Forbidden Root is a restaurant that is worth having a casual meal with a twist. The food was perfectly cooked and tasty and had interesting combinations, which did not seem experimenting food because it was well considered and not due to mere thought. The variety of beer was also remarkable and it matched well with the menus. read more

Stopped by for food and drinks with friends before many carried on to Phish. Good service, tasty food, and a cool atmosphere. After eating at their northern outpost we figured it would be good. read more

I popped into Forbidden Root after West Fest, and their air conditioning was a welcome reprieve. The space really impressed me, and the staff were very attentive. Unfortunately the beer underwhelmed me. The bartender touted the FR Burger as "the best in Chicago," but it was also just alright in my opinion. During the colder months, I would love to try their duck dish! read more

Forbidden Root - FR Burger - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I stopped by on a Friday night after work for a meal and beer at the bar. This was my first time eating dinner here. I decided to go with something hearty and I am glad I did. The 24-Hr Short Rib was well made and full of flavor. I must say- I was surprised by the presentation of the plate as well. I enjoyed the service as well. Doran was behind the bar. He was super knowledgeable about all things FR. I love the industrial aesthetic of the space as well. It reminds you that there is in fact beer being brewed onsite. read more

Forbidden Root - Doran! - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here for a weekend in Chicago. We wanted to try different foods and we had just been to trendy restaurants. The food as great,good selection of draft beers on tap. Short rib- nice and tender meat Duck & dumplings - felt like a gnocchi dumpling. It was good because it was different than what I eat at restaurants read more

Forbidden Root - Duck and Dumplings - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Our group really enjoyed this restaurant. I can't speak for the rest of them about specifics for their meals and drinks, but my choices were incredibly delicious! I had the bbq jackfruit sandwich on a bed of greens without a bun (gluten sensitivity) and the UVA cocktail. The bbq jackfruit was perfectly flavored and cooked, but what really stood out were the bbq chips mixed in adding a really great crunch. Next time I have time in the city, I'd love to come back! read more

First time and yeah no. Beers were just okay. Had the pork sandwich which was garbage. Dry and bland as hell--its claim to fame is that it's big and fried and that's about all. Oh and service was terrible. Literally a 10% eaten sandwich and not only does the waitress (mouse brown haired girl with clear framed glasses) not ask if anything is wrong but at the very least doesn't ask if we wanted a to go box??? Just showed me you know your food is poor. Won't be back read more

I love the place with all the tasty and unique beers they have along with the very cool ambience! The setting of the brewery is very cozy, while giving an interesting industrial feel. I'd recommend this place as a pit stop to grab some cool beers before you go to party the rest of the night. The food here I feel like is pretty overpriced and average for what they are and is what is limiting from giving it five stars. Pork Schnitzel Sandwich: probably the best of the entrees we ordered--massive pork patty but could've used more seasoning Chicken Sandwich: tasted like any average chicken sandwich with the meat being a tad bit on the drier side Duck and Dumplings: very conservative with the duck offering while the pasta tasted pretty salty. read more

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Close to west town & wicker, a ton of street parking nearby in the neighborhoods and around the restaurants! GREAT beer selection. Food menu is a bit limited but I got the honey hot wings and kale salad. Kale salad was delicious and had Just the right amount of dressing for me! The kale was very fresh and had a nice crunch. The wings on the other hand were extremely spicy... If you do not have a high heat tolerance, these are not for you. We were told that it has a "slight kick" but I felt it was much more than that! If you're looking for somewhere with a great food selection this may not be your place. If you're looking for a great beer selection then this is it. There are some free (parallel) parking spots nearby and across the street. I love the beer flight & all the sours selections!!! read more

Forbidden Root - Flight of beers (all sours!! #6 was my favorite) - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a great spot and happy I got to try it . Staff was super friendly, the beer selection is vast and I highly recommend building your own flight . We ordered the burrata , Brussel sprouts, and duck dumplings to share and I don't have a single bad thing to say about any of them. They were all packed with flavor. I will absolutely be back read more

Forbidden root is a brewery in a former spacious theater with delicious craft beers. They have a wide range of beer flavors from fruity to dark and bold- There's something for everyone on the menu. The fried chicken sandwich was made from dark meat which enhanced the flavor and was very juicy! The mortadella sandwich was the perfect. The server was a bit cold but responsive. Would return to try more beers and other menu items! read more

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Went to forbidden root and I overall had a great experience. We went later in the day and there was a ton of seating. The servers were great, and their bathroom is so cool! We ordered a plate of Brussels sprouts, eggs in purgatory, a side waffle, side of bacon and the brunch short rib. The only thing that was off was that the short rib was supposed to have a tomato and chimichurri sauce. What I received was the short rib, with the egg and potato strips on top of Brussel sprouts. The chimichurri and tomato was not included and I did ask for some chimichurri sauce on the side and everything was delicious. It just seemed bizarre to us that the plate of Brussel sprouts to share were included in my meal when they aren't on the menu for that meal. We didn't say anything so there is no fuss but I haven't experienced that in the past where meals merged like that. read more

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Consistently great beer, friendly staff, and food that exceeds expectations. This is one of two locations, and they tend to emphasize more herbal beer mixes with strong flavors. Not usually on the tip of the tongue when folks ask about breweries in Chicago, I think they're under-rated--the quality from NE IPAs to hefeweizens to unique aged stuff. Reasonably priced 5oz pours available and no fussiness locking you into set flights--choose what you want--which is also a huge plus for a beer lover like me. Yes I need to try that. And that. And maybe that. Food is upscale pub standards like spicy fried chicken sandwich and a burger, but again, underrated--this isn't a brewery just phoning it in on the menu--I would go here just for the food. Friend got the trout recently and it was plated like a high-end place and super tasty. You can bring your date here or your buddy, you know what I'm saying? Vibe is all brick and metal grates but somehow doesn't feel cold. For some reason I think this bathroom is cool. read more

My friends and I have come to FR a handful of times for drinks and snacks (their beer selection is wonderful - try a house flight or strawberry basil beer), but recently we came in for a full dinner and were all pretty blown away by the quality of the food. The mushroom pot pie is incredible, and we all also loved the mushroom cakes (what can I say, we like mushrooms) and Brussel sprout appetizers. My husband said the schnitzel sandwich was the closest thing to real schnitzel he's had in Europe, and our friends that split the burger had high praise as well. We all agreed the potato chips were a bit too salty, but it by no means ruined the meal and I'm excited to come back soon to try even more of the menu! read more

Forbidden Root - Duck and dumplings (good) and the Mushroom Pot Pie (insanely amazing, pls order this) - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The server was really nice and food came out really quickly! The ramen popcorn was amazing -- imagine popcorn cooked in coconut oil coated in a Beef Ramen seasoning packet. Fun fact, I overheard the server explaining to another customer that the place was converted from a movie theater. If you look up inside you can see what used to be the projector room. The tables inside were spaced apart per social distancing guidelines and staff wore masks. There were dining tables set up outside along the sidewalk, and the wall/window was opened up for more air flow. I had the mushroom pot pie. The glaze was nice and sweet. The pie crust was mostly good, however some parts were burnt and made my mouth dry. I was expecting a creamier pot pie a la chicken pot pie, but it was mainly mushroom. Really nice vibe inside, and I really enjoyed the ramen popcorn. Would come back again. read more

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Great food and awesome selection of beer. The service wasn't the best, but they were understaffed. The burger is amazing, I would come back just for that. read more

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I made a reservation here for 8 about 48 hours in advance as our group decided to make some last minute changes from a Friendsgiving to a Friendseating. We came here last Sunday at 4:30pm and it wasn't too crowded, but it was busy by the time we left around 6:30p-7pm. The ambience was open concept, very cool, and pretty cozy. For beer, I only had the Fresh Faced, which was ok. I needed something light as it was busy work week for me right before Thanksgiving. The burger was excellent! The brioche bun was soft and fluffy, but wasn't very memorable. The burger patty stole the show! It was very flavorful and super juicy. I ordered it medium rare and they cooked it perfectly! I believe there wasn't much seasoning on it and they probably only used salt/pepper, which I appreciate. The toppings were very good as well! The pickles and onions had a nice crunch. The cheese was gooey and good. The special sauce was good, but a little watery. But I will admit that I thought the fries were bad. They tasted like Ore Ida frozen fries, which they definitely could have been. Some people in my party had the squash soup and they said it was great! Bun: 7 Burger Patty: 10 Toppings: 8 Overall: 8.33 Fries: 3 Due to the party size of 8, 20% gratuity was already included. Our waitress was just ok. She disappeared and we had to flag her down multiple times to order food/drinks. She probably left us alone to socialize, but she definitely disappeared at times. However, she was courteous and I thought the food came out fast. Overall, I thought Forbidden Root's food was great, but I thought service could have been better. Prices were fair and their beer was solid. Forbidden Root was a cool place to visit and I would love to give it another try as their food was great! read more

Forbidden Root - Burger & Fries. - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

App: Lions mane mushroom cake- 0/5 stars - an imitation of crusted crab cakes, however the inside was too tangy but the outside was not tasty whatsoever, tasted very bitter due to the oil they fried in being reused too many times. Entree: Fried spicy chicken sandwich- 2.5/5 stars Campanella pasta- 2/5 stars - just okay and underwhelming, still sort of that tangy taste...hope the cheese wasn't spoiled tbh. Drinks: Naked in the Rain 3.75/5 - decent cocktail for price House Flight - 2/5 - only 2 of the 5 beers were good, one sour that wasn't good, the stout tasted like a doormat, the medium light beer was just flat, the grapefruit looking one was sweet and decent and the lightest citrus beer wad the only good one truthfully. Even though the service was good and people friendly, did not enjoy the food or drinks and will not be coming back nor recommending to anyone. read more

Forbidden Root - Campanelle Pasta - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow, Forbidden Root is incredible! I am very happy to have checked this place out for dinner recently. First off, definitely make a reservation because they get busy. I went on a Wednesday night and there was not any available tables- so I think that right there just shows how great this place is. The beer is good- they have a large selection (had over 15 different types which they all brew themselves.) However, what really stood out to me was the food. We tried the three cheese tray (this was good but I think it's over priced for what you get); the ramen popcorn, the fried chicken sandwich and the pork sandwich. All of it was incredible, and not what you would expect for a typical brewery. One of the only things I wasn't a fan of was the service. Our waiter was really friendly, however was really slow. In his defense, he was the only server in the entire place so he definitely had too many tables. Overall, this place is awesome and is a place I highly recommend you check out! read more

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Absolutely, yes. Quickly found street parking and walked right in on a busy Friday night. We were greeted immediately and opted to sit at the bar. The bartenders were busy, only two, working the bar and table orders. I feel as though they could have used a little help but they were very friendly and attentive as needed. My wife loves popcorn and was so excited about trying their vinegar popcorn... she was IMPRESSED. She loved the vinegar flavor and ordered two servings lol, it's really good. Now about this Duck & Dumplings... the most impressive dish I've tried in years. I mean... perfect temperature on the table. Full of succulent duck and perfectly tender dumplings... whatever this sauce is... lemon? Herbs? duck fat... ITS A fascinating meal. It's like warm... like comforting but not heavy and has silky smooth mouth feel that is truly bursting with flavor. I wanted more as soon as I was finished. The beer selection is impressive. We tried about four ... a light wheat and their seasonal peach both very tasty. Also tried the beef rib and it was fork tender and complimented well with the crispy potato sticks and umami mushrooms. Honestly, a small well thought out menu with an excellent selection of beers. Price point was typical for the city and completely worth it. read more

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This brewpub is a refreshing change from the usual brewery / frat bars in Chicago. We went there on St Patty's day and saw a few families with kids here. The music ain't too loud and it's perfect for having conversations while also creating a vibe. Food is great! Loved the burrata! They had special green beer for st patty's day which wasn't bad. In addition they had several unique beer flavors (e.g., cranberry) which was interesting. The server was very friendly and welcoming. We didn't need a reservation. I would go here again! read more

Forbidden Root - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow! Forbidden Root had to have just provided me and my wife with one of the best dinning experiences we have ever had. The atmosphere was so fun, they food delicious I did the Smash Burger and my wife the Herb grilled salmon, both perfect), we tried several of the drafts (Humble Crumble wow). Make sure to start with the sweet spiced candied bacon and the jalapeño cheese bread. The best part though, it was busy and we never waited. The service was top notch! Will definitely come back next time we are in Columbus. read more

Great atmosphere. Great service. Unforgettably great food. Trail mix is tasty. Chicken sandwich delicious. But the duck and dumplings is one of the greatest food things that has ever been on my mouth. Ever. Incredible. A MUST try in this lifetime. Must. If there was a sixth star I'd give it six. read more

We had a great time here. We had no reservation, but got there early in the evening and were given a nice booth near the back. Our three person group initially all tried to sit on the cushioned side of the booth, but we were asked for one person to move to the chair side to allow for social distancing in case another table had to be sat there. They also enforced the masks-on while interacting with staff rule. Our server explained if he was just dropping drinks, don't bother scrambling for them, he'll be gone before we can get them on, but to please put them on when we talked or he lingered nearby. Personally, I love the common sense vibe this gave off and very much appreciated their attitude about that rule! As for the restaurant itself, our server was super chill and attentive but not hovering. We sampled an array of different beers, a shot, and even some cocktails, and were able to take our time in doing so. The beer was delicious, and they have a huge menu right now! I've had trouble finding sours all summer but was able to find several of the sour/farmhouse/saison variety, so i was very happy. Overall, the place was clean and comfortable, and the staff was cool and professional. Can't wait to be back! read more

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This review is based from the April Beer Dinner (at home) since the place was closed due to the Stay at Home order. The $80/package came with a lot of beer pairings but I only ate the food so I can't talk about the drinks. We called to place our orders and the pick up process was efficient. This was my first time trying their food and I liked it very much. The heating instructions were easy and an order was enough for two people to share. The package came with: N'duja Sasusage- good heat and flavor Pear & Feta Salad- refreshing and delightful Crispy Brussels Sprouts- prepared with their house-made miso butter. So delicious! Turkey Pot Pie- very filling. The crust was perfectly made and cooked. Red Velvet Cake- Moist and the icing had the perfect sweetness. Great ending to a satisfying meal. Overall, I really enjoyed everything that I have tried so far and I can't wait to actually go to the place, dine-in and enjoy other menu items. Stay strong Forbidden Root! read more

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Great happy hour, great after work spot. Wide selection of beers as well as cocktails and seltzers for the non-beer fans. Food-wise, there are a variety of options ranging from a quick bite or appetizer to a filling meal. Snacking-wise, we enjoyed the house ranch chips and the brussels sprouts, dinner-wise favorites included the butternut squash soup, the burger and the spicy chicken sandwich. Will certainly visit again! read more

Neighborhood gem, particularly in the summer when the front is open to the street. Great beer selection and always some kind of unusual twist to try out, easier to decide if you have more than one. Decent wines too which makes my gf happy Food is delicious and enough of a mix that my no dairy is easy to accommodate Service is always spot on, even when they are busy. Just enough checking in that you don't lack anything but not intrusive and always knowledgeable about current beer list read more

Great food! The WORST service I've ever had in my life!!!!! We even tried it a second time hoping our first visit was an anomaly. The service was even worst on our second visit. I reached out to them through their website and they never responded. read more

Stopped in here with friends last night for dinner. As a group, we were able to try a number of dishes and small plates to share so that we could experience as much of the food as we could. Starters: Cheese with crackers: softer cheese, with a hint of sweetness really paired well with the standard ritz. Easy to share, didn't last too long. Potato chips, seasoned with dill and vinegar: also Tasty! If you don't like dill, this isn't recommended. Popcorn seasoned with ramen: our table all agreed that this was nailed and really good. The bowl isn't huge, but that probably was for the best because I would have destroyed this all by my lonesome. Small plates: Fried chicken with potato salad: these were fried nicely, had two chicken thighs and the seasoning was on point. The potato salad had some type of ham in it, so my brother who doesn't eat red meat didn't really like that surprise. Bad for him, good for me. The batter wasn't adhering well to the chicken so when sharing and cutting it up it was a nuisance. Carrots: man, these were roasted and seasoned well. A nice accompaniment to the chicken for sure. Miso butter glazed Brussels sprouts: this was the favorite of the group. It was all I could do not to start dumping everything into the cast iron dish and soak up the rest of the butter. I'm not being hyperbolic here...if there was more popcorn left that would have been my move. Plenty of drink options for anyone. I enjoyed a glass of white, and a peanut butter whiskey on the rocks. I can't believe I said that but it was amazing. All of us enjoyed the food and the service, and I'd recommend coming here to eat or to hang out and drink. The chairs aren't super comfortable but that's probably by design. Worth the meal! Give this a try! read more

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Forbidden Root is such a gem in the neighborhood. They have great food menu that changes a bit from time to time, awesome ambiance, great staff and bartenders, and tasty beer. Living in Ukrainian Village, we walk here pretty frequently in order to get a nice dinner, or just a quick few tasters of beer. Love their rotation, as well as gust beers they offer. Additionally, their merch is great and nicely priced. I wear my hoodie all the time, and people always ask me if I work there, as they love this brewery as well. Keep up the great work guys! read more

Stopped in here last night for dinner and I was way impressed with the food! I got the kale salad, which has crispy chickpeas and fried onions on it, and was really tasty. But the star was my husband's fried chicken sandwich. Now this man eats a LOT of fried sandwiches, but we both agreed it was in the top 3 we've ever tried. Honorable mention to the cheese and crackers snack, it was a beer cheese spread that was really flavorful. The beers were also great; I got a flight and loved all the ones I tried. Especially the IPA with coriander. Service was fast, no complaints there. Highly recommend and will be back to try more stuff on the menu. read more

Surprised by how great the food is here. Went for a soup and salad and was pleasantly surprised by how good my meal was for brewery food. Plus the beer is tasty. Try the Pilsner! Nice and crispy. They have a great variety of styles available and a very knowledgeable staff ready to provide recommendations. Gives a nice upscale wooden brew pub vibe, very beautiful venue. read more

My wife and I have probably been to Forbidden Root about 50 times and LOVE the food, drinks, staff and service. We even hosted both our engagement party and our rehearsal dinner here! Brian is a fantastic guy to work with and always makes sure things go smoothly- down to the smallest details. My wife has Celiac disease and some other allergies and always makes sure the food is safe and delicious to eat. Highly recommend Forbidden Root for anything from a chill hang to a big party! You can't go wrong and we always walk away in a great mood and eager to return again. read more

Solid quality food in a large space with a relaxed vibe. We went for a quick bite after a Blackhawks game. I ordered the butternut squash soup and the kale salad. The salad was terrific and quite large, with kale, fried shallots, fennel and fried chickpeas in a tahini dressing. I only finished half of it, but it was still great the next day, as the hearty greens stood up to the dressing just fine. The seasonal butternut squash soup was nice sized bowl, but was a bit bland. I tired of it long before I finished it. I appreciate the healthy options, but would skip this rather ho-hum soup next time. The brews are the big draw here, with an impressive array on tap. I skipped it on this visit, but will return to try some beer and more of the menu. Service was laid back and excellent. read more

We made reservations for our large group of 12 for a Saturday afternoon. Once our party had all arrived they seated us, however they did not seat us at one table. Instead, they seated us at two tables next to each other and would not allow us to push them together because then they would be unable to do separate checks. That was a little annoying, but whatever we're next to each other and the place is spacious so we could easily get up and mingle with the other table. They had a large variety of beer on tap (obviously), and a decent size cocktail and wine menu. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the dishes we tried and disappointed by the cocktails. My favorite dish was the "Duck & Dumplings," it was surprisingly delicious. The gnocchi was cooked perfectly, as was the duck and the sauce was well balanced salty and savory. The grilled carrots were also really well cooked and flavorful, initially I didn't realize they were carrots. The chicken wings were decent, very spicy and a little too spicy for a few of my friends. I was underwhelmed by their kale salad and my cocktail (UVA). read more

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Service was great! The homemade jerky was covered with spices and was too spicy and strong for me. I got a can of the Strawberry Basil which is the base for Rosie Cheeks (strawberry, lemon, vanilla). I liked both but Strawberry Basil is more fruity (not much basil taste). There is a beer flight option 5 5oz pours for $13 but you can create your own with $4 5oz pours. Forbidden Root Flight: (right to left) Cranma's Boy: cranberry single Open Source: tarte wheat ale Rosie Cheeks: wheat ale with strawberry, lemon, vanilla Aboot Stoot: Imperial Stout Saison: Of the flight, I liked Rosie Cheeks and Cranma's Boy the most. It was nice out yesterday but they did not open the windows. read more

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Great atmosphere , seated before our party arrived which was nice. Everyone loved the food and drinks were strong. A little pricey or I'd give 5 stars. read more

I went for their Monday burger, beer and shot special and the happy hour. The cheese spread with crackers (1/2 priced on the hh) was very good, and their burger was decent, yet oversalted and the bun was a tad stale (not pillowy soft). Good deal though for the burger special at $14 ($17 for a double burger), considering that a beer alone will run you like $7. I doubt you will find a better bbb special in town, especially for craft beer. Would I come back for the special? Yes, but hopefully the burger is not as overseasoned next time. read more

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The rotating beers and options for big or small sizes at a reasonable price is something to come for, and the elevated bar snack menu is something to stay for. The vibe is great inside the restaurant, beer garden by the window, and outside. Great location and lots of street parking options.Cheers! read more

Forbidden Root - Beer, Bloody, Cheese and Crackers, good fountain Diet Coke - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Forbidden Root?! I've heard this name a few times when talking to people about breweries and gastropubs. Sat down for Sunday Brunch in Forbidden Root. Now, I will never leave! BOTANICAL. INDUSTRIAL. Aaaaand, anything but FORBIDDEN. The Milk Brined Pork Schnitzel will give you a run for your money ($16, and worth every penny). I was not crazy about the beet mayo sauce that came with it. It looked "pretty" for aesthetics, but did not compliment the crisp, breaded and perfectly presented Schnitzel! Our brunches came with sides. I chose the salad. It was drenched in balsamic. Pretty good. My husband ordered the burger, and it was to be expected. He chose breakfast potatoes for his side. They were deliciously crispy!! But, that Pork Schnitzel!! Our servers name was Scott. Everything about our brunch experience was accurate and quick, thanks to him. My husband took a glance at the dinner menu, and now, I can safely say that this place will be our new food haven. I didn't get a chance to try any of their vast list of beers. NEXT TIME. read more

Forbidden Root - Menu as of 12/16/18 - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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