The Lodge
21 W Division St, Chicago, IL, 60610
The Lodge Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Chicago for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
21 W Division St
Chicago, IL, 60610 - Phone (312) 642-4406
- Website https://www.lodgetavern.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :2:00 pm - 4:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Very Loud
Music : Juke Box
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Tue, Sat, Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Diane C.
The most reasonable bar near Clark/Division. And they give you free peanuts! Small but friendly
(4)James T.
Food = ? Price = 3 Experience = 3 okay... crappy interior with everything painted over with some sticky looking gunk.
(3)Melanie S.
Good grief, I may have just set a personal record for longest times between visiting a bar. I grew up on and around Division/Rush Street so I am more than familiar with the likes of places like The Lodge, Mother's, the old P.S. Chicago and Butch McGuire's. Suffice it to say that I had a fake id back in the day and since I didn't know any better, The Lodge was one of the places my friends and I would frequent with some regularity. Pretty sure the last time I darkened the doorstep of The Lodge my hair was a lot bigger. The Lodge hasn't changed much, which is a good thing. Too many of my childhood haunts have fallen by the wayside so it's good to see this place frozen in time. Same great jukebox (although the Top 40 back then are now considered golden oldies), same peanuts on the floor, same strong drinks, and best of all, the same old dudes trying to pick up young girls. Four stars for a bona-fide, old skool Chicago bar.
(4)Mike K.
Time to update my review of The Lodge. People I've seen in The Lodge over the years: - Rick Sutcliffe - Jay Cutla (what a drip) - Greg Olson (dude is huge) - Bruce Froemming - Jimbo Covert - Wee Man - Amy Jacobson - Brian "I don't play defense" Campbell - Mike Haviland - Chris Chelios - Pedro Gomez - L5 (Ladies Love Lucky Larry Legend) - Crazy Denise - "Marty Scorsese" - "Freddie Kruger" - "The Captain" - "The Wig" - and several exes, friends of exes and exes of members of my crew. __________________________ The Lodge. It's still mostly scoffed at by the locals and filled with out-of-towners. But it's still a decent late-night joint. I've just grown to like Rich's House of Ciggies more, even though it's not open until 5 a.m. Nice job on the bathroom renovation, which was desperately needed. Lllllll-ine 'em up.
(4)trevor l.
This place is kind of small, and it's hard for me to remember much else because I was drinking too much, but also what stood out was the bartender was super nice! I was getting drunk and was left there by some friends and she was talkative and nice to me. I am thinking she was probably cute too if I can remember correctly or if I didnt have beer googles on. 3 stars for a solid place with good service!
(3)Heidi R.
I love the Lodge. Great location on Division!! Its a hole in the wall, tiny little place but a great neighborhood gem. It's seriously a dive but everyone who goes there, loves it. They have baskets of peanuts everywhere and its a great way to keep your thirst going. I have never been to Lodge with out meeting some really neat and interesting people because the crowd is very diverse. Always a great time!
(4)Manas P.
Dive bar or not, any bar in the Gold Coast that offers unlimited free quality chili during happy hour is a-ok with me.
(4)Katelyn C.
This place is such a sore thumb on Division, it truly belongs up the road in old town and it would be better placed. Or as a part of the Viagra Triangle, that could work too. It is where your parents go to feel young again but not out of place. Do not get me wrong, I have a lot of friends who go here on frumpy days and get free beer from the older people whoa re trying to be cool and hip. Actually the last time I was there it was full of hipsters that must have been getting old of Blemont and were trying somewhere new. Wait, once you find out where they hang out that already makes it uncool, right? Not sure, that whole movement is unclear to me, but isn;t that the point? I digress, it is not the dive bar everyone claims it is and go there on a German or European holiday that you would only know about if you were from there and see the place as packed as ever, it is super random!
(3)Sara A.
Stopped here, just by chance to get out of the rain. Noticed they had a bloody mary bar, right there at the bar where I sat down. And wouldnt you know, after 4 bloodies this morning at 2 other places, i decided to try one more. The bartender asked if i wanted to make my own, but I let her have a go. By far one of the best bloodies I have had in this city, perfectly done, with a great salad mix. And just for 5 bucks. Great deal. And the place looks like a Barn from the outside, and with peanuts on the floor made it sure felt like one too. But the music was bad, old school throwbacks to the 80's. This place has seen better days. Just go for the bloodies....
(4)Christine F.
This place is, uh, definitely one of a kind. It houses serious characters, all the peanuts you can eat, and relatively cheap drinks. While we were there, my husband got a Moscow Mule (that was mostly ginger ale) and we witnessed: A man playing a broom like a guitar A poem about "shit eaters" (that was being yelled by everyone in The Lodge) A woman verbally assaulting the man playing the broom guitar for "scaring those nice people out of the bar" Oh, and this was all at 6pm. Everyone was wasted. It's probably my favorite place in the area, but I definitely have to be in the mood for it.
(3)Steve M.
A beacon of hope in a sea of Finn McCool's, Mother's, Mother's II, Shenanigans, and the rest of the Division st spots. (Butch McGuires gets a pass in my book!) You're definitely subject to the same motley clientele at The Lodge, but every once in a while you catch it at the perfect of time: Un- to medium-crowded, a stool up in the window, some peanuts to chew on, cheap-ish beer, and good company. Cool bartenders and servers. The Lodge also rocks a radical holiday vibe, if its that time of year. On late nights, bonus points for the bull pen. If you don't know what this is, I'm not telling you! The locals need some secrets, right?
(4)Randi A.
Hide your purse from my peanuts! If you find yourself at The Lodge you will also find free peanuts with their shells all over the floor, good beer that is only on draft and the best jukebox around. I wish I was there right now.
(4)Gabe G.
Good times...good peoples and great drinks! Will def return
(4)Trish J.
There's peanut shells everywhere, the people watching is amazing, AND it looks like a place where hobbits would come to drink. Need I say more?
(4)Phil A.
Went there tonight after dinner at Big Bowel, a place I rave about. The bartender was great, prompt and friendly (the lady with straight, dark hair.) The waitress that looks like Brigette Fonda sent us out the door a.s.a.p., the strawberry blonde. She started in on a personal tirade to me when I was going to mention she looked like Brigette Fonda when I said, "Have you seen the movie Jackie Brown?" End quote. That's it. I WAS innocuous, the bouncers were there watching the Blackhawks game with us in all the 15 minutes we were there. She made things so awkward we left when she talked about all this non-chill bar topic stuff. I used to wait tables and bartend in college and you can't talk about the 3 main no-no topics in the service industry and be successful What an awkward night after I 5 star reviewed P.J. Clarke's & Butch's.
(1)Andrew C.
Was in Chicago on business. 2 co-workers who used to live in Chicago recommended The Lodge for somewhere close to our dinner restaurant Hugo's Frog Bar ( yelp.com/biz/hugos-frog-… ) to hang out a bit before hitting the sack.. Cool bartenders, free peanuts, plenty of room for our group of eight (It was a Tuesday night). It was either jet-lag or extremely heavy pours (punishment for ordering Manhattans in Chicago), but I was pretty much useless until noon the next day. "Andrew, you're not saying much." [grunt]
(4)Chuck S.
We made a stop here for the Ditka Sweater Vest Fest (DSVF). The management company was very accommodating with drink specials for our charity event benefiting Children's Memorial Hospital. The bar is definitely the coolest on our bar crawl we visited. The decor has the look of a real lodge with oak walls and bar.. There is a small dance floor near the front bar and another bar in the back with tables and beer pong.
(5)Saba A.
All I remember is small. loud. but the two stars for the peanuts. Just a stop in...a different place to go, but probably won't return.
(2)Ling H.
Cool chill place to head after work it seems. No music, just the chatter of friends. Domestic pints of beer for $5. Score! Free peanuts and A-OK to toss the shells on the floor. Cool.
(3)Derek G.
My friend was super excited to take us here. He has nicknamed this bar "The Shire" and raved about the decor so we were all pretty excited to try it out. We walked in and it really does look like a bar you'd find in "The Shire" from Lord of the Rings. I believe it is supposed to be an Irish pub? I'm not entirely sure, but it's divey and damn near perfect. The crowd was fairly mixed, seemed a little heavy on guys in their late 20's or early 30's and a little light on hobbits for a thursday night, but. It was cool and relaxed and we all had a great time. The waitress was friendly and down to earth. If you are in the neighborhood give it a shot - if you see Frodo or Samwise here make sure to tell'em Derek G. says 'ello.
(4)Mike E.
The Lodge is something you get or you don't get. If you don't that is ok, it is just not the bar for you. It has the perfect assortment of up-and-comers, tourists, locals, has-beens, cool guys and gals, occasional movie stars (B movies, but they count in my book), older gents and gals (and when I say older, I mean 60s or 70s at times). Once in a great while you'll encounter a fool, but given that it is located at ground zero of drunken foolishness I'm surprised more fools don't find their way in. Kudos to the doormen. Speaking of foolishness, on one occasion I was denied entry and I had not even started drinking yet and on another occasion I was kicked out when it was not even crowded and I had only had four beers! I certainly never expected to see Wee-Man from Jackass. That was good for a laugh and Wee-Man seemed like a good-natured guy. The sports guys who go in there I don't pay attention to because I really don't care about sports enough to want to talk with them. Now if Robert Ludlum shows up it would be a different tune or, more appropriately, a different story..... This place is perfect if you're just out to have a good time. It rarely fails to be, at a minimum, entertaining. I truly appreciate that it usually has a good mix of people from 21 all the way up to 70s.
(5)Desiree S.
This place was a fun little stop. Awesome and diverse tunes coming out of their jukebox. OOOh and the crunchy peanut madness! The carpet is a mass of discarded peanut shells that pleasantly crunch underfoot when walking around the joint. =) If you order shots of anything chilled, just get it as a martini or you'll get a one oz shot glass to the line of your boozy water blend while the remainder gets sent to rest in the dumpsink graveyard. (All of Chicago seemed to lack a good supply of *rocks* glasses though...)
(3)bob a.
Perfect dive bar. I was in town for work and hung out for a few hours with a group. We got the jukebox going, played shuffleboard bowling, drank and ate peanuts. It was kind of early on a Wednesday night, so not a whole lot happening, but that seemed to be the case about everywhere that night. I can see this as a place I'd end up at even traveling on my own. Seemed to draw a good mix of people. Had a good, friendly staff who kept everyone's drinks full.
(4)Jeff C.
This isn't the classiest joint in town, but it is a great little dive bar. Looking at it from the outside, you aren't sure what the heck to expect. We did meet some local Chi-cougars here that we ended up having a fun time singing and dancing with them. We kept requesting songs at the jukebox but it took a long time for our songs to play because there were so many requests. The people at this place are a strange mix of everything young and old but everyone is in a good mood. There were a lot of regulars there, it seems like the people who are regulars there have a fond place in their hearts for The Lodge, and I can see the charm.
(4)Amy H.
I love The Lodge. It's one of the few bars on Rush/Division that I feel I can go and relax without the frat boy crap that the other area bars have. This past weekend, my friends and I snagged a few tables in the front windows and watched all the costumed pub crawlers walk up and down the street. We laughed, we cried, we were in people watching heaven! Be careful walking on the floor...the discarded peanut shells are slippery!
(4)Jim G.
The Lodge has been around for as long as I can remember. It is a fun lively place in area packed with bars and clubs. It has a hunting loge theme and attracts a bit older clientele, although it always seems to have a pretty good male/female ratio. It used to be one of my sister's favorite places, so i would go to meet her and her friend's there many times. She passed away on her 47th birthday from cancer, so I still to stop there on occasion and have a beer and think back on some of the good times we had together.
(4)Melissa S.
I have never, NEVER, had anything but a fantastic time here. I don't know why, it sounds so bad on paper -- dive bar, cheesy, plenty of cougars, plenty of sports folk, some tourists, always full, peanut shells everywhere and a waitress who hits on my boyfriend constantly... but it's just... so HAPPY. it's a happy place. people here are always in a good mood, or will be within half an hour of getting here. no pretensions at all by any of the people who come to drink or those working here, and i guess that is key. that, and the killer jukebox.
(5)Katie W.
Just your usual cheesy bar. I give it 3 stars because even though it is cheesy and it's on Division St. surrounded by similar bars, it's still an okay place to hang out and grab a few not overpriced drinks. The crowd is always the same, a mixture of older guys drinking their drinks, cougar like women on a night out, and mid twenties being drunk. It's messy, it's crowded, but I wouldn't call it a Dive Bar. I think that term has gotten to be too loose. Are there better places to go? Think you're too hipster to hang here? But seriously, this place really is an okay place to chill.
(3)Andrew T.
Fun place.. cozy.
(4)Dan S.
So I was in town for the weekend and spent one night at the cheesy Rush and Division bars. This place is a little more grown up and laid back than its neighbors. Cheap drinks and free peanuts. Our group had an 18 inch pile of peanut shells on the ground by the end of the night.
(4)Jacob J.
Never been a fav. Just a sausage party everytime. Mostly older men, 35+ sounds right. Too damn small. I think they need more bar help. When I need bar help I hold large bills in hand. Still nothing. Good place to pass gas and move on.
(1)Drucilla D.
I've lived in Chicago for 10 years and I can count and account how many times I have gone out on State/Clark and Division... This is a neighborhood that I live a mere couple of blocks away from but I want nothing to do with for the most part. I did have a very decent experience this last football season at Finn McCool's but that has been it. Well, I was recently led by an already overserved friend to The Lodge... He had been drinking at Ra Sushi and The Lodge was as far as he could go when I tried to lure him towards the Clark and Division red line el stop. What an interesting experience... The suburban college boys and cougars and the "in town for a convention" tourists were in full-force on this particular Friday (and I'm guessing they probably make up the majority of the regular clientele)! I found a nice counter space across from the bar in-between a strange staring tourist and a 22 year old boy making out hard-core with a woman old enough to be his mother... When these specific people moved away, I found myself engaged in some really interesting conversations with a 50+ year old woman in from the 'burbs involved in a ladies night with her girlfriends and an actual very attractive 40 year old man just in town for business. I tried to convince the guy that he was too hot for The Lodge but he didn't listen and ended up leaving with a woman probably 15 years his senior. It was conversations with these folks that made the evening worthwhile. I will likely never go back to The Lodge but it was definitely an experience.
(2)Jackie P.
Still three stars but hanging on the edge of two stars. Man Whore Matt is no longer here and that brings down the fun factor a bit. I missed him and apparently so do others that worked at The Lodge long enough to know who he was. I can't complain about this place too much even for it's location. It's always been good to me...sometimes to good to me. And I'm sure I have my old roomie to thank for that. Oh and you still get three stars because the old men crack me up. Do I need help with my coat? Sure why not and yes I would love a drink!
(3)Ann S.
Friendly with odd music selections.
(4)Mike P.
This place is a breath of fresh, dive-bar air to the Rush neighborhood. A much needed foil to all the hoity-toity douchebaggery that is Hunt Club, Hugo's, and the like. You can just go in and drink and hang out. You don't have to be clothed in Armani or dipped in Drakar. No need to pull up in a Ferrari, just take the red line. The barstaff is always good and the mix a good drink. The beer is cold, the peanuts are salty. Divison street is a lively spot to people watch. Great location.
(5)K S.
Probably the best bar on this stretch of Division, although that isn't saying too much. It's ultimately an ordinary bar with an ok beer selection, but at least The Lodge has personality - immediately elevating it to the upper echelon of Chicago establishments. Be sure to throw your peanut shells on the floor, lest you incur the wrath of the owner.
(3)Lauren B.
I started my night around the corner on Rush Street at a few bars over there and they were a bit too swanky and pretentious for what I was in the mood for. Luckily I wandered down to Division Street and found a plethora of more laid back, high energy bars to choose from. This one became my favorite. Probably the smallest of the bars in the area, but also not so packed to the gills that you couldn't breathe. Both nights I managed to snag a seat at the window which was awesome for people watching. Maybe it's a midwest thing but 6, yes SIX, bachelorette parties in one night?? Fun to watch them stumble out of their limos, and luckily they didn't stumble into The Lodge. The second you walk someone is there to take your drink order rather than trying to push your way to the bar. They played fun classic bar music (classic rock, 80/90s classics, etc.) and for those who aren't germaphobes, there were all the free peanuts you could eat. There were definitely some old man creeps but for the most part it was a range of ages from mid 20s to 30s. I love the look and feel of the bar -- very, well, lodge-like. Overall, a great place to grab a few beers at the beginning or end of your night!
(4)Brian K.
I've frequented this bar from time to time over the last 15 years when in Chicago. It's great in that not much has changed... except now I'm the old dude trying to chase tail as noted in other reviews. There's always a range of folks which makes it of interest. Still same peanut shells, juke box, reasonably priced drinks, etc. It can get a bit crowded but definitely better than the "clubs" on Division if you are looking for place to enjoy some cocktails and hang out. Best of all they have Moscow Mules in the copper cups.
(4)Sara M.
I have been here once, so this may get an edit at some point. It's kind of a creep magnet. I was there with a friend and two guys, one who works in the area, so he knew everyone which was good. However, that did not stop an older gentleman from caressing my friend's arm as we walked back from the bathroom. Oh yes, the bathroom. If you call an 8x8 square a bathroom with two stalls a bathroom, then that is where we were. So minus three for the creepy older men ready to pinch your butt and the small bathroom, oh and the peanut shells everywhere. It was great because the drinks were not as expensive as they are at most other bars in the area, but they are probably just compensating for the groping they know you will have to put up with.
(2)John G.
Doorman: Sorry, I can't let you in. me: Why? DM: Your friend looked at me weird. me: But he left, so why can't I come in. DM: Because you were with him. me: No, I don't know that guy. I don't have any friends. Besides, this is the middle of a pub crawl. There are about 15 of us who would like to go inside. See, we have special laminated pub crawl passes. DM: Sorry Doorman proceeds to tell 14 other people that they can't come in because some guy (who has since left) looked at him weird. Strangest thing I've ever seen.
(1)Cindy S.
I love this place. Just a little dive bar, not for eating (unless you only eat peanuts). Staff is ALWAYS friendly! Great Jukebox! One of my favortie stops whenever I'm in town.
(5)Niki C.
This is where the old good old boys go when they're on the lamb from their wives or just got divorced or wanting to get divorced? I dunno. Suffice to say, it's crawling with leery-eyed guys, ready to ogle the first purty ladies that walk in the door. I've had a decent time here in the past (when I was younger & didn't know better, perhaps), but not enough of a good time to warrant ever wanting to voluntarily go back. We went here this weekend to meet up with some buddies after their bar closed (actually, I used it as an excuse to get a NY slice down the street), but had to leave after one beer because of the antics of 3 guys who thought they were much cooler & smarter than they were. It just was too much for our 4am selves to take. After a fun night out, to have it end here was tragic. & that's probably why I'm rating it so low. Maybe another night with another crowd would be different, but alas, it's not, so here we are. PS: Doesn't it seem like Rush is the "cheesy in an I'm Rich & Cool & Rico Suave You Must Love Me, You Beautiful Baby" way & Division is the "cheesy in an I'm Drunk & Desperate & Have No Game You Must Go Home With Me, You Hot Chick" way? It's like Rush is the dirty old grandpa flirting with the hookers & Division is the red-headed stepson calling anyone who doesn't like him a hooker.
(2)scott s.
Too Small Too Crowded
(2)Chris G.
Loved this place, real Americana going on here, met some lovely people and had a few good nights getting semi pissed, monkey nuts too, lots of em!!
(5)Tom F.
An oasis of laid-back people in the middle of an otherwise fratty strip of real estate. A few good seats by the windows, and a little bit of room at the front to congregate, otherwise you're probably a few people deep (with room--definitely not shoulder-to-shoulder) at the bar. There was table service (and standing-in-the-front-area-service) all night by a friendly waitress. Prices were reasonable on drafts and bottles, and I think there was a $5 shot special, everything else was presumably higher. Catered to an older crowd, 30-45+. Par for the course in this neighborhood, but way more laid back than its neighbors. Bonus: the bachelorette parties usually walk right by this place. If I'm stuck going out in the 'hood, I'll be back.
(3)Happiness L.
A good basic bar with friendly staff and free chili. Makes me feel as though I am somewhere other than Chicago.
(3)Big M.
Me likey a lot. Chicago people are the best. Pulled up a stool right by the window and sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the views. Had a little too much fun whereas that's all I remember. Another must do while your in the city and looking to chillax!
(4)Alex F.
The Lodge is hilarious. The median age of the crowd here is about 35, but you can always find a few youngters such as myself who are there to enjoy the music, peanuts, and hoping to get picked up by some cougars. Everyone has always been very friendly at this bar, it never takes long to get a beer, and I always end up hanging out with funny older people. It's not necessarily that they are funny individuals, but more that older people are funny per se. One time I was standing outside after they closed, and we kept hearing a big "clunk" but couldn't tell where it was coming from. After about 5 clunks we figured out it was the jackass in the back of the paddy wagon throwing himself against the door. We later saw him crumpled in a heap on the floor in the wagon. Awesome.
(5)Johan S.
I visited Chi-town from the Bay Area and needed a good drink. My fiance found this bar via Yelp and we decided to give it a try. The drinks are good and moderately priced.
(3)Jessica E.
Great draft beer, friendly staff, and good music. Will definitely go back
(5)Bill M.
This bar on Division Street packs 'em in. Lots of conventioneers and other visitors come here and make it crowded literally from wall to wall. Have a beer and hope to get it in the maddening crowd.
(3)John D.
Still not seeing the draw to the Lodge. I have only been on Saturday nights and it is always so crowded. I will try arriving earlier or going on a different night so that I can actually try getting a seat and striking up conversations with other patrons when I can still hear. It is definitely not a dive bar. I suppose it's a substitute people who are too timid to actually go to a real dive bar. We'll see. I'll re-review after I get there again when it's a bit less crowded.
(2)Bob S.
In my opinion, anyone who disses the Lodge just doesn't get it. I would put it on the list of classics, right up there with McSorley's in New York, or the Black Rose in Boston.
(4)Asinia A.
Ok I had to come and give a review for the lodge. Everytime we go there we have a hilarious good ol time. Basically because - we are tourists - we are probably not the typical type of people you would find in this place - the combination of those two things have ensued some HILARIOUS stories. We are usually lucky and there a lot of younger people when we were there. There were still some older guys who looked like they lived there. We always end our night here when we are in town. Turn on the jukebox and start singing. It is always packed!
(4)Natalie R.
So, girls, when you wonder why Division/Rush is littered with pervy old men dressed in business suits and carting laptop carryons, all you have to do is stop in at the Lodge. It's the breeding ground for them. They come in here, stock up on convention-speak and gin and tonics, then go back out to prowl the yuppie fratfest going on in the other bars for the drunk and stupid. Honestly, I like the Lodge for the bouncers, the fake speak-easy back bar, the peanuts, and the music. It's just that of all the bars I have to go to every weekend, this is the worst one for the kind of nasty, rude, inappropriate, and just downright awful insults and "innuendos."
(3)Misty H.
this place is for old guys that want to just hang out (i imagine some are creepy perverts just like any other bar on division st), and "Cougars" (old rich women) that want to pick up young guys. Supposedly theres a website with this place listed as the place to go if you want to be that young guy or old woman. lol. Has a jukebox and peanuts. i have no real problem with this place. No bad experiences, but we ll see if i go back. Only been there a few times, in 2006 or 2007.
(2)Carol J.
Totally an old school dive but always an adventure. And always end up in some crazy situation every time I pop in. I've taken people from all over the world to the Lodge because it is a universal kind of place, old, goofy music on the juke box, peanuts on the floor and always in my hair, sassy servers that will push you out of the way, a room full of regulars mixin it up with the international conventioneers and random people from the 'hood. I've had some of the best times here at the Lodge but always want to shoot myself the next day. Its officially one of those ""it was a good idea at the time"' kind of places but god I love it and the secret room.....oh the stories I could tell. Minus the fifth star because of the awful bathroom doors that I always get smacked with no matter how careful I am.
(4)Tony T.
I only need to say that this is my favorite bar in Chicago...DONE!
(5)A.S. V.
I'll bet y'all were wondering, "where can I pick up some dirty old men?" Have at it, a regular sausage fest.
(2)Jason P.
This place is great. Jukebox, peanuts you throw on the floor, crappy beer. It's the perfect place to go to unwind the night. You do get some older people in here, but that's just fine if you're with a good group of people that just want to have fun. The bouncers are pretty strict about who they do not let back in, that is for sure. They never forget a face.
(3)Jill E.
I do love a good dive but wouldn't necessarily call The Lodge one. I love this place. I find myself in Chicago a couple of times a year and always return here. The staff is always friendly and makes a group of out of towners feel welcome. Sometimes they even pretend that they know us from year to year! As others have commented, the jukebox is great. People watching is fantastic. Drinks are reasonable, peanuts are free. Only thing that would make The Lodge better is if it were in my home town!
(4)Lisa K.
Came here thursday night and it was perfect.... just a casual place to grab a few drinks and converse. Saturday however was a whole different story...although it was Saturday and the whole street was out of control. Definitely a great spot if you can get a place to sit. excellent people watching and the peanuts really broke the deal for me! The bartender was great as well.
(4)Stryker C.
good place, friendly bartenders, peanuts, though salty as hell, are a nice bonus...the place is a little grungy, and whoever has the varnish fetish needs to relax it a little...but a fun place, so long as what you are expecting is a place to knock a few back and not much else..then it's cool
(3)Jonathan T.
Crowd wasn't our scene but after visiting a few othe bars in the area it was obvious this bar had one thing the others dd not. Friendly service! The bouncer did not only check our IDs he welcomed us to the bar with a smile, what a nice gesture. The waitress gave us impecable service.
(4)Greg G.
Probably one of the better bars on Division. Great place to watch the po-po arrest random drunks in the street. Peanuts all over the place and a real basic selection behind the bar. Small and cramped, but a good place for the summer nights. Start out here before advancing to some of the more challenging circus tents on the strip...
(2)Audra S.
This Rush & Division bar is littered with an older crowd, but still features the area's signature mix of cheeseball guys and out-of-towners. The setting is just as the name suggests: you'll feel like you're visiting a bar in some up north location, or even a good friend's cabin in the woods. The service is pretty good, considering how packed it gets inside, but it's still not my first choice for a place to hang.
(3)Kelli M.
Always crowded, and not too large of a place. Definitely an older crowd unlike most of the bars on Division Street.
(2)Lonnie R.
I remember hitting this spot over 20 years ago. We happened to be at Rush and Division around midnight and stopped in and I felt all deja vu. Good bar for drinks and throw your peanut shells on the ground. You need to put The Lodge on your todo list.
(5)Susan S.
Good specials, decent atmosphere, great location. The main reason I'm not giving it a higher rating is the service we had last time. The waitress was trying to set a drink down just as my friend moved his hand to point (she was behind him so he had no clue she was there) and the drink ended up spilling. It was no one's fault, just bad timing. If anything, she made a mistake by not saying "excuse me" or "I'm right behind you." Anyway, she proceeded to get upset and I kid you not said, "that was all your fault!" As the person who received the majority of the spillage, if anyone got angry it should have been me but I wasn't upset at all until she said this (after my friend had already begun to apologize profusely I might add). Not only that, when we were ready to close out she disappeared. We waited 10 minutes before I finally went to the bar to ask for her to come back and close us out. I will return, but I will only order from the bar in the future.
(3)Joel G.
Just came from a wedding with 8 28 year olds and got rejected at the door because the bride didn't have her ID. Doorman said it was his job, forgot being a doorman involved not using common sense. The bouncer was rude on top of that and couldn't care less you as a customer. Went to the next bar down and they treated us like we were having a special night, complementary champagne and they actually cared. Lots of other more hospitable options on Division Street.
(1)Sam N.
Some things in life are consistant. You almost know any time you have mac and cheese that unless someone f's it up pretty badly you are going to have a great meal. That peanuts will be all over the place at The Lodge. This place is the mac and cheese of division street- staple if you will If you want to relive your glory days from 1971 when you could drink 21 beers and 4 cocktails and do it the next day and not feel like shit, this could be the place for you. You should come here for the people watching and for hijacking the juke box. I did this last year and no one bothered me. I dont know if its that time for my yearly visit yet.
(3)Carol K.
I should know better. For when the suggestion comes, "let's go to the Lodge", that should ALWAYS be my clue that it is time to go HOME as most of the places I might want to be seen in are usually closed. But do I ever? Nope. I head over to the Lodge, sidle up to the bar and watch in amazement as the people pour into to this place to eat peanuts, drink more when they really don't need to, and get turned away by the bouncers. But all in all, it's harmless fun in the wee hours of Chicago. The bathrooms are a joke. The floors are sticky. And the ogling is high. But as long as you know that when you walk in, this place is A-Ok! For what other choice is there at 3 o clock in the morning???
(3)Dylan B.
5 star for weekday, after work drinks. 5 star for Saturday and Sunday day drinking. 2 or 3 star for weekend night drinking. The Lodge is the perfect post-work spot. It's cozy and old-fashioned; a small space with wood floors, a juke box, and peanuts to throw on the ground. They are pretty straightforward in terms of drinks, but offer your typical midwest beer selection and a mean Moscow Mule. It's generally not very busy, so you can easily carry on a conversation. You also don't have to deal with the bro vibe, which is available in abundance right around the corner on wells. The Lodge is typically an older scene on weekdays, and therefore quieter (On a recent visit, I even came across A list celebrity Pedro Gomez. He refused to acknowledge his fans). Wow, do I love The Lodge. It's a different animal on weekends. It gets insanely crowded, and loses much of its appeal.
(4)Chris N.
Hands down my favorite bar visited in Chicago this week. Loved the seating by the open windows. Perfect ambiance, the service was fast and friendly, and the people in the bar were engaging and fun to hang out with.
(4)Mark M.
This is Silence of the Lambs meets Fast Times at Ridgemont High meets the Golden Girls. 3 of my all time favorite productions. It's amazing in here. The drinks are cheap. The bartenders are so very nice. The crowd is anything and everything. Oh, and there's peanuts on the floor. The music in the jukebox is hands down the best I've ever seen. I did not want to leave. I met 2 cougars that were on me like white on rice. And by cougars I mean the real kind of cougars. These broads were in their late 50's but were still gorgeous as hell and ready to party. They were the Pat Benetar kind of cougars. Anyways, this place rocks. No attitude. No frills. Just good ol American Fun. 5 stars most definitely.
(5)JungleKittie A.
Im a fan of this place. Jena was awesome. She handled that weekend crowd like a champ. She was talkative all the while getting the drinks out. Its a small place, but its really cool. Will most definitely be back.
(4)Lori H.
Ok the bartender Jen was awesome!!!! Thank u The shift after late night shift horrible!! The bartender makes the scene and she did not do the job !! Late nite sucks
(1)Justin E.
I stopped in here between getting off work and the first play-off game for my beach volleyball league. I was supposed to meet my girlfriend for a quick bite before the game nearby but I was early and The Lodge caught my eye as I walked past so I decided I'd stop in for a drink while I waited. I love the feel of the bar with it's old-timey wood and peanut shells on the floor. There was even a dog laying at the feet of some of the customers sitting near the front. The bartender was nice and the beer was cold. This place is everything I look for in a bar. It's small though so I'm sure it gets packed in the evenings so if you're not one for large crowds you might want to scope this place out before you give it a try. For an after-work / evening beer this place really hit the spot. I'm glad I stumbled across it.
(5)Bill J.
Stopped in for a late afternoon beer this past Saturday. It had been around 10 years since my last visit to The Lodge. Honestly, I don't think it has changed at all in 10 years, and I mean that in a very good way. There was a small group of loud drunk people sitting up front, but it made for good people watching and wasn't annoying at all. This place is very small and gets really crowded, so be prepared for that if you plan to go in the evening.
(4)Meg W.
An oasis in Viagra Triangle! Went here one cold, snowy Friday right after work and everyone in this old-timey dive was friendly, especially the bouncer. Cute little front area, sat in by the windows with two pals. Only problem was that they had the heat on full blast, and it got pretty uncomfortably hot after a while.
(4)Jay K.
If you're young and dumb and full of piss and vinegar then this little dive is for you. If you're a little older like me then stay away. I'm absolutely over being in super crowded bars where you can't even order a drink and drunks are picking fights with their alcohol muscles. Free peanuts and shells on the floor everywhere. Those allergic to peanuts beware!
(1)Avinash K.
I thought this place was not that great. It was OK. Nice friendly staff, drinks were OK, decently priced. Place is small.
(3)Julie M.
Adorable local bar on rush/division . Local bar vibe but were very accommodating of Si Cal visitors . Jen , the bartender, knew everyone's name as they walked in the bar. Snowing buckets outside, Jen warmed us up with her secret recipe bloodies! I've never had a bloody past noon..., but trust me ...worth it! I will come back! Definitely worth the walk in the heavy snow.
(5)Tanya K.
Standard Division street bar. Nothing to differentiate it from the others. Watered down drinks, chubby to overweight girls ages 19-23 and recently divorced desperate cougars, males ages 19-23 wearing khaki or melon colored shorts and either a picnic tablecloth print button up or a polo and creepy older men who are clearly newly minted grandpas. Everyone has the look of desperation or disappointment while listening to bad music from the 90s.
(1)Don M.
Part of our bar crawl and ended up as the last stop. Decent place, crowded and hard to move around. Service was great and drinks were good. People watching also interesting especially late into the evening. Fun time
(4)LL P.
RACIST "DRESS CODE." BLACK MEN NOT WELCOME. Division Street's not my usual thing, but if that's where I am, I (used to) like The Lodge. I'm a mid-20s white woman and have had several unexpectedly fun rounds there - from St. Patrick's Day to random weekday evenings. I guess I'd never had a bad experience because I'd never been there with a person of color. Come to think of it, I'd never seen anyone of color there at all. Saturday morning (Friday night), 11/8/14, after all the 2 am bars were closed but some grad school friends and I - all mid/late 20s, all "well-dressed", all ready with our valid IDs, 2 white and 1 black - wanted to keep the night going with one more round, and I chose The Lodge because it was the closest 4 am bar I knew & liked. Before even looking at our IDs, one of the two door men (white, middle aged) stopped us, looked at my (black, "well dressed," late 20s, male) friend and said "Oh man, you know what? You're wearing the exact kind of boots we don't allow. Construction style. Sorry, man. Against dress code." A 4 AM DIVE BAR CALLED THE LODGE, WHICH IS COVERED IN WOOD AND BODILY FLUIDS AND WHICH USES DISPOSABLE PLASTIC CUPS, HAS A DRESS CODE?! "Construction-style boots" = fresh ass Timberlands = what black men (and actual lumberjacks!) wear. Also banned are sleeveless shirts and "excessive jewelry." This dress code isn't posted anywhere outside because it's fucking racist and would be immediately called out as such.
(1)Sara P.
best bar on division.... And I'm a wine snob. I love this place so much I I'll Change What I drink to go there. Just cool people. I'm always going out alone and I go there for the service. From Peter and Dave at security and door to hoodie and Kevin Behind the bar this has become my Tuesday night staple. Who doesn't like peanuts? This place is great for everyone I don't care what kind of place you like. this wine snob loves this Drive bar. Bad reviews are just looking for something to complain about
(5)Jonah K.
One of my favorite dive bars in Chicago for a beer and a scene. It's normally packed and full of dudes, but when I want to drink this is a good choice. The drinks are cheap. There are a few amusing things about the place... The bathroom is comical, it just has to be seen to be believed, there are many interesting games, and of course the fact that there is a wooden lodge near Rush and Division is pretty funny it itself. I still love this place and always try to stop in for a beer or three when I'm in town.
(4)Scott O.
Fuck the bouncers there. They let in old ass hags instead of people who actually wanna drink.
(1)Steven M.
Never been here before. Nice little cabin at the end of Division. It gets crowded, but that doesn't take much. The service was spot on. They must have hired the waitress for her ability to squeeze thru the crowd. Very rustic. It's a mixed bag in this place and that's what makes for a fun evening.
(4)Haley S.
This is the ONLY bar on Division I will go to (well, Butch McGuire's once a year for the Christmas trains). They have one of the best jukeboxes, the crowd is over 22, the bartenders are friendly, and the people watching is beyond ridiculous. It's always fun if you just want to have a good time and do not care about the whole see and be seen thing!
(4)Anthony M.
Okay I had my first drink here 20 years ago...Yelp did not exist back then but all of the bars on division street did...it is sad to see all of the bars that are no longer here and are turned into banks, stores and/or restaurants...but some good ones still remain. The Lodge has not changed...it still looks the same. In the old days there use to be a guy on Division handing out poker chips that said Free Shot and you would fight your way in to get that free shot. The bar would be so crowded you would stay and order a drink...the free shot definately worked. Do they still do that? I have no idea...I am probably not coming back on a Saturday night to find out. Recently we have rediscovered this place as a great stop to have a beer or two. The peanuts on the bar and the shells on the floor...what a nice touch and no other bar does that. They also have a nice free app station too...a few weeks ago it was chilli. Can't beat some free food with your drinks. Recently we met the bartender Jennifer and she was really cool...it was empty in here and we had a great conversation with her. She even got our trick or treating off to a good start with some candy. Sweet!!! Back in the days we would come here to meet people from out of town...because locals never went here...it was always a good time. In the 90's this is the street where that fun angry mob turned over that poor taxi cab after the Bulls won a championship. That is a real bright spot on our history. If you are looking for a fun area to hang out and you do not want to go far to hop to the next bar...typically across the street or just next door then Division Street is for you. And make sure you stop by the Lodge becaue you will actually feel like you are skiing when you sit inside here. No lift ticket required!!!
(5)Amelia B.
I avoid the Division St. bars like the plague. Well, or more like I'm afraid of getting herpes/listeria/ebola/pick-your-unfortunate-Âdisease, which is probably a fair bet at any one of the fine establishments along this strip. But not you, dear Lodge. You are my shining beacon among the filth. Don't get me wrong, the Lodge is dirty as well. There are peanuts all over the floor, skeevy 50+ year old men staring at your ass, and strange stains everywhere you look. But it's comfortable. It's real. It's low-key. And it's cheap. I'm not sure if AARP sent out a notice to all Chicago visitors that the Lodge is the place to hang out on Division st if you are eligible for their benefits, but somehow the Lodge attracts a crowd that is 15-20 years senior than everyone else running around Detention, the Snuggery, or (ugh) Shenanigans. Even though I fall in between those two demographics, I'll take my leering old men any day in order to throw peanuts and chug moscow mules. Now the highlight of the Lodge is definitely the alley in the back and the tiny little bar that the bartender has to crawl over to stand in there. I've spent hours in that alley chatting with friends, not realizing how late it's gotten. I say that's a sign of a good bar.
(4)Frank B.
Small rustic bar with great beer on tap, an incredible jukebox, peanuts and chili bar, and the most hospitable staff that make you want to come back every night. I just might since I'm only a block away...
(5)Alan K.
I enjoyed the laid back atmosphere of this place although there was this creepy man pacing back and forth outside on the night that I was here. Luckily, there is actually security here so I felt safer. I love you that they provide you peanuts and that can throw peanut shells on the floor. There seems to be many locals that frequent this bar. Everyone seems to know each other. In fact, I actually did know one or two people here as they also frequent this bar too. The staff was extremely friendly. I recommend ordering the drink specials so you can get the most bang for your buck.
(4)Megan G.
I'm pretty confident I'm always the youngest person here whenever I go. But drunk people in their 40s are so much fun to watch! The drinks are cheaper and good, plus who can say no to free peanuts? Where you can throw the shells on the floor? As I said, the crowd is always amusing- last time I got serenaded by a guy older than my dad singing Elvis...who did that while he was still pretty sober. Priceless. Drink specials are pretty good- the night we went had $5 stoli drinks (like much of Rush and Division) and specials on beer, too (plus the non-special pints only ran about $6.50)
(4)Scott S.
Dive bar. 7 and 7 cheap. Peanut shells on the ground. Christmas lights. This place reminded me of my days of old back in the basin drinking at the 'stead. This is my kind of bar. I could imagine the hipster overrunning it on a Friday night, but the weeknight we were there saw only a few old men and one other couple. This now my Chicago bar for whatever neighborhood we were in.
(5)Danielle S.
We went around 6:30 on a Saturday and it was pretty quiet. There were about 8 people in there, including the staff. Husband loves dive bars, and I'd been here once before, so I figured it fit the bill. He loved it. This is totally his type of joint. I liked it too, especially since it wasn't packed. It seems like the type of place where you need to know what you're going into, otherwise you might be surprised that it's not nicer. There are peanut shells on the floor, the bartender was a little cold until we engaged her in conversation, and the door guy was excited about CO's new marijuana law, but that's what makes this type of place endearing. For a dive, it isn't gross. It's not sticky, it's not dirty, and it has a lot of stuff to look at. Which is important if the socially awkward guy at the end of the bar is trying to talk to you. *shudder*
(4)Eric C.
Pretty gross place. Weird clientele. I would stick to bottled beer at this place. Even for a dive bar this place is not worth it. The bartender was nice though.
(2)Lauren F.
How can you not love a place like The Lodge?! The people are friendly and the place just feels like home-if your home was a little log cabin with peanut shells lining the floor! I especially love stopping in around the holidays because the atmosphere is so festive, you can't help but get in the spirit! I've been visiting The Lodge since I moved to Chicago 6 years ago and I'm sure I'll be returning for many years to come!
(5)Christina F.
I loved this place! I had spent most of the night with a friend in the Hunt Club and only left so he could make a deposit into his bank account. After waiting for him to drunkenly deposit his cash, we both had to pee really bad. So on the way back to the red line, we saw this cute little place and decided to give it a try. It was a Sunday and the place was alright on the crowd. I expected more people to be out in this stretch watching the bears night game. I think their special was $3.50 domestics or miller. Anyway, I think its a deal for the gold coast. I think I loved it so much more than my friend because it reminds me of those little nook-in-the-hole Boston bars I have grown to love growing up. Everyone was really friendly and it seemed like there were a lot of locals. Definitely will be back on a Sunday Funday!
(4)