I was honestly pleasantly surprised by Elgin Public House. The food tasted very, very…read moregood--definitely exceeded my expectations. Everything was flavorful and well put together, and it made for a great dining experience in the moment. The atmosphere was also nice, and overall it felt like a solid spot to grab a meal. The only downside was that the food ended up making my stomach hurt afterward, which took away from the experience a bit. Still, based on taste alone, it was impressive, and I'd consider going back while maybe trying something different next time.

Elgin Public House is the kind of neighborhood spot that seems to have a little bit of everything…read more-- and somehow makes it work. The menu is broad without feeling unfocused, offering enough variety to satisfy just about anyone at the table. The beer selection is massive, the atmosphere is lively and fun, and the service keeps pace with the energy of the room. It's an easy place to gather, settle in, and stay longer than you originally planned.

We held a meeting here and Chris, Ava, Anthony, and the entire staff we worked with are fabulous to…read morework with! The Grumpy Goat feels like a rustic supper club but with an energetic vibe and signature menu items highlighted with a goat. The Bulleit Bourboun burger and fries were outstanding, and I look forward to returning and trying a steak. We held a meeting for nearly 70 people in their back room and had helpful amenities needed and tasty food. People especially liked the skillet dip and sausage and peppers. Plenty of on-site parking too and an innovative cocktail menu in addition to standard beer, seltzers and wines. And I could tell from the conversations between servers and customers in the bar area, that there are many regulars who keep coming back here. I can definitely see why. Thank you again, Chris and team for an outstanding experience.

We had the calamari, crabcakes, and the mussels appetizers which we would go back again.read more

Sitting at the bar on a busy Friday night, the experience here was perfect. It's not a big place,…read moremaybe twenty spots at the bar and a smattering of tables. The bartender, Hailey(?), worked the entire place flawlessly. Between five of us we had the fish fry, a couple sandwiches and some appetizers. All cooked perfectly and delivered fairly fast. There is a full bar but it's nothing fancy. No top shelf bourbons visible from my seat. We drank beer on tap. With the good food, the fantastic service and tge dive bar atmosphere I can say with certainty that we'll be back. Five stars.

Fatsoz is one of those rare places that truly has something for everyone. Yes, it's a bar, but the…read morefood is so much more than typical "bar food." Everything I've had has been fresh, flavorful, and consistently great. Their Friday night fish fry is easily some of the best around and is something I look forward to whenever I can make it in. What really sets Fatsoz apart for me, though, is the atmosphere. As a women, I feel completely comfortable and safe stopping in by myself. the staff is welcoming, the regulars are so friendly, and there's never that uncomfortable feeling you can sometimes get waling into a bar alone. It's a place where you can enjoy a great meal, relax, and feel at ease whether you're with friends or on your own. Great food, great patrons, awesome staff, and welcoming environment keep me coming back. If you haven't tried the fish fry yet, you're missing out!!

Service is fantastic Kyle is such a nice guy and he's fun to be around! His drinks are great and…read morethe food is delicious their cheese curds are amazing and their burger is juicy super flavorful. I would highly recommend coming here for a late night drink or dinner

River Street Tavern is the kind of local spot every town hopes to have -- relaxed, lively, and…read moreconsistently good. The menu is well-rounded, the drinks are solid, and there's an easy confidence to the whole place. Nothing here is chasing trends or trying to reinvent anything, and that's part of the appeal. They know what they do, they do it well, and sometimes that kind of restraint is its own virtue.

Stephanie, the one and only server on a Friday nite, with a class reunion and a band, was…read morephenomenal! She would come out with a tray of 15 drinks at a time!! She ran circles around most servers I've ever encountered!!

Pretty riverside location, outstanding service, really delicious bar food on steroids. Went on a…read morepleasant Thursday evening and was able to catch the last table outside. Tried two of their monthly food specials and both were delicious. A batch of perfectly grilled wings (with a garlic parmesan sauce), and the Tod Wilkinson burger, an Italian sausage/ground beef combo patty topped with delicious Italian beef named after the Steve Martin Character in My Blue Heaven, lol...yum freaking yum. For an appetizer had an order of their homemade chips topped with cheese, bacon and chives...outstanding. Stephanie, the sole waitress working the whole patio, didn't miss a beat and brought everything out perfectly timed and piping hot (or cold, their beer of courses...my Guinness). Will be back! A lovely hidden gem a long a quiet stretch of the Fox.

I love a good dive bar but Eaton's has probably been the weirdest dive bar I have ever been to…read more After getting carded, the bartender made it very clear that they only accept cash, how old school! But I didn't care, cash is all I had. I have been to some seedy bars but Eaton's was straight up scary! I was afraid to touch anything in fear I may leave with a disease. Décor: The set up was super simple, mainly made up of a colossal bar that took up most of the place. There were some booths and couple of tables along the walls, but that was about it. The walls are made up of wood paneling and exposed brick, while the ceiling was made up of some antique moldings. There are only 2 restrooms, 1 men's and 1 women's, that don't have paper towels. They have that revolving towel in the machine that just rotates the same sheet over and over, nastiness. There is a pool table stuffed in one of the corners of the bar along with a couple of slot machine-like arcade games, very fitting for the casino town. The Crowd: Like any dive bar it doesn't exactly attract many posh patrons which is why I like them! If I wanted to hang out with preppy brosef's I would go to a club. Service: A-ok, not too welcoming when you first enter but after they card you & order a couple of drinks they seem to warm up a little. Liquid Courage On Tap: Bud, Bud Lite, PBR Originally I was going to order something in a can or a bottle, just to protect myself from any herpe that may be floating around waiting to infect me, but when Berto noticed they had mason jars we were drawn in. 24oz Baller mason jar of Bud for $4.50? I'll take my chances against the herpe! I think it's safe, I'm pretty sure alcohol sanitizes anyway. Right? Eats: I'm not gonna lie, I could have munched on some bar food but the looks of this fine establishment terrified me. I'm sure if you even ordered food they would have a hard time starting up the grill because it didn't seem like the sorta place you have dinner and a few drinks. They have a corn dog machine that looked like it hadn't been turned on in years. Eaton's offers a variety of bagged chips and nuts. There are also 2 liquor store like fridges filled with pop. I have to mention the pickled mystery items in the life-size cloudy jar on the bar. It was very Moe's Tavern. Sounds: Other than the drunken banter of the regulars it was karaoke night. I am always up for karaoke! I did notice the line was fairly large but I put in my request anyway. I have to give props to the KJ, he didn't waste time with filler, he got everyone up n' out and before I knew it it was my turn! Parking: It's downtown Elgin, so all street parking. Overall: Eaton's, you really freaked me out at first glance but after getting to know you I think we may have something here. I will keep a mental note to always bring cash and to eat before my outing in tackling another mason jar!

This is a dive bar with no pretense what so ever…read more This is your classic rectangle bar designed for efficiency. The bar tender can spy everyone at a glance and so can you! The building façade is probably intimidating for the squeamish. Eaton's has no problem with that, nor do I. Cheers!

Mary J - Had the 1st night of our 50th high school reunion there and it was GREAT! The manager and…read morewait staff were wonderful in working the event, even when more people showed than we anticipated. FYI they could have had prepared food available for everyone on arrival - we opted for everyone to order what they want to eat and drink and pay their own bill. Classmates loved that option, the venue, and the evening. Recommend venue for an evening out with family or friends, but also for larger parties.

Walnut Speakeasy has the foundation of a solid neighborhood bar -- the food is decent, the drinks…read moreare fairly priced, and the concept itself has some appeal. On paper, it feels like the kind of place that should work well for a casual night out. Unfortunately, the atmosphere is weighed down by the tone set behind the scenes. Interactions from management toward staff came across as unnecessarily harsh and uncomfortable, which noticeably affected the experience. Combined with a nighttime crowd that can occasionally feel a bit rough around the edges, it becomes harder to fully enjoy what otherwise could have been a much stronger spot.

Did not eat here but we enjoyed our drinks. Cute bar, love the decor, a lot of wood and definitely…read morehas a pub feel. Service from the bar tender was good, she kept out drinks flowing. Cute place to stop for a beer.

We were called to West Chicago for an emergency and hadn't eaten all day. Upon finishing, Dr…read more Robert insisted we hold out for a ride to St. Charles and the world's greatest Irish pub. Heard that before, Rob. McNally's is cute and all but nothing like the greats. It has a comfy cozy atmosphere that, initially, I found relaxing. Then the server showed-up with a nasty disposition and the patience of a child. After waiting entirely too long for a check-up, I ended up asking the bartender for a refill. How hard is it to just grab the server and tell her to add a drink to our tab? No can do. I was dismissed, very short and coarsely, and told to order it through my waitress. The saving grace was their menu and quality of food. The scotch egg, shepherd's pie boxty and the Guinness chocolate mousse were spot on. I had a bite of their bangers and mash and easily could order that, too. I didn't handle the bill but I can tell you the place is pricey and there's not enough here to justify it. Obviously, we didn't say a thing to the good doctor but this place is mediocre at best. 02/26

Tiffany was outstanding. And the food was unexpectedly great for a bar and grill. I'll be stopping…read moreback again.

Checked out this pretty fun sports bar in Hoffman Estates. It conveniently is located next to a…read morebowling alley and in fact one can walk right into there without going outside. Bar Down is otherwise in an unassuming location. Great place for watching games. The fathers can take their kids to go bowling and they can hang out in here pretending to be parenting and things. Bigger than the average bar. It's located next to Poplar Creek Bowling and there's a passageway between these. There's supposed to be no alcohol consumption over by the lanes but whatever. Has lots of great specials going on. It's got U Call It at happy hour, which is basically like choosing whatever liquor one wants. Has a few more great specials on food. It's $5 to get Pretzel Bites at happy hour. The rest of the menu has nachos and other things. Also they can host banquets. They have catering if having large groups or parties. For sure it's a place to hang out and have fun. It's located in the strip mall on Higgins. There's lots of great specials.

On our first night in St. Charles for the Jazz Fest, we headed into The House Pub to hear a great…read morehorn player. Frank Capalano was the reason we went in, but the cool vibe kept us there for a few hours. The vintage building looked great on the outside. The big brick building looked like there was some history behind those doors. We walked into a dark room with two levels, a big bar flanking one side of the room and a stage with a dancefloor. I could tell people have fun here. We snagged a small table and listened to the 4-piece band while sipping on an ice-cold beer. The bartender Chris was fantastic. He got busy but never forgot us. There was a popcorn machine which was great, but I was hoping for a meal or at least an appetizer, since I had just gotten off work. It does have the word PUB in it's name. Oh well, the music kept us too busy all night to think about food. The place seems as though it has gotten a facelift. It looks restored not renovated. Everything was super clean, which is always a good thing. I really enjoyed my night at The House Pub and would definitely stop in again the next time I am in town.

The. Best. Bar. I love this place so much!!! Thank god a cool and not-sketchy dive exists out here…read more Incredible music, friendly crowd, best bar crew in town. Can't say enough good things about House.