My girlfriend & I had the pleasure of dining at Firehouse Grill yesterday. We were immediately sat at a table by the window and our server was nice enough to let us move to a bigger booth before a busy service! I got an Anti-Hero ipa and my gf got a mango margarita (which was excellent). Unfortunately my beer came with a red sticky residue on top of the can where I was putting my mouth. The food then came and two dishes were missing & we were immediately approached by a different server whom asked if there were some dishes missing(as if he already knew) one took another 15 minutes to come out and the salmon another 20. My tater tots were pale and looked freezer burned, and the salmon was grey and we could smell it before it hit the table. Was a little bummed to see nothing was comped on the bill considering we spent $100 for a two person lunch for food we hardly ate. My girlfriend and I are in the industry ourselves, so we understand everyone has those days. read more

The smoked wings with Bbq was delicious. The wings were done perfectly, just the right amount of rub/ sauce. The Mac n cheese is alright, kids would love that. I like the old school baked style. read more

Unique | As advertised | Convenient | Clean Unique: Nathan's chicken on corn bread waffle tasted sweet and savory and he said it's unlike anything he's had before. Monica has a veggie burger... pretty standard there but still good. As advertised: the food tasted as the menu described, and the interior was in the decor of a firehouse. So yes; firehouse grille is right on point. Convenient: right off the Main L stop, and at 9PM when we went it's easy to find parking. Open till 11 on Saturday serving food. Clean: Everything ran smooth.. table was ready and clean, service was prompt but not pushy, food came out timely. Pro tip: no discounts (northwestern u, military, or firefighter which is interesting) Pro tip: not a lot of sweet potato fries given in the order even though it's an upcharge, verses tater tots which comes with the dish and there's way more served. Lost a star?: it was average, the food and the atmosphere. We could never go again and not miss it, so overall lacks the quality and zest worthy of a 5th star. read more

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Food is solid, American comfort food, but I kind of want them to get a little more ambitious given that it's owned by the same folks who own Candlelite, which features much more interesting fare. The empanada appetizer I ordered was really, really good, and my wife really like her chopped salad wrap...with tater tots. The veggie sloppy joe is a great option for vegetarians like me, and they're willing to make the veggie burger with the toppings of the regular burgers as well. As a fun bonus, the restaurant is, as the name implies, in a former firehouse. They have a great outdoor patio with heat lamps and plenty of space. read more

After leaving a review saying I had a bad piece of carrot cake, I received a message from the owner apologizing and offering a gift card. Wow! So, I got a $50 gift card and I wish I could say my return visit was excellent, but...well, the service was top notch, but the food wasn't. Again: their burgers and salads are decent. This time my friend had the fish and chips, but neither the fish nor the tartar sauce had much flavor. But she really liked the Local 742 beer. I had a burger which was fine. I think my favorite thing here is actually the tater tots. Maybe people come here for the pizza? I've never had the pizza. Best thing: our server, the food runner and the person who came around with the water pitcher were great. We were in need of nothing the whole time we were there! And of course the owner wanting to make things right blew me away. I really wish their food were half as good as their customer service. read more

When I come here, I'm always welcomed! Thank you for making this the best neighborhood pub. Great when Brian is here - he's a doll and always takes time to chat- and better- make you laugh and feel like a local! Thank you! I had pizza recently- wow!! Don't miss it! read more

Ordered takeout. They were very friendly which leaves the impression that service is good. Food was awful. I threw it away. I ordered the chili Mac. It was noodles with some meat in a soup of water. Flavorless. read more

Cool atmosphere in an old firehouse and the food was decent with big portions. Only negative was that the hosts and servers there looked like they literally could not care less. It seemed like they were all college students that wanted to be anywhere but there serving me. read more

During this pandemic I really admire that they are doing curbside pick up and carry out. I think it's cool they are keeping their staff employed in this dicey time and taking care of those in the community who order. I'm an essential worker myself (in healthcare) so completely appreciate the staff going the extra mile and being out there in this crisis. The staff is always chipper on the phone and extremely accommodating. I ordered a veggie pizza w added sausage, a veggie pizza no cheese and no sauce (brushed olive oil replacing the sauce and I added garlic cloves), and spicy wings. I'm a vegan. The people I was dining w aren't. The staff timed it perfectly with my call en route brought it out to me, I didn't have to wait long at all. The pizza crust reminded me of old school Pizza Hut personal pans or hand tossed where the sides are crispy and almost taste buttery from the oil on the sides of the pan or like garlic bread. They weren't skimpy with the toppings at all. The spicy wings are different as in they are all whole wings and it's not buffalo style or like w Franks sauce but just a spicy marinade and they were crispy. My only quibble might be that the marinara or pizza sauce isn't vegan, but it was kind of them to be honest about that. The worst thing in the world is when a server or host misinforms people with dietary restrictions just out of laziness or assumptions. I would like to see more vegan options or if they told me what could be modified or ordered off menu that I could purchase. Several people were happily stuffed w the order. The servings are large without being obnoxious about it and pizza is rectangular and cut into perfect squares it seems like a great option for sharing. Good if you have a party and have a couple pies and apps or it's for one and and you want a bit left over. After pandemic I would be happy to dine in and try some of their cocktails since a few on the menu sounded intriguing, my friend works at the local hospital and we had been planning a "girls night" nearby her workplace. I know know for sure we will be sharing a pizza upon my recommendation and some other items as well! read more

Where do I even begin.... You can't convince me that the positive reviews, especially the over the top gushing ones aren't paid. Just look at their facebook page: they've disabled commenting and the pictures of their food are enough to make you want to puke, but I digress: Worst restaurant experience from start to finish: My 8 year old son's pizza wasn't even thoroughly cooked! Read on below and you'll find review after review about food poisoning. The cheese on my child's pizza wasn't even melted! I could make a better frozen pizza at home! The mac and cheese was watery and disgusting, my burger was child sized and had ROTTEN onion on it, and the nachos are literally 12 nachos IN A CIRCLE ON A PLATE! What a joke!!! How this place hasn't been shut down is beyond me after all of the food poisoning claims. The manager actually attempted to argue with us that it's "tostada style" LMAO she clearly has no clue what that means. What a joke! Will not only never come back here again, but beware, if you post a review, the creepy owner might find you and harrass you on social media. read more

I try this restaurant about once per year (for 6 years) hoping it will be a good place. Every time I'm disappointed. Food is bad to average at best. I've tried a variety of appetizers but didn't like any of them. The fish and chips are soggy. The steak has no flavor. Burgers are the best bet but still just ok. Drink selection is good. I recommend just to come here for drinks and nothing else if you do want to try it. It takes a while to get service here once you are seated. We fed my 1 year old some puffs while waiting 15-20 minutes for someone to come and take our order. They charged us 50 cents for having food at the table. I'm surprised they noticed her eating puffs when they didn't notice us at the table for so long. Bad experience all around and multiple times. I'm all about supporting local restaurants but I just don't think I can come back here anymore. read more

I went here for dinner while visiting the area. I ordered a grilled chicken with mushroom sandwich instead of a burger patty. It was horrible. The chicken was rubbery and the mushrooms were somehow dry and stuck together. I am not even sure how that is possible. We also ordered nachos and they were not for me personally. They don't even look like regular nachos. I left spending $100 and did not say anything. I just would never recommend it or return there. My server was really nice and I liked the atmosphere. Unfortunately, the food was a negative for me. 1/17 Immediately after my post, the owner reached out to me to try and make things right and will share the feedback with the cook / kitchen. I do appreciate the responsiveness and effort and I have increased the review one star for this. read more

This place is badly in need of upgrades on many levels. My friend ordered the tostada-style nachos with the upcharge for pulled pork. She said the pork was dry and awful and ruined the whole dish, which was otherwise just chips with cheese on top and a side of jalapenos, sour cream, and pico de gallo. One star goes to the manager for comping her meal. My basic burger cost $17, was overcooked, bland, dry, and came with a side of "garlic mashed potatoes" that I can only describe as "wet" and also without flavor. Won't be back, sorry. read more

This place is totally underrated and needs some love. It's bar food with a big menu, a nice beer selection, great patio, and very friendly service. The Cuban is pretty good as is the fish and chips. I overheard the owner saying she also owns the Candlelite, so I'll try their pizza next time for sure. Bonus, Hoosier Mama Pies right across the street for dessert! read more

Just moved to the area and this was my first stop. Was greeted with such a friendly vibe. Felt welcomed and home right away. I had the Manhattan cocktail which was really well done. The steak and fries was also perfectly cooked with rosemary on top. Love this place! read more

Firehouse Grill - Manhattan cocktail - American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Firehouse is hit or miss food wise, but the last time we went the SERVICE was AMAZING with our super attentive server CeCe! I swear it made the food and experience MUCH BETTER. Would definitely go back more often if every meal was like our most recent visit. read more

Great spot! Biked up from downtown Chicago and was hungry and thirsty. My phone was about to die as well. Cece took care of everything! Excellent chicken bahn mi sandwich, cold beer and great service. Couldn't have asked for anything more. read more

I've driven by this place many times and always wanted to stop in. Unfortunately, when I did, it was not that great of an experience. The food and service was marginal at best. The place was not busy at all. Maybe three tables were occupied. My son and I ordered burgers The Firehouse and the Station 2) and my wife ordered the Susan's Michigan Salad. The burgers were just okay. At the price point that they are charging for burgers, they should be much better than just okay. Especially when I can say that Culvers burgers blow them away. The salad was a disaster. First, they gave her the wrong salad dressing. It was not the one she asked for. Then, she realized that the chicken was missing. It was simply not put on the salad. I had to get up and track someone down to let them know. The solution was not a fresh salad prepared correctly, but rather a chopped chicken breast that had been microwaved (my guess because the plate was really hot, not just the chicken) thrown on a plate as a side. Wow. First class. The salad should have been comped. The entire meal with tip (two burger, a salad and a couple of shakes) was just under $80. This is bar food. Way over priced. Additionally, I was not given an itemized receipt. I had to ask for one. Here's some irony for you. It's called the Firehouse, as in associated with water but we never got any water refills during the whole meal. They just sat there almost empty. I certainly will not be returning again. read more

Great place to bring your parents when they come to visit, there's something for everyone! I had the burrito which was surprisingly quite good. The music in here was wayyy too loud though. read more

Food was great, diverse menu with something for everyone, good value, unique atmosphere.

Waiter was excellent. We sat outside and listened to great music instilling nostalgia. Ryan L was our waiter. We had a group of 10. He was patient, kind and helpful. The food was delicious. read more

Well, the one thing they've got going for them is that there is free public parking across the way. Otherwise, there is a LOT of room for improvement here. While the food was decent, it certainly was not worth the wait or worth putting up with the horrendous service. I got to the place at about 6:15. The server only took food and drink orders for a handful of people in my group and continually walked past other members and avoided them altogether. We had to ask to have someone take our orders twice before someone finally materialized to do so. By about 6:45 our orders were taken, while the other half of our party had already finished their meals! At 7:30, our meals arrived, but not without us wondering what the heck happened to our orders and why our party was being totally neglected. People who got their meals before us were offering up some of their meals to us because the service was so horrific. Our server let us know that apparently three people had walked out of the kitchen on the spot and that Pat, the manager, wasn't doing anything about it or prioritizing certain parties over others. The fact that our service here was a garbage fire and that management did nothing to rectify this miserable impression of their restaurant is baffling. Evanston has a lot of great restaurants that do have their acts together. Judging by the night I went, this restaurant isn't one of them! Please do yourself a favor and have a great night elsewhere (i.e., ANYWHERE ELSE in downtown Evanston!) where service is actually professional and efficient. It is totally disgraceful to disrespect clientele by offering them no attention and instead leaving them with a lousy impression of the restaurant. read more

Cece provided excellent service with a smile. Made me feel very welcomed. Thank you!

Outstanding, friendly service by Sydney! Delicious food. I had the veggie burger, and my husband had the chicken burger. So tasty! It happened to be trivia night on Wednesday, and we loved the warm, festive atmosphere. This is an amazing restaurant... an experience! read more

The frozen peach smash (with bourbon) is nice, and the Cubano is pretty good too. The big as your head grilled cheese was as big as advertised, but was rather tough and not the best. A nice ambiance helps this place out immensely. The classic mule was just ok. This place was a bit hit and miss, but has a lot to grow on and is worth a repeat visit. read more

Don't eat here too often but every time I do it's always great! Love my spicy buffalo chicken sandwich! Could be a bit spicier but still delicious. Cece is the best. Very attentive read more

Great atmosphere and good food. The menu has something for everyone. We had a Firehouse Burger and Fish and Chips. Both were great. The service is excellent. Our server, Isabella, was great! We will definitely go back. read more

3 Stars for the cool place. Old firehouse with the fire poles coming through the ceiling. Big garage doors turned into multi-pane glass windows. It didn't look like they open in the summer time. That would be nice... 0 stars for the food and service. Service was mediocre. Thanks for checking in and asking if I want another drink AFTER we were done eating. Why is it so hard to find good waitstaff. Even more disappointing, why doesn't the establishment train and expect good service be given to their guests? 0 stars for the food. I had a burger with fries, it was good but not worth $17! My wife had the "Big as your head" grill cheese... (what can I say she loves grilled cheese). So it was $19! "I can't wait to see this", I said to myself. And, yep, major disappointment! I expected a gourmet foot long a la Park Tavern (Rosemont) or some homemade bread that filled an entire plate (free ideas). But nope... it was 2 grill cheese sandwiches side by side on good 'ol Wonderbread. Then I thought maybe they ran out of their artisan bread... waitress said nope. Sorry... that happens often. What? Really? Just terrible. On the other hand, our Basil Hayden rocks and Cucumber and soda adult beverages were very good... at least we had one. So maybe it's just a bar with a boujee menu. Idk. I won't go back. Oh... And it's the only Chicago area restaurant I've been to that asked for our vax card, so far. Now, I wish I left it at home. read more

Sat out on the patio on a beautiful afternoon, ate some good food and received the best customer service from Cece! Life is great! read more

Firehouse Grill - Patio - American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

The staff and service here are always so friendly. Cece on our last visit knocked it out of the park, tending bar, the room, and training all at once. A very relaxed place where it all feels like your go-to neighborhood spot. read more

Five stars for the best burger and loveliest patio around. I don't care much for the rest of the menu, and service is iffy, but the burger and patio make up for it. read more

A home away from home. I stop in often to take a break from the day and talk to patrons and staff alike. Love to take in game and have a burger (Marty Burger the best) Always get a friendly face whether it is CeCe, Fritz, Jason, Dakota, Stacey or anyone else working that day. read more

Love Firehouse Grill! The atmosphere is great and the staff is very friendly and attentive. CiCi is awesome. The fish tacos and quesadillas are delish. Patio is very nice -- even when its cold (they have plenty of heaters). This is also a great place for events. They have a fully staffed party room. Another plus? Parking is a breeze. read more

Didn't know Firehouse would add 3% credit card surcharge at the bottom of our bill. For most places, credit card fees are part of the cost of doing business. Instead, we, the customers, paid for it. The extra fee seemed sneaky and inhospitable. The server or some obvious signage could have informed us ahead of this. In addition, as a party of eight, the server could have reminded us that a customary 20% tip was already added in to check. We almost paid a 40% tip for lunch, which wouldn't have been the end of the world, but service and food didn't warrant it. read more

My husband and I stopped by Firehouse for a quick lunch. The service was great and we both enjoyed our food. I had a chicken wrap, and he had a burger. Our waitress, Cece, was super sweet and very attentive. It's such a cool place for a quick bite or a cocktail. The fact that it's an old firehouse is super appealing. read more

I haven't tried their food, only the molten lava cake and it was disgusting. When you look at the prices they charge for regular food I can't imagine that it would be any better. Restaurants like Chili's makes a way better molten lava cake. I'm normally not harsh and try to extend grace but this was just bad . read more

I had been here once a few years ago and recently returned to have lunch outside. It was a beautiful sunny day, so we sat outside. Our waitress brought us water and we ordered drinks. Within minutes, umbrellas were flying...literally flying. The wind had picked up and the umbrellas had not been secured to the bottom posts, causing 3 umbrellas to fly off of the tables people were eating at. This was not handled well by employees. We ended up ordering an appetizer and burgers. Unfortunately everything came out at the same time. While the food was decent and they have a nice patio, I wouldn't come running back here. read more

Their blackened salmon entree with cilantro rice and corn/pico de gallo, fish tacos, Cubano sandwich, and tater tots are really, really good. The waitstaff is friendly, and it's fun to dine inside an old, former firehouse. If you're a vegetarian, don't get their homemade veggie burger. It's great that you can get a gluten-free bun with it if you like, and the basil aioli is good, but the veggie patty itself needs some serious seasoning (salt, pepper and either herb or hot spices)... it's really bland. Apart from that, try the other dishes mentioned. The molten lava chocolate cake is also really good. read more

I brought two friends to Evanston to show them firehouse and were the first to sit on the patio for the season. Put in our order....I went with the breakfast sandwich-- no cheese- and flagged for the waiter it was for an allergy to dairy. Wrong entree came out for me- they sent a breakfast burger. Waiter offered to remake it. Ok- mistakes happen. 20 mins later the second attempt came out "breakfast sandwich no cheese" the waiter states proudly. Eager to eat fast because my two lunch companions were almost done with their meals...I took a bite. Covered in cheese!!! Waiter came out and said I would have to speak to the manager- but she was soooo busy so I'd have to come inside. Manager half looked up from what she was doing to say they would remake what I ordered for a third time. I told them it was too late- my friends were done eating and we didn't have time to wait for another attempt. I also told her about the dairy allergy and that I would be ill the rest of the day. "That sucks". "Sorry about that" was the reply. When the bill came we were told that "the manager was NICE ENOUGH to comp your meal". This is why this review is being left. Comp the meal? As in "with our complements"? Of course that's not even in question- it's not what I ordered! I'm embarrassed I brought my friends to Evanston for this/ and was awkwardly eating subway in the car for lunch as I took them home and they kept apologizing for getting to eat while I sat there for an hour ignored. read more

Firehouse Grill - Uneaten breakfast sandwich - American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

We've been coming to Firehouse for years. It's a great neighborhood restaurant that treats is customers well. We went to Firehouse for an early mother's Day. My mother was having trouble hearing so they turned down the music. Our waitress, Cece was friendly, efficient, and didn't miss a beat. Our food was delicious. My son ordered pizza and bacon, my husband the fish tacos, me, the Firehouse burger with tater tots, and my mom, the Cuban. Everything was delish. We never needed to look for our waitress for refills--she was there. We will continue to enjoy Firehouse for our family and when we have out-of-town guests. There is something for everyone and the seating is very comfortable. read more