I stumbled upon Harmony Grill purely because a friend of mine had a Groupon. It's right behind Schubas so I didn't know what to expect - is it a restaurant or is it a bar? Open the doors and find out! It's a restaurant and a pretty good one. I read a review that said, it's a no frills place and that's spot on. It's no frills, service was great while we were there. Randomly went on a Tuesday around 7pm and it was dead and then it was packed around 8pm. My friend and I split the Mac n Cheese - which btw was great! Not too cheesy-noodles weren't over or under cooked - bread crumbs were crunchy - it was great. Let me add - you can add stuff to make your own mac n cheese - let's be honest - I haven't met anybody who hates mac and cheese. For my entree I had the chicken cobb salad and it too was great and the perfect portion size. We were STILL wanting more and ended up ordering the Apple Cobbler - which I think might be the wrong name for it - it's more of an apple turnover with vanilla ice cream and it too was amazing! I highly suggest this little hidden place - it's reasonably priced as well - great week night dinner place! read more

I've been here a lot to fill my belly before dancing it off again to one good show after another at the attached music venue. I'm a fan Good food. Good atmosphere. Good service. Can't be beat for an after work pre-concert dining spot. The menu has something for everyone so it's easy to please the group of friends you've dragged with you to listen to your favorite $10 band that they've never heard of but you swear will be their new favorite. Most recently I came here alone to work my way through a $30 groupon. Considering this place is very reasonably priced and well-portioned, I was going to have to go through a lot of food. I ordered a beer to bring on the relaxed after work happy hourness and went to work. 1st course was the stuffed mushrooms. Dude. Totally solid. Loved the dipping sauce and the breading. Ate ALL of them. 2nd course was of course the mac n cheese because it rocks here. Ordered it plain. Ate ALL of it. 3rd course was dessert and I tried the apple bourbon cobbler sensation. Omg. Warm and full of awesomeness. Really, really tried to eat all of it, but I really would have needed to unbuttom my pants first and I didn't quite feel comfortable enough to do so. Anyway, ate MOST of it. So stuffed. But so happy. Schubas, you rock. read more

It was 2009 when I saw The Wrens play at Schubas. Kevin Whelan was playing his guitar like a madman. Drops of perspiration hit us. We were ordained in the spirit of the indie rock gods. It was the show that all subsequent concerts would be compared to, and be found wanting. I've been to Schubas on a dozen occasions since and I always have a good time. In fact I slipped into Schubas last night, the way you'd slip into a bath that's exactly the right temperature or your favorite pair of shoes. It is intimate but in this case intimate is not just a euphemism for small. Everything feels right; it has an authenticity that is lacking in more modern, ersatz venues. That authenticity is not only the result of having been around for decades but also because everyone who works there seems to be passionate. The bar tenders have mastered the art of detached conviviality. A shout out to Kate and Brendan. Or was it Brandon? I vacillated between the two and towards the end of the night, in inebriated stupor, I was calling him Sean. I love Schubas, it's my local (my half hour on the brown line local). If they served more vegan food I'd probably never leave. read more

Great neighborhood.. Friendly staff.. Great sound system and nice little stage area..good food and beer selection only drawback is lots of hipster/ emo bands... They should have more hiphop/rock bands..other than that place is great! A+ read more

Literally just came out of a dope ass show for Boy Pablo and the idiot at the door doesnt know how to check IDs properly. This Woody Allen looking mf bouncer seemed to be joking when he told me and my friends "sorry it's 18+you're under aged you gotta step to the side" and he told his supervisor not to let us in. Drivers licenses are horizontal if you're 21+ in Illinois and this idiot couldn't tell that we were all over 21. He almost ruined me and my fiends night since we paid for our tickets in advance and this dingus wasn't going to let us in. The venue was fine, the performance by Boy Pablo was but this bouncer was negative af. The fact that two bouncers couldn't tell our IDs were 21+ is worrisome as hell. Left a bad taste in my mouth and a lot of the fun out of our night. read more

Schubas Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My first and definitely last visit to Schubas. The food here is not worth the money you'll shell out. The mac n cheese was mushy and wet. The artichoke "dip" looked like prison gruel and has the consistency of snot. The drinks are overpriced and served with a sneer. Probably the worst part about Schubas is the crowd. This place is tiny and packed wall-to-wall with middle-aged, creepy, handsy as$holes. This may account for the piss-poor attitude from every single employee who works there, from the door to the dining room to the bar. Awful, just really awful. read more

If it weren't for the David Choi concert, I'd come here again just for the mini mac n'cheese. It is, by far, THE best mac n' cheese I've EVER had in my life. *drools* read more

Schubas Tavern - Best mini mac n' cheese. EVER. - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really like mac & cheese, so after reading all the reviews here, I picked Harmony Grill for a late dinner on a random weeknight to get in on that mac & cheese action. The place was totally empty besides one other table. Our waitress was sweet, but could have been a little more timely, especially since it was dead in the dining room. We each ordered mac & cheese. I added broccoli and mushrooms, he added goat cheese and mushrooms. While the rest of the menu does offer a few options for vegetarians (and even a vegan burrito, if I recall correctly), none of them sounded like they'd be worth ordering. Neither of us were wowed by the entrees, but it was decent enough to take the leftovers home for lunch the next day. Thanks to our WBEZ member card, we only paid for one entree, but had to point this out to our waitress a few times and have the bill corrected. read more

Harmony Grill's mac and cheese is my original favorite in Chicago. SO. GOOD. Breadcrumbs and all, extra toppings if you need that sorta stuff. Once when I was at DePaul, I biked here in the rain for an order to go. Yep. Though now that I'm a "real adult," I've discovered it's much more enjoyable to eat it on the patio with copious amounts of beer! read more

AWESOME VENUE! i had many opportunities to see so many wonderful musicians such as (in no particular order): 1) freedy johnson 2) mary lou lord 3) regina spektor 4) glen phillips (from toad the wet sprocket) read more

We came here to see a show and decided to stay and eat as well. We were quite surprised that the food was pretty good! This is a bar, but around the corner from the bar there's a dinning room. My boyfriend ordered the meatloaf $13 that was really good and I got the customizable mac and cheese that came with your choice of two ingredients $12.75. The mac and cheese was also very good. My favorite part about this place is the music venue! The space is small and has it's own charm. We came there to see the Violens and the place was lively, but not super packed. For $10 the show was well worth it! Definitely come here to have a drink, eat, or hang out and catch a show. read more

Hey now, Harmony Grill! We dig ya. Yep. Dig. As in, needing a backhoe and shovel to try and dig into the pile of food you brought me for brunch yesterday. Loved walking up to your place, grabbing a table on the sidewalk with Awesome Wife, and the fact that you were so quick to bring me that be-boppin Bloody Mary, complete with it's own little party of salami, olives, cheese, AND pickled vegetables on a stick. Props! Four dollars? Seriously? I'd give you $4.79 without batting an eye! I'm spoilt' on account of having actually eaten beignets in my life. I very much liked (dug) the beignets you brought us with the berry sauce on the side and the avalanche of powdered sugar, but I could have probably dealt with a little more "light and airy" and a little less "sugar bomb." Still, we were happy to see it on the menu. For the entree, I went with the New Orleans Eggs, essentially a crab cake on top of an english muffin with a poached egg and hollaindaise sauce on top of the whole thing. With some pepper and hot sauce, it was a-okay. The wife had the garden omelet, which she thought was the bees knees. Service was okay. There was a mid-stream waitress switch, which went seamlessly. Water was filled, nobody was hovering. Good. In sum-$30 for two huge entrees, a starter, a bloody mary and a cup of tea. We'll see you again. Thanks. read more

We thought it'd be a great idea to be adventurous and head over to Flat Top Grill for their breakfast. Too bad they seem to be an epic failure in that department, ending Sunday brunch at the early hour of around 11:30am. Whatever is wrong with these people, it's no little thing. Who ends serving Sunday breakfast in Lakeview at the hour most of us are rolling out of bed or Church. I mean really, come on! Happily, we spied Harmony Grill nearby and remembering that I had the best, hands down, vegan burrito there several times before, we thought we'd try it out. First off, the coffee was strong and flavorful and really hit that "need coffee now--must function" kind of feeling. The waitress from the beginning was really nice and warm. We started with these sweet and puffy beignets with a raspberry sauce. They were little mounds of square fried goodness dusted with a generous amount of powdered sugar. Divine. I next had the make your own omelette and though I ordered an egg white one, I got a whole egg one instead. I didn't want to cause a fuss because the place was packed so I managed. My omelette with jalapenos and mozzarella cheese came with two pieces of whole wheat toast and I was happily stuffed. My other half had a voracious appetite (I told him that he may have a tapeworm living inside him tummy, but he doesn't lend any credence to that) and ordered a chicken and biscuits with gravy. That dish was enormous. Two huge biscuits and chicken strips drenched in gravy with eggs and hash brown potatoes on the side. Not even Paul Bunyan would be hungry after that. Other than the little egg white issue everything was really great. We'll be back several times over! read more

Schubas Tavern - Make your own omelette - jalapeno and mozzarella cheese! - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This used to be one of my favorite places to go for brunch or dinner. It had been a while since the last time I went, and I have to say I was unpleasantly surprised. First off, the service was horrendous. Yes, it was a Saturday night, but I could SEE my server just standing around, without telling us why our appetizers were late or asking us how our food was or refilling our drinks, etc. I would understand completely if he was running around with other tables, but he was just standing there, staring off into space. Now the food. I used to love it here. I had the sweet potato ravioli, and that wasn't too bad. It was very interesting. My fiance had the catfish po'boy and over 24 hours later he's STILL sick. Way, way, way too greasy. The only reason I didn't give this restaurant a lower grade is that I'm hoping this was just a one-time thing. read more

I arrived a little after 2:30 on a Sunday and learned that they were still on the brunch menu. I had originally wanted a buffet brunch but had been locked out of a couple places because it was after 2:00. Now, I want a real-food menu and this was mostly eggs and some burgers and chicken sandwiches. Oh well, I chose a grilled chicken sammy with brie cheese. (The description tells you theres an apple something pecan spread on it yet doesn't explain where the brie is.) And now for the sides...I chose potato salad as I don't like to eat fried foods. Guess what? They were out. "How about a green salad?" Nope, too early. Well, I don't want to pay for something I don't get but now I'm really hungry so I opted to ask the server if they would discount me $1. He agreed and I got my sandwich fairly soon. The chicken was cooked perfectly and it was large. It did have a nice big slice of brie on top and I wasn't sure what happened to the spread. The roll was crumbly as if it were several days old but I used a knife and fork to eat it and I was fine. They did discount me more than a dollar so this was not a bad experience. Yet, I don't feel I ever need to return. It seems to be a nice neighborhood place but I'm not in the hood and now I've "been there, done that." read more

My friend and I went here for brunch this morning because we wanted to try out their acoustic brunch. Unfortunately we didn't look closely enough and when we got there we realized the acoustic brunch wasn't for another 2 hours. I ordered the Mona omelette with pancakes on the side instead of hash browns and toast. My friend ordered the cinnamon French toast and a side of bacon. I didn't try his but he said it was very good, sweet enough that it didn't need syrup. My omelette was very greasy and if it had pesto in it I couldn't see or taste it. It was pretty much flavorless and definitely not worth the $10 they charge. The side of pancakes was very good though. Nice and thick and cooked perfectly. So this review is 2 stars for 2 reasons, 1. Because of the bad omelette and 2. Because my friend's side of bacon came with an additional surprise... A piece of hair. We sent it back, the waitress apologized and brought out a new plate but still charged us for it on the check. Rule number one in restaurants: if there is hair in a dish you comp it. Something else that was odd was the way you walk into the brunch room is through the bar and then through the servers' drink station which is unsanitary in my opinion. The service here was good and we didn't have to wait but the hair in the food, being charged for it, and having one of the most bland and boring omelettes that didn't come with everything it claimed ruined my experience. I don't know that I would go here again. read more

Still my "go to" place . . . even when I've got other places to "go to". Just went and saw my good friend (odd that I can actually say that) Chris Trapper at Schubas. Awesome venue and he packed the joint yet again. Hope to see him again soon, but until then Schubas will be home to a lot of other amazing times. Good drinks, good service, awesome venue, fun times. Keep it up Schubas . . . . .:-) read more

Schubas is a mainstay in the Lakeview neighborhood for music lovers. A new kitchen, still currently under construction on May 8th, will offer a new improved food menu. Mixed drinks are well made but pricey as are most in these trendier locations. There are beers a plenty! Plenty to choose from for the beer connoisseur. The small venue attached offers a "cozy music" experience with great sound. This is what Schuba's is known for. read more

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great selection...awesome bloody marys... my whole family enjoyed harmony grill overall. i was excited for the migas that i've read so much about but wasn't overly impressed. seemed like a great concept on paper but wished i went with the chilaquiles instead. there weren't enough tortillas but the server was nice enough to bring out a bowl of them to add on. it was then that i realized they use tortilla chip strips vs. real (fried) corn tortillas...blah. could do better at home. everyone ate up their meals - we all found our favorites on the menu. no one really raved about the food except for the beignets we passed around as an app and the spicy bloody marys. our server was right on the money with everything! nice, casual, fairly priced brunch spot in the 'hood... read more

Brunch is really good here. The beignets are awesome. This is a great place to meet up with friends on a weekend morning. It wasn't too crowded when my wife and I went, though it was a holiday weekend. The decor is nice too. read more

Lots of comfort food, focusing on Mac and Cheese it seams, great place for brunch (and to use another groupon!). Had the pancakes which were great. Nice busy and well run feeling inside, service is good, food reasonably priced...ticks down the list for a great place to come with friends on the weekend and enjoy a nice brunch (there aren't that many that aren't overcrowded and annoying!) read more

The very first time i heard of Schubas was when Wallflowers reunited and played there, I tried to get tiks along with the rest of the world and failed miserably. I was a little irritated by that but I will be in Chicago five years this August and now know how the ticket thing goes and it still sucks for a high profile show. That's why I was SO thrilled when on a whim I decided to go see the Vespers. Who are they? Good question, I had never heard of them, saw them on the calendar, listened to a couple you tube songs, liked them, saw tiks were $10, done. Will call was a breeze, actually arrived on time and was able to find a great seat on the bench up front of stage. Word to the wise, if you like to sit, then get there early, otherwise standing room only. You can fetch from the bar like me or wait for the wait staff to take your drink order, you might be waiting a while. The Vespers put on one heck of a show and were quite good. Music started at 7:30 by 9pm they were done and so were we. Off to dinner. Thx Schubas. Located in a great neighborhood with lots of bite/drink options within walking distance. Would def go see a show there again. read more

Schubas Tavern - The vespers - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been here a few times and I really like it more every time I come in. First and foremost, the bartender Lee is awesome. He reminds me of Anthony Bordain a little and every time I come in here, he gets me wasted and I ALWAYS never fail ask him if I've ever told him he looks like Bordain. He always gives me the same smile that tells me to fuck off and stop saying that. The other thing I really like about this place is that they have the bags game station. Yes, I said station cause it isn't the actual game, it's the VIDEO game! I love it! I am truly addicted to it, an I don't care who knows. They also have an old school photo booth so that you can have record of your idiocy. Parking can be a drag around this area, but it's worth it! read more

Depending on the night of the week, parking here can be easy or difficult. After dinner time on a week night, you should have no problem, and this is a perfect time to drop in and check out a band you've never heard of before. I've never experienced crappy sound here, the space is charming and intimate, the bar has a decent beer selection, and the bathrooms seldom have a line. In fact, because this is an inexpensive venue that doesn't use ticketmaster or slap you with other fees, you can afford to see the band and have as much beer as you want! Because it's small, it can get packed and hot, there's no room for coat check, and you shouldn't expect to be able to sit down while listening to the music (and probably not in the bar area, either). The jukebox in the bar area is pretty good, but a few times I have been there and it (along with the photo booth) was not working, or some jerks were hogging it and trying to start fights with other people who wanted to buy songs on it. The staff seems really tolerant of large angry men threatening to beat people up for any reason at all, so long as they don't actually get into fights. I guess I am spoiled by security being all up in everybody's business at other venues. Anyhow, if you keep an eye out for jerks and wear layers, you should be able to have a great, inexpensive time any night of the week. read more

When I was out in Chicago of course I had to see me some live music. Fortunately, one of my fave Boston bands was playing at the legendary Schuba's. Score! I know I know.. I probably should have seen a local band, but I was only in town for two nights. Next time most definitely! The music area is in a back room. The space is definitely a good size. Big enough to get a crowd full of energy, but small enough to feel intimate and not have a bad spot. For a smaller place the sound was killer. There are places in Boston comparable in size that really can't get a hold of their sound, but Schuba's definitely rocked it. The lines for drinks were long, so after two beers I stopped. The crowd however.. was there some serious pre-gaming I wasn't aware of? Cuz I did NOT get the memo. I think I got more beer on me than I actually imbibed. Is this the normal Schuba's "culture"? One thing that really bothered me.. the smoking. No one was smoking in the back music room (that I saw), but they were everywhere else. Sure I have friends that are smokers but to be completely soaked from my clothes to coat to hair, yuck. Also the fact that I'm having vocal chord issues because of second hand smoke isn't really cool. So sorry for being a hard ass. I'll be back when it's a smoke-free. I really liked the venue.. but I love my vocal chords. :) read more

Pretty standard bar fare, but food that ultimately tastes GOOD. The service was fine and the atmosphere was okay, though the smell of stale beer was definitely in the air. Shared the mac and cheese with my friend and we both really enjoyed it. We each had a sandwich and fries. Mine was blackened chicken and very tasty. I don't remember what my friend had since I was busy showing her my new engagement ring, but I think she ate it all. I've heard about the beignets at brunch, so I'll definitely be back for that, but Harmony Grill is a solid spot for dinner as well. read more

Hey Harmony Grill....serve your signature dish at brunch! I had my heart set on trying one of the delicious (so I am told) varieties of Mac & Cheese when visiting for lunch at 1pm on a Sunday. Unfortunately, they do not serve their Mac & Cheese during brunch hours. Great...now what to order.... First, we started out with a large order of the beignets. They were the best thing we had. The Buffalo Chicken Sandwich was OK, but certainly nothing special. I also had the chance to try my wife's burger. Again, it was OK. I will say that their breakfast items did look good, so perhaps that is the way to go. Service was definitely spotty as it took forever to get silverware and napkins. I am not sure that I would return. There are just too many good restaurants in Chicago to waste my time. read more

Amazing Gin and Tonics, diverse and fantastic menu. If you go here and do not have the mac n cheese, then I don't know why you are coming here! Oh, and brussel sprouts? Perfection. Seriously, I've have some amazing service here and not been let down once. I've never been to seen live acts, but I will sometime. I definitely need to stop in for brunch at some point. Mmm...soon....sooooon. read more

Recipe for Happiness: Take one comfortable booth on a warm Friday evening, and open the restaurant's front windows to allow lovely unseasonable sunlight and fresh air enter. Put two hungry and very thirsty ladies, armed with one Groupon, into said booth. Introduce a friendly server, who quickly brings waters, menus, and drink menus. Irrigate said ladies with copious amounts of cabernet. Nourish said ladies with two huge salads - one a cobb, the other a southwest salad with chicken. Put a small candle on the table to gently light the interior as the sun slowly sinks behind the bank building in the west. Have the server stop by occasionally to make sure ladies are well-lubricated and content. Never hover, but be available. Watch said ladies roll themselves to their feet and walk out, satisfied, satieted, and only a little unsteady. Say Goodnight, Gracie. read more

Stopped here impromptu with Clark after church on Sunday and absolutely loved our brunch. He ordered the steak and egg wrap which was outstanding, and my omelet with goat cheese, pesto, and tomatoes was just phenomenal. I almost ordered the strawberry stuffed french toast....next time. The atmosphere is so perfect here - we sat in the window and watched the snow fall. It was like a story book. Also, we learned that dogs are allowed in the front part of the bar, which was an IMMEDIATE sell for me! All employees were friendly, helpful, and very very nice. I cannot wait to be back for a show, more food, and brunch! read more

It's 11:59 PM on New Years Eve and the band walks onto the stage in front of a simmering crowd. I watch the ripples in my PBR as the drummer smashes the beat. The singer moves up to the mic and starts to count down: FIVE...FOUR...THREE...TWO...ONE! The music is loud, the crowd is jumping, and I drop my beer to join them in celebrating the new year at Schubas. I've seen probably a dozen shows at this place, and it is truly - as one performer said - a "church of music". The size is just right, the sound quality is consistently stellar, and people always seem to care a lot about whomever is on stage. The rest of the place is totally solid, too. Though is does get crowded on weekends and the bar area doesn't scale to masses of people very well. But honestly, if you're just coming here for drinks you're missing out and there are better places to get an adult beverage. Instead, come for shows. Just pick a random Tuesday and catch whatever group is there. Odds are the band will be phenomenal and your whole Schubas experience will be, too. read more

I was soooo disappointed with this place especially given the great reviews both here and from friends. My husband and I came on a Saturday night with great expectations...got there early and chilled at the bar until the music started. Drinks were good and the spicy hummus was delicious. Bar staff was friendly and helped to pass the time... But the music was terrible. $10 tickets for random amateur acts? It looked like these kids were right out of college and the rest of the crowd were their personal friends. The first girl reminded me of Phoebe from Friends...singing random songs that she made up. My husband and I kept looking at each other and thought this was some kind of joke?!? After the first two acts, we couldn't bear it anymore and left. We were so disappointed with this place. read more

nice room, great sound, tasty and decently priced drinks ($7 with tip for a mixed drink) The space is long and narrow. Bar in the front and the room for live music at the back. At first it would seem like it would be awkward but it works wonderfully. The staff is great and also know how to make the room work, both for themselves and the patrons. Never a small feat. read more

Cute, cozy neighborhood spot. Stopped in with a girlfriend of mine for dinner. Seated right away, as was everyone I saw come in. Friendly, attentive, and helpful wait staff. Steak pita- delicious. Great tender flavored steak, fresh lettuce and tomato, tasty pita. Burger- I didn't try it but was told it was "better than average." I would come back if I was in the area. read more

I so used to love the food here. Went today for Sunday Brunch. We were seated after standing around for 5 minutes. Then, no one came to the table for another 15 minutes. We weren't there during a super busy time either. Many tables were empty, since we arrived kind of late for brunch. The signature egg dish I ordered was supposed to be pulled pork on corn cakes with poached eggs. The pulled pork was full of sweet barbecue sauce and was horribly overcooked. It didn't even have corn cakes, they just put really small pancakes there instead. The hash browns were black and overcooked, too. It was also cold! My dining companion ordered a n egg dish with biscuits and gravy. They gave him almost no gravy, and the biscuits and eggs were dry. They definitely need to hire a new chef. They came back to fill coffee after a half hour, finally. Unfortunately, not going back! read more

It was difficult for me to really judge the Schubas venue itself given the fact that I was there to DJ an end-of-year party. It striked me as a nice pub but it is difficult to say anything beyond. I will visit again and update my review. So far A-Ok. read more

Schubas is an awesome place to get some drinks and go stand right in front of the amplifier and awe at the guitarist 2 feet in front of you. I went there earlier this summer and saw Nick Hornby do a reading in conjunction with a concert with one of his favorite bands, Marah. It was one of the most memorable shows I've ever attended. Schubas is intimate, contains a steady bill of notable performers and usuaully draws a good crowd. Rock out, dude. read more

Schubas Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Schubas is a really pretty bar with a lot of history. At one point, decades ago, it had a whorehouse upstairs! It's had a pretty solid reputation for booking good touring bands, particularly singer-songwriters and folk, americana, insurgent country kind of stuff, though all genres touch through here. My only problem with them is on a busy night, if the artist is popular, the room often feels oversold and stuffy. Escaping to the bar in the next room doesn't always help, as it can be just as crowded and smoky. Non-smoking laws would really benefit this place. Thus, my best experiences have been when great artists early in their careers play, and you can actually sit down and breathe. Nina Nastasia and Sixteen Horsepower are highlights that come to mind. read more

Schubas Tavern - Music Venues Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Good stage, good bar, good food, but a bad taste in my mouth for paying a cover after having the most sugary kamikaze I have ever had. Can I get some vodka in my drink next time? Yikes. Maybe my bartender was a little off that night. Sox and Cubs playing, big bands coming in. Oh well. Good stuff though! read more

I really like going to see shows here. The sound is usually really good and accomodates different styles. And they book some really great acts. It's the kind of place I can go see a show without really knowing who I'm seeing, and I can usually trust that the band will at least be good at what they do. I'm not sure I would hang around without a show to see though. There isn't anything especially compelling about the bar area itself. read more