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    The Drop In

    4.1 (53 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    The Drop In Photos

    THE DROP IN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Hipster
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - The Drop In

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    Reviews With Photos

    NADC burger and fries
    Sarah B.

    A very unassuming bar off of Grand, The Drop In is a great place to get a quick bite to eat. After hearing about the NADC burger I had to check it out for myself. I went in early on a Monday and I was the only one there aside from one other patron, super quiet. They only serve the burger and fries, and nothing else. Love the simplicity of it all. The food was out really quickly and I thought it was a pretty decent burger. I wouldn't call it my favorite in the city but it was well made and I appreciated all the homemade elements to make it what it is. It was pretty heavy though and I wasn't able to finish it all. Would I come back again? Possibly. But there are a lot of great burgers in the city that I need to try first!

    Jacqueline M.

    Cool drinks and the burger is really good! Definitely on my list of top burgers in the city

    NADC burger with a side of fries
    Samir K.

    After walking past this place almost every day on my way to work I finally dropped in. The smash burger wasn't fully smashed and wasn't overly flavorful. I also couldn't taste the jalapeños at all. The burger as a whole just tasted like a typical smash burger (meat, cheese, sauce, and pickles) with nothing sticking out. On the side, the fries were battered which gave them a good crisp, however, they weren't hot or tasty.

    Burger
    Marlene S.

    My friend and I really wanted a burger on a Saturday night, and apparently so did the rest of Chicago. After many tries, we landed in the drop in. I walked in and managed to get the only 2 available seats in the whole place Bar is pretty small/narrow. Our seat faced the kitchen so we watched their burger making process. Everything moved pretty quick. I had a pornstar martini, the burger and beast mode fries. They take their burger very serious, no changes are made. It was a delicious burger and. Not over priced.

    Inside- seating
    Ron T.

    One of the best damn burgers in town. Small cozy bar with friendly staff. This is not only a delicious burger for a bar but this is up there with Au Cheval. The burger is pretty damn heavy so beware but gat damn it's delicious. Very juicy and flavorful with all the toppings. Also had the beast mode fries which comes with all the toppings of their cheeseburger. As delicious as they were, I was so full from the burger, the extra toppings on the fries were a bit much for me but on their own they're like a 7.5. Fries were nice n crispy just how I like'em. Next time I'll get the burger and plain fries. Bartenders were so hospitable and talkative. Will most definitely return. Highly recommended.

    NADC burger
    Tammy W.

    One of the best burgers I've had in Chicago! So so good. Fries were crispy and tasty, as well, and the ketchup tasted like it was made in-house. We came on a Sunday shortly after they opened and seating was already slim. There was a group of 6 of us. We were able to snag 4 seats at the bar and 2 people stood. Right after we ordered, a table in the back opened up, so we squeezed in there. Food came out in a reasonable amount of time and service was friendly. If you go at a peak time, you'll like need to wait as it's a small dive bar. It will be worth your wait tho!!

    Molly C.

    Delicious burger, vibes like the name, drop in, don't question or try to modify the menu. Order the burger, order the fries, have a beer and head on. Great spot.

    Chris W.

    I've been trying to try this burger for about a year now. Finally had the chance with the family and it didn't disappoint. This is a classic perfectly cooked smash. The jalapeños give a nice touch without really bringing any heat. The ketchup had a kick that my kids said was spicy but I loved. My wife and I had a couple happy hour espresso martinis before dinner and it all really hit the spot. Great to have another good burger option in town.

    Cheeseburger
    Connor D.

    Great lil neighborhood bar, no frills. Solid beer selection, good service. But the NADC burger... that's why you really come here. She ain't pretty/IG-worthy & not the most aesthetically-pleasing but WOW she's so tasty. Two wagyu patties with some pickles, cheese, & a secret sauce (I might be missing something else?) make for some delicious bites. Definitely in my top 5 burgers of Chicago for sure, check them out!

    Burger and fries
    Harina J.

    Been here a few Sunday's in a row now and the burger it the perfect lazy Sunday meal, delicious and keeps you full for your day on the sofa of just relaxing. The jalapeños give it a nice little kick and the house ketchup is delicious with the fries!

    Bourbon Sour! (keepsmilingphoto.com)
    Michael W.

    Not A Damn Chance Burger, a bold statement, wrapped in simplicity, this burger makes quite a statement. Every bite is a griddled delight, expertly cheesed with a nice sauce along with understated grilled onions and jalapenos. Classic, soft bun, could get messy, but somehow I managed pretty well, either way it was going to be a glorious experience. I recognized this as soon as I saw that special package drop in front of me. French Fries were nice, cocktail excellent, can't remember the name, some sort of a bourbon sour, bitterly sweet. Interesting space, love the open kitchen in the rear, quite nice, this is a burger you are not going to forget, Not A Damn Chance! (FDV Approved 4.6 - Food, 4.8; Design, 4.6; Value, 4.5).

    Menu boars
    Ashley S.

    If you like Mezcal, do yourself a favor and get the disco flip. Hands down best burger I've had in Chicago. Great staff, super friendly. Small, intimate setting but the do everything well. The tip is included, but that's stated on the menu and the bartender also made us aware. Would go back and would recommend!

    Burger
    Angelina I.

    Limited tables/seating around the bar area with the kitchen in the back. It took a while until we were able to place our order with the bartender, but the food came out fairly quick. The burgers were good, and the ketchup was homemade. The fries were average.

    They pretty much have just this one thing on the menu.

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    3 years ago

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    Thanks for dropping in, Eric!

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    Matt W.

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    2 years ago

    Great burgers and service at this bar. We were happy to get a table and eat on a beautiful Saturday in Chicago. Staff was fantastic.

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    2 years ago

    Cheeseburgers are so good. This place is the real deal. Love the story of the owners. Oh and they play skate videos!

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    3 years ago

    Late night smash burgers after show at the Salt Shed were delicious! Bartender was cool. Definitely going back next time in ChiTown

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Drop In

    How do I order for takeaway?

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    Gilt Bar - Chicken parmigiana

    Gilt Bar

    (2.4k reviews)

    $$$

    River North, Near North Side

    exactly as I expected, gilt bar was phenomenal - the beef…read moretartare was the best I've ever had, it was so filled with flavor, every bite tasted like a beef salad. the egg was jammy and delicious adding a new layer of richness to the meal. the bread it came with was FRESH, hard crispy crust surrounding thick cuts of spongey bread - the truffle malfadine was perfectly cooked long chewy noodles with the perfect amount of a truffle pepper sauce over them. certain bites had full peppercorns, breaking through the slight creaminess. - I had high hopes for the burger and was picturing a bougie restaurant thick cut juicy burger. it was fascinating because it had the same juicy soft flavor, but it was more of a Smashburger style so you had a little bit of crisp on the outside and instead of a thick singular patty, it was two on top of each other. the fries were solid (not very salty which was divisive) but the aioli elevated the fries and burger to a new level, huge points - Guinness here is so cheap. my dirty martini was dirty as all hell and delicious. the service was so kind and attentive and brought out extra ice cream with hot fudge for my birthday. the carrot cake was incredibly moist and tasted like real carrots, nuts, and spices, not enough frosting for me tho hehe - this is literally such a stunning restaurant with a photo booth and a downstairs sultry bar, and an open standing space around the bar upstairs. I get why it is always booked. If I was to come back, I would do it all again except ...maybe instead of the burger... try something else hmm

    Dinner at Gilt Bar felt like stepping into one of Gatsby's favorite haunts. The interior is…read morestunning , moody, golden, and effortlessly glamorous. The cocktails were beautifully crafted and worth the visit alone. The food was good, but not necessarily the star of the night. What really stood out was the atmosphere and the service, both absolutely incredible. One of those places you go for the vibe as much as the meal.

    GoodFunk - Behind the bar

    GoodFunk

    (40 reviews)

    The Loop

    We tried pre opera drinks and bites at Good Funk on Wacker and overall it was a blah experience…read more The wine selection was interesting, the food was average, at best. We didn't especially enjoy the atmosphere (sadly we were seated at the bar next to some douche dude bros) or the service. I doubt we will return.

    My friend rented this out a few weeks ago to celebrate her 45th. It was the perfect spot for about…read more30 women to mingle, drink cocktails and eat delicious food (compliments of Beaknik). I helped her choose the menu using both Yelp and some help from my bestie chatgpt and came up with the following: 7 Passed Apps: * Mini Truffle Beef Wellington (black truffle aioli) * Short Rib & Brie Slider (Aleppo BBQ, arugula, tomato jam) * Chicken Kebab (harissa-marinated chicken, tahini labneh) * Salmon Taco (avocado, mojo rojo, cilantro) * Mushroom Croquette (black truffle aioli) * Halloumi Skewer (tomato & quince jam, za'atar) * Mini Crab Cake (lemon aioli, herb salad) 1 Stationary Grazing Item: * Mezze Trio (tahini hummus, beet tahini w/ goat cheese, tzatziki, grilled pita & crudité) ---- It ended up being the perfect amount of food- heavy enough to fill us for dinner, but also light enough that we didn't get too full and could stay out late and dance (at the request of the bday gal). They passed the appetizers, but once they passed them around a few times they put them on the bar which became one big grazing station. The drinks were great as well and they even did a signature cocktail in honor of my friend, which was quite strong (hello tequila). The bartender and other staff were super friendly and knew many of us by name after a few hours. It was the perfect cozy spot for this amount of people and I'd love to look into using it again for a similar type of party...or just stopping in for a cocktail!

    Arbella - Whipped feta was sooooo good!

    Arbella

    (695 reviews)

    $$

    River North, Near North Side

    We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

    Months after visiting, Arbella still ranks among the best cocktail bars in the city for me!…read more One thing that really makes Arbella unique is their globally inspired old fashioned menu- whether you're an old-fashioned fan or not, these are a must! They've upped their happy hour game by including a rotating global cocktail with previous menu drinks and a daily kitchen special. This time, I ordered the oldest old fashioned and the Oaxaca old fashioned to drink. I thought the first was the best old fashioned I had ever had, but the second was even better! I loved the subtle yet not overpowering smokiness of the mezcal in the Oaxaca. Neither were too sweet and you could really taste the high quality bourbon. We ordered the Korean fried chicken and coconut shrimp to eat from the happy hour menu. The shrimp was super crispy with a delicious ginger-orange compote and rice vinegar pickled onions. Highly recommend! I did think the chicken was a bit tough, but the flavor was good. Another great experience of many to come! If you haven't stopped by Arbella yet, add this to your bucket list asap!

    Chicago Winery - Enjoy a wine & cheese plate in our restaurant, LIVA

    Chicago Winery

    (65 reviews)

    Near North Side

    I stopped by Chicago Winery on a Wednesday early evening solo and was able to sit at the bar…read morewithout reservation. I was blown away by the ambiance and decor. Chicago Winery prioritizes upscale and intimacy but their service is personable and friendly allowing you to feel right at home. On Wednesday they offer a Happy Hour special, $5 off a tasting and $10 wine by the glass. The server as extremely kind, and was able to offer me some suggestions based on my personal palate and wine interests. I landed on the Winemaker's Tasting, which included 4, one ounce pours, including Blancs de Blancs, Albarino, Barbera and Merlot. I paired the tasting with the a BYOB board. From their menu I picked the olives, Afterglow, and the Tempesta Guanciale. The server was educated on the wines was able to walk me through the tasting and pairings but gave me independence and autonomy to enjoy at my own leisure and pace. I highly enjoyed my visit and absolutely will be returning to dine in, as well as to get a winery tour!

    Was gifted the wine tasting and tour for my birthday which was a very fun experience. Great deal to…read morebuy wine after. I preferred the whites and was disappointed by the reds. We had the date package and ate at the restaurant after. I recommend the pork schnitzel and pierogis. We ordered four shareables but weren't blown away by the butternut squash fondue and gougeres. Loved our hostess for the wine tasting, but wish there was more guidance on tasting notes and wine terminology. I'd recommend though to any wine lovers, I still learned a lot!

    Obelix - Duck Carnitas Danish, Horchata Croissant, Coconut & Pineapple Danish

    Obelix

    (263 reviews)

    $$$$

    River North, Near North Side

    We shared: 1. Salade Lyonnaise "Canard" - frisee, escarole,…read moreduck confit, duck egg, duck-fat croutons 2. Poulet Roti - Harrison's Farm Chicken Breast, Potato Pave, Tomato Farcie, Tuscan Kale, Sauce Obelix 3. Souffle - spiced molasses, date toffee sauce, vanilla ice cream 4. Cote De Boeuf - 14 oz USDA prime ribeye, French fries, sauce au poivre 5. Roasted Mushrooms 6. Black Truffle Gougere - choux pastry, comte, truffle Mornay, perigord truffle 7. Huitre Chaude - belle du jour oyster, tarragon-horseradish rouille, lemon Not gonna break down everything we ordered but to simplify, will name my favorites and only dish that disappointed. The duck salad and roast chicken are perfectly executed, shareable, and must-gets. The only disappointment, the Prime ribeye, sad to say, altho clearly medium rare in my photos, was a little tough and chewy. Fries were also dry. Service was professional and competent. Regularly checked on us, updated us on food arrival, and cleaned our table. Ambience was classy and relaxing.

    We visited Obelix for the first time on a recent weeknight. Highlights were an interesting menu and…read morecustomer focused staff. VIBE: The dining room had a cozy country brasserie feel, with medium wood tones prevailing. It was not full, so conversational noise was only moderate. SERVICE: The host noted my reservation request for a seating accommodation and honored it - bonus points for that. Our server was attentive and comp'd us for a dessert that did not delight us. Food came at a leisurely pace, which suited us. FOOD: The menu had contemporary takes on French standards. We're not foie gras fans, but there were witty dishes for those who are. A Basque octopus appetizer was clever and flavorful, if a bit salty. Roast chicken was also notably salty, and it lacked the roasty character we expect from this bistro standard. Poached monkfish was tender and tangy, but also a bit salty. The couple of wines we had were interesting, especially an excellent dry sparkling rose, which was quite dry and refreshing. For dessert, a souffle was just meh. The ambiance and hospitality were notable. The food was inventive and generally OK (except for the saltiness). We're not sure we'll return.

    The Drop In - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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