Polk Street Pub
548 W Polk St, Chicago, IL, 60607
Polk Street Pub Menu
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Address :
548 W Polk St
Chicago, IL, 60607 - Phone (312) 786-1142
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Natalia K.
Heard rave reviews about the burgers and a groupon finally brought me in here to try one. Yum. Cooked just the way I like it, and I was able to get an egg on top. Love that. The fries were good as well, skinny and with the skins on. Love that too. The beer list was alright. Ordered a Guinness. It came out way too quickly and didn't taste the best, but it's my beer so I drank it anyway. Lots of drunk people, a few regulars, and some cops made for a good neighborhood bar kind of atmosphere. Even saw a chair fall (the lady was fortunately not still sitting in it) and some tortilla chips flung across the room. Nice. Service was pleasant too. But it was extremely loud. Loud music, loud TVs, loud people. Would I come back? Sure, but I'm not in a hurry.
(4)Aja G.
There is something in the water here that you should never ingest. The groupon and beef kept me coming back but after the last time I have to tell myself things that are too good to be truly normally are. Lets look past the fact their attached to the titty bar Lets ignore the fact that their bathrooms are leaky closet that haven't been cleaned since you had a zero credit card balance Lets not discuss the fact that they over serve people to the point where they are so drunk they actually buy $75 bottles of vodka to sneak into the adjoining titty bar I will even skip over pointing out their ever worsening service BUT shit damnit how long does it take to make a fucking burger? This place is sketchy in ways you could stand if the service/food made it worth it, but unless you have the groupon and great company it is simply not worth it. I am not saying they temptation of cheap, low grade beef won't call my name again, but I am finally admitting I will be disappointed in myself if I find myself here again.
(2)Kin C.
If you are not going to open on time, at least pick up the phone or just open the door and let us know. I can see you in there.
(1)Katie Z.
Ordered delivery. Got a text saying it left the restaurant at 4:30, and it arrived at 5:15. NOT a good sign. Wings were ice cold, the extra dressing I ordered (and paid for ) was not there, and there were precisely 12 tots in my soggy, cold, $4 order. But HERE is where the real problem comes in. I called and spoke to the manager, and the food manager, and neither of them gave a single damn and neither apologized a single time. Even when I said "the bad food is annoying, but the fact that no one has apologized a single time is a real concern." Still nothing. Over it.
(1)Paul A.
This is my second review for Polk St. Pub but I believe it's warranted after 2 years. It's one of my favorite "divey" bars (that's a compliment!) and the staff is top-notch, accommodating and just fun to interact with. The menu has been stepped up and they offer a lot more than they did a few years back. I still love the wings but the burgers, sliders and home made potato chips have recently been added to my list of favs. All that and affordable prices, great daily specials and a back patio! It's a hidden gem and I'm glad it's a part of my neighborhood. And, if it's not in YOUR neighborhood, well, it's worth the trip!
(5)Len W.
I'm downgrading my review. Stopped in over the weekend. The Guinness wasn't poured correctly. I can understand if the bar is slammed, but there was probably 5 others in there. And the bartender has done it correctly on previous trips. Pour it right!
(2)Jillian H.
This is a really great neighborhood pub. Good pub food; burgers, sandwiches and some main entrees. I had the BLT they don't skimp on the bacon and the fries were well seasoned. The portion was huge and the fries were nicely seasoned. My friend ordered the Black Jack burger it comes with BBQ sauce, bacon and jack cheese. He ordered the onion rings with his burger. The burger and onion rings were outstanding. They have a pretty decent beer selection. The pub is on the small side but I really liked that small neighborhood feel. I can't say enough about the outstanding, friendly service. We had never been to Polk Street before but the waitress made us feel like we were regulars. I wish I lived closer because they would become my local go to pub for some beer and burgers.
(5)Brian D.
I feel like all of the positive reviews are from made up profiles giving fake review. Avoid this place, this was my first terrible experience from positive yelp review.
(1)Joseph B.
The ultimate dive bar where everyone kinda knows your name. Plenty of TVs to watch the game (although sometimes you'll have to request them to change the channel from jeopardy to the big game). The bartenders are all super nice & friendly. The wings are fantastic. Great place to grab a brew after work and catch the game.
(4)Sweet M.
Phenomenal service, phenomenal wings. First time here and had a great time. Headed to the Pink Monkey!
(5)William D.
We came to Chicago early for the Michigan State- U of M outdoor hockey game. Found this bar on Yelp and since it was kinda close to the Hilton hotel, we decided to walk. Note, they have free parking in the back, I wish we would have drove! (it's cold here!) Anyways, GREAT BAR FOOD and great service (thank you Lilia !) I had the Polk St. Sampler... Very good. My wife had the corn beef sandwich with the homemade chips-excellent! Good beer specials, great atmosphere, you can't go wrong coming here. We will be back!
(5)Jordan K.
Love Polk street! Great wings, great burgers decent beer list, and the best bar tenders in chicago!
(5)Adam B.
When I walked inside this place, I saw a basic blue-collar bar and I have to say my expectations were not high. I ordered the ribeye sandwich and I have to say I was very impressed. It came out medium rare, as I ordered. The meat was very tender and the sauteed onions and mushrooms added more layers of flavor. And I never expected the fries to be fresh cut, but huge props for this! Just one thing...for soda refills, use a gun, not a pitcher since the ice is then melting into the soda! The service was solid, I was pretty pleased.
(4)Jessica A.
I finally found my wing spot. I'm not a fancy wing person, so if you're like me, this is your spot. Don't be fooled by the exterior. Can we say, slightly sketchy. But the service is awesome and I definitely recommend the wings and chicken fingers. Some of the best bar chicken fingers. I will definitely be back. They also have daily specials which are great.
(4)Palula C.
The staff there were super nice, and I enjoyed that they pronounced "Saturday" like Pootie Tang might have (Sa-daa-tay!) For them, I will forgive that the chips and salsa I ordered tasted like church wafers and a cup of Ragu. It certainly didn't hurt that the gentleman I was with was a certain sock-deal-loving, $4-dollar-beer-or-less afficianado bargain hunter of the night. He seemed appalled that my beer(Harps) came in a mason jar. Only the finest company for this dive... I parked behind strippers, and when I hopped out the car, I DID see them enviously eye my shoes. So, all in all, though I am generally opposed to bars with wide-screen sports ruining the conversation, I will graciously bestow my liking to this yoint on yelp.
(4)Dustin S.
I was in the neighborhood for a work event and found myself searching for nearby eateries to spend my lunch break. The positive yelp reviews got my attention and i made the short jog to Polk Street Pub. First impressions aside, the place was an awesome find. The black bean soup was delicious. It was seasoned perfect with a surprise of sour cream inside. The patty melt was also equally delicious. The beer was cold and the service was very attentive Back to my first impression. I honestly kept waiting for Frank Gallagher (of shameless) to join me at the bar. I kept thinking I was at the Alibi Room for those of you who watch the show. This is a neighborhood dive bar that is a viable lunch spot.
(4)Gabrielle V.
WOW. This place was way better than I expected. First off, it looks like a shithole from the street. We thought it was actually abandoned when we walked up to it. But don't let that exterior fool you! This place is seriously the freakin' bees knees. My fiance ordered a regular burger and I ordered a veggie. They had a surprisingly amazing selection of beers and ciders. I'm a huge hard cider fan and let me tell you, I am very pleased when I find a place that offers at least a few selections (especially if I've never seen/heard of them before). The bartender/server was extremely friendly and accommodating and we had a wonderful time speaking with her. It's definitely a dive bar and it is a great spot for people-watching.
(5)Rob R.
I've been going here for ahwile now, and you cannot go wrong coming here for a drink after work, meeting up with a group of friends for some food, or hanging outside on their patio. Their Burgers are amazing and also reasonably priced for the amount of food you get. I've watched many Bulls & Blackhawks games here, and the atmosphere is definitely true Chicago there!!! The bartenders and servers are also extremely attentive and never let us go with an empty drink, which is important I think. I definitely recommend this place for drinks, food and watching your Chicago Teams!!!
(5)Joshua H.
I love Polk Street pub. Their food specials are great. $0.25 wings and $1.00 mini burgers on certain days of the week. And, the food is actually pretty good bar food. The bartenders and owner are always friendly. It isn't really near anything else, but I hang out and watch sports on Sundays here often. Drink list isn't anything that will blow you out of the water, but it is cheap. Really easy to find a place to park. Great neighborhood place to hang out where the people are always friendly!
(3)James E.
Ever walk into a place and either be thankful you are not single or so desperately want to get out of there because you are? Well, this is that place. The selection of eye candy is very limited... okay, there is no selection.But alas, I don't go to dive bars because I want to pick someone up. Thankfully. We went here tonight for a round of drinks. The place itself was interesting. Total dive bar. Looks like the "decor" hadn't been updated since the late 1960s, but not necessarily in a cool way. As in, they got a whole bunch of free junk from beer companies (mirrors, lights, etc.) when the bar opened and threw that up on the walls and left it there. They serve food. Maybe one day I'll try the food. But I probably won't. One saving grace, there is an awesome courtyard in the back. It's really cool and has about a two story wall covered in ivy. It's a really neat contrast since the surrounding neighborhood is all warehouses. The fact that you have to walk through the kitchen, literally, kind of makes it pretty damn cool, too. I couldn't help get the feeling that this place had better days, back when the neighborhood employed people in the warehouses. Nowadays, they're all condos, to the north at least. Though the USPS facilities & Northern Trust might bring a few customers their way. We sipped our beers toward the far end of the bar. We would get waves of smells every now and then. I couldn't tell if that was due to the fact that we were standing near the washrooms or if it was multiple customers leaving us aromatic presents in their wake as they walked by us. I think it was the former, but regardless, that's the reason why I gave this place two stars. I will say that they did a good job of pouring my Guinness. I was really hoping to find a gem of a dive bar, a place where I could walk in and be like Norm. Unfortunately, I'll still have to keep looking.
(2)Greg G.
My new favorite hang. When I work at UIC for a project, I head up here afterwards to my new "office". A real after work-blue collar type of place, it is truly an authentic classic dive. It is probably in one of the most desolate and industrial areas of downtown--with the possible exception of the Skylark (ever see The Breakup movie?) The bartenders are exceptional and make you feel good if you bother to strike up a conversation with them. Most of them are from exotic locales such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Brazil and Romania to name a few that I have spoken with. Treat them right and they will do you one better! The food is pretty decent--go with the wings or chili here. They have a few beer and drink specials: Fat Tire Ale, 312, and Bass for $3.50 most nights. Buck and a half for Old Style cans on those extra special nights. They also have a couple of Plasmas behind the bar making this an excellent place to catch some home games, or to watch some midday Springer or Maury with your suds--you know who you are... Believe it or not, they actually have pay parking on the street for this area! Must be aimed towards the Maxwell street / swap meet thing that happens around the corner every week on Sunday--another good reason to head out here: buy some cheap ass socks, that Elvis-on-black-velvet painting that you 've been lusting after for years, maybe a couple of truck tires and some rusty tools, throw in a corn dog then head over to the polk street pub and knock back a few with the other midday enthusiasts--(who love Patron by the way) and cap your week off properly before shleping off to your jwonderful job on Monday. Oh, if you need to entertain your brother-in -law or out of state manager who may be visiting, look no farther than the Pink Monkey next door. Yea, one of those. Went in there once, too drunk to remember.--they said I had a good time..It's a BYOB, which the Polk St Pub will be able to supply you with. I have been noticing that more and more of the downtown office and hospital staff from nearby have been filtering into this place along with the longtime firefighters that come in from across the street from their training academy on a regular basis--fun loving attitudes and cool people! Internet jukebox typically blasts classic rock and blues, there is a DJ that spins vinyl on Fridays. Don't ever let a guy named Dan play anything on this jukebox...
(4)Christopher L.
PSP has a very comfortable atmosphere. It reminds me of the bar in Gremlins without the gremlins (although you may catch a few Pink Monkeys in there at the right time). The patio out back is not supposed to be anything fancy either and that's what I love about it. It doesn't look like they serve food but trust me, get a burger. What they lack in decor, they certainly make up for in flavor. 5-star dining it is not. The Polk Street Pub gets 5 stars for successfully being what it is and not trying to be something it isn't.
(5)Matt J.
Went back tonight. Food is great, Guinness still tastes flat.
(4)Kathy L.
love sabrina. best bartender in the south loop. and she looks like the hottie from modern family! So nice too. and very good at what she does.
(5)John B.
I sat in the garden here once following a meeting with Northern Trust Company. Over the course of the 90 minutes or so I was there I saw at least 10 rats. These were not small rats, these were huge rats that were making a ton of noise and had no problem being around people. I know rats are everywhere and I only saw them outside but frankly seeing a rat is the last thing I want when I am eating.
(1)Chocolate H.
No one should ever give this bar a low rating what the hell do you expect from a bar out in middle nowhere and that is next door to a titty bar. The beer is cold, the food is good, and it has a real nice beer garden in the back.
(4)frankie r.
i always go to canal flee market, and this was open on sunday (usually is not) this place is a little iffy if your from the north side i guess, but being from the south side felt like home lol.. above average bar food, wish they had a bigger selection of beer... awesome patio in the back... waitress was very nice. at one time the owner had his own brewery but sold it 2 years ago, so the waitress told us :( ..waitress told us 2 beers and u were drunk!!! his ale was called rat bastard ale :P... just go in, sit, waitress will bring u menus.. the fries are really good, fish and chips good(although i like dukes better) wish they would of gave me a few more fish, burger w/bacon pretty good, they make there own pizza ,maybe ill try that on my next visit... it is a wait to get your food, but drink your fat tire while u wait...Cool Place!!!
(4)Nichole X.
This place is surprisingly good! From the outside, this place doesn't look special. However, looks can be deceiving. This pub is a great place for relaxing, especially after a hard day of work! Although they don't have a drink menu, they do have a very large collection of alcohol. I ordered tonic water with grape fruit juice, which was good. We also ordered the Black Jack Burger, Pastoral Burger, and Garlic Parmesan and BBQ chicken wings... Burgers are HUGE!! All the food is very delicious. Will come back again.
(5)Shari B.
I've lived down the block from this place for the last 10 years and I finally decided to give it a shot after I got over the fact that it is right next to a strip club. They have pretty good specials every day of the week. I came for their 50 cent wing special on a Saturday. The wings were made fresh, the meat was juicy and there was plenty of buffalo sauce. The ranch dressing was watered down, but I kind of like it that way. The couple sticks of carrots and celery also seemed freshly sliced. FYI, there is a one drink minimum with this special and there is a decent selection of beers. You can order the wings in any amount. The dressing was extra, but the few sticks of veggies were complimentary. They have a hidden patio in the back, which is nice. The tables are a little sticky and it kinda smelled like garbage.. meh. I once tried to come by on a Friday after work and the place was surprisingly packed. We ended up just leaving after no one came to take our order after 10 minutes. On this particular Saturday evening it was pretty empty, probably because there isn't the added foot traffic from the work week. I'll be back when I'm in the mood for decent wings and to maybe try out their other specials.
(3)Bethany M.
Placed a delivery order for supreme nachos and a Caesar salad. The food took over an hour to arrive... I wouldn't have cared as much if the food was worth it, but it wasn't. The guacamole on the nachos looked and tasted as if it sat out all day, honestly the entire thing just tasted like it sat out all day. The Caesar salad was honestly a waste of money, definitely not worth $8. Anybody can cut up romaine lettuce, sprinkle cheap parmesan on top, throw in some burnt croutons, and add a weird salad dressing. (This is exactly what they did) I've learned my lesson and will make sure I do groceries earlier in the day, so that I can avoid placing late night orders at mediocre establishments such as this.
(2)John I.
It was a "meh" day in Chicago: cloudy and cold (50 degrees on the last day of May!?!). I hadn't partaken in Yelp Burger Binge Week. It was now or "No binge-burger for you!" I saddled up a Divvy and practically froze my ears with the wind chill created by the ride. I'm used to seeing tumbleweeds when I'm in the saddle, and this area of Clinton and Polk is desolate enough on a Sunday evening that I half-expected to see some. As others have mentioned, it's next door to the Pink Monkey. Wow, a strip club? I'd passed by it many times, and I'd always thought that it must be some wanna-be-hip ad agency or start-up with an oh-so-clever name. Walking in, the pub seemed very cool--an old-school wooden bar with bottles stacked on old racks behind it. No pretensions; just be yourself here. Unless you're pretentious. Then don't come. I took my stool. Lauren came over with a dance in her step to take my order. She's like a very cool younger sister; fun, energetic and helpful. I got a Jack on the rocks, and I went with the Polk Burger: grilled onions, jack cheese and an onion ring on top. Medium, please. Lauren recommended the fries. When it came, it was pure deliciousness. It was perfectly pink on the inside, crispy around the edges, with a perfectly-toasted bun to match. The two, big, fat onion rings looked so good that they needed to be eaten alone. They were, and I did. The fries were indeed good. And with attentive Lauren and the kitchen near the end of the bar, the food was very hot when I got it. I washed it all down with a $2 PBR. I left with a smile on my face, and a satisfied tongue & stomach and saddled up my Divvy for a ride into the... OK, there was no sunset, because it was still a "meh" environment outside. Maybe next time I'll ask Lauren to play "I Spy" like we're in the back seat of a station wagon on a trip to Disney World.
(5)Haley V.
Ordered delivery last night and everything was good. The kids ate all their bbq wings and said the cheese sticks we're good. I had a burger and chips which was great and the boyfriend had fish and chips which looked yummy.
(5)Helmut S.
I love this place! Great food and outstanding service in a comfy dive bar atmosphere. I've been there three times and it's been terrific each time.
(5)Daniel N.
FOOD: 5 stars - Southwestern Burger with natural cut fries. 1/2lb burger with cheese, chorizo and guacamole. Fish and homemade chips. Everything was good, especially the burger and homemade chips. Husband said the fish tasted like the fish and chips he's had in the UK. Everything tasted and looked homemade. Portion size for price was also good. DRINK: 3 stars - Bloody Mary and Margarita. Both were good but not great. The $5 price each was great though. SERVICE: 4 stars - Our server seemed new but she was very friendly, fun and attentive. ENVIRONMENT: 3 stars - The inside seemed very dark so we sat on the back patio which was very quaint and quite beautiful. The neighborhood seemed a bit rough around the edges.
(4)James H.
Historic bar atmosphere, excellent burgers and beer, and additional menu items too, like their spicy Cobb salad their Poutine. Outdoor seating, (dog friendly), a grade A dive bar!
(5)Irene F.
After today's food and service ! Was the worst I ever had, still trying to figure out how I got charged 18 for a fry between two people. The wings came out undercooked, my wings and my friends. Weren't crispy or cooked like how it usually is.. They were pink and bleeding . It was hard to get the waitress attention cause she was busy flirting with the regulars ! Also , when we ordered the wings the waitress told us the price of them?? Ok we are looking at the menu- how insulting ! Will not be back ever, I used to really enjoy this place.
(1)Nelson A.
I want to like this place so bad....they have great food. However the terrible service isn't worth it. I am writing this review as I'm being ignored by the bartenders in an empty bar. I definitely recommend ordering online on grub hub to avoid the horrible service at this place. I'm a Chef and this is unacceptable. I would've fired this crew long time ago because I have never gotten excellent service here. So to anyone wanting to enjoy a night at the bar, you won't enjoy yourself here. If you want to try the food, (which I highly recommend) order online. I've seen the bad reviews on the food, but I haven't had anything bad here yet.
(2)Sarah H.
Really amazing food at great prices. They also have some amazing Daily Specials. We had the Western burger and a grilled cheese adorn with 5 cheeses, bacon, and tomato. My Bloody Mary and Jagerbomb both tasted strange. The Jagerbomb tasted as If it was mixed with club soda and the bloody mary tasted off. So, the five stars is soley for the food alone. I cant really downgrade for the quality of drinks because they were rather cheap. If I go again I'm sticking with beer.
(5)Jessie Elizabeth J.
Came here for the Black Hawks game with my bo. We had a groupon and didn't know what to expect. Service was friendly and natural. Ordered two beers and jalepeno poppers as our app-delicious! They actually put a good amount of cream cheese in the poppers and they were served with a spicy cream dip as well. We also ordered the Irish burger, which comes topped with swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and corned beef, and the me gusta burger, which came with pepperjack, bacon, hot peppers, and sriracha sauce. The pub was very busy for the game and had a lot of take out orders as well. When we asked for the eta on our burgers, our waitress apologized and gave us two beers on the house! Our burgers showed up right after, and they were delicious! Great fries, both sweet potato and regular. I saved the spicy dip from our poppers for dipping. Burgers were juicy and full of delicious toppings. Waitress was very friendly and warm. Atmosphere is of a hole-in-the-wall pub but with amazing service and food. We'll definitely be back :]
(5)Amy H.
What a fun local bar! We went there for lunch (with a groupon) and got the southwestern burger, poutine, and the meatloaf dish. Food was good. There was plenty to eat and the quality was good. It seemed like there was a lot of regulars there and the bartender was very friendly. She refilled our beers and gave everyone a shot of the apple flavored crown royle without any cost! Though she was also drinking and when entering my groupon code, dropped my phone; I forgave her and tipped generously as she gave us free alcohol. It was a fun little discovery and I'll surely be back for drinks there.
(4)Scott W.
The quality and quantity of food was beyond expectations. A dozen of us ordered items from across the menu to be delivered to our work place on a Sunday night at midnight. The order arrived within an hour, with no order discrepancies. Everyone's meal that was to be delivered hot, arrived hot. Deserts and salsas were delivered packaged separately, just the way it's suppose to. Everyone enjoyed their meal and are looking forward to another order soon. On the other hand, Eat24, Yelp's online ordering system has a great deal of room for improving a multiple party order. I would suggest that the "group boss" be able to set minimum tip amounts and include delivery charges in each persons transaction. At the very least be able to view specific tip amounts paid by each individual. This system has potential, but it requires to much attention by the person organizing the order.
(5)Dan A.
Have ordered through GH several times. The first 7-10 times I got outstanding food very quickly. The last 2 times I ordered, and the reason for only 3 stars, is that they delivered about 10 minutes outside their already long window of 1.25 hours (I ordered at 8p, they said it'd get there at 9:15p, it got there 9:30p) and when it arrived, it was cold as ice. Not sure if that's on GH or on Polk Street, but either way, uncool. That said... best burger in town in my opinion. Ask for the fries "crispy"!
(3)Jonathan S.
The worst chicken I ever had. Threw all the food out. Some of the chicken wings were overcooked, or less cooked. Also, I doubt that they seasoned the tender chicken at all. Waste of 25 bucks. I would never recommend this place.
(1)Adri B.
Just ordered delivery: This is the SADDEST, most DEPRESSING burger I've ever seen! :( And the fries are soggy and lifeless. :'( I am sooooooooooooooo disappointed. :(
(1)Julia G.
This is a really fun dive bar with some great drink specials and really delicious food!!! My car broke down on our way into the city, so we were able to get it to the Midas nearby and had about an hour to kill while they worked on it. This bar was in walking distance so we figured it'd be a nice place to check out. I was slightly intimidated when we first entered because there were posters everywhere stating "Official Blackhawks bar" and Mike and I were decked out in our Minnesota Wild attire, matching hats & all! We sat at the bar and the bartenders were super friendly and nice. We both got a $3 domestic beer, great price! You could tell that they get a lot of locals at this bar and I think that's what makes it so neat and the atmosphere is very comfortable. The sampler platter that we decided to split had chicken tenders, wings, potato skins, a chicken roll and an irish roll. We were also given chips & salsa to start with; I really like that they delivered those to us first so we could munch on them while the rest of our food was being made. Everything was delicious! The salsa was just the right amount of spicy & perfectly chunky. The chips were crisp and baked. The chicken tenders were lightly breaded and crispy, while the wings were spicy & tender. My favorite item on the platter was probably the Irish roll. It's really cheesy and unique. We left completely stuffed and unable to even finish our entire platter. Great atmosphere, fabulous service, affordable prices, and mouth watering food- YUM! I am entirely satisfied with the experience I had here & I'm very sad I can't be a local there!!!! If only this pub were in my backyard!
(5)Jared P.
I love this place, even if I haven't been here in ages. I used to meet a friend of mine here all the time because it was a halfway meet. The bartenders are friendly, although the beers kind of expensive for a dive bar. I've had burgers, nachos, and salads here. The salads are meh, but the burgers and nachos are banging. It's a cool crowd and you see some interesting douches come in from the strip joint next door. I say...try it if you're in the area.
(4)phillip h.
Not sure how they got so many stars unless they are padding the reviews. the stew was OK. Prices are a little high for a "dive bar" type of place and small cup sized bowl. The bar tender was really nice or I probably would have done 1-star. When they open the door to the basement, a moldy/stale beer smell comes blowing into the bar. My Guinness tasted like the taps were a bit dirty. I did not finish it or complain. Just decided to pay my bill and leave.
(2)David R.
Good food. Good service. Good prices. Music a bit too loud! Nice pub atmosphere. Easy street side parking. Liked the beer selection too. Philly cheese steak and Blt good choice.
(4)Jessie C.
This place is disgusting behind the bar. Men are constantly using the female bathrooms. The waitress/bartenders attitudes are awful and rude. Never coming there again!
(1)Kayla A.
Never actually step inside this joint. This review is solely based on their delivery service and their food. I love love love their Fire Cobb Salad. They put so much love into the salad. Who doesn't want bacon and chicken strips in their salad? *sigh* I'm craving for this salad just by writing this review! My kids love their appetizer, jumbo chicken strips with teriyaki sauce. My husband loves everything from this place. We have tried almost everything from the menu. yes, we are frequent delivery customer! Their delivery also fast, although i did have one bad experience but it was solely a bad service from grubhub. I placed an order through grubhub and 15 minutes later i realized that i forgot to order something for my kids. So i called the restaurant right away and they said they haven't received any order from me! I was extremely mad. Later i found out that grubhub have a delayed order system. Basically, when you place the order online, grubhub didn't send the order to the restaurant right away. And in my case, i guess grubhub probably forgot. Long story cut into short, since that grubhub accident, i usually call the restaurant to place the order. Or ask my husband to stop by to grab dinner for us. Will definitely go back here again, maybe twice a week now?
(5)Steve L.
This is now literally my favorite bar in Chicago! The staff here are so friendly and generous and make you feel like home and welcome. love this place to death!!
(5)Rose P.
The food was decent. Unfortunately the waitress had trouble hearing and messed up the order twice. The service was not too great since we have to go look for the waitress...
(4)Sara L.
Wings...check...beer...check...great service..check Nothing excites me more than a place with cheap wings and cheap beer...well maybe free money! The boyfriend and I stumbled upon this gem of a place while looking for a place to watch the Blackhawks during the playoffs. At first we were kinda like umm this area looks kinda deserted and maybe we shouldn't go here since 5 squad cars of cops pulled up to the front of the door. Lo and behold the cops just wanted to eat and watch the game too. I guess we found the safest bar in Chicago then. The wings were tasty and only .40 cents a wing with 4 dollar ciders. It was a no brainer we would be coming back here again! There are several tvs all around the bar, so need to worry about missing any of the action. To be honest, this place was a lot better than we expected. Who knew great wings would be found next door to the Pink Monkey!
(4)Amber A.
It was past midnight & we were hungry up in our hotel room, what to do, what to do? After calling several places for delivery only to find out they were all open but no longer delivering, my boyfriend found this place online. We called to ask if they would deliver to our hotel and the man on the phone nicely said he would check and call us back, which he did, and said that they do not normally service our hotel a couple miles away by Michigan Ave, but they would still come anyways. Awesome! We ended up ordering the B(e)LT Meal with fries, the small order of buffalo wings, and some customized fries (philly cheesesteak, Nacho cheese chili , and bacon). After completing our order, we were told that they usually do cash only but they accepted our card over the phone because we were a little short on physical money (who carries that now a days anyways?) lol. We were so happy that we found this place. The service was so awesome from being so patient and making an exception for two hungry visitors from California. The man was very nice to us over the phone so I thank him for extreme great customer service.wait time for delivery was 40 minutes. When we received our food it was actually past closing time, at 2:15am. Once again I thank this place for servicing us even though it was actually past their operating hours. Moving on to the FOOD the bacon egg lettuce tomato was hearty and they did not skimp on the bacon or give us a puny egg. It was packed, although on mine it didn't include any actual lettuce. They might have left it out to make sure it didn't wilt from the heat in the box though, no biggie. The fries- I was a little disappointed because they were a bit soggy, but once again, there was so much condensation in the box from enclosing a freshly cooked food item it was understandable. However, I think everyone should request crispy fries, just in case. The buffalo wings were yummy with delicious tasty sauce and ranch on the side. We didn't know if they were boneless or not, but that was our fault we didn't clarify that they were not boneless. The customized fries were very good, tasteful meat and a good amount of toppings. The bacon is REAL and not McDonald's fake so that's awesome. Once again fries could have been way crispier. Overall we were very pleased with this place for going out of the way for us! Be made clear, this is in no way a 5 star restaurant, it is a pub, and it serves yummy late night finger licking good food for people who are either drunk or late night munchers like we are. So, if you are looking for a late night eat with good value and service to enjoy in your home, hotel, or at the actual pub, I highly suggest this place! :)
(5)Dan A.
I ordered food from Polk Street Pub on Grubhub because I heard the food was good. Everything came cold. Not a single thing was warm. I don't even live that far from Polk Street pub. I ordered Buffalo Wings which were good. They forgot my drink all together. The Philly Cheese steak was the worst sandwich I have ever had. 1. They forgot to put the cheese in the cheese steak. 2. The sandwich was cold. 3. The steak was gross. Hard to bite into, no flavor. I threw it out after the second bite. I usually don't give bad reviews, but this was terrible. I do not recommend this.
(1)Marty C.
Try the dirty olive special!!!!! It's delicious and you won't regret it. All you have to do is ask the bartender. They know the deal!!! Do the right thing!!!!
(5)Jim B.
Great local bar!!! Friendly people and good food!! Awesome lil bar with great specials daily!
(5)Lisa M.
loved this place. had a groupon so we tried it for dinner/Bulls game & will go back! great beer selection. the girls working were AH-mazing. the bbq rootbeer wings are not to be missed. great menu with lots to offer, cant wait to go back for a burger & mashed potatoes!
(5)Jeff H.
Great little out of the way bar. Yes it is next door to a strip club but nothing else for 5/6blocks from there. Dark (good) beer cold (good) wings monday 50cents (good). Great place where nothing else is close to it. Marki great bartender always happy. TVs for all your sport watching needs Hawks Bears Sox Cubs. Had to put cubs last
(4)Feats I.
This place is so much fun, the bartender Kristen made us feel at home the whole time we were here the food is excellent the drinks are good the bartenders are good .haveo much fun this is a real nice place to come to make sure you ask for Kristin she knocks me out..
(4)S.E. A.
Very good burger & cider. Cool back patio.
(4)Ryne D.
I love wings. I mean, I'll practically eat anything, and there are a whole lot of different cuisines I like, but if I had to choose just one food as #1, it'd have to be wings. Polk Street Pub is amazing to me because the number of days a week they have wing specials outnumber those without. What?? I came here with the girlfriend for a Hawks playoff game, coincidentally along with a dozen of Chicago's finest. I was happy to see that, because PSP is in a rather empty part of the city, with the only other business nearby being a strip club. It is nice because PSP isn't too far from where I live, but even just walking there or back past dark is kind of shady. But hey, for cheap wings ($.40 each on special), I'd walk through a lot worse places than the empty part of the West Loop, and the wings here weren't bad, nor were the beer specials. I can't really say PSP will be my main bar, nor would it be someplace I'd want to go hang out at on the regular. But, given that I can go there and have a 4/7 chance at cheap wings (after 3pm), PSP is a pretty solid option.
(3)Melissa D.
This place is fantastic!! The burgers are huge and juicy. The Irish spring rolls are to die for. The staff is friendly and attentive. And they deliver. What more could you ask for??
(5)Katie S.
After a Monday Night Bears game at Soldier Field a friend and I were looking for some place to grab some appetizers. Obviously everything closes super early in the loop and since it was already 10:30 at night our options were limited. She mentioned that Polk Street is near where we parked and after looking it up I saw they were open until 2am. Walking in I could tell it was definitely a place for locals. The bartenders knew most the customers by name. We sat at the bar and ordered Cheese Fries and Chicken Tenders. The cheese fries were made with fresh potatoes and were a thicker cut. They were perfectly salted and the cheese was very delicious. It was liquid cheese not shredded melted cheese. The portion was huge for $5!! The chicken tenders were very good as well and you can choose from BBQ, Buffalo, or Teriyaki; we got BBQ. It was sweet like a honey bbq and I am a BWW fan and these def gave them a run for their money. I was obviously still in my Bears gear and the people were super friendly. The guy next to me at the bar asked about the game, etc. It had a small-town feel which is great for being in such a big city, especially since we were basically in the loop, (or just outside). The cheese fries will definitely bring me back to this pub if I am in the area. Music selection was great! TV's over bar area were very convenience too.
(3)Andy B.
Good value. We will definitely come back. I like the low-key relaxed atmosphere for a neighborhood pub. Sat down at 7:30 on a Friday night, no problem. The only reason for the sub-par review is that the $9 fish fry was pretty soft. I think it was haddock, which is just not great, in my opinion (I prefer a firm cod). However, breading was tasty and well done, and fries were above average; kind of the natural cut kind. Beers are reasonable ($4 for a 312) and an above-average selection of bottles. I expect to write more 3-4 star reviews in the future for this place, but want to make the stars mean something. I can't wait to try a burger here that I am reading from other reviews.
(2)Leang E.
I'm glad this place is not close to where I live. I kind of wish it was my neighborhood bar. It's this small dive, but it's so awesome. The bar food is really good. My burger was DE-licious! It was so unexpected because the guacamole and the seasoning in the burger was such a great combination of flavors. The wings were also good, not overly sour or on the saltier side. My firecracker salad was also spectacular the next day, and the portions are to my liking. It's a great spot to watch games and anything on tv basically. The staff is so friendly and accommodating and let you watch what you want from shows on tv to requested sports games. They have specials as well. I would love to come back. I keep thinking about this burger and wings...
(5)Justin B.
Ordered food from here online. Food never showed. No call, nothing. Ridiculous. Don't take online orders if you can't even deliver the food. You don't get to do one and not the other.
(1)Phyllis K.
This place blew me away for these reasons: 1. Excellent bloody mary. I even warned the waitress I'm a bloody mary snob, but a few minutes later out she came with a nicely spiced glass with a skewer of cheese, pickles, and BACON! 2. The staff is extremely friendly and make you want to stay there forever and chat away with them. 3. The outdoor patio. 4. THE FOOD! I came in for the corned beef hash and left a very happy woman.
(5)Grace S.
Great bang for your buck! I recently went to dinner here thanks to yelp! It was awesome! When you first walk in, you are definitely concerned because the place has that dingy bar feel/smell. However, the tables, floor, etc were all very clean. Wait staff was fun and had a great sarcastic but friendly attitude. (My type of people) For food we started off with the Irish Rolls. They were very tasty! Next came French Onion soup with a side salad. Also, quite good. For entrees I had the Black Jack Burger with grilled onions....can you say delicious!?!?!?! My friend had a burger with blue cheese on it, I did not catch the name, and a side of onion rings. My table also got 1 dozen wings because Monday is $0.40 wing night. (6 wing minimum order) ALL OF THIS FOOD WAS $31.00!!!! Insanely cheap! They have not updated their online menu in a bit so what is online is not everything they serve! The food was amazing and definitely exceeds your expectations. They have a bunch of drink/food specials throughout the week and live music too. I will definitely be returning. If you are a UIC student that often frequents Taylor St you should try this place out to switch it up a bit. I promise that it will be well worth heading across the highway.
(5)Jeremy T.
Come for the delicious burgers. Stay for the drunk people watching. I came here because of the groupon. I though the burgers were great. The beef is very juicy. The first time I came here I had one of the best burger of my life (no shitting). After that the experience declined. Don't get me wrong the burgers were still good. The beer selection isn't that large, but I caters to the titty bar crowd next door. I've only gotten 312, but they seemed to have a couple of other good beers on tap. I would love this place if it weren't for the drunken crowd. This bar is littered with drunk guys in their mid-30s trying to recapture youth by way to naked women next door. I wouldn't mind it so much if the waitresses weren't so preoccupied with them. Instead of focusing on sober patrons, they rather flirt with all the drunk guys. This becomes very annoying very fast. With the blink of an eye this bar will become filled with so many loud drunks it becomes very uncomfortable. Then they'll leave and soon another similar crowd will come in. Overall, its an alright dive bar with juicy burgers and ok beer.
(3)Kristin S.
This is our go-to spot for burgers. They really don't get much better and we've tried to entertain the big names and long waits, but what's the point? I love the divey feel. Everyone is welcome here. It's just easy at Polk Street and we appreciate that. Easy to park, easy service, and easy to expect consistently good pub food. The onion rings are awesome, fries equally as good, and the soups are homemade. Not a huge fan of their wings but only because of personal preference. Steak sandwiches are great too. Thanks for keeping it real here. No need for another gimmicky burger spot in Chicago. It's overplayed.
(5)Tom S.
This used to be my spot about 5 years ago. 5 stars then. However, a lot has changed since then. Different chef - food quality has gone down quite a bit. The bartenders aren't nearly as friendly and fun as the used to be. Still the only bar in the neighborhood so I'm sure I'll still frequent the place.
(3)Andy M.
A nice little bar tucked in hidden part of the city. Nothing too special about this place and many places in burbs look just like it. it is next to a gentlemens club and I am sure there is some spill over from there.
(2)Frank I.
We are still discovering the area around University Village and the local Yelpers steered us here. This place is definitely one that I will keep in my places to visit when I want a sandwich. I can't remember the name of the burger I had but it had a fried egg on it. It was excellent. The meat was juicy, the egg was cooked right, and the onion rings were nice and crispy. It was a definite home run. The decor looks a little like a dive but it is part of the whole picture, don't judge the book by the cover. I am waiting for the weather to break so I can dine in their patio. Definitely going back.
(4)Paul R.
The Farmhouse burger was good, I would have liked it better if it was prepared medium like I ordered it vs. well done. Beer could have been colder. We sat outside and were very diapointed that people were allowed to smoke, which is against the law in any outdoor seating area or indoors. There was also a lot o unsightly clutter outside.
(2)Moises A.
I was looking for a bite to eat after work and this place had some good reviews so checked it out. I was not expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. The Bartender Jon was friendly and pretty attentive. I ordered the black jack burger which was delicious. The beef was tender and well seasoned. Along with a side of fries it was a good dinner. Also 40 cent wings on Sunday! Not a bad deal
(4)Matthew M.
I am moving to Chicago in January. I was just kinda walking around while apt searching when I saw the Pub on Polk. I figured a double Makers on the rocks would hit the spot. Holy Shit four hours later I left pleasantly buzzed and full. I am a bartender so I appreciate a great place when I see it. The food was perfect, it's a pub, nothing more nothing less. The bartender was an absolute doll. She kept my shot glass full and kinda told me about some cool places to go in Chicago. This bar offers a stiff drink, great prices and awesome service. As someone who lives in Washington DC I am used to crap service. What I got at the Polk was HOSPITALITY. Period. I cannot wait til my move next month so I can be a regular. Flawless. I just hope they have a huge Bourbon stockpile cause I am going to crush it.
(5)John E.
We were in town for a conference from New Orleans, and were looking for a fun place to hang out. We found this to be a real good bar with a WAY friendly staff and ridiculously good bar food. My only critique is that when we walked up, the entrance looks like a place where you will get killed inside when a drug deal goes wrong. But if you brave the hostile curb-appeal factor, the inside of the bar is actually pretty damn awesome.
(4)Aidan G.
My wife wrote a review, but left out a couple of things I thought were important. The cheese fries are NOT frozen fried drenched with canned cheese sauce the minute they came out of the oil. Instead they were hand-cut fries, cooked well, and covered with a mixture of cheeses - both dry and oily, salt and sharp, creating a flavorful coating for the fries. I was impressed. The menu is inventive and packed with real food. There really is something for everyone. From the apple wood smoked bacon BLT with an over-easy egg to a burger topped with a crab cake, there were little surprises at every turn. The bar was far from empty, but at 9:30 at night the atmosphere was not unruly. People were talking, laughing, listening to music, watching the Sox game, eating, drinking...it was like the old neighborhood pubs of my childhood, only with better food. Now I'm hungry for more of those cheese fries...
(5)Bpower W.
Service was truly exceptional. I tried the egg belt. Very good. Even though we were there with a groupon the service was fantastic.
(4)David S.
In a day when everyting has pretense - this is a place that doesn't. Came in by almost having an accident and had a buck fifty Old Style and was stunned. Thought it may be expensive but it aint!! I will explore the food on the next review
(5)Charlotte M.
Love this place....good food, good service, and good deals! I am not a bar person and was actually kind of scared to go into this place at first, but it's a really nice and friendly place to go.
(5)Lawrence C.
So this used to be our after work watering hole all through the 90's when my office was right across the street. So a group of about 30 or so of us that used to work together decided to do a reunion and Polk Stret Pub was a fitting location. Now when we went in the 90's it was basically a dump, dive bar. Don't get me wrong, I love a good dive bar now and again. So when I got there last week the whole place had changed. TV's everywhere, more than one bartender, crowded and a whole outdoor patio area. They had a real menu with a lot of good stuff on it. My wife had Chicken Fingers which were good and I had the Rueben sandwich which I thought was really good. If you are in the area of Jefferson and Polk and feel like a beer and a good sandwich I would recommend this place. Everyone I was with made comments on how much they have changed the place.
(4)Mike K.
Eight years. That's how long it took me to finally step foot in this place after hundreds of trips up and down Clinton and Jefferson. Funny enough, Polk Street Pub is located on Polk Street between Clinton and Jefferson in a "neighborhood" that falls through the cracks. It's not the South Loop per se. It's not the West Loop per se. And it's certainly not Printer's Row or University Village. I think Concrete Wasteland is more apt. It's adjacent to the Pink Monkey (such a subtle double entendre) and a mechanic's shop. Otherwise, the area is pretty much abandoned buildings and concrete. Entered the pub on a bright afternoon and found a very dark bar with five or six guys at the bar. The only people working were an Eastern European woman tending the bar and serving and a cook. Another Eastern European woman was doing the books. I bet the boys like both of them. Anyway, I wanted to check out the patio I heard about from a couple women at the salon where I used to get my hair cut down the street. In order to get to the patio, you have to walk through the kitchen. It's not like the kitchen jaunt in "Swingers," and no hands were shaken or samples taken. The patio has vines that go up the fence on the left and the wall on the right. It probably would look better when the vines bloom to give you a little taste of Wrigley and to make you feel like you're not in an alley, which is straight to the back. They need to put up some kind of gate to block the view of the alley, as it doesn't enhance things. You also have an obstructed view of the Sears Tower. I wouldn't put this patio on any top 10 lists, but I can see it being cozy. As for the fare, I got the chicken fingers for the appetizer and the blackened burger for the main dish. The chicken fingers had a home made breading on them and were made from fresh (not frozen) chicken and were served with barbecue sauce. Top notch. The burger came with cheddar and bacon and was 1/3 pound at least. The burger was pretty good, as were the fries. Some might find the blackening to be a bit too spicy. I did not. I give the burger a healthy 7/10 rating. They seem to have pretty good beer specials here. They had $3.50 Stellas on the day I went. That's a deal. Such beers would probably set you back $7-8 elsewhere. I think they had the same price on Bass pints as well. The bathroom in here is a one man jobber. That's sufficient for a place this size. And it was clean. Don't underestimate a clean bathroom. They seem to have ample TVs, with at least one of them tuned to soccer related programming. I like that. And they also have a digital juke box. "Something" was playing on it as I walked out. How apt. The bass part in that song was nailed. Polk Street Pub isn't a destination and isn't in the greatest location, but it's worth checking out for specials, a burger and the chicken tenders if you're in the area. It's 3 1/2 stars. I'll round up for the local.
(4)Rachel E.
I was dying for wings. Cheap wings. And my original destination was too crowded. I turned to my new favorite website ( smalltabs.com ), and there it was listed in the Wednesday night specials... Polk Street Pub. Let's start by saying yes this bar is next to The Pink Monkey and yes there doesn't seem to be much else around, but believe me when I say the bar is definitely worth stepping in the door. The wings, which are .25 cents on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, are very good. Plus they aren't those tiny little babay wings places usually give out during the wing special days. The drinks are pretty cheap (five and under), and the atmosphere is perfect if you want to go out with some friends and not be disturbed with annoying crowds or crappy music. I can't vouch for every night, but the music from the jukebox on Wednesday was pretty decent oldies. I walked in and Bob Dylan was playing followed by David Bowie, then Pink Floyd, thus I was pleasantly surprised. Service was nice. The bartender was my favorite kind of bartender. A middle-aged woman who knows her shit, gives great service, and is prompt for refills. It seemed like the kind of bar that would have its regulars, kinda like 'Cheers', haha. So for a chill spot, good food, and cheap drinks, this place is totally worth checking out.
(4)Bob D.
Sunday drinking! I am all for it. Here is how I like my Sunday, get up early, drink a lot of coffee, go to Maxwell street, eat tamale in the style of oaxaca, then a couple of beverages, and just relax the rest of the day. Normally, I will go to Binny's near Maxwell and get my drink on, but I just found the Polk street Pub. Easy choices, .25 wings, $1.00 burgers on pretzel rolls, and a couple of decent beer specials. The wings good, pretty basic, but cooked to order and no monkey business, I really enjoyed them, I wanted to just order them 1 at a time, but my girl wouldn't allow that. We started with six, the usuall acoutrements, celery, carrot, blue cheese dressing, a good wing. The guy next to me got the burger, it looked excellent, a nice golden pretzel bun, and a thick patty.
(4)Kate F.
Polk Street Pub is hands down one of my absolute favorite spots in Chicago. Just two blocks south of the Clinton Blue line stop...you will not be disappointed here. First let's start with the food... The soup specials every day are incredible. The burgers(order them with the pretzel bun) are melt-in-your-mouth and huge. The fish, of the fish and chips, tastes so fresh it could have come from the market that day. The fries are obviously hand cut and never overcooked. The wings are large with a housemade hot sauce. Very good. The reuban was just way too big! I could only eat half! Chili in a sourdough bread bowl. Comes with onion, sour cream, and cheese on the side. A good choice when you aren't too hungry. I've had more to eat from here but I can't remember all of it. It is all very very very good. Drink specials are decent. I think they have $1.50 old style cans on Thursday? I wish this special was on Tuesday...my favorite night at Polk st. Tuesday is the night they have a DJ playing old funk and rock on turntables. The atmosphere is typical of a pub...wood tables and chairs, mirrors everywhere, a few big screen tvs for sports. They have a really nice back patio in the summer. The sears tower is the view back there. The bartenders are very friendly and attractive. Not that they need to be attractive. I am sure everyone would still come in there even if they weren't. The tenders are all Czech, Polish, Russian, Brazilian, and American. I may be wrong on all those nationalities, but I'm close. I really do think this is the hidden gem in the south loop/UIC area. I'm really surprised the students don't hang out here. Most of the patrons are working class loop people. The late afternoons and evenings can be quite a great mix! I do hope more people discover this place.
(5)Jane T.
I never knew this place existed ... and it's so close! I went here for a late lunch with my sister and there were a few tables of patrons. We were able to grab a table right away. I ordered a buffalo chicken salad and my sister ordered a burger. I really should've tried their burger but I was in a salad mood. The salad was ok, but the chicken was amazing which led me to believe that their buffalo chicken sandwich must be delicious. What I liked most about this place was the atmosphere - it actually felt like I was here on a lazy Saturday afternoon, when in fact, it was a Monday. Love the funk/soul/oldies songs they played too. Street parking is ample as well. This is a great dive bar and I'll definitely be back soon.
(4)Steve D.
I wound up here because the Yelp T&A outing at the Pink Monkey nudie bar adjacent (on Clinton St.) wasn't beginning until 10:00 pm. (No, I am not going to review the Pink Monkey. Someone else's review of it - from this night - has already been the RotD.) Polk Street Bar is a 'slashie' in camoflauge. In addition to an on-premise license, it also has a package (off-premise) license. It knows the scenario of the Pink Monkey. Where it makes its profit (most likely) is in sales of bottles of distilled spirits which will be ported over there. Subsequently, its on-premise prices are _a superb value for the money_. On this Saturday night, people, 16-oz. drafts of _New Belgium Fat Tire_ were $3.50 {see photo}. If that doesn't torpedo fancy-schmancy profiteering bars on Buena Ave. trying to get $5.50 for a glass of Metropolitan Brwg.'s beer, nothing shall [i.e: Guess how much Fat Tire would cost there.]. While there, someone dressed in a line chef's uniform walked in. It occurred to me that perhaps he was working the kitchen for _both_ venues. Polk Street itself is a commonplace bar owned and operated by two females, one of whom is from the Czech Republic. There are two TV sets, subscribed to RCN cable {I believe.}. It's a moderate-capacity room. Because it is literally in a desolate area, where hardly anybody goes who does not have any business at the Pink Monkey, the conviviality of the other bar patrons breaks down social barriers. (I suspect the performers at the Pink Monkey wind up here after their shifts.) I'll even go so far as to scrawl that if you are a fugitive from justice, you could hide out here. It would be a while before the authorities think of looking for you here. [YMMV] So be a trail blazer. Go here, even if you have no intention of venturing into the Pink Monkey. I was in here for about an hour, and I love the place. Five stars. ^-Bang-^ Transit options: The Blue Line "L"'s Clinton station is three blocks north. The #60 Blue Island|26th bus runs all the time; and its stop is at Harrison & Clinton, two blocks north. The #38 Ogden|Taylor route runs weekday daylight hours only, if you want to visit here for lunch. The southbound stop is at Clinton & Polk; the northbound stop is at _Canal_ & Polk. [But this route also serves the Italian beef and lemonade stands on Taylor St., so you may be tempted to ride by.]
(5)Matt P.
Great specials. Rogue Dead Guy @ $4, and total dive bar. You know what that sounds like? WINNING. It's actually really interesting people watching.
(4)Andrew A.
I just love Justina, Sabrina & Angelica during lunch. I'm my most stressed, and they put all that to rest while I'm there.
(5)