Friday 4th of June 2010 06:03:11 PM

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8/09
Kind of a bland experience here. Bar entrance on the left, restaurant on the right. The place was sold but kept in the family after all the hubbub in 2006 that it was closing. It's a Chicago landmark with historical significance, but not really a beer bar, more of a nice restaurant with some German and contemporary food. Crowd was mostly loop businesspeople and tourists.

The bar was long on the left side of the room, with an authentic wall fresco above the bar, along the ceiling. Under that was another interesting artwork, inlaid wood panels of more pastoral scenes, with a built-in clock that kept the correct time. Unfortunately that was the highlight of my visit. Service was ok, although I was served a more expensive glass size than what I intended to order. A 16 oz. Berghoff Hefeweizen was $5.75... a 6-pack is maybe $7 at the store, Loop prices I guess. About 10 bottles, all macros. There were 6 house taps and a root beer. They were out of the "seasonal" whatever it was, so there was a pretty limited selection: dark, amber, lager, hefe, and pale ale. Considering these beers are contract brewed and available at most area grocery stores, I was hoping for something better at the bar they were named for. The menu sounded interesting, but expensive. "Berghoff Brewery: A midwest craft beer tradition" was on my glass, which was just plain confusing, since the beer has been contract brewed for half a century. Trivia tidbit: Apparently this was a "men's only" bar until 1969.

Wednesday 18th of July 2007 04:14:09 PM

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This person needs 3 or more reviews on the site for their scores to start counting.

The many good Bergie Beers are all on-tap! Try the summertime Solstice Wit w/ an orange slice or lemon wedge.

Since the parents sold to Carolyn/the daughter, it's changed a bit in atmosphere, but the lunch food is still good and the beers are always good.

We stop in after work for a few cold ones before we head for the train ride home on a Weiss-Up Wednesday...The bar serves food during lunch as well as the downstairs cafe. I've not eaten any of the appetizers in the bar, but they look good.

Go for the beers and good conversation.

Feel free to join us at Weiss-Up Wed.