Great messy burgers. Dark (and I mean bat-cave dark) inside. Great root-beer. No free refills. In-shell peanuts at the tables. I recommend the bleu-burger. I even had olives added (I don't know why, I just thought it sounded fun). It was really good and the burgers are huge. The fries are so-so, and frankly I didn't even care because I couldn't even eat the whole burger, let alone think about fries. read more

I haven't felt compelled to write a review in a long, long time. But Moody's just made it happen. I have a very serious mission in life. I will, beyond a shadow of a doubt, find the best 5 places to get a hamburger in this fine city. Moody's claims the best, and I'd seen them mentioned on a couple lists, so I had to try. Went on a Saturday night with the lady and walked right in. No sign to seat yourself, but the bartender had no problem yelling at us to sit wherever. OK, that works. Found the back patio, and the first glance is what gives this place 1.8 of the 2 stars I've given. Beautiful back home back yard feeling, with picnic tables and trees giving a great ambiance. Even managed to find an open table right away. And then it went downhill. The next table over had a guy smoking. With a legit ashtray. Same thing 2 tables from him. These weren't rogue rebels, flipping the finger to the man...these were people that had ashtrays. Provided by the establishment. Are people really allowed to smoke 3 feet from where you're about to serve my burger? We're not in Kentucky, or 1965, are we? Okay, Joe. Get over it. 30 minutes of outdoor secondhand smoke isn't going to be any more painful than the marathon you're going to run in a month. That you f*cking quit smoking for. Anyway, moving on... I had gone to Moody's website to check them out beforehand and they proudly give links for coupons! Sweet! Buy one sandwich, get the 2nd half price! Since I was with my ladyfriend, that was going to work out well. And, frankly, the training for the aforementioned marathon had me running 13 miles that morning...I was hungry. And this place was supposed to have good burgers. I was going to ask the waitress if I could use the coupon twice. Yes, to order 4 burgers. One for the lady, 3 for me. Screw you, I ran 13 miles that morning. Anyway, as I was pulling my phone out to ask about using the coupon twice, the waitress immediately said that the coupon had to be printed, it couldn't be on a phone. This is the coupon that's linked from google through their website as "Web Coupon" that says nowhere that it has to be on paper. She apparently has to turn the paper coupons in at the end of the night. Again, are we in Kentucky, or 1965? I could understand if I couldn't use the coupon twice (even though it would have doubled the amount of money they would have gotten from me...but whatever), but now I'm stuck not being able to use the "web coupon" because I'm showing it to the waitress...from the web. Okay, deep breaths Joe. Just remember, you're here for a burger that may be a top-fiver. Let this stuff slide. You're here for the burger. So as my companion is ordering her (full price) chicken sandwich, she asks if she can upgrade to Onion Rings. Absolutely not, says the waitress, but you can order a separate order of them. Even for an upcharge...? Nope. This burger had better be really fucking good. The soft drinks are not free refills, but at least they post that on the menu. I totally understand that the $.04 that the bag-in-a-box refill would cost them couldn't POSSIBLY be offset by the $3 charge for one, but hey, I've been places that don't mention it till you get the bill, and that's serious BS. At least these folks tell you they're about to go in without the lube. I ordered the blue cheese burger, because a neighboring table had ordered one and it looked good. It was between good and very good for a standard burger. Absolutely not in the top-tier class of Chicago burgers (Kuma;'s, Bad Apple, DMK, Urban, O & E are all unquestionably better), but the burger is good enough that if the entire rest of the experience had not been crap I'd consider stopping by if I were in the neighborhood and wanted a burger. But it's not good enough to put up with all that again. I'll drive the extra mile or 2 down to Bad Apple. In fairness, the waitress (an older lady that gave me the impression could have been waitressing tables there since she dropped out of Loyola 40 years ago) was super friendly and personable. I have to assume she was just handcuffed by policy. read more

I was really looking forward to trying out this old-school location, and yes they have a really big outdoor area with nice sunlight filtered through trees. The parking lot is a nice surprise. The burger was just average. The fries were awful. The onion rings were good. It was all pretty greasy (just like the menus). This restaurant stinks up the block with its greasy exhaust and they don't take credit cards. read more

It was a 80 degree day asked the waitress for fresh water she brings ice and walks away. When we tell her we wanted a fresh glass she goes whatever and pours the old water into the Ice. I won't be going back read more

Good drinks, decent prices. Atmosphere on the patio is great with the overhead lights, not too noisy or crazy. Young crowd, lots of dates. Excellent burgers read more

I had heard word of mouth about how good their burgers are. They are good but not any better than Burke's. If you are dieting give a pass to the fries, not worth the calories. They do make a killer Arnold Palmer. Their out side patio is where all the fun seems to be. It is on the side not the street so you don't get street sounds or exhaust smells. The prices are fair but the service is medium to good. The decor inside is worth a trip just to see and experience. Go there and write your own review as it is Fathers Day and since he was a waiter and I miss him , maybe I was too harsh. read more

After reading about all the hype for their Slippy Joes, I tried it out and was extremely disappointed.

Dim lighting for ambiance...?? or to hide something...?? Maybe a little bit of both but if you are looking for a nice burger (had the bleu burger) and beer with some fires in a relaxed setting this is the place. Its is trying to be one of those london pubs that we so lack on every corner in this city and it is pretty close, dark wood, dark lighting, dark beer. The one thing that separates it from one of those british pubs is that you cant smoke... a welcome surprise for a bar in this neighborhood. Try out the beer (what I would loosely call) "garden" on a nice day. read more

WARNING: Do not eat at Moody's unless you have nothing to do for the following couple of hours....you will want to take a nap! That being said I was there yesterday and couldn't believe I hadn't reviewed Moody's yet. From the front it kind of looks like a used bookstore, and the interior is just as bizzare, dark with fireplaces and lots of wood. Love the free peanuts, onion rings are awesome. Definitely get the Moody Bleu burger, the bleu cheese is creamy and delicious. The beer is a decent deal too and looove the massive multi-level beer garden and sangria in the summertime. Yes there are some quirks about this place, cash only, paper plates, dressing in packets, and no free refills on soda/iced tea. I kind of chalk it all up to the charm of this place that I visit everytime I need my bleu cheese burger fix. read more

Fantastic bleu cheese burgers, great homecut fries, ginormous onion rings, sangria by the pitcher...what more could a girl want? Oh...and a 1/2 price coupon available on their website...perfect! read more

I have always been a fan of Moody's. When I go there I know what I'm going to get a good burger or sloppy joe and some tasty french fries. Their beer garden is awesome and I do like the inside of the place great in the winter time just don't sit to close to the fires. read more

I went there last night because I was running late for dinner again, and other restaurants we wanted to check out were closing at 10PM. We found out Moody's is open until 1am, and we decided to check it out. My friend told me it was famous for burgers. Yet another burger place. I ordered sangria and a burger with Swiss cheese, bacon, and sauteed mushrooms. Although they forgot Swiss cheese, the burger was still yummy. Cooked perfectly for my liking- and this place gets a bonus star for that because many restaurants always overcook my burger(i.e. select cut, mystic celt, weber grill, even gibson's). Instead of bacon strips, they give you crumbled bacon which is weak. Their sangria, however, was really good- only 3.50. Speaking of price, this place is really CHEAP. You can get almost everything under 9 bucks, and this includes steak, pork chops, fish and chips. Their 1/2 lbs burgers are only 6.25 without toppings. It has a really NICE PATIO, and I can see how cool this place would be for summertime. This pub/restaurant has a WEIRD CROWD.. What I mean by weird is that you forget you are in Chicago when you are here. I thought I was in a small town in WI or IN. I probably would not get out of my way to come here, but I'd definitely come back when it gets warm. read more

The garden here is really nice. It was very dark and candlelit and kind of peaceful. There is a lot of seating. The Moody's Beu is a delicious burger, however, the beer list really is disapointing. Michelob light is just not good beer...no Miller Lite? Skip the sangria...it's just not good. read more

"To the pub!!!" It was an expression used near nightly by my house-mates and I during our degree years. It was that cheerful phrase that punctured the frantic studying induced silence around the house and replaced our thoughts with cheer and brought a welcome respite. And our house could not have been alone. But anyway, to cut a long story short, my fiance said that magic phrase to me on Saturday evening and off we went on our happy way. He knew what to expect, but I didn't, not really. First impressions: oooh, close to the red line! yay! Then as soon as I walked in, the darkness hit me. But more about that later. Moodys, as I was told by fellow yelper, Zachary M, is a great burger place. Its a good thing it is, because good luck on finding much else on the menu! A classy burger joint crossed with booze. An appealing concept with delicious results. At first glance, $8 for a burger seems crazy. But then you see sense because its not often you get a 1/2lb burger cooked perfectly how you requested. And also, you get a huge portion of crisp (though maybe under-seasoned) fries. Plus the extras are reasonably priced. The Moody Bleu burger with bacon is truly tasty, and I'm not even that big a fan of burgers! From now on, that is the standard that burgers need to live up to. I mean really, a generous portion of evenly melted blue cheese ...it makes my day. The Moody Blue has won the hearts, minds, wallets and stomachs of many Chicago food critics and for good reason! And the cocktail and liqueur coffee lists were a very welcome sight! There were definitely some delicious concoctions on there. The only reason it doesn't get a coveted 5star review is all to do with the lighting. Yes its romantic and yes the roaring fires made the place warm and cozy, but it is after all in part a pub and therefore needs better lighting for those stumbling out. The lighting and decor would have fitted an old country style French kitchen, not a burger and booze joint in Chicago! But it was cozy and comfortable and I left happy and full, so all was well. I'll be back there next time I crave beefy, cheesy deliciousness that's for sure! read more

Moody's is a great place to get a pitcher of beer when the weather is warm. The food is really not why you go there. It's tasty enough but it doesn't really stand out. What does stand out, however, is the big patio and the relatively inexpensive pitchers. The service can be pokey but it understandable given the crowd that tends to linger. read more

I like the patio but that's about it. The food was very average and pretty expensive considering what it was. The inside is so dark you could trip on a table. If you want a burger I would take Burkes or Fireside anyday. read more

I was really excited about having lunch at Moodys. I checked the schedule it said open 11:30 am. I invited 3 more friends, cause I've had some good hamburgers here, we get there today, it's raining out side and we wait...11:30 and we wait...11:35 and we wait...clearly they are not interested in our business so at 11:45 we leave. A guy mopping sees us standing by the door and he just continues mopping, no explanation given. Oh well Moody's, your loss read more

i love this place. whether it's the patio in the summer time, or sitting fireside in the winter. the burgers have been consistenly good all the times i've been in over the past decade. the serice is spotty at times, but when i come to moody's, i'm in the mood to kick back and relax. so, if they take their time serving me or getting me a refill or another drink, i'm fine with it. this place is one of the reasons why i love winter in chicago. when that first cold snap hits, my thoughts instantly turn to that fireplace at moody's. read more

Really good food, really good drinks, medieval atmosphere. It's an experience.

Have always been a fan...a great & cozy spot. Huge patio!!! Need bathroom updates, but that's what happens when you've been in biz for years. Love their onion rings read more

On this freezing cold winter day I hadn't planned to leave the house. Then I remembered in a matter of minutes I could be eating red meat in front of a roaring fire. Get out the long johns, I'm kicking cabin fever's ass. I first visited Moody's on a warm summer night with a man I fancied. He's long gone but I still thank him for introducing me to this gem. Visitors, friends, and relatives all get dragged here to stumble in the darkness and sit by the hearth or in warmer weather, get shat on by the french fry loving birds. Its all good, I'm out the door. read more

Food is great, but if it's crowded, you might wait over an hour for the food. And the fountain sodas are really watered down.

Was very disappointed with Moody's Pub. Limited menu, bland food, and slow service. The inside is dark, dingy, and dirty. The burgers tasted like frozen patties. It's only saving grace is the beer garden. Don't go here to eat but it is a good place to have a few pitchers outside. read more

Beautiful outdoor patio. Subpar service. Menu is very limited and the turkey burger was clearly from a frozen pack I could've bought at Jewel. Onion rings were amazing but they don't let you substitute them for the fries with a sandwich (even if you don't mind a couple dollar up-charge). read more

This has been my favorite neighborhood place for decades. Really great burgers and fries. Nice salad with blue cheese, too. Wonderful ambiance here as well. Love how the outdoor and indoor atmospheres are so reflective of the warm and cold seasons --great patio outside with foliage and water features in summer and darkened ski lodge type room with cozy fireplaces in winter. Terrific place to go with friends or family. read more

I really enjoy eating here with my kids too!! The place is family friendly, love the outdoor seating, pitchers of fruit punch are a hit and the burgers are amazing!!! Indoors the place is a tad dark, but eat outdoors and you will fall in love!!! read more

WAS THAT A RAT!?!?!? Those were the words of a woman on the picnic-style bench next to us. We had come there at dusk on the recommendations of some friends that lived in the neighborhood. Sure enough, a fairly large rodent skittered along the southern wall and under a table. The guys at our table weren't too taken aback, but the women didn't want to put their feet on the ground anymore and were constantly looking around for the rest of the rodent family. It put us off our burgers (which were ok) but who needs the constant thought in the back of your head, that any minute, something is gonna come running across your shoe or up your leg? I'l pass. read more

Sooooooo good! Best burgers around! Say hello to Mike and Glenn at the bar they are the nicest and I always get the best service from them!

Their outside seating area is great especially on a nice summer day. They're known for their burgers. Give it a shot, definitely

One of our favorite places in Chicago. Love Roxanne the server. The blue cheese burger is delicious. In summer the beer garden is so relaxing and in winter they have a warm fire place. read more

Nothing to say here that hasn't already been said, on all accounts. I think it is a comfy outdoor area to hang and drink pitchers of cheap beer with friends. I agree that the food is a little too oily for my taste, but I think that it is one of those staple Chicago joints that will be a landmark. I would never step foot in there in the wintertime though...outside is where it's at!!! read more

Outdoor seating is key and the people of Moody's have it down to a science. Some nights you won't have to wait at all, other nights you'll find yourself seatless for a little bit and on even other nights boy howdy will you wait. But once you get to your outdoor table it's all gravy...or hamburgers. Really satisfying hamburgers. Fries could be a bit crispier but eh. read more

Yes, the patio is the best feature. The prices have increased and there were no peanuts on the table. No refills on iced tea. What's with that? Last night, the service was decent and the food was good. No longer on my list of standbys though (out of onion rings at 6pm??). read more

Not necessarily the best burger in the whole wide world (although it was fine). But who cares? Moody's garden on a warm summer night is nothing short of magical! The place hasn't changed much since I was a college student 45 years ago, and that's a good thing! read more

All you need to know about this place is to order the moody blue burger (They hook it up with fries), pitcher of sangria, and to relax on the patio if its summer. Dont forget to bring cash. Only complaint is how I cant substitute the fries for onion rings =/ read more

I can't order anything on the menu except for the fries (vegetarian), but they are really, really good. Hands down, the best beer garden in Chicago. Wear your glasses on the inside, though. The lighting is medieval. Good beer and sangria. read more

This was a great place to come and have a relaxing summer evening last night. The key is to go with the expectation that you will have really, really slow service. For instance, the table behind us got up and left the restaurant literally 30 seconds before their food arrived, presumably because they had been waiting such a long time (which I think spurred our waitress to get our food out more quickly, so thanks!). Our waitress was clearly over busy and also completely socially inept and almost unable to communicate... Also, a low-talker! Although I guess I would be scared of the customers too if I worked here. The thing is, the food just isn't that good that people make it out to be. The cheeseburger is just ok, onion rings were over cooked and the beer selection is super-meh. So why put up with bad service to get this food? I'm not sure. Maybe you love places that look like the early 70s? read more

Went her and the food was awesome. The food is a huge amount. Come hungry.

I remember going to Moody's as a kid. Quite honestly, it looks like it hasn't changed from what I remember. Beer on tap only, sold by the mug or by the pitcher ($3,$9) . Decent burgers. This time around i had the "Moody Bleu" which was rather tasty. Washed it down with a few Anchor Steam beers which also were refreshing. The beer garden is immense, but poorly lit. service is ok, but it tends to get crowded and you may be made to wait a bit before you can order. Also, parking can be difficult if their lot is full. read more

Dark, noisy, inefficient and somewhat unfriendly service, bad and overpriced food, unimpressive beer selection. Long wait in the summer for the patio. I'm not going planning to go back. read more