I definitely agree with the college bar feel. I went there with some friends to celebrate a friend getting a job in the area (we are all seniors). Saw a bunch of people from my high school class there (although we acted like we didn't know each other). It was very much like the bars in Champaign-Urbana, which is dirty, kinda gross, and really smoky. Would go again with a good group but definitely would not suggest going there.
(3)
Paul A.
Eh, this place is ok. Nothing fancy, and not a complete hole in the wall either. It is pretty big, so if you are going out with a large group this place would work fine. It reminds me of bars I used to go to in college. They don't go out of their way to woo you by any means, cause people usually come regardless. It's kinda dirty, and the bathrooms are rather gross. This from a guy who has a public washroom phobia, so take it for whatever it's worth. They often have live music which is fun, and you can go upstairs if you want to get away from it. The upstairs also has a rooftop beer garden for when you need some fresh air. The crowd is all over the place; from misplaced frat turds to a table full of your parents putting some drinks back. I've never tried the food, and probably never will. They typically have different drink specials for each night of the week too. If you want to relive your college days and get rowdy drunk, Doc Ryan's is the place to take you back.
(3)
Elizabeth H.
Okay, this a a weird bar. Prices: decent. The employees: really nice. The bathrooms: dirty and somewhat dangerous. (I cut my finger on the stall door). The lighting: strange and uneven. Some places are really bright and others are really dark. My main reason to right this review, however, is the food. They have awesome food. The fish fry that they have during lent is unforgettable. First of all it is only $7. You can get it fried or baked with a choice of seasoning and it comes with fries or mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes are delicious. They are made from real potatoes and they are creamy and garlicy. It is delightful. They have $3 beer pint specials ever month and they usually pick a high quality beer. Everyday of the week they have a food, booze, and beer special. The food is really cheap which only makes it taste better. On account of the strange lighting I suggest that you only go in the daylight.
(4)
Britta M.
Subpar service. We ordered the $1 special build your own burgers and when we got the bill had charged us for the $7.50 ones
(2)
Michelle I.
Seemed like this bar could be fun, but wasn't! It was a very lively place. There was a very young, rude clientele in here. The people wouldn't even move when we excused ourselves to walk by. The bartenders did not give us the time of day! So we left, without one drink! And for the bartender chicks- we would have tipped a hella lot more than your poor 21 yr. old college boys that you were doting on!
(1)
kristen s.
came here to watch a bears game a few nights ago, pretty sure the lobsters are gone? disappointing! we got there early enough the we got a seat, and were able to get decently priced pitchers. it didn't get overly packs, and no kids this time! (yes!) over all a much better experience. i have to mention that if you're not sitting at the bar, you probably will have to go up to the bar to get a drink, all the waitresses walked right past us without thinking twice the entire night.
(3)
Robert S.
Doc Ryan's is ok, I've been here a few times and havent had anything to complain about. However, I havent found anything to rave about either. They have live music, which is cool, but the karaoke is HORRIBLE. I mean, you really can't blame them for how bad their patrons sing, but WOW. The drink prices are moderate, and the place can get quite crowded.
(3)
Jeanette N.
This is a moronic sort of a place. It's large. It draws a large crowd. That's the deal. The management hires far too few people to serve far too many people. The servers are really snippy - for good reason. So sad. The bars on Madison really need to catch up to the shops. There is a big old gap between nightlife and shopping here. I don't even necessarily need a fancy place. I just need a place where there aren't a million loud t.v.'s playing sports, regular service you would expect anywhere, and a whole lot of hot men. hahahahahahaha I'm funny. In a nutshell, there is a lot of room for improvement here.
(1)
Stella S.
I agree with Brittany - it's a bar and it's what you make of it. I went there last night with my fiance and we had a blast. A great cover band, Tramp Stamps, was playing. The drinks are cheap but good. There are lots of games to play upstairs and outside seating upstairs as well. I've been here several times with different girlfriends and x-boyfriends and always had a great time.
(5)
Dave S.
This is a decent bar. I was reading the reviews of those who Yelped before me and I did not get a gross/college bar/fighting nightly bar. It was a good mix of a crowd with older/middle age/younger people. There were quite a few people with cigars though and the heavy smoke filled the bar though. The place was packed and they had this band playing 50's and 60's rock. The band was OK. The drinks were not overpriced and the waitress was very attentive to us. They seemed to have some good food specials ($1 burgers, $0.50 tacos, 1/2 price pizza, etc...) I didn't eat here but I would mind trying their food for that price. Overall a decent time was had by all
(3)
Mary E.
I don't really know what to say about this place. I was on my break at work thinking to myself while I read the newspaper and searched for some donuts to steal. I thought, "What is the worst bar I've ever been to?". It's not Doc Ryan's but Doc Ryan's is close. Always crowded. Always loud. TV's always blaring sports. Bartenders honestly do the best they can (the only reason I give it two stars). I will give Doc Ryan's that much. The crowd: Loud suburban college/recent college grad types. Local working types. Never had a problem with anyone in the bar but they are loud. Two floors. Top floor usually not as crowded as the bottom. I guess what really freaks me out about this bar is the lack of tables and chairs on the first floor. I find that really strange. There's like these large standing spaces. It's not even a dance floor. They have huge spaces where people can just stand around. It's weird. And creepy. I don't think I'll ever go back. Just not my kind of place.
(2)
Heidi R.
Doc Ryan's graciously hosted a fundraising event for West Suburban PADS in September. They donated their private party room and appetizers for 100 people. Their wait staff and bartender were great to work with and they all were very accommodating of our schedule and needs. What a great way to support the community!
(4)
Bridgette K.
My friend and I stopped in for a few cocktails the other night. They were watered down and over priced. I wasn't very happy with this place. We left after the first drink. The people there seem to all be from the neighborhood and know everyone.
(1)
Vanessa P.
The bar to end all bars situated right in the middle of "Irish Row." Come here if you want to see ex-boyfriends, old hook-ups or old classmates. And sometimes if you're lucky (or me), you get to see all three in the same night. Your ubiquitous Irish bar in a neighborhood filled with them. I go to see any of the aforementioned groups. Hey, it's usually interesting...
(3)
Monica S.
Doc Ryan's is the "college bar" of the Forest Park (near Westside) area. A common meeting place during winter break/Thanksgiving, those weekends can be tremendously packed. Doc Ryan's is 2 stories, a pretty big bar. Some nights have live bands that are usually pretty decent. Plenty of seating and room. In the summer, there is a rooftop porch which is awesome! Definetly the "hip" place to go if you're in the area.
(3)
Mike K.
usually when I'm at doc i'm working, as the band is playing and i'm mingling...doing my thing, whatever. And the crowd is mixed. Some see it as a sports bar, so you'll get your regulars. Some see it as a college bar, so you'll get the 21 and 22 year olds. Basically Doc Ryan's is what you make of it. There's games and tv's upstairs along with a patio, so there's plenty of room. If you're looking to dance they have a spot for you too. Its always a much better night when the band is there...ahem, The Kingfish, plus the place usuall;y gets a good crowd. The bartenders and managers have been there for a while and do a great job of mingling, serving and keeping the peace. And if you're not careful they'll get you completely bombed out of your mind, and before you know it you really will be having the time of your life. Plus the food is pretty good, too. While they are good on having enough restrooms, you will have some parking issues. There's a meter and a small lot, and this place gets a crowd, so come early and get your spot. Doc's loses a star because they have a lobster game by the door. I'm not sure why...but hey, i'm not a fan. Even still, Doc's is cool.
(4)
John L.
Doc's is a popular neighborhood bar. While I agree about the frat boy/college bar comments others make if you were to go there the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, it is a cool place to chill on a Sunday afternoon in the fall to watch Bears games and eat good bar pizza. You just can't beat the daily specail: "buy a large pizza and a pitcher of beer for $12". The annual pig roast we went to last night is tasty, but way too crowded, kind of like the Wed. before thanksgiving.
(4)
Cassie B.
yeah i'm from the near west suburbs originally and doc's is not great but let's face it, there is not much else around unless you haul your butt out to the city. spent many a night here for (1) underage goodness; (2) college-break holiday mediocrity; (3) finally, out-and-out crappiness, but with a nostalgic kick. all in all, 3 stars.
(3)
Jessie B.
Went here last night for a birthday party. The party was located upstairs away from the "bar" area. I was glad because I was worried it was going to have that frat boy feel to it. Well, it sort of did, but it wasn't over the top horrible. The bartenders working the party were cool, and very attentive to our drinking needs. The music was good--all genres, you know typical bar music. I will say that the place was a bit dirty. The bathrooms were really gross. It looked like they haven't been cleaned in days. (No bueno) So I have to knock off a star for that. And another because I live without this place.
(3)
Lisa H.
We were in on a Saturday night and the main bar only had 2 bartenders??? It was packed and full of people who don't look old enough to be in college let alone drinking (they started playing flippy cup on the tables spilling everywhere) It was not my choice to go here but the group vetoed me, and on the way home they agreed never again. The band was good but the room they were in was about 100 degrees and again only 1 bartender in there. The drinks are not very overpriced if you are looking for a silver lining.
(2)
Kevin C.
Average bar with average waitresses. Living in the city, I found that drinks here were much cheaper than other joints I go to on average. Where else can you pay $3.75 for a Sierra Nevada? Would come here again for some casual drinks but wouldn't be my first choice. I was a little spooked a few Saturday's ago when I was here and the place was practically empty. Effects of a bad economy? You be the judge.
(3)
Melissa H.
I'd probably give this bar a 2nd chance, but my first impression wasnt a great one. The bar is huge, that is a plus. The food was pretty decent (I got the paddy melt). Cooked just right, however by the time the food got to us, it was a bit cold. Not cold enough to hassle with sending it back and waiting another 45 minutes, but not warm. The day we went there (this past Saturday) was the night of Forest Park's Saint Patricks Day parade. That was a mistake haha. It was insanely crowded, and seeing that most people at the bar and in the streets were already drunk when we showed up sober at 9, it made for an interesting night. They have a lot of decent beers on tap, that is also a big plus. The crowd just wasnt my type of crowd. I agree with other reviewers, very frat house/ drunk pledge sister, type crowd. The median age was probably 23, 24 ish, which is ok if you are that age and hang in those types of circles, but when your in your upper 20's or 30's + its not the type of people you want to be bumpping around with, especially when most people were drunk and id say 65% of the crowd were guys. There was an almost fight towards the end of the night, which soured us a bit more on the bar. Bathrooms are really nasty. I dont think Ive been to a bar in the Chicagoland area that has worse bathrooms then the ones at Doc Ryans. You know its bad when the WOMENS bathroom looks that bad. Pluses: Various beers on tap (though your paying pint prices for beer in 12oz plastic cups) The bar is big so on a normal day I can see where it wouldnt be insanely crowded. The bartenders worked pretty hard, and didnt leave you hangging for too long. The food was good, if it would have been warm. They have pleanty of video games and bar type fun things. Minues: The crowd in the bar. Just not my type of crowd. Though you are going to hang out with the group your with rather then everyone else. The food wasnt warm enough. There wasnt really a waitress, so you had to keep going up to the bar to buy drinks. When there is a waitress, they will not let you have seperate tabs from the rest of the table. All in all, there are probably better bars to hang out in down there. I probably wouldnt go back again unless it was a special occasion for our freinds living down there.
(2)
Nick M.
Bar 5 The night might be finally shaping up or have I've had too much to drink... I dunno at this point (he says in a drunken slur) . Doc's is the "IT" bar in the area and I can see why. They have large two rooms plus an upstairs for private parties. The main room is the largest with giant round bar right in the middle of the room with stools all the way around. The second room has a smaller bar but lots of small tables plus a small stage that you can see from the main room as well. I didn't catch the cover band's name that night but they weren't half bad (but then again rocking out to Bon Jovi or Sublime is a must after a few drinks). Our group was all over at this point (and I think we lost a few down the street) but a couple of us found a great spot in the back bar so we could watch the band play. At this point not being in the massive crowd made my night and probably helped my liking of the bar. The bartender was very nice and again the drinks were cheap. They serve bar food and it looked actually edible. I'd go back here. ** They have a deal every night single night of the week of items as most bars do but what is really cool is that any night of the week you can pop in for a large cheese pizza and a pitcher of beer for only $12... I know!!!!!!!!!! $12!!
(3)
Larry P.
I mostly agree with Monica, in that this is where a lot of people get together when they're back in the area for Holidays, etc. However, it doesn't seem like a college bar when I'm there, it seems a bit older. They have a football throwing game that is top notch, when functional, and good staff, drinks, etc. Being from OP, this is an old stomping ground, so my judgement is biased. But, I've always loved Doc's. Oh, and yes, it's smoky as hell in the winter, when the sky light is closed. They have a good patio in the Summer. I have never eaten here, in hundreds of visits.
(4)
Karen C.
This place holds many fuzzy drunken memories for me. I spent a decent amount of time upstairs in the back corner by the dart boards with what used to be some of the regulars. I returned here a few weekends ago for a friend's private birthday party and all I can say is turn the heat down and for goodness sake, do something about those filthy bathrooms. In the inebriation of my youth I could overlook the stall doors that barely closed, the black muck of filthy hands tarnishing the edges, and the overall feeling of gross that permeates the tiny confines that are the woman's restrooms. I don't mind yucky bathrooms at punk bars/concert halls as it seems to fit the overall tragic angst filled feeling of those places. However, this is a sports bar. Two floors with flat screens that are always playing some sporting event or another, dart boards, that golf game people seem to love, and an area downstairs for some old timey rock and roll bands to play. You'd think with all that, they could get some new stall doors. Blech. As for the food, I haven't eaten here in years, but I do have a fond memory of their steak quesadillas and French fries. The beer selection is the standard Miller/Budweiser variety with a few decent beers thrown in (Woodchuck, Sam Adams, Leinies), but nothing to write home about. They do have a really nice upstairs outside deck area that is great for watching the ballgame in the summer or having a girls drinking lunch on a nice Sunday afternoon. Overall, if you're looking for a cheap night out, you live close, and don't mind less than desirable bathrooms then this is your kind of place
(2)
Bobby D.
Still a pretty good place to go. However, The restrooms are horrible. Especially the one downstairs which was sans toilet paper. They shouldn't virtually give in to the miscreant vandals who either throw the toilet paper bulk in the commode, Or just wreck the dispenser.
(3)
Johnathan K.
I go here with my friends every couple weeks. It's probably the best bar in the area, which isn't saying that much, but it's worth mentioning. They have a lot of good beers on tap and a good liquor selection, and they pour their drinks strong and don't gauge you price-wise. They lose a star for not having Goose Island beers and for being full of people I went to high school with.
(4)
Dave B.
Use to hit Doc's in my 20's (and earlier) and loved it, a great meat market for scouting out the opposite sex. I'm in my late 30's and still meet there once a year for my fantasy football draft. The place looks nicer and is definetely bigger due to the recent renovations. When I was there on a Tuesday night it was completely dead. Beer and food specials are decent (think they had $8.00 pizza night last time I was there.). But lets face facts that it's a college bar for early twenty somethings, not a place for adults who want to spend a quality night out.
(3)
Nektaria R.
This place is ok for a Friday afternoon. I would like to come back whenever they're suppose to be "happening". Definitely not happening at 3pm. This is fine, since I was here on a date and wanted to talk with my friend rather than screaming to try and hear each other. They had games on the TVs and lots of friendly faces waiting on tables and tending bar. We ordered a few appetizers and they were your typical tasty barfood. I mean, you really can't go wrong with nachos and chicken fingers.
(3)
Rob W.
It's hard for me to rate this place as I'm not part of their target market. It's a large, fairly dirty dive bar. I don't frequent dive bars too often anymore. So, I'll try and rate it based on a few observations I had. I was there for a beer and a burger. The beer selection was OK - not huge but not small either. Ordered a Revolution Porter and looked at a menu. Appetizers are 1/2 price on Monday nights, but I didn't really see anything I wanted so I focused on the burgers. Black and Blue looks good - burger with bleu cheese and some fried onion strips (not sure what was "black" about those). Ok, it comes out... the bun dominated the dish - not that the burger was small, it was just on a really, really thick, dense bun. The bleu cheese and onions strips were present, but barely accounted for. And the burger came out medium rare as I had requested, but it was one of the blandest tasting burgers I've ever had. Service was decent. So what do I give this place... two stars. Reason being that what stands out in my mind most is the boringist burger in Chicagoland - that just needs to be better.
(2)
LOIS B.
I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo past frequenting a place lie this, but we were there for a surprise party. it was nasty to watch old men picking up very young ladies in the bar area. The party was held on the second floor, facilities are only located on the first floor. Drinks are served in plastic cups ~ seriously? When did that start? Parking in Forest Park is a nightmare, and this strip of Madison is a happening place. Not my idea of a good time. Oh, and they allow smoking on the second level. For someone allergic to smoke, just not my night.
(2)
Ronald U.
This was a nice quiet bar during christmas time and it was perfect for a group get together. Honestly the bathroom could use an upgrade, but I thought the service was pretty good. They even brought a pitcher of water for us. We would definitely go there again with a group!! Appetizer were tasty, especially the mushroom, and the pizza was perfect.
(4)
Meg P.
Nowadays, I only go here for the Irish Parade. But the last 2 years have been a complete flop.. This place gets too crowded and filthy. I should have wrote this review last month I was upstairs Sat 3/07 where the overwhelmed bartenders ran out of Jack Daniels. Hmm, interesting - before noon? An older female bartender told me to go downstairs.. I said I'll have something else since the 2 bars down there were packed. After disappearing for a while she returned so I asked "can I have a double shot of Malibu Rum on the rocks?" The bartender paused and goes "can't you say please??" I laughed and said ...Uh can I please have a drink...... She took care of another guy. Came back, poured my drink in a plastic cup (funny there's never glasses and you get shots in plastic too, lolling!!!) she THEN poured Red Bull in it. Said oh shit, then proceeded to add pineapple to mask the Red Bull!???? And said well here.. She was completely flustered so I didn't have her make another. (I ended up at the downstairs bar anyway.....) She charged me $10 for the wrong drink? I can't stand the taste of energy drinks and carbonation makes me hiccup real bad. They didn't have the whiskey I wanted up there anyway. I only took 1 sip of my awful drink -which must have been watered down since I tasted no alcohol and I've drank Malibu from the bottle before. This was the first time in my entire life I took my tip off of the counter and walked away. I gave my drink to someone else.. That person also complained their drink was watered down. Made by the same lady, but different alcohol. The long lines to the disgusting tiny bathrooms were insane. The amount of wasted people yelling was out of control. And it was only 12PM... I usually bar hop, but I will definitely skip Doc Ryan's next year for the parade. Also, the staff regulates when you can smoke outdoors/upstairs or not. Rain; go inside! 10pm; go inside! Some weekdays; closed patio!? .....alrighty then I used to frequent this joint when I was 21-23 (& younger haha) and lived down the street. 2005-2010... I'm now 28 and probably too old to deal with this trash. Docs is turning into a dive / shithole. I used to not mind the drunk college douche bags fighting and thugs causing problems. I've even been kicked out back in the day.. Had a few Birthdays here, met some cool people, danced all night, and puked in the bathrooms. But this place has actually gotten worse? The bouncers are a joke, majority of bartenders are ignorant, service usually sucks, specials are just ehh, food is mediocre, and plenty of their customers are total idiots Also, this bar is dead during the weekdays. It doesn't get busy until late on weekends. Go somewhere else if you're on Madison Street. There's much better drinking establishments a few doors away. I gave it 2/5 stars instead of just one because when I was wasted and underage, I had a blast at Doc Ryan's :P
(2)
Jordan K.
Douche. Town.
(1)
Katie B.
Food was good, especially the cheese curds. We sat on the roof which had a nice atmosphere. The service wasn't great. We had to go to the bar to order our food and our drinks. Besides a server brining our food to our table, no one stopped by to check on anything or to even bring us our checks- for which we again had to go up to the bar.
(3)
Theresa C.
I don't hang out in Oak Park on a regular basis, but I just started my masters at Dominican University and after my first final my classmates and I decided we needed a drink. We headed to Doc Ryan's on a local's recommendation. It was around 7 on a Thursday night and the one girl who had been there before informed us that the atmosphere was not typical, that being said... It was mostly a nice place: decent beers on tap at an okay price, good snack foods (we had tots and fries during the evening), it was surprisingly well lit (on the first floor), and not too loud to have good conversation. We stayed on the first floor even though a rather aggressive gentleman did inform me that the real party was upstairs several times while I was alone waiting for the rest of my friends to show up. It wasn't crowded, we got a table for 6 without a problem. The bar service was kind of crappy, the guy seemed new and was kind of a tool, but the table service was excellent. The waitress was really nice and super friendly and fast. And both people with credit tabs were super undercharged (I don't know if that was an apology for the mistakes the bartender made early in the night or more of his ineptitude, but whatever). Honestly, I would probably hang out here if I lived nearby and I won't object at all to another post-class get-together.
(3)
Ray N.
I've been here a fair number of times (most recently the other night for the Blackhawks' Road Watch) and I can't say I've ever been overly impressed. I guess as far as bars go, it's alright, but Doc Ryan's tends to be one of the pricier bars on Madison St., and it isn't exactly worth the premium. It seems like they take their business for granted in that Apple sort of way - they're one of the few bars on Madison that will pretty much always have business, so they don't have to worry so much about pricing. For being the Hawks' Road Watch (an officially-sanctioned Blackhawks viewing party for away games) AND being Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, it was surprisingly tame in here. And because there weren't that many people in here *all things considered* I feel my group could have has a little bit better service. This place has been busier on a random Saturday. We ended up going to Molly Malone's after the game and it was dead as well, so it isn't Doc's fault. However, our waitress still did not come by very often and just didn't really seem to care. It seemingly has always been the focal point of Madison St., with more of the promotions on the radio and whatnot, but I don't really get why. It seems spacious but when it's a busy night you'll be rubbing against people all night. And the one saving grace for me has now (apparently) been ruined - the 2nd floor has apparently been converted into a "club" on the weekends, complete with loud music and flashing lights. My friends and I usually head upstairs just so we wouldn't have to deal with the bullshit downstairs, so if this actually has happened, there's no point in me coming back.
(3)
Suzy B.
I've gone to this bar several times, more so right when I turned 21 because that seems to be the kind of crowd in there most of the time. Now being 28 I won't step back in. Not only does it get way too crowded but the music is just horribly loud on the weekends. The beer garden was decent with lots of tables and room for games. But what made me not step foot in there again was on one slow night with maybe three other people in the bar, I ordered either a jack and coke or Jameson and ginger ale (I don't remember since it was near a year ago) but the bartender actually said to me that I don't want to order that because she saw all the bottles of whatever I was ordering were WATERED DOWN! Even the ones in the back stock that shouldn't even be opened yet. Whether they were or weren't, the fact that the person working there had to advise against it was enough for me!
(1)
Jess C.
I'm not a bar person but when I can get a seat at the bar with attentive bartenders AND good music...I'm a happy camper! Being a married person, this wasn't really our crowd but I enjoyed the energy of the people. Bartender was a little raw - a blunt drunk with business sense. I was disappointed that we could not order food accept for pizza after 11pm but I suppose that is usual for bars at that time. The read reviews that this bar had a lot of 20 something's but I think it was a good mix of people. The rooftop bar was open and music was excellent so 3 stars it is!
(3)
Ashley O.
The roof top is great but it really needs a better bar system. Very unorganized. Bartenders great just feel bad they have to keep running in and out to get good drinks. This could be a really great spot if they fixed that.
(4)
Angela B.
They are ok. Crowd was good. Drinks were tasty. Music was 50 50 play one good song next song was wtf lol. But its a great place.
(4)
David B.
You could probably drop this bar into any college town in the Midwest and it would be right at home. It basically caters to the 20 somethings in the area looking for a night of over-drinking on the weekends. During the week it's pretty dead, usually just locals grabbing a beer and a burger and watching the game on the TVs. They have pretty decent specials but the beer menu is pretty limited to your InBev/ Budweiser selections with a couple craft beers like Revolution thrown in. Food is okay, mostly your typical bar fair but their pizza is pretty decent. Have to admit, I use to frequent this place when I was in my 20's but as you get older this type of place gets tiresome. I do hit Docs on St. Patty's day which is usually pretty entertaining.
(2)
LaToya A.
Doc Ryan's is your typical neighborhood bar. Good music, cheap drinks, people you know, and good times. There isn't anything spectacular about the place but the people are nice. The bar staff are friendly although some of them make drinks better than others, which is to be expected. Once I find who makes the best drinks, I just stick with them for the rest of the evening. This is my go to place when I want to hear some pretty decent music and have a few drinks. I haven't tried the food so I can't comment on it.
(3)
Samantha K.
As a long time customer and friend to some of the bartenders at Doc Ryan's I've been bias for many years until about a week n a half ago. A high school girlfriend and I are planning a class 10 year reunion, naturally (at the time) I thought of Docs to host our event of 100 plus students and teachers. After a month of attempting to contact the "event planner" (who was out of the country with apparently no one to cover her... So I was told) I resorted to contacting a bartender friend for some help as we had to get planning underway. Red Flag. Finally (1 week later) we were contacted back, date was set, deposit paid and invitations sent to my entire class and all of our old teachers. We had plenty of responses, this was going to be great! Classmates and teachers were even flying in to come celebrate 10 years with us! We WERE so excited, until 5 weeks before our event we get a call from the "event planner" that Docs was no longer going to be able to accommodate our party. Why?!?! Did they have a fire and need repairs?!?!?! Did they not pass an inspection?!?! Were they closing for good?!?!? No. No. And No. All of those would have been better reasons than the one she gave. Doc Ryan's had decided to host another party on the same night as ours obviously weeks after we had gotten our invites out. Another party I'm sure they believe to be bigger and better than the one we were planning. They offered us a mediocre option to change the date (which when you have people coming in from around the country is not an option). We were refunded our deposit and after they piss poor display of professionalism, we were MORE than happy to take our business across the street. I am so disappointed and have finally seen what really bad business can do to sway a once avid fan of Doc Ryan's. And its a shame because this place once was the place to be all days of the week... I understand now why so many loyal customers have left. Sorry guys I won't be returning and I advise anyone looking to plan a party to head to one of the other gems along Madison Street.
(1)
Cala T.
I literally just got in the car and drove away from this place.... I have to say that the experience was crappy. I normally check Yelp before actually going to a new bar, but I was so excited to watch the Bulls vs Cavs tonight that I forgot. Welp... I should have because these ratings speak the truth. I manage a facility in LP and we have a full service bar. I'm all about watching the pour and I often have to yell at my staff. However, I will never order another drink from this place. I watched him more about 3/4 of an oz in my drink. He wasn't too friendly or sociable... To top it off, we ordered food !!!! When my friend received his tacos, there was hair in it. We informed the bartender and he acted like it wasn't a big deal. My friend was nice about it and just ordered something else. I wouldn't have been so nice! The food was very mediocre seeing how they brought me a burger with absolutely nothing on it. And I had to ask for ketchup and silverware. All of this to say... There were only about 6 other people there at the time. Don't waste your time if you're looking for good drinks and food. Definitely go elsewhere. **thumbs down**
(1)
Kyesha N.
Went here last weekend with my fiance and we had a great time. Bartender was so nice and kept us laughing. The drinks were GREAT love the Angry Orchard and the food was delicious as well. We had the hot wings and fries :) Great place
(5)
Abby M.
Visiting from KC with a friend we wanted to go to a fun bar. This is one of the first ones that popped up. Read some negative reviews but wanted to try it out anyway. Immediately we were disappointed by the bartender downstairs. He was so rude to us, but maybe this is Chicago personality? We decided to stick around since we had drinks to finish, so we went upstairs to see what it was about. If it wasn't for Timmy and the other bartender (tall with shaved head, can't remember his name, wish I did) on the second floor we wouldn't have stayed. Timmy setup bags for us to play and the other bartender was DJ'ing music from his phone with great music. They saved our opinion of this bar and managed to keep us there for a few more drinks. If we walked out after the first drink and didn't go upstairs this would be a one star. Previous reviews talked about quarter darts and a ping pong table, they are wrong. Neither exist. It's normal priced darts and no ping pong table. other reviews called this a 20 something kind of bar. We didn't get that vibe, but it was a slow night so maybe it is other nights?
(4)
John R.
Not sure if they know what a burger is. Ordered a Doc's Supreme burger & the server asked me how I wanted it cooked to which I said medium. About 45 minutes later I got served an Italian roll with 2 pieces of cheese & bacon, grilled mushrooms & onions, but NO BURGER. I asked the server where the burger was that I ordered & she said one chef makes it this way & the other makes it with a meat patty. Now I know she knew I wanted a burger since she asked me how I wanted it cooked. I sent the cheese sandwich back & about 10 min later I got a microwaved, dried out burger with uncooked mushrooms, no bacon, & only one type of cheese (it is advertised to have 3 types). The worst burger I have ever eaten. I did however think the waffles fries were good. This place used to be pretty decent, don't know what happened. I will not be going back there again.
(1)
Michael S.
I came here a few days ago! This place was pretty great! They have two floors here but I spent most of my time on the second floor. It was not crowded at all at this place which is great in my opinion to spend time with friends. The upstairs had cornhole tables that you could play on while drinking. They also had a ping pong table which was great as well as quarter dart games! The bar service was pretty good from what I experienced! Fun place to come to have fun with friends! I would love to come back again!
(4)
Jesus C.
Typical bar scene. Food is moderate. Mostly a beer place. Huge space! Lovely outdoor rooftop patio. Pretty full house Friday and Saturday nights. Good for dancing.
(3)
Emily K.
We came in and sat down. The waitress appeared 10 minutes later asking us if we "like, needed a menu or something." When we finally ordered, I ordered a Burger with cheese and Bacon and my boyfriend ordered a Burger with Swiss, onion, and mushroom. When our food came, his plate had a bun with Swiss, onion, and mushroom. No meat. He sent it back and they put cold american cheese and Bacon on it and we gave up trying. The waitress was nice when she was around and the pizza, fries, and cheese curds were good. Maybe it was an off day? We wont be back though.
(2)
Ashley C.
Yelp needs to make 0 stars an option. I hate coming in here because it's usually overflowing with douchebags & gross girls but it was a buddy's birthday & this is where he wanted to go. I could tell the night would be off to a great start when my boyfriend & I bought the birthday boy an Irish Car Bomb. The bartender serves us the Guinness first, in a TINY little plastic cup that's halfway filled up. Then a tiny little plastic shot glass with the bailey's & probably a drop of Jameson. The plastic shot glass floated (duh) & the price we paid for those for them to be in tiny plastic cups, worthless. The night continued & the EXTREMELY overpriced terrible drinks did not improve. Weakest long island I've ever tasted, you could literally taste the ice tea mix. Then my boyfriend went to the bar to grab another round. The bartender serves him & while he's getting the drinks, a guy at the bar tries to start a fight with my boyfriend because he was served before the other guy. Boyfriend gets drinks & comes back to the table, then the bouncer (more like trained dog, but we'll get to that later) walks up to our table, grabs my boyfriend by the arm & tells him he needs to leave & drags him out. At this point I was already aggravated & done with being there, so I asked the bouncer why he just kicked him out, the one that walked away from & avoided a fight, & not the one that tried starting the fight in the first place. The bouncer tells me he does whatever the bartender tells him to do, & he said to kick him out. Must be a regular. So I go to ask the bartender why & he points at the bouncer before I can get a word out, then he proceeds to kick ME out. Now I'm pissed. I want to get my purse & gtfo but he won't let me get it. The bouncer calls me a b****, tells me to shut the f*** up, & starts PUSHING me out. I had to have my friend go in & get it. One by one they kicked our ENTIRE group of 10 for simply asking why my boyfriend got kicked out & not the apparent regular that had tried to start the fight. & THE BEST PART YOU ASK? Once I got my stuff & turned my back on the bouncer & walked out, he called me a CUM GUZZLING WHORE & told me to get the f*** out, once I was already out & had my back turned on him. How professional. How mature. At that point, I won't lie, I tried to go back in to claw his roided bulging eyes out, but my friends held me back thankfully because at that point a cop that we had seen HANGING OUT, not doing something of importance but literally hanging out with a bouncer earlier that night, had came back in. I go to ask for help & talk to him & he SHOVES me away & says "I don't care" & walks straight to the bouncer he was talking to earlier. So unless you're a regular, expect to get kicked out if a regular tries to fight you, & ladies, expect to be called cum guzzling whores from the roided out bouncer with apparent self esteem issues. Side note: I just tried to email the owners with the email address from their website, got a mailer daemon notice, not surprised.
(1)
Tarah B.
I hate this place. I don't know why I allow myself to be dragged in here by friends. The cost of your drink depends on the bartender's mood - last night I was charged $23 for 3 drinks... That's $7.6666667 per drink? What? Annoying. Skip it and head to O'Sullivan's or Duffy's.
(2)
Michael Z.
We went on a Thursday night. The specials that were online were not what was advertised at the bar. We went there for Corned beef sandwiches and the current special was a cheese burger basket. $1 drafts was a great deal but Angry Orchard on tap for $6 was outrageous.
(3)
Tay H.
Before last Friday, this place would have gotten one star. But, I went back (strong begging on my husband's part) and found out they replaced the tables on the rooftop. So much better! But then it started raining and were forced inside...which reminded me of why I hate this place. By this point the old, drunk guys at the bar had been replaced by sketchy jersey shore people. I don't know when this place tried to turn itself into a dance club, but it's still not my scene.
(2)
Jose M.
Screw this place. The bouncers are a joke. The hispanic bartender that works there is a prick as well.
(1)
Allison M.
This place is pretty dingy. It's crowded, and pretty sketchy, and Shortstops down the road has better prices. Of course, there's usually a point in the night when all you want is some loud music and lots of bodies in the room. It's an enormous place, with two floors, which adds to the sense of being inserted into a buzzing, bustling hive of people who almost certainly frequent this place far more embarrassingly regularly than you do.
(2)
Jessica J.
College bar.. ugh service sucks.. idk how that's possible considering there's like three bars and they're pretty big. The DJ sucks plays crap music. people are rude , the bathrooms are clean they sometimes overcharge on drinks and they are water down. Really don't care for this place at all.
(2)
Mike D.
What the hell happened to this bar. When I was a kid my dad and uncles used to bring me here and I'd get a kiddy cocltail and watch football with my family. It was a great time. Now that I am older, I go in there sometimes at night, and cannot believe what is going on. Did the jersey shore come to Madison street? Jesus It is always so loud and packed and sweaty and hair gel smelling.
(2)
Jack C.
Lets start with I love this bar. The staff, drinks and food are awesome. I go there 3-5 times a month sometimes more. I normally go there on Saturdays sometimes Thursdays and during the football season I am there on Sundays. On Saturday nights with the DJ'S are awesome and a great time.
(5)
MyOpinion C.
Unless you go at a late hour the crowd is full of 50 y.o. and over :( most of the time I have to flag down the waitress even when there are hardly any customers. Sometimes they'll have my drink and sometimes their out. They do however have great daily deals like .50 tacos on Tuesdays and hamburgers on Wednesdays etc... Great place to go on St Pattys day :)
(3)
Dan P.
I can't imagine anyone over the age of 20 actually enjoying this place. Mostly over-served obnoxious chicks and the meat-heads jockeying to fondle them. If you are neither of these people, then head somewhere else on Madison Street.
(1)
Edgar P.
I don't give too many 1-2 star ratings but this place is deserving of it. I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't like the occasional adult beverage from time to time, and I've gone to many a bar all over the place but this has got to be one of the worst bars I've EVER been to! This place has so much potential to be a great bar but the owners seem unwilling to make any drastic moves to improve it. You tend to catch many obnoxious patrons who are ridiculously rude and even the owners act the same way. I was just in there the other day after not having gone in for years now, which isn't surprising, and was calmly having a drink and socializing with some folks when out of nowhere, the owners with starts swinging at a gentleman sitting down at the bar. He tried to hold her down so that she would stop hitting him and HE ended up getting tossed from the bar! The poor guy was bleeding from the neck and the lady could barely walk herself, yet he is guilty of making a scene. I can't completely blame the owners wife since I don't know what happened but I WAS right next to them and didn't see or hear anything that would have provoked that sort of hostility. If you can't drink like a responsible adult, maybe you shouldn't drink at all... Other than that heart-pounding few minutes of action, the place didn't have any really good specials and drink selections were limited, compared to other bars along Madison. I also hate when you order a round of shots and you get a tiny plastic cup, a third the size of a normal shot glass and you pay the same amount for it. That just drives me bonkers!!!! There are plenty of fantastic places along Madison that leave this place in the dust. It's a cryin' shame.... Go there if you're desperate. -Papa Bear
(2)
Nichole M.
I've been here multiple times to see friends' bands play and while it's fine for that, I've never just gone to this bar to hang out. Well as my friend Amie and I were in the Forest Park area and the Bears game had already started, we were in search of somewhere to watch the game. We settled on Doc Ryan's...they better have good food was all I could think b/c after the 9 sacks the Bears QB took in the first half of the game last week, I wasn't expecting too much. So we go on in and Amie spots a huge sign that says "a bucket of Miller Light and 12 wings for $17" Um, what? Clearly I have been living in the city for wayyy to long, because you never see a deal this good. So that's what we order. The wings were really really good and well, beer, is beer. After our wings, we were still a little hungry and we ordered the grilled cheese, which is supposed to have tomato and bacon on it. Yummm. Although there was a bit of a "disagreement" between the cook and server about the tomato and bacon, by the time our second, correctly made, grilled cheese came out, it was delicious. The waffle fries were also very tasty. The server was nice even though she was having some communication issues with the cook. She was all dressed up in her Bears gear, which I of course appreciated. So we had a good time. My only complaints...the place is kinda dingy and the bathrooms are completely disgusting. Seriously, just a fresh coat of paint onthe stalls would make a world of difference.
(3)
Andrea M.
I just love Doc Ryan's! I came here again last night with a friend and we got here early around 9pm. It was pretty dead but that was fine since it was still early. We got a bucket of Corona for $15! Awesome. As the night progressed more people started arriving and we ordered more drinks. Surprisingly enough, there was more people here than I expected to find considering last night was negative degrees outside with ice roads. I love the house/dance music played here. Def a keeper! You won't find this music being played even at some chicago nightclubs downtown. If you like listening to "DJ's" spinning B96/Kiss fm music then this isn't your bar. If you like boring atmospheres, then this isn't your bar. If you like to have fun, this is your bar!
(4)
Mark W.
Ugh. Doc Ryans. What a shithole. Fist pumpers? yes. Underagers? yup. Rude, Ignorant people?? guarantee it. The only time i ever step into this place is if i am meeting friends out. I will always try to convince them to go somewhere at least tolerable, but there are those times when your vote doesnt matter. Thats when you might end up here. Service is terrible. The crowd, well, no disrepect to any other reviewers that enjoy this establishment, not for me. There are so many great bars on Madison St. in Forest Park. Why someone would choose to go here is beyond me. No thanks.
(1)
Reuben H.
Probably the biggest complaint that I get from my friends comes from the fact (yes, fact) that I do not like loud bars. To me- going somewhere with eardrum shattering music/noise, and a bunch of dudes yelling "bro" in one another's ears is not a good time for me. Call me lame.......... Go ahead............. I can see the allure for some to go out with a plan to get blitzed while watching a baseball game and checking other people out. I can see why people like to be in an atmosphere that is lively, with music blaring and people yelling- you know, a crowd. I can especially see why people pick this place to do just those things. This place though was never my cup of tea. Even in my early 20's this place was just too much. Too loud, too many Chads and Trixies, and too much "college" for me. Doc Ryan's has such a great spot along a very happening stretch of Madison, but for my money, you are better off heading to one of the other (seemingly) dozens of "Irish" bars within a couple of blocks. Read between the lines though- if you ARE into the things that I described above- then come here! You will love it. But if you are more like me and like to go out for conversation and a place to hang out with a group- head down the block a bit.
(2)
April P.
This place is pretty great. My friends and I have been here a couple times. One time when we were there we saw a magic show. Pretty random, but pretty entertaining. It's a nice bar overall. It's really large! Also, there's a pretty awesome balcony that's great in the summertime.
(4)
Joy S.
If life had a soundtrack, "You Think You're Cooler Than Me" by Mike Posner would come on the jukebox everytime ya set foot in here. I really don't go to Doc's unless dragged. Thankfully, those times are few and far between. When I do go to Doc's, I tend to run into those people from high school who thought they were cooler than everyone else. Acting like they're at an upper class martini bar in the city, rather than on Madison St. Mix in bartenders who ignore you, underage kids with fake id's, some older creepy guys, and a few overly served guys holding onto the bar to stay upright, and you've got Doc's. Yes, there is a party room upstairs. But if you're on crutches or in a wheelchair, forget trying to get up there. There's no elevator.
(2)
Carol K.
I can't decide if I had a good time here because of the people I was with, or because it was 2nd on our bar crawl and we already had a few drinks under our belts- or because it's a fun place! Regardless, Doc Ryan's gets my vote for a fun place to hang with friends and grab a beer and some bar food. First- this place is huge! If you are ever wandering down Madison Street and want some room to roam- this is your place. I think we tasted every appetizer on the menu from quesadillas, to nachos, to cheese curds, to potato skins, to chicken strips and more. Nothing remarkable as bar food is bar food but we wanted food to share and we got it in droves! The menu has burgers, sandwiches salads and pizza on it, but we were in a snacking mood and snacking is what we did. Service at the bar was good although that fell down a little when we grabbed a table as someone in our party asked to have the table wiped off and got a little attitude from our server. But nothing was going to spoil our night on Madison street. We just packed up when we were done and ambled down the block to see what else this little slice of Forest Park had to offer.
(3)
Becky P.
We came here during a mini pub crawl on a week night. Back patio area was nice, they have bags so that's always a plus. They had some good drink specials. Nothing crazy to write home about, but its another place to drink :)
(3)
Giuseppe D.
Meh. I've experienced better. I've never really expected much from this bar so as I started going more often (unwillingly), I wasn't surprised with what Doc Ryan's had to offer. There's two floors, a large main bar on the first floor and a smaller bar in the side room where the DJ and dance floor are. The crowd itself is typically the ages of 21-26 (probably a little younger). There are a few universities close by so you can catch a gang of college students here on the weeknights getting their tuition's worth of cheap drinks. They have decent specials every now and then, I believe $2 bottles and $5 pitchers on Thursdays, which is alright. It doesn't beat the specials of Lincoln Park bars, but it works for what it is. I've had the pizza before (drunk, of course), and it still wasn't very appetizing. The service has always been very very par. Sometimes shitty, sometimes alright. The bartenders always seem to have an attitude and try to rush you with your order. Not a place I'd go out of my way for, but if you have some college friends in the area, they'll probably be hanging around here, and you'll have to make the best of it.
(2)
Christina R.
It's a double decker meat market. If you're looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right...Now, this is the place you wanna be. They recently added a fairly large rooftop deck with an outdoor bar making four large areas to mingle. The second floor features a few video games and dart boards, there's a large main bar on the first floor featuring a fire place, and a side room bar that hosts bands and karaoke. The bartenders are pretty attentive even though the crowd can get pretty loud and obnoxious. They serve decent bar food until about 10pm and feature several large flat screens mainly for sports. They open early enough to catch the morning start college basketball and football games. Bring your ID, they card hard.
(3)
Nektaria R.
This place is ok for a Friday afternoon. I would like to come back whenever they're suppose to be "happening". Definitely not happening at 3pm. This is fine, since I was here on a date and wanted to talk with my friend rather than screaming to try and hear each other. They had games on the TVs and lots of friendly faces waiting on tables and tending bar. We ordered a few appetizers and they were your typical tasty barfood. I mean, you really can't go wrong with nachos and chicken fingers.
(3)
Angela B.
They are ok. Crowd was good. Drinks were tasty. Music was 50 50 play one good song next song was wtf lol. But its a great place.
(4)
David B.
You could probably drop this bar into any college town in the Midwest and it would be right at home. It basically caters to the 20 somethings in the area looking for a night of over-drinking on the weekends. During the week it's pretty dead, usually just locals grabbing a beer and a burger and watching the game on the TVs. They have pretty decent specials but the beer menu is pretty limited to your InBev/ Budweiser selections with a couple craft beers like Revolution thrown in. Food is okay, mostly your typical bar fair but their pizza is pretty decent. Have to admit, I use to frequent this place when I was in my 20's but as you get older this type of place gets tiresome. I do hit Docs on St. Patty's day which is usually pretty entertaining.
(2)
Meg P.
Nowadays, I only go here for the Irish Parade. But the last 2 years have been a complete flop.. This place gets too crowded and filthy. I should have wrote this review last month I was upstairs Sat 3/07 where the overwhelmed bartenders ran out of Jack Daniels. Hmm, interesting - before noon? An older female bartender told me to go downstairs.. I said I'll have something else since the 2 bars down there were packed. After disappearing for a while she returned so I asked "can I have a double shot of Malibu Rum on the rocks?" The bartender paused and goes "can't you say please??" I laughed and said ...Uh can I please have a drink...... She took care of another guy. Came back, poured my drink in a plastic cup (funny there's never glasses and you get shots in plastic too, lolling!!!) she THEN poured Red Bull in it. Said oh shit, then proceeded to add pineapple to mask the Red Bull!???? And said well here.. She was completely flustered so I didn't have her make another. (I ended up at the downstairs bar anyway.....) She charged me $10 for the wrong drink? I can't stand the taste of energy drinks and carbonation makes me hiccup real bad. They didn't have the whiskey I wanted up there anyway. I only took 1 sip of my awful drink -which must have been watered down since I tasted no alcohol and I've drank Malibu from the bottle before. This was the first time in my entire life I took my tip off of the counter and walked away. I gave my drink to someone else.. That person also complained their drink was watered down. Made by the same lady, but different alcohol. The long lines to the disgusting tiny bathrooms were insane. The amount of wasted people yelling was out of control. And it was only 12PM... I usually bar hop, but I will definitely skip Doc Ryan's next year for the parade. Also, the staff regulates when you can smoke outdoors/upstairs or not. Rain; go inside! 10pm; go inside! Some weekdays; closed patio!? .....alrighty then I used to frequent this joint when I was 21-23 (& younger haha) and lived down the street. 2005-2010... I'm now 28 and probably too old to deal with this trash. Docs is turning into a dive / shithole. I used to not mind the drunk college douche bags fighting and thugs causing problems. I've even been kicked out back in the day.. Had a few Birthdays here, met some cool people, danced all night, and puked in the bathrooms. But this place has actually gotten worse? The bouncers are a joke, majority of bartenders are ignorant, service usually sucks, specials are just ehh, food is mediocre, and plenty of their customers are total idiots Also, this bar is dead during the weekdays. It doesn't get busy until late on weekends. Go somewhere else if you're on Madison Street. There's much better drinking establishments a few doors away. I gave it 2/5 stars instead of just one because when I was wasted and underage, I had a blast at Doc Ryan's :P
(2)
Jordan K.
Douche. Town.
(1)
Katie B.
Food was good, especially the cheese curds. We sat on the roof which had a nice atmosphere. The service wasn't great. We had to go to the bar to order our food and our drinks. Besides a server brining our food to our table, no one stopped by to check on anything or to even bring us our checks- for which we again had to go up to the bar.
(3)
Ronald U.
This was a nice quiet bar during christmas time and it was perfect for a group get together. Honestly the bathroom could use an upgrade, but I thought the service was pretty good. They even brought a pitcher of water for us. We would definitely go there again with a group!! Appetizer were tasty, especially the mushroom, and the pizza was perfect.
(4)
Mike D.
What the hell happened to this bar. When I was a kid my dad and uncles used to bring me here and I'd get a kiddy cocltail and watch football with my family. It was a great time. Now that I am older, I go in there sometimes at night, and cannot believe what is going on. Did the jersey shore come to Madison street? Jesus It is always so loud and packed and sweaty and hair gel smelling.
(2)
Nichole M.
I've been here multiple times to see friends' bands play and while it's fine for that, I've never just gone to this bar to hang out. Well as my friend Amie and I were in the Forest Park area and the Bears game had already started, we were in search of somewhere to watch the game. We settled on Doc Ryan's...they better have good food was all I could think b/c after the 9 sacks the Bears QB took in the first half of the game last week, I wasn't expecting too much. So we go on in and Amie spots a huge sign that says "a bucket of Miller Light and 12 wings for $17" Um, what? Clearly I have been living in the city for wayyy to long, because you never see a deal this good. So that's what we order. The wings were really really good and well, beer, is beer. After our wings, we were still a little hungry and we ordered the grilled cheese, which is supposed to have tomato and bacon on it. Yummm. Although there was a bit of a "disagreement" between the cook and server about the tomato and bacon, by the time our second, correctly made, grilled cheese came out, it was delicious. The waffle fries were also very tasty. The server was nice even though she was having some communication issues with the cook. She was all dressed up in her Bears gear, which I of course appreciated. So we had a good time. My only complaints...the place is kinda dingy and the bathrooms are completely disgusting. Seriously, just a fresh coat of paint onthe stalls would make a world of difference.
(3)
Giuseppe D.
Meh. I've experienced better. I've never really expected much from this bar so as I started going more often (unwillingly), I wasn't surprised with what Doc Ryan's had to offer. There's two floors, a large main bar on the first floor and a smaller bar in the side room where the DJ and dance floor are. The crowd itself is typically the ages of 21-26 (probably a little younger). There are a few universities close by so you can catch a gang of college students here on the weeknights getting their tuition's worth of cheap drinks. They have decent specials every now and then, I believe $2 bottles and $5 pitchers on Thursdays, which is alright. It doesn't beat the specials of Lincoln Park bars, but it works for what it is. I've had the pizza before (drunk, of course), and it still wasn't very appetizing. The service has always been very very par. Sometimes shitty, sometimes alright. The bartenders always seem to have an attitude and try to rush you with your order. Not a place I'd go out of my way for, but if you have some college friends in the area, they'll probably be hanging around here, and you'll have to make the best of it.
(2)
Jack C.
Lets start with I love this bar. The staff, drinks and food are awesome. I go there 3-5 times a month sometimes more. I normally go there on Saturdays sometimes Thursdays and during the football season I am there on Sundays. On Saturday nights with the DJ'S are awesome and a great time.
(5)
Suzy B.
I've gone to this bar several times, more so right when I turned 21 because that seems to be the kind of crowd in there most of the time. Now being 28 I won't step back in. Not only does it get way too crowded but the music is just horribly loud on the weekends. The beer garden was decent with lots of tables and room for games. But what made me not step foot in there again was on one slow night with maybe three other people in the bar, I ordered either a jack and coke or Jameson and ginger ale (I don't remember since it was near a year ago) but the bartender actually said to me that I don't want to order that because she saw all the bottles of whatever I was ordering were WATERED DOWN! Even the ones in the back stock that shouldn't even be opened yet. Whether they were or weren't, the fact that the person working there had to advise against it was enough for me!
(1)
Jess C.
I'm not a bar person but when I can get a seat at the bar with attentive bartenders AND good music...I'm a happy camper! Being a married person, this wasn't really our crowd but I enjoyed the energy of the people. Bartender was a little raw - a blunt drunk with business sense. I was disappointed that we could not order food accept for pizza after 11pm but I suppose that is usual for bars at that time. The read reviews that this bar had a lot of 20 something's but I think it was a good mix of people. The rooftop bar was open and music was excellent so 3 stars it is!
(3)
Ashley O.
The roof top is great but it really needs a better bar system. Very unorganized. Bartenders great just feel bad they have to keep running in and out to get good drinks. This could be a really great spot if they fixed that.
(4)
Michael Z.
We went on a Thursday night. The specials that were online were not what was advertised at the bar. We went there for Corned beef sandwiches and the current special was a cheese burger basket. $1 drafts was a great deal but Angry Orchard on tap for $6 was outrageous.
(3)
Samantha K.
As a long time customer and friend to some of the bartenders at Doc Ryan's I've been bias for many years until about a week n a half ago. A high school girlfriend and I are planning a class 10 year reunion, naturally (at the time) I thought of Docs to host our event of 100 plus students and teachers. After a month of attempting to contact the "event planner" (who was out of the country with apparently no one to cover her... So I was told) I resorted to contacting a bartender friend for some help as we had to get planning underway. Red Flag. Finally (1 week later) we were contacted back, date was set, deposit paid and invitations sent to my entire class and all of our old teachers. We had plenty of responses, this was going to be great! Classmates and teachers were even flying in to come celebrate 10 years with us! We WERE so excited, until 5 weeks before our event we get a call from the "event planner" that Docs was no longer going to be able to accommodate our party. Why?!?! Did they have a fire and need repairs?!?!?! Did they not pass an inspection?!?! Were they closing for good?!?!? No. No. And No. All of those would have been better reasons than the one she gave. Doc Ryan's had decided to host another party on the same night as ours obviously weeks after we had gotten our invites out. Another party I'm sure they believe to be bigger and better than the one we were planning. They offered us a mediocre option to change the date (which when you have people coming in from around the country is not an option). We were refunded our deposit and after they piss poor display of professionalism, we were MORE than happy to take our business across the street. I am so disappointed and have finally seen what really bad business can do to sway a once avid fan of Doc Ryan's. And its a shame because this place once was the place to be all days of the week... I understand now why so many loyal customers have left. Sorry guys I won't be returning and I advise anyone looking to plan a party to head to one of the other gems along Madison Street.
(1)
Cala T.
I literally just got in the car and drove away from this place.... I have to say that the experience was crappy. I normally check Yelp before actually going to a new bar, but I was so excited to watch the Bulls vs Cavs tonight that I forgot. Welp... I should have because these ratings speak the truth. I manage a facility in LP and we have a full service bar. I'm all about watching the pour and I often have to yell at my staff. However, I will never order another drink from this place. I watched him more about 3/4 of an oz in my drink. He wasn't too friendly or sociable... To top it off, we ordered food !!!! When my friend received his tacos, there was hair in it. We informed the bartender and he acted like it wasn't a big deal. My friend was nice about it and just ordered something else. I wouldn't have been so nice! The food was very mediocre seeing how they brought me a burger with absolutely nothing on it. And I had to ask for ketchup and silverware. All of this to say... There were only about 6 other people there at the time. Don't waste your time if you're looking for good drinks and food. Definitely go elsewhere. **thumbs down**
(1)
Kyesha N.
Went here last weekend with my fiance and we had a great time. Bartender was so nice and kept us laughing. The drinks were GREAT love the Angry Orchard and the food was delicious as well. We had the hot wings and fries :) Great place
(5)
LaToya A.
Doc Ryan's is your typical neighborhood bar. Good music, cheap drinks, people you know, and good times. There isn't anything spectacular about the place but the people are nice. The bar staff are friendly although some of them make drinks better than others, which is to be expected. Once I find who makes the best drinks, I just stick with them for the rest of the evening. This is my go to place when I want to hear some pretty decent music and have a few drinks. I haven't tried the food so I can't comment on it.
(3)
Abby M.
Visiting from KC with a friend we wanted to go to a fun bar. This is one of the first ones that popped up. Read some negative reviews but wanted to try it out anyway. Immediately we were disappointed by the bartender downstairs. He was so rude to us, but maybe this is Chicago personality? We decided to stick around since we had drinks to finish, so we went upstairs to see what it was about. If it wasn't for Timmy and the other bartender (tall with shaved head, can't remember his name, wish I did) on the second floor we wouldn't have stayed. Timmy setup bags for us to play and the other bartender was DJ'ing music from his phone with great music. They saved our opinion of this bar and managed to keep us there for a few more drinks. If we walked out after the first drink and didn't go upstairs this would be a one star. Previous reviews talked about quarter darts and a ping pong table, they are wrong. Neither exist. It's normal priced darts and no ping pong table. other reviews called this a 20 something kind of bar. We didn't get that vibe, but it was a slow night so maybe it is other nights?
(4)
John R.
Not sure if they know what a burger is. Ordered a Doc's Supreme burger & the server asked me how I wanted it cooked to which I said medium. About 45 minutes later I got served an Italian roll with 2 pieces of cheese & bacon, grilled mushrooms & onions, but NO BURGER. I asked the server where the burger was that I ordered & she said one chef makes it this way & the other makes it with a meat patty. Now I know she knew I wanted a burger since she asked me how I wanted it cooked. I sent the cheese sandwich back & about 10 min later I got a microwaved, dried out burger with uncooked mushrooms, no bacon, & only one type of cheese (it is advertised to have 3 types). The worst burger I have ever eaten. I did however think the waffles fries were good. This place used to be pretty decent, don't know what happened. I will not be going back there again.
(1)
Michael S.
I came here a few days ago! This place was pretty great! They have two floors here but I spent most of my time on the second floor. It was not crowded at all at this place which is great in my opinion to spend time with friends. The upstairs had cornhole tables that you could play on while drinking. They also had a ping pong table which was great as well as quarter dart games! The bar service was pretty good from what I experienced! Fun place to come to have fun with friends! I would love to come back again!
(4)
Emily K.
We came in and sat down. The waitress appeared 10 minutes later asking us if we "like, needed a menu or something." When we finally ordered, I ordered a Burger with cheese and Bacon and my boyfriend ordered a Burger with Swiss, onion, and mushroom. When our food came, his plate had a bun with Swiss, onion, and mushroom. No meat. He sent it back and they put cold american cheese and Bacon on it and we gave up trying. The waitress was nice when she was around and the pizza, fries, and cheese curds were good. Maybe it was an off day? We wont be back though.
(2)
Tarah B.
I hate this place. I don't know why I allow myself to be dragged in here by friends. The cost of your drink depends on the bartender's mood - last night I was charged $23 for 3 drinks... That's $7.6666667 per drink? What? Annoying. Skip it and head to O'Sullivan's or Duffy's.
(2)
Jessica J.
College bar.. ugh service sucks.. idk how that's possible considering there's like three bars and they're pretty big. The DJ sucks plays crap music. people are rude , the bathrooms are clean they sometimes overcharge on drinks and they are water down. Really don't care for this place at all.
(2)
Edgar P.
I don't give too many 1-2 star ratings but this place is deserving of it. I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't like the occasional adult beverage from time to time, and I've gone to many a bar all over the place but this has got to be one of the worst bars I've EVER been to! This place has so much potential to be a great bar but the owners seem unwilling to make any drastic moves to improve it. You tend to catch many obnoxious patrons who are ridiculously rude and even the owners act the same way. I was just in there the other day after not having gone in for years now, which isn't surprising, and was calmly having a drink and socializing with some folks when out of nowhere, the owners with starts swinging at a gentleman sitting down at the bar. He tried to hold her down so that she would stop hitting him and HE ended up getting tossed from the bar! The poor guy was bleeding from the neck and the lady could barely walk herself, yet he is guilty of making a scene. I can't completely blame the owners wife since I don't know what happened but I WAS right next to them and didn't see or hear anything that would have provoked that sort of hostility. If you can't drink like a responsible adult, maybe you shouldn't drink at all... Other than that heart-pounding few minutes of action, the place didn't have any really good specials and drink selections were limited, compared to other bars along Madison. I also hate when you order a round of shots and you get a tiny plastic cup, a third the size of a normal shot glass and you pay the same amount for it. That just drives me bonkers!!!! There are plenty of fantastic places along Madison that leave this place in the dust. It's a cryin' shame.... Go there if you're desperate. -Papa Bear
(2)
Andrea M.
I just love Doc Ryan's! I came here again last night with a friend and we got here early around 9pm. It was pretty dead but that was fine since it was still early. We got a bucket of Corona for $15! Awesome. As the night progressed more people started arriving and we ordered more drinks. Surprisingly enough, there was more people here than I expected to find considering last night was negative degrees outside with ice roads. I love the house/dance music played here. Def a keeper! You won't find this music being played even at some chicago nightclubs downtown. If you like listening to "DJ's" spinning B96/Kiss fm music then this isn't your bar. If you like boring atmospheres, then this isn't your bar. If you like to have fun, this is your bar!
(4)
Mark W.
Ugh. Doc Ryans. What a shithole. Fist pumpers? yes. Underagers? yup. Rude, Ignorant people?? guarantee it. The only time i ever step into this place is if i am meeting friends out. I will always try to convince them to go somewhere at least tolerable, but there are those times when your vote doesnt matter. Thats when you might end up here. Service is terrible. The crowd, well, no disrepect to any other reviewers that enjoy this establishment, not for me. There are so many great bars on Madison St. in Forest Park. Why someone would choose to go here is beyond me. No thanks.
(1)
Reuben H.
Probably the biggest complaint that I get from my friends comes from the fact (yes, fact) that I do not like loud bars. To me- going somewhere with eardrum shattering music/noise, and a bunch of dudes yelling "bro" in one another's ears is not a good time for me. Call me lame.......... Go ahead............. I can see the allure for some to go out with a plan to get blitzed while watching a baseball game and checking other people out. I can see why people like to be in an atmosphere that is lively, with music blaring and people yelling- you know, a crowd. I can especially see why people pick this place to do just those things. This place though was never my cup of tea. Even in my early 20's this place was just too much. Too loud, too many Chads and Trixies, and too much "college" for me. Doc Ryan's has such a great spot along a very happening stretch of Madison, but for my money, you are better off heading to one of the other (seemingly) dozens of "Irish" bars within a couple of blocks. Read between the lines though- if you ARE into the things that I described above- then come here! You will love it. But if you are more like me and like to go out for conversation and a place to hang out with a group- head down the block a bit.
(2)
April P.
This place is pretty great. My friends and I have been here a couple times. One time when we were there we saw a magic show. Pretty random, but pretty entertaining. It's a nice bar overall. It's really large! Also, there's a pretty awesome balcony that's great in the summertime.
(4)
Jesus C.
Typical bar scene. Food is moderate. Mostly a beer place. Huge space! Lovely outdoor rooftop patio. Pretty full house Friday and Saturday nights. Good for dancing.
(3)
Ashley C.
Yelp needs to make 0 stars an option. I hate coming in here because it's usually overflowing with douchebags & gross girls but it was a buddy's birthday & this is where he wanted to go. I could tell the night would be off to a great start when my boyfriend & I bought the birthday boy an Irish Car Bomb. The bartender serves us the Guinness first, in a TINY little plastic cup that's halfway filled up. Then a tiny little plastic shot glass with the bailey's & probably a drop of Jameson. The plastic shot glass floated (duh) & the price we paid for those for them to be in tiny plastic cups, worthless. The night continued & the EXTREMELY overpriced terrible drinks did not improve. Weakest long island I've ever tasted, you could literally taste the ice tea mix. Then my boyfriend went to the bar to grab another round. The bartender serves him & while he's getting the drinks, a guy at the bar tries to start a fight with my boyfriend because he was served before the other guy. Boyfriend gets drinks & comes back to the table, then the bouncer (more like trained dog, but we'll get to that later) walks up to our table, grabs my boyfriend by the arm & tells him he needs to leave & drags him out. At this point I was already aggravated & done with being there, so I asked the bouncer why he just kicked him out, the one that walked away from & avoided a fight, & not the one that tried starting the fight in the first place. The bouncer tells me he does whatever the bartender tells him to do, & he said to kick him out. Must be a regular. So I go to ask the bartender why & he points at the bouncer before I can get a word out, then he proceeds to kick ME out. Now I'm pissed. I want to get my purse & gtfo but he won't let me get it. The bouncer calls me a b****, tells me to shut the f*** up, & starts PUSHING me out. I had to have my friend go in & get it. One by one they kicked our ENTIRE group of 10 for simply asking why my boyfriend got kicked out & not the apparent regular that had tried to start the fight. & THE BEST PART YOU ASK? Once I got my stuff & turned my back on the bouncer & walked out, he called me a CUM GUZZLING WHORE & told me to get the f*** out, once I was already out & had my back turned on him. How professional. How mature. At that point, I won't lie, I tried to go back in to claw his roided bulging eyes out, but my friends held me back thankfully because at that point a cop that we had seen HANGING OUT, not doing something of importance but literally hanging out with a bouncer earlier that night, had came back in. I go to ask for help & talk to him & he SHOVES me away & says "I don't care" & walks straight to the bouncer he was talking to earlier. So unless you're a regular, expect to get kicked out if a regular tries to fight you, & ladies, expect to be called cum guzzling whores from the roided out bouncer with apparent self esteem issues. Side note: I just tried to email the owners with the email address from their website, got a mailer daemon notice, not surprised.
(1)
Tay H.
Before last Friday, this place would have gotten one star. But, I went back (strong begging on my husband's part) and found out they replaced the tables on the rooftop. So much better! But then it started raining and were forced inside...which reminded me of why I hate this place. By this point the old, drunk guys at the bar had been replaced by sketchy jersey shore people. I don't know when this place tried to turn itself into a dance club, but it's still not my scene.
(2)
Jose M.
Screw this place. The bouncers are a joke. The hispanic bartender that works there is a prick as well.
(1)
Allison M.
This place is pretty dingy. It's crowded, and pretty sketchy, and Shortstops down the road has better prices. Of course, there's usually a point in the night when all you want is some loud music and lots of bodies in the room. It's an enormous place, with two floors, which adds to the sense of being inserted into a buzzing, bustling hive of people who almost certainly frequent this place far more embarrassingly regularly than you do.
(2)
Joy S.
If life had a soundtrack, "You Think You're Cooler Than Me" by Mike Posner would come on the jukebox everytime ya set foot in here. I really don't go to Doc's unless dragged. Thankfully, those times are few and far between. When I do go to Doc's, I tend to run into those people from high school who thought they were cooler than everyone else. Acting like they're at an upper class martini bar in the city, rather than on Madison St. Mix in bartenders who ignore you, underage kids with fake id's, some older creepy guys, and a few overly served guys holding onto the bar to stay upright, and you've got Doc's. Yes, there is a party room upstairs. But if you're on crutches or in a wheelchair, forget trying to get up there. There's no elevator.
(2)
Carol K.
I can't decide if I had a good time here because of the people I was with, or because it was 2nd on our bar crawl and we already had a few drinks under our belts- or because it's a fun place! Regardless, Doc Ryan's gets my vote for a fun place to hang with friends and grab a beer and some bar food. First- this place is huge! If you are ever wandering down Madison Street and want some room to roam- this is your place. I think we tasted every appetizer on the menu from quesadillas, to nachos, to cheese curds, to potato skins, to chicken strips and more. Nothing remarkable as bar food is bar food but we wanted food to share and we got it in droves! The menu has burgers, sandwiches salads and pizza on it, but we were in a snacking mood and snacking is what we did. Service at the bar was good although that fell down a little when we grabbed a table as someone in our party asked to have the table wiped off and got a little attitude from our server. But nothing was going to spoil our night on Madison street. We just packed up when we were done and ambled down the block to see what else this little slice of Forest Park had to offer.
(3)
Becky P.
We came here during a mini pub crawl on a week night. Back patio area was nice, they have bags so that's always a plus. They had some good drink specials. Nothing crazy to write home about, but its another place to drink :)
(3)
Rob W.
It's hard for me to rate this place as I'm not part of their target market. It's a large, fairly dirty dive bar. I don't frequent dive bars too often anymore. So, I'll try and rate it based on a few observations I had. I was there for a beer and a burger. The beer selection was OK - not huge but not small either. Ordered a Revolution Porter and looked at a menu. Appetizers are 1/2 price on Monday nights, but I didn't really see anything I wanted so I focused on the burgers. Black and Blue looks good - burger with bleu cheese and some fried onion strips (not sure what was "black" about those). Ok, it comes out... the bun dominated the dish - not that the burger was small, it was just on a really, really thick, dense bun. The bleu cheese and onions strips were present, but barely accounted for. And the burger came out medium rare as I had requested, but it was one of the blandest tasting burgers I've ever had. Service was decent. So what do I give this place... two stars. Reason being that what stands out in my mind most is the boringist burger in Chicagoland - that just needs to be better.
(2)
LOIS B.
I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo past frequenting a place lie this, but we were there for a surprise party. it was nasty to watch old men picking up very young ladies in the bar area. The party was held on the second floor, facilities are only located on the first floor. Drinks are served in plastic cups ~ seriously? When did that start? Parking in Forest Park is a nightmare, and this strip of Madison is a happening place. Not my idea of a good time. Oh, and they allow smoking on the second level. For someone allergic to smoke, just not my night.
(2)
Michelle I.
Seemed like this bar could be fun, but wasn't! It was a very lively place. There was a very young, rude clientele in here. The people wouldn't even move when we excused ourselves to walk by. The bartenders did not give us the time of day! So we left, without one drink! And for the bartender chicks- we would have tipped a hella lot more than your poor 21 yr. old college boys that you were doting on!
(1)
Jessie B.
Went here last night for a birthday party. The party was located upstairs away from the "bar" area. I was glad because I was worried it was going to have that frat boy feel to it. Well, it sort of did, but it wasn't over the top horrible. The bartenders working the party were cool, and very attentive to our drinking needs. The music was good--all genres, you know typical bar music. I will say that the place was a bit dirty. The bathrooms were really gross. It looked like they haven't been cleaned in days. (No bueno) So I have to knock off a star for that. And another because I live without this place.
(3)
Lisa H.
We were in on a Saturday night and the main bar only had 2 bartenders??? It was packed and full of people who don't look old enough to be in college let alone drinking (they started playing flippy cup on the tables spilling everywhere) It was not my choice to go here but the group vetoed me, and on the way home they agreed never again. The band was good but the room they were in was about 100 degrees and again only 1 bartender in there. The drinks are not very overpriced if you are looking for a silver lining.
(2)
Kevin C.
Average bar with average waitresses. Living in the city, I found that drinks here were much cheaper than other joints I go to on average. Where else can you pay $3.75 for a Sierra Nevada? Would come here again for some casual drinks but wouldn't be my first choice. I was a little spooked a few Saturday's ago when I was here and the place was practically empty. Effects of a bad economy? You be the judge.
(3)
Monica S.
Doc Ryan's is the "college bar" of the Forest Park (near Westside) area. A common meeting place during winter break/Thanksgiving, those weekends can be tremendously packed. Doc Ryan's is 2 stories, a pretty big bar. Some nights have live bands that are usually pretty decent. Plenty of seating and room. In the summer, there is a rooftop porch which is awesome! Definetly the "hip" place to go if you're in the area.
(3)
Dave S.
This is a decent bar. I was reading the reviews of those who Yelped before me and I did not get a gross/college bar/fighting nightly bar. It was a good mix of a crowd with older/middle age/younger people. There were quite a few people with cigars though and the heavy smoke filled the bar though. The place was packed and they had this band playing 50's and 60's rock. The band was OK. The drinks were not overpriced and the waitress was very attentive to us. They seemed to have some good food specials ($1 burgers, $0.50 tacos, 1/2 price pizza, etc...) I didn't eat here but I would mind trying their food for that price. Overall a decent time was had by all
(3)
Larry P.
I mostly agree with Monica, in that this is where a lot of people get together when they're back in the area for Holidays, etc. However, it doesn't seem like a college bar when I'm there, it seems a bit older. They have a football throwing game that is top notch, when functional, and good staff, drinks, etc. Being from OP, this is an old stomping ground, so my judgement is biased. But, I've always loved Doc's. Oh, and yes, it's smoky as hell in the winter, when the sky light is closed. They have a good patio in the Summer. I have never eaten here, in hundreds of visits.
(4)
kristen s.
came here to watch a bears game a few nights ago, pretty sure the lobsters are gone? disappointing! we got there early enough the we got a seat, and were able to get decently priced pitchers. it didn't get overly packs, and no kids this time! (yes!) over all a much better experience. i have to mention that if you're not sitting at the bar, you probably will have to go up to the bar to get a drink, all the waitresses walked right past us without thinking twice the entire night.
(3)
Robert S.
Doc Ryan's is ok, I've been here a few times and havent had anything to complain about. However, I havent found anything to rave about either. They have live music, which is cool, but the karaoke is HORRIBLE. I mean, you really can't blame them for how bad their patrons sing, but WOW. The drink prices are moderate, and the place can get quite crowded.
(3)
Paul A.
Eh, this place is ok. Nothing fancy, and not a complete hole in the wall either. It is pretty big, so if you are going out with a large group this place would work fine. It reminds me of bars I used to go to in college. They don't go out of their way to woo you by any means, cause people usually come regardless. It's kinda dirty, and the bathrooms are rather gross. This from a guy who has a public washroom phobia, so take it for whatever it's worth. They often have live music which is fun, and you can go upstairs if you want to get away from it. The upstairs also has a rooftop beer garden for when you need some fresh air. The crowd is all over the place; from misplaced frat turds to a table full of your parents putting some drinks back. I've never tried the food, and probably never will. They typically have different drink specials for each night of the week too. If you want to relive your college days and get rowdy drunk, Doc Ryan's is the place to take you back.
(3)
Jeanette N.
This is a moronic sort of a place. It's large. It draws a large crowd. That's the deal. The management hires far too few people to serve far too many people. The servers are really snippy - for good reason. So sad. The bars on Madison really need to catch up to the shops. There is a big old gap between nightlife and shopping here. I don't even necessarily need a fancy place. I just need a place where there aren't a million loud t.v.'s playing sports, regular service you would expect anywhere, and a whole lot of hot men. hahahahahahaha I'm funny. In a nutshell, there is a lot of room for improvement here.
(1)
Stella S.
I agree with Brittany - it's a bar and it's what you make of it. I went there last night with my fiance and we had a blast. A great cover band, Tramp Stamps, was playing. The drinks are cheap but good. There are lots of games to play upstairs and outside seating upstairs as well. I've been here several times with different girlfriends and x-boyfriends and always had a great time.
(5)
Vanessa P.
The bar to end all bars situated right in the middle of "Irish Row." Come here if you want to see ex-boyfriends, old hook-ups or old classmates. And sometimes if you're lucky (or me), you get to see all three in the same night. Your ubiquitous Irish bar in a neighborhood filled with them. I go to see any of the aforementioned groups. Hey, it's usually interesting...
(3)
Elizabeth H.
Okay, this a a weird bar. Prices: decent. The employees: really nice. The bathrooms: dirty and somewhat dangerous. (I cut my finger on the stall door). The lighting: strange and uneven. Some places are really bright and others are really dark. My main reason to right this review, however, is the food. They have awesome food. The fish fry that they have during lent is unforgettable. First of all it is only $7. You can get it fried or baked with a choice of seasoning and it comes with fries or mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes are delicious. They are made from real potatoes and they are creamy and garlicy. It is delightful. They have $3 beer pint specials ever month and they usually pick a high quality beer. Everyday of the week they have a food, booze, and beer special. The food is really cheap which only makes it taste better. On account of the strange lighting I suggest that you only go in the daylight.
(4)
Britta M.
Subpar service. We ordered the $1 special build your own burgers and when we got the bill had charged us for the $7.50 ones
(2)
Mary E.
I don't really know what to say about this place. I was on my break at work thinking to myself while I read the newspaper and searched for some donuts to steal. I thought, "What is the worst bar I've ever been to?". It's not Doc Ryan's but Doc Ryan's is close. Always crowded. Always loud. TV's always blaring sports. Bartenders honestly do the best they can (the only reason I give it two stars). I will give Doc Ryan's that much. The crowd: Loud suburban college/recent college grad types. Local working types. Never had a problem with anyone in the bar but they are loud. Two floors. Top floor usually not as crowded as the bottom. I guess what really freaks me out about this bar is the lack of tables and chairs on the first floor. I find that really strange. There's like these large standing spaces. It's not even a dance floor. They have huge spaces where people can just stand around. It's weird. And creepy. I don't think I'll ever go back. Just not my kind of place.
(2)
Heidi R.
Doc Ryan's graciously hosted a fundraising event for West Suburban PADS in September. They donated their private party room and appetizers for 100 people. Their wait staff and bartender were great to work with and they all were very accommodating of our schedule and needs. What a great way to support the community!
(4)
Bridgette K.
My friend and I stopped in for a few cocktails the other night. They were watered down and over priced. I wasn't very happy with this place. We left after the first drink. The people there seem to all be from the neighborhood and know everyone.
(1)
Theresa C.
I don't hang out in Oak Park on a regular basis, but I just started my masters at Dominican University and after my first final my classmates and I decided we needed a drink. We headed to Doc Ryan's on a local's recommendation. It was around 7 on a Thursday night and the one girl who had been there before informed us that the atmosphere was not typical, that being said... It was mostly a nice place: decent beers on tap at an okay price, good snack foods (we had tots and fries during the evening), it was surprisingly well lit (on the first floor), and not too loud to have good conversation. We stayed on the first floor even though a rather aggressive gentleman did inform me that the real party was upstairs several times while I was alone waiting for the rest of my friends to show up. It wasn't crowded, we got a table for 6 without a problem. The bar service was kind of crappy, the guy seemed new and was kind of a tool, but the table service was excellent. The waitress was really nice and super friendly and fast. And both people with credit tabs were super undercharged (I don't know if that was an apology for the mistakes the bartender made early in the night or more of his ineptitude, but whatever). Honestly, I would probably hang out here if I lived nearby and I won't object at all to another post-class get-together.
(3)
Ray N.
I've been here a fair number of times (most recently the other night for the Blackhawks' Road Watch) and I can't say I've ever been overly impressed. I guess as far as bars go, it's alright, but Doc Ryan's tends to be one of the pricier bars on Madison St., and it isn't exactly worth the premium. It seems like they take their business for granted in that Apple sort of way - they're one of the few bars on Madison that will pretty much always have business, so they don't have to worry so much about pricing. For being the Hawks' Road Watch (an officially-sanctioned Blackhawks viewing party for away games) AND being Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, it was surprisingly tame in here. And because there weren't that many people in here *all things considered* I feel my group could have has a little bit better service. This place has been busier on a random Saturday. We ended up going to Molly Malone's after the game and it was dead as well, so it isn't Doc's fault. However, our waitress still did not come by very often and just didn't really seem to care. It seemingly has always been the focal point of Madison St., with more of the promotions on the radio and whatnot, but I don't really get why. It seems spacious but when it's a busy night you'll be rubbing against people all night. And the one saving grace for me has now (apparently) been ruined - the 2nd floor has apparently been converted into a "club" on the weekends, complete with loud music and flashing lights. My friends and I usually head upstairs just so we wouldn't have to deal with the bullshit downstairs, so if this actually has happened, there's no point in me coming back.
(3)
Johnathan K.
I go here with my friends every couple weeks. It's probably the best bar in the area, which isn't saying that much, but it's worth mentioning. They have a lot of good beers on tap and a good liquor selection, and they pour their drinks strong and don't gauge you price-wise. They lose a star for not having Goose Island beers and for being full of people I went to high school with.
(4)
Christina R.
It's a double decker meat market. If you're looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right...Now, this is the place you wanna be. They recently added a fairly large rooftop deck with an outdoor bar making four large areas to mingle. The second floor features a few video games and dart boards, there's a large main bar on the first floor featuring a fire place, and a side room bar that hosts bands and karaoke. The bartenders are pretty attentive even though the crowd can get pretty loud and obnoxious. They serve decent bar food until about 10pm and feature several large flat screens mainly for sports. They open early enough to catch the morning start college basketball and football games. Bring your ID, they card hard.
(3)
MyOpinion C.
Unless you go at a late hour the crowd is full of 50 y.o. and over :( most of the time I have to flag down the waitress even when there are hardly any customers. Sometimes they'll have my drink and sometimes their out. They do however have great daily deals like .50 tacos on Tuesdays and hamburgers on Wednesdays etc... Great place to go on St Pattys day :)
(3)
Dan P.
I can't imagine anyone over the age of 20 actually enjoying this place. Mostly over-served obnoxious chicks and the meat-heads jockeying to fondle them. If you are neither of these people, then head somewhere else on Madison Street.
(1)
Karen C.
This place holds many fuzzy drunken memories for me. I spent a decent amount of time upstairs in the back corner by the dart boards with what used to be some of the regulars. I returned here a few weekends ago for a friend's private birthday party and all I can say is turn the heat down and for goodness sake, do something about those filthy bathrooms. In the inebriation of my youth I could overlook the stall doors that barely closed, the black muck of filthy hands tarnishing the edges, and the overall feeling of gross that permeates the tiny confines that are the woman's restrooms. I don't mind yucky bathrooms at punk bars/concert halls as it seems to fit the overall tragic angst filled feeling of those places. However, this is a sports bar. Two floors with flat screens that are always playing some sporting event or another, dart boards, that golf game people seem to love, and an area downstairs for some old timey rock and roll bands to play. You'd think with all that, they could get some new stall doors. Blech. As for the food, I haven't eaten here in years, but I do have a fond memory of their steak quesadillas and French fries. The beer selection is the standard Miller/Budweiser variety with a few decent beers thrown in (Woodchuck, Sam Adams, Leinies), but nothing to write home about. They do have a really nice upstairs outside deck area that is great for watching the ballgame in the summer or having a girls drinking lunch on a nice Sunday afternoon. Overall, if you're looking for a cheap night out, you live close, and don't mind less than desirable bathrooms then this is your kind of place
(2)
Bobby D.
Still a pretty good place to go. However, The restrooms are horrible. Especially the one downstairs which was sans toilet paper. They shouldn't virtually give in to the miscreant vandals who either throw the toilet paper bulk in the commode, Or just wreck the dispenser.
(3)
Dave B.
Use to hit Doc's in my 20's (and earlier) and loved it, a great meat market for scouting out the opposite sex. I'm in my late 30's and still meet there once a year for my fantasy football draft. The place looks nicer and is definetely bigger due to the recent renovations. When I was there on a Tuesday night it was completely dead. Beer and food specials are decent (think they had $8.00 pizza night last time I was there.). But lets face facts that it's a college bar for early twenty somethings, not a place for adults who want to spend a quality night out.
(3)
Melissa H.
I'd probably give this bar a 2nd chance, but my first impression wasnt a great one. The bar is huge, that is a plus. The food was pretty decent (I got the paddy melt). Cooked just right, however by the time the food got to us, it was a bit cold. Not cold enough to hassle with sending it back and waiting another 45 minutes, but not warm. The day we went there (this past Saturday) was the night of Forest Park's Saint Patricks Day parade. That was a mistake haha. It was insanely crowded, and seeing that most people at the bar and in the streets were already drunk when we showed up sober at 9, it made for an interesting night. They have a lot of decent beers on tap, that is also a big plus. The crowd just wasnt my type of crowd. I agree with other reviewers, very frat house/ drunk pledge sister, type crowd. The median age was probably 23, 24 ish, which is ok if you are that age and hang in those types of circles, but when your in your upper 20's or 30's + its not the type of people you want to be bumpping around with, especially when most people were drunk and id say 65% of the crowd were guys. There was an almost fight towards the end of the night, which soured us a bit more on the bar. Bathrooms are really nasty. I dont think Ive been to a bar in the Chicagoland area that has worse bathrooms then the ones at Doc Ryans. You know its bad when the WOMENS bathroom looks that bad. Pluses: Various beers on tap (though your paying pint prices for beer in 12oz plastic cups) The bar is big so on a normal day I can see where it wouldnt be insanely crowded. The bartenders worked pretty hard, and didnt leave you hangging for too long. The food was good, if it would have been warm. They have pleanty of video games and bar type fun things. Minues: The crowd in the bar. Just not my type of crowd. Though you are going to hang out with the group your with rather then everyone else. The food wasnt warm enough. There wasnt really a waitress, so you had to keep going up to the bar to buy drinks. When there is a waitress, they will not let you have seperate tabs from the rest of the table. All in all, there are probably better bars to hang out in down there. I probably wouldnt go back again unless it was a special occasion for our freinds living down there.
(2)
Nick M.
Bar 5 The night might be finally shaping up or have I've had too much to drink... I dunno at this point (he says in a drunken slur) . Doc's is the "IT" bar in the area and I can see why. They have large two rooms plus an upstairs for private parties. The main room is the largest with giant round bar right in the middle of the room with stools all the way around. The second room has a smaller bar but lots of small tables plus a small stage that you can see from the main room as well. I didn't catch the cover band's name that night but they weren't half bad (but then again rocking out to Bon Jovi or Sublime is a must after a few drinks). Our group was all over at this point (and I think we lost a few down the street) but a couple of us found a great spot in the back bar so we could watch the band play. At this point not being in the massive crowd made my night and probably helped my liking of the bar. The bartender was very nice and again the drinks were cheap. They serve bar food and it looked actually edible. I'd go back here. ** They have a deal every night single night of the week of items as most bars do but what is really cool is that any night of the week you can pop in for a large cheese pizza and a pitcher of beer for only $12... I know!!!!!!!!!! $12!!
(3)
Mike K.
usually when I'm at doc i'm working, as the band is playing and i'm mingling...doing my thing, whatever. And the crowd is mixed. Some see it as a sports bar, so you'll get your regulars. Some see it as a college bar, so you'll get the 21 and 22 year olds. Basically Doc Ryan's is what you make of it. There's games and tv's upstairs along with a patio, so there's plenty of room. If you're looking to dance they have a spot for you too. Its always a much better night when the band is there...ahem, The Kingfish, plus the place usuall;y gets a good crowd. The bartenders and managers have been there for a while and do a great job of mingling, serving and keeping the peace. And if you're not careful they'll get you completely bombed out of your mind, and before you know it you really will be having the time of your life. Plus the food is pretty good, too. While they are good on having enough restrooms, you will have some parking issues. There's a meter and a small lot, and this place gets a crowd, so come early and get your spot. Doc's loses a star because they have a lobster game by the door. I'm not sure why...but hey, i'm not a fan. Even still, Doc's is cool.
(4)
John L.
Doc's is a popular neighborhood bar. While I agree about the frat boy/college bar comments others make if you were to go there the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, it is a cool place to chill on a Sunday afternoon in the fall to watch Bears games and eat good bar pizza. You just can't beat the daily specail: "buy a large pizza and a pitcher of beer for $12". The annual pig roast we went to last night is tasty, but way too crowded, kind of like the Wed. before thanksgiving.
(4)
Cassie B.
yeah i'm from the near west suburbs originally and doc's is not great but let's face it, there is not much else around unless you haul your butt out to the city. spent many a night here for (1) underage goodness; (2) college-break holiday mediocrity; (3) finally, out-and-out crappiness, but with a nostalgic kick. all in all, 3 stars.
(3)
Meredith B.
I definitely agree with the college bar feel. I went there with some friends to celebrate a friend getting a job in the area (we are all seniors). Saw a bunch of people from my high school class there (although we acted like we didn't know each other). It was very much like the bars in Champaign-Urbana, which is dirty, kinda gross, and really smoky. Would go again with a good group but definitely would not suggest going there.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Loud Music : Live Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Meredith B.
I definitely agree with the college bar feel. I went there with some friends to celebrate a friend getting a job in the area (we are all seniors). Saw a bunch of people from my high school class there (although we acted like we didn't know each other). It was very much like the bars in Champaign-Urbana, which is dirty, kinda gross, and really smoky. Would go again with a good group but definitely would not suggest going there.
(3)Paul A.
Eh, this place is ok. Nothing fancy, and not a complete hole in the wall either. It is pretty big, so if you are going out with a large group this place would work fine. It reminds me of bars I used to go to in college. They don't go out of their way to woo you by any means, cause people usually come regardless. It's kinda dirty, and the bathrooms are rather gross. This from a guy who has a public washroom phobia, so take it for whatever it's worth. They often have live music which is fun, and you can go upstairs if you want to get away from it. The upstairs also has a rooftop beer garden for when you need some fresh air. The crowd is all over the place; from misplaced frat turds to a table full of your parents putting some drinks back. I've never tried the food, and probably never will. They typically have different drink specials for each night of the week too. If you want to relive your college days and get rowdy drunk, Doc Ryan's is the place to take you back.
(3)Elizabeth H.
Okay, this a a weird bar. Prices: decent. The employees: really nice. The bathrooms: dirty and somewhat dangerous. (I cut my finger on the stall door). The lighting: strange and uneven. Some places are really bright and others are really dark. My main reason to right this review, however, is the food. They have awesome food. The fish fry that they have during lent is unforgettable. First of all it is only $7. You can get it fried or baked with a choice of seasoning and it comes with fries or mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes are delicious. They are made from real potatoes and they are creamy and garlicy. It is delightful. They have $3 beer pint specials ever month and they usually pick a high quality beer. Everyday of the week they have a food, booze, and beer special. The food is really cheap which only makes it taste better. On account of the strange lighting I suggest that you only go in the daylight.
(4)Britta M.
Subpar service. We ordered the $1 special build your own burgers and when we got the bill had charged us for the $7.50 ones
(2)Michelle I.
Seemed like this bar could be fun, but wasn't! It was a very lively place. There was a very young, rude clientele in here. The people wouldn't even move when we excused ourselves to walk by. The bartenders did not give us the time of day! So we left, without one drink! And for the bartender chicks- we would have tipped a hella lot more than your poor 21 yr. old college boys that you were doting on!
(1)kristen s.
came here to watch a bears game a few nights ago, pretty sure the lobsters are gone? disappointing! we got there early enough the we got a seat, and were able to get decently priced pitchers. it didn't get overly packs, and no kids this time! (yes!) over all a much better experience. i have to mention that if you're not sitting at the bar, you probably will have to go up to the bar to get a drink, all the waitresses walked right past us without thinking twice the entire night.
(3)Robert S.
Doc Ryan's is ok, I've been here a few times and havent had anything to complain about. However, I havent found anything to rave about either. They have live music, which is cool, but the karaoke is HORRIBLE. I mean, you really can't blame them for how bad their patrons sing, but WOW. The drink prices are moderate, and the place can get quite crowded.
(3)Jeanette N.
This is a moronic sort of a place. It's large. It draws a large crowd. That's the deal. The management hires far too few people to serve far too many people. The servers are really snippy - for good reason. So sad. The bars on Madison really need to catch up to the shops. There is a big old gap between nightlife and shopping here. I don't even necessarily need a fancy place. I just need a place where there aren't a million loud t.v.'s playing sports, regular service you would expect anywhere, and a whole lot of hot men. hahahahahahaha I'm funny. In a nutshell, there is a lot of room for improvement here.
(1)Stella S.
I agree with Brittany - it's a bar and it's what you make of it. I went there last night with my fiance and we had a blast. A great cover band, Tramp Stamps, was playing. The drinks are cheap but good. There are lots of games to play upstairs and outside seating upstairs as well. I've been here several times with different girlfriends and x-boyfriends and always had a great time.
(5)Dave S.
This is a decent bar. I was reading the reviews of those who Yelped before me and I did not get a gross/college bar/fighting nightly bar. It was a good mix of a crowd with older/middle age/younger people. There were quite a few people with cigars though and the heavy smoke filled the bar though. The place was packed and they had this band playing 50's and 60's rock. The band was OK. The drinks were not overpriced and the waitress was very attentive to us. They seemed to have some good food specials ($1 burgers, $0.50 tacos, 1/2 price pizza, etc...) I didn't eat here but I would mind trying their food for that price. Overall a decent time was had by all
(3)Mary E.
I don't really know what to say about this place. I was on my break at work thinking to myself while I read the newspaper and searched for some donuts to steal. I thought, "What is the worst bar I've ever been to?". It's not Doc Ryan's but Doc Ryan's is close. Always crowded. Always loud. TV's always blaring sports. Bartenders honestly do the best they can (the only reason I give it two stars). I will give Doc Ryan's that much. The crowd: Loud suburban college/recent college grad types. Local working types. Never had a problem with anyone in the bar but they are loud. Two floors. Top floor usually not as crowded as the bottom. I guess what really freaks me out about this bar is the lack of tables and chairs on the first floor. I find that really strange. There's like these large standing spaces. It's not even a dance floor. They have huge spaces where people can just stand around. It's weird. And creepy. I don't think I'll ever go back. Just not my kind of place.
(2)Heidi R.
Doc Ryan's graciously hosted a fundraising event for West Suburban PADS in September. They donated their private party room and appetizers for 100 people. Their wait staff and bartender were great to work with and they all were very accommodating of our schedule and needs. What a great way to support the community!
(4)Bridgette K.
My friend and I stopped in for a few cocktails the other night. They were watered down and over priced. I wasn't very happy with this place. We left after the first drink. The people there seem to all be from the neighborhood and know everyone.
(1)Vanessa P.
The bar to end all bars situated right in the middle of "Irish Row." Come here if you want to see ex-boyfriends, old hook-ups or old classmates. And sometimes if you're lucky (or me), you get to see all three in the same night. Your ubiquitous Irish bar in a neighborhood filled with them. I go to see any of the aforementioned groups. Hey, it's usually interesting...
(3)Monica S.
Doc Ryan's is the "college bar" of the Forest Park (near Westside) area. A common meeting place during winter break/Thanksgiving, those weekends can be tremendously packed. Doc Ryan's is 2 stories, a pretty big bar. Some nights have live bands that are usually pretty decent. Plenty of seating and room. In the summer, there is a rooftop porch which is awesome! Definetly the "hip" place to go if you're in the area.
(3)Mike K.
usually when I'm at doc i'm working, as the band is playing and i'm mingling...doing my thing, whatever. And the crowd is mixed. Some see it as a sports bar, so you'll get your regulars. Some see it as a college bar, so you'll get the 21 and 22 year olds. Basically Doc Ryan's is what you make of it. There's games and tv's upstairs along with a patio, so there's plenty of room. If you're looking to dance they have a spot for you too. Its always a much better night when the band is there...ahem, The Kingfish, plus the place usuall;y gets a good crowd. The bartenders and managers have been there for a while and do a great job of mingling, serving and keeping the peace. And if you're not careful they'll get you completely bombed out of your mind, and before you know it you really will be having the time of your life. Plus the food is pretty good, too. While they are good on having enough restrooms, you will have some parking issues. There's a meter and a small lot, and this place gets a crowd, so come early and get your spot. Doc's loses a star because they have a lobster game by the door. I'm not sure why...but hey, i'm not a fan. Even still, Doc's is cool.
(4)John L.
Doc's is a popular neighborhood bar. While I agree about the frat boy/college bar comments others make if you were to go there the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, it is a cool place to chill on a Sunday afternoon in the fall to watch Bears games and eat good bar pizza. You just can't beat the daily specail: "buy a large pizza and a pitcher of beer for $12". The annual pig roast we went to last night is tasty, but way too crowded, kind of like the Wed. before thanksgiving.
(4)Cassie B.
yeah i'm from the near west suburbs originally and doc's is not great but let's face it, there is not much else around unless you haul your butt out to the city. spent many a night here for (1) underage goodness; (2) college-break holiday mediocrity; (3) finally, out-and-out crappiness, but with a nostalgic kick. all in all, 3 stars.
(3)Jessie B.
Went here last night for a birthday party. The party was located upstairs away from the "bar" area. I was glad because I was worried it was going to have that frat boy feel to it. Well, it sort of did, but it wasn't over the top horrible. The bartenders working the party were cool, and very attentive to our drinking needs. The music was good--all genres, you know typical bar music. I will say that the place was a bit dirty. The bathrooms were really gross. It looked like they haven't been cleaned in days. (No bueno) So I have to knock off a star for that. And another because I live without this place.
(3)Lisa H.
We were in on a Saturday night and the main bar only had 2 bartenders??? It was packed and full of people who don't look old enough to be in college let alone drinking (they started playing flippy cup on the tables spilling everywhere) It was not my choice to go here but the group vetoed me, and on the way home they agreed never again. The band was good but the room they were in was about 100 degrees and again only 1 bartender in there. The drinks are not very overpriced if you are looking for a silver lining.
(2)Kevin C.
Average bar with average waitresses. Living in the city, I found that drinks here were much cheaper than other joints I go to on average. Where else can you pay $3.75 for a Sierra Nevada? Would come here again for some casual drinks but wouldn't be my first choice. I was a little spooked a few Saturday's ago when I was here and the place was practically empty. Effects of a bad economy? You be the judge.
(3)Melissa H.
I'd probably give this bar a 2nd chance, but my first impression wasnt a great one. The bar is huge, that is a plus. The food was pretty decent (I got the paddy melt). Cooked just right, however by the time the food got to us, it was a bit cold. Not cold enough to hassle with sending it back and waiting another 45 minutes, but not warm. The day we went there (this past Saturday) was the night of Forest Park's Saint Patricks Day parade. That was a mistake haha. It was insanely crowded, and seeing that most people at the bar and in the streets were already drunk when we showed up sober at 9, it made for an interesting night. They have a lot of decent beers on tap, that is also a big plus. The crowd just wasnt my type of crowd. I agree with other reviewers, very frat house/ drunk pledge sister, type crowd. The median age was probably 23, 24 ish, which is ok if you are that age and hang in those types of circles, but when your in your upper 20's or 30's + its not the type of people you want to be bumpping around with, especially when most people were drunk and id say 65% of the crowd were guys. There was an almost fight towards the end of the night, which soured us a bit more on the bar. Bathrooms are really nasty. I dont think Ive been to a bar in the Chicagoland area that has worse bathrooms then the ones at Doc Ryans. You know its bad when the WOMENS bathroom looks that bad. Pluses: Various beers on tap (though your paying pint prices for beer in 12oz plastic cups) The bar is big so on a normal day I can see where it wouldnt be insanely crowded. The bartenders worked pretty hard, and didnt leave you hangging for too long. The food was good, if it would have been warm. They have pleanty of video games and bar type fun things. Minues: The crowd in the bar. Just not my type of crowd. Though you are going to hang out with the group your with rather then everyone else. The food wasnt warm enough. There wasnt really a waitress, so you had to keep going up to the bar to buy drinks. When there is a waitress, they will not let you have seperate tabs from the rest of the table. All in all, there are probably better bars to hang out in down there. I probably wouldnt go back again unless it was a special occasion for our freinds living down there.
(2)Nick M.
Bar 5 The night might be finally shaping up or have I've had too much to drink... I dunno at this point (he says in a drunken slur) . Doc's is the "IT" bar in the area and I can see why. They have large two rooms plus an upstairs for private parties. The main room is the largest with giant round bar right in the middle of the room with stools all the way around. The second room has a smaller bar but lots of small tables plus a small stage that you can see from the main room as well. I didn't catch the cover band's name that night but they weren't half bad (but then again rocking out to Bon Jovi or Sublime is a must after a few drinks). Our group was all over at this point (and I think we lost a few down the street) but a couple of us found a great spot in the back bar so we could watch the band play. At this point not being in the massive crowd made my night and probably helped my liking of the bar. The bartender was very nice and again the drinks were cheap. They serve bar food and it looked actually edible. I'd go back here. ** They have a deal every night single night of the week of items as most bars do but what is really cool is that any night of the week you can pop in for a large cheese pizza and a pitcher of beer for only $12... I know!!!!!!!!!! $12!!
(3)Larry P.
I mostly agree with Monica, in that this is where a lot of people get together when they're back in the area for Holidays, etc. However, it doesn't seem like a college bar when I'm there, it seems a bit older. They have a football throwing game that is top notch, when functional, and good staff, drinks, etc. Being from OP, this is an old stomping ground, so my judgement is biased. But, I've always loved Doc's. Oh, and yes, it's smoky as hell in the winter, when the sky light is closed. They have a good patio in the Summer. I have never eaten here, in hundreds of visits.
(4)Karen C.
This place holds many fuzzy drunken memories for me. I spent a decent amount of time upstairs in the back corner by the dart boards with what used to be some of the regulars. I returned here a few weekends ago for a friend's private birthday party and all I can say is turn the heat down and for goodness sake, do something about those filthy bathrooms. In the inebriation of my youth I could overlook the stall doors that barely closed, the black muck of filthy hands tarnishing the edges, and the overall feeling of gross that permeates the tiny confines that are the woman's restrooms. I don't mind yucky bathrooms at punk bars/concert halls as it seems to fit the overall tragic angst filled feeling of those places. However, this is a sports bar. Two floors with flat screens that are always playing some sporting event or another, dart boards, that golf game people seem to love, and an area downstairs for some old timey rock and roll bands to play. You'd think with all that, they could get some new stall doors. Blech. As for the food, I haven't eaten here in years, but I do have a fond memory of their steak quesadillas and French fries. The beer selection is the standard Miller/Budweiser variety with a few decent beers thrown in (Woodchuck, Sam Adams, Leinies), but nothing to write home about. They do have a really nice upstairs outside deck area that is great for watching the ballgame in the summer or having a girls drinking lunch on a nice Sunday afternoon. Overall, if you're looking for a cheap night out, you live close, and don't mind less than desirable bathrooms then this is your kind of place
(2)Bobby D.
Still a pretty good place to go. However, The restrooms are horrible. Especially the one downstairs which was sans toilet paper. They shouldn't virtually give in to the miscreant vandals who either throw the toilet paper bulk in the commode, Or just wreck the dispenser.
(3)Johnathan K.
I go here with my friends every couple weeks. It's probably the best bar in the area, which isn't saying that much, but it's worth mentioning. They have a lot of good beers on tap and a good liquor selection, and they pour their drinks strong and don't gauge you price-wise. They lose a star for not having Goose Island beers and for being full of people I went to high school with.
(4)Dave B.
Use to hit Doc's in my 20's (and earlier) and loved it, a great meat market for scouting out the opposite sex. I'm in my late 30's and still meet there once a year for my fantasy football draft. The place looks nicer and is definetely bigger due to the recent renovations. When I was there on a Tuesday night it was completely dead. Beer and food specials are decent (think they had $8.00 pizza night last time I was there.). But lets face facts that it's a college bar for early twenty somethings, not a place for adults who want to spend a quality night out.
(3)Nektaria R.
This place is ok for a Friday afternoon. I would like to come back whenever they're suppose to be "happening". Definitely not happening at 3pm. This is fine, since I was here on a date and wanted to talk with my friend rather than screaming to try and hear each other. They had games on the TVs and lots of friendly faces waiting on tables and tending bar. We ordered a few appetizers and they were your typical tasty barfood. I mean, you really can't go wrong with nachos and chicken fingers.
(3)Rob W.
It's hard for me to rate this place as I'm not part of their target market. It's a large, fairly dirty dive bar. I don't frequent dive bars too often anymore. So, I'll try and rate it based on a few observations I had. I was there for a beer and a burger. The beer selection was OK - not huge but not small either. Ordered a Revolution Porter and looked at a menu. Appetizers are 1/2 price on Monday nights, but I didn't really see anything I wanted so I focused on the burgers. Black and Blue looks good - burger with bleu cheese and some fried onion strips (not sure what was "black" about those). Ok, it comes out... the bun dominated the dish - not that the burger was small, it was just on a really, really thick, dense bun. The bleu cheese and onions strips were present, but barely accounted for. And the burger came out medium rare as I had requested, but it was one of the blandest tasting burgers I've ever had. Service was decent. So what do I give this place... two stars. Reason being that what stands out in my mind most is the boringist burger in Chicagoland - that just needs to be better.
(2)LOIS B.
I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo past frequenting a place lie this, but we were there for a surprise party. it was nasty to watch old men picking up very young ladies in the bar area. The party was held on the second floor, facilities are only located on the first floor. Drinks are served in plastic cups ~ seriously? When did that start? Parking in Forest Park is a nightmare, and this strip of Madison is a happening place. Not my idea of a good time. Oh, and they allow smoking on the second level. For someone allergic to smoke, just not my night.
(2)Ronald U.
This was a nice quiet bar during christmas time and it was perfect for a group get together. Honestly the bathroom could use an upgrade, but I thought the service was pretty good. They even brought a pitcher of water for us. We would definitely go there again with a group!! Appetizer were tasty, especially the mushroom, and the pizza was perfect.
(4)Meg P.
Nowadays, I only go here for the Irish Parade. But the last 2 years have been a complete flop.. This place gets too crowded and filthy. I should have wrote this review last month I was upstairs Sat 3/07 where the overwhelmed bartenders ran out of Jack Daniels. Hmm, interesting - before noon? An older female bartender told me to go downstairs.. I said I'll have something else since the 2 bars down there were packed. After disappearing for a while she returned so I asked "can I have a double shot of Malibu Rum on the rocks?" The bartender paused and goes "can't you say please??" I laughed and said ...Uh can I please have a drink...... She took care of another guy. Came back, poured my drink in a plastic cup (funny there's never glasses and you get shots in plastic too, lolling!!!) she THEN poured Red Bull in it. Said oh shit, then proceeded to add pineapple to mask the Red Bull!???? And said well here.. She was completely flustered so I didn't have her make another. (I ended up at the downstairs bar anyway.....) She charged me $10 for the wrong drink? I can't stand the taste of energy drinks and carbonation makes me hiccup real bad. They didn't have the whiskey I wanted up there anyway. I only took 1 sip of my awful drink -which must have been watered down since I tasted no alcohol and I've drank Malibu from the bottle before. This was the first time in my entire life I took my tip off of the counter and walked away. I gave my drink to someone else.. That person also complained their drink was watered down. Made by the same lady, but different alcohol. The long lines to the disgusting tiny bathrooms were insane. The amount of wasted people yelling was out of control. And it was only 12PM... I usually bar hop, but I will definitely skip Doc Ryan's next year for the parade. Also, the staff regulates when you can smoke outdoors/upstairs or not. Rain; go inside! 10pm; go inside! Some weekdays; closed patio!? .....alrighty then I used to frequent this joint when I was 21-23 (& younger haha) and lived down the street. 2005-2010... I'm now 28 and probably too old to deal with this trash. Docs is turning into a dive / shithole. I used to not mind the drunk college douche bags fighting and thugs causing problems. I've even been kicked out back in the day.. Had a few Birthdays here, met some cool people, danced all night, and puked in the bathrooms. But this place has actually gotten worse? The bouncers are a joke, majority of bartenders are ignorant, service usually sucks, specials are just ehh, food is mediocre, and plenty of their customers are total idiots Also, this bar is dead during the weekdays. It doesn't get busy until late on weekends. Go somewhere else if you're on Madison Street. There's much better drinking establishments a few doors away. I gave it 2/5 stars instead of just one because when I was wasted and underage, I had a blast at Doc Ryan's :P
(2)Jordan K.
Douche. Town.
(1)Katie B.
Food was good, especially the cheese curds. We sat on the roof which had a nice atmosphere. The service wasn't great. We had to go to the bar to order our food and our drinks. Besides a server brining our food to our table, no one stopped by to check on anything or to even bring us our checks- for which we again had to go up to the bar.
(3)Theresa C.
I don't hang out in Oak Park on a regular basis, but I just started my masters at Dominican University and after my first final my classmates and I decided we needed a drink. We headed to Doc Ryan's on a local's recommendation. It was around 7 on a Thursday night and the one girl who had been there before informed us that the atmosphere was not typical, that being said... It was mostly a nice place: decent beers on tap at an okay price, good snack foods (we had tots and fries during the evening), it was surprisingly well lit (on the first floor), and not too loud to have good conversation. We stayed on the first floor even though a rather aggressive gentleman did inform me that the real party was upstairs several times while I was alone waiting for the rest of my friends to show up. It wasn't crowded, we got a table for 6 without a problem. The bar service was kind of crappy, the guy seemed new and was kind of a tool, but the table service was excellent. The waitress was really nice and super friendly and fast. And both people with credit tabs were super undercharged (I don't know if that was an apology for the mistakes the bartender made early in the night or more of his ineptitude, but whatever). Honestly, I would probably hang out here if I lived nearby and I won't object at all to another post-class get-together.
(3)Ray N.
I've been here a fair number of times (most recently the other night for the Blackhawks' Road Watch) and I can't say I've ever been overly impressed. I guess as far as bars go, it's alright, but Doc Ryan's tends to be one of the pricier bars on Madison St., and it isn't exactly worth the premium. It seems like they take their business for granted in that Apple sort of way - they're one of the few bars on Madison that will pretty much always have business, so they don't have to worry so much about pricing. For being the Hawks' Road Watch (an officially-sanctioned Blackhawks viewing party for away games) AND being Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, it was surprisingly tame in here. And because there weren't that many people in here *all things considered* I feel my group could have has a little bit better service. This place has been busier on a random Saturday. We ended up going to Molly Malone's after the game and it was dead as well, so it isn't Doc's fault. However, our waitress still did not come by very often and just didn't really seem to care. It seemingly has always been the focal point of Madison St., with more of the promotions on the radio and whatnot, but I don't really get why. It seems spacious but when it's a busy night you'll be rubbing against people all night. And the one saving grace for me has now (apparently) been ruined - the 2nd floor has apparently been converted into a "club" on the weekends, complete with loud music and flashing lights. My friends and I usually head upstairs just so we wouldn't have to deal with the bullshit downstairs, so if this actually has happened, there's no point in me coming back.
(3)Suzy B.
I've gone to this bar several times, more so right when I turned 21 because that seems to be the kind of crowd in there most of the time. Now being 28 I won't step back in. Not only does it get way too crowded but the music is just horribly loud on the weekends. The beer garden was decent with lots of tables and room for games. But what made me not step foot in there again was on one slow night with maybe three other people in the bar, I ordered either a jack and coke or Jameson and ginger ale (I don't remember since it was near a year ago) but the bartender actually said to me that I don't want to order that because she saw all the bottles of whatever I was ordering were WATERED DOWN! Even the ones in the back stock that shouldn't even be opened yet. Whether they were or weren't, the fact that the person working there had to advise against it was enough for me!
(1)Jess C.
I'm not a bar person but when I can get a seat at the bar with attentive bartenders AND good music...I'm a happy camper! Being a married person, this wasn't really our crowd but I enjoyed the energy of the people. Bartender was a little raw - a blunt drunk with business sense. I was disappointed that we could not order food accept for pizza after 11pm but I suppose that is usual for bars at that time. The read reviews that this bar had a lot of 20 something's but I think it was a good mix of people. The rooftop bar was open and music was excellent so 3 stars it is!
(3)Ashley O.
The roof top is great but it really needs a better bar system. Very unorganized. Bartenders great just feel bad they have to keep running in and out to get good drinks. This could be a really great spot if they fixed that.
(4)Angela B.
They are ok. Crowd was good. Drinks were tasty. Music was 50 50 play one good song next song was wtf lol. But its a great place.
(4)David B.
You could probably drop this bar into any college town in the Midwest and it would be right at home. It basically caters to the 20 somethings in the area looking for a night of over-drinking on the weekends. During the week it's pretty dead, usually just locals grabbing a beer and a burger and watching the game on the TVs. They have pretty decent specials but the beer menu is pretty limited to your InBev/ Budweiser selections with a couple craft beers like Revolution thrown in. Food is okay, mostly your typical bar fair but their pizza is pretty decent. Have to admit, I use to frequent this place when I was in my 20's but as you get older this type of place gets tiresome. I do hit Docs on St. Patty's day which is usually pretty entertaining.
(2)LaToya A.
Doc Ryan's is your typical neighborhood bar. Good music, cheap drinks, people you know, and good times. There isn't anything spectacular about the place but the people are nice. The bar staff are friendly although some of them make drinks better than others, which is to be expected. Once I find who makes the best drinks, I just stick with them for the rest of the evening. This is my go to place when I want to hear some pretty decent music and have a few drinks. I haven't tried the food so I can't comment on it.
(3)Samantha K.
As a long time customer and friend to some of the bartenders at Doc Ryan's I've been bias for many years until about a week n a half ago. A high school girlfriend and I are planning a class 10 year reunion, naturally (at the time) I thought of Docs to host our event of 100 plus students and teachers. After a month of attempting to contact the "event planner" (who was out of the country with apparently no one to cover her... So I was told) I resorted to contacting a bartender friend for some help as we had to get planning underway. Red Flag. Finally (1 week later) we were contacted back, date was set, deposit paid and invitations sent to my entire class and all of our old teachers. We had plenty of responses, this was going to be great! Classmates and teachers were even flying in to come celebrate 10 years with us! We WERE so excited, until 5 weeks before our event we get a call from the "event planner" that Docs was no longer going to be able to accommodate our party. Why?!?! Did they have a fire and need repairs?!?!?! Did they not pass an inspection?!?! Were they closing for good?!?!? No. No. And No. All of those would have been better reasons than the one she gave. Doc Ryan's had decided to host another party on the same night as ours obviously weeks after we had gotten our invites out. Another party I'm sure they believe to be bigger and better than the one we were planning. They offered us a mediocre option to change the date (which when you have people coming in from around the country is not an option). We were refunded our deposit and after they piss poor display of professionalism, we were MORE than happy to take our business across the street. I am so disappointed and have finally seen what really bad business can do to sway a once avid fan of Doc Ryan's. And its a shame because this place once was the place to be all days of the week... I understand now why so many loyal customers have left. Sorry guys I won't be returning and I advise anyone looking to plan a party to head to one of the other gems along Madison Street.
(1)Cala T.
I literally just got in the car and drove away from this place.... I have to say that the experience was crappy. I normally check Yelp before actually going to a new bar, but I was so excited to watch the Bulls vs Cavs tonight that I forgot. Welp... I should have because these ratings speak the truth. I manage a facility in LP and we have a full service bar. I'm all about watching the pour and I often have to yell at my staff. However, I will never order another drink from this place. I watched him more about 3/4 of an oz in my drink. He wasn't too friendly or sociable... To top it off, we ordered food !!!! When my friend received his tacos, there was hair in it. We informed the bartender and he acted like it wasn't a big deal. My friend was nice about it and just ordered something else. I wouldn't have been so nice! The food was very mediocre seeing how they brought me a burger with absolutely nothing on it. And I had to ask for ketchup and silverware. All of this to say... There were only about 6 other people there at the time. Don't waste your time if you're looking for good drinks and food. Definitely go elsewhere. **thumbs down**
(1)Kyesha N.
Went here last weekend with my fiance and we had a great time. Bartender was so nice and kept us laughing. The drinks were GREAT love the Angry Orchard and the food was delicious as well. We had the hot wings and fries :) Great place
(5)Abby M.
Visiting from KC with a friend we wanted to go to a fun bar. This is one of the first ones that popped up. Read some negative reviews but wanted to try it out anyway. Immediately we were disappointed by the bartender downstairs. He was so rude to us, but maybe this is Chicago personality? We decided to stick around since we had drinks to finish, so we went upstairs to see what it was about. If it wasn't for Timmy and the other bartender (tall with shaved head, can't remember his name, wish I did) on the second floor we wouldn't have stayed. Timmy setup bags for us to play and the other bartender was DJ'ing music from his phone with great music. They saved our opinion of this bar and managed to keep us there for a few more drinks. If we walked out after the first drink and didn't go upstairs this would be a one star. Previous reviews talked about quarter darts and a ping pong table, they are wrong. Neither exist. It's normal priced darts and no ping pong table. other reviews called this a 20 something kind of bar. We didn't get that vibe, but it was a slow night so maybe it is other nights?
(4)John R.
Not sure if they know what a burger is. Ordered a Doc's Supreme burger & the server asked me how I wanted it cooked to which I said medium. About 45 minutes later I got served an Italian roll with 2 pieces of cheese & bacon, grilled mushrooms & onions, but NO BURGER. I asked the server where the burger was that I ordered & she said one chef makes it this way & the other makes it with a meat patty. Now I know she knew I wanted a burger since she asked me how I wanted it cooked. I sent the cheese sandwich back & about 10 min later I got a microwaved, dried out burger with uncooked mushrooms, no bacon, & only one type of cheese (it is advertised to have 3 types). The worst burger I have ever eaten. I did however think the waffles fries were good. This place used to be pretty decent, don't know what happened. I will not be going back there again.
(1)Michael S.
I came here a few days ago! This place was pretty great! They have two floors here but I spent most of my time on the second floor. It was not crowded at all at this place which is great in my opinion to spend time with friends. The upstairs had cornhole tables that you could play on while drinking. They also had a ping pong table which was great as well as quarter dart games! The bar service was pretty good from what I experienced! Fun place to come to have fun with friends! I would love to come back again!
(4)Jesus C.
Typical bar scene. Food is moderate. Mostly a beer place. Huge space! Lovely outdoor rooftop patio. Pretty full house Friday and Saturday nights. Good for dancing.
(3)Emily K.
We came in and sat down. The waitress appeared 10 minutes later asking us if we "like, needed a menu or something." When we finally ordered, I ordered a Burger with cheese and Bacon and my boyfriend ordered a Burger with Swiss, onion, and mushroom. When our food came, his plate had a bun with Swiss, onion, and mushroom. No meat. He sent it back and they put cold american cheese and Bacon on it and we gave up trying. The waitress was nice when she was around and the pizza, fries, and cheese curds were good. Maybe it was an off day? We wont be back though.
(2)Ashley C.
Yelp needs to make 0 stars an option. I hate coming in here because it's usually overflowing with douchebags & gross girls but it was a buddy's birthday & this is where he wanted to go. I could tell the night would be off to a great start when my boyfriend & I bought the birthday boy an Irish Car Bomb. The bartender serves us the Guinness first, in a TINY little plastic cup that's halfway filled up. Then a tiny little plastic shot glass with the bailey's & probably a drop of Jameson. The plastic shot glass floated (duh) & the price we paid for those for them to be in tiny plastic cups, worthless. The night continued & the EXTREMELY overpriced terrible drinks did not improve. Weakest long island I've ever tasted, you could literally taste the ice tea mix. Then my boyfriend went to the bar to grab another round. The bartender serves him & while he's getting the drinks, a guy at the bar tries to start a fight with my boyfriend because he was served before the other guy. Boyfriend gets drinks & comes back to the table, then the bouncer (more like trained dog, but we'll get to that later) walks up to our table, grabs my boyfriend by the arm & tells him he needs to leave & drags him out. At this point I was already aggravated & done with being there, so I asked the bouncer why he just kicked him out, the one that walked away from & avoided a fight, & not the one that tried starting the fight in the first place. The bouncer tells me he does whatever the bartender tells him to do, & he said to kick him out. Must be a regular. So I go to ask the bartender why & he points at the bouncer before I can get a word out, then he proceeds to kick ME out. Now I'm pissed. I want to get my purse & gtfo but he won't let me get it. The bouncer calls me a b****, tells me to shut the f*** up, & starts PUSHING me out. I had to have my friend go in & get it. One by one they kicked our ENTIRE group of 10 for simply asking why my boyfriend got kicked out & not the apparent regular that had tried to start the fight. & THE BEST PART YOU ASK? Once I got my stuff & turned my back on the bouncer & walked out, he called me a CUM GUZZLING WHORE & told me to get the f*** out, once I was already out & had my back turned on him. How professional. How mature. At that point, I won't lie, I tried to go back in to claw his roided bulging eyes out, but my friends held me back thankfully because at that point a cop that we had seen HANGING OUT, not doing something of importance but literally hanging out with a bouncer earlier that night, had came back in. I go to ask for help & talk to him & he SHOVES me away & says "I don't care" & walks straight to the bouncer he was talking to earlier. So unless you're a regular, expect to get kicked out if a regular tries to fight you, & ladies, expect to be called cum guzzling whores from the roided out bouncer with apparent self esteem issues. Side note: I just tried to email the owners with the email address from their website, got a mailer daemon notice, not surprised.
(1)Tarah B.
I hate this place. I don't know why I allow myself to be dragged in here by friends. The cost of your drink depends on the bartender's mood - last night I was charged $23 for 3 drinks... That's $7.6666667 per drink? What? Annoying. Skip it and head to O'Sullivan's or Duffy's.
(2)Michael Z.
We went on a Thursday night. The specials that were online were not what was advertised at the bar. We went there for Corned beef sandwiches and the current special was a cheese burger basket. $1 drafts was a great deal but Angry Orchard on tap for $6 was outrageous.
(3)Tay H.
Before last Friday, this place would have gotten one star. But, I went back (strong begging on my husband's part) and found out they replaced the tables on the rooftop. So much better! But then it started raining and were forced inside...which reminded me of why I hate this place. By this point the old, drunk guys at the bar had been replaced by sketchy jersey shore people. I don't know when this place tried to turn itself into a dance club, but it's still not my scene.
(2)Jose M.
Screw this place. The bouncers are a joke. The hispanic bartender that works there is a prick as well.
(1)Allison M.
This place is pretty dingy. It's crowded, and pretty sketchy, and Shortstops down the road has better prices. Of course, there's usually a point in the night when all you want is some loud music and lots of bodies in the room. It's an enormous place, with two floors, which adds to the sense of being inserted into a buzzing, bustling hive of people who almost certainly frequent this place far more embarrassingly regularly than you do.
(2)Jessica J.
College bar.. ugh service sucks.. idk how that's possible considering there's like three bars and they're pretty big. The DJ sucks plays crap music. people are rude , the bathrooms are clean they sometimes overcharge on drinks and they are water down. Really don't care for this place at all.
(2)Mike D.
What the hell happened to this bar. When I was a kid my dad and uncles used to bring me here and I'd get a kiddy cocltail and watch football with my family. It was a great time. Now that I am older, I go in there sometimes at night, and cannot believe what is going on. Did the jersey shore come to Madison street? Jesus It is always so loud and packed and sweaty and hair gel smelling.
(2)Jack C.
Lets start with I love this bar. The staff, drinks and food are awesome. I go there 3-5 times a month sometimes more. I normally go there on Saturdays sometimes Thursdays and during the football season I am there on Sundays. On Saturday nights with the DJ'S are awesome and a great time.
(5)MyOpinion C.
Unless you go at a late hour the crowd is full of 50 y.o. and over :( most of the time I have to flag down the waitress even when there are hardly any customers. Sometimes they'll have my drink and sometimes their out. They do however have great daily deals like .50 tacos on Tuesdays and hamburgers on Wednesdays etc... Great place to go on St Pattys day :)
(3)Dan P.
I can't imagine anyone over the age of 20 actually enjoying this place. Mostly over-served obnoxious chicks and the meat-heads jockeying to fondle them. If you are neither of these people, then head somewhere else on Madison Street.
(1)Edgar P.
I don't give too many 1-2 star ratings but this place is deserving of it. I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't like the occasional adult beverage from time to time, and I've gone to many a bar all over the place but this has got to be one of the worst bars I've EVER been to! This place has so much potential to be a great bar but the owners seem unwilling to make any drastic moves to improve it. You tend to catch many obnoxious patrons who are ridiculously rude and even the owners act the same way. I was just in there the other day after not having gone in for years now, which isn't surprising, and was calmly having a drink and socializing with some folks when out of nowhere, the owners with starts swinging at a gentleman sitting down at the bar. He tried to hold her down so that she would stop hitting him and HE ended up getting tossed from the bar! The poor guy was bleeding from the neck and the lady could barely walk herself, yet he is guilty of making a scene. I can't completely blame the owners wife since I don't know what happened but I WAS right next to them and didn't see or hear anything that would have provoked that sort of hostility. If you can't drink like a responsible adult, maybe you shouldn't drink at all... Other than that heart-pounding few minutes of action, the place didn't have any really good specials and drink selections were limited, compared to other bars along Madison. I also hate when you order a round of shots and you get a tiny plastic cup, a third the size of a normal shot glass and you pay the same amount for it. That just drives me bonkers!!!! There are plenty of fantastic places along Madison that leave this place in the dust. It's a cryin' shame.... Go there if you're desperate. -Papa Bear
(2)Nichole M.
I've been here multiple times to see friends' bands play and while it's fine for that, I've never just gone to this bar to hang out. Well as my friend Amie and I were in the Forest Park area and the Bears game had already started, we were in search of somewhere to watch the game. We settled on Doc Ryan's...they better have good food was all I could think b/c after the 9 sacks the Bears QB took in the first half of the game last week, I wasn't expecting too much. So we go on in and Amie spots a huge sign that says "a bucket of Miller Light and 12 wings for $17" Um, what? Clearly I have been living in the city for wayyy to long, because you never see a deal this good. So that's what we order. The wings were really really good and well, beer, is beer. After our wings, we were still a little hungry and we ordered the grilled cheese, which is supposed to have tomato and bacon on it. Yummm. Although there was a bit of a "disagreement" between the cook and server about the tomato and bacon, by the time our second, correctly made, grilled cheese came out, it was delicious. The waffle fries were also very tasty. The server was nice even though she was having some communication issues with the cook. She was all dressed up in her Bears gear, which I of course appreciated. So we had a good time. My only complaints...the place is kinda dingy and the bathrooms are completely disgusting. Seriously, just a fresh coat of paint onthe stalls would make a world of difference.
(3)Andrea M.
I just love Doc Ryan's! I came here again last night with a friend and we got here early around 9pm. It was pretty dead but that was fine since it was still early. We got a bucket of Corona for $15! Awesome. As the night progressed more people started arriving and we ordered more drinks. Surprisingly enough, there was more people here than I expected to find considering last night was negative degrees outside with ice roads. I love the house/dance music played here. Def a keeper! You won't find this music being played even at some chicago nightclubs downtown. If you like listening to "DJ's" spinning B96/Kiss fm music then this isn't your bar. If you like boring atmospheres, then this isn't your bar. If you like to have fun, this is your bar!
(4)Mark W.
Ugh. Doc Ryans. What a shithole. Fist pumpers? yes. Underagers? yup. Rude, Ignorant people?? guarantee it. The only time i ever step into this place is if i am meeting friends out. I will always try to convince them to go somewhere at least tolerable, but there are those times when your vote doesnt matter. Thats when you might end up here. Service is terrible. The crowd, well, no disrepect to any other reviewers that enjoy this establishment, not for me. There are so many great bars on Madison St. in Forest Park. Why someone would choose to go here is beyond me. No thanks.
(1)Reuben H.
Probably the biggest complaint that I get from my friends comes from the fact (yes, fact) that I do not like loud bars. To me- going somewhere with eardrum shattering music/noise, and a bunch of dudes yelling "bro" in one another's ears is not a good time for me. Call me lame.......... Go ahead............. I can see the allure for some to go out with a plan to get blitzed while watching a baseball game and checking other people out. I can see why people like to be in an atmosphere that is lively, with music blaring and people yelling- you know, a crowd. I can especially see why people pick this place to do just those things. This place though was never my cup of tea. Even in my early 20's this place was just too much. Too loud, too many Chads and Trixies, and too much "college" for me. Doc Ryan's has such a great spot along a very happening stretch of Madison, but for my money, you are better off heading to one of the other (seemingly) dozens of "Irish" bars within a couple of blocks. Read between the lines though- if you ARE into the things that I described above- then come here! You will love it. But if you are more like me and like to go out for conversation and a place to hang out with a group- head down the block a bit.
(2)April P.
This place is pretty great. My friends and I have been here a couple times. One time when we were there we saw a magic show. Pretty random, but pretty entertaining. It's a nice bar overall. It's really large! Also, there's a pretty awesome balcony that's great in the summertime.
(4)Joy S.
If life had a soundtrack, "You Think You're Cooler Than Me" by Mike Posner would come on the jukebox everytime ya set foot in here. I really don't go to Doc's unless dragged. Thankfully, those times are few and far between. When I do go to Doc's, I tend to run into those people from high school who thought they were cooler than everyone else. Acting like they're at an upper class martini bar in the city, rather than on Madison St. Mix in bartenders who ignore you, underage kids with fake id's, some older creepy guys, and a few overly served guys holding onto the bar to stay upright, and you've got Doc's. Yes, there is a party room upstairs. But if you're on crutches or in a wheelchair, forget trying to get up there. There's no elevator.
(2)Carol K.
I can't decide if I had a good time here because of the people I was with, or because it was 2nd on our bar crawl and we already had a few drinks under our belts- or because it's a fun place! Regardless, Doc Ryan's gets my vote for a fun place to hang with friends and grab a beer and some bar food. First- this place is huge! If you are ever wandering down Madison Street and want some room to roam- this is your place. I think we tasted every appetizer on the menu from quesadillas, to nachos, to cheese curds, to potato skins, to chicken strips and more. Nothing remarkable as bar food is bar food but we wanted food to share and we got it in droves! The menu has burgers, sandwiches salads and pizza on it, but we were in a snacking mood and snacking is what we did. Service at the bar was good although that fell down a little when we grabbed a table as someone in our party asked to have the table wiped off and got a little attitude from our server. But nothing was going to spoil our night on Madison street. We just packed up when we were done and ambled down the block to see what else this little slice of Forest Park had to offer.
(3)Becky P.
We came here during a mini pub crawl on a week night. Back patio area was nice, they have bags so that's always a plus. They had some good drink specials. Nothing crazy to write home about, but its another place to drink :)
(3)Giuseppe D.
Meh. I've experienced better. I've never really expected much from this bar so as I started going more often (unwillingly), I wasn't surprised with what Doc Ryan's had to offer. There's two floors, a large main bar on the first floor and a smaller bar in the side room where the DJ and dance floor are. The crowd itself is typically the ages of 21-26 (probably a little younger). There are a few universities close by so you can catch a gang of college students here on the weeknights getting their tuition's worth of cheap drinks. They have decent specials every now and then, I believe $2 bottles and $5 pitchers on Thursdays, which is alright. It doesn't beat the specials of Lincoln Park bars, but it works for what it is. I've had the pizza before (drunk, of course), and it still wasn't very appetizing. The service has always been very very par. Sometimes shitty, sometimes alright. The bartenders always seem to have an attitude and try to rush you with your order. Not a place I'd go out of my way for, but if you have some college friends in the area, they'll probably be hanging around here, and you'll have to make the best of it.
(2)Christina R.
It's a double decker meat market. If you're looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right...Now, this is the place you wanna be. They recently added a fairly large rooftop deck with an outdoor bar making four large areas to mingle. The second floor features a few video games and dart boards, there's a large main bar on the first floor featuring a fire place, and a side room bar that hosts bands and karaoke. The bartenders are pretty attentive even though the crowd can get pretty loud and obnoxious. They serve decent bar food until about 10pm and feature several large flat screens mainly for sports. They open early enough to catch the morning start college basketball and football games. Bring your ID, they card hard.
(3)Nektaria R.
This place is ok for a Friday afternoon. I would like to come back whenever they're suppose to be "happening". Definitely not happening at 3pm. This is fine, since I was here on a date and wanted to talk with my friend rather than screaming to try and hear each other. They had games on the TVs and lots of friendly faces waiting on tables and tending bar. We ordered a few appetizers and they were your typical tasty barfood. I mean, you really can't go wrong with nachos and chicken fingers.
(3)Angela B.
They are ok. Crowd was good. Drinks were tasty. Music was 50 50 play one good song next song was wtf lol. But its a great place.
(4)David B.
You could probably drop this bar into any college town in the Midwest and it would be right at home. It basically caters to the 20 somethings in the area looking for a night of over-drinking on the weekends. During the week it's pretty dead, usually just locals grabbing a beer and a burger and watching the game on the TVs. They have pretty decent specials but the beer menu is pretty limited to your InBev/ Budweiser selections with a couple craft beers like Revolution thrown in. Food is okay, mostly your typical bar fair but their pizza is pretty decent. Have to admit, I use to frequent this place when I was in my 20's but as you get older this type of place gets tiresome. I do hit Docs on St. Patty's day which is usually pretty entertaining.
(2)Meg P.
Nowadays, I only go here for the Irish Parade. But the last 2 years have been a complete flop.. This place gets too crowded and filthy. I should have wrote this review last month I was upstairs Sat 3/07 where the overwhelmed bartenders ran out of Jack Daniels. Hmm, interesting - before noon? An older female bartender told me to go downstairs.. I said I'll have something else since the 2 bars down there were packed. After disappearing for a while she returned so I asked "can I have a double shot of Malibu Rum on the rocks?" The bartender paused and goes "can't you say please??" I laughed and said ...Uh can I please have a drink...... She took care of another guy. Came back, poured my drink in a plastic cup (funny there's never glasses and you get shots in plastic too, lolling!!!) she THEN poured Red Bull in it. Said oh shit, then proceeded to add pineapple to mask the Red Bull!???? And said well here.. She was completely flustered so I didn't have her make another. (I ended up at the downstairs bar anyway.....) She charged me $10 for the wrong drink? I can't stand the taste of energy drinks and carbonation makes me hiccup real bad. They didn't have the whiskey I wanted up there anyway. I only took 1 sip of my awful drink -which must have been watered down since I tasted no alcohol and I've drank Malibu from the bottle before. This was the first time in my entire life I took my tip off of the counter and walked away. I gave my drink to someone else.. That person also complained their drink was watered down. Made by the same lady, but different alcohol. The long lines to the disgusting tiny bathrooms were insane. The amount of wasted people yelling was out of control. And it was only 12PM... I usually bar hop, but I will definitely skip Doc Ryan's next year for the parade. Also, the staff regulates when you can smoke outdoors/upstairs or not. Rain; go inside! 10pm; go inside! Some weekdays; closed patio!? .....alrighty then I used to frequent this joint when I was 21-23 (& younger haha) and lived down the street. 2005-2010... I'm now 28 and probably too old to deal with this trash. Docs is turning into a dive / shithole. I used to not mind the drunk college douche bags fighting and thugs causing problems. I've even been kicked out back in the day.. Had a few Birthdays here, met some cool people, danced all night, and puked in the bathrooms. But this place has actually gotten worse? The bouncers are a joke, majority of bartenders are ignorant, service usually sucks, specials are just ehh, food is mediocre, and plenty of their customers are total idiots Also, this bar is dead during the weekdays. It doesn't get busy until late on weekends. Go somewhere else if you're on Madison Street. There's much better drinking establishments a few doors away. I gave it 2/5 stars instead of just one because when I was wasted and underage, I had a blast at Doc Ryan's :P
(2)Jordan K.
Douche. Town.
(1)Katie B.
Food was good, especially the cheese curds. We sat on the roof which had a nice atmosphere. The service wasn't great. We had to go to the bar to order our food and our drinks. Besides a server brining our food to our table, no one stopped by to check on anything or to even bring us our checks- for which we again had to go up to the bar.
(3)Ronald U.
This was a nice quiet bar during christmas time and it was perfect for a group get together. Honestly the bathroom could use an upgrade, but I thought the service was pretty good. They even brought a pitcher of water for us. We would definitely go there again with a group!! Appetizer were tasty, especially the mushroom, and the pizza was perfect.
(4)Mike D.
What the hell happened to this bar. When I was a kid my dad and uncles used to bring me here and I'd get a kiddy cocltail and watch football with my family. It was a great time. Now that I am older, I go in there sometimes at night, and cannot believe what is going on. Did the jersey shore come to Madison street? Jesus It is always so loud and packed and sweaty and hair gel smelling.
(2)Nichole M.
I've been here multiple times to see friends' bands play and while it's fine for that, I've never just gone to this bar to hang out. Well as my friend Amie and I were in the Forest Park area and the Bears game had already started, we were in search of somewhere to watch the game. We settled on Doc Ryan's...they better have good food was all I could think b/c after the 9 sacks the Bears QB took in the first half of the game last week, I wasn't expecting too much. So we go on in and Amie spots a huge sign that says "a bucket of Miller Light and 12 wings for $17" Um, what? Clearly I have been living in the city for wayyy to long, because you never see a deal this good. So that's what we order. The wings were really really good and well, beer, is beer. After our wings, we were still a little hungry and we ordered the grilled cheese, which is supposed to have tomato and bacon on it. Yummm. Although there was a bit of a "disagreement" between the cook and server about the tomato and bacon, by the time our second, correctly made, grilled cheese came out, it was delicious. The waffle fries were also very tasty. The server was nice even though she was having some communication issues with the cook. She was all dressed up in her Bears gear, which I of course appreciated. So we had a good time. My only complaints...the place is kinda dingy and the bathrooms are completely disgusting. Seriously, just a fresh coat of paint onthe stalls would make a world of difference.
(3)Giuseppe D.
Meh. I've experienced better. I've never really expected much from this bar so as I started going more often (unwillingly), I wasn't surprised with what Doc Ryan's had to offer. There's two floors, a large main bar on the first floor and a smaller bar in the side room where the DJ and dance floor are. The crowd itself is typically the ages of 21-26 (probably a little younger). There are a few universities close by so you can catch a gang of college students here on the weeknights getting their tuition's worth of cheap drinks. They have decent specials every now and then, I believe $2 bottles and $5 pitchers on Thursdays, which is alright. It doesn't beat the specials of Lincoln Park bars, but it works for what it is. I've had the pizza before (drunk, of course), and it still wasn't very appetizing. The service has always been very very par. Sometimes shitty, sometimes alright. The bartenders always seem to have an attitude and try to rush you with your order. Not a place I'd go out of my way for, but if you have some college friends in the area, they'll probably be hanging around here, and you'll have to make the best of it.
(2)Jack C.
Lets start with I love this bar. The staff, drinks and food are awesome. I go there 3-5 times a month sometimes more. I normally go there on Saturdays sometimes Thursdays and during the football season I am there on Sundays. On Saturday nights with the DJ'S are awesome and a great time.
(5)Suzy B.
I've gone to this bar several times, more so right when I turned 21 because that seems to be the kind of crowd in there most of the time. Now being 28 I won't step back in. Not only does it get way too crowded but the music is just horribly loud on the weekends. The beer garden was decent with lots of tables and room for games. But what made me not step foot in there again was on one slow night with maybe three other people in the bar, I ordered either a jack and coke or Jameson and ginger ale (I don't remember since it was near a year ago) but the bartender actually said to me that I don't want to order that because she saw all the bottles of whatever I was ordering were WATERED DOWN! Even the ones in the back stock that shouldn't even be opened yet. Whether they were or weren't, the fact that the person working there had to advise against it was enough for me!
(1)Jess C.
I'm not a bar person but when I can get a seat at the bar with attentive bartenders AND good music...I'm a happy camper! Being a married person, this wasn't really our crowd but I enjoyed the energy of the people. Bartender was a little raw - a blunt drunk with business sense. I was disappointed that we could not order food accept for pizza after 11pm but I suppose that is usual for bars at that time. The read reviews that this bar had a lot of 20 something's but I think it was a good mix of people. The rooftop bar was open and music was excellent so 3 stars it is!
(3)Ashley O.
The roof top is great but it really needs a better bar system. Very unorganized. Bartenders great just feel bad they have to keep running in and out to get good drinks. This could be a really great spot if they fixed that.
(4)Michael Z.
We went on a Thursday night. The specials that were online were not what was advertised at the bar. We went there for Corned beef sandwiches and the current special was a cheese burger basket. $1 drafts was a great deal but Angry Orchard on tap for $6 was outrageous.
(3)Samantha K.
As a long time customer and friend to some of the bartenders at Doc Ryan's I've been bias for many years until about a week n a half ago. A high school girlfriend and I are planning a class 10 year reunion, naturally (at the time) I thought of Docs to host our event of 100 plus students and teachers. After a month of attempting to contact the "event planner" (who was out of the country with apparently no one to cover her... So I was told) I resorted to contacting a bartender friend for some help as we had to get planning underway. Red Flag. Finally (1 week later) we were contacted back, date was set, deposit paid and invitations sent to my entire class and all of our old teachers. We had plenty of responses, this was going to be great! Classmates and teachers were even flying in to come celebrate 10 years with us! We WERE so excited, until 5 weeks before our event we get a call from the "event planner" that Docs was no longer going to be able to accommodate our party. Why?!?! Did they have a fire and need repairs?!?!?! Did they not pass an inspection?!?! Were they closing for good?!?!? No. No. And No. All of those would have been better reasons than the one she gave. Doc Ryan's had decided to host another party on the same night as ours obviously weeks after we had gotten our invites out. Another party I'm sure they believe to be bigger and better than the one we were planning. They offered us a mediocre option to change the date (which when you have people coming in from around the country is not an option). We were refunded our deposit and after they piss poor display of professionalism, we were MORE than happy to take our business across the street. I am so disappointed and have finally seen what really bad business can do to sway a once avid fan of Doc Ryan's. And its a shame because this place once was the place to be all days of the week... I understand now why so many loyal customers have left. Sorry guys I won't be returning and I advise anyone looking to plan a party to head to one of the other gems along Madison Street.
(1)Cala T.
I literally just got in the car and drove away from this place.... I have to say that the experience was crappy. I normally check Yelp before actually going to a new bar, but I was so excited to watch the Bulls vs Cavs tonight that I forgot. Welp... I should have because these ratings speak the truth. I manage a facility in LP and we have a full service bar. I'm all about watching the pour and I often have to yell at my staff. However, I will never order another drink from this place. I watched him more about 3/4 of an oz in my drink. He wasn't too friendly or sociable... To top it off, we ordered food !!!! When my friend received his tacos, there was hair in it. We informed the bartender and he acted like it wasn't a big deal. My friend was nice about it and just ordered something else. I wouldn't have been so nice! The food was very mediocre seeing how they brought me a burger with absolutely nothing on it. And I had to ask for ketchup and silverware. All of this to say... There were only about 6 other people there at the time. Don't waste your time if you're looking for good drinks and food. Definitely go elsewhere. **thumbs down**
(1)Kyesha N.
Went here last weekend with my fiance and we had a great time. Bartender was so nice and kept us laughing. The drinks were GREAT love the Angry Orchard and the food was delicious as well. We had the hot wings and fries :) Great place
(5)LaToya A.
Doc Ryan's is your typical neighborhood bar. Good music, cheap drinks, people you know, and good times. There isn't anything spectacular about the place but the people are nice. The bar staff are friendly although some of them make drinks better than others, which is to be expected. Once I find who makes the best drinks, I just stick with them for the rest of the evening. This is my go to place when I want to hear some pretty decent music and have a few drinks. I haven't tried the food so I can't comment on it.
(3)Abby M.
Visiting from KC with a friend we wanted to go to a fun bar. This is one of the first ones that popped up. Read some negative reviews but wanted to try it out anyway. Immediately we were disappointed by the bartender downstairs. He was so rude to us, but maybe this is Chicago personality? We decided to stick around since we had drinks to finish, so we went upstairs to see what it was about. If it wasn't for Timmy and the other bartender (tall with shaved head, can't remember his name, wish I did) on the second floor we wouldn't have stayed. Timmy setup bags for us to play and the other bartender was DJ'ing music from his phone with great music. They saved our opinion of this bar and managed to keep us there for a few more drinks. If we walked out after the first drink and didn't go upstairs this would be a one star. Previous reviews talked about quarter darts and a ping pong table, they are wrong. Neither exist. It's normal priced darts and no ping pong table. other reviews called this a 20 something kind of bar. We didn't get that vibe, but it was a slow night so maybe it is other nights?
(4)John R.
Not sure if they know what a burger is. Ordered a Doc's Supreme burger & the server asked me how I wanted it cooked to which I said medium. About 45 minutes later I got served an Italian roll with 2 pieces of cheese & bacon, grilled mushrooms & onions, but NO BURGER. I asked the server where the burger was that I ordered & she said one chef makes it this way & the other makes it with a meat patty. Now I know she knew I wanted a burger since she asked me how I wanted it cooked. I sent the cheese sandwich back & about 10 min later I got a microwaved, dried out burger with uncooked mushrooms, no bacon, & only one type of cheese (it is advertised to have 3 types). The worst burger I have ever eaten. I did however think the waffles fries were good. This place used to be pretty decent, don't know what happened. I will not be going back there again.
(1)Michael S.
I came here a few days ago! This place was pretty great! They have two floors here but I spent most of my time on the second floor. It was not crowded at all at this place which is great in my opinion to spend time with friends. The upstairs had cornhole tables that you could play on while drinking. They also had a ping pong table which was great as well as quarter dart games! The bar service was pretty good from what I experienced! Fun place to come to have fun with friends! I would love to come back again!
(4)Emily K.
We came in and sat down. The waitress appeared 10 minutes later asking us if we "like, needed a menu or something." When we finally ordered, I ordered a Burger with cheese and Bacon and my boyfriend ordered a Burger with Swiss, onion, and mushroom. When our food came, his plate had a bun with Swiss, onion, and mushroom. No meat. He sent it back and they put cold american cheese and Bacon on it and we gave up trying. The waitress was nice when she was around and the pizza, fries, and cheese curds were good. Maybe it was an off day? We wont be back though.
(2)Tarah B.
I hate this place. I don't know why I allow myself to be dragged in here by friends. The cost of your drink depends on the bartender's mood - last night I was charged $23 for 3 drinks... That's $7.6666667 per drink? What? Annoying. Skip it and head to O'Sullivan's or Duffy's.
(2)Jessica J.
College bar.. ugh service sucks.. idk how that's possible considering there's like three bars and they're pretty big. The DJ sucks plays crap music. people are rude , the bathrooms are clean they sometimes overcharge on drinks and they are water down. Really don't care for this place at all.
(2)Edgar P.
I don't give too many 1-2 star ratings but this place is deserving of it. I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't like the occasional adult beverage from time to time, and I've gone to many a bar all over the place but this has got to be one of the worst bars I've EVER been to! This place has so much potential to be a great bar but the owners seem unwilling to make any drastic moves to improve it. You tend to catch many obnoxious patrons who are ridiculously rude and even the owners act the same way. I was just in there the other day after not having gone in for years now, which isn't surprising, and was calmly having a drink and socializing with some folks when out of nowhere, the owners with starts swinging at a gentleman sitting down at the bar. He tried to hold her down so that she would stop hitting him and HE ended up getting tossed from the bar! The poor guy was bleeding from the neck and the lady could barely walk herself, yet he is guilty of making a scene. I can't completely blame the owners wife since I don't know what happened but I WAS right next to them and didn't see or hear anything that would have provoked that sort of hostility. If you can't drink like a responsible adult, maybe you shouldn't drink at all... Other than that heart-pounding few minutes of action, the place didn't have any really good specials and drink selections were limited, compared to other bars along Madison. I also hate when you order a round of shots and you get a tiny plastic cup, a third the size of a normal shot glass and you pay the same amount for it. That just drives me bonkers!!!! There are plenty of fantastic places along Madison that leave this place in the dust. It's a cryin' shame.... Go there if you're desperate. -Papa Bear
(2)Andrea M.
I just love Doc Ryan's! I came here again last night with a friend and we got here early around 9pm. It was pretty dead but that was fine since it was still early. We got a bucket of Corona for $15! Awesome. As the night progressed more people started arriving and we ordered more drinks. Surprisingly enough, there was more people here than I expected to find considering last night was negative degrees outside with ice roads. I love the house/dance music played here. Def a keeper! You won't find this music being played even at some chicago nightclubs downtown. If you like listening to "DJ's" spinning B96/Kiss fm music then this isn't your bar. If you like boring atmospheres, then this isn't your bar. If you like to have fun, this is your bar!
(4)Mark W.
Ugh. Doc Ryans. What a shithole. Fist pumpers? yes. Underagers? yup. Rude, Ignorant people?? guarantee it. The only time i ever step into this place is if i am meeting friends out. I will always try to convince them to go somewhere at least tolerable, but there are those times when your vote doesnt matter. Thats when you might end up here. Service is terrible. The crowd, well, no disrepect to any other reviewers that enjoy this establishment, not for me. There are so many great bars on Madison St. in Forest Park. Why someone would choose to go here is beyond me. No thanks.
(1)Reuben H.
Probably the biggest complaint that I get from my friends comes from the fact (yes, fact) that I do not like loud bars. To me- going somewhere with eardrum shattering music/noise, and a bunch of dudes yelling "bro" in one another's ears is not a good time for me. Call me lame.......... Go ahead............. I can see the allure for some to go out with a plan to get blitzed while watching a baseball game and checking other people out. I can see why people like to be in an atmosphere that is lively, with music blaring and people yelling- you know, a crowd. I can especially see why people pick this place to do just those things. This place though was never my cup of tea. Even in my early 20's this place was just too much. Too loud, too many Chads and Trixies, and too much "college" for me. Doc Ryan's has such a great spot along a very happening stretch of Madison, but for my money, you are better off heading to one of the other (seemingly) dozens of "Irish" bars within a couple of blocks. Read between the lines though- if you ARE into the things that I described above- then come here! You will love it. But if you are more like me and like to go out for conversation and a place to hang out with a group- head down the block a bit.
(2)April P.
This place is pretty great. My friends and I have been here a couple times. One time when we were there we saw a magic show. Pretty random, but pretty entertaining. It's a nice bar overall. It's really large! Also, there's a pretty awesome balcony that's great in the summertime.
(4)Jesus C.
Typical bar scene. Food is moderate. Mostly a beer place. Huge space! Lovely outdoor rooftop patio. Pretty full house Friday and Saturday nights. Good for dancing.
(3)Ashley C.
Yelp needs to make 0 stars an option. I hate coming in here because it's usually overflowing with douchebags & gross girls but it was a buddy's birthday & this is where he wanted to go. I could tell the night would be off to a great start when my boyfriend & I bought the birthday boy an Irish Car Bomb. The bartender serves us the Guinness first, in a TINY little plastic cup that's halfway filled up. Then a tiny little plastic shot glass with the bailey's & probably a drop of Jameson. The plastic shot glass floated (duh) & the price we paid for those for them to be in tiny plastic cups, worthless. The night continued & the EXTREMELY overpriced terrible drinks did not improve. Weakest long island I've ever tasted, you could literally taste the ice tea mix. Then my boyfriend went to the bar to grab another round. The bartender serves him & while he's getting the drinks, a guy at the bar tries to start a fight with my boyfriend because he was served before the other guy. Boyfriend gets drinks & comes back to the table, then the bouncer (more like trained dog, but we'll get to that later) walks up to our table, grabs my boyfriend by the arm & tells him he needs to leave & drags him out. At this point I was already aggravated & done with being there, so I asked the bouncer why he just kicked him out, the one that walked away from & avoided a fight, & not the one that tried starting the fight in the first place. The bouncer tells me he does whatever the bartender tells him to do, & he said to kick him out. Must be a regular. So I go to ask the bartender why & he points at the bouncer before I can get a word out, then he proceeds to kick ME out. Now I'm pissed. I want to get my purse & gtfo but he won't let me get it. The bouncer calls me a b****, tells me to shut the f*** up, & starts PUSHING me out. I had to have my friend go in & get it. One by one they kicked our ENTIRE group of 10 for simply asking why my boyfriend got kicked out & not the apparent regular that had tried to start the fight. & THE BEST PART YOU ASK? Once I got my stuff & turned my back on the bouncer & walked out, he called me a CUM GUZZLING WHORE & told me to get the f*** out, once I was already out & had my back turned on him. How professional. How mature. At that point, I won't lie, I tried to go back in to claw his roided bulging eyes out, but my friends held me back thankfully because at that point a cop that we had seen HANGING OUT, not doing something of importance but literally hanging out with a bouncer earlier that night, had came back in. I go to ask for help & talk to him & he SHOVES me away & says "I don't care" & walks straight to the bouncer he was talking to earlier. So unless you're a regular, expect to get kicked out if a regular tries to fight you, & ladies, expect to be called cum guzzling whores from the roided out bouncer with apparent self esteem issues. Side note: I just tried to email the owners with the email address from their website, got a mailer daemon notice, not surprised.
(1)Tay H.
Before last Friday, this place would have gotten one star. But, I went back (strong begging on my husband's part) and found out they replaced the tables on the rooftop. So much better! But then it started raining and were forced inside...which reminded me of why I hate this place. By this point the old, drunk guys at the bar had been replaced by sketchy jersey shore people. I don't know when this place tried to turn itself into a dance club, but it's still not my scene.
(2)Jose M.
Screw this place. The bouncers are a joke. The hispanic bartender that works there is a prick as well.
(1)Allison M.
This place is pretty dingy. It's crowded, and pretty sketchy, and Shortstops down the road has better prices. Of course, there's usually a point in the night when all you want is some loud music and lots of bodies in the room. It's an enormous place, with two floors, which adds to the sense of being inserted into a buzzing, bustling hive of people who almost certainly frequent this place far more embarrassingly regularly than you do.
(2)Joy S.
If life had a soundtrack, "You Think You're Cooler Than Me" by Mike Posner would come on the jukebox everytime ya set foot in here. I really don't go to Doc's unless dragged. Thankfully, those times are few and far between. When I do go to Doc's, I tend to run into those people from high school who thought they were cooler than everyone else. Acting like they're at an upper class martini bar in the city, rather than on Madison St. Mix in bartenders who ignore you, underage kids with fake id's, some older creepy guys, and a few overly served guys holding onto the bar to stay upright, and you've got Doc's. Yes, there is a party room upstairs. But if you're on crutches or in a wheelchair, forget trying to get up there. There's no elevator.
(2)Carol K.
I can't decide if I had a good time here because of the people I was with, or because it was 2nd on our bar crawl and we already had a few drinks under our belts- or because it's a fun place! Regardless, Doc Ryan's gets my vote for a fun place to hang with friends and grab a beer and some bar food. First- this place is huge! If you are ever wandering down Madison Street and want some room to roam- this is your place. I think we tasted every appetizer on the menu from quesadillas, to nachos, to cheese curds, to potato skins, to chicken strips and more. Nothing remarkable as bar food is bar food but we wanted food to share and we got it in droves! The menu has burgers, sandwiches salads and pizza on it, but we were in a snacking mood and snacking is what we did. Service at the bar was good although that fell down a little when we grabbed a table as someone in our party asked to have the table wiped off and got a little attitude from our server. But nothing was going to spoil our night on Madison street. We just packed up when we were done and ambled down the block to see what else this little slice of Forest Park had to offer.
(3)Becky P.
We came here during a mini pub crawl on a week night. Back patio area was nice, they have bags so that's always a plus. They had some good drink specials. Nothing crazy to write home about, but its another place to drink :)
(3)Rob W.
It's hard for me to rate this place as I'm not part of their target market. It's a large, fairly dirty dive bar. I don't frequent dive bars too often anymore. So, I'll try and rate it based on a few observations I had. I was there for a beer and a burger. The beer selection was OK - not huge but not small either. Ordered a Revolution Porter and looked at a menu. Appetizers are 1/2 price on Monday nights, but I didn't really see anything I wanted so I focused on the burgers. Black and Blue looks good - burger with bleu cheese and some fried onion strips (not sure what was "black" about those). Ok, it comes out... the bun dominated the dish - not that the burger was small, it was just on a really, really thick, dense bun. The bleu cheese and onions strips were present, but barely accounted for. And the burger came out medium rare as I had requested, but it was one of the blandest tasting burgers I've ever had. Service was decent. So what do I give this place... two stars. Reason being that what stands out in my mind most is the boringist burger in Chicagoland - that just needs to be better.
(2)LOIS B.
I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo past frequenting a place lie this, but we were there for a surprise party. it was nasty to watch old men picking up very young ladies in the bar area. The party was held on the second floor, facilities are only located on the first floor. Drinks are served in plastic cups ~ seriously? When did that start? Parking in Forest Park is a nightmare, and this strip of Madison is a happening place. Not my idea of a good time. Oh, and they allow smoking on the second level. For someone allergic to smoke, just not my night.
(2)Michelle I.
Seemed like this bar could be fun, but wasn't! It was a very lively place. There was a very young, rude clientele in here. The people wouldn't even move when we excused ourselves to walk by. The bartenders did not give us the time of day! So we left, without one drink! And for the bartender chicks- we would have tipped a hella lot more than your poor 21 yr. old college boys that you were doting on!
(1)Jessie B.
Went here last night for a birthday party. The party was located upstairs away from the "bar" area. I was glad because I was worried it was going to have that frat boy feel to it. Well, it sort of did, but it wasn't over the top horrible. The bartenders working the party were cool, and very attentive to our drinking needs. The music was good--all genres, you know typical bar music. I will say that the place was a bit dirty. The bathrooms were really gross. It looked like they haven't been cleaned in days. (No bueno) So I have to knock off a star for that. And another because I live without this place.
(3)Lisa H.
We were in on a Saturday night and the main bar only had 2 bartenders??? It was packed and full of people who don't look old enough to be in college let alone drinking (they started playing flippy cup on the tables spilling everywhere) It was not my choice to go here but the group vetoed me, and on the way home they agreed never again. The band was good but the room they were in was about 100 degrees and again only 1 bartender in there. The drinks are not very overpriced if you are looking for a silver lining.
(2)Kevin C.
Average bar with average waitresses. Living in the city, I found that drinks here were much cheaper than other joints I go to on average. Where else can you pay $3.75 for a Sierra Nevada? Would come here again for some casual drinks but wouldn't be my first choice. I was a little spooked a few Saturday's ago when I was here and the place was practically empty. Effects of a bad economy? You be the judge.
(3)Monica S.
Doc Ryan's is the "college bar" of the Forest Park (near Westside) area. A common meeting place during winter break/Thanksgiving, those weekends can be tremendously packed. Doc Ryan's is 2 stories, a pretty big bar. Some nights have live bands that are usually pretty decent. Plenty of seating and room. In the summer, there is a rooftop porch which is awesome! Definetly the "hip" place to go if you're in the area.
(3)Dave S.
This is a decent bar. I was reading the reviews of those who Yelped before me and I did not get a gross/college bar/fighting nightly bar. It was a good mix of a crowd with older/middle age/younger people. There were quite a few people with cigars though and the heavy smoke filled the bar though. The place was packed and they had this band playing 50's and 60's rock. The band was OK. The drinks were not overpriced and the waitress was very attentive to us. They seemed to have some good food specials ($1 burgers, $0.50 tacos, 1/2 price pizza, etc...) I didn't eat here but I would mind trying their food for that price. Overall a decent time was had by all
(3)Larry P.
I mostly agree with Monica, in that this is where a lot of people get together when they're back in the area for Holidays, etc. However, it doesn't seem like a college bar when I'm there, it seems a bit older. They have a football throwing game that is top notch, when functional, and good staff, drinks, etc. Being from OP, this is an old stomping ground, so my judgement is biased. But, I've always loved Doc's. Oh, and yes, it's smoky as hell in the winter, when the sky light is closed. They have a good patio in the Summer. I have never eaten here, in hundreds of visits.
(4)kristen s.
came here to watch a bears game a few nights ago, pretty sure the lobsters are gone? disappointing! we got there early enough the we got a seat, and were able to get decently priced pitchers. it didn't get overly packs, and no kids this time! (yes!) over all a much better experience. i have to mention that if you're not sitting at the bar, you probably will have to go up to the bar to get a drink, all the waitresses walked right past us without thinking twice the entire night.
(3)Robert S.
Doc Ryan's is ok, I've been here a few times and havent had anything to complain about. However, I havent found anything to rave about either. They have live music, which is cool, but the karaoke is HORRIBLE. I mean, you really can't blame them for how bad their patrons sing, but WOW. The drink prices are moderate, and the place can get quite crowded.
(3)Paul A.
Eh, this place is ok. Nothing fancy, and not a complete hole in the wall either. It is pretty big, so if you are going out with a large group this place would work fine. It reminds me of bars I used to go to in college. They don't go out of their way to woo you by any means, cause people usually come regardless. It's kinda dirty, and the bathrooms are rather gross. This from a guy who has a public washroom phobia, so take it for whatever it's worth. They often have live music which is fun, and you can go upstairs if you want to get away from it. The upstairs also has a rooftop beer garden for when you need some fresh air. The crowd is all over the place; from misplaced frat turds to a table full of your parents putting some drinks back. I've never tried the food, and probably never will. They typically have different drink specials for each night of the week too. If you want to relive your college days and get rowdy drunk, Doc Ryan's is the place to take you back.
(3)Jeanette N.
This is a moronic sort of a place. It's large. It draws a large crowd. That's the deal. The management hires far too few people to serve far too many people. The servers are really snippy - for good reason. So sad. The bars on Madison really need to catch up to the shops. There is a big old gap between nightlife and shopping here. I don't even necessarily need a fancy place. I just need a place where there aren't a million loud t.v.'s playing sports, regular service you would expect anywhere, and a whole lot of hot men. hahahahahahaha I'm funny. In a nutshell, there is a lot of room for improvement here.
(1)Stella S.
I agree with Brittany - it's a bar and it's what you make of it. I went there last night with my fiance and we had a blast. A great cover band, Tramp Stamps, was playing. The drinks are cheap but good. There are lots of games to play upstairs and outside seating upstairs as well. I've been here several times with different girlfriends and x-boyfriends and always had a great time.
(5)Vanessa P.
The bar to end all bars situated right in the middle of "Irish Row." Come here if you want to see ex-boyfriends, old hook-ups or old classmates. And sometimes if you're lucky (or me), you get to see all three in the same night. Your ubiquitous Irish bar in a neighborhood filled with them. I go to see any of the aforementioned groups. Hey, it's usually interesting...
(3)Elizabeth H.
Okay, this a a weird bar. Prices: decent. The employees: really nice. The bathrooms: dirty and somewhat dangerous. (I cut my finger on the stall door). The lighting: strange and uneven. Some places are really bright and others are really dark. My main reason to right this review, however, is the food. They have awesome food. The fish fry that they have during lent is unforgettable. First of all it is only $7. You can get it fried or baked with a choice of seasoning and it comes with fries or mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes are delicious. They are made from real potatoes and they are creamy and garlicy. It is delightful. They have $3 beer pint specials ever month and they usually pick a high quality beer. Everyday of the week they have a food, booze, and beer special. The food is really cheap which only makes it taste better. On account of the strange lighting I suggest that you only go in the daylight.
(4)Britta M.
Subpar service. We ordered the $1 special build your own burgers and when we got the bill had charged us for the $7.50 ones
(2)Mary E.
I don't really know what to say about this place. I was on my break at work thinking to myself while I read the newspaper and searched for some donuts to steal. I thought, "What is the worst bar I've ever been to?". It's not Doc Ryan's but Doc Ryan's is close. Always crowded. Always loud. TV's always blaring sports. Bartenders honestly do the best they can (the only reason I give it two stars). I will give Doc Ryan's that much. The crowd: Loud suburban college/recent college grad types. Local working types. Never had a problem with anyone in the bar but they are loud. Two floors. Top floor usually not as crowded as the bottom. I guess what really freaks me out about this bar is the lack of tables and chairs on the first floor. I find that really strange. There's like these large standing spaces. It's not even a dance floor. They have huge spaces where people can just stand around. It's weird. And creepy. I don't think I'll ever go back. Just not my kind of place.
(2)Heidi R.
Doc Ryan's graciously hosted a fundraising event for West Suburban PADS in September. They donated their private party room and appetizers for 100 people. Their wait staff and bartender were great to work with and they all were very accommodating of our schedule and needs. What a great way to support the community!
(4)Bridgette K.
My friend and I stopped in for a few cocktails the other night. They were watered down and over priced. I wasn't very happy with this place. We left after the first drink. The people there seem to all be from the neighborhood and know everyone.
(1)Theresa C.
I don't hang out in Oak Park on a regular basis, but I just started my masters at Dominican University and after my first final my classmates and I decided we needed a drink. We headed to Doc Ryan's on a local's recommendation. It was around 7 on a Thursday night and the one girl who had been there before informed us that the atmosphere was not typical, that being said... It was mostly a nice place: decent beers on tap at an okay price, good snack foods (we had tots and fries during the evening), it was surprisingly well lit (on the first floor), and not too loud to have good conversation. We stayed on the first floor even though a rather aggressive gentleman did inform me that the real party was upstairs several times while I was alone waiting for the rest of my friends to show up. It wasn't crowded, we got a table for 6 without a problem. The bar service was kind of crappy, the guy seemed new and was kind of a tool, but the table service was excellent. The waitress was really nice and super friendly and fast. And both people with credit tabs were super undercharged (I don't know if that was an apology for the mistakes the bartender made early in the night or more of his ineptitude, but whatever). Honestly, I would probably hang out here if I lived nearby and I won't object at all to another post-class get-together.
(3)Ray N.
I've been here a fair number of times (most recently the other night for the Blackhawks' Road Watch) and I can't say I've ever been overly impressed. I guess as far as bars go, it's alright, but Doc Ryan's tends to be one of the pricier bars on Madison St., and it isn't exactly worth the premium. It seems like they take their business for granted in that Apple sort of way - they're one of the few bars on Madison that will pretty much always have business, so they don't have to worry so much about pricing. For being the Hawks' Road Watch (an officially-sanctioned Blackhawks viewing party for away games) AND being Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, it was surprisingly tame in here. And because there weren't that many people in here *all things considered* I feel my group could have has a little bit better service. This place has been busier on a random Saturday. We ended up going to Molly Malone's after the game and it was dead as well, so it isn't Doc's fault. However, our waitress still did not come by very often and just didn't really seem to care. It seemingly has always been the focal point of Madison St., with more of the promotions on the radio and whatnot, but I don't really get why. It seems spacious but when it's a busy night you'll be rubbing against people all night. And the one saving grace for me has now (apparently) been ruined - the 2nd floor has apparently been converted into a "club" on the weekends, complete with loud music and flashing lights. My friends and I usually head upstairs just so we wouldn't have to deal with the bullshit downstairs, so if this actually has happened, there's no point in me coming back.
(3)Johnathan K.
I go here with my friends every couple weeks. It's probably the best bar in the area, which isn't saying that much, but it's worth mentioning. They have a lot of good beers on tap and a good liquor selection, and they pour their drinks strong and don't gauge you price-wise. They lose a star for not having Goose Island beers and for being full of people I went to high school with.
(4)Christina R.
It's a double decker meat market. If you're looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right...Now, this is the place you wanna be. They recently added a fairly large rooftop deck with an outdoor bar making four large areas to mingle. The second floor features a few video games and dart boards, there's a large main bar on the first floor featuring a fire place, and a side room bar that hosts bands and karaoke. The bartenders are pretty attentive even though the crowd can get pretty loud and obnoxious. They serve decent bar food until about 10pm and feature several large flat screens mainly for sports. They open early enough to catch the morning start college basketball and football games. Bring your ID, they card hard.
(3)MyOpinion C.
Unless you go at a late hour the crowd is full of 50 y.o. and over :( most of the time I have to flag down the waitress even when there are hardly any customers. Sometimes they'll have my drink and sometimes their out. They do however have great daily deals like .50 tacos on Tuesdays and hamburgers on Wednesdays etc... Great place to go on St Pattys day :)
(3)Dan P.
I can't imagine anyone over the age of 20 actually enjoying this place. Mostly over-served obnoxious chicks and the meat-heads jockeying to fondle them. If you are neither of these people, then head somewhere else on Madison Street.
(1)Karen C.
This place holds many fuzzy drunken memories for me. I spent a decent amount of time upstairs in the back corner by the dart boards with what used to be some of the regulars. I returned here a few weekends ago for a friend's private birthday party and all I can say is turn the heat down and for goodness sake, do something about those filthy bathrooms. In the inebriation of my youth I could overlook the stall doors that barely closed, the black muck of filthy hands tarnishing the edges, and the overall feeling of gross that permeates the tiny confines that are the woman's restrooms. I don't mind yucky bathrooms at punk bars/concert halls as it seems to fit the overall tragic angst filled feeling of those places. However, this is a sports bar. Two floors with flat screens that are always playing some sporting event or another, dart boards, that golf game people seem to love, and an area downstairs for some old timey rock and roll bands to play. You'd think with all that, they could get some new stall doors. Blech. As for the food, I haven't eaten here in years, but I do have a fond memory of their steak quesadillas and French fries. The beer selection is the standard Miller/Budweiser variety with a few decent beers thrown in (Woodchuck, Sam Adams, Leinies), but nothing to write home about. They do have a really nice upstairs outside deck area that is great for watching the ballgame in the summer or having a girls drinking lunch on a nice Sunday afternoon. Overall, if you're looking for a cheap night out, you live close, and don't mind less than desirable bathrooms then this is your kind of place
(2)Bobby D.
Still a pretty good place to go. However, The restrooms are horrible. Especially the one downstairs which was sans toilet paper. They shouldn't virtually give in to the miscreant vandals who either throw the toilet paper bulk in the commode, Or just wreck the dispenser.
(3)Dave B.
Use to hit Doc's in my 20's (and earlier) and loved it, a great meat market for scouting out the opposite sex. I'm in my late 30's and still meet there once a year for my fantasy football draft. The place looks nicer and is definetely bigger due to the recent renovations. When I was there on a Tuesday night it was completely dead. Beer and food specials are decent (think they had $8.00 pizza night last time I was there.). But lets face facts that it's a college bar for early twenty somethings, not a place for adults who want to spend a quality night out.
(3)Melissa H.
I'd probably give this bar a 2nd chance, but my first impression wasnt a great one. The bar is huge, that is a plus. The food was pretty decent (I got the paddy melt). Cooked just right, however by the time the food got to us, it was a bit cold. Not cold enough to hassle with sending it back and waiting another 45 minutes, but not warm. The day we went there (this past Saturday) was the night of Forest Park's Saint Patricks Day parade. That was a mistake haha. It was insanely crowded, and seeing that most people at the bar and in the streets were already drunk when we showed up sober at 9, it made for an interesting night. They have a lot of decent beers on tap, that is also a big plus. The crowd just wasnt my type of crowd. I agree with other reviewers, very frat house/ drunk pledge sister, type crowd. The median age was probably 23, 24 ish, which is ok if you are that age and hang in those types of circles, but when your in your upper 20's or 30's + its not the type of people you want to be bumpping around with, especially when most people were drunk and id say 65% of the crowd were guys. There was an almost fight towards the end of the night, which soured us a bit more on the bar. Bathrooms are really nasty. I dont think Ive been to a bar in the Chicagoland area that has worse bathrooms then the ones at Doc Ryans. You know its bad when the WOMENS bathroom looks that bad. Pluses: Various beers on tap (though your paying pint prices for beer in 12oz plastic cups) The bar is big so on a normal day I can see where it wouldnt be insanely crowded. The bartenders worked pretty hard, and didnt leave you hangging for too long. The food was good, if it would have been warm. They have pleanty of video games and bar type fun things. Minues: The crowd in the bar. Just not my type of crowd. Though you are going to hang out with the group your with rather then everyone else. The food wasnt warm enough. There wasnt really a waitress, so you had to keep going up to the bar to buy drinks. When there is a waitress, they will not let you have seperate tabs from the rest of the table. All in all, there are probably better bars to hang out in down there. I probably wouldnt go back again unless it was a special occasion for our freinds living down there.
(2)Nick M.
Bar 5 The night might be finally shaping up or have I've had too much to drink... I dunno at this point (he says in a drunken slur) . Doc's is the "IT" bar in the area and I can see why. They have large two rooms plus an upstairs for private parties. The main room is the largest with giant round bar right in the middle of the room with stools all the way around. The second room has a smaller bar but lots of small tables plus a small stage that you can see from the main room as well. I didn't catch the cover band's name that night but they weren't half bad (but then again rocking out to Bon Jovi or Sublime is a must after a few drinks). Our group was all over at this point (and I think we lost a few down the street) but a couple of us found a great spot in the back bar so we could watch the band play. At this point not being in the massive crowd made my night and probably helped my liking of the bar. The bartender was very nice and again the drinks were cheap. They serve bar food and it looked actually edible. I'd go back here. ** They have a deal every night single night of the week of items as most bars do but what is really cool is that any night of the week you can pop in for a large cheese pizza and a pitcher of beer for only $12... I know!!!!!!!!!! $12!!
(3)Mike K.
usually when I'm at doc i'm working, as the band is playing and i'm mingling...doing my thing, whatever. And the crowd is mixed. Some see it as a sports bar, so you'll get your regulars. Some see it as a college bar, so you'll get the 21 and 22 year olds. Basically Doc Ryan's is what you make of it. There's games and tv's upstairs along with a patio, so there's plenty of room. If you're looking to dance they have a spot for you too. Its always a much better night when the band is there...ahem, The Kingfish, plus the place usuall;y gets a good crowd. The bartenders and managers have been there for a while and do a great job of mingling, serving and keeping the peace. And if you're not careful they'll get you completely bombed out of your mind, and before you know it you really will be having the time of your life. Plus the food is pretty good, too. While they are good on having enough restrooms, you will have some parking issues. There's a meter and a small lot, and this place gets a crowd, so come early and get your spot. Doc's loses a star because they have a lobster game by the door. I'm not sure why...but hey, i'm not a fan. Even still, Doc's is cool.
(4)John L.
Doc's is a popular neighborhood bar. While I agree about the frat boy/college bar comments others make if you were to go there the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, it is a cool place to chill on a Sunday afternoon in the fall to watch Bears games and eat good bar pizza. You just can't beat the daily specail: "buy a large pizza and a pitcher of beer for $12". The annual pig roast we went to last night is tasty, but way too crowded, kind of like the Wed. before thanksgiving.
(4)Cassie B.
yeah i'm from the near west suburbs originally and doc's is not great but let's face it, there is not much else around unless you haul your butt out to the city. spent many a night here for (1) underage goodness; (2) college-break holiday mediocrity; (3) finally, out-and-out crappiness, but with a nostalgic kick. all in all, 3 stars.
(3)Meredith B.
I definitely agree with the college bar feel. I went there with some friends to celebrate a friend getting a job in the area (we are all seniors). Saw a bunch of people from my high school class there (although we acted like we didn't know each other). It was very much like the bars in Champaign-Urbana, which is dirty, kinda gross, and really smoky. Would go again with a good group but definitely would not suggest going there.
(3)