I used to love Lillie's barbecue so I'm not thrilled about leaving a one star review, but after my meal today, I have to say I'm never coming back. This restaurant has basically been reduced to something like an over priced fast food BBQ place. The entire menu is a la carte and the sides are ridiculously small. You know those metal cups you get when you order an extra sauce at a restaurant? Okay, so, the sides come in a container only slighter bigger than that. I got a half rack of ribs, a side of mac and cheese, a bag of chips, and a cocktail. My total was almost $40! My cocktail was $10 and came in a 6oz mason jar, and most of it was ice. My boyfriend got a sandwich, a side of mac and cheese, and a cider. His total was about $35. On top of that, the POS system also asks you to leave a tip. I'm not sure who I was tipping or why I was tipping, because I ordered my food at a counter and then I picked up my food at a counter. If you're the owner of this place and you can't afford to pay your workers a decent wage for the amount of money you're charging, you are a crook and you should be absolutely ashamed of yourself. I've never been to a barbecue joint where the combined total for a 2 person meal would be just about $80, before tip. I would maybe expect these kinds of prices at an upscale establishment, but let's not get it twisted, Lillie's Q is not that kind of establishment. Additionally, I couldn't even finish my tiny cup of mac and cheese because it was way too salty. Not sure who decided this new business model was a good idea, but maybe that person should get fired. read more

Came here for a private event and was blown away by the food and service! Food: 5/5 Best items were easily the fried chicken, ribs, and Mac n cheese. Seriously some of the best Mac I've had! Cheesy flavor was sharp and the texture was perfect. Ambiance: 5/5 Warm and casual environment that easily transformed into a classier space for a rehearsal dinner. Service: 5/5 Very kind waitstaff who let us hide our luggage in the basement when we arrived straight from the airport. read more

Loved this place but it was too hard to drink my Bloody Mary! I love the mason jars, but there was so much ice in it, I ended up taking it all out in order to drink it. (They don't have straws). Not a deal breaker, I'll definitely be back. But please get straws!! read more

When I think of BBQ, I think of tender and/or fall off the bone. On the numerous occasions I have had Lillie's Q, I cannot use that description. We have ordered delivery several times from Lillie's Q and guaranteed every time, the ribs are on the dry side. The other sides are pretty mediocre as well. The other day, we decided to try their brunch. I went for their "steak" and eggs, which was actually their brisket with eggs, and my husband ordered the Nashville hot chicken and waffles. We also ordered a cinnamon biscuit to share. The cinnamon biscuit was delicious. I tried my husband's chicken and waffles. They were literally a hit and a miss. The chicken was delicious. It was not only spicy, but flavorful and tender. The waffle, on the other hand, was burnt and hard as a rock. My brisket and eggs made me sad. The eggs were perfectly cooked, but I had to use a KNIFE to cut my brisket. Now, call me crazy, but when I have been to Smoque and Green Street Meats, I have had brisket that was so tender, the fork could barely pick it up. So, imagine my disappointment when I had to cut my brisket! At least the flavor was there... Oh and they don't have hot coffee! For an addict like me, that was a jolt. I ended up ordering the Bloody Mary, which was decent. It comes in a mason jar, so I would have preferred it came with a straw because it's hard to drink otherwise. Now I am not going to say I will never be back because Lillie's Q is local and I would go out of pure laziness. However, if someone asks me for good BBQ joints around town, I don't know that this would be the first place that comes to mind. read more

Lillie'S Q provides ~12 ounces of meat for the price of a pound. Very poor integrity and customer service. https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/6qonn0/til_1_lb_pizza_dough_ball_at_marianos_only_weighs/?st=j5t4vu8l&sh=519d035a BBQ is okay, but nothing to write home about. If you're there, get the pulled pork - it's the best of the offerings. read more

Nothing like some good ol BBQ during the holiday season! Me and some friends decided to stop in this joint last night for dinner as we wanted to get together and try a place we've never been before. One of my friends had been there for about 10 minutes and had already ordered food. She ordered the Tri Tip sandwich with mac & cheese. It looked pretty good so I ordered the same sandwich along with collard greens instead of the mac & cheese. The sandwich is basically smoked beef on a brioche bun with cole slaw on top if requested (I did). There were about 5 BBQ sauces over to the side of the table so I threw some Carolina BBQ on that sucker and went to work on it. Very good beef sandwich here and the sauce definitely enhanced the already awesome flavor. The greens were pretty good but one of the servers dropped off some red pepper vinegar sauce to put on it and it was pretty damn good..a lil spicy but good! Another friend ordered the smoked chicken wings and them was some hella good wings! I almost ate all of them and had to be stopped. The sweet potato fries are pretty damn good...add some of that smokey BBQ sauce and its on and poppin! The drink situation is pretty decent here but they come in small mason jars so the effect of the drink can e challenging. I tried 3 different drinks: The Spiked Southern Sweet Tea which gets better/sweeter once you get near the mid point of the drink. You taste straight up whiskey for the majority of the drink. The Whiskey Sour was pretty good The Apple Hooch & Ginger was probably my favorite out of the 3 as it wasn't too sweet and did the trick. I wound up having a 2nd. Our server Noelle was pretty good at taking care of my 6 person squad. For all of you parents out there, there seemed to be a baby at almost every table so its a kid friendly joint. The air in the place was pretty thin after awhile and it really got warm at one point. They have TVs here if you want to sit at the bar and watch a game or 2. Good spot and I look forward to returning. read more

Just went in after their recent renovation, still great cuts of meat, seasonings, and sauces! Their sides are a little small, but I'd rather have more brisket/wings/etc anyway! Their menu in the restaurant is on a wall and somewhat difficult to read, but they have paper copies available. Great stuff! read more

Exceptional. We had the fried pickles which were not too heavy and had that kind of fry that is light and melts in your mouth. We also had the pulled pork and tri tri sandwiches, which can come with sides of Mac and cheese. All so good. Each table has 6 different sauces that you can use to your liking. Cute inside decor and great location, highly recommend! read more

Lillie's Q - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This evening, my boyfriend and I went out to go dine on some delicious BBQ at your establishment. We had been talking about going for weeks, and decided to take advantage of the semi-warm weather and take a walk over for dinner. Upon our arrival, we were told they were closing an hour early because it was slow. The kitchen was already closed, and their last table was just drinking beers. We were starving and very disappointed!! We then walked over to The Smoke Daddy and had the MOST amazing meal! They were still open so they got our business. Sorry! read more

What happened here? Went in expecting the Lillies I knew from a few years ago and found nothing of the sort. No half chicken, so I went with the smoked wings 10 for $12 5 flats and 5 drumettes ... Not bad but they will only toss in Buffalo sauce so I had to get them dry. The sides are really tiny too and they don't even bother to fully fill the small containers they come in. Imagine 2 spoonfuls of mac n cheese for $3. At least at smoque it's stuffed to the brim. A barbeque joint that only gives you two tiny ramekins of their signature sauce to cover 20 wings is probably not worth a damn anymore. It was empty and I see why. This place used to stay packed. Since I moved to the south loop from Wicker Park I'd lost touch. Well now I know and I can scratch it off the list. Too bad, had many fond memories of the food there. read more

Used to eat here at least once a month, usually with a friend. It was my favorite BBQ spot and unfortunately I'm not coming back. This review is echoing some recent comments, but they're all valid. I'm really disappointed with the changes they've made. 1) The ordering / seating experience is bad. I used to go to the bar, take a seat, order my food, etc. Now you have to order first before you sit, and the seating is all cramped and poorly laid out now. 2) They got rid of the french fries (my favorite side) 3) Sides are ridiculously small. There were roughly 9 noodles in my $4 mac and cheese. Food was still good, but not worth the cost or the hassle when the rest of the experience is so crummy. read more

Mmmmm tried Lillie's today and it was super tasty. Really was in the mood for a chicken sandwich and this bbq spot was recommended and did not disappoint. I ordered the Nashville hot chicken sandwich with a side of fried Brussels sprouts. Not sure which I liked most but I was asked on a scale of 1-10 how the sandwich was and I'd say at least 8/10 and the Brussels were def a good choice of side. We also had the hush puppies as an appetizer which I'd recommend as well. Cool atmosphere comfy seats and the service was great. Will definitely go back.. soon. read more

Lillie's Q - Chicken sandwich and Brussels sprouts - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

How does a BBQ joint charge $1 for a small package of BBQ sauce? Good food but put that BBQ sauce on the table. Come on man!

Yelp is making me write more than just "No." Okay, then. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Did I mention, no? This may be my most useful review yet. ROTD in the making? read more

"Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful? Isn't she pretty? Truly the angels best. Boy, I'm so happy, we have been heaven blessed..." That's one of the most romantic songs ever. Play it and if you have a dimmer switch plus a Glade candle burning see what happens, for realzies. I thought of it because of all the restaurants and gals I've known these past few blissful years Lillie Q. has been closest to my soul and body. When you get together it's for one thing only and you get your moneys worth right from the start. I went with my companion, because sharing is caring. We ordered: Cocktails made with 90 proof moonshine served in jars Very cute and delicious. Mac and cheese (classic) Super! Very cheesy stick to your ribs good! (An aside, vegetarians can make a meal out of this and other sides.) Pulled Pork, BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Pulled Chicken Any time this is served it should only be greeted with applause. So very good. The standout, by far, was the pulled pork. The ribs were scrumptious, I enjoyed the glaze. All the BBQ was ubertender. We made use of all the sauces. The Carolina Gold was unique, all were good, but the shining star was the Hot Smoky sauce. I could have licked it off my plate. Apparently, the song I referenced is about a baby! Well, after eating I felt like I was preggo. Since I pigged out and looked large and in charge in the tummy. But the the food was... "So very lovely, made from love." You're welcome for turning you on to Ms. Lillie Q and her dang good BBQ and getting that song in your head. read more

Sometimes it takes an act of God, or a water heater tank in this case, to help you realize your feelings for something. Lillie's fire in her basement last night made me realize that yes, I DO love Lillie's Q. And her Bar B. I've been a little rude to Lillie in the past. I always show up drunk, past my reservation time, and am shouting so loudly I could be mistaken for a true blue Midwesterner. I think she understands, though. Maybe even finds it endearing. Because Lillie serves drinks and nosh in a setting fit for folks just like me. A homey, woodsy (now smoky) filled room with long stretches of benches and tables and moonshine cocktails served in mason jars is how Lillie rolls. She serves her goods on plain tin pans and paper, because us drunken kids are here for the right reasons: good barbecue and great cocktails. The fried pickles are first choice always, but the mac and cheese is a close second. Big helpings, and big flavors. The barbecue sandwiches are meaty and not too fatty, which suits me just fine. Fatty meat is gross meat. But what else would you expect from an award-winning pitmaster? So yes, it's with a heavy heart that we bid adieu to Lillie and her Q, but hopefully not for long. read more

It's been a long time since I've been fired up enough to urge a cab driver to go faster so I could get home to write a Yelp review. Thank you, Lillie's Q, you just earned my cab driver a substantial tip. Lillie's Q can be summed up in roughly 3 words: Utterly. Terrible. Experience. We'll start with the service. The service was bad. I mean, really bad. Our server forgot our drink order. Then remembered 15 minutes later. She was so embarrassed that she didn't check on us again for almost 45 minutes Then never asked how everything was when the food came out. For the most part, we were avoided all night. She was taken care of because we love and respect the industry, not because she was a good server. The food here is served on small metal trays and is ordered a la cart. If you order pork, you get a portion of pork. Same with chicken. Same with ribs. Simple enough, right? No. In a 14 table establishment on a night with no wait, it took the kitchen 1 hour to put 1/2 lb of pulled chicken, 3 slices of tri-tip, 4 ribs and a 1/4 lb of pulled pork on two trays and carry them across the dining room for our table. About to the food: The food was the only thing worse than the service. The tri-tip had no bark, no rub, no seasoning. It was fatty, served cold, and only had a faint hint of smoke. The ribs were mealy, held no smoke flavoring and, again, had no seasoning. The pulled pork.. don't even get me started. Even when drowned in any of the four mediocre sauces, the pulled pork was still bland. I am a certified Kansas City BBQ Society judge - had this food been turned in at a competition, I wouldn't have even scored it. HINT TO KITCHEN: EVEN BBQ USES SALT AND PEPPER. It also uses paprika, cayenne, garlic, onion and multiple sugars. For as excited as I was to try Lillie's, I was equally disappointed in the entire experience. This place is a prime example of what happens when quick-buck bar owners try to hop on the next hot wave and ride a trendy cuisine to the bank without studying or understanding where that cuisine came from. Simply brutal. read more

I have been wanting to try Lillie's Q for awhile and luckily so did my date, so we went here for dinner. For apps, we got the hush puppies which I thought were all right. Not sure if I would get those again. I decided to go all out and got the Taste of LQ (Your choice of 3 meats). I went with the hot links, baby back ribs, and tri tip. The sides were a tough choice because they looked so good, but I decided to get the coleslaw. My date got the pulled chicken sandwich with mac n' cheese as the side. Everything was really good! My favorite BBQ sauce was the smokey one and I liked how they have a variety of sauces at your table, so you can try them all out. Before I went to a full meat coma, I made sure that I had enough room for dessert and went with the shortcake. Luckily the seasonal fruit was strawberries. So good and light! As much as I liked my meal, I think Smoque is better but I do plan to come back here again though. read more

Choose your proof? Yessir, don't mind if I do. I'll take the 120 proof Morning Lillie, a mildly spicy whiskey version of the infamous Bloody Mary, and it comes with a meatstick. Yeah, a meatstick. Had it with Koval Rye, and it was vapory meaty cold deliciousness in a Mason jar. But I didn't come here to drink, I came to eat. Famished from the combination of thrifting from Boys Town to Wicker + the lately nasty heat index of 110(damn that humidity), we stumbled in here seeking shelter from the sun, and the comfort that only BBQ and A/C(not Slater) can provide. I'm staring at the menu and something catches my eye... Boiled Peanuts! I love boiled peanuts. You don't understand. I boil my own, just water and salt. Lillie's version include some special spice that somehow makes it's way into the shell and flavors them from the inside out, which was great. My only complaint would have to be the amount of cook the nuts received. I'm picky about my nuts being undercooked, which is how I like them, with a little snap to them. I don't really like my peanuts boiled to a mush, at least Lillie's wasn't quite there, but props for the inspiration, I'm going to try to make my version at home. As for my meal, there was so much to try, and so little time! If you know me, you know I love BBQ and/or anything grill related. Had my eye on the tri-tip sandwich and when our server came by to give us his take on the menu and the must-orders, the tri-tip was mentioned, as it was by the runner who brought my sandwich out. I got it southern style, topped with cole slaw. This thing is massive. I'm talking huge. I cut it in half knowing I wouldn't get to it. Medium rare slices of lean beef, and not dry, mind you. No, these slivers of protein must have been juicing, they were so moist. And the smoke flavor was pretty delicate, almost like a smoke Vellux blanket, as opposed to a thick-ass smoke quilted-comforter. Sometimes less is more, allowing you to actually taste the meat. After consulting with our server on how to use the futuristic sauce bottles (turn it over and shake it dumbass) I put the Hot Smoky to use and dipped the 'wich in it. Sad part of the meal. I was cleaning off Melanie R.'s shrimpo tails.. Some of the shrimp juice got onto my new white t-shirt. *Tear rolls down face. I will return for the oysters and the ribs. Watch out for my juices. P.S. I realize my review is full of innuendo and error (shrimpo?) after reviewing my review. But you like that, don't you? read more

I have to take off two stars for the lack of attention to our table and small portions. The place is small and we came in with 6 people. We had other people in our party sitting at the bar but they decided to stay there. We did jack the hostess around a few times with the size of our party. We joked that the slow service was retaliation. I took forever to order drinks, then to get them, and to get our food orders in and then to get our food. I had the chicken and waffle. It was really good but this was the smallest chicken and waffles serving I have ever received. The chicken was two small bone-in pieces that came with two waffle slices. Generally, at other restaurants, you'd get half a chicken and 4 waffle slices. I left hungry-isa and for what I paid I shouldn't have. Two friends had the avocado toast, which looked way more filling. read more

I avoided coming here when it opened during the summer because initial reviews mentioned how hot it was up in herre. I guess the air conditioning wasn't running back then, and I become a super sexy sweat machine in those conditions, so I decided to wait until winter to boogie on in. I visited a little while back knowing with full confidence I couldn't possibly soak through my tshirts when it was 30 degrees. I've missed out! It had a nice, cozy feel and was quite welcoming. I ordered the tri-tip and also sampled the pulled pork. Both pretty good. The tri-tip was juicy and didn't really fall apart, so it had that going for it. There are five sauces on the table, and I gather from other reviewers that Ivory was not very popular, but it was my favorite. I liked the fact it was a white sauce compared to the darker, smokier sauces. It was just unique, I guess. Furthermore, the beer prices are kinda wonky. They start around $8 for beer in a mason jar. My friend got one for $11, and was a little shocked at the sticker price. All the ups and downs of this place results in the dreaded tristar. Weird beer prices, decent food, interesting sauces, cozy decor. I used a very scientific formula to come up with this rating. I will definitely make return trips. read more

For my friend Peter's birthday he wanted to try the "Whole Hog" experience at Chicago restaurant Lillie's Q. After reading some articles about how the hog is presented to the table, I was eager to get to the restaurant and share a small pig with my group of friends. I love learning new things and trying parts of animals that are not normally listed on menus, so this was right up my alley. Unfortunately, this experience wasn't anything close to what I thought it would be. After waiting 30 minutes for a table we had a reservation for, we were presented with the hog. The owner mumbled a few sentences about the pig and went back into the kitchen. I didn't get to ask any questions and he seemed so disinterested with his job that I was turned off. Shouldn't someone who makes a career out of BBQ be a little more passionate and want to interest others? Whatever, bring on the meat. We started with some pig skin. There were only about 10 pieces of skin for our table of 11 to share. 10 tiny pieces from an entire pig? No way, no how that we got everything from the pig we ordered. It was such a shame because I really enjoyed it too. We continued with a pork tenderloin, which there were only about 10 pieces of also. I wanted more-this was really good. I had a feeling at this point that we may be getting ripped off. We continued with some pulled pork and ham which were both decent. In addition to the meat, we received mac & cheese, fried pickles, hush puppies, coleslaw, french fries and baked beans. We were pretty full. Upon receiving the bill, my friend Peter noticed there were some extra charges. When he asked the server, she couldn't really explain herself, so the owner Charlie came out. Without even allowing us to get a word in or ask a question, he began to yell and became incredibly defensive. Maybe he thought we were young people with no money and were trying to take advantage of him? Either way, he came out again about 5 minutes later and continued to talk down to us and create a huge scene without even trying to hear what we had to say. I have never felt so disrespected in my life. How can someone who relies on customers be so rude to us? It's not like we weren't going to pay, we just simply wanted an explanation and approached the situation calmly. I have never felt so disrespected in my life. It is safe to say that I will never be back to Lillie's Q again and after reading this I hope you won't either.I have never been so disappointed with a restaurant(and from my reviews you can see I've been to quite a few). read more

All right! Stop whatcha doin' 'cause I'm about to ruin the image and the style that ya used to. Lillie's is funny but yo they makin' money see so yo world I hope you're going to see - OK so now that Digital Underground has your attention, allow me to expound on the meal we had there the other night. First up, you should know that Lillie's Q calls themselves "Urban BBQ". What this is, I have no idea, but they seem to do a bang up job of it. I have a soft spot (actually two, right around the hip area) for fried pickles, and whatever these people have done at LQ, makes these the finest damned fried pickles I have ever had. They are huge, with this crisp and flaky batter, and the pickle inside is still juicy and fresh, not dried out like I have had in the past. These might go on the "last meal" list, they are that fantastic. I went for the Tri-Tip Sandwich which was Smoked Beef on a Brioche Bun. I opted for the "southern style" which means they add a scoop of coleslaw to it. Oddly, the sandwich's main flavour was in the bun, which is of course not where you want it. But LQ has 5 sauces to liven things up, which helped immensely. (For the record I have to rate them as follows, from best to worse - Hot Smokey, Carolina Gold, Smokey, Carolina and Ivory) Sweet potato fries were tasty, but the "carolina dirt" coating (basically the rub they use on the meat is dusted over) offered only a tiny bit of interest. Andy's ribs on the other hand, were beautifully cooked slabs of meat with great texture and flavour. Love the sort of industrial loft interior and very attentive, prompt service. Lillie's Q is the sort of place that you don't mind coming back to in order to find your "perfect" entree, since you have fried pickles at your beck and call. read more

What's better than gnawing on a full slab of BBQ ribs? Gnawing on a slab of Ribs while the unbathed, neihborhood hipsters stare at you in awe. I must have had the look of a rabid dog as I devoured the delicious Carolina Ribs that Lillie's Q served up. Lillie's Q has officially been added to the list of my favorite BBQ joints in Chicago. My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful meal on their patio on a beautiful spring night. The interior at Lillie's is quite nice, but it was much too beautiful to dine inside. Lillie's is a carnivore's wet dream. The smell of charred meat and dry rub literally fills your nose when you walk in the joint. As if our meal wasn't a cardiologist's nightmare to begin with, we started with the Fried Pickle appetizer. I consider myself a conisour of fried foods and I have to admit, Lillie's version of this Southern staple is one of the best I ever tasted. There were quite a few options to choose from when it came down to my choice of entree, but I had to opt for the Ribs. Lillie's Carolina Ribs are dry rubbed to the nines with flavor. The Ribs are not served with sauce on them, but they do offer five different sauces that you can drench them in. The dry rub is so good, they really didn't need a lot of sauce. If there is one thing I love about good BBQ is the texture of well done Ribs. I hate it when Ribs are served so tender they fall off the bone. The texture of the Ribs at Lillie's was perfect. Our dinner at Lillie's Q was a wonderful experience. Great food and excellent bourbon selection and top notch food makes this place a must visit for the BBQ lover. read more

Tried out this place on a Saturday night after we were told that the wait at Piece was 2 hours. We should have just put in our names and waited it out. We walked in and the hostess (or so we thought) said that the wait would be about 25 minutes, we put our name in and told them we would be waiting outside (the place is tiny). After about 20 minutes we figured out that the "hostess" was actually a waitress and that the manager or owner was actually playing the role of host for the night. He came outside and asks for our name (as I said we had already given this) and told us it would be just a bit longer, they were waiting for some tables to clear out. In the mean time a group of 6 walked up and put their name in. I started getting the feeling that they were friends with the manager or owner when they were then sat before us. Again we were told that it would be just a bit longer, they were waiting for some tables to clear out. A short time later another large group came and put their name in and again they were sat before us. We were getting quite annoyed but didn't want to leave because it was almost 10pm and we were famished. It had been about an hour by the time we were sat but topping it all off we were then told that they were out of pork and ribs (what we had all been planning on ordering). Everyone ordered the pulled chicken and various sides and then proceeded to wait an additional 30 minutes before any food came out. (At least the bar tender had a heavy hand.) The only good thing I can say about the food is the Carolina BBQ sauce - it was the only thing that had any flavor. The chicken tasted as if it were boiled not smoked, and had no seasoning on it. There wasn't even salt or pepper on the table! The menu stated that the sandwich was supposed to come on some sort of bun and instead came on flimsy wonderbread. The plates (tin trays lined with cheap paper) looked cool but were not very utilitarian as my husband noticed that when he cut off a piece of his sandwich the paper came with it. To sum things up, bad service, bad food, bad business plan and no concept of purchasing. I will never go back and I will never suggest it to anyone. read more

Horrible ribs. St. Louis style but you have to rip the meat off the bone like a dinosaur. The smoking process they use fills your home with a chemical smell that is absolutely overpowering and disgusting. Their sauces are good. But their food is gross. They wont last. Do not waste your time or money. Ultimate BBQ FAIL. And this is coming from a BBQ connoisseur that travels the country in search of the best BBQ. read more

I have to go with Andrew P on this one. The food had a shot a redemption but the service and the whole contempt for the customer attitude made me bristle. I really believe in second and third chances because everyone has off days but this place makes my skin crawl to even drive by it. Bad attitude, horrific service, mediocre at best food. Whomever Lillie is, she is probably spinning in her grave at this atrocity of a namesake. Shame on you jerky managment and crappy servers. read more

With all the fabulous Bar-b-q places to go in Chicago, my advice would be to take a pass on this place! It's not worth the aggravation. We arrived at 6:10pm on a Saturday. There were empty tables. We were told we would have a 10 minute wait. 30 minutes later, when we checked what was going on, they said they ran out of ribs and the owner would not seat additional parties until the kitchen caught up... no one even asked us if we were going to order ribs... or maybe we would sit and have drinks at one of the several empty tables, rather than stand out on the sidewalk in the heat. Once seated (an hour after were were told the wait would be 10 minutes), we found out from the waiter that they have run out of ribs several times before. After dinner, I checked Yelp.. and sure enough, other reviewers have said the same! The waiter seemed quick to tell us we couldn't order ribs... we said come back and let us know after our drinks/appetizer. Once we got our drinks, we ordered. So, I had a sampler of ribs... Now I'm thinking these must be the best ribs in town. They were o.k. REALLY! If you think of going here... DON'T. Head to Smoke Daddy's, Fat Willy's, Chicago Q, or any of the dozen other Bar-b-q places that know how to run a restaurant business. read more

Meh...Ugh...Boo Says Asper K (not the animals killed for the meal) Best New Restaurants in Chicago, raved and raved about Lillie Qs. "Lillie's is ready to take it's place among Chicago's barbecue greats" says them. I read their review in my docs waiting room and was hooked (hoodwinked??). I just had to get me some Lillies tries very hard to be upscale and downhome at the same time. The drinks are served in mason jars but cost $8. The bbq is on some sort of butcher paper but you get fancy pants square plates too. Maybe it's cowboy/sheek, garage sale/fancy or something else, I dunno. But the felix unger/oscar madison feel wasn't doing it for me. Quite frankly it felt like they were trying to get away with being upscale (with medium high prices) while not really doing enough to earn that. Now all would be forgiven if the bbq kicked ass. That's the main thing here, right?? According to that magazine dude whose review I read, the owner is a ace bbq'er... nay champion bbq'er from the bbq circuit, no less. So mason jar, shmashen jar, who cares..bring on the pulled pork. So.. boo, fail, mediocrity personified. The pulled pork was not tender. Was average. Two words. Big whoop (sarcastic). The ribs were not fall off the bone tender or any such goodness. We had a hard time cutting them apart with a knife. As for the bbq sauces, so average. Our waiter raced through his speech on the differences between all of them like a a disneyland ride attendant giving a safety schpeel. I saw him do the same thing over an over at other tables. And to tell the truth, after carefully testing each one on my plate, they had run together and I couldnt care less. I just dragged whatever animal meat I was eating through it. Average, forgetable, zzz An amazing bbq place, Lillies is not. "A chicago bbq great" (says mag guy)...excuse me, not quite. If Lillies was half the price and way closer to where I live, I probably still wouldn't go that often. What can I say, at least I got a good RX from my doc on that visit. A good bbq tip, I did not read more

Dank as f. So good! Good service :) nice vibe! Not particularly healthy food-- would go back but sparingly of course. My friend spilled his fresh beer and the waiter was nice enough to give us a new one! Ribs amazing, Mac and cheese was amazing, the greens were amazing! Yum! read more

We've enjoyed every trip before last night's. Lillie's has great food and great drinks, and the waitstaff has always been friendly, but we were bummed out by the rude and inattentive bartender, who we were later told was the owner. We sat at the bar for our most recent meal, and were served by an unusually quiet, stern guy who didn't seem very interested in taking care of us. Few words were exchanged beyond a few grunted questions/commands, it was pretty disappointing when we found out the guy treating us this way was the owner. It's upsetting to find out that such a nice establishment could be ruined by poor customer service, especially coming from the guy that owns the place. While we like the food and atmosphere, we're definitely less likely to come back, knowing that the owner treats customers with such disdain. read more

I came here with a few meat-eating friends. I hoped to at least partake in the fries. When I asked the server which (if any) of the side dishes were vegan, she said the (dairy/egg-containing) mac & cheese and pudding were vegan. Apparently she didn't know what "vegan" meant and didn't ask for clarification. Unfortunately none of the side dishes are vegan, not even the fries, which are cooked with the meat. :( To add insult to injury, the server kept asking if I wanted to order some food each time she came to the table, even after I explained there wasn't anything available for me to eat. I realise BBQ joints tend to focus on meat, but roasted veggies or something would be a nice option for those of us who get dragged along with our carnivorous buddies. read more

Well, this is weird. I'm giving 1 star to a restaurant that I've never eaten in! We went to Lillie's Q on Father's Day in the middle of the afternoon with our toddler who still needs a highchair. We walked in, were greeted with a half empty restaurant and were told that they do not have highchairs. Needless to say, we left. LET ME CLARIFY that I am TOTALLY fine with a bar or late night place not wanting to accommodate little ones. I get it. And I don't take my toddler to crowded restaurants at night to eat among patrons that might be paying for babysitters and want to be child-free. But this was a family barbeque place during the day. We live in Bucktown, where trendy hipsters and toddlers live side by side. Apparently, Lillie's Q only wants the hipsters to eat in their restaurant. Because I am putting up a negative review, I did place a call to the restaurant to let them know my complaint. I spoke to a manager who told me she was also surprised that they do not have highchairs and that the owner of the restaurant is kid-friendly and, in fact, has a 4 year old child. She wanted to be clear that the restaurant is "kid-friendly" just not "kid-accommodating". Call it what you want, but it's not kid-friendly if my kid doesn't have anywhere to sit. Annoyed. I guess I'll just have to eat at all the other hot Bucktown spots that do welcome my child (during the day, of course). read more

OK, let me preface this review with the following disclaimer: I'm not a certified BBQ judge and I do not travel the country in search of the nation's best BBQ. I'm just a guy who likes to eat food that tastes good. Also, please note that this is a 3.5 star review. With that being said, I enjoyed Lillie's Q. The fried pickles were steaming hot and weren't little slices of pickles that you would find on your burger. Each slice was at least 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Each pickle slice was thickly coated. The ranch sauce they serve with the pickles was a bit "blah" but you can use all of the bbq sauces on the table. I liked the Hot Smoky best. As for entrees, we ordered a pulled pork sandwich (southern style), a tri tip sandwich, mac and cheese and grits. Both sandwiches were fine - I wouldn't describe them as being the greatest examples of BBQ ever but they were far from bad. The cole slaw on the pork sandwich, however, was excellent. As were the grits. I thought the amount of meat on each sandwich and the portion of the sides were all very good and even bordering on generous. Maybe the earlier negative reviews were due to the restaurant just opening and them working out their kinks. I most certainly did not share the same experience as those reviewers. read more

Went here on a Sunday afternoon, walked right in and got a table, no wait at all. Ordered some pork rinds that were, well, pork rinds... but still warm and well done. Got the sampler, with pulled pork, tri tip, and ribs. The ribs are the star, for sure! Also try the baked beans and the grits, with the former being some of the best I've ever had. Stay away from the green beans. Under cooked and a little gross. The sauces: They had 6! I didn't think it was possible to get more sauces than Famous Dave's, but alas, they've done it. My favorites, in order from greatest to least: Carolina - Heaven in a bottle. Period. Smoky - If Carolina is Batman, Smoky is Robin. Carolina Gold - Standard southern mustard based sauce, just done BETTER. Hot Smoky - I'm kind of a spice wimp, so this subtle heat was perfect for me. E.N.C. - A runny, very vinegar-y (is that even a word?) kind of sauce that only pulled pork would love. Guess you have to be from there to like it? Ivory - A mayonnaise based sauce. On barbecue. Why are you even on the table? VERDICT: Just Go! And drink some moonshine. You won't be disappointed. read more

To celebrate my husband's birthday and to get us excited about an upcoming trip to Kansas City, I conducted a barbeque fest at my house this week. I got ribs and some sides from Smoke Daddy, Lillie's Q, Honeys No 1 BBQ, and Smokin Ms (Forest Park). Sadly, Lillie's did not win my little taste test. The ribs had a nice flavor but nothing like the intense, unique burst of flavor at Smoke Daddy. The mac and cheese was delicious (I would go back for this), and the beans were good and interesting (not the best I have had). I was getting carry out but the dining room was really impressive. Additionally, there were about five sauces on each table (only one in my carry out bag-dang!). Wouldn't mind dining in sometime...however... NOT a fan of the TWO DOLLAR service charge added to my carry out order. What is this? Got ribs at three other joints on this date and no other service charges. Have gotten carry out at Smoke Daddy for years, and no service charge...EVER! This is totally and completely ridiculous and offensive. Is it TWO DOLLARS for any size order or does the charge go up the more you order???? ALSO, NOT a fan of the high prices. It is about double the price to get carry out here. The three other spots I tried were all around 13-14 dollars, and Lillie's was around 28 dollars=all for the same quantity of food. This is also ridiculous. I know BBQ is a trend in Chicago right now, but give me a break with these prices! Thus, not sure this is your best spot for local BBQ but for dining in, it looks pretty cool. Beware of the CARRY OUT SERVICE CHARGE! read more

Prices were high for food that was just okay. Service was below average and the place was dead...it's not like they were busy. I'm giving the place two stars based on the pulled pork and the brioche buns that is all. I had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of Carolina dirt fries. The pulled pork was excellent and so was the brioche bun but together they left something to be desired. The fries were skinny and tasted kind of burnt. I had water to drink and had to flag down our waitress just to get a refill. My cousin had the Boil and a side of hush puppies with a Lillie Palmer cocktail. The Boil was mostly sausage, skimpy on the shrimp and crab. The hush puppies were dry 'n tasted burnt. I've had better hush puppies at Long John Silvers! The Lillie Palmer was all moonshine with a hint of iced tea for coloring. Not sure if our waitress was having a bad day but she had a stink face the whole time. Not sure what her deal was. All in all, Lillie Q's wasn't exactly horrible but I probably won't be back unless they offer me a free meal pursuant to this review. If you want really good BBQ in Chicago, still in a cool neighborhood but unpretentious GO TO HONKY TONK in Pilsen. SO GOOD. I promise you'll like it. Or if you're around Western Ave. & Fullerton try HONEY 1 BBQ also REALLY GOOD. read more

First of all, let me clarify this rating. This rating is clearly based on my front of house experience. My colleague had raved (seriously RAVED) about the food at this place because we had brought a large group in a week before. Since I know she knows her pig, I thought I'd go w/ my family and my best friend who came to visit. So we ended up going on a Sunday, around 6pm, knowing that we would have to wait a bit. The hostess quoted 45 minutes. Well...this is where is went downhill. As 45 minutes approached i've seen couples, probably 4, walking in and getting seated right away. I understand there are more two tops than four, but really, if you were a really good hostess you would push a couple of tables together. I went up to the hostess a couple of times and she mentioned that I would be next. Well...we waited a few more minutes, more like 15, and talked to the hostess again, we ended up leaving. A total wait of 1hr. 10min. I was really hoping to try this place and see what my colleague was raving about. Unfortunately, I couldn't get past the hostess stand. read more

This place was great when it first opened, and judging from the more recent 4 and 5 stars perhaps they've improved, but the last several times I've been the food has steadily worsened - to the point where the last time I was there the chicken was flavorless and not "pulled," and the tri-tip was raw-ish. I've had bar b que at the best joints in Memphis, a few good ones in Richmond, VA (go figure), several in Kansas City and several in Chicago - do not waste your time on Lillie's Q. Go to Fat Willy's or some place on the south side for good bar b q. This coming from someone who lives in Bucktown - Lillie's Q is literally 2 blocks away and I'd rather drive 40 minutes to the south side than go back. read more

I read all the PR hype the past few weeks and really wanted to like this place. Sadly, the reviews here are right, super cute space but wow the food and service needs a lot of work. Please Lillie's Q, take these reviews to heart, make some changes and save yourself from closing. To start, we went on one of the hottest days of the summer and there was no AC! I would think they would say something like "sorry, it is so hot, our AC went out, would you like to sit outside?" Nope, nothing, I can't imagine they don't have AC but I have no idea. To say it was hot is an understatement. It had to have been at least 95 inside cause when we left, it was cooler outside. AC aside, we sit down and order some apps to start: peanuts and pickles and drinks. Pickles come out super fast before we even place our entree order, hot crispy and yum. Off to a good start! Then the peanuts come, great! They put the peanuts down and within SECONDS, our entrees arrive...wait, what? So we are sitting at a 2-top with 4 trays of food in front of us, we haven't even touched the apps and the entrees arrive? I sent the entree back. We are happily enjoying the apps and about 5 min away from being done. The GM comes over and asks if we are ready for the entrees, we say "not yet, give us a few more minutes." He turns away and kid you not, within seconds, the runner is returning with our entrees. Really?? WE ARE STILL EATING THE APPS!!!!!! But what ever, I gave up. SO onto the Q. The best of the worst was the pulled pork. It was tender but with no pork flavor, no seasoning, no smokey flavor. The same went for the chicken and tri tip. Chicken totally bland with NO smoke and tri tip chewy and dry. It did have smoke rings but no smoke taste. I've seen photos of the smoker...so where's the smoke flavor? The only thing that had smokey flavor were the baked beans which were yummy. The slaw was standard. Overall,service needs a LOT of work, everyone was friendly but clearly confused and in need of a strong FOH leader. BOH, has the chef heard of an expeditor, seasoning, smoke? Until the reviews here improve or there are some major changes, we won't be going back anytime soon. Sad really cause the space is great! read more