I cannot sing enough praise for Galway Arms. Having been here a number of times, each time for a different occasion, I have received amazing service with fantastic food and drinks. Visit #1 was with 3 of my co-workers going for light dinner and afternoon drinks. The pub was busy, but our waitress was prompt and my Galway Burger was superb. Visit #2 was for game two of the World Cup - USA v Portugal. The place was absolutely slammed - but our waitress couldn't have handled it better. As a group of 8 who consistently needed more beer, wings, and other bar snacks throughout the game - she was always right around the corner and speedy with her service. Drink and dine at Galway, you won't be disappointed. read more

We scheduled a private event for 15 guests at Galway Arms through Art Room Events this past Saturday from 6:30 to 10:00 pm. Upfront, I will acknowledge that I am not a sports person and did not realize that this was during a Final Four game, but no one mentioned that this would be a bad time for a private event when the reservation was made. Otherwise, we could have chosen a different time or a different venue, and certainly would have done so if we knew the service would be so awful. Five of us arrived at 6:15 to get the room set up for the remaining guests. We went to the small lobby area and stood between two signs that said, "Wait Here to Be Seated." There were two servers feverishly pecking orders into the computer system, a blonde and a brunette. Neither one looked up or acknowledged us for several long minutes. When we finally got the blonde server's attention and said we were there for a private event, she just looked at us like a deer in headlights. She whipped out a calendar and quickly thumbed through and found that we did, in fact, have a reservation. But the private room we were supposed to have was being used for other customers. She said she'd have to find a place to put us. So we remained in the designated "Wait Here to Be Seated Area" while she disappeared. While we were waiting, additional guests for our party arrived, as well as other customers. So the small lobby area was admittedly becoming quite crowded. The brunette server, who was passing from the outdoor patio on the left to the bar on the right, very loudly and rudely yelled at us, "YOU CAN'T STAND IN THIS HALLWAY! YOU NEED TO MOVE! YOU NEED TO KEEP THIS AREA CLEAR!" Not once, not twice, but three times. And there was never a polite, "Please excuse me, I need to get through" to preface this. She was immediately very aggressive and belligerent. We said we'd love to move if she'd simply tell us where we could go. No response. Again, we were standing precisely where it says, "Wait Here to Be Seated." In case I forgot to mention that. Finally, more than a half hour later, and well after our 6:30 reserved time, a small room was cleared for us. It was about a 10' x 12' room, with a few small tables and chairs and a fireplace. For 15 people, it was so cramped and standing room only. And HOT! Everyone was sweating. We could barely move, and there was barely any room to set up the party accessories we brought. The event was interactive and required us to mix, mingle, and move around. Drinks were spilled, glassware was broken, but we literally could not move without bumping into something. My vintage purse and coat were soaked and ruined when someone bumped a table and spilled some drinks on a chair. Thankfully, my phone, which was inside the purse, was spared, or else this could have been a very costly night. We intended to order food for the event, but we could barely get the server to stand still long enough to get drink orders, let alone order food. I did manage to order some appetizers about 90 minutes into the event, but there really was no great place to set them up, and no plates, napkins, or flatware were provided. So guests really couldn't eat much. The one mozzarella stick and the small bit of spinach dip I tried were adequate, but not nearly sufficient. Once our event concluded, we moved to the outdoor patio area (which was being served by the angry brunette server from before), with the intent of ordering more drinks and finally getting some food, but the server refused to come to our table. Nearby tables were ordering food and drinks and being served. Some members of our party went to the bar to fetch drinks, and after waiting for quite some time, a couple of people went across the street and brought back a huge bag of carryout sushi so we could finally eat. I know, I know: it's rude to carry food into a restaurant, but at this point, I was hangry and beyond caring about courtesy. We obviously weren't going to be getting any food here, and we didn't want to leave our drinks to go elsewhere. Galway Arms could have made much, much more money on our group had the service been even marginally better than it was. This was a missed opportunity for the venue and certainly didn't make a good impression with any of our guests. read more

Galway is a decent place. Not too exciting, but decent. The interior is cozy and dim. Watch out for that winding dangerous trip down the stairs to the bathrooms- Yikes! The outdoor seating in the front is a nice place to chill and watch the craziness on Clark St. Oh wait, it's chill until Mickey's next door starts bumping its club music. If you go here, try the crab cakes. I dug 'em. read more

I don't know about anyone else, but I can't think of a better way to spend a windy, rainy, dreary, "oh noes, there's a tornado watch!" day than at a bar. And if you happen to be in the Lincoln Park area, there's not too many places better than the Galway Arms, in my humble opinion. For the fleeting moments that I spent in this pub, I nearly forgot what neighborhood I was in...and I mean that in the best way possible. Great ambiance, yummy curry chips, and a nice selection of libations. I stuck mostly to beers and wasn't disappointed. I'll have to try the hot drinks next time. If you're there on a Sunday, make sure you stick around after 8pm for the live music. Very energetic! Oh, and I need the Pumking beer in candle form, stat. It smells just that amazing. read more

Terrible. Poor service. Awful food. Fries cooked in old oil. SW steak wrap - meat was gristly and tasted "off" and not because of the marinade. Server disappeared for long stretches at a time so we couldn't tell her how bad the food was, waited forever (35 minutes) for the food then had to wait 20 minutes to pay the bill for this awful dining experience. read more

Galway Arms is an awesome pub. the atmosphere is very inviting - friendly staff, a fantastic draft beer list that is constantly changing, and good music (they also have live Irish music on Sundays). I often come to this bar to watch my EPL team, Swansea. one thing you need to be careful about is not accidentally going to Mickey's. It is located next door and it is the worst place in the world. generally it's not difficult to tell them apart. but if you catch yourself ordering a $13 frozen margarita while 2009's top 40 blares from every direction, you have made that mistake. by the way , I couldn't agree more about the Jony Ive bartender comparisons. I had to wikipedia the name but once I did , I was blown away. Edit: mickeys has now closed but I'm going to leave my above comments for posterity Would also like to add that we are in the midst world Cup *Landon Donovan* and this is pretty much the best place to watch it if you value great atmosphere and great beer *soccer,futbol* read more

You know, I'm really not the one to give 2 stars to most of my reviews, however--this place really just sucked. Star One: Goes to the bouncer/host. He really did a great job, and plus he had an Irish accent. He was very helpful. Star Two: Goes to our not so waitress waitress. She is the one that really helped us out because the other waitress kept forgetting about us. It wasn't that busy, and we were the ONLY table in her section. Maybe she was just having an off night--but KUDOS for the girl that helped us out. She even fixed the uneven table. How cool. Why I most likely won't come back? Our waitress came up to us after we just sat three minutes prior asked us if we were ready to order. It was bizarre. Oh yeah, she ran my credit card through twice. Did she think she was going to get double the tip? The management staff needs to recongize that she stinks-hardcore. Doubt I'll be back. It is rather sad because the food was decent. And I loved the decor & music. read more

SOUL OF IRELAND? THERE'S SEARED AHI TUNA ON THE MENU! Having lived in Ireland, I'm pretty picky about my Irish pubs and I wasn't feeling this place at all. Somehow having vodka pitcher specials, teriyaki chicken, seared ahi tuna, and quesadillas on the menu kind of ruin the authentic Irish pub experience for me. I got the curry chips which weren't good at all; fries to soggy and the sauce too watery and bland. On the plus side they pour a good pint of Guinness and have live trad music. I wouldn't object if a friend wanted to go here, but it certainly wouldn't be my first choice given all the great pubs in Chicago. read more

Oh I really liked this place a lot. I was a little nervous about yet another "Irish pub" but I think it's pretty right on. The staff was nice and quick with the beverages, good beer selection and good prices (a Smithwick's pint will cost you a fin, for example). I stole a few fries off my friend's plate and they were fabulous (cracked pepper and parmesan cheese sprinkled). She said the fish was good too, but I didn't steal any of that for verification. Free wifi, cozy place, patio. I will happily be back. read more

Would have loved to go here in warmer weather, the front patio looked lovely to spend a summer night on! Enjoyed this open space, great place to catch a drink with friends, lots of seating. I didn't have any food, but everything that passed by looked pretty good. A wide selection of beers made the stay worth while though! read more

Somehow, 27 years ago, the wiring of the grand scheme of life, the universe, and everything else got crossed, and I was born in the United States instead of Ireland, where a good portion of my family still is. Life has been dreadful these past nearly three decades trying to find the place where I fit in--displaced Irish-American, alien in my homeland. That is, until I wandered into The Galway Arms. I initially came here when I learned that, every Sunday night, the Arms features an Irish session band (led by Cork's favourite son, Paddy Homan). Although I just wanted to listen to some live traditional music from the old country, I was invited to bring my guitar the next week. And the next week. And the next week. Within a month or so, even though I was only showing up on Sunday nights for a couple of hours to play one song and drink some Guinness, employees there (like Katie, my regular waitress, and Barry, the bartender extraordinaire and pride of Galway) and myself came to know each other on a first name basis. But let's get down to brass tacks--what's this place all about? Amazing food--I don't even know where to start with my dinner recommendations. I've tried just about everything and it all's incredible. Off the top of my head, I'd have to say their grilled chicken sandwich, veggie burger, and reuben are off the charts. Massive beer selection--to the reviewer who got upset about an Irish pub not having Killian's Irish Red: "Are you serious...?" If you're an American and think that Killian's will make you feel Irish for a night, go to a gas station's liquor section, buy a six pack, and stay home watching Boondock Saints. If you want to enjoy a truly Irish beer, come to Galway Arms for a Guinness. Barry pours THE BEST Guinness in the city. Guinness not your taste? Why not Smithwick's or Harp or Bulmer's or Jameson Irish Whiskey? But, let's for a moment, forget all of the "authenticity" rubbish--Galway Arms has a massive collection of taps. Upwards of 16, I think. If you can't find a beer that you like here, then... I don't know what. You're hopeless. Authentically Irish--Irish-owned, Irish-operated, and Irish-enjoyed. Visitors from the old country love this place, and I don't think it's just because a couple blokes from Galway are running the show--it's because Galway Arms is massively reminiscent of a pub in Ireland. From the low lighting, the wooden floors, ceiling, walls, and pillars, the decor, and the Sunday night session, everything about this place exudes Ireland. "Cead mile failte" hardly applies to this establishment--it's more like a million welcomes. As Paddy says every Sunday night, "You're always welcomed at The Galway Arms." Seriously. You're doing yourself a disservice not coming here. read more

The service at this place is absolutely terrible. The waitress pretty much forgot about us and at one point I was ready to jump the fence and leave. But the food is great, especially the buffalo chicken sandwich. They are lucky they have that awesome patio, and the layout of the bar is pretty cool. Otherwise, I probably would give this place one star. The waitress was a moron and the guy at the table next to us was pretty much yelling in my ear. Oh, please please please can there be a rule against men with popped collars?? read more

Galway Arms was the setting for my gals dinner group. They were not very busy on a Thursday night and our table for eight was open to us right away. Our group arrival was staggered and we all arrived at different times so it was nice to be seated and able to order drinks while we waited for our whole group to assemble. Our group started with appetizers, curry fries, mozzarella sticks, calamari and onion rings. They were all pretty average with the curry fries being the biggest disappointment. I love curry fries but I found these just lacking something. Too sweet, too cinnamon-y, just something seemed off. The fries arrive covered in curry so if you are more of a dipper, ask for the curry on the side. I opted for the Fish & Chips. They do have malt vinegar, just ask for it. I also wanted to try the honey truffle sauce for my fries (it's offered as a salad dressing) --doesn't it sound good? The best fish & chips I've had was in Dublin and so far the best I've had in the Chicagoland area was out in the burb's. The Fish & Chips at GA was just OK. It really needed the malt vinegar for flavor. The honey truffle sauce was pretty gross. I don't know what they mean by truffle, but it was just super sweet and unfortunately gave me a stomachache. As you would guess, there's a nice beer list. My beer, I can't even remember the name, was forgettable. Not so much because I didn't like it, but it wasn't very cold when it was served. Service was really nice--attentive and friendly. The space is really nice too--I love the hardwood floors. read more

Horrible experience. We came here in a group after calling ahead. My friend left them several messages providing them with the number of people to expect and the date and time that we would be there. When we got there not only were they unprepared, but they were downright rude to the group. We ordered a quick round of drinks and after being there only 10 minutes decided to head out and not waste any more time or money on this place. I'm sad it didn't work out with Galway Arms because it seemed like a cool place. Maybe a summer trip, when the patio is open is in order. Hopefully they can redeem themselves then! read more

This was our March GNO spot. The choice was perfect since St. Patty's day was the week before. They greatly accommodated us (a group of 7) in one of the rooms of the old house turned restaurant. I like the layout of this place, it has a nice cozy, relaxing ambiance. A sit down, have a huge meal and tons beer kind of ambiance. The place was quiet and empty on a Thursday night, which was nice because we could actually hear each other speak. We got a lot of appetizers, since that's just the way of life now, haha. None of them really rocked my boat. For dinner, I had the chicken pot pie. The filling was nice and creamy topped with a huge buttery croissant, I was full after three spoon fulls. This was my first time that I had ever tried chicken pot pie, it was good, but I thought it was missing just a little something. My sister had the Shepards pie, two others had fish and chips, the other two lamb shanks and one had a wrap, hahaha so diverse. They all enjoyed their food. Some more than others, but again, nothing out of the ordinary. To celebrate St. Patty's, we also enjoyed some Guinness. I probably wouldn't make the trip from the burbs again. read more

This is not only my favorite Irish bar in Chicago, but also my favorite bar. Sure, some say it's dark and gloomy on the inside, but I think of it as cozy. Sure the dark wood and interior was broken apart and probably shipped over from Ireland... the space isn't as old as it lets on to be, but guess what? about 95% of the pubs in the city are not "originals?" Who cares if it's been added on to, etc. To me, I love the fact that it's not pretentious and there won't be fake frosted blond depaulies with enormous sunglasses and enormous padded bras to contend with at the bar. The last time I was there, I wore work out pants and a tank top and no one cared. At the same time, if you do want a festive night out, get dolled up and no one will care. Just don't wear big sunglasses inside; I'll punch you. I am probably a bit biased because I spent a summer in Ireland, but I love the feeling inside. It might be a bit corny, BUT alot of irish pubs are a bit corny. Galway Arms doesn't have rick rack and bicycles hanging from the ceilings or silly signs. Instead, it's set up, to me, to feel like a living room/cottage with art posters of Ireland on the wall and the fireplace. My food is much much better than any Irish pub. It's more modern than expected; the crabcake is amazing as are the curry fries... very popular in Ireland. The best best best part is that they carry Bulmers disguised as Magners... a cider far superior than any American or Strongbow. I cry when I drink it, it's so good. We've rented out the top floor for private parties and it's nice because you don't need to make it an all you can drink thing. read more

Hey look, it's another Irish bar. They have Guinness. Yay. The patio's nice, anyway. read more

Nice bar where you can get great drinks and good food too. The location is perfect too. Its in a great area with lots of fun people around. Its espcially fun on big game nights! read more

Galway Arms - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It seems a little odd that I'm giving 3 1/2 stars (rounded up) but I really like this place! It has a fabulous outdoor seating area, lots of TVs to watch baseball, and high tables. As far as food goes, it is some pretty darn good bar food. Chips and salsa, cajun chicken & black bean quesadillas (yum!), and ahi-tuna salad (double yum!) all are excellent. The beer list is nothing spectacular, but it has all the staples. I have never had a problem with the service. Sometimes the wait has been a bit long, but in the bar's defense, I think they were under-staffed outside. I've never sat inside. I see no need. read more

I've been to Galway Arms two times recently, and very much enjoyed it both of those times! They boast a great selection of drinks and a pretty extensive food menu. In the summer/fall (heating lamps included) the patio is a very pleasant place to dine. I especially loved out waiter last time, who came equipped with an authentic Irish accent! The onion rings are to die for! read more

I was torn on whether to give this place 3 or 4 stars, and rounded up due to the consistency. I live around the corner so I visit Galway fairly often and my experience has always been the same. The service is prompt and the staff friendly. The food is always pretty good...I'd give everything an above average but not amazing or anything. But if you want a nice dinner, I'd recommend it. The prices are reasonable, particularly for Lincoln Park. read more

I've always been curious of this bar as it has a patio that is up a half a floor and overlooks Clark across the street from a pile of restaurants. After walking by Ponzu Sushi at around 5:30pm and seeing nary a soul in it, I decided to kill some time by hopping into Galway and exploring the scenery. Inside, I found two bartenders getting ready for happy hour and helped myself to a $4 beer of the month Carlsburg. The Carlsburg was served in a pilsner glass, thus enhancing the flavor as I sat out on the patio deck people watching. The patio area was spacious and had a covering on top to prevent any pesky sun! It was a terrific way to pass an idyllic day as rush hour traffic passed by on foot and on tires. I went inside again and found Galway Arms had steel darts! I opened up their cabinet to take a gander at their dartboard and found the spider to be slightly raised on a quick examination. I saw there was no ocky line, so I would assume that darts are not played often at Galway Arms. A shame for an Irish pub, but the patio was sweet and let me pass the time properly until it was time for eats! read more

When I came in with my friend, the first thing I saw was a group of three or four half-naked trixies standing with the bouncer. One of them handed him her I.D. and as soon as the bouncer gave it back, she looked at her friends with a "OH MY GOD I TOTALLY FOOLED HIM WITH MY FAKE I.D.!" look. She could not have been more obvious. After seeing that, I was silently groaning to myself and hoping the bar wouldn't be full of underage DePaul kids like them. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. The majority of the people at the bar were mellow (maybe because it was a Wednesday night?) and our server was a very sweet flamboyant guy. By sweet, I mean very, very charming. I wanted to say "awww" and hug him forever! An older couple came over to our table and we spent the whole night chatting away and joking around. I left the place feeling warm & fuzzy inside (nothing beats a good buzz and a wonderful conversation with strangers). The atmosphere was really great too. I had no idea it just opened. I thought it was there for a long time. They did a great job fooling me. This bar deserves 5 stars, but I just had to give it 4 because they weren't careful enough to keep underage kids out. EDIT: The manager contacted me and apologized about unintentionally letting the underage kids in. She also told me that they'll be more careful with detecting fake IDs. I love how she handled it with class, and that's why this has 5 shiny stars now. read more

My girlfriends from out of town were visiting and I thought that given the Irish heritage of Chicago (and the abundant lack of culture in the town my girlfriends live in) Galway Arms would be a good option for them. I was spot on. We started with the artichoke dip, which was steamy and came with fried pita chips. As you can imagine, I think it's hard to go wrong with anything fried. The dip itself was good though too, I just don't know how Irish that plate is so a fail on my part for not ordering an authentic appetizer. My girlfriend ordered the shepherds pie, which was the winner. You know how there's always someone in your group who's dish makes your mouth water and you wish you got what they ordered instead? That was the shepherds pie. I came in second with the beef stew. Good, but not as good as the shepherds pie. It's great if you're in a dipping mood, or craving bread since the stewy part is great for dunking bread into. My other girlfriend ordered the chicken pot pie. She said it was good, but I was too enamored with the shepherds pie that I forgot to even sample hers. Oops. Love the patio outside that allows for decent people watching and with the heat lamps us ladies can keep our digits warm. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm craving some comfort food. read more

The food was pretty good but everything else... oh my! The service was some of the worst I've ever experienced. The waitress didn't even approach us until 20 minutes in. Despite us knowing what we wanted, she only took our drink orders. We asked her to come back soon since we were hungry and wanted to order. We didn't see her for another 30 minutes later!!! This whole time, a couple that came in after and sat next to us had ordered and ate their food before we even ordered. After taking our orders, my gf asked for more water. 30 minutes later, with our food finally delivered, still no water. When we asked the waitress if she forgot, she said that she remember but just didn't bring it. After a frustrating 1 hour and 45 minutes, we finally finished eating and left. On the plus side, the food was good. read more

Great atmosphere! Definitely felt like an Irish pub, and had a great drink menu! The service was aweful. We had a group of 5, and they told us we couldn't split, which is reasonable. We decided to give cash and card, which they couldn't take either. In the end it took us 30 minutes to figure out the check and get it back. read more

We live around the corner and eat here at least once per week. Okay fine. At least twice. We've been to a rehearsal dinner here and even hosted our daughter's first birthday party upstairs. We love coming on sunday nights to listen to Paddy Homan and company. This place is great for a pint or many. Throw in some sausage rolls and it's definitely a party. Way better crowd than the clowns across the way at Mickey's. One thing I will add for the chef - please put avocado in the Cobb salad. it just isn't the same without it. I would pay extra for it! Cheers! read more

I am so let down by my experience at Galway arms. I had Irish family in town who run their own Irish bar and heard about the live music and brought them on a Tuesday to enjoy a couple pints. The minute we walked in we were given dirty looks by the waitress and she disregarded us when we tried to order drinks at the bar. We had to resort to sitting 2 rooms away from the live music and no one ever checked on us to see if we need another drink. So disappointed and honestly mad. read more

In the world that revolves entirely around me, a business venture can be considered truly great even if it has only one great hour each week- provided that the hour of its greatness coincides with the hour of my visit. Both of my visits to Galway Arms were timed for Paddy Homan's Sunday night Irish sessions. Both of my visits were sublime. I'm looking up "sublime" on Google just to make sure I chose the right word, because I don't use that one often: "changing directly into vapor when heated." That sounds about right. I got goose bumps a few times, when the tin whistle's melody danced above the harmonic fabric of accordion/violin/banjo/guitar, and again when the entire room hushed for one of Homan's animated interpretations of an ancient Irish classic which may be better found here than in old Dublin. This is not to say that the evening is predictable- it's not. The mood of the set crescendos and decrescendos over the course of however many whiskeys, and the night is full of surprises. A fiddle player joined the session late, introducing her friend who played the flute. "When did you meet your friend?" "Just now," she replied. Homan asked him what he would like to play ("Doesn't have to be an Irish tune!") and quickly acquiesced to the John Denver classic "Annie's Song," singing John Denver's lines, which were whispered to him in advance one line at a time by a bandmate more familiar with the song, as his band made the song sound all Irish-like and turn directly into vapor when heated. There were moments when I felt like an outsider- a welcome outsider- when the room joined in on unfamiliar classics like "Go Lassie Go" (I just pictured a fictional collie bounding across a prairie, but couldn't think of words), and later when the middle-aged guy next to me who looked like a whiskey-drinking distant nephew of former Mayor Daley availed himself to be a professional tenor as he took the vocal lead with two friends on a later tune. The as-yet unfamiliar melodies are still repeating in my head the next morning of a post-Emerald-Isle-vacation afterglow, which was really just a short walk across town. read more

I was tempted to give this place a three but my experience there was so bad I just couldn't force myself to do it. If I focused on the last half my time there it might have been a four or even a five. Here's what's wrong with this place, plainly put the service sucks if your on the inside. The outside seemed to be staying pretty busy but the inside had no love from the waitresses. We waited nearly 30 minutes for our appatizers, then another 25-30 minutes for our actual entree's. We pretty much stayed because we had been walking too long and had a nice view of the tv. Also our first waitress/hostess was rude but luckily our second one was able to bring it up a notch. I think this place does good as a pub, but the service is pretty shotty. Last but not least, I agree with Kevin, what kind of Irish Bar serves southwestern wraps and above all quesadillas??? You don't go to an pub for quesadillas. read more

Peh. Perhaps I'm biased, because I really dug the Italian restaurant that used to be in this space like 8 years ago. So when I saw this place come in I was pretty bummed out. But that was years ago. The last time I was here I had a beer spilled on me (a sizeable amount of beer) because a server bumped into random guy holding said beer, and random guy holding said (now half-empty) beer got a free replacement beer. I got...squat. Hey, it happens. I don't hold grudges...oh wait--I guess I do. And I gotta ask--what's up with the abundant signage proclaiming its Irish bar status? read more

Chill, low-key atmosphere with warm interior reminiscent of "Clue" the boardgame. Great beer selection, Three Floyds, Two Brothers, Stone..etc They boast being voted the "best irish bar in chicago" and... yep I'm pretty sure that's not an exaggeration. I've been here more often than I'd probably like to admit, and will I be back soon? ..This weekend? ..Tomorrow? ..Tonight? ..[No comment.] read more

Totally chill bar. I live in the neighborhood and had gone by this place multiple times but never stopped by. A couple of months ago I decided to finally go there with a friend. I'm so glad I did because right when I walked in the door I felt warmth. Everything from the aged wood covering the entire space, the tables hidden in cozy little corners, chill relaxing music and friendly staff made me want to come back. Since it's been so chilly out, I will come in with friends and grab a Baily's in Coffe to start out with (Which is always very strong might I add), sit by the fire and hang. Then it's on to Carlsberg (since it's their beer of the month right now) and some shots of Patron. The last couple of times I've gone in there, they have brought over some shots on the house which is always appreciated! Their food is not too bad here either. They have all you can eat Fish N' Chips on Tuesdays and that's my day off, so I usually come by for that. Their Jumbo Chicken Wings are also very good (although they are not that jumbo) the hot sauce is just right. I have a thing for wings, so I'm usually pretty critical. The Beer Battered Onion Rings with Chipotle Sauce are also very yummy. I've never had the steak or salmon here, but it seems odd that those items are on the menu of an authentic Irish Bar. They have brunch on the weekends too, that's something I'm willing to check out once the patio opens. They have a nice space for the patio, but I don't feel as if it would be nearly as intimate as the inside. Be careful when going to the bathroom though, it's in the basement with low ceilings. I've cracked my head after a few. This is one of the few Lincoln Park spots that I would frequent. You should too! read more

Love the outdoor patio, but every once in a while the service is a bit lacking out there. They do have proper Magners (19oz size) and I hear the Guinness is damn good. Also, for all you soccer haters out there, they show soccer here, THERFORE, if you are here and they are showing a soccer match, please refrain from making fun of it. If you want to be a jag, you can go next door to Mickeys and hang with your pop collared brethren. read more

This place exceed my expectations, hands down. Nestled among Mickey's and other rambunctious, frat-boy breeding bars in Lincoln Park, I was skeptical, but the promise of a $5 bacon cheddar burger on a Thursday night drew me in. The burger was decent, it tasted like a frozen patty, but the bun was a delightful Kaiser roll and they give you a decent amount of produce to load up the burger (almost enough to justify the mass amounts of cholesterol you're about to ingest). I really loved the wedge fries, perfect amount of salty, potato-y goodness for my liking. The drink specials are also decent, Thursday nights it's Harp pints for $4 which, let's face it, is what you pay for a watered down Bud Light at most places. The setup was delightful. The pub is filled with small nooks and crannies where you can sit at a table and chat the night away without feeling rushed by the staff or like you're constantly being eyed up by the drunk dudes that keep bumping into you. Dim lighting, but not pitch black, complimented by candles on the table also contributes to the coziness of the joint. The staff here is very friendly and helpful. They were able to make slight adjustments on menu items (e.g. no bacon on a burger, etc) without batting an eye. Even better, as I was leaving, my iPhone fell out of my pocket, and the waitress actually came running out of the restaurant trying to catch us before we disappeared into the chaos of Clark street. For those of you who know me, my phone has my life in it, so I would have been crushed if it had gotten misplaced. This pub is definitely an oasis tucked among the sea of frat-boy bars in Lincoln Park. read more

This has some of my favorite food in the city, and the jumbo chicken wings are my favorite wings period. The staff are friendly (especially the bartenders) and the beer list is great and changes often (in a good way!). The atmosphere is cozy on the inside, especially by any of the fireplaces during the polar vortex. But every dish I've had has been essentially perfect- I don't even like salads but eat their house salad all the time. But seriously- the wings are the best. All of the different sauces too. Try them. read more

Galway Arms - Irish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I used to work next door and on occasion would drop in before/after shifts. Having lived in Ireland for a few months, I have an affinity for all things Irish, and this pub satisfies all my Irish cravings. Fireplace in the center of the room. Irish bartenders. Perfectly poured Guinness. Traditional Irish Sessions every Sunday night. The food I have only had on occasion, so this goes for the drinking experiences I've had here, and they've always been fun. If you're walking by, stop in for a drink and pretend you're in Ireland for an hour or two! read more

I tend to avoid bars in my neck of the woods, but came here with some fellow yelpers after Office Hours. Nice enough place, with this opening in the ceiling that made me dizzy but that everyone else seemed to love. Nothing that a free round of whiskey and a few vodka lemonades couldn't get me over though. Server was friendly. It is so close, I would probably go enjoy the place on off hours, esp the patio. read more

I once had a friend tell me how horrible the food is in Ireland. It turned out he had never been to Ireland, but he might have stopped by Galway Arms. The spinach and artichoke dip we started out with was pretty okay, but the bread bowl it came in had a bit too much bread and a bit too little bowl. Plus, it seems that whoever prepared it put the bread bowl on the grill to warm it up and forgot about it there. The bottom of it was charred to a crisp. My female counterpart ordered the fish and chips. This is a girl who loves fish and chips. She orders it anywhere we go that serves it. She usually cleans the plate. In the two and half years we've been together, I've not seen her eat a half a plank of fish and two french fries and say she's done. That is, not until tonight. I'm a burger guy. I love a good bacon cheeseburger. A good bacon cheeseburger, however, is not what I got tonight. It was overcooked. It lacked flavor. Half the fries on my plate were overcooked too. Anyone who has read more than a few of my reviews knows that we are big into the beer. One might hope that this place might have a decent beer selection considering the location and the plethora of other bars within a short distance of here, but that person would be disappointed. They do have most of the regular players in the mostly mundane mass-market beer world, but nothing exciting or at all out of the ordinary. Our server was nice enough, but the service was slow. I do feel a little bad for not tipping her as well as I should have (and usually do) but I was angry about the less than mediocre food and the poor attitude of the manager on duty when I gently brought the problems to her attention and she cited my "personal tastes" as the problem. read more

I went here for a chainlink event on halloween. The servers were nice enough. Drinks started out strong and then quickly got to the point where there was not any noticeable alcohol in them. I did not have any food. Looks like a cool place to hang out in the summer (patio is big). read more