Gale Street Inn

I as visiting Chicago, and asked a local what they recomended, and consequently ended up at Gale Street Inn. Talk about a disappointment!!! My sister and I were placed in direct line of the kitchen, we couldn't get the waitress to acknowledge us, and when we did get the food it had been burned! The men sitting across from us were slobbering drunk and it took several complaints before they'd say anything to them. Needless to say we left before we'd even finished our meal :o(

Posted 07/29/08

gale street inn is a fabulous place for men and women both. we love going there. i personally love the steak and my friend loves the ribs. this place is amazing. defietly recommended when you go to chicago.

Posted 05/22/08

It is amazing to me that Gale Street end won the Editorial award for best BBQ. After reading the highly favorable reviews I made a special trip to try it for myself. The ribs are cooked in a steamer & finished on a gas grill. The ribs are fall off the bone tender as advertised, but so is anything cooked in a steamer. Anyone who knows BBQ knows that charcoal & or wood smoke is where it all begins. On a positive note, the staff is very friendly and the seafood is pretty good. Steam cooked ribs should note even be in the discussion for best BBQ. I hope out-of-towners don't judge Chicago BBQ by this quasi-BBQ. To be entirely honest the ribs at Chili's & TGIF Friday's are better (if charcoal/hickory wood is not a priority for you). I can name at least 5 places that would knock Gale Street out of the water (Lem's, Captin Curt's, Smoque, Honey1 & Kenny's Ribs). These ribs wouldn't even be allowed to enter a real BBQ cook-off anywhere in the South, especially because there wouldn't be anywhere to plug in a steamer at an outdoor cookoff!!!

Pros: Service, Family Friendly

Cons: Steam cooked ribs. No charcoal or wood smoke flavor.

Posted 04/04/08

Right off the Jefferson Park blue line stop you'll find THEE place to get ribs on the North/Northwest side of Chicago. They've been doing ribs here for years and have earned the title of Chicago's Best Ribs on several occations. They come in in ranges of 1/2 slabs all the way to full slabs and the meat just falls right off the bone and melts in your mouth. Try them with a combo of ribs and chicken or my favorite ribs and fried butterfly shrimp. If that's not enough, then go for the ribs and lobster tail. Best thing is, they have a catering service for all your party needs, especially during football season ; ). But ribs aren't the only great thing on the menu. I remember coming here way back to my youth and having the BEST meatloaf and mashed potatoes I've ever tasted. Heck, they're whole menu is good. A bit pricey, yes. But it's worth every finger licking bite. Anybody else feeling hungry =p?

Pros: RIBS and RIB COMBOS

Cons: Parking, could ease up on the Downtown prices

Posted 09/10/07

Keep the napkins handy for these fall off the bone ribs. Delicious barbeques flavored ribs and baked potatoe. I recommend this place to anyone who enjoys ribs.

Pros: Flavor

Cons: parking lot is usually packed

Posted 11/23/06

You can't beat the ribs at this place . They literally fall off the bone and are flavored to perfection . They give you several side order options to go with your meal . The chocolate cake is decadent and every chocolate lovers dream come true. Gale St. is friendly ,casual and a great place to take the entire family .

Pros: Ribs, chocolate cake, casual setting

Posted 10/23/06

When we lived in Chicago for over 8 years, we always loved to stop by when we could. And now that we don't live there, unfortunately, we still thought it was worth the drive to go there while on vacation in Chicago. Our family absolutely loved our recent visit, especially for the value that you get. You can spend much more for lesser food. The kid's menu items are a particularly good value. My 11 year old normally orders from the adult menu, but the 1/4 slab of rib from the kid's menu was more than enough. Best ribs he ever had, he said. It's not just steaks, either. I had a perfectly pan-roasted parmesan crusted ono (a firm, white Hawaiian fish). A top-notch, down-home neighborhood restaurant that won't break your wallet.

Pros: Neighborhood feel, excellent value, quality

Cons: very few, perhaps location

Posted 08/22/06

I tried to make reservations but the phones were down so I made them on-line not noticing they needed a 5 day notice. When I arrived a VERY rude woman yelled at me stating that "1st of all you need 5 days notice - it says so on our website, "2nd of all our phone lines were down so we couldn't have received your email or calls & 3rd it will be 1 1/2 wait". I felt like a little kid being yelled at by my parents. I have had bad service but GALE-STREET wins. What fault of mine is it that their phone lines were down? I would never treat another person in this manner. It was awful. Had I been loud or rude I would have deserved it, but I was neither. We gladly left (never coming back) and had a wonderful dinner at Hackneys in Glenview.

Cons: SERVICE, PARKING

Posted 03/22/06

Gale Street is the ONLY place I go for ribs in Chicago. I have been there many, many times and every time the food has been excellent. The only downside is that they do not take reservations and the wait can be lengthy.

Posted 05/25/05

Gale Street is wonderful. I have lived in the area all my life and Gale Street is my #1 choice. The ribs are out of this world!!!

Pros: Incredible Food, Incredible Service, Just Incredible

Posted 07/13/04

I had to come home from a trip to Gale Street & tell my Dad that his ribs are no longer the best ever! Son's steak so tender, could cut with butter knife! And the lobster!!!!!!!!!1 As you can see, we loved the food! But even more important - everyone was so friendly!!! Just a great atmosphere overall - will be going back soon!!

Pros: great food, friendly patrons, super bartenders!

Posted 08/20/03

As far as tasty ribs go, GSI has superior quality to Twin Anchors there is no question. Unfortunately, GSI is not located in the middle of a thriving urban area like Twin Anchors. Don't get me wrong I love Twin Anchors as a solid #2.

Pros: meaty, good sauce, excellent service

Cons: location

Posted 05/21/03

Best ribs, sauce very good. Wait staff a little pushy though. Maybe a new waiter, we wanted to take our time and he didn't quite get it, even after we told him. Bartender was excellent, very attentive and martinis were good.

Pros: ribs, martini, bartender

Cons: pushy waiter

Posted 01/31/03

Gale Street has great food and atmosphere it was a nice place to meet for a party!

Posted 11/26/02

These were the best ribs that I have had in Chicago yet and the prices were great. I went on a Friday night at around 7pm and only had a 15 minute wait which was nice considering the hour long waits at some of the other restaurants in Chicago. An additional bonus was the parking next door. A great experience and I will definitely go back the next time I am in the mood for ribs.

Pros: Parking

Posted 10/21/02

Gale Street Inn on Chicago's NW side is another one of those excellent restaurants that's been around for a long time that's still relatively unknown or considered "un-hip" for "cultured" Chicagoans because its located west of the Chicago river. How nice for the rest of us! I challenge those of you who try this place to find: a. more tender, slide-off-the-bone ribs, b. prompt, friendly, unpretentious service, and c. value for your money. From 4 to 6 on weekdays, imagine eating fresh bread, delicious soup/ salad, a 1st rate main course w/ choice of potato, and dessert and wind up only spending roughly $15-20 with tip (1 person)? Furthermore, their steaks and seafood have been equally up to par in terms of quality.

Pros: 1st rate ribs, very good service, great value

Cons: can be crowded, small bathroom

Posted 09/22/02

i HAVE HADBRIBS AT LOTS OF PLACES, ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY. NEVER HAVE I HAD ANY AS TENDER AND FLAVORFUL AS THE GALE STREET INN

Pros: NEXT TO THE BLUE LINE, BEST RIBS ANYWHERE, GREAT SERVICE

Cons: NOT REAL CHEAP

Posted 09/17/02

The best around. Ribs that just fall off the bone. From apps to entrees evrything is wonderful.
Keep up the great work.

Pros: the parking, great bar

Posted 08/27/02

Last Sunday evening my wife and I took our three kids (11, 10 and 7) to the Gale Street Inn for dinner. We went on the reccomendation of a friend who loves the ribs. I can't say enough about fantastic our evening was ! The food was FANTASTIC; my wife and I both had ribs. The kids each enjoyed a terrific meal from the kids menu (including an ice cream sundae). The ' buzz ' in the lounge was cool jazz music with a specialty martini drink menu (next time ; not with the kids!) The wait staff was friendly and extra attentive. We just had a great, great time. We're definitely going back !

Pros: Ribs, Service, Atmosphere

Posted 08/07/02

We went for my husband's birthday and the service was great. Had a great waitress but the food needed some help. The ribs were not as good as I expected and the au gratin potatoes were hard and watery, like they were dished out of a pot. Rather disappointing. I called earlier for reservations and the lady who answered the phone was rather abrupt and rude.

Pros: Reasonable, Good Service, Good Parking

Cons: Disappointing, Rude phone person

Posted 07/28/02