I went here tonight. Went to the bar and started chatting with a guy. He ordered a drink and I turned to talk to my friends for a minute, then be offered me a drink. I didn't watch the drunk go from the bartender to my hand (yes my bad). But I drank about a fifth of it and changed with him. He then made a joke "you know there's Molly in that right?". I went to one of the bouncers on the floor and he alerted their head if security. He asked me to point out the guy and they immediately escorted out. While this guy was obviously a creep and a weirdo the staff at this venue was fantastic and so affirming. They asked me multiple times how I was doing and if they could help me. I think the security did an amazing job and I would feel really safe coming back. read more

Came in for football Sunday to watch the Bears and Packers game. Sat for 40 minutes without having our order taken. When we called our server for the second time (blonde girl with a short messy bob and a flannel) she very aggressively popped off on us and said "what else do you want to do. I brought you waters!" And we said "aren't you a server? Aren't you supposed to check in on us after bringing us waters? You didn't even take our order" with her responding "I'm just gonna go get another server to serve you" .... We saw her go back to the other server VERY CLEARLY talking bad about us. At that point we decided to get up and leave. The other server offered to serve us but at that point we didn't want to give this organization any of our money. The game ended at that point and they weren't even that busy. Avoid if you want good service!!! If I could give it less than 1 star I would. read more

Great gameday spot for Sunday football! Incredible buffalo wings and Irish coffee! Great service and vibes.

I always have a great time at benchmark! The open rooftop was so much fun and the food and drinks were immaculate. Alexa was our server and she was so friendly and welcoming. She gave us great recommendations on what to order. Music is fun and there's so many TVs so it's a perfect place to catch a game! There's also games you can grab when you walk in to have fun with your friends. They know how to keep the vibes going. read more

Benchmark took my credit card and wouldn't give it back. I called 15 times and they didn't pick up. You probably won't listen

Benchmark is usually a pretty good place for food and drinks, especially on the weekends for a fun club vibe. However, the bartender Sarah (the shorter one) that works Wednesday's is what really sets the experience apart. She is incredibly attentive and makes sure both the customers and the work space are taken care of at all times. I gave an additional star for her stellar service alone, and I'll be returning as frequent as I can on wednesdays. read more

Erin made me the best pink paloma ever!!!! she's the best bartender ever and i'll come back again and again because of her, seriously best at benchmark! read more

Benchmark Chicago - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is my first time here,and it is just fabulous. We had an 11:00 reservation but was seated when we arrived at 10:45. Now this was an all you can eat bottomless mimosa. And did they deliver. The food was fresh and good,omelettes cooked to order,prime rib so tender. I could go on but you get it. The waitress was very nice, all the staff I encountered,. It was a pleasure to eat here,nice mix of customers. I will be back,heard the roof opens in the summer. 5 stars .Our waitress Morgan was the best. read more

Benchmark Chicago - Our table. - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is the best bar & grill ever! The food is great! The service is awesome! Make sure you meet Kipp while your their, he was super helpful!!!!!! read more

This place is the best! Great atmosphere and if you get Mauv as your server you're going to have a great evening. Recommend the mini skillet cookie! read more

great customer service! Food is phenominal. Perfect place for a group! Alexa was our server and she was so kind and hardworking!

I had Mauv as a server, and it was 10/10. I came back to Benchmark just for her! Her service was fantastic, she was personable, and she was very attentive. read more

Molly is the best server ever! She checked on us the perfect amount and we had the best time with her!! Will definitely be coming back

I moved to Chicago about two years ago now and have always gotten recommendations to go into Old Town and I have checked out a few bars in the area with my friends but my favorite is Benchmark! It has an upstairs with a ceiling that opens up on a nice summer day and with friendly bartenders and servers. The food is amazing I love the nachos and when going out with my friends we share a GIANT mule bowl definitely worth the price! Later at night they move the chairs and tables to give it more of a bar feeling, Benchmark is definitely a spot to go to in Old Town! read more

I absolutely loved this bar for their amazing happy hour specials! The trivia night added an extra layer of fun and excitement to the whole experience. Highly recommend! read more

WHAT A RACIST ESTABLISHMENTMENT. Every bartender treated me and my friends with disrespect. The staff and the rest of the guests were Caucasian. The bartenders asked my friend "if he was sure he wanted to purchase a $17 drink". After that, one bartender told my friend their card was declined before they even charged it. A few minutes later, we ordered shots and the bartender did not say one word to us then gave us attitude after looking at our tip. Never coming back. Racism is alive and well. Happy 2018 I guess. Update: Someone mentioned to me that this was not an act of racism. I failed to mention that besides the DJ and security, we were the only minorities there. At different times during our stay, many guests looked at us with judgement, shoved us, one guest accused us of taking their jacket, another guest accused us of trying to take her purse when a friend looked at it, another guest pushed a chair on one of my friends. Like I mentioned above, the bartenders were very rude and judgmental. We observed how they treated other guests and it was nothing like how they treated any of us. Every one of us felt mistreated for no reason. We were dressed like everyone else, we weren't loud or belligerent, and we remained respectful the entire stay, yet somehow we were treated as if we did something wrong. read more

This isn't my first time at benchmark nor is it the first time the guy at the stairs, mark? charged me/ asked me to Venmo him so that we could go upstairs. I waited in line to get inside... why is it I'm getting charged extra to get upstairs. #veryquestionable read more

The new steak frites was so good for a sports bar. overall great music and atmosphere.

Huge bar and amazing outdoor patio for the summer. Huge TVs. Really good wings. -Yale Reardon read more

Ask for Mauv, she will take care of you. She made it such a great experience for us. 10/10 recommend

New mgmt is kicking butt. Dang they have it feeling like a club on Sundays. I think his name is Kip, he's got the right attitude for running a business. Great drinks and food! read more

Benchmark Chicago - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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DO NOT host an event here. TERRIBLE customer service. General manager was rude from the second we walked in. Unfriendly server. I had a wristband deal at benchmark on a Saturday night and it was a disaster! Management (Jessica) was a nightmare to work with. They took the space away from us within an hour of the event. They had one server for 30 people... how did they think that was adequate is beyond me. They used this one server for people to purchase wristbands, take drink orders and go pick up the drinks. People eventually just went to the bar for quicker service. The deal ended an hour early (out of the three hours total) because they saw someone give a sip to someone without a wristband... so all the others who paid did not get to enjoy the deal. Truly embarrassing of a system. read more

Hosted my brothers bday lunch at this place and the experience was amazing!!! We went with a group of 15 that had the server Danielle running around. She was amazing but to top it off, Mike the manager was so hospitable that it's unheard of. He went next door to get small single sized desserts to offer us because they were out of something we all wanted. Man this place has a great atmosphere and good ass buffalo rolls! read more

Came with a large group for a birthday brunch. The food was good and the mimosa kits are hard to beat. The atmosphere for brunch is always great. The service was great too. read more

My family went to a show at second city and decided to get a drink at benchmark after. They discriminated against my parents because they were older then their typical crowd and refused to give us seats. They were unprofessional and rude and I will never be attempting to give them my business again. read more

Benchmark is our go to post kickball brunch spot and we tell every we team to play it's the best place to go - great food and love those mimosa kits! Benchmark was even kind enough to sponsor us this season which comes with great post season perks but also great weekly perks too! This week we totally forgot to tell our server about being a sponsored team and when the bill came there was a mistake because of it - she grabbed the manager on duty, Kip, he rectified it quickly and even with a smile. Thanks Kip and the whole Benchmark team! read more

Enjoying a drink and pizza on the rooftop open patio was the best way to spend a summer evening. The prosciutto and arugula pizza was delicious. A bit on the oily side. My only regret is Benchmark didn't serve mojitos! read more

Benchmark Chicago - Prosciutto and arugula pizza. - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A nice, warm and sunny spring day played a part in my being able to enjoy the rooftop @ Benchmark...it was also Cinco De Mayo! Great drinks, cool staff and awesome sweet potato fries...I mean really good! Def will come back read more

One of the nicer sports bars in the city, Benchmark has a great space, good service, and surprisingly good bar food. I've been here for drinks before and they have a good variety and well-made drinks. On a recent visit for an event, I had a chance to try some of their food, which was so much better than I was expecting. All the appetizers were delicious. There are two levels and the upstairs features a retractable roof that's open in the summertime, which makes this a nice little place for alfresco drinks. Even in the wintertime, it's nice to have the view and light coming in from the glass roof. There's also a little lounge area upstairs. Here's a helpful tip--you'll usually get a drink faster at the bar upstairs. Service has been attentive and good on all visits. Only negatives for me, the place gets too crowded, a line on busy nights, and the crowd skews way younger in their 20's. read more

I can't believe I haven't written a review on this place yet since I've been several times. The crowd is a bit younger then I would like, but overall the service and food have always been great. Downstairs they have a little patio sidewalk area and on the main floor they have the huge windows that open up to the side walk. Upstairs the rooftop gets pretty lively (especially during sports games). I went here this pass Sunday. We got there about an hour before the Hawks game started and they were doing open seating. We were lucky enough to get a table on the rooftop and it got packed!!! 3 drinks down and a Turkey Burger later we were ready to give up our beloved table. I like that the waitress wasn't pushy with us to leave even though we were drinking ridiculously slow (1 drink an hour since we were there for 3 hours). Cocktail wise I would say my favorite of the 3 was the Kentucky Buck (Makers Mark, Strawberry, Ginger Beer). So refreshing!! The Turkey burger was excellent and overall I have never had a bad experience here. read more

This was a beautiful casual, yet upscale joint. It's schnazzy and hip. A great place to take friends for some pretty food and cocktails. It's the kind of spot you want to dress up a little to get noticed. Whether downstairs, or upstairs, it's a happening vibe. Downstairs is a little cooler, and suave of a feel. Upstairs feels a bit more lively, with its cool lights and opened rooftop in the summertime. There's some TV's around, too, for guys. I think it's ideal spot for the social person who might want to invite the next table over for a drink and get friendly. Service is on point. The food is pretty good. I had the ahi tuna tostadas, which were too easy to gobble up. Refreshing perfect balance of tuna with a crunch and a kick and a dab of cool sour cream. I had friends who ordered pizza, which comes on a flatter, crispy crust. Also easy to share. My friends ordered a skillet cookie. HEAVEN!! it was heated, chocolate-chipped sweetness, part savory, and part ice-creamy. Perfect to share with a table. Good music, pretty, clean... parking might be a little difficult. I was loving the weekday deal, including $5 glasses of nearly all wines on their wine list. I had the sexual chocolate, and that sure did make me happy ^_^. I'd love to come back and try more of what they have to offer. There were definitely no negatives, but I can't give a 5 without experiencing a full dinner here. It's on my list of recommends, though! read more

Benchmark Chicago - Ahi tuna tostadas - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great happy hour- $5 call drinks on Fridays that lasts until 9pm! Not too shabby at all! Nice outdoor space, very causal atmosphere that's great to relax with a friend or a date. Didn't have any food but it looked good! read more

Nice ambiance, yummy drinks and good bar food. The retractable roof is awesome and great for weekend brunch. I've also gotten dinner there and the buffalo rolls are really good!! They also have good mixed drinks, I'd recommend the mojito. As far as the bar scene, it can get really crowded with long lines so go early and get a table! They sometimes host events such as trivia nights, so be on the lookout for those because they are fun!! read more

Benchmark Chicago - Delicious blackberry mojito - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went here for a weekend brunch with my husband ... the manager Mike and the bartender upstairs were amazing. Besides the great service the chicken and waffles were delish! Will definitely be coming back the next time we are in town! read more

Nice. Really nice. Benchmark is the latest addition to the Old Town scene and if my recent Monday night experience is anything to judge by- this place is on it's way to be another success for the Four Corners group who owns other places around town like the Gas Light and West End. We started out our evening up on the roof. Love the retractable roof which should make the space usable in the cooler months- but for now feels like they have just peeled the roof off of the building. Great idea! To carry this natural openness to the first floor- the layout is a little odd up there and given this-there are plenty of two tops, but not many tables for 4 or more. So if your group size is larger-stay on the main floor. There is also a lounge area with plump sofas and chairs but this is in the closed in area. The ambiance is contemporary and cool. Dark brown woods, accented with silver give this bar almost a "club like" feel. I heard someone utter "wow" as they walked in the door. And I concur. Benchmark has set a new benchmark for bars on this strip of Wells. On the main floor- TV's abound. Behind the bar is a giant screen that can be configured into a variety of options. And throughout the bar are other TV's making this the perfect place to catch a game. The menu should look familiar as it is made up of favorites from the other bars that this group owns. We tried one of their 5 salads and the quesadillas (they have steak, chicken and plain) The food was good, and the service, while a bit green still- pulled it off pretty well. I can't imagine what this place looks like on a weekend. Here it was a Monday night- 4 days after their opening and it was packed. Obviously there was pent up need in this neighborhood for a bar of this type as there is nothing quite like it in the area. If you drive- street parking is hit or miss but there is a lot just up the street ($12) or a parking garage around the corner on North Ave. Love the concept, and anytime I can sit outside with my drink in a stylish environment, I am pretty much a happy camper. Check it out. But if you go on a weekend, go early. Or you may find yourself standing outside looking at all the people inside having fun! read more

My best friend and I come to benchmark every Sunday and today was the best service we have received. Thank you ELLEN for being awesome and handling the entire bar solo. Hope to see you on more Sundays :) read more

Food and service were both average. I'm usually a fan but the server kept forgetting our sauces. I'm usually a fan of 4 corners need to check this place out again and update my review. read more

Benchmark Chicago - Not bad - Sports Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Saturday Brunch: If you want bottomless mimosa ($15), you have to also pay for $25 buffet. It gets crowded, so arrive sooner than later. Buffet spread is definitely above par compared to other brunch buffets, but services lacks for refills of mimosas. Over 5 hours of service, I received maybe 5 refills. So be prepared for that. read more

Great service and great food for bottomless brunch ($30) and bottomless mimosa ($20). Make sure to make a reservation at least a week before as they get booked up really quickly! read more

My friends and I came here for Sunday brunch and it was just okay. The setup isn't conducive for the buffet setup that they have. It's a small place and I feel they would do better having a set menu and offering unlimited mimosas. The setup is so bad that when the lady next to me tried to spoon out the Mac N' Cheese the entire cast iron fell down, splattering Mac everywhere. I can go on and on about what I didn't like but it's not worth it and it's not worth me coming back for brunch. However if I'm in the neighborhood for any reason I will definitely stop by for a drink because they, unlike the food, were good. read more