Friendly staff. Nice interior. They've decorated it up very prettily for Christmas. Love all the wood. Very lively crowd. There's a nice long bar running down one side and plenty of tables down the other. Not too close to each other so there's room to move. Very loud. Mostly a youngish hipster crowd with a few older people thrown in. The food was pretty good. I went with multiple appetizers to not have the bread of a sandwich but I shoulda stuck with the sandwich cause the meatball appetizer was only a dollar less than the sandwich AND fries. Still had bread and I had to pay $6-$8 to get my fries. (Which were yummy btw) I also added a small Monkey Paw Mac & Cheese with bacon. Which I was not a fan of. One of the cheeses has a sour taste. And I like sour but not in a cheese so this was a let down. And it was way too thin of a sauce. I like a nice thick cheese on Mac& cheese. Along with feeling I paid way too much for these three small things. The meatballs with their sauce and cheese were good. I went here though cause I thought they had a good poutine from all the reviews. Rave reviews on the poutine. I'm on a hunt for authentic, GOOD Canadian Poutine. But, of course, just last week they stopped having it on their main menu and have moved it to Sunday brunch. And it didn't sound like a true poutine anyhow. (Breakfast potatoes with sausage and gravy with some other odd things mixed in. Nope. Nah. Not what I'm looking to get. I want a TRUE, CANADIAN poutine.) So FAIL! So just a disappointment over all food-wise. Loved the place but would probably only come back if I wanted to hang with friends at a nice place. read more

This place was on my friend's list of places she wanted to try. With all the great reviews on Yelp, how could I say no? So tonight (Saturday) at 7PM, I arrived to open windows and a cozy ambiance inside. The place was not crowded, but perhaps it was due to people still being out of town for the Fourth of July holiday. Our server was helpful and friendly, frequently checking back on us as we tried to make up our minds on what to order. My friend ordered the ceviche and the market salad. I ordered the empanadas (aka "meat pies") as well as the market salad. It was just the right amount of food. The salad was delicious - sort of a caprese salad meets mixed spring greens with balsamic vinagrette. The empanadas were a bit disappointing as I was thinking more along the lines of a popular tapas restaurant in Lincoln Park or even the Filipino style empanada. This was neither. It was more like a toasted ravioli with pork in it. It wasn't bad, but I probably wouldn't order it again. My friend, being a South American with discerning tastes, was a bit disappointed in the ceviche. She said it was good but "different" than the ceviche to which she was accustomed. The service and the atmosphere are enough to bring me back. If I am going to find a favorite on the menu, I'll have to give the other items a chance. We shall see... read more

Stumbled acroas this with a friend. Ordered the almost caesar, someone had a burger and someone had grilled cheese (with tomato soup )which is really juat marinara. My salad was so frickin goooooood. I never thought grilled romaine was a thing, soft boiled egg on side and dressing was sort of light/vinaigrette which is MY FAVE. every body enjoyed their meal, and it wasn't too bad of a prof read more

Went for brunch, and it was super solid. The Monkey's Paw breakfast was a classic take on toast, eggs, and bacon. The setting is also unique and stylish. read more

Um, I love this place. I have to admit that when I went, it was after a volleyball game and I was all gross so walking into this place was a little embarrassing. It's definitely nice and brand new and would be a great spot for a date or something. Anyway... We had a massive table of probably 12 people. We all had great service and our waiter was kind enough to explain everything several times to all of us. I ended up ordering the Lighter Side flight that I believe had an Ommengang, and a beer from Revolution Brewery. All three were great and for $7 I thought it was a steal. Next up I ordered the yellowtail ceviche which was delicious. The portions are definitely small (unless you get the actual plates, in which case those looked huge) so just be aware. I also got the pick three cheese and meat plate. I got the salmon, and a brie-like cheese and goat cheese and it was delicious. I actually was stuffed afterwards and spent maybe $30 on everything. I definitely will come back, this time I'll be in non-volleyball clothes and with my boyfriend in tow! read more

We visited The Monkey's Paw after waiting for over an hour with bad service (only getting our drinks about 25 mins and no apps at the 1 hour mark) at Knife & Time. The service began pretty quickly and the waitress was alright - nothing amazing but not horrible either. We ordered drinks and apps. The wine and whisky flights are super cool and a few in our group did them. The appetizers were the best part of all the food options. We did the mixed fried cheese curds and pickles and the meatballs. The fried cheese curds and pickles were perfect. The breading was light and flavorful. They came with a few different sauces, which were all super tasty and went well with both. I loved that the pickles were thinner sliced and not too over/under-fried which usually happens with fried pickles. The meatballs were the best I've every had. I could have had a whole order to myself as the meal - almost wish I would have! They were soft on the outside and had a nice crust to the outside of them. The sauce was full of flavor and I could have licked the bottom of the pan. I got the chicken sandwich and it was blah. The fries were kinda old too. Overall - come for drinks and apps! read more

I wish we lived in the city, because this would be my new go-to spot. This place is delicious and outstanding and basically perfect without being snooty. The staff was fantastic (my husband spilled his water and the bartender was over to help before we could even think twice), and the food was exceptional. I got a grilled cheese, which isn't always the most impressive entree, but it was out of this world -- flavorful, gooey, with bread that had a perfect crunch. We can't wait to go back! read more

This place absolutely stinks. I have never in my life met a more uppity, conceded and flat out disrespectful waitstaff. I live across the street, and have tried to visit this place maybe a half dozen times. I have been turned away, treated poorly, and ignored for so long that I left before ever receiving food or service. That's right. No one came to my table for 30 minutes on multiple occasions. I tried 6 times. Have been served zero. Not to mention the disgusting looking staff are rude in general. You know that weird aunt who shows up to the family holiday party to tell you the importance of sustainable energy who endlessly drags on about political issues she doesn't know enough about herself to really be speaking on? She greets you at the door with an abrasive tone. She practically told my friend he was too good looking to dine there. If you don't live on the streets of wicker as a hippie rat scum you aren't welcome here. This place stinks. Their people stink. If you go there, you stink. read more

We live across the street and will definitely be returning..... in a few weeks (ie: after the kitchen/managers get a handle on things). All other reviews are spot on - portions are WAY too small for the price, so 1) lower prices OR 2) enlarge portions. Food was good, not spectacular. Hoping that after a few weeks of reviews and figuring things out, I could see the food being REALLY good. We have high hopes for this place! Drinks - awesome wine and beer flights. Worth visiting for a drink. read more

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Came here on a dinner date with my wife and the food was excellent. We had the Brussel sprouts as an appetizer and the portion size was HUGE. They were excellent though and hard to stop eating. I ordered the crispy chicken sandwich for my entree and it was honestly one of the best fried chicken sandwiches I've ever had. I've actually been craving it ever since. They also have a great bourbon selection and I ended up trying one of their flights and all 3 selections were excellent. I will definitely have to come back here, at least to order the chicken sandwich again. read more

Just had Sunday brunch at The Monkey's Paw and have nothing bad to say about my experience. The meal was delicious, service was great, and great overall ambiance. People were waiting outside to get in as they opened the doors at 11 am. It seemed like almost everyone had a reservation except us but they were able to seat us right away(party of 3). It might be worth having a reservation for Sunday brunch as the weather gets warmer out. I also noticed that the brunch menu at the restaurant itself had more options on it compared to the online brunch menu we saw earlier, which was a pleasant surprise. Whoever is in charge of the website may want to update it considering we were going to go to another restaurant for brunch that had more options but only choose The Monkey's Paw because it's closer to where we live. read more

The Monkey's Paw - Before - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Monkey's Paw used to have great food. They got a new chef in the last year or two (can't remember exactly when) and the food took a noticeable turn for the worse. Same sort of menu but not executed nearly as well. It's a shame, too, since the original MP was a place you bragged about as a hidden gem. The reason I still give it four stars is that I still think it's one of the best places in Lincoln Park or Lakeview for a date. It's cozy, has the right level of noise, and the beer/wine/whiskey selection is great. Plus, they have an extensive section of shareable snack options if you want a bite to eat but not a full meal. Please consider bringing back the old chef (or someone similar!) read more

Love Monkey's Paw. I live close by and we frequent the restaurant often. The ambiance is relaxed yet upscale and welcoming. The service is solid. My only request to the owner/managers is please consider giving the food menu an update. I'm guessing the last update was pre-covid. When the restaurant first opened, it appeared that food was more of a focus. I recall enjoying some amazing fresh fish specials. Now the only thing that changes is the soup or the decent but kind of mediocre flatbread. How about throwing in a seasonal salad or two and maybe rotating in some new entrees or apps? Last request...can you please add at least one NA beer to the menu? read more

This bar has a really nice post-COVID setup. Well-distanced tables, some really pleasant outdoor seating, and great service. My friend and I went here on a Friday afternoon for some drinks and we'd return. A solid neighborhood watering hole read more

Came for drinks with some friends. The moment we walked in the staff was rude. We had a party of 6 and they made us seem like a inconvenience to them even when they had multiple large tables open. Once at the table the server was not welcoming and did not take the time to go over an specials or recommendations. Drinks were nothing special would not go back. read more

I am always pleasantly surprised at how good Monkey's Paw is. They have a nice selection of whiskey and bourbon, a tasty drink list, and a decent craft beer selection. Our service has always been really nice, and I love the food. Definitely get the brussel sprouts! The pasta was really nice, and the meatballs are amazing. Yummy Mac and cheese, too! read more

Really great neighborhood spot! Very cozy and casual interior with some seriously great food and drinks. The cheese curds were a highlight. I enjoyed my fish and chips and my husband's burger. Also I know gin isn't their focus, but they make a really nice bee's knees. read more

We sat outside and had a laid back Sunday night dinner. There was a step up to the table that was available, so my friends helped bump my wheelchair up the step. The food is decent - we has the brussels sprouts (nice and charred!) and the burger with a fried egg. The burger is two thin patties and that along with the sauce made me think of a Big Mac - but this is a really tasty Big Mac! We also had the Goddess salad which was over dressed. This was my least favorite dish. If I were a local, I'd definitely frequent this place for a casual meal out. read more

I'm starting to wonder how Yelp derives the "good/not good for kids" designation because this is the second place I've been to in the past month with my kids where that statement was wrong. Highchairs+kids menu+ bucket of crayons + coloring book brought to the table= good for kids. Maybe it's not good for kids at 9PM on Friday but noon on Sunday was great. Extremely friendly service (Steven the waiter was great) and reasonably priced good food. And if the weather is nice they have a lot of outdoor tables. This is definitely a neighborhood gem and I hope to find myself here again. Had been here for dinner several years ago and liked it but hadn't been back. Only reason I didn't give it 5 Stars: why so much hollandaise sauce on the menu? I expect one brunch item to have it by default but there were two to three. And I realize I'm being super nit picky so it most definitely won't keep us from coming back. read more

Really liked the interior and atmosphere at this place. Super nice and helpful bartender as well. The good was good - but the menu is tiny I wish there were more options, but nonetheless the food was good and I would go back here. Nice neighborhood place. read more

Fabulous menu, server was super chill and nice, sitting on the patio was great. Inside is nice and spacious too!

This is a great little spot! Went for wine Wednesday and the atmosphere and staff were really nice.

This place is legit.com. Deets: Super cool vibe. Chill. Can actually talk to each other and not be like "what?...What??... WHAT?!" Awesome staff. Great energy. We were waiting for our food and heard a loud crash. Yep. That was our food. So they gave us a free added round of drinks, added a free salad, AND our entrees were taken off the bill. So awesome. Definitely check this place out. Free entree or not! read more

My 5 star rating is for the respect and care that the Monkey's Paw owners and staff are showing to their patrons. My wife and I live in the neighboorhood and are very happy to have a place to go where we feel safe at this time. All outdoor seating is legitimately 6 maybe 8ft apart and all staff wear masks. They clean the tables after each use and the menus can be accessed via your phone. Even bill paying is done virtually touchless. There are many places to go in Lincoln Park that are not maintaining legitimate and safe table distancing. The Monkey's Paw has put its patrons before profit and we thank you. See you soon. read more

We just hosted our rehearsal dinner this past weekend and it was amazing. Matt and the entire staff were attentive and so accommodating. The food, drinks and service were all excellent. I would highly recommend hosting a private event here or just coming for dinner. Thank you again for making our special weekend perfect. read more

My evening at Monkey's Paw was a lot of fun. It featured a beautiful venue, delicious food and wonderful friends. Who could ask for anything more on a Friday evening? Let me start out with the craft beers. As usual, I can't remember what I drank that night. All I know is I drank a lot of them. All of the Beers I tried were top notch. For my entree, I ordered the Slagel farms, beef burger. Everything on the plate was fresh and delicious. The burger was topped with Marmalade and a black, garlic ketchup. It was a different take on the traditional burger that I really enjoyed. There were so many entree's on the menu that looked good that it was hard to decide, so I took the safe route and went with the Burger. I can't wait to go back and try some of Monkey Paw's other options. It was a wonderful evening that I really enjoyed. And don't worry. On my next visit to Monkey Paw, I'll write down the beers I drink. Let's face it....I'm getting old and my memory is failing. But you know the good thing about losing your memory? You can hide your own Eggs on Easter. read more

Wow. So yum. We found this place on Yelp just searching around the neighborhood and I'm glad we made it our Sunday morning brunch stop. We were the first to arrive here but drink service began promptly at their opening so that was a win for everyone. Try the Bloody Mary. Get it spicy. I like to fancy myself a Bloody Mary connoisseur and the MP Bloody rates pretty high on my list. It offered a kick without lingering and feeling like all-out burning and the accouterments were a nice touch. My hubs got a morning Manhattan and loved it. It was crisp, cool and offered a maple twist on the original, so perfect for breakfast. All of our food was delish and served hot and fresh. I ordered the Biscuits and Gravy and really enjoyed the flavor of the gravy. My only complaint was that there was a bit too much pimento cheese in the whole thing - I would have liked a bit of that flavor without feeling like it was everywhere all over my biscuits. Also, order a biscuit or two on the side - you'll have enough leftover gravy to sop up. My dining companions enjoyed everything and had no complaints. Definitely worth a stop on the Brunch Tour of Chicago. The next time someone tries to make a brunch date, I'm going to suggest MP as the place we hit up. So yum. read more

About 10 years ago I worked with a guy who was Greek-Canadian. He had grown up in Toronto. He kept talking about this food called Poutine that they made in Quebec and that you ate after you had been to a bar or two or four. The recipe called for a base of frites that were covered in gravy and cheese curds. "That sounds fantastic!" I said as I tried to pull my finger out of my throat before I choked to death like a three-year-old who had found the small pieces in a "four years and older" toy. Like I'm going to trust some Canadian guy (from the British food side of the country) who says, "Opa!" whenever a piece of cheese goes up in flames and who recommends a French-Canadian dish that would be called "merde!" in Paris. Riiight... Needless to say, this chap had immediately earned the nickname "Poutine," until one day he made the mistake of ordering a half pint of Guinness, after which he answered to "half pint." But hence, I digress. Fast forward to tonight. I'm sitting by the fire with this gorgeous, hot redhead: the opposite of a red hothead. This girl's whole body was itching for adventure. She wanted to roll the dice for broke so bad that when I growled, "Let's get that Poutine and eat it like animals in heat, like it's our last meal on earth!" she arched her back, showed her manicured claws, and roared softly, yet authoritatively, like the MGM lion. I don't know whether it was the fancy short ribs and gravy they used, whether it was the satiated brick house sitting next to me, or whether my Greco-Canadian, Poutine-loving, half-pint colleague was right. But that Poutine was goo-ood. Even better was that we ate it picnic-style in front of the fire, and that I had a "Monkey Helper" cocktail to wash it down. The authoritative roar transformed to a soft, soothing purr, and life was good indeed. read more

I was truly disappointed in this place. Decided to dine here based on the great reviews but ended up wasting my cheat day on a very meh food :( The place looks nice, they have a cute patio with lights and plants and everything and service was quick and good, but the food left so much to be desired. I had the fish and chips that was among the worst I've had at a bar and the tartar sauce was a major disappointment. Tasted nothing like it. Fries were ok, which I get it is a hit or miss at most places. The monkey paw burger was also very average. Not going back. read more

Still in its soft opening phase when we went this past weekend, so I expected a few lumps and bumps in service, etc., but we experienced none. Very cozy place. I could hang out here for hours. Oh wait...I did. If you are a fan of whisk(e)y, you need to get in here. Seriously. Haven't tried the food yet...but we'll be back. read more

Stumbled upon this place from Chicago Restaurant Week. I got there early and was sat pretty quickly. Unfortunately, the table was really wobbly and really close to another table. I tried to discretly ask to move to another table, instead, the server said she'd adjust the table. When my dining companion arrived, he also noted the same issues, so we asked to change tables again. We ended up at the bar. I felt bad that the server lost the table, but she was swamped and probably relieved to give up a table. Everything we had was great, the winter salad, wild boar meatballs for starters, the short rib and chicken thighs for entree and cookies for dessert. The bartender was great - even recommending a few cocktails for us to try. This place was a little out of the way for me, but if I'm ever in the neighborhood again, I'll be back! read more

My Monkey's Paw experience last weekend was a waiting game with no prize at the end. I came here with some friends for brunch last weekend. We arrived just after 1:00, and the restaurant was about one-third full. When we sat down, it took the waiter a good ten or so minutes to get to our table. We order our drinks, one regular coffee and one cappuccino. We waited about another ten minutes just for these drinks. Our waiter asked us if we were ready to order at that point, but since we had spent the past 20 minutes chatting and catching up, we hadn't made our choices yet. He said he would come back and check in on us. We surveyed our menus and made choices pretty quickly, since the offerings were pretty standard and there weren't a great deal of options. But our waiter was no where to be found...ten minutes go by...fifteen...twenty...finally we saw him appear out of the back room and we flag him over to our table to place our order. I ordered a veggie omelet, one friend ordered the Paw Frittata, and my other friend ordered the pork belly benedict. And now comes the real waiting. I hadn't seen these friends in a while, so we were okay chatting for a half hour, looking towards the kitchen periodically to see if our food was coming. But each time, the server would pass our table and place the food on another. Another ten minutes go by...and food is served to the table of three next to us, even though they came after us. We decide to ask our waiter when our food would be coming, but he again disappeared, and after waiting another ten minutes for him to reappear, we ask another passing waitress to check on the food. When she comes back, she says our orders are up next. Ten minutes later, the food finally comes out. To recap, this is an entire ONE HOUR of waiting, just to get the food. This was NOT during a peak hour and we did NOT have complicated orders. We were all baffled as to why it took that long. When it comes down to it, we all ordered eggs. There is no reason to wait an hour to for them. My omelet was described as "veggie," but only had spinach and cheese. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great in terms of taste, but on top of that, it was unpleasantly greasy and pretty salty. My friend was pretty unhappy with her frittata, which she described as too heavy and greasy. Finally, my friend who ordered the pork belly benedict had replaced his potatoes with a side of salad. However, they had given him fruit by accident. He again had to wait for his practically undressed pile of lettuce to come out. A woman (who I assume was the manager) came over and apologized to him, and offered to give him a free drink. He politely did not accept it, as he was planning on going to the gym later. Our waiter then came over, and offered our table free drinks again for the long wait, but we all politely refused. After we were done eating, we again had to wait ten to fifteen minutes to ask the waiter for our check, even though we were the very last group in the restaurant. And to our surprise, nothing was comped, we weren't offered a free dessert or coffee, or anything instead of the free drinks. I left paying $20 for an alright cappuccino and an average omelet and a frustratingly long wait. I won't be coming back here. read more

5 stars for summer brunch I've been to monkeys paw twice now for brunch as it has the perfect patio and is also only about a block away from my house. I tried the paw Benedict - pork belly version and the morning fix which is assembled similar to a Benedict. Both were really amazing dishes. I wasn't in love with the breakfast potatoes but they weren't horrible by any stretch. I get OJ when I go because I'm off drinking for now but they have a great mimosa, Bellini, & cocktail list for brunch. I will be back to try the biscuits & gravy & chicken biscuit sandwich. I don't have any interest when I look over their dinner menu but it changes often so I'll keep my eye open. Service has been on point both times I went and perhaps because I went to brunch later in the day there was no wait for either outdoor or indoor seating. read more

Great place! You can rally tell that the menu is thought out and they really take pride in their restaurant. Excellent choice for Sunday brunch. Try the Bloody Mary and you won't be disappointed! Next time I'm in Chicago I will be back! Also, there is tons of street parking- a plus in Chicago! read more

This is a really cool, off the beaten-path restaurant. They have unique food dishes but also a unique sports bar atmosphere. It's a very unique blend. Unfortunately, I didn't try any of their unique dishes because I had a cruddy eating day. However, I ordered their baby kale salad and I loved it. I think it was simple, so you might think it is a waste of money. The dressing though was amazing. I usually don't like dressing except for a select few. This dressing was cheesy and creamy. It was the best. read more

The Monkey's Paw - Baby kale salad. - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best take out ever: just had the burger and cheese curds. Great flavor for take out. Go and pick something up, you and them deserve it. Support this gem in these hard times read more

Amazing food! Get the burger on sour dough...you won't regret it. Great drinks, and very friendly service.

Went here with my Dad and stepmom before we walked over to see the Batman Lego movie (also recommended) in Wrightwood Park. I'd never been here before, and was extremely impressed. The food was delicious, and the service was great. Standout dishes: cold coconut mango soup, farm vegetable quinoa Also tasty: PEI mussels, roasted half chicken They also have a nice selection of regional beers. read more

Great food! Great service! Wine and spirit drinks are a bit short for the price. Wine pour and Manhattan , though tasty, were disappointing. read more

Well we have tried this place twice now. Once for brunch and the second time for dinner. We sat at the bar for breakfast and somehow didn't get our coffee or water refilled every time they were empty even though we were one of two couples the bar tender had to serve. My date got their eggs benedict and I ordered the spinach omelet. The omelet was OBSCENELY over salted and but the potatoes were good. The benedict was good but a much smaller portion size than expected for the cost. We found it weird that it didn't have any accompaniments. The dinner service was much better than brunch until it came time to get our bill. Once we were done eating it took quite a while to flag down our waiter to pay. We ordered the pickled beets to start and they were completely bland. They had almost no taste at all which is quite odd for beets. My date ordered their Shortrib and I ordered the House-Made Pappardelle. The shortrib got great reviews. My date finished the whole thing and was quite content. I was not blown away by my pasta. There were almost none of the veggies listed on the menu, however the sauce was good. For the money... we probably won't be back for food. We might stop in for their higher end drinks however. They have a great selection of specialty drinks, whiskey and wine. And the atmosphere is quite a comfy and welcoming. read more