I moved into a nearby apartment complex and wanted to see what was good around there to eat. So many options but stumbled upon Half Sour since it was so convenient to walk here. There's paid parking all around, but very walkable if in the area and CTA is easily accessible around there as well. I got the salmon and OMG it was so good! I also got the Chef Made a Drink. It was soo delicious! It was also my server's recommendation. Everyone was so friendly and food came out so quickly. This place is on the pricier end, but it was well worth it. I'm definitely coming back to try brunch and even a night out since the bar opens late. If you are in the printer's row area, this is a place you should definitely check out! read more

Half Sour - Salmon - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Experience: With a party of two on New Year's Day evening, we were able to be seated fairly quickly. The staff was very friendly and professional. Food came out pretty fast. The ambience was casual with plenty of seating. I can see this place being packed so I was pretty surprised that barely anyone was there. However, we did come on New Years Day. Parking: It appears that all parking is paid metered. At this time, I do not see any free spots. If you do, please let me know because I would want to come back. Even if you pay for parking, the neighborhood is great to explore. Worth: Absolutely worth the visit. Definitely coming back. I had the cheeseburger with a side of Mac and cheese and it was amazing. I had a rosemary mule and that was also great. Overall, 5/5, would come back here again. Not bad for my first review of 2022! Cheers! read more

Half Sour - Cheeseburger and Mac & Cheese - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pro tip - order 2 specialty cocktails at a time. Service was slow and impolite at best. Came around 3pm on a Saturday and was quickly greeted with "our kitchen is closed to turn over to dinner/lunch from brunch" Um cool, but we can still drink? We were assured we could. Great! Yeah, no. Sat for a solid 10 minutes with no contact from the staff. So we started ordering 2 rounds at once - because this is how you solve this problem. Server/shift change occurred. We offered to close out with our first shift server. Second shift server was smarmy and was clearly over being out in public. Girl, I see you. I hate the public too...that's why I work in contracts. At one point, we were both sitting with empty glasses for about 15 minutes when my husband ordered another round at the bar (mind you, this was after 4 individual cocktails and an appetizer) the second shift server chastised us for ordering at the bar. Dearheart, we've been watching you socialize with a manager in yoga pants and Toms and another off duty server for 20 minutes. It's very apparent you want nothing to do with us. Food was okay. If the service had been better we would've fallen in love and come back regularly. As noted, the service was terrible and we will not return. read more

Great neighborhood bar and restaurant in Printers Row! The food is always fresh and the servers and staff are inviting. Little on the pricey side but I'd rather pay a little more to support a local place. They have a nice dog friendly patio in the summer too! Bonus cause they leave dog treats out for the neighborhood pups! :) On the weekends they have a great brunch with freshly made donuts. Check their social media to see the flavors of the week. read more

Well well well. I guess anything is possible now because there's two restaurants in the south loop/printer's row area that are about a block apart & both are tasty. Had it not been for an exhausting weekend & a long flight I probably would've never dined here however the food was surprisingly good. We opted for the maple bourbon wings which paired well with some downright heavenly blue cheese. I doubt this was made anywhere but in house. While we're on the subject of condiments the garlic aioli I had with my fries was delicious as well. The mac n cheese was bland imho but I'm not a fan of Mac tbh so take it with a grain of salt. Lastly my Ruben sandwich was downright drenched in the the special sauce & I loved every minute of it. At $15 for a sandwich the place isn't cheap but I'm sure I'll return. read more

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I had a great time here. Our server was informative, friendly, and helpful. She was also kind enough to allow me to charge my phone behind the bar, even though we were sitting outside. The patio is also dog friendly, and she was great with my friend's dog too. The food was great, and the drinks are even better. It's a great spot in the South Loop, and it doesn't get too loud or overwhelming, even with it being on a busy street. I look forward to coming back! read more

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Was craving a burger while being hungover in Chicago on a weekend. Me and the bestie looked up some places and this seemed to really stick out to us. She was craving just a regular burger while I wanted a breakfast burger sort of thing. Yelp requested this location, so we figured why not. It was pretty good and even better as leftovers. I would like to try more burgers from here in the future. read more

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Great drinks and decent food! I've tried the Polk st spritzer and the chef made a drink cocktails, both of which were refreshing and delicious. The latkes that I had were crispy and flavorful, but I thought the chicken in the matzo ball soup was a bit dry/tough and lacked seasoning. The B.A.L.T. sandwich looked (and was said to be) good and the fries were surprisingly delicious. Also, they host a stand up comedy show on Thursday nights that is fun and free!! I would definitely recommend stopping by for that and getting some drinks. read more

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I've been to half sour probably about 5 times within the last year. Normally, it had been an average experience not bad, but not great. Personally, I find the food a bit greasy, but my boyfriend loves their cheese curds and fried artichokes. Vibes are pretty good a majority of the time. However, after our last experience I doubt we'll be back. We walked in on a Saturday at about 8pm. It fairly busy, and there has never been a host from what I have observed. Most of the time somebody working behind the bar or passing through the front of the restaurant will ask you if you need help. On this night, at least 3 different waitresses walked through me and my friend (we were standing in front of the door) with little acknowledgement. We said hello and they awkwardly said "Hey." and kept moving. While I was on the phone with our other friend who was arriving soon, my other friend got the attention of a bartender who led us to a booth in the back. The booth was dirty (I don't blame the bartender for this). He did not know. We asked a waitress passing by if we could her somebody to clean off the table because it was dirty and I'm not even kidding when the waitress literally replied "Yeah, when somebody gets around to it." The bartender was running to get us waters when that happened so we tipped the bartender a couple dollars in cash and told him that we were leaving because that waitress said something that was in our opinion downright unacceptable. You can be busy, you can have a dirty table, that's not the issue. Regardless of whether the customers are at your table or another person's table, if your response is to treat a customer like what they're asking for is an inconvenience to your job, then your job probably shouldn't be customer facing. read more

Half Sour - Me Llamo Tami - Campo Azul Tequila, Tamarind, Jalapeño, Lime, Tajin - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been to Half Sour a dozen times but felt compelled to write this review after the best experience I had last Sunday with Ciara as my server. I seated myself at a high top and she came over right away to take my drink order. She noticed the book I was reading and recommended a movie on the same topic. She offered great recommendations on the menu as well. She was very attentive the entire time and I couldn't have asked for a better brunch experience! Half Sour is my go-to neighborhood spot because the food and service is consistently great but Ciara was truly a gem! Five stars! PS - the charred wings are to die for and the brunch chicken biscuit sandwich is a winner! Also can't beat their $20 mimosa special on Sundays. read more

It was our first time here. The space is smaller and darker than expected. We got the chicken sandwich, smoked salmon salad, cheese curd and mezcal margaritas. All were delicious, just wished there was more smoked salmon. We would go again to grab a quick meal or drinks. read more

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Came here before Pink concert last weekend. Sat outside on Patio. Very nice, server was friendly. She actually forgot my drink order for awhile but took it off the bill so no worries. I came here to say the cheeseburger was FANTASTIC! Actually the best Ive ever had.. yup... i said it. read more

I came here on a whim with my mother before a show at Merle Reskin Theater down the street. There were not many people in the place at 5:00pm on a Thursday, so we were sat immediately. Our waiter was beyond helpful and friendly, which really can make or break a restaurant in my opinion. To start we ordered a couple cocktails which were both delicious and well made. For food, we shared the Homemade Pickles, Artichoke Dip and the Cauliflower Steak. Homemade pickles were awesome, very refreshing with a little bit of heat, and artichoke dip was also very good. What stole the show however, was the Cauliflower Steak. This came plated beautifully with almond butter, harissa hummus & pickled pomegranate. I would NEVER think to put these ingredients together... but holy moly. The flavors in this dish were just incredible- I've been craving this meal ever since we left. Although this place is a bit hidden from the hustle and bustle of the loop- I 100% recommend any one in the area to check it out. And trust me- get the Cauliflower Steak. read more

Half Sour - Cauliflower Steak (half portioned, we split it). SO GOOD - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Friends and I chose this place based on the menu and it did not disappoint. They have a pretty good selection of beer and other cocktails if you're not into beer. Started with the half sour pickles (came with 4 spears, I just forgot to take the picture before eating the rest) which I had never even heard of before coming here. They mostly tasted like a pickle but crunchier and they were delicious! I got the backyard burger for dinner; the flavor was amazing and the fries were awesome (get special sauce on the side to dip!). My only nitpick complaint is its supposed to be a smash burger but the patties are a tiny bit too thick so they aren't as crispy and are a little chewy in the center. Otherwise, the food, ambience, and service was excellent. read more

Half Sour - Half Sour Pickle - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Half Sour isn't half bad! I've now been twice, once for a work event (open bar) and once with my fiancé where we had a full dinner. Both were great experiences! I throughly enjoyed my drinks, and food. The patio is also nice on a warm day. The half sour pickles are really good, and the latkes were extra good. Highly recommend both! read more

Half Sour - Latkes and Half Sour Pickle - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm so glad I finally got to try this place. I live right across the street and always walk by and never got to try it. My building also gives perks (15% off for residents). We sat inside right by the windows. We ordered the cheese curds which were to die for. They were amazing. I constantly crave these cheese curds and am so tempted to just walk across the street and eat them everyday. My boyfriends ordered a burger and I got the black bean burger. The chipotle aoli was delicious on the burger. The dishes are huge. Both burgers came with crispy fries (just the way I like it). The place is super homey and a great neighborhood place to go to for drinks , food for a date night or evening with friends. read more

Love their regular menu items and their weekly specials! I follow on their Instagram to see what new item they are serving for the week! Most of their posts have me wanting to get some take out! We dined their recently, and had their regular menu items. Can't go wrong with a cup of matzo ball soup to start! Must order their fries- perfectly seasoned! The breakfast sandwich is a special treat on the weekends! read more

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As a former Printer's Row resident, I remember Blackie's fondly and am excited to see something come into the space. It's Friday night and I'm here for a late dinner after working far too late (especially for Friday). It's almost 9 and I really want dinner. I came in and the bartender tells me to sit whenever. Because I was standing near the bar, I wasn't sure what he meant so asked of I could grab a spot at a table. "Wherever you want." Got it. I look and see the two seaters were taken and the seats by the window hadn't been cleared. Seeing my fruitless search, the manager or owner (unsure her role) says she'll wipe down a window table for me. Perfect. It's a nice night and the large open windows work well. It's $4 Lagunitas on Fridays. Perfect. I ordered the seasonal sour and review the menu. The entree options are limited and rather heavy. I ended up getting the burger because it's been that kind of day. When it arrives, I could tell it is a bit messy to eat. The cheese is very gooey. It's cooked more on the rare side and quite flavorful (if you've been to the Dearborn, it reminds me of that burger). There is no lettuce or tomato, so a burger in it's pure form. The entree comes with a good amount of fries, which are tasty and have a good hint of spice. Nice crunch to them, too. Nice neighborhood spot. Love the windows they've incorporated during renovations, makes for good people watching. read more

Half Sour - $4 Lagunitas on Fridays - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Going to chalk up my experience to either an off day or a new server and say it would be worth trying a second time. I asked about possible substitutions on my sandwich or even to just remove something and my server was stumped so I had to some up with something different to order. Food was decent and location was great. read more

This place has quickly become my favorite spot in Chicago! The drinks, food, and service are always top notch. My girlfriend and I have been here close to 10 times now (we're addicted) and I can't name a bad thing on the menu. The chicken biscuit is our favorite dish for brunch. For lunch or dinner, you can't go wrong with anything. I also love the frequently changing food specials--there's always something great on there. This place is one of Chicago's best kept secrets! read more

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After all the hype from all the comments about Half Sour's burger, this is my short review: https://youtu.be/ecc0nbg9m-8 My longer review is that the bun was air soft, the meat was juicy, savory, without being too rich or too greasy. Pickles be picklin'. The sauce be saucin'. Damn this is a tasty burger. They can also make a mean mezcal cocktail. Im for this place and am down to try the other burgers and drinks here. Two Samuel Jacksons up read more

Half Sour is in our neighborhood and a great spot to go for dinner and drinks. The bartenders and waitstaff are lovely and the drinks are great. It is a very relaxed bar (quiet enough for people to work but also has groups of friends chatting at the same time). The food was great - I'd call it upgraded bar food. Would recommend the burrata toast (it's a special)- its crunchy and very tasty. Also, the Triple XXX sandwich is great if you are into buffalo chicken. Steak frites was also tasty and worth ordering. Definitely worth stopping in for a drink, lunch or dinner if you are in the Printer's Row area. read more

Wow! We got off the plane into the city and were hungry for something local and delicious. This was the place to be! It was 70 degrees and sunny so their patio was the perfect spot to sit and enjoy our time. Garlic Parmesan wings were on special and not even exaggerating some of the best flavored wings we have ever had! The Triple XXX hot chicken sandwich was good, and very hot! The chicken sandwich with the DILF (dill pickle seasoning) was unique and surprisingly very good. Good beer on tap and plenty of N/A options, ginger lemonade was refreshing. read more

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This will not be a long review but it will get to the point. If you have not gone to Half sour's bingo night; YOU ARE MISSING OUT. I love the neighborhood feel of this bar and the owners are sooooo nice! They have many events and the food is good however, bingo night is my all time fave night of the month. It is the last Wednesday of the month, go support and you'll be pleasantly surprised! read more

i know EXACTLY where i'm coming for a drink next time i'm in chicago. bars are on every corner, but this one had such a good vibe and even better people behind its bar. after walking around downtown and going to a rock show, i was pretty exhausted and just wanted to go back to the hotel. luckily, my partner talked me into having a drink at half sour. after having various drinks throughout the day i knew i wanted something different and lighter. nick, the awesomely amazing bartender, concocted some kind of vodka drink with strawberry and basil. it was so bright, fresh and easy to drink. wasn't overly sweet and had a great taste overall. not only did nick make me an exceptional drink that i will have to try to recreate, but he was super fun and kind. very attentive and a damn good bartender. dan the bar back was also a lot of fun and both had great conversations. i would come back to chicago just to come here for a drink. sincerely! thank you nick and dan for just being awesome people. read more

We went on a Thursday night when every other restaurant was closed. The food was great and the bar tender let me try a few different beers before settling on one. The service was quick as well. We got our food immediately. read more

Regular for the past 6 months. Don't sleep on the brunch, ham benedict, French toast, doughnuts and Rosemary hash are outstanding. They serve Hero coffee which is awesome including cold brew. Not a bagel person but hear good things! For the rest, cheese curds, charred wings, latkes, smoked salmon salad, cheeseburger, black bean burger, and Rachel the sandwich are all excellent. Would pass on the matzo ball soup, no taste very little seasoning. read more

Amazing service, coffee, and atmosphere! We ordered the lox salmon bagel, the breakfast bagel, the French toast bread pudding, and a side of potatoes. Yum yum yum. Also can we talk about how dog friendly the place is? They have a little dog treat station and bring out water bowls. So sweet. read more

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I am a really big fan of Half Sour. My experience is limited because every time I'm there I get a burger, and if sitting, drinks at the bar. Obviously, I feel the burger and drinks are worth coming back for :) Half Sour is a smaller ( not small) local spot. Servers and bartenders have always been friendly, attentive and helpful. In warmer weather, they seat outside too. Drinks have been great and the bartenders I've met have had a passion for what they do, which I greatly appreciate. Last, I'd like to say thank you for how they are working with the whole Covid situation. I ordered a burger for takeout yesterday. When I arrived to pick it up, I followed signs to a large window where they handed the food out to me. Considerate of both the customers and the employees. Kudos and thank you! Can't wait to go back. read more

Half Sour - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Soo good! I ordered it without meat very savory and flavorful warm. The ambience is also very nice it wasn't too loud. The service was also great. read more

Half Sour - Rigatoni A La Vodka - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Got the black bean burger which I was surprised at how good it was! That along with the fries made for a nice meal and the drinks were great too read more

2 stars for meh. I've experienced better. Only becuase I have literally just experienced better. I was excited to check out half sour because what jewish girl doesn't like a jewish deli around the corner from her apartment? Sunday morning my roommate and I were walking to our usual breakfast place and I was like "lets just finally check this place out" ( plus it was super cold and I didn't want to walk an extra few blocks). We walked in and stared for a few minutes until someone told us we can sit wherever we want. We were just gonna eat and bounce so we sat the bar ( super uncomfortable for an eating situation). I wasn't starving so I ordered the latkes and the half sour pickles. My roommate ordered lox and the waitress told us they were out of lox ( its Sunday morning how the heck are you out of lox *eye roll*) and she quickly changed her order to the breakfast sandwich and she got some cocktail as well. She didn't love her cocktail took a few sips and left it. The food came out fairly quickly and the guy bringing it out asked if the waitress told me about the honey and I said no? he explained that they infuse honey with chili oil etc etc. The latkes were fine the flavors were good and I really liked the chili oil honey. The portion was super tiny but the flavors combined were good. I was actually not a big fan of the half sour pickles either. Disclaimer I love pickles and I thought the brine in general was super bland. My roommate did enjoy her breakfast sandwich. Overall I don't think it was spectacular. The food was fine but nothing stood out. bummer read more

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Great food and great atmosphere! The staff was super helpful and recommended a great drink for me based on my preferences! I got the turkey BALT and it was delicious! I would definitely go again and would recommend it to anyone for a relaxing place to grab a quick meal or relaxing drink. read more

Half Sour - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I finally came here after the long transformation from Blackie's and I think they did a good job with the place. The beer menu has a pretty good variety and the food menu has a nice selection of sandwiches and appetizers. Unfortunately they were out of a few different dishes, bagels, and one of the beers. I ended up ordering a saison that was on draft, the jerky appetizer, a half sour pickle, and the Reuben sandwich. I thought the jerky was pretty tasty. Instead of having traditional jerky spices on the beef, it tasted like it was simply the meat, but it was served with some spicy mustard sauce, which was quite horseradishy. The half sour pickle, despite being the namesake of the restaurant, wasn't my favorite, but perhaps that's just because I prefer full vinegar pickles. Lastly, the Reuben was very tasty, with a nice crisp to the bread, lots of meat, and delicious sauce. While it no longer has the dive bar feel and cheap prices that I loved about Blackie's, Half Sour is a nice lunch spot if you're in the mood for something different. I look forward to them getting some daily or happy hour specials. read more

Half Sour - Reuben - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Inside was full, but outdoor seating was available. It was lovely to sit under the trees with the lights - super pretty. The host, waitress, and bartender were all so kind!!! The service was great. I love that all bills include a 10% tip for their staff automatically. The burger was SO DELICIOUS. Usually burgers are burgers to me - they're tasty, but not rave-worthy. Well.... This one.. you have to get!!! The fries were also very good, but the seasoning across them was a little inconsistent. Overall so tasty! Must order! Martinis also great! read more

I had a great experience at Half Sour. The owners are the nicest people and so kind and generous. We came with a large group and they were very accommodating. Everything is made in house and very fresh. The menu isn't huge, but there is something for everyone and from my experience, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The menu is traditional Jewish deli food but with a modern twist. It is comfort food made with love. We ordered a lot from the menu and everything was delicious. The latkes are some of the best I've ever had, and I have had my fair share. They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I don't eat oysters but my friends said they were great and of really high quality. The whitefish croquettes are incredible. They aren't just fried, they have a ton of flavor and are presented in a nice simple sauce or cream. We also got the bagels, fish platter and pickled veggies for the bagels. The cream cheese is all homemade as well. Oh my goodness, the smoked fish is unreal!! The sturgeon is the best smoked fish I have ever had, and the lox tastes better than other lox I've had. Next round... burgers! The vegan burger and the brisket burger. I shared with a friend and tried both. The vegan burger was okay, it was sort of fried which I didn't expect but it had good flavor. The brisket burger, however... was incredible. One of the tastiest burgers I have ever had. A little salty, very juicy and lots of flavor. We also ordered the fries, which were thin potatoes chunks were the best kind of crispy and had lots of spices and deliciousness! I can't say enough good things about Half Sour. Go check it out!! There is also a fun bar and a big drink menu. Definitely order a bunch of things because you won't be able to pick just one! read more

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Here it go. I really wish I can give five but I can't! Me and my kids went here for snack time! (Yes, you read it right!) My kids always get hungry so we went here thinking we can get a quick bite. So we ordered: Smelt fish Matzo ball soup Kids menu - plain hotdog my son is picky!) Kids menu - cheeseburger Food is MEH. I guess it's not for me. I got the smelt and matzo ball based on the review. Honestly, it's not great but it's not good too. My kids foods were wayyyyyyy better. it's tasty and I wish I ordered what they ordered. Price is okay. I have no complaint about this. The service was excellent. They gave us truffle chocolates at the end. Who would say no to a chocolate? The ambiance was great. I mean, bringing three kids to a restaurant is always nerve wreaking and they served us fast so we can just eat and get out. Overall, it's an okay place but it's just not for me. However, I wish this place a good luck. To sum this review: 1 star for the ambiance 1 star for the kids menu 1 star for the service 1 star for opening a place around south loop read more

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Came here with a few friends last Saturday night. We only had cocktails here, but the menu seemed to have some great dinner options that we will have to try at a later time. The kitchen appears to be open late though, which is a great addition to the neighborhood. I tried their "B Money" cocktail first, followed by their Old Fashioned, both of which were made well. The pricing was relatively standard for cocktails in Chicago. They also have daily specials, including Thursday night $8 for specialty cocktails. The staff was friendly and attentive. My friends and I had a great time and plan to come back for a full meal soon. read more

Was in the neighborhood and just wanted a good cocktail and some quick food. I headed to first draft (because I'm familiar with them). I had never been to Half Sour or head much of it. However when first draft was book to indoor capacity we called to check Half sour. It's so hard to know what places are open for indoor dining. They had one seat available by the open window. Yes it was a bit cold however they had a heater and warm drink options. We tried different drinks, my favorite was the ginger infused vodka. We tried the Buffalo wings and the lox bagel. Both were amazing. Jason I believe was our server and he was great. read more

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Came for the stand up in the basement (every Thursday night - definitely check it out). But I grabbed dinner with my friends first. I got the Reuben which is super burnt and had the tiniest portion of fries. My friend's Reuben was also super burnt. My other friend's chicken sandwich was essentially a fried chicken briquette. Very sad. Stomach hurt after eating the inside of the sandwich (left out the burnt bread). Service was good, but this meal was definitely not worth the price (paid ~$25 for this sandwich+tip/tax). Very sad. read more

Half Sour - Burnt Reuben Sandwich - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois