Twin Anchors Restaurant-Tavern

So many people told me these were the best ribs in Chicago. I didnt find them to be that great. Maybe just a bad night? The ribs were inconsistant, very dry meat in sections. Inexcusable for the price and the hype.

Pros: the beer was good

Cons: the ribs were just OK

Posted 03/07/09

Historic...yes. Total dive (in a good way)...yes. Worth experiencing...yes. Best ribs let alone good food...no way. I never understand why people who rave about this place always start by raving about the food. I totally agree that it's an institution steeped in history, but every time I come hear the food totally lets me down. The food should not be the reason you come here.

Pros: Historic

Cons: Food

Posted 07/06/08

Now that being said if you are into southern BBQ this is not. The food is good and the help is very nice. But this place really is more than just the food. I really liked the feel of the place. We sat in the front corner of the bar and a cold Saturday morning. It just felt right. I felt like I was from the neighborhood and this is the place we hang out. There are better ribs out there but these where still very good. I have to recommend trying it. I may try to go when it is busy to see how the atmosphere is then.

Posted 01/17/08

I go here often because the charming "seafaring" old tavern decor/atmosphere and fine food keep me coming back. I have spent many happy New Year's Eves here. A very cozy place when the snow is piling up outside. It is great for kids and for dates too--it is romantic if you can get a booth or sit at the end of the bar.

Pros: unpretentious atmosphere, good value, nostalgic

Cons: I wish it had longer opening hours!

Posted 10/20/07

Twin Anchors is my favorite place to go for ribs. The ribs are always made perfect and the tender meat falls right off the bone. I prefer the zesty sauce already on my ribs with extra sauce on the side. However, you can request your ribs dry with the sauce served on the side. I also recommend the chili on the menu.

The place is small and cozy. You may have to wait awhile for a table but it is well worth the wait!

Pros: Quick Service and Ribs are Excellent!

Cons: Parking but valet service is available

Posted 01/07/07

Great Ribs. Service was quick and friendly. I loved their sauce, nice and zesty!! The place was very cozy and warm. I plan to go there again real soon!!

Pros: Great BBQ Sauce

Cons: Hard parking and long wait

Posted 12/26/06

I have just recently moved to chicago, and everyone has been raving about the ribs at Twin Anchors, and I was sadly disappointed, the ribs were dry and lacked the tenderness and flavor one would expect from one of the city's best rib place, although in spite of the failure in the ribs, they redeemed themselves with some of their sides such as the onion rings and creamed spinach, although not enough to pull through for me. The atmosphere of the restaurant itself is quite fun, busy, and an assortment of all ages of people.

Posted 07/20/06

What can I say that has not been said already, this place is great. Loved it, great food, cant remember having eaten so much. Loved it.

Pros: Inexpensive, Busy

Posted 11/13/05

I guess I am just used to my down south slow-smoked ribs and sugary sauce, but I didn't care for the ribs at all. Still, the place is great and the people (and there are plenty of them) are friendly. Well-worth a trip, but don't go expecting great BBQ.

Posted 11/08/05

Don't know what the previous rater was talking about with the sauce. I found it delicious and the baby backs were great, also a fantastic hamburger. Ambience was lacking but the service was OK. Go there and pig out.

Pros: clean, servers polite

Cons: long wait

Posted 06/18/05

I'm a local in the Twin Anchors area, and I've never felt it justified the hype. My ribs were slightly dry and the sauce doesn't hit me as a world-class sauce.

Posted 08/10/03

I recently brought my family to dine at Twin Anchors after hearing much buzz about the establishment. I have to say that I normally don't complain poor food or poor service or both, and I haven't with Twin Anchors, until now. There ribs are mediocre, their barbeque sauce is nothing to rant and rave about, there ranch dressing is the worst I've ever tasted and I felt as though I was sitting on the patron's lap behind me. Don't waste your time with this restaurant, treat yourself to the fireplace or another rib joint in the same vicinity.

Pros: inexpensive, friendly service, quaint

Cons: lousy food

Posted 06/04/03

this is the famous bar for ribs. they are actually very good. seating is minimal so waits can be long. side dishes are fine-nothing outstanding. the pulled pork sandwich is quite good too. nice old chicago feel. being a bar, drinks are plentiful.

Posted 04/10/03

You can guess what GFC stands for [have the chicken].Great locals reataurant! If your ever near by you have to check this one out. Be perpared for a wait and enjoy the atmosphere. It's well worth the wait!

Pros: Food, Service, Drinks

Posted 03/28/03

This place is about the experience. It's going there on Sat night at 6:30 expecting to have a couple of cocktails and a smoke and watching the end of the late afternoon college football games while you wait for your table. The ribs are great but probably wouldn't be rated the best in Chitown by those who are tru Texas-style ribs fans,b/c they boil rather that slo-smoke them. Whatever- they're great and the onion rings are perfect. Go with a bunch of good people who want to eat, drink and have a good time- and go during Christmas time when they put lights up around the windows and it's snowing and you can sit in the corner booth- amazing.

Posted 10/27/02

These ribs have the flavor boiled out of them. Anyone who has ever had SMOKED ribs will never ever go for this crap again.

Cons: no parking

Posted 10/25/02

As a Chicago native I must advise everyone who visits this great city to stay away from Navy Pier, the Sears Tower observitoy deck and all of the other tourist traps that lurk around the city. If you want to see real Chicago-the Chicago that us natives see-places like Twin Anchors are great. Not only is the food unbelievable, but it gives people the sense that this is what Chicago is all about. The service is prompt and the enviorment is inviting. Visit on a Friday night and get ready for some fun! And while I'm on the subject, a message to everyone who is planning a trip here: Forget tourist traps...you'll leave the city hating it! Places like Twin Anchors, Old Town, and Potash Supermarket gives people the sense of what the city is all about.

Pros: Location, Vitual Pleasing, Dark

Cons: nil, nil, nil

Posted 10/23/02

Twin anchor's ribs are way over boiled - try taking some time and smoking them instead of having boiled meat drench in so-so sauce. Love the place - hate the ribs!

Pros: Atmosphere

Cons: Ribs

Posted 10/21/02

It's a small menu, but you should only be going there for ribs anyway. The meat is falling off the bone. Get the zesty sauce. It's more flavorful and not spicy. Be prepared for a long wait most nights, but well worth it.

Pros: Good service, Full Bar, Close to El

Cons: Long waits, Valet Parking only

Posted 09/24/02

I love the ribs and onion rings the sauce is so zesty. get there early otherwise you could wait all day for a table. Take outs are good

Posted 08/14/02

The have the best ribs and bbq pork sanwich ever to be had. I love the onion rings also long waits take out is a good option.

Cons: overly crowded

Posted 08/14/02

Get there early or the wait can be a killer. Zesty sauce on ribs is best option. Not sure how other food tastes but people don't go for a burger, it's ribs or nothing.

Posted 08/07/02

Great Jute Box Tunes, Great Atmoshere if you like that down to earth kind of resturant and fabulous ribs. Waiting at the bar for 2 hours is worth it...casue afterall, who wouldn't want to have a few beers while eating the tasty trail mix.

Pros: Great location, can buy jars of BBQ, carry-out

Posted 08/07/02

No surprise that the late great Frank's favorite place for Ribs still makes them better than anywhere else. Good service, better food. Make sure to go all the way and get the ones with kick.

Posted 08/05/02

The only place that's ever served me a better plate of ribs is Montgomery Inn in Cincy. Other than that, these morsels are the best. Tangy sauce is edible by itself. The ribs do fall off of the bone, so if you are a rib pig who likes to violently tug and pull the meat off the bone, these won't be for you. I can't believe people actually struggling with sloppy ribs, but some do.

This is a must. But don't be in a hurry. The wait is pretty bad.

Posted 06/26/02

Twin Anchors is a Chicago landmark. Frank Sinatra thought so, as did/do many other notable and lay people alike. And, the ribs are indeed delicious, but they aren't the best in the world - or even in Chicago. They are, though, worth a trip.

Posted 06/26/02

My mouth is watering just sitting here thinking about the ribs at Twin Anchors.

The place is small, and constantly crowded. But the volume of people is a testament to the unbelievable ribs this place serves.

Get 'em spicy. And get the onion rings.

Pros: Ribs, Onion Rings

Posted 05/29/02

These are the BEST ribs in the world. I'm not kidding. The best. Don't even think about coming here to eat and then not order the ribs. It would be a sad mistake. You would be sad. Get the ribs.

Pros: wait at bar for table

Cons: wait at bar for table

Posted 05/24/02

Boiled, BBQ, fried or whatever they do to these ribs, they are perhaps the tastiest ribs I've ever eaten. This place has been around a long time and they know what they're doing. The sauce is so good, I wish I had brought home a case when I visited your great city. Yes, it's crowded and with good reason. But not to worry, there is a bar at the waiting area, grab yourself a drink and wait for your dinner.

Pros: Ribs, BBQ Sauce

Cons: None.

Posted 05/20/02