I've heard so many positive comments about Fatty from my NIU friends! The inside is quite large with multiple event spaces to host parties as well as a large patio. We sat at the outdoor patio bar where they had two screens playing sports games. We started with a John Daley & Huskie Punch. The punch tasted similar to a painkiller which is tropical and fruity. The John Daley tasted like it had more tea than lemonade but it was refreshing. For food, I got the Honey Garlic Boneless Wings. I loved the flavor of the sauce and the medium order came as quite a big portion. They were very crispy and well breaded. My husband got The Fat Boy burger with a side of their famous Cajun Fried Potato Salad and Baked Beans. The burger was juicy and flavorful. The potato salad wasn't too spicy but tasted delicious. I see why it's so famous! Overall, this was a great summer hang out spot! I was thoroughly impressed by the food quality and atmosphere Fatty's has to offer. I will certainly be back with friends! read more

See all

Traveling trough the area I hear the "I'm hungry" call from the back seat! It's our 4yr grandson wanting food. Being just after the usual grazing time for him we found this establishment that checked all the boxes for the three of us. Outdoor seating as well as indoor seating was available, seat yourself style. We sat inside. The noise level was not loud at all. Perfect for table conversations. The menu had too many tasty sounding items. I chose the Fatty Melt with the Cajun Fried Potato Salad and Coleslaw. My wife had the Chicken Club Wrap with Onion rings and Beans (for me). The little had the 2 mini sliders with fries. Being family we share the sides and the onion rings were a hit. The number one treat in my book was the Cajun Fried Potato Salad. The bean had a good smoky flavor to them. Last but not least our server should get top billing in the review. Jordan did a fantastic job accommodating our requests and took the time to answer questions without feeling rushed. She made us feel more like a friend than a patron. Hats off to you Jorden! Thanks for making our visit enjoyable. read more

See all

Our server was nice, and the atmosphere is nice and relaxed. We didn't enjoy our burgers though; they were not fresh, and my onion rings were a bit greasy and soggy. We did enjoy the beer nuggets! read more

Service was amazing! Ate outside and had amazing ambiance. Five people total and we all loved our food. BBG boneless wings were good, three people had burgers and thought they were SPECTACULAR. I had ribs and they were quite good. House salad was phenomenal. read more

See all

Emma was the BOMB!! Very attentive, even after it got busy. She was very engaging. Food and drink were so amazing per Emma's suggestions read more

See all

Great pub right next to NIU's campus. The food lives up to the name - appetizers and sandwiches are HUGE but very delicious. On Wednesdays they have trivia and other nights they have live music. Great place for a burger, beer, and fun with friends! read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - Potato skins - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

See all

Manager meet me at my table and introduced himself, friendly then a waitress took my drink order and quickly returned with a nice cold beer. My meal was served and was very good The place was crowded and very active with various groups all being served and the flow was the place was good. I would recommend the place to anyone who's looking for a fun place with good food. read more

Food was good - service a little slow because was crowded for the IESA Wrestling tournaments. A little pricey for a college town but food was good and would defiantly go back if in town on a summer day/night to check out the beer garden read more

See all

If you like sports games you must go! Watch the Bears win! Must go! Great service! Don't avoid read more

Our server was great and the food was even better! I had driven over from Rockford and my grandchildren had driven in from Naperville. I had a marvelous enormous salad! What a great treat. read more

Wow! I was skeptical because of Fattys lower star rating but I was pleasantly surprised! My friend had the steak salad and it was huge. She gobbled 1/2 up and took the other half home. The price was super reasonable. I had the burger and potato salad wrap and also got a HUGE side of potato salad! I ate 1/2 and took the other half home. Again, the price was super affordable! All the food was very tasty and the portions were large and it did not break the bank. Will go back soon. Hopefully they will not raise the prices. read more

There are definitely better places for food in DeKalb, but Fatty's is one of the limited pub and grilles. The menu consists of standard appetizers, burgers, salads, chicken options, and more. They also have an extensive drink menu, serving cocktails, draft beer, and a variety of cans and bottles. Today, I got the chicken caesar wrap and chips and salsa to share. The wrap was okay - the chicken was grilled and had a slightly strange taste. The chips and salsa were plentiful and a great sharing option. The fried potato salad is always a must get and staple at Fatty's. The service is average, sometimes they are fast and other times you can expect to wait a while. They play different games on the tvs. Overall, it's a standard pub and grille. read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - Chicken Caesar Wrap - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

See all

We sat at the bar to eat and drink. The bartender is nice and attentive even though he was busy making drinks like a boss. All in all great experience! read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - BBQ pulled pork sandwich, baked beans, cajin potatoe salad. - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

I had some weird charges on my card after I went here during a concert they hosted. Music was great, a lot of people showed up. The issue I had were these random charges on my card, and a different charge then what I signed for. After a couple phone calls, the generous staff explained the random charge was a pre-authorization charge (which eventually went away) and the different charge I saw on my account was due to the CC fee. Not a 5 star because it took me 4 phone calls and coming in person to clear this up read more

We went to Fatty's on recommendation specifically to try the fried potato salad. We decided to split two appetizers - the pulled pork bbq nachos and the fried potato salad. We weren't fans of the nachos. It was very interesting with the wonton chips, but the combination of the chips, with the type of cheese they used and everything else didn't suit us. The toppings were not evening spread and the bbq sauce was just splat on top. There was also hardly any pulled pork. What saved the day here was the fried potato salad... WOW I have never had anything like it. I think I'll dream about it. It is so so good! We ordered the 1lb serving and let me say, 1lb is definitely too much for 2. But it was delicious. Service was great, for lunch we were able to seat ourselves which was nice. Highly recommend checking them out specifically for the fried potato salad!! read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - Fried potato salad - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

See all

When we got here, they just told us to take any table! After we sat down, our waitress Theresa came within 5 mins, didn't expect that, thought it would take much longer before anyone would noticed us! We ordered a few things and the wait for the food was extremely long, due to game day at NIU! We had BBQ slider, Huskie Burger and the Kettle chips! The bbq pork slider was just ok, it needed some sauce on the pork! The Huskie burger was huge and juicy! But the best was the Kettle chips with jalapeño ketchup for the dip! The jalapeño ketchup was not spicy at all, it had a sweet and tangy taste! We also had the chips and salsa! The place is really noisy! read more

See all

As soon as I walked in, it smelled very good. The appetizer the cheese curds were very good. The Tex mex burger was good. But the waiter didn't really checkup on us a lot read more

See all

If you're in DeKalb you gotta go to Fatty's! I really like bar food, and Fatty's does not disappoint. First time there and the waitress recommended the chicken wrap--an absolute classic! But the real secret is the fried potato salad. When I heard "fried potato salad" I had "potato salad" in my head, and I couldn't imagine how it would taste fried. Forget about potato salad. This is fried potatoes in a cheesy and spicy bouquet of flavors. This is a must try entree and restaurant : ) read more

See all

Incredible food, incredible atmosphere, service is very good. I got the spicy chicken grilled sandwich, the Italian nachos are also incredible. read more

I would love to go to Fatty's when the Huskie students, families and community are there because it sure looks like a fun place. They had a huge parking lot and outdoor dining space with TV screens and its own bar. The indoor dining area was also very spacious, clean and the couple of times I have been here, the tables have been spread out so that there were enough spacing among the diners. Once seated, the server gave us a sheet to fill out for contact tracing. My kids and I have tried the following dishes so far: HOUSE WINGS- the chicken was cooked perfectly but I wasn't a big fan of the buffalo sauce GODFATHER- a really good sandwich RIBEYE STEAK SANDWICH- the steak was cooked and seasoned very well FATTY'S CORN COB SALAD- great salad portion and very generous on the fresh ingredients FRIES- good POTATO SALAD- OMG! This was outstanding! Must try! BAKED BEANS- a little too sweet for me FRESH CAUGHT SALMON- delicious and prepared well TWIN PORK CHOP DINNER- the chops were very tender and tasty They also have a great list of beers and other alcoholic selections. The service was friendly, efficient and welcoming. I would like to try other menu items because after our two visits, we have enjoyed the food and the service so far. The vibe of the place was like a neighborhood place where everyone wants to come in and watch sports, eat good food, talk a lot, and laugh out loud, while having drinks. I will definitely be back. I cannot wait to have the potato salad again. Til next time! read more

See all

I love the Fried Potato Salad and the amazing atmosphere. I stop every time I'm in DeKalb.

I don't even like potato salad. But damn does Fatty's make the best potato salad. This place has been around forever but it's consistently great. All the appetizers are delicious - beer nuggets, nachos, did I mention the potato salad? The fat boy burger is a treasure. It's a heart attack on a bun, but it's so darn good. Service is consistently good too. I love that I can get in here on a weekend with my family and friends and get a big table in the back room for everyone. And it's reasonable priced. **assuming no NIU home football game is going on** Fattys, please never change. read more

Nice outside bar, friendly service, a couple of TVs. Didn't try the food, but what I saw looked good. The only reason for the 3 stars is due to their beer selection. For a place that markets themselves as a sportsbar, they really need to have a wider selection of beers on tap. The only one I was interested, a local IPA, was sold out. Had to settle for an Old Style can. read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - a can of old style beer - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

The service was very slow. 15 minutes to be able to order, after drinks were served. It took 40 minutes to have food served. A table next to ours was seated after us and they were able to order, receive their food, eat and leave before we got our food. My wife ordered chicken tenders. They were burned. Server said it would take 8 minutes to remake. They arrived 17 minutes later. These tenders were not edible as you could taste the old dirty fryer oil. The fried potato salad was burned on 2 out of 3 orders, as if one batch was finished and the next batch was started. I had requested a manager when the first tenders were served. Manager didn't come and identify thereself. The server brought the bill and stated she discounted the tenders, it was $2.80. I took the bill to the bartender and asked for the Manager. To my surprise, I had been waited on and served by the manager. I gave my feedback on the shit show this had been. I faulted both the cook who put those burned tenders on the plate and the server / manager for bringing it to the table. It was obvious to me that she didn't care that the service was so bad or that I assured her I would never come back. This is a Wednesday evening and the restaurant was at 40% capacity. Beware! read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - The 4 replacement tenders on the left, one of the original tenders on the right. - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

This place is huge and has plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating options. It looks like they have a nice setup for outdoor entertainment but on the day we were there it was a bit too warm for sitting outside so we sat near the bar in a dining section. There are a couple of walls that have old timey bottles or cans (wish I would have taken a picture) and the decor was on par with that throughout. When I tried to find a restroom, I noticed two different back rooms and one of them seemed to have been rented for a shower of sorts. The back restroom either didn't have a lock or the people I walked in on just didn't latch it properly so I ended up having to walk around to the one in the front which was a two seater. Our service was fine and my sister had hyped up the potato salad so much that I had to try it. I ordered a side of it and it came out on a pretty sizable plate which was a nice surprise, though we did end up taking home a portion since we were just there for a drink and snack. The fried pickles were perfect. I ordered the only cider and my mother and sister ordered different beers. It was pretty busy for the time of day that we were there on a Sunday and it was nice to see business picking up in the area. read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - Cajun fried potato salad - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

We came as a party of 2 on a Friday evening and it was predictably packed, but we managed to find a single table outside, and the hostess said she had space inside in case we couldn't find one outside (outside is seat-yourself). Our waitress was visibly flustered by how crazy it was, but she did a fantastic job nonetheless. A few minutes after ordering, she warned us that the kitchen was backed up and it might be 20-30 minutes for our food, but it ended up being more like 10. I got their Garden Burger with Cajun potato salad and coleslaw. As one of the few vegetarian entrees on the menu this really exceeded my expectations! The burger and the tomato focaccia bun were so good! Small portion for the coleslaw but I didn't really mind since everything else was huge. The Cajun potato salad was so so good but also the kind of thing I'd try once and never again... I really do not obsess over nutritional content of foods (especially at a place like this) but this was one of those things where I could feel the calories in every bite. It wasn't super greasy (at least not more than you'd expect with any fried food), but the excess of mayonnaise in combination with the frying was too much for me. I am very glad I tried it though since the flavour was amazing and I'd still recommend it to anyone coming here. Didn't have anything to drink this time since I was in town for a seminar and had to go back after, but I was very tempted by the extensive beer list. I'm not usually into party-type pubs like this, but this is definitely a place I would return to on occasion for the great food and service. read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - Garden Burger w/ Coleslaw and Cajun Fried Potato Salad - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

Alright, so Fatty's is the place to go at NIU. Lots of beers to choose from and great food (their chicken is the bomb). Their outdoor patio has TVs and a bar. Giving it 4 stars due to their service. The wait staff is super nice, but they are usually understaffed whenever I go. If you have time to kill and want to drink some beers and eat food while watching a game, I suggest going here! ****Get the potato salad, you will not regret it**** read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - Jumbo Chicken Fingers (tossed in their hot sauce - super good and not too hot) w/ Cajun Fried Potato Sald and Coleslaw - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

Was at NIU working at Huskie Stadium & was told Fatty's was the place to go in DeKalb. The food was great, vibes were great, and the service was good. I got the chicken wrap and it was delicious. The fries were also very good! I loved the vibe in the bar but we sat outside and enjoyed that atmosphere just as much. Fatty's is the place to be! Go Huskies! read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - Grilled Chicken Wrap & fries - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

Food is excellent, especially the potato salad. Inside is nice but the patio is fantastic. Great hangout place.

Don't ever go here for dinner on a Saturday night during college football season. We thought it would be safe since it was a road game for NIU. All the tables inside were reserved for people who were coming an hr after we got there to watch the game on TV. We had to sit outside on the patio at one of the few tables not reserved out there. which is next to the parking lot, with all the exhaust fumes & smokers standing 5' away on the other side of an iron fence. It was cold & tons of flies, we should've left. It was not a pleasant dining experience Food was ok as usual read more

My son is checking out NIU as he considers colleges to apply to and we have visited that school twice. There's not a lot of choice in Dekalb, so we've also ended up at Fatty's Pub and Grill twice! They have a huge building and it's obvious they cater to the NIU crowd. They have lots of room to host events. It's a seat your self establishment, at lunch time at least. The first time we sat outside and the next time we were inside because it was so hot out. The staff are friendly and attentive. There is a huge beer menu! I loved the peach cider. My son had their husky burger with the Cajun fried potato salad both times. He says the potato salad is amazing and he won't share! I had the pulled pork sandwich the first time - it was a bit dry. The second time my husband and I had the pulled pork nachos and the pork was dry again despite being smothered in BBQ sauce. So, I haven't found my go to item yet, but I think NIU is going to be my son's pick, so I'm sure I'll get another try. read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - BBQ Pork - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

See all

This college town does not have much when it comes to restaurants. Fatty's is your classic, college town sports bar. It is a great place to casually hang out and grab a drink. What I ordered: I normally get the Buffalo Shrimp Salad, but today I went with the Windsor Fruit Salad (without the chicken). I love a good fruity salad and this place has a good one! The salads are a fairly good size. They usually fill me up! Something they are known for is their fried, Cajun potato salad. It is a must! Fatty's encompasses a huge space so there is usually plenty of room for groups and parties! In the summer they open their huge outdoor area. Overall, just a fun, relaxed setting. read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - Windsor fruit salad - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

I have had Fatty's food several times in the past 4 years. It is truly amazing and I recommend that you try the Cajon Potato Salad. Reasonable prices and great food. read more

Thank you very much for being open during the pandemic. I have been back to this place twice and it has not let me down. The execution of the food was way better than the first time I went there. My go-to is the fatty style sliders with the cajun potato salad and steak fries. The cajun potato salad is the bomb and found no where else in America. The sliders are char boiled to perfection and they are what keeps me returning. "I'm coming back" sung by Lalah Hathaway. read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - My third visit: wonderful - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

See all

I went to NIU for college and always loved Fatty's! Me and my guys have blacked out here many times . 13 years later after I graduated we still go here every now and then and it hits the spot every time! #PotatoSalad read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - FATBOY! - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

Great food. Good service. Nice environment. The menu is large and portions are too. A DeKalb staple.

Usually when I go here the service is ok, like what you would expect from a college town. However, I went with a friend one night and no one ever even came to greet us. We sat in the dining room for almost 20 minutes with only one other table there. The server was talking to that table for about 10 minutes, and I understand if my table wasn't in her section, but there were 2-3 other servers who looked at me and my friend multiple times and never even came to greet us. The closing time for this location is 12am and it was around 10pm when we were there. This is one of the only food places open past 11pm in dekalb, which is why we wanted to eat there instead of getting fast food. I asked a bartender if their dining room was still open and he said yes, so I'm not sure why we were not greeted or given menus for 20 minutes when there was only one other table and they finished their food and left 10 minutes before we did. We ended up leaving because we got no service. read more

Great local food! Our group ordered a variety of menu items and no one was disappointed. Highly recommend the Cajun fried potato salad! Our server was friendly and attentive to our table. Great place to grab food and drinks before, during or after a game! We will be back! read more

The place definitely has some size to it. Lots of character from stained glass to antique beer can wall collection. Multiple Bar areas in spades, including an outside patio area. The service was friendly, helpful and patient. You have to love a place that has a reserved parking spot for the NIU coach. The food I had, the pork wonton nachos, eh. I would opt for something else next time, then again, this is bar food. I did taste the cajun potato salad and it was unique as it is rich. I did note and suspect that the parking lot has a certain flow to it, perhaps known to locals, but not out of towners, that is not designated by signs or arrows. I exited the parking lot in the lane closest to the bar and was nearly taken out by a full size pick up truck turning in from the road. My guess is that he is not used to cars existing from that lane. So be mindful. Other than that, I bet this place has some stories to tell. You will need to ask for the beer book if you wish a full accounting of beverages to choose from. The specials were displayed as soon as you walk in the door and featured not bottom shelf, but Jack and Tito at reasonable prices. I imagine this is a great place to catch a game and hang. I also imagine this place gets lit on weekend nights. read more

Fatty's Pub and Grille - Sports Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

The food here is great and very filling. If you want to enjoy a great and fresh burger definitely come here and try it out. Mackenzie was my server and she was excellent on what to choose as far as drinks. Jordan was another waiter that checked up on me from time to time which is always a plus. The atmosphere here is a chill and they had a nice selection of games on also. If you come here you won't be disappointed bring a friend or two enjoy great food, good vibes, and drinks. read more