Hopleaf! That is the word! If you have not been please make your way over to this Andersonville #Chicago gem which consistently is named as one of the top beer bars in America for very good reason. Not only is the beer selection on of the best in the city, it is one of the few places where the food excels if not even surpasses the beer. The mussels and frites are the main attraction with a delicious broth , hearty mussels and delicious frites and aoli. The service is always fantastic here and the food comes out prompt and the staff is so friendly. Cool atmosphere that is good for hanging out, eating with your family, or even a date. This is a can't miss place. #beer #mussels #frites read more

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I love Hopleaf! This is such a reliable spot. I live quite close and this is a spot I can come to for any reason, a drink, a bite to eat, a celebration, a date - you name it. All servers and bartenders are working hard and are usually quite slammed- I've never been here on a "slow" day, they're always busy, and it's easy to understand why. Their extensive selection of beverages has something unique for everyone. Food favorites include the mussels, Brussel sprouts, and CB&J sandwich. I've been here many times and will continue to come back. read more

I remember when this was just a small bar with an excellent Belgium beer selection and a super cool jukebox. I applaud them for their growth and keeping the quality in every aspect of their business! read more

Hopleaf has relatively amazing bar food. Not the most gourmet restaurant ever. Just amazing bar food with many interesting options. The fiancée's and I ordered two entrees. Nothing to write home about - this spot is all about the beer - but really good food. Pork shoulder Wine-braised, but with a nice touch of smoke from the grill and sitting on a bed of parsnip purée. Came with a tasty goat cheese gnocchi in pork jus, charred garlic-butter carrots, and a delicious, small fennel and herb salad. Mussels and fries Good dish. Fragrant but mild-flavored broth. Thin, slightly over-salted fries, but good for dipping in the broth. Comes with rolls too. All the other reviews can tell you about the dozens and dozens of beers. It's completely impressive. I'm a dark man who likes dark beer. So I got the Sierra Nevada narwhal stout, which was excellent . Followed by the Chimay blue, a featured classic. Oh so good. You could come every week of the year and not have the same beer twice. Belgian Ales for days! They have a decent, little wine list. Cocktails too. Even a robust list of zero-proof options. My gf had a nice mocktail, the Orange Spritz. A sophisticated, but alcohol-free, cousin to an Aperol Spritz - made with Lyre's NA Italian Orange Aperitivo, Fairstate Hop Water, and orange peel. This place would be a hit in hop-crazed NorCal. But it feels so very Chicago. read more

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This is a beer lover's paradise. Prepare to be wowed and try some hard-to-find beers that are absolutely delicious. Their food is excellent too, but the real draw is the beer menu. read more

Came recently to a pretty casual bar and grill in Andersonville. It sure has tons of beer to choose from, as the name implies. Hopleaf literally has pages of both local and other brands. Made it hard to make a choice. The food was less memorable but not bad either. About the one thing that attracted us to going here was the extensive list of beer. I mean this place has a shitload. There's a lot of lesser known local brands too. It's about $7 a pint or around it. That's not bad, especially for a hipster beer place. I most liked the Around The Bend Brewery's Vera, a pistachio cream ale. Oh yes it had some nutty taste of course. As for the food, it wasn't quite as good, but of course the main thing here is beer. The only vegan item was the Entree Salad. It's $11 for a pretty small one. This was a mesclun mix with cherry tomatoes, pickled red onions, and a red wine vinaigrette. Pretty good for just a salad at a bar. There could have been more of course but other than that it was just okay. For sure we could hit this up again. It's a good place for anyone who likes beer. There's lots of local ones to choose from, and some that are worldwide. read more

Hopleaf Bar - Around The Bend Brewery Vera And Entree Salad - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food is good here but there no children/baby policy is ridiculous. First of all It is not a law in Illinois that children can't be in an establishment that serves alcohol- so that was just a bold face lie the bouncer tried to argue. Second, the place is dead during the weekdays around lunch so they are just stupid for not allowing families. And third it's 2025 people, aren't we tired of discriminating against each other? I get that the owners probably don't care for kids but this neighborhood has changed so much- families are everywhere here. Maybe just let kids in till like 7? Editing to respond to the owner.... I stopped reading after the first paragraph cause anyone that needs to write that much is full of gas. Most restaurants in chicago operate on a tavern license, very few have a cop license. Again- it's fine to have your very strict no children policy but let's just call a horse a horse and not try to make it about anything other than just not wanting children in your establishment. I'm not offended- but I think it's silly in this economy. I wish you nothing but continued success. read more

Have enjoyed Hopleaf for over 15+ years since my wife lived in the neighborhood several years ago. We stopped by for the first time in awhile to visit and it is still great! The beer and drink list is immense and on this trip I enjoyed the Uncle John's Cider. It was excellent and wished we stayed longer to enjoy more of the beer list. While the food menu isn't huge, it has some exceptional food. My wife did the ham and cheese sandwich which she raved about. I had the CB&J which was like a grown-up grilled cheese sandwich. Perfectly cooked and the figs added a unique sweetness. Both were accompanied by fries which never disappoint. Do make a visit if you're in Andersonville! read more

Hopleaf Bar - CB&J - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We got the muscles for two in the wine broth. It was amazing and you get so much food for the price. Definitely will be back! read more

Hopleaf Bar - Mussels - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wait staff should have polo shirts that match. They look a little scruffy. Ruben sandwich is different every time. Getting worse and worse This time I was just playing burnt with very little meat on it. I required to inspect my food first??? Never ever going back read more

Hopleaf Bar - Patio - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Never eaten here but want to! I've heard their fries are really good. Love the wide variety of drinks and that there's multiple rooms to sit in. read more

I've lived basically around the corner from Hopleaf for over a year, LOVE mussels, and somehow never got around to walking down the street and trying their famed mussels in beer broth until a couple weeks ago. This was a grave error, as I have deprived myself of these mussels for a year unnecessarily. The mussels were ALL nice and wide open and fresh and sweet, not a bad one in the bunch, and they give you a BUNCH. The pot looks a little small, but it's deep, and stuffed. I finished the whole thing myself but had to lay down for awhile after. Make sure when you eat a mussel to put it in a spoon and add some broth to the spoon to make sure you get it steeped in the flavor. Not too much, because it's a little overly salted. Some of the mussels were a little rocky/sandy, so watch your teeth. I also got a salad in the hopes of not over-oiling-and-salting myself into oblivion with the mussels and fries (these fries are perfect, by the way). Unfortunately the Pear & Radish Salad, while delicious, was also pretty oily, and was mainly arugula. There was so much fennel listed in the menu description that I thought I'd get that herby kick, but I didn't detect it almost at all. read more

Our food and service was great! Amazing burger and schnitzel sandwich. Loved the potato salad that came with the sausage plate. Had a pork belly with char siu to start along with a special that had some very yummy shishito peppers!! Huge beer selection and friendly staff. The patio was well lit but not too bright as it got dark and had some lovely plants and decor. read more

Great beer menu. Easy access via public transportation and metered parking around. Their menu is great and the ambiance is one of a kind. read more

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The best mussels in the city!!! Amazing beer selection. All around the best atmosphere!!

Been going to Hop Leaf for years. It's great. It's a beer place and gastropub. The menu rotates so you never know what they'll be featuring. The courtyard is wonderful in season. read more

Come for the huge beer list which is amazing and stay for the mussels with different preparations, they're all really good. But so are the other menu items Consistently good service with friendly bar tenders who really know their beers Great for groups and a fun time that's not too loud to still be able to have a conversation read more

Beer list 5 stars. Service 4 stars. Food 2 stars. The beer selection is constantly changing in a good way - always something new to try. The staff is friendly and efficient while serving drinks and bringing out food. The food used to be super solid back in the day, but these days expect less attention to detail. The mussels are consistently overcooked and chewy. The brisket in their reuben sandwich is too firm/not tender. Perhaps the meat is too lean or isn't braised long enough. I've had a couple of their CB&J sandwiches over the past year (raclette cheese, cashew butter and fig jam) and the first one was perfect, but the second one had way too much of the fig spread, leading me to scrape a fair amount off the sandwich. The burger is nearly perfect but last time the grilled onions were tough and stringy, so it was hard to bite into. The fries don't come as freshly fried as they used to be, but the accompanying garlic aioli is always amazing. Come here for good service, and for a dimly lit pub vibe with a sophisticated beer list, but skip the food. read more

I've been hearing about this place since moving to Chicago. "Huge beer selection!", "Best brewpub on the north side!", "A must-visit!". Well, the beer selection is certainly large, but that's really the best thing about the place. The first time I came here, there was only seating in the back dining area. We only went in for drinks, but after being seated the waitress informed us that the back was "usually reserved for dining guests". Well we weren't informed that, so we felt uncomfortable and unwelcome as we hurried to finish our drinks and leave. The next THREE times I tried coming here, I was turned away at the door by an hour-plus wait. Finally I wised up and came on a Thursday afternoon during the pandemic. I finally got in! And it was completely dead inside! Well anyway, I've been back a couple more times since then, always during the day so I can actually get in, and it just doesn't seem to live up to the hype. The decor is pretty cool and the Belgian beer selection is extensive, but I've never been super pumped about food. It really just seems like an overly popular pub with a ton of sour beer. read more

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Great cider options! They seated us pretty quickly given the wait. The portion sizes are huge, which is awesome!

Came on a Friday evening on a whim for a late lunch. I'd been here for drinks before and it's pretty much THE place to go to for amazing beer selections. Even the glasses for the types of drinks are sick, I especially enjoy drinking out of a goblet glass, it feels so right. This time i started with their classic drafts brewed in house - the house pale ale, and it was so refreshing. For an appetizer, we started with a 1b of the mussels cooked in beer. This comes in an enclosed pot with bread, and at first i was concerned with how small it looked. Surprisingly, the pot is pretty deep and it was plenty of mussels for two for a starter. The broth was rich, salty and full of flavor. The mussels were big and fresh. it was soooo good, i'd come back for these by themselves. It comes also with a huge cone of hand cut fries, the aioli with it was a nice pairing. We then got entrees - Me and my girlfriend split the Slagel burger. The bacon-carmelized onion jam was to die for !!! the burger was packed with flavor - the only thing is it was cooked well done and i'd prefer a medium well next time (this was on me for not asking). The burger patty itself was crispy and i did like the smash burger aspect of it. For the side, i subbed fries for mac n cheese for an up charge. It was really creamy, cooked well and had a nice crumble on top. I'd only ask for more seasoning next time, as it didn't have much flavor besides cheese. We also got an apple salad. The whole salad was well balanced with flavors and had a lovely presentation. My only issue is that it felt pretty small compared to the price. Overall the meal was delicious and if you took anything away from this review, it's get the mussels in beer !!! All the other food was great too but that was the star for me. The service was good too, as our waiter was attentive and friendly. We told them our allergies up front and they were educated well on the dishes we could and could not eat. I will note if you want to sit outside, you will need a reservation most likely on a weekend. It seemed it was full and walk-ins there was a long wait for outside. We got a table immediately for inside. The vibes throughout the entire place are chill and there is plenty of classic cool signage and artwork through the place. I'd recommend here for a drink or a meal. read more

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Huge menu & restaurant, great aoili, and lots of global draft beers Got the fried maitake, brussel sprouts with dill yogurt, Reuben and cb&j Food is normal pub food, nothing crazy You order & pay at the bar. Service is fantastic read more

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Great bar with an extensive list of local and imported beers. We just came for a quick drink before walking around and doing some shopping. Perfect spot to grab a delicious beer and plan a route. They have food but I didn't look at the menu. Bartender was super nice about helping us pick a drink from their extensive menu. read more

First time coming here and it was great. My friends rave about the beer selection, the food and the vibe. Parking can be a bit tricky since it's all street parking and it's ways busy. When you walk into the restaurant, there is a bar area in the front and the seated area at the back. You can check in with the hostess for table seatings. One thing about this place is that since many people come here, your whole party must be present before you could be seated. I ordered the mussels for 1 that came with a side of aoli fries and my friend ordered the CP&J. The food was delicious and came in huge portions. If you just want a side of fries to share, that is enough for two people. The beer selection was great and some were very high in percentages. Our waiter was very knowledgeable on the beers and recommended us certain beers which was great for those who don't know a lot about beers. Overall this place is great and I would come here again. If you are ever in the area for good food and beers, stop by and check this place out. read more

Hopleaf Bar - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great night at Hopleaf last weekend! Leah took care of us, and they were so knowledgable, kind and speedy! They recommended the "mussels for two" and we were really delighted - it absolutely delicious! Also, the beer selection here is amazing. Thanks to Leah for the great service and reccos! read more

This is an amazing bar in Chicago, they have tons of top tier Belgian and Craft beer options available in bottles or on tap. The prices are reasonable for the beer for what you get. When you walk in, it may look like just a small bar but there's a whole back outside patio, an upstairs, downstairs and 2 bars plus a kitchen! It's a massive bar with huge beer selections and employees are all friendly. I just wish that their food menus were bigger as it's pretty small and they don't really have traditional bar foods. Overall a great bar to visit for some unique beers. read more

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Hopleaf has some of the best food I've had from a bar. I am a big fan of their pork belly and I get it every time we stop in. The mussels are also what they are known for and delicious. I was unable to take pictures on our last visit but we had quite the spread of the mussels, pork belly, slagel burger, charcuterie board, and fries. The service is fast and they are super knowledgeable in all of their beers and drinks they have. The inside of the restaurant is quite large and very cool, they also have a great back patio. read more

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Very unique restaurant. We had the pale Ale and it was so good. Everyone was friendly, the food came out quick and was delicious. The beer mussels are a must! read more

Hopleaf Bar - Pale Ale - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm so happy we found Hopleaf this year! A very casual and cozy beer bar with excellent food. They have a huge, ever-changing beer list with so many exciting options, plus wine and cider selections for non-beer drinkers. The staff is all very knowledgeable and gave great drink recommendations based on what we usually like. And, the food is great. There are a ton of unique options mixed with their regulars. We've had (and recommend) the mussels, smoked salmon dip, loaded pommes frites, and brisket Reuben. I'm honestly obsessed with the loaded frites. It has smoked chicken, gravy, and beer cheese smothered over a giant plate of fries. And I eat it all myself, no sharing here :) I will say, the food and especially the fries can be salty. I personally love it but you definitely need to be prepared for it. read more

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The best mussels and broth in Chicago. Period. It's consistent, delicious, and an Andersonville staple. Everything I've tasted here is delicious but yea the mussels are why you go, combined with a great drink list. read more

Love the beer selections! Food was very good too. Love to go again and have a great time there. Service and ambiance were perfect for lunch or dinner. Great spot for anytime drinks. read more

Be weary of sitting at the bar while waiting for your name to be called!!!! Put my name on list to be seated and was told by the host "we will look for you or text you if we can't find you" received a text message that the table was ready and would be held for 10 minutes. Closed bar tab after receiving text and headed to the line to be sat when we were told our table was given away even though we arrived within 10 minute frame. Was then told we would be seated next. Waited 45 more minutes before leaving. If I ever decide to come back, I will make sure to stand directly in front of the host stand. read more

Hopleaf is in my top 5 restaurants on the planet. Come for the unique, delicious food, stay for the best selection of sour and lambic beers you'll find in the US. While I have been here a couple dozen times and had many amazing meals, the meal pictured is my current go-to: pear and radish salad, mac on the side, and a funky kriek. The mussels are also phenomenal. Servers are super knowledgeable and always have great recommendations. A true Andersonville institution, deservedly so. read more

Hopleaf Bar - pear/radish salad and a beer mac and cheese - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We are visiting from Florida and we're looking for a convenient location with good reviews. Our experience was exceptional and the food was excellent. I would highly recommend. read more

Cute cozy pub. Great place to come for mussels and delicious beer! I'm totally coming back for dinner. The outdoor patio in summer is perfect for a chill night. read more

Hopleaf Bar - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love coming to hop leaf for the food, beer, and atmosphere. Even with Covid changes all three items still shine like they always have. Outdoor seating is first come first serve and no reservations are offered. They have a 90 min time limit and masks are required. Nice antibacterial available, clean bathrooms, spacing noted by the bathrooms. Only issue we had was a limited menu. Their burgers are delish so I was bummed that didn't make the cut on this limited menu. But the mussels for one are amazing. You might as well just get them for two. The broth is creamy and when you dip that fresh bread in there, wow! The kielbasa was also amazing. And of course the fries are great. I just recommend that one side of fries is good for a while table. It's an unnecessary amount of fries! Anyway, glad to be back, so good! Also they have bike racks available right outside! You rock! read more

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I was a solo traveler and this place was recommended by a local during my trip. My bartender was absolutely amazing and recommended a few drinks after I told him what I liked. I actually went with one of his suggestions for my second round! I ordered the Ham sandwich with fries and it was amazing. Fries were so yummy and it was such a hefty portion. Highly recommend this place!! read more

Hopleaf Bar - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cool place in a great location. You have to go through the bar to get to the restaurant, and my adult daughter got carded, but that's cool. No worries there. Our server was pretty rough. She had zero personality (which is okay, not everyone has to be super friendly) and it certainly set the tone for our visit. My wife ordered a second beer but it never showed up. The server did come over and lightly apologized, but with barely more than a word. Okay, I get that. Mistakes are made. At this point though, her extremely cold personality didn't help the situation. Then she brings us the bill, before we're even done and drops it on the table. Now, usually I don't look at the bill very closely but quickly noticed that she still charged us for the no-show beer. It was 12 bucks, so not inconsequential. I look a little closer, and she's also billed us for two deserts that we didn't order. Another 24 bucks. I wait about 10 minutes for her to come back to the table to point this out and she mumbles sorry and says she must have mixed us up with the table next to us (who, by the way, came in after us and weren't even close to ordering desert.) She wanders off to correct the bill and comes back with another one word apology. I really, honestly got the impression she did it on purpose. The food was good, but this server (Leah K) was really bad. Ruined a $100 plus lunch with my wife and daughter. I hope this server finds an occupation that she enjoys, because this is not it. My advice, make sure you check the bill closely before dropping your card on the table at Hopleaf. Very closely. read more

The beer selection is amazing and the ambiance is nice. Nowhere else can you find some of these Belgian beers on tap. The food isn't really worth it. We expected the Belgian dishes to shine through, but the fries tasted frozen and we've had better mussels at a pizzeria nearby. My husband didn't eat the mussels because they tasted old, but the rest of us didn't get sick from eating them. Our server was prompt and attentive and very non-nonsense, which is expected and a plus at a bar like this. Would go again for happy hour drinks but would recommend grabbing food elsewhere. read more

Within walking distance of my in laws place on Ravenswood and they took me here on my visit this week. Loved loved loved it. Brussel sprout appetizer unlike anything I've ever had before; I need to figure out how to make them just like they do. Ham on pumpernickel was great, frites crispy and fresh. Wanna go back when I'm in Chicago again for sure. This place changed my mind on beer too, was always a moderate fan, but wow, several of theirs on tap I could sip on again and again. read more

Hopleaf Bar - Maplewood, Mr. Shakey Peach 7.5%** I could drink all day. Loved it. Milkshake peaches n cream like. Brussel sprout app - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois