Rocking Horse
2535 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647
Rocking Horse Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Diabetics at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets serves burgers which are generally high in sodium and fat. Ensure that you pick the burgers which are light and doesn't contain too much sodium. Try ordering salads if you're concerned about your sugar intake and looking for healthy choices.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for Diabetics:
Johnny Rockets is a fine dining place for burgers, but you must be selective if you're a diabetic. Skip all kinds of dressing when you order a burger at Johnny Rockets as it will only spike the sodium content on your meal. Salads are often considered diabetic-friendly but not the ones at Johnny Rockets. Avoid Crispy Chicken Club Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as they are too high in sodium and fat.
Make sure you opt for water instead of the drinks available on the Johnny Rockets menu. Besides Diet Coke and Coffee, most of the drinks served at Johnny Rockets are high in sugar. Skip the shakes at Johnny Rockets to avoid high sugar intake. Breakfast is always preferred heavy for diabetics but most of the breakfast items on the Johnny Rockets menu are high in sodium and must be avoided.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Johnny Rockets:
Rocket Single Burger (1 Serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Bacon Cheddar Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 280mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Double Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 410 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 320mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Original Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 590mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea (8 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sweet Potato Fries, Side (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 370mg sodium, 30g carbs, 10g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side of Fries (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 460mg sodium, 30g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Chicago for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Fast-food restaurants are your last resort if you are suffering from high BP. Most fast food restaurants including Johnny Rockets offer foods rich in sodium. High sodium intake can be even lethal for people concerned with high blood pressure. However, you can always try the salads or choose food without any extra dressing or side dishes to limit your sodium intake.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Blood Pressure
It is extremely important to avoid any kind of burgers with extra dressing at Johnny Rockets. You must also skip any kind of breakfast items except Pancakes at Johnny Rockets. Also, avoid Breakfast Belt Sandwich and Rocket Breakfast Burger at Johnny Rockets as both these items are too high in sodium. Also, avoid Crispy Chicken Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as well as any kind of dressing on other low-sodium salads available at Johnny Rockets. Skip shakes containing Oreo on the Johnny Rockets menu as Oreo shakes served at Johnny Rockets are high in sodium.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Strawberry Chocolate Swirl Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 810 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 30g), 300mg sodium, 90g carbs, 90g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Rocket Single Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 150 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 260mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 70 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 110mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Apple Juice (10 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 30mg sodium, 30g carbs, 30g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
High Cholesterol at Johnny Rockets
Burgers fall into the fast-food category and most fast-food items are high in cholesterol. If you're suffering from high cholesterol, then it is advised that you skip any meal with excessive fat and sugar.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Cholesterol
You must skip all types of dressing on your burger. Also, avoid burgers like Smoke House Burger at all costs from Johnny Rockets menu. Skip all the drinks except coffee, iced tea, and diet coke as they are completely unhealthy for people with high cholesterol. Breakfast items on Johnny Rockets are very high in cholesterol and it is strictly recommended to avoid all the breakfast items on their menu including the sandwiches.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Johnny Rockets
Kids Cappuccino Crunch Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 740 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 20g), 310mg sodium, 100g carbs, 80g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Black Bean Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Spicy Houston Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 700mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Kids Banana Shake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 560 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat20g), 190mg sodium, 60g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Johnny's Breakfast Sandwich (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 230mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Q & A on Johnny Rockets
Who owns Johnny Rockets?
Johnny Rockets is founded by Ronn Teitelbaum. Today, the restaurant chain is owned by Sun Capital Partners.
Does Johnny Rockets serve breakfast?
Yes, Johnny Rockets has a separate breakfast section, especially for breakfast meal. Johnny Rockets serves breakfast all day and night.
Where is Johnny Rockets located near me?
There are over 320 Johnny Rockets outlets across the United States. You can find a Johnny Rockets restaurant nearby using our Restaurant Listings directory.
What time does Johnny Rockets open and close?
All Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States opens at 8 AM and stays open till 9 PM. Some Johnny Rockets restaurants stay open till midnight at some locations.
Does Johnny Rockets have gluten-free?
Johnny Rockets offers a wide range of gluten-free items. You can opt for the gluten-free bun to turn your burger into a gluten-free burger. For assurance, you can check out Johnny Rockets gluten-free menu.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a restaurant franchise headquartered in the United States. The American restaurant chain features 1950s diner-style restaurant format with individual jukebox stations, red vinyl seats, chrome accents, etc. There are around 320 Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States.
Ron Teitelbaum from Los Angeles, California founded Johnny Rockets as a recreation of the 1940s vintage themed malt shops of his childhood. The first Johnny Rockets began its operations on June 6, 1986. Johnny Rockets specializes in American burgers and sandwiches as well as offers salads, starters, and shakes to enrich your dining experience at Johnny Rockets.
Healthy Food Options at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a fast-food restaurant and finding healthy food at Johnny Rockets can be a bit tricky. While you can always opt for the salads and healthy shakes at Johnny Rockets for healthy options, there are also some healthy burgers and sandwiches which you can bet on. Ensure that the sugar, sodium, and cholesterol is in check when you order food at Johnny Rockets.
-
Address :
2535 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL, 60647 - Phone (773) 486-0011
- Website https://www.rockinghorsechicago.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Music : Juke Box
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Zach Z.
The atmosphere was ALMOST hippie but not quite there. They had a bunch of different types of beer which was awesome, but there was something a bit off about the place. Ohh I remember it was the noise. Because it was so small and they cram so many people in there it became hard to hear what someone was saying even a few feet away. Nice local dive though
(3)R J.
Someone said they have awesome tater tots and they were right -I couldn't resist topping them with brown gravy and cheese. I gotta get in shape... My ribeye sandwich with onions etc and chimichurri sauce on the side was a positive surprise. Loved the Bell's Oberon beer special price and even more, the Brooklyn Main Engine. Brooklyn, Three Floyds, and Bells -my 3 favorite food groups. 6pm, the place was just getting revved up, perfect bartender service. I'm a fan and will be back. Above-average pub food with great beer, all at a reasonable price with good service. I'm too old to go at 11pm on a Saturday night, but I bet this place is packed with furry dudes then.
(4)Anna W.
Hipster central! Every annoying stereotype was here. Well, we came here instead of Estrella Negra after being told of their unreasonable 1hr wait. Good choice! There was a wait here as well, but it was more along the lines of a reasonable 20 minutes. Plus there is a bar where you could get your choice of many beers. I got a tasty Dogfish Head. I have a feeling that if I wasn't drinking beer that night, the bartenders still could have made me some tasty drinks. Food: Appetizers (shared between 4) Fried Green Tomatoes: Well cooked, perfect texture and topped with a balsamic reduction and goat cheese. A nice change from the remoulade I am used to coming with Fried Green Tomatoes. Plus, the texture of the breading was very fine- it's a welcome surprise to the gritty cornmeal I am used to coating the tomatoes. Everyone loved this. It was a good size and easily shareable. Kim and Scott's Pretzel basket: I love Kim and Scott's Pretzels to start off with. Great people, great local company, and great pretzels! I was so happy when I saw them on the menu. I thought they were a little on the cold side, but it could have been due to me devouring the tomato first. I thought the mustard that was on the side was a bit typical, especially since it was the only condiment to the appetizer. Not to sound picky, but I think a spicy Dijon would have been perfect. None the less, everyone was happy. Dinner: Mediterranean Wrap w/ Chimmichuri fries (shared with someone): We asked for the chicken on the side (for my sake), and they obliged. As an aside, there was alot of chicken for that sandwich! The sandwich wasn't groundbreaking, but it was pretty good. The fries could have used less oil, I was expecting more flavor out of them. I think it is pretty cool that they have alot of different ways to flavor up your fries. I don't like fries on their own, so I was really pleased to see how many options I had to jazz them up. How can you make it better? Expand your dessert selection. Not to say that you need dessert after the good portion sizes but it needs more than the one item on the menu. Get some Kim and Scott's dessert pretzels! Start and end your meal with one! Just expand that menu!
(4)An P.
Brought to you by High Dive. Rocking Horse is High Dive's Logan Square sister/cousin and if you like High Dive, you're going to love Rocking Horse. I mean seriously, it's almost like walking into the same bar. Alright, granted High Dive recently did a renovation and has a lot more space, but Rocking Horse is almost the same thing! Let's start at beer. Three Floyd's is served on tap and you'll be able to dip into the fine cornucopia of whiskeys if you so choose. An extensive beer and whiskey arsenal will be at your disposal should you choose to get obliterated. The servers are fast and won't leave your glass empty for too long. Do you like tater tots? Let me repeat that: DO YOU LIKE TATER TOTS? Rocking Horse has some great flavor on their seasoned tater tots and you'll never be disappointed. The food here is decent and the drink selection makes this one of Logan Squares best bars in terms of beer alone. Add a nice set up and people who mind their own business and you might just find you new home bar.
(4)Rachael T.
I used to love this place. After three terrible trips in a row I can no longer let the abuse continue. Couldn't believe the disgusting food and TERRIBLE service this final trip. Will never ever ever go back. Overly salty mini burgers, soggy, and I mean soggy bun like there was water spilt on them, and didn't want different food, just wanted it off the bill since we didn't eat it and it was disgusting, waitress refused! Unbelievable. Used to be my favorite local spot...no more.
(1)Rebecca L.
Dinner 8-9-12 This was not our first choice but our first choice had an obnoxiously long wait for a table (2 hours?!). I don't wait that long---there are tons of restaurants. If Rocking Horse were in my neighborhood, I would probably hit it up pretty often but as its off the beaten for me, I will likely not be back---it just isn't the kind of place to travel across a town full of great restaurants for. That being said I am giving them a bump up for the solid food--nothing blew me away but it was all good--AND the $3 beer special which is fan-freaking-tastic. The menu is pretty much the pub food you would expect. Reasonably priced also--there were 3 of us and the tab was $50--thats with an app, 3 dinners AND we all had at least 2 beers. Goat cheese balls--great! Shrimp Po-Boy--solid! Burgers--reported good by friends Ranch tator tots-BOMB Cons-service was not great (she was totally slammed but I get the impression its always that way) and it was very loud. That being said--its basically a bar with food and if you keep your expectations there, you are good.
(4)Naomi J.
Great service. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and offered great recommendations. The food was pretty good. They had a good number of vegetarian option and healthy meals. I had the the fish tacos. They tasted awesome, but I was so hungry I ate them a little too quickly and was still hungry afterward. I would definitely come back here. The atmosphere was relaxed and the service was great.
(4)Doug N.
Holy shit dies this waitress suck. Thanks for removing my empty water; double thanks for not asking if we would like more. I would Love another beer, except that I pretty much have to beg for it. Booooooo.
(1)Kate P.
Love it. Nice lighting, really good bar food - for bar food, nice specials, hip - but friendly staff, decent prices, great location.
(4)Laura G.
I really want to give this place 3.5 stars but I bumped it up to 4 because they took off my friends sandwich because it was too spicy. Which i thought was nice she didn't even ask for that. The service I thought was ok at best. It took a real long time for our wraps and she never came back to check if she liked it or we needed anything. And my friend needed some water real bad. I thought her wrap was really good, a tad spicy but not too bad. I guess she isn't used to spicy foods. My wrap was really good as well. I just love feta so anything with feta in it wins me over. Their fries were also tasty, I like that they give you options. Their beer selection was good too, tuesdays they have Bells on special which I love Bells! So $4 for a Winter White, yes please! It's a nice place, yes maybe a tad hipstery, for a weekend night out it's a pretty relaxed atmosphere. Probably wouldn't spend a Friday or Saturday here, seems kinda boring for that.
(4)Chase M.
The food has been awesome every time I go but the wait staff does a disservice to the chefs. I had a small issue with service a couple months ago but the bartender recovered from it and ended up being a nice guy. I wish I could say the same thing for my server Katie two nights ago. I ordered a beer, they came out and served my girlfriend her beer and told me they had to go in "the back" to find mine. A few minutes later and Katie informed me that they had no more of the beer I ordered. No sweat, I asked for a minute to look over the beer menu again. So after taking a couple minutes to look it over I turned to see where the server was so that I might flag her down (there were only 4 tables seated in the restaurant). Unfortunately she had her backed turned to me and was showing the bartender and other server there videos on her cellphone. After waiting another couple minutes she finally turned and realized I was waiting and came to get my order. I asked her about what the Unibroue Ephemere was like and her answer was, "Oh, uh it's a belgian so um smooth and sweet, you know beer tasting. It's kind of hard to describe the flavor..." I was extremely upset, their beer menu has no descriptions so I don't believe it's unreasonable for me to want to know a beer style. It was under the Belgian and Saison section so I kind of figured out the Belgian part of it on my own. The fact that she actually said "beer tasting" condescendingly to me like I was stupid for asking the question had me sincerely angry. The real kicker is that after a little research at home I found out that the Ephemere is a fruit beer that features apple (I don't like apple tasting beers so I would have been really angry if I had ordered it without her telling me that) I ended up ordering a different beer immediately to get her away from the table before I said something I would regret. To make the matter even worse when she finally came back with my beer they had somehow found the beer I had originally ordered in the first place. It was very unprofessional. After that I had an Ahi Tuna Club that was to die for. That's why it hurts me so bad to give this place a mediocre review. I feel like the place should always be packed based on just how good the burgers are alone. Somebody takes a lot of care in crafting great food and a server makes me so irritated I can hardly enjoy my meal. Somebody puts together a great beer list and Katie can't skip her cellphone video watching time to read a couple bottles so that she can speak to the selection. Your restaurant and your customers deserve much better from the wait staff.
(2)Kenji K.
This is one of my favorite bars in the Logan square area. The atmosphere is wonderful, dimly lit and a candle at each table to make it a little romantic. They have tons of Chicago beers to choose from and any mixed drink that you can think of. Most importantly, they have wonderful food, better than the average bar. They are known for their tater tots. My fiance and I go there mainly to eat the quesadillas and burgers. The pricing is very fair and by far keeps us coming back every so often.
(5)Turdille G.
Ranch flavored tater tots. I'm not sure more needs to be said but I shall...This is a good place to meet up with friends early in the night. If you're lucky to get one of the big booths, you can comfortably seat 6 people. They have a really decent beer list and the food is on the upper end of typical bar fare. They would get another star if they would bring the photo booth back!
(3)Jenna S.
BEST VEGGIE BURGER EVER. Seriously. Even if you're not a vegetarian or you don't normally do the "veggie thing", you have to try their Loaded Veggie Burger. It was absolutely divine. The roasted red pepper and tomato aioli really just made the entire burger. The flavor was delicious and added a really good kick to the burger. The avocado and onions were excellent and left a really good flavor balance to the aioli. Seriously, best veggie burger ever. And I usually get a veggie burger wherever I go. My boyfriend really enjoyed his Chicken Parmesan sandwich, too - he said it was one of the best ever. The beer prices were pretty decent and the drink menu was extensive. I appreciate that their tap beers exclude "traditional" domestics like Miller and Bud - instead they were replaced with Domaine DuPage, Bells selections, Goose Island specialty selections - there were at least 10 on tap. The bottled beer list was long and the servers seemed able to make good suggestions based on taste preferences. Service was curt - not in a rude way, just in a to-the-point kind of way. Friendly and only around when necessary. No chatting, just take the order and come back with drinks and food. It was actually kind of pleasant - I'm usually not offended by indifferent servers, just rude ones. The decor was fabulous. I really loved the dark colors on the walls and my boyfriend and I really enjoyed all of the hanging light fixtures. The best one was in the southeast corner of the restaurant if you go and are paying attention. Everything was very simple and clean - straight lines and not too much decoration. The TVs were practical but not so overpowering that they were irritating - they could only be seen if you were facing the bar, which is nice. It seems like this place is more a restaurant in the evening and bar with good nosh in the early morning hours. Since we came around 7:30 p.m., I can't say what it's like as the night wears on, but we had a pretty good time. The only thing I didn't really like was the volume of the music, which a few others have mentioned in reviews. It was a bit hard to talk (not too bad), but I imagine it gets worse later on. Rocking Horse is definitely a good addition to the neighborhood and I can see myself coming here often, especially as a good alternative to Dunlays. The food is made in a similar vain, but is cheaper and better here. Also, the beer is less expensive (some not by much, but every penny counts) and the place is smaller and not as full of annoying, stroller-toting brunchers (I hate all those people with kids at Dunlays).
(4)Melanie V.
Way to class it up, Logan Square! Right across from Mega Mall, too. I'm impressed. Rocking Horse has a lovely menu - creative appetizers (different types of wontons, quesadillas, dips, hummus), burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads. Great selection. The house salad is fab and they offer up this wasabi-soy dressing. My new favorite! Try it out - it's definitely different and really good! I also ordered the chorizo and cheese wontons...and enjoyed them! Friday nights offer up $4 Beefeater drinks and $4 Whiskey shots. Who can complain about that? Friendly, attentive staff, too. Great layout, laid-back vibe...I'm diggin' it! Great spot in Logan Square!
(4)Mike U.
A little too loud for a conversational dinner, and the service was a little slow...but the ahi tuna club was so damn good and the tater tots are like crack after an appetite whetting smoke. Beer list is decent, love that they have some Firestone Union Jack IPA! Mushroom garlic burger..not as good. Even with appetite whetted.
(4)jenny m.
The veggie burger is really good! It was voted one of the best by the Chicago Tribune and I have to agree. Get it loaded with avocado, red onions, lettuce, tomato, provolone and a really good red pepper aioli, you won't be disappointed. I also tried a couple of bites of the pretzel basket and if you like big stuffed pretzels, this is for you. They have a really great beer list, both on tap and in bottles. I could easily spend a couple of hours drinking some beers here. What was lacking though was the service. I was there on a Monday around 5 p.m. The place was empty and yet our waitress seemed less then interested in serving us. Not sure if she was just having a bad day or what, but I did not feel so welcome there. I have a friend in the neighborhood who loves this place though, so I shall give it another shot.
(3)Aaron T.
This is one of my most frequented bars/restaurants in the city. The service has been consistently good here and have to say the door guys are pretty nice too (No, I do not personally know them). The menu is pretty much all standard bar food, but varies from tacos to burgers. Everything I have had has been pretty solid. The talapia sandwich is HUGE and good. Burgers are pretty tasty, both veggie (house made? been a while and don't remember) and beef. TOTS are cheap and come in a huge portion, serves 3-4. Rotating draft list, standard prices. We usually come up there on Thursday for $3 draft night as there is pretty much a completely new beer list every week.
(5)Michael M.
Some friends and I went here last Saturday night. The bar area itself is pretty small and cramped. There are tables and booths in the connected dinning room, but since our group was only drinking, we felt it was better to steer clear. The music was very loud and the place was pretty packed. Given how narrow the bar area is, not exactly the best place to socialize when you have a group of 10+. Drink prices are on par, service is good and very easy to get to from the blue line and 56 bus. The bar clientele looked like a mix of hipsters and gay male couples. Overall an okay place to hit if you and/or your friends live in the Square. Otherwise, not really too different from any other bar in any other part of the city.
(3)Joan A.
Nice chill hangout spot for a Saturday night. Excellent beer and food selection and everything is pretty decently priced. A friend of mine ordered the truffle fries (two of my weakneses!) because she wasn't too hungry for a full meal and was surprised to get a giant plate of fries - woops! They were delicious though, so the whole table shared 'em.
(4)Renee E.
Dear Rocking Horse, do a regular a favor and CHANGE YOUR MENU periodically. Hubs and I love hanging out here, but good lord, I need a little bit of variety occasionally! Take a cue from some of the other restaurants in the area and switch things up from time to time. Your regulars will appreciate it.
(3)Emily F.
I used to love this place, but they have a new chef and their new menu SUCKS. They took away a lot of favorites (black and bleu burgers, quesadillas, etc. Food you want to eat when you drink beer), and modified existing items, not for the better). The Rocking Horse salad used to be the best salad out there--now it is a pile of dry lettuce with bad dressing. I don't understand why they are messing with a good thing.
(1)Kyle H.
Now that I left Logan Square the bars are popping up everywhere! It happens... I have to compare Rocking Horse to its brother, High Dive, since the owners didn't stray too far from that formula in their uninspired vision here. Like High Dive, the Horse's jukebox is killer! The menu here is also great for bar food. There's two sides to the menu (ahem) and it's full of sandwiches, wraps, and apps. They were out of the Spicy Pulled Pork sandwich so we went with the Jalapeno Hummus, served with pita, baked chips and cucumber. Excellent with an affordable Lagunitas IPA! Rocking Horse has a big beer menu, which is nice, but the tap for one beer was busted, and they were out of another one of my choices. It takes some stinks to work out the kinks, I know. Where High Dive has charm and a personality with its pretty red walls and rock posters, Rocking Horse has none. Or it's so dark you can't see it or feel it. The walls are painted slate gray and red, lit with a couple sets of vintage hanging lights, with mirrors on the walls to show you more gray! Sure, there's lots of large booths for groups, but let's face it, Rocking Horse is a big empty box. And a loud box at that! You'll need to use your outside voices about the time everyone's hitting their peak drunk just to talk to the person next to you. There's plenty of free street parking (after 9pm) and it's steps away from the Logan Blue Line station. The skeevy Hotel nearby keeps the neighborhood rents down but it's not unsafe, really. It's a three stars because they bring the food and the juke. But get some personality and then we'll talk digits.
(3)Shana M.
As Iago in "Aladdin" once said, "I might die from lack of surprise." The food was good. The beer was on tap. We sat a table. Loud music played. It was dark. There are heavy drapes on the window and nearly cute arrangements of almost funky chandeliers hanging up above. That's seriously how I remember it: like through the fog of some muscle relaxers but without the drug induced serenity. I think the major fault of Rocking Horse is that they don't know what the want to be yet and so they are solidly uninspiring and uninteresting.
(3)Sofia D.
Food was great, atmosphere was cool and the mimosas were fantastic... I must say a nice treat was seeing Jeff Garlin walk past the window booth in which we were seated. Yes, I followed him like a huge creeper would. I'll be back here again for the brunch and hope to see another celeb, too.
(4)Pinaki S.
I came here straight from the airport. Yes, Logan Square is my first spot in Chicago to go here after a month away. Not sure what I was thinking. I'll call the crowd "party-hipsters". I doubt anyone is talking about french film noir in the crowd. More of a scene where people are loud as hell listening to loud music (if I visualized the people with blonde hair polo shirts and flip flops, I would be right at home). You got HDTVs with sports (yes, college football is BACK!). It was packed, so we moved from our usual set up from sitting at the bar to a corner table. Drinks aren't cheap, but the food is awesome. Try the french fries in poutine (poutine, what the fuck is that? its gravy and cheese. cheese and gravy fries. Awesome). I also tasted my "airport taxi driver's" turkey-bacon-gouda sandwich. Wow. Plus the ranch tater tots. In a sentence: hipster crowd, medium priced beer, awesome food.
(4)Priscilla W.
I dislike writing bad reviews but here it goes, I was excited to try this restaurant. I heard great reviews from locals and thought I'd give it a try. To my surprise, I was extremely disappointed with the service. Upon entering the restaurant my boyfriend and I were unsure if we were supposed to seat ourselves or if we should wait for a hostess. After a few minutes passed, we decided to find a seat in a booth. We were greeted by a waitress and weren't given menus nor serviced for another 10 minutes! We just sat there wondering where our waitress was. After 10 minutes passed, we ordered our drinks. It felt as if another 10 minutes passed until our drinks finally arrived and our order still wasn't taken! I sat there disappointed but was still optimistic about the food. When our food finally arrived, I was once again disappointed. The fries were dry and had nothing but "ranch" seasoning and the grilled cheese listed on the menu said it would be served "panini style" and was he furthest thing from! The bread was sourdough and the 3 cheeses they offered was a joke. I only had one type of cheese! All in all, the service was horrible and the food was over priced. I will NOT be coming back here in the near future.
(2)Aloysius T.
30 mins and still no grilled cheese sandwich on a Monday? Nope, unacceptable. And you got rid of the photo booth. I'll be back, but in the meantime you earned this 1 star.
(1)Borracho G.
Went there on Thursday with some friends and I really enjoyed this place. Just like all good bars, everyday they have a great beer and shot special. I got there early enough to have some dinner first before engaging into some alcoholic bliss. I had the spicy jalapeno hummus and the ahi tuna club and a side of chimichurri tater tot's. The sandwich was great and the tots were f**ckin excellent! Those two food items alone makes me want to come back and try more stuff. As for the drinking, I started with tall boy PBR's even though they had $3 crafted beers. After 3 tall boys in, the bartenders seemed to know that me and my buddies were in need of a good shot. He recommended the brown stuff, a bourbon whiskey called Cabin Still, which I never heard of but ended up liking it. It was pretty damn smooth so that lead to at least a few more shots which then lead to us calling it the Stabin Cabin because we were getting screwed up. Eventually had enough of the beer and moved to vodka gimlets and then eventually went home because I had work the next day. This place is another good Logan Square bar option. Dark decor, old school pinball and great music on the juke. I plan to become a usual inhabitant as long as my liver holds up.
(4)Mary W.
This is consistently great neighborhood bar. The food is tasty (try the pretzels!) and their specials are always Particularly good. The pool table and arcade games in the back are fun with friends; the beer lists are always interesting and varied; and I have never had too much trouble getting space or sitting down. Two thumbs up!
(4)Kori E.
We do an annual bar crawl on New Years day, and this was our next stop after Revolution Brewery. I loved the space, and the ambiance. They also have a juke box, which is always nice. Our party continued to grow throughout the couple of hours we were there and at one point they moved us up to the little "stage" area because we were becoming too much for them!? Wait, what? One of the guys working there was clearly irritated by us, but Im confused, we have a very large party continually ordering drinks and food making YOU money and you're annoyed that there are too many of us? Oh well, I was having fun playing games with my friends to pay him any attention. The drinks were good, the prices were reasonable and the food was really good. I had the chili (weak stomach that afternoon), and it was just what I needed. My friend ordered tots for the table loaded with chili and cheese and it was this greasy heaven on a plate. Their fries are also really good there. The service could have been a little better. She was excellent at bringing us drinks throughout the day, but when it came to busing not so much. Its kind of a desolate area, so I cant imagine unless youre a hipster that lives in the neighborhood or you've just come from Longman & Eagle or Revolution Brewery you would stumble upon this place. Its definitely a cute little spot though and I definitely would return!
(3)Erica J.
I like rocking horse. They have a good beer selection, I've never had a problem getting a table, and there will always be at least one overly-drunken individual available to give you something to laugh about for the rest of the evening (but not so many drunks that it's obnoxious). Best of all, they have tater-tots! Big, midwestern sized plates of tater tots that come in many different forms or with various dipping sauces.
(4)Danny F.
Food is great and location is right in middle of bustling Logan Square. Awesome tater tots with chimchuri dipping sauce, awesome sante fe spring rolls, but my favorite is the tuna wontons. Those are the bomb! What makes this place really awesome is the pool table and Ms. Pacman table in the back. Service was not that great but it's what you might expect from hipsters in the service industry.
(4)Margaret G.
This place is chill and has great food. you can easily fill up on potatoes alone... The service was great. The bartender, Derek was amazing. He was the only one on with almost a full dining room and was still on it with a smile. not too shabby on the Margaritas either. I'll Be back.
(5)Holly C.
The place looks like a crap hole and I'm pretty sure I kicked last night's puke with my feet BUT MY GOSH the food was GREAT! Got the Portabella & Garlic burger. YUM! So much and great for my wallet.
(5)Haley S.
Decent bar food - liked the gaucho steak sandwich, yummy cajun fries. Good inexpensive beer list, definitely not arguing with a $4.50 Turbodog. Also they could seat 10 people at once, which was awesome. Service was a little spacy, but we were a big group on a Monday, so forgiven.
(3)Jaye J.
I thought I would not like this place. It's in the center of hipster haven, and that's usually a sign of pretentious people and bad beer that no one wants to admit it's bad and food to match. It's close to my house, so Mr J and I went and we were surprised. The food was surprisingly good-I'm a fan of their burgers for sure! The tots are a fun little base for a few kinds of toppings they offer. The beer selection is great and they have seasonals of a wide variety. The whiskey selection is a good one too. They have a pool table in the back too. The restrooms are clean. The service is hit or miss, with the hits being very big hits and the misses being abysmal. The bartenders have always been pretty nice, though. Try out the copious selection of hot sauces. It's kind of amazing.
(4)Julie Z.
I'm glad I didn't have high expectations going in here. It's very dark in here with black serving as the primary color on the walls. It reminds me of a college bar in that at night, it looks great. However, when you go in during the day, it's a lil scary. I think it needs a good cleaning. I ordered an IPA that was on the draft list. The waitress comes back with a glass 3/4 full. She apologizes and says this was the last of it and she would not charge me for it. Ok by me EXCEPT she did charge me for it and my party was in such a rush to go to a performance that I didn't have time to draw it to her attention. After that beer, I tried to order 2 others but they were out of those as well. Really? It is a Friday night and I feel like they should be prepared. I also ate here. Booooo! I ordered the buffalo chicken strips. Clearly nothing fancy but this place does not have carrots or celery. Shocking! particularly b/c they also offer straight up wings. It's a classic combo...get it together!
(3)Rachelle B.
The Rocking Horse is a new bar that opened nearby our house in Logan Square. Last night we went to check it out. I liked it. I have high hopes! The interior is nice and new with lots of booths and tables to sit. It's pretty blank, though. No theme. One rocking horse on one wall. There are 2 TVs but not that big and not taking over the decor like a sports bar. The food menu was big - 2 pages. We got a trio of pretzels for an appetizer. They were very tasty. Dallas really liked the ahi tuna club he ordered. I got a buffalo chicken wrap. It was good, but too spicy for me. Also the sauce to chicken ratio was kind of high. Too saucy. I think we'll be back, though, with friends. Most of all, I'm just happy to have a decent new place to eat and get drinks that is nearby where I live!
(4)Lissa C.
I went to this place recently with two friends after first attempting Revolution Brewery, but the wait was an hour an a half. Here, we were seated quickly at the bar even though it was a Friday night. The menu was awesome-- I couldn't decide what to get because everything looked amazing. I went with apple wontons and the ahi tuna tacos which were both DELICIOUS. They also had bottled hard cider which is my personal drink of choice, so of course I was pleased. I would definitely go back, and not as a second choice this time!
(4)Claudia S.
I think it's safe to say I'm done with this place. I want to like this place, seeing as how it's close.......but the service really sucks. The food, well, I'm torn. My friend and I shared the pretzel basket and while the jalapeno didn't taste any different from the regular cheddar (I assume that's what that was).......it still hit the spot. She stuck with her smoke apple gouda sandwich things while I opted for the chicken parm this time. It was a giant chicken tender with a tiny bit of sauce and some cheese. That's what I get for ordering chicken parm at a bar/restaurant. The chimichurri fries made up for it. The chili cheese that my friend got...not so much. What still pisses me off about this bar is that the DOOR GUY is the nicest person in the place! You'd think the server would want her tips, right? Apparently not. She walked past us for 5 minutes before acknowledging us and as soon as she hit the table to drop off something (menu, drinks, food) she was gone before you had a chance to say "thank you" or ask for something. She sucked, plain and simple. She wasn't attentive to anyone, frequently turning her head so fast in the event someone was actually trying to get her attention she didn't have to feel obligated to go wait on them. Hell, even keeping her attention was difficult as she would look around and look down and look anywhere but at you. I don't support bad service, and therefore, her tip was crap. That's ok though. We went to another bar and they got their tip plus her tip plus additional tip because they're just a nice bar, even when it's PACKED. Rocking Horse was not packed when we got there. It started getting busy as we left. There's plenty of other bars/restaurants to give my business and there's new places coming with owners of bars that I actually LIKE. I think Rocking Horse got all the servers that Streetside got rid of. At least, that's what I'd like to pretend.
(2)Rob G.
One of my favorite spots for shrimp tacos and craft beer.
(5)Heather R.
Good beer selection, tasty burgers and tots, and an alright atmosphere. Just another hipster bar in the square. Not sure if they offer specials? Our waitress was lame and barely spoke to us. She pretty much looked at us as if we were in the wrong bar. I will not apologize for not shopping at the thrift shop and not ordering the standard PBR. I like real beer. To me, this bar is strictly catered to the late night crowd, and although the food is good, they seem to only offer it to cure the drunk munchies.
(2)Elyse H.
Love the extensive bar menu! We just went there for drinks (good specials woo), but I will most definitely be making another trip because the food menu looked great as well. Oh and the atmosphere is awesome too!
(4)Danielle S.
We came to Rocking Horse on a whim after we decided not to attend a concert at the Congress Theatre. Rocking Horse is small and quaint, and rather dark. However, the lights are pretty cool. They have drink specials every day and many different beer drafts which are fun to try (went went on Thursday when select drafts are $3- a great deal!). I was pretty impressed with the food- I didn't expect it to be that good! You get great portions for your money. Our service was pretty slow, which was the down side. And they don't have...dessert *gasp!*. That's pretty much a sin. But if you are looking for a sit-down-let's-get-a-few-drinks-and-some-food atmosphere, this is your place.
(4)Tony L.
This place saved me... Twice in one weekend. Met a date there, needed a bite. SUCCESS! Their menu items were very tasty. The BLT burger was on par or better than I've had at Kuma's Corner. Great beer list, and cocktails. Cool bartenders that are very attentive. Props to Mike and Turk! I would recommend this place to anyone. PS- you will not find the abundance of tasty tater tots anywhere else.
(5)Kat L.
Came here for lunch, and was pleasantly surprised. Pretty standard all-american food, but done pretty well. I got a chipotle chicken sandwhich. Grilled nicely. Came with fries. They've got fry options. YESS!!!! you can add ranch seasoning or cajun seasoning. In hindsight, i think i still prefer ranchsauce for dipping, but I do like any spot that adds interest to basic fries. They also offer tots. Plentiful options for appetizers. Interesting and differently done burgers (and chicken sandwich) options as well. My cuzzo got the gyro burger, which had a gyro/beefy mix for a patty. Shesaid it was good. Really, I like that it's simple food, but done right. And not crazy greasy or stupid fatty. Thumbs up, for catering to your clientele. I like that the menu offers variety, but fits nicely on one page. They've got drinks, and cocktails, and the alcohol is really their forte. I'm a cider girl, and easily, they had somewhere about 10-15 options, including pear, raspberry, and different apples. It's a pretty metro/hipster/cool/chill/ Chicago vibe. A little dark, but with a pool table room in the back. bathroom was decent. I'd come back.
(4)Jamie B.
Big place, lots of room and seating so if you had a large group this would be ideal. It smelled a little divey inside, you know that smell. The bartender wasn't helpful by offering specials but once we switched to a table our cocktail was super helpful and offered a few different specials for the evening. They have Malort here which I had never tried. It was quite possibly the most wretched thing I've ever tasted and it was a good thing I wasn't already drinking heavily prior to this because I probably would have puked all over the table. Thank God I had a beer to wash this out of my mouth. Absolutely horrible. Yeah so they have that going for them if you're looking to christen someone with their first shot of Malort. Large patio in the back. They serve food here and it looked pretty good but we didn't have any on our most recent visit.
(3)Amy R.
Ever since Logan Square began to blow up a few years ago, I was equal parts relieved (a bunch of my friends live here and there wasn't a ton to do prior), excited (must try all the food), and hungover (because I was young and drunk all of the time). Enter: Rocking Horse, which has more than once satisfied all of the aforementioned emotional states. Rocking Horse is a pretty plain interior, but what it lacks in decor it more than makes up for in a decent Bloody Mary and a pub-food: elevated concept. Their burgers are awesome and their Cajun tots are a nice departure from standard French fries. I'm not in the area on the daily but when I am, Rocking Horse is a strong contender for a top place to stop for some recovery grub and booz.
(4)Suzanne Z.
Stopped in here because the interior looked busy, but not packed, had a good mix of ages sitting inside and a casual vibe. It was a good choice! The initial smell walking in was a little off-putting-- kind of like a bathroom with standing water. Funny thing is though, the bathrooms smelled like nice soap. Go figure that out?? We were able to get a table without issues and had a friendly and attentive server. I ordered their Boulevard cocktail which was super strong, mildly sweet, and definitely one to take your time with. It was filled to the brim deliciousness. I was more disappointed with my second cocktail- the Blood and Sand. The cocktails are served in small glasses, and this one came just 75% full. It was $9 and about 3 sips it felt like... the flavor was good (this was an OJ drink), sweet. I would've liked more of it! We decided to go big and order apps here (as we just had at our last stop!) and got the poutine tater tots and their chips/guacamole. The tots came as a flippin huge portion. Tons of bang for your buck. The cheese curds on them were so creamy and delicious. I liked that you got a variety of gravy tots, gravy with cheese, and some that were just 'regular', but crispy- they also gave us a side of ketchup. The guac was a large portion, and full of flavor. We ate as much as we wanted, and still had enough of each to split and take home with us! The other food on the menu looked awesome too. I would come back to try something else!
(4)Zorin D.
I stopped in for brunch here and I got to say I was plesantly suprised. While this place doens't compete with the likes of Longman and Eagle, it still provides a really good brunch at a good price. I ended up going for the hogpile which is probably enough food for two people. Bacon, ham, sausage french toast and potatoes topped with sausage gravy and a fried egg. What more could you possibly want for breakfast on one plate. Maybe this dish was a bit like cheating as far as things go but I'm ok with that. The patio area is nice and enclosed and while you are getting a little bit of sunshine if you go for a brunch meal there are plenty of shady areas so you can still enjoy the outdoors without being too awakened by sunlight.
(4)Amoli P.
This place is a pretty awesome surprise for what you expect when you walk in. First off - it's a bar. So for the other yelpers who complained about the noise or the darkness, it's pretty typical for a bar. I wouldn't consider Rocking Horse any louder or darker than any other hipster joint. The whiskey and beer selection is pretty solid and worthy of being in the hipster strip of Milwaukee in Logan Square. The surprise here is the food. It's better than most bar food, and complete with vegetarian and vegan options for the true hipsters. Service was fine and the ambiance was trendy with a fun vibe. The buffalo chicken sandwich was delicious (and large) with a fresh blue cheese coating without being too overpowering. Fries were thin and crispy, just how I like them. The husband went with the skirt steak tacos and loved them. Fresh, big cuts of steak and a very tasty seasoning. They seem to be known for their tater tots so I'll have to try them next time (cajun or truffle!). This will definitely be a neighborhood go-to for us when we need a bite or a good whiskey (or both).
(4)Jon L.
Went here for brunch. As soon as I saw the menu I knew I wanted to come back. Make no mistake, this is not your organic kale and rutabaga salad kind of brunch. Be prepared for a hearty meal. I got the "French Canadian" - French toast, Canadian bacon, hamburger patty (surprisingly good quality meat), cheese curds, home fries, Poutine gravy, topped with a fried egg - syrup on the side since I prefer savory over sweet. If your mouth did not water just a little bit, we will not be friends. In which case more French Canadian for me. There was a lot that could go wrong with this. But everything went right. Deliciously perfect!
(5)Peggah G.
I wanted to host a meetup at a bar that I hadn't been to in Chicago and decided on this fine gem in Logan Square, because it a) served food, b) accepted credit cards, and c) was open at 7pm on a Saturday. Rocking Horse fit the bill. It also worked as a good starting point in case other people were not impressed with my choice (no one complained... vocally). We had excellent table service and once I realized that our party was going to be bigger than anticipated, we moved to the back by the pool table. The waitress was cool about us closing our tabs. I ate the mini burgers and they were absolutely delicious. My table mates got some SUPER SALTY tater tots, but once you rubbed them down (thoroughly), they were... good tater tots. The bar staff was great with service throughout the night and very nice about refilling our waters, etc. While the jukebox is decked with great albums, it hurt my wallet paying 50 cents per song. (Though, I could've easily spent $25.) I may have drunkely danced and sang along to The Flaming Lips' "She Don't Use Jelly" and Dinosaur Jr.'s "The Wagon". If I had more money for boozing and eating out, I would definitely visit this place often.
(4)Ryan C.
Solid all the way around. I had the Italian pressed sandwich, Cesar salad and a beer all were above average. Would come back and check out their dinner menu next time.
(4)Elisabeth C.
Great beer selection, but what's best is that when we didn't like a beer we ordered, they subbed it out for something different for free. Haven't tried the food yet.
(4)Kara O.
I really like this place!!!! The BLT burger is so good! Roman Tots (stuffed with garlic and capers) with aioli on the side are making my mouth water just thinking of them. The only problem is that I like to take my daughter to lunch/dinner with me and I'm not sure she can eat here? She's 11. We went there for dinner when my mother in law was in town as a family and we got the boot for having a child just past their 7pm mark. I'm afraid to go back with her at an earlier hour since there was some confusion at the door about it and it seems like the bartender changed the time from 7pm cutoff to 6pm cutoff on the spot. So, I'm not sure how it works with liquor licensing and all of that, but we were disappointed. I will still go here with adults because the servers are cool and the food is good.
(4)Kimmi M.
Rocking Horse had good vibes and good food. The Betty White cocktail of Radler and Malort was so necessary to chill with after being on an existential music high of seeing the Cure and Weezer. I had the Southwest steak salad and it was absolutely delicious. Juicy steak, perfectly dressed. Our server was a super sweetheart and hugged everyone on the way out. Plus 10 million points for showing Bears post game as well.
(5)Mallory S.
This place is WAY too frickin loud and dimly lit. I cannot hear anyone I'm talking to... There's no music so the acoustics must just suck. I will not be returning because I like to talk to my friends/girlfriend when I'm out...I don't wanna shout. Also the lighting hurts my eyes. The food does smell great so maybe I'll come back for that. The beer list is also extensive and there is a large list of ciders. However the prices are not worth the drinks... Not worth it in my opinion. Woohoo hipsters!
(3)Jim M.
Nice atmosphere and beer list and very solid food. Whenever people are mentioning places to eat in Logan Square I never hear the Rocking Horse mentioned. The food is legit and priced fairly. Great burgers, - I know some people that say that about nearly every burger they have ever had - but I am not one of those people. Definitely an underrated spot to grab grub. I don't like the layout here though. The bar proper is medium/small in size and directly behind the bar stools is the dining area so if you don't get a seat at the bar you will have nowhere to go. It really stops anyone from mingling which is kind of the point of a bar.
(4)Michael C.
Located a short walk away from the blue line, the Rocking Horse was a good place to meet up with friends. They had good drink specials on a Sunday and the food was excellent. I had heard about their burgers, *but ordered the Buffalo Chicken sandwich which definitely lived up to expectations. The fries and burger were cooked perfectly and the warm bun was a nice touch. The staff was less warm and that is the only reason I didn't rate it higher. Walking in they seemed to be a little bit "too cool" to be nice. That experience was extended with our waitress. The service was timely, but I would not describe our interaction as friendly. The service wouldn't keep me away, but it is just something I like to know about before going. Bottom line: if you are looking for good basics - burgers, fries, and beers, you will be happy choosing the Rocking Horse. *Edited: I had the Buffalo Chicken sandwich which was amazing but was drooling over the burgers two friends ordered.
(4)Sarah M.
Ehh.. my first day in Logan and made the mistake to go to the Rocking Horse. As soon as we walked in, they rudely asked for our IDs... when there were children running around all over the place (we didnt even order alcohol). The food took so long and was pretty mediocre. Probably will not be wasting my money here again.
(2)Daniel R.
Went there earlier this week. I took a seat at the bar. The man tending bar named Derrick( I think) was happy to recommend some interesting bourbons and ryes. I was impressed with his knowledge of spirits. I wasn't that hungry but I decided to order some Brussel sprouts with bacon. This was a good life choice. Just a fun place to hang out.
(5)Brook E.
I loved going to the Rocking Horse, and it makes me sad that I have chosen not to give them my business anymore. In short, during after wedding celebrations, they treated one of our guests very rudely. We eventually had to leave and go to a different establishment. (Read Jennifer K.'s review for the details) Please consider patronizing a different establishment.
(1)Lizzie B.
Pros: great turkey burger, crispy tater tots, excellent beer selection (oh Matilda you slay me) Con: the juke box! Seemingly arbitrary hipster fare that weighs heavily on early 2000's ( you have Interpol and the Strokes but no Rolling Stones, bob Dylan, Patti Smith or the Boss?.... Shame on you)
(4)Brittany S.
I have been coming here almost once, sometimes twice a week- for the past three years. My boyfriend and I went there, like usual, a month ago, and they were starting to change the menu. We were optimistic, but the food did NOT deliver like it had in the past. Something has changed with the food- our truffle fries this time did NOT taste like the truffle fries I know and love. My burger was definitely different...and dry, terrible. I always come here because of the great atmosphere, and pretty solid food.. But I have no idea what happened but the quality like, plummeted. Pretty sad, I love this place and I heard they were going through some changes in the kitchen.. but now it looks obvious that they are just trying to fit in with all the other bar/restaurants that are opening up. NO burger selection any more! Just frou frou veggie options, and turkey burgers. What's up with all this duck confit? No more wraps. AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP!?!? I am extremely sad that our go-to spot is now just another drone restaurant in the sea of everything that is opening up over here. Let me know when you change your menu, we'll be back in a flash. Until then, we will not be coming back. I know we are not the only ones that feel this way either!!!
(1)Lizzie E.
Decent place for a burger & a beer. Wait staff is good. Smelled like a toilet when I walked in which was odd. I just felt average about the place, nothing outstanding.
(3)Rahul G.
Some reviews for this place are lame. It is not crazy loud, it's a bar, come on. I love sitting at the bar to grab a drink, great selection. The burgers are delicious, get the one with guac on it. Tatertot specials are fun to try and different. They have a pool table which is always great and Crusin USA arcade game, lol. The back patio is ok. We had a large group here for my fiancee's birthday a while back and it was great, people loved it. This place is fun and I do really enjoy coming here. Food is solid and if you just want a drink, sitting at the bar is cool. People need to chillax.
(4)Steven R.
About the only happening bar in Logan Square on Mondays, apparently... Either way, it's good to see the Rocking Horse shape up. I came here back in 2010 and I remember the beer selection being slightly above average and the service being not that great. Fast forward to 2014 and things have changed for the better. First off, Deschutes 2013 Abyss on draught. I wasn't able to procure any bottles of the holy grail of west coast stouts so being able to have a few here was awesome. Beyond that, a number of great beers were to be found in the fridge including some FFF and a few Bourbon County permutations. Bartenders seemed friendly and pretty on it, so all said it was enjoyable experience. Will very likely be back at some point...
(4)Dan G.
I've got a few good friends that live in Logan Square. So, without fail when I'm around visiting we often end up at the Rocking Horse. Such was the case, when unexpectedly my buddy told me he was taking a day off to join me for some shenanigans on my farewell tour. To Rocking Horse we go. The craft beer list is outstanding and on this particular day I passed on my much loved Greenbush Anger Black IPA and went with my Lagunitas go to Little Sumpin. Portions are large here and the hungry boys we were started with the hummus, which was great. I tend to gravitate to the shrimp po boy just about every time here, so I went the other way this occasion and got the Gaucho Steak Sandwich. I love that they cooked this to order and it came out good and red, but lesson learned med rare is kind of tricky for a sandwich. While I despise overcooking a good piece of meat, I'm vexed at how to best take down a Med Rare sammie while not looking like a caveman doing it. Big fan of Rocking Horse and I'm sure to return.
(4)Allende J.
The dining area & bar looks like what you expect from the outside, so yes a dark hipster bar, which is cool.About 4pm,Fri. late lunch for me.So,I ask for beer & menu , ordered the Lamb Burger, Outstanding had a touch of diced olive ,feta cheese &arugula . I notice there was 1 employee working the bar, dining area and had two parties getting in about 4:30pm at that point, Mr.Bartender/server was attentive & good but he missing some charisma, burst of smile or a laugh, flip a glass something. Place needed ENERGY, it was dull or maybe the bar-server needed a teammate.
(3)Mike S.
Awesome Patty Melt this burger was the best I've had. Very large portion with a large side of fries. I would say the burger was 3/4 lb or more. They cooked it just right. Very fresh meat.
(5)Mark L.
not a 'beer' guy so i enjoy the bud tall boys. burger with a side ceasar always a fav for me. btw the tater tot 'side' is enormous. beware!
(4)Sara M.
Definitely digging this place. Went here yesterday and the bill for two of us to get nice and crispy was only $40! The place is pretty small on the inside- maybe a good adjective is intimate? Can't get too crowded inside because there are limited tables. Service was great. Someone was always there when you needed them but never bugging you. Anyway, we enjoyed some moderately priced beers (brown shugga definitely knocked me on my butt last night) and plenty of $4 bourbon shots. Topped the night off with a GIANT plate of $4 tater tots and I would say wednesday night boozing was definitely a success. Well, I mean, minus the thursday morning hangover.
(5)Shane E.
The Rocking Horse is what you'd expect from a pub in Logan Square. Burger: respectable, but you can do much better. Truffle Fries: Again, good enough, but there's much better out there. Beer selection: vast Service: relatively unattentive, slow Crowd: The population of Logan is well represented Overarching opinion: Michelin won't be handing out any stars to the Rocking Horse anytime soon, but it's a great spot if you want to go have a drink or two with some friends.
(3)Chris M.
Ricky's Burger with TOTS!!! They make some darn good tots here, and I cannot wait to come back and try the poutine tots, YUM! Great look and feel to this place, very sharp clean black walls and hard wood floors. No frills, bar and restaurant are all in one. We had Derrick wait on us, he was a radical dude and was very attentive. Drink specials available every day and monthly specials as well. I had a Dechuetes brew that was quite bold in flavor. I switched over then to a $3 tall boy of PBR, an everyday/time special they have there. Quite a match made in hipster heaven if ya ask me :-)
(4)William W.
BRUNCHED AS FUCK this dark gem was something I stumbled upon after once again being let down by the sketchville murder bathrooms of Discount Mega Mall across the street. I've never been to this place but had heard it's a best bar that has some neat food. WELL GUESS THE FUCK WHAT!?!? This place carried the best Chicken and Waffles I've ever even laid my eyes on AND YOU KNOW I WAS BONED UP FROM THE FLOOR UP ON THIS ONE!!! My lady and I were greeted with "seat yourself" which I'm such a sucker for. Sitting in a large booth enough room for 3 or 4 Big Mac Bradley's to sit in. I had this Southern Belle come up to our table and just BLAST US WITH THE REALITY OF OUR OPTIONS! And I tell you what, this place has options. BUT IT WAS DECIDED! CHIX WITH DIX WAS WHAT I WANTED and it BLEW ME AWAY! The food in itself could kill the 15 year old virgin wanna be Tom Delong in all of us and the service COULD MOW DOWN AN ENTIRE LINE OF SELF CONSCIOUS FAN GIRLS WAITING FOR THE ONE DIRECTION SIGNING WITH AN AK-47 of southern charm! I not only want to take future Craigslist casual encounters here, but also my grandparents! NOW YOU TELL ME A PLACE THAT DOES BOTH OF THOSE FOR YOU! I'm excited to return for some drinks but I will continue to pursue their food with the animosity of an elk consumed by chronic wasting disease!
(5)Dave M.
We used to come here all the time. I can't put a finger in exactly what has changed but it's just not that stellar anymore. The last time we went the service was slow and unfriendly. The menu seems to have been updated with foodie language but it's still very pricy for being so average.
(3)Kim S.
I have been here a handful if times now and I've always had good service. There is nothing I love on the menu but they do have a wise selection of beers to choose from. You can also reserve the pool room in the back if you have a party going on.
(4)Tasha M.
The burger was amazing too bad the service wasn't. The female bartender stayed at one particular end of the bar and never really made eye contact with my friend and I. Another bartender had to come and ask if we were ok and if we needed anything. I hate to assume that she did so because we were African American but it looked that way to us especially because she was very attentive to the Caucasian customers. However, we still left a nice tip which she didn't deserve but to show her that you should treat every customer the same
(3)Emma G.
So sad I did not find this place sooner. The food is excellent. According to one server they recently went through some staff/chef changes and have been mixing up the menu; and it is all for the better. The guacamole is great for 2 to share. If you love a multitude of Tot items this is a great place to go wild. From what I hear the meaty poutine is "amaze-balls" and I love the cheap drafts every Thursday. Never been there with a long wait, food is consistent and good. Chili relleno tacos are very hardy and filling, mahi mahi tacos aren't bad either though its harder to flavor such a neutral fish. The Turkey Bacon Sandwich is why you can find me there almost once a week. It's creamy and savory with a kick from the date mustard. The seasoned fries they have available are also great. The white truffle option is a delicious item to share. Really nice ambiance as well and not too cramped even if there are a lot of people eating away from the bar.
(5)Kim B.
I love dive bars. This fits the bill, but doesn't always suffice. The staff is nice, but not always engaging. For me, dive bars are all about the killer staff and delicious signature dish. I've been frequenting The Rocking Horse about twice a month for 7 months, but bartenders and front door folk still don't know me. However, they're nice as well as competent with a jigger. The menu is fine. It seems to rotate a wee bit, but consistently lacks pescatarian options. If you like chicken, beef or pork, you're set, but sometimes a girl wants shrimp or tuna, ya know? Vegetarian fare ain't bad: Loaded Veggie Burger? Shroom Quesadilla? Hummus? Check, check and check. The point is- I like this place, but it doesn't feel like my neighborhood joint. More engaging staff and more fishy options might sell me.
(3)Danielle W.
This place was great! We sat out on the patio and everything went uphill from there. All the food is goooooooood. I'm gluten-intolerant and was able to get the southwest steak salad and YUM. Our waitress was the best. We stayed for a few hours and were very well taken care of. 1 star off because I wish they had more options for GF people. Also because a smoker sat right behind me and the air kept taking her smoke right to my face. But that's not the restaurant's fault I guess.... Love this place!
(4)Jim C.
Great and ever updating menu makes Rocking Horse another attraction in Logan. Most items are turned over regularly, which could be a bad thing now and then. I hope they'll keep poutine and expand the options! Service is always quick, and I'm shocked how fast food comes out. Can't get a better beer list for the size, and I love that Summit from MN is always on special. On the down side, it really is way too dark and loud... Not really sure why, but it won't keep me away. The patio makes up a little
(4)Jordan W.
Hey now, The horse is legit. Good food good beer good people. If you come into a bar in Logan Square and are offended by "loud" music you're clearly an idiot. Go somewhere else. They changed the menu recently still great. Get the Lamb burger. Thursday beer special is best in the neighborhood. Places get busy - Be nice to the bartenders they will be nice back.
(5)Evelyn L.
I came back for that Rockin southwest salad, soooo Delicious, was disappointed to hear that they no longer serve the artichoke dip but the Long Island iced tea made up for it!! Good stuff!!!!
(4)Maliha S.
Exactly what you think of when you think of a trendy bar. It was predictably packed and noisy for a Friday evening so we stood around for an hour or so till we grabbed seats at the bar. My friends gin and tonic was exceptionally strong. I wish their wine list was a little bit longer.
(4)Michael K.
Three people should not still be hungry after spending $75 on four entrees and 2 appetizers. The burgers and sandwiches have decent flavor and an ok price. However it didn't make me think "I have to go back for this stuff". What really ruined my experience was the appetizers and salad we got. The goat cheese fritters ($10) only had four pieces per serving. It came with some arugula that was well dressed (most of the ingredients listed in the menu copy was in the salad), however there was very little of it. For the price there could easily have been a larger serving of the salad if not extra fritters. Same goes for the salad ( I posted a picture). It was not large enough to be an entree. Greens are cheap. Give me more! Make me feel like I have gotten a good deal.
(1)Chrystalle B.
We just stopped in for an end of the night drink. Love the kitchy lights and art thats all over the place. We had a massive booth to ourselves which was cool. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. Good beer/ cider selection. Would love to go back at a busier time of night.
(4)Brenda H.
Oh My Dear Rocking Horse, I was in love, and then you changed your menu and took off my favorite items and raised your prices. I just don't go here anymore because of that and because it's so loud I can feel myself going deaf. I just don't get why every restaurant in Chicago has to blast the jukebox so much that everyone's shouting at each other. I've seriously put in my earplugs that I carry for rock shows while I was here. Anyway, I miss you Rocking Horse. Bring back your french toast with apples and chopped salad and tots are not worth $8.
(2)Jillian M.
I like the atmosphere and the pool table in the back, however, I hate that they changed their menu! My bf and I used to order out at least a couple of times a month, with the same order of shrimp quesadillas and the rocking horse salad. How do you take off the two best things on the menu!?!! One of them was named after your bar! We tried the food once since they took off our favorites and replaced them with crap, and haven't been back since. Not even for pool or beer. It's not worth it anymore since we don't like anything else on their menu. It took us forever to find our favorites and then they took them away. Shame on you Rocking Horse.
(2)Lindsay M.
Not a bad hang. I see that a lot of the reviews are reviewing the hipster scene that may frequent this place - but what do you expect, we are in Logan Square... and after all, I think hipsters get a bad wrap! I liked the atmosphere of this place, laid back and dim lit. The bar area isn't crowded if you want to grab a drink in there, and they're super cool about getting you a table, even if you're not going to eat. We didn't have time for food, or maybe we had time, but we just didn't eat. I have hard the food is pretty great- so I'll have to go back and try it. Our waitress was on her A game- quick to get waters for the table and keep the fluids pumping. We had people come and go as we sat there and she was on top of it. The craft brew list is a decent one.. so when you feel like splurging, try something new of that list.
(4)Bri A.
Great brunch, good Bloody Marys and friendly staff but wtf is up with the musty smell?! This place smelled like a high school wrestling room after it's been bleached. Well, at least I know they clean! What is this I am hearing about $3 craft beer night? I thik that may bring me back here...
(3)Michael R.
I went with the bacon jam burger. On the burger, there's chile ketchup, a butter cheese and a bacon spread. There's a little too much going on with this burger, but I did really like the bacon spread. I don't think I would order a burger again though. Next time, I would just have a couple beers. They have a great beer list.
(3)Oz D.
Ok, basic place. Decent bourbon selection. It's quite dark inside, but it's typically got the right sized crowd, not too packed and not dead, either.
(3)Kristine N.
#NAME?
(4)dove r.
WHY!!!!!???? Why would you tinker with perfection? Take off your fancy pants. You look much better in skinny jeans, bros. I get that you scored a super skilled chef with a stellar reputation. But loyal patrons like moi, who've grown accustomed to your dive-y deliciousness look to you for just that. Now where am I supposed to go for a huge platter of chimichurri tots? WHERE?!! Plus you stopped carrying your Co-Op buffet. Poor choices galore, man.
(2)Dustin G.
My fiancé and I decided try this place out for Brunch. We ordered the Brisket & Hash and the Smoked Salmon. The Hash was very delicious. It paired with our Bloody Mary perfectly. The Smoked Salmon didn't quite make the cut. One slice of bread cut in half wasn't enough. We would of been happier with another one their brunch options. The mimosas were excellent and the service was extremely friendly. Corinne was our waitress and she was awesome! The main reason this restaurant received four stars was the hot sauce bottles were disgusting. We loved the variation of different hot sauces, but they looked like the caps have not been cleaned in forever. It was pretty bad. But, overall food was good and the service was excellent! We will come back
(4)C. P.
I've been going here for 3 years now and I'll be honest - its their Thursday beer specials that kept me coming back. I heard word that some changes had been made in recent months and when I went a couple weeks ago, there were obvious menu changes but I'm still not sure whether they will prove to be good or bad. There were a few things that I was sad to see had been left off of the new menu - Chimichurri Tots used to be jam! They do tend to play their music a bit on the loud side and it often seems like they're under staffed on the busiest of nights... But overall: - They've got a decent beer list - Their food menu has a good vegetarian and meat-tastic options - And its their variety in both food and drinks that makes it a good place for meeting-up with friends... Everybody can find something to wet their pallet and feed their appetite
(3)Evelina L.
Totally pleasantly surprised by the Horse! The wait at Revolution Brewery was over 2 hours and we stumbled on this place in our search for some beers and grub. Everyone was very impressed, especially with the food selection! The 2 things that are a must to order - truffled tater tots and I LOVED my ahi tuna club. Yes, TUNA in a pub! I was with 5 guys and they all got different versions of hamburgers, turkey and veggie burgers - they were all devoured momentarily - so, must have been good. Service was good, but they could have come around a little more often. Only knock - acoustics are pretty bad for a larger party to hear each other. It wasn't even that loud. Definitely request a booth for a larger party.
(4)Molly L.
Solid bar, with solid drink deals most nights. I'm not going for the food but I'm never disappointed when I order off the menu. You should check out the kitchen sink tots. I'm a fan.
(4)Ashley M.
Went in on a Sunday and left a very happy camper. Beer selection is great! A little bit of everything. Even those crafty beers you beer snobs speak so much of! haha I loved it. The breakfast was great! I had an omelet and my boyfriend had the banana chocolate waffles? I think thats what it was. Whatever it was, it was AMAZING.
(4)Candice G.
Say what you will about hipsters, I'm all for skinny jeans on anyone. Yes, ANYONE. I like to know what people are working with and it's just a thing. As far as so called hipster bars go, Rocking Horse is so much more than PBR cans. They've actually got a pretty impressive craft list, spacious bar, seating and booth area and pool in the back. The bartenders are friendly, albeit young enough to be my grandchildren, and they give good service as well as convo. They may not be open as late sax their night owl neighbors, but their isn't a line and I rather prefer it.
(4)Kevin T.
Stop ruining the menu! First the new chef massacred the turkey apple sandwich, but added some great items like the bacon jam burger and the seared tuna. Now, all three of those items are gone. What gives?
(3)Rachael C.
I really do enjoy this place. There has been a few issues with TERRIBLE servers, where I told myself I'll never be back, but thankfully the last few times it has been excellent. Great food, good juke box, and a laid - back time.
(4)Mandie A.
Most boring strip club ever.
(4)Heather D.
Don't get me wrong...I do like this place, but there are somethings that just irked me. So let me start out with the pluses. Atmosphere - This place is great atmosphere-wise. Definitely an eclectic group. Beer- They have a great selection and the Thursday special above the bar would make me come back. Food - I only ordered appetizers but what I had and what I saw for the rest of our group was delicious! Great portion sizes too. I ordered the Quesadillas and Tater tots to split with my friend. Here we thought they would be small and bite sized.....nope, she ended up taking her other peice home. Along with Tater Tots. Be prepared to eat! So here are the downsides: Noise Level - If you like to scream and lean in for any kind of conversation, you have found your hang out. Our group of five sat in a booth by the window. I couldn't hear anything the other four friends of mine were talking about, which definitely made for an awkward setting. Parking - Logan Square is starting to become a pretty happening place. So street parking can be difficult. (I'm surprised the Megamall across the street doesn't work out a deal where it can be used by the local business at night. Is that thing even open anyway?????) I'm fairly new to the Rocking Horse, so I was not aware that they couldn't split the check amongst 3 cards. Our waitress had informed us she can only split it twice, then felt the need to add "we have it all over our menu and receipt." That last part could have been left out, because it sounded like a snotty remark. The "wording" she was referring to was at the bottom of the menu and the bottom of the receipt in small writing. I'm sorry, but I don't look at the very bottom of a menu. My eyes stop reading once I see the border under the last set of food items. And the receipt? My only concern is the total. Hence my three stars. I will totally come back for the food and drink. But I will probably bring earplugs, take the L, and put on my invisible shield to repel against attitude.
(3)Emily H.
Gastropubs have continually raised the bar for themselves during the past few years, so Rocking Horse had some stiff competition coming into the game. The fries were pretty good, but the flavor combos that people seem to be losing their minds over aren't inspired or exceptional. Good draft beer selection, the menu has a little something for everyone, and I like the booth option. The decor follows a macabre "black hunting cabin decorated by Marie Antoinette's zombie" motif, with buttery mood lighting everywhere. But nothing really stands out. It's like going to to IHOP of gastropubs. Serviceable, but nothing specific really wows you. The crowd was very IHOP-ish as well; families dandling babies with one hand and swigging beers with the other, hipsters draping themselves across surfaces, sports "bras" hooting at TVS. What WAS noticeable was the passel of people standing next to the doorway chain-smoking. The nasty cancer-stink wafted all over the restaurant, refreshing the room with a rancid puff of second-hand every time the door was opened. Maintain a better smoker's radius please, oh exuberant ID-checking-guy-at-the-door. I'd rate this a midpoint stop on any Logan Square pub crawl, not a starter or a finisher.
(3)Sherry Y.
I went here with a crew of friends while the Black Hawks game was on. Who knew, hipsters like hockey too? All joking aside, it was a great time. The menu was spot on with lovely dark brews alongside a large variety of pale ales. We had some delicious chimichurry bar fries with parsley and red wine vinegar. Mmmmm. For beer, I recommend the Speakeasy Black Hand. Chocolatey with coffee notes. With great company and lots of hipster friends, this place is awesome. Despite the sticky tables, I would still recommend this bar. I even appreciated the Asian runner guy who danced for me outside our window. Shout out to you. ;)
(4)Angela P.
Despite my thrift store sweater and funky accessories on NYE, I was still wearing Uggs and a North Face and, therefore, didn't melt into the mass hipster crowd in this bar. But I didn't feel too out of place. And on New Year's Eve, this was a really ideal spot to relax with friends. Rocking Horse didn't serve up any drink specials, but they had a complimentary champagne toast at midnight and the kitchen stayed open until past midnight. Their Their craft beer list isn't the longest in Chicago, but it is satisfying without being overwhelming. What impressed and excited me the most was the long list of ciders and sours available. Blackberry pear cider? Ginger cider? I had both, and they were delicious! I'm not a beer expert, nor do I drink it regularly - I tend to prefer cocktails instead. But give me a bar that serves more than Woodchuck Apple, and you'll win me over. Most ciders were $5-7, but some went up to $30. The appetizers we shared were all better than expected. The 3 pretzels (plain, jalapeno & cheese, grilled cheese) were soft, served with dijon mustard, and oh so good. Our waitress let us in on a secret: they sell the same pretzels at Whole Foods. Remind me to stop in there so I can make some at home. We also had the goat cheese balls - these things were enormous! I got 4-5 good size bites out of each gooey, creamy, cheesy, crispy-coated, ball. The guys shared an order of wings, the buffalo sauce went right up my nostrils - fire in the hole! Shots are expensive here. Anything with "bomb" on the end cost around $9. Our total check at the end of the night was $169 for a group of 4. This included at LEAST 3 appetizers, 12 beers (probably more), and about 7 shots. Service was great. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, even with a nearly full bar to serve. The crowd here isn't too rowdy, even for NYE. It was exactly what we needed that night: something that wouldn't break the bank, and a bar with good food and drinks. The music is crowd controlled by a jukebox, so we listened to some unusual tunes for awhile - growly, roaring, almost metal stuff. A friend remarked that he recognized only 5 or so albums in the jukebox: The Clash, Flaming Lips, and he couldn't remember the others. Getting a taxicab on the way home was much easier than expected. Don't hang out in front of the bar, though, it is easier to catch a taxi closer to the next traffic light, about a half block away. I highly recommend this bar. Next time I'll wear my black frame glasses and check my Uggs at home.
(4)Caeleigh R.
Ok so I came here again because brunch at Jam turned into 2pm birthday drinks with some friends. Again, NO WATER FOR THE TABLE and all we were doing was drinking. It was a hot day too. Same waitress we had last time too so maybe she saw my review and decided to not give us all water again because EVERY other table got a jug of water. Veronica I want to say was her name, her hair was in an unkept bun (at least brush your hair for work) and her attitude was bad from the get go. Seriously. Just give every table a jug of water.
(1)Rui Carlos d.
Thanks to bartenders like Jen, my night was more informed with what Bourbon to drink tonight than I could imagine. Doesn't hurt to read Whiskey Advocate for the last year. But the Elijah Craig 21 is worth asking about. A gem of a bar perfect for events.
(5)Max V.
A place with truffle fries, great service, and a decent location to have a quick bite/drink.
(3)Jamie H.
Every time I come here, which is often, I have a great time. The staff is great, the beers are always flowing (excellent selection to boot) and the food is to die for! The tater tots are quite possibly the best I've ever had. It's just a short walk from the blue line and parking is typically not too difficult as well. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Bon V.
Ever since the old chef left the menu is a mess of half measures and unimpressive efforts. I love this place because of the beer selections and bloody mary specials on the weekends. The interior has a cozy vibe with big spacious booths to relax in after a hard day's work. The menu is ok but not impressive and after having tried several brunch and dinner items from the new chef I can't say I have found 'MY' dish. The one thing I get every time I come. There used to be an Ahi Tuna BLT that i would drool over and recommend to all my friends. Sadly, like the old chef it is gone. Whatever, I'll keep going for the Bloody's and beers. Back patio is where I usually sit in nice weather and waiter is always efficient but rarely sunny. Is it that hard to be nice and smile for neighborhood people, hipster?
(3)Eric S.
Everything I've ordered here has been fantastic. The Black and Blue burger is delicious everytime and the wings are some of the best in the city. Parking is always incredibly easy as well.
(5)Tina L.
T.R.U.F.F.L.E. F.R.I.E.S. YUM!!!~ We've been on a mission to find the best truffle fries in town. I'd have to say they have the BEST truffle fries in the NATION, although I can't say I'm the final say in giving out the Best Truffle Fries award or anything. But I do know my fries, and these have got my vote! Fosho. The tacos are surprisingly good too. I recommend the Ahi taco. There's something about the pickled purple cabbage, cilantro, mango-jicama salsa, and ancho chile mayo. Those flavors seem to play well together and really complement each other!
(4)Cymen V.
I like this place but for some reason it's hard to find a beer on tap that I really like and I've been here a number of times. Maybe it's just chance. There have been a few but I'd say there is a 50% chance I'll settle on something from the taps that isn't that great. The food is decent. Simple things like cajun fries are great. I've had a odd/off tasting pulled-pork sandwich and would not order that again. Burgers seem to be a safe bet.
(4)Daniel B.
Food's really good, much better than you would expect from the looks of the place which is basically a hipster haven. Ate at the bar and the bartender was the most absent minded person I've ever been served by. Still I wont knock the place for it. It's not a must do or a place I feel like I have to go back to, just good for what it is and thats why it gets 3 stars, 4 just seems too much.
(3)Michael G.
Like many junkies before me, I just can't quit "The Horse." I was first lured into this den of sin and temptation by a gateway drug, its sister bar High Dive in Ukrainian Village. Being a regular there, when I heard the owners were giving me a fix closer to home (way too close to home as I pass it on the way to the train every day) I was euphoric. Or ecstatic. Without that other drug, I mean. My first time with "The Horse," however, was less than stellar. It was at a (birthday) party. The bar was dark, crowded, and relatively expensive (though with a really nice beer menu). Plus the large tables near the windows (which anyone can see inside from Milwaukee Avenue using) being elevated also made for an awkward feeling. I guess I just didn't like being that high. Then, as I was passing one morning, there was a sign (though, sadly, it wasn't "the first one is free"). The sign told me that word on the street was that "The Horse" was now serving brunch (another addiction). It took me a while but I finally got my first fix with my brunching buddies in January. And, just like High Dive, the second I put one of their potatoes into my bloodstream (by way of my mouth), it was pure bliss. Their seasoned breakfast potatoes are to die for (but, not of - well at least not from overdose)! Almost as good as High Dive's tots! And they can be ordered as a side to any breakfast. Their brunch menu is pretty immense and diverse. The breakfast burrito (the plate by which all others shall be judged in my mind) is average and sort of small but most of their portions are large and with the side of the potatoes (did I mention those, yet?) are more than filling. Especially when washed down by a refreshing mid-morning cocktail. They have bloody marys and mimosas for $5, but are currently lacking a bottomless special. Though unlike brunch places, they do put on sports with the volume up above the bar (have to feed all my addictions at once). The lack of a bottomless deal is sort of sad as they are really missing their calling. Rocking Horse at night is filled with the same scene making hipsters as so many other northeastern Logan Square bars. But in the morning, while the pale ones are asleep, Logan Square really does come alive in this place (they even allow kids). If they were to feed my brunch addiction fully, I would be visiting them "on the corner" almost every week.
(3)Jdub U.
Rocking Horse is a neighborhood spot I can count on for a late kitchen. I've seen the places popularity grow with the neighborhood. I've also seen the service slide accordingly. I think that hipsters like crappy service but I don't. I prefer attention and not having to flag someone down to get an order in. Dings for service but the food and drink are reliably good. Who isn't a fan of tater tots?? This place does tater tots more ways than your simple brain can imagine. I'd suggest sticking to the burgers (real meat, turkey, and the veggie are all tasty) and siding with your choice of tots. Pair with your favorite beer and you've turned an ordinary night into a delicious one. The beer list is extensive so you'll definitely find something you'll like. I've not yet figured out the flow of the place. Some nights are quiet and others are unexpectedly not.
(3)Bea R.
I will not be back... vents in the ceiling were leaking onto our table. The server told us that happens often. The food was okay and so was the service. Can't go wrong with the drinks though.
(1)Whitney W.
I really miss the gaucho steak sandwich. It was delicious and perfect every time--my top thing to order. Please bring it back! I love the bloodies, the beer selection, the poutine, the atmosphere, and usually the staff, and I will keep coming back. For now. The southwest steak salad is good, but most of the food I've tried (now that my fave is gone) has fallen way short of what I'm used to here. Their soups were always great, and the one I've tried with the new chef was not as described and was disappointing. The melt burger was mushy and surprisingly bland. The chili was fine but nothing to write home about. Not up to Rocking Horse standards.
(3)Lindsey W.
Attentive staff and friendly service. Great beer and food.... sad at yelpers that they don't give this place more cred. 5 stars indeed.
(5)Chuck W.
Rocking Horse has some seriously legit sandwiches and their tots are out of this world. They constantly have new and interesting beers on the menu which go outside of the "typical bar listing" that every other Chicago bar seems to carry. There is a pool table, a Galaga game, and a photo booth in the back room, and the layout here makes it pretty easy to get around. There's nothing worse than a bar which forces you to navigate a crowded, narrow, corridor in front of the bar to get anywhere. I've also noticed that they keep a couple pretty rare bottled brews behind the counter. I'd be afraid to ask how much they want for one, but it's something to keep in mind for a special occasion. I spied a couple bottles of Bourbon County Coffee Stout last time I was in there.
(4)Danny W.
I've only been pleasantly surprised by Rocking Horse. I've been a few times and each time I discover something new I like. First, it was $3 craft beer pints on Thursday. Then it was the juke box. This weekend I had the food for the first time. Admittedly, at a place like this, I'd normally go for standard bar fare (chicken sandwich, burger, etc) but I had recalled they were written up in Chicago Magazine for their blackened shrimp po boy. Although it seemed like an aggressive choice at a pretty casual bar, the sandwich was delicious. NOLA purists might scoff at the bun, but this was a delicious sandwich. Good fries too. Solid beer menu, above average bar fare. I see you Rocking Horse!
(4)Bob H.
This is a place I'm torn on. I really want to give it 4 stars, but it just can't make it. Why am I torn? I think largely because Rocking Horse can't decide what it wants to be. You walk in and get carded like it's a bar, but then it's laid out more like a restaurant - but with a pool table in the (very tiny) back room. It's got a nice long bar, but then a room full of tables. WHAT ARE YOU!? The food is good. I am a particular fan of the sliders and tater tots. I just never feel quite comfortable there. I've seen people come in, sit down and not order anything for 15 minutes or more, or have 1 person take up a table for 4 to have a beer or two. It's peculiar at best. And I would never go there just to drink, it just doesn't fit. So, it's got good food, a good beer selection and an identity crisis which does more damage than you'd imagine. I could see it being good for lunch, which I haven't done yet, but later in the evening I don't know what to do with it.
(3)Brian B.
We "pre-gamed" here last night for dinner and drinks before debauchery at the Two-Way and the Owl. This place is okay, I guess. The food is not very special, the server was real nice and beer prices are low to average. This would be a good place to take family that is in town. The place is usually crowded and has decent specials. The tater tot poutine was very good, but also very unhealthy and I got yelled at for wanting to try to eat all of the large appetizer. Definitely reserve that for parties of 3 or more.
(3)Jen F.
Nice beer and whiskey menu. The service was fairly slow and they didn't seem to really care if we were there or not. Clearly, they are cooler than me. The food was ok. I love that they have tots and you can get said tots in a variety of different incarnations. Decor is dark and gloomy with strange and interesting artwork. There isn't anything here that would make me go out of my way to come back unless I happen to be in the neighbhorhood.
(3)Jasmine C.
Just moved into the neighborhood and thought I'd try this place out with a few friends. Drinks and appetizers were good. The black and bleu burger with the tots was perfectly made! Service was great! I will definitely be going back :)
(5)Bonnie L.
I stopped in here for the first time last Friday. It was lunchtime. I had heard that the food and beers were tasty so thought I would give it a try. I was so happy to see the New Belgium Ranger IPA on the beer list. yay!! I had a few of those bad boys and my friend and I split the Nachos with NO CHICKEN! They were very good. We chatted with the server and he was just really awesome. I believe his name was Remy. Awesome customer service. Best lunch I have had in a long time! Of course the beer helped that! I will definitely be back.
(5)Derrick P.
Good food and wide selection of beers. Horse 13.5 for the tuna tacos is a little too much.
(4)Aaron A.
This is a pretty average bar. Alright drink selection, the food menu looks pretty basic, and the bartenders were nice enough. Not dying to go back here but will certainly give it another shot.
(3)Bree M.
I went with a friend on a thursday night- what luck! It was $4 drafts. The beer was excellent (especially for $4 a pop). I am a little disappointed in the poutine fries, as they came with shredded cheddar- but not everyone can be Canadian. The house made ranch dressing was also stellar. It did get too busy for my liking around 9:30- when the hipster/beanie crowd shuffled in.
(4)Tommy W.
Best bloody Mary's in town! That is if the bartender doesn't try to do some fancy shit and add too much spice to it. They have a new cook or chef and it is completely different than it used to be. They used to have the greatest menu in town now they got some goon cooking what he thinks is trendy food. Very very disappointed with the decision to fire the cook. Where's the steak sandwich? Where are the great wraps that you had? Where are the great salads that you used to make? Sux! I'll still go there for the bloodies and some good beers but the food has gone down down down
(2)I B.
I meant to review this place years ago for just having great food, particularly for a bar. It seems creative, and not in the "let's come up with some 'ironic' menu items" like Revolution Brewing up the street. Also, the wait and bar staff are super friendly, and it's smaller and far less loud than Revolution Brewing. Which is up the street, and you should skip. Here's the thing: at Rocking Horse, the food is good and interesting, you don't have to fight your way in and the people seem normal Logan Square kind of people. At Revolution Brewing on the other hand, I spent 20 minutes listening to some dude explain that he got a Joy Division tattoo on his arm because the band is such a huge part of his life. Even though the kid was 25, and therefore in the Venn diagram of Joy Division's life and his own, there is no intersecting circle. Ok, enough of that. This place would be excellent in any neighborhood on any street. But particularly in light of it's more prominent neighbor, it's worth stopping in.
(4)Michelle T.
Rocking Horse is straight up Rawkin!!! I have been here a number of times and have always left happy and with a full tummy! I haven't ate here for dinner but I definitely recommend to eat here for brunch! Here is what I have tried from their brunch menu: TWO EGGS W/ MEAT: If you're a fatty and like sausage patties then you'll dig this! This entre came with a whopping 3 sausage patties, toast, and lots of potatoes! Delish! Take some home for later! PULLED PORK BENEDICT: Who would have thought pulled pork would go great atop an english muffin, under an egg, and covered covered with chipotle hollandaise sauce! So acquired to have the regular pulled pork sandwich smothered in bbq sauce this was a delightful twist into a brunch item! Also came with potatoes! REGULAR TATER TOTS W/ A TURKEY APPLE SANDWICH: This sandwich is served warm. All the ingredients compliment each other so well; smoked turkey, bacon, gouda, sauteed apples, and roasted garlic aioli! Side of tots and it's nom nom nom! Nuff said! Overall, it's wonderful to find such an energetic Sunday brunch spot! I love hearing M.I.A and Vampire Weekend blaring throughout the eatery! There was only one occasion that I can complain about service, however, I need to allocate for the fact that it was St. Patty's Day and the place was packed! We waited a good half hour before our food was served. Great people to meet and converse with if seated at the bar, friendly bar tenders, and a hot spot on my list! Rocking Horse scores a positive 3 stars!
(4)Jesse B.
I'm a huge fan of RH. The vibe is always pretty upbeat without having to feel like cattle being packed into a bar. I love the scene way better than many other of Logan Square bars. The draft selections are fantastic.
(4)eric f.
ok/yes in between a nice restaurant and a nice bar, it offers parts of each. pool table in a small back room, a bunch of tables in the dining room, and a long bar with tv's. i remember having a good veggie burger here once. BUT what i liked about this place was that the bartender gave us the really good Co-Op hot sauce from the dining area so we could make prairie fire shots (tequila with a dash of hot sauce). that attention to detail is something you gotta respect!
(4)Diane G.
Portobello mushroom fries??!!! YUM!!! Awesome bar to proceed drinking and to buy some food to soak up some of that liquor. Very spacious with a lot of seating--great for groups. I see some conflicting reviews--I think this is a great late night place to get some cheap drinks and cure the munchies, but it's by no means "fine dining" or a place I'd go out of my way to get to. 4 stars for what it is though.
(4)Jesse F.
Good beer selection and they got a pool table too! Not too shabby.
(3)Rachel H.
Friday night's attempts to "go out" left me thinking that I was more rocking chair material than anything, but tonight's trip to Rocking Horse changed my mind. Maybe it's because it was earlier, and in a neighborhood that's more my thing, but I felt less like an aging hipster and more like a human being. Bad mood cast aside and tummy grumbling, boyfriend and I pored over the menu after I voraciously ordered a Bells' Hopslam draft. That's right, they still had some, get it while you can friends or get ready to drive to Kalamazoo (It sounds like a fake city, but it's real!). A shared pretzel plate gave way to a portobello wrap and a ribeye sandwich, perfectly cooked just under ordered temp. I like the variety of sides, though shockingly enough I managed to avoid ordering chili cheese fries for a mere $2 add on. That's restraint yo. Boyfriend liked the several veg options and variety of seasonings for the fries. I also liked the $4 Sailor Jerry Saturday night special. Sailor Jerry makes any night special. I'll definitely be back when I don't want to pay more at Revolution or wait longer for a table. Especially when I want to drink my weight in Sailor Jerry. Hello, sailor.
(4)Hannah P.
Weekend gets very busy, we waited about 30 minutes for our seats but it was worth it. Food was very good for a bar. Almost all of us really loved our food. Burgers were very juicy and flavorful, chimichurri (spell chk) french fries was a great choice. The only negative was the chicken wings. It was super salty and I like salt hence this was drenched. When we informed our waitress she said the batter mix they use is already prepared and she mentioned she found it salty as well. We changed it to BBQ flavored instead. Service was a bit slow luckily we weren't in a hurry.
(3)Vivian M.
Ehhh. I was looking forward to try this place because it's in my neighborhood and it had been on the radar for a bit. A group of us came just for drinks and to hang out. We had the goat cheese balls, they were pretty good. We also had some cider beers, which are my favorite, but a bit on the pricey side. The decor is nice, dark hardwood throughout but the ambience is a tad loud, clientele is slightly pretentious, service is sloooow and a little fake too. Not It wasn't bad but I really don't think I would come back. Just another gentrified bar in Logan Square. Sigh.
(3)Melissa F.
I was really impressed with this place. Real close to the blue line stop. Loved the beer selection and the food was good too.
(4)Angie M.
Rocking Horse could be mistaken for just another hipster bar with loud music in Logan Square. Hell, I know that's what I thought of it and avoided it like the plague. Hipster kids tend to not like me. Maybe it's due to my highlighted hair and adoration of mini dresses and heels. Suffice to day I had never stepped foot in Rocking Horse and didn't really see myself heading there anytime soon. However when one of my Logan Square besties suggested it for a quick bite after pilfering through resale shops in Andersonville, I decided to slip on my adventure pants and tag along. I'm SO happy I did. Rocking Horse has an absolutely stellar bar menu AND delicious beers on tap AND inoffensively priced mixed drinks. We had a bit of a wait for a table on a Friday night at about 8:30, which is no biggie, especially since the exceptionally cute door guy keeps a waiting list to ensure tables are sat on a first come first serve basis. I like that. Our server was very friendly and made some great menu recommendations to keep our taste buds happy. And happy they were. Clear fat kids at heart, we ordered a platter of ranch tater tots. RANCH TATER TOTS! There are two good things to note about ranch tater tots. 1. They're ranch flavored and therefore add a cool bit of bite to your regularly scheduled tot-fest and 2. They're SUPER ranch flavored, so you can only eat a few of them before ranch overload sets in. You won't totally kill your diet. Also on deck were the buffalo chicken strips and the Santa Fe egg rolls. The chicken was a pretty hearty portion with a nice, spicy buffalo sauce and the Santa Fe egg rolls were spicy perfection. While I only dove into the appetizer menu, I was floored to see a truckload of salads and some really interesting sandwich options on the backside of the menu. I cannot wait to get my mouth around an ahi tuna club (wasabi is so my bitch), a portabello feta wrap and a Mediterranean wrap. They look amazing. Also important to note: Rocking Horse could be a good place for a date. Its super dark in there with just votive candles lighting your way. We all know everyone looks delectable in the candlelight, right? It could be just the ticket for a casual drink and bite to eat. Just a little tip from me to you. ;)
(4)J. Chuck K.
Came here last night for $3 craft beer night, and ended up staying for dinner and watching the game. While it was annoying that they were out of 2 of the 6 beers for the special, the renaming beers still made it a good deal. I was kinda torn about the food menu. There are lots of good options to choose from, but the prices for apps are a bit steep, they don't mix and match the sliders, and the prices for the sliders didn't make much sense- for $9 you can get 3 brisket sliders or for $10 you can get the whole sandwich with fries. However, the deliciousness of the sandwich and fries balanced everything out. The service started out great with the first bartender, but kinda went downhill when he left. The guy replacing him, sporting an "awesome" 1990's Blackhawks hat, seemed to be new and not very good at his job. After sitting there with empty beers for about 10min, my friend asked him for another. After conquering the cash register beast, he drops off the beer and just walks away without asking if I'd like anything. The female bartender working with him should be his best friend. I'd come back again, to give this place another shot...When hopefully they have all of their beer specials, they've figured out the food special and the absent-minded bartender is...absent.
(3)John W.
Beer: Excellent rotating beer menu, along with a great bench of standards they keep all year round. A great special on Thursdays ($3 for most draft beer) gives you a chance to try stuff with low risk. Food: Some great stuff, but the one drawback is the big menu. Too big for my taste, with some odd choices that may scare off those who try them and don't get anything else. Ahi tuna, shrimp po'boy and their tacos are weak, but a couple of the weaps, burgers and salads are good. Brunch is solid, haven't had a bad brunch yet. In addition, most entrees are $8-$10 and could feed two if you took the time to chew it. I hit this place at least once a week and recommend it to everyone. Anyone who gave a low review obviously had a bad first impression, and that's a shame. It deserves a second chance. Meet me on Thursday, just let me order for you, ok?
(5)Marc Z.
This review is only based on the brunch that I eat pretty often here. 'The Rocking Pony Omelet' is superb. This must be equivalent to witnessing a heard of unicorns running in the wild under a slew of giant rainbows. Maybe they should change the name to the Rocking Unicorn Omelet. *send royalty checks my way if the change happens* Other than that, the tater tots are... (if I can quote MC Hammer here) "2 legit to quit" Be sure to soak in this place next time you're in the area around brunch time. You won't regret it.
(5)Zach J.
I've been here 2 times, so I've reached my minimum to write a review. I wasn't sure if this was a 3-star joint or 4-star, but my most recent visit there solidified it in the 4-star category. That said, it's nothing particularly special, but they have a fairly large menu with diverse options, a quality beer list, lively atmosphere, and overall good service. Food-wise, their jalapeno hummus really hit the spot, as did their gouda & bacon cheeseburger. Nothing amazing, but good quality stuff. My wife had a Phillycheese briskett sandwich, and she was also pleased. I liked the variety on the menu. It's got all the expected pub grub fare, with a few unique additions here and there. The space is not as big as I thought it would be, but I wouldn't say if feels cramped even when it is crowded (especially if you can snag a booth). It can get pretty loud in there when it's packed, particularly if you sit at one of the tables in the middle of the seating area, but overall, not really worth compaining about. The bar area is probably a good bet if you can get a seat. Oh, and they have a decent sized back room with a pool table I believe...and I might have saw a couple of arcade games but I could be wrong. And the crowd seemed fine, nice mix of folks overall (not too heavy on the hipsters...although they did make up a good chunk of the clientele). And the vibe/atmosphere is lively, somewhat loud, decent enough music blaring. So overall, it doesn't take a lot to make me happy at a place like this. Good variety of food, good beer selection, good vibe, decent service, and I'm a happy guy. A quality joint in my book.
(4)Amanda B.
Me and my boyfriend came here on a Sunday afternoon, it was packed! but it does make sense since it is a smaller place. Luckily there was a table open and we ordered drinks and our food. It was very loud in there, but i expected that so it didn't bug me at all. The chips and guacamole was a lot better presented then i thought it would be and it was delicious! The turkey apple sandwhich was also really good! Everything we got was good! The only issue i had was the service, our waitress was not all that friendly and after we were all done eating it took forever for her to come to our table, we waited a good 20 minutes before she checked up on us and we asked for our check. That one downfall was kind of a big deal, but not a deal breaker since the food was good and the prices were reasonable. I will be returning to try their other food but i do hope the service is better next time!
(4)Steve G.
A good place to get a beer and a burger that isn't trying to make a big deal out of it. Don't get me wrong - great food - just not one of those places where they are trying to go all Food Network faux gourmet. The food manages to be unique and high quality without being pretentious. Solid burgers. Love the pulled pork sandwich - lotsa good flavor and a bit spicier than you'd think. The Ranch Fries are great as are the Poutine Fries (fries covered in brown gravy and cheese - hey arteries! Fuck you!) The beer selection is great - not huge like Quenchers or the Map Room but very well selected. They keep a pretty fresh rotation of beers on tap - I come here about once a week and there's always a few new varieties available each week. I always sit at the bar and have never had service issues. The bartenders are usually pretty friendly. The music is usually decent. As other reviewers have mentioned the crowd veers towards hipster but c'mon - you're in Logan Square, if hipsters annoy you, you might want to consider drinking in a different neighborhood.
(5)Kat L.
TOURIST REVIEW* This a favorite hang out for my boyfriend & his friends, who all live in Long Square. We came here to meet up with one of his friends. It also happened to be $3 Thursday, which is when a certain selection of beer is $3. I will be the first to admit that I am really only familiar with breweries from the Pacific Northwest, so nothing on the menu looked familiar to me. Having beer for $3 probably brought out some extremely cheap rude people, and I think by the time we got their our waitress was already had enough for the night. That being said, there were moments she was extremely friendly when she checked on us. By the time we got there, most of the $3 beer was gone, which was no big deal since the beer was only about $5-$7 regular price. The food menu was your typical bar food, nothing to rave about. When I stopped to pay attention to what was playing, it was a pretty good mix of music. Overall, it's a typical bar and a great place to hang out with friends, but I don't think they have anything niche about them. *I'm from Seattle and was visiting for the first time.
(3)brett j.
It was a quiet sunny Monday afternoon, and my friend and I wanted to swing in for some fish tacos. I love ahi tuna, so the ahi tacos excited me! In reality, though, they were just fine. I felt like they were trying too hard with too many ingredients. Tacos are supposed to be simple. My friend got the tilapia tacos and those were also adequate, but a little to "busy" with various ingredients. But really, this review is about the service. Our server was never rude, but she was scarce, even when I wanted to order more food. She never came by so we decided to ask for the check and I'd get some corn from the elote lady down the street. Our bill came out to $24 dollars or so, and we paid $30 cash. Our server never brought back our change. I think she assumed it was all tip, but we never said "keep the change," and quite frankly she didn't deserve a 25% tip. AFTER she kept our change she was even LESS deserving! The place was empty, it's not like she was too busy to bring back our change. We eventually asked for our change (at least 15 minutes had passed, and she assumed we were done eating so was ignoring our table), and we tipped her because we're decent people, but this kind of thing is just unacceptable. I won't be going back.
(2)Adam S.
First time I came here, I got so drunk I almost took the next day off. If that's not an endorsement, you need to get off yelp and go to church where you belong, right now. I live in the area, and this place is an outstanding neighborhood watering hole. Owned by the same people who run The High Dive on Chicago, Rocking Horse is lowly lit, the music played is good, the service is good, the tap selection is good (a pencil keg of 120 Minute once graced their bar, Hopslam is a regular when in season), and the food is lovely. Do you like the classic Cuban sandwich? Get their Havana Burger. Don't be a purist, just get the burger, you won't be disappointed. It's perfect. Their wings are incredible as well. Rather than simply deep frying them like many places, they fry them, toss them in sauce, then put them on a grill for a minute or two, so you get a nice combination of classic wing + a little char grilled action. If you try and like them, hit up their sister establishment The High Dive, for 0.35 wings on Tuesdays. Last time I was there I had their turkey sandwich - turkey, bacon, garlic sauce, smoked gouda, and apple slices. The apple slices added what I never knew was missing. These people are goddamned kitchen wizards I tell you. Oh and, wait, specials everyday? Do yourself a favor, and get here.
(4)Jaime G.
Awesome place for an after dinner beer. Cool and a bit trendy place with a a great selection of beer and have daily drink specials. Tried the Left Hand Brewery Milk Stout and the Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout. Both very good but they also have a wide selection of Ale's, etc. Didn't try the food but from the looks of it, it's woth a try. I'm coming back.
(4)Marc R.
I have been to this place a few times. Great place for burgers and solid food. Nothing mind blowing, but good, solid bar food. It can get super busy, so I have had different levels of service from the staff. I have always had good servers, but I have heard that some of the other servers just OK. But, I tend to eat here when it is not crazy-busy. Now, this bar is not a Vegan place, so I'd head elsewhere for that. There are some ovo-lacto veggie options to be sure. The bar, again, this place can be insane when busy. I like that they have drink specials on Friday and Saturday as well as the rest of the week. I drank too many Sailor Jerry and Cokes here and loved it, well, until the next morning ;). A friend of mine has a buddy who works here so we go when she is bar tending but everyone else is always cool. The bartenders are awesome. I usually like the odd mix of good music. Good solid bar to meet people, and I usually wind up talking to folks at the bar.
(4)Joel W.
Cool Logan Square Bar! Keep this between us, but they made me pancakes super late at night when they ran out of waffles! SOOOoooo good. Tator tots, awesome. Waitresses: so cute and so nice. I bet the beer selection is great, but I wouldn't know...but it was good.
(5)Chris W.
A 2am bar that's open till 3 on Saturdays. It's more or less just another hipster dive bar splat in the middle of hipster-ville, stuffed with hipsters the way that Fozzy bear is stuffed with cheesy jokes. They had a decent beer selection which was a plus. Usually if you want something more potent than a Guinness you need to go to the Map Room or Kuma's (and at the Map Room there's no food) so it was nice to be able to get a 'fancy beer'. We all had 2 drinks each and an entree and we still ended up paying a pretty penny. Myself and two friends had gone for dinner and drinks after dress shopping in the area. We found parking about a block away which was miserable at the time because it was really cold. My friend Minka wanted her burger well done and is one of those bold women who isn't afraid to mention to the server that her burger was practically still breathing. Our server SEEMED cool and said she'd bring a free beer over, which was Minka's second. It turned out that the server actually charged us for that beer, and we didn't say anything because it was taking increasingly longer spouts to get served/checked on by around 10pm. Not as loud as most bars, we were able to have a conversation without much yelling on the table with the elevated chairs. TO EAT we all ended up snarfing burgers. They were pretty good. Minus the fact that all of ours were not well done which is what we had asked for. Fortunately only Minka's was the only super rare one. Their tater tots were pretty good too but not as good as the burger. I got the black & bleu which had bleu cheese of course and some cajun spices on a kaiser roll. With pretty hefty portions I was content by the end of my meal. They also have tacos, wraps, sandwiches, soups, salads and appetizers.
(3)Ben W.
I had gone to this place before for a Bulls playoff game and thought the Thursday beer special and beer selection was great. The decor is makes it feel like a dive bar but is up to quality where you are not afraid to sit in the chairs or even bring you mom and dad. Going off my first experience as well as other Yelp! reviews, my brother and I decided to try it out for dinner tonight. We showed up and got a table right away but after our drink order we did not get our beers for 10 minutes. This seemed to be directly related to that there was only one waitress taking food and drink orders for the whole dining room. Short staffed? I know a bunch of people who would like a job.... While taking our food order our waitress thought she heard my brother say pulled pork sandwich when he said pulled pork quesadilla and heard my side of buffalo sauce as side of barbecue (which I had to pay .50 for 1oz?). Now I understand that these are not big issues, but I think they could be avoided if the music was not so loud and that everyone in the whole place did not have to yell to each other to talk. Lastly the food. My buffalo chicken sandwich came on a nice hoagie type roll which I enjoyed, but it came with only enough fixings (tomato, lettuce, onion, pickle) for one half of it. So one half was eaten plain. The pulled pork quesadilla on the other hand was almost inedible due to the amount of salt in it. I understand bar food being salty to go along with the beer, but this was overkill. Overall I would say that it seems to be a good neighborhood spot to get some drinks, but the service and food quality was hit and miss.
(3)zoe m.
I would have written a sestina, McSweeny's style, but I'm lazy. Furthermore, this establishment doesn't really deserve that much effort. Therefore, a haiku to Rocking Horse: Even Movember cannot possibly explain mustaches galore.
(1)Katie R.
i've been wanting to visit rocking horse since it opened, and i'm glad i finally did. there is really some good stuff on the menu. i had the ahi tuna club sans bacon which was really yummy, though the flavor of the tuna got a bit lost in the sauce. the portion was freakin' HUGE and came with a massive pile of tots, which were also delicious. started with the cream cheese/apple wontons which were soooo good! they were savory and creamy with a sweet dipping sauce. i'm not a huge beer fan, but it was 3$ draft night which can't go wrong. my only issue is that our waitress was not particularly attentive and quite distant.
(4)Cristina G.
I like their cajun fries and their sliders or minis are yummy! The service not so much... I've been there for lunch and that's when service is best. One time at night we were practically the only ones there and we still got ignored by our dancing bartender. Then another time there for dinner our server was just cranky!! I like their specials, $3 draft is awesome! So I'll go even if the servers are cranky :)
(3)Carolina N.
I love the food here. You HAVE to get the tator tots. I can't even tell you what style I like the most because they are all so good. Maybe ranch? maybe cajun? Can't decide. The fish tacos are great! The burgers are awesome! I love my beef but this place has a mean veggie burger = YUM! Food prices are pretty cheap and pretty big portions! The beer selection is ok. They have some good specials too! I've seen a few Bulls game there which is a sweet time. The booths are really comfortable and the decor is really cool and hip! It's definitely very Logan-Squary. I'm sorry to have changed my rating but you guys have the worst service of any place I've ever been. If you guys didn't have good food, I would never come back here. Your waitress/waiters are so rude and inattentive. And it hasn't been just one time, but many times. They screwed up my dads check and charged his card twice one of the last times I came, he had to call and complain. It takes forever for them to come back for refills or even to ask if your food is okay. One of the last times I came here, I ordered soup first, and then a few minutes later the waiter, who also seemed to be bar-tending too, came back to take our order and then about 20 minutes later he brought out my soup with my entree.....? I could tell he knew he screwed up but instead of apologizing he dropped off our food and scurried away. I had to walk up twice to the bar to ask him for stuff. And that was at a time when it wasn't even that busy in there. I've been in there when it has been busy and oh god the service is even worse. If you're busy, get more staff, and teach them to be nice to their customers so I don't feel like a jerkoff giving a bad tip after receiving horrible service. You guys are lucky the food is good.
(2)Nick M.
I can't help but get this feeling at RH, it's much like that comfortable swaying motion from a actual rocking horse and a sense of nostalgic fun. Then again, maybe that's the point or then again it might just be the liquor talking. After a killer meal at L&E, Mighty Molly O. suggested RH for it's cool laid back atmosphere and a jukebox to rival all of the bests in the city. RH was all of that and then some. It had some dank on it (which I like), although it was clean. Is there such a thing as clean dank?! Great place to relax and to grab a bite. Although I was stuffed, the menu had a few item that peaked my curiosity. As for the staff, it seems like they pretty much let you run wild if you choose to do. All I know is $5.50 Ace cider equals a happy Nick.
(4)Kristin Z.
Always enjoy coming here and just having a good time. Food is good and they have a large selection of beer and other booze. Reasonably priced and staff is always great. love the ambiance of this place. There's a free pool table in the back which is always a bonus.
(4)Brian S.
Great local spot to have in the neighborhood. The food is delicious. The DJ could take it easy on the volume knob. It is pretty loud in there at times that I am shouting at my friends and waitresses. All in all a really great atmosphere.
(4)Eric B.
Oh show me the way to the next whiskey bar..... If Jim Morrison were living in Logan Square today, he'd never have far to go. Whether wandering out of Longman and Eagle, or RevBrew, or Helen's, the Rocking Horse is easy stumbling distance. For whatever reason, the Rocking Horse reminds me vaguely of a saloon - a youthful hipster saloon rather than a grizzled western saloon, but a saloon nonetheless. The dark wood, booths, tables, funky lighting and bar space one would expect in a saloon are all here. It just needs a swinging door in front for the iPhone packing clientele sauntering in. Much like the grizzled frontiersmen of the old west, we come here for whiskey and beer - lots of it, reasonably priced. The beer selection is outstanding, with several local options on tap and probably close to 100 bottles to choose from. With around 10 ryes and 30 or more bourbons on the menu, the whiskey selection stands up well to Longman & Eagle. I highly recommend the Templeton Rye manhattan before selecting from the various bourbon options. Slide into a booth and spend the afternoon or evening chilling to the music and diving into the options. The food here is fine but not outstanding - standard bar fare, primarily sandwiches and lots of fried food options. While the Italian wedding soup was excellent, but the chicken parmesan sandwich was lacking in marinara, and the chicken breast was too thin - more breading than chicken. But at the same time, its what you would expect for bar food. While I wouldn't come back for the food, I would definitely hit the Rocking Horse again for drinks before or after dinner at Longman, Lula's, or RevBrew.
(3)John W.
This is like the 990th place just like this that has opened up in Logan Square and the rest of the city in the last couple of years or so. High alcohol beers,fatty heavy foods, dark atmosphere, hipster staff, etc. Don't get me wrong, I like a lot of higher alcohol beers and I like food but it's just more of the same. It was clear that my burger was from a frozen patty but at the end of the day, it was pretty tasty. The bun helped I think. What is not tasty is the $1 extra tater-tots. Do not pay extra for these, they aren't that good....I also hear the fries aren't that good although they did look good. Overall it wasn't a bad experience as the service was good and the prices were OK, not great but ok. Note, Thursdays are $3 drafts, or $3 beer something or other so I imagine I will be back...On a Thursday...Just not today...which is a Thursday...cause I just went last night...in case you cared... Update: The wings here are way too salty...If you eat the wings you will have to also drink like three gallons of water due to the dehydration...Plus they are hot (buffalo). They are grilled which is nice but not as good as High Dive.
(3)Amy H.
While I still feel that overall the Rocking Horse is pretty average, there are a few things that keep me coming back time after time. The friendly bartenders and the tuna tartare club sandwich. Also, they have tater tots with ranch spices already on them, which saves me the extra step of dunking them in a side of ranch dressing. Me likey!
(4)David C.
In terms of food and beer selection, rocking horse is a pretty solid choice. I love their menu. Although the poutine leaves much to be desired (its just salty gravy with shredded cheese, a facsimile of an actual poutine), the actual dishes like burgers and sandwiches are pretty great. Simple with a hint of creativity and generally good taste. I'd recommend the ahi tuna sandwich. The atmosphere is hipster-friendly (the plaid-clad doorman donning large-rimmed spectacles was reading a used novel....in the dark) but in an inviting way. I would recommend the owners keep the music volume in mind, as it tends to be difficult to exchange casual dinner pleasantries over an excessively loud cover of "such great heights." The biggest drawback is their sluggish kitchen pace. I've waited quite a while for food many times when they're on the busier side. Strangely, even when it's relatively empty, the kitchen can still take too long.
(4)Noelle S.
Great drink specials and selection. I've eaten here twice and ordered a cheeseburger both times. They were very good... they also have fries covered with ranch seasoning, which are really delicious! Waitstaff has been awkward and slow, but they're still pretty nice.
(4)Fabiola R.
This is place is good, Some where to go with a small group of friends to eat and talk. What I had to eat was good, taste great. I had a burger cook well done, the burger came out good not dry or burned with a side of regular fries. For the appetizer was I believe called Wonton, of chorizo and queso chihuahua with a side of sour cream to dip. They were great! The waitress was super friendly and talkative in a good way, you ask a question and she just didn't give you straight serious answer to make you make a decision right away. She came to check on us a good amount of times while we had our food.
(3)Philly G.
went here on a friday after work. The goat cheese balls and hummus are great. Drinks are good and a good place for a group. Gets really packed so if your at a table after a while you lose the waitresses attention but I would go back.
(4)Tim M.
Since moving right around the corner from this fine establishment 4 months ago, I have been nearing the double digits in my visits here. Aside from the talapia tacos, which I found mediocre, everything on the menu is great. Im talking burgers with guac, burgers with BBQ, chicken wraps, cajun fries, chicken and apple sandwiches, etc, It's all there. They do it well. With a large beer list to compliment, this bar understands that a quality menu is needed to keep your patrons coming back for more than just a Friday night. I will continue to frequent Rocking Horse
(4)Julie J.
I've been here more than once. The tater tots are delicious.
(4)Gabby G.
Loved our waitress. She reminded me of the actress Piper Perabo... if you don't know who she is, look her up. :) The pear cider and hummus were aweeeesomeeee. I'll be going back for sure.
(5)Rosa F.
The Place: Its very dim envronment makes for a very intimate space even when it is super busy. The music varies but it is usually not loud to the point that you cannot hear your friends, which is a bonus. The bar is stocked to the brim and the bartenders are pretty friendly. The Food: I really love the food at The Rocking Horse. The tator tots and the fries are wonderful, but my absolute favorite is the Turkey Club! I have had their wontons and cheese sticks, and other appetizers but the sandwiches here are the best! My out of town friends also have their favorite sandwiches at this place and make it a point to go every time they are in town (i.e. Ahi Tuna, Turkey Apple). The Drinks: The other reason I really love this place is due to their large selection of hard ciders. I am not much of a beer fan, but the ciders are great! This is my neighborhood favorite. I hope it becomes yours!
(4)Melissa D.
Nice find. My friend and I came in for a few drinks and lunch one afternoon. We didn't know what to expect, but have heard good things, so we checked it out. It's darker inside, but I like that. The atmosphere is nice and fits Logan Square quite nicely. They had tons of beers on tap and my favorite beer of all time. Hoegaarden. YAY! I got the special for the day, which was a chicken parm sandwich and it was perfect. the chicken was juicy, and it had the right amount of cheese and sauce and it didn't get soggy. The spicy fries were really good too. They weren't overly spicy or seasoned, so we were pretty happy. My friend liked her sandwich too, (i can't remember what it was), but all that matters is that she liked it :) The bartender was super nice and very helpful and patient.
(4)Virgina W.
Omg just had garlic mushroom burger with cajun fries AMAZING!!!! truthfully I did not taste the cajun spice in the fries that well but still delicious! Boyfriend had a regular cheeseburger and chili fries. He loved it. Personally I thought the chili fries were a little too salty but still very good. My garlic burger was nothing short of perfect. Waitress is always near and helpful. Interior is beautiful and intimate. Good food and good times.
(5)Audre L.
Came here for brunch on Sunday, and they have great options for a bar. Omelettes are good. This place is a fine go-to option in Logan Sq.
(4)Erin J.
I'd been wanting to check this place out for awhile, so finally the other night I and two friends swung in for a beverage and some vittles. Unfortunately, we never got to the vittles part because it took nothing short of an act of Congress to get attention from our server. Shortly after we'd been seated, the server came by, asked pre-emptively if we needed a few minutes to look at the menu and then promptly disappeared for about 15 minutes. We placed our drink orders and mused over the menu. Our drinks came about 10 minutes later - the place wasn't even crowded, I don't know what the hold-up was - and the server just plopped down our glasses and left, wordlessly. We flagged down a busser a few minutes later to tell the guy we wanted to order but after that itself took another 10 minutes - now almost 45 minutes after we'd arrived, and our drinks were getting empty - we thought screw the food, there are other places and we just asked for the bill. Which took yet another 10 minutes. I hope it was just an off night for the server, but wow. Get it together and stay on top of your tables, please.
(2)Jean C.
It's Easter Sunday and we are heading back from the burbs. Coffee and food are needed immediately! We have been to Rocking Horse back when it first open for drinks but haven't been back since. We looked at the menu and since brunch and lunch options were available, we decided to carry out here. I ordered eggs Benedict and the hubs got the BBQ burger with cheddar cheese. The food carried out well. Everything was still hot when we sat down to eat. The eggs Benedict was delicious! The eggs were poached well and the creamy yolk mixed with the hollandaise sauce. I love eggs Benedict and the worst thing that can happen is when you are disappointed with the dish. You will not find that here! The hubby enjoyed his burger, as noted with the lack of conversation once he sank his teeth into it. I was really happy and surprised that brunch was available for carry out and REALLY happy that it was still good when I brought it home. I will definitely be dining/carrying out from here again.
(4)Angelica E.
Hmmmm been in this neighborhood for 2 years and I finally checked out this place. This place is really chill/cool place to hangout with your friends. They have a great beer selection and the food is really good too! I need to stay around my hood more often lol!
(4)Shelley S.
This is my new favorite bar. It's just a shame that I discovered it just three short weeks before moving out of Chicago. I've been back twice now on Thursday nights -- great drink special that night ($3 for certain craft beers)! Both I've gone I've made friends - everyone is friendly, including the bartenders. As far as food goes, I've only had the grilled chicken sandwich, which wasn't anything special. Good enough though. I don't think I'd be going back to this place for the food. Go for the drink specials, atmosphere and good people.
(4)Juliana R.
Rocking horse has the best brunch! The service is always good and their omelettes are amazing!
(5)Meghan K.
We're weekday visitors, so we don't usually wait. We've tried a good amount of the menu and it's all quite yummy, I'm particularly fond of their burgers. They've got great beers and lots of specials. Service can be spotty, but only because they get busy.
(4)Samantha P.
Came on a Saturday morning and had ranch tator tots. Basically frozen and fried tots with ranch mix on the top. They are good for a few mimosas and brunch but I haven't visited more than this one time. Also table ordered Parmesan and artichoke dip and it came with an overwhelming taste of garlic and creaminess that was stuck in our mouth. It came with chips that were beyond stale and bread that were rocks and literally hurt to chew. They replaced it with pita bread which was delicious. Very nice selection of beer and drinks though.
(3)Ryan K.
I'm still trying to hone in on the best pubs in my neighborhood. I figured I'd try this place though it's relatively unappealing from the outside. Anyway, here's the straight skinny: $5 bloody marys on Saturdays... They have several options for fries and I chose regular. What an idiot I am. And they were just that: regular. Turkey sandwich was pretty solid. Burger was average. It was a poor decision getting it. I was wrong. I'd come back but my search for top neighborhood pub rages on...
(3)Sarah B.
A date requested that I pick the place for our outing and I chose Rocking Horse. He lives in Logan Square and I don't know much about the area so trusty Yelp led me in the right direction with Rocking Horse. Super sexy interior with slate grey and red walls, dark wood and a romantic and chill vibe; this was a perfect spot for a cozy evening with someone new. We sat at the bar with the intention to move to a table to eat after a few drinks. The place filled up pretty quickly and so we stayed at the bar to eat. An obviously popular place to go on a Friday night and the crowd was very cool. We shared the Ahi Tuna Club and it was soooo good--I don't even like seafood but this was great. The staff was very cool and the beer list was nice. If I lived in the area I might go fairly often. Who knows, depending on this guy, I may have more reason to be in the neighborhood--if so, Rocking Horse will have to be a hangout.
(4)julie q.
Went here around 9 pm on Saturday night for a friend's birthday. The server and bouncer was really nice - Looked out for an additional high top table since there was 10 of us and we only had one for 4. Beer selection is great with good prices...Had the sashimi wontons...They were pretty decent. For $10 I was happy. $4 jim beam shots went down as smooth as whiskey can...Great music. I really like this place and when I'm in the hood, I'll definitely be back.
(4)Jeff K.
Rocking Horse started as a place to drink on Wednesdays after a night class. It served a great purpose. At the time, we came with one thing on the mind and that was to drink after sitting in class for three hours. It took many visits to realize that they even served food. I now regret not ordering food sooner because I feel like although I liked Rocking Horse when I first started coming, now that I order their tater tots, I am in love. Rocking Horse is a constant on places to eat in the neighborhood. I tend to not think of it as a place to drink for drinking's sake, but always enjoy my time there.
(4)Carol K.
A-OK and I mean that whole heartedly. It's almost good, I couldn't give it the full four stars because well, it's bar food. It's better than your average bar food, a bit fresher (just a bit), vegetarian options, decent variety and generally you won't leave disappointed. But generally you won't remember having ever eaten there, the food is slightly above average, but not memorable. Again, it's bar food. However in a pinch it totally works out, if you're in the square and are looking for something decently priced and not a lot of frills give it a try.
(3)Andrew C.
The Rocking Horse is pretty much the High Dive after it's lost its friction and slid for a mile - or so - to Logan Square. Which is to say, it's the High Dive with a dark(er) wood interior, a strong aversion to light, less prominent televisions - thank the sweet sweet lord - an eerily familiar menu, and a louder jukebox. Which of course makes the seein' and hearin' portions of your visit a bit harder to execute. The $3 craft brew pints on Thursdays make 'em even less so, I assure you. As at the High Dive, service is attentive and very friendly - and that's what keeps me coming back. That, and the magnet in my head.
(3)Christoph B.
Logan Square is the hottest neighborhood in Chicago right now, well at least this stretch of Milwaukee Ave is. Why do I say this? Look at the evidence. The top two businesses on Yelp Chicago are Revolution Brewing and Longman & Eagle (most bookmarked). Within stumbling distance is Coles, another great bar. Add to that the Rocking Horse. I came to Rocking Horse for brunch last Sunday and found the food, beer, and service to be above average. Hell, I'm gonna say the food was pretty damn delicious. The bar is dark but not at all dungeon-like. I really appreciate the clearly written drink specials above the bar. There is a sign for each day of the week written in large black type on a white background-- making it visible from anywhere in the bar and easy to decipher if you're already a little tipsy. There is a small room in the back with a pool table, photo booth, and Pac Man. OK so maybe the addition of Rocking Horse doesn't elevate Logan Square to 'best 'hood eva'. I still like it, so there. Better yet, if you don't agree with me then meet me here and we can discuss over a beer.
(4)Eric H.
It took another recent trip to *Revolutionary* Brewery and yesterday's return trip to Rocking Horse to conclude that I'd been far to hard on Rocking Horse. Yes, I wish they would ceremoniously toss their idiot boxes out on to Milwaukee Ave! But this place is actually a beautifully constructed and comfy dark wood public house with a fine selection of pints and some lively offerings in the way of bar food. What really grounds this place in the style of ye olde European public houses are the laid back but attentive "good people" staff who welcome you into the Rocking Horse, as if you're a traveling foreign but fellow alumni who lived on the same floor freshmen year. And, although they didn't know you well, liked you enough to extend their living room couch for the night upon learned that your flight home was canceled due to a snow storm. Yes they cannot control the those empty headed walking "his and her matching Bears and Cubs jerseys" and those "*crafty* trust fund fixie cyclist" who all push the same turbo strollers, forcing us to suffer their crying "little pink gifts to the world" But on a cold winter's Saturday afternoon, you might just very well feel the ghost of D. H. Lawrence or William Yeats, still.
(4)Mike M.
This is a great Logan Square joint, with a fantastic jukebox selection. The burgers and sandwiches are great, and Thursday night's $3 craft beer specials are wonderful. I'd stick to their beer selection, not really a place for great cocktails (although they offer many). They also have very good tater tots, and will serve them with gravy on top (YES!).
(5)Amy G.
Omg...get the ahi tuna sandwich. Maybe the best $11 sandwich in Logan. (Supplemented with an excessive amount of perfect tater tots to nullify the potential healthiness of omega-rich tuna on whole wheat.) The Thursday special is $3 craft brew pints. That's kind of ridiculous. I'm really liking this place these days. The crowd is a mix of hipsters, washed-out, aging former punk rockers, and a few yuppie-types who mistakenly wandered away from Dunlays. Of course, like almost anywhere else now in Logan Square, it's best on a Sunday thru Thursday evening. Amazingly, I have NEVER waited for a table here. And now they have (actually some very beautiful) art on the walls, just like I suggested. Brava!
(4)Richard L.
Came on a Saturday night around 7 for dinner. Place wasn't crowded at all and there was ample seating. I took the advice of other reviewers and ordered the ahi tuna sandwich. It is pretty good. I don't know about it being the best ahi tuna sandwich I've ever had, but it was better than average. My friend ordered the tater tots, which are drenched in chimichurri, and those were delicious. They had Goose Island Green Line on special for $4. I'm not really sure I'll be coming back. The prices are such that I would rather go to Jerry's Sandwich on Division and Damen and be able to select from many sandwiches that are much better tasting from the same price range ($11). If you're starving though and you don't want to wait and happen to be in the neighborhood, I guess this will do. The staff were friendly and the food came quickly.
(3)Lindsay W.
BBQ bacon gouda burger is amazing. Servers are super friendly and cute (guys and girls). A bar with great bar food but not the annoying qualities of a typical bar.
(4)Marie M.
Would have gotten five stars but the kitchen always seems to be out of the amazing brisket. From food to customer service to beer and location, you cannot go wrong. The sandwiches are to die for. I usually get a wrap with fries, and usually I do not finish my fries as well! Plenty of food to take home as well. Being a beer guru.. heaven. Come on by and challenge me to pool!
(4)Anne Marie W.
I'm giving the rocking horse 2 stars because I've had good experiences here in the past. Based on tonight, I would give it a negative 10 stars if I could. We arrived shortly before 11pm. We ordered drinks and an assortment of appetizers: nothing difficult, just tater tots, fries, etc. At around 11:45, one of my friends asked our waitress about our food, and she assured us it would just be a few more minutes. At midnight, I went up to the bar and asked to speak to a manager. A few minutes later, our waitress came back and told us that our drinks were on her. We said that we didn't need free drinks, we just wanted our tater tots. The manager came by a few minutes later and was extremely rude. He told us that we had only put in our order at 11:50. I said that maybe our waitress put in our order at 11:50, but we ordered at 11pm. He just kept saying that our order was put in at 11:50. This was seriously one of the most surreal restaurant experiences of my life. As a former waitress, standard practice is to tell an upset party that they are right and you will fix things. Instead, we were told that we were lying about our experience and that a comped drink should make up for an hour without tater tots. We stopped at the rocking horse to get a drink and a bite to eat on the way home. Instead, we went home and ate pizza rolls. In retrospect, we should have just gone with the pizza rolls in the first place.
(2)Roberto F.
Headed this way after we realized that Revolution was just to crowded especially since we only wanted a few beers. And a good choice it was. On Thursday nights they have there craft beers for $4. Not a bad way to get some high percentage ABV beers. Furthermore try the pretzel appetizer, you won't regret it. My friend was telling me these are the same stuffed pretzels sold at the Christkindl market and they are the size of a small fist. Overall impressed with there selection of beers and the cost of each on non special days. Which come to think of it, everyday has some type of special. Next time I'll be sure to try something off their diverse menu.
(4)James V.
My first experience with the Rocking Horse was pretty average. My general review of the place was that it was "essentially a dark restaurant." I've lightened up on the place with subsequent visits and found it to be a rather cool place. The music isn't obtrusive, the staff is generally nice and the beer selection is pretty great. They have $3 drafts one day, (thursday?) which is a great night to be there. The only thing you have to know about the Horse, TOTS. You get a Massive plate of these things. Seriously, it feeds 3, easy. I get them cajun style, as ranch is just too salty for me. And that garlic aoli it comes with is flippin' great! The Rocking Horse is a great place to come with friends, but because it seems so much like a restaurant, it's not the easiest place to go to meet new people. All in all, it's probably the best bar in the immediate area.
(3)Matt D.
Good food, drink specials, and moderate prices made this a good place for catching up with friends on a Friday night. Arrived from out of town, and joined a fried at the Rockinghorse for dinner. Atmosphere was loud and dark, but the booths are comfortable and right next to a huge set of windows. Server was inattentive, but friendly. I ordered the $11 ahi tuna club sandwich. Pretty good! My fiancee ordered the $10 veggie burger and loved it. We both ordered different flavored tots (cajun and ranch), but couldn't taste the difference when they arrived at our table. We also got the $7 gauc/salsa/chips app...disappointing. The beer menu is extensive and fairly priced. Each day of the week they feature a different beer and liquor for $4. On Fridays it's Beefeater -- what a pleasant surprise! Overall, I enjoyed the Rockinghorse and would consider going back again if I was in the neighborhood.
(3)Tommy A.
FUCK THIS BAR..... I usally can have fun at any place that serves whiskey, but this place is horrid. The first time i went here was on a weeknight with a large group of friends. The beer was overpriced and service was so-so. The only reason i stayed was the company i was with (we could have had a good time with a bottle of Black Velvet in a porta-potty) not the bar. The second time i went was a weekday just past lunch time. I had just finished working and went there with my crew for a couple beers and food. There was only one other table of people in there and two Logan square looking hipster girls working. The two girls working were more interested in playing on there computers at the bar then serving us. we had to call her over to our table for everything we needed (if they were busy i might understand this but the place was empty). Now onto the food i ordered some chili cheese fries, when they came out there was bout a tablespoon of chili and cheese on them. I asked to have some more put on, which the waistress acted like i was asking to see her tits. When they came back out with another tablespoon of chili & cheese on them i just ate them and laughed with my crew bout the lack of tip she was going to get. There are enough other bars just like this one in the city (at least three on the same block). Take your hard earned cash to a place that acts like there glad your spending it there.
(1)Laura D.
This place is great! On a busy night for hockey fans, we came here hoping to find a nice place to grab a bite to eat and enjoy some schmancy beer, and we did. I especially appreciated that Thursdays are apparently $3 pint night for a selection of their beers. I got the Allagash White and the a brand new beer that isn't even on the menu yet. The burger was delicious and they're not messing around with their bacon: thick cut and center sliced indeed. Perfecto! I loved that this wasn't a typical bro bar filled with drunk ayholes. It's a beautiful location and a really neat place to just sit and people watch. Comfortable, with great food and beer, and not pretentious or cliquey at all. Delightful! The DJ showed up early into our experience and it was cool because he arrived with a cart full of LPs. He kept it quiet enough to hear each other and loud enough to be able to identify different songs, which can be a delicate balance to accomplish. My tater tots came with kosher salt (top score!) and a tasty side of ranch dressing. The burger was delish. You get the picture! Try it out. You won't regret it.
(4)L L.
Only if you're in the neighborhood. Not visiting the neighborhood, mind you, but actually living here. Otherwise, you'll be annoyed. I wanted to like this place, simply because it's a new bar in the area. I met a few friends here the other night and, although I couldn't put my finger on it, the place was just uncomfortable. It seems to feel awkward in its own skin, which is perhaps appropriate due to its strong resemblance to a hotel bar (think: holiday inn). I was surprised that they carded me at the front door - the outside door, mind you, on a 15 degree night - given that there were maybe six people in the whole place (and, I mean, I'm 30). When I walked up to the bar, it took a moment for the four staff standing there to acknowledge me - not even a hello. My pet peeve is when staff outnumber patrons and still cop an attitude. I mean, what? I was pleasantly surprised with my $4 draft beer (Brooklyn Lager, not bad) and we made our way to one of the large booths. We were there for over an hour, but the waitress didn't offer to get more drinks or anything the whole time, even though she was helping the table next to us. In fact, she came up to us as we were putting our coats on to leave and asked if we were interested in ordering food. Seems she completely failed to notice us the whole time, since she asked us if we'd just walked in. How can you miss three people sitting next to the only other occupied table in the place? When that's your only job?? In sum, I doubt I'll be back. When it comes to area bars, I'll either aim high (Whistler) or local (Bob Inn and Two-Way), and will leave the Rocking Horse for the new generation of whoever might want to go there.
(2)Lindsey B.
I like it. The prices aren't bad at all, the food is reliably pretty good, it's close, and even during peak hours it's not unbearably crowded. Some servers/employees are nicer and more attentive than others, but I've only gotten weird attitude once. It's a happy middle ground between fancier gastropubs and dive bars and I've even taken my grandma there to eat. The crowd is pretty relaxed and you can find a mix of people, too, across ages and demographics -- I learned a while ago to take it with a grain of salt when complaints about "hipsters" show up in Yelp reviews because I've never seen more than a couple Zooey Deschanel look-a-likes or bros in flannel. Not exactly threatening. My menu favorites: grilled cheese, BBQ brisket, ranch tater tots. My complaint: they'll only split checks 3 ways. When you have a group of 4 and no one brought enough cash, that's kind of a pain in the butt.
(4)Carolynne M.
All of the Rocking Horse's menu items may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when ordering the drug known as POUTINE: Abnormal dreams; lightheadedness; food coma; dry mouth; increase of appetite; tiredness; trouble sleeping; weakness....cant. stop. eating. this!!! Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when ordering POUTINE: Drooling of the mouth; abnormal thinking; change in behavior, mood, or emotions; confusion; increased sexual ability; difficulty walking; fainting; hallucinations; memory loss; severe or persistent drowsiness or sleepiness; shortness of breath; sudden irresistible urge to continue eating or sudden continuous eating at unusual times; swelling of the arms or legs; trouble cessation of eating; unusual or intense urges (eg, gambling, sexual urges); unusual twitching or muscle movements; vision changes; vivid dreams or daydreams. Consult your doctor if POUTINE is right for you! Cuz it is...oh my lord it really, really is!
(4)Jessica G.
Come here for the loaded veggie burger (avocado, roasted red pepper aioli, provolone, pickle, grilled onion, lettuce, tomato), tater tots, and beer. So good it hurts. Tons of veg options. And great for takeout. YES!
(4)Andy M.
Poutine, Poutine, Poutine !!!! Where have you been my whole life. Poutine is amazing. I have been hearing about Poutine from my Canadian friends for years. This is the first time that I had a chance to try it. I'm not sure how the Poutine at the Rocking horse stacks up with the traditional Canadian version, but it was pretty darn good. It is a combination of fries and cheese that is covered with gravy. It's a wicked-good combination. The Rocking horse is a cool little Bar and Grill in the Logan Square area. The interior is dark and Gothic. They could probably use it as a S&M dungeon after hours. But the food is good and the service was wonderful. All of the servers are dressed like Pin-Up Girls from the 40's which adds to the unique vibe. For an Entree I had a burger with the Ranch flavored fries (yes, I ate more fries). The Burger was good, but nothing to write home about. The highlight was definitely the Poutine. Aside from the Burgers, the menu is pretty thin. The offer a few different sandwiches and wraps. It's your usual bar menu. They would probably be better off if they expanded the menu. Other than that, I have no complaints. I really enjoyed my night at the Rocking horse. The food was good, they offered a wide variety of beers and the servers were awfully cute. I would definitely go back for another go at the Poutine
(4)Eric S.
Rocking Horse has good beer, and on Thursdays they offer 10 of their craft brews for $3. The problem is that the music is inappropriately loud for the type of music and general ambiance of the place. The seating is ample, which I value over the interior decorating, which is dark and tacky (think Micky Rourke's living room).
(3)K B.
Great wings and tots. Good beer menu and service. Laid back place to chill and talk.
(4)Emily W.
Just about every stereotype you can imagine congregates at this bar. We've got the curly haired boy (let's call him Rapunzel, shall we?) laying down his locks for rescue, the hippie and his girlfriend at the bar playing tag team with the jukebox making sure only their music gets played, some hipster guy, the father and son watching a football game, the nerd pretending to get work done in the corner, an extra large bouncer, let's call him Quasimodo, waiting to be released from his temple of doom, and then there was me, the girl in a green coat sitting in the corner drinking a Woodchuck cider quietly observing everyone. You know what, I kind of like it here. PS: I'm not sure what bar Andy M. was at because there were no pin-up girls at this location...
(3)Penelope S.
I've been here a handful of times, and each time I've really enjoyed it! The food I've tried so far is great...the veggie burger is especially awesome, and this is the first one to top the veggie burger at Dunlay's, which I always loved. Great selection of beer. I liked the atmosphere too, and the diverse crowd didn't bother me one bit. As a side note....I never understand why people complain about the diverse crowds; you're in Chicago, guys...what else do you expect?! There's a huge mix of people! If you're focusing so much on how annoyed you are by the different types, instead of focusing on your own company, you have other problems to worry about! Back to the review....great place, I highly recommend it! Next thing to try...their brunch!
(5)Carlee W.
I've been here numerous times, and everytime has been outstanding. The food is always good, especially brunch, and they always put a nice twist on classic meals. The drink specials are great, and they always have fantastic beer, and the specials don't just apply to crap beer. To top it off? The music selection is awesome. I love living within walking distance of a bar and restaurant this wonderful!
(5)Law S.
Food was good, tuna appetizer is great. Pulled pork sandwich as amazing, fries were too heavily seasoned. Also, a small note, I was overtaken with the amount of Renuzit vanilla plug-in that were everywhere (every outlet). I don't know what that was about but it was a little much. Tons of beer! Will definitely be back.
(4)John J.
Great atmosphere, the best soundtrack in the city, a different $4 craft brew each night, $3 PBR tallboys, $3 Craft Pint Night on Thursday. The Chicken and Pulled Pork sandwiches were very good, but the best part were the Co-op hot sauces. They made everything taste twice as good. Hot, Habanero, Verde, 'Local'. You gotta try em all. Definitely my favorite bar.
(5)emmers m.
This bar, along with logan bar and grill, are the starting off points for the Trixie and Chad Guide to Slumming it West of Western. i did enjoy their pinball. i did not enjoy being surrounded by douchewads. i know some people who work here and they are good people. i imagine someday i'll want barfood and someone will want to go somewhere with tvs, so i will get over the incredibly generic interior and end up here. i guess i'm too white and employed to care too much about gentrification anymore or something.
(2)Holly M.
I was so excited to come to the Rocking Horse. I've been waiting a while to try it, so it was pretty awesome when my friend and I decided to travel there last night. Well, I don't think I've ever had such bad experiences with food and service like this before, but I gotta say the beer menu is fantastic. To start the night, the doorman was friendly--and that makes me happy, because almost any place that has a doorman checking IDs, he's usually miserable, cranky, or just plain rude. Anyway, my friend and I decided to start the night with the Goat Cheese balls appetizer. We received six little fried balls that looked like they could have been purchased in the Trader Joe's frozen food section, AND, unfortunately, they actually were frozen. So, the waitress came back and she brought the remaining four goat cheese balls back to the kitchen. The same four cheese-balls returned to us about two minutes later. I bit into mine--still frozen. Their microwave must not be very powerful. Instead of sending them back again, my friend and I just avoided making a big deal out of it and left the remaining appetizer at the edge of the table. I ordered the black and blue mini-burgers. A few minutes later, my friend and I got our food. I received three McDonalds-thin patties with semi-melted American cheese on top. After my food was sent back once more, I received the correct mini burgers. They were ok. Again, the meat seemed very processed, as if the patties had been delivered by some fast food chain, and even though they were "mini," the meat patties were the same size as a normal burger, but they sat on tiny buns. So that was kind of weird. Near the end of the night, our waitress gave us our bill, but never returned to collect it. After about 20 minutes, my friend called out to her and she approached in a hurry, saying she completely forgot we were still there. So, really, come here for drinks only. I don't know if we just had a really bad chef that night or if this is common for the food at Rocking Horse, but I wouldn't recommend appetizers or entrees.
(2)Dan F.
Man was I in a bad mood when people brought up the idea of schlepping to Logan Square to go to some Rocking Horse place. They went on and on about the cute waittresses and the PBR tall boys for three dollars. So what the hell, as long as I'm not paying for the cab. And as long as we can attempt to smuggle a couple regular-sized PBR (12 oz.) in and attempt to drink them. Attempt. As long as I can do that, then I am okay with the schlep. Schlep. One cab ride and a short walk later, there we were, at a table with all these monster tall boys (16oz.), towering over the smuggled baby PBR. That damn bouncer with his eagle eyes. That damn waitress with her rye sense of humor. If I could do it all over again, I would be the one laughing after everyone else had finished laughing, this I promise you. Anyway, we were outed as frauds, but not kicked out, a testament to their tolerance for ne'er-do-wells such as myself and the misfits who consistently find themselves in my company. All in all, this is your run-of-the-mill, dimly-lit, hipster hideaway. The specials are nice enough, the staff is hardworking and good-humored. Good for them I suppose. And damn, the cleaner they use to wipe down the tables is this citrus-scented cat nip stuff. Every time they wiped down a table, I found my nostrils perking, instantly pleased with my station in life. So if you live in Logan Square, or if someone else is paying for the cab, I would highly suggest coming here. But please, keep the road sodas at home, they sell their own beer it turns out.
(3)Mike L.
Fun Place, Great beer and location.
(5)Brian C.
Great Logan Square spot. It seems like EVERYONE knows about this place so get in early on weekdays for a quieter experience. Right as you walk in there is the list of their current brews on tap and daily specials right above the bar, $3 PBR tall boys everyday!!! and $4 shots of Jameson most nights:-) After a few brooklyn lager's we dove into the tater tots poutine, if you have never had true canadian poutine this is just as tasty as the gravy from our friends to the north. I thought the buffalo chicken wrap would be a great next course. The wrap was slathered inside with a TON of blue cheese, too much for my liking but I still wolfed half the thing down while finishing off my tallboy. The service was awesome, always around when you needed another round, never bothersome and quick to drop off the check when you are ready to leave. One last thing, their juke box is amazing diverse and always rocking. We will be back soon, see you there!
(4)Tiffany K.
Came here with a handful of my friends on a Friday night. I have so much to say about this place! First of all, I love the atmosphere. Their beer selection is very impressive and decently priced ($5 for a bottle of Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA? $4.50 drafts of Goose Island beer? Sign me up!). Some might think the beer is expensive for what's around the area, but I think the selection merits the beer being $4-6 dollars. Anyway, the beer = good. The food is also very amazing, and the kitchen is open late so that's another bonus. Their garlic aioli is AMAZING, and with their fries and tator tots it's even better. My friends got grilled cheese and a turkey apple sandwich - ranging from $7.50 to $9 - and it was a lot of food so I think its worth it. The only bad part was how loud the music was and how weird some of the patrons were. I'd definitely come back here for some grub and a nice glass of cold beer. Fun space, and there's even a pool room in the back!
(4)Michael F.
After this building being some sort of scary fish place, and then sitting abandoned, a whiskey selling establishment is welcome. Before I went in I was afraid that the word "Rocking" in the title would lead to 80s hair music playing and guitars hanging on the wall. I'm happy to report this was not the case. Instead it's a dark, well laid out bar with a pool table and pinball. There is an excellent beer selection with most pints going for $4.50, which I would say is below the average price. The menu had lots of options, including a few that were veggie. There were also about 700 different ways that you can get french fries. My one complaint is that they try to pass off fries with cheddar cheese and gravy as the Canadian staple of poutine. Poutine has cheese curds, damn it!
(5)Sonja B.
It's exciting that another decent bar/restaurant went up in logan square. All i'm going to say is that I wish there were vegan options. I wanted something substantial to eat, no salad, and didn't have much to choose from. I got the veggie burger without cheese and it was GREAT, really delicious, but I wish I would have known there was cheese in the burger, butter on the roll, etc, after I asked for vegan options. The space is impressive and the menu is big, but I wish they'd cater to their audience a little bit.. i won't be back because there's nothing I can eat if I don't want fries or tater tots.
(2)Ray S.
This is a great place to grab some delicious bar food and a quality brew, Love that they have specials every night of the week. $4 Sailor Jerry on Saturday night?? Yes please! If there is a wait for tables, the door man is awesome, fair, and has a no bullshit policy. The apple and cream cheese wontons are awesome, as are the wings. Actually, I have never had anything I didn't love on the menu.
(4)Amidoux B.
I can be straight faced and honest when I say that I had one of the best steak sandwiches I've ever had at Rocking Horse. In fact the previous time i went I had a burger and that was pretty damn good as well. Very, Very good selection of beers, cute server chicks... I like this place for a beer and food but something about the vibe in here doesn't work for extended drinking periods. All in all, it does exactly what it's supposed to do and does it pretty well. Good food and good drink selection. The service however is hit or miss. 1st time we were here the server was busy as hell and kept up with us, checked in often and handled it like a pro. Second time when I tried the steak sammitch, the place was completely empty around 8pm or so and the server brought us the wrong drinks, forgot silverware and was just completely unavailable and in the back room or something when we were like, "hey, can we get some silver ware?" and "we'd like to order another beer" But yeah, great ribeye steak sandwich and awesome selection of beers.
(3)Aaron S.
I heard Rocking Horse'd opened Friday, so when the opportunity to go out presented itself the following night it was our first choice. I couldn't believe what they did with the previous space, which was an overly bright, totally uninviting banquet hall. All that was replaced with very dark walls, dim vintage light fixtures, and well-appointed booths. The menu is really big, and we decided to order just appetizers--poutine (read about in the Red Eye), spinach/feta won tons, and black and blue sliders. Perhaps it was a function of the place being new and wanting to impress, but all were fantastic and arrived at our table piping hot., with special praise going to the won tons. The drafts are pretty good, and the martini I had to start was very well made. We'll definitely be back to try some of the other stuff on the menu, which will hopefully be as well executed as the items we had tonight. Portabello fries here we come!
(4)Bex F.
Ooo, ow. Yeah, we tried the food. No thanks. The folks came down for dinner and we were looking for a relatively inexpensive nearby decent meal. *buzz*, bad choice. While my parents really enjoyed their burgers, the stuff we got....ouch. The hubs got the buffalo chicken wrap and said it was nasty. Rather than tossing the just chicken in the buffalo sauce, everything went in, overloading the sandwich. He wouldn't even finish it. I got the pulled pork and holy mistake. It was gross. It must've been stewing in buffalo chicken sauce which was already a bad decision and it was sooooo greasy, it was unreal. Like a swimming pool of grease on my plate. I got so grossed out I couldn't eat it. Our server lost interest in us immediately because no one ordered alcoholic beverages and she pretty well vanished after the food was dropped, spending most of her time chatting up other employees at the bar. You could smell the stink of the potties everywhere and that's just not appetizing. And what really got me was that they charged 50 cents for the little side of barbecue sauce I asked for. Really? That's just plain silly. No thanks!
(1)Megan L.
Checked out Rocking Horse for dinner earlier this week and am pleased to report that some of the initial service issues a few people mentioned seem to have been ironed out. Our server was attentive and friendly, and all our food came out pretty quickly. We had a plate of tater tots as an appetizer, but just got the plain ones (they also offer ranch or cajun, I believe). The tots were good - came out hot, not under- or over-salted, just yummy. They actually had a pretty extensive list of appetizers that sounded great, but it seemed best to start off with something safe. Still, I would go back just to try some of the other options. I had a burger, my friend had the Ahi tuna club. My burger was good - nothing exceptional, but certainly good enough to be ordered again. The tuna club was a little disappointing. The advertised avocado was like a light smear of avocado on the bread. Very light. As someone who likes avocado, my friend was pretty disappointed on that front, but the rest of the sandwich was pretty tasty. Rocking Horse also has a very nice beer list that I am looking forward to delving into. Rocking Horse is definitely a good addition to Logan Square. It's a little less pricey than Dunlay's, but the food is just as good and it's definitely got better food than Logan Bar & Grill. Welcome to the neighborhood, Rocking Horse!
(4)Nikki C.
Got here around 11pm. Hot as hell. Loud as hell. If you want to chat in a comfortable environment? This is not the place. Also, was not waited on until about 5 minutes after we sat down...server just did a shot with us without us offering or buying. SO does that mean she bought us those shots?? Typically, in any bar I've worked at...if you invite yourself to do a shot with customers? You're buying the round. It better not be on our bill! Also, this review was literally regarding customer service, atmosphere and comfortability. Did not eat here, as we ate somewhere before meeting friends here. However, they did say the tater tots were awesome - but tater tots are tater tots. It's ALWAYS awesome when a restaurant/bar has them! Kinda hard to screw those up! ;o) With saying all that, I understand that this place is somewhat fresh, so I'll more than likely give it a second shot once it's had a chance to sink it's toes in and get comfortable. I'll try some food, pull a seat up at the bar to see how the scene is, what kind of beer/liquor selection they have and if they have any specials or specialties that they pride themselves for. Here's to next time! *cheers*
(2)Shayna N.
Another new neighborhood establishment opening up mere blocks from my house. Yay! I was here on a cold fall evning with a friend. The beer selection is pretty decent, and the menu looked like your standard bar food. I ordered the Goose Island Harvest pint. and we shared some tater tots. Tater tots were good (they're pretty hard to mess up) and came in a very generous portion for $3. Otherwise there was the standard apetizers, hamburgers and sandwiches to choose from. The interior is dark and pub-ish (?) Pretty standard fair. I will definitely come back since its so close to my house, but wouldn't send anyone here if it was out of their way. I see this being a great neighbor hood hang out, but definitely not a destination.
(3)Beth M.
Within the first 15 minutes of the Rocking Horse's opening night, I was enjoying a Unibroue Fin du Monde under the soft glow of the vintage light fixtures. This bar is quite welcome to me in the Logan Square neighbourhood. Dunlay's is alright, but it's a little more yuppie for my taste. I like the dark black and red interior of Rocking Horse, and the soft leather/pleather (I don't know which) booths are casual yet solid. There is a whole game room with a pinball game, photobooth and pool table, which, unfortunately for me, was occupied the whole time. Since the bar just opened, I'll cut the server some slack for not knowing the whole draft/bottle list. The bar will add more beers to their offerings over the next few weeks or so as well. I did not try the food yet (other than a few tater tots), but there are several vegan (-able) dishes: portabella sandwiches/wraps, veggie burgers, jalapeño hummus, guacamole and salsa, french fries and tater tots to name a few. The acoustics were kind of poor. Everyone's conversation bounced off the shut windows and smooth walls/ceilings. I hope the owners add some sound-absorbing materials to make it more tolerable and easier to hear one's conversation. Worth a return visit. I'd like to see how it develops.
(4)Ellen H.
I am probably in the 3.5 range, but rounding up to give my neighborhood some cred. Went last night, very nice inside. Almost too nice, given the lovely neighbor, The Milshire, and across from Mega Mall. Kinda expected a little more of an edgy vibe, but it's just so new. It's also pretty big with a large open space. More of a restaurant feel than bar, due to lots of tables: large booths along the walls/windows, 4-6 regular tables, plus another 6-8 high tops. Estimates, mind you. We were sitting at the bar, where many folks started, but it filled up pretty well after 7-8. The bathrooms were sparkling and nice. The discovery of the 'private' game room, with pool table, photo booth and PINBALL was great, that could be a fun time to take over with a group. Not a huge menu, mostly apps, sandwiches/wraps, some less-than inspiring salads, burgers, tacos, etc. We split chorizo wontons (decent) and the Ahi Tuna club (awesome). I put it somewhere in the Dunlay's / Logan variety, a decent spot that I can take my family which is always nice to find.
(4)Jose C.
Pretty sure we'll never come here again...to eat, at least. I came here with my wife and a couple friends. My wife and one of our friends ordered the BBQ brisket sandwich. I ordered the chicken wraps and another friend ordered chicken strips. The food took forever and a day to get to us. When the brisket sandwiches arrived, they were the most nauseatingly disgusting brisket sandwiches we had all ever seen. The brisket was nearly all soft, white fat. I simply cannot believe any chef no matter what level he or she is at would serve something as gross as this. It was simply unedible. The waitress knew this too, and never once stopped by to ask us how the food was (as per tradition). She only breezed by a few times and each time managed to look at the mountain of white fat atop the bottom bun. It was like she was thinking, "I wonder if she is really going to eat that...she at least can't be mad at me for this, I'm just the messager!" My "wraps" ended up being one wrap cut in half. It was just ok. The bill was way too much for our food, being as bad as it was. The place seemed like a bumping place, it's probably better known as a bar than an eatery. Still, to have the nerve to serve something as blatantly horrifying as what was on those plates is purely insulting.
(2)Kim A.
I'm not going to lie when I say that I might have been a touch overserved when entering this place, but don't let that color the integrity of this review... These are the things that sold me: Ephemere Poutine Photobooth Wallpaper Music. There you have it. It's a great place to come with and just chill as a group... take back a few beers and maybe eat some snacks.
(4)Karen C.
Maybe if I were 25, wearing skinny jeans (which btw look good on NO ONE) along with a repeat of other ugly clothes from the 80's, and was more interested in being seen than having an actual conversation this place would have been cool. As it is, I spent $25 on chicken wings I didn't finish, a few beers I wasn't that impressed with, and a noise level more acceptable at a club than an open area restaurant and bar. I'm assuming the point of this place is to attract all the young hipsters in the neighborhood who are more than willing to spend far too much money on food and alcohol than they should. The reason I make this leap of judgment is because the lighting is dim, and yet the only decorations on the walls are mirrors, so that all the young fashionistas can admire themselves while eating. After all they need something to do since they can't hear anyone else with the music volume in here after 10pm. No seriously. The sound level was fine and then somewhere between 10 and 10:30 they pumped up the volume (and not in an awesome Christian Slater way either) to the point of annoyance. In fact, no one was impressed with their food, save the one shimmering foodie goodness (which is the reason they get 3 instead of 1 star) knows as Poutine. By the gods this potato/cheese/gravy concoction is a work of genius. We didn't just eat it, we devoured it. It was good enough to up the review two whole stars. I am not kidding. I would actually come here again (early in the evening next time...thank you) just for this dish. Also, the waitress was nice, the bathrooms clean, the door-guy pleasant, and the seating arrangements well thought out. There...I said some other positive things. I'm not a total snot.
(3)Laura W.
I was forced to leave my friendly confines of Lakeview to attend a birthday party at the Rocking Horse. After getting over the initial anger of a $15 cab ride, I settled in to sampling the tater tots someone else had ordered. They were delicious, and this peaked my curiosity. I didn't end up ordering anything else on the menu but it looked decent enough for bar food. So back to the birthday, we were trying to come up with the grossest shot to buy my friend and I settled on the 3 Wise Men. Now traditionally it is made with Jim, Jack, and Johnny. When I ordered the drink the bartender kept insisting to have it with Jim, Jack and Jose. I didn't argue but I found this a bit odd. My friend took the shot and seemed to handle it pretty well. But I will never order it again that way. So the draft beer selection was decent and the specials were fair, but there just wasn't that special something to make me fall in love with it or to go back any time soon. They also had the IFC channel on and there was a very graphic movie playing and it was really distracting for me to talk to the table because I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. I feel it was an odd choice of channels for a bar.
(2)Jessie B.
This place wasn't anything special. They had the following: Tables Chairs Booths Beer So yeah. Grab a friend & tell them to bring on their funny faces because there isn't a lot going on here. Well the stars are for the good service & the yummy buffalo chicken sandwich I got for $6.00. Yes it came with fries. Oh yeah there was a guy playing the guitar. Random--but fun.
(3)molly c.
the pros - good beer list with a good price point. interesting menu (i didn't eat). nice big booths. the cons - really loud musical laziness - i like the thermals too, but i didn't need to hear two complete albums in a row. flaky waitress. if i was in chicago, i'd probably hang out there sometimes. worked for a some quality time with old friends.
(3)Anne J.
Read the reviews on Yelp, an decided to trek out yesterday in the snow to give it a try. I'm glad I did. First, of all, I guess everyone was still trying to recover from the blizzard because the place was EMPTY ! A few people came in later but we really had the place to ourselves for awhile. That said, service was amazing! The food was just what I want in my bar food: loaded with carbs, and lots of burgers/sandwiches! We started off with the parmesean/artichoke dip. It was amazing. Creamy, warm, and they give both chips and bread for dipping. YUM! I had the turkey club.....another good choice. The bread was grilled panini style, and the bacon was thick with just the right amount of salt. It's served with a side of fries....mega size! Great beer and whiskey selection too. I opted for the ACE hard pear cider. Very good. I can't wait to go back when the weather is a little nicer.
(4)Rich N.
Great variety in beers and the wraps were really tasty. The decor is a bit dark, but it works for them.
(4)Sean L.
I'm glad to see places like this opening up in Logan Square. It gives me some more options to go out to other than some of the dive bars in the area. The ambiance is really chic on the inside, I just hope they don't let it get to their heads and jack up the prices. I had the Black & Bleu Burger. Nothing to write home about, but alright. I opted for the Ranch Fries, which didn't really have much flavor. I will try the Cajun ones next time. Hopefully those will be a little more flavorful than regular fries.
(3)Super L.
Ate here twice. The first time it took ten minutes for the server to acknowledge us, and even then there was no apology, she seemed to hate life, and she'd disappear never to be seen except maybe for once or twice during our entire meal, and those times she'd seem miserable. The busboy waited on us more than she did. ANYhoo, the burgers were FABULOUS - and that is what is important! Their cool frie dealios are kind of expensive which keeps us from trying all the different ones, but it's cool they have the option. All in all, I'll give them a solid 3 just because of the super delicious burgers. Plus they have some decent drink specials and prices.
(3)Jonathan A.
It's ok I guess. I haven't tried the food yet, so I should write an update based on that. I went on opening night, and the place was just packed and loud as hell, so I thought that wasn't really a fair assessment of the place. Went back a couple weeks later on a weeknight. And the experience was much better, but not all that great. The place is still loud and echo-ey, even with just a handful of people. The acoustics of this big open space and the jukebox volume force everyone to talk way louder than they need to. And it can be kind of annoying. Maybe ok on a weekend, but on a slow weeknight when you just want to sit and talk over a drink and food, not so much. The place is also really dark, due to black walls, dark furniture and incidental lighting. You can't really even get a good estimation of the decor. But there doesn't really seem to be any, aside from a couple chandeliers and a wooden rocking horse mounted on the wall. The bar has a nice look to it. The food and drink menu seemed fairly large and a little nicer than your average bar food. But nothing jumped out at me. Decent beers and appetizers. But overall, the place feels kind of generic and lacking in character. It seems to cater towards more of a yuppster crowd. Hipsters with jobs and money. Imagined if you combined the layout, atmosphere and crowds of Dunlays and the Burlington, and you may be close. I'll probably go back to try the food, and who knows it may grow on me. They do have a couple tvs to watch whatever game is on.
(3)Nana H.
Meehhhhh, It's too sporty for my tastes...sometimes by sporty I mean to masculine. I guess it's good for the normal types of people in the hood. I like how it's right next to the Hispanic club. The food is your typical bar food, with only slight flare and it's always too salty. The only think I appreciate is the Matilda on tap. I guess I could come back here if i had out of town guests who weren't into cool things.
(2)Jessica S.
initially, this is my favorite go-to eat & drink spot in logan. and here are the reasons why i feel this way! they have drink specials every day of the week, and by every day i mean even on the weekends. $4 for a gin and tonic on a friday night? give me 20, please. oh yeah, and $3 pbr tall boys errday. they are super duper ice cold too, meaning that i had one that was like a pbr-slushie, but i didn't really hate it that much. i went there to just get my friday-night-drink-special on and was glad to see that it had a pretty cool late-night bar vibe, vs my worry of it just being a good restaurant/get-a-few-beers kind of place. the food. is. in.cred.i.ble. spinach omelette with potatoes was great, jalapeno hummus was great, but their smoked turkey & apple sandwich is just so perfect and delicious. seriously, seriously, seriously such a good sandwich. who knew a sandwich could be so good? trust me, i'm being serious here. the only thing negative about this place is the service is kind of weird, but i'd definitely rather have a slighty bitchy waitress than an obnoxious one who wants to be my friend. but just, you know, enjoy some of their shots specials and suddenly they aren't so bad :D
(4)Alison H.
We had a friend in town the other night and wanted to grab some drinks nearby. We'd never been to Rocking Horse before, but I'd heard that it offered cheap drinks and ok food. The drinks were cheap. The beer selection was great. Several of my current faves were available on tap and in the bottle at a cheaper price than other bars I frequent. The food was a pleasant surprise. I was expecting typical bar food. I ordered the Turkey Club with Cajun Fries. I was impressed with this sandwich. It was just what I wanted; very tasty. My husband was a bit disappointed with his dinner. But we'll definitely be back to give them another try. The atmosphere was nice as well. Clean, modern. It was dim and cozy. There was music, but it wasn't so loud that you couldn't have a conversation. It's definitely a hipster place--I think we were the only non-hipsters there. But the staff was polite and friendly and we weren't looked at like lepers for not wearing skinny jeans and too-tight flannel shirts. We are definitely fans of Rocking Horse and will return here again in the near future.
(4)Kevin R.
I always look forward coming here on Thursdays. $3 draft beers and the portobello fries! Ahh... the portobello fries.... Brunch kicks ass too. Great bar to relax and take in the ambience. Also love the early 90's jukebox
(5)Anna G.
Epitome of awesomeness! Food is great, reasonably priced, and wait staff is cool. Decor is really nice, LOVE the lighting, and there's a game room in back if you wanna kill time while your waiting. All around, really awesome place.
(5)Martha H.
Awesome selection of beers and gluten free too for me. The tacos were awesome and we went back yesterday for brunch and the food was so good I couldn't stop thinking about it for the rest of the day.
(5)link b.
They have turbo dog!!! and shrimp po boys!!!
(3)Meagan L.
I am a big fan of this place. Great beer on tap and bar food with a twist of delicious. The pretzels are delicious and I like the fact that there are three styles of chicken finger. I always get blackened which is always juicy and delicious with ranch (I like to get bbq sauce in addition). They do a mean portobello fry with aioli. The atmosphere is dark wood, cozy with a pool table in the back. I have not had the sandwiches which appear to be great. I like that the place never seems to be over crowded.
(4)Kristine F.
Well priced. Nice staff. Favorite item on the menu are the cajun tots, which literally comes in a mountain of a pile. Wanted bacon mac n cheese, but no such thing is offered : / Burger was really good, above average quality, but not the best. Close to my apt, don't mind heading there for brunch.
(4)Blaw K.
Great great place! Been coming back here as much as possible the past year and loving each occasion. It's perfect for a date and good lunch & dinner, and awesome nightlife with a super friendly staff all the time. See you soon
(5)Heather K.
Logan Square is really building out but I didn't love this one either. The layout works but it was incredibly dark. I sat in a big booth with some big boys, they had some good beers and decent prices. The pretzels were good, fries were fine, veggie burger was eh, and none of the people I were with seemed too impressed with their food either. I thought the menu was too big. Generally, the more options the less quality the food. Maybe that's what this place is...edible food, drinks for a decent hang out good 'ole time. In which case, I suppose it is A-OK. Every neighborhood needs one of these and hey it's better than that LOGAN pub...
(3)Katie P.
I love tots! I totally love them and I'm ticked off that it took me so long to finally go and give The Rocking Horse a try. Because if I had know I had tots within walking distance from the get go... I'd already be a regular. The bf and I frequently want to go out on Friday night but when you get home after a long week sometimes the couch is too tempting. Anyhow, we were actually looking for a new-to-us BYOB that wasn't Thai and we were having much luck and the frustration was building and the couch was calling. We were desperate not to fall into the routine and somehow the Rocking Horse came up and we decided if we couldn't find a BYOB that we might as well give it a try. Right off the bat I'm a fan of a bar that has Friday night drink specials... even more so when it's more than just beer. They had $4.00 Beefeater specials. Score! Now, I used to love a gin and tonic but somewhere it just lost it's appeal to me. The waitress was awesome at making suggestions of types of gin cocktails for us (just as we suspected... there aren't a whole lot of options, but we had some new options. They were pretty busy so it was pretty awesome she spent the time helping us figure out what we wanted. Some reviews have talked about service but aside from it being slightly slow because it was crowded, it was really rather good! We tried the veggie quesadillas for an app and they were fantastic! The bf got a pulled pork sandwich and it was really tasty, not something I care for but it was seriously good and I would actually order it for myself after trying a bite. It was sweet and tangy and the bun was pretty rockin'. I was just in a burger mood and I got it with tots. Did I mention I love, love, love me some tots?! I liked the burger... I liked the way it fit in my hands. Kind of a weird observation on my behalf, but I really did stick out. The tots were delicious! Perfectly crunchy! We were watching the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, no sound, and we had a fun time trying to decipher what was happening with the people at the next table. All-in-all... three drinks each (total 6), an app, and two sandwiches... total fifty bucks! I think that's a really good deal for a place that actually serves up some tasty bar food!
(4)Martha Z.
Rocking Horse saves the night. Yes, my first choice was Revolution, however hunger vs 2 hour wait, guess who won that battle? Sorry Revolution, you're not Dorsia. The wait was less then 10 minutes at Rocking Horse which was just enough time to order a round of pints (alpha king) and glance over the bustling tables. The service from the time that we walked in to the moment we left was very attentive. It was crowded and loud yet there was someone to make sure we got drink refills the moment a glass got empty, lighting candles, and following up after leftovers were wrapped up. We felt like we were getting the red carpet service. In addition, food was good, drinks were stellar, and the vibe was just right. The Sailor Jerry Saturday drink special left me feeling pretty smitten.
(4)Kristen M.
Nice pub - had the pretzals and they were good - good beer list - good service - would go back here
(4)Sara L.
unreal burgers, good beer list, and intimate setting. highly suggest!
(5)Greg M.
Rock on, Rocking Horse. I hit up this spot for the first time last night, and yes the $3 craft beer Thursdays are a serious deal. They have some solid selections on draught...some 3 Floyds, New Belgium, Dogfish etc. They also have a good bourbon menu- I went with an Old Grand Dad on the recommendation of our server. Tasty. The ambience is cool- fairly dark, some good local art on the walls, pool/pacman/pinball in a back room. The DJ was great...some jazz and funk stuff mixed with some new beats, and he faded like a pro. Server was cool and knew both the beer and bourbon menus well. The only thing that could raise the bar on this place would be an ACTUAL rocking horse- sort of a tamer take on the mechanical bull? I digress...good spot, and I'll be back here again to try the food.
(4)Jess F.
We get burgers and chicken quesidillas from here, and my son loves their tots (so do we). Took off one star for charging extra for extra salsa, but otherwise they are solidly consistent. We have dined in and music is a little loud, but nice crew.
(4)Nicolas H.
Great music and good drinks. Haven't tried the food yet, but its a nice spot overall. Seems to be plenty of seating as we were able to find a table on a busy Saturday night. Definitely a place to come back to see what the food is like...
(4)Tom A.
Before I went in, something about the place made me think it was a doucherina, but I was overwhelmed by smooth coolness on my first visit. I think it was the sign and the blackness of the decor that made me think that, or maybe just 'cus it was new and I assume new things will stink..? Anyway, it's a sweet little joint, plenty of decent drafts, some local (although could use a few more by my standards), tons of bottles. Full bar. Food is decent, tending towards fried, but well-done to that effect. Several tater tot/fries dress-ups ("Greek fries," poultine, etc.) Some vegetarian options (veg burger, several fried options), though again could use a couple more to my liking. TVs in the bar only -- subdued but there if you want them (and I did on this trip, and was able to get a place at the bar -- off night though). Music was decent and not too loud. I'll totally be back.
(4)Beebe G.
cool spot to hang out in on any night of the week. my daughter and i had a late-night dinner last sunday to celebrate her birthday. the place is dark and cozy. i had the pulled pork taco dinner and my daughter had the loaded veggie burger with chimichurri fries. the flavors from my tacos were all there and i especially enjoyed the avocado creme sauce. i had a few of the fries and it is to kill for good! nice and garlicy too! i had a quenching ska belgium blonde and my daughter had a fox blackberry pear cider. i would like to come back and try their brunch menu.
(4)Bud S.
Very good appetizers and a great brunch. Now for details. Rocking horse is good size bar with a nice selection of craft brews at average prices. The staff is friendly, and the jukebox carries a nice variety of alternative fair. I really enjoy their appetizers, especially the portabello fries. Main courses such as their sandwiches are better than most bars, and according to my veggie friends their garden burger is good. Brunch options are pretty standard fair, but tastes good. You get a lot for 10 bucks (two people can share an omelette's). The only thing I found disappointing were their bloody mary's. Coffee is good though. Thursday is their drink special night and seeing as how I live in stumbling distance of the place, I am a fan.
(4)Colleen J.
Ranch-seasoned french fries! Yum! I guess I like things that are ranch-seasoned. I liked the atomosphere in here. The beer selection was good. I ordered the barbecue chicken wrap. That thing was huge. I only ate half; I took the other half home for lunch the next day. It was dimly lit, had big cushy booths, and down-to-earth service. Try it out.
(4)Rainier R.
Not sure what the hype is about. The burger I had was super salty, and it is too damn dark in there.
(2)Evan B.
Great atmosphere. The beer list is extensive and very reasonably priced. The menu is varied and affordable. The crowd was also not completely hipster, which was a pleasant surprise in Logan Square. Due to the setup of the bar, it is a little on the noisy side. Good playlist though, and nice and crowded on a weeknight.
(4)Scott N.
Awesome people. Awesome bar food. Awesome beer selection!
(4)Paul D.
I went last night with a friend and needless to say it was a good time. The regularly priced beers are on the high side but the specials make up for it. The bartender was very friendly just joking around with us as we watched re-runs of american gladiator (perfect bar TV) I'm sure I'll be back.
(4)mervin j.
Brand new place that we have all been hearing about for a while. My thoughts after my first visit are. -Wow, nice lamps! Why can't the rest of the place look as good as the lamps? -I'm across the room from the bar, why can I hear everyones conversations sitting over there? -I'm not grossed out by the food, in fact its pretty good for a bar & grill. -Sweet jukebox and pinball. -OK beer selection, it could be better, but it could be way way worse. I really wanted to give it a 3, but I would drive to a bar if they had a good pinball machine, and this place is walking distance. Although I have to say I expected a little more on the decor.
(4)Andy M.
Good food and good look for this Logan Sqaure bar. I like the back private room with one pool table. A very unique part of a bar. The wraps and burgers are very good in this place and the service was excellente.
(4)Amy M.
UPDATE: Revisited since going vegan and was extremely disappointed. Everything that is vegetarian has cheese in it. I ate a portabello feta wrap, minus feta. It was so-so. No longer my favorite neighborhood bar.
(2)Bridget I.
Went here on a Tuesday, just looking for a new place to have a beer. It was dead when we came in, but picked up when we left around 7. Very nice upscale atmosphere, decent drink specials, but there's not much that's unique about this place, nothing to draw you back. The bartender was friendly but didn't know much about the beers on tap (lots of good choices, local, craft and imported). Ordered the Kim & Scott's pretzel basket - decent. I wanted to order the poutine but for some reason I didn't trust the bar to do it right. Just as my friend and I were about to leave, bored after one drink (well, one beer and a shot of Maker's - $4 on Tuesdays!) I headed to the bathroom and discovered a pool table. Saving grace - we played 2 uninterrupted games. The pool table is in its own separate room, along with a pinball machine and Ms. Pacman old school sit-down arcade game. I'd be curious to try more food here, or come back on a weekend night. It looks like they get a good dinner crowd and they had a varied menu - typical bar fare but it seemed promising.
(2)Sara A.
I'm giving this place four stars, although I'd like to give it 3.5, but yelp only allows you to round up. Let me start off by saying, I live 2 blocks away, up Milwaukee, so for me, this is the closest, and nicest bar around, besides El Cid, and I'm not as much of a fan. I have been here twice in a week, just to put it in perspective. The service has been excellent and friendly. The decor is fashionably of last season and dark. They are trying to go for that comfortable, upscale pub, with black tables, red curtains and dark walls. But I'm not sure if it is working. Maybe if they brought the lighting down, closer to the tables to accent, it would feel more like a speakeasy, which is what I think they are kinda going for. I do have to say that the bathrooms are exceptionally clean and the place is never fully crowded. Its always easy to get a seat. Oh, and they have a pool table in back, that seems to have a monopoly on it at all times. One problem, besides the lighting, is that they play the music too damn loud for a place that serves pub food. Its not a club, its a pub. I shouldn't have to scream across to my companion. Unless this is ploy to buy more drinks. The beer selection is decent but they need to get some better ciders. They offer 2, but they are too sweet to be called anything other than fruit juice. And the $4 Jameson shots on Wednesday, while a good ploy, should actually be full shots, not medicinal sized 2 tbsp shot glasses. I will come back, yes, if only for the chips and salsa(which was definitely good) and the proximity to my house. Its reasonably priced and open late. I like the Rocking Horse, but they need to work on some things before it becomes my regular.
(4)Jessica C.
I had the shrimp quesadillas with a Pale Ale and it was delish. Not too crazy about the strong smell that hits you when you walk in but other than that, my experience was good.
(4)Sonja S.
On those rare occasions when I am feeling a little homesick for Seattle, I like to head on over to The Rocking Horse. Actually that is a total lie... I live in River North - when I am feeling homesick I lay down until it passes. But what IS true is that every time I go to The Rocking Horse, I think awe, I miss Seattle. Maybe its the flannel the patrons of both sexes are sporting, maybe its the funky friendly waitstaff, maybe its the brew pub meets local bar interior, or it could just be the Indie Rock that rolls around you like a hug. Whatever it is, its relaxing and a great place to go for an informal gathering with friends. The food is good bar food - the tater tots done poutaine style are awesome, as are almost every single appetizer on the menu. I am personally a big fan of the Chicken Strips ala Buffalo style.... Drinks are inexpensive and a reasonable pour in terms of booze. Wine selection is a yawn, but drinkable. All in all, its a place I enjoy because its always reliably pleasant. Every once in awhile, that's just what the Doctor ordered.
(4)Lynn L.
I stumbled upon this place around dinner time. As we were entering the rocking horse, customers were satisfied and telling us to try the burgers. We found a table very quick. Since it was around dinner time. I found it quite great for quick food selections. We got the tacos, which were okay and very filling. Also complimented us with the selection of a bunch of hot sauces. There is a hidden pool table in the back and an old vintage photobooth for use. They have a small arcade machine as well with the classics. As it got closer to 9, people were flooding in, as it is a beer and whiskey bar. It was great atmosphere and service was friendly.
(4)Jason S.
I've ended up coming here a lot lately, a large part because I can usually find a seat. The menu is good, relatively veggie and fried shit friendly, good beer selection, decent prices with the occasional good special. The staff is friendly and service is typically very good to above average. One complaint though. If anyone who works there stumbles across this message, please take not. For the love of the sweet holy christ, please change the cleaning solution you use to wipe off the tables, it smells like embalming fluid.
(4)Nicole S.
Between the great daily specials, awesome beer selection and the good service, I've never had a bad time here. The only downfall is sometimes the DJ or music of choice (while I love it) is sometimes so loud I can't hear nor think. I'll keep coming back but it puts a damper on attempting conversation when it's so loud.
(4)chris c.
The service is pretty good, their beer list is very good (but they run out of stuff too often), and their food is average. I definitely like the place just not as much as Revolution in the area or even small bar.
(3)Brian m.
Its exactly what you think it is...total hipster bar in the heart of Logan Square. Sandiwches are always great, but service is spotty. Beers are $5-$6....sandwiches are $8-$10...Probably the best late night food in the area, but not that great of a hang out if you're not a hipster.
(3)Chris C.
The first time I went it was incredibly packed but we still managed to get a table and the food was excellent. Definitely try the stuffed pretzels. I've had two or three subsequent visits and each were better than the first. I'm now a fan. Favorites: ridiculously huge piles of cajun tots, hot hipster waitresses, nice spacious tables, big menu, big nice friendly bar. Minor gripe: Going in for breakfast once the place kinda reaked like "last night" You might not realize: they have breakfast/brunch
(4)Mimi D.
I live in this hood and appreciate the new establishments that are popping up. My husband I and have been here twice. The experience has been pretty consistent. He's had burgers both times and loved them. I've had the turkey avocado and it was good. They do a really good job of making the simple things taste good. I had the chicken wild rice soup and it was flavored just right! I did try the pulled pork sandwich the last time, but that was too spicy for me. That's just my personal taste, so if someone else might enjoy it. The downsides for me...the music was way too loud. I think another yelper below said that too. It's hard to have a conversation....it's a bar not a club. I know they probably chose the dark colors to give it a more intimate vibe...just a bit too dark & almost difficult to see. All in all, It's a nice cool vibe. And for the most part I'm a fan. Will have to try their brunch next!
(4)Paul H.
Go here for brunch. It's quick and good.
(5)Jeremiah T.
The Rocking Horse has a solid beer selection, great food, and a pool table in back to enjoy. The pool is free on Tuesdays, and if you go in, you'll most likely run into me. They rotate specials nightly. I've seen bigger micro beer selections, but I'm not looking for a pipette each from 300 beers. I'm looking to enjoy some good beers, maybe some pool, and possibly food, in a classy joint. The Rocking Horse has that.
(5)Iwona C.
Best bloody mary I' ve ever had at really affordable price! Good music and enough room to sit down and have a good time with friends!
(4)John S.
This is a great bar, I will be a regular. Glad to see something like this in Logan Square. It has a nice pool table, good music, great beer selection and a photobooth! I have had a few different dishes there and must admit the food is OK at best. I know its bar food and must take that into consideration, I would recommend the portabella fries and ranch french fries. I haven't tried the brunch yet but will on a weekend. If the food was better I would have rated higher!
(3)Ziggy I.
(Review breakdown: 0 for drinks + -10 for service = 1 star in Yelpematics) I wish I'd gotten the name of the doorman's parole officer before leaving the Rocking Horse, as convict recidivism is a sad yet unavoidable truth. The young man honestly was behaving like he was ripped on amphetamines. Whatever he was on, he simply isn't ready for a productive life in polite society yet, cos' last I checked, roughing up paying customers *to the point that your coworkers are physically restraining you* isn't really a thing. This bar is a disgrace: overpriced, too-cool-for-school, and run by criminally insane man-children. Avoid at all costs.
(1)Meghan A.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet, because it's my favorite bar in Logan Square. Love the giant booths, love the not-too-loud atmosphere (I'm here most often on weeknights and weekend afternoons), love the ginormous beer list, love the tater tots, love that they have a photo booth. I wish I could give it 4.5 stars because the service can be a little hit-or-miss, but overall this is a great bar and I go there on a regular basis.
(5)Anna R.
So, 3pm on a Saturday;I thought this place would have like a 20-min-wait (happened last time), but was surprisingly sparse, although, definitely not dead. Always been a bit hesitant about going here, but the first visit was nice and this second one has been super pleasant. $5 bloody and a BBQ bacon burger with cajun fries. The drink was pretty great, and I am a harsh judge of a bloody maries; it was wasn't overwhelmingly spicy but the kick was in the pants. The burger might have had a bit too much barbeque sauce but it was completely amazing -- I felt complelled to yelp because of this burger. The patty was fabulously seasoned, soft and durable bun, chewy and crispy bacon, grilled and slurpy little red onions. The fries were good and the ranch dressing was dill-dreamy, mmm. Service- cooly attentive, knowledgeable. Music- pretty sweet. I can't wait to go back and try more stuff.
(4)Meg Z.
Good beer list, amazing appetizers, friendly waiters! The outside kind of looks like it may be an S&M dungeon interior, but its actually really spacious and comfortable. Even on Friday and Saturday nights, I've never had a problem getting a table, but its also not creepily dead. Our waiters have always been friendly and even stop to chat, which is getting more and more rare in Logan Square bars where staff tend to get holier-than-thou. Get the tater tots. Thank me later.
(5)Kim W.
for some reason, i am absolutely in love with this place. i try to get everyone to come here with me. i think it's because this place is non-pretentious but still calls out to my inner bourgeois-side. i think the overall atmosphere, the jukebox, the ample seating and the rotating micro-brew tap selection are the reasons why this place is a great neighbourhood bar. but if you really insist on knowing why you should come here, ONE WORD: poutine!
(4)Steve J.
Why are there so many bad reviews of this place, I've been here twice, and had a great meal and good beer specials both times. There's not many cool places in the L.S. (as I am wont to call it), but his is definitely our new favorite spot. We came mainly for a meal each time and were not disappointed. A HUGE plate of tater-tots as an appetizer...hell yeah. Tuna club was excellent, good solid bar burger, chorizo wontons...very good stuff. If you complain about type of people that hang out in bars, or neighborhoods, is that not a larger indictment of society in general, or maybe you're just too cool for school, you uber-hipster, you.
(4)Chris M.
Gotta try the tater tots....they are in enourmous portions and a wide variety. I also tried the jalepeno hummus. Very good and spicy. They also have a good beer list at reasonable prices. The bartenders are very friendly and helpful.
(5)Avi S.
Decent specials nice atmosphere. Not too loud.
(4)Jeffrey H.
Amazing bar food! I've had a burger, steak sandwich, chicken parm, Buffalo Chix - all was above average! The fries and tater tots are reallly good too! Its consistant, the food is good and the menu is large. What more could you ask for?
(4)James T.
This place rocks (pardon the pun)! Quality food, service, and atmosphere. Will definitely go back again, and again.
(5)X C.
I only ever come here for lunch, and I would probably never come if it weren't so close to my apartment. The stiff contemporary goth decor makes me not want to venture in for late-night drinks. The prices are fairly reasonable, and the food is pretty good. $3.50 can get you a french fry/tator tot plate that you won't be able to finish (unless you're a real fatty). Good beer selection. The few times I've visited, my waitresses have all been extremely goodlooking and fashionably dressed hipster women. Just saying. However, service is a toss up: some are attentive, some forget you're there. Handy spot to go to if you live in the area. Otherwise, you can probably find an equivalent in your own neighborhood.
(3)Dario J.
We stopped by for a drink and were blown away by the food quality. Its not just bar food but restaurant quality! We stopped by at least once a week. Dine in or carry out its always good!
(4)Jenny R.
The hubby and I hit The Rocking Horse tonight for dinner before a movie. WOW! We loved it. No wait on a Friday night for a table. Fast, friendly service without feeling rushed. One of the largest beer menus ever. We had 2 great beers on tap(Two Brothers Monarch and Bell's Oberon)for just $5 a pint. Light and summery, they went well with today's sunshine & warm breezes. We agreed to split whatever we ordered and shared a bacon bbq burger and the ahi tuna club-both with 'tots. We love our 'tots here at home, but these are the best tots ever(perfectly crispy on the outside and tender in the middle and seasoned just right). The burger was wonderful. Cannot wait to try their pulled bbq pork if it has the same sauce on it. The grilled red onion was just the right touch with the thick slab bacon to balance the flavors. The tuna......omg. This sandwich is all about texture. The tuna just melts in your mouth smoothing out the sharp salty bacon and finishing with the rich avocado. I'll have a hard time ordering anything else here in the future. Perfect dinner and beer place on a date night. We never did make it to the movie-we were so full of good food and beer that we were worried we'd doze off during the movie and we're not complaining! I am jealous that my husband works just around the block from the Horse and can grab lunch here every day if he wants to(they have carryout). We will definitely be back to the Rocking Horse.
(4)Jonathan W.
Thank you for the Addams Family pinball! Food is pretty average...decent beer selection. Friendly staff. The place is surprisingly nice. The have a brunch which has always looked tempting but I have not had a chance to check it out yet.
(4)Jonathan C.
Okay, I'm uping the rating here, because its not as bad as I initially experienced. The food is actually good, but do not eat anything made out of chicken here, its always just overcooked. That was my initial mistake here, the chicken products (I love chicken). I'd avoid the sashimi dish too, its missing that soy sauce saltiness that makes sushi grade fish so delicious. Turkey club is excellent. Burgers are good as well. Service is fine and drink prices are reasonable to average. I like that its not super crowded. And there are seats. I like sitting.
(4)Jennifer D.
I think it's weird that so many reviews for Rocking Horse criticize the fact that it draws a diverse crowd. Does a group of hipsters, or hippies, or jocks really detract from the awesome beer selection and good food? Maybe having a variety of types people around makes me feel more comfortable because I don't really fit into any one group (I think someone made a comment about aging hipsters? I think I might be too old to even fit into that category!). What I'm trying to say is; if you have eclectic taste in music and people, you don't take yourself too seriously, and you like beer, check this bar out! I've been there over a dozen times and the food has always been surprisingly delicious (the vege quesadillas were SO flavorful, the vege burger is the best in Chicago and they have a yummy version of poutine as well). The beer averages $5-$6, but there are specials for $4 almost every day. And there's a pool table in the back. Give it a try! You can always leave and go to Cole's or Longman & Eagle!
(4)Nguyen L.
I don't get out to Logan Square too much, but Rocking Horse is worth it! Cool crowd, tasty food, and a great selection of beer. I'll admit that it's a bit more hipster than what I'm used to, living near the Loop. But maybe that's a good thing. Nice people, no pretentiousness, and there's actually a little diversity. Not that I'm into judging people on how they look or anything.... Anyways, their food was pretty tasty too. I really enjoyed the spicy Cajun fries and the Southwest eggrolls. And yeah, their beer selection rocks. 20-ish craft beers on tap, plus a bunch more in bottles! Gulp gulp gulp....
(4)Richard W.
I love you, Rocking Horse. You are my go-to place. Your food is delicious, your french-fries are outstanding. $3 craft beers every Thursday? Its a date! I like your staff, they are always friendly. My girlfriend doesn't like your indie-rock playlist, but I will forgive you for that. Save a spot at the bar for me this Thursday, I will see you then.
(5)Jillian D.
this place is solid. and the name is oh-so-appropriate. the juke box indeed rocks. had my birthday party here and despite the crowded quarters, the friends and i were able to snag a huge table and a booth for our crew. great beer list. and delicious eats to boot. everyone in my group stands by the ranch tater tots :) and i gotta spread the word about the ahi tuna club. TRY IT. if only rocking horse were located a little closer to my home so i could just crawl in and out whenever the mood strikes...
(4)Cara T.
I think this might be the neighborhood bar choice for my husand and I. I've never been here late, usually just dinner after work or late dinner on Friday or Saturday night (from reviews seems like it can get crowded, loud, and hot). That's not the Rocking Horse I know. We LOVE the atmosphere. It's not usally crowded at the times we go, great place to unwind after work or a after a busy Saturday. It's dimly lit and they have huge, comfortable booth seating. Perfect for just chilling. The food is really solid. I've sampled a lot and can't wait to try more. For appetizers--Guacamole is fresh. Greek fries are super tasty with feta, lemon, oil, and herbs (not messy really). Mozarella sticks are straight from a box, but good if you have a craving... Still want to try homemade spinach feta wontons and portobello fries Entrees--I've had the Ahi Tuna Club. Oh Man. That is a great sandwich. Really fresh and lightly seared tuna with bacon, avacado, lettuce, tomato, and an awesome wasabi mayo on a toatsy grain bread. I also had a "Burger" with cheddar cheese. Came with all the traditional yummy toppings and GREAT pickles (it was like a HUGE ball-park dill pickle cut into slices...yum). I've also tried a bite of the Black and Bleu burger. Great choice for a meat and bleu cheese fan. I can't forget the HUGE stack of fries that come with the sandwiches....watch out for those cajun fries. So hot but you just can't stop. I think I might need to try the chili as well--I saw a huge bowl last time and it looked REALLY good.
(4)kevin c.
Beer list is good. Thursday special is very nice. Food is pretty good too. The prime ribeye steal sandwich was great. The apple wontons are very good as well.
(4)Marie C.
I really like this place. Go on Thursday when many of their best craft brews are $3 a pint! Three Floyds, Lagunitas, Two Brothers etc!!! I love it! The food is much better than average pub food. Their wraps are tasty and the salads are great. My friend had the burger and said it was dee-lish.
(4)Garrett T.
Really hoppy about the beer. Great selection both local and domestic.
(4)T Mir S.
Tried it for sunday brunch... not bad, but def nothing to brag about... food was good, service was good...
(3)Ed H.
This place is a solid bar that delivers the essentials without being overly pretentious. I feel more comfortable here than at any of the bars in Logan Square. Keep it up!
(5)Haley S.
As a huge fan of Logan Square, I waited and waited for a place with good beer and good eats that embodied the eclectic nature of the neighborhood. I guess i will still be waiting. Rocking Horse is blah, unfortunately. The atmosphere is blah, the food is blah and the wait staff is blah about being there. I'm hoping that after a year of being open they are reevaluating their menu, their workers and their motif, and are getting to work improving, but for now, skip it.
(2)Bernie H.
One word: Tator Tots with Cheese and Gravy.
(5)Becca R.
Was driving by the horse tonight and decided to drop by. Had the shrimp po boy which I highly recommend and then they had this crazy delicious Jameson, oh yes, Jameson whiskey ice cream with a little bit of dark chocolate shavings. Mmmmmm yummy and addicting! Dare you to take just one bite and say you don't want another. This ice cream was great and oh so ADDICTING! I just happen to get lucky as this was a limited special tonight :)
(5)Josue J.
Everything is delicious
(4)Claudia R.
Not bad... plenty of room and good service.
(4)PJ B.
Our fourth time there and AGAIN THE SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE. The servers are there to party and talk to each other, not to wait on customers. Our waitress was rude, unapologetic that she forgot something and just unpleasant, not to mention she was literally leaning on the bar yaking with the bartender when we came in. No eye contact, didn't tell us where to sit, nothing. I tried to send a complaint on their website but I guess they aren't accepting emails. One more time we'll try it - then if it doesn't improve, we are never going again even if we love the menu.
(2)Amanda T.
A bunch of humans and I congregated here for a friend's birthday and I am grateful to the staff and patrons for being able to tolerate our loudness/awkwardness. Besides from looking like a typical pub, it's actually a pretty cool place. Everyone was laid back and jovial and there was great music throughout the night. Oh and I really liked the light fixtures! There was a decent beer selection, and prices weren't annoying. Our server was a peach and took good care of us. And the best thing about the place is Ms. Pac-Man. Obsessed.
(4)Julz P.
This was my first visit here, and will be my last. The website was very deceiving, as when we walked in the door the place looked like just another bar, and it smelled like they forgot to clean up from the night before (that beer soaked soggy smell). We sat down and it took about 10 minutes for anyone to serve us, and the waitress then looked completely disgusted when we ordered soda instead of beer. The food was normal bar food, nothing special. And when I got home I was sick the whole night. I don't know if this place was to blame, but I surely will not being trying again to find out.
(1)Kristen H.
This was my second visit and it was to play pool & to have some cocktails. I must say, I really like the atmosphere of this place. The staff was extremely friendly and great as far as bar service is concerned. The pool is $1 a game which is a great price and there's even a photo booth at the joint!! I've met the owner during both visits and I must say it's refreshing to see younger entrepreneurs bringing new great places to the Square. Rock on rocking horse, you'll definitely see me again - hopefully next time I'll check out the grub.
(4)Lukin W.
I dig the beer that tastes like banana bread and the smoky grilled wings. I also dig the antique lamps hanging throughout the seating area! The location is convenient, but not crowded (unless it's Friday/Saturday) and the staff and patrons are generally cool. This is a great place for a lunch or early dinner.
(4)Steve R.
I'm kinda biased from knowing some of the folks who work there, but I really dig this joint. I find it pretty low key and unpretentious, with a decent mix of people. I thought the food was very good, actually. Great stuff on tap, cool bartenders...all good by me. I consider it more of a night spot than somewhere I would hit for lunch, as it skews pretty dim inside even on sunny days. But it's a nice bar-tomb at night. Not a crazy number of TVs, the tunes are generally pretty good. A good hangout place, I don't think it's a place to "be seen" or to punch your boho cred timecard but that's what I like about it. Very happy to see ya in my hood, Rocking Horse!
(4)Jim T.
I love it, just what this area needs. Dunlay's can be a bit too family friendly and the Whirl-away Lounge can be too seedy for the uninitiated. This is a great place to go with friends to have some good beers in a comfortable setting. They even serve PBR for the hipsters who help keep my property values low. Our server was an incredibly attractive red head and very sweet. The bar tender had some fantastic legs. I'll be back, and back again...
(5)Olivia P.
I really enjoyed the beer selection and the mushroom garlic burger was incredibly delicious, one of the best burgers I've ever had. 4 stars because our water glasses sat empty and when we asked our waitress for more water she never brought it to us. They were pretty busy, but refilling water glasses is pretty basic service.
(4)vito m.
good selection of craft brews and the wings were great!
(4)Jacqueline M.
I LOVE the Rocking Horse! It is my new fave bar. I am here at least once a week. They have a great beer list and good specials. Also the chicken wings are so , so good! Spicy, crispy and not all goopy.
(5)g b.
unsure what to think about this place. went there after a concert in the square, and was confused as i walked in. table one, a bunch of frat looking boys being loud and playing cards, table two, a mexican family with a stroller... and the servers were all in the new trend, plaid shirts, shorts and cowboy boots- total hipsters. i think this bar has an idenity crisis. aside from the strange collection of patrons, they did have a good selection of beers, and the menu was giant- including a whole page dedicated to fried foods, such as ranch tater tots, apple wantons, etc. i left thinking i should go back for lunch and try the rest of the food... but i felt like i was at grand central in lincoln park, that had somehow been uprooted and dropped in the middle of nowhere... will not be spending my weekends there....
(2)Kc H.
Been here a few times and as I love a bar with decent food, this place certainly fits the bill with some good standards and some other interesting options like the apple and cream cheese wontons ( a good idea, but generally anything on a menu that comes in the shape of a pocket should be filled, completely, with the contents that said menu suggests). A PLUS PLUS to having Kim and Scott's pretzels, and a pool table. Oh, and an additional kudos for no hostile assholes. Makes drinking in public much more fun. Would happily go here over Dunlays or Logan Bar any day of the week.
(3)Liz C.
I went here for brunch on Sunday and it was my first time. I got Eggs Benedict and it was really good! Anytime Eggs Benedict is offered on a menu I get its one of my favorite things ever and this was the best I've had in while.
(4)Alexis P.
Really good selection of local and regional beers on tap. The food I had was pretty tasty - a loaded veggie burger and portabella fries. I'm not sure what the dipping sauce was for the fries, but it was creamy and delicious. The toppings on the burger made it taste really good, but it would be better if they made their own patty. There was comfortable seating at the bar and plenty of space for a large crowd. There were enough interesting things that sounded good on the menu that I would definitely want to go back - won-tons and big pretzels for instance. There are TVs, so if you sit at the bar, it is a great place to watch a game, but there aren't so many that it would ruin your experience if you didn't care about whatever was on.
(3)Steve M.
Tater Tots covered in gravy and cheese....Now I ask you can anything possibly be wrong about that? The answer is a resounding no. The black and bleu burger was also quite tasty. I also appreciate the no "cubs" on tv policy unless someone specifically ask to watch the cubs, but who in their right mind would do that. Overall this place has lots of food and drink choices, but I think the thing that will keep me coming back is the tots and all the wonderful ways they are being served.
(4)Chris S.
The only pub grub spots that I know of in Logan Square are Logan and The Rocking Horse. The latter definitely blows away the former. Rocking Horse has excellent burgers, a yummy variety of fries (Greek, cajun, etc.), and good beers on tap. Typical pub atmosphere, but I do find it a bit sterile. The juke box, however, makes up for it.
(4)Paul L.
Good alternative to your usual spot. Service is so-so, food is good, and there's lots of booths. Get a good look at the creepy doll painting a the corner booth, it's badass.
(3)Moe f.
Been here a couple of times for drinks only. Mixed crowd and a pretty good beer list. If you're in the hood, hit it up but wouldn't go outta my way to drink here.
(3)Brian K.
My cousin April held her birthday party at the Rocking Horse. It was a fun bar with a pretty great atmosphere and delightful ambiance. The art and photographs on the walls were totally awesome y'all! The beer prices were extremely reasonable. Anywhere there is a $3 PBR Tall Boy please, get me there so I can bask in all the glory that is Pabst Blue Ribbon. I want that!
(4)Eric B.
The Rocking Horse seems to be just another average bar. I do like their beer selection, and I think it's priced reasonably. I'm a little unimpressed with the food, but the wings were ok. It's kind of dark and loud, but that doesn't matter if you're just in to have a few beers.
(3)Brent K.
In the suddenly exploding LSQ bar scene, Rocking Horse doesnt really do much to stand out. Everything is decent, nothing wowed me. (well save the gravy/cheddar tatertots)
(3)Keith M.
The Rocking Horse is a great place to get a great burger and a good beer. Definitely one of the routine stops in Logan. They always have a great beer selection that changes routinely. They do have awesome drink specials but because this place is already a nightmare to get a seat in on their beer special night, I'm not saying which day it is! But believe me, a good selection of craft beers at rock bottom prices its definitely worth it. The food has always been delicious. I had one burger that was just loaded with grease and was a little subpar. I think it was a fluke because everything else I've ever had was great. I like the BBQ Bacon Gouda Burger. Its to die for. They also have tater tots which are such a blast from the past you can't not have them! I also like to stop in for a late beer and a whole plate of tots as a drunken appetizer...they give you a whole dang plate! Definitely stop in for a beer and meal because this place with rock your world!
(4)Sophia S.
VERY DISAPPOINTED! I was looking forward to visiting again since the last time I was here it was great. First, after waiting to be seated, we noticed that a table and 4 booths opened up. When directed to the table we asked if we could take one of the smaller booths. There were 2 of us and 2 more on the way... We were told NO supposedly because we only had 4 so we needed to sit at the table. However, 2 of those booths were later occupied by groups of 4 and one by a group of 3!!! The waitress promptly came to our table before we even viewed the menu and we told her we were going to wait for 2 more before ordering food. She then disappeared not return until a half an hour later, and only after we complained. She could've easily came to check if we'd like any drinks! I mean this is a bar. During that half hour while we were waiting for our friends the host came over TWICE to ask us if the rest of our group was still coming. Hello, it's not like we were bogarting a booth or something! I then ordered a beer and was told, I'm sorry, we have that beer but it's not cold yet. Seriously? When she brought me a different beer she brought it with one of those tiny juice glasses that they serve their amazing, outstanding bottled tap water. Oh, and please do not bother looking at any of the pictures on their yelp page, BECAUSE NONE OF THEM ARE ON THE ACTUAL MENU! They have a different cook and a smaller, unimpressive menu, including a lopsided lettuce sandwich (aka, the turkey bacon). Please do visit this establishment if you enjoy sitting across from your friends and not being able to hear them over the horrible music. Finally, and probably most disturbing, that table of 3 I mentioned earlier... One of those guys found a foot-long hair in his food! Yum. Definitely not going back.
(1)Martha C.
Been here more than a few times with a friend who lives in the hood. After countless visits I deem Rocking Horse A-OK in my book. The libation menu is pretty extensive and changes from time to time, which is something I enjoy very much. It gets old choosing from the same beer list over and over. I love to try new crafts when I can. As for the food, after eating my meal I always seem to find myself feeling a little unsatisfied. The two best things on the menu are the tacos and the cajun fries, which sadly you can't ordered together. Everything else that I have had at Rocking Horse is OK, but nothing to write home about. Note to the potential patron, beware of the busy night. The Rocking Horse doesn't manage their table waiting system well. This is a major point of contention with said friends boyfriend, who has promised never to return again after a particularly busy evening.
(3)Michelle J.
Randomly found this place. I'm gluten intolerant. And their fryer is dedicated to French fries only. Score! Tacos were great n husband said burger was really good. Definitely coming back.
(5)Alan C.
The new menu is not good. Bye bye rocking horse. It's been fun. You used to be my go to. You used to be a bastion for good burgers and great truffle fries. Now you have a bunch of turkey burgers and bland seafood. It's you, not me.
(2)Pamela M.
The Rocking Horse is a busy pub in Logan Square with a lively ambiance and plenty of seating! Good tunes + young, hip crowd + wide selection of beers = FUN times! The loaded chicken nachos were the perfect late night snack! Yum, yum, yum!!!
(4)Kuanie J.
Had dinner here Saturday night and was not that much of a fan. Service was horrendous (staff was really nice, but servers were so so slow and only stopped by our table once) and the restaurant is not able to handle rushes (kitchen, host, and servers were freaking out about how busy it was. The tilapia fish tacos didn't have much flavor and the ahi tuna club sandwich was meh. Pros: decent beer selection, good music and atmosphere, and relatively cheap. My boyfriend did rave about the ahi tuna tacos because he's had them before, but I did not order them Sat. night because he got an ahi tuna club. I might give this place another whirl.
(2)lorenzo r.
Stopped in for lunch on a Sunday with my friend Joe who I hadn't seen in a while. Not a sports bar but the NFL playoff game was on a TV at the bar. Joe had wings & fries, I had the buffalo chicken wrap that was very tasty. Joe seemed to enjoy his meal as well. We also has a couple blackout stouts that were also quite nice. Only problem was the food did take quite a while to arrive but it was busy.
(4)Persio N.
This place hits the notes of a bar and good food restaurant. Their beer selection is diverse and well balanced and can appeal to someone who doesn't drink much beer to someone who likes to drink their double IPAs and everything else that hits those high marks. Their daily $4 special selection is an awesome idea. I came here for brunch with my girlfriend on a Sunday. We both had their different versions of Eggs Benedict. The food was on point and nowhere near disappointing. If you want to continue the feeling of still being out at a bar the next morning (who wouldn't) I'd suggest this spot. The only problem I had was that it took 15-20min before we were acknowledged at our table. Now look I've served and managed at restaurants before and this is not just me being impatient or picking at one thing. The "host" up front should be able to tell the server or another server to pick up a table not just seat us and go back to sitting on the stool. I did not see a present manager walking around and I feel this place deserves that at least for brunch since family's do come in.
(4)Joelle P.
The food here was really good, the atmosphere was nice, and the service was fine, nothing special, but did the job. It looked like they have a pretty legit beer selection, however we were here for lunch on a Monday so did not partake in the drinking. Instead, we got Parmesan-Artichoke dip to split, I got a Gouda bacon BBQ burger, and my friend got a turkey burger. The dip was really good, probably my favorite part of the meal. The artichokes were cut into pretty large pieces in the dip which was nice and it was really flavorful and came with a mix of tortilla chips and small baked baguette type chips. I would definitely order this again. My burger was really good as well, it was very large and I loved that it came with fries instead of having to pay more for a side. My friend really liked his dish as well! Overall, the service wasn't anything special. The guy was running the bar and the dining service all himself (or at least it appeared that way) but he did a good job and got us our food with minimal wait so I can't complain. They have nice booths that could fit quite a few people and the space is nice, I'm sure it gets very full in there on the weekends!
(4)Erin B.
Looking forward to going back. Pool table fun whenever I go, very quaint and friendly. Had the lamb burger with olive tapenade & a potato side-salad that was everything I could have hoped for back in the outside patio. Not too hipster, not too L.A, just right & humble & PROFESSIONAL :)
(5)Natalie E.
How're you? Do you want to know what's changed on our beer menu? What can I get you to drink? Do you need a second to look over the menu? How is everything? Do you want your check? We walked in, friendly dude at the door checked our IDs and we laughed at something. Then we sat down, ten minutes went by. Not even a glass of water or a "be right with you" nod. The servers smoking out front were busy, as were the ones hanging out by the register flirting with each other. There were maybe 5 other tables with couples at them. Tick tock. I can't COUNT how many times I've been here. So many. I've had good experiences here, but this particular encounter was so annoying, I won't go back. So, on the one hand, they do seem to be well-staffed. On the other, the staff doesn't get around to asking the questions listed above.
(1)Lauren F.
It has been quite some time since I've visited a restaurant that I didn't choose based on yelp reviews. Based on the so-so reviews for Rocking Horse I'm so glad I went with a friend's suggestion and the drool-worthy menu descriptions rather than my old standby. I loved Rocking Horse, obviously- they get 5 stars from me. My boyfriend and I stopped in on a Thursday night and the place was nearly empty-we were seated right away. They have a very impressive beer list, I enjoyed some banana bread beer to start things off along with their Pretzel Basket-1 grilled cheese, 1 jalapeno cheddar, and 1 plain pretzel with a side of spicy mustard. My fav was the jalapeno cheddar but they were all good-we took half of one home and ate it the next day and it was just as good reheated in the oven. Choosing what to order next from all the delicious sounding menu choices was tough, but my boyfriend settled on the Prime Ribeye Steak sandwich and I went with the Smoked Turkey and Apple sandwich and we were both very happy with our choices. The steak was cooked medium rare, just as requested, and was very good. My turkey sandwich was AMAZING-I've had a few daydreams about it over the past couple weeks. Smoked turkey, bacon, gouda, sauteed apples, and roasted garlic aioli on ciabatta bread...I didn't want it to ever end. We also had the cajun fries and the Greek fries...yum and yum. The Greek fries are a little soggy because of the lemon juice but I loved them all the same-tons of feta piled high, you could make a meal out of those alone. The cajun fries were really really good too...lots of seasoning, pretty salty-just how I like 'em. Rocking Horse isn't exactly in our 'hood but totally worth the short drive-we'll definitely be back for more!
(5)Daina T.
Per a friend's recommendation, I went to brunch at the Rocking Horse and have subsequently fallen in love. It is deliciously divey with $5 mimosas and bloody marys, not overcrowded and stuffy for Sunday brunch, and has the right vibe to enjoy the start of the day. The fun twists on the menu were a sight to see, but since I'm a benedict addict, I had to try the Chorizo Benedict. Not only did it look and smell amazing, it was a riotous symphony of flavors that must be experienced. I can't wait to go back and try other items. You have a new fan.
(4)Amanda F.
The Rocking Horse is a great neighborhood bar and restaurant. I've never had anything here I didn't love. I come here a lot for brunch and occasionally dinner. Tater tots seem to be a thing in Chicago, and Rocking Horse makes them to perfection! They have different flavors you can get as an appetizer, all are amazing! My favorite is Pepper Jack; just the right amount of hotness! I have tried their burgers, wraps (habanero steak wrap is my new fav), tacos and turkey club. Everything is great! Brunch is a great neighborhood choice as well because there's hardly ever a wait (and if there is, it's never very long). Pancakes are a must! I don't care if you don't want them, get an order to split with the table - you will be happy you did! The breakfast burrito is my go to. Their potatoes are also cooked to perfection. Their beer selection I've heard is good, but I don't think I've ever ordered anything out of the ordinary (note to self: order a drink next time!)
(5)Suzy D.
Get the truffled tater tots! Only 7 bucks and you get a massive portion. Great to share as a group. The beer selection is good too.
(4)Julee W.
I love to come here for the ranch tots and a veggie burger. Yum yum really decadent and not anything I can replicate at home. The veggie burger does have cheddar cheese in it which is unique.
(5)Caitlin R.
Rocking Horse, what have you done? I loved you. Why did you feel the need to change who you were in an effort to fit in with your high-brow, gastropub, surroundings? I understand that the neighborhood has changed [price tags], but you didn't hurt for business before the revamp. Ditch the duck confit and truffle oil. Bring back the items that you used to DOMINATE. Your new menu looks like it's trying to be every other lame new restaurant that appeals to the upper middle class masses that have infiltrated the locale. But what about the rest of us? We were loyal to you. Please revert! You were one of the last great stops for burgers and pretzels without the pretense. I miss you.
(1)Caroline M.
My Logan Square adventures continue. This time at Rocking Horse. I think we chose a good night to go--Thursdays are $3 select drafts! I enjoyed my Victory Hop Devil. Something that stood out to me was the eclectic artwork. I loved it. Naughty half nakey paintings of chicks? They were tasteful, not trashy. And the lights were pretty neato, too. Clusters of similar light fixtures grouped in trios make for a funky vibe. I'm totally stealing that idea when I move into my first real big girl condo (someday!) Music was a little loud for intimate convos, but the low lights made me feel oh-so-pretty. Shout outs to Molly O., Angie M. and Nick M. for selling me on the Rocking Horse even before setting foot into their establishment! Um, no dessert here either :( I don't like this trend.
(4)Dan N.
Great local establishment. Brunch is amazing, beer selection is great, whiskey selection is just as good. Oh they've got a pool table.
(5)Stephanie M.
I don't know what it was, but something or other possessed us to go back to Rocking Horse the other day, and thank God we did! They must have been getting some real flack for that atrocious menu we got to taste awhile back, because things have more or less gone back to as good as they were! We got the poutine, which was great, though the cheese curds were maybe a little on the cold side away from the middle of the dish, which made them a little rubbery. I ordered the southwest steak salad, and my boyfriend got one of the burgers with cajun fries. We were happy campers. I want to go back and grab some sliders and tacos one day. And Dereck was our server! Just like before we had decided to stop coming here! Shout out to you! He always takes good care of us. I'm so glad this place is back. It was a favorite hang out of ours last winter, and I'd like to go back to that. Bring back the pretzel platter, and well be good to go!
(4)Christina M.
I'm a real sucker for tater tots -- who knew left over potato scraps could be combined to make something so tasty!? But seriously, not only does Rocking Horse have tater tots, they have tots of various flavors such as regular, cajun, and ranch (did not try ranch). This means that Rocking Horse is tater tot heaven! Did I mention that a large order of tots only costs $4?
(4)Katie K.
I really loved the sandwich I had. It was so good. Just a tad bit too greasy for me, but still very delectable. It was the turkey bacon one with avocado. The service was okay, we sat at the bar and the bartender was a little obnoxious for my preferences and used a homophobic slur that offended my companion. But otherwise, it was a good experience.
(4)Ashley C.
Good food, good beer, good service. I was obsessed with their tilapia tacos with mango salsa, unfortunately they took it off the menu along with their tilapia sandwich which was also really good! Pretty bummed about that. Wish they had a little big more vegetarian options.
(4)Erika G.
It's what you'd expect - a hipster hang! However, on this night, they were playing a lot of Who, so I was enjoying it. How can you not? The requisite array of booze, and weird, complicated beer list. Complicated cocktails. Lots o' whisky, 'cos whisky is so hip now. The bartenders have a lot of facial hair. Which, yuk, but to each his own. That won't stop me from coming in, I just won't be kissing any of them. I love how places like this want to have a "thrift store" aesthetic, but the lamps are carefully matched, and obviously done by an interior designer. This is not a dismissal, however - I think it looks sort of cool. The interior is interesting, and well done. And they have poutine here. I'll come back for that next time I roll down to Logan Square.
(3)Laura P.
Decent draft selection. Waitstaff was very pleasant and attentive. The food was decent; no complaint but no real raves either. With the exception of the fries (everyone loved them). I would defiantly recommend if you want pub food with a twist such as a Crab cake BLT. I'm disappointed we didn't try the special off the menu deep fried cookie dough balls. At the same time, maybe that was for the best. In terms of atmosphere it's defiantly casual. The music was pretty mellow when we first arrived (7:30ish) and picked up as it grew deeper into the night. They have a number of booths that sit 6 comfortably, 8 with a squeeze. And one or two for larger parties. Come before 8pm if you want a booth.
(4)Erin K.
I live in the 'hood so order take out from Rocking Horse fairly often and have eaten in the restaurant a couple times. The food is really good. Good burgers, good sandwiches, and tasty salads. Fantastic for take-out. The service is just awful... I mean just the worst. Even the telephone service when calling for take-out. But I just assume treating clients with total disregard and pointed disdain cultivates the type of "I'm cooler than you" hipster atmosphere they must be going for. Whatever... the food is good.
(4)Stephanie G.
If you go here, you better get the chimichurri fries! They are ta die for! I have also had their chicken caesar salad and chicken caesar wrap - both delicious! For an appetizer, we had the goat cheese balls. I highly recommend! The service is a bit on a the slower side, but the food is delicious so we keep coming back.
(4)Chris D.
Fantastic beer selection and great prices. As for food, I usually only get a burger and Tots here and I always walk out happy I came. Wait, The tots poutine is fantastic as well. The service is always attentive and professional. They make sure you have a drink in front of you. :) I have never experienced any attitude, which is what we all want to avoid when we go out. Unlike at Logan Bar and Grill which has retched service. Definitely reco this joint....... Hmmmm speaking of joint, see you later.. :)
(4)January S.
Good beer selection and chill bar. I haven't come when it was too busy though. The menu recently changed...I really liked this steak sandwich they had! Thursday beer specials are where it's at. And there's a pool table in the back:)
(4)Ugochi N.
Fun bar with games and appetizing food. I would even go as far as to say DELICIOUS. Loaded Veggie Burger is a MUST is you are a vegetarian. Great beer and wine selection I would definitely come back and eat and have another Malbec to unwind after a long day in Logan Square.
(4)Brian M.
Visited for a late lunch while in and out of Chicago on business last week. An unexpected place to be taken for lunch but then again I did tell them nothing fancy. A juke joint type of place. Lots of beers on tap including a few I haven't heard of before. Tried a nice Perennial Black Walnut. Nothing special as far as regular food but like the other people here say, they specialize in of all things fries and tater tots. I tried cajun tater tots with my Black & Bleu burger (big, rare, cajun spices (again), and bleu cheese). One of my associate had the white truffle fries. I really enjoyed my tater tots. I wish I had also ordered the white truffle fries! I like little places that aren't fancy and somewhat divey. They were still busy at 3 PM which I'm not used to coming from a smaller city. Service was good and not "sliding"as others have noted. Maybe it was just different wait staff. The crowd was definitely young. It's funny, I heard the word hipster when I was just a teen almost 40 years ago. Now everyone else describes the clientele as hipster? What goes around, comes around.
(4)Shauna D.
This is a solid bet in Logan Square. Whoever's picking the tunes, keep up the good work. We've definitely heard some real throw-backs that we had forgotten all about (remember Biff Naked? No? well, we did, as soon as we heard it.) The beer selection is more than decent, and the food has been great, and the portions are generous. I will say one thing, might sound weird, the breaded chicken has some sort of seasoning that tastes exactly like Thanksgiving. It was hard to pin-point at first, but after 3 of us gave it a bite and a ponder, we definitely settled on Thanksgiving. It's not that it's a BAD taste, just a heads up, it's a bit unusual. Great atmosphere, big leather booths, so when you're done gorging on food and beer, you can comfortably relax a minute.
(4)Alex K.
I'll start with the service. Came here on a Friday night for dinner around 7 and got seated right away. It definitely got crowded by the time I left though. The food did take what seemed like a really long time to get to the table but I was enjoying my company and the Cubs game was on in the background so no real problems there. The beer selection was pretty good, plenty of craft brews to choose from and you can't go wrong with anything from Three Floyds on tap. When I checked out the menu I saw that they had poutine fries and had to try those out. Unfortunately they just seemed like fries with Heinz gravy( 3.bp.blogspot.com/-QeaaO… ) poured on top. Oh well, I wasn't really expecting too much anyway. I also had the Spicy pulled pork sandwich and that was pretty good, no complaints there. My date had a Mediterranean wrap, I tried a bit and enjoyed it. The food was pretty good, nothing special though. I would recommend this place out if you're in Logan Square but wouldn't go out of the way for it.
(3)Sebastian W.
I was in there today for the half acre beer event and wow did i had a blast. To eat i order those Brisket tacos and o my o my do those tacos have a sweet spot save for em in my stomach. Can i go back for 5ths??? Yummmmy
(4)Leslie K.
We enjoyed local brews seated at the bar and were mesmerized by the overwhelmingly tattooed bartender. The place had a nice and easy-going energy.
(4)Samantha A.
I (soberly, like an idiot) dropped a large amount of money on the floor here with my ID a couple of days ago, and the bartender returned it like a total gentleman. In the words of R. Kelly: I'm forever indebted, I'm forever indebted, I'm forever indebted to your bar. (Also: the food is delicious, and the beer specials are usually pretty Ace)
(5)Kurt J.
Awesome breakfast. Stopped in after a trip to the Logan square farmers market. Not as packed as others around the square but the food is terrific. I had the Eggs Benedict and my wife had the egg white omelet. Both were great. The potatoes were perfect. We shared a special production vander mill cider as well. I would definitely go back.
(5)James L.
I usually come here while i'm waiting for a table at Wasabi. Grab a drink while we wait and it's usually a chill time! Service is great and they usually are good with recs on beer. Had apps before and they were solid.
(3)Stephane L.
Awesome spot. Definitely my favorite restaurant/bar in Logan Square. Food is awesome; great beer selection; ranch fries are to die for. Only negatives are: service is mediocre at best; food can take a while; and sometimes the music is too loud to converse. Food is soo worth it though.
(4)Mags P.
This place is great. Nice and quiet ambiance that allows for great conversations. Noone is there to cruise you or bother you. Also, the food is tasty! Definitely a great alternative to the always crowded Revolution down the street!
(5)Jessika R.
I always end up at the Rocking Horse the night after some hard drinking... close to the farmers market and with a decent brunch menu, it's been doing me pretty good! If you're a fan of the High Dive, you should enjoy the Rocking Horse, ran by the same guy. I've yet to go to the Horse in the evenings, but am very tempted by the daily $3 whiskey specials advertised... a different whiskey each day! Yum! But I'm here to talk food... because eating is what i do best! First things first... there are Tater Tots! Nuff said? Oh no... you can order your tots in several different ways, adorned with extra yummy goodness!!! Tots not your thing? Welllll they also have Ranch Fries which are AMAZING! Sooo yum! I ordered the Loaded Veggie Burger... but swapped the veg patty for a beef patty and it was AMAZING! They need to put the option on the menu, because it's one of the best burgers I've had in a long while... w/ provolone cheese, avocado slices and a roasted red pepper sauce on top, the burger is my hangover cure! I've also tried their Ahai Tuna club sandwich... sooo good! Its a double decker, w/ seared Ahai and loads of flavor such as wasabi mayo... the thing is HUGE and insanely filling! The decor is great and I imagine that it would be a great place to go grab some drinks on a friday night... I'll make it eventually one of these evenings... but until then, I'll keep hitting them up for sunday lunch!
(3)Derrick M.
Rocking Horse is great! I love the separate room for pool, and they are not that crowded on weekday nights. The jukebox here is awesome! I'm hard-pressed to think of a better jukebox in this city. Excellent specials, great beer list. Haven't tried much of the food - only the poutine fries, but I liked them.
(4)Mathew P.
It's very good for what it is... a bar with bar food. I loved the veggie burger even though it was nothing more then an over sized garden burger. The fries were great, and the flavors mixed very well. I liked the sauce on the burger, it added just enough kick to make the flavor interesting. My lady and i did not spend too much time in here since we needed to catch a flight but we did enjoy the time we spent.
(3)Victoria W.
As a creature of habit, I was a little leery when a friend suggested Rocking Horse as an alternative to our typical, tried-and-true locals, but it honestly might be my new favorite in Logan Square. The atmosphere is laidback and comfortable, with a spacious layout that affords some breathing room, even during peak hours. The crowd is an affable mix that's indicative of the neighborhood, and it's easy to sit around for a few hours with friends or just people-watch alone. Definitely a good time. The drinks are reasonably priced and service is fantastic. Maggie is especially a doll - very friendly and fun and always made sure we were taken care of. I haven't explored much of the menu, but what I've had has been solidly tasty - nothing particularly fancy, but good ol' comfort food. (And the tater tots rival Small Bar's, which were my previous faves.) When we went for a late brunch one Sunday, everyone in my group enjoyed their respective meals, which varied from straight breakfast to heartier fare. Will definitely be back and would totally recommend. .
(5)Marko H.
An OK bar with a nice beer selection. It's a shame they had to include cheese in the veggie burger. And I mean in the actual burger, not on top. I'm sure I'll stop in from time to time since I live in the neighborhood but it's not a place I'd go out of my way to visit.
(3)Mary M.
Where do I start? I've tried this place twice, the first time we walked out before ordering food because there was a distinct odor, let's call it mold. This first attempt was for brunch, and the sun was trying to peek in through the black curtains into the main room with its black walls, all of which gave me the feeling of being at the Empty Bottle at 1:45 am when they turn the lights on. Just add mold. Yum. So last night we thought, hey, maybe they fixed the mold problem and it was already dark so we tried again. We walked in and Wham. Mold. But we wanted a drink and it was 5 degrees outside, too cold to even walk to the Whistler so we decided to sit at the bar. I'll give them this, the beer selection is good and the tater tots are good, however, we ran out of aioli and asked for more and were charged $.50. I was surprised to hear REM's Flowers of Guatemala next to AC/DC, The Beatles and indie rock...a little something for everybody? The crowd was a mix of older hipsters, north face wearing Lincoln Park types (are they really here now, say it ain't so...) and what about that table with the girl in the cocktail dress and the dudes in sport coats and ties...there was no irony intended by these people....I think their space ship crash landed in my neighborhood. There is a startling disconnect between the aesthetic of the staff and the clientele. I can't figure this place out. I'm not sure the owners have figured this place out. Start by fixing the mold problem. Please.
(1)Dustin W.
I hit up the Rocking Horse in Logan Square with the sole intention of grabbing my bottle cap for Chicago Craft Beer Week and splitting. I didnt think I had ever been to Rocking Horse until pulling up curbside (rock star parking just outside the door) when I realized I had eaten lunch here over a year ago when I first re-arrived in Chi-town. I wont bother with the details of that trip as I was somewhat sick and had a terrrible headache. I remember the sandwich being a bit to heavy for my stomach's state, so it wouldnt be a fair revue as it was my bad for ordering the wrong item. I drank ice-tea that day, so no fairness to knock the standard Lipton I actually tend to enjoy either. My ladyfriend definitely enjoyed her meal and beer though, so I had an open mind walking in but was a bit skeptical. I saddled up to the bar and was pleased to find a very beer-educated bartender that knew exactly what his different kegs were going to be thoughout the week (huge bonus during CCBW). I noticed they were curently pouring the New Belgium - lips of faith dunkelweizen, which was new to me and a fantastic take on a german tradition. Given the other great rare finds on tap and the efficiency of the man behind the bar, I now have a new found taste for Rocking Horse. I will be back for more suds next time I am in Logan.
(3)Brian W.
I've been going to Rocking Horse since the day they opened because I've been a big fan of High Dive for many years. Same concept (great beer selection, indie rock jukebox, awesome bar food) except much more spacious and way more seating than High Dive. Always loved the food here, but never tried the brunch until last weekend. Holy shit, it was good. I had a spinach, bacon, avocado and smoked gouda omelette. It was so fluffy and creamy and smoky. One of the best omelettes I've had in a long time. It was served with toast and a huge pile of roasted potatoes that were cooked perfectly with just a hint of rosemary. My fiance ordered the breakfast burrito and was equally impressed. We also split a side of lemon poppy seed pancakes (they were the special of the day). Fuck. They were so amazing. I would go back just for those if they made a regular appearance on the menu. We went there right when they opened (around 11am). We were the only ones in there for the first half hour. By the time we left, about twenty other people were in there. The service was great. Why 4 stars? Usually the service is far from great, at least at night. The hipster bartenders/wait-staff really don't seem to understand that they have to earn their tips.
(4)Dave D.
I love the Rocking Horse! They open early on weekdays which makes it a great lunch destination. Their tator tots are fried perfection and they have a myriad of ways to dress them up. Wings are big and juicy which seems harder and harder to come by these days. Every other menu item I have tried has been yummy and tasty. The juke box is filled with top notch rock and indie selections. They have pool and pinball which is a deadly combo in my book, although the pinball game was super mean (no free ball if you lose it in the first few seconds, boo.). Everyone on the staff I have met is super cool and friendly, this means you Glen, Stephanie, Sara Jean, Georg, James, Victoria and the rest of you.
(5)Casey W.
I would have rated this about a 3 or 4 prior to having breakfast. It was so exciting a new bar had opened in Logan Square and it was cute! and the "Bar" food was great. I had been there about 3 times, each time I found a new bar kind of food I liked, I would however state, that the Small Bar which is close still blows this food away BUT it was good, The Portobello fries were extremely tasty and the fancy beers I tend to drink were priced well. But the dear Rocking Horse Stop rocking your breakfast! I had such a bad bad horrible all most inedible, but I was so hungry I slowly stuffed it down my throat breakfast. I knew I had ordered wrong when I saw my breakfast pass me a few times, going to other tables... I sat anticipating the dreadfulness I knew I was going to experience. I ordered the Eggs Benedict I crave Benedict on Sundays. I haven't had one in awhile... and the best of my said go to Lula's and the obvious worst in me said try something new! I love trying New things until this morning. The Eggs Benedict was Yellow, and I am not talking a nice light colored fluffy sauce, I am taking Yellow Yellow Gravy thickness but most importantly so yellow you know it isn't real. and how did it taste? BLAND Lemony-ish, thick and so tasteless... but the texture was off.. It was thick... Really just about the most disgusting thing I have put in my mouth in awhile. Don't put it on the menu if you can't make it... Stick with the eggs and bacon, that stuff looked ok The potatoes were good. The Oranges were fresh. Sadly the coffee was ehhhh not so great, sad to because New Wave is right next door serving Delish! So I may go back but NEVER in the morning EVER again.
(2)Blaise S.
I was all wrong about this place! And trust me, I'm not afraid to admit my mistakes, so believe me when I say this bar has really grown on me as I keep coming back again and again. This bar is great for hanging out and catching up with friends, although my stance on watching a game here hasn't changed. Its intimate atmosphere and friendly servers give you a relaxing place to grab a drink. I have yet to have bad service at Rocking Horse, and I've been here probably 10 times now. Gotta love that service! Their beer specials are lacking (50 cents off, that's it!?), but they have a good selection and the $4.50-$5 per pint is in line with the neighborhood. What really changed for me since my last review was I tried the food! So good! I had their spicy pull pork sandwich and woo-wee did it have a nice bite to it. I got the cajun fries with it and those were just as delicious and spicy! I'm sorry I underestimated you before Rocking Horse!
(4)Megan W.
We stopped in at Rocking Horse on a Friday evening around 8 p.m. looking for dinner and a few drinks. We only had to wait about ten minutes for a table. Great beer list and the food was really good, too. Next time I'll request a booth, since we were squeezed into a two top between another couple and bigger party that made it hard to hear each other. Otherwise a solid spot.
(4)Jessica C.
um, they have POUTINE. nice to know i don't have to cross our northern border for a plate of this cheese/gravy/french fry artery clogger. not a huge space, but nicely laid out with plenty of booths for those looking to get cozy. service was attentive and friendly. hubby tells me (the non-beer-drinking wife) that the beer selection is excellent. pool table, pinball and two-player ms pac man in the game room. if you are inclined to take the kid(s) out to the bar for a meal while you enjoy a beverage, this place is pretty kid-friendly, both facility- and menu-wise.
(4)sarah l.
Gotta give this place 4 stars because it exceeded my expectations (which weren't very high--I had always thought it looked a little creepy based on the exterior and the fact that it was directly across the street from Discount Mega Mall). Dark interior, and the music was a little loud, but the menu was good, with a lot of options. The food was solid, and the waitress accommodated some special food requests. It's walking distance from my house, which gives it the 4th star, and I have no complaints whatsoever. I would like to try their beer menu sometime; I didn't take advantage of that.
(4)Matty M.
Good food, good drink specials, rockin' staff, great ambiance.
(4)Jeremy P.
Cool juke box and good variety of beer. Good bar food too.
(4)d b.
Was waiting for a table at Longman and eagle until I couldn't wait any longer. Walked a block south to here. It's a great bar to hang at with a pool table in back. Dark and mysterious just like a bar should be. The food is average in quality. The menu is interesting for what I consider a bar first, a couple funky additions like won tons stuffed with assorted things. Can't vouch for that but looked interesting. Jury's still out until I try more of the food but from what I had, I wouldn't make a special trip.
(3)Emily C.
This is the perfect everyday place for meals and drinks--great breakfasts, reasonably priced entrees and kicking back with a couple of beers at night. My chicken sandwich was awesome and not dried out like so many other places. It's neighborhood culture with a laid back atmosphere. It's not so noisy that you can't hear your friends, but it has a happenin' energy. Don't be fooled by the staff's relaxed attitude. Our server was "on it" and another staffer chased us down outside when he found a lost glove in the booth. I'm going back.
(5)dan b.
I just got back from brunch here and felt compelled to review this place. This was my second time here. The first time was just for beers and was great. They have an excellent beer selection at typical prices. Today, my wife, her cousin and I went for brunch. I don't like eggs so I decided to go with the Turkey Club. Big mistake. When our food came out, after a suspiciously long wait, I ate a fry. The french fry was my first indication that something had gone awry. These fries had obviously been sitting around for ten or fifteen minutes. They were basically stale, salty sticks. The sandwich was definitely not as advertised. The menu described it as a pannini. If you consider a Turkey Club on toasted white bread a pannini, then yeah, I guess it was a pannini. My sandwich eating experience has informed that a pannini is a grilled sandwich. Not one that merely has toasted bread. Get a panini maker if you want to call it a pannini. They are very affordable. The ingredients in the sandwich were all cold as a fridge. This is not panini-like AT ALL. To make matters worse, this sandwich had been sitting as long as my fries had. You know how your mouth can get all scratched up from eating over-toasted bread? That's how mine is right now. You might be asking yourself, "Why didn't he just send it back"? Well, it is because our waitress, whom the bill identified as "Victoria", never came back to ask how our food was or if we needed anything else. After I had given up on eating she did come by and mumbled something about getting me another beer. I declined. When it came time to bring us the check, she had the other waitress take care of it. I can only imagine that she was as ashamed of the quality of the food and service as I was to have eaten there. For what it's worth, my wife and her cousin did enjoy their omelets though.
(2)Caleb D.
I have been meaning to check this place out forever and I'm quite pleased with the result. Although I didn't have a chance to try any of the food on the menu (most of what I saw go by looked delicious though), I have to give this place a shout out for $3 import beer Thursdays and their solid selection of booze. It isn't as expansive as some places, but they have a few shining examples of several of my favorite styles. The decor is very classy and the place never seems to get particularly crowded, making it a great place to stop for drinks after work.
(4)mel p.
i went in with mediocre expectations, but as it turns out, this place is actually pretty awesome. the ambiance is excellent - dark, but not too dark. the chandeliers are gorgeous, the music loud enough but not too loud. we only had the booze and the appetizers, as this was our very first visit. the ranch tater tots are delicious...not too greasy...and the garlic aioli that comes with is fantastic. the buffalo wings were just saucy and spicy enough. neither were over-priced, in my opinion. their hard alcohol selection is huge...i don't know that i've seen a pub with that intense of a selection. they have deals on whiskey on a daily basis. they also have alot of bottled beers, and i think about 10-12 on draft. the crowd was completely tolerable...a little hipster, but not the pretentious variety. people were friendly, service was good, and people weren't there for the sole purpose of getting hammered. conversation stayed at a normal level, and there were no obnoxious drunks. there's also a pool table or two in the back. overall, this place is definitely worth checking out.
(4)Jessica K.
I've been here two weekends in a row on a Saturday night coincidentally, first time was on purpose, and the second time was on a whim. The place can get crowded depending on what time you get here, the second time we had to wait for a table to open up upon arrival. The decor is nice, trendy but unpretentious. It can get loud in here, which I'm never a fan of just because I like to hold a conversation with my table without being 6 inches from their faces. But it is a happening place, so getting loud tends to happen and I forgive them. The beer selection here is very nice, something for everyone type of place. They also list the alcohol content next to the craft beers which is a nice touch, gives you the feeling that they know their stuff. Of the two times I've been here, I have not had anything to eat, so I cannot say anything about that. All in all its a cool vibe, great beer selection, and I would go back again if in the area.
(3)Jimmy L.
ended up here with some friends as a 4th choice after everywhere else in the neighborhood was PACKED. started off not so good as it was kind of empty and smelled weird, but it got better. food was allright, nothing special and a bit pricy, but it got the job done. the beer selection was pretty good, also not the cheapest. had a couple beers and realized there was a pool table hiding down a little hallway in the back which ended up turning it into a pretty nice night.
(3)Elizabeth R.
The Rocking Horse is a great back up spot....they have good food (turkey club is excellent!) and great beer selection. The times I've gone, I have had to wait...not long but it's still a wait. I like the booths and there's a pool table in the back area.
(3)Nicole M.
Unbelievable juke box. My friends and I were so happy that there was no Madonna, Journey or Matchbox 20 on the juke box. When you go here, take a look at the tunes .... very impressive! The food was good as well. I had the chicken quesedillas with chips and guac. Skip the guac, but order the salsa. My fiance got the turkey with brie cheese sandwich which was very good. The tater tots were delicious! We spent a few hours here on a Saturday night and were impressed with the music, the crowd and the service. It was relatively crowded, but we did not have a problem getting a table. I recommend checking it out. The beer list is very expansive, and the food is worth checking out.
(5)Shandra L.
i love this place! great drink specials (my favorite is thursday night $3 drafts), and the food is always good (my favorite is the buffallo chicken sandwich with tots, also love the parmesan artichoke dip, wontons, pretzels....basically everything i've tried has been great). i mean if you're looking for a fancy meal this isn't the place....but it's better than pub fare and i love the ambiance. i feel like there's a good mix of people so it's not overwhelming for anybody. it's been full everytime i've been there, as in all the tables are full...but it doesn't seem to get over crowded. there's a pool table in the back, but i haven't really hung out back there yet. my only complaint is that when you first walk in it's so smelly! i don't know if it's just the entrance between outside and the actual restaurant or what but it's been that way every time i've been there- what's that about?? i also have to mention Dave, last time we were there he did a great job serving and mentioned it was his first night (i think he was barbacking before that). super friendly and helped make great drink suggestions- thanks dave!
(5)Rachel K.
Went to The Rocking Horse a couple weeks ago because, like everyone else, we were ecstatic a new place opened up on the square. Its ok. The decor is really nice and everything is sparkly and new. They have a good beer selection which is great for my wife and the food is decent. But I do not like beer. I'm more of a martini drinker so I asked the waitress what martinis they had, if any. She had no idea. Okay fine, new place whatever. She told me they could probably make me whatever I wanted so I daringly asked for a pomegranite martini. She looked at me like "yeah right" so I said "ok give me an apple martini." She went back to the bar and awhile came back and said that they couldn't do apple, but they could do cosmo, lemon drop, or a 3rd option I can't remember. I told her to get me a cosmo. About 5 minutes later this guy (I'm assuming the manager) came over with an apple martini saying that they didn't think they had it but he "found some in the back." Um ... what? You "found" it? I had suspicions that this was probably from a mix and when I tasted it I was pretty sure that was the case. It tasted very much like a low quality appletini. My wife tasted it and said it was awful. And on the bill it was quoted as "well vodka" with a "martini" upgrade. You DO NOT make a martini with well vodka. I will never get a martini there again thats for sure. I did have a raspberry stoli and lemonade as well and that was fine, but not exactly difficult to make. The other thing I didn't really like was that the waitress said that I couldn't get the fries that came with my burger upgraded. I rarely want to get fries for an appetizer since they come with burgers and whatnot, but I really wanted to try their poutine fries. I was totally willing to pay for the upcharge and it should totally be doable. I really hope they work that kink out and realize they can make more money by offering such an upgrade. So instead I got tatertots and they were pretty bland. I was disappointed in them. The night we went there they were having a $6 burger and fries special. That's cool I like specials, but this was only a barebones burger. If you wanted anything on it they would charge you more or if you wanted one of their specialty burgers you are charged full price. So it really didn't feel like much of a special. And, as other's have said, this place is noisy. I'm sure we'll go back since its close and their food is decent, but I doubt we'll be spending much time or money there. We actually left earlier than we had expected to and went down the street to The Whistler where for 50 cents more than that awful martini I could get a tasty handcrafted drink.
(3)Liz O.
Yay! I love this place and 99.9% of the people who work here. The beer is cold and the tots are hot. The crowd is odd at times but isn't that what makes a place dear to your heart?
(5)joel t.
pretty awesome set up. dark. long bar. good beer. not too loud. fairly unassuming crowd. clearly the $3 craft beer thursdays is the way to go. had i only known. but even so, the beers are reasonably priced, and particularly well chosen. alpha king, daisycutter, green line, arrogant bastard, among many others. the tater tots were very good. not too greasy, plentiful, and came with a garlic dipping sauce. the juke box was pretty excellent as well. and at a good volume, so as not to muffle conversation. very cool place.
(4)Travis W.
We went on a Thursday night and thought the whole experience was great. The place was crowded enough to feel like you were in a popular place, but there was still room to be comfortable and have your own space. I had the burger special and tator tots - both were great! My friends had the pulled pork (said it was one of the best he's had) and taco salad (good review as well). The portobello fries were to die for as well. It was only our first time there, but Rocking Horse seems to be a tremendous addition to the neighborhood!
(5)Jonathan J.
Cheap snacks, quick, and a solid selection of things on tap and decent, cheap cocktails. Not super busy and crowded, which is nice, and things felt intimate for our group setting. Burgers were solid but the appetizers looked like an awesome option next time.
(4)benjamin d.
Lethargic, torpid, brain dead. These would all describe me and my girl as we entered the Rocking Horse on Thursday for their 3dollar draft specials. Then we me our server. Lethargic, torpid, brain dead. Yeah, we look like working stiffs cause we are both at jobs that kinda suck, but hey, we are trying! I got the same vibe off our server. Bad vibe to be getting from someone in the hospitality industry. I appreciate it when a server shows at least a modicum of energy and enthusiasm. A smile, perhaps? I fake smile all the fucking time at my job. People fucking love that shit! You know what else people love, information. I appreciate it when a server can provide information and opinions on product in an intelligent, professional manner. Yeah, the beers are three dollars, and they might suck, but how about telling your guests about what doesn't suck without having to defer to the bartender. This is what you do today. Tomorrow you will be a rockstar or whatever. Why not try to do this one thing today with passion and intelligence? Huh, o.k, fuck it. Just give me whatevers on special. I don't care.
(2)William M.
If it wasn't for Susan, a mess of a server, I would give this place 5 stars. Great appetizers, their burgers are made extremely well and you've got to try the seasoned tots
(4)ReRe A.
ah yes, the Rocking Horse, where you must always wait for the bartenders and servers to finish having social conversations with other employees before you can put your drink order in. and then you must wait while the bartender engages in another conversation with a waitress while his warm clammy hand heats up your finished drink.... and you wait and wait and wait: btw, the drinks are weak and food is mediocre at best. i give two stars only for the fact that there is a pool table. as soon as a new, better place moves in with a pool table, i will never have to come here again.
(2)Rebecca H.
The portabello mushroom fries make me love it. It's right by my place so it's hard for me to not like it. It is a good place if you want to get sauced up on a variety of whiskey. It is a strange cross between sporty and rocker bar. I think they may need to decide what they are trying to do if they want to become a destination spot but definitely a reliable place for some near beer.
(3)Michelle R.
This is a pretty cool place. Nice atmosphere, cool people, and good music. They also have really tasty tator tots.
(4)Rob Z.
I've only been here once but I like it! The place was spacious and I love their decour (although its kind of dark at night since everything is black). It's a great location to have a drink and eat. But unlike other bar places, their menu is quite extensive! I mean we have Dunlay's about 30 feet away that have about 5 entrees to choose from that are not salad's yet this place has at least 25. And it tasted great! I would definitely go back. It's a great addition to Logan Square
(4)Julie F.
Went back and Allagash was down to $5.50 a glass! Had the portobella wrap, which was very fresh tasting. Keep up the good work RH!
(4)Amy H.
I went last night with some friends. It's hard to see if it's open from the outside. It's very large and roomy inside with a small pool table room and photo booth (yay!) in the back. Great drinks, not too expensive, and great service. I didn't check out their food choices as we had just returned from a belly stuffing meal at 90 Miles. The crowd was very mixed, a lot of neighborhood types. All in all a good bar so far.
(3)Emily M.
Went here for the first time this weekend for a friend's birthday. The tots were amazing! But the food took FOREVER. Our waitress did warn us in advance so I can't complain too much. Decent drink selection. Get there early to score a good booth, started to get crowded around 9. Good service.
(3)chad n.
Lots of tastee beers on tap, decent food, big booths, and close to my house make this one of my favs.
(4)Jennifer K.
Rocking Horse is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. I've been here for just drinks, for dinner and now for brunch. I can honestly say I've been pleased every time I come here. The food is delicious and reasonably priced (especially if, like me, you enjoy getting a mound of fries with your meal). When hubby recommended it for brunch, I was a little skeptical because I didn't think it was the brunch atmosphere I was looking for, but the food more than makes up for it. The French Toast I had was unreal, and the bacon was delish. We also had the breakfast sandwich with rosemary potatoes. I can't wait to come back here and try the pancakes next time.
(5)Christy B.
Food was just okay (the mozzarella sticks tasted like the ones you buy frozen at the grocery store and the veggie burger was the same). But the beer selection was pretty good, and prices were fantastic. I'll be back there for drinks, but probably not for food.
(4)Ryan N.
Finally, a good neighborhood bar in Logan Square. I love this place, I've gotten to know a couple of bartenders and they are super cool. They have a really good beer selection but then again I always just go for bottled water (Bud Light). My favorite go to bar in Logan Square.
(4)Mary F.
I like the darkness of this bar. The bar food is so-so. The beer list is pretty great. Music has always been good. Servers are prompt/attentive.
(4)James V.
My first experience with the Rocking Horse was pretty average. My general review of the place was that it was "essentially a dark restaurant." I've lightened up on the place with subsequent visits and found it to be a rather cool place. The music isn't obtrusive, the staff is generally nice and the beer selection is pretty great. They have $3 drafts one day, (thursday?) which is a great night to be there. The only thing you have to know about the Horse, TOTS. You get a Massive plate of these things. Seriously, it feeds 3, easy. I get them cajun style, as ranch is just too salty for me. And that garlic aoli it comes with is flippin' great! The Rocking Horse is a great place to come with friends, but because it seems so much like a restaurant, it's not the easiest place to go to meet new people. All in all, it's probably the best bar in the immediate area.
(3)Matt D.
Good food, drink specials, and moderate prices made this a good place for catching up with friends on a Friday night. Arrived from out of town, and joined a fried at the Rockinghorse for dinner. Atmosphere was loud and dark, but the booths are comfortable and right next to a huge set of windows. Server was inattentive, but friendly. I ordered the $11 ahi tuna club sandwich. Pretty good! My fiancee ordered the $10 veggie burger and loved it. We both ordered different flavored tots (cajun and ranch), but couldn't taste the difference when they arrived at our table. We also got the $7 gauc/salsa/chips app...disappointing. The beer menu is extensive and fairly priced. Each day of the week they feature a different beer and liquor for $4. On Fridays it's Beefeater -- what a pleasant surprise! Overall, I enjoyed the Rockinghorse and would consider going back again if I was in the neighborhood.
(3)Tommy A.
FUCK THIS BAR..... I usally can have fun at any place that serves whiskey, but this place is horrid. The first time i went here was on a weeknight with a large group of friends. The beer was overpriced and service was so-so. The only reason i stayed was the company i was with (we could have had a good time with a bottle of Black Velvet in a porta-potty) not the bar. The second time i went was a weekday just past lunch time. I had just finished working and went there with my crew for a couple beers and food. There was only one other table of people in there and two Logan square looking hipster girls working. The two girls working were more interested in playing on there computers at the bar then serving us. we had to call her over to our table for everything we needed (if they were busy i might understand this but the place was empty). Now onto the food i ordered some chili cheese fries, when they came out there was bout a tablespoon of chili and cheese on them. I asked to have some more put on, which the waistress acted like i was asking to see her tits. When they came back out with another tablespoon of chili & cheese on them i just ate them and laughed with my crew bout the lack of tip she was going to get. There are enough other bars just like this one in the city (at least three on the same block). Take your hard earned cash to a place that acts like there glad your spending it there.
(1)Laura D.
This place is great! On a busy night for hockey fans, we came here hoping to find a nice place to grab a bite to eat and enjoy some schmancy beer, and we did. I especially appreciated that Thursdays are apparently $3 pint night for a selection of their beers. I got the Allagash White and the a brand new beer that isn't even on the menu yet. The burger was delicious and they're not messing around with their bacon: thick cut and center sliced indeed. Perfecto! I loved that this wasn't a typical bro bar filled with drunk ayholes. It's a beautiful location and a really neat place to just sit and people watch. Comfortable, with great food and beer, and not pretentious or cliquey at all. Delightful! The DJ showed up early into our experience and it was cool because he arrived with a cart full of LPs. He kept it quiet enough to hear each other and loud enough to be able to identify different songs, which can be a delicate balance to accomplish. My tater tots came with kosher salt (top score!) and a tasty side of ranch dressing. The burger was delish. You get the picture! Try it out. You won't regret it.
(4)L L.
Only if you're in the neighborhood. Not visiting the neighborhood, mind you, but actually living here. Otherwise, you'll be annoyed. I wanted to like this place, simply because it's a new bar in the area. I met a few friends here the other night and, although I couldn't put my finger on it, the place was just uncomfortable. It seems to feel awkward in its own skin, which is perhaps appropriate due to its strong resemblance to a hotel bar (think: holiday inn). I was surprised that they carded me at the front door - the outside door, mind you, on a 15 degree night - given that there were maybe six people in the whole place (and, I mean, I'm 30). When I walked up to the bar, it took a moment for the four staff standing there to acknowledge me - not even a hello. My pet peeve is when staff outnumber patrons and still cop an attitude. I mean, what? I was pleasantly surprised with my $4 draft beer (Brooklyn Lager, not bad) and we made our way to one of the large booths. We were there for over an hour, but the waitress didn't offer to get more drinks or anything the whole time, even though she was helping the table next to us. In fact, she came up to us as we were putting our coats on to leave and asked if we were interested in ordering food. Seems she completely failed to notice us the whole time, since she asked us if we'd just walked in. How can you miss three people sitting next to the only other occupied table in the place? When that's your only job?? In sum, I doubt I'll be back. When it comes to area bars, I'll either aim high (Whistler) or local (Bob Inn and Two-Way), and will leave the Rocking Horse for the new generation of whoever might want to go there.
(2)Lindsey B.
I like it. The prices aren't bad at all, the food is reliably pretty good, it's close, and even during peak hours it's not unbearably crowded. Some servers/employees are nicer and more attentive than others, but I've only gotten weird attitude once. It's a happy middle ground between fancier gastropubs and dive bars and I've even taken my grandma there to eat. The crowd is pretty relaxed and you can find a mix of people, too, across ages and demographics -- I learned a while ago to take it with a grain of salt when complaints about "hipsters" show up in Yelp reviews because I've never seen more than a couple Zooey Deschanel look-a-likes or bros in flannel. Not exactly threatening. My menu favorites: grilled cheese, BBQ brisket, ranch tater tots. My complaint: they'll only split checks 3 ways. When you have a group of 4 and no one brought enough cash, that's kind of a pain in the butt.
(4)Brian S.
Great local spot to have in the neighborhood. The food is delicious. The DJ could take it easy on the volume knob. It is pretty loud in there at times that I am shouting at my friends and waitresses. All in all a really great atmosphere.
(4)Ray S.
This is a great place to grab some delicious bar food and a quality brew, Love that they have specials every night of the week. $4 Sailor Jerry on Saturday night?? Yes please! If there is a wait for tables, the door man is awesome, fair, and has a no bullshit policy. The apple and cream cheese wontons are awesome, as are the wings. Actually, I have never had anything I didn't love on the menu.
(4)Carolynne M.
All of the Rocking Horse's menu items may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when ordering the drug known as POUTINE: Abnormal dreams; lightheadedness; food coma; dry mouth; increase of appetite; tiredness; trouble sleeping; weakness....cant. stop. eating. this!!! Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when ordering POUTINE: Drooling of the mouth; abnormal thinking; change in behavior, mood, or emotions; confusion; increased sexual ability; difficulty walking; fainting; hallucinations; memory loss; severe or persistent drowsiness or sleepiness; shortness of breath; sudden irresistible urge to continue eating or sudden continuous eating at unusual times; swelling of the arms or legs; trouble cessation of eating; unusual or intense urges (eg, gambling, sexual urges); unusual twitching or muscle movements; vision changes; vivid dreams or daydreams. Consult your doctor if POUTINE is right for you! Cuz it is...oh my lord it really, really is!
(4)Jessica G.
Come here for the loaded veggie burger (avocado, roasted red pepper aioli, provolone, pickle, grilled onion, lettuce, tomato), tater tots, and beer. So good it hurts. Tons of veg options. And great for takeout. YES!
(4)Andy M.
Poutine, Poutine, Poutine !!!! Where have you been my whole life. Poutine is amazing. I have been hearing about Poutine from my Canadian friends for years. This is the first time that I had a chance to try it. I'm not sure how the Poutine at the Rocking horse stacks up with the traditional Canadian version, but it was pretty darn good. It is a combination of fries and cheese that is covered with gravy. It's a wicked-good combination. The Rocking horse is a cool little Bar and Grill in the Logan Square area. The interior is dark and Gothic. They could probably use it as a S&M dungeon after hours. But the food is good and the service was wonderful. All of the servers are dressed like Pin-Up Girls from the 40's which adds to the unique vibe. For an Entree I had a burger with the Ranch flavored fries (yes, I ate more fries). The Burger was good, but nothing to write home about. The highlight was definitely the Poutine. Aside from the Burgers, the menu is pretty thin. The offer a few different sandwiches and wraps. It's your usual bar menu. They would probably be better off if they expanded the menu. Other than that, I have no complaints. I really enjoyed my night at the Rocking horse. The food was good, they offered a wide variety of beers and the servers were awfully cute. I would definitely go back for another go at the Poutine
(4)Eric S.
Rocking Horse has good beer, and on Thursdays they offer 10 of their craft brews for $3. The problem is that the music is inappropriately loud for the type of music and general ambiance of the place. The seating is ample, which I value over the interior decorating, which is dark and tacky (think Micky Rourke's living room).
(3)K B.
Great wings and tots. Good beer menu and service. Laid back place to chill and talk.
(4)Emily W.
Just about every stereotype you can imagine congregates at this bar. We've got the curly haired boy (let's call him Rapunzel, shall we?) laying down his locks for rescue, the hippie and his girlfriend at the bar playing tag team with the jukebox making sure only their music gets played, some hipster guy, the father and son watching a football game, the nerd pretending to get work done in the corner, an extra large bouncer, let's call him Quasimodo, waiting to be released from his temple of doom, and then there was me, the girl in a green coat sitting in the corner drinking a Woodchuck cider quietly observing everyone. You know what, I kind of like it here. PS: I'm not sure what bar Andy M. was at because there were no pin-up girls at this location...
(3)Penelope S.
I've been here a handful of times, and each time I've really enjoyed it! The food I've tried so far is great...the veggie burger is especially awesome, and this is the first one to top the veggie burger at Dunlay's, which I always loved. Great selection of beer. I liked the atmosphere too, and the diverse crowd didn't bother me one bit. As a side note....I never understand why people complain about the diverse crowds; you're in Chicago, guys...what else do you expect?! There's a huge mix of people! If you're focusing so much on how annoyed you are by the different types, instead of focusing on your own company, you have other problems to worry about! Back to the review....great place, I highly recommend it! Next thing to try...their brunch!
(5)Carlee W.
I've been here numerous times, and everytime has been outstanding. The food is always good, especially brunch, and they always put a nice twist on classic meals. The drink specials are great, and they always have fantastic beer, and the specials don't just apply to crap beer. To top it off? The music selection is awesome. I love living within walking distance of a bar and restaurant this wonderful!
(5)Law S.
Food was good, tuna appetizer is great. Pulled pork sandwich as amazing, fries were too heavily seasoned. Also, a small note, I was overtaken with the amount of Renuzit vanilla plug-in that were everywhere (every outlet). I don't know what that was about but it was a little much. Tons of beer! Will definitely be back.
(4)John J.
Great atmosphere, the best soundtrack in the city, a different $4 craft brew each night, $3 PBR tallboys, $3 Craft Pint Night on Thursday. The Chicken and Pulled Pork sandwiches were very good, but the best part were the Co-op hot sauces. They made everything taste twice as good. Hot, Habanero, Verde, 'Local'. You gotta try em all. Definitely my favorite bar.
(5)Kim A.
I'm not going to lie when I say that I might have been a touch overserved when entering this place, but don't let that color the integrity of this review... These are the things that sold me: Ephemere Poutine Photobooth Wallpaper Music. There you have it. It's a great place to come with and just chill as a group... take back a few beers and maybe eat some snacks.
(4)Holly M.
I was so excited to come to the Rocking Horse. I've been waiting a while to try it, so it was pretty awesome when my friend and I decided to travel there last night. Well, I don't think I've ever had such bad experiences with food and service like this before, but I gotta say the beer menu is fantastic. To start the night, the doorman was friendly--and that makes me happy, because almost any place that has a doorman checking IDs, he's usually miserable, cranky, or just plain rude. Anyway, my friend and I decided to start the night with the Goat Cheese balls appetizer. We received six little fried balls that looked like they could have been purchased in the Trader Joe's frozen food section, AND, unfortunately, they actually were frozen. So, the waitress came back and she brought the remaining four goat cheese balls back to the kitchen. The same four cheese-balls returned to us about two minutes later. I bit into mine--still frozen. Their microwave must not be very powerful. Instead of sending them back again, my friend and I just avoided making a big deal out of it and left the remaining appetizer at the edge of the table. I ordered the black and blue mini-burgers. A few minutes later, my friend and I got our food. I received three McDonalds-thin patties with semi-melted American cheese on top. After my food was sent back once more, I received the correct mini burgers. They were ok. Again, the meat seemed very processed, as if the patties had been delivered by some fast food chain, and even though they were "mini," the meat patties were the same size as a normal burger, but they sat on tiny buns. So that was kind of weird. Near the end of the night, our waitress gave us our bill, but never returned to collect it. After about 20 minutes, my friend called out to her and she approached in a hurry, saying she completely forgot we were still there. So, really, come here for drinks only. I don't know if we just had a really bad chef that night or if this is common for the food at Rocking Horse, but I wouldn't recommend appetizers or entrees.
(2)Dan F.
Man was I in a bad mood when people brought up the idea of schlepping to Logan Square to go to some Rocking Horse place. They went on and on about the cute waittresses and the PBR tall boys for three dollars. So what the hell, as long as I'm not paying for the cab. And as long as we can attempt to smuggle a couple regular-sized PBR (12 oz.) in and attempt to drink them. Attempt. As long as I can do that, then I am okay with the schlep. Schlep. One cab ride and a short walk later, there we were, at a table with all these monster tall boys (16oz.), towering over the smuggled baby PBR. That damn bouncer with his eagle eyes. That damn waitress with her rye sense of humor. If I could do it all over again, I would be the one laughing after everyone else had finished laughing, this I promise you. Anyway, we were outed as frauds, but not kicked out, a testament to their tolerance for ne'er-do-wells such as myself and the misfits who consistently find themselves in my company. All in all, this is your run-of-the-mill, dimly-lit, hipster hideaway. The specials are nice enough, the staff is hardworking and good-humored. Good for them I suppose. And damn, the cleaner they use to wipe down the tables is this citrus-scented cat nip stuff. Every time they wiped down a table, I found my nostrils perking, instantly pleased with my station in life. So if you live in Logan Square, or if someone else is paying for the cab, I would highly suggest coming here. But please, keep the road sodas at home, they sell their own beer it turns out.
(3)Brian C.
Great Logan Square spot. It seems like EVERYONE knows about this place so get in early on weekdays for a quieter experience. Right as you walk in there is the list of their current brews on tap and daily specials right above the bar, $3 PBR tall boys everyday!!! and $4 shots of Jameson most nights:-) After a few brooklyn lager's we dove into the tater tots poutine, if you have never had true canadian poutine this is just as tasty as the gravy from our friends to the north. I thought the buffalo chicken wrap would be a great next course. The wrap was slathered inside with a TON of blue cheese, too much for my liking but I still wolfed half the thing down while finishing off my tallboy. The service was awesome, always around when you needed another round, never bothersome and quick to drop off the check when you are ready to leave. One last thing, their juke box is amazing diverse and always rocking. We will be back soon, see you there!
(4)Tiffany K.
Came here with a handful of my friends on a Friday night. I have so much to say about this place! First of all, I love the atmosphere. Their beer selection is very impressive and decently priced ($5 for a bottle of Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA? $4.50 drafts of Goose Island beer? Sign me up!). Some might think the beer is expensive for what's around the area, but I think the selection merits the beer being $4-6 dollars. Anyway, the beer = good. The food is also very amazing, and the kitchen is open late so that's another bonus. Their garlic aioli is AMAZING, and with their fries and tator tots it's even better. My friends got grilled cheese and a turkey apple sandwich - ranging from $7.50 to $9 - and it was a lot of food so I think its worth it. The only bad part was how loud the music was and how weird some of the patrons were. I'd definitely come back here for some grub and a nice glass of cold beer. Fun space, and there's even a pool room in the back!
(4)Michael F.
After this building being some sort of scary fish place, and then sitting abandoned, a whiskey selling establishment is welcome. Before I went in I was afraid that the word "Rocking" in the title would lead to 80s hair music playing and guitars hanging on the wall. I'm happy to report this was not the case. Instead it's a dark, well laid out bar with a pool table and pinball. There is an excellent beer selection with most pints going for $4.50, which I would say is below the average price. The menu had lots of options, including a few that were veggie. There were also about 700 different ways that you can get french fries. My one complaint is that they try to pass off fries with cheddar cheese and gravy as the Canadian staple of poutine. Poutine has cheese curds, damn it!
(5)Sonja B.
It's exciting that another decent bar/restaurant went up in logan square. All i'm going to say is that I wish there were vegan options. I wanted something substantial to eat, no salad, and didn't have much to choose from. I got the veggie burger without cheese and it was GREAT, really delicious, but I wish I would have known there was cheese in the burger, butter on the roll, etc, after I asked for vegan options. The space is impressive and the menu is big, but I wish they'd cater to their audience a little bit.. i won't be back because there's nothing I can eat if I don't want fries or tater tots.
(2)Amidoux B.
I can be straight faced and honest when I say that I had one of the best steak sandwiches I've ever had at Rocking Horse. In fact the previous time i went I had a burger and that was pretty damn good as well. Very, Very good selection of beers, cute server chicks... I like this place for a beer and food but something about the vibe in here doesn't work for extended drinking periods. All in all, it does exactly what it's supposed to do and does it pretty well. Good food and good drink selection. The service however is hit or miss. 1st time we were here the server was busy as hell and kept up with us, checked in often and handled it like a pro. Second time when I tried the steak sammitch, the place was completely empty around 8pm or so and the server brought us the wrong drinks, forgot silverware and was just completely unavailable and in the back room or something when we were like, "hey, can we get some silver ware?" and "we'd like to order another beer" But yeah, great ribeye steak sandwich and awesome selection of beers.
(3)Aaron S.
I heard Rocking Horse'd opened Friday, so when the opportunity to go out presented itself the following night it was our first choice. I couldn't believe what they did with the previous space, which was an overly bright, totally uninviting banquet hall. All that was replaced with very dark walls, dim vintage light fixtures, and well-appointed booths. The menu is really big, and we decided to order just appetizers--poutine (read about in the Red Eye), spinach/feta won tons, and black and blue sliders. Perhaps it was a function of the place being new and wanting to impress, but all were fantastic and arrived at our table piping hot., with special praise going to the won tons. The drafts are pretty good, and the martini I had to start was very well made. We'll definitely be back to try some of the other stuff on the menu, which will hopefully be as well executed as the items we had tonight. Portabello fries here we come!
(4)Bex F.
Ooo, ow. Yeah, we tried the food. No thanks. The folks came down for dinner and we were looking for a relatively inexpensive nearby decent meal. *buzz*, bad choice. While my parents really enjoyed their burgers, the stuff we got....ouch. The hubs got the buffalo chicken wrap and said it was nasty. Rather than tossing the just chicken in the buffalo sauce, everything went in, overloading the sandwich. He wouldn't even finish it. I got the pulled pork and holy mistake. It was gross. It must've been stewing in buffalo chicken sauce which was already a bad decision and it was sooooo greasy, it was unreal. Like a swimming pool of grease on my plate. I got so grossed out I couldn't eat it. Our server lost interest in us immediately because no one ordered alcoholic beverages and she pretty well vanished after the food was dropped, spending most of her time chatting up other employees at the bar. You could smell the stink of the potties everywhere and that's just not appetizing. And what really got me was that they charged 50 cents for the little side of barbecue sauce I asked for. Really? That's just plain silly. No thanks!
(1)Mike L.
Fun Place, Great beer and location.
(5)Megan L.
Checked out Rocking Horse for dinner earlier this week and am pleased to report that some of the initial service issues a few people mentioned seem to have been ironed out. Our server was attentive and friendly, and all our food came out pretty quickly. We had a plate of tater tots as an appetizer, but just got the plain ones (they also offer ranch or cajun, I believe). The tots were good - came out hot, not under- or over-salted, just yummy. They actually had a pretty extensive list of appetizers that sounded great, but it seemed best to start off with something safe. Still, I would go back just to try some of the other options. I had a burger, my friend had the Ahi tuna club. My burger was good - nothing exceptional, but certainly good enough to be ordered again. The tuna club was a little disappointing. The advertised avocado was like a light smear of avocado on the bread. Very light. As someone who likes avocado, my friend was pretty disappointed on that front, but the rest of the sandwich was pretty tasty. Rocking Horse also has a very nice beer list that I am looking forward to delving into. Rocking Horse is definitely a good addition to Logan Square. It's a little less pricey than Dunlay's, but the food is just as good and it's definitely got better food than Logan Bar & Grill. Welcome to the neighborhood, Rocking Horse!
(4)Nikki C.
Got here around 11pm. Hot as hell. Loud as hell. If you want to chat in a comfortable environment? This is not the place. Also, was not waited on until about 5 minutes after we sat down...server just did a shot with us without us offering or buying. SO does that mean she bought us those shots?? Typically, in any bar I've worked at...if you invite yourself to do a shot with customers? You're buying the round. It better not be on our bill! Also, this review was literally regarding customer service, atmosphere and comfortability. Did not eat here, as we ate somewhere before meeting friends here. However, they did say the tater tots were awesome - but tater tots are tater tots. It's ALWAYS awesome when a restaurant/bar has them! Kinda hard to screw those up! ;o) With saying all that, I understand that this place is somewhat fresh, so I'll more than likely give it a second shot once it's had a chance to sink it's toes in and get comfortable. I'll try some food, pull a seat up at the bar to see how the scene is, what kind of beer/liquor selection they have and if they have any specials or specialties that they pride themselves for. Here's to next time! *cheers*
(2)Shayna N.
Another new neighborhood establishment opening up mere blocks from my house. Yay! I was here on a cold fall evning with a friend. The beer selection is pretty decent, and the menu looked like your standard bar food. I ordered the Goose Island Harvest pint. and we shared some tater tots. Tater tots were good (they're pretty hard to mess up) and came in a very generous portion for $3. Otherwise there was the standard apetizers, hamburgers and sandwiches to choose from. The interior is dark and pub-ish (?) Pretty standard fair. I will definitely come back since its so close to my house, but wouldn't send anyone here if it was out of their way. I see this being a great neighbor hood hang out, but definitely not a destination.
(3)Beth M.
Within the first 15 minutes of the Rocking Horse's opening night, I was enjoying a Unibroue Fin du Monde under the soft glow of the vintage light fixtures. This bar is quite welcome to me in the Logan Square neighbourhood. Dunlay's is alright, but it's a little more yuppie for my taste. I like the dark black and red interior of Rocking Horse, and the soft leather/pleather (I don't know which) booths are casual yet solid. There is a whole game room with a pinball game, photobooth and pool table, which, unfortunately for me, was occupied the whole time. Since the bar just opened, I'll cut the server some slack for not knowing the whole draft/bottle list. The bar will add more beers to their offerings over the next few weeks or so as well. I did not try the food yet (other than a few tater tots), but there are several vegan (-able) dishes: portabella sandwiches/wraps, veggie burgers, jalapeño hummus, guacamole and salsa, french fries and tater tots to name a few. The acoustics were kind of poor. Everyone's conversation bounced off the shut windows and smooth walls/ceilings. I hope the owners add some sound-absorbing materials to make it more tolerable and easier to hear one's conversation. Worth a return visit. I'd like to see how it develops.
(4)Ellen H.
I am probably in the 3.5 range, but rounding up to give my neighborhood some cred. Went last night, very nice inside. Almost too nice, given the lovely neighbor, The Milshire, and across from Mega Mall. Kinda expected a little more of an edgy vibe, but it's just so new. It's also pretty big with a large open space. More of a restaurant feel than bar, due to lots of tables: large booths along the walls/windows, 4-6 regular tables, plus another 6-8 high tops. Estimates, mind you. We were sitting at the bar, where many folks started, but it filled up pretty well after 7-8. The bathrooms were sparkling and nice. The discovery of the 'private' game room, with pool table, photo booth and PINBALL was great, that could be a fun time to take over with a group. Not a huge menu, mostly apps, sandwiches/wraps, some less-than inspiring salads, burgers, tacos, etc. We split chorizo wontons (decent) and the Ahi Tuna club (awesome). I put it somewhere in the Dunlay's / Logan variety, a decent spot that I can take my family which is always nice to find.
(4)Jose C.
Pretty sure we'll never come here again...to eat, at least. I came here with my wife and a couple friends. My wife and one of our friends ordered the BBQ brisket sandwich. I ordered the chicken wraps and another friend ordered chicken strips. The food took forever and a day to get to us. When the brisket sandwiches arrived, they were the most nauseatingly disgusting brisket sandwiches we had all ever seen. The brisket was nearly all soft, white fat. I simply cannot believe any chef no matter what level he or she is at would serve something as gross as this. It was simply unedible. The waitress knew this too, and never once stopped by to ask us how the food was (as per tradition). She only breezed by a few times and each time managed to look at the mountain of white fat atop the bottom bun. It was like she was thinking, "I wonder if she is really going to eat that...she at least can't be mad at me for this, I'm just the messager!" My "wraps" ended up being one wrap cut in half. It was just ok. The bill was way too much for our food, being as bad as it was. The place seemed like a bumping place, it's probably better known as a bar than an eatery. Still, to have the nerve to serve something as blatantly horrifying as what was on those plates is purely insulting.
(2)Karen C.
Maybe if I were 25, wearing skinny jeans (which btw look good on NO ONE) along with a repeat of other ugly clothes from the 80's, and was more interested in being seen than having an actual conversation this place would have been cool. As it is, I spent $25 on chicken wings I didn't finish, a few beers I wasn't that impressed with, and a noise level more acceptable at a club than an open area restaurant and bar. I'm assuming the point of this place is to attract all the young hipsters in the neighborhood who are more than willing to spend far too much money on food and alcohol than they should. The reason I make this leap of judgment is because the lighting is dim, and yet the only decorations on the walls are mirrors, so that all the young fashionistas can admire themselves while eating. After all they need something to do since they can't hear anyone else with the music volume in here after 10pm. No seriously. The sound level was fine and then somewhere between 10 and 10:30 they pumped up the volume (and not in an awesome Christian Slater way either) to the point of annoyance. In fact, no one was impressed with their food, save the one shimmering foodie goodness (which is the reason they get 3 instead of 1 star) knows as Poutine. By the gods this potato/cheese/gravy concoction is a work of genius. We didn't just eat it, we devoured it. It was good enough to up the review two whole stars. I am not kidding. I would actually come here again (early in the evening next time...thank you) just for this dish. Also, the waitress was nice, the bathrooms clean, the door-guy pleasant, and the seating arrangements well thought out. There...I said some other positive things. I'm not a total snot.
(3)Laura W.
I was forced to leave my friendly confines of Lakeview to attend a birthday party at the Rocking Horse. After getting over the initial anger of a $15 cab ride, I settled in to sampling the tater tots someone else had ordered. They were delicious, and this peaked my curiosity. I didn't end up ordering anything else on the menu but it looked decent enough for bar food. So back to the birthday, we were trying to come up with the grossest shot to buy my friend and I settled on the 3 Wise Men. Now traditionally it is made with Jim, Jack, and Johnny. When I ordered the drink the bartender kept insisting to have it with Jim, Jack and Jose. I didn't argue but I found this a bit odd. My friend took the shot and seemed to handle it pretty well. But I will never order it again that way. So the draft beer selection was decent and the specials were fair, but there just wasn't that special something to make me fall in love with it or to go back any time soon. They also had the IFC channel on and there was a very graphic movie playing and it was really distracting for me to talk to the table because I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. I feel it was an odd choice of channels for a bar.
(2)Jessie B.
This place wasn't anything special. They had the following: Tables Chairs Booths Beer So yeah. Grab a friend & tell them to bring on their funny faces because there isn't a lot going on here. Well the stars are for the good service & the yummy buffalo chicken sandwich I got for $6.00. Yes it came with fries. Oh yeah there was a guy playing the guitar. Random--but fun.
(3)Anne J.
Read the reviews on Yelp, an decided to trek out yesterday in the snow to give it a try. I'm glad I did. First, of all, I guess everyone was still trying to recover from the blizzard because the place was EMPTY ! A few people came in later but we really had the place to ourselves for awhile. That said, service was amazing! The food was just what I want in my bar food: loaded with carbs, and lots of burgers/sandwiches! We started off with the parmesean/artichoke dip. It was amazing. Creamy, warm, and they give both chips and bread for dipping. YUM! I had the turkey club.....another good choice. The bread was grilled panini style, and the bacon was thick with just the right amount of salt. It's served with a side of fries....mega size! Great beer and whiskey selection too. I opted for the ACE hard pear cider. Very good. I can't wait to go back when the weather is a little nicer.
(4)Rich N.
Great variety in beers and the wraps were really tasty. The decor is a bit dark, but it works for them.
(4)Meagan L.
I am a big fan of this place. Great beer on tap and bar food with a twist of delicious. The pretzels are delicious and I like the fact that there are three styles of chicken finger. I always get blackened which is always juicy and delicious with ranch (I like to get bbq sauce in addition). They do a mean portobello fry with aioli. The atmosphere is dark wood, cozy with a pool table in the back. I have not had the sandwiches which appear to be great. I like that the place never seems to be over crowded.
(4)Kristine F.
Well priced. Nice staff. Favorite item on the menu are the cajun tots, which literally comes in a mountain of a pile. Wanted bacon mac n cheese, but no such thing is offered : / Burger was really good, above average quality, but not the best. Close to my apt, don't mind heading there for brunch.
(4)Blaw K.
Great great place! Been coming back here as much as possible the past year and loving each occasion. It's perfect for a date and good lunch & dinner, and awesome nightlife with a super friendly staff all the time. See you soon
(5)Heather K.
Logan Square is really building out but I didn't love this one either. The layout works but it was incredibly dark. I sat in a big booth with some big boys, they had some good beers and decent prices. The pretzels were good, fries were fine, veggie burger was eh, and none of the people I were with seemed too impressed with their food either. I thought the menu was too big. Generally, the more options the less quality the food. Maybe that's what this place is...edible food, drinks for a decent hang out good 'ole time. In which case, I suppose it is A-OK. Every neighborhood needs one of these and hey it's better than that LOGAN pub...
(3)Kat L.
TOURIST REVIEW* This a favorite hang out for my boyfriend & his friends, who all live in Long Square. We came here to meet up with one of his friends. It also happened to be $3 Thursday, which is when a certain selection of beer is $3. I will be the first to admit that I am really only familiar with breweries from the Pacific Northwest, so nothing on the menu looked familiar to me. Having beer for $3 probably brought out some extremely cheap rude people, and I think by the time we got their our waitress was already had enough for the night. That being said, there were moments she was extremely friendly when she checked on us. By the time we got there, most of the $3 beer was gone, which was no big deal since the beer was only about $5-$7 regular price. The food menu was your typical bar food, nothing to rave about. When I stopped to pay attention to what was playing, it was a pretty good mix of music. Overall, it's a typical bar and a great place to hang out with friends, but I don't think they have anything niche about them. *I'm from Seattle and was visiting for the first time.
(3)Vivian M.
Ehhh. I was looking forward to try this place because it's in my neighborhood and it had been on the radar for a bit. A group of us came just for drinks and to hang out. We had the goat cheese balls, they were pretty good. We also had some cider beers, which are my favorite, but a bit on the pricey side. The decor is nice, dark hardwood throughout but the ambience is a tad loud, clientele is slightly pretentious, service is sloooow and a little fake too. Not It wasn't bad but I really don't think I would come back. Just another gentrified bar in Logan Square. Sigh.
(3)Melissa F.
I was really impressed with this place. Real close to the blue line stop. Loved the beer selection and the food was good too.
(4)brett j.
It was a quiet sunny Monday afternoon, and my friend and I wanted to swing in for some fish tacos. I love ahi tuna, so the ahi tacos excited me! In reality, though, they were just fine. I felt like they were trying too hard with too many ingredients. Tacos are supposed to be simple. My friend got the tilapia tacos and those were also adequate, but a little to "busy" with various ingredients. But really, this review is about the service. Our server was never rude, but she was scarce, even when I wanted to order more food. She never came by so we decided to ask for the check and I'd get some corn from the elote lady down the street. Our bill came out to $24 dollars or so, and we paid $30 cash. Our server never brought back our change. I think she assumed it was all tip, but we never said "keep the change," and quite frankly she didn't deserve a 25% tip. AFTER she kept our change she was even LESS deserving! The place was empty, it's not like she was too busy to bring back our change. We eventually asked for our change (at least 15 minutes had passed, and she assumed we were done eating so was ignoring our table), and we tipped her because we're decent people, but this kind of thing is just unacceptable. I won't be going back.
(2)Adam S.
First time I came here, I got so drunk I almost took the next day off. If that's not an endorsement, you need to get off yelp and go to church where you belong, right now. I live in the area, and this place is an outstanding neighborhood watering hole. Owned by the same people who run The High Dive on Chicago, Rocking Horse is lowly lit, the music played is good, the service is good, the tap selection is good (a pencil keg of 120 Minute once graced their bar, Hopslam is a regular when in season), and the food is lovely. Do you like the classic Cuban sandwich? Get their Havana Burger. Don't be a purist, just get the burger, you won't be disappointed. It's perfect. Their wings are incredible as well. Rather than simply deep frying them like many places, they fry them, toss them in sauce, then put them on a grill for a minute or two, so you get a nice combination of classic wing + a little char grilled action. If you try and like them, hit up their sister establishment The High Dive, for 0.35 wings on Tuesdays. Last time I was there I had their turkey sandwich - turkey, bacon, garlic sauce, smoked gouda, and apple slices. The apple slices added what I never knew was missing. These people are goddamned kitchen wizards I tell you. Oh and, wait, specials everyday? Do yourself a favor, and get here.
(4)Jaime G.
Awesome place for an after dinner beer. Cool and a bit trendy place with a a great selection of beer and have daily drink specials. Tried the Left Hand Brewery Milk Stout and the Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout. Both very good but they also have a wide selection of Ale's, etc. Didn't try the food but from the looks of it, it's woth a try. I'm coming back.
(4)Marc R.
I have been to this place a few times. Great place for burgers and solid food. Nothing mind blowing, but good, solid bar food. It can get super busy, so I have had different levels of service from the staff. I have always had good servers, but I have heard that some of the other servers just OK. But, I tend to eat here when it is not crazy-busy. Now, this bar is not a Vegan place, so I'd head elsewhere for that. There are some ovo-lacto veggie options to be sure. The bar, again, this place can be insane when busy. I like that they have drink specials on Friday and Saturday as well as the rest of the week. I drank too many Sailor Jerry and Cokes here and loved it, well, until the next morning ;). A friend of mine has a buddy who works here so we go when she is bar tending but everyone else is always cool. The bartenders are awesome. I usually like the odd mix of good music. Good solid bar to meet people, and I usually wind up talking to folks at the bar.
(4)Joel W.
Cool Logan Square Bar! Keep this between us, but they made me pancakes super late at night when they ran out of waffles! SOOOoooo good. Tator tots, awesome. Waitresses: so cute and so nice. I bet the beer selection is great, but I wouldn't know...but it was good.
(5)Chris W.
A 2am bar that's open till 3 on Saturdays. It's more or less just another hipster dive bar splat in the middle of hipster-ville, stuffed with hipsters the way that Fozzy bear is stuffed with cheesy jokes. They had a decent beer selection which was a plus. Usually if you want something more potent than a Guinness you need to go to the Map Room or Kuma's (and at the Map Room there's no food) so it was nice to be able to get a 'fancy beer'. We all had 2 drinks each and an entree and we still ended up paying a pretty penny. Myself and two friends had gone for dinner and drinks after dress shopping in the area. We found parking about a block away which was miserable at the time because it was really cold. My friend Minka wanted her burger well done and is one of those bold women who isn't afraid to mention to the server that her burger was practically still breathing. Our server SEEMED cool and said she'd bring a free beer over, which was Minka's second. It turned out that the server actually charged us for that beer, and we didn't say anything because it was taking increasingly longer spouts to get served/checked on by around 10pm. Not as loud as most bars, we were able to have a conversation without much yelling on the table with the elevated chairs. TO EAT we all ended up snarfing burgers. They were pretty good. Minus the fact that all of ours were not well done which is what we had asked for. Fortunately only Minka's was the only super rare one. Their tater tots were pretty good too but not as good as the burger. I got the black & bleu which had bleu cheese of course and some cajun spices on a kaiser roll. With pretty hefty portions I was content by the end of my meal. They also have tacos, wraps, sandwiches, soups, salads and appetizers.
(3)Rebecca L.
Dinner 8-9-12 This was not our first choice but our first choice had an obnoxiously long wait for a table (2 hours?!). I don't wait that long---there are tons of restaurants. If Rocking Horse were in my neighborhood, I would probably hit it up pretty often but as its off the beaten for me, I will likely not be back---it just isn't the kind of place to travel across a town full of great restaurants for. That being said I am giving them a bump up for the solid food--nothing blew me away but it was all good--AND the $3 beer special which is fan-freaking-tastic. The menu is pretty much the pub food you would expect. Reasonably priced also--there were 3 of us and the tab was $50--thats with an app, 3 dinners AND we all had at least 2 beers. Goat cheese balls--great! Shrimp Po-Boy--solid! Burgers--reported good by friends Ranch tator tots-BOMB Cons-service was not great (she was totally slammed but I get the impression its always that way) and it was very loud. That being said--its basically a bar with food and if you keep your expectations there, you are good.
(4)Naomi J.
Great service. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and offered great recommendations. The food was pretty good. They had a good number of vegetarian option and healthy meals. I had the the fish tacos. They tasted awesome, but I was so hungry I ate them a little too quickly and was still hungry afterward. I would definitely come back here. The atmosphere was relaxed and the service was great.
(4)Doug N.
Holy shit dies this waitress suck. Thanks for removing my empty water; double thanks for not asking if we would like more. I would Love another beer, except that I pretty much have to beg for it. Booooooo.
(1)Anna W.
Hipster central! Every annoying stereotype was here. Well, we came here instead of Estrella Negra after being told of their unreasonable 1hr wait. Good choice! There was a wait here as well, but it was more along the lines of a reasonable 20 minutes. Plus there is a bar where you could get your choice of many beers. I got a tasty Dogfish Head. I have a feeling that if I wasn't drinking beer that night, the bartenders still could have made me some tasty drinks. Food: Appetizers (shared between 4) Fried Green Tomatoes: Well cooked, perfect texture and topped with a balsamic reduction and goat cheese. A nice change from the remoulade I am used to coming with Fried Green Tomatoes. Plus, the texture of the breading was very fine- it's a welcome surprise to the gritty cornmeal I am used to coating the tomatoes. Everyone loved this. It was a good size and easily shareable. Kim and Scott's Pretzel basket: I love Kim and Scott's Pretzels to start off with. Great people, great local company, and great pretzels! I was so happy when I saw them on the menu. I thought they were a little on the cold side, but it could have been due to me devouring the tomato first. I thought the mustard that was on the side was a bit typical, especially since it was the only condiment to the appetizer. Not to sound picky, but I think a spicy Dijon would have been perfect. None the less, everyone was happy. Dinner: Mediterranean Wrap w/ Chimmichuri fries (shared with someone): We asked for the chicken on the side (for my sake), and they obliged. As an aside, there was alot of chicken for that sandwich! The sandwich wasn't groundbreaking, but it was pretty good. The fries could have used less oil, I was expecting more flavor out of them. I think it is pretty cool that they have alot of different ways to flavor up your fries. I don't like fries on their own, so I was really pleased to see how many options I had to jazz them up. How can you make it better? Expand your dessert selection. Not to say that you need dessert after the good portion sizes but it needs more than the one item on the menu. Get some Kim and Scott's dessert pretzels! Start and end your meal with one! Just expand that menu!
(4)An P.
Brought to you by High Dive. Rocking Horse is High Dive's Logan Square sister/cousin and if you like High Dive, you're going to love Rocking Horse. I mean seriously, it's almost like walking into the same bar. Alright, granted High Dive recently did a renovation and has a lot more space, but Rocking Horse is almost the same thing! Let's start at beer. Three Floyd's is served on tap and you'll be able to dip into the fine cornucopia of whiskeys if you so choose. An extensive beer and whiskey arsenal will be at your disposal should you choose to get obliterated. The servers are fast and won't leave your glass empty for too long. Do you like tater tots? Let me repeat that: DO YOU LIKE TATER TOTS? Rocking Horse has some great flavor on their seasoned tater tots and you'll never be disappointed. The food here is decent and the drink selection makes this one of Logan Squares best bars in terms of beer alone. Add a nice set up and people who mind their own business and you might just find you new home bar.
(4)Rachael T.
I used to love this place. After three terrible trips in a row I can no longer let the abuse continue. Couldn't believe the disgusting food and TERRIBLE service this final trip. Will never ever ever go back. Overly salty mini burgers, soggy, and I mean soggy bun like there was water spilt on them, and didn't want different food, just wanted it off the bill since we didn't eat it and it was disgusting, waitress refused! Unbelievable. Used to be my favorite local spot...no more.
(1)Chase M.
The food has been awesome every time I go but the wait staff does a disservice to the chefs. I had a small issue with service a couple months ago but the bartender recovered from it and ended up being a nice guy. I wish I could say the same thing for my server Katie two nights ago. I ordered a beer, they came out and served my girlfriend her beer and told me they had to go in "the back" to find mine. A few minutes later and Katie informed me that they had no more of the beer I ordered. No sweat, I asked for a minute to look over the beer menu again. So after taking a couple minutes to look it over I turned to see where the server was so that I might flag her down (there were only 4 tables seated in the restaurant). Unfortunately she had her backed turned to me and was showing the bartender and other server there videos on her cellphone. After waiting another couple minutes she finally turned and realized I was waiting and came to get my order. I asked her about what the Unibroue Ephemere was like and her answer was, "Oh, uh it's a belgian so um smooth and sweet, you know beer tasting. It's kind of hard to describe the flavor..." I was extremely upset, their beer menu has no descriptions so I don't believe it's unreasonable for me to want to know a beer style. It was under the Belgian and Saison section so I kind of figured out the Belgian part of it on my own. The fact that she actually said "beer tasting" condescendingly to me like I was stupid for asking the question had me sincerely angry. The real kicker is that after a little research at home I found out that the Ephemere is a fruit beer that features apple (I don't like apple tasting beers so I would have been really angry if I had ordered it without her telling me that) I ended up ordering a different beer immediately to get her away from the table before I said something I would regret. To make the matter even worse when she finally came back with my beer they had somehow found the beer I had originally ordered in the first place. It was very unprofessional. After that I had an Ahi Tuna Club that was to die for. That's why it hurts me so bad to give this place a mediocre review. I feel like the place should always be packed based on just how good the burgers are alone. Somebody takes a lot of care in crafting great food and a server makes me so irritated I can hardly enjoy my meal. Somebody puts together a great beer list and Katie can't skip her cellphone video watching time to read a couple bottles so that she can speak to the selection. Your restaurant and your customers deserve much better from the wait staff.
(2)Kenji K.
This is one of my favorite bars in the Logan square area. The atmosphere is wonderful, dimly lit and a candle at each table to make it a little romantic. They have tons of Chicago beers to choose from and any mixed drink that you can think of. Most importantly, they have wonderful food, better than the average bar. They are known for their tater tots. My fiance and I go there mainly to eat the quesadillas and burgers. The pricing is very fair and by far keeps us coming back every so often.
(5)Turdille G.
Ranch flavored tater tots. I'm not sure more needs to be said but I shall...This is a good place to meet up with friends early in the night. If you're lucky to get one of the big booths, you can comfortably seat 6 people. They have a really decent beer list and the food is on the upper end of typical bar fare. They would get another star if they would bring the photo booth back!
(3)Jenna S.
BEST VEGGIE BURGER EVER. Seriously. Even if you're not a vegetarian or you don't normally do the "veggie thing", you have to try their Loaded Veggie Burger. It was absolutely divine. The roasted red pepper and tomato aioli really just made the entire burger. The flavor was delicious and added a really good kick to the burger. The avocado and onions were excellent and left a really good flavor balance to the aioli. Seriously, best veggie burger ever. And I usually get a veggie burger wherever I go. My boyfriend really enjoyed his Chicken Parmesan sandwich, too - he said it was one of the best ever. The beer prices were pretty decent and the drink menu was extensive. I appreciate that their tap beers exclude "traditional" domestics like Miller and Bud - instead they were replaced with Domaine DuPage, Bells selections, Goose Island specialty selections - there were at least 10 on tap. The bottled beer list was long and the servers seemed able to make good suggestions based on taste preferences. Service was curt - not in a rude way, just in a to-the-point kind of way. Friendly and only around when necessary. No chatting, just take the order and come back with drinks and food. It was actually kind of pleasant - I'm usually not offended by indifferent servers, just rude ones. The decor was fabulous. I really loved the dark colors on the walls and my boyfriend and I really enjoyed all of the hanging light fixtures. The best one was in the southeast corner of the restaurant if you go and are paying attention. Everything was very simple and clean - straight lines and not too much decoration. The TVs were practical but not so overpowering that they were irritating - they could only be seen if you were facing the bar, which is nice. It seems like this place is more a restaurant in the evening and bar with good nosh in the early morning hours. Since we came around 7:30 p.m., I can't say what it's like as the night wears on, but we had a pretty good time. The only thing I didn't really like was the volume of the music, which a few others have mentioned in reviews. It was a bit hard to talk (not too bad), but I imagine it gets worse later on. Rocking Horse is definitely a good addition to the neighborhood and I can see myself coming here often, especially as a good alternative to Dunlays. The food is made in a similar vain, but is cheaper and better here. Also, the beer is less expensive (some not by much, but every penny counts) and the place is smaller and not as full of annoying, stroller-toting brunchers (I hate all those people with kids at Dunlays).
(4)Melanie V.
Way to class it up, Logan Square! Right across from Mega Mall, too. I'm impressed. Rocking Horse has a lovely menu - creative appetizers (different types of wontons, quesadillas, dips, hummus), burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads. Great selection. The house salad is fab and they offer up this wasabi-soy dressing. My new favorite! Try it out - it's definitely different and really good! I also ordered the chorizo and cheese wontons...and enjoyed them! Friday nights offer up $4 Beefeater drinks and $4 Whiskey shots. Who can complain about that? Friendly, attentive staff, too. Great layout, laid-back vibe...I'm diggin' it! Great spot in Logan Square!
(4)Mike U.
A little too loud for a conversational dinner, and the service was a little slow...but the ahi tuna club was so damn good and the tater tots are like crack after an appetite whetting smoke. Beer list is decent, love that they have some Firestone Union Jack IPA! Mushroom garlic burger..not as good. Even with appetite whetted.
(4)Kate P.
Love it. Nice lighting, really good bar food - for bar food, nice specials, hip - but friendly staff, decent prices, great location.
(4)Laura G.
I really want to give this place 3.5 stars but I bumped it up to 4 because they took off my friends sandwich because it was too spicy. Which i thought was nice she didn't even ask for that. The service I thought was ok at best. It took a real long time for our wraps and she never came back to check if she liked it or we needed anything. And my friend needed some water real bad. I thought her wrap was really good, a tad spicy but not too bad. I guess she isn't used to spicy foods. My wrap was really good as well. I just love feta so anything with feta in it wins me over. Their fries were also tasty, I like that they give you options. Their beer selection was good too, tuesdays they have Bells on special which I love Bells! So $4 for a Winter White, yes please! It's a nice place, yes maybe a tad hipstery, for a weekend night out it's a pretty relaxed atmosphere. Probably wouldn't spend a Friday or Saturday here, seems kinda boring for that.
(4)jenny m.
The veggie burger is really good! It was voted one of the best by the Chicago Tribune and I have to agree. Get it loaded with avocado, red onions, lettuce, tomato, provolone and a really good red pepper aioli, you won't be disappointed. I also tried a couple of bites of the pretzel basket and if you like big stuffed pretzels, this is for you. They have a really great beer list, both on tap and in bottles. I could easily spend a couple of hours drinking some beers here. What was lacking though was the service. I was there on a Monday around 5 p.m. The place was empty and yet our waitress seemed less then interested in serving us. Not sure if she was just having a bad day or what, but I did not feel so welcome there. I have a friend in the neighborhood who loves this place though, so I shall give it another shot.
(3)Aaron T.
This is one of my most frequented bars/restaurants in the city. The service has been consistently good here and have to say the door guys are pretty nice too (No, I do not personally know them). The menu is pretty much all standard bar food, but varies from tacos to burgers. Everything I have had has been pretty solid. The talapia sandwich is HUGE and good. Burgers are pretty tasty, both veggie (house made? been a while and don't remember) and beef. TOTS are cheap and come in a huge portion, serves 3-4. Rotating draft list, standard prices. We usually come up there on Thursday for $3 draft night as there is pretty much a completely new beer list every week.
(5)Michael M.
Some friends and I went here last Saturday night. The bar area itself is pretty small and cramped. There are tables and booths in the connected dinning room, but since our group was only drinking, we felt it was better to steer clear. The music was very loud and the place was pretty packed. Given how narrow the bar area is, not exactly the best place to socialize when you have a group of 10+. Drink prices are on par, service is good and very easy to get to from the blue line and 56 bus. The bar clientele looked like a mix of hipsters and gay male couples. Overall an okay place to hit if you and/or your friends live in the Square. Otherwise, not really too different from any other bar in any other part of the city.
(3)Joan A.
Nice chill hangout spot for a Saturday night. Excellent beer and food selection and everything is pretty decently priced. A friend of mine ordered the truffle fries (two of my weakneses!) because she wasn't too hungry for a full meal and was surprised to get a giant plate of fries - woops! They were delicious though, so the whole table shared 'em.
(4)Kyle H.
Now that I left Logan Square the bars are popping up everywhere! It happens... I have to compare Rocking Horse to its brother, High Dive, since the owners didn't stray too far from that formula in their uninspired vision here. Like High Dive, the Horse's jukebox is killer! The menu here is also great for bar food. There's two sides to the menu (ahem) and it's full of sandwiches, wraps, and apps. They were out of the Spicy Pulled Pork sandwich so we went with the Jalapeno Hummus, served with pita, baked chips and cucumber. Excellent with an affordable Lagunitas IPA! Rocking Horse has a big beer menu, which is nice, but the tap for one beer was busted, and they were out of another one of my choices. It takes some stinks to work out the kinks, I know. Where High Dive has charm and a personality with its pretty red walls and rock posters, Rocking Horse has none. Or it's so dark you can't see it or feel it. The walls are painted slate gray and red, lit with a couple sets of vintage hanging lights, with mirrors on the walls to show you more gray! Sure, there's lots of large booths for groups, but let's face it, Rocking Horse is a big empty box. And a loud box at that! You'll need to use your outside voices about the time everyone's hitting their peak drunk just to talk to the person next to you. There's plenty of free street parking (after 9pm) and it's steps away from the Logan Blue Line station. The skeevy Hotel nearby keeps the neighborhood rents down but it's not unsafe, really. It's a three stars because they bring the food and the juke. But get some personality and then we'll talk digits.
(3)Shana M.
As Iago in "Aladdin" once said, "I might die from lack of surprise." The food was good. The beer was on tap. We sat a table. Loud music played. It was dark. There are heavy drapes on the window and nearly cute arrangements of almost funky chandeliers hanging up above. That's seriously how I remember it: like through the fog of some muscle relaxers but without the drug induced serenity. I think the major fault of Rocking Horse is that they don't know what the want to be yet and so they are solidly uninspiring and uninteresting.
(3)Sofia D.
Food was great, atmosphere was cool and the mimosas were fantastic... I must say a nice treat was seeing Jeff Garlin walk past the window booth in which we were seated. Yes, I followed him like a huge creeper would. I'll be back here again for the brunch and hope to see another celeb, too.
(4)Pinaki S.
I came here straight from the airport. Yes, Logan Square is my first spot in Chicago to go here after a month away. Not sure what I was thinking. I'll call the crowd "party-hipsters". I doubt anyone is talking about french film noir in the crowd. More of a scene where people are loud as hell listening to loud music (if I visualized the people with blonde hair polo shirts and flip flops, I would be right at home). You got HDTVs with sports (yes, college football is BACK!). It was packed, so we moved from our usual set up from sitting at the bar to a corner table. Drinks aren't cheap, but the food is awesome. Try the french fries in poutine (poutine, what the fuck is that? its gravy and cheese. cheese and gravy fries. Awesome). I also tasted my "airport taxi driver's" turkey-bacon-gouda sandwich. Wow. Plus the ranch tater tots. In a sentence: hipster crowd, medium priced beer, awesome food.
(4)Priscilla W.
I dislike writing bad reviews but here it goes, I was excited to try this restaurant. I heard great reviews from locals and thought I'd give it a try. To my surprise, I was extremely disappointed with the service. Upon entering the restaurant my boyfriend and I were unsure if we were supposed to seat ourselves or if we should wait for a hostess. After a few minutes passed, we decided to find a seat in a booth. We were greeted by a waitress and weren't given menus nor serviced for another 10 minutes! We just sat there wondering where our waitress was. After 10 minutes passed, we ordered our drinks. It felt as if another 10 minutes passed until our drinks finally arrived and our order still wasn't taken! I sat there disappointed but was still optimistic about the food. When our food finally arrived, I was once again disappointed. The fries were dry and had nothing but "ranch" seasoning and the grilled cheese listed on the menu said it would be served "panini style" and was he furthest thing from! The bread was sourdough and the 3 cheeses they offered was a joke. I only had one type of cheese! All in all, the service was horrible and the food was over priced. I will NOT be coming back here in the near future.
(2)Aloysius T.
30 mins and still no grilled cheese sandwich on a Monday? Nope, unacceptable. And you got rid of the photo booth. I'll be back, but in the meantime you earned this 1 star.
(1)Borracho G.
Went there on Thursday with some friends and I really enjoyed this place. Just like all good bars, everyday they have a great beer and shot special. I got there early enough to have some dinner first before engaging into some alcoholic bliss. I had the spicy jalapeno hummus and the ahi tuna club and a side of chimichurri tater tot's. The sandwich was great and the tots were f**ckin excellent! Those two food items alone makes me want to come back and try more stuff. As for the drinking, I started with tall boy PBR's even though they had $3 crafted beers. After 3 tall boys in, the bartenders seemed to know that me and my buddies were in need of a good shot. He recommended the brown stuff, a bourbon whiskey called Cabin Still, which I never heard of but ended up liking it. It was pretty damn smooth so that lead to at least a few more shots which then lead to us calling it the Stabin Cabin because we were getting screwed up. Eventually had enough of the beer and moved to vodka gimlets and then eventually went home because I had work the next day. This place is another good Logan Square bar option. Dark decor, old school pinball and great music on the juke. I plan to become a usual inhabitant as long as my liver holds up.
(4)Mary W.
This is consistently great neighborhood bar. The food is tasty (try the pretzels!) and their specials are always Particularly good. The pool table and arcade games in the back are fun with friends; the beer lists are always interesting and varied; and I have never had too much trouble getting space or sitting down. Two thumbs up!
(4)Kori E.
We do an annual bar crawl on New Years day, and this was our next stop after Revolution Brewery. I loved the space, and the ambiance. They also have a juke box, which is always nice. Our party continued to grow throughout the couple of hours we were there and at one point they moved us up to the little "stage" area because we were becoming too much for them!? Wait, what? One of the guys working there was clearly irritated by us, but Im confused, we have a very large party continually ordering drinks and food making YOU money and you're annoyed that there are too many of us? Oh well, I was having fun playing games with my friends to pay him any attention. The drinks were good, the prices were reasonable and the food was really good. I had the chili (weak stomach that afternoon), and it was just what I needed. My friend ordered tots for the table loaded with chili and cheese and it was this greasy heaven on a plate. Their fries are also really good there. The service could have been a little better. She was excellent at bringing us drinks throughout the day, but when it came to busing not so much. Its kind of a desolate area, so I cant imagine unless youre a hipster that lives in the neighborhood or you've just come from Longman & Eagle or Revolution Brewery you would stumble upon this place. Its definitely a cute little spot though and I definitely would return!
(3)Erica J.
I like rocking horse. They have a good beer selection, I've never had a problem getting a table, and there will always be at least one overly-drunken individual available to give you something to laugh about for the rest of the evening (but not so many drunks that it's obnoxious). Best of all, they have tater-tots! Big, midwestern sized plates of tater tots that come in many different forms or with various dipping sauces.
(4)Danny F.
Food is great and location is right in middle of bustling Logan Square. Awesome tater tots with chimchuri dipping sauce, awesome sante fe spring rolls, but my favorite is the tuna wontons. Those are the bomb! What makes this place really awesome is the pool table and Ms. Pacman table in the back. Service was not that great but it's what you might expect from hipsters in the service industry.
(4)Margaret G.
This place is chill and has great food. you can easily fill up on potatoes alone... The service was great. The bartender, Derek was amazing. He was the only one on with almost a full dining room and was still on it with a smile. not too shabby on the Margaritas either. I'll Be back.
(5)Holly C.
The place looks like a crap hole and I'm pretty sure I kicked last night's puke with my feet BUT MY GOSH the food was GREAT! Got the Portabella & Garlic burger. YUM! So much and great for my wallet.
(5)Haley S.
Decent bar food - liked the gaucho steak sandwich, yummy cajun fries. Good inexpensive beer list, definitely not arguing with a $4.50 Turbodog. Also they could seat 10 people at once, which was awesome. Service was a little spacy, but we were a big group on a Monday, so forgiven.
(3)Renee E.
Dear Rocking Horse, do a regular a favor and CHANGE YOUR MENU periodically. Hubs and I love hanging out here, but good lord, I need a little bit of variety occasionally! Take a cue from some of the other restaurants in the area and switch things up from time to time. Your regulars will appreciate it.
(3)Emily F.
I used to love this place, but they have a new chef and their new menu SUCKS. They took away a lot of favorites (black and bleu burgers, quesadillas, etc. Food you want to eat when you drink beer), and modified existing items, not for the better). The Rocking Horse salad used to be the best salad out there--now it is a pile of dry lettuce with bad dressing. I don't understand why they are messing with a good thing.
(1)Tommy W.
Best bloody Mary's in town! That is if the bartender doesn't try to do some fancy shit and add too much spice to it. They have a new cook or chef and it is completely different than it used to be. They used to have the greatest menu in town now they got some goon cooking what he thinks is trendy food. Very very disappointed with the decision to fire the cook. Where's the steak sandwich? Where are the great wraps that you had? Where are the great salads that you used to make? Sux! I'll still go there for the bloodies and some good beers but the food has gone down down down
(2)I B.
I meant to review this place years ago for just having great food, particularly for a bar. It seems creative, and not in the "let's come up with some 'ironic' menu items" like Revolution Brewing up the street. Also, the wait and bar staff are super friendly, and it's smaller and far less loud than Revolution Brewing. Which is up the street, and you should skip. Here's the thing: at Rocking Horse, the food is good and interesting, you don't have to fight your way in and the people seem normal Logan Square kind of people. At Revolution Brewing on the other hand, I spent 20 minutes listening to some dude explain that he got a Joy Division tattoo on his arm because the band is such a huge part of his life. Even though the kid was 25, and therefore in the Venn diagram of Joy Division's life and his own, there is no intersecting circle. Ok, enough of that. This place would be excellent in any neighborhood on any street. But particularly in light of it's more prominent neighbor, it's worth stopping in.
(4)zoe m.
I would have written a sestina, McSweeny's style, but I'm lazy. Furthermore, this establishment doesn't really deserve that much effort. Therefore, a haiku to Rocking Horse: Even Movember cannot possibly explain mustaches galore.
(1)Michelle T.
Rocking Horse is straight up Rawkin!!! I have been here a number of times and have always left happy and with a full tummy! I haven't ate here for dinner but I definitely recommend to eat here for brunch! Here is what I have tried from their brunch menu: TWO EGGS W/ MEAT: If you're a fatty and like sausage patties then you'll dig this! This entre came with a whopping 3 sausage patties, toast, and lots of potatoes! Delish! Take some home for later! PULLED PORK BENEDICT: Who would have thought pulled pork would go great atop an english muffin, under an egg, and covered covered with chipotle hollandaise sauce! So acquired to have the regular pulled pork sandwich smothered in bbq sauce this was a delightful twist into a brunch item! Also came with potatoes! REGULAR TATER TOTS W/ A TURKEY APPLE SANDWICH: This sandwich is served warm. All the ingredients compliment each other so well; smoked turkey, bacon, gouda, sauteed apples, and roasted garlic aioli! Side of tots and it's nom nom nom! Nuff said! Overall, it's wonderful to find such an energetic Sunday brunch spot! I love hearing M.I.A and Vampire Weekend blaring throughout the eatery! There was only one occasion that I can complain about service, however, I need to allocate for the fact that it was St. Patty's Day and the place was packed! We waited a good half hour before our food was served. Great people to meet and converse with if seated at the bar, friendly bar tenders, and a hot spot on my list! Rocking Horse scores a positive 3 stars!
(4)Jesse B.
I'm a huge fan of RH. The vibe is always pretty upbeat without having to feel like cattle being packed into a bar. I love the scene way better than many other of Logan Square bars. The draft selections are fantastic.
(4)eric f.
ok/yes in between a nice restaurant and a nice bar, it offers parts of each. pool table in a small back room, a bunch of tables in the dining room, and a long bar with tv's. i remember having a good veggie burger here once. BUT what i liked about this place was that the bartender gave us the really good Co-Op hot sauce from the dining area so we could make prairie fire shots (tequila with a dash of hot sauce). that attention to detail is something you gotta respect!
(4)Diane G.
Portobello mushroom fries??!!! YUM!!! Awesome bar to proceed drinking and to buy some food to soak up some of that liquor. Very spacious with a lot of seating--great for groups. I see some conflicting reviews--I think this is a great late night place to get some cheap drinks and cure the munchies, but it's by no means "fine dining" or a place I'd go out of my way to get to. 4 stars for what it is though.
(4)Jesse F.
Good beer selection and they got a pool table too! Not too shabby.
(3)Julie J.
I've been here more than once. The tater tots are delicious.
(4)Gabby G.
Loved our waitress. She reminded me of the actress Piper Perabo... if you don't know who she is, look her up. :) The pear cider and hummus were aweeeesomeeee. I'll be going back for sure.
(5)Rachel H.
Friday night's attempts to "go out" left me thinking that I was more rocking chair material than anything, but tonight's trip to Rocking Horse changed my mind. Maybe it's because it was earlier, and in a neighborhood that's more my thing, but I felt less like an aging hipster and more like a human being. Bad mood cast aside and tummy grumbling, boyfriend and I pored over the menu after I voraciously ordered a Bells' Hopslam draft. That's right, they still had some, get it while you can friends or get ready to drive to Kalamazoo (It sounds like a fake city, but it's real!). A shared pretzel plate gave way to a portobello wrap and a ribeye sandwich, perfectly cooked just under ordered temp. I like the variety of sides, though shockingly enough I managed to avoid ordering chili cheese fries for a mere $2 add on. That's restraint yo. Boyfriend liked the several veg options and variety of seasonings for the fries. I also liked the $4 Sailor Jerry Saturday night special. Sailor Jerry makes any night special. I'll definitely be back when I don't want to pay more at Revolution or wait longer for a table. Especially when I want to drink my weight in Sailor Jerry. Hello, sailor.
(4)Hannah P.
Weekend gets very busy, we waited about 30 minutes for our seats but it was worth it. Food was very good for a bar. Almost all of us really loved our food. Burgers were very juicy and flavorful, chimichurri (spell chk) french fries was a great choice. The only negative was the chicken wings. It was super salty and I like salt hence this was drenched. When we informed our waitress she said the batter mix they use is already prepared and she mentioned she found it salty as well. We changed it to BBQ flavored instead. Service was a bit slow luckily we weren't in a hurry.
(3)Ben W.
I had gone to this place before for a Bulls playoff game and thought the Thursday beer special and beer selection was great. The decor is makes it feel like a dive bar but is up to quality where you are not afraid to sit in the chairs or even bring you mom and dad. Going off my first experience as well as other Yelp! reviews, my brother and I decided to try it out for dinner tonight. We showed up and got a table right away but after our drink order we did not get our beers for 10 minutes. This seemed to be directly related to that there was only one waitress taking food and drink orders for the whole dining room. Short staffed? I know a bunch of people who would like a job.... While taking our food order our waitress thought she heard my brother say pulled pork sandwich when he said pulled pork quesadilla and heard my side of buffalo sauce as side of barbecue (which I had to pay .50 for 1oz?). Now I understand that these are not big issues, but I think they could be avoided if the music was not so loud and that everyone in the whole place did not have to yell to each other to talk. Lastly the food. My buffalo chicken sandwich came on a nice hoagie type roll which I enjoyed, but it came with only enough fixings (tomato, lettuce, onion, pickle) for one half of it. So one half was eaten plain. The pulled pork quesadilla on the other hand was almost inedible due to the amount of salt in it. I understand bar food being salty to go along with the beer, but this was overkill. Overall I would say that it seems to be a good neighborhood spot to get some drinks, but the service and food quality was hit and miss.
(3)Angie M.
Rocking Horse could be mistaken for just another hipster bar with loud music in Logan Square. Hell, I know that's what I thought of it and avoided it like the plague. Hipster kids tend to not like me. Maybe it's due to my highlighted hair and adoration of mini dresses and heels. Suffice to day I had never stepped foot in Rocking Horse and didn't really see myself heading there anytime soon. However when one of my Logan Square besties suggested it for a quick bite after pilfering through resale shops in Andersonville, I decided to slip on my adventure pants and tag along. I'm SO happy I did. Rocking Horse has an absolutely stellar bar menu AND delicious beers on tap AND inoffensively priced mixed drinks. We had a bit of a wait for a table on a Friday night at about 8:30, which is no biggie, especially since the exceptionally cute door guy keeps a waiting list to ensure tables are sat on a first come first serve basis. I like that. Our server was very friendly and made some great menu recommendations to keep our taste buds happy. And happy they were. Clear fat kids at heart, we ordered a platter of ranch tater tots. RANCH TATER TOTS! There are two good things to note about ranch tater tots. 1. They're ranch flavored and therefore add a cool bit of bite to your regularly scheduled tot-fest and 2. They're SUPER ranch flavored, so you can only eat a few of them before ranch overload sets in. You won't totally kill your diet. Also on deck were the buffalo chicken strips and the Santa Fe egg rolls. The chicken was a pretty hearty portion with a nice, spicy buffalo sauce and the Santa Fe egg rolls were spicy perfection. While I only dove into the appetizer menu, I was floored to see a truckload of salads and some really interesting sandwich options on the backside of the menu. I cannot wait to get my mouth around an ahi tuna club (wasabi is so my bitch), a portabello feta wrap and a Mediterranean wrap. They look amazing. Also important to note: Rocking Horse could be a good place for a date. Its super dark in there with just votive candles lighting your way. We all know everyone looks delectable in the candlelight, right? It could be just the ticket for a casual drink and bite to eat. Just a little tip from me to you. ;)
(4)Katie R.
i've been wanting to visit rocking horse since it opened, and i'm glad i finally did. there is really some good stuff on the menu. i had the ahi tuna club sans bacon which was really yummy, though the flavor of the tuna got a bit lost in the sauce. the portion was freakin' HUGE and came with a massive pile of tots, which were also delicious. started with the cream cheese/apple wontons which were soooo good! they were savory and creamy with a sweet dipping sauce. i'm not a huge beer fan, but it was 3$ draft night which can't go wrong. my only issue is that our waitress was not particularly attentive and quite distant.
(4)molly c.
the pros - good beer list with a good price point. interesting menu (i didn't eat). nice big booths. the cons - really loud musical laziness - i like the thermals too, but i didn't need to hear two complete albums in a row. flaky waitress. if i was in chicago, i'd probably hang out there sometimes. worked for a some quality time with old friends.
(3)Carolina N.
I love the food here. You HAVE to get the tator tots. I can't even tell you what style I like the most because they are all so good. Maybe ranch? maybe cajun? Can't decide. The fish tacos are great! The burgers are awesome! I love my beef but this place has a mean veggie burger = YUM! Food prices are pretty cheap and pretty big portions! The beer selection is ok. They have some good specials too! I've seen a few Bulls game there which is a sweet time. The booths are really comfortable and the decor is really cool and hip! It's definitely very Logan-Squary. I'm sorry to have changed my rating but you guys have the worst service of any place I've ever been. If you guys didn't have good food, I would never come back here. Your waitress/waiters are so rude and inattentive. And it hasn't been just one time, but many times. They screwed up my dads check and charged his card twice one of the last times I came, he had to call and complain. It takes forever for them to come back for refills or even to ask if your food is okay. One of the last times I came here, I ordered soup first, and then a few minutes later the waiter, who also seemed to be bar-tending too, came back to take our order and then about 20 minutes later he brought out my soup with my entree.....? I could tell he knew he screwed up but instead of apologizing he dropped off our food and scurried away. I had to walk up twice to the bar to ask him for stuff. And that was at a time when it wasn't even that busy in there. I've been in there when it has been busy and oh god the service is even worse. If you're busy, get more staff, and teach them to be nice to their customers so I don't feel like a jerkoff giving a bad tip after receiving horrible service. You guys are lucky the food is good.
(2)Nick M.
I can't help but get this feeling at RH, it's much like that comfortable swaying motion from a actual rocking horse and a sense of nostalgic fun. Then again, maybe that's the point or then again it might just be the liquor talking. After a killer meal at L&E, Mighty Molly O. suggested RH for it's cool laid back atmosphere and a jukebox to rival all of the bests in the city. RH was all of that and then some. It had some dank on it (which I like), although it was clean. Is there such a thing as clean dank?! Great place to relax and to grab a bite. Although I was stuffed, the menu had a few item that peaked my curiosity. As for the staff, it seems like they pretty much let you run wild if you choose to do. All I know is $5.50 Ace cider equals a happy Nick.
(4)Kristin Z.
Always enjoy coming here and just having a good time. Food is good and they have a large selection of beer and other booze. Reasonably priced and staff is always great. love the ambiance of this place. There's a free pool table in the back which is always a bonus.
(4)Cristina G.
I like their cajun fries and their sliders or minis are yummy! The service not so much... I've been there for lunch and that's when service is best. One time at night we were practically the only ones there and we still got ignored by our dancing bartender. Then another time there for dinner our server was just cranky!! I like their specials, $3 draft is awesome! So I'll go even if the servers are cranky :)
(3)Eric B.
Oh show me the way to the next whiskey bar..... If Jim Morrison were living in Logan Square today, he'd never have far to go. Whether wandering out of Longman and Eagle, or RevBrew, or Helen's, the Rocking Horse is easy stumbling distance. For whatever reason, the Rocking Horse reminds me vaguely of a saloon - a youthful hipster saloon rather than a grizzled western saloon, but a saloon nonetheless. The dark wood, booths, tables, funky lighting and bar space one would expect in a saloon are all here. It just needs a swinging door in front for the iPhone packing clientele sauntering in. Much like the grizzled frontiersmen of the old west, we come here for whiskey and beer - lots of it, reasonably priced. The beer selection is outstanding, with several local options on tap and probably close to 100 bottles to choose from. With around 10 ryes and 30 or more bourbons on the menu, the whiskey selection stands up well to Longman & Eagle. I highly recommend the Templeton Rye manhattan before selecting from the various bourbon options. Slide into a booth and spend the afternoon or evening chilling to the music and diving into the options. The food here is fine but not outstanding - standard bar fare, primarily sandwiches and lots of fried food options. While the Italian wedding soup was excellent, but the chicken parmesan sandwich was lacking in marinara, and the chicken breast was too thin - more breading than chicken. But at the same time, its what you would expect for bar food. While I wouldn't come back for the food, I would definitely hit the Rocking Horse again for drinks before or after dinner at Longman, Lula's, or RevBrew.
(3)John W.
This is like the 990th place just like this that has opened up in Logan Square and the rest of the city in the last couple of years or so. High alcohol beers,fatty heavy foods, dark atmosphere, hipster staff, etc. Don't get me wrong, I like a lot of higher alcohol beers and I like food but it's just more of the same. It was clear that my burger was from a frozen patty but at the end of the day, it was pretty tasty. The bun helped I think. What is not tasty is the $1 extra tater-tots. Do not pay extra for these, they aren't that good....I also hear the fries aren't that good although they did look good. Overall it wasn't a bad experience as the service was good and the prices were OK, not great but ok. Note, Thursdays are $3 drafts, or $3 beer something or other so I imagine I will be back...On a Thursday...Just not today...which is a Thursday...cause I just went last night...in case you cared... Update: The wings here are way too salty...If you eat the wings you will have to also drink like three gallons of water due to the dehydration...Plus they are hot (buffalo). They are grilled which is nice but not as good as High Dive.
(3)Amy H.
While I still feel that overall the Rocking Horse is pretty average, there are a few things that keep me coming back time after time. The friendly bartenders and the tuna tartare club sandwich. Also, they have tater tots with ranch spices already on them, which saves me the extra step of dunking them in a side of ranch dressing. Me likey!
(4)David C.
In terms of food and beer selection, rocking horse is a pretty solid choice. I love their menu. Although the poutine leaves much to be desired (its just salty gravy with shredded cheese, a facsimile of an actual poutine), the actual dishes like burgers and sandwiches are pretty great. Simple with a hint of creativity and generally good taste. I'd recommend the ahi tuna sandwich. The atmosphere is hipster-friendly (the plaid-clad doorman donning large-rimmed spectacles was reading a used novel....in the dark) but in an inviting way. I would recommend the owners keep the music volume in mind, as it tends to be difficult to exchange casual dinner pleasantries over an excessively loud cover of "such great heights." The biggest drawback is their sluggish kitchen pace. I've waited quite a while for food many times when they're on the busier side. Strangely, even when it's relatively empty, the kitchen can still take too long.
(4)Noelle S.
Great drink specials and selection. I've eaten here twice and ordered a cheeseburger both times. They were very good... they also have fries covered with ranch seasoning, which are really delicious! Waitstaff has been awkward and slow, but they're still pretty nice.
(4)Fabiola R.
This is place is good, Some where to go with a small group of friends to eat and talk. What I had to eat was good, taste great. I had a burger cook well done, the burger came out good not dry or burned with a side of regular fries. For the appetizer was I believe called Wonton, of chorizo and queso chihuahua with a side of sour cream to dip. They were great! The waitress was super friendly and talkative in a good way, you ask a question and she just didn't give you straight serious answer to make you make a decision right away. She came to check on us a good amount of times while we had our food.
(3)Philly G.
went here on a friday after work. The goat cheese balls and hummus are great. Drinks are good and a good place for a group. Gets really packed so if your at a table after a while you lose the waitresses attention but I would go back.
(4)Tim M.
Since moving right around the corner from this fine establishment 4 months ago, I have been nearing the double digits in my visits here. Aside from the talapia tacos, which I found mediocre, everything on the menu is great. Im talking burgers with guac, burgers with BBQ, chicken wraps, cajun fries, chicken and apple sandwiches, etc, It's all there. They do it well. With a large beer list to compliment, this bar understands that a quality menu is needed to keep your patrons coming back for more than just a Friday night. I will continue to frequent Rocking Horse
(4)Chris C.
The first time I went it was incredibly packed but we still managed to get a table and the food was excellent. Definitely try the stuffed pretzels. I've had two or three subsequent visits and each were better than the first. I'm now a fan. Favorites: ridiculously huge piles of cajun tots, hot hipster waitresses, nice spacious tables, big menu, big nice friendly bar. Minor gripe: Going in for breakfast once the place kinda reaked like "last night" You might not realize: they have breakfast/brunch
(4)Rosa F.
The Place: Its very dim envronment makes for a very intimate space even when it is super busy. The music varies but it is usually not loud to the point that you cannot hear your friends, which is a bonus. The bar is stocked to the brim and the bartenders are pretty friendly. The Food: I really love the food at The Rocking Horse. The tator tots and the fries are wonderful, but my absolute favorite is the Turkey Club! I have had their wontons and cheese sticks, and other appetizers but the sandwiches here are the best! My out of town friends also have their favorite sandwiches at this place and make it a point to go every time they are in town (i.e. Ahi Tuna, Turkey Apple). The Drinks: The other reason I really love this place is due to their large selection of hard ciders. I am not much of a beer fan, but the ciders are great! This is my neighborhood favorite. I hope it becomes yours!
(4)Melissa D.
Nice find. My friend and I came in for a few drinks and lunch one afternoon. We didn't know what to expect, but have heard good things, so we checked it out. It's darker inside, but I like that. The atmosphere is nice and fits Logan Square quite nicely. They had tons of beers on tap and my favorite beer of all time. Hoegaarden. YAY! I got the special for the day, which was a chicken parm sandwich and it was perfect. the chicken was juicy, and it had the right amount of cheese and sauce and it didn't get soggy. The spicy fries were really good too. They weren't overly spicy or seasoned, so we were pretty happy. My friend liked her sandwich too, (i can't remember what it was), but all that matters is that she liked it :) The bartender was super nice and very helpful and patient.
(4)Virgina W.
Omg just had garlic mushroom burger with cajun fries AMAZING!!!! truthfully I did not taste the cajun spice in the fries that well but still delicious! Boyfriend had a regular cheeseburger and chili fries. He loved it. Personally I thought the chili fries were a little too salty but still very good. My garlic burger was nothing short of perfect. Waitress is always near and helpful. Interior is beautiful and intimate. Good food and good times.
(5)Audre L.
Came here for brunch on Sunday, and they have great options for a bar. Omelettes are good. This place is a fine go-to option in Logan Sq.
(4)Erin J.
I'd been wanting to check this place out for awhile, so finally the other night I and two friends swung in for a beverage and some vittles. Unfortunately, we never got to the vittles part because it took nothing short of an act of Congress to get attention from our server. Shortly after we'd been seated, the server came by, asked pre-emptively if we needed a few minutes to look at the menu and then promptly disappeared for about 15 minutes. We placed our drink orders and mused over the menu. Our drinks came about 10 minutes later - the place wasn't even crowded, I don't know what the hold-up was - and the server just plopped down our glasses and left, wordlessly. We flagged down a busser a few minutes later to tell the guy we wanted to order but after that itself took another 10 minutes - now almost 45 minutes after we'd arrived, and our drinks were getting empty - we thought screw the food, there are other places and we just asked for the bill. Which took yet another 10 minutes. I hope it was just an off night for the server, but wow. Get it together and stay on top of your tables, please.
(2)Jean C.
It's Easter Sunday and we are heading back from the burbs. Coffee and food are needed immediately! We have been to Rocking Horse back when it first open for drinks but haven't been back since. We looked at the menu and since brunch and lunch options were available, we decided to carry out here. I ordered eggs Benedict and the hubs got the BBQ burger with cheddar cheese. The food carried out well. Everything was still hot when we sat down to eat. The eggs Benedict was delicious! The eggs were poached well and the creamy yolk mixed with the hollandaise sauce. I love eggs Benedict and the worst thing that can happen is when you are disappointed with the dish. You will not find that here! The hubby enjoyed his burger, as noted with the lack of conversation once he sank his teeth into it. I was really happy and surprised that brunch was available for carry out and REALLY happy that it was still good when I brought it home. I will definitely be dining/carrying out from here again.
(4)Angelica E.
Hmmmm been in this neighborhood for 2 years and I finally checked out this place. This place is really chill/cool place to hangout with your friends. They have a great beer selection and the food is really good too! I need to stay around my hood more often lol!
(4)Shelley S.
This is my new favorite bar. It's just a shame that I discovered it just three short weeks before moving out of Chicago. I've been back twice now on Thursday nights -- great drink special that night ($3 for certain craft beers)! Both I've gone I've made friends - everyone is friendly, including the bartenders. As far as food goes, I've only had the grilled chicken sandwich, which wasn't anything special. Good enough though. I don't think I'd be going back to this place for the food. Go for the drink specials, atmosphere and good people.
(4)Juliana R.
Rocking horse has the best brunch! The service is always good and their omelettes are amazing!
(5)Meghan K.
We're weekday visitors, so we don't usually wait. We've tried a good amount of the menu and it's all quite yummy, I'm particularly fond of their burgers. They've got great beers and lots of specials. Service can be spotty, but only because they get busy.
(4)Samantha P.
Came on a Saturday morning and had ranch tator tots. Basically frozen and fried tots with ranch mix on the top. They are good for a few mimosas and brunch but I haven't visited more than this one time. Also table ordered Parmesan and artichoke dip and it came with an overwhelming taste of garlic and creaminess that was stuck in our mouth. It came with chips that were beyond stale and bread that were rocks and literally hurt to chew. They replaced it with pita bread which was delicious. Very nice selection of beer and drinks though.
(3)Ryan K.
I'm still trying to hone in on the best pubs in my neighborhood. I figured I'd try this place though it's relatively unappealing from the outside. Anyway, here's the straight skinny: $5 bloody marys on Saturdays... They have several options for fries and I chose regular. What an idiot I am. And they were just that: regular. Turkey sandwich was pretty solid. Burger was average. It was a poor decision getting it. I was wrong. I'd come back but my search for top neighborhood pub rages on...
(3)Sarah B.
A date requested that I pick the place for our outing and I chose Rocking Horse. He lives in Logan Square and I don't know much about the area so trusty Yelp led me in the right direction with Rocking Horse. Super sexy interior with slate grey and red walls, dark wood and a romantic and chill vibe; this was a perfect spot for a cozy evening with someone new. We sat at the bar with the intention to move to a table to eat after a few drinks. The place filled up pretty quickly and so we stayed at the bar to eat. An obviously popular place to go on a Friday night and the crowd was very cool. We shared the Ahi Tuna Club and it was soooo good--I don't even like seafood but this was great. The staff was very cool and the beer list was nice. If I lived in the area I might go fairly often. Who knows, depending on this guy, I may have more reason to be in the neighborhood--if so, Rocking Horse will have to be a hangout.
(4)julie q.
Went here around 9 pm on Saturday night for a friend's birthday. The server and bouncer was really nice - Looked out for an additional high top table since there was 10 of us and we only had one for 4. Beer selection is great with good prices...Had the sashimi wontons...They were pretty decent. For $10 I was happy. $4 jim beam shots went down as smooth as whiskey can...Great music. I really like this place and when I'm in the hood, I'll definitely be back.
(4)Jeff K.
Rocking Horse started as a place to drink on Wednesdays after a night class. It served a great purpose. At the time, we came with one thing on the mind and that was to drink after sitting in class for three hours. It took many visits to realize that they even served food. I now regret not ordering food sooner because I feel like although I liked Rocking Horse when I first started coming, now that I order their tater tots, I am in love. Rocking Horse is a constant on places to eat in the neighborhood. I tend to not think of it as a place to drink for drinking's sake, but always enjoy my time there.
(4)Carol K.
A-OK and I mean that whole heartedly. It's almost good, I couldn't give it the full four stars because well, it's bar food. It's better than your average bar food, a bit fresher (just a bit), vegetarian options, decent variety and generally you won't leave disappointed. But generally you won't remember having ever eaten there, the food is slightly above average, but not memorable. Again, it's bar food. However in a pinch it totally works out, if you're in the square and are looking for something decently priced and not a lot of frills give it a try.
(3)Andrew C.
The Rocking Horse is pretty much the High Dive after it's lost its friction and slid for a mile - or so - to Logan Square. Which is to say, it's the High Dive with a dark(er) wood interior, a strong aversion to light, less prominent televisions - thank the sweet sweet lord - an eerily familiar menu, and a louder jukebox. Which of course makes the seein' and hearin' portions of your visit a bit harder to execute. The $3 craft brew pints on Thursdays make 'em even less so, I assure you. As at the High Dive, service is attentive and very friendly - and that's what keeps me coming back. That, and the magnet in my head.
(3)Christoph B.
Logan Square is the hottest neighborhood in Chicago right now, well at least this stretch of Milwaukee Ave is. Why do I say this? Look at the evidence. The top two businesses on Yelp Chicago are Revolution Brewing and Longman & Eagle (most bookmarked). Within stumbling distance is Coles, another great bar. Add to that the Rocking Horse. I came to Rocking Horse for brunch last Sunday and found the food, beer, and service to be above average. Hell, I'm gonna say the food was pretty damn delicious. The bar is dark but not at all dungeon-like. I really appreciate the clearly written drink specials above the bar. There is a sign for each day of the week written in large black type on a white background-- making it visible from anywhere in the bar and easy to decipher if you're already a little tipsy. There is a small room in the back with a pool table, photo booth, and Pac Man. OK so maybe the addition of Rocking Horse doesn't elevate Logan Square to 'best 'hood eva'. I still like it, so there. Better yet, if you don't agree with me then meet me here and we can discuss over a beer.
(4)Eric H.
It took another recent trip to *Revolutionary* Brewery and yesterday's return trip to Rocking Horse to conclude that I'd been far to hard on Rocking Horse. Yes, I wish they would ceremoniously toss their idiot boxes out on to Milwaukee Ave! But this place is actually a beautifully constructed and comfy dark wood public house with a fine selection of pints and some lively offerings in the way of bar food. What really grounds this place in the style of ye olde European public houses are the laid back but attentive "good people" staff who welcome you into the Rocking Horse, as if you're a traveling foreign but fellow alumni who lived on the same floor freshmen year. And, although they didn't know you well, liked you enough to extend their living room couch for the night upon learned that your flight home was canceled due to a snow storm. Yes they cannot control the those empty headed walking "his and her matching Bears and Cubs jerseys" and those "*crafty* trust fund fixie cyclist" who all push the same turbo strollers, forcing us to suffer their crying "little pink gifts to the world" But on a cold winter's Saturday afternoon, you might just very well feel the ghost of D. H. Lawrence or William Yeats, still.
(4)Mike M.
This is a great Logan Square joint, with a fantastic jukebox selection. The burgers and sandwiches are great, and Thursday night's $3 craft beer specials are wonderful. I'd stick to their beer selection, not really a place for great cocktails (although they offer many). They also have very good tater tots, and will serve them with gravy on top (YES!).
(5)Amy G.
Omg...get the ahi tuna sandwich. Maybe the best $11 sandwich in Logan. (Supplemented with an excessive amount of perfect tater tots to nullify the potential healthiness of omega-rich tuna on whole wheat.) The Thursday special is $3 craft brew pints. That's kind of ridiculous. I'm really liking this place these days. The crowd is a mix of hipsters, washed-out, aging former punk rockers, and a few yuppie-types who mistakenly wandered away from Dunlays. Of course, like almost anywhere else now in Logan Square, it's best on a Sunday thru Thursday evening. Amazingly, I have NEVER waited for a table here. And now they have (actually some very beautiful) art on the walls, just like I suggested. Brava!
(4)Richard L.
Came on a Saturday night around 7 for dinner. Place wasn't crowded at all and there was ample seating. I took the advice of other reviewers and ordered the ahi tuna sandwich. It is pretty good. I don't know about it being the best ahi tuna sandwich I've ever had, but it was better than average. My friend ordered the tater tots, which are drenched in chimichurri, and those were delicious. They had Goose Island Green Line on special for $4. I'm not really sure I'll be coming back. The prices are such that I would rather go to Jerry's Sandwich on Division and Damen and be able to select from many sandwiches that are much better tasting from the same price range ($11). If you're starving though and you don't want to wait and happen to be in the neighborhood, I guess this will do. The staff were friendly and the food came quickly.
(3)Lindsay W.
BBQ bacon gouda burger is amazing. Servers are super friendly and cute (guys and girls). A bar with great bar food but not the annoying qualities of a typical bar.
(4)Jaye J.
I thought I would not like this place. It's in the center of hipster haven, and that's usually a sign of pretentious people and bad beer that no one wants to admit it's bad and food to match. It's close to my house, so Mr J and I went and we were surprised. The food was surprisingly good-I'm a fan of their burgers for sure! The tots are a fun little base for a few kinds of toppings they offer. The beer selection is great and they have seasonals of a wide variety. The whiskey selection is a good one too. They have a pool table in the back too. The restrooms are clean. The service is hit or miss, with the hits being very big hits and the misses being abysmal. The bartenders have always been pretty nice, though. Try out the copious selection of hot sauces. It's kind of amazing.
(4)Julie Z.
I'm glad I didn't have high expectations going in here. It's very dark in here with black serving as the primary color on the walls. It reminds me of a college bar in that at night, it looks great. However, when you go in during the day, it's a lil scary. I think it needs a good cleaning. I ordered an IPA that was on the draft list. The waitress comes back with a glass 3/4 full. She apologizes and says this was the last of it and she would not charge me for it. Ok by me EXCEPT she did charge me for it and my party was in such a rush to go to a performance that I didn't have time to draw it to her attention. After that beer, I tried to order 2 others but they were out of those as well. Really? It is a Friday night and I feel like they should be prepared. I also ate here. Booooo! I ordered the buffalo chicken strips. Clearly nothing fancy but this place does not have carrots or celery. Shocking! particularly b/c they also offer straight up wings. It's a classic combo...get it together!
(3)Claudia S.
I think it's safe to say I'm done with this place. I want to like this place, seeing as how it's close.......but the service really sucks. The food, well, I'm torn. My friend and I shared the pretzel basket and while the jalapeno didn't taste any different from the regular cheddar (I assume that's what that was).......it still hit the spot. She stuck with her smoke apple gouda sandwich things while I opted for the chicken parm this time. It was a giant chicken tender with a tiny bit of sauce and some cheese. That's what I get for ordering chicken parm at a bar/restaurant. The chimichurri fries made up for it. The chili cheese that my friend got...not so much. What still pisses me off about this bar is that the DOOR GUY is the nicest person in the place! You'd think the server would want her tips, right? Apparently not. She walked past us for 5 minutes before acknowledging us and as soon as she hit the table to drop off something (menu, drinks, food) she was gone before you had a chance to say "thank you" or ask for something. She sucked, plain and simple. She wasn't attentive to anyone, frequently turning her head so fast in the event someone was actually trying to get her attention she didn't have to feel obligated to go wait on them. Hell, even keeping her attention was difficult as she would look around and look down and look anywhere but at you. I don't support bad service, and therefore, her tip was crap. That's ok though. We went to another bar and they got their tip plus her tip plus additional tip because they're just a nice bar, even when it's PACKED. Rocking Horse was not packed when we got there. It started getting busy as we left. There's plenty of other bars/restaurants to give my business and there's new places coming with owners of bars that I actually LIKE. I think Rocking Horse got all the servers that Streetside got rid of. At least, that's what I'd like to pretend.
(2)Rob G.
One of my favorite spots for shrimp tacos and craft beer.
(5)Heather R.
Good beer selection, tasty burgers and tots, and an alright atmosphere. Just another hipster bar in the square. Not sure if they offer specials? Our waitress was lame and barely spoke to us. She pretty much looked at us as if we were in the wrong bar. I will not apologize for not shopping at the thrift shop and not ordering the standard PBR. I like real beer. To me, this bar is strictly catered to the late night crowd, and although the food is good, they seem to only offer it to cure the drunk munchies.
(2)Elyse H.
Love the extensive bar menu! We just went there for drinks (good specials woo), but I will most definitely be making another trip because the food menu looked great as well. Oh and the atmosphere is awesome too!
(4)Danielle S.
We came to Rocking Horse on a whim after we decided not to attend a concert at the Congress Theatre. Rocking Horse is small and quaint, and rather dark. However, the lights are pretty cool. They have drink specials every day and many different beer drafts which are fun to try (went went on Thursday when select drafts are $3- a great deal!). I was pretty impressed with the food- I didn't expect it to be that good! You get great portions for your money. Our service was pretty slow, which was the down side. And they don't have...dessert *gasp!*. That's pretty much a sin. But if you are looking for a sit-down-let's-get-a-few-drinks-and-some-food atmosphere, this is your place.
(4)Rachelle B.
The Rocking Horse is a new bar that opened nearby our house in Logan Square. Last night we went to check it out. I liked it. I have high hopes! The interior is nice and new with lots of booths and tables to sit. It's pretty blank, though. No theme. One rocking horse on one wall. There are 2 TVs but not that big and not taking over the decor like a sports bar. The food menu was big - 2 pages. We got a trio of pretzels for an appetizer. They were very tasty. Dallas really liked the ahi tuna club he ordered. I got a buffalo chicken wrap. It was good, but too spicy for me. Also the sauce to chicken ratio was kind of high. Too saucy. I think we'll be back, though, with friends. Most of all, I'm just happy to have a decent new place to eat and get drinks that is nearby where I live!
(4)Lissa C.
I went to this place recently with two friends after first attempting Revolution Brewery, but the wait was an hour an a half. Here, we were seated quickly at the bar even though it was a Friday night. The menu was awesome-- I couldn't decide what to get because everything looked amazing. I went with apple wontons and the ahi tuna tacos which were both DELICIOUS. They also had bottled hard cider which is my personal drink of choice, so of course I was pleased. I would definitely go back, and not as a second choice this time!
(4)R J.
Someone said they have awesome tater tots and they were right -I couldn't resist topping them with brown gravy and cheese. I gotta get in shape... My ribeye sandwich with onions etc and chimichurri sauce on the side was a positive surprise. Loved the Bell's Oberon beer special price and even more, the Brooklyn Main Engine. Brooklyn, Three Floyds, and Bells -my 3 favorite food groups. 6pm, the place was just getting revved up, perfect bartender service. I'm a fan and will be back. Above-average pub food with great beer, all at a reasonable price with good service. I'm too old to go at 11pm on a Saturday night, but I bet this place is packed with furry dudes then.
(4)Marie M.
Would have gotten five stars but the kitchen always seems to be out of the amazing brisket. From food to customer service to beer and location, you cannot go wrong. The sandwiches are to die for. I usually get a wrap with fries, and usually I do not finish my fries as well! Plenty of food to take home as well. Being a beer guru.. heaven. Come on by and challenge me to pool!
(4)emmers m.
This bar, along with logan bar and grill, are the starting off points for the Trixie and Chad Guide to Slumming it West of Western. i did enjoy their pinball. i did not enjoy being surrounded by douchewads. i know some people who work here and they are good people. i imagine someday i'll want barfood and someone will want to go somewhere with tvs, so i will get over the incredibly generic interior and end up here. i guess i'm too white and employed to care too much about gentrification anymore or something.
(2)Anne Marie W.
I'm giving the rocking horse 2 stars because I've had good experiences here in the past. Based on tonight, I would give it a negative 10 stars if I could. We arrived shortly before 11pm. We ordered drinks and an assortment of appetizers: nothing difficult, just tater tots, fries, etc. At around 11:45, one of my friends asked our waitress about our food, and she assured us it would just be a few more minutes. At midnight, I went up to the bar and asked to speak to a manager. A few minutes later, our waitress came back and told us that our drinks were on her. We said that we didn't need free drinks, we just wanted our tater tots. The manager came by a few minutes later and was extremely rude. He told us that we had only put in our order at 11:50. I said that maybe our waitress put in our order at 11:50, but we ordered at 11pm. He just kept saying that our order was put in at 11:50. This was seriously one of the most surreal restaurant experiences of my life. As a former waitress, standard practice is to tell an upset party that they are right and you will fix things. Instead, we were told that we were lying about our experience and that a comped drink should make up for an hour without tater tots. We stopped at the rocking horse to get a drink and a bite to eat on the way home. Instead, we went home and ate pizza rolls. In retrospect, we should have just gone with the pizza rolls in the first place.
(2)Roberto F.
Headed this way after we realized that Revolution was just to crowded especially since we only wanted a few beers. And a good choice it was. On Thursday nights they have there craft beers for $4. Not a bad way to get some high percentage ABV beers. Furthermore try the pretzel appetizer, you won't regret it. My friend was telling me these are the same stuffed pretzels sold at the Christkindl market and they are the size of a small fist. Overall impressed with there selection of beers and the cost of each on non special days. Which come to think of it, everyday has some type of special. Next time I'll be sure to try something off their diverse menu.
(4)Tony L.
This place saved me... Twice in one weekend. Met a date there, needed a bite. SUCCESS! Their menu items were very tasty. The BLT burger was on par or better than I've had at Kuma's Corner. Great beer list, and cocktails. Cool bartenders that are very attentive. Props to Mike and Turk! I would recommend this place to anyone. PS- you will not find the abundance of tasty tater tots anywhere else.
(5)Kat L.
Came here for lunch, and was pleasantly surprised. Pretty standard all-american food, but done pretty well. I got a chipotle chicken sandwhich. Grilled nicely. Came with fries. They've got fry options. YESS!!!! you can add ranch seasoning or cajun seasoning. In hindsight, i think i still prefer ranchsauce for dipping, but I do like any spot that adds interest to basic fries. They also offer tots. Plentiful options for appetizers. Interesting and differently done burgers (and chicken sandwich) options as well. My cuzzo got the gyro burger, which had a gyro/beefy mix for a patty. Shesaid it was good. Really, I like that it's simple food, but done right. And not crazy greasy or stupid fatty. Thumbs up, for catering to your clientele. I like that the menu offers variety, but fits nicely on one page. They've got drinks, and cocktails, and the alcohol is really their forte. I'm a cider girl, and easily, they had somewhere about 10-15 options, including pear, raspberry, and different apples. It's a pretty metro/hipster/cool/chill/ Chicago vibe. A little dark, but with a pool table room in the back. bathroom was decent. I'd come back.
(4)Jamie B.
Big place, lots of room and seating so if you had a large group this would be ideal. It smelled a little divey inside, you know that smell. The bartender wasn't helpful by offering specials but once we switched to a table our cocktail was super helpful and offered a few different specials for the evening. They have Malort here which I had never tried. It was quite possibly the most wretched thing I've ever tasted and it was a good thing I wasn't already drinking heavily prior to this because I probably would have puked all over the table. Thank God I had a beer to wash this out of my mouth. Absolutely horrible. Yeah so they have that going for them if you're looking to christen someone with their first shot of Malort. Large patio in the back. They serve food here and it looked pretty good but we didn't have any on our most recent visit.
(3)Amy R.
Ever since Logan Square began to blow up a few years ago, I was equal parts relieved (a bunch of my friends live here and there wasn't a ton to do prior), excited (must try all the food), and hungover (because I was young and drunk all of the time). Enter: Rocking Horse, which has more than once satisfied all of the aforementioned emotional states. Rocking Horse is a pretty plain interior, but what it lacks in decor it more than makes up for in a decent Bloody Mary and a pub-food: elevated concept. Their burgers are awesome and their Cajun tots are a nice departure from standard French fries. I'm not in the area on the daily but when I am, Rocking Horse is a strong contender for a top place to stop for some recovery grub and booz.
(4)Suzanne Z.
Stopped in here because the interior looked busy, but not packed, had a good mix of ages sitting inside and a casual vibe. It was a good choice! The initial smell walking in was a little off-putting-- kind of like a bathroom with standing water. Funny thing is though, the bathrooms smelled like nice soap. Go figure that out?? We were able to get a table without issues and had a friendly and attentive server. I ordered their Boulevard cocktail which was super strong, mildly sweet, and definitely one to take your time with. It was filled to the brim deliciousness. I was more disappointed with my second cocktail- the Blood and Sand. The cocktails are served in small glasses, and this one came just 75% full. It was $9 and about 3 sips it felt like... the flavor was good (this was an OJ drink), sweet. I would've liked more of it! We decided to go big and order apps here (as we just had at our last stop!) and got the poutine tater tots and their chips/guacamole. The tots came as a flippin huge portion. Tons of bang for your buck. The cheese curds on them were so creamy and delicious. I liked that you got a variety of gravy tots, gravy with cheese, and some that were just 'regular', but crispy- they also gave us a side of ketchup. The guac was a large portion, and full of flavor. We ate as much as we wanted, and still had enough of each to split and take home with us! The other food on the menu looked awesome too. I would come back to try something else!
(4)Zorin D.
I stopped in for brunch here and I got to say I was plesantly suprised. While this place doens't compete with the likes of Longman and Eagle, it still provides a really good brunch at a good price. I ended up going for the hogpile which is probably enough food for two people. Bacon, ham, sausage french toast and potatoes topped with sausage gravy and a fried egg. What more could you possibly want for breakfast on one plate. Maybe this dish was a bit like cheating as far as things go but I'm ok with that. The patio area is nice and enclosed and while you are getting a little bit of sunshine if you go for a brunch meal there are plenty of shady areas so you can still enjoy the outdoors without being too awakened by sunlight.
(4)Amoli P.
This place is a pretty awesome surprise for what you expect when you walk in. First off - it's a bar. So for the other yelpers who complained about the noise or the darkness, it's pretty typical for a bar. I wouldn't consider Rocking Horse any louder or darker than any other hipster joint. The whiskey and beer selection is pretty solid and worthy of being in the hipster strip of Milwaukee in Logan Square. The surprise here is the food. It's better than most bar food, and complete with vegetarian and vegan options for the true hipsters. Service was fine and the ambiance was trendy with a fun vibe. The buffalo chicken sandwich was delicious (and large) with a fresh blue cheese coating without being too overpowering. Fries were thin and crispy, just how I like them. The husband went with the skirt steak tacos and loved them. Fresh, big cuts of steak and a very tasty seasoning. They seem to be known for their tater tots so I'll have to try them next time (cajun or truffle!). This will definitely be a neighborhood go-to for us when we need a bite or a good whiskey (or both).
(4)Jon L.
Went here for brunch. As soon as I saw the menu I knew I wanted to come back. Make no mistake, this is not your organic kale and rutabaga salad kind of brunch. Be prepared for a hearty meal. I got the "French Canadian" - French toast, Canadian bacon, hamburger patty (surprisingly good quality meat), cheese curds, home fries, Poutine gravy, topped with a fried egg - syrup on the side since I prefer savory over sweet. If your mouth did not water just a little bit, we will not be friends. In which case more French Canadian for me. There was a lot that could go wrong with this. But everything went right. Deliciously perfect!
(5)Peggah G.
I wanted to host a meetup at a bar that I hadn't been to in Chicago and decided on this fine gem in Logan Square, because it a) served food, b) accepted credit cards, and c) was open at 7pm on a Saturday. Rocking Horse fit the bill. It also worked as a good starting point in case other people were not impressed with my choice (no one complained... vocally). We had excellent table service and once I realized that our party was going to be bigger than anticipated, we moved to the back by the pool table. The waitress was cool about us closing our tabs. I ate the mini burgers and they were absolutely delicious. My table mates got some SUPER SALTY tater tots, but once you rubbed them down (thoroughly), they were... good tater tots. The bar staff was great with service throughout the night and very nice about refilling our waters, etc. While the jukebox is decked with great albums, it hurt my wallet paying 50 cents per song. (Though, I could've easily spent $25.) I may have drunkely danced and sang along to The Flaming Lips' "She Don't Use Jelly" and Dinosaur Jr.'s "The Wagon". If I had more money for boozing and eating out, I would definitely visit this place often.
(4)Ryan C.
Solid all the way around. I had the Italian pressed sandwich, Cesar salad and a beer all were above average. Would come back and check out their dinner menu next time.
(4)Elisabeth C.
Great beer selection, but what's best is that when we didn't like a beer we ordered, they subbed it out for something different for free. Haven't tried the food yet.
(4)Kara O.
I really like this place!!!! The BLT burger is so good! Roman Tots (stuffed with garlic and capers) with aioli on the side are making my mouth water just thinking of them. The only problem is that I like to take my daughter to lunch/dinner with me and I'm not sure she can eat here? She's 11. We went there for dinner when my mother in law was in town as a family and we got the boot for having a child just past their 7pm mark. I'm afraid to go back with her at an earlier hour since there was some confusion at the door about it and it seems like the bartender changed the time from 7pm cutoff to 6pm cutoff on the spot. So, I'm not sure how it works with liquor licensing and all of that, but we were disappointed. I will still go here with adults because the servers are cool and the food is good.
(4)Kimmi M.
Rocking Horse had good vibes and good food. The Betty White cocktail of Radler and Malort was so necessary to chill with after being on an existential music high of seeing the Cure and Weezer. I had the Southwest steak salad and it was absolutely delicious. Juicy steak, perfectly dressed. Our server was a super sweetheart and hugged everyone on the way out. Plus 10 million points for showing Bears post game as well.
(5)Mallory S.
This place is WAY too frickin loud and dimly lit. I cannot hear anyone I'm talking to... There's no music so the acoustics must just suck. I will not be returning because I like to talk to my friends/girlfriend when I'm out...I don't wanna shout. Also the lighting hurts my eyes. The food does smell great so maybe I'll come back for that. The beer list is also extensive and there is a large list of ciders. However the prices are not worth the drinks... Not worth it in my opinion. Woohoo hipsters!
(3)Jim M.
Nice atmosphere and beer list and very solid food. Whenever people are mentioning places to eat in Logan Square I never hear the Rocking Horse mentioned. The food is legit and priced fairly. Great burgers, - I know some people that say that about nearly every burger they have ever had - but I am not one of those people. Definitely an underrated spot to grab grub. I don't like the layout here though. The bar proper is medium/small in size and directly behind the bar stools is the dining area so if you don't get a seat at the bar you will have nowhere to go. It really stops anyone from mingling which is kind of the point of a bar.
(4)Michael C.
Located a short walk away from the blue line, the Rocking Horse was a good place to meet up with friends. They had good drink specials on a Sunday and the food was excellent. I had heard about their burgers, *but ordered the Buffalo Chicken sandwich which definitely lived up to expectations. The fries and burger were cooked perfectly and the warm bun was a nice touch. The staff was less warm and that is the only reason I didn't rate it higher. Walking in they seemed to be a little bit "too cool" to be nice. That experience was extended with our waitress. The service was timely, but I would not describe our interaction as friendly. The service wouldn't keep me away, but it is just something I like to know about before going. Bottom line: if you are looking for good basics - burgers, fries, and beers, you will be happy choosing the Rocking Horse. *Edited: I had the Buffalo Chicken sandwich which was amazing but was drooling over the burgers two friends ordered.
(4)Sarah M.
Ehh.. my first day in Logan and made the mistake to go to the Rocking Horse. As soon as we walked in, they rudely asked for our IDs... when there were children running around all over the place (we didnt even order alcohol). The food took so long and was pretty mediocre. Probably will not be wasting my money here again.
(2)Daniel R.
Went there earlier this week. I took a seat at the bar. The man tending bar named Derrick( I think) was happy to recommend some interesting bourbons and ryes. I was impressed with his knowledge of spirits. I wasn't that hungry but I decided to order some Brussel sprouts with bacon. This was a good life choice. Just a fun place to hang out.
(5)Brook E.
I loved going to the Rocking Horse, and it makes me sad that I have chosen not to give them my business anymore. In short, during after wedding celebrations, they treated one of our guests very rudely. We eventually had to leave and go to a different establishment. (Read Jennifer K.'s review for the details) Please consider patronizing a different establishment.
(1)Lizzie B.
Pros: great turkey burger, crispy tater tots, excellent beer selection (oh Matilda you slay me) Con: the juke box! Seemingly arbitrary hipster fare that weighs heavily on early 2000's ( you have Interpol and the Strokes but no Rolling Stones, bob Dylan, Patti Smith or the Boss?.... Shame on you)
(4)Brittany S.
I have been coming here almost once, sometimes twice a week- for the past three years. My boyfriend and I went there, like usual, a month ago, and they were starting to change the menu. We were optimistic, but the food did NOT deliver like it had in the past. Something has changed with the food- our truffle fries this time did NOT taste like the truffle fries I know and love. My burger was definitely different...and dry, terrible. I always come here because of the great atmosphere, and pretty solid food.. But I have no idea what happened but the quality like, plummeted. Pretty sad, I love this place and I heard they were going through some changes in the kitchen.. but now it looks obvious that they are just trying to fit in with all the other bar/restaurants that are opening up. NO burger selection any more! Just frou frou veggie options, and turkey burgers. What's up with all this duck confit? No more wraps. AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP!?!? I am extremely sad that our go-to spot is now just another drone restaurant in the sea of everything that is opening up over here. Let me know when you change your menu, we'll be back in a flash. Until then, we will not be coming back. I know we are not the only ones that feel this way either!!!
(1)Lizzie E.
Decent place for a burger & a beer. Wait staff is good. Smelled like a toilet when I walked in which was odd. I just felt average about the place, nothing outstanding.
(3)Rahul G.
Some reviews for this place are lame. It is not crazy loud, it's a bar, come on. I love sitting at the bar to grab a drink, great selection. The burgers are delicious, get the one with guac on it. Tatertot specials are fun to try and different. They have a pool table which is always great and Crusin USA arcade game, lol. The back patio is ok. We had a large group here for my fiancee's birthday a while back and it was great, people loved it. This place is fun and I do really enjoy coming here. Food is solid and if you just want a drink, sitting at the bar is cool. People need to chillax.
(4)Steven R.
About the only happening bar in Logan Square on Mondays, apparently... Either way, it's good to see the Rocking Horse shape up. I came here back in 2010 and I remember the beer selection being slightly above average and the service being not that great. Fast forward to 2014 and things have changed for the better. First off, Deschutes 2013 Abyss on draught. I wasn't able to procure any bottles of the holy grail of west coast stouts so being able to have a few here was awesome. Beyond that, a number of great beers were to be found in the fridge including some FFF and a few Bourbon County permutations. Bartenders seemed friendly and pretty on it, so all said it was enjoyable experience. Will very likely be back at some point...
(4)Dan G.
I've got a few good friends that live in Logan Square. So, without fail when I'm around visiting we often end up at the Rocking Horse. Such was the case, when unexpectedly my buddy told me he was taking a day off to join me for some shenanigans on my farewell tour. To Rocking Horse we go. The craft beer list is outstanding and on this particular day I passed on my much loved Greenbush Anger Black IPA and went with my Lagunitas go to Little Sumpin. Portions are large here and the hungry boys we were started with the hummus, which was great. I tend to gravitate to the shrimp po boy just about every time here, so I went the other way this occasion and got the Gaucho Steak Sandwich. I love that they cooked this to order and it came out good and red, but lesson learned med rare is kind of tricky for a sandwich. While I despise overcooking a good piece of meat, I'm vexed at how to best take down a Med Rare sammie while not looking like a caveman doing it. Big fan of Rocking Horse and I'm sure to return.
(4)Allende J.
The dining area & bar looks like what you expect from the outside, so yes a dark hipster bar, which is cool.About 4pm,Fri. late lunch for me.So,I ask for beer & menu , ordered the Lamb Burger, Outstanding had a touch of diced olive ,feta cheese &arugula . I notice there was 1 employee working the bar, dining area and had two parties getting in about 4:30pm at that point, Mr.Bartender/server was attentive & good but he missing some charisma, burst of smile or a laugh, flip a glass something. Place needed ENERGY, it was dull or maybe the bar-server needed a teammate.
(3)Mike S.
Awesome Patty Melt this burger was the best I've had. Very large portion with a large side of fries. I would say the burger was 3/4 lb or more. They cooked it just right. Very fresh meat.
(5)Mark L.
not a 'beer' guy so i enjoy the bud tall boys. burger with a side ceasar always a fav for me. btw the tater tot 'side' is enormous. beware!
(4)Sara M.
Definitely digging this place. Went here yesterday and the bill for two of us to get nice and crispy was only $40! The place is pretty small on the inside- maybe a good adjective is intimate? Can't get too crowded inside because there are limited tables. Service was great. Someone was always there when you needed them but never bugging you. Anyway, we enjoyed some moderately priced beers (brown shugga definitely knocked me on my butt last night) and plenty of $4 bourbon shots. Topped the night off with a GIANT plate of $4 tater tots and I would say wednesday night boozing was definitely a success. Well, I mean, minus the thursday morning hangover.
(5)Shane E.
The Rocking Horse is what you'd expect from a pub in Logan Square. Burger: respectable, but you can do much better. Truffle Fries: Again, good enough, but there's much better out there. Beer selection: vast Service: relatively unattentive, slow Crowd: The population of Logan is well represented Overarching opinion: Michelin won't be handing out any stars to the Rocking Horse anytime soon, but it's a great spot if you want to go have a drink or two with some friends.
(3)Chris M.
Ricky's Burger with TOTS!!! They make some darn good tots here, and I cannot wait to come back and try the poutine tots, YUM! Great look and feel to this place, very sharp clean black walls and hard wood floors. No frills, bar and restaurant are all in one. We had Derrick wait on us, he was a radical dude and was very attentive. Drink specials available every day and monthly specials as well. I had a Dechuetes brew that was quite bold in flavor. I switched over then to a $3 tall boy of PBR, an everyday/time special they have there. Quite a match made in hipster heaven if ya ask me :-)
(4)William W.
BRUNCHED AS FUCK this dark gem was something I stumbled upon after once again being let down by the sketchville murder bathrooms of Discount Mega Mall across the street. I've never been to this place but had heard it's a best bar that has some neat food. WELL GUESS THE FUCK WHAT!?!? This place carried the best Chicken and Waffles I've ever even laid my eyes on AND YOU KNOW I WAS BONED UP FROM THE FLOOR UP ON THIS ONE!!! My lady and I were greeted with "seat yourself" which I'm such a sucker for. Sitting in a large booth enough room for 3 or 4 Big Mac Bradley's to sit in. I had this Southern Belle come up to our table and just BLAST US WITH THE REALITY OF OUR OPTIONS! And I tell you what, this place has options. BUT IT WAS DECIDED! CHIX WITH DIX WAS WHAT I WANTED and it BLEW ME AWAY! The food in itself could kill the 15 year old virgin wanna be Tom Delong in all of us and the service COULD MOW DOWN AN ENTIRE LINE OF SELF CONSCIOUS FAN GIRLS WAITING FOR THE ONE DIRECTION SIGNING WITH AN AK-47 of southern charm! I not only want to take future Craigslist casual encounters here, but also my grandparents! NOW YOU TELL ME A PLACE THAT DOES BOTH OF THOSE FOR YOU! I'm excited to return for some drinks but I will continue to pursue their food with the animosity of an elk consumed by chronic wasting disease!
(5)Dave M.
We used to come here all the time. I can't put a finger in exactly what has changed but it's just not that stellar anymore. The last time we went the service was slow and unfriendly. The menu seems to have been updated with foodie language but it's still very pricy for being so average.
(3)Kim S.
I have been here a handful if times now and I've always had good service. There is nothing I love on the menu but they do have a wise selection of beers to choose from. You can also reserve the pool room in the back if you have a party going on.
(4)Tasha M.
The burger was amazing too bad the service wasn't. The female bartender stayed at one particular end of the bar and never really made eye contact with my friend and I. Another bartender had to come and ask if we were ok and if we needed anything. I hate to assume that she did so because we were African American but it looked that way to us especially because she was very attentive to the Caucasian customers. However, we still left a nice tip which she didn't deserve but to show her that you should treat every customer the same
(3)Emma G.
So sad I did not find this place sooner. The food is excellent. According to one server they recently went through some staff/chef changes and have been mixing up the menu; and it is all for the better. The guacamole is great for 2 to share. If you love a multitude of Tot items this is a great place to go wild. From what I hear the meaty poutine is "amaze-balls" and I love the cheap drafts every Thursday. Never been there with a long wait, food is consistent and good. Chili relleno tacos are very hardy and filling, mahi mahi tacos aren't bad either though its harder to flavor such a neutral fish. The Turkey Bacon Sandwich is why you can find me there almost once a week. It's creamy and savory with a kick from the date mustard. The seasoned fries they have available are also great. The white truffle option is a delicious item to share. Really nice ambiance as well and not too cramped even if there are a lot of people eating away from the bar.
(5)Kim B.
I love dive bars. This fits the bill, but doesn't always suffice. The staff is nice, but not always engaging. For me, dive bars are all about the killer staff and delicious signature dish. I've been frequenting The Rocking Horse about twice a month for 7 months, but bartenders and front door folk still don't know me. However, they're nice as well as competent with a jigger. The menu is fine. It seems to rotate a wee bit, but consistently lacks pescatarian options. If you like chicken, beef or pork, you're set, but sometimes a girl wants shrimp or tuna, ya know? Vegetarian fare ain't bad: Loaded Veggie Burger? Shroom Quesadilla? Hummus? Check, check and check. The point is- I like this place, but it doesn't feel like my neighborhood joint. More engaging staff and more fishy options might sell me.
(3)Danielle W.
This place was great! We sat out on the patio and everything went uphill from there. All the food is goooooooood. I'm gluten-intolerant and was able to get the southwest steak salad and YUM. Our waitress was the best. We stayed for a few hours and were very well taken care of. 1 star off because I wish they had more options for GF people. Also because a smoker sat right behind me and the air kept taking her smoke right to my face. But that's not the restaurant's fault I guess.... Love this place!
(4)Jim C.
Great and ever updating menu makes Rocking Horse another attraction in Logan. Most items are turned over regularly, which could be a bad thing now and then. I hope they'll keep poutine and expand the options! Service is always quick, and I'm shocked how fast food comes out. Can't get a better beer list for the size, and I love that Summit from MN is always on special. On the down side, it really is way too dark and loud... Not really sure why, but it won't keep me away. The patio makes up a little
(4)Jordan W.
Hey now, The horse is legit. Good food good beer good people. If you come into a bar in Logan Square and are offended by "loud" music you're clearly an idiot. Go somewhere else. They changed the menu recently still great. Get the Lamb burger. Thursday beer special is best in the neighborhood. Places get busy - Be nice to the bartenders they will be nice back.
(5)Evelyn L.
I came back for that Rockin southwest salad, soooo Delicious, was disappointed to hear that they no longer serve the artichoke dip but the Long Island iced tea made up for it!! Good stuff!!!!
(4)Maliha S.
Exactly what you think of when you think of a trendy bar. It was predictably packed and noisy for a Friday evening so we stood around for an hour or so till we grabbed seats at the bar. My friends gin and tonic was exceptionally strong. I wish their wine list was a little bit longer.
(4)Michael K.
Three people should not still be hungry after spending $75 on four entrees and 2 appetizers. The burgers and sandwiches have decent flavor and an ok price. However it didn't make me think "I have to go back for this stuff". What really ruined my experience was the appetizers and salad we got. The goat cheese fritters ($10) only had four pieces per serving. It came with some arugula that was well dressed (most of the ingredients listed in the menu copy was in the salad), however there was very little of it. For the price there could easily have been a larger serving of the salad if not extra fritters. Same goes for the salad ( I posted a picture). It was not large enough to be an entree. Greens are cheap. Give me more! Make me feel like I have gotten a good deal.
(1)Chrystalle B.
We just stopped in for an end of the night drink. Love the kitchy lights and art thats all over the place. We had a massive booth to ourselves which was cool. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. Good beer/ cider selection. Would love to go back at a busier time of night.
(4)Brenda H.
Oh My Dear Rocking Horse, I was in love, and then you changed your menu and took off my favorite items and raised your prices. I just don't go here anymore because of that and because it's so loud I can feel myself going deaf. I just don't get why every restaurant in Chicago has to blast the jukebox so much that everyone's shouting at each other. I've seriously put in my earplugs that I carry for rock shows while I was here. Anyway, I miss you Rocking Horse. Bring back your french toast with apples and chopped salad and tots are not worth $8.
(2)Lindsay M.
Not a bad hang. I see that a lot of the reviews are reviewing the hipster scene that may frequent this place - but what do you expect, we are in Logan Square... and after all, I think hipsters get a bad wrap! I liked the atmosphere of this place, laid back and dim lit. The bar area isn't crowded if you want to grab a drink in there, and they're super cool about getting you a table, even if you're not going to eat. We didn't have time for food, or maybe we had time, but we just didn't eat. I have hard the food is pretty great- so I'll have to go back and try it. Our waitress was on her A game- quick to get waters for the table and keep the fluids pumping. We had people come and go as we sat there and she was on top of it. The craft brew list is a decent one.. so when you feel like splurging, try something new of that list.
(4)Bri A.
Great brunch, good Bloody Marys and friendly staff but wtf is up with the musty smell?! This place smelled like a high school wrestling room after it's been bleached. Well, at least I know they clean! What is this I am hearing about $3 craft beer night? I thik that may bring me back here...
(3)Michael R.
I went with the bacon jam burger. On the burger, there's chile ketchup, a butter cheese and a bacon spread. There's a little too much going on with this burger, but I did really like the bacon spread. I don't think I would order a burger again though. Next time, I would just have a couple beers. They have a great beer list.
(3)Oz D.
Ok, basic place. Decent bourbon selection. It's quite dark inside, but it's typically got the right sized crowd, not too packed and not dead, either.
(3)Kristine N.
#NAME?
(4)dove r.
WHY!!!!!???? Why would you tinker with perfection? Take off your fancy pants. You look much better in skinny jeans, bros. I get that you scored a super skilled chef with a stellar reputation. But loyal patrons like moi, who've grown accustomed to your dive-y deliciousness look to you for just that. Now where am I supposed to go for a huge platter of chimichurri tots? WHERE?!! Plus you stopped carrying your Co-Op buffet. Poor choices galore, man.
(2)Dustin G.
My fiancé and I decided try this place out for Brunch. We ordered the Brisket & Hash and the Smoked Salmon. The Hash was very delicious. It paired with our Bloody Mary perfectly. The Smoked Salmon didn't quite make the cut. One slice of bread cut in half wasn't enough. We would of been happier with another one their brunch options. The mimosas were excellent and the service was extremely friendly. Corinne was our waitress and she was awesome! The main reason this restaurant received four stars was the hot sauce bottles were disgusting. We loved the variation of different hot sauces, but they looked like the caps have not been cleaned in forever. It was pretty bad. But, overall food was good and the service was excellent! We will come back
(4)Jillian M.
I like the atmosphere and the pool table in the back, however, I hate that they changed their menu! My bf and I used to order out at least a couple of times a month, with the same order of shrimp quesadillas and the rocking horse salad. How do you take off the two best things on the menu!?!! One of them was named after your bar! We tried the food once since they took off our favorites and replaced them with crap, and haven't been back since. Not even for pool or beer. It's not worth it anymore since we don't like anything else on their menu. It took us forever to find our favorites and then they took them away. Shame on you Rocking Horse.
(2)C. P.
I've been going here for 3 years now and I'll be honest - its their Thursday beer specials that kept me coming back. I heard word that some changes had been made in recent months and when I went a couple weeks ago, there were obvious menu changes but I'm still not sure whether they will prove to be good or bad. There were a few things that I was sad to see had been left off of the new menu - Chimichurri Tots used to be jam! They do tend to play their music a bit on the loud side and it often seems like they're under staffed on the busiest of nights... But overall: - They've got a decent beer list - Their food menu has a good vegetarian and meat-tastic options - And its their variety in both food and drinks that makes it a good place for meeting-up with friends... Everybody can find something to wet their pallet and feed their appetite
(3)Evelina L.
Totally pleasantly surprised by the Horse! The wait at Revolution Brewery was over 2 hours and we stumbled on this place in our search for some beers and grub. Everyone was very impressed, especially with the food selection! The 2 things that are a must to order - truffled tater tots and I LOVED my ahi tuna club. Yes, TUNA in a pub! I was with 5 guys and they all got different versions of hamburgers, turkey and veggie burgers - they were all devoured momentarily - so, must have been good. Service was good, but they could have come around a little more often. Only knock - acoustics are pretty bad for a larger party to hear each other. It wasn't even that loud. Definitely request a booth for a larger party.
(4)Molly L.
Solid bar, with solid drink deals most nights. I'm not going for the food but I'm never disappointed when I order off the menu. You should check out the kitchen sink tots. I'm a fan.
(4)Ashley M.
Went in on a Sunday and left a very happy camper. Beer selection is great! A little bit of everything. Even those crafty beers you beer snobs speak so much of! haha I loved it. The breakfast was great! I had an omelet and my boyfriend had the banana chocolate waffles? I think thats what it was. Whatever it was, it was AMAZING.
(4)Heather D.
Don't get me wrong...I do like this place, but there are somethings that just irked me. So let me start out with the pluses. Atmosphere - This place is great atmosphere-wise. Definitely an eclectic group. Beer- They have a great selection and the Thursday special above the bar would make me come back. Food - I only ordered appetizers but what I had and what I saw for the rest of our group was delicious! Great portion sizes too. I ordered the Quesadillas and Tater tots to split with my friend. Here we thought they would be small and bite sized.....nope, she ended up taking her other peice home. Along with Tater Tots. Be prepared to eat! So here are the downsides: Noise Level - If you like to scream and lean in for any kind of conversation, you have found your hang out. Our group of five sat in a booth by the window. I couldn't hear anything the other four friends of mine were talking about, which definitely made for an awkward setting. Parking - Logan Square is starting to become a pretty happening place. So street parking can be difficult. (I'm surprised the Megamall across the street doesn't work out a deal where it can be used by the local business at night. Is that thing even open anyway?????) I'm fairly new to the Rocking Horse, so I was not aware that they couldn't split the check amongst 3 cards. Our waitress had informed us she can only split it twice, then felt the need to add "we have it all over our menu and receipt." That last part could have been left out, because it sounded like a snotty remark. The "wording" she was referring to was at the bottom of the menu and the bottom of the receipt in small writing. I'm sorry, but I don't look at the very bottom of a menu. My eyes stop reading once I see the border under the last set of food items. And the receipt? My only concern is the total. Hence my three stars. I will totally come back for the food and drink. But I will probably bring earplugs, take the L, and put on my invisible shield to repel against attitude.
(3)Emily H.
Gastropubs have continually raised the bar for themselves during the past few years, so Rocking Horse had some stiff competition coming into the game. The fries were pretty good, but the flavor combos that people seem to be losing their minds over aren't inspired or exceptional. Good draft beer selection, the menu has a little something for everyone, and I like the booth option. The decor follows a macabre "black hunting cabin decorated by Marie Antoinette's zombie" motif, with buttery mood lighting everywhere. But nothing really stands out. It's like going to to IHOP of gastropubs. Serviceable, but nothing specific really wows you. The crowd was very IHOP-ish as well; families dandling babies with one hand and swigging beers with the other, hipsters draping themselves across surfaces, sports "bras" hooting at TVS. What WAS noticeable was the passel of people standing next to the doorway chain-smoking. The nasty cancer-stink wafted all over the restaurant, refreshing the room with a rancid puff of second-hand every time the door was opened. Maintain a better smoker's radius please, oh exuberant ID-checking-guy-at-the-door. I'd rate this a midpoint stop on any Logan Square pub crawl, not a starter or a finisher.
(3)Candice G.
Say what you will about hipsters, I'm all for skinny jeans on anyone. Yes, ANYONE. I like to know what people are working with and it's just a thing. As far as so called hipster bars go, Rocking Horse is so much more than PBR cans. They've actually got a pretty impressive craft list, spacious bar, seating and booth area and pool in the back. The bartenders are friendly, albeit young enough to be my grandchildren, and they give good service as well as convo. They may not be open as late sax their night owl neighbors, but their isn't a line and I rather prefer it.
(4)Kevin T.
Stop ruining the menu! First the new chef massacred the turkey apple sandwich, but added some great items like the bacon jam burger and the seared tuna. Now, all three of those items are gone. What gives?
(3)Rachael C.
I really do enjoy this place. There has been a few issues with TERRIBLE servers, where I told myself I'll never be back, but thankfully the last few times it has been excellent. Great food, good juke box, and a laid - back time.
(4)Mandie A.
Most boring strip club ever.
(4)Sherry Y.
I went here with a crew of friends while the Black Hawks game was on. Who knew, hipsters like hockey too? All joking aside, it was a great time. The menu was spot on with lovely dark brews alongside a large variety of pale ales. We had some delicious chimichurry bar fries with parsley and red wine vinegar. Mmmmm. For beer, I recommend the Speakeasy Black Hand. Chocolatey with coffee notes. With great company and lots of hipster friends, this place is awesome. Despite the sticky tables, I would still recommend this bar. I even appreciated the Asian runner guy who danced for me outside our window. Shout out to you. ;)
(4)Jamie H.
Every time I come here, which is often, I have a great time. The staff is great, the beers are always flowing (excellent selection to boot) and the food is to die for! The tater tots are quite possibly the best I've ever had. It's just a short walk from the blue line and parking is typically not too difficult as well. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Bon V.
Ever since the old chef left the menu is a mess of half measures and unimpressive efforts. I love this place because of the beer selections and bloody mary specials on the weekends. The interior has a cozy vibe with big spacious booths to relax in after a hard day's work. The menu is ok but not impressive and after having tried several brunch and dinner items from the new chef I can't say I have found 'MY' dish. The one thing I get every time I come. There used to be an Ahi Tuna BLT that i would drool over and recommend to all my friends. Sadly, like the old chef it is gone. Whatever, I'll keep going for the Bloody's and beers. Back patio is where I usually sit in nice weather and waiter is always efficient but rarely sunny. Is it that hard to be nice and smile for neighborhood people, hipster?
(3)Eric S.
Everything I've ordered here has been fantastic. The Black and Blue burger is delicious everytime and the wings are some of the best in the city. Parking is always incredibly easy as well.
(5)Angela P.
Despite my thrift store sweater and funky accessories on NYE, I was still wearing Uggs and a North Face and, therefore, didn't melt into the mass hipster crowd in this bar. But I didn't feel too out of place. And on New Year's Eve, this was a really ideal spot to relax with friends. Rocking Horse didn't serve up any drink specials, but they had a complimentary champagne toast at midnight and the kitchen stayed open until past midnight. Their Their craft beer list isn't the longest in Chicago, but it is satisfying without being overwhelming. What impressed and excited me the most was the long list of ciders and sours available. Blackberry pear cider? Ginger cider? I had both, and they were delicious! I'm not a beer expert, nor do I drink it regularly - I tend to prefer cocktails instead. But give me a bar that serves more than Woodchuck Apple, and you'll win me over. Most ciders were $5-7, but some went up to $30. The appetizers we shared were all better than expected. The 3 pretzels (plain, jalapeno & cheese, grilled cheese) were soft, served with dijon mustard, and oh so good. Our waitress let us in on a secret: they sell the same pretzels at Whole Foods. Remind me to stop in there so I can make some at home. We also had the goat cheese balls - these things were enormous! I got 4-5 good size bites out of each gooey, creamy, cheesy, crispy-coated, ball. The guys shared an order of wings, the buffalo sauce went right up my nostrils - fire in the hole! Shots are expensive here. Anything with "bomb" on the end cost around $9. Our total check at the end of the night was $169 for a group of 4. This included at LEAST 3 appetizers, 12 beers (probably more), and about 7 shots. Service was great. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, even with a nearly full bar to serve. The crowd here isn't too rowdy, even for NYE. It was exactly what we needed that night: something that wouldn't break the bank, and a bar with good food and drinks. The music is crowd controlled by a jukebox, so we listened to some unusual tunes for awhile - growly, roaring, almost metal stuff. A friend remarked that he recognized only 5 or so albums in the jukebox: The Clash, Flaming Lips, and he couldn't remember the others. Getting a taxicab on the way home was much easier than expected. Don't hang out in front of the bar, though, it is easier to catch a taxi closer to the next traffic light, about a half block away. I highly recommend this bar. Next time I'll wear my black frame glasses and check my Uggs at home.
(4)Caeleigh R.
Ok so I came here again because brunch at Jam turned into 2pm birthday drinks with some friends. Again, NO WATER FOR THE TABLE and all we were doing was drinking. It was a hot day too. Same waitress we had last time too so maybe she saw my review and decided to not give us all water again because EVERY other table got a jug of water. Veronica I want to say was her name, her hair was in an unkept bun (at least brush your hair for work) and her attitude was bad from the get go. Seriously. Just give every table a jug of water.
(1)Rui Carlos d.
Thanks to bartenders like Jen, my night was more informed with what Bourbon to drink tonight than I could imagine. Doesn't hurt to read Whiskey Advocate for the last year. But the Elijah Craig 21 is worth asking about. A gem of a bar perfect for events.
(5)Max V.
A place with truffle fries, great service, and a decent location to have a quick bite/drink.
(3)Tina L.
T.R.U.F.F.L.E. F.R.I.E.S. YUM!!!~ We've been on a mission to find the best truffle fries in town. I'd have to say they have the BEST truffle fries in the NATION, although I can't say I'm the final say in giving out the Best Truffle Fries award or anything. But I do know my fries, and these have got my vote! Fosho. The tacos are surprisingly good too. I recommend the Ahi taco. There's something about the pickled purple cabbage, cilantro, mango-jicama salsa, and ancho chile mayo. Those flavors seem to play well together and really complement each other!
(4)Keith M.
The Rocking Horse is a great place to get a great burger and a good beer. Definitely one of the routine stops in Logan. They always have a great beer selection that changes routinely. They do have awesome drink specials but because this place is already a nightmare to get a seat in on their beer special night, I'm not saying which day it is! But believe me, a good selection of craft beers at rock bottom prices its definitely worth it. The food has always been delicious. I had one burger that was just loaded with grease and was a little subpar. I think it was a fluke because everything else I've ever had was great. I like the BBQ Bacon Gouda Burger. Its to die for. They also have tater tots which are such a blast from the past you can't not have them! I also like to stop in for a late beer and a whole plate of tots as a drunken appetizer...they give you a whole dang plate! Definitely stop in for a beer and meal because this place with rock your world!
(4)Sophia S.
VERY DISAPPOINTED! I was looking forward to visiting again since the last time I was here it was great. First, after waiting to be seated, we noticed that a table and 4 booths opened up. When directed to the table we asked if we could take one of the smaller booths. There were 2 of us and 2 more on the way... We were told NO supposedly because we only had 4 so we needed to sit at the table. However, 2 of those booths were later occupied by groups of 4 and one by a group of 3!!! The waitress promptly came to our table before we even viewed the menu and we told her we were going to wait for 2 more before ordering food. She then disappeared not return until a half an hour later, and only after we complained. She could've easily came to check if we'd like any drinks! I mean this is a bar. During that half hour while we were waiting for our friends the host came over TWICE to ask us if the rest of our group was still coming. Hello, it's not like we were bogarting a booth or something! I then ordered a beer and was told, I'm sorry, we have that beer but it's not cold yet. Seriously? When she brought me a different beer she brought it with one of those tiny juice glasses that they serve their amazing, outstanding bottled tap water. Oh, and please do not bother looking at any of the pictures on their yelp page, BECAUSE NONE OF THEM ARE ON THE ACTUAL MENU! They have a different cook and a smaller, unimpressive menu, including a lopsided lettuce sandwich (aka, the turkey bacon). Please do visit this establishment if you enjoy sitting across from your friends and not being able to hear them over the horrible music. Finally, and probably most disturbing, that table of 3 I mentioned earlier... One of those guys found a foot-long hair in his food! Yum. Definitely not going back.
(1)Martha C.
Been here more than a few times with a friend who lives in the hood. After countless visits I deem Rocking Horse A-OK in my book. The libation menu is pretty extensive and changes from time to time, which is something I enjoy very much. It gets old choosing from the same beer list over and over. I love to try new crafts when I can. As for the food, after eating my meal I always seem to find myself feeling a little unsatisfied. The two best things on the menu are the tacos and the cajun fries, which sadly you can't ordered together. Everything else that I have had at Rocking Horse is OK, but nothing to write home about. Note to the potential patron, beware of the busy night. The Rocking Horse doesn't manage their table waiting system well. This is a major point of contention with said friends boyfriend, who has promised never to return again after a particularly busy evening.
(3)Michelle J.
Randomly found this place. I'm gluten intolerant. And their fryer is dedicated to French fries only. Score! Tacos were great n husband said burger was really good. Definitely coming back.
(5)Alan C.
The new menu is not good. Bye bye rocking horse. It's been fun. You used to be my go to. You used to be a bastion for good burgers and great truffle fries. Now you have a bunch of turkey burgers and bland seafood. It's you, not me.
(2)Pamela M.
The Rocking Horse is a busy pub in Logan Square with a lively ambiance and plenty of seating! Good tunes + young, hip crowd + wide selection of beers = FUN times! The loaded chicken nachos were the perfect late night snack! Yum, yum, yum!!!
(4)Kuanie J.
Had dinner here Saturday night and was not that much of a fan. Service was horrendous (staff was really nice, but servers were so so slow and only stopped by our table once) and the restaurant is not able to handle rushes (kitchen, host, and servers were freaking out about how busy it was. The tilapia fish tacos didn't have much flavor and the ahi tuna club sandwich was meh. Pros: decent beer selection, good music and atmosphere, and relatively cheap. My boyfriend did rave about the ahi tuna tacos because he's had them before, but I did not order them Sat. night because he got an ahi tuna club. I might give this place another whirl.
(2)lorenzo r.
Stopped in for lunch on a Sunday with my friend Joe who I hadn't seen in a while. Not a sports bar but the NFL playoff game was on a TV at the bar. Joe had wings & fries, I had the buffalo chicken wrap that was very tasty. Joe seemed to enjoy his meal as well. We also has a couple blackout stouts that were also quite nice. Only problem was the food did take quite a while to arrive but it was busy.
(4)Persio N.
This place hits the notes of a bar and good food restaurant. Their beer selection is diverse and well balanced and can appeal to someone who doesn't drink much beer to someone who likes to drink their double IPAs and everything else that hits those high marks. Their daily $4 special selection is an awesome idea. I came here for brunch with my girlfriend on a Sunday. We both had their different versions of Eggs Benedict. The food was on point and nowhere near disappointing. If you want to continue the feeling of still being out at a bar the next morning (who wouldn't) I'd suggest this spot. The only problem I had was that it took 15-20min before we were acknowledged at our table. Now look I've served and managed at restaurants before and this is not just me being impatient or picking at one thing. The "host" up front should be able to tell the server or another server to pick up a table not just seat us and go back to sitting on the stool. I did not see a present manager walking around and I feel this place deserves that at least for brunch since family's do come in.
(4)Joelle P.
The food here was really good, the atmosphere was nice, and the service was fine, nothing special, but did the job. It looked like they have a pretty legit beer selection, however we were here for lunch on a Monday so did not partake in the drinking. Instead, we got Parmesan-Artichoke dip to split, I got a Gouda bacon BBQ burger, and my friend got a turkey burger. The dip was really good, probably my favorite part of the meal. The artichokes were cut into pretty large pieces in the dip which was nice and it was really flavorful and came with a mix of tortilla chips and small baked baguette type chips. I would definitely order this again. My burger was really good as well, it was very large and I loved that it came with fries instead of having to pay more for a side. My friend really liked his dish as well! Overall, the service wasn't anything special. The guy was running the bar and the dining service all himself (or at least it appeared that way) but he did a good job and got us our food with minimal wait so I can't complain. They have nice booths that could fit quite a few people and the space is nice, I'm sure it gets very full in there on the weekends!
(4)Erin B.
Looking forward to going back. Pool table fun whenever I go, very quaint and friendly. Had the lamb burger with olive tapenade & a potato side-salad that was everything I could have hoped for back in the outside patio. Not too hipster, not too L.A, just right & humble & PROFESSIONAL :)
(5)Natalie E.
How're you? Do you want to know what's changed on our beer menu? What can I get you to drink? Do you need a second to look over the menu? How is everything? Do you want your check? We walked in, friendly dude at the door checked our IDs and we laughed at something. Then we sat down, ten minutes went by. Not even a glass of water or a "be right with you" nod. The servers smoking out front were busy, as were the ones hanging out by the register flirting with each other. There were maybe 5 other tables with couples at them. Tick tock. I can't COUNT how many times I've been here. So many. I've had good experiences here, but this particular encounter was so annoying, I won't go back. So, on the one hand, they do seem to be well-staffed. On the other, the staff doesn't get around to asking the questions listed above.
(1)Lauren F.
It has been quite some time since I've visited a restaurant that I didn't choose based on yelp reviews. Based on the so-so reviews for Rocking Horse I'm so glad I went with a friend's suggestion and the drool-worthy menu descriptions rather than my old standby. I loved Rocking Horse, obviously- they get 5 stars from me. My boyfriend and I stopped in on a Thursday night and the place was nearly empty-we were seated right away. They have a very impressive beer list, I enjoyed some banana bread beer to start things off along with their Pretzel Basket-1 grilled cheese, 1 jalapeno cheddar, and 1 plain pretzel with a side of spicy mustard. My fav was the jalapeno cheddar but they were all good-we took half of one home and ate it the next day and it was just as good reheated in the oven. Choosing what to order next from all the delicious sounding menu choices was tough, but my boyfriend settled on the Prime Ribeye Steak sandwich and I went with the Smoked Turkey and Apple sandwich and we were both very happy with our choices. The steak was cooked medium rare, just as requested, and was very good. My turkey sandwich was AMAZING-I've had a few daydreams about it over the past couple weeks. Smoked turkey, bacon, gouda, sauteed apples, and roasted garlic aioli on ciabatta bread...I didn't want it to ever end. We also had the cajun fries and the Greek fries...yum and yum. The Greek fries are a little soggy because of the lemon juice but I loved them all the same-tons of feta piled high, you could make a meal out of those alone. The cajun fries were really really good too...lots of seasoning, pretty salty-just how I like 'em. Rocking Horse isn't exactly in our 'hood but totally worth the short drive-we'll definitely be back for more!
(5)Amanda F.
The Rocking Horse is a great neighborhood bar and restaurant. I've never had anything here I didn't love. I come here a lot for brunch and occasionally dinner. Tater tots seem to be a thing in Chicago, and Rocking Horse makes them to perfection! They have different flavors you can get as an appetizer, all are amazing! My favorite is Pepper Jack; just the right amount of hotness! I have tried their burgers, wraps (habanero steak wrap is my new fav), tacos and turkey club. Everything is great! Brunch is a great neighborhood choice as well because there's hardly ever a wait (and if there is, it's never very long). Pancakes are a must! I don't care if you don't want them, get an order to split with the table - you will be happy you did! The breakfast burrito is my go to. Their potatoes are also cooked to perfection. Their beer selection I've heard is good, but I don't think I've ever ordered anything out of the ordinary (note to self: order a drink next time!)
(5)Suzy D.
Get the truffled tater tots! Only 7 bucks and you get a massive portion. Great to share as a group. The beer selection is good too.
(4)Julee W.
I love to come here for the ranch tots and a veggie burger. Yum yum really decadent and not anything I can replicate at home. The veggie burger does have cheddar cheese in it which is unique.
(5)Caitlin R.
Rocking Horse, what have you done? I loved you. Why did you feel the need to change who you were in an effort to fit in with your high-brow, gastropub, surroundings? I understand that the neighborhood has changed [price tags], but you didn't hurt for business before the revamp. Ditch the duck confit and truffle oil. Bring back the items that you used to DOMINATE. Your new menu looks like it's trying to be every other lame new restaurant that appeals to the upper middle class masses that have infiltrated the locale. But what about the rest of us? We were loyal to you. Please revert! You were one of the last great stops for burgers and pretzels without the pretense. I miss you.
(1)Caroline M.
My Logan Square adventures continue. This time at Rocking Horse. I think we chose a good night to go--Thursdays are $3 select drafts! I enjoyed my Victory Hop Devil. Something that stood out to me was the eclectic artwork. I loved it. Naughty half nakey paintings of chicks? They were tasteful, not trashy. And the lights were pretty neato, too. Clusters of similar light fixtures grouped in trios make for a funky vibe. I'm totally stealing that idea when I move into my first real big girl condo (someday!) Music was a little loud for intimate convos, but the low lights made me feel oh-so-pretty. Shout outs to Molly O., Angie M. and Nick M. for selling me on the Rocking Horse even before setting foot into their establishment! Um, no dessert here either :( I don't like this trend.
(4)Dan N.
Great local establishment. Brunch is amazing, beer selection is great, whiskey selection is just as good. Oh they've got a pool table.
(5)Stephanie M.
I don't know what it was, but something or other possessed us to go back to Rocking Horse the other day, and thank God we did! They must have been getting some real flack for that atrocious menu we got to taste awhile back, because things have more or less gone back to as good as they were! We got the poutine, which was great, though the cheese curds were maybe a little on the cold side away from the middle of the dish, which made them a little rubbery. I ordered the southwest steak salad, and my boyfriend got one of the burgers with cajun fries. We were happy campers. I want to go back and grab some sliders and tacos one day. And Dereck was our server! Just like before we had decided to stop coming here! Shout out to you! He always takes good care of us. I'm so glad this place is back. It was a favorite hang out of ours last winter, and I'd like to go back to that. Bring back the pretzel platter, and well be good to go!
(4)Christina M.
I'm a real sucker for tater tots -- who knew left over potato scraps could be combined to make something so tasty!? But seriously, not only does Rocking Horse have tater tots, they have tots of various flavors such as regular, cajun, and ranch (did not try ranch). This means that Rocking Horse is tater tot heaven! Did I mention that a large order of tots only costs $4?
(4)Katie K.
I really loved the sandwich I had. It was so good. Just a tad bit too greasy for me, but still very delectable. It was the turkey bacon one with avocado. The service was okay, we sat at the bar and the bartender was a little obnoxious for my preferences and used a homophobic slur that offended my companion. But otherwise, it was a good experience.
(4)Ashley C.
Good food, good beer, good service. I was obsessed with their tilapia tacos with mango salsa, unfortunately they took it off the menu along with their tilapia sandwich which was also really good! Pretty bummed about that. Wish they had a little big more vegetarian options.
(4)Erika G.
It's what you'd expect - a hipster hang! However, on this night, they were playing a lot of Who, so I was enjoying it. How can you not? The requisite array of booze, and weird, complicated beer list. Complicated cocktails. Lots o' whisky, 'cos whisky is so hip now. The bartenders have a lot of facial hair. Which, yuk, but to each his own. That won't stop me from coming in, I just won't be kissing any of them. I love how places like this want to have a "thrift store" aesthetic, but the lamps are carefully matched, and obviously done by an interior designer. This is not a dismissal, however - I think it looks sort of cool. The interior is interesting, and well done. And they have poutine here. I'll come back for that next time I roll down to Logan Square.
(3)Laura P.
Decent draft selection. Waitstaff was very pleasant and attentive. The food was decent; no complaint but no real raves either. With the exception of the fries (everyone loved them). I would defiantly recommend if you want pub food with a twist such as a Crab cake BLT. I'm disappointed we didn't try the special off the menu deep fried cookie dough balls. At the same time, maybe that was for the best. In terms of atmosphere it's defiantly casual. The music was pretty mellow when we first arrived (7:30ish) and picked up as it grew deeper into the night. They have a number of booths that sit 6 comfortably, 8 with a squeeze. And one or two for larger parties. Come before 8pm if you want a booth.
(4)Erin K.
I live in the 'hood so order take out from Rocking Horse fairly often and have eaten in the restaurant a couple times. The food is really good. Good burgers, good sandwiches, and tasty salads. Fantastic for take-out. The service is just awful... I mean just the worst. Even the telephone service when calling for take-out. But I just assume treating clients with total disregard and pointed disdain cultivates the type of "I'm cooler than you" hipster atmosphere they must be going for. Whatever... the food is good.
(4)Stephanie G.
If you go here, you better get the chimichurri fries! They are ta die for! I have also had their chicken caesar salad and chicken caesar wrap - both delicious! For an appetizer, we had the goat cheese balls. I highly recommend! The service is a bit on a the slower side, but the food is delicious so we keep coming back.
(4)Chris D.
Fantastic beer selection and great prices. As for food, I usually only get a burger and Tots here and I always walk out happy I came. Wait, The tots poutine is fantastic as well. The service is always attentive and professional. They make sure you have a drink in front of you. :) I have never experienced any attitude, which is what we all want to avoid when we go out. Unlike at Logan Bar and Grill which has retched service. Definitely reco this joint....... Hmmmm speaking of joint, see you later.. :)
(4)January S.
Good beer selection and chill bar. I haven't come when it was too busy though. The menu recently changed...I really liked this steak sandwich they had! Thursday beer specials are where it's at. And there's a pool table in the back:)
(4)Ugochi N.
Fun bar with games and appetizing food. I would even go as far as to say DELICIOUS. Loaded Veggie Burger is a MUST is you are a vegetarian. Great beer and wine selection I would definitely come back and eat and have another Malbec to unwind after a long day in Logan Square.
(4)Brian M.
Visited for a late lunch while in and out of Chicago on business last week. An unexpected place to be taken for lunch but then again I did tell them nothing fancy. A juke joint type of place. Lots of beers on tap including a few I haven't heard of before. Tried a nice Perennial Black Walnut. Nothing special as far as regular food but like the other people here say, they specialize in of all things fries and tater tots. I tried cajun tater tots with my Black & Bleu burger (big, rare, cajun spices (again), and bleu cheese). One of my associate had the white truffle fries. I really enjoyed my tater tots. I wish I had also ordered the white truffle fries! I like little places that aren't fancy and somewhat divey. They were still busy at 3 PM which I'm not used to coming from a smaller city. Service was good and not "sliding"as others have noted. Maybe it was just different wait staff. The crowd was definitely young. It's funny, I heard the word hipster when I was just a teen almost 40 years ago. Now everyone else describes the clientele as hipster? What goes around, comes around.
(4)Shauna D.
This is a solid bet in Logan Square. Whoever's picking the tunes, keep up the good work. We've definitely heard some real throw-backs that we had forgotten all about (remember Biff Naked? No? well, we did, as soon as we heard it.) The beer selection is more than decent, and the food has been great, and the portions are generous. I will say one thing, might sound weird, the breaded chicken has some sort of seasoning that tastes exactly like Thanksgiving. It was hard to pin-point at first, but after 3 of us gave it a bite and a ponder, we definitely settled on Thanksgiving. It's not that it's a BAD taste, just a heads up, it's a bit unusual. Great atmosphere, big leather booths, so when you're done gorging on food and beer, you can comfortably relax a minute.
(4)Alex K.
I'll start with the service. Came here on a Friday night for dinner around 7 and got seated right away. It definitely got crowded by the time I left though. The food did take what seemed like a really long time to get to the table but I was enjoying my company and the Cubs game was on in the background so no real problems there. The beer selection was pretty good, plenty of craft brews to choose from and you can't go wrong with anything from Three Floyds on tap. When I checked out the menu I saw that they had poutine fries and had to try those out. Unfortunately they just seemed like fries with Heinz gravy( 3.bp.blogspot.com/-QeaaO… ) poured on top. Oh well, I wasn't really expecting too much anyway. I also had the Spicy pulled pork sandwich and that was pretty good, no complaints there. My date had a Mediterranean wrap, I tried a bit and enjoyed it. The food was pretty good, nothing special though. I would recommend this place out if you're in Logan Square but wouldn't go out of the way for it.
(3)Sebastian W.
I was in there today for the half acre beer event and wow did i had a blast. To eat i order those Brisket tacos and o my o my do those tacos have a sweet spot save for em in my stomach. Can i go back for 5ths??? Yummmmy
(4)Daina T.
Per a friend's recommendation, I went to brunch at the Rocking Horse and have subsequently fallen in love. It is deliciously divey with $5 mimosas and bloody marys, not overcrowded and stuffy for Sunday brunch, and has the right vibe to enjoy the start of the day. The fun twists on the menu were a sight to see, but since I'm a benedict addict, I had to try the Chorizo Benedict. Not only did it look and smell amazing, it was a riotous symphony of flavors that must be experienced. I can't wait to go back and try other items. You have a new fan.
(4)Leslie K.
We enjoyed local brews seated at the bar and were mesmerized by the overwhelmingly tattooed bartender. The place had a nice and easy-going energy.
(4)Samantha A.
I (soberly, like an idiot) dropped a large amount of money on the floor here with my ID a couple of days ago, and the bartender returned it like a total gentleman. In the words of R. Kelly: I'm forever indebted, I'm forever indebted, I'm forever indebted to your bar. (Also: the food is delicious, and the beer specials are usually pretty Ace)
(5)Kurt J.
Awesome breakfast. Stopped in after a trip to the Logan square farmers market. Not as packed as others around the square but the food is terrific. I had the Eggs Benedict and my wife had the egg white omelet. Both were great. The potatoes were perfect. We shared a special production vander mill cider as well. I would definitely go back.
(5)James L.
I usually come here while i'm waiting for a table at Wasabi. Grab a drink while we wait and it's usually a chill time! Service is great and they usually are good with recs on beer. Had apps before and they were solid.
(3)Stephane L.
Awesome spot. Definitely my favorite restaurant/bar in Logan Square. Food is awesome; great beer selection; ranch fries are to die for. Only negatives are: service is mediocre at best; food can take a while; and sometimes the music is too loud to converse. Food is soo worth it though.
(4)Mags P.
This place is great. Nice and quiet ambiance that allows for great conversations. Noone is there to cruise you or bother you. Also, the food is tasty! Definitely a great alternative to the always crowded Revolution down the street!
(5)Cymen V.
I like this place but for some reason it's hard to find a beer on tap that I really like and I've been here a number of times. Maybe it's just chance. There have been a few but I'd say there is a 50% chance I'll settle on something from the taps that isn't that great. The food is decent. Simple things like cajun fries are great. I've had a odd/off tasting pulled-pork sandwich and would not order that again. Burgers seem to be a safe bet.
(4)Michael G.
Like many junkies before me, I just can't quit "The Horse." I was first lured into this den of sin and temptation by a gateway drug, its sister bar High Dive in Ukrainian Village. Being a regular there, when I heard the owners were giving me a fix closer to home (way too close to home as I pass it on the way to the train every day) I was euphoric. Or ecstatic. Without that other drug, I mean. My first time with "The Horse," however, was less than stellar. It was at a (birthday) party. The bar was dark, crowded, and relatively expensive (though with a really nice beer menu). Plus the large tables near the windows (which anyone can see inside from Milwaukee Avenue using) being elevated also made for an awkward feeling. I guess I just didn't like being that high. Then, as I was passing one morning, there was a sign (though, sadly, it wasn't "the first one is free"). The sign told me that word on the street was that "The Horse" was now serving brunch (another addiction). It took me a while but I finally got my first fix with my brunching buddies in January. And, just like High Dive, the second I put one of their potatoes into my bloodstream (by way of my mouth), it was pure bliss. Their seasoned breakfast potatoes are to die for (but, not of - well at least not from overdose)! Almost as good as High Dive's tots! And they can be ordered as a side to any breakfast. Their brunch menu is pretty immense and diverse. The breakfast burrito (the plate by which all others shall be judged in my mind) is average and sort of small but most of their portions are large and with the side of the potatoes (did I mention those, yet?) are more than filling. Especially when washed down by a refreshing mid-morning cocktail. They have bloody marys and mimosas for $5, but are currently lacking a bottomless special. Though unlike brunch places, they do put on sports with the volume up above the bar (have to feed all my addictions at once). The lack of a bottomless deal is sort of sad as they are really missing their calling. Rocking Horse at night is filled with the same scene making hipsters as so many other northeastern Logan Square bars. But in the morning, while the pale ones are asleep, Logan Square really does come alive in this place (they even allow kids). If they were to feed my brunch addiction fully, I would be visiting them "on the corner" almost every week.
(3)Jdub U.
Rocking Horse is a neighborhood spot I can count on for a late kitchen. I've seen the places popularity grow with the neighborhood. I've also seen the service slide accordingly. I think that hipsters like crappy service but I don't. I prefer attention and not having to flag someone down to get an order in. Dings for service but the food and drink are reliably good. Who isn't a fan of tater tots?? This place does tater tots more ways than your simple brain can imagine. I'd suggest sticking to the burgers (real meat, turkey, and the veggie are all tasty) and siding with your choice of tots. Pair with your favorite beer and you've turned an ordinary night into a delicious one. The beer list is extensive so you'll definitely find something you'll like. I've not yet figured out the flow of the place. Some nights are quiet and others are unexpectedly not.
(3)Bea R.
I will not be back... vents in the ceiling were leaking onto our table. The server told us that happens often. The food was okay and so was the service. Can't go wrong with the drinks though.
(1)Daniel B.
Food's really good, much better than you would expect from the looks of the place which is basically a hipster haven. Ate at the bar and the bartender was the most absent minded person I've ever been served by. Still I wont knock the place for it. It's not a must do or a place I feel like I have to go back to, just good for what it is and thats why it gets 3 stars, 4 just seems too much.
(3)Whitney W.
I really miss the gaucho steak sandwich. It was delicious and perfect every time--my top thing to order. Please bring it back! I love the bloodies, the beer selection, the poutine, the atmosphere, and usually the staff, and I will keep coming back. For now. The southwest steak salad is good, but most of the food I've tried (now that my fave is gone) has fallen way short of what I'm used to here. Their soups were always great, and the one I've tried with the new chef was not as described and was disappointing. The melt burger was mushy and surprisingly bland. The chili was fine but nothing to write home about. Not up to Rocking Horse standards.
(3)Lindsey W.
Attentive staff and friendly service. Great beer and food.... sad at yelpers that they don't give this place more cred. 5 stars indeed.
(5)Chuck W.
Rocking Horse has some seriously legit sandwiches and their tots are out of this world. They constantly have new and interesting beers on the menu which go outside of the "typical bar listing" that every other Chicago bar seems to carry. There is a pool table, a Galaga game, and a photo booth in the back room, and the layout here makes it pretty easy to get around. There's nothing worse than a bar which forces you to navigate a crowded, narrow, corridor in front of the bar to get anywhere. I've also noticed that they keep a couple pretty rare bottled brews behind the counter. I'd be afraid to ask how much they want for one, but it's something to keep in mind for a special occasion. I spied a couple bottles of Bourbon County Coffee Stout last time I was in there.
(4)Danny W.
I've only been pleasantly surprised by Rocking Horse. I've been a few times and each time I discover something new I like. First, it was $3 craft beer pints on Thursday. Then it was the juke box. This weekend I had the food for the first time. Admittedly, at a place like this, I'd normally go for standard bar fare (chicken sandwich, burger, etc) but I had recalled they were written up in Chicago Magazine for their blackened shrimp po boy. Although it seemed like an aggressive choice at a pretty casual bar, the sandwich was delicious. NOLA purists might scoff at the bun, but this was a delicious sandwich. Good fries too. Solid beer menu, above average bar fare. I see you Rocking Horse!
(4)Bree M.
I went with a friend on a thursday night- what luck! It was $4 drafts. The beer was excellent (especially for $4 a pop). I am a little disappointed in the poutine fries, as they came with shredded cheddar- but not everyone can be Canadian. The house made ranch dressing was also stellar. It did get too busy for my liking around 9:30- when the hipster/beanie crowd shuffled in.
(4)Bob H.
This is a place I'm torn on. I really want to give it 4 stars, but it just can't make it. Why am I torn? I think largely because Rocking Horse can't decide what it wants to be. You walk in and get carded like it's a bar, but then it's laid out more like a restaurant - but with a pool table in the (very tiny) back room. It's got a nice long bar, but then a room full of tables. WHAT ARE YOU!? The food is good. I am a particular fan of the sliders and tater tots. I just never feel quite comfortable there. I've seen people come in, sit down and not order anything for 15 minutes or more, or have 1 person take up a table for 4 to have a beer or two. It's peculiar at best. And I would never go there just to drink, it just doesn't fit. So, it's got good food, a good beer selection and an identity crisis which does more damage than you'd imagine. I could see it being good for lunch, which I haven't done yet, but later in the evening I don't know what to do with it.
(3)Brian B.
We "pre-gamed" here last night for dinner and drinks before debauchery at the Two-Way and the Owl. This place is okay, I guess. The food is not very special, the server was real nice and beer prices are low to average. This would be a good place to take family that is in town. The place is usually crowded and has decent specials. The tater tot poutine was very good, but also very unhealthy and I got yelled at for wanting to try to eat all of the large appetizer. Definitely reserve that for parties of 3 or more.
(3)Jen F.
Nice beer and whiskey menu. The service was fairly slow and they didn't seem to really care if we were there or not. Clearly, they are cooler than me. The food was ok. I love that they have tots and you can get said tots in a variety of different incarnations. Decor is dark and gloomy with strange and interesting artwork. There isn't anything here that would make me go out of my way to come back unless I happen to be in the neighbhorhood.
(3)Jasmine C.
Just moved into the neighborhood and thought I'd try this place out with a few friends. Drinks and appetizers were good. The black and bleu burger with the tots was perfectly made! Service was great! I will definitely be going back :)
(5)Bonnie L.
I stopped in here for the first time last Friday. It was lunchtime. I had heard that the food and beers were tasty so thought I would give it a try. I was so happy to see the New Belgium Ranger IPA on the beer list. yay!! I had a few of those bad boys and my friend and I split the Nachos with NO CHICKEN! They were very good. We chatted with the server and he was just really awesome. I believe his name was Remy. Awesome customer service. Best lunch I have had in a long time! Of course the beer helped that! I will definitely be back.
(5)Derrick P.
Good food and wide selection of beers. Horse 13.5 for the tuna tacos is a little too much.
(4)Aaron A.
This is a pretty average bar. Alright drink selection, the food menu looks pretty basic, and the bartenders were nice enough. Not dying to go back here but will certainly give it another shot.
(3)J. Chuck K.
Came here last night for $3 craft beer night, and ended up staying for dinner and watching the game. While it was annoying that they were out of 2 of the 6 beers for the special, the renaming beers still made it a good deal. I was kinda torn about the food menu. There are lots of good options to choose from, but the prices for apps are a bit steep, they don't mix and match the sliders, and the prices for the sliders didn't make much sense- for $9 you can get 3 brisket sliders or for $10 you can get the whole sandwich with fries. However, the deliciousness of the sandwich and fries balanced everything out. The service started out great with the first bartender, but kinda went downhill when he left. The guy replacing him, sporting an "awesome" 1990's Blackhawks hat, seemed to be new and not very good at his job. After sitting there with empty beers for about 10min, my friend asked him for another. After conquering the cash register beast, he drops off the beer and just walks away without asking if I'd like anything. The female bartender working with him should be his best friend. I'd come back again, to give this place another shot...When hopefully they have all of their beer specials, they've figured out the food special and the absent-minded bartender is...absent.
(3)John W.
Beer: Excellent rotating beer menu, along with a great bench of standards they keep all year round. A great special on Thursdays ($3 for most draft beer) gives you a chance to try stuff with low risk. Food: Some great stuff, but the one drawback is the big menu. Too big for my taste, with some odd choices that may scare off those who try them and don't get anything else. Ahi tuna, shrimp po'boy and their tacos are weak, but a couple of the weaps, burgers and salads are good. Brunch is solid, haven't had a bad brunch yet. In addition, most entrees are $8-$10 and could feed two if you took the time to chew it. I hit this place at least once a week and recommend it to everyone. Anyone who gave a low review obviously had a bad first impression, and that's a shame. It deserves a second chance. Meet me on Thursday, just let me order for you, ok?
(5)Marc Z.
This review is only based on the brunch that I eat pretty often here. 'The Rocking Pony Omelet' is superb. This must be equivalent to witnessing a heard of unicorns running in the wild under a slew of giant rainbows. Maybe they should change the name to the Rocking Unicorn Omelet. *send royalty checks my way if the change happens* Other than that, the tater tots are... (if I can quote MC Hammer here) "2 legit to quit" Be sure to soak in this place next time you're in the area around brunch time. You won't regret it.
(5)Zach Z.
The atmosphere was ALMOST hippie but not quite there. They had a bunch of different types of beer which was awesome, but there was something a bit off about the place. Ohh I remember it was the noise. Because it was so small and they cram so many people in there it became hard to hear what someone was saying even a few feet away. Nice local dive though
(3)Zach J.
I've been here 2 times, so I've reached my minimum to write a review. I wasn't sure if this was a 3-star joint or 4-star, but my most recent visit there solidified it in the 4-star category. That said, it's nothing particularly special, but they have a fairly large menu with diverse options, a quality beer list, lively atmosphere, and overall good service. Food-wise, their jalapeno hummus really hit the spot, as did their gouda & bacon cheeseburger. Nothing amazing, but good quality stuff. My wife had a Phillycheese briskett sandwich, and she was also pleased. I liked the variety on the menu. It's got all the expected pub grub fare, with a few unique additions here and there. The space is not as big as I thought it would be, but I wouldn't say if feels cramped even when it is crowded (especially if you can snag a booth). It can get pretty loud in there when it's packed, particularly if you sit at one of the tables in the middle of the seating area, but overall, not really worth compaining about. The bar area is probably a good bet if you can get a seat. Oh, and they have a decent sized back room with a pool table I believe...and I might have saw a couple of arcade games but I could be wrong. And the crowd seemed fine, nice mix of folks overall (not too heavy on the hipsters...although they did make up a good chunk of the clientele). And the vibe/atmosphere is lively, somewhat loud, decent enough music blaring. So overall, it doesn't take a lot to make me happy at a place like this. Good variety of food, good beer selection, good vibe, decent service, and I'm a happy guy. A quality joint in my book.
(4)Amanda B.
Me and my boyfriend came here on a Sunday afternoon, it was packed! but it does make sense since it is a smaller place. Luckily there was a table open and we ordered drinks and our food. It was very loud in there, but i expected that so it didn't bug me at all. The chips and guacamole was a lot better presented then i thought it would be and it was delicious! The turkey apple sandwhich was also really good! Everything we got was good! The only issue i had was the service, our waitress was not all that friendly and after we were all done eating it took forever for her to come to our table, we waited a good 20 minutes before she checked up on us and we asked for our check. That one downfall was kind of a big deal, but not a deal breaker since the food was good and the prices were reasonable. I will be returning to try their other food but i do hope the service is better next time!
(4)Steve G.
A good place to get a beer and a burger that isn't trying to make a big deal out of it. Don't get me wrong - great food - just not one of those places where they are trying to go all Food Network faux gourmet. The food manages to be unique and high quality without being pretentious. Solid burgers. Love the pulled pork sandwich - lotsa good flavor and a bit spicier than you'd think. The Ranch Fries are great as are the Poutine Fries (fries covered in brown gravy and cheese - hey arteries! Fuck you!) The beer selection is great - not huge like Quenchers or the Map Room but very well selected. They keep a pretty fresh rotation of beers on tap - I come here about once a week and there's always a few new varieties available each week. I always sit at the bar and have never had service issues. The bartenders are usually pretty friendly. The music is usually decent. As other reviewers have mentioned the crowd veers towards hipster but c'mon - you're in Logan Square, if hipsters annoy you, you might want to consider drinking in a different neighborhood.
(5)Katie P.
I love tots! I totally love them and I'm ticked off that it took me so long to finally go and give The Rocking Horse a try. Because if I had know I had tots within walking distance from the get go... I'd already be a regular. The bf and I frequently want to go out on Friday night but when you get home after a long week sometimes the couch is too tempting. Anyhow, we were actually looking for a new-to-us BYOB that wasn't Thai and we were having much luck and the frustration was building and the couch was calling. We were desperate not to fall into the routine and somehow the Rocking Horse came up and we decided if we couldn't find a BYOB that we might as well give it a try. Right off the bat I'm a fan of a bar that has Friday night drink specials... even more so when it's more than just beer. They had $4.00 Beefeater specials. Score! Now, I used to love a gin and tonic but somewhere it just lost it's appeal to me. The waitress was awesome at making suggestions of types of gin cocktails for us (just as we suspected... there aren't a whole lot of options, but we had some new options. They were pretty busy so it was pretty awesome she spent the time helping us figure out what we wanted. Some reviews have talked about service but aside from it being slightly slow because it was crowded, it was really rather good! We tried the veggie quesadillas for an app and they were fantastic! The bf got a pulled pork sandwich and it was really tasty, not something I care for but it was seriously good and I would actually order it for myself after trying a bite. It was sweet and tangy and the bun was pretty rockin'. I was just in a burger mood and I got it with tots. Did I mention I love, love, love me some tots?! I liked the burger... I liked the way it fit in my hands. Kind of a weird observation on my behalf, but I really did stick out. The tots were delicious! Perfectly crunchy! We were watching the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, no sound, and we had a fun time trying to decipher what was happening with the people at the next table. All-in-all... three drinks each (total 6), an app, and two sandwiches... total fifty bucks! I think that's a really good deal for a place that actually serves up some tasty bar food!
(4)Martha Z.
Rocking Horse saves the night. Yes, my first choice was Revolution, however hunger vs 2 hour wait, guess who won that battle? Sorry Revolution, you're not Dorsia. The wait was less then 10 minutes at Rocking Horse which was just enough time to order a round of pints (alpha king) and glance over the bustling tables. The service from the time that we walked in to the moment we left was very attentive. It was crowded and loud yet there was someone to make sure we got drink refills the moment a glass got empty, lighting candles, and following up after leftovers were wrapped up. We felt like we were getting the red carpet service. In addition, food was good, drinks were stellar, and the vibe was just right. The Sailor Jerry Saturday drink special left me feeling pretty smitten.
(4)Kristen M.
Nice pub - had the pretzals and they were good - good beer list - good service - would go back here
(4)Sara L.
unreal burgers, good beer list, and intimate setting. highly suggest!
(5)Greg M.
Rock on, Rocking Horse. I hit up this spot for the first time last night, and yes the $3 craft beer Thursdays are a serious deal. They have some solid selections on draught...some 3 Floyds, New Belgium, Dogfish etc. They also have a good bourbon menu- I went with an Old Grand Dad on the recommendation of our server. Tasty. The ambience is cool- fairly dark, some good local art on the walls, pool/pacman/pinball in a back room. The DJ was great...some jazz and funk stuff mixed with some new beats, and he faded like a pro. Server was cool and knew both the beer and bourbon menus well. The only thing that could raise the bar on this place would be an ACTUAL rocking horse- sort of a tamer take on the mechanical bull? I digress...good spot, and I'll be back here again to try the food.
(4)Jess F.
We get burgers and chicken quesidillas from here, and my son loves their tots (so do we). Took off one star for charging extra for extra salsa, but otherwise they are solidly consistent. We have dined in and music is a little loud, but nice crew.
(4)Nicolas H.
Great music and good drinks. Haven't tried the food yet, but its a nice spot overall. Seems to be plenty of seating as we were able to find a table on a busy Saturday night. Definitely a place to come back to see what the food is like...
(4)Tom A.
Before I went in, something about the place made me think it was a doucherina, but I was overwhelmed by smooth coolness on my first visit. I think it was the sign and the blackness of the decor that made me think that, or maybe just 'cus it was new and I assume new things will stink..? Anyway, it's a sweet little joint, plenty of decent drafts, some local (although could use a few more by my standards), tons of bottles. Full bar. Food is decent, tending towards fried, but well-done to that effect. Several tater tot/fries dress-ups ("Greek fries," poultine, etc.) Some vegetarian options (veg burger, several fried options), though again could use a couple more to my liking. TVs in the bar only -- subdued but there if you want them (and I did on this trip, and was able to get a place at the bar -- off night though). Music was decent and not too loud. I'll totally be back.
(4)Beebe G.
cool spot to hang out in on any night of the week. my daughter and i had a late-night dinner last sunday to celebrate her birthday. the place is dark and cozy. i had the pulled pork taco dinner and my daughter had the loaded veggie burger with chimichurri fries. the flavors from my tacos were all there and i especially enjoyed the avocado creme sauce. i had a few of the fries and it is to kill for good! nice and garlicy too! i had a quenching ska belgium blonde and my daughter had a fox blackberry pear cider. i would like to come back and try their brunch menu.
(4)Bud S.
Very good appetizers and a great brunch. Now for details. Rocking horse is good size bar with a nice selection of craft brews at average prices. The staff is friendly, and the jukebox carries a nice variety of alternative fair. I really enjoy their appetizers, especially the portabello fries. Main courses such as their sandwiches are better than most bars, and according to my veggie friends their garden burger is good. Brunch options are pretty standard fair, but tastes good. You get a lot for 10 bucks (two people can share an omelette's). The only thing I found disappointing were their bloody mary's. Coffee is good though. Thursday is their drink special night and seeing as how I live in stumbling distance of the place, I am a fan.
(4)Colleen J.
Ranch-seasoned french fries! Yum! I guess I like things that are ranch-seasoned. I liked the atomosphere in here. The beer selection was good. I ordered the barbecue chicken wrap. That thing was huge. I only ate half; I took the other half home for lunch the next day. It was dimly lit, had big cushy booths, and down-to-earth service. Try it out.
(4)Rainier R.
Not sure what the hype is about. The burger I had was super salty, and it is too damn dark in there.
(2)Evan B.
Great atmosphere. The beer list is extensive and very reasonably priced. The menu is varied and affordable. The crowd was also not completely hipster, which was a pleasant surprise in Logan Square. Due to the setup of the bar, it is a little on the noisy side. Good playlist though, and nice and crowded on a weeknight.
(4)Scott N.
Awesome people. Awesome bar food. Awesome beer selection!
(4)Paul D.
I went last night with a friend and needless to say it was a good time. The regularly priced beers are on the high side but the specials make up for it. The bartender was very friendly just joking around with us as we watched re-runs of american gladiator (perfect bar TV) I'm sure I'll be back.
(4)mervin j.
Brand new place that we have all been hearing about for a while. My thoughts after my first visit are. -Wow, nice lamps! Why can't the rest of the place look as good as the lamps? -I'm across the room from the bar, why can I hear everyones conversations sitting over there? -I'm not grossed out by the food, in fact its pretty good for a bar & grill. -Sweet jukebox and pinball. -OK beer selection, it could be better, but it could be way way worse. I really wanted to give it a 3, but I would drive to a bar if they had a good pinball machine, and this place is walking distance. Although I have to say I expected a little more on the decor.
(4)Andy M.
Good food and good look for this Logan Sqaure bar. I like the back private room with one pool table. A very unique part of a bar. The wraps and burgers are very good in this place and the service was excellente.
(4)Amy M.
UPDATE: Revisited since going vegan and was extremely disappointed. Everything that is vegetarian has cheese in it. I ate a portabello feta wrap, minus feta. It was so-so. No longer my favorite neighborhood bar.
(2)Bridget I.
Went here on a Tuesday, just looking for a new place to have a beer. It was dead when we came in, but picked up when we left around 7. Very nice upscale atmosphere, decent drink specials, but there's not much that's unique about this place, nothing to draw you back. The bartender was friendly but didn't know much about the beers on tap (lots of good choices, local, craft and imported). Ordered the Kim & Scott's pretzel basket - decent. I wanted to order the poutine but for some reason I didn't trust the bar to do it right. Just as my friend and I were about to leave, bored after one drink (well, one beer and a shot of Maker's - $4 on Tuesdays!) I headed to the bathroom and discovered a pool table. Saving grace - we played 2 uninterrupted games. The pool table is in its own separate room, along with a pinball machine and Ms. Pacman old school sit-down arcade game. I'd be curious to try more food here, or come back on a weekend night. It looks like they get a good dinner crowd and they had a varied menu - typical bar fare but it seemed promising.
(2)Sara A.
I'm giving this place four stars, although I'd like to give it 3.5, but yelp only allows you to round up. Let me start off by saying, I live 2 blocks away, up Milwaukee, so for me, this is the closest, and nicest bar around, besides El Cid, and I'm not as much of a fan. I have been here twice in a week, just to put it in perspective. The service has been excellent and friendly. The decor is fashionably of last season and dark. They are trying to go for that comfortable, upscale pub, with black tables, red curtains and dark walls. But I'm not sure if it is working. Maybe if they brought the lighting down, closer to the tables to accent, it would feel more like a speakeasy, which is what I think they are kinda going for. I do have to say that the bathrooms are exceptionally clean and the place is never fully crowded. Its always easy to get a seat. Oh, and they have a pool table in back, that seems to have a monopoly on it at all times. One problem, besides the lighting, is that they play the music too damn loud for a place that serves pub food. Its not a club, its a pub. I shouldn't have to scream across to my companion. Unless this is ploy to buy more drinks. The beer selection is decent but they need to get some better ciders. They offer 2, but they are too sweet to be called anything other than fruit juice. And the $4 Jameson shots on Wednesday, while a good ploy, should actually be full shots, not medicinal sized 2 tbsp shot glasses. I will come back, yes, if only for the chips and salsa(which was definitely good) and the proximity to my house. Its reasonably priced and open late. I like the Rocking Horse, but they need to work on some things before it becomes my regular.
(4)Jessica C.
I had the shrimp quesadillas with a Pale Ale and it was delish. Not too crazy about the strong smell that hits you when you walk in but other than that, my experience was good.
(4)Sonja S.
On those rare occasions when I am feeling a little homesick for Seattle, I like to head on over to The Rocking Horse. Actually that is a total lie... I live in River North - when I am feeling homesick I lay down until it passes. But what IS true is that every time I go to The Rocking Horse, I think awe, I miss Seattle. Maybe its the flannel the patrons of both sexes are sporting, maybe its the funky friendly waitstaff, maybe its the brew pub meets local bar interior, or it could just be the Indie Rock that rolls around you like a hug. Whatever it is, its relaxing and a great place to go for an informal gathering with friends. The food is good bar food - the tater tots done poutaine style are awesome, as are almost every single appetizer on the menu. I am personally a big fan of the Chicken Strips ala Buffalo style.... Drinks are inexpensive and a reasonable pour in terms of booze. Wine selection is a yawn, but drinkable. All in all, its a place I enjoy because its always reliably pleasant. Every once in awhile, that's just what the Doctor ordered.
(4)Lynn L.
I stumbled upon this place around dinner time. As we were entering the rocking horse, customers were satisfied and telling us to try the burgers. We found a table very quick. Since it was around dinner time. I found it quite great for quick food selections. We got the tacos, which were okay and very filling. Also complimented us with the selection of a bunch of hot sauces. There is a hidden pool table in the back and an old vintage photobooth for use. They have a small arcade machine as well with the classics. As it got closer to 9, people were flooding in, as it is a beer and whiskey bar. It was great atmosphere and service was friendly.
(4)Jason S.
I've ended up coming here a lot lately, a large part because I can usually find a seat. The menu is good, relatively veggie and fried shit friendly, good beer selection, decent prices with the occasional good special. The staff is friendly and service is typically very good to above average. One complaint though. If anyone who works there stumbles across this message, please take not. For the love of the sweet holy christ, please change the cleaning solution you use to wipe off the tables, it smells like embalming fluid.
(4)Nicole S.
Between the great daily specials, awesome beer selection and the good service, I've never had a bad time here. The only downfall is sometimes the DJ or music of choice (while I love it) is sometimes so loud I can't hear nor think. I'll keep coming back but it puts a damper on attempting conversation when it's so loud.
(4)chris c.
The service is pretty good, their beer list is very good (but they run out of stuff too often), and their food is average. I definitely like the place just not as much as Revolution in the area or even small bar.
(3)Brian m.
Its exactly what you think it is...total hipster bar in the heart of Logan Square. Sandiwches are always great, but service is spotty. Beers are $5-$6....sandwiches are $8-$10...Probably the best late night food in the area, but not that great of a hang out if you're not a hipster.
(3)Mimi D.
I live in this hood and appreciate the new establishments that are popping up. My husband I and have been here twice. The experience has been pretty consistent. He's had burgers both times and loved them. I've had the turkey avocado and it was good. They do a really good job of making the simple things taste good. I had the chicken wild rice soup and it was flavored just right! I did try the pulled pork sandwich the last time, but that was too spicy for me. That's just my personal taste, so if someone else might enjoy it. The downsides for me...the music was way too loud. I think another yelper below said that too. It's hard to have a conversation....it's a bar not a club. I know they probably chose the dark colors to give it a more intimate vibe...just a bit too dark & almost difficult to see. All in all, It's a nice cool vibe. And for the most part I'm a fan. Will have to try their brunch next!
(4)Paul H.
Go here for brunch. It's quick and good.
(5)Jeremiah T.
The Rocking Horse has a solid beer selection, great food, and a pool table in back to enjoy. The pool is free on Tuesdays, and if you go in, you'll most likely run into me. They rotate specials nightly. I've seen bigger micro beer selections, but I'm not looking for a pipette each from 300 beers. I'm looking to enjoy some good beers, maybe some pool, and possibly food, in a classy joint. The Rocking Horse has that.
(5)Iwona C.
Best bloody mary I' ve ever had at really affordable price! Good music and enough room to sit down and have a good time with friends!
(4)John S.
This is a great bar, I will be a regular. Glad to see something like this in Logan Square. It has a nice pool table, good music, great beer selection and a photobooth! I have had a few different dishes there and must admit the food is OK at best. I know its bar food and must take that into consideration, I would recommend the portabella fries and ranch french fries. I haven't tried the brunch yet but will on a weekend. If the food was better I would have rated higher!
(3)Ziggy I.
(Review breakdown: 0 for drinks + -10 for service = 1 star in Yelpematics) I wish I'd gotten the name of the doorman's parole officer before leaving the Rocking Horse, as convict recidivism is a sad yet unavoidable truth. The young man honestly was behaving like he was ripped on amphetamines. Whatever he was on, he simply isn't ready for a productive life in polite society yet, cos' last I checked, roughing up paying customers *to the point that your coworkers are physically restraining you* isn't really a thing. This bar is a disgrace: overpriced, too-cool-for-school, and run by criminally insane man-children. Avoid at all costs.
(1)Meghan A.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet, because it's my favorite bar in Logan Square. Love the giant booths, love the not-too-loud atmosphere (I'm here most often on weeknights and weekend afternoons), love the ginormous beer list, love the tater tots, love that they have a photo booth. I wish I could give it 4.5 stars because the service can be a little hit-or-miss, but overall this is a great bar and I go there on a regular basis.
(5)Anna R.
So, 3pm on a Saturday;I thought this place would have like a 20-min-wait (happened last time), but was surprisingly sparse, although, definitely not dead. Always been a bit hesitant about going here, but the first visit was nice and this second one has been super pleasant. $5 bloody and a BBQ bacon burger with cajun fries. The drink was pretty great, and I am a harsh judge of a bloody maries; it was wasn't overwhelmingly spicy but the kick was in the pants. The burger might have had a bit too much barbeque sauce but it was completely amazing -- I felt complelled to yelp because of this burger. The patty was fabulously seasoned, soft and durable bun, chewy and crispy bacon, grilled and slurpy little red onions. The fries were good and the ranch dressing was dill-dreamy, mmm. Service- cooly attentive, knowledgeable. Music- pretty sweet. I can't wait to go back and try more stuff.
(4)Meg Z.
Good beer list, amazing appetizers, friendly waiters! The outside kind of looks like it may be an S&M dungeon interior, but its actually really spacious and comfortable. Even on Friday and Saturday nights, I've never had a problem getting a table, but its also not creepily dead. Our waiters have always been friendly and even stop to chat, which is getting more and more rare in Logan Square bars where staff tend to get holier-than-thou. Get the tater tots. Thank me later.
(5)Kim W.
for some reason, i am absolutely in love with this place. i try to get everyone to come here with me. i think it's because this place is non-pretentious but still calls out to my inner bourgeois-side. i think the overall atmosphere, the jukebox, the ample seating and the rotating micro-brew tap selection are the reasons why this place is a great neighbourhood bar. but if you really insist on knowing why you should come here, ONE WORD: poutine!
(4)Steve J.
Why are there so many bad reviews of this place, I've been here twice, and had a great meal and good beer specials both times. There's not many cool places in the L.S. (as I am wont to call it), but his is definitely our new favorite spot. We came mainly for a meal each time and were not disappointed. A HUGE plate of tater-tots as an appetizer...hell yeah. Tuna club was excellent, good solid bar burger, chorizo wontons...very good stuff. If you complain about type of people that hang out in bars, or neighborhoods, is that not a larger indictment of society in general, or maybe you're just too cool for school, you uber-hipster, you.
(4)Chris M.
Gotta try the tater tots....they are in enourmous portions and a wide variety. I also tried the jalepeno hummus. Very good and spicy. They also have a good beer list at reasonable prices. The bartenders are very friendly and helpful.
(5)Avi S.
Decent specials nice atmosphere. Not too loud.
(4)Jeffrey H.
Amazing bar food! I've had a burger, steak sandwich, chicken parm, Buffalo Chix - all was above average! The fries and tater tots are reallly good too! Its consistant, the food is good and the menu is large. What more could you ask for?
(4)James T.
This place rocks (pardon the pun)! Quality food, service, and atmosphere. Will definitely go back again, and again.
(5)X C.
I only ever come here for lunch, and I would probably never come if it weren't so close to my apartment. The stiff contemporary goth decor makes me not want to venture in for late-night drinks. The prices are fairly reasonable, and the food is pretty good. $3.50 can get you a french fry/tator tot plate that you won't be able to finish (unless you're a real fatty). Good beer selection. The few times I've visited, my waitresses have all been extremely goodlooking and fashionably dressed hipster women. Just saying. However, service is a toss up: some are attentive, some forget you're there. Handy spot to go to if you live in the area. Otherwise, you can probably find an equivalent in your own neighborhood.
(3)Dario J.
We stopped by for a drink and were blown away by the food quality. Its not just bar food but restaurant quality! We stopped by at least once a week. Dine in or carry out its always good!
(4)Jenny R.
The hubby and I hit The Rocking Horse tonight for dinner before a movie. WOW! We loved it. No wait on a Friday night for a table. Fast, friendly service without feeling rushed. One of the largest beer menus ever. We had 2 great beers on tap(Two Brothers Monarch and Bell's Oberon)for just $5 a pint. Light and summery, they went well with today's sunshine & warm breezes. We agreed to split whatever we ordered and shared a bacon bbq burger and the ahi tuna club-both with 'tots. We love our 'tots here at home, but these are the best tots ever(perfectly crispy on the outside and tender in the middle and seasoned just right). The burger was wonderful. Cannot wait to try their pulled bbq pork if it has the same sauce on it. The grilled red onion was just the right touch with the thick slab bacon to balance the flavors. The tuna......omg. This sandwich is all about texture. The tuna just melts in your mouth smoothing out the sharp salty bacon and finishing with the rich avocado. I'll have a hard time ordering anything else here in the future. Perfect dinner and beer place on a date night. We never did make it to the movie-we were so full of good food and beer that we were worried we'd doze off during the movie and we're not complaining! I am jealous that my husband works just around the block from the Horse and can grab lunch here every day if he wants to(they have carryout). We will definitely be back to the Rocking Horse.
(4)Sean L.
I'm glad to see places like this opening up in Logan Square. It gives me some more options to go out to other than some of the dive bars in the area. The ambiance is really chic on the inside, I just hope they don't let it get to their heads and jack up the prices. I had the Black & Bleu Burger. Nothing to write home about, but alright. I opted for the Ranch Fries, which didn't really have much flavor. I will try the Cajun ones next time. Hopefully those will be a little more flavorful than regular fries.
(3)Jonathan A.
It's ok I guess. I haven't tried the food yet, so I should write an update based on that. I went on opening night, and the place was just packed and loud as hell, so I thought that wasn't really a fair assessment of the place. Went back a couple weeks later on a weeknight. And the experience was much better, but not all that great. The place is still loud and echo-ey, even with just a handful of people. The acoustics of this big open space and the jukebox volume force everyone to talk way louder than they need to. And it can be kind of annoying. Maybe ok on a weekend, but on a slow weeknight when you just want to sit and talk over a drink and food, not so much. The place is also really dark, due to black walls, dark furniture and incidental lighting. You can't really even get a good estimation of the decor. But there doesn't really seem to be any, aside from a couple chandeliers and a wooden rocking horse mounted on the wall. The bar has a nice look to it. The food and drink menu seemed fairly large and a little nicer than your average bar food. But nothing jumped out at me. Decent beers and appetizers. But overall, the place feels kind of generic and lacking in character. It seems to cater towards more of a yuppster crowd. Hipsters with jobs and money. Imagined if you combined the layout, atmosphere and crowds of Dunlays and the Burlington, and you may be close. I'll probably go back to try the food, and who knows it may grow on me. They do have a couple tvs to watch whatever game is on.
(3)Nana H.
Meehhhhh, It's too sporty for my tastes...sometimes by sporty I mean to masculine. I guess it's good for the normal types of people in the hood. I like how it's right next to the Hispanic club. The food is your typical bar food, with only slight flare and it's always too salty. The only think I appreciate is the Matilda on tap. I guess I could come back here if i had out of town guests who weren't into cool things.
(2)Jessica S.
initially, this is my favorite go-to eat & drink spot in logan. and here are the reasons why i feel this way! they have drink specials every day of the week, and by every day i mean even on the weekends. $4 for a gin and tonic on a friday night? give me 20, please. oh yeah, and $3 pbr tall boys errday. they are super duper ice cold too, meaning that i had one that was like a pbr-slushie, but i didn't really hate it that much. i went there to just get my friday-night-drink-special on and was glad to see that it had a pretty cool late-night bar vibe, vs my worry of it just being a good restaurant/get-a-few-beers kind of place. the food. is. in.cred.i.ble. spinach omelette with potatoes was great, jalapeno hummus was great, but their smoked turkey & apple sandwich is just so perfect and delicious. seriously, seriously, seriously such a good sandwich. who knew a sandwich could be so good? trust me, i'm being serious here. the only thing negative about this place is the service is kind of weird, but i'd definitely rather have a slighty bitchy waitress than an obnoxious one who wants to be my friend. but just, you know, enjoy some of their shots specials and suddenly they aren't so bad :D
(4)Super L.
Ate here twice. The first time it took ten minutes for the server to acknowledge us, and even then there was no apology, she seemed to hate life, and she'd disappear never to be seen except maybe for once or twice during our entire meal, and those times she'd seem miserable. The busboy waited on us more than she did. ANYhoo, the burgers were FABULOUS - and that is what is important! Their cool frie dealios are kind of expensive which keeps us from trying all the different ones, but it's cool they have the option. All in all, I'll give them a solid 3 just because of the super delicious burgers. Plus they have some decent drink specials and prices.
(3)Alison H.
We had a friend in town the other night and wanted to grab some drinks nearby. We'd never been to Rocking Horse before, but I'd heard that it offered cheap drinks and ok food. The drinks were cheap. The beer selection was great. Several of my current faves were available on tap and in the bottle at a cheaper price than other bars I frequent. The food was a pleasant surprise. I was expecting typical bar food. I ordered the Turkey Club with Cajun Fries. I was impressed with this sandwich. It was just what I wanted; very tasty. My husband was a bit disappointed with his dinner. But we'll definitely be back to give them another try. The atmosphere was nice as well. Clean, modern. It was dim and cozy. There was music, but it wasn't so loud that you couldn't have a conversation. It's definitely a hipster place--I think we were the only non-hipsters there. But the staff was polite and friendly and we weren't looked at like lepers for not wearing skinny jeans and too-tight flannel shirts. We are definitely fans of Rocking Horse and will return here again in the near future.
(4)Kevin R.
I always look forward coming here on Thursdays. $3 draft beers and the portobello fries! Ahh... the portobello fries.... Brunch kicks ass too. Great bar to relax and take in the ambience. Also love the early 90's jukebox
(5)Anna G.
Epitome of awesomeness! Food is great, reasonably priced, and wait staff is cool. Decor is really nice, LOVE the lighting, and there's a game room in back if you wanna kill time while your waiting. All around, really awesome place.
(5)Martha H.
Awesome selection of beers and gluten free too for me. The tacos were awesome and we went back yesterday for brunch and the food was so good I couldn't stop thinking about it for the rest of the day.
(5)link b.
They have turbo dog!!! and shrimp po boys!!!
(3)Haley S.
As a huge fan of Logan Square, I waited and waited for a place with good beer and good eats that embodied the eclectic nature of the neighborhood. I guess i will still be waiting. Rocking Horse is blah, unfortunately. The atmosphere is blah, the food is blah and the wait staff is blah about being there. I'm hoping that after a year of being open they are reevaluating their menu, their workers and their motif, and are getting to work improving, but for now, skip it.
(2)Bernie H.
One word: Tator Tots with Cheese and Gravy.
(5)Richard W.
I love you, Rocking Horse. You are my go-to place. Your food is delicious, your french-fries are outstanding. $3 craft beers every Thursday? Its a date! I like your staff, they are always friendly. My girlfriend doesn't like your indie-rock playlist, but I will forgive you for that. Save a spot at the bar for me this Thursday, I will see you then.
(5)Jillian D.
this place is solid. and the name is oh-so-appropriate. the juke box indeed rocks. had my birthday party here and despite the crowded quarters, the friends and i were able to snag a huge table and a booth for our crew. great beer list. and delicious eats to boot. everyone in my group stands by the ranch tater tots :) and i gotta spread the word about the ahi tuna club. TRY IT. if only rocking horse were located a little closer to my home so i could just crawl in and out whenever the mood strikes...
(4)Becca R.
Was driving by the horse tonight and decided to drop by. Had the shrimp po boy which I highly recommend and then they had this crazy delicious Jameson, oh yes, Jameson whiskey ice cream with a little bit of dark chocolate shavings. Mmmmmm yummy and addicting! Dare you to take just one bite and say you don't want another. This ice cream was great and oh so ADDICTING! I just happen to get lucky as this was a limited special tonight :)
(5)Josue J.
Everything is delicious
(4)Claudia R.
Not bad... plenty of room and good service.
(4)PJ B.
Our fourth time there and AGAIN THE SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE. The servers are there to party and talk to each other, not to wait on customers. Our waitress was rude, unapologetic that she forgot something and just unpleasant, not to mention she was literally leaning on the bar yaking with the bartender when we came in. No eye contact, didn't tell us where to sit, nothing. I tried to send a complaint on their website but I guess they aren't accepting emails. One more time we'll try it - then if it doesn't improve, we are never going again even if we love the menu.
(2)Amanda T.
A bunch of humans and I congregated here for a friend's birthday and I am grateful to the staff and patrons for being able to tolerate our loudness/awkwardness. Besides from looking like a typical pub, it's actually a pretty cool place. Everyone was laid back and jovial and there was great music throughout the night. Oh and I really liked the light fixtures! There was a decent beer selection, and prices weren't annoying. Our server was a peach and took good care of us. And the best thing about the place is Ms. Pac-Man. Obsessed.
(4)Julz P.
This was my first visit here, and will be my last. The website was very deceiving, as when we walked in the door the place looked like just another bar, and it smelled like they forgot to clean up from the night before (that beer soaked soggy smell). We sat down and it took about 10 minutes for anyone to serve us, and the waitress then looked completely disgusted when we ordered soda instead of beer. The food was normal bar food, nothing special. And when I got home I was sick the whole night. I don't know if this place was to blame, but I surely will not being trying again to find out.
(1)Kristen H.
This was my second visit and it was to play pool & to have some cocktails. I must say, I really like the atmosphere of this place. The staff was extremely friendly and great as far as bar service is concerned. The pool is $1 a game which is a great price and there's even a photo booth at the joint!! I've met the owner during both visits and I must say it's refreshing to see younger entrepreneurs bringing new great places to the Square. Rock on rocking horse, you'll definitely see me again - hopefully next time I'll check out the grub.
(4)Lukin W.
I dig the beer that tastes like banana bread and the smoky grilled wings. I also dig the antique lamps hanging throughout the seating area! The location is convenient, but not crowded (unless it's Friday/Saturday) and the staff and patrons are generally cool. This is a great place for a lunch or early dinner.
(4)Steve R.
I'm kinda biased from knowing some of the folks who work there, but I really dig this joint. I find it pretty low key and unpretentious, with a decent mix of people. I thought the food was very good, actually. Great stuff on tap, cool bartenders...all good by me. I consider it more of a night spot than somewhere I would hit for lunch, as it skews pretty dim inside even on sunny days. But it's a nice bar-tomb at night. Not a crazy number of TVs, the tunes are generally pretty good. A good hangout place, I don't think it's a place to "be seen" or to punch your boho cred timecard but that's what I like about it. Very happy to see ya in my hood, Rocking Horse!
(4)Jim T.
I love it, just what this area needs. Dunlay's can be a bit too family friendly and the Whirl-away Lounge can be too seedy for the uninitiated. This is a great place to go with friends to have some good beers in a comfortable setting. They even serve PBR for the hipsters who help keep my property values low. Our server was an incredibly attractive red head and very sweet. The bar tender had some fantastic legs. I'll be back, and back again...
(5)Olivia P.
I really enjoyed the beer selection and the mushroom garlic burger was incredibly delicious, one of the best burgers I've ever had. 4 stars because our water glasses sat empty and when we asked our waitress for more water she never brought it to us. They were pretty busy, but refilling water glasses is pretty basic service.
(4)vito m.
good selection of craft brews and the wings were great!
(4)Jacqueline M.
I LOVE the Rocking Horse! It is my new fave bar. I am here at least once a week. They have a great beer list and good specials. Also the chicken wings are so , so good! Spicy, crispy and not all goopy.
(5)g b.
unsure what to think about this place. went there after a concert in the square, and was confused as i walked in. table one, a bunch of frat looking boys being loud and playing cards, table two, a mexican family with a stroller... and the servers were all in the new trend, plaid shirts, shorts and cowboy boots- total hipsters. i think this bar has an idenity crisis. aside from the strange collection of patrons, they did have a good selection of beers, and the menu was giant- including a whole page dedicated to fried foods, such as ranch tater tots, apple wantons, etc. i left thinking i should go back for lunch and try the rest of the food... but i felt like i was at grand central in lincoln park, that had somehow been uprooted and dropped in the middle of nowhere... will not be spending my weekends there....
(2)Kc H.
Been here a few times and as I love a bar with decent food, this place certainly fits the bill with some good standards and some other interesting options like the apple and cream cheese wontons ( a good idea, but generally anything on a menu that comes in the shape of a pocket should be filled, completely, with the contents that said menu suggests). A PLUS PLUS to having Kim and Scott's pretzels, and a pool table. Oh, and an additional kudos for no hostile assholes. Makes drinking in public much more fun. Would happily go here over Dunlays or Logan Bar any day of the week.
(3)Liz C.
I went here for brunch on Sunday and it was my first time. I got Eggs Benedict and it was really good! Anytime Eggs Benedict is offered on a menu I get its one of my favorite things ever and this was the best I've had in while.
(4)Alexis P.
Really good selection of local and regional beers on tap. The food I had was pretty tasty - a loaded veggie burger and portabella fries. I'm not sure what the dipping sauce was for the fries, but it was creamy and delicious. The toppings on the burger made it taste really good, but it would be better if they made their own patty. There was comfortable seating at the bar and plenty of space for a large crowd. There were enough interesting things that sounded good on the menu that I would definitely want to go back - won-tons and big pretzels for instance. There are TVs, so if you sit at the bar, it is a great place to watch a game, but there aren't so many that it would ruin your experience if you didn't care about whatever was on.
(3)Steve M.
Tater Tots covered in gravy and cheese....Now I ask you can anything possibly be wrong about that? The answer is a resounding no. The black and bleu burger was also quite tasty. I also appreciate the no "cubs" on tv policy unless someone specifically ask to watch the cubs, but who in their right mind would do that. Overall this place has lots of food and drink choices, but I think the thing that will keep me coming back is the tots and all the wonderful ways they are being served.
(4)Chris S.
The only pub grub spots that I know of in Logan Square are Logan and The Rocking Horse. The latter definitely blows away the former. Rocking Horse has excellent burgers, a yummy variety of fries (Greek, cajun, etc.), and good beers on tap. Typical pub atmosphere, but I do find it a bit sterile. The juke box, however, makes up for it.
(4)Paul L.
Good alternative to your usual spot. Service is so-so, food is good, and there's lots of booths. Get a good look at the creepy doll painting a the corner booth, it's badass.
(3)Moe f.
Been here a couple of times for drinks only. Mixed crowd and a pretty good beer list. If you're in the hood, hit it up but wouldn't go outta my way to drink here.
(3)Rachel K.
Went to The Rocking Horse a couple weeks ago because, like everyone else, we were ecstatic a new place opened up on the square. Its ok. The decor is really nice and everything is sparkly and new. They have a good beer selection which is great for my wife and the food is decent. But I do not like beer. I'm more of a martini drinker so I asked the waitress what martinis they had, if any. She had no idea. Okay fine, new place whatever. She told me they could probably make me whatever I wanted so I daringly asked for a pomegranite martini. She looked at me like "yeah right" so I said "ok give me an apple martini." She went back to the bar and awhile came back and said that they couldn't do apple, but they could do cosmo, lemon drop, or a 3rd option I can't remember. I told her to get me a cosmo. About 5 minutes later this guy (I'm assuming the manager) came over with an apple martini saying that they didn't think they had it but he "found some in the back." Um ... what? You "found" it? I had suspicions that this was probably from a mix and when I tasted it I was pretty sure that was the case. It tasted very much like a low quality appletini. My wife tasted it and said it was awful. And on the bill it was quoted as "well vodka" with a "martini" upgrade. You DO NOT make a martini with well vodka. I will never get a martini there again thats for sure. I did have a raspberry stoli and lemonade as well and that was fine, but not exactly difficult to make. The other thing I didn't really like was that the waitress said that I couldn't get the fries that came with my burger upgraded. I rarely want to get fries for an appetizer since they come with burgers and whatnot, but I really wanted to try their poutine fries. I was totally willing to pay for the upcharge and it should totally be doable. I really hope they work that kink out and realize they can make more money by offering such an upgrade. So instead I got tatertots and they were pretty bland. I was disappointed in them. The night we went there they were having a $6 burger and fries special. That's cool I like specials, but this was only a barebones burger. If you wanted anything on it they would charge you more or if you wanted one of their specialty burgers you are charged full price. So it really didn't feel like much of a special. And, as other's have said, this place is noisy. I'm sure we'll go back since its close and their food is decent, but I doubt we'll be spending much time or money there. We actually left earlier than we had expected to and went down the street to The Whistler where for 50 cents more than that awful martini I could get a tasty handcrafted drink.
(3)Liz O.
Yay! I love this place and 99.9% of the people who work here. The beer is cold and the tots are hot. The crowd is odd at times but isn't that what makes a place dear to your heart?
(5)joel t.
pretty awesome set up. dark. long bar. good beer. not too loud. fairly unassuming crowd. clearly the $3 craft beer thursdays is the way to go. had i only known. but even so, the beers are reasonably priced, and particularly well chosen. alpha king, daisycutter, green line, arrogant bastard, among many others. the tater tots were very good. not too greasy, plentiful, and came with a garlic dipping sauce. the juke box was pretty excellent as well. and at a good volume, so as not to muffle conversation. very cool place.
(4)Brian K.
My cousin April held her birthday party at the Rocking Horse. It was a fun bar with a pretty great atmosphere and delightful ambiance. The art and photographs on the walls were totally awesome y'all! The beer prices were extremely reasonable. Anywhere there is a $3 PBR Tall Boy please, get me there so I can bask in all the glory that is Pabst Blue Ribbon. I want that!
(4)Eric B.
The Rocking Horse seems to be just another average bar. I do like their beer selection, and I think it's priced reasonably. I'm a little unimpressed with the food, but the wings were ok. It's kind of dark and loud, but that doesn't matter if you're just in to have a few beers.
(3)Brent K.
In the suddenly exploding LSQ bar scene, Rocking Horse doesnt really do much to stand out. Everything is decent, nothing wowed me. (well save the gravy/cheddar tatertots)
(3)Travis W.
We went on a Thursday night and thought the whole experience was great. The place was crowded enough to feel like you were in a popular place, but there was still room to be comfortable and have your own space. I had the burger special and tator tots - both were great! My friends had the pulled pork (said it was one of the best he's had) and taco salad (good review as well). The portobello fries were to die for as well. It was only our first time there, but Rocking Horse seems to be a tremendous addition to the neighborhood!
(5)Jonathan J.
Cheap snacks, quick, and a solid selection of things on tap and decent, cheap cocktails. Not super busy and crowded, which is nice, and things felt intimate for our group setting. Burgers were solid but the appetizers looked like an awesome option next time.
(4)Amy H.
I went last night with some friends. It's hard to see if it's open from the outside. It's very large and roomy inside with a small pool table room and photo booth (yay!) in the back. Great drinks, not too expensive, and great service. I didn't check out their food choices as we had just returned from a belly stuffing meal at 90 Miles. The crowd was very mixed, a lot of neighborhood types. All in all a good bar so far.
(3)Emily M.
Went here for the first time this weekend for a friend's birthday. The tots were amazing! But the food took FOREVER. Our waitress did warn us in advance so I can't complain too much. Decent drink selection. Get there early to score a good booth, started to get crowded around 9. Good service.
(3)chad n.
Lots of tastee beers on tap, decent food, big booths, and close to my house make this one of my favs.
(4)benjamin d.
Lethargic, torpid, brain dead. These would all describe me and my girl as we entered the Rocking Horse on Thursday for their 3dollar draft specials. Then we me our server. Lethargic, torpid, brain dead. Yeah, we look like working stiffs cause we are both at jobs that kinda suck, but hey, we are trying! I got the same vibe off our server. Bad vibe to be getting from someone in the hospitality industry. I appreciate it when a server shows at least a modicum of energy and enthusiasm. A smile, perhaps? I fake smile all the fucking time at my job. People fucking love that shit! You know what else people love, information. I appreciate it when a server can provide information and opinions on product in an intelligent, professional manner. Yeah, the beers are three dollars, and they might suck, but how about telling your guests about what doesn't suck without having to defer to the bartender. This is what you do today. Tomorrow you will be a rockstar or whatever. Why not try to do this one thing today with passion and intelligence? Huh, o.k, fuck it. Just give me whatevers on special. I don't care.
(2)William M.
If it wasn't for Susan, a mess of a server, I would give this place 5 stars. Great appetizers, their burgers are made extremely well and you've got to try the seasoned tots
(4)ReRe A.
ah yes, the Rocking Horse, where you must always wait for the bartenders and servers to finish having social conversations with other employees before you can put your drink order in. and then you must wait while the bartender engages in another conversation with a waitress while his warm clammy hand heats up your finished drink.... and you wait and wait and wait: btw, the drinks are weak and food is mediocre at best. i give two stars only for the fact that there is a pool table. as soon as a new, better place moves in with a pool table, i will never have to come here again.
(2)Rebecca H.
The portabello mushroom fries make me love it. It's right by my place so it's hard for me to not like it. It is a good place if you want to get sauced up on a variety of whiskey. It is a strange cross between sporty and rocker bar. I think they may need to decide what they are trying to do if they want to become a destination spot but definitely a reliable place for some near beer.
(3)Michelle R.
This is a pretty cool place. Nice atmosphere, cool people, and good music. They also have really tasty tator tots.
(4)Rob Z.
I've only been here once but I like it! The place was spacious and I love their decour (although its kind of dark at night since everything is black). It's a great location to have a drink and eat. But unlike other bar places, their menu is quite extensive! I mean we have Dunlay's about 30 feet away that have about 5 entrees to choose from that are not salad's yet this place has at least 25. And it tasted great! I would definitely go back. It's a great addition to Logan Square
(4)Julie F.
Went back and Allagash was down to $5.50 a glass! Had the portobella wrap, which was very fresh tasting. Keep up the good work RH!
(4)Jennifer K.
Rocking Horse is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. I've been here for just drinks, for dinner and now for brunch. I can honestly say I've been pleased every time I come here. The food is delicious and reasonably priced (especially if, like me, you enjoy getting a mound of fries with your meal). When hubby recommended it for brunch, I was a little skeptical because I didn't think it was the brunch atmosphere I was looking for, but the food more than makes up for it. The French Toast I had was unreal, and the bacon was delish. We also had the breakfast sandwich with rosemary potatoes. I can't wait to come back here and try the pancakes next time.
(5)Christy B.
Food was just okay (the mozzarella sticks tasted like the ones you buy frozen at the grocery store and the veggie burger was the same). But the beer selection was pretty good, and prices were fantastic. I'll be back there for drinks, but probably not for food.
(4)Jonathan W.
Thank you for the Addams Family pinball! Food is pretty average...decent beer selection. Friendly staff. The place is surprisingly nice. The have a brunch which has always looked tempting but I have not had a chance to check it out yet.
(4)Jonathan C.
Okay, I'm uping the rating here, because its not as bad as I initially experienced. The food is actually good, but do not eat anything made out of chicken here, its always just overcooked. That was my initial mistake here, the chicken products (I love chicken). I'd avoid the sashimi dish too, its missing that soy sauce saltiness that makes sushi grade fish so delicious. Turkey club is excellent. Burgers are good as well. Service is fine and drink prices are reasonable to average. I like that its not super crowded. And there are seats. I like sitting.
(4)Jennifer D.
I think it's weird that so many reviews for Rocking Horse criticize the fact that it draws a diverse crowd. Does a group of hipsters, or hippies, or jocks really detract from the awesome beer selection and good food? Maybe having a variety of types people around makes me feel more comfortable because I don't really fit into any one group (I think someone made a comment about aging hipsters? I think I might be too old to even fit into that category!). What I'm trying to say is; if you have eclectic taste in music and people, you don't take yourself too seriously, and you like beer, check this bar out! I've been there over a dozen times and the food has always been surprisingly delicious (the vege quesadillas were SO flavorful, the vege burger is the best in Chicago and they have a yummy version of poutine as well). The beer averages $5-$6, but there are specials for $4 almost every day. And there's a pool table in the back. Give it a try! You can always leave and go to Cole's or Longman & Eagle!
(4)Nguyen L.
I don't get out to Logan Square too much, but Rocking Horse is worth it! Cool crowd, tasty food, and a great selection of beer. I'll admit that it's a bit more hipster than what I'm used to, living near the Loop. But maybe that's a good thing. Nice people, no pretentiousness, and there's actually a little diversity. Not that I'm into judging people on how they look or anything.... Anyways, their food was pretty tasty too. I really enjoyed the spicy Cajun fries and the Southwest eggrolls. And yeah, their beer selection rocks. 20-ish craft beers on tap, plus a bunch more in bottles! Gulp gulp gulp....
(4)Cara T.
I think this might be the neighborhood bar choice for my husand and I. I've never been here late, usually just dinner after work or late dinner on Friday or Saturday night (from reviews seems like it can get crowded, loud, and hot). That's not the Rocking Horse I know. We LOVE the atmosphere. It's not usally crowded at the times we go, great place to unwind after work or a after a busy Saturday. It's dimly lit and they have huge, comfortable booth seating. Perfect for just chilling. The food is really solid. I've sampled a lot and can't wait to try more. For appetizers--Guacamole is fresh. Greek fries are super tasty with feta, lemon, oil, and herbs (not messy really). Mozarella sticks are straight from a box, but good if you have a craving... Still want to try homemade spinach feta wontons and portobello fries Entrees--I've had the Ahi Tuna Club. Oh Man. That is a great sandwich. Really fresh and lightly seared tuna with bacon, avacado, lettuce, tomato, and an awesome wasabi mayo on a toatsy grain bread. I also had a "Burger" with cheddar cheese. Came with all the traditional yummy toppings and GREAT pickles (it was like a HUGE ball-park dill pickle cut into slices...yum). I've also tried a bite of the Black and Bleu burger. Great choice for a meat and bleu cheese fan. I can't forget the HUGE stack of fries that come with the sandwiches....watch out for those cajun fries. So hot but you just can't stop. I think I might need to try the chili as well--I saw a huge bowl last time and it looked REALLY good.
(4)kevin c.
Beer list is good. Thursday special is very nice. Food is pretty good too. The prime ribeye steal sandwich was great. The apple wontons are very good as well.
(4)Marie C.
I really like this place. Go on Thursday when many of their best craft brews are $3 a pint! Three Floyds, Lagunitas, Two Brothers etc!!! I love it! The food is much better than average pub food. Their wraps are tasty and the salads are great. My friend had the burger and said it was dee-lish.
(4)Garrett T.
Really hoppy about the beer. Great selection both local and domestic.
(4)T Mir S.
Tried it for sunday brunch... not bad, but def nothing to brag about... food was good, service was good...
(3)Ed H.
This place is a solid bar that delivers the essentials without being overly pretentious. I feel more comfortable here than at any of the bars in Logan Square. Keep it up!
(5)Ryan N.
Finally, a good neighborhood bar in Logan Square. I love this place, I've gotten to know a couple of bartenders and they are super cool. They have a really good beer selection but then again I always just go for bottled water (Bud Light). My favorite go to bar in Logan Square.
(4)Mary F.
I like the darkness of this bar. The bar food is so-so. The beer list is pretty great. Music has always been good. Servers are prompt/attentive.
(4)Jessika R.
I always end up at the Rocking Horse the night after some hard drinking... close to the farmers market and with a decent brunch menu, it's been doing me pretty good! If you're a fan of the High Dive, you should enjoy the Rocking Horse, ran by the same guy. I've yet to go to the Horse in the evenings, but am very tempted by the daily $3 whiskey specials advertised... a different whiskey each day! Yum! But I'm here to talk food... because eating is what i do best! First things first... there are Tater Tots! Nuff said? Oh no... you can order your tots in several different ways, adorned with extra yummy goodness!!! Tots not your thing? Welllll they also have Ranch Fries which are AMAZING! Sooo yum! I ordered the Loaded Veggie Burger... but swapped the veg patty for a beef patty and it was AMAZING! They need to put the option on the menu, because it's one of the best burgers I've had in a long while... w/ provolone cheese, avocado slices and a roasted red pepper sauce on top, the burger is my hangover cure! I've also tried their Ahai Tuna club sandwich... sooo good! Its a double decker, w/ seared Ahai and loads of flavor such as wasabi mayo... the thing is HUGE and insanely filling! The decor is great and I imagine that it would be a great place to go grab some drinks on a friday night... I'll make it eventually one of these evenings... but until then, I'll keep hitting them up for sunday lunch!
(3)Derrick M.
Rocking Horse is great! I love the separate room for pool, and they are not that crowded on weekday nights. The jukebox here is awesome! I'm hard-pressed to think of a better jukebox in this city. Excellent specials, great beer list. Haven't tried much of the food - only the poutine fries, but I liked them.
(4)Mathew P.
It's very good for what it is... a bar with bar food. I loved the veggie burger even though it was nothing more then an over sized garden burger. The fries were great, and the flavors mixed very well. I liked the sauce on the burger, it added just enough kick to make the flavor interesting. My lady and i did not spend too much time in here since we needed to catch a flight but we did enjoy the time we spent.
(3)Victoria W.
As a creature of habit, I was a little leery when a friend suggested Rocking Horse as an alternative to our typical, tried-and-true locals, but it honestly might be my new favorite in Logan Square. The atmosphere is laidback and comfortable, with a spacious layout that affords some breathing room, even during peak hours. The crowd is an affable mix that's indicative of the neighborhood, and it's easy to sit around for a few hours with friends or just people-watch alone. Definitely a good time. The drinks are reasonably priced and service is fantastic. Maggie is especially a doll - very friendly and fun and always made sure we were taken care of. I haven't explored much of the menu, but what I've had has been solidly tasty - nothing particularly fancy, but good ol' comfort food. (And the tater tots rival Small Bar's, which were my previous faves.) When we went for a late brunch one Sunday, everyone in my group enjoyed their respective meals, which varied from straight breakfast to heartier fare. Will definitely be back and would totally recommend. .
(5)Marko H.
An OK bar with a nice beer selection. It's a shame they had to include cheese in the veggie burger. And I mean in the actual burger, not on top. I'm sure I'll stop in from time to time since I live in the neighborhood but it's not a place I'd go out of my way to visit.
(3)Mary M.
Where do I start? I've tried this place twice, the first time we walked out before ordering food because there was a distinct odor, let's call it mold. This first attempt was for brunch, and the sun was trying to peek in through the black curtains into the main room with its black walls, all of which gave me the feeling of being at the Empty Bottle at 1:45 am when they turn the lights on. Just add mold. Yum. So last night we thought, hey, maybe they fixed the mold problem and it was already dark so we tried again. We walked in and Wham. Mold. But we wanted a drink and it was 5 degrees outside, too cold to even walk to the Whistler so we decided to sit at the bar. I'll give them this, the beer selection is good and the tater tots are good, however, we ran out of aioli and asked for more and were charged $.50. I was surprised to hear REM's Flowers of Guatemala next to AC/DC, The Beatles and indie rock...a little something for everybody? The crowd was a mix of older hipsters, north face wearing Lincoln Park types (are they really here now, say it ain't so...) and what about that table with the girl in the cocktail dress and the dudes in sport coats and ties...there was no irony intended by these people....I think their space ship crash landed in my neighborhood. There is a startling disconnect between the aesthetic of the staff and the clientele. I can't figure this place out. I'm not sure the owners have figured this place out. Start by fixing the mold problem. Please.
(1)Dustin W.
I hit up the Rocking Horse in Logan Square with the sole intention of grabbing my bottle cap for Chicago Craft Beer Week and splitting. I didnt think I had ever been to Rocking Horse until pulling up curbside (rock star parking just outside the door) when I realized I had eaten lunch here over a year ago when I first re-arrived in Chi-town. I wont bother with the details of that trip as I was somewhat sick and had a terrrible headache. I remember the sandwich being a bit to heavy for my stomach's state, so it wouldnt be a fair revue as it was my bad for ordering the wrong item. I drank ice-tea that day, so no fairness to knock the standard Lipton I actually tend to enjoy either. My ladyfriend definitely enjoyed her meal and beer though, so I had an open mind walking in but was a bit skeptical. I saddled up to the bar and was pleased to find a very beer-educated bartender that knew exactly what his different kegs were going to be thoughout the week (huge bonus during CCBW). I noticed they were curently pouring the New Belgium - lips of faith dunkelweizen, which was new to me and a fantastic take on a german tradition. Given the other great rare finds on tap and the efficiency of the man behind the bar, I now have a new found taste for Rocking Horse. I will be back for more suds next time I am in Logan.
(3)Brian W.
I've been going to Rocking Horse since the day they opened because I've been a big fan of High Dive for many years. Same concept (great beer selection, indie rock jukebox, awesome bar food) except much more spacious and way more seating than High Dive. Always loved the food here, but never tried the brunch until last weekend. Holy shit, it was good. I had a spinach, bacon, avocado and smoked gouda omelette. It was so fluffy and creamy and smoky. One of the best omelettes I've had in a long time. It was served with toast and a huge pile of roasted potatoes that were cooked perfectly with just a hint of rosemary. My fiance ordered the breakfast burrito and was equally impressed. We also split a side of lemon poppy seed pancakes (they were the special of the day). Fuck. They were so amazing. I would go back just for those if they made a regular appearance on the menu. We went there right when they opened (around 11am). We were the only ones in there for the first half hour. By the time we left, about twenty other people were in there. The service was great. Why 4 stars? Usually the service is far from great, at least at night. The hipster bartenders/wait-staff really don't seem to understand that they have to earn their tips.
(4)Dave D.
I love the Rocking Horse! They open early on weekdays which makes it a great lunch destination. Their tator tots are fried perfection and they have a myriad of ways to dress them up. Wings are big and juicy which seems harder and harder to come by these days. Every other menu item I have tried has been yummy and tasty. The juke box is filled with top notch rock and indie selections. They have pool and pinball which is a deadly combo in my book, although the pinball game was super mean (no free ball if you lose it in the first few seconds, boo.). Everyone on the staff I have met is super cool and friendly, this means you Glen, Stephanie, Sara Jean, Georg, James, Victoria and the rest of you.
(5)Casey W.
I would have rated this about a 3 or 4 prior to having breakfast. It was so exciting a new bar had opened in Logan Square and it was cute! and the "Bar" food was great. I had been there about 3 times, each time I found a new bar kind of food I liked, I would however state, that the Small Bar which is close still blows this food away BUT it was good, The Portobello fries were extremely tasty and the fancy beers I tend to drink were priced well. But the dear Rocking Horse Stop rocking your breakfast! I had such a bad bad horrible all most inedible, but I was so hungry I slowly stuffed it down my throat breakfast. I knew I had ordered wrong when I saw my breakfast pass me a few times, going to other tables... I sat anticipating the dreadfulness I knew I was going to experience. I ordered the Eggs Benedict I crave Benedict on Sundays. I haven't had one in awhile... and the best of my said go to Lula's and the obvious worst in me said try something new! I love trying New things until this morning. The Eggs Benedict was Yellow, and I am not talking a nice light colored fluffy sauce, I am taking Yellow Yellow Gravy thickness but most importantly so yellow you know it isn't real. and how did it taste? BLAND Lemony-ish, thick and so tasteless... but the texture was off.. It was thick... Really just about the most disgusting thing I have put in my mouth in awhile. Don't put it on the menu if you can't make it... Stick with the eggs and bacon, that stuff looked ok The potatoes were good. The Oranges were fresh. Sadly the coffee was ehhhh not so great, sad to because New Wave is right next door serving Delish! So I may go back but NEVER in the morning EVER again.
(2)Blaise S.
I was all wrong about this place! And trust me, I'm not afraid to admit my mistakes, so believe me when I say this bar has really grown on me as I keep coming back again and again. This bar is great for hanging out and catching up with friends, although my stance on watching a game here hasn't changed. Its intimate atmosphere and friendly servers give you a relaxing place to grab a drink. I have yet to have bad service at Rocking Horse, and I've been here probably 10 times now. Gotta love that service! Their beer specials are lacking (50 cents off, that's it!?), but they have a good selection and the $4.50-$5 per pint is in line with the neighborhood. What really changed for me since my last review was I tried the food! So good! I had their spicy pull pork sandwich and woo-wee did it have a nice bite to it. I got the cajun fries with it and those were just as delicious and spicy! I'm sorry I underestimated you before Rocking Horse!
(4)Megan W.
We stopped in at Rocking Horse on a Friday evening around 8 p.m. looking for dinner and a few drinks. We only had to wait about ten minutes for a table. Great beer list and the food was really good, too. Next time I'll request a booth, since we were squeezed into a two top between another couple and bigger party that made it hard to hear each other. Otherwise a solid spot.
(4)Jessica C.
um, they have POUTINE. nice to know i don't have to cross our northern border for a plate of this cheese/gravy/french fry artery clogger. not a huge space, but nicely laid out with plenty of booths for those looking to get cozy. service was attentive and friendly. hubby tells me (the non-beer-drinking wife) that the beer selection is excellent. pool table, pinball and two-player ms pac man in the game room. if you are inclined to take the kid(s) out to the bar for a meal while you enjoy a beverage, this place is pretty kid-friendly, both facility- and menu-wise.
(4)sarah l.
Gotta give this place 4 stars because it exceeded my expectations (which weren't very high--I had always thought it looked a little creepy based on the exterior and the fact that it was directly across the street from Discount Mega Mall). Dark interior, and the music was a little loud, but the menu was good, with a lot of options. The food was solid, and the waitress accommodated some special food requests. It's walking distance from my house, which gives it the 4th star, and I have no complaints whatsoever. I would like to try their beer menu sometime; I didn't take advantage of that.
(4)Matty M.
Good food, good drink specials, rockin' staff, great ambiance.
(4)Jeremy P.
Cool juke box and good variety of beer. Good bar food too.
(4)d b.
Was waiting for a table at Longman and eagle until I couldn't wait any longer. Walked a block south to here. It's a great bar to hang at with a pool table in back. Dark and mysterious just like a bar should be. The food is average in quality. The menu is interesting for what I consider a bar first, a couple funky additions like won tons stuffed with assorted things. Can't vouch for that but looked interesting. Jury's still out until I try more of the food but from what I had, I wouldn't make a special trip.
(3)Emily C.
This is the perfect everyday place for meals and drinks--great breakfasts, reasonably priced entrees and kicking back with a couple of beers at night. My chicken sandwich was awesome and not dried out like so many other places. It's neighborhood culture with a laid back atmosphere. It's not so noisy that you can't hear your friends, but it has a happenin' energy. Don't be fooled by the staff's relaxed attitude. Our server was "on it" and another staffer chased us down outside when he found a lost glove in the booth. I'm going back.
(5)dan b.
I just got back from brunch here and felt compelled to review this place. This was my second time here. The first time was just for beers and was great. They have an excellent beer selection at typical prices. Today, my wife, her cousin and I went for brunch. I don't like eggs so I decided to go with the Turkey Club. Big mistake. When our food came out, after a suspiciously long wait, I ate a fry. The french fry was my first indication that something had gone awry. These fries had obviously been sitting around for ten or fifteen minutes. They were basically stale, salty sticks. The sandwich was definitely not as advertised. The menu described it as a pannini. If you consider a Turkey Club on toasted white bread a pannini, then yeah, I guess it was a pannini. My sandwich eating experience has informed that a pannini is a grilled sandwich. Not one that merely has toasted bread. Get a panini maker if you want to call it a pannini. They are very affordable. The ingredients in the sandwich were all cold as a fridge. This is not panini-like AT ALL. To make matters worse, this sandwich had been sitting as long as my fries had. You know how your mouth can get all scratched up from eating over-toasted bread? That's how mine is right now. You might be asking yourself, "Why didn't he just send it back"? Well, it is because our waitress, whom the bill identified as "Victoria", never came back to ask how our food was or if we needed anything else. After I had given up on eating she did come by and mumbled something about getting me another beer. I declined. When it came time to bring us the check, she had the other waitress take care of it. I can only imagine that she was as ashamed of the quality of the food and service as I was to have eaten there. For what it's worth, my wife and her cousin did enjoy their omelets though.
(2)Caleb D.
I have been meaning to check this place out forever and I'm quite pleased with the result. Although I didn't have a chance to try any of the food on the menu (most of what I saw go by looked delicious though), I have to give this place a shout out for $3 import beer Thursdays and their solid selection of booze. It isn't as expansive as some places, but they have a few shining examples of several of my favorite styles. The decor is very classy and the place never seems to get particularly crowded, making it a great place to stop for drinks after work.
(4)mel p.
i went in with mediocre expectations, but as it turns out, this place is actually pretty awesome. the ambiance is excellent - dark, but not too dark. the chandeliers are gorgeous, the music loud enough but not too loud. we only had the booze and the appetizers, as this was our very first visit. the ranch tater tots are delicious...not too greasy...and the garlic aioli that comes with is fantastic. the buffalo wings were just saucy and spicy enough. neither were over-priced, in my opinion. their hard alcohol selection is huge...i don't know that i've seen a pub with that intense of a selection. they have deals on whiskey on a daily basis. they also have alot of bottled beers, and i think about 10-12 on draft. the crowd was completely tolerable...a little hipster, but not the pretentious variety. people were friendly, service was good, and people weren't there for the sole purpose of getting hammered. conversation stayed at a normal level, and there were no obnoxious drunks. there's also a pool table or two in the back. overall, this place is definitely worth checking out.
(4)Jessica K.
I've been here two weekends in a row on a Saturday night coincidentally, first time was on purpose, and the second time was on a whim. The place can get crowded depending on what time you get here, the second time we had to wait for a table to open up upon arrival. The decor is nice, trendy but unpretentious. It can get loud in here, which I'm never a fan of just because I like to hold a conversation with my table without being 6 inches from their faces. But it is a happening place, so getting loud tends to happen and I forgive them. The beer selection here is very nice, something for everyone type of place. They also list the alcohol content next to the craft beers which is a nice touch, gives you the feeling that they know their stuff. Of the two times I've been here, I have not had anything to eat, so I cannot say anything about that. All in all its a cool vibe, great beer selection, and I would go back again if in the area.
(3)Jimmy L.
ended up here with some friends as a 4th choice after everywhere else in the neighborhood was PACKED. started off not so good as it was kind of empty and smelled weird, but it got better. food was allright, nothing special and a bit pricy, but it got the job done. the beer selection was pretty good, also not the cheapest. had a couple beers and realized there was a pool table hiding down a little hallway in the back which ended up turning it into a pretty nice night.
(3)Elizabeth R.
The Rocking Horse is a great back up spot....they have good food (turkey club is excellent!) and great beer selection. The times I've gone, I have had to wait...not long but it's still a wait. I like the booths and there's a pool table in the back area.
(3)Nicole M.
Unbelievable juke box. My friends and I were so happy that there was no Madonna, Journey or Matchbox 20 on the juke box. When you go here, take a look at the tunes .... very impressive! The food was good as well. I had the chicken quesedillas with chips and guac. Skip the guac, but order the salsa. My fiance got the turkey with brie cheese sandwich which was very good. The tater tots were delicious! We spent a few hours here on a Saturday night and were impressed with the music, the crowd and the service. It was relatively crowded, but we did not have a problem getting a table. I recommend checking it out. The beer list is very expansive, and the food is worth checking out.
(5)Shandra L.
i love this place! great drink specials (my favorite is thursday night $3 drafts), and the food is always good (my favorite is the buffallo chicken sandwich with tots, also love the parmesan artichoke dip, wontons, pretzels....basically everything i've tried has been great). i mean if you're looking for a fancy meal this isn't the place....but it's better than pub fare and i love the ambiance. i feel like there's a good mix of people so it's not overwhelming for anybody. it's been full everytime i've been there, as in all the tables are full...but it doesn't seem to get over crowded. there's a pool table in the back, but i haven't really hung out back there yet. my only complaint is that when you first walk in it's so smelly! i don't know if it's just the entrance between outside and the actual restaurant or what but it's been that way every time i've been there- what's that about?? i also have to mention Dave, last time we were there he did a great job serving and mentioned it was his first night (i think he was barbacking before that). super friendly and helped make great drink suggestions- thanks dave!
(5)