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Name: Bar on Buena
Address: 910 W Buena Ave, Chicago, IL, 60613
Telephone: (773) 525-8665
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.85

Bar on Buena

910 W Buena Ave, Chicago, IL, 60613

(773) 525-8665
Store is closed

Bar on Buena Menu

Appetizers

Grilled Bruschetta

House Spreads

Salsa

Guacamole

Quesadillas

7 Pepper Turkey Chili

Pulled Pork Nachos

conical Fries

Seasonal Sausage Selection
Salads

Mediterranean Tuna

Classic Caesar

Spinach And Raspberry

Chef Salad

Caprese 3 Ways
Sandwiches

Burger On Buena

The B.o.b Burger

Pulled Pork

Grilled Turkey Breast

Veggie Burrito

Rosemary Grilled Chicken

Spicy Chicken Wrap

Black Bean Patty

Italiano

Jalapeno Cheese Wurst

Tuna Salad Sandwich

Texas Toast Grilled Cheese

Tequila Marinated Steak Tacos

Healthy Meal suggestions for Bar on Buena

Appetizers

Grilled Bruschetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Spreads [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salsa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Quesadillas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

7 Pepper Turkey Chili [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pulled Pork Nachos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

conical Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seasonal Sausage Selection [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Mediterranean Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach And Raspberry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chef Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caprese 3 Ways [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Burger On Buena [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The B.o.b Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pulled Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Turkey Breast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Burrito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rosemary Grilled Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Chicken Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Bean Patty [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italiano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jalapeno Cheese Wurst [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Salad Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Texas Toast Grilled Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tequila Marinated Steak Tacos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Erin S.

Excellent food and beer menu.
(4)
Lindsey K.

Beer, no! Burgers, yes! Huge burgers served with sweet potato fries. Be sure to order the spicy dipping sauce for those fries. Food in general here is appetizing. A good neighborhood spot to hang at when you don't feel like going the distance for a good meal.
(4)
James M.

I went here for the second time this last week and it is the perfect neighborhood tavern. Great bar food (very tasty burger) and a fantastic selection of beers (a wide range of Germans, Belgians and American craft brews.....mmmmm Hennepin). Throw in some couches and a sidewalk cafe and this is a perfect place to kill an afternoon or a low key night. Bonus star for all the beers being served in the appropriate glassware.
(5)
Zena V.

I wished they served food a bit later and had more of a food menu, but the atmosphere is great and the food they do have is always yummy. The inside can work for a night out with friends or a date, but be aware that when the game is on it is really loud....as most bars with TVs are.
(4)
Sarah C.

I was delighted to find this little gem in our neighborhood. A lovely local watering hole, very friendly and mellow atmosphere, at least on a Saturday afternoon. I'm sure it's more lively on a Friday or Saturday night, and that could be fun. Really nice staff, very good beer selection. I can't wait to go back for a tasting. We had a burger and fries. The burger was slightly overcooked, but satisfying nonetheless, and the fries were quite lovely; thin, crispy, not greasy at all. I'm grateful to know there is an unpretentious community pub in walking distance from our home.
(4)
Lee W.

Bar on Buena is awesome! They have an A+ beer selection -- almost like a mini Hopleaf -- but the bar is MUCH less crowded and the beers are reasonably priced. BoB also has good bar food and the bartenders are all really cool. And, Bar on Buena has an excellent Jule box -- it's almost as if they stole my CD collection and put it on there. This is the perfect place for a low-key night with some quality brews.
(5)
Justin R.

I would have given this place four stars except that every time I have ordered a burger from this place it has been different, sometimes you can tell they used a frozen, pre-formed patty, that's when it's not worth the price. And sometimes they actually make the pattys themselves, and they are larger and just tastes more fresh. I finally stopped going here because I didn't want to take the gamble. Their drinks are good, a tiny bit overpriced, but if you are looking for the best beer around order the Dilirium Tremens. Be prepared to pay $8 for it though.
(3)
Sarah S.

this bar is top notch, they have really good bar food, their burger is great and I also had the caprese salad and I was impressed: good mozzarella, tasty vinegar...yummy! Can't really say anything about beer because I don't drink beer, but for what i was told they have a good selection. I sat outside and it was nice and I will def. go back!
(4)
John D.

Good beer selection, decent jukebox, nice patio. FOOD FUCKING SUCKS. UPDATE (11.18.07): The male bartender in here is a putz. I've downgraded my review from two stars to one because of this fool. I could maybe get over his perpetual scowl (which he'll check every so often in the mirror to make sure it's just so), his head nod "what can I do you for" gesture that indicates he's ready to serve you, and his general unremarkable service. But here's the topper... I've already remarked on how terrible the food here is, but one late night a group of friends and I needed--NEEDED--some grub. "Kitchen's closed," said the waitress, even though the bar was still open for another three hours. Thinking on my feet, I asked if we could order food in, a not-uncommon practice in area bars. She hesitated and told me to ask the asshat bartender (my words, not hers). After he deemed it appropriate to head-nod me, I posed my question "I understand your kitchen is closed, however my friends and I want to continue drinking and we need some food. Could we order pizzas?" "Nope", he says and goes back to work. "Nope?" I repeat incredulously. "Yeah, we just can't do that". So I say, "Let me just make sure I understand you. Your kitchen is closed, and we can't order food from you so we'd like to order in food so that my six friends and I can continue to pay YOU $5 a beer for at least three more rounds of drinks (my rough math figures this at over $100 in revenue). Do I have that right?" Possibly seeing the error of his ways but not wanting to cop to it, he replies "Do what you need to do", which is about the dickiest thing a person can say. Think about that for a sec, have you ever uttered or heard someone else use that phrase when it didn't mean "screw off"? I turned on a wobbly heel, grabbed my group of friends and walked down to Michael's for pizza and beers, which, by the way, were served with a smile by people who understand what customers mean to their business. "Do what you need to do." Well, ok...I guess I NEED to tell everyone to avoid this place and especially the FUCKTARD bartender until they replace him and get a clue as to how to treat their customers.
(1)
Melissa B.

I love this bar. The Bar has a nice atmosphere, friendly staff, great beer selection and you can always find a nice table or booth. After a disappointing St. Patties afternoon in the ever so over crowded Wrigleyville, my boyfriend and I made our way home and went to The Bar. We got a booth right away, enjoyed our Guinness and had some excellent grub as well. We go here often as it is literally a stones throw from our apartment. It never gets too crowded and the scene is pretty laid back-a nice change from many other places in the city.
(5)
Jeremy G.

Great selection of beers. The staff is always very friendly, I've only had the burger there but it's always been great. Great jukebox! Sadly, there are always Cubs games on the TV's.
(4)
vitas z.

i've grown to really like bar on buena. the staff is pretty nice, the beer selection is good, and the jukebox is pretty good. ok, the food isn't that great. i'm not there for the food. i'm there to drink. so, just as long as they don't screw up chips and quacamole and the sweet potato fries, it's all good. it's a decent crowd during the week. get's a little busy on the weekends, that's expected. i would give this place the five star treatment if it wasn't for one weekend a month or so ago. one over the top rawkus crowd was in whooping it up. it was obvious they were drunk coming in and only got more so. to the point that some of the people in the group were bothering the groups around them. and not just being loud, i'm talking about literally spilling over to their tables, spilling drinks, grabbing smokes off other peoples tables. when we complained to the server, she said, "oh, they're regulars, it's ok." actually, it wasn't ok. to top that off, most of the group split leaving one seriously messed up girl behind. not cool. at least someone got her in a cab and got her out of there. i'll just chalk that up to one bad night with one overzealous group of 20-somethings. hopefully it won't happen again.
(4)
Michael S.

Uneven. A great place if you are the kind of person that describes beer as "yummy," as one reviewer of this place has. I liked it at first and was glad to find it, since I live nearby - and I ran into someone there who I had not seen in a long time, so that was cool. The first time I ate there, I had the ham and cheese sandwich, which is more like a ham steak sandwich. It is a tasty, generous portion and I appreciated that. The second time I ate there, I had a burger. Pretty good. The third time I was there, the service was an atrocity and the beer the poor waitress suggested made me gag, literally. I am not much of a beer drinker and don't even know why I listened to her suggestion. It was some "white" Belgian ale or whatever. It was disgusting. And she was a total bitch when I told her I didn't want it and didn't really want to pay for it either. I ordered something else to drink and it took her forever to bring it to my table; so long that I didn't even want it any more. I figured I would never go back. Then, I was hungry one night and gave in. And boy was I surprised. It was a beautiful night, so I sat outside. The service was terrific. The food - another burger - was cooked perfectly, and the sweet potato fries were awesome. A lot of people rave about this place. It's principal attraction is that it is one of the few attractions in the Buena Park neighborhood. But if you are driving here, forget it. I noticed that there is absolutely no parking . This is strictly a "walk-to" place.
(3)
Courtney B.

So this is right by my house so they unfortunately have to see me really drunk a lot of the times. I am going to lay a lot of the blame on them because of their fantastic selection of Belgium beers that are very potent. This is a great bar and a nice renovation what used to be housed here (the Side bar). Great place in the summer the garage door windows open up so great circulation and a pretty good sidewalk patio. Go B.O.B.!
(5)
c e.

great atmosphere, cute neighborhood, amazing specials
(5)
John M.

ordered the Chicken Wrap and was impressed. Not grilled and then dried out . Great beer selection, friendly waitress, and good environment. Only issue is that is has to be one of the darkest bars in chicago. Had to wait for car headlights to pass to see what to order from the menu. other than that enjoyed myself.
(4)
J G.

I've passed this place a ton of times walking around my neighborhood and I finally made it in. What a pleasant surprise! You have got to love a place that for its menu, has 2 pages for food and probably 6 pages for beverages. The beer selection is great. They're all so unique and from all over the place. Unfortunately they ran out of one of their beers of the month/season? when I was there. Prices aren't bad either, $6-$8 for any of the beers. The food also is pretty good. The sandwiches/wraps come with either classic fries, sweet potato fries, or pasta salad. And there's the option to add bacon to anything. Talk about a guys bar. But this is truly a great bar for the neighborhood.
(4)
Diana H.

This WAS my favorite neighborhood bar for the 2 years I've lived in Buena Park. Great beer selection, great atmosphere...then you get to the servers. CAUTION: I paid with a credit card and gave the server a 15% tip for LESS than mediocre service and she ALTERED THE RECEIPT to give herself a higher tip. I complained to the owner after seeing it on my statement, and he acted like he would do something, but no charges were ever reversed. I'll go back just because I like the bar so much, but if there's still an "Emaline" or "Emily" working there, pay cash or request another server.
(3)
Kat W.

Great selection of draft beers, decent barfood, good weekday specials. The seating areas near the huge windows (they look like garage doors) are great, but the farther you get into the bar, the darker and dingier it gets. When there are sports fans in there, it's happening and fun.
(4)
Brandon H.

Great place to hang out, a decent number of tables and booths, and they have a little lounge area in the corner with a couch. The food is good, but the selection is pretty small, however this is one of the two places I've found in the city that serves sweet potato fries. If you're in the area stop on in for friendly service and good food.
(4)
Jody C.

the grilled cheese on texas toast is amazing. it has guacamole on it! the fries were pretty good too. great selection of beer, including holiday beer for christmas
(4)
crystal h.

To be up front, I have to confess I've only been to this place on Monday nights, but I've gone 4ish times in a row now and have had great experiences. $4 burgers with sweet potato fries! A decent beer selection with good specials! Never had any problems with service and its never too busy (at least not on Mondays!)
(5)
Ann F.

This is a fun neighborhood bar. My husband loves their beer selection. I love their sweet potato fries and pulled pork sandwich (that sandwich alone scores this place 5 stars). I've heard the bottomless macaroni and cheese on Tuesdays is pretty good too. They have a small outdoor area, but it wasn't set up yet this Saturday (4/18/09) when the weather was gorgeous. The two front windows were open, so we were practically sitting outside (no complaints here). I'll be coming back now that I live in this area.
(5)
Arjun C.

Good place - nice feel. Easy to have a chat in there on more nights. I like that it's a bit removed from the scene. I am still hoping buena park won't be discovered
(4)
Kris S.

The best bar in the neighborhood by far and one of the best in the city. The Sweet Potato fries are great and the service has improved dramatically. It gets a bit crowded on the weekends, and the kitchen is small so the food can take a bit of time to come out, but that is to be expected. This is not a restaurant! It's a bar that serves food and should be graded along those lines. The Bar is what you should come for. Solid bartenders, great and rotating beer selection, expansive boutique whiskey selection, and the wines are better than the average grocery store swill you find at most bars. A few TV's but not a sports bar, not so loud that you can't have a conversation but it isn't a library either, good crowd range of ages, races, sexual preferences. Reminds me of Wicker Park in the Mid 90's. Always a good experience for me. Sitting under the trees in the outdoor patio in the summer here is a bonus.
(5)
Cassie B.

i can't believe i've lived three blocks from this place for almost two years and never went here until recently! this place is so great! went here for the NCAA tourney on a Friday night - found a seat at the bar, which was fine, but waited only 15 minutes for a great booth by some huge TVs. food was great, crowd was good. Fun neighborhood place!!! i will definitely come back when it's warm and they open up the windows.
(4)
Steve S.

Good food, good service, great beer and whiskey selection. Veggie patty burger is excellent and is my go-to dish. Noise level, particularly the music volume, can be loud on Friday and Saturday nights, making it difficult to talk, which is why I'm taking off a star. Extra points though to the server who wore a "Meat is Murder" T-shirt. At a restaurant that serves mostly meat dishes. That takes some serious gonads.
(4)
Iryna Z.

Its a nice indoor/outdoor bar for summery night. Beer selection is great and I am sure mixed drinks are lovely. However their wine selection is terrible. Barely any options in Red Wine section and after having 3 small glasses of white wine, i had the worst hangover the next day, awful headaches and nausea....and thats pretty much an outcome after having wine there always. For an experienced wine drinker that could only mean one thing, quality of their wine is bad and cheap. Should of just grabbed a nice bottle of wine next door at a Wine Shop, at least I would of known its top shelf and not out of the box.
(2)
Johanna L.

Any place that makes an Arnold Palmer on request even when it's not on the menu is okay by me. The food here was decent - I wish I'd tried something more adventurous, but my burger was cooked perfectly (medium-well). Fries were great. Wish I'd tried the quinoa salad! Overall for the food I'd say it's nicely done but nothing to write home about. Again, if I'd tried something else maybe I'd be raving like others seem to be. Nice spot to meet some friends for a casual lunch or dinner or evening drink. Parking was a cinch. Excellent whiskey and beer selection. Only three stars because I felt like our server had an attitude and didn't like being asked questions. He seemed like he wanted us to leave, and the place wasn't even full. I've also gotta say that the stools we were seated on really hurt my tucchus! I'm not so sure I'd come back on my own, but if someone else really wanted to go I'd welcome the opportunity to try something else and broaden my experience.
(3)
Sabrina C.

So what so you do on the day of a blizzard? When you want to watch the Superbowl? But your car is buried under 2 feet of snow? And people are stuck in the streets? And the wind is blowing so hard that you can only see as far as your hand in front of you? Walk to a bar. Hence, I found myself at The Bar and to my surprise, there were so many other locals that had made their way through the wrath of the blizzard as well. We all sat warm and cozy in our sanctuary. The Bar is a great spot. Not too big, not too small. Plenty of seating and televisions all around. The drinks were reasonably priced and pretty strong, might I add. What surprised me the most was the food. Delicioso! Burgers, either beef or turkey, are so well seasoned and cooked perfectly. You can actually see the cook making your food right next to the bar. Customer service was on point as well. Totally love this place and it has become a favorite spot to go to in my neighborhood!
(5)
Maya C.

Not the best service, not the best food, but it's "A-Ok" ratings for everything else. Just A-Ok. I would go back because it's convenient walking distance to me, but i'm not loco crazy about anything on the menu, the ambiance, or the service.
(3)
Mike Z.

Decent nothing amazing
(3)
Jonathan J.

Great Selection of Craft Beer! At first glance, the kitchen is very tiny in the front corner of the restaurant and you wouldn't think it would be putting out the great food it does. The burgers are great and tacos are amazing. For a great beer and just as good food...this is my spot.
(5)
Ryan K.

This is the type of place that thrives on lack of competition. If there were any other decent options nearby it wouldn't be nearly as enticing. But there aren't. So I'm really glad it is there. Respectable beer selection and nice staff.
(3)
Ben A.

So I usually come here on Mondays for $5 burger and fries. Occasionally I visit on Wednesdays for unlimited mac and cheese Burgers are pretty decent for $5. Cheese and grilled onions are $1 extra and they offer (gouda, gruyere, pepper jack), other extras are $2 extra (mushrooms and a bunch other I can't recall). Fries are slightly skinny for my liking, but still good (they are not shoestring). Wednesdays are unlimited mac and cheese for $7-8 and they mix it up. One time I had chorizo mac and cheese another time it was mushrooms. Pretty good btw. Beer selection is great. They typically have drink specials during the week. Inside is a pretty large room with bar to your immediate right with flat screen tvs on the walls. The seating area is mixed with booths, high tables, and traditional tables. During warm weather they have a nice outdoor seating area under some huge trees. Ambiance is pretty low lighting with candles on tables. It can get quite loud but nothing intolerable. Service has always been great and consistent. Fantastic, unpretentious neighborhood bar. I've read reviews commenting on the service and I'm shocked because I've never experienced anything but friendly service.
(4)
Igor L.

Great place for beer but not so much for food. The thick cut bacon is pretty impressive.
(4)
Jennifer G.

I live just around the corner, and was excited about this place when I first moved in. The beer list is excellent and rotates monthly, which I love. During the summer they have a nice patio. The atmosphere inside is solid-- not too divey, not too fancy. I've been for drinks a few times and it was fine, although it doesn't have that cozy, "stay as long as you like" feeling I look for in a neighborhood bar. People tell me the food is great, but my first time trying dinner was awful. A friend and I ordered burgers, cooked medium. The meat was blood red( not pink, but bleeding) when it arrived and we asked the waitress to send it back. She was very rude and told us that it was in fact cooked to "medium" but she would send it back and have them make us a "well done" burger. The second burger looked exactly like the first, the rare side of medium rare. I was a line cook for 15 years, I could have done without the attitude and cooking lesson. The waitress then proceeded to interrupt me when I was describing a beer on the menu to my friend as she walked by, explaining that I was "describing it poorly." We were just looking to relax and have a few beers, and the animosity displayed by the waitress was just confusing and weird. I'll be back this summer to give it another shot, but I'll be prepared for battle just in case.
(2)
Todd A.

This is a great place! The beer selection is one of the best in the city. You gotta love a place where you get a dirty look from the staff if you order a Bud. The beers change up with the seasons so it's always kinda fun to go in and see what's on the list. Plus, the female bartender there knows a thing or three on scotch and will make it worth your while to ask for her recommendation. The food isn't too fancy. The pepper fries are pretty damn tasty but otherwise it's better than average pub grub. But you didn't go there to get sushi...you came for a drink. It's what they do best and have a great room and patio to enjoy it.
(5)
Joseph D.

Sleepy little neighborhood joint that you'd have to know it was there or you'd miss it. Went with a friend for beers and wound up eating some (hearty and delicious) burgers for the heck of it. Dark and coy interior is complimented by a nice sized sidewalk patio under a large shade tree. The tree gives it a nice feel and since the bar is located on the edge of a residential neighborhood, has a very homey feel. Inside it's quite dark with dark woods and colors, so I'd imagine even though today was a nice summer day, it would be a great place to hunker down come January. Beer list is nice with a bunch of interesting beers on tap. had a nice Kolsh complimented by a Revolution Rosa. Beer flights also available which helps. Bartender even split a pint for my friend and I into two glasses as we biked there and didn't want to tip over on the ride home. Burgers clock in around $9 - $13 and are half pound, flame broiled and come with your choice of sides: fries , sweet potato fries or quinoa salad. Other than burgers, there were also tacos, quesadillas and an all you can eat mac n cheese for $7. So basically - not a lot of healthy (if any) choices. Menu was somewhat limited but what we had, at least it was good. Service was friendly and attentive. We were seated quickly and our waitress came to us soon thereafter. She checked in from time to time which we appreciated and our water glasses were never empty. Overall a solid neighborhood choice. Only wish is if they had a few healthy items on the menu. Burgers are good for me but may be hard to convince a healthy eater to come with if there aren't other choices.
(4)
Georgia K.

Wherever I've lived, I have always been a huge proponent of having a neighborhood bar. Since I moved to Buena Park, BoB has been that bar (and occasionally, the Reservoir). Sometimes I wish I loved BoB a little bit more, like 4-5 star more, but it's not for lack of trying. I hope to someday feel the warm-fuzzy way about BoB that I have felt about some of my former-neighborhood haunts. The potential is definitely there. I go to BoB because: (1) it's convenient; (2) there is an outdoor patio which is nice for those rare sunny, warm Chicago days; (3) they have an amaaaazing beer selection; (4) the burgers are yummy. The downfalls? They've changed the menu, and like other reviewers stated, it hasn't necessarily been positive. While the burgers are tasty, the other food seems to be sorely lacking in the taste/quality department. The service seems a bit hit-or-miss. Sometimes we'll have friendly, attentive service; other times the service seems very indifferent and unfriendly. That being said, I'll still return to BoB mostly because of it's proximity to home and stellar beer list.
(3)
James F.

If you like a place full of prima donnas then this is the place for you; the staff are even worse. The waitresses are full of attitude and good luck getting a drink at the bar because the bar people think it's beneath them to serve customers. This place really sucks. Fraz
(1)
Dan R.

When I realized my new apartment was right down the road from The BoB I was more than thrilled. They are a great local bar and feature a huge selection of unique beers and other fine spirits. I highly recommend their burgers, which you can get at a discount on Monday nights (dine in only). No matter what you get, make sure you go for the sweet potato fries! Not too soggy, not too burnt....but just right. Also I highly recommend their pulled pork sandwich. It's served on texas toast and is packed full of flavor. I only have two consistent complaints which force me to take off a star: 1)Serivce! While the waitresses are very friendly and helpful with ordering, they have a tendency to forget you exist. On numerous occasions I've tried to flag them down for water or a check only to see them reading a book. I hate to interrupt, but come on, I shouldn't have to wait 10 minutes for you to even glance in our direction. The place isn't THAT big. 2)Burger consistency: While I love their burgers, sometimes it feels like someone is just spinning the wheel of chance when it comes to preparation. Medium means medium...not bloody....not burnt. They don't always get this one right. Ultimately the good greatly outweighs the bad and I am very appreciative that this is in my backyard. Who can complain about dog friendly outdoor seating in the summer? Not I. The perfect cure for the case of the Mondays.
(4)
Ivy C.

BoB is my all time favorite neighborhood bar! This is the place to be if you are looking for a chill hang out with good food and a great selection of drinks. I frequent the bar for the grilled cheese + sweet potato fries [a must have! who would have thought to put guacamole on grilled cheese...ingenious] and Original Sin Hard Cider. Appetizers are great as well! A true neighborhood gem!
(5)
Kerry M.

I think this place used to be a well kept secret to the local crowd, but, it seems that's no longer the case. I occasionally stop by here since I live about two blocks away... and it's always packed. I get why though.... they always have great specials, and when it's warm, the patio outside can't be beat. It's kind of dark inside, and seating can be kind of a clusterf*ck at times, but they have lots and lots of great beer, and the food is fabulous. The crowd, is mixed, but generally pretty friendly and low key.
(4)
Kevin N.

My first trip in Bar on Buena was about the dire need for comfort food: I'd been running around half the day, wasn't quite sure where I was going to track down a remaining key item I needed for Yelp prom, and had to get some fuel for for my belly. Enter Bar on Buena, which treated me just right thanks-very-much. First of all, one thing I noted right away was that if I lived in Uptown, I'd be a regular here. Lots of cool craft beer selections (the one we tried the waitress mentioned carried "notes of chocolate and coffee"...and it did), some affordable comfort selections, and punctual, personal service. It's not hard to see why this place would breed regulars: a little of that kind of charm goes a long way. I dove face first into a hamburger, and it's safe to say that this place does a burger right. Heavy duty bun you can sleep on, sweet potato fries(!), it's easy to order and easier going down. And though my stop this day was a brief one, I'd like to think that I'll be back. At least if my gullet has anything to say about it.
(4)
Stacy C.

I really miss this bar. I used to live in the neighborhood so it was walking distance, now I have to drive and parking isn't always easy so that provides a bit of a challenge. This place serves Strongbow! I love Strongbow. They also have a bunch of other really great beers (from what I hear, I'm not really a beer drinker). They'll even serve you Delirium Tremens in their cute little pink elephant glasses. Oh, and their burgers & fries are great too! The staff is always bright and cheery, whether you're going there for lunch to chat with old friends, or on a Saturday night to party it up. It's not a huge bar but it seems like the layout makes it seem like it's bigger than it really is, which is nice. In the summer they also have a cozy little outdoor section too!
(4)
Ging R.

nice crowd
(5)
John H.

The stars represent the beer and whiskey menu. This place is a great time with trivia pursuit and other board games that go along with comfortable couches and overall good seating. The beer is amazing and I cant recall a place with a better variety of whiskeys that is offered here. However, I do not recommend eating here. I was there yesterday and the food is terrible. Flat top burgers should not cost $12 (with ingredients added) bc no matter how u ask for them prepared they come out burnt around the edges. My sweet potato fries were also black and not very good. Menu is very limited! Beer and whiskey yes... Food no
(4)
Michael Q.

Ahhhh the good old BOB. This is my "local," and I am glad to have it as such. The atmosphere of the Bar on Buena (the BOB as it is lovingly referred to as) is warm and inviting. It is a mix of high/low top tables, and there is even a sofa-coffee table area in the corner. The bar itself is straightforward and unpretentious, along with the staff manning it. The facade is made up of two large garage doors which are opened in nice weather. There is also a nice sized sidewalk cafe area. The beer is a focal point here, as it should be! The beers on tap number roughly 16 or so selections, most of which rotate seasonally and feature ABV and tasting notes. There is also an extensive selection of bottled beers from around the world, including larger 750ML bottles which are always fun to split. The BOB also has an extensive selection of scotch/whiskey, and the barstaff is always glad to recommend something for you if you ask. The grub is churned out by a small open kitchen in the front window of the bar area, and, considering the size of said kitchen, is quite yummy. The menu is what I call, "beyond bar food." Yes, they have a deep fryer, but it is NOT used to cook 90% of their menu. Great sandwiches, salads, and dips (salsa and guac are good) are focal points of the menu. If you are feeling REALLY adventurous try the BOB burger, which boasts a fried egg and merkts style cheddar cheese spread among other goodies.
(5)
Elizabeth C.

Love this place. It's really close to where I live, and they have a great selection of European beers, not to mention a seasonally-changing menu that serves up some tasty bar food (quesadillas, pasta, burgers). One downside and the reason for the missing 5th star: sometimes the service can be sketchy. I've been there at times when it's packed, yet it appears that there's only one waitress for the entire place. If you're ready to just kick back in a relaxed pub with some nice Buena Park neighb's in an atmosphere reminiscent of the other side of the pond, head here. Also, the patio is HOPPIN' in the summertime.
(4)
Hubert L.

This place is for the people who are not quite the "Frat Bras" from Wrigleyville, and not quite the "Hipsters" from Wicker Park who just want to drink good beer, much on a fantastic burger and have good conversation without blarring Top 40 in your ear. My kinda bar!
(4)
jon c.

awesome Stiegl on tap :) && great burgers && salads
(5)
Lakshmi R.

I wasn't gonna write a review for BoB coz I wanted to hide this little gem away for a while longer.... but looks like it has been found already. *sigh* I live in Uptown and this is definitely the best bar around unless you wanna walk a mile south. Their Beer selection is very good! I have found my current favorite - Delirium Tremens here which sadly isn't available everywhere. *double sigh* I heart the Spicy Chicken wrap and go for the sweet potato fries people. You will not regret it. Not one cent regret. It does get pretty crowded over the weekend but with summer around the corner, the patio should open shortly! Can't wait!!
(4)
Zack R.

This bar has a very small kitchen, but a very big menu for that small kitchen. I love half off burger mondays. A cheeseburger with sweet potato fries here is always a great experience. They also have an always changing, but interesting beer menu that I love taking advantage of. The worst part about this bar is the location, which is right next to some shady areas, but BoB is tucked away in a nice quaint corner.
(5)
Jessica S.

This is a great little bar. It is very laid back, yet not rowdy or overcrowded. My boyfriend and I love our brews and were very pleased with the selection of both bottled and tap beers. The burgers are fantastic and the sweet potatoes fries looked really good (I'll need to get me some of them next time around). The staff was friendly, attentive, and made some good recommendations. Needless to say, I think I will be coming back for more.
(4)
Andy O.

Okay...three things about this place will keep me coming back: 1 - Love fried eggs on my burgers. A friend had been talking their burger up to me knowing my love for fried eggs on burgers and it met my expectations. 2 - Sweet potato fries...soooo good. 3 - Old Speckled Hen on the beer list (Prefer Boddington's but I'm not complaining). Still a local crowd...not the type of place people are going to stumble into. The staff was really nice and accommodating.
(4)
J T.

Hi, welcome to my home-away-from-home. Why do you ask? Fantastic bar selection + food + ample seating + TVs = happy. You don't have the "I just turned 21 Wrigleyville" crowd or the "Boystown Meat Market" selections. It's a great neighborhood place, and hopefully it'll stay that way.
(5)
Matt M.

I think that Amy S sums it up best here. This place has its ups and downs. Service is a little slow but the place can get busy. The Good - They have a great beer selection. (also a great scotch selection... although I'm not a scotch guy.) All things aside if you live in Buena Park then your options are limited and this is a decent place to grab a pint.
(3)
krysti s.

BOB is my new favorite bar! The staff is friendly and the food is delish! I've worked in the food industry for quite some time and I know good bar food. And this is it! And I'm so impressed with the volume that they can handle with a kitchen that small! But I always love a place where I can see them cooking!
(5)
Lori L.

I'd like to call this place The Hopleaf's little sister without the snobbiness. They have a wonderful beer selection and even serve the beers in the appropriate glasses. In the mood for a raspberry flavored ale. Have a Lindemans Framboise Want to test your luck with beer with 14% alcohol content. They have one and does it have some kick! So much so that I forgot the name of it. Oh, and they limit two per customer. At first I thought, whhaaattt! Then after drinking one I completely understood why. Heck, I was lucky to finish the one I had. Their sweet potato fries are off the hook. They come with two dipping sauces. One is spicy for you hot heads, and one is a appley, mustard, type of sauce. My taste buds couldn't quite decipher the ingredients. The B.O.B is cozy, dark, and intimate. Perfect for a blind date because everyone looks good. I've been told the garage style windows open in the summer, so I'm looking forward to spending a Saturday afternoon chowing down on sweet potato fries and that beer I can't remember.
(4)
Barbara B.

This is always an option for me when I want to go out for dinner with my boyfriend or friends--it's walkable, awesome beer selection and good food. Wish they would change up the menu a little bit more frequently, but this definitely doesn't deter me from going there. Great place to eat outside during the warmer months!
(4)
Courtney C.

Holy JalapeÃ±o Sausage on a Pretzel bun BATMAN! I'm not going to give a background story of how I ended up at this fine establishment and ended up trying 6 different beers. However, you MUST try this place. The atmosphere is very relaxed, the food selection is minimal but excellent and the BEER is fantastic. So many choices, and they let you sample them too before you order. Also the kitchen is teeny tiny. Look over your shoulder at the bar, go ahead sneak a peak. That oven in the corner behind the bar is the kitchen, but big taste comes out of the small space.
(5)
daniel h.

Not sure if this place has been sold, but it has changed to a mexican resturant. Was looking for the pulled pork nachos, they still have them but they are covered in 7 11 cheese sauce. What happenened to the bbq sauce? Pulled pork and cheese sauce, they were aweful. My date ordered a veggie burger and said it was very good.My nachos were ordered as an entree but im sure the kitchen put them up as an appetizer because they weren't even WARM. The service was a joke. Our server was very uncomfortable being a server. He never ever said the words THANK YOU all evening. We had to get up and go over to the bar to get him off his phone just to get his attention. IT was tuesday night and it was not busy at all. He seemed to be in a foul mood with minimal talk and absolutely NO enthusiasim about anything. It killed us to leave 15%. This place has a long history of bad service, i think the negativity comes from the bar. The bartenders NEVER smile and have always had an attitude, especially when you ask about beers you night not be familiar with. They need to get over themselves. Thank god the weather is about to break so we can venture out to better food and friendly service.
(1)
Laura C.

This neighborhood spot is the best in the area for a chill night with a good assortment of beers and a decent food menu. Service is normally great, every once in awhile, I'll get a surly server, but everyone has their off days. It's definitely rare. The sandwiches are tasty, and Mondays are $4 burgers. On nice days, sitting out on the sidewalk or inside near the open windows makes for a perfect relaxing atmosphere. Definitely one of my top bar picks for the area.
(4)
B B.

My favorite neighborhood bar! The beer selection is huge and the food is amazing! Cool, laid back atmosphere!
(5)
Armand K.

I've been in Chicago for 72 hours and have already managed to have two dinners at Bar on Buena, this place is a huge draw to the Uptown neighborhood. The kind of place that makes you want to own a bar and grill one day. An awesome beer selection, only outdone by their whiskey selection, delicious food, good service, and an overall vibe that allows for as eclectic of a crowd that it attracts. This past Sunday I tried the rosemary chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries, paired with a Celebrator Doppelbock, the darkest beer in the building, according to our waitress. The sandwich has quite a bit going on, with green apple, smokey cheese, prosciutto, and the rosemary grilled chicken all mixing together with a spicy mustard on a ciabatta roll. Tonight, I tried the Burger on Buena (BoB) which was a special for only $4, once again paired with the sweet potato fries. A large grilled burger served with Boston lettuce, red onion, a large slice of tomato, and a few pickle slices. The burger was cooked exactly as ordered, and seasoned nicely. The sweet potato fries were not incredible, but definitely good enough to order twice. Bar on Buena is a great place to start the night, watch the game, go on a date, or just have a reliably delicious meal and a craft on draft. Very happy to have found this place.
(5)
Mike H.

3.5 stars probably. Cool little neighborhood bar. Great place to go on a lazy Sunday. I just moved to the area and have been here twice. The beers are a little pricey, but they have a large beer selection to choose from (on the menu anyways). I prefer sitting inside by an open window rather than the cramped patio. If you are lucky, you can claim the couch. The food menu was surprisingly good. I went with the BoB burger for no other reason than the fact that it had something called Red Dragon chedder on it (also a fried egg). Very good, and big. There are definitely some items on the menu I'll have to go back to try. I would go back for a Sunday hangover lunch since it's close by, or $4 burger night on Mondays.
(3)
Mike M.

I live just around the corner from "BOB" as us locals call it. Have been a regular patron here for more than 8 and a half years and have had MANY great times and experiences at this local bar. However, trying to loose a bit of weight recently and keeping myself away from Burger Mondays and "BOB" for 3 months to do this proved to maybe have been a big mistake. I so looked forward to my first Burger Monday in 3 months on January 6, 2014. What I experienced was sheer disappointment. First off, no more Burger Mondays, secondly, the GREAT burgers that is typical at this place for the last 8.5 years have turned into "meh"...nothing special. The burgers are far smaller than before and the price has increased. I am all for menu changes as well as upgrades, but BOB, you ruined a classic...your burger. You raised the price, cheapened the product and disappointed a truly loyal customer of 8.5 years. I will likely still go back (from time to time) due to your wonderful beer selections on rotation, but I fear that I will not be the regular 2 to 3 times per week (pre weight loss visits) that I once was. Also, what is going on with your servers? They really need to develop a personality and get rid of the chip on their shoulders and their attitudes. Very disappointing reunion for me after a 3 month hiatus. BOB, you made a lot of changes while I was on my BOB sabbatical to loose weight and unfortunately you lost what you did VERY well in the changes. PLEASE, go back to how you used to do things with the burgers...and the hummus.
(2)
Lia V.

How lovely you are! Quiet area/not too crowded/good food/cute patio. It has it all. Great beer list nom nom food. Same owners as Fountainhead and definitely has the same feel/decor. I would go back for sure.
(4)
Jim D.

I have visited twice and both times been wow'ed by the food and the beers recommended to me. Both times the place was pretty crowded but since I was alone I was able to quickly find a single spot at the bar or a small table. On both visits when I was struggling with a beer selection the manager came over and asked me what I liked, what I was eating and then suggested a great beer to go with my meal. On one occasion I was also offered a smaller sample glass of a new beer they had just tapped and asked my opinion. I had burgers both times I was there and they were both really good. I also had the sweet potato fries which were also excellent.
(5)
M F.

They have a damn good burger, but the beer list is even more impressive. Staff is generally very knowledgeable about the beers too, and can help you find something new that you'll like. However... it's not always easy to get a table, and they don't have the greatest TV set up (not the best place to watch a game).
(4)
Kailtyn S.

Oh man, I've got to be honest, I was really excited to come here when I turned 21. I walk past it every day, looking in at all the cool people enjoying their fancy beers, and eating tasty foods. Last week my boyfriend and I finally got to go! We sat outside so our dog could join, it was well shaded so we got to enjoy the nice weather without getting burned. We ordered some beers (lots and lots to choose from) and the $5 burger special. We were very pleased with the food and the beer really hit the spot. Our server wasn't too talkative, and I noticed her sort of watching us but never asking if we needed anything. It wasn't really a big deal though. This weekend, we had company in town and decided to bring our friends here, knowing that they would enjoy the atmosphere and drink options. When we first got there, it was mostly empty inside, there were maybe 4 or 5 other tables occupied. We sat at a booth and ordered our drinks, the server was attentive and brought them out quickly. We were planning on staying for awhile, but only for drinks, when we told our server that, she seemed annoyed. After our first round of drinks it seemed as if our server totally forgot about us, we pulled her over to order more drinks, which were brought out by other servers who seemed annoyed and didn't even say hello or smile. After this point we were done with this place and we felt as if we were unwelcome. We waited another 20 minutes without drinks before we hunted our server down to get our check. She threw the check down, not saying a word. Our bill was well over $60, we didn't leave a tip, and we won't be coming back. 3 out of 4 of us all work in food service, we understand that tips are how servers make their money...but would it have been so hard to check on your tables when the place is almost empty or even smile? I would have understood if she were having a bad day, but she was chatting it up and laughing with people at the bar, so I doubt that was the case.
(1)
Tiffany D.

Nice girls night out go to spot. I was spending the night in Irving park and we needed walkable bar to get to. There food was delicious! I got a veggie burger with cheese fries. One of the best veggie burgers I have had in my life and that cheese was fantastic.
(4)
Brendan J.

Looking at this review again, and having been to a quite a few more neighborhood bars and scotch-centric bars recently, it's clear they really deserve the full 5 stars. Awesome bar with an awesome staff. Recently discovered they make a damn good Old Fashioned, too!
(5)
Jeffrey K.

Cool spot, nice draft list and the food was quite good. A cozy place to catch a buzz and pretend it's not winter.
(4)
Michael H.

Pretty laid back spot nestled on Buena, also known as "The Bob"...they said. Inside, It's more on the small side with a good sized bar on the right and seating to the left. It's really cozy in there with dim lighting and floor to ceiling windows that give it great ambiance! Really good Beer List, not just the usual suspects but some more obscure choices to be had. I liked the service, both bartenders I dealt with were very helpful and never acted like they were doing you a favor! Didn't try the food but they have an average "Bar Food" menu.. tiny kitchen in front next to bar that was manned by 3 cooks--Liked the place and the waitress' were really cute! GTFJD
(4)
Melanie S.

We chose this place mainly out of convenience because it was close to Profiles Theater, but ended up being pleasantly surprised at how much we liked it. It's a low key atmosphere, and the staff seemed friendly. We started with a Stone IPA on special and an Original Sin cider on tap. I was having a run of bad luck with draft ciders of late but BoB broke the streak with a cold, frothy pour that went down fast. Considering the kitchen area is rather small, they still have a rather extensive menu, and everything we tried was really good: *bruschetta - pretty standard stuff, could have used a little more oomph *burger w/ bleu cheese - burger was flavorful and cooked perfectly, but the sweet potato fries needed to be crispier *chef's salad - lots of fresh veggies, grated cheese and bacon, and excellent honey dijon dressing There was a nice crowd in here for a late Sunday afternoon - people obviously on dates, groups of friends, and even a couple of people flying solo. Obviously BoB is the kind of place that suits everyone.
(4)
Danielle D.

Nice neighborhood bar with great beer selection. The vandermill blueberry cider is always my go to when they have it. Service is friendly and knowledgable. grab a burger while you're there. They're pretty delish
(4)
Ryan A.

I live a couple blocks from The BOB and I love it! It is the ideal neighborhood bar. low-key, come as you are, basically Buena Park's version of the Cheers bar. The beer selection is one of the best in the city (I recommend the beer flights to try a few) and a 2-page scotch menu; which is great for people like me. The food menu is great! seriously, there are no flaws. This place is one of the best in Chicago
(5)
Jessi O.

Let me break this down a bit. The beer selection is definitely five star worthy. They know how to find some great local brew as well as popular craft beers from all over. The menu changes often but the staff is knowledgable about the menu. They also have fun cocktails. Atmosphere is good. I personally love the patio when the weather is right, and pups are welcome. Service is always great inside or out. Never too crowded either, rarely do I have to wait for a table. The food is where BoB looses it for me. There is a limited menu and I've yet to feel that anything is really mouth watering. I've tried a lot of different items, and many seem close, but are not quite hitting the mark. All in all I say give it a go!
(4)
Who G.

Enjoyed the Bob Burger, pretty darn good. My BF had the pork taco's,very good. Must order the black beans and jalapeno rice, extra charge. Menu is limited but a good selection to fill your belly.
(3)
Eric O.

Yep, just found my favorite hang out in the neighborhood. Laid back, great beer list, willing to pour half-pints so i can try a few extra. Seriously, the beer list is pretty damn incredible. Staff was friendly and the jalapeno bratwurst was terrific
(5)
Aaron S.

Let me start off by saying that this is my first review. I state this because I for one use yelp to mostly read reviews and two I cant believe how horrible the customer service at this place. After deciding that I would check this place out with four friend, we went. We arrived at 11pm. The patio had three open tables and we asked if it would be ok to sit outside. The manager didn't seem to want to sit any more people outside. Telling us that if we decide to sit outside and it starts raining that we wouldn't be promised a seat inside. Any Chicagoan knows that we only get a good three months of nice weather so we decided that we would take are chances. After the waitress came to use and asked if we needed menus in a not so friendly way, I changed my mind. Lets sit inside and hope for better service. Boy was I wrong.... After finding a table that allowed 4.5 people to sit in our new, even more horrible waitress came to our table.Let me state that all of us have or still are servers. I no longer am but still know what good service is. " What do you want to drink"? Im sorry but am I the only person that hates not being greeted properly with a Hi, How are you? I mean if I was still waiting table I most likely be saying Hows it going? I mean the customer is paying your cell phone bill and rent some how, no? We all asked for water to start with while we looked over the 2 menus that we had and asked for 3 more. She went and threw them on the table. I seriously start thinking that all the girls that work her like to throw things on the tables.She came back and we all order cocktails. I have been best of friends with Captain Morgan Rum for over 15years. I know the taste and smell with out even taking a sip. This was not Captain. I asked her if this was Captain or Sailor Jerry. She said it was Captain and that they don't even have another spice rum. I couldn't even finish this drink. If it was really Captain Morgan then they must use some kind of crappy soda. Sometime that throws off the taste. It was so gross. I couldn't believe it. I felt like I just broke up with my best friend. My friend and I ordered the burger and nacho. This is the only reason that I give this place two stars. It was very good. Spicy on the nachos and burger was a little over cooked but had awesome flavor. Back to our nasty personality waitress. I don't think she even smiled once. I now work for an airlines and let me tell you, when dealing with people in customer service a smile goes a long way. She looked like she was on her way to cry. Not once did I feel like she wanted us to be there. I was like how can you be so miserable? I know, I hated waiting tables at times but it still was my job and I needed the money to make rent. So I tried my best. We got check on only once it felt like. My drink sat there in front of me for the whole hour and thirty minutes I was there, but my water wasn't even refilled. When asking for a slice of cheese cake she looked at the TV and say " Hmm I don't know if I can"? Sure enough after me being so disappointed I was like " Go Check, its 2 minutes after midnight and the cheese cake comes out of a box". Needless to say the service sucks here! From Management all the way to The Servers. I would just do take out. If you do go to dine in. I recommend just throwing your money in the street!!!
(2)
Daniel W.

Let me first start off by saying this place USE to be my favorite bar. Due to horrible service by the bitchy waitresses I no longer go there. Pro's - Great beer list - Tons of different Whiskeys - Very Publike feel - Nice location, across the street from the library with a neighborhood feel Con's - Horrible Service - Bitchy Waitresses Hmm, why 3 stars, you can see that the Pro's outweigh the Con's but they really don't. When you are sitting around waiting for a drink for a long time in an empty bar and look over only to see the waitresses sitting there talking like its social hour you can't help but want to just leave. Bar on Buena needs to fire the entire waitress/cocktail staff and rehire (especially the short haired blonde who is flat out unfriendly). The bartenders are good at their jobs though. If you like Bar on Buena start going to FOUNTAINHEAD, I repeat, start going to FOUNTAINHEAD. Larger beer list, whiskey list, better food, better staff. Bar on Buena I'll come back when you rehire new staff.
(3)
Alli W.

Dear Bar on Buena, you are one of the only good bar/restaurants in the area and we really really love you but it seems like every time we go there, we are starting to have problems with service. What's going on? I hope it doesn't get any worse! But forgetting to put orders in, not stopping by for half an hour...it's no bueno!
(3)
Jarod S.

The atmosphere and neighborhood vibe is why I like this place so much. BoB has a great beer and whiskey selection also, but more often than not, they are out of a lot of beers on the menu. The food is ok. Half the time I can't see it because it's so dark inside. Like many other reviews, it's true! The service is not good.
(3)
Erick N.

Bar on Buena was my favorite bar when I lived in Uptown. While I do not stop there nearly as much since I moved to Lakeview a few years ago, I still drop in periodically and it remains a great venue (and a big step up from most other bars in the neighborhood). Bar on Buena's best feature is their sophisticated beer list, including many on tap (each served with a dedicated mug just for that particular beer). Plenty of exotic beers to sample; I had an amazing fruit beer a few nights ago that tasted like a blend between an ale and a red wine. The food is nothing great, but above average for bar food and the prices and portions are very reasonable. I usually opt for a wrap with sweet potato fries when ordering food, but the burgers here are generally quite good as well. They have a couple of healthy options on the menu as well, such as a hummus plate. Bar on Buena has a more intimate and sophisticated atmosphere compared to other bars in the area. There are televisions for sporting events, but no pool tables, Golden Tee, darts or what not. The bar is kept quite dark, which makes for a more trendy vibe - but unless your eyesight is much better than mine, you will have to hold a candle or light from your cell phone up to the menu to be able to read it adequately! The bar is generally busy enough to have energy, but rarely so crowded that it becomes uncomfortably loud; it is rare you would have to wait for seating. Most of the servers I have had at Bar on Buena have been outgoing, friendly and attentive. There is al fresco seating available if the weather cooperates. If you are in the Uptown neighborhood Bar on Buena should be at or near the top of your lists of bars to check out.
(4)
Virl S.

This is what a neighborhood bar is all about. Great location, just a few blocks from Wrigley Field. Superb craft beer list that is constantly changing and BOB has events for breweries. The food is standard american fare and is excellent. They have great burger specials and their nachos are delicious. Friendly staff and a cool local vibe. Not sure if they still have it, but I've gone a few times when they've had live music. One downside is that it sometimes can be difficult to find parking.
(5)
Team B.

We visited on a Saturday afternoon around 4:30. The staff were pleasant and the fries were very good, but the beer was pretty sad. The first round was okay, with the beer of the month (Hirter Morschel) the standout. The second round was a bit of a disaster. It took a while to get the Solemn Oath poured, and the eventual result was a foamy, half-full glass. The beer itself was fine, though. The real disappointment was the Leipziger Gose. It was flat and a bit warm. I've had this beer in a bottle before and had a hard time believing this was the same brew. This disappointment plus the fact that the room was loud despite being half-full means that we are unlikely to return. There are too many good beer options in the city to give this place a second chance.
(3)
Russ H.

Fricken Great Spot. Not much more to add...except a great independent small batch beer (50+) and whiskey (100+) list, $4 HUGE burger on Mon and cool staff & crowd. Yep, I'm a regular...wouldn't you if you could walk here?
(5)
Stephen M.

My wife and I arrived here at ~730p tonight (Aug 11) to order some burgers and beers. We were sat on the patio (as we had our dog). We sat for 10 -15 minutes while our waitress was chitchatting with the manager, instead of taking our drink order. Finally she put our drink orders in only to come back and tell us that the beer my wife ordered was out (slightly irritating). Then after waiting for another 30 minutes the rain started and we had to vacate and my wife had to take the dog home. When inside I asked the waitress how long on our food she told me that oh, they haven't started it yet, and oh by the way we are out of turkey burgers (which is what my wife ordered). At this point I was really angry and hungry. Honestly the waitress seemed quite vapid and aloof, as if she couldn't possibly care less about taking care of the customers. Honestly I am incredibly irritated and pissed with how vacant this server was and why wasn't the manager watching ticket times on the kitchen? Isn't that part of his job?
(1)
Frankie S.

I have way to many favorite burger places. This place being one of them. The cost is great, to top it off, you have the option of Sweet Potato Fries that come with your burger. They have a very nice wide selection of Imported Draft Beers. They always are changing the beer menu, which is great. I'm a big fan of the beers they get from Belgium or Germany. I recommend the Buena Burger, medium-well, with cheddar cheese and grilled onions. Simply delicious. Nothing to complain about this place cause they have a very nice ambiance and good selection of music on their player, when it's working of course.
(5)
Trevor H.

Why haven't I written a review about my favorite neighborhood spot? Probably because I'm drinking too much to remember to write one. Just kidding. I really have no clue why this place hasn't popped up on my yelp review radar. Bar on Buena has a wide range of whiskeys and beers. Though lately I prefer just beer, I have had some of the whisky flights a few times and love trying something new. The only issue I have about the place is when I want to order another beer the waitress is always there but when we want to get our check, the waitress is no where, I mean, no where to be found. Maybe I have just stumbled on bad luck lately, but that just doesn't seem right. Moving on. Their Monday night burger deal is what I usually hit up. Cheap burgers with fries or tots. But the burger doesn't taste cheap at all, it's a really well made burger. Wednesdays are their Mac 'n Cheese nights, with different types of Mac 'n Cheeses each week. Definitely worth stopping in for. This is always my go to place for dinner and drinks, or just drinks, if I'm not wanting to leave the neighborhood.
(4)
Mala R.

I think this is a great neighborhood bar and eatery.. I usually get the 7 pepper chili and I love it..! It's my fave.. Their regular fries are the great.. Always fresh and crispy... I don't drink too much so I can't tell you about the bar selections.. From friends I've heard they are known to have a variety of Belgian ales.
(4)
Tommy D.

We happened upon this joint after running a 5k. We needed beer and carbs stat!! The building and location is awesome. The outside patio is great. The beer menu is huge and will leave you reading 3 chapters of the menu before deciding. The food was... Ok. Me and the fiancÃ© both ordered the black bean burg. The menu said some shit like it was made of quinoa, beans, rice, veggies. Sounds awesome right?!? Yeah! Well the menu left out that it is spicy as fucking hell. Like coated in cayenne pepper. Fucking burned my throat. My nose was running. If it's gonna be that fuckin spicy, please warn a brother. So the burger was not what I expected. My Fiance enjoyed it thoroughly, on the other hand. The regular fries were par. The sweet potato fries seemed to be fresh cut and righteous. Hit those up! I'll be back tho. The beer and atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. And the grilled cheese looked super cheesy and delicious. Plus there's tons of crazies walking around Uptown.
(4)
Adam G.

This is fun neighborhood bar, and a good place to take friends or out of town guests. They have a huge beer list, with all sorts of craft beers and imports. The food's also surprisingly decent for bar food. Although there's outside seating, I don't suggest it. The sidewalk area is kind of cramped, and you sometimes get bad smells from the nearby side alley. There's also not much of a view on this residential side street. You're much better off going inside and getting a pub table.
(4)
Jermaine H.

A friend and I were passing by attempting to find a neighborhood spot to slip into for dinner and drinks; and decided to, once again, try "Bar on Buena". To our surprise, we had a much better experience this time around. Upon arrival, we were quickly acknowledged and our server, Katie, was an absolute delight throughout the entire evening. I decided to try something on the menu I hadn't had before-- the Rosemary Grilled Chicken, which was a marinated chicken breast with grilled apple, Prosciutto, and Swiss cheese; on ciabatta with stone ground mustard. In other words-- AMAZING!!! It wasn't too busy when we first arrived, but slowly started to pick up as the night went on. It definitely felt like a place that I would want to frequent, given that I do live literally around the corner...and the service overall drastically improved. During earlier visits, not so much. But, I decided to give it another try and definitely glad I did! I'll be back; and this time... I'll bring more friends. :-)
(4)
Jason B.

Unassumingly great beer menu. Lots of outdoor sidewalk dining space, spacious and generous, set beneath mature trees. Excellent place to kick back with brew, order the nachos with pulled pork, and hang out with friends after the work day. I'd happily come back here on any sunny day and spend a few hours outside. Note: if you want food, the kitchen doesn't open until 5pm. Server was knowledgeable about the beer menu, said all the right things to appease the beer snob-ish, and turned someone in our party that wanted summer shandy onto something a bit classier, with grapefruit. Nice! They got at least 10 taps, maybe more, and a great selection of Belgian, Trappist, and British beers. Well of 50 beers available in bottles.
(4)
Mariah M.

Used to love "BOB", went tonight, their drink selection is still stellar, but their new menu is i hate to say it, but a bit boring. There are so many amazing Mexican restaurants around, i am not sure why they went that route. I was looking forward to their rosemary chicken, but i get that things need to change... However, the service was apathetic, slow and curt.. Really just not interested in waiting on us. Oh now this is a nickel and dime you type of place. Every extra costs money from mayo to fry dip. I kind of got the impression that they changed their menu to cut costs (plastic water cups too).. Oh well guess things change.
(2)
Christine S.

The good: Great burger!!!! Great steak fries (I don't like those little skinny ass fries...) Great service. Clean bar. The bad: Bad beer specials. They had a sign on the table that advertised a $7 draft, like it was supposed to be a great deal. Wrong...
(4)
Andrew R.

I like the neighborhood feel of the place, right in the middle of apartments is really cool. Their beer selection is awesome, which got them the extra star. The food is really good too...just not worth the trouble. What trouble you ask? Crowded, noisy, and lousy service. Most of the time, the closest staff member to us was the bartender, and we were halfway across the restaurant.
(4)
Mike H.

I have to say, this place improved from my visit back in November to our visit last week. Our first time, the server really seemed to have the most detached attitude ever. I am not a ten-percent tipper, but she earned her ten percent that day; now that I think about it, ten percent might have been on the high side. The hubby and I went with a neighbor last week, and it was a great experience. (Servers, you really can make or break one's opinion of your place of employment.) Our server this time was fantastic. She was much busier than our server from our previous visit, but she took the time to explain the beers, ask what we liked, and brought us samples. She even answered all of our questions about the food. This place is known for its burgers, and our neighbor said it was fantastic. The hubby and I both had the BBQ sandwich. (Yeah, I know I've touted my pescatarian diet in the past, but, being from North Carolina, I will venture off the diet for a sandwich that is billed as North Carolina-style barbecue, and, parenthetically, I do believe pork should be its own food group, even if I try to stay away from it.) The sandwich did not disappoint. It was the closest thing to Carolina-style I've had in a long time. We both had the pasta salad; I could have dived into a bowl of it. Very, very tasty. My only complaint is with the lighting inside, but it might have just been that they had turned the lights down a little low. We could not read our menus, none of us, and we are not old folks who need readers, either. Still, if that's all I have about which to complain, Bar On Buena is doing something right. Very right.
(4)
Tyler W.

Given its proximity to my apartment, i would love for this place to be "our spot" for my friends and I. The menu is fairly small, but the food is great. They seem to be going for slightly ambitious bar food, and they do a fine job. The beer list is great, and they have rotating flights for those who can't commit. So, why only three stars? The service seems to range from tolerable to absolutely horrible. Offenses have included specials being incorrectly explained, ordered items forgotten, gratuity included when it shouldn't be, and just overall poor demeanor. Hopefully this will change eventually, as we would love to gather here more often. Forgot to mention, they have a pretty solid analog jukebox. Last time we were there, I laid the Joel on pretty heavy, but they have a nice variety.
(3)
Mike B.

I believe this place has the best burgers in Chicago. Would have to admit I have not been everywhere that serves burgers in Chicago, but having been here see no reason to continue to look.
(5)
RJ W.

REALLY SLOW service on a Monday at 5pm? Really? For the prices they charge for drinks, it would be nice if the middle-aged blond waitress seemed to care. Incompetent and slow. Forgot parts of order,..for two drinks? Extremely slow. Does management even work on Mondays?
(2)
Rachel W.

I've been here twice now and I got the same order each time, the grilled cheese sandwich. I love the brioche bread they use and the addition of avocado is awesome. Fun place and I love the outdoor seating. Bummer no free refills on soda and any extras you want like a side of ranch cost, seems stingy to me. I will be back and maybe try something new from the menu.
(3)
Aric C.

As I tell everyone I bring here: "The burgers are awesome, the wrap is great, pulled pork is meh. Sweet potato fries all the way! Have two or three beers in mind when ordering drinks, their beer list changes hourly (seems that way) and might not have first or second choice. Service is terrible. Friendly, yes, but extremely slow and forgetful." I seriously give this speech to anyone i bring here so they know of these things in advance, they then can enjoy their time at B.O.B. as I do.
(4)
Patrick I.

Burger are pretty good and the rest of the food is mediocre. The waitresses are usually pretty cold and rude. Would not go back if it weren't in my hood.
(2)
Jorge M.

The Good... Beer and whiskey list! Place is sort of cute, super dark which makes it hard to read the menu. I am all for give local business my money. However, this place lacks of service if you can even call it that. "What do you want" "Enjoy" does not get you a 20% tip. The food... its okay, nothing special.
(2)
Susan F.

BoB(or so I see it in other reviews) is kick ass. Definitely worth trecking a mile or two out of the lakeview bubble that I sometimes find myself in on the weekends. Well, scratch that, I travel plenty outside my circle! BoB has a hugeeeee beer list, great atmosphere with fun seating, comfy chairs/couches/outdoor. I couldn't decide on a beer from the huge list so the bartender actually gave me a few samples to try without me even asking--lovin it! Beer prices--comprable to others. Ommegang all the way! I got chips and salsa there, it was pretty cheap and I remember them being delish. Others got sandwiches that were HUGE.
(5)
Kristine N.

Great neighborhood bar... There aren't many drink specials but the staff is so friendly everytime I come in! Haven't tried the food but heard the burgers are the best, will have to try those soon.
(3)
Ro L.

So disappointed in this place as its very attractive but the food is just blah and the prices are way too high for a burger and a couple of glasses - yikes~ Won't be going back.
(1)
Howard L.

This was an unexpected gem that was recommended by a friend's brother who lived in the 'hood or I never would have gone there. This place seems out of character to the otherwise seedy places around it. It has an awesome vibe that really fits me, very laid back with seating areas that lend themselves to conversation, very mellow crowd. I only got there less than an hour before closing so I need to go back but the on-tap beer selection was awesome and my friend got her own beer specially mixed by the very helpful bar tendered. One con, could not get the waitress to give me the time of day. Strictly on the pay-no-mind list, so you need to go help yourself at the bar. That said, I'll be back to check it out again.
(4)
Madelaine S.

My boyfriend and I love this bar! We go here at least once if not twice a week. It the perfect neighborhood spot and when we moved recently, we really wanted to make sure we could still come here as often as we liked. (We still can easily and it made us happy campers). We always order the same things because they are so good, but change up our beer order. Their drink selection is huge and always changing (in a good way). It allows you to always be trying something new, but able to stick with the good 'ol favorites as well. Their pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries is my favorite and the veggie burrito is what my boyfriend is always craving. They food menu is just as varied as their drink menu. Something for everyone here and no matter what time you head over, you wait will never be long (even when they are super busy)! A great place everyone should check out!
(5)
James H.

Food served in baskets. The only thing separating my dinner from the previous six months worth of meals was a flimsy piece of wax paper. Any other restaurant grading is irrelevant. I can't believe I'm the only person that has a problem with this.
(1)
Sarah R.

I went here and took some friends with for the mac n cheese special. The mac n cheese was alright could have been cheesier and more flavor. The mac n cheese was white cheddar. The soda was an off brand and they do not have free refills.
(1)
Bruce B.

Here's an email I wrote the owners that still have yet to apply to. Hi Aaron and Steve, I came to your establishment a little after 9PM yesterday for all you could eat Mac and Cheese night. I came with my friend who is cc'd on this email. After finishing our first bowl around 9:30 PM we requested a second. However, the waitress came back and told us the kitchen would not be cooking anymore mac and cheese. My friend and I thought it was completely unacceptable for a kitchen that closes at 11PM. The waitress went back to the kitchen, spoke with the staff, and then told us she would give us one order of fries. Since we had no options, we agreed. However, the fries were served on a tiny bread plate, rather than your typical cones. Also, we were charged for the side sauce that always comes free with it. We didn't want to argue with the waitress because she was swamped and trying her best. However, this is the worse service I've received in the three years I've been coming there. We are by no means "big "people and cutting us off at one plate is hardly all you can eat. More so, I found being nickeled and dimed for side sauce was just bad taste. I'm not sure I'll be coming back anytime soon after this experience. I live a block away and was shocked with the level of service I received. I'd appreciate if you could look into this and see what happened with your kitchen. Attached are photos of the receipt. Regards,
(2)
Chris C.

Awesome beer and whiskey selections. Good pub cuisine. Great spot for good weather with outdoor seating and front opening windows.
(4)
Dom G.

Not a bad little place to grab an awesome burger and big beer! I went there the other night with a few friends and they not only accommodated our party of 8 in a packed bar but gave us great service. I am a resident of the area and I can't wait to bring my friends over every Monday night for their specials or even Sunday for the wing special!!
(4)
Angela L.

One of my first restaurants after I made my move to Buena Park. The atmosphere and beer list is excellent. I got the grilled cheese with bacon and avocado in it and it was SO good. My friend got the spinach salad and we devoured that too. Great place to hang out with friends and casual dinner. I love the seats right near the open windows with the half indoor half outdoor feel. Can get over how great it is to have this place right around the corner! LOVE LOVE LOVE
(5)
J. F.

beer and booze here is decent. the food...meh. but who am I to complain? it's a neighborhood bar.
(3)
Isaias M.

One of my Fav dinner and drinks places!!! Great food and Great beer selection.
(5)
Amber B.

Bar on Buena is one of the closest bars to my house and one of my favorite places to go. There's almost always a drink special, yay! There's obviously a huge beer list, but it can get expensive if you drink like I do, so I typically don't go for anything too fancy. I like to get the conical fries with spicy dip or the jalopeno bratwurst. I love sitting outside in the summertime, this is in a great little location. The service is usually pretty quick, and I'm happy to have such a nice little bar in the hood!!
(5)
Gwanda P.

Here visiting from Miami!!!! The food was not well cooked and I ask myself how do you mess up a veggi burger! Could of been the grease because the sweet potato fries seemed overly cooked! I can go on and on but maybe I just ordered the wrong thing! We won't start with the two drinks I ordered!!! Stick to beer!
(2)
Dan L.

(Writers Note) Im friends with the owners of the BOB...so take this review for what its worth. :) I have been coming here since Day 1 and actually before it was even opened when it was the SideBar Cafe. I spend 1 night a week here. I live in the hood, and just enjoy the atmosphere. Especially in the summer sitting outside. Robin ( the manager) has done a great job with the menu and offering up some non-traditional bar food, but still keeping some of the basics. Being friends with the owners/staff do I get served quicker or better...maybe....im not sure, but even if i didnt everyone there makes you feel comfortable and tries to give the best service they can i think anyone that is a beer or whiskey fan will love this place. Management has done a great job finding old time Euro beers and also cool American Micros to be on tap. The bottled beer list is a little long but covers everything you could want. The whiskey menu is extensive and you will probably find something you like there. Because of its size it can get very crowded quickly, but not overly so. Ive seen this place transform into a neighborhood hangout to people from other parts of the city coming by to meet friends and have some fun like i said, im friends with management, but even if i wasnt i would still give this place a good rating as they try to do things the right way in the bar industry
(4)
Beth A.

whoa whoa WHOA!!! wtf did u do to my spfs (sweet potato fries)??? literally just ate here and almost sat with a frowny face the entire time had my usual grilled cheese/spf combo and my jaw almost hit the floor when it came to my table...since when are the fries ginormous and not seasoned? ive never ever ever put ketchup on those things...before today :( now on another note my pickle was soggy and my grilled cheese was totally haphazard...i hate to say it BOB but i dont know that ill be ordering food from u again ur beer list on the other hand...well we all know how much i like that
(3)
Virginia T.

I stopped at Bar on Buena to take advantage of the great patio and good beer selection. I always try to order from the draft beer menu and both the beers we first tried to order were out. No note on the menu, chalkboard, no warning from the server. I *hate* that! We ended up drinking a Flemish Red, a Smoked Porter and a Dunkelweiss. The service was ok....a little slow. She forgot that we ordered one beer, that sucked. The food was good but fairly average. I ordered the Jalapeno Cheese Wurst. It was good, but not as good as the menu made it sound. The pretzel bun seemed a little stale. I got sweet potato fries, but they were a little limp and needed salt. My date got spicy chicken wrap and liked it, but agreed about the problems with the sweet potato fries. They have some great specials including a Tues night special $1 off beers, 20% off pork.
(3)
Jay B.

It's hard to argue with their extensive beer selection, reasonable prices, and comfortable atmosphere. I like BOB because they switch up their drink menu every month or so, and that means there is always something new to try when you go. The food here is probably average bar food, nothing ground breaking. But if you come to BOB you are probably coming for the beer selection anyways. I have enjoyed sitting on the couch and chairs in there a few times, and like the laid back atmosphere here. It's a must stop in Uptown for any craft beer enthusiast.
(4)
Johnny V.

Long overdue! BoB is incredible local joint that is more than a typical "neighborhood place". They feature more American and Euro craft beers than most, the beauty of it is, the staff are "beer people" . They'll walk you through whats on draft, offer a sample, help you decide which offering to go after based on your taste. Same goes for their spot on Scotch and whisky selection. I've got a ton of "beer friends", we've always enjoyed great service when a dozen of us set up camp for a Sunday afternoon. Never presumptious (I can't say that for some of the other more famous "beer bars" in the city that will remain nameless) The food is consistent, it's not a "gastro-pub" but they contend to be, instead it's solid burgers and sandwiches, kicked up fries, and specials posted on the window (Mac & Cheese Night is always a good call!) Can it get crowded? Yes, it's in a vibrant neighborhood...
(5)
Jelena Z.

Don't walk... don't run... hop to it! Yep, Bar on Buena is my 'dream' bar. Full of Belgian beer, dim but unassuming atmosphere, solid food and a PATIO. We waited almost an hour for a table on a recent Friday evening, but our affable bartender kept our pints filled and the laughs a-comin'. Gave great beer recommendations, too. My friend and I ordered the Rosemary Grilled Chicken and Fullers Soaked Hangar Steak sandwiches, respectfully. She wasn't entirely impressed with hers but I loved my hangar steak sammie. Spot on robust flavor with the Habanero mayo. And the sweet potato fries are an obvious winner. But the beer list is what will keep me coming back for more... long, distinguished and intoxicating. Just two 8.2% abv. Aventinus Weizen Dopplbock and I'm yours, B.O.B.
(4)
Rob S.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. sorry, those are pretty much the only words I can use to describe this place.
(5)
Conor O.

Excellent food. Rotating selection of top quality beers on tap. Flights of whiskey. Great Jukebox. Friendly Staff. Outdoor seating. Dog friendly. They serve BACON with beer. I feel like I could go on all day. Just come to this unpretentious uptown treasure and experience it for yourself.
(4)
Jackie P.

I've heard a lot of chatter about this place but until recently it was a little out of my way. And after all it is just a bar right? Well I was wrong. This is not JUST a bar. It is THE bar. The bar that all bars wish to be. The bar all other bars look up to. You know THAT bar. Since I just moved to this part of the neighborhood I was worried about finding my go to neighborhood bar. After only a week I believe I've found it. BoB completes me. And while service can be painfully slow BoB still had me from hello. Somethings to note: + Sweet potato fries are not good no matter where you go. + This place gets full but you can still have a decent conversation without yelling at one another. + Again it gets full but tables turn over pretty quickly. + Don't go against the little blonde server she'll kill you. + $4 burgers on Monday and that includes fries. Yum.
(4)
Jamie B.

I've been here a few times and have always enjoyed it. I have never been here after 10 or 11 or with a large group of people but its a good place to have a good sandwich and beer. It can get pretty busy which is annoying when you want to eat because the tables don't turn that quickly and there isn't a lot of room to wait without being in the way. The service is always good though I haven't been let down by this place yet.
(4)
Craig O.

Been over a couple of times when visiting from the burbs. Awesome staff, beer, and whiskey. I would go here everytime I visit the city.
(4)
John E.

Super fun place. Nice servers and they work hard at getting big groups in without notice. food is good and the beer is always cold.
(5)
Dana W.

I wanted a casual Thursday night out but didn't want to wander far from my apt. because of the freezing cold weather. I recalled seeing the sign out front of this bar and thought to myself ,"I should try that place". I walk into the bar and right away I am struck with panic because I cannot see anyone's faces! That being said....it was quite dark... good lighting for a date though... everyone looks a little better in the dark, right!?Wide range of people and the atmosphere feels very 'kick backish'... The menu has a wide arrange of beers and drinks plus they even have specials. The food portion of the menu isn't too lengthy which I liked because I can never make up my mind and sometimes too many options just causes confusion of what I should order. I also enjoyed that the waitress let me try a beer before ordering one, nice to know what your in for. My dinner companion ordered some sort of Bratwurst that came with sweet potatoe fries. I order the spicey chicken wrap with normal fries. Both entress a good size and tasty. The bar was clean, cozy and def. will return again. What I was told by my MALE companion was that the men's washroom was less then desireable... he said there were no lights and he couldn't see what he was doing... sorta makes you think that the bathroom must be in pretty rough shape if no one can see where they are 'aiming' to go...LOL Women's was totally fine and well lit :) Thank GOD!
(4)
Tim M.

Like many others reviewers here, this place is right by my apartment (apparently I live in a very active Yelp community :) - we should do a meetup!). I'm torn though - I actually really like this place but the food kind of sucks. I've eaten here twice - first time had a chicken wrap that was kind of watery, not bad, not great, pretty average. I know, it's bar food, but some bar food can be great. This was fine, but not great. Went here again last night was was pretty let down. Pulled pork on Texas toast - 2 stars, tops. Pretty plain, only thing it had going was sweetness which was too much. Texas toast in this case was just thick, dry toast. Wife had grilled chicken sandwich that was just awful. Chicken was overcooked to the point of being nuked, sandwich was too salty and was overall totally flat. Worthless - 0 stars. Only redeeming factor was a burger that my sister got. They say on the menu "You'll come back for the burger." and that wasn't a lie. It was really good - thick, moist, tender (as opposed to packed too tightly). She had sweet potato fries which were pretty decent. While the food is not very good, the bar is super cool. Great beer selection, scotch flights, which is pretty cool, and knowledgeable bar staff. I will be back often, because the bar really is great. I'll just eat somewhere else beforehand. Bar - 4 stars Food - 2 stars
(2)
Dre L.

I would definitely go back here. Fo Sho. I am a huge french frie connoiseur. I love french fries! These are probably the best french fries I have had in my lifetime. AMAZING FRENCH FRIES. The Bartenders were super awesome. One even gave me a free beer, because he made it on accident. That was really kind. I was with my friends, happy, drunk, and full. Keep up the good work BoB.
(5)
Ryan H.

This place is a solid neighborhood bar and grill. I've been coming here for over 5 years and the food, drinks, and service have always been top notch.They have a great beer selection, a decent collection of scotches, and the waiters are all pretty knowledgeable when you ask them a question or for a recommendation on beer. Beer is probably their specialty, but the bar tenders have no problem mixing up a decent cocktail, either. What keeps me coming back, though, is their excellent food menu. It's a small selection, but they have really picked great items. My favorites are the burger (one of the best in the city IMHO) and the pulled pork sandwich. The pulled pork is served on Texas toast and always has the perfect amount of tasty BBQ sauce on it. Yum. Oh, and do yourself a favor and order some habanero mayo with your fries. The conical fry appetizer comes with it, but if you get it as a side you'll need to ask for it. Ketchup doesn't hold a candle to this sauce.
(5)
Tom L.

A great go to neighborhood place when you want a quick lunch or not walk very far for drinks. The food is always tasty and consistent. They are able to really turn out tickets in a hurry for such a small open kitchen. The menu has a wide range of options ( a good amount of them are without meat which is a delight for my vegetarian friends who usually struggle at pub grub places). Be sure to have two - three beer choices in the hopper when ordering. The taps are constantly changing so beers fade in and out of stock at the quickest pace I've ever seen at a bar. This is great for me but if you're a person who likes to stick with old stand bys or likes to ask your server "what do you like?" (ugh) then this may not be a good place for you. Really at the end of the day BOB is all about consistency. The food is always good, the beers are always quality and the service is always great.
(4)
August B.

I should have a room there or least partial stake in ownership after living a block away from this place for over a year. But I don't. Anyway, on a summer day nothing is better than sitting at the bar and watching the beauty that is Uptown unfold in front of you! (I'm serious what a weird neighborhood. Crack addicts sharing buildings with trust fund babies.) But if you find yourself in the 60613 stop here and no where else for quality. go elsewhere if you want dollar beers and high fiving cub fans grunting while impersonating their "lovable losers" in uniform only.
(5)
Josh T.

This my go to spot when I am in the Uptown area. Great beer selection, and even better food. This spot actually has the best beer selection I have ever had in the Uptown area! The atmosphere is very calm, and if you are looking to go and watch a sporting event, there are several flat screens to keep your eyes on the prize. I suggest ordering a Hoptastic Beer Flight, and a Spicy Chicken Wrap with their terrific sweet potato fries. I have not been there during warm evenings, but I believe the garage window structures open and their is a patio. Check this spot out!
(4)
Sarah K.

Really wonderful beer selection. Food is delicious, especially half off burgers on Monday.
(5)
Carol K.

Bar on Buena- you did me wrong. Did Halloween come early and not tell me? For last night at your place- I experienced far more tricks than treats. Oh sure- you had a nice cozy corner for me to curl up in with comfy chairs and a couch. But your treats stopped there. We couldn't get a drink to save our lives. Will someone tell me why- on a Monday night when both the inside and the patio were packed that there were only 2 servers and one bartender? Huh? We tried to go to the bar to order our own drinks but that took over 20 minutes also. And the food? Mine was a burger. A BURGER! How hard can that be? Yet the burger was cold, the fries were cold and my friend's food came out at least 20 minutes after mine. Another trick as we were there to eat dinner together not in shifts. And she spent her time not eating but up at the bar again trying to get served, I asked for flatware and they brought me a fork. Trick again as it was really the knife that I needed. Don't even talk to me about the parking situation around this place. It took me 30 minutes to find a parking spot and that was at least 4 blocks away. The last time we tried to go this place- we just gave up! The ultimate trick! Finally-I think I had a glimpse of how this place could be toward the end of the night. Just two tables were filled still and the server could actually bring us a cocktail within a reasonable amount of time. Too bad it took 3 hours to see some decent service at this place. If only my car hadn't been 4 blocks away- I might have left earlier.
(2)
David Y.

I wanted this bar to be good, but I am not a fan. I even live next door, but still prefer to walk to Nick's Uptown, just 2 blocks south. There food is not bad, it is your typical bar food, burgers, pastas, and the what nots. They do have a good selection of beer, but I think they are over priced. I am going to say that they service sucks and that is because the 3 times I have been there, it seems they only have one person running the dining floor and another on the bar. Speed is fine, there is a difference. Service, however, they take your order then sprint off to where ever (I wanted extra bbq sauce and another beer, but you were too busy to ask me if there was anything else I wanted). Do not like this place.
(2)
Carri A.

I've only been here once but was impressed with our little Bar on Buena. First, the beer list is quite extensive with a healthy portion of them on draft. LOVE. Second, they have about 70 whiskeys on site. HELLO. Third, the decor is really cute with big windows that open in the nice weather, exposed brick and soft mood lighting. Fourth, Black Bean Burger with Goudaaaaaaaa. The fries are also super delicious. The service was slow and it seemed that we were imposing on our waitress every time we had to stop her for something (since she came by only once or twice on her own volition during the two hours we were there). And I agree that the music is a touch too loud for the atmosphere. But otherwise I would love to come back to Bar on Buena.
(4)
Louis W.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Bar on Buena. Bar on Buena is busy but not crowded. The food is tasty; not bad, not amazing but...tasty. The service is adequate. The beer selection is standard. There are some board games. Some people play the boardgames. Some people do not. At the risk of this review devolving into a Talking Heads song, I'll sum the whole establishment up by saying: I'd start a bar crawl out here or wander here after a Cubs game but I wouldn't spend an entire evening here.
(3)
N. R.

Four and 1/2 Stars Tucked into a quiet side street (I passed that Broadway and Buena intersection for years without even knowing the place was here), Bar on Buena has a fantastic beer selection (apparently scotch, too) , and pretty good food. Menu is not broad, but an artful take on the basics, and selections I've had have been consistently successful despite the tininess of the restaurant's visible kitchen in the upfront bar area. I've been here dozens of times with groups, or alone, and have experienced consistently good service. [I especially appreciate that they take their beer seriously. I was once (just once) served a flat beer here, and the waiter quickly made things right with such professionalism and good cheer that I got the sense the bar was more disappointed in my bad pour than I was.] Very pleasant patio, although the plastic tables are sometimes wobbly and the patio (and the rest of the place) is crowded at night, so come early .
(4)
Sam H.

I'm not sure how I could possibly rate this place lower than five stars. The service is good, the food is excellent (try the tequila-marinated steak tacos!), and they have a really impressive drink menu, including a nice selection of Scotches and beers. The atmosphere is also quite nice. Bar on Buena, you win.
(5)
Michael E.

This is what I'd call a great neighborhood bar. Tucked away, you'd pass right by it on Broadway if you didn't look close. Good food - particularly the burgers - not too expensive beer and a funny wait staff makes for an all round good experience. Outside seating is great this time of year, though they kick everyone in side just before 11pm.........I REALLY hate the ordiance in this city.....I guess that is why folks say Chicago is an 18 hour city as opposed to NYC being a 24 hour city? Oh well, just enjoy it while you can. All and all a great little bar you should try if you get in this neck of the woods.
(4)
Sara N.

I can not believe this place has any positive reviews. My experience there was awful from beginning to end. First of all, its unbelievably noisy, and its not the music or the TV. The way the bar is set up traps the noise of everyone talking and its incredibly loud. I could easily get over that if the rest of the experience wasn't just plain awful. The service is horrible and I mean horrible. I have never had a ruder waitress in my life. This girl was so agitated by the fact that she was at work that we just wanted to leave. She threw menus at us, ignored us, gave us dirty looks and took forever. On top of that the food is bad. The spicy chicken wrap has a strange taste to it. That didn't even really bother me. What really bothered my was the rock that I found in my pickle spear. This is no joke. I would have told the waitress about it but it was so obvious that she didn't care about our experience there that it would have been useless to tell her. I sent an e-mail to the manager about my experience there and got no response. That's how much the manager cares about the customers.
(1)
Aaron C.

Do you like beer? Seriously, do you like it? I'm not talking like a bud light or some kind of watered down bullshit that most people think is beer. I'm talking about good beer. Oh, you do? Go here. Huge selection of very fine tab beers. You may not have even heard of some unless you have been educated. They also have an extensive whiskey selection...like 50 whiskeys or something. I have never done the whiskey flights, but I plan to in the near future. Food: Monday night 4 dollar burger...Delicious I might say. Also, sweet potato fries are excellent. The rosemary chicken sandwich is very good as well. This place is my go to bar when I want something hearty and tasty.
(4)
Elyse C.

LOVE the bob. fantastic beer selection, always something new to try to fit anyone's taste. the food is just as good--$4 burgers on monday can't be beat, my boyfriend and i have a tradition of traveling almost 45 minutes each way just to go to the bob now that we no longer live on the north side. the waitresses are also the best! shout-out to jackie and heather :)
(5)
Christina K.

I'm really struggling to give this place 5 stars or even 4 for that matter. The bar/restaurant is local and very close to my apartment so it's a nice place to go. The food is interesting and the beer selection will provide options for everyone. The service, however, is where the stars start falling off... As I mentioned before, since this bar is local I have been there quite a few times. When it comes to the wait staff, you never quite know what you're going to get, but we have come to expect not the worst, but below average. Our table is usually serviced by one of two different waitresses that work there and we have had poor experiences with both waitresses on more than one (in reality probably more than 4) occassions. One night my group of friends and I went to BOB for some drinks around 10pm and each of us asked the waitress for both a glass of water and a beer. Not only did we not receive the water with our beers, but it took her three times to bring us our water and after we asked for it again, she huffed and puffed and then rarely came back to our table. The next time we had this waitress she was in a completely upbeat mood and did a great job. Must've had a bad night. The other waitress is a completely different story. We came in one Monday night for the $4 burger special and my boyfriend ordered a hamburger with multiple cheeses after the waitress told him that it didn't matter how many he wanted, it was $1. We get the bill and there's a $3 or $4 cheese charge. Liar. Then on another occassion we came in around 6:30pm and was seated right away. Great. She took our order and only came back one other time. I suspect that while she was hanging out at the bar with her colleagues that she forgot to enter our order because the surrounding 4 tables we were near received their food before us. 50+ minutes later we receive our food and then the bill arrives. For 5 people mind you, she made a remark that "Gratuity is included", so immediately we checked the menu and clarified with her that no, it's actually added for parties of 6+. She knew she wasn't going to get the tip she deserved and she didn't. Moral of the story is, good food/drinks if you're willing to put up with the service.
(3)
joel b.

I've been going to Bar on Buena for over eight years. I don't have a lot new to add to the below reviews - great food, fantastic beer and Scotch list, fantastic servers... I'm about to move out of the neighborhood and while I'll definitely miss this place (I'd probably say it's my favorite bar - which is easy since it's a block away) I will say that in the last few years the volume level has slowly increased. One of the things I loved about BoB was that they never played the music so loud that you had to shout. Well - that's changed. It's pretty much always packed (understandable) and very often I'll walk away a bit a hoarse. Still 4 stars easily, but really loud now!
(4)
Amanda S.

Underwhelmed. We chose this place because of the YELP reviews... I guess I am hard to please. I'd like a place where I have light to read a menu and a waitress that doesn't look annoyed at all times. I got the Hamburgressa di Antonio and it wasn't bad the beef is good. It melts in your mouth, honestly, but my sweet potato fries were burned and my boyfriend got sick (puked) last night from the Pulled Pork. There really was nothing special about this place it's just another craft beer and burger bar in Chicago.
(2)
Mike K.

The service here is really bad. Tonight our server Nikki was absent from our table for most of our time at BoB. Instead, she sat at the end of the bar, on a bar stool, knees up and feet planted, chit chatting with some guy, and flipping her hair repeatedly. Meanwhile, we waited for our water cups to be refilled, to order another round of beers, and to ask for more of the all you eat Mac and cheese. Seriously. Nikki had no idea what was happening at her tables. For her inattentiveness, she earned a really small tip, probably more than she even deserved. To the owner: charging 50 cents for mayo to go with a burger is just stupid. If you are truly losing your shirt due to customers boggarding free mayo from you, then add a nickel to your beer prices or something. 7-11 gives away free packets of mayo. McDonalds, Wendy's, and Burger King will all put mayo on your burger for no charge. There is a lesson here: don't annoy your customers by nickel and diming them for everyday condiments.
(2)
Henry Y.

This is a neighborhood bar/restaurant. Plenty of TV's to keep track of games going on. Cannot comment on the food as we only had fries to go with our beers. There is a sidewalk/ patio to sit in as well. Our waitress on this day, Katie, was absolutely fabulous. She even promised to convert to green electricity to help protect the environment...lol. But she made sure our thirsts remained quenched and did not disappear for long periods.
(4)
Rosemary L.

I have to agree with Amanda - pretty much underwhelmed by this place I had heard so much about. Outdoor table and chairs couldn't have been cheaper/crappier. Couldn't they invest in something a little more stable than there $5.00 a piece items? The food was ok, the waitress seemed harried and not in a good mood. I might go back but the anticipatory thrill is gone. Oh, some real loudmouths in the bar inside. Pretty sure I'd never go in there.
(2)
Sarah B.

A lovely day spent pampering myself went horribly sour in the matter of minutes and I was sent into melt down mode; I needed a drink or three. David R. to the rescue! (Seriously, ladies! Why is this guy single?) He found me on a corner without my car (broken-down) and with swollen eyes (the result of some mean words and a raised voice) and swooped me off to BoB to drown my sorrows. My hero! BoB was packed, as usual. I was worried we wouldn't have a table but one opened up right away and thank god, because I NEEDED that drink. Our waitress was perky and funny, but so busy that it seemed to take a bit to get our orders together. My martinis were fine and the guacamole David R. ordered and I rudely ate without asking first was pretty good. Thanks, BoB, for giving me a spot to get drunk and forget about the bullshit.
(4)
Dara O.

I will miss "BOB." Moving away from the neighborhood. One of the BEST bar menus you will ever find. I highly recommend the grilled cheese on Texas Toast with a layer of guacamole inside. Sweet potato fries are fantastic. Staff is very knowledgeable of the food and drink menu. Super friendly. As I said, I will miss this place!
(5)
Malana W.

How can any one person not *love* the Bar on Buena? I thought the sweet potato fries at The Holiday Club were good and then I was introduced to yours and found a far superior sweet potato fry. Then there is the quite large selection of libations at affordable prices. The jukebox which myself and my friends have been caught singing along to. For this reason it can get a bit loud, but this shouldn't stop you from stopping in for a visit.
(4)
Mike W.

If I could have given it a half star I would have gone with 3.5... as is BoB is more of a 3 star than a 4 star place. I recently moved to the area and I figured I'd give a new place a try so I stopped in. They have an excellent drink menu (went with a beer on special) which is definitely a plus for a place that has 'bar' in its name. I liked the ambiance of the place better for what they were trying for than what it actually was. The patio out front was perfect for the evening, but the problem is there is no lighting so I had to use my cell phone just to read the menu. The service was adequate for the joint; attentive enough, but not knock your socks off or anything. The burger I ordered was decent, I liked that it was obviously a hand made patty (which I believe is advertised) and it was prepared well, but the toppings left a little to be desired. The cheese wasn't fully melted on top and I felt the 'caramelized' onions left a little to be desired. The french fries were solid enough as well, but nothing to distinguish them... pretty much seemed like the fries you can buy frozen at the grocery store. I wouldn't mind coming back to give the food another shot, but I would get something else. Take home message- For the price (Less than $10 for most sandwiches/entrees) and the drink menu I would go back to change things up. From my experience expect something that's good enough but not life changing.... you know, a 3 star kinda place.
(3)
Cat C.

I would give this place more stars, but the wait staff is terrible. A friend and I came for a couple of drinks and gradually more friends showed up and sat with us. When it came time for one person to leave the waitress was A) no where to be found (again, this happened the entire time) and B) refused to let the one person pay for their two drinks. The entire table had to settle at once so one person could pay. I've worked as a waitress, with those fancy touch screen systems it isn't hard to transfer two drinks to a new check . What lost her her already not great tip is that "f-u" attitude she showed us all night and the laziness she displayed when we were trying to get OUT not sit there for an extra 40 minutes trying to pay. We had to write on the receipt how much went with each card and how much was cash and etc etc, we did all the leg work. I'm sure it took longer for her to separate the checks and run them through for us to pay then it would have for her to just separate the one check when we asked originally. I hate lazy waitresses, it ruins the entire, otherwise fine, night.
(2)
Anna V.

The food was really good and the beer list was excellent. It was a lot busier than I expected so I guess it's pretty popular. I would recommend coming here for sure but my only two criticisms are 1. The lighting was too dark 2. We sat at the bar so I can't speak for the table service but the service behind the bar was pretty rude & seemed to get annoyed over any question or request.
(3)
D h.

Great bar in an even better neighborhood (location). The BOB is an open bar that has huge front windows that can open completely on a nice day. Outdoor seating and a fair number of TVs, along with a huge projection on the back wall. The bar is on the east wall and only about 10-12 yards. The reast of the bar includes tables, both high & low. Great bartenders (chris) & an excellent food (try the steak tacos in a corn tortilla with jalapeno rice)....with a huge selection of drinks. The BOB was a little loud, but nothing that chases you out. Will return any chance I get.
(4)
Mike P.

Speedy and friendly service, both with drinks and food. You can sit outside or inside, the front is open air. Atmospheric, tasteful music to enjoy time with friends and family. the Buena burger is satisfying, be careful, the nacho bowl is spicy!
(4)
P S.

Things I learned about BoB last night: 1. Despite it missing from the menu, they do in fact still carry Leffe Blonde in bottles (huzzah!) 2. Ask to try anything on tap and then talk about it with the bartender, you'll learn something 3. The burgers while good, are not the best. And a little bit of those sweet potato fries go a long way 4. Get there before the dinner crowd and you can snag the couches However 5. There is no free WiFi (yet) so whilst on those couches, you won't get as much work done as you'd hoped. Ahh well, four out of five is not bad.
(4)
Tim K.

Wow has this place turned around since the days of the old Sidebar. There is an actual beer selection.... Which is great to choose from! I usually get suckered into a Delirium (On tap)...The crowd is a littler more older...so don't expect meet any new 20something girls/boys....However if you are in the dating scene then you should consider taking advantage of the Patio during the summer....I have never had an objection to their food it's actually quite good....but keep in mind that their kitchen is quite small (you can see it directly next to the bar) and if they get swamped I am sure something wrong is bound to happen...Of course there is a complaint...I find that the acoustics are a bit too loud for my ears..but overall it's a good atmosphere for a conversation with dinner or drinks.... even if you have to speak louder..
(3)
Marie M.

Four stars for Dan who used to work here. Great customer service, friendly, but not over the top friendly you get annoyed. Lovely atmosphere and good late night eats. Best neighborhood bar when Wrightwood becomes too loud.
(4)
Najla A.

First, I feel the need to justify the 4 (rather than 5) stars that I'm giving to Bar on Buena: I really want to reserve 5 stars for places that I know quite thoroughly and are superb in all aspects. Right now, I'm sitting at the bar and this is my first (and possibly last because I don't live in Chicago) time visiting. Because of that, Bar on Buena is getting a very enthusiastic 4 stars. I'm a beer-loving gal. Can I say it again? I. Heart. Beer. Bar on Buena has beers that I've never or very rarely seen on draft, including Lambic Framboise. Great, great selection of European, English and imports. I'm drinking the British Isles Flight and couldn't be happier. There are 2 Hopalicious Flights and a House Flight available. Great way to get a good, round beer sampling without ordering too many ounces. And ask for samples of stuff that looks interesting to you! I totally dig the bartender, whose name I don't know, but is a sweet blonde lady. They've also got basic bar-type fried/grilled food at pretty reasonable prices. I'm impressed and happy with this place, and if I lived in Chicago, I would TOTALLY come here on the regular. Check it.
(4)
Chan K.

I came here the other night and really dug the mixed crowd and low key vibe. While it feels like wine bar with its dim lighting and couches, several TVs tuned to sports give it a less crusty feel. There's a great selection of beer and whiskey. I didn't try the food, but the few plates I saw come out all looked good.
(4)
Quin C.

Great place for dinner and/or drinks! Great staff and what a beer selection. The bartenders know the selection well and the burgers are woth the trip! This is a place you can really have a great evening at and helps you forget about work! Our burgers would rank as some of the best there are around and B.O.B really lives up to its reputation all around! Cannot wait to return!
(5)
Kenn C.

Great atmosphere! Nice place to sit and chat with friends. The drinks weren't too expensive and the food was tasty. I got the Buena Burger and it was big and juicy. I was filled after the burger, fries, and beer! I would definitely go back.
(4)
grace s.

I should have reviewed this place long ago, as I have been coming here since I moved to Chicago 8 years ago and lived on Buena Ave. I dont live in that neighborhood anymore, but keep coming back! I LOVE this place! Everything is fairly priced! Amazing burgers and sweet potato fries and the beer selection is great. I dont even mind they dont update the beer menu enough. And they always have good drink specials! Great outdoor seating area and never had bad service there!
(5)
Scott C.

I went to Bar on Buena the other night because my friend gave it such a glowing endorsement. I must say, the tap menu is great and I appreciated the bartenders knowledge of all the beers he poured. That's about where my positive comments ended. We got there pretty late, so we were able to get about one beer in before the lights came on indicated last call - or so you would think...Instead, the dude at the end of the bar who I imagined was the manager started yelling something that no one around us could understand. Then a waitress who we hadn't seen came over to our table at started to take our glasses away - they still had beer in them! When I asked what the dude at the bar had said, she responded, "You have to leave." I said, "What did he ACTUALLY say? I couldn't hear him." And she says "You need to leave the bar." Man, I understand that at the end of the night all the staff wants to go home - they're tired. I understand, but all that was so unnecessary. Needless to say, in the future when I want good beer, I'll go to Hopleaf, Fountainhead or the Map Room. I will also tell all of my friends to not support this place.
(2)
Jake S.

Great beer, great atmosphere, great people. $4 burgers and fries on Monday. Staff is a little standoff-ish but highly recommend it.
(4)
Irene O.

YUM! I plan on taking any of my visitors here. It's a small menu offering tasty burgers that are made right at the bar (which smells amazing). The pulled pork nachos were gone quick and the beer selection is broader than the average bar. I gave it only 4 stars b/c it got Loud.. No big, right?! I look forward to stopping by in the summer when the full front is open!
(4)
Tim L.

I was very happy with the couple times I went to Bar on Buena. It is not too upscale nor trash. They played the playoff games and even opened up the large front windows for some breeze. I loved the selection of beer and I heard their whiskey is the real reason to go to this bar. The food was decent, and I do not think overly priced. I will definitely be going back there again.
(4)
Gina G.

Two pages of food and six pages of beer, wine, and whiskies and spirits. What does that tell you? But, please hold, there's more...great selection of sausages, which will go great with two pages of beer choices . Pulled pork appears a couple of times on the menu, nachos and sammies. Tequila marinated steak tacos, jalepeano cheddar wurst , and all you can eat mac n cheese special , and $4 burgers on Monday . What else could you ask for? Oh yeah, couple of block from home... 'nuff said.
(4)
Karen S.

I've only been here a handful of times in the last two years, but before that I was a solid regular, stopping in at least once a week for Monday's half price burger special, and occasionally on the weekends if I wasn't doing anything else. I love the burger, I love the sausage sampler appetizer, I love most of the other food items that I've tried (not so much the mac and cheese, but I've only had it once and that may have been an off night since they experiment with the recipe so much). I'm a big cider drinker, and they usually have at least one good one on tap. The advantage of being a regular is that the bartenders know (and still know, even though I've moved to the south side!) what I like, and I can just say "give me something tasty" and I get something new and delicious. I've also learned a lot about beer and spirits from listening to the bartenders talk to other patrons, recommending things they would like. It's true that they go through kegs faster than they can update their menus, but most of that is very small batch, and since a lot of the people who come here are into craft beers, of course they go through it quickly. I've never had a problem with the service, but again, I was a regular, and I almost always sit at the bar, so I've developed a relationship with the people serving me. Definitely worth becoming a regular, especially if you live in the area.
(5)
Kevin G.

Endless beer menu? Check. Good staff? Check. Comfortable seating? Yep. Air Conditioning? Doesn't seem to be on. Message to the owners. We had a party of 8. We would have stayed but it was 1130 p.m. and we were literally sweating while drinking our beers. My beer got warm so fast I was worried it might boil over. If your AC is broken...well fix it. If you turned it off to save green or to be green.... either way it is bad for business.
(3)
Abhay S.

I've been to BoB quite a few times. I almost can't believe I haven't written a review yet. Anyway - Went to Bar on Buena tonight for dinner. My wife and I each ordered the spicy chicken wrap and sweet potato fries. I just absolutely love their sweet potato fries. The wrap was really good and REALLY spicy (believe me, if I say it was spicy, it was REALLY spicy). Service was decent - they could have used another waitress tonight, but was tolerable. We will be returning.
(5)
M H.

Been here more than a few times and, like others, split between 3 and 4 stars. Love the beer list and the outdoor seating....the service, indoor area, and food are solid, but probably not remarkable. I realize tacos are a matter of taste, but I personally thought they were the worst thing I've had on their menu. The pulled pork sandwich was tasty, but crazy salty (but, then again, who orders pulled pork without expecting tons of salt?).
(4)
Julia T.

This is my regular watering hole. I love the beer selection: German, Belgium, and American beers. The food isn't bad either. One thing to note before you go here - this is a neighborhood bar with a family atmosphere, especially during the early evening and Saturday/Sunday afternoons. People often bring their small children.
(4)
Christopher K.

I'm a little torn between 3 and 4 stars on this one because it really depends if you eat inside or outside. Love eating on the patio and because that is where we sat last I'll give the BOB 4 stars. Inside music is a little loud, seating a bit uncomfortable, and at night VERY DARK which, in my mind, can knock this place down to 3 stars. I know I'm getting old, but I actually like to hear what the people I'm eating with have to say. Beer selection is solid and I always find myself torn between a few so I end up drinking 2 or 3 just so I can try them all. Food is just a bit above average bar food depending on what you get - the BOB Burger and Pulled Pork are excellent, but the steak chicken sandwiches are meh. Overall, love this spot and hit it often as it's close to home, but wouldn't recommend as a destination dining experience if you don't live in Uptown.
(4)
Pokher A.

great microbrew selection. i had two orders of the sausage app. which was very good. very good whiskey selection.
(3)
Miki T.

Beer selection- PHENOMENAL! Try the Steigl Lemon Radler....it's my fave and this is the only place I've found that serves it! :) As for the pulled pork nachos....skip them. The cheese sauce is worse than the cheese sauce on high school stadium nachos.....and I happen to love stadium nachos! It really ruined the flavor of the whole thing. Also...might just be us...but we had to get our cell phones out to read the menu....lighting is non-existent. :)
(3)
Sarah G.

I live right around the corner from The Bar On Buena and I couldn't be happier about that! It's 100% my style. Good food (not great, but solid). Definitely try their hummus/tapenade platter if you're looking for a lighter snack. Basically, their beer list is pretty solid, they have GREAT specials throughout the week, the staff has always been pretty friendly and fairly quick, it's just a great hangout spot in Uptown! Oh, and they have over 75 different whiskeys in house. I don't even LIKE whiskey and I'm impressed with that!
(4)
Heather R.

I just visited this little gem for the first time yesterday. My friend suggested we meet for lunch, so we meet here. I have to say, I was truly impressed with the number of quality of beers they offered on tap, as well as the knowledge of the bartender. He was great at helping me switch up my beers and explore a few other options. Even introduced me to a few I had never heard of or fathomed to try. The food was delicious, but I did think for the price you get a little shortchanged on the fries with your meal. Their sweet potato fries were the shiznit. I really enjoyed them. I'm a whiskey girl, but it was a little too early in the day for all of that, so now I've got an excuse to go back. Besides, I can't wait to take advantage of the patio this summer!
(4)
Lora S.

My boyfriend and I met up with a few friends for my friend's going-away parties. I told my friend he really knows how to pick bars, because every time I go with him to a bar, he seems to know all the cool things about it, including every beer and most of the specials. This place has comfy seating and a relaxed atmosphere. Our server was helpful and friendly. My boyfriend and I didn't have too much to drink, but I had a pint of their cider which was delicious (I'm not really a beer girl). My boyfriend liked the Pils. We started with their fresh chips and salsa, which was just spicy enough for me. My boyfriend had B.O.B. burger, and I loved the grilled cheese. I forget what kind of cheese it was, but they put it on Texas toast with avocado and diced onions. I'll have to remember try that the next time I make grilled cheese. I had my grilled cheese with sweet potato fries which were good. They make them fresh, so make sure to eat them while they're still hot, and dip them in their spicy mayo. My boyfriend and I paid together, and I'm pretty sure our bill was under $30. I RECOMMEND: *grilled cheese *chips and salsa *cider I heard they have all-you-can eat mac and cheese on Wednesdays. I'll totally be back for that.
(4)
Chris C.

Bar on Buena is a lovely little neighborhood place. I wish there were more bars / restaurants like this that were a little off the beaten path. Of course, it wins huge points because its a stones throw from where I live. But beyond that it is actually a place of high merit. My favorite thing about it is the beer list. Always fun things to try on tap. The menu, while adequate, isn't particularly exciting to me. Its usually a little bit of a struggle to find something that I'm anxious to order and have placed in front of me. Its probably just a fluke, its not like there are only 3 or 4 things on the menu. But none of them really get the blood flowing. That said, I do enjoy what I order. The food quality is above what you would normally see at a bar. The place has a great neighboorhoody feel. Its got couches over in the corner, with some boardgames stacked up. Little touches like this say a lot to me. It says 'we'd like you to stick around a while, and we aren't going to hurry you out so someone else can have your table'. Which is good and bad, because it can get very busy on weekend nights. But thats really just a testament to its quality. So in the end, it wins big points for atmosphere, convenience, and beer list. Check it out on a weeknight, you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Mandy C.

I have long been searching for a favorite bar in Chicago. My requirements: Plenty of seating (this eliminates Hopleaf) Great beers (this eliminates ninety-nine percent of bars in Lakeview) Amazing food (sorry, Delilah's...I enjoy your campy vampire snuff films but not more than cheeseburgers) Bar on Buena meets all of these requirements. We were able to find a table at 9pm on a Saturday with no problem. We split the special (a pork burger) and it was amazing...bacon, cheddar, and seasoned fries, oh my! The beers were delicious, and the service was attentive (well, until our waitress left for the night around 11.) Also, they didn't kick us out right at 2am; they let us stay and nurse our beers for a little longer. It's a little off the beaten path but cabs are plentiful. You can get there from the Sheridan red line or Broadway bus, too.
(5)
James O.

Had a real nice experience here while in town and needing to kill an hour waiting for friends. I popped in just to check the place out, and grabbed a seat at the bar. I was very impressed with their whiskey selection, though I admittedly stuck to the beers (which there was also a good assortment of). The bartender was fairly friendly, and kept an eye out for my drink level. I was never without a beer. The bar is a bit noisy, but I don't really make much of that. I'd consider it a great place for a small group meetup before heading out elsewhere.
(3)
Rebecca O.

Three stars for always being crowded. Good menu. Good drink list (I recommend the whiskey flights). Service is ok, but you can't expect much bc every time I've gone it's been packed. Like, standing room only.
(3)
Brian S.

Top thing about Bar on Buena has to be it's beer selection. Never a shortage of new craft beers to try out. The ambiance of the bar is great as well...very laid back. Great hang out for a night out or for a meal in the neighborhood. The Monday night burger special is a fantastic deal! Highly recommend to everyone in the neighborhood.
(5)
David G.

Met some friends here for drinks and a burger. I was impressed with the beer selection. Best of all they had Spaten! I ordered a Burger on Buena with nothing but sauteed onions, lettuce and tomato, medium well. I got it plain, but they do have unusual options for cheeseburgers, including smoked gouda and provolone. The burger was good. There's a little corner next to the bar where the grill is, so I know they're cooking it right. The bartender told us that someone ordered pulled pork nachos and then changed their minds, so he offered it to us for free. Who am I to refuse free food? As unusual as I found putting pulled pork on nachos, I enjoyed it. It was spicy, the way I like it. I will probably go here again. My friend swore by the BOB, but I'm leery about putting fried egg on anything that isn't breakfast food. I will probably try it next time, because I know I will be back.
(4)
Kate P.

BOB - You're still the best. I love that you change up your menu every now and then and have decided to add 3 spectacular new eats. All of which are delicious, I might add. 1. Veggie Burrito - Very nice with jalapeno rice, black beans stuffed in a spinach tortilla with tomato, sour cream, and Monterey Jack cheese. Great for people who don't want meat and are tired of the veggie burger. 2. The Italiano - A great sandwich that will not leave you hungry. Served on herb Forccacia bread with freshly sliced meats, you'll be wondering why you didn't try this one sooner. 3. Jalapeno Cheese Wurst - Delicious, grilled to perfection sausage served on a soft pretzel bun with spicy mustard and caramelized onions. Goes great with all of their German beers and pasta salad. Mmm. Mmm. Mmmmm. BOB you are just too good to be true!
(5)
Chelsea N.

This is the type of bar that makes you understand how people become regulars at a bar. Lots of beer, lots and lots of beer. Lots of whiskey too. The menu is great! Everyone I have ever brought here has fallen for it as much as I have. Only minus...the service can be spotty.
(4)
Lauren D.

I am house-sitting around the corner from the Bar on Buena and have frequented it a few times now since it's close and has a great casual atmosphere and nice seating outside. And yes, I have found it to be A-OK. Their menu is definitely more interesting than your typical bar menu, but I oftentimes find myself trying to "normalize" things like a grilled chicken sandwich. I don't want any weird stuff on my chicken or any weird bread around it. (Maybe you do?) Service has been pretty spotty/ADD, but in general everyone is nice. They have daily specials which are worth checking out (something like all-you-can-eat pasta on Thursdays except I didn't see pasta on the menu.)
(3)
Michelle M.

Ok so Its been some time since I've been here but never found the time to write a review for this place. Walking in was pretty cool because its an old garage turned restaurant. Yes, there are a bunch of these places turning up everywhere but this place seems more relaxed and can I really say this a bit more cozy. I remember ordering a chicken sandwich with fries. Service was great. I enjoy this place and its not that far from home.
(4)
Evy B.

Excellent food! Also, huge selection of beer, whiskey, scotch and other drinks. I had the veggie burrito for the second time. The first time I was there I got it too, and with its great veg. JalapeÃ±o rice and ample side of sweet potato or reg. fries you really can't go wrong. (only complaint would be that they don't use fresh mushrooms...but hardly a complaint) H my hubby had the steak tacos tonight (burger w/bacon last time) and was completely happy. Solid service, great food excessive drink/liquor/beer selection makes it hard not to want to go back again and again.
(5)
Sabrina B.

I havent been here in a while - even though I live a block away. Im glad I walked by yesterday. It was pretty packed especially for a Tues night. But there was still room for us to sit outside - super cute! The food was good - great selection! Great atmosphere! Service - not good. Our waitress seemed like she was stoned, because she would look at her section of tables and look right past us and our empty glasses of water. BUT with that said, I would definitely go back, Im sure that waitress wont be there long :)
(4)
Johanna M.

Let's get away from the loud, loud Wrigelyville ruckus-- this Lakeview spot is one of my favorites. The beer selection is superb (and cheap!), the jukebox is made for singalongs (Toto 'Africa' anyone?) and The last time I was there was on Halloween and the waitstaff were engaged, in costume and friggin hilarious. We moved from a table to a bar when they closed the restaurant portion and our waitress moved our tab with us, no problem. My friend got a free mini-bottle of beer just for asking. We also avoided drooling Cubs fans on a national holiday-- quite a feat if you think about it. My one gripe is they have cancelled their live Jazz nights :( Even though it's not my neighborhood bar, it's a perfect neighborhood bar and I would be here all the time.
(5)
Samantha B.

My boyfriend and I don't drink, so BOB wasn't that impressive. We liked the outdoor seating and the service was good. The place was packed at 9:00p on a Friday night, but we were seated pretty quickly. The food was just okay, but I was happy that they supplied plenty of toppings for the burgers. Dogs are allowed to sit outside so maybe we'll do that next time.
(3)
Liz W.

I"ve been a BOB-goer since the beginning. I remember when it opened before the neighborhood had made that big turn towards gentrification and my friends and I were 4 of the 10 people there on a Saturday night. Oh, no more. Word has gotten out about how good it is and I'm pissed. I have to W-A-I-T sometimes for a table. Unacceptable. If it wasn't for their delicious beer, friendly servous and the quality of the food coming from that ridiculously tiny kitchen I'd reconsider my favorite bar but I just can't do it.
(5)
Jeff A.

Bi-polar I asked for her name but decided not to mention it here on yelp, but I think our waitress may be Bi-polar... She was very attitudinal upfront until I gave here a death glare as she was copping an attitude with one of my buddies at the table, she caught glimpse of my very unwelcoming look and suddenly found a warm and fuzzy approach which by the end of our meal had been completely lost for the frigid unhappy persona that had welcomed or un-welcomed us on the scene... but the service was fairly efficient the food was delivered as ordered and drinks and so on so I dunno I will give her 2 stars rather then one because I think treating your customers like children and someone else's children at that is unacceptable, I will move on! Ok I have not quite moved on My buddy asked for a Margarita and she attitudinally and dismissively said we don't have the stuff to make that this is more of a beer and whiskey kind of place... NOTE TO BAR ON BUENA YOU CLEARLY HAVE A MARGARITA ON YOUR DRINK MENU!!! I was trying to think how many times I have been charged for Mayonnaise in my long dining history I am not going to say never, after-all I have dined at bar on Buena before so if they charged yesterday chances are they have charged previously as well... Now I realize that they have a habanero Mayo option and one could argue that is worth an up-charge (I would not make that argument) and I also got charged for my plain un-spiced Mayo so anyway that is a one star thing to do in my opinion... Monday is 4 dollar burger night at Bar on Buena and these are great burgers and well worth the 4 bucks the sweet potato fries are what I chose but I also got to sample the pasta salad which was wonderful as well! There are many dollar burger deals around town almost every night of the week including monday night but its worth the extra few dollars for this monday night burger if you can deal with the waitress and her mental hiccups... Big Hugz and no hard feelings!
(3)
Elisabeth C.

This bar is a great during the week spot. On the weekends or during sporting events it tends to be far too crowded. However, service here is fantastic, and they carry Samuel Smith beers from my native Yorkshire, which are my absolute favorite. The Samuel Smith Imperial Stout is absolutely to die for and the Organic Lager is great for the warmer, summer months.
(4)
Erica K.

I go to BoB for the location, mostly. It's a surprisingly nice joint in the sometimes no-mans-land of Uptown. The decor is fine, they have nice outdoor seating, the beer list is good, and, though the food is your standard step-above-bar-food, the menu is diverse and interesting. The service is generally lacking, although the support staff (bartenders, bus boys, etc) have always been great. For the time being, the poor service isn't bad enough to warrant a full star deduction, but it may in the future...
(3)
Kathleen M.

When Colleen C informed us that this was one of her favorite spots in the city, I knew we were in for a treat. I totally understand her crush. Although we were only there for one drink and we were all pretty tired as it was the end of a long day, I could really get a feel for the greatness of this place. The neighborhood vibe atmosphere, in theory, shouldn't be hard to do well, but most bars miss the mark in one way or another. Bar on Buena handles it all effortlessly. Great diverse beer list, a jukebox, friendly but not bubbly service, dim and homey lighting, and various seating arrangements make this a place I think gets better and better with every visit.
(4)
Justin B.

This review is not for the bar but for the waitress named Maggie. I have been to this place 5 time and love the food and drink menu. The vibe is great except for this one waitress. Her name is Maggie or at least that is was the receipt says. I have had her 3 of the 5 times and each time we had her, there was some sort of issue. She doesn't pay attention when you need refills. We asked for our check one and said we needed to get out of there and she took 20 minutes to run the card. There was only maybe 10 people in the bar. Last night she couldn't come to our table until it was time for her to go home. Now she comes to our table 3 times before we even looked at the bill. I told her we never asked for our check and she said she was leaving she needed to get paid. I asked her to transfer the check and she said she couldn't do this. Anyways Maggie is the worst waitress I have ever had not just once but three times. This was not a review for the bar itself just one bad waitress. I will return to this bar because it is a great place but if I get Maggie again I will simply just ask for another server. I suggest you do the same.
(1)
Mark V.

I feel bad for writing this review on this restaurant because the food is actually really good. I however am writing this based off of service. I have eaten at this place 4 times, I live literally across the street and can see this bar from my window. Again I really like the food here but will never dine here again. I have received very poor service every time I have eaten here. Twice including tonight I have ordered takeout (i called ahead to order) and have waited over 15 minutes both times to receive my food. Tonight I went into the bar, a server asked my girlfriend and I if I would like a table, we let the server know we were just picking up takeout. The server informed the bartender about our takeout order and we were never acknowledged. So we waited at the bar for 15 minutes without acknowledgement before I just said let's go. About two weeks ago the same thing happened however I was by myself and I waited for my food that time. I am very disappointed with how poor service that this establishment tolerates. Bar on Buena has very good food. I just can't imagine how their management staff is alright with how poor service they provide.
(1)
Matt B.

Eggs on Burgers Is this a great idea or the greatest idea? Seriously, who thought of this? Give them a medal. The food: As mentioned, get the burger, if you are not the adventurous sort, they have a build your own burger that is delicious. The beer: This is where this place shines. They have a unique selection of micro and small brews from around the world. The service: the service seemed a bit slow but it is not from a lack of effort. I think they need to get one or two more servers when it gets crowded. Otherwise they are friendly and attentive. The scenery: Nestled under some trees (with faces, seriously) this place has a fun corner bar feal with some outdoor seating and garage door windows. The grill is along the front window and next to the bar so you know where your food came from. All in all, a cool place uptown should be proud of.
(4)
Kristin S.

Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday during last weekend's crazy thunderstorms. One broken umbrella later, we arrived sweaty and wet to huddle in the doorway. Luckily there was only one party in front of us and we were seated after only a 10 minute wait. Service was friendly, informed and attentive, even though the bar was busy the whole time we were there. Since we arrived before our friends, my boyfriend and I split the crazy burger with the pancetta and fried egg with a side of sweet potato fries. The burger was good, but I was kind of expecting something a bit bigger since it had such an ominous description in the menu. Still, it was very good and much better on my heart that it was a bit small. The sweet potato fries we had on the side were good, but I fear Waterhouse has ruined sweet potato fries for me since theirs are so damn good. These were definitely passable. Enough about the food, this place is really about the beer and I love that. The staff really knows their beer and loves to talk about it. They have a revolving beer menu that was in the midst of changing the night we were there, so it was a little sad we couldn't read about all the beers. Still, what they had was extensive and delicious. Overall, prices are a tad high for the food and the beers are expensive, but worth it. The ambiance is okay but they need to invest in more lights. It was so dark that we were holding up the menu to read by the light of the street lamps outside! Save my eyes and invest in more overhead lighting, guys! Dim is okay, so dark I can barely see my friends across the table is just weird. If I lived in the area, I'd be back again in a heartbeat, but since I have Roscoe Village Tap right around the corner, I'll probably pass. Still a great place to grab some decent bar food and a great couple of beers.
(4)
Wayne M.

I am from Seattle, but was in Chicago for a wedding recently. I went to BoB with some friends based on a friend's recommendation. The place is very nice and relaxed, just the way I like my bars. Although they have a huge whiskey selection I chose a PBR and a shot of tequila. Service was quick and prompt. Our server was little blond firecracker named Heather. She had a feisty attitude that quickly endeared us to her. She was no-nonsense but very fun! She took very good care of me and my friends. Next time I am in Chicago I will definitely make a return trip to BoB!
(5)
Double L.

Been wanting to check this place out and finally made it Saturday, early evening, with the plan to check out Game 6 of the ALCS. I think this is an awesome neighborhood bar. At this point in the year the outside is obviously closed but I could see that aspect of the place really adding to the allure. Beer selection was interesting and unique, which I really like. Food we got was pretty suspect. Food alone would have gotten this place 2 stars, beer alone would have gotten this place 4 stars so I split the difference. The chicken wrap tasted like someone strained a can of Campbell's' chicken soup and then wrapped it in a tortilla. Which is weird because the description said grilled chicken. I definitely tasted boiled and it made the tortilla soggy so that was a strike out. I liked the Sweet Potato fry option and we decided to do a mix, it ended up 75% sweet potato, 25% regular. The lady wasn't pleased. Dippin' sauce was awesome though. Back to the beer, heavily skewed toward German brews, not sure if that was an October theme or what. Either way, there will be something for you if you like beer. Awesome scotch selection as well, in addition to having some very tasty tequila choices. They had both my favorite jams and I like places that don't consider Patron to be their only top shelf because that just blows. Staff was very friendly and nice. Service was great. Bartender made sure to have the t.v. on Fox well before the rained out game was suppose to start. Nice touch. If I was in the area again I would go back for sure. RrL
(3)
Dennis K.

The Bar on Buena is the essence of a neighborhood tavern. It's done in dark hardwood with exposed ceilings and the feel is one of coziness, even by the huge windows facing residential Buena. I've always felt comfortable and relaxed there, and the staff have always been friendly and knowledgable about the alcohol and food. For some reason, I'd always tended to visit in winter for a nice porter and hot meal, but the Bar is quite suited to the warmer seasons, when they roll up the front windows (which are basically the entire front wall) and open earlier in the afternoon. It feels a lot like NoCal on those days. The beer selection is excellent: varied and dynamic, with new brews rotated in every season and one can tell that they take care in their selections. If you like high-alcohol Belgians, this is the place for you. They also have at least one single-malt whiskey connoisseur, as evidence by their more-than-decent array of scotch. I recommend the Auchentoshan 3-wood. Another reviewer noted that drink prices were high, but I think they're pretty average: $3-5 for common imports, up to $12 for specialty beers (which are often 750ml big bottles) and mixed drinks. Plus, they have specials every night like $5 call martinis on Wednesday. As for the food, I can only testify to how utterly delicious their Spicy Chicken Wrap is--it is so delicious that I have yet to order any other entree on their menu. Be warned: when they say "spicy", they mean it. The guacamole is tasty, but quite salty. The bruschetta was only mediocre the couple of times I'd tried it, but I'm willing to give it another chance. Parking is rather scarce in the vicinity, especially in the evenings. However, the #36 Broadway bus drops you off right outside, the #151 Sheridan stops half a block away, and the #80 Irving Park and Sheridan Red Line are two blocks south. Taxis are readily hailable. So I give the Bar on Buena a well-deserved 5-star review: excellent beer, excellent food, excellent staff, excellent ambiance, excellent location.
(5)
Ryan R.

Long Story short: this place is great. Great beer selection, great spirit selection, great service (ask for Julie). Favorite bar in the city. This is a fantastic neighborhood bar. I walk right by this place on my way home from work and I wanted to try it out. I got my chance on Saturday night. I went with about a dozen of my closest friends for my birthday, and we LOVED it. Our bartender, Julie, was amazing at helping us choose beers that we'd like, and she was prompt. The flights of beers are a good cross section to see what you might like. The place itself is a bit small, and can get crowded, but what bar doesn't in the city? If you like beer, and want to try new kinds, this is your bar. I will definitely become a regular at this place. So you might find a friendly yelper, with a Framboise in hand.
(5)
Nick F.

Always the best neighboorhood fare and imported tap beers. The waitstaff is always friendly without a 'tude. Seems to me that the reviews saying otherwise were probably coming in with a bad mood. Anyways. There are 2 comfortable chairs and a couch inside. Plenty of board games to play with friends. Always love the fact that BOB is less than a block away and is a staple in the Buena Park neighborhood! Thank you BOB for your awesome food, great beer/scotch selection, and awesome staff!
(5)
Sara P.

I really enjoyed this hidden neighborhood hangout. It has a great beer selection at reasonable prices. The atmosphere inside is nice too, definitely a young but unpretentious crowd. Definitely a place that is good to hang out with a group of friends. It was clean and classy, and I'm looking forward to my next beer there.
(5)
Venetta L.

The first time a stranger asked the group that I was in whether or not we had any weed for him to purchase on us, I was at Bar on Buena. Now, you can tell me that maybe I don't get out much, typically look too square to be accosted for illegal drugs, or maybe I've started hanging out with people that look like they "party", but really? In public? In front of other people? Loudly and obnoxiously? And then you continue? Anywhoosle - it's not the bar's fault, nor does it even factor into the review of them - it's just the first thought I have when I think of BoBuena. Their food is mediocre, booze prices are ok, nothing too special. I'd like to see more of this in Buena Park, so restaurateurs listen up - if you build it (in Buena Park) they will go. At least I will. Thank you.
(3)
Angela J.

Hello Dog Owner, Yes you. I don't have a dog. Yea, can you believe it? I must be sick. Not only do I not have a dog, I don't appreciate your dog sniffing my love handles and taking first dibs at my friend's meal. Yea, the puppy is cute-- but you're pretty much the equivalent of the douche bag parent bringing their 3 year old to a movie and waiting 5 minutes too long for the crying to stop. I blame myself for coming so late I have to sit on the patio, but seriously... what's wrong w/ you!? Luckily the beer was good and the spicy chicken wrap burned away the memories of many, many... dogs. -Angela
(4)
Amy S.

You know how sometimes you just keep going back to a place out of sheer convenience even though it's just "ok"? (Or am I the only lazyass who does this?) Well, that would sum up my relationship with BOB. Until a few months ago, I lived close enough to BOB to do cartwheels home, and had I not generally been so intoxicated at the time of my departures it's an option I might have considered for fun sometime. When a friend in my old neighborhood wanted to get together to catch up a couple weeks ago, she suggested meeting at BOB, and I agreed. Some things never change- the good and the bad. The bad: I'm not sure how to drive this point home other than... sloooooooooowest. service. ever. I've been to this bar no less than 50 times, and every single time I'm waiting to get a menu, waiting to get a drink, waiting to get my food, waiting for another drink, waiting for my bill. Some days I just order two drinks at a time, knowing I'll be waiting otherwise (and clearly a sign of a personal problem....hmmmm). I've been there on several occasions in which only one server was on the floor. There are probably 15 tables in there (10 or so more outside when the patio is open). You can't handle that crowd with only one or two servers. It's just annoying. Everyone I know who has been to BOB comments on this. The good: You must be thinking I'm quite an idiot for repeatedly patronizing an establishment with such appalling service, right? I know, I know. But BOB has a lot going for it! Great neighborhood atmosphere, friendly owners/managers (changed hands last summer), cute little sidewalk patio, best beer selection in the neighborhood without a doubt, and a pretty solid menu. I've tried everything on the menu at least once but usually come back to the Rosemary Chicken Sandwich with stoneground mustard and grilled apple slices. It's pretty damn good, as are the sweet potato fries. It's a given that you'll wait 45 minutes for food though. Or more. Give BOB a chance, just don't do it when you're in a rush (here's hoping that they hire more servers this summer!!).
(3)
John B.

The sign out front says The Bar. The sign does not lie. I've heard about BOB for ages, but I've never been here before. It's about a mile from my place, which puts it just out of the spur-of-the-moment range. But last night there was a gathering of friends, and I had just come out of a month long hermitage, so all the stars aligned. BOB is truly a neighborhood joint (at least on a Monday night). You could tell it was the regular hangout for a lot of the patrons, and although there were several large groups, no one was obnoxious. People have more respect for their own haunts. We were able to snag the corner loungey area -- a sofa, table, several overstuffed chairs -- so that was a plus. Monday is $3 BBK Pils night, so I had BBK Pils. Not a beer with a lot of personality, but it did the job. If I chose not to go with the special, there are pages and pages of beers and whiskeys and other spirits. Did someone say Scotch flights? Hell yes! The other Monday special is a $4 burger, so I was happy to give one a try. Not the greatest burger in town, but perfectly serviceable. The kicker was the sweet potato fries. I actually ordered the regular fries, because I've had mixed experiences with the sweets in the past. Somewhere between me, the server, and the kitchen we had a failure to communicate, because I ended up with SP fries. They were damn good. Cut to an appropriate size, so that they still have some body and a little crispness surrounding the soft SP interior. Thanks BOB! Final word: On a Monday night, with a not-too-huge crowd, BOB was on its game. I'm still not likely to come down here on a whim, but as a place to meet up with friends, I'm down.
(4)
Sam B.

The BOB is one of my favorite bars in the city and lucky me, only a few blocks away. Great upscale bar food, excellent beer/whiskey/scotch selection, and amazing atmosphere. I have to limit my intake of their sweet potate fries... and don't forget to order a side of habanero mayo if you enjoy something spicy. Decent sidewalk patio that allows dogs and for big games they pull down the screen for the HD projector. Only thing that bugs me is the lack of a lock on the men's room bathroom... kinda bizarre why they don't have one.
(5)
Stephanie F.

My burger was cooked perfectly and tasted really, really good. My regular fries, however, were just okay. Boyfriend got the pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries and both were yummy. Dog friendly patio to top it all off? I'd go back!
(4)
Luciana B.

My FAVORITE bar in the city. The whole of Chicago. Its great. Awesome service. Great specials. And amazing food. Love me some of those sweet potato fries...and the texas toast grilled cheese...i could eat it every day of the week! The atmosphere is great because its in the middle of a residential area and has a great outdoor patio. Comfy couches. Cool interior. And a weirdly eclectic group of patrons. I love it. I suggest you go here. Its truly a gem in the middle of Uptown.
(5)
Colleen C.

sweet potato fry nirvana. Enough said. Well, ok...I have more to say. Here's the trick if you want decent service at Bar on Buena. DO NOT SIT AT THE BAR. The main guy that works back there knows his shit, but is really quite nasty. I've been in this bar at least...40x as a neighborhood resident, and each and every time I've had him, I've felt belittled and bothersome. Skip it. Now, if you sit at a table...you'll get one of the gals. The chances are much better here. The service might still be a bit slow, but they are sweet and cute and helpful. Skip the bar, try to snag a table (in or out). You'll thank me. Unless like you like feeling like a schmuck the entire time you're drinking, then by all means...pull up a stool, friend.
(4)
Melissa G.

My favorite neighborhood bar! Thanks to Bar on Buena, I'm addicted to sweet potato fries(+/-). I've order them wherever they offer them, but none are comparable to B.O.B's +. great selection of quality beer +. outdoor seating in the summer +. friendly customer service from staff +. low key crowd +.
(5)
Scot G.

I love BOB. The beer selection is great and the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. The BOB burger is awesome paired with the sweet potatoes. I had the Italian sandwich last time there and was pleasantly surprised. It was almost a muffuletta but in Chicago it get's tapenade & giardiniera instead of olive spread. They have a wide scotch selection and like I said the beer is great. Plus, it's almost summertime so the patio will be open soon. Bar on Buena es muy bueno.
(5)
Leanne G.

The food is good. They have a great drink selection. The waitresses are nice and remember you if you've been there a few times. It's probably one of the most enjoyable places to go for a decent dinner or a drink if you are in Uptown especially during the summer when they have outdoor seating. The only problem is that it is very small and sometimes gets crowded because a lot of people in the neighborhood swing by for dinner/drinks. I can't complain though, because I am one of those people.
(5)
Nicholas R.

Above average food, above average service, sweet vibe. I enjoyed almost everything about this place. The only thing I can't stand is minimums for credit cards. This won't keep me from going back here but on my second to last visit I ordered a drink at the bar while waiting for a friend to join who then wanted to move over to the couches once he got there... I was informed at that time that my tab needed to be transferred and that I hadn't hit their minimum yet... If that's the case then just let me order drinks off my existing tab!
(4)
Ciel D.

I went back, and while I didn't try the food, I did have a few good drinks. Any place that serves more than one brand of hard cider (not just apple but also pear) and whose beer menu is longer than food menu is a good place. Just beware the quesadilla!
(4)
Tim B.

Fantastic beer and food selection. Not just your average local watering hole. Really great list of beers and flights to try a few different options if you can't make up your mind. We were very happy with our food as well. Above and beyond standard bar fare to be sure. Will definitely be back soon. Looking forward to enjoying the outdoor patio out front when the weather gets better.
(4)
Cat L.

Bar on Buena is a neighborhood bar at heart. You can tell from the moment you walk in the door. We stopped by for dinner and drinks with my co-workers and their +1s. One co-worker and his +1 live around the corner and love this place, and they were raving about the sweet potato fries. I'm not a gal known to opt for the side salad when fries are an option, especially of the sweet potato variety. K thought his sweet potato fries were overcooked (too crunchy), but I thought mine were mushy. Either way, sweet potato fries should be crispy on the outside, and soft and sweet potato-y on the inside. The rest of our dinner was mediocre. K's B.O.B. burger wasn't memorable, and my chicken sammich was dry, although I will give B.O.B. points for topping creativity (what's not to love about cheese, prosciutto, and apples?). The co-workers enjoyed their dinner selections, so B.O.B. did right by them. The beer selection is solid here. Not complaining about that. Nice selection of both bottles and on-taps to please every beer palate. If you're in the area, it's worth a visit for the beer, but I'd do dinner elsewhere.
(3)
Julia W.

After nearly two years of walking by and glancing in and thinking, "Wow, this place looks nice. We should go here sometime..." me and my husband finally went here tonight. Very much a neighborhood kind of bar. Nice atmosphere and friendly service, amazing selection of beers and all such other booze. The food is far better than your typical bar food. I had the caprese salad, which was very yummy, and the sweet potato fries which should not be passed up. Overall, glad to finally try it out and can't wait to come back.
(4)
Jacob J.

Nice place, dimly lit. Nice atmosphere. I was here to meet a date, we had a good time. Chocolate martinis and cocktails were made well. Bartender introduced herself and remembered our names when we left. I can't recall many times (in my drinking career) that a bartender did an intro w/o getting tips first. Food is prepared in eyesight right behind the bar, which can get noisy if you are seated there and conversating. I think I would drop in again for drinks, if I were in the neighborhood.
(3)
David S.

The atmosphere is eclectic, the wait staff is not only knowledgable about the sophisticated beer and whiskey selections available they're very easy on the eye. The food menu is one of a kind nowhere throughout Chicago have I ever had the privilege to sample bar food that's not your typical bar food. Stop in ask for Chris the manager and he'll share stories that will leave you needing to visit the restroom and, if you're lucky he'll concoct a drink that will fit your personality. I encourage any and all to visit a bar we in Buena Park affectionately call the BOB, for an experience you'll never find anywhere else.
(5)
Jason H.

Excellent! This place has many of my favorite beers of all time. My burger was solid (not phenomenal, but perfectly respectable). The bartenders were friendly and helpful at navigating the extensive beer selection. My only comment resembling criticism would be that this place is not very big and seating can be in short supply - Just get there early and expect to wait a few minutes for something to open up. My definition of a cozy neighborhood bar. I will definitely be back.
(5)
John B.

I really want to like this place, since it is so close to my place, and I have given it so many chances... I just can't, the service is sooooo bad, it is too much to get past. The food is decent for bar food, the selection of booze is good, the prices are decent, and the outdoor area is nice when it is warm outside... but the service... come on get over yourselves, horrible attitudes every time. One star.
(1)
Elaine C.

I haven't tried the food yet, but I did go for a couple of drinks. I hear the draft list is pretty spectacular (gotta love Chicago), but I opted for two glasses of wine. I had one white grape form Austria I'd never heard of, and I had an amazing Pinot Grigio from Italy that tasted just like apple juice (I'm like a 3 year old, basically.) I think the atmosphere is pretty great here. The place is huge and was filled on a Monday night. The crowd is older, looked like all locals, and made for wonderful conversation. Decent music played in the background. Our server was great. All in all, I wish this place was in MY neighborhood.
(4)
Ka T.

Went for the first time when a friend of mine who lived down the street took me here. Place had great ambiance and welcoming feel. I had the streak taco which were very tasty. i appreciated the drink specials that always helped.
(4)
Eric M.

How can a bar stand out in Chicago? Well the most obvious way, to me, would be offer the best beer possible. Bar on Buena does that and even has sweet potato fries! The beer selection here is outstanding. Not only is there are large selection of beers on tap, there's an even larger amount by the glass. My favorite part is they bring you the bottle and a glass, rather than pour it for you, so that you 1) know it's legit and 2) can take a pic with your cell phone and tell the employee of Sam's/Binny's "I want this". There a few things I wish Bar on Buena would work on and they could become the only bar I visit. 1) The lighting. I understand the "people look better in the dark" concept but when I can't read the menu of beers without smelling the menu we need a change. 2) The temp. I know A/C can cost a pretty penny but I don't want to have to take a shower after a couple of hours in a place. 3) The music. You have a pretty good jukebox and no one can hear it. Invest in some better speakers and get the party started.
(4)
Lee L.

I have been going to the BOB for several years (and even used to live around the corner). I must attribute the start of my craft beer journey to a few friendly bartenders. the BOB has the "it" neighborhood factor. There's lots of regulars, but you will frequently see first dates too. The craft beer selection is extensive, as is the whiskey. The burgers are amazing. It's an awesome place. Keep it going you guys!
(5)
margie o.

I'm going to go ahead and give the five stars because BoB holds a special place in my heart; it's where I met my boy, on NYE no less. Regardless, I've always had a good time at BoB. They have an incredible selection of beers, which are well described on their menu. Even more important, their servers and bartenders are knowledgeable about the beers and can offer great recommendations based on your tastes. The food is good, solid bar food. It always amazes me that they can put out large amounts of food from that tiny kitchen area. Baffling. The Monday night burger special is a great deal. You should check it out. The chicken sandwich is delicious. Can't remember what else I've had, but it's all been tasty. The servers and bartenders are quality. Sometimes they're a little swamped, but it's a low key place, and I really haven't ever had to wait too long for anything. It's a great neighborhood place, and all I really expect is warm, friendly service, and that's all I've ever experienced there. The bathroom. It's a single person ladies room, which kinda sucks when it's a busy night (ie: NYE), and it's not the best layout, but it's fine. It's clean and there's always TP (it's sometimes hiding up on the shelf, so if you're a shortie, look up). But ladies, really, no lengthy makeup reapplications if there's a line. Please. Multitask while you're doing your business, if necessary, but don't keep the rest of us waiting. Go here and enjoy the friendly service, solid bar food, and huge selection of beer. And maybe you'll be so lucky as to meet a fabulous boy (or girl) here. A few of my single, fabulous girlfriends hang out here, so boys, get your butts in here and snatch them up (treat them right or I'll hunt you down).
(5)
Julie Ann H.

The Bar on Buena has it all- a beautiful interior, great food, and an impressive selection of beer and liquor that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the area. They have a wide selection of craft and international beers, as well as wine, whiskey, scotch and bourbon. Their mac and cheese, veggieburgers and sweet potato fries are excellent! This is a great bar to go for serious drinkers, or just to have a delicious dinner.
(5)
Jessy Z.

We have been meaning to hit up the Bar on Buena for a while now (just moved here a few months ago) and we finally gave it a try last night. Many friends have raved about the beer selection, the scotches, and the amazing food that comes out of such a small kitchen. They were soooooo right! We went last night and the place was packed so we sat at the bar. Well, I sat and my boyfriend stood until the ultra-helpful bartender found him a seat. Let me start there - the bartender (whose name I didn't catch) was great. Chatty but not annoyingly so, knew about the beers, made some good recommendations - she was great. Moving on to the beers... this is why I personally gave it five stars - simply because they serve Val Dieu and that beer is hard to come by... and it's my favorite. They have a huge selection... you can read older reviews, I won't repeat myself. The food.... oh man! (So, the reason we went was because we made dinner and then read the newest Chicago magazine section on burgers and then realized we didn't want the fish we had made.) My boyfriend had the B.O.B burger and I had the Bar on Buena burger with mushrooms, onions, and some cheese that I am unaware of because I told the bartender to just pick for me. They were some of the best burgers we have ever had and we are very picky (this is why my boyfriend gives it five stars). When we finally decided to head home we were shocked at the price. We had 3 beers (two different drafts, 1 bottle of Val Dieu), a shot of Tuaca, and two burgers and it was 35 bucks. Wow! The atmosphere is great as well.. Bears game was on, everyone was friendly - definitely a great local spot. As far as we are concerned, this is the best place in the neighborhood - we can't wait to go back! (Note: This will probably be on Wednesday because I want the mac 'n cheese which is apparently all you can eat and they have weekly mac specials - yummm!) Oh, one more thing - they don't have dessert. Normally I would NOT give a place 5 stars because dessert is a must-have for me but this place was so damn great that I can get past this.
(5)
Gabe C.

Nice bar with a good beer selection, decent food but terrible service. Too many other options in the neighborhood with good beer selection and decent food to put up with the terrible service.
(2)
A S.

Love this place! Habanero sauce for french fries, amazing beer, whiskey flights.... Staff is fun and friendly and always so helpful and personable. Best neighborhood place.
(5)
Jessica M.

Bar on Buena is a great neighborhood bar. They have an amazing beer selection that changes with the season. The service is great and the staff is very knowledgeable about the many drink selections. The food is amazing. I have tried almost everything on the menu and have always been happy. My favorite dish is the decedent BOB burger. It comes with panchetta, a fried egg, and dragon cheddar. It rivals some of the best burgers in town. I highly recommend the sweet potato fries. My only complant is that they generally overcook their burgers a tad. An easy fix is to order your burger a little less cooked than you normaly eat. They have a few great vegetarian options and cater well to all types of people. Buena is cozy in the winter and great in the warmer months due to their small front patio area and open front windows. I am a huge fan and highly recommend this bar!
(5)
Holly B.

This is a nice little bar, good for a quiet drink. They have a great selection of beer and flights, so if you are looking for a nice place for a good drink then this is it. The food however is only so so. I was hoping for a more eclectic menu to match the drink selection, however I only found typical bar food.
(3)
Kelly H.

Fantastic beer selection, whiskey flights and sweet potato fries. What more could I ask for? The B.O.B. is a great neighborhood bar that I take all my friends to when they come visit. It can get crowded and it is a little small, but if you hang out for awhile you'll have no problem getting a seat. The food is above average (especially considering the tiny kitchen), but first and foremost, this is a bar, so of course I'm not there for the food. If you insist- I recommend the sweet potato fries and the grilled cheese. Guac + pepper jack = a winning combination in my book. Now on to the important things: the drinks. Huuuuge beer selection, and a helpful, knowledgeable waitstaff who can steer you in the right direction. Prices are pretty average for the city, and they have discounted beer too if you ask. They also have an extensive selection of other spirits as well. All in all a great local hangout with decent food, great beer and a laid-back atmosphere that keeps me coming back!
(5)
Erika G.

Why is this place not in my 'hood? Great outdoor patio, and giant open windows to sit near when the patio closes. Drinks, yes, every bar has those and they are no different here - good, cold and generous. But the ambiance, ahhh - I'll be back for that.
(4)
Andrea M.

I have been here multiple times since I live a few blocks away and will probably be back due to the convenience and beer list. The reason this is not getting 4 stars is because the food is just ok. There is nothing special about the menu and I am always a little disappointed with my meal. I have had way better hamburgers and the fries were hard and crunchy but not a good crunchy more like a stale crunchy. I will probably stick to the beer list next time.
(3)
kristen c.

One of my favorite places in Chicago. Great food. Great music. Great atmosphere. Staff is friendly and great at recommending something from their extensive beer list.
(5)
Ted T.

Hidden Fees and Committing Breach of Contract!! YAY!!!! Now, I'm no sucker. When I order a $4 happy hour burger I know I'm going to be charged for just about everything I put on it. I expect that. However, when I ask for a side of ranch or blue cheese for my fries, I don't expect to be charged. It's a condiment for Christ's sake. So when my bill came, and I found that I had been charged $1.50 for three sides, I was a little put off. When I put my card down to pay the bill, the hipster who was "serving" me notified me that they require a ten-dollar minimum purchase for credit cards. Well, as per page ten of the "Rules for Visa Merchants: Card Acceptance and Chargeback Management Guidelines," the following Visa Rules are imposed on merchant conduct: Dollar Minimums and Maximums - Always honor valid Visa cards, in your acceptance category, regardless of the dollar amount of the purchase. Imposing minimum or maximum purchase amounts is a violation. I didn't feel like putting up a fight for this, so my $8 bill just bacame a $10 bill, yielding my Jeff Tweedy look-a-like waiter a 25% tip. Also, you should know that none of the electrical outlets work in case you're thinking of getting any work done.
(1)
Liz P.

I love this place. The atmosphere it was makes Bar on Buena memorable....it's usually packed so there's a sense of high energy, but the dim lighting and decor make BOB feel cozy, swanky and sophisticated. Their drinks aren't badly priced--$4.50 for a rum and coke--and are STRONG. They give you your money's worth. I haven't had the food yet but they have some really good specials that are worth checking out. If you want to get away from Bro-town Clark Street but don't want Hipsterville either, this is the perfect place for you.
(4)
A.J. M.

A brief ten minute walk from the apt, Bar on Buena has a nice atmosphere that I enjoy backed up with delicious beers for reasonable prices per pop. My friend attests that it has the best jukebox he has ever seen. Ok. That's a start. Besides from the libations, I have not experienced their food yet. I'll get around to it. But I'll still be coming for the drinks in no time.
(4)
Jorge N.

It is local so I go there... but at times I just want to smack the bartenders... I am left high and dry... I want to get my drink on... thus at a bar... If nothing else is around we go there. The clientele is fabu, but the service is well deficient to say the best- at the bar or at a table.
(2)
Kari J.

I enjoyed this place. It's a little dark ... almost too dark to see the menus, but luckily I was close enough to the glowtastic jukebox to be able to tilt the menu at just the right angle to reduce glare ... then I squinted to clarify the words on the page :) I had a Stella and an order of the bruschetta ... It was super yummy ... The date had a burger. He had to ask for BBQ sauce for it, twice, but he really enjoyed his meal. He said that the sweet potato fries were pretty good too ... We walked in during kind of a rush, but the hostesses/waitstaff was really good about keeping us in the loop and estimating wait times. Finally we got a 2-top in the middle of the room and this suited us just fine. The bartender was kind of a $!&$, but I think that's typical. Overall, a decent time and good company.
(4)
Deirdre L.

We were here last week for Bears v. Titans. First of all, this place was FREEZING. Teeth chattering cold and we had to ask them to turn up the heat. Every time the door opened a blast of cold air sent the 3 of us shivering again. I'm sure its because of the two huge garage doors that leech heat, but come on. It was outright cold. Secondly, our bartender/server guy was friendly. Not outstanding, but once he warmed up to us he was a bit more available. Wait, we had to try to get him to warm up to us? Yes. We did. Food was ok. Yes. Just ok. Sweet potato fries were good, but I prefer Waterhouse's. Quesadilla had good steak in it but the peppers weren't nice and it just had too much stuff in it. Maybe its just personal preference, but I prefer my quesadillas a little more simple. My friends had the chili and it was tasty. I had the caprese salad sandwich and it was just ok. Bread was good, but the panchetta was tough and salty... Eh. Overall ok, but not great. TVs were old and although the projected big screen was acceptable, the picture went out several times (satellite?) and the sound was not very good. It was hard to understand the commentators of the game. Admittedly its not a sports bar, so it was a decent attempt at showing the game but still needs some work. Good drink selection. Not too pricey. Service is ok. Icy cold. 'Meh' food. Certainly not my favorite place.
(3)
Kristy N.

This place is around the corner from me and they have an awesome beer selection. Everything I've eaten here has been super yummy and the staff is generally very friendly. They have some pretty decent specials on both food and drinks every night of the week. In the summer, their patio is great, albeit a bit crammed.
(4)
Joe S.

Favorite bar in that area. I like the scotch flight options.
(4)
Penny P.

I seriously think they have the best burger in Chicago - we go more often than I'd like to admit and every time, the burger is perfect. Good beer selection, yummy sweet potato fries. Totally unpretentious, laid back, and good music on the jukebox. I can never get there early enough for a booth though....I don't get it. I swear, people must camp out for them. Can't wait 'till they open up the outdoor seating - then I can bring the puppers!
(4)
Mark S.

It's a bar, with a great beer list and good food at reasonable prices. For, what it is and what it tries to be, 5 stars. Trying to get a table can be a bear. It is worth the trouble to find parking in the neighborhood.
(5)
daniel a.

Live in area since before Bob opened. Been here more than a few times. The place has real neighborhood energy and tons of beer choice. The food has become good. Fits well off the main Broadway drag
(3)
Tyler P.

Ummmm yes please! Excellent food and drinks. Cool neighborhood, relaxed and chill place. Service has always been great! Nice beer list and specials as well.
(4)
Patrick W.

After meaning to try the BOB for about a year, I finally went in with my princess and my aunt for a nice Sunday lunch. The weather was perfect and so was the food, cooked up in "the world's smallest kitchen", though as a multiple-year resident of Lakeview and visitor of numerous apartments in the area, I can say I've seen a few that would provide a fierce challenge. The sweet potato fries are not to be missed! Chips and guacamole were a good appetizer, but I thought the guac could have been a little spicier/more garlicky. Best kept secret is the mystery beer. Order a mystery beer, and for $3 they will bring you a specialty beer (so no Miller products, etc.) that they're closing out, have overstocked, or for whatever other reason it's part of the deal. My first beer was a Chimay that's probably usually $10-12 or more in bars. I will caution that if you prefer to drink the same type of beer all day/night, mystery beer is not for you because you WILL get something different pretty much every time. Live jazz and martini specials on Sunday evenings is alluring but I have yet to give it a try. Nice place with friendly service, good food, and mystery beer. If it were 2 blocks closer, I'd be a fixture.
(5)
Yoshi Y.

this is the bar right around the corner from where i live. they have more than many kinds of draft beer, which is always much nicer and fresher than bottles, as well as malts and whiskey. what i need to mention about this place though, is that they serve 4 dollar burger on monday. this burger is no joke, but is actually a good burger with a thick patty. the atmosphere is great, it is not like those non-fashionable regular sports bar. if you want to feel like hanging around at the bar especially on monday night, this is the place to be.
(5)
Steven B.

I met my future wife here almost 2 years ago. I know, it's not a very useful review, but damn... I will always love this place.
(5)
kara m.

This is our neighborhood watering hole. Very comfortable and relaxed environment. Delicious Rosemary Chicken Sandwich and Sweet Potato Fries! That is the standard order for me. Love trying out the variety of beers and the servers are always very nice. Love the BOB.
(4)
Matt G.

I really love this place! Used to live 3 blocks away and would go here quite often. I love the charm and great atmosphere, perfect for great conversation. The beer list is pretty large and has some decent exotic options. The chips and salsa are a good option and I've never had to wait for a table. I highly recommend this neighborhood gem
(4)
Barbara D.

Hate this place, hate it. I went here last night with my girl friend and I couldn't wait to leave. The bar stools were packed, no where to sit, the rest of the bar seating/booths were empty....so we sit in a booth. The waitress comes by with two menus and gives them to us and then proceeds to tell us that the kitchen is closed and they're not serving food....Um, why did you bring the menus over to us? She storms off. I get up and get our drinks at the bar...... the vibe of the place stunk. The only good thing about this place is that both times I have been here, the bartenders have been cool....why are you cool people working in a crappy bar like Buena?
(1)
Chaviva G.

Ye olde Bar on Buena. I walk by it daily on the way to and from the El, but had continually put off going in. So the other night the boyfriend and I hit up the bar in hopes that the burger rumors were true. The nice thing about this joint was that it wasn't too smoky. I don't do smoke. And I'm counting down the days till January 1. The people in this bar are your typical young professionals, nothing special. We grabbed a tall-top table and a gal brought us our menu and we put in our drink orders. The menu was a LOT bigger than I was expecting it to be. There were appetizers, dinners, burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, you name it. But we went for the Buena Burger, the boyfriend with sweet potato fries and I for the typical fries. Both burgers medium rare. The food came pretty quick and it was about par for the course for a bar burger. The patties were frozen, as we saw when we first got there, which was a disappointment. The fries were good though, with the normal house fries having some type of spice on them, and the pickles were killer. Overall the service was quick, the ambiance was nice and not *too* loud (though my date would disagree) and the food was filling. I'd like to go back to try some of the other goods on the menu, and perhaps to hit a night when the burgers are freshly hand-packed. But maybe that's just a dream ...
(4)
Chatzy F.

They have really good burger at BOB!
(4)
Lale S.

My friend Erica lives a couple of blocks away from Bar on Buena. When she moved in she turned me onto the place. They have amazing "bar" food, a step above any other bar atmosphere ive been. They have a large selection of domestic and import beers on both tap and bottled. You can even spice up your regular choice of beer with a shot of something seasonal and flavored such as the framboise (raspberry beer). The prices are very reasonable, and in the summer they have a great patio for outdoor dining or drinking. More than a wondeful neighborhood hang-out
(5)
Jim C.

Always had good experience here. Great brews & always good food. Bartender has been friendly & knowledgeable about the beer. Watched some Bears & college football here too. Probably one of the best places around.
(4)
John G.

My friend Bill is a bartender here -- the best fucking bartender around. He'll pour a wicked Guinness and kick a terrorists' ass, you better believe it. And he'll do it with a smile. They have 10+ great beers on tap -- it's like a horn o' plenty full of malt and hops. So stop in and ask for Bill to pour you a pint. If it's to your liking, order a second. Lather, rinse, repeat.
(4)
Lynn P.

Best burger ever (with grilled onions and blue cheese)! I also recall the tacos being very good. Definitely someplace to check out if you haven't yet. I highly recommended Bar on Buena. If you need to drive (as I do), parking is sadly a challenge.
(4)
Emily S.

I love this place! It has a great beer selection and you have to love a staff that is okay with you saying "Pick me a beer". I also crave the spicy chicken wrap or their specialty burger and sweet potato fries on many occasions. The place is cozy feeling and even has a small couch lounge area. They do have a few tvs so you can catch the game while eating. Though it can be hard to hear someone talk in there so while it looks cozy, it's not always the best for heartfelt conversations. It's less than a block away from me so it's easy to end up there and have a great night out. I think I would go there more if the food menu was a bit larger. It's easy to run out of things to try and that's a bummer. Nevertheless, I love it!
(4)
Julie S.

On the inside, it is dark and cozy. On the patio, it is relaxing and breezy. No matter where you sit, it is a great place for craft beers and awesome burgers with sweet potato fries. (make sure to get the caramelized onions for your burger) I live in Uptown and I couldn't be happier that Bar on Buena is my neighborhood bar.
(5)
E M.

I guess most of the people here must drink beer because the food stinks. Hummus, yuck. Fries, yuck. Burgers, yuck. Quesadilla, ugh. I went here a lot in 2006 after I first moved here, so obviously this review is old. It was the only place in that area and it looked nice from the front but had a random and small layout that looked more like a warehouse around the bathrooms and at the back. Lots of TVs, watery drinks, non-existent waiters and old-tasting food seem to keep the yuppie crowds coming. The windows/doors/front opens up in the summer, which is always a plus. There's a reason I haven't been back since '06, but every time I meet someone from this area and mention it to them, they know it. They must be doing something right.
(2)
Amanda Z.

I've been here twice now and think it's a really lovely bar! Very cozy, the service is friendly without being intrusive. They have a fantastic beer selection, and their food is terrific. I had the burger wrap and sweet potato fries and I'm getting hungry just thinking about them! We were there on a Friday night for several hours, it seemed busy, but not uncomfortably crowded...
(4)
Running B.

I come often for the Monday night $4 burger special. Highly recommended!! The burgers are always done to perfection, try it with grilled onions blue cheese, bomb diggity! Can't go wrong with any of the sides. Sweet Potato fries are flame, the classic fries are cut super thin and so crispy good, potato salad is a birdie as well. I come back for the beer though, great selection. Staff is knowledgeable and eager to offer a recommendation. Seasonal brews are always being added... good luck finding something you've never tried. Summary: BoB is a great neighborhood hangout which is always busy but you can always find a seat..
(4)
Rock C.

Everything on the menu is super-- but the B.O.B. Burger---amazing! Best sweet potato fries in town. Great beer list, better whiskey list. One of the few places I wouldn't mind spending most of my night at.
(5)
Erin K.

Fantastic neighborhood bar. Bar on Buena (BOB) has great food and a great beer selection. It's also pretty cheap. They have a nice outdoor seating area, which makes a great place to relax after work in the warmer months. The service is great and super quick.
(5)
Allyson C.

Bar on Buena is the perfect bar for all occasions. The food is great, the servers are so friendly, and the beer selection is very eclectic. The bar has a lounge atmosphere, but it is not pretentious. It's also right between the 36 Bus Stop and the Sheridan Red Line. I would highly recommend this to anyone who asks.
(5)
J R.

My last review in the neighborhood. Great local gem. Good burgers and awesome beer menu. Ask the bartender to take down the Blatten's from the top shelf. Just try not to hit on the waitresses like I do. This place is not always ready for the party I bring to it after shows, but I have always had a great time. Awesome outdoor patio. Used to be an auto mechainc shop and the garage doors come up in the summer. Monday 1/2 priced burger. Great for a mellow dinner and cubs game on the projection screen.
(4)
Kwoky L.

BOB is a good neighborhood bar to hang out with friends and families. Right off the corner of Broadway and Buena, it is super accessible. They have a nice outdoor seating section, just perfect for enjoying your beer when the weather is nice. If Hopleaf is too far, consider BOB because they have a huge selection of beers from around the world (albeit smaller than the former), some of which are on tap. The food is just OK with your regular sandwiches and burgers. Not exactly their forte but I would highly recommend their porter marinated steak sandwich (I like it without the buns) and shoestring fries with homemade sauce. I went there one night and I was surprised that they had some people playing jazz. I would definitely go check it out again if they are playing there weekly.
(4)
Timothy N.

Went there for a beer. I want to go back. Really was a nice place, and the people were fantastic. Can't wait to make it a place I frequent.
(4)
Liz S.

I liked this place quiet a bit. It felt homey and was very inviting. The inside is dark, woody, and very English pub like. They have an extensive list of beer, very different from most bars that you may just randomly walk into. Also, I love how they have the garage door windows that they open on in the summer; nothing's better than the summer breeze. The food is pretty good, and if you like crispy fries this is the place to go. Also, a plus, the waitresses know their beer, so they can always recommend a new beer to try.
(4)
michele b.

Hooked on the burgers!!!! Medium with blue cheese...best with a nice red wine. YET the beer list is amazing!!!! Love this place, addicted, and must force myself to only visit once a week.
(5)
Jessica N.

We went here for brunch on Sunday because it was stumbling distance away and that's what we needed-- something close. First off, brunch is a little misleading, because while they do serve mimosas and bloody mary's they do not have a brunch menu. I ordered a BoB burger off the regular menu because it had an egg on it, and bacon -- pretty close to brunch. My burger was fantastic. I mean YUM. It is cooked on the grill and you can taste that flame broiled flavor. My boyfriend asked for a tuna melt and got cold tuna on toast. When he asked the waitress what happened she politely took it back, but came out with basically the same thing, and explained that there was a language barrier and they weren't getting what a tuna melt is supposed to be. She was nice enough about it, but could have offered a discount or something. Non-the-less, I think this is a great neighborhood bar and would recommend it to anyone in the area.
(4)
Mat M.

I would agree with the last posting. The burger is the way to go. I'm not a huge burger fan, but they are really great here. I get their pear cider and it is also fantastic. I'm not a huge beer fan, so this uhm allows me to look masculine! haha. I would also suggest their chips with mago salsa. Very yummy! Their service is also excellent I have found.
(4)
Eliot J.

just got back from bar on buena. been a couple times before, but i'm going to stick to the theme of past reviews of this place: the food, the beer and the service. the food: tasty and relatively cheap. quick. the beer: tons of option at a cheap price. best beer bar in the area. much more bang for your buck compared to the map room, albeit with a slightly smaller selection. (they also have a wide variety of scotches) the service: HORRIBLE. slow. rude. inconvenienced. lackluster. unwelcoming and inhospitable. if you see the overweight, over-tanned douchebag with short brown hair bartending - run, don't walk, out of the bar. you are better advised to go to goose island on clark st., which is roughly six blocks south and four blocks west.
(2)
Chad R.

Best neighborhood bar ever! If you don't live in the area... Find your own bar.
(5)
Mitchell P.

This was my second trip to what we call the BOB. There is a really good selection of beers. What's really nice about the draft beers is that they do a good job of putting your drink in the brewer's own type of glass. Both times I've had the burger which is status quo for any bar burger I've come across in the city. The major highlight is the availability of sweet potato fries...delicious.
(4)
Rebecca T.

I love this place. Yummy beers, tasty food, low-key atmosphere. Everyone here is just chillin', doing their own thing and enjoying life. Can't ask for much more than that... Oh, and the waitresses and bartenders are attentive and pleasant, without being too in-your-face. Low key vibe all around... truly a hidden gem.
(5)
Jason G.

OK so I see what everyone sees in this quaint little uptown pub. I will first say that if I didn't live in this area I would go nowhere near this bar. Upon walking in, I really liked the decor and the feel of the place it seemed very neighborhoody and almost felt like Uncommon Ground on Clark and Grace. There was not a seat to be had, so we waited for a bit. The waitstaff went out of there way to help us find a table and even accommodated us when we told them we had 3 more people coming. Unfortunately that's where the great service stopped. We were getting drinks and food. I tried the Raspberry beer (Its Belgian and has a fancier name) and it was like a melted Raspberry slushie and really thick and awful. Upon the waitresses reco for me I got a Blue Moon facsimile that was tasty. I got the burger with bacon and pepperjack cheese and sweet potato fries. Burger - A, they can cook a great thick burger and are generous with the cheese. Sweet Potato Fries - B, they were delicious but they were soggier than a Soggy from Cap'N Crunch commercials. Anyone? All that aside, I think the place is nice, but way overpriced. Certain things were just way over the top, and the waitstaff was not very attentive. We sometimes had to order things two and three things before we got them. All in all a pretty good average Chicago bar. I'll go back.
(4)
Juls M.

We stopped by yesterday around 4, and we were two of the four customers in there. Apparently, they don't serve food until 5pm, so we sat around and played "Sorry" and had a beer while we waited. So, one star for having board games. It started to get busy once it was dinner time. We ordered the chips 'n' salsa which was spicy and filled with fresh cilantro. YUM. One star. We both got the B.O.B Burger. It blew our mind-grapes. HUGE, topped with "dragon cheddar," prosciutto, and a fried egg. Hot damn, it was incredible. My boyfriend's in love. +3 stars. I ordered my burger with their sweet potato fries, but I was not impressed. They were not crispy at all. Next time I'll order regular fries. -1 star. However, I got the homemade chipotle dipping sauce with my fries, and it was so good I spread it on my burger too. Next time we go, I'm going to order the Italian on focaccia that's topped with giardiniera peppers and homemade tapenade. OR, I'll try the homemade cheese, jalapeno sausage sandwich with beer-caramelized onions on a pretzel roll. He'll probably order the B.O.B.
(4)
Jim O.

Great beer selections, burgers are great (Monday's $5 night) and love the sweet potato fries!
(4)
Kevin S.

My favorite bar in Chicago. A ton of selections. A great hang out bar with a lounge vibe without the pretentiousness of a lounge. They could turn up the air in the hot summer but otherwise a great neighborhood bar.
(4)
Steve D.

Here is another bar I forget to scribe. After the Rogers Park restaurant crawl one Sunday in March, I took the #151 Sheridan route (which at this moment had one of the CTA's new articulated buses from New Flyer having come off the #147 Outer Drive Express route which had ceased running for the day) from Howard St. to here. I ventured here because it purportedly had one of the _thirteen_ kegs of an Irish Old Ale which had been stored in an Irish whiskey barrel, which had been sent to North America. (So it got it - and not somewhere else like Quenchers or the Map Room.) The venue is a dark place. There are two flat-screen televisions subscribed to cable television {I believe RCN.} The bar takes up the east side of the room. Standing and sitting tables make up the rest. I wound up at a standing table in the center. I had the beer. It was OK. Then I discovered the 1/3rd of a liter cost $10.00. Ooof. Sorry - it wasn't that spectacular. But the beer's pricing was a harbinger of the venue. I obtained its beer menu and looked at the selections. I hope those of you who read my reviews know that I am keen to recommend venues which are good values for the money. On the "Pudgy" pricing meter, the six adjectives [| adjectival phrases] by which I classify a venue are, in the order of my preference: Superb value for the money Solid value for the money Average Profiteering Gouging Rip-off [| Highway robbery] I submit to you that the Bar on Buena is in the "profiteering" class. The most lucid example of this was its pricing of $5.50 for a 16-oz. glass of Metropolitan Brwg.'s Dynamo Copper Lager. For a venue in the City on Chicago, especially one within a cannon blast distance of the brewery, a glass of Metropolitan's beers _should not cost over five dollars_. Bar on Buena knows it has beers which its clientele could want to have. So it offers them. But it is seeking to make back its cost after only a quarter of the keg is tapped. This is an aspect which the denizens of the _Beer Advocate_ W-WW site and forum are vocal in their disquiet. Profiteering like this is what diverts bar customers to the sleazy three-dollar draft, or, if they hold to their taste standards, completely out of the bar. {"A tavern up the street has Goose Island 312 drafts for four bucks."} Bar on Buena has possibilities. But its owners need to cease these profiteering moves. Yes, it is important the bar is a financial success. But you become a destination by encouraging customers to return again and again. You are not accomplishing this with me, or with other customers like me, with your prices. Transit options: Sixty years ago, there was an "L" stop at Buena. It was also a freight exchange station for the Rapid Transit, and the North Shore Line. But the less-than-carload business dwindled to nothing, and both the service and the stop were closed. If you insist on taking the Red Line "L", you will wind up with a medium walk from either the Sheridan (north on Sheridan) or Wilson (southeast on Broadway) stations. It is located in the short block between Broadway on the east and Sheridan on the west. [_Never_ agree to meet anybody else on the corner of Broadway and Sheridan. There are _three_ intersections of Broadway and Sheridan.] I took the #151 Sheridan route southbound from the Howard "L" terminus. But that's only good on Sundays at night. Other times, it, _and_ the #36 Broadway route, runs from Clark & Devon. The #151 runs all the time. The #36 runs southbound until midnight seven days a week. Route #78 Montrose buses loop as close as Montrose and Sheridan until 9:55 pm every day. There are numerous buses running on this section of Irving Park Rd. if you want to walk the two blocks north. The more obscure routes include the #X9 Ashland Express (until 8:00 pm weekdays), and the #X80 Irving Park Express (until 8:00 pm seven days a week).
(3)
bethany s.

oho man, do i ever love this place. talk about delicious food and a great beer list. if you're a beer person you simply must go. if not, you should still go - the staff is pretty knowledgeable and they can help you get something you'll like. i'm omitting one star because the service can sometimes be slow if you're hungry/trying to get in and out real fast. also because i freaking need a killer bloody sometimes and theirs is not my favorite.
(4)
Nasya W.

I live about a block or two from here, so it is in a really convenient location (right off the red line). I didn't expect much since I had only picked this place to check out the Monday night special and it was so conveniently close to my home. After this Monday, this place gets full stars because the Monday special is great ($4 burgers WITH fries, regular or sweet potato; and $4 tasty beer specials), the atmosphere is inviting and chill, and the staff is fast, welcoming, and very helpful if you don't know your way around scotch and/or whiskey (I don't). The burger was succulent, and you could choose a cheese and some extra topping for about $1-2 extra, depending on how much you want, and it is very tasty. The beer special when I went (2/13/2012) was BBK and was crisp, refreshing, tasty, and paired well with the burger. Also, it is pretty big, so much that I was able to take half home and eat it the next day for lunch. I finished everything off with a shot of scotch. Since I didn't know much, the bartender picked one out for us served it up for us in these fancy little bell cups with the Bar on Buena logo on it. I recommend this place to anybody who likes tasty food and good specials. I will definitely be going back as often as I can afford it.
(5)
Julia T.

I like the Bar on Buena. I don't love it, but it's pretty good for a neighborhood bar. The food is spotty. Some good, some not so much. The unhealthy options are good (someone mentioned the burger wrap and I will happily second that). But I ordered a chicken sandwich sans bun (I was on a diet) and the chicken was dry and tasteless. They have a decent selection of beer and the drinks are fine. I enjoy having a drink or two either inside or near the open windows in the summertime. I have not been here since the smoking ban went into effect but found it too loud and smoky for a nice evening with friends in the past. Overall, I am glad to have this place in the 'hood.
(4)
Mateo S.

Denizens of Buena Park and even further afield, this joint is a shoe-in for your local version of Cheers. The crowd is a heady but comfortable mix seeking good times: young students, slightly older yuppies, Uptown old-timers and a smattering of gays spilling over from Boystown. Generally, there is plenty of seating: either at the lengthy bar with one of the amiable bartenders or out in the lounge where wait-service is a refreshing bonus. My favorite night of the week is Monday: $4 kick-ass burgers that are available with a laundry list of add-on ingredients (plus fries, sweet potato or regular), but every night of the week seems to offer up a deal just as generous.
(5)
Eric C.

Came here and chilled on the patio last Saturday on a perfect Chicago summer night. Had some Lagunitas IPA from Cali and the girls had Lindeman's Framboise (Raspberry beer) - a little pricey on the latter but just a very nice plang to hang out. Patio was open til midnight.
(4)
Anna Z.

i love this place. but let me get the complaints out of the way first.. 1. it's a hit or miss with the waitresses there. i would suggest sitting at the bar if you're doing a casual night with another person or two. 2. it's super dark in there! it's almost impossible to read the menus without using your phone as a flash light or the candles on the tables. it makes me wonder how that's not a safety hazard. 3. if you come friday/saturday night, be prepared for a long wait. now on to the compliments.. 1. i love their large selection of beers on tap and in bottles/cans. it's exciting to find your favorite san diego beer on tap (stone arrogant bastard, yummmm). they change their taps very often but they keep the local favorites. 2. whiskey. i love good whiskey. i am not a whiskey connoisseur, but that's what's so good about this place. they have a wide selection of whiskey. they have whiskey flights for you to try different ones to figure out what you like. thursday night is whiskey flight night, meaning a page full of whiskey flights. and you can always ask the bartenders about them. they know their shit. 3. the food. they don't have an extensive menu, probably due to the size of the kitchen next to the bar (i find that kind of cool). but i have yet to find something i don't like here. their bruschetta is different but delicious. their pull pork nachos is to die for. their fries are delicious if you just want to munch on something while having a few casual beers. 4. the atmosphere. even thought i did complain about the dark, it's very intimate here. it's a good place for a weeknight date. when the weather permits, try to sit outside. it's fun. so overall, this is a precious little gem in the neighborhood. this is not a typical bar in wrigley with drunken dbags trying to hit on anything that walks; or a hipster bar in wicker park where everyone competes to look weird; or a fancy dancy river north bar. this is a neighborhood bar for normal people that drink because they like to drink.
(4)
Russ S.

A great gem for the area! I live in Sheridan Park and a friend of mine suggested BOB as it was right next to him and he always said it was great. Well, I'd have to agree. They have great beers there and I enjoy the environment. It does get loud which isn't a big surprise and I'm looking forward to them getting the outside seating going soon (Today would be perfect!). I still need to sample their menu options more. I have had a sandwich there and it was real good...no complaints there. So, come on up and have a beer! Meet some local friendlies. :)
(4)
Lauren S.

If you're looking for great microbrew on tap and in bottles this is the place for you. The servers or bartender will help you pick and bring you samples if you're not that sure what you want. The bar serves bar food in every sense of the word but it's pretty tasty. Since there are a considerable lack of true beer bars in the city this is definitely worth the trip.
(5)
Krys J.

Favorite! There is absolutely nothing wrong that this place can do in my book. Being within a few blocks from my place, Bar on Buena has opened its door to me on many cold and late nights over the years. The perfect lighting accents the cavernous, wooden booths that suck you into all-night intimate conversations. The draft selection is always great and $5 martini Thursdays are high on my agenda. The food isn't bad but it is also prepared in the smallest kitchen...literally behind the bar. This place is truly so warm, cozy and inviting you would think that they had a fireplace...then again it just may be the Great Lakes Winter ale that has led to some hot nights when it was just too brutal to go back into the cold.
(5)
Zach R.

Stopped by on a Saturday afternoon right after moving into my new place. Good atmosphere and great beer and alcohol selection. Limited options with respect to food, but everything we tried was really good. Our sever was very knowledgeable about all menu items and made some great food and drink suggestions. I would especially recommend the guacamole.
(4)
Minh T.

This is the kind of bar that lets you enjoy the company of the people you're with. No overly aggressive frat boys or inappropriately dressed sorority girls to be found here. Everyone seemed to be relaxed and in a good mood. The music was good overall - no Miley Cyrus, thank God. I will say that the jukebox is a bit unreliable. I put in my two quarters to hear Gold Lion by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which never played. It's a shame, but a minor complaint compared to what was an otherwise great experience. Also, the drink selections were good and so were the sweet potato fries. My friends and I will definitely be back.
(4)
Erik B.

Since moving to this new neighborhood I have been on a search for a new local. I stopped in at Bar on Buena a couple times so far. Their prices are reasonable, their beer list is very good, the bar has a cozy feel but for some reason it doesn't really make me want to return. Now I probably will because of location but not as often as I could. The main problem is the service. The waitstaff is very slow and have a haughty attitude. That seems to be the main reason I don't want to go there. I have not eaten here but will try their food soon enough. It seems like standard bar fare made in the tiny open kitchen next to the bar.
(3)
Katie S.

I live just across the street from this bar and have frequented a handful of times. I am a fan. Good burgers with most fixings that you would enjoy. I just recently dined here and the service definitely was not bad... But I think she could have been more attentive. The server said she didn't hear me when I had asked for cheese and she gave me too much money for my change... About ten dollars over. Being the kind person that I am I told her, and she was very gracious for my honesty. The burger was great, and the sweet potato fries with jalapeno dipping sauce was phenomenal.
(3)
Donovan H.

I was looking for somewhere to watch Da Bears game yesterday and found this place on yelp. Based on the reviews, I decided to give it a shot. The place was great. They have a huge beer and liquor menu and I had a $3 bloody mary and it was very satisfying. Both my friend and I had the burger with smoked gouda cheese, delicious!! I will be back.
(5)
Ray B.

This bar has one of the best beer selections in the area! Loads of european brews that are all on draft. If you're a big fan of miller lite, don't go here. Half of their menu is dedicated to providing a description of their beers, complete with alcohol content and a brief history of where it's brewed. Want a Samichlaus (the Swiss word for Santa) beer with 14% alcohol? You can get it here! Watch out though, it's so strong you're limited to two per person. The food is nothing to write home about, but - as other reviewers have mentioned - the sweet potato fries are like fried crack.
(4)
Ashley S.

Bar on Buena... the only place of business on Buena, I believe. They have some great beers and they make their cocktails nice and strong. They have a burger special on some weekday night, I can't remember which. But you can get a $5 burger (HUGE) and fries (potato OR sweet potato, which I LOVE) and I'm hardly ever able to finish the meal. For us vegetarians, the menu also offers a veggie burger, hummus, guacamole, veggie pita, and some salads and a couple other dishes that are quite tasty. I really like all the bartenders and servers too! They're all really nice, especially if you start up a conversation or try to get to know them more. P.S. Make sure to check out the juke box! It has some GREAT music!
(5)
Lily P.

Bar on Buena, (BOB, for short) is like another member of the merry band of misfits that are my friends. It has seen us through dates, breakups, makeups, birthdays, and goodbyes. We initially came here for the great import beer list, but kept returning for the feeling of comfort that the places exudes. The staff is small and seemingly loyal- there isn't much turnover. This translates to familiarity; if you're there more than twice, they'll likely remember you. They are incredibly knowledgeable about their offerings and will not hesitate to make a suggestion if you need help deciding what to have. The food is great, (I'm reminded of my summer of sweet potato fries addiction) and thoughtful in that it offers options for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. If you're a salad person, try the Chef's Salad. It inspires food envy. If you haven't met BOB yet, go and introduce yourself. I'm happy to share my friend.
(5)
LeAnne K.

The first time my boyfriend and I came here was on accident. We were walking to Holiday Club for Sunday brunch and saw BOB, so we decided to give it a shot. I had to work that night, so no booze for me. Their coffee wasn't ready, but the bartender let us bring in our own. I had the mixed green salad with tuna steak, which was amazing. We found a shiny little corner in the garbage pile that constitutes the majority of our beloved Uptown. Please try the hummus/tapenade appetizer, served with hot, fresh pita. I am also a huge fan of the grilled rosemary chicken sandwich on ciabatta. I am not a burger fan, but my boyfriend is. He loves the burgers here, and he recommends getting one with cheddar, bacon, and grilled onions...he's yet to try the BOB signature (complete with fried egg). He and I are almost always there on $4 burger night (Mondays). He is also a fan of the giant whiskey selection. My only qualm is that Robyn Marfurt is no longer bar tending there. She introduced me to the Gruner Veltliner, my new favorite white wine. But it's alright...she's now the executive chef at Fountainhead on Damen and Montrose. Way to go, Robyn! We will come to see you soon!!! I enjoy this place so much, I decided to write my first review on it!
(4)
Jon K.

Sweet potato fries are great! Also a staff with a knowledge of beer is definitely a plus. BOB burger is the best!!
(4)
Jacob B.

Beer selection is fantastic, food is even better, and I have yet to experience better service in the city. If you haven't ate and drank at the BoB, you haven't ate and drank.
(5)
Bobby K.

This could possibly be my favorite bar in Chicago. The food is tasty and the beer selection is great. Plus it never seems to be absolutely useless when there's a Cubs game on, which is rare for that part of town.
(5)
Billy O.

Although it's not my fave bar, it is indeed a good neighborhood bar. Cozy, wood interior, with decent food, only two televisions, and decent music to boot! Music is super cool on Sun nites with live music! Laid back, but not so much you wonder where the staff is, you'll always be able to find a tasty beverage to go with the munchies, and then some! Outdoor seating in summer is shaded, which is bonus come August. Just north enough to miss MOST of the Cubs crowd when they start their post-game migrations.
(4)
Jon J.

One of my favorites- a quality selection of beers on tap, a friendly crowd, and an EXCELLENT jukebox. Only drawback is that it gets drafty in the winter!
(4)
Ali R.

I Love B on B! Unfortunately my move awhile back has prevented my near daily trips. Although I must mention my romance with B on B continues, I will drive the 15-20 minutes just to visit and ensure my first Chicago love has not forgotten about me and not taken on to many new mistresses. This is a hidden treasure of Buena Park. Beware if you are a fan of domestic bad tasting beer please leave the seat at the bar for someone who does not partake in such things. The beer selection is top notch don't forget to try the Chambly Noire. I used to walk in and most nights my favorite server who I must mention always called me by name and remembered what I wanted to start. If Chambly Noire was on tap it would be that and a spicy chicken wrap with SWEET potato fries. B on B I know you are longing for my return, I have not forgotten you just wait, I'm a coming back soon!
(5)
Christian H.

I found the atmosphere of this bar and grill to be a very nice a calm sit down place. The waitress was kind and helpful in assisting me on what to order from the beer menu. I was very pleased with the food and the beer. The windows were opened allowing a cool breeze to blow into the dimly lite room adding to the calmness of the place. I truly enjoyed my time here.
(4)
Chris T.

Bar on Buena sports a fantastic draft selection as well as some great sandwiches. I would recommend their burger with one of their hoppier drafts. The prices are fair and it is a very cozy bar for a weekday date. They are never packed and are the epitome of a fantastic neighborhood joint. A wonderfully spicy bloody mary will compliment a fantastic lunch there as well.
(4)
e e.

my new favorite bar! after moving to buena park, a co-worker RAVED about this little bar... and now im doing the raving! ive gone a couple times with my boyfriend- for dinner and drinks. and also brought my family on a recent visit. perfect for both. the menu is diverse enough for everyone to find a little something to eat- and so far so good on everything ordered! drinks are good and cheap(for the city) outdoor seating is great with really no traffic zooming by. LOVE IT!
(5)
Mandy S.

I was a bit worried at fist because the bar seemed small and crowded for the group of 15+ about to arrive. However, the fabulous bartender, Julie, took care of our group for the night. She was knowledgeable about all of the beers and whiskeys (which come in some pretty amazing flights) on the menu and even offered the first arrivals a round of pineapple upside down shots. My group of friends loved this place, even commenting that this bar may be "our Mclarens" (HIMYM reference). It is a great neighborhood bar. A few of us also tried the sweet potato fries which were delicious. Definitely will be back again!
(5)
T M.

I'm impressed by any place that has on tap a pilsner I've never before encountered (Veltins) and serves it in a half-liter glass for a reasonable amount of money. I don't think this is a hard standard to meet, and yet, with the craze surrounding ales (pale and Belgianesque) and the neglect of other beer varieties, I am often disappointed. I also appreciate that this alcohol imbibery also has a rather good selection of scotch and cognac. I'm not a fan of gigantic television screens, but I suppose that's only natural considering you can hear the sounds from Wrigley. The tee-vee is less dominating if you sit in the very nice outdoor area.
(4)
Lauren G.

I found Bar on Buena on Yelp and decided to give it a try before seeing Smashing Pumpkins at the Aragon (rocked!). BoB did not disappoint. The crowd was a little older and more chill that I'm used to on the west side of the city. It was a cozy atmosphere for sure and my date enjoyed a little football on the big screen. Nice beer and cheap wine-by-the-glass selections. We ordered two burgers - the meat was delicious and cooked as ordered. The sweet potato fries are the best I've had in a long long time! Our waitress was nice and no-nonsense, which I appreciated. I will be back when in uptown!
(4)
Robert S.

I've had a wonderful time here every time that I've visited. Excellent beer selection- Unibroue, Delirium and more great beers on tap here! The bartenders are fun and service is great. The staff will hang out at the bar after work and chat with other servers from the area that come in for a drink after work. Bar On Buena is also probably the only jukebox in town that has TWO copies of Radiohead's "The Bends" album in it. I asked the bartender why, but I can't remember what she said, other than that it was intentional. (Too much DT.) Hamburgers are borderline gourmet here, and the sweet potato fries are outstanding! The crowd here is a more upscale for the neighborhood, and most friendly and chatty as well. Definitely a bar that one can feel at home in.
(5)
Randy W.

The sweet potatoe fries are the beat thing ever. Great beer list and always changing
(5)
kelly c.

BOB should be the blueprint for every neighborhood bar. Dark lighting, great outdoor seating, a staff that won't quit (they've been there for forever!), decent food and beer selection. BarOn is just always comfortable. They have daily specials, and recently I went for there for the Tuesday, $6.95 plate of all you can eat pasta. All you can eat homemade macaroni and cheese, chorizo is optional. Dude, AYCE Mac n Cheese, are you for real? Oh yes. It was not bad. Actually, BOB has never provided me with anything on the level of amazing, but it's always above average. This might just be Chicago's answer to England's neighborhood pub.
(3)
jeff m.

A good spot for "Beer Club" A good variety and it is close to where I live.
(5)
Caroline T.

I lived in Uptown (on Buena, actually) for almost 2 years, and Bar on Buena was, by far, my favorite neighborhood hangout. Of course, if you know Uptown, that's not really saying a lot, but my friends and I have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and bachelorette parties all at this place. It's low key, always has a sporting event on tv, good selection of beers (if you're into that), and most importantly, a minimal douchebag contingent. Oh, and did I mention the best freaking sweet potato fries in the world? I was going to subtract a star for the loud music (as others have mentioned), but I don't live in Chicago anymore, so my nostalgia is giving back that last star.
(5)
Alex T.

A great selection of beer at excellent prices. Wonderful dark-wood atmosphere. Not too smoky. Sweet potato fries! That basically sums it up for me at this point---as it stands, it's my favorite bar within walking distance, by far. And incidentally, it's also the closest (aside from Nick's Uptown---shudder).
(5)
julie s.

OK, i work here so i am super biased. BUT, some info that will be helpful to you: i love working here for 2 reasons: 1. never in my bartending career have i been so well educated on the finer points of beer and booze. this is a place where people come to appreciate and maybe pick up a cool fact or two about what they're throwing down their throats. 2. it is such a chill, friendly, meet your neighbors, kind of spot. i don't live in buena park but i feel much more a part of this tight-knit little community than i do in my actual diggs. the people here are from all walks of life and vastly different but they all get along great and share a lot of heart for their hood. its awesome. so, if you are already my BOB friend, ill see you soon and if you haven't been by yet, you'll have to stop in and introduce yourself. sincerely, your bartender, -JULIE
(5)
Philip K.

If you live in this ambiguous zone where East Lakeview and and Uptown converge, you'll appreciate this gem of a Bar on Buena Avenue, just west of Broadway. I used to live just minutes away from this place and didn't take advantage often enough of the relaxed-yet-classy atmosphere, excellent bar food and selection of beers on tap. It's especially enjoyable in the summer-evenings, when the big windows are open. Cool Chicago summer breezes (or stagnant humid air) and nice cold beer--good match.
(4)
Greg W.

Visited this place for the first time over the weekend, and while it initially seemed like much of the same, I was impressed by the selection, the service and the tunes. It has the appearance of many similar pub-style places on the north side, but being in this neighborhood makes it a lot better. Patrons feel appreciated, and the place wasn't crowded and obnoxious like other pubs in LP and Lakeview. The neighborhood reminds me of Brooklyn, and there are a couple side streets nearby with really cool mansions that are worth a stroll for those unfamiliar with the area. BOB's beer selection is way good. I hadn't seen (Belgian brew) Hennepin at a bar in months, on tap, though the glass it was served in was smaller than I would have liked. I tried the lighter Radeberger, in a conspicuously tall glass stein, and stuck with that--a good deal at $5. Didn't try the food, but the menu looked to be a bit more interesting than a lot of bar/grill places. Reading other posts, I knew I should have tried the sweet potato fries. Oh well, next time.
(4)
John W.

It gets pretty crowded on weekends, but the table turnover rate seems pretty good, so you shouldn't have to wait more than 15-20 minutes for one. In the meantime, you can get a head start on drinking at the bar. The ambiance reminds me of a place that was built around the beer, and everything else was an afterthought. Their service isn't exactly sterling, and while they do have some unique food offerings, it's just bar food. It's all about the beer, and I like that kind of focus. The beer is why I keep going back here. If they improved their service and figured out a way to seat more people at one time, I would give this place five stars hands down.
(4)
Chris M.

Great neighborhood bar. Good food, great beer selection. The sweet potato fries are delicious :)
(4)
Brandi M.

Ate here several times while visiting my sister. The beer & wine selections were impressive, the food surprisingly decent. Our faves include the pulled pork sandwich, burger & sweet potato fries. Loud, but convivial vibe; probably not the best if you've already got a headache.
(4)
David W.

I must be one of the only people who doesn't love this bar. I always find it's more expensive than I want to pay, the selection isn't as good as I like (and doesn't rotate enough, so now I've tried all their beers), and the food is mediocre considering the high price tag. Go to their sister bar, Fountainhead, on Montrose and Damen instead. This place always gets super dark at night (lit only by single candles on the tables) which means it's difficult to hang out there and catch up with friends.
(2)
Bev h.

this is the place for good beer and good conversation. a great selection on tap, and pretty reasonably priced at that. very cozy pub feel inside. last night they were playing the presidential debates on a giant projector screen. the service was a bit lackluster, but nothing to get bent out of shape about- just order another beer when you're about halfway through your current one. too bad it was raining, because they have a super cute sidewalk patio that i've been meaning to try.....
(4)
Michelle L.

I've been going to Bar on Buena for a couple of years. The food is pretty good. I recommend the caesar salad. The drink list is nice, as is the ambiance. However, going there anytime past 8 is sometimes difficult. It's usually not TOO hard to find a table (except on the weekends) but waiting for one is a joke. The servers seem so harried that they seem to forget about you the moment you tell them you ask them if any tables are available. I still try to stop by every once in a while.
(4)
preeti v.

This place is a regular hangout for my friends and me. Food is great, drink menu is amazingly long, and the atmosphere is awesome. :) We've even seen families eat here on the weekdays. But careful, this place does tend to get packed on the weekends. So to not wait, make sure to get there early. Oh and love their sweet potato fries.
(5)
Missy T.

Great place for dinner and drinks. If you're a regular and tip well the two good waitresses (blondes) will take care of you during your whole visit. However avoid getting the brunette chick, she spends most of the time spaced out, or flirting with the bartenders.
(4)
Mark T.

For an Uptown local, i'm sure BOB is an oasis of mainstream cuisine and decent beer/whiskey. For me the hostile service, burnt sweet potato fries and ho-hum food was not much to be excited about. I might be back if I find myself stranded in Uptown, otherwise, not anytime soon.
(2)
jeff V.

perfect place for a chicago winter
(5)
Ross F.

Nice beer and wine selection to go with a varied menu. The service was good and there seemed to be a bunch of regulars along with a few couples meeting up for a drink. I was there during the day so I don't know what the night time crowd is like. Definately worth stopping in for a bite to eat, a drink or to watch a baseball game. Probably not worth driving in from Indiana or whatever but a cool neighborhood bar.
(4)
Carrie H.

Great neighborhood bar, and in general if not from the area. Food is good, atmosphere great, and has one of the greatest changing beer selections on tap around!
(4)
Wendy S.

Now that I live in the neighborhood... I see myself frequenting Bar on Buena much more often! Sweet potato fries get me every time and the burgers are great! The only reason is didn't get 5 stars is because we wanted to chill out a bit more, and the music was SO loud we really had to loud talk to hear each other! We'll pick a seat closer to the windows next time and maybe the experience will go better!
(4)
Mike F.

The BOB is a great place to hang out. Beautiful decor, more beers on tap than I knew existed. It's a great place for a date, hanging out with friends or even entertaining clients. The owners are usually there and are always gracious. A very fun place to be.
(5)
Carolyn B.

Gorgeous bar. I stumbled upon it a couple of years ago and it's been my go to ever since. Amazing beer menu, fabulous BOB burger, lovely lovely, lovely staff
(5)
Taylor K.

Buena has one of the best burgers in Chicago (get it with the beer caramelized onions). My buddies and I usually go on Mondays for the 4$ burger special. We usually sit at the bar and from my experience the bartenders have a great understanding of the excellent beer selection.
(5)
Marisa F.

I have a special place in my heart for BOB. Everything about this place is just awesome, from the impressive beer list to the fantastic sweet potato fries. I'll even add an extra star since BOB is in walking distance from my apartment.
(5)
Emily P.

love the BOB! good food, relaxed atmosphere and the jukebox makes me happy. can get pretty crowded on weekends though...so plan accordingly as it is a small space.
(4)
Justin H.

good atmosphere and good beer, what could be better? well, the lack of the douche baggery that fills this place on weekends and after cubs games. if they all died, i'd like this bar, and the servers are bitchy and sassy, but in a good way, trust me
(3)
Katya C.

This is a cute littlle Uptown gem, one at which I feel comfortable bringing and book and having a couple of beers on the patio by myself. The service is okkkaaay. I think they have a "3 visit" rule or something on coming to your table, and that includes taking your order, bringing your order, and taking your money away to the cash register.
(4)
Ryan M.

Great neighborhood bar with quality food and great atmosphere. Had one of the best burgers in town there. Only reason for 4 and not 5 stars is I like American microbrews and they are heavier in the import side. If I could combine Sheffield's beer list with BOB's food and ambience it would be perfect.
(4)
ryan h.

best bar in the city, hands down. everything about this place is great. awesome food, awesome staff (especially robin and lindsey), awesome beer selection, awesome ambiance. some reviews say the service is slow but i've only experienced that when the place gets PACKED (which it does often), and it wouldnt be so packed if the service was bad. they could probably use a couple more servers on the weekends though. absolutely get the B.O.B. burger with the egg. i prefer bacon to pancetta, because pancetta tends to be a little fatty, but tomato tomahto. the only thing on the menu to steer clear of is the burger wrap- they could definitely replace that on their limited menu. regardless, i never get tired of the food, and it's downright dependable every time. the patio is great during good weather, and it's dog friendly as well. this place keeps me from moving out of the neighborhood.
(5)
Danielle F.

What she said.
(4)
Eric W.

I had a special mid-week date planned with my wife and we ended up at B on B. In the past we've gone for drinks and were always impressed by their MASSIVE selection of beer and whiskey. Tonight, we decided to dine in and try out the food. I ordered the spicy chic wrap and it was the funkiest chicken I've ever tasted. At first bite I knew something was messed up, but I continued to eat and try to identify which of the many flavors was screwy. The majority of the wrap was pretty good, but the chicken had a fowl taste of skunk all over it. I told a waitress (when we finally saw one), and she kept asking me "So what is wrong with it?". I said it was hard to explain but something was seriously funky with the chicken. She rolled her eyes and showed up later with a check that had a 25% discount off the dish. Seriously, don't order the spicy chicken wrap from B on B. I would go back just for drinks, but am having a terrible time trying to get rid of the taste and smell of that chicken wrap. I'll update this review if food poisoning follows............ but I think/hope it was just really bad cooking.
(2)
Kate G.

I am so glad to have discovered this place. I really like sitting outside and enjoying their immense beer list and sweet potato fries. The burgers are decent but if you like them medium, order them medium rare b/c burgers get a tad more cooked than typical bar burgers. The spicy chicken wrap has huge jalapeos on it, so only order if you are ready to sweat. We almost always have the same waitress and she is really attentive--- great service!
(4)
Brad B.

The service sucks, sorta....but, its a cool place. The couches in the front are a great place to spend a satruday evening when its snowing.
(4)
Rice D.

Went there on Easter and really liked it. Went back last week and wasn't impressed at all. First of all, we sat down at 11:50 (bar time, it was actually closer to 11:30), and the waitress told us that they stopped serving tables as of midnight. She must have had a time machine. That's fine, I can go to the bar, even though it's packed with weirdos, but it's just lazy to stop serving ten minutes early, especially since every other table around us was being served until they left. We made the cutoff time, albeit closely, but made it nonetheless. I understand the purpose of a cutoff time, but don't cut it off early. Also, their website stated $3.50 call its, including Kettel One, which is a great deal. Well, when we arrived, the sign outside said "$1 off call its"; not such a great deal anymore. Oh well. We both ordered bloody Marys, and they were $7 each, WITH SMIRNOFF VODKA!!! On top of that, the bartender seemed like we were interrupting him from doing something, I don't know what, but he seemed kinda annoyed. Kind of reminded me of the feeling you get when you meet your girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. Restrained animosity. Also, people rave about their beer selection, but really, who cares? You can carry 2,000 kinds of beer, and I'll still probably only order one I've never had, and when that sucks, I'll order a vodka soda or a Harp. Am I supposed to be impressed that the manager knows how to order things? I'm not, because on Easter, they were out of the first two I wanted to try. Does the manager only order one of each?
(2)
Kathy M.

This bar is within easy walking distance of my son's new place, so we had to give it a try. Everyone wants a neighborhood joint they can call their own, right? The ambiance was very casual and laid back and it did have a good neighborhood feel. The burgers were very good and seem to be what most people order. I had the Antonio burger and it was very flavorful. Before ordering, I asked our waiter about some other choices and he kept saying I should really consider the burgers because that's what they are known for! Message received and that's what I did:) Our group was a little disappointed with the sweet potato fries just because they were a little mushy. However, the regular fries came out crispy and good. Overall, I know we will try this place again when we are visiting and my son said they would definitely be back for another round of burgers.
(3)
Teal R.

Great food and great drinks selection. The burgers are amazing! The atmosphere is relaxing and a great local spot.
(4)
Laura L.

Fine, just fine. The Bibimbap was delicious and thank you for having it on your menu because it was the first time I had it. I'm glad they've improved their menu, but the staff was a bit snooty about my drink order (I came in asking for a type of drink and they were not too creative in helping me get it) and our appetizer was never delivered. I wish I loved this place. It's so convenient but pricey and just always a let down to some degree
(3)
Jamie H.

I came in here on a rainy day during Spring Back last year with a handful of friend. It was a decent place to stop in for a drink. We didn't stay long, but the bar tender was friendly and the drinks were fine. I can't say anything for the food, but it was a decent place. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again, but if I was in the area I'd stop by for a drink
(3)
Carolyn G.

Just went there for the first time last night on a friend's recommendation, and we were not disappointed! I liked the atmosphere of the place--just seemed like a pretty cool place to hang out--and even though it was prime time on a Friday night, we were seated right away. Usually bars get flack for not having great food service, but once we decided what we wanted, it came out quick as you like. I got the BBQ burger, which had amazing flavor with the hickory smoked bacon and paired nicely with their on tap Welsh cider. Even though I wasn't able to finish the entire burger, it was an amazing food experience. As for the drinks, while B.O.B. definitely plays draft beers as their main, there seems to be a drink there for everybody, whether you're into beer, wine, or spirits. If there hadn't been a cider on tap, there were a few cocktails that had caught my eye. All in all, it was a great experience. My only suggestion would be to arrive before you're actually hungry if you have a group and want to all sit together. Hopefully I'll find myself back there soon to try their different menus and drinks. Additional note: it can get very loud, especially during the dinner rush or if there's a game going on, so it might not be the best spot for conversation.
(4)
Eliza M.

I called BOB a week before our group planned to come in for lunch after the baptism of our son at the nearby church. I was told no they don't take reservations and no we couldn't come in before their Sunday open time of 11:30. That was fine and the nice lady on the phone said she could take care of us. Great! Flash forward to the next Sunday. Our group arrives at 11:30 and the waitress pokes her head out the door to tell us they weren't serving food until noon. This was disappointing to hear as we had people in from out of town and now had to trek elsewhere to feed them. We headed to Lady Gregory's who accommodated us almost immediately with better food and service than BOB and also free plentiful Sunday parking. It all worked out in the end but after being long time customers of BOB, this left us annoyed.
(2)
Aline S.

I wish we have more bars who serves food that makes you happy! Buena is a charming local place perfect for a week night! Burgers or wraps are good choices!
(4)
Ryan P.

I consider this my corner bar. I love going here for drinks and their tap list is quite extensive and full of great selections. They aren't badly priced and they also have a great selection of whiskey and bourbons. I have yet to get the food here, but everything looks and smells great. It seems to be that of a first date bar for a lot of people too. Great people watching on that fact. Staff and bartenders are always really nice here as well.
(5)
Jul N.

Only been here once, and it was for unlimited mac and cheese!! A good deal if you're a) really hungry, and b) a big mac and cheese eater. Similar to the macs at Northdown, SmallBar, or Kuma's Too, the one I had here was creamy and mild-cheesy and over cavatappi. The service was quick on the night we were there, and the beer list looked decent (though I was too full on mac and cheese to drink much, admittedly). I guess the mac and cheese changes week to week, so I am certainly going back.
(4)
Joe U.

Beer selection is fantastic, food is underwhelming. They will have something on draft or in a bottle that you'll like. As for food, the burgers have always been pretty good but almost every other entree I've had has been ok at best. Try the sweet potato fries as a side, amazing!
(4)
Jenna K.

I've never had a bad food experience here. The tacos are great. We tried the chili tonight and was pleasantly surprised. It arrived at the table encircled in tortilla chips and was so full of flavor. Even the black bean burger was great. And I was blacked out during consumption of that. But if I remember anything during that day..it was that burger. The downsides: service is not great. At all. And they are out of a lot of their beers.
(4)
Eric L.

This place is a really great neighborhood spot. It's really comfortable, great good, reasonable prices and has a really nice outdoor seating area (dogs allowed!) when the weather is nice. I like the mixture of seating options from comfy couches as well as tables, booths and bar. Staff is always friendly and an extensive selection of liquor and beer. Wine selection is small but a few good options as well. Most of all I like the "neighborhood feel" of this place.
(4)
Candice G.

I came here semi-frequently back in the 2007/2008ish era and have some fond memories of drinking (a lot) at the bar followed by fond memories of not remembering a lot of what happened at the bar. Nothing too unsavory, I hope, but there was definitely one time that involved this being the first and last stop of a sort-of-neighborhood-pub-crawl where I had to use the mini patio fence to hold myself up while I barfed into the street... there might have been people at the patio tables while that down. Sorry, people. They really shouldn't have let me back in after that, but because the people of the BoB are a kind, forgiving people, I was able to show my face again there after a week or two's time had passed, and I could be sure the rain had washed away my yack and was no longer living on their curb. Now that I'm older I like coming her for more than just getting crunk and not so fabulous. For things like french fries. And friends. And some other stuff, too. Like this: ** It's dark, so even when you don't look so good, you can still fake lookin' pretty good. ** Movies played on the overhead projector -- last week it was Big Top Pee Wee, which I'm a Big Top fan of. ** Beer selection is bomb. It's still cool to say things are 'bomb', right? ** Cocktail menu ain't too shabby either. ** Comfy booths, though it can get pretty busy up in this B. ** There's only one women's bathroom, so you know you'll always make a friend or two waiting in line. ** Really great crowd. Not at all douchey. This isn't my neighborhood, but it really is the perfect neighborhood bar regardless.
(5)
Marta P.

Ditto on what has already been said. Nut shell review- great food, even better beer, but service needs some work. I've been coming here since the place opened. But since then, I've also had 2 kids. We came on Father's Day, no high chairs, which I understand, sometimes you just want to go somewhere without screaming kids, but lunch on a Sunday? And they also wearnt really accommodating. I see a brunch item with guacamole, but I can't have chips & guac? I think in order to have long term customers they need to be able to adapt a bit. I always come back here for the burgers and beer and saw they also now have Pozole on the menu!!! I feel like as a neighborhood bar, they have been innovative with the food, and were one of the original great beer bars, before that even became a thing. I'd come back more often if the atmosphere would warm up a bit, from the service to at least having a high chair. Just because I'm older doesn't mean I don't want a burger and fantastic beer.
(4)
Rick B.

I have to agree with James F. Review about the wait staff. They just come across as if they are doing you a favor by waiting on you. Their attitudes suck. Besides the wait staff, I must say they have decent bar food and a great beer list.
(4)
Jacob H.

Nachos are great with pulled pork. If you don't like soggy chips they will put the cheese on the side which is nice. Burgers are great too.
(4)
Cam M.

I went there last night with my girlfriend for a relatively early dinner (7-ish). The atmosphere was nice. It felt like a neighborhood bar that could be right about anywhere. Lots and lots of medium-dark colored wood, booths on at least one side with lots of table space in the middle, with the bar on the other side. The noise level wasn't bad either, it definitely wasn't quiet, but we never had to strain to hear or speak to the other. The staff was all very nice, and knowledgeable about the food and booze. The waiter was great about checking in on us at just the right time for drink refills. It seemed like he had a 6th sense that "they must have 2-3 sips left of their beers...time for a refill". The food!! If you've read my other reviews, and have looked at their menu, you know that I ordered the BBQ Bacon Burger cooked to medium with an added fried egg. It came on a pretzel bun! I opted for sweet potato fries as well. The burger was great. The bacon was some of the thickest cut bacon I have ever had. The burger was seasoned nicely, cooked just right, and was delightfully messy. I liked that in addition to the barbecue sauce on the burger, they included a side of it as well. The sweet potato fries were good, but not very memorable. My girlfriend ordered a spicy chicken torta which also came with fries. She said it was def spicy-lots of fresh jalapenos, and it tasted good. The beer! I liked their beer list. You can find it on BeerMenus.com or their website. I opted for beers that I haven't had before that fit my general preference. They had something for nearly everyone. Nice prices too. Overall, we'll end up going back. It was nice to try another neighborhood bar that felt a little more relaxed.
(4)
Kate C.

Unfortunately their menu has changed and not for the better! Still great burgers, but many favorite items are gone, and the healthy options are greatly diminished. I used to go here about once a week, but our trips have been few and far between since the shift. At least bring back some decent salads! Ambiance and the beer and whiskey selections are still top notch, though!
(3)
Roxana G.

A nice quaint bar with a great selection of beer and decent food! I'm a regular now.
(4)
Adrienne G.

The guacamole is pretty much smashed avocado. I like avocado, but there's a difference between this and guacamole. The bar is solid, great beer selection, nice staff and their sweet potato fries are more likely than not made fresh. Love that they have beer flights, a huge draft selection, knowledgeable waitstaff and an outside dining area. They could upgrade their bathrooms, and this is a personal, thing, but I just feel like an extra from the TV show How I Met Your Mother whenever I'm here. If you like that, then go here, you'll fit right in. Also, good specials during the week and a solid selection of whiskey. Overall, if you're in the area and want to grab a beer and a burger, go for it.
(3)
matt b.

So you got a few bad reviews now all the sudden you're getting 5 stars over and over. I see what you're doing here. Just take the good with the bad, by the way it smells in your place.
(2)
Adrienne S.

Love this place! I used to live two blocks away, so I frequented BOB for years. If you live in Buena Park, this is hands down the best option for a meal and drinks. They have delicious beers on tap which rotate regularly, and they have the most extensive whiskey/scotch/bourbon menu I've ever seen. I primarily stick to beer so I can't speak to that too much, but with pages of fine print and offering flights, I assume there's something for everyone. They have beer flights, too. Yum! The food menu is solid. They have lots of veg options, and I have never ordered a bad item off of the menu. Hearty portions, reasonable prices, and delicious meals. Smaller place, seating outdoors when weather permits. Nice, casual place to catch up with friends.
(5)
Dylan M.

So updating my previous review still love this place as a great spot to go have drinks. Awesome beer selection and the glassware to go with it. Servers are nice and do their job well. But the food seems to have gone downhill. The kitchen here is small and so they are limited to what they can do but in the past I was amazed at what try did do. That was not the case on my latest visit. Food quality was poor. I'll be back again but probably for drinks only.
(4)
Joe P.

Situated in southern Uptown and close to Lakeview, it is essentially the meld of both. Buena is a gastropub for the (sorta) edgy, hip, and cool, that's complete with decent nubs, big beer selection, and knowledgeable staff. A great summer spot with side-walk seating in an off-Broadway street.
(4)
Kim S.

Has a huge beer list and really delicious food. I really liked the jalapeÃ±o black bean rice side. My friend had the turkey chili and really dug it too. Our waitress was really attentive too.
(5)
Mike W.

My favorite neighborhood bar, is a must for anyone living in the Wrigley, Buena, Uptown area. Space out your visits and you will always return to a freshly rotated beer menu. Always great seasonal brews and something new to try. Even if you aren't feeling adventurous you can surely find a familiar brew on their bottle list. While the beer and whiskey list is definitely the number one reason to visit, the food is pretty solid. The Quesadilla is good, so are the club sandwiches and turkey burger, may not be the best place for a regular burger. Some Wednesdays they have all you can eat Mac & Cheese that is delicious. Great beer, good Vibes, anyone living in this neighborhood needs to give this place a try.
(5)
Caroline D.

I was here with a group of friends for a birthday. The food was fine and everybody enjoyed the beer list, but these five stars are all for the server with the pink pixie cut, who was really attentive, helpful, and friendly. We had ten people crammed into an inaccessible corner area and I appreciated what a great sport she was about the whole thing. She even gathered up and recycled the wrapping paper from my friend's birthday gifts.
(5)
Eric B.

What used to be my go-to spot for a couple years, quickly turned into a place I usually avoid. BoB had the best burger and grilled cheese, and the best beer rotation in the neighborhood by far. Unfortunately with a new head chef and different person in charge of creating their draft selections, BoB is mostly a whole new place (at least what I enjoyed it for seems that way). While I understand places have to change to remain interesting, the move from pub/American food to mostly Latin American didn't make any sense. I don't think I've ever wanted to go out for craft beer and a burrito.
(2)
Mandy P.

This is such a great hidden gem. Food is great, highly recommend the b.o.b burger! Whiskey and beer list is superb. Fun spot to go solo or with a group. You will never feel rushed or hurried out.
(5)
Lauren C.

Always love coming here - the service is great, the food (burger!!) is amazing. Constantly rotating great craft beers - great to come on a date or with a group.
(5)
Jen K.

I went with a friend about a week ago for a week day lunch. We sat outside because it was a gorgeous day, but they have nice open windows, that would make sitting inside just as pleasant. They have the trendy industrial looking theme going on, and the place seems clean and well kept. The waitress was nice and quick with our food. We ordered a couple beers. I like the selection they had. We split the chicken quesadillas and a BBQ burger. Both were good and the portions were large and filling. Overall, it's a typical bar you can find throughout the city. If I'm in the area again, I would stop by.
(3)
Don M.

I went here after moving into a place nearby. They have a large beer list, with a lot of variety. They also have a lot of whiskeys, but I didn't try any. The burger I had was very good. The meat was cooked perfectly. I also got peppers on my burger, and my only complaint was that I would have preferred they cook the peppers on the meat, or under the cheese, but it was still great. The atmosphere is quiet and dark, but I was there when it was really, really slow, so I wouldn't be surprised if they are busy pretty often. The bartender was friendly, and quick.
(4)
Kim K.

Bar on Buena is our neighborhood bar, so we frequent it fairly often. It's a cozy little bar hidden away on Buena street, so it's easy to miss. They have a pretty good beer and liquor selection and great staff. However, I will admit that I never find myself desiring their food considering how convenient it is for me to eat here. Their salads aren't that good. If heading here, your best bet would be to get one of the burgers or the tacos. They have just added brunch on the weekends, and the chilaquiles were fantastic. They have a great outdoor patio in the summertime. Overall, it's a cute, chill bar with a nice crowd and pretty good food and drink.
(4)
Jared D.

Great little spot that's super chill. Smallish food menu but everything is really good, great burgers! Huge beer menu and good wait staff. Cozy in winter and in summer they open up the patio and bar area.
(5)
Kim K.

My husband and I live pretty close to Bar on Buena, and anyone familiar with the area knows there aren't many choices on that stretch of Broadway. Perhaps that's why the food and service are just "meh"... Because they know people don't have many other options. I have been here a couple times and have been less than thrilled. My most recent visit just cements that I probably will not return. The waitress was rude and disinterested in our table. The wrap I ordered was so-so...the kicker though was that I asked for no tomatoes on the wrap, and a side salad instead of fries. When the salad came out it was COVERED in tiny chopped tomatoes. Now if I were a waitress and a customer asked for an item without tomatoes, I might take the 2 extra seconds to mention that the salad also contains tomatoes. It is less about the tomatoes and more about the small things that make customers think you care want to return. I say, skip it if you can. Definitely not a destination. If you are in Uptown along that stretch of Broadway, well....hop on a bus and try ANYWHERE else.
(2)
Kelsey L.

This is a great bar and restaurant. The beer selection is incredible and the food is delicious too. It is a little small and can get crowded, especially on weekends. However, they usually make space at the bar and are good about providing tables as they open up. The environment is very trendy, but can sometimes get loud and feels a little dark. I love their quesadillas or chips and dip for a snack, and the burgers are great for a meal. The veggie burger is great for those that do not consume meat.
(4)
Jeff W.

Good news about this bar, it's open until 2AM every night. The vibe is not at all hipster, which is a huge plus. I only had a few beers here, so I don't know much about the food just yet, but I do plan on another visit soon to figure that out. My favorite thing about this bar was the couch and chair with a coffee table set up in a living room fashion. It was extremely comfortable to sit and talk with friends in. Another positive note is the music never reached a completely annoying level, so we could all maintain conversation.
(4)
Alex R.

Without a doubt, the BoB is my favorite a bar in the whoooooole city. I don't even know where to start. The beer list is phenomenal and the handles rotate constantly. Rare and unusual beers come from around the world to be enjoyed by the patrons at the BoB. If you don't know what you want, the bartenders will use their expertise to help you decide and will rarely leave you disappointed. (Cannot stress how awesome the entire staff at the BoB is.) The ambiance is relaxing, despite the occasional crowds that occupy the space. Its comfortable and there's a variety of seating options for different group sizes or different types of moods. Through my winters working as a bike messenger, it was the perfect place to wind down and warm up after my daily 10 hour deep freeze on the streets downtown. The food is also great. I've never really strayed outside of the burgers, but when I have I've always been satisfied. When I decided to move from Buena Park to Logan Square this summer, I found myself missing only one thing, and I'm guessing you can figure out what that is based on this review.
(5)
Sarah R.

Bar on Buena, you are my Uptown go to. Last drink before heading home, first date favorite, girls night must, and a place to watch the game. I never leave dissapointed. I've sat in booths, patio tables with my pup in tow, and couches with equal enjoyment. The place always seems crowded, but with just enough room for one more group. I usually stick to draft beer and the rotation leaves little to be desired. Whiskey flights are damn good too. As for the food, I usually stick to the sweet potatoe fries, but everything else is better than average bar food. I miss living around the corner from this killer neighborhood bar.
(4)
Michele D.

Tried BoB twice now, its right down the street from my apartment. Like the beer flights, music is too loud for my taste, food is just okay. There are better places to go, in my opinion. Like others, really wanted to like it, but it doesnt have much to offer.
(2)
Kendrick W.

Went here to watch a few games during March Madness. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't too packed on a saturday afternoon. My buddies and I walked right in and sat down. The waitress was great. She knew the menu well and made good recommendations. The turkey burger was shockingly delicious. It's more of a neighborhood bar and the mix of patrons was strange. There was my group of 30 somethings, a young family, and a group of elderly individuals who looked like they were going to break out into a game of backgammon at any moment. All in all, I enjoyed the experience and since it's nearby, I'll definitely be returning.
(4)
Barry B.

Ate here for the first time today, and both me and my friend had burgers which were REALLY good. But really....charging extra for a side of mayo?? Never seen that one in all my days of eating out. We both asked for a side, and they brought out two little cups, and then when we got the bill, we were charged 50 cents for each of them. We just couldn't believe it! At least if you're going to charge people for something that normally comes for free (like the ketchup and mustard on the table), you should tell your customers when they request it and not just put it on the bill. It's just a little tacky, IMO.... Am I wrong??
(4)
Claire I.

We really like the atmosphere and the drink selection is honestly great. It is a convenient location for us and in the summer we love to sit on the terrace. However, we have found the staff frequently to be rude and very unfriendly. Recently when we went they got our order wrong and were incredibly rude about it. They have revamped their menu, and I have to say personally I think the selection is much more limiting. As others have said lots of mexican restaurants around so a little disappointed that they went this direction
(2)
William L.

When I moved into the neighborhood, I started looking around for bars and pubs to hang out. I mean a man has to have a place to watch a game and relax at the end of the day! Within my first week, I stopped in here. Unfortunately, it did not go well. The bartender (who said he was the manager) was pretty much giving a bunch of free drinks (which honestly I could care less about) until his "friend" starts to berate myself and my friend. Thats when things went south. The drunk friend went on and on about how we (my friend and I) always come in and cause problems, dont tip, etc. We both tried to explain calmly that we have never been in this bar before. Moreover, we had never seen either of them. Soon, the bartender/manager was getting pretty wasted and hurling insults of his own. My friend and I were totally stupefied by their actions and behavior! Needless to say, we left. I have never returned. Sadly, when I walk by I never see that guy so I am always wondering if he really was the manager
(2)
Marc R.

With a great beer list that features some of the best taps in the city, this little corner bar with its friendly staff, and solid food is a good choice for this little section of Buena Park/South Uptown. I have been here several times, and have enjoyed the specials more than anything else. The cheap burger night is a must visit for this spot! The patio is a bonus (small) on a quiet leafy street.
(4)
Mark M.

Formerly a 4 or 5 star place. But the gutted menu, higher prices, and continued poor service really hurt this place. That being said, It's a great date spot if you're looking for a dark intimate atmosphere, and you can be assured you won't be bothered by your waitress. Ever.
(2)
Jennifer N.

Will not spilt tabs, will not accommodate large groups, will get ignored, will be out of most of the beers on their menu. Good luck.
(1)
Kevin C.

The BoB was one of the first bars I went to in Chicago. Uptown the first neighborhood I temporarily lived which gave me a good bearing point to judge other local establishments. I had my first Lagunitas beer here as well, Brown Shugga to be exact. A lot of firsts in one place. Had to make a trip back for the healthy beer list, pub food, and to get away from the norm. I hadn't been in for a visit almost two years so I was well over due. They have a great tap lineup which includes many international brews, session beers, and pints outside the local breweries. The sweet potato fries are a must. We started with pulled pork nachos which were kick ass. I'd go back for those in a minute. The Rosemary chicken and steak tacos missed the mark for me. The steak tasted precooked and just heated up, not juicy, and the chicken just had a funky grilled taste to it. Unappealing and I was disappointed because I recall being impressed in the past. By all means, the entrees don't break the bank, so I wasn't too upset. Just let down? Our server was great and we were well attended to. Sitting at a booth was relaxing. They have a small lounge area with a sofa and some comfy chairs. A great outdoor area in the summer as well. Maybe we hit BoB on a bad evening for grub. I enjoyed the beers and being back where I started in the city. This won't deter me from going back but perhaps motivate me cruise up in the summer.
(3)
Laura D.

The burgers are very good but overpriced (except 5 dollar mondays), the quinoa side salad is god-awful and I don't understand why the waitstaff is just not friendly... seems like they're uncomfortable serving us everytime I go. I live not even a block away so I've been there on lots of occasions. The rest of the staff is nice and friendly. I don't drink so I cant speak of beer selection, but my friends always seem happy with their choices.
(3)
Kevin L.

The food here is definitely ok. I was not impressed with their regular burger. The chicken wrap is also very disappointing. Whatever chicken went into it on the day that I went was definitely bottom shelf. The whole dish was worth $6 maximum. Paying $11 for it is highway robbery. Speaking of highway robbery, this is the experience that ruined the bar for me: They advertised a "beer brawl" sort of thing where you get a flight of a certain type of beer and get to vote on which one is your favorite. I went on the day that they advertised "Oktober-fist" (which was an Oktoberfest beer flight). Not only did the flight cost $10 ($2 more than their usual flights! Why?!? It's the same amount of beer!), the waiter didn't even remember which beer was which, and didn't seem to give a flying hoot about whether or not we cared about any of the beers. That is my overall note about the place, and why I'm giving it two stars; The waitstaff has yet to seem personable, and the food is overpriced (unless you get the burger for $5 on Mondays). They have a wonderful selection of craft beers, but the selection falls flat when the servers don't seem into what they're serving. The porch is cool, but just a bit crowded/cramped unless you come when it's slow. Eat here if you want, it's not terrible, but don't expect to be impressed with anything other than the prospect that the menu holds.
(2)
Marissa W.

The only thing I've eaten here is the nachos (topped with pulled pork -recommend it!), but I've been here several times for a drink. It's a great place to come with one or two friends to catch up. It's not too loud inside, but it's still very lively. Good beer selection (in bottles) but don't rely on the staff to make recommendations.
(4)
Jessica N.

Solid local establishment. Bartenders are friendly and know a LOT about the whiskey/scotch that they serve. Regulars are all friendly too! Only thing keeping this from a 4-star is my chicken wrap was watery and the tortilla totally fell apart. Pasta salad was good though. As a bar - 4 stars, restaurant 3-stars
(3)
Philippe C.

Glad they revamped the menu but the thick cut bacon is quite simply gross. Nothing against a thicker cut but the limp half-sides of bacon (that are the only option) is really off-putting. I have to admit that thankfully the staff continues to be great and the drink selection outstanding. Foodwise I am sorry to say that Reservoir is starting to look better
(1)
Laura F.

This is my favorite neighborhood bar. The beer selection is AMAZING, the food is great, and the ambiance is cozy and inviting. I also love that the staff is very knowledgeable about the beer selections and they always offer great suggestions.
(4)
Katie K.

I had an unfortunate experience here. There was almost no seating available (understandably, it was a Friday night) and my friend and I looked inside first. There were a couple seats available outside, towards the edges of the dining area. It was a nice night (for once!) so we figured why not? Things were good for a while, I ordered a drink, service seemed fine. Then a bunch of people started smoking pretty close to where we were sitting. I am allergic to cigarette smoke. However, I did not want to be a bother and suggested that we move to a different spot (even though tables were sparse). We informed the waitress, who was flippant, but I chalked that up to the fact that we were moving tables. We found another good spot, but sure enough there was a smoker standing about 1 foot from the table just on the other side of the "partition". At this point, I'm just kind of wondering why the waitress couldn't just have politely asked them to move a little farther away from the outside eating area, especially since the smoking ordinance states that they need to be at least 15 feet away from the entrance of an establishment. And not to mention, you know, cancer. (Ordinance reference below): cityofchicago.org/city/eâ€¦ So we go inside and talk to the hostess to try to get another seat. She asks about our previous table and so I tell her that there is someone smoking right next to one of the tables. She starts to look for a seat for us inside when the waitress comes in and proceeds to argue with me in front of the hostess about us moving. The waitress does not even listen to me and rants that "When you're outside, people are just gonna smoke there" I started to refer to the ordinance and she said (incorrectly) "They only have to be 10 feet away from the door" and then stormed off. The hostess kindly found us a table inside, but I was really put off. Not only was this waitress extremely rude to me after a perfectly reasonable request since I could not sit inside in the first place and cannot help that I am allergic to smoke and would prefer not to get cancer, but also the hostess did not seem to care that another member of her staff yelled at me and that I was having a bad experience. So, not only did this exchange prove to me that this establishment cares nothing about the health of their guests, but also that they are completely terrible at any sort of customer service.
(1)
Gonzo G.

Rating: 4.7 Short description: Bar with great food and amazing staff Pluses: Amazing beer list, super attentive staff with lots of knowledge, super friendly, and we went on the day they cooked an entire pig, it was awesome. Negatives: none! Recommendations: Try this place out, it's great.
(5)
Andre W.

Haven't been here since 2008, so when I heard my buddy Craig was leaving Chicago it gave me an excuse to check this joint out one more time. I wasn't able to stay long because I had another party to go to. I noticed most of the people in the place was having a beer, so I opted to be different and got a Makers & diet. My friend who comes here everyday showed up and recommended that I get a Steiger (hope i spelled it right) which came in a Steiger mug....pretty good! I noticed that most of the beer that was being drank came with its corresponding glass/mug...I like that! Again, I wasn't able to stay long but I have a new found likeness for this place
(4)
Nick D.

This place legitimately has the worst food in the world. I like drinking here though.
(4)
Adriane P.

Adriane: My friend said he heard they have awesome burgers and we live close so bopped over. Adriane and Friend: Sweet, we can sit on this cozy couch to eat. Adriane: We came for their main attraction so ordered burgers and drinks as soon as we saw our waitress. Oddly, my drink came out several minutes later than friendman's and my burger did too. I found that strange. That stuff is usually run together. The BOB burger comes with Red Dragon Cheddar, Pancetta, Fried Egg, and I added onions and mustard. I got it with a side of Mac n Cheese. Both were banal and greasy. I stated to my pal the service was bad. Friend: Why does Adriane complain about stupid stuff? This is not the place to expect good service! I told her that. Waitress: Do you guys need anything? Friend: Yes, actually.... Waitress: *darts off* zoom, zoom, zoom Adriane: *laughs inside at karma being a bizzle* (Verbally) Do you like your burger? It's a bit greasy. The margarita isn't that great either.*She still stuffs her face.* Friend: *Eats silently* Cow: Death be not proud. Waitress: *when flagged and asked drops check* zoom, zoom, zoom. (Thinking) I wish I was a carhop who served wearing SKATES! Zoom! Adriane: This wasn't as good as the hype. Friend: Lake Michigan is 2 blocks away why don't you go and jump in! Cow: Way harsh Thai! That's almost as bad as being covered with grease, cheese, pork, and a chickens egg and being buried in your stomachs! Adriane and Friend: Did we just hear our stomachs rumble?
(3)
Lauren T.

This is one of my favorite neighborhood bars, and it does not help that is only a few block away from me. Honestly everything about it is good, the have a wicked beer list and every since I started brewing my own beer I have gotten really picky. They are always changing out there beer on tap and the bar tenders and servers are always really knowledgeable about the beers and can give great suggestions. From what I have had of there food, it is delicious in every way. I would for sure go for the regular fries, my mouth is watering thinking about those two dipping sauces as I write this. My good friend swears by their pasta salad though and I am pretty sure she dreams about it nightly and wont shut up talking about it when we decided to go there, which I dont mind becuase I wont shut up about their fries so we end up just sounding like really fat foodies. I must say, my favorite places are all about the beer selection and good ass food and since this place gets A+++ in both of those categories, not to mention is has great service, so I would say it is a must on your list of places to go to. Fun story, last time I was in there late on a Sunday with one of my friends and there were not many people at the bar since they stop serving food at 10pm on Sundays, (which really does make me sad), anyway, the bartenders and some customers were playing card against humanity, and asked if we wanted to join and we had a great time. This just goes to show how welcoming and cool the staff is.
(5)
Radha K.

I love that there's a place like BoB in walking distance from my house. The atmosphere is really great, but the music can get a little loud from time to time. It smells great when you walk in and the food is great. The beer/whiskey/scotch selection is awesome but if you're going the beer route, make sure you have at least 3 backup beers you want to try; I went there once and the 4 craft beers I wanted were out...so I just settled for a Miller Lite out of frustration. Regardless, the selection is great. Service can be slow at times, but it'll never stop me from going to BoB! **I went here more recently and just make sure you have time to spend here...the service really is slow.**
(4)
Chris D.

If BoB was in Lincoln Park or Lakeview, it wouldn't be as highly rated. BoB's praise is purely a result of being the best of Buena Park's three (yes, three) bars. It's not that good though. Yeah, they have a large beer selection, but they're constantly out of a bunch of them. The best that can be said about the food is "meh." Service is absolutely horrible. BoB's one saving grace is the outdoor seating and unpretentious neighborhood vibe.
(3)
Mario S.

When I moved to Uptown I was happy to see this little oasis in an area desperate for classy food and drink joints. I guess since it's the only show in town, so to speak, they can get away with awful food and even worse service. I've gone to Bar on Buena about five times in the past 6 months on evenings I didn't wish to travel to Lakeview or Andersonville and each time the service is so awful it's painful. It starts the moment you walk in. You never know if you're supposed to wait or seat yourself. There's no real host station. One time when we went to seat ourselves someone raced up to us and told us to wait, although the place was 2/3 empty. Another time we waited at the door to be seated and they guy standing there acted like we were idiots for waiting. We've never had a decent server. They throw the menus at you then walk off before you can ask for a drink. They always seem to have a sneer on their faces. It's an awful feeling sitting at an establishment and have the entire staff treat you like you're a vagrant off the street (of which there are many wandering up and down Buena Ave.). On top of that, the food is atrociously bad. The worst I've had is the vegetarian burger. It was like eating raw mush. I've had bad food in restaurants before but was able to eat most of it. The veggie burger was the first time I simply couldn't finish after only a few bites. It might be the only "upscale" place in a neighborhood struggling to stay gentrified, but the food and service is certainly NOT upscale in the least. I'll give it 2 stars because it looks pretty.
(2)
Michelle G.

I live close so, on occasion, I will come around for a bite. I really enjoy their pulled pork. It's good and messy. They have quite a selection of alcohol as well. The service is really just "meh". It seems like some of the people there have to pain themselves to be friendly. It's most certainly not everyone but it's uncomfortable when it's the person waiting on you. It's currently decorated for the season and it has a very warm atmosphere but I don't think I would ever be a regular here. Come for the food.
(3)
Alex C.

Soooooo.... We came here for a charity function and as we left 3 or 4 guys ran after us in the patio and accused us of stealing the sample glasses. We were a few of the Latinos present. They called 911 on us (who showed up like 20 min later) and we explained how we immediately gave the sample cups back when asked by management, Brian. We thought that they were ours to keep. They immediately belittled us with negative slang, explicatives, and more!! Many other people left without being harassed. They demanded charges be pressed but the police laughed at them. They tell yelled and screamed at us, but clearly didn't care. I'm standing across the street after the police left, writing this. I will upload a photo. We paid, real money, like everyone else. They clearly do not care about minorities, people in the community, etc. Its sad, really. My friends and I talked to several board members of the charity. I'm very sadden that a bunch of drunk bartenders let their personal feelings cloud their judgement.
(2)
cassie r.

My listening skills are fairly shitty. For example, when people introduce themselves to me, it takes me a mere 2.5 seconds to forget their name. However, when someone mentions the words "beer" and "bar" in the same sentence, I take notice. My mind becomes a steel trap. So, when multiple friends mentioned Bar on Buena as one of the better beer bars in the city, I knew I had to check it out. The beer list is decent - paltry on hard-to-find/unique/big stouts, but there were some decent belgians to be found. Food was better than average - I appreciate any place that understands the importance of serving a burger with a fresh, non-soggy bun. I was thoroughly confused by how dark it was inside though - there was a point when I was walking to the bathroom that I thought I might accidently bump into someone due to my inability to see them - it was THAT dark. Made it nearly impossible to appreciate aforementioned beer list as well. Service was fine, and while a fairly small joint, we had no problem getting a seat (though it was a Sunday, which probably had something to do with that). Certainly worthy of a try (and a few re-tries, when in the area)!
(3)
Sofia G.

Great neighborhood bar and pub food... New menu is really good! Try the joaquin fiero burger!
(4)
David R.

The salad itself is anemic, but the dressing that they serve with the southwest caesar is the best salad dressing on earth.
(4)
Silvia D.

BOB was super close where I used to live. I loved their Monday specials $4 burgers can't beat that! And their outdoor seating!
(4)
Ayla E.

I live in the neighborhood and stopped in for the first time a few weeks ago. They have a wonderful craft beer selection. The seating inside is very cozy, and the outdoor area is great. I will definitely be going back.
(5)
Surge C.

This was the first bar I came to when I flew in on Friday. It had been Chicago Tap Takeover and the Bar on Buena was having an Allagash takeover. As you can expect, the place was pretty packed; however, we did not have to wait too long for a table. By no means am I a beer connoisseur, but I am pretty sure a tap take over means you have more than 4 beers on tap. This was disappointing to my friend who was so excited to come here and sample the different Allagash beers. It was even more disappointing when they ran out of 1 and were left with 3 Allagash beers. What really made me give this place a bad rating is our incredibly terrible service. Our waitress, Katie B., was inattentive and nowhere to be found 90% of the time when we needed her. It was quite frustrating having to look for her and having to talk to other servers or bussers about her whereabouts and items we ordered (which she forgot about twice). The whole experience was just frustrating and put a damper on my first night =\.
(1)
Jeff G.

I stopped in for a Chicago Craft Beer Week event that involved tapping some Evil Twin. The beer list was solid and the food was excellent. I ordered the veggie wrap with a quinoa salad and they were both very good. I sat at the bar and service was attentive. The cooking area just inside the door is a cool idea. It would be a fun local bar if I lived in the area. My only complaint is that this - like so many other places in the city - has zero parking in the area. I ended up walking 3 blocks and having to leave after an hour or so because of parking restrictions.
(4)
Lindsey S.

I have driven down Buena so many times and had no clue this place existed. The burgers are incredible and the fries delicious! And the atmosphere is very relaxed but fun. Great beer selection too! It was colder when I was there but looks like the windows open so it's almost like sitting outside but you really aren't. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Nicole W.

Bar on Buena is my favorite neighborhood place to take visitors, meet up with friends and go on a date. They have an extensive beer list for those interested in tasting and learning more about brews. But mostly I like the mellow and comfortable atmosphere of low lighting, an outdoor patio for awesome midday summer cocktails and a comfy corner couch to curl up on in the middle of winter. I would suggest this place to anyone living in, visiting, or moving to the North side of Chicago. The one lost star is due to their busy wait staff. I've been here about 40 times and I'm almost always hunting to get my drink refilled. Luckily I go with company to keep me busy.
(4)
Amy H.

I'm missing something here. I must be missing something, because some of my favorite people in world love Bar on Buena and I just can't figure out why. They have a great beer list, so there's that...but I'm not much of a beer drinker. The Original Sin cider was nothing special. I had the jalapeno and cheddar sausage with sweet potato fries that were half burnt. Again, nothing special. The service was decent, but overall I thought everything was pretty disappointing. My friend says that this is a nice place in the winter because it's really cozy to watch the snow falling outside of the glass garage doors. So, I guess I'll be giving BoB another try then.
(2)

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Address : 910 W Buena Ave
Chicago, IL, 60613
Phone (773) 525-8665
Website https://www.baronbuena.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :4:00 pm - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Juke Box
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Mon, Thu, Fri
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Bar on Buena

910 W Buena Ave, Chicago, IL, 60613

Bar on Buena Menu

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