To be honest, I only found Theory because it was literally the only restaurant in downtown Chicago that had a reservation on OpenTable for 18 people on a Sunday for brunch last minute. It had 4 stars on Yelp, so why not go here? I am sooooooooo glad I did! First of all, it is very spacious for a restaurant in the heart of downtown Chicago. They had my party of 18 at a long table by a private TV room (perfect for kids to play in!). Staff was on their game and very helpful (They even divided our large party's bill according to person/couple). The food was good! My wife and I ordered the cinnamon donuts (Wow, we could have eaten an entire plate of those!) and the egg nachos. Both were perfect and satisfying. Also, if three in your party check-in on Yelp, you all get a 15% discount on your entire bill. We did that and our entire party of 18 for the discount! I definitely recommend Theory especially for a large party! read more

Theory - Egg nachos. - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a great bar to watch the Pats play if you can get there early enough to secure some seats on the main floor. The second floor isn't as great for football anyway. The service was on point and the beer was good. However, the food was a huge let down like big time. I didn't even finish it cause it wasn't good. read more

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I came for a YELP event for Halloween, and although I thought it was a nice and really trendy as many of the downtown area clubs or sports bars are. This one was no exception. Although I had a good time, it was kind of crowded afterwards as I stood to mingle with the regulars and they wanted photos since I was in full gear. I am giving them a four star due in part that no club is ever perfect, but their waitresses are awesome. Always attentive and always making sure our drinks were filled, of course this is why they got tipped the way they did. As Yelper's our duty also is to make sure the venues, are also taken care of. And I don't mind tipping excellent service. Come by and give them a try and check them out for yourself. And if you are worried about parking, by all means use their valet, but I found parking fairly easy on the next block. Really nice area, safe and this club is really nice as far as the staff and the look. At the time of course they had sports playing (ummm after all its a sports bar). I did get to try their lettuce wraps and was quite pleased with the taste, but the small pork shredded sliders hmmmm, the bread was a tad bit hard and that was actually the consensus of all that I spoke to. Still, all in all not a bad place for a small bite and of course their Pumpkin concoction with whiskey (I am thinking for the holidays) was super good for sure. read more

Theory - Pumpkin pizza? Nice. - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I don't mind going to a place and putting some money down for good food, drinks and a good time, but what I do not like it being played like a fool. I asked the waiter for a drink recommendation she bring me a lemon drop martini which was ok but not $70 worth for 3 martinis?!! I had also asked for the price of a bucket of Heineken and I was told $25 when I get the bill she also charged $70 for 2 bucks of 5 beers ?!!! They definitely take advantage of people by misleading people with prices. Food was ok but also didn't get what we ordered. We kept as is since it took forever to get it. I wouldn't recommend. I actually did question the waiter but as you mentioned it was Christmas and I didn't want to make a big deal about it. If she didn't bring it up to your attention was because she didn't find it important enough or didn't care enough to correct the situation as I mentioned to her. The wings we ordered with sauce on the side (garlic parm and buffalo) but instead got them smothered in garlic parm in which we couldn't even eat ( maybe you noticed on plate when we left). I have no complaints on you as you were friendly and kind, but your waiter although she was very sweet she should make sure she provides correct pricing when asked for. read more

Terrible service terrible food don't recommend if visiting. Management had few words to remedy the situation at hand. Disgusting. Never coming back. read more

If you want to hear about my night, go check my review for 10pin bowling. Theory saved the night. There's a reason theory survivors the pandemic - their commitment to customer service and good fucking vibes. Theory pages the way for the rest of the entertainment industry in Chicago. This may sound embellished - but others should be taking notes. This up and coming establishment will be known to all in the next few years. Those who know, know the best kept secret in the city of Chicago. Come to theory. It's not a theory. It's a scientific fact. read more

Theory - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Best sports bar in river north! Their food is some of the best bar food out there and their staff is attentive and friendly! I always enjoy watching games at Theory! read more

We got here late afternoon on a Saturday. Looking for a spot down the street from the downtown condo and decided to check Theory. My wife and I knew this spot was great for brunch and a late night spot but didn't know how good the lunch food was. Since it was still lent, the wife and I decided to get the Totchos (half Tots, half nachos and tons of deliciousness) and tacos (shrimp for the wife and fish for me). The food came out and the totchos just melted it or mouthes. It was Tots, cheese, jalapenos, guacamole and sour cream. Just think about those ingredients and start drooling now. They are too DIE for! The tacos were on point for an American spot. What I'm raving about this place is the service! They are all friendly and couldn't have asked for more. They were attentive yet not overwhelming. They knew the right amount of time to check up and when they did so, they were friendly and polite. We definitely would recommend this place and visit again! read more

Theory - Totchos...Tots + nachos = delicious - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I tried to make a reservation earlier in the day for my party of three, but apparently you can only make reservations here for party size of four and up. So we walked in on a Friday night at around 7pm, and there were plenty of empty tables. The service was quick and good. Our drink orders were taken right away, and our food came out quickly. Being a big burger fan, I ordered the French onion burger with a side of tater tots (you can choose between fries and tater tots). The burger was delicious, and the onion rings inside the burger was a nice touch! Overall, it's a pretty generic sports bar with lots of TVs. I thought it was unusually well-lit for a sports bar, but it seems like a fun atmosphere if you want to watch a game or come with a group of friends. read more

Theory - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A few factors are going into why this hidden gem gets a 5-star review! We arrived about 11:15 to a completely packed Iowa Hawkeye friendly crowd. There were no open tables but we're told that we could park up to the ledge and get service either by the owner or a server. We started off with a mimosa for me and a miller lite for the boyfriend. Our server was super cute and had a bubbly, friendly demeanor about her the ENTIRE time. Even when the poor girl got beer showered on accident by an excited table. I had the California Benedict for brunch and the boyfriend had the BBQ Brisket Benedict. Both were served with a potato hash and full of awesome flavor. Not only was the food awesome at Theory but the service was above and beyond the norm you'd see in a busy sports bar. If I lived in Chicago, this would be our new Iowa bar because it reminds me so much of the bar in KC we love. Check it out. I hope everyone else enjoys it just as much as we did! read more

Theory - California Benedict - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here on St. Patrick's Day this year right after the River was turned green. We choice this place because it didn't have a line. Security did a great job of siphoning out trouble. Zero fights. Festive green drinks. Parade of bag pipes. Staff was attentive. Pub food that hits the spot when drinking. We left around 2:00pm, and there was a line down the block. Came here one other time this year after the Parts Town Convention. Service was still spot on. 10/10 would come here again. Great place for a date or groups. read more

Round 3 of 18 Yelp Burgers & probably the best burger of the 3 I tried. As usual after donating platelets @ Life Source I was ravenous. Theory is located @ 9 W Hubbard in The River North area. The parking is a little limited, but I lucked out with a space right in front of Theory. This is a bar/lounge restaurant. It was a little slow, but to be expected @ 2 pm in Sunday afternoon. I ordered my burger and had a Blue Moon while I was waiting. The burger came medium rare, (as ordered) with bacon, onion rings, mozzarella cheese, bbque sauce, & avacado. This was probably the best of the 3 burgers I had during this week of trying different burgers, but it was a little too salty. Theory has a nice ambience & an excellent burger read more

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It is a sports bar with tons of TV's. Seemed to be a soccer crowd who were enthusiastic about the game. It was not too loud and you could definitely carry on a conversation. The food was good. My husband had the chicken wrap and really enjoyed it. I had the turkey club with bacon which was tasty. The service was just ok. read more

Good sports bar with lots of screens. I was greeted right away and welcomed in for standing room only. Before I could order a drink the hostess found a table for me, so that was very nice. Service was slow--perhaps due to pandemic hiring issues. I hardly got to taste the food--WiFi didn't work and I couldn't pull up the menu. My server, who was very nice, finally dug up a paper menu and by then it was so late into the game that I ordered guacamole and chips. They were good and appeared freshly made on site. The menu was basic bar food, and I didn't get to taste anything other than the chips and guac, so I can't support the claim of "upscale". read more

Definitely more of a bar than a restaurant, the music was super loud and might not be the best place for a family dinner. However, the workers were very friendly and it seems like a nice place to have fun read more

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Great vibes. Wings are subpar. Really loved the fries, pretzels (not the cheese), and the skillet cookie though!

Absolutely phenomenal!! Our new favorite hangout in Chicago. EVERYTHING on menu is delish! Buffalo wings, Theory Club Sandwich, cheeseburgers, onion rings, decadent grilled cheese - all top notch! John, the owner, is like family - that's his business model & it shows. Lindsey, our server, is a doll & also an elementary teacher! (Rock the house on your upcoming production of "Annie," Lindsey!) Great bar & beer, Bloody Mary & cocktail selections, too. Cannot say enough positives about this place. I might go back in an hour or so to enjoy the bar. Go!! Do! Enjoy!! read more

Theory - Bloody good Bloody Mary Bar. Even have Tito's gluten free vodka! What a country!! - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Seriously great bar! I don't leave reviews often but the service was quick and the hostess even asked if we were hoping to watch a certain game and changed a TV for us. The nachos bites and south western salad were absolutely awesome. read more

I've not a huge sports fan, so I will say I haven't spent a lot of time in sports bars. I went with two friends who were huge Patriots fans to this Patriots bar near our workplace for last Thursday's Colts vs. Patriots game. Even though I'm not a Patriots fan, and sports bars are probably not my hangout of choice, being at Theory for the game was a very cool experience and one I'm glad I had. There's something really fun and energizing about being in a room full of people who are all rooting for the same thing, even if you feel like you have nothing in common with most of those people. It's really interesting seeing how friendly people get when they feel like they're on the same team - one guy bought my friend a beer with no pretext, and that was really nice. It's also nice that they give out little baby shots for every touchdown. I tried their cocktail "A F****ng Good Time Ain't Hurt Nobody," which was also really good and you could actually taste the blueberries. I doubt I'd ever come here alone, but it seems like a solid sports bar. The vibe/energy is, as my Patriots fan friend would put it, "this is a bar that so happens to like the Patriots" and I think that sums it up well. read more

The food was excellent. Atmosphere not great for kids (music). Excellent service. Burger was as good as any I've had in recent memory. The mac and cheese wedges/mozzarella sticks appetizer was excellent,as was the mac and cheese flat bread. read more

Theory - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here on a Sunday at noon to watch the Vikings game. It was pretty full but we were seated within minutes. We started of with the $20 blue moon pitcher and boneless wings. You get about 10 larger nugget sized wings. We were able to do half garlic parmesan and half honey sriracha. I liked the garlic parmesan better than the honey sriracha. The honey sriracha wasn't as spicy as I thought it would be. I would say for both types I wish they had a little more sauce. They were coated but when I think of wing I want them drenched in sauce. The chicken itself was juicy and tender. We also ordered the chips and queso. The queso was thicker than most but was still good. It had a slight kick to it. The chips fresh and not super salty. Overall the food was good and the service was pretty good considering how busy it was. I would recommend coming early if you want to watch a game or have a large party. read more

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

God damming Chicago did it again. Theory has real people real hospitality. Too good for Chicago for sure. Emily killed it behind the bar. Sam is. The. MOD. Solid staff solid drink. Dj is effin nasty. Chicago treasure. read more

Theory - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food and drinks. Had the wings they were fantastic. Super friendly management soon as I walked in asked what game I wanted to watch and changed a tv to the the saints game. Had a great time look forward to returning here in the future. read more

Great Sunday spot for NFL. Owner walks the bar to make sure your preferred game is on somewhere. Great beer selection and food is excellent as well. One of our go-to spots when in Chicago. read more

I usually go for PPV UFC Events! And it's totally awesome!! I recommend going to Theory every weekend if you can and want!

Love this place! Owner came up to my table of 8 and was very social and offered us shots for my sisters birthday. Food was amazing and highly recommend the brunch with $2 mimosas. read more

Came here for trivia and a basketball game with my friends after work in the west loop. The 4 round trivia game was run well and we also accidentally saw a proposal (see photos). It seems like this is a good place for friends and small groups to hang out. The food was okay just your standards wings and sliders bar food, will recommend to people looking for a place to try trivia as a starter! read more

Theory - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Love the owners and staff! Great place to grab a drink, sit outside and enjoy Chicago! read more

Theory - Mules and Oberon! - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The last experience I had at this bar was absolutely not what I had wanted or expected. I called on a weekday and asked if they had any reservations available for that coming Sunday. The lady on the phone was extremely rude and chuckled and said that they do not take reservations on game-days. Despite this, my group and I decided to go anyways that Sunday and showed up right when they opened (11am). When we arrived, the hostess asked us if we had a reservation. When I explained the situation, she said that she didn't know what I was referring to because they "always" take reservations on Sundays. She then told us that we could "maybe" get a table anyways without one. She escorted us to a table that was meant for 2 people. My group had 5. She pushed more chairs over and said that this was "all they have available". Annoyed, my group decided to stay anyways. I had looked online the night before and saw that they offered bottomless mimosas on the weekends. I asked the waitress about the mimosas and she said they stopped that deal already. I found this very aggravating because they advertise for the bottomless mimosa package all over their website. There was no date specified about when the deal ended. Over all, I was really upset with the way Theory handled everything. The food and drinks were very good, however. The atmosphere is great as well for football fans. I just don't think I want to go back after what my group experienced. read more

Nice place to chill out. Good bar food. I went for happy hour and was pleased with the drink selection. I got the pizza sticks which were okay 3.5/5, and a burger 4/5. The food isn't spectacular, but good for bar food standards. The atmosphere is what pushed it to 5 stars. Very relaxed, not too loud. Lots of TVs if you're going to watch a game. read more

Theory - Pizza sticks - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped by when in town from Indiana. Amazing atmosphere and experience. Drinks and food were so good. Perfect spot for Sunday football. The owner Joel is probably one nicest guys and most grateful owners out of any spot I've been to. Walking by and asking if he can get any other games on the TV and thanking us several times for the business. Truly a class act and great guy. Couldn't recommend this spot any more. Easiest 5 stars I've ever given. read more

This place is ridiculously tasty, the service was AWESOME. The owner came right up to us, sat and got to know us, and made us feel right at home. The ambiance was unmatched, they were on top of the bottomless mimosas all afternoon, the music was on point, and they catered the games to our liking. Come here!!!!! read more

Theory - Breakfast sliders and bottomless mimosas - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place was a wonderful experienced. We're so excited to have come here and watch a football game. The service is fantastic. They are fast and always keeps checking on us if we're doing okay. We ordered bang bang chicken, hamburger and beer. The ambience is clean and well organized. Lots of tv all over the place. Definitely a spot in west loop Chicago. read more

The owner was amazing in checking in with every table making sure the games folks wanted to see were on. Service was amazing, food was great. It was my buddy and I's first time here and Joel knows how to run a sports bar. Safe to say will be back quite a bit! read more

We have been there twice now and got the pleasure of being served by Anita both times. She is very attentive, kind, and personable. You can tell she enjoys our job and makes our stay aell worth it. Nevermind thw fact the food has been fantastic both visits. We will be back! read more

Had dinner here last night. It was really great food and the atmosphere was just right. It looks to be set up more as a bar than a restaurant in my view, which I liked, but since we had children in our group I was a bit hesitant. As it turned out the place was perfect and the kids fit right in without changing the atmosphere at all. I could tell they were comfortable too. Their pizza was very good (not deep dish though) and the other dishes that carried past our table looked tasty. There are plenty of good restaurants on the block for sure, but I do recommend this place if your in the area. read more

Theory - Pizza time! - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I walked in and asked for a seat at the bar there was literally one open seat and everyone was packed in like sardines didn't feel safe with covid to sit there so I asked the hostess for a table she then told me that I can't sit at a table because it would leave a larger party without a table (there was Atleast 10 tables open at a minimum) if your a larger group Atleast you can be comfortable here read more

Trivia on Tuesdays is super fun and the Kill Bill sauce for the wings is phenomenal!!

Really good bar. Tasty smash burger. Tons of TVs. Cold beer. Also easy walk from hitels

Great place to watch March Madness! They have the sound on for the games! Our server was super friendly and helpful!!