Brookfield has a few bars. It only has a couple that are any good. Pub 78 is one of these. Just a…read morequick walk away from the train station, making this a nice pit stop for a few drinks and some basic bar food. The prices are pretty good and you get a lot. Along the way back I felt like stopping at a local bar. It was a good choice. This is a pretty chill place. Has a pretty spacious interior. There's a few slots and plenty of TVs. Prices are good. They always have a few specials. Domestic beers were on special that night. It was $3 a bottle, and they had some other specials. Food is about what you expect. There's burgers, and shareables like the Pretzel. It's $8 for a big ass. The bread soaks up alcohol, so you can hang out here longer and knock back a few more. Good local hangout with better than expected food. It's a nice place if getting back from the zoo and looking for cheaper alternatives to the food they have. The beer is the main thing but try some food including those big ass pretzels.

The best and only place for live music in Brookfield! Support live music and a great local business!read more

Delicious food, good cocktails and wonderful service! The proprietor and staff went out of their…read moreway to make us feel welcome.

I'm so glad there's finally a new neighborhood bar like Caraways in Countryside! From the moment…read moreyou walk in, the owner and staff make you feel welcome. They're incredibly friendly and actually take the time to remember their customers, which gives the place such a personal and community feel. The atmosphere is relaxed, comfortable, and perfect whether you're meeting friends or just unwinding after a long day. They have a really good selection of draft beers and cocktails, so there's always something great to try. The food is amazing too -- definitely beyond what you'd expect from a neighborhood bar. One thing I really appreciate is that they use beef tallow to fry their food, which gives everything incredible flavor and feels like a healthier, more traditional option compared to seed oils. This has quickly become one of my favorite spots. I keep coming back just to hang out, grab a beer or cocktail, and enjoy the welcoming vibe. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

I've reviewed Stulgin's before- just wanted to provide an update - it's still an EXCELLENT weekday…read morelunch spot! My husband and I love going here. On Fridays they have a fish special (fish or shrimp). The potato salad is still homemade as is the soup of the day. The BLT has so much bacon. I've never had anything I didn't like here. NOTE: Food is only served on weekdays, during lunch.

Went for lunch with friends. No dinner served. Great food and prices. Friendly staff. Gaming…read moreavailable

Awesome local dive bar with history. The owner loves squirrels and the 3 Stooges. He works there…read moreduring the day and his son takes over at night. No food other then snacks however there is a Subway Sandwich store next door plus they allow you to have food delivered there.

Go to this Dive Bar!! Inexpensive drinks & great vibes. Big TVs & games. The thin crust Pizza was…read morethe only food item but it was delicious and went perfect while we drank and watched the World Cup. Also The Owner & his Wife are awesome down to earth people. Cheers!!

Good basic bar food. Decent drinks…read more And service was decent especially given it was a fifa night. We were there to watch the soccer and there were plenty of tvs.

Solid neighborhood pub with decent food but nothing that really stood out to us. Probably a great…read morespot to grab a beer, and overall an affordable night out! There's lots of seating including an enclosed patio. We had the classic burger and chicken fingers with pub chips. Both were good, but could have had more seasoning. The pubs chips were tasty and I love the light, crispy texture! Our service was a bit slow, even though it didn't seem too crowded, but the servers were all very nice and friendly. This is a family friendly place with high chairs and kids menus available- several kids options including burger, Mac n cheese, chicken fingers and more.

This is quickly becoming my local neighborhood bar. We love stopping in here after our commute home…read morefrom the city or on a random afternoon to get out of the house. They have a lot of board games to borrow, pinball machines and multiple TVs usually playing some live sports. The best part about this place though is the staff - we've met the owner a few times when we're in, and have a favorite bartender who always seems to be here when we come. They are absolutely incredible and seem like just good people. For those who become regulars, the Draft Class membership is definitely worth it if you can snag one!

NINETY-NINE BOTTLES OF BEER ON THE WALL…read more This bottle shop in downtown Downers Grove has a myriad of craft options. Prior to last weekend, every time I walked past Orange & Brew the lights were still off (they don't open until noon) so I had no choice but to peer longingly thru the windows into a dark business. I finally stopped in during normal hours with the family in tow on the first Saturday in August. I got a mix-and-match 4pk of IPAs + pilsners for my dad, who has oft complained about the lack of decent brewskis at my house. Well Opa, now you've got a quartet of 16oz craft cans to pick from, so no more grumbling about "only shitty light beer" in the downstairs fridge! They have a large cooler for people to take beer to-go. My wife grabbed a 4pk of rosé hard cider ($13) which she later claimed tasted too much like kombucha. I found it refreshing, like a Woodchuck or Strongbow with a gorgeous deep purple hue. Of course I had to play their four pinball tables on the left side ($1 per game). They had a Stranger Things (with snazzy UV kit upgrade!), Deadpool, 007, and Rick & Morty. The first three are newer Sterns that play decently, but R&M is a strange design from Spooky Pinball that I've yet to figure out. * TL;DR * Take one down, pass it around.....that'll be $6, please! Orange & Brew shares plenty of similarities with Beer Shop in Oak Park: brews on tap, assorted brews in bottles on a shelf, and a fridge full of cold brews to take home. The biggest difference is that O&B has pinball tables, and that bumps them up a star. The guy behind the counter who tapped my beer didn't smile (or even say thanks) when we cashed out. I got the feeling he was apprehensive about my wife and I bringing our 4yo & 1yo kids in here, probably afraid they'd crack open and chug a beer without paying. But seriously, they were very well behaved. If I'm in the area and Orange & Brew is open, I'm definitely stopping in for a cold pint and a few games of pinball. Check them out!

THE USUAL SUSPECTS…read more This dive bar in Lisle is a haven for townies, which is certainly a vibe. Maple Ave Pub is, unsurprisingly, on Maple Ave just west of Route 53 in the western suburbs of Chicago. I'd estimate I've stopped here close to a dozen times, although a handful of those instances I neglected to check-in on Yelp for fear of my wife seeing it ("I thought you were coming straight home from work....") An older woman's been behind the counter seemingly every time, taking drink orders and making small talk. She's friendly--​moreso with the locals than with me--​and I'll occasionally get called 'hun', 'sweetie', etc, which is endearing. I got way better service from the hot tattooed barkeeps at Brauer House in Lombard, however. To be perfectly honest, I've never eaten anything here. The wings look like they might pass muster, though there's a few items that raise an eyebrow (clam chowder at a dive bar? thanks, I'll pass). Possum Pub in Melrose Park had surprisingly good food, and it was a major dive, so perhaps I ought to give the grub here a shot sometime. They have several pool tables, a Big Buck Hunter, Golden Tee, dart board, boxing machine, and pair of pinball machines; as of 6/19/24 they've got a Star Trek premium (Stern, 20​13) and JAWS (Stern, 2024). In the past they had Oktoberfest (American Pinball, ​2018), Fish Tales (Williams, 1992), and a stunning Circus Voltaire (Bally, 1997). Last week, the A/C wasn't working so this place was SWELTERING on one of the hottest days of the year. Normally I stick around for a couple pints and 2-3 games of pinball, but it was so toasty inside (worse than outside) I only played 1 game and skipped the beer completely. There were no fans on, either. * TL;DR * Dive bars are all well and good, but maybe it's time I found a new spot to hit up for a cheap domestic pint. Over the years I've gotten a handful of looks that can be described as quizzical at best, and dirty at worst. I've been ignored by the bartender numerous times--with cash in hand, mind you--while she's chatting away with regulars, as I'm standing there absolutely parched. I want to like Maple Ave Pub, but the feeling doesn't seem mutual. If it weren't for the pinball tables, I probably wouldn't return.

Old school, no frills--yes fun, un-corporate, low key place to hang with a friendly crowd and…read moretender--better than Cheers!. Old school, dark wood, good ole' bar with plenty of ways to entertain you. Decent selection on tap and in bottles as well as cocktails. Good bar food. Reasonable prices! Come as you are, no one cares. Bottom line: Very low key, decent bang for the buck on refreshments and food, low key crowd, lots of stuff to do.

Wishing I was there tonight! Since my first visit, I been back 4 times! ( IN A WEEK ) the open door…read morehas great selections of beer, (can & tap) bottled-wine, and all types of Liquor in bottles four pour! (Tequila- Whiskey- Gin) Service is great, YOU DRINK WHAT YOU LIKE! The is what a bar should be in a local spot, welcoming with ready for a game night energy. (:

Their slogan is "something for everyone" and they live up to that. I have never seen so many kinds…read moreof alcohol in such a small space! Lots of local beers with interesting names like Deth's Tar. I don't think they had any THC beverages though. They even have frozen slush machines for pina coladas or root beer freezesl My dad wanted to take us for a little wine and cheese snack, so I was expecting highbrow, but it doesn't come off that way to me. With 2 big screens showing a Sox game, it feels more like a sports bar. There was a good wine selection, and our cheese platter was tasty. We probably shouldn't have eaten it all without the kids' help, but we did anyway. Bathrooms are clean and family friendly, The one I used had a really nice changing table.