What a bummer. Consume used to be our go-to place when we couldn't make up our mind. Always really good food and drinks and super consistent. Ever since the menu change, the food has gone downhill. Choices are not nearly as good and the quality of the food is not close to where it was before the changeover. We gave Consume a few tries hoping they would figure out the change. Unfortunately it's just not good anymore. read more

Great and unexpectedly fun time. Been back several times since. Get the naked soux vide wings. You won't be sorry.

Low key spot with solid cocktail offerings. Overall, I'd be interested to try again. We visited a few days after the restaurant reopened with a new menu reboot. There were a few quirks with the soft opening, like limited menu flexibility which was a bummer when it was due to dietary restrictions. However, our waitress was super friendly and accommodating in searching for answers of what was possible from the kitchen. Overall folks seemed happy with food. Husband loved his fried chicken that had nice, thick bacon on top. Fries were hot and salted nicely. Truffle fries weren't much different than regular fries in flavor with just a subtle seasoning on top. Salad was a miss with only 3-4 small pieces of chicken on top. For $19, the execution and portion size could be improved greatly. read more

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The dark wood tables, chairs, flooring/walls combined with glistening stars hanging from the ceiling made for such a cool, calm, peaceful wonder feel. The warm lighting made the room feel welcoming and inviting. The Bavarian Pretzel was very stale. I was excited about the dipping cheese and cinnamon butter but was disappointed the pretzel was rock hard, opposite of what I was anticipating. The Chicken tenders came out looking burnt and cooked in old oil. We expressed our concern to the waitstaff, and they were kind enough to bring us another batch. On the contrary, the flatbread and sous-vide wings and Pork shanks were cooked perfectly. Robust in flavor, tender in texture and quite filling. I would definitely return just for the pork shanks! read more

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Solid brewery with great beers and pretty good food. My girlfriend had the smash burger and I had the stroganoff. The former was better than the later, but the stroganoff was good. Bartender was nice and the place itself was good. I'd recommend it if you're in the Lake Zurich/Barrington area. read more

Delicious food! Unusual menu items you don't see anywhere else! HUGE beer selection and drink menu. Ambiance very cozy

Steak sandwich was actually pretty good, but I ordered the caesar salad and they brought out a regular one. It was 15mins past the kitchen closing so they said they couldn't bring me the caesar, but then I saw someone get their order fixed 10mins later. Wack read more

Don't eat the chili! One of us threw up, and the other had diarrhea, about 1-2 hours after eating it. I let them know. Their response was "that was a fresh batch." No concern about the two of us! The two stars were for the waitress who was on top of everything. read more

My bday was great at Consume. Great bar staff , delicious lamb skewers and super vibe for a Friday night. read more

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Not to be confused with the dispensary named Consume, this place has great food! I came here for the first time with my husband, my sister, and her husband a couple of weeks ago, and we really enjoyed our experience. When walking in, you can tell it has a very modern and industrial aesthetic. The lights are dim, everything is woody, and there are many tables with one long bar. Food wise, everything was amazing. We started with the Sous Vide Buffalo Wings ($12 for 6 wings), and they were delicious and soft. I'm not sure how they can call them buffalo wings because they didn't even have a little spice to them, but the texture and flavor were perfect. For my lunch, I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich ($17) with truffle fries. The chicken sandwich was amazing and had a HUGE breaded chicken breast on the bun. The truffle fries were okay, but a little on the drier side. They were SO much better once I asked for the garlic aioli on the side. However, I'm not a huge fan of fries in general. It would be nice to have more side options such as sweet potato fries or tots! My family loved their meals, too! My husband ordered a Traditional Burger ($17), and the beef comes from grass-fed cows if you care about that! Definitely higher quality than most places. My sister ordered the half order of the Limon Steak Salad ($$12). This was pretty big, so we couldn't imagine how full-sized one is! Lastly, my brother-in-law ordered the Grilled Chicken Sandwich ($17), which he thoroughly enjoyed, as well because the chicken breast again was so juicy and fresh. Consume has a large alcohol selection, as well. They have tv screens hanging on the back wall that lists the names, description, sizes, and prices of the craft beer selections they offer, and they also have a large selection of cocktails and bottled/canned options. I ended up ordering the Tripping Animals 3 Years of Tripping sour ($12 for 12 oz), which was amazing. It has many fruity tastes like peach, pineapple, mango, passionfruit, and more. Service-wise, or waiter was attentive and friendly. He constantly checked in with us and got everything we needed. Overall, I will 100% be back here! It was definitely worth the trip, and I can't wait to try other menu items! read more

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We had been regulars here for the last three years, and recently they have changed their kitchen. Now, it is outsourced from Gigi's Wine Bar and Bistro, Barrington, IL. The fryer is still dedicated GF, which is a plus. This was our first night eating with the new menu, and disappointed to say the least. As GF, Celiacs, my partner and I used to enjoy eating the wings, BBQ sauce, tacos, pasta, pork shanks, and multiple items on the menu. Now, the wings are half fried/half grilled (strange texture), BBQ sauce is NOT SAFE, along with the pasta. Tacos are vegetarian, the only taco is a salad option. I had the steak sandwich on GF bun, he got the smash burger on a GF bun, which was the only other safe meat option. Smashbuger, fries, cocktails. That's about all we will be coming here for from now on. read more

The food and service was good. The ambiance was fine. I will go back.it has been a while since my last visit

Quiet on Sunday at noon Very attentive server, pretty fast from order to food on table. Strong selection of beers (caution: many 13%+ abv imperial stouts. They offer a coca-cola marinated bbq pork, could not bring ourselves to try it. Salmon with turnip mash and roasted root veggies and grilled cherry tomatoes was good. Vegan burger was so-so, south west chicken wrap was pretty bland. Fries were more soggy than crispy, garlic aoli was nothing special. Catchup seemed a bit spicy, which I like. At least outdoors food is served in to go containers. Don't see a compelling reason to return but would not say no if friends wanted to gather here or if you want to explore wide beer selection. read more

Consume - Outdoor seating - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lake Zurich, Illinois

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This our 'go-to' for a casual meal & drinks in LZ. This time around, we concentrated on dinner without alcoholic beverages. (They have awesome beer, wine and mixed drinks btw). I love that they have many gluten free options. We selected the same two choices so we tried a fish entree and a pasta dish. Well, the fish was good but too much sauce that was separating/congealed. The vegetables were not what we were told they would be. The pasta was, well, weird and more like dumpling than pasta. That dish had too much runny sauce and the flavor was flat. They both seemed like experimental dishes that missed the mark. In the past, the chicken and salmon dishes were delish. We won't give up on Consume; plan to be back soon. read more

Always consistent always quick and friendly service with quality food. Plus dogs are allowed outside. What's not to like? read more

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It was a very attentive experience a family member has celiac disease & the menu had so menu gluten free choices. All of our food was great.

Ate there the other night. Husband had the beef pot pie and thought it was less than average. I'm gluten intolerant and I had the grilled chicken sandwich which I thought was good -- ordered with a gluten free bun but was sick that night and next morning so I suspect I got a regular bun. Atmosphere was less than interesting. Service was mediocre. One waiter to cover all tables. We won't go back. read more

First time visit this place, and glad to find it. It has a feel of a neighborhood pub with good foods! It brought us here because it has gluten free options, even with beer! Upon enter, we were greeted by friendly staff telling us that we can pick any where. Quickly, someone brought water to our table, and shortly after a staff came by to see if we have any questions. If you love beers, there's a generous selection. There menu is on their website, so you might want to check out the menu prior to go there. The food selection isn't a typical pub foods. In addition to the conventional items like burgers and fries, it also has something novel like Risotto and Quinoa Cake. We opted for ordering Queso Fundido (special menu) as appetizer, smash burger and Bavarian pork sandwich as our dinner. The foods were flavorful, and the fries were not at all greasy! The only critique I have is the queso fundido got cold quickly so the cheese harden quickly. I noticed that they have trivia night on Wednesdays. I might get some friends to come over in the future. read more

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Visited Consume last night for dinner and walked in during Trivia night! They have Trivia nights on Wednesday nights! We decided to eat outside, they have a rented area that's was decorated with greenery so it felt more like an outdoor garden than an actual tent. One thing to note is that the food comes in to go boxes and we're given paper plates and plastic cups, and utensils to use. We started off by sharing the Sous Vide Buffalo Wings that came with a side of ranch. These Buffalo wings were DELICIOUS. They were the perfect combination of spicy, crunch and juiciness! My husband being a critical foodie that he is, said these might be the best wings he's had in a LONG time! For my entree, I got the Fried Chicken Sandwich that came with a side of truffle fries, and a side of Brussel sprouts for the table. Chicken sandwiches have been trending for a while now and every place has their own take on them. But I have to say this might me my FAVORITE one to date! The crispy chicken, the sauce, the pickled onions & can't forget the cheese curds and bacon for the extra crunch was the perfect concoction! Each bite was better than the last! The fries were great too, they did get a bit soggy in the boxes but the flavor was great! :) The Brussel sprouts for roasted amazingly and were covered in a sweet chili sauce. Although delicious as is, I could have done with a little less sauce and have the sprout flavors pull through! Now to talk about their drink menu, They have an EXTENSIVE menu to pick from! From beers to cocktails - you can't go wrong with any of them! I went with the recommendation of our waiter and finished it before I was even able to take a picture because it was just that great! Haha. All in all, I know I'll be back soon to try some of the other menu items soon! Can't wait! read more

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Good cocktails and service Great regular and beyond burgers. Excellent buffalo wings! We'd go back just for those. Caesar salad just ok read more

We have been here twice now and loved it both times! Their seasonal items are great. The beers and seltzers are great as well. As a group, everyone loved the goat cheese flatbread, fried pork shanks, smash burgers, and osso bucco. The service is great...the staff is super friendly and patient. They even served our burgers cut in half on our own plates with our own portion of fries without us requesting it. Super cute place to grab drinks and hang out in as well. Highly recommend! read more

Late night catching' a nightcap. So welcoming even though we came in shortly before closing. Friendly and casual. read more

Consume - We Be Jammin' - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lake Zurich, Illinois

We stopped here on the way home from Deer Park Mall. We are so happy we did! Delicious huge Bavarian Pretzel with queso, mustard, and cinnamon butter. Amazing. I had the pork sandwich with the malt and salt fries. Excellent. Our daughter had the portabella mushroom on a pretzel roll. Really good! Vegan friendly offerings. My wife had the beet salad and a mushroom risotto. Great! There are many beers and drinks to chose from. If you have the chance, please visit Consume. read more

Consume - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lake Zurich, Illinois

This was our first time at Consume. We like to sit at the bar, and considering the place was busy it was a good decision. Our bartender was very attentive. Made me a lovely rye manhattan to accompany the bbq pork flatbread. I highly recommend this establishment and will return. read more

Consume - BBQ pork flatbread - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lake Zurich, Illinois

We came back here because we enjoyed it the first time we came. This time we came for dinner instead of just drinks at the bar. Unfortunately we didn't enjoy the food or the drinks at all this time. We ordered: Butternut enchiladas: Way too much green sauce. The enchiladas themselves would have been so much better without so much sauce. Smash burgers: Wet? They had a weird, not pleasant beef taste. It tasted really off but we couldn't tell if the beef was bad or just cooked on the same surface as other foods. They came with fries which were clumped together and had gritty ketchup on the side. Colcannon: So dry and overwhelmingly sour from the goat cheese? Asparagus: Again would have been good without the sauce. I felt that they didn't cut off enough of the woody ends. Seasonal Spicy Margarita: was undrinkable. I asked that it be removed from the check and stuck with water. read more

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Wow. I have lived in Lake Zurich for over ten years and I cannot believe I have not been here sooner. The food is just amazing, and what a great atmosphere. Really nice and upscale. Definitely coming back read more

Came to this wonderful Gastropub on a Wednesday and was happy to find out they do a trivia night. Although I sat outside and enjoyed the view of dogs playing with their humans. I inhaled the Buffalo Wings because they were so tender and the perfect flavor of Buffalo seasoning. I had the seasonal burger which was delicious as well and pineapple was sweet enough to blend all the flavors together perfectly. I will be back for more beer and trivia night. read more

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Wow, tried the risotto cakes this week. AMAZING flavor. So so good. I will be thinking about those for a while. read more

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Best burgers in town, great menu Large selection of whiskey/bourbon Service is good, friendly Highly recommend!! read more

Great beer and good food. Not always an available combination. Ambiance is good. Outdoor is a tent (Covid set up), ok, depending on what you're looking for read more

Their Thursday night burger special is great. Huge smash burger and truffle fries were great on all accounts. I didn't even have the beer it comes with. Great service. read more

We love it here- their kids chicken fingers are hands down the best thing on their menu with the honey mustard. We also love their quinoa cakes. Beer choices are great tio read more

I absolutely love their menu! No matter what you try, you won't be disappointed. The staff is friendly and make you feel welcomed whenever you stop in. If I can give you one recommendation: try their chicken wings! Their sous vide wings just melt in your mouth! read more

Consume - Shrimp & Grits - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lake Zurich, Illinois

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Excellent food and beer, casual ambience with a neighborhood feel. Service is always good.

My second visit here and didn't disappoint. Had a special which was carnitas enchiladas with mole rojo. Carnitas is one of my favorite things which is hars to find around here. The pork was flavorful on it's own, really good, but the star was the mole. This is one of the best moles I've had. Truly, if you like Frontera or Topolobampo, I'd put this mole up against what they have. Alas, it was a special and not on the regular menu. Great service, laid back vibe, very nice beer selection. Prices are on point if not a slightly under what I'd typically pay in the area based on quality and quantity. Portions are generous. Wish this was closer to me but totally worth the drive. read more

I thought it was ok. They definitely are on the mark with their beers. I'm into hazy IPA's and they had quite a few which made it hard to decide. 3 out of the 4 people at my table all ordered IPA's and they were all delicious. The smash burger with truffle fries were delicious as well. I'd say nothing special about the atmosphere. Maybe I was expecting more but wasn't impressed. If you want to go to eat, drink and leave I'd say give it a go. If you want to enjoy a good beer and relax before you order and then have a leisurely dinner I'd say there are better places. Jmo. ‍ read more

My husband and I went to Consume several years ago and were unimpressed with the food/ service/ ambiance. We happened to be right by it, and since a friend said he really likes their chicken wings, we gace it another try. Wow. We ordered the chicken wings and charcuterie plate. Both were shockingly bad. The chicken wings were fried, with no sauce. The ONLY taste we could pick up was a fried taste. No seasoning. Meat was dry, and the fat in the wings had not been rendered. Just not done well at all. The "blue cheese" dressing that came with it was the consistency of skim milk with the tiniest bit of blue cheese crumbles. Then there was the charcuterie board. I've never seen that much gray meat. The prosciutto was cut thick and gray. The smoked duck was also cut in thick wedges and gray. The rabbit sausage was gray as well. The cheese had mold on the sides. The cucumber (very odd with everything else on the plate) had clearly been cut and in the fridge door several days, not fresh at all. There were a few crackers on the plate, half of which were soggy from sitting in a compote. Will never be back. read more

Nope. When I tell you my big brother eats everything and didn't even want to eat the tacos or brisket. I'm vegan and got the wrap it was decent needed more flavor so I was able to eat it with some hot sauce and putting the potatoes in the wrap. Best and most consumable thing was mashed potatoes & fries. Nope. read more

Consume - Pulled Chicken tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lake Zurich, Illinois

Loud but understandable. Service was fine. Flat bread was burnt. Couldn't taste Alfredo sauce at all. Tacos were skimpy.

I love finding gastropubs in the Northwest suburbs as I easily get tired of bars which serve uninspired greasy, simple food. I'm also disappointed when these same bars serve a few variations of Budweiser and Miller beer and then a small selection of the cheaper craft beers you find in the grocery store. Consume addresses both issues with a familiar, but more upscale menu with some interesting twists on the food. The beer list is also offers a bit of everything from ciders to stouts to IPAs to sour ales -- it is not the largest menu but offers an interesting variety of choices. The decor in the restaurant really gives a pub feel, prominently displaying beers they have on draft, and following an earthy tone to the walls, lighting, and furniture. Service is reasonable, cooking speed is a bit on the slow side, and prices are on par with other gastropubs in the suburbs. Food overall was good -- I liked the minor variations on familiar flavors, though there were some aspects that I didn't like as much which prevents me from giving a full 5 stars. Pret-zilla: Enormous, fluffy, and comes with 3 sauces. While the bread is quite tasty, I would've really liked the crust to have a bit more firmness or even light crispiness to it. All 3 dipping sauces were very good. The creamy garlic butter was very fluffy, with a nice clear taste of garlic. The chilled beer cheese was nice and crumbly, with a good sharp flavor to the cheese. The chipotle chocolate sauce was nice and dark with a subtle kick of sweet heat and good smoothness. Seasonal burger: The grass fed beef was tasty, but overall the burger was quite dry and the braised pork belly flavor was a bit muted. The havarti cheese added a nice creaminess to the burger. A bit disappointing overall due to the dryness of the patty. BBQ pulled pork sandwich: Excellent smokiness to pair with the tender pork. The cherry BBQ sauce adds a nice sweetness to this dish to make the pork even more flavorful. The slightly toasted bun adds a nice touch of texture contrast. Sous-vide fried chicken: Tender and slightly juicy chicken with a thin and crispy batter similar to Popeyes. The dish was overall a bit underseasoned though which took away from the enjoyment of a well prepared dish. Coleslaw: Creamy and slightly crisp, fairly standard. Truffle fries: One of the better versions of this dish I've tried. The truffle oil has a nice full complexity with earthy flavor. The fries had a nice balance between crispness and softness. Sauteed green beans: Huge surprise. I was surprised at how tasty every component of this dish was -- even the onions and mushrooms which really absorbed the seasonings and light sear. Highly recommended. Overall, good food although a bit inconsistent in quality between the dishes. A good place to enjoy fine food and fine drinks. read more

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