I used to really love this place but the food has been in steady decline. The last 4 times that I have been here, the food has been a problem. A "Seared Tuna" filet cooked well done and Crab claws that were rancid are just two of the recent disappointing experiences I have had lately. I had a lobster roll that was unimpressive. It wasn't bad, it just didn't seem like a sandwich worth $17. They have a lot of great craft beers, but it's almost all either very hoppy pale ales or stouts. I'd like to see some variety. Wheat beers or lagers, maybe? Poor Phil's could be brought back to it's former glory and I hope they do. read more

Did I order something wrong? 0 stars if I could. It's always packed in their outdoor seating during the summer, so I finally dropped by to try it out. First, they highly advertise soft shell crab..when I ordered, they were completely out..ok I'll order something else, out of that also..will settle for a buffalo chicken poor boy because nothing else looks appetizing. The bread, disgusting. It was like a soggy mess from the convenience store. My ginger ale tasted like sprite..both times. My fiances burger, tasteless but huge.. read more

I lived down the street from this place, so it gets an additional half a star for it's close proximity to my place of residence, but the rest it has earned on it's own. It is a warm and friendly bar that has some traditional bar fare. The Buffalo Chicken Po'Boy is quite delicious and the Murpheyburger, with all of it's toppings are a yummy, summer treat. However with the traditional, the New Orleans theme that it carries is absolutely appreciated as well. Coupled, with it's food, is it's amazing beer list. Though my husband is more of the beer consumer in our relationship, his happiness with the beer list is enough to keep us coming back over and over again. My only argument regarding the food is with the french fries. They tend to be less than crispy most of the time. However, they also have an abundance of side dish choices that make up for their less than stellar french fries, including some wonderful tater tots! It's location is also amazing--for a variety of reasons. Though there is currently some construction going on in the street, it still maintains some of the greatest outdoor dining that Oak Park has to offer. It also sits so near to the train that it makes it a perfect place to stop for a beer on your way home from downtown (which my husband and I have done from time to time). Truly, this place is a Cheers of Oak Park and I hope it stays as a staple near the downtown area for many years to come. read more

Snow crabs warm in butta- fantastic! Amazing beer selection, the clam chowder is to die for. I didn't love the lobster quesadilla- however the service has always been great- seat yourself & enjoy free popcorn.dont try t bring your dog- the patio looks dog friendly they put a water bowl out but that's a joke, they made my dog sit on the other side of the fence then drunk people kept trying to pet her. Otherwise I love this place! read more

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

Poor Phil's is always a spot we hit when we're in Oak Park. Today's diners? Myself and the one year old. They have an outdoor wraparound patio so that you can happily watch all of the goings on in the Pleasant District and the service has always been prompt. Staff are more than prepared to help accommodate families and bring high chairs and toddler cups without being asked. The seafood here has always been high quality (the shrimp are first to come to mind) and there's a diverse menu for all palettes. Some favorites: shrimp n suds, garlic snow crab legs and absolutely get a cup of gumbo at least. 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

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

If I don't get to Poor Phil's about once a week, I really start to miss it. It's goofy and overpriced, but I forgive a lot based on the seasonal beer list. Servers are generous with tastes of the draft beers. This is a real bonus when you're not sure you want to commit to a pint of something you've never tried.... And considering how often they change up the drafts, that happens fairly often. For a cheap, reliable dinner option, order a bowl of gumbo. The seared tuna salad is one of the best menu items. The double order of crab cakes makes a fine dinner. Burgers, fish and chips, that sort of stuff, all fine as well. The "cocktail sauce hour" is one of the better bargains in town, in a place that often seems more expensive than it should be. 50-cent raw oysters and boiled shrimp before 6:30 every night. This special isn't available year-round, so enjoy it while you can!! read more

Food was pretty good, was bothered that main dinning room was closed at 8:30 on a Friday. Bathroom for boys was disgusting with pee and water all over the floor. Serve had a great attitude. 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.

If I lived in OP for FOPO I would visit more often. Oak Park is the perfect halfway point between the city and the 'burbs to meet my suburban friends for dinner, so I chose Poor Phil's. I had the catfish Po'Boy which was good, but I felt like it lacked flavor. I wanted more. I ate the whole thing looking for more, just something. A splash more seasoning, or something. My friend had the lobster roll, and it was pretty good - VERY mayo-ey, but the dill shown through and it was delicious. I happen to love mayo.... I had the mac'n cheese - again, pretty flat, definitely get a different side. However - great beer list, and excellent service. read more

I only give this place 2 stars. If it weren't for the location(close to home) and for its people watching, I probably would have ever paid a visit here. The food is a-ok...nothing special. I've had their jumbalya, wings, chicken tenders, and some of this clam dish thing(?). Beer selection is good and the liquor drinks are not watered down. But, this place aint cheap. I mean c'mon, with the other bar/restaurants in the area you'd think poor little phil could be a little more competitive and have a drink or food special. I think this is only because of its location in Oak park that they can have those prices. They also seem to have alot of regulars that have probably been going there for years and dont care what the prices area. My friend put it nicely, she said "Why does it look like the people that come here look they just rolled out of their pajamas and walked right in??" I guess its the neighborhood feel. I've been here a handful of times and only because 2 out of the handful of times I've been here was because a friend of mine who works in the liquor industry was handing out free drinks. Whats up Phil? Not so poor are ya? read more

Why do I love Poor Phil's? Beer. I love beer...and you can get beer...LOTS of beer at Poor Phil's. Woe betide anyone who comes here and orders a Miller Lite when you have a selection of taps so various...they have to hang the extras from the ceiling. Food? It's good to be a regular at Poor Phil's. Why? Yes...their menu is expensive. But it's Oak Park...and I don't want to know what Dennis Murphy pays in rent on the only hotel "bar" in Oak Park. *shudder* So I forgive them the prices...and navagate the menu accordingly. The highlights? The Po'boy sandwiches. The sweet potato fries. The oysters...and "happy hour" specials. And their soup is quite good...if you go on lobster bisque night...you're in for a treat. One of my standard orders is the "appetizer" mussels with an extra side-order of garlic bread. Dipping the bread in the garlicy mussel juice is fantabulous!! (And you can skip the redskins and corn that comes with the dinner order of mussels...) I'm rather fond of their Murphyburger...being old enough to remember when the owners had "Murphys Off The Mall" on the other end of Marion Street. It's still the Murphyburger I remember from my childhood. I'm not a crab leg person...but I see enough crab legs flying around the place...they have to be good. Why take off a star? Some of it is the price. The BEER prices are a little steep considering it's the main draw...and that the food prices are also steep. Also...avoid their desserts...unless you're getting ice cream. Most of them are bo-ring....and wouldn't you rather save those calories for more beer? (But the ice cream they serve is Petersen's...which is very good.) Service on Thursday through Saturday can be hit or miss. Be forewarned. If they get crowded...and they GET CROWDED on the weekends (which start on Thursday night in Oak Park) you may have a hard time squeezing into the main room. Or have to wait for a table outside. Also...people come here with their kids before 9pm...I realize it's Oak Park...and our village is kid friendly...but honestly...I'd appreciate a little 21 and over policy in the main room after 9pm so I don't have to drink beer with kids who are being kept up way past their bedtime. I've had to ask my server to move me a few times when kiddies started impeding my enjoyment of my adult beverage....and considering how busy they can get...you'll get a long sigh from your server as they scramble to find you another table. (Oak Park parents...I'm not paying $7 a beer to listen to your kids scream for their Pokemon cards...buy a six-back of Duvel at Binny's and take your little screamers home.) It's not Poor Phil's fault per-se...but I've never seen them ask parents with unruly children to take them to chill out...and occasionally it's been sorely needed. read more

If you like oysters, Poor Phil's has great happy hour pricing. I think the oyster special is 50 cent oysters from 3-7 pm on weekdays. My one complaint is that the horseradish is WEAK!! It has little or no flavor and is very wattery. So if you're like me and want your horseradish to wake you up and clear your nasal passage, then I suggest you bring your own. They also have a large beer selection. It's a fairly small place and can get pretty crowded during peak hours. read more

I thank God every day that I live so close to the beer selection at Poor Phil's. I always start out with whatever the cask ale is because it's amazing every time--this gives me something to sip while I make my next selection. The beer list is manageable: not pages long--probably about 20 or so beers on draft, more in bottles. My experiences with the food have made me grateful for the beer selection, so I just stick with the sweet potato fries (which are actually quite good). I recently moved to IL from Florida, and I'm a bit nervous to try the midwest seafood, so I haven't given the shrimp or oysters a chance just yet...but they do look tasty as I've seen them travel by me on trays. read more

Os the customer service here sucks. Besides the fact that I found a piece of hair in my food, I also waited an hour before I was attended to while dining in. I can't tell you how the food was because it had a hair follicle in it but I can tell you the customer service sucks! The waiters and waitresses disappear for long periods of time without checking up on you. And the hostess just stand there and talk. I tried waving down the hostess to get my bill and they just looked at me and kept talking. Needless to say, I'm good luv, enjoy! Won't be back! read more

Sweet potato fries are awesome. Attentive wait staff.. kept refilling my coffee! Outside dining!

I become a bigger fan of Poor Phil's every time I go. Wait staff is always top notch - food is always good - beer is always cold and the crowd is diverse. read more

I could eat here every weekend. Wait I did do that for years. Great ownership. Historical relationship with the town and community. Ousters, beer, fish repeat. Love it read more

It has been a long time since we were in here. This time we came in with the twins in tow and were able to score a booth in the back during the busy dinner rush. Our server was fantastic - he was super busy and kept apologizing for the delay, but once we ordered, there really was no major wait. I was able to have a Totally Roasted Cider, which I was thrilled about since Binny's sold out of it when I last went there to pick it up. We had fried oysters and some more fried fish and the girls ate little bits of the meat. While the quality of the food is just average, it is the service that makes the experience worth the $75 price tag. read more

My bff and I came here on St. Patrick's day, we had an awesome time and left soooooo tipsy. Zack (HEY ZACK), our bartender/new bff/server was great. we I had the garlic clams and my bff had a shrimp dish, I forgot the name. Our food was great. also complimentary popcorn. its about 8 minutes from my bff's house, so we will definitely be back. read more

This place is where you go when you've had a long day and just need to unwind. The wait staff is great and the food definitely satisfies after a few cocktails . It's nothing fancy but again it's great for what it is! read more

Poor Phil's is an Oak Park staple. Great beer (and lots of it), good seafood, and free popcorn. You'll be sure to find a beer you haven't tried before. The service isn't always the best, but I chalk that up to how busy they get. I recommend the catfish Po' Boy with some tots. read more

Used to visit this place weekly. With the new management, filthy bar, and an interior that needs serious updating, it's not really even fit for beers anymore. The last time I ate there the food was so overcooked that when I asked to have a replacement they looked at me like I was crazy. The person I was with actually got food that was raw. I believe that somewhere along the line management thought they could swap out staff and food quality and not maintain the place and everyone would keep going there. A word of advice - even if you are sitting outside, the food and drink has to come from inside. Go inside and take a look for yourself. read more

They've got my favorite beer on tap: Guinness and Boddingtons. Kudos! I'm not crazy about oyster but after trying their sampler a few times I think I'm starting to like it. Burgers are among the better ones I've had. Bottomline: if the waiter asks "how would you like it cooked?" you'll know you're in for some seriously stacked meat, vege and buns. read more

Really fun, vibrant atmosphere. Great specials. Extensive beer list, plus great girly drinks like frozen margaritas and daiquiris. Food is Cajun goodness. I really like their caddy boy sandwich. This is blackened catfish on a thick hearty Italian bun with a sauce that gives the sandwich a bit of a kick, but not too much of one at the same time. I also really like their jambalaya. This is made with New Orleans spice that is very delicious. Also, ladies please check out the artwork in the women's bathroom. It's a lot of fun I promise, but you have to see it for yourself. All in all I've always had good food, great drinks, decent service, and marvelous times. In my mind you can't go wrong with this place. read more

Here is a place a bit away from the banal touristy areas of Oak Park. It is a neighborhood restaurant and bar known for decades as a cool hangout. Oysters? Sandwich instead? Lots of food choices and a sh*t ton of beer selections. read more

Service is always great (Jeremy is always there and we mostly sit in his section). Food is good, we have had breakfast and lunch there. Desert is pretty good too. We love to sit outside in the warmer months, and you can also bring your dog if you'd like to sit outside. read more

Why do I love it here? Because the game may be on, but there's still music, so I don't have the constant "noise of the crowd" in my ear. Because their drink menu is extensive, and makes me wish I actually loved beer. Because their chili, gumbo, muffaletta, and fried shrimp basket are all *tops*. Bonus points for that patio, during warm-weather time. Love it! read more

I'd give them 3.5 stars if I could. As mentioned in other reviews, service can be spotty. I'm a vegetarian so I can't say how the seafood is, but my hubby and friends seem to like it. They do offer a veggie burger and you can get one of the pastas sans-shrimp. It's a great place to hang out, especially if you can sit outside on a nice day. Great beer list! read more

Well let's state the obvious, great beer selection. They even brag about it on their shirts. Came here to watch two of the World Cup games in the summer so the place was pretty crowded but had a good time cheering on the USMNT with everyone. I really enjoyed the "CrawDaddy" Etouffee and I'm comparing against etouffee from NOLA. The prices are a bit high, but that's Oak Park I suppose. Nice outdoor seating for the summer months. read more

This place is only a few blocks from my house, but its convenient location isn't enough to overcome the mediocre food, weird cocktail menu and schizophrenic atmosphere. Is it a restaurant? I hope not, because the food is not great. The place reeks of grease (poor fryer ventilation?) and most items taste heavy and bland. Is it a bar? I give them an A for effort on the cocktail menu, but more than a few of their drinks are just straight-up BAD. Like, undrinkable. The lighting inside is pretty bright, even by restaurant standards; if you're there to drink, you have that squinty, cringe-inducing, they-just-turned-on-the-lights-after-last-call-and-everyone-is-way-uglier-than-I-thought feeling the whole time. What's with the iMacs at the bar? I just don't get it. The outdoor seating is nice but hardly unique in Oak Park. The one truly redeeming factor: free popcorn. read more

This is a 5-star watering hole with a decent menu and a spectacular draft collection. The surroundings are warm and cozy, the staff friendly, and the service quite prompt. I am ranking it "as good as it gets" (5-stars) because truly it is as good as it gets in Oak Park. The bar area is definitely the heart-and-soul of Poor Phil's. An overflow room is available, during busy days, across the hallway at the ground floor of the hotel where this bar is located. Down the hallway you can also find Berkeley's, the hotel's formal restaurant formerly known as Philander's. Poor Phil's menu is standard pub with a seafood twist with a twist: they'd serve catfish pooboy but no oyster pooboy. Cmon fellas! With all the oil in the Gulf these days, them oysters are self-igniting already. Fry them! Fried sweet potatoes are good as are the salads -- well, by salads here I mean a big serving of fried fish topped by a bit of chopped lettuce. My kind of salad. For healthier eaters, you can replace the fish with tomatoes and cucumbers! Poor Phil's now carries Goose Island's belgian-style ales -- bottles for now. Pere-Jacques is quite decent, reminiscent of Kwak. read more

I grew up just a couple blocks from Phil's. This isnt somewhere my parents would go so i had to learn about him all on my own. I don't frequent, but when i do go i always enjoy myself. Oysters, clams, po'boys, good beer, friendly faces. No complaints. Great burgers too. It can be a bit pricey, but that is to be expected (Oak Park, blah). The outdoor patio is a great place to relax on a hot summer evening. Another reason i enjoy Poor Phil's is there is usually a bit of an older crowd. You aren't gonna find a group of 21 year olds going shot for shot (or at least ive never seen it there). Great Oak Park Pub. Its been there a long time, so they must be doing something right!! read more

Cozy bar on a quiet street in Oak Park where I often go for a few drinks with colleagues after work. The beer selection is awesome and includes Guinness and a changing tap menu. There's a pretty good variety of food here with a regular bar-food, seafood, and some cajun dishes on the menu. The food is good but by no means great. I love cajun food and have spent a lot of time in Louisiana. Poor Phil's cajun food just doesn't do it for me. There's a lack of spiciness and flavor. The sea food is better. They specialize in crab claws, crab legs, and soft shell crab. There are also a couple of lobster dishes on the menu. My favorite dish is the seasonal Soft Shelled Crab. The Garlic Snow Crab Claw appetizer is also really good, just don't get this when on a date! I do not recommend the new Lobster Quesadilla's. Pieces of nondescript lobster with no lobster flavor in a tasteless cheese and wrapper. This is a great place to go for great drinks and good apps. Just don't expect any culinary surprises. read more

Updated review. Poor Phil's still has the very best beer (bottles, draft, and hand pull) of any bar in the near western suburbs. It's a nice bar in general. But their food just seems to only get worse. PROS: Really, really great beer list. Poor Phil's always has great beer on tap, with very few duds. Draft selections include beers not widely available, such as exclusives from regional brewers, rare imports, and local special editions from smaller brew labels that don't widely distribute. There is also a great bottle list, and usually at least one good beer on cask. The atmosphere at Poor Phil's is always just right for a bar of this type. Very friendly bar and waitstaff. Overhead TV's are viewable from any angle, but not intrusive. Outdoor seating is a lot of fun in the summertime. Very few places around to drink quality beer outdoors in the area. CONS: I just don't understand how the food continues to keep getting worse. Recently, even the fish and chips (normally a safe bet) has taken a dive. I ordered some tonight, and was horrified by what I was served: giant lumps of what at first appeared to be fried chicken patties -- but inside was fish that was soggy and disgusting. My guess is that this was frozen fish not properly defrosted before frying. The 6 oysters we were served tonight were $38 (over half our bill), and tasted bit rank. Burgers here are OK, but uninspiring. Fries are really dull. The jambalaya (at least last I checked) was still good, but I'm not sure I'd order anything else here anymore. Do check this place out for its fine beer and fun outdoor patio. Seriously though, consider eating dinner somewhere else before coming here. read more

This place is definitelyy worth a stop if you are in the area and in need of a cold one! Very cozy - the bar area is decorated with lots of Guiness and other beer posters and mirrors, wood tables and wood bar. There is also a dining room but we were there for beer and apps only and were very comfortable there. They have a great selection of domestic, English, Belgian and German beers on tap and in bottles and the prices are pretty reasonable. I had a 22 oz Hacker Schorr for $6.50 and hubby had a Belgian Maudite for $6. They also bring a basket of popcorn to munch on. The "shrimp cocktail hour" appetizer special (2:30 to 6:30 p.m.) is a great deal. Large shrimp served with a spicy cocktail sauce for 50 cents each. A dozen shrimp between us went down really well with our cold beers. They also have the same deal for oysters if you are a fan. read more

Stopped here with some family after a wake this past month. So needless to say, we weren't looking for anything special, just a place to escape to. The place is pretty cute and has a ton of beers on tap. I'm not very adventurous with my beer considering everytime I try a new one, I don't like it. But still, impressive selection. The place was pretty crowded for a Monday night, and I still wonder why that was. We just had a few drinks and weren't eating. Not that anyone cared, literally. We got a table right in front of the bar and the servers must have ran past us about 10 times. Too bad for them since they could have made money off my waitress-friendly family. The menu does look enticing so I will say that I would go back if I was in the area. I will just expect to be ignored like the last time we were there. read more

I can't complain about this place at all. A group of us went there on a Friday for late lunch. Not crowded at all. Complimentary popcorn tasted great and did a good job holding me over until food came. Service was good. Very friendly and fast to please. It's not bad either when you have good eye candy (never caught his name but a good lookin' guy with a cap on). Food was very filling and delicious. I ordered the blue burger (which was HUGE). They have oyster specials at .50 cents a piece after 2:30 pm. I have to admit, they looked good. My friend had them and said the house oysters were great. Not too pricey. In a nice neighborhood and parking was easy to find. Overall, good place to dine with friends. read more

Poor phils was great!!! The staff was great, he atmosphere was great n they Even had free popcorn. We ordered the white wine mussel app. Which was 1 lb of mussels!! We also enjoyed the delicious lobster quesadillas. We will def. be back!!!! read more