Brownstone Tavern Menu

  • Appetizers
  • Minis
  • Soups and Mac & Cheese
  • Salads & Wraps
  • Burgers
  • Sandwiches & Tacos
  • Sides
  • Kids
  • Desserts
  • Cocktails
  • Beer on Tap
  • Ale Bottles
  • Belgian Style Bottles
  • Porter Bottles
  • Cider Bottles
  • Kolsch & Witte Bottles
  • Stout Bottles
  • India Pale Ale Bottles
  • Lager & Pilsner Bottles
  • Non-Alcoholic Bottles
  • Cans
  • White Wine
  • Red Wine
  • Sparkling Bottles
  • Sparkling Splits

Healthy Meal suggestions for Brownstone Tavern

  • Appetizers
  • Minis
  • Soups and Mac & Cheese
  • Salads & Wraps
  • Burgers
  • Sandwiches & Tacos
  • Sides
  • Kids
  • Desserts
  • Cocktails
  • Beer on Tap
  • Ale Bottles
  • Belgian Style Bottles
  • Porter Bottles
  • Cider Bottles
  • Kolsch & Witte Bottles
  • Stout Bottles
  • India Pale Ale Bottles
  • Lager & Pilsner Bottles
  • Non-Alcoholic Bottles
  • Cans
  • White Wine
  • Red Wine
  • Sparkling Bottles
  • Sparkling Splits

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  • Kristin A.

    I love this place! I really don't have anything bad to say about it. GREAT food. The wraps are amazing and cheap! They also have the skillet cookie which is incredible. It's huge, so make sure you have someone with you to share it with! The service is friendly and fast. The bar is surrounded with flat screen tv's showing a variety of games. They also have outdoor seating in the summer. Getting a table is never a problem. Parking is never a problem. There are meters right across the street.

    (5)
  • Sydney K.

    Why is this bar called Brownstone? Warning - approach with caution during an University of Texas football game. Yes, the Longhorns will be in full force in all their brownstone glory. Otherwise, this is a great bar to kick back and have a satisfying meal at moderate prices. I hate it when a bar claims to serve food, but it amounts to nothing more than bland microwaved glop they try to pass off as a meal worth paying for. Brownstone actually seems to have put some thought into their menu. They have the usual fare, such as burgers and wings, but they also have a black bean burger with hummus that's as good as they get. And don't miss out on the fries! They're seasoned and delicious, and they also come chimichurri style (with garlic 'n stuff). And those hankering for their youth can substitute tater tots.

    (3)
  • Hector M.

    This is consistently my favorite place. The food is great bar food. The staff, pretty much everyone I know. Apparently they've just been bought, but the new owners bought the menu too. Cod and shrimp tacos rock, get a wedge of avocado. Today was $5 absolute drinks , I did lemonade and pear absolute. Ok a few. Plus the 6 wings for $6. Always a decent bang for the buck! Cheers.

    (5)
  • Adam C.

    We stopped in here recently for a few beers and some burgers. We did not realize it was trivia night Monday, but it turned out to be a really great time. The guy running the trivia event was really good at it. He had a lot of questions that were equal parts challenging, fun and tricky. The prizes are pretty decent, too. We will definitely come back on a Monday sometime soon. The beer selection was incredible (Sculpin IPA, anyone?), the food specials are a deal (burger, tots, and a draft beer for $10), and the service was super friendly.

    (4)
  • Taha A.

    Really bad costumer service and the place was too dirty especially the out side patio We try to talk with manger his name jewel or john ... And he was too rude

    (1)
  • Rebeca M.

    Cute place located right across the street from my apartment, decent prices .. Nice patio .. Ok food. Good beer selection and prices. Nothing special.. They are always busy and I'm still trying to decipher, I wasn't thrilled with the chipotle Gouda sandwich and salad I had. It was tastey, but meh. Their Brunch menu looks appealing .. Might have to try it again.

    (3)
  • Tuna C.

    We come here a lot. A LOT. Why? Because we always know we will get great drinks, great service, and great food. There are tons of TVs with every game on. The food is consistently good, as is the service. Its very nice having a 4-corners bar in North Center (REALLY wish they would bring back the point system!) I see comments about kids, its true, they do come in from time to time during the day, but at night it is a fun sport-minded crowd, and the critters are home driving their parents nuts, not the patrons. A note about the great manager...I found a hair (gross) in my salad dressing little cup. I quietly informed the waitress who was appalled and she promptly told the manager. He came over to apologize...obviously they brought new dressing and new salad, they also comped the entire meal, including my wife's. That is great service.

    (5)
  • Nichole M.

    So I wake up this morning after spending an evening with friends watching the Hawks game at Brownstone last night. We were there late and had started drinking at 5:30pm. I feel great! Seems weird. I am a lightweight as they say. Last night I had 6 vodka sodas, 3 shots and practically felt like I could drive (I did not of course). Me drinking that much is essentially unheard of. Only after having shots did I realize I was at a bar drinking alcohol. (Not literally, but you get it). My friend had 5 double vodka sodas and he too felt as though he had been drinking water and maybe a drink or two. (He had two shots). So I'm thinking maybe they were pouring our mixed drinks a little light or the vodka bottle was filled with water and they don't know it. I did thoroughly enjoy the buffalo rolls, delicious and spicy! The skillet cookie was pretty solid too. I liked this bar, but I think I'll go with beer next time.

    (3)
  • John G.

    Looks can be deceiving! This place may give the impression of a "corner bar", but the food is delicious!! They usually have good deals during the week. Suggestion: Chicken & Waffles!!!

    (5)
  • Mike W.

    This is my favorite spot in North Center to grab a beer with the guys. Huge TVs and a nice bar to chill. Their bar food is decent, much better than O'donavans food, but nothing special. Pretty good beer selection too.

    (3)
  • Sonia C.

    Came in on a Thursday night for my first night in Chicago - and it was so packed we had to leave. They don't take resos so if you really want to hang here you probably need to get here early (and rightfully so - its super casual and if they took reservations that would be just weird). The food looked okay from our view by the door and there were tons of TVs if you are into that game watching thing. But five stars to the awesome host who tried his best to find us a table and keep us there. Will definitely try to check this place out next time I'm in chitown.

    (3)
  • Mickey M.

    Live a half block down the street from Brownstone and it used to be really, really solid. Went there about 5 times with no problem but the last few have been horrible. Our latest experience we waited for an hour and a half to get our food and once it was served, the order was incorrect. To put how long we waited in perspective: the table next to us, arrived after, ordered after and left before we had received our food. We maintained a positive attitude throughout yet the manager apologized to that same table next to us. Squeaky wheel gets the grease I suppose. The food is not bad, they have recently refinished the inside and its a nice bar if you don't care about the service. For me, this was unfortunately my last trip.

    (2)
  • Michelle E.

    Good neighborhood tavern with a comfortable patio. My 6-year old loves it, particularly the skillet cookie! I like their salads and turkey burger and my hubby goes for wings or burger. Consistent food and Something for everyone.

    (4)
  • Reyna M.

    Great sports bar and grill. Awesome healthy salads fish & shrimp tacos, great beer selection. Great service, plenty of parking outdoor seating . And dogs welcome outside ..Worth the trip from Des Plaines

    (5)
  • Damaris C.

    Brownstone Tavern is the average man's dream. Good food, a TV at every angle with any sport (you name it) and surround sound. Ordered the BBQ Chicken Quesadilla with a side of cilantro rice. Had a Tex Mex meal. Also try their boneless chicken wings, as well as their Bison Burger. Loved the atmosphere and is also located in an ideal area.

    (3)
  • Kelly C.

    A month ago, this place would have gotten 5 stars, but it was a sad day at trivia last night when Martin was no longer hosting, replaced by a trivia company with hosting duties replaced by a pig. My group has been Brownstone/Trivia regulars for a while and the change up was so teribble that we couldn't stop laughing. I get that the bar is trying to draw more people in for trivia(more $$), and it was a full house. But the new guy is terrible. And no more 1/2 off the bill for 1st and 2nd place. If this is a permanat change, we may need to find a new trivia spot. Aside from my complaints about the new trivia night, the service, drinks and food are spot on. The staff definitly goes out of their way to make sure you are happy. Even brought us a skillet cookie when they saw how much we disliked the changes to our trivia.

    (4)
  • Karolina T.

    My bf used to live really close to this place so we would walk over often. They used to have the best sandwiches and my total favorite by far was their veggie quesadillas, and we fell in love with this place. We went back couple months ago and were disappointed to see that our favorites were no longer on the menu and their new stuff was just okay. BRING BACK THE VEGGIE QUESADILLA and I will definately make the drive over just to have it.

    (3)
  • Jennifer G.

    We really enjoyed the veggie humus plate and seafood tacos! Drink menu can be confusing but service was great and would definitely come back!

    (4)
  • Cynthia C.

    My Go TO dinner spot in North Center. I love Brownstone and the Entire Team. Food is Excellent Service is Excellent and you are always welcome!!!

    (5)
  • Scott H.

    If you're single this is for you...I went here with a single buddy of mine and I've never seen so many unattractive people in one place as this place. Was here for Blackhawks game and wow...of all of the places we could have gone. Brutal. Good food though. :-)

    (1)
  • Chelsie T.

    The food itself is good...if you like it cold and two hours after placing your order. No apology or even an attempt to make things right. Safe to say customer service is non-existent.

    (2)
  • A M.

    It's really chill atmosphere. Good place to grab a drink after work. The service is average. They are nice, but really slow and not as attentive as they can be. Even when it was not busy, it was difficult to get the bartender's attention for a drink. The food is okay. The bison burger I ordered was kind of dry but edible. The fries are really good. The toast instead of buns is hard to eat with the burger. The price is kind of steep for the quality you get, but not the amount. Although I had an average time, I probably won't visit again unless I'm in the area.

    (2)
  • Nelson C.

    When it come to good food and fast service this is the place to come the people that work here stays on top on making sure that everything the way you spect to be The best

    (5)
  • Hamza S.

    Excellent place to go with friends on a Saturday night for some drinks. The ambiance is nice, and the staff is very friendly and courteous to your needs. Having a dj play hip music made my experience also more enjoyable, and I will definitely be back.

    (5)
  • Rachel G.

    Had a private party last week that we hosted through the Four Corners Tavern Group. We had an amazing experience. Everyone responded promptly via phone and email while arranging the party, and they were so accommodating. On the day of the party, the managers were helpful and gracious. Our server juggled all 45 of our guests skillfully during the entire evening. Food was delicious and came out quickly. We couldn't have been happier. Have eaten here several times before, but was so happy with the service during the private party that I'd recommend it to anyone.

    (5)
  • Anthony H.

    I love Brownstone. I'm in the neighborhood and have taken my family, girlfriend, and a few friends here on separate occasions. All really liked it. The chili mac and cheese is contending with my all time favorite mac and cheese from Kumas. The fish tacos are some of the best I've had. The gouda chicken sandwich is really good too. This and Big Bricks are my favorite restaurants in the North Center neighborhood.

    (5)
  • Brian R.

    Went in to watch an NBA finals game with some friends. Sat at the bar. Took the bartender a good ten minutes to greet us, even all the while washing the glasses right in front of us but kept his conversation going with another patron. Food was ok, wings were good but nothing to write home about. Service wasn't the best.

    (2)
  • Anne M.

    Brownstone is a great little neighborhood bar & grill. On a summer day, stop by the patio and snag a table under their wooden archway (see pic). We recently did, and it was lovely. The food was lovely too - I went with the old fallback: turkey burger + sweet potato fries. The burger was delicious. It had chipotle mayo, avocado, spring mix, tomato, and the burger was juicy and seasoned. The fries were on the skinny side (I prefer big fat fries), but they tasted good. Tip: They have some really great food/drink specials too, all week long.

    (4)
  • Renee S.

    We've always loved this place as they have good food. However management really needs to get on it with server staffing. Service was not what it used to be.

    (3)
  • Anthony F.

    Just went back and tried the bacon gouda mac and cheese. It was fantastic as well. A must try.

    (5)
  • Taylor B.

    I love this place. From the fish tacos to the Queso to the great beer and outside seating area. The staff is always nice and it's always a great time.

    (5)
  • Gregory M.

    Good pub food and high quality for a bar. The beer selection is solid. The portion sizes have decreased and the sandwiches and burgers do not come with sides. Four dollars for 20 tater tots is skimpy.

    (4)
  • Jessica C.

    Bartender knew his stuff, loves his job, so knowledgable, and still not all holier-than-thou about it, and got every bit of our order correct (all too rare these days!). Best veggie burger I've ever had...and I've had a LOT of em! Everything was amazing. I dig it, will definitely be back. But wait a minute. Don't go there. I don't want to be waiting on a table!... Just kidding. See you there. :)

    (5)
  • M W.

    Came here for a party. Very attentive service, and pretty good snacks. The fries and tater tots were pretty good, as were the tacos. The hamburger sliders tasted more like meatloaf sliders though. Definitely a cool place.

    (4)
  • Romana Y.

    Great bar to catch a sports game over a great selection of Belgium or German beers. There is ample space; the bar is very clean; the patrons are clean-cut locals- WIN! The service is prompt, and the staff are incredibly cordial.

    (5)
  • Cynthia R.

    Nice place in the hood. Nice amount of outdoor space. Food is consistently good, in fact, the turkey burger is pretty solid....awesome avocado and spicy sauce just makes the thing ZING! The tacos and appetizers are quite tasty as well. Service is consistent. Nothing to write home about, but nothing negative to say.

    (3)
  • Laura N.

    We love brownstone! So many great daily specials, attentive staff and they're always willing to put our favorite game on.

    (4)
  • Stefanie A.

    Always stop in here for Butler basketball! The food is great, especially the burgers. They're so juicy and awesome! Chris is great for organizing events for when Butler is in town!

    (5)
  • Cherry B.

    Amazing service and food. They made me a Mai Tai which was really sweet but it wasn't on the menu so can't complain. The baked mac and cheese is fantastic and the southwest wrap was perfect too. Their food is really fresh, might be a lil pricey for bar food but you pay for the quality. Love this place and definitely coming back.

    (5)
  • Michelle P.

    I'm usually just a Yelp lurker and not a poster, but the great experience I just had at Brownstone turned me into the latter. I called and place a phone order for their (small, yet amazing) Barbacoa Bowl earlier today. I waited 15 minutes and went to pick it up - when I got there the woman seemed a little surprised when I said I was there to pick up an order. After seeing her run around for a few minutes, a gentleman approached me and stated that he had taken my phone order, but forgot to submit it. He was very apologetic and also mentioned my food would be free. I was fine with waiting (and with still paying) but he insisted it was on the house. So I sat at the bar and was offered a free drink from the bartender. Only had to wait about 10 minutes for my food while I enjoyed a nice beer. Since I wasn't in a rush, I didn't mind having to wait, but the way they handled it made it all the more better! I work right up the street and have always been a Brownstone fan, but they totally made my day with their service. I will definitely be back!! Thanks guys!!

    (5)
  • Amanda W.

    Ugh, forget this place. The food is decent, but inconsistent and certainly not worth the hassle. Plus, the service is lackluster and the clientele can be douchey. I plead insanity as to why we've given them as many chances as we have. No more. Tonight we got delivery through Grubhub as we have a few other times. Our bell isn't working so we made a note to call us and instead of doing that the delivery guy proceeded to pound on the window and leave the food at the front door. Good thing I included the tip on the card, wouldn't want him to think his inappropriate attempt at getting our attention went unappreciated. When we came out immediately after the pound all we saw was abandoned food. Then, strangely he called once we were back inside to say "you forgot the receipt"...no hellos, no introductions, just that. In short, it was uncomfortable and ridiculous. And, when the good folks at grubhub called to let them know they said they hadn't ever had other complaints about the service and apparently didn't care. Way to be mediocre, Brownstone! I sure hope we can find a new place to underwhelm us in the neighborhood.

    (1)
  • Rocket B.

    I was coming here LOT for quite some time as I live crawling distance from here. They had great specials and the staff was amazing. Then the downfall began....they changed the specials which are not even good, and when I contacted the Four Corners Group about it I got the cost of food song and dance. So I just stopped going after awhile....wasn't really worth it for me anymore the way the specials are there was nothing I wanted anymore really. For example: the salad deal used to be they were 5 bucks on Tuesday...well now that is 10 bucks with a glass of wine...what if I don't want wine? TOO BAD! BUT...the kicker is...I recently went back to keep an open mind because the food is good...they remodeled the place and it's hideous, as in HIDEOUS...which in turn means they had enough money to remodel a perfectly beautiful bar, but not for the rising food costs...whatever....also if I'm going to pay 15 dollars for a salad with minimal steak in it...it will not be at a place that serves water and iced tea in plastic stadium cups. Thanks for completely ruining this place Four Corners Group...my rewards card is in the trash....oh yeah...and 25 mins for my salad to come out at when its pretty empty is BS.

    (2)
  • Ana P.

    What an amazing time! NYE we purchased $50.00 tickets that included open bar and some finger food. We arrived around 930 to try to get a seat, but they are first come first serve and they had already been taken. Luckily the line was short, and the host provided bracelets right away. When you think of open bar, you think, water down drinks esp for the 50.00 price for the whole night. The bartenders were awesome!! I never had an empty drink they were on point with asking if we were okay. The place never got super crowded, it was a nice group of people music was good, complimentary coat check, and champagne at midnight. We had the BEST NYE ever here.... I live in AZ but would definitely return if I am in town again.

    (5)
  • Kendrick W.

    If you want to find a solid place to meet up with friends, have a gathering or watch a big event then you've found it. Near Irving Park and Lincoln, Brownstone is a great little non-pretentious spot away from the wannabe elite crowds of river north and the "bro, hold my beer and watch this" crowds of Wrigleyville. I was there for all things a Kentucky Derby watching event. Sounds pretentious right? Wrong! Beers, shots, mint juleps and good old fun, along with a few silly hats. The drinks were stuff, the atmosphere was inviting and then there was the crawfish. (pretty sure that was a special for the derby). Highly recommend this as a place to go and have a good time without having to posture like you're having such a great time.

    (4)
  • Laura S.

    Brownstone has always been my go to tavern. I live close by and dine there frequently. Their food is amazing, service is great and I love that they have Abita in a can! The southwest salad with portobella is my favorite! Never gets old.

    (5)
  • Nick P.

    We love this place! I could eat the jalapeno pretzels all day. The Korean tacos are excellent! My wife and I routinely take family members here as they enjoy the specials and the ambiance of the restaurant. The service is always great as well. We don't drink and sometimes I feel like that hinders service because of the smaller sales, but they always deliver and refill drinks. There is ample street parking available.

    (5)
  • Gerrell W.

    Brownstone--we actually want to thank you for kicking the Dallas Cowboys fans from your bar. The Commonwealth Tavern decided to host us this season and it was a great match. The average game had 75+ Cowboys fans buying food, drinks, and having a great Cowboy time. The owner of Commonwealth Tavern said that he never expected the turnout to be so great. Your decision to kick out the Dallas Cowboys fans was a great for another bars business and ended being great for the Dallas Cowboys fans. Thanks Brownstone!!

    (2)
  • Elle M.

    Three stars because everything was fine, but nothing was great. Friends & I had: warm pretzel app, shrimp bruschetta app. They were fine. The pretzels were actually a little under. Kind of doughy in the center, but otherwise okay. The bruschetta was better than I thought it was going to be. I find shrimp bruschetta to be weird concept. It was sort of an odd flavor combination of bruschetta and ceviche. Strange but tasty. I had the mac and cheese with andouille for my main and it was okay. The andouille wasn't incorporated into the pasta, just sort of laid on top, which made it a little dry. The mac & cheese was good. Could've used a little salt. Sweet potato fries were great. Nice and thin and crispy. Dark & stormies were good. I really like the atmosphere of the place, so I'd definitely go back to try more food.

    (3)
  • Meredith B.

    This is my official "neighborhoood bar" now, and I feel lucky that it's pretty above average in every way. The food menu is unique and the beer list is way more extensive than I expected. I've never spent much time inside, since it's usually pretty dark/loud inside, especially during sporting events. But the patio, though nothing super special, is a nice place to sit in summer time! They have heat lamps too for when the night gets chilly. I've had the turkey burger, fish tacos, and sweet potato fries - all good! The fish tacos are with battered cod, sauteed tilapia, or sauteed shrimp - you can also mix and match to your delight. I had one of each, really enjoying the cod and tilapia especially. The shrimp wasn't my favorite, cooked a little tough I think. FIsh tacos are only $3 on Wednesdays too, just one of many good specials! Sweet potato fries are addictive, and turkey burger was juicy and had plenty of avocado. I'm always happy to meet a friend here, and I'll likely be doing that lots since it's just a few steps away!

    (4)
  • Eva M.

    This is one of my favorite bars. What is so wonderful about this place is that the food is consistent, the service is exceptional and I am not a regular. Cool? RIght? My favorite annual event takes place at this bar. They do an amazing crawfish boil that goes beyond what a seafood restaurant in Chicago can do. Trust me, I know this from experience. It's super fun and a great scene on Derby Day. Burgers are wonderful. My favorite bar quesadillas are on this menu.

    (4)
  • Pat O.

    Really cool place, drinks were cold, and the food was great but the service, unacceptable. Server was very nice and I don't blame it on her, place was full and she had a lot of tables but as a customer, that's not my problem. First round of drinks took 20 minutes to come out (4 beers), and the food (4 burgers) took well over an hour if not an hour and a half. Again, quality food once it arrived but was just ridiculous how long it took. I'll give it one more shot since I was given a 25% off coupon at the end of the night but needless to say I do not have high expectations.

    (2)
  • Cody G.

    This neighborhood bar is amazing. The food is delicious. My vegetarian friends used to specifically request that we go to Brownstone so they could get the portabella Southwest Salad Wrap, and there are other good vegetarian options as well. I love burgers, and although it's the "healthy one," their turkey burger is my favorite burger on their menu, topped with avocado and chipotle aioli. Throw in the option of boneless chicken wings for an appetizer, and you've got three awesome choices right there. This isn't your typical "bar food" kind of place - it's GOOD food! And if you're looking to dine on a dime, then this is the place for you. Their specials are ridiculous. Mondays: $10 for ANY burger plus ANY beer on the menu? Grab yourself a Bison Burger and a Pumking and you've just cut your bill in half. Later in the week, $3 fish tacos? 50-cent wings? I literally can't even. Their beer selection is pretty solid, with great seasonal beers (I'm a sucker for Pumking, sorry), and they make some mean cocktails as well. Nothing to complain about when it comes to the menu or prices. It's kind of dark inside, so if you're looking for a very sunny spot, then this isn't necessarily the place for you on a summer afternoon... BUT, they also have outdoor seating, fully decked out with hot torches to keep it reasonable even in Chicago's roughest fall weather. So honestly, there are great options for ambiance for any time of year. And finally: the staff is wonderful. Having been to Brownstone several times over the last couple of years, I have been personally approached by both the last owner and the current owner while dining there, so management is always checking in to make sure you're enjoying your meal and everything is satisfactory. The wait staff is also incredibly friendly and patient, and always willing to acquiesce to your ridiculous order requests ("a side of barbecue sauce, hold the onions on the burger," etc.) with ACCURACY, which is always nice - they've never messed up any of my orders, ever. I've also been there with groups that get a bit rowdy (re: alcohol), but the staff has never been impatient or rude when dealing with the occasionally ridiculous patron (note: this bar is typically a slightly older crowd, maybe early 30s, so it's not full of drunk 20-somethings; you'll also see lots of families with kids on weekends, especially during brunch hours). The #1 selling point for me is trivia. The guy who runs it is HILARIOUS and incredibly personable, and runs a tight trivia game that never runs too long and always feels like the perfect amount of difficulty. Throw in the fact that trivia is on Mondays, during their $10 burger + beer special, and I have a hard time seeing why anyone would NOT go back to this place at least once a week. My only complaint about Brownstone WAS that I saw a few football games there, and the speakers were, in my opinion, way too loud. I mentioned this to the manager because my ears were kind of getting blown out during a Bears game; I have been to several games since then, and the volume has been fixed! The speakers seem to always be on a perfect setting now. You know a place is solid when management actually fixes something you consider problematic. It's a great place to go and I can't recommend it enough!

    (5)
  • Bailey D.

    If I could, this would be a 3.5 star review or even a 3.75 star review. Brownstone is a solid neighborhood bar. It's top notch bar food, with friendly service and a convenient location. They play the games real loud. They offer ample TV screens if sports is your thang. I go because it's in my hood and for the tiny but scrumptious $3 tacos. Kim Chi on a pork belly tostada? Love it! And for summer...they have a decent sidewalk patio.

    (3)
  • Steph H.

    I was in there this past weekend with a bunch of friends as the game was dying down. Shortly after the game, the place cleared out, and just us and a family with small children remained. I went outside to get something out of my trunk to give to a friend who was leaving, and when I walked outside, I realized I didn't have my sunglasses so I went back in to grab them from the booth. I asked the manager and waitress, and yet no one seemed to have seen them less than one minute later. There was literally no one else but a family in the bar several tables over. I am sure one of the staff members pocket them and wouldn't fess up unless my brand new sunglasses grew legs and walked out of an empty bar which honestly I wouldn't even be mad about since that would be pretty impressive...but since I don't do acid, I'm gonna go with stolen by the staff. Thanks a heap for snagging my brand new Ray Bans, Brownstone. See you never.

    (1)
  • Lindsay H.

    Great neighborhood bar with good specials.

    (4)
  • John W.

    Nice beer list

    (4)
  • Joe L.

    This place is pretty solid. Good menu with great wing night on Thursday. Full flavor with the buffalo, BBQ, and sweet & spicy wings.

    (4)
  • Meredith K.

    This is a fine bar. Very nice inside, and super friendly bartenders. I sat at the bar w/ an old friend to catch up. Good news! That day happened to be the wine special day - $5/glass. They also had $5 salads. Not bad! So we augmented our wine with one jalapeno pretzel and some hummus with guac. The pretzel was really good! Although I think it might be the kind that you can get in the supermarket. The cheese that came w/ it got glumpy really quick. The hummus part was interesting. Plenty of pita bread which is refreshing. I hate it when you get a big bowl of hummus and 4 triangles of pita. And carrots and cucumber that was cut in a way that made it easy to dip. The hummus was a little odd. It was an unnatural shade of orange and needed something to pep it up. It also came with a tiny little bit of guac with a ton of chips. The guac to chip ratio was way off. I would meet someone here to hang out again. The atmosphere is casual and not loud.

    (3)
  • Kathleen C.

    ICE CREAM COOKIE SUNDAE! Yes, that is my first comment about Brownstone...sad, I know, but I love them! I visited specifically to have an ice cream cookie sundae for a celebration dessert. And I was not disappointed. I have since visited a few additional times and I will also say that the food is good as well. Even on super busy days (Friday dinner when the happy hour crowd is still there...), service was present and not hurried. Considering how packed it was, I was pleased that food took an appropriate amount of time to come and service wasn't rushed or slow. All in all, I've had a good time here. If I need an ice cream cookie sundae fix, this will definitely be one of my first options! Service - 5 Value - 4 Atmosphere - 4 Food - 4 Bathrooms - 4

    (4)
  • Max I.

    I've been to Brownstone for lunch three times, mostly because it's nearby, and convenient when I'm out and about. The food is nothing special, but the service has been lacking each time. The second time my girlfriend and I went for lunch, the waitress didn't come back at all after we placed our entree orders. We ordered one salad to split since we filled up on appetizers, then waited 25 minutes until we finally cancelled and decided to leave. 25 minutes for a salad is beyond ridiculous, and to be fair, the owner understood that and comped our appetizer and drinks. The last time I went was yesterday. The service was fine at first, but after we received our appetizer with no plates, silverware, or even napkins, it started to become non-existent. Our waitress didn't come back to refill water or ask us if we needed anything until we were ready for the bill. If the service isn't so consistently bad every time I go here, it would be at least a serviceable place to grab a quick lunch on a weekend afternoon. The convenience of the location can't make up for the forgettable food and consistently poor service, meaning I'll probably have to give Brownstone a pass next time.

    (2)
  • Iliana V.

    I constantly drove by this place and always wondered if it would be as good as it looks. I finally decided to try it out on a Friday night and although the food was pretty good the service sucked. My boyfriend and I sat down in a corner booth, the waitress dropped off menus and ran off. She didn't even say hello or make any welcoming remarks. When she came back she asked what we wanted to drink, I asked if there were any specials and she said "only the fireballs." Now I went on a Friday night, because according to website, the Friday specials are: $5 Absolute Cocktails $3 Fireball Shots $1 Mini Burgers after 4pm the waitress did not mention any of these at all. She barely checked in with us and had a bad attitude; as if me asking for a napkin or ranch sauce was a bother to her. The food was served, I had ordered boneless wings and my boyfriend ordered a buffalo sandwich and the food was great however it was the horrible service that left a bad taste in my mouth.

    (1)
  • Julianne P.

    We live in the neighborhood and don't come here enough but when we do it's primarily for the food. Service is always great but the food - great stuff for a neighborhood sports bar. Favorites include chili Mac (which the husband and I debated about -- is it chili Mac or goulash? Depends where you grew up I suppose), Greek salad, southwest salad, sweet potato TOTS, and and lastly the amazing handmade turkey burger. I honestly have never had a better tasting turkey burger in the city and I'm a gal who digs red meat. Thumbs up to Brownstone for bar food that's fresh!

    (5)
  • Richard L.

    Stopped by before seeing a band play down the street. The late night fair was half price and pretty nice. Tacos all around.

    (5)
  • Andrew M.

    Do you like (American) football? Enjoy a good beer? Great! Oh, and do you support the Redskins? Yes, you say? Get out! This is a Cowboys bar! And that's pretty much all you need to know about Brownstone. Despite the name, this is the place to go to watch the game if you happen to be a Dallas Cowboys fan. Whenever there is a game on, this place is packed to the gills with Texans knocking back beers while cheering on their team. On those nights that the Cowboys aren't being shown on one of the many TV screens that cover the walls of this place, Brownstone is still a good place to grab a beer and chat to your mates, erm, friends. The buffalo wings are tasty with crispy skins, tender meat, and a fairly hot buffalo sauce. Extra points that they give you plenty of blue cheese dressing for dipping and napkins for wiping yourself down. Portion sizes are pretty large (though on par for the US) so more than enough food to keep you happy. They have Blue Moon on tap as well as a number of lesser known beers and even more in bottle form behind the bar. There is also Miller Lite on tap but we won't penalise them too much for that. Special mention to the gorgeous blonde bartender who was happy to talk while she pulled some pints for us. Word to the wise, buy your bartender a drink. If she's going to be spending ages sorting out your order, the least you could do is make her feeling included! All in all, Brownstone is a good time to be had. Just watch out for that old Cowboys fan who inists on talking your ear off about the game while you're just trying to get rid of some of that beer you drank. Seriously, who talks in a men's toilet?

    (4)
  • Kin B.

    My girlfriend and I decided to meet up here with a friend. It's not our neighborhood bar, but a nice place to be when a game is on. Standard service, but they were accommodating to our requests; drink not being strong enough or changing the channel. Worth a visit for a craft beer. Service: 4 Atmosphere: 3 Food/Drinks: 3.5 Restrooms: 4 ------ We agree that the patrons can seem a bit douchey; One approached us while the Bulls preseason game was on and decided to throw out his two cents before leaving -- "You know it's only preseason, right? Derrick Rose is a va***a." You're a clown.

    (3)
  • Esther L.

    20 min of waiting and we finally got water then after another 15 we got a soft pretzel. Service was terrible. After waving down another server and making eye contact she completely ignored us. Finally, when she walked by we said "HEY!" and she turned around clueless. I had to walk up to the server station and wait while they took my payment. I don't know who runs that place but either they are terrible at their job or were completely absent.

    (1)
  • Faith T.

    I will never have children because I know I could never love them as much as I love Brownstone's burgers. And that damn skillet cookie. Don't get me started. The last time I was here, there was this short little man in his thirties who was screaming at a Cubs game of all things (spoiler alert. .. they're not making it to the World Series) and then tried to fight my small female friend and I. The woman behind the bar with the adorable accent apologized to us, bought us a round, and handled the situation in a very classy manner. Their daily specials are also fantastic.

    (5)
  • Patrick H.

    Walked in for a quick pint and found some television show on every TV with the volume up so loud it made my ears bleed. Noped right back out.

    (1)
  • Courtney W.

    This is a solid neighborhood hangout. The beer is good and the food is decent too. After a few brews PLEASE order the pretzels (the sauces alone are reason enough!) They have a decent patio in the summer as well, can't beat that. Street parking is never hard to find. I don't know of many other bars in the area, so if you come here be prepared to take a cab to other fun spots or just park it for the night. This place can get a little rowdy during Hawks and Bears season!

    (4)
  • Cara B.

    Great bar food. Awful service. You would expect more from a four corners restaurant. My group came in on a Thursday night after a volleyball game at Montrose Beach. Brownstone was nearly full but we were seated right away. It took more than 10 minutes for our server to come over to ask for our drink order. At this point we knew we should order our food right away. Our server did not write down our order. Now... even if you remember everything all the time just doodle in your notebook so it looks like you are taking the orders down. If you don't write the order down, I'm going to assume that every restaurant mistake is your fault since you don't write things down. Food came out in a reasonable time but one person received tater tots instead of the pear and goat cheese salad she ordered. Server took over 5 minutes to check on us. At this point the rest of the group had to start eating since our food was getting cold. Server noticed the tots and said there was a mistake and that we should keep them. Great! I would hope that these weren't going back to whichever table ordered them. Server said that she would bring the pear and goat cheese salad out right away. 10 minutes later the salad was out. Seriously.... it doesn't have meat on it so who knows why it took so long. It was disappointing that the girl who ordered the salad had to eat after everyone was finished. To redeem herself the server took off the salad and comp'ed the tots. That was a nice gesture on her part. I'm not sure if Brownstone was understaffed that night or what was going on but I would hope that next time I go the service will be more attentive.

    (2)
  • Jen D.

    Despite living in the neighborhood for over five years, I just visited for the first time. Sat mid-afternoon lunch with friends and their 3 babies. Pretty good bar food. The fish tacos, smoked Mac and cheese with bacon and tortilla soup drew the strongest reviews. Lots of TVs, good beer selection, fast and helpful service and reasonable prices. I would put this near or at the top for bars with food in the area. It's loud enough to drown out any noises kids make, yet conversation is still possible and my friend's baby slept through the noise. Net net- this place works for those who are dragging kids around yet want to have a good beer and meal- and works for those who don't really like kids much. Speaking of which, it's far more tolerable than the annoying kids next to me on the el right now.

    (3)
  • Brian W.

    I went there for an event, so my perspective is a little different. That said, this is a nice place, good music, good drinks, decent food (although we had a buffet). I'd be interested to come back if I'm close by again.

    (4)
  • Yvette I.

    I have nothing bad to say about the bar. Everything about the bar was great, as far as the bar looked well stocked, and it's clean. The bartender at the bar looked like he wasn't old enough to sell drinks LOL, but that wasn't my problem with him. ( in fact if he looks younger, then he must be doing something right). It was a weekday, evening hours, so there were only a few people in there. My girl friend and I were sitting at the bar, so picture this it's quiet so it doesn't take much for the bartender to hear what we were talking about. No big deal. However the big deal came when every time my girl friend and I said something he felt he needed to say something rude to us or say it under his breath, but still loud enough that we could hear it, because even though he thought he was talking to himself, the bar was quiet. So basically talk about us while walking away but not to our face. ( never understood why people are like that.) but it was rude, and I unprofessional. So I figured since he had so etching to say, I'd ask him to say it. So I asked him" I'm sorry, did you say something to us". He said, "no", all snarky. So the next time he said something, I politely repeated it. He gave me a dirty look for it, ( because he was busted). So we left! It would be one thing if the bartender was bored because no one was in there and started to talk to us now and then, but his actions were uncalled for. Would I go back again, Yes for the place, but not if that bartender was working. Just don't go there when a tall young guy with blonde hair is working.

    (3)
  • C G.

    One of the few true cowboys fan bars in chitown... with great food to boot! Vast selection of beers as well.

    (4)
  • tim l.

    The food was decent but service was not efficient. We received more attention as we were leaving than we had received from the moment we sat down to the point where we were served.

    (3)
  • Yanyao N.

    Want to have a great time at Brownstone? Follow these tips: * Say hello to Thony, the dude with the beard! He is a doll. * Order the tater tots. They are so crispy and hot and awesome. TOTS! * Order the mac & cheese. Shells in a SMOKED CHEDDAR CHEESE SAUCE. Yes. Believe it. With breadcrumb topping and scallions. So good. Totally worth cheating on every diet for. But who diets anyway? * Better yet? Add Andouille sausage to the mac & cheese. Now you've covered the important food groups of: meat, carbs, and cheese. You win! * Thirsty? Drink some drafts beers. (I am quite fond of their iced tea). * A different kind of thirsty? Take a Cinnamon Apple Jameson shot (or five). Ordinarily, Jameson makes me make my "tastes like poison!" face. But this? This shot is delicious. Infused in-house with organic apples and cinnamon sticks. It tastes like apple juice for adults. They do Trivia Nights on Tuesdays at 8pm. I'm going to start recruiting the best team ever! First round of Cinnamon Apple Jameson shots is on me. Who's in?

    (5)
  • Mary W.

    This review is solely based on the customer service we just experienced. We came here on a Saturday night to watch the Michigan game. The bar wasn't that packed but 1/3 of it was reserved for a party at 8:30 pm. (Note that the time was 8:50.) We asked the bartender if there was anywhere to sit and he pointed to a table that had reserved on it. Just as we sat down a waitress rudely blurted out that the table was reserved. Not only did she not look at us when she said this but just walked away and didn't offer any help to find us a table that we could sit at. We live only a couple of blocks away from Brownstone but we will not be back and not recommend this bar to any of our friends. Too bad since we are so close but the waitress ruined it for us. Update: I have been back and the service was better.

    (3)
  • Jen B.

    Last year some friends and I had a list of bars to try out in hopes of finding a new hangout. We intended to shop around for a couple months before picking a winner. Instead, on week 3 we went to Brownstone and never looked back. Where do I begin? Great food: delicious homemade burgers (a wide variety), plus lots of non-traditional bar food--great salads, the AMAZING skillet cookie and lots more. Tons of drink options (of course), reasonable prices and nightly specials. Great atmosphere: enough TVs to satisfy sports fans, but not overwhelming. Good background music. They also have weekly trivia. The place is so non-douchey that I'd even call it family-friendly. The decor is nice, and they have outdoor space too. I think my favorite thing though is the staff and management. One of our criteria in choosing our "home" bar was excellent service. The waitstaff, bartenders and bussers are attentive without being annoying. The management is great. During one of our first visits, my order didn't come out quite right. It was a minor error, but the manager apologized, fixed the problem immediately and sent over a skillet cookie for the table. This was for a MINOR problem--the management was so nice that I keep hoping for a major error. :) In case you hadn't noticed, I can't recommend this place enough.

    (5)
  • Lola K P.

    Great neighborhood bar. Sat outside, the six of us all enjoyed our food. Hubby especially liked his fish tacos, and he's notoriously picky about that (San Diego and Baja food trucks the best), so I'm impressed. My cheesesteak was very good, and anyone that serves sweet potato fries is good in my book. Very enjoyable.

    (4)
  • Megan G.

    Yes, I'm actually giving Brownstone 5 stars. Is it as good as the city's fine dining establishments? Of course not, but Brownstone is the best example I've found of what it is - a neighborhood pub/sports bar. When my friends and I don't want to think too hard about where to meet up for dinner or drinks, this is where we go. Let me recount the ways in which Brownstone is awesome: * Plentiful, though sadly metered, street-parking * Darn solid list of craft beers * $4 draft special on Thursdays that applies to the above mentioned craft beers * I've always been able to get a table here, even if there's a major sporting event happening * Speaking of that, lots and lots of tv's kept tuned too all pro football games * A more creative menu than you'd expect for a place like this - I especially love the falafel burger and fish/shrimp tacos * Ample vegetarian choices for my veggie friends * Friendly waitstaff that allow you to linger as long as you'd like, even if you aren't ordering more drinks * Good prices on both food and drinks * TOTS! Seriously, the best tots I've found in the city So that's my review, short and sweet. Like I said, Brownstone is what it is, but they're doing the sports bar thing exceptionally well.

    (5)
  • Jaime M.

    Went there for the first time last night (Friday), what a great place! This is a very chill, friendly neighborhood bar with a great beer selection and good food. Actually the quality of the food pleasantly surprised me. We had the Queso, which was made with a delicious blend of cheeses and what tasted like home-made tortilla chips, which were thin, light, crunchy, lightly salted and hot out of the oven, wow! I then had the cheeseburger (and I asked for Gouda cheese) which at first looked small on the plate but which ended up being the perfect portion. It was delicious! It tasted like a really good home-made burger and it was so easy to handle, nothing spilled, and was the perfect size, so juicy and flavorful, my mouth is watering as I remember it. Then we ordered the skillet cookie which was incredible. To wash it all down I asked for their rotating Revolution beer on tap which I loved. To top it all off our server was very nice, smiling and present when we needed her. Definitely going back!

    (5)
  • Lauren F.

    My boyfriend and I were in the mood for dinner out one Wednesday night and decided to finally try Brownstone...it was $5 salad night so why not?! What was I upset about when we were leaving??? That this was our first time eating here! They have great daily specials, great food, and a great beer selection-everything that I love! I've been trying to eat a little healthier lately so we ordered the Hummus & Guacamole appetizer to start-it was awesome! Fresh dips and veggies, homemade tortilla chips and warm pita triangles...win! My boyfriend went with the Southwest Salad for dinner (even though we were full from just the appetizer!). Wednesdays are $5 salad days which is a fantastic good deal because not only are their salads awesome, they're huge! I ordered the Blackened Tilapia sandwich with no bun...so basically just a piece of blackened tilapia...and a side of sweet potato fries. The tilapia was sooo good, very tasty blackening seasoning that had a tiny kick at the end and the chili garlic aioli on top went perfectly. Their sweet potato fries are skinny and crunchy-perfect in my book. The only thing that left a little to be desired at Brownstone was our waitress, not very attentive, but other than that we thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be back!!

    (4)
  • Megan W.

    My family scheduled a private party to celebrate my cousin's engagement. Details were confirmed for months, only for us to receive an unapologetic email weeks before the event saying Brownstone could no longer host the party. Who does business like this? Sixty people were scheduled to attend, and we had to scramble at the eleventh hour to find a new location. We will not be patronizing Brownstone again. Two big thumbs down!

    (1)
  • Jackie G.

    A warm & fuzzy place! Yummy mushroom soup. Will be back!

    (4)
  • Nicole W.

    It's a solid bar. With equally solid eats...especially if you order the jalapeno pretzel. If you take away nothing else from this review, please remember to order the jalapeno pretzel stuffed with cheese. It's magical. The sister bar of Gaslight, Brownstone is equally as vibrant. It's a sport bar, friends. It's going to be noisy when there is any sort of game on. It also may be a tad difficult to get your food and drinks quickly, but the servers seem to work pretty efficiently. There are plenty of TVs to catch the game, so while you're watching (and eating the cheese stuffed jalapeno pretzel), don't overlook the other items on the menu. If you're feeling healthy, the avocado mango salad is pretty on point. Super fresh and gigantic, my main complaint is that it was lacking in avocado. But hey, it's still a trough of salad. Next time I'm in the area, I'd be more than likely to pop in to Brownstone for a beer and a pretzel.

    (4)
  • Kimberly H.

    I've come here 3 or 4 times now, and I really like the fresh salad, wrap and taco choices they offer, especially the pear and goat cheese salad. The service is decent, and drink prices are ok, too. When I came on a Sunday I thought it was cool that anything fried was half off (including a buffalo chicken salad with fried chicken!). I came a different night and they had a good special on tacos. Then I saw they had a special for a deal on a wrap and glass of wine on Tuesdays. Keeping that in mind, I told a girlfriend to meet me there. We got there at about 6:30, and when we went to get that special, we were told it wasn't offered because of the Blackhawks game starting at 7. Aaand that's why Brownstone loses a star. What's the point of offering specials each night if I have to check game schedules to see if I can get them or not? In that case, I'll keep going up Lincoln to the Wild Goose where I know they always have wraps half off on Tuesdays, no matter what.

    (3)
  • Izzy N.

    Not bad. I like the space, it's popular I see due to the crowds and people hanging by the door waiting for a table. I didn't get to try these so called amazing tots nor fries but I did get the mac and cheese with grilled onions added to it. It was kinda tasty but lacked sauce.. the pasta to cheese sauce ratio was way off. That was disappointing. And it was topped with green onions. I hate that shit. I didn't get much of a breadcrumb topping either. Bad night cuz it's busy busy? I hope so. The grilled onions were pretty perfect though and a good compliment to the dish. But more sauce damnit. I felt like I was eating nearly just all plain pasta. I was yearning for that ooey gooey fatty goodness that I associate with mac and cheese and after a hefty lunch of dim sum, it's what I wanted. But didn't get so I settled for mediocre tamales from the tamale man later. I'd come to Brownstone again.. I like the dark wood/cozy vibe going on. Good place to catch a game and I want to give the mac and cheese another shot. Very reasonable prices and a nice change from my touristy neighborhood.

    (3)
  • Michael M.

    The food is good, decent prices , & nice atmosphere. Even though I don't live in this neighborhood, Coming back & doing so often!

    (4)
  • Erick R.

    Great service. Awesome beer selection. Craft beers on draught. Texas queso is a great appetizer. Philly steak was fantastic! $5 Sunday buffalo chicken sandwich kicked ass. Seasoned fries were really thin and crispy. Mini burgers were tasty. Very kid friendly. Skillet cookie rocks!

    (5)
  • Marnie S.

    Brownstone boasts a nice dark-wood bar. But that's about where the worthwhile aspects stop. If you're willing to pay for $10 rail whiskey shots in order to enjoy a bit of replicable ambiance, though, this is the place.

    (2)
  • William H.

    Bad food, TERRIBLE SERVICE. Went there as family of five, took over half hour to take our order. Food took over one hour, and then ONLY TWO OF FIVE MEALS EVER SERVED. OTHERS "LOST IN KITCHEN." Manager came over, was pathetic, unable to help in any way. Go to O'Donovans instead.

    (1)
  • Daniela D.

    Super Bowl at the Brownstone Tavern and Grill, this was fun! The place was busy and they have lots of TVs to watch the game. The food was good, we tried the veggie burgers, sweet potato fries, the crispy shrimp, and the chicken skewers. Our waitress was great. And they had beer specials.

    (5)
  • Shelly A.

    Brownstone is a great find on Lincoln Ave. It's perfectly located so that it attracts a crowd, but never gets obnoxiously packed. The outdoor space is really nice, and the service both indoors and outdoors is fast and friendly. The food was good too, above average for "bar food." They have great specials during the week, and it's a great place to grab a booth and catch up with friends. I'm glad to live closeby - this is definitely one of my favorites of the Four Corners group.

    (4)
  • Patrick M.

    I always have a good experience at Brownstone. Service can be a bit hit or miss at times, but the nachos are fab.

    (4)
  • Happiness L.

    A great place to come and dining outside on a warm day is a real treat. Enjoyed many things here over the years...especially enjoy the chili mac, pretzels, and bison burger. The staff is super friendly and helpful, and a special "Yay!" for the awesome bussers who really care about the customers.

    (4)
  • Hansin J.

    This place is whatever. I would be fine not coming back here. The service was mediocre actually it was rude in a strange way. Waitress had this fake smile and did not seem like she wanted to be at work. The salad was cheap though which is why I give it 3 stars and not two.

    (3)
  • Amanda R.

    Loved the burger! Also have actual melted queso here, not as good as in Texas, but sure beats these other "Mexican" restaurants on the queso.

    (4)
  • Susan F.

    Being privy to mostly all of the Four Corners bars in Chicago, I wasn't surprised when riding south of Lincoln Square that there was yet another bar that boasts a similar feel to my neighborhood Kirkwood Bar. The corner bar is at a great location with outdoor seating. The menu had more craft beers than its other sister bars which is always a plus, and of course, daily specials. We snagged a table right away outside, there were about 10 tables. We knew that there was a $7 5oz craft brew tasting on Thursdays and $2.50 fish tacos. This alone, sold us. However, the craft brews you could choose from were limited to their draft list, not bottle list...bummmaaaa. The fish tacos are the way to go, my friends. Let me break it down for you. Fish tacos, $2.5 a pop, with a 2 taco minimum. Oh, so doable! But wait, there's more! You get to choose from tilapia, shrimp, or cod. Wow, I actually get choices for my cheap ass tacos? Count me in! But wait... You ALSO get a side of your choosing! Basically, you get an entire meal for $5 I got a shrimp and a tilapia taco. They were both great, not greasy, filled to the brim with cabbage, lettuce, and a tangy type of ranchero sauce. Better yet, they came with really good salsa with a spike of cilantro...uh sshheaayy!! I opted for the sweet potato fries which were in between stringy and regular size and not greasy at all. Hands down, if you choose to come here on a Thursday, go for the tacos. The rest of the menu looked great, I believe I saw BBQ shrimp quesadillas!

    (4)
  • Gabriela J.

    I love this place . Food is good and they are very friendly . We go there with our two year old and they are very nice with her :)

    (5)
  • Alex Z.

    I go here every week either for the amazing burger special on Monday or the salad special on Tuesday. These deals have spoiled me and I have trouble enjoying other burgers at pubs when I know such a quality institution is right around the corner. For example the $5 turkey burger has a huge turkey patty on a bun with mixed greens aioli, AVOCADO, etc. definitely a million times than anything you would get for the same price at McDonalds, and 2x as good and half the price of many competing venues nearby. The venue is clean, with lots of TVs and the music is great. The wait staff are incredibly friendly and sociable. They are pretty knowledgeable about the beer selection which is also very nice. Tuesday they have a really popular trivia which is really well organized. I'm not really a trivia person so I'll leave it to other reviewers to review that aspect. I would say it's one of chicago's hidden gems.

    (5)
  • Kay K.

    This place is pretty great! The environment is nice & the food is excellent! The service was just okay. The tilapia tacos were delicious! And the cookie skillet is amazing!!! I have been craving it ever since I left here - I will definitely be back!

    (4)
  • S M.

    I've loved this place since it opened- great food, friendly staff and always fun trivia. We decided to try it out for New Year's Eve last night, which was a great option and the first time we've been out on NYE since our kids were born! They had an amazing package with great food, servers and staff for drink orders, passing out champagne, etc. We were able to get a small table (even with some confusion, which the manager handled in a very professional, helpful manner) and that made the night great. They had a nice spread of food and a premium bar for a super price and it exceeded expectations. Very organized, thoughtful and helpful with an event (coat check, good music, passed food as well as buffet). Thanks for all your hard work to make it great! Emily was the best server I've had in a long time, too. She checked in often and remembered our orders every time! I would highlight recommend this restaurant for a date night, family dinner or big event.

    (5)
  • Melanie S.

    I've been to Brownstone +/- six times. It's not one of those places that I look forward to going to, but it's also not a place I openly avoid either. I seem to end up here out of convenience more than anything else. The clientele is a little too young and rowdy for me, but it's not on the level of say, any bar in W'Ville (which I'd rather gargle glass than go to), so I can spend an hour or two in here without wanting to blow my brains out. The crowd on a game night (which was the case the last time I was there) is, as expected, noisy, and when it's busy, it can be difficult to get a drink. Had I remembered that there was a game, we would have opted to go elsewhere before seeing our show at Martyrs. The food is decent, nothing to knock your socks off. Their wings are passable and their tater tots are great (but when was the last time you had a bad tater tot?). The beer selection is decent and prices are on par with just about any other establishment in the area. Even when it's frightfully crowded, the staff still endeavors to give good and friendly service. Brownstone is a nice spot to have a drink or some food if you're in the neighborhood, and despite the fact that there are dozens of other places I'd rather go, I'm sure circumstances will find me back here again; that's just how it goes. 2.5 stars.

    (3)
  • Mad I.

    Awesome! Love four corners, esp gaslight in the winter. Jalapeno pretzel-yum! Chili Mac-double yum! Quesadilla-different in that the chicken is on a red sauce, loved it

    (5)
  • Michael A.

    I ordered food from Brownstone for delivery through GrubHub. It took an hour to arrive. The food was cold and the three drinks that were ordered was not delivered. I called the delivery guy immediately, he said he did not have them and that was all he was given to deliver. He advised I called the restaurant, but at that time it was closed. I called the following night to mention it to the staff. The young lady who answered the phone listened and had me hold for a manager. The manager avoided speaking with me, but told the girl to let me know that I could pick up the drinks if I wanted. e___e The phone call ended with the girl on the phone laughing at me. Aside from the disappointment of not having the drinks we payed for, the cold food was delicious! I would order from here again had they offered some sort of discount on my next order (or free drinks) to compensate for their lack of providing excellent customer service the first time around.

    (3)
  • Mary T.

    Do you ever wonder what your life would look like if you'd done one thing differently? I'm happy with my life, but walking into Brownstone flooded me with some "what if" thoughts. Confused? Let me take a step back. Fresh out of college and not ready to enter the workforce, I applied for a job at a bar in my hometown. Much to my chagrin, they were only hiring for their soon-to-be city location. I took the job and quickly met a cute boy at work. When the new location was ready to open, I had a major crisis; you know, like the Iran-Contra Affair or bangs. It probably went like this: Like OMG, why do I have to be banished to some uncool part of the city; far, far away from my soulmate. I will die. DIE. I. TELL. YOU! Life is soooo unfair. ::sobs uncontrollably and stomps around:: I stayed with the boy and never transferred. However, neither the bar or the relationship lasted; today, the bar goes by the name of Brownstone and the boy....well, he's ancient history. I ended up at Brownstone after a show at Martyr's sold out literally in front of our faces. My friend suggested Brownstone and I'm really glad she did, not just for the trip down memory lane. On a Tuesday the place was packed and loud, really loud. Per our server, trivia usually draws a crowd, but she thought a perfect storm of sporting events was a heavily influenced the uber crowd. Service was friendly, but a bit more inattentive than I would've liked, but I totally understood as our server was slammed and really busting her ass. I ordered the smoked cheddar mac & cheese and finally had an opportunity to try Three Floyds Gumballhead. I attempted to try Gumballhead a few places recently, only to be shot down, which piqued my interest in the elusive local-ish brew. If you haven't tried it, you should. The mac and cheese was fantastic. The sauce was perfect; nice and creamy and they didn't oversell its smokiness. The shells were the perfect noodle choice, standing up well to the sauce. At $6, I found the dish quite the value; the rest of the menu, higher-end bar fare, looked quite delicious too and had a little something for everyone. The menu isn't the only thing different about this self-described sports bar. The interior is dark, warm and cozy; I think I'd enjoy it as much (if not more) if the TV's were absent. It was a perfect place to escape on a cold, wintry Chicago evening for a while. The only aspect I found confusing was the bathroom. The sign for each bathroom is next to a door, naturally I assumed that door was the bathroom, but lo and behold - it was a storage closet. Great food, great beer list, great atmosphere, fun memories; I can't wait to return.

    (4)
  • Geoff N.

    Better than average pub food, lots of TVs and fantastic beer selection. Rated this place a 4/5 as it's not my first choice for games but that's probably because its not a packers bar... Tried the short rib panini, and it was pretty good. We visited on 1-5-13 for Packers Vikings game. Would definitely try again sometime in the future.

    (4)
  • Kimberly S.

    I love this bar!! We actually moved about a mile away and will still drive here any day of the week for some good bar food and drinks. Regardless of the day of the week there is usually a good atmosphere (we hate being the only people in a bar). I always get the same thing when I come here fish tacos with seasoned french fries and it is always amazing. I actually crave fish tacos once a week and they give me my fix. On Wed nights it $2.50 tacos, who can go wrong. My only advice is if you do plan to stop by on Sunday make sure it's not during a Dallas game... this place was rowdy!

    (5)
  • Magen R.

    I am a big fan of all of the Four Corners Group's restaurants but I'd have to say that Brownstone is at the top of my list. I went here today for lunch and it reminded me that I should probably give it the positive review it has earned after my experiences there. The atmosphere at Brownstone is very relaxed and casual, very fitting for the north center/roscoe village neighborhood it inhabits. Today was the first time I sat on the patio and it had a great ambiance I loved how they had couches out for people to lounge it. It made me want to relax and stay all day! The food at Brownstone is also delicious. My favorite would have to be the southwest salad turned into a wrap with their awesome fries but pretty much everything I've had has been good. They have $5 appetizers all weekend long which is pretty incredible. Today we tried out the boneless buffalo wings, reuben rolls and guacamole and hummus plate. Everything was really yummy and it was a great deal for a lunch in the city! I've also played trivia at Brownstone before and they have a neat set up that I have not seen at other bars. All the trivia questions are up on the screens and it is very interactive. If you like playing trivia and would like to mix it up I'd definitely try Brownstone. My only complaint is that I wish they had a brunch on Saturdays and Sundays!

    (4)
  • Meredith U.

    Moved from North Center over a year ago and my husband and I still make an effort to go to brownstone whenever we get back to the city. Good, solid bar food. Love the salads, love the burgers, love the hummus and guac appetizer. You can't go wrong.

    (4)
  • Monika N.

    While the food at this bar may be considered 'bar food' it is a far cry from the bar food I'm accustomed to! I chose to order the pear goat cheese salad with grilled chicken. I was not disappointed - the salad had the perfect amount of dressing and the goat cheese medallion was delicious! And despite the fact that we walked in mid-trivia we were seated immediately - which is a huge plus!

    (5)
  • Kori E.

    Came here on a Friday night and were seated immediately, although shortly thereafter the bar started to fill up quickly! We started off with the chips and cheese dip, and we had to send the chips back! They were COVERED in this un-edible, completely too spicy seasoning. She brought us out some fresh ones with no seasoning and it was much better. So, if you plan on ordering the chips, I would hold off on the seasoning, its just too overpowering! I had the BBQ Chicken Salad, and it was really good. I love when my salads are chopped to small pieces (easier to eat). Our experience was overall a good one. I dont live in this neighborhood, but if I am out around here I would definitely stop in again.

    (3)
  • Brett F.

    Totally solid tavern experience. Things to Love about Brownstone: + The cozy, comfy, almost homey feel that immediately envelops you, giving you that Cheers "where everybody knows your name" feeling, even when obviously they don't. + A proper, though not over-the-top, beer selection. Magic Hat #9 (in addition to Dogfish 60 min and Half Acre Daisy Cutter) on tap means crisp, refreshing, pale ale joy all night long. + Fabulous, glorious, plentiful seating. Booths, tables, bar seating galore! Get your meat in a seat, it's comfy! + Great private party space. Elevated and restricted just off the main bar floor means dedicated space for your party without being tucked away from the Brownstone main action and people watching. + Tots! Yep, we know their tots are famous and for good reason. They're delish and just as crunchy, tasty, yummy as you've heard. Fortunately the rest of the menu follows droolworthy suit with delicious burgers on pretzel buns, jumbo wings, warm soft pretzels and my favorite, the chilimac, half mac 'n cheese, half chili, 100% awesome. Things to NOT love about Brownstone: - The crowd can often get a little dude heavy. Some said dudes think it's ok to touch, grope, or vag punch chickies as they walk by to the ladies room. This is not OK. I don't care how funny hoo-ha checking a fupa is.

    (4)
  • Angie M.

    TOTS! I mean... TOTS! There's a lot of hoopla out there about which restaurant serves up the best tater tots in Chicago. I'd like to throw Brownstone into the running. Reasons why? 1. Crunchy as hell on the outside. 2. Silky smooth creaminess on the inside. 3. Just enough salt. 4. Served piping hot even though we obnoxiously put our food order in as the kitchen was closing. I feel like the chefs could have easily given us old, lukewarm tots since they were probably less than thrilled about making our order so late in the game. But they didn't. Hence, forerunner for Best Tots in Chicago. The rest of the food ain't bad, either! My Southwest wrap was chock-full of Chopped Romaine, Monterrey Jack, diced tomatoes, avocado, black beans and corn tossed in a zesty south of the border dressing. Just what the doctor ordered after a show at the Aragon. Tots aside, I'm lovin' Brownstone. The truth is I really always have loved Brownstone. When I lived in the neighborhood, it was my secret weapon first date spot. Close to home. Enough people to have a lively atmosphere, but you can 99.9% of the time get a table right away. Well above average pub grub (TOTS!) and a decent beer selection make it just the place to get to know someone. Since Brownstone is owned by the same crowd that owns Schoolyard, Gaslight, Westend, Sidebar and Kirkwood it has a similar feel as its siblings: Lots of dark wood, lots of TVs, good beer selection, above average food menu and decent music. It's very much the type of place that is frequented by the +30 crowd. I'm down with that. The service is not bad, either. Usually in a bar-type establishment the service is totally lacking, but the gals waiting tables at Brownstone did a bang-up job making sure our food was ordered before the kitchen closed (THANK GOD), our glasses were always full and the check was issued in a timely fashion. Now that I don't live up north, my secret weapon first date spot has changed, but my heart remains with Brownstone.

    (4)
  • Seth M.

    Family's beware. Service is painful and slow. I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon for lunch, before things would get crazy. (yes, it's bar and college football is on TV) Nice day, decided to sit outside. There were 3 family's in our little area in the back. First family decided after waiting forever that they would just leave. The food for the kids came, but never for the adults. They cancelled their food order and left. (note - kids can't sit idle for that long). The second family was the same, food came for Mom/Dad and only one of two kids. I think they waited 20+ minutes for the 2nd kinds mini burger to show up. Really!!? Meanwhile, orders for mini burgers are being seen sent to other areas. Really!!? My experience was equally laughable. Food for the little one came out quickly, but she was done and ready to go in the 30+ minutes I had to wait (starting at when her's came out). Also waited 4EVER just for a glass of ice. Too bad. Food is good, but think twice if you have little ones.. 3 Family's, 3 bad experiences.

    (1)
  • Rachel V.

    OHMYGOSH, Who would've thought the food would be SO delicious here?! My visit to Brownstone came as kind of a last-minute, hockey-watching night. They have plenty of TV's for such an endeavor. We were completely surprised by how good (and cheap) the food was. I had mac and cheese with sausage, which I'm kind of craving as I write this. But really, everyone LOVED their meal, and they have a good beer selection too. Plus, the atmosphere is awesome - perfect for mid-late 20 something's who want good food, good beer, and a bright place to be with friends.

    (5)
  • Masha L.

    The bar is decent, but the management is GREEDY! The guy made a big deal about $5 after we payed $60. He Made us uncomfortable and pretty much chased everyone out. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to keep the customers happy...

    (1)
  • Jennifer N.

    i love this place.

    (5)
  • Michael P.

    Here's my review of "Mrs Murphy's Irish Bistro" and how Brownstone picked up the slack with kick ass food and kick ass service and kick ass atmosphere (also, best turkey burger I've ever had): Review for Mrs. Murphy's on Lincoln: You people with the five star reviews are kidding, right? Am I the first person to notice that the "pints" of Guinness are less than a pint? That's just thieving, at that point: Order a Guinness in Chicago at an Irish bar and not get a pint? Thieves. Even the poor girl at the bar had a hard time lying about them being a "pint". Yes, she admitted they were not pints. I'm surprised Guinness lets them get away with this crap. Never got food because (a) the cheating (yes, cheating) on the pints, and (b) they seemed wholly uninterested in serving food - some kind of "bar menu" on a Sunday afternoon. Not interested. Oh, also, they tried cheating us on the tax on two drinks, also. Thieves. You stink, Irish Bistro. Oh, and P.S., had a great time and sandwich and service at Brownstone, just up the street.

    (5)
  • Julie Y.

    Me and my friends go here all the time since we live so close. The food is amazing and everyone that works there is awesome!

    (5)
  • Ryan S.

    Better than last time... So far

    (4)
  • Bridget K.

    For a period of time my older brother was really into GroupOns and all of those online deals. Since the Brownstone is close to his place he bought two deals. We were running out of time to use them. We ended up going two days in a row on a Friday and Saturday night. The food is upscale pub food. The prices are pretty decent as well. The first night I opted for the Fish Tacos which I substituted for shrimp. They were great especially with the fresh lime squeezed over top. My mouth is starting to water just thinking about them. The second night I opted for the chilli mac which is awesome and some sweet potato fries. You can not go wrong with the food at the Brownstone. They also have decent amount of vegetarian options which is important because my sister is a vegetarian. The atmosphere was also nice. Friday night we were able to watch all of the NHL play-off games. Saturday we were able to watch more play-off games and the Bulls game. This would be a great place to head on Saturday to watch Texas games because they are University of Texas bar.

    (4)
  • Lance E.

    I've always had a great experience at Brownstone. Both the food and service are great. Last time I was there I had the skirt steak sandwich which was done perfectly. The mac n cheese is awesome too. Great place to watch a game or sit outside on the patio and people-watch. Highly recommended!

    (5)
  • Niki C.

    Part of the Four Corners group of bars/restaurants (Gaslight, Schoolyard, etc.), the bf & I patronized Brownstone last week. We are pathetic restaurant regulars at Gaslight, so when we saw on their online menu that they carried the same dishes that we normally order on Racine, we thought we'd pretend we weren't as predictable by going to another location & ordering the same damn food. Well, that would be all nice & good if the menu items were really the same. His Hickory burger was the same, our three kinds of soft pretzels were the same, but my Cortland Salad (at Gaslight it's the Carriage Salad) was slightly different. Instead of zesty diced portabello mushrooms, Brownstone's version has long, spicy portabello mushrooms. I know, I know, what's the diff, right? Here's the diff ... having to cut up the mushroom instead of just scooping large forkfuls into my watering mouth. & the slight spiciness (spiciness? is that even a word?) was surprising, but not as enjoyable. Had I not been completely head over heels in love with the Carriage Salad, I may like the Cortland Salad a little more. In fact, I'd probably like it a lot, but I was expecting one thing & got another. Our waitress was great, we were never for want of refills, there are plenty of televisions for your sports viewing pleasure (which is great if you're my bf, but horrible if you're me & trying to hold an, oh, I dunno, actual conversation), & the dark wood motif is cozy. I'd go back, but may switch up the order a bit (gasp!) next time.

    (4)
  • Melanie V.

    This is a great, laid-back neighborhood bar! The entire staff is SO friendly! Our waitress checked up on us all the time and even remembered all of our drinks of choice! I ordered Bombay and tonics all night and they were NEVER watered down, which I was very happy about. The food is also pretty tasty. I tried a little bit of the stuffed pretzel with jalapeno cheese and it was to die for! I was all set to order another one when the waitress informed me that the kitchen was closed for the night. At least I know what to get next time! ;)

    (4)
  • Nick R.

    This place has great bar food. It's traditional bar food with a slight twist. Pretty much every one of their salads and sandwiches/wraps are excellent. They have awesome, cooked to perfection tots (make sure you get the cheese dipping sauce). If you're in the mood for something a little spicy, I recommend turning your regular tots or fries into *fire* tots/fries. I also highly recommend their chili mac when it's available. It's usually a weekend special during football season. This place has a great outdoor dining area. If you can, definitely eat outside. Brownstone's one negative is its excessive noise level inside. When something is coming out of the speakers they have mounted every 3 feet, you'll be screaming at the top of your lungs so the person next to you can hear you.

    (4)
  • Alex R.

    Solid 2 star place. Firstly, it's a Texas bar. Secondly, the food is outrageously overpriced. Thirdly, our mildly attentive waitress added a tip to the bill, even though there were only six people -- totally unprofessional. On the plus side, the patio is great and they have Half Acre on tap. Not enough to come back, unless of course, you have relatives coming from Texas and you want them to feel at home.

    (2)
  • Denny M.

    Had a quick burger here today and I was blown away! It was the Hickory Burger with Merck's cheese, bacon and BBQ sauce. Very impressed that the meat was cooked to temp (med-rare) and not incinerated like most bar burgers. Love the cheese (reminded me of Paradise Pup in DesPlaines, a favorite of mine and worth the drive ..) Love the smokey bacon and a very nice BBQ sauce. I am also a fan of a nice fresh pretzel role. Honestly, I was just as happy as I would have been at Kuma's, without the hour long waite. I will be back, often. YUMMMMMM .... My tummy be very, very happy ;-)

    (5)
  • Donovan H.

    I was introduced to this place from someone that has frequented this place. I was immediately introduced to their great drink specials and buffalo rolls which were tasty. Some of my favorites are filet mignon salad, fish tacos and chicken tortilla soup.I have been back two or three times and each time I have been satisfied with my service and food.

    (4)
  • Cody Y.

    This is the ultimate spot in Chicago for Texas football. As an alumni of Texas, I am there for every Texas football game. The staff is friendly and caters to us. Sure, it gets crowded during the games, but that's what makes the atmosphere so incredible. Tons of tv's, good specials at times and really works hard to please their clients. Truly awesome bar.

    (5)
  • Michael H.

    A great, versatile place to grab a drink. I say versatile because i've gone here for three very different reasons and was impressed each time. First, it is a good place to watch a game. There are many TV's positioned nicely so that you can see one from anywhere. Secondly, the middle of the bar opens up to a dancefloor at night, giving you somewhere to shake your booty. Thirdly, I've been here several times for food and have gotten something delicious each time. It is a classy place without being pretentious. I like.

    (4)
  • Sam C.

    It was a cold and snowy evening in Chicago. Old Man Winter had started huffing and puffing, and I was on my way out of the Yelp Holiday Party, STARVING! (Oh! The ironies do abound, but I digress.) On the recommendation of a Yelper at the party, my roommate and I ended up at the Brownstone Tavern. Things started looking good before we even entered, with a beacon to the hungry: $2 Burgers. The fine print of "with purchase of beverage" didn't even cause my roommate and I to blink and we found ourselves seated at a table being serenaded by the owner's IPOD and being served by the most delightful woman, Tate. Our orders were in promptly, and served promptly. Our 1/2 pound burgers (yes I said 1/2 pound burger) were cooked appropriately, and came with our choice of potato. This place, is well worth a visit and qualifies as a great neighborhood bar.

    (5)
  • Danielle T.

    Loved this place. More than enough tv's to watch the games from every single angle in the bar. Food was AMAZING -- I highly suggest the queso and pulled chicken BBQ sandwich with tator tots. Also really enjoy the free cup you receive with every beer special purchase!!

    (5)
  • Kathy L.

    I love going there on mondays. they have great bartenders and trivia. so much fun.... for a monday!

    (4)
  • Jonathan C.

    The food here is exceptional for a bar. Actually as a bar its pretty well average and generic for the area. Maybe as a bar this is a 2-3 star sort of place, but oh the food. The food has some upscale pretensions, but it works, and most of it tastes great. The prices are a bit high for me, but at least the food has a bit of something "extra" to justify it. I love those mini-whiches because I am indecisive.

    (4)
  • Nick B.

    This place is awesome. Really, really good food at reasonable prices. Good specials throughout the week. Watching NFL football on Sundays at the 'Stone is a great time. Check it out...you won't be disappointed. But to reiterate what others have said, the place is pretty crazy on UTexas gamedays.

    (4)
  • Joshua M.

    Stopped in for lunch the other day. Had their chicken club. They over-cheesed it, and went nuts on the honey mustard which made it much messier than it needed to be. The seasoning on the fries was different, but I think I'd order them plain next time. Their chili/macaroni and cheese was pretty good, and their Snickers ice cream dessert thing was also pretty good. Service was good. Although it's classified as a sports bar, I'd say it's a bit more upscale than that. My wife had fish tacos and tater tots which is a combination I wouldn't recommend. Fish tacos in general aren't something I'd ever order at anything but a Mexican restaurant (I think Melissa is braver than I), but she was not very impressed by them. My friend who was with us had a burger and made no complaints. I don't think I'd make Brownstone a destination, but if I was hungry and in the area I'd stop by again.

    (4)
  • Anna K.

    Eh, this place is okay. It's kind of pretentious and I always feel underdressed. The food is okay but I thought the drinks were kind of pricey. The service was crappy. I thought the whole place just felt cold even though I've only ever been here in the summers...

    (2)
  • L S.

    Left off one star because I feel their drinks can be a little pricey. Have only gone to drink a few times though, so perhaps I am missing good Specials nights. Because it is so close to my house, I go there a few nights a week for take out dinner. The salads are fantastic, and the sandwiches are great too. Large portions, and very reasonably priced, Brownstone is an awesome place to grab a quick dinner if you live in the Northcenter area.

    (4)
  • Janna V.

    Ok so usually things like yummy tater tots, interesting pub food, fond memories, and yummy drinks mean a five star review with me-- but brownstone you disappoint. I went to brownstone last night (Friday)-- I used to live in the area but now rarely get up there so when i had to run an errand i called my friends that used to live up there as well and we decided to go for drinks and dinner. It was pretty crowded since there was a pub crawl there--and loud...but my friend and i had a seat...our server seemed nice enough-- at first-- told us about the specials and I ordered some tots while we waited for our other friends-- our waitress then became super snotty for no apparent reason asking us 2x if we were going to order dinner even tho we said we were waiting for some more people.(i should point out that my friend and i were sitting at a two top so its not like we were sitting at a huge table just drinking...and we obviously were going to order dinner once our friends arrived)....Our server's snottiness just got worse as the night went on-- really disappointing since this place was really great 2 years ago. When you have three veteran service industry people and a good tipper at your table and you manage to get only a 10% tip you know you need to think about your customer service skills. I would say she was just having a bad day, but she seemed nice to everyone else...we aren't a particularly demanding group-- although we didn't get sloshed and we took our time at dinner...(although that could have been due to having to repeat everything we said 3x because it was so flippin loud...who turns the volume UP at 7? most places dont try to drive the "eaters" out until 10) My food was good...but too bread-y (the ahi tuna club), my friends had the talapia fish tacos which were really good, the shrimp tacos: good but chincy on the shrimp, and Parmesan chicken sandwich which was good. The tater tots were yummy but the dipping sauce is cheeze wiz so not really that exciting. I had a white cosmo--which usually isn't my style but it was pretty good. In summary food: mostly hit with a little miss service: that night it was pretty bad gripe: too loud I'd go back to brownstone if i was in the hood but would try to find another server-- but sadly wouldnt make it a destination

    (3)
  • Doug A.

    I go to brownstones at least once every two weeks. I go there for one reason and one reason only. The "insanity" hot wings. I usually go for boneless so I can use a fork and knife. I would hate to get the lovely flavor in my eye . The wings are so hot. The service is very friendly. It can be crowded at times, especially during any Texas collegiate event. The whole menu is very good. Plent of different beers to drink. All ages come here. I love this place and will continue to go as long as they keep the "insanity".

    (5)
  • amy h.

    I love the goat cheese pear salad so much that I think I wanna marry it. SO GOOD!! Now, to figure out how they create that deep fried goodness.

    (5)
  • Ms. R.

    Love this place! It's right around the corner from my boyfriend's house so it's also very convenient! Relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff, and plenty of televisions to watch the games. They have the best fish tacos. You get three and can choose from grilled shrimp, grilled tilapia or battered cod. I usually get 2 shrimp and 1 tilapia and sub a salad for my side. They also have the best dressing - brown sugar vinaigrette. Another entree choice is the chicken parmesan sandwich (I think they name it something else) - very tasty and filling. Overall, the food here is great. You can't really go wrong. Would highly recommend it to for dinner or meeting friends for drinks to hang out.

    (4)
  • Kymberly S.

    I have been to the brownstone several times. The outside seating is great and the inside is decently large. This is a good place to check out a Texas game, if you're a fan or to watch sports. However the food is not that great, there's nothing wrong with it, but it's nothing that I would come back for.

    (2)
  • Jen C.

    My husband and I are probably at Brownstone once a week. It's a little pathetic but, no matter how I try, I cannot duplicate those amazing tater tots. We have never had a bad experience here. The service is generally very attentive, the food and drinks are good and it's a block from our house. And the outdoor patio is great for meeting for a happy hour after a draining day of work.

    (4)
  • John B.

    I've only been here once, before the Yelp Christmas party, so my experience may not be typical. $4 beers + $2 burgers = $10 bulging belly. The server was definitely on her A game, hitting a rotating group of Yelpers as they came and went, and keeping top of what everybody was drinking. Which wasn't that hard, since most folks were drinking the Peroni, but still. Too many TVs for my taste -- like seriously, every foot there's another TV -- but cozy and warm, especially on a snowy night.

    (3)
  • Brandon C.

    I came here for the first time a few years back, but started coming more often now that my gf lives a couple blocks away. The burgers are great, they have tater tots, Shiner Bock on tap, and the general feel of the place is just very comforting. I love it. I'm not a big fan of deserts, but the skillet cookie is a must try.

    (5)
  • Sara O.

    This is one of my favorite bars on the north side (when there is not a Texas game on television). Very chill, decent music, and if you're hungry, they have great bar food! Get the mini-wiches. The steak one is uber-Yummy!

    (4)
  • Jason S.

    We came here on a cold sunny Sunday afternoon to have a light lunch and watch a little baseball. Nothing was bad or great about the place. The food was ok. Service was ok. Atmosphere was like any other bar with big flat screens. I would go back if I were in the area but doubt it will be the first place that comes to mind for lunch.

    (3)
  • Erin T.

    Pitchers of Summer Shandy and Gladiators... is there a better way to spend a Monday? I've definitely been here a time or two and think the atmosphere is great, the food is affordable and the tots are pretty phenomenal. I love unwinding here after work during the week.

    (4)
  • Sarah R.

    Went here on a Sunday afternoon to meet up with some old friends. You'd think they'd be happy to find a group at that time ready to run up a decent tab. The service here is terrible. Our waitress, wouldn't know her name since she never told us, had such an attitude. I asked her how much a certain drink cost and she told me "it depends". Depends on what? Then later on she tried to take that same, ridiculously overpriced and very weak, drink away from me well before I was done. I had the drink in front of me, still 1/3 full, playing with the straw and she grabbed it and asked if I wanted another one. After telling her I'd like to finish the one I already have first she of course neglected to offer me any more drinks. Not sure what the deal was with this lady. My whole group was friendly and polite and this was just plain bad service.

    (1)
  • Todd M.

    Don't miss the soft pretzel appetizer. For dinner I enjoy their buffalo chicken wrap. The have a nice outdoor space for Spring and summer meals.

    (4)
  • Mark K.

    very loud. ...ok. i'll add more. the food is better than good pub food. the seared tuna sandwhich was great. i'm going back for the appetizers. the lights are nice, too. just don't sit next to the manly ladies shouting over the music.

    (3)
  • Derek S.

    brownstone is one of the four corners taverns, and fits in with the family, so to speak. i'd say it's a little 'nicer' than it's cousin schoolyard, but a bit less polished than Sidebar. food's decent...i think the food at gaslight is far better. their $2 tuesday burger night is a big burger for the money, and also inludes $5 wine. service is friendly, and pretty attentive. i've been here over the summer and sat outside, and it's a nice quieter area to meet some friends for a sidewalk burger and beer. i wouldn't drive across town to try the place, but it's a good option in the area.

    (3)
  • Heather K.

    Nice bar, nice service, steep prices for mediocre food. However, they do have good weekly specials.

    (3)
  • Quantas G.

    Great atmosphere. Great specials. Good food.

    (4)
  • Justin W.

    I have meant to drop into this pretty inviting bar with a great patio a few times. So finally me and a friend dropped by to catch a little afternoon baseball and get a bite to eat. First impression this is anybodies neighborhood bar with a little style. nice and wide and wood everywhere, not a cookie butter Irish pub like I see around town. Plenty of flat screens lots of seating and a big bar. The beer selection is pretty good, with a nice selection of draft beers including Hacker-Festzelt. The staff is pretty good and there when you need a fresh draft. My food was really good, especially the fries, they are the best I have had in town so far. I can see this place becoming a black hole of inactivity if I lived a little closer.

    (4)
  • Lyssalyn L.

    I really like this place! Great place to grab a beer with friends and I love the warm pretzels and cheese appetizer!! The original (plain) are my fav. If you go on a game day, be prepared to deal with the typical sports bar crowd. At other times of the day the atmosphere is better, especially if you can get a table in the back. This place is kid-friendly too (during the appropriate hours of the day). I bring my daughter in with me when stopping by for lunch or dinner......she too is hooked on the pretzels. We always have a great time dining at Brownstone.

    (4)
  • Ed R.

    Good bar with above average food. Wings and the burger are some of the best around. Get the wings well done. Great specials during footbal season. Unfortunately, it is a Texas bar, so the obnoxious fan factor goes through the roof during games. Overall though, one of the better places to go, oh and the wait staff is good overall.

    (4)
  • Tim V.

    This is a solid neighborhood bar with food above what you'd expect. Good sandwiches, burgers, and salads. I've never had anything here I didn't like actually, although there's nothing to go crazy over either. Beer selection is also good, but not excellent. Get the chocolate chip cookie skillet for dessert...THAT is awesome. They're also pretty accommodating to children, but it gets rowdy any time there's a Texas game on.

    (3)
  • darlene o.

    We recently moved to the neighborhood, didn't want to venture too far for a quick drink and some bar food, and weren't up for dealing with the loudly drunk expatriates at the Globe, so we ended up here. My first thought was, "WTF are all these trixies and chads doing this far north?" If for some reason I had wanted to deal with the Lincoln Park crowd, I would've gone to Lincoln Park. The crowd was loud, obnoxious, and drunker than they should've been that early in the evening. If you would like to actually hear what your companion across the table is saying to you, this is not the place! The food was pretty good, service was acceptable given how crowded the place was, but my martini was just OK -- it was on special so I figured that's why it was a little weak. However, I could not taste any vodka at all in my boy's vodka Coke. I might come back here on a weeknight if I want some decent bar food, but probably will be staying the hell away on weekends.

    (2)
  • Stephanie H.

    I have been multiple times...my friend used to live down the street. Definitely not a destination place. The food is good/decent, but I think it's somewhat overpriced. They have good weekly specials. Nice sidewalk seating. No big complaints...but nothing really that spectacular either.

    (3)
  • Tanya S.

    Mixed feelings on this place. It's in a great location, there's outdoor seating, indoors it is SO LOUD(even at noon on a Saturday)!!! Food is so-so. Much better than standard pub fare, their fries are overly seasoned, pretty good merck burger, Chicken Parmesan sandwich wasn't so good, Wings were ok.

    (3)
  • Michael F.

    Warm atmosphere inside. I sat outside during the summer and that was way better. There is a weird outside-couch thing that is nice. There was a lovely $5 sandwich special once, and it was yummy. I ate the steak sandwich. The special mango curry sauce was yumm. I got fire fries the other day and they were just ok. Not really hot. Not really delicious. But the beer was good. The servers are alright, but they aren't awesome. Therefore I give this thing 3 stars.

    (3)
  • Benjamin H.

    Amazing bar food. I'm pretty sure that this place is part of the group that owns Kirkwood's. The wait for a table around 7 on a Friday was about 40min but it was worth it, just had a few drinks at the bar. Crowd was mixed, families were filtering out while a younger crowd rolled in for Friday night drink specials which I believe were some girly drinks b/c the there were a lot of young ladies!

    (5)
  • Lizz Y.

    LOVE the fish tacos (shrimp and tilapia are my preference).Good service, nice atmosphere, good local spot.

    (4)
  • Beth K.

    Man, the food here is awesome! This bar is like two blocks away from my house and I couldn't be happier to call this my neighborhood bar. The food specials are always great (a $5 salad?! Where else can you get that?!). My favorite things on the menu are the mini sliders, the Cortland salad (I have gotten it with steak and chicken and prefer the steak), the Texas queso and the wings. I would recommend to stay away from the dessert options that they have but definitely go for a 'bomb' shot instead. They have many to choose from and they won't disapoint! Oh, also the music is GREAT...

    (4)
  • Lee W.

    I love this place. They have great bar food and a pretty good selection of beer on tap. Last time I was there I had the grilled cheese special -- it was pretty much to die for (and this is coming from a self-prolcaimed grilled cheese connoisseur). The "fire" fries are great, too. Try dipping 'em in bleu cheese dressing...mmmmm!

    (4)
  • Lauren D.

    Maybe I'm partial because I'm a Texas fan (GO LONGHORNS) and of course they have a Longhorns flag or two hangin'... but I like this place! My friend lives in the area and introduced me to it. I've eaten dinner there and gone for just drinks. They have really good salads (the cortland is amazing) and typical bar-fare, burgers, etc. They also have amazing specials every night of the week - I think Tuesday night is $5 salad night, Monday is $5 sandwich night. Their margaritas are killer and the skillet cookie dessert is to die for. Nice-casual. Meet your friends here for drinks or dinner before heading somewhere else. Wear your cowboy boots.

    (4)
  • Jenna B.

    Not sure what someone said about no smoking, I was there last night and people were puffing away... Brownstone has amazing food. Their grilled Chicken Tenders are juciy and tender, and the dipping sauces make the meal, also the tater tots. They have great mid-week specials too for those of us who are poor. There was a short wait, but the host came and found me at the bar when a table opened up. Our waittress was nice, attentivie and kept checking in on us. Overall, a great daning/bar experience. Also...the Skillit Cookie is not to be missed, it's warm, gooey and loaded with ice-cream, whipped cream and carmel.

    (5)
  • Jan S.

    Best BBQ Burger ever. The fact that you can get it with tater tots just makes it even better. Everything else is pretty good, too - wraps, salads, soups, pretty much everything. Would have been 5 stars but the service takes a while, but it's worth it.

    (4)
  • Lily H.

    Brownstone has something for everyone. There's a full bar, but there's also an excellent full menu! I love the turkey wraps. And those tater tots. Yum. Did I mention that they have a giant skillet cookie?? I went there at least once a week during the last few months I was living in Chicago. It's a great local hangout, but also a good place to go to celebrate!!

    (5)
  • Amanda C.

    I love that this bar has been so great to the Texas Exes. The games are always on - with sound- and they play Texas Fight regularly. The atmosphere is as close as we Chicagian's are going to get to a Texas Football game. I have to agree though that you could substitute this place with any of the other four corners taverns. The food is good and the drinks are reasonably priced.

    (3)
  • Cassie B.

    Eh. i have spent a very crowded new year's eve and a separate other very crowded night here. It is decorated comfy and the patrons are good-looking. while not bad, i have not seen anything that would set this place apart. it is always very crowded - we tried to go here again tonight for food & to watch football, forget about that - which is not their fault, but be forewarned.

    (3)
  • Jeanette S.

    I love the Tuesday night trivia! I am new to it, but a friend of mine goes regularly and also loves it. Another "love" is their mac and cheese...to die for. The portabella salad is also quite good, the mushrooms are well flavored and there are enough of them on the salad to leave you actually satisfied after eating just a salad for dinner. The beer specials are ok, there are def. better ones around, but they do a nice job of packing the place for their "events". Nice place for a date night, or to bring your parents if you want a dinner that is reasonable, but not completely run of the mill. The friend I go with always orders the fish tacos...she swears by them.

    (4)
  • Joe L.

    I'm no Texas or Butler fan, but I do like this place. Service has always been good, great specials, beer selection is good, ambiance is great for after work or to watch a game on the weekend. Definitely a fan!

    (4)
  • Amber H.

    Great place. Good food, sometimes a little loud on Sunday mornings- ha ha. but I have always had a good times here.

    (4)
  • Tony C.

    nice local bar with great food and decent prices on beer and etc. Worth going to watch a cubs game.

    (5)
  • Amanda G.

    Hoorah Brownstone! We came here to watch my beloved Texas Longhorns beat Oklahoma last weekend. We got there later than we intended and it was very crowded, and our server still managed to produce a table for us to sit at! Excellent service and excellent food---not your average bar grub. The skillet cookie is beyond words!

    (5)
  • Robyn M.

    Went on a Friday night and it was packed but only had to wait for about 20 minutes. The best part it NO Smoking NOW so it was fine to wait at the bar. The food is much better than you average bar food and very reasonably priced. I had a great salad and my boyfriend had a yummy italian sandwich and they have 3 or 4 kinds or FRIES to choose and I am sure they were all GOOD! I also read they have movies on Sundays, I want to go back for that.

    (4)
  • Kateland B.

    You know, I've been here a couple of times and I am pretty sure now that I like it. They have a really spicy/hot black bean burger and great seasoned fries. They also have a wide variety of games on the many tvs in the place which always makes me a happy girl. I'd have to say, it is a bit too crowded at times and very noisy, but the clientele doesn't bother me too much. The food is yummy for sure. Try it out because it's a great little local spot for us Lincoln Square residents.

    (4)
  • Brandon H.

    Awesome food, and good prices.. Must be a Longhorn tradition. The place does a decent amount of dinner activity but it really starts to pick up around 10 when people pile in for drinks. If you can get there earlier to get a table, do so or you'll be standing for quite a while. This is a sports bar, and will get very busy during football games. I'm not sure about one of the previous reviews, but the bar still allows smoking.

    (5)
  • Lindsay M.

    My experience here was a football watching Sunday. Food is great, much better than usual bar food. HOOK 'EM!!

    (4)
  • David W.

    We have been here two times and both times we had amazing servers. Both were very knowledgeable, helpful, and never let your glass get empty. And it can't go without saying that the food is very good. The 1st time we were there for 1/2 price bottles of wine (Sundays). Our latest adventure included a low key dinner and plenty of strong cocktails. Weather permitting take a seat on the patio.

    (5)
  • Mairin B.

    I can't remember which night of the week I went here, but they had buy one get one free appetizers and 1/2 price bottles of wine. I think it was wednesday.

    (4)
  • Rob L.

    So I moved a mere block away two months ago and tonight was the first time I came here. I always went to Gaslight, (owned by the same company), and always enjoyed it, yet it was always packed. At least here, same vibe, same good service by cute waitresses, similar menu with some new items as Gaslight. I came with a friend, we had the Reuben rolls, he had some chicken tortilla soup, the Merkt burger, and I had the Taylor Street Chicken sandwich. The Reuben rolls, a rolled up Reuben sandwich were tasty, my sandwich was filled with good sized chicken, a lot of cheese, (yea!) and some marinara sauce. I think my friend liked his burger and soup, mainly because there was nothing left on either dish. I guess I really miss the chimichuri fries at Gaslight because I wasn't too impressed with their fire fries nor their house seasoned. Good place, I know it often gets packed, especially on the weekends. I was a little surprised we sat ourselves. We waddled ourselves out, satisfied and full. I won't make it a destination place, but I won't resist coming here either.

    (4)
  • Scott H.

    After moving to Chicago and North Center for that matter, Brownstone was one of the first places I would take friends to grab some beers and standard bar food. I've been here many times since and really haven't had a bad time or experience. Yeah, you're going to get your occasional way too drunk college football fan, but the crowd is usually a lot better than what you'll find near Clark & Addison. I wish they hadn't taken away the built in leather seats towards the back, but I'm guessing they were looking to maximize table space. Extra thumbs up for DJ's that take nearly any request and play it within three songs.

    (4)
  • Ryan S.

    great food! went there for lunch and a beer; had the sirloin steak sandwich special and it was incredible. it appears to be a big texas longhorns bar which was funny to me being an ohio state buckeye. i have no idea what the night life is like, but seems like it could be fun.

    (4)
  • Alexandra B.

    Better when it wasn't a sports bar and it served more than 3 food items. This place is notorious for going under new management every few years, so don't count on it being here for too long. It went from biker bar to friendly neighborhood bar to sports bar, so who knows what it'll be next! I used to go here all the time when it was called Benz. They had good drinks, a huge veggie burger, and an awesome dessert menu. R.I.P.

    (1)
  • Lisa D.

    My favorite bar. Great food, good music and FANTASTIC specials. I especially love the Courtland salad. Try it - you won't be sorry.

    (5)
  • Brigid J.

    Moved in right across the street from here and was more than excited to try it out. I thought it was going to be really expensive, but I thought it was reasonable. The food was amazing! I would recommend the queso dip cause it was amazing. Drinks were good and had a good selection. The inside is nice as well as the outside. I have been there twice now and the service has always been nice and friendly and not pushy. I will be going there lots!! I would suggest making an effort to go to this place, especially if you are new to the area!!!

    (5)
  • roberta l.

    usually pretty packed and loud because it *IS* a sportsbar, but the food is really good! Monday nights, they offer $5.00 sandwiches on their regular menu! Can't beat that - and definitely try their fried reuben appetizers... mouthwatering greasiness!

    (3)
  • John Y.

    Great bar w/ upscale bar food. Plus it's a UT bar... so you can't go wrong. They also serve Lonestar beer.

    (4)
  • Robyn N.

    This is one of my favorite bars in Chicago! It's a great place to go with a group of friends, or to catch any sporting event on their many flat-screen tv's. Depending on the day, Brownstone has awesome food and drink specials. I love the $6 wraps on Wednesday, and I can never pass up the skillet cookie! I recommend everyone to check this place out!

    (5)
  • Nikki C.

    Tuesday burger deal is the gones;-( but monday night trivia is actually entertaining and worth doing (if you have some ultra cool peeps with big brains) order the southwestern salad and ask for an extra cup of the sauce...so good as a dipping sauce for tots which you'll also have to order as a side. yay for perky butted waitresses who work their asses off;-)

    (4)
  • Joel W.

    This place is great. My group pops in once a week before rehearse to talk shop and have a few beers, sometimes eats. The waitresses could not be any nicer or cuter. Good prices, pretty quiet location, great outdoor seating! Neighborhood feel. Weekly day specials seem pretty good. They always have several games on their HDTVs, there are always at least several people there. Good times. Only complaint: I sorta prefer my Miller High Life's served with a champagne flute. She said they only had 1...that they never use. She was sweet and quickly grasped my half-seriousness. ...but still, i woulda liked it.

    (5)
  • Coll P.

    This is a go-to in the neighborhood because the food is GREAT and they have worthwhile specials no matter the day. Their fish tacos and the southwest salad are my go-tos, although I have tried a handful of other options (mac and cheese, chicken sandwich) and you really can't go wrong no matter what you pick . My biggest (and most important) gripe is that when I order off of grub hub, my order is ALWAYS wrong. Whether I try to mix and match tacos and end up getting all of the same one, or I order a salad into a wrap and it shows up still a salad, I have yet to receive a perfect order. I've never had any problems at the restaurant itself, but come onnnnn! Read the receipt!

    (3)
  • Shannon L.

    Brownstone is consistent and reliable. The food is always good, they usually have reasonable drink specials and they have plenty of TVs for watching whatever you came here to watch. Once a year my friends and I spend a good 12 hours here watching March Madness and we can always count on good service (and unfortunately or fortunately free shots from the manager). I'm usually here once a month for some reason and am always happy when I leave.

    (4)
  • Nishan P.

    The eyes of Texas are upon you, All the live long day. The eyes of Texas are upon you, You cannot get away. Do not think you can escape them, At night, or early in the morn'. The eyes of Texas are upon you, Till Gabriel blows his horn! The eyes of Texas are upon you at Brownstone. There is no better place in Chicago to watch Longhorn sports. Every Saturday the bar fills with fans clad in burnt orange. Brownstone accommodates them with Shiner Bock on tap served in stadium cups emblazoned with the Longhorn logo. The Texas fight song is played every time Texas scores and the entire bar sings along. The atmosphere is almost like being at a game but with the advantage of being able to munch on tasty steak quesadillas while cheering. Okay folks, cover your ears. After having just watched my beloved Texas Longhorns trounce the much despised Oklahoma Sooners, I am ready to burst into song again. The eyes of Texas are upon you...

    (4)
  • Amy H.

    A few weeks ago, a Yelp celebrity who shall remain nameless (that's right, I hang with the Yelperatti group. I'm cool like that.) invited me to see a band. Being that it was a school night and I'm on the downward spiral into my 40's, I told her that I needed to be out of the house before 7pm otherwise my couch would suck me in and the evening would be a massive fail. We agreed to meet at Brownstone and then go see the band. I had been to Brownstone once before after the Yelp holiday party '07 and didn't remember much about it so I walked in with no expectations. I found my Yelperatti friend and ordered a beer. The Summertime Ale was on special and it was good enough for me. I couldn't decide what to order so my friend said "oh, I know what you'll end up with...either mac and cheese, a quesadilla, or a grilled cheese." Ah, I see that my love for cheese has proceeded me! But you are wrong, my little Yelperatti pal! I shall order the fish tacos. And they were good! All in all it was a nice little restaurant to waste a few hours, grab some din-din, and have a few drinks. I would go back.

    (4)
  • Andrey L.

    The place is decent but the management is NOT. On the night of December 28th, after paying $70 and leaving a good tip, the manager made a huge deal about $5. A friend had a wrist band and he ordered a beer that he did not like. Instead of throwing it out, I had some of it. The manager bursted into our conversation with a bill and rudely claimed that I was stealing from him. Our whole group was discomforted by that and we left.

    (1)
  • Julia J.

    I'm not a huge fan of this place. I can get over the fact that it's a Texas bar, but their food is not nearly good enough to justify the prices (unless it's a deal night) and it's always so LOUD. We were there during hockey play-offs when the Blackhawks were playing, and they had other things going on on the TVs (only one tv in our area had the Blackhawks game on), but the sound was all the way down and their crap music was all the way up. It's not bad to sit on the patio in the summer months, but I'd go a million other places before I come back.

    (2)
  • Brian C.

    No longer a Texas horns bar.... and they acted weird when i asked. Fix your yahoo search so people like me don't go there thinking you will show the game.

    (2)
  • Phil X.

    I came here and sat at the bar with a buddy while embarking on a mission to consume an epic amount of beer for the evening. My stomach told me it was time to consume solid food. So be it. While savoring a lovely alcoholic beverage known as Guinness, I opened the menu and l saw Smoked Mac&Cheese listed... Ok here's the thing, when I see Mac&Cheese on a menu, I almost always have to try it. Plus, it's smoked cheddar? Hell yes! Tell me where else I can find smoked cheddar mac&cheese. Go ahead...I'll wait. When you tell me I can add bacon, Andouille sausage, or grilled chicken for an extra dollar, done. I got bacon. Baked Parmesan Panko crumbs and scallions on top are also standard. If you have never enjoyed m&c with bacon, scallions, & panko crumbs...then you need to realign your priorities...NOW. It's all kinds of awesome. Brownstone knew what they were doing when they made this. It was delicious. Easily one of my top m&c's. Now brace yourself for the following revelation... If Yelp had such a thing as "Top 10 Elite Foodie Tips of the Year", the following tip would fall into this category: ***If you like mac 'n cheese, and you also enjoy spicy food, put Sriracha sauce on it! Yes, that red sauce with the rooster on the bottle. Game Changer, trust me.I asked the bartender if I could get Sriracha sauce on the side. No problem! I was surprised they had it. Whether you put just a little bit or a lot, I cannot stress how this sauce takes mac&cheese to the next level without overshadowing the taste of the dish itself. Just get it on the side and try a little for yourself. TRUST me. Pair this with a bottle of Bell's Two Hearted IPA and you might as well just loosen a notch on your belt and throw in the towel, because you will be consuming this combo for years to come.

    (4)
  • Andy M.

    After being denied food at the disaster that is called Ribfest, C.R. and I stumbled into the Brownstone. The place was packed with University of Texas Alum's watching their beloved Longhorns play in the College World Series. For me, it was a great start. I love College Baseball (embrace the ping!!!). Our server was awesome, she gave us the food and beer that we desperately needed. We started out with the Buffalo Chicken wraps. They were tasty and tender. It was a nice spin on buffalo Chicken. C.R. had the mini burgers and I had their House Burger with Tater tots. It was comfort food bliss. The burger was juicy and delicious and I have never met a tater tot that I didn't like. It was a great experience all around. This just may be the perfect spot to spend my Sunday afternoon's when Football season arrives.

    (5)
  • Lizz M.

    My friend and I had no idea where Butler University was, so when I met her at Brownstone on a Saturday night we were pretty confused as to why so many people were there. It was PACKED because BU was playing, but they get four stars because we were still able to get a table and get food relatively fast. Also, given the volume of people there, you'd think that the staff might be slower, but definitely not the case. Our waitress was very attentive and came back to check on us often. We ended up googling Butler University, so now we're informed! The food was delicious. Between the two of us we got jumbo BBQ chicken wings, chili mac and an order of tater tots. All delicious. And the order of tater tots is HUGE. We couldn't even get through half of it! I'll totally go back!

    (4)
  • Michael E.

    If you are from Texas or went to UT (Austin) and haven't been to this place, then you are missing it! This little bar is the designated bar for the Alumni of U of Texas football. I've been here only during such events and the folks are all decked out in Texas Orange and very passionate about their team. Though when my alma mater Appalachian State beat Michigan a few years back these folks were cheering me in the bar (mainly because we helped their rankings *grin*), but back to the bar..... Good food and plenty of TVs they are also great for patio seating in the summer months. I've never had a bad experience here and would recommend it to anyone....except Michigan fans *wink*........Kidding!

    (4)
  • Rhonda G.

    When I think of the word brownstone I automatically start to think of a brick house with an inside that is warm and inviting and this place lives up to its name (aesthetically speaking). The energy in the place is very warm and welcoming and it has a very cozy feel to it. Pretty packed with the after work crew but not annoyingly loud. I wish the list of martinis was a bit longer but what can you do? I ordered the pomegranate pear martini and a side of tater tots (pretty huge portion of tots). Now since I doubt that they are making fresh cut tater tots at this place and the obvious yet nostalgic hint O'freezer taste i'm going to go with frozen. BUT pretty much every tater tot I've ever had has been frozen first so my low standards for tots was met. Drinks were strong but good, waitress was overly attentive at first and then kind of fell off as the place got more crowded. All in all, A good place to come with a small group of friends and relax after work.

    (4)
  • Jen T.

    Great food, great staff and nice, clean ambiance. Love this place.

    (5)
  • Karrie O.

    This is a great restaurant/bar to add to my list of go to spots in Northcenter/Lincoln Square area. I've been here about 5 times and the service, food, and drinks are always fantastic no matter the time of day or crowd. Recently I had the Goat cheese & pear salad...wow! Perfect summer salad in my eyes and the serving is more than enough. I would highly reccomend this place for a quick date spot, time with the gals, the whole fam, It accommodates everyone. Thumbs up to BROWNSTONE:)

    (4)
  • Angela S.

    There's a bit of room for improvement here on all fronts. Service and food.

    (3)
  • Mike K.

    I believe I've been in Brownstone five times altogether over the years, with the latest being just recently. I believe three visits were either very short or abortive because it was always so loud and crowded. So I was a little tentative walking in on a weeknight when it would be possible that the utterly gigantic local fan base of Butler University (cough) might be inside watching a Butler game. We walked in and actually found the noise level to not be ear splitting and plenty of tables, so we grabbed one and stuck around. The only reason we ended up at Brownstone was because, yet again, there was absolutely nowhere to park a little further north on Lincoln around The Grafton. I'm starting to wonder what it is about The Grafton that's preventing me from patronizing it. I have some history there. I'm going to call it The Curse of Donovan. Right. Anyway, it was half price bottles of wine night, so why not? Burgers and Malbec. Hey, I like Malbec. Who knew? I could actually tell that this was a very good Malbec, despite not having the palate to discern the difference between a Boone's Farm and a Cristal when it comes to wine. It all gets you to the same high. The only difference is how and where you land. I digress. I ordered a tortilla soup and a burger with bacon and Merkt's. I think someone had to run to 7-11 to grab a can of Campbell's tomato soup to make it, as it took 10 minutes to come out and tasted like canned tomato soup. I've had tortilla soup. This wasn't tortilla soup. However, the chicken in the soup was very good, as were the tortilla slices. Forgo the "tortilla" soup, folks. As for the burger, I found it to be strangely thick and the consistency to be oddly dense. It seemed to be that they added bread crumbs to the mix. The only burger I've ever had that was this dense was a Kobe burger I had at Paramount Room that absolutely sucked. This burger wasn't that bad, but it wasn't the same burger I expected based on my experience at their sister location, Westend, which has a good burger. The bacon topping was tasty, but the Merkt's was a bit too much for me. There are better burgers nearby on Lincoln that I'd opt for over Brownstone's. The best thing about the meal was the tots. They were tot on! I downed all of them and then stole a few from the cute little potato lover across the table. I'll be ordering tots if I ever come back to Brownstone. Book it. Get your tot on at Brownstone. Get your burger on down the street. You're good to go. Three stars.

    (3)
  • Beth M.

    Came here on a Monday night with my husband and really enjoyed it. First, service was really, really great. I think Mallory was our waitress? Just lots of friendly talk and super nice. Food was great. Actually, that's an understatement. They have THE best fish tacos we've ever had, and we had Taco Joint for dinner last week. Seriously, can't express that enough - we preferred their beer-battered fish tacos vs. the other ones, but they were also good.

    (5)
  • Virginia T.

    I stopped in the Brownstone last week on Monday after work for a couple drinks with a friend. I sat at the bar and never saw a menu. Their tap selection was pretty good for a random sports bar. They had Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Sumpin, Finch's Golden Ale, Bell's Oberon, Goose Island Sofie and more. Monday night special was $3.50 drafts (except Sofie & a few others). The bartender didn't rinse the glasses before he filled them but that's the beer snob in me. It's close to work, I'll prob be back for the $3.50 drafts a couple times.

    (4)
  • David B.

    Have come here for the last couple New Year's Days. It is a pretty large place, but it was been full both times. We luckily get a table and have a nice view of several TVs to watch the requisite football games. Even though it is packed to capacity the service. is always very good. The servers are attentive and helpful and the food and drinks arrive rather quickly. The food is very good for a pub, with a nice variety, not just burgers and fries. The Bloody Marys were good; spicy with some nice accoutrements. It is a rather young crowd with a mixture of loyalties, whether it is to an NFL team or an Alma mater. Both times we have stayed from around twelve and left around 4. The crowd changed, but did not dwindle.

    (4)
  • Jennifer C.

    Awesome place if you're a Texas fan. I am only giving it 4 stars because I haven't tried the food yet, but this is definitely the go to place to watch the Longhorns play. They play the school song after each touchdown and the atmosphere is great. I will definitely go back.

    (4)
  • Rose O.

    A friend of mine suggested we meet at Brownstone to watch the Bears game. This place is considered a Dallas Cowboys bar - all the Cowboys fans go there for the game. If the Bears are on the same time slot they divide the room in half to show the games. I recommend arriving early to find a spot because it gets very crowded an hour before a Bears or Cowboys game. Their menu is rather tasty - especially the shrimp quesadillas and guacamole/salsa with chips. Their cookie baked on cast iron grill topped with ice cream and hot fudge sauce is decadent and yummy!

    (3)
  • Luke S.

    The folks at Four Corners know how to do it right! While this is not my favorite of their bars, I have had some great times here. The food is always good and fairly inexpensive. The servers are attentive and helpful. My only issue with this place is the crowd. I've been here on multiple occasions and there are a lot of dudes in their late twenties or early thirties who feel the need to flex their beer muscles. I've had a few altercations here and I almost never have a problem anywhere else. It's still a solid place!

    (4)
  • Dorian X.

    This place was small, we had a little trouble finding a table right away which is fine, but the food was really good. Buffalo chicken was amazing. I had been craving something buffalo chicken for days and it was satisfied here. Really good American bar food.

    (4)
  • Richard P.

    Stopped at the Brownstone on Sunday night while visiting Chicago. We wanted to catch the Lakers playoff game at a bar. Being a Sunday night there weren't many people there. It was a nice quite spot where we were able to grab a few local beers and watch the game. They have many TV's so it's a good place to catch an sporting event. I'm not sure about the atmosphere on busier night, but late Sunday was very quite. We were the loudest people there. Go LAKERS!

    (4)
  • Katie R.

    If you haven't had their turkey burger on $5 Burger Mondays, you haven't lived. This deal comes with a side of tater tots or fries, and they usually have a great beer special to boot. This burger is incredible, service is always pretty good, and the atmosphere is decent - I've never been when it's packed. But this turkey burger. It's a must.

    (5)
  • Chris D.

    This place is pretty decent. It's conveniently located across the street from my bf's building so we've frequented it out of that convenience. The space is very clean, comfortable, and appealing to the eye. The service is pretty quick, albiet not very friendly, considering they are a neighborhood bar they should act like it and not be so quick to get you over with, the times I've been there have not been crowded at all so I am not sure why they were rushing us. The crowd is nice and diverse so there's a good amout of people watching...families, couples, hipsters, ethnics. It makes for nice people watching. The beer selection was plentiful, the appetizers quite delicious. I can say very positive things about their steak quesadillas and their tater tots (which they give you enough to feel a small 3rd world country for a week...not complaining) The patio is pretty awesome. Even on chillier days they have a heater out there and it makes things cozy, and there are plenty of shady spots when it gets hot in the summer. Definitely sit outside if weather permits. It's not a place I'd go out of my way to go to since it doesn't stand apart, but if you're in the area it can be a good place to be a regular.

    (3)
  • Helena B.

    First off, this may be one of the only University of Texas bars in the city. Longhorns, gather here. I was quite impressed with the food selection. Boyfriend and I had stopped in for lunch, and I was able to chose from several salads (tryin' to be healthy!). I went with the southwest salad with grilled steak (dressing on the side, naturally). Boyfriend perused the sandwiches and ordered a chicken gouda sandwich with tater tots. My salad was quite tasty (although probably not all that healthy as it was covered in cheese, but whatever). I was silent for a while as I shoveled food in my face. Boyfriend offered me several tots and cheese sauce - what's not to like about tots and cheese sauce?! Food was accompanied by a delightful selection of beers both on tap and in bottles. I can see myself spending an evening here drinking through the beer list. If you are sportier than I and want to watch "the game," there are about 40 flat screen TVs lining the walls. On our quiet Saturday afternoon, however, the din of college football did not interfere with our meal. Hooray for a bar that exercises volume control!

    (4)
  • Amanda L.

    I have a soft spot in my heart for Brownstone, since it was the first bar that I went to when I moved to Chicago. It's right down the street from my house and I'm sad to say that I don't go there that much. The allure of the patio was too much to resist on the gorgeous night last night so Mr. Quinn, Lori, and I headed over to grab some grub. We were lucky enough to be seated on the patio and our server, Amanda (all Amandas are awesome!), came over to take our drink order. I was delighted to see that they had a special Bloody Mary menu and decided to take a risk with the Bourbon Bloody Mary, made with Jim Beam instead of vodka. I drink bourbon like its water but I was a little apprehensive about mixing it with Zing Zang. Let me tell you -- DELISH! I think I'm converted. Mr. Quinn was happy with the huge beer selection and Lori was happy with the beer specials as I noshed on the yummy Mary accessories while waiting for our appetizer. The hummus and guac app is the perfect starter. Yummy, warm pita bread, veggies, and chips for the guac. I had the fish tacos (one of each:cod, shrimp, and tilapia), which were awesome. I'm originally from Cali and we do fish tacos right, so saying the Brownstone has good tacos is definitely high praise. Lori had the goat cheese and pear salad, which looked awesome and Mr. Quinn enjoyed his BBQ pork sandwich with sweet fries. Another score for Brownstone. Server Amanda was all over it, refilling our waters and checking on us. Definitely five star service. All in all, a wonderful neighborhood place that everyone should try and stop by!

    (5)
  • Brock W.

    The Brownstone hosted my fiancee's 30th birthday party last Saturday night and everything went extremely smooth. Anthony, the manager on duty, was very responsive in helping plan the party and was Johnny on the Spot during the party; he even supplied birthday cake candles after I realized we forgot ours! Our waitress - whose name I cannot remember - was fantastic! She was very attentive for handling such a large group. Everyone received their drink orders promptly all night and we certainlly got our money's worth with the $35 drink package we selected. Overall, a great first experience at the Brownstone and we'll definately be coming back!

    (5)
  • Richard M.

    I have been here many times. This can be a decent place to hang out if you like sports bars and it is not too busy. Classy decor and the food is above average for the "regular bar food" category. Tater tots are always a plus for me. The service has been generally OK. and the beer selection is good. There is a real downside when this place gets busy. The acoustics are terrible. The game is turned up too loud and with everybody talking (shouting), I can't have a conversation with the one other person at my table. Even when I am interested in the game, I still want to converse with my companions. The worst is trivia night. The MC's volume is always past annoying. I don't have a problem with trivia but sometimes I just want to eat my dinner. One nice thing I can say is that when commercials come on the TV during the game, they replace the audio with music, sparing the ears of the patrons from the extra amplitude that normally accompanies television commercials. I would like to give them more stars if they could find a way to reduce the volume when it is crowded. Its not like I have ears that are extra sensitive to noise. I have done more than my share of damage attending rock concerts, however I don't expect to have conversations at concerts. When I am having a Guinness and some food at a local tavern, I also hope to enjoy some good company and conversation. Perhaps they could install some acoustic baffles and turn down the TV volume to earn more stars from me.

    (3)
  • Dabney, B.

    Ive been here more than a decade. This place has had a few different names. But Brownstone appears to be here for the long haul. I have yet to read a review on this prior to scripting this, but I'm guessing it's Texas fans waxing poetic about how great this place is. Fair enough, I do the same thing with all the Michigan sports bars in Cook County! In addition to being a die-hard Wolverine fan, I am also a graduate of Butler University. To those of you who didn't grow up in Michigan, I would be referred to as a Walmart Wolverine fan. Jealousy because they root for a second hand program. Am I not aloud to root for the Cubs because I never played an inning in the Cubs farm system? By Michigan State people, the answer to that is yes. Silly. But as I was saying, this is also the place to be to watch your Butler University hoops games. Short of being in Hinkle Fieldhouse itself or the Bulldog in Indy (sorry, Moe & johnny's these days) , this is the place to be. Ton of beers to choose from, and they have the best sweet treat in the entire 60613 zip code. The Cookie Skillet! Bring a date in here, get two spoons and dig in. Thank goodness I don't live here, I'd weigh 300 lbs and have an insulin IV because I'd eat this thing night and night out, and I'm not kidding. Thanks Brownstone. You've got a good thing going here, glad you're here to stay (fingers crossed)!

    (4)
  • Erin E.

    now that this has become a semi-regular spot for me, i have to say, brownstone has totally earned that 5th star. they take regular bar food and kick it up a notch. no, make that 10 notches. the food and service are always stellar. you seriously cannot beat the tuesday specials- $5 glasses of wine, $5 salads, AND it's trivia night? count me in!

    (5)
  • Brent T.

    I've tried Brownstone twice in the last 3 months and both times my wife and I agreed that the food was below average at best. There are too many other similar restaurants in the area that serve much tastier food for less money to really consider Brownstone again. Rockwell's and Village Tap are 2 off the top of my head that are much better. I'd include Daily Bar/Grill and Bad Dog Tavern in that list too and I'm not much of a fan of those places. Bottom line - I don't think I'll ever intentionally go to Brownstone again. This review has nothing to do with service or delivery problems. Quite frankly, the food is just tasteless and overpriced. Today, my last visit, I ordered the buffalo wraps for our app and the steak quesadillias. Super meh here folks. The "steak" was little more than cube steak un-seasoned. Absolutely no flavor in the meat. Not to mention the "juice" from the steak left my quesadillias soggy on the bottom side. Just a gross meal if I'm being honest. My wife got chili today - another meh. We've also tried the steak tacos, pretzel bites and something else I'm forgetting. All very forgettable and overpriced for what you're getting. If I'm going to pay a premium for bar food, I'll drive further and hit up Revolution (Logan Square). Brownstone lies in such a good location , it's a crime the space isn't used by a more deserving restaurant.

    (2)
  • Carol K.

    Brownstone does a good job in giving the impression that it has been here for years, although it is the latest reincarnation of a space that has housed a variety of bars of the years. What makes Brownstone different from it's predecessors? They've taken the space and given it a more "homey" feel with stained glass light fixtures, a large reproduction Victorian bar that takes up the one wall and leather backed chairs. I have had a range of their food but nothing rivals one of their burgers served with my favorite, Tater Tots. That's right. A great big portion of potatoey crunchiness that got this place an extra star right away. Their beer list is adequate and the times I've been there- the service has been friendly and welcoming (and quick- the last time I ordered a burger late at night there- I think it came in about 10 minutes!) There have to be at least 10 TV's in the place so if watching your favorite game is on the docket- Brownstone will fill that bill. On the weekends- there is a DJ spinning the tunes- although I prefer to go on a weeknight when it is a little less crazy. Good service, a nice atmosphere and Tater Tots? Too bad it's not closer to me as this could easily become my neighborhood place.

    (4)
  • Patrick E.

    Great food; especially the mac-n-cheese. Also, NON-TYPICAL bar food and for that, I'm grateful! I love going to Martyr's, but not a fan of their kitchen, so this is my go to spot!

    (4)
  • Julie H.

    I ordered the turkey burger and sweet potato fries and my BF ordered the philly cheesesteak sammie and reg fries. He said he wished his sammie had more meat but he liked it and I thought my turkey burger and sp fries was delicious. The burger especially was quite savory, including the luscious bun. What I most liked about this bar was that: 1) you have the option of ordering your draft beer in a 22 oz pint for an extra $2, 2) it was WARM and TOASTY inside (minus the bathroom area) whereas I often find that in the winter many of Chicago's dining establishments are chilly beans nearby windows, and 3) the server was very good natured about my ditzily asking her for a side of BBQ when she had just walked to the kitchen and back for a side of mayo for my BF, 4) it is family friendly. So---that is what I liked about the bar. I will say that I had an unfortunate experience in the bathroom, but I don't think this was the restaurant's fault (rather, that of the patrons that evening).

    (3)
  • Layne S.

    Grubhub orders. Still need to get to the actual place. Over 2 orders we had a variety of items... Buffalo Rolls were potent yet yummy. Probably should have heated them up as they were luke warm, yet still good. Texas Queso was good and the chips were fresh, yet a bit greasy. First time I ordered 1 of each fish taco and was sent all scrimps. They were delishus yet I wanted to try the fish. I got 1 of each the second time and realized the scrimps was the best. So Ima stick with the scrimps fish tacos. Very fresh and flavorful and probably much better in person vs delivery. Tater tots first time were spot on. 2nd time not as good (less cooked). Fiance got the pear salad first time and thought it was ok. She only got one fritter and wanted more and the pear was hard and crunchy. She ordered the Buffalo Chicken salad next and really enjoyed it. So if Brownstone keeps up the quality they will definitely become our goto delivery place. And someday we may set foot inside to see what the food really tastes like...

    (4)
  • A B.

    Worst service. My husband and I were in the mood for, as he calls it, 'pub grub' and had been meaning to try Brownstone. Sat down on the patio, waited 10 minutes for menus and were finally greeted by the least friendly waitress I've encountered in a very long time. Service never picked up speed and she never cracked a smile. Our order was wrong, she would probably have blamed the kitchen if she had ever come back to check on us and I could have told her...which she didn't. Wish I knew her name so I could call her out, she probably wouldn't really care though. Food was good but not worth going back for.

    (1)
  • Spencer H.

    Stopped in for a quick drink on a perfect evening, once seated was promptly told the outdoor patio area would be closing shortly. Great beer selection and decent drink specials.

    (3)
  • Martin Y.

    A lively bar and restaurant with allegiance to the Texas longhorns and dallas cowboys for those of you football fans. Lots of HD TV screens so its more of a sports bar then a dining establishment. A pretty comprehensive food menu and quite the alcohol selection. They even have an alcohol book so choices galore. I have been there s few times and the service has always been good. Very friendly servers, especially Maria who seems very genuine. I notice lots of young parents with babies and young children as well whenever I go there early. Ample street parking available on lincoln ave and free ones to be had if you are patient enough to drive around the block

    (3)
  • Conly D.

    The food is great, the beer selection is equally as good. I just cannot give it the highest rating because of one of the employees. We go in for the UFC fights, which makes it that much better of a place. The problem I have is that inbetween fights, this guy plays music and does not air the interviews and whatnot that Joe Rogan does live. While that may seem like pretty small potatoes, it's actually a fairly important part. We asked him to leave the audio on and he really gave us a hard time about it. Secondly, we usually get there about 5:30-6PM before the fight to have dinner and drinks. The bouncer still comes around and collects an entrance fee regardless of the fact that you have been spending money there. It's kind of weak I think and while I understand their argument, I still do not agree with it.

    (3)
  • Rafael C.

    This place is still as good as I remember it. There has been some changes since my last review but I still say this is the best bar from the four corner tavern group in the city. The pretzels still rock, the service is above average and I still can take advantage of their specials albeit they do have less than they used to back in the day.

    (4)
  • Lorna S.

    Our server Jill was fantastic! Super sweet and attentive. We sat outside, and at 10PM when the patio closed, she helped us in with our drinks and food. The bartender was friendly, as was the Manager Scott. I paid Jill a compliment, and the manager seemed to appreciate it. In addition to drinking, we had the nachos. They were excellent, and plentiful. I will definitely go back again soon!

    (4)
  • Shonda D.

    This past Sunday we went to Brownstone to watch the Bulls game. It's a cool and spacious place. We were seated promptly, they have a gang of plasma's and the crowd was into the game (mostly Bull fans woot woot)! We met some great people. The service was slow. But, in all fairness, it was uber busy and with only one waitress for our area... that was to be expected. We ordered wine, which was probably a bad idea, as the wine glasses were dirty. I know its a bar and grill and they generally serve beer. But come on, send out clean glasses for all patrons. Ya dig? For these reasons, I'm giving Brownstone 3 stars. Don't get me wrong, all in all, it was a good experience. But clean the glasses and maybe hire one/two more waiters/waitresses when 'any' Chicago team makes the play offs.

    (3)
  • Carrie S.

    Looking for a brew before knitting class, I headed to Brownstone because it was open. Coming here on a Wednesday was my lucky day, the beer and food special is out of this world. On Wednesdays, wings and 25oz. of beer are $5 each! Seriously, these weekday specials can't be missed. I enjoyed my Stella and got an appetizer for dinner. Long before my food arrived, I felt the beer's grasp. My spinach and artichoke dip was nothing to write home about, but it helped soak up the Stella. I enjoyed my quiet beer and app before heading to knitting class a little tipsy. In the near future, I'd go back for another awesome Wednesday night special.

    (4)
  • Chris C.

    Went here on a Sunday to meet up with a couple of friends and watch some football. I hesitate to even bring up this first part, because all was made good in the end. But I went in for the late games, of which there are always very few. The bar advertises that it shows all the games, yet only 3 of the 5 were on when I went inside. Granted, the Bears were playing, and that occupied many of the screens. At first I asked the guy in charge of the TV's if he could help me out and get my game on. Initially, he wasn't very helpful and didn't seem very interested in helping out. So, I decided, in return I wouldn't spend any money there. A bit later, I made another suggestion regarding the TV situation, and this time the guy went way out of his way to accommodate. Not sure what happened, but he totally turned it around. It won me over, and I decided to spend some money. So in the end that part turned out ok, but you really shouldn't have to fight to get your game on at a bar that advertises having all of the games. Aside from that, they had a good beer list and the nachos we got were better than average. My only real gripe was the volume of the place. Again, I was there during a bears game, AND we were sitting next to a speaker. But the music they play after a touchdown and during commercials was absolutely ear drum damaging. I had to pause the conversation for minutes at a time to wait for it to end. Anyway, I'd go back. I'm actually anxious to try some of their other food based on how much I enjoyed the nachos.

    (3)
  • C N.

    Good beer selection great food. Ok service. But the place has a really bad smell inside n

    (3)
  • Christie Katelyn S.

    Our first visit as a group to this bar didn't turn out so great, but we decided to go back & give it another shot. It was totally worth it! We had the nicest waitress, food was fantastic, great beer selection & the atmosphere was dead on! Staff in general was extremely friendly, but the GM himself seem to be really welcoming & hands on when it came to making sure everything ran smoothly for his patrons & staff. Great North Center/Lakeview Bar! I'm so glad we went back & we plan to be weekend regulars!

    (5)
  • Downtown B.

    Went here with my wife and two friends. Salads were on special for $5 a pop. Nice! I ordered the buffalo chicken salad, very mediocre but at $5 you have to expect that. Sam Summers on special for $4. Dinner and a beer for $9 is a steal!!! Overall a pleasant experience. I'll be back to try some other items. Oh and the outdoor seating is very nice!

    (3)
  • Pam P.

    Since it seems that many of you are still unaware, I feel the need to post this. Brownstone is the (only) official Butler University bar in Chicago. If Butler is playing, don't complain about the noise levels. Butler students and alumni are very passionate about our basketball team. Brownstone's website even mentions that they are the official Butler bar.If this is a problem for you, don't complain, just go elsewhere. I was just at Brownstone for the Elite 8 game yesterday. I must say that I was very impressed with how well the staff handled the very large crowd. Service remained good throughout the game, and a clear path was almost always maintained from the front of the bar back to the restrooms. We won a skillet cookie during a game raffle. I have to agree with the other reviewers, it is AWESOME. It should be noted that the tavern is also very child friendly (with game time being the exception). They even offer a children's menu.

    (4)
  • Steven C.

    Good beer. Great fish tacos!!!! And great service from Kirsten!!!!!

    (4)
  • Karolyn S.

    Love the outdoor seating. Their pretzels are awesome for just a nice snack. Last week I had a mango, avocado, grilled shrimp salad that was amazing. Told them they should take it off specials and put it on the menu. I would normally give a place like this three stars, the waitstaff pushes it up for me. They are kind yet not overbearing and really seem to enjoy their work. A friend of mine swears by their fish tacos. Their mushroom/veggie quesidillas are fantastic. The meat quesidillas need more veggies in my opinion. I go there with friends to enjoy the day, but I also go there to work by myself. Great atmosphere for both.

    (4)
  • Carolyn L.

    For New Year's 2007-2008, my friends and I went out to Brownstone because they had a pretty decent drink package. It had a nice open bar and it was actually possible to get drinks all night because it wasn't too crowded. The atmosphere was great, no drama to report, and we rang in a very Happy New Year!

    (3)
  • Scott C.

    The Brownstone is a good bar on the north side - their food is typically on the higher end of most bar food and they have a pretty wide beer list. When the weather is nice, the outdoor seating is a great place to enjoy the weather and escape a somewhat loud bar (especially as the night goes on). There are many tables in the bar area for dining and a flat screen TVs covering all of the walls - you really can't miss a game while you are there. What keeps bringing us back to the Brownstone are the fish tacos! They may be the best in the city. They are served with either cod, tilapia or shrimp with a tasty cole slaw. The salsa that the tacos are served with has a bit of spice to it and really adds to the flavor of the taco. All together, these ingredients make for one heck of a taco! They are also filling - they don't scrimp on the amount of fish in the taco, so it's definitely a good meal. Most of the portions of any dish at the Brownstone are pretty big - so bring your eating pants when you come here. If you come for just drinks, they offer several different appetizers from sliders to baked soft pretzels to help your beer go down easily. If you are in the neighborhood, it's a great place to check out for a beer or a meal.

    (3)
  • Colleen A.

    Brownstone is just "so-so". I always go with a good attitude because my sister LOVES it, and yet I always leave feeling a little used and bored. The "used" part comes from the prices, the service, and the atmosphere. The "bored" part comes from the food. It's like TGIFridays or Chili's...kinda greasy, everything sort of tastes the same. Basically typical bar food, except this is "pricey" bar food. I agree with other reviwers that the servers and bartenders always act pissed and like they REALLY don't want to be there. It kinda makes me feel the same way. I think they might act that way because it's so INCREDIBLY loud in that mofo. And not just "loud college football game" tv, (because that's a sound I love!). But more, just generally, obnoxiously loud for the space. I like Brownstone a little more in the summer, so 1 star for the patio, 1 star for the convenience

    (2)
  • Ryan C.

    Awesome place with great food and good specials. Try the Korean steak tacos!

    (5)
  • Marie B.

    Great food, typical drink list, decent selection of beers. TVs all around, but still has more obstructive views than I would like. Reason being this place gets packed easily, less room than it's sister bar WestEnd. Food is the same though, I LOVE the house salad...tator tots are plus as well!

    (3)
  • Elizabeth T.

    Great service. Great drinks. YUMMY Korean tacos--I've never had these before and the sauce on them is out of this world. Cilantro rice is meh and dry, but I added some sour cream and it was edible. Chips and dip is spicy and filling. I really just LIKE this place. if I lived closer, this might be a regular stop for nights when we don't feel like cooking.

    (4)
  • Joe K.

    Went on a Sunday with 2 small kids. Good atmosphere, fun and lively but kid friendly. Prices were OK, food was good. Will go again.

    (4)
  • Michael H.

    Really nice interior/great patio/good food... This place used to be my Go-To Bar, anyone I ever brought there liked it and wanted to go back... used to be a German Resto and now a Redux by Four Corners Group going back like 5 years now. Food---Def try the "Rolls" and the Chocolate Chip Cookie Bomb for dessert... "Decent" Craft selections but Def need to Update the Beer List!! Service is good as long as they don't know YOU!!! GTFJD

    (3)
  • Carolynne M.

    Eh, its bar food, whaddya want. I ordered 3 of the "miniwiches" which are basically slider sized sandwiches. I got one meatball (ridicuously salty), one spicy chicken (not spicy in any way and was cold on the inside) and the burger with Merkt's cheese (OK but I had never had that cheese before and wasnt really a fan) Andy ordered these crazy things that were buffalo wings in an eggroll. Wacky and unusual, yes, super delightful, extra tasty and incredibly bad for you? oh yes, yes, yes. Service was stellar and the interior was like a Victorian era bar owned by a Texas Longhorn fan. I guess if you are from Texas or like Texas then this is the bar for you!

    (3)
  • Brian M.

    Let's just say if your school's colors are crimson and cream, you might be outnumbered here. I had to chuckle at a small group of Indiana fans that wandered in here on a recent college basketball game day and muttered "Oh great, this is a f----ng Butler bar." Of course everyone knows this is a Texas football bar (sorry Sooners), but come winter, Brownstone is the home of Butler basketball! They hook it up with banners, stadium cups, specials specific to either school, and of course, blasting the school song. They even open early for those noon-EST tipoffs. Any place that sponsors a college alumni club is bound to have good drink specials and the like. But of the many homogenous Lincoln Park/Lakeview spots with the typical "fry everything" approach, North Center's Brownstone outdoes them all with their menu. Naturally there is a good selection of traditional bar food for the Coors-Light-and-a-deep-fryer crowd, but if you're like me and have a desire for some big boy food and drinks while still having the sports bar feel, nothing compares to Brownstone. The kitchen cranks out full salads (which can be turned into a wrap for free!), a thick selection of healthy or deliciously fried appetizers, sandwiches on a variety of breads and buns, plus tater tots and the skillet cookie, which get their own category. Sixteen taps and a stellar bottle selection that's heavy with American microbrews keep this beer nerd a happy guy. Oh, and there's shotskis. Hopefully you brought three friends with you, maybe for the awesome Monday and Tuesday trivia. If not, make some. You can thank me later. Preferably with a beer while I'm watching a Butler game.

    (5)
  • Abhay S.

    As a Bears fan, this is a great place to watch games. After each touchdown or field goal, they'll play Bear Down, which no doubt annoys the crap out of every non-Bears fan out there. Even though they have the NFL Sunday Ticket, if it's not a popular game, you may have to ask the waitstaff to show your game. I think the atmosphere is a bit better than most sports bar. I would venture to say Brownstone is an upscale sports bar, but it is indeed nicer than other places I've been. We ordered the $10 nacho special and it was pretty good. The beer specials were OK, nothing extraordinary. It was a football Sunday and they didn't have to do anything. Our service was excellent and i'd return for dinner or another football game.

    (4)
  • Moe f.

    Update: Best turkey burger I've had in some time(and only $5 on Mondays). All around great bar food. And the fish tacos are surprisingly quite good.

    (4)
  • MELEK L.

    Brownstone is unexpected. Hip and comfortable with great food to bout! I got the Asian Chicken sandwich on a pretzel bun instead of the Tuscan bread as it is written on the menu. No problem, says the bartender. It was a perfect combination of sweet and savory. And, come on, what isn't good on a pretzel bun? Tater Tots were good, but I definitely suggest getting them with the house spices. They were tasty all by themselves. I did ask for Ranch, though. I was surprised when he asked "Spicy Ranch or regular?" Really? At a sports bar? Cool. After reading all of the reviews of this dang cookie skillet, I just couldn't resist. And I surmise that everyone was right...it is awesome! Hot and gooey with what could've been more ice cream and plenty of whipped cream too. I had to workout double today because of this luscious treat! The bartender was super cool. He handled the belligerent "regular" who was cussing up a storm because they turned off the sound on the Blackhawks game in favor of the NFL game. Boo hoo, man! But the bartender barely blinked an eye. Nice and welcoming all around. I will definitely walk the few blocks from my place to visit Brownstone in the future.

    (4)
  • Laura W.

    Brownstone is a 'nice' place. 'Nice' in that way that you describe a stupid guy with no sense of humor and a unibrow. Okay, that's a little harsh. Brownstone doesn't have a unibrow. Brownstone is clean. The bathrooms have those amazing hand dryers with enough power to move a train. There are plenty of tables. The TVs are good looking. The food is....fine. But the waitresses constantly seem irritated. FORGIVE ME FOR ASKING WHAT TIME YOUR KITCHEN CLOSES! Yeesh. The trivia guy on Mondays (yestheydotriviaonmondays) could not be more of a jerk. The prices are pretty high for what you're getting. I could hop over to Celtic Crown or any other pub and get the same food and drinks for half the price, along with a nice smile from an employee. It was fun to be there after Texas lost the National Championship. Nah nah boo boo! I'll give it one star for the tater tots, one star for the hand dryers.

    (2)
  • Leanne A.

    I need to come back on a weekend. I had a great time here. Me and three friends picked this place for my last minute cumpleanos gathering. (the real bash will come later!) For a Monday night, Brownstone was groovin! The trivia was loads of fun. The host was not too loud and obnoxious. He was actually pretty cool. The questions were difficult, but not ridiculous. There were a lot of people there, including some good looking males. And our waitress was hotttt. And the food?! They have a special on miniwiches. $5 for three. And they are so good! Little filet, crispy chicken with avocado, burgers, sloppy joes. mmmm I loved them all. And corona buckets for $15. We accidentally ordered four of those buckets....(don't know how that happened. oops!) They just kept disappearing! I was a little sad that the bar emptied out around 11. But we still jammed until 12. I will surely be back, as Browstone just had a great vibe. :)

    (5)
  • Sally C.

    I hadn't been here in over a year, but came here for my birthday since I just moved to the area and could walk to it. It certainly has improved since I was last here. The main thing I like about Brownstone is the miniwiches. They're served on Hawaiian rolls, and you have your choice of three different meats to mix or match (you can order 3 or 6 at a time). I always get the beef fillet which is served with horseradish (delish!). They're served with chips, and while they're on the appetizer section, they're more of a meal. The place has ample seating, and a friendly waitstaff. They also have a nice patio which I think includes heaters when the weather cools down which is nice for people who like to stretch out the summer far beyond its limits. The drink specials were interesting. They had $5 margaritas. The waitress asked if I wanted salt. I said yes. When I got my drink, the salt wasn't on the rim but rather sprinkled on top of the drink. I had never seen this before (nor did any of my drinking companions), but it did solve the issue of getting to the salt when drinking out of a straw. It was an interesting taste and wasn't that super sweet mix that makes you want to stop after one (this could be good or bad, depending on how much you want to drink). I will most likely be back, but if memory serves, it gets a little crazy during football games so I will avoid it on Saturdays and Sundays through January. There were several specials posted all over the place in addition to the normally advertised specials. The one that really caught my eye was $5 all-you-can-eat-wings on Wednesdays. I don't like that this isn't advertised with the regular specials, but I guess they like to reward patrons who pay attention. Or those who stare at the walls while in the bathroom.

    (4)
  • Emily C.

    Three reasons why Brownstone is cool: 1) All of their salads can be made into wraps. Their veggie caesar salad is especially amazing in this form. The key is to add steak. (You had to be expecting that. I don't do veggie at a place like Brownstone, homes.) 2) Skillet cookie. Hot melty foodgasmic thing that it is. 3) They had a party for the premiere of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" for hacks like me who don't get F/X. Complete with a costume contest - FYI, a girl dressed as the mute, unibrowed McPoyle sister totally won, natch - and a green man dancing contest. If I didn't already like the place, that would have been the win-over.

    (4)
  • Adriana F.

    We were surprised. Expected a Texas-style-middle-of-the-road affair. Friday evening, staying at our sons flat, hungry, Great evening to eat al fresco. Walked a few blocks checking what was available an settled for Brownstone. Ordered a couple of appetizers. Spinach and artichoke was very good, chips fresh crunchy and tasty. Edamames were served with a tangy sweet and sour sauce making an excellent paring. Falafel burger, fish tacos, tater tots, all excellent. Tacos came with cilantro rice, our taste buds were very happy. A friend joined us later and order chicken tacos, superb. Our taste buds were thankful. We have been here several time and never disappointed.

    (4)
  • Ron T.

    We ended up at Brownstone on a Friday night after having a miserable experience at another pub up in Lincoln Square. We had been meaning to go because we always see a lot of people there and thought there was something to that. Well, we now know why. We ended up having a group of friends show up and they accommodated all of us for food and drinks, very nicely. Staff was really friendly, helpful and not the least bit rude or stressed out. We ordered a bunch of food to share and it all came out VERY quickly, precisely as ordered and the quality was amazing. Really much better than anything we expected for "bar" food. I honestly think that the short rib mini-wiches could be their signature item. They were really out of this world. We just had a great time, food was awesome, staff was great, prices were very reasonable and we will definitely be going back very soon. I realize this is a sports bar and that is a great vibe, although we went to just hang with friends and have some food, the environment of this place really allowed both the sports nutz and the not-so-sport focused people, to be in the same place and have a great time. Now, I am sure if there is a Bears, Hawks, or Longhorn game on, that me be a different story, but it IS a sports bar so we would go in expecting that. All in all, A+ from me and the whole group of us that night. Our revisit may be sooner than we think.

    (5)
  • Tim C.

    Their fries are fucking awesome (seasoning is hard to pin down, I think it's a garlic/cinnamon pepper grinder), and their side salads are pretty excellent on their own accord. Burger - kinda meh - not bad, but nothing like the wait staff. Good beer selection, cool patio. All around a decent place, but kinda pricey. But you gotta pay for quality. edit: went back on a Saturday night... this place is pretty lame as a bar. They had some guy on a macbook playing music. I honestly don't understand the whole "let's listen to 80s hair bands" crap. REO Speedwagon, Journey, etc... yawn. Seriously terrible, I really don't want to listen to Ace of Base's "I saw the sign" at midnight while enjoying a beer.

    (3)
  • Kevin Z.

    Great place - excellent bar food great beer selection. Love all the appetizers especially. Consistent great service even though it's often very busy. Maria - you're the best!

    (5)
  • Rich H.

    I went here with a friend recently and was very pleased with the atmosphere of the place. I was prepared for a college bar only sort of ambiance but was pleased that there were a few more mature guests although there was a frat party going on at the same time which is pretty entertaining as long as your not one of the frat members being made to look and act silly - LOL Beer selection was decent. Whoever cfreated it knows a thing or two about good beer. The staff was attentive and very friendly. The day we went, I had no intention of eating but their food looked quite good. They had put on a crawfish boil shortly before we arrived so most people had already loaded up on that. I look forward to a return visit to this place and I think I'll try the shrimp and cod tacos - sounds good. Very comfortable place.

    (4)
  • Jacob J.

    How many times do you read reviews where they say.. "passed by and always thought to stop in...." This is one of those times. I pass this bar almost all the time. Always looked in and wondered. Should've just stopped in. The bar is beautiful. Rich burgundy stained wood, the ends and length of the wood are etched and detailed. I like bars where they spend some money on decor. It made me feel at home. Like I could sit and just drink. Seated at the bar they've got that step, so you have somewhere to rest your dangling legs. Inside its dimly lit and more intimate days when there's less of a crowd I suppose. My first thought at looking around was, for what reason could we throw a party here. I'd like to come back for one. Nightly specials listed outside fully visible to the street. Wednesday night had $5 apps, $4 3 olive vodka martini's and $3.50 drafts. Bartender did a good job of making us feel welcome and the pour was strong. Definitely worth my weeknight business. But, I think I'll avoid the crowded weekends.

    (4)
  • Sarah L.

    I love this neighborhood hangout! I have been here several times and I have a great time each time I visit. I came here last Saturday afternoon for lunch and this place was packed! I felt bad for our waitress because she was the only waitress for inside and outside. Poor girl! She did an awesome job tending to all her tables, great job! Brownstone's menu is huge and it has a lot of variety. I had the southwest steak wrap and it was so good! There was plenty of avocado mixed in with plenty of steak. I am a huge avocado fan! I had the seasoned fries and I didn't care for those. They had way too much pepper and seasoning on them. I should have gone for the tots! My friend had the tilapia tacos and they looked amazing! My hubby had the burger and they have half pound burgers, those things are huge! If you are looking for good bar food, stop in Brownstone. They have a full bar and have something that will make you happy!

    (4)
  • Kelly S.

    My girlfriends and I came here after attempting to hit a martini bar on Irving Park that was closed when we arrived. Apparently we were a couple hours early for martinis. On the way back to the car, we noticed that the place was open! Anyhoooo... onto the Brownstone. I really like the ambiance here. Darkish, candles, cozy pub feel. Our waitress was overly efficient. She just kept popping in... 'are you ready yet? are you ready yet? are you ready yet? don't worry! take your time!' really? We all had the Pom Pear Martini. DELISH! No wonder the price isn't on the menu. $10 a pop. I opted for a Hacker Pschorr after my martini. It was rancid. The waitress gladly took it off the bill. My grilled cheese with tomato was OK and the tater tots were.... tater tots. I should have gone with my gut instinct (pun intended) and gotten the fish tacos. My friend got the mac n cheese that really could have been Kraft Deluxe. I'd come here again for a few beers, but probably not for the food.

    (3)
  • Risa P.

    I went here on a Monday night for trivia. 1) The bar is cute 2) It is cozy 3) The buckets of Corona were delicious 4) Trivia went quickly, wasnt too hard but was really fun. The guy leading it was calm and nice and didnt make it into an obnoxious hoopla 5) We won 6) We got half off our bill 7) We celebrated by getting a skillet cookie 8) It was amazing 9) They let us order it after finding out that we won (so we could get the half off deal) 10) Company-good. Atmosphere-good. If you went to UT-the place to be (I didnt) and Skillet Cookie--oh dear. delicious.

    (4)
  • Tita P.

    So I stumbled across this bar because I was..how shall I say?? STARVING. This was my first time in the neighborhood and I was at another bar and realized that I had not eaten dinner. So, I walked down the stt the street and landed at Brownstone. My first thought when I walked in was this place seems cozy. The bar is a nice size and there were several tall tables. The customers seemed as if this was not their first time in. I pulled up a seat at the bar and the bartenders were attentive and friendly. I had a beer and ordered grilled chicken tenders with buffalo sauce and they were yummy! I can't wait until it warms up so that I can see how fab this place is in the spring time.

    (3)
  • Rachel G.

    I have been here multiple times over the past few years. Went back last week for the first time in probably 6 months and I liked what I saw! First off...their menu has changed. Still has some of the favorites of the old menu (pretzels for appetizer, wraps and burgers, cookie for dessert), but has updated it with new plates as well. These new items look delicious too. I had the Old Town burger and it was excellent. My b/f had the chili-mac and it was surprisingly very good (given most times chili tastes like straight from a can). So our food was great and I can't wait to come back and try one of their new wraps. My old fav wrap was off the menu...but their new ones look like they can become my new fav wrap! Service was good. Usually we have to wait awhile for the check and for them to check on our drinks...but we had no problems. And it was a friday night around 7:00....still early...but still. so why no 5 stars? I thought their wine list was way overpriced and it was very hot in there. So much so that I had to strip down to my tank. I could over-see the temp...but no excuse for over-priced wine. Overall, I will be back....for sure

    (4)
  • An P.

    Brownstone, a cornerstone of North Center. I've been here many a time and enjoy this place quite a bit. The last time I came out this way was for the end of EuroCup and the Globe Pub had a line of forty people deep or so. I walked into Brownstone which was shoulder to shoulder packed and elbowed my way to the bar to grab a drink. What was surprising was that they weren't charging cover and the yuppy patrons were being polite as they could given the circumstances. Spanish flags were all over the place and one draped the window. The red jerseys were abound and the yelling and the screaming was as intense as you would have heard if it was a Bears Superbowl touchdown. Pandemonium, adulation, rapture filled the eyes of the Spanish fans while I waved my fist in the air and drank some tasty Goose Island. I love the food here and can never complain when you can grab yourself some tater tots. This bar is a bit on the pricey side and their drink specials are nothing to write home about, but it is a good sports bar with above-average tasting food and wider beer selection than most sports bars. The cost justifies what you get.

    (4)
  • Gail C.

    meh, on 2nd att....food very pricey. I still think that $10.00 is a lot for a hamburger. The spicey french fries are really very good, but after awhile they are kind of overpowering. Watermelon martini = skittle-tini. (really yucky, sorry but that is the best word to describe it) Russian waitress = slow

    (2)
  • Mory S.

    Delicious food. Buffalo Chicken sandwich with melted Blue cheese and tater tots is a must. My husband had the Korean Steak tacos which he said were tasty and they looked tasty too. Even though Brownstone isn't in our neighborhood, I'm confident in saying that my husband and I will be returning!!

    (4)
  • Kearby K.

    Skillet Cookie is really the best desert in Chicago. I used to like the cookie at Dunlays the best but I mean it is final. The best desert in Chicago is the Brownstone Skillet Cookie. STILL PISSED ABOUT THE BOOTHS, Kearby

    (5)
  • Dom G.

    A Texas Longhorn's Bar in Chicago....if you are a Horns fan..This is the place to be! I remember watching the National Championship in Chicago at a bar then the next year a friend said, (and I quote) GIRL: "there is a bar where people like to wear dark orange and scream for some Texas team." ME: "Would that be Burnt Orange and the ONLY team to watch on Saturday?" GIRL: huh? ME: TEXAS LONGHORNS!! HOOK EM' BABY! GIRL: huh? your a dork! So needless to say I found my bar for the Longhorns away from home, thanks guys and Hook Em!

    (5)
  • Pavithra M.

    I ate at the Brownstone Tavern after a gap of at least three years and was not disappointed. We ordered the beef filet miniwiches, fries (fire), and tortilla soup. The beef was amazingly tender and the horseradish cream that it is served with is out of this world. I was a little suspicious at first because it is white just like regular cream, but was pleasantly surprised. The seaoning on the fries is great like someone else mentioned - we got the fire variety, but they were not too spicy. In contrast, the tortilla soup is nothing to write home about. It tastes more like tomato soup and could have been avoided. I would definitely go back for the miniwiches though. It's a perfect portion for lunch if you get a soup or salad to go with it.

    (4)
  • Nick M.

    Oh how I miss Benedict's!!! But I also used to live right across the ally which meant I lived at Benedict's. Let's get something straight Brownstone gets 4 stars but only during the day, at night or any Texas Alumni game day it gets only 2 stars. Day- Food is pretty good, I like the menu...I mean tater tots that's awesome. The sandwiches and the pretzels are really good too. There is not too many people in there and that also means the service is a little better. Great patio to chill, good drinks, and sports on all the tv's. Oh and really spicy bloody mary's. I like comin' plus you can walk down the street to Trader Joe's or Deadwax. Night- Food is sloppy, service is almost none existent, drinks are poured half ass-ed, the crowd is awful (I swear the crowd got a lot younger in Lincoln Square and they all walk down to hang out), and what is up with this being a Texas Exes bar??!?! Hands-down Benedict's was the better bar. It was a neighborhood bar filled with friendly people, a staff that took care of you, and excellent food.

    (4)
  • Deirdre L.

    Had another great experience here. The girls and I went back again for another Sunday game, except with a slightly larger crowd of people. Food= Great Tasting and Great Value on the specials Service = Still very pleasant and attentive We never felt rushed, we never waited more than a few moments for our waitress to stop by, our tired, hungover selves never went waterless - they kept our glasses full all day (and beers for those of us brave enough to drink again that morning). I can't speak for any other times, but Sundays here are almost... beautiful (sniff, sniff, blot the tears from the corners of my eyes...)

    (5)
  • Robert K.

    I have always had good service here. I seem to always order the fish taco's which are excellent. Other people I have gone with have gotten various burgers which all say were excellent. Good selection of beers and good atmosphere. One of my friends had to send back a chicken sandwich since it was very tough. Hey it happen's when you serve so much food. However, our server (Maria) handled it very well and quickly took it away and ordered him another item he selected and got it to him ASAP. Maria overall was an excellent server. I would go here anytime just for the food but also for a few beers and some sports on TV.

    (4)
  • Luther Z.

    Please clean the vomit off the sidewalk in front of your business. Thanks, Residents of Northcenter

    (1)
  • Andy M.

    Good location. good bar. Good decor. This is a bar that knows there is alot of competition nearby and they spend to make the bar look nice. That is what the LongHorn and Butler university yuppies all can ask for.

    (4)
  • John K.

    BULLS WIN AND BROWNSTONE ROCKS! Fish Tacos - Outstanding!

    (5)
  • Jay P.

    Great place! Recently moved to the area and have been here twice now! Great specials for both food and beer!

    (5)
  • James D.

    This place is a popular spot. I have been here many times and typically enjoy it. Decent food and beer list. The service has been hit or miss. The busser-runners are always on top of things and friendly. The times I have always experienced good service is from a certain server, Mallory I think is her name.

    (3)
  • Sam K.

    Brownstone is a good sports bar with plenty of TVs and good food. My GF and i wanted to try a different place for some food and drinks and we decided to try Brownstone. Totally forgetting that March madness was going on....the place was pretty packed when we got there. So we waited for a table. Went to the bar and grabbed a drink....only complaint about our experience was when we were at the bar waiting for our table...the bartender...had her back turned from us and was texting on her phone....it was a good 10 mins before she recognized us but once we ordered our drinks...everything was fine. We went on a Friday night and they had buffalo wings on special...a dozen of their jumbo bone in wings were only $5 which is an amazing deal. If your looking for good beer and good food. I recommend giving Brownstone a try.

    (4)
  • John P.

    Really liked this place. Food, service and choice of music make it an awesome spots bar.

    (4)
  • Dan M.

    I've been going to Brownstone for a while now. My wife and usually order food for pickup and eat at home. We've loved the food for a while...but recently they changed the menu and dropped a few items that we really liked. No more queso or bone-in wings (other than BBQ). Also, the plain kettle chips are gone. We tried a few new items and thought the were OK... but without the above, we might be less inclined to go as much. As for he bar itself... awesome place. The Four Corners bars are all pretty great.

    (3)
  • Claire S.

    I will preface this review by saying: 1. I was starving when I arrived at Brownstone and 2. I am not a Texas sports fan (I remain pretty indifferent when it comes to sports in general). I popped in here around 7:00pm on Wednesday to grab some dinner with my boyfriend and was instantly amazed at how incredibly loud the place was. All I wanted was some dinner. So I guess coming to a sports bar and expecting a somewhat quiet dinner was my first mistake. Then, the food turned out to be kinda bad, actually. Cheating on my vegetarianism, I ordered the fish tacos--they weren't bad, but I feel like I enjoyed them more because I was so damn hungry. My boyfriend got a Mediterranean Caesar salad which randomly had steamed broccoli and cauliflower in it, un-ripened tomatoes, canned artichokes, wilted greens...you get the idea--nothing fresh, for $9. I guess I was drawn to this place because I was starving and it was close and the decor is actually pretty nice. Brownstone seems clean and looks nicer than your average bar, but I wasn't impressed with the food at all.

    (3)
  • Christy Q.

    I know there are already 10,000 reviews of this place... but give credit where credit is due, right? The ambiance: I love it! It's got that nicer sports bar feel. This is much nicer than most Wrigleyville bars or Lincoln Park bars (which tend to cater to either drunk Cubs fans or drunk 21 year old DePaul students).... this is a nicer classier take on a sports bar. I have been quite a few times and I've never ever been dissapointed. Never. The staff is all great! Very helpful and friendly. And thus far they've never gotten an order wrong... which is worth noting! The cookie skillet- I mean... can you really go wrong? It's the most fantastic dessert I've ever had! I LOVE it! It's gooey and warm and delish! I won't lie... more than once I've started my meal with the cookie- just to make sure I'd have room for it in my belly! The rest of the food on the menu is along the same lines- it's more than just typical bar fare... and the flavor is delish! You cannot go wrong. They even have a Wednesday night wing night special which I am a big fan of (though you should know it's only for bone in wings... boneless wings aren't part of the offer, sadly). This bar is def. on the "need to go to" list. IF you haven't been you live under a rock.... but it's ok! There is still time to crawl out from under said rock and see the light! AND GET THE DANG SKILLET COOKIE!

    (5)
  • Jillian S.

    I've been coming to Brownstone for a while, and it never disappoints. Hubs and I have come here on a few occasions to hang out or watch the UFC fights. You have to pay a $5.00 cover for the fights, but a drink ticket is included which is nice. Even though Brownstone is a sports bar, it provides a great atmosphere, even for non-sports fans (such as myself!). It is really clean, nicely decorated, but not overpriced! The food is DELICIOUS. I've never been "unimpressed" by anything I've ordered here. Let me just tell you the tater tots and dipping cheese are just about the best thing this side of heaven. Beer selection is also GREAT, especially if you like Texas brews like Shiner Bock! They have their seasonal bottles as well, which is a nice touch. The only reason I won't give Brownstone 5 stars is sometimes the service can be a little dicey. Generally the only time I've had a problem though is when they are at their busiest, so it is kind of understandable. I'll just say it's unpredictable depending on what server you get so once that improves, Brownstone will be 5 stars all the way!

    (4)
  • Mark K.

    This place seemed dangerously over capacity when we arrived around midnight on Saturday. At no point after entering the front door were we NOT touching another human being. Seems like a broseph haven with a slight hint of daterape in the air. The 4 of us saddled up for a quick shot & a beer before a Magic tournament across the street (no joke!) and then were not acknowledged in the slightest by either of the bartenders for more than 5 minutes. Fantastic service, Brownstone!

    (1)
  • Brian M.

    Half price apps on Sunday were on special a couple of weeks ago when I was here, it was a nice thing for someone who hadn't been there before. The group of 4 of us all split a bunch of apps and overall they were probably 3.5 overall. The chicken quesadilla was great, but the buffalo chicken roll wasn't too good. The reuben rolls were above average. The beer selection was pretty large, having gumball head in stock gave them a gold star in my book. The amount of tvs on the wall were both large and placed in a good viewing angle from our table. If you are in the neighborhood I'd definitely stop here for a quick meal and a few drinks, it looks like it'd be a nice spot to watch a game as well.

    (4)
  • Kate P.

    Best tater tots ever! Nice and crunchy, but not overly crunchy, spiced to perfection with just a pinch of salt and pepper. Great selection of beers on tap and in bottles to choose from as well as good food selections including a few veggie dishes. Let's just say I was pleasantly surprised and I would go here again as well as recommend it to others.

    (4)
  • Christina R.

    $ food at $$ prices makes this place lose a star RIGHT off the bat. In addition, another star is lost because the kitchen staff can't get their food right, and not just on one dish, but we had 2 out of 3 dishes at our tables where the kitchen staff just left things off - bacon was forgotton on the "Brownstone Club" and the special of the night was a type of bacon-cheddar-barbeque burger, but the barbeque sauce was left off. This kind of shoddy kitchen work on simple dishes that weren't altered at all (aka - we didn't ask for anything special, the dishes were ordered directly off men) is pretty stupid. Our waitress was really nice and great when we brought it to her attention though, so this place still gets a 3-star rating. She threw in our dessert for free, which was really good (the skillet cookie with ice cream on top). We knew the kitchen screw up wasn't her fault, but she was nice about it all the same. I did like the seasoning on the fries, that was delish, and I had some sort of margarita drink that was also so good (plus I just love me some tequila). If you live nearby or are in the area, it isn't a bad place to stop by, just double check your dishes against what you ordered as soon as they get to your table, and get them fixed.

    (3)
  • Hilary G.

    I've been on a bad date in the bar a few years back (you know one of those dates when you have nothing to say), went to a Kentucky Derby party here last year and I've seen MANY Texas Longhorn games here. I'm a fan of this bar. I don't go there much for anything other than the Texas games, but the food is good and there was discounts during the games and the staff is always conscientious and seems very hard-working.

    (4)
  • Billy B.

    Loved the turkey burger and the atmosphere. Been there on a Thursday and it is very chill and a good place to catch up with friends. Also been there on a Saturday for a UT game; it was very fun as well.

    (4)
  • K. N.

    I got the mushroom wrap and my partner got the buffalo chicken wrap. We both got fire fries. -The fries are pretty good. I like the seasonings a lot. -The mushroom wrap is pathetic. There's hardly any mushrooms! It's like a romaine lettuce wrap with a few mushrooms and tomatoes, goat cheese and vinagrette. A total ripoff at $8. I was expecting lots of mushrooms, more than freaking romaine lettuce. -the Buff chix wrap was fine. I can't imagine I'd bother going back. I wish I had tried Glenn's Diner instead.

    (2)
  • Chris W.

    This place is great. It always has a good looking crowd and delicious food. The seating is comfortable and the service on par. This place will remain a staple in my go to list.

    (4)
  • Kiarash Z.

    I showed up at Brownstone tipsy and still was disappointed in their chicken. If you know me, you know I don't turn down free food. I turned down the chicken after one bite. First off, chicken fingers/strips should be fried. Always. Grilled chicken goes in a sandwich, on a salad, on pasta, whatever. Chicken alone? Fry it. Here's Brownstone's chicken recipe: Ingredients: 1 lb frozen chicken 5 tbsp black pepper 1 cup water 1 syringe 1 large dog Directions: 1. partially thaw frozen chicken 2. rub in black pepper and throw in toaster oven for two minutes 3. remove chicken from oven and inject 1 cup of cold water into chicken 4. allow dog to lick most of pepper off 5. serve Oh, and the beer is really expensive. And the drink specials ain't that special. On the up side, the staff was super nice and tolerated a bunch of drunk Yelpers until closing time. And they didn't do the closing-time yell. I hate that. So rude.

    (2)
  • Ellen F.

    I used to work down the street from Brownstone and I would go here with coworkers on occasion, or order in for lunch on Fridays. The food is delicious (I recommend their salads, portabella quesadillas, or mini hamburgers). Brownstone also has a nice patio when the weather is good. Just don't try to stand. We were informed a number of times that the patio is for sitting only.

    (4)
  • Jaimie B.

    I really can't give this place too much of a review as I've only been here once. So far, so good. It's a bigger bar, with a great setting. I love the ice pitchers they use for the Miller Lite.

    (3)
  • Amanda Z.

    I'm a huge fan of Gaslight, and finding out that Brownstone is within the same restaurant family, I had high hopes for the menu! Fortunately, they had the rueben rolls...my absolute favorite appetizer. Stopped here on one lovely day we were out walking and had worked up an appetite. On a Saturday afternoon...two for the price of one apps! Can't go wrong with that! In addition to my beloved rueben rolls, we tried the buffalo rolls (not as good...but since they were free, we were cool with that!) We sat at the bar, enjoyed our snacks...bartender was friendly, food was good. I'll definitely return!

    (4)
  • David S.

    The beer selection aint great and the inside is way noisy to have a decent conversation. They DO have a damn awesome variety of seasoned fries though. The best way to enjoy Brownstone is in warm weather on the outside patio for beer and fries. Otherwise skip it.

    (3)
  • Alison M.

    Brownstone is a nice enough place to stop in for a quick meal. It's generally pretty neighborhoody, but gets absolutely packed on weekend nights and during Texas games. They have good sandwiches, excellent burgers (Merkts Cheese and bacon!), and tater tots. But, nothing really sets it apart from the other Four Corners Taverns. Interesting side note though, on Mondays they have "American Gladiator" night, and if you wear red or blue spandex, they'll give you a beer, shot, and appetizer for free! Sadly, all of my spandex unitards are in a more figure flattering black.

    (3)
  • Matt M.

    The only place in Chicago to watch the Longhorns Football game

    (5)
  • Lindsey B.

    I"m having a hard time deciding whether to give Brownstone 3 or 4 stars. I like the place, but I have had good and mediocre and then Bad experiences here. The first time I came in, there was a moderate amount of people, it was in the evening, and we had some dinner and then I think I was too drunk to really remember details of the rest. The food was good, I remember that, and I give them major props for using Merkts cheese. They have some great wraps, like roast beef with Merkts cheddar cheese. Oh god, that's good. The second time I was there, it was during the day. The food was again great, the bartender was friendly as hell, and the music was good. I really had a great time and there were drink specials. Like a happy hour deal. Then I had a really bad experience, which might've been magnified by the company I was in. The service stunk, he never came back to fill drinks or make sure everything was ok. They had like 5 games on at once so I couldn't keep track of what the heck was going on, and it was SO loud we couldnt' talk to each other. I don't mind having to raise my voice a little, I mean I know sports are LIFE for some people, but I couldn't even yell over the noise and it was only 7 o'clock at night. So for now, 3 stars.

    (3)
  • Rocky B.

    Mmmm, I remember coming to the Brownstone about a year ago and thinking that they had some dern tasty food. Not sure why I waited so long to come back. I met up with a few Yelpers last night before the event to grab some grub. You know....coat the stomach and all. I ordered the mushroom wrap which was pretty good. It had a few types of mushrooms, goat cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and vinegarette. Not sure I would order it again BUT I would totally order the tater tots again. OMG they were heaven on the plate. Crunchy and greasy and finger lickin good. They had a $2 burger special last night with the purchase of a beer...I'm not a beer drinker so I didn't partake in the special but the burgers looked goooood! They were huge and juicy looking. Good eats!

    (4)
  • Kristin B.

    Went here with my crew for Halloween on Oct 30...had a blast! This place is lots of fun, NOT pretentious, great crowd, and the manager/owner (not sure who he was, but he was rocking an awesome devil costume) was very nice and wanted to make sure that his patrons were having a great time. My fiancee and his friend won the costume contest with their homemade ghostbusters costume complete with high-tech proton pack that lights up---sweet! Our waitress and other staff were circling around the bar taking pictures of everyone in costume for their website--we will definitely be back!

    (5)
  • Shama D.

    Last Sunday I came here with some folks from my bowling league, and despite having some qualms about going to a sports bar, I had a great time. There was trivia! With prizes! The staff was friendly enough, while maintaining a level of aloofness common to bar servers (that's not a dig, just an observation. heck, these people deal with an excess of noise and drunken buffoonery all the time. I'd want to put some distance in service too). I liked the atmosphere as far as the comfy booths, dim lighting and general set up. It's a great place to come with a group. The food is fine. Not great. Not bad at all. Just fine. I liked my black bean burger. I liked the tater tots. I can see myself making a specific trip for the cookie skillet, but that's about it. I took away one star because the music was lousy and unmemorable. Wait, scratch that. It wasn't unmemorable, because I'm still trying to get that stupid three-eleven song outta my head. I just forgot to add the other star because I was distracted by the plabillion tv sets in a bar that only requires three, at the most. I plan on coming here on Sundays, after bowling, but I doubt that I'll make it a destination after the season is over. Unless I get a cookie skillet craving. Or need to steal a television. i don't think they'd miss it.

    (3)
  • Liz S.

    If memory serves me right this place was a average bar with a great bartender who put up with a bunch of VERY drunk yelpers. So..... that's an automatic extra star. Also, they had amazing tatter tots and I would be able to comment on their burgers, but apparently I was to drunk to remember that I ordered one. Oops. But, the bar was large and cozy, from what I remember there were many drink options and as mentioned previously the staff was friendly. Even when the lights came on they didn't shout and rush us out. Really, thank you Brownstone. I will most definitely be back and when I return I will be way less drunk.

    (4)
  • Kristin S.

    Fish tacos and the skillet cookie. Oh... I dream about that skillet cookie.

    (5)
  • Emma M.

    You would think that if you go somewhere 1-2 times a week that you would have at least ONE bad experience... but not here. I still loving coming to this joint especially on Saturday afternoons to watch bball and eat $5 appetizers. If you don't get a game at home then come here because they will put it on a TV for you. They also have half acre on draft and bottle and I'm all about drinking locally brewed beer (half acre is about .5 mile north on Lincoln ave) One thing more, Texas still sucks.

    (4)
  • Katie H.

    I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but it's a good little neighborhood place. The menu seemed like standard bar fare to me but $2 burgers on Tuesday is a great deal! I shared my husband's medium rare burger with swiss and tater tots with cheese sauce. The burger, while not hand-packed (a huge issue for Dan) was perfectly cooked, delicious and juicy. The tator tots were good (I cannot remember the last time I had tator tots!) but the cheese sauce they came with was odd. It wasn't cheddar cheese, it wasn't nacho cheese, it was "cheese". It tasted like "cheese" in general, not any cheese in particular. Eh, whatever. The beer list was decent and on Tuesdays all wine is $5. My pinot noir was okay. Service was quick, though she wasn't enthused about splitting the bill between 2 people. But for a burger, tots, mystery cheese sauce, large beer, glass of wine, tax and tip we were out the door for $18.

    (3)
  • Bridget L.

    Great, wallet-friendly Sunday lunch specials (hummus and guacamole plate for me!) and dog friendly outdoor seating (they brought us a water bowl).

    (4)
  • Brian L.

    I hit The Brownstone before Game 2 (10/02/08....therefore it was the highlight of my night) to meet up with Vicky for a bite. I will disclose that MK's cousin is the owner of this and the other Four Corner's Bar group. It's your typical neighborhood bar type feel with a fairly decent and popular selection of beer on tap. Tonight's special was a $3 burger with the purchase of a beer. Not bad for Thursday nights. We sat at the bar, so we can't comment about any of the service at this time, but Vicky had the Chili Mac 'n Cheese and really enjoyed it. Of course, she's eating for THREE right now (twins on the way). I had the Cleveland Chicken sammy with pepper jack, bacon and bbq sauce. What always makes the food for me here are the potato options. I almost always get Tots, cuz frankly, who doesn't want to feel like they're 10 again? Food was good and we got out to walk to Wrigley. I agree with everyone else that unless you're a Longhorn, stay away during Texas games, otherwise, it's quite a nice place. Lastly although I didn't have it on this trip, I almost NEVER miss the Skillet Cookie (warm Choc Chip cookie with ice cream). So simple but definitely caps a good meal.

    (4)
  • Nicholas H.

    I've been going to Brownstone since 2007 because the I love the atmosphere and the outdoor area. Plus their menu was very good too, however they have recently changed the menu(for the worse) and no longer have the pizza pretzel option. Whats up with that?

    (2)
  • Brandon B.

    Wow...went for some late night bar fare and got to Brownstone about 9:30 on a gorgeous night to be told that they already had "last call" for food outside. O'Donovans is around the corner and it turns out they still served food on their patio, had $4.50 Summer Shandys and three large flat screens to watch while enjoying good food, great beer, and beautiful weather, not to mention sports on patio big screens. *note to self* Go where they will actually take care of you and skip Brownstone all together!!!!

    (1)
  • Ryan L.

    Bleck! I'll start with this: I am a proud member of the clean plate club. Wherever I go I can manage to clean my plate stopping just short of licking it spotless. The Brownstone was a different story. I ordered the Italian Veggie sammich last time I went and couldn't finish it...not because it was too big or I was too full. IT WAS A DISGUSTING PILE OF GOO! (Also to note: it was the only choice aside from grilled cheese and a couple of the salads for a veggie to order. But who orders a salad at a bar? Not me.) These guys used to have a excellent veggie black bean burger. I guess since they got rid of it, they got rid of me. I'm not going back. For the record, I did finish my fries.

    (1)
  • Frances E.

    Amazing food and great ambiance! Ordered a skirt steak sandwich and it was pretty good! Great place to eat and drink with you buddies! You have the bar area, the patio and a lounge section in the patio! Servers are very friendly and also very casual! They also have the games on inside the place but not outside! (There's an idea) I would recommend this place, really good food and great service!

    (5)
  • Leyla A.

    Brownstone is always packed, so it's hard to get a table, but once you do the food makes up for the wait. Their buffalo wings were dry at first, so you have to order them with extra sauce. We also had a BBQ chicken sandwich to share, and even though we were both hungry, we could not finish it. The seasoned French fries are out of this world, thin and crispy and flavorful. I usually go here for their burger special and plan to be back soon even though it's not really in my neighborhood.

    (4)
  • Jon J.

    Strange the vicious hate for this place - not sure what's up with that. I thought it was really quite nice. Good food - I had the steak sandwich and split some great nachos- reasonably priced beer ($4 Guinness!), friendly server and an overall friendly atmosphere.

    (4)
  • Erika G.

    Came here after the Yelp holiday party. While it was a nice bar with a charming, cute bartender I'd probably only come here if I'm in the neighborhood. I'd give it another try, for sure, but eh.

    (3)
  • Elizabeth G.

    Been here only a couple times. The first time was for lunch when a cubs game was on. A little crazy...but since I'm from Texas I got a free beer from a UT fan. So that rocked. But too many TV's for my taste. I went there again last night and it was nice. Not completely empty but not crowded. The beer is a little pricey $5-$6. But they have a tasty buffalo chicken wrap.

    (3)
  • Kyle B.

    I went to Brownstone recently to watch a UFC fight and it was a decent set up. The beer was moderatlely priced, the server was nice and attentive. My only gripe was that we had to ask several different employees if we could watch the prelim fights instead of some no name basketball team. About 1/2 way through the prelims they did turn them on for us. All in all it was a pretty good time. No reservation needed and even though they never charged us, we overheard that there was a $5 cover.

    (3)
  • Rico T.

    First time there, definitely a comeback. Comfy space, really cool staff & a nice mix of customers. Just one thing......take it easy on the plasma TV budget.

    (4)
  • T K.

    I don't know if I was coming off my post-Yelp party high, if it was the strong vodka tonics, good company or the fact that it really was that amazing - but the mac & cheese here was outstanding! I would go back just for that... I can't really comment on much else because after two drinks, well, things got a little fuzzy... But I was happy, so I'll call it a successful dining experience... :)

    (4)
  • BF K.

    brownstone is right down the street from my new residence so i popped in here for lunch one day when i didn't want to go buy groceries and was pretty happy with the experience. typically bar food, probably a few notches better. nice layout, i like that the space between where the long bar is and the tables against the wall is pretty wide, so there's plenty of space to move around and walk through. nice outdoor seating is available (we sat inside) and overall a good experience. I will be back!

    (4)
  • Christmas D.

    They try here, I give them that. Met a few Yelpers here before the Xmas party and thought it would be a good idea to actually have dinner before a Yelp drinking event (one that will live in infamy, no less). Amy and I split a mediocre salad and the mini sandwiches: a mini burger, mini steak sandwich and a mini chicken parmesan sandwich...all pretty mediocre, which sucks 'cause the idea is great. The rest of the menu looked like upscale bar fare. The wine list could be better. Our waitress was FANTASTIC, super-friendly and super accommodating despite her harried state. The room is lovely...not much different from when it was Benedict's. I don't get to this part of town much anymore and I wouldn't consider this a destination place, but I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid it either.

    (3)
  • Kris R.

    if you knew me, you'd be surprised if i didn't do a review for b-stone. i've lived down the block for almost 5 years, and i'm there almost every week. we are moving, so consider this a "see ya later, but not good-bye" to our favorite go-to neighborhood restaurant. brownstone has changed a LOT since we moved to the hood. a few of my fave things that have stayed the same are the southwest salad (aka the cortland), the house seasoned fries (def on list for Fries I Can't Stop Eating), the tots, and the cookie skillet. i've been recently enjoying their turkey burger and miniwiches. for a bar, i think they serve excellent food. i've been to a lot of bars and the food is always the same ol' $h!t, diff day. tuesday night trivia was always a go-to for my friends and me. the gal who does facilitates it is just so cute and supes nice. however, we went this past tuesday, and they didn't have it! my husband was heartbroken, especially now that LOST is over and done. we'll try to go back again next tuesday. i'll keep you posted.

    (4)
  • Teryn C.

    Ok, so they have a $5 any sandwich special on Mondays. That plus the special on a pitcher of Summer Shandy (yes, I realize that only girls love beer with lemonade) made for a great meal! And the Merkt's Hickory Burger was amazing! Putting Merkt's spreadable cheese on a burger is pure genius and I will be stealing this idea at a BBQ very soon. Oh, and did I mention the perfect tater tot accompaniment? Heaven!

    (4)
  • Candice P.

    The Brownstone has great bloody marys and the food is good too. I am a big fan of the patio and the bar the only thing I don't care for is all the babies...... I was sitting in the patio at about 5pm enjoying a fabulous bloody mary when all of a sudden, a five year old child ran up to me with bbq sauce on his fingers and rubbed them on my white shirt. I have no problem with bringing kids to a restaurant but don't let them run all over the place. Lately every time I go in there kids running all over the place or babies crying. I understand you want to watch the game but control your kids, or have a party at home. I go out to kick back and relax not be bothered by other people's kids. Now I know I'm going to get slack from people who have kids because they deserve to go out too. That's fine, just pay attention to your kids.

    (3)
  • Melissa D.

    Brownstone is a place to go and chill during a weekend day in the summer or to go to get rowdy during a big game. I spent many Sundays this past fall and winter at Brownstone watching the Bears games. The bar gets *REALLY* crowded on game days, but the servers are still very attentive despite having to push their way through the massive crowds. During football season, they have $5 32 ounce beer specials and plenty of plasma tv's around the bar for prime sports watching. Went here yesterday for the first time since football season ended and it was relatively quiet, which was a nice change of pace. Our server was very attentive, but gave us time to pace lunch and enjoy ourselves. They had mimosas (YUM!) on special as well as buckets of beer and their food is mighty tasty for bar food. The overall ambience of the place is warm and cozy as well.

    (4)
  • Trey L.

    I live a block away and used to order take out as the food is pretty good. However they charge an extra $1.50 just for takeout. Call me cheap, but what restaurant charges for take out? I asked them one day, and the bartender rudely claimed that it was for the to-go supplies. Lame! After that, I decided that I don't need to order from there again.

    (2)
  • Sarah Z.

    I went here for dinner with a girlfriend about a month ago. The food = Eh. The service = Eh. Two Eh's = two stars. Oh, and the tv's were too LOUD. It was during March Madness, but I still object. If you turn the volume up on your tv's, that makes everyone have to SHOUT in order to have a conversation, which makes the noise level ESCALATE. Thats the science behind acoustics, Brownstone. And, did you know? We aren't coming to a bar to sit in silence and not talk to one another.

    (2)
  • Johnny B.

    I love Brownstone's food. As far as bar food goes, it's right up there. They have great salads, appetizers, sandwhiches and burgers. I havent been able to get anything but the Southwest Steak wrap the last half dozen or so times I've been there, but before that I was a fan of the steak sandwhich, the fish tacos, the pretzel appetizer, and a couple different burgers. The service is usually pretty good, but occassionally average. Also, weekend lunch seems to bring in a lot of families, with one or two occassionally allowing their kids to run around, which i find extremely arrogant on the parents' part. I also don't "feel it" as a drinking establishment, but I love it for lunch or a kick off spot for dinner before going out for drinks elsewhere.

    (4)
  • Heather E.

    This is a great place for a sunny, summer day due to the amazing patio. Food is above average bar food, but fish tacos are to be avoided. Sandwiches and salads are generally winners, and on week nights they usually seem to have beer specials. The interior of the bar is comfortable as well, with mostly tall cocktail tables for smaller groups. During the dinner hours the brownstone never seems overly crowded and the service is generally fast. I would recommend this as a casual neighborhood bar to go to for dinner.

    (3)
  • Erin A.

    Great service, excellent food, beautiful decor. I will def be coming back here!

    (5)
  • Carrie W.

    When I pass by the Brownstone Tavern, I feel like I'm seeing an old flame. Not the kind that brings on tears of nostalgia every time I hear that Dido song...but the kind of old flame whose list of done-me-wrongs makes me want to smash things a'la Alanis Morisette or Avril Levigne. I used to LOVE this place. I remember jogging by in the afternoons before it opened and watching all the work being done: staining the wood, hauling in the tables. At the time of the Brownstone's grand opening, I was VERY single and in the midst of a match.com marathon. The Brownstone was a favorite spot for a first-and-only date, as it's dark corners made it easy to keep a low profile. I became a regular to a server named Jen who would give me thumbs up or thumbs down votes on my various dates. The food was good, (tater tots!) the beer was better and the flat screen TVs were a nice distraction if the conversation lagged. After more than a year, I have found myself in a relationship with a wonderful man. We both live in the neighborhood and have frequented the Brownstone many times throughout our relationship. And yet, somehow it all went wrong. Where did all of these people come from? And who knew there was such a heavy Texas A&M contingency in Chicago? This place has lost it's charm, it's 'neighborhood bar' feel and instead feels more like a sports bar in the middle of a college town. Loud and annoying. There is nearly always a wait for a table (40 minutes at 8pm on a Tuesday night!) and a seemingly omnipresent pack of beer swilling dudes standing in the middle of the room checking out whatever walks in the door. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for them that their business is doing so well, but I'm sad, bitter and angry that a place that was once my 'love' has now become something that I don't even recognize.

    (2)
  • Jen A.

    Easily in my top 5 list for bar food. The mini-sammiches are extremely delicious, try the pulled pork ones. If the minis aren't enough, the Alta Vista sandwich is the same thing*. They have TOTS. They make amazing salads. There's this giant melty cookie in a skillet that is SO good my roommate and I gave ourselves stomachaches trying to eat it after gorging on wings and mini-sammiches. And while the wings could use a bit more sauce, they're very tasty...plus they're only 25c on Thursdays. They have more than one kind of Irish whiskey behind the bar. I was pleasantly surprised to see a bottle of Powers next to the Jameson. That skillet cookie tastes amazing with beer. It's also a lot easier to eat if you haven't filled up on wings/mini-sammiches. If you HAVE been munching on Brownstone's other tasty treats, split the cookie with a friend. This place is right down the street from our house. It's probably going to be our regular hangout because it's just that awesome. Also...on some nights there's a door guy with a really hot accent. I'm willing to show up several nights a week just to hear it. *Sadly, they took the pulled pork items off the menu! It's still awesome, but I miss the pulled pork!

    (5)
  • Rich K.

    Great bar food. Fish tacos are excellant.

    (3)
  • Russ S.

    this place flat out sucks. horrible food that is too expensive, and unprofessional owner and staff. I suppose I should have known, based on location it would be full of douche-bags, but we were hungry. MISTAKE.

    (1)
  • Oly G.

    My co-workers and I always come here to relax after a hard week @ work. Now the drinks are pricey, but they offer a $5 cosmo on Fridays (other than that it's like $13) that is just how I like it...strong and smooth. Now the food, I officially vote this place the best bar food...ever! The chicken tortilla soup ($5) is delicious, the hummus platter served with veggies and pitas ($7.50)....awesome, the southwest chicken wrap ($9) is my personal weakness!!

    (5)
  • Lisa F.

    I've been informed that the queso is now a permanent menu item. Hip hip hooray! Queso everyday! Woot!

    (3)
  • Stacey A.

    My roommate and I went here the other week because we saw a sign for $0.25 wings, and wild horses couldn't drag us away from cheap wings. So we went, were informed by the door guy and his adorable Australian accent that there was a bit of a wait for a table, so we put our name on the list and plopped our asses at the bar, where a Chris O'Donnell lookalike bartender served us our cheap bottles of Miller. Not more than two seconds later, we were informed that our table was ready. Awesome. Service here is DAMN fast - especially from the kitchen. Try the little pulled pork sandwiches, they're heavenly. And the skillet cookie is worth every penny, but bring a friend to share it, because after a plate of wings and a whole lot of those little pork sandwiches, there is no way in hell that you'll finish the whole cookie-confection yourself. Awesome place, love the darker ambiance. Love the flowers on the tables - nice touch. We'll be back, and we'll tell all our friends. ALSO! Hottest bartenders/doorguy ever. EVER.

    (5)
  • Geoff H.

    Went to Brownstone on Monday night to meet a friend who lives in the neighborhood. I was quite impressed: the space is considerably larger than it looks from the outside, decor is nice, bartender was very friendly, and I had a delicous slab of ribs, with excellent cole slaw and awesome mac-n-cheese, for $10 (Monday special). They also had trivia (8pm), in which I didn't officially participate, but it was fun to try a little. Then I took a Chipotle Gouda Chicken sandwich (w/tater tots) home, and it was FANTASTIC (get the avocado mayo ranch stuff with it). Nice place, great specials, I'll be back.

    (4)
  • Franny S.

    This place is a popular neighborhood spot for casual dinner and a beer...especially in the summer, when you can sit outside. It can be a little loud, but the food is well above the average bar fare. I just wish they'd add a turkey burger to the menu! Added 5/14/07 - They DID add a turkey burger to the menu and it's great! Thanks Brownstone!!!

    (4)
  • Jen Z.

    Best bar food north of Diversey. Good service, good beer and wine selection, good atmosphere. The shrimp tacos rival any "wrapped" seafood I have ever had (and I just got back from the Caribbean, so I know thats kind of a bold statement, but TRUE.) Go with the spicy fries for any side dish, and for sure try the mac n' cheese. It's a fave!

    (5)
  • Brett G.

    I miss Benedict's :( That was my favorite bar in the city. Brownstone is no longer a great "local, hang-out bar" but now more of a college sports bar. The bartenders are nice and good to look at. One time I was sitting at a table for a bit and had not been served; once tended to, the staff was apologetic and accommodating. The food is DECENT at best. I've had a few things that were all right and unoffensive (e.g. hummus, tator tots, miniwiches); nothing to write home about. But the most recent time I went, my "spinach artichoke dip" was like cream cheese and chives with overly-fried mexican tortilla chips. The only thing "fresh" about the chips was that they re-fried them to make them hot. Maybe they'd run out and had to quickly concoct something similar. Worst bar food I've ever had. Very disappointing. If I had been sober, it probably would have been worse! But the Brownstone is a average bar, just don't come hungry unless you're willing to gamble. It's not always that bad, I'm sure (or at least hope).

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 12:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : Yes
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Music : Background
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Tue, Thu, Sat
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Dogs Allowed : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Brownstone Tavern

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