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Name: Sweetwater Tavern and Grille
Address: 225 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, 60601
Telephone: (312) 698-7111
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.47

Sweetwater Tavern and Grille

225 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, 60601

(312) 698-7111
Store is closed

Sweetwater Tavern and Grille Menu

Starters

Baked Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Hummus

Chicken Tenders

Fried Cheese Curds

Chicken Quesadilla

Chicken Wings

Pulled Pork Nachos

Bang Bang Shrimp

Crispy Calamari

Filet Mignon Smalls
Soup & Salads

Cobb

Salmon

Waldorf

Chopped

Cowboy

Boston Clam Chowder

Sweet Corn Bisque
Entrées

Atlantic Salmon

Rigatoni

Pan Seared Tilapia

Filet Mignon Trio

French Cut Chicken Breast

Pork Chop
Handhelds & Wraps

Santa Fe Wrap

Buffalo Chicken Wrap

Sesame Ahi Tuna Wrap

The PLT

Three Cheese Melt

Grilled Salmon

Turkey Club

Truffle Chicken Salad

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

Philly Steak

Hummus Wrap

Baja Fish Tacos
Signature Burgers

Sweetwater

Vermont

Gobbler

Veggie

Fiesta

Sunnyside Up

Big Baby
Sides

French Fries

Sweet Potato Fries

Tater Tots

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Side Salad

Grilled Asparagus

Bleu Cheese Potato Puree
Desserts

Peanut Butter Mousse Parfait

Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Brunch

Beignets

Breakfast Tacos

Deuces Wild

Eggs Benedict

Breakfast Sandwich

Red Velvet Pancakes

Veggie Omelet

Denver Omelet
Sides

Fruit Cup

Sausage Links

Bacon

Texas Toast

Multigrain Bread

English Muffin

Breakfast Potatoes
Beer - Seasonals

Bells Seasonal

Samuel Adams Seasonal

Surly Seasonal

Specialty Rotational
Beer - Macrobrews

Miller Lite

Miller High Life

Budweiser

Bud Light

Michelob Ultra

Coors Light

Amstel Light

Heineken Light

Heineken

Corona Light

Corona
Beer - White & Wheat

Allagash White Portland Me

Blue Moon Golden Co

Goose Island 312 Chicago Il

Hoegaarden Hoegaarden Belgium

Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin Petaluma Ca

New Belgium Sunshine Wheat Fort Collins Co

Two Brothers Ebel’s Weiss Warrenville Il

Revolution Bottom Up Wit
Beer - Pilsners & Lagers

Brooklyn Lager Brooklyn Ny

Dos Equis Monterrey Mexico

Hofbrau Original Munich Germany

Krombacher Pils Krombach Germany

Metropolitan Dynamo Copper Lager Chicago Il

Metropolitan Krankshaft Chicago Il

Miller Lite Milwaukee Wi

New Belgium Blue Paddle Fort Collins Co

Pacifico Mazatlan Mexico

Peroni Rome Italy

Stella Artois Leuven Belgium

Sam Adams Boston Lager Boston Ma

Victoria Toluca Mexico
Beer - Amber Ales

Breckenridge Avalanche Denver Co

Bell's Amber Kalamazoo Mi

New Belgium Fat Tire Fort Collins Co

Point Amber Classic Stevens Point Wi

Rogue Dead Guy Ale Newport Or

Sweetwater Bottlenectar Warrenville Il
Beer - Golden Ales

Half Acre Gossamer Chicago Il

Magic Hat 9 Burlington Vt

Two Brothers Prairie Path Gf Warrenville Il

Wild Onion Phat Chance Blonde Ale Lake Barrington IL
Beer - English Style Ales

Boddingtons Manchester England

Newcastle Gateshead England

Smithwicks Kilkenny Ireland

Wells & Young's Banana Bread Beer Bedford England
Beer - Lambics Fruit Infused Seasonal

Abita Purple Haze Abita Springs La

Bell’s Seasonal Kalamazoo Mi

Clausthaler Non-alcoholic Frankfurt Germany

Crispin Cider Minneapolis Mn

Lindeman’s Framboise Lambic Vlezenbeek Belgium

Lindeman’s Pecheresse Lambic Vlezenbeek Belgium

Magners Cider Clonmel Ireland

Pyramid Apricot Ale Berkeley Ca

Sam Adams Seasonal Boston Ma

Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Cincinnati Oh
Beer - Belgian Styles

Brouwerij Bosteels Tripel Karmeliet Buggenhout Belgium

Chimay Blue Cap Chimay Belgium

Delerium Tremens Melle Belgium

Duvel Breendonk Belgium

Goose Island Matilda Chicago Il

Leffe Blonde Leuven Belgium

North Coast Pranqster Fort Bragg Ca

Unibroue La Fin Dumonde Chambly Quebec Canada

Victory Golden Monkey Downington Pa
Beer - Stouts & Porters

Breckenridge Vanilla Porter Denver Co

Deschutes Black Butte Bend Or

Guinness Dublin Ireland

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Cleveland Oh

Left Hand Milk Stout Longmont Co

North Coast Old Rasputin Fort Bragg Ca

Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout Tadcaster England

Shiner Bock Shiner Tx
Beer - Pale Ales

Ballast Point Pale Ale San Diego CA

Finch’s Cut Throat Pale Ale Chicago Il

Flying Dog Doggie Style Frederick Md

Goose Island Green Line Chicago Il

Great Lakes Burning River Cleveland Oh

Half Acre Daisy Cutter Chicago Il

Two Brothers Bitter End Warrenville Il
Beer - Ipa’s & Strong Ales

Ballast Point Sculpin San Diego Ca

Bell's Two Hearted Kalamazoo Mi

Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA Bend Or

Dogfish Head 90 Minute Ipa Milton De

Firestone Walker Union Jack Paso Robles Ca

Lagunitas Ipa Petaluma Ca

Revolution Anti-Hero IPA Chicago Il

Ska Modas Hoperandi Durango Co

Stone Ipa Escondido Ca

Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Escondido Ca

Two Brothers Cane And Ebel Warrenville Il

Wild Onion Hop Slayer Double IPA Lake Barrington Il

Brother Benjamin Imperial IPA Sawyer MI
Wine - White

Rocca Pinot Grigio Veneto Italy

Solena Pinot Gris Mcminnville Or

Mohua Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand

Pacific Rim Reisling Columbia Valley Wa

Amalaya Torrontes Calchaqui Valley Argentina

Clos La Chance Unoaked Chardonnay Central Coast Ca

Santa Barbara Chardonnay Santa Barbara Ca

E. Guigal Rhone Rose Rhone France

Avinyo Cava Penedes Spain
Wine - Red

Castle Rock Pinot Noir Monterey Ca

A To Z Pinot Noir Newberg Or

BV Coastal Merlot Napa Ca

Milbrandt Traditions Merlot Columbia Wa

Marques De Caceres Rioja Crianza Rioja Spain

Clos La Chance Meritage Central Coast Ca

Zuccardi Serie A Malbec Mendoza Argentina

Yalumba Y Series Shiraz South Australia Australia

Alexander Valley Sin Zin Zinfandel Alexander Valley Ca

Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena Ca

Hess Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Ca
Specialty Drinks

Smokey Joe Was A Mad Man

Hard '8'

Rum Raisin Daquiri

Spiked Rose

Summer 365

M2 Manhattan

Rosemary's Old Fashioned

Kettle Oranje Collins

Healthy Meal suggestions for Sweetwater Tavern and Grille

Starters

Baked Spinach & Artichoke Dip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hummus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Tenders [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Cheese Curds [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pulled Pork Nachos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bang Bang Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Filet Mignon Smalls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soup & Salads

Cobb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Waldorf [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chopped [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cowboy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Boston Clam Chowder [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Corn Bisque [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrées

Atlantic Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rigatoni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pan Seared Tilapia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Filet Mignon Trio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Cut Chicken Breast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Chop [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Handhelds & Wraps

Santa Fe Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Buffalo Chicken Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sesame Ahi Tuna Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The PLT [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Three Cheese Melt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey Club [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Truffle Chicken Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Philly Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hummus Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baja Fish Tacos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Signature Burgers

Sweetwater [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vermont [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gobbler [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fiesta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sunnyside Up [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Big Baby [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tater Tots [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Mashed Potatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bleu Cheese Potato Puree [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Peanut Butter Mousse Parfait [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caramel Apple Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Brunch

Beignets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Breakfast Tacos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deuces Wild [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Eggs Benedict [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Breakfast Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Red Velvet Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Denver Omelet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Fruit Cup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sausage Links [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bacon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Texas Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Multigrain Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

English Muffin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Breakfast Potatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer - Seasonals

Bells Seasonal [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Samuel Adams Seasonal [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Surly Seasonal [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Specialty Rotational [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer - Macrobrews

Miller Lite [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miller High Life [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Budweiser [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bud Light [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Michelob Ultra [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coors Light [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Amstel Light [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Heineken Light [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Heineken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Corona Light [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Corona [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer - White & Wheat

Allagash White Portland Me [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blue Moon Golden Co [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Goose Island 312 Chicago Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hoegaarden Hoegaarden Belgium [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin Petaluma Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

New Belgium Sunshine Wheat Fort Collins Co [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Two Brothers Ebel’s Weiss Warrenville Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Revolution Bottom Up Wit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer - Pilsners & Lagers

Brooklyn Lager Brooklyn Ny [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dos Equis Monterrey Mexico [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hofbrau Original Munich Germany [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Krombacher Pils Krombach Germany [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Metropolitan Dynamo Copper Lager Chicago Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Metropolitan Krankshaft Chicago Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miller Lite Milwaukee Wi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

New Belgium Blue Paddle Fort Collins Co [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pacifico Mazatlan Mexico [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peroni Rome Italy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stella Artois Leuven Belgium [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sam Adams Boston Lager Boston Ma [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Victoria Toluca Mexico [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer - Amber Ales

Breckenridge Avalanche Denver Co [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bell's Amber Kalamazoo Mi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

New Belgium Fat Tire Fort Collins Co [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Point Amber Classic Stevens Point Wi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rogue Dead Guy Ale Newport Or [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweetwater Bottlenectar Warrenville Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer - Golden Ales

Half Acre Gossamer Chicago Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Magic Hat 9 Burlington Vt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Two Brothers Prairie Path Gf Warrenville Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wild Onion Phat Chance Blonde Ale Lake Barrington IL [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer - English Style Ales

Boddingtons Manchester England [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Newcastle Gateshead England [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smithwicks Kilkenny Ireland [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wells & Young's Banana Bread Beer Bedford England [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer - Lambics Fruit Infused Seasonal

Abita Purple Haze Abita Springs La [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bell’s Seasonal Kalamazoo Mi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Clausthaler Non-alcoholic Frankfurt Germany [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispin Cider Minneapolis Mn [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lindeman’s Framboise Lambic Vlezenbeek Belgium [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lindeman’s Pecheresse Lambic Vlezenbeek Belgium [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Magners Cider Clonmel Ireland [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pyramid Apricot Ale Berkeley Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sam Adams Seasonal Boston Ma [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Cincinnati Oh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer - Belgian Styles

Brouwerij Bosteels Tripel Karmeliet Buggenhout Belgium [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chimay Blue Cap Chimay Belgium [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Delerium Tremens Melle Belgium [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Duvel Breendonk Belgium [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Goose Island Matilda Chicago Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Leffe Blonde Leuven Belgium [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

North Coast Pranqster Fort Bragg Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Unibroue La Fin Dumonde Chambly Quebec Canada [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Victory Golden Monkey Downington Pa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer - Stouts & Porters

Breckenridge Vanilla Porter Denver Co [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deschutes Black Butte Bend Or [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Guinness Dublin Ireland [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Cleveland Oh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Left Hand Milk Stout Longmont Co [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

North Coast Old Rasputin Fort Bragg Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout Tadcaster England [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shiner Bock Shiner Tx [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer - Pale Ales

Ballast Point Pale Ale San Diego CA [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Finch’s Cut Throat Pale Ale Chicago Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Flying Dog Doggie Style Frederick Md [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Goose Island Green Line Chicago Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Great Lakes Burning River Cleveland Oh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Half Acre Daisy Cutter Chicago Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Two Brothers Bitter End Warrenville Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beer - Ipa’s & Strong Ales

Ballast Point Sculpin San Diego Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bell's Two Hearted Kalamazoo Mi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA Bend Or [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dogfish Head 90 Minute Ipa Milton De [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Firestone Walker Union Jack Paso Robles Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lagunitas Ipa Petaluma Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Revolution Anti-Hero IPA Chicago Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ska Modas Hoperandi Durango Co [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stone Ipa Escondido Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Escondido Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Two Brothers Cane And Ebel Warrenville Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wild Onion Hop Slayer Double IPA Lake Barrington Il [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Brother Benjamin Imperial IPA Sawyer MI [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Wine - White

Rocca Pinot Grigio Veneto Italy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Solena Pinot Gris Mcminnville Or [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mohua Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pacific Rim Reisling Columbia Valley Wa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Amalaya Torrontes Calchaqui Valley Argentina [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Clos La Chance Unoaked Chardonnay Central Coast Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Santa Barbara Chardonnay Santa Barbara Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

E. Guigal Rhone Rose Rhone France [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Avinyo Cava Penedes Spain [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Wine - Red

Castle Rock Pinot Noir Monterey Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

A To Z Pinot Noir Newberg Or [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

BV Coastal Merlot Napa Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Milbrandt Traditions Merlot Columbia Wa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Marques De Caceres Rioja Crianza Rioja Spain [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Clos La Chance Meritage Central Coast Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zuccardi Serie A Malbec Mendoza Argentina [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yalumba Y Series Shiraz South Australia Australia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Alexander Valley Sin Zin Zinfandel Alexander Valley Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hess Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Ca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Specialty Drinks

Smokey Joe Was A Mad Man [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hard '8' [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rum Raisin Daquiri [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spiked Rose [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Summer 365 [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

M2 Manhattan [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rosemary's Old Fashioned [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kettle Oranje Collins [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Brit M.

So I came here on a date. I walked in, the hostess greeted me. I took a look around and really liked the decor. Masculine for sure. I found my date, and to be honest he was the worst part of my experience here. I had a couple of glasses of wine, reasonably priced. He had some whiskey and I believe some kind of spinach dip. While he was talking I mostly zoned out, and imagined being here on a date that wasn't a pretentious a-hole. I would come back. I loved the high back booths. The bar itself was really nice. Our server was extremely nice and it didn't even bother her my date was a jerk. The menu looked good! I will definitely yelp a better experience hopefully soon!
(3)
Jodie Z.

Good drinks and food. Quite busy for Friday late lunch. Bit noisy but overall nice dining experience.
(4)
Aleks M.

I would consider Sweetwater a great place to grab lunch at a nice sit down place on a Friday or possibly meeting up with friends for a few after work drinks. It definitely has a nice vibe and modern interior. It mostly attracts a typical downtown worker. I would get most of my meals from Sweetwater during a few of our busier months of the year. I work in one of the buildings across Lake street so it was a quick and convenient way for me to call ahead for a pick up order and run back to the office with my dinner. This place has typical american food, and anyone can find something to their liking. I've tried their salads, specifically their chopped saled is great. It comes with avocado, bacon, corn and other delicious ingredients. Also, really great ahi tuna wraps. Their burgers are awesome. One of my coworkers has tried the burger with the fried egg on top and enjoyed it. Recently, I discovered their fish tacos, which are fillets of breaded tilapia seved with some coleslaw in a taco (really good). Any of their sandwiches come with either fries or tater tots! They just have a good selection of food items as well as drinks. So head down to Sweetwater for some drinks and food after a long day at work!
(3)
Melissa R.

This space was vacant for awhile and when I heard that another restaurant/bar was opening up in the old Bennigan's place I was skeptical of what kind of quality would follow. I must say, I am very pleased with what Sweetwater has delivered. I've been here a couple times now with different types of groups and had great experiences. First up: Sister Day. My sister came downtown and met me at work for some fun-filled sister time. She wanted two things involved in our lunch plans: iced tea and a waiter. I'd been meaning to give Sweetwater a try since it's close by and the menu looks great. We were very happy with our experience, the food was delicious, we got to sit outside and take our time without feeling rushed, and our waitress was fantastic (funny and a master at her trade). Second trip: work lunch with my team of 10. We were able to make a reservation, sat inside near the bar, the food came out quickly, and we had the same fantastic waitress! A few of the items I've tried (or my trusted companions) and enjoyed: *Chicken pita *Waldorf chicken wrap *Fish tacos *The Boss sandwich *BLT *Both the fries and tater tots are amazing ***AVOID: the iced tea and grilled veggies as a side. The prices are reasonable, the place is nice, they have tons of outdoor seating, the service is snappy and fun, and the location works great for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Robert N.

Great food... Prices were a really high, but they had a great beer selection and great TV viewing for sports events!
(3)
Brett C.

I really liked this place. Big comfortable booths to sit in. Several TV's around showing sporting events. Relaxed, casual atmosphere. Really nice menu selection. Sandwiches, salads, entrees, desserts. All priced fairly reasonable for downtown Chicago. They also have a large full service bar for the after hours and weekend crowd. On the weekends they also have a brunch menu which looked pretty good. I had the Chipolte Chicken sandwich, it was spicy and really tasty. My son had a burger that looked about 3' high when it came to the table. How he managed to take a bite of it is beyond me. He really liked it though. It's a place I would go back to. Great location on Michigan Ave., close to Millennium Park and a short walk to Water Tower Place. Worth a try in my opinion.
(4)
Jessica T.

Great steak for a great price.
(5)
Amanda C.

Good place to go for after work drinks. Sort of a mid-level place, not too fancy and not too divey. Great outdoor seating options for summer. Servers are typically friendly and don't mind splitting checks which is much appreciated in a big group.
(4)
Marlyn L.

Maybe it didn't help that I came here after the Phoenix Lounge (which was a snooze) but this place was just ok. The guac was not authentic or fresh at all. It tasted like it came out of a plastic tube and was doused in lime juice. The chicken quesadillas were decent... Bartender was nice/douchey. Best part was that I didn't pay for the tab I guess LOL! It was nice inside and all, but there's nothing much to draw me back.
(2)
Nic R.

So fun! Great atmosphere, great food. Love this place to stop and meet with friends for a drink and an appetizer. Never disappoints
(5)
Mary C.

Quick and available for Sunday brunch and Bloody Mary's
(3)
Mark G.

Made my first visit today. I would definitely go back more often but i'm not always in the position to spend $15 or so on lunch, so this may be a spot for when i get to treat myself. Upon entrance, the decor was inviting; not too bright, nice high booths, and plenty of LCD tv's near the bar. The hostess was friendly and led me to my booth. Waitress was over in just two or three minutes to grab my drink. When she came back I ordered my cheeseburger, which arrived to my table about 10 minutes later. Nothing exceptional, it was a burger. Burgers are generally acceptable. Once I was finished, it was about 2:00pm, but I asked my waitress anyways if she minded while I stuck around and read a bit. She said no problem at all, and got me another coke. I will go back again and try another menu item when I have the means. Also might want to stop in for a beer or five after work sometime if there is a game on since it is quite near my office.
(3)
Bruce B.

I love their outside area at Sweetwater. The service is pretty atrocious, but the food (burgers) and drinks are decent. I'm giving this place three stars because I like the outside area that much. I never come here in the winter. If you work around the area and are looking for reasonably priced drinks and food, this is your place. However, don't expect for any kind of great experience. This place is just okay.
(3)
Sang H.

Every time I come here is because I want to go out for a few drinks and food with coworkers after work. It is a nice place with large beer list and quick food. When the restaurant is packed, it only takes about 10 - 15 minutes to get seated. You place the food order and it's out on your table in about 10 - 15 minutes (when it's packed), I would say that's quick. I love all the televisions around the whole place and I really love the fact that it's not too loud in there, so you can actually have a nice conversation. The only thing is nothing about sweetwater stands out to me. If someone asks me where they should eat near by this area, it never crosses my mind.
(3)
Donisha L.

We came here during a Bulls game watch and were really pleased. Mind you we only had an appetizer (buffalo spring rolls...mmmm yummy) but the food on the menu seemed to be really reasonable and judging from the other people around us who ordered a full meal, it looked like some pretty good traditional bar fare of burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, etc. Pretty good sized portions as well. The drinks were pretty strong. We had a couple of martinis and were down for the count by the 4th quarter. The location isn't very convenient unless you are walking over (meaning it is not recommended that you drive to this location.) My only issue was there was a random guy sitting next to us who was clearly unstable. He continuously kept making random comments and kinda had a "bum" feel to him. I was questioning how he even got in. It ruined my buzz. When he finally left, I overheard a bartender telling another member of waitstaff that he walked out on the bill. figures. Other than that weird experience, I plan on giving this place another try and check out more of their food options. To be continued...
(3)
Brandon B.

Middle of the road at best. I feel like this is a glorified Applebee's. Overpriced uninspired food and a wait. Whenever I take a client there I feel we have to go at 11 to find a table. I wonder why people are waiting in line for this?
(2)
Marvin A.

I went here with my cousin during the winter holidays after shopping around Michigan Ave. It has a very modern pseudo sports bar vibe. -Food- I tasted the baked spinach and artichoke dip with the pita bread. It was mediocre and nothing outstanding. I had the baked Mac and Cheese and really recommend this dish, especially for you spicy lovers like me. I couldn't stop eating it and I would have literally licked the bowl clean had I not been in public. -Service- Nothing very memorable about the service. All I know is I was never without my beer. -Libations- They have a very good selection on tap. i can't say much about their other food choices or service. But I do know I will definitely come back for more Mac and Cheese.
(4)
R M.

I love Sweetwater! Good food, great atmosphere to just chill with some friends or go in, sit at the bar, to drink and watch a game on one of their many flat screen tv's. This location on Michigan Ave. used to be Bennigan's. I loved going there when it was Bennigan's because it's a great place to people watch. One warning, if you like a hearty plate, Sweetwater is NOT for you. The portions are small but the flavors are big. My favorite thing at Sweetwater is actually every appetizer on the menu, and I've had them all! The drinks are good. Prices are reasonable for Michigan Ave. Definitely visit on a Friday evening or Saturday afternoon. If you like a crowd, the place is always busy.
(4)
Emily S.

Not being from the area, the first couple of times we passed this place it looked too good to be true. It looked classy, has a fantastic location, super chic booths along the windows, and didn't have a line 5' out the door. We figured the food probably sucked. But after we had some holy heartburn -- hot dogs, Garrett's, pizza, etc. -- we were food shy and we just wanted good salads. And we really scored with this place. The food was great, the ambiance really relaxed yet sporty, roomy booths an tables, and cheery service. And everything is priced totally fair. I wish we had a Sweetwater in Minneapolis!
(4)
Helen T.

Good place for an after work drink. But, they took the buffalo chicken eggrolls off the menu so I basically have no reason to return. BRING BACK THE BUFFALO CHICKEN EGGROLLS - please and thank you!
(2)
Lindsey D.

Recently took a trip to Chicago and ended up eating here twice. Once for lunch, and another time for happy hour...which turned into appetizers, dinner, and late night drinks...oops...But what a fun night. They have a good vegetarian selection, which is pretty rare for Chicago, at least compared to California menus. My favorite thing by far was the fried mac N cheese balls. It was like salty man N cheese goodness in a little fried ball. Yum-E!
(4)
Dave C.

Great location & very nice inside with street view tables, I had the banana bread beer on tap, it was very smooth & tasty! The patty melt with Tator tots were great. I really liked this place.
(4)
Matt L.

Great lunch/happy hour spot in the Loop. Loved the cajun bacon wrapped shrimp and the other offerings on the menu, but like others have said, there's not much about it - beyond the shrimp - that's particularly memorable. While the food isn't memorable, the beer list is if only because it is fairly extensive. The ambiance is fairly nice as well, Sweetwater draws a fairly laid-back, professional crowd just there to enjoy conversation and a couple of brews. I've had business meetings and dates there and look forward to my return visit.
(4)
Shaakira J.

They have the best Raspberry Mojito's ever! Met up with 4 of my girlfriends to have drinks before the Trey Songz concert on Valentines day. I tried the chili- it was way too salty so I sent it back. The crowd and ambiance was nice. We had the friendliest hostess ever! This place was tucked away on the corner and its my type of lowkey spot for meet ups, etc. Nothing else really stands out about the place, but I would go here again.
(3)
Helen H.

This place was a serious godsend after a long, hot, and unusually humid for chicago day of walking on michigan ave. Don't be intimidated by the "expensive steakhouse" look of the exterior - prices are very reasonable and average for bar food in Chicago - even given the premium they could have charged for the prime location. We were seated immediately, the four of us got a sick ass booth that could have fit a group of 8, well air conditioned, clean and swanky. The service was quick, friendly, and willing to give us samples of beers. There were TVs playing in all directions. Huge beer and food menu. So those were all the plusses... Notice I didn't say anything about the food? So yea.... mmmm... very mediocre bar food I would say.. it wasn't bad.. just not memorable. But still, awesome place to chill, be comfortable, and have drinks when you're not feelin the grimy bar scene.
(3)
Megan S.

*The* happy hour spot if you work in or around Michigan Plaza. I personally find it overpriced, but then again it's downtown Chicago, what can you expect? I've gone to a few parties in the back rooms, which are a nice touch if you want a more intimate gathering from the usually bustling atmosphere in the main room. As for the food, I usually go with the wraps, whether it's the ahi tuna or steak. The last time I went, though, the tuna was questionable. Tasted great, but some skin was still attached? Gross, but hoping it was a one time deal. Then there is the beer list, which has a pretty good variety (love that they have Old Rasputin.) Wouldn't make it out here for anything other than after-work fun, but for what the place is, it's not too shabby.
(3)
Jo W.

A strong three stars. This place is a hop, skip, and a jump from my office. I've been here a few times after work and had some good times. The food is pretty good for bar food, and while I haven't had them, who doesn't love a place that serves tater tots? The service, on the other hand, is very hit or miss. I've had great servers, I've had 'meh' servers, and I've had a run in with a bartender who got huffy with me when I sent back a drink. Um, honey? When I specifically say "Stoli" don't just grab whatever's in the well - I CAN tell the difference. Nice decor, plenty of TV's (there are even some in the windows so those sitting outside can catch what's happening), and usually very loud. Standard loop prices. Overall, a solid choice for after work drinks and grub, but be prepared for it to be packed and loud. Their patio is also quite large (probably one of the biggest in the loop), so I expect this place to be hopping more than usual this summer.
(3)
Linna C.

I don't hate it, I don't love it. There's nothing for me to complain or rave about its a simple one stop shop for all your fixings. Stopped in here Saturday night for some drinks with friends, great beer selection and typical bar food, some of which are a tad bit over-priced (I get it! its downtown!) In any event, out of sheer convenience my family and I stopped in the next morning for brunch since it was a 2 min walk from the Fairmont. We ordered the typical 2 eggs, sausage, bacon, toast & potatoes ($12.99 seriously?!), and an additional $1 for substitutions! as well as blueberry pancakes ($8.99 seriously x2??) a hamburger and some french donuts. Despite the outrageous prices, the food was decent, it didn't wow or disappoint me... with that said, I love the interior decor, the individual booths provide a sense of intimacy within your party, this place is also equipped with various flatscreens and plenty of bar space for a good time with friends!
(3)
Desirae K.

Good atmosphere, plenty of TV's, solid staff. Food Suggestions: +++++ Sweetwater Burger - Yummo! Mushrooms, swiss & avocado =) +++++ Grilled Cheese + tomato basil soup is great for dipping the sandwich +++++ Sunnyside Up Burger - Messy deliciousness +++++ Rigatoni & Sausage - homemade taste +++++ Chicken Pot Pie - Great feel good food for a cold day +++++ Baked Mac & Cheese - Spicy twist to simple mac & cheese
(4)
Lauren S.

Went last night for dinner with a few friends. Appreciated the nice outdoor seating (booths outside def a plus!) but other then that was a little underwhelmed. Food was overpriced - I ended up deciding on a salad rather then a burger like I was initially leaning towards because I wanted to feel like I could order a dessert without feeling bad. . $15 for a small salad was too much- i mean it tasted pretty good, but not $15 good. Maybe I should have gone with a burger after all which after reading the reviews was likely decent. Dessert was the baked cookie dough dish which sounded amazing on paper but was really just so-so. I don't think I'll be back.
(2)
Dan R.

Great atmosphere for meeting, mingling and mixing. A good selection on the menu and at the bar. This is a good place for lunch, drinks or dinner. The floor plan is very open yet not too noisy. Lots of windows to look out on Michigan Avenue for people watching entertainment and televisions for electronic entertainment.
(4)
Meghan H.

This place is decent. Nice atmosphere: I like the brick-like walls that line the interior of the restaurant and the all-around glass walls that allow you to look out to the busy city. Good place for the sports fans out there because Sweetwater definitely has an excess of flatscreen tvs that are always broadcasting all different games. The food is pretty standard--serving your typical American nicer-bar food (salads, sandwiches, classic entrees, etc.). I liked my dinner here (chicken, bacon, and swiss cheese sandwich) but I wouldn't be running back anytime soon.
(3)
Britta V.

This place is super close to my office so I am here all the time with co-workers for lunch or happy hour. They have great outdoor seating for large groups in the summer time too, so I've used for events in the past. Their food is solid and the drink selection is good too. Also, I believe it's Tuesdays that they have 1/2 priced wine bottles - nice! Some fav dishes (keep in mind I do appetizers more than meals here): Mac n cheese, tater tots, mac n cheese bites, pita & hummus, stuffed pretzels and their grilled cheese and tomato soup is so delicious and cozy! I usually order form the wine list but they can make a pretty mean extra dirty martini too. My only complaint is that the staff is a little uptight with reservations and tables and such. Sweetwater is a place I know I can rely on to always be close and serving good food and I'll be back, I'm sure quite often.
(4)
Jennifer C.

My hubby had the burger I had the veggie sandwich, both were mediocre. The waiter was very nice and attentive, but we probably won't be back. There are so many great restaurants around and this just doesn't cut it for me. It'll probably stay open because of the tourists in the area but it really isn't great.
(2)
Kevin W.

Service was about average in my book, by the food was great. I had the cowboy salad. The flavor of the adobo mixed with the chipotle dressing was awesome. Had a bite of my friend's grilled cheese...awesome as well.
(4)
Ethel I.

I have went there twice. Very clean, and the food is delicious. my first time my burger did not come out well done and as i was looking at it, the manager came and asked how it was. I told him not well done enough. He immediately took it , gave me mashed potatoes while i waiting for another one. Then dessert on the house. Amazed how the manager walks around and sees tables and peoples faces to see if everything is ok. Second experice--awesome.. love that place, the only down side of that restaurant is that the music is a little too loud, that is why i gave it four stars instead of five.
(5)
Katherine R.

Right before my sister and I walked to see a play we stopped for brunch here. I ate an omlette with mozarella cheese and chorizo. The steamed potatoes were just right while we drank coffee my sister ordered her fav. Mahi mahi wrap with tater tots. Our waiter was super sweet and prompt for a busy brunch day. The ambiance was modern day decor with a long classic bar and large round tables with booths. The atmosphere is sharp and very polished looking with black color and rock walls for a home style feel. The brunch was very good nothing too fancy but a contemporary American norm.
(3)
Lisa H.

I love this place so much! The chicken dishes are so great, my favorite is the southwest chicken wrap with garlic mashed potatos. I was really suprised that I ended up liking this place so much because it i sin a touristy area but it turned out to be one of my favorites despite the location!
(5)
Carol J.

Its very refreshing to have an independent restaurant in a place that was formerly home to the worst Bennigan's on the planet. That being said, Sweetwater is definitely a nice addition to the Michigan Avenue lunch and happy hour hotspots. The tables turn pretty quick at lunch and our 20 minute wait time was basically ten. The booths are super comfy and the interior is sleek and sophisticated. I really felt that the staff was very warm and welcoming even in a furious frenzy of harried lunchtime warriors. We sat back and ordered some wine which I have to say, the list leaves a little to be desired. I hate paying $30 for a bottle of wine that I know I can buy at 7-11. We tried the hummus appetizer it was delish and a bunch of assorted salads. The salads were a little overpriced but they were fresh and tasty. Beer offerings were plentiful with great draft offerings and there are plenty of plasmas to catch the game. I would probably not trek on down here just to join but when meeting friends who trained it in, it was the perfect meeting point. I am going to have to try the afterwork scene and check out the plethora of men my compadre Carol K speaks of.
(4)
Kristy N.

Yummy! I suggested this place for our office 'holiday lunch' seeing as I've never been and it's within walking distance. I must admit that I was a bit intimidated before arrival since it seems that they are always jammed with people. Perhaps we got lucky or perhaps it was the fact that we didn't make it to lunch until 1:30 but either way, we had no problem getting a table. Our server was very pleasant the food was very good. I had the turkey burger and minestrone soup - both of which were delish! The soup was different than the typical watered down veggies in tomato based broth - very tasty. The turkey burger was clearly made fresh and had tons of flavor. I wasn't a huge fan of the cranberry aioli but I'm not much of a mayo gal. We also ordered the guac and chips which was fantastic. Pair that with a few drinks on the company and I'm a happy gal! I hope to find myself here again soon.
(4)
Ian V.

Stopped in here for dinner after shopping in the Loop. Modern looking design with a good amount of TVs. Seems like a nicer than average sports bar, only it's not a real sports bar since music was playing instead of the Bulls game audio. The food is standard bar fair at standard bar prices. I got the buffalo chicken wrap with fries. It was exactly as I expected, but it could have used more heat. My friend got the chipotle chicken sandwich and tater tots and she thought it was tasty. And I agree, the tots were good, but when are they ever not? They had a good selection of beers on tap and bottled. There was a full bar but as I wasn't in the mood for a cocktail I stuck with beers; so I can't say if the bartenders are heavy handed or not. Overall it's a nice place to grab a drink, a simple bite to eat and talk. The music wasn't overbearing and at least the subtitles were on for the game. The service was quick and attentive, so that's always a plus. Nothing disappointing, but nothing spectacular either.
(3)
Chris A.

I love Sweetwater's beers. Worth the stop for those. I ordered the crab cake salad, which was decent, but very light on the crab cakes. Always packed here.
(3)
Deep K.

We had a really bad experience last night. The location and decor is pretty good but the service is terrible. I was told by the manager unless they have a full house they close early in spite of having a liquor license till 2 am. That to me is a really bad way of doing business. Basically, they will kick you out anytime if they don't have 50 other people in the bar area. To top that, the martini was overpriced and pretty bad!!! I would hate to recommend this place to even the vilest of my enemies... Yes it is that bad!!!
(1)
Sarah E.

Yes, it's on Michigan Ave. And sure, it has a little bit of that chain-y vibe that a lot of restaurants on Michigan Ave have. Nonetheless, I really like this place. Solid atmosphere. You can climb into one of their cozy booths and enjoy a solid dinner, or you can hang out at the bar and enjoy the same great food. The nachos are awesome. The steak quesadilla always hits the spot. The burgers are great. The fish tacos would be better on corn tortillas. And I still want them to bring back the Hook-Line-and-Sinker sandwich. Great beer list. Solid service. This is rapidly becoming my favorite post-work stop.
(4)
Van L.

i think i only come here because it's such close proximity to work (so close, i don't have to go outside in the winter to get there *cough* lazy)... other than being closeby, they have a great beer selection and decent food. never amazing, but fills you up and pretty good. service is right at par. ah yes, but their patio is so so good in the summertime. i wouldn't run home telling everyone about it, but let's be honest, i'll probably be back when i'm in the area.
(3)
Scot T.

We ducked in out of the rain on a Tuesday night; and it turned out a pleasant surprise. Consistent menu of pub fair, but reasonably priced, and a few fun items too (try the Mac & Cheese bites $8.00) Service was prompt, bit not in your face. Spacious, clean, buzzing without being noisy. Affordable, two for dinner with drinks, tip, and tax....$50.00.
(4)
Sarah L.

I am excited a new restaurant came into the loop. I work a couple of blocks from here and it's a nice change from the usual grab & go chains. I had lunch here the other day with a work friend and we both enjoyed our lunch. I had the ahi tuna wrap and it was very tasty! Rare ahi tuna slices with nappa cabbage, sesame seeds and fried noodles. It was all wrapped up in a crispy wrap. My friend had the southwest steak wrap. She really liked her wrap too. You have a choice of fries or tater tots as a side. The owners of this establishment also own The Boundary in Wicker Park. The decor is about the same. Huge bar, posh leather booths, and dark wood. Our waiter was attentive and very friendly. I will definitely be back for lunch or happy hour!
(4)
Liz P.

I actually like this place. Its right by my office so its perfect for a quick sit down lunch or an after work drink. Yes, its a bit overpriced - but its a restaurant in the middle of downtown so what do you expect? Its a good go-to place where you can please everyone. Plus, the TV setup is sa-weet! My personal favorites: Sweetwater chopped salad: this salad is fantastic and packed with flavor. In fact, it is actually so packed with flavor that I usually get it without bacon and use very minimal [if any] dressing. It actually has nothing to do with making it healthier, but with all of the other ingredients you barely need anything to dress it up. Grilled cheese: they use two kinds of cheese, tomatoes, and awesome bread. Plus a side of tomato soup? Yes, please! Black bean veggie burger: scrumptious and not too heavy while still giving you the burger satisfaction that you crave. Oh, and the mini-burger apps are a delightful little treat if you want a snack.
(4)
Annie G.

Oh, just went back here for lunch (very limited options thataway) and I can now better write to the food. And? It sucks. Tots were pretty good, but it's tough to screw those up. Soppy, soupy buffalo wrap sucked. Nothing but cheese, creamy white substance and lettuce. Oh and chicken tender batter, but no chicken. Pfffffft.
(2)
Patty S.

Any place that has 'tater tots' on their menu get my vote! Had a business lunch here with some clients and we were promptly seated even though we didn't have a reservation. The rest of the restaurant was packed and bustling. They have a nice selection on their menu that will satisfy anyone you bring to this restaurant. I ordered a Chicken Salad Wrap with tater tots and it was delicious! The wrap had nice grilled strips of chicken, walnuts, roasted beets, spinach, and some kind of dressing. It was a nice rounded bit of food. The tater tots were nice and crispy and brings back childhood memories. I will definitely be bringing people back to this restaurant. It's a great place for business lunch.
(4)
Kim J.

It was a coooooold and snowy night. A friend was in town for a conference, and we were looking for a bite to eat and a drink. She was at the Hyatt, and we were looking for somewhere that didn't require us to leave the hotel ;) After wandering through the tunnels, we ended up at Sweetwater! Apparently it is owned by the same folks who own Boundary, which is another joint that I think is A-OK. For our purposes, Sweetwater was just fine. The food was good, I liked the beer list, and our waiter was attentive. It was a bit on the loud side, and there were a ton of TVs. But I'd head back here if I had another reason to be in the area. Next time, I'll try the mac and cheese!
(3)
P N.

Wether you are looking for a good downtown after work hangout or just a good place to have some fun, food and drink then Sweetwater is the place to go! With a awesome menu, grate selection of LBW and Flat screens playing the best of sports How can you go wrong? I have been to sweetwater many of times and the experience has always been good. I miss the stuffed pretzel thou :)
(4)
Gary R.

This place was pretty good. There were a lot of flat screen TVs on the walls, which did make me a bit concerned in the case of a tornado. My guess is that a Tornado would mess those TV's up pretty badly. The food was pretty tasty. We had the Ox tail queso dip, which contained beef (mystery meat) and some delicious cheese. Then I had a Chicken Caesar wrap. It was as advertised- it was short...just like Julius Ceasar (or is that Napoleon?? Maybe I'm confused) Anyway, it was good. I liked the fact that they hid croutons in the wrap. Croutons are good, and any salads that are served without them are just piles of lettuce as far as I'm concerned. It was my burfday, so we treated ourselves to the half baked cookie/ ice cream dessert. It was good as hell. The cookie portion was hot, while the ice cream was cold. It caused a virtual thunderstorm in my mouth. The bathrooms were interesting. They had TVs above the urinals so you can pee and watch your favorite team. There are no TVs in the crapper however. This goes to show that this restaurant doesn't really support people taking dumps on their property, nor should they. Do that on your own property, people.
(4)
Ermelinda C.

Great atmosphere, good looking crowd, tasty food, nice service. A great place to get together after work!!!
(4)
Stephanie B.

Definition of meh : (n.) A multi-purpose response primarily used to imply a degree of indifference. Can be used when you don't want to answer an awkward or embarrassing question, or if you just plain have nothing else to say, and you want the other person to interpret the "meh" however he/she chooses. Meh can definitely describe Sweetwater in one word. I've had the opportunity to dine here a handful of times, and each time is nothing over exhilarating. The service and food have always just bordered on the average side. Today, I lucked out (by dining pre-lunch rush at 11:30) and scored a prime table on the "patio." I've had several different things on the menu from the cowboy salad (this should come with some option of bread/roll/flatbread) to the lackluster baja fish tacos (not even worth talking more about) and my option this afternoon was the turkey burger. I would have to say that the turkey burger was by far the best option. The turkey is fresh (not frozen) and the server even pointed it out so that I shouldn't be alarmed due to the coloring of the burger saying it would arrive cooked "medium-well and a tad pinkish but that it was not undercooked." Um, OK? Well, the turkey burger was a hit with me. It was very flavorful with a lot of fresh herbs in the burger mixture and topped with melted mozzarella, avocado, lettuce, and cranberry aioli (which I never received) on a pretzel roll. I was peeved when my order arrived sans tots and also I had asked the waitress for the honey garlic aioli from another sandwich in addition to come with my entrÃ©e, but she obviously was too busy and flustered to understand that request. I did get my tots, but never the cranberry aioli because I didn't bring it to her attention...I just wanted to eat already! With tip, iced tea, and burger my total came to $18.50. That's kind of an expensive lunch, but pretty typical of the Mag Mile area. Calling all boozehounds! Just a tip- Monday nights are 1/2 priced bottles of wine! I know I might stick to small plates and wine for my next visit after work!
(2)
Kara E.

My bf and I ventured over to Sweetwater after doing some shopping downtown. I think this place used to be the old Bennigans- but it definitely has a different feel now. Sweetwater has a cool vibe and there's no shortage of flat screen TVs. My bf had the cowgirl salad- which looked great and tasted great (he even let me steal a bite)- not too mention it was huge- as a salad for $15 should be. I opted to "build my own" turkey burger with bbq sauce and cheddar cheese. The turkey burger was seasoned really well, and it came with tater tots! Need I say more? I'd love to try this place for an after work happy hour- they have a huge list of beers and great food!
(4)
Maddy K.

FINALLY a good bar right in the loop that is open after work - gives us loop residents a choice after hours! BRAVO! i tried the build your own turkey burger which is fantastic and the baked cookie dessert is absolutely to die for!! for the location alone to hang out with friends this place ranks really really high in my books!
(4)
Abhay S.

Came in here for a few drinks after work a few weeks back. It was hot and sticky outside and we wanted a nice cool place that was close to our office. Sweetwater fit the bill perfectly. Since it was still a little early, we were able to secure an entire table. Our service was great - the waitress made sure drinks were constantly flowing. Overall - If you're in the area looking for great service and a cool place on a hot day, check out Sweetwater Tavern & Grill on Michigan Avenue!
(4)
Peggie F.

Looks nice. Rude service. Bad food. Bad prices. Weak drinks. I will never return.
(1)
Dan H.

This is the best restaurant on Michigan Avenue! I echo this (many diners feel this way) after having eaten here enough to know the non-meat menu fare first hand (I am a raw vegan) but also having eaten with friends who've ordered meat items. The cornmeal battered cheese curds are amazing. The batter is light and excellent with the smoked tomato dipping sauce. ORDER THIS! I also love the Fish Tacos (blackened tilapia) while my wife relishes the vegetable omelet. We ate with a friend recently who loved the Chicken Salad Sandwich, so any of these will be good choices. In the past I've had excellent luck with the Lobster Mac & Cheese although I do not think that a poor choice is offered on this vast and varied menu. The bar area is quite expansive and appears to present a good atmosphere for meeting those of the opposite sex. The outdoor dining area is right on Michigan Avenue which exposes diners to all the color, sights, and smells of the center of town. If you're looking for a bustle, there is always some action happening at Sweetwater. I love this place! You cannot go wrong!
(5)
Kevin G.

My honey and I stopped at this bar for a quick drink before heading out to the airport. We wanted something that had outdoor seating and drink selections, so this place was perfect. We were seated outdoors in a booth, and brought ice cold water in a pitcher. The indoors looked like a very typical sports bar with TV's playing and a small draft selection. Nothing amazing, very average. The drink menu did have a broad selection of beers, but very slim pickings on draft. I was pleased to see they did actually have a small Sweetwater beer selection (brewery in Atlanta) but realized they had nothing on draft. Our server was friendly, so that was a plus. I ordered a Miller Lite, nothing to Yelp about on that. My honey ordered a drink that had her favorite liquor in it, St. Germain, called the Uber Cocktail. We were both excited to try it. It came out in a tall glass (very odd) and was very watered down. She could barely drink half of it, and I had to stomach down the rest. I wondered if it had sat there too long before coming out. I would think twice about stopping by here again, if ever in the area, for a mixed drink or specialty draft beer. If they can't make a proper mixed drink, then I can only imagine how good the food actually is.
(2)
Christy A.

Lobster mac and cheese, the lobster was fantastic and big portions....however the sauce needed some more flavor to truly give this one a 5 star Also had a black bean hummus wrap, HUGE serving but packed full of flavor and great combo!
(3)
Liz M.

Went here for lunch with a friend. I had the cowboy salad which was nice, chicken slathered in a tomatoey chipotle sauce and served over greens, but not at all special, and felt overpriced at $14.99. It looked like they had great beer options, although I didn't try them out. The outdoor area was in the shade, which I really appreciated. Overall, this place was a nice spot, but it was nothing special and didn't stand out to me from the wide range of similar places on Michigan Ave.
(3)
Jon T.

Ms T and needed a beer and burger on the night before a family event. We were staying close by and walked a couple of blocks to Sweetwater. It was a Friday night and they were pretty busy, as I guess every such place is in Chicago. We had a modest wait to be seated. They had a pretty decent beer selection for not being a tap room. You can find several local craft beers as well as some notable ones from around the country. We made our selections from the locals and ordered burgers. My Fiesta Burger burgers was very good, thick, juicy and properly prepared to medium rare order. The bun looks bigger than it really is, you can squash it down and it is not dry. I had some grilled asparagus on the side instead of fries and it was very good as well. Ordering just burgers may not be much of a test of Sweetwater's menu, but we both rated them in the 3-1/2 range and would certainly return. Overall, the aggregate rating for Sweetwater is about right at 3-1/2. Ms T had the Gobbler, a well dressed turkey burger. As is normal, the turkey was somewhat dry and she felt it was too strongly herbed. They offer tater tots as an option to fries. We sat along the left side of the building and there was a lot of traffic going in and out, with the accompanying wind blowing in. We were thinking that it might be hard to find a warm spot in the winter.
(3)
Craig H.

I do not recommend eating here!!!' waited for over an hour and a half was late for a business meeting so they gave it as a to go order, when I got back it wasn't even what I ordered! terrible service mediocre food just an all-around bad experience
(1)
Sally Y.

Sweetwater is your typical bar located in a convenient spot for those walking around downtown Chicago on Michigan avenue. The food is your standard bar food where the chicken fingers, cheese curds, and other miscellaneous foods are average. The service is good, the atmosphere is casual, and plenty of people stop in and out whether they're tourists taking a break from exploring the city or employees stopping for the afternoon happy hour. Nothing stellar about this place, but it's an easy and on par location to go if you're looking for something simple.
(3)
Island G.

Fun spot to watch football. I like how they interupt the commercials with funny video clips. Bang bang shrimp is great! Service was very good!
(4)
John M.

Our first visit to Chicago & we wanted a place to go watch the opening night of the NFL & wanted it close to our hotel so we decided on The Sweetwater. The decor was very good & it does have outside seating If desired. We sat at the bar to get a better view of the game on TV. Our bartender was great. Very friendly & helpful when I asked for a suggestion. It has a good beer selection which I appreciated. We ordered the cheese curds & chicken nachos. The food came out very quickly. This was our first time having cheese curds & they were very good. Our first order of nachos came out without the chicken but the bartender & manager apologized immediately & got us a new order. They were very good as well. They have a lime sour cream on them which for me had too much lime but I'm not a huge lime fan. This is not a criticism because it is listed on the menu. We did enjoy our meal very much. My only criticism is that there was only 1 bartender for the large bar so at times it did take a little while to get a drink but as I said earlier our bartender was great! I would go back here if we visited Chicago again & it was close to our hotel. If 3 & 1/2 stars was an option I would go with that.
(3)
Justin S.

Great location but I think it made the prices go up without the quality of food coming with it. It has a neat atmosphere and okay service but I don't think I'll be going back if I could go elsewhere instead.
(3)
Paul R.

I visited here with clients for business lunch as it was convenient to their offices. Sweetwater is a popular spot for lunch and it was crowded. Our party of 5 was seated promptly and even though they were extremely busy great service ensued throughout our meal. Two of us ordered salads and they were filling. Rarely can't I finish a Cobb salad but I was hard pressed to finish 80% of it. The fish tacos and chicken salad sandwich looked amazing as well. Great spot for a quick lunch.
(4)
Karen H.

I love finding places with tater tots as a side option, haha. (Makes me feel like a kid.) I enjoyed my burger very much so, as well as my drink. I ordered a cocktail--Chicago "Blues-berry" Smash. The place was busy and the food was fresh, our waiter did take kind of long to make his rounds. I wasn't wowed, I don't know that I'll be tooo excited to come back.
(3)
Belle L.

Best place for Game Night. Walls are covered with TV. No bad view in every seat. You can feel the enthusiasm of HOORAY in this place. Single sporty gals...a great place to meet decent looking dudes. *wink wink* Excellent value for $$. Dude portion. Entrees are less than $20. PAN SEARED TILAPIA ($15) -- perfect crust but light (and maybe weak) flavor with strong reliance on lemon caper sauce. Runny mashed potatoes with MIA garlic. Uneven cooking of spinach but had great flavors. PEANUT BUTTER MOUSSE ($7) -- excellent price and portion. Must love PB that much. Feels like eating PB from the jar. Served slightly frozen. Room temp taste better and easier to consume (soft). CIDER SELECTIONS -- plentiful and music to my ears. Other venues only have 1-2 kinds. Available on tap as well. SERVICE -- pleasant hostess that tries to seat you quickly. Quick cleanup. Danielle was perfect -- gracious, knowledgeable with great timing. I look forward to beignets. Bring it on Chef!
(4)
Jen B.

Our service here at Sweet-water Tavern was absolutely terrible. Our server had a very disturbing attitude and aura when she initially approached our table. After we received our drinks it took an additional 20 minutes to order our meal. I asked for a simple request and with an irritated gesture and smirk I received a reply from the server that the food comes in prepackaged and my request could not be done. She gave me a half assed smile and apologized then walked away. We immediately requested a manager who arrived promptly to our table with a smile and verified with the kitchen if our request could be done. Within seconds she returned and gladly took our order. The food came to our table in under 10 minutes. The Manager Michelle, professionally handled the situation. The atmosphere at SweetWater Tavern is nice and cozy, the food was delicious and the manager Michelle has amazing interpersonal skills. It's very unfortunate that a first impression is really what's most important and is usually a lasting one. One suggestion I have for any establishment, when your staff is irritated and overwhelmed, PLEASE help boost their morale or send them HOME! The paying customer does not deserve to be treated rudely by staff members for any reason.
(3)
Jonathan W.

The marketing whatever, asked me to elaborate a bit so the message can be passed on. I didn't notify management of the terrible food because I got it to go. I don't live in Chicago, I was staying across the street and wanted a late night snack. I certainly would have sent it back if I had tasted the buffalo chicken wrap while I was there. And my girlfriends chicken caesar wrap was even worse. We literally threw them away after one bite and walked to taco burrito king. Getting into the specifics of the wraps isn't necessary. They need to be scrapped all together. The worst I have ever had by far. I'm not bashing the food because I don't like the place. I'd probably stop by again for a late night drink.
(1)
Kelly N.

Four stars for customer service and super dog friendly patio! Sora was treated like a puggy princess. Beer and cheese curds also fabulous. Really enjoyed my burger the first time I was here, but the breakfast tacos were severely lacking a couple mornings later. They were literally just eggs in flour tortillas. I could have made them better at home and would have gotten them sooner. Fish Tacos were DELICIOUS. I got them with the potato soup one night - and I've been back for them several times since. Great beer selection, too.
(4)
Liz K.

Great experience here at the Sweetwater Tavern. Sat outside on the patio (had a lunch reservation). It was a little loud from the street/pedestrians...but not too bad. I sat on a certain side so I can have a great view of the Trump Tower. Such a relaxing place for a nice lunch! Service was great and the food came out fast. Ordered the Cowboy salad and the pulled chicken was very good. Loved it! They have a great variety of beer too. Perfect lunch spot for the area!
(4)
Trevin S.

We went here last night for dinner. It was one of the close places open last on a Sunday night. I ordered the Sweetwater Burger. This burger was absolutely amazing. Avocado, beef, bacon, lettuce, tomato inside a pretzel bun. The pretzel bun was amazing. More restaurants should do this. Wait staff was friendly. There was a hockey game on that was slightly loud, but no problem. My girlfriend ordered a three steak, mashed potatoes combo. I can't remember the name. Hers was not as good as mine and she was not completely satisfied with her meal. This is the reason for only four stars.
(4)
Tasaday L.

A beer drinkers paradise located down the street from Millenium Park. Unfortunately, I was only able to enjoy two beers (both 312) while listening to some throwback 90's music before my friend was denied the right to purchase more drinks. I've never seen a tipsy person denied alcohol before and was really upset about their judgement call, especially since we were on the same number of drinks. Maybe you can't dance without seeming like your over your limit.
(3)
Caitlin R.

My husband and I went here for Sunday brunch. We sat at the be to avoid the wait. The bar staff was great-very attentive and pleasant. We split the beginets and they were fabulous! The blueberry sauce was a perfect pairing! I had the deuces wild and my husband had egg Benedict; Both of which were excellent! The portions were great for the price and the atmosphere was great! Would definitely recommend!
(5)
Shruti S.

Ordered the Buffalo chicken wings with ranch dressing. The dressing was really great...the consistency holds beautifully when you dip your fork in! The filet mignon medallions are cooked beautifully. But the mashed potatoes was okay and jus was slightly bitter. The Santa Fe wrap was good, nothing unusually great but exactly what you'd expect in terms of all ingredients blending in just right. Asparagus with the mignon was alright....some were just perfectly grilled to retain the sweetness and just a little crunch.
(3)
Tiff W.

OK so the same people who own Sweetwater also own The Boundary in Wicker Park and Trace in Wrigley. One look at the menu at Sweetwater last night and I noticed many many similarities to the menu at The Boundary. I'm not complaining, since Sweetwater is much much closer to where I live. First off, one thing that they DO offer at Sweetwater and not at The Boundary is the BACON-WRAPPED CAJUN SHRIMP. All i can say is wow. Wow. Wow. I got the buffalo chicken wrap, which was pretty standard but tasty. Can't stop thinking about the bacon-wrapped shrimp though. Minus a star because unlike The Boundary or Trace, there are some bad seats in the house. I got put into a booth where I basically had to turn my head to 7 o'clock in order to see a TV screen.
(4)
Nathan B.

A comfy burger bar in downtown. The prices are what you would expect but quality food and TONS of flat screens for watching sports makes it worthwhile. The best compliment I can give them is that they can cook a burger correctly. This is high praise. Most places over or under-cook their burgers or try to over spice the patties. I ordered my burger medium and got a good layer of pink in the middle of a tasty patty.
(4)
Autumn N.

Delicious mojito, great food, awesome location. The crowd is very young -- under 30 crowd. Have tons of TVs for watching the big game. Really enjoyed our dinner here. They have tater tots AND fries, what more can you ask for? Great prices.
(4)
Kelly W.

So this place is right in the building where I work so it's an easy place to go after work. I met a friend for dinner and drinks here one evening and when we walked in it was hopping with happy hour folks and that made me happy. I was in the mood to be in that kind of atmosphere. We, however, were seated in the weird backroom annex which was like no-man's land. I should have said something right from the get go but I didn't. Besides that, Sweetwater was fine-- a very middle of the road-esque experience. The fish tacos were pretty good but had way too much sauce that nearly overpowered the other flavors. Other things to note: pretty good bear selection. Last thing to note: if your looking for the bustle and busy atmosphere, the back is not the place to sit.
(3)
Matt E.

Sweet water is a favorite of mine that never disappoints. Great food and great beer selection! Go for the buffalo wrap, turkey burger or the Waldorf salad. If you have any room for dessert, go for the cookie skillet! The only downside is that I wish this place took reservations as it can get a bit packed at lunch time.
(5)
Mike S.

The food was great (I had the fish tacos). However, the service was a bit more on the meh side. The food came out very quick (maybe 10 min.) but our waitress wasnt so tenative. It could of been because it was so crowded. Overall a good experience. I would come back again.
(4)
Rosa Bella L.

It's an awesome hang out place, the food is fabulous and the staff treats you like your family :) my friend Moti and I recommend the quesadilla, its to die for!!
(5)
Carolyn E.

I went here on my day off with my girlfriend before hitting the Michigan Ave shops. Since we did not have to work or operate heavy machinery that day we had a couple Bloody Mary's -- they were tasty, but not necessarily worth coming to Sweetwater specifically for. (but you will not regret getting one, promise!) The food was mighty fine and tasty. The FOOD was reasonably priced for downtown, however the booze is where you will be reminded that you are, indeed, on Michigan Ave in the greatest Midwestern city ever conceived. What stood out for me above all was our service -- everyone brought their A-Game, the server, the hosts, food came out right temperature, within a reasonable amount of time, etc etc. It was refreshing and awesome. I had some sort of chicken-TexMex wrap, which I enjoyed.
(4)
Leah C.

yay - another happy hour option...er....lunch option! pretty impressed so far. delicious waldorf salad (no chicken or cheese please) but still bursting with right amounts of candied walnuts, craisins, apples and cucumbers. the apple cider dressing was also very good and tossed to perfection. it was a busy friday lunch hour but we waited only 15 minutes to be seated and the hostess was able to find us amongst the huge crowd that had steadily grown within that 15 minutes. fast, personal service especially for how busy it was. the menu is so refreshing in comparison to houlihan's and the other ghastly bar/chains in the area. welcome to the IL center - glad to have you here! i'll be back to spend some quality time at the bar for hh or perhaps for some games if in the area (TVs are plentiful here).
(3)
Debbie H.

This would get 2 1/2 stars, if Yelp would finally cave and make "half stars" an option, but sadly for Sweetwater...they do not. This gets a big "eh" from me. A frequent patron of the other local watering holes - Houli's, McCormick & Schmicks, Emerald Loop and Elephant & Castle, I recognize that the options are still pretty limited in this area. So, Sweetwater, in theory, would be a great addition. If you're deaf. Then you wouldn't be disturbed by the aggravating noise level that this place sustains. Lots of TVs, so any sports fan would be happy - but seriously? I can't imagine how much louder it would be on game days. The food was pretty good, and I like that they are generous with the tater tots - delicious. Drinks were strong and reasonably priced for what they're going for. I will likely try it again, the menu looked good. I had the hummus and veggie plate, which received mixed feelings from my table (I was a fan). However, it would serve itself well to figure out how to make it more enjoyable for a couple - or group of friends - to hang out there and actually hear one another's conversation.
(2)
Claire F.

Get the cheese filled pretzel appetizer.....your life will be better by doing so!
(4)
Susan Y.

The salad comes without bread. A beer was marked on the menu as draft but was bottled, so was sent back after waitress knew we were interested in draft only. Poor value for a meal, much better salad at Miller's Pub for approximately same price and it came with lots of bread and butter.
(1)
Chris I.

Excellent selection of libations. Did not have the food. It is connected to the Illinois Center and is accessible from the Hotels that have tunnels into the Illinois Center. Will return again in the future.
(4)
Melissa M.

I stopped in here with some friends after a concert in Grant Park, mostly due to the combo of it's proximity, our hunger level, and the ability to get a table at a restaurant downtown (on Michigan Ave nonetheless) on a Friday night past 7. I was a little worried due to that same mixture of items above, but was pleasantly surprised. The fruit salad I had hit the spot! The environment is modernish/sportsy (due to the tvs behind the bar). I'd like to go back this summer and take advantage of their large outdoor seating area. Also, they have a gluten-free menu!
(3)
ForTheLoveofFood M.

I've been wanting to go to SweetWater since the day it opened and last night I finally went. My favorite co-worker and I went to this place at 3pm since we got out early for the holiday season and we didn't leave until 7. That should give a decent lead into my review. Atmosphere: We sat outside and it was fantastic. The weather was beautiful and the tables, even tables for two were a great size. The outside seating is charming and well spread apart from other tables. But i must head you one warning- the gnats are kind of annoying as the sun starts to set. But other than that the outdoor seating is great, and I highly recommend it. Onto the staff! Although the staff is really really and will get you anything you ask for... You better not be in a rush. It took us a half hour to even put our order in and it took almost is long to get our drinks. Although we weren't in a hurry and were enjoying our time off work- I still think it was a smidge slow. Other than that- it was great! The drink.... If you follow my reviews, you know that I am a dirty martini lover- so it should come to no surprise that I ordered a dirty martini. I take that back, I ordered 3 dirty martinis and a mixed drink. It was fantastic and they were strong.... With that being said however, spend the extra dollar on your vodka drinks and get the Kettle-One Vodka instead of their well-vodka, Stoli; that's one decision you'll be happy with and the extra dollar is worth it. Keeping on the subject of price for a moment, it's a little pricey. It's not expensive or out of the price range of other downtown restaurants, but do expect to pay $30 per person, if one orders a drink, appetizer and entree. But again- Well worth it! The food... I was WoW'd by the food. My colleague ordered a burger with tatter-tots and I had the grilled cheese with grilled veggies. My colleague won't stop talking about the burger and I will forever rave about the Grilled Cheese. I loved my grilled cheese because the cheese was stingy and it was actually grilled! Not toasted, melted or microwaved... My bread had actual grill marks on it and to me- that generates major brownie points. The veggies weren't too bad either, there were a few too many onions for my taste, but they were great nevertheless. I can't wait to go back to SweetWater and try everything on the menu. I will more-than-likely bump my review up to 5 stars when I do ;) And to anyone that wants a review on based purely on observation, someone try the Mac & Cheese. It looked and smelled fantastic! Anyway, visit SweetWater soon, because I know I will be back! See you there- Cheers!
(4)
Hip Mama F.

I visited Sweetwater for lunch with a great friend of mine and my daughter. I love the swank vibe there even during lunch hours, it wasn't so mature that my 10 year old daughter was uncomfortable. I had the Gobbler, which is a turkey burger with avocado and cranberry aioli sauce...Delicious! My friend had the Veggie sandwich, which consisted of grilled vegetables. She's not a vegetarian and loves a great burger, however she said she hadn't tasted anything so good. To my surprise they had a children's menu, but it was too "immature" for my daughter so she grabbed a burger from the regular menu. Much like their sister restaurant Boundary, the staff is friendly, food is delicious and the drinks are great.
(4)
Andrew T.

I would give this place a better rating, but first they need to clean up their act. I ate the chicken pot pie, which seemed fine, had a weird cream cheese taste to it.... bad mistake. Home sick with food poisoning and not happy about it. I am sure the spot is good and the food is good, but seriously, that pie must have been sitting around for a while or something... anyway, clean up the kitchen and stop getting your customers sick.
(1)
Heather N.

It is what it is. I go there after work for a quick bit and drinks. I usually get the Sweetwater burger and tater tots. They got an extra star because they serve tater tots!! Burger are usually good. It is loud and I think too many TVs. The waitress was great on drink recommendations. I will go back after work again, but probably wouldn't take my mom when she comes to town.
(3)
Shawn J.

Good palce to do a happy hour type thing. Not so much on the drinking till its way late thing. Its more of a food\drink place than a drink and watch the game kind of place. It closes at 11:00pm which I thought was odd for a place with so many TV's behind the bar, but all in all a good place to go get a quick drink before heading home.
(3)
Chrys H.

I loved the atmosphere, the location and the food was great, as was the service. I will definitely make this a regular place to eat when in Chicago!
(5)
Adam C.

I'd give this place an 'eh' at best. It has a pretty decent beer selection, which is nice. 12 taps and something like 70 different bottles. The service is again, 'eh'. Not bad, per se, just not good. I had the bbq burger, and it was pretty forgettable. The fries were decent, but the burger was damn near tasteless. In short, go for the beer, eat dinner elsewhere.
(2)
Art C.

Nothing too special about this place. I had your run of the mill bacon burger, and it came out super greasy. They have tater tots though, which is a plus in my book. The atmosphere reminds me a lot of State up in Lincoln Park. Wood finish everywhere mixed with plush booths. I wouldn't be opposed to going back if a friend suggested it, but my first experience here wasn't too memorable.
(3)
jenny m.

I think it is summed up best by Carol J's review - sports bar meets upscale lounge. That's exactly what I thought as well upon walking in to this place. The decor has a very loungey feel to it, but all the sports on TV (and sports fans standing around watching the TV's) bring it down a notch. Not that that's a bad thing, just different then I was expecting. With that said, I really liked this place. I was here around 7:30 on a Wednesday and there was a little wait for a table, so my party of 3 decided to sit at one of the long communal tables at the bar. Which worked out just fine. It was a little noiser at the bar with the TV's, but not so loud we couldn't have a conversation. I loved the selection of beers, much better then I've come to expect at most typical after work watering holes downtown (probably 50-60+ with a good mix of pilsners, stouts, ales, etc). The wine list wasn't that great (maybe 7-8 reds, 7-8 whites) and was a little pricey for a glass, but I think they are catering to the beer crowd so I get it. I thought the food here was really good, above average bar food in my opinion. They did have your standard bar fare - burgers & fries - but also lots of wraps & salads. We started with the spinach & artichoke dip which was served with warm pita bread. It was delish. I had the ahi tuna wrap and it was really good. It was packed with tuna and had a delicious sesame dressing. I also tried the veggie burger that one of my dining companions got and it was also really good. They clearly make it in-house and pack it full of yummy black beans and then you can choose what toppings you want on it. It is a little more expensive here then other downtown spots, but because I liked the atmosphere, the extensive beer list, and the quality of the food, I will definitely shell out a few extra bucks and be going back.
(4)
#NAME?

Finally got in here tonight (Friday around 7:00)-Tried Wed. night and it was an hour and a half wait to get a table and so freaking loud and packed-Went tonight and had to wait 45 minutes for a table-I would say after 8 it would be easier to get a table- FOOD: I got a Turkery Burger, which I've never in my life have gotten before or even eaten-I can say it smelled odd, but maybe that's what they are supposed to smell like-A different taste indeed, it tasted ok-It wasn't greasy or heavy like a burger is, I was able to eat half of it, the smell and odd taste started to get to me-I kept thinking of cat food...I know odd-I think I should try other turkey burgers to get an idea of what one should taste like-I think I just prefer the real thing over a fake burger- The tator tots tasted like Orida tots you throw in the oven, nothing special but plain ole tator tots-Nothing magical about them, no special coating just a tot-I mean honestly a 5 year old could cook a tot, pretty hard to screw up- ENVIRONMENT: There are tons of offices/companies in this location so this a prime happy hour spot, and yes it is loud-You go in that revolving door and it's chatter city-The mix is young professionals mixed in with older ones-Nice clean place, good wait staff-Food is a little high priced, I mean in the end it's just bar food, no matter what unique or fancy name you give it- I'm sure I'll be in here again, I mean it's super close to our apt and it's a new spot-I wouldn't recommend this place as a dining destination for a date or for parents-
(3)
Rachael D.

Wanted to find somewhere for apps & drinks on a Friday afternoon and after a little bit of exploration we found this place. (It's where a Bennigan's used to be.) We decided to sit outside b/c we didn't see many tables inside (if any) available. It was probably just a tad too chilly to be sitting out there but oh well. We each had a drink and we shared two appetizers. The pulled chicken quesidilla was amazing! The guacamole was good too but nothing to write home about. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Stephanie W.

Restaurant was freezing, food took forever even though the place was empty, $15 is just way too much for a burger, neither the burger nor the salad were at all appealing to our palette (I'm pretty sure the burger had some weird kind of cheddar melted into the patty?), and our waiter was completely MIA for the duration of our meal. Definitely won't be back here the next time I'm looking for a happy hour spot around work.
(2)
Summer P.

Holy TVs! Not that I mind but do they all need to be tuned into the same game and one rogue option - Fox News (ugh)? We stopped into Sweetwater post-work; it was busy but we were able to get a giant booth right away - so nice to spread out! Decor is nice but there are a ton of TVs and it is a little on the loud side. While I didn't drink, loved the plentiful beer options (it's what pushed this from two to three stars). I ordered the Waldorf salad; it was pretty good - I really liked that they went creative and added beets. My friends tried a pita sandwich and the grilled cheese. The grilled cheese didn't look very delicious; the cheese wasn't melted and it looked dry. The pita sandwich looked great BUT my friend noted that it was 'okay' but not anything special. There were, however, rave reviews on the cookie dough skillet thing. So - one star for good service, another for expansive beer list, and a final star for having a variety of food options.
(3)
Liz T.

Sweetwater is on the first floor of my office and tends to be the go-to happy hour spot for the building's mid-20's to mid-30's crowd. I would probably not go nearly as often if it weren't so convenient. Lunchtime is great but once it hits about 4:30pm, Sweetwater starts getting packed. Fortunately, now that it's summer, they've opened up the patio which has made it a lot less crowded but when the patio is closed, it gets pretty claustrophobic. As for food/beverages, the kitchen turns out pretty good small plates and appetizers but the food is definitely overpriced. They have a solid wine list and some great beers both on tap and in bottles but, again, overpriced.
(3)
Kate S.

I like this place. Awesome patio and inside is comfy and trendy all at once. The food always pleases. It's a bit pricey, but great place for weekend brunch (the beignets are dope). Wraps, sandwiches, salads, soups--it's all good.
(4)
Chris B.

Sweetwater is amazing. It's a bar and grille with a VERY full beer and wine list but is more like a restaurant than anything. They have long, wide booths and high-tables if you are bringing a lot of people. Those high-tables are first-come first serve so if you don't want to wait for a booth you can grab a couple of stools there to eat. Your choice. The food is excellent. I've come here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and each time I've always left full and satisfied. If you're going to get anything with the option of french fries or tator tots, pick the tator tots. Not because the fries are bad (they are actually pretty good) but because it's freakin' tator tots! Most of their grilled chicken/burgers come on a pretzel bun which is always a plus and their wraps are very good as well. Really you'll be hard pressed to order something that you won't like at Sweetwater. The only thing holding this place back is that it can get pretty loud in there between the music, tv's, and hoards of people. It's not shoulder-to-shoulder crowded or anything but if you come around dinner time literally any day of the week expect to wait. Sweetwater is a popular spot.
(4)
Kearby K.

Are you joking with the vestibule?!? Who puts a big tent on Michigan Avenue?!? Talk about classless- you are in a classic modern building that is black and you all put up a brown tent on the front. I mean really I have eaten there and you would get like a 3 but put this crap on the front and I am out. Tents are for Eagle Scouts not modern buildings on Michigan Avenue.
(1)
Stan W.

I like this place and am glad it opened here, near my office. I happen to live close to the Boundary too - which is also a place I like - so I guess I'm completely covered by these folks. Such a huge improvement over that garbage Bennigans that used to be here. Menu is very similar to the Boundary, but last time I was here I had their mac n cheez which was just ridiculously good. There was a hot jalapeno kick to it, and the consistency of the cheez was just perfect. I had gotten this at the Boundary before and don't remember it being this silly good. Now I'll never find out if any of their other dishes are any good since I'll just be ordering the mac n cheez every time. Beers are a bit pricey, but they're only charging the going rate for a beer around here. Head over to the Big Bar at the Hyatt and see how much you pay for a beer there (if you can ever get served by their lousy staff). Beware, its a bit of a tool convention in here. It gets crowded, so it would be nice if there was a little more room near the bar.
(4)
Mel L.

Great location in the loop. Lots of outdoor seating for summer day drinking. Long list of beers. Better than typical bar food. Nice staff. All around nothing but good things for that weekday day drinking and eating!!
(4)
Tony H.

My co-worker and I routinely check out the "bar food" around this area and have been damn near everywhere within a half mile radius. This was our first time to this place. We were very pleasantly surprised. The spinach dip was arguably the best ever, the fried macaroni bits were delicious, and the burger selection was nice. The service was prompt and friendly. Will definitely be going back.
(5)
Joelle S.

Really good buffalo eggroll things, they shredded the chicken and it was delish. Their beer selection is awesome, a lot of micro breweries that I indulged in. I got a beer from Cali that was listed under wheats- called A Lil Sumptin Sumptin. It was STRONG for a girl who loves Shocktop n belgians, but it had a nice flavor. And then we both got sandwiches.both very blah. He got a turkey avocado wrap of sorts and I got the steak sandwich but in a wrap- the steak was not cut properly on mine and just okay. Oh well though. The service was standard: nice gal with okay service- nothing memorable, but nothing awful. So sub par stars from me!!
(3)
Abby S.

Staff is very nice and will get everything you need, but their prices are slightly over the top. A side salad is 6 dollars? (But since it is a decent size and their dressings are amazing, I will pay it). :) They are always busy, despite the time and day. Try their desert, it is PHENOMINAL!
(4)
Nick N.

Loved this place the second time around as well
(5)
Jessica R.

I really enjoy Sweetwater and have been several times for lunch and dinner. They offer a gluten-free menu with great choices, instead of just plain salads or not knowing what Celiac is. The staff are typically very nice and prompt, and don't hesitate to bring anything extra or special. The food is delicious: I've enjoyed and recommend the queso dip, ahi tuna wrap, cowboy salad and fiesta burger. They have a great night-out atmosphere but also served well as a business lunch spot. They typically have short waits, although usually crowded.
(4)
Lauren J.

I took some people from out of town here on Friday night. They were here for a conference and were staying at State & Congress. I live in Lincoln Park so I'm not too familiar with the downtown area's restaurants. I didn't want to take them somewhere too expensive or obscure - since they were business contacts I just wanted to take them someplace that would please everyone. And it did! Great location and good food. And great prices! I'm a foodie, though, so I wouldn't come back here unless I had out of town guests again. It's pretty run of the mill, chain-ish. Nothing too spectacular, but I have nothing bad to say about it. I work on the Mag Mile and would definitely come down here for Happy Hour - they have a great beer selection.
(3)
Ann S.

Great patio.
(4)
Renee L.

I came here with a friend wanting to grab a quick bite after a work out...it was packed and there was a wait we were abruptly told by the hostess. We then suggested that we could eat outside so we joined a few other tables out there (since it was a bit chilly). I got soup and fruit. The fruit was mediocre but I was disappointed with my soup. Severely! I ordered the soup of the day, which the waitress had told me about. For some reason her description completely suggested a broth soup but what came out was this super creamy chessed up soup. Not what I wanted at all and it was lukewarm. Ugh not worth what I ended up paying for. I give an extra star for our amazingly nice bus boy!
(2)
Anat K.

The menu is diverse and you can find from burgers to Asian. The service was great as well. I ate the Asian salad with tuna wihich was great! I gave 3 stars because it was way too noisy.
(3)
dockster d.

I'll give it 3 stars for now, and maybe revise that when I go back again. I too went on their opening night but only for a beer, so take this as a limited review. The decor is nice, the TV's are great. The music, yes, is quite loud -- they need to lower it a bit so you can actually have a conversation. They have multiple types of seating options -- the bar, booths, lounge style sofas, and raised pub-height tables. As for the beers -- they have about 80 different ones which was impressive. They also did a nice job of separating them by the type of brew and mark clearly which ones are on tap. The one thing that was disappointing was their beer prices -- $5.50 for a blue moon / $6.50 for a Hacker Shor. Beer Bistro (west Loop) and Clark St. Ale House are cheaper options,but then again aren't in the loop. Wasn't able to try the food as the kitchen closed early since it was the first night. As for the canned responses from the waitress -- for the first night probably just a combination of nervousness and training. We had no issues with our server, and she was conversational about the bar itself when we engaged her on that topic. This place has a lot of potential -- will be interesting to see how it does in this Loop location.
(4)
Amy J.

In all fairness, we didn't end up eating or drinking here. Here's why. Our group of three stopped by on a Thursday night. They wouldn't seat us until everyone at the party was there, and someone was running late. By the time our party was complete (5 min later), they told us that they had to give our table away and that it would be a 20-25 minute wait. We looked around and there were three empty booths in the front of the restaurant. We asked why we couldn't sit at one of those, and they said they were reserved for large groups only. There would be polite ways to say this, but the two hostesses were super snobby and gave us "we don't want anything to do with you" looks. Really, ladies? There wasn't anyone waiting, and we told you we would be out in less than an hour. It seems like a very stupid thing to turn business away - but if you have to do so, at least be nice. We left and found a much better place 2 blocks away (I highly recommend South Water Kitchen). We won't be going back.
(1)
Tom R.

Definitely overpriced for what you get but that is to be expected for any place in The Loop. Good beer selection and good food. Nothing outstanding but I have never been disappointed either and I come here pretty frequently after work.
(3)
Mandy P.

I like this place a lot. I actually think my stomach just cried out "tator tots" when I clicked on the link. The Long Islands flow like wine, the drinks are made well, the servers are friendly, and there is tons of business man eye candy ready for viewing around happy hour. Sign me up.
(4)
Julie M.

Pros: - It's not an Irish themed restaurant and bar (see others in area: tilted kilt, emerald loop, elephant & castle or semi-stuffy restaurant and bar (see others in area: park grille, tavern at the park) - It's got decent appetizers and beers at a good price point for the area Cons: - Seating is a pain (group tables) - Servers haven't quite "figured it out" I have been here for a few lunches and a happy hour. Lunch is okay, tater tots or the option to upgrade to onion petals (I'd recommend!) are nice touches. Would suggest the pretzels as well. Of the three times I've been for lunch, my order has come out wrong twice. I'm blaming the servers; writing down an order is a challenge - the folks I have had don't do it and the order ends up incorrect... Also, every person I've had seems to have been working in the industry for a total of a week. Example: At a happy hour the server asks, "Do you want another round?" We look at each other to decide and 2 seconds later turn to her to say "Sure"... but she's already gone. Apparently you have to scream "YES!" within a half-second to get the next round, I don't know. That said, I'm sick of the Irish bar for a happy hour. I'll be back.
(3)
Swati B.

Came here to watch the bulls playoff game/hawks play off game on a weeknight...and yes, at 6:30 this place's tables were already pretty full, however we were able to grab a table..granted it was one of those long tables where you likely will get stuck sitting next to someone at the same table that you don't know... Plenty of Tvs at this place..and a pretty great beer list...oh and yes for those of you that don't do beer..they have martinis and wines as well as a full bar. Our first server was awesome..no idea what her name was..but a super bubbly, sports fan server who was open to conversation and overall just really friendly...however she was done about half way through the first set of games..and we got another server..who barely made eye contact, barely asked if we needed beers, waters anything...his name was jason and he stunk. Didn't eat much of the food..the mac and cheese bites were pretty decent..the sweet potato fries were pretty good and so were the tater tots... I was disappointed with the crowd..this is definitely not your sports bar crowd..really quiet throughout the games, and barely anyone left for the hawks game...just disappointing...and age wise it really did range from upper 20s to 50s. What was really a disgrace was when this placed closed down (immediately after hawks game ended at 12:30)...they were literally telling people to get out...not cool... This could definitely be a great place to take clients out, or a tourist..or even a post work happy hour..but I'd never come back to watch a game here...
(3)
Steve H.

I sometimes hit this place up on my way home from a late night at work. The food is decent, maybe a step up from standard greasy pub fare. I really enjoy the cheese pretzels. They also have a huge beer list which is a definite plus. I usually get a Maker's Mark Manhattan here, it's sooo good. They really know how to make em. The ambiance is nice, usually a huge business/after work crowd, the tables and boothes are nice and they have plenty of Tv's if you care to catch a game. On summer days they have Tv's outside which always gathers a nice crowd. I'm definitely a fan although I prefer the Emerald Loop just a few blocks over.
(3)
Kate O.

I've been to Sweetwater 3 times now and each time I've had a great experience. Extremely friendly staff, great food and I love the trendy but casual feel to the place. I've gone for lunch in the summer in shorts and flip flops and for dinner before a play all dressed up and both times I didn't have to worry about being under or overdressed which, hey I'm a girl, I think about these things! The prices are, in my opinion, completely justified by the quality of the food. I have yet to have a better turkey burger. Also, I had a Southern Tier pumpkin beer there this week and thought I was going to die it was liquid dessert! It is one of my favorite spots in the loop!
(5)
Reena M.

I just stopped on by here with a friend as we were strolling down Michigan Ave. It seemed like a cool place for drinks and food. My friend got an amazing looking burger that came with a pretzel bun. If I hadn't been feeling a little ill (from over exertion), I would have totally gone for a burger too. But I just settled for a basic tomato basil soup, which was also good. We shared a bottle of wine because it was on special and left here happy.
(4)
Jen B.

Pretty pricey for what you get, and the patio isn't as great as I anticipated. We ended up sandwiched between a window and a sidestreet. The interior, on the other hand, is lovely. Our server was great and put up with parents' BS with aplomb. They are 100% the kind of people who want to buddy up to the server and ask inane questions, but she gamely played along, so kudos to her. The cocktails are impressive. I had a black cherry cosmo that was sweet but not sickly so, and my stepdad's cranbery mojito was also tasty. I guess you expect to pay a little more to eat in the Loop, but my tuna wrap was pretty sick. SO's veg burger and fries were great, though.
(3)
kat c.

Brunch was awesome,but service is mediocre. I felt it was more of production line rather than enjoy a beautiful day at the outdoor seating they have. Our server was all about efficiency and forgot to realize that he needs to provide execellent customer service too. He seem unfriendly and people kept coming up to our table to take our plates aways. This when my plate was still full of food. I maybe would go back for happy hour, but I am skeptical about brunch since the service wasn't quite stellar.
(3)
Eric R.

Fantastic breakfast. The breakfast tacos are nearly perfect! And the staff was so nice!
(5)
Zach T.

A good loop option for bar food. I was here for a work lunch and was pleasantly surprised by both the burger and the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (Split with a like-palated co-worker). Service leaves a bit to be desired.
(3)
Coronado B.

Best Burger of my life! Had the choose your own with Gorgonzola and Cheddar, cranberry aioli, sauteed onions and portobella mushrooms. will be stoping by again soon.
(4)
anthony t.

Cool Place to stop by and watch a game. Ive been there several times but there always seem to be a long wait for the food. Other than that I love the vibe and location, especially in the summer time. Great Patio and people watching.
(4)
Stothe H.

Nice place for a guaranteed satisfaction meal. Great that they have grass-fed burgers and the drinks are delicious! Open late and always nice!
(4)
Nandini M.

My husband and I came from out of town for a weekend and was looking for a good place to catch up with a few friends. This had a nice atmosphere and we ordered a few appetizers at the bar and they were both good (buffalo rolls and spinach and artichoke dip with pita). The first bartender that served us (we were at the bar) was friendly at first, but when one of my husbands friends came to meet up with us he insisted that his friend had skipped out on a bill 3 years ago. We thought that was strange that he immediately got heated over that when it very well may have been someone else when it doesn't seem like that's something this guy would do but we all tried to move on from that topic. After that the bartender decided he didn't want to serve us anymore? And a new person came to help us while he tended to others at the other side of the bar. With 5 people my husband and I spent a good amount on drinks and appetizers and when I flew back home I saw that my credit card was charged an extra 15$. I knew what I signed off for and the amount was incorrectly charged. I don't appreciate bartenders adding amounts to peoples bills at their discretion. That's very dishonest and I consider that on a similar level to identity theft! Luckily I called their manager (his name was Jordan) and told him I was overcharged and he was very friendly and credited me back the amount. If you're willing to risk fraudulent charges on your card, go for this place. Otherwise I'd recommend going somewhere else nice in Chicago as there are plenty of places that I'm sure will be honest with you.
(1)
Tiago P.

Pretty standard food. Not great, but good enough. They provide a solid meal, at a solid price point, and the service they provide is not better/below what you'd expect. All around pretty average place.
(4)
Michelle P.

Great salads, quick pleasant service during a busy weekday lunch. Would definitely go back!
(4)
Zack C.

This establishment offers a basic selection of quasi-decent American grub.
(3)
Eric M.

The layout of Sweetwater is some of the best I've seen in a bar. The tables are laid out in a great way so that everyone not only has their own space but you also get your own TV. The staff has always been nice and if you're looking for a place to rest your feet and have some decent food while walking around Milennium Park or the Mag Mile, this is a great place to stop.
(3)
Alison C.

Food was very good, my 10 year old loves this place for lunch when we come to the city. Staff is very nice and didn't have to wait for anything. If we needed anything, they were right there to get it for us.
(5)
David C.

Cool spot, had the burger, see pic, it was fantastic. My wife got the wrap which she loved. They have a good beer list, but a little pricey when compared to the food prices. I would say this place is better for lunch as well.
(4)
Anna P.

I like this place - the food and drink selection is pretty good, it's fairly priced, and is obviously right downtown so it's convenient if you're in the Loop. It's especially nice to sit on the outdoor patio when the weather permits it, and tends not to be as crowded and crazy as some of the other restaurants in the area - feels separate from the downtown buzz, which I really enjoy! And they have great beer, which always helps. Great for a date or a work dinner.
(3)
Fatima H.

Every time I walk by this place, I think to myself, I have to check this place out one day! And so we went here for brunch couple weeks ago and absolutely loved it! The food, location, atmosphere and people working there were all awesome. I would definitely go back! Reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 is because we went for a Sunday brunch and surprisingly, it wasn't a busy day. Service was great but I don't know how the service is in a busier night/day, which makes a difference.
(4)
Tiffany B.

Good place to have a beer and a burger. Nothing flashy. Moderately priced food. Because of the location Sweetwater tends to attract tons of tourists. However, the service is great and the waiters know when to leave you alone and when to bring another beer, which in my book is key.
(3)
Craig G.

First I want to say the food was good but that doesn't count for the lack of being upfront about any extra charges you may incur when modifying a menu item. Upon ordering my food I was clear that I was looking to make some modifications or basically create my own salad because of my diet restrictions. To get started I had to choose one of the menu and begin axing all items I did not want and add the items I did. Never during this process did the waitress explain that she is going to have to charge me more for things that were on a majority of their salads. So when the bill came I did not expect to get charged for adding a side of Salsa to replace the Vinaigrette. Initially I was just going sign the credit card receipt give my normal 20+% tip. Then gave it some thought and decided to ask the waitress why there were additional charges. Her explanation of her lack of customer service was maddening and rude. She should have said upfont that she may not be able to substitute certain items and may have to charge me more. Or, the best approach would have been just explaining to her manager the situation and get the extra charges reduced since the salad I got was sans most of it original ingredients. After paying my bill sans tip I walked back across the street to my hotel and was still pissed enough to call and talk to the Manager who then compared her restaurant to a Hooters. She and her waitress seriously missed the point. I will never step foot in this establishment again.
(2)
Allison R.

sweetwater replaced what i believe used to be bennigan's in my office complex. i met a friend here for lunch, and am really happy with this additional lunch option. though the restaurant was very busy and there were no booths available, they have these long high-top communal tables. the hostess told us that we could be seated there immediately, and although it seemed awkward, we were on a time schedule and agreed to it. these tables actually are a great option. you're seated a comfortable distance away from the people next to you, so conversations can still be semi-private. i had fish tacos, he had some kind of southwestern steak wrap. our food came out within 10-15 minutes, which i found to be very fast for a busy sit-down restaurant. after we both enjoyed our lunch, we had plenty of time to spare before we had to get back to work. both of us had leftovers after eating to our satisfaction -- awesome to each have 2 meals for the price of 1 lunch. i look forward to more work-day lunches here.
(4)
Chris P.

Went here last Sunday late afternoon. Was pleasantly surprised with the reasonable prices and the burgers were great. I've had several disappointing experiences at restaurants lately, but this broke the losing streak for me. We were promptly seated. Drinks came right away. Our lunch was served very quickly. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered. Bus boy was courteous and prompt. Waitress was attentive and there when we needed her. I would come back here anytime.
(4)
Katie T.

I thought this place was really neat. The decor is clean and has that new bar look. I came here for an office party recently and got to use the private room which is small and intimate but did the job well. We tried a few appetizers (queso dip, spinach artichoke dip and chicken fingers) all were really good. I had the bbq pork sandwich with a salad as my side. The salad was very fresh and tasted great! I really enjoyed my pork sandwich. It came with cole slaw so I slathered that on top of the pork. mmmm. The cornbread was pretty good. The office party we had was our holiday party (in January I know but things get crazy this time of year) and we all brought a gift for our secret santa. The gifts were piled in the middle of the table and the first person to choose a gift started unwrapping hers. The waiter was so attentive that after she had opened the first gift he came in with their baked cookie dough dessert with a candle in the ice cream. Kelly looked confused and quickly realized he thought it was her birthday. We all laughed and of course had to order a few more desserts to share around the table. I would try it again.
(4)
Alli B.

Great Find when we were in Chicago! They had the best grilled cheese with Tomato soup! Great beer selections and awesome discount for Lolla fans!
(5)
Fawn D.

Love the bloody mary bar they have here on the weekends! You can enjoy a tasty brunch, delicious bloody mary all while enjoying the patio outside. Hooray!
(5)
Madelyn H.

nothing special but a good option for a nice-ish lunch near my workplace. the portion size of everything is really big... you can generally get two meals out of any one dish. the atmosphere is fine... nicer than most places in the illinois center complex.
(3)
Jacky C.

The jalepano pretzel is life changing. Serious sports bar feel with an impressive menu. Great beer selection, try the current special, the pumpkin spice ale. Yum!
(4)
Alaina F.

I work in this building and was excited when I saw that Sweetwater was moving in, considering I have totally exhausted the rest of the Illinois center food options. I decided to take our new intern here for her welcome lunch and I was pleased with my decision. It was super crowded so we sat at the bar but definitely didn't sacrafice any service. The bartender was nice and attentive. I ordered the fish tacos which were pretty good. intern ordered a wrap that she said was great. Aside from being busy and loud, this place had solid food and solid service.
(3)
Mike S.

Pretty basic American pub fare. Had good service, so that's a plus.
(3)
Mishka A.

Went here for a friend's birthday party recently and the atmosphere was great for large parties. Pros: Booths fit 6 people and are very comfortable, nice street views by the windows. Service was fast and friendly and they had interesting selection of beers. I tried the raspberry flavored beer. Cons: SUPER loud. There was a game going on, but they turned the speakers up way high. I know other people have commented on it before and I'm usually ok with noise, but this was like sitting right in front of the speakers with it blasting in your ears. Not good if you're going for a romantic date. It is a very macho sports bar atmosphere, they were definitely expecting more people who didn't show. When we got there, the booths along the window were all empty and they still made us wait 10 minutes. That doesn't make any sense to me. We ended up spending about $20 per person for an entree and a beer, not too bad, but it probably would be a while before I went back.
(3)
Renee S.

Pretty decent food...good stir fry and red pepper rice. Guacamole was super fresh...a little underwhelmed with the menu ops
(3)
Shenetta J.

I work in the building, so it's very convenient to run down for Happy Hours with my team. Great appetizers, I love the spinach/artichoke dip and goat cheese plate. The mac and cheese bites are pretty popular too. My only issue is that the martini glasses are a little small, but other than that it's cool. Great beer selection.
(3)
Jennifer T.

We went last Saturday night and liked it. They had a great beer selection. Our waitress Kendra was super nice, informative, and took good care of us. I like it. I had a grilled cheese and it was good. The only issue was that I asked for the grilled asparagus as the side and it was only three spears. That sucked. But otherwise I liked it. It would be a good after-work place I would hang at if it were closer to my job.
(4)
amy h.

Located conveniently in the bottom of my building at work, it's naturally a go-to. Decent drinks, good food and nice waitstaff. Turns into a bit of a sports bar at night, which can be a turn-off. But, whatever.
(4)
Joe R.

I have been heavily anticipating the opening of Sweetwater in the Illinois Center as it would be great to have a new bar & grill for a lunchtime meal or after-work drink. I went here with two co-workers for lunch and we definitely enjoyed our meal and are looking forward to heading back to Sweetwater in the near future to have one of their many beer selections. For lunch I had the People's Choice sandwich which allowed you to totally customize your meal. I ended up getting the Grilled Buffalo Chicken and it was very good. Prices were a tad high, but you will get that being on Michigan Avenue. I am definitely looking forward to heading back to Sweetwater again.
(4)
Paul G.

Went for Lunch on a Monday, and the place was very busy...Food was very good and sevice was ok, but again packed so service could have been a bit spotty because of that, but would go for sure again
(4)
Jane M.

I have eaten at Sweetwater three times, and each meal I ate was sumptuous! The service was efficient and friendly; especially the bartender, Bridget. Chef Julio actually took the time to introduce himself to me and my friends to see how our meal was. Everyone was friendly, the food was served within our timeline, and the brownine/ice cream dessert is to die for! I will continue to patronize Sweetwater, especially when attending downtown theater
(5)
amanda g.

meh. that's exactly how i feel about this place. there isn't another word that could describe it any better. not bad, but not good either. meh. went there for lunch today with some coworkers. we were seated immediately, and that's where the promptness ended. we waited for 15 minutes before a server arrived (totally understandable for lunch. but it gets worse). we ordered immediately since we had plenty of time to decide what we wanted. after we ordered, we waited 40 minutes for our food. for a place that clearly caters to the business crowd, this seems crazy. no normal working person can afford to waste 55 minutes of their lunch break simply waiting for food. the atmosphere is nice. i'm just thankful there's a place close to work where we can eat outside. the food was good but not great. tots are amazing anywhere, so that's not saying too much. the grilled cheese was decent and so were the loaded nachos. my coworkers tried a couple of other sandwiches and no one was that crazy about theirs. i think this place is clearly surviving on location and the fact that there are not many affordable, outdoor dining options in the area. i'm sure i'll be back, but it'll mostly be to enjoy the weather, not the food.
(2)
Jon P.

I live fairly close to this former Bennigans and have been there a few times now. I've been happy with it every time I've gone. As a Bennigans replacement, I am very happy with Sweetwater. A nicer sports bar/restaurant in the loop will always be welcomed by me. Over the span of my visits, I've had a couple of appetizers, a couple of entrees and a soup, all of which were surprisingly good. To top it all off, they have a great beer selection. I'm sure I'll be back here many times in the future.
(4)
Rebecca S.

I went here for drinks with a couple friends. Drinks were great, bartenders were super friendly and the atmosphere was cool and laid back. I'd definitely return!
(5)
Lesley S.

Loved it. Great happy hour spot, nice ambiance, server was super nice. No complaints. They had 5 or 6 salads that all looked amazing- I got the Mediterranean and the shrimp in it were huge. My friend got the Ahi Tuna Asian salad and it was also delicious. Definitely better than many of the other happy hour spots in the city. I prefer it to Midtown and Sidebar any day.
(4)
kris r.

A good spot for lunch, nice atmosphere inside and on the patio. Be aware that they don't actually have all the beers available that are listed on the menu, which isn't unusual when there are 100 beers listed but is still disappointing and that the staff/service is the weak spot.
(2)
Matt R.

Fish tacos were awesome. Good beers on tap. Lots of TVs. What's not to like?
(3)
Angelica D.

I had been wanting to try this place since it opened up, and we finally decided to go last week. This place was just okay. Their booths are so comfy and the fries were good. had the buffalo chicken wrap and it was not the best. Our waiter was not good at all, we only saw him when we ordered our food, and when the check arrived. The menu looks good, so I think i'll be back to check what else they have to offer. It is a nice place to hang out if you're around the area.
(3)
Nicole D.

Solid bar food. I've been here midday when not many tables were full and on a busy Friday night, and both times service was prompt and food came out pretty quickly. Comfortable booths, decent beer selection, a bunch of tvs. I'm giving it 3 stars because it's not particularly memorable (and a bit pricey for what it is)- it's fine if you happen to be right nearby and want something to eat, but I wouldn't seek it out.
(3)
Kristyn D.

Great patio! The food was good, nothing too fancy, but definitely a few steps above Applebee's or Friday's. Classic American food done well, in a great outdoor atmosphere. It seemed as though many of the tables inside were large, so I'm guessing it's a great place for groups.
(4)
Manda H.

I am excited to have a new bar in the loop. This place is hopping every time I walk by or glance down out of my office building window. Game here for a "fun lunch" with a coworker. Drinks were a little pricey but I have gotten used to it. We both ordered a burger. Wow, the burger came out I swear 3 minutes after we ordered. The fries were amazing and so was my salad. The staff was really friendly and I love the large booths. Plenty of TVs to watch your favorite game as well. I have heard they will be putting tables outside in the summer. Can't wait! Only down side is there are never any specials. Please Sweetwater, think about some sort of special!! the more we save, the more we spend!!
(3)
Never M.

What a cute little place. It's always packed and with a stylish crowd I've noticed. The food is pretty good too. I went during the lunch rush and still got fast service. I like the fish taco's and chicken fingers. Haven't tried any of their drinks because I'm always at work when I go.
(3)
James S.

Great flavored rigatoni and sausage. Generous double whiskey neat. Lots of imports on tap. Good staff. I'll be back to see a next time
(3)
Julie B.

Nice happy hour spot. They have good appetizers, like the fish tacos and hummus plate. It's a pretty big place, and also has a large outdoor patio. The crowd is that of loop workers, and some tourists. It's in between being casual and upscale.
(4)
Amanda Z.

This bar/restaurant just opened up about a block from my apt...SUPER excited because there are no places to hang out and watch games, grab a cold brew and nasty (i.e. YUMS) bar food w/o being around a million tourists anywhere near Michigan. I was doubly excited to find out that Sweetwater is a sister bar to Boundary in Wicker Park, as I'm a huge Boundary fan (it's just so far from me). DRINKS: didn't have any last night, but was SUPER impressed with the number of beer options! took up one whole side of the menu, tons of great brews on tap and at least 50 varieties bottled! i can't wait to post up here to watch a football game and try as many of the beers possible! FOOD: went here last night for dinner and was very impressed with the extensive menu! Not a normal "bar" menu at all...very yummy options, even a few things that could be deemed "healthy" (in comparison to most of the dishes), I had a real tough time making up my mind. Went with the Tomato Basil Soup (4 stars, $4.95) and the Mac and Cheese (3.5 stars because it made me feel like a heiffer, although it was really tasty but pricey at $12.95 - me and a friend split it). I would def get the soup again, but not likely the mac. I was a little dismayed that the prices here are somewhat higher than what one would expect at a bar....for instance, you could get a grilled cheese sandwich for $9.95 or a grilled chicken sandwich for $9.95...hmmm...now call me crazy, but i know MEAT costs more than CHEESE, so why the same price??? i even asked the waiter, was this some super duper fancy expensive cheese?? nopes - cheddar and mozzarella. most of the entrees were over $15 and the wraps and sandwiches were all between about $9-13. SERVICE/ATMOSPHERE: fantastic, and our waiter was a cutie and he told us his faves on the menu since we were so indecisive. we sat at the communal high tables in the bar area since all the booths were taken...this will be a great place to have a group dinner because you can fit probably 6-7 people in one booth! it was fun at the bar though and we got served right away, which was nice. the place was nearly full and on a Monday night at 7pm, that's pretty impressive! great vibe, good mix of after-work people, not too many people that looked like tourists (only a few suspects at the bar) and numerous HD flat screens to enjoy the plethora of games shown at any given time. I really enjoyed Sweetwater and look forward to going back for a full dinner and drinks over a game so I can update my review to hopefully grant them an extra star!
(3)
Patricia P.

Great Addition to Michigan Avenue. I have been twice and the food was great both times, although I only had the Buffalo Wings and fries. I did however take off a star for service, they were average at best. Both times I tipped accordingly and I like to tip well, however I could not go above the standard on this one. The server did very little to followup to find out how my meal went, and it also took some time to even place my order. The second time I went was on a Sat. and it was not very busy and the service was still just average.
(3)
Michael K.

Its about time the "downtown" area got a modern sports bar. That said, I'd go to Sidebar Grille if you want slightly better food. The food is solid, but not spectacular. The staff was friendly the ambiance was nice. Liked the tater tot option. Lots of beers on tap and by the bottle. I live around the corner and I'm sure I'll be back, but I wasn't blown away. Modern flatscreen HDTV's everywhere. Stay away from the pulled pork sandwich....very average.
(3)
Aaron J.

I have eaten here at least 10 times. I like the atmosphere, the food is usually good (though it can be uneven), and it's not too expensive. Here's what I've experienced: 1- Brunch: Forget it. I had a very simple platter of scrambled eggs, bacon, etc. and some coffee. Everything was mediocre and came out of the kitchen only barely warm. 2-Burgers: Good, especially since they come with tater tots! 3-Service: Uneven. There are some really good servers here and if you get one of them, you'll find yourself in capable hands. Others are too eager to get you out the door or don't know scotch from vodka. 4-Noise: Hey, it's a bar, so it's going to be loud. I don't take any points off for this but you should be aware it's a problem when the place is busy.
(3)
Lucy B.

We were visiting Chicago and learned to use the 3 bus since we ended up at the Hyatt McCormick (thank you Priceline). Anyway, we were all starving and not in the mood to go out and do anything but hop on the bus, hop off, eat, and hop back on. This place was delicious! Everyone was happy with what they got! Worth a try! Yum!
(5)
Amanda B.

Went here with my work crew for happy hour. It's a great place for drinks and they have pretty good appetizers. I haven't tried any entrees, but i would bet they are good too. Typical bar food, but fancied up. mini burgers, pretzels, etc. Huge beer menu.
(4)
c d.

Checked out Sweetwater for lunch. The place was packed, but we only waited a few minutes to get seated. They have a large beer menu, lots of great beers on tap. The beers are listed on the menu by taste, which makes selecting from the 40+ beers easier. The menu is good; a variety of good looking appetizers, salads, wrap sandwiches, burgers, pasta entrees. Nothing too out of the ordinary, though they do have tater tots. It appeared most people were eating the burgers. I went with a buffalo chicken salad. It was GREAT, the best I have had. The meat was cooked just right, not dry at all and the spice level was moderate. There was a ton of meat and the salad was fresh. Had to get tater tots too. They were perfect. The wraps looked very substantial, though I did not taste one. The service was very friendly and the decor and atmosphere is comfortable. Lots of screens to watch too if that is your thing. I walk by the place at happy hour time and it is setup a bit different, with corner booths with low tables that are better for bigger groups sitting casually together drinking. Will check out the happy hour soon and update.
(4)
Katie B.

Sweetwater has a lot of things going for it, great location in a virtual restaurant vacuum, beautiful ambiance that is welcoming and akin to a high end sports bar, great food and comfy seats. Now for the not as good, the hostess has some unusual seating policies, like making a party of two wait for 20 minutes even though two booths are open. They do this to "save" the seats for a larger party, but this has the effect of making for some angry patrons. Both times this has happened the manager came by and told her to seat us in the larger booth, but really, this shouldn't be an issue at all. My favorite thing on the menu is the turkey burger (it is freshly prepared and fab), and the bun is incredible. I like to swap out the tater tots/fries for tomato basil soup which is a little bowl of heaven. One thing I would change is the side salad, it is basically just lettuce and dressing. Adding some veggies would be nice. The beer selection is good, and the place has a great vibe. PLUS, they are going to open up a little beer garden which will be awesome come summer. There are tv's showing games outdoors which is a really thoughtful touch.
(4)
Lauren K.

I've been here twice. Great outdoor patio and the summer special cocktail - cranberry mojito - was delicious. My friend had a good California wrap and I loved my Parmesan crusted tilapia with spinach and mashed potatoes.
(5)
Princess B.

A fabulous beer list, if I may say so myself. They've got Lindeman's AND Matilda. I like it. I like it a lot. Friendly service and the food comes out pretty fast. A high-end sports bar with a laid-back feel. The fish tacos are excellent. And they have tots!!! Sweet indeed.
(4)
Heidi H.

Only had apps and drinks, but the service was great. Great after-work place to grab a bite or a glass of wine during the week.
(3)
Amanda L.

Great service, decent food but the wine mark ups here are pretty obnoxious for what the place is - basically a high end sports bar. I live in the neighborhood and have been visiting Quay instead because of this.
(2)
Marlena K.

Like the food, like the staff love the location. Private dining room is bit crouded with heavy furniture. Will be there again.
(5)
Erika B.

Met friends here for drinks and dinner afterwork. Nice polished modern bar atmosphere. Very attentive and friendly service. What sealed the deal for me was the Gluten Free menu. It's always a relief when a restaurant offers this. The hummus platter was delicious and more than enough for 3 people. The Sweetwater Chopped Salad was also amazing, very fresh, and seemed like an endless portion. Drinks were a bit pricy, but nothing shocking given your on the Michigan Ave main drag.
(4)
May B.

Absolutely Delicious! It was one of those meals that even though you're full, you just can't stop eating because it was THAT good! I had the burger, my friends had 2 different salads and the pita sandwich, we each took bites from each others plates. Also, dessert was delicious, we split the baked cookie dough and the seasonal cheesecake ( I'm a fan of both!) Food was reasonably priced for downtown, especially for a "lunch outing with the ladies" Service was very friendly, and again, food was delish!
(5)
Adriana S.

Stopped in for a quick Friday workday lunch. Prompt and attentive service. Had the Mediterranean Salad- was really small and not that exciting. Great iced tea - vert strong! Ate my friend's tator tots- yum! Will give it another shot but wasn't too impressed.
(3)
Ashley B.

I was more impressed with this place than I was expecting to be before coming. I came here on a Tuesday at 6:00, during a blizzard, and was surprised how crowded it was. We still got seated at a big booth right away. I will agree with Steve M., our server came to ask us if we were ready to order our drinks 3 times. The third time, even though I was ready, was kind of annoying. We decided what we wanted to eat quickly, so it didn't bother me when our waiter showed up right away asking for our dinner order. I had this Greek pita pocket sandwich, which I thought was amazing. I opted for the side salad, even though the tater tots looked very appetizing. After dinner we got the baked cookie dough for dessert. That is the greatest thing known to man. I was expecting it to just be a large warm cookie, because isn't that what baked cookie dough is? But no, it came in a hot skillet, and only the edges of the cookie were actually fully cooked. The inside resembled more of the dough aspect. It was covered in ice cream as well. I could have gotten a few more of those. You have to try this thing! I'll definitely be back as it's so close to work and where I live. Oh, and they have half price bottles of wine on Monday nights. Fabulous!
(4)
K M.

Maybe it is my deep and meaningful love of bar food (yes, the Rock Bottom Ballpark Pretzel would likely be on the menu for my last meal on earth). Maybe it is the fact that most food in this area fails to inspire me. Maybe it was being seated at one of the half-circle booths with a view of the whole bar. I really liked Sweetwater on a Wednesday night. Might I note- dear lord, people really do go out every night of the week in this city. If I went out as much as the normal Loop yuppie, I'd probably be seriously overweight. I decided to try this place out because my mom works across the street, and we try to meet upfor dinner once a month after work. It never occurred to me to stoop to going to the Benningan's, so I was really happy to see this going in! I'd highly recommend making a meal out of appetizers. Mom and I ordered 3 (and couldn't finish)- the pretzel duo (which I didn't think was quite as good as Rock Bottom, but still really damned good), the mac & cheese bites (oh little bits of heaven) and the chicken fingers (pretty standard, but not in a bad way). Service was quick and friendly enough- the atmopshere tells me this place has the potential to get pretentious and too-cool-for-school, which is not what I was expecting in what I don't consider a "trendy" area but it did not quite get to the level where I was turned off. Also seems like its going to become a meat market with all the groups of yuppies coming in for after-work cocktails -several longish tables in the bar area accomodate this pretty well, as do the mostly larger booths- smaller groups actually seem to have a little more trouble getting seated. I smell a happy hour pickup joint. (ok, I suppose most are). If I couldn't see out the windows, I probably would have thought I was on Hubbard Street. Wine seemed on par with most other restaurants where I'd order wine, so I don't have much to say about that and didn't even look at the beer since I don't drink it. I could definitely be very easily talked into coming back here for just drinks with friends, and will certainly be back with mom for those damned mac & cheese bites :)
(4)
Julie B.

I ordered eggs benedict to go this morning. The restaurant was practically empty since it's early and the weather is bad, so it's not like the cooks would be in a rush. But when I got home, I saw that there was only 1 egg yolk and the whites were partly raw. Definitely room for improvement.
(2)
Erin A.

I'm so over this place, but given the location I'll be back. More than once. Service is usually good and I'm glad they take reservations now. Food is alright. Nothing about Sweetwater is bad by any stretch but I'm over it. I think it's just the wear and tear of working in the same location for 4 years. I feel bad giving 2 stars, but I just am not thinking it's "A-ok" today.
(2)
Scott B.

I love this place. The ambiance is upscale, the food is good and the service is friendly. They also have tater tots and sweet potato fries, plus a great hamburger. This is my go-to place for a great lunch.
(4)
Katrina M.

I don't know what it is about me, but I seem to randomly come upon the restaurants that do 1/2 off wine - apparently on Monday nights at Sweetwater, you can get 1/2 wine, if you're interested :) Anyways, a friend and I decided to do a catch up dinner at Sweetwater and I liked it (nope not loved - liked). It had pretty good food. The macaroni and cheese appetizers were so yummy... as for entrees I ordered the turkey burger and that was, only okay. On the plus the food was reasonably priced, you won't break bank ordering an appetizers, drinks and two entrees. The ambiance is nice; you can hold a conversation without having to scream across the table. The staff was pretty terrible. It's annoying when you have to attempt several times to get the waiters attention on a fairly slow Monday night. But the location is pretty awesome, right on Michigan Ave and near Millennium Park. Final word, Sweetwater is nothing too special, but it's not bad. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat there again.
(3)
Emily M.

The Duo Jalepeno soft pretzel appetizer is amazing! If you are a soft pretzel fan, you must try it. It is by far my favorite item on the menu. They have nice outdoor seating for a nice day. My only complaint is that it is a little overpriced.
(4)
Daisyville C.

Why does this place exist? Oh probably for the people who have no clue what quality food is like. This place is worse than Chili's or probably comparable...my hubby and I tried it cuz we went to Millennium Park for a concert and then wanted to grab dinner after. I've been curious about the place since it opened...well huge disappointment. I tried the fish tacos...the WORST ever and my hubby tried the flank steak which was like rubber! We got martinis which were expensive and just ok....at the end we spent $70 on crap! Do not go there...instead go to Noodles & Co. Or Chipotle or anywhere else but this place!
(1)
G G.

Food is good - staffvquickly steers toward "better" choices. Drinks are weak. Beer and wine better value. Fun vibe - all welcome.
(3)
John S.

The food is terrible and the ambiance was atrocious. There are so many other restaurants in the area, don't waste your time or money. The mangers are rude and the staff is clueless.
(1)
Yan Z.

the chips are the only delicious foodï¼ï¼According to my friendsï¼Œmeat in the burger is searï¼Œ2 stars only for the chips
(2)
Omar N.

I went back a second time for the short rib...thee best I've ever had. Staff was friendly and alert...i wasn't really in the mood for chit chat so that's the most I can say about their engagement. It's a really nice Bar and Grill in Chicago... it's as nice as it should be.
(5)
Amanda P.

My family and I do lunch here quite often! They have a huge outdoor seating space, friendly staff and something to eat for everyone!
(4)
Brandi P.

OH MY YUM! Why does this place not have 5 stars? I'm an out of towner, so maybe I'm missing the memo about the "hopping" places to be in Chicago, but Sweetwater Tavern is amazeballs. I rolled up here on a weekday evening around 6ish and this place was slammed. Luckily, they offer "communal" high top tables... and with me being from Baltimore, I don't mind getting up close and cozy with strangers for a seat. I ordered the Sunny Side Up burger with tots. Burger was cooked perfectly at medium and the tots were crispy, and fresh. I then spotted the most delicously decadent dessert I've ever seen: The "peanut butter mousse". Needless to say, I ordered that too. Warning: If you don't like peanut butter, I mean really really like peanut butter, DON'T order this dessert. It is the most rich and creamy smooth peanut butter dessert I've ever had. My plan is to go back when I'm in town next just so I can grab myself some dessert! NOM NOM NOM.
(5)
Andy D.

Tater tots were great, mushroom and swiss burger just OK. Bottom of the bun was pretty soggy. Should have went with the sliders on the kids menu.
(3)
Frank O.

It's conveniently located on Michigan, has pretty fast service, and lots of TVs to watch sports. But the amount of food for the price is a sticking point. So I come when it's convenient and I have a craving, or when a discount is offered. The BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich was reasonably tasty and not too messy. The sweet potato fries are nothing special, and I'd recommend going to Red Robin up Michigan if you want better ones. The herb-crusted salmon (rotating dish I think) was very well prepared and plated, and as someone who doesn't like fish, I can confidently say it tasted appetizing. The menu currently shows this was changed to a version with lemon-chive butter, and this is version is not as good, less flavor overall. Both the Hickory burger and the Sweetwater burgers are solid, good size portion of beef, with savory toppings. These are arguably the best items on their menu. The Big Baby Burger is in fact large, but doesn't have enough sauce to compensate for the sheer volume of stuff. They offered a special truffle flatbread, but the overall flavor combination was unappealing. Lastly, if you get a salad then skip the house vinaigrette. It was the most lackluster vinaigrette I've ever had.
(3)
T T.

My daughter and I thought we would stop in and we were sorry. Once seated we were given some menus than our waitress took forever to come and take our order. I ordered the Cobb salad and my daughter the Gobbler. When our food arrived a man brought it out and we has no silverware to start eating. So we sat there for awhile... We weren't offered anything else to drink as well. Finally our waitress noticed and we began eatin and both meals were not that great. The chicken was very dry on my cobb i had to ask for extra dressing and her turkey burger was gross. I honestly make better turkey burgers than that! This place is overrated!
(2)
Angie O.

Stopped in here during our last visit to Chicago and it is a neat place with a cool atmosphere. I would describe it as a trendy sports bar and grill. It was fairly busy when we stopped in, which happened to be during the second-to-last World Cup game on July 12th. However, they immediately cleared a table and we didn't even have a wait. The tvs are plentiful and are spread all around the bar and dining area so we were able to watch the end of the game while we dined. Our waiter was prompt and courteous. He took our drink orders right away and we ordered the cheese curd appetizer. The fried cheese curds were really, really good! My fiancÃ©e and I each ordered a different burger. He opted for the Sunnyside Up and I had the Sweetwater burger, we each had a side of fries. The burgers were amazing - cooked exactly how we liked, juicy, and flavorful. They do not skimp on the fries, and they also had great flavor and texture. It was a good thing we were very hungry when we arrived because the portions are quite large and we barley could finish it (knowing we weren't able to take leftovers we just chose to be gluttonous haha). Prices are reasonable ($11-$13ish for burger and fries). They have a full bar, drink specials, and specialty cocktails. I heard they rotate menu items as well. They have a nice patio area which would be fun during the warmer times of the year. I definitely recommend stopping in here if you are out and about on Michigan Avenue, especially if you are in the mood for burgers. You won't be disappointed!
(4)
Bethany R.

Stopped in for brunch after a riverboat tour on a Saturday. I had a chicken salad sandwich with craisins, apples and the works. It was fantastic. My mouth it still watering just thinking about it. My partner had a turkey burger and said it was amazing. Service was quick and friendly, even with sitting outside. Location is super convenient to the Riverwalk and the boat launching area.
(4)
Bo W.

Went to Sweetwater cafe with several friends for a quick lunch. My friends visited before and highly recommended the place. We were seated outside relatively quickly on the patio. The waitress seemed preoccupied and disappeared after giving us the menus. Lunch offers wraps (sorry no half orders), burgers, salads, and some fish dishes. Lunch prices are 11-18 dollars, but it is downtown Chicago. I had the Baja tacos with chips and salsa. The tacos looked very pretty, but lacked a memorable flavor. Overall, my tacos with water were $18 dollars before tip. The location was nice, but the food is forgettable and expensive for a lunch.
(3)
Amy H.

I went to meet up a friend to watch the Blackhawks game. This place is great for watching sports. There are TVs everywhere and there is not a bad seat in the house. I ordered from the menu and I thought the food was ok. I got a veggie burger, which I thought was too small. I also tasted the peanut butter mousse. My gosh that is the sweetest and thickest mousse I have ever tasted. It was seriously hard to swallow, so I didn't eat half of it. I thought our waitress (who was a Christina Millian look-a-like) was great. She consistently refilled our water and checked on us. I would come back here to view a game but probably try something else while I watch it.
(3)
Monica H.

We had a nice dinner. Between us all we had Ahi Tuna wrap, Cuban sandwich, pulled pork, steak wrap and shrimp appetizer. Very nice portion. The sweet potato fries was probably the best, tater tots were good but too much salt. Quite filling portion. Nice beer selection!
(4)
Rob L.

They're not bad. They're not great. They seem to work in a pinch and mostly for breakfast. Not much to sat about them, service is good and pleasant. Has a bar vibe to them. But again, I only seem to go there in a pinch.
(3)
Mellissa K.

Went here on a Friday evening with a friend (reservation) and it was pretty crowded as to be expected. There are many different options on the menu. Ordered the Baja Fish Tacos which the server said was the most popular item on them menu, so upon hearing that I had to try it along with a plate of hot/BBQ wings. The tacos (3) arrived and I promise you they did not disappoint!! The tacos were absolutely fresh, delicious, and I switched out to have fries with mine instead of tortilla chips and dip. I was practically full by the time I finished my 2nd taco. The BBQ & hot wings were great as well. My friend ordered a Cobb salad which she also said was really delicious. Service was pretty quick and the ambiance is that of a sports bar & grill with plenty of tv's to watch the games. Overall great place, decent prices, and even better food with a nice view of Michigan Ave.
(4)
Rawlins R.

Sweetwater is a very modern bar and grill located on the magnificent mile. More and more places like this keep popping up and the business model is extremely inviting. Slick modern interior decorating with plenty of LCD displays. Booth seating as well as high tables for dining. I came here for lunch and it was pretty busy and they had all of the relevant sporting events on. I had the Gobbler, which is the turkey burger, and it was phenomenal. The wife usually makes turkey burgers as opposed to beef and they are pretty good. The Gobbler is exceptional with mozzarella cheese, a huge chunk of avocado, onion, lettuce, and tomato. Menu prices were just about average for lunch and dinner. I would definitely come back here for lunch or a late night dinner to impress out-of-towners.
(4)
Jo P.

Sweetwater /swÄ“t * wÃ¤dr/ (modified noun): a sleek and pricy place located on a prime corner of downtown Chicago in which the "fruits" that come with the kids meal is basically just a prepackaged fruit cup/can of diced peaches dumped into a bowl, still in its sweet, syrupy water. The fancy lot and crispy calamari appetizer teased us with the promise of excellent entrees to follow, but the Baja Fish Tacos and the Steak Salad left us gustatorily dissatisfied.
(2)
Mike L.

We grabbed lunch at this place upon our arrival in Chicago- checked in, put stuff away, were starving, stumbled out of the hotel and this was pretty much the first place we ran into. Had a nice outdoor area and looked kind of sports bar-ish but like I said , we were delirious. So we sat down, I got a nice Allagash White and she a chardonnay. She ordered a cobb salad which she really enjoyed. I ordered a "turkey press" which sounded like a panini but it wasn't, it was basically a turkey sandwich which might have been grilled, could not really tell, on not very good bread. It was nothing special. I also got the side salad instead of fries, it was OK. Service was Ok, reasonably attentive... I would say overall an average restaurant.
(3)
Michael V.

Went to Sweetwater with two friends later on a Friday night. We were worried they would be busy but there was plenty of available seating inside and out. They had the NBA and NHL playoffs on the TVs and there was a good Friday night downtown vibe in the restaurant. We started with the baked spinach dip, which was a great choice! I ordered the turkey press sandwich with tater tots. Sandwich was really good as were the tots! The sausage rigatoni and grilled asparagus were solid as well. We ended our meal with the chocolate chip cookie, which was a little soupy but a tasty treat all the same. Overall, good place to grab some food and beers downtown and watch whatever games are on TV.
(4)
Couri T.

Well today had good food (wings), the bartender was not great. As a restaurateur I get it, finding that daytime bartender can be tough. Finding the wrong daytime bartender is worse. It felt like it was a transaction at a 7/11 I paid for goods and I recieved them. On a good note the entire time I drank my beer and ate my wings she never stopped talking to this one guy at the bar. Thank god for shark week. This girl is killing your business.
(2)
Roger T.

The food was so delicious and came out extremely fast! Fish tacos with the bread pudding for desert, both things I would eat again and recommend for anyone! The environment was living and in a prime location being right off of MI ave. Well done sweetwater.
(5)
Felicia H.

Service was quick. Large beer selection. I tried Magner's Irish Cider paired with the Gobbler. Best turkey burger I've had. The cranberry aioli have a refreshing taste to a savory meal. The grilled asparagus was a little undercooked but still delicious.
(5)
William W.

Went here with a friend when I was in Chicago for a few days. We sat outside so I can't speak for the inside atmosphere, but the patio was filled with the sights and sounds of downtown Chicago, which adds to the experience, in my opinion, if you're new to the area. Large beer menu, which was nice, decent selection of wines. It seems that they specialize in wraps and sandwiches. I had the PLT (pork belly, lettuce, tomato with garlic aioli) which was delicious but hard to eat as the sandwich contents would spill out after each bite, but I would definitely recommend. Each burger, wrap, and sammy comes with your choice of fries or tater tots, which were alright but nothing to write home about. Service was fast and friendly!
(4)
Kathy L.

As we all know chicago can get a bit dismal in the winter months and can be a bit trying.... My friend invited me to lunch today and I joined him at this great establishment and I was greeted by this lovely lady with the best attitude and the best energy with the smile to go with it. Great service great energy and the food is amazing. I recommend sitting at the bar with Tameka she is the best period.... I believe she bar tends Thursday lunch. I will return!
(5)
J R.

Great beer selection and I hear the burger is not bad at all. Lot's of TVs and they play sound which is appreciated.
(3)
Kristen G.

Oh my goodness! This place. So my boyfriend and I just stumbled upon it because we searched Sports Bar on Yelp from our hotel. We actually were heading to M Bar, but couldn't locate it, so we wound up at Sweetwater. BEST MISTAKE EVER! We got seated right away and our server was AMAZING. He recommended amazing drinks for us after asking us our preferences. Whatever that cocktail is with ginger beer, get it. It's strong, delicious, not too sweet. Yeah it is $10, but I loved it so much I got two. Now for the food. We ordered the chicken quesadillas to split. Well, chicken tenders came out. It took them no time at all to apologize, correct it, and bring us our correct order. AND THAT IS THE BEST QUESADILLA I HAVE EVER HAD. I am from Texas, and I love quesadillas. Now I have to admit to everybody that the best quesadilla is at Sweetwater in Chicago. The avocado spread was perfect. The pico ACTUALLY had a kick to it. It was so good that we asked for an extra side of it, and they brought it out free of charge. We sat in the booth a while just talking about the food. The waiter didn't rush us even though there was a wait. He was courteous and knowledgeable about the menu. This place is a place I will come back to when I visit Chicago again. I might head there tomorrow for another quesadilla before I head to O'Hare.
(5)
Brian P.

This bar is bellow my office and I was taken here for drinks after my training session. If Illinois allowed happy hour... This wouldn't be a bad place to go: pretty extensive beer selection, lots of finger food, and a hoop'n atmosphere. Bad thing is that it got pretty crowded and most things on the menu are fried, cheesy, or both!
(3)
Britt C.

This is a beer place. A good beer place, but I don't drink beer. They only had a couple of cocktails on a list, and they weren't overly exciting to me. However the bartender was nice and offered to make me something. The drink she made me really wasn't that good, but hey I guess she tried? I do have to say, I would go back just to have the fried mac and chesse again. FRIED MAC AND CHEESE. Served with a side of ranch. Is that even real? Yep, it is. Three horribly amazing things all together at once. I put up a picture so you can visualize the fried mac and cheese, I didn't know what to expect...but it was preeettty delish!
(3)
Jenna C.

This place is dangerously convenient, being around the corner from my office. Its a sports bar but still has a sophisticated atmosphere with many professionals who frequent it. The service is good, and they have outdoor seating. Not giving five stars because there's no wow factor. Just a reliably good place to eat. The first time I went I tried the baja fish tacos upon a recommendation and they were delicious. The second time I tried their bbq pulled pork sandwich, which also did not fail to please. Beer menu is pretty fantastic too.
(4)
Marissa C.

They weren't too busy and we got a table pretty quick. But the food wasn't that good. I got the eggs Benedict and it was really bad I couldn't finish it. My friends' meals were also decent. They said it wasn't good but not memorable either. The only reason this place has good reviews is bc it's a cool sports bar just to chill. Wouldn't recommend this place for their food though.
(2)
Jasmine C.

Trendy and touristy. Yes, the outside patio is nice, but only usable during nice, warm weather, which in Chicago is like 3 months if we're lucky. The food is overpriced, but you are paying for location, location, location. The choices are typical of what you would find in an "American" bar/restaurant. I've never had anything bad, but then again I can't remember anything I've had here that stands out. It's a nice place to go when you're out on the town and looking for an average meal; just expect to pay tourist prices.
(3)
Giovanni O.

Sweetwater saved our Saturday brunch. After having a terrible experience at a restaurant down the block, we decided to cut our losses, leave without eating, and take a walk along Michigan Ave. There we came across Sweetwater where we were greeted by a friendly staff and seated outdoors promptly. We both ordered eggs benedict with mimosas and both were delicious. The cookie dough sunday was also noteworthy.
(4)
Shari J.

Good, reasonably priced pub food, and close to my hotel. If I was a local, I'm sure it'd be a great after-work hangout spot. Nice bar, cute patio and tasty drinks. We got this peanut butter cake thing for dessert -- soo much peanut butter! On top of that, I got $5 back from Spring Rewards. Pretty cool.
(4)
Paul M.

It's a great location along Michigan Ave. My companions didn't think their food was that great. My PLT (a BLT with larger chunks of pork) was pretty good but hard to eat. Eating out on the sidewalk is great for people watching. There's a bus stop right next to it.
(3)
Mickey A.

I met a friend I haven't seen in months here for some after-work drinks. I was a little worried this place would be packed because: (1) it's on Michigan Ave.; (2) Near Millennium Park and free concert day (Monday); and (3) The sun was slowly coming out after a rainy afternoon. The place is big with plenty of seating and TVs. It's hard not to focus attention on one of the tvs facing every direction, including the tables in the area outside. We came during Shark Week so at least half of the tvs were on the Discovery Channel. We didn't get a drink menu (if there is one), but our server recommended one of the Shark Week drink specials. Hey, it even came with a free shark toy! These toys brought back memories for us of fish bowls from a former Lincoln Park bar, Bamboo Bernies. We also got an order of the appetizer size of chicken tenders and a side of fries. We weren't that hungry and felt like the amount of food was a good choice. I wouldn't mind coming back again for some drinks and try out the patio area.
(3)
Mykhall D.

Sweetwater offers a nice environment for people that want to hang out or watch their favorite sports on big screen televisions. The staff is friendly and professional. My food was pretty good, but lacked salt. My food had minimal flavor hence the three star rating. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing because the restaurant was packed and everyone seemed to be enjoying their meals?
(3)
Sarah M.

Food was excellent! I never finish my food and I joined the clean plate club today! Great cheeseburgers and a decent beer selection.
(5)
Andrew T.

Good burger joint/pub just up Michigan from a family member's condo, I'm going to remember this place. We stopped in before a concert, just looking for a place to sit down, and this was a good selection. Menu is pretty broad, with I thought reasonable prices ($10-11 for a burger in downtown Chicago really doesn't sound any price alarms with me) and they have a very good beer selection. There was a burger on the menu that i zeroed in on called the "veggie" with goat cheese and olives...but the name "veggie" makes me nervous. Turns out it was in fact a veggie patty, but they will happily substitute chicken, beef, and possibly a few other things. So, points for flexibility. And the beef was fine - not great, but certainly better than some I have had lately, with a big helping of olives and cheese. Pretty good. Plus...tater tots, how I love you. Throw in a very friendly/helpful server, and this is a solid spot. So next time I'm downtown and I want a burger (that isn't the $20+ burger at III Forks), this will definitely be on my list.
(3)
roxanne m.

This place is fantastic. The food was very good. I highly recommend the cheese curds for an appetizer. The burgers were excellent. My husband had a guiness beer infused cheddar burger which was out of this world. Jessica was our server and she was very attentive and friendly. The manager came over as well and introduced herself. We definitely will be back!
(5)
Ashleigh D.

My husband and I were looking for a restaurant out last night in Chicago that was relatively close to our hotel and one that served American food. We landed on sweet water and I was pleasantly surprised. When we got there the hostesses were very friendly and informed us that we were welcome to sit at the bar or we could wait 15 min for a booth. After walking all over town during the day, we decided to wait the 15 min and sit in a booth. They got is in pretty quickly and were soon greeted by our server, Loren. He was wonderful, friendly, smiled, returned in a timely manner, and was great on refills. Big Kudos to him!! :) my husband wasn't too hungry so he ended up getting the turkey press and I landed on the pulled pork. Both meals were really good, and definitely hit the spot. My husband and I both decided to get the fries (as I've never been a tater tot fan) the fries were good, but were a little boring. Once I put salt and pepper on them, they were perfect. We had a nice relaxed dinner, and I left full and happy!
(4)
Liz S.

Well I was trying to give this place a 4.5 but a 4 will suffice. The only reason I knocked it down from 5 is because of the atmosphere, it is very business casual. A place where people go after a long day at the office. A group of friends and I went here for my boyfriends birthday, the staff was very accommodating and answered all my questions with no problem. I was very impressed because sometimes when you call to make a reservation for a big table some places act like your a big problem. Everyone was impressed with the food and their drinks. Our waiter was awesome, I don't remember his name but he had kind of strawberry blonde hair. At the end of the night everyone asked how I knew this place was so good and it was the luck of the draw. Every one was very very impressed.
(4)
Artem G.

The place is great! It was one of the best Burgers I have ever had. The staff is just fantastic: I was seating at the bar and having my food there and felt cry welcomed! Special thanks to Mauricio (the barback), Arlene (the bartender) and Michelle (the manager). You guys make a great job! Highly recommend the place.
(5)
Stephanie W.

Pretty corporate - but a really solid place. Great place to meet friends after work or to catch a game (TV's galore). They take RSVP's, which I recommend during the week or for a big game. Really good beer selection. I have had a burger, Buffalo Shrimp Quesadilla, and spinach dip. All were good. Had the tots with the burger - a nice addition. So are the sweet potato fries. The service has always been really good as well, and the hostesses are friendly. I will likely be back for post work friend meet ups!
(3)
Arturo A.

Did not realized fish was fried and ordered it. Did not eat it and ordered something else. Had full intention of paying it. Restaurant decided to not charge me the dish. Server was extremely attentive and honestly had never seen such a nice person waiting tables. Ice cold air conditioning and tons of Lcds. Good beer selection. Also nice and modern decor. Burger tasted very good. I'd try it again.
(4)
Andre W.

The last time I was in the space was 2006 when it was still Bennigans. A friend decided Sweetwater was a good choice to do a happy hour on a -11 degree day since it was a 5 min walk from the office. Due to it being so cold outside, we had no issues getting our party of 6 seated. Checked out the menu and some some pretty good stuff, but I decided on a classic BLT which was as good as any as I have ever had and it came with really good sweet potato fries for only $8.99. I had a couple of jack and cokes to warm me up once I went back into the cold along with a couple of M2 Manhattans which includes Redemption Rye, Cocchi Torino, Bittercube Bolivar Bitters, Pernod and lemon twist...really good. Our server was really good at splitting up the check by 6 as well as keeping out water galsses filled. She also miraculously showed up every time my drink was gone...very strategic...lol Great spot lunch, dinner or happy hour spot for Mich Ave
(4)
Natalie V.

Very friendly , fast and the taste of all their food is delightful. Very good, from Houston ,TX and poked my head in to grab some lunch- ill be coming back !
(4)
Stina N.

Came here with three girl friends who were in town for the Zooma Half Marathon. We showed up around 6:00 on a Friday and were seated right away. For being a Michigan Ave spot, I want surprised that it appeared to be mostly people who looked like they just got off work rather than tourist. I enjoyed the decor and the general vibe of this place. The menu had a lot of tasty sounding suggestions. I debated several options before ultimately settled on the grilled cheese with tots. Any place that serves me tots pretty much wins me over on that alone, but the food was also fantastic! The beer menu was solid with a lot of craft selections. They have Bottlenectar which I've been wanting to try since my boss told me about it when we were at South Branch one day for happy hour. Our waiter saw us trying to divvy up the check on to three different card so he brought us out separate checks without us even asking - super convenient. I don't know that I'll be back any time soon since I work on the other side of the loop (and I'm lazy), but I would definitely be willing to return!
(4)
Greg F.

We ended up wandering in randomly because everywhere else was too packed - great random find!!! wonderful service, excellent menu - plenty of TVs and Bar space!
(4)
Rachel H.

Sweetwater's proximity to work and the black hole where my review of it should be makes me wonder if gnomes are taking down my reviews. Seriously though, I'm guessing I just never reviewed it. This is good spot for an after work drink or a good option for those lucky times when you can sneak out for a longer lunch. You will need a longer lunch if you do the patio because the service isn't the speediest out there, but it's the patio, why wouldn't you want to take a longer lunch to soak up some rays? If you need to get out more quickly so you can re-chain yourself back to the desk, I suggest getting a table inside. The grass fed burgers are good, they've got sweet potato fries, and a solid beer list. They even have Hopslam during that magical time of the year.
(4)
Aimee K.

Sweetwater did me so good on a recent Sunday brunch while in Chicago. They have a huge patio and it was just cool enough for us to sit out there without melting. Service was so great, coffee was good, and I was a happy camper. I ordered the wild mushroom hash and what I loved more than the flavor was the portion size! It was just right so I felt full but wasn't tempted to over-eat. The mushrooms were perfectly cooked as were the potatoes, and the eggs were done just right and were placed right on top. Not too much else to say besides it was just excellent! Only tried brunch here but I'd definitely recommend.
(4)
Erika G.

Okay, NEVER AGAIN. I came here with a work colleague. I showed up first, and put in my credit card for the drink I ordered. Awesome work colleague gets here, says "Oh no, this is on me!". Nice, thank you! I get my credit card back, he puts his in. We explain the switch to the bartender. Or so we thought. We drink and dish and catch up and have a great time. Have a couple of appetizers. Time to leave, bill comes, he signs a receipt. But it doesn't end there. Days later, I am checking my statement. Dimwit bartender gave colleague a receipt with MY account number, which he signed, assuming DUH that it would be on HIS card, as he'd specified. So, whole bill goes on my account. Why? I have no answer. Friend tries to contact Sweetwater then, to get the bill switched to his card, and the restaurant is TOTALLY unresponsive. We got it figured out between us - that wasn't a problem. What it was, was horribly embarrassing for me. I will NEVER go to this stupid dump again. Eff this place.
(1)
P T.

Nice staff, fast service, great location. Reasonable priced. I got a Swiss burger and it was delicious. Fries were medium but ok.
(4)
AshleySnow H.

Absolutely love the ambience. The salmon with the horseradish topping is to die for and the manager was so accommodating! I love the greens too!!
(5)
Kristin M.

This is right by my work, so it's a no-brainer for happy hour. The beer list is fantastic (Well's Banana Bread on tap!) and the Michigan Avenue location makes for great people watching. There's a nice patio in the summer as well. The food is pretty standard bar fare, nothing exciting but it hits the spot. Service has always been very attentive. The last time we called ahead for a party of 10-15. They reserved a corner with bar stools but no high tops, but had no problem moving us to a large table when someone requested it. Our server kept a close eye on who needed refills and we never had to search around for him. It's pricier than other places, but it's on Michigan, that's to be expected. I come back for the big beer menu and summer patio.
(4)
Nataliya A.

Yummy in my tummy! We walked in here with my bf on a rainy day, starving. We just finished up a walking tour and wanted to try Kuma's corner but were not willing to wait in the long lines, so we figured we would try this place out. We both decided to get the sunny side up burger with sweet potato fries. I substituted the mozzarella cheese and onions for avocado and my bf subbed the egg for avocado.... When the burgers came out, we go super excited, they already looked and smelled delicious. They came on delicious pretzel bread, which made it even better! The meet in the burger was free range, grass few, no antibiotics used, and all that good stuff! So the meat taste tender and just sooo good! The sweet potato fries were perfect. I forgot to ask, but I don't think that they actually fry them, they tasted like they were just baked, which I prefer... it comes out tastier and healthier. The portion was huge, bf and I wished we would have split the burger and sweet potato, because neither of us finished our meals. There were a few things I would improve.... I received one tiny napkin at the start of the meal. I like to stay very clean, maybe too clean, but I would have appreciated a few more napkins. This leads me into the next thing I would improve, I'd bring our server around more. Okay, I admit it I love it when the waiter stays out of my hair and lets me eat, and that is exactly when he did,however, I would have been happy with him checking in on us half way through the meal so that I could ask for a napkin. Neither of these things are deal breakers though. Even though it was a gloomy day we sat outside and really enjoyed the patio. It was dry, and so inviting, with fresh air... This was the perfect way to end a Sunday downtown.
(4)
Chris R.

This is such a convenient location, but I am frequently disappointed by their lack of ability to change channels and service.
(2)
Mark S.

Surprisingly good for a "tavern and grille" We are here because it was close by and a friend suggested it. We wanted an affordable lunch with a decent menu selection and were pleasantly surprised. Ambience: This seems like a great happy hour spot with the comfy outdoor seating. The interior was decorated trendy but not in an off-putting way. The noise level was above average which is fine because our daughter was with us. Drinks: The drink menu was expansive enough to give us a choice but all I wanted was a Bloody Mary. It was so good! Very spicy, which is what I crave in a Bloody Mary. I'm sure whatever your pleasure is, you can get something from the menu. Food: Great! We both had burgers and they were cooked just right, juicy with nice accompaniment. I got the one with the fried egg and sweet potato fries, which were tasty and cooked the right way. Very good burgers. Service: Excellent. Very attentive, polite and pleasant all the way. Overall: I would recommend giving it a try. It's not the very best place I've ever been but it's way above average. Start to finish, this was a great beginning to our first Chicago jaunt.
(4)
Patty O.

Awesome restaurant with plentiful indoor and outdoor seating located in the heart of the Loop in downtown Chicago. Food arrives rather quickly, reservation is recommended to avoid waits. Service is attentive, as a fly had flew into my cup while the server was taking our orders, and he promptly gave me a new glass. Thank you.
(4)
Paul S.

Went here on a Sunday afternoon for a quick bite. Hostess and waiter were friendly. Ordered a Philly sandwich and a chicken wrap. Neither were overly impressive and the fries were cold when brought out. The outdoor table we sat at was sticky and the patio furniture was past its prime (I sunk into the chair the moment I sat down). In general , they seemed to be disorganized. No one took our finished plates until I stacked them neatly and put them at the edge of the table, and the bus boy didn't seem to have any understanding of where to leave the leftovers that we asked to be wrapped up. I don't blame the wait staff, I blame management. One way or other its not worth the $50 we spent on an alcohol-less meal. Plenty of other taverns and grille's that are of much higher quality for a similar price just down Wacker or Michigan.
(2)
Justin W.

Cool place. Lots of TVs. Buffalo tenders looked amazing. Wish I would had tried them. Only stopped in for a min but good spot to stop on the corner.
(4)
Delightful D.

The food is so not good, but drinks are definitely good. My boo and I ordered fish tacos and a steak and cheese sandwich. Tacos were so fishy and lacked flavor and the steak and cheese was tough and underwhelming. We did enjoy our drinks, I forgot the name of the drink but it was pink with a flower in it, very tasty had three of them.
(2)
Erin S.

10 of us showed up without a reservation on a Monday at 6pm and we were seated right away. We asked the waitress about separate checks and she was perfectly okay with it. I got spinach dip for the table for $11, a juicy cheeseburger for $12, and a Sam Adams for $6. The food was good, the beer was cold, and there were 5 tvs right in front of us playing college football, NFL and hockey. It's a nice place! When I come back to Chicago I'll come here again.
(5)
Stacie S.

Went for a Hawks playoff game on a weekend. I've been there for happy hour 20+ times so thought safe bet in the loop. I know bad choice for a weekend, but I had a friend in from out of town. Food was great (except for the Mac and cheese unless you like Kraft) service was great. The bartenders were amazing, but the manager was terrible. She refused to turn the sound on even though most people there had Hawks gear on. After we scored the bar cheered and I asked again to turn the sound on. She informed me that not enough people cared as if anyone was listening to the music they were playing. The bartender even recognized how disrespectful she was to myself and 75% of the people that cheered and gave us a free drink. Great place for happy hour during the week. Never go here on a weekend if you care about Chicago sports.
(3)
Emily G.

GET THE COWBOY CHOPPED SALAD. Unbelievable. I actually ended up getting the fajita wrap that had almost the same ingredients which was amazing, but two of my friends got the cowboy chopped salad (one with chicken, one with steak) and both were ridiculous. We sat at the high top table which was really fun and very comfortable, and were able to see most of the restaurant. The waiter was good, even though our food and friends took a while to come out. My third friend had a ridiculously complicated order, and I'm pretty sure that he got it all right, which is pretty impressive (you should have heard the order... I'm not sure even she knew what she was getting.) I love the sports bar atmosphere, and even though games were going on around us, I didn't feel disturbed at all. Next time I hope to sit outside!
(4)
Ti M.

Good food and nice beer selection. Service was nice even when they were busy. A little pricey for a burger but good for watching your team.
(4)
Natalka K.

A sister restaurant of Boundary on Division St., this place has almost the same menu options. We had the BBQ chicken tenders, BBQ chicken wrap and the BLT. Nestled on the busy Michigan Ave. past Wacker - was a great people watcher place.
(4)
Jackie C.

When we were visiting our friends in Chicago we popped in here for dinner. My friend suggested the pasta and it was delicious!!! My husband had the burger withe pretzel bun and he absolutely loved it!! We will totally be back when we visit!
(5)
Jackie D.

We just wandered in here after tiring of walking around The Loop in freezing rain one afternoon, and I'm certainly glad we stopped. The inside is just gorgeous, probably too classy for two soaking wet Louisiana girls, and yet it wasn't pretentious at all. The bartender was really nice and helpful, suggesting a delicious Two Brothers brew for my beer loving self and a tasty glass of wine for my sister. She also helped us with several restaurant recommendations and other things to do while we were in town. My only regret was getting the fried cheese curds instead of one of their other delicious sounding appetizers. I had never tried curds and I always wanted to, so I said why not? Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The cheese itself was delicious, but I thought the breading was WAY too heavy. So, I contributed more to the crazy, rain-soaked Louisiana girl persona and peeled most of the breading off and ate just the cheese curds, leaving nothing but a pile of breading on the plate. Oops. All of this being said, this incident may have been more about my ignorance of the consistency of fried cheese curds rather than Sweetwater having not so great cheese curds, that's why I still gave them 4 stars. In the end, my experience as a whole at Sweetwater, while brief, was delightful - my sister and I got out of the rain, had a delicious beverage, and had some good conversation with the bartender...what more can you ask for on a Wednesday afternoon?
(4)
Alicja K.

Dropped in for dinner. It was rather loud and hard to have a conversation across the table. I ordered a pulled pork had good flavors but it was rather dry. The mashed potatoes were good but cold.
(3)
Dave W.

Honestly, Sweetwater has the BEST burger I have ever had in my life and believe you me, this body is brought to you by any, and every type of burger. I imagine that their burgers are what dreams are made of. Their culinary prowess doesn't stop there but I'll be brief by saying the only OTHER burger that comes close is in Vegas, at Chief Ramsey's "BurgR". It's a close second but I'd say the choice to choose Sweetwater is like quandary the Mom (Wendy Crewson) had at the end of "The Good Son" between Elijah Wood and Macaulay Culkin. Number one burger in the country goes to Sweetwater, hands down.
(5)
Gabby M.

My boyfriend and I had lunch here on Saturday afternoon of the holiday weekend, so I made a reservation, but didn't end up needing it. We got outdoor seating as soon as we got there. It was kind of loud on the patio because there was a World Cup game on, and we were seated next to the TVs, but other than that we really enjoyed the atmosphere. Good food and service, I got the hummus wrap and my boyfriend chicken breast and mashed potatoes. He said it was good, just a bit heavy for lunch. I really liked the patio and the food, we will be back!
(4)
Eva M.

This is a great fun happening place for happy hour. A fun meeting place on the Avenue. The beer selection is really great. For lunch I would definitely recommend the tator tots. I love the chopped salad but substitute the chicken for salmon. It's delicious and filling.
(4)
Leah R.

They have a great beer selection and amazing pulled pork nachos. The service was decent even though it was very busy. And while it's on Michigan avenue it's not too expensive.
(4)
Jessica W.

We just happened to walk by this place when we were hungry and are so glad we came in. The pork belly sandwich was divine.
(5)
Brandy P.

I would NOT recommend this restaurant for gluten-free dining. I am very appreciative of restaurants that try to accommodate me, so I am very understanding of mistakes, but this place crossed the line. Despite verbally confirming twice that my order was gluten-free (even though it was marked as such on the menu), I was later informed-- after eating my entire meal-- that it had included onions breaded in flour. I am Celiac and have a very severe reaction to gluten, effects lasting sometimes for a month after an accidental eating, so I was horrified. When I politely took the waiter aside and asked for a refund for my meal, he actually rolled his eyes at me and said he could bring me a free drink but that was all. I was sick for over a month afterwards. After my boyfriend wrote an angry letter to them, management offered us a free meal. No thanks. Very disappointing experience, highly recommend staying away if you are gluten free.
(1)
jeff d.

Ginny A was such a rude waitress. Terrible customer service and I even noticed her talking behind our backs. Yeah, never going there for lunch again. Definitely letting my company and their co-workers know not to go there again unless they want to be disrespected. Taking my business and money elsewhere
(1)
Shu J.

I went here twice while visiting Chicago. The burgers are to-die-for! The sweet potato fries hit the spot. Definitely try the burger with the fried egg -- I forget the name -- but it was so good. Very juicy, very generous size, and will deeply satisfy a meat craving!
(4)
Cathy H.

Ordered a pull pork sandwich. I like their BBQ sauce which is sweet and not so spicy. I would come again to try out other food for sure. Service is not so impressive though.
(4)
Robyn M.

Went there for dinner before concert at Chicago Theatre. Food was very good but they were blasting football game so loud we couldn't hear each other talking. Said something to our waitress who agreed it was very loud and noticed shortly thereafter they had turned it down a bit.
(4)
Sam L.

We stopped by and grabbed a table outside while our friend joined us on a flight layover for a bit. Ordered the nachos and quesadilla and grabbed a few drinks -- the mojito and their version of a mule were both really good. Good ambiance, good prices, good service. We'd come back again.
(4)
Lotus F.

Stopped in for drinks only. Friendly staff and cool atmosphere. Drink prices are high but to be expected since it's finer dining.
(4)
Kris P.

Loved it! Came here 2 days in a row. Excellent beer selection. Came back day 2 to eat. PLT is pork belly, lettuce, tomato. Great! Nice outside patio area. Great location.
(5)
Amy D.

LOVE THIS PLACE! I've spent a St Patricks day here, ran for cover here when Lollapalooza 2012 was evacuated, had brunch, lunch, drinks and appetizers here as well. I have only had great experiences from the staff to food. The staff is knowledgable and friendly every time. This time I went for brunch, the actual brunch portion of the menu is small but everything is executed with the perfect balance of ingredients. I had the breakfast tacos, toasted tortillas, pepper jack cheese, diced peppers, and fluffy eggs... amazing. The potatoes were delicious and I was actually disappointed I could not finish them. The Bloody Mary was definitely a great addition to the meal. If you are downtown, give this place a shot. I'll be back soon.
(5)
Kawone H.

I have dined here a couple of times. This is a nice after-work spot, especially for watching sports with numerous TVs. The food is ok. Nothing was bad and nothing was outstanding. The service was great.
(3)
Merrill O.

We went to Sweetwater for a late brunch. Things started out rocky with our water....one had something floating in it, and the other had something crusted on the glass. Soon enough rectified, though, and time for food choices. I thought I was going for the Eggs Benedict, but then the Big Baby burger caught my eye....guinness-infused cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, chipotle aioli, topped with housemade onion rings....uh, yum. Who could pass that up?? And it was a great choice...the burger was fabulous! My friend had the Breakfast Tacos and he wasn't as impressed with his food as I was. Service overall was unimpressive.....we never got refills on our water, and the waiter didn't really check back much to see if we needed anything. Overall, a solid 3-star restaurant, but I wouldn't rush back again. PS - They do have a pretty impressive beer menu....that actually might nudge them up to 3.5 stars.
(3)
Lorena A.

I had a salmon dish and it was fantastic!
(4)
Wes M.

Four stars for the food. Two stars for the service, at least for our waiter. We were greeted and seated as soon as we walked in. Once getting our order we rarely saw our waiter. When we did see him, he seemed to be flirting with the female wait staff at their station. I had to flag him down to get ketchup. The burger I had was very good, especially the bun, and my wife's wrap was excellent. After additional waiting time to pay, another waitress took our payment. I would go back but request someone different to wait on us.
(3)
Stephen L W.

Very good service, good food. However-noise level VERY High, next time we go there will get a table or booth outside weather permitting.
(4)
May T.

It was a great meal overall and great service. The "great Christmas beer" was really flavorful. One thing, don't get their Rieslings. It kind of tasted a little too sweet for my taste. Their pesto penne was to die for. Amazing!
(3)
Nick M.

Ahi Tuna wrap is amazing as are all the burgers. This place has a great look and a great variety of beers. Great overall bar food from appetizers to meals.
(4)
LeeAnn G.

My husband, son (who is a chef himself), and I enjoyed our stop at Sweetwater. The dÃ©cor and atmosphere are fun and trendy, and if you are looking for a ball game you can see one wherever you turn. The service was excellent. Our son joined us by surprise and our server was able to take his order later than ours, but serve it at the same timely moment ours arrived. The food was good. I had the Gobbler and found it to be a nice change from a typical burger. The guys on the other hand, had burgers and enjoyed them to the last bite. Our visit to the Sweetwater Tavern was a great stop on a cold night.
(4)
Karin L.

Made a great choice for lunch today. Sweet water has a great atmosphere! A lot of televisions but comfy with the cloth napkins and leather booths. My waitress recommended the Santa Fe wrap and bit was she right! Delicious but pretty spicy.
(4)
Tina M.

Visited this place for the first time over the Labor Day weekend and was very impressed. Make reservations if you are able. We arrived at about 2:30 on a Sunday and still had a short wait. The offer a large variety of beer and the mixed drinks are strong. I had the chicken salad with truffle oil. Hands down the best chicken salad I've ever had. My friends had the philly steak sandwich and the gourmet grilled cheese and they both said their food was delicious as well.
(4)
Marek C.

I visited this place on Saturday evening it was around 10:15 pm, I was together with my friend, looking for nice place to have late salad. Very good location on Michigan Ave ... I was like let's try it. We requested to be outside but due to late time I was informed they can not have us outside... o will ... so we decided to get a table inside. Front desk lady was OK friendly, we got our table right away... I ordered Cobb salad and also french fries, I asked my waitress to make sure my fries are fresh and not cold... not longer then 3 minutes after we order our food everything was ready... unreal ... faster then typical fast food restaurant ... I wish quality of their food was good as their speed... my fires were horrible ,,, cold ,,, not fresh,, I asked my waitress ( girl I do not know her name since she did not introduced her self to us) to get me fresh french fries... well not even 2 min after this she came with "fresh french fries" for me and my friend.. My friend's fries were OK, mine were worst then the first order... nasty old french fries. This time I really got pissed off. Salad was not the best either, chicken was not too fresh, definitely not worth $14.00... I asked our waitress to get us our bill and wanted just to leave ... we waited 10 min and she was not back... I asked another employee who was passing by to get us our bill ( very nice gentleman Chris). He was super nice and very friendly, asked how was everything ,,, at this point I expressed myself. He offered he would talk to manager that worked this night ... Manager did not even bother so come and see us in person... An amazing management skills, told Chris not to charge us for french fries... I was so pissed off . I did not even care... just wanted to leave ... Next morning I called in and spoke to Erin (I think she is the owner, super nice lady, very professional, ) She apologized for the situation and offered refund, and invited us to give them second chance.
(2)
Kim M.

Impressed by breakfast. Nice thick wheat toast that I could butter myself & homemade blueberry jam which was a really nice touch. Decor is nicely done. Would have liked to have dinner there but was unable.
(4)
Star H.

Good burgers, very trendy place in great location, good service. Great location plenty of Tv's and cold beer.
(3)
Greg S.

Fish tacos were ok. Comments from others in my party were lackluster. Service was good - probably a great bar after work but very average lunch.
(2)
Christina F.

First off, let me just say I'm a sucker for goat cheese. It's the kind of food that can make anything taste better. I'd probably even eat a bug if it was sprinkled with it (well, maybe not, but you get the idea). I have been eying Sweetwater since I moved to Chicago 2 years ago, but I'm always afraid to try it out because it's situated on possibly the most touristy corner of the city. I recently spent a few months working in NYC so when I got back to Chicago, all I wanted to do was take in the sights of the city. I called up my partner in crime, Caelum D. and asked him to come explore the city with me. We had a nice boat cruise enjoying some wine and spirits and decided to grab a bite to eat when it docked. We wanted to try some place new, but someplace that matches our style. See, we like places with a unique menu, handcrafted drinks, and a sultry yet homey atmosphere. That's when I mentioned Sweetwater. I always pass Sweetwater on my way into the Loop and I'm always attracted to the slate colored exterior, floor to ceiling windows, and bold silver and blue highlighted "SWEETWATER" sign outside. Once inside, you first notice the long bar, which spans the length of the center of the restaurant. In front of the bar and around the center of the restaurant are long high top tables which can accommodate larger groups. Outlining the floor to ceiling windows are the tall, leather, quilted booths, where we sat. Its all tied together with beautiful stoned panels holding the restaurant up. They also have beautiful outside seating and all seats allow you to people watch along Michigan. When we sat down, we were greeted by our waitress, Tamika. She was bubbling and happy which immediately radiated on to us. We asked her for a few suggestions for beer. Unfortunately, in typical female form, I was looking for a flavored beer. It's the fall, the best season for peach, cherry, apple, or raspberry flavored beer. She suggested a $12 libation, a bit of a pretty penny for a college student, but it was peach flavored so I couldn't say no. The bottle was huge and very vintage/European looking. The beer was refrershing and crisp, something I would definitely order again. My friend got the raspberry flavored Abita which also was delicious (only $6 though). When I was scanning the menu, my eye immediately caught the goat cheese and arugula veggie burger. Now, I love my meat and I wanted my beefy burger, so I asked if I could substitute a beef patty for the veggie one. I didn't even get a "Let me check," our waitress immediately said I could; flexibility is always something I look for in restaurants. My friend ordered the tilapia and spinach. When my meal came I could not stop eating. The burger was topped with melty goat cheese, a kalamata olive spread, fresh arugula, then sandwiched between a pretzel roll. I couldn't come up with a better burger myself. Its the type of burger I will always be in the mood for, but I'll probably just get a turkey burger next time; the beef was a red meat overload! And for the added cost of $1 for my substitution, I got a steal! My friend enjoyed his tilapia very much (obviously, he also gave Sweetwater 5 stars). Sweetwater is owned by Bottleneck which also owns the Pour House, the Boundary, and a few others. I would like to go check out the other locations, but will be definitely be back to Sweetwater for that burger and excellent service!
(5)
Jeanette D.

Nice patio outside and the food is tasty!
(5)
Carol L.

While waiting for our flight in the evening, my friend and I came here to watch some football. Well, I wanted to watch football anyway. She brought work! What a sport. Anyhow, I was pleasantly following several games on the many TVs all around us when my friend asked our server if he could switch the TV nearest us (which no one seemed to be watching) to the Dodgers game of all things! He laughed and said he doubted it as Sweetwater is foremost a FOOTBALL-centric sportsbar, but said he would ask his manager anyway. And the Dodgers weren't even playing any Chicago team. The manager could've declined the request of these two wacky LA women, but much to our (and our server's) surprise he agreed! I didn't eat or drink here (my friend took care of that), but that customer-first gesture deserves a high-five and a review.
(4)
Stacy O.

We stopped here on a Sunday afternoon while in the Loop for an evening meeting. We try to avoid dining on Michigan Avenue because so much of it is tourist-trap-cliche. This was a pleasant exception. I ordered the turkey burger, which came with a nice portion of avocado, melted cheese, and cranberry aioli on top. I scraped off most of the aioli -- it was good; there was just too much of it for my taste. The burger was seasoned well. So many places hide their bland burger under the toppings, hoping to mask it. This was a nice balance. I had the grilled asparagus as a side -- it was crispy and fresh. My husband had the pork tenderloin churrasco with saffron rice and spicy pineapple salsa. He ate the entire thing (and half my burger) so I'm going to assume he enjoyed it. Service was great. It was a little loud in the bar area, but that's to be expected on a Sunday afternoon during NFL season.
(4)
Najla'a I.

food delicious , i like the atmosphere
(4)
Alex R.

The only reason i'm giving Sweewater 2 stars instead of 1, is because it's a good place to grab a drink after work- proximity to my office. I've been a few times, once for lunch where i found a bug in my salad, however i was sitting outside, so that was probably not the restaurants doing. A second time I went for appetizers and drinks, which I enjoyed. I went for dinner and drinks last night.....and that's where my relationship with Sweetwater ended. I ordered the PLT- pulled pork, bbq sauce, aioli, on brioche bun........ I received toasted white bread with mayo, tomato, a feather of lettuce, and the sickest pile of pork fat with no sight of BBQ sauce. I took a biet giving this visually unappealing meal a chance- I had to mumble to my friend to please close her eyes, because I had to spit it out into a napkin. My bite was nothing but pork fat goop- I then dissected the rest of the sandwich to find that it was the majority of meal, that was this, instead of actual pork meat. I was beyond grossed out. Will never eat here again.
(2)
Barry S.

Good food, plenty of TV's, comfortable seating, and great beer selection. Starts crowding up about 7pm, but you can usually get am outside seat if the weather is nice. Don't see your game on the TV, just ask and they will put it on for you.
(3)
Josh M.

Food was solid and the drinks were great. Really good burger and the Bang Bang shrimp are really good as well.
(4)
Brad H.

This was a gem my wife and I stumbled upon near our hotel. We were expecting run of the mill pub food, but were pleasantly surprised with what we ordered. It was our first time to try cheese curds, and we loved them! My burger was large, juicy, and tasty. The portions were ample, the beer selection was great and we enjoyed dining outside in the patio area with the low lighting and candle on the table. Great experience.
(4)
Lee C.

Terrible and disrespectful service. There are better options to choose from in the area. Not my top pick.
(1)
Natalie L.

Yeah, it's slim pickings around here but there has to be SOMETHING better than Sweetwater. The service was fine but the food was barely passable. I had the ahi tune wrap and the tuna was overcooked. I would walk the extra few blocks across the river to greener food pastures.
(2)
Elizabeth G.

We were in Chicago for the weekend just exploring. We wanted to watch the World Cup game and eat lunch. When we first walked in the hostess said there was about a 30 minutes wait (the game was about 15 minutes in). A booth opened up as we were standing there and I asked if we might have it to watch the game. Another gentleman that was working said sure and gave it to us - which was greatly appreciated - we were hungry and really wanted to watch the game. I ordered the veggie burger with a side of asparagus. It was absolutely fantastic. The asparagus was thick and had the grill flavor to it. The veggie burger was topped with kalamata olives, something new for me. We watched the entire game and enjoyed our experience. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Amanda B.

This place was packed when me and my boyfriend went. The world cup was on (brazil vs chile). We waited about 20 minutes which wasn't too bad. I ordered the grilled salmon sandwich with tater tots and Dave ordered the vermont burger. The sandwich was delicious! They certainly don't skip out on the salmon:) Very good prices too for being right downtown. Overall it was good! I will definitely be back here!
(4)
Juli A.

Sweetwater was never something that I have ever considered 5 stars. On previous visits, I found the atmosphere and the service to be pleasant and the food to meet expectations. Today, I go with a friend for lunch. Had the club and mashed potato. It wasn't toasted and the bread fell apart, and it oddly had no flavor whatsoever despite the inclusion of bacon and the Dijon sage aioli. The mashed potatoes were cold and tasteless. Waitress never came by once to offer me a refill on my tea, either. Just an overall poor showing.
(2)
Debbie T.

Great spot for sitting outside on a beautiful day!
(3)
Eric M.

I liked this place. Food was good and service was ok. Went there twice in my 5 days in chicago. Loved how they had all the tvs. Was really surprised that they didn't have a chicken Cesar salad on the menu but didn't kill the experience
(4)
Giuseppe D.

I've gotten to know Sweetwater pretty well over the past 6 months or so while my friend has been employed in the same building. I've come to visit on lunch breaks every now and then so I've had a good chance at familiarizing myself with the menu and surrounding area. The menu consists mostly of burgers/sandwiches/wraps and that works perfectly fine with me. Everything has always come fresh and as ordered. My current favorite being the Santa Fe wrap which comes with adobo steak or pulled chicken, tomatoes, avocado, corn & black bean relish (which is DELICIOUS), pepperjack, tortilla strips, chipotle dressing. All of the burgers/wraps and appetizers I've tried have been good thus far so I'm yet to be disappointed in the food. The drink menu is fairly regular. They do have some good IPA's on tap which made me quite happy. I'm yet to try their brunch menu because it's only served on a certain days but I really hope to try it sometime (looks very very good).
(4)
Angela S.

I really wanted to give this more stars based on the atmosphere and location. I loved sitting outside on the Patio on a beautiful summer day in Chicago and enjoying the view of the buildings downtown. But the food and service were really average. The hummus was actually really odd tasting, and I am normally a hummus lover. It left a bad aftertaste in my mouth also. My turkey burger was better than the hummus, but not amazing. I was disappointed in my choice because I wanted a veggie burger, but decided against it when they told me it was a frozen patty. Overall it was just okay. I would say its better for drinks and location than for dinner.
(3)
Ivy F.

The best! Great menu variety, prompt service, right in the heart of downtown. My boyfriend and I make sure to go every time we are in town.
(5)
Chris G.

I'm a sucker for a well-prepared turkey burger. It's offered on the menu as "The Gobbler" and has cranberry aioli and sliced avocado with melted mozzarella cheese. It's best to ask them to toast the bun. The turkey patty is juicy and flavorful. It's not the absolute best I've had but it ranks highly. Sweetwater happily replaced a dinky Bennigan's location, just steps away from the Wrigley Building and Millennium Park. It's close enough for me to escape to for an early lunch, but gets quite packed on the weekends. Their glass room near the back is a nice getaway because it gets pretty noisy in there once it's full.
(3)
Natalie S.

Awesome service tonight by Cody, guy in the blue place shirt. Great food for the entire family!
(5)
Odranre B.

OK food, nothing special --- the burger is good with pretzel bun everyone deserves chances so i will occasionally re-visit establishments that did not get favorable reviews from me in hope that they have addressed the issues and will revise my views accordingly
(2)
Dallas M.

Incredible bartender service. Great drinks and they make a mean veggie burger. One of the best in town. Get the fiesta burger, but sub a veggie patty. It will blow your mind. Food is amazing!
(5)
Emilee J.

Food's pretty good and it's a convenient spot for lunch during the work week. However, 3 stars b/c I asked if I could get a discount since I ordered a salad vegetarian-style without their expensive meat options, and they refused before I was done asking my question. $15 for lettuce
(3)
Angela B.

NO. I had lunch here today with my girlfriends. We were celebrating a birthday. There were a number of problems that we encountered most of them having to do with the service. We called ahead because we didn't have reservations and asked if we needed them or if we could be seated immediately. We were told that we could be seated immediately inside and not to worry about reservations. When we arrived we asked for a booth. We wait for 10 minutes for them to clean a booth that had been empty. After they removed the dishes we waited an additional 5 and still were not seated. Eventually we seated ourselves. After sitting for 10 minutes with no services, I went to the front to pick up menus for the table. The host was extremely nasty, rudely scolded us for seating ourselves, told us the table was dirty but she hoped we enjoyed ourselves anyway. When our food arrived (20 minutes or so after we ordered) it was cold but delicious (or many we were just hungry...we all had burgers). This is the only time in my life where I did not leave a tip, and I was happy not to. I also certainly will not be back.
(1)
Jessica M.

Four of us came here on a Tuesday after work for a few drinks. The drinks menu is very extensive. It's the perfect place for happy hour! My friend and I ordered the Clausthaler non-alcoholic. To sum it up, it basically tastes like beer minus the alcohol content. My other two friends ordered the blue moon in addition to the southwestern nachos that everybody shared. The nachos were awesome. The pulled chicken had a good merge with the guacamole, tomatoes, sour cream, and jalapenos. The wait staff has really quick service. Our waiter came back multiple times to confirm everything was going well and if refills were needed.
(3)
Jake B.

Decent food. Big beer selection. Ask them to change the tv. One little corner tv no one else was around and they refused. The customer is apparently never right in this case.not the place of you plan on having fun.
(1)
Ehren M.

Nice and laid back. Makes a great spot for a casual business meeting. The menu offers a little of everything and the drink selection is large enough to wet anyone's palette.
(3)
R S.

Go on Sunday and try the Beignets, fantastic. Tip: order them with the cream cheese spread that goes with the red velvet pancakes!!! Service is very good and will definitely be returning. Good Vibe, mostly locals from what I saw.
(4)
Jaime G.

If you want to impress an out of town guest or in the area looking fir a nice place for a drink, sweetwater is it. This is a cool upscale bar with great beer and wine list (and great specialty drinks too) but so so over priced food. Can be very touristy and gets packed quickly. Very comfortable tables and long bar makes it easy to stay a while. And if it's nice out, take advantage of their outdoor seeting. Had a Left hand milk stout and fish tacos last time i was there. Beer was excellent but tacos not the best. Should of just had the beer. Fun place but in this area it really doesn't have anything unique to make a special trip for. Try it if your nearby to knock down a few but save your appetite for the next place.
(3)
Shradha A.

It's been more than a year since they opened!? Well, that means an update is due. But more importantly, their veggie burger has been upgraded too! I really liked their new veggie burger, which is a rice and black bean patty! I also liked the build your own burger option because I like mine with nothing on it (and earlier they had cucumbers et al). Service is still good, place is still crowded, location is still in my office building, I'm still a fan (especially of the tater tots)!! Also recently enjoyed their pita and hummus, as well as their pretzel!
(4)
Tricia D.

It reminds me of the Yardhouse in Glenview: lots of tv screens, energetic noise level, soup/salad/wrap/entree options on the menu to please every palate. I had some (Sweetwater?) salad with avocado, gorgonzola, cukes, and chicken. It's kind of hard to mess up a salad, but this was good. The private room that looks like a conference center with glass walls in the back looks pretty spiffy; you can look at the people dining in there like they're in some zoo exhibit. The end.
(4)
Richard S.

My son and I had a quick dinner here while traveling to a trade show in Chicago. We stayed at the Fairmont so this was only a 5 minute walk from the hotel. Service was incredible... Attentive, paced just right and our server Valerie was friendly and helpful. I had a special Parmesan crusted chicken with pasta, my son had a burger. Both dishes were decent, above the standard sports bar fare. Crowd there was loud, looked mostly like post work hangout spot for locals. Ambience was good. I'd go back.
(4)
Laura N.

I was staying at the Hyatt regency for a work conference. This restaurant was located within a 5 minute walk. I ate here twice. The first time was for dinner. I had the boss sandwich. The steak was cooked exactly as I requested, medium. The sandwich was very tasty. The restaurant also has an excellent beer selection. I tried an apricot beer and enjoyed it. The second time I ate here for lunch with a friend. He ate the boss sandwich, because I recommended it, and he also enjoyed it. I had the chopped salad which tasted very fresh and delicious. Both times the service was excellent. The menu has a variety of food choices. I am a fan and will come back next time I am in Chicago.
(4)
Kristy F.

Atmosphere: Comfortable, sporty, well lit, casual. 4 stars Service: Good. Attentive and polite. 4 stars Food: Sweetwater Burger w/ fries- 3 stars Conclusion: Oh boy. The food tasted good at the time..however, that taste lasted nearly 24 hours. I was burping up my burger all day/night with a queasy stomach. I'd never go back in fear of another similar experience. 1 boo boo star.
(1)
Dawn G.

I work in the building and it's my sometimes go-to lunch place with a colleague. The menu is pretty basic upscale-ish bar fare (burgers, salads) with a few surprises thrown in (I recently had grilled trout). All in all, it's fine, not the best and will do in a pinch. Be warned, however, if you're looking for seating for a party larger than 2, be sure to make reservations at least a day ahead otherwise you'll be SOL if you want a table at lunchtime.
(3)
Bob D.

In town on business and stopped in for dinner on a lark. The Atlantic Salmon was great, very tasty. For desert I had a Peanut Butter Parfait. Very rich but very good. The place was packed, but service was excellent. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Angelo B.

Good place for a happy hour or lunch if you work/live in the loop. I usually get one of the burgers which are good. Service is average as well, can't complain nor condemn. Their beer selection is pretty average and nothing really special. Overall a good place.
(4)
Kim L.

Wandered in here about 8pm on a Saturday night after not getting in to our first choice and we were glad we did. Although it was busy there wasn't a wait so we were seated immediately in a nice booth. We didn't know what to expect so we were pleasantly surprised to find an interesting and not too pricey menu - at least for the food. I ordered fish tacos (tilapia) which were delicious and included homemade taco shells, my friend ordered the tuna sandwich which had a wonderful piece of rare cooked tuna on crusty bread. My only complaint would be the wine prices - the cheapest red they had was $11 a glass, the whites were a bit cheaper. They had a good beer selection with reasonable prices. Our server was bustling and efficient and didn't ignore us. We'd definitely return.
(4)
Amber S.

Loved this place! Great location, delicious food, nice atmosphere. Lots of nice options on the menu.
(5)
Gopal K.

Had brunch. The red velvet pancakes were awful. It was like eating red colored rubber with a sweet syrup and needles amounts of cream. These should be taken off the menu.
(1)
Courtney C.

Sweetwater is a great place for lunch with friends or a date in the summertime. We love sitting outside on Michigan Avenue in the summer & eat delicious food & people watch. Truly is the perfect location for us right off the South Shore Train by Millennium Park! The salads are awesome & they also have great beer if you want a drink!
(4)
Pam R.

In town as a tourist and needed a place to watch the O's game. Great service and great food! Our bartender Kevin was outstanding and the O's came through! Great afternoon!
(4)
Ashley C.

We've been here twice. Once for brunch with friends and another time to check out the burgers for lunch. For brunch, I had the pancakes. It was good, but there wasn't anything special. Our friends loved the place, but it just did not meet expectations. For lunch, we both ordered the burgers with a side salad. The burgers were pretty good and were nice and juicy. The salad left a lot to be desired. It was lettuce with one cucumber and one tiny tomato. The dressing was just bad - too oily. The food was not memorable, but the service was - in a bad way. Our waitress was so flaky and not very friendly. We didn't have any mayo or ketchup for the burgers and our waitress never brought them. Instead, we flagged down a bus boy who was more attentive than our waitress. Another waitress noticed that our pops were empty and re-filled them. We literally never saw our waitress until the end. After we were finished, it took forever to get our check and we literally had to flag our waitress down to get the check. Meh - there are better options in the city.
(2)
Jeanette L.

Came here on a Friday night to get dinner and drinks with a few friends. Make reservations if you want to get dinner!! So many good things to say... 1) Bomb beer selection, with a good number on tap. I especially love that they've got a good number of Belgians. By accident, I was given a Tripel Karmeliet (I had asked for another Belgian), and it was so good that my friend ended up getting one as well. Caveat: just a bit pricey. 2) Nice vibe! Think clean, classy-ish sports bar. 3) Good food! Menu consists of the usual burgers, sandwiches, etc. Everyone was pretty happy with their choices: -Big Baby: What? Guinness infused cheddar?? My friend really enjoyed this, although she said that it was hard to discern any Guinness flavor since there was so much crazy goodness going on. -Veggie: very tasty, loooooved the goat cheese in it, and the arugula added a good balance to the shapness of the cheese and olives. I added avocado to it too because, well, why not? The patty itself was probably one of the most well-formed veggie patties I've ever had. It was decent, seasoned well and held it's own in the burger, both signs of a strong veggie patty. Unfortunately, I found the olives to be a bit overpowering at times, but I didn't mind too much. -The Boss: Heard this was bomb. Meat was cooked perfectly and delicious. -Fried cheese curds: This was the highlight for me. Battered and fried to perfection. I would come back just for this. And the beer. 4) Great service and staff. We had a reservation for 9:00 but had arrived more than half an hour early, so we let the staff know and seated ourselves at the bar. 5 minutes later, someone came and told us that they had a table ready for us, even though we were still waiting on someone to show up. Waitstaff was also super attentive during the meal, always stopping by to make sure we had something to drink! Kinda loud, but what do you expect at a sports bar? Super cool place to get dinner, grab a couple drinks, or just hang out on a Saturday night.
(4)
Ernesto L.

Pretty convenient location and average food. I ordered an Arnold Palmer which tasted weird and super sugary. The service was between average and lame. I would say the place is a little bit snobbish. I had the blackened fish tacos. Tacos were good. The chips and salsa that they came with... let's say this, the chips were uneatable. The manager comp'ed the grilled asparagus that I ordered as a side. Meh. If you can't find another place soon enough it's a OK. Cheers.
(3)
Josh V.

The best way to describe Sweetwater might be as a slightly upscale version of the Bennigan's that it replaced. OK maybe that's not fair; that Bennigan's was an abomination! So let's just say it's like an upscale Bennigan's, period. As such, I'm inclined to say Sweetwater is A OK, a solid 3 stars. The food is generally fine but unexceptional, as is the service. The wait, even on a week night, can be surprisingly long, but they do take reservations. The decor is nice and simple, and it's clean. So why the 4 stars, the observant among you inquire? Two things bump this place up a notch in my book. First, they have burgers made from Niman Ranch beef which are actually quite good! This place is not on my burger list, but it's a bit of a hidden burger gem. Second and more importantly they have tater tots! Now I know not everyone agrees, but I believe tots are the pinnacle of fried potato evolution. Seriously, there's nowhere to go from there. But for you unbelievers, they also have regular french fries, mashed potatoes, etc. if you must. You know, I think I need to create a list of places with tater tots.
(4)
Mironda R.

So I went to this place with some friends in hopes of grabbing a drink, quick bite, and watch the game. I ended up not eating, but my friends did and said it was pretty good. It looked pretty good, but I would say its moderately priced. I gave this place 3 stars for sheer foolishness on behalf of the manager on duty and the waiters. We had a waiter that was new but we did not realize he would not be our server all night. He came over, mentioned he was new, asked what we wanted, and then disappeared. All of a sudden we had a new waiter with no warning. Interesting shadow process. But then the other waiter would come over and we would ask him for things and he had no clue. Poor thing. Then I asked the 'seasoned' waiter what a specialty drink was and she replied a Long Island.. WTH? When did that become a specialty drink?! I digress.. My biggest umph was around trying to get the game on a particular TV. I went back and forth with the manager about changing the television. She tried to make the argument that it was on other televisions, but I had to kindly explain to her that it was on every tv on the opposite side of the restaurant and other patrons were stretching their necks to see the same game. Eventually, after a few epic failures to adjust the channels, I could watch the game. I like the open space and large bar area. I would be interested to seeing it during the summer. For the loop, its a decent go-to.. but I wouldn't say to someone you HAVE to go.
(3)
Christen W.

Just ok. Nice sports bar / restaurant. Had brunch here and got a mixed bag: the breakfast potatoes were probably the best I've ever had, and my eggs benedict was not great. The hollandaise was off- super lemony and not good, and the sauce smothered my whole plate. Made it very difficult to enjoy.
(3)
Jeremy C.

3 stars in the winter 4 stars in the summer Why? they have a huge outdoor seating area. There is no better place in the world to have a beer outside then Chicago in the summer time. Once you've left your rat race hamster-wheel office for the day.. head downstairs to Sweetwater for a drink. They've got a decent beer selection and you will enjoy it. The food is pretty good. I've only had apps and salads and I was pleased each time. Is it amazing.. No.. but is it good.. yea.. it's good..
(3)
Patricia N.

Great selection of beers and really good "bar" food. I had the signature turkey burger, the "Gobbler." BEST turkey burger I've ever had, moist flavorful and the perfect toppings. They came with plenty of tator tots. It was all so filling I made every effort to finish it all, but still had one bite of my burger left. All washed down with a Belgian, Delerium Tremens. My other two friends had the buffalo chicken wrap, one with sweet potato fries, the other regular. One of my friends is from Texas and he's happy to come here because it's one of the few places in the city to have Shiner Bock. As if we weren't full enough, my local friend ordered the "cookie." I didn't notice til now it's the only dessert item on their menu. It is so good! This place is definitely worth another trip back. I love the atmosphere as well. Nice seating and plenty of big screens for college basketball.
(5)
Jaclyn L.

I think this place is fine. My husband is a fan. Since I'm writing the review - I go with 3 stars. The food is good. The drinks are good. The service is good. But in my opinion, it is WAY overpriced. We come here A LOT. When I say a lot, I mean, between the two of us, we average 3.5 visits a week. I think this is a lot since there are so many great places to eat, that aren't as pricey. I personally have a problem with a $14 salad and $10 drink. They do have great music and a lively atmosphere - I just wish we didn't have to pay so much for it.
(3)
Lisa H.

I went here on my first night in Chicago, and it was rather crowded because the free outdoor Muti concert had just ended. The check-in seemed a little disorganized, but otherwise I had no complaints. We ended up sitting at the bar because of the wait, and I was happy to see they had purse hooks. There was another option, called the high table, where you could sit at a big table with other people, but we decided to pass. We got the macaroni bites, which was clumps of macaroni fried....(so tasty!), and a few other appetizers. The beer selection was impressive, but the bar area was so big that there really was a need for more than one bartender.
(4)
Felicia R.

I ate here when I stayed at the Hard Rock across the street. The burgers are huge and the salads are huge too. My sister got the Barnyard Burger and I got the Sweetwater Chopped Salad. Mmmmm The service was hella good. Food came out fresh and ready 10 minutes after ordered, and our drinks stayed replenished. For dessert we got the Cookie Dough Dessert and it was barely baked, which I guess was implied by the name, but it was kind of gross since the ice cream melts so fast in the center. We didn't drink alcohol that night, but it seems like a chill place with a good beer selection.
(4)
Pete R.

The food is really, really interesting and delicious. Its obviously a fantastic 5-star location (assuming your car is already parked or you took a train of course) and as such my only complaints revolve around its crowded and loud nature...which seems to be exacerbated by the number of communal tables, but its a solid four and a half stars, even with these aspects considered. Food is clearly 5-stars - the seared tuna offerings are KILLER and the tostada crusted fish was even better than expected and its obvious they are well-organized based on how quick it is served. The beer is possibly the most underrated aspect, also near 5-star on selection and freshness. Our bartender/server was VERY informative, friendly and efficient. And the patio will be a sweet option for those looking to knock off early this summer. My advice, make those kinds of plans and check this place out sooner than later!
(4)
John F.

This place has pretty good food. Wraps, burgers, salads, appetizers - all solid. The beer list isn't bad either and they have quite a few beers on tap. This place is a little pricey, but you are just off of Michigan Ave so considering that, it's not that bad. If in the area and looking for a spot to grab some grub and/or brews this place is worth checking out. Plus they have some nice outdoor seating for when it's actually nice out. Cheers
(4)
Jim K.

Have only come here for beers, but they have such a good selection it's hard to beat. Even have a good Belgian beer that I'd never had on tap anywhere else. Not cheap, but totally worth it. Can't comment on the food situation, but I'm willing to give it a shot next time I'm in town.
(4)
Dr. M.

Ughhh...I can't believe the hype this place gets...wait! Yes I can, I remember when I would have hyped this place up too! I don't know if it's under new management or what, but something has definitely changed...for the worst! I was there last week, and from the time I walked in, until the time I walked out...the service & food was horrible!!!
(2)
Pam G.

We ate here twice while in town. It was very close to the hotel we stayed at. Good food! Both times we went we were seated faster than they told us. Friendly staff. Food to table time was fast as well even at night when it was busy. They have outdoor seating that looked like a nice area as well once the weather gets warmer.
(4)
Brandon V.

I've admitted it before, and I'll do it again - I love chain restaurants and I'm not ashamed. Give me an Olive Garden or Chili's any day over some fancy-pants one-of-a-kind, hit-or-miss. As such, I chose this place for our early Valentines dinner this year. I had passed by it for a while and wanted to try it out (it did replace a beloved Bennigan's, after all). We were both very impressed with the food, the service, and the atmosphere. Arguably the best burger I have ever had (The "Sunny Side Up"). I also loved that the high-back booths gave a little extra privacy. It was a little loud on a Saturday night when we were there, but that's to be expected with this kind of place. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Chloe Z.

nah that sums it all. Non-impressive food; decent service; decent decor for a sports tavern what else is there to say? Oh right, they have some decent selection of ciders.
(3)
Amanda C.

I have walked past this place a million times and said I'm gonna stop it. Finally did and I'm glad! I ordered the sunnyside up burger (substituted the bacon for avocado, no extra charge). Medium rare (it was cooked perfectly) with sweet potato fries (extra $1, worth it though). The burger was huge and flavorful. The pretzel bun was so good!!! My friend also had a burger and from the looks of her empty plate... she enjoyed hers as much as I did. The portion is huge so I would say if your not a huge over eater like me, split a burger with a friend. The burger was $11.99, not bad for downtown. Our server was really nice, but I didn't ever get my water filled up although she offered it. I did not like that the cups were a thick plastic. I realize it's also a bar but still. Meh. Overall ambiance is comfy and cool. I will definitely be back to try something else on the menu. Oh yea... Free wifi!!!!!
(4)
Chip Z.

We chose the place as it was close to our hotel. It has plenty of TVs. Burgers were okay - family chain restaurant okay and overpriced. Tator tots were fried into oblivion. Great beer selection. Cocktail was so so. If visiting, stick to pizza and Italian beef, rather than this place.
(2)
Christy L.

Sweetwater has gone down hill. My co-worker and I ate here this week. I had the grilled cheese and tomato soup. The cheese was skimpy, and the bread was soggy instead of toasted. My co-worker had a wrap that we have had many times, but this time the ratio of lettuce was way too high. My co-workers have complained of similar; the food isn't nearly as consistent or well-prepared as it used to be.
(2)
Nick L.

This establishment has a great selection of beers. In particular, their IPA assortment was wonderful. But let me tell you about the dipping sauce: They don't give you enough of it. We ordered cheese curds and there were enough curds for 5 people but enough sauce for half a person. We ordered sweet potato fries and there were enough fries for 5 people and enough ketchup for 3/4 a person. The spinach & artichoke dip? You guessed it. Enough bread to feed a village and enough dip for half a villager. The service was good. This place is probably ideal for tourists, after work drinks or clients for whom you do not have a large budget to wine & dine.
(3)
Chris W.

great beer selection. fresh tasting food at a reasonable price for the location. really enjoyed the blackened tilapia tacos. lots of big, beautiful tvs with sports on every one!
(4)
Dana O.

The 4 stars is for the food, not the service. The food was so good I didn't even think about the service until I got home. Stopped in here on Saturday morning for breakfast with my brother. For a breakfast place in the loop it was not busy at all and there was no wait. When we got there, around 9:30, it was practically empty. By the tie we left a lot of the tables had filled up, but there was still no wait. Kind of surprised me because the restaurant is connected to a hotel and they have a pretty good brunch selection. I had cornmeal waffles and they were perfect. They were not gritty at all, and the cornmeal made them much more rich and flavorful than any buttermilk waffle I've ever tasted. I also had some over-hard eggs that were cooked to perfection. My brother's bloody mary was to-die-for! It even came with a bacon garnish- how creative. He was semi-hungover so he told the waiter he didn't want it spicy, but the waiter ended up bringing him the spiciest bloody mary I have ever tasted. No good for hungover fellows. Needless to say he ened up sending it back. His replacement was very good though, especially with that bacon! I also had drink problems. I ordered regular coke and was brought diet two times, even after politely informing the waiter that I had ordered regular and asking if he could please bring me regular and not diet when he was about to refill my glass. I ended up drinking diet the whole meal. The waffles were too good for me to really care that I was drinking coke's unflattering, over-sweetened cousin. Oh well. I'll be back for the waffles. Maybe I'll even get two orders next time. :)
(4)
Raya K.

I popped in here for dinner last week while on a business trip. I was looking for a nearby restaurant with a bar so that I wouldn't have to awkwardly sit at a table by myself. This was a few blocks away from the hotel so I made my way over. I started with a Bells Two Hearted Ale and put in my order for a veggie burger. The bar wasn't too crowded but filled up the longer I stayed. The veggie burger came out soon after finishing my first beer. The burger came dressed with goat cheese and spinach...AWESOME. I could eat it everyday. Fries came on the side but I was too focused on my burger to eat them. I had a few but can't remember if there was anything exceptional about them. I squeezed in another beer, grabbed my check and made my way back to my hotel. Wouldn't mind dining here again if I was in the area.
(4)
Alexa E.

I was here roughly one year ago and realized I have yet to write a review. Ooops! Better late than never, right?? The service was wonderful! Our waitress was attentive and answered any questions we had about the food. The beer selection is awesome; that alone earns 1 star!! The food was delicious; I ordered a burger which arrived at the table hot and juicy! The atmosphere is somewhat of a sports bar, but also provides a somewhat upscale dining experience. The booths are comfortable and the windows around the restaurant offer a very fun and open environment. I definitely recommend!
(5)
Stephanie S.

So I would probably give Sweetwater a 3.5 if I could. It is identical to South Branch, which I think I gave 4 stars based on the location and need for a new place like that. So, I have to start out by saying, what is the deal with places that serve wine out of cheap wine glasses. You know what I am talking about, like those tiny round looking ones? Come on, if I am drinking a $15 glass of wine, you can at least get a better glass. I hate those...sorry...I digress... I took some collegues and clients there for a happy hour and it was a good atmosphere, the food was fairly good and I like their wine list. Overall a good happy hour spot and I would definitely go back.
(3)
Dana D.

Walking around Chicago I've run into the place a couple times before I actually stopped for lunch. What actually brought me in, is when I heard about the pretzel bun. So I snatched up the boyfriend and headed down to Michigan for lunch. I must say pretty decent selection of beer, have to love a place with daisy cutter and doggie style. So drinks were ordered, next the appetizer, spinach artichoke dip. Fantastic! Burgers were the next step with their fabulous pretzel bun. However, I wasn't completely taken away with the Fiesta burger. It lacked a punch and a zing along with nothing really standing out. The burger itself was juicy and properly cooked to my wishes. So if you are just looking for a good burger and not a couple drinks, head down Michigan to Burger Point. It will save you parking costs and a trip on orange line.
(3)
Lou S.

I've been in this place a number of times now as I live nearby. I had the truffle chicken salad with sweet potato fries, which I really liked. The bartenders are very friendly. The wait staff is generally competent. A good date or group meeting place. Not so good for meeting people. Lots of tourists, but that's to be expected in that location. Overall a nice place.
(4)
Ryan B.

[x] Downtown. [x] Good food. [x] Good brew. [x] Great people watching on Michigan Avenue. [x] Patio dinning without the touristy gimmicks. [ ] No, I'm not a fan. [x] Yes, I'm a fan. We arrived 6PM on a Friday and to our surprise we were immediately seated outside. I had the Big Baby burger which was quite tasty. What else can I say? It was a great trip all around.
(4)
Brad R.

Holy crap. Best beer selection in a strangely upscale looking place. At first glance it seems to be the uber-fancy restaurant within a corporate hotel. But when you look past all the people in suits and ties, you see a wall of tap handles and beer refrigerator that is to die for. They had tons of midwest great IPAs and quite a few seasonals that are hard to find being someone from the west coast. Coming out for a bears game, my buddy and I popped in for a few beers before lunch and loved this place. Sitting at the bar was awesome but later we came back after the game and had terrible service at a booth. Perhaps we were in the bar area and didn't have a waitress. Regardless, this was the best beer selection I've seen in Chicago near the Bean. Otherwise you have to venture out to the HopLeaf or Map Room.
(5)
EB H.

I thought I could make a cool review but Mike C.made a way better review. Anyways, Sweetwater grill was very good. I had the Fiesta burger and it was delicious. It had a very good flavor and the burger was very juicy. Overall, I would come back.
(4)
Bianca P.

My boyfriend and I stopped here after work one day because we saw that groupon was offering a deal. We started with a hummus plate, which was good, but kind of bland. He ordered some kind of steak which was very small but tasty. I ordered a BLT which was nothing special...which is odd because I usually think every BLT is special. We weren't impressed, but considering we payed $20 for $40 on our meal and the waitress was nice, it was certainly worth it.
(3)
Anuj S.

NOT impressed by this place. To be fair, I've only been here once, but first impressions are important. Not saying I'd never go there again, but it wouldn't be by my choosing. WTF does that mean? :-) Just that I guess I would go if some friends were going and I wanted to meet up with them. Anyway... after all that qualification, just to get down to the details. I had a veggie burger, fries, and tomato basil soup. None of which were memorable. Unfortunately for Sweetwater, the black bean patty they serve at even Chillies is much better than what they had here. I did like the fries. The soup... while it was good, it was no better than the soup we buy at Costco. In fact, both of us were thinking the exact same thing. Beyond all that, the nail in the coffin for me was the service. We felt like the forgotten nomads of TImbuktu. It seemed like there was one waitress for the whole place. She never came back to check refills or what not. I eventually just asked one of the bus boy.
(2)
David G.

Great place for watching sports. Decent food. Beats standing out in the cold. Watched the UM v. OSU game over thanksgiving weekend. Not bad. Nothing incredibly special.
(3)
Andrew B.

Met some long-time Twitter friends here for the first time real-life get-together; a pair of them has a condo a couple blocks away, tend to frequent this venue when they're in town. Great niche-y/craft/micro bottled beer selection, particularly Belgians, decent drafts along same lines as well. Cute/hot/friendly waitresses. Food was decent, but $13.99 felt a little overpriced for what the menu made seem like a weightier wedge salad; wish I'd gone with the cowboy instead. Decent goat cheese app, decent buffalo wings; could be crispier. Bacon-wrapped shrimp good, perhaps not great. Adjacent to pay-to-park and garages.
(4)
Cody K.

We were staying in Chicago for the week and this place happened to be close to our hotel. We almost missed it as we were walking down Michigan. We decided to give it a shot and we weren't disappointed. The service was good, the atmosphere was nice, and the food came in big portions. The burger I had could have been a little better, but I enjoyed it for the most part. Their turkey club is also very good, but I'd recommend getting it without the aioli. As silly as this might sound, my favorite item of theirs are their tater tots. Very crispy and not too salty. Anyway, I recommend giving them a shot if you're in the area.
(4)
Marcy M.

Three strikes and you're out right? Well does 5 strikes get you? A really upset bachelorette party and a bad review of Yelp! A group of 10 of my closest and nicest gal pals were out in the loop celebrating the "Last Fling Before the Ring". The Maid of Honor chose Sweetwater for a few reasons: location, price, and variety of beers. We made our reservations four and a half weeks ago for 8 on Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. We made the reservation way in advance so that we were guaranteed a good table. We showed up at 7:50 and were told by the hostess (or was she the manager? or the shift leader? None of us could figure it out but we will get back to that later) that our table wasn't ready and we could wait outside. Okay, we thought may ten/fifteen more minutes. We were not seated until 8:35 and we didn't have water on the table until 8:45. STRIKE ONE. We were all excited about the fresh asparagus that was offered as a side on almost all entrees and sandwiches--delicious! We didn't even mind the extra charge for this delicious in-season vegetable. We were quite bummed when our meals came out and there were green beans instead of asparagus. We waited for our waitress to come out so we could ask for something different. Not only were they not what we wanted, they were cold. STRIKE TWO. The waitress brought us french fries even though we asked for a vegetable. I know potato is a vegetable but we were thinking carrots, squash, something else. Then, the bus boy/expeditor brought out a side dish of mixed vegetables, unbeknownst to the waitress. Both dishes were cold and went untouched for the remainder of the meal. STRIKE THREE. Then one girl who was so excited to try a salad that she had seen on Sweetwater's website. After two bites of the lackluster salad, she found a rather large screw tossed in with the greens. A SCREW! Enough said. STRIKE FOUR. The hostess/manager/shift leader then offered to bring out a new salad for our screwed girl without even asking her if she wanted another salad (she didn't). Needless to say, we had all lost our appetite. Two girls stopped eating almost immediately. No one at the table ate more than half of their meal (most of us had sat waiting for our new sides/new entrees anyway). When we told the manager that we were unhappy with our meals and the screw was unacceptable; she tried to comfort us by saying "I'll be honest, this isn't the first time this had happened, and it probably won't be the last". I mean, WHAT? STRIKE FIVE. After many back and forths and one very upset bride-to-be. The meal did get comped but only after she offered to not charge us for the second salad. Well I should hope you wouldn't charge us for two salads since the first one had a large screw tossed in with it. Then we asked to not be charged for salad or the vegetables that no one ate. She offered to comp the 50% of everyone's meals then came back with the whole meal free. The meal was just a fiasco and with her comment about the frequency of screws ending up in meals, I don't think I will ever risk going back.
(1)
Makara N.

I had the French chicken and the chicken seemed dried. Also, the dish was a little on the skimpy side--should be a double-breast chicken instead of one side of chicken breast.
(2)
Lauren O.

Great beer selection, awesome service. Brunch food (eggs Benedict and mushroom hash) were lacking a bit.
(3)
Nancy B.

HANGER STEAK! Trust me on this. Order the hanger steak (medium) and you'll be so glad you did. My boyfriend and I were visiting from LA and came on the recommendation of the concierge at the River Hotel. We decided to split the steak and split the Waldorf Salad as well. I've had hanger steaks elsewhere and wasn't expecting much. It was so juicy and perfectly flavored. The potatoes were just heavenly. My mouth is watering just recalling them. And the asparagus was perfectly perfectly grilled and seasoned just right. I'm usually wary of asparagus for being overcooked or chewy, but my boyfriend (who doesn't eat veggies) and I cleaned our plates. Needless to say, we regretted the decision to split it since the Waldorf salad was meh. Don't bother with the Waldorf. Our waiter was super friendly and provided great service. He made a point to watch out for riffraff lurking around my purse. I really appreciated that. I'm definitely coming back and ordering the hanger steak next time I'm in Chicago again.
(4)
Brian C.

Disappointed. Made the decision to come here based on Yelp reviews. Ordered the roast chicken and a side salad. Salad came dumped on a plate and dry. Then main meal came and it was also dry and looked like it had been sitting for a while. Drinks were good at least so I give it 2 stars. Not on my list again..
(2)
Celia Z.

I came here right after a bout of food poisoning, so I wasn't in a big appetite. With the lighting dim, and a lot of TVs running, this seems like your typical bar type restaurant. Decided to go with some lighter fair, I ended up ordering the pita pocket (portabella, feta, avocado, roasted peppers, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, red pepper hummus, with the Italian Dressing on the side. Surprisingly, this completely cured my non-existent appetite. The portabella was marinated in some kind of balsamic, so had a tinge of sweetness. Meanwhile, the rest of the ingredients were piled in beautiful layers, one on top of the other, as if it belonged in the Art Institute a few blocks away. Say in the asymmetrical painting section? The taste was solid, but not blow-me-away delicious. My mentor ordered the classic burger with fries. The burger was greasy--the bun was dipped in butter--and literally dripping in juice. While I personally did not taste it, he claimed that he loved their burgers, calling them well made and finishing the entire plate, so I assume it was delicious. Your typical bar and grill. Nothing really special. Except I was so intrigued by how beautifully the ingredients were layered in the sandwich. If only I took a picture.
(3)
Shannon L.

Put a juicy burger with grilled onions on a pretzel roll in front of me and I'm a happy girl. Add a fried egg to that, and I'm like Tickle Me Elmo. But throw in a waitress that was perpetually unavailable - as in I asked for extra ketchup and we never saw her again...had to go find her to get the bill (while telling her we needed to get to a show)...and 5-10 minutes later had to search her out for the bill again. That kinda put a damper on the unicorns dreams and other happiness I was feeling. So...thumbs up on the food...but could have used a little more attention/follow through from the waitress. Oh...as far as the crowd...it's your typical downtown after work crowd...You know, the pretty people. Great, if that's what you're looking for.
(3)
Jessica E.

We mostly ventured into Sweetwater because of it's convenient location and we were pleasantly surprised with our visit. At first glance, it seemed just like a typical sports bars...there were a lot of televisions and a lot of busting-broish-conversations happening. We visited during Shark Week and was entertained by the shark-menu (most of it sold out though! I guess people were wanting to try the shark) but decided to keep it simple and get some burgers. I ordered the Sunnyside Up burger and I am salivating thinking about it. I think it's hard to perfect a burger with an egg just because it can (literally) get messy. However, Sweetwater did a splendid job and everything tasted great! I subbed fries for garlic mash potatoes and was shocked at the huge serving size (not complaining). Our server was really nice and left us alone to converse, only to promptly refill our drinks. Ambiance was nice and if you can block out the tv screens, could pose to be intimate. I would definitely come back, sorry I doubted this place at the beginning!
(3)
Jessica N.

Seems like a solid place to go for lunch or drinks downtown. Fast service, though if you are a party of two during a busy lunch hour or happy hour they will seat you at the communal high-top tables. I didn't mind this but if you are looking for an intimate conversation this is not the place to go. Food was all tasty. I ordered the Cowboy salad, person with me ordered the ahi tuna wrap. Everything was tasty, and the tuna in the wrap was very well cooked (hard to get good ahi tuna at a casual place, it can be a crapshoot). Tons of TVs if you want to watch a game!
(3)
Melissa F.

We tried Sweetwater on a whim on Memorial Day weekend on Sunday evening after a hot day outside. The atmosphere was very cool and modern. I was impressed with the look of the restaurant at first. The people weren't overly friendly here from the hostess to the wait staff, but it wasn't enough to turn me off to not want to come here again or recommend to a friend. Lots of different beers to try and plenty on tap. They could have been colder, especially coming from a tap, but it wasn't warm, so I suppose it's fine enough. The meals were pretty tasty. I'd be willing to go back and try something else and a different kind of beer. Nothing over the top amazing. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back here nor would it be on the top of my list, but I'd be happy to eat here again if the opportunity presented itself and the conditions were right.
(4)
Heather M.

Maybe I just like it because it's my (only) local neighborhood restaurant, but I think the fact is that they have good food and a really comfortable atmosphere, perfect for watching sports, having a nice lunch/dinner, or drinking mimosas/bloodys to quell hangovers with friends. They have one of those bloody mary bars which seem to be popular in Chicago. I think burgers and sandwiches are their sweet spot here, as well as the bar food appetizers. Never gone for an entree, though I suppose they would be decent based on all the other food. Great beer selection, enough to please the snobbiest beer snob. Tons of televisions for the sports nut in your life. Overall, great place. Highly recommend!
(4)
Karen C.

If you're an out-of-towner with no real concept of where to go for lunch/dinner/drinks in downtown Chicago, along with no desire to search for something better, I say go on with your bad self and head to Sweetwater. My meal wasn't all that memorable (it tasted good but not $22 good), nothing said "I MUST have you again!", and wowza was it pricey for what we got. The interior is nice, it's in a great location, and it has potential... just didn't thrill me. I wish I would have taken my $22 (meal + tip. water only.) and walked down the street to The Gage.
(3)
Jim G.

Looks like a nice bar with lots of beers on tap. The food though is only so-so... mostly $15 sandwiches. I ordered the Tar Heel... a BBQ sandwich. I guess Carolina culture is a mystery in Chicago because it came out with beef instead of what Carolinians BBQ-pork. To be fair, the details of the menu said brisket but who would expect that on a Tar Heel? The sandwich was OK only. Lots of meat on an untoasted bun with, for some reason, a watery sweet-and-sour sauce. Eh! Ok food but not worth a special trip.
(3)
J W.

Sweetwater is super crowded and noisy during lunch, but catch this place after lunch hours and the service and ambience is much better. I usually get the turkey burger which is always pretty tasty!
(4)
Tracey W.

Would not recommend this place. The variety of offerings was limited, so you would think that they would execute them we'll. sadly, this was not the case. I ordered eggs Benedict for brunch on Sunday. The poached eggs were nearly cooked through. There was nothing special or really appetizing about this dish. Only gets one star.
(1)
Billy P.

Turkey Burger with Tots was delicious! Tons of great beers also.
(4)
Sonya M.

I love Sweetwater! I'm a semi regular customer and have never had a problem with the service or food. For starters the atmosphere is fantastic! The location is ideal with beautiful views and easy access from any location in the city. The restaurant itself is gorgeous with a beautiful decor that's modern and sophisticated. I love the skirt steak but the salads are also good. I can't say the drinks are the best I've ever had but they are definitely more than decent. I'm also not a huge drinker so I probably wouldn't be the best person to judge. I've also attended a private party there and the room there is great. It's spacious enough for a decent sized party and you can wander in and out with ease. It's also great that you can close the curtains for privacy or leave them open if you want to enjoy the view.
(5)
Jason H.

Sweetwater is - I would say - decent. The bar is extremely crowded, the wait staff is pretty efficient and quick - the food is pretty decent, but has no distinction from Chili's or TGI Friday's in my opinion. I honestly wouldn't be able to recommend anything because nothing stood out. Was it bland? A little. How was the crowd? A cacophony of hoots. How was the decor? So-so. Not bad - not great - nothing special.
(3)
Kimmy S.

Nice staff and good food. Me and my bf ordered the Cobb salad and the steak. Very delicious!!! We said we were going to share it, they kindly split out the meal evenly and gave us our own plates..
(4)
Ralph P.

I have been to many a sports bars in my day, but Sweetwater Tavern and Grille is, in deed, a sports bar a class on it's own. Firstly, and probably most impressive, the restaurant provides blooper videos (sports and otherwise), with entertaining audio (sometimes music video clips-shown with the bloopers) in lieu of tv commercials. There were a good many laughs during the commercial interruptions during the home team game. Equally as impressive was the service. Sam, the bartender, was a god-send. I really enjoy going to different US regions and trying the local IPA's. After ordering what seemed to be the most impressive looking tap, Sam pointed me in the direction to the other 4 brands of IPA's (3 local) that they had avail. She knew her beer stuff; a couple sitting next to me were seeking beer recommendations and she could not have been more clear and effective in driving them through the multitude of beer selections that were avail in bottle. Now, i did not eat much during this visit. But i have to say, their buffalo chick tenders are a platter to brag about. These babies are obviously hand battered and the buffalo sauce was just right. If required to grade, would have to score a 10 out of 10 on that. W/O a doubt, i will be back for a bite (and a brew) b4 i head back to the sunshine state. But my experience there will not be forgotten. I loved it. Thank you, RP3
(5)
Raj B.

This place is good for after-work parties and casual dinners. Great location, just a block from the loop. They have good patio seating right by Michigan Ave and their indoor seating is good with lotta TVs playing Football and Baseball. The good- Location, Small plates on the menu, Beer selection, Service. The bad- Food is not that great.
(4)
Jamie B.

This place is A-OK as the stars on this review indicate. The food is pretty good, but nothing super exceptional. The patio is large, but try to sit on the side of the building and not at one of tables ON Michigan Avenue near the bus stop... you will surely lose your appetite after awhile otherwise. I'd like to check out their sister establishment in Wicker Park. I feel the wine, beer, and cocktails are very overpriced-- but Sweetwater is settled on Michigan Avenue so I suppose the Taj Mahal location they have secured would position the prices to be what they are.
(3)
Anya K.

Came here after a long day of touring the city for a place to rest my feet and people watch. My friend and I had a great first impression. Many screens everywhere, mostly younger crown, good beer selection, the wine list could have been a little longer. We tried the guacamole and chips - awesome, not spicy at all and it was gone in like 5 min! Then I got the Gobbler burger - minus the turkey and got beef instead - it was perfect, served on a bagel bun with perfectly seasoned (to my taste) sweet potato fries. Will most certainly come back, great location too!
(4)
Kelly K.

After not having come to Sweetwater for some time, I went this weekend with my boyfriend for a late lunch. The food was great, but the value was pretty lousy. $9 for cheese curds?? $13something for 3 small fish tacos?? Cheese Curds: While they were pricey (as far as cheese curds go), they were almost tempura battered, so light and crispy. Near the bottom, they did get a bit greasy, but still not bad. Chopped Salad: Pretty standard, but not bad. Fish Tacos: They were good, but the portions weren't very big for as much as they cost. Also, I specifically asked for the aioli for the fish tacos to be on the side twice (it's too spicy!). Of course, it came on the tacos. Next time I will think twice before heading to Sweetwater.
(3)
Kristin K.

I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Came here on a Saturday night and didn't have to wait more than maybe 10 minutes, probably thanks to the rain. They were able to seat all six of us and not only let some of us split dishes, but they also put the split dishes on their own plates. Now THAT is great service. They had a decent food selection, interesting cocktails, and really good sounding desserts (but I had no room to try any). If you want to grab a sandwich and watch a game on the big TVs, this is the place to go.
(4)
Michelle G.

I gathered here with some co-workers over a week ago. My co-worker made sure to call ahead and let them know that there would be close to 20 people coming in her reservation. They accepted the reservation. When we got there, the manager told us we could not split checks for 20 people and we needed a responsible person for the bill. When we asked if we could just sit a separate tables, we were told no. When we asked if we could just buy drinks from the bar to cut down on the hassle at the end of the night, we were told no because the waitress needed the tips since she only makes $4.25/hr. I found myself wondering "How the heck is that my fault?" Then, when we agreed to his many rules, his staff were so rude telling us we were in the way and to move...Look, we were told that this table that seats 10 would be adequate and we could stand around it by the manager! Clearly this place could use some hospitality lessons in how to deal with a large cash-paying party. The only pro to this place was that the drinks, albeit expensive, were good. I would not organize more than four guests to meet here...
(2)
Ash V.

This is a regular spot for our work get togethers. The appetizers are good, especially the hummus and the dips. Decent drink selection. The atmosphere is pretty fun on weeknights!
(3)
Jeff B.

I'm not overly familiar with a lot of the bars downtown. We stopped in here before the Bears game this past Sunday. It was packed!! Fifty mph winds and snow outside helped herd the crowd indoors to be sure. The atmosphere was vibrant and folks were in good spirits. The service was fast and friendly. I was very impressed for being so busy. I didn't not try the food, so I really can't rate the joint as a restaurant. At the end of the day, we had a fun enjoyable time. What more do you need?
(4)
Lindsay G.

Sweetwater has the best honey mustard I've ever tasted. They also have a great beer selection and delicious food. All around a great experience.
(5)
Matt B.

So, on a trip to visit friends in the Windy City this past April, we stopped here because one of my friends said he'd noticed the place open up and had wanted to try it. This was on his lunch hour while working at the Prudential Building. As walk-ins at about 1:15PM, we were seated very quickly (about 10 minutes) and ushered to some quite comfy seats near to the bar. We're sitting there, watching the Tigers play the White Sox. And we wait. And we wait some more. All told, it's about 15 more minutes before a server even notices us. Red flag number one goes up. Server comes, takes our orders. I get myself a hard cider, sodas for the others, and we all order burgers for lunch. Server is pleasant enough and helpful. Red flag starts to ease down a little bit. She could have just had a hectic table prior to us. A few minutes pass, and out come the drinks. My cider is quite good, and I'm enjoying it. Me and my friends get into talking a fair bit, and before long, 30 minutes have passed with no food. We start to wonder what's going on. That red flag is working its way back up, and it's got a friend. At the 35-minute mark, the server comes back out and apologizes for the delay and offers to get me a second cider, which I politely decline in favor of a soda. At the 45-minute mark, the server comes back and assures us our food is coming. Again. Two red flags are at full mast, and a third's at half staff. At the 50-minute mark, the server and **the manager on duty** come out and assure us that our food is on its way and that our bill will be comped because of the delay. As they both leave, I look at my friends and say, "You know, at this point, the only reason I'm staying is because it's gonna be free. Even if these were the most epic hamburgers in the world, it ain't worth an hour wait." One hour elapses. Drinks continue to be refilled attentively by both the manager and the server. The manager, upon being asked what's going on - her response is "A kitchen mishap." Her answer makes me wonder, but I keep my mouth shut. One hour and 10 minutes comes and FINALLY, our orders come out. At this point, I deign to ask just what constitutes a kitchen mishap. She simply says that "it's a trade secret." Really? More like someone forgot to put our orders in, or they dropped our order on the floor and had to remake it, or, heck, I don't know, maybe they had to take a trip down to the stockyards to get fresh hamburger. I would've appreciated an HONEST explanation as to what happened instead of a snarky response like that. The ONLY reason that this place gets two stars and not one is because the food, once it was delivered, was excellent. It was a great burger, and I happily ate all of it, fries and all. Had it not been saddled by an hour-plus wait, this place EASILY would've earned four and quite possibly five stars, but if I go somewhere and it takes you 70 minutes to bring out three burgers with fries? You're lucky that I'm even in the chair and that we didn't just cash out early after that length of time. Cash-wise, I tagged the place as spendy because the typical check for most people when they order food plus a beer is probably going to come very close to $30 if not just slightly over. My bill alone, had it not been comped, would've been close to $35 thanks to the cider and the soda I ordered after.
(2)
Britt H.

Went here in the afternoon to get drinks and the bartender was great. The drinks were delicious & aren't too badly priced. We couldn't decided what we wanted for dinner that night so then we ended up coming back & it was a good choice. Strongly recommend the cheese curds!
(4)
Matt m.

SERVICE: The two of us got to sit in a comfy wrap-around booth that would normally seat like five or six. Food was served immensely fast. Waiter very attentive. FOOD: The sweetwater chopped salad was very good. Nice presentation. (see my photo in the photos for this location.) PRICE: A bit pricey, but nice atmosphere desipite sitting next to one of the bar corners were six guys were standing up by our table half the time. COME BACK? I wouldn't come back. It's nice for one visit. Not for a repeat.
(3)
Justine M.

I love the decor/environment. Very professional/sophisticated yet it's a sports bar. Lots of professionals and work types who dine here. Service was super attentitive and filling up our glasses every second they were empty. Food was pretty good but nothing grand.
(3)
Jen H.

My team comes here often as we work on Michigan Avenue. Service is great, food always comes out quickly during lunch and tastes good. My only complaint is the menu hasn't changed in over a year! When you come here at least a month, you sometimes want to try something different. Regardless though, the options they do have are great! They are always able to accommodate a small group pf 6-8 people too, which is perfect for a lunch crowd spot in the downtown area.
(4)
Sarah D.

My friend and I split the Sunnyside Up burger and The Brit, and I was completely unimpressed. The burger was an average burger. Slightly overcooked and aside from the egg's perfectly runny yolk, the toppings had no flavor. I meant to order it with the steak sauce on the side, but I didn't even need to. We shared sides of boring mac and cheese and tater tots. When I first moved to Chicago, I thought tots were the coolest thing I had seen on a menu, but they're getting old. The bread on the sandwich was eh and the veggies didn't seem like they were at their peak of freshness. I'm giving it 3 stars because while the food wasn't by any means bad, it was way overpriced for what it could have been. I work near here, and I always see the place packed for happy hour, so we decided to go for lunch. I think we got there around 2, and it was dead. I know that's a weird time for lunch, but I still figured there would be more people. I thought the decor was nice and what not, but I didn't really feel any special sort of ambiance. And the service was blah. Maybe I'll go back for drinks, but that's it.
(3)
Nichole F.

I went here with some of my co-workers after work. The atmosphere was great and perfect for happy hour on a Friday. I suggest you make reservations especially if it is Friday. Our server was great, attentive and friendly. I had the Cobb salad which was kind of pricey $13.99. It was delicious nonetheless. One of mt coworkers got a veggie flatbread which was looked really good too. I would definitely come back here especially when it warms up. They have a lot of outside seating perfect for a nice day and for people watching on Michigan Avenue.
(5)
Mahsa T.

Sometimes supply and demand determines whether a restaurant will succeed or not. That may be the case with Sweetwater. Although their service is horrible and their food average, there is such a lack of restaurant/bars in this area that people are desperate for a large space like this to congregate and have a drink and bite to eat. Unlike Houlihan's down the street, this place is brand spanking new, modern, and clean. It has a dozen flat screen TVs and a good selection of beers. With regard to their food, the sliders we ordered were undercooked and bland tasting, the chicken fingers were just average, the mac and cheese bites were good but too greasy. Service was downright awful. We sat at our table for 15 minutes before one of us had to go up to the hostess and ask for menus and then it took another 10 minutes before anyone came to take our drink order. Service only got worse after that when another waitress served our table and she forgot half our order and had to be reminded of it, then disappeared, never came back to see how we were doing, and had to be flagged down to get our bill. Still nice to have a place like this in the neighborhood but only on occasions where convenience is more important than food or service.
(3)
Mundeep B.

A boring business trip in Chicago, mixed in with protesters clogging the streets for the G8 Summit, led to me to the 20+ taps at Sweetwater. Food was ehh. Beer selection great. They had the game on. I stayed for a while... Quick tip, do not order the pork wings or the demi glazed covered steak.
(3)
Craig C.

I had lunch here yesterday with a friend and expected quite a wait considering how busy they were. The host was quite friendly and had us seated within five minutes of arriving. We were greeted immediately by our server, Jerrick, who was quite friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and beer list. He recommended the special, a procuitto salad, which I ordered, along with their tator tots and a beer. My friend ordered a burger. The food came out of the kitchen promptly. My salad and tots were excellent, and my friend really enjoyed his burger as well. Jerrick checked on us several times thoughout the meal, refilling water and bringing us more beer. The manager also stopped by the table at one point to check on us, and she was quite friendly and cute as well. I don't understand all of the negative reviews here about this place. The decor is excellent, the food and service are great, and I think the prices are quite reasonable considering it is located on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Thanks Sweetwater! We'll be back soon!
(5)
Monalisa M.

2 stars stricktly for the ambiance and decor. Food wasnt anything to remember. aka boooooring. Nice try sweetwater, nice try. Sweetwater Chopped Salad Barnyard Burger Cookie Dough Dessert - barely baked.
(2)
Scott B.

3.5 Stars I just started work in the area and it was recommended by coworkers. So I thought I would try it out today. Very nice decor. Fits the building and the area. Plenty of huge TV's above the bar. The menu if fairly large and is perfect for grabbing lunch or a quick dinner. Lots of burgers and sandwiches. The beer selection is another huge plus for this place. I had the Sweetwater Burger and fries. It was served on a pretzel bun, which I love. All of the food was very solid. Nothing to write mom about, but a place that I wouldn't question sending a friend to for lunch or after work drinks. Service was very attentive without being annoying, even during a very busy lunch hour.
(3)
Brooke O.

I have been to Sweetwater a few times but the last time was by far the best. It was the perfect place for Wednesday after work. The Chicken Santa Fe Wrap I had was delicious and Landon our server was wonderful. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a nice place to go for after work drinks.
(5)
Pauliwally U.

For dinner, this gets 4 stars. For brunch, maybe 2.5. Two very different experiences at the same place. We have not been back for brunch, but are big fans of the local, grass-fed burger for dinner. Also, a great place to catch a game without being in a sport bar with crappy food and just Bud on tap.
(4)
Hari R.

Having worked nearby for more than a year, I used to come here every now and then for lunch, happy hour, and weekend brunches. I agree with others when they say that this is like an upscale version of Houlihans. Stocked with a full bar and a large menu, the waiting staff gets the food to your table in as little as 15 minutes .During weekday lunchhours, I'm usually in and out with friends in about 40 minutes. The drink selections are vast (usually with some pretty good beer on tap). There are plenty of options for vegetarians (few for vegans). The vegetarian burger never fails me (absolutely delicious - even if you're a hardcore carnivore). You can customize it if you'd like and it comes with your choice of a side. The weekend brunch plays host to a large DIY Bloody Mary bar - make it as spicy or as peppery as you'd like and plop in a large variety of add-ons. All that said... I recommend this place for Happy Hour more than any other time. With TVs from wall to wall, a large drink menu, and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, you can't beat grabbing a drink here with other friends from the loop after work. It even connects to the pedway for easy access during the Winter. All in all, I'd give this place a 4. It's not the best restaurant I've ever been to, but it has enough components that come together to make the establishment far better than the average American grill.
(4)
Doug ..

it was okay. food was dainty for a "sports" bar. think vegas-wanna-be. they have a HUGE BEER SELECTION though.
(3)
Jacob J.

I got back to town just in time for NYE and with no plans, heard about a "Metromix" party going on and figured why not! It's hosted by Metromix right, it should be pretty wild since the website has an enormous following and per the Internet a couple hundred tickets were sold. Well... that wasn't the case, not as busy as they led on and when some people noticed that there was a lack of interesting others, they started leaving to other bars in search of better. Tix were $100 for general admission, standing room only, with 5 hour top shelf open bar (including all 70 craft beers) and hors d'oeuvres. Reserving a table and admission for the NYE shindig was quite a bit higher. I'm going to guess that the employees did a "dry run" practice to make sure their service was on point, the night of the event, because it was top notch. Since we were standing at the bar, we kept missing out on the appetizers as they were passed around by service. The appetizers were brought out to all the booths first and then to all of those standing by. This lounge is pretty big and it's possible that there were up to two hundred people seated at booths plus another fifty plus walking around. Even with that number of people on the floor, the room doesn't look crowded. The design and layout allow the room to look spacious, comfortable and always accommodating. Most booths fit four and some held up to six. DÃ©cor composed of dark woods on the tables, walls and bar, while seating was an off white or khaki like color, possibly leather. We stood at the bar and kept missing out on the appetizers as they came round, so I made a mention to the sweet bartender "Joan" and she had a waiter bring out a sampler plate for us. After that the waiters repeatedly checked on us the rest of the night, always bringing more food! Awesome. The hors d'oeuvres of the night were special for the event and not from their everyday menu, including items like fresh mozzarella on bruschetta with a tasty balsamic blend, crispy butter flied shrimp which were almost tiger sized and a bite sized steak option. Everything looked and tasted high quality. The booze was just raining that night, imagine top shelf spirits and you can drink any of their craft beers. In retrospect, going from Belvedere vodka to premium bourbons to La Fin Du Monde as a finisher, was not the greatest idea. I could go for a second round with their bourbons; the selection isn't the typical of what you might find at most other bars. Nice spot for meeting a first date or a drink with friends after work. If you drive you can valet or find parking within short walking distance behind the bar.
(4)
Janet X.

PROS: Great beer list... every single time I come here I try something new. I've never had to wait for a table and the servers are lightning quick. Location is also super convenient for a post-work drink or weekend meal after visiting the Art Institute CONS: Ridiculously overpriced. $4 for French fries? $10 for a halfhearted mojito?
(3)
Andrea H.

I've been to Sweetwater several times, but it wasn't until my company moved our offices to the Illinois Center and I had lunch there a couple times that I decided I needed to write a review. Previously, I had been there only for brunch and always had a good experience. Their bloody mary and mimosa bars are great, and I've always gotten good service. On one occasion, after spending a few hours there eating and drinking, my group flubbed the math and accidentally stiffed the waitress on the tip. Rather than getting snarky with us, she graciously approached our table and genuinely asked if everything had been ok, or if there was anything else she could do. We quickly figured out what we had done and tipped her appropriately, apologizing profusely. She could not have been nicer given that she clearly thought we had simply chosen not to tip her. Now having been there for lunch a few times I am even more impressed. The restaurant/bar is on the north end of the Mag Mile and has its fair share of tourists during this time of year, as well as people from nearby office buildings looking for a hurried but sit-down lunch. The staff turns the tables over quickly without rushing people out, and gets everyone seated in a timely manner, and I've never had anything but gracious service once seated. I don't know that the food is strictly 5-star, but my favorite lunch entree is the sesame tuna wrap, ordered with seasonal veggies on the side. It requires very little seasoning and is prepared perfectly. Highly recommended if you enjoy rare tuna. The calamari also is done well. If you're looking for a weekday lunch spot, Sweetwater is a great option. For brunch they can get quite busy, especially during football season, but if you can get a table you're golden.
(5)
Sharon N.

St. Patrick's day 2012. awesome. The best bouncers. Had a blast. Will def go back.
(5)
Chi H.

Love the tots here!
(4)
Beach P.

Solid spot with a good menu, decent Tap, and assortment of other spirits. Service is always good and the food is delivered hot and to order. Hit this spot up from time to time moreso for Happy Hour, especially with a late afternoon game on or during NCAA tourney. Not cheap, but not outrageously priced either. Sit on the patio if you want to people watch Michigan Ave. Location is directly across from the Hard Rock Hotel.
(4)
Nikki V.

Went here for lunch with my mom to celebrate her birthday. The atmosphere is great. We had a table in the back room so we didn't need to deal with any loud noises. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger and it wasn't too bad. A bit too greasy for my taste but the french fries were so delicious and crispy! yum yum!! My mom ordered the skirt steak and really enjoyed it. I tried it and the flavor was just perfect. I'd definitely go back, especially to try out their white mac 'n cheese.
(4)
Nick B.

I'm not the suit and tie type of downtown worker. I usually ignore pubs/taverns whatever downtown on Michigan Ave. However, I went by last night with a friend and her mom for drinks and dinner. AWESOME all around! I went with a dry vodka martini, up, with a lemon. Solid drink and much needed after a long week. For starters, we went with the red pepper hummus. I have to say this hummus was awesome, I was very impressed. The toasted pita bread had a garlic taste to it that blended really well with the hummus. The veggies that came with were also really good. For dinner, I got the veggie burger and again, WOW. Tasty and spicy burger with tater tots. Tater tots! The only reason I'm going to stay with 4 stars is because our server was a little off. Nothing bad, he just was confused a few times with the basic drink orders. Anyway, check it out.
(4)
Gary E.

Stopped in here with a colleague for lunch between meetings. We got here at about 11:45 and although I hate eating that early - it was good in retrospect as the place was jammed with a line and wait 15 minutes later. The menu is pretty extensive but for some reason none of the items really jumped out at me so I went with the "make your own" sandwich and opted for grilled chicken with avocado. The chicken itself was decent - not greatly seasoned and a little "tough". The fries were kind of bland and "diner-ish" but the pretzel bun kicked it up a notch. Oh and I asked for a side of mayo which came topped with a tiny little pubic looking hair. (TMI?) Maybe. But - mayo + pubes = way too many possible scenarios that I don't even want to think about. Although the waitress replaced the mayo (with really no apology) I opted to eat the sandwich dry. This spot is just a "nicer" version of the crappy Bennigans that was in this location for years. It's popularity has to be based on the lack of moderately priced, sit-down lunch options along this stretch of Michigan Ave. I could see it being decent for after work drinks and that's about it.
(2)
Terri D.

I really don't understand why people like this place. Sure it's conveniantly located downstairs from work/campus... sure it looks cool and I like sitting in the high leather booths while people push their noses to the glass to look in but the food is mediocre at best; and it's basically an overpriced Chili's with a larger beer selection. Will I go again... unfortunately yes because my classmates tend to think it's the place to be for a drink after class.
(2)
Dan R.

I work in this building and it is such a relief to have a nice place to grab a drink and a bite to eat after work. I just can't do another happy hour at Elephant and Castle. I just can't. It gets super packed and loud, so be prepared for a wait. The food is "eh (shrugs shoulders)" but the environment is definitely visually stimulating. Definitely a good people watching spot and a great spot to unwind after some retail therapy on the Mag Mile. I can't believe I just wrote that.
(4)
Aaron A.

Here's the deal. Came for the beer. It's mostly bottled and they claim to have a wide variety. I wouldn't necessarily call it that- but they got some good stuff. The beer is a little over priced- so be prepared for the bill. I would come back- but not for the beers. It's all about the appetizers here! Pick one with out looking- they are all worth trying! You've just been yelped in!
(4)
Tabitha G.

I have to gather my thoughts before I actually write a review....I came here two nights in a row, first night by choice and second was because majority of my friends' ruled my opinion out. Since I do think Boundary is a decent place, I was pretty excited that Sweetwater opened up right next to my office. I automatically thought...good food, good drinks and great scene. However, I was very disappointed. Although they do have a wide selection of beer, the food was just mediocre. The cheese sauce for the pretzels and the queso dip were so runny and to be honest it tasted like spray can cheese. However, it's really hard to screw tator tots up, so there was at least one good side to the food. The scene is very much a sports bar with TV around every corner, but unfortunately it's incredibly loud. It definitely is not a place I want to go to again if I'm trying to catch up with friends. I had to scream across the table to be able to speak to my friends and unfortunately that leaves no room for having a discreet conversation - so beware of who you bash. If you want to sit in silence with friends and watch sports this definitely is the place to go. Now based on location, this would be an obvious choice for Happy Hour during the week, but the place doesn't have any drink specials. It's not a deal breaker for me, but there are a lot of places in the same vicinity that have great Happy Hour specials, unfortunately this just won't be one of them. Lastly, I couldn't help but notice that everyone around me during my second night at this place, was everyone that I run into when I'm headed into or out of the office. People I ride the elevator with, people I give dirty looks to when they're wearing a questionable outfit, people I avoid saying hello to when I'm wearing a questionable outfit and people who well...recognize me. Don't get me wrong, that isn't really a bad thing per se, but the last thing I want to do when I'm trying to unwind from a day at work and catch up with people outside of work - is see more people that I run into Monday thru Friday. I'll be honest, this probably will become a place that my co-workers and I will go to based on proximity, but besides the great beer selection - this really wouldn't be my first choice. I'd rather find myself going around the corner to McCormick and Schmicks where I know that they at least have a great $2 Happy Hour menu!
(2)
Bradley J.

Watched the (disappointing) last few innings of the Twins/Yankees game here. The fact that it was apparently the only sporting event on (and therefore on every TV) made me feel like I was in a dimly-lit Best Buy. Everyone seems to love the tater tots, so I'll throw another vote in there - definitely better than the fries. The Fiesta burger was yummy and properly cooked, but the guacamole is too lemon-juicy to be worth the calories. Unfortunately, the whole experience was ruined by an incredibly slow (due to being incredibly chatty) waitress with an awkward way of trying to up-sell us on everything...
(2)
Colby H.

Had a late (3:30ish) lunch here yesterday with a friend. The restaurant was not as busy as one might expect for a Saturday afternoon, but still had a decent number of patrons both inside and outside on their patio area. The food was good, but the service left something to be desired. I ordered a Cherry Coke and my friend chose to just have water with their meal. We received our drinks approximately fifteen minutes before receiving our food... and that was it. Despite passing by our table at least five times while we were dining, at no point did our server bother to refill either my Coke or my friend's glass (a small, bar-sized glass, mind you) of water. Luckily for my friend, I didn't finish my glass of water, so I was able to give it to her, but to pay $40 for a lunch for two and not have drinks be refilled is not a pleasant experience. We will not be back.
(2)
Jims L.

Sweetwater deserves more than 3.5 stars. It's sad to think that I might have never stopped by this place had I not happened to be walking past on Sunday morning to see the bloody mary bar they had going through the window. After deciding to just walk back home to eat cereal or soup for breakfast that morning, I saw a group of people fixing up their bloody maries and immediately changed my mind. Not only did I get to make 2 of my own delicious drinks, I was thrilled to see fish tacos on the menu. Then, I was ECSTATIC when the server told me the fish in my tacos weren't breaded (which I hate), in fact, they were neither battered (my preference between those 2 common options), they were simply GRILLED and served as is (AS A FISH TACO SHOULD BE). The day just could not get better. The space is really much nicer than I would have expected - you get chi-chi lounge quality decor with the relaxed atmostphere of a sports bar and the food of a great restaurant. So happy this is nearby.
(5)
John Z.

I have been here twice and each time was acceptable. The menu is large and the beer selection is good, but the food itself is average. The decor is nice, but there is no waiting area and the bar is crowded. I had the buffalo chicken wrap which was good, but way too cheesy. My friend had a "decent" burger. We left full, but definitely a little too light in the wallet. Food and drinks are expensive, but what else would you expect in a tourist trap? I'll be back if others are interested, but I don't think I'll go out of my way.
(3)
Christina G.

Been here twice...it's definitely good for a cold beer after work...one of the times I had a salad for dinner that was actually pretty good. It's got a lot of TVs with sports, but I guess that's their thing. Even after work you have to wait 30-40 minutes for a table but they have some community style open seating next to the bar; kind of weird for me once when I was by myself and waiting for my friends but otherwise a pretty solid place.
(3)
Teresa Y.

Good beer selection ... SALTY food. Salty to the point where you don't want to finish your meal. I had the bacon cheddar burger. Granted bacon - cheddar are not neutral items but the meat itself was so salty. And the fries were too salty for me. Just not for me! Won't go back for food again .. maybe for drinks ;)
(2)
Joseph B.

I had no idea what to expect when I went to this restaurant. I am glad I did. The staff and food was great. I asked the waitress the same or similar question about 3-4 times. She remained nice and helpful.
(4)
Kalyn H.

We ate here yesterday (Saturday) for an early dinner around 4 and it just became one of my favorites! Service was on point but I absolutely loved the food. The Sausage rigatoni was AMAZING! It's in a tomato cream sauce and is topped with goat cheese. I can't wait to go back and get it again! We also had the smoked cheese curds, they smelled phenomenal. The Sweetwater burger with avocado was also very good.
(5)
Saba A.

Go for Game Days ONLY. Or if you're on MI and just want good service with beers and decent - good bar food. But if you're not into either of those, unless you're hungry and don't want to be anywhere crazy on MI avenue, then this is a meeting spot. My girl friend and I wanted to grab a quick eat before heading out to an event so we came here! I ordered a burger- it was okay, she ordered a chicken wrap- it was so boring, no seasoning, so bland- the best thing we ordered was the cheese curds but who can ever go wrong with cheese curds? Service was great. Our waitress was helpful with the menus and both my friend and I loved our cider our specialty beer. The prices weren't great- but other than that- it was fine.
(3)
Tavi J.

I have been here several times and the service is always excellent. Great place to watch a game. Several tv's all over the restaurant. It was too cold to sit outside yesterday, but with warmer weather you can take advantage of the outdoor patio. Only downfall is it's on Michigan Avenue and I try to avoid this street at all costs (glazed eye tourists who don't know how to put one foot in front of the other and walk.....I digress) We ordered two items to share. The Santa Fe wrap with tater tots on the side and the margherita pizza special. I liked the crust of the pizza and you can't go wrong with tater tots :) The part I was most impressed with was since they knew we were splitting the meal they split it for us and brought out on separate plates, without charging extra I should add. Way to go the extra mile!
(4)
Ken O.

Since I work close to this restaurant and thought this would be a cool place to check out and enjoy having lunch on the patio and people watch. I had found an available reservation via open table for the date and time I wanted. When I arrived, the host was very accommodating and sat me on the patio as I had requested. Yes, it was a little breezy but a great to be outside. Walter, the server, was at the table within minutes. I was there to take a leisure lunch. I had ordered a soda and the filet medallions served over mashed potatoes with asparagus. Within the proper amount of time, the food runner brought the meal. The medallions were prepared perfect, which were placed on top of a mound of mashed potatoes. The potatoes tasted home made. The grilled asparagus was just crispy enough. Since I was the only one on the patio, Walter would still check in occasionally. I had opted not try any of the desserts - this time. Overall, good food and service. I would defiantely return.
(4)
Rielly M.

Really great atmosphere. I loved the outdoor seating, it allowed us to do some serious people watching. They had a great selection of beers and ciders, the waiter was very helpful when it came to picking. The menu is tasty but simple. Lots of good American food on here. I got the Cobb salad and it did not disappoint!
(4)
Jialing L.

I've been here a couple of times for dinner with friends and for drinks with my coworkers. The burgers here are very good; I recommend the sweetwater and my friends have liked the sunnyside up as well. I would also say that you should get the tator tots with them. My favorite thing here is the dessert. The baked chocolate chip cookie dough is to die for and even when my friends tried to pass on it; they all eventually would try it and end up eating as much as me. It's definitely too much sweet goodness for one but definitely good to share. The mix of warm chocolate chip cookie dough in a skillet with vanilla ice cream is just too good to pass. It's something I stand by if you're going to come here. In terms of bar food/drinks, it's decent and I really liked the bang bang shrimp though my coworkers were obsessed with the cheese curds. Prices are very good for the portions and I always leave wanting to be back again. Will definitely be back for a burger and the dessert.
(4)
Sylvester T.

I only had a glass of wine. They close the kitchen before they stop serving drinks. I thought was a bit ridiculous. The atmosphere is that of a sports bar. I would come to watch sports and have drinks primarily.
(4)
Richard L.

Excellent (Sweetwater Burger), and my gf enjoyed her buffalo chicken wrap. It was a lil spicy for her though. Prices are typical for Michigan Ave. Service was good, although our server didn't show up til the end. The hostess had to serve us, and we didn't see our server til the bill came. Either way, had a good overall experience.
(4)
Janeka H.

So.... I get to Sweetwater and I knew right away what I wanted to get as a starter. Yelpers all recommended the Fried Mac and Cheese. And I could not wait to try it. Afterall, It was one of the reasons why I picked this place to eat. That's probably where I went one. Never make a decision off of just a starter. To my surprise, this infamous and highly-favored item is no longer offered on the menu. And it has been off the menu for some time. Once I got over that disappointed, I ordered the pull pork nachos. They were good. It could have been a little better if their pork had some BBQ sauce. But nevertheless, it was good. For my entree, I ordered the 3 cheese melt. This wasn't anything to brag about. Honestly, I do not recommend this item. The grilled cheese wasn't melted like you would normally expect. And the tomatoes on this melt, were sliced so thick that this is probably they should not call this sandwich a melt. My husband ordered the sunny side hamburger. It looked okay. I did try his tater tots, since so many people commented on their tots. The tots tasted no different than buying tater tots from a grocery store. Overall, this was a convenient place to grab quick food. And they had TVs. So, it served my purpose.
(3)
Rayna W.

Food was great! My server was rude after I paid my bill, regardless of the outcome,I expect to be treated with respect.She was very disrespectful when she was not tipped as much as she'd like to be. I'm in the service industry and if someone tips me or not,I remain polite just because that's the right thing to do.I will seriously consider returning here. Such as poor experience for a first time customer here.
(2)
Jen K.

My first experience here was awful. I went almost 2 years ago and ordered their cobb salad. First one came out and had lettuce, tomato and cheese, second one included bacon, third included cucumbers. At that point, I stopped sending it back because I knew I would never get the avocado or dressing or etc..I asked to talk to the manager and he was like "wow, that's too bad. Anyways, here's your bill" and walked away. Gee, thanks for the help? My boss took my team here for lunch today (I would not have gone back willingly) and was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the bbq chicken salad this time. It came out quickly and correct the first time. It was a nice salad and a large portion. The service was nice and speedy. It gets pretty loud in the restaurant but I like the atmosphere. Overall, it's a nice lunch spot.
(3)
Suzanna H.

Very delicious food. The menu has lots of options as well. I had the filet mignon medallions and they were amazing. The baked cookie dough dessert was incredible and is a must have!
(4)
Christina C.

Host/hostess were very nice and seated us fairly quickly. It seemed a bit understaffed, but they held strong and were helping each other out. Ordered beignets and a breakfast sandwich. Beignets had a little crunch on the outside and warm goody softness on the inside. The jam was a great addition to it. Breakfast sandwich was an appropriate size for brunch and came with thin crispy potato chips. That weren't greasy or soggy. A great spot to enjoy good food while you root for your favorite sports team on the many tv's they have.
(4)
Adrian S.

Food is a 6.5/10. The seating is pleasant. Especially outdoors. They like a lot of butter on their sandwiches!
(3)
Tamara I.

Great service and quick. Sat outside and had the tilapia, not bad but I didn't read the menu carefully, it is fried but still good
(5)
Dichaela H.

The bartender is amazing! Also the turkey press is delicious! Wait staff on Sunday can be a little slow. Great place for a good meal downtown at a decent price.
(4)
Glen W.

Website says this place closes at 1am kitchen closed one hour before showed up at 11 pm and no food service and was told they would be closing at 11:30pm on a Saturday night. Really? Don't advertise one thing and say another when customers get there because your staff wants to go hang out. I know where I won't be visiting on my next trip to Chicago.
(1)
Kristin S.

I got the sausage biscuit for brunch, and it was bland and dry. I held off on eating it, hoping the waitress would come by, so I could ask for something to dress it up, but that didn't happen. She finally came by our table, grabbed my girlfriend's plate and left as we were trying to ask her. I would come here again, but wouldn't get the breakfast sandwich. There's more flavor in a fast food breakfast.
(2)
Josh R.

Ravenous from skipping breakfast (by not being awake for it), I needed something close to the hard rock hotel, because it was raining. So this spot is across the street. Pretty upscale inside, and packed for lunch even with the rain. Good sign. I ordered the boss sandwich. Cooked to order (medium rare of course), grilled onions, tomatoes and basil are the features flavors between a soft bun. I chose to get it with a side of asparagus. Another good sign. The steak in the sandwich was cooked perfectly. It was tender and meaty in every bite. . But the bread was a bit soggy and slightly overdressed. The asparagus, while cooked very nice, was fibrous. But I suppose it's not exactly an in season item so I will give it a pass. Overall, $20 for a sandwich and a coffee seems a little on the steep side for me even though the food quality is good. This place seems like it is a very good spot to come for a business lunch though, especially if you get a table in the private dining room. I wouldn't say this is a destination restaurant, but it is a better alternative to fast food or pizza. A bit pricy, but the flavor is there. I give it a solid 3.5 stars.
(3)
Mihir P.

Still a great place to watch a game in a clean cut atmosphere but stay away from the food as it has gotten worse. I ordered a side salad to start and it was very unfresh - mostly white and some brownish leaves. The apple cider vinaigrette had the consistency of apple sauce so I asked for balsamic vinaigrette which was frozen in the ramekin. I turned it upside down and it wouldn't budge.The chicken quesadilla was big but had very little filling and had no seasoning. The only reason to go is to get a drink and watch the game.
(2)
T. R.

A group of us stopped in for food on a Tuesday after skating at the new Maggie Daley ice rink. The waiter was nice and the hot chocolate was good, but we were all disappointed by the food. Other than the cheese curds everyone else did NOT like their food. The pork nachos were too raw to eat. They got returned. The chicken tenders were cold and bland, but the tots were okay. They forgot my friends steak wrap sandwich and took forever to bring him his order, only to bring him the wrong order. It was returned. They brought him the correct order (with cold soup) but we were all ready to leave by then so he had to just box it up. Oh, and don't eat the salsa, it's 90% city tap water. The two stars are for the cheese curds and cocoa.
(2)
lori c.

We dined here for lunch and it was quite busy. Thankfully we made a reservation on open table and was seated quickly while walk in guests had to wait 30-40 minutes. The sunny side egg sandwich is really delicious! The burger was not dry and the flavors were good. The Santa Fe wrap is ok. I ordered it with the adobo chicken and the chicken was quite dry, but it's a large wrap that half filled me up quick...so prepare to have leftovers! Service at the bar was great but service at the table, not so much. The server forgot to bring us another round of drinks and overall wasn't too attentive. We waited for hot sauce that never came. If I return to this restaurant, I will sit at the bar.
(4)
Jen L.

I didn't have much time to run away from my conference hotel and grab some food. And this place had good reviews and was close by. My friend & I got a table in the bar area which was comfy and had a plug for my dying phone. I had a really tasty tuna wrap and she had a huge burger and we both had really tasty tater tots. Plus one of their specialty drinks was a mint julep so I had to try that. My friend was impressed with the beer selection. There were a ton of TVs but I preferred watching the folks wandering by on Michigan Ave. It is a sports bar but the food was good and the price point was reasonable. A solid choice in the area.
(4)
Elizabeth S.

I live in LA and came to Chicago for the Grateful Dead (it was amazing) this past weekend and Sweetwater was the best place I ate! I came on Sunday morn and the bartender was super sweet and efficient. She recommended a great beer for my friend and I got the breakfast tacos, which were banging! I will definitely be back next time I'm in Chicago!
(5)
Sarah H.

I have zero complaints after my first visit....what I did have was easily the best Cobb salad of my life and possibly the best waitress ever (Tamika - make sure you sit in her section!!). I met friends visiting from out of town and they had heard great things about the place....this is in my top 3 favorite restaurants in the city now and I'll definitely be a repeat offender!! Great atmosphere...classy and chic but not stuffy at all. Tamika was awesome - authentically friendly and bubbly and took great care of us (including her patience snapping a picture for us after dinner). I only had the (ginormous) salad but everything on the menu looked good. I can't say enough good things about this place...
(5)
Tijuanna D.

Great place, friendly staff, the food was good especially the cookie dough dessert. Great brunch! I'd come back again. First time and it's was kid friendly.
(4)
Tiffany H.

The game was on literally all televisions :-) my friend had The skirt steak which they thought was great. The herb crusted salmon was wonderful. Had a reservation and did not have to wait to be seated on a Saturday afternoon. The sever was nice and able to answer several questions. I will probably return.
(5)
Shan D.

Nice sports bar in the loop. The menu is quite extensive, and everything tastes fresh. I usually stick with the wraps, but don't think I've had anything bad here. The staff is super nice, and always accommodating. They also carry NFL Sunday ticket, but don't have enough TVs to show all the noon games. The volume is decent, but could be better. The Bloody Mary bar is also huge.
(4)
Cissei S.

We were visiting for the draft. Sweet water was across from our hotel so we decided to have dinner there. We were seated right away but our server didn't come to take drink order for 10 minutes. When he did come he was very quick with us, almost like he was so busy, but it wasnt busy in there. As he delivered my beer he walked by briskly as he dropped it off at the edge of the table not even to me. We watched him moments later very promptly attending to two woman that arrived, very patiently taking there order and turning pages in the menu for them. With that observation my husband stopped him as he proceeded to walk by us, and ask him how can we get that same service? He went on to explain why we were feeling abandoned, underserved. My husband even asked him if it was because we were a mixed couple, which we have rarely been so blatantly ignored because of that, so this was unfamiliar to us. He didnt say no, he just apologized and said he hadnt looked at it that way. Wow!!! He then proceeded after that to ask how our meal was, I said great although I couldnt completely eat the chicken, I had to eat around the truffle oil that I asked them to leave off. He said sorry walked away and brought back the check minus my chicken. I am shocked to think this is his first time behaving this way. I wish I remembered his name. But we just decided to enjoy our time in Chicago and everyone we spoke to about eating we mentioned our experience there. So for the next 3 nights we, our friends, and people we met dined everywhere but there. We even walked 2 blocks with our feet hurting from the day to eat at a restaurant we are at the night previous. It would have been much easier to do sweet waters but we felt the poor service robbed us of an hour of a great experience we could have had elsewhere. I gave 2 stars not 1 cause the risotto was good.
(2)
Karma K.

It's on the mag mile so expect plenty of tourists and out of town conference attendees. Despite that, I like this place just fine. The food is better than I expected and I really like their outdoor seating. The filet mignon trio is delish and at less than $20 it's a screaming deal. Great selection of burgers too and hello, they have tater tots. If you order the tots solo you get a huge portion for under $5. Great place to people watch.
(4)
Andrea S.

Just had a drink and what they called chicken nachos. I'm not sure what I just ate! Horrible!!! I will not come back.
(1)
Dannie C.

Got a buffalo chicken wrap with sweet potato fries for lunch with a girl friend. It was an ok meal and the ambience of the restaurant was pleasant. Nothing to rave about though; just a decent experience. Would come back if need a sit-down place for lunch in the Loop.
(3)
Anne M.

3.5 Nice option for an upscale casual restaurant in the loop. And bonus - if you dine here during the summer months, you can sit outdoors in their large patio that wraps around the side of the restaurant. Our outdoor booth was placed against a raised garden area which was a nice surprise. Service was poky throughout the meal, but we enjoyed everything else about the restaurant. I ordered the french cut chicken breast with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. He ordered a porkchop with mashed potatoes and spiced apples. The food was great and I really loved the spiced apples that came with his pork (I had to sample...). I would definitely return if I happened to be in the loop looking for a bite to eat!
(4)
Jerry C.

Just your average sports bar with a menu that is too large for the food to be made fresh. Went for brunch. The food was boring, lacking flavor. I've been to sports bars that serve made-fresh flavorful food - this is not one of them. Reminds me of a below-average hotel restaurant.
(2)
Luke P.

Filet mignon smalls were undercooked for medium rare - no firmness, soft raw center and totally red throughout. Their homemade chicken tenders which used to be awesome changed to some super deep fried thing, not so good either. Talked to manager who instantly went on the defense saying "that's how medium rare is supposed to be" and that she knows the chicken used to be better but it's up to the chef and not to expect it to change back. Thanks for assuming I've never had a medium rare steak before and discouraging us from coming back since they don't listen to their customers feedback. At least our server Tameka was very nice and they have a good beer list - only reasons this isn't 1 star.
(2)
Bo Y.

Like this place a lot. Food tastes good. Came here on friday night. Its difficult to make reservation. But the place was not that full. We had reservation at 9pm(the earliest available) but easily find a table around 8pm.
(5)
Bobb S.

We stopped in before the New Zealand/USA rugby match at Soldier Field and the bar was packed to the gills. The bar has a great beer selection and the $10 bloody mary's were nothing to sneeze at. Both the bartenders and the waitstaff were friendly and fast and took care of us well. Definitely interesting to see a DJ mixing songs for a bunch of thick necked rugby aficionados but the place worked. Went with the sunrise cheeseburger. Topped with a sunnyside egg (who isn't doing that now), I went with that choice not necessarily for the taste but in anticipation for all the alcohol I would consume in the hours to come. The burger wasn't spectacular but it was well prepared and hit the spot. Would I come out of my way to visit again? Nope. But I would definitely pop by if I was in the neighborhood for a quick bite to eat and a cold beer.
(4)
Ali C.

This is a busy spot in the Loop for after work socializing. The drinks seemed a little watered down to me, and there was quite a bit of pressure to order more food. Great convenient location though.
(3)
Blair B.

This place seems to have consistently good food and service, however, what kept me coming back was their Big Baby burger. I'd order it on a monthly basis. However, on my most recent trip to Sweetwater, I was disappointed to see that they took it off their menu. I'll really miss that unique burger that had toppings I have yet to find at other restaurants that are as good (Guinness infused cheddar, homemade onion rings and Chipotle aioli). I may return because the quality of their food is still good and service is great but it definitely won't be as often and I don't think I will ever find a burger that compares to the Big Baby.
(4)
Steven M.

You can't beat the location! Sweetwater is located close to the Chicago river and is close to the bus and cta stops. It's a great place to come for lunch and happy hour. The interior decor is classy, modern and filled with TVs. We came here to watch the nfl playoffs and had a great time. We ordered a Bloody Mary, fish tacos and burgers.
(4)
Kristin S.

One of my favorite spots on Michigan Ave. this place is classy yet casual with a great beer selection, awesome cocktails, knowledgeable & friendly staff, and great food! Whether I'm popping in for a quick bite on lunch, and enjoying a ridiculously delish salad or light entree, or hanging out with a martini and relaxing after a long day- this place screams versatile and inviting. Lots of tvs, good portion sizes on the food (you'd have a hard time leaving hungry) and recommend for cozy dining or bringing a larger group. Consistently great service and food- this is seriously a "go-to" favorite on Michigan Avenue.
(5)
Gary D.

Ate here on a Saturday night after the Fire on the Water thing. We get a table right away, couldn't believe it. They have a great beer list, lot's of TV's to watch your favortie team. They played the music a little on the loud side, yeah I'm probably too old, but my 20 something son agreed and said he didn't recognize the music they were playing. Food was great, had calamari for an app and turkey burger that was seasoned very nicely, most are so dry and tasteless not this one. Beer list is great! Everything was good, it's a little pricey but considering it's location that's probably to be expected.
(4)
The T.

If you are in a 12 step program or need to drive home sober this is your place! 30 minutes ...had to go get my own beer, guess I'm the idiot for still being here! Water came at 20 minutes, too many places around to put up with this crap. Place was not even busy.
(1)
Katie B.

Great beer selection. Delicious buffalo chicken wrap! Good choice for traditional American food and nice atmosphere. Solid lunch spot with coworkers or for a post-work drink.
(4)
Bonnie L.

Food was meh. Nothing exciting. Not a bad place to have lunch in an area where there aren't alot of choices for sit downs.
(2)
Ayla E.

My boyfriend and I stopped in for dinner tonight. We had a lovely evening except for the FOOD POISONING! We will never ever go back.
(1)
Julianne Z.

So these pictures are from two separate occasions, and I got to try 2 kinds of burgers! Sunnyside Up Burger: The burger was topped with cheddar, mozzarella, bacon, caramelized onions, a fried egg and steak sauce! I cut the egg open and let the yolk cover the entire burger and it was delicious! I usually don't like sunny side up eggs, but the rest of the burgers absorbed the taste really well! Fiesta Burger: This was covered in pepperjack cheese, jalapenos, tortilla strips, guacamole, and chilli aioli. I loved that the jalapenos were fresh, and not pickled and the crunch of the tortilla strips went well with the burger! I think I preferred the Sunnyside Up but the fiesta was still delicious! Baked Cookie Dough: This was just chocolate chip cookie dough, with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and covered in chocolate sauce! It was baked in this little tin and I had to have 2 glasses of water just so I didn't die of sugar overload. You have to share it or you might as well get diabetes right there and then! The overall meal was really great and service was good too! We got out really fast and they do have a great selection of beer, if you want one with your burger! It was a great way to get energized before hours of shopping. Highly recommended especially if you want to hang out, drink and watch sports!
(4)
Dee M.

Service was excellent. I had the Baja Fish Tacos, which were just ok, but the Apple Cheesecake was really really good. Also, they pour your bottled beer in a glass right in front of you. Kinda nice!
(3)
Grant P.

Starting with the first impression when you walk in, the place was fantastic. Our waiter was very helpful in making our decisions. The drinks were very refreshing and cold. My water glass was never empty which is a big pet peeve of mine when going to restaurants. When the food came out, everything came out on time and boy did it not only look good, it was good. I ordered the sunny side up burger with a side of mash potatoes. It was cooked to perfection and I don't think it could have been cooked any better. The ambience of the restaurant is very casual and so is the dress attire. It's a great place to bring a date or come with your family or a big group. I would not suggest bringing little children to this place though however. But it is a great place to come with friends and family. I strongly advise for you to check it out and see what it's about.
(5)
Dave M.

i give this place 5/5 due to the fact I ran into my sister.. randomly... but on top of seeing her I enjoyed the overall atmosphere of this spot. I had the Sweetwater burger and it was cooked to perfection and had a perfect blend of sauce and substance. I ate everything in sight becuase I was sooo hungry. I also had some of the ahi tuna wrap and it had a perfect blend of crunch to go along with the fish. Boom Will be back soon
(5)
Danielle R.

I've been to Sweetwater a few times for drinks but finally had an excuse to try out the menu. As a vegetarian I enjoyed having several options and settled on the veggie burger with sweet potato fries. It was quite a large portion (no complaints) at a reasonable price (particularly for Michigan Avenue). I do wish they had more drink specials as most draught beer was still $6-7 each. Overall a good place to sit and chat with friends and grab a drink from their fairly extensive drink menu. I should say that I've also had a good experience just ordering a few beers at the bar. The bartenders were attentive enough and typically pretty easy to flag down for refills and assistance. I would head back to meet tourist friends on the Mile or for a drink after work.
(4)
Gary W.

Good location, good service, good food and good beer. Nice outside table seating. We had a good brunch. Eggs Benedict and draft IPA for me. Omelettes and mimosas for the girls.
(5)
Erin R.

Love this place! This is always my "go to" downtown, especially when guests are in town and we are visiting Michigan Ave and/or Millennium Park. The food is good, the atmosphere is cozy and I love that the pricing is "normal" and not super overpriced, like so many places downtown are. I have probably been here a dozen times and have never been disappointed.
(5)
Annie M.

Great place to go for a reasonably priced dinner or appetizers and drinks! A friend of mine picked this place for a girls night. Compared to a lot of the other places downtown, it's very reasonably priced with a great beer list. I never get tilapia, but the waitress convinced me it was worth trying. It was really good! Massive serving of mashed potatoes (although there was nothing "garlic" about them like the menu claimed), spinach and 2 pretty big tilapia fillets for $15. Everyone else got equally large serving sizes. The salmon looked awesome too, but the burgers seemed to be sweetwater's forte. The service was absolutely perfect! The waitress was very personable and professional and was able to provide tons of recommendations from beer to food. Personally, I'd rather come to a place like this than any of the regular touristy places on Michigan, but it's not necessarily a unique Chicago experience, if that's what you're looking for. It seems like it would be a perfect happy hour spot. I'd definitely come back again!
(4)
Guadalupe L.

Went here with some friends for my birthday. We started with the fried cheese curds then steak nachos. Oh they were both amazing!!! I had the big baby burger with sweet potato fries. As for drinks, i had the mag mile Margarita. Delicious!!! Love the atmosphere there. Its pretty chill. And they do have an extensive beer selection. Our waiter was really nice amd friendly. Great customer service! Will be going back for sure!!!
(5)
Elizabeth M.

Okay, okay, Sweetwater is touristy and caters to the button-up & slicked-back business crowd, but I still enjoy coming here for lots of legit reasons. Let's start at the bar: Sam creates some magnificent cocktails for every season. She makes her own syrups and mixers and gets creative with the garnishes. Most recently I enjoyed the Grant Park Fizz, which is a delicious combination of Hendricks gin, ginger sugar, lime, soda, and cucumber. Yowza! The beer selection is impressive, too, for a downtown sports bar. Case in point, they always have Tripel Karmeliet on tap. There are plenty of other beers on draught or in bottles, but I always enjoy this big, bad mama when I'm at Sweetwater. The servers are always attentive and accommodating. I've never had any issues with rudeness, inexperience, hovering, awkwardness, or other common issues between wait staff and customer. The menu has standard fare, like chicken wings, burgers, salads, and fish; but there are also a few surprises...truffle chicken salad, the "P"LT (pork belly), the "Big Baby" burger, and filet mignon smalls. Apparently they also do a killer brunch, which I'm excited to try sometime very soon. Lastly, there's tons of semi-private outdoor seating for the milder months. I love having a cocktail and a few apps with the hubs on the patio; it's a perfect location for people-watching. Also, it's only a block or so from the South Shore NICTD station, so if you miss your train or are super early, skip the M Bar and grab a drink here. The atmosphere is kind of generic (could have been trendy about 10 years ago), but really, it's not a bad spot and the prices are decent. Anyone who says they don't like Sweetwater is just being a hipster or a snob.
(4)
Nicole S.

Red velvet pancakes are a MUST! Arlene, our bartender, was very attentive and made great suggestions on beers!
(5)
Hernan G.

In general, good burgers, fast served, good to watch sports, never waited for a table. The rest of the sandwiches and soup of the day are good too. Nice and complete beer selection.
(4)
Kara G.

The food was good. But once the waiter took our order, he literally disappeared.... until I looked around. He and several other employees were all hanging around the bar toward the back, laughing, enjoying themselves! I had to finally make a request to the kitchen server to get another drink. Along came the bartender! She left the bar to do the waiters job!! I can make good food at home. I go to a $$ restaurant to GET SERVICE. Sweetwater is not worth your time. Too many other restaurants to choose from.
(2)
John W.

Had dinner here last night. Food was good. Drinks we good mixes. I enjoyed the Hawks game while having dinner with my wife and kids. Everyone enjoyed their meal. In fact they asked if we could go back rather than trying new places. Dinner, apps, and drinks, $150 with tip.
(4)
Brandon B.

Porch is a nice oasis! Another one i have walked by dozens of times but never tried until one sulty summer evening. The porch is quite extensive on the north side in the summer and more favorable than the indoor space if the weather is right, although I like the open-window light based nature of the indoors too. Very friendly service, which is at a slower/relaxed pace, a broad range of drinks and above average quality of food that doesn't make me think of "bar food." For the tourists it is a great location, yes, but it is down-home enough for any Chicago locals to stop by as well. Not super cheap but reasonable. The turkey club was done well with crispy wheat toast and perfect bacon.
(4)
Vee M.

Foodies beware. Food is frozen, not fresh. The fries were soft, obviously defrosted and tater tots were warm. I'm leery of restaurants belonging to restauranteur venture groups, because I feel these places are popular based on location and marketing, not the food. This place had no dish under $10 that was a non appetizer, usually the first giveaway that this is somewhat scammy. I got the cheese melt aka grilled cheese with a tomato inside. It was dry, homemade tasting (not in a good way considering this was $11) and came with soft fries. My friend got the salmon sandwich, $15. The salmon was ok, it was dry and then everything else was just bread. If you're a Chicagoan looking to try a new place, skip this. If you just want to watch the game, skip this spot and get some real fries elsewhere.
(2)
Cynthia R.

I've been here a few times....generally out of convenience and because I just happen to be in the area...and there's not really a whole lot more around honestly. It's alright. Nothing special. The vibe screams "I'm a downtown Chicago, touristy, people come here because it's a middle of the road kinda place, bar with decent food and mediocre service." That's all I got.
(3)
Mandla B.

Go for burgers only. The soup was good. With all the hype I thought it would have more punch. This meal was lackluster at best. Anything other than burgers don't bother.
(2)
Jennifer C.

I'll always remember Sweetwater as the location where my girlfriends and I saw Colombia defeat Uruguay during the Round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup!! We sat at the bar, had some drinks and made a Colombian friend who sat beside us, and cheered with us. This place is spacious and the atmosphere is very relaxed. They have a number of beers on tap, including seasonal favorites. I'm not much of a drinker, but it was the summer, and they had a few summer ales that seemed interesting. I really liked the fact that this was not a stuffy place, and the location within the Loop was prime.
(4)
Rachel L.

Amazing and delicious pork nacho! Definitely will go there again for this! Others we ordered are the omlet, the sweet water burger. These are fine, but not that special!
(4)
Mike C.

Rachel goes "yum" Ina goes "mmm" And Fieri says "woot" Bourdain say "&%$!" And Emiril go "Bam!" And the Flay goes "ow ow ow" ('cause he just burned his finger on the grill) [Pre-Chorus] But there's one sound That no one knows What does the Mike say? [Chorus] Meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh! Meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh! Meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh! Meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh-meh! What the Mike say? Sys-co-sys-co-sys-co-co-cah-co! Sys-co-sys-co-sys-co-co-cah-co! Sys-co-sys-co-sys-co-co-cah-co! Sys-co-sys-co-sys-co-co-cah-co! What does the Mike say? No point in going any further. This song is probably already stuck in your head and my point has hopefully been made. Sweetwater seems to be nothing more than an Applebee's with a different name, albeit, they have a solid beer selection and a nice ambiance. Not the worst place you could go in downtown Chicago, but far from the best too. The food seems to have been rolled right of off the institutional food truck. My recommendation: go for the beers, televised sports and appetizers, but save the real eating for somewhere else. That's what the Mike says. ;)
(3)
Robin C.

A friend and I came here for dinner tonight and sat at the bar. The space itself is pretty modern and relaxed. There was only two of us so we sat at the bar. We had a couple appetizers; the bang bang shrimp, filet mignon smalls, and cheese curds. All of them were awesome. They have a pretty solid beer selection also. But the thing that made this such a 5 star review was the bartender that was so awesome to us. I had to ask her name again just to make sure I got it right later; Stephanie. Stephanie was hands down one of the most delightful people I have ever met. She was also knowledgable about everything. I can honestly say that I will come back just because of her.
(5)
Justin B.

Solidly average. The ahi tuna wrap with tater tots is a worthy surprise, but the burger and iron skillet chocolate chip cookie were just ok. Nice big booths if you are in town to try and catch a game on the tube; fast, friendly service and a good-sized patio. Prices are a little higher than average for Chicago, but on par with other prices in the Mag Mile/Loop area.
(3)
Timothy H.

Great burgers and ok drinks. The service is good and everyone is super friendly. I would go back for lunch, but probably not for dinner. Great selection of beers on tap, so it's a nice place to relax for two hour business lunch.
(4)
Dave M.

Let's see... really tasty food, large room with plenty of seating, friendly service, plenty of TVs to stay in the know with your favorite game and located in the heart of the action on Michigan Ave. Still not convinced? Check out the prices on the menu and you will be glad you dropped by with your family. If you are from the south, Sweetwater would likely be confused for the brewery in Atlanta. But this establishment is much more than a micro-brew/restaurant. If you are strolling the streets of Chicago and that urge of hunger hits you - don't hesitate to try Sweetwater.
(4)
Claire M.

Really 3.5 stars. I had my 30th birthday dinner here because it was directly across the street from where we were on a "staycation" at the Hard Rock Hotel. My dog was with us and I'm a lunatic who didn't want to leave her alone in the room for any longer than I had to. I'd actually researched this online ahead of time and already knew what I was going to order. Of course, being a vegetarian, the choice was easy. The WIcked Garden sandwich with tater tots (because tater tots are fun). I had an Abita Purple Haze adult beverage to kick off the night's festivities. Husband ordered root beer. He usually drinks water so this was a dangerous and daring decision for him. We didn't order any appetizers because nothing really appealed to me and I ended up only eating half of my sandwich and a few tater tots before feeling completely stuffed. That also put a damper on the dessert plans. We'd planned on ordering the baked cookie dough but that didn't happen. Husband had the "fiesta burger." He found it to be rather tasty. The ambiance was nice. Mostly people our age, no kids, tv screen playing some March madness games and music during the commercials but not too loud that it was annoying. Lively, but not distracting. They had free wifi so I was able to FaceTime with my sister for a couple minutes. Considering the only reason I picked this place was its proximity to our hotel, I was highly satisfied. I'd love to go back and sample more of their beer offerings.
(3)
Brenden B.

After getting off the train in the city, my friend's and I decided to stop in for a good ole bloody mary brunch. We sat up at the bar. It was dead inside, but it was only 11:00am. The bartender was nice and joked around with us, she really didn't have anything else to do, since no one else was there. The bloody mary was okay. She used effin cucumber vodka which was legit, but it was bottled bloody mary mix, which was kind of a let down. We ordered some food to munch on and it was a big disappointment. One of us got a potato scramble...it was cold and unseasoned. Two of us split their pork nachos. It was disgusting. These nachos were all grease and little toppings. The only thing that was actually fantastic was their corn bisque soup. Everyone liked the soup they ended up all ordering their own, instead of chowing down on mine. I don't know if it was because we were pretty lit at that point or if it was actually good soup, but I will probably not be back.
(2)
Nicole S.

Nice place good food and drinks. Nice ambiance and music. Would come her again for sure.
(4)
Diva G.

4th visit but 1st review... I went for drinks and chicken quesadillas on Friday 7/11/2014. Chris L. was our server. Chicken quesadillas were yummy as usual. Order a side of guacamole- I don't understand why they charge $1.00 extra for it, which is sooooo annoying, but it's definitely worth it. I had a couple Macallan 12 - neat of course! My mom had 2 Wrigley Field Martinis, which despite the list of ingredients, was not too sweet and was deliciously refreshing. It was served with an edible orchid. I always sit outside to people watch ;) Chris L. was very professional, friendly and attentive. Thank you Chris L! For me, customer service is just as important as food/drinks. Sweetwater's servers always meet or exceed my expectations. I'll be back...
(4)
Jen S.

I knew they had gluten-free options, and those options looked delicious. I brought a party of 7 here, complete with two children who were THRILLED with the kids' menu. They actually serve Kraft Mac & Cheese, which garnered lots of points with the 6-year-old in our party. My food wasn't actually enjoyable. I was really disappointed. I ordered chicken with mashed potatoes and it had this strange, sweet taste. It was sort of lukewarm. But when you're eating with a large party including 2 kids... yeah, you don't exactly send your food back. Plus I have celiac disease, so my biggest concern is that my food was safely prepared. I think it was mostly safe. I didn't feel well later, so it's hard to say. My mojito was good, and the other adults in my party enjoyed their cocktails as well. Their service was adequate. Their location is convenient. I think most people would do fine here - especially their Blue Box lovin' kids.
(3)
Neamen L.

This place is quality. The wings are good and the calamari wasn't too breaded and fried. I ordered the Moscow Mule and it wasn't overly limey. There are plenty of TVs for watching games. We sat inside but the patio looked like it was a fun time. The staff is fairly attentive and the overall crowd was more of an afterwork business crowd. I'd definitely come back.
(4)
Lisa M.

Busy, but good. We were thinking of hitting this place up for dinner on NYE, but went there for lunch instead. Had a really good lunch. The place was hopping around 1:00pm and we waited just a few minutes for a table. Which was fine, because we got a great booth! It was perfect, big, but not too big since it was kinda loud in there. We each started with a beer, mine was unremarkable. It was feeling a little under the weather, so that could be it. We also had the Spinach and Artichoke dip. It had a perfect balance of spinach to artichoke with great grilled pita. We enjoyed quite a bit. I was going between the Gobbler and the Trevi. The avocado is what won me over, so I went with the Gobbler and sweet potato fries. My dining companion had the steak salad. We both enjoyed our food quite a bit. The bun got to be a little much, especially after the delicious pita with the appetizer. As others have mentioned, I can see where this would be a great place to watch sports and hang out. Very comfortable, with pleasant service. If I had been feeling better, I can imagine the rating being a tad bit higher. It is your typical sports bar atmosphere with a touch of class.
(3)
Robert S.

Favorite spot to hang out in Chicago. Great window views of the Michigan Ave crowds. Many interesting beers on tap that rotate. TVs abound for watching games. Always an eclectic crowd. The atmosphere is what makes this place, but the food is actually very good also. Any of the burgers with the pretzel rolls are high quality and the wraps are great. Excellent Cobb salad. When its cold out, I could hang out here from lunch onto dinner and get hammered.
(5)
Joanne D.

We went there Sept 20th for my birthday. It was cute nothing to crazy. I ordered soup, chicken breast butterfly cut with mashed potatoes and asparagus. While waiting for our food we grabbed a couple drinks. As I am talking to my husband he let's me know there is a bug by me. Yes there was...a roach. Kind of hard to miss that on a white padded booth chair. I grabbed the waiter letting him know we had an unannounced guest. He grabbed the napkin off the table and kind of pulled a grab the roach and go in the kitchen. So I thought that was gross..soup came out all I can think of was the roach when I was chewing on the corn. Finally the food came out at this point I was not even hungry. The chicken was on a bone which yes I'm a picky eater but that just set my appetite to non. My husband just asked if we can get a new one with a breast same way. Well after 5 minutes a new piece of chicken that looked like it was boiled with the fat all on the side was served to me on a mini plate with no potatoes,no dressing just...bam! HERE'S YOUR CHICKEN ! I was done... I didn't want to ruin it for my husband and make a big fuss bc he tried. The waiter came by asked if the manager ever stopped by,we said "no" so he bought us a round of drinks. I still tipped the waiter it's not his fault that the place lacks pest control,a good chef and a manager that cares,but yeah ladies just make sure to shake out your purse before you get in your car. 10/14 Manager never once came by the table the waiter asked if the manager came by we told him "No" that's how we found out that the drinks were comped. That was a roach..and I didn't see the waiter go outside with it. I under stand you passed your inspection, but a roach is a roach. The breast that was served was not at all prepared like the initial dish. I paid my entire bill that included,appitizers,soups,main course and drinks. I just feel that if the manager felt that it was important to keep up with the guests he would have personally come by. Thank you
(1)
Mel S.

This place is just too conveniently located near my apartment. As a consequence, I come here at least once a week. The food is average for a bar. They also have a relatively decent beer selection that's reasonably priced. Service is average as well. No one really goes above and beyond, but let's be honest here, you wouldn't really come here for service. They have a brunch menu (though limited): they use the same recipe for their beignets as Cafe du monde in New Orleans- I am not too excited about these as any sufficient amount of sugar and syrup will make anything taste good. My boyfriend has had the french toast- it's not your typical french toast. It looked like it was deep fried in a thick batter and smothered with berry compote. He had no complaints, however. I chose to make my own omelet and this was pretty good. We usually come for dinner and I've had anything from the Sunnyside up burger, to the the skirt steak. Both do the job and I'm usually pretty satisfied after both. Having tater tots as a side is a real plus. The food is average (not bad/not great)- had it not been for their brownie dessert and beer selection, I would have rated this a 3 star restaurant.
(4)
Dee Was Here Z.

While visiting ChiTown last week, I stopped in Sweetwater because it was within walking distance to my hotel. I ordered the Pork Chop dinner and it came with some type of unidentifiable salad. The salad was vinegary and totally disgusting. It also had some type of blue cheese that was melted and smeared on top. Totally gross appearance and it made the experience so much more difficult because it was touching my meat and transferred the flavor that I was truly trying to avoid. I have visited ChiTown several times and being a native of the SF Bay Area, I have never understood how anyone in the Chicagoland area could ever be morbidly obese. The water was exceptional!!!
(2)
Steve M.

Apparently this place used to be a Bennigan's and now its not. That's cool. Apparently this place is owned by the Boundary guys. Who cares? What rubbed me the wrong way about Sweetwater was the pushiness of the server and the inability of the manager to make slight concessions for our group. Examples: our server asked if we were ready to order probably 8 times before we were actually ready to order, giving our chatty group about 2 minutes between each time. After asking for more time the 4th time around, you'd think she'd get the hint. She was great about getting us refills, but was also great about dumping our check when her shift was over so she could tip out. At these prices, I felt like cattle, being taken through the motions to get to the money part. The food was nothing special for "upscale" tavern food. The chicken pieces in the buffalo chicken salad were miniscule at best and overfried to tooth-shattering crunchiness. Finally, after our meal, I switched to Dewar's on the rocks. I know this isn't a cheap drink, and was duly prepared for the sticker shock at the end of the meal. However, when the bill arrived, I noticed a $2 "Rocks" surcharge below each $8 Dewars charge. Curious, I thought. Upon further investigation and a short and annoying discussion with the manager, she told me that the $2 was to cover the extra 3/4 of an ounce that they have to pour to actually fill the rocks glass. (!?) --Sidebar: their regular Dewars pour is $8 for only 1 1/4oz, FYI. Don't order it if you like stuff like, oh ...VALUE. -- Funny thing is, if the bill had just read $10, maybe I would've sighed and paid. But, when you're TELLING me you're ripping me off an extra $2? I had a blast with the friends I was there to hang with, but the fact that they're fun people means we can choose to meet anywhere and have a great time. That choice just won't be Sweetwater again.
(1)
Travis M.

Nothing too special, but a fun bar/grill inside the Loop. They have a great beer selection as well as upscale bar food and a great patio. I've had the buffalo chicken wrap, turkey burger and the nachos here and all have been very good, just not mindblowing. Try the nachos - they're very good and piled high with chicken, black beans and all the trappings of a great nacho platter!
(4)
Julie W.

this is a great location to eat outside close to the river on Michigan avenue. their drink menu is awesome and had the current special which is Lolla Lemonade...excellent! the wings were decent but disappointed in the spinach artichoke dip....tasted like frozen spinach was used. the service was friendly and prompt.
(3)
Grayson M.

I had the sunny side up burger. The egg and burger itself were cooked perfectly. Waitress was very helpful and came by to check on us frequently. They have a pretty good beer list if you are into that sort of thing, with lots of local brews. Coming from Texas, It was kinda pricey for a burger to me, but seemed to be about right compared to other reasonable places to eat a nice dinner. It has a good mix of bar/restaurant space so there is room for everyone. Decor is modern with lots of window around the perimeter for people watching. Its an easy walk from most of the hotels downtown and is also close to the park and the "bean". I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good burger for a decent price.
(4)
K. M.

Walking down Michigan Ave trying to find something everyone in my family could agree on to eat at. Noodles & Co was wanted by most, but we came across Sweetwater & decided to give it a try. Loved the idea of eating al fresco & the menu looked great! Service was ok, at best. Food was disgusting. My aunt got some sort of chicken tortilla soup which she said tasted as if it came out of a can. My mom got the pulled pork which according to the waitress was "amazing". It tasted as if it was out of a non brand tub that you get at a grocery store. The "garlic mashed potatoes" were non garlicky whatsoever and had no taste. My penne pasta with mushrooms & asparagus in pesto sauce was too salty, the pasta too al dente & the sauce was extremely oily. Needless to say, we should have went to Noodles & Co. Something we knew would have been good. Sweetwater was a waste of money. Will not be back & would not recommend to anyone.
(1)
Peter g.

240 reviews and growing, looks like this is a well known watering hole, I will add my 2 cents- get the Buffalo rolls and wings, they will leave a nice bite on ya, good list of ales for what ales ya, and friendly good looking barkeeps. If your near by and need a fill up, its a good place to watch the goings on on Michigan Ave and catch some sports on the Plasmas.
(4)
Hecate D.

This was our main place to eat this past August when we were in town for Lollapalooza. I found it on Yelp and once we ate there, we couldn't get enough. Excellent beer selection, extremely friendly bartenders and owners, great atmosphere. I am surprised that more locals don't know about this place. I knocked a star off for one reason, and I hope the owner is paying attention here: I know you love to play cool music but you have to STOP changing the songs mid-song. It is extremely annoying to listen to a bunch of cool half-songs. And turn it down just a tad. 11 is too loud. So to let me recap: stop letting the owner DJ and stop making people scream at each other over the music.
(4)
Carol K.

Sports bar meets upscale lounge. Why are so many of these popping up all over these days? Sweetwater has a classy interior mixing cream colored leather with dark woods which is just the kind of place I like grabbing a drink at. But then there are all these TV's blaring games of all types from every wall, every corner. Too much noise for me but this remodeled Bennigans in the Illinois Center is a good add to the area. We went after work so it was packed with a solid mix of people from the neighboring buildings. We grabbed a couple of seats at the end of the bar which turned out to be a smart move as during the high point of the evening there was standing room only. But like most bars down here- the place starts to empty out around 8. There are also high backed booths to gather in as well as large communal tables (these were filled with men slapping themselves on their backs as men do, on the night I was there) And speaking of men? If you are looking for one- stop in here. There were very few women in the place. After reviewing the menu, and since the owners of this place also own Boundary and Trace, I wasn't surprised to see primarily bar food, wraps, salads and burgers. We ordered a burger with tots and some chicken fingers to soak up some of the stiff drinks that they were pouring. The food came up fast and was fine (really, how can you screw up a burger and tots?) and our bartender (Angela) was on her game this night- quick with drink refills and a sense of humor in answering my friend's questions. Another nice thing? They have a good variety of beers on tap. The only downside? This place is expensive. Granted we had a few beers and my friend was quickly emptying the bottle of Jameson but a bill for over $110 for that and a burger seemed high. Next time you find yourself wanting to catch a game or just to grab a beer in this "neck of the woods" check out Sweetwater. It's a solid addition to the "it's after work where do we go?" list.
(3)
Dutch B.

Beer was super warm, wine for 13 $ was gross, tasted like prune juice. bartender was lame, pasta tasted like a bag of garbage- and this is on mich ave? nasty
(1)
Lynn R.

Obviously the bar was set low given the location's former tenant, Bennigans, but Sweetwater fits the bill for a Loop lunch spot that offers casual and delicious dining. We sauntered in around 1ish and beat the lunch rush, so we were escorted to a cushy booth right away. The interior of the place is great and I'd definitely come to check it out for happy hour and perhaps test out the patio scene. The menu was filled with multiple delicious delights, which made for a laborious decision process. And guess what? They had tots. If a place has tots, it immediately is held high in my esteem. The Sante Fe wrap I ordered was the size of a small child and believe me, they knew what to do with it to. Despite how good it was, I only managed to eat half and saved the other half for lunch the next day. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the spacious booth. The only off point for me was the creepy waiter. For most of our meal, he didn't do anything in particular that I would say was creepy, but it was just a vibe. Then, we he dropped the check off for the first time, he put it on the end of the table. We were just chatting and taking advantage of a full lunch hour when he came up and slid the bill to the center of the table and said "Whenever you're ready ladies." Clearly it's whenever YOU'RE ready. So we finished up and left. Weird waiter aside, I would definitely go back.
(4)
Elizabeth L.

Excellent salad selection - tastiest Waldorf in a long while - perfect proportions of baby spinach, tender grilled chicken, cranberries, candied walnuts, tiny cucumber slices. Great beer selection including several lambics (yum!) Melissa = best server ever. Suggested a delicious Malbec (50% off wine bottles Mon. nights), proactively offered to split our salad, recommended the baked cookie dough dessert (heaven in a skillet). Prices might be a bit high, but Gage is the only other option within walking distance from Millennium. Great vibe, elegant booths, plenty of flat screens and a number of decent-sized group tables.
(3)
Marissa K.

I met my boyfriend and his intramural soccer team for happy hour this past Friday night and was surprisingly impressed by Sweetwater. There is a ton of outdoor space for warm spring/summer days and on the inside a fair amount of cozy booths for small parties and high top tables for groups. The beer list and food menu was impressive. With so many choices, I always get a little too adventurous with my beer choice and pick the wrong one. Never again will I order an apricot ale! I'm a girl, so I like girly beers. But, this was way too girly for me. It tasted like carbonated apricot juice infused with beer water. It was no one's fault of my own, but I did learn a very valuable lesson that day. I had the Seseame Ahi Tuna Wrap, which had to have been the best thing I ate all week. It was so delicious that I would go back just to order it again, and definitely 10 times better than the fish tacos my boyfriend ordered. The door staff was nice and friendly, and our server was attentive and didn't make us feel rushed.
(5)
Christina M.

They have good tater tots, but both my boyfriend agree that the tots are the only thing they have going for them food-wise. If you're more interested in drinks/happy hour, I think this is a decent place. It's in a nice location (Michigan/South Water) and is a nice space in general.
(3)
Robert H.

Without fear of contradiction, the WORST "Key Lime Pie" EVER!! The entire slice was "white" in color, the filling had the consistancy of "hard" jello, NO lime flavor whatsoever, and if you they think that putting lime "zest" on the top enhances this abomination, it does not. Just awful, should have sent it back. Did I already say it was awful.... Bob Handler
(1)
Michael L.

A pretty big space filled with TVs perfect for football. We were seated in a pretty large booth capable of fitting at least 4 people. The decor is pretty nice, but the best thing I feel about this place is the beer and the TVs. The food was OK, ordered the bacon cheese fries and the mushroom potato hash. They also have a bloody mary bar that my wife took advantage of. This is something pretty cool as I have yet to find one of these establishments in NYC. They give you a small little bottle of vodka, and you get to dress it the way you want at the bar where they have cheese, olives, bloody mary mix, charcuteri, etc. All the bloody marys she made was yummy. Our server was nice and attentive, but couldnt help but feel rushed to leave. We arrived at the beginning of the bears game and the check was already at our table by halftime. I was going to order another beer in the 2nd half, but decided against it because of this.
(3)
Dan L.

I work one block away from this place and was happy to see the world's ugliest Bennigan's get gutted for Sweetwater. Ive been there 3 times for lunch and once for happy hour. It seems the trend in Chicago is to open up these upscale bars that serve a little higher grade bar food and this is no different. I really like the bar area during lunch. Erica is a very very good bartender/server. very friendly. The food has been above average each time with plenty to choose from and the portions are decent size. Having the big TV's all over the place is nice as they did a good job positioning them all. Crowd is the typical downtown, young professional crowd with some tourists mixed in. Seems like a good spot to meet a potential hook-up, hang with co-workers, and get drunk after a long stinky week of work :) It does get loud after 5pm but who cares as long as you can hear and talk to who you are with will be back often!
(4)
Food G.

Stopped by here for quick meal the night we got into town. I got a burger and sweet potato fries which was pretty darn good. The burger itself was probably pushing a 1/2 pound and was cooked just the way I asked. My wife got the turkey burger and wasn't thrilled, but I knew that was going to happen. Turkey does not make a good burger... sorry to all the turkeys out there. I have to give them a kudos for a decent beer selection. My only negative would be the noise. It's loud inside so don't expect to go there and have a quiet conversation.
(4)
Mary D.

Our server was nice but that was almost it. My red bull vodka was plentiful and the hummus dip was delicious but my Waldorf salad was the WORST salad I've ever had and I am one of those people who do not like to complain about things when I go out to eat so I didn't until now but it really was terrible. Spinach was wilted, chicken tasted like cat food and there was blue cheese and not Gorgonzola. If you are going to change what kind of cheese it is you should at least say so, especially if there is a big difference like this. The ONLY reason this place is getting 2 stars is because of the outdoor seating, yummy hummus w/ delicious grilled pita and the decent service. I still feel really guilty I had my boyfriend pay $14 for salad I didn't eat at all. Tip, stick with the burgers!
(2)
Esther Y.

I'm so on the fence about this place. We end up coming here a lot because it's close to work and easy for a work lunch....but I feel like nothing I have here is outstanding and a couple of dollars over priced. The food is decent, and they do have good mac & cheese bites, but nothing else really stands out, and I've been here about 10 times. Don't get me wrong, I'll come here again, at least another 10 times I'm sure, but haven't found the right thing to eat here.
(3)
Gina P.

A girlfriend and I went here before we went to see Wicked. I got the Rigatoni pasta which was amazing and she got the Santa Fe wrap with chicken and sweet potato fries. She stated the wrap tasted very dry to her. Chicken was dry and add black beans to that and you're going to get a very chalky flavor. Sweet potato fries were really good though. As for service, let's just put it this way, we spoke to our bus boy more then her, who was great. Really annoying when we mentioned we were going to the show and she DRAGGED with everything. I would definitely go back but my suggestion is go with tons of time.
(4)
Greg N.

Hmmmm...someone gave Sweetwater one star because it was busy at Happy Hour , they didnt get any napkins under their drinks and they needed to "turn off some of those tvs". I can appreciate your perspective...but not one mention of the food? I will try to give a more objective review... Yes ...it is usually quite busy here. Newsflash...it is at the corner of Michigan Ave and Southwater! That doesnt excuse Sweetwater from providing good service...but to put this in its more appropriate perspective...when you have more traffic, it is hard to provide a more intimate level of service. I went for lunch during the week...and the service was good considering how busy they were. The food was excellent. I had the fish tacos...and my girlfriends mom lives in Southern California (so I am pretty spoiled on good baja fish tacos)...and Sweetwaters were the equal of anything I have had on the west coast. The fish was perfectly done...nicely spiced...and they had just the right amount of pickled cabbage, condiments, etc. Excellente! I am always on the lookout for solid business lunch options close to the Loop...and Sweetwater is all that and more. I could see why it is popular for happy hour...nice atmosphere...VIBRANT...chic interior...if a big game is on, the guys will be happy (me included)...since, yes...they do have TVs aimed at the upscale sportsbar vibe. This is far from a sportsbar, though...good for date night, a business luncheon or a festive after hours coctail. Well done, Sweetwater...see you again soon!
(4)
Zack S.

Came here back in December for a late-night dinner after spending time walking the magnificent mileand looking for somewhere to sit. Right off Michigan Avenue so it was nice and close to where we were. Automatically got a couple stars due to their craft beer list. The tap is well above average. Food was very good. Service was OK. Nothing special. Definitely enjoyed the meals though. Tried going back recently but the wait was long so it'll have to wait until another trip. Probably more of a 3.5 stars but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. Very solid. Sunday night football game was on and the amount of screens couldn't have been better. Good sports atmosphere.
(4)
NoÃ«l S.

Went here for drinks, and their list is varied but not overwhelming, which I love. The bartender was helpful without being intrusive, and I'd love to go back for food. It's also really convenient, in the Loop, but also accessible from the Mag Mile area
(4)
Dan C.

I had the Big Baby Burger and some fried cheese curds. Food was good and I see why the call it the big baby, it is about that size. I am a big guy and I was full. Not the awesomest thing I ever had, but the price isn't bad for the area and the food was good. I wasn't disappointed.
(3)
Helena K.

I first attempted dinner here on a Thursday, but it was packed with business professionals who clearly don't mind going to work hungover on Friday. I managed to get here for a late lunch/early dinner on Saturday, and the veggie burger was just scrumptious (clearly, I'm on the search for the world's best veggie burger), made of black beans and topped with roasted red peppers, fresh cucumber, and corn salsa vinaigrette. Normally the burger is served with your choice of fries or tots, but I substituted salad for $1 extra. The 312 on tap was reasonably priced. I sat at the bar and, although there were few folks in the restaurant or at the bar at the weird time I was there (~4 p.m.), I felt that the bartender wasn't particularly attentive; I just had a little trouble getting his attention. I dig the dÃ©cor---crisp, clean, and modern---and their bar is tremendously well stocked. The location is also very convenient to basically all of the downtown hotels. I would definitely eat here again and I imagine it would be cool to come here for late night, too.
(4)
April P.

I came here with a friend last week. It is great! We both got a couple drinks that were pricy but only because it's Chicago. They weren't anything above your Chicago standard. I give it five stars for atmosphere and service. Our server was super nice : ) and she was a girl! Often times when two girls are ordering from a female bartender, she will be moody and annoyed. This one was decent and awesome : ) The atmosphere was dark but not too dark. There were nice lights streamed along the ceiling. Also, it was loud, but not too loud. The friend that I was out with was a loud person though, and so am I, so a pretty loud place is good for us if we want to still look like decent considerate people : ) This was perfect. Also, she needed to catch a train at the Millenium Station so this was a perfect place for us to wait for the train. It was literally two minutes from the station. I can't wait to come back and try out the food sometime! Also, they were playing Kate Nash. Props!
(5)
Polly P.

We went to this place with my friend for our traditional girls night out. I've never been there before and was quite skeptical... but decided to give this place a chance. God! It was worth it! First, all the staff in this restaurant is unbelievably nice and amiable. Second, the food was tasty. We had bacon wrapped shrimps as an appetizer and burgers. My favorite turkey burger was just perfect! I like the fact that they added avocado in it. At the very end I thought we spent a lot of money, but it appeared to be that this place is not pricey at all! We payed 70 dollars for two drinks, one appetizer and two burgers (I am not including tips in this sum ). Highly recommend this place!
(5)
Angel Ãœ.

The restaurant was very modern and chic. Located right downtown of Chicago. My wife and I ordered the veggie burger and the chopped salad without cucumber. The veggie burger was delicious and the goat cheese was intense but in a good way. The chopped salad was also very delicious. The vinegrette was adequate and just the right enough tang. The portions are also very appropriate for what one is suppose to eat. If you are looking for more food for the buck, this is not the place for you. The only slight downside is that the dinner tables are not moveable. The largest table sits about 6. There is a private room that can be very accommodating for large groups of friends.
(4)
Renee E.

My first impression, as the place has only been open a few days: Menu looks good, but will need to make a return visit to try it out. I was happy to see a few good-looking vegetarian options. Beer list is pretty long. Nothing too unusual or exciting, but definitely something for everyone. Prices were a little above average for the offerings, but I'm sure it's probably relative to the location. I was a tiny bit dismayed at the wine prices per glass. Most hovered around $10 and up. Our waitress was great. Very friendly and attentive. I liked the decor, the booths were nice. The room felt spacious, yet cozy, which I enjoyed. My biggest complaint is holy LOUDNESS. There were a few couples w/ babies. I just wanted to ask them if they cared that their kids eardrums may be bleeding. But, the ultimate moment of the night was when this completely elderly couple shuffled through the revolving doors, one after the other, whilst we were leaving and all we could think was, "Dear god, turn around...it's TOO loud!" So, we waited a safe distance away and that cute little couple came right back out. We didn't need to warn them after all.
(3)
Kevin H.

I love this place. Great beer selection. The food is not just your average crap you find at sports bars. Super attentive servers. And their manager is the man. Jordan made time to stop by our table and chat with us to make sure everything was going well. I asked him to turn on the Sox game and he was happy to help out. I will be back and often.
(5)
Stephanie H.

Given the location it is surprisingly good and a good beer/tap room to match. I've had burgers, salads, appetizers, etc here and it has all been good. Service can be so-so at times but this place is very popular for the lunch hour and sometimes for happy hour. I strongly suggest lunch reservations.
(4)
Stephen R.

Fun place, lots of TVS, so great for a happy hour or sports bar event. Food is traditional bar food with a few new twists. You either love it, if you are foodie or hate it if you are too caught up in just being like any other bar food. I would recommend the sunnyside up burger- fried on it, I love fried eggs. Also would recommend tater tots onion flowers Turkey Burger the burgers are a little messy so be prepared..its because of the toppings..so just be mindful of that when ordering. Location is great and definite upgrade over the Bennigans that was there.
(4)
Justin O.

This place gets 5 stars for the prime location on Michigan Ave. however the food and service is only average. I like the atmosphere of the place and the location. I had their SweetWater burger and can say I have certainly had a better burger before and the side or mashed potatoes seemed like a whole stick of butter went into my portion alone. Being at the heart of everything downtown, there are other choices nearby that I would recommend over SweetWater.
(3)
Sam M.

Don't hang out in the Loop very much and went to this place for a date once... ehhh it was ok, but nothing to write home about. Food was just OK. It was Friday night and was after happy hour was over, so the atmosphere probably is not what it could have been on other nights.
(3)
Madeline C.

Was in Chicago for the weekend and stumbled upon Sweetwater after checking out the Bean on a Sunday evening. Got here right before the kitchen closed and was happy we made it in time. The sandwich and food selection was great and everyone I was with was pleased with their meal. The beer selection was also awesome. I got a bananna bread beer that was delicious. Good prices and great location so I would definitly stop back next time I am in town.
(5)
Julie G.

We are visiting from San Diego and stumbled upon this place for brunch! Amazing mushroom hash! Great biscuit breakfast sandwich. Great service!
(5)
Samuel M.

A solid sports bar and gril(e?) in the loop. There are copious TVs behind the bar, and music is eschewed in lieu of commentary when a big game is on. Both of these are essentials at any competent sports bar. The draught beer list is mediocre and overpriced by around 25%, whereas the bottle list is decent and overpriced by about 25%. Still, I figure I am paying for the location as much as anything, so this doesn't disturb me as much as usual. As far as food goes, I only tried one hot wing, which was disappointingly soggy and had too much vinegar in the sauce, but wasn't entirely unpleasant. Anyway, I feel unqualified to judge the food. Service is decent, bartenders give you just the right amount of attention. Overall, I would definitely entertain the idea of returning to watch another big game. In fact, I might even suggest it.
(3)
Ralph B.

One of the best places to watch a sporting event in the area. Burgers are some of the best in the city. A bit of heaven is the sunny side burger. The bacon wrapped shrimped are seasoned great. Not a place to go with your doctor.... about the only thing on the menu that is healthy is the hummus appetizer. great staff, and great beer selection.
(4)
Reyes F.

Whenever I'm in the mood to grab a casual burger and have a simple night out with the wife this place never disappoints. The Gobbler or Sunnyside Up every time.
(4)
Katie F.

Sweetwater is down the street from my work and it is a pretty decent place to grab lunch with friends or to grab dinner or a drink after work. Their service is always good and their food is consistently good. Not stellar or mind blowing... but good and fresh. They have gotten rid of a few items on their menu that were amazing... so that is why I gave it three stars instead of 4. BRING BACK THE VEGGIE WRAP OR SANDWICH PEOPLE! Ha! Their prices are decent for down town... especially for being on Michigan Ave and for being down the street from Millennium Park. Plus in the summer they have out door seating which is great. I would make reservations for 4 or more people during lunch of happy hour though. Definitely will be back many more times!
(3)
Ben J.

great spinach artichoke and fried cheese curds app. Burger (mozz, bbq sauce, onion rings) was decent / very average. enjoyable meal nonetheless
(3)
Susie C.

Atmosphere is very nice. Came here for lunch with some co-workers. Food was decent but quite $$ for the portion I received. Perfect for work gatherings and happy hours!
(3)
Eliza C.

Three and a half stars as a drinking establishment. No fun house drinks but I've yet to be left with 3 last sips without another drink on the way. Two and a half stars for eats. Love their tater tots and fried mac n cheese bites but a girl can't live on fried food alone. Everything else I've had is meh.
(3)
Ben B.

It's 11pm. You've drank over a bottle of wine on an empty stomach. You have twelve other friends in the same boat. What do you do? Where do you go? Anywhere that's open, serves Mac 'n Cheese, and doesn't panic at the sight of your group. Somewhere exactly like Sweetwater. It may not have had a lot of character or charm, but by god were they ever open and right in front of us! Our group split between two very large adjacent booths, each one easily fitting four people on each side. Our server jumped between the two tables with ease, juggling a dozen or so different orders, some with special requests, others with substitutions, without a single wrong dish being delivered. And all with a smile on her face? Yep - she definitely earned server superhero status. But about the food...the Mac 'n Cheese was pretty lame. With the promise of parmesan, cheddar, gorgonzola and pepperjack, my expectations were a lot higher than the bowl put in front of me. Most of the cheesy sauce was dried up and the dish itself had zero flavour...as in, "didn't they say gorgonzola would be involved?" zero flavour. On the plus side, I guess the portion was really big... Gotta give them credit for handling the crowd, I just wish I could also give them credit for blowing my mind with a great meal.
(3)
Sherra K.

So...lolla got evacuated. And we showed up at sweetwater with about 5,000 other fest goers. And John the manager totally kept his cool under fire, not to mention the complete chaos of downtown. He was accommodating, polite, just amazing in general. I'll be visiting again and often, sweetwater. Cause John has made me a fan for life!!!
(5)
Fernando V.

Good burgers and fries. Long list of good beers to choose from. Good spot for summer time lunches with outside tables.
(4)
Layla C.

Meh. I HAVE experienced better.
(2)
Jessica S.

It's a love hate relationship with Sweetwater. The first time I went, we had our own little "beer tasting" with a great waiter who let us take our time and enjoy our company. For a table of 6, the bill was super reasonable (at least we all thought after many beers down). Decent food and good service. But the past few times I have been, I haven't been too impressed. There are large portions so its easy to split a meal, which I would recommend because entrees are super pricey. Good beer list, large patio, and an OK pick if out at Millennium Park.
(3)
Ha-ti N.

First, I would like to say that we LOVED our server lady. That is what made my experience ok. Yesterday, I had a bad day. I hadn't eaten since 1pm and I went straight from work to help shoot photos and then straight there to home to prepare to film something. We were going to grab dinner downtown by the spot we were going to film. ANYWAY, it was late, 1030-11pm, I was hungry, tired and dangerously crabby. We took like an hour to find somewhere to eat. We finally decided on Sweetwater. Sat down...ordered 2 appetizers and 3 entrees for 3 people. And by this time I've been so hungry for so long that I'm not even hungry for anything anymore! We got the buffalo wings, which I was looking forward to. And the spinach artichoke dip. Buffalo wings too acidic, too dry. Spinach dip, ummmmmm i loved the pita bread? We got the parmesan crusted salmon - dry, overcooked, and underwhelming. We also got the shrimp scampi (which i was most excited about) 3 large shrimp-- angel hair that looked like it was soaking in hot snot for a long long time and then was dropped on the ground by accident, quickly gathered with hands and rolled into the plate. Disgusting. We also got the Mediterranean salad, best thing we got I think. This was worse than Grand Lux or even Cheesecake Factory. blurrrhhhhghh *barf*
(2)
Matt C.

Came here the Thursday night before Lollapalooza while aimlessly drifting along Michigan Ave for a decent place for a bite and a drink. Luckily, we spotted Sweetwater right as we were getting tired of looking. I wasn't expecting much, judging from the generic-looking exterior and interior, but was pleasantly surprised. They have many beers on the menu; quite a few on a tap, but even more in the bottle. Any place that has Oaked Arrogant Bastard on tap is ok in my book. We got some drinks and I tried a 'people's choice' creation of chicken sandwich w/ pepperjack, bacon, chipoltle mayo. The sandwich was fantastic. Juicy, flavorful chicken, and the chipoltle mayo packed way more flavor than I thought it might. Prices were reasonable. We were tempted to go back again during our stay, given its close proximity to Grant Park and our hotel, but wanted to try a new place with every drink and meal. Would definitely come back, though! Only reason I'm not giving it four stars is the room just lacks any meaningful identity.
(3)
Alden V.

First time here last night. First off, the amount of outdoor seating is legit. And I'm a fan of the 6 TVs with any sports channel you want. Also, the IPA section with Dogfish Head 90-min was a welcome sight. That said, you can tell this place is on Michigan Ave by looking at the menu. Pricey for what you get. That lovely Dogfish was $8, rediculous even for that beer. Food was average and no sandwiches for under $10. I'll go back if I find myself wandering between South Water and Lake, but won't seek it out.
(3)
Michael M.

Just had lunch here and found it enjoyable. I had a hamburger and my father had a salad. The prices and quality of food are spot on for the area. They have a very nice outdoor area as well as a dinning room filled with TVs showing ESPN. Menu has a nice mix of sandwiches, salads and entrees to please just about anyone. Make a reservation if you are going during lunch. The place can get packed.
(3)
A K.

Sat outdoors on both trips to take advantage of the nice weather. Good Margarita, even better Moscow Mule! Had the Waldorf salad with chicken on first time in and it was good. Second time in debated between the chopped salad and the veggie burger. Went with the chopped salad and it was solid as well. The hummus plate we shared was a little disappointing---the veggies didn't taste fresh and the hummus was really bland. Nice option for a small group (4-6), as the menu has good variety. When I find myself back in Chicago, I will make a stop in again.
(4)
Michelle C.

I'm a fan! I pass Sweetwater every day on my way home on the bus. It's been calling my name for a while now, so I jumped at the chance to meet a friend there for drinks after work this week. I have to start out by mentioning that the service was efficient and good! I am very critical when it comes to service staff and our waitress was on her game! The other thing that was great was the back of the house staff. We'd ordered an appetizer to compliment our drinks and once we were done eating, our plates were cleared away right away. We ordered the jumbo pretzel duo. I think my friend liked it more than I did. I think I was just turned off because of the queso (it tasted really generic). I didn't finish my portion. The waitress let us sample the beers we were interested in trying and was great in helping me pick out a good beer that I'd like. And to that point, the beer menu is great and extensive; something for everyone! The atmosphere of this bar is great ; it's not a typical bar where it's crazy, loud, and full of disgruntled employees looking for an after-work booze fest. It's a great spot for a date, a drink with friends, or for someone drinking/dining alone. I already have plans for a happy hour to meet friends in a few weeks. I like this place a lot and may end up calling this one of my favorite Chicago bars soon!
(4)
Tristin H.

I work nearby and stop in for lunch sometimes. Good menu, though maybe a little pricey for what is basically good bar food. They have nice salads as well, but at about $13 I'm not sure they're worth it. But, you're on MI Ave... typical prices I guess. Cool space - high end sports bar atmosphere. Service - hit or miss. I've had great service sitting at the bar and I've had slow to average service at tables.
(4)

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Address : 225 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL, 60601
Phone (312) 698-7111
Website https://www.sweetwatertavernandgrille.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 11

Specialities

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

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Sweetwater Tavern and Grille

225 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, 60601

Sweetwater Tavern and Grille Menu

Starters

Soup & Salads

Entrées

Handhelds & Wraps

Signature Burgers

Sides

Desserts

Brunch

Sides

Beer - Seasonals

Beer - Macrobrews

Beer - White & Wheat

Beer - Pilsners & Lagers

Beer - Amber Ales

Beer - Golden Ales

Beer - English Style Ales

Beer - Lambics Fruit Infused Seasonal

Beer - Belgian Styles

Beer - Stouts & Porters

Beer - Pale Ales

Beer - Ipa’s & Strong Ales

Wine - White

Wine - Red

Specialty Drinks

Healthy Meal suggestions for Sweetwater Tavern and Grille

Starters

Soup & Salads

Entrées

Handhelds & Wraps

Signature Burgers

Sides

Desserts

Brunch

Sides

Beer - Seasonals

Beer - Macrobrews

Beer - White & Wheat

Beer - Pilsners & Lagers

Beer - Amber Ales

Beer - Golden Ales

Beer - English Style Ales

Beer - Lambics Fruit Infused Seasonal

Beer - Belgian Styles

Beer - Stouts & Porters

Beer - Pale Ales

Beer - Ipa’s & Strong Ales

Wine - White

Wine - Red

Specialty Drinks

Brit M.

Jodie Z.

Aleks M.

Melissa R.

Robert N.

Brett C.

Jessica T.

Amanda C.

Marlyn L.

Nic R.

Mary C.

Mark G.

Bruce B.

Sang H.

Donisha L.

Brandon B.

Marvin A.

R M.

Emily S.

Helen T.

Lindsey D.

Dave C.

Matt L.

Shaakira J.

Helen H.

Megan S.

Jo W.