Solid spot for a beer, cocktail, or quick bite! Having lived on the east coast, Other Half beer was a bit of a mecca in the craft beer scene in the early-to-mid 2010s. While the craze has died down, it's very cool to be able to find some of their standard beers on tap, as well as a few specialty pours and their Off Hours label doing more traditional styles. The taproom is nice, but a little sterile and lacking any kind of vibe or personality. For a Saturday afternoon, it was surprisingly empty, so I wonder if this is less a destination than a spot to come to before or after a show at the Ramova next door. The food looked decent, I could definitely see coming back here for a bite and a beer next time I'm in the neighborhood for a Sox game; however, like I said above, unless there's a special OH beer pouring, I'm not sure this will be a destination for me either. read more

Off Hours Beer Co - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love coming to Ramova Grill and Taproom after a long day of work. It's a great place to meet up with others and grab a drink. I always go for my cider beer! But let me tell you the real reason why I keep coming back... the food! Drinking should always be accompanied with food! I always brag about Ramova's fries. It's the perfect crispiness and the perfect sharing size. My friends and I just munch as we sip away. We love how there's different drinks for everyone. You can go hard or you can go light. The night that I got to stop by, our server Jenny (Julia) was really helpful! Sorry if I got the name wrong! I just remember it's a J name. She was very down to earth and easy to work with. She took the time to make sure our cups were ever empty! I will be back in the future! read more

Food is always great and service always friendly! Always love the fries and chili. This time I had a turkey sandwich, inhaled it before I took a picture read more

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I've been waiting for Ramova Grill to re-open since I first lived in Bridgeport, but it never materialized until I moved out of the neighborhood years later. I'm happy to say that the wait was worth it! The chili, the beers, the vibe, it's all here! Prices are reasonable, and this is a must visit local spot. You'll find some different seating options (bar, regular and high tables), different rooms, and TV to catch the Sox and other Chicago teams finding new ways to disappoint you. I'm not much of an IPA guy, but I tried a beer flight and have to say that it's nice to see not all IPAs are created equal. Really liked trying an assortment to see what I liked. Service was friendly and there was lots of open space when I came on the weekend. Ramova Grill and Taproom is a place worth coming back to regularly. Go and support local business. read more

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It's nice to have something here and it might be a great place for certain kinds of folks, just not me. The rest of this review is going to sound like a lot of complaining but I do want to point out that this place seems decent it just isn't MY vibe. The staff was very friendly and had a kitschy hipster vibe that was nice. They're very clean and there are several decent drinks options if you're a drinker. I, unfortunately, am not. Although they do have non alcoholic options, it's more along the fake beer lines rather than mocktails. I would like to see more mocktail options. The 7Up, unfortunately, tasted like a rancid bar tap which is strange considering this place can't be all that old to get that Old Tap taste... I made some big mistakes in ordering the two most fried items on the menu...the cheese curds and the "bowl of beignets." I really wanted to like them but in the end was left with a sour stomach. The cheese curds have an amazing, flaky tempura batter that makes them go down way too quick, but there was something too cinnamony sweet about it that tasted like they fried them with the beignets. And sweet is not what I want in cheese curds. Then the beignets were incredibly tough and tasted like fried pizza dough with an entirely unpleasant, slightly salty, lemon flavor. The caramel sauce they came with was really good, just enough to keep me eating them but not good enough to ever order again. So the flavor profiles were flip flopped from what I wanted in either dish. The decor could use a little warming up, but it was very clean. I personally could not relax though since all the tables/stools were all very solid, bar height and I struggle to get up into those kinds of seats. read more

Modern taproom serving food in the heart of Bridgeport. Friendly staff, knowledgeable about the area with brewing on site. Stick with the house brewed beers but they also have other good options Pro Tip: the taproom is NOT inside the Ramova theatre, entrance is next door :) read more

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I met some friends here for trivia (which was fun). It is really very much a brewery, so I would strongly advise avoiding the cocktails, or at least any classic cocktail that is not on the menu (though I wouldn't trust those either). One of the bartenders literally did not know how to make a basic gin martini. No fault of his; in retrospect, I really should not have ordered it. I did so because I'm not a beer drinker and was there for the trivia. I eventually gave in and got a lower ABV English brown ale that was very good. I also appreciated the range of pour sizes (6 oz to a pint, I think). The staff was very friendly, and the food was clean and above average. We ordered chili (it seems to be their thing), fries, the napa cabbage/tofu salad, and decadent grilled cheese. Anyway, the inside atmosphere is weird and sterile. The seats are not particularly comfortable. The tragically hip clientele seem to have adopted the "Bridgeport is Bushwick" mindset. Living the dream, I guess. I would go back for trivia but not to hang in general. read more

It's heartening to see the rebirth of an old Bridgeport institution along this moribund stretch of S. Halsted, but the new Grill is more for drinkin' than eatin.' It's fine for people-watching but their hi-top tables with extremely uncomfortable stools do not encourage lingering. The food menu is almost laughably limited. One of my friends enjoyed a spicy hot bowl of chili (like Bishop's, theirs is soupy). My other companion ordered a burger which fell completely apart as soon as he picked it up. I dared to try the Asian vegetable salad (with chicken). This was actually better than I anticipated, but like those overdressed organic salads you buy by the pound at a Whole Foods deli counter, you get tired of eating it after a few bites. read more

We initially visited because we love Other Half Brewery and were excited they were opening a Chicago location inside Ramova Theatre. While they aren't brewing there quite yet we enjoyed some fresh OH brews that were sent via kegs from their flagship location in Brooklyn. We are excited for brewing operations to kick off! We ordered a basket of fries to munch on and holy heck they were delicious and a huge portion for only $6! Great deal. Based on the fries we want to try more when we come back next time. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were friendly and attentive. Street parking isn't bad when there's no event going on at the theatre, but I imagine in the summer if White Sox are home it could be tricky. Overall we had a great visit and plan to return! read more

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Just dined here for brunch, came at 11:30 AM on a Saturday and sat down no problem with a party of 5. My party was a mix of ages, and the place was mostly empty. First time dining here, my family picked this spot. The vibe was chill with music at a decent volume, almost all of tables were higher, so we grabbed one of the 2 standard height ones. The service was top notch, one of the wait staff noticed us and grabbed the extra heavy chair and brought it across the grill to our table. Love to see the initiative. Overall, service was excellent and attentive. Usually you are supposed to order at the bar, but it was pretty chill and the wait staff came to us. Later while we ate, Ramova filled up and I think the normal bar-order style comes back into play. I appreciated the flexibility of the wait staff to take initiative. 5 stars for sure. Other nice touches was their service bringing us extra utensils and bowls after we told them we were sharing everything, they were on point! We dine family style off the brunch menu and ordered the chilaquelles, tofu scramble, 2 burgers (fries included my dudes), a loaded vegan chili, and a loaded beef chili + 2 corn dogs. We also cleaned house and ordered two donuts for dessert. The food is elevated greasy spoon diner and grill, and the prices and quality reflect that. We started with the chili's and they were definitely a highlight. Great texture and consistency, not too sweet, spicy or tangy. Great flavor profile on them. Chilaquelles had a nice crunch with red sauce. I do wish the eggs and sauce were more integrated, but it was solid. We were too hungry to take pictures lol. I wish the burger patty was a little larger, for $19 it was a touch small. The bun held up really well and the fries were crisp, it got compliments from our table. Donuts were awesome, love the grilled pineapple on top, with the nice sugar glaze. The cake batter was smooth and moist, not dry at all, and not overwhelminly sweet. The flavors played well together. Definitely check out the Ramova Grill, support a local Bridgeport business, and enjoy a historical spot. We didn't try drinks but their menu looked nice. read more

Off Hours Beer Co - Epic Donuts! - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Come for the beer.... Stay for everything else. Ramova is finally open, and brings with it Other Half. A East coast brewing powerhouse famed for its NYIPAs and killer can art. It is good to have OH in Chicago. Brewing operations haven't ramped up just yet, so we are sipping on shipped kegs from the source currently. Very anxious and excited to see when they get brewing online and see what they push out. The tap room has a very clean aesthetic and is bumpin classic and boom bap hip hop through the stereo. Almost like I'm in nyc! We ended up sipping on a few excellent brews and ordered a basket of fries, which came out expeditiously. Service was super attentive and friendly. They are running on point. This spot is awesome. Have to come back and try the food as the menu and food I saw looked great. read more

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We've been to Ramova twice now. Once for the open house and again the following week for dinner and drinks. We're super excited about the Other Half, a very reputable brewery and worth a trip Bridgeport! The brewery and restaurant/ diner operate in the same general area. Nice ambience, clean and simple, not too much in terms of decor. The brewery has almost exclusively wooden stool high tops, which makes it easy for people to stand and eat. However, I like regular tables, since I like to have my feet touch the ground when I can. It's a relatively good place for meet ups and easy for groups. You order food and drinks at the bar. The beer menu is almost all IPAs. They also have cocktails and a NA IPA beer. The alcohol prices seem to be different when there are events versus not. On regular nights a pint is $8. During the open house they were $16, which seems standard for concerts and shows. You can also get smaller pours and make yourself a little flight to try a few beers! We had the BLD (breakfast lunch and dinner) burger, turkey meatloaf, and a cup of chili with a mac n cheese ball. The BLD burger was excellent! I would get it every time. I loved the runny egg. The aoili and shredded lettuce kind of reminded me a Big Mac. The chili was also great, nice tomato flavor. The mac n cheese ball was fun and good texture too. The turkey meatloaf was too wet and was served room temp. They came with a side of mashed potatoes and Brussel sprouts that were too salty. I wouldn't recommend it. The key lime pie was AMAZING. Nice smooth texture, not too tart or sweet. The crust was great. I hope it's frequently on rotation! There were several groups with kids. Servers were friendly. Everything seemed organized and was running smoothly. I'm excited to see the beer garden when the weather is nicer! It's definitely worth checking out! read more

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Ambience is great! Especially the open patio/beer garden. The space is actually very open and great for groups. The beers are great, and my personal favorite is their apple cider. It's probably the best cider I have had in Chicago! If you're coming for the food, I'd say it's pretty mid. I appreciate the food prices, but nothing really hit and I left kinda unsatisfied. Staff is very friendly and service is good though! read more

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The food came out cold and flavorless, high prices, unfriendly staff. We were disappointed overall :( read more

Couple weeks ago, me and my friends wanted to check out the newly reopened Ramova Grill, and it was so disappointing. We went on a Thursday night, orders are taken at the bar only, we ordered a couple of old fashions and a couple of chicken pot pie, which was their special on Thursday, and a bowl of chili. Here's where it all went downhill, the old fashion was already batched, so the person who works at the bar doesn't make the drink, and the old fashions came out of a tap and it was super sweet. The chili was ok, nothing wildly amazing or bad. The chicken pot pie came out, looked good, broke the puff pastry no steam, took a bite, the contents weren't event warm. We notified the staff, who apologized and said they will work on new ones. The second one came out in about 20 min, same thing and a bit too soupy...and we had to ask the staff if he can take it off the bill because we don't even want it anymore. When we asked the staff, he seemed reluctant at first but eventually was able to void out the pies. When asked if the pies were previously frozen, baked and then finally adding the puff pastry to finish it off, he said that they should be made fresh daily but he is not too sure. Just kind of surprising how it could've taken 20 min for the pie for it to come out cold twice. Overall very very disappointing. Hopefully it is better the next time I go. read more

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South Halsted is a bricolage of small shops and at times bleak vistas. On 35th there is a dusted off gem - a small old theatre called the Ramova. We went to an evening event there. The theatre sign is great and welcoming. The grill and taproom is modern with a long glass window showing the beer brewing tanks. The beers brewed there are mostly IPAs and they have cocktails as well. There is no table service. You have to go to the counter to order. We ordered the turkey meatloaf and a sandwich. Overall both were ok. For one cocktail, one beer and two entrees was $78 (a tad steep.) We then went into the Ramova which has been fairly gutted with no seats. They did a nice job with the upgrades. The space is small enough where a performer would feel close. This new venue could have a good future. read more

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The wait is finally over - the Ramova is open again! Since moving into Bridgeport several years back I was so excited when I first heard there was renovation going on. It's part theater and part grill & brewery. My wife and I stopped in here on a Saturday night and were greeted by friendly hosts who explained we could either choose a table or seat at the bar and order drinks & food from the bar. We opted for bar seating and had extremely friendly servers take care of us. The beers I ordered were good (Dank Ivy & Green City) and my wife enjoyed her NA G&T and Blackberry seltzer. We shared the pizza in a cup dip and each had the BLD burger - both were delicious! We both agreed that we'll have to add the restaurant into our local rotation and can't wait to catch a show to see the theater. Run, don't walk, to the Ramova! read more

Off Hours Beer Co - Burgers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Dropped by before an event at the Ramova with no idea what to expect. Close to whatever the White Sox park is called these days. Street parking was pretty easy though theater also has paid lot recommendation. Friendly welcoming staff. We found a spot for ourselves early on a snowy Friday evening but I'm guessing tables become more communal tables when busy. Menus are on tables, you walk up to the bar to place orders, receive a number and staff brings your food to your table. Generally clean, food fast and while heavy on fried food, is very fresh tasting. Might not make a trip to Bridgeport for dinner but if in the area, would stop in again. read more

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The much anticipated Ramova Theater is finally open, and with it the reopening of the Ramova grill, as well as a new taproom featuring beers from Other Half Brewing in NY. I've been here like 7 times now, it's been very much worth the wait and one of my new favorite spots in Bridgeport. They rotate their beers often, and focus on IPAs, which are my favorite. There's been so many good ones idk if I could pick just one favorite. But they also have other styles as well as cocktails. They have some really good food too. I've tried multiple sandwiches and apps the past few months. My favorites are probably the cheeseburger and the cubano. They also have a weekend brunch menu, featuring a good breakfast bagel sandwich and hashbrowns. You just order at the bar which ends up being pretty fast, as opposed to waiting for someone to come by. I plan on going here much more in the future and introducing it to everyone who's interested. A welcome addition to the neighborhood! read more

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I came in for Thursday night bingo! They had a Christmas in July theme and it was really fun. We had dinner before hand so we just got a few drinks and dessert. I absolutely loved their miso brownie a la mode. The brownie is so rich and flavorful. The brownie came out so quick too. I would definitely come back. Maybe for trivia night on Sunday read more

Ate at the Ramova Grill and Taproom before going to show at the theater. The food was very good and the servers were very attentive. I would go there again. Loved the atmosphere and ambiance. read more

Got to visit the Ramova Taproom for the first time earlier this month, shortly after it launched. Excited to see how the space was finished, taste on some beers from Other Half brewery and ask other patrons what they thought of the food. We had already eaten, so knew food would be a future visit consideration. Upon walking in, the space was lively and we were immediately greeted by a host standing at a host stand, which implied you request a table or add your name to a waitlist if all tables were taken (they were the night we visited), only to be told that tables were first come, first serve and there was no waitlist... that we could go to the bar to get drinks and stand there scouting for a table, which is what we did. A table opened up shortly after ordering our first beers and the staff quickly cleaned up the space for us to sit down. We got our Other Half beers, which turned out to be delicious and reasonably priced. The bartenders were attentive and responsive. We look forward to when Other Half brews and pours their beer on-premise. I asked a few patrons who were sitting in the grill/diner area how the food was and everyone said it was delicious, so definitely need to return to eat. If you wanted to take beer to-go, you can. Cocktails are another reason to return to try. The aesthetic is modern and at first glance, very cool; but, after sitting and looking around, it's sterile and cold. I'm not sure if the decor is completed. There is nothing on the walls showing any theatre history or to warm up the place. The bar stools are heavy, which is great; but, they are uncomfortable if you sit on them for any reasonable amount of time. There is evidence of what appears to be either shoddy construction or unfinished construction. The tables have some condiments, e.g., there is ketchup; but, no mustard.. hmm... someone made a decision and it's an interesting one. You get hot sauce, along with sugar in packets and in the old school diner glasses dispenser. The restroom (note there is only one that I was made aware of) is through a door and only has stalls. Both men and women use the same bathroom. Nothing in the bathroom has modern touchless technology - have to use your hands to turn on the sink, to flush the toilet... this place is new with basic construction grade amenities. On the route to and from the bathroom, you can see an open space at the floor to look into the basement (odd!) - again, looks like unfinished or shoddy construction. Music was funky, enjoyable and a decent volume. Given that it was shortly after launch, didn't have a manager approach, quickly introduce and ask how things were going, which would have been a nice touch; but, ok fine. Overall, I'm glad I checked out and will return to further explore to not only taste on food and beverages not yet sampled; but, to see if/how the space might evolve with decor and potentially construction completion. 3 stars for the initial experience and the high potential the Ramova Grill and Taproom has. read more

It is an echo chamber in there- glass walls and a flat ceiling make it difficult to hold a conversation if there are even two other tables. Also the stools are VERY tall and completely flat and unpadded. Very uncomfortable The food and service are great! read more

I am so excited to see a beautiful old theater restored and back open for business. The draft cocktails were solid, the ahi tuna sandwich was exceptional and I really loved brunch. Anywhere they serve kugelis is on my short list. read more

The hostess and space were great. The disappointment came with the overall menu. It is very limited and trying to be too fancy. No kid menu. When we ordered the Reuben which was a special of the day for $19 we were told it was only available at dinner. My recommendation would be to go for some drinks. @ramova, please add a few delicious basic items that you might find at the old Ramona grille besides chili. A skillet? A grilled cheese, some cool appetizers. read more

We were there for the Muza documentary event, grabbing an early lunch before the show. The Bloody Mary paired well with the Diner Breakfast. One suggestion -- the kugelis should be made with grated, not shredded, potatoes. Makes all the difference in the world. Looking forward to coming back soon for another event, and this time trying the Krupnikas Punch! read more

This place is disgusting been going for months since they opened and I have told them about their gender neutral bathrooms multiple times bc there has been instances and the "investors" deem it necessary. No reason why my daughter has to go to the bathroom and grown men are right next to her absolutely disgusting and the food/service sucks read more

beautiful restoration work but the chili is tooo spicy ! I mean like hot as hell! Almost inedible! Can you offer a chili with realistic heat? not burn your insides out style??!! read more

The food was not bad. One thing they need to do is get their burgers to be more consistent . Mine was a bit on the dry side for a burger being $15. read more

Walked in and no one at the host stand. Had to ask where to sit although 3 staff were standing at the bar. We sat and still no one greeting us. We asked the bar staff where to order and they said at bar. Music was really loud and we could barely hear each other. It was 1:00 on a Saturday and only a few people eating. Ordered a hamburger which doesn't say comes with fries so we ordered a large fries, 2 bowls of chili, a corn dog which was put in my chili bowl and two sodas and it was $75. First the hamburger and chili came out, then the second chili with the corn dog and then 5 minutes later the fries. The server had no tray so it came out one piece at a time. We finished quickly because it was so loud and I had to get up to ask for a container for the chili. Not one person asked about the meal or if we needed anything. As we left no one acknowledged or said goodbye. We live in the area and we won't be back. $75 to serve ourselves and a staff that couldn't care less that we were there. read more

Nice staff. Clean environment, and the service was quick. The food however, wasn't quite that good. The Club was really dry and the burger fell apart. I would still come back to have a few drinks. read more

[Candidly, the review is closer to a 4.5 than a 5, but I rounded up out of sheer neighborhood pride]. Went with the family on Sunday, Jan. 28 for an early lunch right at 11. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, if not a little clinical; right when you walk in, you see a large bar top with a backdrop of would-be brewing vats that you can see through glass panels. A surprisingly large establishment, there are a plethora of four- and six-seater tables comprising roughly half standard and half high top seats (which were a little uncomfy, candidly). On the south end of the restaurant is a room reminiscent of the diners of yesteryear: a tiny dining area with pink walls and a series of 50s-era red-and-white barstools lining either wall. A nice juxtaposition of minimalist modern and retro that created a nostalgic, unique atmosphere for the fledgling restaurant. The food itself was excellent. Though Ramova does not sport standard waiting procedures (there are no waiters to take drink/food orders; instead, you order both food and drink up at the bar), ordering was fairly straightforward. A nice change, the drinks are now much cheaper than when the place opened, with pints of beer averaging ~$9. The Mexican Lager was ... well, Lager-y and paired well with the greasy fare. The family ordered the burger -- decked with egg, bacon, and hashbrowns --, several bowls of chili, fries and the ice cream sundae. The burgers were sublime, if not a little overbearing -- lot's of salty components combined to make a delectable, artery-clogging sandwich (not necessarily a bad thing!). The fries themselves were good. Not the best, but still very good. The Chili, which was a focal point for the parents who had high expectations brought on by the previous Ramova's chili, was excellent. Though I, myself, ordered the burger, I will be getting the chili my next go-around. The reason I would give Ramova a 4.5 over a 5, then, is the service. We ordered the ice cream sundae at the end of our meal. However, after 15 minutes, we had still not received the sundae, and had not received an update from the kitchen or front-of-house staff. It was only when we got up to cash out -- deciding that the sundae was no longer worth the wait -- that were updated on the delay (apparently, they did not have a new, unbroken batch of the whip cream, which was homemade, ready). Much to Ramova's credit, the sundae was comped and given to us to-go -- and was excellent even hours later. Though we wish we were updated on the delay sooner, it was an extremely generous gesture that speaks to the integrity of the new staff and ownership. All that being said, I see myself returning to the new and reinvigorated Ramova Grill frequently. I am extremely pleased that it is back in Bridgeport, and is a welcome, if not direly needed, addition to the neighborhood. read more