ummm yeah. Not my most favorite place that I've been.... Came here last Monday night for a drink with some dear friends. We were excited about the prospect of live music and cheap beer...and I must, say, I was slightly disappointed. The crowd here seems cliquey, and to be fair, we were clearly outsiders (venturing in from Lincoln Square), but it just felt....awkward. The live music was AWFUL. And yes, we are all singers so maybe we're music snobs, but wow. Not the best band we've ever heard... Props for the board games though...I haven't played connect 4 in ages! I don't think we'll be back...but I can see how it's a neighborhood haunt. read more

Went on Friday night cuz a friend was guest bartending. Really, really liked the space.....ecclectic decor, lots to look at: great art, intersting lighting, felt spacious (it's a fairly large bar--maybe two storefronts wide and longer than most, with fairly high ceilings) yet because of the paint and lighting, still felt warm and intimate. The bar was populated well enough, yet not crowded; they have a pool table, and two local bands (the first rock, second were jazz-y), at least that night. Kinda felt like a Wicker Park bar (sans obnoxious poseury kids) in Albany Park: had kind of a hipster look/vibe, but the crowd was more local, diverse and down-to-earth (meaning: don't be afraid to come in if you're older and don't wear skinny jeans). Prices were 'normal' (not cheap but not pricey, for the north side). Liz is very sweet, too. I'll be back. read more

Liz is a fantastic host, and the bar is a classic, but something about it left me short of wowed. Was it too well-lit? Was the room too big for the size of the crowd? I don't know. I wish I could give more starts, because Liz really is the best. I may have just been having an off night. I'll try again. read more

I didn't know one of my favorite city bartenders worked here!!! To my delight he does! I have always enjoyed myself here and the drinks are reasonable and the inside is super cool and unique. read more

Great place. Pool, darts and karaoke. Live music also. The owner and staff are very friendly. Nice and relaxed atmosphere. read more

Lizard's Liquid Lounge - The Kiss wall - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been living in this neighborhood for about six months. Finally made it over there a couple of months ago and have now been there half a dozen times. The open mic night is a blast. I had such a great time that I closed the place on one of them. On a Friday that I stopped in last month, they had a band performing the entire Rolling Stones album Let it Bleed. It's their "album of the month" that they do each month. This month it was the Beatles Let it Be. Cool! Bartenders are very nice. Beer selection is quite good. Love the Burning River. Atmosphere is laid back. Where else can I have a beer, live music, see an open mic, a burlesque show, play scrabble against a friend, or just hang? I'm pretty happy this is stumbling distance from my place. 11/20/11 UPDATE: They now have an arrangement with a place nearby to provide food. Yes!! Will have to sample some and let you know how it is. read more

Me and finance love this bar it's right up the street from us great local bar good prices love the art and we get to bring our fur babies there and if you get hungry they have a great selection of order out food that will deliver right to the world famous bar read more

Finally made it into Lizards... Inside it's pretty cool and big!! Great Flat Screens and pretty good music to boot/ My bartender was very cool and introduced herself right away which is a rarity in this day and age... Would definitely go back!! PS-- Mini La Pasadita across the street.... GTFJD read more

Love this place always some live music. Liz is great, super friendly. Nice for pool and darts as well.

Good beer, nice and friendly staff! Would go again. Also go to the bbq restaurant next door, they have vegan/veg options! read more

Lizard's Liquid Lounge - What's on tap - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am a young-looking woman, so I'm used to being carded constantly. Usually, I go in and the bouncer cards me or, if I order at the bar first, the bartender will ask me for my ID after I order and they're making my drink. But when I walked in here, I started ordering a drink and the owner cut me off, held her hand out, and said "Let me see your ID". It was so rude. I was completely turned off from this place. read more

I've been coming to Lizards since they opened 5 years ago so this review is long overdue! It's my favorite bar and here's why: In the big world of Chicago bars, Lizards has it's own unique personality and atmosphere with it's artistic and down to earth vibe. Not trendy, nor pretentious it is a sincerely friendly place...it's the kind of bar one can go by themselves and feel that they are mingling at a friends party. The owner, Liz Kavanagh, may well be the center of the social universe with less than six degrees of separation between her and the entire city. This talent she has for making a million friends has created the foundation for a great establishment. She's always planning new and fun events between music, visual art, performance, swaps, games or watching sporting events. The 'Liquid" selections are vast and varied and always growing! They have a great menu of Martini's which on Wednesday are only $5 as well as a different bargain every day of the week. Now there is a fantastic barbecue place called "Smalls" next door. One can order out and bring their food into the bar. But really, the most uncanny thing about this place is the incredible diversity of it's patrons. It is a crazy unlikely mix of artists, hockey players, lesbians, fireman, business men, truck drivers, musicians, local bar flies, computer geeks, mixed in with the occasional hipster, of all ages and ethnicity both gay and straight. And everybody really get's along! Never seen anything like it. On a small scale it is a beautiful example for world peace! read more

After hearing that the old Lost & Found butch dyke joint turned itself inside out, I thought it was worth checking out. If it was 'Liz' bartending on 12/27, she was nice enough, though quiet for a bartender. The decor was vastly improved upon and the clientele was artsy enough but not pretentious at all. Drinks were kind of expensive, but this place has potential - it's in my neighborhood, and I would definitely return should I need someone else to make my martini. I think a few booths might cozy the place up, the random wobbly tables just are not very inviting. I think I'll try this place again with more friends, my partner and I didn't stick around long enough to absorb the vibe fully, but i'll keep it on my A-list for now. Liz, turn the music up a bit too, and perhaps some kitschy type lights would be a nice(r) addition. Cheers! read more

My Boyfriend and I were taking a walk down Irving Park to get lunch a couple of weeks ago. Halfway to our destination, we got to the intersection of Irving and Albany. If you know the area, on the northeast corner was Lost and Found, one of the longest running lesbian bars in the city. However, when we walked passed we were shocked at what we saw. Lost and Found has ended their run and a new watering hole was established: Lizard's Liquid Lounge. My boyfriend had heard of the change but I was unaware. Our first thought about the new bar was, "Uh Oh! Someone opened a Lincoln Park/Wrigleyville-esque bar in our neighborhood. Yuck!" We decided we'll go in one night, have one drink, hate it and never go back. Fast forward to this past Monday. We were out and had a drink at a couple of the other bars in the area when he mentioned Lizard's. I jumped on the idea since we would have one drink and leave. We get there and it exceeds our expectations! We were greeted by Liz, the owner. She's one of a kind! She chatted me and my boyfriend up as soon as we ordered. We talked about everything from the artwork on the walls (All done by her husband), the other bars she's worked at and random bar BS. The beer selection is probably one of the best in the area (26 to be exact, 7 or 8 of them on tap) ranging from your domestic and import standards to Rogue, Great Lakes and Turbodog. The room is gorgeous with all of its original woodwork and lighting. The tables were all refurbished with Liz's husband artwork on them as well. Even though they have an internet jukebox (I prefer the analog ones) everyone was playing decent music. We chatted up the other 3 people in the bar as well who were fun! After 10 minutes, we were in love with the place. Needless to say, we stayed for more than one drink. I was hurting in the morning, but it was worth it. I have to say, Lizard's is a pleasant surprise. I will be going back as much as I can. If you're in the area, check it out and give it a chance. You'll have a great experience and enjoy every minute of it. If you don't, you're probably a douche bag and will eventually get barred, which from talking to Liz, has no problem doing. read more

Liz is the best. Don't make it here often enough, but she was great at Edgewater and even better at her own place. I am surprised that one reviewer suggested she turn the music up - I've had the opposite impulse. Sometimes they get a little frisky with the stereo, and it is not a very upscale set-up. If bars want to crank the tunes, they need high-end equipment. Better yet, turn it down and let people do what they came to do: socialize. read more

L3 = rad. As much as I can tell it seems to be a good microcosmic representation of Chicago. Everyone is incredibly friendly and there is always some event happening - book&clothing swaps, fundraisers, games, art shows and plenty of music. read more

Neighborhood bar for the new epoch. Blessedly free of hipsters for the most part. Relaxed and friendly and with a smidge of gonzo. Musical surprises and reasonable prices. Always solid draft choices. If there was a screen with sports I didn't notice and they turn it off on acoustic open mic Thursday ( I think they don't have one). Good place to be well behaved and have a good time. read more

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Liz for opening L3 in the old Lost and Found space. Checked it out last Sunday and was more than pleasantly surprised. What have I done to deserve Great Lakes, Three Floyds, Rogue on tap in a friendly neighborhood bar within 25 paces of my building? The bar gods have smiled upon our (formerly) forlorn corner of Albany Park. Met Liz on Sunday. She had opened early so european football fans could take in the Austria/Croatia and Poland/Germany matches. She already knows everyone who lives in my building by name. Hell, I don't even know everyone who lives in my building by name and I've lived here for three years! She's got great bartender instincts and has seemed to pull off a welcoming and inclusive vibe in a matter of 3 or 4 months. Good mix of new neighborhood people, Lost and Found regulars. Hooray! read more

i went here randomly on a weekday night to catch up with an old friend who lives in the area. i was content with their selection of beers and that they gave me a double-shot-sized taste of the special beer of which i was unfamiliar with. my friend and i, for "family time", catch up with our juiciest secrets by ordering shots to give us balls to spit 'em out in the first place. we started with soco-limes and then washington apples. not only did we get a shot-worth but they left us the shaker with some excess so really we got two shots in a row with that each time. they had great live music. not some pansy cover band, but legit peeps who make their own respectable music. i actually wish i got their name cuz i would go find and listen to 'em again. on top of this, there was no cover charge. i hate payin cover for live shows when i have no idea who is playin and whether their worth wasting chump change on... more often than not they are shoddy cover bands or their "original music" is strikingly similar to music already made. they have a pool table too. i didnt play this time round so have no idea if its has proper clearances to play normally. tempted me to try it out tho. loottttaaaa lesbians there that night. and no, indigo girls or melissa etheridge were not in the audio track if i recall right. which is fine, no prob. i just wish more of them would where a bra of some sort underneath their spaghetti strapped tanks. read more

two friends and I went here on her 21st based on these yelp reviews because of all the ranting and raving about Liz...she wasn't there, but our bartender was Bonnie, and she was really cool. She gave my friend her drink on the house and we got a few free shots. It was quite quite (Monday night) but the drinks were reasonable and the bar had a small town feel to it. read more

I thought I was coming to update my review and was surprised to see I hadn't reviewed it before! After our first visit a few years ago it easily became my favorite bar. Great service and prices, cool atmosphere and added bonus of smalls being right next door. Love this place so much I asked them if I could host my birthday party there. They were so welcoming, reserved tables for my group and made sure everyone had a great time. Thanks so much for helping make my birthday perfect! read more

It pains me to give this place a 2 star rating, but I was totally let down. For starters, there are no couches or even booths. Instead, it was full of bar stools and uncomfortable chairs. How can you lounge in a bar stool? You can't! And there were literally liquids being served, but that's not really what "liquid" is supposed to imply in the name of a bar. When I go into a place with the word Liquid in the title, I expect to hear '60s jazz or trip hop, or even ambient techno along with a dark, almost sultry atmosphere. Instead all I got was a well lit bar with tired, safe classic rock that you can hear at a hundred other bars. There was art on the wall, which was a little different and Liz was really friendly. I'd give her five stars if there was some way to separate her from the rest of the place. I probably would have given it 4 stars if the name had been "Lizard's bar not unlike other bars you've been to, but with art on the wall", but unless they make some changes I recommend you look elsewhere to lounge. read more

Burning River on tap! I don't get up that far north that often but if I did, I would stop in frequently. The live music there is better than the usual bands that play in small bars. read more

Solid, neighborhood bar with cold beer on tap. Real Chicago people, no pussy willow/artist types, but not as much of a meat market as El Caballo Loco. read more

Nice looking bar reminding me of the skylark for some reason. A number of butch looking women confirmed my suspicion that this is a lesbian bar. There was a bad male bartender that ignored me the night I went but there is great beer on tap. Alot of voodo island things on the walls. cool read more

Went to Lizard's the other night as it's right up the street from my house. Doesn't look like much from the outside but has a good atmosphere inside. Happened in on a night when there was a live band, no cover, so yay for free entertainment! And it's definitely a LGBT friendly spot. However, the beer selection left a lot to be desired and the prices on the mixed drinks weren't great. read more

After living essentially across the street from this place for over two years I finally made it in last night. I have no idea why I've never stopped by before. Cool decor, fair prices and pretty low key. Bonus for being right by Cody's Hot Dogs! I will be back! read more

Liz is super nice, my friend and I felt really welcomed here. Love the decor, and the bar is roomy and comfortable. Very nice people, but not really a party crowd. I'll be back to hang out again! read more

Great bar, just what we needed in the area, Liz is lovely, tasty beers, games and drink specials. My friends band has played here a few times, nice venue read more

I went there for a rock paper scissors tournament and I discovered a gem. The bar is only about a year old and it has great beer. Since it is high end beer the prices are not on the cheap but they are very reasonable and they have a different deal every night. No food is served here but you can bring in your own. They even have a pool table and various board games set up for people to play. read more

This place is great. Came here after one drink on opening night at Leader Bar down the street, and Lizards was the perfect antidote to the douchery running rampant there. Friendly staff and patrons, a good selection of beers (though they could stand to have some more dark beers), live music, pool. I'll have to rotate between Lizard's and Christina's for my favorite local dive. read more

Ask for Liz and mention Trinity College Dublin! Best Irish-run bar in Chicago!

I've visited Lizard's a couple of times with a friend who is a semi regular. I've had the burgers (delicious) and chicken sandwich (also delicious). Cute bar, nice bartenders, pool table. My only gripe is the fact the table is slanted making it impossible to play a game fairly. Other than that I'll be back again :) read more

This bar is exactly what Irving Park needs. A respectable yet unpretentious super cool lounge. Everyone I met there was super nice including Liz. It's the kind of place that makes you happy just being there. While the size of selection is nothing out of the ordinary it feels like they asked me my favorite beers and put them all on tap. This is a class act, these people know what they're doing. read more

This is one of the nicest, most down-to-earth bars in the city. The clientele is diverse -- everyone from yuppie couples to the artsy crowd and lesbians. All are super friendly. Dogs roam free, keeping everyone relaxed. The bar has really good bands as well read more

Normally I like this place, however, their 80's night felt more like a regular bar with an outdated jukebox. We put a lot of effort into our outfits for nothing... read more

A great dive bar that feels way nicer than a dive. Bartenders are A-OK, beer selection is good, prices are decent, and they have free food sometimes on Mondays! Also, the open mic on Thursday is incredibly friendly and full of cool musicians. Chickenwing hosts a great night. read more

Well only came in here because we wanted to keep are food from smalls next door. This is not my cup of tea. Thursdays margaritas are $4 not the best but of. Not sure if I will return. Old school bar read more

If you like live going to open mic nights, the ones they have here are awesome. It is a friendly and pleasant atmosphere, whether you are a beginner or a professional everyone is welcome to come and share their talents. Make sure you sign up with "Dirty" the open Mic Host on Thursday nights, then sit back and enjoy the show. :) read more

Definitely a neighborhood bar. My boyfriend and I went there late at night. It was very very busy on this Saturday night, and primarily an older crowd (late thirties and up) but it could've been because of the band that was playing. Good cheap beer and good late night bar read more