Lunch out on the patio at Municipal is great. Good fried pickels. Good fries. Great Prime Burger. Good beer selection. The servings are all a really good size. I came here really hungry on a Saturday afternoon and when we left I was full.
(5)
Christy Q.
We came here with some friends to watch basketball. Now my 3 stars is really just because it's not totally our scene now that we are an old married couple. haha. When we first got there the MSU game hadn't started yet. So as we waited the 30 or 40 min until it got underway, the music was blasting. We felt like we were in a club. The thumping douchey club music was SO loud we couldn't really talk with any of the people at our table. Again, we are an old married couple. I'm sure a few years ago a scene like this would have been more enjoyable. Once the game got underway, they (thankfully) turned the dang music down and pumped the game through the bar speakers. So we could semi talk to those we were sitting with. Another annoying thing was we had called ahead and reserved a table for 8 or 10 people. And we had a nice big screen tv screen right in front of us, and smaller tvs behind us- so both sides of the table could watch the game. Well some douchey frat boys decided to plant themselves right in front of the big screen tv so that half of our table literally could not see any of the game. We asked them to please move... they refused. We asked our waitress to ask them to move (but I'm not sure sure if she ever asked- they never moved). It kind of ticked us off as 1. We reserved our table far ahead of time and 2. We were ordering 2 bottles of champagne at a time and our bar bill was SKY HIGH- so to not be able to see the tv because of some lame frat boys drinking cheap beer all night was sort of ridiculous. It would have been nice if the bar had taken a little more ownership, especially given how much money we spent there. The food was good. The hubby and I shared some sliders- a burger and french dip. I wouldn't return though. Between the stupid frat boys and the brain thumping douchey music, and the fact that when we complained about said frat boys, nothing happened (especially given the enormous bar tab we had)- well- it just wasn't our scene. I'd rather go somewhere lower key where my friends and I can actually have a conversation, and both enjoy and SEE the game.
(3)
Julie E.
The worst burger i've ever had...coming from someone who isn't even a burger snob. It tasted like pure charcoal. Zero flavor. So bad that I had to write about it.
(2)
Ollie E.
I come here for the Moscow Mule, quite simply. It comes in a nice copper glass & tastes great. There are plenty of tv's to watch sports on, but when I was here on Monday night, they had Bravo Housewives on every one (quite possibly the worst show on tv today). I would understand if this place was packed full of hot women, which it definitely wasn't. The waitstaff are summed up in the pic attached, which looks similar to the bartender serving us. Do I really need to get a blow job lip smirk when I ask for a water? I understand you're hungover honey. It's ok, I can get it. The police also stopped in this night and asked a gay patron at the bar if he want to press assault charges against the Municipal manager for putting his hands on him. LOL, what you ask? I don't ask questions people, this seemed juicy though. Monday nights at Municipal are exciting it seems; industry night hungover bartenders doing fuckall, police asking patrons if they want to press assault charges against the manager, bravo housewives blaring for drama to boot. Oh yeah, and they serve drunk food sliders here. It's appropriate to use the old cop line about Municipal, "move along people, not much to see here".
(2)
Eric B.
An awesome place to watch football on Sundays! We were surrounded by TVs with great service and food. The DJ played music during commercials and halftime, so the atmosphere was definitely fun. This was during my first trip to Chicago and will leave a positive lasting impression of the city!
(5)
Jessika D.
Holly and Mike..the perfect bartender and waitress duo. They went above and beyond for us. Buffalo wings were good...good time all around. I would come back.
(4)
Hazel M.
I ordered a drink here. It was really good. The food though didn't get my attention. I liked the patio area though.
(3)
Sarah S.
Sports bars downtown combine two things I am not into at all. However, Municipal makes me forget sports are playing on every TV and that I just paid close to a million dollars to park nearby. They don't have an amazing tap beer selection but they have Green Line which was my drink of choice. Aside from that, I mostly saw the usuals like Miller, Bud, Stella, Blue Moon, Guiness, etc on tap. My Green Line pints were $6 a glass. I went on a great date here so I think that is playing into me rating Municipal so well. Well that and I was really happy with the service. All of the gorgeous bartenders were very attentive and friendly throughout our entire time at the bar. This is a total Michigan State bar with banners everywhere commemorating the team & the school. We actually ended up going here on a night the game was on and the bar was packed full of fans & things got a bit rowdy. They play the game on the TVs and in commercial breaks, they turn the sound down & the music goes up. We really enjoyed the mix of current and 90s music. They have a DJ on hand that is playing the music and next to him is the tallest bouncer I've ever seen in my life. That dude must have been over 8 feet tall! No joke my head was at his knees when he was standing in front of me sitting at a table. Overall, Municipal is one of the more chill sports bars in the downtown area. Drink prices are fair and the service ensures I will be coming back.
(4)
Kate U.
This is a great place to come and watch a game! So proud to say that this is an MSU bar- go green! Came with a group for the game- one item to note is that they take reservations for tables.... so if you want to sit down for an MSU game, you need to make a reservation. Not sure how packed it is outside of MSU games, but we got there early and were lucky to be seated at the bar. The place is quite large and they provided a good atmosphere to watch the game. Also- you can't miss it... on gamedays they put out this huge inflatable Sparty woooo. I was actually really surprised by the food, they had angus beef sliders for $7 as a gameday special and they were tasty! Perfectly cooked with a yummy chipotle mayo sauce. The truffle fries were excellent too! It's not your typical "bar food"- they actually take the time to put in quality ingredients and it shows. I have to say that the music the DJ played during commercials and halftime was fantastic. Just a really good selection of music- usually it's just the same top 40 crap but he threw in some old school stuff. The atmosphere was great, everyone was having a good time... of course I was more focused on watching the game but by the bar area a lot of numbers were being exchanged ha. Would definitely come back for another MSU game, next time with a reservation :)
(4)
Ali W.
Came Here for st patricks day... Really neat, big bar with good food and drinks but the service was absolutely terrible. The bartenders were rude and not friendly-- even after serving us and getting a tip. Unfortunately, because of that, won't come back :(
(3)
Andrew D.
Municipal isn't going to go above and beyond expectations, be other-worldly spectacular, or turn into a culinary mecca; but it is consistent. Most bars these days are not. I've been in here quite a few times to watch games, and have never been disappointed. The food is tasty, the beer is cold, drinks are affordable, and waitresses are radiant. I've had the flatbreads, burger, and nachos, and never been disappointed. Also, a fine selection of tap beers. I'm hoping they run another Gilt City voucher, because it was definitely worth it. Space isn't aesthetically amazing, but it's a cool atmosphere and always a good time. Always a safe bet when we can't decide on anywhere else to go!
(4)
Lana F.
Food was impeccable! Service was speedy & friendly, atmosphere was so fun & energetic & very posh decor! I'll definitely be back!!!
(5)
Andrea R.
I've been here a number of times, mainly just for MSU football games. As an MSU alum, this is an amazing place to catch a game- tons of fellow Spartans, drink/ food specials on game day, tons of TVs & they make a couple East Lansing specialities (i.e. shark bowl, dub sandwich). One of my tests that differentiate the best alumni bars is whether or not they play the fight song, and Municipal plays the fight song at the right times & they even keep a blow up Sparty in front of the bar. They also play the sound of the games during game time & then switch to pop music during the commercials. Food is upscale bar fare and pretty decent. They have a great selection of beers on tap and in bottles. Service has been mixed- I've had great service & horrendous service (ex- our server during the Cotton Bowl came by about once per half & we were left to fend for ourselves most of the game) on busy game days. If you're coming for a big MSU game, I highly recommend making a reservation as that's your only chance of getting a seat. I can't speak for how busy they get outside of MSU games. I don't know that I'd go out of my way to eat or drink here, but definitely a great place to catch a sporting event & I"ll continue to come back as long as the MSU alumni club does.
(3)
Carolyn L.
I came here for brunch the other day with a friend. It was kind of a rainy Saturday so there was no one else there. It helped out though because we were starving and the food came out really quick. I had the MNCPL Skillet because I was craving some hearty savory cooking. Onions, peppers, potatoes, chorizo, and eggs. You can't go wrong. And my friend ordered the chocolate chip waffle, which of course I tried. They didn't have any strawberry compote left, but the waffle itself was delicious. Given that we were the only ones there, the staff was attentive and friendly. I'd love to come back during a busy night to check out the evening crowd/feel. But I'd definitely recommend it for brunch!
(3)
A A.
We went there to have some drinks Saturday night. We had a really good time. Carl the manager was awesome. He made us fell welcome and made a special drink for my wife that she LOVED!! The crowd was good. All 30 something's that were there to have a good time. No sloppy youngsters. I like that a lot!!!
(5)
Vincent M.
Had an incredible experience here. Food and drink was prime. Server was Alyssa and she was generous and gorgeous. Love this establishment
(5)
Jerry S.
On a weekend visit to Chicago, three Michiganders dropped into this place for lunch. Server suggested the Angus sliders. We ordered the Cobb salad, feta flatbread thing, fries and the sliders. So, the report: I would come here, again. Food was the right temp, well prepared and very unlike sports bar food. Service was ok, no complaints. The manager stopped by, twice. Obviously, management is paying attention. Other stuff: filament bulbs in a place with about a dozen HD displays? Sort of an upscale, leather and wood sports bar...something like that. I ate the sliders. Just heard the Cobb salad is really good. Too full to try it.
(4)
April C.
We love the municipal bar! Very Now! We loved our Blackberry margaritas ! What a lively, quick service with beautiful smiles and professional service. This is a place I can kick back and relax. Great Music! This is the place to Get-a-way too!!!!!
(4)
Shannon M.
This was my second time watching the MSU game and both times were great. We sat at the bar because all the tables were reserved but still had great service. The nachos hit the spot. The one downside was the women's bathroom was a disaster area. The soap dispensers weren't working either and yes I did tell someone. I'm not a big fan of places with a bathroom attendant but on busy days, they should have one.
(3)
Stefanie A.
The best sports bar that's walking distance to where we live. We rarely have to wait for a table or seat at the bar (of course unless the Hawks are in the playoff- then you NEED a reservation or have to just get there early). Service is always good, and quick. Their food is pretty good too! They have some awesome flatbreads and sliders. Oh and they just recently opened up a patio with a few flat screens outside. A couple weeks ago a group of us got one of the tables outside for the Sunday night Bears game. Nice views of the El and River north area.
(4)
Karen G.
Went here on a Thursday Night with my girlfriends and had a lovely time! Service was very good. It took us awhile to decide what we wanted to eat/drink but our waitress was very patient with us and answered all of our questions. Loved the atmosphere, and they played great music which is always a plus! Food was great! I had the prime rib special and it was cooked perfectly and it was huge!! I definitely got my moneys worth. Drinks were delicious, and affordable for the area. I will be seeing you soon Municipal!
(5)
Magen R.
Checked out Municipal a few weeks ago and had a really good experience. I had wings and beer and loved the wings. They were really well done and I loved the sauce. My friend ordered the truffle fries with his burger, I couldn't help myself and snagged a few - they are worth the trip alone! They also had a great beer selection and I would love to go back and try one of their cocktails. i'm glad Municipal is around the corner from my office and hope to make it back soon to try more of their delicious food and to relax in the upscale atmosphere.
(4)
Nate S.
Municipal Bar is marketed as a sports bar and I had only been here once before and had an awesome bartender who was extremely accommodating- if my water was even half full she made sure to fill it for me. This time was an absolute nightmare. I was sitting at the bar with a few of my friends, some women and some men. Never have I felt more disrespected watching my bartender, who just so happened to look like my last bartender, but couldn't be more different. I watched her take shots with someone numerous times while our glasses remained EMPTY. It was clear that there was not enough staff to accommodate the crowd and I would not hold that against the bartenders, but when I am blatantly disrespected and we are waiting TWENTY MINUTES for refills on our drinks when we had every intention on spending money is ridiculous. To throw salt on the wound of the bulls losing and not being able to drown in our misery with our cocktails; when she finally asked if we needed anything, the few times that actually happened throughout the evening, she said "Ok, no problem" then continued to take another shot with someone in the corner prior to making our drinks- this is similar to a slap in the face to people who have done nothing but be patient. The other bartender, a blonde, was very sweet and accommodating when we physically had to get up and walk over to her side of the bar to close our tab when we were once again ignored. All in all, this experience was nothing like my last and I could not be more disappointed in this venue. I will give it one more shot in the summertime because of the new patio, but I will stay far away from the bar area.
(1)
Chris K.
As a married guy, living in Chicago away from my family, I wanted to go out and watch the USA / Portugal soccer game. I arrived 30 minutes before the game and the bar was full. The gentleman at the door brought me a barstool, and two nice ladies moved over for me, and instant presto, I'm at the bar watching the game. The beer is cold, fairly priced, and the calamari is excellent. Really nice staff, and a comfortable place to watch a game. A good group of people hang here! A "table for one" review.
(5)
Lisa L.
I love this place - the manager went above and beyond to accommodate our high maintenance requests! And talene was the best as we orders bottles of bubbles and food during a crazy busy time!!!
(5)
M M.
This place is miserable. We bring 70+ people in for a $55 drink package and we have one bartender. She hustled her ass off and she's the only reason it's even getting one star. Service here always sucks. You know a place is bad when it's 50 feet from your front door and you avoid it at all costs!
(1)
Sofia J.
My 2 favorite things: sweet potato fries (baked!) and mixed greens side salad option. Kinda sad those were the highlights from a bar. Came here with a Gilt City deal so I'm rating based on food and not coming here to watch a game/grab a beer, for which it's rather nice. Deal was for 2 burgers, 4 draft beers (or 2 cocktails). When I got the deal there was an exciting chorizo burger on the menu, when I went there it was gone. In fact there were only 2 burgers on the menu and they weren't very exciting, quite basic. The manager said we couldn't substitute the burgers for other items of comparable value but did concede to putting a few extra ingredients/toppings on the standard burgers. We waited a good 25 minutes to get the burgers and the place wasn't very busy. The toppings made a difference but without them, not very exciting, slightly dry. Back to the first things I said, you get fries or salad with the burgers, so I was very impressed that the salad wasn't just lettuce but a generous portion of dark greens and that the sweet potato fries were baked (also very generous portion) Final thought- the river north cocktail is great and Old Fashioned is tiny.
(3)
Jaime S.
I can't speak to the nightlife scene, but I did come here for a Sunday brunch with gfs. I really like the decor of this place, with lots of large tables for big groups and neat urban themes. It wasn't too busy, which is a shame, but I attribute that to the fact that it is kind of off the beaten path of the rest of the bars in River North. Nice drink selection, not too expensive, but I'd like to give this a try on a Thurs/fri/sat night.
(4)
Ryne D.
This past Saturday night I was looking for a place that met a few criteria: 1) Was showing the Pacquiao-Rios fight without cover 2) Was on Yelp's Burger Binge Week list I found Municipal as meeting both, and had the bonus of saying they would donate a portion of their proceeds to Philippines Typhoon Haiyan relief (though they didn't say how much or to what organization they were donating). I wasn't surprised to see all the tables being reserved, but I had never seen bar spots reserved before. Also, I found it strange that some tables weren't even watching the fight, and one table by us emptied out before the main event! Would have been nice to have tables set specifically for the event they were advertising. Luckily we were able to secure some bar seats. We each got the $5 burger special, which was a bacon/egg cheeseburger that tasted oddly burnt. Still, we couldn't complain for five dollars. Service was prompt and friendly. It was kind of annoying that they didn't have a double door system implemented. It was one of the coldest nights of the year, and every time someone would enter a huge rush of cold wind would hit me right where I was sitting. I would consider Municipal for a fight night again, but not for dinner. Maybe for a night out with drinks but not in winter.
(3)
Robert A.
Had the deviled eggs for appetizer. Amazing. Then tried the chicken cutlet and thought it was unreal until the fried chicken came and it was out of this world. Can't wait to come back next week.
(5)
Rachel W.
Meh. Not much to say but I usually am dragged here for parties but there's nothing super exciting about it here. The prices aren't bad though and the service is decent.
(2)
Romana Y.
Came here to watch a game, and the drinks/ambiance were good, while the food was average: sweet potato fries were good. If you're planning to dine here, consider otherwise. To catch a game over drinks, it's worth the stop.
(4)
Meredith K.
SALAD SALAD!!! I don't think I can say more. The salad portion was large and even after adding chicken for $4 my bill was under $20 after tax and tip...granted I only drank water. I ordered the chef salad and skipped the nuts. The avocado and strawberries were fresh and was a great splash of fun in my mouth. Definitely not crowded for a week night around 6 but I do hear it gets filled up Friday and Saturday. Would love to come back and see the weekend crowd...
(3)
Andrea R.
I was looking forward to visiting this restaurant in my old River North hood that I'd read so much about. When I arrived I was surprised to see it wasn't very crowded and wondered if it would live up to the Yelp hype. If I had to guess the lack of crowds (at least on that particular night) could be due to the poor location. Yes, it's in River North, but on a street that's not quite as popular as some of the others. The lack of crowds also worked in our favor because the staff was very attentive. Our party of 5 decided to stick with some cocktails (wine for me) and a bunch of apps. My favorites ended up being the lobster rolls and fried calamari. We also went w/ an order of grilled calamari at my insistence of eating healthier, but it was a letdown and ridiculously spicy. So stick with the fried stuff here... Overall, a good spot for after work cocktails and some apps. While I'm not sure I'd run back from the burbs I predict I'd have been a regular if I was still living in the hood.
(4)
Mike P.
Like your place, Municipal. But your food prices are way out of order. Honestly, it feels like gouging.
(2)
Jeff G.
Was staying in Chicago for the weekend, and stumbled into this fantastic sports bar. Definitely a step above the run of the mill sports bar, the ambience, service way above average but the FOOD, absolutely one of the best Fried Chickens I have ever had, and they have over 10 different sliders. Something I did not expect in a sports bar atmosphere was the level of hospitality, the manager (a bald, bearded gentleman) made us feel like we were guests in his home. Will be back every time I travel to Chicago on business (quite frequently) Thank you!!!
(5)
Denzell W.
I'm on the fence about Municipal. I've stopped in for sliders after work, paid entry-fee for the fight [$25 for guys free for girls], went to watch the Playoffs [Bulls-Heat] game last night--- and I've stumbled in after bar hopping in River North here and there. It's a rustic-industrial, dimly lit interior with "table tops and booths" around the parameter of the room. Flat screens for days. There is a DJ spinning top 40 and House during commercials [Bulls Games/Fights]. They lose a star for Audio. The audio system is either inexpensive or needs a tuneup. The [music] selection is not the most current either. The taste level feels "suburban". Audio-Visuals are optional and when a bar has them I'm impressed. I'm not impressed, however, when the visual videos aren't worth a glance. The M:F ratio is good. The crowd is a mixture, kind of all over the place. It does feel like the crowd at this bar is either from the suburbs or not from the area. It's a strange group and I think that it's largely due to Municipals battle with its identity. It aim's for exclusive w/ sparkly bottle service, but you'll slither your way to the bathroom and your table will constantly be bumped into. They lose a star for Food. The appetizers aren't too tasty. Good burger and fries. The servers are awesome. The servers and bartenders here are on their A-Game. There really is no comfortable way to have a table. Be prepared for a random person tired of holding their empty drink to sit it on your table as they walk by. Paying a cover to get into Municipal? I don't know. It aims for the sexy and exclusive crowd with bouncers and girls at the door. They even ask "Do you have a table/reservation?". The amount of people awkwardly standing around, the suburbia vibe, the so-so House music spinning on the "okay" audio system leaves you with a half eaten appetizer and the sudden realization that it's best to just drink and stand up. Not a bad place, just not what it appears to be from the outside.
(3)
Stephanie L.
Ha, I was dying here...I thought it was supposed to be an upscale sports bar...not an ultra lounge??? It was a Sunday afternoon and they were bringing out bottles of champagne with sparklers?!?! Did that really just happen while we are watching the NCAA tourny? Oh lets not forget to mention, they started blasting the dance music at 7PM on a Sunday night. I get it, its industry night but really?! That early and during basketball?? HAHAHAHA. Let me say, the staff is more concerned with flirting with random people than waiting on tables. The service here is horrible...however the staff is gorge so I guess if you are a dude looking to get your freak on, party on here. If you are me, who is trying to eat dinner and catch up with friends...not the best place. They forgot my drink, wouldnt wait on us forever and then both come over, take a drink order and then go flirt for 20 mins before bringing the refill...annoying. The food was actually pretty good. The salads are huge for a reasonable price. Truffle fries, calamari, flatbreads all pretty standard, but good. I was actually looking forward to a decent sports bar in the area...but this is not a sports bar...definitely not. Yes, they have a million TVs but other than that, its an ultra lounge...get your sparklers on! I did like that our check came in a Chicago parking ticket look like...it just all didnt make sense to me.
(3)
Christin B.
I really like this place except for three things: They are an MSU bar but won't play sound for the post game interviews. Last time we came here we made a reservation for 10 and they gave us a booth that would fit 6 tops comfortably The time before that they kicked us out immediately following the game for Dr Who trivia. Terrible scheduling. When do state grads ever mix with sci fi nerds?
(2)
Courtney R.
Every eggs Benedict should taste like this. Had the lobster eggs Benedict and was surprised to find big hunks of lobster meat instead of the expected shreds. Hollandaise was perfect...even made a good dipping sauce for the fried potatoes. Might sound random but the wings and calamari were also on point. We ordered two bottles and the waitress had the patience to keep making drinks for our party of 15. Good food and great service. Will definitely hit up for brunch in the future.
(5)
Eric T.
ATTITUDE, Poor/Slow Service, Absolut is considered Premium here folks WTH. Potential but poor execution. Went to a birthday gathering here last Saturday night. To begin with, I am not particularly crazy with these Sports Bars that try to be upscale/clubby. Overall the decor is nice, and there are plenty of TVs, situated well for viewing several games at once. The bar is a large/long L shape. The problem is that they didn't have enough bartenders staffing it. There were 3 total, and 1 was dedicated to waitstaff. They needed at least 3 just for the volume of patrons and bar size, and they needed 2 to serve waitstaff. Anytime you book a party, they offer the wristband deal. I think it was $45 for "Premium." So we bought that, thinking if it's premium, it makes sense. Unfortunately we found out that their definition of premium was Absolut. To top that off, drinks were watered down. Don't tell me your Premium Vodka is Absolut, then water your drinks down. Absolut is one of those vodkas you can definitely taste. So we had to send several drinks back. The waitress was very very slow. I think part of this was due to under staffing at the bar. But the waitress would come around and wouldn't check with everyone in the group, so we were constantly yelling to get her attention. With the wristband we were initially told that we couldn't go directly to the bar, but that was misinformation. When we started going to the bar, the bartender gave us a dirty look and said something under her breath. I think overall they just need to get their act together, get some friendlier staff, and they'll be fine. Eventually management came around and helped out. There was another waitress or hostess that started helping too. Started poorly and improved, but not that much. Pros: Lots of TVs, Nice Decor, Some Food was well executed,No bathroom attendant (THANK GAWD) Cons: Slow slow slow. Attitude of staff (management was cool and helpful though) It's a journey down to the bathroom.
(2)
Anna P.
In sum, it's a sports bar masquerading as a Gastropub - if you don't want to be disappointed, stick only to the bar food. I was a little sad because we were excited when this place opened near us and are always looking for a great local spot to grab a few drinks and a bite to eat. The service was really slow even though it wasn't busy at all - we saw our waitress just hanging around and chatting with the bartender more than once while our drinks were sitting on her tray. We ordered a bunch of things to try and the slides were amazing but everything else was off and not really worth trying. I think if the service improves we'd come back for a beer and burger.
(2)
Mike G.
There's been a dearth of gastropubs in River North lately. (Just kidding). I am not sure why the lastest identify crisis has spread like wildfire and why a bar can no longer just be a bar, and a restaurant can no longer be a restaurant. This place tries to fill the gastropub/bar/sports bar/restaurant/night club void that's been heavily lacking in River North (again just kidding), but this place has no identity and no idea what they actually are. If you are going to pretend to have good food, then you should know to what temperature a medium burger should be cooked to. If you are going to offer a chorizo burger, you should have the right amount of chorizo not to overpower the taste buds, if you are going to offer mashed potatoes (and call them pommes) they should not taste like they just came out of an instant potatoes container. I can assure you folks, haute cusine is not offered here, despite what the menu may lead you to believe. Now on to the set up and the bathroom. There are plenty of TVs, so for those who have not yet figured out the good places in River North to go see a game, you can certainly visit Minicipal. The bathroom, well, the bathroom has a place for a bathroom attendant, enough said. Again, identity crisis ensues. Drinks? Well, the manhattan complimented the chorizo burger well, so as to say that they overwhelming theme of the bar/restaurant/nightclub was of pervasive mediocrity. If you need to cross this off your bucket list for 2013, do it now, I don't expect this place to survive long unless they actually figure out what makes them unique or different.
(2)
Curtis B.
The girl at the front door was rude. Ruined my first experience here. Go pay for overpriced drinks someplace else.
(1)
Doreen C.
Good food and excellent drinks.Love the flatbread pizza!
(5)
Dan D.
Municipal Bar has really out done itself! It is an Upscale Sports Bar/ Gastro Pub....That serves Outstanding Signature Cocktails, & Delicious "Comfort Food" - The Chefs are unbelievable the Staff is Superb and the Guests are always having a great time! Hands down the best place to be in the city if your looking for a great time, great food, and great music!! Not to MENTION they have 80 INCH TV's what else could you ask for.....oooh yeah 1 more thing; its surrounded with beautiful People! Everywhere you turn there are Perfect 10's. The place is UNREAL!!
(5)
Kelsey H.
I was here last Thursday with a few girlfriends and we had a fantastic time!! The food was great- We split a few of the appetizers... the hummus, 3-cheese flatbread and fries were especially delicious- you can really tell that the kitchen is on their A-game!! The bartender was so friendly and entertaining- he made us his top picks out of their many specialty cocktails, which we all enjoyed. The atmosphere... The bar is gorgeous- they have Flat screens everywhere so you won't miss a second of game time action of your favorite sports team... It's upscale yet unpretentious.... The perfect combination! I will definitely be coming back to Municipal- River North is lucky to have this new addition to the neighborhood.
(5)
Sean P.
Came here last Saturday for lunch and to watch some basketball. Everyone I was with enjoyed their food. It's "upscale" bar food. Tons of huge flat screens, good looking girls and friendly servers. Would like to see a few more unique beers on draft.
(4)
Robert K.
I have been here twice and both experiences have been pleasureable. Food exquisite. beautiful presentation. Kudos to Chad for personal service and thank you Madeline our server was fun and helpful. decor was second to none. lunch was much quieter than dinner. little to chilly but bearable if you are drinking. :) all in all 8 out 10 here.good food good service.
(4)
Uli J.
All in all great spot with a cool design that incorporates Chicago even on their menu - cocktails are named after Chicago neighborhoods. The perfect place to come watch your favorite sports and hang out. Food is good as well - especially the lobster roll :-).
(4)
Kelly M.
I came here for the first time last night to watch the Notre Dame/Bama game, I thought it was a great place. There are so many tv's, no matter where you sit you are able to see what game is on tv, the food was great. I was anxious to try food by Jeff the Chef, but apparently he was not working. However, my husband said the chicken wings were amazing (he has tried a lot), the meatballs were my favorite of all. We will be back for sure
(4)
Katrina C.
I went here last weekend - great food, awesome drinks and good service! I'll definitely be going back.
(5)
Mel L.
The concept of this bar/restaurant is pretty cool, but the food lacks. We shared nachos, a flatbread, and tacos. Nothing was really that flavorful where you wanted seconds. My friends and I have visited many restaurants on our weekly dinners, and this is the only one we were disappointed in. Go elsewhere.
(1)
Ami H.
The things they did well, they did very well. The things that were bad were very bad. I had the calamari appetizer. It was breaded and fried very nicely - not chewy or over done. I liked the sauces that came with it. My husband had a turkey sandwich that was also very satisfying and done well considering it was just a turkey sandwich. I also had a cheese flatbread pizza with truffle oil. Although the description sounded yummy and the components individually are very good, the combination was kind of tasteless and boring. Not to mention that the pizza crust had the consistency of shoe leather. I appreciate the atmosphere - a tasteful nod to Chicago without feeling like a knick knack store. While the idea of the menu is clever, the category headings were not at all descriptive (Department of Cultural Affairs are flatbreads, for example) but it looks like they may have clarified things judging by the online menu. The music was WAY too loud and conversation was difficult. Bottom line, we'll go back and give it another try. The food that was coming out for other smelled and looked yummy so there are lots of things I'd be willing to try. We went during a football game not long after they opened. Hopefully they've worked out some of the kinks and it's even better now! I'm glad they're in the neighborhood though.
(3)
JAMES B.
Poor customer satifaction. I guess the customer is not always right in this place!
(1)
Feras S.
Great experience, great food, generous drinks and beautiful women. I will definitely come back for more.
(5)
B A.
A group of friends and I were meeting other friends inside for a couple drinks, hoping for it to be a chill place. The entrance was a MADHOUSE - even more chaotic than trying to get into UG. The line quickly fell apart as people tried to get in through the side and people were quickly becoming impatient. The girl at the door lost it as one upset person in front of the line started yelling at her. Sadly she degraded herself to his standards. And the bouncer. The person in front of me and I were apparently there for the same reservation, but he ignored us and quickly let him as some money was slipped. WHAT?! So disappointed I don't even want even want to try going there for lunch.
(1)
ric g.
Municipal has their act together. Excellent, attentive service. The place has a great vibe. The drinks were great and reasonably priced. And a special mention to Marcus the GM who appreciates his clients.
(5)
Jeffry A.
The short rib sliders are amazing as well as the 1/2 chicken entree. They have a nice beer selection and Magic Hat #9 (a favorite of mine) on draft for $6. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive. Be sure to make reservations if you want to get a table for a game or on a Friday/Saturday night. This place may have opened recently, but it gets packed.
(5)
Laura W.
Great atmosphere and vibe to watch games or to simply pop in for some drinks or great food!
(4)
Arti P.
came here on NYE. place itself is nice (def 4.5 star), but management suucks (seriously took off 2 stars for this). and by management, i am specifically referring to the lady at the door (she said her name was giselle), who was extremely rude and unhelpful. despite the 10 degree wind chill that night, she wouldn't let us stand under the heater due to its supposed illegality ("fire hazard"...wtf?), then stood there herself. she even refused to share the heat with my pregnant sister, telling her instead to "go sit in the car". then later that night, giselle tried to kick my brother out for no reason...the security guy from inside had to come over himself to tell her she was cray and that there was no reason to kick him out. because of giselle's rudeness and lack of any compassion, i don't plan to go back, despite it being a decent place otherwise.
(1)
donna y.
new management. terrible service. it is unfortunate since this was my neighborhood go to place. dropped cash to pay and was chased by security a block away for not paying. unreal and rude as hell.
(1)
Niti B.
Who can beat a great drink, great bartender and even better music?! Haven't had a chance to eat here but the drinks are great and the music keeps you on your feet. The TVs are plentiful and the space is definitely there for a large crowd. Will have to be back to enjoy some games soon!
(4)
Saf K.
Not your typical sports bar! I was in town for the weekend and wanted to catch the Bears on Monday Night Football, so we came to Municipal. Food menu has some the typical bar food - burgers, wings, beer...but it also has some great alternatives, that you would typically see at a swany restaurant. They have a whole slew of sliders, one being a chicken peanut satay served on a steamed bun - delicious. Their drinks are also great. Their vodka mules are served in legit mules. If you like spice, order the Spicy Mule - a mix of tequila and fresh jalepenos. Such a different but great taste. Just a tip - don't order that if you're planning on eating a lot of spicy food (i.e. buffalo wings) - can be a lot of heat. Best part - their new outdoor patio WITH TVs! It was a lil chilly so we opted to stay in, but their patio was very cool! Definitely check this place out if you're a visitor or resident of Chicago!
(4)
Mercedes O.
They have a ton of TV's great for games, good DJ and right off 90. Some of the menu options don't list certain ingredients (they acknowledged that mistake) and everyone was really nice from the servers to the owners. They also offer industry night and discounts for Chicago employees mon-tues.
(5)
Stacie K.
Really disappointed in the service. I've always loved coming here because of the great food...but tonight after waiting a while to be acknowledged, our server came up to us without a hello, how are you, my name is so and so. But simply "something to drink?". It was almost awkward. I stared at her for an uncomfortable few seconds because I didn't think she was serious. A simple smile goes a long way. I miss the old service here. Maybe it's a miss tonight compared to my usual hits here.
(2)
Lex E.
We had a small company holiday party here recently and everything was fantastic! They were cool about us moving tables around so we could have one long table in the front. The bar has a nice atmosphere and the staff were all really great! I've been here one other time with a small group for just drinks and it was a good experience too.
(5)
Ronald P.
I think I'm going to be a regular at this place. I went last week to see the Pacquaio fight. It was spur of the moment and even though the place was completely reserved, Gino hooked my girl and me up with a prime spot at the bar. I stopped by again last night to have a few beers and had another blast. The food is very good. The service is fast and the bar-staff are all great-looking ladies. There's really no downside. Gino and his crew go out of their way to make you feel like family.
(5)
Dana L.
Went there on Monday for the burger deal hosted by Yelp. The service was great, atmosphere was really low-key, as it was a Monday night and not much going on. We ordered Nacho's as our appetizer to satisfy our late- dinner craving for something delicious. They went well with our beers, two strong ales: Golden Monkey and another, the one we wanted was out. The burgers themselves were served on a pretzel bun with bacon, a fried egg, and cheese of our choice. The burgers were a little stiff with the pretzel bun, usually they compliment each other well. There wasn't as much seasoning and flavor in the meat itself. Overall, we probably woudlnt' go back if we didn't get them for $5 each.
(3)
Francisco F.
I dined for the Breaking Bad Trivia night. I had several Fat Tires and delicious falafel sliders. The falafel was cooked just right-- not too undercooked or overcooked, with a delightful and tingly amount of spice. Good job! My group's truffle fries were a little over fried. But it was passable. I had a great night overall. The waitress was sweet and she was kind enough to go searching for FAKE blue meth candies.
Stopped in for lunch with a friend before heading to a Super Bowl party and really enjoyed our lunch and drinks! My friend had a youswoop that came with beef sliders. These were really good and I would def get them again. For lunch I had the lobster avocado salad and man it was tasty. The salad was beautifully layered with a good amount of avocado, huge chunks of loster and tomatoes on top. The one small thing I would change is a little less of the dressing but this would not deter me from ordering it again. My friend had the lobster roll which she raved about. She also mentioned the huge lobster chunks on the sandwich. The drinks were good - we both started off with the River North which she enjoyed but to me it was ok - there was some bitter taste that I wasn't a fan of. Overall a good lunch and if I'm in the area it will be on my radar!
(4)
Nathan S.
This place was great! I love the theme, and the menu is fantastic. They skimped on the jalapeño chips, but they were good. I had the lobster roll, and it was outstanding. Service was great and attentive. They have good TV's for sports and what have you. This is my kind of place.
(5)
Shelly A.
This place caught my eye when I was exiting the highway, and I was really excited to check it out for dinner last Saturday night. Reading about it created some mental hype for me - reputable chef, cool concept/decor, great location, positive reviews. All wins in my book. However, once I actually got there, I was surprisingly underwhelmed. I'll start on a positive note. Their drink selection is great, and actually the whole bar aspect of this place is pretty solid, in my opinion. I think I'd really enjoy it for happy hour or a low-key Friday night. I'm also a big fan of the decor. Anyone with the least bit of Chicago price will appreciate their depiction of Chicago's neighborhoods and public transportation. Also, the food was pretty good. While the menu is extremely "un-exciting," they seem to do a lot of classic "bar food" dishes well. Prices are ok, though I thought that $14 for salad w/ chicken was pretty steep. Especially because most of their other meat dishes are significantly cheaper. Oh, and my friend was charged for her side when the waitress made it sound like it came w/ the sandwich. The service was the biggest let-down. First off, awkward waiters/waitresses are absolutely one of my biggest pet peeves at restaurants. If you're awkward, why are you in the service industry?! There are literally a hundred other things you could do that would better suit your personality. But when I'm paying (and especially tipping) for a dinner out, don't make your awkwardness my problem. The waitress asked me what I wanted to order before my friend even got there. Then she asked us again when my friend did get there, literally seconds after she approached the table. She was still standing up at the table with her coat on! I understand simply wanting to greet us, but she actually expected us to put in our order that quickly. Then she proceeded to stop by several times before we were ready to order. Have some common sense, lady! If we are still looking at the menus in our hand, there's a good chance we need a minute. Now if that wasn't enough, literally 6 busboys came by trying to take my friend's food away before she was done. One guy actually saw me eating fries off of her plate and still asked if we were done with it. Ummm WHAT?! I will make it pretty clear when I'm done, or I'll tell you when I am. I can't think of the last time I was offended that a busboy didn't take my plate when I was done, but I was definitely offended that they kept trying to take it early. Very simple, people - when in doubt, just leave it. If I'm done, I'll let you know. They also brought us the check while we were still eating. I was probably 3/4 of the way through my food. It's not like we were holding up another reservation, but they couldn't have made it any more clear that they were rushing us and pushing us out the door. Sorry, I thought it was normal to take my time and hang out at a bar. And no, I didn't want anything else, thanks for asking. Some of the most uncomfortable and annoying service I've ever received. I appreciated the manager coming by to check on us, but his concern should first be the training of his staff. If they work on that, it may be worth giving a second chance.
(2)
Amanda S.
Typical downtown sports bar. We went for drink week and when I asked the waitress for the drink specials (which I knew they had) she claimed she had no idea what I was talking about and they never have drink specials. The food was alright, nothing special and definitely not worth hiking back over there for. There are plenty of better places to watch a game in the city.
(2)
Joe M.
Review time: Atmosphere: Nice. But it has that whole nice place but tons of TV's sports bar thing going. Are you a sports bar or are you a lounge? I feel like that doesn't work. Beer: Need more drafts, should not be $6 for some beers Food: The food was very, very good. I got the gourmet burger that was topped with corned beef and other fun stuff. I ordered it medium and it came medium, so that was good. Fries were seasoned and good too. The mussels were also very good but needed more broth. My friends said the beet salad and sliders were good. Service: She was always there asking if we needed anything but she didn't know the menu very well at all. She also brought my meal out well before everyone else. Had to come back a few times to ask us questions as she put the order in. Nice that she got it right but should have known. Maybe chalk this up to a new place. In conclusion - If you're looking for a good gastro pub meal, which is I think why most people would go here, you've found a good spot. If you're looking for a sports bar, go somewhere else - too expensive for the beers they have an not enough selection. I haven't been there at night to drink so can't comment there. But they do have a DJ booth.
(4)
Elizabeth K.
Good menu, good prices, awesome beer list and AMAZING service. I wish I would have asked our cocktailer her name to give her the credit she deserves- but none the less she was so nice and very prompt on checking to make sure our drinks were full during our visit. We'll be back.
(5)
Nick M.
Came here for their soft opening since it is right next door to my work. Very nice atmosphere with a cool Chicago theme and plenty of tv's (even a couple 90in!) The staff was very nice and attentive. The menu has a pretty good selection of beers and bar food as well as more upscale items such as lobster roll (looked good!) ,steak, and lamb. I had the Kergberger Burger which had bacon and an fried egg on top and it was delicious. Few of my friends got the same. The girls got the chicken sandwich and hummus which they said was also good. Overall a great place for lunch/ dinner or to watch a game on a weekday/end night.
(5)
Michael M.
Tried to go for a Michigan State game several hours before the game. Pretty unhelpful & unresponsive staff for seating etc. While I am a big Michigan State fan, I'm not a big fan of this place.
(2)
D D.
As my second time there since the menu change....I'm disappointed. Talked some friends into going for the Blackhawks game. They have great TV's! For a place that only had 25 people in it, the service was super slow! Had the buffalo chicken sandwich. Good! however the fries came out cold. Took over 35 minutes to get our food. The first time there the timing was the same. I hope they get it together as this could be a great place for sports.
(2)
Karen G.
All I can say is YUM! Stopped in for lunch and surprised to find it dead seeing as it's pretty new on the bar circuit. Lucky for me that doesn't shy me away. Got a BIG OL BOOTH in the front with my bestie and ordered the Grilled Chicken with Fontina Cheese, Romaine, Pickled Red Onions, Cucumber and Honey Dijon. AWESOME! My bestie had Koenigsberger Burger with Bacon, Cheese, Fried Egg, Tomato, Red Onion, Bibb Lettuce and Pickles. DELICIOUS! Our fries were crunchy and tasty along with our Brussel Sprouts and Bacon. Would definitely go back and try something else on the menu. Our waitress was attentive and always had a smile when she approached. The ambiance was very cool...pics of the subway, big typography of the neighborhoods up on the wall and the check came in a parking ticket! Really thought the people at Municipal thought everything through and didn't miss a thing. Don't even question it..GO!
(4)
Dmitry L.
I was here a couple weeks after opening. They we're still working things out, but it was still no excuse for bad food and an un-knowledgeable waitress. Me and my friend had loaded fries and BBQ pizza. Both were pretty bad. Chicken was way to dry and loaded fries had chicken that was burned! In addition the waitress did not know many food items...after being open for two weeks I'd expect better. Overall this place is not a destination...if you're in the same block it's ok, but much better places in river north overall.
(1)
Steve R.
The 3 burger appetizer is over priced. Do yourself a favor and just order a regular burger. They charge you an extra $1.81 if you order your drink on the rocks (wtf). Their bottles of Moet Brute are reasonable @$90.
(3)
Amy B.
Pretty good burger (Koenigsberger) if a little dry, but they did cook it to temp which is a plus in my book. The fries tasted like they were held a little too long and became tough, but the buffalo wings were big and meaty and not too greasy. The tap list swayed toward the boring and predictable (bud light, newcastle, etc) with a few more interesting choices. We went on a wednesday and it was empty at 5:30, but pretty bustling at 7 when we left. It's a Michigan State bar so I can see it getting ferociously packed on Saturdays and basketball games.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Very Loud Music : DJ Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Patrick M.
Lunch out on the patio at Municipal is great. Good fried pickels. Good fries. Great Prime Burger. Good beer selection. The servings are all a really good size. I came here really hungry on a Saturday afternoon and when we left I was full.
(5)Christy Q.
We came here with some friends to watch basketball. Now my 3 stars is really just because it's not totally our scene now that we are an old married couple. haha. When we first got there the MSU game hadn't started yet. So as we waited the 30 or 40 min until it got underway, the music was blasting. We felt like we were in a club. The thumping douchey club music was SO loud we couldn't really talk with any of the people at our table. Again, we are an old married couple. I'm sure a few years ago a scene like this would have been more enjoyable. Once the game got underway, they (thankfully) turned the dang music down and pumped the game through the bar speakers. So we could semi talk to those we were sitting with. Another annoying thing was we had called ahead and reserved a table for 8 or 10 people. And we had a nice big screen tv screen right in front of us, and smaller tvs behind us- so both sides of the table could watch the game. Well some douchey frat boys decided to plant themselves right in front of the big screen tv so that half of our table literally could not see any of the game. We asked them to please move... they refused. We asked our waitress to ask them to move (but I'm not sure sure if she ever asked- they never moved). It kind of ticked us off as 1. We reserved our table far ahead of time and 2. We were ordering 2 bottles of champagne at a time and our bar bill was SKY HIGH- so to not be able to see the tv because of some lame frat boys drinking cheap beer all night was sort of ridiculous. It would have been nice if the bar had taken a little more ownership, especially given how much money we spent there. The food was good. The hubby and I shared some sliders- a burger and french dip. I wouldn't return though. Between the stupid frat boys and the brain thumping douchey music, and the fact that when we complained about said frat boys, nothing happened (especially given the enormous bar tab we had)- well- it just wasn't our scene. I'd rather go somewhere lower key where my friends and I can actually have a conversation, and both enjoy and SEE the game.
(3)Julie E.
The worst burger i've ever had...coming from someone who isn't even a burger snob. It tasted like pure charcoal. Zero flavor. So bad that I had to write about it.
(2)Ollie E.
I come here for the Moscow Mule, quite simply. It comes in a nice copper glass & tastes great. There are plenty of tv's to watch sports on, but when I was here on Monday night, they had Bravo Housewives on every one (quite possibly the worst show on tv today). I would understand if this place was packed full of hot women, which it definitely wasn't. The waitstaff are summed up in the pic attached, which looks similar to the bartender serving us. Do I really need to get a blow job lip smirk when I ask for a water? I understand you're hungover honey. It's ok, I can get it. The police also stopped in this night and asked a gay patron at the bar if he want to press assault charges against the Municipal manager for putting his hands on him. LOL, what you ask? I don't ask questions people, this seemed juicy though. Monday nights at Municipal are exciting it seems; industry night hungover bartenders doing fuckall, police asking patrons if they want to press assault charges against the manager, bravo housewives blaring for drama to boot. Oh yeah, and they serve drunk food sliders here. It's appropriate to use the old cop line about Municipal, "move along people, not much to see here".
(2)Eric B.
An awesome place to watch football on Sundays! We were surrounded by TVs with great service and food. The DJ played music during commercials and halftime, so the atmosphere was definitely fun. This was during my first trip to Chicago and will leave a positive lasting impression of the city!
(5)Jessika D.
Holly and Mike..the perfect bartender and waitress duo. They went above and beyond for us. Buffalo wings were good...good time all around. I would come back.
(4)Hazel M.
I ordered a drink here. It was really good. The food though didn't get my attention. I liked the patio area though.
(3)Sarah S.
Sports bars downtown combine two things I am not into at all. However, Municipal makes me forget sports are playing on every TV and that I just paid close to a million dollars to park nearby. They don't have an amazing tap beer selection but they have Green Line which was my drink of choice. Aside from that, I mostly saw the usuals like Miller, Bud, Stella, Blue Moon, Guiness, etc on tap. My Green Line pints were $6 a glass. I went on a great date here so I think that is playing into me rating Municipal so well. Well that and I was really happy with the service. All of the gorgeous bartenders were very attentive and friendly throughout our entire time at the bar. This is a total Michigan State bar with banners everywhere commemorating the team & the school. We actually ended up going here on a night the game was on and the bar was packed full of fans & things got a bit rowdy. They play the game on the TVs and in commercial breaks, they turn the sound down & the music goes up. We really enjoyed the mix of current and 90s music. They have a DJ on hand that is playing the music and next to him is the tallest bouncer I've ever seen in my life. That dude must have been over 8 feet tall! No joke my head was at his knees when he was standing in front of me sitting at a table. Overall, Municipal is one of the more chill sports bars in the downtown area. Drink prices are fair and the service ensures I will be coming back.
(4)Kate U.
This is a great place to come and watch a game! So proud to say that this is an MSU bar- go green! Came with a group for the game- one item to note is that they take reservations for tables.... so if you want to sit down for an MSU game, you need to make a reservation. Not sure how packed it is outside of MSU games, but we got there early and were lucky to be seated at the bar. The place is quite large and they provided a good atmosphere to watch the game. Also- you can't miss it... on gamedays they put out this huge inflatable Sparty woooo. I was actually really surprised by the food, they had angus beef sliders for $7 as a gameday special and they were tasty! Perfectly cooked with a yummy chipotle mayo sauce. The truffle fries were excellent too! It's not your typical "bar food"- they actually take the time to put in quality ingredients and it shows. I have to say that the music the DJ played during commercials and halftime was fantastic. Just a really good selection of music- usually it's just the same top 40 crap but he threw in some old school stuff. The atmosphere was great, everyone was having a good time... of course I was more focused on watching the game but by the bar area a lot of numbers were being exchanged ha. Would definitely come back for another MSU game, next time with a reservation :)
(4)Ali W.
Came Here for st patricks day... Really neat, big bar with good food and drinks but the service was absolutely terrible. The bartenders were rude and not friendly-- even after serving us and getting a tip. Unfortunately, because of that, won't come back :(
(3)Andrew D.
Municipal isn't going to go above and beyond expectations, be other-worldly spectacular, or turn into a culinary mecca; but it is consistent. Most bars these days are not. I've been in here quite a few times to watch games, and have never been disappointed. The food is tasty, the beer is cold, drinks are affordable, and waitresses are radiant. I've had the flatbreads, burger, and nachos, and never been disappointed. Also, a fine selection of tap beers. I'm hoping they run another Gilt City voucher, because it was definitely worth it. Space isn't aesthetically amazing, but it's a cool atmosphere and always a good time. Always a safe bet when we can't decide on anywhere else to go!
(4)Lana F.
Food was impeccable! Service was speedy & friendly, atmosphere was so fun & energetic & very posh decor! I'll definitely be back!!!
(5)Andrea R.
I've been here a number of times, mainly just for MSU football games. As an MSU alum, this is an amazing place to catch a game- tons of fellow Spartans, drink/ food specials on game day, tons of TVs & they make a couple East Lansing specialities (i.e. shark bowl, dub sandwich). One of my tests that differentiate the best alumni bars is whether or not they play the fight song, and Municipal plays the fight song at the right times & they even keep a blow up Sparty in front of the bar. They also play the sound of the games during game time & then switch to pop music during the commercials. Food is upscale bar fare and pretty decent. They have a great selection of beers on tap and in bottles. Service has been mixed- I've had great service & horrendous service (ex- our server during the Cotton Bowl came by about once per half & we were left to fend for ourselves most of the game) on busy game days. If you're coming for a big MSU game, I highly recommend making a reservation as that's your only chance of getting a seat. I can't speak for how busy they get outside of MSU games. I don't know that I'd go out of my way to eat or drink here, but definitely a great place to catch a sporting event & I"ll continue to come back as long as the MSU alumni club does.
(3)Carolyn L.
I came here for brunch the other day with a friend. It was kind of a rainy Saturday so there was no one else there. It helped out though because we were starving and the food came out really quick. I had the MNCPL Skillet because I was craving some hearty savory cooking. Onions, peppers, potatoes, chorizo, and eggs. You can't go wrong. And my friend ordered the chocolate chip waffle, which of course I tried. They didn't have any strawberry compote left, but the waffle itself was delicious. Given that we were the only ones there, the staff was attentive and friendly. I'd love to come back during a busy night to check out the evening crowd/feel. But I'd definitely recommend it for brunch!
(3)A A.
We went there to have some drinks Saturday night. We had a really good time. Carl the manager was awesome. He made us fell welcome and made a special drink for my wife that she LOVED!! The crowd was good. All 30 something's that were there to have a good time. No sloppy youngsters. I like that a lot!!!
(5)Vincent M.
Had an incredible experience here. Food and drink was prime. Server was Alyssa and she was generous and gorgeous. Love this establishment
(5)Jerry S.
On a weekend visit to Chicago, three Michiganders dropped into this place for lunch. Server suggested the Angus sliders. We ordered the Cobb salad, feta flatbread thing, fries and the sliders. So, the report: I would come here, again. Food was the right temp, well prepared and very unlike sports bar food. Service was ok, no complaints. The manager stopped by, twice. Obviously, management is paying attention. Other stuff: filament bulbs in a place with about a dozen HD displays? Sort of an upscale, leather and wood sports bar...something like that. I ate the sliders. Just heard the Cobb salad is really good. Too full to try it.
(4)April C.
We love the municipal bar! Very Now! We loved our Blackberry margaritas ! What a lively, quick service with beautiful smiles and professional service. This is a place I can kick back and relax. Great Music! This is the place to Get-a-way too!!!!!
(4)Shannon M.
This was my second time watching the MSU game and both times were great. We sat at the bar because all the tables were reserved but still had great service. The nachos hit the spot. The one downside was the women's bathroom was a disaster area. The soap dispensers weren't working either and yes I did tell someone. I'm not a big fan of places with a bathroom attendant but on busy days, they should have one.
(3)Stefanie A.
The best sports bar that's walking distance to where we live. We rarely have to wait for a table or seat at the bar (of course unless the Hawks are in the playoff- then you NEED a reservation or have to just get there early). Service is always good, and quick. Their food is pretty good too! They have some awesome flatbreads and sliders. Oh and they just recently opened up a patio with a few flat screens outside. A couple weeks ago a group of us got one of the tables outside for the Sunday night Bears game. Nice views of the El and River north area.
(4)Karen G.
Went here on a Thursday Night with my girlfriends and had a lovely time! Service was very good. It took us awhile to decide what we wanted to eat/drink but our waitress was very patient with us and answered all of our questions. Loved the atmosphere, and they played great music which is always a plus! Food was great! I had the prime rib special and it was cooked perfectly and it was huge!! I definitely got my moneys worth. Drinks were delicious, and affordable for the area. I will be seeing you soon Municipal!
(5)Magen R.
Checked out Municipal a few weeks ago and had a really good experience. I had wings and beer and loved the wings. They were really well done and I loved the sauce. My friend ordered the truffle fries with his burger, I couldn't help myself and snagged a few - they are worth the trip alone! They also had a great beer selection and I would love to go back and try one of their cocktails. i'm glad Municipal is around the corner from my office and hope to make it back soon to try more of their delicious food and to relax in the upscale atmosphere.
(4)Nate S.
Municipal Bar is marketed as a sports bar and I had only been here once before and had an awesome bartender who was extremely accommodating- if my water was even half full she made sure to fill it for me. This time was an absolute nightmare. I was sitting at the bar with a few of my friends, some women and some men. Never have I felt more disrespected watching my bartender, who just so happened to look like my last bartender, but couldn't be more different. I watched her take shots with someone numerous times while our glasses remained EMPTY. It was clear that there was not enough staff to accommodate the crowd and I would not hold that against the bartenders, but when I am blatantly disrespected and we are waiting TWENTY MINUTES for refills on our drinks when we had every intention on spending money is ridiculous. To throw salt on the wound of the bulls losing and not being able to drown in our misery with our cocktails; when she finally asked if we needed anything, the few times that actually happened throughout the evening, she said "Ok, no problem" then continued to take another shot with someone in the corner prior to making our drinks- this is similar to a slap in the face to people who have done nothing but be patient. The other bartender, a blonde, was very sweet and accommodating when we physically had to get up and walk over to her side of the bar to close our tab when we were once again ignored. All in all, this experience was nothing like my last and I could not be more disappointed in this venue. I will give it one more shot in the summertime because of the new patio, but I will stay far away from the bar area.
(1)Chris K.
As a married guy, living in Chicago away from my family, I wanted to go out and watch the USA / Portugal soccer game. I arrived 30 minutes before the game and the bar was full. The gentleman at the door brought me a barstool, and two nice ladies moved over for me, and instant presto, I'm at the bar watching the game. The beer is cold, fairly priced, and the calamari is excellent. Really nice staff, and a comfortable place to watch a game. A good group of people hang here! A "table for one" review.
(5)Lisa L.
I love this place - the manager went above and beyond to accommodate our high maintenance requests! And talene was the best as we orders bottles of bubbles and food during a crazy busy time!!!
(5)M M.
This place is miserable. We bring 70+ people in for a $55 drink package and we have one bartender. She hustled her ass off and she's the only reason it's even getting one star. Service here always sucks. You know a place is bad when it's 50 feet from your front door and you avoid it at all costs!
(1)Sofia J.
My 2 favorite things: sweet potato fries (baked!) and mixed greens side salad option. Kinda sad those were the highlights from a bar. Came here with a Gilt City deal so I'm rating based on food and not coming here to watch a game/grab a beer, for which it's rather nice. Deal was for 2 burgers, 4 draft beers (or 2 cocktails). When I got the deal there was an exciting chorizo burger on the menu, when I went there it was gone. In fact there were only 2 burgers on the menu and they weren't very exciting, quite basic. The manager said we couldn't substitute the burgers for other items of comparable value but did concede to putting a few extra ingredients/toppings on the standard burgers. We waited a good 25 minutes to get the burgers and the place wasn't very busy. The toppings made a difference but without them, not very exciting, slightly dry. Back to the first things I said, you get fries or salad with the burgers, so I was very impressed that the salad wasn't just lettuce but a generous portion of dark greens and that the sweet potato fries were baked (also very generous portion) Final thought- the river north cocktail is great and Old Fashioned is tiny.
(3)Jaime S.
I can't speak to the nightlife scene, but I did come here for a Sunday brunch with gfs. I really like the decor of this place, with lots of large tables for big groups and neat urban themes. It wasn't too busy, which is a shame, but I attribute that to the fact that it is kind of off the beaten path of the rest of the bars in River North. Nice drink selection, not too expensive, but I'd like to give this a try on a Thurs/fri/sat night.
(4)Ryne D.
This past Saturday night I was looking for a place that met a few criteria: 1) Was showing the Pacquiao-Rios fight without cover 2) Was on Yelp's Burger Binge Week list I found Municipal as meeting both, and had the bonus of saying they would donate a portion of their proceeds to Philippines Typhoon Haiyan relief (though they didn't say how much or to what organization they were donating). I wasn't surprised to see all the tables being reserved, but I had never seen bar spots reserved before. Also, I found it strange that some tables weren't even watching the fight, and one table by us emptied out before the main event! Would have been nice to have tables set specifically for the event they were advertising. Luckily we were able to secure some bar seats. We each got the $5 burger special, which was a bacon/egg cheeseburger that tasted oddly burnt. Still, we couldn't complain for five dollars. Service was prompt and friendly. It was kind of annoying that they didn't have a double door system implemented. It was one of the coldest nights of the year, and every time someone would enter a huge rush of cold wind would hit me right where I was sitting. I would consider Municipal for a fight night again, but not for dinner. Maybe for a night out with drinks but not in winter.
(3)Robert A.
Had the deviled eggs for appetizer. Amazing. Then tried the chicken cutlet and thought it was unreal until the fried chicken came and it was out of this world. Can't wait to come back next week.
(5)Rachel W.
Meh. Not much to say but I usually am dragged here for parties but there's nothing super exciting about it here. The prices aren't bad though and the service is decent.
(2)Romana Y.
Came here to watch a game, and the drinks/ambiance were good, while the food was average: sweet potato fries were good. If you're planning to dine here, consider otherwise. To catch a game over drinks, it's worth the stop.
(4)Meredith K.
SALAD SALAD!!! I don't think I can say more. The salad portion was large and even after adding chicken for $4 my bill was under $20 after tax and tip...granted I only drank water. I ordered the chef salad and skipped the nuts. The avocado and strawberries were fresh and was a great splash of fun in my mouth. Definitely not crowded for a week night around 6 but I do hear it gets filled up Friday and Saturday. Would love to come back and see the weekend crowd...
(3)Andrea R.
I was looking forward to visiting this restaurant in my old River North hood that I'd read so much about. When I arrived I was surprised to see it wasn't very crowded and wondered if it would live up to the Yelp hype. If I had to guess the lack of crowds (at least on that particular night) could be due to the poor location. Yes, it's in River North, but on a street that's not quite as popular as some of the others. The lack of crowds also worked in our favor because the staff was very attentive. Our party of 5 decided to stick with some cocktails (wine for me) and a bunch of apps. My favorites ended up being the lobster rolls and fried calamari. We also went w/ an order of grilled calamari at my insistence of eating healthier, but it was a letdown and ridiculously spicy. So stick with the fried stuff here... Overall, a good spot for after work cocktails and some apps. While I'm not sure I'd run back from the burbs I predict I'd have been a regular if I was still living in the hood.
(4)Mike P.
Like your place, Municipal. But your food prices are way out of order. Honestly, it feels like gouging.
(2)Jeff G.
Was staying in Chicago for the weekend, and stumbled into this fantastic sports bar. Definitely a step above the run of the mill sports bar, the ambience, service way above average but the FOOD, absolutely one of the best Fried Chickens I have ever had, and they have over 10 different sliders. Something I did not expect in a sports bar atmosphere was the level of hospitality, the manager (a bald, bearded gentleman) made us feel like we were guests in his home. Will be back every time I travel to Chicago on business (quite frequently) Thank you!!!
(5)Denzell W.
I'm on the fence about Municipal. I've stopped in for sliders after work, paid entry-fee for the fight [$25 for guys free for girls], went to watch the Playoffs [Bulls-Heat] game last night--- and I've stumbled in after bar hopping in River North here and there. It's a rustic-industrial, dimly lit interior with "table tops and booths" around the parameter of the room. Flat screens for days. There is a DJ spinning top 40 and House during commercials [Bulls Games/Fights]. They lose a star for Audio. The audio system is either inexpensive or needs a tuneup. The [music] selection is not the most current either. The taste level feels "suburban". Audio-Visuals are optional and when a bar has them I'm impressed. I'm not impressed, however, when the visual videos aren't worth a glance. The M:F ratio is good. The crowd is a mixture, kind of all over the place. It does feel like the crowd at this bar is either from the suburbs or not from the area. It's a strange group and I think that it's largely due to Municipals battle with its identity. It aim's for exclusive w/ sparkly bottle service, but you'll slither your way to the bathroom and your table will constantly be bumped into. They lose a star for Food. The appetizers aren't too tasty. Good burger and fries. The servers are awesome. The servers and bartenders here are on their A-Game. There really is no comfortable way to have a table. Be prepared for a random person tired of holding their empty drink to sit it on your table as they walk by. Paying a cover to get into Municipal? I don't know. It aims for the sexy and exclusive crowd with bouncers and girls at the door. They even ask "Do you have a table/reservation?". The amount of people awkwardly standing around, the suburbia vibe, the so-so House music spinning on the "okay" audio system leaves you with a half eaten appetizer and the sudden realization that it's best to just drink and stand up. Not a bad place, just not what it appears to be from the outside.
(3)Stephanie L.
Ha, I was dying here...I thought it was supposed to be an upscale sports bar...not an ultra lounge??? It was a Sunday afternoon and they were bringing out bottles of champagne with sparklers?!?! Did that really just happen while we are watching the NCAA tourny? Oh lets not forget to mention, they started blasting the dance music at 7PM on a Sunday night. I get it, its industry night but really?! That early and during basketball?? HAHAHAHA. Let me say, the staff is more concerned with flirting with random people than waiting on tables. The service here is horrible...however the staff is gorge so I guess if you are a dude looking to get your freak on, party on here. If you are me, who is trying to eat dinner and catch up with friends...not the best place. They forgot my drink, wouldnt wait on us forever and then both come over, take a drink order and then go flirt for 20 mins before bringing the refill...annoying. The food was actually pretty good. The salads are huge for a reasonable price. Truffle fries, calamari, flatbreads all pretty standard, but good. I was actually looking forward to a decent sports bar in the area...but this is not a sports bar...definitely not. Yes, they have a million TVs but other than that, its an ultra lounge...get your sparklers on! I did like that our check came in a Chicago parking ticket look like...it just all didnt make sense to me.
(3)Christin B.
I really like this place except for three things: They are an MSU bar but won't play sound for the post game interviews. Last time we came here we made a reservation for 10 and they gave us a booth that would fit 6 tops comfortably The time before that they kicked us out immediately following the game for Dr Who trivia. Terrible scheduling. When do state grads ever mix with sci fi nerds?
(2)Courtney R.
Every eggs Benedict should taste like this. Had the lobster eggs Benedict and was surprised to find big hunks of lobster meat instead of the expected shreds. Hollandaise was perfect...even made a good dipping sauce for the fried potatoes. Might sound random but the wings and calamari were also on point. We ordered two bottles and the waitress had the patience to keep making drinks for our party of 15. Good food and great service. Will definitely hit up for brunch in the future.
(5)Eric T.
ATTITUDE, Poor/Slow Service, Absolut is considered Premium here folks WTH. Potential but poor execution. Went to a birthday gathering here last Saturday night. To begin with, I am not particularly crazy with these Sports Bars that try to be upscale/clubby. Overall the decor is nice, and there are plenty of TVs, situated well for viewing several games at once. The bar is a large/long L shape. The problem is that they didn't have enough bartenders staffing it. There were 3 total, and 1 was dedicated to waitstaff. They needed at least 3 just for the volume of patrons and bar size, and they needed 2 to serve waitstaff. Anytime you book a party, they offer the wristband deal. I think it was $45 for "Premium." So we bought that, thinking if it's premium, it makes sense. Unfortunately we found out that their definition of premium was Absolut. To top that off, drinks were watered down. Don't tell me your Premium Vodka is Absolut, then water your drinks down. Absolut is one of those vodkas you can definitely taste. So we had to send several drinks back. The waitress was very very slow. I think part of this was due to under staffing at the bar. But the waitress would come around and wouldn't check with everyone in the group, so we were constantly yelling to get her attention. With the wristband we were initially told that we couldn't go directly to the bar, but that was misinformation. When we started going to the bar, the bartender gave us a dirty look and said something under her breath. I think overall they just need to get their act together, get some friendlier staff, and they'll be fine. Eventually management came around and helped out. There was another waitress or hostess that started helping too. Started poorly and improved, but not that much. Pros: Lots of TVs, Nice Decor, Some Food was well executed,No bathroom attendant (THANK GAWD) Cons: Slow slow slow. Attitude of staff (management was cool and helpful though) It's a journey down to the bathroom.
(2)Anna P.
In sum, it's a sports bar masquerading as a Gastropub - if you don't want to be disappointed, stick only to the bar food. I was a little sad because we were excited when this place opened near us and are always looking for a great local spot to grab a few drinks and a bite to eat. The service was really slow even though it wasn't busy at all - we saw our waitress just hanging around and chatting with the bartender more than once while our drinks were sitting on her tray. We ordered a bunch of things to try and the slides were amazing but everything else was off and not really worth trying. I think if the service improves we'd come back for a beer and burger.
(2)Mike G.
There's been a dearth of gastropubs in River North lately. (Just kidding). I am not sure why the lastest identify crisis has spread like wildfire and why a bar can no longer just be a bar, and a restaurant can no longer be a restaurant. This place tries to fill the gastropub/bar/sports bar/restaurant/night club void that's been heavily lacking in River North (again just kidding), but this place has no identity and no idea what they actually are. If you are going to pretend to have good food, then you should know to what temperature a medium burger should be cooked to. If you are going to offer a chorizo burger, you should have the right amount of chorizo not to overpower the taste buds, if you are going to offer mashed potatoes (and call them pommes) they should not taste like they just came out of an instant potatoes container. I can assure you folks, haute cusine is not offered here, despite what the menu may lead you to believe. Now on to the set up and the bathroom. There are plenty of TVs, so for those who have not yet figured out the good places in River North to go see a game, you can certainly visit Minicipal. The bathroom, well, the bathroom has a place for a bathroom attendant, enough said. Again, identity crisis ensues. Drinks? Well, the manhattan complimented the chorizo burger well, so as to say that they overwhelming theme of the bar/restaurant/nightclub was of pervasive mediocrity. If you need to cross this off your bucket list for 2013, do it now, I don't expect this place to survive long unless they actually figure out what makes them unique or different.
(2)Curtis B.
The girl at the front door was rude. Ruined my first experience here. Go pay for overpriced drinks someplace else.
(1)Doreen C.
Good food and excellent drinks.Love the flatbread pizza!
(5)Dan D.
Municipal Bar has really out done itself! It is an Upscale Sports Bar/ Gastro Pub....That serves Outstanding Signature Cocktails, & Delicious "Comfort Food" - The Chefs are unbelievable the Staff is Superb and the Guests are always having a great time! Hands down the best place to be in the city if your looking for a great time, great food, and great music!! Not to MENTION they have 80 INCH TV's what else could you ask for.....oooh yeah 1 more thing; its surrounded with beautiful People! Everywhere you turn there are Perfect 10's. The place is UNREAL!!
(5)Kelsey H.
I was here last Thursday with a few girlfriends and we had a fantastic time!! The food was great- We split a few of the appetizers... the hummus, 3-cheese flatbread and fries were especially delicious- you can really tell that the kitchen is on their A-game!! The bartender was so friendly and entertaining- he made us his top picks out of their many specialty cocktails, which we all enjoyed. The atmosphere... The bar is gorgeous- they have Flat screens everywhere so you won't miss a second of game time action of your favorite sports team... It's upscale yet unpretentious.... The perfect combination! I will definitely be coming back to Municipal- River North is lucky to have this new addition to the neighborhood.
(5)Sean P.
Came here last Saturday for lunch and to watch some basketball. Everyone I was with enjoyed their food. It's "upscale" bar food. Tons of huge flat screens, good looking girls and friendly servers. Would like to see a few more unique beers on draft.
(4)Robert K.
I have been here twice and both experiences have been pleasureable. Food exquisite. beautiful presentation. Kudos to Chad for personal service and thank you Madeline our server was fun and helpful. decor was second to none. lunch was much quieter than dinner. little to chilly but bearable if you are drinking. :) all in all 8 out 10 here.good food good service.
(4)Uli J.
All in all great spot with a cool design that incorporates Chicago even on their menu - cocktails are named after Chicago neighborhoods. The perfect place to come watch your favorite sports and hang out. Food is good as well - especially the lobster roll :-).
(4)Kelly M.
I came here for the first time last night to watch the Notre Dame/Bama game, I thought it was a great place. There are so many tv's, no matter where you sit you are able to see what game is on tv, the food was great. I was anxious to try food by Jeff the Chef, but apparently he was not working. However, my husband said the chicken wings were amazing (he has tried a lot), the meatballs were my favorite of all. We will be back for sure
(4)Katrina C.
I went here last weekend - great food, awesome drinks and good service! I'll definitely be going back.
(5)Mel L.
The concept of this bar/restaurant is pretty cool, but the food lacks. We shared nachos, a flatbread, and tacos. Nothing was really that flavorful where you wanted seconds. My friends and I have visited many restaurants on our weekly dinners, and this is the only one we were disappointed in. Go elsewhere.
(1)Ami H.
The things they did well, they did very well. The things that were bad were very bad. I had the calamari appetizer. It was breaded and fried very nicely - not chewy or over done. I liked the sauces that came with it. My husband had a turkey sandwich that was also very satisfying and done well considering it was just a turkey sandwich. I also had a cheese flatbread pizza with truffle oil. Although the description sounded yummy and the components individually are very good, the combination was kind of tasteless and boring. Not to mention that the pizza crust had the consistency of shoe leather. I appreciate the atmosphere - a tasteful nod to Chicago without feeling like a knick knack store. While the idea of the menu is clever, the category headings were not at all descriptive (Department of Cultural Affairs are flatbreads, for example) but it looks like they may have clarified things judging by the online menu. The music was WAY too loud and conversation was difficult. Bottom line, we'll go back and give it another try. The food that was coming out for other smelled and looked yummy so there are lots of things I'd be willing to try. We went during a football game not long after they opened. Hopefully they've worked out some of the kinks and it's even better now! I'm glad they're in the neighborhood though.
(3)JAMES B.
Poor customer satifaction. I guess the customer is not always right in this place!
(1)Feras S.
Great experience, great food, generous drinks and beautiful women. I will definitely come back for more.
(5)B A.
A group of friends and I were meeting other friends inside for a couple drinks, hoping for it to be a chill place. The entrance was a MADHOUSE - even more chaotic than trying to get into UG. The line quickly fell apart as people tried to get in through the side and people were quickly becoming impatient. The girl at the door lost it as one upset person in front of the line started yelling at her. Sadly she degraded herself to his standards. And the bouncer. The person in front of me and I were apparently there for the same reservation, but he ignored us and quickly let him as some money was slipped. WHAT?! So disappointed I don't even want even want to try going there for lunch.
(1)ric g.
Municipal has their act together. Excellent, attentive service. The place has a great vibe. The drinks were great and reasonably priced. And a special mention to Marcus the GM who appreciates his clients.
(5)Jeffry A.
The short rib sliders are amazing as well as the 1/2 chicken entree. They have a nice beer selection and Magic Hat #9 (a favorite of mine) on draft for $6. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive. Be sure to make reservations if you want to get a table for a game or on a Friday/Saturday night. This place may have opened recently, but it gets packed.
(5)Laura W.
Great atmosphere and vibe to watch games or to simply pop in for some drinks or great food!
(4)Arti P.
came here on NYE. place itself is nice (def 4.5 star), but management suucks (seriously took off 2 stars for this). and by management, i am specifically referring to the lady at the door (she said her name was giselle), who was extremely rude and unhelpful. despite the 10 degree wind chill that night, she wouldn't let us stand under the heater due to its supposed illegality ("fire hazard"...wtf?), then stood there herself. she even refused to share the heat with my pregnant sister, telling her instead to "go sit in the car". then later that night, giselle tried to kick my brother out for no reason...the security guy from inside had to come over himself to tell her she was cray and that there was no reason to kick him out. because of giselle's rudeness and lack of any compassion, i don't plan to go back, despite it being a decent place otherwise.
(1)donna y.
new management. terrible service. it is unfortunate since this was my neighborhood go to place. dropped cash to pay and was chased by security a block away for not paying. unreal and rude as hell.
(1)Niti B.
Who can beat a great drink, great bartender and even better music?! Haven't had a chance to eat here but the drinks are great and the music keeps you on your feet. The TVs are plentiful and the space is definitely there for a large crowd. Will have to be back to enjoy some games soon!
(4)Saf K.
Not your typical sports bar! I was in town for the weekend and wanted to catch the Bears on Monday Night Football, so we came to Municipal. Food menu has some the typical bar food - burgers, wings, beer...but it also has some great alternatives, that you would typically see at a swany restaurant. They have a whole slew of sliders, one being a chicken peanut satay served on a steamed bun - delicious. Their drinks are also great. Their vodka mules are served in legit mules. If you like spice, order the Spicy Mule - a mix of tequila and fresh jalepenos. Such a different but great taste. Just a tip - don't order that if you're planning on eating a lot of spicy food (i.e. buffalo wings) - can be a lot of heat. Best part - their new outdoor patio WITH TVs! It was a lil chilly so we opted to stay in, but their patio was very cool! Definitely check this place out if you're a visitor or resident of Chicago!
(4)Mercedes O.
They have a ton of TV's great for games, good DJ and right off 90. Some of the menu options don't list certain ingredients (they acknowledged that mistake) and everyone was really nice from the servers to the owners. They also offer industry night and discounts for Chicago employees mon-tues.
(5)Stacie K.
Really disappointed in the service. I've always loved coming here because of the great food...but tonight after waiting a while to be acknowledged, our server came up to us without a hello, how are you, my name is so and so. But simply "something to drink?". It was almost awkward. I stared at her for an uncomfortable few seconds because I didn't think she was serious. A simple smile goes a long way. I miss the old service here. Maybe it's a miss tonight compared to my usual hits here.
(2)Lex E.
We had a small company holiday party here recently and everything was fantastic! They were cool about us moving tables around so we could have one long table in the front. The bar has a nice atmosphere and the staff were all really great! I've been here one other time with a small group for just drinks and it was a good experience too.
(5)Ronald P.
I think I'm going to be a regular at this place. I went last week to see the Pacquaio fight. It was spur of the moment and even though the place was completely reserved, Gino hooked my girl and me up with a prime spot at the bar. I stopped by again last night to have a few beers and had another blast. The food is very good. The service is fast and the bar-staff are all great-looking ladies. There's really no downside. Gino and his crew go out of their way to make you feel like family.
(5)Dana L.
Went there on Monday for the burger deal hosted by Yelp. The service was great, atmosphere was really low-key, as it was a Monday night and not much going on. We ordered Nacho's as our appetizer to satisfy our late- dinner craving for something delicious. They went well with our beers, two strong ales: Golden Monkey and another, the one we wanted was out. The burgers themselves were served on a pretzel bun with bacon, a fried egg, and cheese of our choice. The burgers were a little stiff with the pretzel bun, usually they compliment each other well. There wasn't as much seasoning and flavor in the meat itself. Overall, we probably woudlnt' go back if we didn't get them for $5 each.
(3)Francisco F.
I dined for the Breaking Bad Trivia night. I had several Fat Tires and delicious falafel sliders. The falafel was cooked just right-- not too undercooked or overcooked, with a delightful and tingly amount of spice. Good job! My group's truffle fries were a little over fried. But it was passable. I had a great night overall. The waitress was sweet and she was kind enough to go searching for FAKE blue meth candies.
(4)Mihir P.
A small sports bar that will do. The food is better than most sports bars. I recommend: - Lobster Roll - Stuffed Meatball sliders - Turkey Club and Burger (my friends enjoyed) Our waitress was just going through the motions. Didn't seem to care much about being there. Not that she was rude but didn't smile and was very monotone. She spent most of her time talking and eating with her friends at a table next to ours so getting her attention was tough. Décor is average with some "municipal" finishes here and there. Drinks are overpriced for the atmosphere and service. I think it's hilarious that they serve Dom and Veuve Clicquot. There are no dining tables but just glorified bar tables and stools so IMHO it's bloody stupid that they have bottle service especially offering a $4500 bottle of Dom Perignon Luminous 3L. Or are the douches and dickmitts who order it the bloody stupid ones?
(2)Kelly C.
Stopped in for lunch with a friend before heading to a Super Bowl party and really enjoyed our lunch and drinks! My friend had a youswoop that came with beef sliders. These were really good and I would def get them again. For lunch I had the lobster avocado salad and man it was tasty. The salad was beautifully layered with a good amount of avocado, huge chunks of loster and tomatoes on top. The one small thing I would change is a little less of the dressing but this would not deter me from ordering it again. My friend had the lobster roll which she raved about. She also mentioned the huge lobster chunks on the sandwich. The drinks were good - we both started off with the River North which she enjoyed but to me it was ok - there was some bitter taste that I wasn't a fan of. Overall a good lunch and if I'm in the area it will be on my radar!
(4)Nathan S.
This place was great! I love the theme, and the menu is fantastic. They skimped on the jalapeño chips, but they were good. I had the lobster roll, and it was outstanding. Service was great and attentive. They have good TV's for sports and what have you. This is my kind of place.
(5)Shelly A.
This place caught my eye when I was exiting the highway, and I was really excited to check it out for dinner last Saturday night. Reading about it created some mental hype for me - reputable chef, cool concept/decor, great location, positive reviews. All wins in my book. However, once I actually got there, I was surprisingly underwhelmed. I'll start on a positive note. Their drink selection is great, and actually the whole bar aspect of this place is pretty solid, in my opinion. I think I'd really enjoy it for happy hour or a low-key Friday night. I'm also a big fan of the decor. Anyone with the least bit of Chicago price will appreciate their depiction of Chicago's neighborhoods and public transportation. Also, the food was pretty good. While the menu is extremely "un-exciting," they seem to do a lot of classic "bar food" dishes well. Prices are ok, though I thought that $14 for salad w/ chicken was pretty steep. Especially because most of their other meat dishes are significantly cheaper. Oh, and my friend was charged for her side when the waitress made it sound like it came w/ the sandwich. The service was the biggest let-down. First off, awkward waiters/waitresses are absolutely one of my biggest pet peeves at restaurants. If you're awkward, why are you in the service industry?! There are literally a hundred other things you could do that would better suit your personality. But when I'm paying (and especially tipping) for a dinner out, don't make your awkwardness my problem. The waitress asked me what I wanted to order before my friend even got there. Then she asked us again when my friend did get there, literally seconds after she approached the table. She was still standing up at the table with her coat on! I understand simply wanting to greet us, but she actually expected us to put in our order that quickly. Then she proceeded to stop by several times before we were ready to order. Have some common sense, lady! If we are still looking at the menus in our hand, there's a good chance we need a minute. Now if that wasn't enough, literally 6 busboys came by trying to take my friend's food away before she was done. One guy actually saw me eating fries off of her plate and still asked if we were done with it. Ummm WHAT?! I will make it pretty clear when I'm done, or I'll tell you when I am. I can't think of the last time I was offended that a busboy didn't take my plate when I was done, but I was definitely offended that they kept trying to take it early. Very simple, people - when in doubt, just leave it. If I'm done, I'll let you know. They also brought us the check while we were still eating. I was probably 3/4 of the way through my food. It's not like we were holding up another reservation, but they couldn't have made it any more clear that they were rushing us and pushing us out the door. Sorry, I thought it was normal to take my time and hang out at a bar. And no, I didn't want anything else, thanks for asking. Some of the most uncomfortable and annoying service I've ever received. I appreciated the manager coming by to check on us, but his concern should first be the training of his staff. If they work on that, it may be worth giving a second chance.
(2)Amanda S.
Typical downtown sports bar. We went for drink week and when I asked the waitress for the drink specials (which I knew they had) she claimed she had no idea what I was talking about and they never have drink specials. The food was alright, nothing special and definitely not worth hiking back over there for. There are plenty of better places to watch a game in the city.
(2)Joe M.
Review time: Atmosphere: Nice. But it has that whole nice place but tons of TV's sports bar thing going. Are you a sports bar or are you a lounge? I feel like that doesn't work. Beer: Need more drafts, should not be $6 for some beers Food: The food was very, very good. I got the gourmet burger that was topped with corned beef and other fun stuff. I ordered it medium and it came medium, so that was good. Fries were seasoned and good too. The mussels were also very good but needed more broth. My friends said the beet salad and sliders were good. Service: She was always there asking if we needed anything but she didn't know the menu very well at all. She also brought my meal out well before everyone else. Had to come back a few times to ask us questions as she put the order in. Nice that she got it right but should have known. Maybe chalk this up to a new place. In conclusion - If you're looking for a good gastro pub meal, which is I think why most people would go here, you've found a good spot. If you're looking for a sports bar, go somewhere else - too expensive for the beers they have an not enough selection. I haven't been there at night to drink so can't comment there. But they do have a DJ booth.
(4)Elizabeth K.
Good menu, good prices, awesome beer list and AMAZING service. I wish I would have asked our cocktailer her name to give her the credit she deserves- but none the less she was so nice and very prompt on checking to make sure our drinks were full during our visit. We'll be back.
(5)Nick M.
Came here for their soft opening since it is right next door to my work. Very nice atmosphere with a cool Chicago theme and plenty of tv's (even a couple 90in!) The staff was very nice and attentive. The menu has a pretty good selection of beers and bar food as well as more upscale items such as lobster roll (looked good!) ,steak, and lamb. I had the Kergberger Burger which had bacon and an fried egg on top and it was delicious. Few of my friends got the same. The girls got the chicken sandwich and hummus which they said was also good. Overall a great place for lunch/ dinner or to watch a game on a weekday/end night.
(5)Michael M.
Tried to go for a Michigan State game several hours before the game. Pretty unhelpful & unresponsive staff for seating etc. While I am a big Michigan State fan, I'm not a big fan of this place.
(2)D D.
As my second time there since the menu change....I'm disappointed. Talked some friends into going for the Blackhawks game. They have great TV's! For a place that only had 25 people in it, the service was super slow! Had the buffalo chicken sandwich. Good! however the fries came out cold. Took over 35 minutes to get our food. The first time there the timing was the same. I hope they get it together as this could be a great place for sports.
(2)Karen G.
All I can say is YUM! Stopped in for lunch and surprised to find it dead seeing as it's pretty new on the bar circuit. Lucky for me that doesn't shy me away. Got a BIG OL BOOTH in the front with my bestie and ordered the Grilled Chicken with Fontina Cheese, Romaine, Pickled Red Onions, Cucumber and Honey Dijon. AWESOME! My bestie had Koenigsberger Burger with Bacon, Cheese, Fried Egg, Tomato, Red Onion, Bibb Lettuce and Pickles. DELICIOUS! Our fries were crunchy and tasty along with our Brussel Sprouts and Bacon. Would definitely go back and try something else on the menu. Our waitress was attentive and always had a smile when she approached. The ambiance was very cool...pics of the subway, big typography of the neighborhoods up on the wall and the check came in a parking ticket! Really thought the people at Municipal thought everything through and didn't miss a thing. Don't even question it..GO!
(4)Dmitry L.
I was here a couple weeks after opening. They we're still working things out, but it was still no excuse for bad food and an un-knowledgeable waitress. Me and my friend had loaded fries and BBQ pizza. Both were pretty bad. Chicken was way to dry and loaded fries had chicken that was burned! In addition the waitress did not know many food items...after being open for two weeks I'd expect better. Overall this place is not a destination...if you're in the same block it's ok, but much better places in river north overall.
(1)Steve R.
The 3 burger appetizer is over priced. Do yourself a favor and just order a regular burger. They charge you an extra $1.81 if you order your drink on the rocks (wtf). Their bottles of Moet Brute are reasonable @$90.
(3)Amy B.
Pretty good burger (Koenigsberger) if a little dry, but they did cook it to temp which is a plus in my book. The fries tasted like they were held a little too long and became tough, but the buffalo wings were big and meaty and not too greasy. The tap list swayed toward the boring and predictable (bud light, newcastle, etc) with a few more interesting choices. We went on a wednesday and it was empty at 5:30, but pretty bustling at 7 when we left. It's a Michigan State bar so I can see it getting ferociously packed on Saturdays and basketball games.
(3)