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    Small Bar

    4.2 (386 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Burgers
    Open 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Small Bar Photos

    Business Info

    SMALL BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Small Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Burger battle details
    Kay F.

    Finally made it out to small bar for their burger battle. Bar sotano vs jinsei motto. Both burgers were absolutely delicious as well as the cocktail! The service with the long lines was quick and all the staff was super kind. Loved the dive bar patio feel. What a fun way to end summer!

    frozen drink, cocktail, beer
    Jessica M.

    This place has some of the best smash burgers in Chicago as well as great drinks and atmosphere! Were frequent flyers here as it's always reliable. The frozen drink is also delicious! (Unfortunately no photos of the food because it never lasts long enough)

    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

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4(9.6k reviews)
    4.6 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$

    YOOOO seriously one of the best burgers of my life! My brother recommended this spot and we came on…read morea Friday night. It was about a 30 minute wait, but it was so worth. The burgers are amazing - it has that beef tallow taste and adding the sunny side up egg was awesome. It's cooked perfectly to where the yolk is not dripping down my fingers, but just enough to where it trickles into the burger and adds another dimension of flavor. The interesting thing is that "single" patties are actually double, and "double" patties are actually triple. Not sure why they named it like that, but our server was good about making that known. Fries were solid but not as amazing as the burger. Wished they were a little thinner. Pretty small seating inside, only a couple booths, tables, and bar seating. They do have a fair sized patio for outdoor seating, so that helps with getting people in and out. Since the space is a bit compact, it can get a little noisy inside. We did paid street parking

    We'd made a lunch reservation at Au Cheval in advance, which wasn't too hard for a Monday. The…read moreinterior was smaller than I'd expected but so classic and stylish. We were seated at a comfortable booth near the window. For drinks, I chose the Citrus Ritual mocktail, which I loved - so well-made and refreshing. I also got a Single Cheeseburger with the added egg and an order of French Fries to share with my coworker. I was a bit confused because it turns out a single cheeseburger at Au Cheval is actually a double because it comes with two beef patties. Personally, I would've just preferred one. Otherwise, it was a very nice burger, but I can't say it changed my brain chemistry. The French Fries were also tasty. Service was incredibly professional, attentive, and quick. Worth the visit!

    Photos
    Au Cheval - Welcome

    Welcome

    Au Cheval - Single Cheeseburger

    Single Cheeseburger

    Au Cheval - Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

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    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

    The Dearborn

    The Dearborn

    4.4(2.8k reviews)
    5.3 miThe Loop
    $$

    This was my second visit to The Dearborn, and the food and service were both on point. We ordered…read morethe salmon tataki, fish and chips, Wellington burger, and Midwest fried chicken. Everything was well prepared, but the fried chicken was the standout, especially with the hot sauce adding another level of flavor. The staff stayed attentive throughout dinner and even replaced our plates between rounds, which was a level of service I wasn't expecting. I also respected seeing the owner personally making the rounds, stopping at every table to check on the guests and the food. Calm atmosphere, solid hospitality, and a kitchen that delivers.

    OMG! Walk, run, sprint here to get the FISH N CHIPS THAT ACTUALLY BEAT BOBBY FLAY. The executive…read morechef and now chef partner, Aaron Cuschieri, is absolutely amazingly talented. I am used to really good fish and chips... I've never had better fish and chips than Tom Douglas's Mr. Fish in Seattle, UNTIL NOW!!!! Wow, wow wow wow! Do not pass GO, do not read the menu, just order the darn fish and chips! It might be a whole heart attack on a plate... But it doesn't matter... You can walk all of Chicago and burn it off. I decided to work out before I came here for this big splurge and I'm so glad I did. I can see that this is the theater district... And you could come here before a show fish and chips and have the best night of your entire life! I can't wait to try more of this chef's food! I'm BEYOND INSPIRED! ps great beers here toooooi!

    Photos
    The Dearborn - $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays

    $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays

    The Dearborn - New Spring Menu

    New Spring Menu

    The Dearborn - Spring desserts

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    Spring desserts

    Small Bar - bars - Updated September 2026

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