Monk’s Pub

Struck me as great replica of classic pub. Lots of wood and beer paraphernalia all over the place. The tap list looked quite good with several interesting beer among 15 drafts. Solid bottle list. Friendly service. Certainly worth checking out if you're in the area.

Very good selection of drat and bottled craft beers. Excellent chili and their other food is good. Used to have lunch here regularly in the 1990s when it was a dive smoky bar serving a few types of beers. They have changed recently to offer a great selection of craft beers, and they offer regular tastings and other events by craft brewers. Great place to visit downtown.

Pretty solid spot for the loop. Better beer options than most everything else in this neighborhood. Dark and small. Hidden under the train. I can see the appeal for sure. They let you throw the peanuts on the floor, which is something that stupidly makes me happy. I didn’t eat on my visit. The bartender was okay, but fairly short when you asked him a question.

Situated pretty much beneath the train. Divey, and dirty. Local folks having a cheap, crappy lunch. Two very fresh daisy cutter cans. It worked out.

Huge place with plenty of seats if you get there by 530. Best spot in the loop to grab a beer. Cool events, tasters.

Downstairs, dark, old feeling place. In this neighborhood there aren’t many choices. Good selection of import and domestic micros. They were doing a Belgian feature the night I went in with some less-common things on tap. Service was friendly and attentive, bartender knowledge seemed minimal, but competent. I tried three beers and they all seemed off. Two IPA’s tasted oxidized, and the Rayon Vert...just not sure...Not the delicious brew I’m used to it being. That said, I rather enjoyed myself, and if in that neighborhood again, would return.

front door nearly under the L but inside the double doors the outside noise doesn’t trickle in so much. cozy brown bar interior with decent draft and bottle list and staff made up of curt but friendly south-siders.

Near downtown and parking is expensive so best bet is the take the train here. Very old school pub with dark wood, there are a few TV’s and music (which I found distracting). I was there during lunch and it was a local crowd of familiar faces. The burger I had was very good but tater tots... really? Had a good tap list and bottle selection but not too much I have not had before.

This is a decent place to stop in for lunch (normally a bit of a wait around noon) or for after work drinks but not really a destination if you are looking for beer. The beer they have on hand is actually quite good but, while they do seem to get an occasional limited Goose Island release, it is mostly stuff that’s pretty common in the area.

The decor is actually pretty cool looking, an old timey kind of feel w/ bookshelves full of (mostly fake) books and lots of wood, including big wooden tables. It is also one of those places where they let you throw peanut shells on the floor which some people are really into for whatever reason.

The crowd here is very local. Work buddies getting lunch or hitting up some happy hour drinks. There is really no emphasis on craft beer---though they do offer flights if you find a few things you want to try--and, from time to time, I get something that is obviously a wrong beer when I get table service.

The food is pretty standard pub fare. The burgers seem like they were made from frozen patties or were otherwise not hand formed and the french fries are good. The rest of the menu is your greasy standbys like chicken wings, fish and chips and salads with meat in them. It’s tasty but nothing stands out as especially good.

At the end of the day, you’ve got a place w/ tasty brews and food you can’t really complain about. It’s convenient in the loop and that’s about all it’s got going for it. Worth checking out but not worth going out of your way for for the beer.