Twas the night before Thanksgiving and all through the house, I was sick of being sick. I wanted to get soused! In years past, I usually stay home the night before Thanksgiving, but this year I really felt like going out. So, I gathered up some friends and someone suggested McFadden's. I had never been there before, but $1 Miller High Life in a can sounded like a great idea. I got there early to have some food and I ordered the buffalo chicken tenders. I took a few bites and realized that the chicken was raw. That's right...RAW. Completely raw in the middle. EEEEEWWWW!!!!! The manager (I think he was the manager) Zack was completely apologetic. He gave me a refund, an order of fries per my request, and a fresh can of High Life. The good news is that I didn't get food poisoning, which was great! I was just getting over the flu and I didn't want to be sick anymore. I liked how nice Zack was and how he handled the situation, but come on...a kitchen that serves raw chicken?!?!?! Gross.
(1)
Sarah D.
Every time I escape this place without waking up the next morning on a strange soiled mattress with a black eye and vaginal tearing I consider it a personal victory.
(2)
GossipGirl l.
TOP 5: Dislikes 1. $5.00 cover 2 long line ta get in 3 long lines at washroom! 4 small washroom 5 too crowed! TOP 5: Likes 1. good music 2. good looking people 3. private room in the back 4 friendly staff 5 NBA player party here! shh i dont care for much for rush street, but this place isnt sooo bad, just way way too many people!! and the girls there are slutty-all up on guys just soo they'll get a free drink-classy
(3)
RJ T.
People would like this place a lot more if they took it for what it is: one of the best college party bars in Chicago. It's a bunch of kids, getting drunk and out of control. If you are over 25, you might not like it, but otherwise, enjoy. Servers are all incredibly nice and friendly people.
(4)
Tom F.
At 10 o'clock on a Saturday, this place is that bar on your college campus that was just slammed with people preening their feathers for each other. That you didn't go back to after Freshman Year. The shoulder-to-shoulder tavern-gone-club when they turn the music up so loud you can't hear the person next to you. Is that supposed to encourage close contact, or just a sense of confusion? Try not to think about the fact that you paid for the pleasure. This place didn't strike me as a Restaurant or a Saloon; maybe earlier in the night. Cover for guys and girls the night I was there. The only salvation was the waitress set up with a tub of beer on ice halfway back, so we didn't have to try and bodysurf up to the bar, where I can only assume the Long Island Ice Tea per capita is somewhere in the 'astronomical' range.
(1)
Erin H.
I had a single beer in this bar (and a free shot of Jameson) on a Saturday night. I guess it was pretty early because I wasn't seeing too much 21-year-old-girl cleavage just yet. This place appears to be a happening spot for the early 20's crowd that likes to get down and... well, dirty. This place smelled like stale beer and vomit. I was NOT impressed. Luckily we only stopped here because my friend wanted to stop by and give a hello to one of his bartender friends. I'd probably want to check this place out on a Sunday for football, I am assuming the daytime crowd is heaps different than the Saturday night on the prowl crowd. Although my experience here basically sucked, I will have to admit that the music was pretty awesome.
(2)
Keith C.
I've never really understood why I keep coming back to McFaddens. Probably because they are open until 5am and the place has always been packed when I've got. The girls aren't that come here aren't too bad but I'm usually destroyed by the time I get there. We usually come to McFaddens if we're just hitting up bars for the evening. If it's club night, then we'll go to a club that closes at 5 once the current club that we're at closes at 3. The drinks aren't too expensive.
(3)
Gray C.
black mold growing all over the ceiling by the windows where they served me my food, horrible service, "happy hour prices" were the same as standard prices elsewhere. Judging by the crowd and the conversations I'd say this is either a great underage bar or incoming sophomores are getting older every year.
(1)
Jason H.
We went here for a wristband party, all you can drink wells and miller lite for $20. Its a good place to party. It was half bar half club feel. The music is pretty loud but the crowd has energy and its definitely a place to dance. They play all of the recent pop hits/remixes but in pretty good taste. Probably more of a singles place but my wife and I had fun anyway.
(4)
Jerome P.
Chelsea awesome, Melissa awesome, McFaddens awesome, great drinks wonderful service terrific bartender (Chelsea) two thumbs up.
(4)
kara c.
1. Everyone is right when they say it's like a college bar, College bars are fun, except when there are 40 year olds acting like college kids. (keep in mind I'm only 22) 2. The waitresses are kind of slutty. They where short shorts where their butts hand out and dance on the bars and pour blue shots in your mouth. 3. The DJ sucks 4. They sometimes give plastic cups, which is annoying because I get jipped on the drink! I like going there when I am: 1. Get free drinks 2. Am really plastered
(2)
Beth A.
HATED this place...only went once and will never go back (neither will the 10 people i came with) went on halloween...friends had a package deal half an hr into our package the bar was out of everything but coors light...yumm...so glad i paid for my all inclusive wrist band place was packed so tight steven tylers pants have more room in them ladies beware if i remember correctly there were a whopping 2 bathroom stalls...resulting in over a half hr wait for the washroom (i had to bribe the guys attendant one round to let me in otherwise i woulda peed my pants waiting) waitresses...bartenders and bouncers were not only incompetent (didnt know what beers they had...didnt know how to make simple drinks...couldnt keep track of who had been waiting or who drinks went to) but they were also incredibly rude ex. a cocktail waitress spilled an ENTIRE tray of drinks on me...didnt apologize, didnt offer to get me a towel...just shrugged her shoulders and walked away---i was livid and on my way out (as soon as i dried off) told the bouncers (cause mgmt was nowhere to be found) and they just laughed as they muttered sorry she was probably busy
(1)
John L.
To quote the great Danny Glover in his finest role "I'm too old for this shit." Anyway was with a group and someone knew someone who worked here and promised free drinks, so we ended the night here. It felt very college-ish in the average age of the patrons, the slut-tastic staff pushing plastic ramekin shots of blue colored liquor, the meat market/total fire hazard vibe, and the horrendous hodgepodge of music coming from the DJ. One MJ song, then awful hip hop, then that Journey song that needs to go away NOW. The crowd would sing along and the DJ would cut the volume during choruses. Yeah, that kind of party. Maybe it is upcoming b-day, but I was def feeling old and out of place. My 2 star rating reflects that, but if you like or want the above description, this is the spot to go.
(2)
Brian P.
HAH! Went here for a night out with some NW med students. I am a recent transplant from NYC, and I just want to express my shock and awe with the amount of money it takes to get tipsy in Chi. WOWEE it's cheap--rampage! It's a bar. With a dance floor. It's not a club, but is worth a rollicking good time. They have college bar down to a pinhead, they know the niche so well. ugh it's a chain, i just found out, but for what it's worth, it doesn't feel like it while you're there. yes, it's where college kids go to dry hump. if you're in for the spectator sport, you may find this entertaining, but if you want to do otherwise, i suppose you can't go wrong here. HA someone gave this place 2 stars for being a place for "unsavory people" WONDERFUL, that's a sign that they're doing something right.
(2)
Spartacus C.
Bartenders were awesome... but the DJ was even better. He said over the mic, "Excuse me Miss... please pull down your dress. We can see your urethra." They also let my girlfriends dance on top of the bar and give shots to the crowd ala coyote ugly. Other than that, is a pseudo dive / college kid-esque crowd that likes to dry hump.
(3)
Aline W.
I came here with some friends the other night and had a nice time. We just missed the $10 all-you-can-drink special (9-11 PM i think), so ended up paying regular price. The drinks were kind of pricey compared to other bars around this area. However the Long Island I got was SUPER strong, so I guess you can say I got my money's worth. For those looking to dance, there's no dance floor here...so go somewhere else. But if you really can't help yourself, there's a small platform at the back of the bar where you can jiggy it up. That's where you'll find some quite eccentric people who can bust out some never-seen dance moves. Overall, go there if you want to drink 'til you drop for $10.
(2)
Esto P.
The food here is pretty decent, run-of-the-mill pub grub. I had the burger, which was alright, also a "glass of sprite" was served to me in a tiny plastic cup with no ice? Keep in mind I went here around 5pm for some food! One thing that really made me want to write a review was the smell. It literally smelled like a busy men's room on taco night. Every time the mens room door opened, some kind of stank breeze just emanated from it wafted over my girlfriend and I made me want to gag. The crowd at that time seemed to be the usuals, who were busy occupying the entire staff with stories etc...
(2)
Felicia M.
I enjoy going to McFaddens. My friends and I have won multiple happy hour parties here. There is never a dull moment at McFaddens. The bartenders are always friendly, and the rest of the staff is great too. Kristen, the event coordinator, is ALWAYS nice and friendly. I suggest everyone try the Mac&Cheese Bites = DELICIOUS!!!
(4)
Stephanie Y.
McFadden's is decent, for sure. I have a few friends who have "won" parties here (which they seem to give out like candy), and I've had one myself. It's a fun deal - cheap drinks and good company. I don't think McFadden's really knows what it wants to be, tho. It's kind of a mix of frat boys, old couples, and small amounts of hipsters. I'm not complaining if I get to drink for free or cheap.
(3)
Demetrius W.
Never been here prior to Friday and I'm not dying to get back. I had fun but I usually have fun at some of the worst places (depending on the people i"m with). It's an faux Irish Pub but it had a $5 cover for the guys. Umm I'm from the Southside where some of the best Irish Pubs are in Chicago (Cork & Kerry) and I'm not use to paying a cover. They fail and delivering the Irish Pub feel which is kind of shocking. Wait you're suppose to be an Irish Pub but why are you trying to be Coyote Ugly? Girls dancing on the bar pouring liquor in guys mouth..Maybe if the girls were hotter...I wouldn't be complaining? *shrugs* My friend did say that it was a place that's only fun when you have a group. Well my other friends never made it. So no group and no real fun at this place. Plus one of those skanks on the bar wasted some liquor on my friend and I.
(2)
Antoinette D.
McFaddens is terrible, even when you arrive drunk. #1- the DJ sucks beyond belief!!! It's been the same guy every time i've gone and each time i've tried to request songs that people can actually dance to. He doesnt get that no one wants to listen to his shitty CDs from the 90s. #2- the service sucks. the bartenders flirt and talk to each other behind the bar and act like the customers are a 2nd priority. one especially irritated bartender was wearing a tie around his head. i have no idea what that was about. #3. the idea of girls dancing on the bar = fun! so i kept this mind when everything else sucked. however, this turned out to be a 250lb girl in a shirt dress who ended up puking chunks all over her bare legs. the bouncer handed her a trash can. he didnt even speak to her, let alone kick her out!! This place is dirty (expect sticky puke floors) with horrible music and some questionable fellows....save yourself and just dont go!! I give McFaddens one star because the bathroom attendant woman was very nice and had some bomb ass candles.
(1)
kat m.
Wish I hadn't visited on INVENTORY day! I visited on a Wednesday night on a whim.(Just wish my disappointment radar was on) After seating ourselves, we realized waiting for our server was going to feel like an initiation test. After using my telepathy the server greeted us with a "WORST DAY EVER" disposition. Soon enough I'd realize what was up her butt... Seems to have been inventory day at McFadden's because ALL OUT seemed to be a growing trend. No Fruit, No Napkins(Wash room paper towels instead), and No Pint glasses for my beer =(. The did have nice specials but besides the beer in the can for $2.00 on Wednesday , the $3.00 well drinks are too small for the price believe it or not. Womp womp womp is all I have to say about McFadden's...
(2)
J R.
I give it a three because I had a fun drunken time. I'm sure if I walked in there stone sober I would hate it. I also like that it is an MSU bar. I am alumni. For anyone who went to MSU, this place is a huge reminder of Rick's. Luckily for me, I came in half in the bag already. They have a dancer who works there 3/4s naked and I believe that is why there are so many men there. HAHA. It's not the Crème de la Crème of bars but it's a fun time if you are really drunk. Sober-not so much. P.S. The cover is so asinine.
(3)
Andrea G.
McFadden's is the kind of place that you either start or end your night, but is definitely not a destination. The crowd ranges from underagers with fake IDs to cougars and creepy old men popping viagra (ladies, alas, these are your best bets for free drinks. But take your drink and RUN) McFadden's always has specials, like all you can eat and drink for $20, or unlimited wine and beer for $10 within a certain time frame (usually 8-10). This place is usually relatively full early in the night, often with a happy hour crowd, but also with pre-gamers. Go early to beat the cover.
(3)
Derrick W.
Nothing special about this place..
(2)
John H.
Where does one even begin with this veritable Mecca of douchery? McFadden's is such a worthless establishment that I actually signed up with Yelp to write about it. If you think any publicity is good publicity, keep reading, and I'll make damned sure that you'll change your mind. If you don't mind waiting in a roped off line for twenty minutes, the doorman is happy to relieve you of $5 for the privilege of entering. Ridiculous as charging cover for an "Irish" bar might seem, it's probably the most sensible thing about the place. Because despite the cover, McFadden's is almost always absolutely jammed with people. And I'd like to think that at least some of the other patrons were there just to see the worst bar in Chicago in action. You know, to give them something to tell their grandkids. To use Noel Gallagher's take on System of a Down: "After I went to McFadden's, I thought, I'm actually alive to have been to the shittiest bar ever. Of all the bars that have gone before and all the bars that'll be in the future, I was around when the worst was around." It follows that such a crowded place wouldn't be suitable for anything but screaming at the person next to you. That's neither here nor there. However, it should be known that the music here sucks of its own accord. This is what you should expect, though, from a bar that has a DJ. Another thing that belongs in clubs, not bars: go-go dancers. And the poor girls don't even get a cage to dance in at McFadden's; they're forced to strut their stuff on top of the bar. When this happens, every nimrod within 50 feet will move toward her for an extended upskirt glance, making it impossible to get a drink. Only McFadden's could actually hire a dancer to attract customers and keep them from spending money in the process. If you can actually fight your way to the bar, you can choose from one of about five draft beers. Don't expect the Guinness to be on tap that night, because it's not like McFadden's is an Irish place or anything. And if you're there a bit later in the evening, you won't have to worry about holding a big heavy pint glass, because they will run out of them. No worries, you'll get a 10-oz plastic cup (same price) instead. According to the bartender, they're practically the same size. Not much needs to be said about the bathrooms, because it's a bar. It's not going to be nice. But I can never get over the bathroom attendant thing. Every cent they earn is the product of guilt, not gratitude. The only time I'm going to tip you is if I'm drunk, there's ice in the urinals, and you're blasting Wilson Pickett on your mini-stereo. Talk to the guy at Hugo's Frog Bar for advice on this. Also, it helps to actually clean the bathroom once every couple of hours. In an area chock-full of very bad bars, McFadden's takes the cake.
(1)
Justin O.
I don't get the obsession that some people have with this place and why they pay cover to get in. Scratch that, skanctly clad near 21ers are allowed to dance on the tables. This is at least one reason for a single guy in the city. I've never been blown away by this place and there are to many other more authentic Irish pubs to grab a pint at in this city.
(2)
Vickie L.
My review is on brunch only, as I've never had the experience of a lovely night out here :-P The place was virtually empty when we went on a Saturday afternoon. I guess it was the weather, we really wanted to sit outside, but had to settle for a booth inside the dark bar area. Bloody Mary's and mimosas were cheap, I think only $2-$3 each. Both were huge! The mimosa was served in one of the small drink glasses, not one of the tiny champagne glasses other places serve theirs in - score! Brunch menu wasn't very extensive, but it was cheap. We all opted for lunch food. Food was just average, nothing special, but also not bad. I got the chicken caesar wrap - every place has the same problem of too much wrap, not enough lettuce, and too much dressing. Extra points for having tater tots! Waitress - she was your typical sorority girl waitress. She was dressed in tight fitting yoga/workout clothes with her boobs hanging out. Must be nice to come to work in comfy spandex-y clothes. Smokers voice. She was really nice and really attentive though. Tip - I had a restaurant.com gift certificate for $25 off $35 meal, so our meal was super duper cheap afterwards.
(2)
Justin G.
I would have thought the trashiest place I went last night was a strip club. Nope, McFadden's.
(1)
Santiago A.
Here are the only two reasons a person would what to go to McFadden's: 1) It's open until 4am, so rolling in at around 3:30am on a weekend comes with a 70% chance of bagging a really drunk chick looking to play "ouch, ouch, you're on my hair" or "just the tip, just for a second to see how it feels". 2) Tuesdays have $2 any drink and $1 sliders (chicken, burger, and pulled pork). The chicken ones are great, the pulled pork is ok, but has a little bit too much sauce, and the burger ones were charred beyond recognition. Also, it is trivia night. I love trivia nights and the prize money will more than cover you and your friend's bar tab. If it doesn't, then chances are you drank so much that you probably didn't win anyway. So, I recommend you go here on a Tuesday and get hammered for very little $
(2)
Donn M.
If you are a college student this is a great place to hang since everyone is pretty much a student at a nearby school. I've always had a fun time here. The drinks are very cheap and if you call ahead of time to set up a bracelet deal you get get a lot of bang for your buck. I came for a birthday once and our table got a complementary bottle of champagne. Their food is not too great but for the price they ask I suppose it is has an ok value proposition. The bouncer was always nice to me but hard on kids that obviously aren't 21. Ok for dancing and play old hits from late 90's to current top 40. One time Afro Man showed up which was kind of funny. I would visit again but only for another 5 years since the age group is early 20's. The bathrooms are not clean and yet they have a bathroom attendant. But then again the crowd could care less about someone else's bathroom.
(5)
Trinidad F.
The first time we tried this place it was because they had 2 dollar drinks all nite!!! That definitely called our attention!!! The turn off was that there was NO LIQUOR in the drinks. Lol. U can't even taste it. We had about 12 drinks each and didn't even feel buzzed. The place got packed pretty quickly that nite. It was only 10 and we couldn't get to the bathrooms!!! Also, the DJ was GREAT!! He had everyone jumpin!!! This weekend was terrible. We hit the place up around 930 and got drinks. Again, the drinks were disgusting. I ordered a Hurricane and it tasted like Hi-C juice. Lol. The DJ was annoying!!!! This guy wasn't even trying. We were so upset we simply walked out. We won't be returning.
(1)
Bill M.
Definitely one of the most offensive places I've ever stepped into. The DJ will spin you the pop hits of 1997, the bros with backwards white baseball hats will high five and raucously sing along to the sweet Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth jams, the only people with any pigmentation in their skin are stuck working in the bathrooms giving you paper towels and mints (is this 1930?) for meager tips (which no one gives), the staff wont' give you the time of day if you're not willing to blow them in a back room, and just overall it's not a good time. Friends of mine won those "$10 ALL YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK FOR 2 HOURS" type deals and even with that going for it I was miserable.
(1)
Meghan B.
Had guests in town who wanted to do happy hour "somewhere downtown", on a Saturday evening, with 2 kids in tow. Sooo.... Long story short, we landed in here because it met our criteria as best as possible. They were out of most of their draft beers (on a Saturday evening??), so that was kind of a bummer. The beers they did have were served in plastic cups. Perhaps it was serendipitous, as Bud Light and plastic cups just feel right. But still. I object to both offenses. Service was friendly, particularly given the two kids we had with us. Our server was really sweet about accommodating us. Food was OK. Their bleu cheese chips were good... but awfully heavy. Typical bar fare, I suppose. Worst part was the clientele. It was like a sad basement dude party, with said dudes yelling way louder than the game warranted. I now will never, ever root for the Eagles. Bathroom was horrid. Like the out-of-TP-watch-for-TB situation you expect in a dance club at 2am. But this was Saturday. At like 5:30. And it wasn't that busy. Yeah... I'm not going back.
(2)
Ed L.
So this is what a "douche bag" bar is like... As soon as I arrived in Chi-town, my cousin took me straight to McFadden's... There are no other words that describe the clientele here better than douche bags and chicks. Similarly, there's nothing that can describe the bar, with its overabundance of flatscreens with sports galore, and a blaring sound system. I couldn't hear most of the night. Good thing I had free drinks all night courtesy of my cousin's buddy who was working the bar... And when it's 3am the dudes and chicks are still wide awake, this 5am bar is the go-to, if only because it's one of the few places in "the 'hood" still serving. Pros: Free drinks, chicks.. Cons: Douche Bags...
(3)
Helena B.
$5 cover!? Don't even start with the "It's only $5," because I just paid FIVE DOLLARS to get into MCFADDEN'S. Once through the door, I see what the $5 was for. It's a veritable orgasm of people-watching in here, and McFadden's has crushed as many people as humanly possible into their bar to ensure my viewing pleasure. My favorite act was the bachelorette party dancing on a booth to "Back That Ass Up". Gold star to the bridesmaid in the supershort skirt giving money shots to the crowd each time she crouched down. Next, to the bathroom. What misogynist designed this place!?! Two stalls!?! Come on now. Then, to the dance floor. I haven't seen this many people being awkwardly groped since a dance in my Junior High gym. However, should I have alternate career aspirations, it helps to know that I could come be a DJ at McFadden's as apparently there is no need to be able to "blend" one song into another. Blending seems tricky. Should this bar get an extra star for me being grinded upon by a boy who started college after I was done with the entire endeavor...? Nah.
(1)
Jacob J.
Do walk around that corner and check this bar out. Spacious place, plenty of seating. Though very crowded on weekends. Bartenders and waitresses do a great job. Heavy pours on the mixed drinks. Though drinking a mixed drink from a plastic cup just sucks. It must be plastic some nights, because its special, i.e. Stoli cocktails $3 Monday nights. Wednesday - weekend are great nights to find plenty more action. Crowd is usually mild. Ivory usually. If your thing is checkin' out cute white girls, you'll enjoy the time.
(3)
Drucilla D.
Quite simply just A-OK... I went to McFadden's a couple of weeks ago for an industry networking event. The food was not amazing but the $20 all you could eat buffet and all you could drink wine, beer and well drinks was quite a good deal! Out of desperation (and because of the frigid weather outside), I ended up back at McFadden's last Sunday in hopes to watch some football. Seating was not plentiful as there was plenty of underutilized floor space, the TV's were not easy to see and the one closest to us featured TENNIS (on a Sunday in Chicago? seriously?) AND there were only TWO servers on duty for the entire place. The only reason I am really giving this place three stars is because the food is actually quite good. Mozzarella sticks are about $1.50 a stick but they're delicious, the New England Clam Chowder was actually really damn good and the bites I sampled of the burger and fries were pretty lovely as well. The drink specials looked decent (they had 5 Miller Lites in a bucket for $13 and $3 Jager-Bombs the day I was there), but if it wasn't for the food, I'd probably never consider going back. Oh, AND, the bathroom stall doors suck. Though I had mine locked tightly (from the inside), I underestimated what it would take to open it from the other side and I ended up flashing an unprepared patron. That's never enjoyable...For either party involved.
(3)
Susan F.
2 Stars for a huge bar with good music. The only problem is, the female bartender def stole my friend's credit card--she wasn't even drunk! The bartender handed her receipt in a black folder with no credit card in it. She asked her where it was and the woman told her to look on the floor. I looked on the floor, too. NO credit card. Fishy fishy, don't try to take advantage of people you think are drunk!
(2)
Scott A.
There is a large sign on the wall inside McFaddens that advertises a half off special all day every Thursday. Tonight was Thursday. I ordered two Crown on the rocks, my bill was $20. Does this mean that a crown on the rocks on a normal night is $20, and in actuality I was getting the deal of my life... well, even if this was true, the amount of liquor poured in did not equal the amount of money paid for said liquor. What a joke. In addition: 1. Does anyone ever mop the floors at this place? My shoes start to hate me by the end of the night (which tonight was 11:15, what a great bar that it could keep me out so late...) 2. Why is the clientele always 70% men? And why are these men major douches that will actually stumble in between me and the girl I'm talking to in an attempt to get the girl's number? 3. Why the hell do I keep going back here? It is no longer enough that my friends are suckers for free booze, I think I'm pulling a Joe's on Weed for this place and officially retiring. Goodbye McFaddens, you will easily be replaced.
(1)
aldrich b.
Wow, don't know about the restaurant, but the nightlife scene is not for me. Definitely geared for the college/just out of college crowd of rush and division. First of all, $5 cover for a bar that serves drinks in a plastic cup.....not even cups that look like glass but are made of plastic, but literally plastic cups you buy from costco. And they still charge drink prices like a chicago nightclub. The clientele is young and fun, but the music is horrible and outdated. The bartenders were nice, though service will vary.....one took forever to make 5 drinks. I still cant' get over paying $7 for a kettle on the rocks and having it served in dixie cup filled with ice. Good place to go if you want that college bar experience. But go somewhere else if you're looking to impress or have a rockstar nightlife experience.
(2)
Brooke W.
Went to McFadden's for the first time ever last night because my friend won a party there-all you can drink for $10 dollars-sold! I have to say I didn't come in with any expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw there was a DJ playing good music. Anyone who knows me knows that I can dance all night and boy did I dance all night long. The crowd is fun-bro-y, 20s, college kids (like myself), an overall fun crowd. Definitely go check out McFadden's, it's a good time!
(4)
Erin B.
I think that if I was a just newly turned 21-year-old college co-ed I would love this place. Or maybe if I was underage with a great fake, I'd love this place too. I came here to meet friends on Halloween after the Yelpoween party. Let's just say, thank god I had a bunch of beverages already in me. The line here was insane, and they made you pay a lame cover. (I hate that) Inside they kept promising some sort of "local celebrity" which never showed up. Music was subpar at best, and the clientele was either cougars, or underagers. Thank God I have awesome friends that kept me company here!
(1)
Michael V.
$3 to wait 20 minutes to check my coat. $30 to wait 20 minutes for an "all you can drink wristband" $6 to tip a frazzled, freaked out waitress to get me a few drinks because the bar was only staffed with 2 bartenders for the 350 people in the bar $1 to tip the bathroom attendant just so I could leave the 2 square foot bathroom that smelled like someone had recently died in one of the stalls. Squandering most of my allottment of "all you can drink" drinks (if you could even get some) to go home, order pizza, watch DVR'd tv shows, and try to ignore the feeling I was just violated by the owners of McFaddens--PRICELESS.
(1)
steve k.
I can't believe someone who reviewed this place said that this is the most fun bar in the city. WHAT?! I wanted to be as fair and unbiased as possible but I can never have fun here. The music blows, its full of people who think they know music and request 50 cent and all "real" music that they can sing along to. It would be an insult to ever call this place a club because the DJ is a moron and can't mix worth a lick. Everytime time I come here its always the same thing, retarded bouncer who thinks he's tough shit and a very typical suburban/college - esque crowd. I can't believe they charged a cover for one of the nights I went (yes, I went more than once) because honestly I could have gone to any of the other douchey bars for free. I've been here for one of the parties that everyone and their mother wins but if you dare ask for anything else that's in the keg, the bartender has a bewildered look that makes you feel like a foreigner for not liking piss lite. Bathroom attendant? For real? attn: McFadden - you are the lowest denomination of class and with your crappy little saloon bathrooms you aren't fooling anybody with a bathroom attendant. I think the only tolerable time was when I went when it was empty and it was just calm, however my waitress looked like she just woke up, got our orders wrong (mind you there were only three tables occupied) and she changed my water cup twice only to find some kind of lint in there. I think this place is good for puking, hitting on underage girls with fake ID's and getting into fights. If you think this is THE bar, you deserve to die.
(1)
Theresa R.
Another douche bag central bar. But really, what was I expecting for a Friday night on Division street? One star though for the drink package that brought me here. $10 all you can drink beer/wine for two hours - on a Friday. So I happy houred myself over. Unfortunately the service sucked. Never a waitress in site. When she was, it was a good while before she returned with your drink. Even once she dropped her ENTIRE tray of drinks. So we thought going to the bar would be a better option - um, no. They were so weird about checking wrist bands and not giving you more the one drink. I think the kicker of it all is when I went out for a smoke at the end of the night. Tried going back in and the bouncer told me to wait in line. Um, just left for a smoke. He's response, "I don't care." My response "jerk" (or something a tad stronger) and I left. Seriously, if you are not in your early 20s OR a tourist...there is NO reason to be on that part of Division street. Not even for a $10 drink special.
(1)
Ayea H.
I wish I could give this place no stars at all. Mcfaddens was voted number one douchiest bars in chicago for a reason. I have gone to Mcfaddens plenty of times and there is one man that works that literally every night at the door. His name is Dick, and he was born with the perfect name for the type of person he is. This guy is the biggest jerk ever. I have spent so much money at Mcfaddens, and every time I show up he is always rude and has an attitude problem. I even bring in a bunch of my guy and girl friends and he still continues to be an asshole.This has turned me off from going there. Here are a couple of other reasons 1.They let underage college kids in with fake IDS, they need to get caught for that soon too. Watch out for the 18 year old freshman kids dancing on the bars at 2am with their cha chas out as the creepy bouncers stare at them. 2. Their food sucks 3. Their liquor is watered down and never put enough alcohol in it. I won one of the wristbands for a night and I thought it would be great to have my friends come in for free drinks between a certain time frame. But when I went there supposedly the entire bar had a wristband for free drinks. The place was packed and the bartenders were rude as ever. The only drink you could get was a pineapple vodka, vodka tonic, cranberry and that was it. I was literally drinking juice, there was NO alcohol in it whatsoever. 4. They charge cover on friday and sat nights when its dead and boring. 5. The dj sucks and is also an asshole as well. 6. Mcfaddens in a whole is seriously the worst bar I have ever been too. Don't waste your time going there unless you wanna party with the underage kids, drink watered down liquor that is overpriced, and deal with rude security guards. Go to the lodge the guys there are so nice and they give free peanuts, even mothers original. Nice people there and its just around the corner.
(1)
Lisa C.
My boyfriend and I went there over July 4th weekend because we had won a gift certificate at Hamburger Marys. The place was empty. The food was nothing to write home about and they had run out of some of the drink mixings. Judging from some of the people in the bar (people tanked at dinner time) and reading the reviews of others, this place seems to be a haven for unsavory people.
(2)
Mario L.
I've been here a couple times and I've noticed that how much fun the night will be depends on whoever on the turntables that night. The first time I went here with my friends we mostly just stood around desperately tried to keep ourselves awake. The music was pretty bland and we just got out of there. One of my friends won a party with Free Drinks!! from 9-11. So I was back again and I really enjoyed myself. The music pumping and great for dancing. The Drinks are pretty inconsistent, sometimes their watered down and bland. And sometimes they're just too strong. The space is pretty small and cramped, their often isn't anywhere to sit. This place does have a acuired charm to it but there are much better places to spend your nights.
(2)
Anne Marie J.
Not my favorite bar for a night out but it's a good deal if you're getting a drink or two or a bite to eat: Thursday nights are 1/2 off everything. It was the best Corona I tasted was here b/c it was $3. Yay! Also, it's not crowded during the week - bonus For a night out, I'd veto McFaddens - it's basically a super packed sports bar where it's impossible to get a drink. 1 star for a night out, 3 stars for a good drink deal prior to partying.
(3)
Melanie V.
I went here to witness a flippy cup tourney that my co-workers were participating in. Although the bar was one big sloppy mess because of the tourney, it was SO much fun to watch!! One of the employees was going around asking us to sign up to win a free happy hour. I only did it because I NEVER win those things. However, a couple weeks later, I received a call from them, informing me that I had won a free happy hour! Since then, 2 of my friends have also won the free happy hour. Also, the waitresses are def attentive and friendly! Oh, and the potato skins are a def cure for you if you're feeling a lil sick from too much alky! ;)
(4)
Matt R.
I went to McFadden's expecting to be disappointed...and I'm still confused...because I really wasn't. My friend "won" another $10 open bar deal here from 6-8pm on Friday so i figured...why not? For $10, it couldn't be that bad! and it wasn't! Reading the reviews of bitter, unhappy McFadden's patrons makes me think that McFadden's is probably best if used in the proper way. Yeah, it's probably not a great bar to go to on a Saturday night at 11:30pm. Yeah, it doesn't no belong in it's current location, it's totally out of place. Yeah, a lot of the staff are pretty sub-par. My $10 open bar experience was great. $10 got us all the beer we could drink in 2 hours. However, unlike most open bars, they actually intended to serve us for 2 hours, which was awesome. There were plenty of waitresses, and literally all they did from 6-8 was walk back and forth between the bar with cups of Coors Light or Miller Lite. If $10 open bars are your scene, McFaddens is a five star establishment. If signature mix drinks and blazers or $2 PBRs and ironic t-shirts is your scene, duh, go elsewhere. The one thing that sucked about McFaddens but that I found pretty laughable was the bathrooms. So, neither the mens, nor women's bathroom has a door...problem 1. Problem 2: there are bathroom attendants in each bathroom, both of whom decided to burn incense. Haha. So if you walked within 30 feet of the bathrooms you got a waft of sandalwood and toilet stank...tragically hilarious. Thanks McFaddens.
(3)
Linda N.
came here for a halloween costume party. small space especially when you have all these folks dressed in some pretty elaborate costumes. it gets super hot towards the back of the bar. bartenders were quick. we all got $20 wristbands for all you can drink well drinks and beer from 9-midnight, it was a pretty sweet deal. a bit awkward when we first got there though because the msu game was on. but luckily for us msu lost and all the angry fans cleared out pretty quickly. =P
(3)
Heather K.
I would like to preface this review by saying that I don't like McFadden's on the weekends (1 star), but went there for happy hour on a Thursday and had a really excellent time (4 stars). So we'll make it a 3-star average experience! I went for an event that included free cocktails made with SKYY - since it was a "hosted" happy hour the drinks were definitely weaker than usual. But our waitress was incredibly attentive and frequently came by to check on us and bring on the refills. By some stroke of luck, we happened to be there on a day where they were testing out new menu items. A manager told us that they recently revamped the menu and needed to take photos of the new dishes. As a result, they handed out a ton of free food to everyone who was sitting at tables in the back of the bar (near the kitchen). We got to try a chopped salad thing and a DELICIOUS grilled chicken sandwich. I would definitely go back on a weeknight for dinner - just for that sandwich alone! Marinated really well, with grilled onions on top, yum. They were playing fun music (90s rock - Weezer, Green Day, Rage, etc) and the crowd was much more laid back than I was expecting. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised!
(3)
Laura S.
Trivia tuesdays are the best- dollar tacos are delicious and $3 coronas. Great service and an all-around good time!
(3)
Jody C.
I have a like/hate relationship with this place. If you can get drinks, and if you can find somewhere to stand, it's a fun place to drink and dance. However, most of the time the line is super long and its overly crowded inside. The bathrooms always have a huge wait. I'm talking 20 mins at least. Then you have to wait another 20 mins for a drink. That is not my idea of a fun time. Also, the last time i was there it was about 95 degrees inside. My friends and i hung out in the back room in front of a fan. I left looking like i'd just run a marathon.
(3)
rachel c.
Holy God is this place filled with meat-head choads. In the 20 minutes that we could stand being there, it took 15 to get a drink and in that time I had 2 drinks spilled on me. Joy.
(2)
Margaret B.
Rude, obnoxious doormen out front. Always a line. And then so crowded when you're actually in that it's impossible to get a drink or get anywhere. I wish I could take the mostly good looking crowd inside and convince them to go elsewhere.
(1)
Ryan P.
usually a pretty fun place.. but this place gets filled with young punk college douches on wednesdays who all think they are tough guys and try to start fights as soon as a bit of alcohol gets in them.. Not a bad place to go if you feel like punching a douchers face in when they inevitably start acting up.
(3)
C M.
Ugh. Just like all the bars around when I was in college. So not the kind of place I want to go, having been out of college for more than a year. Needless to say, for some reason my best friend wanted to go here for a bit for her bachelorette party. We did, and it was soooo crowded it was ridiculous. I wasn't even aware they served food here. If they do, to go there in Sept of 2008, you would never have guessed. It was a Saturday night (since all but myself live in the city, and all but the two of us were living in other states), but it was scary crowded. Neither the matron of honor or myself were too happy about having to go there, but we weren't going to say anything. Shots were nasty, music was loud and bad, and people were everywhere. Definitely filled with some major douchenozzles, which we didn't come out to see. The bachelorette was totally drunk so I don't think she really noticed or cared, and at least she had fun. Especially when she proceeded to dance on the bar along with another bachelorette, who was dressed in a tank with a thong on top of her jeans. Classy. I will never go here again, willingly or not. The only purpose of this "establishment" is to give pathetic douchenozzles a chance to relive their college days with bad booze, bad music, and more of their kind than they know what to do with. Oh, and they dance too.
(1)
Jeff C.
Dude? WTF
(1)
Eric M.
McFaddens is pretty much the place everyone would go to in high school, had they been able to drink. It is a Irish themed bar inasmuch as it has 'Mc' before its name, it serves Guinness, and it has wood paneling. Besides that, it is about as Irish as Sony TV. The crowd tends to be a mix of white suburbia that has grown up and moved into the city, and anyone over the age of 30 stands out as being among the senior members of the crowd. Drinks are moderately priced (especially for the area), $3 for Bud and Corona, $5 for decent taps, and $6+ for well drinks. The music is hit and miss, as I have learned. It is often a decent mix of 70's, 80's, and 90's stuff with lots of favorites sung before any of the patrons were born being belted out by the speakers and those in attendance. Last night, however, the DJ was downright awful. He played a good deal of rap, which doesn't bother me as much as the fact that he had the music cranked up SO loud that the playback was getting dicey and my ears are still ringing. Even worse, he was completely ADD, changing the songs halfway through about 60% of the time. Pick a song and stick with, we're at war here! To its credit, McFadden's is always packed with people, but if you are not the button-down (with at least the first two buttons undone), polo, or otherwise young, preppy, suburban type, you may find yourself a bit out of place. If you are among the aforementioned cohort, however, go to McFadden's at least once, see if you run into someone from high school (you invariably will, especially if you were raised on the North Shore) and bring ear plugs just in case that awful DJ is there.
(3)
George K.
Okay... oh man. Why haven't I tried this place sooner? Pretty laid back, fun crowd, lots of TV's to watch sports, very close to my place right next to Bella and PJ Clarks. Food! I went here last night for dinner with a friend. I didn't know what to order but I was starving so I ordered for both of us :) Fish & chips and Cajun jambalaya soup. umm, I never had fish and chips before... I don't know okay... I felt like I'm the last person on earth who never seen what fish and chips looked like. Waitress laughed at me because I asked how does it come out? I honestly never tried them before. Duh.. Obviously, it had to be some sort of FISH and some sort of CHIPS, right? I wasn't sure how it would come out (I was anxious to see what it looked like) Hoped for no fish eye on my plate. Okay our order was coming out in few minutes... My friend told me to close my eyes until food came to our table so I would be surprised to see fish and chips... seriously, I was sweating and shaking my right leg underneath our table over FOOD! .. lol I don't eat fish often so... I ordered jambalaya for backup because I wanted to eat that one and she can have fish and chips. Did you know? Fish and chips is same thing as just fish sticks and fries? haha.. it wasn't bad at all, I'll have to order that more often :) You are suppose to dunk it in some sort of oil? weird but it tasted really good. Cajun jambalaya? HOTTT!! Holy smokes I was on fire. I wanted to drink some ketchup because our waitress didn't bring us any water. My glass of beer had little bit of ketchup floating in it. I have no idea how it got there. Maybe from me shaking the ketchup bottle on the fries so I didn't drink any beer. My mouth was on fire. Hottest jambalaya I ever had. I ended up eating most of fish and chips and she ate jambalaya. I will definitely go back here... after reading some reviews. Maybe only on weekdays. I can see this place could get very crowded. Highly recommend everyone try this place least once! Fish & Chips!! A++
(4)
Angela B.
I think McFaddens is really average...nothing special about it. Laid back crowd, really busy on weekends, and just OK food that we thought was overpriced. We rented out the private room (the Den) for a bachelorette party and the service was either terrible or amazing depending on which waitress wandered back there. I will say that there is absolutely nothing "Irish" about it other than the name!
(3)
Chris L.
Love McFadden's!
(5)
Shannon S.
I've been here a few times now. Good atmosphere, good crowd. Friday's they have a happy hour $10 for 2 hours of all you can drink. Not a bad deal. The waitstaff is pretty on top of things.
(4)
Kari S.
Extremely crowded on a Friday or Saturday night, but fun if you are in a group and want to hear some great music. I recommend going early to get a table or booth. Its in a good location to bar hop!
(3)
Louis A.
This place sucks hardcore. Disgusting drinks, too crowded, lame music, and it's filled w/ douchebags
(1)
Julia C.
The one time I was at McFadden's was for the Yelp happy hour. I had a blast and thought this was a really cool Irish bar. There was plenty of space to move around, although I hear that's not the case on the weekends. The waitress did a good job of making sure my hand had a glass of wine in it throughout the night. I plan on going back to McFaddden's very soon!
(4)
Katelin M.
i watched the soccer games here last week and had a blast...always a fun crowd at McFadden's. It's nice to see bars like McFaddens and Bella doing well on this cursed corner and McFaddens is definitely doing well because the line is always out the door on the weekend. They play great music so it's a good place to go if you want to dance. I ate here for the first time recently and my quesidellas were ok. Definitely go for the drinks and the crowd, eat nextdoor at Bella Lounge for good food.
(4)
Lindsey M.
Horrible, horrible, horrible. My God, I created a Yelp account just to review this place. Against my better judgement, went there with a few friends last night who convinced me this was the place to go for St. Patty's. WERE THEY WRONG. First off, while attempting to order a drink, I waited at least 10 minutes before a bartender even acknowledged me. I suppose I had an annoyed look on my face because she continued to serve people who had just stepped up to the counter even though i was patiently waiting and even had my money ready. First, she told me that I "needed to relax" then told me she wasn't going to serve me because of my attitude. I didn't even say anything! I was livid at this point. I was also not impressed but the unattractive half dressed women dancing on the bars. Really? This isn't a frat party, and some of these women looked much older than 22. Would it kill you to act just a tad classier? So then, my sister and a friend were in line for the bathroom, and the women's line was ridiculous. Of course the men's line was empty so they decided to just go for it. The bathroom attendant rudely yelled and my sister and friend to "get the fuck out" and forcefully grabbed my friend's arm who's about a third his size.To cap off the night, a busboy came barreling through with a garbage can full of ice and knocked my sister in the head with it and knocked her over. He then barely acknowledged what he had done and mumbled out sorry before walking away. Overall, this bar offers the WORST service of any bar I've ever been to in Chicago. The clientele consists of trashy, stumbling, mediocre looking girls and horny, sloppy, ex-frat tools just looking to get laid. Needless to say, I won't be returning to McFadden's. Ever.
(1)
daniel w.
I've lived in Chicago less than a week, but I've been to McFadden's many times during my visits to Chicago and this past weekend. Really cool bar with a good looking crowd. It is pretty crowded and annoying to wait in line (I'm not used to this cold weather), but I always have a good time here.
(4)
Jasmine P.
Wow, such a drastic difference from the last time I was here. I returned with friends for $2 drinks on Tuesday. We came to dance too. I was thoroughly disappointed. THE DJ SUCKED! I strongly dislike when DJs play music only they like. He was balding and clearly stuck in an era. He wouldn't accept requests, though he said he would. He played music that was good at a time (late 90s) and a lot of britney spears. Gosh, he played *N SYNC's "bye bye bye!" I am a fan of *N SYNC, but really was he expecting us to break out into choreographed dance in the middle of the dance floor? My friend and I got up on the bench to dance to the one good song he played and just stood there bobbing our heads to the less danceable songs. When we finally decided to request a song, he replied to us with, "what? after you ignored me up there?" WHOA! I'm sorry, I didn't know I was having a non-verbal conversations with the guy in the DJ booth, especially considering I didn't even know where the DJ booth was until 30 seconds before we made our request. Oh, and let's not forget how professional it sounded everytime he got on the microphone and said, "sorry, sorry everyone, I've only got one CD player going right now!" (He did this about 4 times within an hour; we didn't stick around to see how many more times he would do this.) He was unprofessional and bad for business. I might try to check out McFadden's on the weekend like the first time I came here, when the crowd (and hopefully DJ) are better, but I wouldn't take my chances here during week ever again. Not even for cheap drinks.
(1)
Emma L.
I've tried to go to McFadden's many times in the past month, but it's absolutely impossible to get in without waiting at least 30 minutes in line and it's way too cold for that! I finally made my way to this popular Irish bar for Yelp's first happy hour last night. As a new member of Yelp it was great to meet all the other members- everyone was very nice! I also think McFadden's is a really cool bar...there were some people there, but not overly crowded for an early evening during the week. Our waitress was very attentive and had a drink in my hand before I even finished my last one. Thanks again to Andrea and Elizabeth for inviting me! I'm looking forward to the next happy hour.
(4)
Dana P.
Think it is a really fun place. It gets very crowded though and the lines can be long. Yelp's happy hour was a lot more chill and relaxed than the place is normally on the weekends. But, the music on the weekends is fantastic and fun. Definitely recommend checking it out.
(3)
elizabeth n.
This laid back atmosphere of McFadden's is a perfect place to relax and do a happy hour after a long day of work. The lines do get very long on the weekends, so I try to go there during the week. They have a spacious bar and you won't have a problem getting a table if you go during the week. They play great music, and the service is excellent! I will definitely be going back for after work drinks again!
(4)
Abby L.
Big fan of McFadden's! First I love Irish bars, and second- this one is one of my favorites. They play great music- love dancing with friends here and it's a really fun laid back crowd. Great spot for a happy hour or drinks with the girls.
(4)
Jared S.
McFadden's is always a good time. I was here Friday night after not being here in weeks and as usual I had a great time. It is a pretty young crowd, but that never bothers my buddies and I.
(4)
Rachel N.
I agree with all these reviews...McFadden's is such a fun bar! It's pretty low key,. but has great music and it's always crowded. It used to be super crowded when it first opened, but the crowds are dying down so I like it better now.
(4)
Aubrey K.
We just checked out McFadden's this weekend and I had a blast with my friends. The main attraction is that the DJ plays the best music ever. There was not a single song that we didn't want to dance to. I beat the line but I noticed it was growing pretty rapidly past 10 or so. I'll be going back for sure.
(4)
Dru G.
This place was cool when it first opened...fun crowd, good music. I went here last weekend for the first time in a while and I couldn't belive how young it has gotten. I don't think there were many people over 22 in this bar. It's too bad because I really liked this bar and it's in a great location!
(3)
Zach A.
Tried this popular new Irish bar this weekend for an early St Patty's day celebration. It was crowded like every bar on Saturday afternoon, but it was fun! Great music and fun people.
(4)
Dan B.
Alexis kept the drinks coming. Good place to go for happy hour.
(4)
peter b.
Cool Atmosphere + Alexis the server + DJ spinnin 80's beats = GOOD TIMES
(4)
ali a.
I was just there this past weekend for a friend's bday and I loved it! They play the best music if you want to dance and the atmosphere is alot of fun. The line was a little long, and we were able to get in because of a friend's birthday, but i'm not sure i'll be able to get in in the future. I think you would just need to get there really early. Overall a great new bar though!
(4)
Madeline L.
I checked this place out with some friends for a drink after work. It was the perfect place to have a low key drink and sit down after a long day. It had a really fun crowd and played great music. The only reason for the 4 stars was because we were really in the mood for an appetizer but none of the appetizers on the menu looked appealing to us. So we drank instead!
(4)
Ed L.
There is a very good reason McFadden's is so crowded. It's a very fun bar! I've been here many times now and every time has been great. I still haven't tried the food, but I have looked at the menu and it looks like typical bar food.
(4)
Tracy M.
Tried this new Irish bar last night for the first time. I expected to wait in very long lines based on the reviews, but it actually wasn't too bad. I waited for about 10 minutes, but once I got in there was plenty of room to move around. Fun crowd, great music...I'll be back!
(4)
Skylar C.
I guess I missed the first Yelp happy hour that all these reviews seem to be raving about, but I've been to McFadden's a few times now and each time has been so much fun! I agree that the line is long to get in, but great music and a really fun crowd once you get inside.
(4)
Samantha L.
Since McFadden's opened months ago I've been coming here almost every weekend and it's a guaranteed good time. McFadden's attracts a really fun crowd and they play awesome music. There have been many nights recently that we've gone to other bars in the area and we always seem to end up at McFadden's because we know it will be a fun night.
(4)
Jason K.
Unfortunately, I was only able to show up for the beginning of tonight's first Yelp happy hour due to a prior work engagement. However, in the short amount of time I spent at McFadden's I was very impressed. Our waitress was very friendly and brought me a drink immediately. The music was pretty good and it seemed like a popular place, even early on a Thursday evening. I'll have to go back to McFadden's soon to check it out. Overall a great night and I'm looking forward to more Yelp happy hours!
(4)
Lo S.
Always have the best time here... by far the most fun bar in the city!! Drinks are overpriced, but if you are a girl then you should be fine ;) Would definitely recommend for an all-you-can drink party * the back bar is great for this! Fun music, great crowd (not your typical Moe's college scene), and awesome location right around Rush/Division make this hot spot worth making your regular hang-out.
(4)
Matt S.
this place blows. period. id rather get drunk in a garage with 2 people i hate then go back to this non stop dork fest.
(1)
Henry J.
Overrated. Always too crowded, impossible lines to small bathrooms. Rip off prices on special occasions, and the staff is rude and unprofessional. There are much better alternatives, but if you believe the hype, check it out for yourself.
(1)
Becca L.
This place annoyed me at first because it is always super crowded and my friends always seem to be celebrating their birthdays here. I'm not a big fan of waiting in line, but the last few times I've been it hasn't been as crowded and the line seems to be moving much faster. Now I'm a huge fan of McFadden's because once you are inside they play awesome music and it's a lot of fun.
(4)
Mike S.
fun sports bar off the infamous rush n division corridor. typical night consists of many drinks followed by dancing and memory loss. weeknights are usually a lot less crowded. they normally have decent drink and food specials. have never tried the food so cant speak on this. the crowd is usually a pretty good mix of college / young professionals. they have a cute bartender there name kathryn.
(4)
Ron C.
If I could give 0 stars I would. I was here on the Saturday dinner-time of Memorial Day weekend, staying at nearby hotel, and decided on this based on its online menu. What a dump. Totally a dive bar with food as an afterthought or not at all. McFaddens should definitely pull its license-franchise and this place puts it to shame (I've been to other McFaddens and had good experiences). Kinda wanted red meat and was told by my server that "we dont have that on the menu anymore" for the 2 more substantial options (ie not burgers). When I informed her that I really needed something more filling (vs bar food) and I'd be leaving, she insisted that I pay for my iced tea -- which I hadn't drank and had ordered with the (silly me) intention of dining in this dump. When i said is there anything you can do, she said that she put it in the computer (and after having asked a manager), that I'd have to pay for it. Do not patronize this place unless you want alcohol, if the specials are any good, I dunno. But I'd pay special attention to more recent reviews (re the food quality) and also regarding the absolutely crappy, horrible service (that is when they actually do have any food that is on their menu).
(1)
Teddy O.
Bar food is ok and the crowd is college again or recently graduated with some. It's hit and miss if you are going there for a good time.
(3)
Sara M.
It's funny that when I chose 3 stars it rolls over and says "A-Ok", because that is exactly how I feel about McFadden's! It sort of smells like a combination of beer, puke, and red bull in here, but it's fun with friends and a good place to get ridiculously drunk it that's what you're looking for. It's a younger crowd, and since I'm 21, I like that part of it. It's ridiculous, but ridiculous in that "oh my god look at that guy and girl shamelessly making out' way.
(3)
Lisa V.
What's better than drinking with one of my best girls in the Chi? Its drinking with her + 100 santas during the holidays! Yes, this bar was one of the bars involved in a festive santa pub crawl on Saturday and it made everything just feel so darn MERRY CHRISTMAS. I love it! Hot guys in santa costumes just were my new wish for every year. Let's make this happen in LA. It was a friendly crowd in there, all wanting to dance, drink & be merry. A perfect night out in one of my favorite cities.
(4)
Lesley S.
I like McFadden's but don't know if it is worth standing in a way-too-long line and paying a $5 cover to get in on a Friday or Saturday night. I do like the mix of music they play, everything from Build Me Up Buttercup to Salt n' Peppa's Shoop and they play all the current stuff as well. I still have one complaint about the music though- requesting songs. The DJ is an ass. At least the few times I've tried requesting something he was. Another thing about this place- they have girls up dancing on the bar. Can get annoying if you want a drink. But if you're there for the free shots, it's just fine. Open wide and you'll get one. Don't worry- they make sure to hold a washcloth under your chin so you don't drool all over your new dress. Who knows where that washcloth has been though. Sick.
(3)
Lauren P.
i'm not sure why, but mcfadden's likes to promote the crap out of an event/special at their bar and not staff it appropriately. this has happened to me and my friends several times within the last few months, and it certainly does not make anyone (the staff or the customers) happy. even though we'd had some spotty service in the past, we decided to go to mcfadden's to catch the USA v england game on saturday. walking in around 1pm, almost every table was full. servicing the entire restaurant, patio and bar was one bartender and one waitress. the waitress was definitely busting her ass, but she needed to clone herself once or twice in order to have any hopes of keeping up with the crowd. it got to the point to where the waitress wasn't able to leave her station because people were lining up to order from her like an extension of the bar. i don't blame either the bartender or the waitress for not being able to handle everyone - this was 100% the manager's fault (who didn't seem to be there.) 20-30 minutes after arrival, we were finally able to order a few buckets of beer. i asked the waitress if i could order some food from her and she said "sure, just give me a minute." One minute turned into 15, and when i realized she was never coming back, i headed to the bar - where i waited another 10-15 minutes before placing my order. side note - my friends who were sitting at the bar even had trouble ordering from the bartender. when my food finally came, i received two out of three of the items i ordered, and of the two things i did receive, one was ice cold and the other was lukewarm. i was so hungry i ate my bad mini burgers, while my boyfriend went up to the bar to return the cold nachos we waited an hour for. the bartender coped quite the attitude when my bf mentioned how cold they were, throwing them directly in the trash, without saying sorry, offering to make new ones or even take them off the bill (which we later asked him to do. he also tried to charge us for the item we never received, even acting like we were lying when we said we didn't get it. full disclosure - because 2/3 items on the bill were messed up, he "voided" the transaction so the $3 worth of mini burgers were on the house. the gesture would have been better received without the attitude.) needless to say, when halftime came, we paid and headed to another bar where they had more than one waitress - and we were promptly served. a few of our friends decided to stick it out at mcfadden's; they told us the waitress later apologized for the horrible service and offered them a $50 gift card. nice for them - but we certainly didn't get any apologies and don't plan on coming back for any big events ever again.
(1)
Rudy S.
Don't really hang out in this part of town, but was with friends and we ended up here. Let's say..if you like wedding music (livin on a prayer, sweet caroline, or sweet home alabama) then you'll love this place. Good for out of towners or college crowd. It's good for what it is. The music got better towards 1am..and it's pretty crowded. So if you're looking for a fun night without any surprises like goth kids or a drag show or a woman selling tamales inside..then you should enjoy your night here.
(3)
Joshua H.
this place is great for team (softball, volleyball etc.) sponosorship. The specials are usually pretty reasonable. You can find some great deals on drinks and aps during the week especially. The weekends are a little "college-eque." The floor is sticky, loud music, all you can drink specails, beer pong, etc. Not necessarily good or bad just a certain atmosphere similar to a Duffy's or McGee's that isn't for all.
(3)
Laura B.
McFadden's is one of my favorite watering holes in Chicago. The staff is extremely nice and the week nights here are fantastic. Can't beat these drink specials in this part of Chicago. My favorite is Tuesday for $2-U-call-its. The crowd on the weekends seems to be suburban and lincoln park frat boys and trixies, while the weekdays attract a more laid-back professional crowd. The DJs are great at keeping the party lively all the way until 4am, or 5 if its a weekend. Best to avoid it, though, past 11pm on a weekend. Consider yourself warned.
(4)
Ken C.
Go here sometimes after volleyball on Tuesdays for trivia night and good specials. Also been here for a game of quarters with some friends. This place seems to have a lot of good specials keeping me coming back. What I hate the most here is the bathroom attendant. The bathroom is small, and the attendant takes up space. This isn't even that nice of a place where you would expect a bathroom attendant. I don't even like them to begin with because I can grab my own paper towel, thank you. The motion sensors on the paper towel dispensers should replace their job altogether.
(3)
Amanda B.
I solemnly swore never to enter McFaddens after graduation college... and I'm proud to say, I haven't! Not my favorite crowd and not my favorite bartenders... If you're looking to dance on the bar and drink for free you should consider it!
(2)
Ellen F.
Oh, god. This place is ridiculous. I was 25 the first time I went here, and I was exactly four years and 10 months too old for it. It's all about douchey frat boys and the slutty girls they hit on. Regardless, I had fun. If nothing else, the crowd was moderately friendly (?) and good for entertainment's sake. McFadden's was a novelty for me, and perhaps why I enjoyed it. I would never choose to go back here on my own, but if in a large group of friends, I'd go and probably like it.
(2)
Ian S.
My previous positive review for McFadden's was more of a fluke than anything. I've since been back twice, and I wasn't impressed. I'm taking back a star. I had a McFadden's employee reach into the bathroom stall (THAT I WAS USING) to clear a couple of drinks on the ledge on the stall wall. He managed to bump over a half full beer and spill it all over my pants. I started yelling and he replied, "I'll get you a new one". It wasn't even my drink. He then ran off (without even making good on his offer). If it wasn't my friend's birthday, I would have raised hell with the manager, but it wasn't worth it.
(2)
Gloria E.
Some friends I had were always coming here for happy hours, and I was curious about the place if they kept returning. Although, my friends didn't normally suggest I meet them at bars like this one. I guess I know why now. When my birthday rolled around a year ago, I didn't want to go to my usual or close-by places. I wanted somewhere new where lots of people go. Somewhere busy. Agh. Now I see why I never came here before then. On the way in, people were walking out talking about some disgusting girl who had vomited all over herself here. While I was in line for the coat check, some girl storming out's arm rubbed against the back of my arm, and it was all wet. I immediately knew what had just happened. The girl that had vomited herself did her drunkest to wash the vomit off before being kicked out, and her disgusting vomit-water had rubbed off on me. I smelled it as close as I could (back of the arm, ya know...), and I was right. F*ing F* F* F* F* F*! I was pissed. I washed it off, and started over. The place is crawling with D-Bags, and 80% of the girls look exactly the same. The bartender could not be bothered. I get that he was busy, but he was still rude and snobby beyond belief. when he took and made my order. He rolled his eyes when I asked if I had left my card at the counter earlier. Even worse, after he rolled his eyes, he did nothing, and I had to wait 15 minutes to get another bartender's attention. This place was too packed to move, and all in all, I will never come back again. This just isn't my idea of a good time.
(1)
Tara M.
Oh McFadden's, you always make good on your promise that my Saturday nights will end in a blacked-out mess. Which is probably why when I walked into the bar sober this past Thursday night after work, I felt like I had never seen it before. We opted not to participate in the $10 open bar and instead sat at a table with a very attentive waitress. She did get pretty busy toward the end so we got our last round from the bar, but it wasn't a big deal. Three stars because: 1. The music was ridiculously loud, though the song choices were awesome. Lots of late 80's and early 90's songs--you know, the songs that you love but are embarrassed to admit it to your friends 2. A bathroom attendant at 6:00 on a Thursday night? Come ON!
(3)
Amanda C.
Went here on a Wednesday night. The experience was mediocre although I like the way it looks inside. Beers are $1 on Wednesdays and are presented in tiny plastic cups so you probably need 2 to equal a real beer. I think this is only good for Miller/Coors/Bud Lights. The bathroom is decent and has an attendant handing you paper towels which I think is completely unnecessary. The 70s/80s music was good but not for dancing and when I asked the DJ if I could request a song he said "I'm just trying to have fun tonight and go with it" or something which I inferred as no. Come on!
(2)
scott s.
This place can be good or bad Depends on the day
(3)
nicole h.
Holy douchebaggery. I can't stand this place. The only time I ever go here is when I get dragged here with a group of people and I'm too inebriated to complain. And then I get there and pretty much leave immediately. I walk in and am I always greeted with an overcrowded, sweaty place. Crowd's always the same--the college girls are always scantily clad as if they've got their lady parts on parade for the countless creepy older dudes that seem to just be lurking waiting for the best time to roofie someone. And as if this Irish "saloon" were a club or something there's hired eye candy girls (aka. strippers who don't take their clothes off) on the half-walls trying to pump up the crowd to dance to the most recently overplayed KISS-FM nonsense. Ugh. Just writing about this place gets me fired up. Next time I'll just say no and save my cab fare for somewhere more my scene.
(1)
ryan w. v.
I had lunch here on Friday afternoon...Sat outside...Watched the Cubs game and played a little S,F, or M with my friend. Since I was one of like 12 patrons, the bartender (Tim) was our server. Tim was refreshingly helpful in recommending what to order. My friend and I either have amazing intuition or luck of the Irish because everything we decided to order came highly favored by Tim. I think it's the former although I am 1/16th Irish. Anyway, we started with the Blue Cheese Chips. And when I type CHIPS I mean chips; not fries! For some reason my friend and I thought we were getting Blue Cheese Fries. Right, so we were completely wrong. McFadden's makes their own chips and then puts this warm blue cheese goo on top and add fresh chunks of blue cheese. The plate was huge and we hardly made a dent into the plate. It would have been much better with fries, but it was chips. This dish could be shared by like eight people easily. Per Tim's recommendation, I ordered the Reuben and my friend got the Mini Pulled Pork Sandwiches. She received three on a plate topped with spicy onion rings. I had a bite of hers because she could barely finish; they were delicious. My Reuben was really good too. The rye bread was fresh and was not soggy from the corned beef and sauerkraut by the time it got to my plate. The corned beef was lean and had great flavor. This is my first review although I have been here a handful of times to get my drink on. I enjoy McFadden's and give it four stars this time for being a great Irish neighborhood bar with great Reuben's and having Tim as our server/bartender.
(4)
Sable T.
Where to even begin .... well my friends and I came in on Memorial Day (Monday) and the atmosphere seemed nice especially with the gorgeous day we were having ... the outdoor seating was packed and all the tables toward the front were filled so we sat in a nice booth in the back. There was only one server .. which was the bartender and he got us our drinks very promptly. However, it took FOR-EVER for our appetizers to come out ... 45 mins passes by and still no appetizers. Then the GM comes near us in this funky green outfit and apologizes bc they ran out of O-Bombs .. I guess no bloomin' onion for us. He then gets my friends and I a round of shots and immediately brings us random appetizers...that held us over for a while until our food came. Oh the food! Well it took forever for the bartender to even get our orders and we were starvin' marvins waiting for our appetizers and ready to give our orders. I'd say the whole process of waiting and eating took a good 3 hours ... Not good for antsy/starving people. I guess I'd have to say Kevin .. the GM made the day a lot better by paying more attention to us and buying us a round of shots and taking one with us. I liked that. Other than that ... I'd go here again just to hang with Kevin. Maybe if they had more servers on staff it would be a better experience. The experience today was ok. I got the grilled chicken sandwich ... tasted like shit. The chicken was burnt and the fries tasted like they were sittin' around for a long time. Overall ... I'd get the quesadilluhs and the bloomin' onion. I gave this place a 3 just because of Kevin.
(3)
Mark L.
A Fratastic bar on the Division strip at State street. Everyone inside thinks that they are way cooler than everyone else, the music is so loud that trying to speak to anyone is incomprehensible (and inaudible). The early 20s aged crowd is usually very drunk, very rowdy and very rude. It's unfortunate that I ever patronized this bar. The bouncers are usually dickheads, and they often create a line out front to lure people in, you can wait in the cold for 20 minutes only to discover a half full bar with a 4:1 ratio of guys:guys. I only give 2 stars because I have been here on weekdays for wristband deals that were decent, and once for a party in the back that was pretty fun. Steer clear unless its for a private party.
(2)
Sue D.
This place is horrible! It was packed where you couldn't even move. It was hot and sweaty and the drinks were bad. The security was rude as well. We went for a bachelorette party and were so beyond disappointed. We stayed less than 15 minutes. I would not recommend this place not matter what. It was ridiculous.
(1)
Alex K.
The seventh circle of hell. The average age appears to be 19, it's always too crowded to get to the bar or the bathroom, the music is so loud I actually got permanent tinnitus in one ear from a single night here, and you will never hear anything other than top-40, Journey, Poison or Bon Jovi here. Go here if you have herpes, or are really eager to catch herpes.
(1)
The S.
Where do I begin? This place isn't worth the time it would take to write a meaningful review, so here's the short of it. A few years ago I went to McFadden's for a friend's birthday. The place was uncomfortably packed with people. I used to hang out at some crowded bars, but this place had to have been way over capacity. Eventually, the bar staff removed all of the high-boy tables to make more room for people...but continued to let people in. At the end of the night, I went to get my coat (it was winter), and the coat check gave me the wrong coat. They somehow gave my coat to someone else. I was pretty drunk at the time, but was sober enough to tell that the girl in the coat check was completely s***faced. I called the bar the next day hoping to speak to someone that could help. They first insisted it was my fault that they lost my coat. I was eventually able to speak with a manager, and he told me that they would try to find it and call me with the results. Fast forward a few weeks later, a few trips to the bar to pick up "my coat" that was not actually mine or even close, they had a description, brand, size, etc. The bar never offered any compensation for their mistake, and eventually stopped returning my phone calls. I simply just gave up. I will never go back to this bar and highly recommend that you don't. It's an awful atmosphere, not fun, and the staff is awful. There are some pretty sleazy bars along Division, but this dump is the worst of them all.
(1)
Jasbir S.
Checklist at McFadden's for Men: - White striped long sleeved shirt with cuffs turned up - Boring watch that every other person who works at your marketing firm wears - Heavily gelled hair to cover up receeding hairline despite the fact you're 21 - Axe body spray Checklist at McFadden's for Women: - Glittery top which isn't long enough to cover your nascent spare tire - Tight jeans that aren't particularly cool - "Maid of Honor" tank top if you don't have a glittery one So join the party at McFadden's where your waitress serves you an entree without any silverware and forgets about you for 30 minutes only to return with "Hehe cutey! I just thought you'd eat it with your hands!"
(2)
Anthony A.
Reviews are pretty accurate. The food was not good but not bad. The service was good and the people that work there were very nice to us. Great place to go on Thursdays because they have half off the entire menu including drinks.
(3)
Lauren B.
Blah. There was a medical convention going on in town the weekend I was there and for whatever reason it seemed like about 80 of the oldest doctors decided to descend on McFadden's the night I went. The rest of the crowd was pretty trashy AND trashed. The service was slow, the ground sticky/slippery and the music too loud. There are plenty of other bars nearby that I would choose over this one.
(2)
Izzy N.
Today, I will review in neanderthal speak. Don't worry, it will still be a helpful review. Before I start though, I just wanted to say, HOLLA FOR A DOLLAR!!!!!!! okay. \Begin neanderthal speak: Me came saturday night after 10. Me did not want to go. No cover charge for me!!!!!!! Yay yeeaaaa..! Cover charge for people behind us. hahahahahahahahahaha. Ok. We met me friend co-workers at private party to watch Blazers game first. Then parteeeeey. But later a girl dance not so good in front of TV. Get out of way dumb girl! Me try to watch basketball, not you!!! You not even hot. Crowd is me age and younger. Kind of rowdy. I at first dig it. Females dirty dancing to wall, chairs and counter of bar while waiting for drinky. Oh. Ok. Me not know how much drinks cost. They very strong. Girl barf in trash can by bar. tasty. Me friend say he found "the one." Long line to women restroom. Only 2 toilets, me had to go so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me just had big dinner. Not good idea. There is bathroom attendant with candy and tampons. Weird touch because bar, nasty! It not high class. She turn on sink for me and give me paper towels. Thank You. Music okay, sometimes sucked. DJ not know how to spin. Music mess up sometimes. Random music choice. Mostly 80s and 90s. Bouncers inside are douchey. They no let us go back up to our party. He said it private party. Duuuuuuuuuuuuuh. Dummy. He let random people up there. Until we say can we get our damn purses! another bouncer not let a friend shake his booty in another friend face. He put his flashlight on the guy, tell him to step away. Party pooper. It very packed and hot in there!! Now me know why girls half naked, dress like hookers to bars. Because it damn hot in bar/club!!! Me got sweaty. Me had to take some clothes off. So hot and muggy. It freezing outside and rainy so me layered up. See me smart girl, no catch cold. Next time me wear close to nothing so me not get sweaty. Even in 40 degree weather. Me will pretend it 80 degrees. Me have no need to come again. Unless me doped up and not care. This place blow hardcore. /end neanderthal speak. If you found that difficult to read then the point is Bitch is dead to me.
(1)
Andy D.
Wow, this was the worst. I went there for lunch last Saturday and I could not believe how awful the experience was. The service was slow. The food was terrible. I couldn't even finish my meal because it was so bad. We ordered sodas and water and they came in tiny plastic cups. Stay away!!!
(1)
Elizabeth T.
LAME! See Nicole H's review below. Her review says it all. Holy douchebaggery indeed!
(1)
Annie T.
update update updateeee this bar is quite the hot mess but on a sunny sunday afternoon it was so perfect. we weren't looking our best (our group had just come from a softball game) so we walked passed lux bar and tavern on rush. we were aiming for PJ Clarke's but they had no outdoor seating. McFadden's it was! the poor bartender got stood up by the waitstaff so he was waiting tables on top of tending bar. he was very nice and got us what we needed quick. i ordered 3 "minis" (sliders). 2 chicken buffalo and 1 pulled pork. so tasty. so fatty. so perfect. MMM i'm craving them right now as we speak. the rest of the table got $5 burgers... they were pretty delish and big from what i could see. the fries weren't bad... not the best but not the worst. i'll certainly be back with McFadden's being on blocks from my place. for a cheap bite or two.
(4)
Kammie G.
My friend won $100 bar tab in a contest. She asked earlier via email whether it worked on specials and she was told that yes of course they did. We get to the bar and sit. The bartender was giving us attitude from the start, she even yelled at us at one point because we kept asking how much each drink was and what the specials were. She told us they had $5 bombs and $1 beers and $5 well drinks. She knew we had the bar tab. Later on, we didn't want her to keep giving us atttitude so we bought her a shot too, kept thinking its $5 bombs but all of the sudden they changed the price on us from $5 bombs to $10 bombs saying that specials dont work on the bar tab even though she said at firs they did. And she gave us the $1 beers and then all of the sudden we maxed out the bar tab and all of the sudden we cant get the $1 beers either even though she TOLD us the prices at first and my friend was told the specials worked for the tab. Worst service. Plus the drinks were extremely watered down.
(1)
Ray L.
I came on white trash night and fit right in seeing as how I'm white AND trash. My co-workers brought me here to close out our bar hopping... 3-4am on a wednesday night with work the next day... wonderfuckingful We destroyed the incriminating pictures
(3)
Bella D.
I usually come here after work or after the club is over, and I know people who work here...which makes coming to McFaddens fun!! I dunno the other peeps reviewing but its a loud, boisterous, mixed crowd of drunk people. Its a bar!! Duhhh...anyways, good music and busy active atmosphere. I enjoy it when I need my fix of loudness and some stiff drinks!! : ) My seka, glen and MH knows this!!
(4)
Ay D.
Good, mass-produced fun in the Gold Coast. McFadden's caters to college kids, yuppies, and the tourist perception of what the youths are doing. They tend to host a lot of college favorites such as "Beer Pong" and "Flippy Cup", as well as offer inexpensive happy hour packages and $10-15 all-you-can drink wristband parties. Say what you want about the preppies / douchies / meatheads / Trixies / etc. that tend to pop up here, but what else would you expect given the location and the entertainment offerings? That being said, I'm not part of one of the aforementioned cliques, but I always a good time here. Throw on your early 20's best, grab a spot in the drink line, and let go.
(3)
Ron S.
Went here yesterday to meet a couple friends for some 25 cent wings and the Blackhawks Game. I couldn't believe how packed this place got around 1 on a Wednesday night. This bar totally caters to younger college students and postgrad kids so I wouldn't recommend it older folks.
(3)
Tom L.
Picked this particular pub at random mainly because the people inside seemed to be having fun. Didn't have the best experience with this place. The waitress ignored our group for the better portion of the night..It was a miracle to get another beer. The food wasn't the best either. No one was impressed with their order. I had fish & chips, which was kind of ho-hum.
(2)
Chris M.
I've been patiently contemplating the way I want to phrase this review for some time. With all the nonsense that occurs inside and outside the door of this "saloon", it has been a odd task to try to summarize it as concisely as possible. After my fourth or five visit though, I finally formulated a tentative thesis for this review. You know those groups of people who know they should stop partying but fail to follow through on their actions? Well if you do, and are tired of meeting them, do not come to McFadden's. Those who love to "rage" on the weekend are probably smiling with optimism for the hope of finding another bar where they can congregate with fellow ragers until 4 A.M. But if they are, they're probably not true ragers. For, a true rager would have already known about this spot, visited about 50 times, and only come back if they were kicked out of some other bar nearby. No, the ones who are smiling are those who have not yet experienced the dehumanizing sight of women in tight booty shorts dancing to the insipid tracks spun by a DJ who thinks he's CEO of a large company while overly drunk and obnoxious yuppies shout at them like they shout at the cabby who asks for a tip after all have left the vehicle. This is the picture that has been instilled in my mind after numerous visits to this bar. That and the $5 dollar beers and the bartender who's golden bottoms have been driven so far up her backside to reveal the fat protruding from underneath. The sad thing about this establishment is that while the employees are all well-mannered in the midst of a overly hectic job, and are probably cool outside a work environment as well, they are probably coaxed into such degrading dress from management and owners who could give a damn about their employees well-being and conception of themselves. Furthermore, I don't understand why there is a bathroom attendant at a bar which is the furthest thing from the definition of elegant. But even if it were elegant, a bathroom attendant is among the most alienating positions which business owners ever fathomed. If you can get into the bar I trust that you can take care of yourself when in the bathroom, but that's just me. In a word, this bar is simply despicable.
(1)
Nathan C.
Probably the best bar in the area for a younger person like me. I have always had a great time on the weekdays but on weekends it gets particuarly packed. On a Saturday night, I swear there seems to be more people trying to get in than are actually in the place. Like I said, a fine bar during the week (I particuarly like Texas Tuesdays for there $2 corona, tequilla, and quesadillas) but a little crowded during the weekend
(3)
sally m.
mcfadden's is a fun time if you know what you're getting yourself into. if you want a quiet place to chat or catch up, this is NOT it (obviously). if you want to get hammered on a friday while listening to a mix of '80s-'90s music (with some new songs mixed in), dancing around on a sticky dance floor, and getting rowdy then mcfadden's may be just the place for you. it's always been a sloppy night when we've gone there, and for that, i would recommend it. drinks aren't the cheapest, but bartenders are usually pretty quick, and the place stays open until 4 am. definitely a good time if you're in the mood for drunken debauchery!
(3)
Alyssa F.
Yes, I'm giving McFadden's five stars, but hear me out. No, it's not the classiest establishment ever, but it knows what it is, it knows what it does, and it does it well. Are you looking to stay out until 4 or 5 in the morning? McFadden's has you covered. Dance floor? Check. (If you're a girl this area also extends to the bars and, if you're sitting there or if no one's sitting there, the booth next to the DJ booth.) The ability to get free shots poured down your throat? Check. I've even been the pourer twice, and I recommend trying it yourself (again, if you're a girl). If you are over the age of like, 25, you probably DO NOT want to come here on a weekend night, but if you're in your early 20s, if you're drunk and/or want to get drunk, and if you like dancing, then this not a bad choice, especially for the area. They also tend to give out free parties pretty easily, where the winner drinks for free and anyone else can pay $10 for an open bar from 9-12. The drink prices are not bad for the area at all, and while there will be the occasional creeper on the dance floor (especially one it hits like, 2 or 3) it's MUCH better than other bars on Clark/Division. And a lot lighter on the cougars/middle aged men. Like I said, it's not the classiest place ever, but it does what it does well.
(5)
Bob S.
McFadden's is at State and Divison so you have to expect a little bit of cheesiness, but if you can get over that and have a good group with you, it can be a really fun place. I came here on a Saturday night at 1am and surprisingly didn't have to deal with a line. Well, not outside anyway...it took forever to check our coats. It was like Thunder Dome in front of that window. After that, things were great. Despite being really crowded, it never took long to get a drink and waitresses circulating through the crowd helped ease the lines at both bars. They have a decent selection of music: it's far from cutting edge, but they keep the energy up and after a few drinks, you'll find yourself singing along.
(3)
Allie S.
This is pretty much my idea of hell. The drinks were weak and expensive. They were blasting Top 40 remixes and it wasn't even 10 p.m. There were more douchebags and skanky girls packed into the space than I ever hope to be near again. There was no place to sit - every table was marked "reserved" even though there was nobody at them. I hope I never have to go here again.
(1)
Lindsey F.
Yes, this is a college bar, but we had a great birthday party here. We made plans last minute to have a party here, because we ran into a few bumps along the way planning. Alicia swooped in and took care of everything efficiently. I had one small complaint at the beginning of the night, but again Alicia swooped in and fixed it. She set us up in the VIP room at not extra charge and we had a very nice waitress that brought extra drinks without even asking! Yes, it gets crowded. Yes the crowd is young, but that was the energy we were looking for this time. Thanks to Alicia!
(4)
Kathryn M.
I've been to McFadden's twice now and have had a blast each time. The first time I was there because my friend won a party. $20 all you can drink from 8-11. Even at 8, it was definitely crowded, however we were able to walk right in, no lines at all. The waitress was very attentive and friendly and kept the drinks coming. I never had an empty drink in my hand. The most recent time I was there was a Thursday, 2amish. The music was great, lots of people were dancing and having a good time. We were a pretty large group, so we took over a couple tables. Everyone was pretty friendly, either that or I was just oblivious to any dirty looks. The drinks were pretty strong and reasonably priced for the area. The women's room was fairly clean and did not have long lines (which is a plus...especially at 3 am). I'm sure I'll be making my way back here sometime soon.
(4)
Annie B.
McFadden's is the worst bar I have been to yet in Chicago. The service was terrible. The music is horrible and don't expect to get any help from the management when you have a complaint. This bar is sexist and full of sexist pigs who are non progressive in their views. I will tell as many people as possible to never set foot in this lousy excuse for a bar.
(1)
Rahul S.
SO I came here for the third time. I came early, and they played 80's music. Then the music got modern as the night progressed. I was minding my own business and watching sportscenter. Then these two chicks come near by and start dancing right by me (one at the front, and one at the back). I usually ignore this. But then they dancing all over me. I'm thinking to myself....I don't feel like dancing, but there are two of them. No one was dancing here. So everybody was staring. It was quite awkward, but fun at the same time. But I wasn't dancing with full force since I didn't feel like dancing then (I wasn't drunk....i only dance when drunk). But they kept on dancing all over me for 10 minutes. One dude started dancing to the side (her friend).....Awkward. I was pretty much stiff when it came to dancing, but they kept on dancing with full force. They left for 30 seconds. Then one chick got in front of me, and was all over me again. I felt uncomfortable, and I didn't feel like dancing. Then I saw those two chicks dance on the bar stool...just as many chicks. One of their guy friends asked me that I was stiff out there. I told him I don't dance that much....but the truth was it was uncomfortable with all the people standing, and watching us dance. I really didn't expect this to happen, but it was fun nonetheless. :) I wonder why they came after me when they could have danced with other dudes. I heard of their guy friends telling them "what the hell are you doing" when they were dancing around me. It was still hilarious, and I would come here again. My only complaint is that this place is always crowded. SOmehow, chicks always end up wanting to dance with me at McFadden's.....
(3)
Jade C.
Ehhhhh, there's really no reason to go here. From service (attitude) to atmosphere (smells like puke) to the people (generally can't hold their drinks without spilling on you or causing someone else to spill on you). I guess it serves a purpose, but if you find yourself pumped to go here...you've been deceived either purposely or accidentally (based on someone "winning" a party) or you have questionable motives lol. Have fun if you can, I woudn't recommend going sober though...as it can be pretty rough. It's in probably the only area that it could actually thrive, otherwise this place is just suspect at best. Take at least 6 shots if you're jammed into attending for a bday party or something though.
(1)
Dave F.
Not only is this bar a douche-bag wasteland, but they have taken to text messaging people (without permission) regarding their "great deals." I can skip the line and get a free shot NOW! OMG I'm on my way! The first time I went here - over 2 years ago - it was for a cheap happy hour and I got talked into filling out a card for a free happy hour or something. (I was dragged back two more times and each time I hated the place more than the last.) For awhile I got emails, but I just marked them as spam so no big deal. But for the last few months they have taken to texting me. There are no instructions in the message for how to be removed from the list and no way to do it on their web site. And on that stupid sheet I filled out over two years ago? Well, for one, I should not have put my real phone number...or filled it out at all. And two, I am completely certain that I did not give them permission to text me. To recap, McFaddens is terrible on its merits as a bar alone. This text message garbage takes it to a new level of awful. If your friend tries to drag you there because some guy/girl is there that they're trying to get with - you should sit your friend down and explain how much that person undoubtedly sucks. Seriously.
(1)
Lisa A.
Want to party with tourist then head to McFadden's. This is the kind of place you'll take your out of town guest but if you're a Chicagoan you'll more the likely stay away from the state and division scene. The beer is over priced, the wait staff is slow and the music is very loud. I took my friend there from L.A. based on a suggestion. I tried to get her out of there rather quickly. I wasn't able to have a conversation with her and it took us 20 mins to get a drink and our bill wasn't what I expected for beer in downtown Chicago. I was disappointed.
(2)
Tony C.
drink specials are awesome!
(5)
Ian R.
literally the worst bar in chicago.
(1)
A C.
Wow! I'm surprised at all the negative reviews given of this place! I had a great time here with a friend on a Monday. Sure, it wasn't a night when all the people bar-hop and dance- but on a weekday this was a great place to just chill, and hang out and watch a sports game. The waitress was very attentive, and friendly! I would definitely come back here again!
(5)
Derek K.
It's ok for a bar. It got a bit crowded but you could still move around. Service is ok. They play music and have a dance floor. The DJ was not particularly skillful and there is no natural flow to the songs he played so every 3 minutes the crowd would pause dancing and readjust to a new song with a completely different beat. The clientele was mostly male, very few females (not that it mattered to me) - so watch out guys, the competition is fierce! The last guy sober enough to stand wins the girl!
(2)
Paige D.
McFadden's lures people in by giving away 2 hour blocks of "parties" where it's all you can drink light beer and well liquor for $10 that you get served in disposable plastic cups. I felt like I was at KAMS in Champaign for most of it-- the bartender we had was clueless, the floors were sticky/dirty, and it was packed. Dancing on the bar is encouraged, so if that's the scene you're looking for it's a good place. If you value being able to sit, talk to your friends, and move your feet without stickage, McFadden's is not the place for you.
(2)
Dawn B.
This was the last stop for our night. It was a great place to end. I'm a fan of the easy going places with good music! We had our own VIP room here, but everyone wanted to get out to the dance floor. Some of the girls made their way on to the bar and got free shots! It was definitely good for a laugh! The wristband option was the best part of the night! Definitely got your money's worth in drinks (of course I think that is always the best option LOL)
(4)
Jonathan T.
Went there last Friday night for their $1 Dos Equis Beer Special advertised in the Red Eye. We showed up at 9pm. After ordering two the bartender scoffed and said, "oh we're out of that," like I should have known. Then tried to order two Magic Hat's from a different bartender, and she replied "Oh we're out of that." We walked out! McFadden's you're a bar, please stock beer you advertise, or Yelpers will take their business elsewhere
(1)
sarah w.
I booked a party at McFadden's for a friends bachelorette party in July. I know this is a typical bach place where the bride can dance on the bar and do those kind of things. It is what she wanted so I thought Mcfadden's would be perfect. We had 18 girls and I booked the party months in advance. I talked to Alicia to arrange all the plans. She was very nice on the phone and really seemed to want to make it a great night for us. We were supposed to have no cover, two reserved hightop tables next to the DJ, and domestic bottles/well drinks for $3 for three hours. I even reconfirmed all the details with Alicia two days before the party where she assured me we were a go and they would have the bride dancing on the bar and having the time of her life. We got to the bar on time and were let in without a problem. But then we were directed to some tables next to the front door which would be for people ordering food. The DJ is in the back. I waited about 20 minutes to find Alicia to speak with her about tables. When she came over, I reiterated our last conversation and she told me I misunderstood her and would get two tables right below the DJ. Thats bull, but I just wanted something at this point so the bride and other girl's could set their stuff down and get a drink. She moved some people (since she didn't have anything reserved) and gave us two hightops below the DJ next to some booths where people were eating their dinner. Then we all trIed to get drinks. This was an ongoing pain throughout the night. The bartenders kept changing and when someone would go to get a drink they would try and charge them more than the $3, telling them they don't know anything about a bridal party deal and we would have to talk to Alicia. How could they not know about a bach party!?! We all had the tell-tale boas and penis stickers and their were 18 of us! So I spent the first hour and a half looking for Alicia and arguing with the bartenders to not overcharge our guests. It was bullshit. They never once even recognized the bride. I went to Alicia more than two times and asked when they were going to get her a special shout out or dancing on the bar? She would just say "in a little while". Finally she told me to just give the DJ the bride's name myself. I did that (he too seemed bothered by me) and he one time said "lets hear it for Mrs. XXX! Congrats" That was it! What a joke. This place couldn't care less about anything but getting your money. They paid no attention to the bride or our party. We could have booked elsewhere and I will never recommend this to another bach party. There were 18 girls there and I hope they all write a bad review because this place deserves it. Don't plan a party at McFaddens and expect anything other than crappy treatment from the bartenders, host, and DJ.
(1)
Niki C.
Pros: - Free drink package. - Military men on leave. - Sing-along music. Cons: - Waitress who refused to serve my friend another wine until hers was finished, but then gave the guy to my left two beers when he still had 90% of his glass still to drink. - Stalker-esque military men who haven't seen a women in a lonnnnng time. - Location. At the corner of Rush & Division, it's at the apex of my two least favorite streets in the city. EDIT: I knocked another star off because we were there for "Ladies' Night" (Thursdays) & the following happened: 1. We were told that all appetizers were 1/2 off, but when we got the bill (we ordered 2 appetizers), we were charged full price. When we told the waitress, the words "I'm sorry," did not come out of her mouth. 2. As advertised on both their website & the signage in the bar, all martinis off of the Martini List were only $5. So we ordered two. I ordered the dirty martini (extra dirty); my friend ordered some sugary thing. When we received them, our waitress said, "Just so you know, dirty martinis aren't included." She still gave us (the first one, which turned out being the only one) the martini for $5, but still ... if you're gonna say all martinis on the martini list, be sure it's all martinis on the martini list (the dirty martini has some silly name, but that's what I ordered). 3. Our waitress did not give us an itemized receipt, which we tend to think was awfully sneaky since our appetizers were not 1/2 price & it wasn't until we sat there, musing about why the bill was so high with all the "great deals" we supposed to have received, that we realized it. Boo to that.
(2)
Lindsay G.
I took my parents here when they came to visit because it was cold outside and the bar is close to my apartment. After waiting 15 minutes for someone to notice us, we finally ordered. The food was okay but our waitress was a little stand-offish, which I thought was rude. It has a cool atmosphere, but It seemed to pull in a fairly young crowd. I would probably go there again with friends.
(3)
Amy J.
Not my favorite place at all. I've only been because it's down the street. I hated it. It reminded me of an adult style frat party. Service is slow, drinks are expensive, and it's really really hard to get a drink at the bar (always too crowded). There aren't enough tables, either. It's just not a comfortable environment, at all.
(2)
Tim C.
Some of the worst service I've ever had, I'd give it 0 stars if it were possible. The place was hardly busy, it was only like 4pm so otherwise I could forget some of their "quirks". What I wished to order they were out of - not a problem except for the server seemed like I was an inconvenience for not having a replacement immediately. My drink took forever to bring, which came out right before my meal. After that i was pretty much ignored until the moment she felt like telling me my bill was ready. I would avoid this place.
(1)
Trinh P.
I used to like this place but my experience gets worse each time. this is the last straw. I decided to help this girl who was drunk out of her mind and need ed to throw up. The bathroom lady just kept commenting on how we better not mess up the bathroom. I had tipped her earlier that night for handing me an stupid napkin that i could have reached for myself. Anyway, after the girl threw up and the bathroom lady just kept making these unnecessary comments. I told her to shut up because what do you expect, you work at a fucking bar. Then she proceeded to threaten me like she was going to punch me. I told her i fucking tipped her earlier. She was like, "you tipped me a dollar." i said, "ugh yeah for washing my own hands, i would hvae given you 50 if you were more polite" she proceeded to threatend beat me up. I'd have preferred that she did something rather than continue to threaten me. I am not impressed at this "ghettto bar." If you're going to kiss ass for tips, the least you can do is to realize you work in a bathroom at a bar. if i could, i would give this bar no stars.
(1)
Alice L.
Ok...so the only time I enjoy coming here is usually during the day or early evening. Before the crowds come in, McFadden's can be a great place to watch some games on the flat screens and enjoy some beers with friends. However, as soon as the late night bunch arrives, the place gets way too crowded. It gets pretty stuffy inside, and it's almost near impossible to get a drink at the bar. If you have a waitress, it takes just as long to get your drink since she usually has to push her way through all of the people to get to your table. On the plus side, they play a variety of music.
(3)
Darren M.
The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is because their french fries are good. The salt-and-pepper spices (believe it or not) were the perfect touch to make them pretty awesome. Now for the bad. 1. The smell of the entry vestibule should have been enough to make me turn around. It smelled like a combination of boys locker room, dirty laundry, and body odor. Not very appetizing. 2. When I asked the waitress what was more popular -- the Reuben or the Philly Cheesesteak -- her response was, "Well, I don't eat meat, so I don't really know." I didn't ask her what SHE liked better, I asked her what was more popular. Gee! She needs some training. 3. When I asked the waitress for a large glass of water as my drink, rather than the small plastic water cup, she said, "Well, we usually serve water in these little cups." I had to do some convincing for her to bring me a large glass! It was a hot day, and I don't drink pop or beer. I finally ordered the California Girl Wrap, which was okay enough to give a passing grade, but nothing to write home about. 4. The lady at the next table ordered a Shepherd's Pie. What they brought her was a small little thing in a soup crock .... Less than half the size of a shepherd's pie you'd get at any other restaurant. And that was for $13 !!! The lady complained (which I would have done too) until the management finally relented and gave her an additional cup of soup. She wanted to order a different item from the menu, but the management wouldn't let her do it, because they had already made the shepherd's pie. I felt this was very bad service on the part of the management. 5. It took forever for my waitress to bring me my check. Plus I never got a refill on my water glass. I guess we have to ration water in Gold Coast because we are SO FAR from a fresh water source! I won't be returning .... not even for the very good fries. This is not a place to sing praises about. In all, I will remember McFadden's for good fries, but small portions, poor service, stinky entry vestibule, and stingy with the water!
(2)
Rachelle T.
After a couple of pretty terrible nights at McFaddens I have refused to go back since last year. On the weekends it's over-crowded and generally packed with a mixture of tourists, a-hole frat boy types and trixies. There's always a line, although I cannot figure out why because it's really not that much fun, and last year one of my female friends got assaulted by a dude (yes, thats right, a male stranger hit my friend) in line and the idiot bouncer didn't even kick them out of line. Maybe it's better for happy hour but on weekend nights this place totally sucks.
(2)
T K.
As far as Rush and Division bars go, Mcfaddens is not that bad. The crowd on the weekends gets a little dicey, but for the most part it is a pretty laid back place. Good for a happy hour and great for a Guiness, you will still get the striped-shirt guys but they seem to be a little more average than the college or mid-life crisis crowds that swarm to other places.
(3)
Eric K.
This place reminds me of a college frat party. Lots of 20 somethings getting hammered, girls dancing on the bar, and people making absolute fools of themselves. I've always had a good time at this place, but not the place to go if you are looking to have a beer or two and a decent conversation.
(4)
Eva S.
I've been going to McFadden's for years. The place is always clean, the staff is always super friendly, and there's always great prices on drinks. When it's nice out, they open up the patio and there's more seating out there. There is a second bar in the back near a dance floor and more seating. It's a great place to go to watch a game, or to kick back and have some wine outside. I always make a point to go grab a drink or 50 when I go back to visit Chicago.
(5)
Conner R.
This bar's owner and staff display blatant homophobia and sexism. I do not advise this bar if you have self respect.
(1)
Revant O.
I visited McFadden's bar literally 20 minutes ago and had the worst experience in terms of customer service compared to any bar in Chicago. The bouncers at this bar are not only aggressive but even resort to physical violence against their customers in a vain attempt to establish their authority. While most other people who experience this extremely disgusting attitude may not make the extra effort of posting a review of this establishment, I believe it to be my responsibility to warn future customers to avoid this bar at all costs. My personal experience at McFadden's was a civil conversation with a bouncer that resulted in an unprovoked and grossly unjustified reaction where a bouncer physically assaulted me. The bouncer in question believed I was too intoxicated to enter this establishment (based on this review I am writing right after leaving you can judge the validity of that judgement). While I understand that bars and clubs may have their reasons for denying people entry into their establishment, the use of physical violence against paying customers is not only unethical, but is devoid of any form of rational reasoning. I would give this establishment less than 1 star if yelp allowed me to do so, but I am only posting this review to protect other people from enduring the grossly disrespectful behavior of the staff of this bar. After my altercation, not only did the bouncer in question immediately leave the scene (an obvious sign of guilt), but "management" staff who were not even present when the altercation took place appeared to deny any wrong doing on the part of their staff without any realistic evidence on which to base that assessment. The staff of this enterprise are unruly, mismanagement and prone to violence.
(1)
Amanda K.
I don't hate it... Wow! Um, how do I even review this experience? Does WOW work okay for all those good and bad wows in life? (World Of Wonders!) So many pros and cons! Oh my my my! Perhaps my weakest recent review being the only way to make it useful is "miss long winded" has no words for this! I am in Chicago, not Indianapolis, and ended up on the Broadripple Avenue of Chicago. That's epic! I know Chicago has much more to offer, but when you come from an area of college campus bars, downtown divey townie bars, and then a smaller city an hour south where you had some of your prime 21-25 year old days there on Broadripple Avenue (representing the "B-Rip", holla holla!) bar crawling around... LMAO... This place isn't so bad. Nothing like remembering those days when we too were probably the drunken entertainment for others. I don't know how "fabulously entertaining" I was in my golden days, but this is totally entertaining for me today. I think I'll have another beer and enjoy people watching for sure! .....Look at what we have here! LMAO. CHEERS!
(4)
Anita C.
Never ever again. Went for a "Free Party" that I won in a raffle. Nothing was free about it. Everyone of my guests in my party was pretty wasted but the next day the charges on our credit cards were nothing but ridiculous.. -we had half off drinks and no food was added. When I called the next day to see how my amount was so high, nothing was able to be explained to me of why the charge. Won't be back.
(1)
Jenna S.
I thought about giving McFadden's two stars but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. This really was a terrible place and I can firmly say I will never come here again. Several weeks ago, I tried to book a room at a bar for my 30th birthday. Declan's let me down (read that review separately) so someone pointed me in McFadden's direction. I organized my evening with Megan, which was easy via email and phone. Megan was super responsive and helpful, so I had high hopes for this restaurant/bar. I paid $100 to reserve their "VIP" room for a Saturday evening, which is pretty cheap considering most places wanted almost $1000 (including room reservation and consumption guarantees). I was psyched to get this place so cheap, especially considering I was basically allowed to let my partygoers do whatever they wanted. I arranged to have a $30 wristband available that included draft beer, well drinks, wine and pop. Here's where things start go get fishy. Via phone and email, I was promised our group would have a server and access to a full menu of food. Come the night of the event, there was only ONE waitress in the entire bar/restaurant on a SATURDAY night with a Hawks game playing. You'd think that the bar would have prepared for a packed house since people were coming here for the game but they didn't, which seems like poor planning. My $100 room fee could have paid for a dedicated server for 3 hours (at least) since they probably only make minimum wage anyway. There was also only ONE bartender for the entire bar, which made ordering drinks incredibly difficult. What is the point in paying for this wristband if you're not even going to serve us drinks? Also, why is no one working here on a Saturday night when this place is presumably at its busiest?! So now we're here and we can't really leave because I've already paid for this stupid room and the bartender explains it's only DOMESTIC drafts so one of my guests can't order a Heineken (even though that wasn't explained ahead of time since the email just said 'drafts'). All of the well drinks were the WEAKEST POURS ever (which other reviewers have complained about) and it took each person about 10 minutes to even get the bartender's attention each time someone went up. I was also promised a room that would "seat 20 comfortably" but when we went in there were literally only 12 seats for people. That's it: two couches for three people and six other chairs at tables. We had 24 people in our group so.... what the fuck? I asked the bartender if we could move tables and chairs into the room and he said yes but no employee here bothered to help us actually move anything. Our server came in the room a total of FOUR times during our four hours in there (from 5:30-9:30). People ordered food that never came or took like over an hour to come out of the kitchen. One person in our party ordered a diet coke three times and never even got the drink. At all. I thought if we were paying to reserve a room and give you our business that you would actually care to serve us and make us feel comfortable instead of leaving us feeling shitty and complain-y all night. Megan came in that evening and I expressed my concerns to her and she bought the entire room a round of shots for our trouble, which is a bullshit move. I would have rather had a beer and/or had some of my money refunded since the whole night was just shitty. I can definitely say I will NEVER come here again and I advise those people looking to possibly throw a party here to run as far as you can and book it somewhere else. McFadden's is not worth it, especially since this place turns in to the third circle of hell after 10 because it's full of sorority bitches and drunk bros. If you're over 24, you're WAY too old to be here, which we learned the hard way.
(1)
Kimberly M.
I'd give this place zero stars if I could. My friends and I walked into this bar around 8:15 on a Saturday night. The place was pretty dead, which was fine. We were just looking to chat anyway. 2 of my friends went to the bar and my other friend and I went to the bathroom. They got their drinks and I waited to be served at the bar... And waited... And waited. The bartender walked past us four or five times and waited on everyone else. He even counted out his tips and never stopped by us. After 10 minutes of being completely ignored we walked away. I We moved to a table and the waitress stopped by to clear the empty place. She passed by another four or five times, and again, didn't ask if we needed anything. t's hard to spend money, when no one waits on you. I won't be back.
(1)
Rhonda L.
Coming from a planned party No staffing ! One bartender for the whole place. Party, major sports night , Saturday night it was ridiculous Sold 3 hour bracelets but unable to get drinks. Food, what's that. Poor management !
(1)
Daniel S.
I've only been here when me or my friends win one of their deals for friday/saturday nights, it's loud and can get packed, which i'm not a fan of, and it's almost impossible to park near there, but the deals are good deals, and if that's your kind of scene then you won't be disappointed, a lot of people enjoy it, it's just not necessarily my scene
(3)
Allison S.
Do not EVER EVER GO HERE. I was sexually molested at this bar, and the guy who did it was allowed to stay because he was friends with the owner. It is never okay to touch a women inappropriately. The bouncer told me it was out of his hands. The man continued to stare at me all night and make me feel uncomfortable. I used to go here all the time because the music is amazing. I will never return.
(1)
Tim L.
Average irish-style bar. Food is mediocre and staff is passable. Basically a completely average bar within a block of some amazing bars.
(2)
Karolina T.
I went here once when my friend won a "free party", but left within an hour when I saw a big cockroach crawl across the floor by the photobooth in the back. We told the hostess about the bug, but she just eeked and ran off.
(1)
Taufiq H.
Came here to use a poggled in a Sunday. Very slow service to start - one waitress and took us 20 min till we could even talk to her - she seemed to be more interested in chatting with some friends while ignoring customers
(1)
Daniel S.
If you are a fan of beer, consider yourself lucky if you are walking by this Irish themed pub on Wednesday. On Wednesday, they serve Miller draft beer for a $1. McFadden is a New York bar & restaurant with a Chicago presence since 1977. This location is where the fast paced downtown environment of State Street merges with the laid back treelined residential environment of State Parkway. It is where the high rises blend in with historic architecture. It is where the local and visitor meet. And, It is where my family and I delayed an hour touring along State Parkway. The $1 Miller draft special sign gravitated us from the sidewalk into McFadden. The McFadden that we enjoyed a couple Miller drafts on a Wednesday afternoon was the antithesis of the happening place that it supposedly is at night. This bar slash restaurant was quiet. It was us, a few locals, a personable bartender and Major League Baseball playing on one of the few TV's over the elongated mahagony bar. The noise level was low while the quality of relaxation was high. We could easily hear our conversations and the baseball game. The personable bartender was on the 8 ball. The two Miller drafts I drank were from decent sized glasses. There is no catch to the special. My eyes weren't always focused inside the bar. McFadden is open to State Parkway. The transition to the bar is a few steps off the sidewalk. During business hours air separates the sidewalk from the business. This setup increases the quality of the experience. It is healthy to see the sun. And watching people passing by on State Parkway, at times is equally as entertaining as the professional sports playing above on the TV. After spending an hour here, we'd be passing by State Parkway ourselves. My pictures of McFadden:
(4)
Adrienne T.
The only reason why I come here is because McFadden's sponsors our volleyball league and after every game we get a free pitcher of beer. The reason it has been given an "Eek! Methinks not." rating: 1. They have a very small selection of beers in comparison to other bars. Most of the beers on tap or in bottles are the low-end mainstream kind. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you might like McFadden's. 2. Their half-price drink parties are a joke. If you look at the cup you are given, it's about half the size of a regular beer glass. Therefore, it's not TRULY half-price. 3. It's a bar for very young 20 somethings and bros. Yes, bros. 4. Their DJ on Friday night is AWFUL. I'm not sure how he can call himself a DJ. IF you like Top 40 from the year 2000, this place is for you. He doesn't do requests. Probably because he doesn't have the requested material. 5. There is a cover after 9:30 on Friday and Saturday nights. A cover for a pub? Yes, it's true and completely sad. 6. Most of the staff have sub-par customer service skills, especially the bartenders. 7. Should I keep going? 8. About half the time I'm served a warm beer. 9. Over-priced, mediocre bar food. 10. Go somewhere else. (this isn't a reason...just a suggestion)
(1)
Charlie P.
I love this bar! I can only speak of their drinks and service, although the food looks delicious. The bartenders are the best, all of them! No matter who is working the bar, they are all super nice and really seem to take a general interest in their customers. Can't say enough about the service! Aside from the great service they have awesome specials, like $1 drafts on Wednesday's and some great food specials as well. They play fun music and (from what I've seen as a passerby) have a fun late night crowd too. I'm too old for all that now, but I've seen the line of people out the door. I live right around the corner and definitely call this place my hometown bar. I'll always come back here!
(5)
Ryan L.
I went there this past Sunday to watch the Blackhawks game as it is an "official" Blackhawks bar. I was with a group of about 10 and we pushed a few tables together. When we arrived at around 6 it wasn't busy at all. However, it took at least 30 minutes for a waiter to stop over. We actually went to the bar twice to get our own pitchers before a waiter checked in with us. We ordered some appetizers for the table and a few people in the group ordered their own food. We waited another 30 minutes for the appetizers to come out (nachos) and those who ordered their own food waited nearly an hour to get their meals. One person in the group actually never got his food at all! Now on to the quality...the beer lines at this place are either FILTHY or the beer is old. Our pitchers of beer were flat and tasted funny. The beer wasn't even cold. As for the food, I think rats probably find more appealing meals in dumpsters behind Taco Bell. The nachos tasted like they'd been made three days prior and reheated multiple times. I didn't order my own meal however the food others ordered didn't look terribly appetizing. I will never step foot in this place again. It's a waste of time and money.
(1)
M.j. R.
This place is 100% a college bar. I have nothing good to say about this place so I will just start off with the bad things they do. They have so many colleve students at this bar that you cant move or go to the bathroom so you will need to hold it all night. There is always a fight that happens at the end of the night. Someone is always puking in the bathroom or outside and the place smells like puke. They have terrible customer service. Also in the summer they dont have air conditioning so you will sweat your ass off, even in the winter time because of the terrible ventalation. I dont recommend this place to any of my friends and I avoid it at all cost.
(1)
Bianca L.
So I'm currently sitting here at Mcfaddens to catch up with old friends and watch the playoff game. Yet it took 20 minutes to be acknowledge by a so called non server (who walked over to another group and offered them drinks and menus). Currently waiting on a drink and the server well nonserver didn't even offer us menus like she did for the other group. I don't know if it's because she's a non-server or whatever but I'm extremely disappointed with the service here. I guess the non server doesn't need tips and this bar doesn't want my money. As soon as my friends arrive I'll be leaving
(1)
Meredith B.
I can't hate on McFaddens. There was a time a few years ago when my friends and I somehow ended up here every night that we went out, and something ridiculous always happened. This place is a magnet for drama, and for awkward hookups, and for somehow getting you drunker than you realized. I have danced on their bar. My friends have danced on their bar with a bottle of pucker. I saw Brody Jenner here once (not just like, randomly, it was like an event - "Brody Jenner is here!" This was maybe six years ago, when people cared) and he brushed against me when he walked to the bathroom. It is crowded. You kind of build-your-own-dance-floor wherever you can find the space. I don't think there's actually a dance floor. They didn't make us pay cover since we were in a bachelorette party with 10 girls (unlike some other places which charged anyway, cough cough Hangge Uppe). The music is pretty fun stuff, a mix of 80s/90s/2000s but all of it is recognizable and fun to dance to or scream/sing along with. If you want someplace raucous and busy and fun, where you can flirt with random drunk strangers and get into crazy shenanigans, it's worth a stop. Not a place to stop for a nice quiet beer! It's just fun, plain and simple. Don't act like you're too good for it! There's a place in the world for bars like this.
(3)
Miguel P.
I like this place. The drink deals are pretty good, and the food is okay too. I've had my birthday party here before, and they gave me and my guests a wristband special for the night. Most of the bartenders definitely deserve whatever everyone tips they get. They really try to hustle to get to . If you're going, the best day is probably gonna be on Tuesdays, because of the taco deal. They're not the greatest in the world, but it's bar food. What were you expecting? Worst day is DEFINITELY going to be Fridays. The place becomes wall-to-wall frat boys. But you're right around the corner from more than a few other night spots, which is a definite plus. So you can escape if you want to. If I had a negative, it would be the DJ. From what I can tell, it's the same guy all the time. His mixes are kinda lame. Seriously needs to play music from this decade.
(3)
Doug R.
I like the music they play here and there are always cute girls galore. I like how they are able to dance on benches, booths and whatever else they can climb up on. Pretty good late night crowd here. 1, 2 AM and the place is still flowin. It's a fun atmosphere.
(3)
chris b.
After our Volleyball team coming in for three years prior we were always treated well. Not sure if you care, but this year was not the same. I emailed Emily in April and May, then come June we still did not have our shirts or initial check. I have tried emailing this week and no response. To make things better Sunday June 1 we came in for the game ... we were told that the $7 pitcher deal would not be honored even after I showed the email. (bartender - white guy with a red hat on backwards). Then to make things even better we did not receive our free appetizer. I can share the email strings if you would like to see. Oh yeah ... waiters or waitresses ... none to be found, we had to walk up to the bar ourselves and dirty dishes were left at our table for hours. There were 8 of us and we spent $129 ... unfortunately this will not happen again. Just wanted to share. Sorry that we were no longer welcome on Sunday afternoons at McFadddens.
(1)
Brian R.
AVOID at all costs - Terrible customer service and etiquette. Don't let bartenders treat you like crap. I recently visited here with a group of friends on a bachelor party and politely waited for a beer at the end of the bar when we came into the McFadden's. When the bartender finally approached I asked for a Goose Island and turned to my left to buy my buddy a beer and asked him what he wanted. Before I even finished asking my buddy what he wanted, the bartender huffed and guffed and said "Seriously?" as if I didn't have my order ready and walked away. There was maybe 30-40 people in the place total so was not busy by any means (guessing i know why now). With a shock on my face and no beers, I approached the bartender to inquire as to why he was being so rude and why he didnt want to serve me or my friend. We had just gotten there and were more than polite and in good condition. The bartender didnt want to answer my inquiries and pretty much continued with his horrible attitude confirming it was pretty much because I didnt have my order ready (2 pints of beer). At that point, I started getting frustrated with the bartender and we got into a heated debate. I'm sorry but I don't care much for terrible attitude at a place you're spending money when completely unprovoked. I asked for the manager and the manager simply just came over and kicked me out of the bar without letting me explain how his employee was disrespecting and treating customers like crap. No one should ever have to accept or be subject to such rude attitudes from any bartender and I let them know clearly and loudly so that other customers could hear the story and so that we could get our party and our $$ out of this place. Went next door to PJ Clarke's and the service was excellent! Go there instead.
(1)
Mad I.
This place is one of the few bars I know of that aren't fancy schmancy on the mag mile. Tends to have a very "look at me" atmosphere of twenty somethings. Only a couple of girls and more guys the night I was there. There was a game on....and the beer is cheap ($22 for that giant THING that dispenses crappy house party "fill in the blank" lite) and they have Jenga. Nice! Food smelled and looked good, does that count?
(4)
Myrissa G.
love this bar always a good time!!!!!
(5)
Barrett B.
There were a few girls dancing on the seats in the booth but they got down and no one was dancing up there at all and got kind of dead so I my friend got up there then pulled me up,as soon as i got up the guy who worked there told me to get down. i could maybe see if i was blocking some "hot girls" but NO ONE was on the side i was and only 2 other girls were up there and he said I had to get down. Rude as hell. Then when i got down so did everyone else. I guess they would prefer nobody than a guy be up there with the girls, unless its the guy with the bear head. also the bartender was too busy flirting with everyone to take drink orders.and the girl doing the raffle seemed annoyed that i wanted to sign up.the staff is plain rude!
(1)
Anna B.
Glorified frat/debauchery central
(1)
Amanda P.
This place is pretty much awful, you can look at my other reviews to see that I don't normally give super bad reviews as I'm pretty forgiving. However, this place just straight up lies. I went on a night with a special on wings it clearly stated on both the website and on their specials board .50 wings and that's it. When our check came we were charged .75 and we said oh they are .50 (for a table of eight that's a big difference), to which she replied that's only for boneless wings. We said umm where does it say that? She said it doesn't. Oh ok...then we said why didn't you tell us when we ordered the Wing special? She said you have the .75 Wing special. Basically we went back and forth and there was no winning, I showed her the website on my phone we spoke with the manager and still they wouldn't budge. I will not be going back.
(1)
Jordy S.
I'll cut to the chase: The DJ's are pretty bad. The Friday night 90's guy played good songs but he mixed them terribly. The Saturday night DJ is worst. The half price drink parties they give out like crazy are not worth it AT ALL. Sure the host gets free drinks, but the friends get $4 drinks that are tiny. Not worth it. Place is so loud and full of college kids who just turned 21 or have really good fakes. No real room to dance unless you want to be next to the girls dancing on tables. If you want shots, good luck to you. $7 for a fireball shot that wasn't even half of a normal shot size. I don't know who they think they are. There is no ambiance. There are super bright TVs everywhere that practically blind you. The music is so loud that you can't have conversations if you're sitting at tables or up front. It's a little trashy and if you're over the whole "I'm in college, let's get trashed and be a mess" phase of your life, skip this place. I've gone too many times, always for a friends Happy Hour party, which surprisingly everyone who is in the bar somehow has. It's not worth it, especially if you are from a neighborhood further away. If you have to get a taxi or Uber, you might as well save your money and go somewhere else to put it into drinks that are worth it.
(1)
Anthony R.
I usually avoid bars in the Viagra Triangle but I came here for the free drinks, let's be honest. Its like most of is surrounding bars in the Clark/Division area. Toursty, Frat, suburban bars in city kinda vibe. Free drinks where domestic beer and well drinks. Stick to beer since they are poured in 12oz plastic cups not the typical Pint glass you'd expect and see everyone else with. But hey its free so I ain't mad. Just gotta make more trips. Music was also that Top 40 stuff with some throwbacks thrown in for good measure. Not much space to dance tho so people were bumping into our table. Woulda gave it two stars but I did get a good buzz going so gave it three
(3)
Taylor M.
Not one of the classier bars in the Gold Coast, but it is usually having some sort of a special to get you in the door. Drinks are served I plastic glasses since most of the customers are drunk frat boys. Not a place I go by choice. I only go here when someone is throwing a party. Valet Parking in the garage across the street is $20.
(2)
Captain B.
Big class full of coke with very little rum. No crowd. Sad
(2)
Jen K.
Let's be serious here. This place sucks. Maybe their food is ok, but don't go here after 9pm. Does this place have any self respect? They let everyone dance on the tables. Then they have their bartenders stand on the bar in skimpy outfits and throw candy to all the screaming boys. Their drinks are overpriced and there's always guys ready to dance with you/grab your ass, however you want to look at it. Last time I was there, there were several college-aged guys being escorted out...I use "escorted" lightly, because they were throwing a fit, sweating profusely, and screaming obscenities. They clearly had just gotten into a fight or made some sort of ruckus. I dunno, maybe I'm old and grouchy now (does 27 count as old?), but this place is crowded and stupid. I typically like to be able to hear my friends talk to me and not pay $12 for a drink. Oh yeah, and theres a cover. What exactly does that charge cover? There wasn't a band there that night. WTF.
(1)
Tiffany H.
Slow service and the food wasn't that great.
(2)
Rawlins R.
I've been to McFadden's a couple of times. Besides the cover, the sticky floors, and being overcrowded, this place is just fine. Last time I came here was on a Thursday and there was literally less than 10 people here. My friends and I saw some girls dancing on the booth area by the DJ and wanted to dance there as well. We know that this is usually off limits because of the regular bar laws. We decided to give it a go and we were instantly denied access. McFadden's continues to be McFatty Fat's to me...
(2)
Rmeloncash ..
They send me spam texts. My Irish wife says it's very inauthentic. Rude staff. Reputation of giving food poisoning. I'm shocked this place even has 2 stars
(1)
Caren D.
On Friday, November 8 2013. Me & a couple of friends wanted to hit some bars around the clark/division area so what better than McFadden's right? I used to live around the area and patronize McFaddens quite a few times. I never had their food before so I can't comment on that. Drink prizes were pretty standard around that area, and they have drink specials some days so it's not bad. HOWEVER, I swear that I will NEVER step foot into this bar again because of how badly treated I was and how humiliated I felt by the staff. *WARNING : LONG BUT JUICY REVIEW * So upon entering the bar, this "security" wanted to see our IDs. Well, that's standard procedure so I gladly obliged. This particular "security staff" was pretty casually dressed, in sport shoes, baggy jeans, T-shirt, baseball cap and what not. Okay, I thought - no biggie, maybe McFaddens is just lenient with their staff attire. What pissed me off next is beyond acceptable. "Is your ID real?" yelled the security guard. "Yes, of course it is", I replied. "Well, the girl in the picture doesn't look like you at all", said the guy in a very annoyed tone. I found it a bit ridiculous that he would say that and slightly offended. Yes, I wasn't looking my best in my ID photo but does that matter? "Sir, this might not look like me but I assure you that it is me. Look, I can show you my other photo IDs & credit cards - they all have the same name & photo". Look, I work in the service industry too and I don't want to give him a hard time so I proceeded to pull out whatever ID, Cards I have with my name & photo on it. "I THINK YOUR ID IS FAKE", yelled the "security" guy. At this point, I was beginning to feel really annoyed because not only was he YELLING at me the entire time, he was blatantly accusing me of something untrue! "It is DEFINITELY real sir, what else can I say? I already showed you all my other photo IDs. You can examine it closer but I assure you that this is absolutely real." Refusing to even rationally listen to me, this guy scrutinized, attempted to check, bend, twist my ID before looking back at me and again yelled, "YUP, IT'S DEFINITELY FAKE. If you think it's real, can you call a cop for me?" This is RIDICULOUS, if you think my ID is fake, why don't you call the cops then? I have no problems with that because at the end of the day, I know for sure that I am not guilty of the crime that you ACCUSED me for. "Fine", I said, "Call the cops and let them examine it once and for all". "No, YOU call the cops. I can't leave this place." This guy has the fucking nerves to bother ME to invite a cop over. To make matters even worse, he held on to my ID and refused to return it to me. "Go to Division street to find a cop, if you are really right, I'll buy you a drink". Exasperated, annoyed, pissed off - I unwillingly walked away from McFaddens in attempt to find a cop to prove my innocence. Before even walking a few steps away, this sucky "security" yelled behind me "NO, WAIT, COME BACK ! YOU'RE GOOD". I guess he realized that by making me go look for a cop will do him no good after all. He didn't even apologize to me, merely shoved my ID back. When I asked, "So that drink you owe me?", he said "NOPE". Should've known I should always expect anything less than trashiness and crap from a useless guy like that. So guys, if you want to be treated like a criminal by a "security" that thinks he knows it all - feel free to step by McFaddens. I assure you that you will definitely feel welcomed by his hospitality, and by that I mean being humiliatingly yelled at for something that wasn't your fault in the first place. Oh, and since the "security" there doesn't seem to know how to validate IDs, do you have faith that they are competent to do their jobs? To the management of McFaddens, please - for God's sake, don't fucking hire someone that doesn't even know to tell the difference between a fake & real ID. Seriously. Another tip, perhaps request that your staff not dress in a way that suggests that the place is a douche central, filled with assholes like the incompetent shit of a "Security" that you hired.
(1)
Jon L.
Bartenders are nice but the place looks like it should be on bar rescue. The worst part of this bar are their power tripping bouncers who think they are mcfaddens. A typical dive bar does not need 3 to 4 bouncers out front to check and harass you when you enter; this is not the airport. Lastly, this bar is overpriced for what you get in the little plastic cups they hand out. Never coming here again. If you're looking for a good spartan bar, go to El Hefe, Barleycorn, or TIn Lizzy.
(1)
Steph U.
I can see why this place doesn't get the greatest ratings, but when I went it was pretty fun. My friend won free drinks for himself and half off drinks for 10 friends in some kind of raffle thing that McFadden's has, and I think that helped a lot that drinks were cheaper/free. This place got pretty crowded, but it was a Friday night. I don't think this is as bad as people say it is, but I don't think it's great either. I'd come back if we had cheap drinks again.
(3)
Brian G.
My GF and I stumbled in on New Years Day after our concierge told us to hit up Division and Rush. Being from out of town (Minneapolis) and having no idea what spots were good, and it being such a slow night on NYD, could have skewed things a bit so take that into consideration on my review. It was the Ohio State vs Alabama playoff game (@ a Michigan State bar). The crowd seemed like regulars. Some were playing a game on their phone and shouting out answers (kinda like catch phrase), which was annoying. A guy was running around jumping on the bar and up to the second deck railing. The "DJ" (assumedly just a guy who worked there playing music) would play music over the game, and was visible hammered (a Michigan State fan after the big win). But again, the circumstances were different. We had no problem with everything going on because we are laid back, but I think most people would. Cheap drinks though and very friendly bartenders! The male seemed to have no idea about the college football games going on but tried to fit in which was funny/a nice try. And the girl was very friendly as well. My GF asked her age because she looked soo young and cute, and she had a good sense of humor about it. FOR MOST I'D PUT 2 STARS, but I thought, with the circumstances, that in most nights it would easily be a 3.
(3)
Michael S.
I had grilled chicken breast with mashed potatoes and asparagus for $16 and it was delicious. i went around dinner time and it was empty. I realize most of the reviews on here are regarding its late night party scenes which I cannot comment on, but for dinner I would recommend.
(4)
Salvatore G.
If I could rate this place zero stars I would. I went there with a group of 20 people yesterday to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. B96 or KissFM was there, I didn't pay much attention to which radio station it was, and they provided the patrons with many green knick-knacks including beaded necklaces, big green hats, shot glasses, and miniature beach balls. Everyone in the place was having a good time throwing the balls around from one corner to the next. One employee, I believe his name was Derek, was standing on a table or wall divider, and was hit in the chest with a miniature beach ball. He flipped out on my whole party I was with because of it and kicked us all out. I have worked in the bar industry for many years and I know that kicking out a party of 20 people because of a miniature beach ball is just ridiculous. He kicked out that many customers and lost that much business because of it. He was standing on a table, taller than everyone else, and was offended when he was hit with a beach ball that was supplied by the radio station. Really? He was standing in the open space where all the beach balls were flying through. Bad employment decisions by this establishment and I definitely will not be going back.
(1)
Patrick D.
50c wings are not 50c wings. Bad service, also slow. Will not come back. Manager refused to adjust to advertised price. I won't be back.
(1)
Brittany H.
McFadden's is definitely your typical fratty bar, but it's nothing short of a good time. The music is good, and the servers are really friendly and down to earth. They have free bingo on wednesday nights, along with .50 cent wings and dollar domestic drafts. Definitely the place to be if you're looking for something to do during the week.
(4)
Amy L.
This bar is so lame. I "won" a free happy hour event for me and my friends. I was excited I called my friends and set it up for a Friday night 9-12. I got a wristband for free drinks and my friends got a stamp for half price drinks. The drinks that me and my friends could order using the discount were the cheapest beers and bottom shelf liquor. I couldn't even use red bull. We didn't stay long. Lamest happy hour ever! They should tell you that you can't drink anything decent so you don't waste your time. Go figure, one month later I for a call saying I had won another free happy hour. Terrible and shitty bar. Will never go there again.
(1)
Melissa A.
If you miss those crazy college days then McFadden's is the place to go! I've been here a couple times since some of my friends won happy hours/half off drinks for 3 hours, which is a decent deal. Don't expect much from this place but you can have fun if you go with a lively group of people. Basically the music is blaring and girls are dancing on tables (trust me, it can be fun haha) while bartenders are pouring shots into people's mouths. McFadden's isn't a classy place but if you want to let loose after a long week then come here!
(3)
Andre W.
I havent been here in a little over 5 years and I discovered that nothing changed. Me & my pals dropped by already drunk and grabbed an available booth. I noticed the server had on a pair of cutoff shorts on with a pair of converse. Really?? You dumbasses really think thats gonna make people buy more drinks? Having a girl dressed like its 85 degrees on a 35 degree evening with a threat of a snowstorm??? Pathetic
(3)
Aaron Jae M.
I have been here multiple times and enjoyed them all. They have some pretty good drink specials on some nights and I have been here for wrist band birthday packages but I mainly enjoy the simple atmosphere of sports and music. There are steps in the middle of the bar separating the two bars and the two dance floors which I think is stupid considering you have nothing but drunk patrons and that only increases the chances of people spilling on me and falling and hurting themselves. The only problem I have had with this place is once a bartender lost my debit card and then repeatedly said that I never gave him one and that I had been paying in cash all night (I hadn't). He found it a few minutes later and was a little bit nicer about it. I really wanted to shove it in his face but I decided to take the high road and just tip him slightly less.
(4)
Ben T.
I went in with really low expectations and I was still impressed with how bad this place is. Two sips into my beer, a giant cockroach climbs over the garnishes onto the bar, and I have to kill it with my beer before it climbs onto my girlfriend. Bartender's reaction - "the back door must be open." The surface of the bar looks like somebody poured a full beer over it and let it dry and the smell is in line with that theory... so that maybe also had something to do with it? If you go here stick to bottled drinks and also I guess just don't go here.
(1)
Heidi R.
I come here for 2 reasons... to black out with my girlfriends and act like were 21 again or because I live down the street and sometimes its just convenient. Either way its a bar, people... get drunk and shut up. If you don't like loud music and seeing girls dance on the bar then go to the Jazz Club down the street. Yah I wouldn't come here every weekend and hardly ever come but when I do, I know what I am getting into and I always have fun. I love acting young and irresponsible :-)
(3)
Supriya D.
This past weekend I went here because a friend of a friend won a party here, so we got in with free cover and half off drinks for 3 hours. So that's always exciting! We got there around 9:45ish and it was pretty empty aside from our party. However as time progressed it actually got pretty busy and turned out to be a lot of fun. The drink specials were good, and the ambiance was good, but nothing really stood out about the bar itself. The service was really good and everyone was super nice, but again, I feel like they could do more things to make this place even better. I would try: - Drink specials after midnight - More advertising to get more people to come- maybe contests other than free parties - Live music Overall, this is a fun place to come, especially if someone you know won a party because where else can you get $3.50 wells in Chicago on a Saturday?!
(3)
Whitney S.
I wish I could give this NEGATIVE stars. Our waiter-who I am assuming was also the manager STOLE money from our party. We had paid our bill (which included gratuity.) At the time, we did not know it included gratuity so everyone in the group paid for tip as well. So we all overpaid for our crappy bar food. When we brought the bill/money up, the man in the irish hat said we were short $67. This was beyond impossible since we had all OVER paid. When we asked to see the money we had already put towards the bill, he conveniently had already put it in the register mixing it with the other money. So now we do not know what we actually paid as opposed to his word. When we all forked over an extra $67 OVER our bill, the irish hat told us we still owed $1...actually his exact words were "you owe a dollar..or .87 cents, but a dollar is fine." EXCUSE ME?! Which is it?! A dollar or .87 cents? If he lied about this, how do we now know he lied about the entire situation? Bottom line-we should have gotten the police involved because this bar openly stole from us. Twice. What they did was ILLEGAL and beyond comprehension. I will spread the word about their business ethics in this city as well as others.
(1)
Vince C.
I had the worst experience in this joint. Roudy and obnoxious people falling over me, drinks spilling, sloppy girls all over. I usually don't hate but this place is ridiculous! I almost got into a fight with people here just becuz I got so pissed off.
(1)
Shelly A.
There is no reason to blast top 40s music with a DJ at 8pm on a Thursday. I know that I probably shouldn't have come here if I expected differently; however we won a free happy hour, so what can I say? They have cheap drinks here during the week, but if it's after 9 just avoid it. This bar caters to the 'whoo hooo I wish I was still in undergrad crowd' which is not a surprise considering it's a Michigan State bar... Yeah, I probably won't go back. Unless it's for another free happy hour, that is!
(2)
Edith R.
This place sponsors our team for Beach Volleyball on Tuesdays and it's been our post-game place every Tuesday night during volleyball season. This year, we've had the pleasure to have Melissa wait on s. This woman is so cool, so easygoing--even under pressure and crazy events. She rocks. The nachos, sliders, calamari, and tator tots are pretty awesome too. The best part is also Tuesday Trivia, where your team can earn cash and rounds of drinks for cool team names, and the right answers of course. By the way, to all the high maintenance people out there, it's bar! If you want upscale food, then go find upscale food in the area. Sheesh.
(4)
Carolyn L.
This definitely isn't my favorite bar in Chicago, especially since the average age of the clientele is probably 22. It's definitely a younger just-turned-21 crowd (peppered with some creepy old men and women in clothes that are too tight). Drinks weren't too pricey though so I guess that was good. If I'm gonna go out downtown now, though, I just prefer to pay a little more and be in a classier spot. Not to sound snobby, but even the pubs/sports bars in Lincoln Park or farther up north aren't as offensive as this one.
(3)
Mihir P.
I have no idea why this place is so popular. No wait, I do. The simple concept of quantity over quality. We were there for our volleyball party. They offered some open bar wristband packages - a well package and a premium package. They didn't staff enough bartenders so it was hard to get a drink so most didn't get their money's worth. I bought a premium package and they conveniently ran out of some premium liquors so I had to get well drinks. Some bartenders were sweet and others were dicks. The sliders we had were burnt. I will say the music was good mix. Overall, if you're looking for a fun shit-show, this is your place.
(2)
Ben C.
One of the employees followed me home and tried to fight me. This place is terrible. NEVER GO HERE
(1)
Ashley N.
I would only step foot in McFadden's on Tuesdays (Trivia) and Wednesdays (Bingo) unless you're a college student trying to get crunk or whatever the kids get these days. I don't even want to know. Anyways, they have $1-$2 drinks along with food specials on these days and the Trivia and Bingo are always fun!
(4)
Mariah V.
Somehow I got roped into thinking it was way cool to go to McFadden's on Wednesday nights. I was young and impressionable, and I haven't been back in a while. If enough people you know go semi-regularly, someone is definitely going to win a "party" at McFadden's which usually involves $2 well drinks for a few hours on a night of your choosing. Finding a table on a busy night is very hard, so you will be stuck standing by the bar or dancing in the crowded upper area by the DJ playing Top 40s. Everyone is super drunk and messy. The crowd is very young, but there are some older guys who will stand at the bar and creepily buy you drinks. The drinks are generally not good. I had the worst whiskey sour ever here, and I'm not even sure how you can mess that up. You can have fun, but you can also have a horrible time. The amount of fun you have is positively correlated with how drunk you are. So plan accordingly.
(2)
Amy Z.
My friends hosted my 22nd birthday here. Although there were several other birthday's being celebrated on the same night, the staff made me feel like I was the only one. Even the bouncer went out of his way to make sure we had a table for my birthday. I asked and minutes later we were sitting down! The service was quick and the prices for a birthday package were phenomenal (we opted for the half off drinks all night long!). I had an amazing time, the drinks were great (and strong) and the service and atmosphere were just fantastic. I would definitely celebrate another birthday or event here!
(5)
Katie L.
Not a bad little bar! Came here for a girl's night with college friends and we had a blast! We had a open bar wristband package, which always elevates the fun. Would return on a weekend!
(3)
Amie C.
I had zero hope going into the bar that I would enjoy my time here. It helped having such low expectations. I was here for a friends birthday party and we had a $30 wristband bar deal for 3 hours. That of course means some record breaking drinking will occur. Bartenders were friendly :) Music was perfect for drunken, silly dancing. It's definitely easy to get free drinks from dudes in this place. Just work a little lady magic and you're golden.
(3)
Jeff G.
i'll have to read the other reviews as to why they rate so low/bad. had a random, spontaneous continuation of our night out here. had a blast. they had a $5 cover to get in and my wife was like "we're not paying a cover to get in to a bar" and they were like all right. then we saw some people with orange wrist bands on and wondered maybe you get drink discounts if you pay a cover. crowd was definitely college. we are in our late 30s and did not feel out of place. atmosphere was people dancing and singing with the music all over the bar.
(4)
Sarah M.
McFadden's is still a blast! I won a FREE Happy Hour last month, pretty sweet. Music is still alright, but fun to dance to. The staff was super nice, as always. McFadden's you haven't let me down yet! :)
(4)
Amber K.
Mac and cheese balls! Need I say more?
(4)
Katy K.
I've come here a few times to watch the Hawks games and for other events, and it's been a good time until tonight. I'm giving it 2 stars because of the horrible service we received tonight. They advertised "$1 beers and $.50 wings!" which is what drew my friends and I here to watch the Hawks game. It was a little crowded, but even taking that into consideration, the service was horrible. The waitress came to our table maybe once every 30-45 minutes, and on more than one occasion she forgot our drink order and was coming by to check on us - again - after 20 minutes of waiting for another round with most of our cups empty the whole time. This was not the first time we dealt with this. Seriously, get some more bartenders and servers for semi-busy nights like this. We joked about it, until the check came. Several of us ordered wings as per their $.50 wings as advertised. We get the bill, and they charged us $.75 each wing. We asked the server, and she said, "Yeah, it's $.50 for the BONELESS wings." We looked at all of the ads, it said nothing about boneless vs. bone-in. Regardless, a DECENT server would have asked us in the first place if we wanted boneless or bone-in, and you would think that on a night when you're advertising $.50 wings, that that was what we were asking for. But she never asked nor told us that she was going to default to the more expensive wings. Clearly trying to raise our bill. We talked to the manager, showed him all of the ads, and he stuck by the $.75 price and wouldn't give us a break on the bill. After much hassle, he finally gave us a $7 credit, but we still felt it was a shady experience. I know it's not much of a difference in the long run, but it's more about the principle and honoring your ads and not trying to cheat your customers. Long story short, if you go here on a night when they're advertising $.50 wings, make sure you clearly and explicitly tell your server "I WOULD LIKE THE WINGS THAT ARE $.50 PLEASE." Otherwise,they'll give you the most expensive thing.
(2)
Alison C.
I feel like there is a McFadden's Pub in every college town. The name has become synonymous with raucous partying among frat boy/sorority girl crowds and older patrons eager to return to their glory days. This location was no exception, but I did find the hectic craziness more corralled here than at other Rush Street-area bars. The DJ played a wide variety of classic hip-hop and rock hits, causing the bunch of revelers to dance on any platform possible - from the tabletops to the banquettes, etc. A gyrating bartender added to the pandemonium by pouring doses of house vodka into people's mouths. Tipsy females encouraged the attractive server with their desperate shouts for alcohol. While this type of environment usually makes me feel like a quivering senior citizen who is easily annoyed by the whippersnapper college kids, this was the perfect vacation venue for escaping from my regular routine. The music revved me up and allowed me to relax. My evening at McFadden's was definitely more enjoyable than I would have anticipated.
(4)
Jessica L.
GREAT deal for sponsored teams :) Woo hoo!! PLUS, we love Mandy. If it weren't for the two things...this bar is "okay." Great outdoor seating but the bar itself is "regular."
(3)
Samantha H.
Pretty average. I've been there on nights when I've had a lot of fun and on nights where I didn't have much fun at all so it's pretty hit or miss. Some of their food is pretty tasty, namely the chicken fingers. The Philly bite things were a let down; I had high hopes for them! I do love their music selection most of the time. I was there for a fundraiser and it was all 90's music. Shocking to come to the realization that you still know all the words to 'Shoop.' That was probably the most fun I'd ever had there. The service is also very hit or miss. The last time I was there I definitely had the worst waitress I'd ever had. But I've also had very good service other times. The place is pretty large and if you get there early you're sure to get a table, which is pretty key. They have a good bar selection, but I'm turned off with the lack of wine. They do have one cab and one Chardonnay but the bartenders will tell you not to bother getting them (which I actually appreciate). But given the neighborhood and especially because Rush and Division is such a touristy spot, I really think they should have a wine selection. Nothing fancy, but I mean a few reds and whites would earn them more points with me. Basically this place is pretty hit or miss so if you go on a good night, you'll have a great time with decent food, but if you go on an off night you'll probably have bad service and not so much fun.
(3)
Stacy P.
This place was completely dead when we stopped in on a Thursday afternoon, but we had a great time anyway. The service was quick and extremely friendly, the food was good, and the beer was flowing. Unfortunately they don't have a patio or any sidewalk seating, but they kept the front windows open so there was some fresh air. I wouldn't run to go back, but I wouldn't be opposed to stopping in for another beer, either.
(3)
Andrea R.
Oy vey (in honor of Rosh Hashana)! Was there really a time in my life that I didn't mind bumping into gross sweaty people? Maybe I was just too drunk to notice? This was the last stop of the night during my friend's bachelorette party! It had been awhile since I felt brave enough for a night at McFadden's, but nothing like a bachelorette party to get you in the mood. After paying a $5 cover (what's that about) we did did our Red Headed Slut shots (the only shot I can handle these days), the bachelorette danced on the bars with the slutty looking girls who work here, and I tried my hardest to avoid all the sweaty men who tried to dance with me. The music was fun and we danced our hearts out...until the pain in my feet told me it was time to go home. At 1:30am it was way past my bedtime, but the party was just getting started at McFaddens!
(2)
Christina M.
I went back to Mcfaddens, with my sister and my friends. 2/3/10 BYOF....Bring your own fruit. Vodka Tonic, NO Lime. Blue moon, No Orange. Made me this of another acronym.... WTF. Normally, I wouldn't be so annoyed. But we waited about ten minutes before we were even greeted. Another ten before we got our beer. I server had "I hate my life" written all over her face. We should have sat at the bar with the bartenders I always get good service there. But if your gonna have a 'tude. Don't do it with a regular. Dj is not awesome. Well below ok.
(2)
Jon O.
This seems to be a ok spot to meet some friends and have some cheep beers and low-mid range bar food. I stopped by once for St Patty's day (which was slammed) and then again for happy hour a week later. The inside is cozy and pretty welcoming with a lot of wood finish and a typical "irish bar" feel to the place. I decided to have a couple green beers they had left over from St Patty's day and a chicken sandwich. The bartender who was taking care of me was a little scatterbrained and I had to ask for a menu a few times and a beer a couple times as well as silverware. He was basically the only one behind the bar and the happy hour crowd was coming in so giving him the benefit of the doubt, I'd say they were short staffed and couldn't keep up. The Sandwich came along with some tator tots and together it was "ok". I was pretty hungry so I wasn't after a quality meal or anything. From the looks of other peoples appetizers they were bringing out everything seemed to look, as I mentioned, just kinda like your regular bar food fare. Give it a shot if you'd like but be sure to set your expectations to "ehh"
(3)
Melissa K.
To be fair, I was joking around with a random guy at the bar about it being my friend's birthday and it turned out to be the gm who brought her a bottle of champagne. The bar was good. The DJ played some good hits and the staff was friendly. My only (VERY MAJOR) complaint was that I paid $3 to check my coat and the girl was gone by bar close. My coat was GONE and there was no on really to complain to. Seriously, coats were left on a chair and no one was there to monitor them
(3)
Courtney W.
Only one thing I can say about this place, on the weekends it's gross. I'm not sure if I even fit in with the Division crowd on Friday and Saturday nights but I just couldn't shake the icky feeling this place left me with. We didn't have to pay cover on a Friday night, which was a promising start, but when we entered absolutely nothing made sense. There was no real dance floor, some people took to dancing on the seats of the booths scattered around. No one came to take our drink orders and when we made our way up to the bar it was 2-3 people deep, most of the people already had drinks and were standing at the bar trying to pick people up with cheesy pickup lines out of desperation since there was literally nowhere else to stand. A lot of drunk bachelorette parties were going down, maybe that's what all the fuss was about. I just don't think this place is worth the hassle, the staff was friendly but other than that it was just a little too much work.
(2)
Larry V.
This place is what it is, and it excels at it. It's a frat-type, party bar. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Expect college, just-out-of-college, bachelorette/bachelor parties, and old guys trying to recapture their youth. Just not my scene anymore. Weekends it'll be crowded, loud, etc. Expect a lot of shots, etc. Not extremely original, but it works for them
(2)
Angie M.
As I pulled up to McFadden's last night with my wingwoman in tow, we looked at each other and were like, 'Oh my God. This is going to be worst case scenario." And guess what? It was. Okay... First things first. The ONLY redeeming thing about McFadden's is the stellar wristband party packages. $30 buys you three hours of open bar, including Effen Black Cherry vodka, which means one thing for me: Lights out. Moving on.... It's REALLY, REALLY hot in McFadden's. It kind of smells like puke and there was no one in the entire bar I even wanted to talk to. And the DJ was playing quite possibly the worst music ever. For everyone who grew up in the burbs, I equate the music to what was played at the Paladrome, circa 1996. As the night progressed, the cheese factor increased. Slutty women dancing on the bar and douchebags oogling them. The world's tiniest dance floor crammed to capacity with guys in striped shirts (Hello! It's 2009!) and girls in sequined mini-dresses. The creepy bartender who wouldn't stop hitting on me. No, I won't give you my number, pal. Back off. As soon as midnight struck and my wristband special was over, I bolted the bar to head for greener pastures.
(2)
Caitlin M.
McFadden's is constantly offering free parties or crazy drink specials, but even that isn't enough to make me want to frequent the place. I'm not sure what it is, but it always seems to smell like stale beer. I've only ever had the apps here, they are ok, but you can find better near by. I also think that maybe this place is more of a hit for college kids as opposed to mid to late 20 year olds.
(2)
Katie R.
Frat frat frat frat. Old guys. Europeans. Frat frat frat.
(3)
Katie C.
Oh McFadden's, you make me sad. With the bar half full (before 9PM) how long do I have to wait to get a beer? and the bartender told me four, yes four times, that 'he would be right with me' I guess the people at the other end of the bar that were talking to were more interesting. Bad beer, check. Music too loud to talk to the person next to me, check. Bartender's that seem to hate their lives, check. I am pretty sure all their food is prepared straight from a freezer box, everything tasted like salty freezer burn. I didn't even like going to this kind of bar when I was in college. If you go in with low expectations, you will be just fine. This was my first and only time at McFadden's, like other reviews have said, if you are under 25 and your main objective is to get stupid drunk, insert Bud Light Beer tower, this is your place. Remember, low expectations!
(1)
Lauren B.
The only reason I go here is because I love the food. The Irish onion soup and blue cheese chips are to die for. The service, atmosphere, and drinks are AWFUL. Do not order a cocktail here, if you're going to drink- stick to beer! The bartenders make the absolute worst tasting mixed drinks I have ever had. The service is some of the worst in the city, but if you're willing to see past that, the food is super yummy and reasonably priced.
(3)
Jaime S.
It's always way too crowded and sweaty here, and the line/cover is a disaster. Ok, fine, I can overlook that because a lot of bars are like that. Here is what takes all credibility away from McFaddens (for me at least). I was here with friends for a post med school exam party (for my friends-i obvi haven't seen a biology book since 8th grade). My friend was waiting in line for the bathroom, and per the usual, it was very crowded. Some DOUCHEBAG guy bumps my friend, she says excuse me, thinks he's a jerk and lets him walk away. Fast forward 5 minutes when the guy JACKS HER IN THE FACE. Literally, punches a GIRL in the face. She breaks her nose, she's bleeding everywhere....and the bouncers don't even call the police/wait for the police to show up bc they say they have no authority to do so. Seriously? what about as a man? do you have authority to not be a p***y? HATES THIS PLACE.
(1)
Alex M.
So, as a bit of a disclaimer, this place and crowd isn't really my scene, so if you're like me, you should avoid this place. However, if you're the type of person that fondly remembers being shoulder to shoulder in an impossibly loud college bar, this may be the right place for you. I think nearly every person I never wanted to engage with in college hangs out at this bar now. Looking into the crowd of dudes on the dance floor, their collage of white and blue vertical striped shirts is the optical equivalent of a magic eye painting. If you focus on the walls behind the dance floor, you can see a dolphin jumping. The tiny whiskey and coke I ordered tasted like crap and was 5 bucks. Overpriced drinks and shitty music that they play WAY TOO LOUD makes this not a place to have a conversation, not that you'd want to with the typical Saturday night crowd there.
(1)
Ryne D.
Rihanna sampled Michael Jackson's hit "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" for her hit "Don't Stop The Music", using the iconic lyric "mama-se, mama-sa, mama-coo-sa". As I've heard at Crimson Lounge, it's pure simplicity going from an old-school dance hit to a new one, but it flows great. McFadden's played MJ's song. I knew what was coming. They then played Rihanna's. The problem: there was no mix on that lyric. There was no mix at all. First song cut off, second one started. It's pretty much a gift to all bar DJs what Rihanna did, and this place threw it away. I don't know why they intend on blasting the music so loudly in this place when it's such crap. The only reason I come here is when friends throw parties there because they win raffles. This means McFadden's gives the celebrant's friends the opportunity to pay for well-level open bar (seems they lowered the price from $30 to $20). What a joke of a prize. At least I can get reasonably buzzed on the cheap.
(2)
Angelina B.
McFaddens gets five stars for what it really is... a COLLEGE PARTY BAR!!! Get Drunk. Have Fun. Shut up. If youre looking for fancy drinks and a place to chit chat this is not the place to go. Loud Music, fun people, and dancing! So get on with your bad self and jump up on that bar!
(5)
Mike K.
Holy moly me oh my. I've never been one for griping, but McFadden's completely blew my mind last night. It's almost admirable in a way - I hands down found the worst bar I've ever been to in my life. It actually made me start a Yelp account for the sole purpose of getting the word out (although apparently, I'm not the only one who's had a less than stellar time there) This place perpetually smells like farts and puke, and the floor feels like its covered in fly paper. The bar is 80% guys who attack trashy chicks like animals in the amazon. The DJ would have been booed out of the reception hall at a wedding. The dance floor had 2 GIRLS ON IT. The rest were guys bumping into each other and trying to fight one another. Are you kidding me? And guys see this and 4 of them try to dance with one girl at once? Oh, and you say they're 45 years old and smell like onions? Sign me up for that. Testosterone must be pumping through the vents, because its apparent that if you bump the shoulder of a guy on the way to the bathroom, we all know that's a sign of disrespect. You must now fight them. Because we are men and must prove it to be so. Also, I'm 5 foot 8 with pretty long hair, and I was wearing a blue v-neck with brown pants...this apparently infuriates the male population at McFadden's. I'm not gay, but have never been called a f*ggot so much in my life. Don't go to this place. I'm begging you. This is the worst time I've ever had in my life at a bar. Thank you McFadden's for showing me that all my expectations CAN be exceeded, even on the level of suck.
(1)
Dan S.
I came in for a drink before dinner at Ra Sushi a block away. We had 45 minutes before our table would be ready at Ra. Our group of 5 came in around 7:30 and the place wasn't very busy. The prices were cheap and it was a relaxed atmosphere. It gets docked a point for not being terribly original and another 2 points because they kicked us out. We each ordered a beer and after 30 minutes we were all about 3/4 done with our drinks. The waitress asked if we wanted another round. We declined and asked for the bill. We paid the bill and were going to hang out for another 15 minutes until our table was ready. After 5 minutes, the waitress came back and said we had to leave if we were done drinking. There were 10 empty tables in the place. C'mon you got a $4 tip on a $21 order and we told you that we were just in for one drink while we were waiting for a table to open up across the street.
(2)
Gerry D.
I've been here twice. This place sucks because it primarily has large groups than come and refuse to talk to people outside of their groups. Plus the restrooms suck!!
(1)
Meghan B.
Yuck. Stay away unless you are either underage or in college. Or if you like sticky floors, extremely loud top 40's, and older men waiting in the corners to ogle you. Service also takes forever and the bar is always either empty or full beyond capacity - no in-between. Some of the food (burgers, wraps) are actually pretty good, but service is spotty and it typically takes forever. Oh it also smells. Really bad.
(2)
Angel L.
Okay, So yes, this is a Rush and Division bar (which if you are a bar or club person, you already know this area makes the bottom of the list). However I've never really gotten the allure of this place. It's either deserted (read days without DJs/music A.K.A. any day not Friday or Saturday) or packed so beyond capacity that you can't move! The music is fine most of the time (Top 40 mix-ups), which is average and they will have some drink specials, however every time I end up here I feel like I'm going to be trampled by the just turned 21 guys to my left, trying to get to the just turned 21 (if that) girls dancing on top of the bar to my right. Don't get me wrong, this place would be great --- if it wasn't destined to be the next cheap imitation E2 nightclub disaster!!!
(1)
Karl M.
Great food, good service, high prices, Rush Street locale.
(3)
A G.
I gave them a one star basically because of the DJ this past Saturday. Fairly enjoyable place, but when I asked the DJ to play some electronic (he had been playing ghetto rap for well over an hour), he replied rudely with "I played 5 songs already, where have YOU been?" A) He didn't play a single one B) He was such a crappy DJ that in his head perhaps it was electronic. He then made an incredibly inappropriate comment that the girls having fun dancing on the bar would be available later for handjobs. Um, what? In what world is it ok to talk about customers like that? I complained to the manager about this. Her reply was "he was probably just making a joke." Really now. Save your money and go somewhere with a DJ who actually knows music that's outside the genre of ghetto.
(1)
Ben B.
My wife and I stopped in for lunch on a Sunday, looking for a quick meal. We ordered an egg sandwich and two pancakes with blueberries. Then we waited. Other patrons got their meals, and we waited... then we got another round of drinks, then we waited... 45 minutes later, we started eating. The food was good, the prices were great, in particular the $3 you-call-its all day on Sundays, but the wait was a killer. I wanted to give the place 4 stars when I first started waiting.
(2)
Jo W.
Ok, full disclosure is that one of my good friends is a cocktail server here. Thus, on the rare occasion I come on a weekend I never have to wait in line or pay a cover because I am awesome like that. But then, if I'm ever here on a weekend I'm usually three sheets to the wind by the time I get here.... Oops. I definitely enjoy this place more during the week, when it's not crazy and they have good happy hour specials. You can also win a happy hour party pretty easily, which means free drinking for you. During the week it's a completely different vibe than the weekend crowd, in a good way. The food is just okay, nothing to write home about. But yeah, stick to this place during the week and you'll be fine. Weekends are for the typical Division street crowds. Lame.
(3)
Melissa F.
If you ignore "Womanizer," this clip sums it up pretty well: youtube.com/watch?v=RtV3… Yyyyyanyhoo. McFadden's is dank/gross/crowded/gross. I went there for a birthday since Rockit's line was too long. A few stray observations... - Not enough room to move. I know this isn't the only place like this in Chicago, but wow. - Not enough restrooms for women. The line was enormous. I was fine until I got home, but I doubt everyone would be. - Good drinks! Somewhat strong but not disgusting, and my vodka soda was $5, which wasn't terrible. Thankfully, no credit card minimum, unlike many dive-y places. - I know it's become a cliche to say "Everyone looked like a member of the Jersey Shore!"...so I won't. But a good 35% of the men looked like "The Situation" specifically. One man looked like him on Dancing with the Stars - powder blue button-down shirt with a black vest and pants...er, OK. Actually, a lot of men wearing vests. Weird! One guy had both ears pierced and manicured stubble, with a FEDORA. It is 2002 again! I should've asked him how the sales figures were for "Justified." - There was a woman walking around with a tray of shots that looked like swampwater (or, as I said to friends after she had passed, "like feces"). They were $3 a pop! I didn't ask for one as a result. $3 for swampwater, yum! - Girls were on the bar pouring entire bottles of liquor into each other's mouth. It's that kind of place. - On the way to the bar, I had to weave my way through throngs of people, but also a real-life almost-bar fight! This meant that a bigger guy was holding a small guy by the shirt, and both looked reasonably angry. Someone broke it up. Cla$$y. I had a great time with my friends, and it was a wonderful birthday celebration, but this isn't at the top of my list of places to go, sorry to say.
(2)
Bill M.
I enjoyed visiting this bar just north of bar-happy Division Street. It is a relatively spacious place with minimal decor including a few pub signs and some TV sets. The place was not overwhelmingly crowded on a Thursday evening, so it was not too smoky inside. The music was not too bad, though you will wind up shouting at your friends if you want to have some conversation. I did not have to wait forever for my drinks, so that is a big thumbs up for the drink servers. They serve some bar food items such as crispy fries and potato skins. Thanks to Andrea and Elizabeth for helping to set up the Yelp Happy Hour here !! It was fun to meet some vets and some new faces.
(4)
Pamela M.
It's just a loud sports pub. If that's what you're looking for then this is the place. Very loud with that lovely smell of stale beer permeating the air. As an extra special touch the fumes from the Bleach in the bathroom were so strong that they burned my throat and had me coughing for a couple hours. When I said to the restroom attendant "the bleach is really strong in here" she merely replied "yep". Enough said. I had one $8 drink and moved on.
(1)
Joseph S.
I came with a bunch of friends on a Saturday night. Here's my experience (I'll make this short): The employees were rude and the place was packed probably beyond capacity.
(1)
David R.
This place blows. Bars like this are NOT my scene, but I don't always get to make the decisions. So I tried to take it in stride and judge them on their own merits, but there were some specifics that bothered me. 1. LOUD. I hate loud bars, but this was honestly the loudest music I have ever heard in a bar. It was already really, really loud, and then there was a point at which they turned it up higher for a certain popular song and then left it there. I was dumbfounded that there are that many decibels on the scale. 2. HOT. This was in March, on a warmer weekend when the outside temps were in the 60s, I believe. Why was it so hot in there? I was drenched in sweat and I didn't even dance. 3. BAD DRINKS. My friend asked for my drink order, and since I don't drink Miller Lite and I didn't want to have to wrestle my way to the bar to find out what whiskies they have, I waved the white flag and said, "Vodka tonic." What I got was more like plain tonic. Bleah. I wonder if I would have had any more luck with my other emergency drink choice, Jim Beam and Diet Coke. I liked the bouncer, who stuck up for me when my friends and some strangers near the door area gave me grief for wearing a suit (I had been at the theater earlier that evening) and for having a suit in my driver's license photo. So this guy and I are suit brothers....that was the only cool thing about this place.
(2)
An P.
What's there to do on a Friday Night in Viagra Triangle? After a business school International Night, the horde decided the $20 weekly Friday Night all-you-can at McFadden's from 9pm-1am. I've had my fair share of the $5 all-you-can circuit and I've seen most derivations of the form from Gold Coast to Lincoln Park. Entering McFaddens, I was welcomed to the arena with staunch body order and a crowded carousel of people darting in and out with a constant cascade of coats sliding against me. Looking for my friends I had to used sharp elbow technique to navigate through the human wreckage with the strength of my will and sharp concentration while scanning the area for familiar faces. Towards the end of the bar there were girls up on some platform dancing and the music was loud and the bodies unwashed without proper deodorant. When bars get this crowded leaving no room to move it can be a rage-inducing box of hell that I should have been more prepared for. Division Street on a Friday night epitomizes the faux glamorous lifestyle of binge fueled blackouts and prime grade idiocy. Eventually I found my friends, but the loudness was deafening and it felt like the walls of people were constantly caving in on me. Even after a few drinks, I couldn't handle it anymore! Leaving was a disaster and I probably bruised my fair share of unyielding bodies that would not budge an inch to give me my way.
(1)
Stephanie W.
Grossest, frattiest bar on Divison, and that's hard to do. Steer clear unless you want beer spilled all over you! Last time I got tricked into coming here, there was an obese bridal party in the back and all the bridesmaids were walking around the disgusting McFadden's floor barefoot - yuck!
(1)
Brett K.
Shit show. Go for the beer/sweat soaked hoes, stay for the puke.
(1)
Nafeesah A.
I went here for the first time yesterday had I known that past reviews of this place reflected I would have avoided at all costs. I do agree with one of the posters that the people who patronize the bar are young newly legal to drink aged college or fresh out of college grads and old schoolers trying to be young again. The environment is kind of loud so you can't really hear yourself talk. Then you have to deal with the waitstaff who were getting goofy behind the bar and apparently the theme was pajamas because one of the male bartenders was wearing pajamas with the footies (kind of like the ones many of us wore as kids) and the other male bartender was wearing sweats and a wifebeater (for those who don't know wifebeater is slang for an undershirt) and the girls were in mens shirts with bras and panties on underneath and half the time when they were not waiting on people they were busy getting silly with a camera phone taking pics of each other and also snapping pics of drunk customers at their request. I was here at McFadden's because a friend won a free happy hour party. They do have a cover charge so be prepared to fork over $5 if you're a guy and a girl(cover charge after midnight). That's about within reason since a lot of the bars in Chicago charge $10 cover charges at the door and I didnt have anything to drink, but just a couple appetizers and it cost me $15.....for that much I could have bought McDonalds for 3 people on that and they were not that great. I ordered some fries and macaroni and cheese bites which had this nasty cheese sauce like you would get at the gas station for below standard nachos and the fries were too salty and tasted overcooked. I wouldnt waste my time coming here again unless you're there to have a drink with friends and leave. The bathrooms were another story I walked in and it wasnt common to see someone with a table full of toiletries and other items that they provided for a nominal fee or even a small tip, but I couldnt believe how inconsiderate people are because I was coming out of a stall to wash my hands and two girls were standing at the sink texting on their phones and were not using the sinks and not moving to leave the bathroom so that other people can wash their hands since the bathroom was no bigger than a small walk in closet so you had to go in use the bathroom and squeeze your way to the sink to wash your hands and having to ask people to move who are on their phones to step aside if they're not using the sink so you can wash your hands. The attendant had a scented candle going in the bathroom to make it smell good.....wasnt working because some of these ladies needed to check their business down below some of them were not copasetic and needed to have better hygiene down there since the bathroom smelled gross. Not to mention you're stepping on smashed food on the floor like they didnt have someone come in periodically to sweep up the stuff and keep the floor clean. If they had zero stars I would have given this place the score it deserves.....ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(2)
Adam L.
McFadden's is your typical Rush-and-Division douchebag bar. On any given night, there will be guys in striped shirts and ladies in short skirts, and they will all be drunk. The food is medicore, but the drinks aren't bad. What's worth mentioning is the fantastic drink packages. If you're looking for a place for a group to pregame and get really hammered, this would probably be it. Also, they have a guy in the bathroom with soaps and stuff, which is pretty funny.
(3)
Eva S.
I've been going to McFadden's for years. The place is always clean, the staff is always super friendly, and there's always great prices on drinks. When it's nice out, they open up the patio and there's more seating out there. There is a second bar in the back near a dance floor and more seating. It's a great place to go to watch a game, or to kick back and have some wine outside. I always make a point to go grab a drink or 50 when I go back to visit Chicago.
(5)
Conner R.
This bar's owner and staff display blatant homophobia and sexism. I do not advise this bar if you have self respect.
(1)
Revant O.
I visited McFadden's bar literally 20 minutes ago and had the worst experience in terms of customer service compared to any bar in Chicago. The bouncers at this bar are not only aggressive but even resort to physical violence against their customers in a vain attempt to establish their authority. While most other people who experience this extremely disgusting attitude may not make the extra effort of posting a review of this establishment, I believe it to be my responsibility to warn future customers to avoid this bar at all costs. My personal experience at McFadden's was a civil conversation with a bouncer that resulted in an unprovoked and grossly unjustified reaction where a bouncer physically assaulted me. The bouncer in question believed I was too intoxicated to enter this establishment (based on this review I am writing right after leaving you can judge the validity of that judgement). While I understand that bars and clubs may have their reasons for denying people entry into their establishment, the use of physical violence against paying customers is not only unethical, but is devoid of any form of rational reasoning. I would give this establishment less than 1 star if yelp allowed me to do so, but I am only posting this review to protect other people from enduring the grossly disrespectful behavior of the staff of this bar. After my altercation, not only did the bouncer in question immediately leave the scene (an obvious sign of guilt), but "management" staff who were not even present when the altercation took place appeared to deny any wrong doing on the part of their staff without any realistic evidence on which to base that assessment. The staff of this enterprise are unruly, mismanagement and prone to violence.
(1)
Amanda K.
I don't hate it... Wow! Um, how do I even review this experience? Does WOW work okay for all those good and bad wows in life? (World Of Wonders!) So many pros and cons! Oh my my my! Perhaps my weakest recent review being the only way to make it useful is "miss long winded" has no words for this! I am in Chicago, not Indianapolis, and ended up on the Broadripple Avenue of Chicago. That's epic! I know Chicago has much more to offer, but when you come from an area of college campus bars, downtown divey townie bars, and then a smaller city an hour south where you had some of your prime 21-25 year old days there on Broadripple Avenue (representing the "B-Rip", holla holla!) bar crawling around... LMAO... This place isn't so bad. Nothing like remembering those days when we too were probably the drunken entertainment for others. I don't know how "fabulously entertaining" I was in my golden days, but this is totally entertaining for me today. I think I'll have another beer and enjoy people watching for sure! .....Look at what we have here! LMAO. CHEERS!
(4)
Anita C.
Never ever again. Went for a "Free Party" that I won in a raffle. Nothing was free about it. Everyone of my guests in my party was pretty wasted but the next day the charges on our credit cards were nothing but ridiculous.. -we had half off drinks and no food was added. When I called the next day to see how my amount was so high, nothing was able to be explained to me of why the charge. Won't be back.
(1)
Jenna S.
I thought about giving McFadden's two stars but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. This really was a terrible place and I can firmly say I will never come here again. Several weeks ago, I tried to book a room at a bar for my 30th birthday. Declan's let me down (read that review separately) so someone pointed me in McFadden's direction. I organized my evening with Megan, which was easy via email and phone. Megan was super responsive and helpful, so I had high hopes for this restaurant/bar. I paid $100 to reserve their "VIP" room for a Saturday evening, which is pretty cheap considering most places wanted almost $1000 (including room reservation and consumption guarantees). I was psyched to get this place so cheap, especially considering I was basically allowed to let my partygoers do whatever they wanted. I arranged to have a $30 wristband available that included draft beer, well drinks, wine and pop. Here's where things start go get fishy. Via phone and email, I was promised our group would have a server and access to a full menu of food. Come the night of the event, there was only ONE waitress in the entire bar/restaurant on a SATURDAY night with a Hawks game playing. You'd think that the bar would have prepared for a packed house since people were coming here for the game but they didn't, which seems like poor planning. My $100 room fee could have paid for a dedicated server for 3 hours (at least) since they probably only make minimum wage anyway. There was also only ONE bartender for the entire bar, which made ordering drinks incredibly difficult. What is the point in paying for this wristband if you're not even going to serve us drinks? Also, why is no one working here on a Saturday night when this place is presumably at its busiest?! So now we're here and we can't really leave because I've already paid for this stupid room and the bartender explains it's only DOMESTIC drafts so one of my guests can't order a Heineken (even though that wasn't explained ahead of time since the email just said 'drafts'). All of the well drinks were the WEAKEST POURS ever (which other reviewers have complained about) and it took each person about 10 minutes to even get the bartender's attention each time someone went up. I was also promised a room that would "seat 20 comfortably" but when we went in there were literally only 12 seats for people. That's it: two couches for three people and six other chairs at tables. We had 24 people in our group so.... what the fuck? I asked the bartender if we could move tables and chairs into the room and he said yes but no employee here bothered to help us actually move anything. Our server came in the room a total of FOUR times during our four hours in there (from 5:30-9:30). People ordered food that never came or took like over an hour to come out of the kitchen. One person in our party ordered a diet coke three times and never even got the drink. At all. I thought if we were paying to reserve a room and give you our business that you would actually care to serve us and make us feel comfortable instead of leaving us feeling shitty and complain-y all night. Megan came in that evening and I expressed my concerns to her and she bought the entire room a round of shots for our trouble, which is a bullshit move. I would have rather had a beer and/or had some of my money refunded since the whole night was just shitty. I can definitely say I will NEVER come here again and I advise those people looking to possibly throw a party here to run as far as you can and book it somewhere else. McFadden's is not worth it, especially since this place turns in to the third circle of hell after 10 because it's full of sorority bitches and drunk bros. If you're over 24, you're WAY too old to be here, which we learned the hard way.
(1)
Kimberly M.
I'd give this place zero stars if I could. My friends and I walked into this bar around 8:15 on a Saturday night. The place was pretty dead, which was fine. We were just looking to chat anyway. 2 of my friends went to the bar and my other friend and I went to the bathroom. They got their drinks and I waited to be served at the bar... And waited... And waited. The bartender walked past us four or five times and waited on everyone else. He even counted out his tips and never stopped by us. After 10 minutes of being completely ignored we walked away. I We moved to a table and the waitress stopped by to clear the empty place. She passed by another four or five times, and again, didn't ask if we needed anything. t's hard to spend money, when no one waits on you. I won't be back.
(1)
Rhonda L.
Coming from a planned party No staffing ! One bartender for the whole place. Party, major sports night , Saturday night it was ridiculous Sold 3 hour bracelets but unable to get drinks. Food, what's that. Poor management !
(1)
Daniel S.
I've only been here when me or my friends win one of their deals for friday/saturday nights, it's loud and can get packed, which i'm not a fan of, and it's almost impossible to park near there, but the deals are good deals, and if that's your kind of scene then you won't be disappointed, a lot of people enjoy it, it's just not necessarily my scene
(3)
Allison S.
Do not EVER EVER GO HERE. I was sexually molested at this bar, and the guy who did it was allowed to stay because he was friends with the owner. It is never okay to touch a women inappropriately. The bouncer told me it was out of his hands. The man continued to stare at me all night and make me feel uncomfortable. I used to go here all the time because the music is amazing. I will never return.
(1)
Tim L.
Average irish-style bar. Food is mediocre and staff is passable. Basically a completely average bar within a block of some amazing bars.
(2)
Karolina T.
I went here once when my friend won a "free party", but left within an hour when I saw a big cockroach crawl across the floor by the photobooth in the back. We told the hostess about the bug, but she just eeked and ran off.
(1)
Doug R.
I like the music they play here and there are always cute girls galore. I like how they are able to dance on benches, booths and whatever else they can climb up on. Pretty good late night crowd here. 1, 2 AM and the place is still flowin. It's a fun atmosphere.
(3)
Daniel S.
If you are a fan of beer, consider yourself lucky if you are walking by this Irish themed pub on Wednesday. On Wednesday, they serve Miller draft beer for a $1. McFadden is a New York bar & restaurant with a Chicago presence since 1977. This location is where the fast paced downtown environment of State Street merges with the laid back treelined residential environment of State Parkway. It is where the high rises blend in with historic architecture. It is where the local and visitor meet. And, It is where my family and I delayed an hour touring along State Parkway. The $1 Miller draft special sign gravitated us from the sidewalk into McFadden. The McFadden that we enjoyed a couple Miller drafts on a Wednesday afternoon was the antithesis of the happening place that it supposedly is at night. This bar slash restaurant was quiet. It was us, a few locals, a personable bartender and Major League Baseball playing on one of the few TV's over the elongated mahagony bar. The noise level was low while the quality of relaxation was high. We could easily hear our conversations and the baseball game. The personable bartender was on the 8 ball. The two Miller drafts I drank were from decent sized glasses. There is no catch to the special. My eyes weren't always focused inside the bar. McFadden is open to State Parkway. The transition to the bar is a few steps off the sidewalk. During business hours air separates the sidewalk from the business. This setup increases the quality of the experience. It is healthy to see the sun. And watching people passing by on State Parkway, at times is equally as entertaining as the professional sports playing above on the TV. After spending an hour here, we'd be passing by State Parkway ourselves. My pictures of McFadden:
(4)
Adrienne T.
The only reason why I come here is because McFadden's sponsors our volleyball league and after every game we get a free pitcher of beer. The reason it has been given an "Eek! Methinks not." rating: 1. They have a very small selection of beers in comparison to other bars. Most of the beers on tap or in bottles are the low-end mainstream kind. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you might like McFadden's. 2. Their half-price drink parties are a joke. If you look at the cup you are given, it's about half the size of a regular beer glass. Therefore, it's not TRULY half-price. 3. It's a bar for very young 20 somethings and bros. Yes, bros. 4. Their DJ on Friday night is AWFUL. I'm not sure how he can call himself a DJ. IF you like Top 40 from the year 2000, this place is for you. He doesn't do requests. Probably because he doesn't have the requested material. 5. There is a cover after 9:30 on Friday and Saturday nights. A cover for a pub? Yes, it's true and completely sad. 6. Most of the staff have sub-par customer service skills, especially the bartenders. 7. Should I keep going? 8. About half the time I'm served a warm beer. 9. Over-priced, mediocre bar food. 10. Go somewhere else. (this isn't a reason...just a suggestion)
(1)
Charlie P.
I love this bar! I can only speak of their drinks and service, although the food looks delicious. The bartenders are the best, all of them! No matter who is working the bar, they are all super nice and really seem to take a general interest in their customers. Can't say enough about the service! Aside from the great service they have awesome specials, like $1 drafts on Wednesday's and some great food specials as well. They play fun music and (from what I've seen as a passerby) have a fun late night crowd too. I'm too old for all that now, but I've seen the line of people out the door. I live right around the corner and definitely call this place my hometown bar. I'll always come back here!
(5)
Ryan L.
I went there this past Sunday to watch the Blackhawks game as it is an "official" Blackhawks bar. I was with a group of about 10 and we pushed a few tables together. When we arrived at around 6 it wasn't busy at all. However, it took at least 30 minutes for a waiter to stop over. We actually went to the bar twice to get our own pitchers before a waiter checked in with us. We ordered some appetizers for the table and a few people in the group ordered their own food. We waited another 30 minutes for the appetizers to come out (nachos) and those who ordered their own food waited nearly an hour to get their meals. One person in the group actually never got his food at all! Now on to the quality...the beer lines at this place are either FILTHY or the beer is old. Our pitchers of beer were flat and tasted funny. The beer wasn't even cold. As for the food, I think rats probably find more appealing meals in dumpsters behind Taco Bell. The nachos tasted like they'd been made three days prior and reheated multiple times. I didn't order my own meal however the food others ordered didn't look terribly appetizing. I will never step foot in this place again. It's a waste of time and money.
(1)
M.j. R.
This place is 100% a college bar. I have nothing good to say about this place so I will just start off with the bad things they do. They have so many colleve students at this bar that you cant move or go to the bathroom so you will need to hold it all night. There is always a fight that happens at the end of the night. Someone is always puking in the bathroom or outside and the place smells like puke. They have terrible customer service. Also in the summer they dont have air conditioning so you will sweat your ass off, even in the winter time because of the terrible ventalation. I dont recommend this place to any of my friends and I avoid it at all cost.
(1)
Bianca L.
So I'm currently sitting here at Mcfaddens to catch up with old friends and watch the playoff game. Yet it took 20 minutes to be acknowledge by a so called non server (who walked over to another group and offered them drinks and menus). Currently waiting on a drink and the server well nonserver didn't even offer us menus like she did for the other group. I don't know if it's because she's a non-server or whatever but I'm extremely disappointed with the service here. I guess the non server doesn't need tips and this bar doesn't want my money. As soon as my friends arrive I'll be leaving
(1)
Meredith B.
I can't hate on McFaddens. There was a time a few years ago when my friends and I somehow ended up here every night that we went out, and something ridiculous always happened. This place is a magnet for drama, and for awkward hookups, and for somehow getting you drunker than you realized. I have danced on their bar. My friends have danced on their bar with a bottle of pucker. I saw Brody Jenner here once (not just like, randomly, it was like an event - "Brody Jenner is here!" This was maybe six years ago, when people cared) and he brushed against me when he walked to the bathroom. It is crowded. You kind of build-your-own-dance-floor wherever you can find the space. I don't think there's actually a dance floor. They didn't make us pay cover since we were in a bachelorette party with 10 girls (unlike some other places which charged anyway, cough cough Hangge Uppe). The music is pretty fun stuff, a mix of 80s/90s/2000s but all of it is recognizable and fun to dance to or scream/sing along with. If you want someplace raucous and busy and fun, where you can flirt with random drunk strangers and get into crazy shenanigans, it's worth a stop. Not a place to stop for a nice quiet beer! It's just fun, plain and simple. Don't act like you're too good for it! There's a place in the world for bars like this.
(3)
Miguel P.
I like this place. The drink deals are pretty good, and the food is okay too. I've had my birthday party here before, and they gave me and my guests a wristband special for the night. Most of the bartenders definitely deserve whatever everyone tips they get. They really try to hustle to get to . If you're going, the best day is probably gonna be on Tuesdays, because of the taco deal. They're not the greatest in the world, but it's bar food. What were you expecting? Worst day is DEFINITELY going to be Fridays. The place becomes wall-to-wall frat boys. But you're right around the corner from more than a few other night spots, which is a definite plus. So you can escape if you want to. If I had a negative, it would be the DJ. From what I can tell, it's the same guy all the time. His mixes are kinda lame. Seriously needs to play music from this decade.
(3)
Jon L.
Bartenders are nice but the place looks like it should be on bar rescue. The worst part of this bar are their power tripping bouncers who think they are mcfaddens. A typical dive bar does not need 3 to 4 bouncers out front to check and harass you when you enter; this is not the airport. Lastly, this bar is overpriced for what you get in the little plastic cups they hand out. Never coming here again. If you're looking for a good spartan bar, go to El Hefe, Barleycorn, or TIn Lizzy.
(1)
Steph U.
I can see why this place doesn't get the greatest ratings, but when I went it was pretty fun. My friend won free drinks for himself and half off drinks for 10 friends in some kind of raffle thing that McFadden's has, and I think that helped a lot that drinks were cheaper/free. This place got pretty crowded, but it was a Friday night. I don't think this is as bad as people say it is, but I don't think it's great either. I'd come back if we had cheap drinks again.
(3)
Brian R.
AVOID at all costs - Terrible customer service and etiquette. Don't let bartenders treat you like crap. I recently visited here with a group of friends on a bachelor party and politely waited for a beer at the end of the bar when we came into the McFadden's. When the bartender finally approached I asked for a Goose Island and turned to my left to buy my buddy a beer and asked him what he wanted. Before I even finished asking my buddy what he wanted, the bartender huffed and guffed and said "Seriously?" as if I didn't have my order ready and walked away. There was maybe 30-40 people in the place total so was not busy by any means (guessing i know why now). With a shock on my face and no beers, I approached the bartender to inquire as to why he was being so rude and why he didnt want to serve me or my friend. We had just gotten there and were more than polite and in good condition. The bartender didnt want to answer my inquiries and pretty much continued with his horrible attitude confirming it was pretty much because I didnt have my order ready (2 pints of beer). At that point, I started getting frustrated with the bartender and we got into a heated debate. I'm sorry but I don't care much for terrible attitude at a place you're spending money when completely unprovoked. I asked for the manager and the manager simply just came over and kicked me out of the bar without letting me explain how his employee was disrespecting and treating customers like crap. No one should ever have to accept or be subject to such rude attitudes from any bartender and I let them know clearly and loudly so that other customers could hear the story and so that we could get our party and our $$ out of this place. Went next door to PJ Clarke's and the service was excellent! Go there instead.
(1)
Mad I.
This place is one of the few bars I know of that aren't fancy schmancy on the mag mile. Tends to have a very "look at me" atmosphere of twenty somethings. Only a couple of girls and more guys the night I was there. There was a game on....and the beer is cheap ($22 for that giant THING that dispenses crappy house party "fill in the blank" lite) and they have Jenga. Nice! Food smelled and looked good, does that count?
(4)
Myrissa G.
love this bar always a good time!!!!!
(5)
Barrett B.
There were a few girls dancing on the seats in the booth but they got down and no one was dancing up there at all and got kind of dead so I my friend got up there then pulled me up,as soon as i got up the guy who worked there told me to get down. i could maybe see if i was blocking some "hot girls" but NO ONE was on the side i was and only 2 other girls were up there and he said I had to get down. Rude as hell. Then when i got down so did everyone else. I guess they would prefer nobody than a guy be up there with the girls, unless its the guy with the bear head. also the bartender was too busy flirting with everyone to take drink orders.and the girl doing the raffle seemed annoyed that i wanted to sign up.the staff is plain rude!
(1)
Anna B.
Glorified frat/debauchery central
(1)
Amanda P.
This place is pretty much awful, you can look at my other reviews to see that I don't normally give super bad reviews as I'm pretty forgiving. However, this place just straight up lies. I went on a night with a special on wings it clearly stated on both the website and on their specials board .50 wings and that's it. When our check came we were charged .75 and we said oh they are .50 (for a table of eight that's a big difference), to which she replied that's only for boneless wings. We said umm where does it say that? She said it doesn't. Oh ok...then we said why didn't you tell us when we ordered the Wing special? She said you have the .75 Wing special. Basically we went back and forth and there was no winning, I showed her the website on my phone we spoke with the manager and still they wouldn't budge. I will not be going back.
(1)
Jordy S.
I'll cut to the chase: The DJ's are pretty bad. The Friday night 90's guy played good songs but he mixed them terribly. The Saturday night DJ is worst. The half price drink parties they give out like crazy are not worth it AT ALL. Sure the host gets free drinks, but the friends get $4 drinks that are tiny. Not worth it. Place is so loud and full of college kids who just turned 21 or have really good fakes. No real room to dance unless you want to be next to the girls dancing on tables. If you want shots, good luck to you. $7 for a fireball shot that wasn't even half of a normal shot size. I don't know who they think they are. There is no ambiance. There are super bright TVs everywhere that practically blind you. The music is so loud that you can't have conversations if you're sitting at tables or up front. It's a little trashy and if you're over the whole "I'm in college, let's get trashed and be a mess" phase of your life, skip this place. I've gone too many times, always for a friends Happy Hour party, which surprisingly everyone who is in the bar somehow has. It's not worth it, especially if you are from a neighborhood further away. If you have to get a taxi or Uber, you might as well save your money and go somewhere else to put it into drinks that are worth it.
(1)
Anthony R.
I usually avoid bars in the Viagra Triangle but I came here for the free drinks, let's be honest. Its like most of is surrounding bars in the Clark/Division area. Toursty, Frat, suburban bars in city kinda vibe. Free drinks where domestic beer and well drinks. Stick to beer since they are poured in 12oz plastic cups not the typical Pint glass you'd expect and see everyone else with. But hey its free so I ain't mad. Just gotta make more trips. Music was also that Top 40 stuff with some throwbacks thrown in for good measure. Not much space to dance tho so people were bumping into our table. Woulda gave it two stars but I did get a good buzz going so gave it three
(3)
Taylor M.
Not one of the classier bars in the Gold Coast, but it is usually having some sort of a special to get you in the door. Drinks are served I plastic glasses since most of the customers are drunk frat boys. Not a place I go by choice. I only go here when someone is throwing a party. Valet Parking in the garage across the street is $20.
(2)
Captain B.
Big class full of coke with very little rum. No crowd. Sad
(2)
chris b.
After our Volleyball team coming in for three years prior we were always treated well. Not sure if you care, but this year was not the same. I emailed Emily in April and May, then come June we still did not have our shirts or initial check. I have tried emailing this week and no response. To make things better Sunday June 1 we came in for the game ... we were told that the $7 pitcher deal would not be honored even after I showed the email. (bartender - white guy with a red hat on backwards). Then to make things even better we did not receive our free appetizer. I can share the email strings if you would like to see. Oh yeah ... waiters or waitresses ... none to be found, we had to walk up to the bar ourselves and dirty dishes were left at our table for hours. There were 8 of us and we spent $129 ... unfortunately this will not happen again. Just wanted to share. Sorry that we were no longer welcome on Sunday afternoons at McFadddens.
(1)
Jen K.
Let's be serious here. This place sucks. Maybe their food is ok, but don't go here after 9pm. Does this place have any self respect? They let everyone dance on the tables. Then they have their bartenders stand on the bar in skimpy outfits and throw candy to all the screaming boys. Their drinks are overpriced and there's always guys ready to dance with you/grab your ass, however you want to look at it. Last time I was there, there were several college-aged guys being escorted out...I use "escorted" lightly, because they were throwing a fit, sweating profusely, and screaming obscenities. They clearly had just gotten into a fight or made some sort of ruckus. I dunno, maybe I'm old and grouchy now (does 27 count as old?), but this place is crowded and stupid. I typically like to be able to hear my friends talk to me and not pay $12 for a drink. Oh yeah, and theres a cover. What exactly does that charge cover? There wasn't a band there that night. WTF.
(1)
Tiffany H.
Slow service and the food wasn't that great.
(2)
Rawlins R.
I've been to McFadden's a couple of times. Besides the cover, the sticky floors, and being overcrowded, this place is just fine. Last time I came here was on a Thursday and there was literally less than 10 people here. My friends and I saw some girls dancing on the booth area by the DJ and wanted to dance there as well. We know that this is usually off limits because of the regular bar laws. We decided to give it a go and we were instantly denied access. McFadden's continues to be McFatty Fat's to me...
(2)
Rmeloncash ..
They send me spam texts. My Irish wife says it's very inauthentic. Rude staff. Reputation of giving food poisoning. I'm shocked this place even has 2 stars
(1)
Caren D.
On Friday, November 8 2013. Me & a couple of friends wanted to hit some bars around the clark/division area so what better than McFadden's right? I used to live around the area and patronize McFaddens quite a few times. I never had their food before so I can't comment on that. Drink prizes were pretty standard around that area, and they have drink specials some days so it's not bad. HOWEVER, I swear that I will NEVER step foot into this bar again because of how badly treated I was and how humiliated I felt by the staff. *WARNING : LONG BUT JUICY REVIEW * So upon entering the bar, this "security" wanted to see our IDs. Well, that's standard procedure so I gladly obliged. This particular "security staff" was pretty casually dressed, in sport shoes, baggy jeans, T-shirt, baseball cap and what not. Okay, I thought - no biggie, maybe McFaddens is just lenient with their staff attire. What pissed me off next is beyond acceptable. "Is your ID real?" yelled the security guard. "Yes, of course it is", I replied. "Well, the girl in the picture doesn't look like you at all", said the guy in a very annoyed tone. I found it a bit ridiculous that he would say that and slightly offended. Yes, I wasn't looking my best in my ID photo but does that matter? "Sir, this might not look like me but I assure you that it is me. Look, I can show you my other photo IDs & credit cards - they all have the same name & photo". Look, I work in the service industry too and I don't want to give him a hard time so I proceeded to pull out whatever ID, Cards I have with my name & photo on it. "I THINK YOUR ID IS FAKE", yelled the "security" guy. At this point, I was beginning to feel really annoyed because not only was he YELLING at me the entire time, he was blatantly accusing me of something untrue! "It is DEFINITELY real sir, what else can I say? I already showed you all my other photo IDs. You can examine it closer but I assure you that this is absolutely real." Refusing to even rationally listen to me, this guy scrutinized, attempted to check, bend, twist my ID before looking back at me and again yelled, "YUP, IT'S DEFINITELY FAKE. If you think it's real, can you call a cop for me?" This is RIDICULOUS, if you think my ID is fake, why don't you call the cops then? I have no problems with that because at the end of the day, I know for sure that I am not guilty of the crime that you ACCUSED me for. "Fine", I said, "Call the cops and let them examine it once and for all". "No, YOU call the cops. I can't leave this place." This guy has the fucking nerves to bother ME to invite a cop over. To make matters even worse, he held on to my ID and refused to return it to me. "Go to Division street to find a cop, if you are really right, I'll buy you a drink". Exasperated, annoyed, pissed off - I unwillingly walked away from McFaddens in attempt to find a cop to prove my innocence. Before even walking a few steps away, this sucky "security" yelled behind me "NO, WAIT, COME BACK ! YOU'RE GOOD". I guess he realized that by making me go look for a cop will do him no good after all. He didn't even apologize to me, merely shoved my ID back. When I asked, "So that drink you owe me?", he said "NOPE". Should've known I should always expect anything less than trashiness and crap from a useless guy like that. So guys, if you want to be treated like a criminal by a "security" that thinks he knows it all - feel free to step by McFaddens. I assure you that you will definitely feel welcomed by his hospitality, and by that I mean being humiliatingly yelled at for something that wasn't your fault in the first place. Oh, and since the "security" there doesn't seem to know how to validate IDs, do you have faith that they are competent to do their jobs? To the management of McFaddens, please - for God's sake, don't fucking hire someone that doesn't even know to tell the difference between a fake & real ID. Seriously. Another tip, perhaps request that your staff not dress in a way that suggests that the place is a douche central, filled with assholes like the incompetent shit of a "Security" that you hired.
(1)
Taufiq H.
Came here to use a poggled in a Sunday. Very slow service to start - one waitress and took us 20 min till we could even talk to her - she seemed to be more interested in chatting with some friends while ignoring customers
(1)
Brian G.
My GF and I stumbled in on New Years Day after our concierge told us to hit up Division and Rush. Being from out of town (Minneapolis) and having no idea what spots were good, and it being such a slow night on NYD, could have skewed things a bit so take that into consideration on my review. It was the Ohio State vs Alabama playoff game (@ a Michigan State bar). The crowd seemed like regulars. Some were playing a game on their phone and shouting out answers (kinda like catch phrase), which was annoying. A guy was running around jumping on the bar and up to the second deck railing. The "DJ" (assumedly just a guy who worked there playing music) would play music over the game, and was visible hammered (a Michigan State fan after the big win). But again, the circumstances were different. We had no problem with everything going on because we are laid back, but I think most people would. Cheap drinks though and very friendly bartenders! The male seemed to have no idea about the college football games going on but tried to fit in which was funny/a nice try. And the girl was very friendly as well. My GF asked her age because she looked soo young and cute, and she had a good sense of humor about it. FOR MOST I'D PUT 2 STARS, but I thought, with the circumstances, that in most nights it would easily be a 3.
(3)
Michael S.
I had grilled chicken breast with mashed potatoes and asparagus for $16 and it was delicious. i went around dinner time and it was empty. I realize most of the reviews on here are regarding its late night party scenes which I cannot comment on, but for dinner I would recommend.
(4)
Salvatore G.
If I could rate this place zero stars I would. I went there with a group of 20 people yesterday to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. B96 or KissFM was there, I didn't pay much attention to which radio station it was, and they provided the patrons with many green knick-knacks including beaded necklaces, big green hats, shot glasses, and miniature beach balls. Everyone in the place was having a good time throwing the balls around from one corner to the next. One employee, I believe his name was Derek, was standing on a table or wall divider, and was hit in the chest with a miniature beach ball. He flipped out on my whole party I was with because of it and kicked us all out. I have worked in the bar industry for many years and I know that kicking out a party of 20 people because of a miniature beach ball is just ridiculous. He kicked out that many customers and lost that much business because of it. He was standing on a table, taller than everyone else, and was offended when he was hit with a beach ball that was supplied by the radio station. Really? He was standing in the open space where all the beach balls were flying through. Bad employment decisions by this establishment and I definitely will not be going back.
(1)
Patrick D.
50c wings are not 50c wings. Bad service, also slow. Will not come back. Manager refused to adjust to advertised price. I won't be back.
(1)
Brittany H.
McFadden's is definitely your typical fratty bar, but it's nothing short of a good time. The music is good, and the servers are really friendly and down to earth. They have free bingo on wednesday nights, along with .50 cent wings and dollar domestic drafts. Definitely the place to be if you're looking for something to do during the week.
(4)
Amy L.
This bar is so lame. I "won" a free happy hour event for me and my friends. I was excited I called my friends and set it up for a Friday night 9-12. I got a wristband for free drinks and my friends got a stamp for half price drinks. The drinks that me and my friends could order using the discount were the cheapest beers and bottom shelf liquor. I couldn't even use red bull. We didn't stay long. Lamest happy hour ever! They should tell you that you can't drink anything decent so you don't waste your time. Go figure, one month later I for a call saying I had won another free happy hour. Terrible and shitty bar. Will never go there again.
(1)
Melissa A.
If you miss those crazy college days then McFadden's is the place to go! I've been here a couple times since some of my friends won happy hours/half off drinks for 3 hours, which is a decent deal. Don't expect much from this place but you can have fun if you go with a lively group of people. Basically the music is blaring and girls are dancing on tables (trust me, it can be fun haha) while bartenders are pouring shots into people's mouths. McFadden's isn't a classy place but if you want to let loose after a long week then come here!
(3)
Andre W.
I havent been here in a little over 5 years and I discovered that nothing changed. Me & my pals dropped by already drunk and grabbed an available booth. I noticed the server had on a pair of cutoff shorts on with a pair of converse. Really?? You dumbasses really think thats gonna make people buy more drinks? Having a girl dressed like its 85 degrees on a 35 degree evening with a threat of a snowstorm??? Pathetic
(3)
Aaron Jae M.
I have been here multiple times and enjoyed them all. They have some pretty good drink specials on some nights and I have been here for wrist band birthday packages but I mainly enjoy the simple atmosphere of sports and music. There are steps in the middle of the bar separating the two bars and the two dance floors which I think is stupid considering you have nothing but drunk patrons and that only increases the chances of people spilling on me and falling and hurting themselves. The only problem I have had with this place is once a bartender lost my debit card and then repeatedly said that I never gave him one and that I had been paying in cash all night (I hadn't). He found it a few minutes later and was a little bit nicer about it. I really wanted to shove it in his face but I decided to take the high road and just tip him slightly less.
(4)
Ben T.
I went in with really low expectations and I was still impressed with how bad this place is. Two sips into my beer, a giant cockroach climbs over the garnishes onto the bar, and I have to kill it with my beer before it climbs onto my girlfriend. Bartender's reaction - "the back door must be open." The surface of the bar looks like somebody poured a full beer over it and let it dry and the smell is in line with that theory... so that maybe also had something to do with it? If you go here stick to bottled drinks and also I guess just don't go here.
(1)
Heidi R.
I come here for 2 reasons... to black out with my girlfriends and act like were 21 again or because I live down the street and sometimes its just convenient. Either way its a bar, people... get drunk and shut up. If you don't like loud music and seeing girls dance on the bar then go to the Jazz Club down the street. Yah I wouldn't come here every weekend and hardly ever come but when I do, I know what I am getting into and I always have fun. I love acting young and irresponsible :-)
(3)
Supriya D.
This past weekend I went here because a friend of a friend won a party here, so we got in with free cover and half off drinks for 3 hours. So that's always exciting! We got there around 9:45ish and it was pretty empty aside from our party. However as time progressed it actually got pretty busy and turned out to be a lot of fun. The drink specials were good, and the ambiance was good, but nothing really stood out about the bar itself. The service was really good and everyone was super nice, but again, I feel like they could do more things to make this place even better. I would try: - Drink specials after midnight - More advertising to get more people to come- maybe contests other than free parties - Live music Overall, this is a fun place to come, especially if someone you know won a party because where else can you get $3.50 wells in Chicago on a Saturday?!
(3)
Whitney S.
I wish I could give this NEGATIVE stars. Our waiter-who I am assuming was also the manager STOLE money from our party. We had paid our bill (which included gratuity.) At the time, we did not know it included gratuity so everyone in the group paid for tip as well. So we all overpaid for our crappy bar food. When we brought the bill/money up, the man in the irish hat said we were short $67. This was beyond impossible since we had all OVER paid. When we asked to see the money we had already put towards the bill, he conveniently had already put it in the register mixing it with the other money. So now we do not know what we actually paid as opposed to his word. When we all forked over an extra $67 OVER our bill, the irish hat told us we still owed $1...actually his exact words were "you owe a dollar..or .87 cents, but a dollar is fine." EXCUSE ME?! Which is it?! A dollar or .87 cents? If he lied about this, how do we now know he lied about the entire situation? Bottom line-we should have gotten the police involved because this bar openly stole from us. Twice. What they did was ILLEGAL and beyond comprehension. I will spread the word about their business ethics in this city as well as others.
(1)
Vince C.
I had the worst experience in this joint. Roudy and obnoxious people falling over me, drinks spilling, sloppy girls all over. I usually don't hate but this place is ridiculous! I almost got into a fight with people here just becuz I got so pissed off.
(1)
Shelly A.
There is no reason to blast top 40s music with a DJ at 8pm on a Thursday. I know that I probably shouldn't have come here if I expected differently; however we won a free happy hour, so what can I say? They have cheap drinks here during the week, but if it's after 9 just avoid it. This bar caters to the 'whoo hooo I wish I was still in undergrad crowd' which is not a surprise considering it's a Michigan State bar... Yeah, I probably won't go back. Unless it's for another free happy hour, that is!
(2)
Edith R.
This place sponsors our team for Beach Volleyball on Tuesdays and it's been our post-game place every Tuesday night during volleyball season. This year, we've had the pleasure to have Melissa wait on s. This woman is so cool, so easygoing--even under pressure and crazy events. She rocks. The nachos, sliders, calamari, and tator tots are pretty awesome too. The best part is also Tuesday Trivia, where your team can earn cash and rounds of drinks for cool team names, and the right answers of course. By the way, to all the high maintenance people out there, it's bar! If you want upscale food, then go find upscale food in the area. Sheesh.
(4)
Carolyn L.
This definitely isn't my favorite bar in Chicago, especially since the average age of the clientele is probably 22. It's definitely a younger just-turned-21 crowd (peppered with some creepy old men and women in clothes that are too tight). Drinks weren't too pricey though so I guess that was good. If I'm gonna go out downtown now, though, I just prefer to pay a little more and be in a classier spot. Not to sound snobby, but even the pubs/sports bars in Lincoln Park or farther up north aren't as offensive as this one.
(3)
Mihir P.
I have no idea why this place is so popular. No wait, I do. The simple concept of quantity over quality. We were there for our volleyball party. They offered some open bar wristband packages - a well package and a premium package. They didn't staff enough bartenders so it was hard to get a drink so most didn't get their money's worth. I bought a premium package and they conveniently ran out of some premium liquors so I had to get well drinks. Some bartenders were sweet and others were dicks. The sliders we had were burnt. I will say the music was good mix. Overall, if you're looking for a fun shit-show, this is your place.
(2)
Ben C.
One of the employees followed me home and tried to fight me. This place is terrible. NEVER GO HERE
(1)
Ashley N.
I would only step foot in McFadden's on Tuesdays (Trivia) and Wednesdays (Bingo) unless you're a college student trying to get crunk or whatever the kids get these days. I don't even want to know. Anyways, they have $1-$2 drinks along with food specials on these days and the Trivia and Bingo are always fun!
(4)
Mariah V.
Somehow I got roped into thinking it was way cool to go to McFadden's on Wednesday nights. I was young and impressionable, and I haven't been back in a while. If enough people you know go semi-regularly, someone is definitely going to win a "party" at McFadden's which usually involves $2 well drinks for a few hours on a night of your choosing. Finding a table on a busy night is very hard, so you will be stuck standing by the bar or dancing in the crowded upper area by the DJ playing Top 40s. Everyone is super drunk and messy. The crowd is very young, but there are some older guys who will stand at the bar and creepily buy you drinks. The drinks are generally not good. I had the worst whiskey sour ever here, and I'm not even sure how you can mess that up. You can have fun, but you can also have a horrible time. The amount of fun you have is positively correlated with how drunk you are. So plan accordingly.
(2)
Amy Z.
My friends hosted my 22nd birthday here. Although there were several other birthday's being celebrated on the same night, the staff made me feel like I was the only one. Even the bouncer went out of his way to make sure we had a table for my birthday. I asked and minutes later we were sitting down! The service was quick and the prices for a birthday package were phenomenal (we opted for the half off drinks all night long!). I had an amazing time, the drinks were great (and strong) and the service and atmosphere were just fantastic. I would definitely celebrate another birthday or event here!
(5)
Katie L.
Not a bad little bar! Came here for a girl's night with college friends and we had a blast! We had a open bar wristband package, which always elevates the fun. Would return on a weekend!
(3)
Amie C.
I had zero hope going into the bar that I would enjoy my time here. It helped having such low expectations. I was here for a friends birthday party and we had a $30 wristband bar deal for 3 hours. That of course means some record breaking drinking will occur. Bartenders were friendly :) Music was perfect for drunken, silly dancing. It's definitely easy to get free drinks from dudes in this place. Just work a little lady magic and you're golden.
(3)
Christina M.
I went back to Mcfaddens, with my sister and my friends. 2/3/10 BYOF....Bring your own fruit. Vodka Tonic, NO Lime. Blue moon, No Orange. Made me this of another acronym.... WTF. Normally, I wouldn't be so annoyed. But we waited about ten minutes before we were even greeted. Another ten before we got our beer. I server had "I hate my life" written all over her face. We should have sat at the bar with the bartenders I always get good service there. But if your gonna have a 'tude. Don't do it with a regular. Dj is not awesome. Well below ok.
(2)
Katy K.
I've come here a few times to watch the Hawks games and for other events, and it's been a good time until tonight. I'm giving it 2 stars because of the horrible service we received tonight. They advertised "$1 beers and $.50 wings!" which is what drew my friends and I here to watch the Hawks game. It was a little crowded, but even taking that into consideration, the service was horrible. The waitress came to our table maybe once every 30-45 minutes, and on more than one occasion she forgot our drink order and was coming by to check on us - again - after 20 minutes of waiting for another round with most of our cups empty the whole time. This was not the first time we dealt with this. Seriously, get some more bartenders and servers for semi-busy nights like this. We joked about it, until the check came. Several of us ordered wings as per their $.50 wings as advertised. We get the bill, and they charged us $.75 each wing. We asked the server, and she said, "Yeah, it's $.50 for the BONELESS wings." We looked at all of the ads, it said nothing about boneless vs. bone-in. Regardless, a DECENT server would have asked us in the first place if we wanted boneless or bone-in, and you would think that on a night when you're advertising $.50 wings, that that was what we were asking for. But she never asked nor told us that she was going to default to the more expensive wings. Clearly trying to raise our bill. We talked to the manager, showed him all of the ads, and he stuck by the $.75 price and wouldn't give us a break on the bill. After much hassle, he finally gave us a $7 credit, but we still felt it was a shady experience. I know it's not much of a difference in the long run, but it's more about the principle and honoring your ads and not trying to cheat your customers. Long story short, if you go here on a night when they're advertising $.50 wings, make sure you clearly and explicitly tell your server "I WOULD LIKE THE WINGS THAT ARE $.50 PLEASE." Otherwise,they'll give you the most expensive thing.
(2)
Alison C.
I feel like there is a McFadden's Pub in every college town. The name has become synonymous with raucous partying among frat boy/sorority girl crowds and older patrons eager to return to their glory days. This location was no exception, but I did find the hectic craziness more corralled here than at other Rush Street-area bars. The DJ played a wide variety of classic hip-hop and rock hits, causing the bunch of revelers to dance on any platform possible - from the tabletops to the banquettes, etc. A gyrating bartender added to the pandemonium by pouring doses of house vodka into people's mouths. Tipsy females encouraged the attractive server with their desperate shouts for alcohol. While this type of environment usually makes me feel like a quivering senior citizen who is easily annoyed by the whippersnapper college kids, this was the perfect vacation venue for escaping from my regular routine. The music revved me up and allowed me to relax. My evening at McFadden's was definitely more enjoyable than I would have anticipated.
(4)
Jessica L.
GREAT deal for sponsored teams :) Woo hoo!! PLUS, we love Mandy. If it weren't for the two things...this bar is "okay." Great outdoor seating but the bar itself is "regular."
(3)
Samantha H.
Pretty average. I've been there on nights when I've had a lot of fun and on nights where I didn't have much fun at all so it's pretty hit or miss. Some of their food is pretty tasty, namely the chicken fingers. The Philly bite things were a let down; I had high hopes for them! I do love their music selection most of the time. I was there for a fundraiser and it was all 90's music. Shocking to come to the realization that you still know all the words to 'Shoop.' That was probably the most fun I'd ever had there. The service is also very hit or miss. The last time I was there I definitely had the worst waitress I'd ever had. But I've also had very good service other times. The place is pretty large and if you get there early you're sure to get a table, which is pretty key. They have a good bar selection, but I'm turned off with the lack of wine. They do have one cab and one Chardonnay but the bartenders will tell you not to bother getting them (which I actually appreciate). But given the neighborhood and especially because Rush and Division is such a touristy spot, I really think they should have a wine selection. Nothing fancy, but I mean a few reds and whites would earn them more points with me. Basically this place is pretty hit or miss so if you go on a good night, you'll have a great time with decent food, but if you go on an off night you'll probably have bad service and not so much fun.
(3)
Stacy P.
This place was completely dead when we stopped in on a Thursday afternoon, but we had a great time anyway. The service was quick and extremely friendly, the food was good, and the beer was flowing. Unfortunately they don't have a patio or any sidewalk seating, but they kept the front windows open so there was some fresh air. I wouldn't run to go back, but I wouldn't be opposed to stopping in for another beer, either.
(3)
Andrea R.
Oy vey (in honor of Rosh Hashana)! Was there really a time in my life that I didn't mind bumping into gross sweaty people? Maybe I was just too drunk to notice? This was the last stop of the night during my friend's bachelorette party! It had been awhile since I felt brave enough for a night at McFadden's, but nothing like a bachelorette party to get you in the mood. After paying a $5 cover (what's that about) we did did our Red Headed Slut shots (the only shot I can handle these days), the bachelorette danced on the bars with the slutty looking girls who work here, and I tried my hardest to avoid all the sweaty men who tried to dance with me. The music was fun and we danced our hearts out...until the pain in my feet told me it was time to go home. At 1:30am it was way past my bedtime, but the party was just getting started at McFaddens!
(2)
Jeff G.
i'll have to read the other reviews as to why they rate so low/bad. had a random, spontaneous continuation of our night out here. had a blast. they had a $5 cover to get in and my wife was like "we're not paying a cover to get in to a bar" and they were like all right. then we saw some people with orange wrist bands on and wondered maybe you get drink discounts if you pay a cover. crowd was definitely college. we are in our late 30s and did not feel out of place. atmosphere was people dancing and singing with the music all over the bar.
(4)
Jon O.
This seems to be a ok spot to meet some friends and have some cheep beers and low-mid range bar food. I stopped by once for St Patty's day (which was slammed) and then again for happy hour a week later. The inside is cozy and pretty welcoming with a lot of wood finish and a typical "irish bar" feel to the place. I decided to have a couple green beers they had left over from St Patty's day and a chicken sandwich. The bartender who was taking care of me was a little scatterbrained and I had to ask for a menu a few times and a beer a couple times as well as silverware. He was basically the only one behind the bar and the happy hour crowd was coming in so giving him the benefit of the doubt, I'd say they were short staffed and couldn't keep up. The Sandwich came along with some tator tots and together it was "ok". I was pretty hungry so I wasn't after a quality meal or anything. From the looks of other peoples appetizers they were bringing out everything seemed to look, as I mentioned, just kinda like your regular bar food fare. Give it a shot if you'd like but be sure to set your expectations to "ehh"
(3)
Melissa K.
To be fair, I was joking around with a random guy at the bar about it being my friend's birthday and it turned out to be the gm who brought her a bottle of champagne. The bar was good. The DJ played some good hits and the staff was friendly. My only (VERY MAJOR) complaint was that I paid $3 to check my coat and the girl was gone by bar close. My coat was GONE and there was no on really to complain to. Seriously, coats were left on a chair and no one was there to monitor them
(3)
Courtney W.
Only one thing I can say about this place, on the weekends it's gross. I'm not sure if I even fit in with the Division crowd on Friday and Saturday nights but I just couldn't shake the icky feeling this place left me with. We didn't have to pay cover on a Friday night, which was a promising start, but when we entered absolutely nothing made sense. There was no real dance floor, some people took to dancing on the seats of the booths scattered around. No one came to take our drink orders and when we made our way up to the bar it was 2-3 people deep, most of the people already had drinks and were standing at the bar trying to pick people up with cheesy pickup lines out of desperation since there was literally nowhere else to stand. A lot of drunk bachelorette parties were going down, maybe that's what all the fuss was about. I just don't think this place is worth the hassle, the staff was friendly but other than that it was just a little too much work.
(2)
Larry V.
This place is what it is, and it excels at it. It's a frat-type, party bar. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Expect college, just-out-of-college, bachelorette/bachelor parties, and old guys trying to recapture their youth. Just not my scene anymore. Weekends it'll be crowded, loud, etc. Expect a lot of shots, etc. Not extremely original, but it works for them
(2)
Angie M.
As I pulled up to McFadden's last night with my wingwoman in tow, we looked at each other and were like, 'Oh my God. This is going to be worst case scenario." And guess what? It was. Okay... First things first. The ONLY redeeming thing about McFadden's is the stellar wristband party packages. $30 buys you three hours of open bar, including Effen Black Cherry vodka, which means one thing for me: Lights out. Moving on.... It's REALLY, REALLY hot in McFadden's. It kind of smells like puke and there was no one in the entire bar I even wanted to talk to. And the DJ was playing quite possibly the worst music ever. For everyone who grew up in the burbs, I equate the music to what was played at the Paladrome, circa 1996. As the night progressed, the cheese factor increased. Slutty women dancing on the bar and douchebags oogling them. The world's tiniest dance floor crammed to capacity with guys in striped shirts (Hello! It's 2009!) and girls in sequined mini-dresses. The creepy bartender who wouldn't stop hitting on me. No, I won't give you my number, pal. Back off. As soon as midnight struck and my wristband special was over, I bolted the bar to head for greener pastures.
(2)
Caitlin M.
McFadden's is constantly offering free parties or crazy drink specials, but even that isn't enough to make me want to frequent the place. I'm not sure what it is, but it always seems to smell like stale beer. I've only ever had the apps here, they are ok, but you can find better near by. I also think that maybe this place is more of a hit for college kids as opposed to mid to late 20 year olds.
(2)
Katie R.
Frat frat frat frat. Old guys. Europeans. Frat frat frat.
(3)
Katie C.
Oh McFadden's, you make me sad. With the bar half full (before 9PM) how long do I have to wait to get a beer? and the bartender told me four, yes four times, that 'he would be right with me' I guess the people at the other end of the bar that were talking to were more interesting. Bad beer, check. Music too loud to talk to the person next to me, check. Bartender's that seem to hate their lives, check. I am pretty sure all their food is prepared straight from a freezer box, everything tasted like salty freezer burn. I didn't even like going to this kind of bar when I was in college. If you go in with low expectations, you will be just fine. This was my first and only time at McFadden's, like other reviews have said, if you are under 25 and your main objective is to get stupid drunk, insert Bud Light Beer tower, this is your place. Remember, low expectations!
(1)
Lauren B.
The only reason I go here is because I love the food. The Irish onion soup and blue cheese chips are to die for. The service, atmosphere, and drinks are AWFUL. Do not order a cocktail here, if you're going to drink- stick to beer! The bartenders make the absolute worst tasting mixed drinks I have ever had. The service is some of the worst in the city, but if you're willing to see past that, the food is super yummy and reasonably priced.
(3)
Jaime S.
It's always way too crowded and sweaty here, and the line/cover is a disaster. Ok, fine, I can overlook that because a lot of bars are like that. Here is what takes all credibility away from McFaddens (for me at least). I was here with friends for a post med school exam party (for my friends-i obvi haven't seen a biology book since 8th grade). My friend was waiting in line for the bathroom, and per the usual, it was very crowded. Some DOUCHEBAG guy bumps my friend, she says excuse me, thinks he's a jerk and lets him walk away. Fast forward 5 minutes when the guy JACKS HER IN THE FACE. Literally, punches a GIRL in the face. She breaks her nose, she's bleeding everywhere....and the bouncers don't even call the police/wait for the police to show up bc they say they have no authority to do so. Seriously? what about as a man? do you have authority to not be a p***y? HATES THIS PLACE.
(1)
Alex M.
So, as a bit of a disclaimer, this place and crowd isn't really my scene, so if you're like me, you should avoid this place. However, if you're the type of person that fondly remembers being shoulder to shoulder in an impossibly loud college bar, this may be the right place for you. I think nearly every person I never wanted to engage with in college hangs out at this bar now. Looking into the crowd of dudes on the dance floor, their collage of white and blue vertical striped shirts is the optical equivalent of a magic eye painting. If you focus on the walls behind the dance floor, you can see a dolphin jumping. The tiny whiskey and coke I ordered tasted like crap and was 5 bucks. Overpriced drinks and shitty music that they play WAY TOO LOUD makes this not a place to have a conversation, not that you'd want to with the typical Saturday night crowd there.
(1)
Ryne D.
Rihanna sampled Michael Jackson's hit "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" for her hit "Don't Stop The Music", using the iconic lyric "mama-se, mama-sa, mama-coo-sa". As I've heard at Crimson Lounge, it's pure simplicity going from an old-school dance hit to a new one, but it flows great. McFadden's played MJ's song. I knew what was coming. They then played Rihanna's. The problem: there was no mix on that lyric. There was no mix at all. First song cut off, second one started. It's pretty much a gift to all bar DJs what Rihanna did, and this place threw it away. I don't know why they intend on blasting the music so loudly in this place when it's such crap. The only reason I come here is when friends throw parties there because they win raffles. This means McFadden's gives the celebrant's friends the opportunity to pay for well-level open bar (seems they lowered the price from $30 to $20). What a joke of a prize. At least I can get reasonably buzzed on the cheap.
(2)
Angelina B.
McFaddens gets five stars for what it really is... a COLLEGE PARTY BAR!!! Get Drunk. Have Fun. Shut up. If youre looking for fancy drinks and a place to chit chat this is not the place to go. Loud Music, fun people, and dancing! So get on with your bad self and jump up on that bar!
(5)
Mike K.
Holy moly me oh my. I've never been one for griping, but McFadden's completely blew my mind last night. It's almost admirable in a way - I hands down found the worst bar I've ever been to in my life. It actually made me start a Yelp account for the sole purpose of getting the word out (although apparently, I'm not the only one who's had a less than stellar time there) This place perpetually smells like farts and puke, and the floor feels like its covered in fly paper. The bar is 80% guys who attack trashy chicks like animals in the amazon. The DJ would have been booed out of the reception hall at a wedding. The dance floor had 2 GIRLS ON IT. The rest were guys bumping into each other and trying to fight one another. Are you kidding me? And guys see this and 4 of them try to dance with one girl at once? Oh, and you say they're 45 years old and smell like onions? Sign me up for that. Testosterone must be pumping through the vents, because its apparent that if you bump the shoulder of a guy on the way to the bathroom, we all know that's a sign of disrespect. You must now fight them. Because we are men and must prove it to be so. Also, I'm 5 foot 8 with pretty long hair, and I was wearing a blue v-neck with brown pants...this apparently infuriates the male population at McFadden's. I'm not gay, but have never been called a f*ggot so much in my life. Don't go to this place. I'm begging you. This is the worst time I've ever had in my life at a bar. Thank you McFadden's for showing me that all my expectations CAN be exceeded, even on the level of suck.
(1)
Dan S.
I came in for a drink before dinner at Ra Sushi a block away. We had 45 minutes before our table would be ready at Ra. Our group of 5 came in around 7:30 and the place wasn't very busy. The prices were cheap and it was a relaxed atmosphere. It gets docked a point for not being terribly original and another 2 points because they kicked us out. We each ordered a beer and after 30 minutes we were all about 3/4 done with our drinks. The waitress asked if we wanted another round. We declined and asked for the bill. We paid the bill and were going to hang out for another 15 minutes until our table was ready. After 5 minutes, the waitress came back and said we had to leave if we were done drinking. There were 10 empty tables in the place. C'mon you got a $4 tip on a $21 order and we told you that we were just in for one drink while we were waiting for a table to open up across the street.
(2)
Gerry D.
I've been here twice. This place sucks because it primarily has large groups than come and refuse to talk to people outside of their groups. Plus the restrooms suck!!
(1)
Meghan B.
Yuck. Stay away unless you are either underage or in college. Or if you like sticky floors, extremely loud top 40's, and older men waiting in the corners to ogle you. Service also takes forever and the bar is always either empty or full beyond capacity - no in-between. Some of the food (burgers, wraps) are actually pretty good, but service is spotty and it typically takes forever. Oh it also smells. Really bad.
(2)
Sarah M.
McFadden's is still a blast! I won a FREE Happy Hour last month, pretty sweet. Music is still alright, but fun to dance to. The staff was super nice, as always. McFadden's you haven't let me down yet! :)
(4)
Amber K.
Mac and cheese balls! Need I say more?
(4)
Angel L.
Okay, So yes, this is a Rush and Division bar (which if you are a bar or club person, you already know this area makes the bottom of the list). However I've never really gotten the allure of this place. It's either deserted (read days without DJs/music A.K.A. any day not Friday or Saturday) or packed so beyond capacity that you can't move! The music is fine most of the time (Top 40 mix-ups), which is average and they will have some drink specials, however every time I end up here I feel like I'm going to be trampled by the just turned 21 guys to my left, trying to get to the just turned 21 (if that) girls dancing on top of the bar to my right. Don't get me wrong, this place would be great --- if it wasn't destined to be the next cheap imitation E2 nightclub disaster!!!
(1)
Karl M.
Great food, good service, high prices, Rush Street locale.
(3)
A G.
I gave them a one star basically because of the DJ this past Saturday. Fairly enjoyable place, but when I asked the DJ to play some electronic (he had been playing ghetto rap for well over an hour), he replied rudely with "I played 5 songs already, where have YOU been?" A) He didn't play a single one B) He was such a crappy DJ that in his head perhaps it was electronic. He then made an incredibly inappropriate comment that the girls having fun dancing on the bar would be available later for handjobs. Um, what? In what world is it ok to talk about customers like that? I complained to the manager about this. Her reply was "he was probably just making a joke." Really now. Save your money and go somewhere with a DJ who actually knows music that's outside the genre of ghetto.
(1)
Pamela M.
It's just a loud sports pub. If that's what you're looking for then this is the place. Very loud with that lovely smell of stale beer permeating the air. As an extra special touch the fumes from the Bleach in the bathroom were so strong that they burned my throat and had me coughing for a couple hours. When I said to the restroom attendant "the bleach is really strong in here" she merely replied "yep". Enough said. I had one $8 drink and moved on.
(1)
Joseph S.
I came with a bunch of friends on a Saturday night. Here's my experience (I'll make this short): The employees were rude and the place was packed probably beyond capacity.
(1)
Derrick W.
Nothing special about this place..
(2)
Melissa F.
If you ignore "Womanizer," this clip sums it up pretty well: youtube.com/watch?v=RtV3… Yyyyyanyhoo. McFadden's is dank/gross/crowded/gross. I went there for a birthday since Rockit's line was too long. A few stray observations... - Not enough room to move. I know this isn't the only place like this in Chicago, but wow. - Not enough restrooms for women. The line was enormous. I was fine until I got home, but I doubt everyone would be. - Good drinks! Somewhat strong but not disgusting, and my vodka soda was $5, which wasn't terrible. Thankfully, no credit card minimum, unlike many dive-y places. - I know it's become a cliche to say "Everyone looked like a member of the Jersey Shore!"...so I won't. But a good 35% of the men looked like "The Situation" specifically. One man looked like him on Dancing with the Stars - powder blue button-down shirt with a black vest and pants...er, OK. Actually, a lot of men wearing vests. Weird! One guy had both ears pierced and manicured stubble, with a FEDORA. It is 2002 again! I should've asked him how the sales figures were for "Justified." - There was a woman walking around with a tray of shots that looked like swampwater (or, as I said to friends after she had passed, "like feces"). They were $3 a pop! I didn't ask for one as a result. $3 for swampwater, yum! - Girls were on the bar pouring entire bottles of liquor into each other's mouth. It's that kind of place. - On the way to the bar, I had to weave my way through throngs of people, but also a real-life almost-bar fight! This meant that a bigger guy was holding a small guy by the shirt, and both looked reasonably angry. Someone broke it up. Cla$$y. I had a great time with my friends, and it was a wonderful birthday celebration, but this isn't at the top of my list of places to go, sorry to say.
(2)
Bill M.
I enjoyed visiting this bar just north of bar-happy Division Street. It is a relatively spacious place with minimal decor including a few pub signs and some TV sets. The place was not overwhelmingly crowded on a Thursday evening, so it was not too smoky inside. The music was not too bad, though you will wind up shouting at your friends if you want to have some conversation. I did not have to wait forever for my drinks, so that is a big thumbs up for the drink servers. They serve some bar food items such as crispy fries and potato skins. Thanks to Andrea and Elizabeth for helping to set up the Yelp Happy Hour here !! It was fun to meet some vets and some new faces.
(4)
kara c.
1. Everyone is right when they say it's like a college bar, College bars are fun, except when there are 40 year olds acting like college kids. (keep in mind I'm only 22) 2. The waitresses are kind of slutty. They where short shorts where their butts hand out and dance on the bars and pour blue shots in your mouth. 3. The DJ sucks 4. They sometimes give plastic cups, which is annoying because I get jipped on the drink! I like going there when I am: 1. Get free drinks 2. Am really plastered
(2)
David R.
This place blows. Bars like this are NOT my scene, but I don't always get to make the decisions. So I tried to take it in stride and judge them on their own merits, but there were some specifics that bothered me. 1. LOUD. I hate loud bars, but this was honestly the loudest music I have ever heard in a bar. It was already really, really loud, and then there was a point at which they turned it up higher for a certain popular song and then left it there. I was dumbfounded that there are that many decibels on the scale. 2. HOT. This was in March, on a warmer weekend when the outside temps were in the 60s, I believe. Why was it so hot in there? I was drenched in sweat and I didn't even dance. 3. BAD DRINKS. My friend asked for my drink order, and since I don't drink Miller Lite and I didn't want to have to wrestle my way to the bar to find out what whiskies they have, I waved the white flag and said, "Vodka tonic." What I got was more like plain tonic. Bleah. I wonder if I would have had any more luck with my other emergency drink choice, Jim Beam and Diet Coke. I liked the bouncer, who stuck up for me when my friends and some strangers near the door area gave me grief for wearing a suit (I had been at the theater earlier that evening) and for having a suit in my driver's license photo. So this guy and I are suit brothers....that was the only cool thing about this place.
(2)
An P.
What's there to do on a Friday Night in Viagra Triangle? After a business school International Night, the horde decided the $20 weekly Friday Night all-you-can at McFadden's from 9pm-1am. I've had my fair share of the $5 all-you-can circuit and I've seen most derivations of the form from Gold Coast to Lincoln Park. Entering McFaddens, I was welcomed to the arena with staunch body order and a crowded carousel of people darting in and out with a constant cascade of coats sliding against me. Looking for my friends I had to used sharp elbow technique to navigate through the human wreckage with the strength of my will and sharp concentration while scanning the area for familiar faces. Towards the end of the bar there were girls up on some platform dancing and the music was loud and the bodies unwashed without proper deodorant. When bars get this crowded leaving no room to move it can be a rage-inducing box of hell that I should have been more prepared for. Division Street on a Friday night epitomizes the faux glamorous lifestyle of binge fueled blackouts and prime grade idiocy. Eventually I found my friends, but the loudness was deafening and it felt like the walls of people were constantly caving in on me. Even after a few drinks, I couldn't handle it anymore! Leaving was a disaster and I probably bruised my fair share of unyielding bodies that would not budge an inch to give me my way.
(1)
Stephanie W.
Grossest, frattiest bar on Divison, and that's hard to do. Steer clear unless you want beer spilled all over you! Last time I got tricked into coming here, there was an obese bridal party in the back and all the bridesmaids were walking around the disgusting McFadden's floor barefoot - yuck!
(1)
Brett K.
Shit show. Go for the beer/sweat soaked hoes, stay for the puke.
(1)
Nafeesah A.
I went here for the first time yesterday had I known that past reviews of this place reflected I would have avoided at all costs. I do agree with one of the posters that the people who patronize the bar are young newly legal to drink aged college or fresh out of college grads and old schoolers trying to be young again. The environment is kind of loud so you can't really hear yourself talk. Then you have to deal with the waitstaff who were getting goofy behind the bar and apparently the theme was pajamas because one of the male bartenders was wearing pajamas with the footies (kind of like the ones many of us wore as kids) and the other male bartender was wearing sweats and a wifebeater (for those who don't know wifebeater is slang for an undershirt) and the girls were in mens shirts with bras and panties on underneath and half the time when they were not waiting on people they were busy getting silly with a camera phone taking pics of each other and also snapping pics of drunk customers at their request. I was here at McFadden's because a friend won a free happy hour party. They do have a cover charge so be prepared to fork over $5 if you're a guy and a girl(cover charge after midnight). That's about within reason since a lot of the bars in Chicago charge $10 cover charges at the door and I didnt have anything to drink, but just a couple appetizers and it cost me $15.....for that much I could have bought McDonalds for 3 people on that and they were not that great. I ordered some fries and macaroni and cheese bites which had this nasty cheese sauce like you would get at the gas station for below standard nachos and the fries were too salty and tasted overcooked. I wouldnt waste my time coming here again unless you're there to have a drink with friends and leave. The bathrooms were another story I walked in and it wasnt common to see someone with a table full of toiletries and other items that they provided for a nominal fee or even a small tip, but I couldnt believe how inconsiderate people are because I was coming out of a stall to wash my hands and two girls were standing at the sink texting on their phones and were not using the sinks and not moving to leave the bathroom so that other people can wash their hands since the bathroom was no bigger than a small walk in closet so you had to go in use the bathroom and squeeze your way to the sink to wash your hands and having to ask people to move who are on their phones to step aside if they're not using the sink so you can wash your hands. The attendant had a scented candle going in the bathroom to make it smell good.....wasnt working because some of these ladies needed to check their business down below some of them were not copasetic and needed to have better hygiene down there since the bathroom smelled gross. Not to mention you're stepping on smashed food on the floor like they didnt have someone come in periodically to sweep up the stuff and keep the floor clean. If they had zero stars I would have given this place the score it deserves.....ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(2)
Andrea G.
McFadden's is the kind of place that you either start or end your night, but is definitely not a destination. The crowd ranges from underagers with fake IDs to cougars and creepy old men popping viagra (ladies, alas, these are your best bets for free drinks. But take your drink and RUN) McFadden's always has specials, like all you can eat and drink for $20, or unlimited wine and beer for $10 within a certain time frame (usually 8-10). This place is usually relatively full early in the night, often with a happy hour crowd, but also with pre-gamers. Go early to beat the cover.
(3)
Amy H.
Twas the night before Thanksgiving and all through the house, I was sick of being sick. I wanted to get soused! In years past, I usually stay home the night before Thanksgiving, but this year I really felt like going out. So, I gathered up some friends and someone suggested McFadden's. I had never been there before, but $1 Miller High Life in a can sounded like a great idea. I got there early to have some food and I ordered the buffalo chicken tenders. I took a few bites and realized that the chicken was raw. That's right...RAW. Completely raw in the middle. EEEEEWWWW!!!!! The manager (I think he was the manager) Zack was completely apologetic. He gave me a refund, an order of fries per my request, and a fresh can of High Life. The good news is that I didn't get food poisoning, which was great! I was just getting over the flu and I didn't want to be sick anymore. I liked how nice Zack was and how he handled the situation, but come on...a kitchen that serves raw chicken?!?!?! Gross.
(1)
Sarah D.
Every time I escape this place without waking up the next morning on a strange soiled mattress with a black eye and vaginal tearing I consider it a personal victory.
(2)
GossipGirl l.
TOP 5: Dislikes 1. $5.00 cover 2 long line ta get in 3 long lines at washroom! 4 small washroom 5 too crowed! TOP 5: Likes 1. good music 2. good looking people 3. private room in the back 4 friendly staff 5 NBA player party here! shh i dont care for much for rush street, but this place isnt sooo bad, just way way too many people!! and the girls there are slutty-all up on guys just soo they'll get a free drink-classy
(3)
RJ T.
People would like this place a lot more if they took it for what it is: one of the best college party bars in Chicago. It's a bunch of kids, getting drunk and out of control. If you are over 25, you might not like it, but otherwise, enjoy. Servers are all incredibly nice and friendly people.
(4)
Tom F.
At 10 o'clock on a Saturday, this place is that bar on your college campus that was just slammed with people preening their feathers for each other. That you didn't go back to after Freshman Year. The shoulder-to-shoulder tavern-gone-club when they turn the music up so loud you can't hear the person next to you. Is that supposed to encourage close contact, or just a sense of confusion? Try not to think about the fact that you paid for the pleasure. This place didn't strike me as a Restaurant or a Saloon; maybe earlier in the night. Cover for guys and girls the night I was there. The only salvation was the waitress set up with a tub of beer on ice halfway back, so we didn't have to try and bodysurf up to the bar, where I can only assume the Long Island Ice Tea per capita is somewhere in the 'astronomical' range.
(1)
Erin H.
I had a single beer in this bar (and a free shot of Jameson) on a Saturday night. I guess it was pretty early because I wasn't seeing too much 21-year-old-girl cleavage just yet. This place appears to be a happening spot for the early 20's crowd that likes to get down and... well, dirty. This place smelled like stale beer and vomit. I was NOT impressed. Luckily we only stopped here because my friend wanted to stop by and give a hello to one of his bartender friends. I'd probably want to check this place out on a Sunday for football, I am assuming the daytime crowd is heaps different than the Saturday night on the prowl crowd. Although my experience here basically sucked, I will have to admit that the music was pretty awesome.
(2)
Keith C.
I've never really understood why I keep coming back to McFaddens. Probably because they are open until 5am and the place has always been packed when I've got. The girls aren't that come here aren't too bad but I'm usually destroyed by the time I get there. We usually come to McFaddens if we're just hitting up bars for the evening. If it's club night, then we'll go to a club that closes at 5 once the current club that we're at closes at 3. The drinks aren't too expensive.
(3)
Gray C.
black mold growing all over the ceiling by the windows where they served me my food, horrible service, "happy hour prices" were the same as standard prices elsewhere. Judging by the crowd and the conversations I'd say this is either a great underage bar or incoming sophomores are getting older every year.
(1)
Jason H.
We went here for a wristband party, all you can drink wells and miller lite for $20. Its a good place to party. It was half bar half club feel. The music is pretty loud but the crowd has energy and its definitely a place to dance. They play all of the recent pop hits/remixes but in pretty good taste. Probably more of a singles place but my wife and I had fun anyway.
(4)
Jerome P.
Chelsea awesome, Melissa awesome, McFaddens awesome, great drinks wonderful service terrific bartender (Chelsea) two thumbs up.
(4)
Ben B.
My wife and I stopped in for lunch on a Sunday, looking for a quick meal. We ordered an egg sandwich and two pancakes with blueberries. Then we waited. Other patrons got their meals, and we waited... then we got another round of drinks, then we waited... 45 minutes later, we started eating. The food was good, the prices were great, in particular the $3 you-call-its all day on Sundays, but the wait was a killer. I wanted to give the place 4 stars when I first started waiting.
(2)
Beth A.
HATED this place...only went once and will never go back (neither will the 10 people i came with) went on halloween...friends had a package deal half an hr into our package the bar was out of everything but coors light...yumm...so glad i paid for my all inclusive wrist band place was packed so tight steven tylers pants have more room in them ladies beware if i remember correctly there were a whopping 2 bathroom stalls...resulting in over a half hr wait for the washroom (i had to bribe the guys attendant one round to let me in otherwise i woulda peed my pants waiting) waitresses...bartenders and bouncers were not only incompetent (didnt know what beers they had...didnt know how to make simple drinks...couldnt keep track of who had been waiting or who drinks went to) but they were also incredibly rude ex. a cocktail waitress spilled an ENTIRE tray of drinks on me...didnt apologize, didnt offer to get me a towel...just shrugged her shoulders and walked away---i was livid and on my way out (as soon as i dried off) told the bouncers (cause mgmt was nowhere to be found) and they just laughed as they muttered sorry she was probably busy
(1)
John L.
To quote the great Danny Glover in his finest role "I'm too old for this shit." Anyway was with a group and someone knew someone who worked here and promised free drinks, so we ended the night here. It felt very college-ish in the average age of the patrons, the slut-tastic staff pushing plastic ramekin shots of blue colored liquor, the meat market/total fire hazard vibe, and the horrendous hodgepodge of music coming from the DJ. One MJ song, then awful hip hop, then that Journey song that needs to go away NOW. The crowd would sing along and the DJ would cut the volume during choruses. Yeah, that kind of party. Maybe it is upcoming b-day, but I was def feeling old and out of place. My 2 star rating reflects that, but if you like or want the above description, this is the spot to go.
(2)
Brian P.
HAH! Went here for a night out with some NW med students. I am a recent transplant from NYC, and I just want to express my shock and awe with the amount of money it takes to get tipsy in Chi. WOWEE it's cheap--rampage! It's a bar. With a dance floor. It's not a club, but is worth a rollicking good time. They have college bar down to a pinhead, they know the niche so well. ugh it's a chain, i just found out, but for what it's worth, it doesn't feel like it while you're there. yes, it's where college kids go to dry hump. if you're in for the spectator sport, you may find this entertaining, but if you want to do otherwise, i suppose you can't go wrong here. HA someone gave this place 2 stars for being a place for "unsavory people" WONDERFUL, that's a sign that they're doing something right.
(2)
Spartacus C.
Bartenders were awesome... but the DJ was even better. He said over the mic, "Excuse me Miss... please pull down your dress. We can see your urethra." They also let my girlfriends dance on top of the bar and give shots to the crowd ala coyote ugly. Other than that, is a pseudo dive / college kid-esque crowd that likes to dry hump.
(3)
Aline W.
I came here with some friends the other night and had a nice time. We just missed the $10 all-you-can-drink special (9-11 PM i think), so ended up paying regular price. The drinks were kind of pricey compared to other bars around this area. However the Long Island I got was SUPER strong, so I guess you can say I got my money's worth. For those looking to dance, there's no dance floor here...so go somewhere else. But if you really can't help yourself, there's a small platform at the back of the bar where you can jiggy it up. That's where you'll find some quite eccentric people who can bust out some never-seen dance moves. Overall, go there if you want to drink 'til you drop for $10.
(2)
Esto P.
The food here is pretty decent, run-of-the-mill pub grub. I had the burger, which was alright, also a "glass of sprite" was served to me in a tiny plastic cup with no ice? Keep in mind I went here around 5pm for some food! One thing that really made me want to write a review was the smell. It literally smelled like a busy men's room on taco night. Every time the mens room door opened, some kind of stank breeze just emanated from it wafted over my girlfriend and I made me want to gag. The crowd at that time seemed to be the usuals, who were busy occupying the entire staff with stories etc...
(2)
Felicia M.
I enjoy going to McFaddens. My friends and I have won multiple happy hour parties here. There is never a dull moment at McFaddens. The bartenders are always friendly, and the rest of the staff is great too. Kristen, the event coordinator, is ALWAYS nice and friendly. I suggest everyone try the Mac&Cheese Bites = DELICIOUS!!!
(4)
Stephanie Y.
McFadden's is decent, for sure. I have a few friends who have "won" parties here (which they seem to give out like candy), and I've had one myself. It's a fun deal - cheap drinks and good company. I don't think McFadden's really knows what it wants to be, tho. It's kind of a mix of frat boys, old couples, and small amounts of hipsters. I'm not complaining if I get to drink for free or cheap.
(3)
Demetrius W.
Never been here prior to Friday and I'm not dying to get back. I had fun but I usually have fun at some of the worst places (depending on the people i"m with). It's an faux Irish Pub but it had a $5 cover for the guys. Umm I'm from the Southside where some of the best Irish Pubs are in Chicago (Cork & Kerry) and I'm not use to paying a cover. They fail and delivering the Irish Pub feel which is kind of shocking. Wait you're suppose to be an Irish Pub but why are you trying to be Coyote Ugly? Girls dancing on the bar pouring liquor in guys mouth..Maybe if the girls were hotter...I wouldn't be complaining? *shrugs* My friend did say that it was a place that's only fun when you have a group. Well my other friends never made it. So no group and no real fun at this place. Plus one of those skanks on the bar wasted some liquor on my friend and I.
(2)
Antoinette D.
McFaddens is terrible, even when you arrive drunk. #1- the DJ sucks beyond belief!!! It's been the same guy every time i've gone and each time i've tried to request songs that people can actually dance to. He doesnt get that no one wants to listen to his shitty CDs from the 90s. #2- the service sucks. the bartenders flirt and talk to each other behind the bar and act like the customers are a 2nd priority. one especially irritated bartender was wearing a tie around his head. i have no idea what that was about. #3. the idea of girls dancing on the bar = fun! so i kept this mind when everything else sucked. however, this turned out to be a 250lb girl in a shirt dress who ended up puking chunks all over her bare legs. the bouncer handed her a trash can. he didnt even speak to her, let alone kick her out!! This place is dirty (expect sticky puke floors) with horrible music and some questionable fellows....save yourself and just dont go!! I give McFaddens one star because the bathroom attendant woman was very nice and had some bomb ass candles.
(1)
Adam L.
McFadden's is your typical Rush-and-Division douchebag bar. On any given night, there will be guys in striped shirts and ladies in short skirts, and they will all be drunk. The food is medicore, but the drinks aren't bad. What's worth mentioning is the fantastic drink packages. If you're looking for a place for a group to pregame and get really hammered, this would probably be it. Also, they have a guy in the bathroom with soaps and stuff, which is pretty funny.
(3)
kat m.
Wish I hadn't visited on INVENTORY day! I visited on a Wednesday night on a whim.(Just wish my disappointment radar was on) After seating ourselves, we realized waiting for our server was going to feel like an initiation test. After using my telepathy the server greeted us with a "WORST DAY EVER" disposition. Soon enough I'd realize what was up her butt... Seems to have been inventory day at McFadden's because ALL OUT seemed to be a growing trend. No Fruit, No Napkins(Wash room paper towels instead), and No Pint glasses for my beer =(. The did have nice specials but besides the beer in the can for $2.00 on Wednesday , the $3.00 well drinks are too small for the price believe it or not. Womp womp womp is all I have to say about McFadden's...
(2)
J R.
I give it a three because I had a fun drunken time. I'm sure if I walked in there stone sober I would hate it. I also like that it is an MSU bar. I am alumni. For anyone who went to MSU, this place is a huge reminder of Rick's. Luckily for me, I came in half in the bag already. They have a dancer who works there 3/4s naked and I believe that is why there are so many men there. HAHA. It's not the Crème de la Crème of bars but it's a fun time if you are really drunk. Sober-not so much. P.S. The cover is so asinine.
(3)
John H.
Where does one even begin with this veritable Mecca of douchery? McFadden's is such a worthless establishment that I actually signed up with Yelp to write about it. If you think any publicity is good publicity, keep reading, and I'll make damned sure that you'll change your mind. If you don't mind waiting in a roped off line for twenty minutes, the doorman is happy to relieve you of $5 for the privilege of entering. Ridiculous as charging cover for an "Irish" bar might seem, it's probably the most sensible thing about the place. Because despite the cover, McFadden's is almost always absolutely jammed with people. And I'd like to think that at least some of the other patrons were there just to see the worst bar in Chicago in action. You know, to give them something to tell their grandkids. To use Noel Gallagher's take on System of a Down: "After I went to McFadden's, I thought, I'm actually alive to have been to the shittiest bar ever. Of all the bars that have gone before and all the bars that'll be in the future, I was around when the worst was around." It follows that such a crowded place wouldn't be suitable for anything but screaming at the person next to you. That's neither here nor there. However, it should be known that the music here sucks of its own accord. This is what you should expect, though, from a bar that has a DJ. Another thing that belongs in clubs, not bars: go-go dancers. And the poor girls don't even get a cage to dance in at McFadden's; they're forced to strut their stuff on top of the bar. When this happens, every nimrod within 50 feet will move toward her for an extended upskirt glance, making it impossible to get a drink. Only McFadden's could actually hire a dancer to attract customers and keep them from spending money in the process. If you can actually fight your way to the bar, you can choose from one of about five draft beers. Don't expect the Guinness to be on tap that night, because it's not like McFadden's is an Irish place or anything. And if you're there a bit later in the evening, you won't have to worry about holding a big heavy pint glass, because they will run out of them. No worries, you'll get a 10-oz plastic cup (same price) instead. According to the bartender, they're practically the same size. Not much needs to be said about the bathrooms, because it's a bar. It's not going to be nice. But I can never get over the bathroom attendant thing. Every cent they earn is the product of guilt, not gratitude. The only time I'm going to tip you is if I'm drunk, there's ice in the urinals, and you're blasting Wilson Pickett on your mini-stereo. Talk to the guy at Hugo's Frog Bar for advice on this. Also, it helps to actually clean the bathroom once every couple of hours. In an area chock-full of very bad bars, McFadden's takes the cake.
(1)
Justin O.
I don't get the obsession that some people have with this place and why they pay cover to get in. Scratch that, skanctly clad near 21ers are allowed to dance on the tables. This is at least one reason for a single guy in the city. I've never been blown away by this place and there are to many other more authentic Irish pubs to grab a pint at in this city.
(2)
Vickie L.
My review is on brunch only, as I've never had the experience of a lovely night out here :-P The place was virtually empty when we went on a Saturday afternoon. I guess it was the weather, we really wanted to sit outside, but had to settle for a booth inside the dark bar area. Bloody Mary's and mimosas were cheap, I think only $2-$3 each. Both were huge! The mimosa was served in one of the small drink glasses, not one of the tiny champagne glasses other places serve theirs in - score! Brunch menu wasn't very extensive, but it was cheap. We all opted for lunch food. Food was just average, nothing special, but also not bad. I got the chicken caesar wrap - every place has the same problem of too much wrap, not enough lettuce, and too much dressing. Extra points for having tater tots! Waitress - she was your typical sorority girl waitress. She was dressed in tight fitting yoga/workout clothes with her boobs hanging out. Must be nice to come to work in comfy spandex-y clothes. Smokers voice. She was really nice and really attentive though. Tip - I had a restaurant.com gift certificate for $25 off $35 meal, so our meal was super duper cheap afterwards.
(2)
Justin G.
I would have thought the trashiest place I went last night was a strip club. Nope, McFadden's.
(1)
Santiago A.
Here are the only two reasons a person would what to go to McFadden's: 1) It's open until 4am, so rolling in at around 3:30am on a weekend comes with a 70% chance of bagging a really drunk chick looking to play "ouch, ouch, you're on my hair" or "just the tip, just for a second to see how it feels". 2) Tuesdays have $2 any drink and $1 sliders (chicken, burger, and pulled pork). The chicken ones are great, the pulled pork is ok, but has a little bit too much sauce, and the burger ones were charred beyond recognition. Also, it is trivia night. I love trivia nights and the prize money will more than cover you and your friend's bar tab. If it doesn't, then chances are you drank so much that you probably didn't win anyway. So, I recommend you go here on a Tuesday and get hammered for very little $
(2)
Donn M.
If you are a college student this is a great place to hang since everyone is pretty much a student at a nearby school. I've always had a fun time here. The drinks are very cheap and if you call ahead of time to set up a bracelet deal you get get a lot of bang for your buck. I came for a birthday once and our table got a complementary bottle of champagne. Their food is not too great but for the price they ask I suppose it is has an ok value proposition. The bouncer was always nice to me but hard on kids that obviously aren't 21. Ok for dancing and play old hits from late 90's to current top 40. One time Afro Man showed up which was kind of funny. I would visit again but only for another 5 years since the age group is early 20's. The bathrooms are not clean and yet they have a bathroom attendant. But then again the crowd could care less about someone else's bathroom.
(5)
Trinidad F.
The first time we tried this place it was because they had 2 dollar drinks all nite!!! That definitely called our attention!!! The turn off was that there was NO LIQUOR in the drinks. Lol. U can't even taste it. We had about 12 drinks each and didn't even feel buzzed. The place got packed pretty quickly that nite. It was only 10 and we couldn't get to the bathrooms!!! Also, the DJ was GREAT!! He had everyone jumpin!!! This weekend was terrible. We hit the place up around 930 and got drinks. Again, the drinks were disgusting. I ordered a Hurricane and it tasted like Hi-C juice. Lol. The DJ was annoying!!!! This guy wasn't even trying. We were so upset we simply walked out. We won't be returning.
(1)
Bill M.
Definitely one of the most offensive places I've ever stepped into. The DJ will spin you the pop hits of 1997, the bros with backwards white baseball hats will high five and raucously sing along to the sweet Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth jams, the only people with any pigmentation in their skin are stuck working in the bathrooms giving you paper towels and mints (is this 1930?) for meager tips (which no one gives), the staff wont' give you the time of day if you're not willing to blow them in a back room, and just overall it's not a good time. Friends of mine won those "$10 ALL YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK FOR 2 HOURS" type deals and even with that going for it I was miserable.
(1)
Meghan B.
Had guests in town who wanted to do happy hour "somewhere downtown", on a Saturday evening, with 2 kids in tow. Sooo.... Long story short, we landed in here because it met our criteria as best as possible. They were out of most of their draft beers (on a Saturday evening??), so that was kind of a bummer. The beers they did have were served in plastic cups. Perhaps it was serendipitous, as Bud Light and plastic cups just feel right. But still. I object to both offenses. Service was friendly, particularly given the two kids we had with us. Our server was really sweet about accommodating us. Food was OK. Their bleu cheese chips were good... but awfully heavy. Typical bar fare, I suppose. Worst part was the clientele. It was like a sad basement dude party, with said dudes yelling way louder than the game warranted. I now will never, ever root for the Eagles. Bathroom was horrid. Like the out-of-TP-watch-for-TB situation you expect in a dance club at 2am. But this was Saturday. At like 5:30. And it wasn't that busy. Yeah... I'm not going back.
(2)
Ed L.
So this is what a "douche bag" bar is like... As soon as I arrived in Chi-town, my cousin took me straight to McFadden's... There are no other words that describe the clientele here better than douche bags and chicks. Similarly, there's nothing that can describe the bar, with its overabundance of flatscreens with sports galore, and a blaring sound system. I couldn't hear most of the night. Good thing I had free drinks all night courtesy of my cousin's buddy who was working the bar... And when it's 3am the dudes and chicks are still wide awake, this 5am bar is the go-to, if only because it's one of the few places in "the 'hood" still serving. Pros: Free drinks, chicks.. Cons: Douche Bags...
(3)
Helena B.
$5 cover!? Don't even start with the "It's only $5," because I just paid FIVE DOLLARS to get into MCFADDEN'S. Once through the door, I see what the $5 was for. It's a veritable orgasm of people-watching in here, and McFadden's has crushed as many people as humanly possible into their bar to ensure my viewing pleasure. My favorite act was the bachelorette party dancing on a booth to "Back That Ass Up". Gold star to the bridesmaid in the supershort skirt giving money shots to the crowd each time she crouched down. Next, to the bathroom. What misogynist designed this place!?! Two stalls!?! Come on now. Then, to the dance floor. I haven't seen this many people being awkwardly groped since a dance in my Junior High gym. However, should I have alternate career aspirations, it helps to know that I could come be a DJ at McFadden's as apparently there is no need to be able to "blend" one song into another. Blending seems tricky. Should this bar get an extra star for me being grinded upon by a boy who started college after I was done with the entire endeavor...? Nah.
(1)
Jacob J.
Do walk around that corner and check this bar out. Spacious place, plenty of seating. Though very crowded on weekends. Bartenders and waitresses do a great job. Heavy pours on the mixed drinks. Though drinking a mixed drink from a plastic cup just sucks. It must be plastic some nights, because its special, i.e. Stoli cocktails $3 Monday nights. Wednesday - weekend are great nights to find plenty more action. Crowd is usually mild. Ivory usually. If your thing is checkin' out cute white girls, you'll enjoy the time.
(3)
Drucilla D.
Quite simply just A-OK... I went to McFadden's a couple of weeks ago for an industry networking event. The food was not amazing but the $20 all you could eat buffet and all you could drink wine, beer and well drinks was quite a good deal! Out of desperation (and because of the frigid weather outside), I ended up back at McFadden's last Sunday in hopes to watch some football. Seating was not plentiful as there was plenty of underutilized floor space, the TV's were not easy to see and the one closest to us featured TENNIS (on a Sunday in Chicago? seriously?) AND there were only TWO servers on duty for the entire place. The only reason I am really giving this place three stars is because the food is actually quite good. Mozzarella sticks are about $1.50 a stick but they're delicious, the New England Clam Chowder was actually really damn good and the bites I sampled of the burger and fries were pretty lovely as well. The drink specials looked decent (they had 5 Miller Lites in a bucket for $13 and $3 Jager-Bombs the day I was there), but if it wasn't for the food, I'd probably never consider going back. Oh, AND, the bathroom stall doors suck. Though I had mine locked tightly (from the inside), I underestimated what it would take to open it from the other side and I ended up flashing an unprepared patron. That's never enjoyable...For either party involved.
(3)
Susan F.
2 Stars for a huge bar with good music. The only problem is, the female bartender def stole my friend's credit card--she wasn't even drunk! The bartender handed her receipt in a black folder with no credit card in it. She asked her where it was and the woman told her to look on the floor. I looked on the floor, too. NO credit card. Fishy fishy, don't try to take advantage of people you think are drunk!
(2)
Scott A.
There is a large sign on the wall inside McFaddens that advertises a half off special all day every Thursday. Tonight was Thursday. I ordered two Crown on the rocks, my bill was $20. Does this mean that a crown on the rocks on a normal night is $20, and in actuality I was getting the deal of my life... well, even if this was true, the amount of liquor poured in did not equal the amount of money paid for said liquor. What a joke. In addition: 1. Does anyone ever mop the floors at this place? My shoes start to hate me by the end of the night (which tonight was 11:15, what a great bar that it could keep me out so late...) 2. Why is the clientele always 70% men? And why are these men major douches that will actually stumble in between me and the girl I'm talking to in an attempt to get the girl's number? 3. Why the hell do I keep going back here? It is no longer enough that my friends are suckers for free booze, I think I'm pulling a Joe's on Weed for this place and officially retiring. Goodbye McFaddens, you will easily be replaced.
(1)
aldrich b.
Wow, don't know about the restaurant, but the nightlife scene is not for me. Definitely geared for the college/just out of college crowd of rush and division. First of all, $5 cover for a bar that serves drinks in a plastic cup.....not even cups that look like glass but are made of plastic, but literally plastic cups you buy from costco. And they still charge drink prices like a chicago nightclub. The clientele is young and fun, but the music is horrible and outdated. The bartenders were nice, though service will vary.....one took forever to make 5 drinks. I still cant' get over paying $7 for a kettle on the rocks and having it served in dixie cup filled with ice. Good place to go if you want that college bar experience. But go somewhere else if you're looking to impress or have a rockstar nightlife experience.
(2)
Brooke W.
Went to McFadden's for the first time ever last night because my friend won a party there-all you can drink for $10 dollars-sold! I have to say I didn't come in with any expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw there was a DJ playing good music. Anyone who knows me knows that I can dance all night and boy did I dance all night long. The crowd is fun-bro-y, 20s, college kids (like myself), an overall fun crowd. Definitely go check out McFadden's, it's a good time!
(4)
Erin B.
I think that if I was a just newly turned 21-year-old college co-ed I would love this place. Or maybe if I was underage with a great fake, I'd love this place too. I came here to meet friends on Halloween after the Yelpoween party. Let's just say, thank god I had a bunch of beverages already in me. The line here was insane, and they made you pay a lame cover. (I hate that) Inside they kept promising some sort of "local celebrity" which never showed up. Music was subpar at best, and the clientele was either cougars, or underagers. Thank God I have awesome friends that kept me company here!
(1)
Jo W.
Ok, full disclosure is that one of my good friends is a cocktail server here. Thus, on the rare occasion I come on a weekend I never have to wait in line or pay a cover because I am awesome like that. But then, if I'm ever here on a weekend I'm usually three sheets to the wind by the time I get here.... Oops. I definitely enjoy this place more during the week, when it's not crazy and they have good happy hour specials. You can also win a happy hour party pretty easily, which means free drinking for you. During the week it's a completely different vibe than the weekend crowd, in a good way. The food is just okay, nothing to write home about. But yeah, stick to this place during the week and you'll be fine. Weekends are for the typical Division street crowds. Lame.
(3)
Michael V.
$3 to wait 20 minutes to check my coat. $30 to wait 20 minutes for an "all you can drink wristband" $6 to tip a frazzled, freaked out waitress to get me a few drinks because the bar was only staffed with 2 bartenders for the 350 people in the bar $1 to tip the bathroom attendant just so I could leave the 2 square foot bathroom that smelled like someone had recently died in one of the stalls. Squandering most of my allottment of "all you can drink" drinks (if you could even get some) to go home, order pizza, watch DVR'd tv shows, and try to ignore the feeling I was just violated by the owners of McFaddens--PRICELESS.
(1)
steve k.
I can't believe someone who reviewed this place said that this is the most fun bar in the city. WHAT?! I wanted to be as fair and unbiased as possible but I can never have fun here. The music blows, its full of people who think they know music and request 50 cent and all "real" music that they can sing along to. It would be an insult to ever call this place a club because the DJ is a moron and can't mix worth a lick. Everytime time I come here its always the same thing, retarded bouncer who thinks he's tough shit and a very typical suburban/college - esque crowd. I can't believe they charged a cover for one of the nights I went (yes, I went more than once) because honestly I could have gone to any of the other douchey bars for free. I've been here for one of the parties that everyone and their mother wins but if you dare ask for anything else that's in the keg, the bartender has a bewildered look that makes you feel like a foreigner for not liking piss lite. Bathroom attendant? For real? attn: McFadden - you are the lowest denomination of class and with your crappy little saloon bathrooms you aren't fooling anybody with a bathroom attendant. I think the only tolerable time was when I went when it was empty and it was just calm, however my waitress looked like she just woke up, got our orders wrong (mind you there were only three tables occupied) and she changed my water cup twice only to find some kind of lint in there. I think this place is good for puking, hitting on underage girls with fake ID's and getting into fights. If you think this is THE bar, you deserve to die.
(1)
Theresa R.
Another douche bag central bar. But really, what was I expecting for a Friday night on Division street? One star though for the drink package that brought me here. $10 all you can drink beer/wine for two hours - on a Friday. So I happy houred myself over. Unfortunately the service sucked. Never a waitress in site. When she was, it was a good while before she returned with your drink. Even once she dropped her ENTIRE tray of drinks. So we thought going to the bar would be a better option - um, no. They were so weird about checking wrist bands and not giving you more the one drink. I think the kicker of it all is when I went out for a smoke at the end of the night. Tried going back in and the bouncer told me to wait in line. Um, just left for a smoke. He's response, "I don't care." My response "jerk" (or something a tad stronger) and I left. Seriously, if you are not in your early 20s OR a tourist...there is NO reason to be on that part of Division street. Not even for a $10 drink special.
(1)
Ayea H.
I wish I could give this place no stars at all. Mcfaddens was voted number one douchiest bars in chicago for a reason. I have gone to Mcfaddens plenty of times and there is one man that works that literally every night at the door. His name is Dick, and he was born with the perfect name for the type of person he is. This guy is the biggest jerk ever. I have spent so much money at Mcfaddens, and every time I show up he is always rude and has an attitude problem. I even bring in a bunch of my guy and girl friends and he still continues to be an asshole.This has turned me off from going there. Here are a couple of other reasons 1.They let underage college kids in with fake IDS, they need to get caught for that soon too. Watch out for the 18 year old freshman kids dancing on the bars at 2am with their cha chas out as the creepy bouncers stare at them. 2. Their food sucks 3. Their liquor is watered down and never put enough alcohol in it. I won one of the wristbands for a night and I thought it would be great to have my friends come in for free drinks between a certain time frame. But when I went there supposedly the entire bar had a wristband for free drinks. The place was packed and the bartenders were rude as ever. The only drink you could get was a pineapple vodka, vodka tonic, cranberry and that was it. I was literally drinking juice, there was NO alcohol in it whatsoever. 4. They charge cover on friday and sat nights when its dead and boring. 5. The dj sucks and is also an asshole as well. 6. Mcfaddens in a whole is seriously the worst bar I have ever been too. Don't waste your time going there unless you wanna party with the underage kids, drink watered down liquor that is overpriced, and deal with rude security guards. Go to the lodge the guys there are so nice and they give free peanuts, even mothers original. Nice people there and its just around the corner.
(1)
Lisa C.
My boyfriend and I went there over July 4th weekend because we had won a gift certificate at Hamburger Marys. The place was empty. The food was nothing to write home about and they had run out of some of the drink mixings. Judging from some of the people in the bar (people tanked at dinner time) and reading the reviews of others, this place seems to be a haven for unsavory people.
(2)
Mario L.
I've been here a couple times and I've noticed that how much fun the night will be depends on whoever on the turntables that night. The first time I went here with my friends we mostly just stood around desperately tried to keep ourselves awake. The music was pretty bland and we just got out of there. One of my friends won a party with Free Drinks!! from 9-11. So I was back again and I really enjoyed myself. The music pumping and great for dancing. The Drinks are pretty inconsistent, sometimes their watered down and bland. And sometimes they're just too strong. The space is pretty small and cramped, their often isn't anywhere to sit. This place does have a acuired charm to it but there are much better places to spend your nights.
(2)
Anne Marie J.
Not my favorite bar for a night out but it's a good deal if you're getting a drink or two or a bite to eat: Thursday nights are 1/2 off everything. It was the best Corona I tasted was here b/c it was $3. Yay! Also, it's not crowded during the week - bonus For a night out, I'd veto McFaddens - it's basically a super packed sports bar where it's impossible to get a drink. 1 star for a night out, 3 stars for a good drink deal prior to partying.
(3)
Melanie V.
I went here to witness a flippy cup tourney that my co-workers were participating in. Although the bar was one big sloppy mess because of the tourney, it was SO much fun to watch!! One of the employees was going around asking us to sign up to win a free happy hour. I only did it because I NEVER win those things. However, a couple weeks later, I received a call from them, informing me that I had won a free happy hour! Since then, 2 of my friends have also won the free happy hour. Also, the waitresses are def attentive and friendly! Oh, and the potato skins are a def cure for you if you're feeling a lil sick from too much alky! ;)
(4)
Matt R.
I went to McFadden's expecting to be disappointed...and I'm still confused...because I really wasn't. My friend "won" another $10 open bar deal here from 6-8pm on Friday so i figured...why not? For $10, it couldn't be that bad! and it wasn't! Reading the reviews of bitter, unhappy McFadden's patrons makes me think that McFadden's is probably best if used in the proper way. Yeah, it's probably not a great bar to go to on a Saturday night at 11:30pm. Yeah, it doesn't no belong in it's current location, it's totally out of place. Yeah, a lot of the staff are pretty sub-par. My $10 open bar experience was great. $10 got us all the beer we could drink in 2 hours. However, unlike most open bars, they actually intended to serve us for 2 hours, which was awesome. There were plenty of waitresses, and literally all they did from 6-8 was walk back and forth between the bar with cups of Coors Light or Miller Lite. If $10 open bars are your scene, McFaddens is a five star establishment. If signature mix drinks and blazers or $2 PBRs and ironic t-shirts is your scene, duh, go elsewhere. The one thing that sucked about McFaddens but that I found pretty laughable was the bathrooms. So, neither the mens, nor women's bathroom has a door...problem 1. Problem 2: there are bathroom attendants in each bathroom, both of whom decided to burn incense. Haha. So if you walked within 30 feet of the bathrooms you got a waft of sandalwood and toilet stank...tragically hilarious. Thanks McFaddens.
(3)
Heather K.
I would like to preface this review by saying that I don't like McFadden's on the weekends (1 star), but went there for happy hour on a Thursday and had a really excellent time (4 stars). So we'll make it a 3-star average experience! I went for an event that included free cocktails made with SKYY - since it was a "hosted" happy hour the drinks were definitely weaker than usual. But our waitress was incredibly attentive and frequently came by to check on us and bring on the refills. By some stroke of luck, we happened to be there on a day where they were testing out new menu items. A manager told us that they recently revamped the menu and needed to take photos of the new dishes. As a result, they handed out a ton of free food to everyone who was sitting at tables in the back of the bar (near the kitchen). We got to try a chopped salad thing and a DELICIOUS grilled chicken sandwich. I would definitely go back on a weeknight for dinner - just for that sandwich alone! Marinated really well, with grilled onions on top, yum. They were playing fun music (90s rock - Weezer, Green Day, Rage, etc) and the crowd was much more laid back than I was expecting. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised!
(3)
Laura S.
Trivia tuesdays are the best- dollar tacos are delicious and $3 coronas. Great service and an all-around good time!
(3)
Mike S.
fun sports bar off the infamous rush n division corridor. typical night consists of many drinks followed by dancing and memory loss. weeknights are usually a lot less crowded. they normally have decent drink and food specials. have never tried the food so cant speak on this. the crowd is usually a pretty good mix of college / young professionals. they have a cute bartender there name kathryn.
(4)
Ron C.
If I could give 0 stars I would. I was here on the Saturday dinner-time of Memorial Day weekend, staying at nearby hotel, and decided on this based on its online menu. What a dump. Totally a dive bar with food as an afterthought or not at all. McFaddens should definitely pull its license-franchise and this place puts it to shame (I've been to other McFaddens and had good experiences). Kinda wanted red meat and was told by my server that "we dont have that on the menu anymore" for the 2 more substantial options (ie not burgers). When I informed her that I really needed something more filling (vs bar food) and I'd be leaving, she insisted that I pay for my iced tea -- which I hadn't drank and had ordered with the (silly me) intention of dining in this dump. When i said is there anything you can do, she said that she put it in the computer (and after having asked a manager), that I'd have to pay for it. Do not patronize this place unless you want alcohol, if the specials are any good, I dunno. But I'd pay special attention to more recent reviews (re the food quality) and also regarding the absolutely crappy, horrible service (that is when they actually do have any food that is on their menu).
(1)
Teddy O.
Bar food is ok and the crowd is college again or recently graduated with some. It's hit and miss if you are going there for a good time.
(3)
Sara M.
It's funny that when I chose 3 stars it rolls over and says "A-Ok", because that is exactly how I feel about McFadden's! It sort of smells like a combination of beer, puke, and red bull in here, but it's fun with friends and a good place to get ridiculously drunk it that's what you're looking for. It's a younger crowd, and since I'm 21, I like that part of it. It's ridiculous, but ridiculous in that "oh my god look at that guy and girl shamelessly making out' way.
(3)
Lisa V.
What's better than drinking with one of my best girls in the Chi? Its drinking with her + 100 santas during the holidays! Yes, this bar was one of the bars involved in a festive santa pub crawl on Saturday and it made everything just feel so darn MERRY CHRISTMAS. I love it! Hot guys in santa costumes just were my new wish for every year. Let's make this happen in LA. It was a friendly crowd in there, all wanting to dance, drink & be merry. A perfect night out in one of my favorite cities.
(4)
Lesley S.
I like McFadden's but don't know if it is worth standing in a way-too-long line and paying a $5 cover to get in on a Friday or Saturday night. I do like the mix of music they play, everything from Build Me Up Buttercup to Salt n' Peppa's Shoop and they play all the current stuff as well. I still have one complaint about the music though- requesting songs. The DJ is an ass. At least the few times I've tried requesting something he was. Another thing about this place- they have girls up dancing on the bar. Can get annoying if you want a drink. But if you're there for the free shots, it's just fine. Open wide and you'll get one. Don't worry- they make sure to hold a washcloth under your chin so you don't drool all over your new dress. Who knows where that washcloth has been though. Sick.
(3)
Joshua H.
this place is great for team (softball, volleyball etc.) sponosorship. The specials are usually pretty reasonable. You can find some great deals on drinks and aps during the week especially. The weekends are a little "college-eque." The floor is sticky, loud music, all you can drink specails, beer pong, etc. Not necessarily good or bad just a certain atmosphere similar to a Duffy's or McGee's that isn't for all.
(3)
Laura B.
McFadden's is one of my favorite watering holes in Chicago. The staff is extremely nice and the week nights here are fantastic. Can't beat these drink specials in this part of Chicago. My favorite is Tuesday for $2-U-call-its. The crowd on the weekends seems to be suburban and lincoln park frat boys and trixies, while the weekdays attract a more laid-back professional crowd. The DJs are great at keeping the party lively all the way until 4am, or 5 if its a weekend. Best to avoid it, though, past 11pm on a weekend. Consider yourself warned.
(4)
Lauren P.
i'm not sure why, but mcfadden's likes to promote the crap out of an event/special at their bar and not staff it appropriately. this has happened to me and my friends several times within the last few months, and it certainly does not make anyone (the staff or the customers) happy. even though we'd had some spotty service in the past, we decided to go to mcfadden's to catch the USA v england game on saturday. walking in around 1pm, almost every table was full. servicing the entire restaurant, patio and bar was one bartender and one waitress. the waitress was definitely busting her ass, but she needed to clone herself once or twice in order to have any hopes of keeping up with the crowd. it got to the point to where the waitress wasn't able to leave her station because people were lining up to order from her like an extension of the bar. i don't blame either the bartender or the waitress for not being able to handle everyone - this was 100% the manager's fault (who didn't seem to be there.) 20-30 minutes after arrival, we were finally able to order a few buckets of beer. i asked the waitress if i could order some food from her and she said "sure, just give me a minute." One minute turned into 15, and when i realized she was never coming back, i headed to the bar - where i waited another 10-15 minutes before placing my order. side note - my friends who were sitting at the bar even had trouble ordering from the bartender. when my food finally came, i received two out of three of the items i ordered, and of the two things i did receive, one was ice cold and the other was lukewarm. i was so hungry i ate my bad mini burgers, while my boyfriend went up to the bar to return the cold nachos we waited an hour for. the bartender coped quite the attitude when my bf mentioned how cold they were, throwing them directly in the trash, without saying sorry, offering to make new ones or even take them off the bill (which we later asked him to do. he also tried to charge us for the item we never received, even acting like we were lying when we said we didn't get it. full disclosure - because 2/3 items on the bill were messed up, he "voided" the transaction so the $3 worth of mini burgers were on the house. the gesture would have been better received without the attitude.) needless to say, when halftime came, we paid and headed to another bar where they had more than one waitress - and we were promptly served. a few of our friends decided to stick it out at mcfadden's; they told us the waitress later apologized for the horrible service and offered them a $50 gift card. nice for them - but we certainly didn't get any apologies and don't plan on coming back for any big events ever again.
(1)
Rudy S.
Don't really hang out in this part of town, but was with friends and we ended up here. Let's say..if you like wedding music (livin on a prayer, sweet caroline, or sweet home alabama) then you'll love this place. Good for out of towners or college crowd. It's good for what it is. The music got better towards 1am..and it's pretty crowded. So if you're looking for a fun night without any surprises like goth kids or a drag show or a woman selling tamales inside..then you should enjoy your night here.
(3)
Ken C.
Go here sometimes after volleyball on Tuesdays for trivia night and good specials. Also been here for a game of quarters with some friends. This place seems to have a lot of good specials keeping me coming back. What I hate the most here is the bathroom attendant. The bathroom is small, and the attendant takes up space. This isn't even that nice of a place where you would expect a bathroom attendant. I don't even like them to begin with because I can grab my own paper towel, thank you. The motion sensors on the paper towel dispensers should replace their job altogether.
(3)
Amanda B.
I solemnly swore never to enter McFaddens after graduation college... and I'm proud to say, I haven't! Not my favorite crowd and not my favorite bartenders... If you're looking to dance on the bar and drink for free you should consider it!
(2)
Ellen F.
Oh, god. This place is ridiculous. I was 25 the first time I went here, and I was exactly four years and 10 months too old for it. It's all about douchey frat boys and the slutty girls they hit on. Regardless, I had fun. If nothing else, the crowd was moderately friendly (?) and good for entertainment's sake. McFadden's was a novelty for me, and perhaps why I enjoyed it. I would never choose to go back here on my own, but if in a large group of friends, I'd go and probably like it.
(2)
Ian S.
My previous positive review for McFadden's was more of a fluke than anything. I've since been back twice, and I wasn't impressed. I'm taking back a star. I had a McFadden's employee reach into the bathroom stall (THAT I WAS USING) to clear a couple of drinks on the ledge on the stall wall. He managed to bump over a half full beer and spill it all over my pants. I started yelling and he replied, "I'll get you a new one". It wasn't even my drink. He then ran off (without even making good on his offer). If it wasn't my friend's birthday, I would have raised hell with the manager, but it wasn't worth it.
(2)
Derek K.
It's ok for a bar. It got a bit crowded but you could still move around. Service is ok. They play music and have a dance floor. The DJ was not particularly skillful and there is no natural flow to the songs he played so every 3 minutes the crowd would pause dancing and readjust to a new song with a completely different beat. The clientele was mostly male, very few females (not that it mattered to me) - so watch out guys, the competition is fierce! The last guy sober enough to stand wins the girl!
(2)
Paige D.
McFadden's lures people in by giving away 2 hour blocks of "parties" where it's all you can drink light beer and well liquor for $10 that you get served in disposable plastic cups. I felt like I was at KAMS in Champaign for most of it-- the bartender we had was clueless, the floors were sticky/dirty, and it was packed. Dancing on the bar is encouraged, so if that's the scene you're looking for it's a good place. If you value being able to sit, talk to your friends, and move your feet without stickage, McFadden's is not the place for you.
(2)
Gloria E.
Some friends I had were always coming here for happy hours, and I was curious about the place if they kept returning. Although, my friends didn't normally suggest I meet them at bars like this one. I guess I know why now. When my birthday rolled around a year ago, I didn't want to go to my usual or close-by places. I wanted somewhere new where lots of people go. Somewhere busy. Agh. Now I see why I never came here before then. On the way in, people were walking out talking about some disgusting girl who had vomited all over herself here. While I was in line for the coat check, some girl storming out's arm rubbed against the back of my arm, and it was all wet. I immediately knew what had just happened. The girl that had vomited herself did her drunkest to wash the vomit off before being kicked out, and her disgusting vomit-water had rubbed off on me. I smelled it as close as I could (back of the arm, ya know...), and I was right. F*ing F* F* F* F* F*! I was pissed. I washed it off, and started over. The place is crawling with D-Bags, and 80% of the girls look exactly the same. The bartender could not be bothered. I get that he was busy, but he was still rude and snobby beyond belief. when he took and made my order. He rolled his eyes when I asked if I had left my card at the counter earlier. Even worse, after he rolled his eyes, he did nothing, and I had to wait 15 minutes to get another bartender's attention. This place was too packed to move, and all in all, I will never come back again. This just isn't my idea of a good time.
(1)
Tara M.
Oh McFadden's, you always make good on your promise that my Saturday nights will end in a blacked-out mess. Which is probably why when I walked into the bar sober this past Thursday night after work, I felt like I had never seen it before. We opted not to participate in the $10 open bar and instead sat at a table with a very attentive waitress. She did get pretty busy toward the end so we got our last round from the bar, but it wasn't a big deal. Three stars because: 1. The music was ridiculously loud, though the song choices were awesome. Lots of late 80's and early 90's songs--you know, the songs that you love but are embarrassed to admit it to your friends 2. A bathroom attendant at 6:00 on a Thursday night? Come ON!
(3)
Amanda C.
Went here on a Wednesday night. The experience was mediocre although I like the way it looks inside. Beers are $1 on Wednesdays and are presented in tiny plastic cups so you probably need 2 to equal a real beer. I think this is only good for Miller/Coors/Bud Lights. The bathroom is decent and has an attendant handing you paper towels which I think is completely unnecessary. The 70s/80s music was good but not for dancing and when I asked the DJ if I could request a song he said "I'm just trying to have fun tonight and go with it" or something which I inferred as no. Come on!
(2)
scott s.
This place can be good or bad Depends on the day
(3)
nicole h.
Holy douchebaggery. I can't stand this place. The only time I ever go here is when I get dragged here with a group of people and I'm too inebriated to complain. And then I get there and pretty much leave immediately. I walk in and am I always greeted with an overcrowded, sweaty place. Crowd's always the same--the college girls are always scantily clad as if they've got their lady parts on parade for the countless creepy older dudes that seem to just be lurking waiting for the best time to roofie someone. And as if this Irish "saloon" were a club or something there's hired eye candy girls (aka. strippers who don't take their clothes off) on the half-walls trying to pump up the crowd to dance to the most recently overplayed KISS-FM nonsense. Ugh. Just writing about this place gets me fired up. Next time I'll just say no and save my cab fare for somewhere more my scene.
(1)
ryan w. v.
I had lunch here on Friday afternoon...Sat outside...Watched the Cubs game and played a little S,F, or M with my friend. Since I was one of like 12 patrons, the bartender (Tim) was our server. Tim was refreshingly helpful in recommending what to order. My friend and I either have amazing intuition or luck of the Irish because everything we decided to order came highly favored by Tim. I think it's the former although I am 1/16th Irish. Anyway, we started with the Blue Cheese Chips. And when I type CHIPS I mean chips; not fries! For some reason my friend and I thought we were getting Blue Cheese Fries. Right, so we were completely wrong. McFadden's makes their own chips and then puts this warm blue cheese goo on top and add fresh chunks of blue cheese. The plate was huge and we hardly made a dent into the plate. It would have been much better with fries, but it was chips. This dish could be shared by like eight people easily. Per Tim's recommendation, I ordered the Reuben and my friend got the Mini Pulled Pork Sandwiches. She received three on a plate topped with spicy onion rings. I had a bite of hers because she could barely finish; they were delicious. My Reuben was really good too. The rye bread was fresh and was not soggy from the corned beef and sauerkraut by the time it got to my plate. The corned beef was lean and had great flavor. This is my first review although I have been here a handful of times to get my drink on. I enjoy McFadden's and give it four stars this time for being a great Irish neighborhood bar with great Reuben's and having Tim as our server/bartender.
(4)
Dawn B.
This was the last stop for our night. It was a great place to end. I'm a fan of the easy going places with good music! We had our own VIP room here, but everyone wanted to get out to the dance floor. Some of the girls made their way on to the bar and got free shots! It was definitely good for a laugh! The wristband option was the best part of the night! Definitely got your money's worth in drinks (of course I think that is always the best option LOL)
(4)
Jonathan T.
Went there last Friday night for their $1 Dos Equis Beer Special advertised in the Red Eye. We showed up at 9pm. After ordering two the bartender scoffed and said, "oh we're out of that," like I should have known. Then tried to order two Magic Hat's from a different bartender, and she replied "Oh we're out of that." We walked out! McFadden's you're a bar, please stock beer you advertise, or Yelpers will take their business elsewhere
(1)
Sable T.
Where to even begin .... well my friends and I came in on Memorial Day (Monday) and the atmosphere seemed nice especially with the gorgeous day we were having ... the outdoor seating was packed and all the tables toward the front were filled so we sat in a nice booth in the back. There was only one server .. which was the bartender and he got us our drinks very promptly. However, it took FOR-EVER for our appetizers to come out ... 45 mins passes by and still no appetizers. Then the GM comes near us in this funky green outfit and apologizes bc they ran out of O-Bombs .. I guess no bloomin' onion for us. He then gets my friends and I a round of shots and immediately brings us random appetizers...that held us over for a while until our food came. Oh the food! Well it took forever for the bartender to even get our orders and we were starvin' marvins waiting for our appetizers and ready to give our orders. I'd say the whole process of waiting and eating took a good 3 hours ... Not good for antsy/starving people. I guess I'd have to say Kevin .. the GM made the day a lot better by paying more attention to us and buying us a round of shots and taking one with us. I liked that. Other than that ... I'd go here again just to hang with Kevin. Maybe if they had more servers on staff it would be a better experience. The experience today was ok. I got the grilled chicken sandwich ... tasted like shit. The chicken was burnt and the fries tasted like they were sittin' around for a long time. Overall ... I'd get the quesadilluhs and the bloomin' onion. I gave this place a 3 just because of Kevin.
(3)
Mark L.
A Fratastic bar on the Division strip at State street. Everyone inside thinks that they are way cooler than everyone else, the music is so loud that trying to speak to anyone is incomprehensible (and inaudible). The early 20s aged crowd is usually very drunk, very rowdy and very rude. It's unfortunate that I ever patronized this bar. The bouncers are usually dickheads, and they often create a line out front to lure people in, you can wait in the cold for 20 minutes only to discover a half full bar with a 4:1 ratio of guys:guys. I only give 2 stars because I have been here on weekdays for wristband deals that were decent, and once for a party in the back that was pretty fun. Steer clear unless its for a private party.
(2)
Sue D.
This place is horrible! It was packed where you couldn't even move. It was hot and sweaty and the drinks were bad. The security was rude as well. We went for a bachelorette party and were so beyond disappointed. We stayed less than 15 minutes. I would not recommend this place not matter what. It was ridiculous.
(1)
Katelin M.
i watched the soccer games here last week and had a blast...always a fun crowd at McFadden's. It's nice to see bars like McFaddens and Bella doing well on this cursed corner and McFaddens is definitely doing well because the line is always out the door on the weekend. They play great music so it's a good place to go if you want to dance. I ate here for the first time recently and my quesidellas were ok. Definitely go for the drinks and the crowd, eat nextdoor at Bella Lounge for good food.
(4)
The S.
Where do I begin? This place isn't worth the time it would take to write a meaningful review, so here's the short of it. A few years ago I went to McFadden's for a friend's birthday. The place was uncomfortably packed with people. I used to hang out at some crowded bars, but this place had to have been way over capacity. Eventually, the bar staff removed all of the high-boy tables to make more room for people...but continued to let people in. At the end of the night, I went to get my coat (it was winter), and the coat check gave me the wrong coat. They somehow gave my coat to someone else. I was pretty drunk at the time, but was sober enough to tell that the girl in the coat check was completely s***faced. I called the bar the next day hoping to speak to someone that could help. They first insisted it was my fault that they lost my coat. I was eventually able to speak with a manager, and he told me that they would try to find it and call me with the results. Fast forward a few weeks later, a few trips to the bar to pick up "my coat" that was not actually mine or even close, they had a description, brand, size, etc. The bar never offered any compensation for their mistake, and eventually stopped returning my phone calls. I simply just gave up. I will never go back to this bar and highly recommend that you don't. It's an awful atmosphere, not fun, and the staff is awful. There are some pretty sleazy bars along Division, but this dump is the worst of them all.
(1)
Jasbir S.
Checklist at McFadden's for Men: - White striped long sleeved shirt with cuffs turned up - Boring watch that every other person who works at your marketing firm wears - Heavily gelled hair to cover up receeding hairline despite the fact you're 21 - Axe body spray Checklist at McFadden's for Women: - Glittery top which isn't long enough to cover your nascent spare tire - Tight jeans that aren't particularly cool - "Maid of Honor" tank top if you don't have a glittery one So join the party at McFadden's where your waitress serves you an entree without any silverware and forgets about you for 30 minutes only to return with "Hehe cutey! I just thought you'd eat it with your hands!"
(2)
Alex K.
The seventh circle of hell. The average age appears to be 19, it's always too crowded to get to the bar or the bathroom, the music is so loud I actually got permanent tinnitus in one ear from a single night here, and you will never hear anything other than top-40, Journey, Poison or Bon Jovi here. Go here if you have herpes, or are really eager to catch herpes.
(1)
Kathryn M.
I've been to McFadden's twice now and have had a blast each time. The first time I was there because my friend won a party. $20 all you can drink from 8-11. Even at 8, it was definitely crowded, however we were able to walk right in, no lines at all. The waitress was very attentive and friendly and kept the drinks coming. I never had an empty drink in my hand. The most recent time I was there was a Thursday, 2amish. The music was great, lots of people were dancing and having a good time. We were a pretty large group, so we took over a couple tables. Everyone was pretty friendly, either that or I was just oblivious to any dirty looks. The drinks were pretty strong and reasonably priced for the area. The women's room was fairly clean and did not have long lines (which is a plus...especially at 3 am). I'm sure I'll be making my way back here sometime soon.
(4)
Izzy N.
Today, I will review in neanderthal speak. Don't worry, it will still be a helpful review. Before I start though, I just wanted to say, HOLLA FOR A DOLLAR!!!!!!! okay. \Begin neanderthal speak: Me came saturday night after 10. Me did not want to go. No cover charge for me!!!!!!! Yay yeeaaaa..! Cover charge for people behind us. hahahahahahahahahaha. Ok. We met me friend co-workers at private party to watch Blazers game first. Then parteeeeey. But later a girl dance not so good in front of TV. Get out of way dumb girl! Me try to watch basketball, not you!!! You not even hot. Crowd is me age and younger. Kind of rowdy. I at first dig it. Females dirty dancing to wall, chairs and counter of bar while waiting for drinky. Oh. Ok. Me not know how much drinks cost. They very strong. Girl barf in trash can by bar. tasty. Me friend say he found "the one." Long line to women restroom. Only 2 toilets, me had to go so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me just had big dinner. Not good idea. There is bathroom attendant with candy and tampons. Weird touch because bar, nasty! It not high class. She turn on sink for me and give me paper towels. Thank You. Music okay, sometimes sucked. DJ not know how to spin. Music mess up sometimes. Random music choice. Mostly 80s and 90s. Bouncers inside are douchey. They no let us go back up to our party. He said it private party. Duuuuuuuuuuuuuh. Dummy. He let random people up there. Until we say can we get our damn purses! another bouncer not let a friend shake his booty in another friend face. He put his flashlight on the guy, tell him to step away. Party pooper. It very packed and hot in there!! Now me know why girls half naked, dress like hookers to bars. Because it damn hot in bar/club!!! Me got sweaty. Me had to take some clothes off. So hot and muggy. It freezing outside and rainy so me layered up. See me smart girl, no catch cold. Next time me wear close to nothing so me not get sweaty. Even in 40 degree weather. Me will pretend it 80 degrees. Me have no need to come again. Unless me doped up and not care. This place blow hardcore. /end neanderthal speak. If you found that difficult to read then the point is Bitch is dead to me.
(1)
Andy D.
Wow, this was the worst. I went there for lunch last Saturday and I could not believe how awful the experience was. The service was slow. The food was terrible. I couldn't even finish my meal because it was so bad. We ordered sodas and water and they came in tiny plastic cups. Stay away!!!
(1)
Elizabeth T.
LAME! See Nicole H's review below. Her review says it all. Holy douchebaggery indeed!
(1)
Annie T.
update update updateeee this bar is quite the hot mess but on a sunny sunday afternoon it was so perfect. we weren't looking our best (our group had just come from a softball game) so we walked passed lux bar and tavern on rush. we were aiming for PJ Clarke's but they had no outdoor seating. McFadden's it was! the poor bartender got stood up by the waitstaff so he was waiting tables on top of tending bar. he was very nice and got us what we needed quick. i ordered 3 "minis" (sliders). 2 chicken buffalo and 1 pulled pork. so tasty. so fatty. so perfect. MMM i'm craving them right now as we speak. the rest of the table got $5 burgers... they were pretty delish and big from what i could see. the fries weren't bad... not the best but not the worst. i'll certainly be back with McFadden's being on blocks from my place. for a cheap bite or two.
(4)
Kammie G.
My friend won $100 bar tab in a contest. She asked earlier via email whether it worked on specials and she was told that yes of course they did. We get to the bar and sit. The bartender was giving us attitude from the start, she even yelled at us at one point because we kept asking how much each drink was and what the specials were. She told us they had $5 bombs and $1 beers and $5 well drinks. She knew we had the bar tab. Later on, we didn't want her to keep giving us atttitude so we bought her a shot too, kept thinking its $5 bombs but all of the sudden they changed the price on us from $5 bombs to $10 bombs saying that specials dont work on the bar tab even though she said at firs they did. And she gave us the $1 beers and then all of the sudden we maxed out the bar tab and all of the sudden we cant get the $1 beers either even though she TOLD us the prices at first and my friend was told the specials worked for the tab. Worst service. Plus the drinks were extremely watered down.
(1)
Ray L.
I came on white trash night and fit right in seeing as how I'm white AND trash. My co-workers brought me here to close out our bar hopping... 3-4am on a wednesday night with work the next day... wonderfuckingful We destroyed the incriminating pictures
(3)
Bella D.
I usually come here after work or after the club is over, and I know people who work here...which makes coming to McFaddens fun!! I dunno the other peeps reviewing but its a loud, boisterous, mixed crowd of drunk people. Its a bar!! Duhhh...anyways, good music and busy active atmosphere. I enjoy it when I need my fix of loudness and some stiff drinks!! : ) My seka, glen and MH knows this!!
(4)
Ay D.
Good, mass-produced fun in the Gold Coast. McFadden's caters to college kids, yuppies, and the tourist perception of what the youths are doing. They tend to host a lot of college favorites such as "Beer Pong" and "Flippy Cup", as well as offer inexpensive happy hour packages and $10-15 all-you-can drink wristband parties. Say what you want about the preppies / douchies / meatheads / Trixies / etc. that tend to pop up here, but what else would you expect given the location and the entertainment offerings? That being said, I'm not part of one of the aforementioned cliques, but I always a good time here. Throw on your early 20's best, grab a spot in the drink line, and let go.
(3)
Ron S.
Went here yesterday to meet a couple friends for some 25 cent wings and the Blackhawks Game. I couldn't believe how packed this place got around 1 on a Wednesday night. This bar totally caters to younger college students and postgrad kids so I wouldn't recommend it older folks.
(3)
Tom L.
Picked this particular pub at random mainly because the people inside seemed to be having fun. Didn't have the best experience with this place. The waitress ignored our group for the better portion of the night..It was a miracle to get another beer. The food wasn't the best either. No one was impressed with their order. I had fish & chips, which was kind of ho-hum.
(2)
Chris M.
I've been patiently contemplating the way I want to phrase this review for some time. With all the nonsense that occurs inside and outside the door of this "saloon", it has been a odd task to try to summarize it as concisely as possible. After my fourth or five visit though, I finally formulated a tentative thesis for this review. You know those groups of people who know they should stop partying but fail to follow through on their actions? Well if you do, and are tired of meeting them, do not come to McFadden's. Those who love to "rage" on the weekend are probably smiling with optimism for the hope of finding another bar where they can congregate with fellow ragers until 4 A.M. But if they are, they're probably not true ragers. For, a true rager would have already known about this spot, visited about 50 times, and only come back if they were kicked out of some other bar nearby. No, the ones who are smiling are those who have not yet experienced the dehumanizing sight of women in tight booty shorts dancing to the insipid tracks spun by a DJ who thinks he's CEO of a large company while overly drunk and obnoxious yuppies shout at them like they shout at the cabby who asks for a tip after all have left the vehicle. This is the picture that has been instilled in my mind after numerous visits to this bar. That and the $5 dollar beers and the bartender who's golden bottoms have been driven so far up her backside to reveal the fat protruding from underneath. The sad thing about this establishment is that while the employees are all well-mannered in the midst of a overly hectic job, and are probably cool outside a work environment as well, they are probably coaxed into such degrading dress from management and owners who could give a damn about their employees well-being and conception of themselves. Furthermore, I don't understand why there is a bathroom attendant at a bar which is the furthest thing from the definition of elegant. But even if it were elegant, a bathroom attendant is among the most alienating positions which business owners ever fathomed. If you can get into the bar I trust that you can take care of yourself when in the bathroom, but that's just me. In a word, this bar is simply despicable.
(1)
Nathan C.
Probably the best bar in the area for a younger person like me. I have always had a great time on the weekdays but on weekends it gets particuarly packed. On a Saturday night, I swear there seems to be more people trying to get in than are actually in the place. Like I said, a fine bar during the week (I particuarly like Texas Tuesdays for there $2 corona, tequilla, and quesadillas) but a little crowded during the weekend
(3)
Annie B.
McFadden's is the worst bar I have been to yet in Chicago. The service was terrible. The music is horrible and don't expect to get any help from the management when you have a complaint. This bar is sexist and full of sexist pigs who are non progressive in their views. I will tell as many people as possible to never set foot in this lousy excuse for a bar.
(1)
Alyssa F.
Yes, I'm giving McFadden's five stars, but hear me out. No, it's not the classiest establishment ever, but it knows what it is, it knows what it does, and it does it well. Are you looking to stay out until 4 or 5 in the morning? McFadden's has you covered. Dance floor? Check. (If you're a girl this area also extends to the bars and, if you're sitting there or if no one's sitting there, the booth next to the DJ booth.) The ability to get free shots poured down your throat? Check. I've even been the pourer twice, and I recommend trying it yourself (again, if you're a girl). If you are over the age of like, 25, you probably DO NOT want to come here on a weekend night, but if you're in your early 20s, if you're drunk and/or want to get drunk, and if you like dancing, then this not a bad choice, especially for the area. They also tend to give out free parties pretty easily, where the winner drinks for free and anyone else can pay $10 for an open bar from 9-12. The drink prices are not bad for the area at all, and while there will be the occasional creeper on the dance floor (especially one it hits like, 2 or 3) it's MUCH better than other bars on Clark/Division. And a lot lighter on the cougars/middle aged men. Like I said, it's not the classiest place ever, but it does what it does well.
(5)
Bob S.
McFadden's is at State and Divison so you have to expect a little bit of cheesiness, but if you can get over that and have a good group with you, it can be a really fun place. I came here on a Saturday night at 1am and surprisingly didn't have to deal with a line. Well, not outside anyway...it took forever to check our coats. It was like Thunder Dome in front of that window. After that, things were great. Despite being really crowded, it never took long to get a drink and waitresses circulating through the crowd helped ease the lines at both bars. They have a decent selection of music: it's far from cutting edge, but they keep the energy up and after a few drinks, you'll find yourself singing along.
(3)
Allie S.
This is pretty much my idea of hell. The drinks were weak and expensive. They were blasting Top 40 remixes and it wasn't even 10 p.m. There were more douchebags and skanky girls packed into the space than I ever hope to be near again. There was no place to sit - every table was marked "reserved" even though there was nobody at them. I hope I never have to go here again.
(1)
Lindsey F.
Yes, this is a college bar, but we had a great birthday party here. We made plans last minute to have a party here, because we ran into a few bumps along the way planning. Alicia swooped in and took care of everything efficiently. I had one small complaint at the beginning of the night, but again Alicia swooped in and fixed it. She set us up in the VIP room at not extra charge and we had a very nice waitress that brought extra drinks without even asking! Yes, it gets crowded. Yes the crowd is young, but that was the energy we were looking for this time. Thanks to Alicia!
(4)
Rahul S.
SO I came here for the third time. I came early, and they played 80's music. Then the music got modern as the night progressed. I was minding my own business and watching sportscenter. Then these two chicks come near by and start dancing right by me (one at the front, and one at the back). I usually ignore this. But then they dancing all over me. I'm thinking to myself....I don't feel like dancing, but there are two of them. No one was dancing here. So everybody was staring. It was quite awkward, but fun at the same time. But I wasn't dancing with full force since I didn't feel like dancing then (I wasn't drunk....i only dance when drunk). But they kept on dancing all over me for 10 minutes. One dude started dancing to the side (her friend).....Awkward. I was pretty much stiff when it came to dancing, but they kept on dancing with full force. They left for 30 seconds. Then one chick got in front of me, and was all over me again. I felt uncomfortable, and I didn't feel like dancing. Then I saw those two chicks dance on the bar stool...just as many chicks. One of their guy friends asked me that I was stiff out there. I told him I don't dance that much....but the truth was it was uncomfortable with all the people standing, and watching us dance. I really didn't expect this to happen, but it was fun nonetheless. :) I wonder why they came after me when they could have danced with other dudes. I heard of their guy friends telling them "what the hell are you doing" when they were dancing around me. It was still hilarious, and I would come here again. My only complaint is that this place is always crowded. SOmehow, chicks always end up wanting to dance with me at McFadden's.....
(3)
Jade C.
Ehhhhh, there's really no reason to go here. From service (attitude) to atmosphere (smells like puke) to the people (generally can't hold their drinks without spilling on you or causing someone else to spill on you). I guess it serves a purpose, but if you find yourself pumped to go here...you've been deceived either purposely or accidentally (based on someone "winning" a party) or you have questionable motives lol. Have fun if you can, I woudn't recommend going sober though...as it can be pretty rough. It's in probably the only area that it could actually thrive, otherwise this place is just suspect at best. Take at least 6 shots if you're jammed into attending for a bday party or something though.
(1)
sally m.
mcfadden's is a fun time if you know what you're getting yourself into. if you want a quiet place to chat or catch up, this is NOT it (obviously). if you want to get hammered on a friday while listening to a mix of '80s-'90s music (with some new songs mixed in), dancing around on a sticky dance floor, and getting rowdy then mcfadden's may be just the place for you. it's always been a sloppy night when we've gone there, and for that, i would recommend it. drinks aren't the cheapest, but bartenders are usually pretty quick, and the place stays open until 4 am. definitely a good time if you're in the mood for drunken debauchery!
(3)
Jeff C.
Dude? WTF
(1)
Dave F.
Not only is this bar a douche-bag wasteland, but they have taken to text messaging people (without permission) regarding their "great deals." I can skip the line and get a free shot NOW! OMG I'm on my way! The first time I went here - over 2 years ago - it was for a cheap happy hour and I got talked into filling out a card for a free happy hour or something. (I was dragged back two more times and each time I hated the place more than the last.) For awhile I got emails, but I just marked them as spam so no big deal. But for the last few months they have taken to texting me. There are no instructions in the message for how to be removed from the list and no way to do it on their web site. And on that stupid sheet I filled out over two years ago? Well, for one, I should not have put my real phone number...or filled it out at all. And two, I am completely certain that I did not give them permission to text me. To recap, McFaddens is terrible on its merits as a bar alone. This text message garbage takes it to a new level of awful. If your friend tries to drag you there because some guy/girl is there that they're trying to get with - you should sit your friend down and explain how much that person undoubtedly sucks. Seriously.
(1)
Lisa A.
Want to party with tourist then head to McFadden's. This is the kind of place you'll take your out of town guest but if you're a Chicagoan you'll more the likely stay away from the state and division scene. The beer is over priced, the wait staff is slow and the music is very loud. I took my friend there from L.A. based on a suggestion. I tried to get her out of there rather quickly. I wasn't able to have a conversation with her and it took us 20 mins to get a drink and our bill wasn't what I expected for beer in downtown Chicago. I was disappointed.
(2)
Tony C.
drink specials are awesome!
(5)
Ian R.
literally the worst bar in chicago.
(1)
A C.
Wow! I'm surprised at all the negative reviews given of this place! I had a great time here with a friend on a Monday. Sure, it wasn't a night when all the people bar-hop and dance- but on a weekday this was a great place to just chill, and hang out and watch a sports game. The waitress was very attentive, and friendly! I would definitely come back here again!
(5)
Anthony A.
Reviews are pretty accurate. The food was not good but not bad. The service was good and the people that work there were very nice to us. Great place to go on Thursdays because they have half off the entire menu including drinks.
(3)
Lauren B.
Blah. There was a medical convention going on in town the weekend I was there and for whatever reason it seemed like about 80 of the oldest doctors decided to descend on McFadden's the night I went. The rest of the crowd was pretty trashy AND trashed. The service was slow, the ground sticky/slippery and the music too loud. There are plenty of other bars nearby that I would choose over this one.
(2)
sarah w.
I booked a party at McFadden's for a friends bachelorette party in July. I know this is a typical bach place where the bride can dance on the bar and do those kind of things. It is what she wanted so I thought Mcfadden's would be perfect. We had 18 girls and I booked the party months in advance. I talked to Alicia to arrange all the plans. She was very nice on the phone and really seemed to want to make it a great night for us. We were supposed to have no cover, two reserved hightop tables next to the DJ, and domestic bottles/well drinks for $3 for three hours. I even reconfirmed all the details with Alicia two days before the party where she assured me we were a go and they would have the bride dancing on the bar and having the time of her life. We got to the bar on time and were let in without a problem. But then we were directed to some tables next to the front door which would be for people ordering food. The DJ is in the back. I waited about 20 minutes to find Alicia to speak with her about tables. When she came over, I reiterated our last conversation and she told me I misunderstood her and would get two tables right below the DJ. Thats bull, but I just wanted something at this point so the bride and other girl's could set their stuff down and get a drink. She moved some people (since she didn't have anything reserved) and gave us two hightops below the DJ next to some booths where people were eating their dinner. Then we all trIed to get drinks. This was an ongoing pain throughout the night. The bartenders kept changing and when someone would go to get a drink they would try and charge them more than the $3, telling them they don't know anything about a bridal party deal and we would have to talk to Alicia. How could they not know about a bach party!?! We all had the tell-tale boas and penis stickers and their were 18 of us! So I spent the first hour and a half looking for Alicia and arguing with the bartenders to not overcharge our guests. It was bullshit. They never once even recognized the bride. I went to Alicia more than two times and asked when they were going to get her a special shout out or dancing on the bar? She would just say "in a little while". Finally she told me to just give the DJ the bride's name myself. I did that (he too seemed bothered by me) and he one time said "lets hear it for Mrs. XXX! Congrats" That was it! What a joke. This place couldn't care less about anything but getting your money. They paid no attention to the bride or our party. We could have booked elsewhere and I will never recommend this to another bach party. There were 18 girls there and I hope they all write a bad review because this place deserves it. Don't plan a party at McFaddens and expect anything other than crappy treatment from the bartenders, host, and DJ.
(1)
Jody C.
I have a like/hate relationship with this place. If you can get drinks, and if you can find somewhere to stand, it's a fun place to drink and dance. However, most of the time the line is super long and its overly crowded inside. The bathrooms always have a huge wait. I'm talking 20 mins at least. Then you have to wait another 20 mins for a drink. That is not my idea of a fun time. Also, the last time i was there it was about 95 degrees inside. My friends and i hung out in the back room in front of a fan. I left looking like i'd just run a marathon.
(3)
rachel c.
Holy God is this place filled with meat-head choads. In the 20 minutes that we could stand being there, it took 15 to get a drink and in that time I had 2 drinks spilled on me. Joy.
(2)
Niki C.
Pros: - Free drink package. - Military men on leave. - Sing-along music. Cons: - Waitress who refused to serve my friend another wine until hers was finished, but then gave the guy to my left two beers when he still had 90% of his glass still to drink. - Stalker-esque military men who haven't seen a women in a lonnnnng time. - Location. At the corner of Rush & Division, it's at the apex of my two least favorite streets in the city. EDIT: I knocked another star off because we were there for "Ladies' Night" (Thursdays) & the following happened: 1. We were told that all appetizers were 1/2 off, but when we got the bill (we ordered 2 appetizers), we were charged full price. When we told the waitress, the words "I'm sorry," did not come out of her mouth. 2. As advertised on both their website & the signage in the bar, all martinis off of the Martini List were only $5. So we ordered two. I ordered the dirty martini (extra dirty); my friend ordered some sugary thing. When we received them, our waitress said, "Just so you know, dirty martinis aren't included." She still gave us (the first one, which turned out being the only one) the martini for $5, but still ... if you're gonna say all martinis on the martini list, be sure it's all martinis on the martini list (the dirty martini has some silly name, but that's what I ordered). 3. Our waitress did not give us an itemized receipt, which we tend to think was awfully sneaky since our appetizers were not 1/2 price & it wasn't until we sat there, musing about why the bill was so high with all the "great deals" we supposed to have received, that we realized it. Boo to that.
(2)
Lindsay G.
I took my parents here when they came to visit because it was cold outside and the bar is close to my apartment. After waiting 15 minutes for someone to notice us, we finally ordered. The food was okay but our waitress was a little stand-offish, which I thought was rude. It has a cool atmosphere, but It seemed to pull in a fairly young crowd. I would probably go there again with friends.
(3)
Amy J.
Not my favorite place at all. I've only been because it's down the street. I hated it. It reminded me of an adult style frat party. Service is slow, drinks are expensive, and it's really really hard to get a drink at the bar (always too crowded). There aren't enough tables, either. It's just not a comfortable environment, at all.
(2)
Tim C.
Some of the worst service I've ever had, I'd give it 0 stars if it were possible. The place was hardly busy, it was only like 4pm so otherwise I could forget some of their "quirks". What I wished to order they were out of - not a problem except for the server seemed like I was an inconvenience for not having a replacement immediately. My drink took forever to bring, which came out right before my meal. After that i was pretty much ignored until the moment she felt like telling me my bill was ready. I would avoid this place.
(1)
Trinh P.
I used to like this place but my experience gets worse each time. this is the last straw. I decided to help this girl who was drunk out of her mind and need ed to throw up. The bathroom lady just kept commenting on how we better not mess up the bathroom. I had tipped her earlier that night for handing me an stupid napkin that i could have reached for myself. Anyway, after the girl threw up and the bathroom lady just kept making these unnecessary comments. I told her to shut up because what do you expect, you work at a fucking bar. Then she proceeded to threaten me like she was going to punch me. I told her i fucking tipped her earlier. She was like, "you tipped me a dollar." i said, "ugh yeah for washing my own hands, i would hvae given you 50 if you were more polite" she proceeded to threatend beat me up. I'd have preferred that she did something rather than continue to threaten me. I am not impressed at this "ghettto bar." If you're going to kiss ass for tips, the least you can do is to realize you work in a bathroom at a bar. if i could, i would give this bar no stars.
(1)
Alice L.
Ok...so the only time I enjoy coming here is usually during the day or early evening. Before the crowds come in, McFadden's can be a great place to watch some games on the flat screens and enjoy some beers with friends. However, as soon as the late night bunch arrives, the place gets way too crowded. It gets pretty stuffy inside, and it's almost near impossible to get a drink at the bar. If you have a waitress, it takes just as long to get your drink since she usually has to push her way through all of the people to get to your table. On the plus side, they play a variety of music.
(3)
Margaret B.
Rude, obnoxious doormen out front. Always a line. And then so crowded when you're actually in that it's impossible to get a drink or get anywhere. I wish I could take the mostly good looking crowd inside and convince them to go elsewhere.
(1)
C M.
Ugh. Just like all the bars around when I was in college. So not the kind of place I want to go, having been out of college for more than a year. Needless to say, for some reason my best friend wanted to go here for a bit for her bachelorette party. We did, and it was soooo crowded it was ridiculous. I wasn't even aware they served food here. If they do, to go there in Sept of 2008, you would never have guessed. It was a Saturday night (since all but myself live in the city, and all but the two of us were living in other states), but it was scary crowded. Neither the matron of honor or myself were too happy about having to go there, but we weren't going to say anything. Shots were nasty, music was loud and bad, and people were everywhere. Definitely filled with some major douchenozzles, which we didn't come out to see. The bachelorette was totally drunk so I don't think she really noticed or cared, and at least she had fun. Especially when she proceeded to dance on the bar along with another bachelorette, who was dressed in a tank with a thong on top of her jeans. Classy. I will never go here again, willingly or not. The only purpose of this "establishment" is to give pathetic douchenozzles a chance to relive their college days with bad booze, bad music, and more of their kind than they know what to do with. Oh, and they dance too.
(1)
Darren M.
The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is because their french fries are good. The salt-and-pepper spices (believe it or not) were the perfect touch to make them pretty awesome. Now for the bad. 1. The smell of the entry vestibule should have been enough to make me turn around. It smelled like a combination of boys locker room, dirty laundry, and body odor. Not very appetizing. 2. When I asked the waitress what was more popular -- the Reuben or the Philly Cheesesteak -- her response was, "Well, I don't eat meat, so I don't really know." I didn't ask her what SHE liked better, I asked her what was more popular. Gee! She needs some training. 3. When I asked the waitress for a large glass of water as my drink, rather than the small plastic water cup, she said, "Well, we usually serve water in these little cups." I had to do some convincing for her to bring me a large glass! It was a hot day, and I don't drink pop or beer. I finally ordered the California Girl Wrap, which was okay enough to give a passing grade, but nothing to write home about. 4. The lady at the next table ordered a Shepherd's Pie. What they brought her was a small little thing in a soup crock .... Less than half the size of a shepherd's pie you'd get at any other restaurant. And that was for $13 !!! The lady complained (which I would have done too) until the management finally relented and gave her an additional cup of soup. She wanted to order a different item from the menu, but the management wouldn't let her do it, because they had already made the shepherd's pie. I felt this was very bad service on the part of the management. 5. It took forever for my waitress to bring me my check. Plus I never got a refill on my water glass. I guess we have to ration water in Gold Coast because we are SO FAR from a fresh water source! I won't be returning .... not even for the very good fries. This is not a place to sing praises about. In all, I will remember McFadden's for good fries, but small portions, poor service, stinky entry vestibule, and stingy with the water!
(2)
Rachelle T.
After a couple of pretty terrible nights at McFaddens I have refused to go back since last year. On the weekends it's over-crowded and generally packed with a mixture of tourists, a-hole frat boy types and trixies. There's always a line, although I cannot figure out why because it's really not that much fun, and last year one of my female friends got assaulted by a dude (yes, thats right, a male stranger hit my friend) in line and the idiot bouncer didn't even kick them out of line. Maybe it's better for happy hour but on weekend nights this place totally sucks.
(2)
T K.
As far as Rush and Division bars go, Mcfaddens is not that bad. The crowd on the weekends gets a little dicey, but for the most part it is a pretty laid back place. Good for a happy hour and great for a Guiness, you will still get the striped-shirt guys but they seem to be a little more average than the college or mid-life crisis crowds that swarm to other places.
(3)
Eric K.
This place reminds me of a college frat party. Lots of 20 somethings getting hammered, girls dancing on the bar, and people making absolute fools of themselves. I've always had a good time at this place, but not the place to go if you are looking to have a beer or two and a decent conversation.
(4)
Eric M.
McFaddens is pretty much the place everyone would go to in high school, had they been able to drink. It is a Irish themed bar inasmuch as it has 'Mc' before its name, it serves Guinness, and it has wood paneling. Besides that, it is about as Irish as Sony TV. The crowd tends to be a mix of white suburbia that has grown up and moved into the city, and anyone over the age of 30 stands out as being among the senior members of the crowd. Drinks are moderately priced (especially for the area), $3 for Bud and Corona, $5 for decent taps, and $6+ for well drinks. The music is hit and miss, as I have learned. It is often a decent mix of 70's, 80's, and 90's stuff with lots of favorites sung before any of the patrons were born being belted out by the speakers and those in attendance. Last night, however, the DJ was downright awful. He played a good deal of rap, which doesn't bother me as much as the fact that he had the music cranked up SO loud that the playback was getting dicey and my ears are still ringing. Even worse, he was completely ADD, changing the songs halfway through about 60% of the time. Pick a song and stick with, we're at war here! To its credit, McFadden's is always packed with people, but if you are not the button-down (with at least the first two buttons undone), polo, or otherwise young, preppy, suburban type, you may find yourself a bit out of place. If you are among the aforementioned cohort, however, go to McFadden's at least once, see if you run into someone from high school (you invariably will, especially if you were raised on the North Shore) and bring ear plugs just in case that awful DJ is there.
(3)
Linda N.
came here for a halloween costume party. small space especially when you have all these folks dressed in some pretty elaborate costumes. it gets super hot towards the back of the bar. bartenders were quick. we all got $20 wristbands for all you can drink well drinks and beer from 9-midnight, it was a pretty sweet deal. a bit awkward when we first got there though because the msu game was on. but luckily for us msu lost and all the angry fans cleared out pretty quickly. =P
(3)
Ryan P.
usually a pretty fun place.. but this place gets filled with young punk college douches on wednesdays who all think they are tough guys and try to start fights as soon as a bit of alcohol gets in them.. Not a bad place to go if you feel like punching a douchers face in when they inevitably start acting up.
(3)
Julia C.
The one time I was at McFadden's was for the Yelp happy hour. I had a blast and thought this was a really cool Irish bar. There was plenty of space to move around, although I hear that's not the case on the weekends. The waitress did a good job of making sure my hand had a glass of wine in it throughout the night. I plan on going back to McFaddden's very soon!
(4)
George K.
Okay... oh man. Why haven't I tried this place sooner? Pretty laid back, fun crowd, lots of TV's to watch sports, very close to my place right next to Bella and PJ Clarks. Food! I went here last night for dinner with a friend. I didn't know what to order but I was starving so I ordered for both of us :) Fish & chips and Cajun jambalaya soup. umm, I never had fish and chips before... I don't know okay... I felt like I'm the last person on earth who never seen what fish and chips looked like. Waitress laughed at me because I asked how does it come out? I honestly never tried them before. Duh.. Obviously, it had to be some sort of FISH and some sort of CHIPS, right? I wasn't sure how it would come out (I was anxious to see what it looked like) Hoped for no fish eye on my plate. Okay our order was coming out in few minutes... My friend told me to close my eyes until food came to our table so I would be surprised to see fish and chips... seriously, I was sweating and shaking my right leg underneath our table over FOOD! .. lol I don't eat fish often so... I ordered jambalaya for backup because I wanted to eat that one and she can have fish and chips. Did you know? Fish and chips is same thing as just fish sticks and fries? haha.. it wasn't bad at all, I'll have to order that more often :) You are suppose to dunk it in some sort of oil? weird but it tasted really good. Cajun jambalaya? HOTTT!! Holy smokes I was on fire. I wanted to drink some ketchup because our waitress didn't bring us any water. My glass of beer had little bit of ketchup floating in it. I have no idea how it got there. Maybe from me shaking the ketchup bottle on the fries so I didn't drink any beer. My mouth was on fire. Hottest jambalaya I ever had. I ended up eating most of fish and chips and she ate jambalaya. I will definitely go back here... after reading some reviews. Maybe only on weekdays. I can see this place could get very crowded. Highly recommend everyone try this place least once! Fish & Chips!! A++
(4)
Angela B.
I think McFaddens is really average...nothing special about it. Laid back crowd, really busy on weekends, and just OK food that we thought was overpriced. We rented out the private room (the Den) for a bachelorette party and the service was either terrible or amazing depending on which waitress wandered back there. I will say that there is absolutely nothing "Irish" about it other than the name!
(3)
Chris L.
Love McFadden's!
(5)
Shannon S.
I've been here a few times now. Good atmosphere, good crowd. Friday's they have a happy hour $10 for 2 hours of all you can drink. Not a bad deal. The waitstaff is pretty on top of things.
(4)
Kari S.
Extremely crowded on a Friday or Saturday night, but fun if you are in a group and want to hear some great music. I recommend going early to get a table or booth. Its in a good location to bar hop!
(3)
Louis A.
This place sucks hardcore. Disgusting drinks, too crowded, lame music, and it's filled w/ douchebags
(1)
Lindsey M.
Horrible, horrible, horrible. My God, I created a Yelp account just to review this place. Against my better judgement, went there with a few friends last night who convinced me this was the place to go for St. Patty's. WERE THEY WRONG. First off, while attempting to order a drink, I waited at least 10 minutes before a bartender even acknowledged me. I suppose I had an annoyed look on my face because she continued to serve people who had just stepped up to the counter even though i was patiently waiting and even had my money ready. First, she told me that I "needed to relax" then told me she wasn't going to serve me because of my attitude. I didn't even say anything! I was livid at this point. I was also not impressed but the unattractive half dressed women dancing on the bars. Really? This isn't a frat party, and some of these women looked much older than 22. Would it kill you to act just a tad classier? So then, my sister and a friend were in line for the bathroom, and the women's line was ridiculous. Of course the men's line was empty so they decided to just go for it. The bathroom attendant rudely yelled and my sister and friend to "get the fuck out" and forcefully grabbed my friend's arm who's about a third his size.To cap off the night, a busboy came barreling through with a garbage can full of ice and knocked my sister in the head with it and knocked her over. He then barely acknowledged what he had done and mumbled out sorry before walking away. Overall, this bar offers the WORST service of any bar I've ever been to in Chicago. The clientele consists of trashy, stumbling, mediocre looking girls and horny, sloppy, ex-frat tools just looking to get laid. Needless to say, I won't be returning to McFadden's. Ever.
(1)
daniel w.
I've lived in Chicago less than a week, but I've been to McFadden's many times during my visits to Chicago and this past weekend. Really cool bar with a good looking crowd. It is pretty crowded and annoying to wait in line (I'm not used to this cold weather), but I always have a good time here.
(4)
Jared S.
McFadden's is always a good time. I was here Friday night after not being here in weeks and as usual I had a great time. It is a pretty young crowd, but that never bothers my buddies and I.
(4)
Rachel N.
I agree with all these reviews...McFadden's is such a fun bar! It's pretty low key,. but has great music and it's always crowded. It used to be super crowded when it first opened, but the crowds are dying down so I like it better now.
(4)
Aubrey K.
We just checked out McFadden's this weekend and I had a blast with my friends. The main attraction is that the DJ plays the best music ever. There was not a single song that we didn't want to dance to. I beat the line but I noticed it was growing pretty rapidly past 10 or so. I'll be going back for sure.
(4)
Dru G.
This place was cool when it first opened...fun crowd, good music. I went here last weekend for the first time in a while and I couldn't belive how young it has gotten. I don't think there were many people over 22 in this bar. It's too bad because I really liked this bar and it's in a great location!
(3)
Jasmine P.
Wow, such a drastic difference from the last time I was here. I returned with friends for $2 drinks on Tuesday. We came to dance too. I was thoroughly disappointed. THE DJ SUCKED! I strongly dislike when DJs play music only they like. He was balding and clearly stuck in an era. He wouldn't accept requests, though he said he would. He played music that was good at a time (late 90s) and a lot of britney spears. Gosh, he played *N SYNC's "bye bye bye!" I am a fan of *N SYNC, but really was he expecting us to break out into choreographed dance in the middle of the dance floor? My friend and I got up on the bench to dance to the one good song he played and just stood there bobbing our heads to the less danceable songs. When we finally decided to request a song, he replied to us with, "what? after you ignored me up there?" WHOA! I'm sorry, I didn't know I was having a non-verbal conversations with the guy in the DJ booth, especially considering I didn't even know where the DJ booth was until 30 seconds before we made our request. Oh, and let's not forget how professional it sounded everytime he got on the microphone and said, "sorry, sorry everyone, I've only got one CD player going right now!" (He did this about 4 times within an hour; we didn't stick around to see how many more times he would do this.) He was unprofessional and bad for business. I might try to check out McFadden's on the weekend like the first time I came here, when the crowd (and hopefully DJ) are better, but I wouldn't take my chances here during week ever again. Not even for cheap drinks.
(1)
Emma L.
I've tried to go to McFadden's many times in the past month, but it's absolutely impossible to get in without waiting at least 30 minutes in line and it's way too cold for that! I finally made my way to this popular Irish bar for Yelp's first happy hour last night. As a new member of Yelp it was great to meet all the other members- everyone was very nice! I also think McFadden's is a really cool bar...there were some people there, but not overly crowded for an early evening during the week. Our waitress was very attentive and had a drink in my hand before I even finished my last one. Thanks again to Andrea and Elizabeth for inviting me! I'm looking forward to the next happy hour.
(4)
Dana P.
Think it is a really fun place. It gets very crowded though and the lines can be long. Yelp's happy hour was a lot more chill and relaxed than the place is normally on the weekends. But, the music on the weekends is fantastic and fun. Definitely recommend checking it out.
(3)
elizabeth n.
This laid back atmosphere of McFadden's is a perfect place to relax and do a happy hour after a long day of work. The lines do get very long on the weekends, so I try to go there during the week. They have a spacious bar and you won't have a problem getting a table if you go during the week. They play great music, and the service is excellent! I will definitely be going back for after work drinks again!
(4)
Abby L.
Big fan of McFadden's! First I love Irish bars, and second- this one is one of my favorites. They play great music- love dancing with friends here and it's a really fun laid back crowd. Great spot for a happy hour or drinks with the girls.
(4)
Zach A.
Tried this popular new Irish bar this weekend for an early St Patty's day celebration. It was crowded like every bar on Saturday afternoon, but it was fun! Great music and fun people.
(4)
Dan B.
Alexis kept the drinks coming. Good place to go for happy hour.
(4)
peter b.
Cool Atmosphere + Alexis the server + DJ spinnin 80's beats = GOOD TIMES
(4)
ali a.
I was just there this past weekend for a friend's bday and I loved it! They play the best music if you want to dance and the atmosphere is alot of fun. The line was a little long, and we were able to get in because of a friend's birthday, but i'm not sure i'll be able to get in in the future. I think you would just need to get there really early. Overall a great new bar though!
(4)
Madeline L.
I checked this place out with some friends for a drink after work. It was the perfect place to have a low key drink and sit down after a long day. It had a really fun crowd and played great music. The only reason for the 4 stars was because we were really in the mood for an appetizer but none of the appetizers on the menu looked appealing to us. So we drank instead!
(4)
Ed L.
There is a very good reason McFadden's is so crowded. It's a very fun bar! I've been here many times now and every time has been great. I still haven't tried the food, but I have looked at the menu and it looks like typical bar food.
(4)
Tracy M.
Tried this new Irish bar last night for the first time. I expected to wait in very long lines based on the reviews, but it actually wasn't too bad. I waited for about 10 minutes, but once I got in there was plenty of room to move around. Fun crowd, great music...I'll be back!
(4)
Skylar C.
I guess I missed the first Yelp happy hour that all these reviews seem to be raving about, but I've been to McFadden's a few times now and each time has been so much fun! I agree that the line is long to get in, but great music and a really fun crowd once you get inside.
(4)
Samantha L.
Since McFadden's opened months ago I've been coming here almost every weekend and it's a guaranteed good time. McFadden's attracts a really fun crowd and they play awesome music. There have been many nights recently that we've gone to other bars in the area and we always seem to end up at McFadden's because we know it will be a fun night.
(4)
Jason K.
Unfortunately, I was only able to show up for the beginning of tonight's first Yelp happy hour due to a prior work engagement. However, in the short amount of time I spent at McFadden's I was very impressed. Our waitress was very friendly and brought me a drink immediately. The music was pretty good and it seemed like a popular place, even early on a Thursday evening. I'll have to go back to McFadden's soon to check it out. Overall a great night and I'm looking forward to more Yelp happy hours!
(4)
Lo S.
Always have the best time here... by far the most fun bar in the city!! Drinks are overpriced, but if you are a girl then you should be fine ;) Would definitely recommend for an all-you-can drink party * the back bar is great for this! Fun music, great crowd (not your typical Moe's college scene), and awesome location right around Rush/Division make this hot spot worth making your regular hang-out.
(4)
Matt S.
this place blows. period. id rather get drunk in a garage with 2 people i hate then go back to this non stop dork fest.
(1)
Henry J.
Overrated. Always too crowded, impossible lines to small bathrooms. Rip off prices on special occasions, and the staff is rude and unprofessional. There are much better alternatives, but if you believe the hype, check it out for yourself.
(1)
Becca L.
This place annoyed me at first because it is always super crowded and my friends always seem to be celebrating their birthdays here. I'm not a big fan of waiting in line, but the last few times I've been it hasn't been as crowded and the line seems to be moving much faster. Now I'm a huge fan of McFadden's because once you are inside they play awesome music and it's a lot of fun.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Very Loud Music : DJ Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Amy H.
Twas the night before Thanksgiving and all through the house, I was sick of being sick. I wanted to get soused! In years past, I usually stay home the night before Thanksgiving, but this year I really felt like going out. So, I gathered up some friends and someone suggested McFadden's. I had never been there before, but $1 Miller High Life in a can sounded like a great idea. I got there early to have some food and I ordered the buffalo chicken tenders. I took a few bites and realized that the chicken was raw. That's right...RAW. Completely raw in the middle. EEEEEWWWW!!!!! The manager (I think he was the manager) Zack was completely apologetic. He gave me a refund, an order of fries per my request, and a fresh can of High Life. The good news is that I didn't get food poisoning, which was great! I was just getting over the flu and I didn't want to be sick anymore. I liked how nice Zack was and how he handled the situation, but come on...a kitchen that serves raw chicken?!?!?! Gross.
(1)Sarah D.
Every time I escape this place without waking up the next morning on a strange soiled mattress with a black eye and vaginal tearing I consider it a personal victory.
(2)GossipGirl l.
TOP 5: Dislikes 1. $5.00 cover 2 long line ta get in 3 long lines at washroom! 4 small washroom 5 too crowed! TOP 5: Likes 1. good music 2. good looking people 3. private room in the back 4 friendly staff 5 NBA player party here! shh i dont care for much for rush street, but this place isnt sooo bad, just way way too many people!! and the girls there are slutty-all up on guys just soo they'll get a free drink-classy
(3)RJ T.
People would like this place a lot more if they took it for what it is: one of the best college party bars in Chicago. It's a bunch of kids, getting drunk and out of control. If you are over 25, you might not like it, but otherwise, enjoy. Servers are all incredibly nice and friendly people.
(4)Tom F.
At 10 o'clock on a Saturday, this place is that bar on your college campus that was just slammed with people preening their feathers for each other. That you didn't go back to after Freshman Year. The shoulder-to-shoulder tavern-gone-club when they turn the music up so loud you can't hear the person next to you. Is that supposed to encourage close contact, or just a sense of confusion? Try not to think about the fact that you paid for the pleasure. This place didn't strike me as a Restaurant or a Saloon; maybe earlier in the night. Cover for guys and girls the night I was there. The only salvation was the waitress set up with a tub of beer on ice halfway back, so we didn't have to try and bodysurf up to the bar, where I can only assume the Long Island Ice Tea per capita is somewhere in the 'astronomical' range.
(1)Erin H.
I had a single beer in this bar (and a free shot of Jameson) on a Saturday night. I guess it was pretty early because I wasn't seeing too much 21-year-old-girl cleavage just yet. This place appears to be a happening spot for the early 20's crowd that likes to get down and... well, dirty. This place smelled like stale beer and vomit. I was NOT impressed. Luckily we only stopped here because my friend wanted to stop by and give a hello to one of his bartender friends. I'd probably want to check this place out on a Sunday for football, I am assuming the daytime crowd is heaps different than the Saturday night on the prowl crowd. Although my experience here basically sucked, I will have to admit that the music was pretty awesome.
(2)Keith C.
I've never really understood why I keep coming back to McFaddens. Probably because they are open until 5am and the place has always been packed when I've got. The girls aren't that come here aren't too bad but I'm usually destroyed by the time I get there. We usually come to McFaddens if we're just hitting up bars for the evening. If it's club night, then we'll go to a club that closes at 5 once the current club that we're at closes at 3. The drinks aren't too expensive.
(3)Gray C.
black mold growing all over the ceiling by the windows where they served me my food, horrible service, "happy hour prices" were the same as standard prices elsewhere. Judging by the crowd and the conversations I'd say this is either a great underage bar or incoming sophomores are getting older every year.
(1)Jason H.
We went here for a wristband party, all you can drink wells and miller lite for $20. Its a good place to party. It was half bar half club feel. The music is pretty loud but the crowd has energy and its definitely a place to dance. They play all of the recent pop hits/remixes but in pretty good taste. Probably more of a singles place but my wife and I had fun anyway.
(4)Jerome P.
Chelsea awesome, Melissa awesome, McFaddens awesome, great drinks wonderful service terrific bartender (Chelsea) two thumbs up.
(4)kara c.
1. Everyone is right when they say it's like a college bar, College bars are fun, except when there are 40 year olds acting like college kids. (keep in mind I'm only 22) 2. The waitresses are kind of slutty. They where short shorts where their butts hand out and dance on the bars and pour blue shots in your mouth. 3. The DJ sucks 4. They sometimes give plastic cups, which is annoying because I get jipped on the drink! I like going there when I am: 1. Get free drinks 2. Am really plastered
(2)Beth A.
HATED this place...only went once and will never go back (neither will the 10 people i came with) went on halloween...friends had a package deal half an hr into our package the bar was out of everything but coors light...yumm...so glad i paid for my all inclusive wrist band place was packed so tight steven tylers pants have more room in them ladies beware if i remember correctly there were a whopping 2 bathroom stalls...resulting in over a half hr wait for the washroom (i had to bribe the guys attendant one round to let me in otherwise i woulda peed my pants waiting) waitresses...bartenders and bouncers were not only incompetent (didnt know what beers they had...didnt know how to make simple drinks...couldnt keep track of who had been waiting or who drinks went to) but they were also incredibly rude ex. a cocktail waitress spilled an ENTIRE tray of drinks on me...didnt apologize, didnt offer to get me a towel...just shrugged her shoulders and walked away---i was livid and on my way out (as soon as i dried off) told the bouncers (cause mgmt was nowhere to be found) and they just laughed as they muttered sorry she was probably busy
(1)John L.
To quote the great Danny Glover in his finest role "I'm too old for this shit." Anyway was with a group and someone knew someone who worked here and promised free drinks, so we ended the night here. It felt very college-ish in the average age of the patrons, the slut-tastic staff pushing plastic ramekin shots of blue colored liquor, the meat market/total fire hazard vibe, and the horrendous hodgepodge of music coming from the DJ. One MJ song, then awful hip hop, then that Journey song that needs to go away NOW. The crowd would sing along and the DJ would cut the volume during choruses. Yeah, that kind of party. Maybe it is upcoming b-day, but I was def feeling old and out of place. My 2 star rating reflects that, but if you like or want the above description, this is the spot to go.
(2)Brian P.
HAH! Went here for a night out with some NW med students. I am a recent transplant from NYC, and I just want to express my shock and awe with the amount of money it takes to get tipsy in Chi. WOWEE it's cheap--rampage! It's a bar. With a dance floor. It's not a club, but is worth a rollicking good time. They have college bar down to a pinhead, they know the niche so well. ugh it's a chain, i just found out, but for what it's worth, it doesn't feel like it while you're there. yes, it's where college kids go to dry hump. if you're in for the spectator sport, you may find this entertaining, but if you want to do otherwise, i suppose you can't go wrong here. HA someone gave this place 2 stars for being a place for "unsavory people" WONDERFUL, that's a sign that they're doing something right.
(2)Spartacus C.
Bartenders were awesome... but the DJ was even better. He said over the mic, "Excuse me Miss... please pull down your dress. We can see your urethra." They also let my girlfriends dance on top of the bar and give shots to the crowd ala coyote ugly. Other than that, is a pseudo dive / college kid-esque crowd that likes to dry hump.
(3)Aline W.
I came here with some friends the other night and had a nice time. We just missed the $10 all-you-can-drink special (9-11 PM i think), so ended up paying regular price. The drinks were kind of pricey compared to other bars around this area. However the Long Island I got was SUPER strong, so I guess you can say I got my money's worth. For those looking to dance, there's no dance floor here...so go somewhere else. But if you really can't help yourself, there's a small platform at the back of the bar where you can jiggy it up. That's where you'll find some quite eccentric people who can bust out some never-seen dance moves. Overall, go there if you want to drink 'til you drop for $10.
(2)Esto P.
The food here is pretty decent, run-of-the-mill pub grub. I had the burger, which was alright, also a "glass of sprite" was served to me in a tiny plastic cup with no ice? Keep in mind I went here around 5pm for some food! One thing that really made me want to write a review was the smell. It literally smelled like a busy men's room on taco night. Every time the mens room door opened, some kind of stank breeze just emanated from it wafted over my girlfriend and I made me want to gag. The crowd at that time seemed to be the usuals, who were busy occupying the entire staff with stories etc...
(2)Felicia M.
I enjoy going to McFaddens. My friends and I have won multiple happy hour parties here. There is never a dull moment at McFaddens. The bartenders are always friendly, and the rest of the staff is great too. Kristen, the event coordinator, is ALWAYS nice and friendly. I suggest everyone try the Mac&Cheese Bites = DELICIOUS!!!
(4)Stephanie Y.
McFadden's is decent, for sure. I have a few friends who have "won" parties here (which they seem to give out like candy), and I've had one myself. It's a fun deal - cheap drinks and good company. I don't think McFadden's really knows what it wants to be, tho. It's kind of a mix of frat boys, old couples, and small amounts of hipsters. I'm not complaining if I get to drink for free or cheap.
(3)Demetrius W.
Never been here prior to Friday and I'm not dying to get back. I had fun but I usually have fun at some of the worst places (depending on the people i"m with). It's an faux Irish Pub but it had a $5 cover for the guys. Umm I'm from the Southside where some of the best Irish Pubs are in Chicago (Cork & Kerry) and I'm not use to paying a cover. They fail and delivering the Irish Pub feel which is kind of shocking. Wait you're suppose to be an Irish Pub but why are you trying to be Coyote Ugly? Girls dancing on the bar pouring liquor in guys mouth..Maybe if the girls were hotter...I wouldn't be complaining? *shrugs* My friend did say that it was a place that's only fun when you have a group. Well my other friends never made it. So no group and no real fun at this place. Plus one of those skanks on the bar wasted some liquor on my friend and I.
(2)Antoinette D.
McFaddens is terrible, even when you arrive drunk. #1- the DJ sucks beyond belief!!! It's been the same guy every time i've gone and each time i've tried to request songs that people can actually dance to. He doesnt get that no one wants to listen to his shitty CDs from the 90s. #2- the service sucks. the bartenders flirt and talk to each other behind the bar and act like the customers are a 2nd priority. one especially irritated bartender was wearing a tie around his head. i have no idea what that was about. #3. the idea of girls dancing on the bar = fun! so i kept this mind when everything else sucked. however, this turned out to be a 250lb girl in a shirt dress who ended up puking chunks all over her bare legs. the bouncer handed her a trash can. he didnt even speak to her, let alone kick her out!! This place is dirty (expect sticky puke floors) with horrible music and some questionable fellows....save yourself and just dont go!! I give McFaddens one star because the bathroom attendant woman was very nice and had some bomb ass candles.
(1)kat m.
Wish I hadn't visited on INVENTORY day! I visited on a Wednesday night on a whim.(Just wish my disappointment radar was on) After seating ourselves, we realized waiting for our server was going to feel like an initiation test. After using my telepathy the server greeted us with a "WORST DAY EVER" disposition. Soon enough I'd realize what was up her butt... Seems to have been inventory day at McFadden's because ALL OUT seemed to be a growing trend. No Fruit, No Napkins(Wash room paper towels instead), and No Pint glasses for my beer =(. The did have nice specials but besides the beer in the can for $2.00 on Wednesday , the $3.00 well drinks are too small for the price believe it or not. Womp womp womp is all I have to say about McFadden's...
(2)J R.
I give it a three because I had a fun drunken time. I'm sure if I walked in there stone sober I would hate it. I also like that it is an MSU bar. I am alumni. For anyone who went to MSU, this place is a huge reminder of Rick's. Luckily for me, I came in half in the bag already. They have a dancer who works there 3/4s naked and I believe that is why there are so many men there. HAHA. It's not the Crème de la Crème of bars but it's a fun time if you are really drunk. Sober-not so much. P.S. The cover is so asinine.
(3)Andrea G.
McFadden's is the kind of place that you either start or end your night, but is definitely not a destination. The crowd ranges from underagers with fake IDs to cougars and creepy old men popping viagra (ladies, alas, these are your best bets for free drinks. But take your drink and RUN) McFadden's always has specials, like all you can eat and drink for $20, or unlimited wine and beer for $10 within a certain time frame (usually 8-10). This place is usually relatively full early in the night, often with a happy hour crowd, but also with pre-gamers. Go early to beat the cover.
(3)Derrick W.
Nothing special about this place..
(2)John H.
Where does one even begin with this veritable Mecca of douchery? McFadden's is such a worthless establishment that I actually signed up with Yelp to write about it. If you think any publicity is good publicity, keep reading, and I'll make damned sure that you'll change your mind. If you don't mind waiting in a roped off line for twenty minutes, the doorman is happy to relieve you of $5 for the privilege of entering. Ridiculous as charging cover for an "Irish" bar might seem, it's probably the most sensible thing about the place. Because despite the cover, McFadden's is almost always absolutely jammed with people. And I'd like to think that at least some of the other patrons were there just to see the worst bar in Chicago in action. You know, to give them something to tell their grandkids. To use Noel Gallagher's take on System of a Down: "After I went to McFadden's, I thought, I'm actually alive to have been to the shittiest bar ever. Of all the bars that have gone before and all the bars that'll be in the future, I was around when the worst was around." It follows that such a crowded place wouldn't be suitable for anything but screaming at the person next to you. That's neither here nor there. However, it should be known that the music here sucks of its own accord. This is what you should expect, though, from a bar that has a DJ. Another thing that belongs in clubs, not bars: go-go dancers. And the poor girls don't even get a cage to dance in at McFadden's; they're forced to strut their stuff on top of the bar. When this happens, every nimrod within 50 feet will move toward her for an extended upskirt glance, making it impossible to get a drink. Only McFadden's could actually hire a dancer to attract customers and keep them from spending money in the process. If you can actually fight your way to the bar, you can choose from one of about five draft beers. Don't expect the Guinness to be on tap that night, because it's not like McFadden's is an Irish place or anything. And if you're there a bit later in the evening, you won't have to worry about holding a big heavy pint glass, because they will run out of them. No worries, you'll get a 10-oz plastic cup (same price) instead. According to the bartender, they're practically the same size. Not much needs to be said about the bathrooms, because it's a bar. It's not going to be nice. But I can never get over the bathroom attendant thing. Every cent they earn is the product of guilt, not gratitude. The only time I'm going to tip you is if I'm drunk, there's ice in the urinals, and you're blasting Wilson Pickett on your mini-stereo. Talk to the guy at Hugo's Frog Bar for advice on this. Also, it helps to actually clean the bathroom once every couple of hours. In an area chock-full of very bad bars, McFadden's takes the cake.
(1)Justin O.
I don't get the obsession that some people have with this place and why they pay cover to get in. Scratch that, skanctly clad near 21ers are allowed to dance on the tables. This is at least one reason for a single guy in the city. I've never been blown away by this place and there are to many other more authentic Irish pubs to grab a pint at in this city.
(2)Vickie L.
My review is on brunch only, as I've never had the experience of a lovely night out here :-P The place was virtually empty when we went on a Saturday afternoon. I guess it was the weather, we really wanted to sit outside, but had to settle for a booth inside the dark bar area. Bloody Mary's and mimosas were cheap, I think only $2-$3 each. Both were huge! The mimosa was served in one of the small drink glasses, not one of the tiny champagne glasses other places serve theirs in - score! Brunch menu wasn't very extensive, but it was cheap. We all opted for lunch food. Food was just average, nothing special, but also not bad. I got the chicken caesar wrap - every place has the same problem of too much wrap, not enough lettuce, and too much dressing. Extra points for having tater tots! Waitress - she was your typical sorority girl waitress. She was dressed in tight fitting yoga/workout clothes with her boobs hanging out. Must be nice to come to work in comfy spandex-y clothes. Smokers voice. She was really nice and really attentive though. Tip - I had a restaurant.com gift certificate for $25 off $35 meal, so our meal was super duper cheap afterwards.
(2)Justin G.
I would have thought the trashiest place I went last night was a strip club. Nope, McFadden's.
(1)Santiago A.
Here are the only two reasons a person would what to go to McFadden's: 1) It's open until 4am, so rolling in at around 3:30am on a weekend comes with a 70% chance of bagging a really drunk chick looking to play "ouch, ouch, you're on my hair" or "just the tip, just for a second to see how it feels". 2) Tuesdays have $2 any drink and $1 sliders (chicken, burger, and pulled pork). The chicken ones are great, the pulled pork is ok, but has a little bit too much sauce, and the burger ones were charred beyond recognition. Also, it is trivia night. I love trivia nights and the prize money will more than cover you and your friend's bar tab. If it doesn't, then chances are you drank so much that you probably didn't win anyway. So, I recommend you go here on a Tuesday and get hammered for very little $
(2)Donn M.
If you are a college student this is a great place to hang since everyone is pretty much a student at a nearby school. I've always had a fun time here. The drinks are very cheap and if you call ahead of time to set up a bracelet deal you get get a lot of bang for your buck. I came for a birthday once and our table got a complementary bottle of champagne. Their food is not too great but for the price they ask I suppose it is has an ok value proposition. The bouncer was always nice to me but hard on kids that obviously aren't 21. Ok for dancing and play old hits from late 90's to current top 40. One time Afro Man showed up which was kind of funny. I would visit again but only for another 5 years since the age group is early 20's. The bathrooms are not clean and yet they have a bathroom attendant. But then again the crowd could care less about someone else's bathroom.
(5)Trinidad F.
The first time we tried this place it was because they had 2 dollar drinks all nite!!! That definitely called our attention!!! The turn off was that there was NO LIQUOR in the drinks. Lol. U can't even taste it. We had about 12 drinks each and didn't even feel buzzed. The place got packed pretty quickly that nite. It was only 10 and we couldn't get to the bathrooms!!! Also, the DJ was GREAT!! He had everyone jumpin!!! This weekend was terrible. We hit the place up around 930 and got drinks. Again, the drinks were disgusting. I ordered a Hurricane and it tasted like Hi-C juice. Lol. The DJ was annoying!!!! This guy wasn't even trying. We were so upset we simply walked out. We won't be returning.
(1)Bill M.
Definitely one of the most offensive places I've ever stepped into. The DJ will spin you the pop hits of 1997, the bros with backwards white baseball hats will high five and raucously sing along to the sweet Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth jams, the only people with any pigmentation in their skin are stuck working in the bathrooms giving you paper towels and mints (is this 1930?) for meager tips (which no one gives), the staff wont' give you the time of day if you're not willing to blow them in a back room, and just overall it's not a good time. Friends of mine won those "$10 ALL YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK FOR 2 HOURS" type deals and even with that going for it I was miserable.
(1)Meghan B.
Had guests in town who wanted to do happy hour "somewhere downtown", on a Saturday evening, with 2 kids in tow. Sooo.... Long story short, we landed in here because it met our criteria as best as possible. They were out of most of their draft beers (on a Saturday evening??), so that was kind of a bummer. The beers they did have were served in plastic cups. Perhaps it was serendipitous, as Bud Light and plastic cups just feel right. But still. I object to both offenses. Service was friendly, particularly given the two kids we had with us. Our server was really sweet about accommodating us. Food was OK. Their bleu cheese chips were good... but awfully heavy. Typical bar fare, I suppose. Worst part was the clientele. It was like a sad basement dude party, with said dudes yelling way louder than the game warranted. I now will never, ever root for the Eagles. Bathroom was horrid. Like the out-of-TP-watch-for-TB situation you expect in a dance club at 2am. But this was Saturday. At like 5:30. And it wasn't that busy. Yeah... I'm not going back.
(2)Ed L.
So this is what a "douche bag" bar is like... As soon as I arrived in Chi-town, my cousin took me straight to McFadden's... There are no other words that describe the clientele here better than douche bags and chicks. Similarly, there's nothing that can describe the bar, with its overabundance of flatscreens with sports galore, and a blaring sound system. I couldn't hear most of the night. Good thing I had free drinks all night courtesy of my cousin's buddy who was working the bar... And when it's 3am the dudes and chicks are still wide awake, this 5am bar is the go-to, if only because it's one of the few places in "the 'hood" still serving. Pros: Free drinks, chicks.. Cons: Douche Bags...
(3)Helena B.
$5 cover!? Don't even start with the "It's only $5," because I just paid FIVE DOLLARS to get into MCFADDEN'S. Once through the door, I see what the $5 was for. It's a veritable orgasm of people-watching in here, and McFadden's has crushed as many people as humanly possible into their bar to ensure my viewing pleasure. My favorite act was the bachelorette party dancing on a booth to "Back That Ass Up". Gold star to the bridesmaid in the supershort skirt giving money shots to the crowd each time she crouched down. Next, to the bathroom. What misogynist designed this place!?! Two stalls!?! Come on now. Then, to the dance floor. I haven't seen this many people being awkwardly groped since a dance in my Junior High gym. However, should I have alternate career aspirations, it helps to know that I could come be a DJ at McFadden's as apparently there is no need to be able to "blend" one song into another. Blending seems tricky. Should this bar get an extra star for me being grinded upon by a boy who started college after I was done with the entire endeavor...? Nah.
(1)Jacob J.
Do walk around that corner and check this bar out. Spacious place, plenty of seating. Though very crowded on weekends. Bartenders and waitresses do a great job. Heavy pours on the mixed drinks. Though drinking a mixed drink from a plastic cup just sucks. It must be plastic some nights, because its special, i.e. Stoli cocktails $3 Monday nights. Wednesday - weekend are great nights to find plenty more action. Crowd is usually mild. Ivory usually. If your thing is checkin' out cute white girls, you'll enjoy the time.
(3)Drucilla D.
Quite simply just A-OK... I went to McFadden's a couple of weeks ago for an industry networking event. The food was not amazing but the $20 all you could eat buffet and all you could drink wine, beer and well drinks was quite a good deal! Out of desperation (and because of the frigid weather outside), I ended up back at McFadden's last Sunday in hopes to watch some football. Seating was not plentiful as there was plenty of underutilized floor space, the TV's were not easy to see and the one closest to us featured TENNIS (on a Sunday in Chicago? seriously?) AND there were only TWO servers on duty for the entire place. The only reason I am really giving this place three stars is because the food is actually quite good. Mozzarella sticks are about $1.50 a stick but they're delicious, the New England Clam Chowder was actually really damn good and the bites I sampled of the burger and fries were pretty lovely as well. The drink specials looked decent (they had 5 Miller Lites in a bucket for $13 and $3 Jager-Bombs the day I was there), but if it wasn't for the food, I'd probably never consider going back. Oh, AND, the bathroom stall doors suck. Though I had mine locked tightly (from the inside), I underestimated what it would take to open it from the other side and I ended up flashing an unprepared patron. That's never enjoyable...For either party involved.
(3)Susan F.
2 Stars for a huge bar with good music. The only problem is, the female bartender def stole my friend's credit card--she wasn't even drunk! The bartender handed her receipt in a black folder with no credit card in it. She asked her where it was and the woman told her to look on the floor. I looked on the floor, too. NO credit card. Fishy fishy, don't try to take advantage of people you think are drunk!
(2)Scott A.
There is a large sign on the wall inside McFaddens that advertises a half off special all day every Thursday. Tonight was Thursday. I ordered two Crown on the rocks, my bill was $20. Does this mean that a crown on the rocks on a normal night is $20, and in actuality I was getting the deal of my life... well, even if this was true, the amount of liquor poured in did not equal the amount of money paid for said liquor. What a joke. In addition: 1. Does anyone ever mop the floors at this place? My shoes start to hate me by the end of the night (which tonight was 11:15, what a great bar that it could keep me out so late...) 2. Why is the clientele always 70% men? And why are these men major douches that will actually stumble in between me and the girl I'm talking to in an attempt to get the girl's number? 3. Why the hell do I keep going back here? It is no longer enough that my friends are suckers for free booze, I think I'm pulling a Joe's on Weed for this place and officially retiring. Goodbye McFaddens, you will easily be replaced.
(1)aldrich b.
Wow, don't know about the restaurant, but the nightlife scene is not for me. Definitely geared for the college/just out of college crowd of rush and division. First of all, $5 cover for a bar that serves drinks in a plastic cup.....not even cups that look like glass but are made of plastic, but literally plastic cups you buy from costco. And they still charge drink prices like a chicago nightclub. The clientele is young and fun, but the music is horrible and outdated. The bartenders were nice, though service will vary.....one took forever to make 5 drinks. I still cant' get over paying $7 for a kettle on the rocks and having it served in dixie cup filled with ice. Good place to go if you want that college bar experience. But go somewhere else if you're looking to impress or have a rockstar nightlife experience.
(2)Brooke W.
Went to McFadden's for the first time ever last night because my friend won a party there-all you can drink for $10 dollars-sold! I have to say I didn't come in with any expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw there was a DJ playing good music. Anyone who knows me knows that I can dance all night and boy did I dance all night long. The crowd is fun-bro-y, 20s, college kids (like myself), an overall fun crowd. Definitely go check out McFadden's, it's a good time!
(4)Erin B.
I think that if I was a just newly turned 21-year-old college co-ed I would love this place. Or maybe if I was underage with a great fake, I'd love this place too. I came here to meet friends on Halloween after the Yelpoween party. Let's just say, thank god I had a bunch of beverages already in me. The line here was insane, and they made you pay a lame cover. (I hate that) Inside they kept promising some sort of "local celebrity" which never showed up. Music was subpar at best, and the clientele was either cougars, or underagers. Thank God I have awesome friends that kept me company here!
(1)Michael V.
$3 to wait 20 minutes to check my coat. $30 to wait 20 minutes for an "all you can drink wristband" $6 to tip a frazzled, freaked out waitress to get me a few drinks because the bar was only staffed with 2 bartenders for the 350 people in the bar $1 to tip the bathroom attendant just so I could leave the 2 square foot bathroom that smelled like someone had recently died in one of the stalls. Squandering most of my allottment of "all you can drink" drinks (if you could even get some) to go home, order pizza, watch DVR'd tv shows, and try to ignore the feeling I was just violated by the owners of McFaddens--PRICELESS.
(1)steve k.
I can't believe someone who reviewed this place said that this is the most fun bar in the city. WHAT?! I wanted to be as fair and unbiased as possible but I can never have fun here. The music blows, its full of people who think they know music and request 50 cent and all "real" music that they can sing along to. It would be an insult to ever call this place a club because the DJ is a moron and can't mix worth a lick. Everytime time I come here its always the same thing, retarded bouncer who thinks he's tough shit and a very typical suburban/college - esque crowd. I can't believe they charged a cover for one of the nights I went (yes, I went more than once) because honestly I could have gone to any of the other douchey bars for free. I've been here for one of the parties that everyone and their mother wins but if you dare ask for anything else that's in the keg, the bartender has a bewildered look that makes you feel like a foreigner for not liking piss lite. Bathroom attendant? For real? attn: McFadden - you are the lowest denomination of class and with your crappy little saloon bathrooms you aren't fooling anybody with a bathroom attendant. I think the only tolerable time was when I went when it was empty and it was just calm, however my waitress looked like she just woke up, got our orders wrong (mind you there were only three tables occupied) and she changed my water cup twice only to find some kind of lint in there. I think this place is good for puking, hitting on underage girls with fake ID's and getting into fights. If you think this is THE bar, you deserve to die.
(1)Theresa R.
Another douche bag central bar. But really, what was I expecting for a Friday night on Division street? One star though for the drink package that brought me here. $10 all you can drink beer/wine for two hours - on a Friday. So I happy houred myself over. Unfortunately the service sucked. Never a waitress in site. When she was, it was a good while before she returned with your drink. Even once she dropped her ENTIRE tray of drinks. So we thought going to the bar would be a better option - um, no. They were so weird about checking wrist bands and not giving you more the one drink. I think the kicker of it all is when I went out for a smoke at the end of the night. Tried going back in and the bouncer told me to wait in line. Um, just left for a smoke. He's response, "I don't care." My response "jerk" (or something a tad stronger) and I left. Seriously, if you are not in your early 20s OR a tourist...there is NO reason to be on that part of Division street. Not even for a $10 drink special.
(1)Ayea H.
I wish I could give this place no stars at all. Mcfaddens was voted number one douchiest bars in chicago for a reason. I have gone to Mcfaddens plenty of times and there is one man that works that literally every night at the door. His name is Dick, and he was born with the perfect name for the type of person he is. This guy is the biggest jerk ever. I have spent so much money at Mcfaddens, and every time I show up he is always rude and has an attitude problem. I even bring in a bunch of my guy and girl friends and he still continues to be an asshole.This has turned me off from going there. Here are a couple of other reasons 1.They let underage college kids in with fake IDS, they need to get caught for that soon too. Watch out for the 18 year old freshman kids dancing on the bars at 2am with their cha chas out as the creepy bouncers stare at them. 2. Their food sucks 3. Their liquor is watered down and never put enough alcohol in it. I won one of the wristbands for a night and I thought it would be great to have my friends come in for free drinks between a certain time frame. But when I went there supposedly the entire bar had a wristband for free drinks. The place was packed and the bartenders were rude as ever. The only drink you could get was a pineapple vodka, vodka tonic, cranberry and that was it. I was literally drinking juice, there was NO alcohol in it whatsoever. 4. They charge cover on friday and sat nights when its dead and boring. 5. The dj sucks and is also an asshole as well. 6. Mcfaddens in a whole is seriously the worst bar I have ever been too. Don't waste your time going there unless you wanna party with the underage kids, drink watered down liquor that is overpriced, and deal with rude security guards. Go to the lodge the guys there are so nice and they give free peanuts, even mothers original. Nice people there and its just around the corner.
(1)Lisa C.
My boyfriend and I went there over July 4th weekend because we had won a gift certificate at Hamburger Marys. The place was empty. The food was nothing to write home about and they had run out of some of the drink mixings. Judging from some of the people in the bar (people tanked at dinner time) and reading the reviews of others, this place seems to be a haven for unsavory people.
(2)Mario L.
I've been here a couple times and I've noticed that how much fun the night will be depends on whoever on the turntables that night. The first time I went here with my friends we mostly just stood around desperately tried to keep ourselves awake. The music was pretty bland and we just got out of there. One of my friends won a party with Free Drinks!! from 9-11. So I was back again and I really enjoyed myself. The music pumping and great for dancing. The Drinks are pretty inconsistent, sometimes their watered down and bland. And sometimes they're just too strong. The space is pretty small and cramped, their often isn't anywhere to sit. This place does have a acuired charm to it but there are much better places to spend your nights.
(2)Anne Marie J.
Not my favorite bar for a night out but it's a good deal if you're getting a drink or two or a bite to eat: Thursday nights are 1/2 off everything. It was the best Corona I tasted was here b/c it was $3. Yay! Also, it's not crowded during the week - bonus For a night out, I'd veto McFaddens - it's basically a super packed sports bar where it's impossible to get a drink. 1 star for a night out, 3 stars for a good drink deal prior to partying.
(3)Melanie V.
I went here to witness a flippy cup tourney that my co-workers were participating in. Although the bar was one big sloppy mess because of the tourney, it was SO much fun to watch!! One of the employees was going around asking us to sign up to win a free happy hour. I only did it because I NEVER win those things. However, a couple weeks later, I received a call from them, informing me that I had won a free happy hour! Since then, 2 of my friends have also won the free happy hour. Also, the waitresses are def attentive and friendly! Oh, and the potato skins are a def cure for you if you're feeling a lil sick from too much alky! ;)
(4)Matt R.
I went to McFadden's expecting to be disappointed...and I'm still confused...because I really wasn't. My friend "won" another $10 open bar deal here from 6-8pm on Friday so i figured...why not? For $10, it couldn't be that bad! and it wasn't! Reading the reviews of bitter, unhappy McFadden's patrons makes me think that McFadden's is probably best if used in the proper way. Yeah, it's probably not a great bar to go to on a Saturday night at 11:30pm. Yeah, it doesn't no belong in it's current location, it's totally out of place. Yeah, a lot of the staff are pretty sub-par. My $10 open bar experience was great. $10 got us all the beer we could drink in 2 hours. However, unlike most open bars, they actually intended to serve us for 2 hours, which was awesome. There were plenty of waitresses, and literally all they did from 6-8 was walk back and forth between the bar with cups of Coors Light or Miller Lite. If $10 open bars are your scene, McFaddens is a five star establishment. If signature mix drinks and blazers or $2 PBRs and ironic t-shirts is your scene, duh, go elsewhere. The one thing that sucked about McFaddens but that I found pretty laughable was the bathrooms. So, neither the mens, nor women's bathroom has a door...problem 1. Problem 2: there are bathroom attendants in each bathroom, both of whom decided to burn incense. Haha. So if you walked within 30 feet of the bathrooms you got a waft of sandalwood and toilet stank...tragically hilarious. Thanks McFaddens.
(3)Linda N.
came here for a halloween costume party. small space especially when you have all these folks dressed in some pretty elaborate costumes. it gets super hot towards the back of the bar. bartenders were quick. we all got $20 wristbands for all you can drink well drinks and beer from 9-midnight, it was a pretty sweet deal. a bit awkward when we first got there though because the msu game was on. but luckily for us msu lost and all the angry fans cleared out pretty quickly. =P
(3)Heather K.
I would like to preface this review by saying that I don't like McFadden's on the weekends (1 star), but went there for happy hour on a Thursday and had a really excellent time (4 stars). So we'll make it a 3-star average experience! I went for an event that included free cocktails made with SKYY - since it was a "hosted" happy hour the drinks were definitely weaker than usual. But our waitress was incredibly attentive and frequently came by to check on us and bring on the refills. By some stroke of luck, we happened to be there on a day where they were testing out new menu items. A manager told us that they recently revamped the menu and needed to take photos of the new dishes. As a result, they handed out a ton of free food to everyone who was sitting at tables in the back of the bar (near the kitchen). We got to try a chopped salad thing and a DELICIOUS grilled chicken sandwich. I would definitely go back on a weeknight for dinner - just for that sandwich alone! Marinated really well, with grilled onions on top, yum. They were playing fun music (90s rock - Weezer, Green Day, Rage, etc) and the crowd was much more laid back than I was expecting. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised!
(3)Laura S.
Trivia tuesdays are the best- dollar tacos are delicious and $3 coronas. Great service and an all-around good time!
(3)Jody C.
I have a like/hate relationship with this place. If you can get drinks, and if you can find somewhere to stand, it's a fun place to drink and dance. However, most of the time the line is super long and its overly crowded inside. The bathrooms always have a huge wait. I'm talking 20 mins at least. Then you have to wait another 20 mins for a drink. That is not my idea of a fun time. Also, the last time i was there it was about 95 degrees inside. My friends and i hung out in the back room in front of a fan. I left looking like i'd just run a marathon.
(3)rachel c.
Holy God is this place filled with meat-head choads. In the 20 minutes that we could stand being there, it took 15 to get a drink and in that time I had 2 drinks spilled on me. Joy.
(2)Margaret B.
Rude, obnoxious doormen out front. Always a line. And then so crowded when you're actually in that it's impossible to get a drink or get anywhere. I wish I could take the mostly good looking crowd inside and convince them to go elsewhere.
(1)Ryan P.
usually a pretty fun place.. but this place gets filled with young punk college douches on wednesdays who all think they are tough guys and try to start fights as soon as a bit of alcohol gets in them.. Not a bad place to go if you feel like punching a douchers face in when they inevitably start acting up.
(3)C M.
Ugh. Just like all the bars around when I was in college. So not the kind of place I want to go, having been out of college for more than a year. Needless to say, for some reason my best friend wanted to go here for a bit for her bachelorette party. We did, and it was soooo crowded it was ridiculous. I wasn't even aware they served food here. If they do, to go there in Sept of 2008, you would never have guessed. It was a Saturday night (since all but myself live in the city, and all but the two of us were living in other states), but it was scary crowded. Neither the matron of honor or myself were too happy about having to go there, but we weren't going to say anything. Shots were nasty, music was loud and bad, and people were everywhere. Definitely filled with some major douchenozzles, which we didn't come out to see. The bachelorette was totally drunk so I don't think she really noticed or cared, and at least she had fun. Especially when she proceeded to dance on the bar along with another bachelorette, who was dressed in a tank with a thong on top of her jeans. Classy. I will never go here again, willingly or not. The only purpose of this "establishment" is to give pathetic douchenozzles a chance to relive their college days with bad booze, bad music, and more of their kind than they know what to do with. Oh, and they dance too.
(1)Jeff C.
Dude? WTF
(1)Eric M.
McFaddens is pretty much the place everyone would go to in high school, had they been able to drink. It is a Irish themed bar inasmuch as it has 'Mc' before its name, it serves Guinness, and it has wood paneling. Besides that, it is about as Irish as Sony TV. The crowd tends to be a mix of white suburbia that has grown up and moved into the city, and anyone over the age of 30 stands out as being among the senior members of the crowd. Drinks are moderately priced (especially for the area), $3 for Bud and Corona, $5 for decent taps, and $6+ for well drinks. The music is hit and miss, as I have learned. It is often a decent mix of 70's, 80's, and 90's stuff with lots of favorites sung before any of the patrons were born being belted out by the speakers and those in attendance. Last night, however, the DJ was downright awful. He played a good deal of rap, which doesn't bother me as much as the fact that he had the music cranked up SO loud that the playback was getting dicey and my ears are still ringing. Even worse, he was completely ADD, changing the songs halfway through about 60% of the time. Pick a song and stick with, we're at war here! To its credit, McFadden's is always packed with people, but if you are not the button-down (with at least the first two buttons undone), polo, or otherwise young, preppy, suburban type, you may find yourself a bit out of place. If you are among the aforementioned cohort, however, go to McFadden's at least once, see if you run into someone from high school (you invariably will, especially if you were raised on the North Shore) and bring ear plugs just in case that awful DJ is there.
(3)George K.
Okay... oh man. Why haven't I tried this place sooner? Pretty laid back, fun crowd, lots of TV's to watch sports, very close to my place right next to Bella and PJ Clarks. Food! I went here last night for dinner with a friend. I didn't know what to order but I was starving so I ordered for both of us :) Fish & chips and Cajun jambalaya soup. umm, I never had fish and chips before... I don't know okay... I felt like I'm the last person on earth who never seen what fish and chips looked like. Waitress laughed at me because I asked how does it come out? I honestly never tried them before. Duh.. Obviously, it had to be some sort of FISH and some sort of CHIPS, right? I wasn't sure how it would come out (I was anxious to see what it looked like) Hoped for no fish eye on my plate. Okay our order was coming out in few minutes... My friend told me to close my eyes until food came to our table so I would be surprised to see fish and chips... seriously, I was sweating and shaking my right leg underneath our table over FOOD! .. lol I don't eat fish often so... I ordered jambalaya for backup because I wanted to eat that one and she can have fish and chips. Did you know? Fish and chips is same thing as just fish sticks and fries? haha.. it wasn't bad at all, I'll have to order that more often :) You are suppose to dunk it in some sort of oil? weird but it tasted really good. Cajun jambalaya? HOTTT!! Holy smokes I was on fire. I wanted to drink some ketchup because our waitress didn't bring us any water. My glass of beer had little bit of ketchup floating in it. I have no idea how it got there. Maybe from me shaking the ketchup bottle on the fries so I didn't drink any beer. My mouth was on fire. Hottest jambalaya I ever had. I ended up eating most of fish and chips and she ate jambalaya. I will definitely go back here... after reading some reviews. Maybe only on weekdays. I can see this place could get very crowded. Highly recommend everyone try this place least once! Fish & Chips!! A++
(4)Angela B.
I think McFaddens is really average...nothing special about it. Laid back crowd, really busy on weekends, and just OK food that we thought was overpriced. We rented out the private room (the Den) for a bachelorette party and the service was either terrible or amazing depending on which waitress wandered back there. I will say that there is absolutely nothing "Irish" about it other than the name!
(3)Chris L.
Love McFadden's!
(5)Shannon S.
I've been here a few times now. Good atmosphere, good crowd. Friday's they have a happy hour $10 for 2 hours of all you can drink. Not a bad deal. The waitstaff is pretty on top of things.
(4)Kari S.
Extremely crowded on a Friday or Saturday night, but fun if you are in a group and want to hear some great music. I recommend going early to get a table or booth. Its in a good location to bar hop!
(3)Louis A.
This place sucks hardcore. Disgusting drinks, too crowded, lame music, and it's filled w/ douchebags
(1)Julia C.
The one time I was at McFadden's was for the Yelp happy hour. I had a blast and thought this was a really cool Irish bar. There was plenty of space to move around, although I hear that's not the case on the weekends. The waitress did a good job of making sure my hand had a glass of wine in it throughout the night. I plan on going back to McFaddden's very soon!
(4)Katelin M.
i watched the soccer games here last week and had a blast...always a fun crowd at McFadden's. It's nice to see bars like McFaddens and Bella doing well on this cursed corner and McFaddens is definitely doing well because the line is always out the door on the weekend. They play great music so it's a good place to go if you want to dance. I ate here for the first time recently and my quesidellas were ok. Definitely go for the drinks and the crowd, eat nextdoor at Bella Lounge for good food.
(4)Lindsey M.
Horrible, horrible, horrible. My God, I created a Yelp account just to review this place. Against my better judgement, went there with a few friends last night who convinced me this was the place to go for St. Patty's. WERE THEY WRONG. First off, while attempting to order a drink, I waited at least 10 minutes before a bartender even acknowledged me. I suppose I had an annoyed look on my face because she continued to serve people who had just stepped up to the counter even though i was patiently waiting and even had my money ready. First, she told me that I "needed to relax" then told me she wasn't going to serve me because of my attitude. I didn't even say anything! I was livid at this point. I was also not impressed but the unattractive half dressed women dancing on the bars. Really? This isn't a frat party, and some of these women looked much older than 22. Would it kill you to act just a tad classier? So then, my sister and a friend were in line for the bathroom, and the women's line was ridiculous. Of course the men's line was empty so they decided to just go for it. The bathroom attendant rudely yelled and my sister and friend to "get the fuck out" and forcefully grabbed my friend's arm who's about a third his size.To cap off the night, a busboy came barreling through with a garbage can full of ice and knocked my sister in the head with it and knocked her over. He then barely acknowledged what he had done and mumbled out sorry before walking away. Overall, this bar offers the WORST service of any bar I've ever been to in Chicago. The clientele consists of trashy, stumbling, mediocre looking girls and horny, sloppy, ex-frat tools just looking to get laid. Needless to say, I won't be returning to McFadden's. Ever.
(1)daniel w.
I've lived in Chicago less than a week, but I've been to McFadden's many times during my visits to Chicago and this past weekend. Really cool bar with a good looking crowd. It is pretty crowded and annoying to wait in line (I'm not used to this cold weather), but I always have a good time here.
(4)Jasmine P.
Wow, such a drastic difference from the last time I was here. I returned with friends for $2 drinks on Tuesday. We came to dance too. I was thoroughly disappointed. THE DJ SUCKED! I strongly dislike when DJs play music only they like. He was balding and clearly stuck in an era. He wouldn't accept requests, though he said he would. He played music that was good at a time (late 90s) and a lot of britney spears. Gosh, he played *N SYNC's "bye bye bye!" I am a fan of *N SYNC, but really was he expecting us to break out into choreographed dance in the middle of the dance floor? My friend and I got up on the bench to dance to the one good song he played and just stood there bobbing our heads to the less danceable songs. When we finally decided to request a song, he replied to us with, "what? after you ignored me up there?" WHOA! I'm sorry, I didn't know I was having a non-verbal conversations with the guy in the DJ booth, especially considering I didn't even know where the DJ booth was until 30 seconds before we made our request. Oh, and let's not forget how professional it sounded everytime he got on the microphone and said, "sorry, sorry everyone, I've only got one CD player going right now!" (He did this about 4 times within an hour; we didn't stick around to see how many more times he would do this.) He was unprofessional and bad for business. I might try to check out McFadden's on the weekend like the first time I came here, when the crowd (and hopefully DJ) are better, but I wouldn't take my chances here during week ever again. Not even for cheap drinks.
(1)Emma L.
I've tried to go to McFadden's many times in the past month, but it's absolutely impossible to get in without waiting at least 30 minutes in line and it's way too cold for that! I finally made my way to this popular Irish bar for Yelp's first happy hour last night. As a new member of Yelp it was great to meet all the other members- everyone was very nice! I also think McFadden's is a really cool bar...there were some people there, but not overly crowded for an early evening during the week. Our waitress was very attentive and had a drink in my hand before I even finished my last one. Thanks again to Andrea and Elizabeth for inviting me! I'm looking forward to the next happy hour.
(4)Dana P.
Think it is a really fun place. It gets very crowded though and the lines can be long. Yelp's happy hour was a lot more chill and relaxed than the place is normally on the weekends. But, the music on the weekends is fantastic and fun. Definitely recommend checking it out.
(3)elizabeth n.
This laid back atmosphere of McFadden's is a perfect place to relax and do a happy hour after a long day of work. The lines do get very long on the weekends, so I try to go there during the week. They have a spacious bar and you won't have a problem getting a table if you go during the week. They play great music, and the service is excellent! I will definitely be going back for after work drinks again!
(4)Abby L.
Big fan of McFadden's! First I love Irish bars, and second- this one is one of my favorites. They play great music- love dancing with friends here and it's a really fun laid back crowd. Great spot for a happy hour or drinks with the girls.
(4)Jared S.
McFadden's is always a good time. I was here Friday night after not being here in weeks and as usual I had a great time. It is a pretty young crowd, but that never bothers my buddies and I.
(4)Rachel N.
I agree with all these reviews...McFadden's is such a fun bar! It's pretty low key,. but has great music and it's always crowded. It used to be super crowded when it first opened, but the crowds are dying down so I like it better now.
(4)Aubrey K.
We just checked out McFadden's this weekend and I had a blast with my friends. The main attraction is that the DJ plays the best music ever. There was not a single song that we didn't want to dance to. I beat the line but I noticed it was growing pretty rapidly past 10 or so. I'll be going back for sure.
(4)Dru G.
This place was cool when it first opened...fun crowd, good music. I went here last weekend for the first time in a while and I couldn't belive how young it has gotten. I don't think there were many people over 22 in this bar. It's too bad because I really liked this bar and it's in a great location!
(3)Zach A.
Tried this popular new Irish bar this weekend for an early St Patty's day celebration. It was crowded like every bar on Saturday afternoon, but it was fun! Great music and fun people.
(4)Dan B.
Alexis kept the drinks coming. Good place to go for happy hour.
(4)peter b.
Cool Atmosphere + Alexis the server + DJ spinnin 80's beats = GOOD TIMES
(4)ali a.
I was just there this past weekend for a friend's bday and I loved it! They play the best music if you want to dance and the atmosphere is alot of fun. The line was a little long, and we were able to get in because of a friend's birthday, but i'm not sure i'll be able to get in in the future. I think you would just need to get there really early. Overall a great new bar though!
(4)Madeline L.
I checked this place out with some friends for a drink after work. It was the perfect place to have a low key drink and sit down after a long day. It had a really fun crowd and played great music. The only reason for the 4 stars was because we were really in the mood for an appetizer but none of the appetizers on the menu looked appealing to us. So we drank instead!
(4)Ed L.
There is a very good reason McFadden's is so crowded. It's a very fun bar! I've been here many times now and every time has been great. I still haven't tried the food, but I have looked at the menu and it looks like typical bar food.
(4)Tracy M.
Tried this new Irish bar last night for the first time. I expected to wait in very long lines based on the reviews, but it actually wasn't too bad. I waited for about 10 minutes, but once I got in there was plenty of room to move around. Fun crowd, great music...I'll be back!
(4)Skylar C.
I guess I missed the first Yelp happy hour that all these reviews seem to be raving about, but I've been to McFadden's a few times now and each time has been so much fun! I agree that the line is long to get in, but great music and a really fun crowd once you get inside.
(4)Samantha L.
Since McFadden's opened months ago I've been coming here almost every weekend and it's a guaranteed good time. McFadden's attracts a really fun crowd and they play awesome music. There have been many nights recently that we've gone to other bars in the area and we always seem to end up at McFadden's because we know it will be a fun night.
(4)Jason K.
Unfortunately, I was only able to show up for the beginning of tonight's first Yelp happy hour due to a prior work engagement. However, in the short amount of time I spent at McFadden's I was very impressed. Our waitress was very friendly and brought me a drink immediately. The music was pretty good and it seemed like a popular place, even early on a Thursday evening. I'll have to go back to McFadden's soon to check it out. Overall a great night and I'm looking forward to more Yelp happy hours!
(4)Lo S.
Always have the best time here... by far the most fun bar in the city!! Drinks are overpriced, but if you are a girl then you should be fine ;) Would definitely recommend for an all-you-can drink party * the back bar is great for this! Fun music, great crowd (not your typical Moe's college scene), and awesome location right around Rush/Division make this hot spot worth making your regular hang-out.
(4)Matt S.
this place blows. period. id rather get drunk in a garage with 2 people i hate then go back to this non stop dork fest.
(1)Henry J.
Overrated. Always too crowded, impossible lines to small bathrooms. Rip off prices on special occasions, and the staff is rude and unprofessional. There are much better alternatives, but if you believe the hype, check it out for yourself.
(1)Becca L.
This place annoyed me at first because it is always super crowded and my friends always seem to be celebrating their birthdays here. I'm not a big fan of waiting in line, but the last few times I've been it hasn't been as crowded and the line seems to be moving much faster. Now I'm a huge fan of McFadden's because once you are inside they play awesome music and it's a lot of fun.
(4)Mike S.
fun sports bar off the infamous rush n division corridor. typical night consists of many drinks followed by dancing and memory loss. weeknights are usually a lot less crowded. they normally have decent drink and food specials. have never tried the food so cant speak on this. the crowd is usually a pretty good mix of college / young professionals. they have a cute bartender there name kathryn.
(4)Ron C.
If I could give 0 stars I would. I was here on the Saturday dinner-time of Memorial Day weekend, staying at nearby hotel, and decided on this based on its online menu. What a dump. Totally a dive bar with food as an afterthought or not at all. McFaddens should definitely pull its license-franchise and this place puts it to shame (I've been to other McFaddens and had good experiences). Kinda wanted red meat and was told by my server that "we dont have that on the menu anymore" for the 2 more substantial options (ie not burgers). When I informed her that I really needed something more filling (vs bar food) and I'd be leaving, she insisted that I pay for my iced tea -- which I hadn't drank and had ordered with the (silly me) intention of dining in this dump. When i said is there anything you can do, she said that she put it in the computer (and after having asked a manager), that I'd have to pay for it. Do not patronize this place unless you want alcohol, if the specials are any good, I dunno. But I'd pay special attention to more recent reviews (re the food quality) and also regarding the absolutely crappy, horrible service (that is when they actually do have any food that is on their menu).
(1)Teddy O.
Bar food is ok and the crowd is college again or recently graduated with some. It's hit and miss if you are going there for a good time.
(3)Sara M.
It's funny that when I chose 3 stars it rolls over and says "A-Ok", because that is exactly how I feel about McFadden's! It sort of smells like a combination of beer, puke, and red bull in here, but it's fun with friends and a good place to get ridiculously drunk it that's what you're looking for. It's a younger crowd, and since I'm 21, I like that part of it. It's ridiculous, but ridiculous in that "oh my god look at that guy and girl shamelessly making out' way.
(3)Lisa V.
What's better than drinking with one of my best girls in the Chi? Its drinking with her + 100 santas during the holidays! Yes, this bar was one of the bars involved in a festive santa pub crawl on Saturday and it made everything just feel so darn MERRY CHRISTMAS. I love it! Hot guys in santa costumes just were my new wish for every year. Let's make this happen in LA. It was a friendly crowd in there, all wanting to dance, drink & be merry. A perfect night out in one of my favorite cities.
(4)Lesley S.
I like McFadden's but don't know if it is worth standing in a way-too-long line and paying a $5 cover to get in on a Friday or Saturday night. I do like the mix of music they play, everything from Build Me Up Buttercup to Salt n' Peppa's Shoop and they play all the current stuff as well. I still have one complaint about the music though- requesting songs. The DJ is an ass. At least the few times I've tried requesting something he was. Another thing about this place- they have girls up dancing on the bar. Can get annoying if you want a drink. But if you're there for the free shots, it's just fine. Open wide and you'll get one. Don't worry- they make sure to hold a washcloth under your chin so you don't drool all over your new dress. Who knows where that washcloth has been though. Sick.
(3)Lauren P.
i'm not sure why, but mcfadden's likes to promote the crap out of an event/special at their bar and not staff it appropriately. this has happened to me and my friends several times within the last few months, and it certainly does not make anyone (the staff or the customers) happy. even though we'd had some spotty service in the past, we decided to go to mcfadden's to catch the USA v england game on saturday. walking in around 1pm, almost every table was full. servicing the entire restaurant, patio and bar was one bartender and one waitress. the waitress was definitely busting her ass, but she needed to clone herself once or twice in order to have any hopes of keeping up with the crowd. it got to the point to where the waitress wasn't able to leave her station because people were lining up to order from her like an extension of the bar. i don't blame either the bartender or the waitress for not being able to handle everyone - this was 100% the manager's fault (who didn't seem to be there.) 20-30 minutes after arrival, we were finally able to order a few buckets of beer. i asked the waitress if i could order some food from her and she said "sure, just give me a minute." One minute turned into 15, and when i realized she was never coming back, i headed to the bar - where i waited another 10-15 minutes before placing my order. side note - my friends who were sitting at the bar even had trouble ordering from the bartender. when my food finally came, i received two out of three of the items i ordered, and of the two things i did receive, one was ice cold and the other was lukewarm. i was so hungry i ate my bad mini burgers, while my boyfriend went up to the bar to return the cold nachos we waited an hour for. the bartender coped quite the attitude when my bf mentioned how cold they were, throwing them directly in the trash, without saying sorry, offering to make new ones or even take them off the bill (which we later asked him to do. he also tried to charge us for the item we never received, even acting like we were lying when we said we didn't get it. full disclosure - because 2/3 items on the bill were messed up, he "voided" the transaction so the $3 worth of mini burgers were on the house. the gesture would have been better received without the attitude.) needless to say, when halftime came, we paid and headed to another bar where they had more than one waitress - and we were promptly served. a few of our friends decided to stick it out at mcfadden's; they told us the waitress later apologized for the horrible service and offered them a $50 gift card. nice for them - but we certainly didn't get any apologies and don't plan on coming back for any big events ever again.
(1)Rudy S.
Don't really hang out in this part of town, but was with friends and we ended up here. Let's say..if you like wedding music (livin on a prayer, sweet caroline, or sweet home alabama) then you'll love this place. Good for out of towners or college crowd. It's good for what it is. The music got better towards 1am..and it's pretty crowded. So if you're looking for a fun night without any surprises like goth kids or a drag show or a woman selling tamales inside..then you should enjoy your night here.
(3)Joshua H.
this place is great for team (softball, volleyball etc.) sponosorship. The specials are usually pretty reasonable. You can find some great deals on drinks and aps during the week especially. The weekends are a little "college-eque." The floor is sticky, loud music, all you can drink specails, beer pong, etc. Not necessarily good or bad just a certain atmosphere similar to a Duffy's or McGee's that isn't for all.
(3)Laura B.
McFadden's is one of my favorite watering holes in Chicago. The staff is extremely nice and the week nights here are fantastic. Can't beat these drink specials in this part of Chicago. My favorite is Tuesday for $2-U-call-its. The crowd on the weekends seems to be suburban and lincoln park frat boys and trixies, while the weekdays attract a more laid-back professional crowd. The DJs are great at keeping the party lively all the way until 4am, or 5 if its a weekend. Best to avoid it, though, past 11pm on a weekend. Consider yourself warned.
(4)Ken C.
Go here sometimes after volleyball on Tuesdays for trivia night and good specials. Also been here for a game of quarters with some friends. This place seems to have a lot of good specials keeping me coming back. What I hate the most here is the bathroom attendant. The bathroom is small, and the attendant takes up space. This isn't even that nice of a place where you would expect a bathroom attendant. I don't even like them to begin with because I can grab my own paper towel, thank you. The motion sensors on the paper towel dispensers should replace their job altogether.
(3)Amanda B.
I solemnly swore never to enter McFaddens after graduation college... and I'm proud to say, I haven't! Not my favorite crowd and not my favorite bartenders... If you're looking to dance on the bar and drink for free you should consider it!
(2)Ellen F.
Oh, god. This place is ridiculous. I was 25 the first time I went here, and I was exactly four years and 10 months too old for it. It's all about douchey frat boys and the slutty girls they hit on. Regardless, I had fun. If nothing else, the crowd was moderately friendly (?) and good for entertainment's sake. McFadden's was a novelty for me, and perhaps why I enjoyed it. I would never choose to go back here on my own, but if in a large group of friends, I'd go and probably like it.
(2)Ian S.
My previous positive review for McFadden's was more of a fluke than anything. I've since been back twice, and I wasn't impressed. I'm taking back a star. I had a McFadden's employee reach into the bathroom stall (THAT I WAS USING) to clear a couple of drinks on the ledge on the stall wall. He managed to bump over a half full beer and spill it all over my pants. I started yelling and he replied, "I'll get you a new one". It wasn't even my drink. He then ran off (without even making good on his offer). If it wasn't my friend's birthday, I would have raised hell with the manager, but it wasn't worth it.
(2)Gloria E.
Some friends I had were always coming here for happy hours, and I was curious about the place if they kept returning. Although, my friends didn't normally suggest I meet them at bars like this one. I guess I know why now. When my birthday rolled around a year ago, I didn't want to go to my usual or close-by places. I wanted somewhere new where lots of people go. Somewhere busy. Agh. Now I see why I never came here before then. On the way in, people were walking out talking about some disgusting girl who had vomited all over herself here. While I was in line for the coat check, some girl storming out's arm rubbed against the back of my arm, and it was all wet. I immediately knew what had just happened. The girl that had vomited herself did her drunkest to wash the vomit off before being kicked out, and her disgusting vomit-water had rubbed off on me. I smelled it as close as I could (back of the arm, ya know...), and I was right. F*ing F* F* F* F* F*! I was pissed. I washed it off, and started over. The place is crawling with D-Bags, and 80% of the girls look exactly the same. The bartender could not be bothered. I get that he was busy, but he was still rude and snobby beyond belief. when he took and made my order. He rolled his eyes when I asked if I had left my card at the counter earlier. Even worse, after he rolled his eyes, he did nothing, and I had to wait 15 minutes to get another bartender's attention. This place was too packed to move, and all in all, I will never come back again. This just isn't my idea of a good time.
(1)Tara M.
Oh McFadden's, you always make good on your promise that my Saturday nights will end in a blacked-out mess. Which is probably why when I walked into the bar sober this past Thursday night after work, I felt like I had never seen it before. We opted not to participate in the $10 open bar and instead sat at a table with a very attentive waitress. She did get pretty busy toward the end so we got our last round from the bar, but it wasn't a big deal. Three stars because: 1. The music was ridiculously loud, though the song choices were awesome. Lots of late 80's and early 90's songs--you know, the songs that you love but are embarrassed to admit it to your friends 2. A bathroom attendant at 6:00 on a Thursday night? Come ON!
(3)Amanda C.
Went here on a Wednesday night. The experience was mediocre although I like the way it looks inside. Beers are $1 on Wednesdays and are presented in tiny plastic cups so you probably need 2 to equal a real beer. I think this is only good for Miller/Coors/Bud Lights. The bathroom is decent and has an attendant handing you paper towels which I think is completely unnecessary. The 70s/80s music was good but not for dancing and when I asked the DJ if I could request a song he said "I'm just trying to have fun tonight and go with it" or something which I inferred as no. Come on!
(2)scott s.
This place can be good or bad Depends on the day
(3)nicole h.
Holy douchebaggery. I can't stand this place. The only time I ever go here is when I get dragged here with a group of people and I'm too inebriated to complain. And then I get there and pretty much leave immediately. I walk in and am I always greeted with an overcrowded, sweaty place. Crowd's always the same--the college girls are always scantily clad as if they've got their lady parts on parade for the countless creepy older dudes that seem to just be lurking waiting for the best time to roofie someone. And as if this Irish "saloon" were a club or something there's hired eye candy girls (aka. strippers who don't take their clothes off) on the half-walls trying to pump up the crowd to dance to the most recently overplayed KISS-FM nonsense. Ugh. Just writing about this place gets me fired up. Next time I'll just say no and save my cab fare for somewhere more my scene.
(1)ryan w. v.
I had lunch here on Friday afternoon...Sat outside...Watched the Cubs game and played a little S,F, or M with my friend. Since I was one of like 12 patrons, the bartender (Tim) was our server. Tim was refreshingly helpful in recommending what to order. My friend and I either have amazing intuition or luck of the Irish because everything we decided to order came highly favored by Tim. I think it's the former although I am 1/16th Irish. Anyway, we started with the Blue Cheese Chips. And when I type CHIPS I mean chips; not fries! For some reason my friend and I thought we were getting Blue Cheese Fries. Right, so we were completely wrong. McFadden's makes their own chips and then puts this warm blue cheese goo on top and add fresh chunks of blue cheese. The plate was huge and we hardly made a dent into the plate. It would have been much better with fries, but it was chips. This dish could be shared by like eight people easily. Per Tim's recommendation, I ordered the Reuben and my friend got the Mini Pulled Pork Sandwiches. She received three on a plate topped with spicy onion rings. I had a bite of hers because she could barely finish; they were delicious. My Reuben was really good too. The rye bread was fresh and was not soggy from the corned beef and sauerkraut by the time it got to my plate. The corned beef was lean and had great flavor. This is my first review although I have been here a handful of times to get my drink on. I enjoy McFadden's and give it four stars this time for being a great Irish neighborhood bar with great Reuben's and having Tim as our server/bartender.
(4)Sable T.
Where to even begin .... well my friends and I came in on Memorial Day (Monday) and the atmosphere seemed nice especially with the gorgeous day we were having ... the outdoor seating was packed and all the tables toward the front were filled so we sat in a nice booth in the back. There was only one server .. which was the bartender and he got us our drinks very promptly. However, it took FOR-EVER for our appetizers to come out ... 45 mins passes by and still no appetizers. Then the GM comes near us in this funky green outfit and apologizes bc they ran out of O-Bombs .. I guess no bloomin' onion for us. He then gets my friends and I a round of shots and immediately brings us random appetizers...that held us over for a while until our food came. Oh the food! Well it took forever for the bartender to even get our orders and we were starvin' marvins waiting for our appetizers and ready to give our orders. I'd say the whole process of waiting and eating took a good 3 hours ... Not good for antsy/starving people. I guess I'd have to say Kevin .. the GM made the day a lot better by paying more attention to us and buying us a round of shots and taking one with us. I liked that. Other than that ... I'd go here again just to hang with Kevin. Maybe if they had more servers on staff it would be a better experience. The experience today was ok. I got the grilled chicken sandwich ... tasted like shit. The chicken was burnt and the fries tasted like they were sittin' around for a long time. Overall ... I'd get the quesadilluhs and the bloomin' onion. I gave this place a 3 just because of Kevin.
(3)Mark L.
A Fratastic bar on the Division strip at State street. Everyone inside thinks that they are way cooler than everyone else, the music is so loud that trying to speak to anyone is incomprehensible (and inaudible). The early 20s aged crowd is usually very drunk, very rowdy and very rude. It's unfortunate that I ever patronized this bar. The bouncers are usually dickheads, and they often create a line out front to lure people in, you can wait in the cold for 20 minutes only to discover a half full bar with a 4:1 ratio of guys:guys. I only give 2 stars because I have been here on weekdays for wristband deals that were decent, and once for a party in the back that was pretty fun. Steer clear unless its for a private party.
(2)Sue D.
This place is horrible! It was packed where you couldn't even move. It was hot and sweaty and the drinks were bad. The security was rude as well. We went for a bachelorette party and were so beyond disappointed. We stayed less than 15 minutes. I would not recommend this place not matter what. It was ridiculous.
(1)Alex K.
The seventh circle of hell. The average age appears to be 19, it's always too crowded to get to the bar or the bathroom, the music is so loud I actually got permanent tinnitus in one ear from a single night here, and you will never hear anything other than top-40, Journey, Poison or Bon Jovi here. Go here if you have herpes, or are really eager to catch herpes.
(1)The S.
Where do I begin? This place isn't worth the time it would take to write a meaningful review, so here's the short of it. A few years ago I went to McFadden's for a friend's birthday. The place was uncomfortably packed with people. I used to hang out at some crowded bars, but this place had to have been way over capacity. Eventually, the bar staff removed all of the high-boy tables to make more room for people...but continued to let people in. At the end of the night, I went to get my coat (it was winter), and the coat check gave me the wrong coat. They somehow gave my coat to someone else. I was pretty drunk at the time, but was sober enough to tell that the girl in the coat check was completely s***faced. I called the bar the next day hoping to speak to someone that could help. They first insisted it was my fault that they lost my coat. I was eventually able to speak with a manager, and he told me that they would try to find it and call me with the results. Fast forward a few weeks later, a few trips to the bar to pick up "my coat" that was not actually mine or even close, they had a description, brand, size, etc. The bar never offered any compensation for their mistake, and eventually stopped returning my phone calls. I simply just gave up. I will never go back to this bar and highly recommend that you don't. It's an awful atmosphere, not fun, and the staff is awful. There are some pretty sleazy bars along Division, but this dump is the worst of them all.
(1)Jasbir S.
Checklist at McFadden's for Men: - White striped long sleeved shirt with cuffs turned up - Boring watch that every other person who works at your marketing firm wears - Heavily gelled hair to cover up receeding hairline despite the fact you're 21 - Axe body spray Checklist at McFadden's for Women: - Glittery top which isn't long enough to cover your nascent spare tire - Tight jeans that aren't particularly cool - "Maid of Honor" tank top if you don't have a glittery one So join the party at McFadden's where your waitress serves you an entree without any silverware and forgets about you for 30 minutes only to return with "Hehe cutey! I just thought you'd eat it with your hands!"
(2)Anthony A.
Reviews are pretty accurate. The food was not good but not bad. The service was good and the people that work there were very nice to us. Great place to go on Thursdays because they have half off the entire menu including drinks.
(3)Lauren B.
Blah. There was a medical convention going on in town the weekend I was there and for whatever reason it seemed like about 80 of the oldest doctors decided to descend on McFadden's the night I went. The rest of the crowd was pretty trashy AND trashed. The service was slow, the ground sticky/slippery and the music too loud. There are plenty of other bars nearby that I would choose over this one.
(2)Izzy N.
Today, I will review in neanderthal speak. Don't worry, it will still be a helpful review. Before I start though, I just wanted to say, HOLLA FOR A DOLLAR!!!!!!! okay. \Begin neanderthal speak: Me came saturday night after 10. Me did not want to go. No cover charge for me!!!!!!! Yay yeeaaaa..! Cover charge for people behind us. hahahahahahahahahaha. Ok. We met me friend co-workers at private party to watch Blazers game first. Then parteeeeey. But later a girl dance not so good in front of TV. Get out of way dumb girl! Me try to watch basketball, not you!!! You not even hot. Crowd is me age and younger. Kind of rowdy. I at first dig it. Females dirty dancing to wall, chairs and counter of bar while waiting for drinky. Oh. Ok. Me not know how much drinks cost. They very strong. Girl barf in trash can by bar. tasty. Me friend say he found "the one." Long line to women restroom. Only 2 toilets, me had to go so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me just had big dinner. Not good idea. There is bathroom attendant with candy and tampons. Weird touch because bar, nasty! It not high class. She turn on sink for me and give me paper towels. Thank You. Music okay, sometimes sucked. DJ not know how to spin. Music mess up sometimes. Random music choice. Mostly 80s and 90s. Bouncers inside are douchey. They no let us go back up to our party. He said it private party. Duuuuuuuuuuuuuh. Dummy. He let random people up there. Until we say can we get our damn purses! another bouncer not let a friend shake his booty in another friend face. He put his flashlight on the guy, tell him to step away. Party pooper. It very packed and hot in there!! Now me know why girls half naked, dress like hookers to bars. Because it damn hot in bar/club!!! Me got sweaty. Me had to take some clothes off. So hot and muggy. It freezing outside and rainy so me layered up. See me smart girl, no catch cold. Next time me wear close to nothing so me not get sweaty. Even in 40 degree weather. Me will pretend it 80 degrees. Me have no need to come again. Unless me doped up and not care. This place blow hardcore. /end neanderthal speak. If you found that difficult to read then the point is Bitch is dead to me.
(1)Andy D.
Wow, this was the worst. I went there for lunch last Saturday and I could not believe how awful the experience was. The service was slow. The food was terrible. I couldn't even finish my meal because it was so bad. We ordered sodas and water and they came in tiny plastic cups. Stay away!!!
(1)Elizabeth T.
LAME! See Nicole H's review below. Her review says it all. Holy douchebaggery indeed!
(1)Annie T.
update update updateeee this bar is quite the hot mess but on a sunny sunday afternoon it was so perfect. we weren't looking our best (our group had just come from a softball game) so we walked passed lux bar and tavern on rush. we were aiming for PJ Clarke's but they had no outdoor seating. McFadden's it was! the poor bartender got stood up by the waitstaff so he was waiting tables on top of tending bar. he was very nice and got us what we needed quick. i ordered 3 "minis" (sliders). 2 chicken buffalo and 1 pulled pork. so tasty. so fatty. so perfect. MMM i'm craving them right now as we speak. the rest of the table got $5 burgers... they were pretty delish and big from what i could see. the fries weren't bad... not the best but not the worst. i'll certainly be back with McFadden's being on blocks from my place. for a cheap bite or two.
(4)Kammie G.
My friend won $100 bar tab in a contest. She asked earlier via email whether it worked on specials and she was told that yes of course they did. We get to the bar and sit. The bartender was giving us attitude from the start, she even yelled at us at one point because we kept asking how much each drink was and what the specials were. She told us they had $5 bombs and $1 beers and $5 well drinks. She knew we had the bar tab. Later on, we didn't want her to keep giving us atttitude so we bought her a shot too, kept thinking its $5 bombs but all of the sudden they changed the price on us from $5 bombs to $10 bombs saying that specials dont work on the bar tab even though she said at firs they did. And she gave us the $1 beers and then all of the sudden we maxed out the bar tab and all of the sudden we cant get the $1 beers either even though she TOLD us the prices at first and my friend was told the specials worked for the tab. Worst service. Plus the drinks were extremely watered down.
(1)Ray L.
I came on white trash night and fit right in seeing as how I'm white AND trash. My co-workers brought me here to close out our bar hopping... 3-4am on a wednesday night with work the next day... wonderfuckingful We destroyed the incriminating pictures
(3)Bella D.
I usually come here after work or after the club is over, and I know people who work here...which makes coming to McFaddens fun!! I dunno the other peeps reviewing but its a loud, boisterous, mixed crowd of drunk people. Its a bar!! Duhhh...anyways, good music and busy active atmosphere. I enjoy it when I need my fix of loudness and some stiff drinks!! : ) My seka, glen and MH knows this!!
(4)Ay D.
Good, mass-produced fun in the Gold Coast. McFadden's caters to college kids, yuppies, and the tourist perception of what the youths are doing. They tend to host a lot of college favorites such as "Beer Pong" and "Flippy Cup", as well as offer inexpensive happy hour packages and $10-15 all-you-can drink wristband parties. Say what you want about the preppies / douchies / meatheads / Trixies / etc. that tend to pop up here, but what else would you expect given the location and the entertainment offerings? That being said, I'm not part of one of the aforementioned cliques, but I always a good time here. Throw on your early 20's best, grab a spot in the drink line, and let go.
(3)Ron S.
Went here yesterday to meet a couple friends for some 25 cent wings and the Blackhawks Game. I couldn't believe how packed this place got around 1 on a Wednesday night. This bar totally caters to younger college students and postgrad kids so I wouldn't recommend it older folks.
(3)Tom L.
Picked this particular pub at random mainly because the people inside seemed to be having fun. Didn't have the best experience with this place. The waitress ignored our group for the better portion of the night..It was a miracle to get another beer. The food wasn't the best either. No one was impressed with their order. I had fish & chips, which was kind of ho-hum.
(2)Chris M.
I've been patiently contemplating the way I want to phrase this review for some time. With all the nonsense that occurs inside and outside the door of this "saloon", it has been a odd task to try to summarize it as concisely as possible. After my fourth or five visit though, I finally formulated a tentative thesis for this review. You know those groups of people who know they should stop partying but fail to follow through on their actions? Well if you do, and are tired of meeting them, do not come to McFadden's. Those who love to "rage" on the weekend are probably smiling with optimism for the hope of finding another bar where they can congregate with fellow ragers until 4 A.M. But if they are, they're probably not true ragers. For, a true rager would have already known about this spot, visited about 50 times, and only come back if they were kicked out of some other bar nearby. No, the ones who are smiling are those who have not yet experienced the dehumanizing sight of women in tight booty shorts dancing to the insipid tracks spun by a DJ who thinks he's CEO of a large company while overly drunk and obnoxious yuppies shout at them like they shout at the cabby who asks for a tip after all have left the vehicle. This is the picture that has been instilled in my mind after numerous visits to this bar. That and the $5 dollar beers and the bartender who's golden bottoms have been driven so far up her backside to reveal the fat protruding from underneath. The sad thing about this establishment is that while the employees are all well-mannered in the midst of a overly hectic job, and are probably cool outside a work environment as well, they are probably coaxed into such degrading dress from management and owners who could give a damn about their employees well-being and conception of themselves. Furthermore, I don't understand why there is a bathroom attendant at a bar which is the furthest thing from the definition of elegant. But even if it were elegant, a bathroom attendant is among the most alienating positions which business owners ever fathomed. If you can get into the bar I trust that you can take care of yourself when in the bathroom, but that's just me. In a word, this bar is simply despicable.
(1)Nathan C.
Probably the best bar in the area for a younger person like me. I have always had a great time on the weekdays but on weekends it gets particuarly packed. On a Saturday night, I swear there seems to be more people trying to get in than are actually in the place. Like I said, a fine bar during the week (I particuarly like Texas Tuesdays for there $2 corona, tequilla, and quesadillas) but a little crowded during the weekend
(3)sally m.
mcfadden's is a fun time if you know what you're getting yourself into. if you want a quiet place to chat or catch up, this is NOT it (obviously). if you want to get hammered on a friday while listening to a mix of '80s-'90s music (with some new songs mixed in), dancing around on a sticky dance floor, and getting rowdy then mcfadden's may be just the place for you. it's always been a sloppy night when we've gone there, and for that, i would recommend it. drinks aren't the cheapest, but bartenders are usually pretty quick, and the place stays open until 4 am. definitely a good time if you're in the mood for drunken debauchery!
(3)Alyssa F.
Yes, I'm giving McFadden's five stars, but hear me out. No, it's not the classiest establishment ever, but it knows what it is, it knows what it does, and it does it well. Are you looking to stay out until 4 or 5 in the morning? McFadden's has you covered. Dance floor? Check. (If you're a girl this area also extends to the bars and, if you're sitting there or if no one's sitting there, the booth next to the DJ booth.) The ability to get free shots poured down your throat? Check. I've even been the pourer twice, and I recommend trying it yourself (again, if you're a girl). If you are over the age of like, 25, you probably DO NOT want to come here on a weekend night, but if you're in your early 20s, if you're drunk and/or want to get drunk, and if you like dancing, then this not a bad choice, especially for the area. They also tend to give out free parties pretty easily, where the winner drinks for free and anyone else can pay $10 for an open bar from 9-12. The drink prices are not bad for the area at all, and while there will be the occasional creeper on the dance floor (especially one it hits like, 2 or 3) it's MUCH better than other bars on Clark/Division. And a lot lighter on the cougars/middle aged men. Like I said, it's not the classiest place ever, but it does what it does well.
(5)Bob S.
McFadden's is at State and Divison so you have to expect a little bit of cheesiness, but if you can get over that and have a good group with you, it can be a really fun place. I came here on a Saturday night at 1am and surprisingly didn't have to deal with a line. Well, not outside anyway...it took forever to check our coats. It was like Thunder Dome in front of that window. After that, things were great. Despite being really crowded, it never took long to get a drink and waitresses circulating through the crowd helped ease the lines at both bars. They have a decent selection of music: it's far from cutting edge, but they keep the energy up and after a few drinks, you'll find yourself singing along.
(3)Allie S.
This is pretty much my idea of hell. The drinks were weak and expensive. They were blasting Top 40 remixes and it wasn't even 10 p.m. There were more douchebags and skanky girls packed into the space than I ever hope to be near again. There was no place to sit - every table was marked "reserved" even though there was nobody at them. I hope I never have to go here again.
(1)Lindsey F.
Yes, this is a college bar, but we had a great birthday party here. We made plans last minute to have a party here, because we ran into a few bumps along the way planning. Alicia swooped in and took care of everything efficiently. I had one small complaint at the beginning of the night, but again Alicia swooped in and fixed it. She set us up in the VIP room at not extra charge and we had a very nice waitress that brought extra drinks without even asking! Yes, it gets crowded. Yes the crowd is young, but that was the energy we were looking for this time. Thanks to Alicia!
(4)Kathryn M.
I've been to McFadden's twice now and have had a blast each time. The first time I was there because my friend won a party. $20 all you can drink from 8-11. Even at 8, it was definitely crowded, however we were able to walk right in, no lines at all. The waitress was very attentive and friendly and kept the drinks coming. I never had an empty drink in my hand. The most recent time I was there was a Thursday, 2amish. The music was great, lots of people were dancing and having a good time. We were a pretty large group, so we took over a couple tables. Everyone was pretty friendly, either that or I was just oblivious to any dirty looks. The drinks were pretty strong and reasonably priced for the area. The women's room was fairly clean and did not have long lines (which is a plus...especially at 3 am). I'm sure I'll be making my way back here sometime soon.
(4)Annie B.
McFadden's is the worst bar I have been to yet in Chicago. The service was terrible. The music is horrible and don't expect to get any help from the management when you have a complaint. This bar is sexist and full of sexist pigs who are non progressive in their views. I will tell as many people as possible to never set foot in this lousy excuse for a bar.
(1)Rahul S.
SO I came here for the third time. I came early, and they played 80's music. Then the music got modern as the night progressed. I was minding my own business and watching sportscenter. Then these two chicks come near by and start dancing right by me (one at the front, and one at the back). I usually ignore this. But then they dancing all over me. I'm thinking to myself....I don't feel like dancing, but there are two of them. No one was dancing here. So everybody was staring. It was quite awkward, but fun at the same time. But I wasn't dancing with full force since I didn't feel like dancing then (I wasn't drunk....i only dance when drunk). But they kept on dancing all over me for 10 minutes. One dude started dancing to the side (her friend).....Awkward. I was pretty much stiff when it came to dancing, but they kept on dancing with full force. They left for 30 seconds. Then one chick got in front of me, and was all over me again. I felt uncomfortable, and I didn't feel like dancing. Then I saw those two chicks dance on the bar stool...just as many chicks. One of their guy friends asked me that I was stiff out there. I told him I don't dance that much....but the truth was it was uncomfortable with all the people standing, and watching us dance. I really didn't expect this to happen, but it was fun nonetheless. :) I wonder why they came after me when they could have danced with other dudes. I heard of their guy friends telling them "what the hell are you doing" when they were dancing around me. It was still hilarious, and I would come here again. My only complaint is that this place is always crowded. SOmehow, chicks always end up wanting to dance with me at McFadden's.....
(3)Jade C.
Ehhhhh, there's really no reason to go here. From service (attitude) to atmosphere (smells like puke) to the people (generally can't hold their drinks without spilling on you or causing someone else to spill on you). I guess it serves a purpose, but if you find yourself pumped to go here...you've been deceived either purposely or accidentally (based on someone "winning" a party) or you have questionable motives lol. Have fun if you can, I woudn't recommend going sober though...as it can be pretty rough. It's in probably the only area that it could actually thrive, otherwise this place is just suspect at best. Take at least 6 shots if you're jammed into attending for a bday party or something though.
(1)Dave F.
Not only is this bar a douche-bag wasteland, but they have taken to text messaging people (without permission) regarding their "great deals." I can skip the line and get a free shot NOW! OMG I'm on my way! The first time I went here - over 2 years ago - it was for a cheap happy hour and I got talked into filling out a card for a free happy hour or something. (I was dragged back two more times and each time I hated the place more than the last.) For awhile I got emails, but I just marked them as spam so no big deal. But for the last few months they have taken to texting me. There are no instructions in the message for how to be removed from the list and no way to do it on their web site. And on that stupid sheet I filled out over two years ago? Well, for one, I should not have put my real phone number...or filled it out at all. And two, I am completely certain that I did not give them permission to text me. To recap, McFaddens is terrible on its merits as a bar alone. This text message garbage takes it to a new level of awful. If your friend tries to drag you there because some guy/girl is there that they're trying to get with - you should sit your friend down and explain how much that person undoubtedly sucks. Seriously.
(1)Lisa A.
Want to party with tourist then head to McFadden's. This is the kind of place you'll take your out of town guest but if you're a Chicagoan you'll more the likely stay away from the state and division scene. The beer is over priced, the wait staff is slow and the music is very loud. I took my friend there from L.A. based on a suggestion. I tried to get her out of there rather quickly. I wasn't able to have a conversation with her and it took us 20 mins to get a drink and our bill wasn't what I expected for beer in downtown Chicago. I was disappointed.
(2)Tony C.
drink specials are awesome!
(5)Ian R.
literally the worst bar in chicago.
(1)A C.
Wow! I'm surprised at all the negative reviews given of this place! I had a great time here with a friend on a Monday. Sure, it wasn't a night when all the people bar-hop and dance- but on a weekday this was a great place to just chill, and hang out and watch a sports game. The waitress was very attentive, and friendly! I would definitely come back here again!
(5)Derek K.
It's ok for a bar. It got a bit crowded but you could still move around. Service is ok. They play music and have a dance floor. The DJ was not particularly skillful and there is no natural flow to the songs he played so every 3 minutes the crowd would pause dancing and readjust to a new song with a completely different beat. The clientele was mostly male, very few females (not that it mattered to me) - so watch out guys, the competition is fierce! The last guy sober enough to stand wins the girl!
(2)Paige D.
McFadden's lures people in by giving away 2 hour blocks of "parties" where it's all you can drink light beer and well liquor for $10 that you get served in disposable plastic cups. I felt like I was at KAMS in Champaign for most of it-- the bartender we had was clueless, the floors were sticky/dirty, and it was packed. Dancing on the bar is encouraged, so if that's the scene you're looking for it's a good place. If you value being able to sit, talk to your friends, and move your feet without stickage, McFadden's is not the place for you.
(2)Dawn B.
This was the last stop for our night. It was a great place to end. I'm a fan of the easy going places with good music! We had our own VIP room here, but everyone wanted to get out to the dance floor. Some of the girls made their way on to the bar and got free shots! It was definitely good for a laugh! The wristband option was the best part of the night! Definitely got your money's worth in drinks (of course I think that is always the best option LOL)
(4)Jonathan T.
Went there last Friday night for their $1 Dos Equis Beer Special advertised in the Red Eye. We showed up at 9pm. After ordering two the bartender scoffed and said, "oh we're out of that," like I should have known. Then tried to order two Magic Hat's from a different bartender, and she replied "Oh we're out of that." We walked out! McFadden's you're a bar, please stock beer you advertise, or Yelpers will take their business elsewhere
(1)sarah w.
I booked a party at McFadden's for a friends bachelorette party in July. I know this is a typical bach place where the bride can dance on the bar and do those kind of things. It is what she wanted so I thought Mcfadden's would be perfect. We had 18 girls and I booked the party months in advance. I talked to Alicia to arrange all the plans. She was very nice on the phone and really seemed to want to make it a great night for us. We were supposed to have no cover, two reserved hightop tables next to the DJ, and domestic bottles/well drinks for $3 for three hours. I even reconfirmed all the details with Alicia two days before the party where she assured me we were a go and they would have the bride dancing on the bar and having the time of her life. We got to the bar on time and were let in without a problem. But then we were directed to some tables next to the front door which would be for people ordering food. The DJ is in the back. I waited about 20 minutes to find Alicia to speak with her about tables. When she came over, I reiterated our last conversation and she told me I misunderstood her and would get two tables right below the DJ. Thats bull, but I just wanted something at this point so the bride and other girl's could set their stuff down and get a drink. She moved some people (since she didn't have anything reserved) and gave us two hightops below the DJ next to some booths where people were eating their dinner. Then we all trIed to get drinks. This was an ongoing pain throughout the night. The bartenders kept changing and when someone would go to get a drink they would try and charge them more than the $3, telling them they don't know anything about a bridal party deal and we would have to talk to Alicia. How could they not know about a bach party!?! We all had the tell-tale boas and penis stickers and their were 18 of us! So I spent the first hour and a half looking for Alicia and arguing with the bartenders to not overcharge our guests. It was bullshit. They never once even recognized the bride. I went to Alicia more than two times and asked when they were going to get her a special shout out or dancing on the bar? She would just say "in a little while". Finally she told me to just give the DJ the bride's name myself. I did that (he too seemed bothered by me) and he one time said "lets hear it for Mrs. XXX! Congrats" That was it! What a joke. This place couldn't care less about anything but getting your money. They paid no attention to the bride or our party. We could have booked elsewhere and I will never recommend this to another bach party. There were 18 girls there and I hope they all write a bad review because this place deserves it. Don't plan a party at McFaddens and expect anything other than crappy treatment from the bartenders, host, and DJ.
(1)Niki C.
Pros: - Free drink package. - Military men on leave. - Sing-along music. Cons: - Waitress who refused to serve my friend another wine until hers was finished, but then gave the guy to my left two beers when he still had 90% of his glass still to drink. - Stalker-esque military men who haven't seen a women in a lonnnnng time. - Location. At the corner of Rush & Division, it's at the apex of my two least favorite streets in the city. EDIT: I knocked another star off because we were there for "Ladies' Night" (Thursdays) & the following happened: 1. We were told that all appetizers were 1/2 off, but when we got the bill (we ordered 2 appetizers), we were charged full price. When we told the waitress, the words "I'm sorry," did not come out of her mouth. 2. As advertised on both their website & the signage in the bar, all martinis off of the Martini List were only $5. So we ordered two. I ordered the dirty martini (extra dirty); my friend ordered some sugary thing. When we received them, our waitress said, "Just so you know, dirty martinis aren't included." She still gave us (the first one, which turned out being the only one) the martini for $5, but still ... if you're gonna say all martinis on the martini list, be sure it's all martinis on the martini list (the dirty martini has some silly name, but that's what I ordered). 3. Our waitress did not give us an itemized receipt, which we tend to think was awfully sneaky since our appetizers were not 1/2 price & it wasn't until we sat there, musing about why the bill was so high with all the "great deals" we supposed to have received, that we realized it. Boo to that.
(2)Lindsay G.
I took my parents here when they came to visit because it was cold outside and the bar is close to my apartment. After waiting 15 minutes for someone to notice us, we finally ordered. The food was okay but our waitress was a little stand-offish, which I thought was rude. It has a cool atmosphere, but It seemed to pull in a fairly young crowd. I would probably go there again with friends.
(3)Amy J.
Not my favorite place at all. I've only been because it's down the street. I hated it. It reminded me of an adult style frat party. Service is slow, drinks are expensive, and it's really really hard to get a drink at the bar (always too crowded). There aren't enough tables, either. It's just not a comfortable environment, at all.
(2)Tim C.
Some of the worst service I've ever had, I'd give it 0 stars if it were possible. The place was hardly busy, it was only like 4pm so otherwise I could forget some of their "quirks". What I wished to order they were out of - not a problem except for the server seemed like I was an inconvenience for not having a replacement immediately. My drink took forever to bring, which came out right before my meal. After that i was pretty much ignored until the moment she felt like telling me my bill was ready. I would avoid this place.
(1)Trinh P.
I used to like this place but my experience gets worse each time. this is the last straw. I decided to help this girl who was drunk out of her mind and need ed to throw up. The bathroom lady just kept commenting on how we better not mess up the bathroom. I had tipped her earlier that night for handing me an stupid napkin that i could have reached for myself. Anyway, after the girl threw up and the bathroom lady just kept making these unnecessary comments. I told her to shut up because what do you expect, you work at a fucking bar. Then she proceeded to threaten me like she was going to punch me. I told her i fucking tipped her earlier. She was like, "you tipped me a dollar." i said, "ugh yeah for washing my own hands, i would hvae given you 50 if you were more polite" she proceeded to threatend beat me up. I'd have preferred that she did something rather than continue to threaten me. I am not impressed at this "ghettto bar." If you're going to kiss ass for tips, the least you can do is to realize you work in a bathroom at a bar. if i could, i would give this bar no stars.
(1)Alice L.
Ok...so the only time I enjoy coming here is usually during the day or early evening. Before the crowds come in, McFadden's can be a great place to watch some games on the flat screens and enjoy some beers with friends. However, as soon as the late night bunch arrives, the place gets way too crowded. It gets pretty stuffy inside, and it's almost near impossible to get a drink at the bar. If you have a waitress, it takes just as long to get your drink since she usually has to push her way through all of the people to get to your table. On the plus side, they play a variety of music.
(3)Darren M.
The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is because their french fries are good. The salt-and-pepper spices (believe it or not) were the perfect touch to make them pretty awesome. Now for the bad. 1. The smell of the entry vestibule should have been enough to make me turn around. It smelled like a combination of boys locker room, dirty laundry, and body odor. Not very appetizing. 2. When I asked the waitress what was more popular -- the Reuben or the Philly Cheesesteak -- her response was, "Well, I don't eat meat, so I don't really know." I didn't ask her what SHE liked better, I asked her what was more popular. Gee! She needs some training. 3. When I asked the waitress for a large glass of water as my drink, rather than the small plastic water cup, she said, "Well, we usually serve water in these little cups." I had to do some convincing for her to bring me a large glass! It was a hot day, and I don't drink pop or beer. I finally ordered the California Girl Wrap, which was okay enough to give a passing grade, but nothing to write home about. 4. The lady at the next table ordered a Shepherd's Pie. What they brought her was a small little thing in a soup crock .... Less than half the size of a shepherd's pie you'd get at any other restaurant. And that was for $13 !!! The lady complained (which I would have done too) until the management finally relented and gave her an additional cup of soup. She wanted to order a different item from the menu, but the management wouldn't let her do it, because they had already made the shepherd's pie. I felt this was very bad service on the part of the management. 5. It took forever for my waitress to bring me my check. Plus I never got a refill on my water glass. I guess we have to ration water in Gold Coast because we are SO FAR from a fresh water source! I won't be returning .... not even for the very good fries. This is not a place to sing praises about. In all, I will remember McFadden's for good fries, but small portions, poor service, stinky entry vestibule, and stingy with the water!
(2)Rachelle T.
After a couple of pretty terrible nights at McFaddens I have refused to go back since last year. On the weekends it's over-crowded and generally packed with a mixture of tourists, a-hole frat boy types and trixies. There's always a line, although I cannot figure out why because it's really not that much fun, and last year one of my female friends got assaulted by a dude (yes, thats right, a male stranger hit my friend) in line and the idiot bouncer didn't even kick them out of line. Maybe it's better for happy hour but on weekend nights this place totally sucks.
(2)T K.
As far as Rush and Division bars go, Mcfaddens is not that bad. The crowd on the weekends gets a little dicey, but for the most part it is a pretty laid back place. Good for a happy hour and great for a Guiness, you will still get the striped-shirt guys but they seem to be a little more average than the college or mid-life crisis crowds that swarm to other places.
(3)Eric K.
This place reminds me of a college frat party. Lots of 20 somethings getting hammered, girls dancing on the bar, and people making absolute fools of themselves. I've always had a good time at this place, but not the place to go if you are looking to have a beer or two and a decent conversation.
(4)Eva S.
I've been going to McFadden's for years. The place is always clean, the staff is always super friendly, and there's always great prices on drinks. When it's nice out, they open up the patio and there's more seating out there. There is a second bar in the back near a dance floor and more seating. It's a great place to go to watch a game, or to kick back and have some wine outside. I always make a point to go grab a drink or 50 when I go back to visit Chicago.
(5)Conner R.
This bar's owner and staff display blatant homophobia and sexism. I do not advise this bar if you have self respect.
(1)Revant O.
I visited McFadden's bar literally 20 minutes ago and had the worst experience in terms of customer service compared to any bar in Chicago. The bouncers at this bar are not only aggressive but even resort to physical violence against their customers in a vain attempt to establish their authority. While most other people who experience this extremely disgusting attitude may not make the extra effort of posting a review of this establishment, I believe it to be my responsibility to warn future customers to avoid this bar at all costs. My personal experience at McFadden's was a civil conversation with a bouncer that resulted in an unprovoked and grossly unjustified reaction where a bouncer physically assaulted me. The bouncer in question believed I was too intoxicated to enter this establishment (based on this review I am writing right after leaving you can judge the validity of that judgement). While I understand that bars and clubs may have their reasons for denying people entry into their establishment, the use of physical violence against paying customers is not only unethical, but is devoid of any form of rational reasoning. I would give this establishment less than 1 star if yelp allowed me to do so, but I am only posting this review to protect other people from enduring the grossly disrespectful behavior of the staff of this bar. After my altercation, not only did the bouncer in question immediately leave the scene (an obvious sign of guilt), but "management" staff who were not even present when the altercation took place appeared to deny any wrong doing on the part of their staff without any realistic evidence on which to base that assessment. The staff of this enterprise are unruly, mismanagement and prone to violence.
(1)Amanda K.
I don't hate it... Wow! Um, how do I even review this experience? Does WOW work okay for all those good and bad wows in life? (World Of Wonders!) So many pros and cons! Oh my my my! Perhaps my weakest recent review being the only way to make it useful is "miss long winded" has no words for this! I am in Chicago, not Indianapolis, and ended up on the Broadripple Avenue of Chicago. That's epic! I know Chicago has much more to offer, but when you come from an area of college campus bars, downtown divey townie bars, and then a smaller city an hour south where you had some of your prime 21-25 year old days there on Broadripple Avenue (representing the "B-Rip", holla holla!) bar crawling around... LMAO... This place isn't so bad. Nothing like remembering those days when we too were probably the drunken entertainment for others. I don't know how "fabulously entertaining" I was in my golden days, but this is totally entertaining for me today. I think I'll have another beer and enjoy people watching for sure! .....Look at what we have here! LMAO. CHEERS!
(4)Anita C.
Never ever again. Went for a "Free Party" that I won in a raffle. Nothing was free about it. Everyone of my guests in my party was pretty wasted but the next day the charges on our credit cards were nothing but ridiculous.. -we had half off drinks and no food was added. When I called the next day to see how my amount was so high, nothing was able to be explained to me of why the charge. Won't be back.
(1)Jenna S.
I thought about giving McFadden's two stars but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. This really was a terrible place and I can firmly say I will never come here again. Several weeks ago, I tried to book a room at a bar for my 30th birthday. Declan's let me down (read that review separately) so someone pointed me in McFadden's direction. I organized my evening with Megan, which was easy via email and phone. Megan was super responsive and helpful, so I had high hopes for this restaurant/bar. I paid $100 to reserve their "VIP" room for a Saturday evening, which is pretty cheap considering most places wanted almost $1000 (including room reservation and consumption guarantees). I was psyched to get this place so cheap, especially considering I was basically allowed to let my partygoers do whatever they wanted. I arranged to have a $30 wristband available that included draft beer, well drinks, wine and pop. Here's where things start go get fishy. Via phone and email, I was promised our group would have a server and access to a full menu of food. Come the night of the event, there was only ONE waitress in the entire bar/restaurant on a SATURDAY night with a Hawks game playing. You'd think that the bar would have prepared for a packed house since people were coming here for the game but they didn't, which seems like poor planning. My $100 room fee could have paid for a dedicated server for 3 hours (at least) since they probably only make minimum wage anyway. There was also only ONE bartender for the entire bar, which made ordering drinks incredibly difficult. What is the point in paying for this wristband if you're not even going to serve us drinks? Also, why is no one working here on a Saturday night when this place is presumably at its busiest?! So now we're here and we can't really leave because I've already paid for this stupid room and the bartender explains it's only DOMESTIC drafts so one of my guests can't order a Heineken (even though that wasn't explained ahead of time since the email just said 'drafts'). All of the well drinks were the WEAKEST POURS ever (which other reviewers have complained about) and it took each person about 10 minutes to even get the bartender's attention each time someone went up. I was also promised a room that would "seat 20 comfortably" but when we went in there were literally only 12 seats for people. That's it: two couches for three people and six other chairs at tables. We had 24 people in our group so.... what the fuck? I asked the bartender if we could move tables and chairs into the room and he said yes but no employee here bothered to help us actually move anything. Our server came in the room a total of FOUR times during our four hours in there (from 5:30-9:30). People ordered food that never came or took like over an hour to come out of the kitchen. One person in our party ordered a diet coke three times and never even got the drink. At all. I thought if we were paying to reserve a room and give you our business that you would actually care to serve us and make us feel comfortable instead of leaving us feeling shitty and complain-y all night. Megan came in that evening and I expressed my concerns to her and she bought the entire room a round of shots for our trouble, which is a bullshit move. I would have rather had a beer and/or had some of my money refunded since the whole night was just shitty. I can definitely say I will NEVER come here again and I advise those people looking to possibly throw a party here to run as far as you can and book it somewhere else. McFadden's is not worth it, especially since this place turns in to the third circle of hell after 10 because it's full of sorority bitches and drunk bros. If you're over 24, you're WAY too old to be here, which we learned the hard way.
(1)Kimberly M.
I'd give this place zero stars if I could. My friends and I walked into this bar around 8:15 on a Saturday night. The place was pretty dead, which was fine. We were just looking to chat anyway. 2 of my friends went to the bar and my other friend and I went to the bathroom. They got their drinks and I waited to be served at the bar... And waited... And waited. The bartender walked past us four or five times and waited on everyone else. He even counted out his tips and never stopped by us. After 10 minutes of being completely ignored we walked away. I We moved to a table and the waitress stopped by to clear the empty place. She passed by another four or five times, and again, didn't ask if we needed anything. t's hard to spend money, when no one waits on you. I won't be back.
(1)Rhonda L.
Coming from a planned party No staffing ! One bartender for the whole place. Party, major sports night , Saturday night it was ridiculous Sold 3 hour bracelets but unable to get drinks. Food, what's that. Poor management !
(1)Daniel S.
I've only been here when me or my friends win one of their deals for friday/saturday nights, it's loud and can get packed, which i'm not a fan of, and it's almost impossible to park near there, but the deals are good deals, and if that's your kind of scene then you won't be disappointed, a lot of people enjoy it, it's just not necessarily my scene
(3)Allison S.
Do not EVER EVER GO HERE. I was sexually molested at this bar, and the guy who did it was allowed to stay because he was friends with the owner. It is never okay to touch a women inappropriately. The bouncer told me it was out of his hands. The man continued to stare at me all night and make me feel uncomfortable. I used to go here all the time because the music is amazing. I will never return.
(1)Tim L.
Average irish-style bar. Food is mediocre and staff is passable. Basically a completely average bar within a block of some amazing bars.
(2)Karolina T.
I went here once when my friend won a "free party", but left within an hour when I saw a big cockroach crawl across the floor by the photobooth in the back. We told the hostess about the bug, but she just eeked and ran off.
(1)Taufiq H.
Came here to use a poggled in a Sunday. Very slow service to start - one waitress and took us 20 min till we could even talk to her - she seemed to be more interested in chatting with some friends while ignoring customers
(1)Daniel S.
If you are a fan of beer, consider yourself lucky if you are walking by this Irish themed pub on Wednesday. On Wednesday, they serve Miller draft beer for a $1. McFadden is a New York bar & restaurant with a Chicago presence since 1977. This location is where the fast paced downtown environment of State Street merges with the laid back treelined residential environment of State Parkway. It is where the high rises blend in with historic architecture. It is where the local and visitor meet. And, It is where my family and I delayed an hour touring along State Parkway. The $1 Miller draft special sign gravitated us from the sidewalk into McFadden. The McFadden that we enjoyed a couple Miller drafts on a Wednesday afternoon was the antithesis of the happening place that it supposedly is at night. This bar slash restaurant was quiet. It was us, a few locals, a personable bartender and Major League Baseball playing on one of the few TV's over the elongated mahagony bar. The noise level was low while the quality of relaxation was high. We could easily hear our conversations and the baseball game. The personable bartender was on the 8 ball. The two Miller drafts I drank were from decent sized glasses. There is no catch to the special. My eyes weren't always focused inside the bar. McFadden is open to State Parkway. The transition to the bar is a few steps off the sidewalk. During business hours air separates the sidewalk from the business. This setup increases the quality of the experience. It is healthy to see the sun. And watching people passing by on State Parkway, at times is equally as entertaining as the professional sports playing above on the TV. After spending an hour here, we'd be passing by State Parkway ourselves. My pictures of McFadden:
(4)Adrienne T.
The only reason why I come here is because McFadden's sponsors our volleyball league and after every game we get a free pitcher of beer. The reason it has been given an "Eek! Methinks not." rating: 1. They have a very small selection of beers in comparison to other bars. Most of the beers on tap or in bottles are the low-end mainstream kind. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you might like McFadden's. 2. Their half-price drink parties are a joke. If you look at the cup you are given, it's about half the size of a regular beer glass. Therefore, it's not TRULY half-price. 3. It's a bar for very young 20 somethings and bros. Yes, bros. 4. Their DJ on Friday night is AWFUL. I'm not sure how he can call himself a DJ. IF you like Top 40 from the year 2000, this place is for you. He doesn't do requests. Probably because he doesn't have the requested material. 5. There is a cover after 9:30 on Friday and Saturday nights. A cover for a pub? Yes, it's true and completely sad. 6. Most of the staff have sub-par customer service skills, especially the bartenders. 7. Should I keep going? 8. About half the time I'm served a warm beer. 9. Over-priced, mediocre bar food. 10. Go somewhere else. (this isn't a reason...just a suggestion)
(1)Charlie P.
I love this bar! I can only speak of their drinks and service, although the food looks delicious. The bartenders are the best, all of them! No matter who is working the bar, they are all super nice and really seem to take a general interest in their customers. Can't say enough about the service! Aside from the great service they have awesome specials, like $1 drafts on Wednesday's and some great food specials as well. They play fun music and (from what I've seen as a passerby) have a fun late night crowd too. I'm too old for all that now, but I've seen the line of people out the door. I live right around the corner and definitely call this place my hometown bar. I'll always come back here!
(5)Ryan L.
I went there this past Sunday to watch the Blackhawks game as it is an "official" Blackhawks bar. I was with a group of about 10 and we pushed a few tables together. When we arrived at around 6 it wasn't busy at all. However, it took at least 30 minutes for a waiter to stop over. We actually went to the bar twice to get our own pitchers before a waiter checked in with us. We ordered some appetizers for the table and a few people in the group ordered their own food. We waited another 30 minutes for the appetizers to come out (nachos) and those who ordered their own food waited nearly an hour to get their meals. One person in the group actually never got his food at all! Now on to the quality...the beer lines at this place are either FILTHY or the beer is old. Our pitchers of beer were flat and tasted funny. The beer wasn't even cold. As for the food, I think rats probably find more appealing meals in dumpsters behind Taco Bell. The nachos tasted like they'd been made three days prior and reheated multiple times. I didn't order my own meal however the food others ordered didn't look terribly appetizing. I will never step foot in this place again. It's a waste of time and money.
(1)M.j. R.
This place is 100% a college bar. I have nothing good to say about this place so I will just start off with the bad things they do. They have so many colleve students at this bar that you cant move or go to the bathroom so you will need to hold it all night. There is always a fight that happens at the end of the night. Someone is always puking in the bathroom or outside and the place smells like puke. They have terrible customer service. Also in the summer they dont have air conditioning so you will sweat your ass off, even in the winter time because of the terrible ventalation. I dont recommend this place to any of my friends and I avoid it at all cost.
(1)Bianca L.
So I'm currently sitting here at Mcfaddens to catch up with old friends and watch the playoff game. Yet it took 20 minutes to be acknowledge by a so called non server (who walked over to another group and offered them drinks and menus). Currently waiting on a drink and the server well nonserver didn't even offer us menus like she did for the other group. I don't know if it's because she's a non-server or whatever but I'm extremely disappointed with the service here. I guess the non server doesn't need tips and this bar doesn't want my money. As soon as my friends arrive I'll be leaving
(1)Meredith B.
I can't hate on McFaddens. There was a time a few years ago when my friends and I somehow ended up here every night that we went out, and something ridiculous always happened. This place is a magnet for drama, and for awkward hookups, and for somehow getting you drunker than you realized. I have danced on their bar. My friends have danced on their bar with a bottle of pucker. I saw Brody Jenner here once (not just like, randomly, it was like an event - "Brody Jenner is here!" This was maybe six years ago, when people cared) and he brushed against me when he walked to the bathroom. It is crowded. You kind of build-your-own-dance-floor wherever you can find the space. I don't think there's actually a dance floor. They didn't make us pay cover since we were in a bachelorette party with 10 girls (unlike some other places which charged anyway, cough cough Hangge Uppe). The music is pretty fun stuff, a mix of 80s/90s/2000s but all of it is recognizable and fun to dance to or scream/sing along with. If you want someplace raucous and busy and fun, where you can flirt with random drunk strangers and get into crazy shenanigans, it's worth a stop. Not a place to stop for a nice quiet beer! It's just fun, plain and simple. Don't act like you're too good for it! There's a place in the world for bars like this.
(3)Miguel P.
I like this place. The drink deals are pretty good, and the food is okay too. I've had my birthday party here before, and they gave me and my guests a wristband special for the night. Most of the bartenders definitely deserve whatever everyone tips they get. They really try to hustle to get to . If you're going, the best day is probably gonna be on Tuesdays, because of the taco deal. They're not the greatest in the world, but it's bar food. What were you expecting? Worst day is DEFINITELY going to be Fridays. The place becomes wall-to-wall frat boys. But you're right around the corner from more than a few other night spots, which is a definite plus. So you can escape if you want to. If I had a negative, it would be the DJ. From what I can tell, it's the same guy all the time. His mixes are kinda lame. Seriously needs to play music from this decade.
(3)Doug R.
I like the music they play here and there are always cute girls galore. I like how they are able to dance on benches, booths and whatever else they can climb up on. Pretty good late night crowd here. 1, 2 AM and the place is still flowin. It's a fun atmosphere.
(3)chris b.
After our Volleyball team coming in for three years prior we were always treated well. Not sure if you care, but this year was not the same. I emailed Emily in April and May, then come June we still did not have our shirts or initial check. I have tried emailing this week and no response. To make things better Sunday June 1 we came in for the game ... we were told that the $7 pitcher deal would not be honored even after I showed the email. (bartender - white guy with a red hat on backwards). Then to make things even better we did not receive our free appetizer. I can share the email strings if you would like to see. Oh yeah ... waiters or waitresses ... none to be found, we had to walk up to the bar ourselves and dirty dishes were left at our table for hours. There were 8 of us and we spent $129 ... unfortunately this will not happen again. Just wanted to share. Sorry that we were no longer welcome on Sunday afternoons at McFadddens.
(1)Brian R.
AVOID at all costs - Terrible customer service and etiquette. Don't let bartenders treat you like crap. I recently visited here with a group of friends on a bachelor party and politely waited for a beer at the end of the bar when we came into the McFadden's. When the bartender finally approached I asked for a Goose Island and turned to my left to buy my buddy a beer and asked him what he wanted. Before I even finished asking my buddy what he wanted, the bartender huffed and guffed and said "Seriously?" as if I didn't have my order ready and walked away. There was maybe 30-40 people in the place total so was not busy by any means (guessing i know why now). With a shock on my face and no beers, I approached the bartender to inquire as to why he was being so rude and why he didnt want to serve me or my friend. We had just gotten there and were more than polite and in good condition. The bartender didnt want to answer my inquiries and pretty much continued with his horrible attitude confirming it was pretty much because I didnt have my order ready (2 pints of beer). At that point, I started getting frustrated with the bartender and we got into a heated debate. I'm sorry but I don't care much for terrible attitude at a place you're spending money when completely unprovoked. I asked for the manager and the manager simply just came over and kicked me out of the bar without letting me explain how his employee was disrespecting and treating customers like crap. No one should ever have to accept or be subject to such rude attitudes from any bartender and I let them know clearly and loudly so that other customers could hear the story and so that we could get our party and our $$ out of this place. Went next door to PJ Clarke's and the service was excellent! Go there instead.
(1)Mad I.
This place is one of the few bars I know of that aren't fancy schmancy on the mag mile. Tends to have a very "look at me" atmosphere of twenty somethings. Only a couple of girls and more guys the night I was there. There was a game on....and the beer is cheap ($22 for that giant THING that dispenses crappy house party "fill in the blank" lite) and they have Jenga. Nice! Food smelled and looked good, does that count?
(4)Myrissa G.
love this bar always a good time!!!!!
(5)Barrett B.
There were a few girls dancing on the seats in the booth but they got down and no one was dancing up there at all and got kind of dead so I my friend got up there then pulled me up,as soon as i got up the guy who worked there told me to get down. i could maybe see if i was blocking some "hot girls" but NO ONE was on the side i was and only 2 other girls were up there and he said I had to get down. Rude as hell. Then when i got down so did everyone else. I guess they would prefer nobody than a guy be up there with the girls, unless its the guy with the bear head. also the bartender was too busy flirting with everyone to take drink orders.and the girl doing the raffle seemed annoyed that i wanted to sign up.the staff is plain rude!
(1)Anna B.
Glorified frat/debauchery central
(1)Amanda P.
This place is pretty much awful, you can look at my other reviews to see that I don't normally give super bad reviews as I'm pretty forgiving. However, this place just straight up lies. I went on a night with a special on wings it clearly stated on both the website and on their specials board .50 wings and that's it. When our check came we were charged .75 and we said oh they are .50 (for a table of eight that's a big difference), to which she replied that's only for boneless wings. We said umm where does it say that? She said it doesn't. Oh ok...then we said why didn't you tell us when we ordered the Wing special? She said you have the .75 Wing special. Basically we went back and forth and there was no winning, I showed her the website on my phone we spoke with the manager and still they wouldn't budge. I will not be going back.
(1)Jordy S.
I'll cut to the chase: The DJ's are pretty bad. The Friday night 90's guy played good songs but he mixed them terribly. The Saturday night DJ is worst. The half price drink parties they give out like crazy are not worth it AT ALL. Sure the host gets free drinks, but the friends get $4 drinks that are tiny. Not worth it. Place is so loud and full of college kids who just turned 21 or have really good fakes. No real room to dance unless you want to be next to the girls dancing on tables. If you want shots, good luck to you. $7 for a fireball shot that wasn't even half of a normal shot size. I don't know who they think they are. There is no ambiance. There are super bright TVs everywhere that practically blind you. The music is so loud that you can't have conversations if you're sitting at tables or up front. It's a little trashy and if you're over the whole "I'm in college, let's get trashed and be a mess" phase of your life, skip this place. I've gone too many times, always for a friends Happy Hour party, which surprisingly everyone who is in the bar somehow has. It's not worth it, especially if you are from a neighborhood further away. If you have to get a taxi or Uber, you might as well save your money and go somewhere else to put it into drinks that are worth it.
(1)Anthony R.
I usually avoid bars in the Viagra Triangle but I came here for the free drinks, let's be honest. Its like most of is surrounding bars in the Clark/Division area. Toursty, Frat, suburban bars in city kinda vibe. Free drinks where domestic beer and well drinks. Stick to beer since they are poured in 12oz plastic cups not the typical Pint glass you'd expect and see everyone else with. But hey its free so I ain't mad. Just gotta make more trips. Music was also that Top 40 stuff with some throwbacks thrown in for good measure. Not much space to dance tho so people were bumping into our table. Woulda gave it two stars but I did get a good buzz going so gave it three
(3)Taylor M.
Not one of the classier bars in the Gold Coast, but it is usually having some sort of a special to get you in the door. Drinks are served I plastic glasses since most of the customers are drunk frat boys. Not a place I go by choice. I only go here when someone is throwing a party. Valet Parking in the garage across the street is $20.
(2)Captain B.
Big class full of coke with very little rum. No crowd. Sad
(2)Jen K.
Let's be serious here. This place sucks. Maybe their food is ok, but don't go here after 9pm. Does this place have any self respect? They let everyone dance on the tables. Then they have their bartenders stand on the bar in skimpy outfits and throw candy to all the screaming boys. Their drinks are overpriced and there's always guys ready to dance with you/grab your ass, however you want to look at it. Last time I was there, there were several college-aged guys being escorted out...I use "escorted" lightly, because they were throwing a fit, sweating profusely, and screaming obscenities. They clearly had just gotten into a fight or made some sort of ruckus. I dunno, maybe I'm old and grouchy now (does 27 count as old?), but this place is crowded and stupid. I typically like to be able to hear my friends talk to me and not pay $12 for a drink. Oh yeah, and theres a cover. What exactly does that charge cover? There wasn't a band there that night. WTF.
(1)Tiffany H.
Slow service and the food wasn't that great.
(2)Rawlins R.
I've been to McFadden's a couple of times. Besides the cover, the sticky floors, and being overcrowded, this place is just fine. Last time I came here was on a Thursday and there was literally less than 10 people here. My friends and I saw some girls dancing on the booth area by the DJ and wanted to dance there as well. We know that this is usually off limits because of the regular bar laws. We decided to give it a go and we were instantly denied access. McFadden's continues to be McFatty Fat's to me...
(2)Rmeloncash ..
They send me spam texts. My Irish wife says it's very inauthentic. Rude staff. Reputation of giving food poisoning. I'm shocked this place even has 2 stars
(1)Caren D.
On Friday, November 8 2013. Me & a couple of friends wanted to hit some bars around the clark/division area so what better than McFadden's right? I used to live around the area and patronize McFaddens quite a few times. I never had their food before so I can't comment on that. Drink prizes were pretty standard around that area, and they have drink specials some days so it's not bad. HOWEVER, I swear that I will NEVER step foot into this bar again because of how badly treated I was and how humiliated I felt by the staff. *WARNING : LONG BUT JUICY REVIEW * So upon entering the bar, this "security" wanted to see our IDs. Well, that's standard procedure so I gladly obliged. This particular "security staff" was pretty casually dressed, in sport shoes, baggy jeans, T-shirt, baseball cap and what not. Okay, I thought - no biggie, maybe McFaddens is just lenient with their staff attire. What pissed me off next is beyond acceptable. "Is your ID real?" yelled the security guard. "Yes, of course it is", I replied. "Well, the girl in the picture doesn't look like you at all", said the guy in a very annoyed tone. I found it a bit ridiculous that he would say that and slightly offended. Yes, I wasn't looking my best in my ID photo but does that matter? "Sir, this might not look like me but I assure you that it is me. Look, I can show you my other photo IDs & credit cards - they all have the same name & photo". Look, I work in the service industry too and I don't want to give him a hard time so I proceeded to pull out whatever ID, Cards I have with my name & photo on it. "I THINK YOUR ID IS FAKE", yelled the "security" guy. At this point, I was beginning to feel really annoyed because not only was he YELLING at me the entire time, he was blatantly accusing me of something untrue! "It is DEFINITELY real sir, what else can I say? I already showed you all my other photo IDs. You can examine it closer but I assure you that this is absolutely real." Refusing to even rationally listen to me, this guy scrutinized, attempted to check, bend, twist my ID before looking back at me and again yelled, "YUP, IT'S DEFINITELY FAKE. If you think it's real, can you call a cop for me?" This is RIDICULOUS, if you think my ID is fake, why don't you call the cops then? I have no problems with that because at the end of the day, I know for sure that I am not guilty of the crime that you ACCUSED me for. "Fine", I said, "Call the cops and let them examine it once and for all". "No, YOU call the cops. I can't leave this place." This guy has the fucking nerves to bother ME to invite a cop over. To make matters even worse, he held on to my ID and refused to return it to me. "Go to Division street to find a cop, if you are really right, I'll buy you a drink". Exasperated, annoyed, pissed off - I unwillingly walked away from McFaddens in attempt to find a cop to prove my innocence. Before even walking a few steps away, this sucky "security" yelled behind me "NO, WAIT, COME BACK ! YOU'RE GOOD". I guess he realized that by making me go look for a cop will do him no good after all. He didn't even apologize to me, merely shoved my ID back. When I asked, "So that drink you owe me?", he said "NOPE". Should've known I should always expect anything less than trashiness and crap from a useless guy like that. So guys, if you want to be treated like a criminal by a "security" that thinks he knows it all - feel free to step by McFaddens. I assure you that you will definitely feel welcomed by his hospitality, and by that I mean being humiliatingly yelled at for something that wasn't your fault in the first place. Oh, and since the "security" there doesn't seem to know how to validate IDs, do you have faith that they are competent to do their jobs? To the management of McFaddens, please - for God's sake, don't fucking hire someone that doesn't even know to tell the difference between a fake & real ID. Seriously. Another tip, perhaps request that your staff not dress in a way that suggests that the place is a douche central, filled with assholes like the incompetent shit of a "Security" that you hired.
(1)Jon L.
Bartenders are nice but the place looks like it should be on bar rescue. The worst part of this bar are their power tripping bouncers who think they are mcfaddens. A typical dive bar does not need 3 to 4 bouncers out front to check and harass you when you enter; this is not the airport. Lastly, this bar is overpriced for what you get in the little plastic cups they hand out. Never coming here again. If you're looking for a good spartan bar, go to El Hefe, Barleycorn, or TIn Lizzy.
(1)Steph U.
I can see why this place doesn't get the greatest ratings, but when I went it was pretty fun. My friend won free drinks for himself and half off drinks for 10 friends in some kind of raffle thing that McFadden's has, and I think that helped a lot that drinks were cheaper/free. This place got pretty crowded, but it was a Friday night. I don't think this is as bad as people say it is, but I don't think it's great either. I'd come back if we had cheap drinks again.
(3)Brian G.
My GF and I stumbled in on New Years Day after our concierge told us to hit up Division and Rush. Being from out of town (Minneapolis) and having no idea what spots were good, and it being such a slow night on NYD, could have skewed things a bit so take that into consideration on my review. It was the Ohio State vs Alabama playoff game (@ a Michigan State bar). The crowd seemed like regulars. Some were playing a game on their phone and shouting out answers (kinda like catch phrase), which was annoying. A guy was running around jumping on the bar and up to the second deck railing. The "DJ" (assumedly just a guy who worked there playing music) would play music over the game, and was visible hammered (a Michigan State fan after the big win). But again, the circumstances were different. We had no problem with everything going on because we are laid back, but I think most people would. Cheap drinks though and very friendly bartenders! The male seemed to have no idea about the college football games going on but tried to fit in which was funny/a nice try. And the girl was very friendly as well. My GF asked her age because she looked soo young and cute, and she had a good sense of humor about it. FOR MOST I'D PUT 2 STARS, but I thought, with the circumstances, that in most nights it would easily be a 3.
(3)Michael S.
I had grilled chicken breast with mashed potatoes and asparagus for $16 and it was delicious. i went around dinner time and it was empty. I realize most of the reviews on here are regarding its late night party scenes which I cannot comment on, but for dinner I would recommend.
(4)Salvatore G.
If I could rate this place zero stars I would. I went there with a group of 20 people yesterday to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. B96 or KissFM was there, I didn't pay much attention to which radio station it was, and they provided the patrons with many green knick-knacks including beaded necklaces, big green hats, shot glasses, and miniature beach balls. Everyone in the place was having a good time throwing the balls around from one corner to the next. One employee, I believe his name was Derek, was standing on a table or wall divider, and was hit in the chest with a miniature beach ball. He flipped out on my whole party I was with because of it and kicked us all out. I have worked in the bar industry for many years and I know that kicking out a party of 20 people because of a miniature beach ball is just ridiculous. He kicked out that many customers and lost that much business because of it. He was standing on a table, taller than everyone else, and was offended when he was hit with a beach ball that was supplied by the radio station. Really? He was standing in the open space where all the beach balls were flying through. Bad employment decisions by this establishment and I definitely will not be going back.
(1)Patrick D.
50c wings are not 50c wings. Bad service, also slow. Will not come back. Manager refused to adjust to advertised price. I won't be back.
(1)Brittany H.
McFadden's is definitely your typical fratty bar, but it's nothing short of a good time. The music is good, and the servers are really friendly and down to earth. They have free bingo on wednesday nights, along with .50 cent wings and dollar domestic drafts. Definitely the place to be if you're looking for something to do during the week.
(4)Amy L.
This bar is so lame. I "won" a free happy hour event for me and my friends. I was excited I called my friends and set it up for a Friday night 9-12. I got a wristband for free drinks and my friends got a stamp for half price drinks. The drinks that me and my friends could order using the discount were the cheapest beers and bottom shelf liquor. I couldn't even use red bull. We didn't stay long. Lamest happy hour ever! They should tell you that you can't drink anything decent so you don't waste your time. Go figure, one month later I for a call saying I had won another free happy hour. Terrible and shitty bar. Will never go there again.
(1)Melissa A.
If you miss those crazy college days then McFadden's is the place to go! I've been here a couple times since some of my friends won happy hours/half off drinks for 3 hours, which is a decent deal. Don't expect much from this place but you can have fun if you go with a lively group of people. Basically the music is blaring and girls are dancing on tables (trust me, it can be fun haha) while bartenders are pouring shots into people's mouths. McFadden's isn't a classy place but if you want to let loose after a long week then come here!
(3)Andre W.
I havent been here in a little over 5 years and I discovered that nothing changed. Me & my pals dropped by already drunk and grabbed an available booth. I noticed the server had on a pair of cutoff shorts on with a pair of converse. Really?? You dumbasses really think thats gonna make people buy more drinks? Having a girl dressed like its 85 degrees on a 35 degree evening with a threat of a snowstorm??? Pathetic
(3)Aaron Jae M.
I have been here multiple times and enjoyed them all. They have some pretty good drink specials on some nights and I have been here for wrist band birthday packages but I mainly enjoy the simple atmosphere of sports and music. There are steps in the middle of the bar separating the two bars and the two dance floors which I think is stupid considering you have nothing but drunk patrons and that only increases the chances of people spilling on me and falling and hurting themselves. The only problem I have had with this place is once a bartender lost my debit card and then repeatedly said that I never gave him one and that I had been paying in cash all night (I hadn't). He found it a few minutes later and was a little bit nicer about it. I really wanted to shove it in his face but I decided to take the high road and just tip him slightly less.
(4)Ben T.
I went in with really low expectations and I was still impressed with how bad this place is. Two sips into my beer, a giant cockroach climbs over the garnishes onto the bar, and I have to kill it with my beer before it climbs onto my girlfriend. Bartender's reaction - "the back door must be open." The surface of the bar looks like somebody poured a full beer over it and let it dry and the smell is in line with that theory... so that maybe also had something to do with it? If you go here stick to bottled drinks and also I guess just don't go here.
(1)Heidi R.
I come here for 2 reasons... to black out with my girlfriends and act like were 21 again or because I live down the street and sometimes its just convenient. Either way its a bar, people... get drunk and shut up. If you don't like loud music and seeing girls dance on the bar then go to the Jazz Club down the street. Yah I wouldn't come here every weekend and hardly ever come but when I do, I know what I am getting into and I always have fun. I love acting young and irresponsible :-)
(3)Supriya D.
This past weekend I went here because a friend of a friend won a party here, so we got in with free cover and half off drinks for 3 hours. So that's always exciting! We got there around 9:45ish and it was pretty empty aside from our party. However as time progressed it actually got pretty busy and turned out to be a lot of fun. The drink specials were good, and the ambiance was good, but nothing really stood out about the bar itself. The service was really good and everyone was super nice, but again, I feel like they could do more things to make this place even better. I would try: - Drink specials after midnight - More advertising to get more people to come- maybe contests other than free parties - Live music Overall, this is a fun place to come, especially if someone you know won a party because where else can you get $3.50 wells in Chicago on a Saturday?!
(3)Whitney S.
I wish I could give this NEGATIVE stars. Our waiter-who I am assuming was also the manager STOLE money from our party. We had paid our bill (which included gratuity.) At the time, we did not know it included gratuity so everyone in the group paid for tip as well. So we all overpaid for our crappy bar food. When we brought the bill/money up, the man in the irish hat said we were short $67. This was beyond impossible since we had all OVER paid. When we asked to see the money we had already put towards the bill, he conveniently had already put it in the register mixing it with the other money. So now we do not know what we actually paid as opposed to his word. When we all forked over an extra $67 OVER our bill, the irish hat told us we still owed $1...actually his exact words were "you owe a dollar..or .87 cents, but a dollar is fine." EXCUSE ME?! Which is it?! A dollar or .87 cents? If he lied about this, how do we now know he lied about the entire situation? Bottom line-we should have gotten the police involved because this bar openly stole from us. Twice. What they did was ILLEGAL and beyond comprehension. I will spread the word about their business ethics in this city as well as others.
(1)Vince C.
I had the worst experience in this joint. Roudy and obnoxious people falling over me, drinks spilling, sloppy girls all over. I usually don't hate but this place is ridiculous! I almost got into a fight with people here just becuz I got so pissed off.
(1)Shelly A.
There is no reason to blast top 40s music with a DJ at 8pm on a Thursday. I know that I probably shouldn't have come here if I expected differently; however we won a free happy hour, so what can I say? They have cheap drinks here during the week, but if it's after 9 just avoid it. This bar caters to the 'whoo hooo I wish I was still in undergrad crowd' which is not a surprise considering it's a Michigan State bar... Yeah, I probably won't go back. Unless it's for another free happy hour, that is!
(2)Edith R.
This place sponsors our team for Beach Volleyball on Tuesdays and it's been our post-game place every Tuesday night during volleyball season. This year, we've had the pleasure to have Melissa wait on s. This woman is so cool, so easygoing--even under pressure and crazy events. She rocks. The nachos, sliders, calamari, and tator tots are pretty awesome too. The best part is also Tuesday Trivia, where your team can earn cash and rounds of drinks for cool team names, and the right answers of course. By the way, to all the high maintenance people out there, it's bar! If you want upscale food, then go find upscale food in the area. Sheesh.
(4)Carolyn L.
This definitely isn't my favorite bar in Chicago, especially since the average age of the clientele is probably 22. It's definitely a younger just-turned-21 crowd (peppered with some creepy old men and women in clothes that are too tight). Drinks weren't too pricey though so I guess that was good. If I'm gonna go out downtown now, though, I just prefer to pay a little more and be in a classier spot. Not to sound snobby, but even the pubs/sports bars in Lincoln Park or farther up north aren't as offensive as this one.
(3)Mihir P.
I have no idea why this place is so popular. No wait, I do. The simple concept of quantity over quality. We were there for our volleyball party. They offered some open bar wristband packages - a well package and a premium package. They didn't staff enough bartenders so it was hard to get a drink so most didn't get their money's worth. I bought a premium package and they conveniently ran out of some premium liquors so I had to get well drinks. Some bartenders were sweet and others were dicks. The sliders we had were burnt. I will say the music was good mix. Overall, if you're looking for a fun shit-show, this is your place.
(2)Ben C.
One of the employees followed me home and tried to fight me. This place is terrible. NEVER GO HERE
(1)Ashley N.
I would only step foot in McFadden's on Tuesdays (Trivia) and Wednesdays (Bingo) unless you're a college student trying to get crunk or whatever the kids get these days. I don't even want to know. Anyways, they have $1-$2 drinks along with food specials on these days and the Trivia and Bingo are always fun!
(4)Mariah V.
Somehow I got roped into thinking it was way cool to go to McFadden's on Wednesday nights. I was young and impressionable, and I haven't been back in a while. If enough people you know go semi-regularly, someone is definitely going to win a "party" at McFadden's which usually involves $2 well drinks for a few hours on a night of your choosing. Finding a table on a busy night is very hard, so you will be stuck standing by the bar or dancing in the crowded upper area by the DJ playing Top 40s. Everyone is super drunk and messy. The crowd is very young, but there are some older guys who will stand at the bar and creepily buy you drinks. The drinks are generally not good. I had the worst whiskey sour ever here, and I'm not even sure how you can mess that up. You can have fun, but you can also have a horrible time. The amount of fun you have is positively correlated with how drunk you are. So plan accordingly.
(2)Amy Z.
My friends hosted my 22nd birthday here. Although there were several other birthday's being celebrated on the same night, the staff made me feel like I was the only one. Even the bouncer went out of his way to make sure we had a table for my birthday. I asked and minutes later we were sitting down! The service was quick and the prices for a birthday package were phenomenal (we opted for the half off drinks all night long!). I had an amazing time, the drinks were great (and strong) and the service and atmosphere were just fantastic. I would definitely celebrate another birthday or event here!
(5)Katie L.
Not a bad little bar! Came here for a girl's night with college friends and we had a blast! We had a open bar wristband package, which always elevates the fun. Would return on a weekend!
(3)Amie C.
I had zero hope going into the bar that I would enjoy my time here. It helped having such low expectations. I was here for a friends birthday party and we had a $30 wristband bar deal for 3 hours. That of course means some record breaking drinking will occur. Bartenders were friendly :) Music was perfect for drunken, silly dancing. It's definitely easy to get free drinks from dudes in this place. Just work a little lady magic and you're golden.
(3)Jeff G.
i'll have to read the other reviews as to why they rate so low/bad. had a random, spontaneous continuation of our night out here. had a blast. they had a $5 cover to get in and my wife was like "we're not paying a cover to get in to a bar" and they were like all right. then we saw some people with orange wrist bands on and wondered maybe you get drink discounts if you pay a cover. crowd was definitely college. we are in our late 30s and did not feel out of place. atmosphere was people dancing and singing with the music all over the bar.
(4)Sarah M.
McFadden's is still a blast! I won a FREE Happy Hour last month, pretty sweet. Music is still alright, but fun to dance to. The staff was super nice, as always. McFadden's you haven't let me down yet! :)
(4)Amber K.
Mac and cheese balls! Need I say more?
(4)Katy K.
I've come here a few times to watch the Hawks games and for other events, and it's been a good time until tonight. I'm giving it 2 stars because of the horrible service we received tonight. They advertised "$1 beers and $.50 wings!" which is what drew my friends and I here to watch the Hawks game. It was a little crowded, but even taking that into consideration, the service was horrible. The waitress came to our table maybe once every 30-45 minutes, and on more than one occasion she forgot our drink order and was coming by to check on us - again - after 20 minutes of waiting for another round with most of our cups empty the whole time. This was not the first time we dealt with this. Seriously, get some more bartenders and servers for semi-busy nights like this. We joked about it, until the check came. Several of us ordered wings as per their $.50 wings as advertised. We get the bill, and they charged us $.75 each wing. We asked the server, and she said, "Yeah, it's $.50 for the BONELESS wings." We looked at all of the ads, it said nothing about boneless vs. bone-in. Regardless, a DECENT server would have asked us in the first place if we wanted boneless or bone-in, and you would think that on a night when you're advertising $.50 wings, that that was what we were asking for. But she never asked nor told us that she was going to default to the more expensive wings. Clearly trying to raise our bill. We talked to the manager, showed him all of the ads, and he stuck by the $.75 price and wouldn't give us a break on the bill. After much hassle, he finally gave us a $7 credit, but we still felt it was a shady experience. I know it's not much of a difference in the long run, but it's more about the principle and honoring your ads and not trying to cheat your customers. Long story short, if you go here on a night when they're advertising $.50 wings, make sure you clearly and explicitly tell your server "I WOULD LIKE THE WINGS THAT ARE $.50 PLEASE." Otherwise,they'll give you the most expensive thing.
(2)Alison C.
I feel like there is a McFadden's Pub in every college town. The name has become synonymous with raucous partying among frat boy/sorority girl crowds and older patrons eager to return to their glory days. This location was no exception, but I did find the hectic craziness more corralled here than at other Rush Street-area bars. The DJ played a wide variety of classic hip-hop and rock hits, causing the bunch of revelers to dance on any platform possible - from the tabletops to the banquettes, etc. A gyrating bartender added to the pandemonium by pouring doses of house vodka into people's mouths. Tipsy females encouraged the attractive server with their desperate shouts for alcohol. While this type of environment usually makes me feel like a quivering senior citizen who is easily annoyed by the whippersnapper college kids, this was the perfect vacation venue for escaping from my regular routine. The music revved me up and allowed me to relax. My evening at McFadden's was definitely more enjoyable than I would have anticipated.
(4)Jessica L.
GREAT deal for sponsored teams :) Woo hoo!! PLUS, we love Mandy. If it weren't for the two things...this bar is "okay." Great outdoor seating but the bar itself is "regular."
(3)Samantha H.
Pretty average. I've been there on nights when I've had a lot of fun and on nights where I didn't have much fun at all so it's pretty hit or miss. Some of their food is pretty tasty, namely the chicken fingers. The Philly bite things were a let down; I had high hopes for them! I do love their music selection most of the time. I was there for a fundraiser and it was all 90's music. Shocking to come to the realization that you still know all the words to 'Shoop.' That was probably the most fun I'd ever had there. The service is also very hit or miss. The last time I was there I definitely had the worst waitress I'd ever had. But I've also had very good service other times. The place is pretty large and if you get there early you're sure to get a table, which is pretty key. They have a good bar selection, but I'm turned off with the lack of wine. They do have one cab and one Chardonnay but the bartenders will tell you not to bother getting them (which I actually appreciate). But given the neighborhood and especially because Rush and Division is such a touristy spot, I really think they should have a wine selection. Nothing fancy, but I mean a few reds and whites would earn them more points with me. Basically this place is pretty hit or miss so if you go on a good night, you'll have a great time with decent food, but if you go on an off night you'll probably have bad service and not so much fun.
(3)Stacy P.
This place was completely dead when we stopped in on a Thursday afternoon, but we had a great time anyway. The service was quick and extremely friendly, the food was good, and the beer was flowing. Unfortunately they don't have a patio or any sidewalk seating, but they kept the front windows open so there was some fresh air. I wouldn't run to go back, but I wouldn't be opposed to stopping in for another beer, either.
(3)Andrea R.
Oy vey (in honor of Rosh Hashana)! Was there really a time in my life that I didn't mind bumping into gross sweaty people? Maybe I was just too drunk to notice? This was the last stop of the night during my friend's bachelorette party! It had been awhile since I felt brave enough for a night at McFadden's, but nothing like a bachelorette party to get you in the mood. After paying a $5 cover (what's that about) we did did our Red Headed Slut shots (the only shot I can handle these days), the bachelorette danced on the bars with the slutty looking girls who work here, and I tried my hardest to avoid all the sweaty men who tried to dance with me. The music was fun and we danced our hearts out...until the pain in my feet told me it was time to go home. At 1:30am it was way past my bedtime, but the party was just getting started at McFaddens!
(2)Christina M.
I went back to Mcfaddens, with my sister and my friends. 2/3/10 BYOF....Bring your own fruit. Vodka Tonic, NO Lime. Blue moon, No Orange. Made me this of another acronym.... WTF. Normally, I wouldn't be so annoyed. But we waited about ten minutes before we were even greeted. Another ten before we got our beer. I server had "I hate my life" written all over her face. We should have sat at the bar with the bartenders I always get good service there. But if your gonna have a 'tude. Don't do it with a regular. Dj is not awesome. Well below ok.
(2)Jon O.
This seems to be a ok spot to meet some friends and have some cheep beers and low-mid range bar food. I stopped by once for St Patty's day (which was slammed) and then again for happy hour a week later. The inside is cozy and pretty welcoming with a lot of wood finish and a typical "irish bar" feel to the place. I decided to have a couple green beers they had left over from St Patty's day and a chicken sandwich. The bartender who was taking care of me was a little scatterbrained and I had to ask for a menu a few times and a beer a couple times as well as silverware. He was basically the only one behind the bar and the happy hour crowd was coming in so giving him the benefit of the doubt, I'd say they were short staffed and couldn't keep up. The Sandwich came along with some tator tots and together it was "ok". I was pretty hungry so I wasn't after a quality meal or anything. From the looks of other peoples appetizers they were bringing out everything seemed to look, as I mentioned, just kinda like your regular bar food fare. Give it a shot if you'd like but be sure to set your expectations to "ehh"
(3)Melissa K.
To be fair, I was joking around with a random guy at the bar about it being my friend's birthday and it turned out to be the gm who brought her a bottle of champagne. The bar was good. The DJ played some good hits and the staff was friendly. My only (VERY MAJOR) complaint was that I paid $3 to check my coat and the girl was gone by bar close. My coat was GONE and there was no on really to complain to. Seriously, coats were left on a chair and no one was there to monitor them
(3)Courtney W.
Only one thing I can say about this place, on the weekends it's gross. I'm not sure if I even fit in with the Division crowd on Friday and Saturday nights but I just couldn't shake the icky feeling this place left me with. We didn't have to pay cover on a Friday night, which was a promising start, but when we entered absolutely nothing made sense. There was no real dance floor, some people took to dancing on the seats of the booths scattered around. No one came to take our drink orders and when we made our way up to the bar it was 2-3 people deep, most of the people already had drinks and were standing at the bar trying to pick people up with cheesy pickup lines out of desperation since there was literally nowhere else to stand. A lot of drunk bachelorette parties were going down, maybe that's what all the fuss was about. I just don't think this place is worth the hassle, the staff was friendly but other than that it was just a little too much work.
(2)Larry V.
This place is what it is, and it excels at it. It's a frat-type, party bar. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Expect college, just-out-of-college, bachelorette/bachelor parties, and old guys trying to recapture their youth. Just not my scene anymore. Weekends it'll be crowded, loud, etc. Expect a lot of shots, etc. Not extremely original, but it works for them
(2)Angie M.
As I pulled up to McFadden's last night with my wingwoman in tow, we looked at each other and were like, 'Oh my God. This is going to be worst case scenario." And guess what? It was. Okay... First things first. The ONLY redeeming thing about McFadden's is the stellar wristband party packages. $30 buys you three hours of open bar, including Effen Black Cherry vodka, which means one thing for me: Lights out. Moving on.... It's REALLY, REALLY hot in McFadden's. It kind of smells like puke and there was no one in the entire bar I even wanted to talk to. And the DJ was playing quite possibly the worst music ever. For everyone who grew up in the burbs, I equate the music to what was played at the Paladrome, circa 1996. As the night progressed, the cheese factor increased. Slutty women dancing on the bar and douchebags oogling them. The world's tiniest dance floor crammed to capacity with guys in striped shirts (Hello! It's 2009!) and girls in sequined mini-dresses. The creepy bartender who wouldn't stop hitting on me. No, I won't give you my number, pal. Back off. As soon as midnight struck and my wristband special was over, I bolted the bar to head for greener pastures.
(2)Caitlin M.
McFadden's is constantly offering free parties or crazy drink specials, but even that isn't enough to make me want to frequent the place. I'm not sure what it is, but it always seems to smell like stale beer. I've only ever had the apps here, they are ok, but you can find better near by. I also think that maybe this place is more of a hit for college kids as opposed to mid to late 20 year olds.
(2)Katie R.
Frat frat frat frat. Old guys. Europeans. Frat frat frat.
(3)Katie C.
Oh McFadden's, you make me sad. With the bar half full (before 9PM) how long do I have to wait to get a beer? and the bartender told me four, yes four times, that 'he would be right with me' I guess the people at the other end of the bar that were talking to were more interesting. Bad beer, check. Music too loud to talk to the person next to me, check. Bartender's that seem to hate their lives, check. I am pretty sure all their food is prepared straight from a freezer box, everything tasted like salty freezer burn. I didn't even like going to this kind of bar when I was in college. If you go in with low expectations, you will be just fine. This was my first and only time at McFadden's, like other reviews have said, if you are under 25 and your main objective is to get stupid drunk, insert Bud Light Beer tower, this is your place. Remember, low expectations!
(1)Lauren B.
The only reason I go here is because I love the food. The Irish onion soup and blue cheese chips are to die for. The service, atmosphere, and drinks are AWFUL. Do not order a cocktail here, if you're going to drink- stick to beer! The bartenders make the absolute worst tasting mixed drinks I have ever had. The service is some of the worst in the city, but if you're willing to see past that, the food is super yummy and reasonably priced.
(3)Jaime S.
It's always way too crowded and sweaty here, and the line/cover is a disaster. Ok, fine, I can overlook that because a lot of bars are like that. Here is what takes all credibility away from McFaddens (for me at least). I was here with friends for a post med school exam party (for my friends-i obvi haven't seen a biology book since 8th grade). My friend was waiting in line for the bathroom, and per the usual, it was very crowded. Some DOUCHEBAG guy bumps my friend, she says excuse me, thinks he's a jerk and lets him walk away. Fast forward 5 minutes when the guy JACKS HER IN THE FACE. Literally, punches a GIRL in the face. She breaks her nose, she's bleeding everywhere....and the bouncers don't even call the police/wait for the police to show up bc they say they have no authority to do so. Seriously? what about as a man? do you have authority to not be a p***y? HATES THIS PLACE.
(1)Alex M.
So, as a bit of a disclaimer, this place and crowd isn't really my scene, so if you're like me, you should avoid this place. However, if you're the type of person that fondly remembers being shoulder to shoulder in an impossibly loud college bar, this may be the right place for you. I think nearly every person I never wanted to engage with in college hangs out at this bar now. Looking into the crowd of dudes on the dance floor, their collage of white and blue vertical striped shirts is the optical equivalent of a magic eye painting. If you focus on the walls behind the dance floor, you can see a dolphin jumping. The tiny whiskey and coke I ordered tasted like crap and was 5 bucks. Overpriced drinks and shitty music that they play WAY TOO LOUD makes this not a place to have a conversation, not that you'd want to with the typical Saturday night crowd there.
(1)Ryne D.
Rihanna sampled Michael Jackson's hit "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" for her hit "Don't Stop The Music", using the iconic lyric "mama-se, mama-sa, mama-coo-sa". As I've heard at Crimson Lounge, it's pure simplicity going from an old-school dance hit to a new one, but it flows great. McFadden's played MJ's song. I knew what was coming. They then played Rihanna's. The problem: there was no mix on that lyric. There was no mix at all. First song cut off, second one started. It's pretty much a gift to all bar DJs what Rihanna did, and this place threw it away. I don't know why they intend on blasting the music so loudly in this place when it's such crap. The only reason I come here is when friends throw parties there because they win raffles. This means McFadden's gives the celebrant's friends the opportunity to pay for well-level open bar (seems they lowered the price from $30 to $20). What a joke of a prize. At least I can get reasonably buzzed on the cheap.
(2)Angelina B.
McFaddens gets five stars for what it really is... a COLLEGE PARTY BAR!!! Get Drunk. Have Fun. Shut up. If youre looking for fancy drinks and a place to chit chat this is not the place to go. Loud Music, fun people, and dancing! So get on with your bad self and jump up on that bar!
(5)Mike K.
Holy moly me oh my. I've never been one for griping, but McFadden's completely blew my mind last night. It's almost admirable in a way - I hands down found the worst bar I've ever been to in my life. It actually made me start a Yelp account for the sole purpose of getting the word out (although apparently, I'm not the only one who's had a less than stellar time there) This place perpetually smells like farts and puke, and the floor feels like its covered in fly paper. The bar is 80% guys who attack trashy chicks like animals in the amazon. The DJ would have been booed out of the reception hall at a wedding. The dance floor had 2 GIRLS ON IT. The rest were guys bumping into each other and trying to fight one another. Are you kidding me? And guys see this and 4 of them try to dance with one girl at once? Oh, and you say they're 45 years old and smell like onions? Sign me up for that. Testosterone must be pumping through the vents, because its apparent that if you bump the shoulder of a guy on the way to the bathroom, we all know that's a sign of disrespect. You must now fight them. Because we are men and must prove it to be so. Also, I'm 5 foot 8 with pretty long hair, and I was wearing a blue v-neck with brown pants...this apparently infuriates the male population at McFadden's. I'm not gay, but have never been called a f*ggot so much in my life. Don't go to this place. I'm begging you. This is the worst time I've ever had in my life at a bar. Thank you McFadden's for showing me that all my expectations CAN be exceeded, even on the level of suck.
(1)Dan S.
I came in for a drink before dinner at Ra Sushi a block away. We had 45 minutes before our table would be ready at Ra. Our group of 5 came in around 7:30 and the place wasn't very busy. The prices were cheap and it was a relaxed atmosphere. It gets docked a point for not being terribly original and another 2 points because they kicked us out. We each ordered a beer and after 30 minutes we were all about 3/4 done with our drinks. The waitress asked if we wanted another round. We declined and asked for the bill. We paid the bill and were going to hang out for another 15 minutes until our table was ready. After 5 minutes, the waitress came back and said we had to leave if we were done drinking. There were 10 empty tables in the place. C'mon you got a $4 tip on a $21 order and we told you that we were just in for one drink while we were waiting for a table to open up across the street.
(2)Gerry D.
I've been here twice. This place sucks because it primarily has large groups than come and refuse to talk to people outside of their groups. Plus the restrooms suck!!
(1)Meghan B.
Yuck. Stay away unless you are either underage or in college. Or if you like sticky floors, extremely loud top 40's, and older men waiting in the corners to ogle you. Service also takes forever and the bar is always either empty or full beyond capacity - no in-between. Some of the food (burgers, wraps) are actually pretty good, but service is spotty and it typically takes forever. Oh it also smells. Really bad.
(2)Angel L.
Okay, So yes, this is a Rush and Division bar (which if you are a bar or club person, you already know this area makes the bottom of the list). However I've never really gotten the allure of this place. It's either deserted (read days without DJs/music A.K.A. any day not Friday or Saturday) or packed so beyond capacity that you can't move! The music is fine most of the time (Top 40 mix-ups), which is average and they will have some drink specials, however every time I end up here I feel like I'm going to be trampled by the just turned 21 guys to my left, trying to get to the just turned 21 (if that) girls dancing on top of the bar to my right. Don't get me wrong, this place would be great --- if it wasn't destined to be the next cheap imitation E2 nightclub disaster!!!
(1)Karl M.
Great food, good service, high prices, Rush Street locale.
(3)A G.
I gave them a one star basically because of the DJ this past Saturday. Fairly enjoyable place, but when I asked the DJ to play some electronic (he had been playing ghetto rap for well over an hour), he replied rudely with "I played 5 songs already, where have YOU been?" A) He didn't play a single one B) He was such a crappy DJ that in his head perhaps it was electronic. He then made an incredibly inappropriate comment that the girls having fun dancing on the bar would be available later for handjobs. Um, what? In what world is it ok to talk about customers like that? I complained to the manager about this. Her reply was "he was probably just making a joke." Really now. Save your money and go somewhere with a DJ who actually knows music that's outside the genre of ghetto.
(1)Ben B.
My wife and I stopped in for lunch on a Sunday, looking for a quick meal. We ordered an egg sandwich and two pancakes with blueberries. Then we waited. Other patrons got their meals, and we waited... then we got another round of drinks, then we waited... 45 minutes later, we started eating. The food was good, the prices were great, in particular the $3 you-call-its all day on Sundays, but the wait was a killer. I wanted to give the place 4 stars when I first started waiting.
(2)Jo W.
Ok, full disclosure is that one of my good friends is a cocktail server here. Thus, on the rare occasion I come on a weekend I never have to wait in line or pay a cover because I am awesome like that. But then, if I'm ever here on a weekend I'm usually three sheets to the wind by the time I get here.... Oops. I definitely enjoy this place more during the week, when it's not crazy and they have good happy hour specials. You can also win a happy hour party pretty easily, which means free drinking for you. During the week it's a completely different vibe than the weekend crowd, in a good way. The food is just okay, nothing to write home about. But yeah, stick to this place during the week and you'll be fine. Weekends are for the typical Division street crowds. Lame.
(3)Melissa F.
If you ignore "Womanizer," this clip sums it up pretty well: youtube.com/watch?v=RtV3… Yyyyyanyhoo. McFadden's is dank/gross/crowded/gross. I went there for a birthday since Rockit's line was too long. A few stray observations... - Not enough room to move. I know this isn't the only place like this in Chicago, but wow. - Not enough restrooms for women. The line was enormous. I was fine until I got home, but I doubt everyone would be. - Good drinks! Somewhat strong but not disgusting, and my vodka soda was $5, which wasn't terrible. Thankfully, no credit card minimum, unlike many dive-y places. - I know it's become a cliche to say "Everyone looked like a member of the Jersey Shore!"...so I won't. But a good 35% of the men looked like "The Situation" specifically. One man looked like him on Dancing with the Stars - powder blue button-down shirt with a black vest and pants...er, OK. Actually, a lot of men wearing vests. Weird! One guy had both ears pierced and manicured stubble, with a FEDORA. It is 2002 again! I should've asked him how the sales figures were for "Justified." - There was a woman walking around with a tray of shots that looked like swampwater (or, as I said to friends after she had passed, "like feces"). They were $3 a pop! I didn't ask for one as a result. $3 for swampwater, yum! - Girls were on the bar pouring entire bottles of liquor into each other's mouth. It's that kind of place. - On the way to the bar, I had to weave my way through throngs of people, but also a real-life almost-bar fight! This meant that a bigger guy was holding a small guy by the shirt, and both looked reasonably angry. Someone broke it up. Cla$$y. I had a great time with my friends, and it was a wonderful birthday celebration, but this isn't at the top of my list of places to go, sorry to say.
(2)Bill M.
I enjoyed visiting this bar just north of bar-happy Division Street. It is a relatively spacious place with minimal decor including a few pub signs and some TV sets. The place was not overwhelmingly crowded on a Thursday evening, so it was not too smoky inside. The music was not too bad, though you will wind up shouting at your friends if you want to have some conversation. I did not have to wait forever for my drinks, so that is a big thumbs up for the drink servers. They serve some bar food items such as crispy fries and potato skins. Thanks to Andrea and Elizabeth for helping to set up the Yelp Happy Hour here !! It was fun to meet some vets and some new faces.
(4)Pamela M.
It's just a loud sports pub. If that's what you're looking for then this is the place. Very loud with that lovely smell of stale beer permeating the air. As an extra special touch the fumes from the Bleach in the bathroom were so strong that they burned my throat and had me coughing for a couple hours. When I said to the restroom attendant "the bleach is really strong in here" she merely replied "yep". Enough said. I had one $8 drink and moved on.
(1)Joseph S.
I came with a bunch of friends on a Saturday night. Here's my experience (I'll make this short): The employees were rude and the place was packed probably beyond capacity.
(1)David R.
This place blows. Bars like this are NOT my scene, but I don't always get to make the decisions. So I tried to take it in stride and judge them on their own merits, but there were some specifics that bothered me. 1. LOUD. I hate loud bars, but this was honestly the loudest music I have ever heard in a bar. It was already really, really loud, and then there was a point at which they turned it up higher for a certain popular song and then left it there. I was dumbfounded that there are that many decibels on the scale. 2. HOT. This was in March, on a warmer weekend when the outside temps were in the 60s, I believe. Why was it so hot in there? I was drenched in sweat and I didn't even dance. 3. BAD DRINKS. My friend asked for my drink order, and since I don't drink Miller Lite and I didn't want to have to wrestle my way to the bar to find out what whiskies they have, I waved the white flag and said, "Vodka tonic." What I got was more like plain tonic. Bleah. I wonder if I would have had any more luck with my other emergency drink choice, Jim Beam and Diet Coke. I liked the bouncer, who stuck up for me when my friends and some strangers near the door area gave me grief for wearing a suit (I had been at the theater earlier that evening) and for having a suit in my driver's license photo. So this guy and I are suit brothers....that was the only cool thing about this place.
(2)An P.
What's there to do on a Friday Night in Viagra Triangle? After a business school International Night, the horde decided the $20 weekly Friday Night all-you-can at McFadden's from 9pm-1am. I've had my fair share of the $5 all-you-can circuit and I've seen most derivations of the form from Gold Coast to Lincoln Park. Entering McFaddens, I was welcomed to the arena with staunch body order and a crowded carousel of people darting in and out with a constant cascade of coats sliding against me. Looking for my friends I had to used sharp elbow technique to navigate through the human wreckage with the strength of my will and sharp concentration while scanning the area for familiar faces. Towards the end of the bar there were girls up on some platform dancing and the music was loud and the bodies unwashed without proper deodorant. When bars get this crowded leaving no room to move it can be a rage-inducing box of hell that I should have been more prepared for. Division Street on a Friday night epitomizes the faux glamorous lifestyle of binge fueled blackouts and prime grade idiocy. Eventually I found my friends, but the loudness was deafening and it felt like the walls of people were constantly caving in on me. Even after a few drinks, I couldn't handle it anymore! Leaving was a disaster and I probably bruised my fair share of unyielding bodies that would not budge an inch to give me my way.
(1)Stephanie W.
Grossest, frattiest bar on Divison, and that's hard to do. Steer clear unless you want beer spilled all over you! Last time I got tricked into coming here, there was an obese bridal party in the back and all the bridesmaids were walking around the disgusting McFadden's floor barefoot - yuck!
(1)Brett K.
Shit show. Go for the beer/sweat soaked hoes, stay for the puke.
(1)Nafeesah A.
I went here for the first time yesterday had I known that past reviews of this place reflected I would have avoided at all costs. I do agree with one of the posters that the people who patronize the bar are young newly legal to drink aged college or fresh out of college grads and old schoolers trying to be young again. The environment is kind of loud so you can't really hear yourself talk. Then you have to deal with the waitstaff who were getting goofy behind the bar and apparently the theme was pajamas because one of the male bartenders was wearing pajamas with the footies (kind of like the ones many of us wore as kids) and the other male bartender was wearing sweats and a wifebeater (for those who don't know wifebeater is slang for an undershirt) and the girls were in mens shirts with bras and panties on underneath and half the time when they were not waiting on people they were busy getting silly with a camera phone taking pics of each other and also snapping pics of drunk customers at their request. I was here at McFadden's because a friend won a free happy hour party. They do have a cover charge so be prepared to fork over $5 if you're a guy and a girl(cover charge after midnight). That's about within reason since a lot of the bars in Chicago charge $10 cover charges at the door and I didnt have anything to drink, but just a couple appetizers and it cost me $15.....for that much I could have bought McDonalds for 3 people on that and they were not that great. I ordered some fries and macaroni and cheese bites which had this nasty cheese sauce like you would get at the gas station for below standard nachos and the fries were too salty and tasted overcooked. I wouldnt waste my time coming here again unless you're there to have a drink with friends and leave. The bathrooms were another story I walked in and it wasnt common to see someone with a table full of toiletries and other items that they provided for a nominal fee or even a small tip, but I couldnt believe how inconsiderate people are because I was coming out of a stall to wash my hands and two girls were standing at the sink texting on their phones and were not using the sinks and not moving to leave the bathroom so that other people can wash their hands since the bathroom was no bigger than a small walk in closet so you had to go in use the bathroom and squeeze your way to the sink to wash your hands and having to ask people to move who are on their phones to step aside if they're not using the sink so you can wash your hands. The attendant had a scented candle going in the bathroom to make it smell good.....wasnt working because some of these ladies needed to check their business down below some of them were not copasetic and needed to have better hygiene down there since the bathroom smelled gross. Not to mention you're stepping on smashed food on the floor like they didnt have someone come in periodically to sweep up the stuff and keep the floor clean. If they had zero stars I would have given this place the score it deserves.....ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(2)Adam L.
McFadden's is your typical Rush-and-Division douchebag bar. On any given night, there will be guys in striped shirts and ladies in short skirts, and they will all be drunk. The food is medicore, but the drinks aren't bad. What's worth mentioning is the fantastic drink packages. If you're looking for a place for a group to pregame and get really hammered, this would probably be it. Also, they have a guy in the bathroom with soaps and stuff, which is pretty funny.
(3)Eva S.
I've been going to McFadden's for years. The place is always clean, the staff is always super friendly, and there's always great prices on drinks. When it's nice out, they open up the patio and there's more seating out there. There is a second bar in the back near a dance floor and more seating. It's a great place to go to watch a game, or to kick back and have some wine outside. I always make a point to go grab a drink or 50 when I go back to visit Chicago.
(5)Conner R.
This bar's owner and staff display blatant homophobia and sexism. I do not advise this bar if you have self respect.
(1)Revant O.
I visited McFadden's bar literally 20 minutes ago and had the worst experience in terms of customer service compared to any bar in Chicago. The bouncers at this bar are not only aggressive but even resort to physical violence against their customers in a vain attempt to establish their authority. While most other people who experience this extremely disgusting attitude may not make the extra effort of posting a review of this establishment, I believe it to be my responsibility to warn future customers to avoid this bar at all costs. My personal experience at McFadden's was a civil conversation with a bouncer that resulted in an unprovoked and grossly unjustified reaction where a bouncer physically assaulted me. The bouncer in question believed I was too intoxicated to enter this establishment (based on this review I am writing right after leaving you can judge the validity of that judgement). While I understand that bars and clubs may have their reasons for denying people entry into their establishment, the use of physical violence against paying customers is not only unethical, but is devoid of any form of rational reasoning. I would give this establishment less than 1 star if yelp allowed me to do so, but I am only posting this review to protect other people from enduring the grossly disrespectful behavior of the staff of this bar. After my altercation, not only did the bouncer in question immediately leave the scene (an obvious sign of guilt), but "management" staff who were not even present when the altercation took place appeared to deny any wrong doing on the part of their staff without any realistic evidence on which to base that assessment. The staff of this enterprise are unruly, mismanagement and prone to violence.
(1)Amanda K.
I don't hate it... Wow! Um, how do I even review this experience? Does WOW work okay for all those good and bad wows in life? (World Of Wonders!) So many pros and cons! Oh my my my! Perhaps my weakest recent review being the only way to make it useful is "miss long winded" has no words for this! I am in Chicago, not Indianapolis, and ended up on the Broadripple Avenue of Chicago. That's epic! I know Chicago has much more to offer, but when you come from an area of college campus bars, downtown divey townie bars, and then a smaller city an hour south where you had some of your prime 21-25 year old days there on Broadripple Avenue (representing the "B-Rip", holla holla!) bar crawling around... LMAO... This place isn't so bad. Nothing like remembering those days when we too were probably the drunken entertainment for others. I don't know how "fabulously entertaining" I was in my golden days, but this is totally entertaining for me today. I think I'll have another beer and enjoy people watching for sure! .....Look at what we have here! LMAO. CHEERS!
(4)Anita C.
Never ever again. Went for a "Free Party" that I won in a raffle. Nothing was free about it. Everyone of my guests in my party was pretty wasted but the next day the charges on our credit cards were nothing but ridiculous.. -we had half off drinks and no food was added. When I called the next day to see how my amount was so high, nothing was able to be explained to me of why the charge. Won't be back.
(1)Jenna S.
I thought about giving McFadden's two stars but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. This really was a terrible place and I can firmly say I will never come here again. Several weeks ago, I tried to book a room at a bar for my 30th birthday. Declan's let me down (read that review separately) so someone pointed me in McFadden's direction. I organized my evening with Megan, which was easy via email and phone. Megan was super responsive and helpful, so I had high hopes for this restaurant/bar. I paid $100 to reserve their "VIP" room for a Saturday evening, which is pretty cheap considering most places wanted almost $1000 (including room reservation and consumption guarantees). I was psyched to get this place so cheap, especially considering I was basically allowed to let my partygoers do whatever they wanted. I arranged to have a $30 wristband available that included draft beer, well drinks, wine and pop. Here's where things start go get fishy. Via phone and email, I was promised our group would have a server and access to a full menu of food. Come the night of the event, there was only ONE waitress in the entire bar/restaurant on a SATURDAY night with a Hawks game playing. You'd think that the bar would have prepared for a packed house since people were coming here for the game but they didn't, which seems like poor planning. My $100 room fee could have paid for a dedicated server for 3 hours (at least) since they probably only make minimum wage anyway. There was also only ONE bartender for the entire bar, which made ordering drinks incredibly difficult. What is the point in paying for this wristband if you're not even going to serve us drinks? Also, why is no one working here on a Saturday night when this place is presumably at its busiest?! So now we're here and we can't really leave because I've already paid for this stupid room and the bartender explains it's only DOMESTIC drafts so one of my guests can't order a Heineken (even though that wasn't explained ahead of time since the email just said 'drafts'). All of the well drinks were the WEAKEST POURS ever (which other reviewers have complained about) and it took each person about 10 minutes to even get the bartender's attention each time someone went up. I was also promised a room that would "seat 20 comfortably" but when we went in there were literally only 12 seats for people. That's it: two couches for three people and six other chairs at tables. We had 24 people in our group so.... what the fuck? I asked the bartender if we could move tables and chairs into the room and he said yes but no employee here bothered to help us actually move anything. Our server came in the room a total of FOUR times during our four hours in there (from 5:30-9:30). People ordered food that never came or took like over an hour to come out of the kitchen. One person in our party ordered a diet coke three times and never even got the drink. At all. I thought if we were paying to reserve a room and give you our business that you would actually care to serve us and make us feel comfortable instead of leaving us feeling shitty and complain-y all night. Megan came in that evening and I expressed my concerns to her and she bought the entire room a round of shots for our trouble, which is a bullshit move. I would have rather had a beer and/or had some of my money refunded since the whole night was just shitty. I can definitely say I will NEVER come here again and I advise those people looking to possibly throw a party here to run as far as you can and book it somewhere else. McFadden's is not worth it, especially since this place turns in to the third circle of hell after 10 because it's full of sorority bitches and drunk bros. If you're over 24, you're WAY too old to be here, which we learned the hard way.
(1)Kimberly M.
I'd give this place zero stars if I could. My friends and I walked into this bar around 8:15 on a Saturday night. The place was pretty dead, which was fine. We were just looking to chat anyway. 2 of my friends went to the bar and my other friend and I went to the bathroom. They got their drinks and I waited to be served at the bar... And waited... And waited. The bartender walked past us four or five times and waited on everyone else. He even counted out his tips and never stopped by us. After 10 minutes of being completely ignored we walked away. I We moved to a table and the waitress stopped by to clear the empty place. She passed by another four or five times, and again, didn't ask if we needed anything. t's hard to spend money, when no one waits on you. I won't be back.
(1)Rhonda L.
Coming from a planned party No staffing ! One bartender for the whole place. Party, major sports night , Saturday night it was ridiculous Sold 3 hour bracelets but unable to get drinks. Food, what's that. Poor management !
(1)Daniel S.
I've only been here when me or my friends win one of their deals for friday/saturday nights, it's loud and can get packed, which i'm not a fan of, and it's almost impossible to park near there, but the deals are good deals, and if that's your kind of scene then you won't be disappointed, a lot of people enjoy it, it's just not necessarily my scene
(3)Allison S.
Do not EVER EVER GO HERE. I was sexually molested at this bar, and the guy who did it was allowed to stay because he was friends with the owner. It is never okay to touch a women inappropriately. The bouncer told me it was out of his hands. The man continued to stare at me all night and make me feel uncomfortable. I used to go here all the time because the music is amazing. I will never return.
(1)Tim L.
Average irish-style bar. Food is mediocre and staff is passable. Basically a completely average bar within a block of some amazing bars.
(2)Karolina T.
I went here once when my friend won a "free party", but left within an hour when I saw a big cockroach crawl across the floor by the photobooth in the back. We told the hostess about the bug, but she just eeked and ran off.
(1)Doug R.
I like the music they play here and there are always cute girls galore. I like how they are able to dance on benches, booths and whatever else they can climb up on. Pretty good late night crowd here. 1, 2 AM and the place is still flowin. It's a fun atmosphere.
(3)Daniel S.
If you are a fan of beer, consider yourself lucky if you are walking by this Irish themed pub on Wednesday. On Wednesday, they serve Miller draft beer for a $1. McFadden is a New York bar & restaurant with a Chicago presence since 1977. This location is where the fast paced downtown environment of State Street merges with the laid back treelined residential environment of State Parkway. It is where the high rises blend in with historic architecture. It is where the local and visitor meet. And, It is where my family and I delayed an hour touring along State Parkway. The $1 Miller draft special sign gravitated us from the sidewalk into McFadden. The McFadden that we enjoyed a couple Miller drafts on a Wednesday afternoon was the antithesis of the happening place that it supposedly is at night. This bar slash restaurant was quiet. It was us, a few locals, a personable bartender and Major League Baseball playing on one of the few TV's over the elongated mahagony bar. The noise level was low while the quality of relaxation was high. We could easily hear our conversations and the baseball game. The personable bartender was on the 8 ball. The two Miller drafts I drank were from decent sized glasses. There is no catch to the special. My eyes weren't always focused inside the bar. McFadden is open to State Parkway. The transition to the bar is a few steps off the sidewalk. During business hours air separates the sidewalk from the business. This setup increases the quality of the experience. It is healthy to see the sun. And watching people passing by on State Parkway, at times is equally as entertaining as the professional sports playing above on the TV. After spending an hour here, we'd be passing by State Parkway ourselves. My pictures of McFadden:
(4)Adrienne T.
The only reason why I come here is because McFadden's sponsors our volleyball league and after every game we get a free pitcher of beer. The reason it has been given an "Eek! Methinks not." rating: 1. They have a very small selection of beers in comparison to other bars. Most of the beers on tap or in bottles are the low-end mainstream kind. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you might like McFadden's. 2. Their half-price drink parties are a joke. If you look at the cup you are given, it's about half the size of a regular beer glass. Therefore, it's not TRULY half-price. 3. It's a bar for very young 20 somethings and bros. Yes, bros. 4. Their DJ on Friday night is AWFUL. I'm not sure how he can call himself a DJ. IF you like Top 40 from the year 2000, this place is for you. He doesn't do requests. Probably because he doesn't have the requested material. 5. There is a cover after 9:30 on Friday and Saturday nights. A cover for a pub? Yes, it's true and completely sad. 6. Most of the staff have sub-par customer service skills, especially the bartenders. 7. Should I keep going? 8. About half the time I'm served a warm beer. 9. Over-priced, mediocre bar food. 10. Go somewhere else. (this isn't a reason...just a suggestion)
(1)Charlie P.
I love this bar! I can only speak of their drinks and service, although the food looks delicious. The bartenders are the best, all of them! No matter who is working the bar, they are all super nice and really seem to take a general interest in their customers. Can't say enough about the service! Aside from the great service they have awesome specials, like $1 drafts on Wednesday's and some great food specials as well. They play fun music and (from what I've seen as a passerby) have a fun late night crowd too. I'm too old for all that now, but I've seen the line of people out the door. I live right around the corner and definitely call this place my hometown bar. I'll always come back here!
(5)Ryan L.
I went there this past Sunday to watch the Blackhawks game as it is an "official" Blackhawks bar. I was with a group of about 10 and we pushed a few tables together. When we arrived at around 6 it wasn't busy at all. However, it took at least 30 minutes for a waiter to stop over. We actually went to the bar twice to get our own pitchers before a waiter checked in with us. We ordered some appetizers for the table and a few people in the group ordered their own food. We waited another 30 minutes for the appetizers to come out (nachos) and those who ordered their own food waited nearly an hour to get their meals. One person in the group actually never got his food at all! Now on to the quality...the beer lines at this place are either FILTHY or the beer is old. Our pitchers of beer were flat and tasted funny. The beer wasn't even cold. As for the food, I think rats probably find more appealing meals in dumpsters behind Taco Bell. The nachos tasted like they'd been made three days prior and reheated multiple times. I didn't order my own meal however the food others ordered didn't look terribly appetizing. I will never step foot in this place again. It's a waste of time and money.
(1)M.j. R.
This place is 100% a college bar. I have nothing good to say about this place so I will just start off with the bad things they do. They have so many colleve students at this bar that you cant move or go to the bathroom so you will need to hold it all night. There is always a fight that happens at the end of the night. Someone is always puking in the bathroom or outside and the place smells like puke. They have terrible customer service. Also in the summer they dont have air conditioning so you will sweat your ass off, even in the winter time because of the terrible ventalation. I dont recommend this place to any of my friends and I avoid it at all cost.
(1)Bianca L.
So I'm currently sitting here at Mcfaddens to catch up with old friends and watch the playoff game. Yet it took 20 minutes to be acknowledge by a so called non server (who walked over to another group and offered them drinks and menus). Currently waiting on a drink and the server well nonserver didn't even offer us menus like she did for the other group. I don't know if it's because she's a non-server or whatever but I'm extremely disappointed with the service here. I guess the non server doesn't need tips and this bar doesn't want my money. As soon as my friends arrive I'll be leaving
(1)Meredith B.
I can't hate on McFaddens. There was a time a few years ago when my friends and I somehow ended up here every night that we went out, and something ridiculous always happened. This place is a magnet for drama, and for awkward hookups, and for somehow getting you drunker than you realized. I have danced on their bar. My friends have danced on their bar with a bottle of pucker. I saw Brody Jenner here once (not just like, randomly, it was like an event - "Brody Jenner is here!" This was maybe six years ago, when people cared) and he brushed against me when he walked to the bathroom. It is crowded. You kind of build-your-own-dance-floor wherever you can find the space. I don't think there's actually a dance floor. They didn't make us pay cover since we were in a bachelorette party with 10 girls (unlike some other places which charged anyway, cough cough Hangge Uppe). The music is pretty fun stuff, a mix of 80s/90s/2000s but all of it is recognizable and fun to dance to or scream/sing along with. If you want someplace raucous and busy and fun, where you can flirt with random drunk strangers and get into crazy shenanigans, it's worth a stop. Not a place to stop for a nice quiet beer! It's just fun, plain and simple. Don't act like you're too good for it! There's a place in the world for bars like this.
(3)Miguel P.
I like this place. The drink deals are pretty good, and the food is okay too. I've had my birthday party here before, and they gave me and my guests a wristband special for the night. Most of the bartenders definitely deserve whatever everyone tips they get. They really try to hustle to get to . If you're going, the best day is probably gonna be on Tuesdays, because of the taco deal. They're not the greatest in the world, but it's bar food. What were you expecting? Worst day is DEFINITELY going to be Fridays. The place becomes wall-to-wall frat boys. But you're right around the corner from more than a few other night spots, which is a definite plus. So you can escape if you want to. If I had a negative, it would be the DJ. From what I can tell, it's the same guy all the time. His mixes are kinda lame. Seriously needs to play music from this decade.
(3)Jon L.
Bartenders are nice but the place looks like it should be on bar rescue. The worst part of this bar are their power tripping bouncers who think they are mcfaddens. A typical dive bar does not need 3 to 4 bouncers out front to check and harass you when you enter; this is not the airport. Lastly, this bar is overpriced for what you get in the little plastic cups they hand out. Never coming here again. If you're looking for a good spartan bar, go to El Hefe, Barleycorn, or TIn Lizzy.
(1)Steph U.
I can see why this place doesn't get the greatest ratings, but when I went it was pretty fun. My friend won free drinks for himself and half off drinks for 10 friends in some kind of raffle thing that McFadden's has, and I think that helped a lot that drinks were cheaper/free. This place got pretty crowded, but it was a Friday night. I don't think this is as bad as people say it is, but I don't think it's great either. I'd come back if we had cheap drinks again.
(3)Brian R.
AVOID at all costs - Terrible customer service and etiquette. Don't let bartenders treat you like crap. I recently visited here with a group of friends on a bachelor party and politely waited for a beer at the end of the bar when we came into the McFadden's. When the bartender finally approached I asked for a Goose Island and turned to my left to buy my buddy a beer and asked him what he wanted. Before I even finished asking my buddy what he wanted, the bartender huffed and guffed and said "Seriously?" as if I didn't have my order ready and walked away. There was maybe 30-40 people in the place total so was not busy by any means (guessing i know why now). With a shock on my face and no beers, I approached the bartender to inquire as to why he was being so rude and why he didnt want to serve me or my friend. We had just gotten there and were more than polite and in good condition. The bartender didnt want to answer my inquiries and pretty much continued with his horrible attitude confirming it was pretty much because I didnt have my order ready (2 pints of beer). At that point, I started getting frustrated with the bartender and we got into a heated debate. I'm sorry but I don't care much for terrible attitude at a place you're spending money when completely unprovoked. I asked for the manager and the manager simply just came over and kicked me out of the bar without letting me explain how his employee was disrespecting and treating customers like crap. No one should ever have to accept or be subject to such rude attitudes from any bartender and I let them know clearly and loudly so that other customers could hear the story and so that we could get our party and our $$ out of this place. Went next door to PJ Clarke's and the service was excellent! Go there instead.
(1)Mad I.
This place is one of the few bars I know of that aren't fancy schmancy on the mag mile. Tends to have a very "look at me" atmosphere of twenty somethings. Only a couple of girls and more guys the night I was there. There was a game on....and the beer is cheap ($22 for that giant THING that dispenses crappy house party "fill in the blank" lite) and they have Jenga. Nice! Food smelled and looked good, does that count?
(4)Myrissa G.
love this bar always a good time!!!!!
(5)Barrett B.
There were a few girls dancing on the seats in the booth but they got down and no one was dancing up there at all and got kind of dead so I my friend got up there then pulled me up,as soon as i got up the guy who worked there told me to get down. i could maybe see if i was blocking some "hot girls" but NO ONE was on the side i was and only 2 other girls were up there and he said I had to get down. Rude as hell. Then when i got down so did everyone else. I guess they would prefer nobody than a guy be up there with the girls, unless its the guy with the bear head. also the bartender was too busy flirting with everyone to take drink orders.and the girl doing the raffle seemed annoyed that i wanted to sign up.the staff is plain rude!
(1)Anna B.
Glorified frat/debauchery central
(1)Amanda P.
This place is pretty much awful, you can look at my other reviews to see that I don't normally give super bad reviews as I'm pretty forgiving. However, this place just straight up lies. I went on a night with a special on wings it clearly stated on both the website and on their specials board .50 wings and that's it. When our check came we were charged .75 and we said oh they are .50 (for a table of eight that's a big difference), to which she replied that's only for boneless wings. We said umm where does it say that? She said it doesn't. Oh ok...then we said why didn't you tell us when we ordered the Wing special? She said you have the .75 Wing special. Basically we went back and forth and there was no winning, I showed her the website on my phone we spoke with the manager and still they wouldn't budge. I will not be going back.
(1)Jordy S.
I'll cut to the chase: The DJ's are pretty bad. The Friday night 90's guy played good songs but he mixed them terribly. The Saturday night DJ is worst. The half price drink parties they give out like crazy are not worth it AT ALL. Sure the host gets free drinks, but the friends get $4 drinks that are tiny. Not worth it. Place is so loud and full of college kids who just turned 21 or have really good fakes. No real room to dance unless you want to be next to the girls dancing on tables. If you want shots, good luck to you. $7 for a fireball shot that wasn't even half of a normal shot size. I don't know who they think they are. There is no ambiance. There are super bright TVs everywhere that practically blind you. The music is so loud that you can't have conversations if you're sitting at tables or up front. It's a little trashy and if you're over the whole "I'm in college, let's get trashed and be a mess" phase of your life, skip this place. I've gone too many times, always for a friends Happy Hour party, which surprisingly everyone who is in the bar somehow has. It's not worth it, especially if you are from a neighborhood further away. If you have to get a taxi or Uber, you might as well save your money and go somewhere else to put it into drinks that are worth it.
(1)Anthony R.
I usually avoid bars in the Viagra Triangle but I came here for the free drinks, let's be honest. Its like most of is surrounding bars in the Clark/Division area. Toursty, Frat, suburban bars in city kinda vibe. Free drinks where domestic beer and well drinks. Stick to beer since they are poured in 12oz plastic cups not the typical Pint glass you'd expect and see everyone else with. But hey its free so I ain't mad. Just gotta make more trips. Music was also that Top 40 stuff with some throwbacks thrown in for good measure. Not much space to dance tho so people were bumping into our table. Woulda gave it two stars but I did get a good buzz going so gave it three
(3)Taylor M.
Not one of the classier bars in the Gold Coast, but it is usually having some sort of a special to get you in the door. Drinks are served I plastic glasses since most of the customers are drunk frat boys. Not a place I go by choice. I only go here when someone is throwing a party. Valet Parking in the garage across the street is $20.
(2)Captain B.
Big class full of coke with very little rum. No crowd. Sad
(2)chris b.
After our Volleyball team coming in for three years prior we were always treated well. Not sure if you care, but this year was not the same. I emailed Emily in April and May, then come June we still did not have our shirts or initial check. I have tried emailing this week and no response. To make things better Sunday June 1 we came in for the game ... we were told that the $7 pitcher deal would not be honored even after I showed the email. (bartender - white guy with a red hat on backwards). Then to make things even better we did not receive our free appetizer. I can share the email strings if you would like to see. Oh yeah ... waiters or waitresses ... none to be found, we had to walk up to the bar ourselves and dirty dishes were left at our table for hours. There were 8 of us and we spent $129 ... unfortunately this will not happen again. Just wanted to share. Sorry that we were no longer welcome on Sunday afternoons at McFadddens.
(1)Jen K.
Let's be serious here. This place sucks. Maybe their food is ok, but don't go here after 9pm. Does this place have any self respect? They let everyone dance on the tables. Then they have their bartenders stand on the bar in skimpy outfits and throw candy to all the screaming boys. Their drinks are overpriced and there's always guys ready to dance with you/grab your ass, however you want to look at it. Last time I was there, there were several college-aged guys being escorted out...I use "escorted" lightly, because they were throwing a fit, sweating profusely, and screaming obscenities. They clearly had just gotten into a fight or made some sort of ruckus. I dunno, maybe I'm old and grouchy now (does 27 count as old?), but this place is crowded and stupid. I typically like to be able to hear my friends talk to me and not pay $12 for a drink. Oh yeah, and theres a cover. What exactly does that charge cover? There wasn't a band there that night. WTF.
(1)Tiffany H.
Slow service and the food wasn't that great.
(2)Rawlins R.
I've been to McFadden's a couple of times. Besides the cover, the sticky floors, and being overcrowded, this place is just fine. Last time I came here was on a Thursday and there was literally less than 10 people here. My friends and I saw some girls dancing on the booth area by the DJ and wanted to dance there as well. We know that this is usually off limits because of the regular bar laws. We decided to give it a go and we were instantly denied access. McFadden's continues to be McFatty Fat's to me...
(2)Rmeloncash ..
They send me spam texts. My Irish wife says it's very inauthentic. Rude staff. Reputation of giving food poisoning. I'm shocked this place even has 2 stars
(1)Caren D.
On Friday, November 8 2013. Me & a couple of friends wanted to hit some bars around the clark/division area so what better than McFadden's right? I used to live around the area and patronize McFaddens quite a few times. I never had their food before so I can't comment on that. Drink prizes were pretty standard around that area, and they have drink specials some days so it's not bad. HOWEVER, I swear that I will NEVER step foot into this bar again because of how badly treated I was and how humiliated I felt by the staff. *WARNING : LONG BUT JUICY REVIEW * So upon entering the bar, this "security" wanted to see our IDs. Well, that's standard procedure so I gladly obliged. This particular "security staff" was pretty casually dressed, in sport shoes, baggy jeans, T-shirt, baseball cap and what not. Okay, I thought - no biggie, maybe McFaddens is just lenient with their staff attire. What pissed me off next is beyond acceptable. "Is your ID real?" yelled the security guard. "Yes, of course it is", I replied. "Well, the girl in the picture doesn't look like you at all", said the guy in a very annoyed tone. I found it a bit ridiculous that he would say that and slightly offended. Yes, I wasn't looking my best in my ID photo but does that matter? "Sir, this might not look like me but I assure you that it is me. Look, I can show you my other photo IDs & credit cards - they all have the same name & photo". Look, I work in the service industry too and I don't want to give him a hard time so I proceeded to pull out whatever ID, Cards I have with my name & photo on it. "I THINK YOUR ID IS FAKE", yelled the "security" guy. At this point, I was beginning to feel really annoyed because not only was he YELLING at me the entire time, he was blatantly accusing me of something untrue! "It is DEFINITELY real sir, what else can I say? I already showed you all my other photo IDs. You can examine it closer but I assure you that this is absolutely real." Refusing to even rationally listen to me, this guy scrutinized, attempted to check, bend, twist my ID before looking back at me and again yelled, "YUP, IT'S DEFINITELY FAKE. If you think it's real, can you call a cop for me?" This is RIDICULOUS, if you think my ID is fake, why don't you call the cops then? I have no problems with that because at the end of the day, I know for sure that I am not guilty of the crime that you ACCUSED me for. "Fine", I said, "Call the cops and let them examine it once and for all". "No, YOU call the cops. I can't leave this place." This guy has the fucking nerves to bother ME to invite a cop over. To make matters even worse, he held on to my ID and refused to return it to me. "Go to Division street to find a cop, if you are really right, I'll buy you a drink". Exasperated, annoyed, pissed off - I unwillingly walked away from McFaddens in attempt to find a cop to prove my innocence. Before even walking a few steps away, this sucky "security" yelled behind me "NO, WAIT, COME BACK ! YOU'RE GOOD". I guess he realized that by making me go look for a cop will do him no good after all. He didn't even apologize to me, merely shoved my ID back. When I asked, "So that drink you owe me?", he said "NOPE". Should've known I should always expect anything less than trashiness and crap from a useless guy like that. So guys, if you want to be treated like a criminal by a "security" that thinks he knows it all - feel free to step by McFaddens. I assure you that you will definitely feel welcomed by his hospitality, and by that I mean being humiliatingly yelled at for something that wasn't your fault in the first place. Oh, and since the "security" there doesn't seem to know how to validate IDs, do you have faith that they are competent to do their jobs? To the management of McFaddens, please - for God's sake, don't fucking hire someone that doesn't even know to tell the difference between a fake & real ID. Seriously. Another tip, perhaps request that your staff not dress in a way that suggests that the place is a douche central, filled with assholes like the incompetent shit of a "Security" that you hired.
(1)Taufiq H.
Came here to use a poggled in a Sunday. Very slow service to start - one waitress and took us 20 min till we could even talk to her - she seemed to be more interested in chatting with some friends while ignoring customers
(1)Brian G.
My GF and I stumbled in on New Years Day after our concierge told us to hit up Division and Rush. Being from out of town (Minneapolis) and having no idea what spots were good, and it being such a slow night on NYD, could have skewed things a bit so take that into consideration on my review. It was the Ohio State vs Alabama playoff game (@ a Michigan State bar). The crowd seemed like regulars. Some were playing a game on their phone and shouting out answers (kinda like catch phrase), which was annoying. A guy was running around jumping on the bar and up to the second deck railing. The "DJ" (assumedly just a guy who worked there playing music) would play music over the game, and was visible hammered (a Michigan State fan after the big win). But again, the circumstances were different. We had no problem with everything going on because we are laid back, but I think most people would. Cheap drinks though and very friendly bartenders! The male seemed to have no idea about the college football games going on but tried to fit in which was funny/a nice try. And the girl was very friendly as well. My GF asked her age because she looked soo young and cute, and she had a good sense of humor about it. FOR MOST I'D PUT 2 STARS, but I thought, with the circumstances, that in most nights it would easily be a 3.
(3)Michael S.
I had grilled chicken breast with mashed potatoes and asparagus for $16 and it was delicious. i went around dinner time and it was empty. I realize most of the reviews on here are regarding its late night party scenes which I cannot comment on, but for dinner I would recommend.
(4)Salvatore G.
If I could rate this place zero stars I would. I went there with a group of 20 people yesterday to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. B96 or KissFM was there, I didn't pay much attention to which radio station it was, and they provided the patrons with many green knick-knacks including beaded necklaces, big green hats, shot glasses, and miniature beach balls. Everyone in the place was having a good time throwing the balls around from one corner to the next. One employee, I believe his name was Derek, was standing on a table or wall divider, and was hit in the chest with a miniature beach ball. He flipped out on my whole party I was with because of it and kicked us all out. I have worked in the bar industry for many years and I know that kicking out a party of 20 people because of a miniature beach ball is just ridiculous. He kicked out that many customers and lost that much business because of it. He was standing on a table, taller than everyone else, and was offended when he was hit with a beach ball that was supplied by the radio station. Really? He was standing in the open space where all the beach balls were flying through. Bad employment decisions by this establishment and I definitely will not be going back.
(1)Patrick D.
50c wings are not 50c wings. Bad service, also slow. Will not come back. Manager refused to adjust to advertised price. I won't be back.
(1)Brittany H.
McFadden's is definitely your typical fratty bar, but it's nothing short of a good time. The music is good, and the servers are really friendly and down to earth. They have free bingo on wednesday nights, along with .50 cent wings and dollar domestic drafts. Definitely the place to be if you're looking for something to do during the week.
(4)Amy L.
This bar is so lame. I "won" a free happy hour event for me and my friends. I was excited I called my friends and set it up for a Friday night 9-12. I got a wristband for free drinks and my friends got a stamp for half price drinks. The drinks that me and my friends could order using the discount were the cheapest beers and bottom shelf liquor. I couldn't even use red bull. We didn't stay long. Lamest happy hour ever! They should tell you that you can't drink anything decent so you don't waste your time. Go figure, one month later I for a call saying I had won another free happy hour. Terrible and shitty bar. Will never go there again.
(1)Melissa A.
If you miss those crazy college days then McFadden's is the place to go! I've been here a couple times since some of my friends won happy hours/half off drinks for 3 hours, which is a decent deal. Don't expect much from this place but you can have fun if you go with a lively group of people. Basically the music is blaring and girls are dancing on tables (trust me, it can be fun haha) while bartenders are pouring shots into people's mouths. McFadden's isn't a classy place but if you want to let loose after a long week then come here!
(3)Andre W.
I havent been here in a little over 5 years and I discovered that nothing changed. Me & my pals dropped by already drunk and grabbed an available booth. I noticed the server had on a pair of cutoff shorts on with a pair of converse. Really?? You dumbasses really think thats gonna make people buy more drinks? Having a girl dressed like its 85 degrees on a 35 degree evening with a threat of a snowstorm??? Pathetic
(3)Aaron Jae M.
I have been here multiple times and enjoyed them all. They have some pretty good drink specials on some nights and I have been here for wrist band birthday packages but I mainly enjoy the simple atmosphere of sports and music. There are steps in the middle of the bar separating the two bars and the two dance floors which I think is stupid considering you have nothing but drunk patrons and that only increases the chances of people spilling on me and falling and hurting themselves. The only problem I have had with this place is once a bartender lost my debit card and then repeatedly said that I never gave him one and that I had been paying in cash all night (I hadn't). He found it a few minutes later and was a little bit nicer about it. I really wanted to shove it in his face but I decided to take the high road and just tip him slightly less.
(4)Ben T.
I went in with really low expectations and I was still impressed with how bad this place is. Two sips into my beer, a giant cockroach climbs over the garnishes onto the bar, and I have to kill it with my beer before it climbs onto my girlfriend. Bartender's reaction - "the back door must be open." The surface of the bar looks like somebody poured a full beer over it and let it dry and the smell is in line with that theory... so that maybe also had something to do with it? If you go here stick to bottled drinks and also I guess just don't go here.
(1)Heidi R.
I come here for 2 reasons... to black out with my girlfriends and act like were 21 again or because I live down the street and sometimes its just convenient. Either way its a bar, people... get drunk and shut up. If you don't like loud music and seeing girls dance on the bar then go to the Jazz Club down the street. Yah I wouldn't come here every weekend and hardly ever come but when I do, I know what I am getting into and I always have fun. I love acting young and irresponsible :-)
(3)Supriya D.
This past weekend I went here because a friend of a friend won a party here, so we got in with free cover and half off drinks for 3 hours. So that's always exciting! We got there around 9:45ish and it was pretty empty aside from our party. However as time progressed it actually got pretty busy and turned out to be a lot of fun. The drink specials were good, and the ambiance was good, but nothing really stood out about the bar itself. The service was really good and everyone was super nice, but again, I feel like they could do more things to make this place even better. I would try: - Drink specials after midnight - More advertising to get more people to come- maybe contests other than free parties - Live music Overall, this is a fun place to come, especially if someone you know won a party because where else can you get $3.50 wells in Chicago on a Saturday?!
(3)Whitney S.
I wish I could give this NEGATIVE stars. Our waiter-who I am assuming was also the manager STOLE money from our party. We had paid our bill (which included gratuity.) At the time, we did not know it included gratuity so everyone in the group paid for tip as well. So we all overpaid for our crappy bar food. When we brought the bill/money up, the man in the irish hat said we were short $67. This was beyond impossible since we had all OVER paid. When we asked to see the money we had already put towards the bill, he conveniently had already put it in the register mixing it with the other money. So now we do not know what we actually paid as opposed to his word. When we all forked over an extra $67 OVER our bill, the irish hat told us we still owed $1...actually his exact words were "you owe a dollar..or .87 cents, but a dollar is fine." EXCUSE ME?! Which is it?! A dollar or .87 cents? If he lied about this, how do we now know he lied about the entire situation? Bottom line-we should have gotten the police involved because this bar openly stole from us. Twice. What they did was ILLEGAL and beyond comprehension. I will spread the word about their business ethics in this city as well as others.
(1)Vince C.
I had the worst experience in this joint. Roudy and obnoxious people falling over me, drinks spilling, sloppy girls all over. I usually don't hate but this place is ridiculous! I almost got into a fight with people here just becuz I got so pissed off.
(1)Shelly A.
There is no reason to blast top 40s music with a DJ at 8pm on a Thursday. I know that I probably shouldn't have come here if I expected differently; however we won a free happy hour, so what can I say? They have cheap drinks here during the week, but if it's after 9 just avoid it. This bar caters to the 'whoo hooo I wish I was still in undergrad crowd' which is not a surprise considering it's a Michigan State bar... Yeah, I probably won't go back. Unless it's for another free happy hour, that is!
(2)Edith R.
This place sponsors our team for Beach Volleyball on Tuesdays and it's been our post-game place every Tuesday night during volleyball season. This year, we've had the pleasure to have Melissa wait on s. This woman is so cool, so easygoing--even under pressure and crazy events. She rocks. The nachos, sliders, calamari, and tator tots are pretty awesome too. The best part is also Tuesday Trivia, where your team can earn cash and rounds of drinks for cool team names, and the right answers of course. By the way, to all the high maintenance people out there, it's bar! If you want upscale food, then go find upscale food in the area. Sheesh.
(4)Carolyn L.
This definitely isn't my favorite bar in Chicago, especially since the average age of the clientele is probably 22. It's definitely a younger just-turned-21 crowd (peppered with some creepy old men and women in clothes that are too tight). Drinks weren't too pricey though so I guess that was good. If I'm gonna go out downtown now, though, I just prefer to pay a little more and be in a classier spot. Not to sound snobby, but even the pubs/sports bars in Lincoln Park or farther up north aren't as offensive as this one.
(3)Mihir P.
I have no idea why this place is so popular. No wait, I do. The simple concept of quantity over quality. We were there for our volleyball party. They offered some open bar wristband packages - a well package and a premium package. They didn't staff enough bartenders so it was hard to get a drink so most didn't get their money's worth. I bought a premium package and they conveniently ran out of some premium liquors so I had to get well drinks. Some bartenders were sweet and others were dicks. The sliders we had were burnt. I will say the music was good mix. Overall, if you're looking for a fun shit-show, this is your place.
(2)Ben C.
One of the employees followed me home and tried to fight me. This place is terrible. NEVER GO HERE
(1)Ashley N.
I would only step foot in McFadden's on Tuesdays (Trivia) and Wednesdays (Bingo) unless you're a college student trying to get crunk or whatever the kids get these days. I don't even want to know. Anyways, they have $1-$2 drinks along with food specials on these days and the Trivia and Bingo are always fun!
(4)Mariah V.
Somehow I got roped into thinking it was way cool to go to McFadden's on Wednesday nights. I was young and impressionable, and I haven't been back in a while. If enough people you know go semi-regularly, someone is definitely going to win a "party" at McFadden's which usually involves $2 well drinks for a few hours on a night of your choosing. Finding a table on a busy night is very hard, so you will be stuck standing by the bar or dancing in the crowded upper area by the DJ playing Top 40s. Everyone is super drunk and messy. The crowd is very young, but there are some older guys who will stand at the bar and creepily buy you drinks. The drinks are generally not good. I had the worst whiskey sour ever here, and I'm not even sure how you can mess that up. You can have fun, but you can also have a horrible time. The amount of fun you have is positively correlated with how drunk you are. So plan accordingly.
(2)Amy Z.
My friends hosted my 22nd birthday here. Although there were several other birthday's being celebrated on the same night, the staff made me feel like I was the only one. Even the bouncer went out of his way to make sure we had a table for my birthday. I asked and minutes later we were sitting down! The service was quick and the prices for a birthday package were phenomenal (we opted for the half off drinks all night long!). I had an amazing time, the drinks were great (and strong) and the service and atmosphere were just fantastic. I would definitely celebrate another birthday or event here!
(5)Katie L.
Not a bad little bar! Came here for a girl's night with college friends and we had a blast! We had a open bar wristband package, which always elevates the fun. Would return on a weekend!
(3)Amie C.
I had zero hope going into the bar that I would enjoy my time here. It helped having such low expectations. I was here for a friends birthday party and we had a $30 wristband bar deal for 3 hours. That of course means some record breaking drinking will occur. Bartenders were friendly :) Music was perfect for drunken, silly dancing. It's definitely easy to get free drinks from dudes in this place. Just work a little lady magic and you're golden.
(3)Christina M.
I went back to Mcfaddens, with my sister and my friends. 2/3/10 BYOF....Bring your own fruit. Vodka Tonic, NO Lime. Blue moon, No Orange. Made me this of another acronym.... WTF. Normally, I wouldn't be so annoyed. But we waited about ten minutes before we were even greeted. Another ten before we got our beer. I server had "I hate my life" written all over her face. We should have sat at the bar with the bartenders I always get good service there. But if your gonna have a 'tude. Don't do it with a regular. Dj is not awesome. Well below ok.
(2)Katy K.
I've come here a few times to watch the Hawks games and for other events, and it's been a good time until tonight. I'm giving it 2 stars because of the horrible service we received tonight. They advertised "$1 beers and $.50 wings!" which is what drew my friends and I here to watch the Hawks game. It was a little crowded, but even taking that into consideration, the service was horrible. The waitress came to our table maybe once every 30-45 minutes, and on more than one occasion she forgot our drink order and was coming by to check on us - again - after 20 minutes of waiting for another round with most of our cups empty the whole time. This was not the first time we dealt with this. Seriously, get some more bartenders and servers for semi-busy nights like this. We joked about it, until the check came. Several of us ordered wings as per their $.50 wings as advertised. We get the bill, and they charged us $.75 each wing. We asked the server, and she said, "Yeah, it's $.50 for the BONELESS wings." We looked at all of the ads, it said nothing about boneless vs. bone-in. Regardless, a DECENT server would have asked us in the first place if we wanted boneless or bone-in, and you would think that on a night when you're advertising $.50 wings, that that was what we were asking for. But she never asked nor told us that she was going to default to the more expensive wings. Clearly trying to raise our bill. We talked to the manager, showed him all of the ads, and he stuck by the $.75 price and wouldn't give us a break on the bill. After much hassle, he finally gave us a $7 credit, but we still felt it was a shady experience. I know it's not much of a difference in the long run, but it's more about the principle and honoring your ads and not trying to cheat your customers. Long story short, if you go here on a night when they're advertising $.50 wings, make sure you clearly and explicitly tell your server "I WOULD LIKE THE WINGS THAT ARE $.50 PLEASE." Otherwise,they'll give you the most expensive thing.
(2)Alison C.
I feel like there is a McFadden's Pub in every college town. The name has become synonymous with raucous partying among frat boy/sorority girl crowds and older patrons eager to return to their glory days. This location was no exception, but I did find the hectic craziness more corralled here than at other Rush Street-area bars. The DJ played a wide variety of classic hip-hop and rock hits, causing the bunch of revelers to dance on any platform possible - from the tabletops to the banquettes, etc. A gyrating bartender added to the pandemonium by pouring doses of house vodka into people's mouths. Tipsy females encouraged the attractive server with their desperate shouts for alcohol. While this type of environment usually makes me feel like a quivering senior citizen who is easily annoyed by the whippersnapper college kids, this was the perfect vacation venue for escaping from my regular routine. The music revved me up and allowed me to relax. My evening at McFadden's was definitely more enjoyable than I would have anticipated.
(4)Jessica L.
GREAT deal for sponsored teams :) Woo hoo!! PLUS, we love Mandy. If it weren't for the two things...this bar is "okay." Great outdoor seating but the bar itself is "regular."
(3)Samantha H.
Pretty average. I've been there on nights when I've had a lot of fun and on nights where I didn't have much fun at all so it's pretty hit or miss. Some of their food is pretty tasty, namely the chicken fingers. The Philly bite things were a let down; I had high hopes for them! I do love their music selection most of the time. I was there for a fundraiser and it was all 90's music. Shocking to come to the realization that you still know all the words to 'Shoop.' That was probably the most fun I'd ever had there. The service is also very hit or miss. The last time I was there I definitely had the worst waitress I'd ever had. But I've also had very good service other times. The place is pretty large and if you get there early you're sure to get a table, which is pretty key. They have a good bar selection, but I'm turned off with the lack of wine. They do have one cab and one Chardonnay but the bartenders will tell you not to bother getting them (which I actually appreciate). But given the neighborhood and especially because Rush and Division is such a touristy spot, I really think they should have a wine selection. Nothing fancy, but I mean a few reds and whites would earn them more points with me. Basically this place is pretty hit or miss so if you go on a good night, you'll have a great time with decent food, but if you go on an off night you'll probably have bad service and not so much fun.
(3)Stacy P.
This place was completely dead when we stopped in on a Thursday afternoon, but we had a great time anyway. The service was quick and extremely friendly, the food was good, and the beer was flowing. Unfortunately they don't have a patio or any sidewalk seating, but they kept the front windows open so there was some fresh air. I wouldn't run to go back, but I wouldn't be opposed to stopping in for another beer, either.
(3)Andrea R.
Oy vey (in honor of Rosh Hashana)! Was there really a time in my life that I didn't mind bumping into gross sweaty people? Maybe I was just too drunk to notice? This was the last stop of the night during my friend's bachelorette party! It had been awhile since I felt brave enough for a night at McFadden's, but nothing like a bachelorette party to get you in the mood. After paying a $5 cover (what's that about) we did did our Red Headed Slut shots (the only shot I can handle these days), the bachelorette danced on the bars with the slutty looking girls who work here, and I tried my hardest to avoid all the sweaty men who tried to dance with me. The music was fun and we danced our hearts out...until the pain in my feet told me it was time to go home. At 1:30am it was way past my bedtime, but the party was just getting started at McFaddens!
(2)Jeff G.
i'll have to read the other reviews as to why they rate so low/bad. had a random, spontaneous continuation of our night out here. had a blast. they had a $5 cover to get in and my wife was like "we're not paying a cover to get in to a bar" and they were like all right. then we saw some people with orange wrist bands on and wondered maybe you get drink discounts if you pay a cover. crowd was definitely college. we are in our late 30s and did not feel out of place. atmosphere was people dancing and singing with the music all over the bar.
(4)Jon O.
This seems to be a ok spot to meet some friends and have some cheep beers and low-mid range bar food. I stopped by once for St Patty's day (which was slammed) and then again for happy hour a week later. The inside is cozy and pretty welcoming with a lot of wood finish and a typical "irish bar" feel to the place. I decided to have a couple green beers they had left over from St Patty's day and a chicken sandwich. The bartender who was taking care of me was a little scatterbrained and I had to ask for a menu a few times and a beer a couple times as well as silverware. He was basically the only one behind the bar and the happy hour crowd was coming in so giving him the benefit of the doubt, I'd say they were short staffed and couldn't keep up. The Sandwich came along with some tator tots and together it was "ok". I was pretty hungry so I wasn't after a quality meal or anything. From the looks of other peoples appetizers they were bringing out everything seemed to look, as I mentioned, just kinda like your regular bar food fare. Give it a shot if you'd like but be sure to set your expectations to "ehh"
(3)Melissa K.
To be fair, I was joking around with a random guy at the bar about it being my friend's birthday and it turned out to be the gm who brought her a bottle of champagne. The bar was good. The DJ played some good hits and the staff was friendly. My only (VERY MAJOR) complaint was that I paid $3 to check my coat and the girl was gone by bar close. My coat was GONE and there was no on really to complain to. Seriously, coats were left on a chair and no one was there to monitor them
(3)Courtney W.
Only one thing I can say about this place, on the weekends it's gross. I'm not sure if I even fit in with the Division crowd on Friday and Saturday nights but I just couldn't shake the icky feeling this place left me with. We didn't have to pay cover on a Friday night, which was a promising start, but when we entered absolutely nothing made sense. There was no real dance floor, some people took to dancing on the seats of the booths scattered around. No one came to take our drink orders and when we made our way up to the bar it was 2-3 people deep, most of the people already had drinks and were standing at the bar trying to pick people up with cheesy pickup lines out of desperation since there was literally nowhere else to stand. A lot of drunk bachelorette parties were going down, maybe that's what all the fuss was about. I just don't think this place is worth the hassle, the staff was friendly but other than that it was just a little too much work.
(2)Larry V.
This place is what it is, and it excels at it. It's a frat-type, party bar. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Expect college, just-out-of-college, bachelorette/bachelor parties, and old guys trying to recapture their youth. Just not my scene anymore. Weekends it'll be crowded, loud, etc. Expect a lot of shots, etc. Not extremely original, but it works for them
(2)Angie M.
As I pulled up to McFadden's last night with my wingwoman in tow, we looked at each other and were like, 'Oh my God. This is going to be worst case scenario." And guess what? It was. Okay... First things first. The ONLY redeeming thing about McFadden's is the stellar wristband party packages. $30 buys you three hours of open bar, including Effen Black Cherry vodka, which means one thing for me: Lights out. Moving on.... It's REALLY, REALLY hot in McFadden's. It kind of smells like puke and there was no one in the entire bar I even wanted to talk to. And the DJ was playing quite possibly the worst music ever. For everyone who grew up in the burbs, I equate the music to what was played at the Paladrome, circa 1996. As the night progressed, the cheese factor increased. Slutty women dancing on the bar and douchebags oogling them. The world's tiniest dance floor crammed to capacity with guys in striped shirts (Hello! It's 2009!) and girls in sequined mini-dresses. The creepy bartender who wouldn't stop hitting on me. No, I won't give you my number, pal. Back off. As soon as midnight struck and my wristband special was over, I bolted the bar to head for greener pastures.
(2)Caitlin M.
McFadden's is constantly offering free parties or crazy drink specials, but even that isn't enough to make me want to frequent the place. I'm not sure what it is, but it always seems to smell like stale beer. I've only ever had the apps here, they are ok, but you can find better near by. I also think that maybe this place is more of a hit for college kids as opposed to mid to late 20 year olds.
(2)Katie R.
Frat frat frat frat. Old guys. Europeans. Frat frat frat.
(3)Katie C.
Oh McFadden's, you make me sad. With the bar half full (before 9PM) how long do I have to wait to get a beer? and the bartender told me four, yes four times, that 'he would be right with me' I guess the people at the other end of the bar that were talking to were more interesting. Bad beer, check. Music too loud to talk to the person next to me, check. Bartender's that seem to hate their lives, check. I am pretty sure all their food is prepared straight from a freezer box, everything tasted like salty freezer burn. I didn't even like going to this kind of bar when I was in college. If you go in with low expectations, you will be just fine. This was my first and only time at McFadden's, like other reviews have said, if you are under 25 and your main objective is to get stupid drunk, insert Bud Light Beer tower, this is your place. Remember, low expectations!
(1)Lauren B.
The only reason I go here is because I love the food. The Irish onion soup and blue cheese chips are to die for. The service, atmosphere, and drinks are AWFUL. Do not order a cocktail here, if you're going to drink- stick to beer! The bartenders make the absolute worst tasting mixed drinks I have ever had. The service is some of the worst in the city, but if you're willing to see past that, the food is super yummy and reasonably priced.
(3)Jaime S.
It's always way too crowded and sweaty here, and the line/cover is a disaster. Ok, fine, I can overlook that because a lot of bars are like that. Here is what takes all credibility away from McFaddens (for me at least). I was here with friends for a post med school exam party (for my friends-i obvi haven't seen a biology book since 8th grade). My friend was waiting in line for the bathroom, and per the usual, it was very crowded. Some DOUCHEBAG guy bumps my friend, she says excuse me, thinks he's a jerk and lets him walk away. Fast forward 5 minutes when the guy JACKS HER IN THE FACE. Literally, punches a GIRL in the face. She breaks her nose, she's bleeding everywhere....and the bouncers don't even call the police/wait for the police to show up bc they say they have no authority to do so. Seriously? what about as a man? do you have authority to not be a p***y? HATES THIS PLACE.
(1)Alex M.
So, as a bit of a disclaimer, this place and crowd isn't really my scene, so if you're like me, you should avoid this place. However, if you're the type of person that fondly remembers being shoulder to shoulder in an impossibly loud college bar, this may be the right place for you. I think nearly every person I never wanted to engage with in college hangs out at this bar now. Looking into the crowd of dudes on the dance floor, their collage of white and blue vertical striped shirts is the optical equivalent of a magic eye painting. If you focus on the walls behind the dance floor, you can see a dolphin jumping. The tiny whiskey and coke I ordered tasted like crap and was 5 bucks. Overpriced drinks and shitty music that they play WAY TOO LOUD makes this not a place to have a conversation, not that you'd want to with the typical Saturday night crowd there.
(1)Ryne D.
Rihanna sampled Michael Jackson's hit "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" for her hit "Don't Stop The Music", using the iconic lyric "mama-se, mama-sa, mama-coo-sa". As I've heard at Crimson Lounge, it's pure simplicity going from an old-school dance hit to a new one, but it flows great. McFadden's played MJ's song. I knew what was coming. They then played Rihanna's. The problem: there was no mix on that lyric. There was no mix at all. First song cut off, second one started. It's pretty much a gift to all bar DJs what Rihanna did, and this place threw it away. I don't know why they intend on blasting the music so loudly in this place when it's such crap. The only reason I come here is when friends throw parties there because they win raffles. This means McFadden's gives the celebrant's friends the opportunity to pay for well-level open bar (seems they lowered the price from $30 to $20). What a joke of a prize. At least I can get reasonably buzzed on the cheap.
(2)Angelina B.
McFaddens gets five stars for what it really is... a COLLEGE PARTY BAR!!! Get Drunk. Have Fun. Shut up. If youre looking for fancy drinks and a place to chit chat this is not the place to go. Loud Music, fun people, and dancing! So get on with your bad self and jump up on that bar!
(5)Mike K.
Holy moly me oh my. I've never been one for griping, but McFadden's completely blew my mind last night. It's almost admirable in a way - I hands down found the worst bar I've ever been to in my life. It actually made me start a Yelp account for the sole purpose of getting the word out (although apparently, I'm not the only one who's had a less than stellar time there) This place perpetually smells like farts and puke, and the floor feels like its covered in fly paper. The bar is 80% guys who attack trashy chicks like animals in the amazon. The DJ would have been booed out of the reception hall at a wedding. The dance floor had 2 GIRLS ON IT. The rest were guys bumping into each other and trying to fight one another. Are you kidding me? And guys see this and 4 of them try to dance with one girl at once? Oh, and you say they're 45 years old and smell like onions? Sign me up for that. Testosterone must be pumping through the vents, because its apparent that if you bump the shoulder of a guy on the way to the bathroom, we all know that's a sign of disrespect. You must now fight them. Because we are men and must prove it to be so. Also, I'm 5 foot 8 with pretty long hair, and I was wearing a blue v-neck with brown pants...this apparently infuriates the male population at McFadden's. I'm not gay, but have never been called a f*ggot so much in my life. Don't go to this place. I'm begging you. This is the worst time I've ever had in my life at a bar. Thank you McFadden's for showing me that all my expectations CAN be exceeded, even on the level of suck.
(1)Dan S.
I came in for a drink before dinner at Ra Sushi a block away. We had 45 minutes before our table would be ready at Ra. Our group of 5 came in around 7:30 and the place wasn't very busy. The prices were cheap and it was a relaxed atmosphere. It gets docked a point for not being terribly original and another 2 points because they kicked us out. We each ordered a beer and after 30 minutes we were all about 3/4 done with our drinks. The waitress asked if we wanted another round. We declined and asked for the bill. We paid the bill and were going to hang out for another 15 minutes until our table was ready. After 5 minutes, the waitress came back and said we had to leave if we were done drinking. There were 10 empty tables in the place. C'mon you got a $4 tip on a $21 order and we told you that we were just in for one drink while we were waiting for a table to open up across the street.
(2)Gerry D.
I've been here twice. This place sucks because it primarily has large groups than come and refuse to talk to people outside of their groups. Plus the restrooms suck!!
(1)Meghan B.
Yuck. Stay away unless you are either underage or in college. Or if you like sticky floors, extremely loud top 40's, and older men waiting in the corners to ogle you. Service also takes forever and the bar is always either empty or full beyond capacity - no in-between. Some of the food (burgers, wraps) are actually pretty good, but service is spotty and it typically takes forever. Oh it also smells. Really bad.
(2)Sarah M.
McFadden's is still a blast! I won a FREE Happy Hour last month, pretty sweet. Music is still alright, but fun to dance to. The staff was super nice, as always. McFadden's you haven't let me down yet! :)
(4)Amber K.
Mac and cheese balls! Need I say more?
(4)Angel L.
Okay, So yes, this is a Rush and Division bar (which if you are a bar or club person, you already know this area makes the bottom of the list). However I've never really gotten the allure of this place. It's either deserted (read days without DJs/music A.K.A. any day not Friday or Saturday) or packed so beyond capacity that you can't move! The music is fine most of the time (Top 40 mix-ups), which is average and they will have some drink specials, however every time I end up here I feel like I'm going to be trampled by the just turned 21 guys to my left, trying to get to the just turned 21 (if that) girls dancing on top of the bar to my right. Don't get me wrong, this place would be great --- if it wasn't destined to be the next cheap imitation E2 nightclub disaster!!!
(1)Karl M.
Great food, good service, high prices, Rush Street locale.
(3)A G.
I gave them a one star basically because of the DJ this past Saturday. Fairly enjoyable place, but when I asked the DJ to play some electronic (he had been playing ghetto rap for well over an hour), he replied rudely with "I played 5 songs already, where have YOU been?" A) He didn't play a single one B) He was such a crappy DJ that in his head perhaps it was electronic. He then made an incredibly inappropriate comment that the girls having fun dancing on the bar would be available later for handjobs. Um, what? In what world is it ok to talk about customers like that? I complained to the manager about this. Her reply was "he was probably just making a joke." Really now. Save your money and go somewhere with a DJ who actually knows music that's outside the genre of ghetto.
(1)Pamela M.
It's just a loud sports pub. If that's what you're looking for then this is the place. Very loud with that lovely smell of stale beer permeating the air. As an extra special touch the fumes from the Bleach in the bathroom were so strong that they burned my throat and had me coughing for a couple hours. When I said to the restroom attendant "the bleach is really strong in here" she merely replied "yep". Enough said. I had one $8 drink and moved on.
(1)Joseph S.
I came with a bunch of friends on a Saturday night. Here's my experience (I'll make this short): The employees were rude and the place was packed probably beyond capacity.
(1)Derrick W.
Nothing special about this place..
(2)Melissa F.
If you ignore "Womanizer," this clip sums it up pretty well: youtube.com/watch?v=RtV3… Yyyyyanyhoo. McFadden's is dank/gross/crowded/gross. I went there for a birthday since Rockit's line was too long. A few stray observations... - Not enough room to move. I know this isn't the only place like this in Chicago, but wow. - Not enough restrooms for women. The line was enormous. I was fine until I got home, but I doubt everyone would be. - Good drinks! Somewhat strong but not disgusting, and my vodka soda was $5, which wasn't terrible. Thankfully, no credit card minimum, unlike many dive-y places. - I know it's become a cliche to say "Everyone looked like a member of the Jersey Shore!"...so I won't. But a good 35% of the men looked like "The Situation" specifically. One man looked like him on Dancing with the Stars - powder blue button-down shirt with a black vest and pants...er, OK. Actually, a lot of men wearing vests. Weird! One guy had both ears pierced and manicured stubble, with a FEDORA. It is 2002 again! I should've asked him how the sales figures were for "Justified." - There was a woman walking around with a tray of shots that looked like swampwater (or, as I said to friends after she had passed, "like feces"). They were $3 a pop! I didn't ask for one as a result. $3 for swampwater, yum! - Girls were on the bar pouring entire bottles of liquor into each other's mouth. It's that kind of place. - On the way to the bar, I had to weave my way through throngs of people, but also a real-life almost-bar fight! This meant that a bigger guy was holding a small guy by the shirt, and both looked reasonably angry. Someone broke it up. Cla$$y. I had a great time with my friends, and it was a wonderful birthday celebration, but this isn't at the top of my list of places to go, sorry to say.
(2)Bill M.
I enjoyed visiting this bar just north of bar-happy Division Street. It is a relatively spacious place with minimal decor including a few pub signs and some TV sets. The place was not overwhelmingly crowded on a Thursday evening, so it was not too smoky inside. The music was not too bad, though you will wind up shouting at your friends if you want to have some conversation. I did not have to wait forever for my drinks, so that is a big thumbs up for the drink servers. They serve some bar food items such as crispy fries and potato skins. Thanks to Andrea and Elizabeth for helping to set up the Yelp Happy Hour here !! It was fun to meet some vets and some new faces.
(4)kara c.
1. Everyone is right when they say it's like a college bar, College bars are fun, except when there are 40 year olds acting like college kids. (keep in mind I'm only 22) 2. The waitresses are kind of slutty. They where short shorts where their butts hand out and dance on the bars and pour blue shots in your mouth. 3. The DJ sucks 4. They sometimes give plastic cups, which is annoying because I get jipped on the drink! I like going there when I am: 1. Get free drinks 2. Am really plastered
(2)David R.
This place blows. Bars like this are NOT my scene, but I don't always get to make the decisions. So I tried to take it in stride and judge them on their own merits, but there were some specifics that bothered me. 1. LOUD. I hate loud bars, but this was honestly the loudest music I have ever heard in a bar. It was already really, really loud, and then there was a point at which they turned it up higher for a certain popular song and then left it there. I was dumbfounded that there are that many decibels on the scale. 2. HOT. This was in March, on a warmer weekend when the outside temps were in the 60s, I believe. Why was it so hot in there? I was drenched in sweat and I didn't even dance. 3. BAD DRINKS. My friend asked for my drink order, and since I don't drink Miller Lite and I didn't want to have to wrestle my way to the bar to find out what whiskies they have, I waved the white flag and said, "Vodka tonic." What I got was more like plain tonic. Bleah. I wonder if I would have had any more luck with my other emergency drink choice, Jim Beam and Diet Coke. I liked the bouncer, who stuck up for me when my friends and some strangers near the door area gave me grief for wearing a suit (I had been at the theater earlier that evening) and for having a suit in my driver's license photo. So this guy and I are suit brothers....that was the only cool thing about this place.
(2)An P.
What's there to do on a Friday Night in Viagra Triangle? After a business school International Night, the horde decided the $20 weekly Friday Night all-you-can at McFadden's from 9pm-1am. I've had my fair share of the $5 all-you-can circuit and I've seen most derivations of the form from Gold Coast to Lincoln Park. Entering McFaddens, I was welcomed to the arena with staunch body order and a crowded carousel of people darting in and out with a constant cascade of coats sliding against me. Looking for my friends I had to used sharp elbow technique to navigate through the human wreckage with the strength of my will and sharp concentration while scanning the area for familiar faces. Towards the end of the bar there were girls up on some platform dancing and the music was loud and the bodies unwashed without proper deodorant. When bars get this crowded leaving no room to move it can be a rage-inducing box of hell that I should have been more prepared for. Division Street on a Friday night epitomizes the faux glamorous lifestyle of binge fueled blackouts and prime grade idiocy. Eventually I found my friends, but the loudness was deafening and it felt like the walls of people were constantly caving in on me. Even after a few drinks, I couldn't handle it anymore! Leaving was a disaster and I probably bruised my fair share of unyielding bodies that would not budge an inch to give me my way.
(1)Stephanie W.
Grossest, frattiest bar on Divison, and that's hard to do. Steer clear unless you want beer spilled all over you! Last time I got tricked into coming here, there was an obese bridal party in the back and all the bridesmaids were walking around the disgusting McFadden's floor barefoot - yuck!
(1)Brett K.
Shit show. Go for the beer/sweat soaked hoes, stay for the puke.
(1)Nafeesah A.
I went here for the first time yesterday had I known that past reviews of this place reflected I would have avoided at all costs. I do agree with one of the posters that the people who patronize the bar are young newly legal to drink aged college or fresh out of college grads and old schoolers trying to be young again. The environment is kind of loud so you can't really hear yourself talk. Then you have to deal with the waitstaff who were getting goofy behind the bar and apparently the theme was pajamas because one of the male bartenders was wearing pajamas with the footies (kind of like the ones many of us wore as kids) and the other male bartender was wearing sweats and a wifebeater (for those who don't know wifebeater is slang for an undershirt) and the girls were in mens shirts with bras and panties on underneath and half the time when they were not waiting on people they were busy getting silly with a camera phone taking pics of each other and also snapping pics of drunk customers at their request. I was here at McFadden's because a friend won a free happy hour party. They do have a cover charge so be prepared to fork over $5 if you're a guy and a girl(cover charge after midnight). That's about within reason since a lot of the bars in Chicago charge $10 cover charges at the door and I didnt have anything to drink, but just a couple appetizers and it cost me $15.....for that much I could have bought McDonalds for 3 people on that and they were not that great. I ordered some fries and macaroni and cheese bites which had this nasty cheese sauce like you would get at the gas station for below standard nachos and the fries were too salty and tasted overcooked. I wouldnt waste my time coming here again unless you're there to have a drink with friends and leave. The bathrooms were another story I walked in and it wasnt common to see someone with a table full of toiletries and other items that they provided for a nominal fee or even a small tip, but I couldnt believe how inconsiderate people are because I was coming out of a stall to wash my hands and two girls were standing at the sink texting on their phones and were not using the sinks and not moving to leave the bathroom so that other people can wash their hands since the bathroom was no bigger than a small walk in closet so you had to go in use the bathroom and squeeze your way to the sink to wash your hands and having to ask people to move who are on their phones to step aside if they're not using the sink so you can wash your hands. The attendant had a scented candle going in the bathroom to make it smell good.....wasnt working because some of these ladies needed to check their business down below some of them were not copasetic and needed to have better hygiene down there since the bathroom smelled gross. Not to mention you're stepping on smashed food on the floor like they didnt have someone come in periodically to sweep up the stuff and keep the floor clean. If they had zero stars I would have given this place the score it deserves.....ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(2)Andrea G.
McFadden's is the kind of place that you either start or end your night, but is definitely not a destination. The crowd ranges from underagers with fake IDs to cougars and creepy old men popping viagra (ladies, alas, these are your best bets for free drinks. But take your drink and RUN) McFadden's always has specials, like all you can eat and drink for $20, or unlimited wine and beer for $10 within a certain time frame (usually 8-10). This place is usually relatively full early in the night, often with a happy hour crowd, but also with pre-gamers. Go early to beat the cover.
(3)Amy H.
Twas the night before Thanksgiving and all through the house, I was sick of being sick. I wanted to get soused! In years past, I usually stay home the night before Thanksgiving, but this year I really felt like going out. So, I gathered up some friends and someone suggested McFadden's. I had never been there before, but $1 Miller High Life in a can sounded like a great idea. I got there early to have some food and I ordered the buffalo chicken tenders. I took a few bites and realized that the chicken was raw. That's right...RAW. Completely raw in the middle. EEEEEWWWW!!!!! The manager (I think he was the manager) Zack was completely apologetic. He gave me a refund, an order of fries per my request, and a fresh can of High Life. The good news is that I didn't get food poisoning, which was great! I was just getting over the flu and I didn't want to be sick anymore. I liked how nice Zack was and how he handled the situation, but come on...a kitchen that serves raw chicken?!?!?! Gross.
(1)Sarah D.
Every time I escape this place without waking up the next morning on a strange soiled mattress with a black eye and vaginal tearing I consider it a personal victory.
(2)GossipGirl l.
TOP 5: Dislikes 1. $5.00 cover 2 long line ta get in 3 long lines at washroom! 4 small washroom 5 too crowed! TOP 5: Likes 1. good music 2. good looking people 3. private room in the back 4 friendly staff 5 NBA player party here! shh i dont care for much for rush street, but this place isnt sooo bad, just way way too many people!! and the girls there are slutty-all up on guys just soo they'll get a free drink-classy
(3)RJ T.
People would like this place a lot more if they took it for what it is: one of the best college party bars in Chicago. It's a bunch of kids, getting drunk and out of control. If you are over 25, you might not like it, but otherwise, enjoy. Servers are all incredibly nice and friendly people.
(4)Tom F.
At 10 o'clock on a Saturday, this place is that bar on your college campus that was just slammed with people preening their feathers for each other. That you didn't go back to after Freshman Year. The shoulder-to-shoulder tavern-gone-club when they turn the music up so loud you can't hear the person next to you. Is that supposed to encourage close contact, or just a sense of confusion? Try not to think about the fact that you paid for the pleasure. This place didn't strike me as a Restaurant or a Saloon; maybe earlier in the night. Cover for guys and girls the night I was there. The only salvation was the waitress set up with a tub of beer on ice halfway back, so we didn't have to try and bodysurf up to the bar, where I can only assume the Long Island Ice Tea per capita is somewhere in the 'astronomical' range.
(1)Erin H.
I had a single beer in this bar (and a free shot of Jameson) on a Saturday night. I guess it was pretty early because I wasn't seeing too much 21-year-old-girl cleavage just yet. This place appears to be a happening spot for the early 20's crowd that likes to get down and... well, dirty. This place smelled like stale beer and vomit. I was NOT impressed. Luckily we only stopped here because my friend wanted to stop by and give a hello to one of his bartender friends. I'd probably want to check this place out on a Sunday for football, I am assuming the daytime crowd is heaps different than the Saturday night on the prowl crowd. Although my experience here basically sucked, I will have to admit that the music was pretty awesome.
(2)Keith C.
I've never really understood why I keep coming back to McFaddens. Probably because they are open until 5am and the place has always been packed when I've got. The girls aren't that come here aren't too bad but I'm usually destroyed by the time I get there. We usually come to McFaddens if we're just hitting up bars for the evening. If it's club night, then we'll go to a club that closes at 5 once the current club that we're at closes at 3. The drinks aren't too expensive.
(3)Gray C.
black mold growing all over the ceiling by the windows where they served me my food, horrible service, "happy hour prices" were the same as standard prices elsewhere. Judging by the crowd and the conversations I'd say this is either a great underage bar or incoming sophomores are getting older every year.
(1)Jason H.
We went here for a wristband party, all you can drink wells and miller lite for $20. Its a good place to party. It was half bar half club feel. The music is pretty loud but the crowd has energy and its definitely a place to dance. They play all of the recent pop hits/remixes but in pretty good taste. Probably more of a singles place but my wife and I had fun anyway.
(4)Jerome P.
Chelsea awesome, Melissa awesome, McFaddens awesome, great drinks wonderful service terrific bartender (Chelsea) two thumbs up.
(4)Ben B.
My wife and I stopped in for lunch on a Sunday, looking for a quick meal. We ordered an egg sandwich and two pancakes with blueberries. Then we waited. Other patrons got their meals, and we waited... then we got another round of drinks, then we waited... 45 minutes later, we started eating. The food was good, the prices were great, in particular the $3 you-call-its all day on Sundays, but the wait was a killer. I wanted to give the place 4 stars when I first started waiting.
(2)Beth A.
HATED this place...only went once and will never go back (neither will the 10 people i came with) went on halloween...friends had a package deal half an hr into our package the bar was out of everything but coors light...yumm...so glad i paid for my all inclusive wrist band place was packed so tight steven tylers pants have more room in them ladies beware if i remember correctly there were a whopping 2 bathroom stalls...resulting in over a half hr wait for the washroom (i had to bribe the guys attendant one round to let me in otherwise i woulda peed my pants waiting) waitresses...bartenders and bouncers were not only incompetent (didnt know what beers they had...didnt know how to make simple drinks...couldnt keep track of who had been waiting or who drinks went to) but they were also incredibly rude ex. a cocktail waitress spilled an ENTIRE tray of drinks on me...didnt apologize, didnt offer to get me a towel...just shrugged her shoulders and walked away---i was livid and on my way out (as soon as i dried off) told the bouncers (cause mgmt was nowhere to be found) and they just laughed as they muttered sorry she was probably busy
(1)John L.
To quote the great Danny Glover in his finest role "I'm too old for this shit." Anyway was with a group and someone knew someone who worked here and promised free drinks, so we ended the night here. It felt very college-ish in the average age of the patrons, the slut-tastic staff pushing plastic ramekin shots of blue colored liquor, the meat market/total fire hazard vibe, and the horrendous hodgepodge of music coming from the DJ. One MJ song, then awful hip hop, then that Journey song that needs to go away NOW. The crowd would sing along and the DJ would cut the volume during choruses. Yeah, that kind of party. Maybe it is upcoming b-day, but I was def feeling old and out of place. My 2 star rating reflects that, but if you like or want the above description, this is the spot to go.
(2)Brian P.
HAH! Went here for a night out with some NW med students. I am a recent transplant from NYC, and I just want to express my shock and awe with the amount of money it takes to get tipsy in Chi. WOWEE it's cheap--rampage! It's a bar. With a dance floor. It's not a club, but is worth a rollicking good time. They have college bar down to a pinhead, they know the niche so well. ugh it's a chain, i just found out, but for what it's worth, it doesn't feel like it while you're there. yes, it's where college kids go to dry hump. if you're in for the spectator sport, you may find this entertaining, but if you want to do otherwise, i suppose you can't go wrong here. HA someone gave this place 2 stars for being a place for "unsavory people" WONDERFUL, that's a sign that they're doing something right.
(2)Spartacus C.
Bartenders were awesome... but the DJ was even better. He said over the mic, "Excuse me Miss... please pull down your dress. We can see your urethra." They also let my girlfriends dance on top of the bar and give shots to the crowd ala coyote ugly. Other than that, is a pseudo dive / college kid-esque crowd that likes to dry hump.
(3)Aline W.
I came here with some friends the other night and had a nice time. We just missed the $10 all-you-can-drink special (9-11 PM i think), so ended up paying regular price. The drinks were kind of pricey compared to other bars around this area. However the Long Island I got was SUPER strong, so I guess you can say I got my money's worth. For those looking to dance, there's no dance floor here...so go somewhere else. But if you really can't help yourself, there's a small platform at the back of the bar where you can jiggy it up. That's where you'll find some quite eccentric people who can bust out some never-seen dance moves. Overall, go there if you want to drink 'til you drop for $10.
(2)Esto P.
The food here is pretty decent, run-of-the-mill pub grub. I had the burger, which was alright, also a "glass of sprite" was served to me in a tiny plastic cup with no ice? Keep in mind I went here around 5pm for some food! One thing that really made me want to write a review was the smell. It literally smelled like a busy men's room on taco night. Every time the mens room door opened, some kind of stank breeze just emanated from it wafted over my girlfriend and I made me want to gag. The crowd at that time seemed to be the usuals, who were busy occupying the entire staff with stories etc...
(2)Felicia M.
I enjoy going to McFaddens. My friends and I have won multiple happy hour parties here. There is never a dull moment at McFaddens. The bartenders are always friendly, and the rest of the staff is great too. Kristen, the event coordinator, is ALWAYS nice and friendly. I suggest everyone try the Mac&Cheese Bites = DELICIOUS!!!
(4)Stephanie Y.
McFadden's is decent, for sure. I have a few friends who have "won" parties here (which they seem to give out like candy), and I've had one myself. It's a fun deal - cheap drinks and good company. I don't think McFadden's really knows what it wants to be, tho. It's kind of a mix of frat boys, old couples, and small amounts of hipsters. I'm not complaining if I get to drink for free or cheap.
(3)Demetrius W.
Never been here prior to Friday and I'm not dying to get back. I had fun but I usually have fun at some of the worst places (depending on the people i"m with). It's an faux Irish Pub but it had a $5 cover for the guys. Umm I'm from the Southside where some of the best Irish Pubs are in Chicago (Cork & Kerry) and I'm not use to paying a cover. They fail and delivering the Irish Pub feel which is kind of shocking. Wait you're suppose to be an Irish Pub but why are you trying to be Coyote Ugly? Girls dancing on the bar pouring liquor in guys mouth..Maybe if the girls were hotter...I wouldn't be complaining? *shrugs* My friend did say that it was a place that's only fun when you have a group. Well my other friends never made it. So no group and no real fun at this place. Plus one of those skanks on the bar wasted some liquor on my friend and I.
(2)Antoinette D.
McFaddens is terrible, even when you arrive drunk. #1- the DJ sucks beyond belief!!! It's been the same guy every time i've gone and each time i've tried to request songs that people can actually dance to. He doesnt get that no one wants to listen to his shitty CDs from the 90s. #2- the service sucks. the bartenders flirt and talk to each other behind the bar and act like the customers are a 2nd priority. one especially irritated bartender was wearing a tie around his head. i have no idea what that was about. #3. the idea of girls dancing on the bar = fun! so i kept this mind when everything else sucked. however, this turned out to be a 250lb girl in a shirt dress who ended up puking chunks all over her bare legs. the bouncer handed her a trash can. he didnt even speak to her, let alone kick her out!! This place is dirty (expect sticky puke floors) with horrible music and some questionable fellows....save yourself and just dont go!! I give McFaddens one star because the bathroom attendant woman was very nice and had some bomb ass candles.
(1)Adam L.
McFadden's is your typical Rush-and-Division douchebag bar. On any given night, there will be guys in striped shirts and ladies in short skirts, and they will all be drunk. The food is medicore, but the drinks aren't bad. What's worth mentioning is the fantastic drink packages. If you're looking for a place for a group to pregame and get really hammered, this would probably be it. Also, they have a guy in the bathroom with soaps and stuff, which is pretty funny.
(3)kat m.
Wish I hadn't visited on INVENTORY day! I visited on a Wednesday night on a whim.(Just wish my disappointment radar was on) After seating ourselves, we realized waiting for our server was going to feel like an initiation test. After using my telepathy the server greeted us with a "WORST DAY EVER" disposition. Soon enough I'd realize what was up her butt... Seems to have been inventory day at McFadden's because ALL OUT seemed to be a growing trend. No Fruit, No Napkins(Wash room paper towels instead), and No Pint glasses for my beer =(. The did have nice specials but besides the beer in the can for $2.00 on Wednesday , the $3.00 well drinks are too small for the price believe it or not. Womp womp womp is all I have to say about McFadden's...
(2)J R.
I give it a three because I had a fun drunken time. I'm sure if I walked in there stone sober I would hate it. I also like that it is an MSU bar. I am alumni. For anyone who went to MSU, this place is a huge reminder of Rick's. Luckily for me, I came in half in the bag already. They have a dancer who works there 3/4s naked and I believe that is why there are so many men there. HAHA. It's not the Crème de la Crème of bars but it's a fun time if you are really drunk. Sober-not so much. P.S. The cover is so asinine.
(3)John H.
Where does one even begin with this veritable Mecca of douchery? McFadden's is such a worthless establishment that I actually signed up with Yelp to write about it. If you think any publicity is good publicity, keep reading, and I'll make damned sure that you'll change your mind. If you don't mind waiting in a roped off line for twenty minutes, the doorman is happy to relieve you of $5 for the privilege of entering. Ridiculous as charging cover for an "Irish" bar might seem, it's probably the most sensible thing about the place. Because despite the cover, McFadden's is almost always absolutely jammed with people. And I'd like to think that at least some of the other patrons were there just to see the worst bar in Chicago in action. You know, to give them something to tell their grandkids. To use Noel Gallagher's take on System of a Down: "After I went to McFadden's, I thought, I'm actually alive to have been to the shittiest bar ever. Of all the bars that have gone before and all the bars that'll be in the future, I was around when the worst was around." It follows that such a crowded place wouldn't be suitable for anything but screaming at the person next to you. That's neither here nor there. However, it should be known that the music here sucks of its own accord. This is what you should expect, though, from a bar that has a DJ. Another thing that belongs in clubs, not bars: go-go dancers. And the poor girls don't even get a cage to dance in at McFadden's; they're forced to strut their stuff on top of the bar. When this happens, every nimrod within 50 feet will move toward her for an extended upskirt glance, making it impossible to get a drink. Only McFadden's could actually hire a dancer to attract customers and keep them from spending money in the process. If you can actually fight your way to the bar, you can choose from one of about five draft beers. Don't expect the Guinness to be on tap that night, because it's not like McFadden's is an Irish place or anything. And if you're there a bit later in the evening, you won't have to worry about holding a big heavy pint glass, because they will run out of them. No worries, you'll get a 10-oz plastic cup (same price) instead. According to the bartender, they're practically the same size. Not much needs to be said about the bathrooms, because it's a bar. It's not going to be nice. But I can never get over the bathroom attendant thing. Every cent they earn is the product of guilt, not gratitude. The only time I'm going to tip you is if I'm drunk, there's ice in the urinals, and you're blasting Wilson Pickett on your mini-stereo. Talk to the guy at Hugo's Frog Bar for advice on this. Also, it helps to actually clean the bathroom once every couple of hours. In an area chock-full of very bad bars, McFadden's takes the cake.
(1)Justin O.
I don't get the obsession that some people have with this place and why they pay cover to get in. Scratch that, skanctly clad near 21ers are allowed to dance on the tables. This is at least one reason for a single guy in the city. I've never been blown away by this place and there are to many other more authentic Irish pubs to grab a pint at in this city.
(2)Vickie L.
My review is on brunch only, as I've never had the experience of a lovely night out here :-P The place was virtually empty when we went on a Saturday afternoon. I guess it was the weather, we really wanted to sit outside, but had to settle for a booth inside the dark bar area. Bloody Mary's and mimosas were cheap, I think only $2-$3 each. Both were huge! The mimosa was served in one of the small drink glasses, not one of the tiny champagne glasses other places serve theirs in - score! Brunch menu wasn't very extensive, but it was cheap. We all opted for lunch food. Food was just average, nothing special, but also not bad. I got the chicken caesar wrap - every place has the same problem of too much wrap, not enough lettuce, and too much dressing. Extra points for having tater tots! Waitress - she was your typical sorority girl waitress. She was dressed in tight fitting yoga/workout clothes with her boobs hanging out. Must be nice to come to work in comfy spandex-y clothes. Smokers voice. She was really nice and really attentive though. Tip - I had a restaurant.com gift certificate for $25 off $35 meal, so our meal was super duper cheap afterwards.
(2)Justin G.
I would have thought the trashiest place I went last night was a strip club. Nope, McFadden's.
(1)Santiago A.
Here are the only two reasons a person would what to go to McFadden's: 1) It's open until 4am, so rolling in at around 3:30am on a weekend comes with a 70% chance of bagging a really drunk chick looking to play "ouch, ouch, you're on my hair" or "just the tip, just for a second to see how it feels". 2) Tuesdays have $2 any drink and $1 sliders (chicken, burger, and pulled pork). The chicken ones are great, the pulled pork is ok, but has a little bit too much sauce, and the burger ones were charred beyond recognition. Also, it is trivia night. I love trivia nights and the prize money will more than cover you and your friend's bar tab. If it doesn't, then chances are you drank so much that you probably didn't win anyway. So, I recommend you go here on a Tuesday and get hammered for very little $
(2)Donn M.
If you are a college student this is a great place to hang since everyone is pretty much a student at a nearby school. I've always had a fun time here. The drinks are very cheap and if you call ahead of time to set up a bracelet deal you get get a lot of bang for your buck. I came for a birthday once and our table got a complementary bottle of champagne. Their food is not too great but for the price they ask I suppose it is has an ok value proposition. The bouncer was always nice to me but hard on kids that obviously aren't 21. Ok for dancing and play old hits from late 90's to current top 40. One time Afro Man showed up which was kind of funny. I would visit again but only for another 5 years since the age group is early 20's. The bathrooms are not clean and yet they have a bathroom attendant. But then again the crowd could care less about someone else's bathroom.
(5)Trinidad F.
The first time we tried this place it was because they had 2 dollar drinks all nite!!! That definitely called our attention!!! The turn off was that there was NO LIQUOR in the drinks. Lol. U can't even taste it. We had about 12 drinks each and didn't even feel buzzed. The place got packed pretty quickly that nite. It was only 10 and we couldn't get to the bathrooms!!! Also, the DJ was GREAT!! He had everyone jumpin!!! This weekend was terrible. We hit the place up around 930 and got drinks. Again, the drinks were disgusting. I ordered a Hurricane and it tasted like Hi-C juice. Lol. The DJ was annoying!!!! This guy wasn't even trying. We were so upset we simply walked out. We won't be returning.
(1)Bill M.
Definitely one of the most offensive places I've ever stepped into. The DJ will spin you the pop hits of 1997, the bros with backwards white baseball hats will high five and raucously sing along to the sweet Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth jams, the only people with any pigmentation in their skin are stuck working in the bathrooms giving you paper towels and mints (is this 1930?) for meager tips (which no one gives), the staff wont' give you the time of day if you're not willing to blow them in a back room, and just overall it's not a good time. Friends of mine won those "$10 ALL YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK FOR 2 HOURS" type deals and even with that going for it I was miserable.
(1)Meghan B.
Had guests in town who wanted to do happy hour "somewhere downtown", on a Saturday evening, with 2 kids in tow. Sooo.... Long story short, we landed in here because it met our criteria as best as possible. They were out of most of their draft beers (on a Saturday evening??), so that was kind of a bummer. The beers they did have were served in plastic cups. Perhaps it was serendipitous, as Bud Light and plastic cups just feel right. But still. I object to both offenses. Service was friendly, particularly given the two kids we had with us. Our server was really sweet about accommodating us. Food was OK. Their bleu cheese chips were good... but awfully heavy. Typical bar fare, I suppose. Worst part was the clientele. It was like a sad basement dude party, with said dudes yelling way louder than the game warranted. I now will never, ever root for the Eagles. Bathroom was horrid. Like the out-of-TP-watch-for-TB situation you expect in a dance club at 2am. But this was Saturday. At like 5:30. And it wasn't that busy. Yeah... I'm not going back.
(2)Ed L.
So this is what a "douche bag" bar is like... As soon as I arrived in Chi-town, my cousin took me straight to McFadden's... There are no other words that describe the clientele here better than douche bags and chicks. Similarly, there's nothing that can describe the bar, with its overabundance of flatscreens with sports galore, and a blaring sound system. I couldn't hear most of the night. Good thing I had free drinks all night courtesy of my cousin's buddy who was working the bar... And when it's 3am the dudes and chicks are still wide awake, this 5am bar is the go-to, if only because it's one of the few places in "the 'hood" still serving. Pros: Free drinks, chicks.. Cons: Douche Bags...
(3)Helena B.
$5 cover!? Don't even start with the "It's only $5," because I just paid FIVE DOLLARS to get into MCFADDEN'S. Once through the door, I see what the $5 was for. It's a veritable orgasm of people-watching in here, and McFadden's has crushed as many people as humanly possible into their bar to ensure my viewing pleasure. My favorite act was the bachelorette party dancing on a booth to "Back That Ass Up". Gold star to the bridesmaid in the supershort skirt giving money shots to the crowd each time she crouched down. Next, to the bathroom. What misogynist designed this place!?! Two stalls!?! Come on now. Then, to the dance floor. I haven't seen this many people being awkwardly groped since a dance in my Junior High gym. However, should I have alternate career aspirations, it helps to know that I could come be a DJ at McFadden's as apparently there is no need to be able to "blend" one song into another. Blending seems tricky. Should this bar get an extra star for me being grinded upon by a boy who started college after I was done with the entire endeavor...? Nah.
(1)Jacob J.
Do walk around that corner and check this bar out. Spacious place, plenty of seating. Though very crowded on weekends. Bartenders and waitresses do a great job. Heavy pours on the mixed drinks. Though drinking a mixed drink from a plastic cup just sucks. It must be plastic some nights, because its special, i.e. Stoli cocktails $3 Monday nights. Wednesday - weekend are great nights to find plenty more action. Crowd is usually mild. Ivory usually. If your thing is checkin' out cute white girls, you'll enjoy the time.
(3)Drucilla D.
Quite simply just A-OK... I went to McFadden's a couple of weeks ago for an industry networking event. The food was not amazing but the $20 all you could eat buffet and all you could drink wine, beer and well drinks was quite a good deal! Out of desperation (and because of the frigid weather outside), I ended up back at McFadden's last Sunday in hopes to watch some football. Seating was not plentiful as there was plenty of underutilized floor space, the TV's were not easy to see and the one closest to us featured TENNIS (on a Sunday in Chicago? seriously?) AND there were only TWO servers on duty for the entire place. The only reason I am really giving this place three stars is because the food is actually quite good. Mozzarella sticks are about $1.50 a stick but they're delicious, the New England Clam Chowder was actually really damn good and the bites I sampled of the burger and fries were pretty lovely as well. The drink specials looked decent (they had 5 Miller Lites in a bucket for $13 and $3 Jager-Bombs the day I was there), but if it wasn't for the food, I'd probably never consider going back. Oh, AND, the bathroom stall doors suck. Though I had mine locked tightly (from the inside), I underestimated what it would take to open it from the other side and I ended up flashing an unprepared patron. That's never enjoyable...For either party involved.
(3)Susan F.
2 Stars for a huge bar with good music. The only problem is, the female bartender def stole my friend's credit card--she wasn't even drunk! The bartender handed her receipt in a black folder with no credit card in it. She asked her where it was and the woman told her to look on the floor. I looked on the floor, too. NO credit card. Fishy fishy, don't try to take advantage of people you think are drunk!
(2)Scott A.
There is a large sign on the wall inside McFaddens that advertises a half off special all day every Thursday. Tonight was Thursday. I ordered two Crown on the rocks, my bill was $20. Does this mean that a crown on the rocks on a normal night is $20, and in actuality I was getting the deal of my life... well, even if this was true, the amount of liquor poured in did not equal the amount of money paid for said liquor. What a joke. In addition: 1. Does anyone ever mop the floors at this place? My shoes start to hate me by the end of the night (which tonight was 11:15, what a great bar that it could keep me out so late...) 2. Why is the clientele always 70% men? And why are these men major douches that will actually stumble in between me and the girl I'm talking to in an attempt to get the girl's number? 3. Why the hell do I keep going back here? It is no longer enough that my friends are suckers for free booze, I think I'm pulling a Joe's on Weed for this place and officially retiring. Goodbye McFaddens, you will easily be replaced.
(1)aldrich b.
Wow, don't know about the restaurant, but the nightlife scene is not for me. Definitely geared for the college/just out of college crowd of rush and division. First of all, $5 cover for a bar that serves drinks in a plastic cup.....not even cups that look like glass but are made of plastic, but literally plastic cups you buy from costco. And they still charge drink prices like a chicago nightclub. The clientele is young and fun, but the music is horrible and outdated. The bartenders were nice, though service will vary.....one took forever to make 5 drinks. I still cant' get over paying $7 for a kettle on the rocks and having it served in dixie cup filled with ice. Good place to go if you want that college bar experience. But go somewhere else if you're looking to impress or have a rockstar nightlife experience.
(2)Brooke W.
Went to McFadden's for the first time ever last night because my friend won a party there-all you can drink for $10 dollars-sold! I have to say I didn't come in with any expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw there was a DJ playing good music. Anyone who knows me knows that I can dance all night and boy did I dance all night long. The crowd is fun-bro-y, 20s, college kids (like myself), an overall fun crowd. Definitely go check out McFadden's, it's a good time!
(4)Erin B.
I think that if I was a just newly turned 21-year-old college co-ed I would love this place. Or maybe if I was underage with a great fake, I'd love this place too. I came here to meet friends on Halloween after the Yelpoween party. Let's just say, thank god I had a bunch of beverages already in me. The line here was insane, and they made you pay a lame cover. (I hate that) Inside they kept promising some sort of "local celebrity" which never showed up. Music was subpar at best, and the clientele was either cougars, or underagers. Thank God I have awesome friends that kept me company here!
(1)Jo W.
Ok, full disclosure is that one of my good friends is a cocktail server here. Thus, on the rare occasion I come on a weekend I never have to wait in line or pay a cover because I am awesome like that. But then, if I'm ever here on a weekend I'm usually three sheets to the wind by the time I get here.... Oops. I definitely enjoy this place more during the week, when it's not crazy and they have good happy hour specials. You can also win a happy hour party pretty easily, which means free drinking for you. During the week it's a completely different vibe than the weekend crowd, in a good way. The food is just okay, nothing to write home about. But yeah, stick to this place during the week and you'll be fine. Weekends are for the typical Division street crowds. Lame.
(3)Michael V.
$3 to wait 20 minutes to check my coat. $30 to wait 20 minutes for an "all you can drink wristband" $6 to tip a frazzled, freaked out waitress to get me a few drinks because the bar was only staffed with 2 bartenders for the 350 people in the bar $1 to tip the bathroom attendant just so I could leave the 2 square foot bathroom that smelled like someone had recently died in one of the stalls. Squandering most of my allottment of "all you can drink" drinks (if you could even get some) to go home, order pizza, watch DVR'd tv shows, and try to ignore the feeling I was just violated by the owners of McFaddens--PRICELESS.
(1)steve k.
I can't believe someone who reviewed this place said that this is the most fun bar in the city. WHAT?! I wanted to be as fair and unbiased as possible but I can never have fun here. The music blows, its full of people who think they know music and request 50 cent and all "real" music that they can sing along to. It would be an insult to ever call this place a club because the DJ is a moron and can't mix worth a lick. Everytime time I come here its always the same thing, retarded bouncer who thinks he's tough shit and a very typical suburban/college - esque crowd. I can't believe they charged a cover for one of the nights I went (yes, I went more than once) because honestly I could have gone to any of the other douchey bars for free. I've been here for one of the parties that everyone and their mother wins but if you dare ask for anything else that's in the keg, the bartender has a bewildered look that makes you feel like a foreigner for not liking piss lite. Bathroom attendant? For real? attn: McFadden - you are the lowest denomination of class and with your crappy little saloon bathrooms you aren't fooling anybody with a bathroom attendant. I think the only tolerable time was when I went when it was empty and it was just calm, however my waitress looked like she just woke up, got our orders wrong (mind you there were only three tables occupied) and she changed my water cup twice only to find some kind of lint in there. I think this place is good for puking, hitting on underage girls with fake ID's and getting into fights. If you think this is THE bar, you deserve to die.
(1)Theresa R.
Another douche bag central bar. But really, what was I expecting for a Friday night on Division street? One star though for the drink package that brought me here. $10 all you can drink beer/wine for two hours - on a Friday. So I happy houred myself over. Unfortunately the service sucked. Never a waitress in site. When she was, it was a good while before she returned with your drink. Even once she dropped her ENTIRE tray of drinks. So we thought going to the bar would be a better option - um, no. They were so weird about checking wrist bands and not giving you more the one drink. I think the kicker of it all is when I went out for a smoke at the end of the night. Tried going back in and the bouncer told me to wait in line. Um, just left for a smoke. He's response, "I don't care." My response "jerk" (or something a tad stronger) and I left. Seriously, if you are not in your early 20s OR a tourist...there is NO reason to be on that part of Division street. Not even for a $10 drink special.
(1)Ayea H.
I wish I could give this place no stars at all. Mcfaddens was voted number one douchiest bars in chicago for a reason. I have gone to Mcfaddens plenty of times and there is one man that works that literally every night at the door. His name is Dick, and he was born with the perfect name for the type of person he is. This guy is the biggest jerk ever. I have spent so much money at Mcfaddens, and every time I show up he is always rude and has an attitude problem. I even bring in a bunch of my guy and girl friends and he still continues to be an asshole.This has turned me off from going there. Here are a couple of other reasons 1.They let underage college kids in with fake IDS, they need to get caught for that soon too. Watch out for the 18 year old freshman kids dancing on the bars at 2am with their cha chas out as the creepy bouncers stare at them. 2. Their food sucks 3. Their liquor is watered down and never put enough alcohol in it. I won one of the wristbands for a night and I thought it would be great to have my friends come in for free drinks between a certain time frame. But when I went there supposedly the entire bar had a wristband for free drinks. The place was packed and the bartenders were rude as ever. The only drink you could get was a pineapple vodka, vodka tonic, cranberry and that was it. I was literally drinking juice, there was NO alcohol in it whatsoever. 4. They charge cover on friday and sat nights when its dead and boring. 5. The dj sucks and is also an asshole as well. 6. Mcfaddens in a whole is seriously the worst bar I have ever been too. Don't waste your time going there unless you wanna party with the underage kids, drink watered down liquor that is overpriced, and deal with rude security guards. Go to the lodge the guys there are so nice and they give free peanuts, even mothers original. Nice people there and its just around the corner.
(1)Lisa C.
My boyfriend and I went there over July 4th weekend because we had won a gift certificate at Hamburger Marys. The place was empty. The food was nothing to write home about and they had run out of some of the drink mixings. Judging from some of the people in the bar (people tanked at dinner time) and reading the reviews of others, this place seems to be a haven for unsavory people.
(2)Mario L.
I've been here a couple times and I've noticed that how much fun the night will be depends on whoever on the turntables that night. The first time I went here with my friends we mostly just stood around desperately tried to keep ourselves awake. The music was pretty bland and we just got out of there. One of my friends won a party with Free Drinks!! from 9-11. So I was back again and I really enjoyed myself. The music pumping and great for dancing. The Drinks are pretty inconsistent, sometimes their watered down and bland. And sometimes they're just too strong. The space is pretty small and cramped, their often isn't anywhere to sit. This place does have a acuired charm to it but there are much better places to spend your nights.
(2)Anne Marie J.
Not my favorite bar for a night out but it's a good deal if you're getting a drink or two or a bite to eat: Thursday nights are 1/2 off everything. It was the best Corona I tasted was here b/c it was $3. Yay! Also, it's not crowded during the week - bonus For a night out, I'd veto McFaddens - it's basically a super packed sports bar where it's impossible to get a drink. 1 star for a night out, 3 stars for a good drink deal prior to partying.
(3)Melanie V.
I went here to witness a flippy cup tourney that my co-workers were participating in. Although the bar was one big sloppy mess because of the tourney, it was SO much fun to watch!! One of the employees was going around asking us to sign up to win a free happy hour. I only did it because I NEVER win those things. However, a couple weeks later, I received a call from them, informing me that I had won a free happy hour! Since then, 2 of my friends have also won the free happy hour. Also, the waitresses are def attentive and friendly! Oh, and the potato skins are a def cure for you if you're feeling a lil sick from too much alky! ;)
(4)Matt R.
I went to McFadden's expecting to be disappointed...and I'm still confused...because I really wasn't. My friend "won" another $10 open bar deal here from 6-8pm on Friday so i figured...why not? For $10, it couldn't be that bad! and it wasn't! Reading the reviews of bitter, unhappy McFadden's patrons makes me think that McFadden's is probably best if used in the proper way. Yeah, it's probably not a great bar to go to on a Saturday night at 11:30pm. Yeah, it doesn't no belong in it's current location, it's totally out of place. Yeah, a lot of the staff are pretty sub-par. My $10 open bar experience was great. $10 got us all the beer we could drink in 2 hours. However, unlike most open bars, they actually intended to serve us for 2 hours, which was awesome. There were plenty of waitresses, and literally all they did from 6-8 was walk back and forth between the bar with cups of Coors Light or Miller Lite. If $10 open bars are your scene, McFaddens is a five star establishment. If signature mix drinks and blazers or $2 PBRs and ironic t-shirts is your scene, duh, go elsewhere. The one thing that sucked about McFaddens but that I found pretty laughable was the bathrooms. So, neither the mens, nor women's bathroom has a door...problem 1. Problem 2: there are bathroom attendants in each bathroom, both of whom decided to burn incense. Haha. So if you walked within 30 feet of the bathrooms you got a waft of sandalwood and toilet stank...tragically hilarious. Thanks McFaddens.
(3)Heather K.
I would like to preface this review by saying that I don't like McFadden's on the weekends (1 star), but went there for happy hour on a Thursday and had a really excellent time (4 stars). So we'll make it a 3-star average experience! I went for an event that included free cocktails made with SKYY - since it was a "hosted" happy hour the drinks were definitely weaker than usual. But our waitress was incredibly attentive and frequently came by to check on us and bring on the refills. By some stroke of luck, we happened to be there on a day where they were testing out new menu items. A manager told us that they recently revamped the menu and needed to take photos of the new dishes. As a result, they handed out a ton of free food to everyone who was sitting at tables in the back of the bar (near the kitchen). We got to try a chopped salad thing and a DELICIOUS grilled chicken sandwich. I would definitely go back on a weeknight for dinner - just for that sandwich alone! Marinated really well, with grilled onions on top, yum. They were playing fun music (90s rock - Weezer, Green Day, Rage, etc) and the crowd was much more laid back than I was expecting. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised!
(3)Laura S.
Trivia tuesdays are the best- dollar tacos are delicious and $3 coronas. Great service and an all-around good time!
(3)Mike S.
fun sports bar off the infamous rush n division corridor. typical night consists of many drinks followed by dancing and memory loss. weeknights are usually a lot less crowded. they normally have decent drink and food specials. have never tried the food so cant speak on this. the crowd is usually a pretty good mix of college / young professionals. they have a cute bartender there name kathryn.
(4)Ron C.
If I could give 0 stars I would. I was here on the Saturday dinner-time of Memorial Day weekend, staying at nearby hotel, and decided on this based on its online menu. What a dump. Totally a dive bar with food as an afterthought or not at all. McFaddens should definitely pull its license-franchise and this place puts it to shame (I've been to other McFaddens and had good experiences). Kinda wanted red meat and was told by my server that "we dont have that on the menu anymore" for the 2 more substantial options (ie not burgers). When I informed her that I really needed something more filling (vs bar food) and I'd be leaving, she insisted that I pay for my iced tea -- which I hadn't drank and had ordered with the (silly me) intention of dining in this dump. When i said is there anything you can do, she said that she put it in the computer (and after having asked a manager), that I'd have to pay for it. Do not patronize this place unless you want alcohol, if the specials are any good, I dunno. But I'd pay special attention to more recent reviews (re the food quality) and also regarding the absolutely crappy, horrible service (that is when they actually do have any food that is on their menu).
(1)Teddy O.
Bar food is ok and the crowd is college again or recently graduated with some. It's hit and miss if you are going there for a good time.
(3)Sara M.
It's funny that when I chose 3 stars it rolls over and says "A-Ok", because that is exactly how I feel about McFadden's! It sort of smells like a combination of beer, puke, and red bull in here, but it's fun with friends and a good place to get ridiculously drunk it that's what you're looking for. It's a younger crowd, and since I'm 21, I like that part of it. It's ridiculous, but ridiculous in that "oh my god look at that guy and girl shamelessly making out' way.
(3)Lisa V.
What's better than drinking with one of my best girls in the Chi? Its drinking with her + 100 santas during the holidays! Yes, this bar was one of the bars involved in a festive santa pub crawl on Saturday and it made everything just feel so darn MERRY CHRISTMAS. I love it! Hot guys in santa costumes just were my new wish for every year. Let's make this happen in LA. It was a friendly crowd in there, all wanting to dance, drink & be merry. A perfect night out in one of my favorite cities.
(4)Lesley S.
I like McFadden's but don't know if it is worth standing in a way-too-long line and paying a $5 cover to get in on a Friday or Saturday night. I do like the mix of music they play, everything from Build Me Up Buttercup to Salt n' Peppa's Shoop and they play all the current stuff as well. I still have one complaint about the music though- requesting songs. The DJ is an ass. At least the few times I've tried requesting something he was. Another thing about this place- they have girls up dancing on the bar. Can get annoying if you want a drink. But if you're there for the free shots, it's just fine. Open wide and you'll get one. Don't worry- they make sure to hold a washcloth under your chin so you don't drool all over your new dress. Who knows where that washcloth has been though. Sick.
(3)Joshua H.
this place is great for team (softball, volleyball etc.) sponosorship. The specials are usually pretty reasonable. You can find some great deals on drinks and aps during the week especially. The weekends are a little "college-eque." The floor is sticky, loud music, all you can drink specails, beer pong, etc. Not necessarily good or bad just a certain atmosphere similar to a Duffy's or McGee's that isn't for all.
(3)Laura B.
McFadden's is one of my favorite watering holes in Chicago. The staff is extremely nice and the week nights here are fantastic. Can't beat these drink specials in this part of Chicago. My favorite is Tuesday for $2-U-call-its. The crowd on the weekends seems to be suburban and lincoln park frat boys and trixies, while the weekdays attract a more laid-back professional crowd. The DJs are great at keeping the party lively all the way until 4am, or 5 if its a weekend. Best to avoid it, though, past 11pm on a weekend. Consider yourself warned.
(4)Lauren P.
i'm not sure why, but mcfadden's likes to promote the crap out of an event/special at their bar and not staff it appropriately. this has happened to me and my friends several times within the last few months, and it certainly does not make anyone (the staff or the customers) happy. even though we'd had some spotty service in the past, we decided to go to mcfadden's to catch the USA v england game on saturday. walking in around 1pm, almost every table was full. servicing the entire restaurant, patio and bar was one bartender and one waitress. the waitress was definitely busting her ass, but she needed to clone herself once or twice in order to have any hopes of keeping up with the crowd. it got to the point to where the waitress wasn't able to leave her station because people were lining up to order from her like an extension of the bar. i don't blame either the bartender or the waitress for not being able to handle everyone - this was 100% the manager's fault (who didn't seem to be there.) 20-30 minutes after arrival, we were finally able to order a few buckets of beer. i asked the waitress if i could order some food from her and she said "sure, just give me a minute." One minute turned into 15, and when i realized she was never coming back, i headed to the bar - where i waited another 10-15 minutes before placing my order. side note - my friends who were sitting at the bar even had trouble ordering from the bartender. when my food finally came, i received two out of three of the items i ordered, and of the two things i did receive, one was ice cold and the other was lukewarm. i was so hungry i ate my bad mini burgers, while my boyfriend went up to the bar to return the cold nachos we waited an hour for. the bartender coped quite the attitude when my bf mentioned how cold they were, throwing them directly in the trash, without saying sorry, offering to make new ones or even take them off the bill (which we later asked him to do. he also tried to charge us for the item we never received, even acting like we were lying when we said we didn't get it. full disclosure - because 2/3 items on the bill were messed up, he "voided" the transaction so the $3 worth of mini burgers were on the house. the gesture would have been better received without the attitude.) needless to say, when halftime came, we paid and headed to another bar where they had more than one waitress - and we were promptly served. a few of our friends decided to stick it out at mcfadden's; they told us the waitress later apologized for the horrible service and offered them a $50 gift card. nice for them - but we certainly didn't get any apologies and don't plan on coming back for any big events ever again.
(1)Rudy S.
Don't really hang out in this part of town, but was with friends and we ended up here. Let's say..if you like wedding music (livin on a prayer, sweet caroline, or sweet home alabama) then you'll love this place. Good for out of towners or college crowd. It's good for what it is. The music got better towards 1am..and it's pretty crowded. So if you're looking for a fun night without any surprises like goth kids or a drag show or a woman selling tamales inside..then you should enjoy your night here.
(3)Ken C.
Go here sometimes after volleyball on Tuesdays for trivia night and good specials. Also been here for a game of quarters with some friends. This place seems to have a lot of good specials keeping me coming back. What I hate the most here is the bathroom attendant. The bathroom is small, and the attendant takes up space. This isn't even that nice of a place where you would expect a bathroom attendant. I don't even like them to begin with because I can grab my own paper towel, thank you. The motion sensors on the paper towel dispensers should replace their job altogether.
(3)Amanda B.
I solemnly swore never to enter McFaddens after graduation college... and I'm proud to say, I haven't! Not my favorite crowd and not my favorite bartenders... If you're looking to dance on the bar and drink for free you should consider it!
(2)Ellen F.
Oh, god. This place is ridiculous. I was 25 the first time I went here, and I was exactly four years and 10 months too old for it. It's all about douchey frat boys and the slutty girls they hit on. Regardless, I had fun. If nothing else, the crowd was moderately friendly (?) and good for entertainment's sake. McFadden's was a novelty for me, and perhaps why I enjoyed it. I would never choose to go back here on my own, but if in a large group of friends, I'd go and probably like it.
(2)Ian S.
My previous positive review for McFadden's was more of a fluke than anything. I've since been back twice, and I wasn't impressed. I'm taking back a star. I had a McFadden's employee reach into the bathroom stall (THAT I WAS USING) to clear a couple of drinks on the ledge on the stall wall. He managed to bump over a half full beer and spill it all over my pants. I started yelling and he replied, "I'll get you a new one". It wasn't even my drink. He then ran off (without even making good on his offer). If it wasn't my friend's birthday, I would have raised hell with the manager, but it wasn't worth it.
(2)Derek K.
It's ok for a bar. It got a bit crowded but you could still move around. Service is ok. They play music and have a dance floor. The DJ was not particularly skillful and there is no natural flow to the songs he played so every 3 minutes the crowd would pause dancing and readjust to a new song with a completely different beat. The clientele was mostly male, very few females (not that it mattered to me) - so watch out guys, the competition is fierce! The last guy sober enough to stand wins the girl!
(2)Paige D.
McFadden's lures people in by giving away 2 hour blocks of "parties" where it's all you can drink light beer and well liquor for $10 that you get served in disposable plastic cups. I felt like I was at KAMS in Champaign for most of it-- the bartender we had was clueless, the floors were sticky/dirty, and it was packed. Dancing on the bar is encouraged, so if that's the scene you're looking for it's a good place. If you value being able to sit, talk to your friends, and move your feet without stickage, McFadden's is not the place for you.
(2)Gloria E.
Some friends I had were always coming here for happy hours, and I was curious about the place if they kept returning. Although, my friends didn't normally suggest I meet them at bars like this one. I guess I know why now. When my birthday rolled around a year ago, I didn't want to go to my usual or close-by places. I wanted somewhere new where lots of people go. Somewhere busy. Agh. Now I see why I never came here before then. On the way in, people were walking out talking about some disgusting girl who had vomited all over herself here. While I was in line for the coat check, some girl storming out's arm rubbed against the back of my arm, and it was all wet. I immediately knew what had just happened. The girl that had vomited herself did her drunkest to wash the vomit off before being kicked out, and her disgusting vomit-water had rubbed off on me. I smelled it as close as I could (back of the arm, ya know...), and I was right. F*ing F* F* F* F* F*! I was pissed. I washed it off, and started over. The place is crawling with D-Bags, and 80% of the girls look exactly the same. The bartender could not be bothered. I get that he was busy, but he was still rude and snobby beyond belief. when he took and made my order. He rolled his eyes when I asked if I had left my card at the counter earlier. Even worse, after he rolled his eyes, he did nothing, and I had to wait 15 minutes to get another bartender's attention. This place was too packed to move, and all in all, I will never come back again. This just isn't my idea of a good time.
(1)Tara M.
Oh McFadden's, you always make good on your promise that my Saturday nights will end in a blacked-out mess. Which is probably why when I walked into the bar sober this past Thursday night after work, I felt like I had never seen it before. We opted not to participate in the $10 open bar and instead sat at a table with a very attentive waitress. She did get pretty busy toward the end so we got our last round from the bar, but it wasn't a big deal. Three stars because: 1. The music was ridiculously loud, though the song choices were awesome. Lots of late 80's and early 90's songs--you know, the songs that you love but are embarrassed to admit it to your friends 2. A bathroom attendant at 6:00 on a Thursday night? Come ON!
(3)Amanda C.
Went here on a Wednesday night. The experience was mediocre although I like the way it looks inside. Beers are $1 on Wednesdays and are presented in tiny plastic cups so you probably need 2 to equal a real beer. I think this is only good for Miller/Coors/Bud Lights. The bathroom is decent and has an attendant handing you paper towels which I think is completely unnecessary. The 70s/80s music was good but not for dancing and when I asked the DJ if I could request a song he said "I'm just trying to have fun tonight and go with it" or something which I inferred as no. Come on!
(2)scott s.
This place can be good or bad Depends on the day
(3)nicole h.
Holy douchebaggery. I can't stand this place. The only time I ever go here is when I get dragged here with a group of people and I'm too inebriated to complain. And then I get there and pretty much leave immediately. I walk in and am I always greeted with an overcrowded, sweaty place. Crowd's always the same--the college girls are always scantily clad as if they've got their lady parts on parade for the countless creepy older dudes that seem to just be lurking waiting for the best time to roofie someone. And as if this Irish "saloon" were a club or something there's hired eye candy girls (aka. strippers who don't take their clothes off) on the half-walls trying to pump up the crowd to dance to the most recently overplayed KISS-FM nonsense. Ugh. Just writing about this place gets me fired up. Next time I'll just say no and save my cab fare for somewhere more my scene.
(1)ryan w. v.
I had lunch here on Friday afternoon...Sat outside...Watched the Cubs game and played a little S,F, or M with my friend. Since I was one of like 12 patrons, the bartender (Tim) was our server. Tim was refreshingly helpful in recommending what to order. My friend and I either have amazing intuition or luck of the Irish because everything we decided to order came highly favored by Tim. I think it's the former although I am 1/16th Irish. Anyway, we started with the Blue Cheese Chips. And when I type CHIPS I mean chips; not fries! For some reason my friend and I thought we were getting Blue Cheese Fries. Right, so we were completely wrong. McFadden's makes their own chips and then puts this warm blue cheese goo on top and add fresh chunks of blue cheese. The plate was huge and we hardly made a dent into the plate. It would have been much better with fries, but it was chips. This dish could be shared by like eight people easily. Per Tim's recommendation, I ordered the Reuben and my friend got the Mini Pulled Pork Sandwiches. She received three on a plate topped with spicy onion rings. I had a bite of hers because she could barely finish; they were delicious. My Reuben was really good too. The rye bread was fresh and was not soggy from the corned beef and sauerkraut by the time it got to my plate. The corned beef was lean and had great flavor. This is my first review although I have been here a handful of times to get my drink on. I enjoy McFadden's and give it four stars this time for being a great Irish neighborhood bar with great Reuben's and having Tim as our server/bartender.
(4)Dawn B.
This was the last stop for our night. It was a great place to end. I'm a fan of the easy going places with good music! We had our own VIP room here, but everyone wanted to get out to the dance floor. Some of the girls made their way on to the bar and got free shots! It was definitely good for a laugh! The wristband option was the best part of the night! Definitely got your money's worth in drinks (of course I think that is always the best option LOL)
(4)Jonathan T.
Went there last Friday night for their $1 Dos Equis Beer Special advertised in the Red Eye. We showed up at 9pm. After ordering two the bartender scoffed and said, "oh we're out of that," like I should have known. Then tried to order two Magic Hat's from a different bartender, and she replied "Oh we're out of that." We walked out! McFadden's you're a bar, please stock beer you advertise, or Yelpers will take their business elsewhere
(1)Sable T.
Where to even begin .... well my friends and I came in on Memorial Day (Monday) and the atmosphere seemed nice especially with the gorgeous day we were having ... the outdoor seating was packed and all the tables toward the front were filled so we sat in a nice booth in the back. There was only one server .. which was the bartender and he got us our drinks very promptly. However, it took FOR-EVER for our appetizers to come out ... 45 mins passes by and still no appetizers. Then the GM comes near us in this funky green outfit and apologizes bc they ran out of O-Bombs .. I guess no bloomin' onion for us. He then gets my friends and I a round of shots and immediately brings us random appetizers...that held us over for a while until our food came. Oh the food! Well it took forever for the bartender to even get our orders and we were starvin' marvins waiting for our appetizers and ready to give our orders. I'd say the whole process of waiting and eating took a good 3 hours ... Not good for antsy/starving people. I guess I'd have to say Kevin .. the GM made the day a lot better by paying more attention to us and buying us a round of shots and taking one with us. I liked that. Other than that ... I'd go here again just to hang with Kevin. Maybe if they had more servers on staff it would be a better experience. The experience today was ok. I got the grilled chicken sandwich ... tasted like shit. The chicken was burnt and the fries tasted like they were sittin' around for a long time. Overall ... I'd get the quesadilluhs and the bloomin' onion. I gave this place a 3 just because of Kevin.
(3)Mark L.
A Fratastic bar on the Division strip at State street. Everyone inside thinks that they are way cooler than everyone else, the music is so loud that trying to speak to anyone is incomprehensible (and inaudible). The early 20s aged crowd is usually very drunk, very rowdy and very rude. It's unfortunate that I ever patronized this bar. The bouncers are usually dickheads, and they often create a line out front to lure people in, you can wait in the cold for 20 minutes only to discover a half full bar with a 4:1 ratio of guys:guys. I only give 2 stars because I have been here on weekdays for wristband deals that were decent, and once for a party in the back that was pretty fun. Steer clear unless its for a private party.
(2)Sue D.
This place is horrible! It was packed where you couldn't even move. It was hot and sweaty and the drinks were bad. The security was rude as well. We went for a bachelorette party and were so beyond disappointed. We stayed less than 15 minutes. I would not recommend this place not matter what. It was ridiculous.
(1)Katelin M.
i watched the soccer games here last week and had a blast...always a fun crowd at McFadden's. It's nice to see bars like McFaddens and Bella doing well on this cursed corner and McFaddens is definitely doing well because the line is always out the door on the weekend. They play great music so it's a good place to go if you want to dance. I ate here for the first time recently and my quesidellas were ok. Definitely go for the drinks and the crowd, eat nextdoor at Bella Lounge for good food.
(4)The S.
Where do I begin? This place isn't worth the time it would take to write a meaningful review, so here's the short of it. A few years ago I went to McFadden's for a friend's birthday. The place was uncomfortably packed with people. I used to hang out at some crowded bars, but this place had to have been way over capacity. Eventually, the bar staff removed all of the high-boy tables to make more room for people...but continued to let people in. At the end of the night, I went to get my coat (it was winter), and the coat check gave me the wrong coat. They somehow gave my coat to someone else. I was pretty drunk at the time, but was sober enough to tell that the girl in the coat check was completely s***faced. I called the bar the next day hoping to speak to someone that could help. They first insisted it was my fault that they lost my coat. I was eventually able to speak with a manager, and he told me that they would try to find it and call me with the results. Fast forward a few weeks later, a few trips to the bar to pick up "my coat" that was not actually mine or even close, they had a description, brand, size, etc. The bar never offered any compensation for their mistake, and eventually stopped returning my phone calls. I simply just gave up. I will never go back to this bar and highly recommend that you don't. It's an awful atmosphere, not fun, and the staff is awful. There are some pretty sleazy bars along Division, but this dump is the worst of them all.
(1)Jasbir S.
Checklist at McFadden's for Men: - White striped long sleeved shirt with cuffs turned up - Boring watch that every other person who works at your marketing firm wears - Heavily gelled hair to cover up receeding hairline despite the fact you're 21 - Axe body spray Checklist at McFadden's for Women: - Glittery top which isn't long enough to cover your nascent spare tire - Tight jeans that aren't particularly cool - "Maid of Honor" tank top if you don't have a glittery one So join the party at McFadden's where your waitress serves you an entree without any silverware and forgets about you for 30 minutes only to return with "Hehe cutey! I just thought you'd eat it with your hands!"
(2)Alex K.
The seventh circle of hell. The average age appears to be 19, it's always too crowded to get to the bar or the bathroom, the music is so loud I actually got permanent tinnitus in one ear from a single night here, and you will never hear anything other than top-40, Journey, Poison or Bon Jovi here. Go here if you have herpes, or are really eager to catch herpes.
(1)Kathryn M.
I've been to McFadden's twice now and have had a blast each time. The first time I was there because my friend won a party. $20 all you can drink from 8-11. Even at 8, it was definitely crowded, however we were able to walk right in, no lines at all. The waitress was very attentive and friendly and kept the drinks coming. I never had an empty drink in my hand. The most recent time I was there was a Thursday, 2amish. The music was great, lots of people were dancing and having a good time. We were a pretty large group, so we took over a couple tables. Everyone was pretty friendly, either that or I was just oblivious to any dirty looks. The drinks were pretty strong and reasonably priced for the area. The women's room was fairly clean and did not have long lines (which is a plus...especially at 3 am). I'm sure I'll be making my way back here sometime soon.
(4)Izzy N.
Today, I will review in neanderthal speak. Don't worry, it will still be a helpful review. Before I start though, I just wanted to say, HOLLA FOR A DOLLAR!!!!!!! okay. \Begin neanderthal speak: Me came saturday night after 10. Me did not want to go. No cover charge for me!!!!!!! Yay yeeaaaa..! Cover charge for people behind us. hahahahahahahahahaha. Ok. We met me friend co-workers at private party to watch Blazers game first. Then parteeeeey. But later a girl dance not so good in front of TV. Get out of way dumb girl! Me try to watch basketball, not you!!! You not even hot. Crowd is me age and younger. Kind of rowdy. I at first dig it. Females dirty dancing to wall, chairs and counter of bar while waiting for drinky. Oh. Ok. Me not know how much drinks cost. They very strong. Girl barf in trash can by bar. tasty. Me friend say he found "the one." Long line to women restroom. Only 2 toilets, me had to go so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me just had big dinner. Not good idea. There is bathroom attendant with candy and tampons. Weird touch because bar, nasty! It not high class. She turn on sink for me and give me paper towels. Thank You. Music okay, sometimes sucked. DJ not know how to spin. Music mess up sometimes. Random music choice. Mostly 80s and 90s. Bouncers inside are douchey. They no let us go back up to our party. He said it private party. Duuuuuuuuuuuuuh. Dummy. He let random people up there. Until we say can we get our damn purses! another bouncer not let a friend shake his booty in another friend face. He put his flashlight on the guy, tell him to step away. Party pooper. It very packed and hot in there!! Now me know why girls half naked, dress like hookers to bars. Because it damn hot in bar/club!!! Me got sweaty. Me had to take some clothes off. So hot and muggy. It freezing outside and rainy so me layered up. See me smart girl, no catch cold. Next time me wear close to nothing so me not get sweaty. Even in 40 degree weather. Me will pretend it 80 degrees. Me have no need to come again. Unless me doped up and not care. This place blow hardcore. /end neanderthal speak. If you found that difficult to read then the point is Bitch is dead to me.
(1)Andy D.
Wow, this was the worst. I went there for lunch last Saturday and I could not believe how awful the experience was. The service was slow. The food was terrible. I couldn't even finish my meal because it was so bad. We ordered sodas and water and they came in tiny plastic cups. Stay away!!!
(1)Elizabeth T.
LAME! See Nicole H's review below. Her review says it all. Holy douchebaggery indeed!
(1)Annie T.
update update updateeee this bar is quite the hot mess but on a sunny sunday afternoon it was so perfect. we weren't looking our best (our group had just come from a softball game) so we walked passed lux bar and tavern on rush. we were aiming for PJ Clarke's but they had no outdoor seating. McFadden's it was! the poor bartender got stood up by the waitstaff so he was waiting tables on top of tending bar. he was very nice and got us what we needed quick. i ordered 3 "minis" (sliders). 2 chicken buffalo and 1 pulled pork. so tasty. so fatty. so perfect. MMM i'm craving them right now as we speak. the rest of the table got $5 burgers... they were pretty delish and big from what i could see. the fries weren't bad... not the best but not the worst. i'll certainly be back with McFadden's being on blocks from my place. for a cheap bite or two.
(4)Kammie G.
My friend won $100 bar tab in a contest. She asked earlier via email whether it worked on specials and she was told that yes of course they did. We get to the bar and sit. The bartender was giving us attitude from the start, she even yelled at us at one point because we kept asking how much each drink was and what the specials were. She told us they had $5 bombs and $1 beers and $5 well drinks. She knew we had the bar tab. Later on, we didn't want her to keep giving us atttitude so we bought her a shot too, kept thinking its $5 bombs but all of the sudden they changed the price on us from $5 bombs to $10 bombs saying that specials dont work on the bar tab even though she said at firs they did. And she gave us the $1 beers and then all of the sudden we maxed out the bar tab and all of the sudden we cant get the $1 beers either even though she TOLD us the prices at first and my friend was told the specials worked for the tab. Worst service. Plus the drinks were extremely watered down.
(1)Ray L.
I came on white trash night and fit right in seeing as how I'm white AND trash. My co-workers brought me here to close out our bar hopping... 3-4am on a wednesday night with work the next day... wonderfuckingful We destroyed the incriminating pictures
(3)Bella D.
I usually come here after work or after the club is over, and I know people who work here...which makes coming to McFaddens fun!! I dunno the other peeps reviewing but its a loud, boisterous, mixed crowd of drunk people. Its a bar!! Duhhh...anyways, good music and busy active atmosphere. I enjoy it when I need my fix of loudness and some stiff drinks!! : ) My seka, glen and MH knows this!!
(4)Ay D.
Good, mass-produced fun in the Gold Coast. McFadden's caters to college kids, yuppies, and the tourist perception of what the youths are doing. They tend to host a lot of college favorites such as "Beer Pong" and "Flippy Cup", as well as offer inexpensive happy hour packages and $10-15 all-you-can drink wristband parties. Say what you want about the preppies / douchies / meatheads / Trixies / etc. that tend to pop up here, but what else would you expect given the location and the entertainment offerings? That being said, I'm not part of one of the aforementioned cliques, but I always a good time here. Throw on your early 20's best, grab a spot in the drink line, and let go.
(3)Ron S.
Went here yesterday to meet a couple friends for some 25 cent wings and the Blackhawks Game. I couldn't believe how packed this place got around 1 on a Wednesday night. This bar totally caters to younger college students and postgrad kids so I wouldn't recommend it older folks.
(3)Tom L.
Picked this particular pub at random mainly because the people inside seemed to be having fun. Didn't have the best experience with this place. The waitress ignored our group for the better portion of the night..It was a miracle to get another beer. The food wasn't the best either. No one was impressed with their order. I had fish & chips, which was kind of ho-hum.
(2)Chris M.
I've been patiently contemplating the way I want to phrase this review for some time. With all the nonsense that occurs inside and outside the door of this "saloon", it has been a odd task to try to summarize it as concisely as possible. After my fourth or five visit though, I finally formulated a tentative thesis for this review. You know those groups of people who know they should stop partying but fail to follow through on their actions? Well if you do, and are tired of meeting them, do not come to McFadden's. Those who love to "rage" on the weekend are probably smiling with optimism for the hope of finding another bar where they can congregate with fellow ragers until 4 A.M. But if they are, they're probably not true ragers. For, a true rager would have already known about this spot, visited about 50 times, and only come back if they were kicked out of some other bar nearby. No, the ones who are smiling are those who have not yet experienced the dehumanizing sight of women in tight booty shorts dancing to the insipid tracks spun by a DJ who thinks he's CEO of a large company while overly drunk and obnoxious yuppies shout at them like they shout at the cabby who asks for a tip after all have left the vehicle. This is the picture that has been instilled in my mind after numerous visits to this bar. That and the $5 dollar beers and the bartender who's golden bottoms have been driven so far up her backside to reveal the fat protruding from underneath. The sad thing about this establishment is that while the employees are all well-mannered in the midst of a overly hectic job, and are probably cool outside a work environment as well, they are probably coaxed into such degrading dress from management and owners who could give a damn about their employees well-being and conception of themselves. Furthermore, I don't understand why there is a bathroom attendant at a bar which is the furthest thing from the definition of elegant. But even if it were elegant, a bathroom attendant is among the most alienating positions which business owners ever fathomed. If you can get into the bar I trust that you can take care of yourself when in the bathroom, but that's just me. In a word, this bar is simply despicable.
(1)Nathan C.
Probably the best bar in the area for a younger person like me. I have always had a great time on the weekdays but on weekends it gets particuarly packed. On a Saturday night, I swear there seems to be more people trying to get in than are actually in the place. Like I said, a fine bar during the week (I particuarly like Texas Tuesdays for there $2 corona, tequilla, and quesadillas) but a little crowded during the weekend
(3)Annie B.
McFadden's is the worst bar I have been to yet in Chicago. The service was terrible. The music is horrible and don't expect to get any help from the management when you have a complaint. This bar is sexist and full of sexist pigs who are non progressive in their views. I will tell as many people as possible to never set foot in this lousy excuse for a bar.
(1)Alyssa F.
Yes, I'm giving McFadden's five stars, but hear me out. No, it's not the classiest establishment ever, but it knows what it is, it knows what it does, and it does it well. Are you looking to stay out until 4 or 5 in the morning? McFadden's has you covered. Dance floor? Check. (If you're a girl this area also extends to the bars and, if you're sitting there or if no one's sitting there, the booth next to the DJ booth.) The ability to get free shots poured down your throat? Check. I've even been the pourer twice, and I recommend trying it yourself (again, if you're a girl). If you are over the age of like, 25, you probably DO NOT want to come here on a weekend night, but if you're in your early 20s, if you're drunk and/or want to get drunk, and if you like dancing, then this not a bad choice, especially for the area. They also tend to give out free parties pretty easily, where the winner drinks for free and anyone else can pay $10 for an open bar from 9-12. The drink prices are not bad for the area at all, and while there will be the occasional creeper on the dance floor (especially one it hits like, 2 or 3) it's MUCH better than other bars on Clark/Division. And a lot lighter on the cougars/middle aged men. Like I said, it's not the classiest place ever, but it does what it does well.
(5)Bob S.
McFadden's is at State and Divison so you have to expect a little bit of cheesiness, but if you can get over that and have a good group with you, it can be a really fun place. I came here on a Saturday night at 1am and surprisingly didn't have to deal with a line. Well, not outside anyway...it took forever to check our coats. It was like Thunder Dome in front of that window. After that, things were great. Despite being really crowded, it never took long to get a drink and waitresses circulating through the crowd helped ease the lines at both bars. They have a decent selection of music: it's far from cutting edge, but they keep the energy up and after a few drinks, you'll find yourself singing along.
(3)Allie S.
This is pretty much my idea of hell. The drinks were weak and expensive. They were blasting Top 40 remixes and it wasn't even 10 p.m. There were more douchebags and skanky girls packed into the space than I ever hope to be near again. There was no place to sit - every table was marked "reserved" even though there was nobody at them. I hope I never have to go here again.
(1)Lindsey F.
Yes, this is a college bar, but we had a great birthday party here. We made plans last minute to have a party here, because we ran into a few bumps along the way planning. Alicia swooped in and took care of everything efficiently. I had one small complaint at the beginning of the night, but again Alicia swooped in and fixed it. She set us up in the VIP room at not extra charge and we had a very nice waitress that brought extra drinks without even asking! Yes, it gets crowded. Yes the crowd is young, but that was the energy we were looking for this time. Thanks to Alicia!
(4)Rahul S.
SO I came here for the third time. I came early, and they played 80's music. Then the music got modern as the night progressed. I was minding my own business and watching sportscenter. Then these two chicks come near by and start dancing right by me (one at the front, and one at the back). I usually ignore this. But then they dancing all over me. I'm thinking to myself....I don't feel like dancing, but there are two of them. No one was dancing here. So everybody was staring. It was quite awkward, but fun at the same time. But I wasn't dancing with full force since I didn't feel like dancing then (I wasn't drunk....i only dance when drunk). But they kept on dancing all over me for 10 minutes. One dude started dancing to the side (her friend).....Awkward. I was pretty much stiff when it came to dancing, but they kept on dancing with full force. They left for 30 seconds. Then one chick got in front of me, and was all over me again. I felt uncomfortable, and I didn't feel like dancing. Then I saw those two chicks dance on the bar stool...just as many chicks. One of their guy friends asked me that I was stiff out there. I told him I don't dance that much....but the truth was it was uncomfortable with all the people standing, and watching us dance. I really didn't expect this to happen, but it was fun nonetheless. :) I wonder why they came after me when they could have danced with other dudes. I heard of their guy friends telling them "what the hell are you doing" when they were dancing around me. It was still hilarious, and I would come here again. My only complaint is that this place is always crowded. SOmehow, chicks always end up wanting to dance with me at McFadden's.....
(3)Jade C.
Ehhhhh, there's really no reason to go here. From service (attitude) to atmosphere (smells like puke) to the people (generally can't hold their drinks without spilling on you or causing someone else to spill on you). I guess it serves a purpose, but if you find yourself pumped to go here...you've been deceived either purposely or accidentally (based on someone "winning" a party) or you have questionable motives lol. Have fun if you can, I woudn't recommend going sober though...as it can be pretty rough. It's in probably the only area that it could actually thrive, otherwise this place is just suspect at best. Take at least 6 shots if you're jammed into attending for a bday party or something though.
(1)sally m.
mcfadden's is a fun time if you know what you're getting yourself into. if you want a quiet place to chat or catch up, this is NOT it (obviously). if you want to get hammered on a friday while listening to a mix of '80s-'90s music (with some new songs mixed in), dancing around on a sticky dance floor, and getting rowdy then mcfadden's may be just the place for you. it's always been a sloppy night when we've gone there, and for that, i would recommend it. drinks aren't the cheapest, but bartenders are usually pretty quick, and the place stays open until 4 am. definitely a good time if you're in the mood for drunken debauchery!
(3)Jeff C.
Dude? WTF
(1)Dave F.
Not only is this bar a douche-bag wasteland, but they have taken to text messaging people (without permission) regarding their "great deals." I can skip the line and get a free shot NOW! OMG I'm on my way! The first time I went here - over 2 years ago - it was for a cheap happy hour and I got talked into filling out a card for a free happy hour or something. (I was dragged back two more times and each time I hated the place more than the last.) For awhile I got emails, but I just marked them as spam so no big deal. But for the last few months they have taken to texting me. There are no instructions in the message for how to be removed from the list and no way to do it on their web site. And on that stupid sheet I filled out over two years ago? Well, for one, I should not have put my real phone number...or filled it out at all. And two, I am completely certain that I did not give them permission to text me. To recap, McFaddens is terrible on its merits as a bar alone. This text message garbage takes it to a new level of awful. If your friend tries to drag you there because some guy/girl is there that they're trying to get with - you should sit your friend down and explain how much that person undoubtedly sucks. Seriously.
(1)Lisa A.
Want to party with tourist then head to McFadden's. This is the kind of place you'll take your out of town guest but if you're a Chicagoan you'll more the likely stay away from the state and division scene. The beer is over priced, the wait staff is slow and the music is very loud. I took my friend there from L.A. based on a suggestion. I tried to get her out of there rather quickly. I wasn't able to have a conversation with her and it took us 20 mins to get a drink and our bill wasn't what I expected for beer in downtown Chicago. I was disappointed.
(2)Tony C.
drink specials are awesome!
(5)Ian R.
literally the worst bar in chicago.
(1)A C.
Wow! I'm surprised at all the negative reviews given of this place! I had a great time here with a friend on a Monday. Sure, it wasn't a night when all the people bar-hop and dance- but on a weekday this was a great place to just chill, and hang out and watch a sports game. The waitress was very attentive, and friendly! I would definitely come back here again!
(5)Anthony A.
Reviews are pretty accurate. The food was not good but not bad. The service was good and the people that work there were very nice to us. Great place to go on Thursdays because they have half off the entire menu including drinks.
(3)Lauren B.
Blah. There was a medical convention going on in town the weekend I was there and for whatever reason it seemed like about 80 of the oldest doctors decided to descend on McFadden's the night I went. The rest of the crowd was pretty trashy AND trashed. The service was slow, the ground sticky/slippery and the music too loud. There are plenty of other bars nearby that I would choose over this one.
(2)sarah w.
I booked a party at McFadden's for a friends bachelorette party in July. I know this is a typical bach place where the bride can dance on the bar and do those kind of things. It is what she wanted so I thought Mcfadden's would be perfect. We had 18 girls and I booked the party months in advance. I talked to Alicia to arrange all the plans. She was very nice on the phone and really seemed to want to make it a great night for us. We were supposed to have no cover, two reserved hightop tables next to the DJ, and domestic bottles/well drinks for $3 for three hours. I even reconfirmed all the details with Alicia two days before the party where she assured me we were a go and they would have the bride dancing on the bar and having the time of her life. We got to the bar on time and were let in without a problem. But then we were directed to some tables next to the front door which would be for people ordering food. The DJ is in the back. I waited about 20 minutes to find Alicia to speak with her about tables. When she came over, I reiterated our last conversation and she told me I misunderstood her and would get two tables right below the DJ. Thats bull, but I just wanted something at this point so the bride and other girl's could set their stuff down and get a drink. She moved some people (since she didn't have anything reserved) and gave us two hightops below the DJ next to some booths where people were eating their dinner. Then we all trIed to get drinks. This was an ongoing pain throughout the night. The bartenders kept changing and when someone would go to get a drink they would try and charge them more than the $3, telling them they don't know anything about a bridal party deal and we would have to talk to Alicia. How could they not know about a bach party!?! We all had the tell-tale boas and penis stickers and their were 18 of us! So I spent the first hour and a half looking for Alicia and arguing with the bartenders to not overcharge our guests. It was bullshit. They never once even recognized the bride. I went to Alicia more than two times and asked when they were going to get her a special shout out or dancing on the bar? She would just say "in a little while". Finally she told me to just give the DJ the bride's name myself. I did that (he too seemed bothered by me) and he one time said "lets hear it for Mrs. XXX! Congrats" That was it! What a joke. This place couldn't care less about anything but getting your money. They paid no attention to the bride or our party. We could have booked elsewhere and I will never recommend this to another bach party. There were 18 girls there and I hope they all write a bad review because this place deserves it. Don't plan a party at McFaddens and expect anything other than crappy treatment from the bartenders, host, and DJ.
(1)Jody C.
I have a like/hate relationship with this place. If you can get drinks, and if you can find somewhere to stand, it's a fun place to drink and dance. However, most of the time the line is super long and its overly crowded inside. The bathrooms always have a huge wait. I'm talking 20 mins at least. Then you have to wait another 20 mins for a drink. That is not my idea of a fun time. Also, the last time i was there it was about 95 degrees inside. My friends and i hung out in the back room in front of a fan. I left looking like i'd just run a marathon.
(3)rachel c.
Holy God is this place filled with meat-head choads. In the 20 minutes that we could stand being there, it took 15 to get a drink and in that time I had 2 drinks spilled on me. Joy.
(2)Niki C.
Pros: - Free drink package. - Military men on leave. - Sing-along music. Cons: - Waitress who refused to serve my friend another wine until hers was finished, but then gave the guy to my left two beers when he still had 90% of his glass still to drink. - Stalker-esque military men who haven't seen a women in a lonnnnng time. - Location. At the corner of Rush & Division, it's at the apex of my two least favorite streets in the city. EDIT: I knocked another star off because we were there for "Ladies' Night" (Thursdays) & the following happened: 1. We were told that all appetizers were 1/2 off, but when we got the bill (we ordered 2 appetizers), we were charged full price. When we told the waitress, the words "I'm sorry," did not come out of her mouth. 2. As advertised on both their website & the signage in the bar, all martinis off of the Martini List were only $5. So we ordered two. I ordered the dirty martini (extra dirty); my friend ordered some sugary thing. When we received them, our waitress said, "Just so you know, dirty martinis aren't included." She still gave us (the first one, which turned out being the only one) the martini for $5, but still ... if you're gonna say all martinis on the martini list, be sure it's all martinis on the martini list (the dirty martini has some silly name, but that's what I ordered). 3. Our waitress did not give us an itemized receipt, which we tend to think was awfully sneaky since our appetizers were not 1/2 price & it wasn't until we sat there, musing about why the bill was so high with all the "great deals" we supposed to have received, that we realized it. Boo to that.
(2)Lindsay G.
I took my parents here when they came to visit because it was cold outside and the bar is close to my apartment. After waiting 15 minutes for someone to notice us, we finally ordered. The food was okay but our waitress was a little stand-offish, which I thought was rude. It has a cool atmosphere, but It seemed to pull in a fairly young crowd. I would probably go there again with friends.
(3)Amy J.
Not my favorite place at all. I've only been because it's down the street. I hated it. It reminded me of an adult style frat party. Service is slow, drinks are expensive, and it's really really hard to get a drink at the bar (always too crowded). There aren't enough tables, either. It's just not a comfortable environment, at all.
(2)Tim C.
Some of the worst service I've ever had, I'd give it 0 stars if it were possible. The place was hardly busy, it was only like 4pm so otherwise I could forget some of their "quirks". What I wished to order they were out of - not a problem except for the server seemed like I was an inconvenience for not having a replacement immediately. My drink took forever to bring, which came out right before my meal. After that i was pretty much ignored until the moment she felt like telling me my bill was ready. I would avoid this place.
(1)Trinh P.
I used to like this place but my experience gets worse each time. this is the last straw. I decided to help this girl who was drunk out of her mind and need ed to throw up. The bathroom lady just kept commenting on how we better not mess up the bathroom. I had tipped her earlier that night for handing me an stupid napkin that i could have reached for myself. Anyway, after the girl threw up and the bathroom lady just kept making these unnecessary comments. I told her to shut up because what do you expect, you work at a fucking bar. Then she proceeded to threaten me like she was going to punch me. I told her i fucking tipped her earlier. She was like, "you tipped me a dollar." i said, "ugh yeah for washing my own hands, i would hvae given you 50 if you were more polite" she proceeded to threatend beat me up. I'd have preferred that she did something rather than continue to threaten me. I am not impressed at this "ghettto bar." If you're going to kiss ass for tips, the least you can do is to realize you work in a bathroom at a bar. if i could, i would give this bar no stars.
(1)Alice L.
Ok...so the only time I enjoy coming here is usually during the day or early evening. Before the crowds come in, McFadden's can be a great place to watch some games on the flat screens and enjoy some beers with friends. However, as soon as the late night bunch arrives, the place gets way too crowded. It gets pretty stuffy inside, and it's almost near impossible to get a drink at the bar. If you have a waitress, it takes just as long to get your drink since she usually has to push her way through all of the people to get to your table. On the plus side, they play a variety of music.
(3)Margaret B.
Rude, obnoxious doormen out front. Always a line. And then so crowded when you're actually in that it's impossible to get a drink or get anywhere. I wish I could take the mostly good looking crowd inside and convince them to go elsewhere.
(1)C M.
Ugh. Just like all the bars around when I was in college. So not the kind of place I want to go, having been out of college for more than a year. Needless to say, for some reason my best friend wanted to go here for a bit for her bachelorette party. We did, and it was soooo crowded it was ridiculous. I wasn't even aware they served food here. If they do, to go there in Sept of 2008, you would never have guessed. It was a Saturday night (since all but myself live in the city, and all but the two of us were living in other states), but it was scary crowded. Neither the matron of honor or myself were too happy about having to go there, but we weren't going to say anything. Shots were nasty, music was loud and bad, and people were everywhere. Definitely filled with some major douchenozzles, which we didn't come out to see. The bachelorette was totally drunk so I don't think she really noticed or cared, and at least she had fun. Especially when she proceeded to dance on the bar along with another bachelorette, who was dressed in a tank with a thong on top of her jeans. Classy. I will never go here again, willingly or not. The only purpose of this "establishment" is to give pathetic douchenozzles a chance to relive their college days with bad booze, bad music, and more of their kind than they know what to do with. Oh, and they dance too.
(1)Darren M.
The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is because their french fries are good. The salt-and-pepper spices (believe it or not) were the perfect touch to make them pretty awesome. Now for the bad. 1. The smell of the entry vestibule should have been enough to make me turn around. It smelled like a combination of boys locker room, dirty laundry, and body odor. Not very appetizing. 2. When I asked the waitress what was more popular -- the Reuben or the Philly Cheesesteak -- her response was, "Well, I don't eat meat, so I don't really know." I didn't ask her what SHE liked better, I asked her what was more popular. Gee! She needs some training. 3. When I asked the waitress for a large glass of water as my drink, rather than the small plastic water cup, she said, "Well, we usually serve water in these little cups." I had to do some convincing for her to bring me a large glass! It was a hot day, and I don't drink pop or beer. I finally ordered the California Girl Wrap, which was okay enough to give a passing grade, but nothing to write home about. 4. The lady at the next table ordered a Shepherd's Pie. What they brought her was a small little thing in a soup crock .... Less than half the size of a shepherd's pie you'd get at any other restaurant. And that was for $13 !!! The lady complained (which I would have done too) until the management finally relented and gave her an additional cup of soup. She wanted to order a different item from the menu, but the management wouldn't let her do it, because they had already made the shepherd's pie. I felt this was very bad service on the part of the management. 5. It took forever for my waitress to bring me my check. Plus I never got a refill on my water glass. I guess we have to ration water in Gold Coast because we are SO FAR from a fresh water source! I won't be returning .... not even for the very good fries. This is not a place to sing praises about. In all, I will remember McFadden's for good fries, but small portions, poor service, stinky entry vestibule, and stingy with the water!
(2)Rachelle T.
After a couple of pretty terrible nights at McFaddens I have refused to go back since last year. On the weekends it's over-crowded and generally packed with a mixture of tourists, a-hole frat boy types and trixies. There's always a line, although I cannot figure out why because it's really not that much fun, and last year one of my female friends got assaulted by a dude (yes, thats right, a male stranger hit my friend) in line and the idiot bouncer didn't even kick them out of line. Maybe it's better for happy hour but on weekend nights this place totally sucks.
(2)T K.
As far as Rush and Division bars go, Mcfaddens is not that bad. The crowd on the weekends gets a little dicey, but for the most part it is a pretty laid back place. Good for a happy hour and great for a Guiness, you will still get the striped-shirt guys but they seem to be a little more average than the college or mid-life crisis crowds that swarm to other places.
(3)Eric K.
This place reminds me of a college frat party. Lots of 20 somethings getting hammered, girls dancing on the bar, and people making absolute fools of themselves. I've always had a good time at this place, but not the place to go if you are looking to have a beer or two and a decent conversation.
(4)Eric M.
McFaddens is pretty much the place everyone would go to in high school, had they been able to drink. It is a Irish themed bar inasmuch as it has 'Mc' before its name, it serves Guinness, and it has wood paneling. Besides that, it is about as Irish as Sony TV. The crowd tends to be a mix of white suburbia that has grown up and moved into the city, and anyone over the age of 30 stands out as being among the senior members of the crowd. Drinks are moderately priced (especially for the area), $3 for Bud and Corona, $5 for decent taps, and $6+ for well drinks. The music is hit and miss, as I have learned. It is often a decent mix of 70's, 80's, and 90's stuff with lots of favorites sung before any of the patrons were born being belted out by the speakers and those in attendance. Last night, however, the DJ was downright awful. He played a good deal of rap, which doesn't bother me as much as the fact that he had the music cranked up SO loud that the playback was getting dicey and my ears are still ringing. Even worse, he was completely ADD, changing the songs halfway through about 60% of the time. Pick a song and stick with, we're at war here! To its credit, McFadden's is always packed with people, but if you are not the button-down (with at least the first two buttons undone), polo, or otherwise young, preppy, suburban type, you may find yourself a bit out of place. If you are among the aforementioned cohort, however, go to McFadden's at least once, see if you run into someone from high school (you invariably will, especially if you were raised on the North Shore) and bring ear plugs just in case that awful DJ is there.
(3)Linda N.
came here for a halloween costume party. small space especially when you have all these folks dressed in some pretty elaborate costumes. it gets super hot towards the back of the bar. bartenders were quick. we all got $20 wristbands for all you can drink well drinks and beer from 9-midnight, it was a pretty sweet deal. a bit awkward when we first got there though because the msu game was on. but luckily for us msu lost and all the angry fans cleared out pretty quickly. =P
(3)Ryan P.
usually a pretty fun place.. but this place gets filled with young punk college douches on wednesdays who all think they are tough guys and try to start fights as soon as a bit of alcohol gets in them.. Not a bad place to go if you feel like punching a douchers face in when they inevitably start acting up.
(3)Julia C.
The one time I was at McFadden's was for the Yelp happy hour. I had a blast and thought this was a really cool Irish bar. There was plenty of space to move around, although I hear that's not the case on the weekends. The waitress did a good job of making sure my hand had a glass of wine in it throughout the night. I plan on going back to McFaddden's very soon!
(4)George K.
Okay... oh man. Why haven't I tried this place sooner? Pretty laid back, fun crowd, lots of TV's to watch sports, very close to my place right next to Bella and PJ Clarks. Food! I went here last night for dinner with a friend. I didn't know what to order but I was starving so I ordered for both of us :) Fish & chips and Cajun jambalaya soup. umm, I never had fish and chips before... I don't know okay... I felt like I'm the last person on earth who never seen what fish and chips looked like. Waitress laughed at me because I asked how does it come out? I honestly never tried them before. Duh.. Obviously, it had to be some sort of FISH and some sort of CHIPS, right? I wasn't sure how it would come out (I was anxious to see what it looked like) Hoped for no fish eye on my plate. Okay our order was coming out in few minutes... My friend told me to close my eyes until food came to our table so I would be surprised to see fish and chips... seriously, I was sweating and shaking my right leg underneath our table over FOOD! .. lol I don't eat fish often so... I ordered jambalaya for backup because I wanted to eat that one and she can have fish and chips. Did you know? Fish and chips is same thing as just fish sticks and fries? haha.. it wasn't bad at all, I'll have to order that more often :) You are suppose to dunk it in some sort of oil? weird but it tasted really good. Cajun jambalaya? HOTTT!! Holy smokes I was on fire. I wanted to drink some ketchup because our waitress didn't bring us any water. My glass of beer had little bit of ketchup floating in it. I have no idea how it got there. Maybe from me shaking the ketchup bottle on the fries so I didn't drink any beer. My mouth was on fire. Hottest jambalaya I ever had. I ended up eating most of fish and chips and she ate jambalaya. I will definitely go back here... after reading some reviews. Maybe only on weekdays. I can see this place could get very crowded. Highly recommend everyone try this place least once! Fish & Chips!! A++
(4)Angela B.
I think McFaddens is really average...nothing special about it. Laid back crowd, really busy on weekends, and just OK food that we thought was overpriced. We rented out the private room (the Den) for a bachelorette party and the service was either terrible or amazing depending on which waitress wandered back there. I will say that there is absolutely nothing "Irish" about it other than the name!
(3)Chris L.
Love McFadden's!
(5)Shannon S.
I've been here a few times now. Good atmosphere, good crowd. Friday's they have a happy hour $10 for 2 hours of all you can drink. Not a bad deal. The waitstaff is pretty on top of things.
(4)Kari S.
Extremely crowded on a Friday or Saturday night, but fun if you are in a group and want to hear some great music. I recommend going early to get a table or booth. Its in a good location to bar hop!
(3)Louis A.
This place sucks hardcore. Disgusting drinks, too crowded, lame music, and it's filled w/ douchebags
(1)Lindsey M.
Horrible, horrible, horrible. My God, I created a Yelp account just to review this place. Against my better judgement, went there with a few friends last night who convinced me this was the place to go for St. Patty's. WERE THEY WRONG. First off, while attempting to order a drink, I waited at least 10 minutes before a bartender even acknowledged me. I suppose I had an annoyed look on my face because she continued to serve people who had just stepped up to the counter even though i was patiently waiting and even had my money ready. First, she told me that I "needed to relax" then told me she wasn't going to serve me because of my attitude. I didn't even say anything! I was livid at this point. I was also not impressed but the unattractive half dressed women dancing on the bars. Really? This isn't a frat party, and some of these women looked much older than 22. Would it kill you to act just a tad classier? So then, my sister and a friend were in line for the bathroom, and the women's line was ridiculous. Of course the men's line was empty so they decided to just go for it. The bathroom attendant rudely yelled and my sister and friend to "get the fuck out" and forcefully grabbed my friend's arm who's about a third his size.To cap off the night, a busboy came barreling through with a garbage can full of ice and knocked my sister in the head with it and knocked her over. He then barely acknowledged what he had done and mumbled out sorry before walking away. Overall, this bar offers the WORST service of any bar I've ever been to in Chicago. The clientele consists of trashy, stumbling, mediocre looking girls and horny, sloppy, ex-frat tools just looking to get laid. Needless to say, I won't be returning to McFadden's. Ever.
(1)daniel w.
I've lived in Chicago less than a week, but I've been to McFadden's many times during my visits to Chicago and this past weekend. Really cool bar with a good looking crowd. It is pretty crowded and annoying to wait in line (I'm not used to this cold weather), but I always have a good time here.
(4)Jared S.
McFadden's is always a good time. I was here Friday night after not being here in weeks and as usual I had a great time. It is a pretty young crowd, but that never bothers my buddies and I.
(4)Rachel N.
I agree with all these reviews...McFadden's is such a fun bar! It's pretty low key,. but has great music and it's always crowded. It used to be super crowded when it first opened, but the crowds are dying down so I like it better now.
(4)Aubrey K.
We just checked out McFadden's this weekend and I had a blast with my friends. The main attraction is that the DJ plays the best music ever. There was not a single song that we didn't want to dance to. I beat the line but I noticed it was growing pretty rapidly past 10 or so. I'll be going back for sure.
(4)Dru G.
This place was cool when it first opened...fun crowd, good music. I went here last weekend for the first time in a while and I couldn't belive how young it has gotten. I don't think there were many people over 22 in this bar. It's too bad because I really liked this bar and it's in a great location!
(3)Jasmine P.
Wow, such a drastic difference from the last time I was here. I returned with friends for $2 drinks on Tuesday. We came to dance too. I was thoroughly disappointed. THE DJ SUCKED! I strongly dislike when DJs play music only they like. He was balding and clearly stuck in an era. He wouldn't accept requests, though he said he would. He played music that was good at a time (late 90s) and a lot of britney spears. Gosh, he played *N SYNC's "bye bye bye!" I am a fan of *N SYNC, but really was he expecting us to break out into choreographed dance in the middle of the dance floor? My friend and I got up on the bench to dance to the one good song he played and just stood there bobbing our heads to the less danceable songs. When we finally decided to request a song, he replied to us with, "what? after you ignored me up there?" WHOA! I'm sorry, I didn't know I was having a non-verbal conversations with the guy in the DJ booth, especially considering I didn't even know where the DJ booth was until 30 seconds before we made our request. Oh, and let's not forget how professional it sounded everytime he got on the microphone and said, "sorry, sorry everyone, I've only got one CD player going right now!" (He did this about 4 times within an hour; we didn't stick around to see how many more times he would do this.) He was unprofessional and bad for business. I might try to check out McFadden's on the weekend like the first time I came here, when the crowd (and hopefully DJ) are better, but I wouldn't take my chances here during week ever again. Not even for cheap drinks.
(1)Emma L.
I've tried to go to McFadden's many times in the past month, but it's absolutely impossible to get in without waiting at least 30 minutes in line and it's way too cold for that! I finally made my way to this popular Irish bar for Yelp's first happy hour last night. As a new member of Yelp it was great to meet all the other members- everyone was very nice! I also think McFadden's is a really cool bar...there were some people there, but not overly crowded for an early evening during the week. Our waitress was very attentive and had a drink in my hand before I even finished my last one. Thanks again to Andrea and Elizabeth for inviting me! I'm looking forward to the next happy hour.
(4)Dana P.
Think it is a really fun place. It gets very crowded though and the lines can be long. Yelp's happy hour was a lot more chill and relaxed than the place is normally on the weekends. But, the music on the weekends is fantastic and fun. Definitely recommend checking it out.
(3)elizabeth n.
This laid back atmosphere of McFadden's is a perfect place to relax and do a happy hour after a long day of work. The lines do get very long on the weekends, so I try to go there during the week. They have a spacious bar and you won't have a problem getting a table if you go during the week. They play great music, and the service is excellent! I will definitely be going back for after work drinks again!
(4)Abby L.
Big fan of McFadden's! First I love Irish bars, and second- this one is one of my favorites. They play great music- love dancing with friends here and it's a really fun laid back crowd. Great spot for a happy hour or drinks with the girls.
(4)Zach A.
Tried this popular new Irish bar this weekend for an early St Patty's day celebration. It was crowded like every bar on Saturday afternoon, but it was fun! Great music and fun people.
(4)Dan B.
Alexis kept the drinks coming. Good place to go for happy hour.
(4)peter b.
Cool Atmosphere + Alexis the server + DJ spinnin 80's beats = GOOD TIMES
(4)ali a.
I was just there this past weekend for a friend's bday and I loved it! They play the best music if you want to dance and the atmosphere is alot of fun. The line was a little long, and we were able to get in because of a friend's birthday, but i'm not sure i'll be able to get in in the future. I think you would just need to get there really early. Overall a great new bar though!
(4)Madeline L.
I checked this place out with some friends for a drink after work. It was the perfect place to have a low key drink and sit down after a long day. It had a really fun crowd and played great music. The only reason for the 4 stars was because we were really in the mood for an appetizer but none of the appetizers on the menu looked appealing to us. So we drank instead!
(4)Ed L.
There is a very good reason McFadden's is so crowded. It's a very fun bar! I've been here many times now and every time has been great. I still haven't tried the food, but I have looked at the menu and it looks like typical bar food.
(4)Tracy M.
Tried this new Irish bar last night for the first time. I expected to wait in very long lines based on the reviews, but it actually wasn't too bad. I waited for about 10 minutes, but once I got in there was plenty of room to move around. Fun crowd, great music...I'll be back!
(4)Skylar C.
I guess I missed the first Yelp happy hour that all these reviews seem to be raving about, but I've been to McFadden's a few times now and each time has been so much fun! I agree that the line is long to get in, but great music and a really fun crowd once you get inside.
(4)Samantha L.
Since McFadden's opened months ago I've been coming here almost every weekend and it's a guaranteed good time. McFadden's attracts a really fun crowd and they play awesome music. There have been many nights recently that we've gone to other bars in the area and we always seem to end up at McFadden's because we know it will be a fun night.
(4)Jason K.
Unfortunately, I was only able to show up for the beginning of tonight's first Yelp happy hour due to a prior work engagement. However, in the short amount of time I spent at McFadden's I was very impressed. Our waitress was very friendly and brought me a drink immediately. The music was pretty good and it seemed like a popular place, even early on a Thursday evening. I'll have to go back to McFadden's soon to check it out. Overall a great night and I'm looking forward to more Yelp happy hours!
(4)Lo S.
Always have the best time here... by far the most fun bar in the city!! Drinks are overpriced, but if you are a girl then you should be fine ;) Would definitely recommend for an all-you-can drink party * the back bar is great for this! Fun music, great crowd (not your typical Moe's college scene), and awesome location right around Rush/Division make this hot spot worth making your regular hang-out.
(4)Matt S.
this place blows. period. id rather get drunk in a garage with 2 people i hate then go back to this non stop dork fest.
(1)Henry J.
Overrated. Always too crowded, impossible lines to small bathrooms. Rip off prices on special occasions, and the staff is rude and unprofessional. There are much better alternatives, but if you believe the hype, check it out for yourself.
(1)Becca L.
This place annoyed me at first because it is always super crowded and my friends always seem to be celebrating their birthdays here. I'm not a big fan of waiting in line, but the last few times I've been it hasn't been as crowded and the line seems to be moving much faster. Now I'm a huge fan of McFadden's because once you are inside they play awesome music and it's a lot of fun.
(4)