Hidden gem in South Loop. something for everyone on the menu. feels like home. great service! read more

Victory Tap Chicago - yum - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Victory Tap was a work related larger group dinner in one of the private rooms upstairs. They have separate full bar upstairs, which is nice. For food, it was a buffet style setup. - Ceasar salad - Sausage and peppers: good flavor on the sausage - Rigatoni - Chicken parm: I appreciate that they had a lot of extra sauce for this - Cheesecake The downstairs area was packed with people watching the World Cup. Upstairs, it was much quieter. It has an old school Italian institution feel (though I think it opened maybe about 10 years ago). It's not quite a destination but was a solid work dinner. read more

One of the more disappointing restaurant experiences I've had - there is not much nice I can say about Victory Tap, unfortunately. From the very start, I could tell that they're understaffed - the chef/owner is the only guy taking orders. He's nice, but he's got way too many tables and forgot some of our requests. The food was no better - I had an aioli made for me since I'm lactose intolerant that just ended up having no flavor. My friends' food also wasn't a hit. Can't recommend coming here to anyone. read more

Victory Tap Chicago - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience here. I came prior to happy hour and sat right by the doors to outside as it was very nice! I had a great view and the lighting was perfect . Our server was the sweetest and she stopped by to check on us throughout our visit. I really enjoyed the food and the serving sizes are really large so be prepared to share dishes or take food home ! read more

Victory Tap Chicago - Menu - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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After this most recent visit I had to do a double take to confirm this is the same restaurant I gave five stars to in the past. All I can say is, blame it on the alcohol because there is no way! I had the pizza and a few of the cocktails during my first which were delicious. Due to me having a little more time I wanted to During this visit I wanted to try one of the traditional entrees. I opted for the chicken parmigiana. It came with a small side of pasta. All I can say is eeeeyuck! The chicken was beyond overcooked. It was dry and flavorless. I was surprised because it is such a classic Italian dish. It's my safe option whenever I visit a new Italian themed place. The side of pasta was also flavorless. Unfortunately I ended up sending my dish back because it was too expensive for how bad it tasted. The waitress was very friendly and offered to have them recook the dish or have me pick out another entree. I opted to not get another dish. I did enjoy a glass of red sangria. The glass was sizable so worth the cost. Overall, I cannot see myself visiting Victory Tap Chicago in the near future. read more

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Good was amazing. Our group had a reserved table upstairs with family style servings of amazing Italian dish! The portions were big to share with a big group we even had a lot Of leftovers. The cheesecake and tiramisu dessert were so good, I made some Room in my tummy. Drinks were great! Staff were friendly. We had a little wine spill incident and the staff helped cover and clean up the spill. Highly recommend if you're in downtown Chi and craving Italian! read more

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Great classic Italian spot in Chicago. No frills, but still great ambiance, food and drinks. We first sat at the bar and enjoyed a refreshing spritz. We were then seated in the dining room, and service was quick and great. The portions were decently sized, and we all loved the complementary bread. I got the chopped salad and also shared the mussels appetizer over pasta and red sauce with my fiancé. This was tasty, and my brother's linguine with clams was even better. The nonna's gravy was a heavier dish and on the salty side. My Chianti with the meal was delicious and at a great price of $10 per glass. We loved our meal and experience overall, and would love to come back and try more dishes! read more

Victory Tap Chicago - Mediterranean Mussels, chopped salad, Linguine with Clam Sauce, Nanna's Gravy - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here with a group of colleagues while in Chicago on a business trip, and it did not disappoint! The ambiance was amazing - they had a fireplace going and had Italian music playing and Christmas decorations up. It was such a cozy, homey vibe. Our service was quick and efficient, and the food was out of this world! We ordered everything to share and they gave us plenty of share plates and even portioned out our salad for us. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was crispy, light, and delicious. We also shared a family-sized caesar salad. I really appreciated the homemade croutons - amazing! Oh, not to mention, they give you warm bread to dip in a homemade marinara sauce for the table when you arrive! For entrees, we shared the mushroom rissoto which was flavorful and rich, the pasta carbonara which was again rich and delicious, and the stuffed shells. Everything was incredible! For dessert, we shared a piece of Tiramisu and the canoli. Chef's kiss all around! Upstairs they have space for private parties. Looked super intimate and classy. That's where the restrooms are located, too. They have an elevator for access. read more

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Had a last minute team dinner here as Giordano's had a 90 minute wait and shut down their bar to any seating. Offer regular and family style size plates. Pizza is thin and decent, not amazing but above average. The meatball was flavorful and plentiful, 2 meatballs served our table. Entrees and salads are big portions. Had never seen a fried hard boiled egg on a salad before. Our waiter was great- JoJo was his name. He was running circles around the busboys who didn't seem to want to clear our plates and only fill up water glasses. Drinks took a long time to receive as the bartenders were always in conversations with themselves and taking forever to make cocktails. If it wasn't for JoJo we would not have enjoyed ourselves as much. His personality and care went a long way in determining to give 5 stars which I don't do lightly- make sure he is celebrated and recognized before another restaurant steals him. read more

Had Aunt Angie's stuffed shells and 8 Finger cavatelli. Amazing, real Italian food. Jojo as our server was great also. Highly recommend!

Great place for a carb loading group dinner before a big race! We had a group of 13 that were accommodated well. Our table was on the 2nd floor dining area. Host let the early arrives get seated first vs waiting until we all arrived. Complementary toasted garlic bread was really good. Bread was light, crispy on the outside and brushed with butter, garlic and parsley (and not too greasy). Marinara sauce was given to us as a dipping sauce. Bread was replaced readily upon finishing. Service was on pointe. Menu adjustments were made within reason and our waters were filled regularly. Food choices were traditional Italian fare (salads, appetizers, meats, seafood and homemade pasta). I had the 8 finger cavatelli. Dish was enormous, with a rich tomato sauce flavored with dried chilis, and prosciutto. Others enjoyed their pastas as well (spaghetti pomodoro with meatballs looked good). Great memory and food! read more

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very cute space, tons of room, they had the football games on! Everything came out in a timely manner. We got a bottle of Chianti to split which was great! There was garlic bread brought out as well! Sadly this was the worst Italian food I have had in the city. I got the carbonara and it was almost inedible. It tasted freezer burned almost. The peas were cold. The pasta had a freezer burned almost flavor. My friend ordered the meat ravioli. First time it was cheese ravioli and the cheese was frozen. 2nd time it was marinara, and the 3rd time it was still cheese and it was frozen. They did take this off the bill, but how do you mess this up 3 times! Nothing is made fresh since the cheese and peas were both frozen. Cool spot, but disappointing experience! read more

Victory Tap Chicago - Carbonara - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Solid place to get Italian food, watch sports and get a drink. Good service and very attentive. I try to hit up this place when I come to the South Loop. The linguini and clams in white wine sauce is excellent. So good. The minestrone soup was decent. My serving came out hot but content was a little mushy. Still good. My only critique is the wine choices could be a little better. Overall very good. Highly recommend. read more

Victory Tap Chicago - Linguine with Clam Sauce - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My family goes to Victory Tap very often, but this was my first time here! First off, I can't get over the complimentary garlic bread and marinara they give at the beginning. We ordered the caesar salad and bruschetta pizza as an appetizer for the table; they were both incredible and extremely flavorful. I got the chicken milanese, and I loved how thin it was with the compliments of the arugula and tomatoes. The service was phenomenal! Our waitress knew my parents, so she was taking care of us so well. Additionally, she even brought out a dessert platter for us to have. The ambiance was very nice; it comes off as a fancy Italian restaurant, but there's even a bar for you to just grab a quick drink. read more

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We came on a busy Saturday night and were glad we had a reservation! Despite the rush, we had a decent dining experience overall. Our server, Danny, was friendly and attentive whenever we were able to get his attention; he was clearly juggling a lot. When we first sat down, I noticed my plate wasn't clean, but Danny quickly replaced it with a fresh one, which I really appreciated. The food was... okay! I've been here a couple of times and while it hasn't blown me away, I think the value is pretty decent for what you get. I enjoyed the complimentary garlic bread while we wait for our food. So tasty! My fav thing here is the fried calamari. Perfectly crispy. It was supppper loud the time I went, but it was expected for a lively atmosphere and packed crowd. Definitely seems like a spot to have a great time. read more

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We had dinner here this evening for the first time to celebrate our son's birthday. Our server Alyssa was darling and very attentive. We had the mile high lasagna and the gnocchi Ramona. Toasted garlic bread is presented at the table when you sit down with a tomato dipping sauce that we enjoyed. The decor all around the dining room is fun to look at and reminisce about old movies. The staff is constantly moving and helping to fill water, clear plates, serve the dishes, and wrap your food to go. Service was very quick and our meal was served within minutes of ordering. The best part for me was Sauvignon Blanc wine that was on special. I read more

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I'm sure this is a fine drinking establishment, but as a restaurant to grab an appealing lunch it was somewhat lacking. The meatball and the chicken/eggplant parm sandwich were both remarkably bland. The pizza was troublingly wet. Maybe they are putting all their effort into dinner, maybe somebody in the kitchen lost track of the seasoning, or maybe you have to have a few drinks to really appreciate it, I'm not sure. read more

We had stayed away other than a rare glass of wine at the bar based on our past experiences, but friends told us they had a great experience both food and service wise so we decided to try again. Sadly, it was a miss all around. Food took forever and after waiting 45 minutes (and seeing other diners make it all the way through their dinner), we pressed for an update. We were told they burnt our pizza so didn't bother to bring the rest of our food and also decided not to remake the pizza. What?!? After an hour and 15 minutes we got salad, meatballs and an undercooked pizza. It all tasted mediocre and that's after being ravenous. They comped the pizza and a glass of wine since we ordered multiple drinks while waiting for food. The kitchen was at fault, but the server/bartender could have apologized or offered to check in on the food or brought bread or countless other things. If we had not complained, we'd still be sitting there. We won't be back. read more

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The food is amazing. I got the 8 finger cavatelli pasta and it was delicious. Service is always outstanding and the Cosmo drink is really robust. read more

Victory Tap Chicago - 8 finger Cavatelli pasta - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This may be our favorite restaurant in Chicago! Everytime we visit Chicago we make sure to dedicate a night here. The pasta has always been amazing. The highlights are the Nannas gravy and the mile high lasagna. The drinks are strong and they will customize it if you need it sweeter. The ambiance is old school italian with pictures on the wall and dim lights, so it is great for date night. We cant wait to return! read more

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Sit at the bar. Have an espresso and a Carajillo 43 cocktail...maybe have 2. It was a late lunch, so we ordered one of every item on the lunch appetizer menu. Arancini, sausage and peppers, calamari, grandmas meatballs, and a delicious plate of pasta al'olio. Everything was spot on. Tony and Jaime will make you feel at home. Old school service is alive and well at Victory Tap. ...Come in for the authentic menu and stay for the first class hospitality. Salud read more

I finally made it to Victory Tap's happy hour after hearing so many rave reviews, and it lived up to the hype. The drink prices are unbeatable for the South Loop: $7 wine and $6 well-mixed drinks that didn't skimp on quality. The atmosphere was dimly lit, staff friendly, with good music and a lively crowd -- you can tell this is a popular local favorite where people come to unwind. The menu was a hit across the room, but I stuck to the meatball and the sausage & peppers, both of which were flavorful, hearty, and delicious. This place has all the makings of a go-to spot: fair prices, good food, solid vibes, and strong neighborhood energy. I can't wait to go back and explore more of the menu. Victory Tap has officially earned a spot on my South Loop rotation. read more

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We had reservations last night at 530pm arrived on time was seated upstairs in the hallway NBD. Server came we ordered everything drinks 1 appetizer and dinner same for both of us. 1 hr and 15 min later only had received drinks. We had a show to get to why we ordered everything at the same time. Our server asked us to go downstairs and talk to the manager which I did and I canceled my dinner order since there wouldn't be time to enjoy it. My husband only had a little of his as we had to get going to the show. A bit later another man I guess the real manager came up to speak to us not to apologize but to offer all the excuses as to why this had happened. We really just wanted to pay and go. We were extremely disappointed and would not recommend trying to go here before a show. read more

Walk place and the place look warm and pleasant, was greeted at the door and got seated at the bar by my request. Bartenders are polite and engaging, ordered their steak entree medium rare was fantastic, person next to me ordered pizza smelled amazing, I'd highly recommend. read more

I love Victory Tap! It is everything I look for when dining out. Dark, vintage and classic. It feels so cozy and welcoming as you walk in. There are great tall boy tables by the window and even a fireplace. Our server was so helpful. He was attentive and always smiling. We shared several things and loved them all. I loved my salad and could eat it everyday. The pasta was hearty and delicious. Victory Tap remains one of my South Loop favorites. read more

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Every time we get to Chicago we make it a point to have dinner at Victory Tap. The food is amazing as well as the great service. The wine selection gives us the chance to find a new favorite every time. I highly recommend coming here for food anytime. read more

Try this place out because it was close to where we were staying during our visit to Chicago. We actually walked. The drink was good. Ordered a mule ordered Seabass, which was it was just OK... the bartender was awesome. They actually had one of my favorite drinks, which is ginger beer brand name fever tree! Great atmosphere, good lighting as well read more

Victory Tap Chicago - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is great and the plating pleases the eyes. Wine list is elaborate while the beer selection on tap is limited.Service is first and foremost efficient, and ambiance ver nice but also very noisy. Not good for old ears. read more

Eggplant Parmesan was good but I still recommend he rigatoni the best! Crab cake with the sauce was sooo good. Highly recommend. Vibe: your local hangout spot hole in the wall spot. The bartender knows repeated customers. Great service! Only downside I can think of is how pricey it can be. read more

Victory Tap Chicago - Crab cake was so good - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great atmosphere Huge menu Good weekly/ daily specials Great for large parties Good location Food was amazing!!! read more

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I love the ambience of this place , very cute, esp around Christmas time. In the summer, it's great because they can open the front doors/windows so you can get a patio feel. The blackened tuna with risotto was very good. The chocolate cake was just ok. They packed up our left overs but forgot one whole dish which sucked read more

The food was great and the portions were large and very affordable--especially for Chicago. I had a ton left over. The service was pretty quick as well. The only odd thing is they were playing loud club type music. read more

Victory Tap Chicago - Chicken Parmesan - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really think they have a new chef or something is going on in the kitchen. I live across the street and this used to be one of my go to always reliably delicious Italian. But now this is the third time that the food hasn't been good. To make it worse, the third time I brought the food in for friends and it was beyond bad- the penne vodka was super dried out with no flavor and the eggplant parmigiana ( that arrived with half the cheese not cooked) was so salty my friends didn't want to eat it. To be fair, the manager did refund the eggplant for how it arrived. I'm just so sad because this restaurant used to be so good! I hope things change but on the positive Adam is still a great bartender. read more

We made a lunch reservation on a Saturday but I think we could've easily walked in at this time without it. I believe the hours online are wrong and this restaurant is open for lunch on certain days, so you might need to call ahead to double check if you're looking to have lunch here. My boyfriend and I each ordered a sandwich that came with homemade fresh potato chips. Everything was tasty and we both really liked the thick texture of the chips (compared to typical thin/airy store bought ones). The French bread had a nice texture with a toasted exterior and a fluffy interior (not too crunchy or chewy). Overall just really solid quality sandwiches. The service was very friendly and attentive, and I hope they get more lunch business soon because it was quite empty when we went. Again, this could be due to incorrect hours listed online. Interior is nostalgic, and both casual and classy. Prices for lunch are incredibly reasonable, especially for such a filling portion size. read more

Victory Tap Chicago - Chicken Parmesan Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Best Italian meal I've ever had. The meatball was a great starter and rye mile high lasagna ended up being three meals. Even the bread before the meal was outstanding. Service really moves fast and is top shelf. read more

Victory Tap Chicago - Mile High Lasagna - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered app pizza and chicken Marsala -nice atmosphere and good service was able to walk in without a reservation read more

Victory Tap Chicago - Dining room - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Victory Italian in the South Loop feels like a true neighborhood Italian spot, cozy, relaxed, and full of character. We grabbed seats at the bar and the bartenders were great, friendly, talkative, and the kind of people who make you want to stay for "one more." The wine specials were a huge plus and made it easy to try a couple different things without overthinking it. Portions were large and everything felt hearty and satisfying. What really stood out though was the vibe of the room, the patrons were awesome and genuinely friendly. It's one of those rare places where people actually talk to each other and it doesn't feel forced. By the end of the night it felt like we'd been coming there for years. If you're looking for a spot to eat well and meet people, this is the place. read more

I had a friend who used to live in Chicago and came into town and we planned dinner night. She recommended this place and I had never heard of it but she swore by it, especially the popular dish Nanna's Gravy. We dined on 8/29/23. Katie was our waitress and she was awesome! Extensive menu. My friend had a Cosmopolitan and I tried their Lemondrop Martini. We were both very pleased with our drinks. If I wasn't driving, I would of had another one because it was utter PERFECTION! They bring out this complimentary delicious bread with a marinara sauce that was really tasty. I wish they gave us more, I really enjoyed it. We ordered the fried calamari to start. I was hoping it was good and boy was it!! Very crispy. OMG, delicious also! Main entrees consisted of Nanna's Gravy and Linguini with Clam Sauce. I substituted capellini for the linguini. While waiting, we were admiring all of the beautiful black and white framed photos of famous people, trying to guess who they all were which was enlightening. Our food came out and we were ready. Mine unfortunately came with linguini instead of capellini. When Katie came by, she immediately saw the error, apologized and took it to be corrected. I didn't have to wait long at all for the replacement. Both of our dishes were wonderful and the portions are plentiful. For dessert we ordered a cannoli and Katie told us it was on the house for the previous mistake with my order. We both thought this was a very nice gesture. All in all, this place is a definite place to go. I'm already planning my next visit. I want to try their pizza as it looks delicious and another friend told me it's really good. Victory Tap, keep doing what you are doing. I really enjoyed my experience. See you soon! A+! read more

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I have to give a huge shout-out to Danny at Victory Tap! He is absolutely amazing--and hilarious. Every time my aunt and I come in, we always request to sit in his section because he just makes the entire experience better. Danny is incredibly attentive, personable, and consistently gives great menu suggestions. He checks in at all the right times and truly elevates the whole dining experience. And beyond the service, the food here is fantastic and they have an awesome happy hour--which makes coming back even easier! If you're visiting Victory Tap, do yourself a favor and ask for Danny. He's one of the reasons we keep returning! read more

Food: 1/5 - Pizza tasted like and had the texture of frozen lunch food. My entire plate was covered in grease. - Got their "award winning" pasta. Sauce tasted like salted and sugared butter, and was over cooked. Service: 2/5 - Slow and inattentive. Ambiance: 1/5 - Dark and dingy. Tables and seating were both sticky. Won't come back and would not recommend. read more

Victory Tap Chicago - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois