Forbidden Root is a staple in our restaurant rotation. The building used to be a theater, and has since been repurposed to bring us quality beers and well composed dishes. Everytime we go here, I can't help but find myself admiring the details of the architecture (check out the ceiling -- it's incredible!). Atmosphere aside, they have an ever changing draft list that's brewed in house. I always find their beers to be easily drinkable, but there's something for every palette. Highly recommend their burger -- it's topped with giardiniera mayo that adds a nice kick to each bite. Skinny, crispy, well salted fries on the side. What more could you ask for? read more

We had a date in this restaurant. We got an amazing dinner. The ambiance was prey cool. It's perfect for the date. There were a lot of customers inside when we went there. Luckily, they have few vacancies to sit in. You can order at their counter and you will see the menu on their top wall. If they have a bunch of customers the staff will assist and give the menu. The staff and waiter are nice. They will gretted you a warm welcome. We sat near the window. We ordered Fried Chicken Sandwich, Malted Lamb Ribs and Kale Salad. For our drinks are juices and wine. My favorite was Fried Chicken Sandwich that has a side dish of fries. The chicken was juicy yet crispy. It's so delicious. My girl loves Malted Lamb Rib because of its juiciness and its flavor. Highly recommend this resto. read more

The N'duja sausage was amaaaaazing and plain to die for! Not your usual sausage consistency but don't be deterred by the visual of the dish. The burger was a little salty but my partner enjoyed it. Definitely recommend this place for its relaxed atmosphere and industrial metal look. read more

Forbidden Root - N'duja Sausage! - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really like this spot! The beer selection they have is great. We got a cheeseboard that was pretty good as well. They have a lot of IPAs so if you like those I recommend this spot read more

The burger - wow. Snooze Juice - wow. Wildflower - wow. A gem on Chicago Ave. Great ambience and the food is great. This is what I've had: - Cheese and crackers - Vegetable ragu - Veggie brunch omelette - Burger read more

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

Forbidden root basically ruined our 4th of July. I and my friends went around 1pm to get lunch and start our day drinking. Since it's a holiday they have a limited menu where they only served 4 large plates and a few items were already sold out by the time I began ordering. Me and my roommate both ordered the Schnitzel sandwiches which ultimately led to our suffering. The sandwich tasted maybe 6 out of 10 but after 1 hour we both got terribly ill. We had to cancel our plan in the afternoon and went home to lay in bed. It's a combination of nausea,dizziness and overall exhaustion. Needless to say we can't anything at this point. I don't know what ingredients were being used on the holiday but since we both got sick at the same time. Something has to be wrong. The silver lining is that neither of us has to go to the ER. read more

As a west town townie, I was hesitant about FR. After waiting until the opening crowds died down, we went to check things out. We were hooked. Tired 10 samples, most were delicious and for about $6 for a pint of premium beer, this place beats most in the area. Burger is one of the best on the block. Have had it twice, now. Same goes for schnitzel Sammie, lamb jerky and asparagus soup. Staff is attentive and treats you like an adult in a bar, not like the Aliena baby. It's refreshing to have such a cool spot in our little ukie village nook. Only downside is its level of coolness attracting outside douches. You can spot them, though, so it hasn't been the worst. That's the thing with gentrification, I suppose. West town forever. read more

Forbidden Root - Beer sampler. Dank. - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Their beer is great! Good cocktails too. But wow their food, I want to like it, but I can't. We had the N'duja Sausage, Fall Salad, Grilled Carrots, and Shisito peppers. Sausage was like a dip and excessively salty. Salad was good but could use half of the dressing it was swimming in. No complaints on the carrots. And the shisito peppers were just covered, covered in miso butter... which sounds good but not ideal that that's all you can taste. Overall the theme of their food was smothering it all in too much sauce or seasoning, and for the price, just not worth it. read more

Great prices, delicious beer, phenomenal food. Beers are consistently rotating. The cucumber strawberry basil beer was incredibly refreshing. Great go to spot with a group of friends. read more

This place was pretty decent. I guess if I drank beer then the stars may have been more. It. Was pretty quite when I went so that made the service pretty fast. Our server sorta made me feel like she didn't want us there. Or it could've been just her personality. We both had there burger special which included a beer. The burger was really good but a little to salty for my taste. I would go back just for that. My friend enjoyed her beer. read more

Forbidden Root - Blonde Red Head and Bourbon Shot - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I absolutely love going to this place. I would call myself a pretty big beer guy, I always love going to breweries. I am so happy this place is right in my neighborhood. The botanical brewery idea is really cool and original. Prior to coming here for the first time I was skeptical about the combination, but it works really well. Their rotating tap aligns with seasonal trends, so you are always going to get a good beer experience here. Not to mention that the brewery is in an old church, it creates for a cool feel. read more

Loved the seating on the outdoor patio and service was great. We split a flight of beers and liked all but one, which is really pretty good. All of our food was tasty, too. read more

Forbidden Root is a happy place of mine, as the staff is friendly, efficient, and laid back, the beer is delicious, and the bar food criminally underrated and among the tastiest in the city. I've eaten here many times, drank beer here on too many occasions, and even toured the brewery. Aced it on all fronts. Smoochie Boochies might be my favorite NEIPA of all time (although many local breweries kill it as well, looking at you Old Irving, Alarmist, Maplewood), and Strawberry Basil Wheat, Rose Ale, Fernet Stout, and Ghost Tropic are all amazing. As for the food, the schnitzel sandwich is a gargantuan delight, the fried giardinaira is a fun starter, burger is very tasty (top 10 in the city), and they even offer a fruitte del mare squid ink pasta now! Need to go back and try that one. Keep doing what you do, Forbidden Root. See you soon, and at Dancing in the Streets fest. read more

We found this place based on a recommendation from a bartender at Goose Island and we're pretty tipsy upon arrival. We just did a beer flight and ordered the nduja appetizer and lamb ribs. I was not impressed with the beer flight but loved the two dishes. So much that we went back with another couple the following weekend. We tried more of the beers which we enjoyed a lot more than our original flights the week before. The Orange Bomb Triple didn't st all taste as strong as it was and do yourself a favor and end with the German Chocolate Cake stout beer! All of the food was on point but again, those lamb ribs were just something special. We definitely want to come back to try other dishes and look forward to sampling new beers as well! read more

Forbidden Root - Fantastic lamb ribs! - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Not a beer drinker but I Love Forbidden Root for their unique & boozy cocktails! When in season, my favorite is the miel amargo rimmed with black salt. I really enjoy their cheese pairings and deliciously spicy Valentina wings The lunch menu has yummy options too with savory soups of the day. Nom, nom, nom! read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! Firstly, it's beautiful inside - revamped old movie theater and stunning industrial decor with romantic details. Perfect for both date nights or group dinners. In terms of food - I have been here over and over again!! Other than the botanical beer and delicious food, the SERVICE is EXCELLENT. I haven't dined at the bar, but table service is SO good. Forbidden Root is special because of the people who run this place. Anna is incredible, and makes us feel right at home. Pat is the man and always has great suggestions for new brews, cocktails, or food. And the manager Nico has always been gracious with any questions or concerns. The burger the BEST... probably my favorite in town. I crave it weekly. The giardiniere Mayo is to die for and they cook it perfectly every time. I also love the carrots with pistachio hummus, and recently was blown away by their duck gnocchi dish. Definitely an eclectic menu, but like I said, the servers can guide you through it. Even the snacks that seem ehh on paper are SOO tasty (like the dill potato chips - house made; or the ramen popcorn). Overall, I'm not even a beer girl and I'm obsessed with this place. I love their creative menu and the service is something I never mind tipping extra for. I love this place!!!!! read more

We visited a year later and still loved everything about this place! Our server was fantastic, we tried almost all of the beers, and pistachio gelato was still on point! I'm glad they didn't do any radical changes since our last visit! read more

Forbidden Root - Love their pistachio gelato and the serving bowl is so cool! - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Just a fabulous time here. Loved the beer, great hurrays with really fun autumn flavors and fantastic service.

This is yet to be explored.. I have tried their burger. The burger patty is a bit on the bland side. It's juicy though and the fixins are not bad. Their fries is like the ones from McDonald's.. I'm not into beers, but since they brew their own (their brewery is at the back - you can see it on the glass windows) I might try them.. They have flavored beers. You can have small samples, a little bigger than a shot glass - 3 flavors for $7.. It's just unfortunate that I have to drive back to work so I didn't dare to try.. But at least I have a reason to go back.. :).. The place is on the rustic side. It's cool... Parking is not bad. It was around lunchtime-ish.. They have street parking. I didn't know though if they have parking on the side or at the back. read more

Great beer selection. Try the Panda Party, really good black lager, not heavy. Also had the Very Cranberry, tart kind of a Belgian. Bar is really nice and the bartenders were super attentive and really approachable and knowledgeable about what was on tap. Really nice space, didn't eat there, but would definitely try bar food with the really great selection of beers. read more

Came on a Friday night and got seated by the window, which was our preferred seating choice as it was very loud in the main dining room. Really enjoyed the various beers which are unlike what you can typically find at other places. Hubby got the pork schnitzel sandwich and I got the burger, both were huge and delicious. Will return for more! read more

The food portions here are big! You will leave here with a satisfied and full stomach. From the brunch menu, I had the milk brined pork schnitzel sandwich. I had to cut it up because it was massive. The pickled beet mayo surprised me (a pinkish-purple color) that I did not expect to have in my sandwich! But it added a unique taste to it that I enjoyed eating. My friend ordered the savoury pancake which was like a super fancy version of the Korean pajeon. It had kimchi, baby kale, cheese curds, and a poached egg on top. It was a mouthful of good stuff. Lastly, we had the forbidden root float vanilla ice cream which was the most intense and fanciest root beer float I ever had. It came with brownie bits, honey, cacao sea salt rim, and a brandied cherry. They also gave a little more root beer on the side so you can pour it in when you are running low. It was a great brunch meal overall and I couldn't eat another meal for awhile since I ate so much here! read more

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The demographic was mostly 30 and 40 somethings. I'm going to give this place a lot of credit for letting my sample as many beers as I wanted to. I think I went through about 8 or 9. They absolutely did not have to do that for me and I can't thank them enough for that. With that said, this just was not my style of beer. They did have an IPA called the Jacob, which was very drinkable, yet satisfying. I could taste a hint of tropical fruit before enjoying the well-rounded finish. I ordered a pint of this. I also had a small glass of their 9.7% ABV Cherrytree Amaro Ale. The taste of sour cherry and spices dominated this one. It was sort of a dessert beer, but much stronger than a cider or your typical fruit beer. Besides that, there were a lot of sour tastes, which I don't really care for. If it's your style of beer, you'll probably really enjoy this place. But for me, I typically prefer a lager or an ale and this just didn't do it for me. read more

Fresh interior design, feels like an indoor secret beer garden. Cheese plate was tasty for 5 bucks with 3 good portions of goat cheeses, apricot jam, toast rounds, and a fruit n nut slice reminiscent of a trail bar. All the beers have very creative names and unique flavors that really shine through. I've been coming here more since working in the area and the bar staff continue to be friendly and helpful. The Sparkling Rosé Ale is amazing! It has a deep wine profile with the kick of being a beer. Also it is high apv. I think the service and beer has improved over time and I look forward to their happy hour $10 flight deal featuring their house staples such as the ginger beer and wildflower pale ale. read more

Everything was awesome.. service, food and staff. They were very clean and safe following protocols for COVID. I highly recommend for date night or for a small group. read more

Monday lunch includes an Industry deal, burger/draft/shot. Good burger, delicious fries and a tasty whiskey shot from some Iowan distiller. Same beautiful venue, same nicely crafted beer. Also, great music-think X, The Cramps, Gun Club. No reason to not stop by this spot. read more

Forbidden Root - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Forbidden Root has that perfect duo of great food and great beer. Going there made me realize that I've been expecting brewpubs to fail a little bit at one or the other. We got the schnitzel and the duck and dumplings. Both were fabulous! We could eat those dumplings every day, they were so good. Absolutely loved the beer--the preselected flight was perfectly balanced. We even took home some cans and a crowler because we loved the selections so much. My favorite was the Summer Symphony. They're also doing excellent in COVID--tables were well spaced, and we saw them being cleaned as soon as a party left. Best of all, the staff was awesome. The servers were so nice! Thank you so much, and we'll be back! read more

Forbidden Root, you make my heart happy. My husband and I live just a block away from this kickass brewery/restaurant and we don't let that go to waste - Forbidden Root is our go to. Not only are the beers delicious and unique, they also have fantastic cocktails and good food. First things first - the beer. I have an unhealthy obsession with the sparking rosé ale (11.2% ABV!). I once got out of bed with the flu to buy a growler of the rosé ale before it sold out. The Dragon Zest is another of my current favs cause I love a good Belgium Tripel. Each beer is unique and there's something for everyone. Not into beer? No biggie, their cocktails are not to be missed! I had the Chili Maple Buck this weekend and it was this crazy journey of a sweet, smooth start followed by spice and a slight hint of bitter. I was really into it. Now to the food: My husband and I always get the burger. It's big, juicy, and flavorful - definitely in my personal top 5 Chicago burger list. I could do without all the frisee in the optional side salad, but the fries are solid. I'm also a big fan of the fried giardiniere (aka tempura pickled veggies), but it kills me every time that it costs $9 for 8 pieces! Seriously, 8 pieces?! That is the main reason that I am giving a 4 star review instead of 5 - it makes me unreasonably mad. Yet I still get them occasionally because they make my stomach so happy! Give me 12-14 pieces, or knock it to $5, and I'd get the giardiniere every time. This weekend I mixed things up and ordered the PEI mussels. I'd had them once a year or two ago and thought they were really delicious and surprisingly filling for a "small plate". The broth is really lovely and herbaceous, and I couldn't wait to soak it up with some buttery pieces of toast, like I remembered. However, yesterday, the mussels arrived at my table atop fries swimming in the broth! Two words: soggy fries. I was so disappointed that my husband was digging into this delicious burger and I was stuck with soggy fries. I finally asked for toast and pushed the fries to the side. Forbidden Root, get rid of the fries with the mussels. Sometimes classic is better. As for dessert, I have yet to have the iconic Forbidden Root Float, but I did have their Hot Chocolate Pudding and Vanilla Gelato this weekend. That Hot Chocolate Pudding was to die for thanks to the whipped caramel on top. I'm not usually a caramel fiend, but damn that stuff was delicious. Pair it with the thick and addictive vanilla gelato, and you have yourself a perfect dessert. Overall, Forbidden Root is one of my favorite spots in the city for a casual yet trendy drink or dinner. The restaurant can be loud, but it's got a nice vibe, and I love the high tops by the big open windows in the summer. read more

Went on a Saturday night by myself and sat at the bar and was immediately drawn in my the ambiance of the restaurant. I couldn't decide what kind of beer to get, so I got a pre-determined flight off of the menu. To be completely honest, there wasn't one beer that really stood out to me in terms of overall quality. I thought that most of them were too fruity and light for me (I tend to enjoy heavy IPA's and Stouts.. nothing fruity) but they did have a Triple IPA that I enjoyed. However, after finishing the flight I noticed that they had a Chai version of the Triple IPA that I liked, so I decided to give it a go. WOW. This is simply one of my favorite beers I've had. The only sad part of this was that they only served it for a few more days, and it's seasonal so it won't be returning anytime soon... total bummer. Now for the food. I ordered the N'duja Sausage appetizer and while it was not quite was I was expecting, it was fabulous! After finishing that I promptly looked at the menu and had too many tantalizing choices, so I decided to go with my gut and get the mussels that came in a tomato based broth and had halibut pieces scattered about in the bottom. It was absolutely delectable! I couldn't get enough of this broth, it was actually so good that I started scraping the bowl to make sure that I didn't leave any of the broth. The mussels were also cooked perfectly, and the halibut in the broth was a great addition. All in all, I left more satisfied that I ever could have thought coming in after eating the food. HOWEVER, there's still the point about the beer. Because of my preference, I don't feel like I can give a 5/5 star. For me, the food was an easy 5/5, but the beer was more like a 3.5/5. Thus, a total of a 4. For those who tend to like fruity beers that are a little bit lighter, this will be your spot. read more

Definitely go check it out!! We tried all 11 beers on tap in 4 oz pours and enjoyed every one of them! They have some regulars on the menu and some come and go...so you could keep going back and exploring the new brews. Thought it was a nice friendly gesture that they have a "guest" section and there was a note support to a local charity with the related sales..so that was cool too. When we first arrived (3 ish), the hostess informed us that the kitchen was closed for the next hour (was between lunch and dinner)..just as a heads up in case we were planning to have food. Think that was a reflection of good management - good training. Since we were looking for a late lunch and it worked out perfectly that Yuzo, this great sushi spot (famous on Uber eat for the sushi burrito) was just right across the street, so we popped in and had lunch first. read more

Forbidden Root - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Holy cow. What a great venue. Great service. And really great food and beer. I was so impressed. The grilled asparagus and schnitzel sandwich are a must have. And sparkling rose ale? You had me at sparkling. read more

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A great burger! Mayo giardinaira adds a nice level of spice and the cook was perfect. Spaetzle was also outstanding. Fries are fine but not as good as the rest. Beer selection is great and this a great place to bring kids. read more

I absolutely love this place. With so many choices in Chicago, it's hard to justify visiting the same restaurants.. but Forbidden Root... I have taken both locals and visitors here. The beer, always bugs me when I see a beer with added flavours, but this place that won't do that to me, if they want to make a strawberry beer they'll add whole strawberries and botanicals into the brew resulting in this lovely effervescent beer that makes you feel like you juiced the whole dang fruit The food, the burger should make those top burger lists in Chicago, the schnitzel sandwich also makes you happy, but one my favourite dish is the salmon dish, oh the lamb ribs made my friend drool... Their menu is seasonal and they *just* brought back a wild mushroom pot pie.. can't wait to try it The service, the wait staff hasn't disappointed but the all star is Carlos, he gives such a fun and knowledgeable tour of both the brewery and the upstairs that just leaves you happier than before you stepped through the door. read more

I stopped by last night after trying to dine and a new place nearby that was dragging out our wait well past out reservation. Anyway, forbidden Root had some new beers and we walked right in. Major Label Debut is a tasty little stout, bitter. Snookums is a English style barley wine. I typically don't like that style but this one is a winner. There's a little spice to it. The upside to Forbidden Root is their food is legit. They know what they're doing. Arctic char last night, very good and reasonable priced. Thanks Forbidden Root for saving my night. read more

Fun spot for dinner, but the beer is the best part! They do beer flights if you want to try multiple ones. We pick up 6-packs of the ginger-infused beer year-round. We were disappointed by the brunch menu (where are the veggies?), so we ate elsewhere for that meal. read more

I love that this place is a local spot for me. Forbidden Root not only has delicious beer, but the food is legit too. I am not the biggest beer drinker as I tend not to like IPAs and/or hoppy beer. Forbidden Root has beer for everyone. Not only is the beer made with many natural ingredients, they have fun names and taste delicious. My personal favorite is the Strawberry Basil beer as it's light and crisp. The Money on my Rind and the oatmeal stout were also quite delicious. If you are not sure what beer you want and do not want to commit to a full glass, they offer 5 oz pours and flights too. Do not be discouraged by the fixed flight on the menu. They are able to customize your flight, which was perfect in allowing me to taste at least 5 beers. The food is quite delicious as well. We have not really had a bad experience with whatever we ordered. The burger has always been a staple for us.I won't say it's the most delicious burger in all of Chicago, but it sure is pretty decent. Also good are their bar snacks like the pizza chips ad popcorn. We got the steak jerky yesterday, and although it was ok, I don't know that it was worth the $9. The best item on the small plates menu is probably the fried giardinara. It appeals to my Indian heritage that the veggies are battered and deep-fried. They have this surprising pop of acid with each bite, which helps it hold true to the giardinara feel. Also delicious on the small plates menu were the lamb ribs. They were not only tender and fell off the bone, but the sauce that it was covered in was super delicious. I hesitate reviewing this item as there a lot of rotation of menu items. Either way, this is definitely a restaurant in our local rotation. read more

Very good and helpful service, the burger is a little sultry but the deals here are great. If you order the burger ask without their sauce I think it ruin the burger read more

Forbidden Root - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Happened upon this spot for dinner and it didn't disappoint. Uva cockail (a gin option) was tasty, as was the carrot/hummus appetizer. Great burgers and overall service too. Highly recommend! read more

I'm so happy this bar is still open & in walking distance! They have a great selection of beers, shots, and cocktails, and serve food as well. They have distanced their tables & opened windows to make it more safe during covid. Great service!! read more

Fantastic original botanical beers and solid signature mixed drinks,. My beef is with the service. I sat at the bar waiting and waiting. There were 4 bartenders behind the bar. Two mixing drinks - one for the bar and the other for the tables. The other two were shooting the breeze and one one saw me waiting and she did NOTHING. I think she had short dirty blonde hair and wore glasses and and frown. I really hate it when bartenders ignore you just so they can talk to each other instead of making money for the restaurant and themselves. read more