I recently dined at Fireside Restaurant on North Ravenswood. It sort of feels like two establishments in one. If you walk in the front entrance, there is a doorway on the right towards the "bar" area, with music and also a few tables for a slightly more casual dining experience. The doorway on the left leads to the main dining area, with a warm fireplace prominently featured on the side wall. If you sit near the fireplace (such as our party of three), you will definitely feel warm and toasty. There are interesting artworks on every wall for added visual appeal, so you feel like you're in a cross between a ski lodge and art gallery. The food menu is rather extensive, but the drinks menu seemed even more robust. I had previously visited Fireside's bar during a beer trolley tour, and after having inspected the beer list thoroughly I know why Fireside was included in that tour. I must have perused longingly at the beer listings for ten minutes before selecting the Ommegang on tap. There is no complimentary bread basket here, and the menu states NO SPLITTING PLEASE. We each ordered ribs for dinner, as that is one of the featured (and pricier) menu items. I ordered a full slab, with an enormous baked potato (comes with butter and a cup of sour cream) and mixed vegetables. The ribs were splashed with a slather of barbecue sauce across the slab. The ribs tasted fine, the meat was tender, though I admit the ribs are no comparison to the ribs I like at Smoque. I did have about four of the ribs to take home, and enjoyed them reheated the following evening. Should I pop by Fireside again, I'd like to try something else on the menu. The service level was efficient during our meal. There is a small but free customer parking lot adjacent to the south wall of the restaurant. read more

Fireside - Ribs - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered delivery. The food was great! I had the Calamari. I recommend adding one more sauce to your order. The chopped salad was delicious. Also had carrot cake and it was perfectly moist. read more

Heard this place was a cool spot back in the day Darts. Beers. Ripping cigs. Guys hitting on chicks. Not a care in the world. What could be better? Back patio has potential. Great place to go after a horrible round of golf. Like just terrible golfing. 5 stars read more

A buddy and I recently stopped in this North Ravenswood restaurant upon his recommendation. From the time we had walked in, it definitely has that neighborhood local spot. Once you're in the main entry way, head to the left for the dining room. We were seated right away. We had opted for the table in front of the fireplace. Julia, Server, had greeted us right away and then proceeded to go over the menu. The menu has a lot of great options with reasonably priced meals. My friend had ordered the Country Chicken Dinner and I had opted for Fish & Chips. While waiting for our meal, Julia would check in with us. She was very cordial. About 15 minutes later, our meals were delivered to us. My meal was done just right. You really can't screw up Fish & Chips. The Country Chicken dinner was good. The outer part of the chicken was a little over done but nothing to ruin the meal. Again, Julia had made sure we were fine. For dessert, we had opted to have a slice of Carrot Cake and a slice of Cherry Pie. Basic desserts. The dining room decor is moderate - very casual. The room was not very loud so you can hold a conversation without raising your voice. The washrooms are located in the bar area. Again, you can tell this is a neighbor spot. The bar area is a very laid back. Very relaxing and very casual. There is also a covered patio with several tables. Overall, I had enjoyed my experience and food. I would recommend this restaurant. read more

Fireside - Dining area - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had Mother's Day brunch there. It was fantastic. Never saw such a variety of food. The server was very on top of things. Can't wait to try dinner there. read more

Had a wonderful experience at Fireside on Saturday 31st. The weather was cold but the restaurants environment was warm and cozy. Enjoyed the decor just as much as the meal. I ordered a delicious 2 bean Old Fashion which was to die for!! The grilled salmon was delicious! The young lady that waited on me was friendly and answered all if my questions. I highly recommend this place for a casual night out. read more

Fireside - Giant yummy pretzel with an old fashion. - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Neighborhood staple nestled among houses in a secluded spot. This historic restaurant has several seating areas, check out the back patio or the lively bar. Menu is large and has something for everyone. read more

Props to Fireside, since I recently discovered they have a pizza similar to Calo's now off menu(as of like 2-3 years ago I think?) Gourmet Pesto and Shrimp pizza. And to me, it's just as good and thankfully not as expensive, as Calo had pushed the price of theirs up to(now it's like $30+ I think, and this one is so much cheaper), when that change occurred. I'm still trying to get a feel for the rest of their menu, and hopefully it'll come soon. And of course know if you come kinda late(like after 11pm, to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays), that they have to close the patio by then due to city law. read more

We went there on New Year's Eve after a concert.we got there about 1:30 pm.The only people there were at the bar and every table were dirty,so we sat at a dirty table for a few minutes.After about five minutes the busboy walked by and looked at our table and walked away so we took the dirty glasses and put them on other table.We waited another ten minutes and nobody walked up to our table or greeted us or wiped the table down or asked if we wanted something to drink or eat.So we left.We went there because their kitchen is supposed to be open late.We were we're there about two months ago and they charged my credit card for some one else's dinner,they refunded that ,then changed me for our dinner twice and then took one charge off.After all this my bank shut down my card because it could be fraudulent.We asked for the manager he didn't apologize for the problem and asked if we had another card to pay for dinner.We like going there for dinner but after all this it will be a long time before we go back - if we go back read more

Recently found this spot and look forward to coming back. Great cozy atmosphere and old school bar vibes. Food is great. Love the coconut shrimp and the firebird sandwich. My husband really likes the ribs. Every time I'm here lately Pedro is my server and he is an asset to the company! read more

We went a little pizza crazy in January and had pizza 3 times in one week, Fireside , Piece and Milly's. We loved them all but in head to head comparison of leftovers Fireside won (got the Fireside Special). We used to always sit on the patio but last few times we've sat in the bar which feels cozier in the winter. Well curated draft menu, not a ton of taps but always find something great read more

The Mac & cheese, chicken, asparagus, $14.50. You ask what chicken? Ya me too. The Gouda cheese is a good touch. But it needs more flavor, so I added my own parm and shredded cheddar and that did it. Wouldn't recommend. read more

Fireside - Mac & Cheese, Asparagus and chicken - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love Fireside. They have veggie pizza to die for, and their fries and onion rings are good too. Their chopped salad is delicious. I highly recommend their banana cake and carrot cake. I love being able to order pretty much anything from Fireside via grub hub or phone. Their delivery times are a little long, but worth it. Going there is fun too, with their amazing outdoor tent and Sunday brunch. Fireside truly stands the test of time! read more

Fireside - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It rocks! Best old school divey place w great food patios and people! Highly recommend 12 stars

came here thursday 11/9, about 830, and sat in the outdoor section. BIG MISTAKE..GO ELSEWHERE, GET SERVICE, GET A MENU THAT ACTUALLY HAS THE FOOD, AND FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE WELL SPENT YOUR MONEY ELSEWHERE...I HAVE BEEN HERE MANY TIMES, BRUNCH AND DINNER, AND IT JUST SEEMS IT HAS GONE DOWN THE TOILET AND KEEPS SLIDING MORE AND MORE EVERY TIME...our thin dark haired server was the worst, and made my thoughts on this place go down the toilet. Didn't know the menu, and didn't get an order right. had i not been there many times before, i would not have known better. evidentially, according to the waitress, they have a bait and switch --HER words, not mine--regarding salads with the meal---never asked me what dressing i wanted, just gave me balsamic, and finally 1000 island after i asked--it actually took her on a grand total of 3 requests, over 10 minutes each to get on the first time, the salad, then the 1000 island, and over 15 for ketchup for the pork chop. i was going to ask for apple sauce for the porkchop, but i wanted to have it warm, not wait and not eat waiting for the applesauce for 10 or 15 minutes...and fyi, i did time her on the second or third time so this is not a guess, it is accurate, she was terrible...in hindsight, i should have just gone to the kitchen myself and gotten it instead of waiting on the terrible server. we were going to order a second drink, but didn't and got the check as we did not want to hang out waiting for another 20 minutes or so. the way i figure it, she must have had to make the ketchup from tomatoes. anyway, she essentially ruined having dinner there, and service besides the food is just as important. not once did she check on us, just an fyi, when i was waiting for the 1000 island, i ended up eating over 1/2 my salad without any dressing at all. the food, well they were out of the chicken--only told us AFTER we asked her a question about it and ordered it, she told us the chicken was out. and when she did that, she gave us the list of items they were out, which seemed like 1/2 the menu. so really, poor management, poor inventory management, or is this place going out of business? usually, when a restaurant/bar is out of regular menu items, that means they are going under, and the quality of food is going down, which i believe might be going on here as i noticed their ratings and reviews keep getting worst---approaching 3. it would be sad to see this place go under, but it looks like that is the path it is on. so, i give them one star for the horrific female server (still gave her 20% tip in cash when she was only worth 5% at best), being out of items, and not serving the meal according to the menu. So, in the end, come here if 1. you enjoy horrible service, 2. lots of menu items not available when you order, 3. ask for anything to make your meal more enjoyable and enjoy waiting at least 10 to 15 minutes for what you asked for, 4. food where the quality is going down....in general, you want to support a place that is going out of business as that is where it is headed, and that is the impression they give to you as a good place, has menu items available when the kitchen is open, serves the food in an attractive manner, and actually has a service staff familiar with the menu and ask if you need anything and checks on you. read more

This spot deserve a negative Star it's been in the neighborhood for ever I have only been twice this being my second visit and the time frame is like 10 years apart. Well good and service sucks and is very very sad. I got brunch and the eggs be idiot was old vegetables dressed over it and the onion rings batter was dry and they were undercooked. No need to ever return. The atmosphere is dark and dry in the dinning room and if you look up no one has even given a thought to cleaning the ceilings yet along . It sucks on every level read more

Mother's Day brunch was delicious!!!! Highly recommend!!! The wide variety of food all served hot or cold at the right temperature and enough variety to please everyone! read more

I came here with a large group on a weekday evening for dinner. I am terrible at parallel parking so I was pleasantly surprised that there was a decently sized parking lot and plenty of street parking available. The restaurant was mostly empty when I came (around 5:30 PM). We were seated outside on the patio which was cute and relaxing. Service was spotty...I kept trying to get the waitress' attention but only after the third try did she take my drink order. I ordered the gouda mac n' cheese with asparagus and mushrooms. It looked better than it tasted and wasn't anything special. I think adding bread crumbs would be an improvement. read more

One of the intangibles that can ensure the success of a restaurant is good will. After a recent visit to Fireside - it is clear they don't understand goodwill or its value. They also don't respect customers who know the value of the dollar. Our adventure started with the server not letting me sit where I wanted to. We were tangentially part of a larger party. She wanted us closer to the party. I was clear that I wanted to sit with my friend. I was not really part of the group. Also my friend and I had things to talk about. The young lady who ended up being our server made a big function out of me not sitting where I wanted to. She ended up moving furniture around to make me sit across the room. I had only hoped to eat my dinner and converse with my friend. Now we have our seats and we order our food. The latest trouble is the server kept calling us "love" and "sweetheart" and other such foolishness. I felt it was disrespectful in addition to the fact that it was phony and so over the top. It made us uncomfortable after a while. If a male server spoke that way to female customers - there would be an eyewitness news report and the guy would be out on his ear. When I ordered the food - as a last minute addition - I added one of their "big pretzels." Now I should have known better - you never order without looking at the price. The pretzel - we found out when the bill came - was $16.95. We paid nearly $17.00 for a five dollar ballpark pretzel. (Side note: The pretzel appetizer came after the entrees did.) Throughout the meal the service was abysmal. I had to ask for water three times. I understand that the party was taking her off of her game, but there were expediters and bus boys and a bartender jumped in to expedite food. Why was a glass of water such an impossible demand? Suffice it to say the service sucked. There was nothing about the service that would recommend returning. It was lazy and awkward - not good words for food service unless you're at Ed Debevic's. (Side note: The way the server spoke to us - I thought I might be in good, old Ed's) When the bill came - the bill for three people - the server added a 20% tip for herself. In my restaurant days - a group of 8 or more warranted an automatic 18% tip. There were only three of us on our tab and she added 20%. To be clear she would have gotten - at least - that much because we are service industry people. We understand tipping. When there are three people on the tab - two of them clearly tangentially attached to a party - you don't stick add 20%. Also - if your service sucks - you don't add 20%. Also if you're nicking customers for $17.00 for a pretzel - you don't add 20%. The food was decent. The prices are silly and the service sucks. If there is any goodwill to be had - it is in the conversations with the drunken Bears fans hanging out by the bathroom. My final word is - you go to the Fireside - you're going to get burned. There are many Chicago restaurants who understand goodwill and provide customer service deserve your hard earned money. Also, I have a name and it isn't Honey. read more

The only reason this place is getting one star is because of our server. He was a sweetheart. We paid sixty dollars for frozen crab cakes, calamari, and coconut shrimp. It was disgusting. You can see the pictures I posted with the close to untouched or spat out food. Premixed margaritas. I have got to give it to them, they do a great job at advertising, which is what got me. I'm a foodie and it looked like a hidden gem. Boy we're we wrong. Stay hidden. Not even worth the nice patio ambiance. Their sweet chili sauce that came with the coconut shrimp tasted like it had been left unopened in the fridge for a while... yeah, you know what I'm talking about. Two words: never again. read more

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I'm about to have a real (Karen) moment however I'm passionate about the food I eat. So one thing I loved coming to fireside for was their battered chicken tenders but to my dismay they served me these (imposters) of chicken tenders. I honestly believe they used an aldi frozen pack of tenders at this point. Very disappointed. #BringbacktheOgTenders read more

Fireside - "Chicken tenders" - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Rat seen in back patio I've been here 2 times before. The food was decent, but I was really attracted to the vibe of the back patio. That's the main reason I came back. This last time (7/14/2019) was my last time I'll be back and here's why: My girlfriend and I got seated in the back and we ordered our drinks and came just to snack on appetizers. Soon after we got our drinks, I saw a rat approaching our table. I was able to scare it off, but now I didn't want to eat any food there. Our server was no where to be found and I didn't want the kitchen to finish the food so I went to the entrance of the kitchen to ask the cooks to stop the ticket due to the rat. When I told the cook, he wasn't surprised that there was a rat. He acknowledged it, and was nonchalant about it. Also, the kitchen door to the patio (where the rat was found) was wide open, and the server station was part of the patio. So rats could've been in and out of the kitchen, contaminating our food, climbing on the glasses we were served out water in, and the whole staff seemed to be just okay with that. Unfortunately, the food was already done and someone else came to deliver our food. I told her that we didn't want it because of the rat. She took the food away and our server came back. She was "so I heard a little friend came to visit?" No. He's not a "little friend". I told her it was a rat; she also just acknowledged it and gave us excuses that due to construction next door rats are now here, and they tried to get rid of these rats, but they haven't caught them. Frankly, I don't care what these excuses are. You have rats in your premises, yet you keep the back kitchen door open where they can get in, and you still serve food out of there. Now that I know this restaurant's standard is at a place where you can serve food out of a kitchen that rats can roam freely into and that the staff isn't preventing, I will never be back here again. read more

Usually good, but again we got the wrong dressing for the salad. This time we wanted Jalapeño vinegarette, we got pico de gallo, prior to that we wanted blue cheese got honey mustard read more

It has been years since we were here and was so excited to be in the neighborhood so that we could stop for CHICKEN TENDERS! So disappointed- they were awful! Even their signature sauce was nothing more than BBQ sauce! Not sure what happened but what they served us we could have had better ANYWHERE else! They were small, tough and the breading was horrible! We just retired and hoped to come here more often BUT we are not coming back! read more

Unless you're looking for an experience that would lead you to believe you're in an alternate version of Earth, don't go here. The menu here is an absolute mess. Each item talks more about how much it costs to add extras than the actual item, and I'm not talking about things like adding proteins. They charge $1 to add cracked pepper to a steak! They charge $.50 to add Cajun seasoning to calamari, $.50 to have blue cheese dressing instead of ranch with wings. It's $2.50 to upgrade from mashed potatoes to a house salad or soup, and that's an iceberg lettuce salad. I was so confused about what was going on with the menu, since standard preparations at other restaurants cost extra here, how am I to know how ANYTHING is prepared because it's not on the menu. When I asked the server about this, he told me that their prices are much less expensive than other restaurants in the area. Uh, what? They're actually at the high end of mid-range, and barely competitive with other similar restaurants. Because the server didn't know enough about the food preparation to answer my questions, he had the manager come over. The manager didn't know what grade the ground beef is! I mean, I'll pay $12 for choice ground beef burger, but not if it's fast-food level grade A. read more

We've enjoyed Fireside as a family for years living in the neighborhood. It was then disappointing when, after reserving the patio for a large surprise party months in advance, confirming it twice, deciding on catering menu . . I was later told 10 days in advance when I followed up: "whoops, we booked it for someone else too, sorry!" After one follow up voicemail from the manager to see if another date would work with a discount (it wouldn't, I had people with travel plans already made), my calls went unreturned. If you book an event here (and you probably shouldn't), get your reservation in writing! I asked for one and was told it was all good, not needed. What a mistake that was. read more

I ordered a blackened chicken pasta, added steak, garlic bread and a Salad. I'm trying to support local, especially during this time, but they messed up my food. Forgot my chicken in my pasta, and apparently ran out of salad. Didn't call me to tell me either.And the "Accidental Double Portion" of steak was a disappointment.I had to call them twice about it, and they didn't even offer to replace the meal or a future credit or anything. I work in the industry and I understand mistakes, but this whole experience wasn't worth the $35 i spent for a $19 pasta and the hour + wait. read more

Fireside - "Blackened Chicken Pasta" add steak.... They forgot the chicken and looks nothing like the picture in the menu - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My go to place in Chicago. Food is always good and service even better! Lucy is the best!

I first ate here at least 30 years ago, but hadn't been in a long time. We went this evening (Sept 24, 2023). I wanted something that felt rustic and fall-like and it was perfect. We were seated and waited on promptly. I ordered the pork chops and he got the classic burger. We both ordered side salads. Waitress returned after a bit to say they had run out of croutons but we said that was fine. The salads were delicious. Then she returned to say they were also out of the pork chops; so I got the country fried chicken breast with homemade brown mushroom gravy instead. Both our meals were delicious. The chicken was moist-- not dry at all-- and full of flavor. The gravy was perfect, too, as were the seasonal vegetables and the fries. I ate everything on the plate. The bill came to $54.50, including drinks (iced tea for me, soda for him). I left $65 on the table. We'll be back again soon. read more

I've given this place many tries and each time the food is simply not good. My friend insisted on going yesterday since he had never been. After many denials I finally gave in. I ordered a house salad (limp lettuce) and Hawaiian pizza. I managed to eat two mediocre pieces, had them box it up, then I ended up throwing it away while walking home. I love the location...that it's tucked away and a little hidden and walkable from home. I just wish they'd do a menu makeover, or chef makeover, or source ingredients from elsewhere or all of the above. I REALLY want to like this place but it keeps not happening. read more

The server seemed annoyed we were there and it seemed like we were an inconvenience to her. Tried to play a song on the jukebox 20 minutes before close and the bouncer turned the music off seconds after I put my $5 bill in the machine and wouldn't give me my money back. Worst experience I've ever had at Fireside. Won't be going back again. read more

Just meh. Nothing very memorable about this place. Food seemed a bit average to me. Location isn't near the other restaurant on Clark St.

Plenty of street parking right at 12:30p on a Sunday. Lots of tvs to watch games. Service was very, very good, quick and attentive. Prices were very good. Food is just okay. Eggs benedict, okay. Hollandaise was creamy, needed more lemon. Potatoes were hot and seasoned. Glad they had breakfast, but wished it was better. The newly brewed pot of coffee was better than the first cup. The table top QR code card holder needed some major cleaning. Restaurant needs some attention. read more

Came here with a large group after Christmas, was supposed to be open, and it's closed. Never coming back.

I had not been there for years and I can't remember why it'll is very very good and very good prices. We have been there twice and everything we've ordered has been excellent. The Chilaquiles on the weekend brunch menu are some of the best I've ever had. The Rueben's are huge and excellent and the burgers are great. I love this place. I wish I lived closer I would go often. read more

Went here for the first time last night and it was fantastic! I had the blackened chicken pasta and it was crazy delicious and my partner said his burger was one of his new all time favorites! Have to mention that I (stupidly) left almost my whole dish as leftovers on the table and when we came back to see if they had thrown it away our server had the kitchen make us a small one to go it was so sweet i've never had service like that before. We will definitely be back!! Thank you! read more

Fireside - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fireside Restaurant has seen better days. It's a bit rough around the edges and desperately in need of a good cleaning and refresh. I would describe it as a dingy bar with acceptable bar food. Generally, the food was hot well-prepared bar food served by an attentive and friendly waiter. The garnish was some random bits of wilted lettuce pulled out of a bin in the kitchen. The flatware needed to be cleaned and salsa served in a tiny solo cup looked sad. The bloody mary bar was a random collection of old spice jars and half empty hot sauces. The celery was ready for the garbage. They need to seriously rethink the concept or just skip it altogether because it doesn't enhance your experience. It feels like it's ready for one of those restaurant makeover shows. With a little effort, it could be a great place. read more

Me and my pod had drinks and dinner here a few days ago. The back patio is huge and lovely. It's warm and there's lots of green plants. Unfortunately I didn't feel comfortable there covid-wise. The tables might be 6 feet apart, but the chairs definitely are not. We were seated on an elevated portion of the deck, and there was a table of customers seated directly below us. I almost forgot to mention that 3 out of the 4 sides of the patio are completely enclosed, any airflow was negligible. read more

First time here with my wife for her birthday. Food was amazing! Cajun meatloaf was perfectly executed, portobello ravioli was creamy and filling and the ribs were perfectly smoked and fell right off the bone! Couldn't have asked for a better meal! read more

Confession time (dun dun dunnnn): I was a little wary of this as our dinner spot when my Dad suggested it based on the mixed Yelp reviews, but honestly we had a great time and few things could have been made it more perfect. We went on a weekday night and sat in the dining room near the fireplace. They were able to accommodate a group of us comfortably, no problem. Our waitress was wonderful! She was nice, thorough, patient, and attentive from the very start. Our food and drinks came out in no time at all. The food was a mixed lot, and the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5. Let me be clear: we probably ordered half of their menu between all of us (exaggerating) and we're talking about the difference between "not bad" and "outstanding", nothing worse than that at all. On one hand, I found their homemade fish and potato chips to be one of the best I've ever had...and I've partaken in my fair share of Friday night fish fries a la Wisconsin and Chicago in general. Their tartar sauce was wonderful. Hubby would have divorced me and married their chicken tenders right there on the spot if he could have. On the other, hubby's turkey club was lackluster and my sister's fries were soggy. The shrimp appetizer left a lot to be desired. The veggie side tasted like it came from a can...you get the idea. So, I would absolutely be back, and I'd absolutely recommend you try it out; I would just be selective about what try. Best bets: fish and chips, rueben, roasted chicken, chicken tenders, and desserts! Pro tip: wear your elastic pants. These folks don't mess around with the portions! read more

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