Had the piggy Mac the other night here, which is Mac n cheese with brisket, pork belly's, sausage, and crispy onions. It was ok. Nothing really special. Nice cold draft beer is the highlight of this spot. Restaurant is very dark with super loud music. Lots of TVs throughout. Plenty of seating. Big space. Service was a bit overwhelmed. OK spot for a beer. read more

Emerald Loop - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We sat at the bar last night because, while several tables sat empty, they had reasons we couldn't sit at any. Many had reserved signs that never ended up being used. Not sure if they were just trying to spread people out or what. Oh well. We just sat at the bar. Lots of drinks, way too many drinks, were consumed. Food was pretty good. I enjoyed my French onion soup, while another in my group liked his tomato basil soup. Myself and another both had the corned beef sandwich at the recommendation of another at the bar. The meat was good, but even with the recommendation to get it grilled, the thick bread was too much, and the bread was rather dry. Waffle fries were a little too flimsy for me. The other in our group had a salad with salmon on top. It looked overdone to me, but he didn't complain. Service at the bar was friendly and there for the most part when we needed it. Great place to watch a national championship game. read more

See all

Mondays hit a little different when you know happy hour is waiting at The Emerald Loop Starting the week off strong with crispy, saucy wings that bring just the right amount of heat, perfectly paired with cool ranch and those classic celery + carrot sticks. And if that's not enough... golden, bite-sized fried cheese that's crunchy on the outside and melty on the inside--aka impossible to stop eating. The vibe is laid-back, the drinks are flowing, and it's the kind of spot that turns a "just stopping by" into staying way longer than planned. Whether you're unwinding after work or kicking off the week with friends, this is your sign to make Mondays something to look forward to. Because honestly... why wait for the weekend? read more

Emerald Loop - Wisconsin Cheese Curds - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We stopped in for lunch. We ordered the Irish Curry Chips & Spiced Corned Beef Sliders. They were both so very delicious! There was so much more on the menu I wish I could have tried - but just didn't have the time in Chicago. We did the apple tart & custard for dessert. It was the perfect complement to the chips & sliders. Our server was great - friendly, answered all questions, had great suggestions! As far as the ambience, it was exactly as you'd expect an Irish Pub to look. read more

See all

The guy who seated us was very accommodating and put us in a place that wasn't quite so noisy. The soccer game was on and of course there's going to be a lot of excited patron so I was happy that they were able to celebrate and we were able to hear ourselves. After that, everything pretty much went downhill. Our waitress always seemed to be MIA after she took our drink order and our food order. I was served a side salad that was nothing but dried greens and not even a slice of tomato. She was nice about taking it off the bill. I was disappointed in the turkey sandwich. It was sliced Gross deli meat. My girlfriend enjoyed her fish and chips $14.50 for a Moscow mule. I know I'm downtown but give me a break. We're not all on expense accounts. read more

It just feels good the second you walk in. It's warm, cozy, and welcoming. It's a great place where you can grab a cider, watch the game, and actually relax. Our server was incredibly kind and enthusiastic, which made the whole visit even better. The sausage rolls are a must. And the curry dipping sauce they come with? I would (and have) put that on literally anything. The spice bag might be my new favorite thing. It's chicken pieces, fries, spices, peppers, onions, all shaken together. The chicken was juicy, the fries were crispy, and it I kept going back to it even after my entree showed up. I ordered the corned beef hash from the brunch menu and you can tell it's homemade. Even better with a little Irish mustard. My partner had the grilled cheese and it was way better than either of us expected. With the snow coming down outside, it all felt like peak comfort food. Don't miss this place. It's exactly the kind of pub you want in this weather. read more

See all

I came to Emerald Loop for food and drinks before going to see a theater show. It is one of the few places in the loop that has a happy hour that goes to 7pm. Fun Irish themed bar with a big afterwork crowd. They have a pretty good happy hour with a lot of option that include food and drink. My friend got the mushroom flat bread which she said was good and it was big. My friend got the fried pickles which weren't great. There were a lot of them but they weren't well seasoned and they were too heavily breaded. I got the carne Asada steak salad which is good but I think its weird that it comes in a tortilla bowl but hey you have the option to make it into a burrito. Our waiter was good and made sure we were never waiting too long. I would recommend this place as one of the best happy hour/dinner spots in the loop. read more

See all

Stopped in for dinner. Service was ok, she was a vegetarian so she could really recommend things. So I decided to go with bangers and mash for the Irish spirit. For was ok. Nothing to write home about. It's more of pub food and drinking place. They was getting ready for st paddies day. read more

Emerald Loop - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We tried Emerald Loop because our Illinois family suggested it! It did not disappoint! Everything we ordered was delicious! The service was great and everything we ordered came out exactly as requested! The portion sizes are generous too. The atmosphere was cozy and fun! Definitely try Emerald Loop if you are in Chicago! read more

See all

Went here for dinner for the first time before a Saturday night show. I enjoyed the atmosphere, and service, as well as the two cocktails I ordered. We shared an artichoke spinach dip appetizer and being an "Irish" place, I had Sheppard's Pie for my main course. My main observation was that both items I tried tasted bland to me, as if the kitchen didn't want to take any chances with flavor. Purely subjective, and maybe other menu items have more flavor. I would give Emerald Loop another chance, but did not stand out as a must-return place. read more

Had an awesome time at Emerald Loop watching the World Cup! The service was excellent from start to finish, the food was great, and our server, Janessa, was fantastic. A total rockstar. Super lively atmosphere that made the games even more fun. Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun spot to catch a match in Chicago or just a good time with great food. read more

This restaurant is open until 2:00 am. We were recommended by Paul at the Hoyt's. He gave us a flyer for a complimentary appetizer. Inside was packed, so we sat by the bar for faster service as we were hungry. This is an Irish pub- inside with decorated in green and the light were dimmed. We started off with our free appetizer- sweet chilli wings. These were so spicy but good! I had a Passion fruit margarita and the blackened Salmon. read more

Emerald Loop - Blackened Atlantic Salmon - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We tried emerald loop before a show at the Chicago theatre and made a reservation for dinner on a Saturday evening at 5pm. It wasn't too busy when we got there but did fill up later on as we ate. I got the espresso martini which was super smooth and delicious. I liked that it was on tap and made with nitro cold brew. My husband got a sample of the Irish cider but said it tasted like apple juice so he didn't get a full size. I ordered the sausage roll from the appetizers and when it came out didn't have the curry ranch which I was excited to try and it took a few times asking the server to finally get it. The roll was great and I liked it with onion jam. My husband got the bangers and mash and loved it. We did also hear the table next to us have issues with our server so it seems that the service can be hit or miss. Overall a really lovely place for some solid Irish food downtown. read more

Emerald Loop - Espresso martini - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love the food, drinks, and atmosphere. My go-to spot after work. Lively place and Connor is great. read more

Emerald Loop - St Patty's Green Beer and a shot of Jameson - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped by during happy hour while walking around down town. We got a table outside and got a couple blue moons and a sausage roll. The sausage roll was amazing! It was just sausage on a puff pastry but they paired with real mustard, a jelly, and a sauce I was not familiar with. The jelly was hands down the best with the roll. I loved the other sauces but the jelly was so delicious with the sausage. Our server came by a few times to make sure we were doing good. I'd definitely come back and choose outdoor seating again. read more

Emerald Loop - Irish Sausage Roll - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Seated right away when we arrived. It was very festive, and they had some dancers. I didn't like that they go table to table to ask for donations though. That's a turnoff, but they didn't come to ours. The burger was good, so was the grilled cheese and tomato soup. The service does take a little longer than normal. Overall a good experience. read more

See all

Our group had an incredibly upsetting and discriminatory experience here, and we want others to be aware. We went to The Emerald Loop for dinner before a show. After the show, we we tried to enter the restaurant with our group of friends, including one friend who is neurodivergent. As we were walking in, he misjudged the height of a curb while crossing an alley and stumbled--something that can happen to anyone, but especially to someone who processes physical space differently. Instead of showing any compassion or even basic human decency, the security staff immediately denied us entry, claiming the stumble was a sign of intoxication. When we calmly tried to explain that our friend was not under the influence, the security guy became non responsive. One of our group members attempted to professionally explain the misunderstanding, but the security escalated the situation and threatened to call the cops ...without even giving our friend the courtesy of a second look or any further assessment. We asked to speak to the manager. The security guard refused stating that he surely wasn't going to waste his time with "ourrrr group". What happened next was even more telling: our friend tried to inquire why he could not enter and they responded almost robotically and refused to acknowledge him as a person. It was dehumanizing, ableist, and completely inappropriate. This was not a misunderstanding. This was blatant discrimination against a neurodivergent adult. Shame on this establishment for empowering staff who choose bias over understanding. We will not be back, and we encourage others to think twice about supporting a place that treats people this way. Needless to say, we walked across the street and had a wonderful $250 bill. read more

These wings are fire! I got the boneless with the sweet Asian chili wow! All my friends loved the sauce. We came here for some late bites and beers. Our waitress was great! We seemed to annoy the hostess. Wish they had more bar real estate! But they have lots of seats! read more

See all

I felt lucky that I was able to get a dinner reservation for 9 people the Sunday of St. Patrick's weekend. We were seated in the back where it wasn't too noisy. Standard pub fare, I had a chopped salad which was fine. Hubby had some chicken wings. Service was timely for our large party. read more

Emerald Loop - Chicken wings - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Went here on a Sunday and our server made the night. Autumn was friendly and efficient. The place was packed and I never once felt neglected. All the staff was pleasant and friendly. read more

Food and drink were pretty good (we loved the cheese curds!). The raspberry bubbles drink was also good. Unfortunately, our visit was largely marred by the poor service. We were more understanding when the place was busier during a bears game but once the majority of crowd left we were left nearly abandoned for the rest of our visit without cause. We had to stare at our server from afar for her to even come over to us. Probably wouldn't come again. read more

Emerald Loop - Wisconsin Cheese Curds Irish Curry Chips - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not an Irish pub ! Wow, Ira more of a nightclub with no bouncers . Bartender was nice but definitely no Irish anything

Loop Old Fashioned - 3 Stars Black and Blue Burger - 4 Stars Bartender provided good service for it being happy hour during the week. When I got there at 3pm the bar was empty and by 4pm the entire place was full of people. The Loop Old Fashioned is not worth the added price. read more

Emerald is a great place to go catch a game and have dinner at the same time. They have a pretty extensive menu so we didn't get to try a lot of dishes. The service was quick and staff is friendly. It's a typical sports bar vibe in the restaurant itself. I'd say it probably cleaner and more chic than normal sports bar however. Now the food. - Fish and Chips: Too expensive for what it was. The fish itself was a little too crunchy and fell apart too easily inside. - Chicken Curry Bowl: Decent bowl but the avocado was a little strange for a curry bowl. But overall, it was pleasant enough. - Buffalo Mac and Cheese: Huge portion! Typical buffalo chicks mac and cheese. It was good. - Fried Pickles: The ranch they serve the pickles with is so delicious! The pickles themselves were good but needed a little more crisp. - Pretzel: It was soft and warm and also huge! The cheese sauce is what you'd expect. The mustard was really good. One of the best I've tried I think. I would definitely go here again for the bucket deals and the location! I would also try some new dishes. read more

See all

Great place to grab late night drinks or food! Stopped by with a friend on a Wednesday night and was so glad it was open late. Very casual atmosphere. Saw some people coming in after work in business casual, saw couples on dates, or like me and my friend just stopping by after walking around the city. Our waitress was very friendly and the servers were alright. The inside is dark and dimly lit which sets a nice night vibe. The food was as expected, not amazing fine dining but also not bad! I would come again for a casual going out night. read more

Emerald Loop - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We were so grateful they had a late night food option close to our hotel! The service was great and it was a fun atmosphere. We just ordered two appetizers because we had a big, late lunch. The steak quesadilla had very little meat. The naan sausage flatbread was small but reasonably priced and flavorful. Drinks were good and reasonably priced. read more

Emerald Loop - French 12 - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Stopped by for happy hour prior to a show in the theater district. The drinks were amazing and refreshing and the light bites were fantastic as a little something prior to the theatre. read more

See all

The staff planned a get together for two of my coworkers. The whole party took place in the back around the booth. When we arrived at the Emerald Loop, we went to the bar. I ordered an unsweetened iced tea. It had a deeper and robust taste which I really liked. My coworkers ordered a Moscow Mule and a Don Julio. I treated them as they deserved to get celebrated. Even though we did not order from the menu, it looked ample. Loved the ambiance and relaxed atmosphere. The vibe felt welcoming and inviting. Everyone became lively and people laughed and smiled. Located in the heart of the Loop, people come here with their friends and coworkers. Come and bring your friends, family, and or a date. read more

See all

Lentil soup had great flavor. Corned beef sliders very good. Food came out over fast. Service was good - servers didn't really seem to want to be there or be bothered but they did their job. read more

Emerald Loop - Lentil soup - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The bartender Sebastian needs to be retrained on customer service & how to make a proper old fashioned. I ordered three old fashions Whistle Pig 10 year & was later informed that there was only enough whistle pig whiskey to make two drinks. I compromised and asked for the third drink to be made with another brand. He then proceeded to make the old fashions & he obviously ran out of enough whiskey & attempted to just substitute the volume of liquid in our glasses by adding an excessive amount of simple syrup. The old fashions were overly sweet, and the worse old fahions I've ever tasted. I could not finish it and sent it back to him. To make matters worse, Sebastian didnt care when I told him about it, nor did he ask if we wanted to order something else. He simply proceeded to close out our bill and tend to other customers as if I was an inconvenience to him. It is not the type of experience I would expect inside a Bar in downtown Chicago where Im just trying to enjoy a good old fahion. I would rethink visiting this location and simply stay away. read more

We came in for lunch and had some pasta, a salad, and I cannot remember the other entree! Service was good and pretty attentive. However, we were disappointed that we could not get a pretzel (they were out), and they were out of something else we tried to order (again, can't remember). Everything was all right. Given the great options nearby, I am a little sad that we "spent" a meal here that we could have done somewhere else. Nothing was bad, but nothing was memorable or really hit the spot. Well, other than the beers! read more

Surprisingly good Irish food and great service! We visited the Emerald Loop out of necessity. There was a big event downtown and this place didn't have a wait. At first look, this place comes off as an Irish-ish sports bar. Lots of TV's, pub tables, a menu that has the basic grub, etc. It also has some nice touches like large windows, exposed wood, and lots of Christmas decorations when I visited. We were seated right away and our server took care of our drink orders. There's a little spot on the menu with Irish fare and both of our party ordered from it. The bangers and mash as well as the Shepard's pie were tasty on their own, but I was absolutely sold with the addition of the brown sauce! So good! I would have overlooked this place at first but would now go back if I'm staying in the area again! read more

Emerald Loop - Look at the size of the Shepard's pie! Two meals, easy. - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We were staying at the Virgin Hotel across the street so we stopped in here twice during our week in Chicago. The first time, which was earlier in the evening, we sat at the bar and ordered a couple of drinks from the bartender named Kris, which was a 5-star experience. The second time was late at night and the place was packed. We were seated at a table and had some cheese curds which were just fine. I think this is probably the more typical experience. Cool space, but also seems pretty touristy, and the prices reflect it. Not a bad late-night experience if it's convenient, but also not something I would rush to recommend. read more

Emerald Loop - Wisconsin Cheese Curds - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Great Irish bar with a modern Chicago feel and service. Had the presence of a dive bar with the stun glass windows and wood everywhere. Happy hour was great! Service was perfect. read more

I randomly went into this spot for a quick lunch. Service was fast, and our server was nice. I got the ruban sandwich which was good but a bit dry and could have used some sauce. Vibe was what you would expect from a sports bar. I wouldn't go out of my way to go here but it fits the bill if you're already in the area and want to grab something quick. read more

Emerald Loop - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This restaurant is right in the corner of the building so easy for drop off and pickup. Came here for the bar. There was a lot of people but everyone was chill. Bartender was very accommodating and makes great cocktails. If you're in the area definitely check this place out! read more

Emerald Loop - Bloody Mary (too spicy for me) - Irish Pub Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Good affordable irish pub at a great location near theaters. We both had the yummy shepherd's pie. Adequate service for how busy it was.

This restaurant has become a frequent destination for our group. Food and service has been amazing. Yesterday there was a slight disagreement over channel choices as several games were being aired at the same time. Management handled this with great diplomacy despite a customer attempting to bully them. Thanks for making an uncomfortable situation more tolerable. read more

They make the rules up as they go. Tried to Come in on Friday night to have a night cap, we had left overs from a restaurant that we previously went to, security said we can't enter because we had left overs. Gave it a second try on Sunday with a party of 3, tried to get a table by the window said we needed a party of 4 for that table. The place had a low population of customers so we could have sat at the window. The Emerald does not value the customer or the customer experience! read more

Great atmosphere and reasonable prices and open late. Service was good and quick. Easy access to public transportation. Lively place and will be returning read more