RJ Grunts really said come hungry, leave obsessed Legendary burgers Chili cheese fries "Cookies in a bowl" part 2 (aka warm cinnamon cookie + ice cream + caramel heaven) Every single bite was TO. DIE. FOR. Like the kind of meal where you keep saying "okay one more bite" and suddenly your plate is gone We went all in -- juicy, perfectly cooked burgers, a mountain of crispy fries, and chili cheese fries that deserve their own moment (cheesy, saucy, messy in the best way). And then the dessert... "cookies in a bowl" PART 2 warm cinnamon cookie + melty ice cream + caramel = immediate obsession. But it's not just the food. The service is always amazing, the vibe is effortlessly chill, and it's perfect for anything -- date night, family time, or just a good meal out. And the menu?? The coolest. We leave every time saying "that was SO good" and already planning our next visit But let's be real... the last photo definitely stole the show read more

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This restaurant is what began the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group. I'm surprised I've never been here or even heard about it, especially with it being in such a popular area of Lincoln Park right across from the zoo and conservatory. I loved the vibe and decor in here. I also loved the menu design, although it is a bit chaotic to read. It was super crowded in here at around 4pm on a Saturday and it felt like they really had us stuffed in there with the tables super close to each other. The service and food were average. I tried the french onion soup and that was really good! I ordered the buffalo chicken tenders and I didn't like that they just drizzled the buffalo sauce over the tenders. Either drench them in buffalo sauce or just don't put any on and let me dip them in myself lol. I don't think they were worth the $18 price either. They tasted okay and the fries were meh (even though they charge extra for fries, there was nothing special about them). Maybe I'd come back to try their milkshakes and get the french onion soup again. My sisters got cheeseburgers and liked them, which is what they are known for apparently. They're also known for their house-made potato chips, which were pretty interesting and super crunchy. read more

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We had a great lunch at RJ Grunts after spending time exploring the Lincoln Park Zoo. My daughter highly recommended it. We sat at the bar and began with a couple of beers. I chose the Grunt Burger, which was amazing, with blue cheese and onion straws. My friend had the Mr Chicken sandwich, which was finely cut chicken breast that he said was delicious. We both chose the fries. Cool retro decor and old school music. We really enjoyed it, and I'd highly recommend a visit! read more

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Ambiance - intimate, cozy, offers bar Service - our server was super nice, loved that they timed the burgers to come out at same time Food - Bacon Cheddarburger was slightly too dry even though I ordered medium rare, also lacking in some kind of sauce read more

RJ Grunts - Bacon Cheddarburger - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Called about the status of an order (May 5th around 12:20) and the girl that answered the phone was very short with me and rude even though I was very cordial. She hung up the phone loudly before I even got a chance to reply. 2 stars instead of 1 because this isn't the restaurant's fault necessarily but they definitely need to train their employees better. read more

Have loved this restaurant consistently since a teenager when my sister worked herself through college waitressing here. Everything Delicious food, Ambiance and service have remained wonderfully c throughout the years and the music is the Best!! Love the close proximity to the zoo and especially love a nice lengthy lakefront walk from Fullerton to the Pier, after lunch. Salmon, Kale salad and French onion soup are my favs, but the nachos and burgers make my husband very happy! read more

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Our server was Ryan. He was on point. Excellent service. Food is always on point! I love their French dip sandwich with their horseradish sauce. The atmosphere, fun music and food were all perfect! read more

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What a wonderful little gem! We decided to give their happy hour a try and while we were there, we tried their burger and tuna melt. The happy hour was amazing. All the drinks on the happy hour menu are five dollars, and they were very well made. Our server, Jill, was so friendly and attentive; she checked on us frequently and always with a big smile Thank you, Jill... it was a wonderful experience and we can't wait to return soon! read more

RJ Grunts - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What a great little place to grab lunch. We found this place by accident and happy we did. Menu is huge and service was friendly and quick. Fun fact: instead of celebrities, pictures on the wall are employees. Definitely worth a stop if your in LP area read more

Unbeatable Happy Hour deal! All of their signature cocktails are $5. They do not allow modifications to the drinks, and you can't just get classic vodka soda. No food on HH menu. Less of a positive experience with their food, the fries were stringy, and soggy. 1/5 My friend said her Chili was good, but it was a bit cold. Lovely bar ambiance and vibe, fun decorations. Service was fine! read more

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Solid! For those not from the Chicago area, like myself, this is a must-visit. It is within walking distance from the zoo. My friends and I ended up stopping in just for a quick drink and everyone was super satisfied! A cider, margarita, amaretto sour, and cosmo were ordered. All great! The interior is so cool, lot's of old photographs and unique decor to gander at while you eat/drink. In the future I'd love to come back for a burger. I was EYEING the table by me's spread of them. Looks killer. read more

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We stopped into R.J. Grunts for happy hour and had such a great experience. The drinks were really well priced, which was a nice surprise for the area. The vibe inside was warm, cozy, and very Christmassy, honestly the perfect place to go right after visiting the Christmas lights at Lincoln Park Zoo, especially since it's right across the street. For food, we got the Grunt Burger, which was really good, and the buffalo chicken wings, which were delicious with great flavor. We also tried their signature chips, and even though I'm not usually a chips person, these were surprisingly amazing, super fresh and addictive. Service was fast and very friendly, which just made the whole experience even better. Overall, a great spot for happy hour, especially during the holidays. We'll definitely be back! read more

For a burger and brunch place this was great. This place has a "local" feel. I had an old school vibe. We got there around 11 on a Saturday and they were serving brunch items and their regular menu. I tried the Belgium waffles with a side of bacon. The waffles were great and the bacon were thick cut slabs of goodness. My son got a cheeseburger with fries, pretty standard but he enjoyed it. We also shared a fudge sundae. It wasn't the best ever, but still hit the spot. I would definitely recommend this place. It's within walking distance from the Lincoln Zoo. read more

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Located near Lincoln Park Zoo, this neighborhood favorite is cozy and vintage with past waitstaff members posted on the wall. The menu descriptions are very descriptive and the portion for fries are huge. The sandwiches, shakes, and chili are legendary. It's extremely busy and yet you can find a table. The chandeliers give the place a splash of class. Staff was not wearing masks. The rest rooms are gender neutral. Parking nearby can be an issue. The special Thanksgiving sandwich was delicious with moist turkey, cranberry sauce, and tasty gravy. read more

RJ Grunts - Time for dinner - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We stopped by RJ Grunts on a whim before heading to the lake to see the beavers, and it was the perfect pre-adventure meal. The place has this great vibe overall and nothing short of big character. The menu is like a safari hunt. It feels like flipping through a diner-themed Where's Waldo book. It's packed with personality, and finding what you want is half the fun. Once you do, though, the food hits every time. Overall, it's a great place for a drink and comfort food. Just try to go on the weekday before it gets too crowded! -AD read more

RJ Grunts - Tuna Sandwich - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Finally stopped by RJ Grunts. The place is very functional they have pictures of their past waiters/waitresses on the walls. We went with: - Cup of chili - Smash Burger - Buffalo Chicken Wrap The chili was warming on a cold windy day. While the Buffalo Chicken Wrap was surprisingly light. Not the best burger in the city but still was very good, it was a special so not on the menu. read more

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R.J. has the best salads in Chicago! They have a number of toppings to pick from, and they chop them all up for you. Their Thursday-Saturday night late night happy hour is a great deal. Service is always friendly, though always on the move as they're usually busy. It has a fun casual vibe that you don't often get in the city. Definitely check it out for salad and happy hour read more

RJ Grunts is infamously known for its late night happy hour and diy chopped salad! The happy hour is pretty great. It's Thursday through Saturday from 8 to 10 PM and it's very rare that you can find a late night happy hour so love that! They have really good deals on drinks! The chopped salad is a fun feature of the restaurant because they give you a little menu where you can select everything you want in your salad. It's very interactive and fun. That said, I would recommend reservations for this place especially on weekend nights it can fill up pretty quickly. read more

RJ Grunts - Sweet potato fries, fried pickles, and chopped salad - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is and has always been solid. If you want a typical American meal come here. It's just good. I got a patty melt and the patty's were thick and juicy burgers. It came with fries or homemade chips, which in this economy is getting less and less of a thing. We also ordered onion rings which were delicious. All in all the food is great. I'm taking away one star because they murdered their salad bar and replaced it with a salad survey which is both not as fun, less historic, and has worse options. But I get it. All in all definitely come here, it's such a good option when you go to the zoo. Also, they take reservations now, which is a huge deal! read more

All the food was very very good! Chili was super flavorful with a good amount of spice. Pickle fries were delicious! It was quite busy, so there was a little bit of a wait to get seated & to get our food but I would go back again! read more

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Food is not bad but pricey for small portions. Look at the tuna that was included in my tuna melt for $16. read more

RJ Grunts - Tuna melt - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is the place to go after visiting the zoo. It is practically across the street and is one of the few options within walking distance. Get one of the milkshakes and a burger and you won't be disappointed. Be warned that the place is tiny so the booths and aisles are quite cramped. read more

RJ Grunts - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am an RJ Grunts fan since childhood. It was my mom's favorite restaurant as she was a salad bar aficionado. I had not visited in a number of years and saw upon arrival that the salad bar is now gone, although you can place an order from a list on your table. Another thing to know is that large parties are difficult to sit together. There is a very cozy booth for 6, otherwise it's multiple tables. I have always been happy with everything I ordered. This time I had a burger and it was cooked perfectly. And the house made chips are always the best. A Chicago staple and a great location to include when visiting Lincoln Park, the Zoo and or the Historical museum. read more

Sooo hit or miss. Drinks are reasonable but their food is so overpriced. but these chicken tenders for nearly $20 are a huge miss read more

RJ Grunts - Chicken Tenders - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We love this place as a family although we go rarely because it is not near us. The service is always SO kind and welcoming. My kids are big fans of the menu including my big kid who loves the chopped salad bar selection. Just a great casual table service spot! read more

It was my first time in and it is adorable inside. Old time photos and chandeliers. Small bar with tvs with the cubs on! We had onion rings, classic cheeseburgers and vanilla shake. All were outstanding. Was afraid this place was going to be a disappointment but it's a classic that is still vibing! read more

RJ Grunts - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been going here for over 20 years and the good is delicious. The homemade French onion soup is absolutely the best.

I ordered a California wrap, fried pickle chips, a cup of broccoli cheddar soup, and two Sprites. Everything came fresh and packaged perfectly. The Cali wrap was hands down the star, it was super flavorful, fresh, and those homemade chips on the side? Literally addicting. The pickle chips had the perfect crunch, and the soup was cozy and cheesy in the best way. Delivery was smooth and quick too. Definitely adding this to my go-to comfort food spots in Lakeview. read more

Enjoyed the atmosphere - quirky, friendly pub. French onion soup and burger were both delicious. Can't wait to come again.

No reservation, but thought we'd try to get a table on a Friday night at 5:30pm. Greeted by host, who asked how many. Told her 2 and she responded very short with, "ok, we have a table, but need it back in an hour". Never experienced that before. Wow! Luckily our waitress was great and said not to worry abt that. We ordered chili and onion soup to start followed by a build your own salad. Salad was large, could have shared between us. Great options for salad. Good service by waitress. Host should go to hospitality school. read more

RJ Grunts - Table number and QR - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great little spot! Very cool vibe, lots of artwork, big space! Food was brought out in 3 minutes after we ordered. I got a spicy bloody. This was great. You only get garnishes and rim during brunch hours. We got the California wrap with sweet potato fries and the buffalo wings. The wrap was great! Everything was very fresh! Fries were eh. The wings were good, nothing special but tasted good! read more

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Best happy hour and popping even on a Thursday night! Bar staff were very friendly and sweet potato fries were really crispy! Highly recommend! read more

Quick stop while walking to the Navy Pier! Personable atmosphere and bar person. Drinks are cold and delicious. Beautiful place and a pure staple in the Chicago area. Loved it! This place have so much personality even reading the menu was great. Every dish explained via menu and funny. read more

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RJ Grunts is a hidden gem in Lincoln Park for us visitors but it seems like a neighborhood staple for the regulars. I was introduced to RJ Grunts via a friend when we decided to check out RJ Grunts for a late lunch. When I first arrived it was fairly empty so my friend and I were able to easily grab a stool at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and a skilled drink maker. He grabbed our order very fast and handled any customization with ease. They have a solid burger! It's hard to come to RJ Grunts especially if it came highly recommended and not try one of the burgers. I ordered the bacon cheddarburger with grilled onions added to the top. I opted for french fries but when my order first arrived I was given housemade chips which didn't have a lot of flavor and tasted old. I was quickly brought out my fries which tasted fresh. Unfortunately as it got closer to happy hour and early dinner time a crowd of people came through. It instantly got packed so it became harder to get his attention. I would highly recommend sitting at a table if you want to get more consistent service. I had a blast during my visit and cannot wait to visit again! read more

I came here with a group of friends when one of them visited from out of town. RJ Grunts is popular and I had only been once before. I was excited to try it again. I got a hamburger and fries and it was okay. Their salad bar seems impressive and I wish it came with the option to make those customizable salads as a side salad. Everyone liked their meals and said their milkshakes were good. I would definitely come back and try something new but I felt underwhelmed at our experience, especially since RJ Grunts is such a staple in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. read more

This spot has been on my radar for so long. This restaurant has a Saturday night (8pm to 10pm) Happy Hour. Woot Woot. The Happy Hour covers the whole establishment, so you don't have to sit in the bar to get the special. Btw the bar is super tiny. Anyway, we put our name on the list for a table. We were sat in under 5 minutes. In all honesty we were just coming for the $5 cocktails. Had I knew that we could sat down and ate, we would of gotten food. By the time we got here, we were already tipsy and fed. For drinks we I decided on the Malbec ($5 bucks) and my husband got the Old Fashion ($5 buckaroos). Decided to get dessert and one more drink before ending our night. I would come back here or another late moght happy hour. Everyone was super friendly and the atmosphere was old school. read more

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I went for lunch with two friends. Their first time, I haven't been there in decades (literally). My friends are European and they aren't quite used to the sort of ambiance that RJ Grunts has (the pictures, the tchotchkes on the wall, the on-point music). They loved it all, and I started things off by ordering some fried pickles. HUGE hit, we ate them quickly. They needed time to digest the menu itself (the discussion about the different kinds of burgers took about 15 minutes). Another thing that amazed them: you can ask for extra cheese! And GET EXTRA CHEESE! We all ordered burgers and everyone was too full to finish their fries. The service was fast and friendly, and they were all too happy to help explain different things to my friends. A great place to go after enjoying time in Lincoln Park! read more

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We did a quick stop at R.J Grunts while we were in the area waiting for another reservation and ended up being surprisingly pleased. The drinks were good. The chili cheese fries were great and well seasoned. Nice vintage style environment. Great & Fast service. I would definitely come back. read more

RJ Grunts - Margarita with tajin rim - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped in after Zoo Lights on a very crowded Monday night. We were lucky to get seated at the bar. The bartender (sorry I didn't get her name) was exceptional. She was personable, efficient and quite talented. She had great command over her bar space and kept the room happy. She was fun to watch with her drink making skills. There's quite a few cocktails on the menu listed at $10 including an old fashion. I opted for a Manhattan (less sugar and less sweet) and though it wasn't listed on the menu and I didn't ask the cost, I was a little surprised to find out it was $16 with house alcohol when most other drinks were only $10. It was a great drink but price was high for what it was. The house marg at $10 was fantastic. Since we were sitting at the bar, we went kind of light on food. But I was certainly quite happy. The chili is hands-down one of the best bowls that I've ever had. I can't really describe the flavor and spice, but it was incredible. I would go back just for that! The side of fries was a huge basket and very tasty. Hubby got the triple decker club which he loved. Overall, RJ Grunts has held the test of time (I think it's been there for 30+ years so that says something). Great service. Great food. Great ambiance. read more

RJ Grunts - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Have not been here since pre-pandemic days and will probably not go back until another pandemic passes. While the food is tasty having to wait over an hour to get it when it was nothing fancy, was so not worth it We had a hungry crying 2 year old with us which should have speeded up the service Disappointed read more