Food rating: 3.4/5. Ambiance rating: 4.3/5. The food was mediocre. I would not come back here for the food, but I would 100% come back for a drink. Great vibes in the pub. Tons of memorabilia. Red Lion Pub has a great energy to it. read more

This is in the top tier of English Pubs in Chicago. First, the decor has all the traditions of England - a unique set of wartime posters and fun quotes. I love the overall feel with its high ceilings and a fireplace that makes it feel comfy. The food doesn't disappoint either. Lots of usual pub selections but elevated. Our typical go-tos are the curry chips, Mac and cheese and Shepards Pie. All are exceptional. The drink menu is great as well. No surprise, they have a long list of beers on draft and bottles. What I enjoy most is the long list of great ciders and fruit flavored beers. I nice way to mix it up. Finally, always great service. Waiters and bartenders are never shy to share their recommendations and are super friendly about it. read more

Great service, great beer and good desserts! Everyone is so nice and the inside is very pretty!

My friends and I came here after the Lincoln Park Wine Fest and had such an amazing experience. Our waiter was very welcoming and personable! My two friends wanted to split the four cheese toastie and tomato soup, and their food was plated separately so they wouldn't have to share a plate. I thought that was such a thoughtful touch. I got the fish and chips, and the fish was perfectly cooked and crisp, I really enjoyed it. On top of that, our waiter gave us a free dessert since we were feeling down about not being able to use all of our tickets at the wine fest. I think it was a toffee cake with vanilla ice cream and caramel, and it was delicious. 10 out of 10, would come back again! read more

Service is good and friendly. It is such a cool vibe, the interior, the atmosphere. We had just eaten the day we visited so we didn't order food but I'm interested in coming back and trying the food. read more

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Service was great, food was pretty good but would have liked a little more flavor. The decor is a fun vibe, would go back. read more

The Red Lion Pub - Corned Beef Sandwich - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a cool vibe! You almost feel like you're in another country. Definitely a hidden gem in Lincoln Park with history all over the walls! Went for the fish & chips and wasn't disappointed. Our server was awesome! read more

The Red Lion Pub - Outside - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loved my dining experience at The Red Lion Pub. Made a reservation with friends and we tried the pretzel (amazing) and I had the Shepherds Pie (amazing). My friends loved their orders of the cheese toasted and the chicken sandwich. Our server was the best and checked in with our table frequently. Great place for a small group of friends, a date, or even a large party. read more

The Red Lion Pub - Shepherd's Pie - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very fun, the vibes are great but so tight in space and takes forever to get a drink (my bartender forgot about my drink so I may have waited longer than usual). There are big tables for larger parties and bar seating for smaller parties. A little loud and enjoyed my time. read more

I have been here a handful of times and the Red Lion Pub never disappoints. The ambiance draws you in, but the food and service will keep you coming back. Great selection of draft beers from across the pond, best fish & chips in Chicago and the staff is friendly and accommodating; especially a fella' named Colin. Would recommend for meeting up with friends or family. read more

The Red Lion Pub - Shared Fish & chips - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

cool, unique spot in Lincoln My recs: Irish handcuff + burger & fries A great place to hang out with friends! It feels like the perfect escape from a typical Chicago pub. You can feel the care and attention to detail that's been put into this place. Cheers read more

The Red Lion Pub - Fish and Chips - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The best and coziest ambiance! Usually just go for drinks but I tired their burger and it's so good! read more

The Red Lion Pub - Pub burger - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Red Lion is outstanding! It's a private library, military museum, and pub all rolled into one. It has amazing artwork, books, a fireplace and solid pub food and drinks to boot. The staff is courteous and well informed as well. This is a great place to grab a pint and a bite or just stop in for a visit and to have a look around. read more

The Red Lion Pub - Bar area - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was a blast from the past from me. I spent many an evening here with the previous owner (John Cordwell) and the current owner (Colin Cordwell). Many a night was spent watching movies while having a meal or drink. I was not prepared for what I walked into when The Doctor and I went there for a meal. The original Red Lion, while it had a second floor, most of the activity took place on the first floor. There was the main bar, some tables in the front and a fireplace. Walking into the Red Lion, I was amazed at the transformation! I felt like I had walked into an English country estate library room. The second floor was gone, and the main room had an expansive view. The walls were covered in books and interesting memorabilia. While everything was new, it was good to see that the TV and Colin were still there. I will say the food was better than I remember, definitely a step up from general bar food. The Irish Nachos were a big hit with me, and I would definitely get those again. The Scotch Egg was also very good, but I am a sucker for those. The mac and cheese with the fried egg was a good side and the Shepherd's Pie was delish as well. The Doctor got a half house salad with chicken. While it was only a half of a salad, there was a lot of chicken on that sucker. The Ploughman's Plate was also a nice side, definitely would recommend that as a snack if you want something to munch on while having drinks at the bar. And they have bubbles, so that is a win win for me. Service was a little slow, but not a deal breaker as there was one person serving as hostess and waiting the tables. Staff is friendly and Colin is still Colin, full of jokes and a good conversationist, so it was great to reconnect. Jake, another bartender, was also lovely and good company. So glad to see that The Red Lion is still around and doing well. Definitely will be adding this to our rotation of places to hang. read more

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I love the atmosphere here - I kept saying I would love to come here and work or do homework because it's so homey with the tall ceilings and feels like an old library but is also so light and airy in the front room. It's great to be able to hear the people you are sitting with for good conversation! I wish they had a happy hour, but they don't. Note if you order wine, there's a chance they opened the bottle multiple days before (my friends wine was sour and we sent it back). This is definitely more of a beer place. That being said, they really FILLED the 5 oz glass which I appreciated. To eat I got the curry and it was actually very delicious. For $20 I was expecting a bigger portion, but it was quite tasty. Overall, the atmosphere is so iconic here that I would go back. Food and drinks were pretty much what you would expect, but I just loved the setting! read more

The Red Lion Pub - Interior - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great burgers, and top tier Fish 'N Chips, in a very friendly crowd. As British as a Chicago "Pub" can be.

The beer pours here are solid. I particularly recommend the Belhaven Scottish Ale nitro pour, the Guinness, and the Old Speckled Hen. The food here is also a cut above the usual bar fare. The pretzel is huge and coated with a buttery glaze. The burgers are spectacular; meaty and compact with a simple cheese and onion garnish. The fish and chips is solid, as well, and not at all greasy. For dessert, get the pot de creme. Its as creamy as jello pudding and studded with a scorched layer of marshmallow, tantalizing your inner smore lover if you have one. read more

What a great bar!! We met friends here the other night for drinks. Our server was friendly and we got our drinks quickly. I love the overall atmosphere and decor- so cool! We all got the draft and whiskey shot special (Irish Handcuffs) for $13- great deal! If we hadn't already made dinner reservations we probably would have stayed because we were having fun and because the table next to us ordered dinner and their meals all looked fabulous. read more

The Red Lion Pub - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This review is for an early lunch for three in the front dinning room on a Saturday in mid-February. service: Jake was awesome. Very professional and incredibly knowledgeable. bar: Excellent draft list. I drank Guiness ($9 for 20 oz. as of 02/2024) and it was great. Shout out for having Old Speckled Hen on draught! They keep most of the Samuel Smith offerings in bottles, if that's your thing. food: My wife had the wedge salad plus chicken ($20), I had the Four Cheese Toastie with a side of tomato soup ($17), and another person had Shepherd's Pie ($20). Everything was fresh made, high quality, and very enjoyable. details: We were able to snag street parking, but that appears to be the exception, not the rule. The interior is fantastic, especially if you're a military history buff or Anglophile. The books and memorabilia are not to be missed. We especially enjoyed the fireplace on this frosty day. read more

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Awesome food, awesome service. Our waitress was rather brusque, but she got the job done and she did a good job at it at that. Love the books lining the walls, love the pictures and history that goes along with them. Loved everything about it. read more

This is our favorite bar in the city! Now here is my caveat - this is a place to come and speak to your friends or GOD FORGIVE make new friends by speaking to strangers IRL. Don't be that weirdo who sits and scrolls through ticktoc at the bar. BOOOOO! Make a friend, use your skills of conversation and strike up a conversation - trust me these are your people. My fellah and I enjoy a boozy brunch here monthly. We meet new friends every time or chat with the amazing Owner Colin and bartender Jake. Are you a history buff then Colins is your guy to strike a conversation with always. I love the food here. It is authentic as can be for a place on this side of the pond. The scotch egg rocks my world every time. The ambiance is grand - high ceilings, library feel with the English pub mentality. Tell Colin and Jake Gigi and Robin sent you. read more

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Coolest pub in the city!! I have been looking for a good English pub ever since I moved to Chicago 2 years ago, but most of the pubs in the city same to be essentially the same copy and paste pub style. The Red Lion Pub broke this trend with its unique, beautiful decor, cozy atmosphere, rich history, and outstanding service. We sat at the bar for our first visit and were immediately greeted by the owner who also served us throughout our visit. He was more than happy to tell us about the history of the pub and it's unique design, the family business, and fun facts about the history of European wars. The walls are covered in artifacts, art, books, and photos that really contribute to the overall atmosphere of the pub. With warm lighting and a fireplace, this will be my perfect winter reading spot! We had a couple drinks and split the fish and chips, which came with a big enough portion to fill two adults - also it was tasty! The pub was decently busy and we still got our food within about 8-10 minutes. I love supporting local, family owned businesses like the Red Lion and I can honestly say I have never had an experience quite like the one I had here. I felt so cared for and valued as a customer and will be returning for cozy pub stays this fall and winter. read more

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Came to get a beer with a friend after we had finished lunch down the street. There were people on the patio watching the Bears game. We sat down in parlor first inside unsure how service worked. Proceeded to go to bar thinking it would quicken the process... Eventually went back to table so server could take our orders. Was quite pleased with the design of the bar. The paint, layout of the chairs, fire escape. It looked like it could be someone's apartment or movie set. read more

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Oh man this is a cool place. The book collection here is expansive. We chatted with the owner and he explained how he came to own so many books. Nice guy. The drinks are good. Reasonable prices for the area. Will definitely return !! read more

Cleaner and more airy in feel than your typical British pub, this library-meets-pub, is a good spot to hang out for awhile, or even work (upstairs would be especially good, excepting the trek back down to the bar.) Reasonable prices despite the upscale neighborhood it is located in. They got my cider order wrong, but I still enjoyed it :) Recommended! read more

The Red Lion Pub - End of the bar - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very cool spot in trendy Lincoln Park. A ton of history on the shelves and their DNA. It sits across the street from the Biograph Theater. If you're a Chicago history fan, that's pretty cool spot. Now, the food was great; fish and chips, beef stew, and a variety of English fare. It's all served by a great staff! Good stop if you're hanging out, or just there for a show (the Apollo is down the street). Enjoy! My compliments to the entire staff there! read more

A lovely evocative place with good food. However, I received an up charge of $ 8 for a Beefeater martini. I think that is way out of line. I will not be going back for this reason. The read more

Met a group of friends/ family here on a Thursday night. The place is beautiful, books everywhere and some of the most unique atmosphere. We were happy to get a long table for 8 people. They had a range of European beers on tap and a nice menu on the smaller side. We enjoyed a pretzel to share, which came with a good cheese dip. The half lion salad was good but a little pricey for the portion. The fish and chips was delicious and a huge portion. The curry fries were also tasty. Friends liked the scotch egg. The corned beef sandwich was bland and had very little meat, and all the dips tasted the same. The waitress was ok but seemed annoyed and was not overly friendly. Overall a cool spot to grab a beer with friends! read more

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English bar in chicago. Nothing local on draft. Everything is marco. A guy tries to order wings. Bartender m: "No wings, but we have Fish & Chips"! This place isn't real. Its too much theme and too little actual. 3 stars. It could be Worse ‍ and its soooooo funny! read more

The Red Lion Pub - Interior layout. - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is great. Motivated to review because I overheard staff discussing how to handle a seemingly-overreacting unhappy customer, they acknowledged to themselves they'd have to live with a bad Yelp review. So: they were super-busy yet the staff took great care of me. Food was superb.g read more

Such a cozy pub with a lot of amazing details. Extensive imports for beer, wine and ciders. Sat in the front of the restaurant near the fireplace and enjoyed all the food. Fish and chips were delicious and the food is very reasonable in price. We will be back for sure. read more

I'm part of a large group that meets at the Red Lion regularly and they do perhaps the best job of dealing with a large group that I've yet seen. Individual checks based on some impeccable system of notation involving numbering that always gets people's meals directly to them. A waiter with a clear voice that cuts through the noise and gets to everyone's ears. No pressure about minimums from each group member. And most importantly, my fish and chips is great! Huge pieces of steaming hot, break-apart cod, a vinegary tartar (with extra malt vinegar provided should you feel called), crispy fries whose only drawback is not being salty enough, but that's easily remedied. I look forward to trying their other items, but I can't quit that fish and chips. read more

Cozy. Nice serving sizes. Not too big. Tasty Get a seat by fireplace. Yum. Xxxxxxxxx read more

This pub is a gem. I almost don't want to write about how great it is lest it get too crowded, but it's already popular. The interior is cozy and unique, quite authentic. The food was excellent, especially the smoky salmon dish. Fish and chips - great! Service was especially friendly and attentive, and bathrooms were spotless. My new fave! read more

The Red Lion Pub is a true classic. Majority of their beers are imported and very tasty. The staff is the most incredible part of this place - very knowledgeable, friendly, and genuine people. I love the ambiance as well, especially surrounded by all of the books - rumor has it, they're 1/5th of the owners personal collection. So cool. The food is also a highlight, fish and chips, crispy chicken sandwich, Shepards pie, Bavarian pretzel with cheese and French onion soup just to name a few. You're really missing out if you don't stop here for at least 1 imported beer. read more

The Red Lion Pub - Bar - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Quite a fun atmosphere in this strange mix of Irish Pub, WW2 memorabilia, and library. We came before the show at the Biograph. The menu is heavy on the usual Irish comfort food fare, the corned beef sandwich wasn't too heavy and the fries were very well cooked without a sense of being greasy. The coffee pudding was a lovely addition. Like most places the service is stretched, it a tad slow and it was quite hard to get the check at the end, but they were kind and we understood. read more

The Red Lion Pub - Pubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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great food, poutine is awesome. owner is great and the decor has history next to none

Very pretty place to go for a cocktail. A bit disappointing that the vodka choices were limited. (But the tulip shaped martini glasses were great!) Service was fine. I think this place might be great for dining alone at the bar. Bathrooms are gorgeous. read more

Came on a Sunday for lunch and the bartender was the only one working. Granted they weren't busy but it took quite a while for the bartender to finally give us service and he asked us what we wanted to drink. I asked for a cocktail list and his reply: "we're a pub. We don't make cocktails". Thought that a very bizarre comment to make when he had a full bar behind him and jiggers/shakers off to the side. It's was very clear that he could make cocktails with what was right behind him. He also asked us if we had a chance to look at the food menu to which we replied "well we looked at it online" and he cuts me off and tells me that it's 10 years old and none of it is accurate. This is the moment we were finally given a physical menu and wouldn't you know it, the menu was the same except the prices were different. He was overall unwelcoming and we just wanted a little snack and a cocktail- we left and went to another establishment. Pretty disappointing since I took my friend there who was visiting from out of town because I heard great things. The atmosphere here is great though, hoping we just caught this place on an off day. read more

A great quite spot to go for dinner and a few drinks (the environment is incredibly calming and peaceful). They have a great beer selection and the staff is super friendly. All of the food looked great - the fish and chips were a great option but a bit pricey as others have said. read more