A great spot if you want good sandwiches, salads (with really fresh greens!), fries and drinks...and fresh tasty seafood! I recommend the calamari salad or the catfish poor boy...deLISH! As you would expect from its name, Local Shack's got a low-key pub feel and the wait staff is generally friendly and helpful. Definitely stop in here if you want nice portions of updated pub food. But be forewarned, during peak times, (since there is a bar up front), dont come in expecting silence or clear, smokeless air. read more

I really wanted to like this place but it was a huge disappointment ! It does have a good beer list but that's the best I can say . The Bartender was so disinterested in being there and we were the only 2 people there . She basically threw us a couple of menus and had no time or interest in answering any questions or selling any food or Beer . I did ask her a question about one of the beers and she said " Look it up" referring to the style of the beer . We went there to have a few beers and a late lunch . We left after one beer and did not have any food so I can't comment on that . Took a cab to the Hopleaf and had the beers and lunch . Never Again Local Option ! read more

I'd been eying The Local Option for a while now, it's definitely not the typical spot you see on Webster. No pastel decor like Sweet Mandy B's or earthy looks like Range. Nope, The Local Option is a metal bar. In Lincoln Park. Came in with the boyfriend, Kara Z., and Rob S. on a Friday night for some dinner and were not disappointed. First, I had been wary of the fact that many reviews mentioned surly servers. However, I was pleasantly surprised when a bearded gentleman came over right away and continued to be incredibly friendly and helpful throughout our meal. He was able to recommend a few beers based on our tastes that were spot on. For an appetizer, we started with the guac and chips. The chips were more like cooked tortillas rather than crunchy chips, but they were delicious and paired with the guac very well. Our server didn't really have specific items to recommend, but I went with the shrimp po' boy and loved it. The sandwich was large and came with tons of big shrimp. There are several hot sauces on the tables at The Local Option, they're all extremely tasty and went with the sandwich. The only disappointment was the tator tots that I received on the side, skip these. My dining companions enjoyed other items like the tacos and blackened chicken sandwich. I managed to score a bite of the chicken sandwich and it was awesome. Two watch-outs with The Local Option: 1) Around 9:30, the music cranks up to deafening levels. This was quite a surprise for us since we'd been able to hear each other just fine prior to this time. 2) If you're being price conscious, I would definitely ask the cost of the beer your waiter is recommending. I had checked out the menu before we arrived and felt like most beers were in the $6-9 range. However, two of the beers our waiter recommended were $11 each. My fault for not asking, but not a pleasant surprise when we got the bill. Overall, worth checking out! Definitely come on the early side for unique beers, friendly service, and that shrimp po' boy. read more

I gave this place 4 stars early on but after being back many times I have to increase it to 5. This place has a great beer selection, great food and great atmosphere. The salads are not overly exciting but most of the seafood options are, especially for barfood. Normally I find seafood at a bar risky. It's chill, never too crowded and not a typical d-bag filled Lincoln Park bar. The only downside is I always get way drunker than I intend but that's not always bad (only when I have work the next day). read more

One of my top 3 favorite bars in the city. Great bartenders, awesome waitstaff, stiff drinks, great tunes, and the best steak taco's around. Don't ever pass up a chance to go to the Option. It's great for dates because it's close walking distance to Webster place, for a movie after dinner. And since they now have the NFL package, its turning into a great Sunday bar. They offer brunch on Sunday's but I have yet to indulge. Don't be put off by its close proximity to DePaul, this bar is nothing like Mcgee's, it gets crowded on friday nights, but its never packed, and the crowd is around 25 years old. If you get the chance, try the alligator gumbo and taco's, they don't always have it but it is amazing. read more

I've only eaten here once and I had the Local Burger. It was a solid burger but nothing that really changed my life. However, I'm a frequent guest because of their beer menu. They've got a giant blackboard on one of their walls right when you walk in and are constantly rotating taps. Want some Three Floyds? They've got it. How about a rare Evil Twin? Yep, you'll likely find it floating around. Also be sure to try some of their own signature brews. Seriously. Go here and drink your life away. You won't regret it. read more

Courtney P's review is spot on- This place used to be cheaper and a better value, now I just spent $8 on a TERRIBLE beer. I don't know who's buying these kegs for this bar, but they need to focus a little more on taste and a little less on catchy names. The food is still decent, but when you get your bill you're just pissed off. There's no reason not to go to the Duke of Perth on a Friday for fish and a pint, where the fish tastes better and there's a good draft list at $5 a pint. I mean I'd rather spend $15 and have 3 solid, good tasting beers like the wee heavy ale than 2 shitty tasting beers at Local Option. The one good part about this bar- they have Great Lakes Christmas Ale during Christmas, at $5-$6 a pint. That's what I like to see, but the cons just outweigh this place. I'll go back in 6 months to see if they woke up and changed their ways. read more

Local Option is a very good establishment. They have a variety of beers (which I have never heard of) and the quality of the food is great., especially their fries. The service was also great especially on a Friday night. They also have the best burgers. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was because it was a bit too pricey. The drafts were $6 and the burger with fries came out to be around $11. Overall great place if you don't mind spending your money. read more

Stopped in to Local Option on a recent visit to Chicago. Walking in, it seemed like a dark, Gothic dive bar. Decor is metal/satanic and I expected metal music, but on the day I visited, they were blaring jazz music. Sounds weird? Well, it was, but in a good way. There were a lot of good draft beer choices, several of which were Local Option's brews. Our server, who was also the bartender (didn't catch his name), was extremely helpful on helping my friend and I decide where we should go next for good beer. The food was very good as well, with an extensive menu. Even though this sounds like a dark brooding place, it was refreshing to see a wide range of clientele here. There was an older couple enjoying beer at the bar, a young couple with a baby in a stroller sitting at a table, and people of various ages scattered throughout the bar. I would definitely return here for the quality beer and food, and friendly staff. read more

Agreeable little pub. Great selection of drafts. They seem to have a penchant for hair metal but whatever. Nice lil' place, good for an afternoon stop. No idea what it's like at night. read more

Found this place when walking home from seeing a movie on a Friday night. Nice surprise to find a spot like this in my (new) neighborhood. The food was good, but I would mostly go back for the beer selection. 25 solid beers on tap, each one served in it's correct glass. These guys know their beer and will help you find a good one if you're wondering what to get. If you're looking for a cheap natty light, walk right past this place. If you are looking for a good selection of quality beers, and a bartender who can help you navigate, then this is your Local Option. read more

My wife and I stopped in here around 9:30 pm on a Friday- we walked in to heavy metal music that was crap and to top it off we couldnt sit at a two-top across from the bar since we weren't ordering food. The guy actually told us that with 3 tables open and no seats at the bar. So that gave us the option of stand and have a beer or leave. I used to go here all of the time, not a chance I'm going back now. read more

This place is awesome. These guys and gals that work here are real class acts. Awesome rare beer suggestions not pretentious. Love this place. Had a wonderful Sunday with my boyfriend and his buddies. Don't change what you are doing. It is so clear how much the staff loves working here. I really appreciate both the bearded awesome guys that were working tonight. I told them what I liked and so did my boyfriend and all of their suggestions are amazing. Thank you for a fun night and that chartreuse was amazing ! read more

Best beer list around. The food is actually pretty decent too. We like it here a lot. The server Ed is a funny dude. I knock it down to 4 stars for a few reasons: 1) staff can be a pain in the ass about explaining what a beer is like... dude that is what a good cicerone does...embrace it. 2) it is pretty expensive for a lot of the brews 3) staff can be edgy and weird... not exactly outgoing and friendly types... not sure why they have an attitude, but whatever - I really enjoy the beer the food and it is in my hood. read more

Come for Metal Mondays, stay for the shrimp po' boy. Oh yeah, and the best beer selection in the city doesn't hurt, either. They are branching out into their own beers as well... I expect big things. read more

The staff at Local Option have a sure-fire strategy for keeping douchebags out of the bar: leave the front windows open on a breezy, 52 degree evening. Unfortunately, it also keeps everyone else out. We shivered up front for an hour or so in front, since the back was reserved for a party that never appeared during our stay. Despite requests from a number of patrons, the staff refused to close the windows. That's one star, while the other two are for the bartender being kind enough to comp me for a beer that I disliked. That was classy. The window thing: not classy. read more

I have been wanting to try this place after hearing good things about it in the past. I went Friday night around 8:30 and was surprised with the huge crowd in the front of the bar. After pushing our way to the back we finally got a table. The food was average. I got the tuna tacos, ordered rare, but they were not so rare when I got them. It was good, but just not that much flavor and a little too over cooked. I do recommend the green beans and mashed potatoes though. The service was good and the beers were coming, so the meal turned out ok. By the time we left, the crowd was gone - they must have been there for a happy hour or something. So much nicer when you have room to move. read more

So, my coworkers and I are putting together an event on DePaul's campus. We are told we have an hour dinner break. We go to The Local Option, and order dinner. Our food arrives just as we get a text message that we need to be back five minutes ago. We flag down the waitress for the bill. Two minutes later, the bill arrives. Oh, and my catfish po' boy is gone, gone, gone. I don't think I've ever eaten so fast, but there was no damn way work was going to get between me and every delicious bite of that thing. Yummy. read more

Maybe I'm reviewing the wrong Local Option??? But I used to come here all the time when they had PBR on tap and it wasn't a pretentious typical LP bar. They did change things up a couple years ago and that's when they brought in the huge beer selection and did away with all the domestics, except for Miller High Life??? Yuck! Ok. Well anyways, the past two times I've come it's been bad experiences, the service has been kinda snobby and even one time there was a LP cougar birthday party occurring towards the front of the bar... Complete with actual mylar unicorn balloons... And then when we asked our server for a beer recommendation she said "Uh we have over 200 different kinds....." We weren't asking for a memorized list ma'am. Just a recommendation. Blah. I like the fact that they carry my fav Belgian brew, Kwak.(So plus 1 star just for that!) But I just feel like they are trying to make themselves into the LP version of the Map Room?? But either way, it's starting to feel more like a typical LP bar and less like a fun casual neighborhood place. read more

Of all the beer joints in all the country that I have visited this one is king. The staff? Knowledgeable but not in a douchey way. The beer selection? Unforgettable. The location? Perfect and easy to find. The neighborhood? Beautiful. Come on now... What else do you want? I drank everything from Bourbon County on draft to Tilquin Gueuze. We loved this place so much we came back multiple times during our short trip to Chicago. We left Chicago to explore Wisconsin, came back to Chicago four days later and went immediately to Local Option... They remembered us, asked us how we like Wisconsin and talked more with us than any other bar on our 10 day trip. I really cannot praise Local Option enough. I follow most of the staff now on Instagram and suggest it to everyone I know that is going to be in or around the Chicago area. Local Option is by far the best beer bar I have ever been to.... Go there now... read more

Local Option - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Nice bar. We stopped in just for drinks. We picked this placed based on it's beer menu. My bf is a big fan of Zombie dust and not a lot of bars have it on tap. Keep it on tap and this might become a regular stop on the weekends! read more

Great, hole in the wall bar. They have awesome music and surprisingly good food. I had the vegetarian salad, which had chunks of avocado and marinated mushrooms - very tasty. I only had half an hour to eat lunch and the bartender made it happen. I paid under $13.00 without tax and tip for my salad and diet coke. If I'm ever in the area, I'll check this place out again and you should too. read more

Good. Nice neighborhood location, tasty food. I had a burger, which was basic and good. I tried the Creole coleslaw too, which I didn't like. It didn't seem to be nuanced. It was cabbage and heat, and the heat pretty much overwhelmed any other flavor it had. Too bad, because I really, really like non-mayo-based coleslaws. Our appetizer was guacamole, and it was good. But I don't know what Katie R was talking about, because it was INCREDIBLY oniony. It was good--but the onion chunks were out of control. Beware. read more

Visited this past Saturday for dinner and drink before we went to another bar in the area. I asked for a glass of red wine, server said he had Cabernet, was apprehensive, but it was actually really good. So, for only one wine option, they chose well. For dinner, I ordered a steak salad and the bf had crab cakes. I was a little disappointed in the salad - I would have added some cheese and a few more veggies. But, overall a good experience and I'd like to go back to try the fries!! read more

This is 4 stars for the beer selection and the food and 2 stars for the service. I have been to Local Option a few times over the past couple of years and I like the direction it has taken. The food is solid and the selection of beer, including their own craft brews, is impressive for such a small space. My only complaint is that if you have that kind of beer list, you have to have one of two things to accompany it: either a brief, written description for customers to peruse OR bartenders that don't scoff at customers when asked to describe the beers. Local Option has neither. read more

Dave is just as wonderful as the mussels! I love the grilled cheese w/free bacon. The best beer list in Chicago! All the bartenders are super nice and have such great hair. read more

5 stars for the beer list. -3 stars for blasting crap music as loud as they possibly could, when I went there this past Friday. Seriously, WTF was that?? When my friend (gently) complained, the bartender explained that the owner was there, and was in charge of the music. No apology was attempted or made. They have a right to screw up the ambiance with crappy, ear-splitting music, but I didn't appreciate the fact that they did. The dude was just pumping some random-ass playlist from Grooveshark at the bleeding edge of what their sound system was capable of. It sounded like crap and made me and my friends miserable. I'm not trying to sound like an old fart, but conversation was impossible, even if we tried shouting at each other. I probably would have enjoyed this bar, but as it was, I drank my beers as fast as I could (a shame, since they were really nice beers meant to be enjoyed) and got the hell out of there. I am not sure if this is the typical situation, but that night, Local Option was just like any of the other horrible Lincoln Park bars that I despise, they just happened to have nicer beer on tap. I may or may not go back, based on this experience, I would be reluctant to return, even though the beer selection is awesome. At least Quenchers and Map Room have a little respect for my ear drums. read more

Absolutely stellar beer menu! Bartenders were very knowledgable and gave great recommendations.

First, the good. You can always get some of the rarer beers here, and the food is actually pretty solid. I've been to a few tappings here and the menus they put up for events are always great. The bad: This place can be everything that is wrong with the craft beer world. Meaning a pretentious staff and culture about the place, and on the wrong night a crowd to match the staff as well. I don't think I have ever come here on a night where a server or bartender hasn't given me some sort of lip. I dunno, I'd be kidding myself if I came here for the customer service anyways, but that doesn't mean that the dudes that work there can't just nut up, be gentlemen, and treat their customers like, you know, actual customers. It has reached the point where the only time I will go there is when there is a tapping of something really rare. Otherwise I head to somewhere else where the staff isn't dickish and willing to talk, engage, and even educate me a little bit about their brews. read more

Yeah the local option is a pretty good place for both food and beer. it has an extensive selection of microbrews and you cant go wrong with the crabcakes. my only lament is how pricey it is. i dont mind paying a little extra for a rare brew, but $10 for about an 8oz glass!? thats a little much. i took my brother and his wife here when they came to visit me and the bill was over $100 for lunch and a few beers. racking up a bill of that size for lunch just puts a damper on the whole experience. read more

We all went to Local Option to grab a quick bite and some beers before the Super Bowl. First, I have to compliment our bartender/ server. She was very attentive, nice, and fun. They have a really good selection of about 25 beers on tap. As for the food, I was a little disappointed. I had heard great things but was not that impressed with what I had. It was a grilled chicken sandwich. I would have to rate it as average. Everyone else felt that way about their food with the exception of my girlfriend. She had the crab and goat cheese quesadilla. She loved it, I ate some of it as well and it was awesome. That dish is what I would recommend. read more

Amazing Amazing Uh-Mazing. I am shocked to see this place only has avg 4 stars. I thought for sure it would be 4.5-5. Incredible beer selection. I don't know where else you can find such a selection in Chicago. So many on tap and they switch them out constantly! The food is also equally as impressive. I'm happy to say this was the first bar I went to when I moved to Chicago 6 months ago and it has remained my favorite. A true diamond in the rough (and by rough, I mean Lincoln Park/DePaul debauchery) read more

was here today with a couple of broads, they all had the ahi salad and other lady items like guacamole n chips and other dainty chick style food. The guys all went with the wings which are top 3 in the city. excellent flavor great crunch. the beer selection ranges from fancy pantsy to the high life. And since Im living the high life I thought that I should be drinking it too, and drink it I did. The girls will love the salads and talking about the bachelor, the guys will love the wings and sports on TV....and every sex likes beer. this place as nerds say is epic win. read more

I live nearby and have strolled by several times taking note of the great beer selection. I finally decided to head in and see what the Local Option was like. First of all, great beer selection. That was pretty much the only positive of my first experience. The staff was completely unfriendly and cold. The bartender was extremely unhelpful and short when I inquired if they had a certain beer. Secondly, whats with the 7-10 buck beers? I mean I can understand 5-6 bucks for a good pint, but not too much more than that. Especially when you have a really unfriendly staff. Overall, my experience at Local Option was pretty awful. They have great beers, but I like having an enjoyable experience with a helpful staff when I go somewhere and was totally turned off by my first experience. Don't expect to go back anytime soon read more

Haven't tried the food yet. But they have beer and Golden Tee and it's close to my apartment.

Food - 5 Stars We ordered a coffee ale, vodka tonic, shrimp tacos, crab sandwich, and 2 orders of wings. The wrings where the star of the show. They were so good that we ordered another bowl while we were eating our meals. Service - 3 Stars I will say they were very prompt with everything. Bringing menus, waters, drinks, food, and check. They just weren't nice about anything. In fact I would say they were a little rude when my friend used is discover card. We also asked for a side of wing sauce to go with our entrees because we thought the wings tasted so good, and the waiter (who I believe was the owner) had an attitude about it. I understand that people have bad days so maybe we just caught them on one of those days. All in All I would come back for the food, especially the wings. if you are in the De Paul area, check this place out! read more

The atmosphere was nice. The beer list looked really interesting, but with a few exceptions, I'd never heard of them and the list didn't even offer the most basic descriptions, so I didn't know what to order. This is what I said to the server. She said, "ok." This would have been a good opportunity to tell me about some of the beers, make some suggestions, ask me what I normally drink, etc. But, no, she just waited for me to ask about beers individually. They were out of about 7 of the beers that my party tried to order (That's fine when you've got such a big list, but something it would be nice to know beforehand) and, according to the server about 50% of the list is stouts. Not my thing, so it was hard to weed out things I wanted to try from the list, and our server clearly didn't appear to know much about beer or care at all about helping us find things we liked. The food was so-so bar food. Most disappointing was the "panko crusted" catfish on the po-boy. Pretty sure those were regular breadcrumbs - it didn't have any of the crunchiness I was expecting. Luckily, I'm not in Lincoln Park often, so I won't be faced with going back. read more

Place is not very customer friendly. They might have beer, but no beer list or description telling you what the beers are. I asked for some wheat beer and got a "dumb look" from the bar tender. The prices are too high for what you get. Do yourself a favor, go to Sheffields if you woul dliek to drink beer. read more

Good beer selection. Food looked and smelled good, but we did not have any this time. I am sure to grab some food if we are here again. Why not 5 stars, well, not the most friendly place in the world. Though, that is exactly what they are hoping for. Angry, but will pour your beer and briefly answer your questions if you don't ask like a jerk or ditz. read more

Another good experience here! Once again I needed some guidance and indicated to the bartenders that I am a Belgian, wheat & hefeweizen fan. Tried the Three Floyds Drunk Monk and was VERY happy! I wanted to order food but passed. Dang, I shouldn't have... can't wait to go back. Avoid the washrooms if you can. read more