This is real BBQ place with an awesome industrial atmosphere. The wait staff was super knowledgeable and the food was stellar. My friend and I were able to try four items including the fried pickles, mac & cheese, pulled pork and beef. All were out of this world. I think may favorite part was the selection of sauces at each table, there were over 7 to chose from making sure your taste buds got what they paid for. I didn't care for every sauce, but that's not to say other patrons don't love them. If you are a vinegar-based sauce fan, then this is your spot! Expect that sweet tang and bite from the sauce with every clasp of your jaw. I also like how the sink is outside the bathroom so you can spot when people don't wash their hands. Hilarious accountability... I will be back! read more

We were taken here for dinner by friends who live very close by and we had high hopes for our meal. The place is POPULAR, thronged by diners every time we passed by, and during our meal the place was packed, and the noise level inside was close to deafening. We started off with fried pickles and hushpuppies to go with our beers (their beer list is impressive) and the fried pickles turned out to be a real revelation--something I'll have to replicate at home myself. Unfortunately, the hushpuppies were dry and rather flavourless. On to the main course--we ordered a selection of things to share: two 1/4 chickens, 1/2 pound of pulled pork, an 8-rib rack of pork ribs, and hot smoked sausage. The chicken, ribs and pulled pork were all exceptionally dry, and required the application of considerable quantities of sauces (there are large bottles of 7 or 8 house-made sauces on each table) to make them moist enough to be swallowable. The sausage was the surprising stand-out of this selection, though they, too were a bit dry (but they were deliciously spicy, if that's your scene). The ribs were a real disappointment--utterly desiccated and with no flavour, and they're what we were really looking forward to! read more

I typically hate to give a play-by-play but this experience warranted it... The evening started off oddly when we asked the host how long the wait would be. He couldn't give us an estimate of wait time because, according to him, current diners weren't leaving and had tabs of $800. There were a few open tables and only one couple in front of us so we chanced it. When the host also confessed that they were short a chef because one had sliced himself the night before, I should have known that it would be a loooong night Only 10 minutes after the "long wait" spiel, we were seated where we waited for another 10 minutes for our server to bring us some water. We saw him two other times; when he served our food and to bring us the bill- almost 2 hours later. The place is very quaint and if you order a drink, it is served in a mason jar. I'm a sucker for mason jars. Should your food ever arrive, it served on a paper-lined metal tray- a nice touch. There is also a selection of 5 or 6 house-recipe BBQ sauces on every table. I'm a fan of the Hot Smoky. After waiting forever for 2 sandwiches and 2 salads, it was time to dig in. Both "Q Salads" tasted fine but the avocado was MIA. The pulled pork sandwich was divine. Note that the sandwiches can be served 'Southern Style' for an extra dollar. Southern Style just means that they put coleslaw in your sandwich. We also tried the caramelized ears of corn, the bacon green beans, and the sweet potato fries. Green beans were undercooked, the corn was standard, but the fries were amazing! Sides are small so only plan to share with one other person, if at all. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they were horribly understaffed and that explains the lack of service, my missing avocados, and my undercooked beans. I'm still not sure how anyone could run up a bill of $800 there. The food was moderately priced and with service that slow they must have been there since the night before read more

I love condiments. Really. I'm that person with 100 little jars and bottles in the door of my fridge. When walking into Lillie's Q, I spotted the awesome little display of condiments on each table. AWESOME! (Also pretty sure that Amy G. was next to us briefly, before they went to the bar...) Moving on, I had the SALAD (salad! at a BBQ place!), and ELM had the stew. Firstly, I looked at the salad like a deconstructed sandwich, with avocado, lettuce, beans, tomatoes, and onions. I was really craving something with avocado, and decided that the "wheat" element of my lunch was going to be beer. Don't judge me. Rest assured, I drenched those lovely tender pulls of chicken in the bevy of sauces that they placed before me. SCORE. The stew... oh yum. When I think stew, I think really thick soup. You could have put this between two pieces of bread and eaten it, that delicious and thick. I was a fan. Peach cobbler, came recommended. Really, it tasted really good, it was just a touch overcooked, and I could have done with more peaches, but I like really fruity things. I'm on the fence between three and for stars, and I'm going to go four. It's not the greatest BBQ out there, that's reserved for Smoque, and the sides aren't the most innovative, that's reserved for Smoke Daddy. Also, it's a little pricey for what you get. But it's nice to have a BBQ spot where you can day drink in Wicker Park, and stumble home with the commuters that went to work. The server was super nice, as was the bartender. You can tell they care about the people that walk through the door, and to me, that goes a LONG way. read more

Would you like some pork with that bowl of sauce? The boyfriends brother was in town Sunday and was looking to chow down on some ribs. We knew just the place to take him...Smoque! Except they were out of ribs! Panic set in, what do we do now?? Then I remembered people had been talking about Lillie's. There were 4 of us and we were promptly sat at a great table and that WAs the end of our good service. Our waiter was friendly enough, however not all together there and slow. We did not have drinks, but looking at the prices, they are way overpriced here. We started off with Fried Pickles and Hush Puppies. I am a huge fan of both so was so excited to see them on the menu. Fried Pickles- The batter was great! The pickle itself was sliced a little thicker than what typical fried pickles are (I think I prefer them thinner). The sauce was just a ranch sauce, but the Ivory sauce with them was fantastic! Overall we loved them....except you only get 6(less than a whole pickle) for $5.00. I would get them again just due to my love of Fried pickles and the lack of them in Chicago. Hush puppies- Not worth talking about. They were nothing special...I may have had better at Long John Silvers. Don't waste your time. On to the main course.....2 of us had pulled pork sandwiches and 2 had ribs...neither include sides. The pulled Pork southern style (means you pay an extra dollar to have coleslaw on top). The coleslaw was unforgettable, The pulled pork was good. Wasn't the best I ever had, but wasn't dry. The sauces made it sing. The Carolina and the Hot Smokey were fantastic. My pork pretty much just served as a way to sop up as much sauce as I could. The Ribs.....finger lickin good., I think! But again, I am not sure if it was the ribs I loved or the Carolina and Hot Smokey sauce that I put on them. Overall, the jury is still out and I understand all the mixed reviews they have received. My review stands at 3 stars until next time.... The best thing Lillie's has going for it is the 5 different sauces they put out on the table. For the sauce alone I recommend trying Lillie's. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped in here for lunch on Sunday, since he's been raving about it for a while now and we happened to be in the area. He had been before it re-opened and had been wanting to go back for a while. It wasn't too crowded when we came in, but filled up while we were there. Super cute space and decor, I loved it! Our waitress was very nice and attentive, but brought me the wrong drink and seem confused when I asked her to bring me the correct one instead. Oh well, honest mistake. We split the hush puppies as an appetizer. They were tasty, but the sweet potato sauce they came with was amazing. He got the pulled pork platter with a side of cole slaw and I got the pulled pork sandwich with the seasoned fries, and we split a side of cornbread. The pork was AMAZING, as were all the sauces I tried. They are one of the few places with the East Carolina sauce that I love. The cornbread was tasty, but again the best part was the pepper jelly it came with (sounds gross, tastes fantastic). My fries were not seasoned as fries normally are, this was almost a brown sugar cajun seasoning. Definitely different, but definitely good! My boyfriend laughed because I raved about the bun the pork came on, but then he tried it and got it. Toasted perfectly, light and buttery. The food was a little more pricey that most BBQ places, but I'd love to come back and try more! read more

Good: Nice Ambiance Good beer selection Tasty Mac and cheese Bad: Cold meat Dry meat Dry hush puppies Slow service read more

Howdy! I had the liberty to carry-out from this BBQ establishment last night. After reading the past reviews I decided I was going to try the LQ platter ( your choice of 3 meats) pulled pork, tri-tip, and ribs. So here's my opinion on this bbq joint: 1) Pulled pork....the past reviews were right on. Tender, juicy and didn't need a whole lot of sauce....just the way I like it 2) Tri-tip....tasted like a marriage between prime rib and brisket. All I needed were some mashed potatoes and I would of been a happy camper. 3) Ribs.....Meh. They were kind of a disappointment. They weren't BAD but I would much prefer Smole Daddy's fall off the bone kind of BBQ ribs. So if I were you and in the mood for some great pulled pork or tri-tip I would definitley visit this place. Happy Eating! read more

Impressed. Impressed. Impressed. Had lunch with a friend over the weekend and we both left full and happy. We decided to split our meals just so we can try a little bit of everything and it worked out perfect! I had the Tri Tip sandwich with a side of mac and cheese. My home girl had the Shrimp and Grits with a side of sweet potato fries.. we also had a side of corn bread (in the skillet). Mac and Cheese was cooked to perfection, Sweet Potato fries were seasoned like none I've ever had before, Shrimp and Grits wasn't the best I've had (Wishbone is top contender) but it was great. Service was kind of meh' ... The waitress was definitely well versed on the menu but it took her a while to check on us, refill water etc. That's really the only reason I gave it 4 stars. Maybe she was having an off day, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. lol read more

I was just there a few hours ago. I was in a party of about 15 and apparently everyone in the party needs to be present before being seated, which is a huge pain! Once seated, I took a look at the beer list and it was pretty nice. They had some pretty nice craft beers on the menu. I had the 3 Floyd's Dreadnaught, which is an American Double IPA with an ABV of 9.5%, and the Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, which has an ABV of 7%. For dinner, I had the eight bone Baby Back Ribs which was very good! I really didn't need sauce because the rub was so darn good!! Everything on the menu is a la carte so, you have to order sides separately. After looking at all the BBQ joint side staples like Fries, Mac and Cheese, Greens and Corn Bread; I decided to order the Mac and Cheese and Fries. The Fries were amazing, they were perfectly fried with a devilish salt and herb seasoning and the Mac and Cheese was lighter then I'm used too and I personally prefer to have it a tad cheesier. As for service, I was very impressed because the restaurant was packed but I felt like we weren't lost in the craziness. read more

I've eaten here 3 times, the most memorable thing was the beer selection to be honest. The space and decor are cool, but why are we here? For the BBQ. Smoked chicken was kind of dry, pulled pork sandwich was decent. Their sauces are interesting enough to try once, though a bit overpriced to buy retail. Wasn't left craving any of them. There are far better BBQ places in town, just not in Wicker Park. Sadly Honey 1 and Leon's were nearby and have moved elsewhere, but i'll follow good 'cue wherever it goes. read more

One of the worst restaurant experiences I've had in a while. Not only was my friend's meat completely raw and my cinnamon biscuit burnt, the service was AWFUL and the waiters were super rude and disrespectful. We didn't get water for fifteen minutes after sitting down and they even up-charged my fiance's nine dollar meal to ten dollars. It took forever for us to check out - and the manager is so so rude. The people around us were also complaining about the service. Don't waste your money or time going here. Worst restaurant in Wicker Park. read more

Honestly I was between three and four stars for Lillie's Q; however, since overall I left feeling good about my experience, I opted for four. First and foremost, the main entree. I got the Tri-Tip sandwich, my girlfriend got the pulled pork. They killed it on the Tri-Tip, just awesome, the meat practically melts as you bite, and has a great sweetness to it. The pork was good, but not as much so as the Tri-Tip, it was tender but lacked the great flavor. They had really tasty, bright, modern sauces to compliment the meat. Not so sure on beer prices, they were kinda high for what they were offering. I get the 8oz thing, but some of the beers that were $8 I could MAYBE see paying 6 or 7 for. Overall this is good barbecue, the food is worth the price. read more

Although Smoke Daddy's will always have a special place in my heart, I have been looking for something a bit closer to civilization and on Division to give Smoque a run for it's money. Enter Lilly-Q's. Ambiance: Rustic, designed to look/feel like you're in a kitchen in the south - very comforting. The wait was 30 min, so me and my buddy sat at the bar...perfect for our man-date goals --eat and drink with no BS. The bartender was really chill and started us out with a 'lil sumpin ale by Lagunitas. Food: We both had the tri-tip sandwiches and split the sweet potato fries and an order of the BBQ ribs. The sandwich was really good. The strengths come from the bread and the sauces. The bread is super-soft and has a subtle butter flavor to it, which compliments the meat well. Each table gets 5 sauces that are organized from sweet/tangy to smokey. The combination of non-spiced smokey with the mustard/vinegar was our fave. My meat was cooked reallly well, but my friend's was a bit overcooked. The baby-back ribs were delicious, but maybe could have been a bit more tender. The fries were a perfect compliment to the tangy and smokey sauces. Why didn't anyone tell me about sweet potato fries before?! The only reason I gave this place 3 stars is the fact that it is a bit pricey. We ended up spending $25 each. All in all, the food here is very good - 4 stars-worth. But for the price, I think that Smoke Daddy's down the road is a better bet for your buck. read more

I met a friend at Lilly's Q on a Sunday evening a few weeks ago and was the first to arrive and about 2 minutes after I was seated, the genial bartender actually came to my table to ask my beer preference. This is not to say my server was neglectful as she was great as well-- he was just getting things going. They have a decent list of brews so given the options, I wasn't entirely sure at which point he directed me to 'belly-up to the bar' so I could have a few samples. This was a great precedence to the overall experience. I ordered the hot link sandwich and my friend the pulled pork. I tried his as well and both were excellent-- I was even told that the links are freshly stuffed there and while I do not claim to be a meat aficionado, I really think the sandwich as well as the variety of sauces were flavorful and the best BBQ I've had in over a year. I also tried the bacon grits for the first time ever and without any comparison, I'll venture to say they were delicious and quite possibly the best I may ever taste again. Overall, great ambiance, great service and solid BBQ. read more

After months of begging my friend to go here with me, he finally relented and we went last night. I had heard nothing but good things about the place and the food and was really really excited to be there. We were able to get a table right away, which was cool. Then we sat. And sat. And sat some more while waiting to have someone come over and just take a drink order. I started drumming my fingers on the table and my friend started asking if we should just leave. Then someone came over. She could not have been more disinterested in us. As she walked away, my friend noticed she was texting on her phone. Then someone came over a few minutes after that to ask if someone took our drink order. I ordered the tri-tip sandwich "southern style" (in other words, with cole slaw) and my friend ordered the pulled chicken. We also decided to split some sweet potato fries and grits. We started with fried pickles. Pretty unremarkable. The deep fried goodness slid right off the pickle, so you were left with a warm pickle and a pile of deep fried stuff. Our food arrives. His chicken was not fully cooked in spots and he remarked it was not flavorful in any way, but plenty greasy, even with the use of the Alabama white sauce. The fries arrived on his plate, er tray, so when my tray arrived, it was just a sandwich. The grits and fries were amazing though. My tri tip was ok. I have had better. Our server came around once and although it was pretty apparent we were both disappointed with our meal, she acted as though it didn't matter. The restaurant and vibe were pretty cool, despite the annoying use of ball jars as glasses that everyone does these days. The decor was hip without being grating. I was kind of annoyed that in a half empty restaurant (it was only 5:30 when we were sat) they chose to put a party of seven- three adults and four kids under the age of six- right next to us. Would I go back? Maybe- if the table next to us wasn't so busy crawling all over the place and the food was cooked through. read more

SO GLAD THIS PLACE IS OPEN AGAIN. Come here. Come here and eat everything and dip it in all of their sauces, especially the Carolina Sauce and the Mustard Sauce. I've been here twice, and have ordered the chicken and the tri-tip and always the sweet potato fries. Everything is smoked to perfection, and seasoned wonderfully. Service is a little slow, it's true. But you know what, whatever. It's Southern BBQ. I'm not in a hurry to get ANYWHERE after I've stuffed my face with all of that. Thank you for re-opening. I'll be back read more

I'm a fan of BBQ and I was encouraged by the girl who cuts my hair to try out Lillie's Q. I walked over after a haircut back in December and let me tell ya, I've been going back ever since! Amazing!! I've tried the pulled pork, southern style with the slaw on top. They have a fantastic array of sauces which you can use on your food and it's all labeled and on the table. Their side portions are pretty generous and I always leave full! The macaroni and cheese is out of this world! They have a constantly rotating stream of different beers on tap and they're always something that's sort of obscure and fun to try. The last trip there I ordered take out and while I was waiting, I was treated to an out of this world sweet tea while I waited. I was chatting with the waitstaff and bartender who let me sample a couple different types of beer as we were talking about microbrews. They were very pleasant to talk to! Also took my wife there about a month ago and she's a die-hard fan now as well! A friend went with too on a work lunch and he had the ribs and said they stand up better than a nearby BBQ place which is supposed to be good as well. The only reason that I don't give the 5 star is that when I went for lunch with my wife, it was pretty empty at the hour we went and we waited quite awhile to order while other tables came in after us and got their food before us. But other times I've been there the service has been great! Perhaps it was an off day. But all in all, it was amazing and we will definitely be back!! Love this place! read more

My husband and I just moved to the neighborhood and decided to give Lillie's Q a try since it's a stone's throw. We're from Memphis, so just believe me when I say we know good barbecue. Lillie's has GOOD barbecue, but I think the thing we appreciate the most is the presentation and care that goes into the details. From drinking out of mason jars to the fried cornbread croutons on the salad to the array of sauces lined up on each table, everything here is done with care. We've had the same waiter the three times we've been, and he's truly a delight. Sitting on the patio is definitely the way to go if it's not too muggy out, as the inside/bar area can get loud at night. Other excellent points: mac n cheese is divine, the fried pickles had an ethereally light coating, the Smoky Memphis sauce is liquid gold. My husband has ordered the Taste of LQ with pulled pork, chicken and tri-tip. I've never seen him look so happy about paying for food. Give Lillie's Q a try. With so many barbecue joints in Chicago, everyone is going to have their favorites, but Lillie's service and ambiance makes up for anything other so-called "barbecue geniuses" criticize. read more

I had always avoided Lillie's Q because I couldn't imagine that proper BBQ could be had in the middle of the trendy Bucktown/Wicker park area; and I was right. Let's start with the attitude at the door. I'm here to eat please and you're a hostess. Be nice to me because i'm a hungry woman and there's no telling what i'm capable of when you stand between me and food. Our party of 4 waited at the bar but ended up eating there which was a good choice. The bar tender was nice and attentive, drinks were good, nice beer selection, and the food came out quick. The food is really why i'm giving 2 stars. The place itself is clean, charming, well run, nice staff (besides the hostess) but the food is just not up to par. Even the sauces are ok. All the meat on the menu is so so, and if you're doing BBQ, I guess even advertising comfort food, it should taste better. Maybe that's why they left the two "B's" out of the name, because it's not real BBQ. Definitely avoid the hot links. I peeled the casing off because I couldn't cut or chew through it. When I inquired if this is how it's supposed to be even the bar tender looked alarmed. They checked though and explained that its either collagen or cellulose (can't remember). I get that hot links have un-natural casing but the point behind that is a coarse grind inside and a casing that snaps when bite in, This stuff was literally like eating plastic. I give them points on having a nice atmosphere and cool bar tenders but I won't be eating here again; ever. read more

Whoever figured out that it would be a good idea to smoke a chicken before deep frying it is a national-fucking-hero and deserves to be adorned from head to toe in medals and garlands. The BBQ ain't bad either, and the beer menu is top-notch. read more

If you love barbecue but always fret that you should have ordered the other item on the menu, Lillie's Q is the place for you. It's the perfect spot to share food both with your dining partner and perhaps even new friends at another table. My wife and I visited on a late afternoon weekend and we were seated right away. The service from start to finish was attentive, friendly and informative. The combination of Lillie's casual atmosphere, great service and high ceilings allows you to enjoy a conversation without having to shout. Now that I'm rocking my mid-50's, I do appreciate that. Our combined meal of chicken and pulled pork - supplemented by a tasty rib from a neighboring table in trade - were all well cooked and flavorful. The barbecue probably isn't as technically excellent as what you'll find at Chicago Q, but I probably enjoyed myself more at Lillie's. You can read elsewhere about the marvelous sauces, but suffice it to say that they run the gamut and if you're anything other than a barbecue snob, you won't find much to complain about. Comfortable surroundings, smart servers, generous portions and well-executed barbecue insures that we'll return. read more

Nothing wowed me here. The BBQ meat is just ok (I've tried the ribs, and the pulled pork sandwich), the drinks are so-so and a bit on the pricey side, and the place is very noisy and kind of dark inside. Service is ok. The space is kind of cramped, and coupled with the high noise level and the bustling of customers and servers, the vibe feels borderline chaotic. I've been here twice and probably won't go back. On a positive note, there is a television at the bar that shows sports. read more

Good beer menu. Fried pickles for an appetizer are excellent. As far as sides go -- the mac and cheese is unreal. I would also recommend the sweet potato fries very much. Rip Tip Sandwich is out of this world. Very tender meat with which you can pour any sauce you'd like onto it. I get it southern style with coleslaw and it is amazing. Can't possibly order anything else from them now. Great dinner & service. read more

I can tell you one thing based on visiting here: Lillies Q is for true barbecue aficionados. The sauces are outstanding, but the best part of the experience is the meats themselves. I have never had juicier pork, beef, and chicken barbecue. The rubs are tasty and not overbearing. Yeah, it's not a cheap night out, but it's in a cool neighborhood and moreover the quality is there on the platter. Entrees come with a side of your choice, which are excellent renderings of "grandma's cooking" done southern style. The mac and cheese, collard greens, and cornbread are particular highlights. The real gem of this place is the Prime Brisket, which is only available Tuesday nights. It melts in your mouth - seriously incredible. It is absolutely worth a trip!!! The only thing I don't like is the Kool Aid Pickles. And I wish beer were a dollar or two cheaper, I would be a fixture there if it were. read more

Lillie's Q is going to do just fine. It's better than the nine weird places that were here before this place, Aberdeen included. They were obviously slammed given that tonight was the first night open to the public, so of course they have some kinks to work out. But nothing tragic; just good bbq at standard prices. I learned what tri-tips were tonight, and they're pretty good. Nope, they aren't rib tips, so you'll have to go try them yourself to find out? read more

If you want better BBQ, go to Smoque in Old Irving Park. We had a reservation but were seated 35 minutes later. Someone off the street without a reservation was seated 5 minutes BEFORE us. No love for the hostess, as we got no apology for making us wait forever. The food is good, but nothing to write home about. The best items we ordered were the fried pickles and banana pudding. The pulled chicken, ribs, sausage, mac and cheese and fries were good. Of the 5 or so sauces they offer, the best was the Hot Smoky. The others were somewhat bland, lacking punch. The atmosphere and decor are great. It is a small restaurant, with an even smaller bar, and no waiting area. Overall, our experience was good, but nothing great. read more

Usually, in order for me to love a BBQ place, it has to be a hole, like LC's or Arthur Bryant's in Kansas City. This place is different. Upscale BBQ that is actually good. The brisket was amazing, and cooked so that it was still pink -- something I have never seen with smoked meat, but fantastic. They also had great beer, and to finish, I had the best banana cream pie I have ever had. read more

Overall, very disappointing experience. At least as a delivery option. I will describe in more detail if you'd like to read on but know that sub-par food was not the biggest issue tonight. No restaurant bats 1000, and there is a point in the night where I would have given this restaurant another try. It's how they handled things when the food struck out that merits a 1-star and a recommendation to take a pass on this restaurant. First the food: For your consideration: I've attached some picture comparing what is advertised to what was delivered. We ordered two types of chicken, but they tasted the same. Neither of them were good. The chicken we tried tasted pretty burnt and the pieces were very small. I think we got two thighs instead of a breast and a thigh, in both orders. We ended up not eating that. The cornbread was totally dry, tasteless, inedible and cold (although, the cold could be chalked up to the delivery). We didn't eat that. The Mac & Cheese with bacon was decent. We ate that. The pimento cheese chips... I don't know how those are, because they sent us salt and black pepper. The service: The service started off on a good foot! I called immediately and explained the issues with the chips and the chicken and they were willing to refund an order. But, after we found out about the cornbread and the burnt chicken and once we decided not to eat those items, I called back and requested to be refunded both orders of chicken and only pay for the mac & cheese since that is all we ate. The woman on the phone told me that a manager would call me "tomorrow" and seemed almost annoyed by my complaints. I don't think I'm alone, but I think my biggest pet peeve is when an issue is summarily dismissed. Conclusion: You probably have better options for chicken out there. read more

Lillie's Q - Left: how they advertise their chicken on the website Right: How it arrived by delivery. - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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OOOOOOhweeeee. I would have eaten myself sick and ordered so much food had I not been on a pub crawl with my friend on a mission to try multiple places in Wicker Park in one night. But you know what I did order? Moonshine and root beer. I could drink those all day if I had someone to carry me home ;) We also ordered the sweet potato fries, and boiled peanuts. Don't judge me. I know they don't really go together. The sweet potato fries were delicious and the perfect vessel for carrying each of Lillie's Q sauces to my mouth. THey were all wonderful. I'd stay away from the boiled peanuts; great texture, but over salted. Since we were just ordering apps and drinks we sat at the bar. The crowd is pretty chill, and I do like the ambiance. I will definitely be going back to try the moonshine and cream soda, and some sort of pork deliciousness. read more

In general, I have found a lot of snobbery about two things...BBQ and pizza. Someone always knows of a better location...no matter where it is...they know someplace better. I have had a lot of BBQ, all over the place. I have had varying styles. I have eaten enough to appreciate all the styles I have had. So I am not going to say Lillie Q's version is far and above all others. But I definitely came away impressed, and thought is was a very good value for the price. Can you get food that is better for less money? Probably. Can you get less food that is not nearly as good? Probably. But I thought their rendition was exceptional. The meats were cooked perfectly. The sauces were varied in styles. The decor and stylings from the tables, to the wash basin, to the lights above the bar to the sauce branding...it was designed incredibly well. The service was solid, but again, the food was really what drove this place...and I would surmise, after the sun goes down, their moonshine cocktails are what pay the bills. I guess I had a great experience because I didn't have a lot of preconceived notions about what it would be. I am not an expert in Chicago cuisine...I don't live there but visit a few times a year. The thing I appreciated most about Lillie's was the fact it presented itself very honestly...it's not one style...not Memphis, not Carolina, not Kansas City...it's a hybrid of many. They have Carolina and Memphis sauces. They use tri-tip instead of brisket. They rub their meats and smoke them long. I dug it. read more

They have great sauces, but if you want to order them, do it at Amazon not Lillies site. Lillies will take a week to deliver them even if you pay $19 for FedEx and they will not tell you that their free shipping takes the same amount of time. Very misleading and deceitful. read more

...NOM NOM NOM pulled pork sandwhich!! OH MY GAHHHHH Sweet potatoe fries!! AMAZING BBQ SAUCE CIDER BEER?!?!?! (My aunt and I looked at each other and knew we where in heaven) I feel like I should have walked into this place sooner! After we both MAXED 2 orders of pulled pork sandwich, 2 orders of sweet potato fries, corn bread, regular seasoned fries, a coke, and a cider beer our bill was only $40! Service was great (super sexy little Mila Kunis waitress you added the last star to the review) Definitely will recommend this place to friends read more

Excellent bbq in a cozy southern atmosphere. Ate here with a large group and everyone enjoyed their meal and top notch service!

Inconsistent. The majority of the time, there is pretty much no smoke flavor at all. When this happens, the tri tip tastes like roast beef, the pork tastes like it's been slow roasted, and the flavor of the rib comes only from the spices in the crust (which I do like). The food tastes fine, it just does not taste like BBQ. Sometimes there is a bit of smoke flavor, though not much. For full on smokey BBQ, I think the Pork Shoppe delivers the goods (and consistently). Good thing the sauces here are tasty, you are going to need them. One minor rant. What is with the beer inflation spreading in this city? The system five years ago was something like $3 for a mass marketed beer (Bud), $4 for a decent, smaller production beer (Anchor Steam or Bells), and $5 for a craft beer (Three Floyds). Seems like everything pushed up a buck or two recently. And at Lillie's, a decent regular beer like Lagunitas is $7. While not outrageous, it does seem like they are sticking it to their customers a bit. For seven bones at the Pork Shoppe, you can get a Wild Turkey and a beer. Just saying. read more

Not trying to sound like Rick Ross, but really, Lillie's Q is so boss. I've been trying to go here for over a year, and one hungry night my wife and I finally made it in...and we were in for a delicious treat. First and foremost, the wifey doesn't like barbecue. To eat at a barbecue spot and have her lick her fingers and asking for more of rub at the end of the meal says a lot. We had bbq at a few spots around the city, and Lillie's Q definitely takes the cake. Let's start at the rub: they use it on almost everything. It's a perfect balance of spices, and it works so well on the different meats, and even fries. To complement the spices is a row of some delicious SAUCE (insert Rick Ross grunt). I found that I love the sauces individually, but was encouraged to mix a couple together to create an even more interesting flavor combination. Service was on par, with the staff making our night welcoming and comfortable But something that I truly admire about Lillie's Q is that they were raising money for cancer research. A simple donation tacked onto your bill will go to research for a cause that hits very close to home. I'm pretty excited to go back to get my bbq fix. read more

My office is by Lillie's Q and I have to say I'm saddened by the fact that we're moving in about a month. It's definitely my go-to spot for lunch, not just because of how conveniently located it is, but how damn good the BBQ is. My at least once a week lunch there: 1/2 lb of Tri-Tip - Basically it's brisket, but leaner. Basically it's heavenly smoked meat. Sweet Potato Fries - By far my favorite sweet potato fries in Chicago. Know how Portillo's covers their regular fries with crack and they're addicting? Lillie's Q has a similar crack that they toss their sweet potato fries in that make them addictive and delicious. Iced Tea - It's iced tea. I've had almost everything on their menu except for their Fried Chicken... it's on my to-do list, don't worry. The tri-tip is by far my favorite, but everything else is mighty, mighty good as well. It's one of my favorite BBQ restaurants in Chicago and I'd highly recommend checking it out if you're in the area. One of my favorite things about Lillie's Q is their assortment of sauces at each table. There is sauce for everyone's taste buds. If you can't find a sauce you like, well you probably don't like BBQ in the first place. Oh yeah, also try the mac & cheese. Just don't blame me if you fatten up. read more

After much anticipation, my fiancee and I made it to Lillie's Q on a Monday afternoon and were not disappointed. Being the our first time there we ordered a 1/2 lb of the tri-tip, 1/2 lb of the pulled pork, macaroni & cheese, green beans, and fried pickles. Yes, it was alot of food for just the two of us but ask us if we cared. The tri-tip and pulled pork were just absolutely phenomenal. Both being nicely smoked and bursting with flavor. Absolutely love having the (5) different sauces to choose from. Sides were no slouch either with the macaroni & cheese taking top honors in my stomach. Be warned, eat it slowly as it is very rich and you might not have room for the rest of your meal. It is close to Boka's famous mac & cheese with edamame. Service was excellent and Lillie's Q is now on top of my BBQ list. Watch out Smoque & Smoke Daddy's. read more

This place is so friggen delicious! I went on a Saturday night, prime dining time but I did not mind the wait especially because we didn't have to wait inside in close quarters. We were able to leave our name and phone number and go wander down North Avenue for a bit until they gave us a jingle to let us know our table was ready. We ordered hush puppies as an appetizers. AMAZING. The sauce that comes it comes with compliments it just right. We ordered the sampler platter with 3 meats, we got: pulled pork, pulled chicken, and beet tip. We also ordered a slab of ribs. The meat was so tender and melted in my mouth. So savory and cooked to perfection. The different variety of BBQ sauces brought out all the flavor in the meat and was an explosion of amazingness in my mouth. I was embarrassed moaning with each bite. My favorite sauces were the Smoky and Carolina BBQ sauce. The sides were just as epic. We got the mac and cheese, green beans with bacon, baked beans, and seasoned fries. Delicious. The baked beans were a good balance of sweet and savory. The macaroni and cheese was great! Definitely getting that again for sure. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is because the service kinda sucked. It took forever for our waitress to greet us and bring us our drinks. When we ordered our second round we had to ask the busser because our waitress had not been to our table for at least 20 minutes or so and even then he must of forgotten to tell our waitress or she forgot to bring them. She brought our second round after we had to get up and ask her and even then it took forever still and when she finally brought them we were practically done with our meal. She did apologize which was good. I will be definitely returning to this joint without a doubt. read more

Mmmmmmmm, BBQ! Yes, I'm a southern boy that loves BBQ. However, I'm finding out that after almost 10 years of living in Chicago, great BBQ is hard to come by. Well, I think I've finally found it! YUM. A friend treated me to Lillie's Q for no other reason that just being cool, since she knew I loved BBQ. I had the pulled pork and cornbread. You'll find several varieties of BBQ to smoother your food with. If you aren't sure which BBQ is your favorite, try a little of all of them or blend a few together to meet your needs. I can honestly say "Hey, if y'all wanna hanker down of some of the best dadgum BBQ, take yourself down yonder to Lillie's Q for supper...an' don't forget to get some of the cornbread to sop up that BBQ." Are you making fun of my southern accent? I told you I was from the south... Great service, great food...Lillie's Q, you get 5 Rib Bones on the Rib Bone scale! read more