Sunday 15th of August 2010 12:39:44 PM

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

I can't really say enough positive things about this place in a review of reasonable length, so I'll limit myself to the following:

Great beer selection, both US craft and unusual and interesting imports. Selection rotates, and even if you're hear once a week there's still essentially always something new, interesting, and probably tasty if not excellent to drink.

Top notch food. There is a LOT of food selection available here as well, and the quality ranges from very good to excellent depending on the dish. Lunch, dinner, midafternoon or evening snack - order anything that suits your fancy off the menu and you assuredly will not be disappointed.

Good, friendly, and generally knowledgeable service. The bartenders really know there beer, and most of the table servers aren't slouches in that department either.

Not inexpensive, but good value. Prices on beers here range from downright values ($3 for selected pints) to more what you'd expect for some of the rarer brews they bring thorough. Food prices are more or less comparable to what you'd pay at Chili's or Applebee's, and very, very much worth what they cost.

All in all, this is a great place, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone, even if they don't care about beer. For the beermapping crowd, this is definite winner. Arguably the best beer bar in all of Chicagoland, in my opinion.

Friday 4th of June 2010 05:59:53 PM

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4/09
After hearing unanimous praise and recommendations for the Lodge for a couple years, I finally made it here for the Rasputin XI tapping last night. Located in scenic Lisle, this is just about the only destination around. There was ample parking to the side of the building and behind it. Once inside, there is a large wrought iron chandelier above, and stained glass and wood doors ahead. Past the host station, and to the right, there's a cozy dining area, with a square bar in the back. The bar itself had lots of Bavarian decor and breweriana, such as little shelves with knick knacks, and porcelain tap towers. The lighting was warm, and there was lots of wood all around.

Beer list was solid, and current (nice to know) the server pointed out the 2 taps that had been replaced right away. Considering the bar was packed for the tapping, the service was great. Great emphasis on German & Belgians, plenty to choose from. You can get a small pour on most things, which was nice, but they don't offer samples to taste. That night I tried the Schlenkerla Fastenbier, Einbecker Mai-Ur-Bock, and the Rasputin XI (sold out in less than an hour).

The Thuringer dinner I had was very hearty and a large portion for $14.95 (2 footlong sausages, spaetzle, kraut, liver dumpling soup, and homemade bread). I'd recommend this place to anyone passing through the area, it rivals many beer destinations in the city. If you want to experience a true "gastropub", the Lodge is doing it right...

Sunday 30th of November 2008 03:32:34 PM

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I have visited The Bavarian Lodge (they dropped the Chef Paul's) about 3 or 4 times. My latest visit was 11/29/2008. I like to get there right at 4PM when they open and spend a few hours savoring the experience.

In the past we have chosen a table in the bar side, but that made it hard to interact with other patrons and the bartender. We have also noticed that the wait staff is perhaps a bit too busy to give great service.
So this time we parked at a corner of the bar and it turned out to be a good choice. The bartender, Tyler, was friendly and prompt. She seemed to have a true appreciation for the beer as well and offered suggestions based on personal experience. The chairs were comfortable and the rail was in just the right place. I was able to sit and enjoy my visit without squirming in a bad chair.

The beer is great. They don't brew their own, but they have a fantastic selection of Belgian, German, and American specialty beers. There were about 25 different selections on tap, and probably double that in bottles. The biggest problem is trying to decide which ones to try. Due the the massive variety of beers, they do not offer the kind of samplers that are common at brewpubs. The bartender explained that the variance in prices from one brew to the next is also a factor which makes a sampler infeasible.
Oh, if you hate beer, they do happen to have Miller Lite on tap. The description on the menu describes it as "Very pale yellow with a seltzer taste. What did we do to Milwaukee to deserve this?"

On each of my visits I have tried different beers, but to give you an idea, here are a few from my latest visit. All of them were good.
3 Floyd's Moloko - milk stout
Gouden Carolous Tripel
Great Lakes Xmas Ale
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence
Dark Horse 3 Guys Off the Scale - I love this barleywine
Dark Horse Black Bier Ale
Surly Furious IPA - an excellent example of the style!

The unique selection and imported nature of many of the beers means they come at a premium price. Many of the stronger beers are served in smaller 12oz glasses. For me it is worth it, but if you are looking for cheap beer to guzzle, then look elsewhere.

The food at Bavarian Lodge is good, but nothing to rave about. The concentration on German cooking means that most everything is "brown". Not to say that I don't like liver dumpling soup, spatzel, sausages, meat in gravy and sauerkraut, but it is, what it is. The beer justifies the long trip from my house. The food helps fill me up in between beers.
The veggie schnitzel was an interesting departure from the traditional menu. The roast duck is also pretty good.

I like the atmosphere at the Bavarian Lodge. It has plenty of dark wood and relatively few TVs. The music is quiet enough to permit conversation. The choice of music was a little odd... not polkas, but not top 40 either. Since it was mostly unobtrusive I didn't mind much.

Overall, I would recommend this place for anyone looking for a great selection of great beer. The crowd is a mix of younger and older and everyone seems to be able to enjoy themselves. I will definitely be back. I just wish it was closer to Bartlett. Then again, if it was, I might never go anywhere else!

[update 2010-01-10] I spent an entire Saturday at the Lodge and it continues to be a great time. I once again sat at my favorite corner of the bar starting at 4PM and left at closing time. So many beers, so little time!

Tuesday 2nd of September 2008 02:10:39 PM

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Probably the best German restaurant in all of Chicago land. The food is well done with a varied menu and very reasonable pricing. Beer selection is amazing and is not just a lineup of German beers. In fact there is a wide array of American Micros, Belgians, and hard to find German beers. Service is good though, and they will admit they get very busy on Saturday's due to the volume of customers. Great place.

Sunday 24th of August 2008 12:37:47 PM

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Heard about it for years, finally went. Fantasic draft list, better bottle list. Great food, including somethings not often found on standard German menus. The German tap list is more limited than many in Chicago, but has a wonderful doppelbock. Good Belgian, good US craft. Bottle lists for these three areas are outstanding -- gives some of the area's larger liquor stores a run for their money. Great friendly service. Lots of neighborhood folks, wide age range. Reasonable pricing. I'll be back often.

Edit -- recent visits confirm stuff said originally. Tap list is 25 brews strong, including stuff not often found in the Chicagoland area. Go! Go!!

Edit -- hey, I've become a regular... bumping up the food rating, having always had a different meal each time I go and never having anything bad. Some of the food is downright sublime.

Thursday 8th of November 2007 08:15:01 PM

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Atmospherically, the Bavarian Lodge attracts a strange variety of diners, from older couples looking for a quiet, German dinner to groups of young adults eager to try the newest offering on tap. The restaurant is usually quieter around the dinner hour, a bit noisier at night on the weekends. Dim lighting and a few television sets at the back of the bar contrast with collections of German steins and paintings. Somehow the strange mix works...

The Lodge offers an incredible selection of draft beers - and an even larger selection of bottled beers - not limited to those from Germany. This includes popular Belgian favorites Delirium Tremens and Lindemans Framboise. Their website advertises "soon-to-be" tapped beers, as well, letting customers know that there's no shortage of effort in regard to the selection of their beers.

I have only eaten at the Lodge once - during their 2007 Oktoberfest. The roast pork was good and their sides are, well, German classics.

Not that this will matter come January 2008, but the Lodge has been non-smoking as long as I've been going and this certainly is a benefit to those wanting to fully experience the taste and aroma of the specialty beers on the menu.

Monday 5th of November 2007 02:37:11 PM

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I have been meaning to try this place for years. This last week I was finally able to, don’t make the mistake I did by waiting, get yourself there ASAP!

As you walk through the front doors, the bar room entrance is to you right. They have a nice U-shaped bar that has room for about 25 folks. There is a great long table right near the bar. This would be the perfect table for a big groups to share. There are plenty of other booths and tables positioned about the room. The room is nicely decorated and not overwhelmed with German knick-knacks.

As you face the bar, take note of the large blackboard on your left. It lists all of the current beer choices. They also have a nice beer menu, which gives a brief description and the ABV of the beer. What a great selection of bottles and drafts! While heavy on Germanic selections, the bar offers a lot of Belgiums, the whole range of Unibroues and a well thought out-group of American craft beers. You really have to checkout their website to gauge the width and depth of their selections. Topnotch selections from topnotch brewers.

We had great service at the bar. Both bartenders were quick, friendly, professional and had decent beer knowledge. Our server for diner was not so great. She seemed a bit overwhelmed and was bit short with not only our table but also the tables near us. Maybe she was having a bad night, but no reason not to try and be civil. My service score is a combination of the two.

The food is very good and I thought fairly priced. I like how you can construct your own combinations. Try the chicken schnitzel, the thuringer or the yummy smoked pork chops. The sides are very good. Do not miss the liver dumpling soup.

I will be back in the near future. I just wish this place were closer to home

Saturday 21st of July 2007 01:35:58 PM

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

For those of us that have been wishing for a place like Hopleaf or Map Room in the suburbs - our wait is over. Actually, this place has been around since the mid 80’s, but in the past four or five years they have created a beer list that rivals any other place in the burbs. The place is really cozy and inviting, very comfortable for a night of drinking and eating. Great beer list, featuring not only a good selection of German brews, but quite a few Belgians (some hard to find), and a good representation of American craft brews too (Lagunitas, Three Floyds, Goose Island & they carry the whole Unibroue line too, I should add). A total of 19 drafts. The food was great, the service friendly, and all of the beer I tried was as fresh as can be, and served in proper glassware at proper temperatures no less. Much to my surprise the pub was full of younger people with decent music playing (read: no ooompah). I suggest trying this place before everybody else catches on and you’re not able to get a seat at the bar. My only gripe is that I wish they were open a bit later. Be sure to check their hours on their website before you go. This is truly one of the best beer selections Chicagoland has to offer - and in a totally unique atmosphere no less. Definitely worth repeat visits.

Friday 25th of May 2007 08:08:12 AM

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Just off the interstate, Chef Paul’s is an easy find. Its suburban setting makes the Bavarian-looking restaurant really stand out. I love the fact that Chef Paul’s is non-smoking, by choice.

The food offered is solid German. The beer list is long, German centered, but eclectic. I had a Maibock (on tap) and an Okocim Baltic Porter with the roasted Schweins Hax'n. My wife ordered Jaegerschnitzel. Both meals were incredible and WAY too much to be eaten in one setting.

Great place. Go for the beer, go for the food, go for both…. but go.