Went in on a Thursday night. This was a cool neighborhood dive bar with great beers, great service, and amazing fried pickles.

They serve the best bar food anywhere, hands down!!! Wings 5, fried mushrooms 5, grilled cheese 5, potato salad 3, only because I'm not a fan of dill, flatbread 5, pastrami 5, brusselsprouts 4, burnt ends 3 not enough flavor. Loved our server, will definitely be back again and again!!! read more

Fun place lots of rotating beers on tap, service has always been good as has the food . Worth checking out.

the pretzel bites with beer cheese were warm and soft, perfect for sharing while we sampled a few of their 40 taps. bartender was super helpful explaining read more

Cool Irish pub with lots of booze and some okay food. First Draft won't be the last. It has a pretty typical menu of what you expect from this kind of place. Also it has a cool name befitting of a Printers Row bar. This place can get crazy packed at times. A lot of people mostly care only for the drinks but the food isn't all bad. It's pretty typical pub fare. The prices are about what you expect for a bar in a trendy location. It's about $12 for cocktails. These at least are strong. Best time is earlier before it gets super busy. It takes long enough to get drinks. The later you go it's even harder and you can forget about getting any food. It has a few healthier choices. There's the vegan friendly Roasted Cauliflower Wings. It's $15 for a basket. These come with a choice of a sauce. Barbecue is good. These are healthier than the greasy chicken wings most bars have. Good except for it being expensive. It's way too much even though it's better than typical bar food. They're open late but the kitchen closes early so get here early if you want to eat something. read more

First Draft - Jameson And Roasted Cauliflower Wings - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Found a bar close to my hotel (Hilton) to watch SNF and cheer for my Steelers. Sadly was the only Steeler fan in the place but great food and service. Packer fans were vocal fun and respectful. Great bar. Highly recommend. read more

Cute little neighborhood sports bar. I like the decor inside, dimly lit, exposed brick, it's a nice vibe. Lots of tvs and a nice relaxed environment to watch a game. We had cocktails and apps, the drinks were good and strong. Get the cheese curds! read more

Visited on a Saturday evening, sat outside. We had no problems getting seated, they didn't seem super busy. Service was quick and attentive. I appreciate that the server brought us a to-go box with our silverware and napkins, so we were set for our leftovers. I got the pulled pork sandwich and sweet potato fries, both of which were outstanding. The portions were large. My husband got the turkey club, which was huge. He loved it and had no leftovers . I had the strawberry cheesecake craft beer, and omg, it was ahhmaaazing. Get. It. The outside dining was great. It's a busy street, and the people watching is always fun. I only saw the image when going to the ladies room. It was big, had that historic building feel (which I love), and lots of tv's. The bathroom, however, was less than stellar. Very dirty, which is why I docked a star. Overall, great sports bar with solid food and a terrific draft beer menu. If we come back to Chicago, would visit here again. read more

First Draft - Pulled pork sandwich with sweet pastor fries - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sat out here on the patio for a quick bite with friends before heading to a concert at Soldier Field. Overall ok meal - the quesadilla and pretzel bites were nice and fresh but the chicken wrap honestly tasted a little moldy. I forgot to take a picture of my shrimp with shishito peppers - it was enjoyable but a little heavy on the acid. Maybe stick to the basic bar food order here since that's what I've heard most of the good reviews for. The server was not very friendly and it was difficult to get water or silverware without feeling like we were bothering her. They did have a good selection of beers and a dog friendly patio which was nice! read more

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Walked here from the congress hotel. Massive beer selection, and the platypus-ish burger was killer! Fries were nice and crispy. The waitress was super friendly. If we lived in the city we would definitely be back... Until then I'll be dreaming of that burger. read more

First Draft - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First Draft was the perfect place to go post marathon! The service was great, friendly and attentive. They were very accommodating to our large group and the food was tasty. Would definitely recommend! read more

Really affordable and conveniently-located bar in the south loop area. I enjoyed the vibe at this place and was able to make it to happy hour for some great beer deals! Also ended the night with an espresso martini, which I was pleasantly surprised by. Our server and the manager were really friendly, checking in on us often. Overall, seems like a great spot to hang out with some friends, and I'll definitely be coming back! read more

What a great little bar! Tons of draft beers, ample menu and seriously amazing service. Cara was a gem! After having less than lackluster service at other establishments close by (Half Sour, I'm looking at YOU) my hope were not high...but Cara was able to be exceptional! Super quick and pleasant, if we hadn't had to get back to the dogs, we would have stayed longer. We will definitely be back! Thank you! read more

First Draft - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First Draft in the South Loop is a solid spot to kick back with a cold one and some hearty grub. I spent about $55 on a Friday night, grabbing their Platypus-Ish Burger--juicy beef patty, crispy bacon, and that house beer cheese that hits just right--and a side of fried pickle chips that were crispy, tangy, and perfect with a cold brew. The beer selection is top-notch, with 64 rotating taps, so there's always something new to try. The vibe is lively, especially during game time, with plenty of TVs and a cozy, rustic feel. Service was friendly and attentive, making it a great spot for a casual night out or to catch a game with friends. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area.​ read more

BEST BURGERS! I can't emphasize this enough. I'm from California and miss the In n out burgers. Mac Daddy Burger is a heftier and thicker version of that. Moist brioche bread, delicious and creamy cheese, and well seasoned flavorful sauce! I got the Mac Daddy Burger Spicy bbq wings (great smoked wings here, not craving a burger then get the wings ) And different types of sours! Everything was 10/10 the limited edition flavored sour stouts like the sour skittles is DELICIOUS AND A MUST! read more

I love this place! When I lived in that neighborhood in Chicago I was here almost every weekend. The beer selection is fantastic! And the scotch whisky and Irish whiskey selections are pretty good too. The food is always excellent. Every time I go back to Chicago I make it a point to go here. The staff and service is always great. read more

What a great place- except they were literary out of all of our favorite items due to a cooler issue. Sadly we brought friends to their location only to be embarrassed by the lack of fav items on the menu. The management has-to ensure that a least a few top items are available. Try harder, work harder, for success. However, the wait staff was outstanding as always. read more

Great food and service. Waitress was new ( 3 weeks) and was wonderful and very helpful. All 6 of us had great food. Good ambiance as a bar with many tvs around the place. read more

Really great beer and food. Fast service and friendly staff. We have been there twice and both times hit.

FOOD POISONING and TERRIBLE service. If I could give this place a 0, I would. Genuinely, surprised at the continuous infuriating, pathetic service we received. The only redeemable thing about this restaurant was the water boy. SHOUTS OUT. We went back a second day to see if they could redeem themselves, SPOILER ALERT, it was f***king worse!!!!! 0/5 read more

This is a long overdue review... Suffice to say I didn't have a Yelp account for a few years, but I'm here to say First Draft is a legit place for good times. I can't remember why I stopped in here the first time years ago, but I think it had something to do with trying to go to (now long gone) Villain's across the street and they were closed. So I dropped in here and had a legitimately good burger. Second time I was out drinking with a couple friends, Sarah S (see her review for her take on First Draft) and Tim R. My strongest memory of that evening is they had insane specials on some Pipeworks and other bombers, and by special I mean like almost half off. The three of us cranked down like 4 of these strong bombers together, on top of whatever else we started out drinking. Everyone left in top spirit and form that night! Tim and Sarah got Ubers back to their homes and to tell the truth I can't remember how I got home.. probably the #3 bus. Anyway, in summation, FD has much better food than you'd expect at a sports bar, their service has always been very good in my experience, and if you go when they're trying to clear out the last few of certain beers you can get a screaming deal on some otherwise fairly pricey bombers! read more

A real neighborhood gem with great food. Our server was a delight and took great care of us. There is an extensive local craft beer menu. For dinner, I had the Vegan Hero with sweet potato fries. Pro tip: ask for the lemon cayenne aioli if you order the sweet potato fries. The combo is amazing! My husband enjoyed his wings, and also got the Pizza Bread, which he said was just okay. We will return next time we're in the area. read more

First Draft - First Draft Pizza Bread - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I absolutely love their happy hour! I work till 5:30 so I'm always looking for happy hours that go till 7, first draft has a happy hour everyday from 5-7 and the deals are fantastic! I also can't say enough good things about the appetizers on the happy hour menu, the pretzel bites and the cheese curds might be some of the best I've ever had. I've come in on a Wednesday and a Saturday and the vibes are always great, super friendly waiters and great music! Will keep coming back! read more

Read whole review!! 5 stars for service! 50+ people and one bartender covering tables and taking orders! She was fantastic! Hands down! 4 stars for the food of my friends! They loved it! Great food all around and the Honey mustard chicken is great and they said the house chips are kinda sweet but a great crunch! 2 stars for my food though. The chicken smash burger taste weird and the crispy smash crust was black and tasted of the grill top and just burnt flavoring all around. The fries had great salting but lacked flavor too. Will I be back? For sure! Just won't be getting the chicken smash burger. Might try the house pizza! read more

Great beer list and good food options! The outdoor patio is open with plenty of seating available. If you are looking to watch any games, there are tons of TVs inside. We all really enjoyed our beers, including Cryptic Bones, the Yuice, Ninjas vs. Unicorns, and Bubbles (very much like a rose), and would love to try more options! They have something for everyone with plenty of sours and ciders! I ordered the grilled cheese with fries and the fries were really good! The grilled cheese was tasty with tons of cheese. Others ordered the impossible burger and chicken sandwich, both were delicious, and the cauliflower "wings," which were pretty much just cauliflower with Buffalo sauce but still okay! Sitting outside the service was a little slow but it is a great place for an outdoor dinner. I was impressed with the amount of vegetarian options as well! read more

First Draft - Monster Grilled Cheese Sandwich - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Heard about this place by word of mouth and it did not disappoint. The menu is uniquely great and the 61 beers is insane (order a flight, I believe they're all on draft). The food was so good, thought I'd have leftovers, but nope. The sweet potato waffle fries taste like a funnel cake it was a great mix with what we ordered. I hope they get some weekly specials so I can frequent here. Regardless, I'll be back. P.S. - Audrey is great!! read more

First Draft - *"Platypus-ish Burger" - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were here again on a beautiful warm October day and they didn't have the fans on. Just a/c. Much more comfortable and great service!

We came to Chicago for a few days. Someone at our hotel recommended First Draft. We finally got to go today, just before work got out for everyone else. Service was fantastic so friendly and quick. Our server was Ashley. We had Brussels and they were great . Would definitely recommend to others, hence why I'm taking my time to write a review read more

It was hard to choose what I wanted from the menu because everything sounded so good. We ended up splitting a huge Italian Beef sandwich and the fries were awesome too. Great list of beers on tap and a million TVs to watch all the games. Perfection. read more

First Draft - Italian Beef Sando and cheese curds - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I met a friend who was in town for a conference and this was a great mutually convenient spot. Since we're both avid beer fans, we were immediately drawn in by the wide variety of draft beers. I also brought my dog and I couldn't help but contain my excitement over their specifically curated dog menu. The staff were incredibly kind and knowledgeable about what food pairings would work best. I had the Slammin Salmon Sammie. I'm not going to lie, I was a little shocked at the price of the sandwich. However, I felt the quality and amount of salmon given did make up for the price! It was so well seasoned and such a big piece of fish that it hung off the bun. And THOSE FRIES! They were delicious!! If I am looking for a light snack and some beers, I know First Draft will be at the top of the list to consider. Also- it can get a bit noisy if you're outside on the patio since it is right next to a busy street. However, that's nothing they can control and otherwise was a great experience. I'm definitely going back here! read more

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Food and service was great - priced fair for being in the city !!!!!! Great ambiance !!!!

Hubs enjoyed the platypus-ish burger and said he would definitely eat it again- and would go back to order it. I had the bbq pulled pork poutine and beet salad. Meh- I wasn't that impressed, and I really wanted to be. We went out of our way to come to this spot and for me it was okay, but I would not go out of my way to go back. The beets were an afterthought- this was really roasted Brussel sprouts with some beets thrown on top. The brussel sprouts were so crispy, it was mostly charred leaves rather than the actual brussel sprouts. I love Brussel sprouts but it left a little to be desired. The poutine were okay. I didn't like the flavor of the pulled pork- wish I could explain it, hard to put in words- the taste felt artificial. Again- hubs was all in on the burger - said it was cooked perfectly. The fries are great. His is a definite win! The ambience for daytime was too dark and a bit drab. The server was not very enthusiastic although she was efficient. Hence, just a middle of the road 3 for us overall. read more

First Draft - Beet salad - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is great for a bar--food was outstanding as was the service and beer selection (if that's what you are into). Great ambiance and atmosphere along with a solid music selection. If you are looking for a fun, friendly place with great food and a great selection of drinks--and a TON of televisions--this is the place for you. read more

We had the breaded mushrooms to start with and they were lightly breaded and nice and meaty. Sauces on side were good and different. I had he Chicago Beef- it was on a toasted bun and piled high with roast beef. It could have used a bit more gardineira and the au jus on the side was just what it needed to round out the bite. Staff was worth the trip alone. Friendly, attentive and so accommodating since our burger was half done not well done. There were a lot of TV screens to find your favorite sport viewing pleasure from bowling to volleyball to baseball and US open tennis. Staff is willing to amend ur view with your preference. read more

Came here from Seattle to catch a Bears game. Was amazed by the attentive service before and during the game... and the fact that they had both Belgian tripels and quads on tap. Awesome experience! read more

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My boyfriend and I came here since we had extra time to spare before our train departure. It was a great experience. They do take reservations but when we went it was pretty quiet (Saturday around 2 PM) . The food was a pricey (we are from the burbs so I am use to different prices haha) but it is the Loop area so it might be typical. The service was prompt. The draft beer selection was amazing! The food was good, but nothing too special. They do have touch tunes if you set the mood to your liking. Near to a lot of cool spots in the Loop too. read more

First Draft - Outside - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I think if I am going to spend over 100 dollars for a meal. I would get much more than a beer, beer flight, a Ruben sandwich, and a chicken quesadilla. We went to this bar for our first experience in Chicago. Hoping to catch week 1 of the college football season. We were met with a bar tender who does not like beer or could even help us out on local great beer selects. I ordered a Guinness beer and she messed up on building a Guinness properly. She destroyed the build creating to much air making the beer sour in taste. Then we asked for beer flight to try some of the local beers they had on tap. Nobody told us that a beer flight is 18 dollars and all you get is 4 2-3 ounce cups. What a total rip off!! In what world does a Ruben sandwich, and a chicken quesadilla cost over 45 dollars? We did not finish the Guinness or the food left this place totally disappointed for our first experience in Chicago. We found some other sports bars that are way better than this place. If you don't like beer at least train or learn about the beers you sell to help the customers who have questions. read more

the best south loop neighborhood sports bar - good drinks and eats for great prices! staff is also super friendly and attentive!

I've come here several times this year. I love their draft beer list and all the food has been very good. I brought some family from Germany here and they loved it. Good place to come and watch sporting events. read more

My son and I were in town for the Printers Row Lit Fest and First Draft seemed to be the place to go! We were impressed by the beer and wine selection but the food and service were also top notch! My son had fall off the bone tender ribs, and I had a terrific shrimp po' boy that was the best I've tasted since visiting New Orleans. This totally jumping place features indoor and outdoor seating. The service was thoughtful and non intrusive, but our person checked to make sure we had everything we needed. The FOH manager was also an active presence to keep everyone satisfied. We also realized that First Draft can refer to writing OR sports! There are lots of monitors to watch whatever sports show you don't want to miss! In all, we will be back to this fun place, the energetic atmosphere is inspiring, the food is great (my toque is off to the chef and kitchen staff as that place was slammed), and the service was perfect. read more