Monday 27th of December 2010 12:06:02 PM

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This is a nice looking place. The outside has lots of brick, wood & stone. They have also incorporated a large grain silo into the design. I’m not sure if its functional or just decorative, but it looks fine.

As you approach the front door, you will notice a small outdoor patio on your left. Once inside, the bar is to your left and the spacious dining room is to the right. This may be the largest dining area I have ever seen in a Rock Bottom.

I always sit in the barroom. The actual bar is in the center of the room and there is seating all around it. There are also tables on all four sides. I’m guessing the bar itself seats 30 to 40 with room for another 80 or so folks at the perimeter tables. The bar has an attractive Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie style design. Brewing equipment is on display through windows on the west side of the bar. Stylish and very clean bathrooms.

They have about 6 regular beers and anywhere from 4 to 6 specials. They do a lot of barrel aging and imperials on special. The beers run the gauntlet from good to outstanding. I have never had an off or bad beer here.

The servers have decent beer knowledge and can ably describe the beers. The place is usually pretty crowded but service is usually pretty fast.

The food is pretty decent. You can get some good appetizers and more than acceptable entrees. Note that the portions are huge.

This is well worth a stop if you find your self in the neighborhood.

Monday 27th of December 2010 11:22:27 AM

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I have been to this Rock Bottom location a few times and I always enjoyed the beer. Unfortunately, the RB-Warrenville location is closer to my house and so I tended to go there much more frequently. Over the past year I have been increasingly disappointed with RB-Warrenville though and that caused me to take another look at RB-Yorktown.

My most recent visit made me fall in love with Rock Bottom again. The brewer at this location put out several barrel aged beers with big, complex flavors. The Clusterfunk with hints of cherry was fantastic.
Even the lighter Sparklepony wit beer was tasty.

The food is standard Rock Bottom fare. I continue to be grumpy about this ever since they took my favorite salmon fish and chips off the menu. I usually drown my sorrows in the greasy goodness of the Titan Toothpicks instead.

I do not really like the layout of this location. It feels too open and concentrates on the restaurant aspect. I would like more of a pub feel... darker and cozier. On the bright side, the large circular bar allows more people to belly-up, which is how I prefer to enjoy a beer.

The bartender on my latest visit was attentive and helpful. I don't recall ever having a problem with the service here.

I will be likely to make the effort to go a little further to Rock Bottom - Yorktown as long as they keep turning out the kinds of beer that I like.

Wednesday 6th of January 2010 01:41:10 AM

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The location of this Rock Bottom is ideal for some after work pints with coworkers. The regular beer lineup - as with other Rock Bottoms - runs the gamut from light to dark. The beers are, however, unique to this pub. If I drink one of these beers, it's either the Light (hey, it's pretty good) or the Pale Ale. There is also a seasonal (check the brewery wall for the schedule), a brewmaster's special, or both on tap. Often there will even be a barrel aged offering.

The food menu is standard Rock Bottom far. There are a couple items on the menu I opt for when I don't eat elsewhere.

The bar/restaurant layout isn't as cozy as the older Rock Bottoms. It's set up to favor a restaurant more than a pub which looks to be the current concept for Rock Bottoms. Not really a problem; just lacking a little character.

Tuesday 2nd of September 2008 02:28:48 PM

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The Rock Bottom in Lombard is brewing some of the best beer in the suburbs with an ambitious brewer making a wide array of great specialty, seasonal and barrel aged beers across a great range of styles. Service can be spotty, though is usually good and the place lacks in ambiance feeling rather sterile and corporate but the place really shines in putting out great brews with constant experimentation and a nice rotation of brews. Great brewpub.

Thursday 27th of December 2007 10:49:26 PM

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Closest brewpub to my house and I need to get there more often.

I usually have the pale ale, the dark or whatever the seasonal is (they are usually outstanding.) The growlers are cheap to fill.

The food is somewhat standard brewpub fare, that is tasty and very consistent, but perhaps the best aspect of it is that Rock Bottom is very good about splitting meals - you split a meal and it is plated separately like a little "mini" meal - very nice!

Monday 4th of June 2007 08:10:52 PM

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IL rock bottom deliniation order....
chicago... (first and foremost)
lombard (why you're reading)
warrenville and orland (coinflip...) but on to the review...

The beer selection for "standard beer" is not unlike any other rb across the way.... it's what you essentially get at most rb's across the country... Specialties are what make a rock bottom stand out... this one isn't crazy like chicago, but neither is it lazy and it has 2 hand pulls running (as of this review, powerhouse pale and a wheat) The specialties are dictated by season and there have been tasty stuffs on in the past, but currently all they have on is a brown porter and the hand pulled beer which I find enjoyable.... but going back as the beers change is part of my beer career.... It's a decent, yet uninspired selection.... ok but not great...

It's lodge like with a bar and family sections. This to me is one of the more repulsive parts of rock bottoms in general, because they aren't trying to appeal to the beer drinker, it's the restaurant that's selling the beer people that come in...

the service is good, they know their beer, and aren't offended to pass a sample or two while you decide....

I always end up having good conversations with people at this rb, it must be the oakbrook proximity.... people from out of town are here and I usually spend a couple hours here just chatting about respective beer scenes, which adds to the enjoyment of this place.... I'll say that I've walked in, saw what was on tap and gone over to lunar a couple times... beer moves, but not so fast....

another point of reference, the place next door claim jumper, has exceptional food.... for a kickass meal I would really recommend claimjumper.... for a followup tidbit, claimjumper has craft beer on tap, it's brought in from slo's in california....

So in closing.... eat at claimjumper, drink at rb.... :)

Wednesday 30th of May 2007 12:12:12 PM

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This brewpub is always a delight to visit. I am often getting off work pretty late in the evening and was pleased to see that the Rock Bottom - Yorktown has late hours even on weeknights...open until 1am with last call at 12:30pm Sunday through Thursday nights. Their kitchen is even open until midnight too. If you get there after midnight and your still have the munchies, ask your server for an order of chips and salsa. This location's ever changing beer menu is chocked full of tasty favorites from seasonal wheats, seasonal dark beers and a brewmaster's favorite. I went with the Porter which was fantastically smooth and still lots of hoppy flavor. The bar is setup very nice which is in an oval shape with tons of plasma screen all playing comcast sports net. Music was nice and loud if you are in to that and the chips were good. Don't be surprised if the server offers you a taste of your beer in question before you order a pint or mug!

Tuesday 29th of May 2007 01:06:38 PM

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My first visit to the Yorktown Rock Bottom was during a whirlwind afternoon beer tour with friends. We sat in the large bar area and had lunch.

This place has pretty brewing tanks and vessels that are set in a way so that they are very visible from the bar/restaurant. They are not shying away from the brewing side of things here.

The bar is a big circle with two or more potential handpumps for cask offerings. The beers were solid and a clean. The brewer that was there when I visited has left recently to be replaced by the Rock Bottom Warrenville brewer. I have heard that the beers have not suffered from this change and I am looking forward to my next visit to this Yorktown location.

This location is on the grounds of a large shopping mall. They have a large parking lot, but I guess that could change during peak shopping seasons.