We just moved into the area and were looking for some place different to try as a family. We have two young-ish boys (10 and 5), and we were getting tired of the same places every week. The first thing the server did was bring out two plates of baby carrots and ranch for the kids. I thought that was a nice touch! My oldest got the French Onion Soup because he just wasn't feeling the kid's menu that day, and he absolutely loved it. The younger one got some Mac and Cheese with a side of chips and salsa. He ate so much chips and salsa that he ended up not touching the mac and cheese, which was just the boxed Kraft stuff. They do advertise it as such, so I can't say anything too much about it, but it was congealed and thick by the time they brought it out. I'm sure he wouldn't have minded it, because hey - mac and cheese. But like I said, he was too full to even touch it. I ordered the grilled salmon, which came with a side of mashed potatoes and some grilled asparagus. The salmon was a tad dry, but still very delicious. It came with a dill cream sauce which I'm sure would have helped with the dryness, but I didn't use it. The asparagus was cooked perfectly, and the mashed potatoes were good too. My husband ordered the shrimp tacos, and he loved those as well. You get two tacos completely filled stuffed to the max with goodness! I didn't try them, but my husband said they were delicious. All in all we were pretty satisfied with our dinner. The only reason I'm not giving Houlihan's five stars is the lack-luster service. Our server was a nice enough kid, but a bit spacy and not very enthusiastic. I'm not saying jump around and be merry, but a smile would be nice.
(4)
Judy V.
Great place for a quick lunch or dinner. They have great drinks, dinner and sandwiches. Great variety on their menu.
(5)
Latasha S.
My experience from the moment we sat down was outstanding. The waitress was so patient and made great recommendations. The food was absolutely delicious. I ordered a skinny raspberry mojito with my entree....fabulous!
(5)
Lalitha A.
This place never let's me down!!!! The drinks are always good. The food is always hot and tasty. Service is everything to me and this place has some of the best service.
(4)
Ashkan A.
A great place to get a casual drink and a bite to eat. $3 long islands are a great deal!
(4)
Adams F.
Back at an old favorite for date night and it has been a great experience. Superb service, absolutely some of the best pulled pork and pot roast we ever had, and some terrific beer......can't wait to come back!!!!
(5)
Marissa S.
Went here with the family for my sister's birthday dinner last night and it was such a nice evening! Between 5 of us, we had lettuce wraps, chicken/avocado eggrolls, a burger, the french dip, and stuffed chicken. Everything was prepared well and served quickly, very reasonably priced, and our server really made the whole experience great. Thanks, Liz S, for going above and beyond for us!!
(5)
Theresa C.
I was contacted by someone at Houlihans regarding my visit. I sent in my contact info and have yet to hear from anyone. That was 3 weeks ago. What a joke.
(1)
Kat G.
It's alright. I think they are way overpriced for the food you get. They try to be decorative on their menu and do things like "ginger soy" dipping sauce with calamari instead of marinara but it just doesn't work because it's not executed well. Their flatbreads are alright, but nothing special. Depending on the day their crusts are either too thin or remind me of pizza luncheables. Presentation has a lack of care. I ordered the baked potato soup (tasted quite good) and it was sloppily spilled over the cup. It just seems like no body cares there which is really disappointing. I will continue to go for their drink specials. They have half priced cocktails & long island drinks Mon-Thurs and on Tuesdays if half bottle wine night. I will turn to Houlihan's for their bar which is pleasant. There is even a nice patio outside for the summer. Go for their drinks, skip the food, and tip the bartenders well.
(2)
Mike N.
I appreciate the culinary work this place puts into there dishes. I've been here twice since being back home , and I cannot complain. the flatbreads are delicious , and not too filling. Their Parmesan mayo I believe is great, and I also like the firecracker shrimp. My friend went with the BBQ sliders which were more of a smokey pulled pork and not bad either
(4)
Trixie R.
Came in last night with my boyfriend for a late night snack and we were not disappointment. We highly recommend the Tomato Bisque soup with grilled cheese fritters. The soup itself wasn't too acidic and had a good consistency of being brothy and thick; the grilled cheese fritters were crunchy and cheesy, but not too cheesy and went perfectly with the Tomato bisque. The grilled asparagus is a can't miss! They were perfectly grilled and season and with a squeeze of lemon on them to really make eating veggies easy! You can't beat 3$ Long Islands either, I recommend the Kentucky tea for the bourbon lovers! The service was amazing! That's one thing that really stuck out, Houlihan's over all can be a little pricy, but the service was and usually always is on point. Our server Alexa was a delight, she was very personable and prompt with our drink order, and food. She was good at building a rapport with us, joked with us and was very hospitable. Prior to leaving we let the manager on duty know how great of a job she did.
(3)
Alicia P.
I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but since Houlihans is within walking distance of our house, my husband and I have been here several times. I have sat both at the bar and in the dining area and had great service every time, even when they are busy. They don't have a huge draught beer selection, but there are usually at least a couple of beers worth drinking. The food is great, especially the chicken sandwich (I forget the exact name of it, but it is delicious!). I've also tried the nachos, pretzels, and a flat bread and it has all been good.
(4)
Diocelina G.
The drinks were great, I tried the coco basil drink. Customer service lacked and it felt like we were being rushed so they could close. It wasn't even 12:00 and their hours are until 2:00am Saturdays. Probably won't be going back. There are better places with more reasonable prices
(3)
Alexandra F.
Always amazing service and great food. Everyone from the manager to the servers to the bus boys care about how your dining experience is.
(5)
Buckeye D.
We went here on a Thursday night and they were pretty busy. We found a spot at the bar and were ignored by the bartenders who were too busy talking to each other to be bothered to wait on us. Our table was ready quickly and we were seated at which time we ordered beers. Approximately 10 mins later, our beers were brought (how long does it take to grab 2 bottles of beer.?) and they were not what we ordered. I would not drink Bud Light if you paid me. Another 10 mins went by and finally we got our correct beers. I ordered fish tacos, which were good, although the salsa that they are served with was bland and boring. My boyfriend had the pot roast which he characterized as salty and nothing special. The bill was almost $70, which seems like quite a bit for average food, a couple of beers, and very mediocre service.
(2)
Abbey M.
Cheap Bud light drafts, great pot stickers for an appetizer, absolutely amazing stuffed chicken breast, and last but not least their "best apple pie ever" dessert really lives up to the name. Great service and excellent patio atmosphere.
(4)
Meg S.
Let me start off by saying I usually go to the Wheaton Houlihan's instead of this one, because the menu and the service/atmosphere is better there than the Naperville one. A group of friends & I went to this location on a Friday night to celebrate one of our birthdays. We called ahead and made reservations for 6 pm. While on the phone we were told we would have to get out of the dining room by 7:30 pm because they had a "holiday party" coming then. Reluctantly we agreed, thinking we could just go sit at the bar after we ate our food. We had a good dinner, but we were bugged the whole time by the manager and a lady we came to find out was a concierge. As soon as we were done with something, they'd come and take it. They asked a hundred times what else we needed. In my opinion, their job is to make us more comfortable, not rush us or make us feel uncomfortable. We were cutting it close to the 7:30 mark but we noticed there were other tables still there as well. We told the server we were feeling rushed when he asked if we wanted to order dessert. We told him about the 7:30 thing and he got upset for us. He told us to take our time. We saw the manager and hostesses pointing at us and then shortly after saw our server having a disagreement with them about how we were being treated. After a couple of other tables left, they rearranged those and sat the "holiday party" (which turned out to be 10 high school aged girls) right next to us... and I mean right next to us... meaning you could not walk in between our chairs and the girls' chairs. We waited anxiously for our checks to come and be able to pay so we could get the heck out of there. We decided not to go to the bar to hang out and take our business elsewhere where they would not treat us poorly. Our server apologized and wished us a Merry Christmas. If it wasn't for him we probably would have had to end early and walk out.
(2)
Kyle B.
Visited the location during January 2014 on a Sunday. The environment was very nice. Not very busy and not very loud. The food prices were between 8 and 14, much more expensive than Chili's. Only a few vegetarian options but they do exist. I had an unfortunate visit that was not addressed while I was there. Upon reporting the incident on yelp the management team contacted me and clarified and improved the situation. I will return soon.
(4)
Michelle Y.
I am a true fan of Houlihans food, enough though its over priced. My husband doesn't like it as much as I don't get to go very often. So when the opportunity arises I jump on it. I was in this past weekend to celebrate a friends birthday with a few other girls. When we called we were asked if we would be done by 730, we were going at 6, and we said probably. Due to weather, we were not all there by 6 so we got started a little late. We ordered our food, and as we were starting to finish salads a women manager kept walking over to our table and grabbing things off. At first it seemed like a courtesy, our server said that always happens, but then it was every 2-3 minutes. We then got our dinner and not 2 minutes passed by and another manager came by to check on us. Throughout our meal they either checked on us or stood over us watching to see how much longer we were going to be. We told our server that it was bothering us and he told us not to worry about it and to enjoy our meal. He was not going to kick us out because they reserved a table for another party. There were other groups around us that were not getting watched like us. When the other group got sat behind us, they were literally on top of us. The servers couldn't even get in between us to walk through. At one point , while waiting to pay, we saw a manager and hostess pointing at us. The food is good and our server was great but we felt rushed, like we were not an important party. Our server did everything right to let us know we were being rushed out of there, but we still felt like we were. That night to complain to a manager would have been useless since they are the ones that made us uncomfortable. We didn't even go to the bar after like we had planned. Not sure if I will return.
(2)
Supriya D.
Here is my brutally honest disclaimer: I wish I could rate this establishment separately based on their alcohol and food. Alcohol 5/5 stars: The drink specials here, especially Sunday-Thursday are absolutely perfect! Half off all house cocktails, LONG ISLANDS, and other drinks, and on Tuesday's wine bottles are included. The drinks here are strong, delicious and affordable. This is the perfect place to spend time with friends, get a little tipsy and hang out without an annoying bar scene. My personal favorite drink is the Tennessee Long Island :) Food/Restaurant-ness 3ish/5 stars: For the prices on the menu and less than enticing food specials, it's so not worth it! The food is a glamorized TGI Friday's and I only usually order it if I am dying of hunger while enjoying their wonderful drinks. The atmosphere here is nice, clean, and the service is great. It can be slow at times due to being busy but that is expected anywhere.
(3)
Anna K.
Went here after a movie and was surprised by how nicely decorated it was. I was expecting it to be like the one in Oak Brook or any other typical American style family/bar like TGIF or Chili's. But it has a more upscale, contemporary and sleek decor. This would be a good date place - it has a very romantic atmosphere. The food is standard Houlihans fare and prices. Happy hour small plates and appetizers are a good deal.
(4)
Jan J.
Great service! Food options are pretty good too. If the item is off the menu you can ask for it & they always do it
(4)
Angela P.
Needed to find a restaurant in the area that was: 1) Open late (after 9-10pm) 2) Reasonably quiet (no loud music, excess noise) 3) Well lit (Enough to write/read; no "mood" lighting) Houlihan's in Naperville made all of this possible. After visiting the Oak Brook location recently, I wasn't expecting anything fantastic (sour mix-flavored Long Island, semi-noisy bar). But Naperville is totally different. The decor is modern and chic, perfect for happy hour drinks after work, or a date night. The bar is separated from the rest of the restaurant. We were seated in a cozy corner booth, near the brick fireplace. I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere - I didn't even notice the 8 or so teenager seated close to us. The half-price Long Islands are good. I'd definitely go here for drinks and have the Georgia Peach Long Island again. The Texas still isn't worth trying, but maybe it's the tequila. The food is okay. What you'd expect for a casual, American dining establishment. My fiancee had a bacon cheeseburger, and I had the grilled chicken sandwich. The pretzel roll and gouda cheese was a nice touch. But I wouldn't go back here just for the food. However, the artichoke bisque soup was really good and perfect for a cold night. I'd definitely visit again for after-work drinks or a nice date night to relax. It's nice that it's right by the movie theater too.
(3)
Nick C.
.
(1)
Beata S.
I don't know what anyone is talking about with the service here, I had a fantastic experience. Our server Cynthia was wonderful, she made great recommendations and made us laugh and have a great time. The drinks were great, food timing was awesome and our food was great. I had the ahi salad and as I didn't care too much for the tuna the salad made up for it. The wasabi dressing was fire and the bananas?! Who knew! On a salad?! Awesome!! And if you come on a night with specials it's cheap. This was the second time I have visited and the first was great too. As long as the service and food stay the same Ill be here as often as I can be :)
(5)
T.J R.
Food is always 100% consistent and to my liking. The woman that greets you at the door during lunch hour is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, friendly and just down right nice and pleasant. I love the small dishes for lunch, which is the only time i get over here. Food great, Staff, great, but I would expect that, it's a very impressive looking restaurant, so I can't give them 5 stars for doing everything I would expect. I only like to give 5 stars for businesses that surprise me in some fashion.
(4)
Angie L.
This is my first time at a Houlihan's. A few of my friends have been here before so i decided to give it a shot. The atmosphere is upscale, nice for a date or a girls night out. The food is average, however, the dessert was AMAZING. I did the 3 dessert picks and every single one of them was delicious!! i am drooling all over again just thinking about them!!
(3)
Shannon M.
There are a few Houlihan's in the area, but I tend to gloss over them in my mind when pondering, "What restaurant should we go to?", mostly because I've had that old "Chilis-Bennigans-Fridays analog" image in my head. But, I received a "get $15 off a $30+ purchase" offer, so my boyfriend and I went for dinner on Friday night. A great experience all around, and nothing like Chilis! :) + Friendly and efficient staff, and no wait for a table, even on Friday night (at a restaurant by the movie theater!) + Nice ambiance (dim but not dark, not too loud, cushy dark wood booths and funky paintings on the walls) + A subset of the menu with a selection of smaller sized entrees + No trouble using my coupon, AND they gave us a little box of cookies to take home too! We started with artichoke-goat cheese poppers, little fried balls of tastiness on a pool of balsamic and remoulade. Classier than stuffed jalapenos, and yummier too. I went with one of the little entrees (a 4 oz. petite filet, which came with fries), so that I could also have a cup of baked potato soup. May I mention again the refreshing option of the smaller plates? In a culinary culture where dishes are 3x bigger than your head, someone who just can't eat that much (and thus doesn't want to spend all that $$) appreciates having the portion choice -- though since we are so used to seeing servings worthy of "Man vs. Food" everywhere, a 4 oz. steak looks absurdly small. But with a cup of soup, fries and half an appetizer, it was perfect for me! The steak was cooked perfectly medium, tender and delicious. My boyfriend partook of the sliders, selecting four: pot roast, pulled pork, Creekstone Farms (Angus cheeseburger), and veggie, his favorite being the latter. I had a nibble of the pulled pork, which could have stood up against the wares at many a barbeque place. Overall, while this is a chain, it's definitely a step up, and a good deal of thought appears to have been put into their menu to make it creative and not the same old stuff you see all over the place. While we went because of the coupon, we'll be back because of the service and the food. Hooray for Houlihan's!
(5)
Saba A.
I guess they have a happy hour with half of price appetizers some days--check it out! I like Houlihan's...it's good food! Can't go wrong with the spicy chicken and avocado eggrolls (which is included in their small plates with many other tasty dishes!) Sometimes they got a wait, so be patient! I ate here once with my family and we had a long wait for the food too. I love burgers so I got the spicy frito burger without the fritos and they were delicious! What's good about this place is that they have a "small plates" section with lots of varieties of food if you're not a big eater or you come in with a group of people that you feel comfortable sharing a bunch of small plates with. In a classy type of ambiance, it's really a homey/family style at the end. This part of Naperville has lots of good eats but Houlihan's seems to be popular. I came here with three of my girlfriends and we had an enjoyable time. Will definitely return!
(4)
Nicole R.
I love Houlihan's - why the 2 stars you ask? Twice now we have shown up prior to the dinner rush with 5 people in our party and have been told that we cannot be accommodated. The food is still delicious but the service at this location is nothing to brag about. I too like the Wheaton Houlihan's much better.
(2)
Twylla S.
Houlihan's must have changed management in the last couple of months because the service and atmosphere has gotten a lot better. The hostesses still look like deer in headlights but the servers have been more pleasant and seem like they actually enjoy their jobs. Plus with all the specials they keep running I can't help but be filled to the brim for little dollar. I also have seen the management on the floor a lot more often, doing table touches and helping problem-solve if something isn't going right with a table. I appreciate that, as well. Tuesday night specials and Thursday night steak + free lobster tail are where it's at. Oh, and I loooooooooove the small plates!
(4)
Eileen W.
Great place for drinks and to catch up with friends. The outdoor patio is really nice on a summer night. Never had the food here, so my stars are based only on the multiple times I have been here to catch up over drinks. They have a variety of long islands and they are strong! I've always had good service here. There is a happy hour drink special all the time sunday-thursday so given the fun atmosphere, it's always a "go" with my friends and me.
(4)
Michael D.
Okay...maybe five or six visits here. My wife loves the place. Today and on some visits in the past...Just meh. I probobly am a harsh critic cause I'm in the industry. As a restaurant manager we strive to give my customers the best quality and service we can. $85.00 for dinner for three I expect more. This Houlihan's has been hit or miss in both departments. Tonight for example... Served a room temperature Martini. I should have sent it back. Ordered wings, buffalo style. Took forever to come out. Got some sweet chili sauce and they were cold and fatty. We were starving so we ate them anyway. Nitpicking here...My son and I ordered the steak and wedge salad. I've had it before and love it. The presentation this time struck me as strange. They came out on huge plates with all the food to one side and the other half of the plate empty. Just found that weird. My wife enjoyed her halibut...so I'm doomed to come back here. Then there was the service. We were checked on three times through drinks, appetizer and dinner. I did not utter a single complaint. Why not? My wife thinks I'm being a snob when I do. I should have just been a snob. Our server spent more time sitting with her girlfriends at the next table chatting then she did attending to her guests. Managers walked right past her several times so I assume that's acceptable behavior at this particular store. That was just tonight. We have had good visits and bad visits. It's right by our favorite theater so we end up there after more often than not. My wife likes the food. After tonight I'm going to try to talk her into the sushi place instead.
(2)
Julie D.
I just can't quit their chicken nachos. Appetizers and soups are the best. Main dishes are kinda blah. Their asparagus has this weird smokey flavor and it completely ruins a perfectly good vegetable. Great beer/cocktail selection. Service is always friendly.
(4)
Paul R.
We've eaten here a handful of times. First the good: Its usually easy to park and get a table. The service has always been pretty good for us and the restaurant is very modern and clean. The Bad: They have been changing their menu more lately, which also seems to mean higher prices and poor execution of the entrees. There also seems to be more up-charges for things. They killed my favorite meal the "Big Fancy Spaghetti". I had the breaded pork sandwich, which seemed well intended, but very bland. My wife had a basic burger and we had a spinach dip for an appetizer. We only ordered water and with tax and tip our bill was over $45 for two of us. I have no problem paying that for a really good dinner, but our dinner felt more like a $25 dinner. If Houlihan's really wants to push that price point they need to also up the quality of the food. Perhaps the management needs to sit down at a place like Cheesecake Factory and figure it out instead of being an overpriced TGI Fridays.
(2)
James T.
Could be much better if the service were better. As a bartop goer, I expect the service to be exemplary because you always are in front of the bartender. But alas, you cannot expect someone who is either too involved with the TV or the other staff members to pay attention. I'd really like to frequent here more often but simply cannot muster up the motivation.
(3)
Erin K.
After a long work week, my friends and I usually have a conversation like this: "Do you want to go get food?" "Yeah!!" "Where should we go??" And while there are many choices up and down 59 in this area, the place that usually gets the vote is Houlihans. Last night, we got there early enough to sit somewhere other than the bar...and I must say I liked the booth. The atmosphere is cozy...but they do dim the lights a little more than I like. Call me crazy but I like to see what I am eatting...maybe I'd feel differently if it was a cuddly date but we specifically go for the small plates. With a smorgasbord in front of you, you want to see it! Usually plate presentation is nice and I like the flavors of what I order. There's a lot of choices for our vegetarian friend, and our friend with diet restrictions. We have tried the mini hotdogs, the mini burgers, the flatbread pizza, the hummus!, the parmesan frites, the jumbo stuffed shrooms, the lettuce wraps, the thai noodle bowl, the goat cheese poppers!!!, the asparagus salad, the bruschetta, and the chicken nachos...my word, we didn't eat it all at once!! Last night, I squeezed in room for a brownie lollie and little cup of icecream. It was the perfect size. While our drink order has been limited, I love their flavored lemonades... Our waitstaff has always been prompt and pleasant. While we haven't spoken to management, I see them working the floor. I appreciate that. This has been a really good place to have handy. Not too pricey or pretentious. I'm sure we'll be back!
(4)
Tim P.
Sadly I never had a chance to even taste their food as they were issuing one and half hour wait times while many tables were left empty due to "understaffing!" Staffing seems to be a basic required skill in the restaurant industry and it mystifies me that they can't get it right. 1 1/2 hours on a weeknight at a reasonable time is ridiculous.
(1)
Marissa N.
Great atmosphere. Pretty good food but after eating there 3 or 4 times you get sick of it. I like that the lettuce in the salad I got was shredded. I've always had only average service. Can't complain over all.
(3)
Jeannie L.
Love this place! The staff is alway friendly and the bartender goes out of his way to make you feel special!
(4)
Devonie M.
One of my favorite places. I mainly eat at the bar. Great bartenders, though if it is busy they don't come around as frequently as some people may like. However, they always seem to keep my water glass full (maybe it is because I am a regular and tip well, or maybe that's just how they are). Tons of options on the small plates menu, and ever since they rolled that out I basically only order off of it. Love the hummus and pita bread, chop salad, spinach and artichoke dip, mac and cheese, pretty much EVERYTHING on that menu! And all very reasonably priced. Happy hour drink specials Sun-Thurs keep me constantly suggesting Houlihan's for social gatherings on weeknights, and I am rarely left unsatisfied.
(5)
Ramone B.
Houlihans is a great place to chill with your friends. It is a little on the pricey side, so go when u wanna splurge. They have an AWESOME Blueberry martini (ten bucks) and this spaghetti dish that is to die for. Houlihans uses rigatoni noodles instead of thin spaghetti. Yum yum. They have pitchers of long islands which are also pretty solid. Check em put! The echiladas kick so much ass! Omg are they good! The staff is awesome! Don't be conned into letting them take pics of you and asking for your emaill address to send the photo to you. All I got was spam!
(4)
Thao N.
Houlihan's has totally revamped! The Houlihan's of today is drawing in the happy hour crowd and emphasizing on small plates. The decor has gone from old school Americana to an updated lounge feel. The last time I was there, we were seated in a booth which felt quite intimate. The food was great, and I loved the presentation of the appetizers we'd ordered. The calimari was brought out in a Chinese to-go box because it was served with a sesame-ginger sauce. When the sliders came out, they were almost too cute to eat. We also ordered the Jumbo stuffed 'shrooms and they were definitely JUMBO. For an entree I ordered the spaghetti with shrimp, scallops & mussels. For a pasta dish, this actually tasted light and the amount of seafood to pasta ratio was perfect. I didn't feel cheated out of enough "meat". The reason I gave 3 stars is because of the service. I know it was late but if the restaurant is opened late the severs should still be upbeat and attentive. There were only two other tables of patrons in the dinning room, it was only busy at the bar but I don't think they once asked if we needed a refill on drinks. I had to flag her down for a refill and the check. I hope that the next time I stop in they've addressed this issue.
(3)
Courtney S.
What a difference a decade makes. The Houlihan's of my childhood was a hodge-podge of Americana (or at least the foods that appeal to our cultural melting pot) that served drinks in ridiculous ceramic figures (several of which still adorn my desk today). A family place with crayons and simple dishes. Uh... 180 much? Trendy, trendy, trendy and about as different as can be. The menu seems to emphasize sharing and togetherness, which is great if the food wasn't drowned out by the music. Kinda a dichotomy if the menu suggests, "Eat! Share! Laugh!" and the music counters, "WHAT?!" A few more entrees for vegetarians (or kids) would've been welcome, as I left hungry. Our waitress was a firecracker and hilarious to boot, always a welcome bonus to liven up a meal.
(3)
Ben B.
Service is SLOOOOOWWWWWWWW in the bar, we went to grab a drink when we had an hour before our movie started, and to get a menu, a drink, and the check, we burned right through that hour!
(2)
Michael J.
Get the small plates. They are definitely promoting these right now and they appear to be the main focus of the menu. I've gone in both directions. The first time, I neglected the small plate and did not enjoy my food. It wasn't prepared well. The next couple of times, I went with the small plates and was definitely pleased. The nice part is that you can try a variety of different things, all of which are reasonably priced.
(4)
Margie T.
I love the atmosphere and the decor in this place. I just wished they would put a little bit more food on the plates for the price.
(4)
Jeffrey S.
I can't believe I am giving a chain restaurant like Houlihan's a 5 star review. It goes against every fiber in my body. Yet, everything about our recent trip was outstanding- the food, service, atmosphere, and value. We went on a Friday night and were told it would be a 15-20 minute wait. Sure enough, about 14 minutes later we were seated. First, the easy stuff- kids meals. the corn dog and grilled chicken were both inhaled by the little ones, and it came with unlimited refill drinks, a good selection of non-french fry sides and a dessert. The adults had tuna wontons (very good), goat cheese and artichoke poppers (awesome), french onion soup (awesome), and a burger (awesome) as well as the parmesan fries (YUM). Topping it off was 2 great desserts- an apple something and a great chocolate brownie thing. Add a bottle of wine, and the total cost with tip was only $80-90. I wish I remember the waitresses name as she was fantastic as well. Their decision some time ago to be more upscale than their peers (Friday's, Chili's, etc.) seems to have paid off as this was a real good, upscale-casual meal.
(5)
Joedel G.
The best late night drinking and eating place in this area. We always come here after watching a movie just adjuscent to this restaurant. The calamari is good, of course their coctail drinks are amazing, my wife likes the Mango Mojito very much, so it's worth a try. Also we tried the pasta, I believe that was pasta with alfredo sauce, it was very nice, subtle tasting and the portion is not so overwhelming, we actually split it. Patio seating with pergola is perfect. Price wise $$. Come and try it.
(4)
Anacani C.
Very disappointing. I've been to other Houlihan's and this one was the one that made me never want to come back again. Fiance and I flew in from Seattle for the holidays. Friends wanted to have dinner here. Because I've had nothing but great experiences in other Houlihan's locations, I said why not. Plus, it was a first for my fiance. Busy night. Waited about 7 minutes for a table. Our waitress came to take our drink order. Everyone but me ordered non-alcoholic beverages. I asked for a PomTini...which I got about 20 minutes later cause she was too busy chatting up a storm with the bartender. Finally, she brought it out and it tasted like a virgin drink. I didn't want to make the evening unpleasant so I let it go. She came around to take our food order. She listened and repeated or dishes. Not once did she come around to ask for refills on friends' or fiance's drinks...only if I wanted another PomTini. Instead, I ordered a Tequila Sunrise. Fifteen minutes later 3 out of 5 meals arrived. Fiance and I had to wait a while longer for ours. AFTER our food arrived, my drink did too. Still, no offers on refills. I ordered the Steak Fajitas, which were suprisingly delicious. My fiance's food on the other hand, he ordered the French Dip. His mashed potatoes were cold, they used Parmesan cheese instead of Provolone or Swiss cheese, which are not as sharp. The meat tasted like cheap Deli meat. The only thing out of his meal that was pleasant, was the bread. Sucked that his first time was not the best. And now he isn't interested in coming back again. Poor service. Poor kitchen management. Hate to say it, but I have no interest in coming back either.
(2)
Callie P.
I have been to Houlihan's before and was excited for a return trip because I love their food. Honestly this time we should have gone somewhere else. Our server was rude, and there was only one bartender on a Saturday night so all of the drinks were slow coming out. The server never came and asked us for refills, and I had to get the attention of a different server and asked if she could find ours because she wouldn't come back to the table. I told her the drinks were slow, and we needed to order so we needed her to come see us. When she came to the table, instead of apologizing for the service and trying to make the situation better, she was extremely rude and said that there was one bartender working that night and "nothing she could do" about it. She had a very bad attitude and acted like we were in the wrong for criticizing the service! I won't go back to this location, I'll end up going to Geneva if I ever want to go back.
(2)
Jennifer O.
Such a shame...this used to be one of our favorite girl night out dinner spots. They cut down the menu so much is almost unrecognizable.
(2)
Jenni E.
Okay, I have to add a gripe about this location. I went here on a Saturday night with some friends and had the worst service ever. It wasn't busy at all and we didn't have a problem waiting, but our waitress was just plain rude. First of all, one of the things we love the most about Houlihans are their martini flights - which are 3 mini-martinis that can be different flavors. When we told her we wanted these, she looked disgusted and tried talking us out of ordering them. I am sure that it can be a pain for the bartender to make several orders of these, but guess what - I am the customer and that is what I want. She had a bad attitude for the rest of the night when we ordered them anyway. I have never experienced such a poor attitude from a waitress ever. I love going here, so I am really hoping that the next time we will get someone better.
I must say....this Houlihan's location is one of my favorite places on a warm, sunny afternoon. My fiance and I love to sit on the huge patio on a Sunday afternoon and grab a drink from the fairly large drink menu and order a bunch of small plates. Its a great place to get together with friends and family and kill a few hours. Great weeknight drink/food specials as well!
(4)
C B.
Their food specials are an outstanding value. I love their giant breaded mushrooms and teriyaki wings!
(4)
Sara D.
This place is the best restaurant I've been to in a while! I expected cheeseburgers, kinda like a chilis or a Fridays, but it was not like that at all! We got the mini spinach dip and tortilla chips appetizer and it was a great start,not too big, not too small for two people. Followed by their house salad, which was great. Then I ordered stuffed chicken for my entree....I can't wait to go back and have it again! Great atmosphere and dining experience!
(5)
Anna H.
I absolutely love this place! My husband Truman & I go here all the time. If you go Sunday-Thursday nights their signature long island ice teas as only $3 for a pitcher! (they have a variety of like 5 or 6 flavors) Awesome. In terms of appetizers and small dishes we love their calamari and definitely recommend it! We also love their flatbread pizzas and their single sliders and fries! All great choices. In terms of food/entrees, my personal favorite is their FISH TACOS! They are delicious and absolutely yummy! I especially love how the restaurant combines Asian, Mexican, and American flavor for a fusion taste that is out of this world! It's really yummy! You've got to try it at least once. I also really like their fajitas, tortilla soups, burgers, sliders! Seriously, there's nothing I wouldn't eat on the menu. For dessert, we recommend the snickers ice cream dome or the chocolate dipped friend donuts! YUM! you can't go wrong with either. The environment is very versatile. The bar-area is very chill, great for just hanging out to watch sports (basketball/baseball/football) by tables or even to eat a great meal. Also, can reserve bigger tables for birthday dinners and/or group hangouts. And great for a romantic dinner date as well! (as we have gone on many different occasions) Seriously, can you tell how much I love this place. The location is great too, right across the street from our townhouse subdivision! =)
(5)
Amy B.
I used to go to Houlihan's in Bloomingdale frequently back in the mid-90's when it was its "old" version. It was just an OK place. I noticed back in 2009 that they had built a new, rather nice-looking Houlihan's in Naperville by the Showplace Theaters, and my husband and I chose to head there for our 5yr anniversary. LOVED IT! The service was fantastic. The food is completely different than it was 10yrs prior...it isn't even the same place anymore. The menu is diverse, and it has something for everyone and anyone, I promise. My 16yr old daughter loves it....my 4yr old son loves it. We have been there no less than 10x since then. We go there before movies, or after movies, or just because. We tried the small plates menu...this is a MUST TRY! I could have sampled 1 of everything if I'd had enough room in my tummy. I've never had a bad experience there, and I signed up for email & SMS communication from Houlihan's. They always have some special going on, but even if they don't. you'll still find me and my family there. I'm looking forward to trying their new Sex & The City 2 movie-inspired drinks. I'm a beer drinker, but these libations look AMAZING! I'll be sure to post a review of them when I head there to try them, which will definitely be in the next week!
(5)
Sarah H.
This was my first time going...and there's a chance they got an extra star out of me only because I was on a date and the positive energy was flowing, but overall it was a great place! They have decent prices and service, great food, and a very nice atmosphere. It's nice that the place is close to a lot of other spots like a few ice cream places, movie theatre, etc. Not mind blowing, but definitely worth the visit!
(4)
Beverly W.
Good restaurant, sandwiches, salmon, steak. Love the chopped salad, served ice cold with cheese, corn and croutons. The french onion soup is very good. Service is pretty good, nice bar area, good bartenders. Beer 1/2 on certain days which makes this a good value. Outdoor seating area. Recommend.
(5)
JP D.
I first went here a few weeks ago with one of my friends who is a big fan of the restaurant in Geneva. I was really excited because she told me they have awesome drink specials. We first arrived and were promptly greeted by a hostess, she sat us a very large round table at the front of the restaurant. The table set up was large and comfy. At first looking at the menu I was a little overwhelmed, it was so big and there were so many options! It was hard for me to decide. I really liked their appetizer options, they had small plates that were really cheap starting at like $2 and then large plates that could serve large parties for like $9-$12. My first drink I ordered was an espresso martini. It was not the typical espresso martini I prefer, it was darker and had foam on it, but it was reallly good and I would definetly order it again. For my second drink I chose the raspberry long island ice tea. I was worried it would be overpowered with cheap alcohol but it wasn't! It was strong, but a good strong, not too sweet but just right. Oh and did I forget to mention I thought it was going to be a regular glass? No! It was an entire pitcher for like $4! It was awesome! My friend was drinking the house margarita that was also around $3. For an appetizer we had the spinach artichoke dip. It came with a light flat bread. There was a lot of it and it was really good. My friend ordered a medium well burger with some extra toppings. I had the bbq pork flatbread pizza as my entree. My pizza was pretty good, it filled me up and didn't leave me feeling gross. It was crisp in all the right places. My friend did not have much luck with her burger, it was wayyyyy undercooked for her liking and her extra toppings did not come the way she asked. She was kind of irritated and just gave ther burger back and did not order another entree. For a dessert she had some type of ice cream, I was pretty full and content with my drink that I decided to forgoe dessert. However my dining partner's dessert did look very good. Over all my first experience was a 4, I really enjoyed the ambiance and the service. Our server was prompt and almost accurate. My friend however would probably rate it a 1. She wasn't a big fan of the server and kept butting heads with him! I went back last week with my boyfriend. They had this great marketing scheme going on, last time I went they gave me a sealed envelope and on the outside it said "bring this with you on your next trip and you could win a free dessert, appetizer or Houlihans for a year!" I thought this was pretty awesome. Of course we one the cheapest thing, a dessert, but still it was a pretty cool idea. So this time again, I ordered the long island ice tea, and again it was great. We also had the same server. For an entree my boyfriend had the same burger my friend ordered. However, when the server asked him how he wanted it cooked and my boyfriend responded with "medium well" the server explained throughly that it would be a little pinker than most people would expect. He of course said that was fine. I ordered a chicken wrap, which was really good! Not greasy, the chicken was fresh, grilled and had not once ounce of fat on it. My boyfriend LOVED his burger, he said it is one of the best burgers he has had in a while. So this place gets 4 stars, I would eat, drink and hang out here again. I really like the decor, the service and the location. It is a great dinner and movie kinda restaurant. I think it will be a great place to go in the summer time to sit outside on their patio.
(4)
Ashley W.
My first visit to a Houlihan's was at the Naperville location. When we arrived, they told us that there was a 45 minute wait. Sometimes restaurants tend to overshoot the time and you get sat earlier, but not here. We were starving by the time we got seated! The waiter approached the table, asked if we had been to a Houlihan's before, to which we said no. He said okay, took our drink order, and said he would return. While he was away getting our drinks, a manager approached and said he heard we were new, and wanted to offer us an appetizer on the house! We weren't expecting that, but it definitely left a good impression. For the appetizer we got the spinach dip that had a little kick to it, and for an entree, my husband and I both had the stuffed chicken, per the recommendation of our waiter. It was excellent and came with a potato choice and veggies. Menu description: Stuffed Chicken stuffed with garlic-herb cream cheese, breaded and baked until golden brown and the cheese is hot and melted. Served with fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes. $15.95 Portions were pretty decent, and we both walked out with a take-out box. Leftovers reheated great the next day! Great food, good service, and a free appetizer to boot. No complaints here!
(5)
Loree R.
1/2 off bottles of wines on Tuedays, $6 apps specials, 1/2 off cocktails on weekdays, the BEST bartenders...need I say more?
(5)
Holly D.
Ok so I know this is a chain restaurant. Biaggis had an hour wait so I took my 6 year old there last night. The hostesses were baffled by our request for a specific server. After 10 minutes the server finally told them where to seat us. Then, a different server greeted us. I explained we asked for Amaury's section and she was clearly offended....the booth and/ or the menus smelled like poop! I took a wipe to sanitize the area and it got filthy! Eww! My daughter ordered chicken fingers and I guess because of the economy they have been downsized to 2 measly nuggets! They were good, but not enough. The fries were great. I ordered grilled asparagus as the side for my fish tacos - I was promised the asparagus would be firm and not small and squishy/ overlooked. Well, it came to me just that way - I couldn't believe it. Yuk! The only thing that made me feel better was my "skinny margarita" and we will not be going back.
(2)
Emma W.
They have a good menu and a relaxed atmosphere. The prices for food are a little high but it can't beat the drink specials. My favorite the Georgia peach long island ice tea.
(4)
R Y.
I've visited this location about 4x and would say, yes, a good choice for some different perspectives on middle of the road American fare. I am a big fan of their mushroom appetizer....huge mushrooms stuffed with cheese and breaded with panko bread crumbs....crispy and delicious with a horseradish dipping sauce. I've had the fish tacos, steak fajitas, salmon, tuna with wontons, and thai chili chicken wings. All are good to above average. The waitstaff has been a little inconsistent, as I've had a new server twice, but all in all, not a bad place. They have appetizer specials, drink specials all the time, and the place is decorated kind of swanky for a suburban location.
(4)
Rick N.
Lame food, decent service, nice decor way overpriced for what you get.
(2)
Tina M.
We decided to go to Houlihan's after seeing a movie on Mother's Day. We have been here previously and I was never thrilled, but thought we would give it another go. They asked if we had a reservation, but clearly there was no waiting and plenty of tables available. Our server was nice and attentive, however the wine and the food were not favorable. My husband and I ordered a bottle of Louis Martini Cabernet and instead of having it opened at the table, it came with the cork already sticking out of the bottle. At first, I thought this was to aid the server, but later realized that this was old wine. I have had the same exact wine at home on previous occasions and this was not the same. Other reviews have raved about the drinks, well this was nothing I would rave about. The food was "fine", but you do not get large portions by no means. After spending $170 for the bill for five people (no dessert), I can't help but feel like we were ripped off. So with that being said, this finalized it for me...I will not be visiting this establishment again. What a disappointment.
(2)
Jay n.
We've gone to Houlihan's 2x now before going to the Movie Theatre. The restaurant is very nice - it's brand new, and much nicer that I remember any of the older Houlihan's to be...which seemed more like a Chili's or Friday's. This restaurant, while still on the casual side, was more upscale - good architecture, etc...nice and clean. Food has been disappointing both times - so, not sure if we'll try again or just try to get into Biaggis' when we go to the show. Bruschetta and Calimari were OK....not bad, but not great....just OK. Burgers are OK - maybe better than average. The Country Fried Chicken special was BAD - over fried, hard....too crunchy. Baked potato soup was good, so maybe if we return we'll have the soup and try a sandwich. Service....OK. They were recently opened, so maybe it's getting better.
(2)
Frances B.
Luke Warm. Too Salty.
(1)
Matthew P.
This place has got pretty good food, drinks, and atmosphere, but I can't give it any more than two stars for one reason. The service at this place is horrible. We sat down for some drinks at a table in the bar. Waiting for 15 minutes trying to waive down peeps. then had to go to the bar to ask for service. Then i got dirty looks from the entire staff every time i ordered drinks. F that staff.
(2)
Justin G.
I'm in the service industry and all I have to say is houlies lives up to all the expectations you could think of for a restaurant and bar. Great happy hour specials, great bar staff, and everyone is friendly and hospitable. I would suggest checking out ANY houlihans because no matter where you visit one, you will enjoy it.
(4)
Jason S.
Never thought I would call this one of my favorite places to hang out and have a couple drinks and appetizers but it is! The appetizer and drink specials are great but the bartenders are the best and friendliest people!
(5)
Alise M.
There was very little wait time when we went there on a Saturday night. We soon found out why. After being seated at the bar with twelve customers and three bartenders, it took them more than five minutes to bring my fiance's drink. Very slow. We were then seated at a table, and ordered a steak and the jumbo shrimp. We also ordered an appetizer of seared tuna. It was tossed onto the table rudely and loudly by a bus by or waiter who never acknowledged us. The tuna was not actually seared at all, and completely flavorless. We ate one piece each and quit. When the shrimp came, it was not jumbo shrimp. It was instead a normal sized shrimp which had been butterflied and pulled apart to look bigger. My fiance's steak came without the baked potato, which was allegedly being cooked still. Why an incomplete plate was brought I have no idea. When the potato came, it was hard and cold. We sent it back, and the next one came cool on the outside and exceedingly hot in the middle- obviously microwaved. My fiance's steak came with no steak sauce. We flagged our waitress down and asked for a bottle. She brought an empty bottle to our table, set it down, and left. We waited again until she came by and asked her for a bottle which actually had some steak sauce in it. She brought us a small shot glass sized container instead. After the meal was thankfully over, the waitress loaded up all of our dishes, took a few steps, and dropped them all over the floor. A fitting end to an awful meal. We'll never go there again, and wouldn't recommend it to anybody.
(1)
Amory D.
Good food. But the service is LIFO...Last In, First Out. We were seated before two other booths; both of which arrived about 10-15 minutes after my wife and myself. Yet after our orders were taken, those other two tables received their food about 5 minutes before we did. I don't understand why...one of the other groups' tables had the same waiter as we did. The only thing that I could think of is that our order was more complicated? We had six small plates; all of them different...so perhaps this complexity led to the longer time? Whatever the case, we'll go back after one year...there are too many different places to try before coming back.
This place is awesome. I go here a lot with my parents, and it's wonderful for all sorts of occasions. I've been here at least 5 times. Check it out!
(5)
John P.
I have been going to Houlihans since it opened last summer, and it has continually gone down hill. Don't get me wrong, food is pretty good, but as another reviewer said...service is HORRIBLE! And they just raised their prices a few weeks ago. All entrees went up a dollar or more and you used to be able to add a soup to an entree for $1. It is now $1.95, still a GREAT price, however it is a 100% increase! On a family of 4, the guest check average increase by $8 or more, close to a 20% increase. It doesn't sound like much, but it adds up. Again, good food but horrible service!!
(2)
Habib R.
atmosphere is cool, service is excellent. Good place around the corner. Creekstone burger is good
(3)
Robin M.
Just wanted to share a quick review....I spent my birthday celebration with a FREE dinner from Houlihan's...AND it just so happened to be 1/2 price bottle of wine night, AND I got a free phenomenal brownie sundae dessert....I ordered a caesar salad, small sirloin and a loaded baked potato, and all the food was perfectly delicious!! Huge shout out for a great experience all around!
(5)
Regina H.
Happy Apps & daily drink specials. Can't beat it! Mondays $3 Long Islands. My favorite-Georgia Peach.
(4)
Jessica N.
Update to my 6/25 Review: Redemption!! The owner of Houlihan's advised the manager of my initial review and provided him my email. The manager got in touch with me via email apologizing and stating that he tracked down my order and had a discussion with the waitress who served us that night and also addressed the matter at his staff meeting. A week after our correspondence, I received two $25 vouchers in the mail with a hand written letter. It was a nice gesture and I appreciated the quick response. My husband and I returned on 8/15 for an early dinner. We were quickly greeted upon entering and were immediately seated and assigned a bubbly and attentive waitress. She serviced our table efficiently the entire time. Our drinks were refilled before we finished them and she checked in to make sure everything was ok. Two managers also checked in with my husband and I to ensure we were pleased with the food and service. The food was good and I received a complimentary dessert since it was my birthday. You must try the apple pie. It is delicious! Houlihan's has redeemed themselves. Everything was complimentary this time around. I have no complaints and only positive things to say about my latest visit. We will surely come back to enjoy the food and spirits. Thank you for addressing my concerns. It's nice to have a local establishment that truly cares and caters to the consumer.
(4)
Rebecca C.
I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't been here in awhile and the last time I came it was just mediocre. I feel like they changed up their menu and the food is much better. I got the Brentwood Chicken Sandwich. Can you really go wrong with a chicken sandwich? Yes, you can, however, the Chicken was sooooo good! The seasoning was tasty and they even charred the chicken, so that made it even better. The bun was a sweet hamburger bun and don't even get me started on the Chipotle Mayo. I am a sucker for Chipotle Mayo. It was AMAZING! The fries were great. So... I was being a fat kid and order the Creme Brulee LOL. It was actually very good! The service was great. This restaurant stays busy, but we were about to be seated within 10 min. Our server was such a sweet lady and very patient with my complicated order. Since I had a better experience, I'll be more excited to go back here. Hopefully nothing changes!
I'll admit, I have a special little place in my heart for certain chains (Starbucks, Mariano's, Panera, Portillo's, and...Houlihan's). This location is the only Houlihan's I've really ever spent some time at. Well, minus the one time I blew thru the Houlihan's in the city on a segway bar crawl, but my memory from that visit is a bit...fuzzy. Any-who, me and the Naperville Houlihan's go way back. I had my first 21 year old drink there (at midnight...like a baller)! The bartenders were a lot of fun and made me a lunch box shot. I've also really dove into their long island menu and appetizers over the years. I'm not positive that they still do this, but it used to be half off long islands on Tuesdays & Thursdays, which was awesome. At my most recent visit (last week) I met my mom and brothers for lunch to celebrate my 27th birthday. Although it was 1 pm on a Friday (a tad early for happy hour), I decided to get a drink because hey, it's my birthday! I went with the Angry Orchard Long Island Iced Tea which was very good. A little more sour than I was expecting, but pretty tasty. For $9 however, I feel like it should have either been larger or had more booze. Just sayin. For lunch I ordered the grilled atlantic salmon entree combo. I started with a cup of chicken tortilla which was good. Not the best I've ever had, but it was fine. The salmon came with honest gold mashers and my choice of either asparagus or green beans - I went with asparagus. I thought my meal was very good and it was the perfect portion. Everything tasted fresh and fancy for the price. Which would have been $11.95, but I had a birthday coupon for a free entree! Pro tip: Sign up for their e-mails! They like to reward you for that. I've gotten a free entree and $10 off when you spend $30 or more (so far)!
(4)
M f.
Always the best when it.cimes to options and the martinis are the best. Mandarins my fave and I always spend either a birthday or a New Years here because I eat and drink all the things I can have anywhere else for way less $$$
(5)
Leanna H.
I went in this place for the first time today and I expected it be a lot more casual than it was. I'm pleasantly surprised with how nice everything was it had a very nice atmosphere.. I got the Atlantic salmon and it was SO good. the only salmon I had before this was from Cheesecake Factory and i didn't think anything could beat it but this DID. it was so flavorful and had the perfect amount of char on it. the mash potatoes were out of this world. I can't wait to go back and try more. but if you're going for the first time get the salmon you definitely won't regret it.
(4)
Anonymous F.
It was just okay food, but the service was terrible. The restaurant wasn't busy, but due to the limited options we ended up going here.
(3)
Caroline M.
I've been to the one in Geneva as well and this one has a better ambiance. I don't know if it's cause it was less busy or just the set up in general, but I liked it a bit more. I had the stuffed chicken breast with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were really good. The asparagus was good..the 4 mini stalks I had. The stuffed chicken breast was tasty, but a little over done and hard. They have long islands for $3 during the week (I think Monday - Thursday). However, they are no longer the pitchers of Long Islands. There's nothing fantastic about this location, but nothing horrible either.
(3)
Samantha B.
Wow! What a transformation from the last time that I was here. This place really takes advice to heart and implements changes immediately. I went here tonight for dinner and I was extremely impressed. We were kindly greeted by the hostess and seated in a huge, comfortable booth. Within a minute of being seated, a server came by to talk to us about their specials, take our drink orders and ask us if we had any questions about the menu. Unlike, the last time we were here, the server was dressed very professionally. No large, flashy jewelry hanging from the neck or unbutton blouse, just simple black attire and hair neatly pulled back. We started with two appetizers: the classic spinach dip with cheesy lavosh crackers ($10.25) and the parmesan fries with three dipping sauces ($5.95). The fries they initally brought out were cold, but a woman whom I believed to be one of the managers sincerely apologized and immediately fixed the problem bringing us out fresh, hot fries with truffle mayo, chipotle ketchup, and garlic parmesan dipping sauces. They were amazing! The spinach dip and lavosh crackers were out of this world. The dip was hot and the crackers were huge, covered in tomatoes, cheese, and cilantro. They were wonderful! We then ordered our entrees: the chicken breast stuffed with garlic herb cream cheese, which came with mashed potatoes and asparagus ($16.95), and the 3-pack sliders which came with one pot roast slider, one black angus slider, and one pulled pork slider ($11). The chicken was cooked to perfection, with a wonderful golden panko breading. The mashed potatoes were fluffy and had so much flavor and the asparagus was fresh and well seasoned. I would love to tell you how the sliders were, but we only got through one because we were so stuffed (the black angus slider was delicious)! Our server and the managers of Houlihan's were absolutely amazing. Like I said, the transformation in the service (and food) from the last time I went to now was just unbelievable. We never once had to ask for refills and they continually came by to ask us how our meal was and if they could get us anything else, as they cleared used plates from our table. Love that! Nothing bothers me more than when I have to flag a server down for refills or when I have dirty plates sitting in front of me. We ended our evening with an apple pie dessert that was covered in streusal crumbles and vanilla ice cream ($5.95). It was good, but it would have been a lot better if it were hot. That is really the only comment I can make about the entire meal. Everything else was perfect. In the end, the bill only came to $55 which I think is a great price for the amount of food received and the portion sizes. We left with so many leftovers! I would sincerely like to thank Faryle Scott, Joe Dydio and the staff of Houlihan's for a wonderful dinner and outstanding customer service. I very much look forward to my next visit!
(5)
Jim T.
Our wait time was 40 minutes. Perfectly fine time for a beverage from the bar and appetizer. Our fourth person showed up, we enjoyed the atmosphere, the food came timely and delicious. No dog bag needed, wink wink. Affordable, and varied menu. Clean and fresh
(4)
Timothy M.
This place has 3.95 appetizers during the week and drink specials. They are smaller portions for the appetizers so buyer beware. The inside is nice with a great decor. The food is pretty good and is a nice change from your typical sit down chain restaurants. I still prefer Fridays and their specials during the week because they are full size appetizers not smaller portions. I want to throw down when I eat.
(4)
Nicole L.
Naperville Houlihan's is my boyfriend and I's #1 go to during the week or on the weekend. It's relaxed but much nicer than similar chain restaurants. Our drinks are always great and the food is fantastic! I don't remember Houlihan's food being this memorable when I tried it a few years back. I must commend the management here, any time we have ever had an issue they have been more than willing to make it perfect. I cannot recommend this place any more! Not to mention their patio is the best spot in the summertime paired with their awesome drink specials. We usually sit at the bar when weather is not permitting. Many of the bartenders are friendly and will share a few laughs with you. If you're not part of the email club already, you should consider joining. Every Sunday they have a select bottle of wine for $15 bucks! Half the time that's why we're headed there. *Shout out to some of our menu favorites: -Seared Georges Bank Scallops -So. Cal Fish Tacos -Thai Grilled Chicken -Chicken Parmesan (I'm not one to order salads out but the House Salad with blue cheese crumbles and balsamic vinaigrette is so good!)
(5)
Marianne D.
After my first experience a couple months ago of being served the wrong food, then undercooked salmon and then waiting forever for them to get it right, I gave this place a second try based on the customer service of the manager in giving me a certificate for the total mishaps of my initial visit. Well, job well done, Houlihan's. Service was friendly, quick and I got the correct order and cooked perfectly. My husband had the tilapia fish tacos which were served with chips and salsa. The fish was coated in a crispy panko and the fish flaky and moist. I had a bite...or two...so I could review the tacos. I ordered the ahi tuna salad. The tuna was seared rare just like I like it and was sushi grade and so fresh. The salad was packed with flavor and crunch....cashews, crispy wontons, carrots, banana chips and crisp cold lettuce served with a banana-ginger vinaigrette...this salad was awesome! I'm glad I gave this place a second chance. Houlihan's redeemed themselves this visit.
(4)
Michelangelo V.
Honest review: typical hipster joint really unique things just not good jus a waste of money no different then a fast food restaurant
(1)
Carolyn L.
Just went on a wed night for happy hour. It was incredibly dusty inside even with the dark lighting I could see filth. I had a horrible server at the bar. She didn't tell me her name but over weight short brown hair. I had to ask for water 3 times. The only reason I'm giving 2 stars is because 1 the 4$ Long Island was delicious. & 2 I always get pretzel sticks and they are always good too. Cleanliness and service needs work. Everyone at the bar should be given water especially if they order food.
(2)
Sowmya M.
The starters were really good. I liked the place and the ambiance.A variety of cocktails are available too. Price were a little high but the taste is also good so cannot complain.
(4)
Britta M.
This is an amazing restaurant.. Love this place for a nice casual drink or lunch. To begin with... $3 long islands with many different flavors and the best boneless wings I've ever had! Their boneless wings have a delicious honey-like aftertaste and amazing homemade blue cheese. Their baked potato soup is a must! The best I've had anywhere, I crave it often and it's one of the things that brings me back. The frites were decent, but not too notable and the burgers were good. They have a pretty wide variety of food so everyone should be able to find something they like on the menu, for reasonable prices as well! I've never had a chance to experience their happy hour but they have 1/2 price apps for a few hours each day! Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Janice K.
Good customer service and best happy hour deals. When weather is good it's nice to sit outside and have some drinks with friends
(4)
Phyllis H.
This is always one of my favs when we're in Naperrville. They did a great job serving our group last Valentine's Day, but get a reservation. I love their scallops, but recently had their salmon with potatoes ! Perfect on a cold night with a glass of Savignon Blanc. Our server was wonderful as always. Dessert to go.....
(4)
MaltVinegarAvenger V.
Has malt vinegar! Has malt vinegar (repetition added because yelp is asinine and doesn't let you post single sentence reviews). Also, pretty sure yelp doesn't have malt vinegar.
(5)
Deena H.
Came here again on a Wednesday night and with same people .service was much better. Eggrolls phenomenal. Fish tacos are yummy. Tomato bisque was ehh.
(4)
Jennifer K.
The food is good but the service is outstanding! We have been there many times and always leave saying "they are so nice there"
(5)
Fulvio M.
I was seated quickly, food was great! It was my first time here and I loved the whole experience. Wait staff were fantastic! They all pitch in as they walk by, never a dirty dish left on the table. Management came by a few times even to make sure all was well. Houlihan's gets 5 stars from me.
(5)
Roberta V.
The service was fine, but the food is another story. 2 people at our table ordered the salmon, it came overcooked and dry, the portion smaller than a deck of cards. The asparagus that came with it hadn't been trimmed, so it was tough and woody. Another person at our table ordered a mushroom flatbread, it came to the table cold and had to be sent back. They did not make a fresh one, they ran it under their salamander or broiler so it came out burned in places. By the time it came to the table everyone else was finished. So when it was discovered that they didn't even make the right one ( tomato and basil instead of mushroom) it was decided to just eat it rather than send it back a 2nd time and wait another 15 minutes. They need some serious training in that kitchen, would not go back.
(1)
Jessica N.
Update to my 6/25 Review: Redemption!! The owner of Houlihan's advised the manager of my initial review and provided him my email. The manager got in touch with me via email apologizing and stating that he tracked down my order and had a discussion with the waitress who served us that night and also addressed the matter at his staff meeting. A week after our correspondence, I received two $25 vouchers in the mail with a hand written letter. It was a nice gesture and I appreciated the quick response. My husband and I returned on 8/15 for an early dinner. We were quickly greeted upon entering and were immediately seated and assigned a bubbly and attentive waitress. She serviced our table efficiently the entire time. Our drinks were refilled before we finished them and she checked in to make sure everything was ok. Two managers also checked in with my husband and I to ensure we were pleased with the food and service. The food was good and I received a complimentary dessert since it was my birthday. You must try the apple pie. It is delicious! Houlihan's has redeemed themselves. Everything was complimentary this time around. I have no complaints and only positive things to say about my latest visit. We will surely come back to enjoy the food and spirits. Thank you for addressing my concerns. It's nice to have a local establishment that truly cares and caters to the consumer.
(4)
Rebecca C.
I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't been here in awhile and the last time I came it was just mediocre. I feel like they changed up their menu and the food is much better. I got the Brentwood Chicken Sandwich. Can you really go wrong with a chicken sandwich? Yes, you can, however, the Chicken was sooooo good! The seasoning was tasty and they even charred the chicken, so that made it even better. The bun was a sweet hamburger bun and don't even get me started on the Chipotle Mayo. I am a sucker for Chipotle Mayo. It was AMAZING! The fries were great. So... I was being a fat kid and order the Creme Brulee LOL. It was actually very good! The service was great. This restaurant stays busy, but we were about to be seated within 10 min. Our server was such a sweet lady and very patient with my complicated order. Since I had a better experience, I'll be more excited to go back here. Hopefully nothing changes!
atmosphere is cool, service is excellent. Good place around the corner. Creekstone burger is good
(3)
Jacqueline B.
I'll admit, I have a special little place in my heart for certain chains (Starbucks, Mariano's, Panera, Portillo's, and...Houlihan's). This location is the only Houlihan's I've really ever spent some time at. Well, minus the one time I blew thru the Houlihan's in the city on a segway bar crawl, but my memory from that visit is a bit...fuzzy. Any-who, me and the Naperville Houlihan's go way back. I had my first 21 year old drink there (at midnight...like a baller)! The bartenders were a lot of fun and made me a lunch box shot. I've also really dove into their long island menu and appetizers over the years. I'm not positive that they still do this, but it used to be half off long islands on Tuesdays & Thursdays, which was awesome. At my most recent visit (last week) I met my mom and brothers for lunch to celebrate my 27th birthday. Although it was 1 pm on a Friday (a tad early for happy hour), I decided to get a drink because hey, it's my birthday! I went with the Angry Orchard Long Island Iced Tea which was very good. A little more sour than I was expecting, but pretty tasty. For $9 however, I feel like it should have either been larger or had more booze. Just sayin. For lunch I ordered the grilled atlantic salmon entree combo. I started with a cup of chicken tortilla which was good. Not the best I've ever had, but it was fine. The salmon came with honest gold mashers and my choice of either asparagus or green beans - I went with asparagus. I thought my meal was very good and it was the perfect portion. Everything tasted fresh and fancy for the price. Which would have been $11.95, but I had a birthday coupon for a free entree! Pro tip: Sign up for their e-mails! They like to reward you for that. I've gotten a free entree and $10 off when you spend $30 or more (so far)!
(4)
M f.
Always the best when it.cimes to options and the martinis are the best. Mandarins my fave and I always spend either a birthday or a New Years here because I eat and drink all the things I can have anywhere else for way less $$$
(5)
Anonymous F.
It was just okay food, but the service was terrible. The restaurant wasn't busy, but due to the limited options we ended up going here.
(3)
Samantha B.
Wow! What a transformation from the last time that I was here. This place really takes advice to heart and implements changes immediately. I went here tonight for dinner and I was extremely impressed. We were kindly greeted by the hostess and seated in a huge, comfortable booth. Within a minute of being seated, a server came by to talk to us about their specials, take our drink orders and ask us if we had any questions about the menu. Unlike, the last time we were here, the server was dressed very professionally. No large, flashy jewelry hanging from the neck or unbutton blouse, just simple black attire and hair neatly pulled back. We started with two appetizers: the classic spinach dip with cheesy lavosh crackers ($10.25) and the parmesan fries with three dipping sauces ($5.95). The fries they initally brought out were cold, but a woman whom I believed to be one of the managers sincerely apologized and immediately fixed the problem bringing us out fresh, hot fries with truffle mayo, chipotle ketchup, and garlic parmesan dipping sauces. They were amazing! The spinach dip and lavosh crackers were out of this world. The dip was hot and the crackers were huge, covered in tomatoes, cheese, and cilantro. They were wonderful! We then ordered our entrees: the chicken breast stuffed with garlic herb cream cheese, which came with mashed potatoes and asparagus ($16.95), and the 3-pack sliders which came with one pot roast slider, one black angus slider, and one pulled pork slider ($11). The chicken was cooked to perfection, with a wonderful golden panko breading. The mashed potatoes were fluffy and had so much flavor and the asparagus was fresh and well seasoned. I would love to tell you how the sliders were, but we only got through one because we were so stuffed (the black angus slider was delicious)! Our server and the managers of Houlihan's were absolutely amazing. Like I said, the transformation in the service (and food) from the last time I went to now was just unbelievable. We never once had to ask for refills and they continually came by to ask us how our meal was and if they could get us anything else, as they cleared used plates from our table. Love that! Nothing bothers me more than when I have to flag a server down for refills or when I have dirty plates sitting in front of me. We ended our evening with an apple pie dessert that was covered in streusal crumbles and vanilla ice cream ($5.95). It was good, but it would have been a lot better if it were hot. That is really the only comment I can make about the entire meal. Everything else was perfect. In the end, the bill only came to $55 which I think is a great price for the amount of food received and the portion sizes. We left with so many leftovers! I would sincerely like to thank Faryle Scott, Joe Dydio and the staff of Houlihan's for a wonderful dinner and outstanding customer service. I very much look forward to my next visit!
(5)
Nicole L.
Naperville Houlihan's is my boyfriend and I's #1 go to during the week or on the weekend. It's relaxed but much nicer than similar chain restaurants. Our drinks are always great and the food is fantastic! I don't remember Houlihan's food being this memorable when I tried it a few years back. I must commend the management here, any time we have ever had an issue they have been more than willing to make it perfect. I cannot recommend this place any more! Not to mention their patio is the best spot in the summertime paired with their awesome drink specials. We usually sit at the bar when weather is not permitting. Many of the bartenders are friendly and will share a few laughs with you. If you're not part of the email club already, you should consider joining. Every Sunday they have a select bottle of wine for $15 bucks! Half the time that's why we're headed there. *Shout out to some of our menu favorites: -Seared Georges Bank Scallops -So. Cal Fish Tacos -Thai Grilled Chicken -Chicken Parmesan (I'm not one to order salads out but the House Salad with blue cheese crumbles and balsamic vinaigrette is so good!)
(5)
Marianne D.
After my first experience a couple months ago of being served the wrong food, then undercooked salmon and then waiting forever for them to get it right, I gave this place a second try based on the customer service of the manager in giving me a certificate for the total mishaps of my initial visit. Well, job well done, Houlihan's. Service was friendly, quick and I got the correct order and cooked perfectly. My husband had the tilapia fish tacos which were served with chips and salsa. The fish was coated in a crispy panko and the fish flaky and moist. I had a bite...or two...so I could review the tacos. I ordered the ahi tuna salad. The tuna was seared rare just like I like it and was sushi grade and so fresh. The salad was packed with flavor and crunch....cashews, crispy wontons, carrots, banana chips and crisp cold lettuce served with a banana-ginger vinaigrette...this salad was awesome! I'm glad I gave this place a second chance. Houlihan's redeemed themselves this visit.
(4)
Michelangelo V.
Honest review: typical hipster joint really unique things just not good jus a waste of money no different then a fast food restaurant
(1)
Carolyn L.
Just went on a wed night for happy hour. It was incredibly dusty inside even with the dark lighting I could see filth. I had a horrible server at the bar. She didn't tell me her name but over weight short brown hair. I had to ask for water 3 times. The only reason I'm giving 2 stars is because 1 the 4$ Long Island was delicious. & 2 I always get pretzel sticks and they are always good too. Cleanliness and service needs work. Everyone at the bar should be given water especially if they order food.
(2)
Sowmya M.
The starters were really good. I liked the place and the ambiance.A variety of cocktails are available too. Price were a little high but the taste is also good so cannot complain.
(4)
Britta M.
This is an amazing restaurant.. Love this place for a nice casual drink or lunch. To begin with... $3 long islands with many different flavors and the best boneless wings I've ever had! Their boneless wings have a delicious honey-like aftertaste and amazing homemade blue cheese. Their baked potato soup is a must! The best I've had anywhere, I crave it often and it's one of the things that brings me back. The frites were decent, but not too notable and the burgers were good. They have a pretty wide variety of food so everyone should be able to find something they like on the menu, for reasonable prices as well! I've never had a chance to experience their happy hour but they have 1/2 price apps for a few hours each day! Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Janice K.
Good customer service and best happy hour deals. When weather is good it's nice to sit outside and have some drinks with friends
(4)
Phyllis H.
This is always one of my favs when we're in Naperrville. They did a great job serving our group last Valentine's Day, but get a reservation. I love their scallops, but recently had their salmon with potatoes ! Perfect on a cold night with a glass of Savignon Blanc. Our server was wonderful as always. Dessert to go.....
(4)
MaltVinegarAvenger V.
Has malt vinegar! Has malt vinegar (repetition added because yelp is asinine and doesn't let you post single sentence reviews). Also, pretty sure yelp doesn't have malt vinegar.
(5)
Deena H.
Came here again on a Wednesday night and with same people .service was much better. Eggrolls phenomenal. Fish tacos are yummy. Tomato bisque was ehh.
(4)
Jennifer K.
The food is good but the service is outstanding! We have been there many times and always leave saying "they are so nice there"
(5)
Fulvio M.
I was seated quickly, food was great! It was my first time here and I loved the whole experience. Wait staff were fantastic! They all pitch in as they walk by, never a dirty dish left on the table. Management came by a few times even to make sure all was well. Houlihan's gets 5 stars from me.
(5)
Roberta V.
The service was fine, but the food is another story. 2 people at our table ordered the salmon, it came overcooked and dry, the portion smaller than a deck of cards. The asparagus that came with it hadn't been trimmed, so it was tough and woody. Another person at our table ordered a mushroom flatbread, it came to the table cold and had to be sent back. They did not make a fresh one, they ran it under their salamander or broiler so it came out burned in places. By the time it came to the table everyone else was finished. So when it was discovered that they didn't even make the right one ( tomato and basil instead of mushroom) it was decided to just eat it rather than send it back a 2nd time and wait another 15 minutes. They need some serious training in that kitchen, would not go back.
(1)
Caroline M.
I've been to the one in Geneva as well and this one has a better ambiance. I don't know if it's cause it was less busy or just the set up in general, but I liked it a bit more. I had the stuffed chicken breast with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were really good. The asparagus was good..the 4 mini stalks I had. The stuffed chicken breast was tasty, but a little over done and hard. They have long islands for $3 during the week (I think Monday - Thursday). However, they are no longer the pitchers of Long Islands. There's nothing fantastic about this location, but nothing horrible either.
(3)
May S.
We just moved into the area and were looking for some place different to try as a family. We have two young-ish boys (10 and 5), and we were getting tired of the same places every week. The first thing the server did was bring out two plates of baby carrots and ranch for the kids. I thought that was a nice touch! My oldest got the French Onion Soup because he just wasn't feeling the kid's menu that day, and he absolutely loved it. The younger one got some Mac and Cheese with a side of chips and salsa. He ate so much chips and salsa that he ended up not touching the mac and cheese, which was just the boxed Kraft stuff. They do advertise it as such, so I can't say anything too much about it, but it was congealed and thick by the time they brought it out. I'm sure he wouldn't have minded it, because hey - mac and cheese. But like I said, he was too full to even touch it. I ordered the grilled salmon, which came with a side of mashed potatoes and some grilled asparagus. The salmon was a tad dry, but still very delicious. It came with a dill cream sauce which I'm sure would have helped with the dryness, but I didn't use it. The asparagus was cooked perfectly, and the mashed potatoes were good too. My husband ordered the shrimp tacos, and he loved those as well. You get two tacos completely filled stuffed to the max with goodness! I didn't try them, but my husband said they were delicious. All in all we were pretty satisfied with our dinner. The only reason I'm not giving Houlihan's five stars is the lack-luster service. Our server was a nice enough kid, but a bit spacy and not very enthusiastic. I'm not saying jump around and be merry, but a smile would be nice.
(4)
Judy V.
Great place for a quick lunch or dinner. They have great drinks, dinner and sandwiches. Great variety on their menu.
(5)
Latasha S.
My experience from the moment we sat down was outstanding. The waitress was so patient and made great recommendations. The food was absolutely delicious. I ordered a skinny raspberry mojito with my entree....fabulous!
(5)
Lalitha A.
This place never let's me down!!!! The drinks are always good. The food is always hot and tasty. Service is everything to me and this place has some of the best service.
(4)
Ashkan A.
A great place to get a casual drink and a bite to eat. $3 long islands are a great deal!
(4)
Adams F.
Back at an old favorite for date night and it has been a great experience. Superb service, absolutely some of the best pulled pork and pot roast we ever had, and some terrific beer......can't wait to come back!!!!
(5)
Marissa S.
Went here with the family for my sister's birthday dinner last night and it was such a nice evening! Between 5 of us, we had lettuce wraps, chicken/avocado eggrolls, a burger, the french dip, and stuffed chicken. Everything was prepared well and served quickly, very reasonably priced, and our server really made the whole experience great. Thanks, Liz S, for going above and beyond for us!!
(5)
Theresa C.
I was contacted by someone at Houlihans regarding my visit. I sent in my contact info and have yet to hear from anyone. That was 3 weeks ago. What a joke.
(1)
Jim T.
Our wait time was 40 minutes. Perfectly fine time for a beverage from the bar and appetizer. Our fourth person showed up, we enjoyed the atmosphere, the food came timely and delicious. No dog bag needed, wink wink. Affordable, and varied menu. Clean and fresh
(4)
Timothy M.
This place has 3.95 appetizers during the week and drink specials. They are smaller portions for the appetizers so buyer beware. The inside is nice with a great decor. The food is pretty good and is a nice change from your typical sit down chain restaurants. I still prefer Fridays and their specials during the week because they are full size appetizers not smaller portions. I want to throw down when I eat.
(4)
Kat G.
It's alright. I think they are way overpriced for the food you get. They try to be decorative on their menu and do things like "ginger soy" dipping sauce with calamari instead of marinara but it just doesn't work because it's not executed well. Their flatbreads are alright, but nothing special. Depending on the day their crusts are either too thin or remind me of pizza luncheables. Presentation has a lack of care. I ordered the baked potato soup (tasted quite good) and it was sloppily spilled over the cup. It just seems like no body cares there which is really disappointing. I will continue to go for their drink specials. They have half priced cocktails & long island drinks Mon-Thurs and on Tuesdays if half bottle wine night. I will turn to Houlihan's for their bar which is pleasant. There is even a nice patio outside for the summer. Go for their drinks, skip the food, and tip the bartenders well.
(2)
Mike N.
I appreciate the culinary work this place puts into there dishes. I've been here twice since being back home , and I cannot complain. the flatbreads are delicious , and not too filling. Their Parmesan mayo I believe is great, and I also like the firecracker shrimp. My friend went with the BBQ sliders which were more of a smokey pulled pork and not bad either
(4)
Angie L.
This is my first time at a Houlihan's. A few of my friends have been here before so i decided to give it a shot. The atmosphere is upscale, nice for a date or a girls night out. The food is average, however, the dessert was AMAZING. I did the 3 dessert picks and every single one of them was delicious!! i am drooling all over again just thinking about them!!
(3)
Trixie R.
Came in last night with my boyfriend for a late night snack and we were not disappointment. We highly recommend the Tomato Bisque soup with grilled cheese fritters. The soup itself wasn't too acidic and had a good consistency of being brothy and thick; the grilled cheese fritters were crunchy and cheesy, but not too cheesy and went perfectly with the Tomato bisque. The grilled asparagus is a can't miss! They were perfectly grilled and season and with a squeeze of lemon on them to really make eating veggies easy! You can't beat 3$ Long Islands either, I recommend the Kentucky tea for the bourbon lovers! The service was amazing! That's one thing that really stuck out, Houlihan's over all can be a little pricy, but the service was and usually always is on point. Our server Alexa was a delight, she was very personable and prompt with our drink order, and food. She was good at building a rapport with us, joked with us and was very hospitable. Prior to leaving we let the manager on duty know how great of a job she did.
(3)
Alicia P.
I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but since Houlihans is within walking distance of our house, my husband and I have been here several times. I have sat both at the bar and in the dining area and had great service every time, even when they are busy. They don't have a huge draught beer selection, but there are usually at least a couple of beers worth drinking. The food is great, especially the chicken sandwich (I forget the exact name of it, but it is delicious!). I've also tried the nachos, pretzels, and a flat bread and it has all been good.
(4)
Diocelina G.
The drinks were great, I tried the coco basil drink. Customer service lacked and it felt like we were being rushed so they could close. It wasn't even 12:00 and their hours are until 2:00am Saturdays. Probably won't be going back. There are better places with more reasonable prices
(3)
Alexandra F.
Always amazing service and great food. Everyone from the manager to the servers to the bus boys care about how your dining experience is.
(5)
Robin M.
Just wanted to share a quick review....I spent my birthday celebration with a FREE dinner from Houlihan's...AND it just so happened to be 1/2 price bottle of wine night, AND I got a free phenomenal brownie sundae dessert....I ordered a caesar salad, small sirloin and a loaded baked potato, and all the food was perfectly delicious!! Huge shout out for a great experience all around!
(5)
Regina H.
Happy Apps & daily drink specials. Can't beat it! Mondays $3 Long Islands. My favorite-Georgia Peach.
(4)
T.J R.
Food is always 100% consistent and to my liking. The woman that greets you at the door during lunch hour is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, friendly and just down right nice and pleasant. I love the small dishes for lunch, which is the only time i get over here. Food great, Staff, great, but I would expect that, it's a very impressive looking restaurant, so I can't give them 5 stars for doing everything I would expect. I only like to give 5 stars for businesses that surprise me in some fashion.
(4)
Buckeye D.
We went here on a Thursday night and they were pretty busy. We found a spot at the bar and were ignored by the bartenders who were too busy talking to each other to be bothered to wait on us. Our table was ready quickly and we were seated at which time we ordered beers. Approximately 10 mins later, our beers were brought (how long does it take to grab 2 bottles of beer.?) and they were not what we ordered. I would not drink Bud Light if you paid me. Another 10 mins went by and finally we got our correct beers. I ordered fish tacos, which were good, although the salsa that they are served with was bland and boring. My boyfriend had the pot roast which he characterized as salty and nothing special. The bill was almost $70, which seems like quite a bit for average food, a couple of beers, and very mediocre service.
(2)
Abbey M.
Cheap Bud light drafts, great pot stickers for an appetizer, absolutely amazing stuffed chicken breast, and last but not least their "best apple pie ever" dessert really lives up to the name. Great service and excellent patio atmosphere.
(4)
Meg S.
Let me start off by saying I usually go to the Wheaton Houlihan's instead of this one, because the menu and the service/atmosphere is better there than the Naperville one. A group of friends & I went to this location on a Friday night to celebrate one of our birthdays. We called ahead and made reservations for 6 pm. While on the phone we were told we would have to get out of the dining room by 7:30 pm because they had a "holiday party" coming then. Reluctantly we agreed, thinking we could just go sit at the bar after we ate our food. We had a good dinner, but we were bugged the whole time by the manager and a lady we came to find out was a concierge. As soon as we were done with something, they'd come and take it. They asked a hundred times what else we needed. In my opinion, their job is to make us more comfortable, not rush us or make us feel uncomfortable. We were cutting it close to the 7:30 mark but we noticed there were other tables still there as well. We told the server we were feeling rushed when he asked if we wanted to order dessert. We told him about the 7:30 thing and he got upset for us. He told us to take our time. We saw the manager and hostesses pointing at us and then shortly after saw our server having a disagreement with them about how we were being treated. After a couple of other tables left, they rearranged those and sat the "holiday party" (which turned out to be 10 high school aged girls) right next to us... and I mean right next to us... meaning you could not walk in between our chairs and the girls' chairs. We waited anxiously for our checks to come and be able to pay so we could get the heck out of there. We decided not to go to the bar to hang out and take our business elsewhere where they would not treat us poorly. Our server apologized and wished us a Merry Christmas. If it wasn't for him we probably would have had to end early and walk out.
(2)
Kyle B.
Visited the location during January 2014 on a Sunday. The environment was very nice. Not very busy and not very loud. The food prices were between 8 and 14, much more expensive than Chili's. Only a few vegetarian options but they do exist. I had an unfortunate visit that was not addressed while I was there. Upon reporting the incident on yelp the management team contacted me and clarified and improved the situation. I will return soon.
(4)
Michelle Y.
I am a true fan of Houlihans food, enough though its over priced. My husband doesn't like it as much as I don't get to go very often. So when the opportunity arises I jump on it. I was in this past weekend to celebrate a friends birthday with a few other girls. When we called we were asked if we would be done by 730, we were going at 6, and we said probably. Due to weather, we were not all there by 6 so we got started a little late. We ordered our food, and as we were starting to finish salads a women manager kept walking over to our table and grabbing things off. At first it seemed like a courtesy, our server said that always happens, but then it was every 2-3 minutes. We then got our dinner and not 2 minutes passed by and another manager came by to check on us. Throughout our meal they either checked on us or stood over us watching to see how much longer we were going to be. We told our server that it was bothering us and he told us not to worry about it and to enjoy our meal. He was not going to kick us out because they reserved a table for another party. There were other groups around us that were not getting watched like us. When the other group got sat behind us, they were literally on top of us. The servers couldn't even get in between us to walk through. At one point , while waiting to pay, we saw a manager and hostess pointing at us. The food is good and our server was great but we felt rushed, like we were not an important party. Our server did everything right to let us know we were being rushed out of there, but we still felt like we were. That night to complain to a manager would have been useless since they are the ones that made us uncomfortable. We didn't even go to the bar after like we had planned. Not sure if I will return.
(2)
Supriya D.
Here is my brutally honest disclaimer: I wish I could rate this establishment separately based on their alcohol and food. Alcohol 5/5 stars: The drink specials here, especially Sunday-Thursday are absolutely perfect! Half off all house cocktails, LONG ISLANDS, and other drinks, and on Tuesday's wine bottles are included. The drinks here are strong, delicious and affordable. This is the perfect place to spend time with friends, get a little tipsy and hang out without an annoying bar scene. My personal favorite drink is the Tennessee Long Island :) Food/Restaurant-ness 3ish/5 stars: For the prices on the menu and less than enticing food specials, it's so not worth it! The food is a glamorized TGI Friday's and I only usually order it if I am dying of hunger while enjoying their wonderful drinks. The atmosphere here is nice, clean, and the service is great. It can be slow at times due to being busy but that is expected anywhere.
(3)
Anna K.
Went here after a movie and was surprised by how nicely decorated it was. I was expecting it to be like the one in Oak Brook or any other typical American style family/bar like TGIF or Chili's. But it has a more upscale, contemporary and sleek decor. This would be a good date place - it has a very romantic atmosphere. The food is standard Houlihans fare and prices. Happy hour small plates and appetizers are a good deal.
(4)
Jan J.
Great service! Food options are pretty good too. If the item is off the menu you can ask for it & they always do it
(4)
Angela P.
Needed to find a restaurant in the area that was: 1) Open late (after 9-10pm) 2) Reasonably quiet (no loud music, excess noise) 3) Well lit (Enough to write/read; no "mood" lighting) Houlihan's in Naperville made all of this possible. After visiting the Oak Brook location recently, I wasn't expecting anything fantastic (sour mix-flavored Long Island, semi-noisy bar). But Naperville is totally different. The decor is modern and chic, perfect for happy hour drinks after work, or a date night. The bar is separated from the rest of the restaurant. We were seated in a cozy corner booth, near the brick fireplace. I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere - I didn't even notice the 8 or so teenager seated close to us. The half-price Long Islands are good. I'd definitely go here for drinks and have the Georgia Peach Long Island again. The Texas still isn't worth trying, but maybe it's the tequila. The food is okay. What you'd expect for a casual, American dining establishment. My fiancee had a bacon cheeseburger, and I had the grilled chicken sandwich. The pretzel roll and gouda cheese was a nice touch. But I wouldn't go back here just for the food. However, the artichoke bisque soup was really good and perfect for a cold night. I'd definitely visit again for after-work drinks or a nice date night to relax. It's nice that it's right by the movie theater too.
(3)
Nick C.
.
(1)
Beata S.
I don't know what anyone is talking about with the service here, I had a fantastic experience. Our server Cynthia was wonderful, she made great recommendations and made us laugh and have a great time. The drinks were great, food timing was awesome and our food was great. I had the ahi salad and as I didn't care too much for the tuna the salad made up for it. The wasabi dressing was fire and the bananas?! Who knew! On a salad?! Awesome!! And if you come on a night with specials it's cheap. This was the second time I have visited and the first was great too. As long as the service and food stay the same Ill be here as often as I can be :)
(5)
Twylla S.
Houlihan's must have changed management in the last couple of months because the service and atmosphere has gotten a lot better. The hostesses still look like deer in headlights but the servers have been more pleasant and seem like they actually enjoy their jobs. Plus with all the specials they keep running I can't help but be filled to the brim for little dollar. I also have seen the management on the floor a lot more often, doing table touches and helping problem-solve if something isn't going right with a table. I appreciate that, as well. Tuesday night specials and Thursday night steak + free lobster tail are where it's at. Oh, and I loooooooooove the small plates!
(4)
Eileen W.
Great place for drinks and to catch up with friends. The outdoor patio is really nice on a summer night. Never had the food here, so my stars are based only on the multiple times I have been here to catch up over drinks. They have a variety of long islands and they are strong! I've always had good service here. There is a happy hour drink special all the time sunday-thursday so given the fun atmosphere, it's always a "go" with my friends and me.
(4)
Shannon M.
There are a few Houlihan's in the area, but I tend to gloss over them in my mind when pondering, "What restaurant should we go to?", mostly because I've had that old "Chilis-Bennigans-Fridays analog" image in my head. But, I received a "get $15 off a $30+ purchase" offer, so my boyfriend and I went for dinner on Friday night. A great experience all around, and nothing like Chilis! :) + Friendly and efficient staff, and no wait for a table, even on Friday night (at a restaurant by the movie theater!) + Nice ambiance (dim but not dark, not too loud, cushy dark wood booths and funky paintings on the walls) + A subset of the menu with a selection of smaller sized entrees + No trouble using my coupon, AND they gave us a little box of cookies to take home too! We started with artichoke-goat cheese poppers, little fried balls of tastiness on a pool of balsamic and remoulade. Classier than stuffed jalapenos, and yummier too. I went with one of the little entrees (a 4 oz. petite filet, which came with fries), so that I could also have a cup of baked potato soup. May I mention again the refreshing option of the smaller plates? In a culinary culture where dishes are 3x bigger than your head, someone who just can't eat that much (and thus doesn't want to spend all that $$) appreciates having the portion choice -- though since we are so used to seeing servings worthy of "Man vs. Food" everywhere, a 4 oz. steak looks absurdly small. But with a cup of soup, fries and half an appetizer, it was perfect for me! The steak was cooked perfectly medium, tender and delicious. My boyfriend partook of the sliders, selecting four: pot roast, pulled pork, Creekstone Farms (Angus cheeseburger), and veggie, his favorite being the latter. I had a nibble of the pulled pork, which could have stood up against the wares at many a barbeque place. Overall, while this is a chain, it's definitely a step up, and a good deal of thought appears to have been put into their menu to make it creative and not the same old stuff you see all over the place. While we went because of the coupon, we'll be back because of the service and the food. Hooray for Houlihan's!
(5)
Saba A.
I guess they have a happy hour with half of price appetizers some days--check it out! I like Houlihan's...it's good food! Can't go wrong with the spicy chicken and avocado eggrolls (which is included in their small plates with many other tasty dishes!) Sometimes they got a wait, so be patient! I ate here once with my family and we had a long wait for the food too. I love burgers so I got the spicy frito burger without the fritos and they were delicious! What's good about this place is that they have a "small plates" section with lots of varieties of food if you're not a big eater or you come in with a group of people that you feel comfortable sharing a bunch of small plates with. In a classy type of ambiance, it's really a homey/family style at the end. This part of Naperville has lots of good eats but Houlihan's seems to be popular. I came here with three of my girlfriends and we had an enjoyable time. Will definitely return!
(4)
Nicole R.
I love Houlihan's - why the 2 stars you ask? Twice now we have shown up prior to the dinner rush with 5 people in our party and have been told that we cannot be accommodated. The food is still delicious but the service at this location is nothing to brag about. I too like the Wheaton Houlihan's much better.
(2)
Michael D.
Okay...maybe five or six visits here. My wife loves the place. Today and on some visits in the past...Just meh. I probobly am a harsh critic cause I'm in the industry. As a restaurant manager we strive to give my customers the best quality and service we can. $85.00 for dinner for three I expect more. This Houlihan's has been hit or miss in both departments. Tonight for example... Served a room temperature Martini. I should have sent it back. Ordered wings, buffalo style. Took forever to come out. Got some sweet chili sauce and they were cold and fatty. We were starving so we ate them anyway. Nitpicking here...My son and I ordered the steak and wedge salad. I've had it before and love it. The presentation this time struck me as strange. They came out on huge plates with all the food to one side and the other half of the plate empty. Just found that weird. My wife enjoyed her halibut...so I'm doomed to come back here. Then there was the service. We were checked on three times through drinks, appetizer and dinner. I did not utter a single complaint. Why not? My wife thinks I'm being a snob when I do. I should have just been a snob. Our server spent more time sitting with her girlfriends at the next table chatting then she did attending to her guests. Managers walked right past her several times so I assume that's acceptable behavior at this particular store. That was just tonight. We have had good visits and bad visits. It's right by our favorite theater so we end up there after more often than not. My wife likes the food. After tonight I'm going to try to talk her into the sushi place instead.
(2)
Julie D.
I just can't quit their chicken nachos. Appetizers and soups are the best. Main dishes are kinda blah. Their asparagus has this weird smokey flavor and it completely ruins a perfectly good vegetable. Great beer/cocktail selection. Service is always friendly.
(4)
Paul R.
We've eaten here a handful of times. First the good: Its usually easy to park and get a table. The service has always been pretty good for us and the restaurant is very modern and clean. The Bad: They have been changing their menu more lately, which also seems to mean higher prices and poor execution of the entrees. There also seems to be more up-charges for things. They killed my favorite meal the "Big Fancy Spaghetti". I had the breaded pork sandwich, which seemed well intended, but very bland. My wife had a basic burger and we had a spinach dip for an appetizer. We only ordered water and with tax and tip our bill was over $45 for two of us. I have no problem paying that for a really good dinner, but our dinner felt more like a $25 dinner. If Houlihan's really wants to push that price point they need to also up the quality of the food. Perhaps the management needs to sit down at a place like Cheesecake Factory and figure it out instead of being an overpriced TGI Fridays.
(2)
James T.
Could be much better if the service were better. As a bartop goer, I expect the service to be exemplary because you always are in front of the bartender. But alas, you cannot expect someone who is either too involved with the TV or the other staff members to pay attention. I'd really like to frequent here more often but simply cannot muster up the motivation.
(3)
Erin K.
After a long work week, my friends and I usually have a conversation like this: "Do you want to go get food?" "Yeah!!" "Where should we go??" And while there are many choices up and down 59 in this area, the place that usually gets the vote is Houlihans. Last night, we got there early enough to sit somewhere other than the bar...and I must say I liked the booth. The atmosphere is cozy...but they do dim the lights a little more than I like. Call me crazy but I like to see what I am eatting...maybe I'd feel differently if it was a cuddly date but we specifically go for the small plates. With a smorgasbord in front of you, you want to see it! Usually plate presentation is nice and I like the flavors of what I order. There's a lot of choices for our vegetarian friend, and our friend with diet restrictions. We have tried the mini hotdogs, the mini burgers, the flatbread pizza, the hummus!, the parmesan frites, the jumbo stuffed shrooms, the lettuce wraps, the thai noodle bowl, the goat cheese poppers!!!, the asparagus salad, the bruschetta, and the chicken nachos...my word, we didn't eat it all at once!! Last night, I squeezed in room for a brownie lollie and little cup of icecream. It was the perfect size. While our drink order has been limited, I love their flavored lemonades... Our waitstaff has always been prompt and pleasant. While we haven't spoken to management, I see them working the floor. I appreciate that. This has been a really good place to have handy. Not too pricey or pretentious. I'm sure we'll be back!
(4)
Tim P.
Sadly I never had a chance to even taste their food as they were issuing one and half hour wait times while many tables were left empty due to "understaffing!" Staffing seems to be a basic required skill in the restaurant industry and it mystifies me that they can't get it right. 1 1/2 hours on a weeknight at a reasonable time is ridiculous.
(1)
Marissa N.
Great atmosphere. Pretty good food but after eating there 3 or 4 times you get sick of it. I like that the lettuce in the salad I got was shredded. I've always had only average service. Can't complain over all.
(3)
Jeannie L.
Love this place! The staff is alway friendly and the bartender goes out of his way to make you feel special!
(4)
Devonie M.
One of my favorite places. I mainly eat at the bar. Great bartenders, though if it is busy they don't come around as frequently as some people may like. However, they always seem to keep my water glass full (maybe it is because I am a regular and tip well, or maybe that's just how they are). Tons of options on the small plates menu, and ever since they rolled that out I basically only order off of it. Love the hummus and pita bread, chop salad, spinach and artichoke dip, mac and cheese, pretty much EVERYTHING on that menu! And all very reasonably priced. Happy hour drink specials Sun-Thurs keep me constantly suggesting Houlihan's for social gatherings on weeknights, and I am rarely left unsatisfied.
(5)
Ramone B.
Houlihans is a great place to chill with your friends. It is a little on the pricey side, so go when u wanna splurge. They have an AWESOME Blueberry martini (ten bucks) and this spaghetti dish that is to die for. Houlihans uses rigatoni noodles instead of thin spaghetti. Yum yum. They have pitchers of long islands which are also pretty solid. Check em put! The echiladas kick so much ass! Omg are they good! The staff is awesome! Don't be conned into letting them take pics of you and asking for your emaill address to send the photo to you. All I got was spam!
(4)
Thao N.
Houlihan's has totally revamped! The Houlihan's of today is drawing in the happy hour crowd and emphasizing on small plates. The decor has gone from old school Americana to an updated lounge feel. The last time I was there, we were seated in a booth which felt quite intimate. The food was great, and I loved the presentation of the appetizers we'd ordered. The calimari was brought out in a Chinese to-go box because it was served with a sesame-ginger sauce. When the sliders came out, they were almost too cute to eat. We also ordered the Jumbo stuffed 'shrooms and they were definitely JUMBO. For an entree I ordered the spaghetti with shrimp, scallops & mussels. For a pasta dish, this actually tasted light and the amount of seafood to pasta ratio was perfect. I didn't feel cheated out of enough "meat". The reason I gave 3 stars is because of the service. I know it was late but if the restaurant is opened late the severs should still be upbeat and attentive. There were only two other tables of patrons in the dinning room, it was only busy at the bar but I don't think they once asked if we needed a refill on drinks. I had to flag her down for a refill and the check. I hope that the next time I stop in they've addressed this issue.
(3)
Courtney S.
What a difference a decade makes. The Houlihan's of my childhood was a hodge-podge of Americana (or at least the foods that appeal to our cultural melting pot) that served drinks in ridiculous ceramic figures (several of which still adorn my desk today). A family place with crayons and simple dishes. Uh... 180 much? Trendy, trendy, trendy and about as different as can be. The menu seems to emphasize sharing and togetherness, which is great if the food wasn't drowned out by the music. Kinda a dichotomy if the menu suggests, "Eat! Share! Laugh!" and the music counters, "WHAT?!" A few more entrees for vegetarians (or kids) would've been welcome, as I left hungry. Our waitress was a firecracker and hilarious to boot, always a welcome bonus to liven up a meal.
(3)
Ben B.
Service is SLOOOOOWWWWWWWW in the bar, we went to grab a drink when we had an hour before our movie started, and to get a menu, a drink, and the check, we burned right through that hour!
(2)
Michael J.
Get the small plates. They are definitely promoting these right now and they appear to be the main focus of the menu. I've gone in both directions. The first time, I neglected the small plate and did not enjoy my food. It wasn't prepared well. The next couple of times, I went with the small plates and was definitely pleased. The nice part is that you can try a variety of different things, all of which are reasonably priced.
(4)
Margie T.
I love the atmosphere and the decor in this place. I just wished they would put a little bit more food on the plates for the price.
(4)
Jeffrey S.
I can't believe I am giving a chain restaurant like Houlihan's a 5 star review. It goes against every fiber in my body. Yet, everything about our recent trip was outstanding- the food, service, atmosphere, and value. We went on a Friday night and were told it would be a 15-20 minute wait. Sure enough, about 14 minutes later we were seated. First, the easy stuff- kids meals. the corn dog and grilled chicken were both inhaled by the little ones, and it came with unlimited refill drinks, a good selection of non-french fry sides and a dessert. The adults had tuna wontons (very good), goat cheese and artichoke poppers (awesome), french onion soup (awesome), and a burger (awesome) as well as the parmesan fries (YUM). Topping it off was 2 great desserts- an apple something and a great chocolate brownie thing. Add a bottle of wine, and the total cost with tip was only $80-90. I wish I remember the waitresses name as she was fantastic as well. Their decision some time ago to be more upscale than their peers (Friday's, Chili's, etc.) seems to have paid off as this was a real good, upscale-casual meal.
(5)
Joedel G.
The best late night drinking and eating place in this area. We always come here after watching a movie just adjuscent to this restaurant. The calamari is good, of course their coctail drinks are amazing, my wife likes the Mango Mojito very much, so it's worth a try. Also we tried the pasta, I believe that was pasta with alfredo sauce, it was very nice, subtle tasting and the portion is not so overwhelming, we actually split it. Patio seating with pergola is perfect. Price wise $$. Come and try it.
(4)
Anacani C.
Very disappointing. I've been to other Houlihan's and this one was the one that made me never want to come back again. Fiance and I flew in from Seattle for the holidays. Friends wanted to have dinner here. Because I've had nothing but great experiences in other Houlihan's locations, I said why not. Plus, it was a first for my fiance. Busy night. Waited about 7 minutes for a table. Our waitress came to take our drink order. Everyone but me ordered non-alcoholic beverages. I asked for a PomTini...which I got about 20 minutes later cause she was too busy chatting up a storm with the bartender. Finally, she brought it out and it tasted like a virgin drink. I didn't want to make the evening unpleasant so I let it go. She came around to take our food order. She listened and repeated or dishes. Not once did she come around to ask for refills on friends' or fiance's drinks...only if I wanted another PomTini. Instead, I ordered a Tequila Sunrise. Fifteen minutes later 3 out of 5 meals arrived. Fiance and I had to wait a while longer for ours. AFTER our food arrived, my drink did too. Still, no offers on refills. I ordered the Steak Fajitas, which were suprisingly delicious. My fiance's food on the other hand, he ordered the French Dip. His mashed potatoes were cold, they used Parmesan cheese instead of Provolone or Swiss cheese, which are not as sharp. The meat tasted like cheap Deli meat. The only thing out of his meal that was pleasant, was the bread. Sucked that his first time was not the best. And now he isn't interested in coming back again. Poor service. Poor kitchen management. Hate to say it, but I have no interest in coming back either.
(2)
Callie P.
I have been to Houlihan's before and was excited for a return trip because I love their food. Honestly this time we should have gone somewhere else. Our server was rude, and there was only one bartender on a Saturday night so all of the drinks were slow coming out. The server never came and asked us for refills, and I had to get the attention of a different server and asked if she could find ours because she wouldn't come back to the table. I told her the drinks were slow, and we needed to order so we needed her to come see us. When she came to the table, instead of apologizing for the service and trying to make the situation better, she was extremely rude and said that there was one bartender working that night and "nothing she could do" about it. She had a very bad attitude and acted like we were in the wrong for criticizing the service! I won't go back to this location, I'll end up going to Geneva if I ever want to go back.
(2)
Jennifer O.
Such a shame...this used to be one of our favorite girl night out dinner spots. They cut down the menu so much is almost unrecognizable.
(2)
Jenni E.
Okay, I have to add a gripe about this location. I went here on a Saturday night with some friends and had the worst service ever. It wasn't busy at all and we didn't have a problem waiting, but our waitress was just plain rude. First of all, one of the things we love the most about Houlihans are their martini flights - which are 3 mini-martinis that can be different flavors. When we told her we wanted these, she looked disgusted and tried talking us out of ordering them. I am sure that it can be a pain for the bartender to make several orders of these, but guess what - I am the customer and that is what I want. She had a bad attitude for the rest of the night when we ordered them anyway. I have never experienced such a poor attitude from a waitress ever. I love going here, so I am really hoping that the next time we will get someone better.
I absolutely love this place! My husband Truman & I go here all the time. If you go Sunday-Thursday nights their signature long island ice teas as only $3 for a pitcher! (they have a variety of like 5 or 6 flavors) Awesome. In terms of appetizers and small dishes we love their calamari and definitely recommend it! We also love their flatbread pizzas and their single sliders and fries! All great choices. In terms of food/entrees, my personal favorite is their FISH TACOS! They are delicious and absolutely yummy! I especially love how the restaurant combines Asian, Mexican, and American flavor for a fusion taste that is out of this world! It's really yummy! You've got to try it at least once. I also really like their fajitas, tortilla soups, burgers, sliders! Seriously, there's nothing I wouldn't eat on the menu. For dessert, we recommend the snickers ice cream dome or the chocolate dipped friend donuts! YUM! you can't go wrong with either. The environment is very versatile. The bar-area is very chill, great for just hanging out to watch sports (basketball/baseball/football) by tables or even to eat a great meal. Also, can reserve bigger tables for birthday dinners and/or group hangouts. And great for a romantic dinner date as well! (as we have gone on many different occasions) Seriously, can you tell how much I love this place. The location is great too, right across the street from our townhouse subdivision! =)
(5)
Danielle G.
I must say....this Houlihan's location is one of my favorite places on a warm, sunny afternoon. My fiance and I love to sit on the huge patio on a Sunday afternoon and grab a drink from the fairly large drink menu and order a bunch of small plates. Its a great place to get together with friends and family and kill a few hours. Great weeknight drink/food specials as well!
(4)
Amy B.
I used to go to Houlihan's in Bloomingdale frequently back in the mid-90's when it was its "old" version. It was just an OK place. I noticed back in 2009 that they had built a new, rather nice-looking Houlihan's in Naperville by the Showplace Theaters, and my husband and I chose to head there for our 5yr anniversary. LOVED IT! The service was fantastic. The food is completely different than it was 10yrs prior...it isn't even the same place anymore. The menu is diverse, and it has something for everyone and anyone, I promise. My 16yr old daughter loves it....my 4yr old son loves it. We have been there no less than 10x since then. We go there before movies, or after movies, or just because. We tried the small plates menu...this is a MUST TRY! I could have sampled 1 of everything if I'd had enough room in my tummy. I've never had a bad experience there, and I signed up for email & SMS communication from Houlihan's. They always have some special going on, but even if they don't. you'll still find me and my family there. I'm looking forward to trying their new Sex & The City 2 movie-inspired drinks. I'm a beer drinker, but these libations look AMAZING! I'll be sure to post a review of them when I head there to try them, which will definitely be in the next week!
(5)
Sarah H.
This was my first time going...and there's a chance they got an extra star out of me only because I was on a date and the positive energy was flowing, but overall it was a great place! They have decent prices and service, great food, and a very nice atmosphere. It's nice that the place is close to a lot of other spots like a few ice cream places, movie theatre, etc. Not mind blowing, but definitely worth the visit!
(4)
JP D.
I first went here a few weeks ago with one of my friends who is a big fan of the restaurant in Geneva. I was really excited because she told me they have awesome drink specials. We first arrived and were promptly greeted by a hostess, she sat us a very large round table at the front of the restaurant. The table set up was large and comfy. At first looking at the menu I was a little overwhelmed, it was so big and there were so many options! It was hard for me to decide. I really liked their appetizer options, they had small plates that were really cheap starting at like $2 and then large plates that could serve large parties for like $9-$12. My first drink I ordered was an espresso martini. It was not the typical espresso martini I prefer, it was darker and had foam on it, but it was reallly good and I would definetly order it again. For my second drink I chose the raspberry long island ice tea. I was worried it would be overpowered with cheap alcohol but it wasn't! It was strong, but a good strong, not too sweet but just right. Oh and did I forget to mention I thought it was going to be a regular glass? No! It was an entire pitcher for like $4! It was awesome! My friend was drinking the house margarita that was also around $3. For an appetizer we had the spinach artichoke dip. It came with a light flat bread. There was a lot of it and it was really good. My friend ordered a medium well burger with some extra toppings. I had the bbq pork flatbread pizza as my entree. My pizza was pretty good, it filled me up and didn't leave me feeling gross. It was crisp in all the right places. My friend did not have much luck with her burger, it was wayyyyy undercooked for her liking and her extra toppings did not come the way she asked. She was kind of irritated and just gave ther burger back and did not order another entree. For a dessert she had some type of ice cream, I was pretty full and content with my drink that I decided to forgoe dessert. However my dining partner's dessert did look very good. Over all my first experience was a 4, I really enjoyed the ambiance and the service. Our server was prompt and almost accurate. My friend however would probably rate it a 1. She wasn't a big fan of the server and kept butting heads with him! I went back last week with my boyfriend. They had this great marketing scheme going on, last time I went they gave me a sealed envelope and on the outside it said "bring this with you on your next trip and you could win a free dessert, appetizer or Houlihans for a year!" I thought this was pretty awesome. Of course we one the cheapest thing, a dessert, but still it was a pretty cool idea. So this time again, I ordered the long island ice tea, and again it was great. We also had the same server. For an entree my boyfriend had the same burger my friend ordered. However, when the server asked him how he wanted it cooked and my boyfriend responded with "medium well" the server explained throughly that it would be a little pinker than most people would expect. He of course said that was fine. I ordered a chicken wrap, which was really good! Not greasy, the chicken was fresh, grilled and had not once ounce of fat on it. My boyfriend LOVED his burger, he said it is one of the best burgers he has had in a while. So this place gets 4 stars, I would eat, drink and hang out here again. I really like the decor, the service and the location. It is a great dinner and movie kinda restaurant. I think it will be a great place to go in the summer time to sit outside on their patio.
(4)
Beverly W.
Good restaurant, sandwiches, salmon, steak. Love the chopped salad, served ice cold with cheese, corn and croutons. The french onion soup is very good. Service is pretty good, nice bar area, good bartenders. Beer 1/2 on certain days which makes this a good value. Outdoor seating area. Recommend.
(5)
C B.
Their food specials are an outstanding value. I love their giant breaded mushrooms and teriyaki wings!
(4)
Sara D.
This place is the best restaurant I've been to in a while! I expected cheeseburgers, kinda like a chilis or a Fridays, but it was not like that at all! We got the mini spinach dip and tortilla chips appetizer and it was a great start,not too big, not too small for two people. Followed by their house salad, which was great. Then I ordered stuffed chicken for my entree....I can't wait to go back and have it again! Great atmosphere and dining experience!
(5)
Ashley W.
My first visit to a Houlihan's was at the Naperville location. When we arrived, they told us that there was a 45 minute wait. Sometimes restaurants tend to overshoot the time and you get sat earlier, but not here. We were starving by the time we got seated! The waiter approached the table, asked if we had been to a Houlihan's before, to which we said no. He said okay, took our drink order, and said he would return. While he was away getting our drinks, a manager approached and said he heard we were new, and wanted to offer us an appetizer on the house! We weren't expecting that, but it definitely left a good impression. For the appetizer we got the spinach dip that had a little kick to it, and for an entree, my husband and I both had the stuffed chicken, per the recommendation of our waiter. It was excellent and came with a potato choice and veggies. Menu description: Stuffed Chicken stuffed with garlic-herb cream cheese, breaded and baked until golden brown and the cheese is hot and melted. Served with fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes. $15.95 Portions were pretty decent, and we both walked out with a take-out box. Leftovers reheated great the next day! Great food, good service, and a free appetizer to boot. No complaints here!
(5)
Loree R.
1/2 off bottles of wines on Tuedays, $6 apps specials, 1/2 off cocktails on weekdays, the BEST bartenders...need I say more?
(5)
Holly D.
Ok so I know this is a chain restaurant. Biaggis had an hour wait so I took my 6 year old there last night. The hostesses were baffled by our request for a specific server. After 10 minutes the server finally told them where to seat us. Then, a different server greeted us. I explained we asked for Amaury's section and she was clearly offended....the booth and/ or the menus smelled like poop! I took a wipe to sanitize the area and it got filthy! Eww! My daughter ordered chicken fingers and I guess because of the economy they have been downsized to 2 measly nuggets! They were good, but not enough. The fries were great. I ordered grilled asparagus as the side for my fish tacos - I was promised the asparagus would be firm and not small and squishy/ overlooked. Well, it came to me just that way - I couldn't believe it. Yuk! The only thing that made me feel better was my "skinny margarita" and we will not be going back.
(2)
Emma W.
They have a good menu and a relaxed atmosphere. The prices for food are a little high but it can't beat the drink specials. My favorite the Georgia peach long island ice tea.
(4)
R Y.
I've visited this location about 4x and would say, yes, a good choice for some different perspectives on middle of the road American fare. I am a big fan of their mushroom appetizer....huge mushrooms stuffed with cheese and breaded with panko bread crumbs....crispy and delicious with a horseradish dipping sauce. I've had the fish tacos, steak fajitas, salmon, tuna with wontons, and thai chili chicken wings. All are good to above average. The waitstaff has been a little inconsistent, as I've had a new server twice, but all in all, not a bad place. They have appetizer specials, drink specials all the time, and the place is decorated kind of swanky for a suburban location.
(4)
Rick N.
Lame food, decent service, nice decor way overpriced for what you get.
(2)
Tina M.
We decided to go to Houlihan's after seeing a movie on Mother's Day. We have been here previously and I was never thrilled, but thought we would give it another go. They asked if we had a reservation, but clearly there was no waiting and plenty of tables available. Our server was nice and attentive, however the wine and the food were not favorable. My husband and I ordered a bottle of Louis Martini Cabernet and instead of having it opened at the table, it came with the cork already sticking out of the bottle. At first, I thought this was to aid the server, but later realized that this was old wine. I have had the same exact wine at home on previous occasions and this was not the same. Other reviews have raved about the drinks, well this was nothing I would rave about. The food was "fine", but you do not get large portions by no means. After spending $170 for the bill for five people (no dessert), I can't help but feel like we were ripped off. So with that being said, this finalized it for me...I will not be visiting this establishment again. What a disappointment.
(2)
Jay n.
We've gone to Houlihan's 2x now before going to the Movie Theatre. The restaurant is very nice - it's brand new, and much nicer that I remember any of the older Houlihan's to be...which seemed more like a Chili's or Friday's. This restaurant, while still on the casual side, was more upscale - good architecture, etc...nice and clean. Food has been disappointing both times - so, not sure if we'll try again or just try to get into Biaggis' when we go to the show. Bruschetta and Calimari were OK....not bad, but not great....just OK. Burgers are OK - maybe better than average. The Country Fried Chicken special was BAD - over fried, hard....too crunchy. Baked potato soup was good, so maybe if we return we'll have the soup and try a sandwich. Service....OK. They were recently opened, so maybe it's getting better.
(2)
Frances B.
Luke Warm. Too Salty.
(1)
Matthew P.
This place has got pretty good food, drinks, and atmosphere, but I can't give it any more than two stars for one reason. The service at this place is horrible. We sat down for some drinks at a table in the bar. Waiting for 15 minutes trying to waive down peeps. then had to go to the bar to ask for service. Then i got dirty looks from the entire staff every time i ordered drinks. F that staff.
(2)
Justin G.
I'm in the service industry and all I have to say is houlies lives up to all the expectations you could think of for a restaurant and bar. Great happy hour specials, great bar staff, and everyone is friendly and hospitable. I would suggest checking out ANY houlihans because no matter where you visit one, you will enjoy it.
(4)
Jason S.
Never thought I would call this one of my favorite places to hang out and have a couple drinks and appetizers but it is! The appetizer and drink specials are great but the bartenders are the best and friendliest people!
(5)
Alise M.
There was very little wait time when we went there on a Saturday night. We soon found out why. After being seated at the bar with twelve customers and three bartenders, it took them more than five minutes to bring my fiance's drink. Very slow. We were then seated at a table, and ordered a steak and the jumbo shrimp. We also ordered an appetizer of seared tuna. It was tossed onto the table rudely and loudly by a bus by or waiter who never acknowledged us. The tuna was not actually seared at all, and completely flavorless. We ate one piece each and quit. When the shrimp came, it was not jumbo shrimp. It was instead a normal sized shrimp which had been butterflied and pulled apart to look bigger. My fiance's steak came without the baked potato, which was allegedly being cooked still. Why an incomplete plate was brought I have no idea. When the potato came, it was hard and cold. We sent it back, and the next one came cool on the outside and exceedingly hot in the middle- obviously microwaved. My fiance's steak came with no steak sauce. We flagged our waitress down and asked for a bottle. She brought an empty bottle to our table, set it down, and left. We waited again until she came by and asked her for a bottle which actually had some steak sauce in it. She brought us a small shot glass sized container instead. After the meal was thankfully over, the waitress loaded up all of our dishes, took a few steps, and dropped them all over the floor. A fitting end to an awful meal. We'll never go there again, and wouldn't recommend it to anybody.
(1)
Amory D.
Good food. But the service is LIFO...Last In, First Out. We were seated before two other booths; both of which arrived about 10-15 minutes after my wife and myself. Yet after our orders were taken, those other two tables received their food about 5 minutes before we did. I don't understand why...one of the other groups' tables had the same waiter as we did. The only thing that I could think of is that our order was more complicated? We had six small plates; all of them different...so perhaps this complexity led to the longer time? Whatever the case, we'll go back after one year...there are too many different places to try before coming back.
This place is awesome. I go here a lot with my parents, and it's wonderful for all sorts of occasions. I've been here at least 5 times. Check it out!
(5)
John P.
I have been going to Houlihans since it opened last summer, and it has continually gone down hill. Don't get me wrong, food is pretty good, but as another reviewer said...service is HORRIBLE! And they just raised their prices a few weeks ago. All entrees went up a dollar or more and you used to be able to add a soup to an entree for $1. It is now $1.95, still a GREAT price, however it is a 100% increase! On a family of 4, the guest check average increase by $8 or more, close to a 20% increase. It doesn't sound like much, but it adds up. Again, good food but horrible service!!
(2)
Leanna H.
I went in this place for the first time today and I expected it be a lot more casual than it was. I'm pleasantly surprised with how nice everything was it had a very nice atmosphere.. I got the Atlantic salmon and it was SO good. the only salmon I had before this was from Cheesecake Factory and i didn't think anything could beat it but this DID. it was so flavorful and had the perfect amount of char on it. the mash potatoes were out of this world. I can't wait to go back and try more. but if you're going for the first time get the salmon you definitely won't regret it.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon, Tue, Wed Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
May S.
We just moved into the area and were looking for some place different to try as a family. We have two young-ish boys (10 and 5), and we were getting tired of the same places every week. The first thing the server did was bring out two plates of baby carrots and ranch for the kids. I thought that was a nice touch! My oldest got the French Onion Soup because he just wasn't feeling the kid's menu that day, and he absolutely loved it. The younger one got some Mac and Cheese with a side of chips and salsa. He ate so much chips and salsa that he ended up not touching the mac and cheese, which was just the boxed Kraft stuff. They do advertise it as such, so I can't say anything too much about it, but it was congealed and thick by the time they brought it out. I'm sure he wouldn't have minded it, because hey - mac and cheese. But like I said, he was too full to even touch it. I ordered the grilled salmon, which came with a side of mashed potatoes and some grilled asparagus. The salmon was a tad dry, but still very delicious. It came with a dill cream sauce which I'm sure would have helped with the dryness, but I didn't use it. The asparagus was cooked perfectly, and the mashed potatoes were good too. My husband ordered the shrimp tacos, and he loved those as well. You get two tacos completely filled stuffed to the max with goodness! I didn't try them, but my husband said they were delicious. All in all we were pretty satisfied with our dinner. The only reason I'm not giving Houlihan's five stars is the lack-luster service. Our server was a nice enough kid, but a bit spacy and not very enthusiastic. I'm not saying jump around and be merry, but a smile would be nice.
(4)Judy V.
Great place for a quick lunch or dinner. They have great drinks, dinner and sandwiches. Great variety on their menu.
(5)Latasha S.
My experience from the moment we sat down was outstanding. The waitress was so patient and made great recommendations. The food was absolutely delicious. I ordered a skinny raspberry mojito with my entree....fabulous!
(5)Lalitha A.
This place never let's me down!!!! The drinks are always good. The food is always hot and tasty. Service is everything to me and this place has some of the best service.
(4)Ashkan A.
A great place to get a casual drink and a bite to eat. $3 long islands are a great deal!
(4)Adams F.
Back at an old favorite for date night and it has been a great experience. Superb service, absolutely some of the best pulled pork and pot roast we ever had, and some terrific beer......can't wait to come back!!!!
(5)Marissa S.
Went here with the family for my sister's birthday dinner last night and it was such a nice evening! Between 5 of us, we had lettuce wraps, chicken/avocado eggrolls, a burger, the french dip, and stuffed chicken. Everything was prepared well and served quickly, very reasonably priced, and our server really made the whole experience great. Thanks, Liz S, for going above and beyond for us!!
(5)Theresa C.
I was contacted by someone at Houlihans regarding my visit. I sent in my contact info and have yet to hear from anyone. That was 3 weeks ago. What a joke.
(1)Kat G.
It's alright. I think they are way overpriced for the food you get. They try to be decorative on their menu and do things like "ginger soy" dipping sauce with calamari instead of marinara but it just doesn't work because it's not executed well. Their flatbreads are alright, but nothing special. Depending on the day their crusts are either too thin or remind me of pizza luncheables. Presentation has a lack of care. I ordered the baked potato soup (tasted quite good) and it was sloppily spilled over the cup. It just seems like no body cares there which is really disappointing. I will continue to go for their drink specials. They have half priced cocktails & long island drinks Mon-Thurs and on Tuesdays if half bottle wine night. I will turn to Houlihan's for their bar which is pleasant. There is even a nice patio outside for the summer. Go for their drinks, skip the food, and tip the bartenders well.
(2)Mike N.
I appreciate the culinary work this place puts into there dishes. I've been here twice since being back home , and I cannot complain. the flatbreads are delicious , and not too filling. Their Parmesan mayo I believe is great, and I also like the firecracker shrimp. My friend went with the BBQ sliders which were more of a smokey pulled pork and not bad either
(4)Trixie R.
Came in last night with my boyfriend for a late night snack and we were not disappointment. We highly recommend the Tomato Bisque soup with grilled cheese fritters. The soup itself wasn't too acidic and had a good consistency of being brothy and thick; the grilled cheese fritters were crunchy and cheesy, but not too cheesy and went perfectly with the Tomato bisque. The grilled asparagus is a can't miss! They were perfectly grilled and season and with a squeeze of lemon on them to really make eating veggies easy! You can't beat 3$ Long Islands either, I recommend the Kentucky tea for the bourbon lovers! The service was amazing! That's one thing that really stuck out, Houlihan's over all can be a little pricy, but the service was and usually always is on point. Our server Alexa was a delight, she was very personable and prompt with our drink order, and food. She was good at building a rapport with us, joked with us and was very hospitable. Prior to leaving we let the manager on duty know how great of a job she did.
(3)Alicia P.
I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but since Houlihans is within walking distance of our house, my husband and I have been here several times. I have sat both at the bar and in the dining area and had great service every time, even when they are busy. They don't have a huge draught beer selection, but there are usually at least a couple of beers worth drinking. The food is great, especially the chicken sandwich (I forget the exact name of it, but it is delicious!). I've also tried the nachos, pretzels, and a flat bread and it has all been good.
(4)Diocelina G.
The drinks were great, I tried the coco basil drink. Customer service lacked and it felt like we were being rushed so they could close. It wasn't even 12:00 and their hours are until 2:00am Saturdays. Probably won't be going back. There are better places with more reasonable prices
(3)Alexandra F.
Always amazing service and great food. Everyone from the manager to the servers to the bus boys care about how your dining experience is.
(5)Buckeye D.
We went here on a Thursday night and they were pretty busy. We found a spot at the bar and were ignored by the bartenders who were too busy talking to each other to be bothered to wait on us. Our table was ready quickly and we were seated at which time we ordered beers. Approximately 10 mins later, our beers were brought (how long does it take to grab 2 bottles of beer.?) and they were not what we ordered. I would not drink Bud Light if you paid me. Another 10 mins went by and finally we got our correct beers. I ordered fish tacos, which were good, although the salsa that they are served with was bland and boring. My boyfriend had the pot roast which he characterized as salty and nothing special. The bill was almost $70, which seems like quite a bit for average food, a couple of beers, and very mediocre service.
(2)Abbey M.
Cheap Bud light drafts, great pot stickers for an appetizer, absolutely amazing stuffed chicken breast, and last but not least their "best apple pie ever" dessert really lives up to the name. Great service and excellent patio atmosphere.
(4)Meg S.
Let me start off by saying I usually go to the Wheaton Houlihan's instead of this one, because the menu and the service/atmosphere is better there than the Naperville one. A group of friends & I went to this location on a Friday night to celebrate one of our birthdays. We called ahead and made reservations for 6 pm. While on the phone we were told we would have to get out of the dining room by 7:30 pm because they had a "holiday party" coming then. Reluctantly we agreed, thinking we could just go sit at the bar after we ate our food. We had a good dinner, but we were bugged the whole time by the manager and a lady we came to find out was a concierge. As soon as we were done with something, they'd come and take it. They asked a hundred times what else we needed. In my opinion, their job is to make us more comfortable, not rush us or make us feel uncomfortable. We were cutting it close to the 7:30 mark but we noticed there were other tables still there as well. We told the server we were feeling rushed when he asked if we wanted to order dessert. We told him about the 7:30 thing and he got upset for us. He told us to take our time. We saw the manager and hostesses pointing at us and then shortly after saw our server having a disagreement with them about how we were being treated. After a couple of other tables left, they rearranged those and sat the "holiday party" (which turned out to be 10 high school aged girls) right next to us... and I mean right next to us... meaning you could not walk in between our chairs and the girls' chairs. We waited anxiously for our checks to come and be able to pay so we could get the heck out of there. We decided not to go to the bar to hang out and take our business elsewhere where they would not treat us poorly. Our server apologized and wished us a Merry Christmas. If it wasn't for him we probably would have had to end early and walk out.
(2)Kyle B.
Visited the location during January 2014 on a Sunday. The environment was very nice. Not very busy and not very loud. The food prices were between 8 and 14, much more expensive than Chili's. Only a few vegetarian options but they do exist. I had an unfortunate visit that was not addressed while I was there. Upon reporting the incident on yelp the management team contacted me and clarified and improved the situation. I will return soon.
(4)Michelle Y.
I am a true fan of Houlihans food, enough though its over priced. My husband doesn't like it as much as I don't get to go very often. So when the opportunity arises I jump on it. I was in this past weekend to celebrate a friends birthday with a few other girls. When we called we were asked if we would be done by 730, we were going at 6, and we said probably. Due to weather, we were not all there by 6 so we got started a little late. We ordered our food, and as we were starting to finish salads a women manager kept walking over to our table and grabbing things off. At first it seemed like a courtesy, our server said that always happens, but then it was every 2-3 minutes. We then got our dinner and not 2 minutes passed by and another manager came by to check on us. Throughout our meal they either checked on us or stood over us watching to see how much longer we were going to be. We told our server that it was bothering us and he told us not to worry about it and to enjoy our meal. He was not going to kick us out because they reserved a table for another party. There were other groups around us that were not getting watched like us. When the other group got sat behind us, they were literally on top of us. The servers couldn't even get in between us to walk through. At one point , while waiting to pay, we saw a manager and hostess pointing at us. The food is good and our server was great but we felt rushed, like we were not an important party. Our server did everything right to let us know we were being rushed out of there, but we still felt like we were. That night to complain to a manager would have been useless since they are the ones that made us uncomfortable. We didn't even go to the bar after like we had planned. Not sure if I will return.
(2)Supriya D.
Here is my brutally honest disclaimer: I wish I could rate this establishment separately based on their alcohol and food. Alcohol 5/5 stars: The drink specials here, especially Sunday-Thursday are absolutely perfect! Half off all house cocktails, LONG ISLANDS, and other drinks, and on Tuesday's wine bottles are included. The drinks here are strong, delicious and affordable. This is the perfect place to spend time with friends, get a little tipsy and hang out without an annoying bar scene. My personal favorite drink is the Tennessee Long Island :) Food/Restaurant-ness 3ish/5 stars: For the prices on the menu and less than enticing food specials, it's so not worth it! The food is a glamorized TGI Friday's and I only usually order it if I am dying of hunger while enjoying their wonderful drinks. The atmosphere here is nice, clean, and the service is great. It can be slow at times due to being busy but that is expected anywhere.
(3)Anna K.
Went here after a movie and was surprised by how nicely decorated it was. I was expecting it to be like the one in Oak Brook or any other typical American style family/bar like TGIF or Chili's. But it has a more upscale, contemporary and sleek decor. This would be a good date place - it has a very romantic atmosphere. The food is standard Houlihans fare and prices. Happy hour small plates and appetizers are a good deal.
(4)Jan J.
Great service! Food options are pretty good too. If the item is off the menu you can ask for it & they always do it
(4)Angela P.
Needed to find a restaurant in the area that was: 1) Open late (after 9-10pm) 2) Reasonably quiet (no loud music, excess noise) 3) Well lit (Enough to write/read; no "mood" lighting) Houlihan's in Naperville made all of this possible. After visiting the Oak Brook location recently, I wasn't expecting anything fantastic (sour mix-flavored Long Island, semi-noisy bar). But Naperville is totally different. The decor is modern and chic, perfect for happy hour drinks after work, or a date night. The bar is separated from the rest of the restaurant. We were seated in a cozy corner booth, near the brick fireplace. I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere - I didn't even notice the 8 or so teenager seated close to us. The half-price Long Islands are good. I'd definitely go here for drinks and have the Georgia Peach Long Island again. The Texas still isn't worth trying, but maybe it's the tequila. The food is okay. What you'd expect for a casual, American dining establishment. My fiancee had a bacon cheeseburger, and I had the grilled chicken sandwich. The pretzel roll and gouda cheese was a nice touch. But I wouldn't go back here just for the food. However, the artichoke bisque soup was really good and perfect for a cold night. I'd definitely visit again for after-work drinks or a nice date night to relax. It's nice that it's right by the movie theater too.
(3)Nick C.
.
(1)Beata S.
I don't know what anyone is talking about with the service here, I had a fantastic experience. Our server Cynthia was wonderful, she made great recommendations and made us laugh and have a great time. The drinks were great, food timing was awesome and our food was great. I had the ahi salad and as I didn't care too much for the tuna the salad made up for it. The wasabi dressing was fire and the bananas?! Who knew! On a salad?! Awesome!! And if you come on a night with specials it's cheap. This was the second time I have visited and the first was great too. As long as the service and food stay the same Ill be here as often as I can be :)
(5)T.J R.
Food is always 100% consistent and to my liking. The woman that greets you at the door during lunch hour is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, friendly and just down right nice and pleasant. I love the small dishes for lunch, which is the only time i get over here. Food great, Staff, great, but I would expect that, it's a very impressive looking restaurant, so I can't give them 5 stars for doing everything I would expect. I only like to give 5 stars for businesses that surprise me in some fashion.
(4)Angie L.
This is my first time at a Houlihan's. A few of my friends have been here before so i decided to give it a shot. The atmosphere is upscale, nice for a date or a girls night out. The food is average, however, the dessert was AMAZING. I did the 3 dessert picks and every single one of them was delicious!! i am drooling all over again just thinking about them!!
(3)Shannon M.
There are a few Houlihan's in the area, but I tend to gloss over them in my mind when pondering, "What restaurant should we go to?", mostly because I've had that old "Chilis-Bennigans-Fridays analog" image in my head. But, I received a "get $15 off a $30+ purchase" offer, so my boyfriend and I went for dinner on Friday night. A great experience all around, and nothing like Chilis! :) + Friendly and efficient staff, and no wait for a table, even on Friday night (at a restaurant by the movie theater!) + Nice ambiance (dim but not dark, not too loud, cushy dark wood booths and funky paintings on the walls) + A subset of the menu with a selection of smaller sized entrees + No trouble using my coupon, AND they gave us a little box of cookies to take home too! We started with artichoke-goat cheese poppers, little fried balls of tastiness on a pool of balsamic and remoulade. Classier than stuffed jalapenos, and yummier too. I went with one of the little entrees (a 4 oz. petite filet, which came with fries), so that I could also have a cup of baked potato soup. May I mention again the refreshing option of the smaller plates? In a culinary culture where dishes are 3x bigger than your head, someone who just can't eat that much (and thus doesn't want to spend all that $$) appreciates having the portion choice -- though since we are so used to seeing servings worthy of "Man vs. Food" everywhere, a 4 oz. steak looks absurdly small. But with a cup of soup, fries and half an appetizer, it was perfect for me! The steak was cooked perfectly medium, tender and delicious. My boyfriend partook of the sliders, selecting four: pot roast, pulled pork, Creekstone Farms (Angus cheeseburger), and veggie, his favorite being the latter. I had a nibble of the pulled pork, which could have stood up against the wares at many a barbeque place. Overall, while this is a chain, it's definitely a step up, and a good deal of thought appears to have been put into their menu to make it creative and not the same old stuff you see all over the place. While we went because of the coupon, we'll be back because of the service and the food. Hooray for Houlihan's!
(5)Saba A.
I guess they have a happy hour with half of price appetizers some days--check it out! I like Houlihan's...it's good food! Can't go wrong with the spicy chicken and avocado eggrolls (which is included in their small plates with many other tasty dishes!) Sometimes they got a wait, so be patient! I ate here once with my family and we had a long wait for the food too. I love burgers so I got the spicy frito burger without the fritos and they were delicious! What's good about this place is that they have a "small plates" section with lots of varieties of food if you're not a big eater or you come in with a group of people that you feel comfortable sharing a bunch of small plates with. In a classy type of ambiance, it's really a homey/family style at the end. This part of Naperville has lots of good eats but Houlihan's seems to be popular. I came here with three of my girlfriends and we had an enjoyable time. Will definitely return!
(4)Nicole R.
I love Houlihan's - why the 2 stars you ask? Twice now we have shown up prior to the dinner rush with 5 people in our party and have been told that we cannot be accommodated. The food is still delicious but the service at this location is nothing to brag about. I too like the Wheaton Houlihan's much better.
(2)Twylla S.
Houlihan's must have changed management in the last couple of months because the service and atmosphere has gotten a lot better. The hostesses still look like deer in headlights but the servers have been more pleasant and seem like they actually enjoy their jobs. Plus with all the specials they keep running I can't help but be filled to the brim for little dollar. I also have seen the management on the floor a lot more often, doing table touches and helping problem-solve if something isn't going right with a table. I appreciate that, as well. Tuesday night specials and Thursday night steak + free lobster tail are where it's at. Oh, and I loooooooooove the small plates!
(4)Eileen W.
Great place for drinks and to catch up with friends. The outdoor patio is really nice on a summer night. Never had the food here, so my stars are based only on the multiple times I have been here to catch up over drinks. They have a variety of long islands and they are strong! I've always had good service here. There is a happy hour drink special all the time sunday-thursday so given the fun atmosphere, it's always a "go" with my friends and me.
(4)Michael D.
Okay...maybe five or six visits here. My wife loves the place. Today and on some visits in the past...Just meh. I probobly am a harsh critic cause I'm in the industry. As a restaurant manager we strive to give my customers the best quality and service we can. $85.00 for dinner for three I expect more. This Houlihan's has been hit or miss in both departments. Tonight for example... Served a room temperature Martini. I should have sent it back. Ordered wings, buffalo style. Took forever to come out. Got some sweet chili sauce and they were cold and fatty. We were starving so we ate them anyway. Nitpicking here...My son and I ordered the steak and wedge salad. I've had it before and love it. The presentation this time struck me as strange. They came out on huge plates with all the food to one side and the other half of the plate empty. Just found that weird. My wife enjoyed her halibut...so I'm doomed to come back here. Then there was the service. We were checked on three times through drinks, appetizer and dinner. I did not utter a single complaint. Why not? My wife thinks I'm being a snob when I do. I should have just been a snob. Our server spent more time sitting with her girlfriends at the next table chatting then she did attending to her guests. Managers walked right past her several times so I assume that's acceptable behavior at this particular store. That was just tonight. We have had good visits and bad visits. It's right by our favorite theater so we end up there after more often than not. My wife likes the food. After tonight I'm going to try to talk her into the sushi place instead.
(2)Julie D.
I just can't quit their chicken nachos. Appetizers and soups are the best. Main dishes are kinda blah. Their asparagus has this weird smokey flavor and it completely ruins a perfectly good vegetable. Great beer/cocktail selection. Service is always friendly.
(4)Paul R.
We've eaten here a handful of times. First the good: Its usually easy to park and get a table. The service has always been pretty good for us and the restaurant is very modern and clean. The Bad: They have been changing their menu more lately, which also seems to mean higher prices and poor execution of the entrees. There also seems to be more up-charges for things. They killed my favorite meal the "Big Fancy Spaghetti". I had the breaded pork sandwich, which seemed well intended, but very bland. My wife had a basic burger and we had a spinach dip for an appetizer. We only ordered water and with tax and tip our bill was over $45 for two of us. I have no problem paying that for a really good dinner, but our dinner felt more like a $25 dinner. If Houlihan's really wants to push that price point they need to also up the quality of the food. Perhaps the management needs to sit down at a place like Cheesecake Factory and figure it out instead of being an overpriced TGI Fridays.
(2)James T.
Could be much better if the service were better. As a bartop goer, I expect the service to be exemplary because you always are in front of the bartender. But alas, you cannot expect someone who is either too involved with the TV or the other staff members to pay attention. I'd really like to frequent here more often but simply cannot muster up the motivation.
(3)Erin K.
After a long work week, my friends and I usually have a conversation like this: "Do you want to go get food?" "Yeah!!" "Where should we go??" And while there are many choices up and down 59 in this area, the place that usually gets the vote is Houlihans. Last night, we got there early enough to sit somewhere other than the bar...and I must say I liked the booth. The atmosphere is cozy...but they do dim the lights a little more than I like. Call me crazy but I like to see what I am eatting...maybe I'd feel differently if it was a cuddly date but we specifically go for the small plates. With a smorgasbord in front of you, you want to see it! Usually plate presentation is nice and I like the flavors of what I order. There's a lot of choices for our vegetarian friend, and our friend with diet restrictions. We have tried the mini hotdogs, the mini burgers, the flatbread pizza, the hummus!, the parmesan frites, the jumbo stuffed shrooms, the lettuce wraps, the thai noodle bowl, the goat cheese poppers!!!, the asparagus salad, the bruschetta, and the chicken nachos...my word, we didn't eat it all at once!! Last night, I squeezed in room for a brownie lollie and little cup of icecream. It was the perfect size. While our drink order has been limited, I love their flavored lemonades... Our waitstaff has always been prompt and pleasant. While we haven't spoken to management, I see them working the floor. I appreciate that. This has been a really good place to have handy. Not too pricey or pretentious. I'm sure we'll be back!
(4)Tim P.
Sadly I never had a chance to even taste their food as they were issuing one and half hour wait times while many tables were left empty due to "understaffing!" Staffing seems to be a basic required skill in the restaurant industry and it mystifies me that they can't get it right. 1 1/2 hours on a weeknight at a reasonable time is ridiculous.
(1)Marissa N.
Great atmosphere. Pretty good food but after eating there 3 or 4 times you get sick of it. I like that the lettuce in the salad I got was shredded. I've always had only average service. Can't complain over all.
(3)Jeannie L.
Love this place! The staff is alway friendly and the bartender goes out of his way to make you feel special!
(4)Devonie M.
One of my favorite places. I mainly eat at the bar. Great bartenders, though if it is busy they don't come around as frequently as some people may like. However, they always seem to keep my water glass full (maybe it is because I am a regular and tip well, or maybe that's just how they are). Tons of options on the small plates menu, and ever since they rolled that out I basically only order off of it. Love the hummus and pita bread, chop salad, spinach and artichoke dip, mac and cheese, pretty much EVERYTHING on that menu! And all very reasonably priced. Happy hour drink specials Sun-Thurs keep me constantly suggesting Houlihan's for social gatherings on weeknights, and I am rarely left unsatisfied.
(5)Ramone B.
Houlihans is a great place to chill with your friends. It is a little on the pricey side, so go when u wanna splurge. They have an AWESOME Blueberry martini (ten bucks) and this spaghetti dish that is to die for. Houlihans uses rigatoni noodles instead of thin spaghetti. Yum yum. They have pitchers of long islands which are also pretty solid. Check em put! The echiladas kick so much ass! Omg are they good! The staff is awesome! Don't be conned into letting them take pics of you and asking for your emaill address to send the photo to you. All I got was spam!
(4)Thao N.
Houlihan's has totally revamped! The Houlihan's of today is drawing in the happy hour crowd and emphasizing on small plates. The decor has gone from old school Americana to an updated lounge feel. The last time I was there, we were seated in a booth which felt quite intimate. The food was great, and I loved the presentation of the appetizers we'd ordered. The calimari was brought out in a Chinese to-go box because it was served with a sesame-ginger sauce. When the sliders came out, they were almost too cute to eat. We also ordered the Jumbo stuffed 'shrooms and they were definitely JUMBO. For an entree I ordered the spaghetti with shrimp, scallops & mussels. For a pasta dish, this actually tasted light and the amount of seafood to pasta ratio was perfect. I didn't feel cheated out of enough "meat". The reason I gave 3 stars is because of the service. I know it was late but if the restaurant is opened late the severs should still be upbeat and attentive. There were only two other tables of patrons in the dinning room, it was only busy at the bar but I don't think they once asked if we needed a refill on drinks. I had to flag her down for a refill and the check. I hope that the next time I stop in they've addressed this issue.
(3)Courtney S.
What a difference a decade makes. The Houlihan's of my childhood was a hodge-podge of Americana (or at least the foods that appeal to our cultural melting pot) that served drinks in ridiculous ceramic figures (several of which still adorn my desk today). A family place with crayons and simple dishes. Uh... 180 much? Trendy, trendy, trendy and about as different as can be. The menu seems to emphasize sharing and togetherness, which is great if the food wasn't drowned out by the music. Kinda a dichotomy if the menu suggests, "Eat! Share! Laugh!" and the music counters, "WHAT?!" A few more entrees for vegetarians (or kids) would've been welcome, as I left hungry. Our waitress was a firecracker and hilarious to boot, always a welcome bonus to liven up a meal.
(3)Ben B.
Service is SLOOOOOWWWWWWWW in the bar, we went to grab a drink when we had an hour before our movie started, and to get a menu, a drink, and the check, we burned right through that hour!
(2)Michael J.
Get the small plates. They are definitely promoting these right now and they appear to be the main focus of the menu. I've gone in both directions. The first time, I neglected the small plate and did not enjoy my food. It wasn't prepared well. The next couple of times, I went with the small plates and was definitely pleased. The nice part is that you can try a variety of different things, all of which are reasonably priced.
(4)Margie T.
I love the atmosphere and the decor in this place. I just wished they would put a little bit more food on the plates for the price.
(4)Jeffrey S.
I can't believe I am giving a chain restaurant like Houlihan's a 5 star review. It goes against every fiber in my body. Yet, everything about our recent trip was outstanding- the food, service, atmosphere, and value. We went on a Friday night and were told it would be a 15-20 minute wait. Sure enough, about 14 minutes later we were seated. First, the easy stuff- kids meals. the corn dog and grilled chicken were both inhaled by the little ones, and it came with unlimited refill drinks, a good selection of non-french fry sides and a dessert. The adults had tuna wontons (very good), goat cheese and artichoke poppers (awesome), french onion soup (awesome), and a burger (awesome) as well as the parmesan fries (YUM). Topping it off was 2 great desserts- an apple something and a great chocolate brownie thing. Add a bottle of wine, and the total cost with tip was only $80-90. I wish I remember the waitresses name as she was fantastic as well. Their decision some time ago to be more upscale than their peers (Friday's, Chili's, etc.) seems to have paid off as this was a real good, upscale-casual meal.
(5)Joedel G.
The best late night drinking and eating place in this area. We always come here after watching a movie just adjuscent to this restaurant. The calamari is good, of course their coctail drinks are amazing, my wife likes the Mango Mojito very much, so it's worth a try. Also we tried the pasta, I believe that was pasta with alfredo sauce, it was very nice, subtle tasting and the portion is not so overwhelming, we actually split it. Patio seating with pergola is perfect. Price wise $$. Come and try it.
(4)Anacani C.
Very disappointing. I've been to other Houlihan's and this one was the one that made me never want to come back again. Fiance and I flew in from Seattle for the holidays. Friends wanted to have dinner here. Because I've had nothing but great experiences in other Houlihan's locations, I said why not. Plus, it was a first for my fiance. Busy night. Waited about 7 minutes for a table. Our waitress came to take our drink order. Everyone but me ordered non-alcoholic beverages. I asked for a PomTini...which I got about 20 minutes later cause she was too busy chatting up a storm with the bartender. Finally, she brought it out and it tasted like a virgin drink. I didn't want to make the evening unpleasant so I let it go. She came around to take our food order. She listened and repeated or dishes. Not once did she come around to ask for refills on friends' or fiance's drinks...only if I wanted another PomTini. Instead, I ordered a Tequila Sunrise. Fifteen minutes later 3 out of 5 meals arrived. Fiance and I had to wait a while longer for ours. AFTER our food arrived, my drink did too. Still, no offers on refills. I ordered the Steak Fajitas, which were suprisingly delicious. My fiance's food on the other hand, he ordered the French Dip. His mashed potatoes were cold, they used Parmesan cheese instead of Provolone or Swiss cheese, which are not as sharp. The meat tasted like cheap Deli meat. The only thing out of his meal that was pleasant, was the bread. Sucked that his first time was not the best. And now he isn't interested in coming back again. Poor service. Poor kitchen management. Hate to say it, but I have no interest in coming back either.
(2)Callie P.
I have been to Houlihan's before and was excited for a return trip because I love their food. Honestly this time we should have gone somewhere else. Our server was rude, and there was only one bartender on a Saturday night so all of the drinks were slow coming out. The server never came and asked us for refills, and I had to get the attention of a different server and asked if she could find ours because she wouldn't come back to the table. I told her the drinks were slow, and we needed to order so we needed her to come see us. When she came to the table, instead of apologizing for the service and trying to make the situation better, she was extremely rude and said that there was one bartender working that night and "nothing she could do" about it. She had a very bad attitude and acted like we were in the wrong for criticizing the service! I won't go back to this location, I'll end up going to Geneva if I ever want to go back.
(2)Jennifer O.
Such a shame...this used to be one of our favorite girl night out dinner spots. They cut down the menu so much is almost unrecognizable.
(2)Jenni E.
Okay, I have to add a gripe about this location. I went here on a Saturday night with some friends and had the worst service ever. It wasn't busy at all and we didn't have a problem waiting, but our waitress was just plain rude. First of all, one of the things we love the most about Houlihans are their martini flights - which are 3 mini-martinis that can be different flavors. When we told her we wanted these, she looked disgusted and tried talking us out of ordering them. I am sure that it can be a pain for the bartender to make several orders of these, but guess what - I am the customer and that is what I want. She had a bad attitude for the rest of the night when we ordered them anyway. I have never experienced such a poor attitude from a waitress ever. I love going here, so I am really hoping that the next time we will get someone better.
(3)K W.
First visit to this location was surprisingly wonderful! Let me preface this by saying that I went Houlihan's a few times about 4 years ago and I remember it being very traditional and with limited options available but they have always had great drinks. For my first visit back after a few years I was surprised to find a new and different menu but with the same great drinks. During this visit I shared some Chipotle Chicken Nachos with my friend and ordered the Southwest Grilled Chicken Wrap with Orzo as a side. Little did I know Orzo was served cold, it wasn't very good but I wanted to try something less traditional than chips or fries. I also had a 1 liter Long Island which was just as delicious as I remembered it being, yum! My friend had a draft beer, nachos with me, French Onion Soup and Chicken Enchilada entrée; she liked everything but the Enchiladas were very small, the plate was mostly filled instead with rice and beans and probably not something either of us would order again. Here are a few of the reasons I am definitely going back: - Mon-Thurs there are 1/2 priced drinks until 7pm on Draft Beers, House Cocktails, and Long Islands - Mon-Thurs there is $6.95 Big small plates appetizers until 7pm. i.e. you can get the Big small plates which are usually over $9 for $6.95 - Food was yummy... Many options allowed my friend and I both to find things we would like to order Our waitress was nice but never brought us waters and didn't check back in with us after she brought our food until it was time for the check. Service was what I would call average for a Friday's/Chili's type restaurant.
(3)Danielle G.
I must say....this Houlihan's location is one of my favorite places on a warm, sunny afternoon. My fiance and I love to sit on the huge patio on a Sunday afternoon and grab a drink from the fairly large drink menu and order a bunch of small plates. Its a great place to get together with friends and family and kill a few hours. Great weeknight drink/food specials as well!
(4)C B.
Their food specials are an outstanding value. I love their giant breaded mushrooms and teriyaki wings!
(4)Sara D.
This place is the best restaurant I've been to in a while! I expected cheeseburgers, kinda like a chilis or a Fridays, but it was not like that at all! We got the mini spinach dip and tortilla chips appetizer and it was a great start,not too big, not too small for two people. Followed by their house salad, which was great. Then I ordered stuffed chicken for my entree....I can't wait to go back and have it again! Great atmosphere and dining experience!
(5)Anna H.
I absolutely love this place! My husband Truman & I go here all the time. If you go Sunday-Thursday nights their signature long island ice teas as only $3 for a pitcher! (they have a variety of like 5 or 6 flavors) Awesome. In terms of appetizers and small dishes we love their calamari and definitely recommend it! We also love their flatbread pizzas and their single sliders and fries! All great choices. In terms of food/entrees, my personal favorite is their FISH TACOS! They are delicious and absolutely yummy! I especially love how the restaurant combines Asian, Mexican, and American flavor for a fusion taste that is out of this world! It's really yummy! You've got to try it at least once. I also really like their fajitas, tortilla soups, burgers, sliders! Seriously, there's nothing I wouldn't eat on the menu. For dessert, we recommend the snickers ice cream dome or the chocolate dipped friend donuts! YUM! you can't go wrong with either. The environment is very versatile. The bar-area is very chill, great for just hanging out to watch sports (basketball/baseball/football) by tables or even to eat a great meal. Also, can reserve bigger tables for birthday dinners and/or group hangouts. And great for a romantic dinner date as well! (as we have gone on many different occasions) Seriously, can you tell how much I love this place. The location is great too, right across the street from our townhouse subdivision! =)
(5)Amy B.
I used to go to Houlihan's in Bloomingdale frequently back in the mid-90's when it was its "old" version. It was just an OK place. I noticed back in 2009 that they had built a new, rather nice-looking Houlihan's in Naperville by the Showplace Theaters, and my husband and I chose to head there for our 5yr anniversary. LOVED IT! The service was fantastic. The food is completely different than it was 10yrs prior...it isn't even the same place anymore. The menu is diverse, and it has something for everyone and anyone, I promise. My 16yr old daughter loves it....my 4yr old son loves it. We have been there no less than 10x since then. We go there before movies, or after movies, or just because. We tried the small plates menu...this is a MUST TRY! I could have sampled 1 of everything if I'd had enough room in my tummy. I've never had a bad experience there, and I signed up for email & SMS communication from Houlihan's. They always have some special going on, but even if they don't. you'll still find me and my family there. I'm looking forward to trying their new Sex & The City 2 movie-inspired drinks. I'm a beer drinker, but these libations look AMAZING! I'll be sure to post a review of them when I head there to try them, which will definitely be in the next week!
(5)Sarah H.
This was my first time going...and there's a chance they got an extra star out of me only because I was on a date and the positive energy was flowing, but overall it was a great place! They have decent prices and service, great food, and a very nice atmosphere. It's nice that the place is close to a lot of other spots like a few ice cream places, movie theatre, etc. Not mind blowing, but definitely worth the visit!
(4)Beverly W.
Good restaurant, sandwiches, salmon, steak. Love the chopped salad, served ice cold with cheese, corn and croutons. The french onion soup is very good. Service is pretty good, nice bar area, good bartenders. Beer 1/2 on certain days which makes this a good value. Outdoor seating area. Recommend.
(5)JP D.
I first went here a few weeks ago with one of my friends who is a big fan of the restaurant in Geneva. I was really excited because she told me they have awesome drink specials. We first arrived and were promptly greeted by a hostess, she sat us a very large round table at the front of the restaurant. The table set up was large and comfy. At first looking at the menu I was a little overwhelmed, it was so big and there were so many options! It was hard for me to decide. I really liked their appetizer options, they had small plates that were really cheap starting at like $2 and then large plates that could serve large parties for like $9-$12. My first drink I ordered was an espresso martini. It was not the typical espresso martini I prefer, it was darker and had foam on it, but it was reallly good and I would definetly order it again. For my second drink I chose the raspberry long island ice tea. I was worried it would be overpowered with cheap alcohol but it wasn't! It was strong, but a good strong, not too sweet but just right. Oh and did I forget to mention I thought it was going to be a regular glass? No! It was an entire pitcher for like $4! It was awesome! My friend was drinking the house margarita that was also around $3. For an appetizer we had the spinach artichoke dip. It came with a light flat bread. There was a lot of it and it was really good. My friend ordered a medium well burger with some extra toppings. I had the bbq pork flatbread pizza as my entree. My pizza was pretty good, it filled me up and didn't leave me feeling gross. It was crisp in all the right places. My friend did not have much luck with her burger, it was wayyyyy undercooked for her liking and her extra toppings did not come the way she asked. She was kind of irritated and just gave ther burger back and did not order another entree. For a dessert she had some type of ice cream, I was pretty full and content with my drink that I decided to forgoe dessert. However my dining partner's dessert did look very good. Over all my first experience was a 4, I really enjoyed the ambiance and the service. Our server was prompt and almost accurate. My friend however would probably rate it a 1. She wasn't a big fan of the server and kept butting heads with him! I went back last week with my boyfriend. They had this great marketing scheme going on, last time I went they gave me a sealed envelope and on the outside it said "bring this with you on your next trip and you could win a free dessert, appetizer or Houlihans for a year!" I thought this was pretty awesome. Of course we one the cheapest thing, a dessert, but still it was a pretty cool idea. So this time again, I ordered the long island ice tea, and again it was great. We also had the same server. For an entree my boyfriend had the same burger my friend ordered. However, when the server asked him how he wanted it cooked and my boyfriend responded with "medium well" the server explained throughly that it would be a little pinker than most people would expect. He of course said that was fine. I ordered a chicken wrap, which was really good! Not greasy, the chicken was fresh, grilled and had not once ounce of fat on it. My boyfriend LOVED his burger, he said it is one of the best burgers he has had in a while. So this place gets 4 stars, I would eat, drink and hang out here again. I really like the decor, the service and the location. It is a great dinner and movie kinda restaurant. I think it will be a great place to go in the summer time to sit outside on their patio.
(4)Ashley W.
My first visit to a Houlihan's was at the Naperville location. When we arrived, they told us that there was a 45 minute wait. Sometimes restaurants tend to overshoot the time and you get sat earlier, but not here. We were starving by the time we got seated! The waiter approached the table, asked if we had been to a Houlihan's before, to which we said no. He said okay, took our drink order, and said he would return. While he was away getting our drinks, a manager approached and said he heard we were new, and wanted to offer us an appetizer on the house! We weren't expecting that, but it definitely left a good impression. For the appetizer we got the spinach dip that had a little kick to it, and for an entree, my husband and I both had the stuffed chicken, per the recommendation of our waiter. It was excellent and came with a potato choice and veggies. Menu description: Stuffed Chicken stuffed with garlic-herb cream cheese, breaded and baked until golden brown and the cheese is hot and melted. Served with fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes. $15.95 Portions were pretty decent, and we both walked out with a take-out box. Leftovers reheated great the next day! Great food, good service, and a free appetizer to boot. No complaints here!
(5)Loree R.
1/2 off bottles of wines on Tuedays, $6 apps specials, 1/2 off cocktails on weekdays, the BEST bartenders...need I say more?
(5)Holly D.
Ok so I know this is a chain restaurant. Biaggis had an hour wait so I took my 6 year old there last night. The hostesses were baffled by our request for a specific server. After 10 minutes the server finally told them where to seat us. Then, a different server greeted us. I explained we asked for Amaury's section and she was clearly offended....the booth and/ or the menus smelled like poop! I took a wipe to sanitize the area and it got filthy! Eww! My daughter ordered chicken fingers and I guess because of the economy they have been downsized to 2 measly nuggets! They were good, but not enough. The fries were great. I ordered grilled asparagus as the side for my fish tacos - I was promised the asparagus would be firm and not small and squishy/ overlooked. Well, it came to me just that way - I couldn't believe it. Yuk! The only thing that made me feel better was my "skinny margarita" and we will not be going back.
(2)Emma W.
They have a good menu and a relaxed atmosphere. The prices for food are a little high but it can't beat the drink specials. My favorite the Georgia peach long island ice tea.
(4)R Y.
I've visited this location about 4x and would say, yes, a good choice for some different perspectives on middle of the road American fare. I am a big fan of their mushroom appetizer....huge mushrooms stuffed with cheese and breaded with panko bread crumbs....crispy and delicious with a horseradish dipping sauce. I've had the fish tacos, steak fajitas, salmon, tuna with wontons, and thai chili chicken wings. All are good to above average. The waitstaff has been a little inconsistent, as I've had a new server twice, but all in all, not a bad place. They have appetizer specials, drink specials all the time, and the place is decorated kind of swanky for a suburban location.
(4)Rick N.
Lame food, decent service, nice decor way overpriced for what you get.
(2)Tina M.
We decided to go to Houlihan's after seeing a movie on Mother's Day. We have been here previously and I was never thrilled, but thought we would give it another go. They asked if we had a reservation, but clearly there was no waiting and plenty of tables available. Our server was nice and attentive, however the wine and the food were not favorable. My husband and I ordered a bottle of Louis Martini Cabernet and instead of having it opened at the table, it came with the cork already sticking out of the bottle. At first, I thought this was to aid the server, but later realized that this was old wine. I have had the same exact wine at home on previous occasions and this was not the same. Other reviews have raved about the drinks, well this was nothing I would rave about. The food was "fine", but you do not get large portions by no means. After spending $170 for the bill for five people (no dessert), I can't help but feel like we were ripped off. So with that being said, this finalized it for me...I will not be visiting this establishment again. What a disappointment.
(2)Jay n.
We've gone to Houlihan's 2x now before going to the Movie Theatre. The restaurant is very nice - it's brand new, and much nicer that I remember any of the older Houlihan's to be...which seemed more like a Chili's or Friday's. This restaurant, while still on the casual side, was more upscale - good architecture, etc...nice and clean. Food has been disappointing both times - so, not sure if we'll try again or just try to get into Biaggis' when we go to the show. Bruschetta and Calimari were OK....not bad, but not great....just OK. Burgers are OK - maybe better than average. The Country Fried Chicken special was BAD - over fried, hard....too crunchy. Baked potato soup was good, so maybe if we return we'll have the soup and try a sandwich. Service....OK. They were recently opened, so maybe it's getting better.
(2)Frances B.
Luke Warm. Too Salty.
(1)Matthew P.
This place has got pretty good food, drinks, and atmosphere, but I can't give it any more than two stars for one reason. The service at this place is horrible. We sat down for some drinks at a table in the bar. Waiting for 15 minutes trying to waive down peeps. then had to go to the bar to ask for service. Then i got dirty looks from the entire staff every time i ordered drinks. F that staff.
(2)Justin G.
I'm in the service industry and all I have to say is houlies lives up to all the expectations you could think of for a restaurant and bar. Great happy hour specials, great bar staff, and everyone is friendly and hospitable. I would suggest checking out ANY houlihans because no matter where you visit one, you will enjoy it.
(4)Jason S.
Never thought I would call this one of my favorite places to hang out and have a couple drinks and appetizers but it is! The appetizer and drink specials are great but the bartenders are the best and friendliest people!
(5)Alise M.
There was very little wait time when we went there on a Saturday night. We soon found out why. After being seated at the bar with twelve customers and three bartenders, it took them more than five minutes to bring my fiance's drink. Very slow. We were then seated at a table, and ordered a steak and the jumbo shrimp. We also ordered an appetizer of seared tuna. It was tossed onto the table rudely and loudly by a bus by or waiter who never acknowledged us. The tuna was not actually seared at all, and completely flavorless. We ate one piece each and quit. When the shrimp came, it was not jumbo shrimp. It was instead a normal sized shrimp which had been butterflied and pulled apart to look bigger. My fiance's steak came without the baked potato, which was allegedly being cooked still. Why an incomplete plate was brought I have no idea. When the potato came, it was hard and cold. We sent it back, and the next one came cool on the outside and exceedingly hot in the middle- obviously microwaved. My fiance's steak came with no steak sauce. We flagged our waitress down and asked for a bottle. She brought an empty bottle to our table, set it down, and left. We waited again until she came by and asked her for a bottle which actually had some steak sauce in it. She brought us a small shot glass sized container instead. After the meal was thankfully over, the waitress loaded up all of our dishes, took a few steps, and dropped them all over the floor. A fitting end to an awful meal. We'll never go there again, and wouldn't recommend it to anybody.
(1)Amory D.
Good food. But the service is LIFO...Last In, First Out. We were seated before two other booths; both of which arrived about 10-15 minutes after my wife and myself. Yet after our orders were taken, those other two tables received their food about 5 minutes before we did. I don't understand why...one of the other groups' tables had the same waiter as we did. The only thing that I could think of is that our order was more complicated? We had six small plates; all of them different...so perhaps this complexity led to the longer time? Whatever the case, we'll go back after one year...there are too many different places to try before coming back.
(3)David G.
I agree with Robb on most points, the food is nicely presented, portions are adequate and the interior décor is very nice for a chain restaurant. The one sour note is a pet issue for me, the acoustics of the dinning space. They are the worst I have heard in a long time, the noise level is deafening, think Chipolte. In an effort to cover that issue they have turned up the music system to 11, even that would not bother me but the music system is terrible. The sound is over-driven and all bass, no high frequency response at all. This can be very distracting when dinning with friends. A good sound installation company could fix this in a day.
(4)Ashley L.
This place is awesome. I go here a lot with my parents, and it's wonderful for all sorts of occasions. I've been here at least 5 times. Check it out!
(5)John P.
I have been going to Houlihans since it opened last summer, and it has continually gone down hill. Don't get me wrong, food is pretty good, but as another reviewer said...service is HORRIBLE! And they just raised their prices a few weeks ago. All entrees went up a dollar or more and you used to be able to add a soup to an entree for $1. It is now $1.95, still a GREAT price, however it is a 100% increase! On a family of 4, the guest check average increase by $8 or more, close to a 20% increase. It doesn't sound like much, but it adds up. Again, good food but horrible service!!
(2)Habib R.
atmosphere is cool, service is excellent. Good place around the corner. Creekstone burger is good
(3)Robin M.
Just wanted to share a quick review....I spent my birthday celebration with a FREE dinner from Houlihan's...AND it just so happened to be 1/2 price bottle of wine night, AND I got a free phenomenal brownie sundae dessert....I ordered a caesar salad, small sirloin and a loaded baked potato, and all the food was perfectly delicious!! Huge shout out for a great experience all around!
(5)Regina H.
Happy Apps & daily drink specials. Can't beat it! Mondays $3 Long Islands. My favorite-Georgia Peach.
(4)Jessica N.
Update to my 6/25 Review: Redemption!! The owner of Houlihan's advised the manager of my initial review and provided him my email. The manager got in touch with me via email apologizing and stating that he tracked down my order and had a discussion with the waitress who served us that night and also addressed the matter at his staff meeting. A week after our correspondence, I received two $25 vouchers in the mail with a hand written letter. It was a nice gesture and I appreciated the quick response. My husband and I returned on 8/15 for an early dinner. We were quickly greeted upon entering and were immediately seated and assigned a bubbly and attentive waitress. She serviced our table efficiently the entire time. Our drinks were refilled before we finished them and she checked in to make sure everything was ok. Two managers also checked in with my husband and I to ensure we were pleased with the food and service. The food was good and I received a complimentary dessert since it was my birthday. You must try the apple pie. It is delicious! Houlihan's has redeemed themselves. Everything was complimentary this time around. I have no complaints and only positive things to say about my latest visit. We will surely come back to enjoy the food and spirits. Thank you for addressing my concerns. It's nice to have a local establishment that truly cares and caters to the consumer.
(4)Rebecca C.
I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't been here in awhile and the last time I came it was just mediocre. I feel like they changed up their menu and the food is much better. I got the Brentwood Chicken Sandwich. Can you really go wrong with a chicken sandwich? Yes, you can, however, the Chicken was sooooo good! The seasoning was tasty and they even charred the chicken, so that made it even better. The bun was a sweet hamburger bun and don't even get me started on the Chipotle Mayo. I am a sucker for Chipotle Mayo. It was AMAZING! The fries were great. So... I was being a fat kid and order the Creme Brulee LOL. It was actually very good! The service was great. This restaurant stays busy, but we were about to be seated within 10 min. Our server was such a sweet lady and very patient with my complicated order. Since I had a better experience, I'll be more excited to go back here. Hopefully nothing changes!
(3)Courtney H.
Stopped in last night for a later dinner with my fiancé after we did some errands out that way. We used to come here a lot and probably haven't been in over a year. Some new additions to the menu and some favorites (Smores dessert) were gone. We went in around 7:30pm and the place was pretty empty. We both ordered burgers well done and I also started with a salad. I got the house salad with cheddar cheese, ranch and no bacon. I told my fiancé to remind me not to get a salad there again; they're just so boring and it wasn't worth the additional price. The fries were amazing and I love the pickles the food came with, but our burgers were both ordered very well done and there was still pink in the middle. We didn't want to make a fuss and it was already getting late so we just ate around it. We also tried their new Snickers crunch dessert, which was good and large. However, we didn't really like the kaluha fudge sauce, the liquor was overpowering and didn't really mesh well. Our bill was $42 plus tax and tip which I found to be expensive for a last minute dinner for 2 that consisted of mostly burgers. We might be back again in the future, but it won't be our first choice any longer. I will say our service was very good.
(3)Jacqueline B.
I'll admit, I have a special little place in my heart for certain chains (Starbucks, Mariano's, Panera, Portillo's, and...Houlihan's). This location is the only Houlihan's I've really ever spent some time at. Well, minus the one time I blew thru the Houlihan's in the city on a segway bar crawl, but my memory from that visit is a bit...fuzzy. Any-who, me and the Naperville Houlihan's go way back. I had my first 21 year old drink there (at midnight...like a baller)! The bartenders were a lot of fun and made me a lunch box shot. I've also really dove into their long island menu and appetizers over the years. I'm not positive that they still do this, but it used to be half off long islands on Tuesdays & Thursdays, which was awesome. At my most recent visit (last week) I met my mom and brothers for lunch to celebrate my 27th birthday. Although it was 1 pm on a Friday (a tad early for happy hour), I decided to get a drink because hey, it's my birthday! I went with the Angry Orchard Long Island Iced Tea which was very good. A little more sour than I was expecting, but pretty tasty. For $9 however, I feel like it should have either been larger or had more booze. Just sayin. For lunch I ordered the grilled atlantic salmon entree combo. I started with a cup of chicken tortilla which was good. Not the best I've ever had, but it was fine. The salmon came with honest gold mashers and my choice of either asparagus or green beans - I went with asparagus. I thought my meal was very good and it was the perfect portion. Everything tasted fresh and fancy for the price. Which would have been $11.95, but I had a birthday coupon for a free entree! Pro tip: Sign up for their e-mails! They like to reward you for that. I've gotten a free entree and $10 off when you spend $30 or more (so far)!
(4)M f.
Always the best when it.cimes to options and the martinis are the best. Mandarins my fave and I always spend either a birthday or a New Years here because I eat and drink all the things I can have anywhere else for way less $$$
(5)Leanna H.
I went in this place for the first time today and I expected it be a lot more casual than it was. I'm pleasantly surprised with how nice everything was it had a very nice atmosphere.. I got the Atlantic salmon and it was SO good. the only salmon I had before this was from Cheesecake Factory and i didn't think anything could beat it but this DID. it was so flavorful and had the perfect amount of char on it. the mash potatoes were out of this world. I can't wait to go back and try more. but if you're going for the first time get the salmon you definitely won't regret it.
(4)Anonymous F.
It was just okay food, but the service was terrible. The restaurant wasn't busy, but due to the limited options we ended up going here.
(3)Caroline M.
I've been to the one in Geneva as well and this one has a better ambiance. I don't know if it's cause it was less busy or just the set up in general, but I liked it a bit more. I had the stuffed chicken breast with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were really good. The asparagus was good..the 4 mini stalks I had. The stuffed chicken breast was tasty, but a little over done and hard. They have long islands for $3 during the week (I think Monday - Thursday). However, they are no longer the pitchers of Long Islands. There's nothing fantastic about this location, but nothing horrible either.
(3)Samantha B.
Wow! What a transformation from the last time that I was here. This place really takes advice to heart and implements changes immediately. I went here tonight for dinner and I was extremely impressed. We were kindly greeted by the hostess and seated in a huge, comfortable booth. Within a minute of being seated, a server came by to talk to us about their specials, take our drink orders and ask us if we had any questions about the menu. Unlike, the last time we were here, the server was dressed very professionally. No large, flashy jewelry hanging from the neck or unbutton blouse, just simple black attire and hair neatly pulled back. We started with two appetizers: the classic spinach dip with cheesy lavosh crackers ($10.25) and the parmesan fries with three dipping sauces ($5.95). The fries they initally brought out were cold, but a woman whom I believed to be one of the managers sincerely apologized and immediately fixed the problem bringing us out fresh, hot fries with truffle mayo, chipotle ketchup, and garlic parmesan dipping sauces. They were amazing! The spinach dip and lavosh crackers were out of this world. The dip was hot and the crackers were huge, covered in tomatoes, cheese, and cilantro. They were wonderful! We then ordered our entrees: the chicken breast stuffed with garlic herb cream cheese, which came with mashed potatoes and asparagus ($16.95), and the 3-pack sliders which came with one pot roast slider, one black angus slider, and one pulled pork slider ($11). The chicken was cooked to perfection, with a wonderful golden panko breading. The mashed potatoes were fluffy and had so much flavor and the asparagus was fresh and well seasoned. I would love to tell you how the sliders were, but we only got through one because we were so stuffed (the black angus slider was delicious)! Our server and the managers of Houlihan's were absolutely amazing. Like I said, the transformation in the service (and food) from the last time I went to now was just unbelievable. We never once had to ask for refills and they continually came by to ask us how our meal was and if they could get us anything else, as they cleared used plates from our table. Love that! Nothing bothers me more than when I have to flag a server down for refills or when I have dirty plates sitting in front of me. We ended our evening with an apple pie dessert that was covered in streusal crumbles and vanilla ice cream ($5.95). It was good, but it would have been a lot better if it were hot. That is really the only comment I can make about the entire meal. Everything else was perfect. In the end, the bill only came to $55 which I think is a great price for the amount of food received and the portion sizes. We left with so many leftovers! I would sincerely like to thank Faryle Scott, Joe Dydio and the staff of Houlihan's for a wonderful dinner and outstanding customer service. I very much look forward to my next visit!
(5)Jim T.
Our wait time was 40 minutes. Perfectly fine time for a beverage from the bar and appetizer. Our fourth person showed up, we enjoyed the atmosphere, the food came timely and delicious. No dog bag needed, wink wink. Affordable, and varied menu. Clean and fresh
(4)Timothy M.
This place has 3.95 appetizers during the week and drink specials. They are smaller portions for the appetizers so buyer beware. The inside is nice with a great decor. The food is pretty good and is a nice change from your typical sit down chain restaurants. I still prefer Fridays and their specials during the week because they are full size appetizers not smaller portions. I want to throw down when I eat.
(4)Nicole L.
Naperville Houlihan's is my boyfriend and I's #1 go to during the week or on the weekend. It's relaxed but much nicer than similar chain restaurants. Our drinks are always great and the food is fantastic! I don't remember Houlihan's food being this memorable when I tried it a few years back. I must commend the management here, any time we have ever had an issue they have been more than willing to make it perfect. I cannot recommend this place any more! Not to mention their patio is the best spot in the summertime paired with their awesome drink specials. We usually sit at the bar when weather is not permitting. Many of the bartenders are friendly and will share a few laughs with you. If you're not part of the email club already, you should consider joining. Every Sunday they have a select bottle of wine for $15 bucks! Half the time that's why we're headed there. *Shout out to some of our menu favorites: -Seared Georges Bank Scallops -So. Cal Fish Tacos -Thai Grilled Chicken -Chicken Parmesan (I'm not one to order salads out but the House Salad with blue cheese crumbles and balsamic vinaigrette is so good!)
(5)Marianne D.
After my first experience a couple months ago of being served the wrong food, then undercooked salmon and then waiting forever for them to get it right, I gave this place a second try based on the customer service of the manager in giving me a certificate for the total mishaps of my initial visit. Well, job well done, Houlihan's. Service was friendly, quick and I got the correct order and cooked perfectly. My husband had the tilapia fish tacos which were served with chips and salsa. The fish was coated in a crispy panko and the fish flaky and moist. I had a bite...or two...so I could review the tacos. I ordered the ahi tuna salad. The tuna was seared rare just like I like it and was sushi grade and so fresh. The salad was packed with flavor and crunch....cashews, crispy wontons, carrots, banana chips and crisp cold lettuce served with a banana-ginger vinaigrette...this salad was awesome! I'm glad I gave this place a second chance. Houlihan's redeemed themselves this visit.
(4)Michelangelo V.
Honest review: typical hipster joint really unique things just not good jus a waste of money no different then a fast food restaurant
(1)Carolyn L.
Just went on a wed night for happy hour. It was incredibly dusty inside even with the dark lighting I could see filth. I had a horrible server at the bar. She didn't tell me her name but over weight short brown hair. I had to ask for water 3 times. The only reason I'm giving 2 stars is because 1 the 4$ Long Island was delicious. & 2 I always get pretzel sticks and they are always good too. Cleanliness and service needs work. Everyone at the bar should be given water especially if they order food.
(2)Sowmya M.
The starters were really good. I liked the place and the ambiance.A variety of cocktails are available too. Price were a little high but the taste is also good so cannot complain.
(4)Britta M.
This is an amazing restaurant.. Love this place for a nice casual drink or lunch. To begin with... $3 long islands with many different flavors and the best boneless wings I've ever had! Their boneless wings have a delicious honey-like aftertaste and amazing homemade blue cheese. Their baked potato soup is a must! The best I've had anywhere, I crave it often and it's one of the things that brings me back. The frites were decent, but not too notable and the burgers were good. They have a pretty wide variety of food so everyone should be able to find something they like on the menu, for reasonable prices as well! I've never had a chance to experience their happy hour but they have 1/2 price apps for a few hours each day! Can't wait to go back.
(5)Janice K.
Good customer service and best happy hour deals. When weather is good it's nice to sit outside and have some drinks with friends
(4)Phyllis H.
This is always one of my favs when we're in Naperrville. They did a great job serving our group last Valentine's Day, but get a reservation. I love their scallops, but recently had their salmon with potatoes ! Perfect on a cold night with a glass of Savignon Blanc. Our server was wonderful as always. Dessert to go.....
(4)MaltVinegarAvenger V.
Has malt vinegar! Has malt vinegar (repetition added because yelp is asinine and doesn't let you post single sentence reviews). Also, pretty sure yelp doesn't have malt vinegar.
(5)Deena H.
Came here again on a Wednesday night and with same people .service was much better. Eggrolls phenomenal. Fish tacos are yummy. Tomato bisque was ehh.
(4)Jennifer K.
The food is good but the service is outstanding! We have been there many times and always leave saying "they are so nice there"
(5)Fulvio M.
I was seated quickly, food was great! It was my first time here and I loved the whole experience. Wait staff were fantastic! They all pitch in as they walk by, never a dirty dish left on the table. Management came by a few times even to make sure all was well. Houlihan's gets 5 stars from me.
(5)Roberta V.
The service was fine, but the food is another story. 2 people at our table ordered the salmon, it came overcooked and dry, the portion smaller than a deck of cards. The asparagus that came with it hadn't been trimmed, so it was tough and woody. Another person at our table ordered a mushroom flatbread, it came to the table cold and had to be sent back. They did not make a fresh one, they ran it under their salamander or broiler so it came out burned in places. By the time it came to the table everyone else was finished. So when it was discovered that they didn't even make the right one ( tomato and basil instead of mushroom) it was decided to just eat it rather than send it back a 2nd time and wait another 15 minutes. They need some serious training in that kitchen, would not go back.
(1)Jessica N.
Update to my 6/25 Review: Redemption!! The owner of Houlihan's advised the manager of my initial review and provided him my email. The manager got in touch with me via email apologizing and stating that he tracked down my order and had a discussion with the waitress who served us that night and also addressed the matter at his staff meeting. A week after our correspondence, I received two $25 vouchers in the mail with a hand written letter. It was a nice gesture and I appreciated the quick response. My husband and I returned on 8/15 for an early dinner. We were quickly greeted upon entering and were immediately seated and assigned a bubbly and attentive waitress. She serviced our table efficiently the entire time. Our drinks were refilled before we finished them and she checked in to make sure everything was ok. Two managers also checked in with my husband and I to ensure we were pleased with the food and service. The food was good and I received a complimentary dessert since it was my birthday. You must try the apple pie. It is delicious! Houlihan's has redeemed themselves. Everything was complimentary this time around. I have no complaints and only positive things to say about my latest visit. We will surely come back to enjoy the food and spirits. Thank you for addressing my concerns. It's nice to have a local establishment that truly cares and caters to the consumer.
(4)Rebecca C.
I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't been here in awhile and the last time I came it was just mediocre. I feel like they changed up their menu and the food is much better. I got the Brentwood Chicken Sandwich. Can you really go wrong with a chicken sandwich? Yes, you can, however, the Chicken was sooooo good! The seasoning was tasty and they even charred the chicken, so that made it even better. The bun was a sweet hamburger bun and don't even get me started on the Chipotle Mayo. I am a sucker for Chipotle Mayo. It was AMAZING! The fries were great. So... I was being a fat kid and order the Creme Brulee LOL. It was actually very good! The service was great. This restaurant stays busy, but we were about to be seated within 10 min. Our server was such a sweet lady and very patient with my complicated order. Since I had a better experience, I'll be more excited to go back here. Hopefully nothing changes!
(3)Courtney H.
Stopped in last night for a later dinner with my fiancé after we did some errands out that way. We used to come here a lot and probably haven't been in over a year. Some new additions to the menu and some favorites (Smores dessert) were gone. We went in around 7:30pm and the place was pretty empty. We both ordered burgers well done and I also started with a salad. I got the house salad with cheddar cheese, ranch and no bacon. I told my fiancé to remind me not to get a salad there again; they're just so boring and it wasn't worth the additional price. The fries were amazing and I love the pickles the food came with, but our burgers were both ordered very well done and there was still pink in the middle. We didn't want to make a fuss and it was already getting late so we just ate around it. We also tried their new Snickers crunch dessert, which was good and large. However, we didn't really like the kaluha fudge sauce, the liquor was overpowering and didn't really mesh well. Our bill was $42 plus tax and tip which I found to be expensive for a last minute dinner for 2 that consisted of mostly burgers. We might be back again in the future, but it won't be our first choice any longer. I will say our service was very good.
(3)Habib R.
atmosphere is cool, service is excellent. Good place around the corner. Creekstone burger is good
(3)Jacqueline B.
I'll admit, I have a special little place in my heart for certain chains (Starbucks, Mariano's, Panera, Portillo's, and...Houlihan's). This location is the only Houlihan's I've really ever spent some time at. Well, minus the one time I blew thru the Houlihan's in the city on a segway bar crawl, but my memory from that visit is a bit...fuzzy. Any-who, me and the Naperville Houlihan's go way back. I had my first 21 year old drink there (at midnight...like a baller)! The bartenders were a lot of fun and made me a lunch box shot. I've also really dove into their long island menu and appetizers over the years. I'm not positive that they still do this, but it used to be half off long islands on Tuesdays & Thursdays, which was awesome. At my most recent visit (last week) I met my mom and brothers for lunch to celebrate my 27th birthday. Although it was 1 pm on a Friday (a tad early for happy hour), I decided to get a drink because hey, it's my birthday! I went with the Angry Orchard Long Island Iced Tea which was very good. A little more sour than I was expecting, but pretty tasty. For $9 however, I feel like it should have either been larger or had more booze. Just sayin. For lunch I ordered the grilled atlantic salmon entree combo. I started with a cup of chicken tortilla which was good. Not the best I've ever had, but it was fine. The salmon came with honest gold mashers and my choice of either asparagus or green beans - I went with asparagus. I thought my meal was very good and it was the perfect portion. Everything tasted fresh and fancy for the price. Which would have been $11.95, but I had a birthday coupon for a free entree! Pro tip: Sign up for their e-mails! They like to reward you for that. I've gotten a free entree and $10 off when you spend $30 or more (so far)!
(4)M f.
Always the best when it.cimes to options and the martinis are the best. Mandarins my fave and I always spend either a birthday or a New Years here because I eat and drink all the things I can have anywhere else for way less $$$
(5)Anonymous F.
It was just okay food, but the service was terrible. The restaurant wasn't busy, but due to the limited options we ended up going here.
(3)Samantha B.
Wow! What a transformation from the last time that I was here. This place really takes advice to heart and implements changes immediately. I went here tonight for dinner and I was extremely impressed. We were kindly greeted by the hostess and seated in a huge, comfortable booth. Within a minute of being seated, a server came by to talk to us about their specials, take our drink orders and ask us if we had any questions about the menu. Unlike, the last time we were here, the server was dressed very professionally. No large, flashy jewelry hanging from the neck or unbutton blouse, just simple black attire and hair neatly pulled back. We started with two appetizers: the classic spinach dip with cheesy lavosh crackers ($10.25) and the parmesan fries with three dipping sauces ($5.95). The fries they initally brought out were cold, but a woman whom I believed to be one of the managers sincerely apologized and immediately fixed the problem bringing us out fresh, hot fries with truffle mayo, chipotle ketchup, and garlic parmesan dipping sauces. They were amazing! The spinach dip and lavosh crackers were out of this world. The dip was hot and the crackers were huge, covered in tomatoes, cheese, and cilantro. They were wonderful! We then ordered our entrees: the chicken breast stuffed with garlic herb cream cheese, which came with mashed potatoes and asparagus ($16.95), and the 3-pack sliders which came with one pot roast slider, one black angus slider, and one pulled pork slider ($11). The chicken was cooked to perfection, with a wonderful golden panko breading. The mashed potatoes were fluffy and had so much flavor and the asparagus was fresh and well seasoned. I would love to tell you how the sliders were, but we only got through one because we were so stuffed (the black angus slider was delicious)! Our server and the managers of Houlihan's were absolutely amazing. Like I said, the transformation in the service (and food) from the last time I went to now was just unbelievable. We never once had to ask for refills and they continually came by to ask us how our meal was and if they could get us anything else, as they cleared used plates from our table. Love that! Nothing bothers me more than when I have to flag a server down for refills or when I have dirty plates sitting in front of me. We ended our evening with an apple pie dessert that was covered in streusal crumbles and vanilla ice cream ($5.95). It was good, but it would have been a lot better if it were hot. That is really the only comment I can make about the entire meal. Everything else was perfect. In the end, the bill only came to $55 which I think is a great price for the amount of food received and the portion sizes. We left with so many leftovers! I would sincerely like to thank Faryle Scott, Joe Dydio and the staff of Houlihan's for a wonderful dinner and outstanding customer service. I very much look forward to my next visit!
(5)Nicole L.
Naperville Houlihan's is my boyfriend and I's #1 go to during the week or on the weekend. It's relaxed but much nicer than similar chain restaurants. Our drinks are always great and the food is fantastic! I don't remember Houlihan's food being this memorable when I tried it a few years back. I must commend the management here, any time we have ever had an issue they have been more than willing to make it perfect. I cannot recommend this place any more! Not to mention their patio is the best spot in the summertime paired with their awesome drink specials. We usually sit at the bar when weather is not permitting. Many of the bartenders are friendly and will share a few laughs with you. If you're not part of the email club already, you should consider joining. Every Sunday they have a select bottle of wine for $15 bucks! Half the time that's why we're headed there. *Shout out to some of our menu favorites: -Seared Georges Bank Scallops -So. Cal Fish Tacos -Thai Grilled Chicken -Chicken Parmesan (I'm not one to order salads out but the House Salad with blue cheese crumbles and balsamic vinaigrette is so good!)
(5)Marianne D.
After my first experience a couple months ago of being served the wrong food, then undercooked salmon and then waiting forever for them to get it right, I gave this place a second try based on the customer service of the manager in giving me a certificate for the total mishaps of my initial visit. Well, job well done, Houlihan's. Service was friendly, quick and I got the correct order and cooked perfectly. My husband had the tilapia fish tacos which were served with chips and salsa. The fish was coated in a crispy panko and the fish flaky and moist. I had a bite...or two...so I could review the tacos. I ordered the ahi tuna salad. The tuna was seared rare just like I like it and was sushi grade and so fresh. The salad was packed with flavor and crunch....cashews, crispy wontons, carrots, banana chips and crisp cold lettuce served with a banana-ginger vinaigrette...this salad was awesome! I'm glad I gave this place a second chance. Houlihan's redeemed themselves this visit.
(4)Michelangelo V.
Honest review: typical hipster joint really unique things just not good jus a waste of money no different then a fast food restaurant
(1)Carolyn L.
Just went on a wed night for happy hour. It was incredibly dusty inside even with the dark lighting I could see filth. I had a horrible server at the bar. She didn't tell me her name but over weight short brown hair. I had to ask for water 3 times. The only reason I'm giving 2 stars is because 1 the 4$ Long Island was delicious. & 2 I always get pretzel sticks and they are always good too. Cleanliness and service needs work. Everyone at the bar should be given water especially if they order food.
(2)Sowmya M.
The starters were really good. I liked the place and the ambiance.A variety of cocktails are available too. Price were a little high but the taste is also good so cannot complain.
(4)Britta M.
This is an amazing restaurant.. Love this place for a nice casual drink or lunch. To begin with... $3 long islands with many different flavors and the best boneless wings I've ever had! Their boneless wings have a delicious honey-like aftertaste and amazing homemade blue cheese. Their baked potato soup is a must! The best I've had anywhere, I crave it often and it's one of the things that brings me back. The frites were decent, but not too notable and the burgers were good. They have a pretty wide variety of food so everyone should be able to find something they like on the menu, for reasonable prices as well! I've never had a chance to experience their happy hour but they have 1/2 price apps for a few hours each day! Can't wait to go back.
(5)Janice K.
Good customer service and best happy hour deals. When weather is good it's nice to sit outside and have some drinks with friends
(4)Phyllis H.
This is always one of my favs when we're in Naperrville. They did a great job serving our group last Valentine's Day, but get a reservation. I love their scallops, but recently had their salmon with potatoes ! Perfect on a cold night with a glass of Savignon Blanc. Our server was wonderful as always. Dessert to go.....
(4)MaltVinegarAvenger V.
Has malt vinegar! Has malt vinegar (repetition added because yelp is asinine and doesn't let you post single sentence reviews). Also, pretty sure yelp doesn't have malt vinegar.
(5)Deena H.
Came here again on a Wednesday night and with same people .service was much better. Eggrolls phenomenal. Fish tacos are yummy. Tomato bisque was ehh.
(4)Jennifer K.
The food is good but the service is outstanding! We have been there many times and always leave saying "they are so nice there"
(5)Fulvio M.
I was seated quickly, food was great! It was my first time here and I loved the whole experience. Wait staff were fantastic! They all pitch in as they walk by, never a dirty dish left on the table. Management came by a few times even to make sure all was well. Houlihan's gets 5 stars from me.
(5)Roberta V.
The service was fine, but the food is another story. 2 people at our table ordered the salmon, it came overcooked and dry, the portion smaller than a deck of cards. The asparagus that came with it hadn't been trimmed, so it was tough and woody. Another person at our table ordered a mushroom flatbread, it came to the table cold and had to be sent back. They did not make a fresh one, they ran it under their salamander or broiler so it came out burned in places. By the time it came to the table everyone else was finished. So when it was discovered that they didn't even make the right one ( tomato and basil instead of mushroom) it was decided to just eat it rather than send it back a 2nd time and wait another 15 minutes. They need some serious training in that kitchen, would not go back.
(1)Caroline M.
I've been to the one in Geneva as well and this one has a better ambiance. I don't know if it's cause it was less busy or just the set up in general, but I liked it a bit more. I had the stuffed chicken breast with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were really good. The asparagus was good..the 4 mini stalks I had. The stuffed chicken breast was tasty, but a little over done and hard. They have long islands for $3 during the week (I think Monday - Thursday). However, they are no longer the pitchers of Long Islands. There's nothing fantastic about this location, but nothing horrible either.
(3)May S.
We just moved into the area and were looking for some place different to try as a family. We have two young-ish boys (10 and 5), and we were getting tired of the same places every week. The first thing the server did was bring out two plates of baby carrots and ranch for the kids. I thought that was a nice touch! My oldest got the French Onion Soup because he just wasn't feeling the kid's menu that day, and he absolutely loved it. The younger one got some Mac and Cheese with a side of chips and salsa. He ate so much chips and salsa that he ended up not touching the mac and cheese, which was just the boxed Kraft stuff. They do advertise it as such, so I can't say anything too much about it, but it was congealed and thick by the time they brought it out. I'm sure he wouldn't have minded it, because hey - mac and cheese. But like I said, he was too full to even touch it. I ordered the grilled salmon, which came with a side of mashed potatoes and some grilled asparagus. The salmon was a tad dry, but still very delicious. It came with a dill cream sauce which I'm sure would have helped with the dryness, but I didn't use it. The asparagus was cooked perfectly, and the mashed potatoes were good too. My husband ordered the shrimp tacos, and he loved those as well. You get two tacos completely filled stuffed to the max with goodness! I didn't try them, but my husband said they were delicious. All in all we were pretty satisfied with our dinner. The only reason I'm not giving Houlihan's five stars is the lack-luster service. Our server was a nice enough kid, but a bit spacy and not very enthusiastic. I'm not saying jump around and be merry, but a smile would be nice.
(4)Judy V.
Great place for a quick lunch or dinner. They have great drinks, dinner and sandwiches. Great variety on their menu.
(5)Latasha S.
My experience from the moment we sat down was outstanding. The waitress was so patient and made great recommendations. The food was absolutely delicious. I ordered a skinny raspberry mojito with my entree....fabulous!
(5)Lalitha A.
This place never let's me down!!!! The drinks are always good. The food is always hot and tasty. Service is everything to me and this place has some of the best service.
(4)Ashkan A.
A great place to get a casual drink and a bite to eat. $3 long islands are a great deal!
(4)Adams F.
Back at an old favorite for date night and it has been a great experience. Superb service, absolutely some of the best pulled pork and pot roast we ever had, and some terrific beer......can't wait to come back!!!!
(5)Marissa S.
Went here with the family for my sister's birthday dinner last night and it was such a nice evening! Between 5 of us, we had lettuce wraps, chicken/avocado eggrolls, a burger, the french dip, and stuffed chicken. Everything was prepared well and served quickly, very reasonably priced, and our server really made the whole experience great. Thanks, Liz S, for going above and beyond for us!!
(5)Theresa C.
I was contacted by someone at Houlihans regarding my visit. I sent in my contact info and have yet to hear from anyone. That was 3 weeks ago. What a joke.
(1)Jim T.
Our wait time was 40 minutes. Perfectly fine time for a beverage from the bar and appetizer. Our fourth person showed up, we enjoyed the atmosphere, the food came timely and delicious. No dog bag needed, wink wink. Affordable, and varied menu. Clean and fresh
(4)Timothy M.
This place has 3.95 appetizers during the week and drink specials. They are smaller portions for the appetizers so buyer beware. The inside is nice with a great decor. The food is pretty good and is a nice change from your typical sit down chain restaurants. I still prefer Fridays and their specials during the week because they are full size appetizers not smaller portions. I want to throw down when I eat.
(4)Kat G.
It's alright. I think they are way overpriced for the food you get. They try to be decorative on their menu and do things like "ginger soy" dipping sauce with calamari instead of marinara but it just doesn't work because it's not executed well. Their flatbreads are alright, but nothing special. Depending on the day their crusts are either too thin or remind me of pizza luncheables. Presentation has a lack of care. I ordered the baked potato soup (tasted quite good) and it was sloppily spilled over the cup. It just seems like no body cares there which is really disappointing. I will continue to go for their drink specials. They have half priced cocktails & long island drinks Mon-Thurs and on Tuesdays if half bottle wine night. I will turn to Houlihan's for their bar which is pleasant. There is even a nice patio outside for the summer. Go for their drinks, skip the food, and tip the bartenders well.
(2)Mike N.
I appreciate the culinary work this place puts into there dishes. I've been here twice since being back home , and I cannot complain. the flatbreads are delicious , and not too filling. Their Parmesan mayo I believe is great, and I also like the firecracker shrimp. My friend went with the BBQ sliders which were more of a smokey pulled pork and not bad either
(4)Angie L.
This is my first time at a Houlihan's. A few of my friends have been here before so i decided to give it a shot. The atmosphere is upscale, nice for a date or a girls night out. The food is average, however, the dessert was AMAZING. I did the 3 dessert picks and every single one of them was delicious!! i am drooling all over again just thinking about them!!
(3)Trixie R.
Came in last night with my boyfriend for a late night snack and we were not disappointment. We highly recommend the Tomato Bisque soup with grilled cheese fritters. The soup itself wasn't too acidic and had a good consistency of being brothy and thick; the grilled cheese fritters were crunchy and cheesy, but not too cheesy and went perfectly with the Tomato bisque. The grilled asparagus is a can't miss! They were perfectly grilled and season and with a squeeze of lemon on them to really make eating veggies easy! You can't beat 3$ Long Islands either, I recommend the Kentucky tea for the bourbon lovers! The service was amazing! That's one thing that really stuck out, Houlihan's over all can be a little pricy, but the service was and usually always is on point. Our server Alexa was a delight, she was very personable and prompt with our drink order, and food. She was good at building a rapport with us, joked with us and was very hospitable. Prior to leaving we let the manager on duty know how great of a job she did.
(3)Alicia P.
I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but since Houlihans is within walking distance of our house, my husband and I have been here several times. I have sat both at the bar and in the dining area and had great service every time, even when they are busy. They don't have a huge draught beer selection, but there are usually at least a couple of beers worth drinking. The food is great, especially the chicken sandwich (I forget the exact name of it, but it is delicious!). I've also tried the nachos, pretzels, and a flat bread and it has all been good.
(4)Diocelina G.
The drinks were great, I tried the coco basil drink. Customer service lacked and it felt like we were being rushed so they could close. It wasn't even 12:00 and their hours are until 2:00am Saturdays. Probably won't be going back. There are better places with more reasonable prices
(3)Alexandra F.
Always amazing service and great food. Everyone from the manager to the servers to the bus boys care about how your dining experience is.
(5)Robin M.
Just wanted to share a quick review....I spent my birthday celebration with a FREE dinner from Houlihan's...AND it just so happened to be 1/2 price bottle of wine night, AND I got a free phenomenal brownie sundae dessert....I ordered a caesar salad, small sirloin and a loaded baked potato, and all the food was perfectly delicious!! Huge shout out for a great experience all around!
(5)Regina H.
Happy Apps & daily drink specials. Can't beat it! Mondays $3 Long Islands. My favorite-Georgia Peach.
(4)T.J R.
Food is always 100% consistent and to my liking. The woman that greets you at the door during lunch hour is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, friendly and just down right nice and pleasant. I love the small dishes for lunch, which is the only time i get over here. Food great, Staff, great, but I would expect that, it's a very impressive looking restaurant, so I can't give them 5 stars for doing everything I would expect. I only like to give 5 stars for businesses that surprise me in some fashion.
(4)Buckeye D.
We went here on a Thursday night and they were pretty busy. We found a spot at the bar and were ignored by the bartenders who were too busy talking to each other to be bothered to wait on us. Our table was ready quickly and we were seated at which time we ordered beers. Approximately 10 mins later, our beers were brought (how long does it take to grab 2 bottles of beer.?) and they were not what we ordered. I would not drink Bud Light if you paid me. Another 10 mins went by and finally we got our correct beers. I ordered fish tacos, which were good, although the salsa that they are served with was bland and boring. My boyfriend had the pot roast which he characterized as salty and nothing special. The bill was almost $70, which seems like quite a bit for average food, a couple of beers, and very mediocre service.
(2)Abbey M.
Cheap Bud light drafts, great pot stickers for an appetizer, absolutely amazing stuffed chicken breast, and last but not least their "best apple pie ever" dessert really lives up to the name. Great service and excellent patio atmosphere.
(4)Meg S.
Let me start off by saying I usually go to the Wheaton Houlihan's instead of this one, because the menu and the service/atmosphere is better there than the Naperville one. A group of friends & I went to this location on a Friday night to celebrate one of our birthdays. We called ahead and made reservations for 6 pm. While on the phone we were told we would have to get out of the dining room by 7:30 pm because they had a "holiday party" coming then. Reluctantly we agreed, thinking we could just go sit at the bar after we ate our food. We had a good dinner, but we were bugged the whole time by the manager and a lady we came to find out was a concierge. As soon as we were done with something, they'd come and take it. They asked a hundred times what else we needed. In my opinion, their job is to make us more comfortable, not rush us or make us feel uncomfortable. We were cutting it close to the 7:30 mark but we noticed there were other tables still there as well. We told the server we were feeling rushed when he asked if we wanted to order dessert. We told him about the 7:30 thing and he got upset for us. He told us to take our time. We saw the manager and hostesses pointing at us and then shortly after saw our server having a disagreement with them about how we were being treated. After a couple of other tables left, they rearranged those and sat the "holiday party" (which turned out to be 10 high school aged girls) right next to us... and I mean right next to us... meaning you could not walk in between our chairs and the girls' chairs. We waited anxiously for our checks to come and be able to pay so we could get the heck out of there. We decided not to go to the bar to hang out and take our business elsewhere where they would not treat us poorly. Our server apologized and wished us a Merry Christmas. If it wasn't for him we probably would have had to end early and walk out.
(2)Kyle B.
Visited the location during January 2014 on a Sunday. The environment was very nice. Not very busy and not very loud. The food prices were between 8 and 14, much more expensive than Chili's. Only a few vegetarian options but they do exist. I had an unfortunate visit that was not addressed while I was there. Upon reporting the incident on yelp the management team contacted me and clarified and improved the situation. I will return soon.
(4)Michelle Y.
I am a true fan of Houlihans food, enough though its over priced. My husband doesn't like it as much as I don't get to go very often. So when the opportunity arises I jump on it. I was in this past weekend to celebrate a friends birthday with a few other girls. When we called we were asked if we would be done by 730, we were going at 6, and we said probably. Due to weather, we were not all there by 6 so we got started a little late. We ordered our food, and as we were starting to finish salads a women manager kept walking over to our table and grabbing things off. At first it seemed like a courtesy, our server said that always happens, but then it was every 2-3 minutes. We then got our dinner and not 2 minutes passed by and another manager came by to check on us. Throughout our meal they either checked on us or stood over us watching to see how much longer we were going to be. We told our server that it was bothering us and he told us not to worry about it and to enjoy our meal. He was not going to kick us out because they reserved a table for another party. There were other groups around us that were not getting watched like us. When the other group got sat behind us, they were literally on top of us. The servers couldn't even get in between us to walk through. At one point , while waiting to pay, we saw a manager and hostess pointing at us. The food is good and our server was great but we felt rushed, like we were not an important party. Our server did everything right to let us know we were being rushed out of there, but we still felt like we were. That night to complain to a manager would have been useless since they are the ones that made us uncomfortable. We didn't even go to the bar after like we had planned. Not sure if I will return.
(2)Supriya D.
Here is my brutally honest disclaimer: I wish I could rate this establishment separately based on their alcohol and food. Alcohol 5/5 stars: The drink specials here, especially Sunday-Thursday are absolutely perfect! Half off all house cocktails, LONG ISLANDS, and other drinks, and on Tuesday's wine bottles are included. The drinks here are strong, delicious and affordable. This is the perfect place to spend time with friends, get a little tipsy and hang out without an annoying bar scene. My personal favorite drink is the Tennessee Long Island :) Food/Restaurant-ness 3ish/5 stars: For the prices on the menu and less than enticing food specials, it's so not worth it! The food is a glamorized TGI Friday's and I only usually order it if I am dying of hunger while enjoying their wonderful drinks. The atmosphere here is nice, clean, and the service is great. It can be slow at times due to being busy but that is expected anywhere.
(3)Anna K.
Went here after a movie and was surprised by how nicely decorated it was. I was expecting it to be like the one in Oak Brook or any other typical American style family/bar like TGIF or Chili's. But it has a more upscale, contemporary and sleek decor. This would be a good date place - it has a very romantic atmosphere. The food is standard Houlihans fare and prices. Happy hour small plates and appetizers are a good deal.
(4)Jan J.
Great service! Food options are pretty good too. If the item is off the menu you can ask for it & they always do it
(4)Angela P.
Needed to find a restaurant in the area that was: 1) Open late (after 9-10pm) 2) Reasonably quiet (no loud music, excess noise) 3) Well lit (Enough to write/read; no "mood" lighting) Houlihan's in Naperville made all of this possible. After visiting the Oak Brook location recently, I wasn't expecting anything fantastic (sour mix-flavored Long Island, semi-noisy bar). But Naperville is totally different. The decor is modern and chic, perfect for happy hour drinks after work, or a date night. The bar is separated from the rest of the restaurant. We were seated in a cozy corner booth, near the brick fireplace. I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere - I didn't even notice the 8 or so teenager seated close to us. The half-price Long Islands are good. I'd definitely go here for drinks and have the Georgia Peach Long Island again. The Texas still isn't worth trying, but maybe it's the tequila. The food is okay. What you'd expect for a casual, American dining establishment. My fiancee had a bacon cheeseburger, and I had the grilled chicken sandwich. The pretzel roll and gouda cheese was a nice touch. But I wouldn't go back here just for the food. However, the artichoke bisque soup was really good and perfect for a cold night. I'd definitely visit again for after-work drinks or a nice date night to relax. It's nice that it's right by the movie theater too.
(3)Nick C.
.
(1)Beata S.
I don't know what anyone is talking about with the service here, I had a fantastic experience. Our server Cynthia was wonderful, she made great recommendations and made us laugh and have a great time. The drinks were great, food timing was awesome and our food was great. I had the ahi salad and as I didn't care too much for the tuna the salad made up for it. The wasabi dressing was fire and the bananas?! Who knew! On a salad?! Awesome!! And if you come on a night with specials it's cheap. This was the second time I have visited and the first was great too. As long as the service and food stay the same Ill be here as often as I can be :)
(5)Twylla S.
Houlihan's must have changed management in the last couple of months because the service and atmosphere has gotten a lot better. The hostesses still look like deer in headlights but the servers have been more pleasant and seem like they actually enjoy their jobs. Plus with all the specials they keep running I can't help but be filled to the brim for little dollar. I also have seen the management on the floor a lot more often, doing table touches and helping problem-solve if something isn't going right with a table. I appreciate that, as well. Tuesday night specials and Thursday night steak + free lobster tail are where it's at. Oh, and I loooooooooove the small plates!
(4)Eileen W.
Great place for drinks and to catch up with friends. The outdoor patio is really nice on a summer night. Never had the food here, so my stars are based only on the multiple times I have been here to catch up over drinks. They have a variety of long islands and they are strong! I've always had good service here. There is a happy hour drink special all the time sunday-thursday so given the fun atmosphere, it's always a "go" with my friends and me.
(4)Shannon M.
There are a few Houlihan's in the area, but I tend to gloss over them in my mind when pondering, "What restaurant should we go to?", mostly because I've had that old "Chilis-Bennigans-Fridays analog" image in my head. But, I received a "get $15 off a $30+ purchase" offer, so my boyfriend and I went for dinner on Friday night. A great experience all around, and nothing like Chilis! :) + Friendly and efficient staff, and no wait for a table, even on Friday night (at a restaurant by the movie theater!) + Nice ambiance (dim but not dark, not too loud, cushy dark wood booths and funky paintings on the walls) + A subset of the menu with a selection of smaller sized entrees + No trouble using my coupon, AND they gave us a little box of cookies to take home too! We started with artichoke-goat cheese poppers, little fried balls of tastiness on a pool of balsamic and remoulade. Classier than stuffed jalapenos, and yummier too. I went with one of the little entrees (a 4 oz. petite filet, which came with fries), so that I could also have a cup of baked potato soup. May I mention again the refreshing option of the smaller plates? In a culinary culture where dishes are 3x bigger than your head, someone who just can't eat that much (and thus doesn't want to spend all that $$) appreciates having the portion choice -- though since we are so used to seeing servings worthy of "Man vs. Food" everywhere, a 4 oz. steak looks absurdly small. But with a cup of soup, fries and half an appetizer, it was perfect for me! The steak was cooked perfectly medium, tender and delicious. My boyfriend partook of the sliders, selecting four: pot roast, pulled pork, Creekstone Farms (Angus cheeseburger), and veggie, his favorite being the latter. I had a nibble of the pulled pork, which could have stood up against the wares at many a barbeque place. Overall, while this is a chain, it's definitely a step up, and a good deal of thought appears to have been put into their menu to make it creative and not the same old stuff you see all over the place. While we went because of the coupon, we'll be back because of the service and the food. Hooray for Houlihan's!
(5)Saba A.
I guess they have a happy hour with half of price appetizers some days--check it out! I like Houlihan's...it's good food! Can't go wrong with the spicy chicken and avocado eggrolls (which is included in their small plates with many other tasty dishes!) Sometimes they got a wait, so be patient! I ate here once with my family and we had a long wait for the food too. I love burgers so I got the spicy frito burger without the fritos and they were delicious! What's good about this place is that they have a "small plates" section with lots of varieties of food if you're not a big eater or you come in with a group of people that you feel comfortable sharing a bunch of small plates with. In a classy type of ambiance, it's really a homey/family style at the end. This part of Naperville has lots of good eats but Houlihan's seems to be popular. I came here with three of my girlfriends and we had an enjoyable time. Will definitely return!
(4)Nicole R.
I love Houlihan's - why the 2 stars you ask? Twice now we have shown up prior to the dinner rush with 5 people in our party and have been told that we cannot be accommodated. The food is still delicious but the service at this location is nothing to brag about. I too like the Wheaton Houlihan's much better.
(2)Michael D.
Okay...maybe five or six visits here. My wife loves the place. Today and on some visits in the past...Just meh. I probobly am a harsh critic cause I'm in the industry. As a restaurant manager we strive to give my customers the best quality and service we can. $85.00 for dinner for three I expect more. This Houlihan's has been hit or miss in both departments. Tonight for example... Served a room temperature Martini. I should have sent it back. Ordered wings, buffalo style. Took forever to come out. Got some sweet chili sauce and they were cold and fatty. We were starving so we ate them anyway. Nitpicking here...My son and I ordered the steak and wedge salad. I've had it before and love it. The presentation this time struck me as strange. They came out on huge plates with all the food to one side and the other half of the plate empty. Just found that weird. My wife enjoyed her halibut...so I'm doomed to come back here. Then there was the service. We were checked on three times through drinks, appetizer and dinner. I did not utter a single complaint. Why not? My wife thinks I'm being a snob when I do. I should have just been a snob. Our server spent more time sitting with her girlfriends at the next table chatting then she did attending to her guests. Managers walked right past her several times so I assume that's acceptable behavior at this particular store. That was just tonight. We have had good visits and bad visits. It's right by our favorite theater so we end up there after more often than not. My wife likes the food. After tonight I'm going to try to talk her into the sushi place instead.
(2)Julie D.
I just can't quit their chicken nachos. Appetizers and soups are the best. Main dishes are kinda blah. Their asparagus has this weird smokey flavor and it completely ruins a perfectly good vegetable. Great beer/cocktail selection. Service is always friendly.
(4)Paul R.
We've eaten here a handful of times. First the good: Its usually easy to park and get a table. The service has always been pretty good for us and the restaurant is very modern and clean. The Bad: They have been changing their menu more lately, which also seems to mean higher prices and poor execution of the entrees. There also seems to be more up-charges for things. They killed my favorite meal the "Big Fancy Spaghetti". I had the breaded pork sandwich, which seemed well intended, but very bland. My wife had a basic burger and we had a spinach dip for an appetizer. We only ordered water and with tax and tip our bill was over $45 for two of us. I have no problem paying that for a really good dinner, but our dinner felt more like a $25 dinner. If Houlihan's really wants to push that price point they need to also up the quality of the food. Perhaps the management needs to sit down at a place like Cheesecake Factory and figure it out instead of being an overpriced TGI Fridays.
(2)James T.
Could be much better if the service were better. As a bartop goer, I expect the service to be exemplary because you always are in front of the bartender. But alas, you cannot expect someone who is either too involved with the TV or the other staff members to pay attention. I'd really like to frequent here more often but simply cannot muster up the motivation.
(3)Erin K.
After a long work week, my friends and I usually have a conversation like this: "Do you want to go get food?" "Yeah!!" "Where should we go??" And while there are many choices up and down 59 in this area, the place that usually gets the vote is Houlihans. Last night, we got there early enough to sit somewhere other than the bar...and I must say I liked the booth. The atmosphere is cozy...but they do dim the lights a little more than I like. Call me crazy but I like to see what I am eatting...maybe I'd feel differently if it was a cuddly date but we specifically go for the small plates. With a smorgasbord in front of you, you want to see it! Usually plate presentation is nice and I like the flavors of what I order. There's a lot of choices for our vegetarian friend, and our friend with diet restrictions. We have tried the mini hotdogs, the mini burgers, the flatbread pizza, the hummus!, the parmesan frites, the jumbo stuffed shrooms, the lettuce wraps, the thai noodle bowl, the goat cheese poppers!!!, the asparagus salad, the bruschetta, and the chicken nachos...my word, we didn't eat it all at once!! Last night, I squeezed in room for a brownie lollie and little cup of icecream. It was the perfect size. While our drink order has been limited, I love their flavored lemonades... Our waitstaff has always been prompt and pleasant. While we haven't spoken to management, I see them working the floor. I appreciate that. This has been a really good place to have handy. Not too pricey or pretentious. I'm sure we'll be back!
(4)Tim P.
Sadly I never had a chance to even taste their food as they were issuing one and half hour wait times while many tables were left empty due to "understaffing!" Staffing seems to be a basic required skill in the restaurant industry and it mystifies me that they can't get it right. 1 1/2 hours on a weeknight at a reasonable time is ridiculous.
(1)Marissa N.
Great atmosphere. Pretty good food but after eating there 3 or 4 times you get sick of it. I like that the lettuce in the salad I got was shredded. I've always had only average service. Can't complain over all.
(3)Jeannie L.
Love this place! The staff is alway friendly and the bartender goes out of his way to make you feel special!
(4)Devonie M.
One of my favorite places. I mainly eat at the bar. Great bartenders, though if it is busy they don't come around as frequently as some people may like. However, they always seem to keep my water glass full (maybe it is because I am a regular and tip well, or maybe that's just how they are). Tons of options on the small plates menu, and ever since they rolled that out I basically only order off of it. Love the hummus and pita bread, chop salad, spinach and artichoke dip, mac and cheese, pretty much EVERYTHING on that menu! And all very reasonably priced. Happy hour drink specials Sun-Thurs keep me constantly suggesting Houlihan's for social gatherings on weeknights, and I am rarely left unsatisfied.
(5)Ramone B.
Houlihans is a great place to chill with your friends. It is a little on the pricey side, so go when u wanna splurge. They have an AWESOME Blueberry martini (ten bucks) and this spaghetti dish that is to die for. Houlihans uses rigatoni noodles instead of thin spaghetti. Yum yum. They have pitchers of long islands which are also pretty solid. Check em put! The echiladas kick so much ass! Omg are they good! The staff is awesome! Don't be conned into letting them take pics of you and asking for your emaill address to send the photo to you. All I got was spam!
(4)Thao N.
Houlihan's has totally revamped! The Houlihan's of today is drawing in the happy hour crowd and emphasizing on small plates. The decor has gone from old school Americana to an updated lounge feel. The last time I was there, we were seated in a booth which felt quite intimate. The food was great, and I loved the presentation of the appetizers we'd ordered. The calimari was brought out in a Chinese to-go box because it was served with a sesame-ginger sauce. When the sliders came out, they were almost too cute to eat. We also ordered the Jumbo stuffed 'shrooms and they were definitely JUMBO. For an entree I ordered the spaghetti with shrimp, scallops & mussels. For a pasta dish, this actually tasted light and the amount of seafood to pasta ratio was perfect. I didn't feel cheated out of enough "meat". The reason I gave 3 stars is because of the service. I know it was late but if the restaurant is opened late the severs should still be upbeat and attentive. There were only two other tables of patrons in the dinning room, it was only busy at the bar but I don't think they once asked if we needed a refill on drinks. I had to flag her down for a refill and the check. I hope that the next time I stop in they've addressed this issue.
(3)Courtney S.
What a difference a decade makes. The Houlihan's of my childhood was a hodge-podge of Americana (or at least the foods that appeal to our cultural melting pot) that served drinks in ridiculous ceramic figures (several of which still adorn my desk today). A family place with crayons and simple dishes. Uh... 180 much? Trendy, trendy, trendy and about as different as can be. The menu seems to emphasize sharing and togetherness, which is great if the food wasn't drowned out by the music. Kinda a dichotomy if the menu suggests, "Eat! Share! Laugh!" and the music counters, "WHAT?!" A few more entrees for vegetarians (or kids) would've been welcome, as I left hungry. Our waitress was a firecracker and hilarious to boot, always a welcome bonus to liven up a meal.
(3)Ben B.
Service is SLOOOOOWWWWWWWW in the bar, we went to grab a drink when we had an hour before our movie started, and to get a menu, a drink, and the check, we burned right through that hour!
(2)Michael J.
Get the small plates. They are definitely promoting these right now and they appear to be the main focus of the menu. I've gone in both directions. The first time, I neglected the small plate and did not enjoy my food. It wasn't prepared well. The next couple of times, I went with the small plates and was definitely pleased. The nice part is that you can try a variety of different things, all of which are reasonably priced.
(4)Margie T.
I love the atmosphere and the decor in this place. I just wished they would put a little bit more food on the plates for the price.
(4)Jeffrey S.
I can't believe I am giving a chain restaurant like Houlihan's a 5 star review. It goes against every fiber in my body. Yet, everything about our recent trip was outstanding- the food, service, atmosphere, and value. We went on a Friday night and were told it would be a 15-20 minute wait. Sure enough, about 14 minutes later we were seated. First, the easy stuff- kids meals. the corn dog and grilled chicken were both inhaled by the little ones, and it came with unlimited refill drinks, a good selection of non-french fry sides and a dessert. The adults had tuna wontons (very good), goat cheese and artichoke poppers (awesome), french onion soup (awesome), and a burger (awesome) as well as the parmesan fries (YUM). Topping it off was 2 great desserts- an apple something and a great chocolate brownie thing. Add a bottle of wine, and the total cost with tip was only $80-90. I wish I remember the waitresses name as she was fantastic as well. Their decision some time ago to be more upscale than their peers (Friday's, Chili's, etc.) seems to have paid off as this was a real good, upscale-casual meal.
(5)Joedel G.
The best late night drinking and eating place in this area. We always come here after watching a movie just adjuscent to this restaurant. The calamari is good, of course their coctail drinks are amazing, my wife likes the Mango Mojito very much, so it's worth a try. Also we tried the pasta, I believe that was pasta with alfredo sauce, it was very nice, subtle tasting and the portion is not so overwhelming, we actually split it. Patio seating with pergola is perfect. Price wise $$. Come and try it.
(4)Anacani C.
Very disappointing. I've been to other Houlihan's and this one was the one that made me never want to come back again. Fiance and I flew in from Seattle for the holidays. Friends wanted to have dinner here. Because I've had nothing but great experiences in other Houlihan's locations, I said why not. Plus, it was a first for my fiance. Busy night. Waited about 7 minutes for a table. Our waitress came to take our drink order. Everyone but me ordered non-alcoholic beverages. I asked for a PomTini...which I got about 20 minutes later cause she was too busy chatting up a storm with the bartender. Finally, she brought it out and it tasted like a virgin drink. I didn't want to make the evening unpleasant so I let it go. She came around to take our food order. She listened and repeated or dishes. Not once did she come around to ask for refills on friends' or fiance's drinks...only if I wanted another PomTini. Instead, I ordered a Tequila Sunrise. Fifteen minutes later 3 out of 5 meals arrived. Fiance and I had to wait a while longer for ours. AFTER our food arrived, my drink did too. Still, no offers on refills. I ordered the Steak Fajitas, which were suprisingly delicious. My fiance's food on the other hand, he ordered the French Dip. His mashed potatoes were cold, they used Parmesan cheese instead of Provolone or Swiss cheese, which are not as sharp. The meat tasted like cheap Deli meat. The only thing out of his meal that was pleasant, was the bread. Sucked that his first time was not the best. And now he isn't interested in coming back again. Poor service. Poor kitchen management. Hate to say it, but I have no interest in coming back either.
(2)Callie P.
I have been to Houlihan's before and was excited for a return trip because I love their food. Honestly this time we should have gone somewhere else. Our server was rude, and there was only one bartender on a Saturday night so all of the drinks were slow coming out. The server never came and asked us for refills, and I had to get the attention of a different server and asked if she could find ours because she wouldn't come back to the table. I told her the drinks were slow, and we needed to order so we needed her to come see us. When she came to the table, instead of apologizing for the service and trying to make the situation better, she was extremely rude and said that there was one bartender working that night and "nothing she could do" about it. She had a very bad attitude and acted like we were in the wrong for criticizing the service! I won't go back to this location, I'll end up going to Geneva if I ever want to go back.
(2)Jennifer O.
Such a shame...this used to be one of our favorite girl night out dinner spots. They cut down the menu so much is almost unrecognizable.
(2)Jenni E.
Okay, I have to add a gripe about this location. I went here on a Saturday night with some friends and had the worst service ever. It wasn't busy at all and we didn't have a problem waiting, but our waitress was just plain rude. First of all, one of the things we love the most about Houlihans are their martini flights - which are 3 mini-martinis that can be different flavors. When we told her we wanted these, she looked disgusted and tried talking us out of ordering them. I am sure that it can be a pain for the bartender to make several orders of these, but guess what - I am the customer and that is what I want. She had a bad attitude for the rest of the night when we ordered them anyway. I have never experienced such a poor attitude from a waitress ever. I love going here, so I am really hoping that the next time we will get someone better.
(3)K W.
First visit to this location was surprisingly wonderful! Let me preface this by saying that I went Houlihan's a few times about 4 years ago and I remember it being very traditional and with limited options available but they have always had great drinks. For my first visit back after a few years I was surprised to find a new and different menu but with the same great drinks. During this visit I shared some Chipotle Chicken Nachos with my friend and ordered the Southwest Grilled Chicken Wrap with Orzo as a side. Little did I know Orzo was served cold, it wasn't very good but I wanted to try something less traditional than chips or fries. I also had a 1 liter Long Island which was just as delicious as I remembered it being, yum! My friend had a draft beer, nachos with me, French Onion Soup and Chicken Enchilada entrée; she liked everything but the Enchiladas were very small, the plate was mostly filled instead with rice and beans and probably not something either of us would order again. Here are a few of the reasons I am definitely going back: - Mon-Thurs there are 1/2 priced drinks until 7pm on Draft Beers, House Cocktails, and Long Islands - Mon-Thurs there is $6.95 Big small plates appetizers until 7pm. i.e. you can get the Big small plates which are usually over $9 for $6.95 - Food was yummy... Many options allowed my friend and I both to find things we would like to order Our waitress was nice but never brought us waters and didn't check back in with us after she brought our food until it was time for the check. Service was what I would call average for a Friday's/Chili's type restaurant.
(3)Anna H.
I absolutely love this place! My husband Truman & I go here all the time. If you go Sunday-Thursday nights their signature long island ice teas as only $3 for a pitcher! (they have a variety of like 5 or 6 flavors) Awesome. In terms of appetizers and small dishes we love their calamari and definitely recommend it! We also love their flatbread pizzas and their single sliders and fries! All great choices. In terms of food/entrees, my personal favorite is their FISH TACOS! They are delicious and absolutely yummy! I especially love how the restaurant combines Asian, Mexican, and American flavor for a fusion taste that is out of this world! It's really yummy! You've got to try it at least once. I also really like their fajitas, tortilla soups, burgers, sliders! Seriously, there's nothing I wouldn't eat on the menu. For dessert, we recommend the snickers ice cream dome or the chocolate dipped friend donuts! YUM! you can't go wrong with either. The environment is very versatile. The bar-area is very chill, great for just hanging out to watch sports (basketball/baseball/football) by tables or even to eat a great meal. Also, can reserve bigger tables for birthday dinners and/or group hangouts. And great for a romantic dinner date as well! (as we have gone on many different occasions) Seriously, can you tell how much I love this place. The location is great too, right across the street from our townhouse subdivision! =)
(5)Danielle G.
I must say....this Houlihan's location is one of my favorite places on a warm, sunny afternoon. My fiance and I love to sit on the huge patio on a Sunday afternoon and grab a drink from the fairly large drink menu and order a bunch of small plates. Its a great place to get together with friends and family and kill a few hours. Great weeknight drink/food specials as well!
(4)Amy B.
I used to go to Houlihan's in Bloomingdale frequently back in the mid-90's when it was its "old" version. It was just an OK place. I noticed back in 2009 that they had built a new, rather nice-looking Houlihan's in Naperville by the Showplace Theaters, and my husband and I chose to head there for our 5yr anniversary. LOVED IT! The service was fantastic. The food is completely different than it was 10yrs prior...it isn't even the same place anymore. The menu is diverse, and it has something for everyone and anyone, I promise. My 16yr old daughter loves it....my 4yr old son loves it. We have been there no less than 10x since then. We go there before movies, or after movies, or just because. We tried the small plates menu...this is a MUST TRY! I could have sampled 1 of everything if I'd had enough room in my tummy. I've never had a bad experience there, and I signed up for email & SMS communication from Houlihan's. They always have some special going on, but even if they don't. you'll still find me and my family there. I'm looking forward to trying their new Sex & The City 2 movie-inspired drinks. I'm a beer drinker, but these libations look AMAZING! I'll be sure to post a review of them when I head there to try them, which will definitely be in the next week!
(5)Sarah H.
This was my first time going...and there's a chance they got an extra star out of me only because I was on a date and the positive energy was flowing, but overall it was a great place! They have decent prices and service, great food, and a very nice atmosphere. It's nice that the place is close to a lot of other spots like a few ice cream places, movie theatre, etc. Not mind blowing, but definitely worth the visit!
(4)JP D.
I first went here a few weeks ago with one of my friends who is a big fan of the restaurant in Geneva. I was really excited because she told me they have awesome drink specials. We first arrived and were promptly greeted by a hostess, she sat us a very large round table at the front of the restaurant. The table set up was large and comfy. At first looking at the menu I was a little overwhelmed, it was so big and there were so many options! It was hard for me to decide. I really liked their appetizer options, they had small plates that were really cheap starting at like $2 and then large plates that could serve large parties for like $9-$12. My first drink I ordered was an espresso martini. It was not the typical espresso martini I prefer, it was darker and had foam on it, but it was reallly good and I would definetly order it again. For my second drink I chose the raspberry long island ice tea. I was worried it would be overpowered with cheap alcohol but it wasn't! It was strong, but a good strong, not too sweet but just right. Oh and did I forget to mention I thought it was going to be a regular glass? No! It was an entire pitcher for like $4! It was awesome! My friend was drinking the house margarita that was also around $3. For an appetizer we had the spinach artichoke dip. It came with a light flat bread. There was a lot of it and it was really good. My friend ordered a medium well burger with some extra toppings. I had the bbq pork flatbread pizza as my entree. My pizza was pretty good, it filled me up and didn't leave me feeling gross. It was crisp in all the right places. My friend did not have much luck with her burger, it was wayyyyy undercooked for her liking and her extra toppings did not come the way she asked. She was kind of irritated and just gave ther burger back and did not order another entree. For a dessert she had some type of ice cream, I was pretty full and content with my drink that I decided to forgoe dessert. However my dining partner's dessert did look very good. Over all my first experience was a 4, I really enjoyed the ambiance and the service. Our server was prompt and almost accurate. My friend however would probably rate it a 1. She wasn't a big fan of the server and kept butting heads with him! I went back last week with my boyfriend. They had this great marketing scheme going on, last time I went they gave me a sealed envelope and on the outside it said "bring this with you on your next trip and you could win a free dessert, appetizer or Houlihans for a year!" I thought this was pretty awesome. Of course we one the cheapest thing, a dessert, but still it was a pretty cool idea. So this time again, I ordered the long island ice tea, and again it was great. We also had the same server. For an entree my boyfriend had the same burger my friend ordered. However, when the server asked him how he wanted it cooked and my boyfriend responded with "medium well" the server explained throughly that it would be a little pinker than most people would expect. He of course said that was fine. I ordered a chicken wrap, which was really good! Not greasy, the chicken was fresh, grilled and had not once ounce of fat on it. My boyfriend LOVED his burger, he said it is one of the best burgers he has had in a while. So this place gets 4 stars, I would eat, drink and hang out here again. I really like the decor, the service and the location. It is a great dinner and movie kinda restaurant. I think it will be a great place to go in the summer time to sit outside on their patio.
(4)Beverly W.
Good restaurant, sandwiches, salmon, steak. Love the chopped salad, served ice cold with cheese, corn and croutons. The french onion soup is very good. Service is pretty good, nice bar area, good bartenders. Beer 1/2 on certain days which makes this a good value. Outdoor seating area. Recommend.
(5)C B.
Their food specials are an outstanding value. I love their giant breaded mushrooms and teriyaki wings!
(4)Sara D.
This place is the best restaurant I've been to in a while! I expected cheeseburgers, kinda like a chilis or a Fridays, but it was not like that at all! We got the mini spinach dip and tortilla chips appetizer and it was a great start,not too big, not too small for two people. Followed by their house salad, which was great. Then I ordered stuffed chicken for my entree....I can't wait to go back and have it again! Great atmosphere and dining experience!
(5)Ashley W.
My first visit to a Houlihan's was at the Naperville location. When we arrived, they told us that there was a 45 minute wait. Sometimes restaurants tend to overshoot the time and you get sat earlier, but not here. We were starving by the time we got seated! The waiter approached the table, asked if we had been to a Houlihan's before, to which we said no. He said okay, took our drink order, and said he would return. While he was away getting our drinks, a manager approached and said he heard we were new, and wanted to offer us an appetizer on the house! We weren't expecting that, but it definitely left a good impression. For the appetizer we got the spinach dip that had a little kick to it, and for an entree, my husband and I both had the stuffed chicken, per the recommendation of our waiter. It was excellent and came with a potato choice and veggies. Menu description: Stuffed Chicken stuffed with garlic-herb cream cheese, breaded and baked until golden brown and the cheese is hot and melted. Served with fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes. $15.95 Portions were pretty decent, and we both walked out with a take-out box. Leftovers reheated great the next day! Great food, good service, and a free appetizer to boot. No complaints here!
(5)Loree R.
1/2 off bottles of wines on Tuedays, $6 apps specials, 1/2 off cocktails on weekdays, the BEST bartenders...need I say more?
(5)Holly D.
Ok so I know this is a chain restaurant. Biaggis had an hour wait so I took my 6 year old there last night. The hostesses were baffled by our request for a specific server. After 10 minutes the server finally told them where to seat us. Then, a different server greeted us. I explained we asked for Amaury's section and she was clearly offended....the booth and/ or the menus smelled like poop! I took a wipe to sanitize the area and it got filthy! Eww! My daughter ordered chicken fingers and I guess because of the economy they have been downsized to 2 measly nuggets! They were good, but not enough. The fries were great. I ordered grilled asparagus as the side for my fish tacos - I was promised the asparagus would be firm and not small and squishy/ overlooked. Well, it came to me just that way - I couldn't believe it. Yuk! The only thing that made me feel better was my "skinny margarita" and we will not be going back.
(2)Emma W.
They have a good menu and a relaxed atmosphere. The prices for food are a little high but it can't beat the drink specials. My favorite the Georgia peach long island ice tea.
(4)R Y.
I've visited this location about 4x and would say, yes, a good choice for some different perspectives on middle of the road American fare. I am a big fan of their mushroom appetizer....huge mushrooms stuffed with cheese and breaded with panko bread crumbs....crispy and delicious with a horseradish dipping sauce. I've had the fish tacos, steak fajitas, salmon, tuna with wontons, and thai chili chicken wings. All are good to above average. The waitstaff has been a little inconsistent, as I've had a new server twice, but all in all, not a bad place. They have appetizer specials, drink specials all the time, and the place is decorated kind of swanky for a suburban location.
(4)Rick N.
Lame food, decent service, nice decor way overpriced for what you get.
(2)Tina M.
We decided to go to Houlihan's after seeing a movie on Mother's Day. We have been here previously and I was never thrilled, but thought we would give it another go. They asked if we had a reservation, but clearly there was no waiting and plenty of tables available. Our server was nice and attentive, however the wine and the food were not favorable. My husband and I ordered a bottle of Louis Martini Cabernet and instead of having it opened at the table, it came with the cork already sticking out of the bottle. At first, I thought this was to aid the server, but later realized that this was old wine. I have had the same exact wine at home on previous occasions and this was not the same. Other reviews have raved about the drinks, well this was nothing I would rave about. The food was "fine", but you do not get large portions by no means. After spending $170 for the bill for five people (no dessert), I can't help but feel like we were ripped off. So with that being said, this finalized it for me...I will not be visiting this establishment again. What a disappointment.
(2)Jay n.
We've gone to Houlihan's 2x now before going to the Movie Theatre. The restaurant is very nice - it's brand new, and much nicer that I remember any of the older Houlihan's to be...which seemed more like a Chili's or Friday's. This restaurant, while still on the casual side, was more upscale - good architecture, etc...nice and clean. Food has been disappointing both times - so, not sure if we'll try again or just try to get into Biaggis' when we go to the show. Bruschetta and Calimari were OK....not bad, but not great....just OK. Burgers are OK - maybe better than average. The Country Fried Chicken special was BAD - over fried, hard....too crunchy. Baked potato soup was good, so maybe if we return we'll have the soup and try a sandwich. Service....OK. They were recently opened, so maybe it's getting better.
(2)Frances B.
Luke Warm. Too Salty.
(1)Matthew P.
This place has got pretty good food, drinks, and atmosphere, but I can't give it any more than two stars for one reason. The service at this place is horrible. We sat down for some drinks at a table in the bar. Waiting for 15 minutes trying to waive down peeps. then had to go to the bar to ask for service. Then i got dirty looks from the entire staff every time i ordered drinks. F that staff.
(2)Justin G.
I'm in the service industry and all I have to say is houlies lives up to all the expectations you could think of for a restaurant and bar. Great happy hour specials, great bar staff, and everyone is friendly and hospitable. I would suggest checking out ANY houlihans because no matter where you visit one, you will enjoy it.
(4)Jason S.
Never thought I would call this one of my favorite places to hang out and have a couple drinks and appetizers but it is! The appetizer and drink specials are great but the bartenders are the best and friendliest people!
(5)Alise M.
There was very little wait time when we went there on a Saturday night. We soon found out why. After being seated at the bar with twelve customers and three bartenders, it took them more than five minutes to bring my fiance's drink. Very slow. We were then seated at a table, and ordered a steak and the jumbo shrimp. We also ordered an appetizer of seared tuna. It was tossed onto the table rudely and loudly by a bus by or waiter who never acknowledged us. The tuna was not actually seared at all, and completely flavorless. We ate one piece each and quit. When the shrimp came, it was not jumbo shrimp. It was instead a normal sized shrimp which had been butterflied and pulled apart to look bigger. My fiance's steak came without the baked potato, which was allegedly being cooked still. Why an incomplete plate was brought I have no idea. When the potato came, it was hard and cold. We sent it back, and the next one came cool on the outside and exceedingly hot in the middle- obviously microwaved. My fiance's steak came with no steak sauce. We flagged our waitress down and asked for a bottle. She brought an empty bottle to our table, set it down, and left. We waited again until she came by and asked her for a bottle which actually had some steak sauce in it. She brought us a small shot glass sized container instead. After the meal was thankfully over, the waitress loaded up all of our dishes, took a few steps, and dropped them all over the floor. A fitting end to an awful meal. We'll never go there again, and wouldn't recommend it to anybody.
(1)Amory D.
Good food. But the service is LIFO...Last In, First Out. We were seated before two other booths; both of which arrived about 10-15 minutes after my wife and myself. Yet after our orders were taken, those other two tables received their food about 5 minutes before we did. I don't understand why...one of the other groups' tables had the same waiter as we did. The only thing that I could think of is that our order was more complicated? We had six small plates; all of them different...so perhaps this complexity led to the longer time? Whatever the case, we'll go back after one year...there are too many different places to try before coming back.
(3)David G.
I agree with Robb on most points, the food is nicely presented, portions are adequate and the interior décor is very nice for a chain restaurant. The one sour note is a pet issue for me, the acoustics of the dinning space. They are the worst I have heard in a long time, the noise level is deafening, think Chipolte. In an effort to cover that issue they have turned up the music system to 11, even that would not bother me but the music system is terrible. The sound is over-driven and all bass, no high frequency response at all. This can be very distracting when dinning with friends. A good sound installation company could fix this in a day.
(4)Ashley L.
This place is awesome. I go here a lot with my parents, and it's wonderful for all sorts of occasions. I've been here at least 5 times. Check it out!
(5)John P.
I have been going to Houlihans since it opened last summer, and it has continually gone down hill. Don't get me wrong, food is pretty good, but as another reviewer said...service is HORRIBLE! And they just raised their prices a few weeks ago. All entrees went up a dollar or more and you used to be able to add a soup to an entree for $1. It is now $1.95, still a GREAT price, however it is a 100% increase! On a family of 4, the guest check average increase by $8 or more, close to a 20% increase. It doesn't sound like much, but it adds up. Again, good food but horrible service!!
(2)Leanna H.
I went in this place for the first time today and I expected it be a lot more casual than it was. I'm pleasantly surprised with how nice everything was it had a very nice atmosphere.. I got the Atlantic salmon and it was SO good. the only salmon I had before this was from Cheesecake Factory and i didn't think anything could beat it but this DID. it was so flavorful and had the perfect amount of char on it. the mash potatoes were out of this world. I can't wait to go back and try more. but if you're going for the first time get the salmon you definitely won't regret it.
(4)