If you like beer, you should be able to find one you like here. There are plenty to choose from and the descriptions are accurate. My beverage/beer order was the Night Moth Oak-Conditioned Hazy IPA | 7.2% | 12oz/8 - 5oz/4. I recommend this if you are a fan of Hazy IPA's. My food order was the Beer braised, short rib with roasted root vegetables, polenta, swiss chard, and sweety drops. Tender and tasty short ribs. I will be craving the sweety drops for sure. Bar seating, regular tables and high top tables available here. read more

See all

Wish I could give a 3.5 stars. I applaud the true creativity. But every order was a mixed bag. Fried chicken sandwich - 3.5/5. Pickles are the star. Cut through heaviness. Magical first few bites. But chicken gets boring. Crispy Brussels sprouts - 3.5/5. Solid fry level. Cheesy bites are delicious. But quickly bland. Raisins is an unexpected addition but unsuccessful in my view. Kids grilled cheese - 4/5. Tasty and simple, though my kid wasn't willing to try. Duck and dumpling - 3.5/5. I can see how this is someone's favorite dish. Lovely rich broth. Crispy skin. But there was a heaviness that didn't totally work for me, especially with the bigger duck chunks. Definitely better fresh than leftover. Chocolate beer cake - 3.5/5. Slightly dense cake. Nice frosting. Beer aroma and flavor definitely comes through. Hazelnuts a nice crunch. Fun and glad to have tried, but not reaching for the next bite. read more

We've been here many times throughout the years. Never disappoints. It's such a cute place with tall ceilings & beautiful bar. Their brewed beers are amazing. I love the strawberry basil. This time I got their basic ale. Perfect classic ale. We had the beer cheese soup with Crutons & jalapeños. So flavorful & complex. Arugula salad with dried cherries. This is my fav salad. So yummy. We came on a Wednesday & they had happy hour pricing on appetizers. So we tried the beer bread. Omg, the whipped cinnamon butter was amazing. I've had many soups & salads here & loved them all. Service is always great. Down to earth, friendly people working here. Patio seating when it's nice out, windows open all the way to the outside. But warm & cozy in the winter. read more

See all

I loved the building this location is in, it's industrial but also like an old theater. We were able to get tables for 10 people. Our waiter was great and very attentive to the whole group. We got the house chips and dip as well as the Beer Bread. I've never had beer bread before, it was similar to sourdough and paired great with the sweet butter. The smash burger was decent. It had giardiniere mayo that wasn't my favorite because it was chunky, but it was unique. The fries were perfectly crispy. I didn't personally try any beers, but the people in my group enjoyed the ones they tried. Great vibes and food! read more

Forbidden Root - FR Burger - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here with a group of people and three of us ordered the highly recommended duck and dumplings entree. All three of us agreed that the dish was overly salted - to the point where I wasn't able to taste any of the other flavors in the dish. I ended up ordering the beer bread on a whim and that redeemed my dining experience. Texture was flaky, with notes of yeasty beer accentuating the bread. That paired with the sumac-honey butter.. wow- so good I couldn't stop myself. Would pass on the duck and dumplings entree and go with the strawberry basil wheat beer and beer bread read more

Forbidden Root - Duck & Dumplings - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great drinks and fantastic food. Dishes at Forbidden Root seem like a step above most brewery offerings and lean more into the gastropub fare. Even with unique options like the pork schnitzel sandwich on the menu, I decided to be less exciting and opt for the spicy fried chicken sandwich. It was mouth watering and had a small bit of spice, not enough to make me sweat or anything. Tried a variety of drinks off the menu including mixed drinks, beers brewed in house, guest brews, and even a neat whiskey barrel pick of their own. All solid. Can't go wrong here. Thanks forbidden root for a memorable night with friends and delicious food. read more

Forbidden Root - Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice vibe for a late Saturday dinner. Pretty empty and the bartender let us pick what football game was on the tv. I love him. The burrata was a great appetizer and my favorite thing we ordered. Bread was fresh, strawberries were a great summery addition. We both agreed the duck and dumplings were way too salty. It was hard to notice any flavor besides the saltiness. The mussels were ok, nothing spectacular and I probably wouldn't order them again. TL;DR: good for beer + apps, entrees too salty, I love the bartender read more

See all

Service is great. Large open ceiling makes the place feel spacious. Good for accommodation large groups. I'm usually skeptical of food at bars but this place was quite good. I got the beer baked mussels and it felt like eating a seafood tomatoe soap. The paired bread had a chewy crust and soft inside. Everyone else's dishes all looks great. I would come back to try the duck and dumplings (gnocchi). Everyone who got beers enjoyed them. read more

See all

Server was super nice and let us sample some beers before selecting what we wanted. Offers nice happy hour specials and flights of beer too. Breezy and sunny open air tables when windows are open. Bathrooms are clean and tidy. read more

Forbidden Root - Menu - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Checked out this pretty unique brewery. Forbidden Root is one that has been around for awhile and is known not just for the beers but also the food menu. It has since grown from this original location in East Village. As the saying goes nothing beats the original and this is where to start on some great local beers and also get something to eat. The prices may be kind of high but it's to be expected for being hipster. Basic thing to know is the beers are supposed to be the main thing of course. It's got quite a few to choose from. The styles are a lot different than just the typical. A lot of ingredients making these more enjoyable to pair with food. Probably what they had in mind when they created these. It's about $8 a pint. Kind of a lot but of course this is a hipster craft brewery though. Best one of these we had was the Black Phillip, which is an American black ale. There's dark malts, and chocolate and coffee notes. As for the food it's great but kind of limited for vegetarian choices. It's about $13 for an entree. She got the Kale Salad. It has chickpeas, fennel, fried shallots, herbs, and tahini-orange dressing. This was actually filling surprisingly. I got the Jackfruit Sandwich which also was plant based. This has jackfruit and Napa cabbage tossed in barbecue sauce. Most of the rest of the menu is meaty. There's also oysters if wanting to get seafood. For sure we could come here again. It's located on West Chicago Avenue at Hermitage. There's a few things for vegetarians. read more

Forbidden Root - Black Phillip And Kale Salad - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We needed quick seating and service so we could get to a concert on time and this place came in clutch after trying 3 other spots nearby. The duck & dumplings was really warm and comforting. read more

Forbidden Root - Duck & Dumplings - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went for Sunday brunch. Very friendly service. Staff were really attentive and service was quick. The food here is outstanding. You will rarely find breweries with good food, this one has best food. We sat by the window and the vibe was amazing. Got the flight and really liked the Beer. Beermosa is a cocktail we tried and it was good too. Cheese board was perfect to get us started and roasted carrots were really tasty and flavorful. The beer selection was decent, and the DIPA I had was very well done, bold, balanced, and flavorful. It's clear they take pride in both the beer and the space. Worth a visit if you're brewery-hopping through Chicago and want a spot that blends craft beer with a polished, restaurant vibe. Forbidden Root is truly a gem! read more

Listen the place is still cool and we enjoyed my latest trip here. However, I did try the jackfruit sandwich and that's not something I enjoyed at all. The fries were fine. Some of the other appetizers were good still. Overall, I enjoyed it and moreover the entire group of friends enjoyed our night out. read more

This place is a chain, and has a few other businesses connected to their group. The food is better than your average brewery. And it has a few unique items on the menu. I have had the chicken sandwich and it does come with fries although that is not obvious. It is very kid friendly in that most of the clientele are families from my experience. The food was good, the service was good. It's just loud enough to make it a good environment to bring your family. I have come here twice around dinner time 5:30-6 and never waited for a table. read more

Food and drinks were great! We had a quick dinner before going downtown and everything tasted great. Service was great as well. Would recommend! I got the squash pasta which was interesting flavors but I enjoyed it. My husband got the chicken sandwich and my mom got the arugula salad which was also tasty! read more

Forbidden Root - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Forbidden Root is a fun brewery and pub. The staff are excellent and very attentive. The place itself is a great mixture of classic brewery vibe but also a nice front side with open windows looking out on the street and neighborhood. The food is absolutely solid, with great pubs fare and specials that will sure appeal to anyone. The winner of course is the beer. They have a wide variety of styles from IPAs to sours to fruity beers and more. If you don't find something you like there, they have a full bar, so no excuses. The place is fun, friendly, and delicious. Be sure to give it a try! read more

First we ordered the burger and the server didn't ask how it would like to be cooked. The burger came out undercooked, which at first we didn't realize how raw it really was. My boyfriend continued to eat it thinking the meat would still be fine. Halfway he ended up getting sick at the restaurant. I made the server aware and they did not offer to take the burger off the receipt or offer anything else. read more

Forbidden Root - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Easy parking west town/ Ukrainian village area ... nice to see some healthy vegetarian options for our friends. We were rushing to attend a concert nearby so found the service a little inattentive but the food made up for that. We had the arugula salad , and mushroom pot pie very good , spicy chicken sandwich , excellent , Squash pasta was ok and the spicy chicken sandwich was good. The cocktails were disappointing but I guess we have to order beer to get the best choice of drinks because they brew their own. I will be back! read more

See all

Good food love this location on Chicago delicious great refreshments, great atmosphere

Great service! We ordered the carrots to share, they were devoured. I just had a smash burger. It hit the spot. I am also obsessed with the Strawberry Basil hefeweizen. So delicious. Have been here a few times and doesn't disappoint. Great for groups and families. read more

Forbidden Root - Drinks - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such great food here! Upscale but large portions and hearty food. Different from the ravenswood location but equally good and fun. Great ambiance and casual for groups. Carrots were awesome, burger is a juicy smash burger, burrata is creamy, cheese plate doesn't look great but tastes awesome! Salad was a bit heavy on the vinegar so not for all palates but I enjoyed. Not pictured is the ranch chips which are incredible and a must have. We are so quick there was no evidence. Service was a bit slow but we weren't in a Hurry. Great work! read more

See all

Fantastic food and atmosphere. Got the cheese board, pub grub, schnitzel, mushroom pie, and mussels. Schnitzel is very good. Wide selection of in house made beers that were very good. Service was very fast as well for the most part. read more

I can't believe it took me so long to finally try this place. The beers are unique and delicious and the food is also top notch. I like the decor and the environment was social and welcoming. Plus the staff went out of their way to be helpful and kind. read more

Went there for dinner recently. While I cannot drink alcohol, the restaurant still made me greatly satisfied! The food and service were both top-tier. For food I got the a chorizo empanada, a veggie empanada, butternut squash soup, and short rib entrée. My server asked for the order of food to be served, which was surprising to me as I did not expect a brewpub would care about such details! Anyway I got the two empanadas first. These were their Wednesday specials. The chorizo empanada had a slightly spicy kick. The veggie empanada was filled with potato, carrots, etc. Then I got the soup. It filled a large bowl which is indeed enough for a light meal! The soup was very creamy and tasted sweet. Highlight was the sage herb and brown butter solids, which added some distinct flavor to it. It was perhaps my favorite food. Finally I got the short rib entrée. Tasted good but kinda usual--the only creative point was the sweet drops, which surprisingly paired well with the savory meat. Service was great. The bartender asked my experience for each dish. The one who gave me the dishes introduced them. Above all, service was pretty quick! Another interesting point is the vibe. The restaurant looks like a large factory haha. Very spacious. Love the floor height. And you can see them brewing at the back of the restaurant! In general it was a great dining experience. The restaurant was not just for having drinks, but also great for individual dining. Will go there again the next time I go to Chicago! read more

See all

We stopped in for a light meal before our concert at the Empty Bottle. Very happy with the food and beers, and the server was friendly and accommodating. The place was a large sports bar, friendly and comfortable. We shared the Brussels sprouts and the salmon, all delicious. The perfectly cooked salmon was served on a bed of ground millet; we had never seen this grain prepared that way, inventive and tasty. We shared the house flight and loved all the beers so much we took home 4 packs of the strawberry basil and the purple Pilsner, which interestingly was made with iris root!! Would recommend and plan to return. read more

See all

Amazing food and complementary beer! We had their house made chorizo, Duck & Dumpling, Schnitzel and the Strawberry Basil sorbet. Everything was spectacular and our server was so kind and well versed in the menu. He made fantastic beer recommendations, would recommend Forbidden Roots? read more

See all

Stopped by this place for a quick meal before going to the cure concert. I had no idea what a treat it would be the burrata was just incredible. I am still daydreaming about it and it's been a month. Just as everything else, the duck dumplings were super delicious. I don't live in town or else I would be there more often. The waiter was super friendly and gave great suggestions. I had the how' your pineapple drink. Phenomenal as everything else was. The vibe and decor was so cool inside and it was quiet enough to still talk. I want to go back right now. read more

See all

One of the best burgers in the city with a very unique giardinera mayo and the perfect shoestring fries. To be honest you could come here just for the food, but they have a deep fleet of craft brews, and handmade cocktails which in been much more into lately. Very family friendly which is wonderful given I have a 5 and 3 year old, but if you go later in the night it picks up a much funkier vibe where I'd recommend getting a babysitter. Very chill and down to earth bartenders and staff. read more

Forbidden Root checks all the boxes. Incredible, varied menu (which includes Sunday Brunch!!), delivious beers, funky neighborhood, cool aesthetic, good music, great service - I mean, honestly? What else could you want? I don't love the word "elevated," but if I had to describe Forbidden Root's menu - it'd be ELEVATED PUB GRUB. Fun takes on American classics and fun munchies with unique, fresh ingredients. For Sunday Brunch, I had a hard time picking my entree, but ultimately ended up choosing the Eggs in Purgartory - perfectly poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce. It was served alongside toasted, buttered whole grain bread, and it was like Baby Bear's porridge: JUST RIGHT. A delectable blend of flavor and texture that left me satiated for the remainder of the day. For beers, I opted for a flight: Danger From Above (Farmhouse Ale with Oats), Strawberry Basil Hef, Doobie Two Dot (Belgian Dubbel), and a Very Cranberry Beer. I loved everything I tried, with the Danger being the real standout. Their beer list includes over a dozen house brews, plus some rotating guest taps, wine, ciders, seltzers, and anything else you could every imagine wanting to drink -- including Chicago's famous liquor, Malort. The Neighborhood is quaint, seems safe, young, and hip. There's a bunch of cool places within walking distance, including fun stores and great coffee. Can't vouch for parking, but access to public transit is fairly easy. Forbidden Root is reportedly one of the best brewpubs in the country. If you visit, you'll have no reason seeing why. Their beers and menu rotate with the season, and there's truly something for everyone. Best of all? They take reservations! read more

I love this place, good wings and brews and drinks. I have been here a few times and the bar area itself is my favorite spot. I have always gotten lucky for some open seats. I would recommend otherwise reservations read more

Forbidden Root - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

1. Milk Brined Pork Schnitzel Sandwich - Pickled Beet Mayo, Caraway Slaw w/ fries 2. Watermelon Citrus Golden Ale Schnitzel was crispy, seasoned, and tender. I would've liked it to be juicier but it was still tasty. Buns were soft and slaw was deliciously tangy, a good combo with the salty pork. The fries were crispy and soft. The watermelon ale was refreshing! I ate at their outdoor seating but I think the indoor space was too dimly lit. Employees were very friendly. read more

See all

This place has a nice selection of brews with some interesting flavors that I recommend trying if you visit. The service was pretty good as well, but the food left much to be desired. Salmon was $30 for a small sliver of salmon and the smash burger wasn't seasoned. The cheese and crackers were pretty good though. read more

Went with a group of 6, we each got our own flight of beers, then each of us ordered two or three dishes to share. This was a great way to experience the beer and food pairings where the tastes of the beers changed with the food. Everything was great, favorites (in no particular order) were the roasted carrots, tomato sandwich, beer cheese soup, beer bread (dip it in the soup), Brussels sprouts, kimchi popcorn (and I don't even like popcorn), house dill pickle potato chips, beef jerky, kale salad, buratta, the burger, jackfruit sandwich, strawberry basil sorbet, chocolate beer cake, and the banana beer bread. Great service, chill atmosphere, comfortable hangout. read more

Had a ton of fun trying out Forbidden Root! We were seated within a min of arriving but it was July 4 weekend so we weren't sure if people just had other plans and that's why it wasn't too busy. I ordered the flight and liked 2/5 beers the watermelon one and peach one. I ordered the short rib and it was so tasty! Cooked perfectly and a decent size portion. Server was fine but service was a bit slow / spotty but we didn't mind since we were all catching up. We shared the Brussels sprouts which were also good. My fiance ordered the burger which was the best deal because it also came with a shot and beer (I think it's on a specific night maybe Mondays? I can't remember). Either way will def be back again to try something else and other drinks! read more

See all

A brewpub with yummy eats and lots of vegetarian options?  Yes please! @forbiddenrootchicago is Chicago's first botanic brewery and is the perfect spot to spend a few hours with friends.  Thanks for the invite @mrsouthloop What we ate House Potato Chips Beer Cheese & Crackers Brussel Sprouts with Miso Butter Burrata Salad Fried Chicken Sandwich Duck Dumplings PS They have happy hour specials M-TH from 3-6PM. read more

Forbidden Root - Sorbet - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This restaurant is a gem! Every dish we tried was amazing, and the presentation was beautiful. The service was also excellent and made our evening truly special read more

Number 1 brew pub in the United States according to USA Today! Updating my review to talk about the food. Fantastic food! I had the short rib and it was so succulent with the cheesy potatoes and mushrooms. I'm not sure what "Sweetie Drops" were on it, but it added a nice texture and flavor to the meal. Also got to try the spicy fried chicken. It's a juicy piece of fried chicken that has a bit of sweetness to help tame the spice. The side salad had a simple oil vinaigrette to cut the richness of the rest of the meal. Definitely coming back for more meals to come! read more

See all

Just had the One Cheese Plate as a drinking snack. The plating is phenomenal. As always the staff is excellent and the atmosphere is relaxing. read more

Forbidden Root - Beer and bar menu - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My spicy fried chicken sandwich was good but wasn't that spicy!!! But the drink was amazing and I would come back to try their flights and happy hour read more

See all

Forbidden Root is a restaurant that is worth having a casual meal with a twist. The food was perfectly cooked and tasty and had interesting combinations, which did not seem experimenting food because it was well considered and not due to mere thought. The variety of beer was also remarkable and it matched well with the menus. read more