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    Small Bar

    4.2 (383 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Burgers
    Closed 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Small Bar Photos

    Business Info

    SMALL BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Small Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Cheese curds
    Kaitlyn W.

    Yes the bar is small but they have an above average-sized patio in the back with TV's set up so def visit while the weather's still nice. Accidentally sat right in front of the TV w my beer like the gaslighter I am. Food is courtesy of Patty pleaser. Great beers on tap. What we got: 1. The Pleaser (double) - Griddled onions, American cheese, pleaser sauce, pickles on a potato bun. Charred to the gods. You have the option of getting a single or a double 2. Cheese Curds - served with jalapeño ranch

    Cocktail menu
    Juliana R.

    Great neighborhood bar! I would love to come back for the food as the burgers looked, and smelled, delicious! Drinks came out fast, bartenders were helpful, and everything tasted great. The back patio was a great space to drink even when it was cold outside. Cute decoration for the holidays and a nice cozy feel all around.

    The vibe on an early Tues eve

    Charming neighborhood bar with a solid vibe. We walked in for the first time and felt right at home. Workers were very welcoming. Cannot go wrong with the smash burger selection. Made with pride by the staff. Excellent selection of beverages. Nice little outdoor patio for the warmer months too. A feel good place in a dying breed format.

    Rozalynn B.

    Really good!!!! This smash burger was BOMB!!!! We have been trying to get here for like 3-4,months and finally dropped by. We were seated in a booth and ordered at the bar. The food came in 10mins and it was PIPING HOT. Baby they know what theyre doing in here! Perfect smash. Decent service. The drinks were $12 each and they were tiny, but taste good. I shall return!

    Frozen Banana Daiquiri
    Christopher V.

    I'm a bit conflicted about my star rating for Small Bar. The service is really friendly and they have exceptional smashburgers. The fries and cheese curds are great too. Food prices are reasonable. My issue is with the pours on the drinks. The $12 drinks are deceiving. At first glance one might think is a great deal though the glasses and pours are at least 1/3 smaller than average. It's like an intentional optical illusion, lol. Maybe there's a triple entendra at play between the literal small bar, cups/pours, and seating options. The Old Fashioned might be less than than 3 oz. After a burger, fries, curds, and a couple drinks don't be surprised if you're set back $80!! All in all still worthy of 4 stars.

    The Pleaser Fries ($10)
    Kaitlyn C.

    This spot is great for both food and drinks. It's in a very nice area as part of the neighborhood. The food is delicious as that's why we came here after grabbing some drinks after work. The food did not disappoint. The burger was delicious with the cheese and sauce. The pleaser fries had a lot going on but I was very impressed with how crispy the fries remained even with all the toppings. After awhile, the sauce and meat became a lot but those first few bites were delicious. I think next time, I would get the fries and sauce on the side but I loved how crispy the fries were. I highly recommend coming here whether if it's for food or drinks. You can't go wrong either way.

    Smash Smallbar Cheeseburger
    Natasha A.

    Delicious burger, fun drinks, cool vibe. The burger is a smash, I got one with onions smashed into it. It has a great crisp and some delicious flavor. Overall one of the top 5 best Smash Burgers in Chicago. We got French fries and cheese curds, the fries were shoe string and crispy in the right way. The curds were less cheesy than I wanted but good crispy shell. They also had frozen banana daiquiris which were so tasty, a great beer, and liquor menu. The staff are fun, welcoming, chill. Definitely not kid friendly but it does have a bunch of Xmas decor which is cute.

    Matthew H.

    I can't speak for the bar itself as someone else went inside but they mentioned great drink deals and a laid back vibe. What I can speak on is how damn delicious those patty pleaser burgers are. These guys were slinging out burgers like no tomorrow and after about 45 mins of them grinding mine came out and it was absolutely rocking. Hot, fresh, and well seasoned. Well worth a visit for the burger and a beer and maybe a shot while you wait.

    Ari L.

    Burger was burnt today and it didn't taste as good as last time. Think I'd rather go to Leavitt Street. Their smash burger beats Small Bars. Still like this spot and they have great cheese curds, but the burger left me dissatisfied today.

    Classic Smashburger
    Brian D.

    This place is aptly named Small Bar. But what's inside is anything but small on taste, service, or ambiance. From the Hamm's sign as you enter, to the orange glow of the bar, to the dartboard stuck in the back corner, it's a step back in time to a place that your parents hung out at. It was packed when we arrived on a Tuesday night so we found a spot to stand along the wall while we waited for a booth or a bar spot to open. They eventually did about an hour later. Went with the classic smash burger and cheese curds with the jalapeno ranch dipping sauce. Everything was A+ and we were so impressed we got the Pleaser burger to-go to split as a late night snack. This place is fantastic, I don't even have any recommendations to make it better. Keep it up Small Bar!

    Smallbar Cheeseburger
    Aleah H.

    We've been making our way through the classic "best Chicago burger" lists, and Small Bar is the first to blow me away!! So crispy and flavorful! And the sauces they offer are also 10/10 Cocktails are fun bar cocktails, and the fries and cheese curds also exceeded expectations! We weren't able to get a patio table on a weeknight at 8:30pm, but grabbed an indoor table after ordering while waiting for food. Service was also amazing - Bartenders and wait staff were super kind and gave recs!! Perfect dive bar!

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    Cobblestone - Chicago

    Cobblestone - Chicago

    4.3
    (69 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    With a hungry group coming from a street festival to celebrate a birthday! Our targeted dining…read moredestination had a two hour wait, so thankfully we are in a neighborhood that has options. Enter Cobblestone sight unseen. We did not have to re-park the car and were a stones throw away. It was a perfect night to sit outside but there was a wait, so inside we go! The menu is skinny! They had already sold out of the mussels by the time we arrived, so it was even skinnier! Everyone seemed pleased with their drink and food choices. They had a $10 sausage plate special that I thought would be ideal for an appetizer and it was. The shaved brussels salad was gorgeous, generous, delicious and filling. The sausage platter did not disappoint. My wife really enjoyed the duck raghu and the rest of the gang liked their burgers and fish and chips. Stand out drink of the evening was "spill the tea!" We will be back!

    Went here for NYE. I was really disappointed by the food. It has good reviews and a friend had been…read moreand liked it. I got the pre fixe menu. The pickled deviled eggs were tasty. It was not an "Amuse bouche" which is a single bite item, it was much more but I'm not complaining about that! The appetizer was grilled octopus over sweet potato mash. I learned that day that sweet and grilled octopus is not a good mix. It was nearly gross. I picked the octopus up and tried to brush off as much of the sweet potatoes and possible. The octopus tasted good but was over cooked. My main was the branzino. It was charred to a crisp and full of bones. It did not taste good and was extremely difficult to eat. I did not taste the German chocolate cake for dessert but was told it was dry and people barely touched it. My husband and others are our table got short rib goulash, which was served like a steak with gravy. It wasn't tender like short rib should be. He said the flavor was good at least. Someone got the fish and chips and said it was flavorless. Someone else got the burger and said it was also charred and over cooked. Over all, pretty disappointed. Cute place with decent service. Hopefully this was just an off night.

    Photos
    Back patio
    Back patio
    Hangover Hash
    Hangover Hash
    Crab Tartare

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    Crab Tartare
    Apero

    Apero

    4.6
    (35 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Stopped into this wine bar on a rainy Sunday right when they opened with five of my friends. They…read morewere able to seat us immediately in the spacious corner booth. The ambiance is really nice without feeling too "stuffy". Bar was gorgeous and service was friendly and helpful, allowing my boyfriend to sample some wines before going in on some bottles. Prices were what you'd expect for a trendy natural wine bar. The complimentary corn nuts in the antique dish were a cute touch. The charcuterie board with mixed meat and cheese was really small though. Only three pieces of cheese for five people... it made it feel like an awkward fight over who'd get to try some. The gluten free crackers were appreciated though. We ended up ordering more food including the "party tray" which I would describe more as charcuterie nachos. We didn't really know what to expect with this one so we got the canned mussels but it really would've tasted better with the prosciutto instead. It included a whipped cheese, olives, and cornichons piled onto potato chips. Less of a tray and more of a nacho-style dish. If we return next time we're in town, I'd skip the food and focus more on the wine. Beyond that, it was a fun time!

    I think this is what people mean when they say something is a hidden gem. Apéro has an incredible…read morewine and vermouth selection, tasty small bites, and great cocktails. Above all, the staff here is fantastic! They're super friendly and also knowledgeable about everything on offer. I love this place but get here early as it gets packed.

    Photos
    Cheese Board
    Cheese Board
    Vermouth and soda
    Vermouth and soda
    Interior

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    Interior

    Small Bar - bars - Updated August 2026

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