Extremely great food! Very deceiving from the outside, but the turkey club and waffle fries were top notch! Smoked turkey on toast with lettuce and mayo! Fresh and tasty! The waffle fries are seasoned with crack I think. AMAZING! Oh, and the chicken parm eggrolls, perfect! Great service as well! read more

Kari's Rating 8.5/10 TLDR: -Sports themed bar with many TVs -Interesting variety of appetizers -Bathrooms look like a prison Came in for drinks about 6:30pm on a Wednesday and it wasn't too crowded since it was a bit early. I think there were some kind of corporate happy hour happening in the back, but a friend and myself just came in for quick drinks. I usually don't drink on the weekdays, so I ended up just getting an iced tea and him a tequila soda, but because I don't drink, we decided to get an appetizer and we browsed the menu for a minute and ended up splitting the Parmesan chicken egg rolls. Truthfully, I really just wanted to see what that would entail because it seemed a little disgusting or maybe even some kind of high-food, but to my surprise, it was actually a really crispy skinned pizza roll. I'm pretty sure it had been previously frozen, but in that moment- served with a side of marinara, I didn't really care. It was full of gooey melted mozzarella cheese and almost like a breaded chicken nugget center. Pretty decent as far as bar food goes. They also had crab rangoon to which I thought, "hmm are they doing a little too much?!" I'm sure drunk me would have gotten them years ago so what can ya do. Overall, quite a positive experience. The bartender was really sweet and everything wasn't super expensive. I've been in the neighborhood for such a long time, but I've actually never been here and I'm glad I came on a night that it wasn't chaotic. read more

See all

This is the second year we came into Theory to attend the Champions League watch party, and Theory keeps proving to me why I enjoy coming over to this bar for large games. There were a lot of TVs all around the bar, so you won't be tilting your head back to watch the game from any angle. Our server was new, but she did a great job with taking everyone's orders and also being very upfront about saying she will ask about the drafts on tap so she can give us an accurate drink selection. The food from Theory never disappoints. Last year, I had the Theory Burger and was delighted by how good it was. This year, I tried the Challah French Toast and it was pleasantly delicious. The Mac and Cheese was also a solid choice, and for $8, they provided a good amount of food! And that Chicken Parm Egg Roll...wow they were so good!! I was skeptical from the name, but this was like having a pizza roll but in egg roll form The only reason I am giving this place 4 stars is because Theory has severely up charged for the Champions League. I recall last year a reservation was $5/person, but this year they charged $15/person. For this reason, we came in at 9AM opening time for an 8-person table and were able to get one without having to pay the reservation fee. I really like how organized Theory is though, as a sports bar. Service has always been great and I may come again for another game! read more

See all

Came here during NBA playoffs with a friend, and it was packed inside and outside, but somehow we got seated right away. We ordered cocktails, couple beers, and the sweet potato tots, and the portion size was really generous. We came after dinner so it felt more like a bar food situation, though they do have real food on the menu too. Even with how busy it was, the staff way so efficient and checked on us often. The whole vibe was so much fun with TVs everywhere (see the pictures I attached) and the entire bar cheering for the same team. First time here and I'd definitely come back. read more

See all

Constantly busy place, but great to catch literally any game happening lol. The beer is solid and the food (specially the fries) are great! Super loud inside, and they have a nice little outside seating area that I enjoy in the summers. read more

Music was good, loved all the TVs - sadly food was just reheated bar food and beers on draft were tepid.

We came to the theory bar for trivia night. I ordered the Southwest egg rolls and the turkey wrap. Along with a Michelob ultra and a bottle of Joel Gott wine. Service was fine and relatively quick. The aviance is a typical sports bar looking type place. read more

See all

This place is fantastic to sit down, watch a few games, have a few drinks and enjoy. They handle crowds really well. I can't emphasize that enough! We walked in this afternoon while the Chicago Bears were playing the Lions, and it was super crowded but we found a table upstairs. Great environment, and the wait staff knows how to handle bouncing around keeping folks with full drinks and bellies. Very well done. The food? Terrific. The drinks? Awesome. We tried the wings and ended up with dessert (see below), all of which were delicious and far above what you would expect from a sports bar. This was more like gastropub quality, which is so delightful. We also had a bit of a wait on the wings (the system had a hiccup--it happens; no big deal), and waitress gave us free shots and dessert. Totally not requested and absolutely appreciated. The way they handled this left such a positive impression, and they were busy enough that they didn't have to go out of their way to apologize. This place is focused on how to treat and appreciate their customers! Terrific spot. read more

Theory - Skillet cookie and ice cream - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We went to Theory for trivia night and had a great time. The atmosphere was lively without being overwhelming, and the staff kept things moving smoothly even with a packed crowd. The food and drink was exactly what I needed after a long day. It's nothing special but sometimes you just need a good burger. Between the food, drinks, and trivia night energy, I'll definitely be back. - AD read more

Theory - Theory burger - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Our line of business hosted the holiday party here at "Theory." We had the entire second level to ourselves. In additions, we had the access to the bar, appetizers, and dance floor (with music DJ'ed by one of our talented colleagues). My favorite appetizer was the miniature grilled cheese and tomato soup in a shot cup. The tomato soup was more like tomato sauce in terms of the texture. The presentation was super cute and it definitely added sophistication to this simple classic comfort food. Other appetizers that were brought to the party were sliders and boneless nuggets with various dipping sauces. The bartender who served me was nice to accommodate me with zero percent Guinness since I don't really drink. I have always been curious about this place. I would say "Theory" is a sports bar, serving the typical and creative bar food according to a plethora of pictures posted on Yelp. If I ever poke around this area with friends, I will keep this establishment in mind. Thank you for the staff members who helped make our holiday party a successful one! read more

Shauna was our waitress and she was absolutely amazing! Monday night football and ncaa basketball and she was patient with the crazy fans. This place has lots of great tvs the food and the drinks are great. We would definitely be back - thank you Shauna!!! read more

See all

Stopped in before heading to a noon game at soldier field. They opened before 8 and had the international football game on all TVs. The service was friendly, the drinks were good, and the vibes here high. We will definitely go back next time we are in the city. read more

Theory - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Came here around 7 o'clock on a Thursday night, for a football game, lots of TVs and they have game audio. It was very busy, they have indoor outdoor seating, we did not have a reservation, but we were seated immediately! Our service was pretty good for how busy it was! We did order a decent amount of food and drinks, but it was a little pricey. 4 stars just because my wrap was supposed to be on a brioche bun... and that was the whole reason I ordered it, and they didn't let me know they were out of brioche until my food came out. Over all pretty good experience! read more

See all

Unless you look straight up at the ceiling or straight down at the floor, it is not possible to look anywhere in the place and not see at least two TV's. A true sports bar where there no matter where you're sitting or standing, you'll have a good view of the game. Speaking of the game, this is one of the Boston sports bars in Chicago. While I am not a big sports guy, it's nice that when the mood strikes, I can go to a place where most are rooting for the same team I am. It has a bigger impact on the vibe than I could have expected. I was here for a Patriots game once, and it was a very enjoyable experience. Theory is modern, bright (at least in daytime), and has ample space for fans, be it sitting or standing). The bar service also did a great job making sure that folks weren't waiting too long for a drink. I also recall free shots being passed around after the Pats scored a touchdown! Really nice of them to do so, and added to the festive atmosphere. Finally, where it comes to the food, it is highly forgettable. I hate to say this, but having tried the boneless wings and crab rangoons, I've had better from the freezer section of the supermarket. While this would ordinarily cost a place some points, I am treating Theory as a place to watch a game and get a beer, not as one to eat. Thus, unless you're comfortable drinking on an empty stomach, I recommend you eat somewhere else before stopping in. Thus, we are left with Theory solidifying its spot as one of two Boston sports bars that I see myself going to when I feel like catching a game from the place I called home for almost 30 years. read more

See all

Went here to watch football playoff games and the experience was amazing. They have TVs everywhere and during commercial breaks, they pay really good, upbeat music instead of having to listen to commercials. The food and drinks were also incredible. Would highly recommend the skirt steak nachos. All kinds of beer on tap and the service was amazing. Multiple people coming to check on you, including the manager who checks in on guests as well. If you're watching a game or want a cool sports bar to go to, I would highly recommend this place. read more

Went for love island night and it was super fun plus great drinks so yummy. Service was a bit slow but food was good

The sliders, wings (buffalo and regular), rangoons, fried Oreos and tacos were excellent. The atmosphere was great while we watched Thanksgiving football, respectful atmosphere. The service was excellent, no complaints about this place. Definitely will be back. read more

On a recent visit to Chicago, my wife and I stopped by Theory to watch the Warriors play in the first game of the conference semi-finals. We wanted to find a Warriors fan-base away from home we could cheer with, and with just a little bit of searching around on Yelp, Theory was recommended. In short, there's no better spot in Chicago to watch a Warriors game. The hyped up crowd here really gets into the game and the energy is infectious. On big plays, you'll definitely see fans high-fiving other fans sitting around them. If you check out the photos of Theory, you'll know that the place has every imaginable wall covered with a TV, even in the hallway to the bathroom. Since we just came from dinner, we were unfortunately too full to try any of the food. However, if you're just here for drinks, they have a wide selection of beers on draft and plenty of well-drinks you can order as well. Overall, I had a fantastic night and I would 100% come back again to watch a Warrior's game. read more

In town for the Bears - Packers game, great food and service! Sam gave us the midwest welcome! We'll be back! Go Bears! read more

Food very average at this sports bar. Very busy, a little short staffed but lots of TVs for watching sports. The tab came for dinner of us and it was $135 plus tip which seemed expensive for what we had and with average food. read more

Theory is the definition of a sports bar -- TVs everywhere. No matter where you sit or stand, you'll have a clear view of the game, which makes it perfect for big matches or watch parties. I came for some F1 races and it was a blast -- lively crowd, high energy, and an easy place to get caught up in the excitement. The drinks were decent, pretty typical for a sports bar, but that's not really why you come here. Overall, a fun time and definitely the spot if you want to watch the game surrounded by fans. read more

Cute little bar with good bar food. I had a burger, while my husband had a chicken wrap. Everything was great. The burger was a decent size and the sweet potato fries had the perfect crunch. Service was also great and very accommodating. read more

Theory - Grilled Cali Wrap with tator tots - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Nice little place. Came in for a beverage and some small bites. Missed being able to order from the Brucnch menu but barkeep made some good suggestions. Drinks were good. Try the old fashioned. read more

Theory - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time here as my coworker suggested this bar after the Bears game to continue having a few more drinks and watch other Sunday football games. The place was packed, and we were told they were in a transition between people closing out once the Bears game was over and other people coming *from* the game. Everyone we encountered from the host and hostesses to our server were actually really friendly and took great care of us. They have a million TVs in here so you'll never an issue watching any game here. The only reason I took a star off is because our food was very meh! The chips and queso dip didn't do much for me, and the wings themselves were not that great. They weren't awful, and did the job... but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back and eat them again. Maybe other food is actually good here though! Would definitely come back to try other food while drinking here! read more

Theory - Chips Queso and Buffalo Wings - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

While in town visiting family, we wanted to find a location to watch the Sunday football game. I found Theory through a Google search and decided to visit. Just as their website states, Theory is an upscale sports bar that offers an eclectic menu in a slick, loungey space with plentiful plasma TVs. We made our reservations on OpenTable which was quick and easy. Immediately upon arrival, we were greeted by hostess and taken to our table. What I enjoyed the most is that they asked us which game we wanted to watch prior to taking us to a table. They will take you to a table that is in the section where that particular football game is/will be played. I thought this was a perfect touch to customer service, as they were ensuring customers can view the game that they came to see. There are a bunch of TVs inside, which cover every single football game that is on. Please be mindful that it is very noisy. I almost think the TVs are a tad bit too loud. However, it does remind you of being at a football game in person. We ordered a few items: the traditional chicken wings with honey bbq sauce, waffle fries, and the Herky Cheesesteak with waffle fries. Everything was delicious! For drinks we ordered a lemon drop martini and a vodka/cranberry. Please be mindful that those wings are extremely saucy. I almost wanted to wipe them down before eating them. The waffle fries were amazing! They were fried to perfection. The cheesesteak was delicious as well. Overall, an amazing experience! I will definitely visit here again. read more

See all

A cool dive bar which happened to be close to the Kenzie hotel we were staying at in downtown. A bonus it's a sports bar with tons of tvs. Sadly, it's a patriots bar. I'm a bills fan! Hahaha. The service was super fast for our beverages came out right away. They also have happy hour specials which is nice and convenient. We didn't try the food, but I saw someone with an AMAZING looking burger which I want to try next time! Definitely check this place out! read more

Theory - Yummy drinks - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was good, waitress was kind, overhyped sports bar. Paid $10 to sit near a tv on the reservation but there were over 20 TVs so you don't need to pay that. The staff member in charge of the TVs ignored our request for 1 TV to have the women's March madness tournament on because the "game wasn't close" so the "boys in the back will be mad." Yet, Duke and TCU had a 23 pt difference and the Iowa FDU game was 10. He decided to split screen 1 girls game but then changed it to wrestling. They made sure we knew that they supported Caitlin Clark before we left (was a strange rationalization). It ruined the full March madness experience since they only put 1 game on all 20+ TVs rather than filling the bar with different games. read more

Good place to watch games, good service, but the food and drinks here are extremely over priced. $17 for chips and guacamole, $18 for 8 wings, $25 for chicken quesadillas, just to name a few egregious examples. The food is fine, but just beware that can plan to spend about as much here as you would at a nice dinner for Chili's quality food. read more

(Last visited 7/24/2021.) Hanging out downtown Chicago for the weekend with a bunch of friends and you already know what time it is... time for brunch! So before coming out here I did some research to find out who serves bottomless mimosas because... that's of the utmost importance to me. Lol. So I found this place, Theory, only a 10-minute walk from my hotel so here we are! Here's how it went. Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right on Hubbard Street is this gem. It's like a sports bar, but a little more upscale. It gave me GOOD hipster vibes, good energy and I really liked hanging out here. The restaurant was of a medium size, which I think it great for a big city downtown location. Service: I can't remember the young lady's name who took care of us, but she was awesome. She was snarky, fun, energetic and made sure our table of 6 had everything we needed for the hours we stayed there. Lol. Food: So any chance I can try a restaurant's wings, I like to. It's my thing, if you haven't learned that by now. Lol. The first of 2 flavors was the "Kill Bill" wings. These reminded me a lot of the "Bang Bang" sauce that I've seen at so many restaurants. It was delicious, creamy, savory, garlicy and just a TTAADD bit sweet. Decent. The next flavor was their Buffalo. It had a great, classic flavor which I really enjoyed. The bottomless mimosas were on point and had me feeling GGRREEAATT. Lol. Value: The wings are sold by the pound. So you could get 6, 7 or 8 depending on their size. My Kill Bill order came with 7, but Buffalo came with 8. $16.00. That's STEEP. I know we're downtown, but eh... whatever. Still steep no matter how you look at it. Drinking unlimited sparkling wine helps with paying more for stuff. Lol. So, on Saturdays and Sundays this place offers a bottomless mimosa package for $45.00 that lets you drink from 11:00am to 2:00pm. In the package include the drinks, unlimited Bloody Marys and an entrée. (The wings counted, though I can't remember if they let me combine 2 orders or if I payed for the extra one. No matter.). Bring your wallet if you're coming to hang out. In conclusion, I'd totally come back here and try out some of their other menu options out. I know they are more than their wings so I'd love to try out a burger or one of their specials! read more

Logged in to yelp for the first time to submit this review. We were told twice by their staff that they will show formula 1. we were greeted and told to go upstairs only to be asked "is f1 racing?". 5 seconds later another staff member shouted "get out of my f****** way" as we were standing to see if we can actually see the f1 qualifying. It was also full anyway with people watching other sports so my recommendation for watching f1 is to go to other pubs and ask nicely to show it and that worked for us :) Edit: owner said I came in late in their reply. No i did not i arrived there 15mins before. And waited for the employee to guide us. When we did an employee bumped into us cursing at us whilst the other was not sure what f1 is. Can't reply to your comment so have to leave this here. read more

Great sports bar with tvs in every wall from every angle. Servers are attentive and constantly checking on you and bring your next drink before the first one finishes. I tried the sliders and mac n cheese. Perfect sliders juicy not dry and the mac has 3 cheeses one of the best I have had. Overall great place to watch a boxing match or sports game! read more

See all

Theory is a perfect sports bar. Definitely would recommend for a game you really want to watch! The vibe was unmatched. I went for the Timberwolves and Nuggets game 7 and it was so fun. So many screens it's great for all viewing points on a table. The salad was pretty good. And really fast service too! read more

Visiting Chicago from Houston, TX; Great atmosphere, good drinks, awesome food!! Owner welcomed everyone in and asked if watching particular game so the TVs could be set accordingly. Great customer service! Anita our waitress was awesome! read more

Theory - Bloody Mary and White Claw! - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not a bad place to watch a game. While the bar probably skews to a younger demographic later at night, the location was convenient to the hotel for an afternoon stop. Great service and there are screens everywhere to satiate every sports fan. The tap lineup was impressive with fair prices considering its in River North. For food, solid menu items. My buffalo chicken wrap was tasty and like the beer, priced fairly. If you are in the area and want to watch a game/match, Theory delivers. read more

Theory - Buffalo chicken wrap with tots - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice neighborhood sports bar. We stumbled in after a night of bar hopping just craving dessert and the cookie skillet was a great fix. There was a fight playing on all of the televisions. As people who could care less about the fight, we didn't feel neglected by server nor that it was too loud. Fun time, great snacks, and good service. read more

Theory - Cookie skillet and tots/fries - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This spot is AWESOME! I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a bar with great vibes, awesome music, and the most friendly staff. The food was also really good, I personally loved the chicken tenders and fries! I will 100% be back at this spot everytime I visit Chicago! read more

Outstanding sports bar for out-of-town fans. Dozens of big screen TVs, sports swag, team specific rally songs all combined to make Theory a must see. Our 2 day old server was attentive and friendly. The snacks hit all the marks for GameDay treats. In addition to a great beer selection, they carry an added bonus of a CBD/THC seltzer! We got there for the Bears and Patriots game two hours prior to the kickoff with a party of 10. We reserved a table a month prior to the game. We all had a great time and we recommend Theory for visiting sports fans staying in downtown Chicago! read more

I went there for a Steelers playoff game and the atmosphere was great! Fans from both teams, good beer selection, yummy chicken quesadillas and decent prices. Sad we lost the game, but will go back if I'm ever in town again for a big game (regardless of sport or team, they'll have it on for ya!) read more

What a great F1 season kickoff at Theory! Sat bartop and the attentive bartender was amazing. No judgements are given for mimosas at 8:30 on race day, but I ordered a tasty Margarita. The chiliqueles were spot on, green chili salsa compliments the eggs, chicken and tortilla chips perfectly. Can't wait to go back! read more

Theory - F1 Brunch, Margarita and chicken chilaquiles. - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

2 warm beers from two different taps... service colder than the beer for sure. Food was regular bar food. TV situation is top notch for watching games. Ambiance ok. read more