4. Restaurants

The Beetle Bar and Grill

2532 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622
  • (773) 384-0701
  • Store is closed

The Beetle Bar and Grill Menu

  • Appetizers
  • Salads
  • Burgers
  • Pan-pizzas
  • Sandwiches
  • Taco Bar
  • Sweets

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Beetle Bar and Grill

  • Appetizers
  • Salads
  • Burgers
  • Pan-pizzas
  • Sandwiches
  • Taco Bar
  • Sweets

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  • Jamie G.

    The Beetle is your friendly neighborhood bar and grill, but way cooler. The servers are friendly and will get to know and welcome you. The food is also among the best for bar food that I've encountered. Try the Southeast Nachos or the Steak Salad; they're awesome!

    (5)

  • Lauren W.

    Eh, I didn't actually get to eat or drink here. The hubs and I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon for an early dinner, were seated promptly on the patio, and then were left alone for 20 minutes before we left. The menu looked decent, but we needed to get a drink order in sooner! Simply make sure your servers stop by every 5-10 minutes or so, especially after they personally seated the guest. We might try to stop by again, just to see if it was a staffing fluke that day.

    (1)

  • Meghan B.

    The food is ok but the service is continually an issue. Half full drinks, terrible servers that are self important and slow service. I wish that this neighborhood place was great but it is bad each time I patron this place.

    (2)

  • Jasmin T.

    I live right down the street from this place and I have to admit that I didn't like it as much as I do now. It's a great neighborhood bar because it's spacious and the drinks are affordable. Not all of the food is great, but I do recommend the sliders with all of the fixings and waffle fries. The tacos are meh and you can find better authentic tacos at different places in the neighborhood. There's a pool table if you want to play and a wrap around patio. It's cool for a quick lunch or brunch to get out! Lastly, one thing that I wasn't a fan of was when they told me that I had to tie my dog on the outside of the gate if we wanted to eat on the patio. I'm sorry but I've never been told that before in a restaurant and so we opted to not eat here because our puppy needed to be closer to us.

    (3)

  • Liz A.

    Didn't have to work late last Friday so I was super excited to go meet up with some friends for dinner and drinks. The excitement went up a notch when I saw this place had an $8 fish fry. The fish was decent. I enjoyed their coleslaw and waffle fries. My beverage of choice was Central Water's Mississippi Mud Porter. Delicious. Overall, a fun evening in a casual, divey bar that I would definitely return to.

    (4)

  • Jake C.

    This place has saved my ass a million times when it's ten below outside and need chow! Good specials and friendly staff too. $2 tacos on Tuesday

    (5)

  • Jewel L.

    Great service & drinks. Food is pretty good. What ruined it for me, but not for others in the bar was all the kids, toddlers, infants...when I go to a real bar I prefer it to be adults only.

    (3)

  • Emily Z.

    Came in for a quick Monday night drink and surprise it was trivia night! I'm shocked by the 1 start reviews, I loved the atmosphere. I thought the place was decorated really great with a Damask painted wall and an amazing crystal chandelier in the front room. Our server was really nice and chatted with us for a bit which is rare these days. Beer menu was great, I ordered the first one on the list $5 for a bottle of Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager, brought out with a rocks glass, but that's cool. The menu looked really good, classic bar appetizers hummus, wings, cheese curds, nachos. They also server brunch, which looks low key but nice. They offer 6 pizzas all for $10, 9 burgers, 6 sandwiches and some salads that can be turned in to wraps. They have a sidewalk patio and a pool table, I will definitely be back to check it out again!

    (4)

  • Katie M.

    Delicious food. Well made cocktails. Friendly bartender. Nicely decorated, but still lived in space. If I lived in Chicago, I'd come here often, I think. The waffle fries were the best (generally have no opinion on waffle fries). I loaded my waffle fries with hot sauce (Cajun Chef - super delicious hot sauce) and blissed out in hot sauce and fried potato heaven. Really great burger too.

    (4)

  • Sarah G.

    This place is a local neighborhood spot, which I am all for, but I also think that a local neighborhood spot should have good service too...and well...we had to work a little hard to get a drink and put in a food order here. Granted it was during a game, so clearly there were more people in here than usual, BUT we were ordering lots of food and drinks for dinner... But the beer selection is pretty good here, it is like a nicer, bigger dive bar, where you can tell if people don't know you there, it is because you are visiting from somewhere else which I think is nice actually--although I was one of those people visiting from somewhere else! ha ha The food was okay--large salads actually! Who would have thought that this dimly lit bar actually made a decent salad? I felt weird ordering it, but wanted some vegetables if I could with all of the beer I was having...Plus Matt J. got a giant sandwich which was so so but it came with pretty tasty waffle fries. Those things are addicting for sure. So had the food been a little better, and had the service been a little better, I would have rounded up from my 3.5 rating, but rounded down for now.

    (3)

  • Jen H.

    I am so happy that The Beetle is my neighborhood bar!! First of all the food is great and it is a comfortable place to brunch, dine, or simply drink. Also- they rent their space for small occasions and get togethers and they absolutely go out of their way to help out and accommodate no matter the occasion. I recently had a babyshower there and they bent over backwards to help me plan it and make sure everything was smooth sailing. It was so stress free and convenient and I can't thank them enough. I worked with Colleen on the organization part of it and Kristen and Jessica the day of. All of them were so nice and helpful. They had great response time and made sure that everything happened according to plan. Their pricing was great as well and they are more than willing to work with you. I would definitely suggest them for small get togethers!!!

    (5)

  • Taylor M.

    Stopped by here for a quick drink after dinner across the street at Kai Zan. There was a check in offer for buy one get one drinks, but they said that meant one person had to drink both drinks. Lame. The bar itself was a bit drab and service was slow. Not really a place I would go out of my way to drink at. $5 mimosa special on Saturdays!

    (3)

  • Ellen E.

    Gotta love the Beetle if you live in the Smith Park / Humboldt Park areas! My friends and I are there weekly for after work drinks and dinner. The service is great, the atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed, and the waffle fries are amazing. It is the kind of place where you can 1) come in with your kids for a burger, 2) grab a late night drink and shot, and/or 3) show up for sunday brunch and end up drinking all day. I have done all three.

    (5)

  • Bree M.

    Food: Average Food Recommendation: Mushroom pizza, burger and waffle fries. Do not get the (strange) artichoke dip or (dry) hummus. Drinks: A nice beer selection, wine, liquor. Allagash white is consistently on tap. Price: Average. There are no $4-6 appetizer options. Atmosphere: Good Parking: Street- kind of tough sometimes. Wait staff: Uncomfortably bad. It often feels like I am imposing on their evening. Receiving water or a check is a monumental task- be prepared to wait. I would give a 3-star if it were not for the wait staff. Its an OK place, but probably not worth a special trip. If you're in the neighborhood, there are many other phenomenal places to eat and drink. UPDATED to a 3 star-- Haven't been since but I received a nice message from the owner who said they changed things up. Cheers to you. I hope its better!

    (3)

  • Giselle F.

    I was here recently for a short study session in the afternoon and I loved the place & the staff was very friendly. Their cheeseburger was decent, I'll try their waffle fries next time.

    (4)

  • Nicole E.

    This place, at one time, was consistently great, with meals, and service. Over the last year,...I continue to visit this convenient spot... Only to be further disappointed!! -in the winter it was always uncomfortably cold, and the server just seemed like it wasn't bad that we had to keep our coats on to eat. Most recently, they charged us 3.00 for 2 waters.. And rang them up as soda. ;-( Shameless. They mess up my order almost every time I'm there... And the servers are only "occasionally" friendly. 2stars... No, only 1.

    (1)

  • Anni C.

    GOD HELP ME, beetle, close up for a month and get a facelift! I've been going here for six years and literally nothing has changed. in a bad way. in fact, it's gotten much worse. the beer taps are clearly musty & never cleaned, the food went from decent bar food to slobbish, flash-frozen mush, and the vibe is best described as an empty shell of its former self. i want to be a regular so bad. it has no reason not to be awesome. but nothing ever changes. the worst was when we went a few weeks ago and a crazy drunk guy at the bar wouldn't leave me alone and nobody seemed to notice. i asked for my food to go and got out as quick as possible. in a competitive neighborhood, there's no good reason to go back.

    (2)

  • Soho A.

    Waited on a Thursday on my friends birthday for several minutes. No drink at the tables. Waitress was slow in taking our order very disappointed. I had been here before. Good food.

    (1)

  • Devin L.

    I just love this place. The food is so good for bar food. I highly suggest any of the pizzas and for burgers "The Trucker" is the way to go Jessica is pretty awesome too. One of my favorite bartenders. All in all this is one of my favorite spots in Chicago

    (5)

  • Juliana R.

    I can't believe I haven't reviewed the Beetle yet! This is a great place to have in the neighborhood if you just wanna get food and beer! Service here always good and everyone is super chill. All the food is delicious, and they had pretty good craft beer selection on tap. I love that it's never super crowded! I have to make it a point to come here more often though!

    (5)

  • Brandon L.

    Decent menu with average prices. We ordered the cheese curds as an appetizer and they were good. We were not very impressed with their pairing with a sweet mayo. I ordered the fish and chips and while the waffle fries were very crispy and delicious the fish was nothing to write home about. Advertised as beer battered but reminded me of fish out of your local grocers frozen food aisle. Atmosphere was as expected for a bar; however the single waitress seemed to have some difficulty keeping up with the entire floor. It took 15minutes to get her attention to get our bill.

    (3)

  • Joan L.

    Service always great. Favorite food, fish tacos. Nice outside eating area as well.

    (5)

  • Beth W.

    Great neighborhood spot - more convenient than anything else, but decent beer selection and food was fairly tasty (the waffle fries were spot on, though). Can't say The Beetle is my favorite spot, but I'll definitely be back because of its proximity to my apartment.

    (3)

  • Chrysa L.

    Was The Beetle the best bar/restaurant I have ever been to? No. However, did I enjoy one of the best burgers of my life? Absolutely. If you had told me as a kid that I would grow up and put peanut butter on things like burgers, I would have called you a wacko. However, I have to say, the "Elvis burger" with bacon, peanut butter, and fried plantains was insanely delicious. Paired with Revolution Brewery's "A Little Crazy" and dining al fresco, I hope to make it back for another delightful afternoon very quickly.

    (4)

  • Seria A.

    Seriously lucky I could not give zero stars! Food was mediocre at best. Service was horrible. And where do they get off charging a $2.50 fee for sitting in there....?!?! So I ordered a burger and fries and a soda my husband did the same and because we did not order alcohol we get charged?!?!?! You are in Humbolt Park! Not freaking Michigan ave!

    (1)

  • Paul C.

    Worst dining experience I have ever had! I decided to have dinner with some family on Sunday 8/24. The waiter had got to be drunk out of his mind! Rude, incompetent, unwelcoming, terrible! Never going back! He couldn't even remember our orders after he wrote them down.. Received food say 40 minutes later...sub par at best. Mac and cheese was noodles and water. Waiter stopped checking up on us. Skip this joint!! S/n, the manager on duty did due some damage control...

    (1)

  • Kelsey H.

    I know I'm a minority in this, but why the fuck even bother with the vegan burger if you don't have any vegan bread? Beer is good and pool table - Just sayin.

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    What a great neighborhood bar! I was riding around on my bike on Easter trying to run errands (which surprise, surprise, didn't work out) and felt a bit peckish. I saw this place was open and enjoying life so I stopped in. GOOD CHOICE. $5 Bloody Marys. Delicious waffle fries. Good burgers. Nice bartenders. In fact, that was a big appeal to me. It's always nice to go into a homey bar on a Sunday afternoon and just have a chat with a bartender about random things. Basically, to cure a hang over, go get some hair of the dog at this place on a Sunday.

    (4)

  • Andy M.

    A average looking newbie bar in the city. The food was being ordered often by the twenty something young crowd so it must be good as the one cook looked ultra busy even though the place was not crowded. Nice service and another strong bar on Chicago Avenue in Ukrainian Illae part of Chicago. The food looked really good and the kitchen appears open late so this place is highly recommended over White Castle

    (3)

  • Donna G.

    This place has a great ambiance! Nice chill place to grab a hearty burger and a beer! Bring your crew because it's a great place to talk and eat. The waffle fries are where it's at!! I ordered a portobello mushroom burger, and it was delicious. If you're vegetarian, you defiantly got to come check this place out. If you're craving something sweet, I wouldn't put this on the A-list. The brownie Sunday tasted like it was sitting in the fridge uncovered. But nonetheless, this place has great service, great burgers, and nice cold brews! Pros: -Great service -Large seating areas -Chill, comfortable ambiance Cons: -Doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth.

    (4)

  • Amanda H.

    A cozy place with exposed brick and booths with curtains. Great for date night, a small group, or to have a drink after work. Average drink prices for Chicago but they have good daily drink and food specials. I ordered the Baja Burger medium rare but it came to the table rare. If you're picky about how your burger is cooked, I'd make sure to check it before you eat it. I didn't have a problem with it because the guacamole was delicious and tasted like it was made in house from fresh ingredients. The party I was with ordered cheese curds and spinach dip for appetizers. The spinach dip was good but the cheese curds were the best I've had outside of Wisconsin. There's a modern juke box ranging from classic to top 40 songs. I'm glad they have a pool table, but there's only one so it's not good if the place is busy or if you're with a group. The biggest con for me was the space heaters. They are placed too close to where people may be placing their clothes and belongings and present a fire hazard. One space heater looks like a small fireplace but the other one looks tacky and out of place. This is probably a better place to visit for a summer day date.

    (4)

  • Bjorn K.

    This place is Kick Ass. Good food, substantial portions, you can eat hella late, consistent service & proper bartenders. For less than twenty bucks you can get a hell of a plate of food, a shot, & a beer. Perfect for those budget minded folks with a pit and their stomach and thirst that needs quenching.

    (5)

  • Manny A.

    Arrived about 7pm. The food was average. Not bad but nothing to write yelp about lol. There was 2 TV's however not in the place we sat and I could not see the Hawks game. A few more TV's would go a long way. Great price on beer with $4 drafts. The biggest disappointment was the service. Once the waitress finally made it to us we got our food and did not see her again until the check came. No interaction at all. I was prepared to spend more on drinks however we decided to just go to another place. I see why there was only 2 other people in the place. Perhaps its better known for late night music however there is a large untapped market segment they are missing out on.

    (2)

  • Joshua M.

    Throughout my entire life, I have been on the hunt for the perfect patty melt. No matter where I am, if there is a patty melt on the menu, I WILL order it. It's this personal rule that I have, and sometimes it's a let-down in places where there are other *really* good things on the menu. I still don't think I've found the perfect patty melt, but beetle's goes in the top 5 or so. Though they did commit the #1 sin with regards to patty melt production. It arrived almost well-done when I ordered it medium rare. The true gem here is the beer selection. It's great, and the service is too. It was surprisingly not busy here on a Friday night during a Blackhawks game. I hope they're doing okay because their food and drink are both way better than several bars I've seen packed from wall to wall on a Friday night.

    (4)

  • Michelle R.

    Well, for starters...it's Saturday afternoon. Table we wanted to sit at wasn't wiped down. My friend wanted a Miller Lite. They r out of Miller Lite, bud light, COors Light. No spinach for a salad but we weren't informed until 7 min after we ordered. Gnats filled the place. My salad was ok...caprese salad. Mimosa...yuk! Chances of being back...I WON'T!!!

    (1)

  • Adam S.

    Very relaxed and open place. They have a good menu and a very good selection of beers.

    (4)

  • Dustin A.

    Great option for the area, nice layout, plenty of room, pool. Proper neighborhood bar.

    (4)

  • Chan K.

    One of my neighborhood watering holes, this place never fails to provide me friendly service. Fish and veggie tacos on taco night are decent , and the caesar salad is different (no croutons) but still yummy. This isn't the best place to catch the game but for someplace that is walking distance it's more than serviceable.

    (3)

  • Christina N.

    The food is not worth the price. I've gone on two different occasions. The first time I had the fish tacos, which were bland with the exception of the small amount of pico de gallo I got. The second time I got the mac n cheese and that was just a joke. Honestly, if you're going to spend $11 on mac n cheese, go to Lockdown. FAR BETTER. The mac n cheese was gritty. It tasted like it was powdered cheese. They burned the garlic toast that came with it too. I've gotten a better meal from Aldi for half the price. Literally. I also ordered waffle fries. They felt like they were frozen and tasted like it too. The only seasoning seems to be what the fries were originally fried with. So, what they added on the conveyor belt and then froze? Overall, the atmosphere is nice. The bar is well stocked with awesome choices. The decor and aesthetic is very pleasing and relaxing. Trivia is even fun. Just eat before you go there.

    (3)

  • Jelena Z.

    Beetles, I've never liked. The heavily-sclerotized facade of live ones irrationally creeps me out but beetles encased in resin may prove even creepier. An almost 5'9" me looks ridiculous in a cute VW Beetle (ended up buying the Jetta), and Beetlejuice the movie killed my crush on Michael Keaton before Batman could begin (though bat wings vs. beetle wings result in the former sickening me a bit more). Another beetle sore spot? The spelling... I always have to look twice because it just doesn't look right (Penny Lane does approve of The Beatles, natch.) And then, there's the Beetle Bar & Grill. Don't be surprised if anyone in the beverage industry suggests meeting here due to their quiet reputation for solid food, impressive cocktails and beer. Not only does the Beetle boast a strong beer list, but they served my Tripel Karmeliet in the proper glassware. Though that may not be unusual for a craft beer bar, The Beetle doesn't really position itself as one. It's dark. Broody. Musicians, artists and the body-arted hang out here. There's a fireplace, but it's not meant to be trendy. Oh yes - the Beetle's a bonafide 'real' bar that just happens to also serve fantastic food. Don't be surprised that the burgers are not-so-strangely reminiscent of Kuma's, as the surroundings aren't far off though the feeling is softer. My burger was the talk of the night and I hedonistically hoarded it (it had been 10 hours, k?). Good people eat, drink and work here. And now I can finally say I like a beetle for the first time in my life.

    (4)

  • Jenn T.

    Oh Beetle, what happened? I've been going to the Beetle since I moved to this city 5 years ago. It used to have good food and fantastic service. There have been some dramatic changes in food that have caused me to stop eating there. But, service is still good and the ambience is pleasant. Ok place to hang out before or after eating out.

    (3)

  • Jenna S.

    TRIVIA! Yes, I'm a trivia junkie and this bar does trivia on Monday nights. Hence the reason I even showed up. Small, but not over-crowded. Plenty of tables of the amount of people in the place and a big bar. Good, straightforward service and nice servers. Small menu but well-made food. They could stand to add a few more apps, but a decent selection nonetheless. Trivia is super fun and the competition is decent. You should show up or trivia because it's awesome. I may be back. The out-of-the-way location is not my scene, but I can show up once in awhile.

    (4)

  • Eugene C.

    The food is decent. The drinks are good. What really impresses me about this place is the size, service, location and ambiance. It's tucked away in West Ukie village so the clientele is a big mix of people. It's relatively chill during brunch hours and it's a great place to get a bite, do some work ( web development in my case ) and chat with the staff. I really dig it and will continue to do come here. They also have good DJ nights occasionally.

    (4)

  • Lexie V.

    I really like it here. I'm not exactly sure why, but there is something about it that makes me keep wanting to go back. I went for lunch one cold afternoon and sat next to the fireplace and played board games with my friends. The veggie burger was surprisingly delicious and the beer specials are decent. I had the Scoutmob deal which is what brought me in in the first place. It made the pricing more than reasonable. Monday night trivia is really fun and the bartender was really great.

    (5)

  • Jacob C.

    Food was great. I had the Elvis Burger and it was deeelish! the only thing that I didnt not like about the place was the lighting its was kinda hard to read the menu with small fine print. but other wise a great place to have drinks with friends or coworkers. as well to eat dinner.

    (4)

  • Danielle K.

    This bar is always empty. Service is mediocre, usually. If you sit at the bar you'll get the best service. Food is good; Especially the pulled pork pizza. Try it. Good place to go and hang out and still be able to talk with your group. Not a good place if you are looking for atmosphere .

    (3)

  • Heather O.

    Walked in to order some food to go (2 things) on a Sunday afternoon. The bar had 16 people inside w 2 bartenders/servers. Granted the Bears were on so maybe the bar was more packed compared to a normal Sunday afternoon, but it was NOT loud (not that you could tell given the bartender's uncalled for rude attitude towards me). She looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language, rolling her eyes at me saying she couldn't hear me when I could understand her perfectly. Frustrated and/or exasperated for no apparent reason, she asked me to write my order down which I said ok to if she gave me a paper and pen, and she commenced w the eye-rolling and finally just took my order at the computer like a normal server. It sounds like I'm being harsh but the whole sitch was so bazaar that I was 2 seconds away from walking out w/o ordering bc I was treated SO rudely for no reason. To justify this review, she knew she'd f'ed up bc she was trying to be really nice after that. Sorry Lizzie (the brunette w curly hair), first impressions are everything in the service industry and you f'ed up the Beetles' for me. Glad that was the first time I've ever been there bc now I don't have to waste my time trying it out at night when there will be even more people for her to deal w. Don't want to imagine what that service is like...

    (1)

  • Melly C.

    So after my review, the owner of Beetle Bar was so appalled at how I was treated and gave me a 25 dollar gift certificate to try them again. After all, she said, I live in the neighborhood she'd hate if I couldn't come to my neighborhood bar! I thought it was very generous and I gave them another try. I was very pleasantly surprised! I went on a weekend, my date and I both had breakfast sandwiches. It was prepared very quickly, I got it within 10 minutes. The waitress was super attentive and then I got dessert (can't resist...) so I ordered the apple pie a la mode. It was the cutest pie I had ever seen. It was a mini baked pie, it was fresh and warm. So delicious and with the ice cream and chocolate syrup drizzled on the plate--it was the perfect end to our brunch. I'd definitely go again and now I know that the other day must have been an off day or something. Thanks Kat for letting me try Beetle again!

    (4)

  • Kate B.

    I came here with my boyfriend the other day on the initiative of a Scoutmob for 50% off our entire bill (great deal!). We were greeted right away at the door of the nearly empty large lounge/bar/restaurant. The atmosphere was dark but friendly. There's a pool table, a large bar, and many tables. Our server was helpful and quick. We ordered the fish tacos for an appetizer, which might be my favorite thing on the menu. My boyfriend ordered a burger which was "fine." I had a veggie burger which was also "fine." Unfortunately, they were out of their signature waffle fries and we were served somewhat smushy regular fries. The beer list is great, and they offer $3 Point drafts on Mondays. They offer many specials throughout the week and I believe they have a trivia night on Mondays as well. For a low-key, neighborhood spot, I'd come here again. Nothing to rave about food-wise. We also had a great server which I cannot say that we did the first time we came here a few months ago. A grade of B for you, Beetle.

    (4)

  • Candice G.

    I was going to quote some lyrics to one of my favorite Blur songs, 'Beetlebum,' as the lead in to this review, but then I Googled it and found that it's about heroin and reconsidered based on my staunch stance on drugs and because I now feel a bit daft for always thinking it was about a hot chick... or at the very least bug butts. Moving on... I like this bar. It's quaint, the bartenders are friendly (Josh, in particular, was a gem), the bathrooms are clean, not crowded, has normal business hours (that's directed towards you, California Clipper), and easy to find parking. It makes me sad to know that for 3 years I worked less than a mile from here and never made the trip in... but back in that day and age I think I was a little turned off by/scared off it's proximity to the now defunct Juke'n Pizza, of which I'd heard some unsavory things about. They had a decent selection of craft brews on draft (I chose to get my bzzz off FFF's Pride and Joy) and in bottle and though I didn't order anything food-wise for myself, I did manage to juke a few waffle fries from one of my compadres and in the words of Larry David, they were prittay, prittay, prittay, prittay good. If in the area, I defo wouldn't be sad to find myself in the Beetle again... I mean, I was already there twice in one day today, so what's the harm in adding a third time to make it a little more charmed?

    (4)

  • Karen V.

    Great beer list, friendly staff, plenty of TVs, okay volume, great food served until midnight, & overall a chill place that has a little bit of everything. There's a pool table, a fire, and board games. This is the ultimate cozzy place to chill with your friends and it never gets super over-packed. My boyfriend and I have been going here for a year and there has never been a single thing to complain about. If you're into the chill atmosphere, then you'll LOVE this place AND they've also got outdoor seating for the summertime. What more could you ask for? BTW... if you love Emma Stone, Colleen is the closest thing you'll get! She's great & also has a really awesome sense of humor! :) ..I'm actually going there again tonight! ;)

    (5)

  • Jasmin L.

    After a hard Sunday of nerding out, my friends and I were ready for some sustenance Good beer selection, killer burgers and no sports blasting in the background I mean what more could a girl ask for?

    (4)

  • Ryan C.

    I really like this place. When I first saw it, it seemed like a great Bar and Grill...in the wrong neighborhood. However, that's a good thing. I live in the neighborhood and if I want to go to this type of place, I'd have to go to Lincoln Park, West Loop or such. The only difference I noticed is not finding the pretentious crowd of LP or West Loop or such. Sorry to label people, but you know the difference that I am talking about. The people were friendly, the staff was great and the food was good and the wait was short. The bar tender had a good choice of blues/blues rock playing, which wasn't up too loud and was just about the right volume. With the dim lights and right volume, the mood was set to a rather comfortable atmosphere. Decent beer selection and drink specials. One of the drink specials was the "$2 grab bag shot." I know that means "get rid of what's sitting around in shots" type special, but for $2 and guessing what it is, it was worth it. The chicken quesadilla was good, but could probably cut back on the black beans inside. The pizza was good. I recommend the BBQ pulled pork pizza. Great crust and moderately priced at $8 for decent size. Great place, good atmosphere that was rather comfortable. I'll definitely go back. I think the only thing I would change is introduce a few appetizers in the $3-$4 dollar range. Everything is the $8-$11 range. I know it's just a few bucks, but it starts adding up quickly.

    (5)

  • Catie V.

    Initially I though that this place had potential. It had a quirky name-I just happen to love anything beetle, they served food and craft beers, and there was a pool table. How can you go wrong with those things, eh? The menu consisted of basic american bar food such as pizza, sandwiches, various apps like wings, spinach dip, and a few deserts. The craft beer selection was impressive and ranging from $5-7. Plus left hand milk stout was on tap, score! After arriving and waiting for 15 minutes we finally go someone to come over to our table with menus. Ten minutes later, another server stopped by and asked my friend and I if someone took our order. Despite being frustrated with the lack of attention we got, I politely ordered a reuben sandwich with waffle fries and had a tasty smuttynose pumpkin ale. The pumpkin ale was amazing. I prefer this to sam adams pumpkin ale because it tasted less malt-y and more pumpkin. The reuben sandwich was probably one of the best that i've had in a really long time and and waffle fries were perfectly seasoned and crisp. The food and drinks were good, i sure didn't expect for what i ordered to be as tasty as it was. if the service was better i'd give this place more stars. Aside from that. i would surely come here for another drink or two.

    (3)

  • Anna S.

    First, I'm biased because I live down the street an will always continue to come here (good or bad). It's just so close to my house! But seriously. The fish n chips is awesome!!!! Also, the fact that they have old chub Scottish ale on nitro doesn't hurt their case.

    (5)

  • R.g. C.

    I used to love this place but it lost its touch. The tacos are not good on Tuesday anymore and I had brunch for the first time this past weekend and it was disgusting. Yes it's a bar and yes it's bar food but please lose the brunch menu and if you must eat please stick with the burgers. Also when someone asks for a recommendation and the bartender says "everything is delicious" that usually means nothing is worth eating. Ordered some greasy corn beef potatoes with eggs that looked freezer packed and microwaved since the yolk was solid. Music sucks too, it's all top 40 garbage. Drinks I give 4 stars, a little overpriced compared to the dive bars and old oak nearby but the food is horrid, it is a bar so I won't judge on the food as much. Super pissed my Saturday brunch was ruined because the staff couldn't give an actual recommendation.

    (2)

  • Ei Jane L.

    The Beetle is a nice neighborhood bar. I enjoy what it has to offer as a neighborhood bar: fair Chicago price, above-average (New?) American style food with a little creative twist once in awhile, usually not packed with obnoxiously loud drunken frenzy. We often come in late afternoon/early dinner time, and it's often the relaxing and spatial Beetle Bar waiting for us with big windows, outlooking to the streets. The Beetle has your typical bar decor, dim lighting, TVs showing some kind of sports, and pool table. Fancier than a dive bar, but not fancy enough that I gotta start paying for some kind of constructed "coolness." They do have a few bigger round tables, I imagine good for a small groups from 4-5 peeps. In the summer, a small outdoor seating is available. I have never had a bad service experience here. The waitress are all pretty attentive, quick to come by with no attitude. The kitchen always works fast; we have come in without calling to order first several times and were able to obtain our take-out in reasonable manner. Overall, easy and low key service. Street parking is usually no problems, this far west on Chicago. Their burger retains its constant standard of tastiness, and the fish tacos and all salads are good in the sense that I can't cook something like this out of my own kitchen. Wide enough beer selection for a neighborhood chill. It is what the Beetle is- a nice neighborhood bar, and it's not pretending to be more than what it is. Which is why I prefer to come here more often and eat my earnest food earnestly, give it a 4 star over/ than going to some self-proclaimed upscale Wicker Park bars and exchange evil judgmental looks with strangers, who are equally self-proclaimed.

    (4)

  • Billy b.

    I never really write reviews so quick after leaving out but I was so turned off from this please that I feel I should. I was there just 10 minutes ago and dined there on 1/18/13 pretty late. The food was good, the prices were good. The menu has a good variety. What was horrible was the customer service. Our server was so rude. She placed an order for one person at our table, turned it in to the kitchen, and then came back to take another order. She was brunette, and I don't remember her name. I watched my friend finish his meal before my order came out. Then I realized she didn't bring any silverware so I had to go to the kitchen to get a fork and utensils. She was rude, didn't ask if we wanted any drinks or anything else. When she came back she acted mad because she couldn't find the cap to the ketchup bottle and accused us of stealing it! I'm never going back!

    (2)

  • Nicki S.

    I've been to The Beetle twice in the last month and I really like the ambiance and the specials. The first time I visited with 2 friends on a Thursday after we had dinner in the neighborhood. We enjoyed the Thursday special which included $3 Domestics and $3 Abita Seasonals. I knew that night that I wanted to go back to try some brunch. A friend and I went back a few days later for a shot at their weekend brunch. I had the Chilaquiles and they were just ok. Reminded me of some type of Mexican nacho instead of a breakfast dish. The $5 mimosas and bloodies hit the spot though. I definitely plan on revisiting this joint to try their pub trivia as well as their Gourmet Pizza special on Thursdays. I did meet the owner while there for brunch and she was very friendly and accommodating. It's nice to see good neighborhood bars going up in the area!

    (3)

  • Miss M.

    I was here a few weeks ago and I was very impressed by their beer selection and their menu is really extensive too. I had a really good burger there and their waffle fries are heavenly! Get there early as the place can get super crowded. I would totally go back!

    (5)

  • Kaybee K.

    oh, beetle. you hold SUCH a special place in my heart. why? it might have something to do with me meeting my manfriend here. because of that, i'm a little bit of a softie for this place. and because it's just a really great low-key neighborhood bar. it's never too crowded, too loud or too rowdy. there's a pool table, they do trivia on monday nights, taco tuesdays. i'm getting old and not fond of drunken idiots when i'm out and this is never the case here. the one kicker though is the food. it's your typical thrown together bar food. no matter how you ask for your burger to be cooked, it comes out well done. your nachos can either be awesome or a complete soggy mess - except for the southeast nachos which seems to be pretty awesomely consistent if you're in to pork. everything on the menu is pretty much just ok. [is that bad to admit i might have tried everything on their menu? did i mention i come here a lot?] because it's so close and feels like home, we come about once a week. and even thought it'll probably be overcooked, we always get a burger. and we like it.

    (4)

  • Rafael C.

    What is there to say about this place other than it's basically what you want from a neighborhood bar. There were enough TVs to watch sporting events, the drink specials were decent and the bar food was OK but plentiful. The layout of the place is pretty decent and I appreciated that the big group I came with were able to find space to mingle. My only knock for the most part is their pricing. I think it is a bit on the high side than what it should be. However, they do have specials posted on the board so at least you can get a break every once in a while.

    (3)

  • Warrior W.

    I love Nicki S.'s review from 4/23 saying its nice to see good neighborhood bars going up. Its been there since the 70's and the new ownership for several years. haha! durrrrr The place has become better over the last year. It finally got some beer specials and some good beers. The burgers have always been good. It just needs some sort of "oomph" to forge ahead. Some kind of signature. It's missing something. Taco night? Live music? $2 draft day? I don't know what it is....but it needs "something". Update 2015: It has gone down since I left a review a couple years ago. The burgers, which used to be really good are now like frozen patties from a box. It doesn't do anything for holidays very well, have any fresh ideas. Just stagnant. They put some nice work into one of the areas (fireplace, new booths, wall) that are very nice. It is what it is "A-OK" = 3/5.

    (3)

  • Kristen N.

    Good beer selection, crazy slow service. On the upside, I took advantage of a Yelp check-in offer and got a free beer. Didn't try the food, as we were here for pre-dinner drinks before Kai Zan across the street (which was amazing ;)

    (3)

  • Tim H.

    This is a great little neighborhood spot. I've never had a problem getting a seat. The beer list is decent-to-good but not really extensive, but they do a good job of rotating taps so there's something new to try while also ensuring that they've got a good enough variety to please everyone. The food is above-average bar food, but I wish they had more vegetarian options - as far as I can tell, there isn't even a way to get decent nachos without meat. What I like most, though, is the atmosphere. It's laid back and casual. There's a great - but seldom empty - table to one side right by a warm fireplace, snag it if you can. Even if you can't, I like how the place doesn't blast music. It's the only place I know within reasonable walking distance that has food and good beer and where you can go on a Friday or Saturday night to meet up with friends and actually hear each other talk (heaven forbid! Talking to friends while socializing!). That alone clinches this place for me, and is greatly appreciated.

    (4)

  • Daniel M.

    I like the beetle. There's nothing crazy about it. The lights are dim, they play decent music, they have sports and movies playing on their flat-screen TVs,and the food is good. It's a relaxing environment. I've taken numerous dates there because they play the music just low enough to hear someone as you converse. My friends and I use to play pool there during the summer. I even took my dad there one time for a few beers and a few games of pool lol. Overall it's an decent bar, there's not enough women though, other than the bartenders. I'd recommend this bar for its good food and drinks at fair prices. Hope this helped, take care.

    (3)

  • Angela B.

    I have driven by this place many times and never thought to try it. I had a gift card, so I figured why not? My boyfriend & I had a late lunch here on a Friday afternoon. As soon as we walked in the door EVERYONE in the bar area said "Hello!" I briefly felt like "Norm" from Cheers. Our server was pleasant and helpful. She kept our drinks full, but didn't stalk us. :) The atmosphere inside was much larger and cuter than I expected. TV, pool tables, music, nice deco... all very nice. Since I had some extra money to burn and I had never been to The Beetle, I decided we'd try a little of everything. First we had the sliders appetizer, which was decent. Their waffle fries are AWESOME! By far the best I've had in the city. My boyfriend ordered a pizza, which turned out to be big enough that we could have easily shared it. I had the Chicago Cheese Steak sandwich - YUM. Everything we ordered was good, fresh and reasonably priced. (Plus, we had leftovers!) Definitely a step up from your average "bar food." For $50 we had an appetizer, two entrees, two Vodka & lemonades and two sodas. Not bad... not bad at all. As other yelpers have said - I am definitely glad this place is in my neighborhood. I will be back, for sure. I'm curious about their brunch.. and bottomless mimosas would surely make me a regular!! :)

    (4)

  • Mike B.

    I've been coming here wayy before I was a 'yelper.' My friends live across the street and we will order thier burgers almost 100% of the time(even ordered them for carry out). Many times I've helped close this place down in a drunkin happy stoooper...one of my favs if you're in the area. Good people work here = good times

    (4)

  • Don H.

    When I first came here it was called the Black Beetle. I like the new name. It's just plain easier. So... we came here for a Friday night semi-date night. We got here around 6:30p and found it a perfect time. We wanted food and a beer so it was perfect for that. The noise level was reasonable, parking was abundant and the staff attentive. At the table were achicken sandwich, lentil black bean soup (a special) and nachos (my meal). Everything was well prepared, especially the lentil soup. It had a taste I've never experienced before. Our server mentioned it was a limited special so I doubt it will be there. In addition to the tasty food, they have a good selection of beers on draught and good specials to match. With a beer and hard liquor drink on special, the bill came to $41 with tip. That seems a tad high, but with the drinks it sorta makes sense.

    (3)

  • Brett F.

    Dig this place a lot. Good selection of beer and the food is good too. The nachos are my go to here and always fill up. Monday Night trivia is fun here too. Really laid back with board games available and a pool table.

    (4)

  • Jason W.

    The food is OK. The music is consistently awful and has been for years. The service is pretty good, though it can take a while to get noticed. Mostly it's empty unless there's a game on, which I guess makes it sort of a sports bar, though that's clearly not what they were going for. The weirdest thing is the clientele it draws. Not sure where all the Lincoln Park/Lakeview types are coming from, or why...there are certainly enough mediocre bars over there. Maybe this one's cheaper. All in all: YAAWWWWNNNN. Unless you're really hungry.

    (2)

  • Brent W.

    Ok, so it's now just The Beetle, whateves, it's identical and sports the exact same look and feel as Black Beetle did. Menu has changed only marginally but they have added a pan pizza that is actually pretty good. To me the place has very little character or soul and only stop in if others make the call, as it's in our area.

    (2)

  • Annie W.

    Stopped here after a night out with my girls, got some GREAT late night grub - my main squeeze got a burger, and I got some wings and we ate a giant plate of french fries. The ambience is lovely - I was so grateful for big tables & chairs at a place like this! Love the dark decor! Looking forward to returning!

    (4)

  • Kim A.

    Maybe my new favorite weekday bar in the city? And that says something. The food here is so good. We came with a group of 5 for trivia, everyone ordered something different, food was shared, and ALL was delicious. The set up is really nice, very open, great seats by the windows if you're luck enough to snag one. Helpful and attentive staff. Delicious beer specials. BIG FAN.

    (4)

  • Russ T.

    The font used for the name of this place is kind of funny. This is a fabulous hole in the wall type of bar. There are the televisions, there is the pool table and then there is the $6 Glenlivet 12 year scotch. $6?!?!!??!!! And the pour was a fairly large glass full. Okay so I am kind of partial to a place that serves me (massive) amounts of scotch at a price where I should have purchased another to take home with me. And the food is good too. I came back for food the follow day. It was good and relatively well priced so I don't know why people don't show up on Saturday nights, but they don't. But they did show up for food on Sunday. It's just the way it is. So I would recommend this place to anyone as long as you aren't on a first date -- not the type of place for that. But for good, drink and glancing up at the tv every so often, it isn't a bad place.

    (4)

  • katie m.

    Eh, eh & eh. Drinks are pricey here...like don't you realize i live alllllllll the way over here because the rent is cheap and i live off minimum wage??? Or perhaps your catering to older hip-hip crowd? Hm i guess i do see quite a bit o' those in there. Well your ganna have to give me a better deal than $4 beer(bottle) on a Monday. Take a lesson from Easy bar maybe? But I know not everyone can be that cool, so what else hmm? what else can justify your $ craziness??? Mmmkay well the atmosphere is smooth. The people are smooth, alright Beetle +5 points!! Your waffle fries rock!!! +10 points!!! Monday night trivia +5 points!! Good Burgers +5 points!! $7 for a pizza instead of $9 ??? -10 pts (lack of real deal here) Scratch this point shenanigan! All i know is; It's a small neighborhood, there aren't too many bars...Cater to us!! I want a $2 PBR tallboy duh!!!!!!

    (3)

  • Mike W.

    I have been to the Beetle a few times in the last 6 months. I haven't been able to find any glaring problems with it but I haven't really found anything special about the bar/restaurant either. I've yet to be in here on a Friday or Saturday evening but my trips here during the week nights and on Sunday evening were pretty standard. Establishment was busy but not slammed. Finding a table was incredibly easy. Staff was friendly albeit a bit delayed in coming to the table at times. Burgers were good. I've tried a couple different ones. The last time I was in it was not long after the crazy storm had hit so they ran into issues with beef shipments. Wasn't a big deal to switch the order but I'm almost positive about 10-15 minutes passed after taking our order before we were informed that we would need to change our order. Not exactly the best service. I also like their beer selection. They have a couple bottles that I haven't seen around town often which is nice. They do run beer price specials (dollar off I believe) which are mediocre. Nice place to check out but not exactly the place I'm looking to become a regular at.

    (3)

  • Joe P.

    Stopped in to grab a quick bite and was very impressed. For $10, burger with bacon and plaintains was a piece of art. Lots of local brews, waitstaff was friendly, not particularly crowded, very low key vibe overall... what more could you want. Also used a scoutmob here which made it a ridiculously good deal. Will stop in again for food for sure.

    (5)

  • Colleen R.

    The Beetle had become somewhat of a joke between my boyfriend and me, despite never having been. Since I've moved into the neighborhood, he has made a point to pronounce the name of this bar with a British accent EVERY SINGLE TIME we walk by. I can't think of this place without thinking of this, so maybe that's why it took us a long time to finally go. It's definitely better than I had expected, and we plan to go back when we're in the mood for burgers again. During our early evening visit, the place was half-empty and pretty chill. We sat at a table near the window while a thunderstorm blew past, and were able to look out and see a rainbow over Chicago Avenue at the end of our meal (awww). There's outdoor seating, too, while it's still nice out.

    (4)

  • Amanda Z.

    So, yeah, I was here when it was the Black Beetle and after a recent visit to just "The Beetle," my opinion is reconfirmed. A-OK. In fact, A-OK in almost the exact same way. The place has good bones. TVs for the sports fanatics, a pool table for those who want to shoot some pool round out the typical bar experience. Decent selection of beers, too. I enjoyed a few of the April beer special, Peak, an organic IPA that was quite good for $4. Honestly, I want this place to be cheaper. $5 for a Miller Lite draft? That's insanity. Then again, you can get a Three Floyds draft for $5 too. Just doesn't make much sense to me. Guess you know you should drink the better stuff, eh? Not a destination spot by any means, but the service is friendly and you can have a few beers and catch up with your pals.

    (3)

  • Matthew F.

    Since moving into the neighborhood in October, I've made it into the beetle at least once every two weeks (usually once a week). $4 beer of the months and one of the best burgers in Chicago (for only $8) keep me satisfied. The music is average, but inoffensive. The waitstaff does vary by the night. One of the bartenders is friendlier than the others, but none are rude. The off-putting thing is that on Saturday night, this place is often empty. Like a total of 7-10 patrons. I wish it would catch on a bit more, as one of the reasons to head out is to mingle.

    (4)

  • Kenny S.

    Ok... so this is in response to the Harry Potter person who was talking about the incident with the owner. Lady, I was there. It was YOUR table who went up to the owner and told her that your waitress was too busy making out with her boyfriend outside to get you a Rogue. YOU guys threw your waitress under the bus, then blamed the owner when she gets in trouble? What the heck is that? "more obnoxious than Bellatrix Lestrange after brutally murdering Serius Black with one of the unforgivable curses. " - what are you? an 11-year-old? To everyone else reading this... the new owners have really turned things around here...and no i do not work here. I recommend this place. Good food and, contrary to the Harry Potter wack job's opinions, friendly staff.

    (4)

  • Stella W.

    Yum.. Really like hanging here.

    (4)

  • Edgar B.

    I have lived a block away from this place for a whole year before taking a step in. Main reason being, generic bar&grills are everywhere and I for one am an advocate for drinking at homely environments. Butttt, I happened to go there one night, ordered some burger from a menu that was at least a wee bit creative in terms of "Titles" of the burgers. There is Elvis (with peanut butter of course! and bacon, and plaintains!), the trucker, etc. The conclusion was that the burgers rocked, especially for being only 8 dollars. And not to forget they come with dancing waffle fries, and everything is fairly large in size, in a good, satisfying, American, indulgent way. They have some large tables inside, the ones looking over to Chicago Ave are hardly occupied (well I tend to go here on lazy afternoons around 4-5 generally, hey maybe that's why?!).. but nothing about the service, decor or music choices make it a standout. Average in those terms. Their Bloody Mary's are solid and real spicy, and beer selection (only when it comes bottles, draft varities are kinda meh) is nothing mindblowing, although its very good. So yes, you are hungry, you are around, you see this place, know that you can go and have a splendid burger on the cheap with alrite crowd+surroundings.

    (4)

  • Melanie M.

    Nice neighborhood bar, definitely a dive bar on the inside which I absolutely adore. Dark and dismal with a slightly dirty feel. They had a nice beer selection and the food was good. They don't have a lot on their food menu, but the burger with guacamole and pico de gallo was delicious. The chipotle aioli that comes with it is wonderful- get an extra side of it for your fries! My sister got a burger that had plantains and peanut butter on it... yum! Great if you're in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. Also note: if it's in the winter, don't bother taking your jacket off. I'm pretty sure they simply don't turn on the heat.

    (3)

  • simona s.

    Wake up beetle! You are in one of the most amazing neighborhoods and you have no idea how much you're failing to cater to it. I live a block away and come here probably about once a month, maybe less and only when I'm bored and extremely lazy to cook. But you don't win here really, service is horrible(this comes from me -a server myself), food is pretty bad too, but I still come here with hopes that one day I will be surprised by some amazing experience. Tonight, I came with my daughter and asked if I could sit outside(I knew I could, but wanted to make myself visible to the staff), bartender was nice and told me to go ahead and grab a table. After sitting for 10 minutes, I got up to leave, as I didn't get any attention from anyone, but as I am leaving, a server marched in and was ready to take an order, just to realize we didn't even have any menus. after another 20 minutes of no food, me and my 4 year old were done... I went inside and asked if i could get the food and lemonade to go. The bartender informed me they don't do liquids to go, as they don't have a license for it. maybe i'm a little confused about this being a true story, but I've lived in chicago for 9 years, been coming to beetle for the last 6 and I have never heard of no liquid to go license thing. How did this just appear all of the sudden. beetle make me angry, I want to love them so much, but they just make me hate them instead...

    (2)

  • Jim H.

    I love the Beetle. It is my neighborhood go to spot as I can found there at least one night a week. What's not to like? The burgers are delicious and reasonably priced, decent beer selection and a chill atmosphere all within a couple blocks of home.

    (4)

  • Ms. R.

    Great bar to chill and hang out. Amazing array of beers. Delicious food (especially for a bar!). Pizzas hit the spot. My favorite is the "Up in Smoke" - has pulled pork, caramelized red onions and pineapple - yum! Try the creative burger combinations too - the Elvis is decadent but oh so delish! Has peanut butter, bacon, and fried plantain and have it on the pretzel roll. Don't knock it until you try it! Oh, they serve waffle fries, which are yummy! There is brunch on Saturday and Sunday as well. Check the Beetle out! The new owner is doing a great job and the service is friendly and accommodating!

    (4)

  • Jeff K.

    Went there a few weeks ago to eat some food, drink & watch the hawks game. It was a prett good spot, not over crowded but also not empty. I would say there was like 20 ppl there and only about 8 of us cared about the game. The food was pretty good, had a good selection for beers and other drinks. Dessert was not too good. I had the Tuscan chicken sandwich and it was very good. I would definetly go back again but probably not to watch a blackhawks game. I think I was the only person wearing any hawks gear So If your looking for a chill sort of local dive bar with good food, I would say this is the place to be.

    (4)

  • Chris D.

    My spot to grab a brew and relax after a hard days work. Pizzas are great and the burgers hit the spot. Service is top notch. Trivia night is usually a load of fun and draws a nice crowd. Check it out.

    (4)

  • Nora B.

    FISH TACOS FISH TACOS FISH TACOS!!!!!!!!!!! Super sweet waitress and nice tunes playing. I remember Ween? I think it's a neighborhood thing, cuz Blind Robin plays it often, too. Great beer selection and specials. Try the pizza with pulled pork, too. YUMZ

    (5)

  • Jen P.

    $2 taco tuesdays...the fish tacos are excellent! and pretty patio seating makes everything taste better. :)

    (5)

  • Brian R.

    Did not accept my Restaurant.com coupon, was not printed. Yikes! WTF is wrong with these places. Call the number, validate, whaa la... it is like magic... no need to kill a tree man WTF!

    (2)

  • Alex C.

    I had too many wings the other night and their $6 Point and Powers shot special. I love me a beer and a shot and the pints were going down smooth. The place has lost a bit of the scummy charm that I really adored when it was with different owners, but it still draws a crowd that I am most at home with. The service has always been friendly and not too over-attentive. I always seem to find great parking right in front, which is always a selling point for me.

    (4)

  • Lois A.

    This is a good place for a last minute meal. It's never really crowded and the service is really friendly. The burgers and fries are good and everything is really reasonably priced. I enjoy the pork sliders with cole slaw quite a bit. Good beer selection. Not a lot to rave or complain about just a solid bar with good food.

    (3)

  • Tommy D.

    Went here for lunch on a Saturday. Wasn't crowded, and it is a nice sized room with a pool table and decent music playing. I wanted to try this place ever since I heard it changed owners. The menu is very limited to a vegetarian, as myself.. but I managed with the spinach artichoke dip. The dip was plentiful and came with thin baked pita chips. It was tasty, but a little on the cold/room temperature side. I'd like to have had it hot. My girlfriend had the breakfast burrito, which she enjoyed. We both agreed the daft beer menu was superb. Lots of local brews on tap. I think an able-bodied carnivore would appreciate the menu, but a veggie should eat before or after hanging there. Everyone should definitely go to sample the variety of beers on tap.

    (3)

  • Manda H.

    I came here when it was the Black Beetle as well and never really thought much of it. Now that its "The Beetle" with the new owners, I think the changes made are for the better. Thursday nights with Josh (one of my fave. bartenders) are great. $3.75 for drinks (vodka please!) and $7 burgers are perfect for Thirsty Thursday's. The Baja veggie burger is to die for. The perfect spice with the salsa and waffle fries!!

    (4)

  • Erin H.

    we went here for brunch this past weekend. it was not busy at all, which was unexpected but nice. i really liked the atmosphere - cool artwork and the vintage bar, open, etc. we started out with bloody marys and the spinach artichoke dip. the dip was great and the bloodys were a bit spicy for my taste, but still good. for the main course, i had the eggs benedict (with both ham and mushrooms, as suggested by our server) and it was really, reeeally good. the eggs were cooked perfectly. i was so full after eating the benedict that i didn't have room for my salad... it looked good though! although i didn't partake, the beer list looked pretty impressive for a chicago bar. we'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Sarah J.

    Eh. I'm bummed. Last night was another a-ok order from The Beetle. We ordered medium and medium rare burgers for takeout and neither was less done that medium well. I HATE that. I don't even want to eat it when it's that dry. I like pink, red even. That's why I order medium rare. Waffle fries were great and the order was done within 20 minutes. I guess I need to stop ordering take out and just go there so I can send the burger back each time it's not to my liking. But if I'm going to make the effort to go out, I doubt I'd go to The Beetle. Catch-22 I suppose.

    (3)

  • Suzanne M.

    I should really go to the Beetle more often. Its a nice space with very good food, good drinks and a fun atmosphere. I've had burgers and fries from here as well as brunch, and all food I've had has been very good. They have a fireplace in the winter, and outdoor seating in the summer. Trivia here is a little weird - we did it a few times, but couldn't really get into the format. Watching the game here can be fun, though - definitely a very vibrant crowd.

    (4)

  • Laura j.

    I really enjoy the breakfast menu here. I had the breakfast burrito and it was soooooo good. My sister had the steak and eggs and her steak was cooked perfectly! Also, very good bloody marys. They have really good drink specials during the week as well. Overall, this place pretty much rules

    (4)

  • Kris R.

    i like. they have GREAT nachos. it's low-key, casual, nice bartenders. my bff and i sat outside during 65deg weather and it was pretty awesome. we also went there for drinks last week - it wasn't crowded at all, but it wasn't dead either. i'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Eric V.

    Long past it's image of being the sketchy/trendy west side pub. This place had it's initial draw from artists and rockers who frequented The Beetle when it was the west side version of the Hideout. Back then poor food and mediocre beer selection was more than sufficient for it's clientele. Fast forward 11 years and we see the area completely transformed and surrounded by people with taste and a desire to have something more than a frozen burger patty and other poorly crafted food selections. Ambiance is still in the dark ages with poor lighting and obnoxiously loud music. On a positive note however, if you're looking for a place to take your kids and have a cold beer this may be a perfectly fine consolation. My opinion, there are much better places in the neighborhood worth patronizing for better food, better beer and better atmosphere.

    (2)

  • Margot H.

    Good drink specials, enough interesting beer to hold my attention for an evening, but the food is dead average. The burgers & wings are fine, but aren't super memorable. Except the Elvis, but I thought it was trying too hard to be interesting and instead is just gross. The pizza's soggy at times. Every side salad I've ordered (I live in the 'hood, it's our last resort dinner option) is always, always wilted. Blechh. The last time I ordered soup it was undercooked and bland. Love the waffle fries though! It's a bummer, c'mon Beetle! Step up your food game and you'll have me for life.

    (2)

  • Mark W.

    The Beetle: my tuesdays. I havent lived in the area very long, so when i moved in, i did the drunken walk to most of the neighborhood bars in the village. The Beetle is by far my favorite (not like that crap robin joint a block or two away). The burgers are huge and juicy. the wings are spicy (and come in many varieties). The service is spectacular! The new owner seems like she knows what she is doing, and all the other help they have there is more than friendly. They have a little corner with board games and a fireplace (i prefer scrabble, but connect 4 is pretty sweet too). lol You rock Beetle!

    (5)

  • Steve Z.

    Great. The food is way better these days then the Black Beetle days. Cool atmosphere, friendly staff, and beer. What more do you want? Good bar.

    (4)

  • J M.

    Best thing the Beetle ever did was break away from the management group that owns Northside and Logan bar and grill. Since the transformation, the food is exponentially better and the specials are great. Staff can be indifferent and slow but not outwardly rude. Kind of a hipster spot, which for a regular guy in his 30's can be a little annoying. Overall, a very good spot. Just watch out for the hipsters who think people like me, who have been going here for 7 years, have no place in "their" establishment.

    (4)

  • Amber M.

    Every time I've come to the Beetle, I've had a great time. I love the juke box, the pool table, the fireplace, never having trouble getting a table, and the relaxed atmosphere. So when I was looking for a comfortable casual place to have a small party of 15, I thought of the Beetle. I called earlier in the day and requested a reservation, which I thought was going to be unheard of for a bar/grill. No problem. I got there a few minutes early and the staff had reserved a fantastic semi-private spot by the fireplace. Our waitress (bright red head with bangs and fabulous red lipstick) and the staff put up with our very loud shenanigans for over three hours. No one in the bar batted an eye at the diversity in my group (which was very high on my priority list for picking a place for the party). Everyone had SUCH a fun time celebrating a very important victory. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun. The waitress didn't even seem to care that we paid the bill in stages. As such we tipped her well. She earned it.

    (5)

  • Jill H.

    I think about the jerk chicken wings a lot. I have ordered them every time I've been there. I've now started ordering the jerk chicken wings and another entree just so I can try other things. Seriously, those wings are so good. My husband is a huge fan of the burgers! The new owner is great and she has really turned this place around. She is incredibly friendly (no, I don't work at The Beetle) and hard working. Gregg, the Sunday bartender, is awesome too (no, he's not my boyfriend but I wish he was). Speaking of Sunday, they have really yummy bloody Mary's! I have a feeling we will be watching a lot of Bears games there this fall. We were at The Beetle a couple weeks ago for the world cup soccer championship. It was packed and I was happy we were there early otherwise I'm not sure we would have gotten a seat. It was a great crowd of people too, really friendly. I'm not sure why people think The Beetle is expensive, I have personally never felt that I was being overcharged for anything or that it wasn't worth every penny (try the jerk wings!!). I'm a fan, you should go there.

    (4)

  • Dylan F.

    I really liked this place! Nice and open, delicious food that was prepared at a super-sonic speed, and a friendly bartender with great beer recommendations. Came here on trivia night, was a lot of fun. Wish I had come here when I still lived down the street from the place. Now I live in Ravenswood, but I can see myself making the trek south to have a couple drinks here.

    (5)

  • Liz O.

    I live right around the corner from this place, and love that I can go here with friends for some beers on a Saturday, or bring my laptop on a dead Sunday night and study and feel perfectly at home. No fancy-pants people, bartenders are nice, drinks are good, and music is usually good. My only gripe, and the missing star, goes to the sometimes hit or miss service - a couple of times when I ordered food at a table, it would take over 15 minutes to flag down my server, stuff would be missing or wrong, etc. But otherwise, a place I'll keep going back to.

    (4)

  • Joshua W.

    this place screams neighborhood bar, and i love it. i used to live a few block away, so i went often. the bartenders are really nice, and they have a good number of craft beers.

    (4)

  • J. B.

    great bar with good beer selection. this is what the neighborhood needs is more bars like this. have a great grab bag as well

    (5)

  • Maria M.

    I was hoping the new owners would improve the food but it remains only average bar fare. We had burgers and friends had the tacos. Nothing was interesting and the burgers were very disappointing. At least the beer on tap was great!

    (2)

  • Doug P.

    i've been here about 15 times. i lived so close it was hard not to go. i always told myself i shouldn't go back, because service was slow, food was unimpressive and over-priced, beer selection was lame, etc. but i went. basically there is nothing special about this place. it lacks any redeeming qualities. i wonder why i went that many times. laziness, to be sure. anyway, don't go here, if you have choice.

    (2)

  • Thomas H.

    I went on a Saturday for lunch. Service was slow, and our waitress was not friendly. The pulled pork on my sandwich was not tender. The fries were great. The beer list is good. I will go back, since my friend lives in the neighborhood, but I'd try something else on the food menu next time.

    (2)

  • Jeff B.

    I happened to stumble in here on a Saturday about dinner time. Only a handful of folks in the joint, but by the time I left it was pretty busy. I had a couple beers and a pizza. Their menu is small but decent and pretty regular bar food. My pizza was good for a personal size, it was $9. I saw it as cheaper than ordering delivery. The beer selection is decent but nothing much you won't find in a good craft beer bar. I don't get why they have two towers with 6 taps each but pretty much are serving almost the identical stuff out of both towers. I mean, do you need to taps of anything? I'm thinking this is a lost sales opportunity to have other beers on tap. They do have two other taps, one was Sapporo....is there really a craving for a Japanese beer on tap in the Village? I mean how about something for the Ukranian Village like an Eastern European beer on tap, or at least some European offerings on draft.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :3:00 pm - 2:00pm

Specialities

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

The Beetle Bar and Grill

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