This place rocks love it it's my favorite go to local joint service is always friendly. Food is great. Tried the broasted. chicken. Love the big pretzels. Chicken is great and burgers yum read more

See all

My favorite go to Sunday night dinner spot. We go all the time I have some great deals staff is super friendly food is delicious beer spot on and cold plenty cheese to watch games on feel like they have a few gambling machines some dirt boards and convenient parking on the street read more

Bar setting with very good chicken wings. Fun place to enjoy a beer and wings!! Try it and you'll be happy you did!!

Wings were great.Service was on point, Christine was really chill, and amazing bang bang sauce, and a chill ambiance.

Will never go here again. Service has always been spotty, but this was the final straw. I was for the last time there on April 10 around 2:00pm, so the owner, if he cares, can do the match and figure out who the snotty young woman, glasses, looked more like a librarian than a bartender, was who ignored me when I sat at the bar, making me only one of two people at the bar. She chatted on and on with a lady who wasn't even at the bar---appeared she was just there for a chat. I had to walk over after ten minutes and ask her for a beer, and she copped a lousy attitude and treated me with disdain. I told her to forget the whole thing; just go back to what you were doing, which is losing a customer. Disgusting. The atmosphere in this place is lousy anyway, despite the attempted remodeling. Yeah, the name is befitting---you're taking a gamble by going to this dump. read more

A cool looking little bar that stretches way back in a downtown old part of mchenry. Naturally this place has gambling machines and it has a small kitchen in addition to having the usual big corporate Bears available there is one Dart tables in the bathrooms are hard to find this seems like a good place to gamble watch sports and to drink some beer. The food though likely is not very recommendable from what I saw read more

can I give a zero? Was called a bitch by bartender because i asked for darts on a busy night? Ok get it just say not doing it tonight just too busy but calling patron bitch because asking for darts really???owner said nothing!!!! read more

Very great food the wings,beer,and burgers are must on Sundays when they have thier specialties.The service is amazing and they have amazing staff.The ambience is amazing and like none other.Love the gamblur can't wait to come again read more

I never thought of going to the Gambler to grab food but we went with some friends and were really surprised. The food was really good! The service was great to. We'd go again. It's a great place to watch a game and grab a drink or two. The appetizers were bomb. read more

I recently went to this establishment and had a cheeseburger for their Monday night special and before I got home I was already throwing up horribly. I frequented this restaurant on several occasions and the food is always been good, but this time it was not a good experience. I now am laid up in the hospital hooked up to an IV and on oxygen because I'm so dehydrated and have good poisoning. I will never visit this location again and I will pass the word along. The kitchen is not clean for something like this to happen. Out of date meats are very dangerous. read more

I have been going to The Gamblur for years. However, I am very disappointed in the service that I have been receiving here. I went in on Thursday to get drinks with my wife. This is the second time, I felt the bartender was bad. She was more concerned with her friends at the bar, then attending to our table. However, I just let it go and didn't want to judge this place on her poor service. My buddies and I returned Friday for some beers, and the same bartender was there, and pretty sure she was intoxicated....What a bad look. I get bartenders may take a shot or two on shift, but she was drunk on the clock. Clearly, I need to avoid Thursday and Fridays. read more

This place is great... Good meal and great cold beers...If you want to go to the hooty tooty bars this place is not for you! Bartenders are friendly and a meal always comes with a smile... all though the daily beer specials have gone up lately...1 star deduction... GET a home made pizza they are fab for under 10 bucks... read more

Machine players beware! There is a young couple running a scam and they pulled it off at the Gambler last night with a compliant bartender and staff. We came in for burgers and a beer along with some Video Poker. After putting our food order in my wife and I started tag teaming each other on one machine. Anyone that plays poker knows the payoffs are huge but it can eat a lot of cash to get there. A young girl sitting next to our machine watched every twenty go in by the time the food arrived we were 140-160 in. The Gambler does not have back in a few signs so we tilted the chair up against the machine. We were sitting at the hight table next to the machines so I had my eye on it the whole time away(amount 10 min.) The young girl could see us and knew we were playing that machine. When I finished the burger I got up and went to put some tunes on the jukebox, at that moment the young girl told her boyfriend to play our machine. As soon I as turned around and saw him a pretty load argument ensued and drew the attention of bartender and wait staff. The young girl claiming she did not know what the up chair meant and that no one was playing it for over a half-hour. In reality, she knew exactly who we were and time could not have been more than 10 min. My request to get the owner was ignored and staff sided with the WonderTucky low lives. My hope is the owner reviews the tape and does some in-depth education with his staff. To the scammers keep it up it's a great way to get shot. Not a threat just pointing out we live in a crazy time and you pull that crap with the wrong person people have eaten it for a lot less. I guess as a 65+ Senior and Disabled Vet I looked like an easy mark. The Gambler zero stars because of the staff, never again. read more

Burgers are delicious!! Wait staff was over the top, so friendly nice welcoming great experience we'll be back!!

Such a great find! Local dive bar to the max but it's great! Bar tender was nice and the music was chill. For food... wowza! The philly cheese steak was... amazing. Garlic bread with the mushrooms. Heaven! The spinach dip hamburger wrap also delightful!! Will for sure come back!! read more

Oh the Gambler... how I despise you. This is a dive bar that is not good, food is decent, but I can get a burger anywhere else. Drinks are always watered down. Mostly a high-school reunion or townies that I don't feel like seeing. It is also not a clean place and it isn't nice inside. There are much better bars in McHenry County. read more

UM best dive bar in McHenry?! I think so! Oh Gambler, I'm sorry that when I lived in the hood, I didn't visit you more often. Oh wait, I did and walked out. However, my return to the Gambler experience was pretty damn impressive, I just may keep coming back. Good cheap bar food and $2 domestic bottles on Sundays. I'm game. Keep in mind. I've never experienced "nite life" here only "day life" and judging by some of the conversations I heard when I was there on a Sunday....really that was enough for me and now know why there weren't a lot of us gals as their arm candy. If you want a cheap decent bar burger with very cold beer. Hit the Gambler, drink and observe, you won't be disappointed. read more

Not sure what people don't like about this place. The beer is cold, the servers are great, and the food is pretty darn good considering the small kitchen the cook is working out of! Their daily specials are usually pretty tasty! I just love their tilapia with potatoes and a veggie for under $10! Plus, there's always popcorn available. Lots of nice TVs to watch and occasionally live music. What's not to like. read more

What is it that people can say they like dive joints and not like the Gambler? WTF? If you look in the encyclopedia under "Dive Joints", there is a picture of the Gambler. Go iron your jeans and go to the gay bar where you belong. The Gambler has the best cheese burger in McHenry, and you get it and a drink for pocket change. Tots too. The Gambler rocks! read more

Ended my night at the Gambler! Was a really nice place to stop and have some drinks. The girl behind the bar kept up with the flow very nicely and is super attentive. I noticed how she was keeping up with serving her bar and keeping the customers happy. She knew many of the customers names too which I found super cool! This is a real chill place and also an awesome dive bar atmosphere! Their Chicken Caesar salad is a must have item. I have heard their burgers are awesome! We will be back and plan to add this to our rotations when we venture out and are in that area. read more

This bar comes up under gay bar search but it doesn't appear to be. Good mixed of people, quick service, not crowded but quite a few customers. Did not eat the food but enjoyed the time with friends. read more

This is my favorite hang out bar in town. They have awesome food, great service and incredible prices! It's a very clean and well kept environment! read more

I really hated this hole-in-the wall for a while and would refuse to go with my friends for the longest time. The scene improved somewhat, getting a little younger, but still a dive. read more

If you wear a baseball cap backwards look out for the owner! He thinks everyone is a gang banger. Someone else had commented on this as well. They do have decent drink prices, some local bands that are fun, but, it's like drinking in your parents basement. Living in the area since 1974 I can't imagine it's hard to figure out who is "gang banging" and who is a middle aged dude that likes wearing a cap backwards. Food is O.K nothing to write home about. Plenty of other choices in the area. read more

I work in the area and anytime I get a chance to stop in for food there, I do so. Great staff, great prices on the food and the best burgers anywhere nearby. Yeah, it is that damn good. read more

Worst bar ever. All I'm going to say. The owner and is son who also works there are perverts and this place has drugs coming in and going out. Needs to be shut down. Bartenders rude and horrible at making a drink, not worth a tip. I would highly reccommend walking to the next bar:)). read more

Great local dive with really good burgers. Doug the owner always goes out of his way to say hi. Always a drink special and live music on weekends. read more

I love the gambler! Doug and the bartenders are awesome! They have great burgers for a cheap price.

The burgers and lunch specials at this bar are the best in town and the burgers will only run you $3. I agree with the other review that the inside needs some work but rumor has it they are beginning the remodeling process. This place is still a ton of fun and you are guaranteed to run into someone you know if you live in McHenry read more

Not sure about these reviews. This is a friendly, low-key bar and grill with good moderately priced food and drinks. The place is big with lots of seating. We went last Friday and had a great time. They had a band doing Buffett and beach music and the atmosphere was great. The owner comes around and darn near deeds the place to you to make you happy. There is a lot of parking on the street and behind the place. They have a covered outdoor smokers area. No problem recommending this place. read more

Okay, Gambler is a dive, but the best kind of dive. Great cheap bar food and great drink specials. There burgers are seriosly to die for. $3.50 for a huge fresh burger and home cut fries. You can'y beat it! They always have good drink specials, bartenders are really nice, and you feel like you're inside the "cheers" TV show. "where everybody knows your name." read more

I like this place! Pretty laid back for the most part. Beer is ice cold and the food is decent. Bar tender was cool,ill definately go back

I went to the Gambler to see one of my favorite local bands last night. I wasn't sure what to expect when I read some previous reviews, but let me say I was pleasantly surprised. The place was big and it was very clean. Clean floors, clean tables, clean bathrooms. The service was great. Our waitress was on the spot every time we were ready for another round and she was always smiling and pleasant, actually happy. We didn't try the food, but I saw others eating and the food looked really good. It's a great place to hang out with friends. Give it a try. read more

I think this is 1 of the better bars in McHenry, Bartenders are great, food is good, and they have drink special all month long. Live bands once and awhile. read more

I love the Gambler! Food is excellent and low priced. Best burgers ever!!! Servers are fun, kind and friendly. I recommend The Gambler to all my friends. Try them you'll love them. Doug the owner is so nice. Love you Gambler! read more

Have only been there a few times. Service was very good, I wish I remembered the girls name who served us. she was excellent. Burgers are the best deal in the area. Affordable plus big and tasty. read more

i have seen the two reviews on this bar and yes i was also there. this place is a hole in the wall. i have been to alot of places in the area and by far half times bar and grill is the place to visit great food great bartenders the pizza is a must try !!! read more

o this bar sucks ass. poor service i recommend half time great service good people awesome environment go there. i would rate this b are like negative. read more

Gambler has 2 stars when I started this review and I can't even give it that. Within the last 10 years it has gone from a "you can't even move around" crowd to "wow what has happened to this place". It seems to me that all places around McHenry have the same alcohol , food is ok inexpensive, can't complain about the waitresses, bathrooms could be a little remodeled but ok. So what is it? My guess is the friendly atmosphere, almost inexistent. Since the current owner (?) has taken over it has gone down hill. He has complained about people wearing their hat backwards, he walks around the bar like some ole cogger, and talks to the same people (his McHenry Machine). His silly specials he has can't even bring in the crowd the way it use to. The softball players come in for the free pizza and then leaves. HMMMMMM. Where has all the laughter and good times gone? Buddez, Windy City, Snuggery, Fire Wood, After the fox... I have heard this is the reason, well if you can't handle the competition then as an old friend of mine once said "then leave!"............................. read more