We only came for drinks. Can't beat the bucket yelp special. Only reviewing beer and service.

Went there for the super bowl. This is a PATRIOT'S BAR. If you're going for a Pats game and are a Pats fan or are going with one, you will have a great time. Service was exceptionally well for how packed they were. read more

Had a good time at Tripoli. Seems like a locals place. (Wasn't a Boston sports night). Wife and I had an early (5:30 pm) dinner in the back with our pup. One drunk guy who was definitely a regular was extremely friendly and kept talking to us during our dinner about his problematic but interesting life. Great he was so nice and welcoming; bad he was so totally drunk before 6 pm and sitting at our table uninvited. Made a strong impression since he was so clearly a regular. But the food was good, people were nice. Even liked that guy. He had some good points. Seems like a mostly blue collar local joint where everyone knows everyone and they are welcoming of newcomers... can't really go wrong. All in all, I would come back. Probably pay as I go in case I get caught in a conversation with a drunk I can't get out of, and leave the dog behind in case I want to stay longer in bad weather. But good local joint with good humor and a welcoming disposition Good place. Do it read more

We popped in to watch a football game and have a beer at the closest local sport's bar and pub. Good grinders and a multitude of TVs for sports lovers! read more

I went to Tripoli because some of my friends were already there watching the Bruins hockey game. (This is a Boston bar). The bar tenders/staff were friendly and kind. We sat at a table and the bar tenders were very great at making regular check ins to see if we needed more drinks. It has all of the coziness of a dive bar without the dirtiness. They serve food, but we did not order any, so no opinions on that. It was a perfect place for a chill night out. Will definitely be going back lots more in the future! read more

This is my Go-To restaurant and bar for years. Try the new specials like meatballs, porchetta, and prime rib! Pizza delivery starts very soon - maybe this week I heard. The food is delicious, very conservatively priced and large portioned. read more

Have I been to Boston? No. Do I want to visit? Yes, and if the bars in Beantown are anything like Tripoli Tap, I anticipate a good time. A friend of mine from Boston used to come here so often that he and two of my other friends started working as doormen. When I was looking for bars that would give me a deal for my birthday pub crawl, all three of them ASSURED me that Nic would take care of me. For my birthday, I pull all sorts of favors from people I know in the industry in order to somehow throw a relatively inexpensive 4 hour/ 4 bar (open bar) pub crawl. I try to switch the bars every year, and since it has been some time since I've been behind a bar, I haven't added many new contacts of late. This was the first time that I would be negotiating a deal with someone that I hadn't previously known. I came on a slower weeknight and found Nic behind the bar. Within 3 minutes, we had an informal agreement (no paperwork) on the amount of people I was bringing, the desired time I'd like to be in the bar, and the amount per person that would be paid. No negotiation, no haggling, and he still managed to keep the patrons served. On the night of my party, we hit them pretty hard all at once, but the staff was awesome and kept the drinks going. Being the 2nd bar of the night, most of my guests were buzzed and at going full speed. I've been to (and worked at) enough places that serve all you can drink parties slow, but Nic himself was behind the bar in great spirits making sure the party was going strong. The late September weather held up, so we were able to take advantage of the beer garden and double the capacity of the smaller interior. The garden is smaller and more intimate than most, with the furniture design giving it more of a backyard feel. It was great for conversation as friends, friends of friends, and inevitable strangers who decided to come along from the first bar intermingled in the most laid back of atmospheres. The Red Sox weren't playing so medium level alternative/top 40 (think Amy Winehouse and Lenny Kravitz) music provided the background noise. Never was it overbearing, and it made for a great stop for us early in the night. Plain and simple, Tripoli Tap is a good place run by good people. I've never been for a BoSox or Pat's game, but a recent Boston transplant who'd been in our group thanked me profusely after he'd watched his first game there. If you're looking for a bar in Lincoln Park where you can have one of those "legendary hilarious" nights with a few friends over beers and NOT be accosted by a drunken Chad or bumped into by a teetering Trixie, go to The Tap. Seriously guys, this is quite possibly, the most underrated bar in the city. read more

They take their Red Sox seriously here! How seriously? So seriously that when I went here on April Fool's Day (for Boston's opening day game), I decided it would be funny to have my prank be becoming a Yankees fan for the 2011 season. As I sat down at the bar and jokingly said, "looks like I chose the wrong day to become a Yankees fan," the patron next to me looked at me with a look of such hatred and flame that I expected metal music to start shooting out of his ears. Only the fact that I was wearing a 2007 world champions shirt probably saved my life. I haven't been back since. Not because I'm banned but because it's a long commute from Washington D.C. just to watch a Red Sox game. But there are few places in the world where it's better to do so. The bartenders (or should I say bahrtenders?) are the real deal Boston imports (with the full accent) just like the beers on tap. The fans know and participate in all of Boston's wacky traditions during the games. The beer's not a bargain (it's a Lincoln Park bar despite being more divey than douchey), but they do have specials during games. The food, however, is cheap and they have clam chowder! Chowdah! I never got a chance to try it, but I'm sure it's someone's grandmah's recipe. If I could stand the Patriots (funny thing about lovely Red Sox fans is most of them turn into Patriots Massholes during the football season), it must be tops in the winter. For big games, it gets really crowded so get there early. It's small inside and there are not a lot of tables. But there are tons of TVs so there's really not a bad viewing angle in the house. And don't worry if you're not a Red Sox fan, they also support other teams here like the (future Stanley Cup winning *crossing fingers*) Bruins and Celtics. And they show Cubs games too. Just without as much passion. read more

I come here to watch the Pats play, and find a locked door. The bouncer there looks at me and I ask if they're full. He just brushes me off. People leave and I try to come in again, only to find a locked door and the bouncer shoes me away. I wanted to go support the patriots tonight at a pats bar but wasn't allowed in. I guess I won't be trying to come back again. read more

Red Sox bar, really? Even after we had to ask the bartender to turn ON the ball game (already in the 2nd inning) we didn't get to listen to the sound until the 4th inning. I guess the WGN local news was more important... Anyway, went to the bar right after work on a Wednesday, the female bartender, Patti(?) came in to replace the older gentleman who was just fine. Patti, however, came in with a bad mood. When my bf asked for a Bud, she looked liked she ignored him, served another person first, then banged the frig door open to surlily served my bf his beer. No "hi", "how's it going", "you're welcome" came from this bartender for a LONG TIME. She did warm up after about 45 minutes...perhaps she just starts every shift in a bad mood. Oh, and it would help if she didn't stand with her back to the bar reading the paper. Perhaps if she actually paid attention to the patrons, they would get served in a timely manner. Ya, ya I know there are a lot of "regulars" that go there. If that's all the bar cares about, that's their choice. They are treated just fine. I guess they just don't care about getting new customers. Good luck when all those "regulars" are gone and no one else shows up. We went there initially to have some beers, food and watch the game. But after 5 innings and a few beers, we decided we didn't want to spend any more of our money at this bar with this surly bartender. This is our second time there. The first time it was crowded a LITTLE more friendly, but not much. We decided to give it another try and now we know we won't be going back read more

I knew what I was getting myself into when I came here. In fact, I dragged two friends here by saying I heard the wings were good knowing damn well neither of them cared for the Red Sox. However, I was going to the game the next day and I wanted to watch the game on tv with other fans. We came during the Sox/Sox series and had a great time. First, the wings are cheap AND good. We're talking something like 30 wings for $13. Now, I guess they organize a bus to go to Sox Park, so it was a little chaotic for the first 30 minutes we were there, but the bartender was great. I found most people to be friendly and welcoming and when I went to pay the bartender told me we'd "get 'em tomorrow" and that we did. If you like Boston sports, this is an obvious bar to go to. If you don't...then I think you might go either way as Boston sports fans are like Chicago sports fans..pretty die-hard, that is. Food was filling, cheap and good. Drinks were strong (from what I heard, as I was drinking beer) and the bar wasn't full of douchey frat boys...which is a definite plus in my book. Will I be back? Definitely. read more

Nothing spectacular about this place- the drinks were good, the food was meh, the service was blah. My girlfriend and I popped in after being deterred from Zella's by the apparent frat party that has become their weekend brunch. The Bloody Mary's that the bartender, Di, served us were delicious, but that's the nicest thing I have to say about the service and the bar itself. The free round of half-sized shots served with our check was not enough to redeem, but nice try. After our drinks were placed in front of us, the bartender didn't come back around for about 20 minutes, despite us making all signals that we were going to and ready to order food. The place wasn't busy- The other 4 people there were clearly regulars who were more deserving of attention. Once the food was tossed in front of us, it was another 5 minutes before we could flag her down again to ask for utensils, napkins, and condiments. The food was bland- so bland that a slathering of hot sauce, salt, and pepper was not enough to save my sad chicken Philly. My friend's burger wasn't much better. The fries, however, were phenomenal. But fries are really hard to screw up, so no bonus points there. To conclude, nothing about my experience will make me come back, but if I'm ever in the area and feel like a $3 domestic bottle, I know this place exists as an alternative to other bars in the area. read more

CALLING THE CHICAGO CHAPTER OF RED SOX NATION! This place is actually called the "Tripoli Tap" I am writing that so people searching for it will find it more easily. Not that you would be searching for it or anything unless... YOU ARE A WICKED BIG RED SOX FAN!!!! (like me) Holy Smokes Folks! I have died and gone to heaven.... who knew it was only a short bike ride away from my place in Bucktown and open since 2004! I have been missing out on this comfortable place of North Eastern camaraderie for three years!?! In all honesty I have driven by the Tripoli Tap many times and noticed the Red Sox and Patriots flags and banners flapping in the breeze however, not being in the know about this kind of place left me mildly intimidated. What if all these fans knew each other and when I walked in the jukebox would scratch to a stop and i would be forced to put on platform shoes and dance to "Tequilla" to prove my Red Sox faithfulness? Of course I am over-exaggerating, but I do know one thing... us Red Sox fans do take game time seriously. During gametime the sound was on (NESN) and everyone seemed really focus on what was going on which reminded me of being in Boston during a game. There were some thick New England accents being slung around as well, which I found comforting. Given that I am horribly biased (b/c of the Red Sox thing), let me mention what I thought was cool about this otherwise normal neighborhood bar. The wait staff is terrific. I have tried their wings and think they are divine. There is a good sized beer garden out back which also plays games on TV and has a couple sets of home-made cornhole boards. I guess I am giving this a high 5 star rating because it is an establishment that has recognized what it wants to be and has set out and accomplished just that. It is a great sports bar for transplanted New England sports fans which makes all patrons (even a Yankees fan I tricked into going there with me) feel comfortable. GO SOX (the red ones) read more

I suppose if you're a lonely red sox fan searching for a semi-seedy bar crowd to scream at the tv together with... then this place *could* seem like a nice little hangout. As for me... my floor hockey team used to be sponsored by this place. So we'd come here every week after our games. I have to give them some love for having the MLB package, and for having a decent outdoor patio area. But the food is just so average. Average wings, bland boring sandwiches, frozen burger patties etc. Not exactly the kind of place you go out of your way to go to. read more

Wow... can we say BOSTON bar. Hey I have nothing against Boston but if I am going to get stared at on a Thursday night cuz I am not a regular I find it a bit rude. And by the way... When I ask " What do you have bottled?" and the bartender says " Everything" she really doesn't mean that. I listed 4 beers before they actually had one I was willing to drink. Wont be back. read more

Calling all Boston fans, your home has been found. Hailing from Boston myself I have desperately been searching for my Boston Bar for the big games and also everything NESN. (New England Sports Network) Little did I know that my home would be a few steps from my apartment and would offer everything you could ever want from a Boston Bar. Samuel Adams and a great Boston attitude and atmosphere. I suggest to any Yankees fan to steer clear, but anyone willing to feel the need to be engaged with a true sports crowd to head on over to Tripoli to see the Boston fans during any game. Dive on in to this sports bar. read more

Stopped by to catch the Red Sox game and grab a bite to eat after work one night. As promised, they had NESN on one (later two) flat panels, and judging by the bartender in the David Ortiz shirt and all the Red Sox paraphernalia on the walls, they probably put on all the games. (With sound, too.) It was a Tuesday night and the place was pretty quiet. They had a decent patio out back but I sat at the bar to watch the game. There was a smattering of Red Sox fans there and a local pub feel to the place. The bartender, for what it's worth, was sporting a legit Bawston accent. The beer was cold and the food was better than I expected based on the menu. The menu is very limited -- wings, sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, chili, and a couple salads. However, the house salad I ordered was absolutely massive (especially for $4.50) and the hot dog was a nice beefy char dog on the usual poppy side roll with a big pile of fries, pickles, cole slaw, chopped tomatoes and the usual Chicago-style fixins on the side. The service was relatively quick but the place was practically empty; reviewers on Citysearch slammed the speed of food service and given how small the place is generally and how small the kitchen is in particular it probably takes forever. If you're a Red Sox fan or you live in the immediate neighborhood it's a cool place to hang out and have a drink. Otherwise I'm not sure it's worth the trip to this western edge of Lincoln Park. read more

Came here earlier today. As soon as I entered the door, I was not even acknowledged. There was a bartender and he was probably the only employee in the place. After a few minutes standing there, he still didn't acknowledge me. I approached the bar and took an empty seat. After a few minutes of sitting there, I still wasn't acknowledged. The bartender then served the patrons sitting next to me, poured them drinks, and even entertained and drank with them. He actually took a shot with them. Afterwards, he turned around ignored me. He didn't make eye contact the entire time I was there. He literally served everyone else. My friend then came to join me, and after a few minutes, we still weren't acknowledged and greeted. I think the bartender, who is most likely the owner, prefers certain clientele. We bailed and went to Sully' House Bar where we were greeted, welcomed, seated, and served right away. I really wanted to like this place, but I gotta be honest. I wasn't asking for very much either, just the bare minimum and fir basic decency. At the very least, a minimal amount of attention and an acknowledge I was there. read more

I heart Nic and Dino. Mostly Dino. I've talked to more Bostonians in this bar than I ever did when I actually lived in Boston. It's a great watering hole in the style of a neighborhood bar. They have a standard bar food menu, which is really all you need in a joint like this. Yeah, definitely Dino. The waitstaff is usually pretty fantastic. Hell even the big guy Dan has his Peabody accent so thick you'd think you were somewhere on the Nawth Shawr. They do their best to keep you in alcohol which is about all you can ask. Of course it's Dino. The lack of a really signature special is about the only thing I can say that knocks one star off for me. During the Red Sox playoff run, the running joke was we all wish we were were at Fenway so they were charging Fenway prices. They do have a bucket special on Sundays for Patriots games, of course. Dino rocks my world. Maybe now that the Celtics (and -- gasp! -- even the Bruins) are kicking ass again, maybe they'll come up with something creative to help kill the inevitable winter sports drought that arises in between the Super Bowl and spring training. Oh Dino. read more

I was in the area with my bf looking for a place to catch the white sox/red sox game and decided on this place. When we walked in, the female bartender was flashing a huge smile at an attractive patron that was leaving and she was super attentive to him. She completely ignored us even after he left. My bf asked her what the specials were and she mumbled $4 something. I asked "Sorry, $4 what?" and she said "summer shandy" with a snarky tone and glared at me. Then she asked for my ID but walked away before I could produce it. When shefinally walked back she checked our IDs and asked what we wanted. My bf said "umm" and took 2 seconds to think but she got impatient and said she would come back while she was walking away. There were maybe 3 other people in the bar this Thursday evening so it's not like she was swamped. I thought she was super rude and they had no specials other than the shandy so we left and walked down the street to a bar called Shoe's Pub. Best decision ever! The bar itself was decent and they had big televisions to catch a game, but thanks to the bitchy bartender, I won't be returning ever again. Guess if you're a good-looking, single guy, you might have a better experience than we did. I noticed another review regarding a rude bartender named Patty. My guess is that this is the same chick. Seems her bad mood is an ongoing problem... read more

Total low key neighborhood bar... with one of the best perks ever! One of my favorite bartenders in Chicago bartends here on Thursday nights. If you're a BoSox fan then this is ~the~ place in Chicago to watch a game. If you're a girly girl, they have a touch screen game thing-a-ma-jig on the end of the bar for you to play while you're boyfriend is watching the BoSox whoop up on somebody! read more

If you are a Red Sox fan in Chicago this is the place to go. I went there for ALDS game 6 and the place was going ape shit. You literally could not find a place to stand in the entire joint. It was so fun. My one issue with Tripoli is that I think the drinks are slightly overpriced. They run specials from time to time, but their best special is like $3.50 for a bud light bottle. I mean, C'mon guys, the economy is in a recession and I can buy a case of bud light for like $12.99 at the local CVS. Get a grip and bring your drink prices down. read more

Picked up their takeout special yesterday which was porchetta. Outstanding. Potatoes, spinach, and a salsa verde. I've had porchetta many times, this was definitely one of the best. read more

Arguably the best fish tacos in the city! I know what you're thinking... "This dive bar can't possibly have decent food...much less tacos.... Made of fish..." Well you're an idiot because these fish tacos are extremely good. read more

Preface to this review: I am generally a very 'bright side of things', glass half-full type of guy, even in the midst of less optimistic company. But my experience today warranted a poor review unfortunately. I have been to Tripoli Tap a few times, and the couple of visits before today weren't great (long wait times, over-crowded, slightly over-priced). But being a transplant from the Boston area, there aren't a lot of places in Chicago to watch my favorite teams in a pro-New England environment. Despite my gang's insistence to go to that 'other' Patriots bar, we went back. First problem was that there was barely anywhere to sit. I did find a table in the front corner of the bar with a slight view of two TV's. Not a strike against the bar, but still wasn't great. I asked the bartender if it was possible to change both TV's to the Patriots game, and he said sure. He only changed one. Not a big deal I suppose. After waiting for 15 minutes or so, it didn't seem like the waitress was coming over to "no man's land", so I ordered a bucket of Coors Light at the bar. It only took a couple of minutes from that point to get it. After 45 minutes or so, we decided we were hungry, and we needed to ask the bartender if we could order some food with him. I got a menu, but he walked away before I could give him the order. One of the patrons sitting at the bar actually wrote my order down on a napkin for me and handed it to the bartender when he came back around. Didn't know that's how it worked. We ordered another bucket of Coors Light, chicken fingers and chips n' salsa. The bucket came right away. Food took at least half an hour, even though we ordered chips n' salsa which doesn't take any preparation. The chicken fingers didn't come with honey mustard, so I asked the barback if they had any, and he said sure, and would grab some. It never came, even though I waited to start eating. The food was not bad. The next part was partially my fault - the waitress was trying to clear empty plates from the table. I tried to help her by putting the chicken fingers basket on top of the chips plate, but it was sliding around. The waitress tried to pick up the plate and the chicken finger basket (and cup of barbecue sauce and buffalo sauce on it) went straight onto my girlfriend's lap and all the sauce emptied out onto her jeans, shirt, and sweatshirt. What a disaster. Not entirely her fault but I do think she should have seen that it was precarious and carried it differently. (She then tried to pick it up again, the same way, and the basket slid and fell onto the floor, getting sauce on my girlfriend's jacket). Mistakes do happen of course but it didn't add to our experience for sure. Then, the barback (also manager?) came over a few minutes later to clear some empties. There were rags and napkins that the waitress left from the cleanup of the big spill. He made the comment 'oh, you guys made quite a mess, huh?' Yeah. I told him what happened and he said 'oh, okay.' We weren't done cleaning up the mess and he took the napkins & condiment holder which we were using to clean up. The waitress was (relatively) attentive after this, but we weren't ordering anything else at this point. When the time came to close my tab after the majority of the crowd had already left, I just wanted to get out of there, and it still took about 10 minutes to get my bill which came to about $50 for two buckets of light beer and chicken fingers and chips n' salsa. I didn't receive an itemized receipt (just the credit card slip) to see how the math worked out, but I just wanted to leave because some of the older patrons were starting to make comments to my girfriend. So we just left. Again, I'm always the guy who looks at the bright side of things and usually tries to give establishments the benefit of the doubt, but this was one of the worst bar experiences I've ever had. I'm sure that if I ever do go back, it won't be like this but I'm not sure that will happen. read more

I am a lover of Chicago Dive Bars, and this is my favorite!! You have the cheers feeling when you walk in, and its a great atmosphere. Nothing is over priced and the food is great! This is literally my go to spot, and the best one there is in Lincoln Park. You dont have your regular Lincoln Park folks, or snooty crowd. Literally you can strike up conversation with anyone, watch the game or just go in for a few drinks. Its oe of my tops. In the summer there is outdoor space with TVs and service is impeccable! Love the owners and bartenders! read more

Ordered wings here for $5. Awesome price! The chef makes everything from scratch (which i LOVE) and grills his wings. I could have used some more BBQ sauce for mine, but they were still tasty enough. Great grilling job, that's for sure. I will definitely be back to this place, just when nothing "Boston" is going on. They honored the beer bucket special I got when I checked in on Yelp which was great, as most places act surprised and confused that they have that. The woman was great and very attentive, always wanting to know what else we wanted. She was wonderful. read more

This place is a dive! Totally unexpected find on Armitage of all places. When we walked in for a pre-dinner beer, we were greeted by a bunch of old men, a family (complete with toddlers), and two dogs! It's a dog friendly bar!! How can you go wrong with that??! This is one of those "everyone knows your name" places, it seems. The young bartender joked around with the old men, everybody knew the dogs' names and petted them...admittedly I felt a little out of place! But if you're trying to avoid Lincoln Park douchebaggery, this would definitely be a great place. They had a limited food menu written on a white board with sounded like simple Italian/bar food but also seemed really appealing. I'd rather go when it's busier so I feel less weird (6 pm on Friday was only the "regular" crowd, I guess). If you love a good dive, this one's for you. Especially if you want the chance to pet some dogs while you drink your beer. read more

This place barely gets four stars... Food: Good, i like that they grill their wings. The taste is different, but i like to think they're healthier. Service: not so great. I always wondered if the waitress actually heard our order. She never smiled or acknowledged that she heard us. And then it took forever for us to get our order. Plus there was one woman in a NY Yankees cap who randomly came up to our table (full of Red Sox fans in this Boston bar) and started explaining why she belonged her as much as us, even through we didn't say anything to her to begin with. In fact, we hadn't noticed her Yankees cap until she approached our table. She said she used to work here and therefore could wear as much NY stuff as she wanted. Ok, lady, we didn't say you couldn't. I guess that speaks to the quality of their employees. Ambiance: great! Although they kept the back door open all night in cold weather, I was the only one at the table who seemed to really mind. The fact that this place is an amazing place to watch a Boston game in Chicago makes up for it's service, almost. read more

Good food, great atmosphere. As a BU alum, this place definitely brings me back to Boston, and I love it. read more

Tripoli Tap - Celebrating Bruins Stanley Cup win in 2011 - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I spent the night hanging out at my friend's place down the block and we were being indecisive about ordering takeout or going out for food. So one guy took initiative and we ended up getting food at Tripoli Tap. The bar itself is not very endearing... and by that I mean that it is kind of generic. The bar area is very long and narrow, with lots of tv's (with baseball and other sports on) adorning the wood panelled walls and lots of tall tables with barstools. There's a nice beer garden in the back (past the bathroom / kitchen, both of which are kind of sad looking), but all the furniture was still wet from the day's rain so we went back inside and grabbed one of the few regular-height tables. I decided to order a cheeseburger, of which I can just say "meh." It wasn't a terrible burger by any means, but I've had much better bar food. There was nothing exceptional about it, it was just a plain, ordinary cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and a side of fries. They put a carrot on the side which is something I was not expecting. The portion size was good, and everything was cooked well (and not toooo overly greasy for bar food), but I was just not impressed with my meal. My friends said their tacos were okay. Another thing that kind of disappointed me: No drink specials on the night we went. Other than that, the waitress was extremely nice. The bar was kind of dead at 8pm on a Tuesday night, but I was not disappointed or surprised about this. Overall, I had a decent experience here, but I would not come again for the food. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped in here about a month ago. We live in the "burbs" so we decided to play tourist in our own city. So we checked Chicago magazine's list of 100 Best Bars, and this little gem was on it. When we walked in on a Saturday afternoon (around 1pm) there were a handful of people in there. At first, we thought it was going to be odd being so slow, but the second we sat down at the corner of the bar we were proven wrong! Our bartender (whose name I wish I could remember!) was young and adorable. She regaled us with hilarious tales, and us to her. The regulars all joined in and soon enough we were all dying with laughter! We mentioned to her that we had found this bar in the Chicago Magazine list of 100 Best Bars, and she immediately called for a round of shots for us. She made us a delicious red shot, deciding on a gin base, and they were great! And although this is a Boston themed bar, they were more than happy to put on the Blackhawks game for us! In fact, the whole bar got invested and soon drinks were clinking and shots were flowing! The owner happened to be in the bar, and we talked to him for a while before realizing who he was. He too bought us a round of shots! We got convinced by all around us to buy some wings, and boy were we glad we did! They grill the wings, and they are superb! We somehow managed to get the last batch of the day. Felt a bit bad about this, but um yum! We had planned on bar crawling, and by the time we left, we were in shock to see it was almost 6! Time flies when you're having fun! Overall, great people, great, food, great drinks, and great time. We both wholeheartedly recommend this place to all! In fact, we'll be there Monday! read more

I am a traitor... at least I admit it. Born and raised in a suburb just West of Chicago, I grew up a Chicago sports fan. BUT, my college years in Boston converted me to a Pats and Red Sox fan. Our condo association mandates our cable company so I can't get the NFL package and was sad to think I'd miss an entire season of Pats football. Thankfully, I found Nic & Dino's. They play all Boston games with sound!!! I adore this bar. I love that week after week it's the same bartender and server, Colleen & Terri who are both awesome! It's kind of like a Cheers where the regulars all know each other and have their spots at the bar. They have really good grilled cheese and serve Magic Hat on tap, 2 big scores in my book. Colleen makes a mean bloody mary and they have great Miller Lite specials... I think it's $3 for a stadium cup on Sundays. They've also got a back patio with quite a few tables for warmer months. Love hanging out here on Sunday's during football season... since it's small and awesome, it's sometimes hard to find a place to sit, so get there before the games start if you want a seat. read more

When I got here, I knew immediately I was home. If you are a Boston boy/girl then look no further. Inside you've got the usual beer selection (always plenty of Sam Adam's and Harpoon choices), the usual food choices, and etc. But what makes it is the atmosphere. The night I was there they simultaneously had the Bruins playoff game, the celtics playoff game and a Red Sox game on. Where else can you get that in Chicago? I'm told the tots are amazing, and they appeared to be a very popular choice. Is it a must go to place for everyone in Chicago? Probably not. Is it the most amazing bar in Chicago? Certainly not. But if you are a True Sox fan, as in the RED kind, there is no better place to take in a game. I probably wouldn't go here regularly all the time, but if I was on my own or wanted to catch a Sox/Bruins/Pats/Celtics game its pretty much a given I'll end up here. read more

Boston Sports Bar through and through. Pretty divey compared to the yuppie, Armitage surroundings. Bar food. Below average service. Neighborhood feel. Don't be surprised when Terry (one of the waitresses) cusses out a customer if they deserve it. Also, expect to see short guy named Spider work his tail off to keep the whole restaurant running well. I once stood in a corner with my best friend to watch the Pats AFC championship game. The whole time we were talking with this middle-aged guy next to us. Towards the end of the game, we figured out he was one of the owners of the bar (Nic & Dino). He was really cool, but not nearly as cool as the random dude who bought shots for everyone in our corner. Pats victory. If you're a Boston transplant, or if people in the Midwest are just too nice for your liking, come to Tripoli Tap. I guarantee you won't be able to stop coming back. read more

It's part Boston, part Chicago, and part dive bar; probably as divey as it gets in Lincoln Park. The beer selection isn't great, I usually stick with Sam Adams; though they do have Stella and a few other half-way decent beers, but nothing particularly interesting. They also have Franziskaner, my favorite German wheat. I had an old-fashioned there last night, and it was fairly average. I have no idea if the food is any good, but my expectations would not be very high. The service is friendly, and the bar is usually not very busy. If these are the only ways to measure Tripoli Tap, it's average at best. But last night, when the jukebox started playing "I Will Survive" and I started dancing with Cati, Katie, Niki, and Emily, it was nothing but pure awesomeness at Tripoli Tap! It's a great place to spend a night with friends you love... read more

I am a tad biased since I am a Red Sox fan. The bar and decor itself is nothing special - typical wooden bar, tables, stools, floor etc. The food is cheap and so is the quality, somewhat. The wings were tiny but I was given extra due to the size. They were also VERY vinegary. The rest of the menu is really in place to slow down the drinking as it is very unoriginal. I love it because all the Boston sports games are on but sadly the cat drags in a lot of the annoying Boston sports fans screaming pointless profanity at glass breaking levels. For those who can't relate...think of the characters from Good Will Hunting, Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone. Bonus: They have my favorite beer - Sam Light. Oh, and the bartender is VERY friendly and attentive. read more

Fun place. Good food. Guaranteed Red Sox chatter during baseball season. I'd like to offer a more critical and helpful summary, but I imbibed a little too much at Shoes before coming here to meet my boyfriend last night! I will say that they offer regular beer specials and even serve it in a souvenir cup! Not a fan of the bar stools for the tables and I had to switch mine for one with a back from the bar. I'm going back here in a few days and will update! read more

So we stopped in tonight for the Pats game and felt right at home with my fellow New England fans. I highly recommend this place if your a BOSTON sports guy or Girl. It's a great pub Atmosphere where the Owner Nic will make you feel right at home. As packed as it was tonight the bartenders were quick and NICE. Something you don't see very where in the city when busy. So if your a SOX, bruins a Minute Man alumni come here for food and rally with the troops... read more

Tripoli Tap - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This bar is WICKED AWESOME. Who would have thought there would be a bit of Beantown in Chitown?? I just wish I had found this bar sooner! I went to Tripoli Tap to watch the Celtics crush the Bulls playoffs dreams this weekend (sorry Chicago, I really do love you, EXCEPT when the Sox, Pats, or Celts are involved). The bar is small but has a great outdoor patio with TVs so you can watch the game no matter where you are. There's lots of Red Sox memorabilia on the walls and signs from Boston making you feel right at home. AND, they played the Dirty Water song after the game! I'll definitely be back to watch more games. And even if you're not a Boston fan, its a charming bar in a great area of Lincoln Park that's worth checking out. read more