Cheap and easy if you want a beer and some cheap special happy hour food. Very britt pub look. Good for after work. read more

Another walk/drive by place we finally stopped in. We can cross it off the bucket list and never visit again. In all honestly it was another sports bar with no pizazz to bring me back. The clientele seems to be tourists(there seemed to be quite a bit of luggage sitting around) and the afterwork happy hour boys who have dubbed Monk's as their "place." The bonus for Monk's was the delish coffee infused beer that was named Biscotti something. Quite enjoyable. So they get another star for having something original that I liked. In the end, there is not much in the way of bars in the area so please stop by if the shakes are coming on. But if you are looking for big screens to watch sports or big hoo-hahs to just watch its a skip it. read more

Free peanuts. Long beer list. Looks like a bar on a Viking ship. Or at least what I'd imagine one to be like. read more

So I was visiting Chicago to see a friend. She suggested that we go to this bar with her classmates...I said, "why not, I'm down for whatever." So we walk in, it's a Thursday night I think...it's pretty much dead inside. Everyone is pretty drunk, having a good time. We are at then end of the bar at first, then we work our way towards the Jukebox. That's when the fun starts. We starting singing loud and having a great time. Anyways, as for the bar, it was cool. They gave free peanuts...that you can throw the shells on the floor. Drinks were really cheap...especially compared to any LA bar. It was definitely a relax, chill place. I would definitely go back there if I'm ever back in Chicago. read more

People come here for 2 reasons; have a beer at lunch hour, and eat a big ol' juice burger. Lemme just say that the burgers are awesome! The wings are really good, as well as, the cajun fries. If you order nachos...well...just be hungry because they are more than I can eat...and I. Can. Eat. The service is hit or miss, but usually they are really busy working a completely packed place. All in all, if I'm feeling like a burger and/or a good beer for lunch I head here...plus they are better and cheaper than most other bars in a couple blocks radius. read more

To be honest, I think I need to give Monk's another try. Trying to have a networking event here was not the best idea. But just looking around this place you could easily see the potential in networking with some warm-blooded Chicago males ... that is, if a floor covered in peanut shells and a lively atmosphere is for you. Unfortuantely, I don't think Monk's was suitable for the networking event I attended. The food was cold and it was too crowded for our group. However, I'd be willing to give it another try if I'm looking for a drink after work. read more

I'm definitely happy I work so close to this place. This has become our de-facto meeting place for most work-related happy hours, and they've just upgraded their beer list to add Laguinitas IPA, Allagash, and a few other tasty beers so I'll probably be coming more often. In terms of the food, I know lots of people who swear by the burgers, but for me it wasn't anything terribly special. They do however have absolutely phenomenal chili and I also highly recommend the blackened chicken sandwich with cajun fries as its incredibly tasty. The service has always been good. The waitresses have been excellent, friendly and helpful every time we've gone. The atmosphere is very laid back and relaxed. It's strength as a happy hour location is that its typically not too crowded, the decibel level isn't too crazy most of the time so everyone can hear everyone else at the table without shouting, and it has solid bar food for soaking up that alcohol. My two suggestions for improvement are regarding the drinks. They could still stand to improve their beer selection further. A place called Monk's Pub should have a more impressive beer selection. Also, I know in the past when I've ordered soda, they used some generic type of soda rather than Coke or Pepsi and it has a weird taste. I've remedied that problem since by only drinking beer, but figured it was worth mentioning. read more

This pub has a great, comfortable atmosphere. I've been in pubs that were similar in feel in Amsterdam! This is saying a lot, since I consider Amsterdam to be one of the beer capitals of the world. While I didn't do an intensive search of all the beers, one cool aspect of my happy hour was the fact that we had Ommegang beers (one of my favorites), and they were $4 a pint, which is deliciously priced right. They did a tasting service for us at the same time, which was fun--we got to try a caramel triple (oat, barley, wheat)... one of my friends called it the orange fanta of beer, which is so true, but it was a nice touch nonetheless because the beer representative was there talking about it with us--the brewing process, the connection with the bar... We did some appetizers, which were nothing special, as the options were lacking in some of the healthier options, but I would say the little chicken nugget tenders were not bad from the snack attack sampler. read more

Eh, it's ok. I don't go to too many bar/grills in that area, so i don't know what the standard is around there, but it was just ok. I had sliders and they were just ok. Our server was nice, that's about it. read more

We have subsequently visited a few more times and sampled the food. Good and tasty burgers, VERY GOOD club sandwich (BLT & turkey both). Spinach/artichoke dip was yummy, but I'm gonna have to give two big thumbs DOWN on the Potato skins and the nachos. The skins were SWIMMING in grease, and were waaayyy overdone, and the nachos were so skimpy as to be laughable. The staff and the beers selections remain v. v. good. read more

Atmosphere: 4 stars Service: 4 stars Beer: 4 stars Curly fries: 4 stars Burger: 1 star Overall: 3 stars I like this place for happy hour after work. They have a big beer list, a little pricey, but you're in the loop so considering that, it's not that bad. it's dark inside and the decor gives off an old school pub vibe, which is a nice break from the fancy schmancy bars. The service there has never been a problem. They come often to refill drinks and get you whatever else you might need. I gave their burger 1 star because well, it's a 1 star burger. They have quite a list of different burgers and I was really hoping to add this place to my list of Chicago's best burgers, but it fell short of the mark... way short. The pattie is diner style - thin. Diner burgers should only be served in diners. I was immediately disappointed when I saw this and then I took a bite and the disappointment only continued. It was dry and flavorless. The curly fries that came with it for a dollar extra were pretty good though. I don't want to sound too harsh on this place, but when you're charging $12 for a burger I expect it be of decent quality. I wouldn't pay $5 for this burger... So, would I come here to eat? No. Would I come here to drink some beer after work? Yup! Even though I find their burgers terrible, I still like Monk's for its atmosphere and lengthy beer selection. read more

Wonderful atmosphere! Great decor! Love the space! However, with such a space one would expect great food and service. The bartender was johnny on the spot but a bit abrupt. Not too friendly, just to the point and quick. Seems like others had a basket of peanuts that appeared complimentary, I had none in front of me. I ordered the black and blue burger. The value was there, the fries were plentiful and good. There was some spice in the burger I couldn't identify off hand but I know it is something Indian or thereabouts. It didn't go with a blue cheese burger I thought as I kept tasting this peculiar spice I didn't care for in my beef. All in all it wasn't bad, just nothing exceptional for a place so well decorated and stocked with all the beers you could imagine. For drinks, this may be the spot in the Loop. Will try again! read more

I love Monk's Pub. I used to live in the loop and this was my go-to stop. It is fashioned after a German monastery, so the decor has lots to look at. The burgers and beer are tasty, and I only had to wait for a table once--during the Hawks rally '10. I have brought several friends and family members on different occasions, and they always love it too. read more

Monk's Pub - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was average, atmosphere was average, and service was average. The reason for the 2-star review is simply because the restaurant told us we had to take out cash to pay for a $100 lunch bill because THEIR credit card machines were not working. Server and management could not explain the situation, or offer a way to remedy the situation. We received two very different and very inaccurate answers from two different employees. If you advertise that you accept debit/credit cards it is unacceptable to tell restaurant patrons they MUST take out cash from their ATM in order to pay a bill. Regardless if this was the restaurant's mistake or the credit card processing companies fault, to tell patrons to use an ATM is absurd. The restaurant should have accepted their losses and realized they were at fault. To pay for the bill we had to incur multiple ATM/bank fee's. Extremely disappointed in my first experience at Monks's. As Coworkers, we wanted to go out for a celebratory birthday lunch and instead got mistreated and taken for a ride. DISAPPOINTED! read more

**UPDATE** I took away a star for two reasons. 1. I realized I rate too many restaurants and bars very high. What? I like to eat and drink and am not too picky about it! 2. I was choosing a downtown bar to meet someone for a drink this week, and I suggested this while holding my nose. Honestly, I don't love it. It's kinda dingy and the peanut shells everywhere gross me out! This place looks pretty eclectic. I like it, for a dark, dank downtown pub under the L tracks. The reason it lost a star - the huge amount of peanut shells ALL over the floor. YUCK! It's a dive, so I'll deal. read more

Great burgers here! We usually go here for burgers either after work or during lunch. The burgers are always on point and never fail to satisfy. However, one day we did take out and I decided to get the apple salad. It was good, however, I think that they should slice the apples a *bit* smaller. Additionally, it seemed that the nuts in the salad while good were a bit on the big side. There was also more nuts, raisins and apples than there was salad. I was definitely full after eating but I'd prefer more lettuce the next time. Definitely will be back. May even be tomorrow! read more

Let's all agree that almost all bars downtown are lame, and Monk's Pub is no exception. We had a company party here and the one waitress assigned to our section was slow and unfriendly. We were given drink tickets and were not allowed to order from the bar with them, so we were stuck waiting on our server. The crowd annoyed me, with the typical loosed-tie yuppies that want to get trashed immediately after work while jamming out to the sing-along tunes of Aerosmith, Journey, etc. My company also contacted them to supply lunch for our sales meeting but it was like pulling teeth for their cooperation, and then the food (which is super greasy bar grub, if that's your thing) ended up being soggy and cold by the time it arrived. Lesson: avoid if possible. read more

I didn't like Monks very much. The food was decent, I suppose. It was not memorable, however. I had some sort of sandwich, but for the life of me I can not remember what it was. I do remember it was a little greasy and a little bland. It lacked pep. It did not make me vomit, however, so I will opt to give Monks two stars instead of one. The atmosphere isn't too bad. But it isn't too good. Just . . . there. It's a bar/pub/place for people to throw peanut shells on the floor. If that is your thing, go get to Monks ASAP. What bothered me about Monks was that I got the distinct impression that everything in there was dirty. It has what I call "The Dirty Vibe." The Dirty Vibe is not concrete. It is just a feeling. And it can also not always be explained. This is indeed the case with Monks. All I know is I felt unclean there. I know that is not helpful at all, but it is what it is. All hail The Dirty Vibe. Oh, and our waitress was a sour puss. read more

Okay, so I'm normally a huge fan of this place. It's in a very convenient spot, right down the street from my office; decently priced (compared to some other locations in the surrounding neighborhood) drinks and killer burgers. However, there was one little, tiny incident that definitely left a bad taste in my mouth and always has me hesitant to return whenever a co-worker requests to go have a drink. One of the servers there chased and yes, I literally mean chased, a friend and I outside after leaving what we thought was a pretty decent tip on a bill that we got screwed over on (we had a few other people in our party who left but ended up getting their drinks placed on our tab). She stormed out and pretty much screamed, "Uhmm, are you seriously going to tip me this?!" Okay, first off...I couldn't have tipped her at all. To chase someone down and criticize the tip that they left, that's horrible business. Believe me, I know that it's stressful to receive a crappy tip from time-to-time; I've been there, but it's just part of the serving game. The funny thing is, after she hunted us down, a guy standing outside told us that she had just done the exact same thing to one of his friends. I'm not going to say that I'm never going to go back to this place, because I will...but everytime I see that waitress, my blood does boil a little bit. read more

This was a pretty cool place, and the bar tender there was awesome. Very attentive and did a great job of taking care of everyone at the bar, while taking my food order, talking about beers, etc. I remember thinking the burger was very good, but I totally forgot what I even got, so I'll have to head back there this week and get something else. Great atmosphere, it seems pretty popular which is a good sign, and great staff. When I want a burger, this will be a good place to hit up. read more

One of the best beer pubs in Chicago. Awesome selection, great atmosphere. Got a free dead whiskey, and a nice gentleman bought us a $25 bottle of allagash. Awesome place! read more

Monk's is a solid beer bar, especially given the lack of decent pubs in the vicinity. They have a large selection of beers, including an extensive selection of Belgians and other imports. However, probably because of the lack of decent pubs in the neighborhood, it is generally packed, even on random weekdays. Shoot for 5:15 if you want to eat a spot. read more

One of my favorites: the beer, the burgers and the ambiance are great. You'll feel for a moment or two that you're in an abbey, albeit one with Schlitz laterns, a juke box, and flat screens in the corners. The price is good for a middle of the Loop bar and it's located by several L stops for a quick stop afterwork before heading home. The beer menu is diverse, craft brews, Belgians, and the standard big brew swill. The food is standard pub fare, but the burgers are great. All in all there should be something for everyone and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Be forwarned, if you have peanut allergy you should steer clear, peanuts come free and the shells carpet the floor. read more

Service, awesome. Granted it was early in the afternoon on a Monday, but still great service goes a long way. Food was delicious - had the soup de jour (chicken and vegetable) and portobello mushroom sandwich plus grilled chicken. Very tasty and warm! Husband had the classic burger which looked great and plentiful fries. He didn't like his first beer selection however I enjoyed mine. Ambiance and decor is super casual and cool, we will definitely be returning with friends. read more

Monk's Pub - Eurotrip? - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great (small) selection of Trappist brewed beer and a wonderfully large selection of craft beer. I had the Pauwel Kwak, Lagunitas Imperial Stout, and Belô Petroleum. read more

Probably one of the most eclectic places in Chi-town, but was fun. Beer collection was extensive and very craft-y. Food looked good pub fayre, although we did not eat. Good service. read more

Monks is an institution. Other than pool tables and great beer selection, hasn't changed in more than 30 years. Food is solid. Beer list is exceptional. Fun, lively environment. read more

Everything is cool bout this place except the prices. 2 burgers, 2 beers and wings set me back $60. Maybe the free peanuts were the unforeseen overhead? Never coming back. read more

Highly recommended cozy after work spot to grab a drink, great staff and atmosphere. It's my favorite bar in the loop. Roll the dice and get a random shot for $3. Love this place read more

I am not going to lie and say that Monk's Pub is a must-visit place. That would be a bit on the ludicrous side. However, if for lunch offerings you're looking for a bit of a change from the mundane cafeteria or personality-less food court (eg, Thompson Center / Citibank building), you can't go wrong with the Loop establishment that gave us the incongruous hybrid of the monastic life and inebriation. I have only been there for lunch, so I can't speak to its after-hours offerings. This corner of downtown is a ghost town after 5pm though, so the point may be moot. Although pitched as a reasonably-priced dive bar, Monk's has begun attracting a more well-heeled clientele (mostly lunchtime Loop office workers) and developed a bit of a cult following over the years. It might just be a (un)happy coincidence that their prices have seen a bit of an uptick as well. In other words, if you're looking for truly cheap eats, head a few blocks north to Mike's on Chestnut and State by Loyola University's Water Tower Campus. Monk's décor is reminiscent of a mini beer hall, with rickety wooden tables, amber lighting, and stained glass windows. Think "John Barleycorn's little brother." The service is nothing to write home about: the waitresses take orders competently, but are not of the sunniest disposition or particularly inclined to small talk or banter. This may just be because the restaurant is perpetually crowded, and they need to avoid a ten-car pileup of angry Chicago business folk who need to get back to the corporate home base for a 1:00 meeting. The selection of beers is a bit limited, but they do carry decent Hefeweizens such as Hacker Pschorr. The food itself is a bit hit or miss. I enjoyed the buffalo chicken sandwich, flavored with a tangy chipotle mayonnaise. I was, however, less than enamored of the bland, clumpy hummus plate. I guess that's my fault for ordering a dish a bit far afield from the category of "pub food" in a dive bar. After all, outside of Seinfeld, few people typically go to a Pakistani restaurant for rigatoni or franks and beans. Overpriced? Yes. High quality? Not so much. Worth checking out? Definitely. On a more whimsical note, I'll tell you why I have a soft spot for Monk's. The pub has bookshelves lined with leather-bound books that, while not exactly Harvard Classics, play up its old-world charm. I popped open one of these titles one day entitled "Financial Self-Defense," and found contained within a five-dollar bill. If that's not a memorable experience I don't know what is. Actually, come to think of it, the book was black vinyl-bound, emblazoned with the words "American Express," and had all the pages ripped out except for one with a gentleman's signature. My bad. read more

I came here for lunch once and was pretty satisfied. It's a pretty good size place and it was packed. The wait was only 5 or so minutes, however. I had the chicken avocado sandwich. It was really good, filled with health portions of chicken, avocado ( obviously) and bacon as well. Definitely a good lunch spot. read more

So I live super close to this place. Popped in with a girlfriend for some burgers after we got our nails done... Haha how ironic. Place was great! Good burger selections, attentive service. Good beers on tap. Awesome place to go for after work drinks. Just hanging out. Super casual. 5 out of 5 in my books for being what it is. Can't compare a sneaker to a stiletto. Extra points for being able to throw peanut shells on the floor. It reminds me of pubs/bars in my home town. read more

I'll give at least four stars to any bar that serves Duvel. Aside from Duvel, though, this place has an awesome beer menu. And you can throw peanuts on the floor! Other pros: Close to my office. Nice place to stop after work with friends. The decor is fun - it reminds me of Harry Potter. I stopped in with my roommate the other night and she had some sort of bbq burger with onion straws. We both agreed it was one of the best burgers we've ever had. My only complaint was the crowd I had to endure a few Fridays ago - I'm not sure if its always that busy on a Friday after work, but you could hardly get up to the bar to order a drink! read more

Was in town on a tour and was told to check this place out. First off the beer selection was less than exciting. Mostly bottles. The decor and atmosphere is really the bright spots of this establishment. We all had a very bad experience with the bartender. The bartender had an English accent that changed as time went on. When we asked where he was from he got very offended. So i decided to order my next beer with my normal Irish accent hopefully to cheer the guy up. He spoke up and it finally came out that he was pissed about the tip we gave for the first round, which was $4 on four beers. Which I thought was standard on bottled beers. Also he gave no input on the local beers. If this was my pub I would fire this wanker or send him to some personality classes. This visit totally ruined our Chicago pub experience. Not only were we upset but this stuck in our minds from pub to pub. read more

I went there the other day and ordered a Kwak. Great beer that comes in an unusual glass that doesn't feel very stable. As a result I requested a pint glass when I ordered my second beer. The waiter flat out refused. I thought he was joking and then unapologetically told me no, that's what it comes in. If you can't make the smallest concession for someone willing to pay $10 for a beer, you don't deserve my business. read more

This place is great. Lots of European beers on tap. And good pub food. Try the buffalo cauliflower, it's amazing :-)

If you want a great burger, this is the place! The Bison burger and sweet potato fries were to die for. Our server, Drew, also recommended the right beers for the burgers we were eating. We will definitely frequent Monk's!! read more

Horrible experience. Wings were good, but overshadowed by a rude and unaccomodating waitress and bartender. Could have been a great time with great reviews....ruined by a smug staff. read more

When visiting Chicago and staying downtown I normally go to monks pub once during my trip. During my visit to the pub this time, the first night was nice. The younger man working behind the bar was extremely helpful. The woman who took over for him was clearly not as happy to be working but that wasn't a big deal. The next night we have had a group of 10 who wanted to get beer and some bar food bites around 9:30 pm. Yelp told us Monks pub was open until 11 pm, longer than most places in this area. We were all excited so we ran over. To our surprise, both bartenders behind the bar would NOT let us order food at 9:40pm. We ordered food past this time last night? Since I've worked in this industry, I went to the cooks and asked what they were willing to make us so close to the time the kitchen was closing. They made us a list but the bartenders were extremely unhappy they told us this. I then argued with the bartenders about the food once we were given it. If your kitchen closes at 10. It closes at 10. Not 9:30 or 9:45. Thank you to the kitchen for willing to give us food past 9:40 pm. read more

Excellent selection of Belgian beers! This is just what I was after. Sadly, not open on Sundays.