Good Irish Joint that opened relatively recently! Inside it's pretty typical--Dark Wood Bar/ Whiskey Bottles hanging upsidedown/Guinness Posters, Etc. They have great pub food and also a nice patio on the "Quieter" side of Wells St. Service is great and I also noticed a lot of Hot Women lurking around at "Happy Hour"! GTFJD read more

Good place to stop in for a drink when you are trying to get our of the snow! The bartenders are fast and the drinks are strong!

I remember board games that the waitress had to give us paper clips and other office tools to use as player pieces (there's have gone missing). Friendly service. And a tower of beer. All-in-all, one darn fine afternoon I'd say! read more

Trivia on Tuesdays is a lot of fun. Had an awesome burger with huge stake fries as we waited for free trivia to begin. The place filled up fast and many people had reserved tables, so be sure to think ahead if you want to check it out. The service was not that great, but I will try and let it go because it was busy. She just wasn't really designed to be a server I don't think. Didn't have any urgency and always brought the drinks to the wrong people...even the one drinking pop. Not a deal breaker, but not very attentive. Trivia was fun and food was good. I'll be back! read more

The chicken sandwich is my absolute favorite menu item. The beer selections are great and the pricing is very reasonable. If at all possible, attend Wednesday night trivia. It's one of the most fun pub trivia I've ever been lucky to participate in. Questions are challenging but not impossible and the competition is fun and funny. Shots for round winners! The crowd are young professionals. Lots of fun people, great service and fun atmosphere! read more

Great atmosphere. Crowd was great, staff was better. Who doesnt love a place with Notre Dame stuff all over it. Try it out if you are in the Chicago area. read more

Declan's Irish Pub - Fish and chips are delicious. Add a splash of malt vinegar for the full experience. Soooo good - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great little bar. We came in in for the Bears game and I loved the crowd. Not to college kid douche bag, not to geriatric, a good mix of people and a nice waitress...just right. The guy at the next table worked there but was apparently off of work (I think) and was talking about the hard work that went into remodeling the bar after the horrific "Spoon". The hard work shows, it's very cozy and when we were there it was decorated with a bunch of great Halloween decorations. Good fish and chips, good beer, good crowd, nice semi-authentic Irish decor. We'll be back! read more

I had to look up the name of this place on my online banking website so it's not the most memorable of bar names. If you remember Spoon, this is the same joint. This place looks small but is actually quite big. They had the upstairs roped off so you could only walk around on the main level. It was a Thursday so it wasn't as crowded as maybe a weekend. The location is in an awkward spot near Division and away from the other Wells Street bars. I would never have known it was there unless we were specifically going to check out Gareth Woods who was playing at 9PM. The beer selection was meh. They had the Guinness' and Harps you would find in an Irish joint, but other than that the bottled beer selection was limited. I like Oberon. They didn't have it. I drank Blue Moon, then a Harp. While she was pouring I perused their glass refrigerator floor cabinets. Nothing popped out at me. Just your standards: Heineken, Coors, Bud and Miller products. Meh. It was OK. Nothing memorable except the drunk guy in Gareth's face. read more

One of my favorite bars in Old Town. Pretty relaxed atmosphere during the weekdays but can get pretty douchey on the weekends. The food is typical bar fare but pretty good and the beer selection is fairly decent. Just a really nice Irish Pub to hang out at and watch a ballgame. read more

This place is about as chill of a neighborhood place as you can get. Good service, no scene on a Sunday. Just good food, specials, TV, right volume music (no need to scream) and good service. We will be back! read more

After moving down the street from Declan's in August, we've visited a few times. Pros: The patio is great in the summer - it's a great people watching spot on Wells; Sunday Football - being a transplant to Chicago, they are willing to play other games during Bears games on some TVs. General bar food is pretty good - tops are the wings, quesadillas, and fried pickles. I like my fried pickles with regular breadcrumbs and Declan's seems to be one of the only places that does that vs. beer battered. Decent beer list with reasonable prices. Cons: Other food has been sub-par - would not recommend the fish and chips. The inside bar can be a little dark for Sat/Sunday afternoons read more

Classic Irish pub with great food! Best bar food I've had in a long time. Lots of tv's. Well done! Fish and Chips and the Burger are tops on my list... read more

The service here is terrible. A softball team I was on was sponsored by this bar so I had to go like 8 times. The service ranged from mediocre to bad. Several times we had to leave without actually receiving food because it took too long. The owner also paid us out sponsorship money in 5 $25 installments, which was weird. I don't know, it just seems like the servers/owner just don't care. read more

I had a craving so we came back for those juicy burgers. It was Sunday evening the middle of St. Paddy's weekend, however the place wasn't crowded. Just like before, about half the tables were occupied. The burgers weren't as juicy this time, but were still above par. There was a good deal on Guinness that night which the bf took part in. We got dessert to go last time, but abstained this time because we were too full. Overall a good meal out. Would still recommend to those in the area. read more

Great bar. Every bad review on this has to do with people who complain about it being too busy during events! Come on people, don't complain that an Irish pub is crowded on St. Paddy's day! If you want a good Guinness this is a good bar to go to. Great service and friendly people. read more

Wow. This place is fantastic! Great service! Sat outside. Scrumptious Reuben sandwiches, pub fries, sweet potato fries and great drinks. Couldn't be better! Highly recommend. Very welcoming staff! read more

I am on a softball team and Declan's supposedly sponsors our team. Due to Covid, there are only 6 people allowed at a table and we have a team of 12. Initially the guy who is in charge of the wait list gave me a hard time for putting our team name as the name stating that I was "trying to be funny and he wants to keep it professional." Once i explained to him that that was our team name and I wanted our other team members to find us, he hesitantly put the name down. I asked another team member to also put his information down for another outside table. The guy rudely said "we don't take reservations" and turned away our business even though we were asking to put another table on a wait list. I am shocked that Declan's would turn down business, especially during Covid when I'm sure they are financially hurting. We will not be back and giving our business to them. read more

I ordered a caesar salad for delivery , but the salad showed up with no dressing on it or on the side. Thanks for the lettuce!

do not use tock to make a reservation here. it costs $5 per person deposit and absolutely not refundable if you need to cancel. ridiculous read more

One of the best low key, casual, but always a good time bar in Old Town. The patio(s) are awesome in the summer- dog friendly & they even have doggy ice cream! The human food is also great too Great people & service! read more

Went here for lunch today! The food grilled chicken wrap and sweet potato fries were so good. The prices were reasonable and the staff was great. There was a ton of outdoor seating which is key right now. The cleanliness and sanitation procedures they were following were amazing. Highly recommended Declan's! read more

Fries were not cooked and Ruben sandwich was all fat and tasted terrible. My friend liked her meal so maybe it was just me, but I should of gotten fries that were cooked all the way through. read more

Stopped through Declan's for a fundraiser. It was my first time here and it was a cute little pub. The chicken sandwich was SO GOOD! I was not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised. The hand rolled mozzarella sticks were huge and delicious, must try. They also have tater tots, and who doesn't love tater tots. I would definitely come back to try more off the menu if I was in the area. read more

We stumbled onto this place looking for another place. not familiar with the area but it seemed like an oasis in an area of nothingness off of division street. We were wandering from the general vicinity of the el red line and thankfully it was a beatiful day and this place has al fresco dining and on a gorgeous Chicago summer day, nothing is better. It was Sunday afternoon so the service was great and friendly. I ordered the steak salad and we shared cheese stix. Now I know there is nothing to cheese stix...but were really really good. the salad was awesome but a little light on the steak. they could add a few things to the menu but overall it was a very pleasant late afternoon meal. Bathrooms weren't dirty either. read more

The food & atmosphere here is just great. It's a decent size pub with outdoor seating in addition. There are multiple tv's playing a variety of things. I ordered the chicken sandwich and it was great! My husband order the American classic burger which he very much enjoyed as well. Good food & environment for reasonable prices. If you're looking to relax and eat or drink with friends without spending too much I definitely recommend this pub! read more

Not a bad place. They have shuffleboard which is cool but the food isn't very good. Everything is bland or sometimes just tastes weird. I try this place every 4 or 5 months and always leave disappointed. Atmosphere is good though, so if you're not eating it's alright. read more

Declan's has a few very important things working in its favor: 1. Excellent fish and chips 2. Goose Island Matilda by the bottle 3. Trivia on Wednesday nights 4. Friendly regulars I'm not sure I need to elaborate, but I'm going to. Because that's what I do. I popped in Declan's on a total whim. I don't hang in the neighborhood often, so when my gal pal and I finished our girlie bonding time at the nail salon next door, we decided to keep our party rolling and grab a beer and a bite to eat. Declan's was declared the winner due to extreme proximity. We snagged a spot at the bar because the place was pretty busy due to Wednesday night trivia. No problem for me because the bartender was super hot. Shush. I'm shallow sometimes, okay? The menu is a less than inspired, so I went with the pub classic of fish and chips and a Matilda. I'm kind of in love with the fish at Declan's. The breading is super light and crispy, which is key to delicious fried fish. The flaky cod was cooked to perfection. Really, it's just yummy. AND you get a side of malt vinegar to pour all over your fish. The fries are thick steak cut taters with some kind of unidentifiable seasoning that gave them a little something extra. Upgrade! And how about those friendly regulars? One guy even let me draw on his shirt with my Bic pen, which says a lot. Cute bartender + fish & chips + Matilda + nice boys = Wednesday Win. read more

It wasn't the worst, but the owner really shot himself in the foot with our table. We went after seeing a really great show at the Ruth Page center. The server was cute and sweet, but it seemed like it was her first day at her first serving job. When our dinners came, nothing was hot. We sent back two of the entrees and nibbled on the other two that were decent. My friend's fish and chips were great. We were informed by the waitress that the chef thought they were for a different table and never told her. She said that he was wondering why they were sitting for so long. Well... my question having worked in the industry a long time was why the heck did he let them go out. The manager checked on us and did apologize, but then we still waited an agonizing 15 minutes until our order was recooked. Mine was still just warm. It is too bad because for a bar they have a great menu and seem to be trying to do something good. In the end, we were offered a free round. By that time we were already ready to leave and meet friends we were now really going to be late for. The manager huffed over as we were still waiting for a to-go box. Said the reason he could just offer us a discount is because he didn't know how to do it on the computer. So he stood at the table with the check and a pen calculating a discount. It was awkward, uncomfortable and ridiculous. I wouldn't give this place another try after that experience, but if you are in the area and are desperate to eat I would recommend the fish and chips. read more

I went to Declan's Pub to watch the world cup so it may be a biased review. The place was PACKED! Unfortunately they only had about 3 waitresses for the whole inside and outside tables. Service was extremely, extremely slow. We ordered fish and chips for $12. The fish was light and crispy and a generous portion but probably won't bring me back to eat. The waitstaff was very nice just not enough of them for the enormous soccer crowd. The interior is nice, lots of warm, rich wood. I would consider coming back at an off-peak time. read more

Awful place to go. Disrespectful and very rude staff. My boyfriend was kicked out due to not drinking since he was on antibiotics from just recently getting stitches. He was "too drunk" to be in the bar. I recommend to not go to the bar. If you want to have a good time do not go here!!! read more

The staff are bigger douche bags than the people if you can imagine. Had a bar back take a 1/4 full beer from my table and when I mentioned I might want that he jut gave me a heaping pile of attitude with a side of ranch. Also their bus to Notre Dame is lacking. read more

This was our last stop for the night on St. Pattys. They still had food and it was truly a life saver. He bartender took our order so quickly which was nice because it was obviously busy. We got fries and chicken tenders. The fries came with this yummy buffalo ranch sauce and I couldn't get enough! The chicken tenders were so fresh and super good! This was the perfect ending to a great Chicago's St. Patrick's day! read more

Please change the chicken fingers to chicken breasts. My friend and I had a horrible experience eating "chicken fingers". We were so excited to eat them but what showed up was not chicken fingers. They were chicken breasts and I think the cook must have spilled the whole bottle of pepper on them. So gross. Please change. read more

I'm a sucker for an Irish place with available parking....especially in the city. Went to watch the Blackhawks. Nobody was really interested in the game =\ that's okay. Tons of TV screens. Great crowd. There was a DJ upstairs. Good vibes. The manager was nice enough to alert us the air was gonna be turned on since it was getting too hot and if we got too cold to just let him know. He also thanked our group for coming as we left for the night. It's the small things that people can do to make you come back to their bar. And write good reviews! Also beer was cheap considering. read more

The wifey, toddler and I were walking through old town and wanted to grab a bite to eat on our way home so we dropped in here. My wife had the chicken tenders and I had the portobella mushroom burger. It was really messy and just ok. If I were in the mood for something heavier I would have tried the fish n chips but that was not the case. It is also a Notre Dame bar per the sign on the bottom on the door, but it was not in your face about it as obnoxious as some domers are. read more

The service was subpar at most. We ordered nachos and it's took over solid 45 minutes not to mention we got our entrees before ... the nachos were an appetizer. Needless to say, we were EXTREMELY disappointed. Would not recommend. 1/10 at most. read more

Declan's Irish Pub - Expected at least a more extravagant plate for the wait but what came out was rather plain. Smh - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went on a Tuesday nite around 9:30 so happy to find someplace local that was serving food. I'm a Guiness snob from Boston and was pleasantly surprised that they do pour a respectable pint. When I arrived there were many people outside on the patio, but I was the only person at the bar. On the other hand, the food I had was nearly inedible - dried out grilled chicken (called "tenders" but definitely not!) with a cup of hot sauce on the side. Really, really the worst pub food I've had in a long time. It's surprising since the menu is really short, very few choices, so you'd think they would do what they do serve well. Sorry.....really, really bad. Go to Declans for a respectable pint. Eat somewhere else beforehand til they get their kitchen act together. read more

Came here to watch the Notre Dame game and the bartender was SO RUDE. I nicely asked her to remake our drinks because they just didn't taste right. Instead of just remaking it like any other bartender would, she argued back and forth with me and told me that if i didn't like it then I should leave the bar. What a nasty and rude girl, definitely wouldn't want my employees treating customers like that. read more

The worst place you can go. The service is terrible. I had an accident and just got stitches in my hand. I put my head down for a second for the pain and as soon as I put my head down I was kicked out of the bar for being "too drunk ". So if you want a nice place to hang out, don't go here you will be harassed until you are forcibly kicked out. read more

Waiting to get a beer. and it's been like an hour ffff this place. plus it's 4 dollars for a beer. I'm pissed and mad