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

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

I stopped in First Draft with a girl friend of mine after going to the Jazz festival yesterday. There wasn't many people in. It may be due to all the construction around the restaurant. It took 15 mins for someone even to come acknowledge us. I did go up to the bar and the bartender mentioned there were menus in this nook under the table. Pretty cool by the way, but would have been nice to know like 10 mins prior. The waitress came but never once looked at me. Not when she took our drink orders, not when I ordered food... nor when she came back to ask my friend specifically if the food was ok. It was an odd experience... and very sad. I ordered the BLT with onion rings, and the pesto on the side. It would have been a pretty good sandwich if there was more than 2 pieces of bacon on it. I'm still trying to figure out why the egg was on top of sandwich instead of in it.. but ok. And for $14 (smh, puh-lease).... plus an extra $2 for onion rings which there wasn't many so not sure why there was an upcharge. Needless to say, I won't be going back. The food was overpriced for what we got and the service on top of that was terrible. read more

First Draft - BLT w some kind of tomato pesto and 6 or 7 onion rings. Not sure why the egg is on top.. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

Great sports bar with good drinks and decent food. Massive beer menu and pretty good prices. TVs around the bar with several games on, cool ambiance all around. Server was on consistently topping us off and came by very often for drink orders. Visiting for the weekend so location was very convenient and close to several hotels. read more

First Draft - Chi Grilled Chicken Quesadilla - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

After coming here for about 3 years now, this has become one of my favorite bars in the neighborhood. Out of the many bars and restaurants I frequent throughout the city, this is the only one that has ever become my Cheers bar. Danny and Chevy are two of the nicest bartenders you'll ever meet, and always take the time to talk to you and get to know you. The main thing to come here for is definitely the beer. They have a rotating selection of beers that are always being updated, so you never know what you're gonna find each time you visit. They do, however, keep their list up to date on Untappd so you can follow along that way. The food selection here is great as well. My recommendations would be the tacos, Brussels sprouts, and deviled eggs. The latter is wonderful when I'm not that hungry and just want a small inexpensive bite. Also, don't miss the happy hour Monday-Friday from 4-6 or the daily specials. Weekend brunch is also fun with a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar. My only complaint would be that the audio for the games playing on the TVs is almost never playing over the main speakers. Walking into a sports bar to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs and hearing Billy Joel greet you is a bit off-putting. Overall, First Draft is a friendly neighborhood sports bar with great beer and a comfortable atmosphere. read more

See all

This place is perfect for those that love great takes on bar sandwiches as well as craft beer at the top of its game. I went while waiting on my passport down the street to be printed. I was greeted by a friendly tender who gave me the digital menu. The menu had 35 taps of outstanding craft beer for everyone's taste. Additionally, their menu for food was outstanding. I went with the Cubano and it was by far the best Cuban I've had. Go ahead, read my reviews. I don't typically say, "the best" in any reviews. This was just that. Not only was the sandwich outstanding, but the fries were amazing. Something like a combination of salt and garlic made these fries stand out. I will return in the future and can't wait to explore the menu again. Bravo! read more

First Draft - Half of the tap offerings - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

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

See all

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

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

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

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

Beer is good, food is solid, service is bad. Typical sports bar. Set low expectation on service if you plan to visit.

It's been a few years since we been here. We decided to pop in to grab a drink and a small bite. The smoked half chicken sounded appealing so we placed the order. It seemed like it took 30 mins for it to come out but it worth the wait. The chicken was moist and flavorful. We didn't use any of the sauces that came with it. read more

First Draft - Smoked half chicken - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Food is super expensive Service-- wrong order sent to r table twas the next tables order n good thing they saw n told us its their food.. i had to get up and ask for utensils kuz we had nothing-- nxt table to us had to do the same thing no silverware nor napkins we literally saw r server 2x wen she took r oder n wen she gave us r tab .. $100 for party of 3 -- got poutine fries, impossible burger, another sammich n (kid size glass of beer).. the only bad experience we had vacationing in Chicago All together, NEVER AGAIN! I dont even wna leave a star but my post wont go through so oh well read more

What a great little place to be. First off - Not a tourist trap. Feels like a neighborhood place and the service was top drawer. Patio - Tables, a tent and some heaters are out front. You can even bring your dog out there (not inside) and they have a pup menu. Beer - Really great selections. The BF found a beer that he hasn't had in 15 or so years. It even came in the specialty glass and holder that it supposed to be in. Food - Came quick and good portions. Lettuce wraps were full of umami and the chili cup paired with fries could make itself a meal. I'm kind of sad we weren't more hungry. There was a ton of stuff on the menu that looked good. Sportsball - TVs everywhere playing everything. Golf, College basketball, UFC, all the sports Bathrooms - Clean and in an obvious enough place that I didn't have to ask the waitress. Would absolutely spend time here again! read more

Excellent food, phenomenal service, and the bartender really knows how to make a drink. My husband & I are on vacation and stumbled across this place online. So glad we decided to come in! Spent the evening enjoying delicious food and friendly service. My husband had the hot dogs. I had grilled cheese & tomato soup. The place was busy, but not overly crowded. With only 2 servers, Audrey & another, 1 bartender, Danny, and 1 "jack of all trades", Wyatt, the restaurant/bar ran as smoothly as if there had been twice as many employees on shift. If you decide to visit, say "Hi!" to Audrey. She's super friendly and very helpful' read more

Great draft beer list and amazing food. Cuban sandwich was one of the best I've tried, and the creamy coleslaw was perfect. Husband enjoyed his cheeseburger and we both loved the flavor of the fries. read more

Good food, lots of great beers and delicious appetizers Service was excellent , we were seated right away read more

Best chili around. They use beef brisket . Sitting here on a Saturday afternoon during March Madness. Completely packed. And nobody is waiting on drinks . Hailey the bartender is incredible. read more

Was there for the first time last Saturday. Great food our bartender was outstanding. A great vibe in the place. Poutine and mushrooms were excellent. We'll be back read more

We had an absolutely amazing experience! Food was fantastic, super flavorful with generous portions. Both the Chicago Beef sandwich and the Poutine appetizer were perfect. Service was fast and friendly. 10/10 highly recommend read more

First Draft - Football game - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Stopped by hoping to grab a beer and a quick bite but was completely baffled upon walking in. We stood there for about 2-3 minutes without being greeted so we went up to the bar to ask about seating. After standing there unattended for a few, a heavy sat woman with brownish blondish hair walked by so we stopped her to get her attention. We asked if there was any seating available and her response was Do you see any seats available? If you don't then that's your answer, as she storms by us out the door. This was during warmer temperature, so the patio was also being seated at the time. This was a complete turnoff - and if she was going through something she should never let customers experience it. Won't even think about coming back - nothing to see here, too many bars in Chicago with better service, seating, and experience to settle for First Draft. read more

This place is a solid spot to watch a game, grab some beer, and catch up with friends. It's a sports bar so there's plenty of beverage options but I can't comment on the food since I've never ate anything here. read more

Great beer selection, friendly staff, cool atmosphere, and very solid pub food menu. One of the best neighborhood spots in Printer's Row / South Loop. read more

When we walked in, there was no hostess or sign that said seat your yourself, so we were a bit confused, but just proceeded to find a table. The inside is a sports bar with a variety of different games on multiple televisions. Once we were seated, someone came over with water, and the waitress soon came after to take our drink orders. The place was not too busy on Thursday night, but multiple tables were reserved. We ordered cheese curds, and they came fast, which was great because I was starving. The cheese curds were a bit salty but tasty. I ordered the honey mustard chicken sandwich for dinner. The chicken didn't have any flavor aside from being overly salty, and it was extremely dry; I couldn't finish it. Go here to watch the game and for quick service, but avoid the chicken. read more

See all

I have been living next to this place for over 4 years and just assumed it was a local bar. ummm clearly I've been sleeping on 1st draft because the food is GREAT! A few friends posted pics of when they were there and I was like ooo damn thats next door to me and looks good and I finally made my way in. It has a vibe of a local dive bar, which normally I would not go to, to begin with BUT the most important thing is, was that in times of corona I felt safe there, it was clean ( its older inside so it looks like it would be dirty but it was clean). The bathroom was clean, the table was clean, they had a QR code menu etc. etc. on to the other important stuff- they had a very large beer selection ( I also dont drink that- but learned recently that I like sours) My roommate got some beer that she always gets and I got the Key lime pie sour- WOW!! I was drinking liquid pie for 30 minutes and it was delicious. for food we split the Reuben sandwich with sweet potato fries and Kung Fu wings. I kind of wanted to complain about the price bc I thought it was a bit pricey for a local bar- but holy portions. the sweet potato fries were perfectly crispy and so delicious I could not stop eating them. I wish the wings themselves were great but I didnt love the kung fu sauce it was on the salty side for me BUT BUT BUT the next day as left overs they were really good. and the pastrami sandwich was wow! it was huge i went there on saturday and I am still working on finishing the sandwich at home. service- we had a blonde bartender (not sure if there was anyone else there) taking our orders and checking in on us and she was great- super friendly and gave great food and drink recommendations. I would for sure come back ( support local biz) and try a few other items i didnt get to last time and even order take out. read more

When I was younger was always impressed with beer bars that have a bunch of taps because of all the choice. Now that I'm a little older little concerned about how how often that beer is drank from non popular drafts. Came here to watch some college football. Got here 10 minutes before they opened at 10:50 am. They didn't let me in until 11 am. I get the sense that whoever closed on Sunday didn't clean up well for person that opened on Monday. I was pleased they have ESPN plus because not all bars have it. Bartender turned the game on for me but didn't give me sound and it was country music playing throughout. Ordered a brownie points beer, some wings, and a Caesar salad. A prairie artisan ales carrot cake beer. The salad was a good sized portion and came with hardboiled egg. Wings were 10 were juicy and thicc. Had a nice spice level without being overpowering. I was pleased with the beer selection. When I first got in weren't many people but by the time I left lunch crowd showed up well for a random November day. read more

See all

My boyfriend and I went last Sunday afternoon. I'll start off with the good: the food was DELICIOUS!!! I got the honey mustard chicken sandwich-& EVERYTHING was good about it!! My boyfriend had the salmon burger, and it was a tiny bit BETTER than the chicken sandwich. I got a fruity beer that was decent and my bf got a really good Manhattan. The bad: we felt as though no one wanted us there. We walked in to no greeting at all. We found our own seats, and the employees walked past without acknowledging us for about 15 minutes. We decided to go to the bar, where our order was taken. We waited about half an hour for our food. If the customer service was as good as the food, I'd be suggesting this restaurant to everyone! But, that uneasy feeling of being ignored is not something I'd want my friends and family to experience. read more

Cara made the absolute best Bloody Mary I've every had in my entire life. Will be coming back solely for her and her bloody. She's amazing!!!!! Also Danny's cute read more

First Draft - Cara and her amazing bloody! - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Service was awful. I've never been to a bar where the bartender refused to recommend a beer. The food was fine, nothing to write home about. I won't be going back. read more

The food and and heaters are hot in the winter patio at First Draft! Just visited this South Loop / Printers Row treasure and had 5 star food and service. The winter patio at First Draft while open on a few sides does have tenting to break the wind and had heaters over every table ( approx 5 tables) . They also brought us a lower table side heater that kept our legs and feet toasty while watching the bears game in the TV they have facing the patio. The thin crust pizza has hot and delicious. We also had the cheese curds which were light and crispy but we gobbled those before I took a picture. First draft also does have a good beer selection as suggested by their name. I was happy to see that they had several sours on their menu which are often overlooked on beer menus. Also the patio is dog friendly with a dog menu!!! read more

See all

Walked in well before closing time asking for a drink and with zero precedented symptoms was denied. Claims of "dilated pupils", White folk are racist and judgmental here. Stay away read more

It took an hour to get a beer and two hours to get our food. Very disappointing experience.

Overall: Great specials and great food are the highlights at this surprising gem in the neighborhood. The good: The food is surprisingly great for a bar, with fantastic specials to pair with it. We went on half-off pizza night, so naturally we got a large pizza for $13 to split for two. It was big enough for probably 5 people, which meant lots of leftovers (which is a good thing!). And the pizza itself was doughy yet loaded with toppings and cheese, it was glorious. They also have a lot of great beer selections, the staff is friendly, and the overall vibe of the place is dive-y but still clean. And, plenty of TVs for games. The not-so-good: The music was too loud, it was hard to have conversations with our group. They were also playing boy bands all night which, given the older crowd, was not appropriate. Sometimes boy bands are good, that night....not so much. Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 8/10 Food: 9/10 read more

First Draft - Large taco pizza - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Very enjoyable bar food with a lot of unusual and tasty options! My fiancé and I ordered delivery through Grubhub, and we were able to score a free cornbread thanks to a deal that they had going on. Overall, everything was pretty good! We ordered pretzel bites and cheese curds to start, and then we got a cheese pizza and poutine to follow. As mentioned above, we also got the cornbread for free, and honestly, it was my favorite thing we ordered! It's a nice mix of sweet, savory, and spicy, and I probably would never have ordered it on my own, but now it's a must from First Draft! I especially liked it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The curds and pretzels were also very good and the portion sizes were larger than we usually get. The larger dishes were more meh. Still good, but kind of meh. The meat on the poutine was incredible, but there was just too much gravy for my liking. It's a mushroom gravy, and the mushroom flavor just overwhelmed all the other flavors which was unfortunate because I am not a big mushroom lover. The pizza was also good, but nothing special. I enjoyed the parmesean crust, but my fiancé disliked it. When all is said and done, I would definitely order from here again, especially their appetizers. I'd love to stop in and grab a drink in the future! read more

See all

Neighborhood staple! It's like you're walking into Cheers "where everyone knows your name"....literally... owner's awesome/super friendly, and the food's good too! read more

First Draft - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

COVID19 Review Update: Still serving take-away and delivery.... AND they now offer growlers! If you have ever been here, you know they have an amazing selection of craft beers on tap, so the growlers are a game-changer for the self-isolation we're all enduring. Order up some fabulous food... pair it with an amazing beer in a growler (their stout and porter offerings are some of the best in the city).... and #stayhomesavelives! Make Mayor Lightfoot proud. :) read more

Out of town and searched best burger. This place did not disappoint. I got this monster double patty cheese burger called the Madder. Fries impressed. Got an Anti Social IPA from Revolution, local brew. And dude behind bar was great. Just what I wanted in Chicago with cool local day drinking crowd. Now off to airport. Thanks FD. read more

First Draft - The Madder - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Awesome place, awesome vibe for watching sports, wings phenomenal, pretzel bites very good, service was top notch even with them being packed. read more