My friends and I have a goal of trying all the best burgers in the city. We came here last Friday night to see what FR had to offer. I want to start by saying that FR is not a burger place. It's a brewery. If you're looking for a place with unique and diverse beer options, this is a good one. But if you are going for dinner, and going for a burger in particular, I'm not sure I'd recommend it. The burger was so-so. It was cooked well and had a somewhat interesting giardiniera mayo spread, but it was otherwise lackluster. Nothing to write home about. Fries were just okay too. It might be worth noting that our waiter was quite standoffish and not particularly helpful. He came around only a couple times and seemed pretty annoyed to answer any questions. It made me feel awkward and uncomfortable to ask him for anything. read more

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

My friend asked to go to a brewery and this place looked promising from the reviews and pictures. I made a reservation on their website. Although we were late, there wasn't too many people on a Friday afternoon so we were good. Ambiance: Good looking space, huge bar. It was spacious and rustic. I was looking for the nice lights and botanic area and missed it right in the front! Service: Our waitress (petite, blonde) was super helpful with picking beers. She told us her favorites and we basically picked out of those. Thanks for the suggestions! We also missed the lunch special for the beer flight. We asked her if she could put our 2 5oz beers onto a flight and get a third, and she happily accompanied our request. Drinks: My friend and I shared two flights: #2, 5, 8, 11, and 12 (2 of #2)! Our favorites were #2 Raspberry/Peach, #5 Sparkling Rosé Ale, and #12. #8 was too woodsy of a flavor for us. I also liked #11 but my friend didn't like it as much. Food: We started with the N'duja Sausage. Unique dish and texture. I loved it! Wish the toast was bigger, but they did give us more. We also got the Chicken wings and Pork Schnitzel sandwich. The sandwich was really good! I liked that it was crispy and thin. The wings were too hot for us. We ended up eating two each and my friend took the rest home. We planned to take a tour of the brewery but our parking meter ran out of time. Oh well! Both of us enjoyed this beer experience! read more

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Forbidden Root is one of our long-standing favorites in the city of Chicago. We frequent Forbidden Root on Monday nights due to its delicious burger, beer, and bourbon for $15 night! What a deal!!! The burger and fries are absolutely delicious! Rich in flavor and perfect portion sizes, we keep coming back for more! The rest of the menu looks delicious, but we can't get enough of the burger and fries, so we really haven't tried anything else! The bourbon changes around, but right now it is 'Cody Road' from Mississippi River Distilling. The shot comes in an adorable little beaker! The best part of Forbidden Root is it's fine botanic beer! I've tried so many on the list! Some highlights include the Sublime Ginger, the Assembly Required sour series, the Strawberry Basil, among many others! If you like beer, you really need to come in and check out their selection! Service can sometimes be a bit slow...but it is definitely worth the wait! If you haven't been, get yourself over to Forbidden Root! read more

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Really unique space and accommodated for our party of 7 with plenty of extra space. Didn't feel cramped at all. The food was very good; more upscale for a brewery and I was very impressed that it had a family bathroom! The staff was very helpful and went above and beyond to continuously heat up water to warm my son's bottle. read more

Love this spot. Good grub, good drinks, nice to kiddos. Cool vibes. Always interested to see their latest menus and beer selections. read more

Strawberry basil beer and fried chicken sandwich is my go to order from forbidden root! Is a great place for a large group with plenty of variety in beer cocktails and dishes! My go to spot when make plans with 8 or more people. read more

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 had a great meal at Forbidden Root. I had the duck and dumplings and thought it was great! The gnocchi was soft, the duck flavorful and the crispy duck skin was a real treat. Service was excellent. I think the only negatives worth mentioning at the environment can be a bit on the loud side - which is to be expected for this kind of place, but don't go expecting quiet. They do charge an additional fee to pay via credit card which I find incredibly annoying - just give a cash discount, rather than marking up the menu prices. read more

Awesome brewpub. Great for groups that include both beer lovers and others. Food was delicious and had a large variety of beer and cider options. read more

Ooooooh FR. I don't know what you did but thanks for upping the ante! There for a bit I felt like the food and beers were starting to take a wrong turn but tonight was right back on track! Duck and Dumplings - to die for. Short rib - pretty darn good but I'd take the duck :) They overcooked our burger but I bet it was because it was for my 6 yo. I get it...But my 6 yo likes his burger to somewhat moo....With a dose of condiments, it was better... The grapefruit sorbet was so flipping refreshing different and good. I had the FR flight of beers - Much to my bewildered surprise, I LOVED LOVED the sparkling rose! the soft anger whispers? i don't know...was also super good...they were all great. Thanks for FR for bringing back the bang! read more

The restaurant is spacious and has great lighting in the front, while the back is darker with the bar in the center. I think their menu changes, but I didn't like any of the current beers in their flight - the brown ale and rose beer were decent. I wish I would've just got a glass of their double IPA, Monroe. The food is okay- prices are high for what they are and I don't think their website is fully updated. We tried the burger, crispy chicken skin and avocado salad. I liked the avocado salad, but the romaine lettuce were full leaves, so you still had to cut them up yourself.. too heavy on the dressing though! Restrooms are clean and service is attentive. I'd come back to try the duck and dumpling dish... $18 though?? We'll see if it'll be worth it?? read more

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The service and atmosphere were great. The mushroom pot pie was nice-- good buttery, flaky crust, and the sweetness of the maple glaze provided a good counterpoint to the savory mushrooms (which were a tad too salty). I would've liked some herbal notes in there, but no major complaints here. I tried several of the beers, including the strawberry basil one, and they all had a powerfully bitter, almost rubbery taste (despite being marketed as fruity and light). read more

We visited Forbidden Root during the week and made a reservation last minute just to ensure we got a table. The restaurant was very laid back and they had the windows open since it was a nice day. The server was very friendly and informed us of the burger special that was taking place that day. We ordered the Housemade Ranch Chips and the Burger and Fries. The ranch chips were flavorful and a nice appetizer. The burger was juicy and perfectly cooked. The fries were seasoned well and had a nice crunch to them. We enjoyed our visit to Forbidden Root and will certainly be back! read more

Forbidden Root - Burger with Fries - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We've been coming to here for years and 95% of the time, it doesn't fail. The only 5% was because of servers with a bad attitude. That being said, if Patrick is working, you are for sure getting 100%. He is great and has been, from 4 years+ back. Tonight he was training Morgan, and as I can tell from this evening, she will rock it! Thanks for being such a great neighborhood gem! Despite the grumpy host, the night was perfect! The food, wine and service!!! read more

Went in for a dinner and a drink, got exactly what I wanted! Good smash burger, fries were a tad salty but good nonetheless. Very fun atmosphere, perfect spot for a weekend hangout with a group. read more

This was a nice comfortable place to grab a drink and bite to eat while our daughter was at a concert at the United Center. I didn't know what to expect when I ordered the BBQ Cashews with puffed rice and mangos from the Bar Snacks but it passed my expectations. It's so good I had to order some to bring home. It's like a typical bar type snack but better. Love it! read more

Forbidden Root - BBQ Cashews with puffed rice and mango - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow! I cannot believe I haven't written a review for Forbidden Root yet. This is easily the restaurant and bar I go to the most in the city. I am so grateful that we live nearby. The food is great and I love their beer and cocktails. The schnitzel sandwich is my absolute favorite, especially with the beet slaw. I always have left overs too, which is nice too. The fries are thin and yummy (think McDonald's fries but better). I love their rotating draft beers, which always includes a variety with some sours and lighter beers. My boyfriend loves their IPAs. His favorite is Ghost Tropic. They do crowlers and flights, which are fun too! I also really enjoy cocktails and sometimes just crave a good one, so Forbidden Root is a good place for me and my boyfriend, given the variety of options. The servers are super nice and the ambience is great. It's a really good date spot too, since it's usually not too loud. The building itself is really beautiful. I think it was an old theatre or music venue. Lots of things to love about this place. We've been supporting them through the pandemic and have had their Thursday beer dinners a few times. One of the more recent ones blew our minds! Hands down one of the best meals we've had. It included (1) grilled peach caprese salad (2) corn elotes (3) pork ribs with summer slaw, smash burger sliders with bacon aioli and (4) apple pie cupcake. I definitely want to have all of these again! The dinners come with a can of beer to pair with each course... for each person. It's a lot of beer! They have outdoor/ patio seating now and were excited to get enjoy some good beers and food in the sun! read more

This resto was just recommended by my friend. Because he is aware of the fact that my family and I had a get-together the week before, he suggested that I visit this place. And, to my relief, my family seems to enjoy the resto. They have such a wide variety of beers to choose from, and so, my family is more than pleased to put a large number of beer orders. The food menu appears to be somewhat limited; nevertheless, given the size of our family, I suppose that this is acceptable. Honey hot wings, duck and dumplings, mirepoix, and a mushroom hot pie were among the dishes that we placed an order for. Some of them placed additional orders, but I cannot recall the name of the dish they bought. But they are all quiet good also. Then, for their customer service, it was nice as well; they are flexible and accommodating. There is no doubt that we will come back again here. read more

Went on a Saturday night and this place was busy!!! Order your drinks Terri at time cause the drink wait times were pretty long for us. Aside from that it's a cool spot to visit with friends especially if they are beer drinker's. read more

Forbidden Root - Only vegan option Bowl of Soup of the Day - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Treasure these great Chicago microbreweries we got here, everybody. Even with so many all over the city, each one is just as distinct as the next, which explains what makes Forbidden Root sticks out from the big names. Not only do their drinks blow me out of the water, the menu is an eye opener with their upscale bar food and deliciously greasy sandwiches. Located in a bustling West Town neighborhood, this brewery does the most to tend to their community. I had a wonderful time and would love to indulge deeper into both their food and drink menu, because there's just so much to try! Unfortunately for now, the brewery closes at 10pm, so it's best to get there early. Outdoor seating on the sidewalk is available, and they have a great flight package that I recommend. Perfect for when you're with a small group. Forbidden Root got their name tossed around with the other huge Chicago breweries for good reason. Once I tried their drinks, I easily saw why this place is elite. Would happily go here again with some beer aficionados. read more

Forbidden Root - Part of the drink menu. Tried out the flight among other Forbidden Root brews - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My favorite/go to local spot. All around great place. The restaurant is nice inside & is always clean. The tap beers are ever changing & so creative. Service is awesome. They typically have one rotating vegetarian entree. Off menu- but they offer a delicious grilled cheese! Their popcorn rotation is a good app to start with. 100% recommend! Even if you don't love beer, they have options you will like (floral beers as well as spirit based cocktails). read more

All I have eaten here is the buttermilk pie and a cheese board. The cheese was amazing with fresh pureéd raspberries and the pie. Omg! Buttermilk pie? With caramel sauce and lemon rind on top?!! No words. read more

Forbidden Root - Cheese plate - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We stopped in for dinner yesterday and was pleasantly surprised with the food options, yes they have your typical bar snacks but the mains and salads are def not "usual bar food" which I loved. We just moved into the neighborhood and were expecting the usual brewery menu of lots of fried food options but not here. I had the carrot pasta which seemed like a risky dish but it was so so delicious, the flavors were so well paired and the creamy carrots sauce wasn't like anything I've had before. We also got the kale salad and it was one of the best kale salads I've ever had to be honest, the chickpea crunch and the citrusy dressing all so flavorful & fresh. The beer options were very good too, my husband enjoyed their flight, I had a few 5 oz pours all good. Our server was great not sure of her name but she has purple hair, she was so busy (seemed to be the only server for the whole place eek) but she was checking on us all / refilling waters, I didn't see her skip a beat. (I wish she had a bit more help tho tbh.) We will definitely be back for these dishes and to explore other ones as well. read more

We tried this place 400 feet from an AirBnB we just rented in Chicagos west town. Cool microbrew vibe when we walked in at 5:30 on a Sunday evening. Scott, our bartender, recommended a bourbon for my hubby, and a brew for me. Ok, so I'm not a microbrew fan (I stick with my Guinness). Scott recommended something that would complement the rich meal we had ordered (more on that in a sec), but when he found out I'm not a microbrew gal, he recommended the "Hoodie Weather" in a can. I can tell you, it was REALLY good! Best microbrew I've ever tried. I highly recommend it. My second brew was his original suggestion, and it's went well with the food, but it was more of the microbrew I know and can't seem to appreciate. Now to the food. On our way into town we Yelped places close to "home" and the Duck & Dumplings description made our eyes light up. By the time we got there, I was starving, so we ordered the Pappardelle Pasta with mushroom ragu as well. The pappardelle was good, fat noodles with creamy mushrooms topped with crispy mushrooms and dill. The dill was awesome on it. Unexpected, but yummy. The Duck & Dumpling was awesome! We will go back to have this dish again. The mirepoix was fabulous! It was light and tasty and went splendidly with the seared gnocchi. We will definitely be back. read more

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Went here a few weeks ago with a friend to catch up. Atmosphere was cozy. Waitress was nice, until it ended up being a waiter. Not sure who was actually serving to us. Waiter seemed high or just out of it. Food was good, nothing crazy. Beer was good too! read more

I've been here before for beers and cocktails, which were all excellent, but never the food. I had late lunch/early happy hour here today with a friend and we had an excellent experience. I felt like cider and tried the Chili Guava cider from Stem Ciders. It was delicious - nice and sweet with just the right amount of heat. I ordered the burger - it overall had a lot of flavor from the giardiniera mayo and pickles. The patty itself could have maybe used a little more seasoning on its own but it was cooked properly to order. My friend tried a couple of the beers - Shifty Fellow and Snoochie Boochies. He said he thoroughly enjoyed both. He ordered the Schnitzel sandwich - he said it was cooked perfectly and tasty. And it looked huge! We both had the fries with our sandwiches. They were nothing to write home about, but they did have a good seasoning that kept us eating more and just about cleared our plates. I also don't normally like ketchup at all, but I dipped a couple of my fries in it and it was pretty good. Maybe it's a homemade ketchup. Service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly and able to answer any questions we had and offer recommendations. We also never had to wait for refills on drinks, or waiting for food to arrive. Staff seemed to work together really well and help out wherever needed. Everyone seemed dedicated to making sure we had a great experience. I will definitely be taking other friends there for lunch and drinks. I only want to knock off maybe half a point for the under seasoned burger patty. Between my friend's and my experience it really was a 4.5. But alas I have to give it a 4. read more

Such a cute vibe to it. Didn't get a chance to check out the food but the drinks are what we came for. It's a really chill spot to sit, chat, and have a beer or two. The bartender was very accommodating and was able to give us good suggestions to try out. You can even ask for a sample! I'm not much of a beer person but was able to get a really good cocktail with cider along side with it. Really good spot to start the night and with good vibes. read more

I don't drink a lot of beer, but I am a big fan of the strawberry basil hefeweizen. My friend and I came here for dinner, and we both ordered the fruity hef. The flavors took me back to just a couple of months ago when it wasn't 30 deg in Chi, so that was a nice summer throwback. We shared the Fried Brussel Sprouts which were light and lemony. I got the burger which was one of the best burgers I've had in Chicago. The patty was cooked perfectly, and the homemade pickles were bomb. My friend got the Wild Mushroom Pot Pie which was also tasty and flavorful. This is a great place to hangout with friends and large parties. Just make sure to book a table beforehand on their website! read more

When my girlfriend told me she had to reserve this place two weeks in advance I was a bit skeptical but oh my god it is well worth the wait. This place is nothing short of excitement from the flavors the food brings. Everything is rich with flavor. I would come back to the city of Chicago just to eat here again. The chicken sandwich was so good since they used chicken thighs and the meat was tender and soft but super crispy. The duck and dumplings had a depth of flavor it left me shocked wanting to order more and more. Definetly check this place out as it is one for the history books read more

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Stopped by for a couple beers the other weekend during COVID. Felt very safe sitting outside with adequate distance between tables. Good interior layout and cold see it being a cool place when busy inside. I got the Cuddle Fight which was a dark rye ale that was supposed to have hints of tobacco and chocolate. Sounded amazing. It was just ok though. the flavor was there but it really just left you wanting more of it. It was too light and should've been punched up to the next level. We didn't have the food; it looked good but it was very pricey. We had hoped to just get a sharable app or two but even splitting that price didn't seem worth it. The beers are better than the ciders that they seem to distribute a lot but there are better brewery options. read more

Not good food and overpriced. Staff and crowd were hostile and the service was far below average, verging on agressive. Also what even is a brewpub. Is it 2012? Weird vibes. read more

Possible to give 6 Stars!?? The food and beer are extraordinary. Service was attentive, friendly and fun! You can tell everyone who works here lives this place! Felt like family! Bartender Jane was magnificent. Super friendly! read more

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I had this place bookmarked for some time and finally decided to come here on a Friday evening. Not sure if you necessarily need reservations but I'm glad I made reservations because it was pretty packed. Forbidden root is a brewery with great food. I know very little about beer but I liked the pics on yelp and saw some great reviews so wanted to check it out. I really like the ambiance here. It's modern, vibrant, fun, with this sense of warmth and togetherness. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was how loud this place is - it makes it a little difficult to have a conversation. Not being much of a beer person, I asked our waiter for recs and he recommended I try one of their fruity beers which I enjoyed. We started off our meal with crispy chicken skin ($9) which comes with cheese and jam on the side. I'm not sure why we ordered this actually - terrible decision on our part haha. It was just a whole lot of fat and salt. We were only able to eat a few pieces. Don't recommend getting this. They have several good main dish options. I finally decided to get the duck and dumplings ($18). This is a very well made, flavorful, and rich dish. It comes with duck confit and ricotta gnocchi. My main complaint with it is that it was SO salty!!!! I loved the first few bites of it but after that couldn't handle the sodium level which is the main reason I wasn't able to finish it. Also tried the short rib sugo ($16) which is a pasta dish. This was also very flavorful and rich. Overall fun ambiance and worth checking out! Service was great - our waiter made great recommendations from the menu. Street parking in this area is pretty difficult on weekends. read more

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Three words "Duck and Dumplings". So amazing. This place has a cool brewery vibe that catches you off guard with the amazing food. While the beer is amazing (and what we came for), the food quickly overshadowed everything (in a good way). read more

Forbidden Root - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Forbidden Root is one of my neighborhood favorites! I wanted to try something different so we ordered a few apps. The chips were very salty, but tasty. The wings were lip smacking.. drinks are always good. I wouldn't order the orange sorbet again. read more

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LOVE this place. Good beer, good food, good vibes all around. I feel like their food is upscale bar food that doesn't kill my picky stomach! It's a great atmosphere and the staff is very friendly. Great service. read more

Finally I got to taste the forbidden fruit at Forbidden Root! Love the space, amazing service, delicious food, so-so beer. While at Forbidden Root, I tried their flight to try to get a good scope of their bubbly offerings. I'd like to go back to Forbidden Root to try more of their botanic brews but the ones in the flight just weren't doing it for me. They all sounded really unique and interesting but most lacked that extra oomph in flavor. This is a total matter of opinion as I know lighter things like lagers and pilsners appeal greatly to fellow beer drinkers. They just aren't really my thing. So in the $13 Foridden Root Flight, you will get (from my least favorite to most favorite of the bunch) - Purple Pils 5.1% Pilsner, 5% Strawberry Basil Hefeweizen, 3.8% Sublime Ginger, Cola Brau a 6.2% Porter and a 9.2% RIP Currant porter. None were bad, they were just A-OK in my opinion. But as I mentioned, I tried less than half on the docket, so hope to go back and try more. Now the brunch food at Forbidden Root was nearly as unique as their beers but tasted delicious! I tried the Milk Brined Pork Schnitzel Sandwich topped with a Pickled Beet Mayo, Slaw on a Sesame Seed Bun for $14. It was huge and so tasty - loved it and the perfect Sunday fix for having a few too many vinos Saturday night. I also tried their burger which is on the brunch menu for $15 - topped with a ton of goodness, it was another very solid option. Forbidden Root does brunch on Sundays from 11am-2pm and it's an awesome option with many delicious food choices. Plus the best hangover cure is more beer right?! That's what my brain tells my mouth no matter how hard my liver tries to fight it every Sunday morning. Though they haven't quite been my cup of tea just yet, Forbidden Root plays with some cool beer flavors and is a brewpub not to be missed! read more

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Came here to spend an afternoon with a friend to try some beers and snacks. This is definitely not your typical brewery as there were very unique flavors, but it's all part of its charm. Our service was great and we had a great time enjoying the beer flights, the house chips, and brussel sprouts. If you happen to be area, check this place out! read more

SUBLIME GINGER was my fave!!!! We ordered a flight and this was not on the flight list but looked super good. They JUST ran out of coconut sublime ginger, but then I eyed the sublime ginger and thought its gotta be good! And yes, it turned out to be my favorite! I also thoroughly enjoyed the Strawberry Basil hefeweizen and the Blackberry Fold.... so juicy and delicious!!! Will definitely come again, and again, and again to this wonderful spot! Great service too!!! read more

Forbidden Root - Bar scene on a Wednesday afternoon - Brewpubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois