A solid yet unremarkable bar. The beer list is good and somewhat unique but around 15-20% overpriced; the one exception is the towers, which wind up being a decent deal ($25 for 100 oz last I was here, but the prices may be on the uptick). The same can be said for the cocktail offerings. However, I like the laid-back atmosphere; it's quite fun to come here with a group of 4-6 people and go to town on a few towers. The food is pretty solid; of note are virtually all the sandwiches, the tortilla soup, and the potato salad. However, the portions are gargantuan. You should split everything; I did not know this the first time I was here, and cleaned my plate like the gluttonous American that I am. Did I ever regret this. Also, a nice perk: the baked goods are pretty decent too (red velvet cake FTW). read more

First time to Bat 17 last Saturday night, and I have to say I'm pretty pleased. They have a great beer selection (craft from Dogfish and Bell's etc.) and ginormous, tasty sandwiches. Two beers and one sandwich a piece for both of us and we got out for about $50 with tax and tip. On the pricey side, but definitely worth it for what we got. My only complaint would be that the manfriend didn't get the side he asked for, but we didn't really feel like trying to get it set right. I am sure that it would have been if we asked. Bat 17 will definitely become part of the rotation. read more

I give this a 5 star rating based on the fact they have the best salad I've ever had. It's called the BBQ Chicken Salad. I keep swearing that I'll go in and try something new -- because the menu is huge and full of other things I'm sure I'd love equally -- but I just cant get myself to order anything else. I have a big appetite, but still, the regular size is not so regular -- its colossal. Unless you re splitting it, or Hercules, I'd follow suit. I just started school in Evanston, and I've already been here at least 10 times. The waiter knows me and mocks me because I mistakenly told him on the first visit I have plans to try everything on the menu. And as I already revealed, I haven't made much of this promise. I already have plans to eat there this week with my parents and I just know there isn't a reason to look through the menu. For me, its all about the BBQ chicken salad. read more

The food is AMAZING here. We make regular trips, and every person I've introduced to the place ends up doing the same. Advice for a good experience: it's small, so don't go on days when Northwestern has a football game or graduation or something if you don't want to be overwhelmed. Also, if you have a favorite sandwich (which all regular patrons do!) ask if they're out before you settle in with your beer. My husband loves the Tyler Durden and they've been out several times = huge disappointment. read more

I love this place. Unique combination of commuter bar, small restaurant, and college atmosphere. Great beer selection. And John is a friendly, attentive bartender that adds to the warmth of the place. They have a deli-style case of massive cookies and other fresh baked goods to go along with their extensive grub menu. Great place to catch a game and laugh with buddies. read more

What can I say, this place is THE best sandwich shop/bar in Evanston. Friendly staff, cheap beer, and great sandwiches, nevermind the Bloody Mary condiment bar to end all Bloody Mary condiment bars. Also a good variety of sporting events broadcast on the flat screen TVs around the bar. Now, sandwiches and hearty salads are in the $9-$13 range. But these sammys are beasts. There is a dollar difference between the regular size and "full" size sandwiches, but the full size is a behemoth. I'm talking monster sandwich here, and that also goes for the breakfast stuff too. And they come with generous helpings of sides. The potatoes are awesome. (Just to be clear, the regular size sandwich is MORE than enough, and I'm a BIG eater). I like a wide range of restaurants, but when I want a satisfying meal and have a big appetite, this is probably my favorite place in E-town, over and above ANY of the finer dining establishments. One thing to avoid - and it's only minor - the beer helmet tube things. While they are indeed a fascinating device, the beer kind of comes out all foamey. It's really not that cost effective either, since they have a bunch of cheap bars in bottles and cans. Speaking of which, this is a good spot to pound some PBR cans before heading to Wrigley if you're into that sort of thing. read more

Tried out their Corned Beef and Pastrami sandwich called the Double-Deuce and it was huge and delicious! I love the free tea and coffee bar area, along with a hot sauce rack with at least 40 different hot sauces for those that want to spice up their Bloody Mary their special way (and yes, they have Cholula hot sauce). Finally they have a ton of craft beers along with beer towers and a very cool brew pub feel on the interior. I can see why this is the #1 bar-restaurant in Evanston. read more

Great place, huge sandwiches. Came in here based off yelp and I was a little worried as the place looks more like a small bar inside than a place with great food. The sandwiches are huge though and the potato salad they have here is worth the trip alone. If you are in the area and want a great lunch stop in here, huge selection and everything looked good. read more

Excellent beer selection. Great food with ENORMOUS portions - recommend the burgers and the Tyler Durden. Nice comfy vibe. Really sweet waitress who got both our beers wrong (she let us keep and comp'd the extras). At the end, she took my husband's leftover food then brought us an empty carryout container. When we pointed out the empty container, she lifted the lid on the empty container and looked at us like, duh, put the food in. Once I reminded her that she took the food she fixed us right up. Hilarious. Right next to the Evanston theatre. Definitely coming back. read more

Great beer selection and big sandwiches. The perfect place for a stressed graduate student? The ambiance: It's a mixed bag between a tavern and coffee shop. It gets pretty loud in there at night when it's packed (it usually is). The food: I've had a couple of the sandwiches. I know a lot of people rave about them, but I thought they were okay. Pastrami is fairly standard. They're huge huge huge sandwiches, and honestly they're great for the value. Free coffee and tea whether you buy something or not. The beer: If you like craft beer, you either go here or to Prairie Moon. The atmosphere is a lot nicer here than at PM, in my personal opinion, but it's to your taste. I can find a lot of my favorite Darks here like Young's Double Chocolate Stout and a bevy of Samuel Smith beers. The service: Could be improved. If you come in a large party, you may be neglected a decent bit. TL;DR - Great beer selection. Decent (albeit huge) sandwiches. Free caffeine (even without purchase). Good times. read more

My love for this place has grown. I've had salads, burgers, sandwiches, and soups here--so basically everything, and its all delicious. Waitstaff is always helpful and accommodating and they don't blink an eye at the mess my daughter makes, even though I wouldn't really call this a family place. The only thing that would make it better would be if they delivered. read more

Bat 17 is what I think of when I think Evanston dining. It has been said here, but the portions are ridiculously huge. You can easily share a sandwich with a friend for lunch. Or, as I like to do, get the large sandwich (its usually only like $1 more), and take half for home. Some good things at Bat - Blue cheese cole slaw and their Meatloaf sandwich (maybe called the Tyler Durden or Bat Out of Hell). You will absolutely food coma afterwards, but it heaven. Incredibly soft meatloaf, carmelized onions, a little mayo and on two thick slices of bread. WOWZERS. I just wish it were cheaper ..around $10-12 a sandwich. You do get a 10% Wildcard discount for you all Wildcats. A great sandwich and worth the money! Oh yes, and check out the bathrooms! read more

I can say nothing bad about Bat 17. Every meal I've had there has been excellent and my only complaint is that they should expand into the space next door! Their pulled pork is phenomenal and you must order it with their coleslaw made with gorgonzola. The nacho appetizer is absolutely massive and really tasty. Actually...most of their menu items are massive. I've watched the most enormous sandwiches come out of that kitchen. They also have a great beer selection. I recently came here for breakfast and was psyched to devour a breakfast that would surely eliminate my hangover. The Balawat with sausage did the trick. Eggs, cheese, jalapeno, sausage, and some other delicious ingredients on thick bread. Awesome breakfast, the addition of peppers and onions makes it really flavorful. The breakfast potatoes are crispy and the perfect side. However, my boyfriend ordered blueberry pancakes and these were the star of the show. Seriously amazing. They have a great, cinnamon-ish taste (not sure what it actually is) and plenty of blueberries. This place has it down. I always have a difficult time deciding what to order and could probably order over half of their menu items. They have some nice, interesting touches such as free coffee available (so clutch) and an entire shelving unit dedicated to hot sauce. read more

Place has some pool tables and limited seating in comparison to the size of the place. Generous portion sizes,with daily specials. Beer selection is limited, prices are to be expected for downtown Evanston. Overall the ambience is dive bar with the exception of random families enjoying their good burgers. Don't hesitate to split the burger with a buddy, they are huge. read more

Bat 17 - HAWKEYE BURGER: 10 ounce burger,bbq sauce, pepper jack, and onion strings. Served with fries (50 cents more) and a side pickle - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Great place for burgers! The portions are pretty large. I got the Sunny Side Up burger and it was huge. It came with fries too. My friend got the Pulled Pork Slider, which was basically 4 mini burgers. It was enough for 2 meals. We definitely got the amount of food we deserved for the price we paid. The service was good too. The server came by once in a while to ask us how we were doing and fill the water. read more

Bat 17 - Sunny Side Up Burger - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

I stopped by Saturday night with two friends to catch up over drinks and really enjoyed my time here! Their rum cocktails are $5 on Saturday nights (yay!) and they have lots of really good burger and sandwich options. I ordered one of their mango rum drinks and it was a little sweet for me, but still good! I also tried their corned beef sandwich and it was really pretty good. The beef was well-seasoned and it was piled up with sauerkraut, swiss cheese and dressing. The only complaint I have is that the bread got soggy super fast, but otherwise it was a yummy sandwich! Overall - Bat 17 is a chill spot to come hang with friends. If you come later (past dinner), you can still order off their menu and there's no wait. I'm sure I'll be back soon! read more

Corned beef sandwich horrible. Corned beef was dry and seemed very old. And stop with humongous bread. Overwhelms the sandwich. Will not be back. read more

You better be hungry, because the sandwiches and salads at Bat 17 are huge. They are definitely a little pricey - with most sandwiches costing more than $10. I am a big fan of their BBQ chicken salad. It has a fanastic mix of chicken with bbq sauce, corn, tomato, black bean, cheddar, tortilla strips, and a bbq ranch dressing. It is perfectly chopped making it easy to eat. It also comes with a large hunk of homemade bread. They are super quick when you call in an order. It is usually ready in 10 minutes. read more

Oh holy lord! If I lived in Evanston I would be here for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner! They would probably need to kick me out daily. Come morning, I'd be sitting there right on the curb, waiting to get back in like one poor addicted schmuck. Unfortunately I live in Chicago and only stumbled upon this place once with the gf one night driving through Evanston. It is easy to miss on Benson Avenue so beware. Bat 17's menu is absolutely HUGE which is also analogous to the style of sandwiches that they also serve up in light wave speed. She settled on the Turkey Burger and I the Blue Lightning chicken sandwich. Both tasted as if I could have died as I left the front doors of the place. $13 might be expensive for a deli sandwich and fries for some people, but believe me it's sooo worth it! The beer list is impressive for sure but I'm equally surprised about their cocktail list. They have 6 to 8 table top beer tappers as well. I cannot wait to try to hit up the place on the weekend for their cheap bloody mary bar special! read more

Was visiting a friend at Northwestern and she brought me here. I was a big fan. I love sandwiches... especially the really good kind. Bat 17 has the really good kind. If you happen to be in Evanston, IL - definitely definitely definitely give this place a try. It's a Northwestern hang out and it deserves the attention. The menu is overwhelming, but I have no doubts that everything was good. read more

My bf and I stopped in on a walk through the neighborhood - it's a typical bar in terms of atmosphere, low lighting high/low tables .. bar area was tight. Food was excellent. We only ordered the buffalo sliders but they were great. Bar tender was nice and attentive. read more

Went here for drinks early in the evening on Saturday. Its a nice little bar/restaurant/brunch place. We didn't explore the food too much but the menu was impressive. A wide selection of creative sandwiches, ect. with good ingredients.... they were advertising that they use free range chicken and eggs. So thats cool... They also have free coffee, all day, all night. We ordered a couple of the "beer towers," which is 100 oz. of beer. Not bad for what I think was around $30 for Blue Moon. They were also Bears themed :) Our waitress was also very pleasant. I would definitely go back there for drinks and to try more of the food. read more

Okay, this might be my favorite place in Evanston now. Mainly for a few reasons: 1. Its open late (and still serves good food late) - there are not many places in Evanston serve good food real late. Mmm, Bison burger. 2. They always have really good drink specials. 3. Love the atmosphere - small, cozy and intimate. Gets an interesting and diverse crowd too. For me, Bat17 is an easy choice for my preferred late night eating and drinking spot in Evanston. read more

Met up with some work friends here one weekday evening. A smaller dining room that I expected, as two of my co-workers got there early to hold a table were getting the evil eye for the 20 minutes or so before the rest of us showed up. Guess that's what happens when we don't make a reservation! wait,...do they accept reservations? Hmm... Onto the food! I ordered the Fiesta chicken sandwich and was delighted to enjoy a grilled sandwich that was spicy enough to offer a good flavor but not enough to require multiple drinks to extinguish the fire. Not too worry though, their extensive beer menu (with local brews on draft) was there to assist. If I went to NU, I would be sure to make this a regular dinner/pre-bar spot, as I'm sure most of the patrons have. Not too overwhelmingly of a "college" atmosphere, it hit the spot for me. read more

Great beer selection . Food taste really good as well. Plus they have sweet potato Fries!! read more

Come hungry! Went to Bat17 for a Friday work lunch with a group of 10. Amazingly, we only had to wait about 20 minutes before they cleared two tables and put them together for us. The other side of the restaurant was closed for a private party so it was pretty crowded in the main area. Be prepared to wait a little while if you come on a Friday. The sandwiches are HUGE. When they brought out our food a few of my coworkers started laughing at how enormous the portion sizes were. I got the Tyler Durden Cheesesteak; tons of steak piled high on huge chunks of fresh bread with jalopenos thrown in for flavor. Really good and incredibly satisfying! I got the bacon flavored potato salad which was really tasty as a side as well. They have tons of different sandwiches on their menu, including vegetarian options, in addition to breakfast served all day. Very extensive beer menu too. It's definitely more expensive than your average bar food, but it's also twice as good and three times as much food. I'm fine with that math! read more

Been here countless times. 3.5 stars. Pretty reliable, good place to watch a game. Decor is nice and homey on the deli side. The sports bar side is not as nice-feeling. It's dark, cavernous, and feels a little bit like the party room at a laser tag place or something like that. Service is reliable. Only once can I remember having a problem with a server who seemed to take things too casually. Otherwise, it's been good. Food is solid. The burgers are big, full of delicious (and unhealthy) sorts of things like onion straws, bacon, pulled pork, and pastrami. But the patties themselves are on the dry, crumbly side. I prefer getting a salad (which is only slightly healthier, depending on the type you get: the steak salad has a lot of beef and is doused in dressing; the asparagus salad has lots of great chilled asparagus and a nice lemony dressing over tomato and mozzarella). Sometimes, if I'm really hungry, I'll get the Bad Donkey (essentially a pastrami reuben) which fills me up plenty and tastes decent. The beer list is okay and features a lot of local Temperance brews. Also, cheap PBR. I do sort of wish they had healthier options as this is where my friends like to go often, and my body just can't take that sort of cholesterol consumption. But that's not Bat 17's thing, I understand. read more

The atmosphere is very casual, but the bar area is very small. I would give this 3 stars based on how comfortable I was and how much room I had to maneuver around. The table top we were at was wobbly because of an uneven leg, which made me quite irritable. But it always comes down to the food for me. I had the pastrami on rye and it was delicious. We also had a side of sweet potato fries that were amazing. The portion sizes are huge (they better be based on the price) and they offer free refills for soda. If I lived around Kellogg, I would be here constantly for sandwiches. However, I would probably just pick them up and eat at my place as opposed to eating there. read more

I've been here for food and drinks (okay, fine, just beer towers) and I've also ordered take-out from Bat. I love the place - it's great for small to medium-sized groups and it's a place where you can have a drink and actually talk without rowdy sports fans or drunk idiots. And you can't really complain about the beer towers (great prices, too). The food is great, too. I'm sure my friends are tired of hearing me praise the Rain sandwich, which has asparagus, portabello mushrooms, and white cheddar and is just scrumptious. The Asparagus salad is also good (and definitely a different take on a salad), although when I got it I was not in the mood for that much mozzarella. And yes, the bathroom is awesome. read more

Be prepared to wait in line during lunch hours. The wait is definitely worth it! This place has awesomely HUGE sandwiches! I had a smoked turkey sandwich with tons if avocado. It was delectable. They have outdoor seating available for when the weather is nice. I'll definitely be going back. read more

The two female waitresses at this place are amazing. We came as a group of four girls and had a few male customers make us uncomfortable throughout the night (as always at bars, not exclusive to Bat) and the waitresses immediately noticed and stepped in. They made us feel so safe and comfortable. Will be returning just to see them two again! It's Lauren who served us, plus one other female waitress who stepped in as well. read more

Went here for the first time for lunch and it did not disappoint. They has a big beer list to choose from , along with cocktails and wine. I had the corned beef sandwich . It was huge and could only eat half of it. My friend had breakfast and it was the same story. They also serve free coffee and our waitress was very good and friendly. We also left the leftovers there in their fridge so we could walk around and explore. I would definitely go back! read more

There is nothing wrong with Bat 17. That said, there's also really nothing that special about it either. This is another one of those places that seems better than it really is because it is the only restaurant of it's kind in the area. (Reminds me of Quintons in Iowa City but without the awesomeness.) They have a gigantic sandwich menu that is broken down by the type of meat (or lack of meat) that they feature. Corned beef, chicken, fish, turkey, beef, vegetarian and pork. While so many options can be nice, I personally find it overwhelming. The sandwiches are enormous. They give you the option of "regular" size or "full" size, but I have never eaten an entire "regular" size in one sitting. With any sandwich you get a choice of blue cheese cole slaw (which my best friend LOVES), bacon potato salad, or chips. There is also a lot of salad choices and a delicious looking breakfast menu. The two big draws for me to Bat 17 are their drinks and the late-night menu. They have some of the best drink specials around. $3.75 Stella Artois pints, reasonably priced martinis and delicious cheap Bloody Mary's - and they are all so good!!!! Really, every mixed drink I have had there has been outstanding. You can order from their late night menu until at least 12, and I think maybe even later, and they have a lot of options which, of the ones I've had, are all delicious. The big drawback to Bat 17 though is that the food is very overpriced. Sandwiches range from $6ish to over $10. read more

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, wifey & I stumbled into this place to grab a bite to eat before the movie. Immediately, I almost walked out after I took a looksie at the menu and noticed the insane prices. Seriously, this is quaint 'lil Evanston, not NYC!?!? Nevertheless, wifey had to have a beer before the movie (Intervention?), so I reluctantly stayed. I ordered some roast beef concoction of a sandwich, and wifey had a turkey sandwich. Beers---extensive selection, and actually priced reasonably @ $4.75 ea. for a Porter & Bells. Now, the sandwiches were insanely priced at approximately $12-$13 a piece, but when our friendly server brought these mammoth beasts out, I quickly understood. These are honestly the biggest sandwiches I've ever consumed---very generous on the meat, and actually quite tasty! This place has a cool ambiance, creative drink menu, tons of beer, and great service. The food is definitely overpriced, but I recommend splitting an entree if you bring that significant his or her with ya'. I'd give it 5 stars if it weren't for the ridiculous food prices... read more

Thanks to Yelp reviews I gave this place a try. Twice. A few random thoughts: * YAY: "The Captain" drink? YES. They need to quit playing around and make that available by the pitcher. * BOO: I agree with another reviewer that gave out the "secret" to their huge sandwiches, which is big-ass slices of bread. Tasty and toasted? Sure. But come on now. * YAY: The onion strings with the spicy cheese dipping sauce? Give whoever thought that up a raise. For serious. * BOO: Tried the chocolate and raspberry martinis and I personally found them too strong to be drinkable, therefore unappetizing. I know. Trust me, I hesitated a long time before typing that out, but that was just my experience. But, if you're one of those people that doesn't drink for the taste... * YAY: But they have a TON of other drinks to try! My friend really liked their german chocolate cake dessert drink. So maybe I should have had that? * BOO: The caramel brownie is huge, but remarkably, it barely tastes like chocolate. It's like getting a mouthful of chewy sugar. This gave me a serious sad, because it looked so good. * YAY: While the bread is huge on the sandwiches, bottom line, they are delicious. I had the buffalo chicken sandwich and you could just taste the quality. I just need them to trim the bread a bit. I also had the plain sliders and they hit the spot. I'd go back to Bat 17 because the food is good, the service is friendly, and it's just so easy to hang out there. They have so many tempting items on the menu, and what you do get is pretty good, it's enough to get you back through the doors. Also, it's just a great spot to meet up with friends for a bite to eat, drinks, and conversation. read more

My girlfriend made me try this place because she lives in the area, even from the South Loop it's worth the trip. I had a turkey burger that was really good and she had some kind of french toast creation that I was amazed with. The staff was great and very laid back! read more

Bat 17 was okay I guess. I got this asparagus and portabella mushroom sandwich and it was so bland and kind of dry. After drowning it in balsamic vinegrette, it finally tasted edible. The beer selection does look good, but I was only there with some friends for a quick bite. I think the server that served us that day may have woken up on the wrong side of the bed....unless he's like that everyday, because when we walked in, he rolled his eyes. He vanished for a little bit and finally popped back up when we needed to pay (how convenient). I probably wouldn't be going back here again unless it's to watch a game or something. read more

This is a nice place anytime of day. The sandwiches and beer selection are terrific and the breakfast menu is creative. The funky egg sandwiches were neither tasty or edible really. Everything else during two visits was top-notch. read more

If you come here you have to go for the sandwiches. The portions are huge but the taste is awesome. Even the regular size sandwiches are huge. Plenty of variety. Great casual atmosphere. read more

Bat 17 - I lost the fight and this was the regular sandwich size. Oh well. - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

WOW!! The food portions were HUGE!!! I got the Pigskins..."four mouth watering potato skins stuff with an NFL sized portion of BBQ pulled pork or applewood smoked bacon (your choice), white cheddar cheese and a side of BAT 17 homemade BBQ sauce.$10.29" ( description from their menu website) I was able to eat a total of one and felt like I had a large meal. Seriously soo yummy!! Next time I am in that area I would go back for sure and try other things. We were on the restaurant side and they recently did an expansion where you can go next door and there is a more open space with pool tables, another bar, tables, tvs and such. Looked like a fun place to hang out after a meal. Next time for sure. read more

Bat 17 - Pigskins $10.29. - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all