You'll see some of the best beards and 'staches in Chicago here. Between the staff and the customers, on a scale of 1 to hipster it's somewhere between vintage typewriter and an old 2X4 skateboard. That being said...the service is actually super friendly instead of what you may think of when someone says it's "hipster." Very vegetarian and vegan friendly menu although it wouldn't really matter to any meat eater since the food is absolutely unbelievable regardless of what you get. I did the country friend portabello and it was so damn good that even after a pesky fly from the outdoor patio got stuck in it I couldn't give the dish up. I just ate around his landing. Drinks are affordable and they have $3 Malort which is about a dollar less than most places that carry this disgusting-yet-hard-to-say-no-to shot. read more

Handlebar has my favorite Mac n cheese in the city. Their chili Mac attack is so good, and 100% what dreams are made of

"Is seitan some kind of pork?" When one of my lovely book/brunch club ladies exclaimed this after perusing the menu I feared that my restaurant choice might turn into a disaster. I was so excited about to try Handlebar that I didn't consider the possibility that meat eaters might be less than enthused about it, especially when nursing their post-St. Patty's Day hangovers. Crisis averted, no one was disappointed by their meal choices. The friend who asked about seitan even exclaimed that it was the best breakfast burrito she's ever had. In fact, everyone at our table (all meat eaters btw) had nothing, but praise for their meals. One even said it was the best brunch we'd met for in a really long time, yay! I couldn't decide what to get, so many things looked good. Since this place is vegetarian/vegan friendly I didn't have to eliminate a lot of menu items like I normally do, which was nice. I settled on the grilled cheese and a side of smoked gouda mac & cheese. I usually eat one item before moving on to the next, but both dishes looked so tasty I couldn't decide which one to eat first. I broke with habit and alternated between the two. Service was friendly, but slow. Since we were chatting about the book and catching up anyway it didn't hinder our dining experience much. Bottom line: Really good food, I can't wait to come back. TIP: If you're going with a larger group (5+) for brunch get there early, the place fills up fast. TIP: They only take one credit card per table and don't split checks read more

I decided to have the Buffalo Chicken (not real chicken but seitan) wrap. What is Seitan? Okay Wikipedia help!!! Wheat gluten, also called seitan, wheat meat, mock duck, gluten meat, or simply gluten, is a food made from the gluten of wheat. It is made by washing wheat flour dough with water until all the starch dissolves, leaving insoluble gluten as an elastic mass which is then cooked before being eaten! Thanks Wikipedia I'm not that hungry anymore!!! Not being Vegan but a huge meat lover. I decided to go for it!!! The presentation of the wrap on the plate was really pretty. So the moment of truth. I took a big bite and you know that phrase, "It Tastes like chicken!" It does not apply here!!! The first bite was not great. I got the ranch dressing on the side and decided to pour it on top. That may have saved my meal and I hate ranch dressing. I could see specks of red mixed into the dressing which tells me they spiced it up. Now the reason for my two stars...the second half of my buffalo chicken wrap only contained vegetables. Yes I was literally missing my fake chicken...it had started to grow on me!!! Complete laziness by the chef and unacceptable. We were the only two customers in there. There was no rush...attention to detail is key here. I kind of felt cheated as a customer! I was a little shocked as I took bites...hoping to find some buffalo seitan but I never did!!! The hit of this place is the Smoked Gouda Mac and cheese!!! It deserves 5 stars. In fact, if I ever come back I am going to get a giant plate of it and one of there nice drink specials!!! Two everyday specials. $5 Tecate Can and Tequila Shot and $4 Highlife Pony and Malory shot. What is Malort? Wikipedia please rescue me once again: Malört, a distilled beverage, is the name of a Swedish style of schnapps called "Bäska Droppar", flavored with wormwood. The word malört is the Swedish word for the wormwood plant. The smell and taste is musty and extremely bitter. Malört is popularly alleged to be a cure for indigestion. I wonder if Malort helps digest seitan? I'm sure Wikipedia knows!!! read more

Handlebar - Buffalo Chicken (not real) Wrap with Smoked Gouda Mac N Cheese! - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a very dangerous place! I came over as part of the VSC crew, but I made it a little too early so I grabbed a seat @ the bar next to the organizer of the event. I was hungry and did not feel like waiting so I decided to get the Grilled Cheese with tomato and fries. While I waited on my meal, I decided to give Guiness another try (the first time I tried it felt like I was drinking tar out of a can). I now like Guiness! My food showed up and while it was not the greatest grilled cheese I ever had it served its purpose to soak up the alcohol I was gonna drink. The star of the show was the spicy pickle that came with the meal. They had $3 Jim Beam cocktails, so someone decided that we all should do 5 shots of it (spread out during the time we spent there not back to back), Nice!!!! I had another Guiness along with a Schneider-Weiss. They have a pretty cool beer selection and an even cooler serving team. I want to give a sppecial shout out to the serving team over there Morgan & Katie! You two are as cool as you wanna be...Cheers & Happy Holidays! read more

Mmmm...I just love me some good vegetarian food! I don't know why, but I just get such a kick out of fake meat. The mac and cheese combined with Seitan sausage is pretty awesome! I had to look up what Seitan means, and found it to be "food made from wheat gluten". Tastes just like sausage to me, texture and all! I just want to try everything on the menu from BBQ Seitan to fried avocado tacos. For dessert, I ordered the special of the day - deep fried peach and ginger pie - DELICIOUS! The pie is like an empanada filled with goodies. I also saw that they had other kinds of fried pies like PBJ! The decor is pretty cool. The walls are lined with artsy posters. The service was pretty good and I would definitely come back next time I'm in the neighborhood. read more

Remember the food you liked when you were a kid? There's a Dairy Queen near the corner of 73rd and Taft Street in Merrillville, Indiana, and all through high school and college, I'd go there and get a sloppy joe. Oh boy, was that thing good. Big fresh bun, and a huge pile of sloppy, messy, delicious meat. It was fantastic. I loved it. In the intervening years, I became a vegetarian. When I drove by that Dairy Queen, I'd think of that sloppy joe with fondness, but I never went in. What, me eat dead animals? Not a chance. My friend Jean suggested we go for dinner at Handlebar. I knew Handlebar's reputation, but had never visited. Before agreeing to go, I checked out the menu online. I zeroed in on one item -- they had a sloppy joe. It was made from "carne de soya." A taste memory filled me mouth. OK, Jean, Handlebar it is! Although located perilously close to the hipster heaven of Wicker Park, we were able to find free parking on North Avenue. Granted, we went on a Monday night, but hey -- first impressions count. Entering the restaurant, we saw a bar off to the right, and about half the tables were occupied. We stood at the entrance, taking the lay of the land for a minute, and giving all those oh-so-young diners an opportunity to wonder why two age 50+ women were there. A host greeted us and said, do you prefer to eat indoors or outdoors? This was the Monday in late October where the daytime temperature had reached 73 degrees. We sat outside, under a canopy. It's a very pleasant space. Since it's in back of the restaurant, there are no car or bus fumes to swallow along with your dinner. Quieter, too. We each had a glass of red wine. Sorry, I can't tell you what kind, but we both were happy. Then, the main course. When my carne de soya sloppy joe arrived, it looked right. It smelled right. I had added avocado to it, for an extra cost, because I thought it would be the perfect fit with a spicy sloppy joe. This sandwich was fantastic. It fulfilled all my dreams. It was everything my 17-year-old self had enjoyed, and which I had craved ever since. Messy, hot, spicy, delicious. My mouth is watering for it right now. I chose a side order of garlic mashed potatoes, and it was scrumptious. Jean had a vegetable stir-fry that was a special that night. She enjoyed it. It looked good, and I'll try to load a photo of it. She was very, very happy with her meal. It wasn't a sloppy joe, so I don't really care. Very satisfied, very happy, comfortably full, and oh so happy we came. We'll be back. I may even try something different on the menu. Well . . . maybe not for a while. Handlebar is proof that you can be a vegan and still enjoy wonderful Midwestern comfort food. read more

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Good food. Lots of beans in their dishes. I like the vegan chimichanga. Service isn't great. Decent place overall for vegan eats. read more

Handlebar - Vegan Chimichanga - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Let me start from the very beginning. My dad wanted to try this place out a few years ago and had me call to see if they were BYOB. Me :Hello, what are your hours, and are you byob? Handlebar: We're open till 11 tonight, and we aren't byob. We're a bar. Me: Oh right, handleBAR. wow, I am slow. Handlebar: (laughter) So we went to handlebar and I have been going there for about 3 years now. The food is super yummy and you won't need meat ever again unless it is fish! Food: Pretty much everything is yummy here. Black bean tostadas, chili nachos, the black beans maduros, just about everything is great. Right now I am currently in love with the huevos diablos for brunch, with avocado. (Although I recommend soul veg east on 75th if you want a delicious bbq sammich that is meat-free.the one here is just okay in comparison) Service: i love the staff here. they are very honest about their opinion of the dishes and will be more than understanding if you have foodie's remorse or dietary restrictions. The beer list is great and they always have good specials for both drinks and for food. I will continue to go here. forever. Also! they have rotating art work on the walls. which is fun and changes things without changing the layout of the spot. love it. read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you're drunk or hungover, this is the vegan spot to hit up. It's pretty heavy, greasy, cheesy, carby, and comforting. Large, luscious desserts too. If dining in, full bar and dim light. read more

I saw this place a few times on The Gram, so I checked it out. It's a small, quaint restaurant, which I loved. The menu had a bit of something for everyone. I'm a vegetarian and the options were cool, but I was underwhelmed with my food. I ordered the nachos. They were blander than bland. I will go one more time, and try something different. I'd say go for yourself and decide. My cousin, who accompanied me, will never go back. With the cool vibe, and plentiful options, I'll take one more for the team. read more

This place is amazing. Very good looking plates and food was really tasty. Service was awesome as well! read more

Handlebar - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place does have amazing vegan food but if you can stomach the sobby waitstaff, and non air conditioned venue, and loudness then go for it. We recently visited this place again, and all i can say is come on it's freaking 95 degree outside, turn on the a/c man! I was so sweaty that I couldn't even enjoy my beer and grilled cheese sandwich. When I asked the waiter what kind of beer they had, he said all snippy, "it's listed on the beer list" and rolled his eyes. Okay jerk we know it sucks to have 3 roomies at the age of 32 yrs old and still be a waiter/actor. jerk! read more

Some of the worst service I have ever received. I had the absolute WORST time trying to order through their delivery service, chownow. While I know that the issues with the delivery service are not Handlebar's problem, the response I received from the general manager who claimed his name was Adam (would not provide his last name) was incredibly rude, dismissive, and the antithesis of good customer service. After attempting to order on the mobile site and receiving an error message about 10 times, we called to attempt to order through the restaurant directly if that were possible. It was not. The troubleshooting was not at all helpful either, but more of that later. After trying this 5 more times, I logged out, logged back in, created a new account and placed the order again. Still some glitches, but this time it appeared the order had gone through. About 30 minutes later I realize that despite choosing the option for delivery and entering my address, the app sent it through as pickup. We (my partner and I) call again to address the issue, and the host (whose name I did not get) informed me that I needed to go onto the website, delete the order, and order again. I hang up and after another 15 minutes of looking around trying to figure out how to delete the order, I realize this cannot be done. I call the restaurant again to see if the host would be able to navigate us through deleting the order and she says "we cancel it out for you". After telling her that she could have said that last time. She hung up on me. This was on speakerphone with 4 other witnesses. We immediately called back and requested to cancel the order. The host put us on the phone with Adam, the general manager, and my partner said to him "hello we're looking to cancel our order". Adam said "No." No attempt at accommodation, no questions, nothing. As anyone would, we immediately start asking questions and making demands. After spending two hours of going back and forth with these people, dealing with a website with very poor interface, and being disrespected by people we're giving our money to, there was no way we were going to go without a refund, which is essentially what he was telling us would happen. I have yet to receive a call regarding the status of my refund despite being told I would. I do not recommend supporting this business after the disrespect we received from the host to upper management. read more

Was recommended this place by a vegan friend as her favorite spot, knowing that I like spice, particularly for the BLACK BEAN MADURO http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/handlebar-chicago?select=jXq-GECo-ZF5prRVBj5Oxg and there was no disappointment. Black beens with brown rice, on fried plantians in a spicy chipotle sauce (vegan cheese and avacodos optional). It sounded simple when I heard it but the dish had so much deapth and flavor. I'm generally not a fan of brown rice but everything went together so well. I like vegan food but I usually not a fan of fake meat and the great thing is with such a well composed dish, there's no need to order fake meat (but it's there if you want it). Also, got a side of the SMOKED GOUDA MAC & CHEESE http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/handlebar-chicago?select=LFgAYFJxz-apkwfR4As5lQ Nice well done smoked gouda taste. The ambiance is very trendy and this place was packed through 11:30pm. It's great that they serve food so late so you can always grab a late night bite. Would definately like come back and try other things on the menu like Country Fried Portobello. read more

Handlebar - Black Bean Maduro - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The patio is lovely, good service and food. Great vegan and gluten free options. Conscientious staff in terms of food allergies. Very pleasant brunch experience! read more

Interesting and fun local bar + restaurant with primarily vegetarian/vegan menu. It's on the small side with tables closely spaced but there was no wait, not too noisy, and our server was friendly and attentive. I'm sad I got something I didn't like- the breaded mushroom hot "chicken" sandwich- others seem to like it but it was too spicy for me. But I did enjoy the fries, black bean side and a taste of the vegan breakfast burrito. I'd return for sure if I'm in the area. read more

Host was rude from the get-go. Told us there was only one table open for us (table of 2) and it was right under the scorching sun. We got seated, as we passed by multiple open tables (mostly tables for 4) and even saw open tables towards the back and under the shade. We were really excited to eat here, but after sitting under the hot sun for 1 minute, we just couldn't. Especially seeing multiple tables open and it being a calm weekday. Was it really not okay to sacrifice a bigger table if it meant we didn't have to be burning in the scorching sun? Especially on a not so busy weekday? Such a bummer. read more

Customer service needs to be reconsidered. The overly self- important hipster serving as hostess would not even consider to seat 2 of us in an empty 4-top table, though we were the only ones waiting--there were no parties of 3 or 4 who could have made more use of the table. So.... the table sat empty and we stood waiting... read more

We loved this place! I got the fried avocado tacos and my dining partner got black bean maduro with vegan cheese. He loved his, although I wasn't a huge fan of that one, I LOVED my tacos! I also got a delicious drink that was basically a bloody mary, and it came with a fried pickle - YUM. They had drink and food specials, and we can't wait to go back and try more items. We had a really tough time picking just one thing each off the menu, because there were so many delicious-sounding items. We also can't wait to go back for brunch! Service was the right amount of attentive. Only negative is that the outdoor tables are mesh, so we spilled on ourselves a couple times - would be awesome if there were placemats or trays under the plates. Also, they have bike parking at the back! We'll definitely be biking there in the future. read more

Until we looked at the menu while sitting in the restaurant, I didn't know that this was a vegetarian/vegan spot, but I'm glad that I have another arrow in the quiver when my vegan friends need an option. Tried the biscuits and gravy for brunch today...the dish was an interesting concoction. Seitan sausage was apparently in the gravy, and the consistency was actually pretty good. The biscuit was ok--and I couldn't tell if there was just the one biscuit or maybe a second hiding in the gravy?--and while this won't replace some of my other sausage gravy and biscuit spots in town it was just fine. What really worked were the $4 mimosas and the large back patio, which worked out better than expected today thanks to a handy heat lamp placed next to our shaded table. Prices for the amount of food you get here are also very fair. Flying Saucer is still my go-to for vegan friends for brunch, but if I'm in Wicker and need an out, this might be the call. Also a shout-out to the hostess today, who was either hopped up on uppers or just sincerely excited to be alive. Either way, a ton of energy (this wouldn't be for everyone, but I liked it). read more

Handlebar was such a good experience! They have a huge menu for both food and drinks. Service was quick and they were so polite. We split nachos, chili Mac, and the green sandwich and it was the perfect amount of food for four people. Definitely will be back. read more

I came here with a bunch of veggie friends. and in a way i feel bad that this place is now known to be a veggie place, since it has great food in general, not just for veggies. cos really, i love my meat and I could eat here constantly. Yes you are looking at hipsters serving you, and yes, the place is a little random. I came here in feb and they had halloween stuff stull up. Additionally we were nformed that there was no resverations, that there was no list, we just had to 'wait till you see a table and then grab it". with 6 people, I can bet you that isnt easy. We had to stare down a table and grabbed 2 little seats near it, so by luck we had seating. Whew. On to the food. We tried the Diablos and the Country fried portabella. I have to say that the Portabella won me over completely, but had really stiff competiton form the Diablos. I would get both anytime I go there, it just depends on your sauce and egg preferences. The tomato sauce on the diablos was incredible, but the portabella comes breaded and with a cream sauce too so it really is up for either to win. I'll be back to try the rest though! read more

Nachos with cashew queso was PHENOMENAL. My friend and I were overwhelmed by how great everything sounded so we split the grilled cheese, the fried avocado tacos, and the sambal tofu. There was a kick to the sambal tofu (but I'm sensitive to heat) and the grilled cheese was a great comfort food choice. The fried avocados had good texture contrast. Overall, would definitely recommend to herbivores and omnivores alike! read more

Great cozy ambience with so many amazing vegan options! The vegan spinach pesto grilled cheese was delicious - I couldn't tell it was vegan! The prices are also really reasonable. read more

We gave Handlebar another try. I ended up pulling three 3-inch hairs out of my mouth and food, which almost made me throw up. I personally can't come back from that no matter how good something was, so we won't ever be coming back. read more

My favorite dish is definitely the vegan chili mac! And great drinks. The servers are also so nice!!!

We really love this restaurant. We've been coming here pretty regularly on weekends for a year now. It's out standard post long run meal. Of all the veg-friendly restaurants, this ranks among our favorites. The food is great with both healthy and non healthy options. More than half the menu is vegan or veganizable. We want to give this place 5 stars but recently, the ambiance has gotten almost intolerable. The music is so freaking loud I can barely summon enough brainpower to pick the item off the menu. The staff is cool about lowering it but it is extremely unpleasant to have to walk in to the absolute racket. I have no problem with the choice of music, just the decibel. We will literally have to stop coming here if the volume doesn't resume normal levels which is incredibly sad. read more

Their nutty professor with vegan marshmallows is actually the best drink I've ever had. The Handlebar burger with the bean patty + fries was also amazing! I'm not from Chicago, but I will definitely be coming to this restaurant the next time I visit! read more

I don't know why I initially gave this place 4 stars, but this is one of my favorite spots in Chicago! Overall excellent vegan / vegetarian food with a fun DIY vibe. So now I'm updating it to 5 stars. read more

Wooohooo! Such a tasty, lovely place! When Piece had an hour wait, my friends and I decided to go to Handlebar. I was hoping that it was going to be loud and that we'd be screaming to each other during dinner, but the music wasn't bad at all. Funky, cool decor. I ordered the blackened catfish, veggie chili, mashed potatoes. The catfish was just oozing with flavor...baked just right with a slight black crust. The potatoes were light and homemade, with just the right amount of green onions mixed in. The chili was ok, but a little bland...could've been spiced up a bit. I've been to Karyn's and Chicago Diner, both vegan places I totally dig, but I think Handlebar may just beat both of them by a smidgen. Maybe a bit pricier than the others, but perhaps it's worth it because the food is just so great. Now the REAL home-run was the rum, gingerbread, plantains and ice cream dish. There isn't much else to say except that it was just simple heaven. read more

Yummy!!! We ended up at Handlebar for Brunch. The bloody hammer was amazing as well as the hibiscus tea. We ordered the chimichanga (no eggs) and black bean tostadas. Loved the chimichanga. I was not a big fan of the black bean tostadas (we're bit bland and the base was too soft). Would go again to try rest of the menu. As always the service was A++ Visit #2 - amazing experience. We had fried avocado taco and Cincinnati 5-way (vegan chili with noodles). Amazing food and service A+++ as always. read more

Handlebar - Cincinnati 5-ways - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Looked it up, looked good. Went to try and yup it was good! So many vegan options! Comfort food loveeeee Had the chimichanga, and my partner had fried avocado sandwich. Ohh the fries are to die for! read more

Handlebar - Chimichanga (vegan) - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is the most ridiculously pretentious place when it comes to their seating policies. Don't go here with a group of more than 2 because they will seat everyone else before you. I came with a group of 6 and they refused to seat us in the open tables because they "couldn't push the tables together" I asked if we could sit with them separated they said no "those tables are for parties of 2 only, the wait for your group is 25 minutes." They continued to seat other people before us. UPDATE: after making us wait, they promptly did what they told us they couldn't do and sat a group in the tables that "weren't allowed to be pushed together." WTF read more

Amazing atmosphere. Awesome service. Great vibes. Great varieties. Awesome spot if you're into that comfortable chill vibe. art on the walls and in the bathroom. overall just awesome. read more

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I love this place so much. It is currently my favorite restaurant in the city. Great for brunch, lunch and dinner. I am not a vegetarian by any means but that doesn't matter. They also have a pretty large outdoor patio in the back for summer days. I was thinking I wanted to bring my sister in law here with her new baby but it's probably too tight a squeeze to bring strollers indoors....I did see a young girl there tonight though. I'm a sucker for their breakfast burritos but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Best of all, it's cheap! read more

Handlebar - Black bean meduro - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dear Handlebar, You are a Chicago treasure. You've been absolutely killing it during Covid, and I've never been anything but truly impressed by your food, atmosphere, and service. Your cocktail kits are adorable. The skewers on the Bloody Hammer are worth their weight in gold, especially the tiny round peppers. Your hot "chicken" sandwich has brought life back to us sad vegetarians who thought they'd never eat a Nashville hot chicken again. With the diablos, the Gouda mac, the Bloody Hammers, and the super rad server Alan, you are one of my favorite places to eat and nothing could ever change that. However, I do have one small issue, which is why I am writing this review today. The issue is: your BBQ Mac and Tots is one of the most delicious food items I have ever had the pleasure of putting in my face, and I am absolutely devastated that it is only a temporary special. I would like to publicly register my utter joy at having had the opportunity to eat such an incredible food item, and plead with you to make it a permanent installation on your menu. If you do not choose to do so, I entirely understand. Will I continue to frequent your establishment for all of the other delicious offerings? Yes. Will I hopefully visit Alan again when Covid is done? Absolutely. But I had to say something about these Mac and Tots. The world needs to know. read more

Really enjoyed this place! We had a fruit bowl, vegan biscuits and gravy, vegan breakfast burrito and vegan diablos. Also had beermosa (meh!) And mimosa. The hostess rude which is why I took away one star. She told the couple in front of us that she didn't have space outside to seat them, but then seated us outside where there were many open tables. Didn't seem to make sense to me. Our server was friendly enough. The food made up for the mediocre service. Would go back. read more

I'm torn about how many stars to give. This place is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. But I should point out that I am not a vegan or a vegetarian, so I'm not particularly impressed by lots of Vegan food. We walked in, and the place was pretty cute inside. But then we went out to the patio, and it was great out there. That is the perfect place to spend warm evenings! We ordered the chili cheese fries as an appetizer, and they were delicious. The chili was good in fact, that I ordered it as my side. I split a grilled cheese with tomato sandwich, and it was really good. read more

Mmmmm Handlebar, I think I love you. Came here on a Thursday evening around 9 and were seated straight away. The art on the walls was rad, the lighting was cozy and the place was packed. Even though there were people right next to us, the atmosphere was such that our conversation was still private - in fact, it might have been slightly too loud, but no real complaints here, honestly. I ordered the vegan buffalo chicken wrap which was spicy in the best kind of way, and while it was a little green heavy, it wasn't overly so. I ordered the collard greens as my side and they were good, but a little too crunchy and not cooked enough (in my mind). My dining companion had the black beans maduro which he said was good, but I think he thought his portion was a bit small and overly spicy. It's worth noting that I wanted to try like everything on this menu, particularly the nachos and fried pickles, but I was still beyond pleased with my meal. They also had a great selection of beer and I ended up having a couple different ones. All in all, I left satisfied and full. Next time, I want to try their breakfast! read more