Knew nothing about this place before going. It was simply near my friends place and we needed a place to watch the Hawks game. But very pleasantly surprised. Great Poutine and beer list. Service also was exceptional. Everyone in my group loved it. Great find! read more

Two stars because the food is really good and ambiance is nice. However, the service was poor. Waited an hour and a half to get our freaking food. 45 minutes after we ordered we asked what was up with our bruncg. The waiter said he forgot to put in our orders. Mistakes happen so it's not a big deal. But then we had to wait another 45 to get our food. Unacceptable. Also, wife ordered a bloody mary. They said we are out of bloody mary mix. But they served another table body mary a few minutes later. Waiter offered to pay for part of our meal...which was nice of him, but made us feel bad. 5 stars for food and ambiance -3 stars for service +1 star for apologetic staff = 3 stars. read more

We loved the ambience and the service. The drinks were good, but we both thought our food was a little too salty. Overall a great evening though!! read more

Great neighborhood spot. Food and atmosphere are great! Love the outside patio! Also great selection at the bar- my husband loved the wide selection of scotch. Will be back for sure! read more

I've gone there twice. The first time, a friend and I stumbled upon it. The drinks were...okay, and I ordered some soup because I wasn't really hungry. It was awful. I ended up just leaving it sitting out on the table content not to make a fuss (how can soup be so terrible?) The server saw this and took it back; that was kind of her. The second time I went because the place was so forgettable that I forgot I'd gone there. The second time was much like the first. Now I'll remember the name of this place so I'll never end up going back. read more

Great food! Wonderful atmosphere! Do not miss this place! Everything we are was good. Go for the Mac and cheese and the chicken pot pie poutine. The braised beef was a bit salty but still good:) read more

I stopped in here with a couple of friends not realizing it was Restaurant Week. Although the restaurant was full and we hadn't made a reservation, we were told we could grab a seat at the bar. We were able to grab three seats on one of the bar "nubs". These are ingenious. They're like little tables at the bar. I always hate sitting at bars when there's more than two people in your group. It seems like the person in the middle always has their back turned to someone. This arrangement allows you to all still converse without cutting anyone out. So clever. Although I could tell the bartender was busy with the full bar, he came by quickly with menus, and told us about the specials for Restaurant Week. The beer list was pretty extensive and I was feeling a little overwhelmed. One of my friends is a big IPA fan and was thrilled with the selection she had to choose from. I like to try different beers, but I don't usually enjoy the overly hoppy-style IPAs. Even though the bartender was very busy, he didn't act impatient that I didn't know what I wanted and asked what types of beers I typically enjoy. He suggested a Russian Imperial Stout from a Chicago brewery, Spiteful Brewing, which they currently had on tap. I was not disappointed. My other friend decided to go with one of the craft cocktails, the Helper Monkey, with rye and ginger beer. After having a sip, I knew I would be having more than just the beer I ordered. The special restaurant week menu offered a choice of one appetizer, one entrée and one dessert for $33. Being Wisconsin raised, I went with the mac n cheese. The sauce was rich and creamy, with the age cheddar adding just the right amount of bite. The panko bread crumbs gave the creaminess a nice crunchy balance. I refrained from licking the dish so I wouldn't embarrass my friends. For the second course, I went with the braised short ribs. The ribs were tender and flavorful. I'm not always the biggest fan of carrots, but these ones were so tasty, I cleared my plate. I also had a taste of my friend's quinoa, and have been craving that flavor ever since. I was pretty full after the first two courses and probably wouldn't have ordered dessert had I not gone with the special prix fixe menu, but I'm glad I did. I had a hard time deciding between the apple crisp or chocolate bread pudding, but decided on the apple crisp after one of my friends ordered the bread pudding. The apple crisp was a comforting selection this time of year. After negotiating a bite of my friend's bread pudding, I had to sneak in a few extra tastes, it was so addictively good. After we finished eating, we decided to stay for a bit and order whiskey flights. This place definitely has a passion for the whiskey. Again, the bartender took the time to ask our preferences and make suggestions on what we might like. Overall, we thought the food was great, with flavors I find myself continuing to crave (I don't ever want to not be eating that mac n cheese). The staff was accommodating and friendly. Even though the place was busy, the bartender never made us feel like we were inconveniencing him with our questions and took the time to ask our preferences and offer suggestions. I'll definitely be going back to try some more of the items on the menu (that pork shoulder looks pretty promising and there were a few items on the brunch menu I'd like to try). read more

Amazing place!!! We brought our 17 mo. old here on a Sunday night as a last minute thing. Everything exceeded our expectations! No kids menu, but the staff was happy to accommodate our daughter. The staff was very welcoming and pleasant too. We both had the hanger steak and it was truly amazing. Our daughter had the flatbread which she really enjoyed. Great beer selection, great cocktails too. We are definitely coming back here. It was such a warm, cozy atmosphere. read more

I don't often write reviews, but here goes... My wife and I had a date night last Saturday at the Monkey Paw and we had a good time. The food was excellent and the beer menu was fantastic. We had the P.E.I. Mussels, Pork Patte, Foie Gras and an assortment of cheeses...We will definitely come back. read more

I really like this place! Knowledgeable service staff and great weekday specials. Cozy atmosphere...feels like you are dining in a library. read more

Stopped in on a fairly slow Sun day night. Food was off the hook interesting and good. Booze is a bit pricey but food is reasonably priced. In one of Chicago's premier neighborhoods. Highly recommend. You will not be disappointed. read more

- Food was exceptional (brunch) - Outdoor seating was tranquil & pleasant - Recommendation: Try the "Morning Fix" for brunch read more

Came in tonight to grab a semi quick dinner and was very surprised to see that they only had 2 people working. That included servers, bartender and hostess. It took over 40 minutes to get our food. Super bummed cause the meatballs came out with hard cold cheese and the fries that came with the chicken sandwich were also cold. Maybe we will try again but not pleased. read more

The service was very nice and it appears that they put some money into making the place unique. However, the food was mediocre at best and extremely overpriced for mostly being sub-par and very small portioned. On the flip side they do have a good selection of whiskey but that is something you can get just about anywhere else in the city. My advice would be to skip Monkey's Paw. With so many other great options nearby this is not the place to go. read more

My husband and i are experienced cooks and diners who appreciate good food - especially local, low key, locally sourced and uncomplicated. We were therefore excited when the Monkey's Paw opened in our neighborhood - as we live less than two blocks away. We've eaten there close to a dozen times since it opened... i wish I could report that the food is great - the reality is, it's just fair. A recent meal included french fries that were awful - baked, and hard. A side order of brussel sprouts was presented in a pan swimming with oil. The fish and chips were more batter than fish. Overcooked pork smothered with a sweet sauce. Napkins that don't absorb. Dear chef - please rethink your sweet to savory ration in the favor of savory. And please - go visit the Bristol or Sola and take notes on their truffle fries. Even Five guys does it better! On the up side - the ambiance is cozy and warm - the wine list well rounded, and a nice selection of craft beers. We're not giving up on The Monkey's Paw - just hoping they get their kitchen act together soon. read more

I knew I would like this place when I tried the side salad and was blown away with how delicious it was. I mean, I'd go back for their side salad alone. I had their burger and it was so good I've literally been dreaming about it since. The hubs got their steak and it was also awesome. I would give them 5 starts had it not been for their ketchup - it was a little sweet and I just wasn't a fan. I'm just a weirdo when it comes to ketchup. But, their fries were yummy enough that eating them sans ketchup was totally fine. read more

Incredible brunch!!! Mimosas were best I've had and coffee was great too. We had to wait about 45 min for our food, but the service was second to none and they gave us our mimosas for free because the wait was longer than expected. Got the "pig sty", which was so delicious. There crispy pork belly was awesome. Whatever you get, make sure to get a biscuit - out of this world!!! read more

Awesome neighborhood bar and restaurant with a great patio. My wife and I's favorite spot.

I love this place! The ambiance is great, the food is great, and the staff is excellent. The food reflects a high amount of skill coming from a seasoned palate, not just burgers/fries/wings coming from a freezer with little care for presentation or creativity like at a typical bar. With that in mind, I think the portion sizes are very reasonable for the price, unlike what other Yelpers here have complained about! I plan on coming back here with a large party for my birthday. read more

Its tough to describe the cheeses at Monkey's paw but here goes: -wealthy, affluent, opulent, and flat out loaded. Disclaimer: There is a short mid-20's lady that walks around and steals your mini monkeys off your drinks so be on the look out. -Rich Cheez read more

Amazing food and a great selection of beer and wine. Very knowledgable and friendly bartenders. One of my favorite bars in the city.

Found this place on Yelp while looking for a good Sunday brunch spot. The atmosphere was great and the food was delicious!! I am coming back and would definitely recommend this place to others. read more

Four stars for service and ambience, one star for food. I would say the crispy Brussels sprouts were pretty good, the mussels were fresh enough(though flavorless) and the beets salad was ok. The Apple pork brisket was very dry and and not well flavored. Not a bad choice for dinner since the food was not terrible and service and ambience were both on spot. But I won't come back for food. read more

We live down the street and have been waiting months for this spot to open. We went in the first night it was open for a quick beer and liked the interior and beer selection. We went back for dinner a wekk later and weren't as pleased. Everything we ate was very good but portions were way too small. Either the price of plates need to be lowered or the size increased. The skewers we had were $7 and while they said you got 2 skewers, it was really one full skewer cut in half. The menu has a few full dinner options but mostly feels like tapas. For a full meal you can get a $14 burger or a $26 steak. That's about it. read more

Great atmosphere, friendly, warm, welcoming - excellent addition to the neighborhood.

Great vibe, small menu with excellent food at a good price. I wish there were more places like this in Chicago. The whisky list gets a little expensive but the flights are a better value ($13 for three good pours). read more

We're so happy to have this place in our neighborhood. The place is so inviting and everyone is friendly. The wine and beer menu is quite nice, I love the unique finds they feature and love a place with wine flights. More importantly, the food is excellent! I can't imagine why the complaints about price when the food is a little more upscale, it's not bar food. The menu seems to be well thought out each time we have eaten here. Everything is seasonally appropriate, I can't say more. It's a great new addition to a neighborhood that is overrun by bars. read more

This is an excellent spot in the west Lincoln Park neighborhood. We had an amazing duck confit poutine, heirloom tomato soup, burgers, fish and chips, & a great beer selection. The atmosphere is warm with great service. It's a gastropub with a fire place, the game is on, bring some friends...not to be missed. read more

I totally loved this place! I have a thing for non crowded bars where you can hear what the other person is saying! We came on a Sunday night and easily found parking. The place was quite empty at about 9ish and btw, I think the kitchen closes early or maybe its a Sunday thing. Anyway what will blow your mind is their whiskey/ scotch selection. Is it expensive? A tad I suppose. But all in all, I would come back! read more

Great ambiance, solid drink selection, and friendly staff. Dog friendly patio and good food.

In all, good food, ample beer selection and great cask manhattan. Food/Drinks are a bit pricey. I found the duck poutine small, but quite good, and thought the burger was good as well. I could do without the televisions, but then people would have to talk with one another which I guess is a scary proposition these days.? read more

I'll keep it short. This bar is great, the food is solid, just avoid Cody, the bartender. She's honestly just unkind. And I normally have a pretty large amount of patience for that kind of thing. Not sure if she just had one really bad day, but the service was bad and she couldn't have been more indifferent about us being there. read more

I'm always amazed that this place isn't busier. They have a gigantic beer and whiskey list, a nice lineup of wine bottles flights, and the ambiance is really nice. While it's not as cheap as some of the sports bars in the area for dinner, the food and service are always better and I really think some of the dishes are standouts for the price - the steak with fried farro in particular was one of the best I've had in Chicago. Great spot for a nice dinner out and especially in the summer with the windows open. read more

If you are looking for a great atmosphere, amazing wine, really interesting menu which is all farm to fork, Monkey's Paw must become a regular stop on Southport. It is cozy, and the staff is welcoming. The minute you enter you are greeted with a smile and from there it is a really comforting and impressive dining experience. And, to top it off they have French Press coffee and really fantastic desserts to end a wonderful meal of really upscale fare at a reasonable price. Acoustically friendly if you need to talk. Impress your date, family or friends at this gem on Southport (2500). read more

More a review of the attitude of those working brunch service on a Sunday than the food. Telling a party of two adults and a toddler that they would prefer to seat us at a table of 2 rather than 3. Um no, our son can eat. No kids menu. Food was ok but nothing crazy. Wrong neighborhood to be non kid friendly with food that isn't beating out other nearby brunch places. read more

Recently moved into the area and such a treat to have found Monkey's Paw. Wonderful atmosphere, excellent food, and great drinks selection. Also found it to be well priced and absolutely love the burger. Return often and always enjoy. Highly recommended. read more

Yes, I don't eat animal products, and I wouldn't have normally chosen this restaurant. But, because they offer (very) few options for non-meat eaters, I can objectively write a review. Gazpacho was on the summer menu, and I love gazpacho. Sadly, when the bowl was set in front of me, even my daughter questioned if it was, in fact. the gazpacho. This was a bowl of muddy, orange looking mush (think thick tomato soup, slightly off color). A few sprigs of green dotted the middle of the bowl. Where's the crunch, the small bits of cucumber and onion? Sadly missed. My other order was the pickled beet salad without the cheese. Flavors were good, but why must a beautiful, fresh salad be drowning in oily, salty dressing. Believe it or not, I would like to experience and taste the actual ingredients, and not just a mouthful of dressing. Service was as expected, nothing more, nothing less and nothing memorable. read more

Totally unimpressed by this place. We moved to the neighborhood a few months ago and have been meaning to stop by - we won't do it again. For starters, the bartender was 50% too cool to bother engaging with us. We ordered two appetizers - the Meat Board and the Heirloom Tomato and Panzanella Salad. I often enjoy charcuterie, but this meat board had really boring salami, a virtually inedible pile of some kind of tough, fatty cured ham, and a hunk of mushy andouille sausage. No mustard or any other sauce. You know the meat plate failed when the best thing are the apple slices. The Tomato and Panzanella Salad was equally disappointing. Big, hard croutons that were hard to eat mixed with mushy, totally overripe tomatoes. No thanks. read more

Came here for brunch with a few friends, and we weren't impressed. The service was good, but the food wasn't all that great. The best thing we tried was the Fried Chicken Sandwich. The Morning Fix was good too but was only able to have half - it was really rich so I'd recommend sharing it. A friend got the pork cheek with grits and didn't like it at all, so I'd recommend staying away from that. I heard they have a better dinner menu so I'd recommend skipping the brunch. read more

I've been twice since they opened and definitely like the place. Great selection of bourbon, nice wine list, and beer list. Love the ambience, lounge type feel with music in the background not the foreground, very nice change from a lot of the places where you have to scream to have a conversation. Scallops and skewers were both very good and loved the charcuterie plate. The menu has a lot of small plate offerings and its not inexpensive but nor are the places they'd compete against. Its not a burger, bar food beer place so if you're expecting that you'll think you're overpaying. If you want an upscale lounge with more gourmet type food, its comparable to some others in that class. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly which is a plus. The only negative is that the menu changes to the bar only menu around 10 and they don't always communicate that until after it's too late. I'll definitely be back. read more