Obscurity is not the typical kind of operation you'd find out in Elburn. They've brought a modern aesthetic and menu to this small town, along with a clear goal of quality above all else. The vibe is cool. Open concept dining space provides a view into the kitchen (and that gigantic smoker!) and to the brewing operation. Lots of color and industrial accent pieces really make the place fun. The bar is tucked into a corner and has it's own, slightly more cozy feel going on. To my knowledge, you really won't see any other place in the area that challenges Obscurity in the aesthetics department. You'd have to venture over to the river towns and pony up way more cash. As far as food goes, the menu is concentrated in the barbecue experience: Brisket, Pulled Pork, Smoked Turkey, Smoked Salmon, and other slow cooked meats run alongside a lighter take on appetizers (that salmon dip is soooo addicting), as well as some sandwhich selections. They also have a good amount of house made sides, including some of the best cheesy grits I've ever had! Of course, this place also offers their own beer and mead, making it worth a trip solely for drinks! Their west coast IPA and blueberry mead were standouts, though there really does seem to be something for everyone from their own brews. The bar also offered some interesting cocktails for those who are less into brews. Across the board, the execution is pretty high, with meat coming out moist and tender, even late into a dinner service on a week night. The sides and apps pair well with the rest of the menu, and many even share some time in the smoker with the meats. I'm already looking forward to my next trip! read more

Get the brisket, you won't be sorry! And the Bao Buns! Don't forget to check the dessert menu!!

Have been to Obscurity several times. Beer is outstanding. Food is pretty good depending on what you get. Their pulled pork sandwich is great, but it's pricey and a side is not even included with it. I would avoid the wings as they are very mushy. Ribs are good but portion is small read more

Have mixed feelings, beer is good and fair price and food is tasty but service was not good until asking for attention. We sat for 20+ minutes at the bar and the bartender never even acknowledged us, when bringing it up to the host, they took care of us and did comp some drinks, but then my husband ordered his meal (wanting the $14 pick 3 bbq) and ended up getting the the $28 for 2 meal, we couldn't find anyone to correct this as the service was not attentive. We did eat and enjoy the food but definitely didn't want $28 of bbq for his one meal! Hope they can work out the kinks as we would like to come back and recommend to others as the beers are good. read more

Really love this place! We learned about it at Geneva Swedish Days so we headed out to find it and we're pleasantly surprised at how big this place is. The have a full food menu with fresh BBQ..we sampled a beer flight - all were so good - nice clean finish. We just had wings which were amazing, fried bologna - very good, and cheesy grits. Yum! We will be back A LOT!! read more

Beer was good, nice finish well made.....beyond that this place was a train wreck, terrible service excessive delays in food and delivery of order. Too bad, looks like a good place, obviously management issues read more

Oh my gosh I borrowed my kids car so I could take a drive out to Elburn to pick up some food to go. What a fREAking rip off. I think the two bags weighed probably about 1 pound and that is being generous, this is Obscurity Brewing what a fREAKing waste of time, money and gas. T think that they will take it that you are drunk and not realizing the cost of the food received. Ordered one grinder with the slaw on the side which I did not receive. read more

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These bartenders dont condone masks and are the rudest bartenders ive ever met. Worst bar and service around the eblurn area hands down. My wife and I left insulted by their behavior. Not a place for children either as our kids were frowning as we went to leave. As i brought up Covid 19 the bartender joked that she had a sister who gave it to her and we felt uncomfterable. Please santize before you eat here and after because they are off the program. Eddie gaddels served us much better with proper service and hygiene guidlines. read more

Excellent BBQ Turkey. Best I've ever had. Smoky. Moist. Tender. Excellent. Also had the BBQ Potato Salad which was good (slightly undercooked potatoes) but very good flavor and the bacon on top - never go wrong with bacon. Was a take out order. Was not ready. Acted like they didn't get the order when I arrived at the time the app said it was done so some work to do on managing the staff. Bartender was less than customer oriented. Way more into the 2 guys at the bar she was serving then the restaurant. Didn't try the beer or the mead but will soon. Def recommend. read more

Horrible service and food. The menu also is very limited. They only want to refill your drink if your drinking their beer. I do not suggest.

Per server was Katie she was very helpful and informative. We got a pick three. The pork shoulder and spare were amazing!! Brisket was good a bit dry. But brisket is a b$&@?! As for beer the raspberry, gumdrop, kolch, black is beautiful, and decade were good well as the Bobby Boucher. Glad we made the trip will definitely be back. read more

Came here for the second time and was equally as disappointed as the first time. We came last October for Octoberfest and by October 1st they were out of everything. Today, May 14th we had the exact same experience. We get that they smoke everything, and it's limited quantities, but on a Saturday night they only had brisket and bologna available? We sat at 6:02 and as I write this at 7:06 we still do not have our food, with no appetizers ordered. There are plenty of other options in town or an easy 20 minute drive away, including BBQ options. Don't waste your time. read more

This place is dangerously good. The mead, beer and specialty cocktails are worth a trip alone, but add in the delicious bbq food options, Obscurity is becoming one of my favorite spots to visit. I've visited this place a couple times already and enjoyed the brisket with formula 47 fries and Obscurity bbq sauce which paired well with the Everlasting Gumdrop Hazy Smash ale. I was also a fan of the half chicken which went great with the Obscure Honeycomb meadtail which is topped with an edible honeycomb. This place is a must! 5 out of 5, would recommend. read more

Our party of 4 arrived at 5:00 p.m. on a Saturday evening. Very friendly and attentive waitress. Beers and mead were good. Most impressed with the bbq. Two of us split the "Pick 3". The pork melted in my mouth and the beef and turkey were delicious. Their white bbq sauce was fabulous. Next time out-of-town family visits, we'll bring them here. read more

Obscurity Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Elburn, Illinois

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Outstanding bbq and brisket sandwiches. Great selection of beer and great service. Can't wait to return.

Have been "mug club" members for a few years- great food and great brews, Meade too. When the weather is nice the outdoor seating with live entertainment is something you need to try. Drink specials at the outdoor bar when trains pass.....fun place. read more

Stopped in for drinks only. The beers were very good. Also tried their Mead, which was enjoyed a great deal. Nice, clean atmosphere.

Excellent beers . We didn't get a chance to try the barbecue but have heard from others that is excellent. A great place to stop in Elburn

Ordered take out for my husband who has been working extra hard! He raved about his food, I'm vegetarian so I can't say but there wasn't much left and he was very happy! read more

If I could give 0 I would. Horrible service, you sit and wait a minimum of 10 minutes before you even get acknowledged. Prices are insane. Are you Naperville??? Sad for a well known and cute small town. read more

This place was amazing!! The atmosphere is perfect; industrial but cozy. The waitstaff were very friendly and informative of items on the menu. We got there right when they opened on Fathers Day and were able to be seated right away. The volume of patrons rapidly grew. Pulled pork is fantastic, onion rings are so light and tasty. Great reviews on the shrimp skewers, go for the 12! Large helping of meat on pick 3, could really feed 3! Turkey, brisket and pork are all delicious and very flavorful, not fatty at all! I would highly recommend this place! read more

Obscurity Brewing - Pork Shoulder Grinder, Charred Coleslaw - Breweries Near Me - Elburn, Illinois

Just visited the newer outdoor area with its fabulous silo/gazebo eating/dunking outdoor area! Wow it's great. The barbecue pork is really good and the charred coleslaw ( new for me) complimented their meat flavors. Sauce just spicy enough and I'll be back to try the beans and more brew. So happy we tried it before the cold sets in. Oh, the train going by made for a great total experience. read more

Very disappointed. First, the website listed live music for this evening. When we arrived we found out that the area with Live music was restricted for a private party with no notice online. We ordered at 5:45pm, right at the start of the dinner hours. The restaurant was out of like half the menu. We kept having to re-order after the server kept returning to inform us that the kitchen was out. After trying to order 6 times we ended up only being brought fries. Walked away hungry and unsatisfied. read more

Lucas was our server and he was amazing! The food was fabulous and the drinks were amazing! But Lucas made the experience great!

Second time now I'm two weeks. I had to come back. This place is great. Last week was only about 50 degrees out, but they had a ton of heaters which made it comfortable. Fries are cooked in beef fat apparently, decision. Brisket is fire. The wings are just enough spicy to leave a lingering hotness on the back of the tongue. The only thing we didn't like as much was the steelhead. Bao has pulled pork with slaw, unique twist that I'll come back for Yes I ate all this in one trip. Oh yeah and the beer is great. I had the dipped in gold and a Mexican lager. I'll be back for sure. read more

Obscurity Brewing - Outdoor seating. - Breweries Near Me - Elburn, Illinois

Elburn is lucky to have this place!! The food is amazing and as in all true bbq fashion they run out of food...good news that means it is fantastic. The staff bands together we were there a week ago on Saturday and they were slammed. The staff was courteous and very forth coming about the kitchen getting backed up and it may take a bit for food. I watched as they all banded together to get the job done! I was impressed with the service. Thanks Obscurity we will be back for sure!! read more

Great atmosphere. Beer is mediocre. Wanted to eat but non covid restrictions on the menu. Couldn't get pork belly on a salad, could get anything else but that??? Service was good. The only brewery around where I didnt buy a shirt or hat with their logo. read more

Food was a little greasy and pricey but ultimately hit the spot, devoured my sandwich within 2 minutes and shocked myself considering how large it was, might've just been starving though. Waiter was cute too. read more

Such a cool place! I live like 5 minutes away and this place makes me feel like i'm at vacation! Good food!

Fantastic food and beer! Loved the variety of drinks they have and their BBQ is great. The food does seem a little pricey for quantity. If you're coming with an empty stomach, you will end up paying a pretty penny to fill up. read more

Been here 4 or 5 times and I Want to like this place so much, it has so much going for it. The food is very good, the brews are decent, but the the waitstaff constantly seems overwhelmed and in general new. The host is not overly polite and seems to be troubled that you are there. The beer garden is a great set up with ample seating, and the bands are good, but the volume is so loud it's difficult to talk or even order. When no one sits within 30 yards of the band it's not because they don't like the band, it's because it sounds like a jet engine. read more

Ok, I usually don't review a place twice but Obscurity Brewing deserves it. We went last night with some friends for their first time and one of them has Gluten allergies. Our server was Alex and he was friendly and very helpful for recommending food and drinks. First off, beer...yummy. My wife ordered the Strawberry Rhubarb Peach Pie speciality drink...she said it was her jam. For dinner I ordered the smoked wings, smoked yams and my wife had what I had last time which was meatloaf grinder with the chili grits. Wings and yams were amazing and definitely will order again. Our friends loved it too and was able to order dinner avoiding the gluten allergy. She did mention that it would be great if there were some gluten free buns so she could enjoy a sandwich but they both said the would be back. LIVE music at the outside bar and the place was packed. This will become a regular place for us. read more

Great variety of beer and cocktails. Best place to go if you want some smoked meat! The outdoor garden is a great place to meet with friends! read more

I checked Obscurity out on Saturday afternoon to see if this would be a good place to take a group of 12 for my nephews " bachelor lunch " while my wife hosts a bridal shower. Can't wait to go back ! We sat at the bar, my wife ordered a peach mule which was absolutely delicious! I had a flight of beers and ciders , which is a great way to determine what your tastes are. Some very tasty beverages as Julius would say... For lunch I had the 3 platter bbq - St. Louis ribs, turkey and brisket. Incredibly flavorful , great options for sauces as well. We are not only having the groom party here, but my wife and I will be back this summer to enjoy the food, drink and ambience. If I could give this place 10 stars I would - not only because it's worth it, but also to make up for the crabby keyboard warriors that type that the food was delicious but they didn't get their beer in a timely fashion, so they give this place ONE STAR? Does anyone in a service industry realize what that does to a place ? I've been to many places that I didn't really like all that much but my first inclination was not to gripe about it. People on here saying they're bringing an infant, don't really like bbq, don't drink beer, then complain about the long wait or food? You do realize that your server has to put your food order in, then go to the bar and the bartender has to make craft cocktails and a flight of 5 beers, not just a bud light on tap. This is in Elburn, take a chill pill, drink a mead and relax ! read more

Food was alright. Service was sub par. Took 30 min to be greeted with 5 people at the bar and 1 table. An employee finally came around while we were googling other restaurants to eat at. He seemed to be the only employee not in the kitchen except for a manager(? She was on a laptop at the bar but did go into the kitchen so I'm assuming.) Poor management to staff one employee and then watch him drown without helping out. read more

We rented the outdoor yurt for curling tonight. The ice and stones were not up to the advertisement. The ice was sticky and the stone did not slide due to the wrong material on the bottom (foam not plastic). The beer and mixed drinks were decent. The food was terrible except for the fries. The pork belly burnt ends were not pork and the chicken wings were mealy. Save your money and go to Schmidt's. Maybe it was a bad day in the kitchen, but I will never be back. read more

Great beer has local flavor. Staff is friendly down to earth service and hospitality. Come for the beer stay for the hospitality. A great hideaway. read more

What a great place. Excellent food, beverages and atmosphere. Really glad this place opened in Elburn.

Came down last night for my brother in laws bday. I don't ever leave reviews but damn, this place was awesome. If you gave this place anything less than 4 Stars, you must have been greeted by Sea Bass in one of the bathroom stalls. Some of the best bbq I've ever had, and their beers and cocktails hit the spot. Service was legit too. If this place was a little closer to civilization they wouldn't be able to keep up with their demand. Especially these days. read more

Bad food overpriced service was not good. Barbecue joint that charges you for barbecue sauce