My friends and I were in Chicago this past weekend. Stumbled apon Fado looking for drink and some food. Place was packed. Music was loud. Beer was cold. (BASS), Girls were aplenty. Coming from Boston this is exactly what we were looking for in an Irish pub. We found a nice spot on the first floor. our sbartender "MICK" was the balls. Extremely attentive, wicked awesome guy. He made us some custom shots and Food was great, split the app platter - more than enough food for the 4 of us. Everything was awesome. I was so impressed with "MICK" I gave him a Cnote tip. When i am back intown i'll be sure to drop by again. J.R Santiago read more

I mean how many "Irish pubs" are there in Chicago?? I'm guessing a lot. And yet, here I am giving Fado's 4 stars. Well, I guess it's because Fado's stands out among the bar scene. Drinks are fine, prices are reasonable, and there are plenty of nook and cranny places to sit. It's usually busy but never crowded and the actual crowd is interesting but never obnoxious. Yep, so it's pretty much *not* like most bars in Chicago. They also play music I enjoy at night, and people do some type of charades dancing, but not really that type of scene, though this place is usually a starter spot on the weekends for me so maybe that aspect picks up as the night goes on. read more

I have no idea that Fado was a chain bar until I wandered past one in Kansas City last weekend and another when I was browsing DC Yelp. But back when I visited the Chicago location, I thought it was a fantastically original Irish Pub. Shows how observant I was at the time... Still, they had me at Guinness ice cream. read more

Great burgers, very attentive and professional bartenders. Don't interact with the manager. Bought two tickets for an MMA fight there this week and my friend showed up at the door after I did. He was not allowed in, and I was not allowed to simply hand him his ticket at the front door. Manager seemed to have a huge ego issue and came at me like I was a terrorist or something. Not reasonable, very aggressive guy. Lost the money on the second ticket. read more

I was pleasantly surprised at how satisfying my experience at Fado was. My friend and I came here on a whim after a work event. I had the Salmon sandwich, which was a little bland but fine after I added some of their chef sauce to it. If you come here, you must try their FRENCH FRIES. They are so delicious! Other things I liked about this place... ~ friendly, Irish server ~ fun and down-to-earth atmosphere ~ lots of single bachelors to look at:) ~decent prices, considering the area I realize this is a chain, but won't hold it against them. Plus, they don't have many restaurants and they are spread all over the country. I do plan on going back, just to get a second feel for the place. If I'm not mistaken, I think they have music some nights. read more

Came here for drinks on Thursday of St. Patty's weekend and it was crowded beyond belief - I definitely like the three story thing that they've got going on. Met up with Amy & Cindy D. here and as cheap as drinks were, they were definitely watered down - my last drink was a jack on the rocks - just to try and get my money's worth. Now, what was so weird about this place was the average age of men here - at least, 40+ who not only oogled at us but they approached us and one of them asked my friend if she was interested in an older man taking care of her. Another one approached me while I was waiting at the bar and saw my ring and mentioned that he was rich and could probably buy me a bigger diamond, which I found very offensive and rude of a complete stranger to say - even if it was his pick-up line. read more

The five-stars here was certainly a unique five stars. This place is a chain, but not a big and ridiculous chain, rather a few stores that are all unique and all well done...or so I learned. More importantly, this was a situation of timing that allowed me to get to know this place, and I liked it...I liked it a lot! With friends around the country, finding central locations to meet is important. A group of friends at a yearly gathering to watch football (American) wound up in Chicago in 2011. In a twist of fate, after a delicious and overly filling breakfast, we found our way a long two blocks (there may have been some poor navigating on my part) to Fado. Our waitress at Breakfast, a beautiful blond with a penchant for drinking whiskey, recommended the pub...and at 11am, on a man weekend, it sounded just right. The twist was we wanted American Football and we walked in to a jam packed downstairs (there are three floors) crowded with proper English futball fans and we were outnumbers and not about to win that fight. About to throw in our towel, one of the fellas asked the bartender if the upstairs (which was closed) could be opened. A delightful waitress obliged, and so began a wonderful pub experience. The mezzanine, shaped like the stern of a ship (imagine a frigate circa 1700) complete with a mast and very small sail, and we had five happy guys. They fired up the projector screen, put on the college divisional championships, and poured a delicious draught. This place was pretty awesome. Our informative and very accommodating waitress gave us the low down on the upstairs bar, which was imported from Ireland piece by piece and reconstructed to give an authenticity that was truly enjoyable. Hardwoods from floor to ceiling, and every draught you could ask for from Smithwyck's to Guinness and proper glassware to match. Their wings and other food was fantastic and served to order. The whole experience was great. This will be return visit...and next time, I'll try to work my way further into the menu than the cold barley soup! read more

The Bouncer was discriminatory and rude toward my friend. She was completely unprofessional. My friend had been waiting in line for an hour and had one beer and this woman refused to let her in to the bar. read more

Confession: I am a massive football/soccer fan. Yes, I call it football, its what the rest of the world calls it and so will I. So, a friend of mine knew I was a manchester united fan and suggested we go here for the manU/schalke match. Always willing to try out new soccer/football bars, I figured now was as good as any time. It had a good pub feel to it, but you also knew that you were in the downtown area as well. There were a good amount of TVs to watch the match and there was a decent sized crowd. There wasn't that great of an atmosphere though which was a bit disappointing. The nature of the bar kinda does lead to that as it is a bit spread out and separated a bit. The beer list was exactly what I was looking for, and though I didn't stray from my normal match beer (boddingtons) I liked what I saw on the whole. I also got the fish n chips and also had some of my friend's corn beef hash. The fish was very good and the corned beef was done very well too. Not sure how often I'll come back here because the globe brings a better atmosphere, but I would come back for a change of pace. read more

I am in town for a meeting and was walking to go to a fast food place nearby but saw Fado's had happy hour and decided to stop. The place is very busy for Friday at 5:30 pm but still found a place at the bar. There are happy hour discounts. I chose a Guinness and fish tacos. The tacos were flavorful and I always enjoy a Guinness. Service was also quick and attentive even though the place is packed. I am glad I dropped by. I will come back again the next time I visit Chicago. read more

If my steak and cheese sandwich had a been a wee bit tastier I would definitely have given Fado five stars (what was I doing ordering a Steak and Cheese in an Irish Pub in Chicago anyway???) I lived in London for four years and I know what pubs are supposed to look like, feel like, smell like, and sound like. Fado gets an "F" in all those categories...an "F" for FANTASTIC. Right when I walked into Fado I could tell straight away that I was in a well respected establishment by the british isle accents I heard. I heard a cockney (London) speaking to geordie (Newcastle), a brummie (Birmingham) laughing at an Irishman and plenty of Chicago accents. The atmosphere is great as soccer was on TV as well as football and baseball so all sports fans were pleased. It was quite dark but candle light makes for a perfect ambience. They do have a lot of beer from around the world and may not have your typical American brew so be prepared. The food is priced well for the city and I guarantee a good time. If you don't have a good time, my guarantee is worth nothing unfortunately and you will still have to pay for all your drinks, food, and cab ride home. read more

Here's what I liked: that the Irish bar had an in-the-flesh Irish bartender, not one who was German or something. The bartender was very friendly and attentive. The beer was great, and I imagine that's why most people would frequent an Irish pub, not to test out various liquors. I'm not a mega-fan of soccer, but if you are, this place, with TVs everywhere you turn, most of which play soccer matches. Not a place to go if you want to watch baseball! The interior is cool, high ceilings, lots of wood, and spacious. Were it not for the location, it would be a better place to visit. However, as I would never make a specific trip to the Near North side, the likelihood of my going back is not very high. read more

Absolutely touristy but.... kinda fun in the middle of downtown Chicago's Loop. I've only been once so far and had a great time. Let the Guiness flow! The bar was packed on a Friday but I wouldn't mind going back. They had an awesome live cover band that was one of the best I've heard in a while. They were playing everything from Maroon 5 to Lady Gaga. Crazy range. sounded EXACTLY like the artists they imitated. I wish I would have known their name to see where else they play. The band made the night. People that came in were laid back and friendly. So were the bar tenders. There was a small private party that looked like they were having a great time. We stopped in after dinner w/ friends on business. They liked it. Can't speak for the food, but an alright place to let loose after a long day where you don't have to get dressed up & shmooze. read more

We had dinner here on Friday during Lent and their buy one get one half off special of fish n' chips was amazing! The fish was perfectly crispy and golden brown on the outside and the inside of the fish was juicy. The Guinness was poured perfectly and the correct temperature. Our waitress Claire was also great and provided wonderful service. We will be back there soon!! read more

Stopped in here for a quick drink and it was exactly what I was looking for. I haven't been to a place that has strongbow cider on tap in quite some time. The bartender, Alex, also informed me that they had a happy hour going on so of course my inner fat kid needs to get Topped Chips with cheese and bacon. I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The Irish pub was a theme at heart, with decorations all over the walls. One thing that made this place stand out to me is that the bartenders personally introduce themselves to you and actually take a minute to learn your name. I will absolutely be coming back again after work for some Strongbow and I really am curious to try the fish and chips. read more

We ended up here one night after an open bar for a rehearsal dinner for college friends of ours. We somehow magically nabbed a table and then started downing Manhattans like we were 18 again. (except that when we were 18 we were drinking Colt 45, not Manhattans) Did I just admit to that? I did. Moving on, this place is part Irish pub, part bizarre upstairs dance party, and I can only remember hearing Bon Jovi but I know they played other songs. I'm guessing top 40 from the 80's which none of us really like but somehow *we all* knew the words. And we were all the best singers ever. I swear. Next time I would definitely try to get a place downstairs. Added bonus: The drinks were not watered down. Thumbs up!!! read more

The smell of this place is gross! Met a couple of girlfriend's after work and it just felt dirty. The server was attentive so a star for that. I can't remember what we ate and this was only the end of August! Not impressed and seems like they have a high opinion of themselves. I would not recommend there are plenty of bars , pubs or restaurants that I will spend my cash! read more

Nice, busy, friendly Irish pub in the River North neighborhood. Service was prompt and the drink selection was robust. This is a multi-level restaurant and even though it was packed when I went there late on a Friday night, we were still seated right away at a table upstairs. It's a solid, casual place to grab a drink or two. read more

Love this bar...GREAT beer list..Kilkenny..seriously? I was so excited, I didnt think I would ever find Kilkenny ale outside of Ireland! Yay for vegetarian bar food! Double yay for great music/live band. Sooo the crowd...on a friday night was a lot of older..upper 30s/40s/50s at first, but as it got later, the crowd got younger..at one point I think a group of 22 years olds sat next to my friend and i...and ordered Sangria..wait what? Did you just order sangria at an irish pub? oh dear... read more

Good spot to watch games and enjoy a pint or two. They have a pretty good list of brews and Strongbow is on tap. That will sell this ginger! The way the restaurant is set up is different as the bar takes up the majority of the space and is smack dab in the middle. But there are plenty of little spots and corners to cozy up and watch a game. I came here the first time for Saturday brunch and really enjoyed it. It was delicious. So I would definitely recommend this place if you prefer a low-key spot to grab a pint, watch a game, and eat some grub. read more

Fado Irish Pub - Strongbow..... - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The first place I went to in my first time in the Windy City. It was St Patty's day weekend and it was suggested to us by both the doorman and front desk staff at our hotel. Most of the staff appear to be straight from Ireland which added a nice touch. The beer options were a plenty and even though there isn't a lot of room inside, the atmosphere is still nice. read more

The next stop on my one-man pub crawl brought me to Fadó. I've been here before on previous visits to Chicago. I like coming back here; it comes close to a real Irish pub. Not quite like being in Ireland, but comes real close. The décor and atmosphere are warm and energetic. It has a rustic feeling like some of the pubs over in Ireland. Everyone appears to be having a good time, especially if there's a game on the TV. But my favorite thing is the bar and the numerous beer taps. Quite a few European imports and some locals, but of course Guinness is my preferred draft. And after another couple of pints it was time to move to the next place. I always try to get over to Fadó when I'm in town. read more

Chains stink as a rule in my book. This place rocks! Just gottta love a place that is dark, has character, and outstanding booze! This place is it. Love going here early Saturday or Sunday afternoon and having a Guiness or two and maybe a John Powers whiskey if the mood so hits me. Watching soccer overseas is a blast too! This has become a staple for us whenever we are in the River North area and we never tire of it. Give it a whirl and I think you'll enjoy yourself. One bit of warning----THIS PLACE GETS BEYOND MOBBED AND BUSY ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS. EXPECT TO BE BELLY BUTTON TO BELLY BUTTON WITH A MILLION OTHER PEOPLE. read more

My friend and I went to his place a few weeks ago. It's a nice little bar in River North to go to that wasn't like the other bars in River North that might be labeled a bit jockey/douchey/pricey/etcy. The service was pretty great. The first time I went, the waitress was very attentive, nice and prompt, especially with it being happy hour/right after work. They have their 'shared' dishes for I think $5 from 5-7. I had the little pork bites. These were good, but VERY fatty, which normally isn't an issue on a big slab of pork, but these were itty bitty bites. At least try to minimize the fat (or maybe I had an unlucky batch). Interior was nice and spacious. I like that the bar is in the center of the place. Great layout. We also had... PICKLEBACK SHOTS! Saayyy whaaaaaaa? I mean, they were gross, but come on, where do you find pickleback shots? Fado's. That's where. The second time I went there, we sat at the bar and the bartender could not have been nicer. Again, very attentive and told us about other happenings at Fado. I would definitely go there again, and it seems to be our go-to after work place so I'll be getting more familiar with it. Prices are bit high for the beer, food, etc. but that's to be expected in that area. Besides that and my fatty pork, this is a pleasant place to hang out! read more

I was impressed it sort of reminded me of Footnik or Dubliners in Tokyo both of which are also chains. Love the proper poured Kilkenny and Guiness which are hard to find here. I was also impressed at the Soccer Schedule they broadcast and am thinking this may be a good place to watch the World Cup this summer? Food was solid had some chips with curry sauce and proper English mustard as well. Definitely will be back and prices were also quite reasonable. read more

Excellent restaurant with a great Irish pub feel. Our bartender was actually Irish and he was super nice and attentive to us. It was almost impossible to order something off their menu because everything sounded delicious. We ended up getting sauce and chips (4 sauces) for an appetizer and we devoured the whole thing! I ordered the Smithwicks mini burgers which were delicious and juicy. My husband ordered the fish and chips (crispy just like he likes) and said it was phenomenal. We really enjoyed this pub because it is one of the few bars in Chicago that is an official U.S. soccer (futbol) establishment, plus it's right off the red line EL. We definitely will be going back!! read more

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This bar was a blast. After a long night in heels with the girls, we were fed up with the uppity over priced bars in Gold Coast and we happened to see Fados. I personally am not a huge fan of Irish style pubs because they are over done in Chicago, but this 2 story bar has incredible decor that takes you out of Chicago and into another world. This is not an eclectic hipster hang out, this a guys-guy bar. They had fun music on all the floors and there were a lot of tables to sit at, but at 12:30 am it was mostly standing room. On the upper level a ridiculous looking 80's cover band was rocking out and seriously the happiness was contagious. We took a couple Irish car bombs and really enjoyed pulling the bachelorette up to the stage to sing and dance. Can I also just say how much I adored our bubbly server! She took our order gleefully and brought it back cheerfully! I so appreciated her upbeat energy. Definitely a place I'd return to. Not sure how the prices compare since I wasn't buying drinks at this point. read more

Love this bar. Multiple levels and as other reviews have pointed out little nooks and crannies too grab a table. Great service, great pub food and an even better selection of beer . Personal favorite is the chicken boxty quesadilla. read more

The best bar in River North for the Non-American-Anglophone (an ethnic group I have decided to invent because no-one ever identifies as English-American). Basically all the NAA sports like rugby, foot-football, cricket etc. are on TV here (occasionally with a $20 cover, cry) and they have brilliant fry ups. If you're not into NAA sports the other reason to go here is that it's the only bar populated at that time of the morning. I also had a good Sunday afternoon session here once (you know the kind of one that goes on a bit too long). read more

Food - delicious. Mmm fish and chips with lots of vinegar Atmosphere - warm and cozy. Did not feel like I was in downtown Chicago. Service - horrendous. Let's just skip to the chase. Our waitress was incredibly rude and unaccommodating. My group of six came for a Sunday night dinner with some friends who were visiting from out of town. Right when we got there, we could not find a place to sit, and the waitress was of no help to us insisting that we can just squeeze into a table meant for a group of four. The night progressively got worse as she was rude when taking out drink and food orders. Instead of dealing with her again, we started to ordering drinks from the bar. When she saw we were doing this, she chased us down just to tell her that she would take the drink orders because it would confuse the bartender. We didn't quite understand her flaky logic. We think she just wanted to accumulate a larger tip from whatever percentage our tab would be - we were a group of 6, so tip was automatically included. This waitress just made for a horrible experience when we just wanted a chill Sunday dinner and enjoy some drinks. Never again. read more

We were visiting Chicago and randomly entered this pub it has good spectrum of beers, whiskeys and cocktails. Great live music by Aaron Wilhoft on a Friday night. Very nice server. Had a great night! read more

Let me give you a little context for this review: I had 6 Guiness during my St. Patty's Day 2007 visit here, surrounded by 15 of my closest, most drunken friends. While I was standing in line for 30 minutes (ashamedly) to get in and pay a 10.00 St. Pat's cover change (ashamedly), I overheard a hipster on his road bike say into his cell phone: "Fado is the McDonald's of Irish pubs." I'm not going to disagree with that, but I'm going to qualify the statement a bit: Fado is the McDonald's Get Active Menu of Irish pubs. Common, but solid. I wouldn't go to River North especially to go to Fado's, but when you want to get stupid in a bar of dark oak, it does the trick. And about the 10.00 cover charge on March 17th: they did give me a 10.00 off-my-next-visit coupon and an apologetic look when I walked through the door. I guess corporate is as corporate does. read more

4.5 out of 5 stars is my official rating! The good, and there is plenty of it: I went to Fado's with my parents for a late afternoon sandwich and watch some Sunday football games. It was during the Bears game so it was kind of quiet in there, which was fine since we were there to watch the Packers game! The initial appeal of the main bar area was that you felt instantly transformed back to the early 1900's in Ireland. The woodwork of the bar and the unassuming tables that pepper the perimeter of the space was a perfect touch. Steve, their day manager, was incredible and engaging, as well as, gave my mom and I a full tour of the upstairs bar (which was closed at the time). Everything is imported directly from Ireland and it shows in the attention to detail and authenticity of the space. The food was served quickly and came out very hot. My chicken cheesesteak was very good, as was my parent's shrimp boxty and fish and chips, which I stole a bite or two of. The waitstaff was attentive, but not pushy in anyway, and certainly catered to our Packers' needs when the Bears game was over by turning the TV and even turning up the volume for us to listen to it. One neutral/negative issue is the somewhat desolate location on Grant and Clark St. Again, not a huge issue, but just is a little out there from the rest of the hotspots in River North, but it certainly won't deter me from going there again with friends in the future! Thank you, Fado's read more

Atmosphere and people are the plus; portions and sometimes service are the cons. Overall tho, a good sports pub with a fine pint of Guiness. :) read more

Let me tell you what I like about this place....EVERYTHING! Love love this pub. Service is amazing. Food is great. Guinness is delicious! If you are looking for a real Irish pub outside Ireland I say you definitely need to come here. read more

Fado Irish Pub - Real Irish breakfast! - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic, traditional Irish pub in the heart of Chicago. We enjoyed several glasses of Guinness and several appetizers and finger food. There are a couple of floors so this is a huge space. Waitresses were attentive and we had a good time. read more

My experience at Fado was definitely skewed. I went for a work event, but unfortunately we booked it on the same day as a soccer game. The place was packed with soccer fans with barely any room to move. The waitress somehow still managed to make it over to our table and get us a drink-a true feat in that mess. The music was way too loud (the TVs were on too). Will think twice before going back if a soccer game is on! read more

I was so disappointed in this place it makes me misty. We took some out of town visitors here after dinner. They had been here before and loved it. It was amazing when you first walk in! Gorgeous scenery and all. It was early yet so not too crowded. Although there were LOTS of birthday parties going on - complete with presents everywhere, obnoxious cakes and overly dressed girls. Can we all spot the 21 year olds in the room now? Went to go nab drinks for our party after we found some bar stools against a ledge on the wall. The bartender barely acknowledged us and was horribly rude when he couldn't hear us over the music on what we wanted. I don't appreciate being snapped at while I'm ordering - sorry that tip just turned into practically nothing! And watered down whiskey! Blech! So much for Irish. I love the decor - not my kind of place but glad I tried it. I think it's definitely a great place for those darn tourists though! read more

Loving this place. Great beer selection and awesome live entertainment. Comfy seating. Perfect place to end our St Patty's Day.

Two friends (Daniel & Nicole), Derek, and I went here for New Year's Eve. My two friends had been here before and loved the corned beef and hash, and we were all looking forward to the masquerade ball! But oh it was so disappointing! We arrived around 830 after a really long day walking all over Chicago. Our feet hurt a lot and our bodies were tired -- we wanted to sit down and stuff ourselves to get ready for the dancing that would commence soon. But, nope. We arrived about 5 minutes too late because the people in front of us snagged the last table. We weren't offered anything, we just sat at a bench. Daniel tried to go talk to a manager about giving us at least stools or chairs to place our food on in front of us. Daniel and Nicole expected lots of tables per usual and hadn't expected this at all -- so they felt really bad for taking us here, even though of course it wasn't their fault at all. But they figured since there are usually plenty of seats, just plopping four chairs in front of us while we ate dinner for what, 20 minutes? would be plenty easy. Nope. Two of the waitresses were dolls and felt really bad -- also said they didn't know why management couldn't just BE NICE and give us something. Once we figured out management really was going to be a big asshole without any real customer service, we decided to just order and eat the dishes on our laps (since we already paid the stupid cover charge). Problem number two for me: there's literally one vegetarian "entree" (read: sandwich), and it's so bland. It was not worth my money. We also got pretzels with cheese dip but the pretzels were overly salty and flavorless without salt, and the cheese dip was also flavorless. Derek said his burger was okay, but nothing special. My friends still liked their corned beef and hash but said it was drier than usual. However, one really annoying thing about two other waiters was they brought out all of the food at once! Our laps can fit ONE PLATE at a time. Are you serious? And they stared at us like we were the problem. They put it on the DJ's ledge, and then the DJ scolded us for not being careful enough around his precious equipment. YOUR staff put it there! We totally understood that Fado needed dance space. But really, at 8:30pm, the 400+ people expected obviously weren't there. Plus, if it was going to be first-come, first-serve for a VERY limited amount of tables even 3+ hours before midnight, TELL US! There was no indication anywhere that we'd have this problem. Third, fine, you need dance space, you crappily didn't tell us about lack of dinner space, but can't you AT LEAST plop some chairs in front of us? WHY was that so hard and impossible? After our bland dinner, there was okay music and more rude people and okay drinks. Thanks for ringing in our new year, Fado. Edit 01/09/2012: I do have to hand it to them -- they followed up with my bad review with apologies and offers for gift certificates. I just wish our original wish for four dinky chairs would've been granted for 20 minutes and then we would've been happy as clams! read more