Historic bar in Chicago but there's zero excuse for a $15 cocktail to come in a small wine class filled to the brim with ice. My fiancé finished it in 3 sips. Won't be returning for drinks considering the number of options around them. read more

The Glunz Tavern - Aperol Spritz - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We held the Welcome Party for our son's wedding here and it was perfect! Jachob made the planning so easy and he was so accommodating. They had everything set up exactly as we asked. He and his entire staff took such great care of all our guests the entire night! Highly, highly recommend this venue and this team! Thanks so much to the entire Glunz team! read more

The creamy cheddar bratwurst might be my favorite bratwurst of all time. So much cheese! I was in disbelief that I would be so into the bratwurst. Will be back again. read more

Went to visit Glunz tavern on Saturday according to their website the bar restaurant opens at noon, we arrived there at 2:30 PM The liquor store was open however we did have to ring the bell and one of the owners was behind the counter, When asked why isn't the restaurant open like it says on their website, she said the website was wrong. It cost me $8.50 to park at a meter for nothing but misinformation, disappointment, and frustration. Please correct your mistakes to avoid pissing off other potential customers. read more

Classic old bar that's one of Chicago's oldest to be exact. It looks like it to be sure about it. The Glunz Tavern is best for the atmosphere and history, and not as much for the actual menu. Has good drinks. Maybe skip the food because there's better and cheaper around here. Bar is old and looks like it's been around. It's actually been around since the 1800s if you can believe it. The drinks are the better options. Kind of overpriced at $8 for basic cocktails. That's the location though. Food isn't impressive. Limited vegetarian choices and one of these is the Pretzel. It's $12 and pretty basic. We wouldn't bother with the food again the next time. Kind of a laid back bar. This is pretty quiet it seems. For those who like old bars, come and check out the history. It's also next to House Of Glunz, a wine shop. Try something here and then get something from there. read more

The Glunz Tavern - Jameson And Pretzel - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This tavern is historic, but don't eat. We went for lunch Sunday and were served food that should have made the restaurant embarrassed. The menu was not as posted online: a stripped down version which was disappointing but we thought we would still be fine. But the quality and value turned out to be uncomfortably bad. Top of the list was an $18 entree-priced schnitzel sandwich with lingonberry on brioche (sounds nice?)... which turned out a slider-sized chicken-puck looking portion on a 5-inch appetizer plate, no plating. Bun that looked like it came from jewel. No fries (the server had said yes, it did come with fries), which what appeared to be a packaged mayonnaise. Literally thought they sent the wrong item. Our server (who was kind throughout), even looked embarrassed when she sat down the sandwich "These used to be a lot bigger." The brat they sent was supposed to be "grilled" and was in fact, boiled to much and served on a dry hot dog bun. The cheese fries were served in a bowl with what looked like a pump cheese in the middle - would have been happy with these from a street food cart perhaps. Turns out the owner was in the house and she said she'd ask him to stop over. We watched him turn her down and send her back to us to say "food prices are expensive" and then he walked away and ignored us. I felt terrible for the server who was put in the middle. This was unreasonable. We know what we should pay in Chicago for good food and happy to do so. This was below the professional standard. We walked in positive and walked out negative. The historic pub and family story here is cool. Enjoying an Oktoberfest beer in this space, probably would have simply enjoyed. But the food experience was in the realm of embarrassing for an established restaurant. read more

The coziest spot! A few friends and I were in search of a spot on a rainy and gross Saturday afternoon. Everywhere else in Old Town was packed with people watching college football, so we ended up at the Glunz Tavern. It had the warmest atmosphere. We were able to sit right away and the servers were all so pleasant. They had a great beer selection with lots of German beers available. We ordered the chips and dip and they were delicious!!! I saw they had French onion soup that had great reviews, so I need to go back for that soon. Loved this spot! read more

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Really cool old school atmosphere here! The manager and workers were so so nice to me and patient and kind. The wings were pretty decent too! Pretty sure it was homemade blue cheese with them read more

I had brunch at Glunz Tavern and had a fabulous time. It's a great Old Town brunch option, they aren't just for drinks and late night eats. Though I did have some drinks with my brunch...it is a tavern after all! The Glunz Tavern is old school spot with a vintage look, surely fun to dine in. Don't even get me started on the adjoining liquor shop with incredibly cool & creepy private rooms you can rent out. They have so many dessert options, it's hard to pick a favorite but you can't go wrong with any of the options. Beer options aren't overly exciting but they do have a decent tap list including some reliable favorites like Steigl's Grapefruit Radler to cool off from the heat without being high potency. During brunch, I had the Bologna Sandwich which was an interesting twist on the classic sandwich. Bologna, salami, giardiniera relish, aged cheddar, horseradish-mustard, chopped lettuce on baguette with a generous helping of fries on the side. Solid sandwich and even better french fries! Service was impeccable from start to finish and fabulous eats. I would definitely hit up The Glunz Tavern for another meal! read more

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Bartender messaged me directly that he worked till 3am the night before. So can blame sleep deprivation. So he's not an IDIOT as previously stated. Just poor service all around. I'd still never return read more

I do not usually give a bar, a pub, a tavern, a bad review. It's not hard to serve a beverage and a snack At noon time. Sadly not at Glunz. Walked in on Open House Chicago day. The bar wasn't overly crowded. Did the short tour and settled in for a drink. Bartender not very attentive, but I got his attention and placed my order. I ordered beer, a non alcoholic drink and a pretzel with mustard. Had to remind them twice For the pretzel. Noticed the table next to mine, complain about the fries not being cooked through. 2/3 way through my beer the pretzel finally arrived. Stale and awful. I could get a better pretzel from the frozen section at Jewell-Osco. The one waiter walking around looked like he'd rather be somewhere else but Glunz. I had to walk up to the bar to clear my tab. Not sure why I left a tip. Probably out of pity. $40 for a beer, a non alcoholic drink in a can and a stale pretzel. Won't be coming back anytime. read more

Gluntz Tavern was packed right before Christmas and seems to be a popular spot for hosting events. It's a cozy place with only one server on the floor so getting drinks took a while, but I liked the German feel and intimate size. Spiced wine was flowing, and their version was a pleasant sweet wine. House of Gluntz next door was also hosting a wine tasting so it was nice to be able to walk over and check that out. I had already eaten, but wanted to try their French Onion Soup given the great reviews. When the server brought it out, there was a very pungent smell - I thought it came from the towel she had around the bowl since it reminded me of stinky wet laundry, but it still lingered afterwards. Smell aside, the soup was average. Later, my friends mentioned the smell thinking it was from a lady at the bar, and we had a good laugh over it - fairly certainly it was the cheese. Soup is a pass for me, but I'm open to returning for drinks or trying out other things on the menu. read more

The Glunz Tavern - French Onion Soup - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It is what it is... This place has been here forever. It has been through the last famine, the depression, numerous stock market crashes. It has its originals floors and ceilings, can you say that? This place should be praised and not nit picked about the wait staff or some other trivial detail. The atmosphere is incredible, period. The place is iconic. The staff is attentive and knowledgeable (Armenian wine, come on, how can you not try that) and the food is solid. If you don't go here, you are truly missing a Chicago icon! read more

Enjoyed our meal and drinks. Place was pretty chill as well and the atmosphere with some of the old tavern signs was pretty cool.

Came down to Old Town for cocktails and an early dinner after the Air and Water Show. Sat outside and Peter served us. I wasn't sure what beer to order... Peter inquired what types i enjoyed and suggested the Hazy IPA, it was exactly what I wanted! To eat, we started with the warm giant pretzel with cheese and mustard, (yum!!!) and the Ruben egg rolls! Peter suggested multiple brats, the cheese brat was our favorite... And the beet salad to start! We split the cheeseburger, schnitzel sandwich and onion rings. The food came out hot and delish. The experience was very welcoming, inviting and relaxing! We also enjoyed the people watching and the cute dogs that passed by! A must try! read more

The bar looks great, but do not order food. It tastes and looks frozen, like the packs you can buy at Whole Foods for the same price. The waiter even confirmed to us that some of the dishes came frozen. The menu looks like it was designed by someone who has given up on their establishment, which is a shame because this place seems to have so much potential. The sangria was good and the wine and liquor shop next door is excellent. read more

The atmosphere, service, and drink list here are impeccable. As soon as I walked in, I felt like I was transported to 19th century Germany. The history here is amazing. The founder's original passport is in the wall, along with the original menu showing items priced at ten cents. Also, the ceiling is as old as the building, which is over a century old. Since there wasn't a huge selection of food in the menu, I ended up ordering the chicken noodle soup (with homemade noodles). Not bad. As someone who prefers spicy food, though, I found myself dousing it in salt and pepper. The wine and beer selections, on the other hand, were extensive and could suit any palate. As far as service, it was excellent. My server, Donald, was prompt, courteous, and very knowledgeable about the history of the business. Other businesses take note!! This is how you should be serving your customers! This place gets a perfect score for fantastic service, an amazing atmosphere, and an excellent beer and wine selection. It gets a four star rating for limited menu choices, as well as some items coming up short on flavor. Overall, though, the feel of this place is fun, and would make for an amazingly fun time socializing with friends. read more

The Glunz Tavern - The original passport used by Louis Glunz - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Have been here 3 or 4 times and the food has been consistently underwhelming and overpriced Finally hit the last straw with a "medium done" burger that was cooked beyond well done and then turned into charcoal for good measure (not to mention missing a couple toppings) Waitress didn't come by to check on the food for a good 10-15 minutes at which point everyone else was done eating Please go anywhere else, and let's never ever pretend this is German food read more

Seems like an ok place to have a drink, but the food is overpriced, even for the area. Quality wasn't great and service was kind but not considerate of the details. Would advise eating somewhere else on the street! read more

Once again we had a great meal at a favorite corner of Chicago's Old Town. This is it at its best. Great drinks but you'd expect that at a restaurant next to one of the most remarkably stocked liquor stores in the nation. But unless you've tasted the curry deviled eggs you would know what you missed. And French Onion soup? Not to salty a broth, delicious onion taste and just the right amount of cheese and croutons. The veggie gnocchi was delicious. The same was true of the pretzel bread pudding. If this were a walk away, we'd be there every night. read more

A Chef friend and I stopped by to indulge their French Onion Soup. It was a few weeks ago,so they had to comply with City Ordinance, hence why we sat outside. They had the heaters outside,and provided blankets as well(SUPER KUDOS!). We indulged in the great beer selection and though, it only took 12 minutes for our soups,pretty darn quick! SO much flavour,croutons were SO crunchy ,and the cheese was perfect toasted. Jezzus-h. That was a perfect meal,on a perfect evening to impress my True Chef Friend. When I find a "not so known " place,I am adamant about it if I am impressed. So,YES....the French Onion Soup! read more

Had chicken fritters and German sausages. Nothing special or extraordinary about the food. It's a spot for hanging out with friendly service, and the wine store next door has an amazing collection. read more

I really like this old German place. The atmosphere, food (OMG food), beer... even the bathroom (girls understand). Service always was nice. I really recommend to give it a try. read more

The 2 times i have been here, it was only to have a short casual meeting to have a drink with friends last min. This is a relaxed, local spot where you can guarantee there to be seating as it is rarely crowded. I never really "plan" to come here. The service is always pleasant and ambiance is German tavern. We tried an appetizer with 2 sausages which was okay. read more

The Glunz Tavern - Sausage app...clash of the titans - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Atmosphere and drinks were great. Bartender with half blonde half black long hair was a total jerk. I never write negative reviews because I've worked in the restaurant industry and I know how hectic things can be, but this guy was a new level of jerk. Seemed like we were just an inconvenience to him the whole time. Would highly recommend if you don't get the guy who has half blonde hair half black hair as your bartender. read more

Bad experience. Not a GermanAustrian place -- -- just greasy bar food. The older bartender woman is overwhelmed and mean. Don't go.

We love having the Glunz Tavern in the neighborhood as it is totally unique to the area. The German food is outstanding, and I highly recommend the Schnitzel Sandwich. My wife has ordered the Salmon Burger several times and always loves that as well. In addition to their German beers on tap, they have a really nice wine list filled with ones you wouldn't typically find, as well as great cocktails. If you're a bourbon fan, I suggest ordering the Horse's Neck or the classic Old Fashioned. read more

The Glunz Tavern - German beer in a stein - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great neighborhood bar and friendly staff! Highly recommend the latkes! Their bartender, Austin, is great! Only complaint, not the best place to watch a game! read more

Super mixed drinks, particularly the Spicy Margarita Bartenders Naomi and Pete bring a lively and entertaining atmosphere. If you're in the neighborhood (or an Uber ride away) be sure to stop in! read more

Sat at the bar and chatted with the bartender. Very good service, nice bartender, nice atmosphere. All around good experience. Would definitely go back. read more

It looks fabulous. Too bad they aren't open when they say they are. "Staffing issues" apparently preclude social media updating.

Came here with my husband and son, after an afternoon at Christkindlmarket. We know there's German food there, but it was crowded and we didn't want to stand and eat. My husband and I both had the Veal Bratwurst and Thuringer platter. Two sausages or you can mix and match, served with bratwurst and a small portion of home fried potatoes. We hot a side of potato pancakes to share. There's two small potato pancakes, but they're thick. Served with sour cream and apple sauce. I had a bottle of Schneider Weisse beer and my husband had Anchor porter with our meals. Great food/service and nice casual atmosphere. read more

The Glunz Tavern - Exterior of The Glunz Tavern - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Glorious. Real, legitimate history and old-fashioned service: countless places try and fail to evoke this ideal but it cannot be faked. In look and feel, Glunz Tavern is a genuine early 20th-century throwback. It was originally founded in 1888 by a forebear of the proprietors who re-established it in 2012, and I can't imagine it being any better in 1888 than it is today. Although now I would happily sit here for hours enjoying beer and soaking in the atmosphere, the purpose of my original visit was to scratch a gustatory itch. Something intangible about the onset of serious autumn this year made me long for a big Bavarian pretzel. Then looking through the photos of a trip sparked a hard craving for German food in general. Finally, a piece in TimeOut previewing 2013 restaurant trends gave me a concrete target--Glunz Tavern. "[Its] menu includes a warm pretzel with Düsseldorf mustard; Thuringer sausages simmered in Bavarian-style sauerkraut with potatoes; and späetzle überbacken, a spaetzle gratin with Black Forest ham and Gruyere." SOLD! I ate all of those things, and ironically the pretzel was dry and disappointing. Everything else, however, was outstanding. I started with the beet salad, with mache greens, shallots, pistachios, goat cheese, and caraway and sherry vinaigrette--a practically perfect version of one of my favorite dishes. The späetzle überbacken is essentially German macaroni and cheese, but it obliterates all but the very best of its American cousins. Between ham, gruyere, and caramelized onions, this dish is almost impossibly rich and should be shared...or taken home to eat as leftovers to stretch out the pleasure over multiple meals. For the sausage dish, I requested one of each, the bratwurst and the smoked Thuringer; of these I far preferred the latter, but the best thing on the plate was the sauerkraut--far, far superior to the sour, stringy stuff from a can that gets thrown indiscriminately onto various sausages in this town. I am sorry that it took me until March to come in, because there are many more tantalizing items on the menu, as well as thoughtful and compelling daily specials. Besides a small but satisfying selection of imported draft beer, they offer a classic cocktail menu, and their bar staff is as adept at crafting these drinks as the kitchen staff is at the food dishes. From excellent food and drink to gracious, good-humored service to the unique history and atmosphere, I just love this place. Dare I say that Glunz Tavern is my new favorite bar/restaurant in Chicago? Yes, I dare. read more

Drinks = top notch! Our server took us both on a wonderful libation journey that included Sazerac, Horse's Neck, The Bronx Cocktail, and Champs Elysee. Oh - and then M ordered a bottle of wine. She drank half of it, recorked it, and brought it home. And I loved our server. He was perfectly charming, flirtatious, and gosh darn easy on the eyes. He was adept at choosing my drinks and helping me narrow my food options. He was initially very attentive but that TLC waned as the tavern became busier. The food was good. M absolutely loved loved LOVED it. I just thought it was okay. We got charcuterie, pretzel, deviled eggs, and gnocchi. I tried all of the charcuterie nibbles and then let M conquer it all. We decided that the pretzel was just a means of delivery for the scrumptious mustard dipping sauce. I liked the deviled eggs and M wasn't as much of a fan. I thought the gnocchi was good but too salty whereas M was completely blown away and said it was even better than what was served at the now closed Maison Brasserie. Our bill with tip came to about $175. We really liked the old school spirit of The Glunz Tavern. Besides the one flat screen television by the bar (and it was turned off the whole time) everything else about the place was old. Like, antique and not worn down or out dated. It's a family business and there were members of the Glunz family working that evening. Besides the girl who toppled her stool and fell on the floor the place was quiet. Not awkwardly quiet or anything like that. It was just good for conversation and being chill. We'll go again and definitely when we want to unwind. read more

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We ate here tonight for the first time and loved it! A great neighborhood staple and enough variety on the menu you could have a new experience every time you go! We started with the soft pretzel and beer cheese sauce (YUM) and then my husband had the two bratwurst and I tried the french onion soup. Neither disappointed! It paired perfectly with the champagne cocktails and the APA draft beer. Dessert was creme brûlée and apple cobbler! We are definitely going to return to try the brunch and to make a regular date night hang out! By the end of the meal, we were stuffed and have plenty of food to take home to enjoy tomorrow. read more

The Glunz Tavern - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm giving Glunz, the benefit of the doubt . . . .for while the night started very well- there were a few service hiccups along that way that put a small question mark in my mind. So time will tell . . . . The night started off so great! Karl, the bartender, was terrific, mixing our martinis with vigor and making sure that we were comfortable at the end of his bar. This place is lovely inside with stained glass windows, an old style wooden bar, high tops in the front windows and a small dining area in the back. Just the kind of place you would hope to find as a neighborhood place! When it came time to eat- we were seated at a great little table right in the front window allowing us to watch the activity as Old Town came alive on this warmish night. Not sure if our table wasn't "officially" in the server's section or if he thought others were taking care of us but getting any service once we moved to the table was a bit of a challenge. We finally flagged down Karl again and he brought us menus from behind the bar. At that point the server came over and took our orders. But that was the last we saw of him. And the drink orders given to Karl were wrong. What the heck? And when the manager (owner?) came over and asked us how things were- we mentioned the service challenge and suddenly Karl was back in place taking care of us from behind his bar. So I'm going to assume that Karl was our server for the remainder of this review- thus the 4 stars- for if it was for the other server- it would be less! I had the brick chicken which was quite good but my friend had the pork chop which was definitely the better of the two. Also- we had a chance to taste the deviled eggs as well as the cheese and chacuterie plate. While the eggs were good- the chacuterie was a bit on the slim side - definitely not anything to rave about. If you drive- street parking is pretty easy right on Wells or you can park in the new parking garage just north of the location which will run you about $14. All in all- I liked this spot to connect with friends and enjoy a drink. But if you go- be sure to sit at the bar for Karl will take excellent care of you! read more

Housed in one of the first brick buildings built in Chicago after the fire, the building is awash in original detail and/or historic artifacts. Built in 1883, from the original tin ceilings, wood floors, imported German stained glass windows and other fun stuff, the place has the authentic cham of yesteryear Chicago while being a comfortable, contemporary community treasure. Tuesday is half price wine night. Oh and BTW, the family owned House of Glunz Wine shop, also a treasure, is the oldest continually operating spirit house in the nation, so they have a great selection of interesting and reasonably priced wine (and beer). The food blew us away. Best described as a contemporary twist on classic German food as well as some hearty salad and fish options, everything, and I mean everything, was sensational. The food had a real authentic home style taste that only pride, talent and slow cooking can achieve. We had the roasted brussel sprouts, a beet, goat cheese, pistachio and caraway seed salad, sauteed red sauerkraut, and s salmon vegetable fish dish that were as home style delicious as it comes. The home made strudel was the final blew that brought the much sought gustatory orgasm we all desperately seek in our dining experiences. My final bit of advise, listen to Stephanie and order whatever she says. She's delightful and knows her stuff. read more

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We were entertaining friends from out of town and chose the restaurant on the strength of its German-Alsatian selections. When we arrived, we discovered that the menu online in no way reflected the offerings that night---the menu had been pared back to essentially a handful of appetizers and a schnitzel sandwich. The manager explained that they only had two people working in the kitchen and we were offered a discount on our final bill, so to their credit they did what they could do under the circumstances to ameliorate the situation. However, the experience was a disappointment. I would suggest updating the web site to reflect the actual offerings for theevening and informing people who make reservations by phone that the menu will be truncated. I do plan to visit them again in the future when their staffing issue is resolved and will review anew, since they did make an effort. read more

One of my favorite brunch places in Old Town. The staff is friendly, the food is great, and I love the old school vibe. The accompanying wine store is rated the best wine store in Chicago. My mommy likes it there. And my daddy likes the bourbon. Me? I like the scrambled eggs and milk. read more

The Glunz Tavern - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Menu wasn't the same as online. Better food can be found at your local high school cafeteria. Drinks were fine, place is cozy, service was ok. read more