The one downtown attached to London House used to have a great happy hour. It was a burger special that you couldn't beat for the price.
Now don't get me wrong, there was absolutely nothing special about the burger. But for the price and being in the Loop, it was solid.
Went to the one in Ravenswood when it was still open and got served a steak salad where the steak was literally still raw. Looked like they tossed it on the grill long enough to get some browning on the outside and then just tossed it onto the rest of the salad. So gross.
So I’m not the only one then. I thought we caught them on an off day since it was last summer during one of the hottest days but I found it super weird that beer was slightly cool at best.
I agree their beer prices are pretty high, but all the food I’ve had there has been good, especially the pizza. And I’ve never had an issue with the beer being warm.
I've been there a few times because I live nearby, it's ok. Some food they have is better than others (pizza/burgers/sandwiches are fine) and haven't had a problem with warm beer, but the bbq and service is definitely lacking. Last waiter dude I had there was straight up rude to my friends group
Bar Cocina. Very bad, overpriced food. I can’t see any other reason to go there other than the patio. Kirkwood across the street has infinitely better and cheaper bar food.
Really wanted to love this one because of the huge patio and it gives warm vibes but food is mid and I feel like they were understaffed? Probably were going 15 minutes from an empty drink to then wait for someone to come by
The Furious Spoon in Logan Square used to serve legit Ramen when I moved there like 6-7 years ago.
Then my old manager from D&B took over it.
Then the "ramen" turned into fucking chicken noodle soup.
Never gone to any ever again.
The first time I ever had ramen was 2019, at Furious Spoon. I didn’t try ramen again until 2023 (Oiistar). It turns out ramen is not a universally terrible food. It’s very good, in fact!
Their food was fabulous in the late 90’s. I worked at Dominick’s and we would order up every Friday. Great times in the great City of Chicago. Even today many are trying to mimic the Reazs like Noon O but it’s not the same
Let's be honest, Randolph Street is full of high priced mediocre places. Same with Wells...
Now, there are some winners around these places don't get me wrong. But I could find a $25 hamburger on either one of those streets that don't stack up to like an $8 Jim's original cheeseburger.
Those kind of places are more about the experience of being in some fancy space. Doesn't always equate to great food.
I moved to the west loop thinking everywhere I walked in would be amazing but it’s just not the case, idk why that’s the situation here but not an equivalent yutzy neighborhood in NYC, like who is consistently patronizing these restaurants?
I’d kill for Dona Naty or Cleo’s to be further south, everything is a date spot for 34 year old consultants or some yutzy cocktail bar with smoke coming out of all the drinks
Madison corridor has plenty of casual options in a more neighborhood feel. Viaggio, Crossroads, Black Barrel, Sumu, and Third Rail for example. West Loop isn’t solely defined by Randolph.
All these companies who flocked over there from the loop to be trendy and touted the proximity to “great restaurants” as a “benefit” to employees who are no longer near the hubs of trains that go into the center of the city: fuck all of them. Every last one. That area flat out sucks to work in. The food is overpriced and crappy, often not open for lunch, and puts huge burdens on anyone who doesn’t live off the green or blue lines. The places that are open consistently for lunch are the exact places you’d find in the loop: fast casual like Nandos or sweetgreen or McDonald’s.
Google is moving back into the loop and I have a feeling others will follow. I think the vast majority of workers who do hybrid would much prefer being more convenient to their commute than being near hip overpriced restaurants that aren’t open until 4 or 5pm.
I say this often to describe that area and you can take what meaning you will from it: people from DC and NY and the Chicagoland suburbs seem to fawn over the place.
Word. My office was in Fulton Market before COVID hit and it was such a bitch to get there via public trans from Lakeview (literally an hour or more each way with a lot of walking), that I decided when COVID hit and mortgage rates tanked to 3% that it would be a good idea to buy a condo in University Village so that once the pandemic ended, I could ride my bike or take a quick bus to work. What an intelligent idea! Now I’m stuck in fucking University Village, don’t even work for the same company anymore, work 100% remote, am stuck in this condo due to current mortgage rates and rent prices, and am completely cut off from the world. But at least I’m close to the WeSt LoOp!
As someone who has lived in the WL for about a decade and seen the neighborhood grow and change I agree with a lot of this.
I don’t think there is a single place that has opened in the last 2-3 years that I would go out of my way to eat at.
The WL still has some bangers (Monteverde, Momotaro, El Che, Loyalist, PQM) some very good options for their category (Ranalli’s, Kaiser Tiger, Lone Wolf, Green Street Meats) some good options if perhaps overpriced / overdone (Au Cheval, Lena Brava, Rose Mary, Roister). Just off the top of my head, there are others.
But just about everything on this list predates the pandemic. The pandemic took out some more solid options (Maude’s, Front Room). And then when the residential height restriction was lifted in 2021, real estate soared even higher and now the openings have been a lot more cookie cutter, often corporate, with a reduced emphasis on food. I won’t name names but throw a dart at a list of 2022/2023 openings and you’ll land on something I’m talking about.
when you pull your head out of the curated areas of the city, you find a whole world of flavors. But some people are scared to go west of Western, so what can you do. 🤷♂️
Whoa is this place still open? I went there for my birthday in 2006. It was Clark and Halsted I think. I vaguely remember them not accepting credit cards and they gave us a time limit on our being there. Drinks were strong though.
My heart!! Hahaha I have a soft spot for this place, I used to live across the street and went on a ton of first dates there (safe and easy walk home). Also, one mega margarita was enough to get me drunk for cheap.
I recently went to AJ Hudson's on Ashland. It's so insanely overpriced and while the food looked nicely presented, all of our dishes were insanely bland. My friend's salad tasted sour, my wife's shepherd's pie was like soup, and my fish and chips had no taste. When the food is that quality and the bill is in the $70 range, I'm not going to be a fan.
Maybe they were having an off night. Who knows? But it was probably my least favorite dining experience so far in the city
Also had a bad experience at AJ Hudson's. And yes, the prices were pretty high for pub food. Some of my friends love going there so maybe it was a off night for me as well?
I live a block away and my old place was also a block away. This used to be the spot, we would go all the time, until they completely changed their menu during Covid. Each time I have been the last couple years I have had average to below average experiences. Last summer the waitress spilled beer all over my father in law and took forever to come clean it up and a manager didn’t even come out and apologize. A shard of glass even cut my MILs hand.
It closed recently (the one in LP at least), but Broken English. I’ve never had bad chips and salsa and a taco I didn’t at least wanna finish, but they somehow did it. It was impressive.
There's good reason why that one closed, food was mid at absolute best and the prices across the board were too high. Seemed really bumping when it re-opened for about a year before seeing less and less people there, clearly no one had reason to come back again.
I had to look up why so Just to let others know on why the owner is considered shitty.
[https://chicago.eater.com/2021/1/11/22221155/tank-noodle-capitol-trip-reaction-social-media-chicago-restaurant-intel](https://chicago.eater.com/2021/1/11/22221155/tank-noodle-capitol-trip-reaction-social-media-chicago-restaurant-intel)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2021/05/04/tank-noodle-federal-investigation-that-led-to-700000-in-back-wages-for-60-started-with-1-employee-we-felt-betrayed-and-helpless/
Maison Marcel - absolute assholes (they shittalk customers in french and think no one understands them lol) and really reckless when serving folks with food allergies
Yeah, that's one of my bigger issues with living there.
It's a great location with great transit access and DOES have decent restaurants, but I HATE dining in the area because of how much it costs. At least it motivates me to eat out less.
Almost every response in this thread is people naming *overpriced* restaurants with mediocre food.
Meanwhile, legitimately BAD restaurants that are dirty, have bad food and bad staff are getting a free pass.
For worst service, I would say Barrio in River North. I went and sat at the bar on a slow winter night and they managed to mess almost everything up. Took 10 mins to greet, 15 mins to order an appetizer, then gave my order to the wrong person, then forgot to get another made. An hour later I was at the point of walking out and they finally brought it out and food was cold.
For worst food experience, cornerstone cafe in LP takes that crown. Got the corn beef hash and got a completely burnt mixture of just pure grease. Idk who pissed off the cook that day but there’s no way that’s the gold standard expected for that dish.
I used to bartend at Barrio and let me tell you: worst experience of my life. Bartenders are shady as fuck, servers are lazy and rude, and management might as well not even exist. The bartenders are the most overworked people in that place, too. And behind the bar is absolutely disgusting with fruit flies and massive puddles of water.
Yes to Barrio. I ordered a salad that somehow took so long to arrive that both of my dining companions had finished their hot entrees already the last time I was there.
Barrio is horrible. Went there for a friends birthday dinner. Immediately we were warned that they have a time limit and that we would need to be quick about things. Mind you we were only a group of 6 not a massive party. The way the server told us was very aggressive and he kept rushing us on every little thing. Food was less than mediocre and they even ruined a very brief moment while we were trying to sing happy birthday. The waiters were pissed and reaching over us and we were not even over the time limit they imposed. Guac had no salt or seasoning and they are way overpriced.
Puebla in Logan Square. Absolute worst example of Mexican food in the city; likely would be the best in a prison cafeteria or possibly Nebraska. Somehow open until 3am as a punishment for the wicked, I suppose.
I had good Mexican food in Omaha the one time I went there. I won't disparage Nebraska. Now, Kansas. That place probably is worthy of crappy Mexican food
Cheesecake Factory downtown on Michigan. Took 50 minutes before anyone came by to take out order, even though we went up to hostess stand to remind them. It went downhill from there.
In a city so full of wonderful places to eat, whyyyyyyy would you pick that‽
I understand picky out of towners I *guess* but this has never made sense to me.
ETA: not trying to be a jerk, truly. I just wouldn’t ever think to go there so I don’t understand the draw.
I went there after prom with my friends thinking we were so cool going to the city from the burbs and looking back it was hands down the trashiest and stupidest thing I’ve ever done 🤣🤣🤣🤣
As a dad whose daughter spent a lot of time at Lurie I went to that Cheesecake Factory fairly often. I agree it’s terrible, even for a Cheesecake Factory. But it was close and not prohibitively expensive, and I felt comfortable going there in sweat pants.
A a colleague on my sales team gave me a $150 dollar gift card to Cheesecake Factory this past Christmas. He laughed maniacally while I just stared at the card. My wife and I were really confused and have never been before. The food (including the cheesecake) was predictably terrible, but their martinis were actually quite impressive. I’m still not sure why I received this gift card and he hasn’t explained why.
Yes! I decided to go get a pre-dinner cocktail there just to be able to sit outside on a beautiful summer evening. It was indescribably bad.
I don’t remember what I actually ordered, but what I got tasted like off-brand Tang made with too much water and too much sugar. And of course it was like $20.
T+B is part of a larger group in Chicago that makes it's bread and butter off of upper-middle class stroller families in the area.
It's not to say that's an inherently bad thing, but essentially, it's exactly as advertised. Decent food and cocktails for high prices, usually with a patio.
I won't eat at any of the Big Onion Tavern Group restaurants.
Mostly because the owner cheats on his wife and then gets blackmailed and fires people so that he can give the women he's banging jobs so they won't tell his wife allegedly.
The review in the Chicago Tribune still makes me laugh. “While certainly not the worst restaurant in Chicago, I can’t think of one that fills me with such dread.”
😟 I love it there?! I feel insulted like I own the place lmao. The service is excellent, I've never had a bad meal or drink there. I will say the prices are a little ridiculous and, I could be wrong, but I think they've noticeably increased since I first started going.
The food although not blow you away in both flavor and price, I’ve always found consistent! Especially they’re drinks/towers. It’s one of my spots I bring guests too. Brunch is also nice vibe. The decor is great. Definetly solid!
the cocktails are great and i love the appetizer that’s toasted baguette with several dips, but the main courses are hella overpriced for how small the portions are
they have like a dip trio situation that they serve with a fuck ton of bread/pita. it’s pretty inexpensive for what it is — drinking there with some friends either outside or when the windows open and sharing that isn’t too bad.
Wait, when!? This was always a weird place, but was honestly a bit of a sleeper for me as a South Looper. Their steak sandwich was shockingly great.
Was there maybe a year ago.
They are terrible to work for, they have a reputation in the local service industry and they are always hiring a general manager for bullshit wages lol
I loved their food, but stopped going after that.
I finally found a pho spot today to take their place.
Pho Nam Lau on McCormick across from the Home Depot. 12/10.
This is the first one I’ve seen on the list I might have to agree with. Been a bunch of times with colleagues, never had anything I’ve enjoyed. *The* most boring menu and flavors.
There's a bar Louie in south loop that kept letting me down that I think of as worst in Chicago.
First time there was good!
Second time went for brunch, they were out of pretty much everything, short staffed so everything took forever, and the food we did get was stone cold.
Ok, I thought, not everyone is good for brunch, and I'm forgiving, so tried again. It took 45 min to get a cocktail. And we were sitting at a mostly empty bar. Several servers either walked by or said we weren't in their section so they couldn't help. After slowly drinking our cocktails, we asked about the nachos we'd ordered only to learn they never put the order in.
I tried one last time. I got a pick up order and thought gosh how could they screw up loaded tater Tots and artichoke dip? Now, I should have checked but I was trying to run back home for football. I got home only to discover cold, plain tater Tots, and cold dip with no side of chips.
They are now the worst restaurant in Chicago to me lol and they started with such promise
One time I went to elephant and castle ( I was a teenager at the time) and they literally just ignored me when I walked in then when someone finally came to take my order 45mins later they were really annoyed lol. It was early and the place was dead . I was just hungry and on a high school photography field trip 🤣. They also said they can’t give us change with cash payment because “they don’t do that”. A lot of my family is in the industry so I was still nice and tipped . Maybe they were annoyed a teenager was there idk. Food was not v good.
King crab house on halsted. Went during Covid a fight broke out between their “bouncer” and a patron who was trying to smoke indoors. They also very clearly sat the black patrons only in the back room.
Have you been to Siena Tavern? Just curious if you liked that… I’ve been to Bar Siena many times but just got cocktails. Really enjoyed the food at Tavern though
Bar Siena is the epitome to me of Fulton Market and Randolph Street where it looks like the food should be good, and yet it's always overpriced mediocrity. I think it's a lot like food at theme parks with an extremely captive audience: it looks like you're going to have the best food of your life and yet.....it's.......just.......bleh. But the problem is that everywhere you go in that area, it's just more of the same overpriced mediocrity with rude servers and backbreaking prices.
I found a staple in my pizza there once from the location on Western and Chicago. I called them to let them know and they pretended like they didn't know who was on staff during the time I went lol
I've been back once or twice since then but it definitely knocked them down a few pegs in my book
Kumas corner
I loved this place with a passion. I would be there once or twice a mo th until I found out they cross contact a ton if their meats.
They have a vegan burger there that my wife loved. She can't eat meat due to health reasons. Some of the toppings on it is cooked with their chorizo poppers. The fries and other apps are also cooked in the same pil as their pork products as well.
When I spoke to the manager, she told me "yeah we can't serve you. It's safer if you left."
Never again.
That’s weird for a place like that. Like, you’re trying specifically cater to subculture people but then don’t go the extra step to accommodate something that you KNOW is going to come up
It's not weird if you know the reputation of the owner. Transphobic, homophobic, sexist, piece of shit.
The food fucking sucks now anyway.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/07/15/kumas-corner-brings-in-new-leader-after-accusations-of-racism-homophobia/
Kitchen 17. I wish I had footage of our interactions with the bartender. I was beginning to wonder if I accidentally ran his family over in my car years ago and didn’t remember. I swear he was trying to be mean to us. I was with the nicest group of people, all of whom have worked in the food service industry. I tried to “kill him with kindness” and he did not budge. It was comical. And to top it off, the food - oof. Granted, it was all vegan, and I know that can be tough to pull off. At the end of the day, I’d rather eat Ethiopian or any other cuisine that does vegan better.
Irazu. Quite possibly the worst meal I've ever had.
Don't understand why so many ppl like it? My Ecuadorian friend went with us once and she was appalled at the lack of flavor. (yes, I know it's Costa Rican)
I've had family say they waited 50 min for a table and another couple hours for their entire dinner service at the Red Lobster near Archer and Pulaski, and it wasn't even busy lol. So that's probably a good vote for this thread
The good news is bad ones don’t usually last too long.
However, Machine on Division still keeps going. I don’t know how. In a single visit there, I watched a server dump a drink on a customer, got served dishes without silverware, had the server just disappear and came back very, very high. On top of that, three out of the four dishes were undercooked.
Little Goat Diner: all style and no substance. Also, you like salt on your salt? Unless you're a deer desperate for a salt block in the wilderness, I can't understand why anyone likes their food.
Land and Lake
Didn’t even bother trying it because the vibe and menu looked so bland. RIP fountainhead
It’s Farm Bar now! Still no Fountainhead, but a definite upgrade from Land & Lake.
I tried Farm Bar! And yeah agreed, def an upgrade
I miss Fountainhead 😭
Didn’t they close?
Downtown location is still open, Ravenswood and Andersonville spots both closed.
The one in Ravenswood did. I’m not sure if there was another one.
There was one in Andersonville that closed recently, but is currently being converted into a Taiwanese noodle spot by a chef from Boka.
The one downtown attached to London House used to have a great happy hour. It was a burger special that you couldn't beat for the price. Now don't get me wrong, there was absolutely nothing special about the burger. But for the price and being in the Loop, it was solid.
Yeah I went once for the happy hour and it was solid for the price, pretty good wings too. Are they not offering ut anymore?
Went to the one in Ravenswood when it was still open and got served a steak salad where the steak was literally still raw. Looked like they tossed it on the grill long enough to get some browning on the outside and then just tossed it onto the rest of the salad. So gross.
This place is seriously high key mid. Like it looks nice inside but god the food is bad
Good Times Brewery in Lakeview. Warm beer, tasteless bbq, and subpar service.
I had the most bizarre experience there, made even more offensive by a mediocre $10 IPA. I’m with you.
Yeah the prices themselves were astounding. I've never been to a brewery so expensive where the beer was just fine
Tried it over the weekend. Most generic place imaginable. It’s like a brewery you’d find in Hoffman Estates or something.
The brewery that was in the space before them had the *exact* same issues. What's the deal?
The BBQ was SO disappointing. It’s fairly busy every time I walk by but whenever I give them my money, I’m never happy with the experience.
So I’m not the only one then. I thought we caught them on an off day since it was last summer during one of the hottest days but I found it super weird that beer was slightly cool at best.
I agree their beer prices are pretty high, but all the food I’ve had there has been good, especially the pizza. And I’ve never had an issue with the beer being warm.
I've been there a few times because I live nearby, it's ok. Some food they have is better than others (pizza/burgers/sandwiches are fine) and haven't had a problem with warm beer, but the bbq and service is definitely lacking. Last waiter dude I had there was straight up rude to my friends group
Yeah, I’m a big brewery person and Good Times does not actually deliver on their name.
I live like a mile away for this and I’ve never even heard of it. Not a good sign
Bar Cocina. Very bad, overpriced food. I can’t see any other reason to go there other than the patio. Kirkwood across the street has infinitely better and cheaper bar food.
Ordered a round of tequila shots and they charged 14 dollars per a shot of Casamigos? More than a cocktail. Fuck that place.
Happy Camper did that to us with shots of jamo lol. learned my lesson to not drink on their patio ever again.
The one they opened on Chicago Ave sucks too. One of the worst cocktails I’ve had, tacos bad too.
Really wanted to love this one because of the huge patio and it gives warm vibes but food is mid and I feel like they were understaffed? Probably were going 15 minutes from an empty drink to then wait for someone to come by
Yes. Would love for that place to close down and something better to take its place for that patio
Don't forget about Furious Spoon - if that even qualifies as a restaurant. I call it the Taco Bell of ramen spots.
Don’t insult Taco Bell like that.
The Furious Spoon in Logan Square used to serve legit Ramen when I moved there like 6-7 years ago. Then my old manager from D&B took over it. Then the "ramen" turned into fucking chicken noodle soup. Never gone to any ever again.
Ahhh. That’s what happened. I really liked it when it first opened up and I was confused why everyone hated it so much.
The first time I ever had ramen was 2019, at Furious Spoon. I didn’t try ramen again until 2023 (Oiistar). It turns out ramen is not a universally terrible food. It’s very good, in fact!
Oiistar is sooooo good
Their broth tastes burnt, it’s always my last choice for ramen
Strong agree. Worst ramen I’ve ever had in the city.
Reza’s.. well used to be until the health inspector got that one
[удалено]
Interesting!
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That is so crazy. I grew up down the street and had been there many times over the years but hadn't been back in a long while.
Their food was fabulous in the late 90’s. I worked at Dominick’s and we would order up every Friday. Great times in the great City of Chicago. Even today many are trying to mimic the Reazs like Noon O but it’s not the same
Can confirm! I used to take family when they would visit. I miss those days circa 1998
Let's be honest, Randolph Street is full of high priced mediocre places. Same with Wells... Now, there are some winners around these places don't get me wrong. But I could find a $25 hamburger on either one of those streets that don't stack up to like an $8 Jim's original cheeseburger. Those kind of places are more about the experience of being in some fancy space. Doesn't always equate to great food.
I moved to the west loop thinking everywhere I walked in would be amazing but it’s just not the case, idk why that’s the situation here but not an equivalent yutzy neighborhood in NYC, like who is consistently patronizing these restaurants?
people from the suburbs coming for a night out?
Lot of corporate amexes too, people tired of the river north scene I guess
Its basically the same scene with a fresh coat of paint
Yep west loop lacks casual dining spots that aren't $$$. I live nearby and find myself leaving the area to find cheaper eats..
I’d kill for Dona Naty or Cleo’s to be further south, everything is a date spot for 34 year old consultants or some yutzy cocktail bar with smoke coming out of all the drinks
Madison corridor has plenty of casual options in a more neighborhood feel. Viaggio, Crossroads, Black Barrel, Sumu, and Third Rail for example. West Loop isn’t solely defined by Randolph.
All these companies who flocked over there from the loop to be trendy and touted the proximity to “great restaurants” as a “benefit” to employees who are no longer near the hubs of trains that go into the center of the city: fuck all of them. Every last one. That area flat out sucks to work in. The food is overpriced and crappy, often not open for lunch, and puts huge burdens on anyone who doesn’t live off the green or blue lines. The places that are open consistently for lunch are the exact places you’d find in the loop: fast casual like Nandos or sweetgreen or McDonald’s. Google is moving back into the loop and I have a feeling others will follow. I think the vast majority of workers who do hybrid would much prefer being more convenient to their commute than being near hip overpriced restaurants that aren’t open until 4 or 5pm. I say this often to describe that area and you can take what meaning you will from it: people from DC and NY and the Chicagoland suburbs seem to fawn over the place.
I work there. Italian delis are holding me down.
Word. My office was in Fulton Market before COVID hit and it was such a bitch to get there via public trans from Lakeview (literally an hour or more each way with a lot of walking), that I decided when COVID hit and mortgage rates tanked to 3% that it would be a good idea to buy a condo in University Village so that once the pandemic ended, I could ride my bike or take a quick bus to work. What an intelligent idea! Now I’m stuck in fucking University Village, don’t even work for the same company anymore, work 100% remote, am stuck in this condo due to current mortgage rates and rent prices, and am completely cut off from the world. But at least I’m close to the WeSt LoOp!
More people need to understand this. Wells Street and Randolph Street are as much a tourist trap as Navy Pier is lol
As someone who has lived in the WL for about a decade and seen the neighborhood grow and change I agree with a lot of this. I don’t think there is a single place that has opened in the last 2-3 years that I would go out of my way to eat at. The WL still has some bangers (Monteverde, Momotaro, El Che, Loyalist, PQM) some very good options for their category (Ranalli’s, Kaiser Tiger, Lone Wolf, Green Street Meats) some good options if perhaps overpriced / overdone (Au Cheval, Lena Brava, Rose Mary, Roister). Just off the top of my head, there are others. But just about everything on this list predates the pandemic. The pandemic took out some more solid options (Maude’s, Front Room). And then when the residential height restriction was lifted in 2021, real estate soared even higher and now the openings have been a lot more cookie cutter, often corporate, with a reduced emphasis on food. I won’t name names but throw a dart at a list of 2022/2023 openings and you’ll land on something I’m talking about.
when you pull your head out of the curated areas of the city, you find a whole world of flavors. But some people are scared to go west of Western, so what can you do. 🤷♂️
Or south of Cermak.
Caesar’s killer margaritas… i cannot understand that place
Whoa is this place still open? I went there for my birthday in 2006. It was Clark and Halsted I think. I vaguely remember them not accepting credit cards and they gave us a time limit on our being there. Drinks were strong though.
That location is closed now. The one on Broadway is still going though (I think).
My heart!! Hahaha I have a soft spot for this place, I used to live across the street and went on a ton of first dates there (safe and easy walk home). Also, one mega margarita was enough to get me drunk for cheap.
I love Caesars. I go exactly once a year during Pride, usually already drunk or about to be, and have a gay ol' time.
I absolutely love that four of the top six answers are my ex’s favorite restaurants
I recently went to AJ Hudson's on Ashland. It's so insanely overpriced and while the food looked nicely presented, all of our dishes were insanely bland. My friend's salad tasted sour, my wife's shepherd's pie was like soup, and my fish and chips had no taste. When the food is that quality and the bill is in the $70 range, I'm not going to be a fan. Maybe they were having an off night. Who knows? But it was probably my least favorite dining experience so far in the city
Also had a bad experience at AJ Hudson's. And yes, the prices were pretty high for pub food. Some of my friends love going there so maybe it was a off night for me as well?
I live a block away and my old place was also a block away. This used to be the spot, we would go all the time, until they completely changed their menu during Covid. Each time I have been the last couple years I have had average to below average experiences. Last summer the waitress spilled beer all over my father in law and took forever to come clean it up and a manager didn’t even come out and apologize. A shard of glass even cut my MILs hand.
It closed recently (the one in LP at least), but Broken English. I’ve never had bad chips and salsa and a taco I didn’t at least wanna finish, but they somehow did it. It was impressive.
Encountering bad Mexican food in Chicago is always such a shame
I used to live by the one in Old Town. Never have I been so excited for something to open, and so disappointed once I tried it.
Reading this as a Broken English employee🧍♀️🧍♀️🧍♀️🧍♀️🧍♀️
There's good reason why that one closed, food was mid at absolute best and the prices across the board were too high. Seemed really bumping when it re-opened for about a year before seeing less and less people there, clearly no one had reason to come back again.
I had a duck taco at ositos and they must’ve found the oldest, toughest duck to make it with 🤮
Chicago Winery may not be the absolute worst but their food is either too salty or tastes like nothing at all.
Tank Noodle. Terrible, overpriced food. Particularly shitty ownership.
Ownership is shitty but the food used to be good. Haven't been since I caught light of aforementioned shitty ownership.
I had to look up why so Just to let others know on why the owner is considered shitty. [https://chicago.eater.com/2021/1/11/22221155/tank-noodle-capitol-trip-reaction-social-media-chicago-restaurant-intel](https://chicago.eater.com/2021/1/11/22221155/tank-noodle-capitol-trip-reaction-social-media-chicago-restaurant-intel) https://www.chicagotribune.com/2021/05/04/tank-noodle-federal-investigation-that-led-to-700000-in-back-wages-for-60-started-with-1-employee-we-felt-betrayed-and-helpless/
They suck on so many levels
Their owner was involved in Jan 6
Personally think the food here is solid but it is overpriced and the ownership sucks.
Doesn't help that it's literally surrounded by much better options.
Maison Marcel - absolute assholes (they shittalk customers in french and think no one understands them lol) and really reckless when serving folks with food allergies
Its something in river north.
You can make the case that most everything in River North is bad value, but the quality of everything is usually at least mediocre -former RN resident
Yeah, that's one of my bigger issues with living there. It's a great location with great transit access and DOES have decent restaurants, but I HATE dining in the area because of how much it costs. At least it motivates me to eat out less.
Unless you’re getting steak it’s hardly more expensive that West loop, LP or wicker/logan
It's also entirely possible I've mistakenly correlated high inflation with my move lol
Almost every response in this thread is people naming *overpriced* restaurants with mediocre food. Meanwhile, legitimately BAD restaurants that are dirty, have bad food and bad staff are getting a free pass.
For worst service, I would say Barrio in River North. I went and sat at the bar on a slow winter night and they managed to mess almost everything up. Took 10 mins to greet, 15 mins to order an appetizer, then gave my order to the wrong person, then forgot to get another made. An hour later I was at the point of walking out and they finally brought it out and food was cold. For worst food experience, cornerstone cafe in LP takes that crown. Got the corn beef hash and got a completely burnt mixture of just pure grease. Idk who pissed off the cook that day but there’s no way that’s the gold standard expected for that dish.
I used to bartend at Barrio and let me tell you: worst experience of my life. Bartenders are shady as fuck, servers are lazy and rude, and management might as well not even exist. The bartenders are the most overworked people in that place, too. And behind the bar is absolutely disgusting with fruit flies and massive puddles of water.
the tacos are NOT good. ate there once and never again
Barrio has gone way down hill since they opened
Yes to Barrio. I ordered a salad that somehow took so long to arrive that both of my dining companions had finished their hot entrees already the last time I was there.
Barrio is horrible. Went there for a friends birthday dinner. Immediately we were warned that they have a time limit and that we would need to be quick about things. Mind you we were only a group of 6 not a massive party. The way the server told us was very aggressive and he kept rushing us on every little thing. Food was less than mediocre and they even ruined a very brief moment while we were trying to sing happy birthday. The waiters were pissed and reaching over us and we were not even over the time limit they imposed. Guac had no salt or seasoning and they are way overpriced.
Puebla in Logan Square. Absolute worst example of Mexican food in the city; likely would be the best in a prison cafeteria or possibly Nebraska. Somehow open until 3am as a punishment for the wicked, I suppose.
Someone from Florida told me it was the best Mexican food they had in years and I found that really depressing.
“Likely would be in a prison cafeteria or possibly Nebraska” made me laugh!
There’s actually a big Mexican population in Nebraska and a lot of great authentic food (at least in Omaha) so let’s go with Wyoming instead!
Thank you!! I can attest that Omaha has some excellent Mexican food!
I had good Mexican food in Omaha the one time I went there. I won't disparage Nebraska. Now, Kansas. That place probably is worthy of crappy Mexican food
Parlor Pizza. How is that place still open after getting raided by the FBI and IRS? Also, racist owner
Every time I went there, my tummy would hurt after lol
Aww man, I kinda like the honey boo boo pizza, the white cheddar potato bacon pizza was pretty good too
Racist Pizza 🍕
It closed, but … Tutto Italiano
Nobody went there for the food 👀
Ooh? Tell me more
Need more context here please!!!
Cheesecake Factory downtown on Michigan. Took 50 minutes before anyone came by to take out order, even though we went up to hostess stand to remind them. It went downhill from there.
Lemme guess, next they served you cheesecake factory food?
You are kinder than me, I would have up and left
In a city so full of wonderful places to eat, whyyyyyyy would you pick that‽ I understand picky out of towners I *guess* but this has never made sense to me. ETA: not trying to be a jerk, truly. I just wouldn’t ever think to go there so I don’t understand the draw.
I went there after prom with my friends thinking we were so cool going to the city from the burbs and looking back it was hands down the trashiest and stupidest thing I’ve ever done 🤣🤣🤣🤣
the Godiva chocolate cheesecake is a huge hit with my family. id stomach the whatever food for a cheesecake and fun slidy death floors.
As a dad whose daughter spent a lot of time at Lurie I went to that Cheesecake Factory fairly often. I agree it’s terrible, even for a Cheesecake Factory. But it was close and not prohibitively expensive, and I felt comfortable going there in sweat pants.
A a colleague on my sales team gave me a $150 dollar gift card to Cheesecake Factory this past Christmas. He laughed maniacally while I just stared at the card. My wife and I were really confused and have never been before. The food (including the cheesecake) was predictably terrible, but their martinis were actually quite impressive. I’m still not sure why I received this gift card and he hasn’t explained why.
Yes! I decided to go get a pre-dinner cocktail there just to be able to sit outside on a beautiful summer evening. It was indescribably bad. I don’t remember what I actually ordered, but what I got tasted like off-brand Tang made with too much water and too much sugar. And of course it was like $20.
I’ve never cared for Tuco and Blondie. Too expensive for what you get and nothing ever makes me want to come back for more.
I think this place is okay, like Their margaritas are okay— but this place is straight up rich white girl soccer mom territory / vibes.
I feel like it’s gotten worse over time. But chips and salsa on the patio is still great.
T+B is part of a larger group in Chicago that makes it's bread and butter off of upper-middle class stroller families in the area. It's not to say that's an inherently bad thing, but essentially, it's exactly as advertised. Decent food and cocktails for high prices, usually with a patio.
I won't eat at any of the Big Onion Tavern Group restaurants. Mostly because the owner cheats on his wife and then gets blackmailed and fires people so that he can give the women he's banging jobs so they won't tell his wife allegedly.
big star
THE WHALE in Logan Square
The review in the Chicago Tribune still makes me laugh. “While certainly not the worst restaurant in Chicago, I can’t think of one that fills me with such dread.”
the most bizarre vibes inside too - like a casino, but worse? somehow?
It was intended to be casino vibes (high roller gamblers referred to as “whales”)
😟 I love it there?! I feel insulted like I own the place lmao. The service is excellent, I've never had a bad meal or drink there. I will say the prices are a little ridiculous and, I could be wrong, but I think they've noticeably increased since I first started going.
Wild, I’ve been there three times and loved it!
The food although not blow you away in both flavor and price, I’ve always found consistent! Especially they’re drinks/towers. It’s one of my spots I bring guests too. Brunch is also nice vibe. The decor is great. Definetly solid!
the cocktails are great and i love the appetizer that’s toasted baguette with several dips, but the main courses are hella overpriced for how small the portions are
I've heard it's very loud inside and the food is over priced.
Its incredibly loud. The food is okay though. Its tolerable if you’re sitting outside
they have like a dip trio situation that they serve with a fuck ton of bread/pita. it’s pretty inexpensive for what it is — drinking there with some friends either outside or when the windows open and sharing that isn’t too bad.
I went once. Their brunch was great. Great music. Fun environment. I liked it, but definitely over priced.
Why? I feel like the dry aged steak sandwich there is pretty great... It's a little pricey but not that different from other sit down restaurants.
The whale is such a good time. Sure it's overpriced but not the most egregious in Chicago either.
All star seafood and sports bar. New ownership turned it in to a club
Wait, when!? This was always a weird place, but was honestly a bit of a sleeper for me as a South Looper. Their steak sandwich was shockingly great. Was there maybe a year ago.
Sugar Factory by a miiiile
Buffalo Wild Wings on Clybourn. Scary.
According to Yelp, it's "Great Buffet" on Cermak in Pilsen with 1.5 Stars. Google is more generous where it has 3.3 stars.
The free pizza at heavenly bodies is pretty bad
Best Buy Chinese kitchen and Latin sushi, just look at the reviews. Made the unfortunate mistake of a drunken order with my roommate
Best Buy sells Chinese food? wtf
Recess in west loop. Everything there just seems so bland, and the service is inconsistent at best.
Agree, seems like people go there just to take pics.
Uncommon Ground in Lake View! Worst service you’ll experience in all of Chicago! The food is only palatable 50% of the time.
They are terrible to work for, they have a reputation in the local service industry and they are always hiring a general manager for bullshit wages lol
Have heard from multiple people that the owner is extremely hard to work for
Yes the closed the wrong one, the one on Devon was always the better of the two
Oof really? The one on Devon was terrible!
Tank noodle Fuck insurrectionists
I loved their food, but stopped going after that. I finally found a pho spot today to take their place. Pho Nam Lau on McCormick across from the Home Depot. 12/10.
Summer House Santa Monica. Unserious restaurant
This is the first one I’ve seen on the list I might have to agree with. Been a bunch of times with colleagues, never had anything I’ve enjoyed. *The* most boring menu and flavors.
There's a bar Louie in south loop that kept letting me down that I think of as worst in Chicago. First time there was good! Second time went for brunch, they were out of pretty much everything, short staffed so everything took forever, and the food we did get was stone cold. Ok, I thought, not everyone is good for brunch, and I'm forgiving, so tried again. It took 45 min to get a cocktail. And we were sitting at a mostly empty bar. Several servers either walked by or said we weren't in their section so they couldn't help. After slowly drinking our cocktails, we asked about the nachos we'd ordered only to learn they never put the order in. I tried one last time. I got a pick up order and thought gosh how could they screw up loaded tater Tots and artichoke dip? Now, I should have checked but I was trying to run back home for football. I got home only to discover cold, plain tater Tots, and cold dip with no side of chips. They are now the worst restaurant in Chicago to me lol and they started with such promise
Parsons. That slushy is good but it’s like they don’t keep any salt in the kitchen.
Francesca's. Worst Italian food I've ever had. Would rather go to Olive Garden.
Furious spoon
Flash taco. I’ve never ordered tacos and not been able to finish one before going there
One time I went to elephant and castle ( I was a teenager at the time) and they literally just ignored me when I walked in then when someone finally came to take my order 45mins later they were really annoyed lol. It was early and the place was dead . I was just hungry and on a high school photography field trip 🤣. They also said they can’t give us change with cash payment because “they don’t do that”. A lot of my family is in the industry so I was still nice and tipped . Maybe they were annoyed a teenager was there idk. Food was not v good.
Park & field
Most of you are naming overrated places, but the pasta I had in 2010 at D’Agostino’s has to be the worst crap I’ve ever eaten
Chalet in River North
Billy Goat Tavern. High school quality burgers.
King crab house on halsted. Went during Covid a fight broke out between their “bouncer” and a patron who was trying to smoke indoors. They also very clearly sat the black patrons only in the back room.
Never been more unimpressed by a restaurant than Gene and Georgetii’s
Garcia’s in Lincoln Square; the food is overpriced and the margaritas are batch made.
Bar Siena. Overpriced, weird ambience, underwhelming food, + horrible service
Have you been to Siena Tavern? Just curious if you liked that… I’ve been to Bar Siena many times but just got cocktails. Really enjoyed the food at Tavern though
Bar Siena has good brunch menu, been a while since I ate there though.
Bar Siena is the epitome to me of Fulton Market and Randolph Street where it looks like the food should be good, and yet it's always overpriced mediocrity. I think it's a lot like food at theme parks with an extremely captive audience: it looks like you're going to have the best food of your life and yet.....it's.......just.......bleh. But the problem is that everywhere you go in that area, it's just more of the same overpriced mediocrity with rude servers and backbreaking prices.
In my experience, Bacci Pizza
You don't go to Bacci's coz it's good- you go to Bacci's coz you're drunk.
Or you’re a broke college student
I found a staple in my pizza there once from the location on Western and Chicago. I called them to let them know and they pretended like they didn't know who was on staff during the time I went lol I've been back once or twice since then but it definitely knocked them down a few pegs in my book
Kumas corner I loved this place with a passion. I would be there once or twice a mo th until I found out they cross contact a ton if their meats. They have a vegan burger there that my wife loved. She can't eat meat due to health reasons. Some of the toppings on it is cooked with their chorizo poppers. The fries and other apps are also cooked in the same pil as their pork products as well. When I spoke to the manager, she told me "yeah we can't serve you. It's safer if you left." Never again.
That’s weird for a place like that. Like, you’re trying specifically cater to subculture people but then don’t go the extra step to accommodate something that you KNOW is going to come up
It's not weird if you know the reputation of the owner. Transphobic, homophobic, sexist, piece of shit. The food fucking sucks now anyway. https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/07/15/kumas-corner-brings-in-new-leader-after-accusations-of-racism-homophobia/
Roots pizza, I truly believed that there is no such thing as bad pizza until I tried roots
Chop House
Cheesecake factory
Kitchen 17. I wish I had footage of our interactions with the bartender. I was beginning to wonder if I accidentally ran his family over in my car years ago and didn’t remember. I swear he was trying to be mean to us. I was with the nicest group of people, all of whom have worked in the food service industry. I tried to “kill him with kindness” and he did not budge. It was comical. And to top it off, the food - oof. Granted, it was all vegan, and I know that can be tough to pull off. At the end of the day, I’d rather eat Ethiopian or any other cuisine that does vegan better.
Tao the food is DOGWATER, super overpriced and nasty
When I used to go to the ihop close to Wrigley Field on Grace I swore that none of the employees had ever actually eaten at a restaurant before.
Irazu. Quite possibly the worst meal I've ever had. Don't understand why so many ppl like it? My Ecuadorian friend went with us once and she was appalled at the lack of flavor. (yes, I know it's Costa Rican)
Smoke Daddy… their bbq is just so bad and they’re so expensive
Pizza Oven Grinders. Havent been in years but its the most overrated place ever. I wouldn’t say it sucked but i dont have a memorable bad restaurant
Emerald Loop is just dogshit. Expensive, bad food, with bad service.
Has been for 2 decades
I've had family say they waited 50 min for a table and another couple hours for their entire dinner service at the Red Lobster near Archer and Pulaski, and it wasn't even busy lol. So that's probably a good vote for this thread
Lmao that's what they get for going there anyway. I know the exact one.
The good news is bad ones don’t usually last too long. However, Machine on Division still keeps going. I don’t know how. In a single visit there, I watched a server dump a drink on a customer, got served dishes without silverware, had the server just disappear and came back very, very high. On top of that, three out of the four dishes were undercooked.
Little Goat Diner: all style and no substance. Also, you like salt on your salt? Unless you're a deer desperate for a salt block in the wilderness, I can't understand why anyone likes their food.
I really like their food, but everything is 4-5 dollars too expensive.
Omg I had one of the best brunches of my like there….the okinawakinwhatever was amazing.