. read more

Emerson Ale House Brunch! Many selections to choose from when it comes to sandwiches and burgers! Everything was made the way we expected it to and the staff was really friendly. Definitely somewhere to bring all your friends on a Sunday it's spacious indoors and they have an outdoor area! Sandwiches and burgers in order that are pictured: El Fuego Burger, Cajun Chicken Philly, Ale House Cubano for the next 4 pictures, and lastly the Cajun Chicken Philly once more! read more

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Consistently good cocktails and good food. Servers are all kind. They turned our night around with their kindness and really good drinks. I will always go back! read more

The reason for a few less stars here is really due to what I believed was mismanagement of the waitlist when I attended here last. I actually thought the food was pretty good and my server was a great balance of attentive but straight to the point. For what it's worth it was a busy night but I was told we'd be sat in about 45 minutes, but that quickly ended up being over an hour and change. As we watched from outside the restaurant, it seemed like there were seats around the bar that were not being used but there were a lot of people watching sports that kind of congregated around the area. All in all, if it's not a busy time, I am sure they do a good job but our experience just felt a bit off the night we went. read more

WE'D GIVE THEM SIX STARS IF WE COULD! Brought some hockey players & their families here for a post game lunch Saturday. Victor and his team were fabulous! In addition to the outstanding hospitality, the food is insanely good. We ordered a bunch of apps: lifechanging cauliflower bites, homemade chicken tenders, awesome fried pickles, and who doesn't love cheese curds? I loved the prime rib sliders. My husband loved the short rib nachos. Our son devoured the Emerson wrap. Burgers were a hit with the other parents. Everything we tried was crave worthy! We loved it so much, we went back between the semifinals & championship game... only to see our opponents eating there, too. So, Emerson's is for WINNERS! Thanks a million for making us feel like old friends. GIANT SHOUT OUT to Jeanine for taking such good care of us both days. We'll be back every time we play at Nicholas Sportsplex. read more

Weordered beef tenderloin sliders and chicken wings ! They were delicious!!! Five stars! read more

Maggie was hands down the highlight of our visit. From the moment we sat down, she was warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly, making us feel welcome without being overbearing. She knew the menu inside and out, gave great recommendations, and kept everything running smoothly even when the pub was busy. Drinks arrived quickly, food orders were spot-on, and she checked in at just the right times. It's clear Maggie takes real pride in her work, and it made the entire experience better. Exceptional service like hers is the reason people come back--can't recommend her highly enough! read more

We visited Emerson Ale house on Dec 16th 2025, The food was amazing! We had a pretzel bun French dip with mozzarella cheese and fried onions with a garlic aioli sauce , It was a huge sandwich with fresh cut fries that were absolutely delicious. My friend had the chipotle ranch burger another amazing sandwich . Samantha and Heather were very attentive to our table and we received everything we needed at the time. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great food at a reasonable price. read more

When you go to an average neighborhood restaurant and sit at the bar, if you're not a "regular", the service is so different. Usually solid food, but the service is always so inconsistent from my experiences. All I ask, is that you check on me and you don't forget to put my order in like the regulars who get treated like VIPs. You never know how much money someone's willing to spend or tip, so that's all I would ask every time I try to go to this place, no matter if I sit at the bar or a table. read more

Second time trying to get into this restaurant and it was successful. I like the set up to this restaurant with the indoor and outdoor seating. I thought the food was solid. Great fries and the sandwich had some good flavor to it. My wife had the birria tacos and unfortunately didn't feel the same. I would probably return to have another beer and sandwich one day. read more

Emerson's Ale House - Chicken club - Bars Near Me - Mount Prospect, Illinois

Julissa was really nice and welcoming when we got there. She helped us understand the menu and even translated some things for us, which was super helpful. The place was busy, but she stayed patient and made everything easy. Definitely appreciated her help. read more

Met my friend for a drink. Loved the happy hour specials! The prime rib sliders are outstanding!! Comfortable place to spend a few hours - not too loud. We arrived at 5 and had no issues being seated right away. read more

Typical bar ambience. Pretty long wait for a table on a Friday evening, and the dining room is rather dark and noisy. But the food was definitely worth the wait. Had the short rib Burger. Possibly the best burger I've ever had. It's a big burger, was perfectly cooked , and I had the sweet potato fries for an extra charge which were outstanding. read more

Excellent food! Cannot believe how good the prime rib sliders and cheesesteak are. Kitchen is open later than most places and service is great. Variety of sports on several TVs and not too loud, so nice place to chat with friends. read more

it was great and goood maybe they should be called the best I really liked the food and it was so gooooood

Good stuff here! I was overly impressed with their beer selection was just a little sad that they stopped doing flights. Wish I had more time to stay and try both more food and drinks read more

Bad food! Had a quesadilla with roasted veggies (they charge extra for those) . Just threw a couple UNROASTED green pepper and onion on it. Worst one I've ever had . I'll stick with Station 34 or the new Whiskey Hill Brewery right down the block ! This place has gone downhill.....avoid it read more

We love Emerson's. They have a delicious Mac n cheese, grilled cheese, burgers and drink selection. The inside can feel crowded sometimes but overall it's manageable. We've always had good service at the bar and tables. Food comes out quickly and hot. read more