I don't usually go to bars in the suburbs but this place was great! The prices were decent and the drinks were great! The music was also pretty good and the patio was the best part! I will definitely be going back
(5)
Seth R.
To go order: Cheeseburger- unremarkable. Reuben- not bad. French Fries- unedibly greasy. Chicken Tenders- absolutely fowl. The fried batter coating slips off to reveal a large piece of chicken shimmering from the slick coating of grease. My children love chicken tenders. They took one bite eachand that was it. They also wouldn't touch the fries. Not good.
(2)
Lacey M.
The bartender was quite the rude little snot! The pitchers of beer are $10.50 each...a sex on the beach drink was $9.00! Needless to say we bar hopped to another bar after we finished our drinks. I like the way it's outside its very beautiful...but the awful customer service and the prices ruined it for me.
(2)
Catherine P.
Anyone that has known me for any real amount of time, knows they can count on me to seek out a good hole in the wall bar. I have been here a hand full of times over the course of 10 years or so. It used to be a great meeting spot for me and and old gal pal of mine. Great place with a cool patio where you could sit and smoke and drink and just chill out. Yeah, I miss those days. Well, not really. I don't miss hacking up a lung the morning after a long night out. I don't miss the hangovers one tiny bit. With that said, I do miss the chillaxing I did back in the day. I don't know exactly when we all went and got ourselves in a big damn hurry but somehow the days fly by, Sunday morning comes and goes without even stopping to read the paper and somehow it's been like 5 years since you have made a trip to the places you use to love. About a year back, I was going to meet an old friend of mine for a drink and she lives in the area, so I suggested this old place I knew a long time ago near the river in East Dundee. Its a dingy little bar with some indoor seating, a couple dart boards and a pool table. The real appeal is the outdoor patio. From the outside of the building, you wouldn't even know it's there. Once you're back in the patio, you are no longer in East Dundee. Somehow you are transported to some place you would imagine seeing in a bad 90's movie, or maybe 80's flick, if I'm being honest. The service is good. Food is not memorable, but that may be caused by the cocktails. I try to stay away from their restrooms....I seem to recall them being UNIsex, which is code for filthy. Street parking and (tip) READ THE POSTED SIGNS! My suggestion: grab dinner on the other side of the river at The Village Squire (totally casual as well) and walk over the river, maybe swing past the frozen custard place on 72 on your walk over for dessert and then a few steps over to Bandito Barney's. Grab your hoodie when we reach the 50's or 60's or, if you're a sissy, wait until a Summer day when you can't be bothered but to put on more than flip flops. You don't need to lather on the makeup or cologne here. Come as you are! If you are just looking for a cold beer and some good folks to hang out with, I think this is a safe bet!!
(3)
Mark D.
Banditos is just a beer garden out back right now. The sorry part is the service is terrible. We found our own seats and it took ten minutes for anyone to acknowledge we were even there. A waitress blew past us saying a "waitress would be back soon". After a few minutes being ignored, we took off. I'm writing this review from Rosie O'Hare's, just up the street where we're running up a big bill and leaving a generous tip. ONE measly star.
(1)
Dawn P.
Love the ambience of the outside patio area! Drink prices were pretty average as well as their food selection and prices. I ordered the Twisted Turkey sandwich and it was soooo good. I'll definitely be making this a new stopping ground.
(5)
Meghan B.
Went there for the first time with my husband. Been wanting to go for months, loved the bar. It was an amazing bar...being a bartender the back side of the bar was amazing! Drinks were great...food, not so good. I think they forgot our food under the heat lamps. We noticed it took about 45 mintues for a pulled pork and a chicken ceaser salad wrap. But didnt say anything since it was saturday and it was busy. When the food finally came out out pickles were dry and on fire! The cole slaw was super hot too. But again the drinks were great!!! Might try it again during the week or early Saturday.
(3)
p m.
Ok love the atmosphere but took us over 30 mins to even order a drink. Empty tables around us. Hmmm... UPDATE.. 8/23 again. Waited about an hour this time. Maybe you have to have BOOBs /HOT ABS / skinny young to be serve here. Service is awful!
(2)
Cheryl I.
The beer garden is huge and cool. The live music is loud. Had to yell to talk to my hubby. Lots of beers to choose from. Had the fried haddock which was a bit greasy and just okay. Have had much better fish frys elsewhere. Not sure how great this place is in the cold or winter
(3)
Mindi M.
We were first time visitors who heard from a half dozen people that we just had to go... And it was disappointing. Outdoor area is all they're using and when you walk in there's no staff- feels abandoned. Walk through to patio and no one bothers to greet you or anything- no signs that say seat yourself, so we waited while two young servers took their time coming to tell us to just sit down wherever. No one in our group was overly impressed with their food, but it was fine. Just overall not what I expected since people pushed us to go, but nothing terrible either. Just kind of unremarkable.
(2)
Renee H.
My first time there was on a Sunday. I had mai tai, bbq pork sandwich with curly fries. Very good! Big portions! The bun was really good and fresh. This place reminded me of Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans. A blues band started jamming at 2:00 and it really was fun. Stay away from the pina colada, though. Too much ice made it watered down. Other than that I highly recommend checking this place out on a nice summer day.
(4)
Shelly S.
Great food but worst service ever! Not nearly enough waitresses to handle a busy lunch crowd/ party today. We have been here an hour and still waiting for food and second round of drinks. Pretty disappointing today.
(1)
Mat M.
Bandito Barney's is worth the drive from the city... as long as you can make it back to the city! (don't drink too much) Decent food, music and a a beach club atmosphere. I've been twice for a friends birthday party, and both times have been a lot of fun. Beautiful setting, off the beaten path.
(4)
Ovi B.
The new place is pretty awesome and it's a great hangout spot in the summer if you are looking to relax and have a beer outside. On the weekends it gets pretty busy and it is mostly a younger crowd. They have a great beer selection and they have awesome cups that you can take home. The food is decent. Their chicken tender are huge and I can only eat two whenever I go there. On Monday's they have a great special on wings, and that is mostly what I get. Keep up the good work Banditos!
(5)
D L.
Flat out best summer hangout in the area. Food is decent, but you come for the atmosphere. The beer garden is massive. Fun to be there when they have live music. Mostly a younger post-college crowd, but a mix of all ages depending on the hour. Good beer selection. Love the large sturdy plastic "Bandito Barney" cups you can take home. They last for years. Walking distance from many other fun bars. Great place to include on a pub crawl with friends. Make this the stop at the height of the evening.
(5)
Britt M.
First visit after the reconstruction and it was a big disappointment! We used to go there occasionally in the summer, it had a fun, quirky beach charm to it, but that's all gone now! Time to remove "Beach Club" from the name, nothing beachy about it anymore! I wouldn't even call it a beer 'garden'. Totally without charm. We were not recognized by any hostess and had to chase down a waitress to be seated, anywhere was fine. It took about 15 minutes before we got the menus and could place our drink orders. I ordered Chicken Club Salad, it was supposed to be mixed greens, but all I could see was iceberg lettuce. The chicken was very dry and the hard boiled egg was green, not a pretty sight. My husbands burger was not much better. But they do have several huge bar areas so if you like crappy food, louse service and a big bar, you've found your place!
(1)
Steve W.
This place is really cool. It has a out door area that is huge. We had a big party and everyone enjoyed themselves. I will be back again.
(4)
Rob R.
been here a couple of times now, cool place that you'd never think was there from the outside. The open beer garden is great. Good parking for Bikes. Drinks and food are good. the service was good at the tables but I would say the bartenders need to be friendlier and quicker.
(4)
Mick B.
First of all I have to say that I am amazed that a place named "Bandito Barney's" has no Mexican or Tex-Mex entrees on the menu. As someone previously mentioned, the menu is largely typical bar food dominated by burgers and sandwiches. I will say that I appreciated that you could get tater tots as a side dish with sandwiches. One of the people in our party got fruit as a side instead of potatoes- the fruit looked well prepared and appetizing. The day we were there, they seemed very understaffed; I think there was one waitress for the entire dining area. Service was slow but I couldn't blame our waitress because she was hustling around trying to do the work of 3 people. A previous reviewer said "They sometimes have a cover in the summer..." but it says on their website clearly "Never a cover". This could be a change in their policy but it is worth noting. Otherwise pretty much an average suburban "super bar" with sports bar aspirations.
(3)
Laura N.
This is a typical suburban beach bar filled with typical suburban bar customers. Because of that, part of me wants to hate this place. But... part of me kind of loves it. The drinks were good and reasonably priced, the multiple patio seating areas were cool (and huge!!!), the castle tower thing with private dining area was a nice touch, the food was surprisingly yummy, the bathrooms were clean, and the atmosphere was light and fun. Even the Jersey Shore-like clientele was nice. It was kind of chilly out, and there wasn't a band playing or anything, but I had no complaints. A group of us came out here to celebrate Taylor M's birthday and we had a good time! I'm really glad she introduced us to Bandito Barney's. It's a bit of a drive, so I probably won't be back unless I'm in the area. I wish I had known about this place when I lived nearby!
(4)
Tammy C.
Isn't even worth 1 star. Don't bother checking out the new digs. This place hasn't changed at all. The food and service sucks. We found plastic in our hamburger, our fish on the inside dark brown (fish fry) and the drinks are weak. The waitress even forgot our appetizer. We didn't even finish our meal. We just paid the bill and left. We gave it a third try and this was the last time.
(1)
Michael H.
This is the best go to place for locals. I use to live close to here growing up. First time I went here was around 2008/2009. Bulls were in the playoffs. My bro and I wanted to check it out. Because it was winter time, the beer garden and patio was not open. The inside was packed. The next couple of times I went was during warmer weather. Always kept seeing people I grew up with and went to school with. Service was good, as well as the food. The most recent time I went was for celebrating the 10 year reunion of the first high school I went to: Dundee Crown. We were in the back patio. It got crowded in the evening. It would've been twice as packed had the coordinators planned the reunion better. It's a place I'd go to for get togethers or to watch games. I consider this a great sports bar.
(4)
Theresa V.
Banditos is a pretty cool local bar that is best to visit during the summer. The outdoor bar is open and they have live music. It's the place you are going to run into everyone you don't want to see from high school kinda place lol. They have descent bar food. Overall a nice place to hang out if you want a low key kinda night.
(4)
Mark B.
Great summer bar; best beer garden in town. Looking forward to the weather warming up. I would have given Banditos more than 3 stars if it was fun all year around but it isn't all that great during winter.
(3)
Vanessa C.
I only really like this place in the summer - which is annoying as it brings out the d-bags too. In the winter it is just a small bar, in the warm months it has the outdoor seating and live music. Parking is an absolute pain as it is street parking only. Drinks are moderately priced. Obviously in the summer service is slow as it is usually packed on the weekends. I usually end up going to the bar instead of waiting for waitstaff. Live music is hit and miss, but still kind of fun overall. I will go back...because I always do eventually. Not my first choice but certainly not my last.
(3)
Susan K.
My boyfriend and I went here all summer. The Saturday night prime rib special was out of this world!!! The portions are huge, the price is right, and the staff are very friendly!!! We are going tonight (Friday) for the fish fry! The price is right....such a great spot!!!!!
(5)
John C.
Checked out the new addition to Banditos tonight. Everyone in my party said their meal was awesome, which I have to agree with. The only down side is we came to watch the Elite 8 games and not one of their 10 tv's were working....we left to watch the games at another bar....suggestion, lose Direct TV and get something more reliable.
(3)
Jeremiah R.
Bandito's is doing a major overhaul with a loan from the city. With all the excitement of what is gossiped to be "the greatest beer garden ever", the attitude and demeanor of the employees, including the owner, is becoming quite arrogant. The last two visits my friends and I had, several bartenders were buying rounds of shots "on the house" and delivering them to us. Both nights, we received tabs over $100 each for the shots that were supposedly "on the house". The first night, we accepted our fate. The second night, it seemed like a scripted scam - so we tipped on only one of our $100 tabs. Upon leaving, the owner came out of the bar and asked if there was a "problem with our service, or are we just cheap asses". We immediately turned around and explained that we've been coming here for years, and told him the bartender's actions. He disagreed, so in return we said "well we won't come back here anymore because you're taking advantage of people". The owner himself said "good, we'll survive without you". This bar is also a restaurant. Imagine hearing that from your local small business diner - probably won't stay in business long. Sooner or later, the bar's attitude will spread to current and prospective customers and eventually end up resulting in a default on the loan for their "ultimate beer garden". Sincerely, A once happy customer, turned to never to come back again.
(1)
Ms R.
Maybe I was expecting too much after reading all the good reviews and hearing the glowing word of mouth, but I was severely let down. I came here on a Tuesday night, expecting at least a somewhat crowded, bigger bar. Instead, it was one small, dark room, with a small bar, a juke box, two old dart machines and some gambling games. There was a downstairs that led to a dingy bathroom. There were maybe 12 people in the whole place, and four of them were myself and my friends. The bartender was friendly, but that was the only nice thing about this place. This was an absolute snooze-fest of a dive bar. I came here from Dylan's Pub around the corner, which wasn't impressing me that night, but at least had people in it. I should've just stayed there. I might think about coming back on a weekend night in the summer. ... Might.
(2)
Ellen B.
BRING CASH!!! Generally a nice place, I kinda liked it and was pleased when we were leaving. Then I looked at my bank statement the next day. I ran a tab since I didn't have any cash, and boyfriend and I only had two drinks. They charged my account 3 times! This was Saturday, and I'm still trying to get this off my account on Tuesday. I might go back, but I definitely will be going with cash next time.
(2)
Matthew B.
Great local place. For a Wednesday night, it still had some action. The conversations were great and the locals are good people. They have large television and good music playing. They have speciality cups too. It's a must if you want to avoid downtown Chicago.
(5)
j m.
Totally awesome place. There is an older to younger crowd. Good people watching. I have been going there for years. It feels like you are on vacation at a local spot in FL or something. Food is ok but when you're buzzed it's awesome. One problem at this place. When drinking there..BRING CASH!! Seriously. I usually go with about 6 people or so and we noticed that if we started a tab the bill was suspiciously high. When we paid cash we walked away with a smaller tab and piece of mind. The waitresses we've had were usually very nice but again.....bill was always higher when we ran a tab. You don't want to accuse someone on the spot....it wasn't just me whose noticed. If it were not for that I would give this place five stars. Also police $tart to lurk as the night goes on..looking to ticket.
(2)
Dan S.
Went to banditos with my daughter to grab some dinner...Sat down with no service for 16 minutes. Walked out. Went down the street to diamond Jim's and was immediately greeted and had a drink in my hands within 30 seconds.
(1)
Kathy O.
Finally made my way here! Myself and my my daughter had the all you can eat pasta. Hubby had chicken fingers. He said they were awesome. We sat in the beer garden.. My daughter loved it. Its huge and kids can do a bit of fun exploring there. It was about 60 degrees and comfortable. We will be back. And they have my husbands fav IPA on tap!! Service was good, which is so hard to find these days! They are building an additional beer garden that will have heated floors for the winter months! Great for groups, its huge!!!
(4)
Avinash K.
Pretty decent music, service was pretty good. Food was good - we had the Chicken Nachos - it was huge. Just about finished it. My friend had a beer called Tekate - if you have had it before then fine, otherwise he said it was not that good. Hardly any alchohol he said. I found drinks to be slightly more expensive than their worth, but otherwise you can definitely visit once.
(4)
Phil S.
Big. Huge. Spacious. Roomy. Enormous. Cavernous. Colossal. Immense. Mammoth. These would be some of the adjectives I used to describe my first visit to Triple BC. Prices weren't so horribly bad either. The clientele was a mix between gray hairs dressed in Abercrombie to your average trashy suburb teen wearing Abercrombie. And everything between. This made for great people watching while milling about the gigantic outdoor courtyard beer garden deal. As big as this place was, it was still packed from wall to wall. Parking was a nightmare for us which involved some forced tetris action in a dark gravel parking lot. Hey, at least parking was free. There is nothing I hate more than having to pay for parking when I'm going to your place to spend more money and then having to pay cover to get inside the place I'm going to spend money. BBBC has none of that ridiculous nonsense. Not to far from home and a great place to kick back and enjoy an evening of good weather outside enjoying a drink. This place is perfect for that.
(4)
Michele B.
Had a great time. Service was great and the crowd was a nice mix.
(4)
Gary M.
Great place for a nice leisurely outdoor lunch. I especially like the briscut sandwich. I've been here several times for lunch and have never been disappointed.
(5)
Cristie F.
I'm not going lie. I'm a long time lover and sucker for Bandito Barney's Beach Club. In the summertime, there's no other place like it. It's a treasure in the town of Dundee. A dive-y beach house bar with a massive beer garden smack-dab in the middle of suburbia. What else could you ask for? Super strong and huge drinks in teal take home cups maybe?? Oh yeah - they have those too. The beer garden is absolutely amazing. It's massive. Big enough that local bands often play there during the summer time ((with a small cover charge)). When the weather is nice, there's no where else I'd rather be. It's great in the day time, and even greater for boozin' at night. The food is decent. Is it spectacular? No. We're still talking about bar food here.But it's better than most bars and they have healthy options too if chili cheese tots are too artery clogging for you. The prices are reasonable and the portions are also of good size. I'd be surprised if anyone left hungry. Service is always good, but the atmosphere and patrons is always better. When college is out for summer, the crowd tends to be a little younger. In the winter time ((when the beer garden is closed -- obvs)) the crowd tends to be more locals. Either way, it's always a redonkulous time. I can't even count the number of crazy, shenanigan filled nights I've had at good ol' Bandito's... People drive down Higgins Road from afar to enjoy the glory and ridiculousness which is Bandito Barneys. So like Aimee M. said, don't let the East Dundee address scare you. Put on your party hat, get in your car, head down Higgins, and come to Bandito Barney's. Just remember to bring a designated driver.
(4)
sh j.
Great atmosphere! Typical bar food but we stopped in for lunch one day and I ordered the chicken fingers and couldn't believe the size of these things. The cod was really good and again the portion size was huge! Beer was good and super cold! The beer garden is huge and can't wait to go back.
(4)
Michelle F.
I have been to Bandito's a few times, and I always leave there happy and feeling like I had a great time!! This past weekend when I went (twice!) they had the entire beer garden open. It felt like it went on for days! It was awesome, really. very attentive waitresses, great drinks, good food! The live music was good as well--One night it was Modern Day Romeos acoustic-style, and the next night it was Send in the Clones. Solid! I will definitely be back!! Oh, and try the Mai Tai...but only if you're not the driver!
(4)
tara j.
Fish Fry's are an anomaly in the city,so when I moved out here it was with a bit of trepidation that we would notice all of these Friday night fish fry's being advertised.The fish fry at BBBC is outstanding. The price point is really a bargain, but the main thing is the quality of the food. Its really delicious.The cole slaw,fries and soup are all homemade.The haddock is fried to perfection.The beef brisket sandwich is very tasty,I'm told they do all their own smoking . Currently they are undergoing a massive renovation so we sat upstairs in a bar area with tables.Our waitress was friendly and outgoing. If you are in the area and a fish fry appeals to you then I think you will be quite pleased.
(5)
Kelsey P.
Reasons why I don't really like this place: 1. They sometimes have a cover in the summer and thus have terrible terrible terrible bands playing. 2. The drinks are expensive. The plastic cups are cute, but seem wasteful. 3. General douchey demographic attends this place. 4. Kinda lousy beer selection. The only thing, and I mean the only thing, that saves this place is the beer garden. Otherwise it's just like any other doofy suburban bar.
(2)
Jenny L.
I absolutely love this place and the beer garden, and I am looking forward to the new outdoor area once the construction is complete. They also have awesome food and I love Wednesdays for the $2 sliders!! Can't beat it!! All around a really good, cute, fun place.
(5)
Taylor M.
I came here for a birthday with some friend and had a great time. The drink were good, the atmosphere was fun. The live band was pretty cool and we enjoyed sitting on the patio until we were too cold! I would definitely go back. I am just going to try and pick a warmer day when I can better enjoy the outdoors.
(4)
Debbie B.
Stopped in for lunch with my husband not expecting any more than a lovely seat outside. What I didn't expect was some of the best barbecue I have in a long, long time! You can smell the awesome smoker tempting you and know that you need to order that and only that! We had the pulled pork and pulled chicken and it was was full of flavor and texture I couldn't say enough. And the sauce is my type, slightly sweet! Awesome service too! We are coming back....must have brisket....
(5)
Aimee M.
"Where the heck are we?" That was friend and fellow yelper Michele S as we traveled westward on Higgins to Bandito Barney's for a birthday party. If you live far away, don't let the East Dundee address scare you away, Bandito Barney's is a great outdoor locale to enjoy drinks and apps. Hopefully you'll get better live music than when we visited, but the outdoor setting and fun atmosphere made up for the lack of musical talent. First, this place is HUGE. When you walk in, you walk through a small cozy bar area and then it opens up to the patios. Yes, Patio(s)--plural. I couldn't figure out how to get there, but there is also patio seating on top of one of the bars so you get a balcony view of the band and prime people-watching spot too. My friend had the patio area just through the castle turret reserved for her party (yes, castle turret--you just have to go see it). The area has it's own bar and friendly waitress service. The menu is typical bar food, but with nice surprises like croissant sandwiches and a large build-your-own burger list. Take note--their tator tots are Delicious--capital D. Pefectly crispy. They carry a long list of major label beers, not so much a craft beer place, but there's usually a beer special every day too. I decided to try their mixed drinks instead and I was not disappointed. I had a green apple martini and then a Cosmopolitan. Both were delicious and this cosmo goes on my best cosmo list (first place still being the cosmo's at Prosecco) And to make it even more enjoyable, they really gave us almost a double serving in that martini glass. Yay for overflowing glasses!
(4)
Gary K.
Atmosphere -- They have an absolutely fantastic outdoor beer garden with multiple levels done in tasteful, clean flagstone. The different levels give it a cozy atmosphere; not too wide open, not crowded and cramped. There are a few cabana style bars that keep the beverage service close to you. One elevated area serves as a bandstand for when they have live music. Food -- My wife and I both had burgers and they were fantastic. I can't count how many times we've been out trying new places only to find that certain establishments charge $10.00 for a $5.00 burger. Here, you get a $10.00 burger for $8.00. The fries were great as well. Service -- Well above standard. Our waitress was knowledgeable, patient and helpful. It's nice knowing you won't have to flag someone down for a refill. When I told her I was driving and didn't want another beer, she cheerfully asked if I would like some ice water instead. While that used to be the standard (Far too long ago), I can't remember that last time that happened. This is a place that we will definitely be coming back to. This is one of, if not the best, outdoor beer garden in the suburbs. We have a new favorite outdoor place to go to.
(5)
Greg B.
This is a must visit in the summer. The beer garden has live music throughout the summer and you can smoke in the garden, but I always ask to be polite. There is a basketball free-throw if you need to do more than relax.
(4)
Sarah W.
This is Jimmy Buffett meets Biker bar. MY KINDA PLACE! However I think they were a little under staffed because it takes forever to get a drink. The food was ok. We've been there twice and each time we had drinks and food. Beef brisket was dry. The ambiance is however very cool. Lots of different areas to pick from. its like they have 4 beer gardens. Just order 2 drinks at a time cause they are SLOW!
(3)
Chris S.
some of the worst service I have ever seen, the waitresses would rather stand at the bar and talk to each other than serve you, what makes it worse is they were not even busy
(1)
Matt M.
Look this place is the perfect far suburban summer hangout. City snobs seem to love knocking this place and anything that isn't hipster or anywhere that you can actually park. But for a man who balances the dual like this place is the perfect place to hangout on nice summer night. Its not so loud you can not talk to the person next to you. The insane amount of bars make this place an ideal place to bring a mixed group of friends so the couples can do their thing and the single people can do theirs in perfect harmony.
(4)
Candi P.
Never knew there was a place like this so close to home. My boyfriend and I met up a couple friends for a drink and bite, and I loved the feel of the place. It was summertime and the outdoor seating was nice, definitely a nice place to just hang out on a friday night.
(4)
Sara L.
I don't know about you, but I am a huuugee beer garden fan! Whats not to like warm weather + killer drinks + large beer garden +bands = awesome! Bandito's has probably one of the best beer garden I've seen in the burbs. Its large and roomy, so everybody has enough wiggle room. They had pretty good drink specials when I went and it was super laid back. Also, the ladies' washrooms were super clean, which is always a plus. Yes, that last part was a random tidbit lol.
(4)
Monica D.
I give Bandito's a 4 star review because there are not many places in the suburbs that are like this bar. The outdoor space is amazing and one that you would only commonly find in the southern regions of the US. Hosting a number of outside bars, Banditos always has some cozy spot to go... in the summer at least. I may stay clear in the winter months for the smaller inner area can get a bit cramped.
(4)
Amy S.
My favorite suburban bar by far! The inside is small, cozy, and a little divey but in a good way. The outdoor area is AWESOME! Tons of tables and chairs, stage for bands, and multiple bars. Overall just very pretty. The first time I went there was back in May for Cinco de Mayo and it was pretty empty but still fun. I was shocked when I returned in July to a packed beer garden which was kind of a pain at first since we had to wait forever for drinks and couldn't find a free table for at least an hour. I like this bar so much that it didn't really make a difference. Drinks are reasonable and cocktails like the yummy mai tais are served in big plastic novelty cups which I have definitely accumulated a collection of. Worth the trip out from Schaumburg for sure. Banditos draws in all kinds of people creating an enjoyably eclectic crowd. I would recommend to anyone!
(5)
Sam W.
This is a great place. Awesome outside bar. Saw one of my friends bands here and it's really cool for that. It's getting one star because I drove almost an hour from Chicago for this, forgot my wallet and couldn't get served. I get having a liquor license, you have to follow rules. However, I'm a fat, balding 33 year old asking for a Miller Lite. Not some 20 year old asking for a Long Island Ice Tea. So even though the door guy let us in without checking our IDs the waitress made her call the other way. It's called reasoning. He used it, she didn't.
(1)
Doug M.
Decent place to grab some brews and listen to a live band. Nice large outdoor seating area.
(4)
Paul K.
The atmosphere is lively and fun, and the food is really good. They turned me around by stopping the cover charges for bands.
(4)
Kurt W.
This used to be the place with mediocre bar food, basic drinks and a great atmosphere. Now, they've upped the quality on everything and I pick up lunch here twice a week. Love this place!
(5)
Rich R.
This is a great summer outdoor patio. Huge! There is a very fun band named DP they are playing 7/1/12 from like noon to 4:00. Food is really good, bartenders and servers are really kewl. Don't miss out on this place in the summer especially on the weekends.
(4)
Denise J.
My favorite summer time place!!!! If your looking for a bar to sit outside and enjoy some music, Bandito barney's is your place!!! Every time I've been here I've had nothing but a good time, and this time was no different. A group of friends went there to celebrate a birthday. We got there at 830 and found a table no problem, our waitress on the other hand took forever to come over to us and take our order......and I was starving!!! I ordered a pulled pork sandwich( that is so big my friend and I split it.) there BBQ sauce is a mango bbq flavor and its one of the best ive ever tasted!! With my sandwich I also got an order of seasoned curly fries that are to die for!!! I will be returning again and again for their amazing beer garden, music, and amazing food!!! But be aware if you are getting there after 8pm they do have a 3 dollar cover.
(4)
James S.
I'm actually not in the mood to write a long review right now, but will come back to eventually write one, basically though, this is a really cool bar and good thing it's close to home.
(5)
Kim S.
Love it! My friends and I found this "hidden gem" last Summer and we now have a great place to have a few drinks, meet friends and listen to live music on the biggest outdoor patio I have ever seen. Nice location, Good food, awesome atmosphere, and great service....what else can you ask for?
(5)
Alex G.
I too checked this place out and thought "a beach club, I'm in". This place is a High School reunion joint where douche bags hang-out. I can name 5 other places within 2 miles that will blow this place of the map. Beware that when you leave, the whole E. Dundee P.D will be waiting for you. All 3 squad cars. You have been warned!
(1)
Rhonda G.
SO....it is very rare that I hang out in the suburbs and now I know why. I'm really not digging the college kid vibe that this place gives off. Now granted it was colder than normal for a July evening so my attitude probably needed an adjustment BUT whatever the case, I was not a happy camper. The beer garden looks nice and may even be enjoyable when it's nice out and with a change in the crowd. Groups of guys chugging cheap beers and letting out lame group howls, downing shots from little plastic sauce cups. I guess it's a smokers paradise because everyone lights up in the beer garden so as a non-smoker it was NOT enjoyable. Drinks are OK but kind of expensive considering I got mostly ice. BUT..I did get a souvenir in the form of a cheap plastic cup! YES!
(1)
Tammy M.
I was extremely surprised when I saw the fantastic beer garden. I would of never thought that a neighborhood bar would have a backyard like this. That is what the Beer Garden was like to me, a friend's backyard party. There is the bar in the middle of the deck and tables on all the other levels of the deck. The bartender knew his stuff-the service was great.I met a friend after work and we had a great time. I will definately go back & brring more friends to the party!
(4)
Tony M.
I LOVE THIS PLACE. Best place to go when it's nice out after a long week of work. Me and my co-workers head out here and start drinking. Great specials, pretty good food too. Definitely recommend the Roast Beef Twister w/ wassabe mayo=amazing. Probably one of the best beer gardens I've ever seen. Check it out!
(5)
Matt J.
I really love and hate Bandito's. It has great food, a lively atmosphere, and a phenomenal outdoor tiki area. Unfortunately, it has absolutely awful customer service. Waitresses are routinely over worked and bring the wrong drinks (usually you pay for these). At closing time, you will be literally harassed to move closer to the bar area, in a very rude fashion. 3 stars.
(3)
Michael S.
I went back to Bandito for a Bacholor Party. To my suprise the service was very good and our party had a great time. The food is still not good but I have to say that the drinks and night life atmoshpere make the food issue forgetable. I will go back agian
(4)
Joseph C.
Great place for outdoor live music. Gets really busy on the weekends. The patio areas are quite impressive. Only problem is that drink prices are high for the area.
(3)
Carol J.
In a town without pity or much else of anything to do, Bandito Barney's is a nice little breath of fresh air. Warm and cozy in the winter, huge oasis of a beer garden in the summer. Having lived in the area during my misspent youth, I have stories I could tell but the bottom line is, this place is always like home to me. A place where they welcome day time drinking, especially if you are ditching out of a particularly horrid wedding reception. The jukebox is awesome and the crowd is basically friendly and in some way or another related to someone I know from a lifetime away. Dart boards are nice diversions if you are so inclined and I don't know if they still have it but there used to be an antique barber chair used for insane shots called Upside Down Maui Powies. Irish Rebels are still a mystery to me, but one of these days, I will figure it out. And a big plus? I always get carded!
(4)
Matt K.
Sometimes it is necessary for me to go home to the suburbs where my parents live. This could be due to holidays, people coming in from out of state, etc. As many of you may remember, Father's Day happened recently. For this occasion, I decided to go home and see the old man. Because I don't have a car, it is generally easier for me to go home the night before and have someone pick me up from the train or what have you. Plus, my friend was back in town from New York, and I wanted to see his punk ass, so I made a point to be back in the suburbs for any festivities that might happen on said Saturday night. There isn't a lot to do in the suburbs, so people usually decide on one of the limited places and head out there. This time around, I was informed that people were heading to Bandito's, which is located a few towns over. Let me start by saying this: There are no beaches in East Dundee. How someone could call their bar a beach club in this area is beyond me. Outdoor seating and a few tiki torches placed here and there doesn't make this place Hawaii. I do give credit to the sheer size of this place, but then again, it just makes room for even more douchebags to hang out here. "Whoa, dude, let's go to Bandito's! It's a beach club, so we better wear board shorts!" And the women. What can be said? "Hi, I'm Trixi. I flunked out of community college, live with my parents, work in a cellphone store at the mall, and have huge tits and various stds. Can I sit on your lap? So, do you guys, like, listen to punk?" Sweet pickin's. The drinks weren't cheap and the waitresses weren't too bright, although the one we had was very pleasant. And to all of those who know me, it will be interesting to note that it was actually I who stood up for her while everyone else made fun. Weird, huh? I'd rather not go here, but sometimes I don't have much of a choice, so I'm sure I'll be back. That doesn't mean I have to like it.
(1)
Andrea R.
Bandito Barney's is one of those great beer garden summer bars. I go at least once a year to take in the long summer nights sitting in the 'sand' drinking a delicious Mai Tai. For the past two years, I have chosen Bandito Barney's to host my birthday gathering. Everyone that comes, always leaves happy and wants to go back again! The outdoor seating is expansive with several alcoves to chose from. You can sit in booths next to the patio bar or sit at a wire wicker table by the outdoor stage or even next to the castle and 'moat.' Service isn't the greatest since the beer garden is so large. However, I would recommend this fun bar to anyone who enjoys outdoor seating in a relaxed and casual setting.
(4)
J P.
This place has a killer beer garden, you seriously don't feel like you are in Elgin. The food is great and their shots are..amaze!! Always a good time, go in the summer and go outside to the beer garden. I seriously feel as though I'm on vacation! Or Spring break, or college. If you aren't uptight come here for a good time!
(5)
ryan h.
This place is just fantastic! It is by far the best beer garden that I have ever been to.
(5)
Candice G.
I did not grow up in West Dundee so maybe that helps, I don't know all the 'douche bags' and don't care. I just know they have a really nice outdoor seating area. If it's a beautiful day, 2 of their (strong) mai tai's and an order of chicken wings (they rocked) and I'm happy!
(4)
Jenny J.
GREAT place to go in the summer. BUT...(there's always a but!!)....winter is no good. Very small, dark, "hole-in-the-wall" feeling inside. During the summer, the atmosphere is fantastic. Live music, a sandy beach beer garden with multiple bars. Tons of seating too. Love that place.
(4)
Tegan F.
The atmosphere is phenomanal! Very fun for the summer time! Outdoor tiki huts with games and a stage for bands. They have water fountains positioned throughout the place to give you a more relaxing feel. This place is busy 24/7, I wish the service was better. You would think with the kind of volume this place brings in the servers could walk with great money but they dont want to do their job. I was a patron at this establishment, I found a table and sat for 10 min before recieving menus, which I had to hunt down a server to get them. The rest of my party came and we sat for another 10 min before anyone visited our table to take drink orders. The rest of the meal was ok, the curly fries were good but the buffalo wrap I had was dripping everywhere and was very difficult to eat. This place is worth the try for the atmosphere, lets hope they hire better servers for the summer.
(3)
David B.
During the summer, there's a large outdoor area that has sand on the ground to make it feel like a beach. During the winter, as it was this past weekend, it still manages to come across as a decent bar. I went with my friend Pat, and we had already stopped by a few other bars in the area-- so I wasn't really in the mood to drink anything else. "What do you have on special," Pat asked. The waitress said, "8 oz Coors Lite cans." I ordered one. When she brought it to me, it was really small. A guy from across the bar yelled, "I didn't know they made beer for kids!" Two stars.
(2)
Courtney P.
Ended up here on a Sunday afternoon when it was really nice out. I think we got there early enough that it wasn't too packed and pretty mellow. Very cool bartender. Good Sunday specials. The roast beef on pretzel bread was great (which I definitely didn't expect). I can see how it could easily turn into a d-bag and dumb blonde rubbing on eachother drunk place. It does suck that they let you smoke at the bar outside
(3)
Carin C.
I came here not expecting much based on previous reviews and have to say that atmosphere is the # 1 draw but to my pleasant surprise the staff and food were great! I give Jacelyn a huge high five for taking care of us... even in the rain, she was fantastic!
(4)
Amanda K.
This is a great summer time place! It would not be a good place to go in the winter though. I bar inside is very small. However the outside is awesome. It has a great ambiance, kind of a medieval theme. It was not what I was expecting being it's called "Beach Club". However the band that was playing that night was playing in sand. The service was good and having drink specials on a Friday night is definitely a way to make me a fan. They had several three dollar drink specials, which I took advantage of the three dollar dos equis.
(4)
Jesse E.
Bandito Barney's isn't your typical bar. The inside is rather small so I can't imagine it being a great place to go during the winter, but during the summer it's tons of fun. Outside of the main building itself, there are several different areas to enjoy your food/beer. There's a little "oasis" section, two different covered spots for if it's raining, and a very interesting castle themed section with 2 additional bars. The atmosphere and decor make for a very pleasant experience and is enough to warrant 4 or 5 stars on it's own. However, there are several reasons I can't give Bandito Barney's a rater higher than 3 stars. Their idea of drink specials are very poor. On several occasions when I have visited you could get a particular type of beer for a whole 25 to 50 cents cheaper than it usually costs. Not very enticing. If you go here with a group, make sure you bring cash because it is apparently an inconvenience for the servers to maintain separate tabs so you need to pay as you go. If you want to run a tab, you'll need a card and go to the bar for anything you need. The other big downfall for Bandito Barney's is the food. Not because of the quality, but the pricing. During my most recent visit a co-worker of mine decided to order chicken fingers, the most basic of all bar food. For $9 you get 4-5 chicken fingers and three sauces to dip them in. No fries, no hug or comfort, just 4 basic chicken fingers and the realization that you just got ripped off. I, myself, ordered a gyro on one visit and it was delicious! It should have been for $12. I did get fries with my food, but that was another $3. All in all, it's an OK place to go and could be a weekly hang out, but the price and inconvenience of paying is enough to easily dismiss the thought. If you have someone visiting or just need a change of place Bandito Barney's is a great place, just remember to bring cash and patience.
(3)
lynn s.
Bandito's is always our go to place during the summer. The outdoor garden is awesome since they added the new addition a couple years ago. I don't quite understand the castle decor, but it is still very roomy and a great place to meet friends. The bands are usually decent and we get there before they charge a cover. Food is typical pub food and have a good varierty on beer on tap. The first time I went there with friends I was not impressed by the inside bar, but was blown away by the beer garden and party atmosphere just outside the doors. It will be a surprise for anyone who has never been there before!
(4)
Laura S.
Food is very good. Atmosphere is awesome. Service needs improvement. Always short staffed.
(4)
liz d.
The atmosphere does not make up for lack of customer service. An outdoor area was closing and the worker yelling at us to get up and move was so drunk she could hardly stand. Great employee to represent the establishment. The doorman was friendly, which is out of character as far as the rest of the "customer service" employees. This place is probably still in business because there are not alot of choices in the 'burbs. Stay away unless you're as smashed as the people that work here.
(1)
K S.
I've always liked going to Bandito's. I've lived in Chicago and been to every type of bar you could imagine both in Chicago and my many trips to NYC and Philadelphia, but I don't poo poo people just because they live in the 'burbs or work at a mall. I don't enjoy the company of most people outside my circle either, so I just let the others be without having an elitist attitude. Bandito's has a fantastic beer garden. It's not just a slab of concrete where people go to smoke. It's a big wood deck that has stairs going down to a brick patio on one side and a sandy beach like area on the other side. There is an addition now too that enters through a tower into a big brick patio with another bar. On top of that bar is rooftop seating. It's really quite nice. The only places you can drink outside in Chicagoland that you can compare with this place are Famous Freddy's in Fox Lake, Blarney's Island (although the idiots are very hard to ignore at Blarney's) and 115 Bourbon St. in Merrionette Park.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Cynthia G.
I don't usually go to bars in the suburbs but this place was great! The prices were decent and the drinks were great! The music was also pretty good and the patio was the best part! I will definitely be going back
(5)Seth R.
To go order: Cheeseburger- unremarkable. Reuben- not bad. French Fries- unedibly greasy. Chicken Tenders- absolutely fowl. The fried batter coating slips off to reveal a large piece of chicken shimmering from the slick coating of grease. My children love chicken tenders. They took one bite eachand that was it. They also wouldn't touch the fries. Not good.
(2)Lacey M.
The bartender was quite the rude little snot! The pitchers of beer are $10.50 each...a sex on the beach drink was $9.00! Needless to say we bar hopped to another bar after we finished our drinks. I like the way it's outside its very beautiful...but the awful customer service and the prices ruined it for me.
(2)Catherine P.
Anyone that has known me for any real amount of time, knows they can count on me to seek out a good hole in the wall bar. I have been here a hand full of times over the course of 10 years or so. It used to be a great meeting spot for me and and old gal pal of mine. Great place with a cool patio where you could sit and smoke and drink and just chill out. Yeah, I miss those days. Well, not really. I don't miss hacking up a lung the morning after a long night out. I don't miss the hangovers one tiny bit. With that said, I do miss the chillaxing I did back in the day. I don't know exactly when we all went and got ourselves in a big damn hurry but somehow the days fly by, Sunday morning comes and goes without even stopping to read the paper and somehow it's been like 5 years since you have made a trip to the places you use to love. About a year back, I was going to meet an old friend of mine for a drink and she lives in the area, so I suggested this old place I knew a long time ago near the river in East Dundee. Its a dingy little bar with some indoor seating, a couple dart boards and a pool table. The real appeal is the outdoor patio. From the outside of the building, you wouldn't even know it's there. Once you're back in the patio, you are no longer in East Dundee. Somehow you are transported to some place you would imagine seeing in a bad 90's movie, or maybe 80's flick, if I'm being honest. The service is good. Food is not memorable, but that may be caused by the cocktails. I try to stay away from their restrooms....I seem to recall them being UNIsex, which is code for filthy. Street parking and (tip) READ THE POSTED SIGNS! My suggestion: grab dinner on the other side of the river at The Village Squire (totally casual as well) and walk over the river, maybe swing past the frozen custard place on 72 on your walk over for dessert and then a few steps over to Bandito Barney's. Grab your hoodie when we reach the 50's or 60's or, if you're a sissy, wait until a Summer day when you can't be bothered but to put on more than flip flops. You don't need to lather on the makeup or cologne here. Come as you are! If you are just looking for a cold beer and some good folks to hang out with, I think this is a safe bet!!
(3)Mark D.
Banditos is just a beer garden out back right now. The sorry part is the service is terrible. We found our own seats and it took ten minutes for anyone to acknowledge we were even there. A waitress blew past us saying a "waitress would be back soon". After a few minutes being ignored, we took off. I'm writing this review from Rosie O'Hare's, just up the street where we're running up a big bill and leaving a generous tip. ONE measly star.
(1)Dawn P.
Love the ambience of the outside patio area! Drink prices were pretty average as well as their food selection and prices. I ordered the Twisted Turkey sandwich and it was soooo good. I'll definitely be making this a new stopping ground.
(5)Meghan B.
Went there for the first time with my husband. Been wanting to go for months, loved the bar. It was an amazing bar...being a bartender the back side of the bar was amazing! Drinks were great...food, not so good. I think they forgot our food under the heat lamps. We noticed it took about 45 mintues for a pulled pork and a chicken ceaser salad wrap. But didnt say anything since it was saturday and it was busy. When the food finally came out out pickles were dry and on fire! The cole slaw was super hot too. But again the drinks were great!!! Might try it again during the week or early Saturday.
(3)p m.
Ok love the atmosphere but took us over 30 mins to even order a drink. Empty tables around us. Hmmm... UPDATE.. 8/23 again. Waited about an hour this time. Maybe you have to have BOOBs /HOT ABS / skinny young to be serve here. Service is awful!
(2)Cheryl I.
The beer garden is huge and cool. The live music is loud. Had to yell to talk to my hubby. Lots of beers to choose from. Had the fried haddock which was a bit greasy and just okay. Have had much better fish frys elsewhere. Not sure how great this place is in the cold or winter
(3)Mindi M.
We were first time visitors who heard from a half dozen people that we just had to go... And it was disappointing. Outdoor area is all they're using and when you walk in there's no staff- feels abandoned. Walk through to patio and no one bothers to greet you or anything- no signs that say seat yourself, so we waited while two young servers took their time coming to tell us to just sit down wherever. No one in our group was overly impressed with their food, but it was fine. Just overall not what I expected since people pushed us to go, but nothing terrible either. Just kind of unremarkable.
(2)Renee H.
My first time there was on a Sunday. I had mai tai, bbq pork sandwich with curly fries. Very good! Big portions! The bun was really good and fresh. This place reminded me of Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans. A blues band started jamming at 2:00 and it really was fun. Stay away from the pina colada, though. Too much ice made it watered down. Other than that I highly recommend checking this place out on a nice summer day.
(4)Shelly S.
Great food but worst service ever! Not nearly enough waitresses to handle a busy lunch crowd/ party today. We have been here an hour and still waiting for food and second round of drinks. Pretty disappointing today.
(1)Mat M.
Bandito Barney's is worth the drive from the city... as long as you can make it back to the city! (don't drink too much) Decent food, music and a a beach club atmosphere. I've been twice for a friends birthday party, and both times have been a lot of fun. Beautiful setting, off the beaten path.
(4)Ovi B.
The new place is pretty awesome and it's a great hangout spot in the summer if you are looking to relax and have a beer outside. On the weekends it gets pretty busy and it is mostly a younger crowd. They have a great beer selection and they have awesome cups that you can take home. The food is decent. Their chicken tender are huge and I can only eat two whenever I go there. On Monday's they have a great special on wings, and that is mostly what I get. Keep up the good work Banditos!
(5)D L.
Flat out best summer hangout in the area. Food is decent, but you come for the atmosphere. The beer garden is massive. Fun to be there when they have live music. Mostly a younger post-college crowd, but a mix of all ages depending on the hour. Good beer selection. Love the large sturdy plastic "Bandito Barney" cups you can take home. They last for years. Walking distance from many other fun bars. Great place to include on a pub crawl with friends. Make this the stop at the height of the evening.
(5)Britt M.
First visit after the reconstruction and it was a big disappointment! We used to go there occasionally in the summer, it had a fun, quirky beach charm to it, but that's all gone now! Time to remove "Beach Club" from the name, nothing beachy about it anymore! I wouldn't even call it a beer 'garden'. Totally without charm. We were not recognized by any hostess and had to chase down a waitress to be seated, anywhere was fine. It took about 15 minutes before we got the menus and could place our drink orders. I ordered Chicken Club Salad, it was supposed to be mixed greens, but all I could see was iceberg lettuce. The chicken was very dry and the hard boiled egg was green, not a pretty sight. My husbands burger was not much better. But they do have several huge bar areas so if you like crappy food, louse service and a big bar, you've found your place!
(1)Steve W.
This place is really cool. It has a out door area that is huge. We had a big party and everyone enjoyed themselves. I will be back again.
(4)Rob R.
been here a couple of times now, cool place that you'd never think was there from the outside. The open beer garden is great. Good parking for Bikes. Drinks and food are good. the service was good at the tables but I would say the bartenders need to be friendlier and quicker.
(4)Mick B.
First of all I have to say that I am amazed that a place named "Bandito Barney's" has no Mexican or Tex-Mex entrees on the menu. As someone previously mentioned, the menu is largely typical bar food dominated by burgers and sandwiches. I will say that I appreciated that you could get tater tots as a side dish with sandwiches. One of the people in our party got fruit as a side instead of potatoes- the fruit looked well prepared and appetizing. The day we were there, they seemed very understaffed; I think there was one waitress for the entire dining area. Service was slow but I couldn't blame our waitress because she was hustling around trying to do the work of 3 people. A previous reviewer said "They sometimes have a cover in the summer..." but it says on their website clearly "Never a cover". This could be a change in their policy but it is worth noting. Otherwise pretty much an average suburban "super bar" with sports bar aspirations.
(3)Laura N.
This is a typical suburban beach bar filled with typical suburban bar customers. Because of that, part of me wants to hate this place. But... part of me kind of loves it. The drinks were good and reasonably priced, the multiple patio seating areas were cool (and huge!!!), the castle tower thing with private dining area was a nice touch, the food was surprisingly yummy, the bathrooms were clean, and the atmosphere was light and fun. Even the Jersey Shore-like clientele was nice. It was kind of chilly out, and there wasn't a band playing or anything, but I had no complaints. A group of us came out here to celebrate Taylor M's birthday and we had a good time! I'm really glad she introduced us to Bandito Barney's. It's a bit of a drive, so I probably won't be back unless I'm in the area. I wish I had known about this place when I lived nearby!
(4)Tammy C.
Isn't even worth 1 star. Don't bother checking out the new digs. This place hasn't changed at all. The food and service sucks. We found plastic in our hamburger, our fish on the inside dark brown (fish fry) and the drinks are weak. The waitress even forgot our appetizer. We didn't even finish our meal. We just paid the bill and left. We gave it a third try and this was the last time.
(1)Michael H.
This is the best go to place for locals. I use to live close to here growing up. First time I went here was around 2008/2009. Bulls were in the playoffs. My bro and I wanted to check it out. Because it was winter time, the beer garden and patio was not open. The inside was packed. The next couple of times I went was during warmer weather. Always kept seeing people I grew up with and went to school with. Service was good, as well as the food. The most recent time I went was for celebrating the 10 year reunion of the first high school I went to: Dundee Crown. We were in the back patio. It got crowded in the evening. It would've been twice as packed had the coordinators planned the reunion better. It's a place I'd go to for get togethers or to watch games. I consider this a great sports bar.
(4)Theresa V.
Banditos is a pretty cool local bar that is best to visit during the summer. The outdoor bar is open and they have live music. It's the place you are going to run into everyone you don't want to see from high school kinda place lol. They have descent bar food. Overall a nice place to hang out if you want a low key kinda night.
(4)Mark B.
Great summer bar; best beer garden in town. Looking forward to the weather warming up. I would have given Banditos more than 3 stars if it was fun all year around but it isn't all that great during winter.
(3)Vanessa C.
I only really like this place in the summer - which is annoying as it brings out the d-bags too. In the winter it is just a small bar, in the warm months it has the outdoor seating and live music. Parking is an absolute pain as it is street parking only. Drinks are moderately priced. Obviously in the summer service is slow as it is usually packed on the weekends. I usually end up going to the bar instead of waiting for waitstaff. Live music is hit and miss, but still kind of fun overall. I will go back...because I always do eventually. Not my first choice but certainly not my last.
(3)Susan K.
My boyfriend and I went here all summer. The Saturday night prime rib special was out of this world!!! The portions are huge, the price is right, and the staff are very friendly!!! We are going tonight (Friday) for the fish fry! The price is right....such a great spot!!!!!
(5)John C.
Checked out the new addition to Banditos tonight. Everyone in my party said their meal was awesome, which I have to agree with. The only down side is we came to watch the Elite 8 games and not one of their 10 tv's were working....we left to watch the games at another bar....suggestion, lose Direct TV and get something more reliable.
(3)Jeremiah R.
Bandito's is doing a major overhaul with a loan from the city. With all the excitement of what is gossiped to be "the greatest beer garden ever", the attitude and demeanor of the employees, including the owner, is becoming quite arrogant. The last two visits my friends and I had, several bartenders were buying rounds of shots "on the house" and delivering them to us. Both nights, we received tabs over $100 each for the shots that were supposedly "on the house". The first night, we accepted our fate. The second night, it seemed like a scripted scam - so we tipped on only one of our $100 tabs. Upon leaving, the owner came out of the bar and asked if there was a "problem with our service, or are we just cheap asses". We immediately turned around and explained that we've been coming here for years, and told him the bartender's actions. He disagreed, so in return we said "well we won't come back here anymore because you're taking advantage of people". The owner himself said "good, we'll survive without you". This bar is also a restaurant. Imagine hearing that from your local small business diner - probably won't stay in business long. Sooner or later, the bar's attitude will spread to current and prospective customers and eventually end up resulting in a default on the loan for their "ultimate beer garden". Sincerely, A once happy customer, turned to never to come back again.
(1)Ms R.
Maybe I was expecting too much after reading all the good reviews and hearing the glowing word of mouth, but I was severely let down. I came here on a Tuesday night, expecting at least a somewhat crowded, bigger bar. Instead, it was one small, dark room, with a small bar, a juke box, two old dart machines and some gambling games. There was a downstairs that led to a dingy bathroom. There were maybe 12 people in the whole place, and four of them were myself and my friends. The bartender was friendly, but that was the only nice thing about this place. This was an absolute snooze-fest of a dive bar. I came here from Dylan's Pub around the corner, which wasn't impressing me that night, but at least had people in it. I should've just stayed there. I might think about coming back on a weekend night in the summer. ... Might.
(2)Ellen B.
BRING CASH!!! Generally a nice place, I kinda liked it and was pleased when we were leaving. Then I looked at my bank statement the next day. I ran a tab since I didn't have any cash, and boyfriend and I only had two drinks. They charged my account 3 times! This was Saturday, and I'm still trying to get this off my account on Tuesday. I might go back, but I definitely will be going with cash next time.
(2)Matthew B.
Great local place. For a Wednesday night, it still had some action. The conversations were great and the locals are good people. They have large television and good music playing. They have speciality cups too. It's a must if you want to avoid downtown Chicago.
(5)j m.
Totally awesome place. There is an older to younger crowd. Good people watching. I have been going there for years. It feels like you are on vacation at a local spot in FL or something. Food is ok but when you're buzzed it's awesome. One problem at this place. When drinking there..BRING CASH!! Seriously. I usually go with about 6 people or so and we noticed that if we started a tab the bill was suspiciously high. When we paid cash we walked away with a smaller tab and piece of mind. The waitresses we've had were usually very nice but again.....bill was always higher when we ran a tab. You don't want to accuse someone on the spot....it wasn't just me whose noticed. If it were not for that I would give this place five stars. Also police $tart to lurk as the night goes on..looking to ticket.
(2)Dan S.
Went to banditos with my daughter to grab some dinner...Sat down with no service for 16 minutes. Walked out. Went down the street to diamond Jim's and was immediately greeted and had a drink in my hands within 30 seconds.
(1)Kathy O.
Finally made my way here! Myself and my my daughter had the all you can eat pasta. Hubby had chicken fingers. He said they were awesome. We sat in the beer garden.. My daughter loved it. Its huge and kids can do a bit of fun exploring there. It was about 60 degrees and comfortable. We will be back. And they have my husbands fav IPA on tap!! Service was good, which is so hard to find these days! They are building an additional beer garden that will have heated floors for the winter months! Great for groups, its huge!!!
(4)Avinash K.
Pretty decent music, service was pretty good. Food was good - we had the Chicken Nachos - it was huge. Just about finished it. My friend had a beer called Tekate - if you have had it before then fine, otherwise he said it was not that good. Hardly any alchohol he said. I found drinks to be slightly more expensive than their worth, but otherwise you can definitely visit once.
(4)Phil S.
Big. Huge. Spacious. Roomy. Enormous. Cavernous. Colossal. Immense. Mammoth. These would be some of the adjectives I used to describe my first visit to Triple BC. Prices weren't so horribly bad either. The clientele was a mix between gray hairs dressed in Abercrombie to your average trashy suburb teen wearing Abercrombie. And everything between. This made for great people watching while milling about the gigantic outdoor courtyard beer garden deal. As big as this place was, it was still packed from wall to wall. Parking was a nightmare for us which involved some forced tetris action in a dark gravel parking lot. Hey, at least parking was free. There is nothing I hate more than having to pay for parking when I'm going to your place to spend more money and then having to pay cover to get inside the place I'm going to spend money. BBBC has none of that ridiculous nonsense. Not to far from home and a great place to kick back and enjoy an evening of good weather outside enjoying a drink. This place is perfect for that.
(4)Michele B.
Had a great time. Service was great and the crowd was a nice mix.
(4)Gary M.
Great place for a nice leisurely outdoor lunch. I especially like the briscut sandwich. I've been here several times for lunch and have never been disappointed.
(5)Cristie F.
I'm not going lie. I'm a long time lover and sucker for Bandito Barney's Beach Club. In the summertime, there's no other place like it. It's a treasure in the town of Dundee. A dive-y beach house bar with a massive beer garden smack-dab in the middle of suburbia. What else could you ask for? Super strong and huge drinks in teal take home cups maybe?? Oh yeah - they have those too. The beer garden is absolutely amazing. It's massive. Big enough that local bands often play there during the summer time ((with a small cover charge)). When the weather is nice, there's no where else I'd rather be. It's great in the day time, and even greater for boozin' at night. The food is decent. Is it spectacular? No. We're still talking about bar food here.But it's better than most bars and they have healthy options too if chili cheese tots are too artery clogging for you. The prices are reasonable and the portions are also of good size. I'd be surprised if anyone left hungry. Service is always good, but the atmosphere and patrons is always better. When college is out for summer, the crowd tends to be a little younger. In the winter time ((when the beer garden is closed -- obvs)) the crowd tends to be more locals. Either way, it's always a redonkulous time. I can't even count the number of crazy, shenanigan filled nights I've had at good ol' Bandito's... People drive down Higgins Road from afar to enjoy the glory and ridiculousness which is Bandito Barneys. So like Aimee M. said, don't let the East Dundee address scare you. Put on your party hat, get in your car, head down Higgins, and come to Bandito Barney's. Just remember to bring a designated driver.
(4)sh j.
Great atmosphere! Typical bar food but we stopped in for lunch one day and I ordered the chicken fingers and couldn't believe the size of these things. The cod was really good and again the portion size was huge! Beer was good and super cold! The beer garden is huge and can't wait to go back.
(4)Michelle F.
I have been to Bandito's a few times, and I always leave there happy and feeling like I had a great time!! This past weekend when I went (twice!) they had the entire beer garden open. It felt like it went on for days! It was awesome, really. very attentive waitresses, great drinks, good food! The live music was good as well--One night it was Modern Day Romeos acoustic-style, and the next night it was Send in the Clones. Solid! I will definitely be back!! Oh, and try the Mai Tai...but only if you're not the driver!
(4)tara j.
Fish Fry's are an anomaly in the city,so when I moved out here it was with a bit of trepidation that we would notice all of these Friday night fish fry's being advertised.The fish fry at BBBC is outstanding. The price point is really a bargain, but the main thing is the quality of the food. Its really delicious.The cole slaw,fries and soup are all homemade.The haddock is fried to perfection.The beef brisket sandwich is very tasty,I'm told they do all their own smoking . Currently they are undergoing a massive renovation so we sat upstairs in a bar area with tables.Our waitress was friendly and outgoing. If you are in the area and a fish fry appeals to you then I think you will be quite pleased.
(5)Kelsey P.
Reasons why I don't really like this place: 1. They sometimes have a cover in the summer and thus have terrible terrible terrible bands playing. 2. The drinks are expensive. The plastic cups are cute, but seem wasteful. 3. General douchey demographic attends this place. 4. Kinda lousy beer selection. The only thing, and I mean the only thing, that saves this place is the beer garden. Otherwise it's just like any other doofy suburban bar.
(2)Jenny L.
I absolutely love this place and the beer garden, and I am looking forward to the new outdoor area once the construction is complete. They also have awesome food and I love Wednesdays for the $2 sliders!! Can't beat it!! All around a really good, cute, fun place.
(5)Taylor M.
I came here for a birthday with some friend and had a great time. The drink were good, the atmosphere was fun. The live band was pretty cool and we enjoyed sitting on the patio until we were too cold! I would definitely go back. I am just going to try and pick a warmer day when I can better enjoy the outdoors.
(4)Debbie B.
Stopped in for lunch with my husband not expecting any more than a lovely seat outside. What I didn't expect was some of the best barbecue I have in a long, long time! You can smell the awesome smoker tempting you and know that you need to order that and only that! We had the pulled pork and pulled chicken and it was was full of flavor and texture I couldn't say enough. And the sauce is my type, slightly sweet! Awesome service too! We are coming back....must have brisket....
(5)Aimee M.
"Where the heck are we?" That was friend and fellow yelper Michele S as we traveled westward on Higgins to Bandito Barney's for a birthday party. If you live far away, don't let the East Dundee address scare you away, Bandito Barney's is a great outdoor locale to enjoy drinks and apps. Hopefully you'll get better live music than when we visited, but the outdoor setting and fun atmosphere made up for the lack of musical talent. First, this place is HUGE. When you walk in, you walk through a small cozy bar area and then it opens up to the patios. Yes, Patio(s)--plural. I couldn't figure out how to get there, but there is also patio seating on top of one of the bars so you get a balcony view of the band and prime people-watching spot too. My friend had the patio area just through the castle turret reserved for her party (yes, castle turret--you just have to go see it). The area has it's own bar and friendly waitress service. The menu is typical bar food, but with nice surprises like croissant sandwiches and a large build-your-own burger list. Take note--their tator tots are Delicious--capital D. Pefectly crispy. They carry a long list of major label beers, not so much a craft beer place, but there's usually a beer special every day too. I decided to try their mixed drinks instead and I was not disappointed. I had a green apple martini and then a Cosmopolitan. Both were delicious and this cosmo goes on my best cosmo list (first place still being the cosmo's at Prosecco) And to make it even more enjoyable, they really gave us almost a double serving in that martini glass. Yay for overflowing glasses!
(4)Gary K.
Atmosphere -- They have an absolutely fantastic outdoor beer garden with multiple levels done in tasteful, clean flagstone. The different levels give it a cozy atmosphere; not too wide open, not crowded and cramped. There are a few cabana style bars that keep the beverage service close to you. One elevated area serves as a bandstand for when they have live music. Food -- My wife and I both had burgers and they were fantastic. I can't count how many times we've been out trying new places only to find that certain establishments charge $10.00 for a $5.00 burger. Here, you get a $10.00 burger for $8.00. The fries were great as well. Service -- Well above standard. Our waitress was knowledgeable, patient and helpful. It's nice knowing you won't have to flag someone down for a refill. When I told her I was driving and didn't want another beer, she cheerfully asked if I would like some ice water instead. While that used to be the standard (Far too long ago), I can't remember that last time that happened. This is a place that we will definitely be coming back to. This is one of, if not the best, outdoor beer garden in the suburbs. We have a new favorite outdoor place to go to.
(5)Greg B.
This is a must visit in the summer. The beer garden has live music throughout the summer and you can smoke in the garden, but I always ask to be polite. There is a basketball free-throw if you need to do more than relax.
(4)Sarah W.
This is Jimmy Buffett meets Biker bar. MY KINDA PLACE! However I think they were a little under staffed because it takes forever to get a drink. The food was ok. We've been there twice and each time we had drinks and food. Beef brisket was dry. The ambiance is however very cool. Lots of different areas to pick from. its like they have 4 beer gardens. Just order 2 drinks at a time cause they are SLOW!
(3)Chris S.
some of the worst service I have ever seen, the waitresses would rather stand at the bar and talk to each other than serve you, what makes it worse is they were not even busy
(1)Matt M.
Look this place is the perfect far suburban summer hangout. City snobs seem to love knocking this place and anything that isn't hipster or anywhere that you can actually park. But for a man who balances the dual like this place is the perfect place to hangout on nice summer night. Its not so loud you can not talk to the person next to you. The insane amount of bars make this place an ideal place to bring a mixed group of friends so the couples can do their thing and the single people can do theirs in perfect harmony.
(4)Candi P.
Never knew there was a place like this so close to home. My boyfriend and I met up a couple friends for a drink and bite, and I loved the feel of the place. It was summertime and the outdoor seating was nice, definitely a nice place to just hang out on a friday night.
(4)Sara L.
I don't know about you, but I am a huuugee beer garden fan! Whats not to like warm weather + killer drinks + large beer garden +bands = awesome! Bandito's has probably one of the best beer garden I've seen in the burbs. Its large and roomy, so everybody has enough wiggle room. They had pretty good drink specials when I went and it was super laid back. Also, the ladies' washrooms were super clean, which is always a plus. Yes, that last part was a random tidbit lol.
(4)Monica D.
I give Bandito's a 4 star review because there are not many places in the suburbs that are like this bar. The outdoor space is amazing and one that you would only commonly find in the southern regions of the US. Hosting a number of outside bars, Banditos always has some cozy spot to go... in the summer at least. I may stay clear in the winter months for the smaller inner area can get a bit cramped.
(4)Amy S.
My favorite suburban bar by far! The inside is small, cozy, and a little divey but in a good way. The outdoor area is AWESOME! Tons of tables and chairs, stage for bands, and multiple bars. Overall just very pretty. The first time I went there was back in May for Cinco de Mayo and it was pretty empty but still fun. I was shocked when I returned in July to a packed beer garden which was kind of a pain at first since we had to wait forever for drinks and couldn't find a free table for at least an hour. I like this bar so much that it didn't really make a difference. Drinks are reasonable and cocktails like the yummy mai tais are served in big plastic novelty cups which I have definitely accumulated a collection of. Worth the trip out from Schaumburg for sure. Banditos draws in all kinds of people creating an enjoyably eclectic crowd. I would recommend to anyone!
(5)Sam W.
This is a great place. Awesome outside bar. Saw one of my friends bands here and it's really cool for that. It's getting one star because I drove almost an hour from Chicago for this, forgot my wallet and couldn't get served. I get having a liquor license, you have to follow rules. However, I'm a fat, balding 33 year old asking for a Miller Lite. Not some 20 year old asking for a Long Island Ice Tea. So even though the door guy let us in without checking our IDs the waitress made her call the other way. It's called reasoning. He used it, she didn't.
(1)Doug M.
Decent place to grab some brews and listen to a live band. Nice large outdoor seating area.
(4)Paul K.
The atmosphere is lively and fun, and the food is really good. They turned me around by stopping the cover charges for bands.
(4)Kurt W.
This used to be the place with mediocre bar food, basic drinks and a great atmosphere. Now, they've upped the quality on everything and I pick up lunch here twice a week. Love this place!
(5)Rich R.
This is a great summer outdoor patio. Huge! There is a very fun band named DP they are playing 7/1/12 from like noon to 4:00. Food is really good, bartenders and servers are really kewl. Don't miss out on this place in the summer especially on the weekends.
(4)Denise J.
My favorite summer time place!!!! If your looking for a bar to sit outside and enjoy some music, Bandito barney's is your place!!! Every time I've been here I've had nothing but a good time, and this time was no different. A group of friends went there to celebrate a birthday. We got there at 830 and found a table no problem, our waitress on the other hand took forever to come over to us and take our order......and I was starving!!! I ordered a pulled pork sandwich( that is so big my friend and I split it.) there BBQ sauce is a mango bbq flavor and its one of the best ive ever tasted!! With my sandwich I also got an order of seasoned curly fries that are to die for!!! I will be returning again and again for their amazing beer garden, music, and amazing food!!! But be aware if you are getting there after 8pm they do have a 3 dollar cover.
(4)James S.
I'm actually not in the mood to write a long review right now, but will come back to eventually write one, basically though, this is a really cool bar and good thing it's close to home.
(5)Kim S.
Love it! My friends and I found this "hidden gem" last Summer and we now have a great place to have a few drinks, meet friends and listen to live music on the biggest outdoor patio I have ever seen. Nice location, Good food, awesome atmosphere, and great service....what else can you ask for?
(5)Alex G.
I too checked this place out and thought "a beach club, I'm in". This place is a High School reunion joint where douche bags hang-out. I can name 5 other places within 2 miles that will blow this place of the map. Beware that when you leave, the whole E. Dundee P.D will be waiting for you. All 3 squad cars. You have been warned!
(1)Rhonda G.
SO....it is very rare that I hang out in the suburbs and now I know why. I'm really not digging the college kid vibe that this place gives off. Now granted it was colder than normal for a July evening so my attitude probably needed an adjustment BUT whatever the case, I was not a happy camper. The beer garden looks nice and may even be enjoyable when it's nice out and with a change in the crowd. Groups of guys chugging cheap beers and letting out lame group howls, downing shots from little plastic sauce cups. I guess it's a smokers paradise because everyone lights up in the beer garden so as a non-smoker it was NOT enjoyable. Drinks are OK but kind of expensive considering I got mostly ice. BUT..I did get a souvenir in the form of a cheap plastic cup! YES!
(1)Tammy M.
I was extremely surprised when I saw the fantastic beer garden. I would of never thought that a neighborhood bar would have a backyard like this. That is what the Beer Garden was like to me, a friend's backyard party. There is the bar in the middle of the deck and tables on all the other levels of the deck. The bartender knew his stuff-the service was great.I met a friend after work and we had a great time. I will definately go back & brring more friends to the party!
(4)Tony M.
I LOVE THIS PLACE. Best place to go when it's nice out after a long week of work. Me and my co-workers head out here and start drinking. Great specials, pretty good food too. Definitely recommend the Roast Beef Twister w/ wassabe mayo=amazing. Probably one of the best beer gardens I've ever seen. Check it out!
(5)Matt J.
I really love and hate Bandito's. It has great food, a lively atmosphere, and a phenomenal outdoor tiki area. Unfortunately, it has absolutely awful customer service. Waitresses are routinely over worked and bring the wrong drinks (usually you pay for these). At closing time, you will be literally harassed to move closer to the bar area, in a very rude fashion. 3 stars.
(3)Michael S.
I went back to Bandito for a Bacholor Party. To my suprise the service was very good and our party had a great time. The food is still not good but I have to say that the drinks and night life atmoshpere make the food issue forgetable. I will go back agian
(4)Joseph C.
Great place for outdoor live music. Gets really busy on the weekends. The patio areas are quite impressive. Only problem is that drink prices are high for the area.
(3)Carol J.
In a town without pity or much else of anything to do, Bandito Barney's is a nice little breath of fresh air. Warm and cozy in the winter, huge oasis of a beer garden in the summer. Having lived in the area during my misspent youth, I have stories I could tell but the bottom line is, this place is always like home to me. A place where they welcome day time drinking, especially if you are ditching out of a particularly horrid wedding reception. The jukebox is awesome and the crowd is basically friendly and in some way or another related to someone I know from a lifetime away. Dart boards are nice diversions if you are so inclined and I don't know if they still have it but there used to be an antique barber chair used for insane shots called Upside Down Maui Powies. Irish Rebels are still a mystery to me, but one of these days, I will figure it out. And a big plus? I always get carded!
(4)Matt K.
Sometimes it is necessary for me to go home to the suburbs where my parents live. This could be due to holidays, people coming in from out of state, etc. As many of you may remember, Father's Day happened recently. For this occasion, I decided to go home and see the old man. Because I don't have a car, it is generally easier for me to go home the night before and have someone pick me up from the train or what have you. Plus, my friend was back in town from New York, and I wanted to see his punk ass, so I made a point to be back in the suburbs for any festivities that might happen on said Saturday night. There isn't a lot to do in the suburbs, so people usually decide on one of the limited places and head out there. This time around, I was informed that people were heading to Bandito's, which is located a few towns over. Let me start by saying this: There are no beaches in East Dundee. How someone could call their bar a beach club in this area is beyond me. Outdoor seating and a few tiki torches placed here and there doesn't make this place Hawaii. I do give credit to the sheer size of this place, but then again, it just makes room for even more douchebags to hang out here. "Whoa, dude, let's go to Bandito's! It's a beach club, so we better wear board shorts!" And the women. What can be said? "Hi, I'm Trixi. I flunked out of community college, live with my parents, work in a cellphone store at the mall, and have huge tits and various stds. Can I sit on your lap? So, do you guys, like, listen to punk?" Sweet pickin's. The drinks weren't cheap and the waitresses weren't too bright, although the one we had was very pleasant. And to all of those who know me, it will be interesting to note that it was actually I who stood up for her while everyone else made fun. Weird, huh? I'd rather not go here, but sometimes I don't have much of a choice, so I'm sure I'll be back. That doesn't mean I have to like it.
(1)Andrea R.
Bandito Barney's is one of those great beer garden summer bars. I go at least once a year to take in the long summer nights sitting in the 'sand' drinking a delicious Mai Tai. For the past two years, I have chosen Bandito Barney's to host my birthday gathering. Everyone that comes, always leaves happy and wants to go back again! The outdoor seating is expansive with several alcoves to chose from. You can sit in booths next to the patio bar or sit at a wire wicker table by the outdoor stage or even next to the castle and 'moat.' Service isn't the greatest since the beer garden is so large. However, I would recommend this fun bar to anyone who enjoys outdoor seating in a relaxed and casual setting.
(4)J P.
This place has a killer beer garden, you seriously don't feel like you are in Elgin. The food is great and their shots are..amaze!! Always a good time, go in the summer and go outside to the beer garden. I seriously feel as though I'm on vacation! Or Spring break, or college. If you aren't uptight come here for a good time!
(5)ryan h.
This place is just fantastic! It is by far the best beer garden that I have ever been to.
(5)Candice G.
I did not grow up in West Dundee so maybe that helps, I don't know all the 'douche bags' and don't care. I just know they have a really nice outdoor seating area. If it's a beautiful day, 2 of their (strong) mai tai's and an order of chicken wings (they rocked) and I'm happy!
(4)Jenny J.
GREAT place to go in the summer. BUT...(there's always a but!!)....winter is no good. Very small, dark, "hole-in-the-wall" feeling inside. During the summer, the atmosphere is fantastic. Live music, a sandy beach beer garden with multiple bars. Tons of seating too. Love that place.
(4)Tegan F.
The atmosphere is phenomanal! Very fun for the summer time! Outdoor tiki huts with games and a stage for bands. They have water fountains positioned throughout the place to give you a more relaxing feel. This place is busy 24/7, I wish the service was better. You would think with the kind of volume this place brings in the servers could walk with great money but they dont want to do their job. I was a patron at this establishment, I found a table and sat for 10 min before recieving menus, which I had to hunt down a server to get them. The rest of my party came and we sat for another 10 min before anyone visited our table to take drink orders. The rest of the meal was ok, the curly fries were good but the buffalo wrap I had was dripping everywhere and was very difficult to eat. This place is worth the try for the atmosphere, lets hope they hire better servers for the summer.
(3)David B.
During the summer, there's a large outdoor area that has sand on the ground to make it feel like a beach. During the winter, as it was this past weekend, it still manages to come across as a decent bar. I went with my friend Pat, and we had already stopped by a few other bars in the area-- so I wasn't really in the mood to drink anything else. "What do you have on special," Pat asked. The waitress said, "8 oz Coors Lite cans." I ordered one. When she brought it to me, it was really small. A guy from across the bar yelled, "I didn't know they made beer for kids!" Two stars.
(2)Courtney P.
Ended up here on a Sunday afternoon when it was really nice out. I think we got there early enough that it wasn't too packed and pretty mellow. Very cool bartender. Good Sunday specials. The roast beef on pretzel bread was great (which I definitely didn't expect). I can see how it could easily turn into a d-bag and dumb blonde rubbing on eachother drunk place. It does suck that they let you smoke at the bar outside
(3)Carin C.
I came here not expecting much based on previous reviews and have to say that atmosphere is the # 1 draw but to my pleasant surprise the staff and food were great! I give Jacelyn a huge high five for taking care of us... even in the rain, she was fantastic!
(4)Amanda K.
This is a great summer time place! It would not be a good place to go in the winter though. I bar inside is very small. However the outside is awesome. It has a great ambiance, kind of a medieval theme. It was not what I was expecting being it's called "Beach Club". However the band that was playing that night was playing in sand. The service was good and having drink specials on a Friday night is definitely a way to make me a fan. They had several three dollar drink specials, which I took advantage of the three dollar dos equis.
(4)Jesse E.
Bandito Barney's isn't your typical bar. The inside is rather small so I can't imagine it being a great place to go during the winter, but during the summer it's tons of fun. Outside of the main building itself, there are several different areas to enjoy your food/beer. There's a little "oasis" section, two different covered spots for if it's raining, and a very interesting castle themed section with 2 additional bars. The atmosphere and decor make for a very pleasant experience and is enough to warrant 4 or 5 stars on it's own. However, there are several reasons I can't give Bandito Barney's a rater higher than 3 stars. Their idea of drink specials are very poor. On several occasions when I have visited you could get a particular type of beer for a whole 25 to 50 cents cheaper than it usually costs. Not very enticing. If you go here with a group, make sure you bring cash because it is apparently an inconvenience for the servers to maintain separate tabs so you need to pay as you go. If you want to run a tab, you'll need a card and go to the bar for anything you need. The other big downfall for Bandito Barney's is the food. Not because of the quality, but the pricing. During my most recent visit a co-worker of mine decided to order chicken fingers, the most basic of all bar food. For $9 you get 4-5 chicken fingers and three sauces to dip them in. No fries, no hug or comfort, just 4 basic chicken fingers and the realization that you just got ripped off. I, myself, ordered a gyro on one visit and it was delicious! It should have been for $12. I did get fries with my food, but that was another $3. All in all, it's an OK place to go and could be a weekly hang out, but the price and inconvenience of paying is enough to easily dismiss the thought. If you have someone visiting or just need a change of place Bandito Barney's is a great place, just remember to bring cash and patience.
(3)lynn s.
Bandito's is always our go to place during the summer. The outdoor garden is awesome since they added the new addition a couple years ago. I don't quite understand the castle decor, but it is still very roomy and a great place to meet friends. The bands are usually decent and we get there before they charge a cover. Food is typical pub food and have a good varierty on beer on tap. The first time I went there with friends I was not impressed by the inside bar, but was blown away by the beer garden and party atmosphere just outside the doors. It will be a surprise for anyone who has never been there before!
(4)Laura S.
Food is very good. Atmosphere is awesome. Service needs improvement. Always short staffed.
(4)liz d.
The atmosphere does not make up for lack of customer service. An outdoor area was closing and the worker yelling at us to get up and move was so drunk she could hardly stand. Great employee to represent the establishment. The doorman was friendly, which is out of character as far as the rest of the "customer service" employees. This place is probably still in business because there are not alot of choices in the 'burbs. Stay away unless you're as smashed as the people that work here.
(1)K S.
I've always liked going to Bandito's. I've lived in Chicago and been to every type of bar you could imagine both in Chicago and my many trips to NYC and Philadelphia, but I don't poo poo people just because they live in the 'burbs or work at a mall. I don't enjoy the company of most people outside my circle either, so I just let the others be without having an elitist attitude. Bandito's has a fantastic beer garden. It's not just a slab of concrete where people go to smoke. It's a big wood deck that has stairs going down to a brick patio on one side and a sandy beach like area on the other side. There is an addition now too that enters through a tower into a big brick patio with another bar. On top of that bar is rooftop seating. It's really quite nice. The only places you can drink outside in Chicagoland that you can compare with this place are Famous Freddy's in Fox Lake, Blarney's Island (although the idiots are very hard to ignore at Blarney's) and 115 Bourbon St. in Merrionette Park.
(4)