Third Rail Tavern
1133 W Madison St, Chicago, IL, 60607
Third Rail Tavern Menu
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Address :
1133 W Madison St
Chicago, IL, 60607 - Phone (312) 432-9107
- Website https://www.thirdrailtavern.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Tue, Thu, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
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Patrick M.
Love this place!!! Great bartenders, great food. This is quickly turning into my go to spot for a few drinks and a quick (and not super expensive) dinner/lunch. If you're in the neighborhood, make sure to stop by.
(5)Lisa M.
I don't have enough good things to say about this place. It has become one of my go to bars to watch sports and have one of their Amazing bloody marys. John the manager has always been so kind to me and will truly make you feel at home in this neighborhood bar.
(5)Lisa H.
Third rail has a pretty good tap menu, with some of my favorites usually on tap like Zombie Dust. It has reasonable prices and specials most days of the week, with $2 burgers on Thursdays. They have outdoor seating when it's nice and it's a good place to watch sports. The people that work there are awesome. They're super helpful and friendly, and one bartender, Mike, always remembers our names when we go in. It's a good neighborhood hang out spot:
(4)Michael H.
Good Spot to stop at before a Blackhawks Game! Inside it's a large dark bar with a great beer list.. lots of cool old Chicago pictures on the walls. They have really great burgers! Highly Recommend this joint.. get dat did
(4)Jennie C.
Laidback neighborhood bar with excellent daily deals. Sliders were juicy & tasty. Can't wait to return!
(4)Mihir P.
Go for the excellent beer selection and the sweet service from the redheaded bartender. The burgers are tiny! About "3 in diameter which wasn't all that. You can substitute a less than fresh side salad for the fries. But I saw people bringing in outside food and sitting at the bar so if that's an option, I may go back.
(2)Emmanuelle R.
This is exactly what I want from a neighborhood bar. They owner is always there and super friendly. I stop by here for lunch relatively often and am always pleased with their well done sliders and burgers. When my group of friends goes out here it provides a nice ambiance without being too much of a crazy bar. #why:friendly #why:local
(5)Courtney R.
Good spot to stop in while in the west loop. Eclectic music choices, when we were there it was 70s 80s classic rock which I like (lynrd skynrd, etc), bartenders were very cool (read complimentary tequila shots) and attentive, plus a cool atmosphere. Food menu looked good, but I was there after a dinner elsewhere so can't say for sure. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.
(5)Cristina P.
Cute little spot. It was a sunny Saturday and I was walking around the area. I stopped in here and there were only a few patrons. The waitress was really sweet and the food was pretty good. I ordered a chicken sandwich and onion rings. Nothing too special, but overall had a nice time.
(3)Mark S.
Third Rail is a friendly neighborhood place on Madison Street in the West Loop, convenient to the United Center. For a somewhat small-ish place, they have a really good draft beer list and an amazing variety of whiskeys, bourbons and tequilas. We were there on a Wednesday before a Blackhawks game and they had half price appetizers. We had the onion rings and the buffalo wings, both were exceptional bar fare. Some other places on Madison Street don't do specials on game days and don't open until 4pm which can be inconvenient if you want to relax and have a few drinks and some good food before getting to the UC for a game. The service is really great, Amy and Mike were very professional and genuinely nice.
(4)Maximillian M.
I was walking along Madison after watching the Bulls barely defeat the Pistons, semi-aimlessly, when I finally decided to stop for a beverage. Had a Goose Island Mathilda and some mediocre fries. What's cool about this place is they have an actual six-pack of legendary Billy Beer on display! I had never seen one in the wild before.
(3)Morris D.
It's been awhile since last review, I was very busy the last year running a Badminton Camp for the nation's top players...anyway this is a nice little Pub with great Pub Fare. The Pub has a great staff and you never wait long for your delicious Pub Fare to reach you. They also have a patio area at this Pub so you can enjoy the weather while waiting on your Pub Fare. An endless amount of cute Pups will walk by the Pub as you enjoy the Pub Fare. So you get to get Pups at a Pub while eating Pub Fare. Sounds like a Win-Win to this fella.
(5)Mark B.
Third Rail has opened a nice little outdoor patio in the back, beautiful in the fall weather.
(5)Brianna R.
This place is great - awesome cheeseburgers, cheap prices and nice staff. A coworker and I went there for lunch & loved it. I had their cheeseburger with Merkt's cheese and bacon. This thing was juicy, tender & oozing cheese - just how I like it! That first bite was pure bliss. I also had the tavern fries, which were tossed in Parmesan & garlic. Pretty yummy. I will definitely be back for more.
(4)Dean W.
I used to go here quite a bit until having a problem one night with one of the bartenders. After returning the next day to discuss the issue with the manager I was just kind of turned off by the response so probably wouldn't go back again. Otherwise the food is decent and they have a beer selection comparable to most places nowadays.
(3)Antonio M.
Comfortable, easygoing neighborhood bar with good service. Chicken on Caesar salad was delicious-best part of the meal. Wanted to find a good Macaroni and Cheese but it wasn't here, unfortunately. I heard their burgers are good. Will try to go back and find out.
(3)Angela P.
Third Rail Tavern had great drink specials for a Saturday night. $6 "ladies night" cocktails - you call it - for ONLY $6? Whaaat? I followed my friend's footsteps and ordered a hurricane. For some reason, I was charged $9 and she was charged $6. I figured, the hell with it, I had to drive home so my one drink wasn't worth quibbling over. The service was really on point and pretty quick for the drinkers. This bar was much busier than Crossroads down the street. The food is good too - it took a lot of self control to not steal my friend's sweet potato tater tots!
(3)Sarah C.
4 stars only for the beer menu. I'm happy at any bar I can get leffe and alagash white at the same sitting. Came here before a Hawks game and were able to get the last table. Don't expect much of the food, but once again, the drinks are good.
(4)Laurie P.
I came here at 10:30 on a Sunday night because I was disappointed with the bar across the street (Crossroads), who didn't notice we walked in the door, didn't acknowledge us for 10 minutes, and had crappy late night food options on top of it. I figured I would go into Third Rail Tavern, knowing nothing about it. When my boyfriend and I walked in, we were immediately welcomed by the bartender who said their full menu was available until 11pm.... this hardly happens on a sunday night in the West Loop, so I was thrilled! Our server was prompt, funny, energetic, and informative. His presence actually made me want to order more and more. We sat at the open windows, warmish night, great ambience. I ordered the mac n cheese w/ bacon and the grilled cheese w/ merkt's cheddar. I have to point out that not alot of restaurants offer merkt's cheddar, so you can only imagine how excited I was. I have to say, the food was A+ My boyfriend had a spicy bloody mary, which he thought was very nice and savory. The bartender came over to tall us more about how he made the bloody mary - with spice as a flavor and not as something burning in your mouth --- absolutely perfect! Upon exiting, the bartender made sure he remembered our names and thanked us for coming in. Friendliest bartender in the world!!!!!!!! Thanks, definitely coming back!
(5)Beatriz T.
Stopped into this bar after having dinner next door at Butterfly. Nice selection of beers and the night we came in they had a decent Ketel One drink special. They were playing good ass music...lots of 90's hip hop and we all had fun rappin along. Australian waitress was awesome and I don't like anybody...she joined in on our inappropriate convo and added her two cents. Loved it! Solid Bar. Would definitely stop in again for a drink.
(3)Laura P.
I went here a few weeks ago with a friend for the first time & loved it! It's nothing fancy, which I like. Just a nice clean bar with reasonable drink prices, tons of variety, & healthier bar food options that won't empty your wallet. I can't wait to be back in the warmer weather & sit outside!
(5)Magen R.
I came to Third Rail a few years ago before a Bulls game and had kind of forgotten about it until a Friday night a few weeks ago. Some friends and I were looking for some beer and bar food on a Friday night and everything seemed packed and I remembered Third Rail so we stopped in. It was a good experience. They had a lot of beer on tap with a fair amount of variety. The only thing disconcerting part of this was that the waitress was totally confused about what beer they did and did not have on tap and it took several trips to the table for her to sort out. We finally ordered our drinks and our food at the same time (we were hungry). We tried the wings, sliders and "tavern style" fries. Everything was so delicious! I was expecting the food to be average at best based on the lackluster performance of our waitress but it was so good! I would definitely come back here for some bar eats.
(3)Angelika G.
My place - every time the BLACKHAWKS play ! The game is ON ! And I mean ON with full sound ! Love the atmosphere ! Yes it gets crowded sometimes, but that's how it suppose to be when Hawks are playing ;-) Great selection of beers and food is yummy. Love the spinach salad! It's also my place when Hawks are not playing :-) With the outdoor seating area in the summer you can enjoy crafted brews and have a conversation. Overall great place!
(5)Jon B.
As far as bar food goes, this place is pretty damn good. The burgers and wraps are great, and the beer selection isn't too shabby either. Staff are outstanding, and the guy who I think is the owner, was awesome. Friendly, attentive, and seemed to genuinely care about our experience. The reason it gets 4 instead of 5 stars is because of the Tavern fries. I remember them being better a couple years ago. Something changed there. Still good, just not great. Minor detail though: overall, highly recommend.
(4)Nichole F.
Cute bar. It is small inside but our group sat outside and had plenty of room. Our server was great, friendly and attentive. They have an excellent beer list! Sofie, yes please! We also had the sliders and french fries. The sliders were good, not great. The french fries were beyond yummy!
(4)Kirsten A.
Fast lunch service and great highboy tables by the windows that are perfect for sipping cocktails during the summer.
(3)Ryan T.
Love this place! Staff always made me feel welcome every time I have come in. Haven't been there in a little while cause I moved to the Gold Coast but this is a great local tavern and the staff are really great and very friendly! Delicious burgers and food in general. Go there on Thursday for the burger special. Go there for a Hawks game and you will have fun. There is a good local crowd that comes in there too. I dig the music that's usually playing too! Great beer and drink selection too. This is a real Chicago tavern that has a great vibe to it!
(5)Robert J.
This place is solid. Super cool bartenders and managers floating around. Nice selection of brews to be had and as a guy that lived in Buffalo NY for 5 yrs they put a damn good plate of wings. Perfectly cooked every time and outstanding sauce.
(4)Christine S.
Two little saucy chickas wandering around the West Loop on Valentine's Day lookin' for a spot to grab a drink...and we walk into Third Rail Tavern. What a great place to end up for the night! Rick (the bartender) is on top of his 'ish...Is your drink almost empty? He'll likey be looking at you for that nod that you're ready for another. Since the bar wasn't very busy on Valentine's Day (who woulda thunk?!?), he was able to chat a little, which was nice. I love chattin' with bartenders, they know a lot of everything! Third Rail has lots and lots of booze...you name it, they probably have. They also have one hell of a beer list, check it out here: thirdrailtavern.com/bar.… I didn't eat the food here...although I did somehow manage to score a pickle and let me tell ya, it was the most amazing pickle I have ever eaten. (If you read my reviews often, you'll know that when i'm intoxicated that whatever I'm eating is the most amazing thing ever...I've even made a list for it yelp.com/list/places-to-… ) I do wish they posted their specials on their website... cause they really do have some good ones. $4 you call it, on Tuesday, BTW. Clean bar. Clean bathroom. Friendly staff. Amazing bartender (at least the night that I was there).
(4)R C.
Its OK. This is 100% a bar as its food should really only pass for decent food if you are drunk. Do not go hear for a meal but if you are just having a appetizer with your drinks, you should be ok.
(2)Bill K.
We've now been here a handful of times since moving to the area and can say that Third Rail is fast becoming one of our favorites for a low key beer and a burger. Simply put, it's a great neighborhood place with well-made pub fare and a very strong beer selection. The service has always been friendly and prompt, and we've always enjoyed our experience here.
(4)Tom A.
A great neighborhood bar with good food and drink selection. Can get pretty busy as it's fairly small, especially on Blackhawks game nights but went on a night that was manageable. Good staff, and an atmosphere with great pictures and linkage to Chicago's railroad history, especially the CTA (whose rapid transit trains are powered by the electric "third" rail). I definitely found it an electric but relaxed place.
(4)Nat M.
Lively but not crowded. Good service. Good beer selection. Average food. Above average music
(4)James L.
Came in for a drink. Place was ok. Nothing special at first. But we ended up getting a special treat at the end during closing time. RACIST comments from the bald bartender said under his breath. We weren't meant to hear it, but a friend and her super hearing heard it all... No apologies, just a stupid "oh crap she heard me" smirk. Anyway, no big loss. I'd be 10 times more upset if it was my favorite place and this happened. Never going back there again.
(1)Brittany M.
I honestly don't write a lot of Yelp reviews, but I was so offended by an employee at this bar that I had to say something. My husband and I went in for a quick lunch while out running errands one Sunday. It was just before noon, so football was kicking off and they had plenty of TV's on. After waiting forever to place our order, another employee walked up to us and told us he was changing the channel to the "Red Zone." Then he looked at me and said "do you even know what the "Red Zone" is? I was so startled by such an odd question that I just looked at him. Then he looked at my husband and said "She doesn't even know what the Red Zone is, does she?"....all while laughing. It was so sexist...and odd...and RUDE. My husband assured him that I do, so then he kept going....he says to me "well what's your favorite team playing today?" I told him I didn't have a favorite, that I was a hockey fan, and he just laughed at me. We almost walked out, and really should have. The food was horrible, it took forever, and the entire time I was just waiting for this guy to come back so I could tell him how ridiculously rude and sexist he was. Luckily he didn't pass by again as it saved me from a confrontation that was unnecessary on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. You want to be a sports bar? Fine. But you have enough competition on Madison street that you can't get away with being an asshole to ANY patrons, especially women. It was easily one of the rudest encounters I've experienced at a restaurant...ever.
(1)Dan L.
You ever get that feeling you're over dressed? We decided to grab dinner here after we semi wedding crashed an event to see a band. We felt outta place but the wait staff did an awesome job to make us feel welcome. The beer menu is solid. They have a good selection on tap and bottle. The food is nothing mind blowing, but is really good, fresh food. I had the bleu burger and 'tavern fries' (which are just reg fries with parmesan and garlic sprinkled on them) Pickle was good which always makes for a 'cherry on top' moment when I finish my meal.
(4)Jennifer M.
Quaint bar with good grub. On Sunday, Feb 19, they had the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich served with choice of French fries or house salad posted on their Specials menu. I ordered it with the French fries; and boy, am I glad I did. It was delicious! Breaded chicken breast, marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese sandwiched between a hamburger bun for under $8 and a Pepsi with free refills. I thought the service was great.The bar manager stopped by our table and he was pleasant to talk to. He made us feel right at home. I'll definitely be back! If you go at a time when it's standing room only, you might feel cramped. The bar is long and narrow. Stools line the bar and there a is a row of about 4 hi tops along the wall; not much room for large group or a crowd of people unless you're attending a private party.
(3)Lindsay L.
It's your basic neighborhood bar with good beers and your general cocktails. I asked them to make a Spanish Coffee and they didn't know what it was nor could set any drinks on fire. I appreciated that they took the time to ask. My cheeseburger was fantastic! It had a great bun and the perfect ratio of meet to bun which never happens.
(3)Dan G.
It was probably the week Third Rail opened that I was last here. That is until last week when I dropped in with a buddy for a few rounds. Lucky for us Wednesday turned out to be $4 draft night (everything but the Delirium and Matilda). That was just fine as I found the Bell's Winter White quite to my liking. I had no food here, but the things I saw looked and smelled good. There are plasmas everywhere and great sightlines for gamewatching. That's pretty important around here. They were quick to change the Blackhawks game, that seemed to be on every TV in the joint, over to the Bulls just in time to see them rally from 23 down to win in double OT on the road. We even saw our Mayor Quimby-like Alderman gladhanding and babykissing. Glad I got reacquainted with Third Rail and I'll have to put it in the WL rotation. Keep it in mind if you're in the hood.
(4)Ms. Reviewer M.
Food was decent for bar food. Not bad not great. Ordered portabella sandwich. Friend ordered chicken sand. Fries were good too. Good drink specials on Sunday at 1 pm. Would definitely return.
(4)Julio V.
Love the way the chicken wings are cooked. Friendly bartender and nice beer selection.
(4)Marty B.
Good food, lots of selection, and the best staff in the West Loop hands down.
(5)Wes T.
Came here after a wedding on a Sunday afternoon. Great staff, and an awesome selection of suds to choose from. They sell smokes here at the bar, which is awesome. The only thing that keeps them from the 5 star rating is that they don't take credit cards. Weak.
(4)Nisa D.
What can i say i'm a sucker for good bars and this one has it all, great music, food and customer service. When ever i feel Vegetarian this is the place i go for my Portobello wrap and crispy fries :).
(4)Cory W.
This is by far my favorite neighborhood place. Always a great selection of beers on tap, but plenty more in bottles if you don't find anything you like. The food is excellent, with a pretty decent sized menu for a small kitchen. The weekend brunch menu is good as well, and they make a mean bloody mary. Like any great bar, the staff absolutely make this a fun place to be. Always friendly with great service. Can't wait for the back patio to open!
(5)James D.
Solid neighborhood bar. Definitely busier on nights when there is something going on at the United Center, but in my experience it's a good crowd. Recommended.
(4)Jordan H.
Very rude bartender here. Overcharged, and clearly some issues with racism permeate reviews and our experience wasn't any different.
(1)Bob H.
GLAD TO HAVE THIS AS MY LOCAL. I'm not much of a bar guy, but Third Rail meets or exceeds all my expectations as a place to hang out on Saturday afternoon, to grab a quick burger on Tuesday evening, or to watch the Bears on Sunday. There are several good draft microbrews (I've been drinking Bell's Two-Hearted), and the tap is backed by a huge list of bottles, a pretty deep shelf of call brands (including my favorite Laphroaig), and a fairly tasty menu of bar-food standbys (burgers, wraps, etc. - try the tavern fries). There are daily drink and/or food specials, and they seem to be able to make all sorts of trendy or frou-frou mixed drinks and shots. Prices are neighborhood-moderate ($5 pints); bartenders friendly; and you can run a tab, of course. There's waitress service at the fifteen or so tall tables, a few of which are perched in the Madison St. windows looking over the streetscape. There's outdoor seating in the summer. Tidy, well-supplied, and well-lighted bathrooms. For sports types, the walls are lined with monitors (classic old Chicago photos fill the spaces in between), and you can usually get the accommodating bartender to tune the nearest one to your game, although you may have to live with the sound tuned to the big game on the other TVs (Hawks, Bulls, Bears, etc.). But when they're on their game they kill the commercials and fill the time with recorded tunes. The place does get crowded before games at the United Center a mile down Madison. Best time to arrive? 15 minutes before game-time, after everyone going to the game has left. I have to admit I've never been to Third Rail after 10pm, so I have no idea what the late-night scene is like. Could be an entirely different animal than I've experienced. Third Rail looks like and has the feel of the old Chicago corner tap, slightly modernized. Great place to hang out.
(4)Andy M.
Nothing special about this bar. A bunch of gangster Capone era pictures line the place which is in bad taste. basically this place only survives because it is down street from United Center. Every other place in neighborhood is better.
(2)Lauren D.
There's something to be said for a low key bar with a nice outside area and friendly bartenders who know how to make a drink AND don't forget about you when a) the bar becomes packed with late-night drinkers (I prefer to be in bed by midnight) and b) you get the hiccups after you've paid your bill and are desperate for sugar and water. I wandered over here from West Town Tap on a Friday night. The bar was half-full but packed by the time we left. I asked the bartender if it would be wise for me to order a martini, and to my shock he responded yes, since he is a martini-making expert. Many have made this claim; few have surpassed my expectations. But within a few short minutes, I had the most perfect French martini sitting before me, with quite the generous sidecar. Delightful. Next time I'm in the west loop, I will definitely visit Third Rail again. It's a fun place to hang out, and I've heard the late-night food is quite satisfying.
(4)Tom A.
Beer menu is pretty good. Food wasn't what I had hope for though. Al in all not a bad place.
(3)Steven C.
Cool place to watch games (Go Hawks!) and have beers...food is pretty decent too. Perfect neighborhood bar.
(4)Carol K.
I stopped by the Third Rail last night to meet a friend, grab a bite to eat and catch up.This place came recommended to me by someone who hasn't steered me wrong yet and this was no exception. The Third Rail is beautiful. Long (at least 40 feet) dark wood bar, high tops scattered about, a tin ceiling and exposed brick walls make this a great place to sit and have a drink with friends. My friend was running late so I had some time to sit and chat with the bartender who was great and who made me feel welcome right away (I hate walking in a bar by myself!). She introduced me to some of the other people who were seated around me so within minutes I felt right at home. When my friend finally arrived- they treated him like he was a "regular" at the place which is just what I would expect from a neighborhood bar like this. The menu, while smallish in nature, delivers some pretty decent food. We both had the patty melt, some of their special Parmesan cheese coated fries and the onion rings. The sandwiches were great-served on marbled rye with lots of cheese and sweet grilled onions with the burger being delicious and cooked perfectly. There are daily specials- last night it was $3 Goose Island Beers, $4 Jack Daniels and half price appetizers up until 7pm. They have a wide range of vodkas and their beer list has a good selection of both imports and domestics. I would have expected the place to be busier on a Wednesday night but most of the crowd left before 8 so there were only a handful of people in the place which was fine with me as it wasn't noisy and there weren't people yelling over my shoulder for a drink. I found the music to be a bit eclectic- it was all over the place in terms of genre, artist, etc. which I liked. When I asked the bartender about it she explained it simply, "It's the owners ipod on shuffle". Actually wished I had met the owner as his taste in music was right up my alley. So will I be back? Absolutely. In this area of the West Loop- there are lots of choices in bars, but while I once felt a bit like Goldilocks deciding where to go, I may have found my new favorite. The WestEnd? Too loud. Jaks Tap? Too quiet. But the Third Rail? Just right. See you there.
(4)Lindsey D.
The reviews really say it all about this spot but my review will solely be for the delicious martini that comes with a tootsie roll pop. Yep I said a tootsie roll pop! Not only is the drink huge and comes in its own martini mixer, but a cherry tootsie pop is a sweetly added touch. I wasn't expecting this to come out of such a dive but I was definitely impressed!
(4)Kim G.
Great local place to grab a drink. Nothing too special but the food is decent and the service is good.
(4)Diego V.
Great neighborhood bar!! Friendly people and good food. Best bloody marys in the city!
(4)Joey B.
Just stopped in for brunch on Sunday and was very pleasantly surprised! Already looking forward to next weekend's brunch!
(4)Eden S.
This is usually our go to bar if we want to change it up. They have a good beer menu. The kitchen closes at 12am, so try to get there before then. They have $2 burgers on Thursdays (you get the bang for the buck) and $2 PBR & Old Style cans on Tuesday...I usually try to make it on those days after class. Beware, when the Hawks play at home, this place gets packed! But great with friends and the staff is friendly.
(3)KChicagoan S.
Went here to watch a play-off game during NFL season. Decent drinks, decent service and the wings were pretty tasty. It's a typical neighborhood bar - nothing over the top good or bad about this place.
(3)Ben B.
When there are three bars in a row, one of them is bound to be third best. It's a hard fact of life, and in that kind of a situation, it's unfortunate if that bar also has "Three" or "Third" in the title. Beer Bistro, on the next block east, has the largest selection of food and (more importantly) beer of the three. With only six beers on tap compared to around 20 at Beer Bistro, Third Rail comes up short. In terms of food, Third Rail, when my wife and I visited, both the reuben and the burger we ordered were somewhere between overcooked and burnt. The wings were good though. Crossroads, just across the street from the Third Rail, has a roomy atmosphere complete with a fireplace in the middle. The food is competitive with Beer Bistro - maybe a couple fewer creative items, but overall, choosing Beer Bistro over Crossroads was much harder than putting Third Rail at a distant third.
(2)Heather A.
My first time to the Third Rail was last night, and I know I'll be back even though it's an hour away. They have a great beer selection, including Fat Tire on tap. This is one of my favorite beers of all time, so if a place has it on tap they are a winner in my book. I also had a grilled cheese (custom - cheddar and swiss on grilled sourdough) and it was the BEST GRILLED CHEESE I've ever eaten...ever. The pub fries were also delicious - the parmesan cheese made them irresistable. I was here for a meetup event and the staff was very welcoming, coming by often to see what we needed. Plenty of street parking - paid on Madison or go to one of the sidestreets for free parking.
(5)KM M.
What a cheeseburger! I was in the mood for a cheeseburger and had heard that Third Rail had some good ones. We ventured over on a Thursday night, little did we know, burgers are only $2 on Thursday nights (with drink purchase). Had to wait a little bit for a table, not really much room to stand in the bar. There are stools at the bar, tables around the perimeter and also a row of tables right behind the bar stools, so we choose to wait for a table. Service was a touch slow, but the food was worth the wait. Perfectly cooked fries (on the crispy side, just how I like them) and the super star of the meal, the cheeseburger. They use Merkt's cheese, which I know isn't a totally new idea, but the proportions of meat, bun, cheese and toppings are all perfect. I'm already craving another burger!
(4)Roger P.
Good beer menu and above average food. Great neighborhood bar if your looking for an evening to relax and enjoy some nice drinks. Cozy atmosphere even better when the windows are open in the summertime!
(4)Risto D.
this a great neighborhood bar. their beer selection is pretty good. their daily specials are not bad too. once you go there they make u feel like they want you to be there. the entire staff is nice, everybody greets you from the moment you walk in at that door. their menu is pretty good too. and the food is great. i've been there few times i've gotten my food just the way i've ordered it and the way i expect it to be. wish i can see more places like this around where the manager actually takes the time to thank you for paying them a visit. keep up the good work folks, you keep that service attitude up and the good food and drinks and you'd have me coming back
(5)Matthew W.
We tried to go to West End, but they don't open until 5 pm, so we walked the 5 blocks over to Third Rail and were glad we did. We were having a going away party for Kristian, and there were probably 15 people from work who came over for a drink. We arrived around 4:30 and pulled a couple of tables together. There were several other people in the place, but the bartender came right over to us to take our orders. Her service was EXCELLENT, and after she left at 5, the new bartender was just a GREAT - very attentive and friendly. She did an awesome job as the place became more crowded, and still provided us with friendly and efficient service. I happen to really like the place. Plenty of tvs and a warm/friendly atmosphere. Great staff, huge beer list and really good food. I love the boneless hot wings and fries..... This spot is a winner!! 2 Fat tire draft 11.00 5 Paulner Heffe 42.00 3 Dog fish Head 90 24.00 Bells Amber Ale 5.50 Bells Third Coast 5.50 3 Matilda 25.50 3 Bass 16.50 2 Ketel One 15.00 3 Fries 12.00 4 sliders 8.00 2 Boneless wings 12.00 Delerium 8.00 Hummus 5.00 2 Tavern Burger 4.00 New Belgium 5.50 3 Tavern Burgers 6.00 2 Peak Organic Sub Total $240.00 Total - 245.02
(5)Megan L.
Third Rail Tavern is alright - stopped in for a few drinks and a bite to eat over the weekend. It was clean and the staff was nice enough, but it sort of lacks character. It just sort of looks and feels like half the other bars in Chicago that have opened the last few years. Also, they have flags for Illinois, Kansas, and Arizona State. Huh? The menu was pretty standard bar food, and it was all pretty good. They have something they advertise as Tavern Fries - they're supposed to be french fries with garlic and parmesan. Neither I nor my friend tasted the garlic though. A pretty good selection of beers.
(3)Kim A.
I've been here a handful of times, and really enjoyed every experience. I like that the west loop is attracting places that you can chill with friends, catch a game, have a drink, and enjoy tasty food. The staff is really nice, pretty wide beer selection, and standard bar fare with personal touches -- makes the food not only yummy, but memorable. Solid 4 star joint.
(4)Gary E.
Went here last night and was joined by Betsy B ( yelp.com/user_details?us… ) my one true Elite friend on this board who is apparently lobbying for me to be an Elite member since my reviews are awesome but alas it hasn't worked out because I've been banned from the Yelp message boards and apparently that plays a part in all of this insanity but I digress as that's a whole other story. Anyway, the four of us went to Third Rail for a quick bite and some beers last night. We generally go to Beer Bistro for this type of thing, but Third Rail had $2 burgers so we figured why not. The place is SUPER dark inside which definitely lends itself to being more of a bar than a pub or restaurant. Their menu is pretty small but since we were there for the burgers, it was a non-issue. I have to say that for two bucks the burgers were really tasty - good enough at full price too!. Since its a Thursday special all condiments and sides, etc are ala carte where normally they're included - our bill came to around $60 total with 4 burgers, two sides, and probably 8 beers - totally reasonable. Everyone else ordered their burger on sourdough thinking it was a sourdough bun but alas it was plain bread so they looked like weirdos eating and the server must have thought them to be part of some strange anti-bun cult. Overall I'd come back here if I'm looking for a few local drinks with the possibility of grabbing something to munch on but there are better options in the hood that offer the same type of menu in a better atmosphere.
(3)Joe B.
After the ridiculously awful waitress we had across the street at CrossRoads, I commented that "at least whatever happens here is going to look great by comparison." Aaaaand, not so much. Our waitress greeted us, said she'd be with us in a minute, and then promptly not once, but twice, tried to bring us somebody else's drink orders while still not taking ours. I asked for a water along with my beer, and after asking another two times just accepted that it wasn't coming. I very much enjoyed my $2 burger. It's a Thursday special, and it would definitely be worth going back for.
(2)Deborah W.
Food is good, especially the weekend brunches. Beer selection is great. They just switched a bunch of the taps. The service is awesome. I now go there on a weekly basis because I like the food so much.
(5)Peter R.
This is what you want in a neighborhood bar, friendly service, friendly customers and an unpretentious air. They have an excellent beer selection both draft and bottles and a wide array of spirits proudly displayed. The bar staff are all friendly and on their game, the wait staff also are excellent and the managers that run the place do a fine job welcoming all customers. The food whilst a little unimaginative is perfectly fine. All in all an excellent all round bar.
(5)Adrienne B.
Went here for a late dinner and beer during the week. Had a great beer selection and fun, diverse music. Service was average. There are lots of screens for watching sporting events. Overall it was above average but predictable pub food.
(3)Justin K.
I have to say my 2 stars are solely based on my recent experience there while watching the blackhawks playoff game. Unfortunately, crossroads (my go-to hawks bar) was packed therefore I was forced across street to third rail. The good: service and food were great and as a place to catch a bite to eat prior to going to the UC I would still HIGHLY recommend this bar The bad: watching a hawks game here was extremely frustrating. Yes, they play the TV audio during the action and yes they have a lot of TVs however unfortunately the place is way too packed to really enjoy the game and the TV's were dated. Unless you are adjacent to a TV I felt that most people in the bar were more concernd with socializing than actually watching the game. Definitely not the same vibe you get from other west madison hawks bars. Furthermore, many of their flat screens have AWFUL and i mean AWFUL pixelation already and need to be updated. One last thing, I admire the head bartenders enthusiasm and beating of the drum to get everyone fired up for the hawks, however the "Detroit sucks" while comical initially became fairly played out by the 3rd period of a stanley cup game. Especially because we were playing the LA Kings in game 5 of the western conference finals. This was even more frustrating when, with 1minute left in regulation, the chant morphed into "Boston sucks"- again a bit premature in a game that wasn't over. You can imagine how pissed off I was when LA ended up tying the game with 14seconds left. The hockey gods surely didn't appreciate that one. Most probably wouldn't have cared, however for those non-bandwagon fans looking for a great Hawks bar I would look elsewhere.
(2)Samantha J.
What a great neighborhood bar! We wondered in the other night and had a few beers (great beer list!) and burgers. The Bleu Cheese burger was amazing! Best burger I have had in a while. Staff was friendly and quick, lots of options for beer and the food was great. We'll be back!
(5)Alan K.
What a great little establishment to introduce me to the West Loop! Holla! I went here on a saturday, arrived around midnight. The bar was about half full, so not very busy. It was a relaxing and comfortable environment. The waitress was happy and go-lucky. And the drinks were not expensive. My friends convinced me to get a $5 martini (that's cheap for a saturday night). I drank the Kentucky Kiss which was a delight. They also have Matilda on tap.... yummy! The best part of the drinks was the presentation. My Matilda was served in a genuine Matilda glass and the martinis all came in your very own personal martini shaker. If you ever go here to get more than somewhat loaded, I do not recomend trying to pour the martini out of your personal martini shaker into the glass... although entertaining, martini's can be sticky when spilled all over a table. Another note about the presentation of their drinks.... some of my friends martini's had popsicle stir sticks. I'm looking forward to visit the Third Rail Tavern again. They stopped serving food at midnight which was particularly disapointing on my visit and is the reason i'm holding back on the 5th star, but if i visit agian and the food is extra delicious then I might reconsider. Enjoy!
(4)Robert S.
This place is classy and polished. I love the ambience of the mirrors and lights. Everyone here is dressed like they just came from their office jobs. Or they changed out of their suits into their striped shirt/ party dress. Great place to people watch! The bartenders are awesome. I actually would have felt out of place without them to chat with since I was wearing a t-shirt and shorts!
(4)Bess R.
West End got a little too crazy, and we needed someplace where we could hear each other so went down a few blocks to the Third Rail. Great unhealthy bar food at very reasonable prices. Best onion rings I think i've ever had. yum. Good beer selection.
(4)Scott G.
We left Market because if poor service and rode the bikes around the corner to TTR. Thanks for being there! The beer was cold and came quickly. The wait staff fast and attentive. We started with a humus plate, the humus itself tasty, the pita chips fresh and the accompanying celery and carrot stick tasted like they were just picked from a garden. Just one very minor suggestion...don't place the hummus on a be of lettuce. I'm not ordering the appetizer to work at eating it. Again a nit, but thought I'd share. The menu is simple, but the BLT (me) and the Turkey Club (her) had the some of the freshest components I've ever had on a sandwich. The tomatoes were so big and tasty you had to pull them out separately and eat. I've had several friends brag about this place, good wait staff and excellent bartenders...I'm glad the boneheads at Market gave us the chance to find out.
(4)Tara M.
My coworkers and I have officially become regulars at Third Rail. Lunch, after work drinks...we are known by name at this point. Get the burger with Merkt's cheese on it. It's awesome. I usually go with the plain fries, but the tavern fries (parmesan and garlic) are good too as are the onion rings. The buffalo chicken wrap is good and huge, and the sliders are juicy and good too (with the Merkt's on them). They have hired a couple of new waitresses who have a bit of an attitude problem, and one of them is just plain dumb. When only one person at the table orders another round, you shouldn't look at us dumbfounded trying to figure out whose beer is in your hand when you drop it off. A different newbie knocked my purse on the floor the other night and didn't even apologize. I also asked her if there was a way to get just a small side of fries with my sliders (otherwise you get a huge plate of them for $6) and she said "I mean, I can bring you fewer fries, but it will cost the same." Interesting that, being new, she didn't even say "I don't know, let me ask about that." When the owner delivered my two coworkers' food, one of them asked him if I could get two sliders and "mini fries" and he says "Sure, I'll throw some fries on there, no big deal." And of course he didn't charge me for them. Love this place and most of the staff, and once the new waitresses figure out how important we are (kidding) all will be well again. Their 'winter' atmosphere is great--cozy, dark, and full of nice smelling candles. They could stand to turn the music down a notch, though. I am still a bit miffed that they raised the price of the Goose Island seasonal special from $3 to $4. Doesn't seem like a special at all, anymore...
(4)Ted C.
I don't like this place because I came here with a friend of mine on a Monday night after seeing the Beer Bistro was packed. There were like 9 other people in the bar besides us. They have a huge selection of liquors and the specials were okay. The problem with this place? How is it that the bartender ignores our empty glasses when we were 2 of 3 people sitting at the bar? I was actually going to eat there too but after we steadily got pissed that we were being ignored we left. Better we go to WestEnd a place we already know and are comfortable with.
(1)Tim S.
First of all, the wait staff and host were exceptionally inviting friendly and attentive. The service was top-notch- food was brought promptly as were the drinks. Food was tasty and a good value. The atmosphere is pleasant and it's not so loud that you can't have a good conversation and tvs are strategically placed so that you can see the game from anywhere. Unprententious place in a neighborhood where that is starting to sadly become a rarity.
(4)Sean B.
This is a great bar in the West Loop. Hands down, the best sliders in Chicago. The staff and owner are always friendly. Good place to watch a game, as the TVs are all good quality and have good sitelines. If you are a Blackhawks fan, it is an especially good place to catch the game, as the owner is a diehard fan.
(4)Tiffany L.
Ya know...we ended up there by accident. Planned on going across the street to Phil & Lou's, but they were closed for a private party. This review is all about the food and the single Third Rail Cosmo I drank. Burgers were great, they really were. Love the buns that they use, cheddar was great and the side of fries (parmesean & garlic) were so tasty! Loved 'em. I tried the onion rings as well which were good, a little too big and overly breaded for me, but my husband liked them. We started off with the boneless buffalo wings, we got the hot, didn't find them to be very hot, but they tasted great. Didn't like their bleu cheese dressing though, way too sweet. The Third Rail Cosmo was good. Not great. While it's cute that it has a tootsie pop in it, I'm not the tootsie pop lovin' type...and I wasn't expecting it from a bar like Third Rail and I didn't really like the touch, but hell, maybe someone else would. It's more of a trendy clubby touch I think... I liked the look of the bar, liked the dark look...the liquor layout on the bar was fun to look at. Our watiress was very nice and attentive. I felt comfortable being there and I would definitley go back. Definitley happy that Phil & Lou's was closed to the public that day or we may have never tried Third Rail. I imagine my next trip will be more of a 4-star experience, so I'll give it 4-stars today. I'll just order a beer next time.
(4)Nicolas H.
I liked the mini sliders, reminiscent of the ingredients in white castle's but more upscale. The buns were tasty, the cheese was odd but had great flavor, and the caramelized onions and pickles perfectly completed the burgers. The beer menu is better than average and the patio is small but works...
(3)Bill L.
happened to go out on a blackhawks homegame night, so the whole area was slammed full. this was our 3rd attempt to find someplace and the only one that tried to help us find a place to sit, and end up getting a table pretty quickly. Our waitress was great and the management was very into making sure everyone was having a good time. Drink specials would be nice, but the food was very good. Thanks for giving great service!
(4)Adam W.
Great staff, nice atmosphere, good selection of beers on tap, and the best burgers in the city!
(5)Kelsey K.
I love the west loop because there are so many choices, all of which are acceptable. There are a few that stand out, and I'm sad to report that this is not one of them. It's not bad, it's just not a rock star by any chance. Their martinis are very good, but that's balanced out by their okay food. I had the portabella caesar salad and it just wasn't that good. Their fries with the parmesan are really good, but you shouldn't make a whole meal of fries, ya know? Okay, it's no Black Beetle, but it's also no Jaks Tap either. I'll stop by there if I"m in the neighborhood, but I certainly won't go out of my way to visit.
(3)Chris M.
Best burgers in the West Loop in not Chicago. Didn't know about this place before I walked in, but after I left, I was sold. 10X the food of West End. Ok, that's not saying much, but highly recommend this place.
(5)Noah L.
Awesome place! Owner is a HUGE Romney fan and we had a great time closing down the bar on election night. We were so fed up with election mumbo jumbo that we turned Obama's acceptance speech off, blasted tunes and had an all-bro dance party instead with the muscular bartender, his brother and their buddies.. tater tots were burnt.
(5)Deep K.
Love this place. The food is awesome. Ordered a st. patty's melt. Not at all disappointed with my choice. Service is impeccable...
(5)Wendy C.
Pass on the Third Rail...food and drinks were average but what really lowered my rating was the slowness of the wait staff - I thought water especially on a hot day was standard? And if one person in the party requests water, shouldn't you check to see if the others might want it as well? Just a thought... I was also put off a bit with the fact that our waitress came and sat at the bar and ate with us. I have never seen or witnesses wait staff do it so openly. When I worked in customer service we had to be more subtle. I know it was slow and she is entitled to a break but should she have finished serving patrons first or passed us on to another server?
(2)Kate S.
Good food at fair prices. Drinks are a bit pricey.
(3)Meredith H.
third rail has been given numerous "other shots" from me, and is rapidly becoming my go-to on madison. this is the best $2 burger in the west loop, hands down. the tavern fries are delish and they have a good selection of drafts. friendly servers and bartenders are an added bonus.
(4)brandon k.
Best neighborhood west loop bar. close to united center which makes it great for before and after cocktails for hawks, bulls, concerts, etc...staff is about as friendly as it gets and the owner, chase, is pretty cute.
(5)Mopsie B.
Friendly, although somewhat slow staff...Really expansive beer list...above average pub grub. I'm in! Also, the prices are good and there are four strategically placed TVs. It's definitely one of the better bars in the neighborhood. I would definitely go back.
(4)Dana E.
Best Bar in the West Loop! All the staff is so friendly there they make you feel comfortable, unlike a bar down the road that makes you feel like you should be honored to be paying them for a beer. The bartender Rick is the best and so personable! If you have not beent here yet you need to get there!
(5)Mike M.
It's tough to go to a tavern for lunch but this place has hit me well. Killer burger with Merkt's sharp cheddar and good, well great onion rings. The good part is there's no additional fee to swap in sides.
(4)Guilherme B.
It's a nice spot (especially if West End is as crowded as it usually is for bulls or hawks games) for some pregaming before heading to the United Center. I watched a few of the Hawks games here last year and it was always a good atmosphere.
(4)Niki C.
I ordered a side of fries, which I heard were absolutely delicious with the parmesan & the garlic, but all I received were regular ol' fries. Imagine my disappointment. After all the hoopla. The company was good, though, as we met some of our friends who are regulars here. I'm sure I'll be back at some point, but if it wasn't for my friends, probably not.
(3)James H.
Love this place! They have great daily drink & food specials. You can't beat the $5.00 martinis all day on Saturday. Most places give you just a martini glass....the bartenders here pour you a martini and leave what's left in your personal shaker, which amounts to at least 2 martinis for $5.00. We head here every Saturday either before we head out for the evening or before heading home from a night out. The bartenders are consistent and always recognize us and the food is good. If you haven't been here yet, what are you waiting for?
(5)Amar P.
We recently moved into the area, and stumbled upon this bar while waiting on Butterfuly Sushi next door. We have been in love with it ever since. The staff is really nice and they actually remember your name. It's a real neighborhood bar compared to the other bars in the area. Jordan, the manager, is the mayor of west loop, and always makes you feel like you are at home. Rick and the rest of the crew are great. They have good daily specials and the patio is very dog friendly. The food is good for a bar and fairly-priced. If you are the area, definitely worth a visit.
(5)Robert E.
Went there one Sunday, had Awesome bloody mary's. The bartender got out a pestle and mortar to grid the jalapenos, and made with Guinness. Went there last week and it was a different person and made bloody s that were good but, just ok. need to find out when she works.
(4)Jeffrey H.
I went in around 5-6pm on a Tuesday for some quick burgers. Nothing fancy, but it was clean and seemed very nice. Our waitress was fine on her service. Not too many people, but she seemed attentive to our needs. The food was great though. Specifically the tavern fries with parmesan and garlic on it. From my other reviews, I'm a french fry fanatic which means I'm not a skinny rail. :P Buffalo Chicken wrap was good too. My wife had a Chicken Sandwhich was just as good. They have a 2-6p 1/2 price appetizer menu which looks great. Nothing special, but had tasty food. The service seemed alright to me, but I wasn't into a hurry for anything. I was watching the flat screen TVs and talking.
(4)Eddy C.
Nice, laidback bar with a casual, comfortable vibe. The food is better than the average fare you'd get at a bar, though it's still just bar food. My "T Chase" (chopped sirloin sandwich) was quite tasty, though my request for medium rare came out far closer to medium well. Their tavern fries (ie. fries covered with garlic and parmesan cheese) were tasty too but I think they could be even better if they use real garlic and parmesan, as opposed to the powdery stuff that I think they used. Beer selection is ok -- nothing too impressive but any place with Guiness and Fat Tire on tap is good enough for me. They also have a martini menu that is a bit overpriced for what they are ($12 per martini, $14 if you want them to make it a large). But they do have drink specials every day so you can get away with not spending a ton of money if you're looking to save a few bucks. At the end of the day, I'm giving this place four stars primarily because of their terrific service. Friendly bartenders who understand the importance of being attentive without intrusive. Depending on what day you go, definitely make an effort to introduce yourself to Ben, the bartender from Australian. Nice guy -- he hooked us up with beacoup free shots throughout the night (I think he was interested in my friend but, hey, whatever works you know?). I'll definitely make my way back to Third Rail again.
(4)Cassie K.
I love their hamburgers. In fact, I ate one so fast and ALL of it and it made me barf. Not their fault, the burger was just too good. Some of the patrons are assholes. One girl yelled at me for standing too close to her table and "looking" at her too much, and tried to involve one of the servers. Thankfully she didn't take it seriously and the fat B left soon after. ANYWAY their fries are great, too.
(4)Zach T.
Great ambience. Great beer list. Not much to say otherwise.
(4)Lady L.
A great addition to my neighborhood-- I will never recommend it again though. The bar is beautiful, they line up all of the pretty liquor bottles with colored lights behind them, I like it. The lighting is low, the food is good. A little pricey for neighborhood digs, but whatever. Totally solid joint that would've gotten 4 stars until, the story..... My friend Suzy and I went to third four times during the first couple of weeks they were open. We ordered a lot of drinks, tipped well and met and chatted with the bartenders, managers, and owners. We were all on a first name basis-- great, right? Well, last Saturday at 9:50 we decided to begin our night. We rushed through the freezing, slippery, ice and snow to go to the bar that we felt most comfortable in my new neighborhood-- Third Rail Tavern. We walked in, found a place at the unusually busy bar, and ordered our drinks. We were settled in. Within moments, one of the "Third Railers" that we were now on a first name basis with, came over to talk. He shared with us that there was a private party going on for his best friend's birthday (who we knew as well)... So we went over to the Birthday boy to give him our best birthday wishes. After our birthday wishes, we were pulled aside and told that we were not invited to the party, but it would be over in 10 minutes, at 10 pm, we could wait outside or come back. So, at this point we had to ashamedly grab our coats, and do the walk out with our heads down as everyone watched. This is not the way to treat regulars at a new bar! If they had stopped us at the door, I would have had no problem coming back in 10 minutes..... But making us do a walk of shame out of our neighborhood digs, NOT COOL. And the disgusted faces we were getting from people as we were walking out, you would've thought we had leaches crawling on our faces. Maybe my pride is bruised easily, but I will not be going back to Third Rail on a regular basis anymore.
(3)Abby T.
VERY clean and well decorated inside! great-looking bar as well! AMAZING onion rings!!!!!! I believe they are beer battered? great new spot in the neighborhood. and it's exactly what the west loop needs in addition to the beer bistro! a nice neigborhood spot w/ good food!
(4)Jean C.
I came here with a group of work friends for a birthday outing. It was half price appetizers and $3 you call it pints that we thought we should capitalize on that. The space is long but comfortable. We ordered everything on the appetizer list: chips with pico de gallo, onion rings, 2 kinds of wings, 2 order of tavern fries, hummus, and 2 sliders. It was a lot of food for 4 people! The apps were tasty. The fries had parmesan and garlic but I really couldn't taste it. The total bill for the food and 8 beverages was around $40. Not bad at all! I like the feel of the place and would suggest going on Wednesday to take advantage of their deal! But be warned! Cash only.
(4)Manda H.
good drinks, good food, good bar staff, what more can I ask for? Decided to give Beer Bistro a break and checked out 3rd Rail. Tried the turkey wrap and tavern fries. Rick the bartender was right, Tavern fries are where its at! Prices are reasonable. I think I found a new hang out!
(4)Christopher H.
Get the burger & tavern fries. Good food, good crowd.
(3)Joshua M.
I honestly rather enjoyed it. 4pm on a Friday, not too busy, not too dead. Had a club sandwich, enchilada soup, and a side of parmesan fries- all of which were quite good. Service was fast and attentive. The atmosphere is a little more upscale than the typical sports bar, and the bathroom didn't reek of urine (always a plus).
(4)H C.
I had to take it down a star. After leaving Beer Bistro, stopped in to grab another drink before heading home and there was absolutely no service whatsoever at the bar. The place was pretty empty except for a few couples towards the windows in the front. My friend and I literally sat there for quite some time while the waitress who was working at the time walked past us a few times. She never said a word, no "i'll be right with you" or "someone will be with you shortly". It was like we were invisible, so we got up and left.
(3)D J.
The best bar food in the city for a great price. The boneless wings and burgers are the best. And don't forget their daily drink specials. I think Saturdays are half price martini's (Around $5 or so). They always have a great mix of music too! It is one of my favorite pubs in the city and I have been to many- Check it out!
(5)Tony G.
Third Rail is ok, but it looks strangely like Beer Bistro. Same setup, pretty much. Same atmostphere(minus the beer advertisements). All that's missing is the beer. Only four beers? Seriously? I had read other Yelp reviews before I went, but figured they may have upgraded in the last few weeks. My beer was $5. My wife's wine (cheapest they have, according to the server) was $8.50. The food was cheap, and it was ok - nothing special, though it was a step up from normal bar food. I think this place charges too much for their beer and tries too hard with their food. I think something will have to change with this place - they seem to be having some sort of identity crisis, as it's not clear what they want to be or what crowd they are targeting. Maybe I'll try it again sometime, but for now if I'm looking for a beverage and a snack in that area, I'll go to Beer Bistro or Jak's.
(3)Nick P.
This IS the friendly neighborhood tavern. No pretentious attitudes or weakly poured drinks here. I'm a West Loop resident and I have been coming here for the last 2 years. The cheeseburger with Merkt's cheddar is POWER, highly recommended. Quality and fresh food & appetizers, great selection of beers. The service is quick, efficient and they truly appreciate your business.
(5)Richard S.
Good food for real, but no Honkers on tap! Seems like a good draft list and good food are mutually exclusive in this neighborhood. Being a local, I'd visit this bar a lot more if the music inside wasn't blaring so loudly. Don't know what's up with that. It's almost like someone turned off all midrange, most of the bass, and cranked up the treble! We're talking ear-piercing! TVs are nice but are high enough up in the air to give you a kink in your neck if you watch a game from the bar. Otherwise, Third Rail is our #3 or #4 on the list if other places in the neighborhood are too busy.
(3)Orack B.
It's cookie cutter places like these that buy out original places like Ira's. Bring back Ira's!
(2)Paul C.
Great food, love the chicken sandwiches and the tavern fries. Always order the tavern fries, you can't go wrong. Service is usualy very prompt and the music selection is great. Good drink selection and specials throughout the week.
(4)Dorota G.
I'm internally conflicted about this place. I come here very often, but I am not a big fan of the "polished look" that other Yelpers have mentioned. I am not a big fan of big screen TVs, that nearly kill any attempts this bar makes at keeping the atmosphere classy and sophisticated. Also, the food menu isn't very impressive. I am not a big meat eater - and my only options here are: - a bland grilled cheese sandwich - a bland salad - a side of fries Not very creative! (for a "polished" bar). So, why do I come here so often? Well, here it is: - Schneider Wiesen Edel-Weisse... my favorite beer in the whole wide world, and only a 10 minute drive from my house! How can I resist! The much much more charming and cozy Beer Bistro (just down the street from Third Rail) does not offer this beer on their very extensive beer menu... (I'm crying as I write this). ps. the service at Third Rail has always been perfect. Very friendly and attentive staff.
(3)Kristen S.
I usually only write positive reviews but my experience at Third Rail was so unenjoyable I had to post a review. Went there last night before a concert at United Center and there was only one server on staff so it took FOREVER to get served. I am not blaming the server, he was nice enough but we just never saw him. It took probably 10 mins to get our drinks and then probably 15 mins to get our check. We had burgers and I thought they were not very good (not cooked properly, iceburg lettuce, bleu cheese that tasted like bleu cheese salad dressing not crumbles). There are so many places to get a good burger in the city and so to spend $10 on a below average burger is annoying. Beers were nice and cold that's the only positive I have to say about the place. I think if you are going to be situatuated within a mile of a place like United Center and there's a concert on a Tuesday night bringing 18,000 people in the neighborhood then staff accordingly. It's rare that I dine out and am that annoyed with the entire experience. Wish I could've saved my $45 and ordered nacho's and popcorn at the UC.
(1)Amy D.
Just another big bar. Nothing special. Food wasn't spectacular and drinks weren't poured particularly strong. I'll try it again sometime though. The mini burgers were probably the best thing they had!!
(2)Erin B.
I've been here twice. Once when it was their opening weekend, and once tonight. Service here is sketchy--mostly on the REALLY slow side. I was also charged 12.00 for a "large" martini, when I didn't know that there was an option of a regular or a large. Overall it is overpriced, very clean, and has really, really slow service.
(2)kevin k.
Nice place! Sure can't beat the $3 bottles or drafts of Sams! Really nice people that run this bar. My second time there and I'll be back! If I lived in the west Loop I'd go there more often.
(4)Joel B.
This place needs a personality. The West Loop isnt Lincoln Park. Just 'cause you serve beer and drinks doesnt mean people will keep coming back. It is polished like others have said, but it doesnt have a crazy long beer list like Beer Bistro and doesnt have the posh-sports bar feel of the WestEnd. Its like Kendals or Kincaids, sans drunk 20 year olds and $2 bottle specials. The owners need to figure out how to set it apart from everyother bar that charges $4.25 for a Miller Lite.
(2)Emily P.
this place is awesome during a blackhawks game, specifically a stanely cup playoff game. i have an official playoff towel to wave around compliments of the bartenders. great food, decent drink prices, awesome service. the downside is this place is hella small. the flipside, this place is hella small so interacting with the crowd for games is part of the experience. go hawks!
(4)L M R.
this place was alright. the only thing that sticks out in my mind is that when i tried to order 3 shots that wouldve been $8/each, the nice bartender told me to just get the jager bombs that were on special for $5. thank you nice bartender. i was there with a bunch of people from work at about 5:30 on a friday and we were able to talk to each other and get drinks with minimal waiting. and, when i left before everyone else, i was able to pay for just my drinks despite the group tab. but, ambience is nothing special and its pretty small. i didnt eat any of the food so i cant speak to that. average overall.
(3)Sara W.
I unfortunately will NEVER be going here again. We had a good time there, good beer choices not SO loud that you can't hold up a conversation. . . That was until the bald jerk of a bartender got pissy that it was getting close to closing time. The bar was closing at 3am and at 2:50, he starts screaming that the bar is closed. Now, this happens at most places, and I understand that they want to get off of work which is contingent on the fact that we are sitting there finishing up our beers. However, there were 6 other people in the bar and we were standing up drinking the last few sips of beer. This is when the bartender states, "I guess they don't speak English. Anyone speak Chinese?!" He said it thinking that none of us heard it. Which is RUDE, IGNORANT, RACIST, and unacceptable. If you are anything other than white, your friends are, or prejudice doesn't float your boat, don't go there.
(1)mary z.
We went here before the Bull's game and had a great blue cheese burger, $4 bud light, and a great watiress! Definitely would go back!
(5)Don E.
I've been here after a few Hawks games and I like it. It does have a tendency to get crowded on game nights (Especially after the second period when the Hawks are getting drubbed, Bill Wirtz.... why I outta ....), but the service is still good. The food is typical of what you'd expect in a bar. The TVs are real HD for those of you who are interested in that.... Oh, and the lights that illuminate the bottles behind the bar are pretty cool
(3)Melissa D.
We go here every Wednesday night before our softball game at Union Park. The decor is nice and there is some outdoor seating, but it's nothing special. Definitely not my favorite place by any stretch. Their food is good, although their menu is kind of limited, as is their beer selection. And the service is adequate, but not outstanding by any means. We continue to go because it is close to Union Park. I wouldn't make a special trip to go there otherwise.
(3)TheWindyCity P.
We visited the Third Rail Tavern on March 27 at about 5 PM. At this early hour, there were only a few patrons at the bar. My wife and I ordered a cabernet sauv, and it came cold. We talked to our waitress a bit, and she returned with two room temp cabs., all was well. She got to talking and yucking it up with some of the bar patrons, and it took about 20minutes to get our food order in. I thought it was odd that she did not write our order down. I just thought this was the way they did it here. When our order arrived, 30 minutes later, it was brought by a different waitress. The things I asked for, like grilled onions and bacon on my Blue Burger were not there. Also, she never put in the side order for the Tavern Fries. I wanted to get this corrected, but now our new waitress was seated at the bar enjoying her dinner, yucking it up with the other employees.. I think they need need a little more focus on the customers, and maybe not so much on themselves? I will say that the food was well presented and very flavorful, cooked to the desired doneness. The ambiance of the room was very comfortable. The service just isn't great. Don't know if I would recommend it just yet.
(2)Nick J.
Incredible sliders, great service, good deals, ice cold beer, great location
(5)Nicki M.
This place has really tasty burgers (love the Merkt's cheddar) and drink specials on the weekends ($3 Goose Islands and 1/2 price martinis on Saturdays). And the atmosphere is great - it's always been full but not too crowded when I've been there. Definitely my favorite bar in the West Loop so far.
(5)