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    Small Bar

    4.2 (383 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Burgers
    Closed 2:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Small Bar Photos

    Business Info

    SMALL BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Small Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Cheese curds
    Kaitlyn W.

    Yes the bar is small but they have an above average-sized patio in the back with TV's set up so def visit while the weather's still nice. Accidentally sat right in front of the TV w my beer like the gaslighter I am. Food is courtesy of Patty pleaser. Great beers on tap. What we got: 1. The Pleaser (double) - Griddled onions, American cheese, pleaser sauce, pickles on a potato bun. Charred to the gods. You have the option of getting a single or a double 2. Cheese Curds - served with jalapeño ranch

    Cocktail menu
    Juliana R.

    Great neighborhood bar! I would love to come back for the food as the burgers looked, and smelled, delicious! Drinks came out fast, bartenders were helpful, and everything tasted great. The back patio was a great space to drink even when it was cold outside. Cute decoration for the holidays and a nice cozy feel all around.

    The vibe on an early Tues eve

    Charming neighborhood bar with a solid vibe. We walked in for the first time and felt right at home. Workers were very welcoming. Cannot go wrong with the smash burger selection. Made with pride by the staff. Excellent selection of beverages. Nice little outdoor patio for the warmer months too. A feel good place in a dying breed format.

    Rozalynn B.

    Really good!!!! This smash burger was BOMB!!!! We have been trying to get here for like 3-4,months and finally dropped by. We were seated in a booth and ordered at the bar. The food came in 10mins and it was PIPING HOT. Baby they know what theyre doing in here! Perfect smash. Decent service. The drinks were $12 each and they were tiny, but taste good. I shall return!

    Frozen Banana Daiquiri
    Christopher V.

    I'm a bit conflicted about my star rating for Small Bar. The service is really friendly and they have exceptional smashburgers. The fries and cheese curds are great too. Food prices are reasonable. My issue is with the pours on the drinks. The $12 drinks are deceiving. At first glance one might think is a great deal though the glasses and pours are at least 1/3 smaller than average. It's like an intentional optical illusion, lol. Maybe there's a triple entendra at play between the literal small bar, cups/pours, and seating options. The Old Fashioned might be less than than 3 oz. After a burger, fries, curds, and a couple drinks don't be surprised if you're set back $80!! All in all still worthy of 4 stars.

    The Pleaser Fries ($10)
    Kaitlyn C.

    This spot is great for both food and drinks. It's in a very nice area as part of the neighborhood. The food is delicious as that's why we came here after grabbing some drinks after work. The food did not disappoint. The burger was delicious with the cheese and sauce. The pleaser fries had a lot going on but I was very impressed with how crispy the fries remained even with all the toppings. After awhile, the sauce and meat became a lot but those first few bites were delicious. I think next time, I would get the fries and sauce on the side but I loved how crispy the fries were. I highly recommend coming here whether if it's for food or drinks. You can't go wrong either way.

    Smash Smallbar Cheeseburger
    Natasha A.

    Delicious burger, fun drinks, cool vibe. The burger is a smash, I got one with onions smashed into it. It has a great crisp and some delicious flavor. Overall one of the top 5 best Smash Burgers in Chicago. We got French fries and cheese curds, the fries were shoe string and crispy in the right way. The curds were less cheesy than I wanted but good crispy shell. They also had frozen banana daiquiris which were so tasty, a great beer, and liquor menu. The staff are fun, welcoming, chill. Definitely not kid friendly but it does have a bunch of Xmas decor which is cute.

    Matthew H.

    I can't speak for the bar itself as someone else went inside but they mentioned great drink deals and a laid back vibe. What I can speak on is how damn delicious those patty pleaser burgers are. These guys were slinging out burgers like no tomorrow and after about 45 mins of them grinding mine came out and it was absolutely rocking. Hot, fresh, and well seasoned. Well worth a visit for the burger and a beer and maybe a shot while you wait.

    Ari L.

    Burger was burnt today and it didn't taste as good as last time. Think I'd rather go to Leavitt Street. Their smash burger beats Small Bars. Still like this spot and they have great cheese curds, but the burger left me dissatisfied today.

    Classic Smashburger
    Brian D.

    This place is aptly named Small Bar. But what's inside is anything but small on taste, service, or ambiance. From the Hamm's sign as you enter, to the orange glow of the bar, to the dartboard stuck in the back corner, it's a step back in time to a place that your parents hung out at. It was packed when we arrived on a Tuesday night so we found a spot to stand along the wall while we waited for a booth or a bar spot to open. They eventually did about an hour later. Went with the classic smash burger and cheese curds with the jalapeno ranch dipping sauce. Everything was A+ and we were so impressed we got the Pleaser burger to-go to split as a late night snack. This place is fantastic, I don't even have any recommendations to make it better. Keep it up Small Bar!

    Smallbar Cheeseburger
    Aleah H.

    We've been making our way through the classic "best Chicago burger" lists, and Small Bar is the first to blow me away!! So crispy and flavorful! And the sauces they offer are also 10/10 Cocktails are fun bar cocktails, and the fries and cheese curds also exceeded expectations! We weren't able to get a patio table on a weeknight at 8:30pm, but grabbed an indoor table after ordering while waiting for food. Service was also amazing - Bartenders and wait staff were super kind and gave recs!! Perfect dive bar!

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    1 year ago

    This is a great place. The smash burger here is my favorite in the city. Service is good very attentive the vibe is chill.

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    2 years ago

    Really fun neighborhood spot. Incredible burgers, cute patio , vibes are good. Parking can be a pain sometimes, but worth it

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    1 year ago

    Best smash burger in the city, get it every single time I visit Chicago. The happy hour is very reasonable too.

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    2 years ago

    I must say for a pub it is an excellent burger cheeseburger is season while also try the cheese curds they are so good

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    2 years ago

    All in all a fantastic experience. Great service and the burgers and fries were top notch. Every neighborhood should have a bar like this

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    Page 2 of 10

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4
    (9.6k reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    One of the best burgers I've ever had. The bone marrow was really tasty too, I've never had it…read morebefore

    Au mother Fugging Cheval -- A Burger That Actually Lives Up to the Hype…read more The Spot itself has major aura and swagger. Hard to describe but you just know you're at a very important place but that doesn't take itself too seriously. There are burgers that are good, burgers that are great, and then there's Au Cheval. I went in with pretty ridiculous expectations considering this place has been called one of the best burger spots in the world...and somehow, the burger still delivered. That's rare. The patties were insanely juicy and perfectly cooked, with that beautiful crispy, caramelized edge you want from a great griddle burger. The combination of the melted cheese, creamy sauce, onions, pickles and that ridiculously buttery brioche bun was borderline unfair. Rich, messy, salty, savory and completely indulgent in the best possible way. And that bun deserves its own mention. Soft enough to absorb all that glorious burger juice without completely falling apart. The whole thing is constructed like someone actually understands what makes a burger great. Is it the best burger I've ever had? I DONT FUCKING KNOW. but I completely understand why people put Au Cheval in the conversation for best burger in America, if not the world. The hype is real. This is a fucking burger. 9.7/10

    Photos
    Welcome
    Welcome
    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash
    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash
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    Little Bad Wolf

    Little Bad Wolf

    4.4
    (2.6k reviews)
    3.8 mi
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    Food is always great. Service is usually good. Ambiance is unique - very sultry with low light but…read moredoes have loud music and a lot of ambient noise. Good for a romantic date night.

    Nestled on a corner in Andersonville, Little Bad Wolf is a charming restaurant with a large bar…read moremenu and delicious, heavy bites. There is outdoor seating under a pergola lined with semi-private planters, while the inside features a bar, high tops, low tops, and large booths. The music was upbeat, giving the space an elevated lounge vibe that pairs really well with the upholstered booths and vintage industrial design. I ordered the Wolf Burger, which is a whopping three-patty burger. That first bite was juicy and pure bliss--a total explosion of great flavors. It was a little messy (like all burgers with an egg), but the extra liquid was perfect for balancing the density of such a meaty burger. The soft bun soaked in a lot of those juices with each bite, intensifying the flavor as I ate more. The fries were thin and on the greasier side--not my personal favorite, but they worked alright as a vehicle for the sauce. Speaking of which, the chili aioli served with the fries was fantastic. We also got the mac and cheese, which hit a great balance between rich and creamy without feeling excessively wet. The boat it came in was a bit small, making it a little messy to scoop out with the serving spoon, but it was soooo good. Overall, it is absolutely a fantastic neighborhood place for comfort food and drinks with friends in a great space!

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    Fresh flowers
    Fresh flowers
    Shrimp Tacos
    Shrimp Tacos
    Bad Burger with fried onion strings

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    DMK Burger Bar

    DMK Burger Bar

    3.9
    (2.1k reviews)
    2.6 mi
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    DMK is one of our absolute favorites. The food is always incredible, and the quality never misses…read more The burgers are cooked perfectly, the toppings are fresh, and the fries are some of the best anywhere. Every time we go, the service is friendly and the atmosphere feels easy and welcoming. We've been going here for 10 years now. It's a place that just gets everything right! Great food, great people, and a consistent experience every visit. Always looking forward to coming back.

    3.5 stars Attention…read morevegetarians: The fries are fried and brined with beef tallow*. You can get a vegetarian version of the sweet potato fries. We popped in here for a quick bite before husband's show in Wrigleyville. It was pretty empty what we arrived and the overall ambiance feels sterile. It did pick up with more tables while we were there. I got the veggie version of the Little DMK and the Lazy Refresher mocktail. *I ordered fries for us to split, which is when the waitress warned me about the fries. I really appreciated the call out, but was surprised it wasn't on the menu itself. Husband got the patty melt and noted that the beef tasted very peppered. Both burgers were fine. My drink was a little sweet, but overall good. Staff was friendly and attentive, but even if I were in the neighborhood, I don't see it as a place we'd frequent.

    Photos
    DMK Burger Bar
    Lamb, feta (on top), tapenade, tom and onion salad, tzatzki (on bottom)
    Lamb, feta (on top), tapenade, tom and onion salad, tzatzki (on bottom)
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    Green chile, bacon, egg and jack cheese

    Small Bar - bars - Updated August 2026

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