I go back and forth about how I feel about Poor Phil's. On the one hand I grew up in Oak Park right down the street from this place. So it holds a lot of nostalgia for me. But as an adult going back there I always feel like it falls short of what I want it to be. The bartenders are either amazing or they suck. Same for the servers. I will say they do make a mean bloody mary! The food is always just ok. They have a weird batter that they fry their seafood in. I guess some people may like it but me personally I think it's weird. Their sweet potato fries are amazing though. So I guess just stay away from the fried stuff. Lastly a warning to those who visit w/ their children or those with prudish constitutions. The bathroom has pictures all over of naked people. Like full on nakedness. I mean it's tasteful smut but smut nonetheless. All in all it's a mediocre neighborhood hotel bar. Nothing more. read more

This place is flat out terrible. I had the lobster po'boy and it tasted like merely seafood salad smeared into a bun. The tots were cold upon arrival and even the free popcorn sucked. The beer selection, however, is somewhat robust and every one I tried was good quality. Pros: Good beer selection Cons: Below average service and food I wouldn't feed my dog. read more

I had driven past this place many times and had decided to finally go into this place. The menu was pretty full of choices. The beer list was pretty solid as well. The prices were reasonable also. I would definitely come back here. read more

We were in the suburbs for a vet appointment for my dog and wanted to grab lunch at Marion Street. We parked only to find out that they were renovating the place so we walked down the street to the closest food joint open, which was Poor Phil's. The place itself is sorta cool, with a bunch of beer taps hanging from the ceiling. There seemed to be a decent amount of people, so after sitting there for 5 minutes without service my boyfriend tried to grab some menus from the bar and was scorned by the bartender to wait for a waiter. Our waiter was pretty friendly. I had a difficult time looking at the menu. It was large and had a bunch of different fonts. I ordered a BLT, since I don't eat seafood, and my bf got the fish and chips. I have nothing to say about my BLT. As for the fish and chips, the fish was actually just one big lump of fish. It was mostly breading that was greasy and soggy, not crispy at all. My bf ate maybe half, only because he was super hungry but the rest was unedible. read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

See all

I've been here a handful of times, and my overall experience has been "A-OK"-- no more, no less. Food/drink: Food is pretty average here. I ordered the veggie burger with guacamole, which was decent, but not my favorite. I did appreciate the fact that there were burgers available for vegetarians in general, though. Lots of places don't accommodate a veg option, so I loved that. I have also ordered a dark and stormy drink, which was very good (definitely my favorite item I've eaten here) Service: This is probably my biggest complaint. The waitress we had most recently was so friendly and welcoming, but she did not stop by our table very often. I had to work pretty hard to flag her down for the check. I put in my card immediately, but she was already gone and I ended up having to wait 25 minutes to come back to process. This frustrated me because combined with flagging her down to get the check, I had been trying to leave for almost 45 minutes. Not attentive at all. My guess is that because we were a large group on a weeknight that there weren't enough people working. In any case, it was disappointing. Decor/atmosphere: I like this. It's laid back and when the weather is nice you can dine/hang out outdoors. There's no pressure to turn tables, so you can slowly eat, drink, and hang out with friends without feeling like you need to order more or that they really want to give your table away to waiting people. The beauty of the suburbs! There's also free popcorn for tables, which I really like. Will I be back here? I'm sure I will. It's a place some of my friends like meeting up. Would I highly recommend it? No. It's A-OK. read more

I actually enjoy Poor Phil's, and I got my friends coming back to it too (especially the girls when they walk in the washroom...) Even had a b-day party here, and they did a great job of hosting 15 people on a crowded night. If you're tired of the Wrigleyville-like atmosphere of all the "Irish bars" a few blocks south on Madison street, Poor Phil's is a refreshing change. It's got a great interior with lots of memorabilia, lots of space to sit down, and have a lot of spaces to dine outdoors as well. They had a decent beer selection, and their waitstaff is pretty cool too. On most nights, especially weekends, the crowd is under-35. It's tucked away off Harlem a block south of Lake, but still really convenient, even for friends to come in on the Green line. I know of people who've been coming here for a long time, as it's been around for over 25 years. I recommend the Cajun Calamari. I didn't care so much for a chicken sandwich ordered one time, but they had a cool beer selection. read more

Pro's: Great food. I recommend the Murphy burger, the oysters, and the garlic fingers appetizer. The murphy burger is phenomenal. They also do have a great beer selection. It is a great place to go on a summer day where you can sit outside. Con: They have extremely slow service and they know it too. Yet they do not care. Sitting at the bar is fine - the bartenders are always quick to serve you, but if you sit at a table, be prepared to wait and be confused as to why your waiter/waitress won't check up on you. It is very bizarre considering what a great place this is otherwise. If you can deal with waiting a bit for your food, this place is definitely worth it. Parking is usually pretty easy as well. read more

What can I say. Overpriced, mediocre food and amateur table service. They do have some good beer but they are always out of the ones i want when I go there. Three stars. They sell a boka burger for 10 bucks. LOL! read more

I was expecting this place to be good. Food had no flavor except the sweet potato fries where alright. Costumer service was not good. No good customer service eather. I will probably not come back. read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - Sweet fries are really good - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Always great food, friendly staff. Love the area there and decent prices. There's a nice big outdoor dining area and the attached hotel is charming. read more

I like Poor Phil's for a number of reasons. I've gone here a lot and it's always been good. 1) It's 5 minutes away from my house. 2) I can almost always find parking. 3) Oyster and Shrimp Happy Hour, with 50 cent oysters and shrimps served cocktail-style over ice with all the cocktail sauce, horseradish, lemon, and crackers your heart desires. 4) The Oyster Shooters, served in a shot-glass. 5) Service is good. It isn't super-fast, but it's extremely friendly and well-paced. 6) LOTS of Beer choices. 7) Fish and chips = always a good choice. I love their beer-batter. It's deep fried goodness. 8) Free popcorn. I also like their Buffalo Chicken Po-Boy, the sweet potato fries, and the salads are pretty good, too. The desserts are yummy, but somewhat ordinary. Minus one star for the prices on the entrees -- they are a wee bit pricey, but sadly, what isn't these days... read more

As I was typing in my search for this place on Yelp, I accidentally typed "Poo Phil's" and then I realized that sums it up nicely. My wife and I attended a wedding in Oak Park and this barstaurant was located adjacent to the wedding guests' hotel. Over the course of the weekend, we patronized them on four occasions: 1) Carry out cornbeef on rye - My wife was satisfied. The leftovers were good. Solid sammy with lots of meat. 2) Late night beers - I have to admit that during this visit I did not know Phil's had so many beers on tap. I got a few domestics and they were fine. The free popcorn was a nice touch, but it was terrible. Cold and stale. The waitress was also cold and stale. Lots of waiting. 3) Afternoon drinks... or so we thought - Apparently Poor Phil will not let you sit at his outside sidewalk seating and only order alcoholic beverages, even when he is operating at less than half capacity. I am not sure if this is Phil's policy, or a city ordinance. My wife and some friends were eating and drinking at an adjacent table, but those of us at the beverage-only table were asked to leave by a manager as we were ordering a second round. 4) Another round of late night drinks - As there were no other options (Oak Park doesn't seem to have many watering holes), we found ourselves at Poor Phil's again. This time I sampled a few more of the exotic beers they had on tap. The bartenders were much more amicable than the waitstaff. An overall good, but typical, bar experience. read more

Found it. Best lobster roll in town. Try Poor Phil's Shell Bar for it and add some crispy tater tots. Was thinking it wasn't possible in chicago but phew...found it. Supper good. Buttery bun, light sauce, and great lobster flavor. Loved it. Come to Oak park for a giant micro brew and this sandwich. Add some fresh oysters and its worth a trip. read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - Lobster roll. - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Growing up in Oak Park I almost forgot how great this place is! Beer selection is the best, and the lobster roll beats out the those fancy places like Hugo's (seriously the tastes so much better!). Will need to come back to see my mom more often :-) read more

Naked dudes in girls bathroom! AWESOME! Also, super great beer selection and the waitress was really nice :) Overall, I'd definitely suggest! read more

Excellent bar, very good food. Some friends from out of town came in to watch The Final 4 games awhile ago. They loved it because: - drink selection (borderline ridiculous, which is great) - classic sports bar feel (old school poster of MJ, Ditka & Sweetness.. Tap handles hanging all over, banners, pennants, jerseys, etc.) - comraderie(sp?) with fellow Sconnie fans and cool bartenders. - attentiveness - beer selection (yeah, it's so vast I mentioned it twice) read more

I wanted to like this place more, but an unfriendly bartender really put a sour note on my experience here. I stayed in the hotel with a large wedding party, and many of us went to the bar the following morning for beer and football. The bartender was rude about corralling us into a corner and to not crowd "her" bar. Our waitress was nice enough, though a bit overwhelmed. The food was fine, what I ate. In the end, we relocated as we just didn't feel welcome. read more

My wife and I went to Poor Phils this Friday evening at 6 PM, since we were a couple and all the two person outside tables were taken we were directed to sit inside (there are not too many two person table outside) we were told that there were plenty of seats inside. We went out this evening to sit outside and asked if we could sit at one of the vacant tables that sit four. The answer was "no" those tables are only for reserved for four people not two. The waitress did not honor my request to speak with the manager. Called on my cell phone and asked for the manager, enter Zach on the phone. Zach tells me it is Poor Phils policy that couples must sit at a twosome table because on a Friday night they need to maximize their table spa. Tried to explain to him that my wife and I have been going to Poor Phils for many years many times with my daughters and their husbands. Policies that turn away customers is not good. Can't see why we cannot sit a table of four, what if a parent shows up with two children will they be turned away because the tab will be less that 4 adults? Didn't ask the questions I was afraid of the answer. I and my extended family will not go to Poor Phil's again as well as Mr. Murphy's other places of business. Mr. Murphy if this is your policy shame on you! If it is Zach's policy then I think you need to counsel him how he should treat is long-term customers. read more

Great bar. Friendly atmosphere. You will definitely find a good beer or whiskey to drink. If Casper is working behind the bar he makes you feel like home. read more

3.5 stars for Poor Phil's** Now if Phil's food was a bit better, this would definitely be a 4 star establishment. Because they've got a lot going for them: an excellent selection of craft beers, a great spot in the lovely burb of Oak Park, a lively, cute bar with fun patrons, and a wide selection of seafood, fish, and other bar food. If I lived on the East Coast, I am certain that I would hang out often at those clam and shellfish joints - the ones that serve up good, cold beer and deliciously juicy oysters and clams. Instead I live here in Chicago, and Poor Phil's is probably the closest place near my house that I will get to one of those places. Actually, I don't think the food is as bad as many reviewers have made it out to be - it's just that it's average. But there's enough here to make me keep coming back for more! Hint: get the sweet potato fries! read more

If only all bars could offer you a menu selection of well prepared sea food like this one does! In fact, pretty much every food item they offer here is well done. Good fish, shell fish, they offer fresh oysters on the half-shell (and have happy hour prices on top of that!), sandwiches, soups, etc. Solid food from a place that looks like any other type of neighborhood bar. My wife still goes to see a doctor in the neighborhood despite us living now in Hyde Park........ My theory is the excuse for us to go out to eat at Poor Phil's after her appointments. Beer selection is great, and the popcorn they offer at each table is a nice touch. I guess it helps sop up some of the alcohol you will surely down during your visit. The fact that they serve food late into the night is a plus too. Atmosphere is a good one if you are a local or want to get to know some Oak Parkers. It is very much a neighborhood bar in a good neighborhood. People are pretty friendly. The place can get quite packed and loud though- but if you are there for the meal, there is a back room that is away from the bar and the TVs. Close to the Metra and CTA Green Line stops too- so all the city folks can check it out too. read more

Went here on a Friday night desperately hoping for a new OP hangout with good food and ambiance. Ambiance: warm, friendly, great outdoor seating (despite the construction) on Marion street. Food: They have a "breading" problem. Their crab bisque was overly floured and low on flavor. Shrimp po'boy was bland, under-shrimped, served on a cold white bread roll and underwhelming. They advertise a "light tempura batter" but it doesn't really meet my po'boy standards of a deep-fried, satisfying crunch. Their wings are over breaded which makes them soggy. However, the jambalaya is good and spicy, and the snow crab legs dish is a satisfying meal. If you stay away from breaded dishes, you'll be fine. As for prices, since previous yelpers have commented on them and there is no online menu available (a serious flaw), their po'boys run around $10, their meal soups around $13, and the rest of their seafood dishes are in the $20s. Their oysters are $2 a piece. After a meal of one soup, 2 entrees and 3 drinks, our dinner ran about $50. read more

Poor Phil's is a perfect example of what a great place COULD be, but's it's not. After 9 years of living in the area, and going there about a dozen times, tonight made me realize why I hardly ever go anymore or care to go for that matter. Let's first start with the ambiance. I actually love the setting - great al Fresco dining 3 Seasons, perfect corner location, and the interior is exactly what I like when I want to go out eating and drinking - The service? Well, let's just say Poor Phil's has worst male bartenders with the cockiest attitudes I have ever encountered ANYWHERE. For example, there is one waiter who I have seen double as a Bartender years ago - wayyy too much attitude and someone who certainly will never see my 20% tip again. Then you have the A-hole tonight with the black glasses and 'Cubbies' hat on - I walked in, he looked at me and I looked at him, he ignored me and proceeded to ask an existing customer, who was ALREADY SERVED, if he would like a refill LOL!!!! I was a bartender and I don't think I would have been too successful had I IGNORED my customers - especially when they FIRST WALKED IN! What an f'ing loser - he did tout over the other customers who were ALREADY EATING - I was juuuuuust about ready to walk out when another bartender came around the corner out of the blue and asked me if I was taken care of. I ordered the food to go because I don't think I could have kept my mouth shut about the other bartender - I decided it was best just to leave and never come back. The food? It's just OK - the steamed mussles are good, the rest is pretty much your typical wings and Burger fare - some decent Seafood specialties and fried fish, and of course cheese sticks - like those are not too common - nothing to write home about trust me. The Beer selection is quite excellent. The problem is, I like to be treated like a human, or at LEAST get noticed within 10 minutes when I go out, so no matter how great their beer selection is, the bartenders need to learn that only tending to the regulars is NOT something that attracts new or non regular customers. If I were the owner, I would be a little more concerned about how my employees are treating the clients - But I am sure with the crowds that are always there, this owner doesn't really care about someone like me, so he can count on someone else supporting his business because I can promise you I will never go back again on my own free will. If I have to, I will suggest we leave and go anywhere else on Madison! read more

Ok, the place itself is very cool. It just has a great feel to it. It's this old school neighborhood spot that sits right on the corner of this quiet tree lined street with outdoor seating and this really down to earth and laid back atmosphere inside that just welcomes you. The happy old guy that greets you at the door invites you in like you're an old friend and jokes around with you all the way to your seat. The waiters/watresses are laid back and personable and never give you that "are you done yet?" attitude you get at other restaurants. Its great for families, a night out with the boys/girls, or just a place to hang out. With all this going for it my only hang up is that their menu is pretty limited. Good food just not a lot to offer in the food department. But you get free popcorn so that should count for something. Other than that, i'd definitely suggest you check it out. read more

While staying at the Carleton of Oak Park, this was a convenient choice for breakfast. Food was good, but lacked seasoning. For the Chicagoland area, I was a little disappointed that the food wasn't more amazing, but it was a good hearty breakfast. read more

Poor Phil's serves every need. Want to sit outside and enjoy chicago summers? Want to have some amazing seafood with a friend who would rather eat a burger? Want to catch a game and have a good selection of beers? This place is mine and my husband's favorite spot in Oak Park because it is so customer friendly. Best thing, they offer tastings of any beer for those who cannot decide. And definitely order the sweet potato fries or hummus. Only reason I did not give it 5 stars is for when you have large groups. It is not ideal for more than 6. They charge an automatic 20% gratuity and sometimes leave you hanging for a while. read more

'No crap on draft' is written on their beer menu. One of the few bars in Chicago with the Bell's 10,000 batch, Midas Touch, etc (as of this writing) and of course the wonderful HAND PUMP. They show a lot of love for Chicago sports but they THANKFULLY (typically) don't play them with the sound on. Usually some type of cool indie music on the overheads where I'll have to double check with the waitress to confirm who we're listening to. Plus, popcorn, popcorn, popcorn. read more

Sub par service but beer selection is great. They had so many varieties of beer on draft and good selection of seasonal pumpkin beers. read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - Imperial pumpkin - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Beer and burgers...need I say more? I visit at least twice a month as its close enough to walk home from after enjoying their extensive beer selection. Quite simply a great place to enjoy your time with friends or family! read more

Poor Phil's Shell Bar - American Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

I will ALWAYS be partial to Poor Phil's as it was where we were when the White Sox won it all in 2005, but the truth is, we had been coming here for many years prior when my brother lived just down the street. The fairly extensive. a bit off the beaten path food menu is one attraction, the emphasis on a few high quality, ever-changing something-for-everyone craft beer selection, the sidewalk seating in a cool neighborhood, the 'Bloody Oyster shots' and the service are the others for me. Spend the money and go with oysters or the lobster salad sandwich and your favorite micro, you won't be disappointed. read more

The weather was a perfect 76 so we ate outside. We started with a combo plate of raw oysters. They were fresh and a great appetizer. The Lobster was a bargain at $24.95 for Maine Lobster. It was slightly overcooked and just a bit chewy but a fun meal at that price. It was not open in anyway so you work for your meal :-} The Crab Cakes had a nice flavor to them and were cooked perfectly. The Grilled Tuna was listed in the menu as lightly seared but it was also over cooked. We did not bring it to anyone's attention as we still enjoyed the food. I'm looking forward to going back and try the rest of the menu. I can see why other reviewers give this restaurant 5* read more

Nice, super casual place with good food at reasonable prices. The menu is so large it's kind of intimidating, but everything is good and I love that you can get breakfast all day long. Drinks are good (the strawberry sangria goes down so easily!). Service is super friendly. The ladies' room is super cramped. Overall, it's a good place to grab an affordabe meal. read more

Still my favorite bar in Oak Park. My friends call Poor Phil's my "Cheers." I hold an unofficial birthday party for myself every year in the bar area, and love that they are widening their selection of cider beer (although they haven't had Original Sin in more than a year.) and keeping up with the new trends in mixology. Go for a good time, meet people. Hang out, drink beer, and be happy. What more could you want? read more

Always good food and a good time here. This time had the Fish and Chips, nice flakey fish, batter wasn't really all that, but would get it again. Beer list is definitely worth checking out, bottles and drafts. read more

Great beer selection and atmosphere but fair food. Unless you're really hungry, consider this a solid sportsbar with good beers. Waitstaff is delightful. Nice place for after work on sunny days. read more

I recommmend Phil's for lunch, outdoor eating, or happy hour hang out after work. For lunch, my favorite is their crawfish etoufee. Probably not the place you'd expect to order that kind of dish, but theirs is really good and you get delicious garlic bread with it too. At happy hour, they have good mixed drinks (they make a tasty margarita) plus 50 cent raw oysters. read more

The vibe is really cool and their drinks are always good. Can be a little pricey but free popcorn if you sit inside so... worth it.

When they say "Poor", they really mean it! WOW! Watch out for those prices! I realize seafood and beer can really add up but it was not worth the price we paid. Parking sucks in that part of downtown Oak Park but I love their outdoor patio which is great on a nice fall evening! They also had a great selection of craft beer. Had the hummus as app and it was very good and spicy which was unexpected. Crab legs were good but not amazing and not worth the price I paid for them. I will not be going back and hopefully I will be a little richer! read more

We totally love this place. The outside patio is really nice and the food is great. I've been here both with friends and family on numerous occasions and each find the food has been wonderful. Jambalaya, fried chicken breast sandwich, lobster roll, garlic & oil clams & New Orleans style shrimp (on the garlic & oil menu), tots, fries, fried shrimp, margaritas - all great. Huge beer selection and great service. read more

Oh, Poor Phil's. I've been holding off writing a review for so long because I can't quite put my finger on how I feel about this place. For one, it's a stone's throw from my apartment, so walking there at any point in the year is a total breeze. I think that's why I've even spent any time in here at all. And although the service ranges from awful to decent, and the food leaves much to be desired, the beer is always flowing and there's a decent enough selection that it makes this bar stand out among the rest in the area. My favorite part about this bar is the outdoor patio in the summer. You honestly can not beat it! It's located on a really sweet, quiet street in downtown Oak Park and in the few times I have taken my car, there's always plenty of parking. The thing I hate most about this bar? They never, ever, ever serve you the correct/proper glass with your beer. For instance, every single time I order a 312 they give me a glass that's a short water glass or orange juice glass at best. A bar worth it's salt will give you the proper glass the beer is meant to be served in to best enjoy the brew. All that aside, I've had many a fun night here. I've met friends here, hung out all hours of the night here, laughed here, shared stories, caught up with old friends, and had a generally awesome time with people I care about in this bar. I go back time and again because it's the neighborhood bar that I feel safe and comfortable being in after a long night or to kick-start a good night. If you're looking for exceptional service or good food, you'll be let down here. But if you're just looking to throw a few back with friends, you've come to the right place! read more