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    Third Rail Tavern

    3.8 (212 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Burgers, Sandwiches
    Closed 10:30 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Third Rail Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    THIRD RAIL TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Third Rail Tavern

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    Burger
    Kenna G.

    Very mid food, good service, and dive bar ambiance. Small outdoor patio. Ordered the chicken ceaser wrap, but it tasted like a southwest dressing. Friend did not like the cheese that came on the burger, it was like cheese whizz.

    Jayla D.

    Great local bar. Don't expect top tier service. You will get good food and good drinks

    Beer
    Jim R.

    Fun little tavern- stopped for a drink and beer. Had a wrap which was good but nothing special. Added the fire fries which are basic fries with a Cajun like seasoning- they were ok but just a basic fry. The service at the bar was quite friendly and be the reason I would go back.

    Entrance
    Bill U.

    Stopped in for a nightcap after dinner down the street, sat outside for vodka, twist of lemon. Goodnight!

    a glass of wine and playing cards
    Maria J.

    The best bartender in Chicago (aka Ben) works here! He is the best vibes and kindest guy to enjoy some drinks with! The bar has great vibes, music, and people. Highly recommend!

    Tavern style fries

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    15 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    14 years ago

    Cool place to watch games (Go Hawks!) and have beers...food is pretty decent too. Perfect neighborhood bar.

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    11 years ago

    Good bar for a game and some food. Relaxing atmosphere. Never too crowded and the staff is great! Didn't have to wait at all!

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    10 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Lively but not crowded. Good service. Good beer selection. Average food. Above average music

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    14 years ago

    Great staff, nice atmosphere, good selection of beers on tap, and the best burgers in the city!

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    13 years ago

    Beer menu is pretty good. Food wasn't what I had hope for though. Al in all not a bad place.

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    12 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    14 years ago

    Great neighborhood bar!! Friendly people and good food. Best bloody marys in the city!

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    13 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    19 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Very rude bartender here. Overcharged, and clearly some issues with racism permeate reviews and our experience wasn't any different.

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    10 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    17 years ago

    Incredible sliders, great service, good deals, ice cold beer, great location

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    15 years ago

    We went here before the Bull's game and had a great blue cheese burger, $4 bud light, and a great watiress! Definitely would go back!

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    12 years ago

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    Page 5 of 6

    Ask the Community - Third Rail Tavern

    Review Highlights - Third Rail Tavern

    My favorite sliders were the pulled pork and regular burger with Merkt's cheese (a soft, sharp cheddar).

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4(9.5k reviews)
    0.5 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$

    so glad we tried this place! we actually only waited about 15 mins to get seated at the bar on a…read morewednesday night around 7pm. we came here for my boyfriends birthday and we were so happy we chose to celebrate here. the two people that helped us was antonio and issa and they made the experience 10x better. they were very attentive and friendly and just easy to talk to. gave us good recommendations and good vibes. we both really liked our drinks and were happy with the spread the food came out. we got to eat the bone marrow first which also came with this really good sauce it was almost like a meat jam but was so good on the bread and then put some of the bone marrow on for the perfect bite. now the burger, you just have to try it because it really is that good. the sauce in it was so good and it just had a really good flavor. it was just an elevated burger. we got fries as well and we shared the burger so it we were really full after. the server brought out ice cream with a candle and some sort of chocolate sauce too which just made the overall experience. we were really happy with the service and food and it just made my bfs bday that much more special and memorable.

    Despite all the hype, it's really an average smash burger. This is a place that has capitalized on…read moresocial media hype and people wanting to say they've been here and thus are cool and trendy. But it is seriously just a greasy smash burger. Their fries are good, and actually stand out more than the burger. Everything is overpriced. I don't know why people complain about the wait; do some research like a responsible adult. I never just walk into a place and expect to be immediately seated, I call first - like anyone who has some sense. If they tell you the wait is 2 hours and you have 2 hours to kill, there are a bunch of bars in the area where you can have some drinks and an appetizer (and not feel like you're stiffing Au Cheval; they're the ones with the 2 hour wait, what do they expect people to do?) Not much to say about the decor or ambience; it's a typically loud West Loop bar with mostly 20 - 30 somethings all trying to one-up each other with their trendiness that instead makes them all basically clones of each other. It is crowded, and you're a moron if you think any place like this is suitable for your 5 year old. That's not the restaurant's fault - it's not Chuck E Cheese. Often I wish Yelp offered a 1/2 star option, because there are places that are a 4.5 or a 3.5. Not in this case. 3 stars is spot-on.

    Photos
    Au Cheval - The cooks were very attentive!

    The cooks were very attentive!

    Au Cheval - Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

    Au Cheval - Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

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    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

    Little Bad Wolf - Bad Burger and a side of mac and cheese

    Little Bad Wolf

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    7.1 miAndersonville, Edgewater
    $$

    There's just something about a burger that actually lives up to the hype--and Little Bad Wolf does…read moreexactly that. Stacked unapologetically high, this burger is everything you want and more: juicy, perfectly seared patties layered with melty cheese, crispy bacon, and those golden, crunchy fried onions that take it completely over the top. Every bite is rich, savory, and just messy enough to remind you you're eating something seriously good. The toasted bun somehow holds it all together (barely), soaking up every bit of flavor without getting lost in the chaos. And then... the shoestring fries. Thin, crispy, golden perfection--light but addictive, with that ideal crunch that makes it impossible to stop at just one (or ten). They're the kind of fries you keep reaching for without even realizing it, especially dipped in that creamy, tangy sauce on the side. And let's not forget the drinks--just as good as the food. Refreshing, perfectly balanced, and the kind you sip slow while taking it all in (but somehow they disappear way too fast). It's not just a burger--it's one of Chicago's most iconic bites for a reason. Bold, indulgent, and absolutely worth every single napkin you'll need after. The ambiance inside is GORGEOUS!

    My husband and I walked in on a Sunday evening for dinner and were able to be seated right away…read more The atmosphere is dark and moody, and it made sense once I realized it was the same owners as Gretel. Loved the 90s female R&B playlist they had going! Little Bad Wolf has been on my list FOR YEARS to try the burger! My husband got the burger with fried onions and I got some Bao because those also looked delicious and were a popular menu item. Honestly the 3 stars are only that high because of the service. Our server was friendly and attentive + the food came out hot and quick. Unfortunately, the food was pretty disappointing. The burger was swimming in a puddle of grease and just picking it up made your hands greasy + was dripping grease. The fries that came with it were floppy, soggy, and sad...but at least warm? I personally wouldn't order this again. The Bao were better, but small for the price and honestly were just okay? It was nice they gave you sauces you could add, but I found the Bao's to already have enough sauce so I didn't need them. Overall I left feeling confused and disappointed. I don't feel the need to come back here - Little Bad Will was a one and done experience for me.

    Photos
    Little Bad Wolf - Fresh flowers

    Fresh flowers

    Little Bad Wolf - Shrimp Tacos

    Shrimp Tacos

    Little Bad Wolf - Bad Burger with fried onion strings

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    Bad Burger with fried onion strings

    NADC Burger - Beast Mode Fries

    NADC Burger

    3.6(118 reviews)
    0.8 miRiver West, West Loop, Near West Side, West Town

    I have heard good things about NADC and have been interested to try the burger. I thought there…read morewould be a lot of people so I was surprised that I walked in for lunch on Sunday and it wasn't busy, which was nice. My friend and I each ordered a burger and fries for ourselves. The NADC burger ($16) was decent, but it didn't blow my mind like people have raved about. I know it's not the original location which can play a part as well. What I really enjoyed and even finished my friend's were the fries. I love some good fries and these were top quality. You could taste the difference of the oil these fries were made in. They were nice and crispy and very good! I could keep eating them and would rather get the fries than the burger next time. I'd probably still get a burger since I need some meat and savory.

    I have gotten this to go a few times but this was my first time eating there! My bf and I sat at…read morethe bar and had the best time! They have a ton of cocktails and they are very cool! We were able to chat with the general manager a bit and hear NADC story, it made me love this spot even more! I got a passion fruit drink with boba this was great! As we were chatting they mentioned an eggnog drink! I love eggnog so this was for me, and it was perfect! Such cool cocktails here, I had no idea!! We split the burger which was phenomenal. Even better eating it in person! I learned this is a pressed patty and not a smash burger. This is my favorite burger in the city! Such a cool vibe in here, very fun music and decor. I'm obsessed!

    Photos
    NADC Burger
    NADC Burger - NADC Burger

    NADC Burger

    NADC Burger

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    The Dearborn

    The Dearborn

    4.4(2.8k reviews)
    1.4 miThe Loop
    $$

    New favorite! Came downtown from the 'burbs for a show - my sweetie called ahead and we got a GREAT…read moretable just inside the door, perfect for people watching. Tasty drinks - the grapefruit pilsner was a perfect choice for a warm spring evening, and our server was funny and sweet. Sticky ribs appetizer was spot on, with just enough heat to keep it interesting. We shared the fish and chips - perfectly cooked, crunch and sweet, great fries! House made slaw and tartar sauce was out of this world! Gotta make one comment on something we didn't have. The next table over, two middle aged women order cheeseburgers. When they came out I almost regretted ordering the fish. They were huge, juicy, and looked incredible. This two ladies, drinking their Chardonnays polished them off, that's how good they were. Next time... Dessert? Why not? Sticky toffee cake please. Perfect with a cup of black coffee. Out the door and on our way - we'll be back! Thanks!

    We dined at the Dearborn on a Saturday afternoon with my family. Our reservation was strategic we…read morearrived hours before we assumed it would become very crowded. The seating was tight. Overall I was having a good experience. The food was OK. The menu was limited. Oh btw, the special that day was a $70 wag goo burger. That interaction between me and the server reminded me of a car salesman trying to sale me undercoating for the car i just purchased. REALLY I can't make it up. The experience dropped to a single star as our dining experience was nearing an end. The manager of the front of the house. Made a conscious effort to make it clear that the table we were dining was needed by waiting customers. I've never ever experienced this before in any restaurant in the Loop. I can't and will not recommend dining here. This is why I'm giving 1 star. I my opinion The Dearborn maybe they need to be in a different location. Maybe located far west of the Loop. I would suggest instead of Dearborn maybe Halsted St. and probably change their name to The Halsted. Im not going back. OH btw good luck in your new location.

    Photos
    The Dearborn - $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays

    $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays

    The Dearborn - New Spring Menu

    New Spring Menu

    The Dearborn - Spring desserts

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    Spring desserts

    Third Rail Tavern - bars - Updated May 2026

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